Nostr notes by engadget.com

Nostr event nevent1qqsdkle32cm9ehv3uxfj2zajwm8wrq8w5wdajmce2crswr4q7y8c4xczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy9nn3fz

2025-10-27T19:48:29Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2Fthe_odyssey.jpg&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=ea67382beaf98fbf92eda5cadbc26d0ed1b98e8f
The movie industry has been in a tailspin for years, with many people foregoing the theatrical experience in favor of watching films at home. I get it. Going to the movies can be expensive and, let’s face it, dealing with other people can be annoying (it’s been 10 years and I’m still mad about those teenagers who would not stop giggling all the way through my first viewing of The Witch). But there’s nothing quite like going to a theater and getting lost in a great film for a couple of hours. In addition, large-scale formats are growing in popularity and theater chains are trying to accommodate moviegoers.Cinemark is installing more IMAX screens, including ones that support 70mm film projection. The company is adding such screens to its locations in Woodridge, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago); Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Rochester, New York. It’s also adding four IMAX with Laser systems — a 4K laser offering — to other locations in the US in the coming months. It’s upgrading its other 12 IMAX screens across the Americas with that tech too. According to Variety, Cinemark plans to have the new IMAX 70mm film screens set up by July 17, 2026. That’s the release date for Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, which is the first theatrical release to be shot entirely in IMAX. As it stands, only 30 movie theaters on the planet can screen films in IMAX 70mm, which is Nolan’s preferred format.IMAX is proving popular with cinemagoers who are looking for a large-format experience that would be impossible at home (at least not without an obscene private screen). Indeed, many IMAX 70mm screenings of The Odyssey sold out a year in advance.IMAX 70mm isn’t the only format with limited availability that’s drawing audiences to theaters. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is the first movie in 60 years to be projected in the VistaVision format, but only at a few locations. The film is currently being screened in IMAX 70mm in some cinemas too. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/cinemark-is-adding-more-70mm-imax-screens-ahead-of-christopher-nolans-the-odyssey-194155824.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/cinemark-is-adding-more-70mm-imax-screens-ahead-of-christopher-nolans-the-odyssey-194155824.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsgfl4gacfkntufm50gphcv6uwgy27m5c9fht7tsc0wwr7nqff9slgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy58e0z8

2025-10-25T17:28:30Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2Fneato.jpeg&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=d47d8b6caf46ab5874f191fbe07128534b0e62d6
Starting soon, Neato robovac owners will no longer be able to control their devices using the app. Neato Robotics, which shut down in 2023 due to declining sales, has notified customers that "cloud services are being phased out during Q4 2025," according to an email obtained by The Verge. While Neato's parent company Vorwerk Group initially said cloud support would continue for at least five years following its closure, the email now says "cybersecurity standards, compliance obligations, and regulations have advanced in ways that make it no longer possible to safely and sustainably operate these legacy systems." This doesn't mean existing Neato products will be completely bricked — there's still the option to start them manually by pressing a button — but they won't offer all the smart home conveniences expected from a robovac that cost hundreds of dollars. Without use of the app, customers won't be able to set cleaning schedules, remotely start the vacuums or assign No-go zones.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/shuttered-robot-vacuum-maker-neato-is-ending-cloud-services-sooner-than-planned-171604823.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/shuttered-robot-vacuum-maker-neato-is-ending-cloud-services-sooner-than-planned-171604823.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsg4j8l943px7s5ga9yl7l8nejdvu3wvu2fwuczg7uh72kuukwdfwszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy8nyj3g

2025-10-25T13:44:32Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F59b996a0-b18f-11f0-a9bf-8f5d1e90d2ca&resize=1400%2C915&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=d30937a9d972ce40c15a80c5c4da22453771548a
Spotify recently came under fire for running recruitment ads for ICE, which ask users to "join the mission to protect America" and to "fulfill [their] mission," in the US. Despite music labels calling on the streaming service to stop serving ICE recruitment ads, Spotify doubled down. A spokesperson for the company told The Independent that the ads are "part of a broad campaign" by the US government running across different channels and that they do not violate its policies. The spokesperson advised users to just mark ads with a thumbs up or down so that the app can learn their preferences. In addition, several artists have pulled their music from Spotify recently over its CEO's, Daniel EK's, investments in European defense tech firm Helsing. The defense company builds drones, aircraft and submarines, and it also sells AI software that can analyze sensor and weapons data from battlefields. Spotify has been facing backlash for its payout rates, which artists argue are unfair and lower than what other services pay, over the past few years as well. So if you want to cancel Spotify, whether for any those reasons or another one altogether, you can follow the instructions below. How to cancel via web: 1. Log into your Spotify account in your browser. 2. Go to Account in the dropdown menu that shows up when you click on your Profile. 3. Find Cancel Subscription under the Subscription section. 4. Spotify will tell you that you'll hear ads every 15 minutes on a free account, along with the date when your premium access will end. Click "Continue to cancel" at the bottom of the screen. If you're on mobile, make sure to request the desktop site after you log into your account on your mobile browser. Take note that if you're part of a Spotify Family or Duo plan, only the plan manager will be able to cancel your subscription altogether. If you follow the same steps above as a member, you'll only remove your account from the plan, but the manager will continue paying for it. How to cancel via third-party provider: If you pay for your subscription through third-party providers, you can follow these instructions instead. Cancel via Google 1. Fire up the Google Play app and tap on the icon for the account you use. 2. Go to Payments & subscriptions. 3. Tap on Subscriptions. 4. Find Spotify among your subscriptions and tap on it. 5. Tap on Cancel Subscription at the bottom of the screen, select a reason for cancellation and confirm it. Cancel via Apple 1. Go to Settings in your iPhone or iPad. 2. Tap on your name and go to Subscriptions. 3. Find Spotify and go through the cancellation process. Cancel via carrier Instructions for this may vary, depending on your carrier. Generally, however, you can follow these steps. 1. Log into your carrier account on its website. 2. Find the option to manage your subscriptions under your account. 3. Find Spotify and go through the cancellation process. What happens after you cancel You'll still have access to Spotify's premium features until your next billing cycle begins. That means you still won't encounter ads and will have access to offline downloads, as well as unlimited skips and higher audio quality. You'll be able to access your Spotify library even with a free account, but if you want to find another streaming service to pay for, you can check Engadget's list of best music streaming services in 2025. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/how-to-cancel-your-spotify-subscription-133022215.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/apps/how-to-cancel-your-spotify-subscription-133022215.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsrp75dj6txhgupq9md9r2jcgvgmkc228zl2gc3r6e75wh3v9cp9dszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyu0qz8j

2025-10-25T12:07:52Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-09%2Fd9f62150-8da2-11f0-9eff-ea5a229f6050&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=036023e0e220e8b099ec165c6ed90754aa8d7aee
If you’re moving on to a new Apple Watch, selling your current one or fixing some software hiccups, you’ll probably need to disconnect it from your iPhone. Apple calls this unpairing; it’s the step that wipes your watch, breaks the connection to your phone and removes Activation Lock so the next person can use it. The good news is that unpairing is straightforward whether you have your iPhone nearby or not. Here’s how it works, along with why you might want to disconnect your watch in the first place. How to disconnect Apple Watch using your iPhone The simplest way to unpair your Apple Watch is through your iPhone. Keep your iPhone and Apple Watch close together. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Navigate to the My Watch tab, then All Watches at the top. Tap the info button next to the watch you want to disconnect. Select Unpair Apple Watch, then select Unpair [your Apple Watch name]. If you have a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. Remove it if you’re selling or giving away the watch. Keep it if you plan to pair it again later Enter your Apple Account password when asked to turn off Activation Lock, then select Unpair. Your iPhone will create a backup before erasing the watch. When you set up a new Apple Watch, you can choose to restore from that backup and carry on with your data and settings intact. How to disconnect Apple Watch without your iPhone If you don’t have your paired iPhone with you, you can still reset your Apple Watch directly. This will wipe your data, but won’t create a backup and Activation Lock will remain, so keep that in mind if you want to save your information. On your Apple Watch, open Settings. Select General, then scroll down and select Reset. Select Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode if prompted. For cellular models, choose whether to keep or remove your plan. Your watch will erase itself and restart as if it were brand new. Why you should disconnect your Apple Watch There are a few reasons you might want to unpair your Apple Watch. Maybe you’re upgrading to a new model and need to start fresh. Maybe you’re trading it in, selling it or handing it down to someone else. You might also need to disconnect your watch if you’re troubleshooting. Sometimes a clean reset is the easiest way to fix syncing issues, missed notifications or fitness data that isn’t updating. Whatever the reason, unpairing keeps your data safe, makes sure a backup is stored and disables Activation Lock. That last step is important because if you skip it, the next owner won’t be able to use the watch. What happens to your data when you disconnect your Apple Watch? When you unpair your Apple Watch using your iPhone, the watch creates a backup that includes app data, settings and most health and fitness information. This backup is stored on your iPhone and will transfer to iCloud if you have backups turned on. That makes it easy to restore everything on a new watch. If you reset from the watch without your iPhone, a backup is not created. Your data will be erased and the watch will be wiped clean, but Activation Lock remains. Activation Lock is tied to your Apple Account and helps keep your watch secure if it’s lost or stolen. It turns on automatically when you pair your watch with your iPhone. That’s why unpairing isn’t the same as a simple reset. You need the Apple Account and password associated with the watch to turn off Activation Lock.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-unpair-your-apple-watch-from-your-iphone-120052222.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-unpair-your-apple-watch-from-your-iphone-120052222.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsf0jxfhuegt582u2v9s4ssx0mhm0cv5krc7yew0laxt4hjnet6qagzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy5g9xj2

2025-10-24T19:57:31Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F04f81420-b112-11f0-9da3-f95b8fe30d29&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=fe6fd273fd6d1000fa890e4e4e8fbad9e3ab50b3
We finally have a release date for Mouse: P.I. for Hire. The delightfully animated game, which marks Troy Baker's first time playing a rodent private eye, is slated for March 19, 2026. Based on its trailers, you'd be forgiven for viewing Mouse: P.I. for Hire as Cuphead meets Doom. Although it does include FPS action, Engadget's Jessica Conditt discovered surprising depth behind its whimsical brutality. The game "has more to offer than shock-value cartoon violence," she wrote. "This is a clue-gathering, photo-snapping, girlfriend-avenging, noir detective simulator that happens to star a bunch of slick-talking mice and rats, and I'm fully into it." Baker plays Private Investigator Jack Pepper, the game's protagonist. When he isn't hunting clues or sneaking around during the game's quieter moments, he'll have a delightful arsenal on hand. This includes wacky ones like a turpentine gun that melts the inked "skin" of your foes. Fun stuff. Like Cuphead, Mouse's most obvious point of comparison, it uses hand-drawn frames to recreate that old-school style. It also deploys an original jazz soundtrack recorded by an orchestral ensemble. It's all presented in a gritty, film noir aesthetic. You can check out the release date trailer below. Mouse: P.I. for Hire will launch next March on PC, Switch 2, Switch, PS5/4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/mouse-pi-for-hire-arrives-in-march-2026-195454228.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/mouse-pi-for-hire-arrives-in-march-2026-195454228.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsw4z828vjcs53kewad4l9d38grcdpw3vdq2ne7hu8xq90g5cyfvngzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy7vlkr5

2025-10-24T19:46:30Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fimages%2F2025-10%2Fd6d0b802-400b-478b-8d8e-399d84d40d5b&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=dfc578a30c5f244b7fd39005af305ed6ba8207a5
There's been another turn in Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s ongoing legal battle with WordPress provider WP Engine. In a counterclaim Automattic filed as part of WP Engine's lawsuit against the company, it claims investment from private equity firm Silver Lake led WP Engine to violate its trademarks and fail to contribute to the open-source WordPress project.Automattic believes that following a $250 million investment from Silver Lake, which gave the firm a controlling interest in WP Engine, the hosting provider "sought to inflate its valuation and engineer a quick, lucrative exit." It allegedly did that, per the counterclaim, by describing itself as the "WordPress Technology Company" and allowing its partners to refer to it as "WordPress Engine," violations of the WordPress trademark. Automattic claims products WP Engine released like "Core WordPress" and "Headless WordPress" further obfuscated the company’s role, while WP Engine also failed to commit a promised "five percent of its resources to support the WordPress project."The counterclaim goes on to say that Automattic and Mullenweg tried to work out these issues with WP Engine by offering a "fair trademark license," but the company only "pretended to engage in licensing discussions," while actually delaying any kind of agreement because it would "impact its earnings." Keeping earnings up was important to WP Engine because Silver Lake was allegedly trying to sell WP Engine at a $2 billion valuation, and had even made "overtures to Automattic" about it.A WP Engine spokesperson provided the following statement to Engadget:WP Engine’s use of the WordPress trademark to refer to the open-source software is consistent with longstanding industry practice and fair use under settled trademark law, and we will defend against these baseless claims.Auttomatic’s countersuit tells a different story than the one WP Engine spun in its original lawsuit against the company, which accused Mullenweg of "abuse of power, extortion and greed." WP Engine's original complaint claimed that Automattic asked the company for eight percent of its monthly revenue as a royalty payment. Mullenweg's attempts to punish WP Engine were seen as so aggressive at the time that over 100 Automattic employees voluntarily left the company in response. WP Engine won a preliminary injunction in response to its lawsuit, but it seems like the story might be more complicated than it originally appeared.Update, October 24, 3:35PM ET: Clarified Automattic’s relationship to open-source WordPress. The company is not WordPress’ creator.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/wordpress-co-founder-files-countersuit-against-wp-engine-over-trademark-violations-182123619.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/wordpress-co-founder-files-countersuit-against-wp-engine-over-trademark-violations-182123619.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs889lg4vaeh2xuf7twvshcszq6kn8u65602xszmhjayz6az7w72ygzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyqjplh8

2025-10-24T18:32:35Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fimages%2F2025-10%2Fd6d0b802-400b-478b-8d8e-399d84d40d5b&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=dfc578a30c5f244b7fd39005af305ed6ba8207a5
There's been another turn in WordPress creator Automattic's ongoing legal battle with WordPress provider WP Engine. In a counterclaim Automattic filed as part of WP Engine's lawsuit against the company, the WordPress creator claims investment from private equity firm Silver Lake led WP Engine to violate its trademarks and fail to contribute to the open-source WordPress project.Automattic believes that following a $250 million investment from Silver Lake, which gave the firm a controlling interest in WP Engine, the hosting provider "sought to inflate its valuation and engineer a quick, lucrative exit." It allegedly did that, per the counterclaim, by describing itself as the "WordPress Technology Company" and allowing its partners to refer to it as "WordPress Engine," violations of the WordPress trademark. Automattic claims products WP Engine released like "Core WordPress" and "Headless WordPress" further obfuscated who created and developed the blogging platform's technology, while the company also failed to commit a promised "five percent of its resources to support the WordPress project."The counterclaim goes on to say that Automattic and WordPress co-found Matt Mullenweg tried to work out these issues with WP Engine by offering a "fair trademark license," but the company only "pretended to engage in licensing discussions," while actually delaying any kind of agreement because it would "impact its earnings." Keeping earnings up was important to WP Engine because Silver Lake was allegedly trying to sell WP Engine at a $2 billion valuation, and had even made "overtures to Automattic" about it.That's a different story than the one WP Engine spun in its original lawsuit against Automattic, which accused Mullenweg of "abuse of power, extortion and greed." WP Engine's original complaint claimed that Automattic asked the company for eight percent of its monthly revenue as a royalty payment. Mullenweg's attempts to punish WP Engine were seen as so aggressive at the time that over 100 Automattic employees voluntarily left the company in response. WP Engine won a preliminary injunction in response to its lawsuit, but it seems like the story might be more complicated than it originally appeared.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/wordpress-creator-files-countersuit-against-wp-engine-over-trademark-violations-182123827.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/wordpress-creator-files-countersuit-against-wp-engine-over-trademark-violations-182123827.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsqv6683958pcc7yyw86svap6mrupq7mumz4w5vgfvrlw49wh0kfpgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy6swpn4

2025-10-24T18:11:34Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F8e6283f0-b101-11f0-967f-8b5ca1afcf43&resize=1400%2C840&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=899b44ec07537cedadb3259a0ef02493f8be8c77
Instagram's latest feature should make it easier to resurface videos you've viewed. On Friday, Adam Mosseri revealed a new watch history for Reels. "Hopefully, now you can find that thing that you were trying to find that you couldn't find before," the Instagram CEO said. We could see the feature coming in handy. For example, when you see something interesting but lose it due to an accidental tap or app refresh. You can find it on Instagram under Settings > Your activity > Watch history. The feature lets you sort by newest to oldest or vice versa. You can also jump to a specific date or date range, and filter by the account that posted it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-adds-a-watch-history-for-reels-175555668.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-adds-a-watch-history-for-reels-175555668.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsd9e6zgey6t94624xfaffdde600gmp3fmk9a9v3yju5lgkschcxsszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy8gnhjf

2025-10-24T16:45:00Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-09%2Fee5534d0-9af2-11f0-be5f-8585e5963e03&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=dd8eab6b48463bb22121af63d3cc064825333d30
The just-released iPad Pro with the M5 chip tops our list of the best tablets and the standard iPad is our pick for the best budget slate. While the former is expectedly not on sale yet, we are seeing a modest discount for the cheaper iPad. The lovely iPad Air (13-inch, with cellular) is down to a record low as well. Of course, you won't find deals on Apple's own website, but we keep an eye on Amazon, Target, Walmart and other retailers to find the best iPad deals out there and round them up each Friday. This week, the discounts aren't as good as they were for Prime Day earlier this month — chances are, we won't see a huge influx of Apple deals until Black Friday sales start up. Until then, here are the top deals on iPads and all the other Apple gear we could find. Best iPad deals Apple iPad (A16, 256GB) for $399 ($50 off): The latest entry-level iPad comes with a faster A16 chip, 2GB more RAM and more base storage. It earned a score of 84 in our review — if you only need a tablet for roaming the internet, watching shows and doing some lighter productivity tasks, it should do the job. With the recent iPadOS 26 update, it also has most of the same multitasking features available on the more expensive models. It does lack Apple Intelligence, but to be candid, that isn't a big loss right now. This deal isn't an all-time low for the model with 256GB of storage but it takes $50 off Apple's list price. Also at Best Buy. Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3, 1TB) for $949 ($150 off MSRP): The most recent iPad Air is a relatively minor update, as the only major addition is a more powerful M3 chip. However, we still recommend the Air over the base model in our iPad buying guide: Its display is laminated, more color-rich and better at fending off glare (though it's still 60Hz); its speakers are more robust; it works with Apple’s best accessories and its performance should hold up better in the years ahead. This deal is only for the maxed-out model with 1TB of storage, but it ties the lowest price we've seen all the same. Best Apple deals Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off): The top-end option in Apple’s confusing stylus lineup, the Pencil Pro supports pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, tilt detection, haptic feedback and Apple’s double tap and squeeze gestures, among other perks. It’s a lovely tool for more intricate sketching and note-taking, but the catch is that it’s only compatible with the M4 iPad Pro, M2 and M3 iPad Air and most recent iPad mini. We've seen this deal fairly often over the course of the year, but it's a fine discount compared to buying from Apple directly. Also at Walmart. Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 512GB) for $999 ($200 off): Apple's latest MacBook Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and it earned a score of 92 in our review. It's not a major overhaul, but the design is still exceptionally thin, light and well-built, with long battery life and a top-notch keyboard and trackpad. Now it's a bit faster. (Though we'd still love more ports and a refresh rate higher than 60Hz.) This discount ties the all-time low for the model with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) for $389 ($10 off): The latest flagship Apple Watch only hit store shelves last month, but Amazon is already selling it for $10 off. It doesn't show up as a percentage off, but you'll see some models listed at $389 instead of Apple's $399 MSRP. If you're new to Apple's wearables or are ready to upgrade from a Series 9 or older, this is a good model to grab. If you're coming from a Series 10, however, there's not much need to upgrade as the only major change from last year's model is a slightly larger battery and a tougher screen. Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) for $240 ($9 off): There's a similar stealth discount for the newest budget model, the Apple Watch SE 3, at Amazon. It normally goes for $249 — again, not a big discount, but better than nothing if you're looking to get onboard early. Apple gave this model some badly needed updates compared to its predecessor, including an always-on display, faster charging, better sensors and the same processor that you'll find in the new Apple Watch Series 11. Read more Apple coverage: The best AirPods The best Apple Watches The best MacBooks The best iPhones The best iPads Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-ipad-deals-get-over-300-off-the-ipad-air-m3-with-cellular-150020542.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-ipad-deals-get-over-300-off-the-ipad-air-m3-with-cellular-150020542.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsq5fvm9hkk62l8kpxfvt9rteu0j876j2t55mjgc8rl8j2andu7yeqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfys7sx9k

2025-10-24T16:02:41Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fabf46bc0-b0ef-11f0-9dde-90090227a78b&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=94465c505f7b483233581ff59051e6b12dd05737
Stop me if you've heard this one before: YouTube TV may lose a provider's content because a deadline is approaching without a deal in place. This time, the media company is Disney. It's warning (via Variety) that its networks could soon go dark on Google's streaming service. The two sides are negotiating ahead of an October 30 midnight ET deadline. If they can't agree by then, all Disney content will disappear from YouTube TV. That includes (among others) all ESPN channels, local ABC stations, ABC News, FX, NatGeo, Disney Channel and Freeform. A YouTube spokesperson told Variety that if that should happen for "an extended period of time," subscribers will receive a $20 credit. One aspect of these battles is finger-pointing as each side tries to leverage public perception. Disney says YouTube is trying to muscle the mouse into paying below market value. Meanwhile, YouTube claims Disney is "proposing costly economic terms" that could lead to even higher subscription fees. YouTube TV launched at $35 per month in 2017 and now costs a whopping $83 monthly. If recent history is any indication, you can expect the dire warnings of content removal to continue until they strike a deal at the last second. That already happened several times this year. In February, YouTube TV and Paramount had that dance. Google's streaming network and Fox came to a renewal deal in August after repeated content-removal warnings. YouTube TV and NBCUniversal did the thing earlier this month. However, in that case, the streaming service dropped Univision and other TelevisaUnivision networks, so tidy deals aren't inevitable. Time will tell how this one plays out, but it's hard to imagine either side here wanting to play chicken past the October 30 deadline.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/disney-warns-that-youtube-tv-could-lose-its-channels-amid-fee-negotations-155347776.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/disney-warns-that-youtube-tv-could-lose-its-channels-amid-fee-negotations-155347776.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsduac6k88wm8g7a2emd22u4tgv7jhnux2dmkgtrclu8amas8ttajgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy0690n8

2025-10-24T15:08:56Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FDSC_5494.jpg&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=bcc0c610bef37652d824f919621b2cf771f9e8f8
High-resolution audio on the go isn’t very convenient. It typically involves wired headphones and a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) of some kind, plus your phone or another device to access files or a streaming service. All of this is necessary since Bluetooth compresses an audio signal by design, to allow for low-latency transmission and minimize battery draw. Simply put, wireless headphones haven’t been able to meet the demands of lossless audio, but Sennheiser has come the closest to fulfilling the dream with its HDB 630 ($500). Thanks to redesigned drivers, a new acoustic platform and a dongle, the company offers up to 24-bit/96kHz audio on the HDB 630 — depending on your configuration. You also get above average active noise cancellation (ANC), a highly customizable EQ, shockingly long battery life and advanced features to fine-tune the headphones to your liking. For some, the best possible sound is still only found on pricey setups and open-back headphones. For everyone else, Sennheiser has provided a taste of the audiophile life in a much more portable package. Design Sennheiser says the HDB 630 “inherited” the same chassis from its Momentum 4 headphones. That’s unfortunate because my biggest complaint with that older model's redesign is how cheap it looked compared to previous entries in the Momentum line. The HDB 630 suffers the same fate, although the splash of silver on the headband and yokes helps things a bit. Simply put, these don’t look like a set of $500 headphones, and since they’re $150 more than their predecessor was at launch, they really should have a more premium appearance. The outside of the right ear cup is still a touch panel where you can swipe, tap and even pinch to control the HDB 630. I don’t recall another set of headphones with a pinch gesture, and I’m still not convinced it’s warranted. The action is used to enable an Adaptive ANC adjustment that allows you to dial in the amount of noise blocking you need. After the pinch, sliding a single finger forwards and backwards fine tunes the mix of ANC and transparency mode. It’s a nice option to have on the headphones themselves, I just think a triple tap to activate it would be easier to master — and remember. The only other button on the HDB 630 is for power and Bluetooth pairing. Unless you’re frequently connecting these headphones to a new device, you might not be reaching for this control very often. That’s because the HDB 630 goes into standby mode when you take them off before powering down completely after 15 minutes of inactivity. You can extend that window to 30 or 60 minutes if you prefer. And if the headphones still have battery left, you can return to active mode by simply putting them back on your head. Sennheiser is betting you’ll use the HDB 630 for long listening sessions, so it outfitted these headphones with soft ear pads and a well-cushioned headband. The clamping force is adequate for a proper ANC seal, but never becomes a burden. And despite being around 20 grams heavier than the Momentum 4, this model still feels balanced and doesn’t weigh you down. Sound quality The HDB 630 features new drivers and a specially designed acoustic system. Billy Steele for Engadget While the overall design may be familiar, the sound platform for the HDB 630 is completely new. 42mm drivers offer what Sennheiser says is “neutral sound with lifelike mids, stunning detail and a wide soundstage.” In order to deliver sound quality that’s as close to open-back headphones as possible, the company overhauled the entire acoustic system, from the drivers to the baffle’s transparent mesh, in the name of balance and clarity. And since audiophile headphones typically require a dedicated external amplifier to achieve their full potential, Sennheiser included a BTD 700 USB-C dongle for high-resolution wireless audio transmission. When I first put the HDB 630 on, I thought the audio quality was good but not great. Listening over the standard definition SBC codec produced decent results, but it wasn’t anything to write home about. Once I connected to the BTD 700 dongle and unlocked 16-bit/48kHz tunes from Apple Music, though, these headphones really started to impress. As good as they are, the HDB 630 may not be for everyone. That “neutral” stock tuning places high emphasis on the midrange, so you’ll likely need to make some adjustments to get the bass performance you crave from rock, electronic, hip-hop and other genres driven by low-end tone. While I concede the neutral base is a great starting point, and the HDB 630 does indeed showcase “stunning detail,” I’d argue Sennheiser’s promise of “a wide soundstage” doesn’t always hold true. These headphones are at their best with more immersive content, like the TRON: Ares soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails. After a slight adjustment, the electronic score had the booming bass it needed, offering driving beats that nearly rattled my brain. All that was layered with rich synths and Trent Reznor’s iconic vocals. The texture and distortion in the instruments came through in greater detail too, something that’s not as apparent on other headphones and earbuds. Switch over to Thrice’s Horizons/West and the HDB 630 is a different story. Transitioning from synth-heavy electronic music to a genre like rock causes these headphones to lose some of the immersive character they are capable of delivering. You still get absurd clarity and detail, particularly in Teppei Teranishi’s guitar riffs, but the music sounds slightly flatter and a little less energetic. It’s not bad by any means, but some genres won’t envelope you as much as others do. You can also use the HDB 630 wired over USB-C for lossless-quality audio. Since a number of competitors also do this, I dedicated the bulk of my testing to see if Sennheiser’s wireless dongle is meaningfully different. Of course, I did my due diligence and tested the wired configuration a few times, and it should come as no surprise that the HDB 630 sounds just as good in that setup. Software, features and accessories There's only one button on the HDB 630. Billy Steele for Engadget As I mentioned, the HDB 630 comes with Sennheiser’s BTD 700 Bluetooth USB dongle. This enables higher quality streaming than you’ll natively get from most devices. With the BTD 700, you can expect aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless listening up at rates to 24-bit/96kHz. The dongle also has a 30ms low-latency gaming mode, (supposedly) enhanced call performance and Auracast support for streaming to multiple headphones or speakers. The BTD 700 has a USB-C connector, but it comes with a USB-A adapter if you need it. This typically costs $60 if you buy it on its own, and since you need it to unlock the HDB 630’s full potential, it’s great to see it included in the box. The HDB 630’s settings and features are accessible in the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app. And for this model, the company is offering a lot more customization than it does on the Accentum or Momentum headphones. First, the EQ editing options are more robust thanks to a parametric equalizer, which allows you to get a lot more detailed with your custom presets. For example, I was able to add the low-end tone I feel is missing from the stock tuning for those metal, rock and hip-hop tracks I mentioned before. And unlike a lot of headphone apps, adjusting the EQ actually improves the sound instead of just muddying things further. Another sound-related addition for the HDB 630 is Crossfeed. This allows you to blend the left and right channels so that it seems like you’re listening to speakers instead of headphones. Unfortunately, you only get two options here — Low and High — but the effect certainly enhances the sonic profile of the HDB 630 at both settings. Despite the BTD 700 dongle’s Mac and Windows compatibility, there’s no desktop version of the Smart Control Plus app. This means you’ll have to change all of your settings with the HDB 630 through your phone before you pair it with both the dongle and your computer. It would be nice if you could make EQ adjustments, create new presets and even change Crossfeed levels without having to reconnect to another device. This also means you can’t be connected to the BTD 700 and both your phone and your computer, since the dongle takes one of the two available multipoint Bluetooth slots. Active noise cancellation and call quality The HDB 630 has a very basic design with lots of plastic. Billy Steele for Engadget When it comes to ANC performance, I’m not entirely sure that the HDB 630 is better than the Momentum 4. But that’s okay. That previous model brought a significant improvement compared to Sennheiser’s older wireless headphones and the ANC is still quite good here. In fact, it was robust enough to block my family’s voices during their calls while I worked from home, and since most headphones struggle with this, that’s no mean feat. Sennheiser says the BTD 700 dongle will give you improved voice performance over the headphones alone. Specifically, the accessory should provide extended range, clearer voice pickup and, according to the company, “uninterrupted” calls. In my recorded samples, I think the headphones themselves sounded slightly better than when I captured my voice while connected to the BTD 700. However, I noticed a distinct lack of background noise in both clips, which is helpful in busier environments. I’ll also note the overall voice quality isn’t pristine, but it’s clear enough to use for work calls — even if you’re the main presenter. Battery life Sennheiser promises that you’ll get up to 60 hours of battery life on a charge with the HDB 630. That’s the same staggering figure the company claims on the Momentum 4. And yes, that’s with ANC enabled, but you’ll only achieve that if you’re listening to standard resolution tunes. Based on my testing with a mix of noise cancellation and transparency mode while I was listening to music and taking work calls, I have no reason to believe the company’s numbers don’t hold true. If you choose to listen entirely via the BTD 700’s higher quality output, you can expect up to 45 hours of use on a charge. That’s still quite a long time considering a lot of the competition runs out at around 30 hours — and that’s without high-res music. Due to all of the signal processing that helps with the acoustic performance on the HDB 630, they can only be used when they’re turned on. Unlike some wireless models, you can’t use these as wired headphones when the battery is spent. However, if you find yourself with a completely depleted battery, a 10-minute charge will give you up to seven hours of use. The company doesn’t specify streaming resolution for that number, but I assume it’s at standard definition. Still, you’ll get a few hours of higher-res music in that time, which should be enough to get you through a work session, evening commute or that new album you’re dying to play for the first time. The competition Incredible sound awaits, if you're okay to carry a dongle around with your headphones. Billy Steele for Engadget In the realm of flagship headphones, any company’s top-of-the-line model will set you back $500 these days. I look back fondly on the time when $300-$350 got you the best Sony had to offer. While the HDB 630 is expensive, it’s also in the same ballpark of what you’ll pay for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones ($450), the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($458 currently) and the AirPods Max ($549). Each of those have their advantages over the rest of the competition, with the 1000XM6 offering the most complete package overall. However, when it comes to pure sound quality, neither of those three are at the top of the heap. Up until now, that title belonged to the Noble Audio FoKus Apollo. At $650, those headphones are even more expensive than the HDB 630, but their stock tuning will appeal to more listeners and the soundstage is wider and more immersive. There’s also Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S3 for a slightly cheaper $479. It delivers the company’s warm, inviting sound and attention to finer details. After spending time with the HDB 630 though, these alternatives are just that — alternatives — as the new Sennheiser headphones are now my pick for best overall sound quality. Wrap-up I get it: in the current financial climate, $500 is a lot to pay for headphones (or anything else, for that matter). You can find a number of perfectly capable sets of ANC headphones for much less given how frequently things go on sale these days. However, what you won’t find is an option that gives you anything close to the performance of audiophile-grade, open-back headphones. That’s really what Sennheiser is doing here, and the HDB 630 slots nicely into the company’s HD 600 series of high-end cans. As good as the HDB 630 is sound-wise, I can also appreciate that these aren’t the best headphones for everyone. The company’s Momentum 4 is still a very capable set of headphones and it’s now available for about $250. If you crave the best sound quality that still offers the convenience of wireless headphones — and you’re okay with a few extra steps — the HDB 630 is a worthy investment. Just don’t leave home without that dongle.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sennheiser-hdb-630-review-a-sonic-marvel-with-room-for-improvement-150000295.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sennheiser-hdb-630-review-a-sonic-marvel-with-room-for-improvement-150000295.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsvlhtxcayds2k0f3y7ee6z4lh33ukwgevul8dula344dp9lvcpjzgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy4tew3u

2025-10-24T12:21:44Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F8dac97b0-b0d0-11f0-9ffb-1774b27a1c9d&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=96b550eddbcad7568e98048dcd3d6683159e43f8
The European Commission has found that Meta and TikTok had violated rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and is now giving them the chance to comply if they don't want to be fined up to 6 percent of their total worldwide annual turnover. According to the Commission, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have "put in place burdensome procedures and tools" for researchers who want to request access to public data. This means they're stuck with incomplete or unreliable information if they want to do research on topics like how minors are exposed to illegal or harmful content online. "Allowing researchers access to platforms' data is an essential transparency obligation under the DSA," the Commission wrote. In addition, the Commission is charging Meta over the lack of a user-friendly mechanism that would allow users to easily report posts with illegal content, such as child sexual abuse materials. The Commission explained that Facebook and Instagram use mechanisms that require several steps to be able to flag posts, and they use dark interface designs that make reporting confusing and dissuading. All those factors are in breach of DSA rules that require online platforms to give EU users easy-to-use mechanisms to be able to report illegal content. Under the DSA, users must also be able to challenge social networks' decisions to remove their posts or suspend their accounts. The Commission found that neither Facebook nor Instagram allow users to explain their sides or provide evidence to substantiate their appeals, which limits the effectiveness of the appeal process. Meta and TikTok will be able to examine the Commission's investigation files and to reply in writing about its findings. They'll also have the opportunity to implement changes to comply with DSA rules, and it's only if the Commission decides they're non-compliant that they can be fined up to 6 percent of their global annual turnover. Meta disagreed that it had breached DSA rules, according to Financial Times. "In the European Union, we have introduced changes to our content reporting options, appeals process, and data access tools since the DSA came into force and are confident that these solutions match what is required under the law in the EU," it said in a statement. Meanwhile, TikTok said it was reviewing the Commission's findings but that "requirements to ease data safeguards place the DSA and GDPR in direct tension." It's asking regulators for guidance on "how these obligations should be reconciled."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/eu-charges-meta-and-tiktok-over-failures-to-tackle-illegal-content-121533180.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/eu-charges-meta-and-tiktok-over-failures-to-tackle-illegal-content-121533180.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs8zhxn0vprge33njpaav9qexn85x4ys7w3uw3kg5sgd3ll3pec34gzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyqe2af0

2025-10-24T06:19:00Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fb91dca60-b08d-11f0-aef7-4647b8eecf6a&resize=1400%2C824&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=95e0cb3499d718bd139ab9be3eb9cc540063c216
As we've seen with Toyota's Prius Prime, putting a solar panel on a car's roof is a nifty idea but can only gain you a few free miles a day due to the limited size. With a new prototype of its hyper-popular Sakura "kei" EV, Nissan has the answer: a bigger solar panel roof called the AO-Solar Extender. When fully stretched out on a sunny day, it can add about 1,864 miles of driving distance a year and power multiple accessories. The panel works whether you're driving or parked. When extended (in "solar pompadour" mode as my colleague put it), it generates 500 watts on sunny days. At the same time, it helps block sunlight from the windshield, "reducing cabin temperature and lowering the need for air conditioning power consumption," Nissan noted. NISSAN DESIGN When retracted in driving mode, it still pumps out 300 watts in the sun (80 watts in the rain), quite a bit more than the 185 watts max generated by the Prius Prime's solar roof. And if you're worried about aerodynamics, Nissan said the roof is designed to minimize drag and integrate well with the Sakura's design. It's not just a fun exercise, as Nissan said it's planning to launch the AO-Solar Extender commercially, with details to follow at a later date. It could be a useful accessory on the Sakura, which has been Japan's most popular EV since 2022 thanks to its "sufficient" range, cute kei looks and spacious interior. The automaker will show it off at the Japan Mobility Show starting on October 30, 2025. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nissan-made-a-nifty-solar-panel-system-for-its-sakura-ev-061235566.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nissan-made-a-nifty-solar-panel-system-for-its-sakura-ev-061235566.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs2sw6vmmv4yzskarn4qkyw34kxwhyayswhuxukfhmwsecgqnppeyqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyw7nn4s

2025-10-23T22:27:59Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fimages%2F2025-09%2F4a092413-a24b-4654-9c1a-dcd5465f88fe&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=db64e854eb792990ba7b5590539e3c0a300ee8e8
Electronic Arts has announced a new partnership with Stability AI, the creator of AI image generation tool Stable Diffusion. The company will "co-develop transformative AI models, tools, and workflows" for the game developer, with the hopes of speeding up development while maintaining quality."I use the term smarter paintbrushes,” Steve Kestell, Head of Technical Art for EA SPORTS said in the announcement. "We are giving our creatives the tools to express what they want." To start, the "smarter paintbrushes" EA and Stability AI are building are concentrated on generating textures and in-game assets. EA hopes to create "Physically Based Rendering materials" with new tools "that generate 2D textures that maintain exact color and light accuracy across any environment." The company also describes using AI to "pre-visualize entire 3D environments from a series of intentional prompts, allowing artists to creatively direct the generation of game content." Stability AI is most famous for its powerful Stable Diffusion image generator, but the company maintains multiple tools for generating 3D models, too, so the partnership is by no means out of place.It helps that AI is on the tip of most video game executives' tongues. Strauss Zelnick, the head of Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two, recently shared that generative AI "will not reduce employment, it will increase employment," because "technology always increases productivity, which in turn increases GDP, which in turn increases employment." Krafton, the publisher of PUBG: Battlegrounds, made its commitment to AI even more clear, announcing plans on Thursday to become an AI-first company. Companies with a direct stake in the success of the AI industry, like Microsoft, have also created gaming-focused tools and developed models for prototyping. The motivations for EA might be even simpler, though. The company is in the midst of being taken private, and will soon be saddled with billions in debt. Theoretically cutting costs with AI might be one way the company hopes to survive the transition.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ea-partners-with-the-company-behind-stable-diffusion-to-make-games-with-ai-222253069.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ea-partners-with-the-company-behind-stable-diffusion-to-make-games-with-ai-222253069.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsx26mt0pgllemh7asnx4lfk64cx52d8eq2g4m82kadp0f60jwqrwczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyfpp2nu

2025-10-23T19:12:22Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F37ece110-b03d-11f0-beef-2cdf790dfa16&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=328e98dde1180c13da4eac13409ebbe98788a76c
When you're trying to keep Leica's digital camera lineups straight, the M-System was always the one with optical rangefinder display (and high price tag). However. the company just upended that precedent with the M EV1, a 60MP mirrorless camera with a classic M design but an electronic viewfinder (EVF) in place of the rangefinder. It may upset purists, but it's a move that makes sense from a sales point of view. Leica's old-school film cameras used its M mount lens system and, in order to keep the bodies compact, didn't have reflex mirrors like SLRs. Instead, they used an optical rangefinder, which provides a weird, offset and inaccurate view of the scene. Leica kept the rangefinders when it launched its digital M cameras, even though it could have switched to an EVF. Leica In 2014, Leica launched a more modern mirrorless camera lineup with the new SL mount that did use electronic viewfinders. However, they have always lacked the cachet, compact size and gorgeous looks of the M-System, so don't appeal as much to well-heeled buyers that want the full Leica experience. Enter the M EV1, which looks exactly like you want a Leica to look but boots the rangefinder in favor of an EVF. "Designed for both devoted Leica enthusiasts and those new to the M System, it makes capturing beautiful, intentional photographs easier than ever," the company wrote. Leica probably noticed buyers who wanted a pretty camera were drawn to the M series, but then put off by the wonky rangefinders. Handmade in German, the M EV1 is definitely beautiful, with the classic rounded rectangular M shape and a new diamond-patterned leatherette to give it a distinctive look compared to the rangefinder models. Leica also eliminated the dedicated ISO dial (the setting is now done via another control), which helped make it 1.62 ounces lighter than the M11-P. It has a new custom function lever that lets you activate focusing aids and digital zoom options while looking through the viewfinder. Leica That viewfinder is definitely a good one, with 5.76 million dots of resolution for a sharp view. The rear screen has a sharp 2.32-million-dot display, but is fixed in place and doesn't tilt. Otherwise, the M EV1 has similar specs to the M11-P. It has a high resolution 60MP sensor with support for 14-bit RAW images processed using Leica's excellent color science and burst speeds up to 4.5 fps. You can shoot with the mechanical shutter at up to 1/4000th and 1/16,000th in silent mode (flash sync is 1/180th). Focusing is strictly manual, with magnification and focus peaking assist functions. Naturally, it uses Leica's famous and tremendously expensive compact M mount lenses. There's no support for video. Though some features are old school, the M EV1 lets you connect to Leica's Fotos app via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or a cable for quick sharing on social media and elsewhere. It also supports Leica's Content Credentials system that enables the origin and history of an image to be clearly traced to avoid copyright theft or AI spoofing. Other features include 64GB of built-in storage along with UHS-II SD card support, and a meager 237 shots on a battery charge when using the EVF. Seeing the price is always a fun experience with a new Leica camera, and the M EV1 doesn't disappoint. It's now on pre-order for $8,995 (black, body only) with shipping set for later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/leicas-latest-m-camera-drops-the-rangefinder-in-favor-of-an-electronic-viewfinder-190547479.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/cameras/leicas-latest-m-camera-drops-the-rangefinder-in-favor-of-an-electronic-viewfinder-190547479.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs0kk3l30973k7e6jvktea6yvlk8ymptn8javdw25zpd5hec9drm9czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy70tv0p

2025-10-23T18:07:22Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FBoox-Palam-2-Pro&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=cc5519ce3b73056428152d582a0ae94ca254dff0
If Amazon's new lineup of Kindle Scribes didn't pique your interest, Boox, a long-time player in the E Ink gadget space, might have what you're looking for. The company's recently announced Boox Palma 2 Pro and Note Air5 C offer color E Ink displays in two distinct sizes, and unlike the Scribe or reMarkable Paper Pro Move, let you run any Android app you want.The Palma 2 Pro is the more notable of the two devices. It's a premium sequel to the Boox Palma, a phone-shaped E Ink device that originally became popular as a "healthy" and less distracting alternative to scrolling on a smartphone. The Palma 2 Pro improves on the original with a 6.3-inch color E Ink screen (a Kaleido display, the same one used on the Kobo Libra Colour) and support for 5G data through a new SIM card slot. The new Palma also runs Android 15, supports Boox's InkSense Plus stylus for taking notes and includes A-GPS for basic navigation. In other words, it's a much better smartphone replacement than before.A Boox Note Air5 C tablet in a keyboard cover.BooxThe Note Air5 C is a bit more familiar. The 10.3-inch E Ink Android tablet is basically a larger version of the Boox Go 7 and Go 7 Color devices Boox announced earlier this year, and an update to the Note Air4 C that's graced Engadget's list of best E Ink tablets. The main changes Boox has made to this new model are that it runs Android 15 and supports a keyboard cover through the addition of pogo pins on the back. This makes it easier to type up documents on the device, and theoretically lets it support other accessories down the road. Alongside the keyboard, Boox says the new Note Air's Pen3 stylus is more comfortable to hold, and includes a removable cap for storing extra tips. Using an E Ink Kaleido display means the Note Air5 C might not offer quite the same experience as an iPad Pro with iPadOS 26, but a newer version of Android and a keyboard gets it a lot closer.Both of Boox's new devices are available to order now, and should ship in November. The Boox Palma 2 Pro costs $400, while the Boox Note Air5 C costs $530, or $607 in a bundle with a keyboard cover.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/boox-updates-popular-palma-e-ink-device-with-color-and-5g-connectivity-180000230.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/boox-updates-popular-palma-e-ink-device-with-color-and-5g-connectivity-180000230.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqst4qhtgm0v58vgeatgzrv3nvzfkymh4yu5umfs7p8ymttnv63flkgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyp9kz59

2025-10-23T18:07:22Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FClaude-Memory-Desktop-Logo.png&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=d96b713da8dcb7f3029131717f46ba02cdad2c33
Back in August, Anthropic made Claude capable of remembering past conversations. With the update, people could reference specific chats, so that they wouldn't need to repeat themselves when revisiting a topic. Today, the company has begun out a new, enhanced memory feature set, with the included improvements coming to all paying users. Plenty of chatbots, including ChatGPT and Gemini, can remember past conversations, but Anthropic believes its implementation has a few legs up on the competition. For one, Claude will learn your preferences and work patterns over time, which Anthropic says will translate to the chatbot getting better at understanding how you work. Additionally, the company claims Claude is "fully transparent" about its memory, meaning users will see an "actual synthesis" of what it has recorded over time, instead of "vague summaries." If you want to edit its memory, you can do so through conversation. At the same, Anthropic has made it easy to compartmentalize the data Claude collects. When using the Projects feature to group conversations together, the chatbot will create a distinct memory space for each grouping. In this way, information Claude has saved from your work conversations won't bleed over to your personal chats, for example. If you're coming from ChatGPT or Gemini, Anthropic has made it possible to import saved memories from those chatbots to Claude. You can also export any tidbits of context Claude saves to other AI platforms. Ahead of today's announcement, Anthropic notes it conducted extensive testing to determine if Claude's new capabilities would lead to greater sycophancy and more harmful conversations. "Though this testing, we identified areas where Claude’s responses needed refinement and made targeted adjustments to how memory functions," the company said. "These iterations helped us build and improve the memory feature in a way that allows Claude to provide helpful and safe responses to users." Max subscribers can enable Claude new memory capabilities starting today, with availability for Pro users to follow in the coming days. The feature is fully optional, and won't be turned on unless you toggle it through the settings menu.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/claude-can-now-compartmentalize-as-part-of-a-major-memory-upgrade-170000194.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/claude-can-now-compartmentalize-as-part-of-a-major-memory-upgrade-170000194.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsg5uknn6d8u0r292zqdu8smjnpufyfjjyprc5hujzh9s2lwlkuw5czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyw3n6l8

2025-10-23T17:24:39Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FACS_screenshot_switch2_announce__1__%25281%2529.jpg&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=38864d779c8909b318a73d0f4bf00f032a822276
Assasin’s Creed Shadows is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2, Ubisoft announced today in its fall roadmap update. The Switch 2 drop will include all of the game’s updates aside from the recent Claws of Awaji expansion, which will be added in 2026. It’ll also support cross-progression through Ubisoft Connect, allowing players to continue a current game on the new platform. The Switch 2 version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will support a unique feature, too: touchscreen interactions in the menus, including the world map, store and hideout.Ubisoft’s fall roadmap for Assassin’s Creed Shadows has three major dates. On October 28, title update 10 will target the parkour system, adding an Advanced Parkour option and reintroducing the directional catch ledge mechanic, among other tweaks. This update will also add a new Animus themed activity called Corrupted Castles. Then, on November 25, Ubisoft will roll out a third story drop and a surprise collaboration. The new quest is called “A Puzzlement” and it’s sillier in tone than Shadows itself, “much more akin to something like AC Odyssey,” according to developers. In it, Naoe will learn a version of Yasuke’s war kick ability, and Yasuke will discover how to sneak-stun enemies. On December 2, the Switch 2 release caps off the roadmap.The Claws of Awaji expansion brought more than 10 hours of new content to Assassin’s Creed Shadows in September, introducing new weapons, abilities, gear, enemy factions, bosses and story beats, plus a fresh region to explore. This will all come to the Switch 2 version of the game later in 2026.Assassin’s Creed Shadows debuted on PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on March 20, 2025, and it’s a welcome bright spot in Ubisoft’s library. The studio recently released Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 and the consensus seems to be that it runs surprisingly well.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/assassins-creed-shadows-will-hit-switch-2-on-december-2-172338735.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/assassins-creed-shadows-will-hit-switch-2-on-december-2-172338735.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsz5k7d9cusrxyfrjwskyyajm8hkvkqrrftyksyyat6k72yyjq22qczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfycssf8e

2025-10-23T17:24:39Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F3de9ab70-b033-11f0-bf7f-f4f0ad9dd61f&resize=1400%2C897&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=8495e539d6b556ed5d4adcb896dd359906db4cb5
An environmental watchdog group has suggested that millions of tons of discarded electronics from the US turn up in Asia and the Middle East each month, according to a report by ABC News. This has created a "hidden tsunami" of e-waste. The Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN) conducted a two-year investigation into the matter and reportedly discovered at least ten US companies that exported used electronics to countries like Vietnam and Malaysia. This waste includes stuff like discarded phones and computers, which is an issue due to integrated toxic metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. All told, around 2,000 containers of e-waste leave the US each month, totaling around 33,000 metric tons. The companies behind these shipments are described as "e-waste brokers," as they don't recycle the waste themselves. Rather, they ship it off for someone else to deal with. These entities have names like Corporate eWaste Solutions, Semsotai, First America Metal Corp. and PPM Recycling. The ten companies named in the report allegedly exported e-waste valued at over $1 billion between January of 2023 and February of 2025. Trade could top out at more than $200 million each month across the industry. Semsotai has responded to the allegations, saying that it doesn't export scrap and only specializes in working components intended for reuse. It also accused BAN of bias. PPM Recycling accused BAN of exaggerating shipment volumes. Most of the companies named in the report, however, have chosen not to comment at this time. The report also indicates that US e-waste shipments allegedly made up six percent of all US exports to Malaysia between the years 2023 to 2025. “Malaysia suddenly became this mecca of junk,” said Jim Puckett of BAN. Containers have also been tracked to Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and the UAE. It's worth noting that global e-waste is growing five times quicker than recycling programs. The world produced 62 million metric tons of electronic waste in 2022, a number that's expected to climb to 82 million by 2030. This is according to the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union and its research arm, UNITAR Most countries around the world have banned these kinds of imports under the Basel Convention, which is an international treaty addressing hazardous waste trade. The US is the only industrialized nation that hasn't ratified the treaty. This means that America, which is the second largest producer of e-waste in the world, is not bound by any of the rules set forth in the Basel Convention.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/american-e-waste-is-causing-a-hidden-tsunami-of-junk-in-southeast-asia-171344351.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/american-e-waste-is-causing-a-hidden-tsunami-of-junk-in-southeast-asia-171344351.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsfy7spjee2wkclp9c4yu268fxfxt7rtmts0cyhtnf4dv6tz9l9lhczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyxtlzst

2025-10-23T17:01:59Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FClaude-Memory-Desktop-Logo.png&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=d96b713da8dcb7f3029131717f46ba02cdad2c33
Back in August, Anthropic made Claude capable of remembering past conversations. With the update, people could reference specific chats, so that they wouldn't need to repeat themselves when revisiting a topic. Today, the company has begun out a new, enhanced memory feature set, with the included improvements coming to all paying users. Plenty of chatbots, including ChatGPT and Gemini, can remember past conversations, but Anthropic believes its implementation has a few legs up on the competition. For one, Claude will learn your preferences and work patterns over time, which Anthropic says will translate to the chatbot getting better at understanding how you work. Additionally, the company claims Claude is "fully transparent" about its memory, meaning users will see an "actual synthesis" of what it has recorded over time, instead of "vague summaries." If you want to edit its memory, you can do so through conversation. At the same, Anthropic has made it easy to compartmentalize the data Claude collects. When using the Projects feature to group conversations together, the chatbot will create a distinct memory space for each grouping. In this way, information Claude has saved from your work conversations won't bleed over to your personal chats, for example. If you're coming from ChatGPT or Gemini, Anthropic has made it possible to import saved memories from those chatbots to Claude. You can also export any tidbits of context Claude saves to other AI platforms. Ahead of today's announcement, Anthropic notes it conducted extensive testing to determine if Claude's new capabilities would lead to greater sycophancy and more harmful conversations. "Though this testing, we identified areas where Claude’s responses needed refinement and made targeted adjustments to how memory functions," the company said. "These iterations helped us build and improve the memory feature in a way that allows Claude to provide helpful and safe responses to users." Max subscribers can enable Claude new memory capabilities starting today, with availability for Pro users to follow in the coming days. The feature is fully optional, and won't be turned on unless you toggle it through the settings menu.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/claude-can-now-compartmentalize-as-part-of-a-major-memory-upgrade-170000194.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/claude-can-now-compartmentalize-as-part-of-a-major-memory-upgrade-170000194.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs82f8mhkapvfy8lr6vz5h4ln7fmzujn72eue95x7q9z3kcs8kj5uqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy8k52jf

2025-10-23T16:51:32Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fae92ab70-b02d-11f0-bffd-2aacad89f09d&resize=1400%2C788&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=1cd312e47a71dc71771026639f7b8aa4e276b0fa
People are evidently never buying quite enough stuff from Amazon to keep the company entirely happy, and it's calling on AI once again to push indecisive shoppers into locking down the purchase they’ve been eyeing up. The new tool, which Amazon calls Help Me Decide, gives shoppers in the US personalized recommendations of products they should buy by analyzing their browsing history, searches and preferences. It’s designed to "help" customers who have been looking at a number of products in a particular category, such as wireless headphones, to decide which one best suits their needs. The Help Me Decide button will pop up on a product detail page when it detects that you’ve been browsing for a while without making a final choice. If you choose to tap for AI assistance, it will pull together all the information it can find on your relevant shopping history and recommend the product it deems the right choice for you. It also recommends an alternative upgrade pick and a similar product for those on a budget. Help Me Decide can also group together related searches. Amazon uses the example of the tool recommending an all-season tent for four people based on you previously looking for adult and kids’ sleeping bags that keep you warm, camping accessories and children’s hiking boots. The recommendation it chooses includes an explanation of why it’s the best pick for you based on its features and your previous purchases, and pulls in customer reviews to back it up. This suggests that how useful the recommendations are will ultimately come down to how much you take notice of customer reviews. When searching for products to recommend to you, Help Me Decide leverages Amazon's Bedrock and SageMaker machine learning platforms, as well as its OpenSearch tool, to marry up all the different factors it takes into consideration. It follows the introduction of the Interests tool earlier this year, which uses AI to generate shopping results based on your natural language prompts. Back In May, the company also started experimenting with AI-generated hosts that can summarise products for you before you buy them, again relying heavily on customer reviews for its information. Help Me Decide is live in the US now and can be found in the Amazon app (iOS and Android) and mobile browser. If you tap “Keep shopping for” it should show up, and will do the same on a product detail page after you’ve looked at a number of products in a related category.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-calls-on-ai-once-again-with-its-new-help-me-decide-shopping-tool-164516673.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-calls-on-ai-once-again-with-its-new-help-me-decide-shopping-tool-164516673.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsztv7ke27y2j93y6juyu6277mmmqw7f4vemc6vc4wxg9x95s2s6fgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfysnv8m6

2025-10-23T15:47:32Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F6e8613f0-b023-11f0-b7fd-4eb365d3072d&resize=1400%2C892&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=f55e0eb43a5ebcad6a62ce54597412b105bd9a71
Europe's big three aerospace manufacturers are combining their space divisions to create a joint business. This "leading European player in space" could be a real rival to America's SpaceX, according to reporting by Financial Times. The companies Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have finalized this deal. The new unnamed entity will be based in France and will employ around 25,000 people. Airbus will own 35 percent, while the other two companies will each own 32.5 percent. Thales, Leonardo and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at creating a leading European player in space. 🇪🇺Read the full announcement here: https://t.co/bbhPWU5hWd#Europe #Space @Airbus @Leonardo_live @Thales_Alenia_S @Telespazio @AirbusSpace @LDO_Space pic.twitter.com/iz8IsChAhb— Thales Group (@thalesgroup) October 23, 2025 Executives are hoping this company will better serve Europe's need for "sovereignty" in space and help it create a rival to SpaceX's Starlink communications network. Increasing a presence in space is also seen as a good thing for security and defense. "This proposed new company marks a pivotal milestone for Europe’s space industry. It embodies our shared vision to build a stronger and more competitive European presence in an increasingly dynamic global space market," the companies wrote in a joint statement. "By pooling our talent, resources, expertise and R&D capabilities, we aim to generate growth, accelerate innovation and deliver greater value to our customers and stakeholders." This isn't just bluster. Thales and Airbus have long been rivals in the satellite market, but it looks like they are friends now. Leonardo is known for space systems and services. Combining all three could actually give SpaceX a run for its money, but we will have to wait and see. There are no planned site closures, as the companies say that each home country will keep its existing capabilities. This will be a standalone company, so think of it as an extremely well-financed startup. The first task for the upstart? Reporting indicates it'll be to find more efficient ways to develop and manufacture satellites. Discussions about this merger have been going on since 2019. Regulators still have to approve the deal, though the companies say they expect the new entity will be operational by 2027. Starship reenters Earth’s atmosphere on Flight 11. Data gathered from this flight will inform future Starship missions that will return to the launch site for catch and reuse pic.twitter.com/34WV9ZVtAA— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 17, 2025 As for SpaceX, the company is currently developing a next-gen version of its Starship super-heavy lift vehicle. It's also slowly planning a manned mission to the moon, but that recently hit a snag that could mandate a lengthy delay.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/europes-big-three-aerospace-manufacturers-combine-their-space-divisions-to-create-a-rival-to-spacex-153424228.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/science/space/europes-big-three-aerospace-manufacturers-combine-their-space-divisions-to-create-a-rival-to-spacex-153424228.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsrzv36j6eywtf34l0shsgxp9zql7yvpctlr8s8884pefzwps5ufjczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyaz5m0p

2025-10-23T15:15:52Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Faae77100-b01d-11f0-af79-26d2ab4ca788&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=95435c88dd82c0455aba1df22296c2dfbdaf2283
The last 12 months have been pretty depressing for anyone invested in the long-term future of Xbox and the general health of the games industry. Back in May, Microsoft laid off 3 percent of its global workforce, with the company’s gaming division being one of the big casualties, and a number of upcoming titles were subsequently canceled. It painted a picture of a brand in crisis, but according to a new report, Microsoft has been setting its gaming division unrealistic profit targets for several years. Sources told Bloomberg that in 2023, Microsoft implemented an "across-the-board goal" of 30 percent profit margins, which the report says Microsoft calls "accountability margins" internally. As Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reports, this target, which was set by Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood in fall 2023, is far above the recent industry average of 17-22 percent quoted by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Schreier adds that Xbox’s own average in the last six years is between 10 and 20 percent. S&P Global analyst Neil Barbour told Bloomberg that Microsoft’s 30 percent target is the kind of margin "usually reserved for a publisher that is really nailing it." This is despite its gaming division only landing at 12 percent in the first nine months of 2022, as quoted in the report. A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg that it views individual games and projects differently with regards to what constitutes success, adding that it sometimes has to making tough decisions, including ending development on games, so it can shift its resources toward the projects that are "more aligned with our direction and priorities." The new profit targets were introduced in the same year that Microsoft finally completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, landing it hugely popular franchises such as Call of Duty and Diablo. Back in 2020 it acquired ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda, which means that long-running series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout also now sit under the umbrella of Xbox’s gaming division. Since 2018, Microsoft has been putting all of its first-party releases on Game Pass from day one, but this model has contributed to games failing to hit their 30 percent profit margin targets, according to Bloomberg’s sources. Xbox does offer developers a credit it calls "member-weighted value," which takes into consideration factors such as the collective number of hours Game Pass subscribers have spent in a game, although this formula tends to benefit multiplayer titles the most. Going forward, Bloomberg’s sources said Microsoft is likely to favor funding games with cheap development costs and proven revenue-generators over riskier projects. Xbox has been successful in bringing some of its first-party games to other platforms, including its primary rival in Sony’s PS5, with major titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle making the jump in the last 12 months. In the wake of Microsoft raising the price of Xbox consoles in the US last month, the second time it has done so in 2025, it also slapped Game Pass Ultimate with a 50 percent subscription fee hike at the start of October. This week the company increased the cost of Xbox dev kits by $500.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-reportedly-ordered-its-xbox-division-to-boost-profits-to-an-unrealistic-level-150210398.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-reportedly-ordered-its-xbox-division-to-boost-profits-to-an-unrealistic-level-150210398.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsd5kfdnj3wldc7sx4qzksm53hsxhzkvxtxa8ps055fajq6tr74gygzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyysm9aw

2025-10-23T13:07:58Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F27aa10e0-b004-11f0-bdff-58252756e7fe&resize=1400%2C917&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=b04b33c4420a391f68d528e094dd7446a90a4bfa
Dropbox is integrating some of Dash's AI features into its main app, giving its users access to a smarter search function, summaries and contextual answers from the files they've uploaded to the app. The company launched Dash back in 2023 as an "AI-powered universal search bar" that people can use to find information in their work-related apps like Slack, Canva, Google Workspace and Microsoft Outlook. However, it's primarily a tool for larger businesses that use Dropbox. This time, though, the company is bringing its search capabilities into the main app for everyone to use. For now, the Dash AI-powered capabilities in the Dropbox app are only available to a small group of users, but they will be widely available in the coming months. Like most other AI chatbots, the AI in the app will allow users to use natural language to describe what they're looking for, whether it's a PDF or a photo. They can also ask the AI to summarize or find what's new in specific files already in their account. Dropbox is working with a startup called Mobius Labs, as well, to give Dash AI the capabilities to search within videos, audio and images "soon." Those who'd like to give Dash's AI features in the Dropbox app a try can sign up for the waitlist if they haven't been invited to test them out yet. Meanwhile, the Dash app itself is now available to teams of all sizes even if they don't have a Dropbox plan. Dropbox This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/dropbox-is-bringing-its-dash-ai-features-into-the-main-app-130013854.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/dropbox-is-bringing-its-dash-ai-features-into-the-main-app-130013854.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs2nyxwguh6rm7awcncsg4qtqus2ysttcans7dd8hgelmellnhu0ygzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfypv6nkh

2025-10-23T13:07:58Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F45cb92b0-afeb-11f0-9ebe-cac4805128a1&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=d90a70daea69929d0d7056a4f57e3c34586bd54a
Meta has removed a deepfake AI video of Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly, which featured a false depiction of the politician saying that she's withdrawing from the election. According to The Irish Times, the AI-generated video was shared nearly 30,000 times on Facebook just days before Ireland's election on October 24 prior to it being removed from the website. Connolly called the video "a disgraceful attempt to mislead voters and undermine [Ireland's] democracy" and assured voters that she was "absolutely still a candidate for President of Ireland." The video was posted by an account which had named itself RTÉ News AI, which is not affiliated with the actual Irish public service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. It copied the likenesses not just of Connolly, but also of legitimate RTÉ journalist Sharon Ní Bheoláin and correspondent Paul Cunningham. "It is with great regret that I announce the withdrawal of my candidacy and the ending of my campaign," the AI version of Connolly said in the fake video. Ní Bheoláin was shown reporting about the announcement and confirming the candidate's withdrawal from the race. The AI version of Cunningham then announced that the election was cancelled and will no longer take place, with Connolly's opponent Heather Humphreys automatically winning. Connolly, an independent candidate, is leading the latest polls with 44 points. Meta removed the RTÉ News AI account completely after being contacted by the Irish Independent. The company told The Irish Times that it removed the video and account for violating its community standards, particularly its policy prohibiting content that impersonates or falsely represents people. Irish media regulator Coimisiún na Meán said it was aware of the video and had asked Meta about the immediate measures it took in response to the incident. Meta has been struggling to keep deepfake and maliciously edited videos featuring celebrities and politicians under control for years now. The company's Oversight Board warned it earlier this year that it wasn't doing enough to enforce its own rules and urged it to train content reviewers on "indicators" of AI-manipulated content. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-removes-ai-deepfake-video-of-irish-presidential-candidate-130059996.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-removes-ai-deepfake-video-of-irish-presidential-candidate-130059996.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsq3e0z6hf3ednhryx0at4yzvsprszaav72954we3syupqwrs4qgfszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy7ha9r8

2025-10-23T12:26:27Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F2cef4930-ae88-11f0-95fe-f3347201da33&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=6bbc9c08fe3188d2ff512c673c8a75d463c0fdfa
A portable battery is a necessity now, especially if your phone's battery has seen better days. But a portable battery is useless if you don't have the proper cords to connect your devices to it, so you often need to remember to pack more than just one thing. A few battery packs solve that problem, including Anker's Nano Power Bank. Now our choice for best portable charger for Android is even more tempting, thanks to a 36 percent markdown. The Anker Nano Power Bank is down to $19 from $30 in the USB-C model. The discount is available in the classic Black or White and the more fun colors Ice Lake Blue, Lilac Purple and Sprout Green. You can use Anker's Nano Power Bank with devices such as the iPhone 15 and newer, Samsung S22 and S23 series, AirPods and the iPad Pro or Air. It's good for a quick boost: we found that its 5,000mAh battery can charge a depleted Galaxy S23 Ultra to 65 percent in about an hour. It also has four indcator lights on it that show how much it's charged. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-anker-5k-power-bank-with-built-in-usb-c-connector-is-on-sale-for-less-than-20-145408299.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-anker-5k-power-bank-with-built-in-usb-c-connector-is-on-sale-for-less-than-20-145408299.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsx2f064yzjw5dctc3ffkd8lmshzex4alpe7pf0vhenanrhvp6hmdczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy5e2lf5

2025-10-23T04:16:56Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F8c09eb40-afbf-11f0-bfef-d8672dee2766&resize=1400%2C856&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=36b80766e07ac68094f65dd44f9e5ad802e8bef5
Amazon has revealed that it's currently working on smart glasses designed for delivery drivers, confirming previous reports about the project. The company said that glasses use AI-powered sensing capabilities and computer vision to detect what their cameras are seeing. Drivers then get guidance through the glasses' heads-up display (HUD) embedded right into the lens. Based on Amazon's announcement, it's been working on the glasses for a while, and hundreds of delivery drivers had already tested early versions to provide the company with feedback. The glasses automatically activate after the driver parks their vehicle. They then show users the right packages to deliver, according to their location. Users will see the list of packages they have to take out on the HUD, and the glasses can even tell them if they pull out the right package from their pile. When they get out of their vehicle, the glasses will display turn-by-turn navigation to the delivery address and will also show them hazards along the way, as well as help them navigate complex locations like apartment buildings. Simply put, the device allows them to find delivery addresses and drop off packages without having to use their phones. Drivers will even be able to capture proof of delivery with the wearable. Amazon's glasses will be paired with a vest that's fitted with a controller and a dedicated emergency button drivers can press to call emergency services along their routes. The device comes with a swappable battery to ensure all-day use and can be fitted with prescription and transitional lenses if the drivers need them. Amazon expects future versions of the glasses to be able to notify drivers if they're dropping a package at the wrong address and to be able to detect and notify them about more hazardous elements, like if there's a pet in the yard. In the annual event wherein the company announced the device, Amazon transportation vice president Beryl Tomay said it "reduces the need to manage a phone and a package" and helps drivers "stay at attention, which enhances their safety." She also said that among the testers, Amazon had seen time savings of 30 minutes for a given shit. The company didn't say anything about developing smart glasses for consumers, but The Information's previous report said that it's also working on a model for the general public slated to be released in late 2026 or early 2027. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/amazons-smart-glasses-with-ai-will-help-its-drivers-deliver-packages-faster-041009681.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/wearables/amazons-smart-glasses-with-ai-will-help-its-drivers-deliver-packages-faster-041009681.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsr34xhxk0fazkumhvw4dlyt8wld399cam0q9nknklk2fgcmnh4wfqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfynkzfkx

2025-10-22T20:56:55Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2Freddit-wordmark-header.jpg&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=142e8feeaaed1ed5778972231f6ef998a110d9b5
Reddit is suing companies SerApi, OxyLabs, AWMProxy and Perplexity for allegedly scraping its data from search results and using it without a license, The New York Times reports. The new lawsuit follows legal action against AI startup Anthropic, who allegedly used Reddit content to train its Claude chatbot. As of 2023, Reddit charges companies looking access to posts and other content in the hopes of making money on data that could be used for AI training. The company has also signed licensing deals with companies like Google and OpenAI, and even built an AI answer machine of its own to leverage the knowledge in users' posts. Scraping search results for Reddit content avoids those payments, which is why the company is seeking financial damages and a permanent injunction that prevents companies from selling previously scraped Reddit material.Some of the companies Reddit is focused on, like SerApi, OxyLabs and AWMProxy, are not exactly household names, but they've all made collecting data from search results and selling it a key part of their business. Perplexity's inclusion in the lawsuit might be more obvious. The AI company needs data to train its models, and has already been caught seemingly copying and regurgitating material it hasn't paid to license. That also includes reportedly ignoring the robots.txt protocol, a way for websites to communicate that they don't want their material scraped.Per a copy of the lawsuit provided to Engadget, Reddit had already sent a cease-and-desist to Perplexity asking it to stop scraping posts without a license. The company claimed it didn't use Reddit data, but it also continued to cite the platform in answers from its chatbot. Reddit says it was able to prove Perplexity was using scraped Reddit content by creating a "test post" that "could only be crawled by Google’s search engine and was not otherwise accessible anywhere on the internet." Within a few hours, queries made to Perplexity's answer engine were able to reproduce the content of the post. "The only way that Perplexity could have obtained that Reddit content and then used it in its 'answer engine' is if it and/or its co-defendants scraped Google [search results] for that Reddit content and Perplexity then quickly incorporated that data into its answer engine," the lawsuit claims. When asked to comment, Perplexity provided the following statement: Perplexity has not yet received the lawsuit, but we will always fight vigorously for users’ rights to freely and fairly access public knowledge. Our approach remains principled and responsible as we provide factual answers with accurate AI, and we will not tolerate threats against openness and the public interest.This new lawsuit fits with the aggressive stance Reddit has taken towards protecting its data, including rate-limiting unknown bots and web crawlers in 2024, and even limiting what access the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine has to its site in August 2025. The company has also sought to define new terms around how websites are crawled by adopting the Really Simple Licensing standard, which adds licensing terms to robots.txt.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/reddit-sues-perplexity-and-three-other-companies-for-allegedly-using-its-content-without-paying-205136436.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/reddit-sues-perplexity-and-three-other-companies-for-allegedly-using-its-content-without-paying-205136436.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqswuk0n7ww3f2t8alss2hhkan22m4yv5n4fls6w7g8d8xu8f7kcuvszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfykucfvw

2025-10-22T18:37:45Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FGoogle-Quantum-Echoes-diagram.jpg&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=4bbd3d37009465cdb1e0b14ba2888acc891aabd4
Enabled by the introduction of its Willow quantum chip last year, Google today claims it's conducted breakthrough research that confirms it can create real-world applications for quantum computers. The company's Quantum Echoes algorithm, detailed in a paper published in Nature, is a demonstration of "the first-ever verifiable quantum advantage running the out-of-order time correlator (OTOC) algorithm."A core belief in quantum computing is that developing computer systems with qubits — which can represent multiple states at once, as opposed to binary ones and zeroes — could lead to greater understanding of the quantum systems surrounding us. Google believes its new algorithm is further proof of that assumption. The Quantum Echoes algorithm is able to illustrate how different parts of a quantum system interact with each other, in a way that's repeatable by other quantum computers and that "runs 13,000 times faster on Willow than the best classical algorithm on one of the world’s fastest supercomputers."The "echo" in Quantum Echoes comes from how Google's algorithm interacts with a quantum system, in this case the Willow chip. "We send a carefully crafted signal into our quantum system (qubits on Willow chip), perturb one qubit, then precisely reverse the signal’s evolution to listen for the 'echo' that comes back," the company explained in its announcement blog. That echo is magnified by the "constructive interference" of quantum waves, making the measurement Google is able to take extremely sensitive.That sensitivity suggests quantum computers could be an important tool in modeling things like the interaction of particles or the structure of molecules. In a separate experiment with the University of California, Berkeley, Google tried to prove that by running the Quantum Echoes algorithm to study two different molecules, and comparing it to the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) method currently used by scientists to understand chemical structure. The results from both systems matched, and Google says Quantum Echoes even "revealed information not usually available from NMR."In the longterm, a full-scale quantum computer could be used for everything from drug discovery to the development of new battery components. For now though, Google believes its Quantum Echoes research means real-world quantum computer applications could arrive within the next five years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/google-says-it-made-a-breakthrough-toward-practical-quantum-computing-183502245.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/science/google-says-it-made-a-breakthrough-toward-practical-quantum-computing-183502245.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqst3ew8egyqm7j2lgcrnc0kn2frj50gsz9wly3lrcl4vcg6n8ddw9gzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyzs44pa

2025-10-22T18:16:25Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2023-09%2Fd748b2c0-4db1-11ee-af75-4f56b5c7b7fc&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=4982377290a0b703dee595a2ccfc56935003b313
Google Gemini is coming to GM vehicles in 2026. The company will be integrating a conversational AI assistant powered by Google's platform into many of its cars, trucks and SUVs. GM says this assistant will be able to access vehicle data to suss out maintenance concerns, alerting the driver when necessary. The company also promises it'll be able to help plan routes and explain various features of the car. It should also be able to do stuff like turn on the heat or air conditioning, even before entering the vehicle. This will replace the "Google built-in" operating system that already exists in many GM vehicles. This OS already offers access to stuff like Google Maps, Google Assistant and related apps. The upcoming Gemini-based chat assistant will do the same type of things, but it should perform better. “One of the challenges with current voice assistants is that, if you’ve used the, you’ve probably also been frustrated by them because they’re trained on certain code words or they don’t understand accents very well or if you don’t say it quite right, you don’t get the right response,” GM VP Dave Richardson told TechCrunch. “What’s great about large language models is they don’t seem to be affected by that." One brand-new feature that Gemini will bring to the table is web integration. This will let drivers ask the chatbot questions pertaining to geographic location and the like. GM gives an example of someone asking about the history of a bridge they are passing over. The Gemini assistant will be available via the Play Store after launch as an over-the-air upgrade to Onstar-equipped vehicles. It won't be limited to newer releases, as GM says it'll work with vehicles from the model year 2015 and above. The company also says it's working on its own AI chatbot that has been "custom-built for your vehicle." There's no timetable on that one. GM ran into hot water recently when it was found that it had been selling some customer information sourced from its OnStar Smart Driver program to insurance companies without user consent. This led to the FTC banning the company from selling any driver data for five years. Richardson says the Gemini integration will be privacy-focused and the software will let drivers control what information it can access and use. GM The company made these announcements at the GM Forward media event, where it also discussed other forthcoming initiatives. It has scheduled a rollout of its self-driving platform for 2028. It's also developing its own computing platform, also launching in 2028. This does mean that GM will be sunsetting integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This software will be phased out over the next few years. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/google-gemini-will-arrive-in-gm-cars-starting-next-year-181249237.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/google-gemini-will-arrive-in-gm-cars-starting-next-year-181249237.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsvz532xg9cfckuk2t92d6lrm7qqd9c7897knu6fws9p5runs6ph7czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyky6u26

2025-10-22T17:43:35Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2Ftmb_.jpg&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=1d6521d67ac80c0ff6b55ceb1b99b9667070ec49
Ever since Rivian spun off its "micromobility business" into a standalone startup called Also earlier this year, there's been much speculation about what kind of vehicles the company is working on. Now, Also is showing off its first products: a lineup of e-bikes and two pedal-assisted electric quads. The TM-B e-bike is Also's attempt at a do-it-all e-bike that can adapt to different use cases whether that's daily commuting, trail riding or kid and cargo-hauling. It sports a modular frame that can also accommodate a bench seat or rear cargo rack that supports up to 35KG of weight. It only comes in one frame size, but Also says it should be able to adapt to "multiple body sizes." The removable USB-C battery comes in two sizes: standard, which can power up to 60 miles of riding, and large, which maxes out at 100 miles of range. In terms of power, the TM-B’s throttletops out at 20MPH. Also is taking an interesting approach to its drive system, with a setup it's labeled "DreamRide." Instead of a mechanical connection between the bike's rear wheel and the pedals, the TM-B uses "software-defined pedaling," which will make the riding experience more customizable, according to Also. The Also app and Portal display.AlsoGiven the bike's roots at Rivian, it's not surprising that there are also a bunch of other tech-enabled features, including a 5-inch touchscreen display, called "Portal," that supports navigation, music playback and calling features via an accompanying app. There’s also a built-in security system that automatically locks the frame and rear wheel when you walk away.Also is selling the TM-B in three configurations. The first to ship next spring will be the $4,500 TM-B Limited Launch Edition, which has a range up to 100 miles, support for standard and sport ride modes and features transparent purple accents. The $4,500 TM-B Performance has the same features as the limited edition model, but has a slightly different color scheme, and will be available within the "first half" of 2026. Finally, there's a base-level TM-B model with a range of up to 60 miles that only comes with standard ride modes. Also hasn't announced an exact price, but says it will cost less than $4,000 when it ships "later in 2026." Pre-orders for the Launch Edition are open now and the other two bikes are available to reserve with a $50 deposit. The bikes will also be on display in Rivian showrooms later this year,Also's quad for commercial uses cases (left) and a smaller quad for families (right).AlsoThe company also previewed two electric, pedal-assisted quads it's calling TM-Q. The smaller quad is apparently meant for "families and individuals seeking a safe, compact alternative to cars" that can still haul “significant loads.” The larger TM-Q, on the other hand, is meant for commercial deliveries. Also has partnered with Amazon to develop fleets of such vehicles that can be used by delivery drivers. Both quads are intended to be used in bike lanes, according to Also. The company didn't share details about when these vehicles might be available or how much they'll cost.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/the-first-e-bike-from-rivian-spinoff-also-has-a-virtual-drivetrain-173000250.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/the-first-e-bike-from-rivian-spinoff-also-has-a-virtual-drivetrain-173000250.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsp4424q50fhtwcqnxpv83x97mkpxhajy3k3x67kj8803azz28438qzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyeg0vy0

2025-10-22T17:22:58Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F7bb4dc50-af6a-11f0-93ef-3c094ae6cf0f&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=ee27381a38c1a7486913d8a138a2d10558cc3b7c
It’s shaping up to be a shockingly good year for former arcade-dwelling beat-‘em-up fans. This month saw the arrival of the excellent Absolum, which infuses old-fashioned 2D combat in a cartoony high fantasy setting with roguelike elements to great effect. And now we also have a release date for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Out December 1 on practically every platform, Marvel Cosmic Invasion lets you choose a team of two superheroes from a playable roster of 15, and you can switch character mid-fight. The new release date trailer rounds off the roster with the Invincible Iron Man (heard of him?) and Phoenix/Jean Grey (played by Jennifer Hale, who also voiced Jean in X-Men ‘97), who join a list of previously announced characters that includes Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America. With its gorgeous pixel art visuals and obvious '90s-era Marvel comics inspiration, it’s hard to see Marvel Cosmic Invasion being anything other than a hit, and it’s fair to say that the license is in very good hands. Developer Tribute Games’ last game was the excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, while publisher Dotemu has already put out the aforementioned Absolum this year, as well as Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, which also got a big tick from Engadget. You can play with up to four players, local or online, with crossplay also supported. Marvel Cosmic Invasion will be available for PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS5/PS4 and Xbox on December 1.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nostalgic-beat-em-up-marvel-cosmic-invasion-is-out-on-december-1-172217400.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nostalgic-beat-em-up-marvel-cosmic-invasion-is-out-on-december-1-172217400.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqszt94cj2l2gzn0yx8z24ftv0v43svnjn0zmy7pncg2u949w6xfpyszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyc6nqvw

2025-10-22T16:40:26Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F4c8357d0-af61-11f0-9dff-2422c9aa46e1&resize=1400%2C925&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=2004a612b0ea6806112ad8dd5fc3fc8fb14eb0f3
The Spotify app has been freezing and crashing on some Android devices, according to multiple users and a report by 9to5Google. This is happening only when a phone or tablet is connected to Wi-Fi, so keep on listening to Spotify while out and about. Users first took note of the problem around two weeks ago, taking to Spotify forums to address their concerns. Many folks say that the app becomes essentially unusable on Wi-Fi due to the constant crashes and freezing. @Spotify please fix you app!! Crashes every 30 sec!!!— StrictlySportS (@Strictly3Sports) October 17, 2025 The company has acknowledged the issue and says its engineers are working on a fix. However, we don't have a timetable for a patch or anything like that. For the time being, some Android users will just have to avoid using the Spotify app while on Wi-Fi. To that end, error reports have mostly come in from people on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones. The problem doesn't appear to be universal, which has led some to speculate that may be related to Chromecast-ready devices. This would explain why the issue only persists on Wi-Fi, but we'll have to wait to hear from Spotify for a cause.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/spotify-is-freezing-and-crashing-on-some-android-devices-163020556.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/apps/spotify-is-freezing-and-crashing-on-some-android-devices-163020556.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsdypz2kpjeg7rrv7de4d6rmtkergj4474rerne62elu3j5vq7yzgqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyrl9702

2025-10-22T16:07:26Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fe6b09350-af33-11f0-bfff-f6681e048192&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=6e06429304034755366dc80bcc20af243d3588ec
Sonic Rumble has a new worldwide launch date: November 5. The game, which we've previously likened to Fall Guys, was supposed to come out last winter before its release was rescheduled for May 8 this year. By the end of April, however, Sega announced that its global launch had been postponed yet again because its developers needed more time to "build the kind of high-quality, long-lasting Sonic game [their] players deserve." At the time, the company said it had blasted past its goal of 1.4 million pre-registrations and that it had received "amazing positive response" from players in pre-launch regions. Players who pre-register will receive bonuses when the game launches globally. Similar to Fall Guys, Sonic Rumble is a battle royale-style game that can accommodate up to 32 players at once. Players will race against each other in worlds inspired by the Sonic franchise while collecting Rings they can use to buy new skins and stickers. It has several different modes, including Run wherein players compete for the top spot and Survival wherein they compete to stay in the game. Players can choose between various Sonic characters, including Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow and Dr. Eggman, and form a team of four to race against other teams around the world. Sega developed Sonic Rumble for mobile devices and PC, and it will be available to play on iOS and Android, as well as on Google Play Games on PC and Steam. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/sonic-rumble-is-coming-out-november-5-160031039.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/sonic-rumble-is-coming-out-november-5-160031039.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqstprvvm3m8z3yd7f6l6tt465nfwdccc7aatue4c565nwwryyg56lgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfytfu6uc

2025-10-22T14:09:36Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2F2026_Toyota_RAV4_first_drive_029.jpg&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=0bd279800aa587a3213c9469f6943242bf58e1c5
If I had a dollar for every time a vehicle manufacturer launched a new in-car software experience designed to achieve the same levels of user experience as your average tablet or smartphone, I'd probably have about enough cash for a decent lunch at a middling restaurant. It's a common refrain, and yet after years of hearing that same story over and over, I still find myself firing up Android Auto or Apple CarPlay as soon as I get into just about every new car I evaluate. At the launch of the 2026 Toyota RAV4, I heard that story yet again, about how they'd rewritten their in-car software to deliver an experience like that found in modern mobile devices. And I have to say, for once, they might have actually delivered. Toyota's latest SUV has voice and touch capabilities that are not only quick and responsive but genuinely pleasant to use. And thankfully, the rest of the SUV has been upgraded to match.The RAV4 has been in production for over 30 years now. This, the sixth generation, comes hot on the heels of its predecessor becoming the world's best-selling car in 2024. Over 1.1 million were sold last year, which goes a long way towards explaining why you can't kick a pebble in a grocery store parking lot without hitting a RAV4.The overall changes for the 2026 RAV4 aren't radical, but they are appreciated. For starters, every trim of this SUV is a hybrid, with base models powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels, offering 226 horsepower. Those wanting all-wheel drive can add another electric motor at the back, adding a little more power (10 hp) and a good bit more drive for low-grip situations. For 2026, every trim of the RAV4 is a hybrid. Tim Stevens for EngadgetFrom there, buyers can step up to a revised plug-in hybrid model, which now makes 324 horsepower, up 22 from before. Fuel economy is up too, up to 48 mpg depending on what trim you choose, and you can now get up to 52 miles of range from a 22.7 kWh battery pack in the plug-in.And that's usable range. I took a RAV4 XSE plug-in edition out for a morning drive and covered nearly 20 miles without spinning up the engine. Even at highway speeds the RAV4 was slow but perfectly manageable. With that much range and even reasonably quick DC charging (50 kW maximum), it's easy to see this as the introduction to EVs for many.For better or worse, that DC charging is handled on a CCS port, not the newer NACS ports that most manufacturers (even Toyota) are using on their EVs. The lack of any kind of vehicle-to-load functionality is a bummer, too, especially on the rugged-ish Wilderness edition, which would seemingly be a perfect machine for powering a campsite. Regardless of which trim you go with, you'll get that new software system running on either a 10.5-inch touchscreen on the lower trims or a 12.9-inch display on higher-end machines. The overall experience is the same, looking bright and crisp either way, just with more finger-friendly controls on the bigger panel.Toyota's revamped software is quick and responsive, especially the voice assistant. Tim Stevens for EngadgetToyota's software layout is familiar, with a vertical column of icons on the left for toggling between major sections like media or navigation, and then a row of controls along the bottom for controlling the car's heating, ventilation and cooling system. The rest of the display is taken up by a customizable series of panels. As you swipe from left to right, you swing through different pages, which you can move around and rearrange as you like. None of this is particularly revolutionary, but is pleasantly responsive. Swiping from page to page was quick and easy, without any annoying lag waiting for content to load.That responsiveness continued through to the voice assistant, which is the quickest I've ever used in a car. Just say "Hey, Toyota" and ask for whatever you want. When asked for pizza, the voice assistant listed nearby joints, even quoted their star rating and offered navigation, all without the annoying round-trip processing lag that's common in these systems. Some of that speed might be thanks to the addition of 5G connectivity (provided by AT&T), but there's surely some quicker hardware running beneath the skin powering the Linux-based software.The car's integrated navigation was also easy to use, quick to route and re-route and features all the points of interest you could ever want. There's even an integrated dashcam feature that will record any incidents on the road, or whatever else you feel like highlighting, while also storing the footage from the SUV's other cameras. Despite the quality experience through the touchscreen, Toyota didn't take this as an opportunity to delete all the car's buttons. You'll still find physical controls for all the major features, including (praise be) a volume knob. It was all good enough to make me not feel compelled to reach for my phone, but of course, I did in the interest of testing. Both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, not only in the main touchscreen but also able to feed navigation details into the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. That, too, is customizable, with a series of panels of information that hover over your phone's map view.The meaner, sportier GR Sport edition. Tim Stevens for EngadgetSo, even if you still prefer your phone, you're covered, and powered, too. The RAV4 has a pair of Qi wireless chargers, conveniently situated in the center stack just below the HVAC controls. You'll also find two 45-watt USB-C ports up front, plus a pair of 15-watt ports in the back for rear-seat passengers.The new RAV4 has a roomy, comfortable cabin with some fun touches, like a neoprene-like insert in the dash that's pleasant to touch. The overall interior design won't win any awards for dramatic styling or eye-catching flair, but it's comfortable and seems like the kind of thing that'll stand up to whatever you or your kids throw at it. In terms of driving dynamics, the extra power offered by the RAV4 doesn't turn it into a rocket ship, but the PHEV trim in particular feels more than quick enough. There's also a new GR Sport edition for those who aspire to something even more engaging, but despite a more aggressive grille up front and a big wing hanging off the back, it still feels like a RAV4 from behind the wheel. That is to say: It’s not the most exciting thing on the road.But people don't buy RAV4s to be wowed, they buy them because they're practical and comfortable and priced right. Price, unfortunately, is one thing we don't know about the new model, with Toyota only saying that it'll start somewhere in the low $30,000 range. But all the SUV's other virtues carry forward into 2026 with upgrades. Add to that a massively improved software experience, and you have an SUV that doesn't disappoint.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/toyotas-new-all-hybrid-rav4-has-software-you-might-actually-want-to-use-140000442.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/toyotas-new-all-hybrid-rav4-has-software-you-might-actually-want-to-use-140000442.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs0u0hu0seasj6lwnq687e6cz5tp9cvke4glnhlqquh7e5s56rte7szyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyymtakv

2025-10-22T13:15:38Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2FiPad-Pro-M5-external-monitor.jpg&resize=1400%2C789&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=371749cd2998207ec6d480d420ff02da4faff0d2
The iPad Pro is about to turn 10, so hopefully you’ll forgive me for pulling out this well-worn Apple truism one more time. No, it’s not Steve Jobs saying “if you see a stylus, they blew it” (a quote continually used out of context.) It’s the tale of how since day one, the iPad Pro’s hardware often felt far more powerful and capable than the software it runs. If you recall, iPadOS was initially a scaled-up version of iOS, with most of the limitations inherent in software designed first for a phone. Apps could take great advantage of the larger screen, but working across multiple apps was just nowhere near as simple as doing the same thing on a Mac. Yes, the iPad has always been more portable, and accessories like the Apple Pencil make it better-suited for some tasks than a Mac, but the knock is always that the iPad — even the Pro — isn’t ideal for getting “real work” done.The combination of the just-launched iPad Pro’s M5 processor and the massive iPadOS update might finally quiet that debate. Sure, some people will never want to replace their laptop with an iPad, but it’s more feasible than ever thanks to iPadOS 26. It brings a totally revamped windowing and multitasking system, a background tasks API that lets you run heavy processes like rendering video while working in other apps, more robust audio input support and a far better Files app, making the iPad Pro closer in its feature set to a Mac than ever before. As Apple’s premium tablet enters its second decade, I spoke with the company’s Ted Merendino (from the iPad Product Marketing team) and Ty Jordan (Product Manager for System Experiences) to learn more about the evolution of the iPad Pro and iPadOS.Given how many Mac-like features came to iPadOS 26 this year, I was curious to hear how the company approached putting all that Mac DNA into the iPad while still keeping it distinct, as well as the engineering challenges it presented. “One of the things that makes iPad such a unique device is it's extremely versatile, right?” Jordan said. “You can use it with touch, you can use it with a trackpad or a keyboard or the Apple Pencil, and that's really powerful. But it also actually makes an extremely challenging engineering and design problem to try and solve when you're thinking about something like the new windowing experience.”Jordan went on to describe a “multi-year effort” to reconfigure the underlying iPadOS architecture. Apple worked to “maintain the immediacy that you've come to expect with a touch device, while still allowing users to have this freedom and flexibility to work across so many more windows at once,” he said. From there, the company had to figure out how to bring a bunch of familiar tools from the Mac together and make sure they work across touchscreens, trackpads and keyboards.An iPad running multiple windows in iPadOS 26Nathan Ingraham for EngadgetJordan pointed to Expose (a tool in macOS that shows you all your open windows by swiping up on the trackpad with three fingers) as a good example of something they wanted to bring to iPadOS in a way that felt native. “We leveraged the home gesture that people have been familiar with on iPad for a long time,” he said, “so you can easily see a bird's eye view of all your windows.”Swiping up on the iPad’s screen with one finger has brought you home for years, but now swiping up and holding for a second drops you into Expose, the same way it invokes open apps on an iPhone. And you can use the same three-finger swipe up on an iPad with a trackpad as you can on a Mac. “All these pieces have to be reconsidered over and over again in order to make sure that they do feel distinct to iPad,” Jordan said.While iPadOS 26 is a major revision that was just released less than a month ago, the iPad Pro M5 is more of an iterative update, at least on the outside. That’s not a big surprise given that the M4 model released in May 2024 was a complete redesign. The iPad Pro M4 is more capable thanks to the big software update, but this year’s M5 update pushes the tablet even further into a world where AI performance is paramount. “M5 has a faster Neural Engine, which continues to be the most power efficient location on the chip to run on-device AI,” Merendino said, citing features like Live Text and Subject Lift that have been in iOS and iPadOS for a while now. He also noted that the faster CPU in the M5 has had neural accelerators for a few generations, things that help with low-latency AI tasks like speech recognition. But the M5’s redesigned GPU is where the big changes can be found. “Within each GPU core is the new Neural Accelerator that dramatically speeds up GPU-based AI tasks,” Merendino continued. “So if you are segmenting super high-resolution video, this is much, much faster. For on-device image generation, this is much faster.” Benchmarks I took while reviewing the iPad Pro M5 back this up — all the GPU-based measurements showed huge improvements over the M4.Merendino noted that Apple invited the developer for image generation app Draw Things into its labs to test the app with the M5’s GPU neural accelerators and it provided about double the performance of the M4 chip and four times the performance of the M1. My testing with Draw Things backed this up. I ran four different image generation prompts on both the M4 and M5 iPad Pro, and the M5 was more than twice as fast. It typically finished the default prompts I tried in the app in about 50 seconds, while the M4 took about 2 minutes and 25 seconds. Other tasks, like large language model token generation, are six times faster on the M5 compared to the (much older) M1. Impressive, for sure, but it’s also fair to say that most iPad Pro users are likely not going to be pushing to the edge of the M5’s computational powers. The flip side of this, though, is that the iPad Pro will likely remain fast enough for all but the most demanding tasks for years. Apple knows this, and it’s evident in the way it’s positioning this new iPad Pro — it’s for demanding customers who’ve been using an M1- or M2-powered iPad Pro for years now and are ready for an upgrade. One of the main hardware differences between the redesigned M4 and M5 iPad Pros and their predecessors is that Apple made the tablet even thinner and lighter than ever, while packing in the company’s latest silicon. It’s a wild engineering feat, one that impressed me from the very first time I picked up the iPad Pro M4 last year. There is one somewhat humorous thing about the iPad Pro, which is that it’s thinner and lighter than the iPad Air — despite the Air name having historically been used for Apple’s most portable products. Just look at the iPhone Air for the latest example.That made me ponder if a more “pro” iPad should be a little thicker and heavier to accommodate a bigger battery, like what you’ll find in the MacBook Pro. The iPad Pro’s 10-hour battery life for basic tasks like web browsing and watching video isn’t short, but if you push it harder it’ll drain a lot quicker. Merendino said that the ongoing thought process behind balancing battery life, performance and size comes down to a focus on portability and versatility.“One of the things that has defined iPad since the very beginning is portability. For creative pros, the iPad Pro is untethering them from a workstation,” he said. “It's letting them create and be productive wherever they may be. And what's unique is that over the years we've made iPad more and more portable.” That’s undeniable; the first iPad was about 1.5 pounds with its 9.7-inch screen and the 13-inch iPad Pro is a quarter of a pound lighter. “But we have also made it vastly more powerful,” Merendino continued, “even though it’s a more portable device, a vastly faster device. We have still maintained that all day battery life that we know users depend on.” So while we’re probably not getting an iPad Pro with 15- or 20-hour battery life any time soon, I can respect the trade-off of making the tablet as portable as possible. It’s one of its main differentiating features compared to a Mac, after all.A rumor that started making the rounds just after the iPad Pro M5 was released puts the “Mac versus iPad” debate into a new territory, though. A few reliable sources including Mark Gurman at Bloomberg and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo both say that the M6 refresh of the MacBook Pro will usher in touchscreens for the first time on a Mac. If this happens, it’ll likely upend the debate yet again. But in the same way an iPad doesn’t really replace the Mac, I don’t think a touchscreen MacBook will necessarily be better than an iPad for some things. The iPad is still the most versatile device Apple sells, and the company believes that versatility is something people recognize and want. “With the windowing system that we built, it [still] starts with every app being fullscreen,” Jordan says. “And the idea behind that philosophy is making sure you can be the person who has iPad and is just using it on the couch to watch a show, and then can seamlessly transition to being a professional who’s connected to an external display with a Magic Keyboard and a bunch of windows open. And that versatility is really interesting, and I think customers who gravitate towards iPad are looking for that device that can go across those worlds.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/after-10-years-the-ipad-pro-has-finally-carved-out-its-own-identity-130108169.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/after-10-years-the-ipad-pro-has-finally-carved-out-its-own-identity-130108169.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsr2v2u6q2gk2pwpel3l527gg48dy2ggj3nh9wcdm7ujhyjw7xvynqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyyw2h27

2025-10-22T13:15:38Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fd3bf9eb0-a94a-11f0-bdff-2edbfd135858&resize=1400%2C782&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=acee8d4a6f8f25cc206e26a96263e9cf0e2aa078
These days, thanks to smartphones, almost everyone has a camera with them and that’s mostly a good thing. At any time, you can capture memories with family and friends, painterly sunsets and crazy spontaneous moments. The problem is most of us have endless bland photos in our camera rolls because we simply don’t know how to take great shots. When you’re on vacation or gathering with friends and family, a good photo will provide memories you can proudly share and go back to time and again. And if you’re active on social media, they’re crucial. In this article, I’ll show you how to set yourself up for photo success with the optimal settings and simple but effective composition tips from myself and a pro photographer. And if you’re interested in going further, I’ll highlight several third-party apps that provide even greater manual control. Note that this is focused only on taking photos — I’ll cover video in a future article. Take advantage of your smartphone’s camera setup Rhonda Dent for Engadget Most smartphones have two or more cameras, each with different lenses, sensors and resolution. They’re usually called the wide (or main), telephoto and ultrawide cameras. These work seamlessly together: You can simply pinch to zoom on the viewfinder to fit your subject into the scene and your phone will switch between the lenses automatically. Most smartphones offer shortcuts on their viewfinders for you to quickly jump between these, and you'll usually see numbers like 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x to denote the levels of zoom. Ideally, you should use each camera at its optimal setting and avoid in-between digital zooms (like 2.7x) that reduce quality. You should also know which camera is best for a given subject. People shots are best done with the main or telephoto cameras as those focal lengths flatter the subject and reduce distortion. They also allow for naturally blurred backgrounds and “bokeh” that helps your subject stand out. Since it creates weird warping around the edges of photos, the ultrawide camera is best reserved for landscape shots. Lastly, the telephoto lens is best for distant scenes, but avoid the most extreme settings (above 10x on most cameras) as your photos may become blurry or pixelated. When it comes to your phone’s portrait mode, there are caveats. While it does create a soft blurred background and “bokeh,” it does so using computational tricks. That can create issues like pixelation around your subject or an overly artificial look. To get natural blur, switch to the main or the telephoto camera, increase the zoom level and move farther away from your subject to frame them. Finally, this should go without saying, but clean your lens. Whenever you set your phone down, the camera can pick up grease or dirt that will ruin your photos. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, clean it with any soft cotton fabric — just avoid tissue as it’s rougher than it looks and can mar your lens. Nail your settings Exposure is the only adjustment you needSteve Dent for Engadget One big plus with smartphones over dedicated cameras is that they have bigger, sharper displays. To start, boost your screen brightness when taking photos so you can easily see your subject and compose your shot. Take a few extra seconds to decide whether to snap a vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape) photo, depending on the subject. Get in the habit of holding your phone in a way that keeps your fingers away from the lenses, as that’s another great way to ruin a shot. Most recent iPhone and Android models automatically focus on a subject quickly and accurately. However, if multiple people are in a shot, the AI may focus on the wrong person, so be sure to tap on the correct one. Exposure, or the brightness or dimness of a subject, is typically selected automatically by your phone. Most devices will automatically average the levels across multiple faces so all the people in a shot are well-exposed. Steve Dent for Engadget One thing that smartphones are nearly as good at as cameras is macro or closeup photography. Most iPhones and Android devices let you focus very close to subjects from the main (1x) or ultra wide (0.5x) cameras. This can help you produce cool shots of insects, leaves, seashells and other things in nature. Selecting a new subject automatically changes both focus and exposure. If you tap on a dark part of the image, the camera will automatically brighten it and vice versa, but you can manually change that. On iPhones, tap a subject to bring up the sunshine icon, then move the slider to change brightness. You can also open up extra settings with the down arrow on iPhone and then select the +/- symbol. On a Pixel, open the settings (gear) icon, select brightness and move the slider. Sometimes, you might want to lock the focus and exposure when taking multiple photos of the same scene. That’s done on both iPhone or Android by clicking and holding for a couple of seconds on the desired subject. Then, the exposure and focus will stay locked until you tap again. You may need to enable this feature in your phone’s settings before it can be used. What about using the flash? It's best to use it only when you truly don't have enough light to capture a moment, as it can make shots look overly bright and unnatural. Below is a good example of a shot taken with and without a flash at night when there was barely enough natural light. iPhone 16 photo taken with flash (left) and without flash (right)Steve Dent for Engadget Most smartphones let you take photos nearly instantly from the lockscreen so you can easily capture when something unexpected occurs. It’s a good idea to learn how so you can snap a shot without too much delay. Recent iPhone models have a dedicated camera button on the right side. First, ensure the settings are configured so that you can activate it without unlocking the phone. Then, push the button once to open the camera app and then again to take a shot (the main 1x camera is selected automatically). On earlier models, simply swipe left from the lockscreen to instantly access the camera. For Pixel and other Android devices, double pressing the power or volume button will usually bring up the camera app from the lockscreen. Some iPhone and Android phones have a setting that allows you to take RAW photos. That gives you image data straight off the sensor without any sharpening or other adjustments, so it can provide a more natural look. However, editing RAW photos requires practice and the photos take up a lot of extra space on your camera roll. Most smartphones allow you to tweak settings like saturation, brightness and contrast, but it's best not to get too in the weeds. Even the experts, like my pro photographer friend Nathanael Charpentier, stick to the basics, “No complex settings, no artificial portrait mode. I just occasionally adjust the brightness when necessary,” he told me (one exception for him is black & white photos). This then frees him to “focus entirely on what matters to me: composition.” Composition Nathanael Charpentier for Engadget Smartphones don’t have the same quality as dedicated cameras, but that forces you to think about lighting and composition. Pro photographers like Charpentier will tell you that, whether you’re using a phone or $8,000 camera, the most important part of capturing a shot is the framing. Many photographers use the “rule of thirds.” This stipulates that key elements like people and geographical features should be placed in thirds across a photo because it’s pleasing to the eye. Simply cutting a landscape in half between the sky and the ground should often be avoided to keep the framing interesting. To help with this, many smartphone cameras include a grid that divides the screen into thirds (turn on the “Grid” setting on iPhone or “Grid Type” on a Pixel device and choose 3x3). When that’s enabled, you can place your primary subject and other elements near where those lines intersect. These grids can also help you keep shots level. Sometimes, though, a symmetric composition is best. If you want to shoot down a dock, for example, you can center it to take advantage of the converging lines. Then, you can slightly break that symmetry with other objects like a mountain, tree or bird. Rule of thirds used to divide a photo's elementsSteve Dent for Engadget Other composition tips include the use of diagonal rather than horizontal or vertical lines to break up a composition, or curved roads or paths that guide the viewer’s eye. Another popular technique is to use converging lines in architecture when shooting up at buildings. You can also try using foreground objects close to the camera (tree leaves, a pole or a person) to frame a scene. To create dramatic shots using the wide or ultrawide cameras, hold your phone as low as possible — you can even turn it upside down to get it right next to the ground. Interesting photos also come from strong lighting contrast, particularly shadows. To emphasize that, you can use the exposure compensation (brightness) settings mentioned earlier to make the shadows even darker while keeping your subject well exposed. To find the ideal subject or environment, look for patterns and punchy colors. Don’t be afraid to shoot straight into the light source to create dramatic, backlit silhouettes. “Smartphones do almost everything well except scene exposure; usually the photos are too bright,” Charpentier says. “And that’s why I very often correct the exposure of my photos. It’s a basic setting and done very simply on iPhone and most Android devices.” Many smartphone cameras also take great macro photos. You can use that to get close-up shots of subjects ranging from insects in nature to food. Finally, try using the black and white settings on your camera to create a nostalgic mood or emphasize forms and lines. Take your photography further with apps Taken with Lightroom MobileNathanael Charpentier for Engadget If you want to play with settings like shutter speed and ISO, reduce automatic or AI settings, take RAW photos or change noise reduction settings, you’ll usually need a third-party app. Here are three I’d recommend. VSCO VSCO is a popular editing and camera app for both iOS and Android that had a moment on TikTok several years ago. It gives you control of basic settings like exposure (via a nice slider), shutter speed, ISO and white balance. It also lets you separate focus and exposure points, so you can keep one subject in focus but change the lighting in another area of the scene. It offers RAW support and filters, though many of the latter require a subscription. Lightroom Mobile To focus on lighting and exposure, check out Lightroom Mobile. It automatically highlights overexposed areas of an image and then lets you easily dial brightness up and down, change settings like ISO and shutter speed and even apply filters. Once you’re done shooting, you can continue editing your photos afterwards using many of the tools offered in the desktop version. Though no subscription is required, a paid plan is needed for some of the content. If you’re on iPhone, Adobe has an impressive new experimental app called Indigo that you can try for free. It uses computational photography to improve things like exposure and detail to make photos look more natural. Halide Mark II (iOS only) For control over just about every aspect of your smartphone camera, Halide is the best choice. Unfortunately, it’s only available on iOS. For those in Apple’s ecosystem, it lets you shoot RAW photos with minimal processing (sharpening, etc.) and, according to the developer, has “zero AI right out of the camera.” At the same time, its “Depth Mode” lets you capture portrait shots (ie, artificial depth of field) with any subject. It also comes with a manual mode and tools like color zebras and waveforms to aid with exposure. Halide Mark II isn’t free, though, as it’s $60 for a one-time purchase or $20 yearly. Before you dive into using an app, I’d recommend that you practice the basics until you feel confident taking photos in any situation. That means making the best use of your smartphone’s camera setup for a given situation, nailing your settings each time and mastering composition. Then, apps like Lightroom Mobile will let you take your photos to another level — like an artist graduating from water colors to oil paint.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/how-to-improve-your-smartphone-photography-010037588.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/cameras/how-to-improve-your-smartphone-photography-010037588.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs00jp3k5yfd7dqmlu5ct8lxsmxn3re88g48lc4zr2nhenjph8e5egzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfye4fh43

2025-10-22T12:43:42Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fbbc6fec0-a8f5-11f0-b9f4-3a833197801f&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=1641298322fb3bb5d82b50a53e7c832a7b818b92
Those looking for a better way to keep track of their finances should consider a budgeting app. There are dozens of them on the market now, and one of our favorites is running a discount for new subscribers. Monarch Money is offering 50 percent off annual plans right now when you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout. With the typical yearly price being $100, this will save you $50. As mentioned before, the discount is only for new users and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web as well. You can't redeem it through the Monarch mobile app. We feel that Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers and that certain aspects of the app are slightly more complex than they probably need to be. But it offers a great deal of customization and granularity, which outweighs our misgivings. On the main dashboard, you'll see your net worth along with your latest transactions, spending versus the previous month, your income so far for the month and details about upcoming bills, your investments and goals you've set. There's also a link to a month-in-review page, which offers an in-depth overview of what's been happening with your money that month. You'll also be able to take a peek at how your net worth has changed over time. Monarch can connect to your bank and track Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings accounts. It can pull in your transactions and balance history automatically and detect your recurring expenses and income. The app can even keep your car valuation up to date. While it might take a little work to set up Monarch (and you might have to tweak things here and there), it's a detailed budgeting app that can help you keep better track of your income, expenditure and net worth.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-budgeting-apps-has-50-percent-off-annual-subscriptions-right-now-174011845.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-budgeting-apps-has-50-percent-off-annual-subscriptions-right-now-174011845.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsy8hdv9qgc6dwaul65x0g8dvz4w566yum7n9s4w9kqe0qrrnfxl0czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfym8zam2

2025-10-22T12:33:58Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F1ebde510-af19-11f0-afcf-6a87aec42955&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=0ab7049a0b7de3a2e7132f2bd1dc06e5957b7481
More than 800 public figures including Steve Wozniak and Prince Harry, along with AI scientists, former military leaders and CEOs signed a statement demanding a ban on AI work that could lead to superintelligence, The Financial Times reported. "We call for a prohibition on the development of superintelligence, not lifted before there is broad scientific consensus that it will be done safely and controllably, and strong public buy-in," it reads. The signers include a wide mix of people across sectors and political spectrums, including AI researcher and Nobel prize winner Geoffrey Hinton, former Trump aide Steve Bannon, one time Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen and rapper Will.i.am. The statement comes from the Future of Life Institute, which said that AI developments are occurring faster than the public can comprehend. "We’ve, at some level, had this path chosen for us by the AI companies and founders and the economic system that’s driving them, but no one’s really asked almost anybody else, ‘Is this what we want?'" the institute's executive director, Anthony Aguirre, told NBC News. Artificial general intelligence (AGI) refers to the ability of machines to reason and perform tasks as well as a human can, while superintelligence would enable AI to do things better than even human experts. That potential ability has been cited by critics (and the culture in general) as a grave risk to humanity. So far, though, AI has proven itself to be useful only for a narrow range of tasks and consistently fails to handle complex tasks like self-driving. Despite the lack of recent breakthroughs, companies like OpenAI are pouring billions into new AI models and the data centers needed to run them. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently said that superintelligence was "in sight," while X CEO Elon Musk said superintelligence "is happening in real time" (Musk has also famously warned about the potential dangers of AI). OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he expects superintelligence to happen by 2030 at the latest. None of those leaders, nor anyone notable from their companies, signed the statement. It's far from the only call for a slowdown in AI developement. Last month, more than 200 researchers and public officials, including 10 Nobel Prize winners and multiple artificial intelligence experts, released an urgent call for a "red line" against the risks of AI. However, that letter referred not to superintelligence, but dangers already starting to materialize like mass unemployment, climate change and human rights abuses. Other critics are sounding alarms around a potential AI bubble that could eventually pop and take the economy down with it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/steve-wozniak-prince-harry-and-800-others-want-a-ban-on-ai-superintelligence-123040020.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/steve-wozniak-prince-harry-and-800-others-want-a-ban-on-ai-superintelligence-123040020.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs9h6ktfntwj2u730qt2cusjnmx8yvnj3lp37uzec7t55g844zhyhgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfytjwrwt

2025-10-22T12:01:42Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2021-04%2F85166150-a336-11eb-86ac-d7874ea0dfbc&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=baf7fb54391d231e12cb60c160c32593d09a90d3
Apple deals can be hard to come by, but right now you can save on one of the company's smallest (and arguably one if its most useful) gadgets. A four-pack of Apple AirTags is down to $65 right now, which is 34 percent off its usual price. That brings each AirTag in the bundle down to $16.25 each. If you're an Apple user, then the AirTag is the best Bluetooth tracker on the market for you. You can put these little discs in your wallet, in a backpack or in your luggage while you're traveling. Your AirTag's location will show up in your Find My app, powered by the vast network of iPhones, iPads and other compatible devices that receive the AirTag's Bluetooth signal. Keep in mind these only work when close enough to participating devices to be located. You can attach AirTags to just about anything thanks to an abundance of available accessories. Their built-in speakers can play a tone, triggered from your iPhone, to help you find them when the object they're affixed to is lost. On iPhone 11 and newer models, you can take advantage of the AirTag's Ultra Wideband capability and have your phone lead you right to your AirTag, complete with directional arrows on your iPhone screen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-airtags-is-on-sale-for-the-lowest-price-weve-seen-143112208.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-airtags-is-on-sale-for-the-lowest-price-weve-seen-143112208.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqspmqsdghqpf0seuv4d9ve44hkdx4g56e6w8mw6awwr5z9enu9w0cgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyha7pwf

2025-10-22T11:40:48Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F3485c3c0-aee9-11f0-9efb-6f660b71e776&resize=1400%2C728&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=a9cfd3738a35f374657e3b92cca6a944d4903c6f
As the holiday season approaches, Sony is offering exceptional deals on two of its best full-frame mirrorless cameras. The A7R V, which offers exceptionally sharp photos thanks to the 61MP sensor, is on sale for $3,298 ($902 off), its lowest price ever. And the mainstream 33MP A7 IV, great for both video and photos, has also dropped to a new low of $1,998 or $702 off (28 percent). Sony's A7R V has one of our highest Engadget review scores ever thanks to its exceptional image quality, speed and versatility. With a 61-megapixel sensor, it shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that’s much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap, albeit with significant rolling shutter. Even after a few years, it's still one of the best high-resolution full-frame cameras on the market and is an exceptional steal at this price. Steve Dent for Engadget Though also released a few years ago, Sony's A7 IV also received an excellent Engadget review score and is still one of the best mainstream cameras available. Resolution is up considerably from the 24-megapixel A7 III to 33 megapixels, with image quality much improved overall. Video is now up to par with rivals with 4K at up to 60p with 10 bit 4:2:2 quality. Autofocus is incredible for both video and stills, and the in-body stabilization does a good job. The biggest drawbacks are rolling shutter that limits the use of the electronic shutter, plus the relatively high price. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/sonys-61mp-a7r-v-mirrorless-camera-is-on-sale-at-its-lowest-price-ever-113045739.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/cameras/sonys-61mp-a7r-v-mirrorless-camera-is-on-sale-at-its-lowest-price-ever-113045739.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs9nruvwcyxncys8rzc3j5gu7grz3d94afslx57yyt5kc60ghyuzdczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyyhrf04

2025-10-22T11:20:28Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F7dee0e70-aef1-11f0-adfa-613ea884712c&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=af73392735dc44df7bc9354dbd71c58cff5818b0
With Galaxy XR, you can split screen between a game like Stardew Valley and a real-time video chat.Samsung After dropping hints for over two years, Samsung, in partnership with Google, finally revealed its first-ever Android extended reality headset Tuesday night. The new device, dubbed Galaxy XR, will run you $1,800 and you can actually buy it today. Due to its collaboration with Google, it's not a surprise that the headset comes fully equipped with Gemini AI built in. "Android XR is the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era, and we are incredibly excited to take a significant leap forward today with the launch of Galaxy XR," Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google, said. What are the features of the Galaxy XR headset, and how does it differ from its main competitor, the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro? Glad you asked! What is the Galaxy XR? The Samsung Galaxy XR is the first-ever Android XR headset, created by Google and Samsung. If Apple's Vision Pro is the "virtual reality iPhone," the Samsung is basically its "virtual reality Galaxy S phone" alternative. The headset looks like a pair of snowboard goggles, but it comes with a whopping total of 12 cameras and six microphones. And because it's 2025, AI is a big part of the Galaxy XR's upsell: It has Google's Gemini AI assistant built in, so while you're wearing the headset, it can see and hear everything around you. Google's "XR" designation stands for "extended reality," which is effectively an "all of the above" term encompassing augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality. That means the Galaxy XR can put a virtual overlay on the real world (thanks to all those cameras), or it can completely shut out your space to immerse you in a totally virtual environment. In other words, you can customize your own workspace or turn your room into your own personal theater, or you can transport yourself to an international locale with a first-person "you are there" viewpoint. What can you do with the Galaxy XR? For watching videos on apps like YouTube, the headset offers a library of 180- and 360-degree VR content. You can also watch movies using Google TV on a large, resizable screen. Plus, if you have a question about whatever you're watching, you can ask Gemini since it sees everything you see. And when you're looking at your photos and videos, you can convert them to 3D so it feels like you're back in the memory. While using Google Maps, you can use Immersive View to go anywhere in the world (virtually, of course). Visiting somewhere historical? You can ask Gemini to tell you more information about the landmark. Spot a weird-looking plant or bug around your house? You can use Circle to Search to find out what it is while wearing the headset. The Immersive View feature of Google Maps lets Galaxy XR users zoom across cityscapes.Samsung As for getting work done efficiently, you can arrange your most-needed apps all around your screen — for instance, your web browser, favorite music app, important documents and video conferencing app. And if things start to feel cluttered, you can ask Gemini to organize your windows. Even better, you can link your PC to your headset, as well as your keyboard and mouse. The headset uses two passthrough cameras for real-time viewing, six world-facing tracking cameras and four eye-tracking cameras, as well as depth and flicker sensors. It also supports iris recognition so you can unlock the device and enter passwords within some apps. What apps work on the Galaxy XR? "Almost all" Google Play Store apps will be available on the Galaxy XR headset. That means hundreds of thousands of apps should be available on the headset on day one, including basic streaming apps (for watching things like Netflix, HBO Max or Peacock on that giant virtual display) as well as "new versions" of some of Google's key first-party software, from Photos to Chrome and YouTube. And, of course, the aforementioned Google Maps is on board, too. Using the Galaxy XR as a PC monitor, you can stream in a game -- such as this "Assassin's Creed" tile -- from an external source. Samsung As you'd expect, Google is also focusing on gaming. In addition to the full panoply of Android games, the Galaxy XR's PC Link also lets you use it as a monitor for PC-based games, too. How does it feel to wear the Galaxy XR? Engadget Senior Reporter Sam Rutherford wearing the Samsung Galaxy XR headset. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Engadget's Sam Rutherford got some hands-on time with the Galaxy XR recently, and had some notable first impressions on its comfort and usability: [I]t seems Samsung learned a lot from its rivals by including a much larger and thicker head cushion that helps distribute the weight of the headset more evenly. Granted, during a longer session, I still noticed a bit of pressure and felt relief after taking off the Galaxy XR, but it's nothing like the Vision Pro, which in my experience gets uncomfortable almost immediately. Finally, around back, there's a simple strap with a knob that you can twist to tighten or loosen the headband as necessary. So even without extra support running across the top of your head, getting in and out of the Galaxy XR is much easier and comfier than the Vision Pro. How is the Galaxy XR different from the Apple Vision Pro? While the headset may look pretty similar to the Apple Vision Pro, there are some bigger (and even better) differences. For starters, the Galaxy's micro-OLED display has 29 million pixels, compared to Apple's 23 million pixels, and a resolution of 3,552 x 3,840, which offers a tad more detail than Apple's model. Additionally, it has 96% of the DCI‑P3 color gamut, while the Vision Pro has 92%. However, Apple's headset beats out the Samsung on refresh rate, going a full 120Hz versus the Galaxy XR's 90Hz. Since you'll be wearing it on your head for an extended period, you'll be relieved to know the Galaxy XR is a bit lighter than Apple's XR headset by 205g (0.5lbs). On the battery life front, Samsung is pledging up to two hours of "general use" and 2.5 hours of video playback, whereas the new M5 Vision Pro runs 30 minutes longer in both modes, per Apple. Besides the obvious operating system differences, of course, the aforementioned price delta is perhaps the biggest advantage Samsung has over the Apple model: At $1,600, you can get almost two full Galaxy XR units for every $3,499 Apple Vision Pro. How do I order the Samsung Galaxy XR? Sam Rutherford for Engadget You can order the Galaxy XR now via Samsung. While that $1,800 price tag is formidable, Samsung is offering financing options. And the headset's price is actually less than that of Samsung's flagship Galaxy Z Fold 7 foldable phone. Key accessories like the Travel Case and Galaxy XR Controller usually cost $250 each, though both can be bundled in for $175 apiece. There are additional incentives, too. For anyone buying the Galaxy XR before the end of the year, Samsung is throwing in the "Explorer Pack" at no extra charge. That includes a year's worth of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium (including YouTube Music) and Google Play Pass; access to the new season of NBA League Pass; and access to the NFL Pro Era game, the Asteroid and Calm apps and Adobe's Project Pulsar, a 3D compositing app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/samsung-galaxy-xr-everything-you-need-to-know-111532664.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/samsung-galaxy-xr-everything-you-need-to-know-111532664.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsqgvhhkl3g7fu3kknrqj9wnfgmhfktd5qmgqtg79eayvcwx922asgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy056yqr

2025-10-22T04:34:47Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fb1b8ca20-aefa-11f0-be7d-cc3a31236bb1&resize=1400%2C776&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=a7a036c2f2549f4ff3dedf10c4d9e0f9138b73bc
As part of its Galaxy XR headset presentation, Samsung also briefly teased another wearable product. It's working in collaboration with two eyewear companies, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, on AI-powered smart glasses to go up against Meta's Ray-Ban models, Samsung's head of customer experience Jay Kim announced at the end of the livestream. "We're also really excited about the AI glasses that we're currently building together with Google," Kim said. "We're working with two of the most forward-thinking brands in eyewear, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, to introduce new devices that fit into your lifestyle." Samsung will focus on two different markets with those brands, though both will include "cutting-edge" AI features co-developed with Google. With Gentle Monster, it's developing "fashion-forward" glasses that will likely be aimed at the higher end of the market. The Warby Parker collaboration, meanwhile, will yield eyewear designed for general consumers, probably at a lower price point. Samsung only said that the AI glasses will bring "style, comfort and practicality" to everyday life via Android's XR ecosystem. As we saw in May with Google's prototype XR smart glasses, it will likely employ a Gemini-powered display that will show notifications and small snippets of info from your apps, like the music you're listening to or turn-by-turn GPS directions. It should also have a built-in camera, of course, along with speakers and a microphone. Design and appearance will also be key, but Samsung has yet to show any images of the upcoming smart glasses and didn't reveal a release date. However, it will have a tough climb against Meta's lineup given the Ray-Ban branding and that company's head start on the technology. Last week, Meta introduced its Ray-Ban Display model that includes a screen for a true extended reality experience. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/samsung-is-working-on-xr-smart-glasses-with-warby-parker-and-gentle-monster-042632170.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/samsung-is-working-on-xr-smart-glasses-with-warby-parker-and-gentle-monster-042632170.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsvpnugjsntnjtnqpshzqq7h4zwz8x4ywlpxzju53554cyrmchwhfgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy2jr626

2025-10-22T02:04:22Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F1cf127e0-aeb7-11f0-9db9-a5281716c5eb&resize=1400%2C840&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=c96fdd72bcedaf8ef143e9fc6b9560771921b267
Apple's Vision Pro was meant to usher in a new era for headsets. However, its high price and somewhat limited utility resulted in what may be the company's biggest flop in years. Now it's time for Samsung to give things a go with the Galaxy XR. It's a fresh take on modern mixed reality goggles developed through deep partnerships with Qualcomm and Google and it attempts to address some of the Vision Pro's biggest shortcomings. The hardware While both Apple and Samsung's headsets have a lot of similarities (like their basic design and support for features such as hand and eye tracking), there are also some very important differences. First, at $1,800, the Galaxy XR is essentially half the price of the Vision Pro (including the new M5-powered model). Second, instead of Apple’s homegrown OS, Samsung's headset is the first to run Google's new Android XR platform, which combines a lot of familiar elements from its mobile counterpart but with a bigger emphasis on AI and Gemini-based voice controls. And third, because Samsung relied more on partners like Google and Qualcomm, the Galaxy XR feels like it's built around a larger, more open ecosystem that plays nicely with a wider range of third-party devices and software. The Galaxy XR fundamentally doesn't look that much different from the Vision Pro. It features a large visor in front with an assortment of 13 different exterior sensors to support inside-out tracking, passthrough vision and hand recognition. There are some additional sensors inside for eye and face tracking. There's also a connector for the wire that leads to its external clip-on battery pack alongside built-in speakers with spatial audio. The one big departure is that unlike the Vision Pro, the Galaxy XR doesn't have an outward-facing display, so it won't be able to project your face onto the outside of the headset, which is just fine by me. Sam Rutherford for Engadget However, the devil is in the details because while the original Vision Pro weighed between 600 and 650 grams (around 1.3 to 1.4 pounds) depending on the configuration (not including its battery pack), the Galaxy XR is significantly lighter at 545 grams (1.2 pounds). And that's before you consider the new M5 Vision Pro, which has somehow gone backwards by being even heavier at 750-800 grams (around 1.6 pounds). Furthermore, it seems Samsung learned a lot from its rivals by including a much larger and thicker head cushion that helps distribute the weight of the headset more evenly. Granted, during a longer session, I still noticed a bit of pressure and felt relief after taking off the Galaxy XR, but it's nothing like the Vision Pro, which in my experience gets uncomfortable almost immediately. Finally, around back, there's a simple strap with a knob that you can twist to tighten or loosen the headband as necessary. So even without extra support running across the top of your head, getting in and out of the Galaxy XR is much easier and comfier than the Vision Pro. Sam Rutherford for Engadget On the inside, the Galaxy XR is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip with dual micro OLED displays that deliver 4K resolution (3,552 x 3,840) to each eye at up to 90Hz. I wish Samsung was able to go up to a 120Hz refresh rate like on the Vision Pro, but considering the Galaxy XR's slightly higher overall resolution, I'm not that bothered. And I must say, the image quality from this headset is seriously sharp. It's even better than Apple's goggles and it might be the best I've ever used, particularly outside of $10,000+ enterprise-only setups. Once again, when you consider that this thing costs half the price of a Vision Pro, this headset feels like a real accomplishment by Samsung to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if the company is losing money on every unit it sells. In terms of longevity, Samsung says that for general use the Galaxy XR should last around two hours. If you're only watching videos though, that figure is more like two and a half. Thankfully, if you do need to be in mixed reality for longer, you can charge the headset while it's being used. As for security, the Galaxy XR uses iris recognition to skip traditional passwords, which is nice. The platform: Android XR Sometimes, trying out a new software platform can be a little jarring. But that's not really the case for Android XR, which shouldn't present much of a learning curve for anyone who has used other headsets or Google's ubiquitous mobile OS. After putting the goggles on, you can summon a home menu with an app launcher by facing your palm up and touching your index finger and thumb together. From there, you can open apps and menus by moving your hands and pinching icons or rearranging virtual windows by grabbing the anchor point along the bottom and putting them where you want. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Notably, while there is a growing number of new apps made specifically for XR, you still get access to all of your standard Android titles. Those include Google Photos, Google Maps and Youtube, all of which I got a chance to play around with during a 25-minute demo. In Photos, you can browse your pictures normally. However, to take advantage of the Galaxy XR's hardware, Google created a feature that allows the app to convert standard flat images (with help from the cloud) into immersive ones. While the effect isn't true 3D, it adds distinct foreground, midground and background layers to images in a way that makes viewing your photo roll just a bit more interesting. In Maps, you start out with a view of the world before using hand gestures to move and zoom in wherever you want or voice commands to laser in on a specific location. The neat new trick for this app is that if you find bubbles over things like restaurants and stores, you can click those to be transported inside those businesses, where Android XR will stitch together 2D photos to create a simulated 3D environment that you can move and walk around in. Granted, this doesn't have a ton of practical use for most folks unless you want to take a virtual tour of something like a wedding venue. But, the tech is impressive nonetheless. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Finally in the YouTube app, the Galaxy XR did a great job of making standard 360 videos look even better. While quality will always depend on the gear that captured the content, viewing spatial clips was a great way to show off its resolution and image quality. Google says it will also put a new tab on the app to make finding 360 videos easier, though you can always watch the billions of standard flat videos as well. Interestingly, you can use and navigate the Galaxy XR entirely with hand gestures, but voice commands (via Gemini) are also a major part of the Android XR platform. Because the goggles sit on your head, unlike with mobile devices, there's no need to use a wake word every time you want to do something. You just talk and Gemini listens (though you can choose to disable this behavior if you prefer), so this makes voice interactions feel a lot more natural. Because Gemini can also do things like adjust settings or organize all the apps you have open, in addition to answering questions, it feels like Google is starting to deliver on some of those Star Trek moments where you can simply ask the computer to do something and it just happens. Yes, it's still very early, but as a platform, Android XR feels much more like a virtual playground than VisionOS does at the moment. Other features Sam Rutherford for Engadget While I didn't get to test these out myself, there are some other important features worth mentioning. In addition to apps, you can also play your standard selection of Android games like Stardew Valley or connect the headset to your PC (like with Steam Link) to play full desktop titles. Furthermore, I was told that the Galaxy XR can be tethered to a computer and used like a traditional VR headset. And while Samsung is making optional wireless controllers for the Galaxy XR (and a big carrying case), you may not need them at all as you'll also have the ability to pair the goggles with typical Bluetooth-based gamepads along with wireless mice and keyboards. Google also says it's working on a new system called Likenesses that can create personalized avatars for use in video calls and meetings that use data from interior sensors to deliver more realistic expressions. Additionally, you'll be able to use tools like Veo3 to make AI-generated videos while providing prompts using your voice. But this is just scratching the surface of the Galaxy XR's capabilities and I want to use this thing more before offering a final verdict. Early thoughts Sam Rutherford for Engadget In many ways, the Galaxy XR looks and feels like a flagship mixed reality headset in the same vein as the Vision Pro, but for the Android crowd (and Windows users to some extent as well). On top of that, Google has done some interesting things with Android XR to make it feel like there's a much wider range of content and software to view and use. In many ways, the addition of a dedicated AI assistant in Gemini and voice controls feels much more impactful on goggles than a phone because you can't always count on having physical inputs like a mouse or keyboard. And with the Galaxy XR being half the price of the Vision Pro, Samsung and Google have done a lot to address some of the most glaring issues with Apple's rival. In case the price drop wasn't enough, it feels like all the companies involved are doing as much as possible to sweeten the deal. I actually started laughing when I first heard all the discounts and free subscriptions that come with the headset. That's because in addition to the goggles themselves, every Galaxy XR will come with what's being called the Explorer Pack: 12 months of access to Google AI Pro, 12 months of YouTube Premium (which itself includes YouTube Music), 12 months of Google Play Pass, 12 Months of NBA League Pass and a bundle of other custom XR content and apps. So on top of a slick design, top-tier optics and a new platform, Google and Samsung are basically tossing a kitchen sink of apps and memberships in with the headset. Sam Rutherford for Engadget My only reservation is that when it comes to mass adoption, I think smartglasses have supplanted headsets as the next big mainstream play. Granted, there is a lot of technology and software shared between both categories of devices (Google has already teased upcoming Android XR smartglasses) that should allow Samsung or Google to pivot more easily down the line. But the idea that in the future there will be a headset in every home seems less likely every day. Still, as a showcase for the potential of mixed reality and high-end optics, the Galaxy XR is an exciting piece of tech. The Samsung Galaxy XR is available now for $1,800 on Samsung.com. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/samsung-galaxy-xr-hands-on-a-smarter-more-open-take-on-apples-vision-pro-for-half-the-price-020044642.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/samsung-galaxy-xr-hands-on-a-smarter-more-open-take-on-apples-vision-pro-for-half-the-price-020044642.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsxq0qnkmlvcl0xpczteg6l6yqdkfzs6eh57rhr75vmee22m3f8lxczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfys32kfx

2025-10-21T19:19:51Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fimages%2F2025-10%2F21d3ae61-f23a-439d-9288-cd0492773e3a&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=5766a6f158870e74e576308727b26bb0d3b92701
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel will have to testify in an upcoming trial that deals with social media safety and whether the executives' platforms are addictive. A Los Angeles judge ruled that the three men will need to testify in the trial set to begin in January, according to CNBC."The testimony of a CEO is uniquely relevant, as that officer’s knowledge of harms, and failure to take available steps to avoid such harms could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct,” Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl wrote. As CNBC points out, the January trial will be closely watched as it's the first of many lawsuits alleging harms to young social media users that will head to trial. Lawyers for Meta and Snap had argued that the executives should be spared from testifying at the upcoming trial. Meta's lawyers reportedly argued that forcing testimony from Zuckerberg and Mosseri would "set a precedent" for future trials. Meta is currently facing numerous lawsuits over alleged harms to younger users of its platforms. The company didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.Snap is also facing a number of lawsuits over alleged safety issues. In a statement, the law firm representing Snap said that the judge's order "does not bear at all on the validity of Plaintiffs claims" and that they "look forward to the opportunity to explain why Plaintiffs' allegations against Snapchat are wrong factually and as a matter of law. "This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/mark-zuckerberg-adam-mosseri-and-evan-spiegel-ordered-to-testify-in-trial-over-social-media-addiction-190500907.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/mark-zuckerberg-adam-mosseri-and-evan-spiegel-ordered-to-testify-in-trial-over-social-media-addiction-190500907.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqs2cv0kn6r645mv3ew5mwvnz4c8q4y6my34vexmn5sq2usje53du6gzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy2qquku

2025-10-21T18:57:21Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2F1f6636a0-aea3-11f0-be8f-738b9aaa0906&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=25997d058fa5f54dbf052d65d9d2e2ad24ba7e9a
OpenAI's long-rumored browser has a name, and you can try it out today — provided you're an Apple user. ChatGPT Atlas is available to download on macOS, with the company promising to bring it to Windows, Android and iOS soon. Atlas integrates ChatGPT directly within the browser interface, allowing users to engage with the chatbot while they're surfing the web — no need to jump between different tabs or copy and paste content. When you select a text field, an icon will appear that allows you to prompt ChatGPT. OpenAI demoed this feature in Gmail where an employee asked the chatbot to polish an email he was writing to a colleague. Naturally, a prompt bar will also appear when you open a new tab, and you can open a sidebar where you can converse with ChatGPT at any time. The more you use Atlas, the more ChatGPT will "remember" about your preferences. One of the benefits of this is that you'll be able to more easily filter through your search history. For instance, you can write "re-open the shoes I looked at yesterday," and ChatGPT will know the specific website you want to look at again. Browser memories are optional, and if you decide to enable the feature, you can manage them through the settings menu, and just like any other browser, you can delete your history or go surf the web using an incognito mode. OpenAI also says it won't use the content users browse to train its future models. Atlas also includes an agent mode where ChatGPT can surf the web for you and complete tasks. The feature builds on the Operator tech debuted at the start of the year, and is currently available as a preview within the browser that Plus, Pro and Business accounts can try out. "It can help you book reservations or flights or even just edit a document that you’re working on,” said Adam Fry, product lead for ChatGPT Search, during the livestream where OpenAI announced Atlas. "Tabs are great but we haven't seen a lot of browser innovation since then," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at the start of the livestream. “This is just a great browser all-around — it’s smooth, it’s quick, it’s really nice to use.” Rumors that OpenAI was working on its own web browser first surfaced in July. With today's announcement, the company joins an already competitive market. A number of companies, including Opera and Perplexity, released their own "agentic" browsers earlier this year. Of course, then there's also Google, which plans to integrate its Gemini AI assistant more deeply into Chrome, the world's most popular browser, over the coming months. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-ai-powered-browser-chatgpt-atlas-launches-on-macos-today-170735742.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-ai-powered-browser-chatgpt-atlas-launches-on-macos-today-170735742.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqstmjcarh4wsel2276rad3y8msk4mwt2wy9p9fq0s87uj9stthjr0gzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfysgkwsw

2025-10-20T14:50:45Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Fb8fbe490-ad9a-11f0-8dfd-f6af2bebdd6d&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=28457fe8aaaf912ff9bdb8ab5c85ffad265fdc4a
On this crisp October morning, it feels like half of the internet is dealing with a hangover. A severe Amazon Web Services outage took out many, many websites, apps, games and other services that rely on Amazon’s cloud division to stay up and running. According to the AWS service health page, Amazon was looking into "increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS services" in the US-EAST-1 region (i.e. data centers in Northern Virginia) as of 3:11AM ET on Monday. By 5:01AM, AWS had figured out that a DNS resolution issue with its DynamoDB API was the cause of the outage. DynamoDB is a database that holds info for AWS clients. “Amazon had the data safely stored, but nobody else could find it for several hours, leaving apps temporarily separated from their data,” Mike Chapple, a teaching professor of IT, analytics and operations at University of Notre Dame, told CNN. “It’s as if large portions of the internet suffered temporary amnesia.” As of 6:35AM, AWS said it had fully mitigated the DNS issue and that "most AWS Service operations are succeeding normally now." However, the knock-on effect caused issues with other AWS services, including EC2, a virtual machine service on which many companies build online applications. At 8:48AM, AWS said it was "making progress on resolving the issue with new EC2 instance launches in the US-EAST-1 Region." It recommended that clients not tie new deployments to specific Availability Zones (i.e. one or more data centers in a given region) "so that EC2 has flexibility" in picking a zone that may be a better option. At 9:42AM, Amazon noted on the status page that although it had applied "multiple mitigations" across several Availability Zones in US-EAST-1, it was "still experiencing elevated errors for new EC2 instance launches." As such, AWS was "rate limiting new instance launches to aid recovery." The company added at 10:14AM that it was seeing "significant API errors and connectivity issues across multiple services in the US-EAST-1 Region." Even once all the issues are resolved, AWS will have a significant backlog of requests and other factors to process, so it'll take some time for everything to recover. Many, many, many companies use US-EAST-1 for their AWS deployments, which is why it felt like half of the internet was knocked offline on Monday morning. As of mid-morning, tons of websites and other services were sluggish or offering up error messages. Outage reports for a broad swathe of services spiked on Down Detector. Along with Amazon's own services, users reported issues with the likes of banks, airlines, Disney+, Snapchat, Reddit, Lyft, Apple Music, Pinterest, Fortnite, Roblox and The New York Times — sorry to anyone whose Wordle streaks may be at risk. AWS offers a lot of useful features to clients, such as the ability for websites and apps to automatically scale compute and server capacity up and down as needed to handle ebbs and flows in traffic. It also has data centers around the world. That kind of infrastructure is attractive to companies that serve a global audience and need to stay online around the clock. As of mid-2025, it was estimated that AWS' share of the worldwide cloud infrastructure market was 30 percent. But incidents such as this highlight that relying on just a few providers to be the backbone of much of the internet is a bit of a problem.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/aws-fell-on-its-face-knocking-many-apps-websites-and-games-offline-142935040.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/aws-fell-on-its-face-knocking-many-apps-websites-and-games-offline-142935040.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsgqhmnp9p9cnfj455am2wt977hdlnqvyycv06wuqacscrstsj728czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy2ptdjy

2025-10-16T18:24:51Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-10%2Feb3d7dc0-aaba-11f0-87de-c9f29ce861cc&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=8e601610589af499100f4a81fd4b687e6ea7c0ec
EA has had quite the month, and the numbers tell its story. A few weeks ago, the company confirmed an agreement to go private in a $55 billion sale. And now we know that Battlefield 6 sold over 7 million copies in its first three days. The game also had over 172 million online matches played during the holiday weekend. On top of that, it logged 15 million hours watched on streaming services. Battlefield 6's sales numbers make it the biggest opening yet for the franchise. By comparison, 2021's Battlefield 2042 reportedly sold a relatively paltry 4.2 million copies in its first week. The quotes in EA's blog post read like awards ceremony acceptance speeches. "First and foremost, we want to thank our players," franchise General Manager Byron Beede said. "We never take moments like this for granted, so I want to express our sincere gratitude to our global Battlefield Studios and passionate community that has helped get us to this point," Executive VP Vince Zampella added. The game's launch came weeks after the company's announcement that it will go private. The gaming giant will be owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. On Wednesday, unionized EA staffers spoke out against the acquisition, warning that "every time private equity or billionaire investors take a studio private, workers lose visibility, transparency and power." Battlefield 6 launched on October 10. It's available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Its Season 1 content is just around the corner, arriving on October 28.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/battlefield-6-sold-over-7-million-copies-in-three-days-181826351.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/battlefield-6-sold-over-7-million-copies-in-three-days-181826351.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqswdyu58fayp9wag0pml8d0d3c2tl37vnzehz2z8dnp3zcfep0ffcqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyc6gf0t

2025-10-12T20:52:34Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fd29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net%2Fvideos%2Fuser-uploaded%2Fstarship.jpeg&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=d54dabc2c9636787052cbf85526b4e742f64c686
SpaceX is gearing up for the 11th flight test of its Starship megarocket, which will launch from its Starbase in Texas as early as Monday. The launch window opens on October 13 at 7:15PM ET. You'll be able to watch live starting 30 minutes before liftoff on the SpaceX website and on X. Starship's latest flight follows a successful test at the end of August, during which it deployed a payload — eight dummy Starlink satellites — in space for the first time following a failed attempt earlier in the year. The company is aiming to carry out another payload demonstration for flight 11, again using eight Starlink simulators. For this flight, SpaceX is using a previously flown Super Heavy booster, with 24 of its 33 Raptor engines being flight-proven. The goals this time around include "flight experiments gathering data for the next generation Super Heavy booster, stress-testing Starship’s heatshield, and demonstrating maneuvers that will mimic the upper stage’s final approach for a future return to launch site."SpaceX won't attempt to catch Super Heavy in its "chopsticks" back at the launch site this time. The booster is instead expected to end up in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship will splash down in the Indian Ocean.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacex-will-attempt-starships-11th-flight-test-on-monday-204237829.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacex-will-attempt-starships-11th-flight-test-on-monday-204237829.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsr68xzjlhddjmy383patyu4yvyr9wq6k5gkmwealt0z5zzc7hns4czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyqcdz8q

2025-09-25T22:22:52Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-09%2F73f36dc0-9a5b-11f0-887f-90e12b633a40&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=22b110a519f1694df5f6f828c6be849c9afe4ca4
Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America's President and Chief Operating Officer, is stepping down on December 31, 2025, according to Nintendo. Bowser's leadership responsibilities will now be split between two executives: Devon Pritchard, NoA's Executive Vice President of Revenue, Marketing and Consumer Experience, will take over as President, and Satoru Shibata, the current Corporate Director and Managing Executive Director, will act as the company's CEO. Bowser first joined Nintendo in 2015 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, before replacing long-time President Reggie Fils-Aimé in 2019. In comparison to some of the company's other leaders, Bowser was much less of a public-facing presence, but he still guided Nintendo of America through a transformative portion of the company's history. Nintendo not only opened a theme park while Bowser was in charge, but also had a major Hollywood release in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and a successful console launch with the release of the Switch 2 earlier this year. Bowser also weathered his fair share of controversies, including reports that Nintendo of America was failing to address issues of gender discrimination among its employees. "Leading Nintendo of America has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am proud of what our team has accomplished in both business results and the experiences we’ve created for consumers," Bowser said in a statement. "Now, it’s time for the next generation of leadership and Devon’s track record speaks for itself,” Bowser continued. “She is an exceptional leader, and her promotion is a testament to her strong performance and strategic contributions to the company’s growth." According to Nintendo, "Pritchard plans to build on the many experiences that allow consumers to connect with Nintendo's characters and worlds, from video games to entertainment to retail experiences." The company might be too big and successful now to feature someone with as much personality as Fils-Aimé, but if Pritchard plans to stick with business-as-usual, maybe Shibata could become the public face Nintendo has been missing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/bowser-is-leaving-nintendo-of-america-221650389.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/bowser-is-leaving-nintendo-of-america-221650389.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsrddsrzfrqdgycj9mg25tc7kyggweya0gkuftwh0f5jfkn9htlpaqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyknfdml

2025-08-07T18:48:31Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-08%2F8c5f62c0-73bd-11f0-b7fd-38643f655cce&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=1bbf161db1a49c82af184d96d2cf916d4ed4229b
Yesterday, Meta introduced a new map feature that's almost identical to Snapchat's Snap Map. The feature has quickly sparked a backlash, though, and not just because it's yet another example of Instagram ripping off a Snapchat feature. While the map requires users to opt-in to share their location, many users were surprised and alarmed to see that their Instagram map was already populated with the locations of some accounts when it launched. That's because the map automatically pulls in location info when someone has recently shared a Story or Reel with a location tagged. For example, I posted a Story that tagged San Francisco's botanical gardens and it tagged me there on Instagram's map even though I have my map location set to share with "no one." This isn't that different from how Instagram has worked in the past: location tags have always been visible to your followers, and the app has always had a map view that let people see public posts that have been tagged with specific places. My story post tagged me on Instagram's map even though location is set to "no one" because I tagged a location (in this case San Francisco's botanical gardens).Instagram screenshot But Instagram's map makes this information much more prominent and easy to access. While before you would have to tap into specific posts to see location tags, the new map puts all of this into a single view. Depending on how often you tag locations, this can make it seem like your real-time info is being shared, even when it isn't. All that, combined with Meta's messy history with user privacy, has understandably ignited new concerns from people worried about their location being accidentally exposed by Instagram. Some users have questioned why the map exists at all given the potentially serious implications of unknowingly sharing your location with all of your Instagram mutuals. It's also led to a lot of misunderstanding. A number of prominent accounts on Threads have suggested that location sharing is on by default. At the time of this writing, "Instagram map" is the top trend on Threads, with more than 850,000 posts — most of which are privacy related. Instagram head Adam Mosseri has replied to more than a dozen accounts attempting to explain how it actually works. Screenshot / Threads "We're double checking everything, but so far it looks mostly like people are confused and assume that, because they can see themselves on the map when they open, other people can see them too," Mosseri wrote in response to a Threads user who asked why people were reporting seeing themselves on the map without opting in. "We're still checking everything though to make sure nobody shares location without explicitly deciding to do so, which, by the way, requires a double consent by design (we ask you to confirm after you say you want to share)." How to check your Instagram Map settings You can find the Instagram map by swiping over to your inbox and selecting the "map" icon at the top. The settings menu in the top right corner allows you to confirm who you want to be able to find you on the map: you can choose between "friends" (mutuals), "close friends" or a list of specific accounts. The default setting is "no one," and the app also shows a red location arrow when "no one is selected." Instagram screenhsot It's also worth checking whether you've tagged a location on any posts within the last 24 hours. If you have, then you'll be tagged at that place on the map even if you've set your sharing settings to "no one." Location tags only appear on the Instagram map for 24 hours, according to Meta, so it won't keep a running log of everywhere you've been, and it won't show your live location. Still, these tags could reveal more about your whereabouts than you intended. If you have tagged a place, you can either delete the post entirely or edit it to remove the tag, which should keep it from showing up on the map. When you do opt to share your location on the map, the friends you select will be able to see where you're at in real time. You can still set some limitations, though. The map also has a "hidden places" feature that allows you to always hide specific locations that may be sensitive, like your home. The feature itself is, ironically, somewhat hidden. You can find it by tapping the "..." menu on the map's location settings and choosing "hide places." The app will then let you drag a pin on the map and choose a surrounding radius to hide. The feature works well if you want to hide the place you're currently at, but it's a bit clunky if you want to block off multiple locations because you can't enter specific addresses. Instagram screenshot Regardless, if you're worried about exposing your whereabouts, the safest option is to keep location sharing set to "no one" and to not use location tags in any of your content. It's unclear if Meta plans to change anything about how the Instagram Map works in response to user concerns. “Instagram Map is off by default, and your live location is never shared unless you choose to turn it on," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. "If you do, only people you follow back—or a private, custom list you select—can see your location.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/adam-mosseri-says-people-are-confused-about-how-the-instagram-map-works-184736070.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/adam-mosseri-says-people-are-confused-about-how-the-instagram-map-works-184736070.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsgf0ra4eg82fvkdqw409gy9rlruxjhmda5z4qeypnl0m7feu3asxgzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfya53geq

2025-06-28T16:01:47Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-06%2Fe5269b30-541e-11f0-bffa-d131c5d3181a&resize=1400%2C871&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=7784ec4ff9f964869e47209f329f80eaa5ed9edb
Anker has issued its second recall this month for several power bank models sold around the world, as MacRumors has reported. If you'll recall, its previous recall that launched earlier this month focused on the Anker PowerCore 10000 power bank model A1263, which were sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31st, 2022 in the United States. The company found that the lithium-ion battery it used for the model has a risk of overheating that could then lead to the power bank melting, producing smoke and, ultimately, catching fire. Now, Anker has issued a global recall for multiple products sold in several markets around the world. Those products are the Anker Power Bank (10K, 22.5W) Model A1257, Anker Power Bank (20,000mAh, 22.5W, Built-In USB-C Cable) Model A1647, Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh, 7.5W) Model A1652, Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, 30W, Built-In USB-C and Lightning Cable) Model A1681 and Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, 30W, Built-In USB-C Cable) Model A1689. The company said that it implemented a series of enhanced quality assurance protocols earlier this year, all of which were designed to detect manufacturing issues. It found that those particular models use lithium-ion battery cells from a single vendor, which are at risk of overheating and causing fire. The company said that the chances of malfunction are minimal, but it launched the recall out of an abundance of caution anyway and is advising customers to stop using affected models. You can check if your device is affected on the recall's official page where you can enter its serial number. A proof of purchase will be required to be qualified for the program, but if you can provide the requirements needed, you can choose between a replacement or a gift card that you can use on Anker's website. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/anker-issues-another-recall-for-multiple-power-banks-that-pose-fire-safety-risk-160015082.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/anker-issues-another-recall-for-multiple-power-banks-that-pose-fire-safety-risk-160015082.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqspv9kuadcxxvkvhh54jn6zm8snx3g799ntgrpx2sej9mertw2h6xczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfys3e2kd

2025-06-28T12:35:46Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-06%2Fe744f780-5393-11f0-b7ff-48f187ef641f&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=5e86e81685e63a6c2f10032fa8f79296cbaa191a
Kobo, a Rakuten subsidiary that sells ebooks and ereaders, has built its name on being a more open and author-friendly version of Amazon Kindle. However, a recent change to the company's self-publishing business has some writers worried that reputation might change. Last month, the company updated its Terms of Service for Kobo Writing Life, its publishing platform, which opened the door to AI features on the platform. With that new contract language going into effect on June 28th, authors seem no clearer on what it will mean for their futures on Kobo. For authors who haven't broken into (or have opted out of) traditional publishing both Kobo Writing Life and Kindle Direct Publishing offer a way to sell books without needing representation or a publishing deal. If they can provide their work and the information needed to make a store page — and have a willingness to serve as not only author but marketer — they have everything they need to sell their books. Agreeing to sell on one of these platforms comes with a list of conditions. The biggest is the split of sales. If an author sells their novel for $2.99 or more on Kobo Writing Life, they keep 70 percent of what they earn. On the considerably larger Kindle Direct Publishing platform, there are two royalty options — 35 percent and 70 percent — but both have a confusing litany of compounding factors, some of which can significantly reduce authors' earnings. The calculus of fees vs. exposure makes authors develop strong preferences for the platform they choose. But the terms of service under which their work is published are also important — and apparently subject to change with little warning. Engadget spoke with three authors who were surprised by Kobo's decision to experiment with AI. All of them noticed the company had published new Terms of Service because of a simple banner notification in the Kobo Writing Life Dashboard. Even now, a month after the terms were changed, the company is unable to clarify how the new terms would apply to existing work. There also isn't a means for authors to opt out. If anyone on Kobo is adamantly against any amount of AI use, their best and only option is to stop publishing there, and probably to pull their existing work from the platform. The authors we spoke to were surprised that Kobo didn't reach out about the proposed changes in advance, but also that the company was choosing to work with AI at all. "I appreciate their transparency in being candid about their use of AI," Michelle Manus, a fantasy author on Kobo's platform, wrote to Engadget over email. "What I think they vastly underestimated was the extent to which their user base dislikes AI." Kobo's new terms are explicit in saying that the company does not plan to use authors' work to train generative AI. It does, however, reserve the right to use "artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning algorithms or similar technologies" to "read, analyze, and process" writing for a variety of non-training purposes, including: "Enhancing the discoverability of Works" with tagging and targeted customer recommendations "Evaluating the suitability of Works" for sale in the Kobo store "Generating resources" like "creating keywords, promotional content, targeted advertisements, customer engagement strategies and other materials" "Providing recaps, reading assistance and accessibility features" Authors have taken issue with the apparent lack of recourse provided to them. What happens if a work is incorrectly tagged as one genre when its author believes it more directly fits another? Or what if the "promotional material" Kobo generates includes some kind of hallucination? The biggest issue for the writers Engadget spoke to was the potential for Kobo to deploy AI-generated recaps. Amazon implemented a recap tool on Kindle in April, using generative AI to help readers get back into a series or remember where they were in a novel, and some authors have already found examples of the company's AI inaccurately summarizing stories. "We would have immediately gone, 'Ah, okay, we see what you're trying to do, but we don't think that the thing you're suggesting is going to work to address the problem that you're trying to address," Delilah Waan, a fantasy author and YouTube creator, told Engadget. Since self-published authors tend to be more responsive to their audience, these kinds of issues could actually jeopardize that relationship. "Authors frequently get pushback from readers about plot choices, and I can only imagine the levels to which that could rise if they are receiving incorrect recaps of what happened in a book," Manus wrote. All of the authors Engadget spoke to admired Kobo's attempts to address complaints in public. On Bluesky, the company's CEO Michael Tamblyn posted a long thread getting into the logic of including an AI clause in the company's terms. Essentially, Tamblyn wrote, Kobo is trying to make the job of connecting readers with authors easier, and streamlining the moderation process that goes into maintaining the Kobo Store, all while avoiding trampling over copyright. "We are completely uninterested in creating new content using authors' books, and don’t do anything that would allow us to do that," Tamblyn wrote. "And we don’t want anyone else to do it either because we are in the business of selling books and would like to be able to keep doing that." Agreeing to not train generative AI with an author's work is what all professional writers have been encouraged to demand from publishers by The Authors Guild, a professional organization that advocates for writers and is currently participating in a lawsuit against OpenAI. By choosing to not train generative AI on books, Kobo is starting on the right foot. The dubious nature of what material gets fed into an AI model still leaves many questions, though. "Keep in mind, all of the models right now are illegally trained, and I mean all of the big LLMs [Large Language Models]," Mary Rasenberg, the CEO of The Authors Guild, says. "So they may be using an AI system that's not one of the big LLMs, but whatever system they're using may be based on one of the big LLMs." Kobo did not respond to a request for information about which LLM it plans to use. For work that might be misclassified or mislabelled, the company encouraged authors to contact them via its support email, which authors say has been responsive to complaints so far. The company says it has not begun testing what it describes as a "beta feature" for generating a "personalized recap" in the Kobo app. It notes that it's "not interested in doing whole summaries of books." Instead Kobo plans to make its recaps specific to each reader, around 150 words in length based on both the pages they read in their last reading session and the quotes they highlighted. Ebook platforms are taking a cautious approach to AI broadly. Authors who publish through the Apple Books platform can have AI-narrated audiobooks generated from their work, but doing so is completely optional. Barnes & Noble's Press platform doesn't currently offer AI products. Amazon's recaps are currently the most invasive use of AI across ebook markets, and authors can't opt out of them."It doesn't matter how much money we're making from Amazon. We all hate dealing with it," Waan said. She made it clear that self-publishing authors are scared of Kobo changing because it currently has author-friendly answers to most of Amazon's products. "I cannot describe how much we want Kobo to succeed, like we are rooting for them," she said. Every company seems keen to continue pushing the boundaries of where and how invasively it can implement AI. Waan's hope now is that Kobo engages in some kind of open forum with authors about its proposed uses for the technology. "I think it's really hard to decide, as an author, 'am I going to pull my books?,'" Waan said. "Because the minute you pull your books it's a whole headache, because you gotta update all the links. If you have ads running, you gotta pull them. It's not as simple as turning off a light switch." Difficult as it may be, that's a decision self-published authors will increasingly be forced to make.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-might-undermine-one-of-the-better-alternatives-to-the-kindle-123039955.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-might-undermine-one-of-the-better-alternatives-to-the-kindle-123039955.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsfnuxmx22hsm4yn7dt9ar9zw9kjrl0f72696q7dhnwldq373cc2nqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyvv0r2h

2025-06-06T12:37:58Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-05%2F52df0dc0-2a52-11f0-bfdc-49cfbc304d08&resize=1400%2C917&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=e740e9ca989e1ec436e2a4fa123f6f71cc305749
A court has denied Apple's appeal for an emergency stay on a ruling over purchases made outside the App Store in the US, TechCrunch reported. That means Apple will no longer be able to be able to collect fees when users click on links within an app that takes them to an external site for a purchase. "After reviewing the relevant factors, we are not persuaded that a stay is appropriate," the judges stated in a filing. Earlier this year, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple violated her 2021 ruling on Epic's lawsuit against Apple. The judge originally ordered Apple to allow developers to direct users to other payment systems that would let them bypass the App Store's usual 30 percent commission fee. However, Apple still took up to a 27 percent cut for external purchases while showing users a "scare screen" warning that paying they'd lost the company's protection if paying outside the app store. As part of the ruling, Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to stop collecting fees for external payments in the US immediately. She also prohibited Apple from creating rules that would prevent developers from presenting customers with buttons and links for external payments. Apple complied with the order but immediately filed an appeal for an emergency hold on the ruling so it could resume collecting fees on external app purchases — and that appeal has now been denied. "The long national nightmare of the Apple tax is ended," Epic CEO Tim Sweeny wrote on X in response to the ruling. "May next week’s WWDC be the Apple-led celebration of freedom that developers and users have long deserved." Apple has yet to comment on the matter. Other companies with a large presence on iOS like Amazon and Spotify have already moved quickly to establish external payment methods for their apps. Epic itself resubmitted Fortnite to the App Store but was denied, calling Apple's actions "blatant retaliation." However on May 20th, Fortnite finally returned to the App Store in the US. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apples-appeal-for-an-emergency-hold-on-app-fees-denied-by-court-123017700.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/apps/apples-appeal-for-an-emergency-hold-on-app-fees-denied-by-court-123017700.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqstwy8z0g66tf043gu3a8f3d4w0slhchlxfqtem40k77undp0nrf3qzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyf6k0nd

2025-06-05T12:05:42Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-06%2F9786f7d0-41e0-11f0-bff5-082594577962&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=016f392d9a204af84958cc3a4c1d649628353d07
Giant Squid has announced that it's latest game, Sword of the Sea, will come to PlayStation 5 and PC on August 19. It'll also appear on PlayStation Plus from day one for Extra and Premium Subscribers. The fantasy adventure game marries surfing mechanics with the atmospherics of the developer's previous games like Abzû and Journey. Giant Squid showed off more gameplay in a new trailer as part of PlayStation's June 4 State of Play. "At its core, Sword of the Sea is all about surfing," the developer wrote. "You’ll be carving your way across mysterious moving waves of sand on the ancient and powerful hoversword." Other scenarios include dreamy ice-scapes and oceans full of flying dolphins. Giant Squid again teamed with creative director Matt Nava and composer Austin Wintory, who also worked on Abzû and Pathless. "As a surfer and snowboarder myself, I have felt the rush of movement and seen the beauty of nature in a way that only these extreme sports can deliver," Nava wrote about Sword of the Sea. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sword-of-the-sea-launches-august-19-120037636.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sword-of-the-sea-launches-august-19-120037636.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsq8cztn7g5k0zztsap5ln23984pgtxaa83lfm354dzesxp8ztut6czyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy5cvqvx

2025-06-04T22:44:00Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-06%2Fb35e6030-4193-11f0-bee1-ea889c71482d&resize=1400%2C788&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=8e85a540eb521da99311c4de7ef27f95beba80dc
"Avengers assemble" isn't just a call to action for superheroes; it's also the basis for a new tag fighting game. The reveal of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls closed out PlayStation's State of Play presentation ahead of Summer Games Fest 2025. PlayStation Studios and Marvel Games are teaming up with Arc System Works, the studio behind the Guilty Gear fighting game series, for this project. The game is scheduled to launch some time in 2026 on PlayStation 5 and on PC through the Steam and Epic stores. The trailer shows several members of the Marvel roster — Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Storm, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord and Ghost Rider — cycling on screen and showing off their abilities. Team-based fighting games have a long lineage, but those are commonly trios of characters controlled by a single competitor. Marvel Tōkon ups the ante with a 4v4 team system. The additional team member creates even more potential for flashy combination attacks. "One of the appeals of Marvel comics is seeing the vast cast of characters coming together to create all kinds of unique team-ups," Game Director and Lead Battle Designer Kazuto Sekine said of the design choice. "With these two ideas in mind, we concluded that creating a 4v4 team VS system would be the best way to not only create those over-the-top moments, but to further evolve the tag fighting genre." Marvel is having a bit of a moment in gaming, with the team shooter Marvel Rivals becoming a surprise sensation in recent months despite heavy competition from established titles. (Unfortunately, that success didn't save several members of the North American dev team from being laid off in February.) It should be fascinating to compare how the two genres interpret the iconic characters and their powers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-is-a-new-tag-fighting-game-from-the-devs-of-guilty-gear-223633976.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-is-a-new-tag-fighting-game-from-the-devs-of-guilty-gear-223633976.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsyqzmtdm44x9d7zhjwxc8u0lsvaq3t5r6za85gvg2trm6rx422zsqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy0p57qr

2025-06-03T15:20:54Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-06%2Fc61e1f20-408b-11f0-8af7-ba170ea9d32f&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=ae50f58d20af1b493ea06396c2eb3236757e25f9
There aren't that many pizza ovens made for indoor use. That's why the Ooni Volt 12 is special. This indoor oven is now on sale for 30 percent off via Amazon, bringing the price down to $629. This deal is also available directly from the manufacturer. The Volt 12 made our list of the best pizza ovens, and for good reason. It's simply the best indoor pizza oven on the market, not that there's all that much competition. It can reach temperatures of up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit, which cooks up a Neapolitan style pie in around 90 seconds. This is approaching the ultra-high temperatures that outdoor ovens achieve. To that end, this unit can be used outside when necessary. We actually said it "works just as well" as the outdoor models in our official review. Front-facing controls offer the ability to adjust both heating elements, with cooking presets and a boost function to quickly get the oven back to temp between pies. It comes with a square-shaped pizza stone, which is handy because it allows folks to slide in pans for Detroit style pizza or traditional baked goods. As a downside, this thing is huge. It'll most likely have to be stored away between use sessions. The exterior gets pretty hot, so keep the kiddos away until it's time to nosh. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-ooni-volt-12-pizza-oven-is-30-percent-off-right-now-151453097.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-ooni-volt-12-pizza-oven-is-30-percent-off-right-now-151453097.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsdwvxqp7d6z276c04stkw6yfcg99nm6dh68lrfl8s7v9uz23yphcczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy34s3ps

2025-05-30T12:21:31Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-01%2F853aec40-de61-11ef-bcff-627ce7931add&resize=1400%2C839&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=f71447c259a96af4da2b6ba21a4bcfe28d01cddb
The Sony Days of Play sale is underway, and it includes the first official price cut for the PS5 Pro. The console has dropped by $50 to $650 in the US for the sale, which runs from May 28 to June 11. This is the first time Sony has discounted its Pro-level console. Retail partners like Amazon are matching the discount as well. If you don't have a PS5 already and can afford the Pro model, it's definitely the way to go to get the best PlayStation experience. It earned a score of 88 in our review, and it might have scored even higher if not for the price and the lack of a built-in disc drive. There are other discounts on consoles in the US and Canada as part of the sale. A bundle of either the standard PS5 or Digital Edition with a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 starts at $400/$510 CAD (for the Digital Edition). Sony says that will save you $120/$160 CAD compared with buying them separately. The PS5 standard and digital versions will be on sale in Europe and Asia too, starting at €400/£340/¥65,980. It’s worth noting that Sony has considered raising the prices of PS5 hardware to offset the cost of tariffs. Microsoft this month jacked up the prices of Xbox consoles recently for that reason. So if you’ve been on the fence about getting a PS5 or PS5 Pro, now might be the time to snap one up. Elsewhere in the Days of Play sale, accessories are getting discounts. You can save on the PlayStation VR2 ($50 off), PlayStation VR2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle ($50 off), Pulse Explore earbuds ($30 off), DualSense Edge controller ($30 off), PlayStation Access controller ($20 off) and the DualSense controller ($20 off). Things like PS5 console covers and external storage drives will get price cuts as well. You will, of course, be able to snap up PS5 games for fewer dollars than usual. MLB The Show 25, the brilliant Astro Bot and Lego Horizon Adventures are among the many first-party games getting discounts. If you haven't played The Last of Us Part II and don't want to wait a year or two before finding out where the story of HBO's adaptation will go after that (somewhat unsatisfying) season finale on Sunday, you might like to snap up the remastered edition of the misery simulator, which will be included in the sale. Hundreds of other games will be featured. The list includes several Assassin's Creed titles, Grand Theft Auto V, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Balatro. On top of that, movies will be on sale through Sony Pictures Core Elsewhere, some PlayStation Plus plans are 33 percent off for new subscribers. Upgrading to the Extra or Premium tiers may cost you a third less than usual as well. That stinks for long-term PS Plus members who’d like to add another year or two (especially after recent price increases in several regions), but that’s standard practice for plans such as these as companies try to boost subscriber numbers. Speaking of which, Sony is adding an extra few games to the PS Plus Game Catalog for Extra, Premium and Deluxe members. They are: Another Crab’s Treasure (PS5, May 29) Skull and Bones (PS5, June 2) Destiny 2: Legacy Collection (PS5 and PS4, June 4) Grand Theft Auto III (PS5 and PS4, June 10) Another Crab's Treasure is a delightful Soulslike that was one of my favorite games of 2024. One of the best things about it is an accessibility option that gives you a giant pistol that can one-shot any enemy. Skull and Bones landed last year after years of delays and I'd say that "at no extra cost" is the best way to try it. Destiny 2: Legacy Collection includes hundreds of hours of gameplay with all of the expansions from the game's Light and Darkness Saga, except for the last chapter, The Final Shape. As it happens, the latest batch of monthly PS Plus games (which all PS Plus subscribers can claim and keep in their libraries as long as they maintain the membership) includes Destiny 2: The Final Shape, which will be available on May 30 for PS4 and PS5. The other titles, which you can claim starting on June 3, are NBA 2K25 (PS5 and PS4), last year's remake of Alone in the Dark (PS5) and the Jet Set Radio-esque Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (PS5 and PS4). That's a solid lineup! In addition, two bona fide all-timers are joining the Classics Catalog on June 5 for PS Plus Premium/Deluxe subscribers. Myst and its sequel Riven will be available to members on PS4 and PS5 at no extra cost. Premium/Deluxe subscribers will have access to two more game trials from May 28: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (PS5) and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (PS5 and PS4). Update, May 28, 12:53PM ET: Sony pushed back the date that it's adding Destiny 2: The Final Shape to the PS Plus Monthly games list from May 28 to May 30. This story has been updated accordingly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-ps5-pro-is-50-off-in-sonys-days-of-play-sale-144517873.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-ps5-pro-is-50-off-in-sonys-days-of-play-sale-144517873.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqstyrmg386td96vfnr55rsafmjdq6c4nupj76ehrxk3ld3q9v73s2qzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy08gw4u

2025-05-14T12:13:24Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-05%2F51295320-3013-11f0-aa4e-bc625b45836f&resize=1400%2C840&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=480e5a0f4a94f7fcebf9accab5f63cf396971de1
As people continue to move away from sedans to larger vehicles, the distinction between SUVs, crossovers and MPVs has become even blurrier. But make no mistake, if you're looking for a big car with tons of power, excellent handling and a true seven-person capacity, the Lucid Gravity might be the coolest three-row EV on sale today. Just don't call it a minivan. Not that you would be incorrect. Between its extra-long dimensions (198 inches, three inches longer than a LWB VW ID. Buzz), a smooth, sloping front end and an emphasis on aerodynamics, the Gravity certainly looks more like a Chrysler Pacifica than a brawny Rivian R1S. But as one Lucid representative told me, minivans have gotten a bad rap in recent times, due to their focus on basic practicality while eschewing anything in the way of engaging driving dynamics. This makes slapping the minivan tag on a car feel almost like a death sentence, even if the biggest difference between the Gravity and some of its cross-category rivals is the lack of sliding doors. Sam Rutherford for Engadget With the Gravity's Grand Touring spec (which starts at $94,900) packing a whopping 828 horsepower along with fancy features like standard air suspension and optional rear-wheel steering, this thing is anything but pokey. And that's before you consider a 0 to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds, which puts most sports cars (especially gas-powered ones) to shame. So despite how it looks, there's no doubt the Gravity offers better performance than any minivan on the planet. The speed continues when it’s time to charge. Thanks to its 926 volt architecture, the Gravity can suck down up to 400 kW of juice, which makes this the fastest charging EV outside of China. Lucid's charging tech is also capable of adding 200 miles of driving distance in under 11 minutes. When combined with up to 450 miles of range, this vehicle is almost single-handedly upending the idea that electric cars are bad for long road trips. The sky was cloudy that day.Sam Rutherford for Engadget Meanwhile, for those who want to travel in luxury, the Gravity has more creature comforts than minivans too, even for a class of vehicle that can often be judged by its number of cupholders. Not only are the front and second row seats heated, Lucid's glass panoramic roof runs nearly the entire length of the car. That means unlike most rivals where the driver is stuck without a view, all you see is sky when you look up from behind the wheel. There's even a screen for second row occupants to control music and climate (among other things). Lucid also makes great use of the Gravity's length. While I wouldn't want to ride back there as an adult all the time, it has one of the most spacious third rows I've ever sat in. Alternatively, if you need extra cargo space, the rearmost seats fold into the floor, providing you with a flat load space featuring 56.2 cubic feet of room (and that's with the second row still up). And while it's not something you'll use all the time, I love the company's optional folding cushion that transforms the frunk into a loveseat — complete with cupholders on each side. It's a fun little feature that makes me sad that drive-in movie theaters are becoming extinct. Sam Rutherford for Engadget The most enchanting contradiction about the Gravity is what it feels like to drive. After getting into the pilot's seat, you're greeted by a massive 34-inch 6K OLED display. And unlike some of its competitors, it's not two or three screens sandwiched together. It's all a single panel that's an absolute treat to look at. This expansiveness is only reinforced by Lucid's squircle-shaped wheel. It’s a touch smaller than you might expect on a vehicle this size, but it also gives you increased visibility at its giant infotainment system. The hard thing to wrap your head around though, is that for a long SUV with three rows of seats, it doesn't drive like a big car. The cabin is spacious and airy and it feels like you could fit a pickleball court between its mirrors. And yet, thanks to features like the optional rear-wheel steering on my demo vehicle, it almost felt petite during a quick drive around New York City. Now, I will admit that my route down the West Side Highway wasn't the best place to really test out its driving dynamics. But there were a few spots where I got a sense of how good the Gravity will be on the open road. For example, I had to make a U-turn down near Battery Park and I thought there was no way I was going to make it without committing to a three-point maneuver. But to my delight, it just darted around the divider in a way that defies its dimensions. Lucid's suspension is also a work of art. For a car that weighs around 6000 pounds (depending on spec), it doesn't lumber or bounce when it goes over bumps. It just kind of floats. You can still feel the road, but it's just more of a gentle reminder that its surface texture is constantly changing rather than a jolt up your backside. Granted, my test vehicle was equipped with Lucid's Dynamic Handling Package, which includes three-chamber air suspension instead of the standard two. But, honestly, that extra $2,900 feels well worth it, especially when that option also adds the rear-wheel steering. Sam Rutherford for Engadget I also appreciate how the car automatically hunkers down when you set it to sport mode to improve performance. Even without room to get it up to top speed, it's impossible to escape the feeling of immense power the car gets from its dual motors (a single-motor RWD is slated to come out later). The Gravity might just have the best ride quality of any EV SUV currently on sale. However, I do have some complaints. The most obvious one is that this thing ain't cheap at just shy of $95,000 for the initial Grand Touring version. And even when the base model eventually comes out at around $80,000, that's still a far cry from mainstream affordability. It really makes me wonder why Lucid didn't jump straight to making its rumored (and almost certainly more affordable) mid-size SUV. Sam Rutherford for Engadget I don't love Lucid's current color options either, which seem aimed more at boomers than younger, more EV-friendly drivers. (Though I guess that's where the money is.) The most vibrant paint choice is either a brownish bronze or a faded olive green. I was hoping that the company had learned something from the stunning blue it uses on the Air Sapphire and carried over some of that styling to the Gravity. But here we are. Finally, Lucid won't have its version of Dream Drive 2 Pro hands-free driving tech available at launch. Furthermore, the company is running into issues sourcing components for its HUD system, which means you'll have to wait a bit longer for that option. The good news is that when (or if) Lucid eventually figures out its hand-free tech, all the hardware needed to support it will already be in the Gravity, so all you'll need is an OTA update to turn it on. Regardless, as Lucid continues ramping production throughout the year, the Gravity already feels like the coolest big EV SUV on sale today and an immediate top contender for anyone looking for a luxurious three-row people carrier.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-lucid-gravity-is-the-coolest-three-row-ev-on-the-market-120024089.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-lucid-gravity-is-the-coolest-three-row-ev-on-the-market-120024089.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsr2n488h054u4pk2vrga2pcpal3mwj88hcd86l2uqt3ng7m8hh7nszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfylxsgge

2025-04-16T21:03:20Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-04%2F858054f0-1b02-11f0-bdf2-328b6a0f0131&resize=1400%2C788&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=752115c8ebe3ec78d6e47ce82e64a83ba3023cb5
Sony is jacking up PlayStation Plus prices in Canada. In an email to Engadget's Kris Holt, the company said the increase would apply to subscribers' first payments on or after June 24. The price hikes are now live on the PS Plus website for new Canadian subscribers. They vary depending on the tier and billing period but range from 12 to 22 percent higher than they were yesterday. The new Canadian prices for PS Plus Premium are CA$25 monthly (up from $21), $69 for three months (from $60) and — yikes — $225 for a year (from $190). Meanwhile, Extra members will now pay $21 monthly (from $18), $56 for three months (from $50) and $190 annually (from $155). Finally, Essential subscribers' prices go up to $14 monthly (from $12), $35 for three months (from $30) and $110 annually (from $95). Sony Other countries saw (previously announced) price increases go into effect on Wednesday. These include — deep breath — Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. So far, we haven't seen or heard of any US or UK price increases. The company didn't mention the elephant in the room — tariffs — in its email, instead justifying the price increase in vague terms. "This is necessary to enable us to continue bringing you high-quality games and benefits," it stated. But in a blog post last week announcing similar rate hikes in other countries, Sony perhaps hinted at the "T" word. "Like many businesses around the world, we continue to be impacted by global market conditions and will be adjusting our local prices for PlayStation Plus," Game Services Director Adam Michel wrote.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-raises-playstation-plus-prices-in-canada-205342723.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-raises-playstation-plus-prices-in-canada-205342723.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsxn98sa3vd7gv42ac2ps6xcufdrtmk83wqncee4k4qtldjhuymyfqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyw0jmvh

2025-03-06T13:03:23Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-02%2Fb1a3eae0-eed1-11ef-bfb2-63de3efcc6ef&resize=1400%2C787&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=20a413ef13bd3709bf2edcfb466c35bc52ec56e6
If you’re into kite surfing, skiing, rock climbing or other adventure sports and want to film your activities, an action camera is the only way to go. In the past, GoPro was uniquely associated with this type of first-person action filming. But now, buyers now have more choice, with models also available from DJI and Insta360. Each company has its own strength, with Insta360 specializing in 360-degree video, DJI known for low-light video quality and GoPro making solid all-around cams with a wide choice of accessories.That raises the question, which one has the best features for your personal exploits? Engadget has been testing action cameras for more than 16 years and with that experience, we can help you find the right model for your budget and needs. What to consider before choosing an action camera Action cameras have certain traits that separate them from regular cameras or smartphones. The most important is ruggedness that makes them resistant to water, dust and shocks. Most action cameras are now waterproof without the need for a separate enclosure. At the same time, you can purchase housing accessories to make them waterproof to even greater depths. Video quality is also key. Every model we recommend goes to at least 4K 60fps, but some models like GoPro’s latest Hero 13 boost resolution up to 5.3K 60fps, or even 8K 30p with the Insta360 Ace Pro 2. That allows you to crop in on shots and capture vertical video at higher resolutions for social media. Another nice feature is log video that improves dynamic range when filming on sunny, contrasty days. And if you film in dim environments, you’ll want the largest sensor possible for the best low-light performance. For activities with bumps and jolts like mountain biking, stabilization is incredibly important. You want your video to look smooth, but still need to convey the thrill and speed of the action. The Hero 13 is still the best in this regard, delivering jolt-free video that makes the viewer feel like they’re going down the bike trail or ski slope, with no annoying digital artifacts. DJI and Insta360’s products are good, but not quite at that level yet. Some action cameras are easier to handle and use, so take that into account as well. You’ll want bright and colorful displays both front and back, buttons you won’t have to fumble to find and easy-to-use menus. Remote control is another factor that can ease operation. And you’ll want to check which software is available to improve stabilization, edit video, remove selfie sticks and more. Then there's the area of accessories. Do you need helmet or chest mounts, waterproof housings or battery charger? GoPro has the largest number of those, but DJI makes handy wireless mics that connect directly with its cameras. And of course, battery life is critical for action shooting as it’s hard to change one when you’re out surfing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/best-action-camera-130017459.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/cameras/best-action-camera-130017459.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsge9jhh9tdtphar77j6n5utwxguts0c747nmt3d78ktmrp4m4nexszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyede22n

2025-03-05T15:37:01Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-03%2Ffc907870-f949-11ef-9bbf-3b5bb20f4ba4&resize=1400%2C862&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=b6fc1eb2cb139198d7f40d1018c359e39c315195
Elon Musk discovered a simple 30-second “fridge trick” that can reverse diabetes, but the discovery has spooked pharmaceutical companies so much they put a $78 million bounty on his head, forcing the Tesla CEO to flee the country. At least, that’s what a collection of AI-generated Facebook ads claim. Facebook ads depicting deepfakes of Elon Musk and Fox News personalities claiming that the Tesla CEO has discovered the cure for diabetes have been circulating on the platform for weeks. The ads seem to be part of a wider scam that uses the deepfakes to sell unproven supplements. Engadget has identified scores of pages running versions of these ads since early February. Though many of the ads don’t stay up for very long, the same pages have repeatedly run dozens or even hundreds of versions of the videos, all of which follow a similar format. The vast majority feature Elon Musk and Fox News hosts, but there are also versions with other notable figures, including Oprah Winfrey, former Utah Senator Mitt Romney and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Using social media to hawk sketchy supplements isn’t exactly new. AFP Fact Check detailed a similar ring of scammy Facebook ads promoting supplements that purported to cure high blood pressure last year. But the addition of AI-manipulated video and deepfaked audio of Musk adds a new layer to such scams. While this particular scam has apparently gone largely undetected by Meta, the company is well aware that fraudsters often use celebrities and other public figures to lure in unsuspecting users. A Polish billionaire recently won a legal battle with the company over deepfake ads that used his likeness. Last fall, the company announced that it would bring back facial recognition technology in an effort to fight “celeb bait” scams. Musk, of course, is no stranger to impersonation scams. Crypto scammers have impersonated him across social media for years. His new position as a close lieutenant of President Donald Trump and head of the “Department of Government Efficiency,” however, makes him an even more attractive target to fraudsters hoping to capitalize on his newfound authority. Several of the ads identified by Engadget feature video clips of Musk’s recent public appearances and speeches. These include ads with AI-generated audio overlaid onto video from an onstage interview this month at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, and a photo opp in the Oval Office. “There are a lot of different ‘blood sugar support,’ type 2 diabetes, reverse diabetes, sort of scams out there these days,” says Jordan Liles, a senior reporter at Snopes who has debunked some of these videos on his YouTube channel. “It's the same sort of process you might see with other scams in that they start with an ad, they go to a long video on a website, and then they want you to order the product. And they want you to believe everything that you just saw is real.” These ads seem to violate multiple policies of Meta, including its rules around medical misinformation and requirements for advertisers to disclose the use of AI-manipulated media. And many of the ads identified by Engadget appear to have been removed within a day or two. But many of the Facebook pages behind these ads, which have names like “Mindful Medicine,” “Your health compass” and “The Wellbeing Spot” remain active. Several pages repeatedly ran dozens of new ads with similar content shortly after the old ones were removed. Because ads that are taken down are removed from Meta’s Ad Library along with their associated analytics, it’s hard to know just how many accounts they are reaching. But the few that remain viewable offer some clues. One such ad, from a page called “Healthy Style,” was active on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger for three days, according to the company’s Ad Library. The advertiser paid Meta between $300 and $399 for the ad, which generated 5,000 - 6,000 impressions. At one point in February, the page was running 177 versions of a similar ad. Another, from a page called “Hydromeduoside” also ran for two days, generating between 10,000 and 15,000 impressions across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. It cost between $400 and $499, according to the Ad Library. Both ads were removed by Meta because they “ran without the required disclaimer” for ads about social and political issues, according to a notice in the Ad Library, despite likely breaking other rules and having no particular relation to politics. Meta removed the "Healthy Style" page after an inquiry from Engadget. The company said in a statement it was investigating the ads and taking action on other pages. "The ad review system reviews ads for violations of our policies," a spokesperson said. "This review process may include the specific components of an ad, such as images, video, text and targeting information, as well as an ad’s associated landing page or other destinations, among other information." The ads follow a similar script. They often open with deepfakes of Fox News personalities discussing how Musk recently “blew up the internet” with his discovery that “big pharma” doesn’t want you to see. The ads then cut to an AI-manipulated video clip of him from a podcast or other public appearance. Many of the ads refer to the “MAHA” website, an apparent reference to Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. The ads never disclose the actual “trick” for reversing diabetes. In one version, Musk says all you need is a “common fruit.” In another, Kennedy says it requires a “frozen lemon.” Another suggests that all you need is “a lemon and a pair of socks.” The ads urge viewers to visit a linked website to find a guide “before it’s wiped from the internet.” Bizarrely, the videos end with several minutes of silence that show a still image of a random object like a clock, calculator or blood pressure cuff. Most of these ads link to websites that attempt to spoof mainstream news sites like Fox News, CNN or Yahoo (Engadget’s parent company). These websites typically don’t have obvious links to supplements, but feature additional lengthy videos with AI-manipulated clips of cable news personalities. These videos, which can run upward of 20 minutes, often feature old video clips with AI-generated audio of Barbra O’Neill, an Australian naturopath who was permanently banned from offering health-related services in her home country after claiming that cancer could be cured with baking soda. (There’s no evidence that O’Neill, who has emerged as a popular wellness influencer in the US in recent years, is actually associated with these websites. As The Guardian reported last year, O'Neill is often impersonated by scammers using AI-generated content to sell unproven remedies on Facebook and TikTok. Her official Facebook page often warns followers about scammers who impersonate her on and off Facebook. A representative for O’Neill didn’t respond to a request for comment.) Once you make it to the end of the video, a link appears offering a time-limited “deal” on a supplement called “Gluco Revive.” The supplement, which is also available from third-party sellers on Amazon and walmart.com, doesn’t actually claim to treat any condition related to diabetes in its marketing. Instead, it suggests it offers “blood support” that “boosts energy levels” and "supports healthy weight.” According to its label, it has a “proprietary blend” of ingredients like juniper berry powder and bitter melon extract. An example of one of the websites linked from a Facebook ad that attempts to spoof Fox News. The FDA has previously warned consumers about companies selling over the counter diabetes treatments and supplements. “There are no dietary supplements that treat or cure diabetes,” the agency wrote in a warning published in December. “Some ‘all-natural’ diabetes products contain hidden active ingredients found in approved prescription drugs used to treat diabetes … these products may interact in dangerous ways with other medications.” While it’s impossible to know just how many people have been duped by these ads, there are dozens of listings for Gluco Revive on Amazon, some of which indicate there have been thousands of sales in the last month. The reviews on Amazon, where it’s sold for anywhere from $22 - $70, suggest that some people may have purchased the supplements after seeing one of the ads described above. “It’s not working. I thought someone from the company was going to call me on what to do. Dr. O’Neil [sic] said that we might feel a change in about 17 hours. It’s been 7 days and I feel no difference.” “This does not work and in fact raised my blood sugar,” another reviewer reports, noting they found the product via Facebook. “When contacting the suppler [sic] they did send me a Return authorization number and address to send the unused bottles …I boxed them up [and] sent priority shipping and it's being returned as no such address. I called USPS and they let me know that it was a scam and they have had 100s of returns to that address [and] that they do not exist.” Though Gluco Revive appears to be the most prevalent supplement sold via this scam, some linked pages from the Facebook ads sell similar products, like “Gluco Control," which purports to be a “a 100% natural, safe, and effective blood sugar management product.” The website says it’s made up of gymnema sylvestre, grape seed extract, green tea extract and “African mango extract.” The website features a list of scientific references and media endorsements that appear to be entirely made up. Another page promotes something called “Gluco Freedom,” which has a similar ingredient list, and offers a 180-day supply for $294. Liles, the Snopes reporter who identified the Gluco Revive ads on Facebook in early February, and has researched many similar scams on social media, suspects the ads are having some success. “If the same product gets weeks and weeks, or months or longer of advertising, that means that it's something that they're seeing results with,” he says. Have a tip? Get in touch with the author at karissa.bell [at] engadget.com or message securely on Signal: karissabe.51This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-scammers-want-you-to-think-elon-musk-can-cure-diabetes-153042842.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-scammers-want-you-to-think-elon-musk-can-cure-diabetes-153042842.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsqn8gch0k5g7rtf3e85ypjqjkjhpnl5tzmcg2wjfex4gyyk6xtslqzyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfy4gmdew

2025-01-27T20:14:36Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2025-01%2F9a4d7870-dce3-11ef-bd77-a8e3c7b02f9a&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=4bf92534e468c9eacdb3a98b649227e86bbc1904
Meta is giving its AI assistant a better “memory” in an effort to make the chatbot more useful. The company’s latest AI update allows the assistant to “remember certain details that you share with it in 1:1 chat” and uses your past activity on Facebook and Instagram to make more personalized recommendations. With the change, which will initially be available to the US and Canada, Meta AI will be able to track your preferences based on information you share in chat with it. In a blog post, the company uses the example of food allergies and other dietary restrictions so meta AI will “remember” to recommend recipes that fit your requirements. But the assistant will also be able to track other details about you, including information about your personal life and relationships. (Meta will allow you to track Meta AI’s memories about you and remove specific details.) And, notably, Meta AI can now use your past activity across Facebook and Instagram to inform its interactions with you. Meta For example, the company notes that Meta AI may suggest weekend activities based on the location you’ve identified on your Facebook profile and specific Reels you’ve watched. Meta’s systems know a lot about their users, so these types of recommendations could be pretty far reaching and as eerily-accurate as Meta’s in-app advertising. When asked for more details about what types of Facebook and Instagram activity may be used for these types of suggestions, a Meta spokesperson pointed to the company’s Help Center. “Other information from your profile like your age and gender, and interests based on your activity across our products, such as the types of content, including ads, you view or interact with and how you interact with it,” it states, “may be used to help personalize your interactions with AI.” The latest Meta AI updates comes amid increasing hype around China-based DeepSeek, an AI assistant that’s currently the top app in Apple’s App Store. The sudden popularity of the assistant, which was purportedly developed for less than $6 million, has rattled investors and some in the AI industry. Meta’s Chief AI Scientist, Yann Le Cun, however, said Monday that “the market reactions to DeepSeek are woefully unjustified.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-ai-will-now-use-your-facebook-and-instagram-activity-to-inform-its-recommendations-201218403.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-ai-will-now-use-your-facebook-and-instagram-activity-to-inform-its-recommendations-201218403.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqswgll8cnj58q8lcyqc5h6jh4dp09he65g0c96fpkhvwk05yqyk0wczyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfysg6eq3

2024-12-03T13:33:52Z

engadget.com (nprofile…uskv)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2024-12%2F049f49b0-b151-11ef-97de-e25a94ee5a76&resize=1400%2C735&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=dc35ba544ebef9cab65194ea707c66891e88700c
Automaker Jaguar hasn't been getting much attention in recent years, but boy has that changed in the last few days! Last week, the company announced that it had chucked out its roaring cat design in favor of a Bauhaus-esque minimalist logo that was met by the public with a fair degree of shock. Now, the company has unveiled the Type 00 concept car (that's a photo, not an illustration) that's vastly different from anything it currently has in production, to say the least. What's most noticeable is the length, especially in the nose, and low roofline. From some angles, the new vehicle looks like a computer render that didn't quite finish, especially the blocky front and rear ends. Other design features are highly futuristic/whimsical like brass bars running down the middle and sides, an oval steering wheel, fold-away interior screens, butterfly doors and a travertine stone "plinth" separating the passenger and driver compartments. Jaguar All of this is part of Jaguar's new "copy nothing" ideology, designed to break away from current models. "When Jaguar's at its best, it threw away the car design rule book and created the E-Type and the XJS. These were objects of desire," said Jaguar's chief creative officer at Miami Art Week. Jaguar Jaguar (which has been owned by India's Tata Motors since 2008) projects that a production version will have up to 430 miles of range and fast-charging that will add 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Other specs like acceleration and top speed haven't been revealed, and production models will probably lack some of the exuberance of the concepts. Jaguar The changes have been met with derision from some critics, but Jaguar said the company aims to be disruptive. "We've certainly gathered an awaful lot of attention over the last few weeks," managing directer Rawdon Glover told Sky News. "We need to make sure that Jaguar is relevant, is desirable, is future proof for the next 90 years of its history." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/jaguar-unveils-polarizing-concept-ev-as-part-of-its-rebrand-133026168.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/jaguar-unveils-polarizing-concept-ev-as-part-of-its-rebrand-133026168.html?src=rss

Nostr event nevent1qqsvqurut0kcmfyt8y82jp5kga7luaj93ackzzhn964lasf3sd3tvkszyqe8j9naenzlxj00mx3dx99445lpemuz3u84w3dsjugf4fakcjwfyruua39

2024-11-19T13:49:54Z

engadget.com (nprofile…avad)
https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2024-11%2Fc47ca970-9dcf-11ef-bbfb-6f62ef521128&resize=1400%2C933&client=19f2b5e49a271b2bde77&signature=55c2f4451e638e87b20bde8867f48d36f12aaf55
Sony is reportedly in talks to purchase Japanese publisher Kadokawa, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the dealings. Kadokawa owns FromSoftware, which is behind incredibly difficult Soulslike games, including Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Bloodbourne. Sony already holds a 14 percent stake in FromSoftware. Elden Ring is the brain child of director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin and available on Sony's PlayStation 4 and 5, among other platforms. FromSoftware released it in early 2022 and it has since sold over 25 million units. Its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, also sold five million copies in just three days when it came out in June. FromSoftware isn't the only studio Kadokawa owns. Sony would also gain ownership of Acquire, Spike Chunsoft and Gotcha Gotcha Games — bringing the developers of games like Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Shiren the Wanderer and Tenchu under its umbrella. Plus, purchasing Kadokawa would expand Sony's existing anime and manga portfolio. Sony is valued at about $114 billion, but it's unclear how much it's willing to fork out for Kadokawa. However, sources say a deal might go through in the next few weeks, so we should have more information then. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sony-reportedly-in-talks-to-buy-elden-ring-and-dark-souls-developer-133015041.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sony-reportedly-in-talks-to-buy-elden-ring-and-dark-souls-developer-133015041.html?src=rss