Delta Emulator launched for Apple devices

The Delta Emulator will allow users to experience Retro Gaming on their iPhones.

Apple says it was ordered it to remove WhatsApp and Threads from China App Store

Apple users in China won't be able to find and download WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store anymore, according to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times . The company said it pulled the apps from the store to comply with orders it received from Cyberspace Administration, China's internet regulator, based on [its] national security concerns. It explained to the publications that it's obligated to follow the laws in the countries where [it operates], even when [it disagrees]. The Great Firewall of China blocks a lot of non-domestic apps and technologies in the country, prompting locals to use VPN if they want to access any of them. Meta's Facebook and Instagram are two of those applications, but WhatsApp and Threads have been available for download until now. The Chinese regulator's order comes shortly before the Senate is set to vote on a bill that could lead to a TikTok ban in the US. Cyberspace Administration's reasoning that the apps are a national security concern even echoes American lawmakers' argument for blocking TikTok in the country. In the current version of the bill, ByteDance will have a year to divest TikTok, or else the short form video-sharing platform will be banned from app stores. The House is expected to pass the bill, which is part of a package that also includes aid to Ukraine and Israel. President Joe Biden previously said that he supports the package and will immediately sign the bills into law. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-says-it-was-ordered-it-to-remove-whatsapp-and-threads-from-china-app-store-061441223.html?src=rss

China's cities are sinking below sea level, study finds

China's major cities experience elevation loss due to subsidence. In 100 years, a quarter of urban coastal land may be below sea level. Robert Nicholls and researchers emphasize the significance. Manoochehr Shirzaei criticizes inadequate adaptation strategies. Zurui Ao, Xiaomei Hu, and Shengli Tao led the study.

Surprise: Taylor Swift is joining Threads at the exact same time as her new album drop

With the Eras Tour still under way and The Tortured Poets Department dropping today, you can't shake off Taylor Swift these days. She's everywhere in the news, on streaming services and on social media, which now includes Threads . Taylor's Threads account , and her first post, are going live around midnight. And if you're one of the first people to share her post, you'll get a custom badge based on her new album's artwork that you can display on your Threads profile. Meta has been dropping hints and releasing easter eggs for Swifties over the past week as part of a countdown for her album release today. You may have even seen its call to pre-follow Swift on Threads, along with the shimmer effect that's been showing up on conversations on the social network with Taylor-related hashtags. Celebratory hearts pop up when you like relevant posts, as well. On Instagram, you'll be able to change the background in your DMs with one that's inspired by TPD's artwork. The company told Engadget that the countdown on Taylor's Instagram profile will also reset, and you can apparently expect yet another surprise in-app experience to go live at 2AM ET. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/surprise-taylor-swift-is-joining-threads-on-the-day-her-new-album-drops-040026147.html?src=rss

Meta Is Already Training a More Powerful Successor to Llama 3

The open source Llama 3 AI model released by Meta today is just the start, according to the companys chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun. He said a new, much larger version is in the works.

Internet users are getting younger; now the UK is weighing up if AI can help protect them

Artificial intelligence has been in the crosshairs of governments concerned about how it might be misused for fraud, disinformation and other malicious online activity; now in the U.K. a regulator is preparing to explore how AI is used in the fight against some of the same, specifically as it relates to content harmful to children. [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Best Buy Launches Apple Vision Pro App for Previewing Tech Products

Best Buy today announced the launch of a new Envision app designed for the Apple Vision Pro headset. Envision is designed to allow Best Buy customers to explore different products and see how those products look in their own living spaces. According to Best Buy, the Envision app is meant to help consumers plan their ultimate home technology setup. 3D models of Best Buy products are included, so users can see them from all angles and get an idea of the space they take up. The app includes big screen TVs, large and small appliances, computers, furniture, fitness equipment, and more. There are hundreds of items to scroll through and preview, along with access to product ratings and pricing. Listings can be opened up in Safari on the Vision Pro to make purchases on the Best Buy website. The Best Buy Envision app is available for free from the Vision Pro App Store . Tag: Best Buy This article, Best Buy Launches Apple Vision Pro App for Previewing Tech Products first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Hugging Face releases a benchmark for testing generative AI on health tasks

Hugging Face has published a new leaderboard and benchmark for evaluating generative AI models on health-related tasks and questions. 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Hyper X Cloud III wireless gaming headset with 120-hour battery hits new $115 low (Reg. $170)

Amazon is offering the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset for $114.70 shipped. Down from its usual $170 price tag, this is only the seventh discount we have tracked for this headset on Amazon, coming in as a 33% markdown off the going rate that beats our previous mention by $15 and lands as a new all-time low. Youll also find the corded model on Amazon for $91 . You can learn more about this headset by continuing to read further, or by checking out our hands-on review . more

Netflix is done telling us how many people use Netflix

Netflix will stop disclosing the number of people who signed up for its service, as well as the revenue it generates from each subscriber from next year, the company announced on Thursday. It will focus, instead, on highlighting revenue growth and the amount of time spent on its platform. In our early days, when we had little revenue or profit, membership growth was a strong indicator of our future potential, the company said in a letter to shareholders. But now were generating very substantial profit and free cash flow. Netflix revealed that the service added 9.33 million subscribers over the last few months, bringing the total number of paying households worldwide to nearly 270 million. Despite its decision to stop reporting user numbers each quarter, Netflix said that the company will announce major subscriber milestones as we cross them, which means well probably hear about it when it crosses 300 million. Netflix estimates that more than half a billion people around the world watch TV shows and movies through its service, an audience it is now figuring out how to squeeze even more money out of through new pricing tiers , a crackdown on password-sharing, and showing ads . Over the last few years, it has also steadily added games like the Grand Theft Auto trilogy, Hades , Dead Cells , Braid , and more, to its catalog. Subscriber metrics are an important signal to Wall Street because they show how quickly a company is growing. But Netflixs move to stop reporting these is something that weve seen from other companies before. In February, Meta announced that it would no longer break out the number of daily and monthly Facebook users each quarter but only reveal how many people collectively used Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. In 2018, Apple, too, stopped reporting the number of iPhones, iPads, and Macs it sold each quarter, choosing to focus, instead, on how much money it made in each category. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-is-done-telling-us-how-many-people-use-netflix-215149971.html?src=rss

Samsung Regains Top Spot In Global Smartphone Market Ousting Apple In Q1 2024

In Q1 2024, Samsung has regained its position as the worlds largest smartphone manufacturer, surpassing Apple after a year-long hiatus . Apple had taken the lead in 2023, ending Samsungs 13-year dominance in smartphone sales. The resurgence of Samsung can be attributed to the strong performance of its latest flagship, the Galaxy S24 , which has been well-received in the market, particularly for its innovative Galaxy AI features. According to preliminary figures from IDC, Samsung shipped 60.1 million smartphones in the first quarter of 202 4, capturing a market share of 20.8%. Although this figure is slightly lower than the year-ago quarter, it still surpassed Apples Q1 2024 shipments of 50.1 million units, securing Samsungs lead once again. Galaxy S24 lineup announcement. The devices were very well received thanks to the new AI features. The success of the Galaxy S24 series has been evident, with reports indicating significant sales growth in key markets such as the US and Europe . Sales have surged by 14% in the US and a remarkable 28% in the UK, Germany, and France, compared to the previous model, the Galaxy S23. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has also seen substantial growth, with a 33.8% increase in sales, shipping 40.8 million smartphones and securing the third position with an 11.4% market share. Xiaomis success can be attributed to strong consumer interest in its Xiaomi 14 series, particularly in Chinese and European markets. Furthermore, Transsion (the parent company of brands like Techno, Itel, and Infinix), experienced significant growth, with sales soaring by 84.9% to 28.5 million units. Overall, the global smartphone market witnessed a 7.8% year-on-year increase in shipments, reaching 289.4 million units in Q1 2024. This marks the third consecutive quarter of growth, indicating a recovery from the post-pandemic slowdown . Although Apples iPhone sales decline in China may hinder its chances of reclaiming the top spot from Samsung in the near future, Samsung faces formidable competition from Xiaomi and Huawei , both of which have seen rapid growth in recent months. Samsung Regains Top Spot In Global Smartphone Market Ousting Apple In Q1 2024 , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .

Govees 3L smart Wi-Fi humidifier offers auto-humidity adjustment for $36 low (Reg. $60)

The official Govee Amazon storefront is offering its Govee 3L Smart Wi-Fi Humidifier with auto-humidity adjustment for $35.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page 40% off coupon . Down from its usual $60, it saw the same repeated discount to $48 over most of 2023, averaging about one per month. Since the start of the new year, weve already seen a major discount to the new $36 low back during January, with other minor discounts occurring but never falling past $50. Todays deal comes in as a repeat $24 markdown off the going rate that returns costs to the all-time lowest price we have tracked. more

Renovation relic: Man finds hominin jawbone in parents travertine kitchen tile

Yes, travertine often has embedded fossils. But not usually hominin ones.

Alleged HomePod Display Component Again Shown Off in Photo

Another image of an alleged screen component designed for a HomePod with a display was today shared by Kosutami, a source that has in the past shown off HomePod components and abandoned Apple prototypes. The image shows a circular, glossy glass piece that would be located at the top of a HomePod that has the same design as the current standard size HomePod. The component would replace the current touch/waveform interface, and in the past , Kosutami has suggested that the LCD display is slightly curved. New picture of the (might be upcoming one) HomePod with display. Glossy, sick, just imagine. #Apple #appleinternal (B720) pic.twitter.com/xMTULXpGw0 Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) April 18, 2024 There have been rumors about a HomePod with a display since 2021, and Apple actually seems to have several products in the works. The simplest is the HomePod that Kosutami and other leakers have referenced, which seems to be just a traditional speaker with a glass touchscreen. The display will show information from Apple Music like the song that's playing, and it will allow for SharePlay and other features. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman has said that Apple is working on a HomePod speaker with an iPad-like display and a built-in camera, and also a HomePod with a screen mounted on a robotic arm . Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in 2023 that Apple would release a HomePod with a 7-inch display at some point in 2024, though it doesn't look like that's happening at this point. It's not really clear when we're going to see a refreshed HomePod at all, and it's possible that Apple is still just experimenting with a variety of designs. That said, the HomePod with a touch-responsive LCD display that uses the same design we have today does not seem farfetched, and it's plausible that such a product could come in the not too distant future. This article, Alleged HomePod Display Component Again Shown Off in Photo first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Hover-1s yellow Altai Pro R750 e-bike sees rare discount to new $1,456 low (Reg. $3,000)

Amazon is offering the Hover-1 Yellow Altai Pro R750 e-bike for $1,456.09 shipped, after clipping the on-page 20% off coupon . Already down from its normal $3,000 price tag, weve seen very few discounts on this particular models color scheme in the last year, spending most sales events keeping above $2,000, with rare drops lower, keeping between $1,600 and $1,900 in most cases. Todays deal comes in as a combined 51% markdown off the going rate that lands as the newest all-time low that we have tracked. Youll also find the black model discounted to $2,029 shipped and the white model discounted to $1,886 shipped. more

Blizzard takes aim at Overwatch 2 console cheaters

Like many other multiplayer games, Overwatch 2 isn't immune from cheaters. And it's not only an issue on PC, where cheaters use tools like aimbots. Some folks use XIM devices so they can play with a keyboard and mouse (KBM) on consoles. This is against Blizzard's rules, as KBM players typically have an aim advantage over those who use a controller, even though the console versions of the game have features like aim assist. While it's taken some time to get the ball rolling, the developer is finally doing something about the XIM problem. XIM devices trick consoles into believing that KBM users are playing with a controller. However, in a blog post , Blizzard says it has been able to detect KBM players on consoles over the last few Overwatch 2 seasons. It has found that the cheating problem is more prevalent among higher ranked players. The developers say that use of so-called unapproved peripherals is very rare in lower ranks. During the current season (which started this week), Blizzard will dish out permanent bans to the most extreme users of unapproved peripherals. It will rely on reports from other players and its own data to pinpoint those who are breaking the rules. Starting in Season 11, which should get underway in June, the developers will tackle the issue at a broader level. The first time a console player is detected using an unapproved device on consoles, they'll be banned from Competitive modes for a week. If they keep using KBM or other unapproved peripherals in casual modes, they'll get a season-long Competitive suspension, only have the option of playing with other KBM users in Quick Play and lose access to aim assist features. It's all in the name of fairness. There are accessibility concerns here, though, as some folks simply can't play games with a standard controller. Blizzard says that it has done its utmost to ensure that players with accessibility needs will be less likely to trigger our detection. The developers say they will tailor their enforcement actions so that folks with accessibility needs can still land a sick Earthshatter or keep healing their teammates. With all that said, Blizzard is looking into adding official KBM support on consoles so folks can play the game that way without negatively impacting controller players. As things stand, console and PC players are separated into separate pools for Competitive play. So to make things fair, Blizzard would need to shuffle console players who want to use a keyboard and mouse into games with other KBM players and no aim assist. The XIM problem isn't exactly new. The Overwatch 2 developers' colleagues at Activision last year started banning Call of Duty players who spoof input devices (or just messing with them, as usual ). Ubisoft and Epic have also targeted XIM users in Rainbow Six: Siege and Fortnite , respectively. Blizzard is doing more on other fronts to try to keep Overwatch 2 fair and more enjoyable for the majority of players. It's punishing those who leave in the middle of matches more severely and taking a stronger stance on toxicity in voice and text chat. Meanwhile, there's been a kerfuffle this week related to Overwatch 2 players being banned for using profanity . Those who use slurs or threaten others should obviously face appropriate consequences, but apparently booting out players from a game that has profanity filters for some slightly spicy trash talk is some kind of BS. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blizzard-takes-aim-at-overwatch-2-console-cheaters-203923200.html?src=rss

Amazon no longer offers its easy-to-miss Prime Video subscription

Amazon appears to have nixed its Prime Video-only plan in the US and UK. Cord Busters reports that the little-known subscription, introduced in 2016, is no longer available to new users in either country. Those trying to sign up for the previously $8.99 monthly plan (5.99 monthly in the UK) are now directed to the landing page for a full Amazon Prime membership. The Prime Video plan launched eight years ago, priced to undercut Netflixs (at the time) $9.99-a-month subscription price for standard HD streaming on up to two devices. Although the option stuck around for close to a decade, Amazon increasingly buried it, making it impossible to sign up for on mobile devices. It was also increasingly difficult to find on desktops, where you had to navigate to an easy-to-miss See more plans section of the Prime sign-up page . The Prime Video plan never even got a price increase during that time, further illustrating how obscure Amazon apparently wanted it to remain. Now, it appears to be gone for good. Cord Busters says it was recently removed in the US and axed from Amazon UK earlier this week. Your subscription should still work if youre already on the Prime Video-only plan. But if you cancel it or switch to the full Prime membership, dont expect to see an option to return to it. Engadget reached out to Amazon to ask about the change. Well update this article if we hear back. Prime Video is home to Fallout , which premiered earlier this month. We found it to be one of the best video game adaptations to date , in the vein of The Last of Us . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-no-longer-offers-its-easy-to-miss-prime-video-subscription-201931193.html?src=rss

Samsungs latest 2TB T5 EVO Portable SSD carries at $230 MSRP and is now down at $160

Amazon is now offering a notable deal on Samsungs latest portable SSD with the 2TB T5 EVO down at $159.99 shipped. While we have seen a few short-lived offers for less, this one carries a regular price at $230 directly from Samsung where it is on sale for $170. This model debuted late last year and sold for $190 right into 2024 at Amazon. Todays deal is within about $10 of the lowest prices we have tracked outside of a brief offer at $145 that very few people would have had a chance to score. The T5 EVO lineup features a refreshed form-factor from what we have seen from the popular Samsung portable SSDs over the last few years, complete with a rectangular design and a metal carabiner loop along the top it has also functioned flawlessly for me since going hands-on 6 months ago . More details below. more

Get $727 in free accessories with Lectrics XPeak Off-Road e-bikes at $1,399 ($2,126 value)

Lectric has launched an Earth Day Sale through April 22 that is giving up to $727 in free add-on accessories along with your purchase from the selection of the brands popular e-bike models. The biggest chance to save is on the XPeak Off-Road High-Step e-bike for $1,399 shipped and the XPeak Off-Road Step-Thru e-bike that is also going for $1,399 shipped , which you can learn about below or by reading through our hands-on review at Electrek . Since its release in October, weve only ever seen this model go for $100 cheaper during occasional sales, the most recent being the companys February flash sale. Along with your purchase, youll also be getting the XPeak spare battery, a rear cargo rack, fenders for both tires, an Elite headlight, and an RST Renegade suspension fork that will arrive pre-installed on the bike for you. All-in-all, this entire package with the e-bike would normally cost you $2,126. Weve also curated a list below of all the other models and their respective deals. more

SpaceX and Northrop are working on a constellation of spy satellites

First launch of these operational vehicles may occur next month from California.

It took 20 years for Children of the Sun to become an overnight success

Children of the Sun burst onto the indie scene like a muzzle flash on a dark night. Publisher Devolver Digital dropped the games first trailer on February 1, showcasing frenzied sniper shots and a radioactive art style. A Steam demo highlighting its initial seven stages went live that same day and became a breakout hit during Februarys Steam Next Fest. Two months later it landed in full and to broad acclaim. This explosive reveal and rapid release timeline mirrors the game itself chaotic but contained, swift and direct, sharp and bright. Though it feels like Children of the Sun popped into existence over the span of two months, it took solo developer Ren Rother more than 20 years to get here. Ren Rother As a kid in Berlin in the early 2000s, Rother was fascinated by the booming mod community. He spent his time messing around with free Counter-Strike mapping tools and Quake III mods from the demo discs tucked into his PC magazines. Rother daydreamed about having a job in game development, but it never felt like an attainable goal. It just didn't seem possible to make games, he told Engadget. It's like it was this huge black box. Rother couldnt see an easy entry point until the 2010s, when mesh libraries and tools like GameMaker and Unity became more accessible. He discovered a fondness for creating 3D interactive art. But aside from some free online Javascript courses, he didnt know how to program anything, so his output was limited. I dabbled into it a little bit, but then got kicked out. Again, Rother said. It was just like the whole entrance barrier was so big. Ren Rother Rother pursued graphic design at university and he found the first two years fulfilling, with a focus on classical art training. By the end of his schooling, though, the lessons covered practical applications like working with clients, and Rothers vision of a graphic design career smashed into reality. There was an eye-opening moment where I felt like, this is not for me, Rother said. In between classes, Rother was still making games for himself and for jams like Ludum Dare, steadily building up his skillset and cementing his reputation in these spaces as a master of mood. Atmospheric kind of pieces, walking simulators, Rother said, recalling his early projects. Atmosphere was very interesting to me to explore. But I never thought that it was actually something that could turn into a game. I never thought that it would become something that can be sold in a way that it's actually a product. Ren Rother By the late 2010s Rother decided he was officially over graphic design and ready to try a job in game development. He applied to a bunch of studios and, in the meantime, picked up odd jobs at a supermarket and as a stagehand, setting up electronics. He eventually secured a gig as a 3D artist at a small studio in Berlin. Meanwhile, his pile of game jam projects and unfinished prototypes continued to grow. In that timeframe, Children of the Sun happened, Rother said. In Children of the Sun , players are The Girl, a woman who escaped the cult that raised her and is now enacting sniper-based revenge on all of its cells, one bullet at a time. In each round, players line up their shot and then control a single bullet as it ricochets through individual cult members. The challenge lies in finding the most speedy, efficient and stylish path of death, earning a spot at the top of the leaderboards. It was just a random prototype I started working on, Rother said. And one Saturday morning I was thinking, I don't know what I'm doing with my life.' With an atmospheric prototype and a head full of ennui, Rother emailed Devolver Digital that same day about potentially publishing Children of the Sun . The response was basically, The pitch was shit but the game looks cool, Rother said. And then it became a thing. Ren Rother Visually, Children of the Sun is dazzling. It has a sketchy 3D art style thats covered in bruise tones, with dark treelines, glowing yellow enemies and layers of texture. Every scene looks like The Girl just took a hit of adrenaline and her senses are on high alert, lending a hectic sense of hyper-vigilance to the entire experience. Its a game built on instinct. I didn't make any mood boards, Rother said. I didn't prepare [for] it. It was just like, oh, let's make it this color. Ah, let's make it this color. This is something to very easily get lost in. I spent a lot of time just adjusting the color of grass so it works well with the otherwise purplish tones and these kinds of things. I spent way too much time on the colors. Children of the Sun went through multiple visual iterations where Rother played with contrast, depth, fog density and traditional FPS color palettes, before landing on the games dreamlike and neon-drenched final form. The residue of this trial and error is still visible beneath Children of the Sun s frames, and thats exactly how Rother likes it. I see it as a big compliment, actually, he said. In paintings, when we talk about visual art, I really like when you can see the brushstrokes. I like when you can still see the lines of the pencil before the painting got made. I like the roughness. I wanted everything to be rough. I didn't want it to be polished. Rother picked up the games soundtrack collaborator, experimental ambient composer Aidan Baker , the same way he hooked up with Devolver. Rother was a fan of Baker and his band Nadja , and he wanted a similar droning, slowcore vibe as a backdrop for Children of the Sun . On a whim, Rother sent Baker a casual message asking if hed like to make music for a video game. He was like, Well I've never done it, so I don't know, Rother remembered. So we met one evening and then afterwards he was like, Yeah, let's just do it. Instead of just emulating something that I like in the game, I somehow managed to get straight to the source of it. And that was a really nice experience. For Rother, Children of the Sun has been a lesson in trusting his gut. He hasnt found the proper word in English or German to describe the atmosphere he created in the game, but its something close to melancholy, spiked with an intense coiled energy and bright, psychedelic clarity. He just knows that it feels right visuals, music, mechanics and all. That's kind of how I live my life, Rother said. Not that I'm, like, super spontaneous or just flip-flopping around with opinions or these kinds of things. It's more about doing things that feel right to me without necessarily knowing why. When he booted up that Quake III demo disc and started making 3D vignettes for game jams, Rother didnt realize he was building the path that would eventually lead him to a major publishing deal, a collaboration with a musician he admires, a big Steam release and a game about cult sniping called Children of the Sun . When Rother takes a moment to survey his current lot in life, he feels lucky, he said. Ren Rother I feel like in the last three years, somehow, lots of things fell into my lap, Rother said. Although I still had to do something for it. I needed to be prepared for this moment, that required work. But in the time where I prepared myself, I was not aware that I was preparing myself. So that's how the feeling of luck gets amplified a bit more. Luck is one way to describe it, but artistic instinct might be just as fitting. Children of the Sun is available now on Steam for $15. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/it-took-20-years-for-children-of-the-sun-to-become-an-overnight-success-194511363.html?src=rss

Mac Desk Accessories Worth Checking Out

Every year or two, MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera shares a desk tour featuring the Mac-centric products that he uses to record and edit his videos for the site. Today, Dan is sharing an updated 2024 desk video, highlighting desk accessories that might be worth checking out for your own setup. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Uplift Desk - Dan uses an Uplift Standing desk, priced starting at $569. Uplift makes all kinds of accessories for its desks, from drawers to hammocks. Dan has a motion board for increasing movement, microphone arm, and headphone holder. Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat - The $130 Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat has a built-in Qi wireless charger that works with the iPhone and AirPods, plus it has a hideaway space for documents. Gather Monitor Stand - Gather has a selection of Monitor Stands that raise up a display and also offer handy storage for a MacBook. Pricing starts at around $269, and there are add-on accessories for an additional fee. Iodyne Pro Data - This one is for video editors and those who need a lot of storage that's well-protected. The 12TB Pro Data from Iodyne is priced at $4,450 and goes up from there. Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse - There are a lot of options for peripherals, but Apple's Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse are classics. Nomad Stand One Max - For charging the iPhone and Apple Watch, Nomad's Stand One Max delivers quick charging speeds and aesthetics. It's not cheap at $180, though. Lab22 Headphone Stand - For over-ear headphones like the AirPods Max , the $85 Lab22 Headphone Stand keeps them up and out of the way when not in use. What are your favorite desk accessories for your Mac setup? Let us know in the comments below. This article, Mac Desk Accessories Worth Checking Out first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The Trump Jury Has a Doxing Problem

One juror in former US president Donald Trumps criminal case in New York has been excused over fears she could be identified. It could get even messier.

Apple Store in Downtown Montral Reportedly Moving to 125-Year-Old Heritage Building

Apple is preparing to move its retail store on Saint-Catherine Street in Montral, Qubec, according to Canadian newspaper La Presse . The current Apple Sainte-Catherine store The report cites three sources who said Apple will be opening a new retail store in a 125-year-old heritage building located at 1255 Saint-Catherine Street, which would be less than 100 meters away from the company's current store on the street. Apple's contractors are said to be in the process of completing major renovations to the building, which has been vacant for a few years after clothing retailer Ardene left the space. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman last year reported that Apple was considering relocating its Saint-Catherine store . At the time, he said Apple aimed to open the new store in February 2025, but the timeframe could change. La Presse reported that Apple's current space on the street is already listed as available for lease online. Apple has not publicly announced any plans to relocate the store, and it did not respond to our inquiry. 1255 Sainte-Catherine Street (Image Credit: LoopNet) Apple's existing two-floor store on Sainte-Catherine Street first opened in 2008, in Montral's downtown Ville-Marie area. The store will be temporarily closed for one day on Tuesday, April 23, for reasons unclear, according to Apple's website. The new location would be Apple's first store within a historic building in Canada, with many of the company's other locations in the country found in indoor shopping malls. Apple recently relocated its store at the Square One shopping mall in Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto, as it continues to modernize its Canadian retail fleet. Thanks, Kevin! Tag: Apple Store This article, Apple Store in Downtown Montral Reportedly Moving to 125-Year-Old Heritage Building first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Quicken Simplifi subscriptions are half off through April 21

Subscriptions to the budgeting app Quicken Simplifi are half off through April 21 . The price has been brought down to just $2 per month, which is billed annually at $24. The deal also extends to Quicken Classic, which adds more features for investments and tracking taxes. This tier now costs $4 per month, instead of $8 per month. Its also billed annually. Quicken Simplify is pretty much the budgeting app to beat all budgeting apps. Theres a reason, after all, that it topped our list of the best budgeting apps and our collection of the best apps to replace Mint . Weve consistently praised the user-friendly interface that makes it easy to get started and keep an eye on things. Users have instantaneous access to various metrics, like top-line balances, net worth, recent spending, upcoming recurring payments and more. We also loved how simple (pun intended) it is to set up customized savings goals and the like. The UI is clean, yet offers playful visualizations to keep things interesting. It integrates with most financial institutions, including Fidelity. Users can also invite a spouse or a financial manager to co-manage the account. Theres no integration with Zillow, so people cant track fluctuations in home value, which is something that competing apps like Monarch Money and Copilot Money offer. It requires manual entry of real estate information, just like any other asset. We also experienced some small errors during use, in which the app miscategorized some expenses, though this was in line with other products we tested. Theres no option for a free trial, so $2 per month is about as close as it gets. Just remember to cancel before the year is up if things dont work out. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/quicken-simplifi-subscriptions-are-half-off-through-april-21-190006927.html?src=rss

The 33 Best Shows on Max (aka HBO Max) Right Now

From The Sympathizer to Conan OBrien Must Go, here's everything you need to be watching on Max this month.

Ankers MagGo Cube 15W MagSafe Charger is a 9to5 favorite at $112 (Reg. $150)

Ankers official Amazon storefront now offers its3-in-1 Charging Cube with 15W MagSafe for$112.46 shipped. This is down from $150 and matches the best price of the year. Its the lowest since back in January and is an extra $28 under our previous mention from earlier in the spring. There notably wasnt a Black Friday discount last fall, and now Anker is starting off spring with a chance to save on one of our favorite MagSafe releases. more

RFK Jr.s Very Online, Conspiracy-Filled Campaign

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched his campaign one year ago this week.

Android game and app deals: Down in Bermuda, SpongeBob Cosmic Shake, more

Thursday afternoon is here and now its time to gather up all of the days best Android game and app deals. On your way to scope them all out, check out the deals we have on Jabras Elite 8 Active ANC earbuds , Samsungs Galaxy Tab A9+ , and the ASUS Chromebox 5 with Thunderbolt 4 . Moving on, highlight titles on sale today include Down in Bermuda, Cyberlords Arcology, Million Onion Hotel, SpongeBob The Cosmic Shake, Chicken Police, and more. Head below for a complete look at todays Android game and app deals. more

Robots can make jobs less meaningful for human colleagues

Much has been (and will continue to be) written about automations impact on the jobs market. In the short term, many employers have complained of an inability to fill roles and retain workers, further accelerating robotic adoption. The long-term impact these sorts of sweeping changes will have on the job market going forward remains to [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

LastPass users targeted in phishing attacks good enough to trick even the savvy

Campaign used email, SMS, and voice calls to trick targets into divulging master passwords.

Save 33% on the Wyze Floodlight Camera v2 with Alexa and Assistant support at $60

Amazon is now offering the Wyze Floodlight Camera v2 for $59.98 shipped in both black and white styles. Todays offer is 33% off the usual $90 price tag and is only the second price cut to date. It matches the launch discount from back in January for the all-time low. We break down the whole feature set over in our launch coverage . more

AirPlay hotel support is finally availablefor only for a handful of rooms

Macworld Watching what you want to watch on a hotel TV can be frustrating, especially now that so much of TV is dominated by streaming services. Customers rejoiced when Apple announced the iOS 17 feature at WWDC last summer that hotels would soon support AirPlay in a secure fashion on their hotel TVs, but the feature has taken quite a while to actually roll out. Starting today, anyone with iOS 17.3 or later can use AirPlay at up to 60 select IHG hotels in North America. You can see the full list here , and more will be added over time. The way it works is simple: The TVs welcome screen will display a QR code which you scan with your iPhone or iPad, and your device will make a private connection with the TV. You can even pair multiple devices. Then, just use AirPlay as you normally would, playing music or video in any AirPlay-supported app directly to your hotel TV. 60 hotels in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is a pretty small number, but IHG is a huge hotel group with lots of brands (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental, avid, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and more). Over the next couple years the list will grow, and perhaps Apple will start to include other partners, so theres a good chance that your hotel entertainment experience in the next couple of years will be driven entirely by your iPhone. iOS

The HD Chromecast with Google TV is on sale for only $20

If you watch movies and TV on a 1080p screen, the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) provides a rock-solid streaming experience on the cheap. This is the HD version of Engadgets top choice for streaming devices . Today, Amazon has it for $10 off, letting you pick up the HDR10-capable streaming stick for only $20, nearly a record-low price. The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) plugs directly into an open HDMI port on your TV. (Theres an optional power adapter with a USB cable if your TV cant supply enough juice.) If you have a 4K television, youre better off with the more expensive model designed for higher-res displays. But for HD screens, this model is hard to beat. It offers the same terrific user experience as the high-end model, only less expensive and downscaled for 1080p. Setup is quick and easy. You scan a QR code with your phone to begin the sign-in process in the Google Home app. (Thats also where you add your Wi-Fi network.) So, you dont need to worry about entering long email addresses and passwords using the remote and a clunky onscreen keyboard. The device has relatively lightweight specs (1.5GB of RAM and an Amlogic S805X2 chip) that may reveal some nearly imperceptible lag when navigating the UI, especially right after startup. But it provides smooth performance when it matters most: playing content. The software streamlines things as much as possible, including a Live tab that draws from a handful of streaming services to let you resume or jump into new content straight from the home screen. Google advertises support for over 700,000 movies and TV episodes, and you can install just about any streaming service you can name, including Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Max, Peacock, YouTube TV and much more. Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget The remote includes a built-in mic and a dedicated Google Assistant button. The latter lets you control TV content and smart home features with your voice. It also has standard IR integration, so you can control some of your TVs essential functions and potentially leave its remote in a drawer. If you dont want to wait for Amazons shipping, Target has the same deal . If your local stores have them in stock, you could get instant gratification while saving five percent on your purchase if you check out using a Target RedCard. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-hd-chromecast-with-google-tv-is-on-sale-for-only-20-182333907.html?src=rss

Ibottas IPO opens sharply higher, hinting at warming public-market interest in tech shares

Ibotta began its path as a public company on Thursday byopening at $117 per share, a big increase from its IPO price of $88, itself an increase from its proposed range of $76 to $84 per share. And this pop is despite boosting the size of its offering earlier in the week, with existing shareholders [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Fallout games continue seeing big player jumps after the TV series success

Being on deep discount doesn't hurt, either.

LEGOs 7,500-piece Millennium Falcon sees first discount in over a year at $50 off

The UCS Millennium Falcon is easily one of the best LEGO kits ever released. That status makes it one of the most sought-after creations around, and one that hardly ever goes on sale. Zavvi is now offering the first discount in a year. It drops the LEGO UCS Millennium Falcon down to $799.99 . This may only be $50 off the usual $850 price tag, but its a new 2024 low and the first markdown since March of last year. While our hands-on review breaks down what to expect from the finished model, we take a deeper dive down below on just how todays savings stack up. more

Big Tech cant hoard brainwave data for ad targeting, Colorado law says

Neural data can reveal health, mental states, emotions, and cognitive function.

New low drops SteelSeries multi-platform Nova 7X Wireless Spatial Headset under $120

Amazon is now offering a notable deal on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless Headset at $119.84 shipped. Regularly $180, this is 33% or $60 off the going rate and the lowest price we can find. Todays deal comes in at $8 under our previous mention and delivers the best price we can find. This is also slightly below the previous Amazon low for the best we have tracked yet. Compatible with all major consoles as well as PC, Mac, and mobile setups, this set comes along with a pocket-sized USB-C dongle for lag-free Quantum 2.0 Wireless connectivity. From there, you can expect to score 360-degree audio support, including both Microsoft Spatial Sound and Tempest 3D Audio for PS5 users, alongside 38-hour battery life and a 15-minute quick charge for an additional 6 hours of play time. The retractable AI-powered noise cancelling mic is a nice touch, designed to provide crystal clear comms, backed by Sonar Softwares powerful AI algorithms. Hit up our review of the previous model for a better idea of how the newer model stacks up. And then head below for more details. more

Chinese EV makers wont get subsidies from Mexico after US pressure

Mexico has offered generous incentives for automakers in the past.

Jabras Elite 8 Active ANC earbuds now have wind cancellation at $161 (Reg. $200)

Jabra just launched the new wind detection feature on its Elite 8 Active earbuds, and now the first discount since is here. Courtesy of Amazon, the fitness-focused true wireless earbuds sell for $161.37 shipped . This is $39 off the usual $200 price tag and comes within $1 of the 2024 low. Todays offer is the third-best offer to date and comes within $11 of the all-time low. We fully break down what that means below the fold while also taking a hands-on look in our recent review . more

Delta takes flight: Apple-approved Nintendo emulator is a great iOS option

No more sideloading needed for your iOS retro game fix.

Razer's Kishi Ultra gaming controller works with damn near everything, including some foldables

Razer just released the Kishi Ultra mobile gaming controller , a successor to the popular Kishi V2 Pro . Its filled with improvements, including a larger form factor to accommodate beefier mobile devices like 8-inch tablets and even some foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 . The controller also offers USB-C compatibility, so it should work with just about any device out there, as long as it fits. Remember, even modern Apple products now include USB-C ports . Razer says the controller has been designed to provide an authentic console experience on the iPhone 15 series, iPad Mini, and Android tablets with 8-inch displays. To that end, it features the companys proprietary Sensa HD haptics technology, which includes a haptic coil near each hand to increase immersion. The company says this experience will actually surpass what's found with traditional console controllers. The newly-released Interhaptics SDK will even allow developers to craft bespoke haptic experiences. This immersion is further improved by integration with Razers Chroma RGB lighting system. This allows for customizable lighting schemes, which lets players bring a piece of their gamer room setup with them. Beyond the lighting and haptics, the controller boasts the companys proprietary Mecha-Tactile ABXY buttons and 8-way D-pad. There are console-sized hall effect triggers, programmable L4/R4 multifunction buttons and full-sized thumb sticks, complete with anti-friction rings. The expanded form factor also means it should work with most devices without having to remove the case. Razer The controller can access Razers subscription-free Nexus app, which pulls up custom button-mapping for thousands of compatible games across iOS and Android.. This means that itll be a plug and play experience for the vast majority of available content, without having to fiddle with control settings. Additionally, the Nexus app lets users record and share gameplay. The Razer Kishi Ultra is available right now and costs $150. The controller is joined by an updated version of the Kishi V2, which now connects via USB-C. That one costs $100. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/razers-kishi-ultra-gaming-controller-works-with-damn-near-everything-including-some-foldables-173017166.html?src=rss

Far-Right Sheriffs Want a Citizen Army to Stop 'Illegal Immigrant' Voters

Speakers at a conference for Constitutional Sheriffs claimed that militias need to patrol polling stations to stop the expected flood of immigrant voters.

Netflix will stop tossing coins to The Witcher after season five

Netflix has renewed The Witcher for a fifth season, but the company says that will bring the series to an end . The final season will be shot back-to-back with the fourth season, which has just started production. The two seasons will cover the events of the last three books in the series: Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow and Lady of the Lake. The show is a direct adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowskis novels, but it does occasionally take inspiration from CD Projekt Red's game adaptations ( and vice versa ). The fourth season will mark a significant change for The Witcher, as Liam Hemsworth is replacing Henry Cavill in the lead role . This time around, Geralt of Rivia will find a new family in the Hanza, who will help him track down Yennefer and Ciri after the trio is separated. New cast members who are joining for the fourth season include Laurence Fishburne, Sharlto Copley and James Purefoy. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-will-stop-tossing-coins-to-the-witcher-after-season-five-171500284.html?src=rss

Googles latest layoffs are in finance and real estate

Google's almost uncountable number of layoffs continues.

Ditch the separate charger and use Levitons USB-C in-wall outlets from $22 instead

Amazon is now offering the Leviton 30W Dual USB-C In-Wall Outlet for $26.41 shipped. This is down from its usual $55 going rate in order to mark a new all-time low. Its an extra $3 under our previous mention at $19 off. You can also save on the 25W version , which drops down the combo single USB-C and USB-A ports on top of the dual AC outlets at $22.16. This is down from $33 and comes within $3 of our last mention from October. Its the best price since, too. more

Hackers are threatening to publish a huge stolen sanctions and financial crimes watchlist

The hackers say they have stolen 5.3 million records from the World-Check database, used by companies and banks for screening potential customers. 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Cities: Skylines 2's embarrassed developers are giving away beachfront property for free

Cities: Skylines 2 developer Colossal Order is unlisting and refunding purchases of its controversial Beach Properties asset pack less than a month after its release. Its also significantly delaying the game's future DLC and console port. Beach Properties was the first paid DLC for Cities: Skylines 2 , and has an Overwhelmingly Negative rating on Steam , with just 4 percent of user reviews marked as positive. In a note announcing the reverse of course , Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen said the company had let its community down. We thought we could make up for the shortcomings of the game in a timeframe that was unrealistic, and rushed out a DLC that should not have been published in its current form, Hallikainen said. For all this, we are truly sorry. The asset pack itself worked as advertised, adding a number of zoneable waterfront-style properties to the game, but it was definitely thin for the $9.99 asking price. Most will admit, though, that the content itself wasnt the problem: The DLC was largely derided because it was released at a time when players were waiting on patches for the base game. Cities: Skylines 2 was released in a poorly optimized state in October 2023, and although its in better shape now, many in the community feel there are fundamental issues with the simulation, and there is still work to be done to make the game run better. Mod support perhaps the reason that the original Cities: Skylines had such a long lifespan was also slow to arrive, and is still only in beta, with no support for custom assets. In an FAQ accompanying the announcement , Colossal Order explains how the refund and compensation program will work. Essentially, if you bought the DLC separately, you should be able to get a refund. Those who redeemed a code as part of the game's Deluxe or Ultimate editions will not. Instead, compensation will come in the form of creator asset packs and radio stations which Colossal Order says will total around $39.99 in added value. The beachfront properties will be added to the base game, free of charge, for all players. To call Cities: Skylines 2 s launch messy would be kind. Since the games release on PC last October, developer Colossal Order has burned through the goodwill it built up over a near-decade of the original games lifespan. Things came to a head in late January, when many of the community's loudest and most respected voices broke rank to talk openly about the game's issues . Another casualty of today's announcement is the game's console release. Cities: Skylines 2 was supposed to launch simultaneously on PC and console, but the PS5 and Xbox versions were pushed back to spring 2024 weeks before release. It has been clear for some time that revised date was not going to happen, and Colossal Order confirmed it's now hoping to have the console ports ready for October. The final piece of bad news is that Bridges & Ports the first expansion pack that will go beyond assets is going to be further delayed to Q1 2025 to allow the developers to focus on additional free patches and game updates in the coming months. The expansion pack was supposed to be released in Q2 2024, and is included in the game's Ultimate Edition. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cities-skylines-2s-embarrassed-developers-are-giving-away-beachfront-property-for-free-170042260.html?src=rss

Dont pay the Peloton tax, Echelons EX-15 smart connect fitness bike hits $379 (Reg. $500)

Amazon is offering the Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike for $378.53 shipped. Normally fetching $500, this is only the seventh notable discount weve seen on this exercise bike in the last year, having spent most of 2023 sitting above $470 and only falling to the former $348 low at the start of the new year. Last months Big Spring Sale saw it fall to a new $240 low for a short period before rising back to its MSRP. Todays deal comes in as a solid $121 markdown off the going rate that lands among some of the lowest prices we have tracked ultimately $139 above the all-time low. more

The 6 Best Handheld Gaming Consoles (2024): Switch, Steam Deck, and More

The second golden age of portable gaming is here! Mostly. These are the top gadgets for taking your video games on the go.

How to play Pokmon and other Game Boy games on your iPhone

Apple finally updated its App Store guidelines to allow global developers to host retro game emulators on iOS. Now, you dont need to jailbreak your iPhone or download any sketchy software you can get a sophisticated emulator right in the palm of your hand for free on the App Store. No one is more [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Cape dials up $61M from a16z and more for mobile service that doesnt use personal data

You cant leak or sell what you dont have, according to the company's website. 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Official customizable Xbox Mastercards now available to all across the US

Today, we have an update on the Xbox Mastercard via the official Xbox Wire . Back in September Xbox announced its official partnership with Mastercard , giving Xbox Insiders a chance to score one and the bonus goodies it came along with. Fast forward to today, and now the Xbox Mastercard is available to everyone in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii with no annual fees. If you missed out on our original coverage , be sure to head below for all of the details along with updates on some of the new perks. more

Jetsons Canyon folding electric scooter with 22-mile range falls to $412 ($488 in savings)

Amazon is offering the Jetson Canyon Folding Electric Scooter for $411.50 shipped. Already down from its $900 MSRP, this is only the sixth discount we have tracked over the course of the last year and comes in as a 54% markdown off the going rate that lands at the fourth-lowest price we have tracked, saving you a whopping $488 off the MSRP. You wont be able to find this particular model on the manufacturers website anymore either, as it has been retired since December, but when it was available it was last listed at its MSRP. more

Google's wired Nest security camera is cheaper than ever

Google's wired Nest security camera has dropped to its lowest price to date. The second-gen device is for indoor use and it's motion sensitive. It's capable of capturing 1080p HDR video. You can snap one up for $70 , which is $30 or 30 percent off the regular price of $100, at Amazon if you opt for the fog or linen colorway. However, if you go for the snow variant you can save a little more. That one is on sale for $67.59 , or 32 percent off. The Nest Cam uses AI to discern between people, animals and vehicles. It can send you alerts via the Google Home app, and you won't need a subscription for that. You will need a Nest Aware plan if you want up to 60 days of video history. Otherwise, Google will offer three free hours of event video history. Handily, if you have a Wi-Fi outage, up to an hour of event recordings will be stored on the device itself. There's a two-way audio function, so you can chat with house guests if you're not home. In the event of an unwanted visitor, you can contact emergency services directly from the Google Home app if you're a Nest Aware member who is perhaps using a tablet instead of a phone. You'll be able to view live video feeds on compatible smart displays and smart TVs too. Nest Aware subscribers can receive notifications when familiar faces are recognized. There's also the option to set up home and away routines so the camera doesn't capture video while you're at your place. Elsewhere, the Outdoor Nest Cam with Floodlight is on sale too. It has dropped by 29 percent to $200. That's just $10 more than the lowest price we've seen for it to date. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-wired-nest-security-camera-is-cheaper-than-ever-163019138.html?src=rss

Rad Power Bikes Radster Road Review: Safety First

Rad Power Bikes new bikes have a renewed focus on safety, with encapsulated batteries, class switching, and now turn signals.

Sonos refurbished speakers and soundbars are up to $170 off right now

A speaker doesn't have to be brand new to sound good. Sonos speakers get high marks in our reviews and buying guides and the company has one of the better refurbished programs out there. Right now, you can grab a refurbished Sonos Arc SL soundbar for $509, which is $170 off the refurbished price and $240 off the speaker's full $749 price tag when it was new . A decent selection of other renewed soundbars and speakers are also on sale at Sonos, with up to 25 percent off the refurbished prices. We named the Sonos Arc the runner-up premium soundbar in our buying guide , praising its stellar sound quality and ability to calibrate its sound to match the room its in. The difference between the Sonos Arc and the Arc SL is the lack of a microphone, so you won't be able to talk to Alexa or the Google Assistant directly through your speaker. That might be a plus for anyone interested in the extra privacy of a mic-less device. Other than the lack of microphone, the Arc SL hardware is the same. It can even calibrate its sound to the room with the Trueplay feature, which uses the Sonos app on an iOS device to measure how sound reflects off your walls and furniture. The Arc SL is Wi-Fi enabled, supports Dolby Atmos, Apple Air Play 2 and connects to your TV via HDMI ARC or eARC . Though, sadly, there's just one HDMI port. Buying a refurbished device from Sonos carries a lot of the same perks of buying new, including the same one-year warranty, all necessary cables and manuals plus all-new packaging. They also donate one percent of refurbished sales to environmental non-profits as part of 1% for the Planet. If you'd rather a speaker that does have a mic, the refurbished second-generation Beam soundbar is also on sale. It's down to $299 after a $100 discount off the refurbished rate which works out to $200 off the brand new sticker price. The Beam is our top pick for a mid-range soundbar in our guide and has great sound quality, supports Dolby Atmos and, like all of the company's wares, does an excellent job of pairing up with other Sonos speakers. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonos-refurbished-speakers-and-soundbars-are-up-to-170-off-right-now-161504151.html?src=rss

Tesla Semi charging corridor project is still alive despite Biden admin funding snub

Tesla is pushing forward with a plan to build an electric big rig charging corridor stretching from Texas to California, despite being snubbed by a lucrative federal funding program thats part of Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But the original scope of the project could still change, TechCrunch has learned. The company had been seeking nearly [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Cole Haans Spring Refresh Event takes up to 50% off: Sneakers, sandals, dress shoes, more

Cole Haan takes up to 50% off hundreds of styles during its Spring Refresh Event with deals from $6 . Prices are as marked. Customers receive free delivery on orders of $99 or more. A standout from this sale is the mens Grand Laser Bit Driving Loafers that are currently marked to $110 . For comparison, these loafers are regularly priced at $150. These loafers are available in four color options and feature a cushioned insole to promote comfort. The slip-on design lets you head out the door in a breeze and they can be dressed up or down seamlessly. Find even more deals by heading below, or you can shop the entire sale here . more

ASUS Xbox/PC Pro Raikiri gamepad with OLED display, button mapping, more back at $110 low

Amazon is now offering a particularly notable price on the ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro Controller with a built-in OLED display down at $109 shipped . The PC and Xbox Series X|S controller regularly carries a $150 list and is now 27% off the going rate. After first debuting on Amazon last fall, we have only seen it drop as low as todays deal once before, landing this offer on par with the 2023 Black Friday price. While you can get the basic ASUS ROG Raikiri down at $100, for an extra $10 youre scoring the model with the OLED display onboard as well as a deeper set of pro-grade controls. Not to mention a pro controller that comes in at under the price of the entry-level Elite Series 2 Core model . Head below for more details. more

Save $1,500 on Insignias 2D zero gravity full body massage chair for $1,000 in 1-day sale

Best Buy is offering the Insignia 2D Zero Gravity Full Body Massage Chair for $999.99 shipped through the end of the day. Down from $2,500, this is the second discount weve seen on this massage chair since the new year began. Through 2023 it only saw three major discounts, with the biggest of them dropping costs to the $949 low during Black Friday sales. Todays deal comes in as a massive 60% markdown off the going rate that gives you $1,500 in savings and lands at the second-lowest price we have tracked. more

Meta releases Llama 3, claims its among the best open models available

Metahas released the latest entry in its Llama series of open source generative AI models: Llama 3. Or, more accurately, the company has open sourced two models in its new Llama 3 family, with the rest to come at an unspecified future date. Meta describes the new models Llama 3 8B, which contains 8 [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Meta adds its AI chatbot, powered by Llama 3, to the search bar across its apps

Metas making several big moves today to promote its AI services across its platform. The company has upgraded its AI chatbot with its newest Large Language Model, Llama 3, and it is now running it in the search bar of its four major apps, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp across multiple countries. Alongside this, the [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

TechCrunch Minute: NASA needs your help to bring rocks back from Mars

NASAs decision to scrap its $11 billion, 15-year mission to Mars to bring back samples could create a startup feeding frenzy, TechCrunch reports. Describing its plans as too slow, and too expensive, NASA is going back to the drawing board, with an eye on getting the space industry to help. Sure, you might worry that [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

What If Your AI Girlfriend Hated You?

AngryGF offers a perpetually enraged chatbot intended to teach men better communication skills. WIRED took it for a spin.

Heres another chance at Bellas regularly $140 stainless steel 8-qt air fryer for $60

Update: This deal is live once again for today only on the Blue Ink model . Today only, as part of its Deals of the Day , Best Buy is now offering another one of its particularly notable deals for folks looking to upgrade or refresh their countertop air fryer. You can now land the black stainless steel Bella Pro Series 8-quart Digital Air Fryer starting from $59.99 shipped . This model carries a regular price of $140 at Best Buy and is now seeing a sizable price drop with $80 in savings. This is matching our previous mention on this model, but only the blue ink colorway was available last time. While we have seen more affordable air fryers in Best Buys Daily Deals over the last couple of months, today we are getting sizable 8-quart model in a universally appealing color at one of the lowest prices youll find anywhere from a brand we feature around here the next best we can find is thisBella 8-quart model at$68 via Amazon. Head below for more details. more

Score a 4-pack of Linkind color/white smart bulbs with Matter at $23 (Under $6 each)

The official Linkind Amazon storefront is now offering its best price yet on its4-pack of its Matter Wi-Fi Smart Light Bulbs down at$22.94with free shippingfor Prime members or in orders over $25. Be sure to clip the on-page coupon . This 4-pack bundle sold for $55 at the end of 2023 before dropping into the $30 on a regular basis for 2024. Todays offer slightly undercuts our previous mention to deliver a new Amazon all-time low at $5.75 per bulb one of the lowest prices youll find for multi-color and white Matter-supported smart bulbs. All of the details are down below. more

Best password managers for Mac and iPhone

Macworld You probably have a lot of online accounts, and in order to remember your login details you are quite likely to reuse those same few passwords over and over again. Perhaps you even have a document with them all in. Its perfectly understandable, but definitely not safe. We know that its important to use an original password for each account and update them on a regular basis, but it can be a Herculean task trying to retain that information in our heads. This is made even more challenging with different sites requiring specific mixtures of characters: this one demands at least two symbols and no capitals, while that one requires a mixture of cases and a minimum length.And then you have to change yet another password and feel like crying! Thats where password manager apps come in. They allow users to create one master password, after which the app takes care of logging into all other accounts. They even make recommendations for really secure passwords. Having only a single login to remember? That sounds good to us. PROMOTION End your password chaos with 1Password Are you ready to take control of your digital security? Try 1Password free for 14 days and discover for yourself how easy and smooth it can be to manage your passwords. try free for 14 days How password managers work The idea of password managers is to simplify the way you access your various accounts. Instead of having to memorize multiple complex passwords for each of the services you use you need only recall one password or provide a fingerprint or Face ID and the password manager will automatically fill in the required details for you. Just remember this is only as safe as the password you use to unlock access to all your passwords so dont lock them all behind an easy-to-guess password, like your pets name. The password managers also offer various other features. For example, they can generate random, highly secure passwords for your accounts, they can warn you if your password has been compromised, and some can advise you about existing insecure passwords and support your efforts to update them. Obviously, security is a high priorityas the manager apps have the virtual keys to your kingdomwhich is why all of the options listed below use high-grade encryption to protect your details. Many also feature digital wallets so your bank details can be safely stored and used to make purchases online without having to root around in your pocket or bag for the card number and expiry date. These services dont usually come for free, but many offer trials so you can see if its the solution for you. After that youll need to pay a small monthly fee, but we think thats a price worth paying for only having to keep one password in your brain. Do you need a password manager? Is iCloud Keychain enough? But do you need to buy a password manager when there is one in macOS, iOS and iPadOS? Apple provides iCloud Keychain, which will generate secure passwords and enter them for you automatically, all while storing them securely. iCloud Keychain is incredibly useful, but its a bit basic and lacks some of the features offered by other password managers. So, if you want to stay safe without having to recall hundreds of passwords, but want more control and features than you get from Apples free offering, heres some of the best alternatives available for Mac, iPhone and iPad users. For more ways to keep your data safe be sure to also read our Best Mac security tips article. iCloud Keychain Price When Reviewed: Part of iCloud: Free on 5GB plan Best Prices Today: $0 at Apple You may be wondering if you really need a password manager as Apple already includes a free one that works with your Mac, iPhone, iPad and any other Apple device linked to your Apple ID. iCloud Keychain is Apples password management system and it is built into macOS and iOS. It helps you to create secure passwords by generating them on your behalf, warns you if you reuse one or if a password is not secure, and auto-fills your passwords when needed. Its all tied to your Apple ID login and password and the Apple devices you have registered for two-factor authentication, plus everything is encrypted, so it should be secure. It doesnt just fill in passwords for you though: it also enters your logins, emails, credit card numbers, and address details. So you can effortlessly go to sites, choose the item you want to buy, then complete the transaction in seconds and without needing to dredge your memory or fill in loads of text boxes first. One of the main disadvantages in the past was that iCloud Keychain was restricted to Apple devices and Safari. However, Apple has since added Keychain support via a iCloud Password extension for Edge or Chrome, and the good news for PC users is that this means they can use iCloud for Windows. However, if you have an Android phone iCloud Keychain is redundant and you will need to find your password information and enter it manually (you can look up your passwords in your keychain in Settings > Passwords). Another frustration we have with iCloud Keychain is that in our experience when we pick a iCloud Keychain suggested password it doesnt always store it. After years of use our iCloud Keychain is confusingly cluttered with multiple password versions per account. iCloud Keychain is pretty much a solution for those who only use Apple devices and software. Luckily there are alternatives if you want a little more room to move. 1Password Price When Reviewed: From $2.99 per month, $36 a year Best Prices Today: $36 at 1Password (annually) One of our long-standing favorites is 1Password which has a nice, clean layout and is simple to use. As well as storing and autofilling your passwords it can store other important document information, such as your drivers licence and passport. The app comes with the standard vault that you access via a master password, and in which you can see and update your various account login details. It also supports Touch ID and Face ID so you dont have to enter the password every time you log into the app. Theres a section that includes accounts that can use a passkey. Security is front and center, with 1Password boasting AES end-to-end encryption so only you will hold the key to your account. AES 256-bit is the order of the day, and 1Password monitors the activity on your account so it can send you warnings if any odd behavior is spotted. It also uses the Secure Remote Password (SRP) protocol, which allows you to authenticate your details to a site without the information being sent to a server which could compromise security. The Watchtower feature analyzes the overall strength of your online security and warns you if passwords are repeated or vulnerable. A free 14-day trial is available, but after that, youll need to move on to a paid subscription that currently starts at $36 (approx 29) per year. For this, youll be able to use the software on as many devices as you like, including macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux, plus the accompanying iPhone and Android apps. 1Password has won numerous awards and is an easy service to recommend. Read our full 1Password review Dashlane Price When Reviewed: $4.99 per month, $59.99 a year Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Dashlane (annually) Dashlane is a popular password manager, with a comprehensive suite of tools to make your life a lot easier. The app analyses your current passwords to see how secure they are and gives you an overall rating based on how often you reuse login details for multiple sites. Password monitoring will check if any of your details have been exposed in data breaches or have been reused too many times. Theres alsoa feature to auto-replace passwords instantly with ones generated by Dashlane. Its not only your account details that you can store in Dashlane, you can store bank details, your address and important documents like your passport and driving licence. Theres also a section for any secure notes you wish to keep safe. All your transactions between the app and sites are end-to-end encrypted using 256-bit AES technology. Theres also 2-factor authentication available, with the Dashlane app acting as an authenticator, Dashlane is available on a wide range of platforms, with dedicated apps for iOS/iPadOS and Android, plus extensions for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. Dashlane costs $39.96 (approx 32) per year for the individual account. There is a free tier available, which acts as a taster for the full package, and you can use it indefinitely, but with a limit of only 25 passwords. Read our full Dashlane review NordPass Price When Reviewed: Free 30-day trial; From $1.49 per month, $71.76 a year (currently $35.76 for two year) Best Prices Today: $71.76 at NordPass (annually) One of the newest additions to the password manager arena is NordPass , which is made by the same fine fellows at NordVPN . The latter is one of our favorite VPNs, as youll see from our Best VPN for Mac roundup. NordPass offers full desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus the standard iOS and Android offerings. You can also use NordPass through browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, Edge, and Safari. NordPass has all the features youd expect from a modern password manager, with quick importing of existing passwords from other services, zero-knowledge architecture, local encryption, 2-factor authentication, password generation, secure storage for credit details and notes, autofill for logging into accounts, folders to store passwords for work, home or other classifications, security monitoring for password hacks, support for biometrics, plus a neat interface to manage all of your various data. Theres a free feature-limited version. Prices start at $$71.76/28.68 (currently $35.76 for two years, or 19.08 for one year) for the Premium plan. The free tier supports unlimited passwords, stores credit card details, and secure notes, plus has the ability to sync across all your devices. The main drawback is that you can only be logged into one device at a time. But if you can work with that its a service you should definitely investigate. Bitwarden Price When Reviewed: Free tier; From $1 per month (approx 80p), $10 a year (approx 8) Best Prices Today: $10 at Bitwarden (annually) When it comes to technology, we often say that you get what you pay for, but in the case of Bitwarden , this isnt quite true. The service offers a really impressive range of capabilities on its free tier, so with this app, you get what you dont pay for! Without signing up for a premium account you get unlimited storage for passwords, credit cards, notes, and online account IDs, secure text messaging with individuals, a secure password generator, two-factor authentication, plus the ability to either have your data stored on the Bitwarden servers or one you host yourself. Oh, and you can sync all your devices, rather than the single one offered by most other free tiers. Should you want to expand the features, then the Premium tier costs $10 (approx 8) per year and adds secure file sharing, 1GB of encrypted file attachments, additional two-factor authentication options, password safety analysis, and access to your account by family if you die or become sick. Encryption is high-grade stuff, with Bitwarden deploying end-to-end AES-256 bit encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256, all of which are down locally on your machine. Apps are available on a wide range of platforms, including macOS, Windows, Linux, pretty much every browser you can think of, Android, and iOS, and theres even a secure web version if you find yourself without your device. If youre looking for value when it comes to password managers, its very hard to look past Bitwarden. Keeper Price When Reviewed: Free tier; From $2.29 per month, $34.99 a year Best Prices Today: $34.99 at Keeper Security (annually) Keeper can store unlimited passwords, auto-generate strong new ones, and sync passwords across multiple devices, all while holding credit card details and other important payment details in its secure vault. AES 256-bit encryption is all performed locally, so Keeper can never know your details, but there is the option to securely share folders and passwords with friends and family if they need to access any of your accounts. The included secure messaging service is also useful for communicating these requests Theres also support for Touch ID on the Mac and iPhone, with the latter also working with Face ID, plus Apple Watch compatibility and the option of using two-step authentication. Keeper Unlimited Password Manager is available from $34.99/24.99 per year, but there is a free tier that is limited to one device and ten passwords. Enpass Price When Reviewed: Free tier; From $1.99 per month, $23.99 a year Best Prices Today: $23.99 at Enpass (annually) Those looking for a simple, secure solution that doesnt break the bank would do well to consider Enpass. The macOS client is completely free, but if you want to add the same features to your iPhone or Android device then youll need to move to the Enpass Premium tier that costs $23.99/19.49 per year. If you prefer to buy a lifetime license, you can pick one up for $99.99/82.99. Enpass doesnt store any of your information on its servers. Instead, everything is encrypted and kept on your personal device so you never lose control of your data.Details can be synced securely via iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, or ownCloud/WebDAV, to keep all of your devices in step. You still have the classic features of other password managers, such as auto-fill forms, security analysis of your passwords and generating complex replacements easily, secure storage for sensitive information, and AES 256-bit encryption, plus support for iOS, Android, and Apple Watch devices. There are plenty of fine-tuning options for those who are a little bit more hands-on, but we like the no-nonsense approach and the fact that your data never leaves your device. Roboform Price When Reviewed: Free tier; From $2.49 per month (approx 2), $29.88 a year (approx 24) Best Prices Today: $29.88 at RoboForm (annually) Another long-standing favorite is Roboform . Like its rivals in this list, the service offers a wide range of features that make life easier for you when interacting with sites online. Theres end-to-end encryption, auto-filling of account details, new password generation, a security suite to monitor and advise you of the current health of your passwords, cloud syncing to keep all your devices up to date, multi-factor authentication, secure sharing, folders, and search features to organize your passwords, plus emergency access which allows family members to access your account if you should fall ill or pass away. Theres secure storage for your credit cards and IDs, not to mention notes, contacts, and even your browser bookmarks, which is something we havent seen on other services. Roboform is available for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, or you can use the browser extensions provided for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Prices are very affordable, with the free tier actually being quite decent as it provides unlimited password storage, auto-fill, secure sharing, and other basic features, albeit for a single device. To take advantage of all the capabilities Roboform has to offer youll want the Premium tier which costs a very reasonable $29.88 (approx 20) per year and works across all your desktop and mobile devices. LastPass Price When Reviewed: Free tier (one device); $3 per month, $36 per year Best Prices Today: $36 at LastPass (annually) LastPass is probably one of the best-known password manager, thanks to it being one of the original pioneers in the field, however, in recent years its lost its crown after being hit with several hacks, including at least one that stole encrypted customer data. This recent history makes it harder to recommend. Not that security measures arent there, the company explains that it uses AES 256-bit encryption with PBKDF2 SHA-256 and salted hashes to ensure complete security in the cloud. The app does all of its encryption locally, so LastPass never knows your master password, and the Premium tier also supports a form of two-factor authentication for another layer of security. This is called MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and not only allows confirmation text messages to be sent, but also works with biometrics (Face ID & Touch ID) and even voice commands (although some of these methods are reserved for the Business plan). You can either use LastPass locally on your device via dedicated apps (macOS, iOS and iPadOS), or via the web with plugins and extensions available for Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge all of which allow you to automatically access login details for sites and accounts or have LastPass autofill the login fields on your behalf. Just like with other managers you have access to a vault where all of your passwords are stored, and these can be changed to more complex alternatives at the touch of a button. LastPass will also advise you on how secure your passwords are for your existing accounts. Getting set up is easy too, as you can import existing passwords from web browsers, email, and other password managers. The app offers a digital wallet to store your card details, plus another area for official ID such as passports and driving licenses. The Note section is a place where you can keep Wi-Fi passwords, insurance details and any other important documents that you need to access. Its also possible to securely share account details and logins with friends and family, even if they dont have LastPass. There is a free tier, although this is limited to one device, so if you want to sync across your Mac and iPhone youll need to move up to the Premium tier. At the time of writing, this will cost 31.20/$36 per year. Those wanting more scope can opt for the family plan which includes six user accounts and only costs 40.80/$48 per year on the LastPass website. One of the advantages of a paid plan is an Emergency backup which means that, should you suffer an accident or even pass away, your family will be given access to your account. Read our full LastPass review iOS, Mac, MacOS, Password Managers, Personal Software, Security Software and Services

Review: Razer launches new Kishi Ultra USB-C controller grip for iPhone 15 and iPad mini 6

Razer has now unlocked the god-tier of mobile gaming. The company today is launching its latest smartphone controller grip for iPhone 15 and Android handsets. On top of just fully embracing USB-C, the new Razer Kishi Ultra steps up to deliver a more premium experience actually geared towards gamers with support for even larger devices like iPad mini 6. But thats really just the tip of the iceberg for why this is my new favorite controller grip. more

ecobees SmartThermostat Premium with onboard Siri and temperature sensor hits $220

Amazon is now offering the ecobee SmartThermostat Premium for $219.99 shipped . This is down from the usual $250 price tag in order to save you $30. Its only the third offer in 2024 and matches the best price weve seen this year. It has only sold for less once before back in August. You can dive into our hands-on launch coverage for a better idea of what to expect, but we also break down the savings below the fold, too. more

SK hynixs 1TB 1,050MB/s USB-C Beetle portable SSD now at $70 for today only (Reg. $90)

Just after seeing a new Amazon all-time low on the brands new flash drive-sized SSD , todays Newegg deals of the day have the 1TB SK hynix Beetle X31 Portable SSD on sale at $69.99 shipped . This model debuted last summer at $93 and currently sells for $90 at Amazon. Todays offer comes within $5 of the all-time low and delivers the lowest price we can find. This 1TB solution is now $10 under the newer Tube T31 model from the brand that comes in a smaller form-factor, but that one isnt quite as fast and doesnt include the USB-C connectivity youll get on the golden Beetle model. Head below for more details. more

TSMC will charge more for chips made outside of Taiwan, possibly making devices more expensive

TSMC is the worlds biggest chipmaker and its products are found in everything from phones to game consoles and computers. But devices using TSMC chips could become more expensive if manufacturers opt to buy ones that the company makes outside of its home base of Taiwan. If a customer requests to be in a certain geographical area, the customer needs to share the incremental cost, TSMC CEO CC Wei said on an earnings call. In todays fragmented globalization environment, cost will be higher for everyone, including TSMC, our customers and our competitors. Talks with customers over price increases have already started. As the Financial Times points out, its more expensive for TSMC to manufacture chips outside of Taiwan (where over 90 percent of the planets most advanced semiconductors are made). But the company will be passing on those costs amid a push by companies and governments to increase chip supply outside of Taiwan, over which China is attempting to control. TSMC has plants in Japan and is building several in Arizona, the first of which started operating this month and is expected to go into full production this year. Its also constructing a plant in Germany. In addition, the US government last week agreed to provide the company with $6.6 billion in funding under the CHIPS Act, which seeks to bolster semiconductor manufacturing in the country. In return, TSMC pledged to up its US investment by $25 billion to $65 billion. Aligned with that, the company announced plans to build a third US plant by the end of the decade and to start making more advanced 2nm chips by 2028. Meanwhile, TSMC expects its manufacturing costs to increase in Taiwan. Thats because power prices there are soaring. An earthquake earlier this month is also expected to have a negative effect on the companys profitability, as is its struggle to make the manufacturing of its most advanced 3nm chips more efficient. Apple, NVIDIA, AMD and Qualcomm are among TSMCs more notable customers. So if they end up buying chips from the companys US, Japan or Germany fabs, their manufacturing costs could go up. Take a wild guess whod end up having to eat the cost of those increased expenses so device makers can maintain their profit margins. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tsmc-will-charge-more-for-chips-made-outside-of-taiwan-possibly-making-devices-more-expensive-145146879.html?src=rss

Ankers newest SOLIX C800 Plus 768Wh power station returns to $499 low (Reg. $649)

The official Anker Amazon storefront is offering its newest SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station for $499 shipped, after clipping the on-page $150 off coupon . Down from its $649 price tag, this is only the second official discount since the devices release last month, which saw a similar launch discount down to the $499 low. You can get a full rundown on what to expect from our initial launch coverage . All-in-all, youre looking at a 23% markdown off the going rate, which also matches the current discount on Ankers website as well and returns costs to the all-time lowest price weve seen. Youll also find bundle options available, with it coming with a100Wor 200W solar panel for$848or $1,048 , after clipping the on-page $100 off coupons. more

12.9-Inch iPad Air Now Rumored to Feature Mini-LED Display

The rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that is expected to be announced in May will be equipped with a mini-LED display like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants . The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for HDR content, deeper blacks, and more. Young revealed this information in a post shared on social media platform X today. He said the 12.9-inch iPad Air will be using leftover mini-LED display panels from the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and he touted lower power consumption as another benefit. Given that Apple does not have existing inventory of 10.9-inch mini-LED display panels, it is likely that the smaller iPad Air will remain equipped with an LCD panel. Meanwhile, the next iPad Pro models are widely expected to transition to OLED displays, which would eliminate backlighting to allow for higher contrast ratio with true blacks, and provide other enhancements compared to LCD and mini-LED technologies. The new iPad Pro models are also expected to be announced in May. Young has a solid track record with display-related Apple rumors, so this information about the iPad Air is likely accurate. Related Roundup: iPad Air Tag: Ross Young Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Don't Buy) Related Forum: iPad This article, 12.9-Inch iPad Air Now Rumored to Feature Mini-LED Display first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's 13-Inch M2 MacBook Air Hits Record Low Prices at Best Buy, Starting at $849

Best Buy today has every model of the 2022 13-inch MacBook Air available for $150 off , matching previous all-time low prices on the notebooks. These prices are available to all shoppers and do not require a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. The 256GB model is on sale for $849.00 and the 512GB model is available for $1,049.00 . These deals beat the previous prices we tracked earlier in the year by about $50. $150 OFF 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (256GB) for $849.00 $150 OFF 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,049.00 You can get both models in all four colors: Starlight, Space Gray, Silver, and Midnight. Following the introduction of the M3 MacBook Air, Apple knocked the price of the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air down by $100, and it's still selling them alongside the M3 model. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories. Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, Apple's 13-Inch M2 MacBook Air Hits Record Low Prices at Best Buy, Starting at $849 first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apples official iPhone SE 3 silicone cases on sale for $18 Amazon lows (Reg. $35)

Amazon is now offeringApples official iPhone SE 3 Silicone Case in several styles for$17.82. Shipping is free for Prime members or in orders over $25. Dropping from its usual $35 price tag for the first time this year, todays offer is one of the best prices weve ever tracked. Its the only discount since October and is a few cents under that previous fall mention. Apples official silicone case covers your iPhone SE 3 in the usual premium material that adds some protection to your device in a slim package with a soft touch finish. Theres a microfiber lining on the inside, as well as three different colorways to score. Head below for more. more

Uber, Nvidia-backed Serve Robotics hits public markets with $40M splash

Serve Robotics, the Uber and Nvidia-backed sidewalk robot delivery company, debuted publicly on the New York stock exchange Thursday, making it the latest startup to choose going public via a reverse merger as an alternative path to capital needed to fund growth. The company, which spun out of Ubers acquisition of Postmates in 2021, hits [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Should Apple Kill Siri and Start Over?

Few features have promised to revolutionize the way we interact with our Apple devices as much as Siri, the company's ubiquitous virtual assistant. Launched in 2011, Siri was introduced as heralding a new era in human-computer interaction, offering an intuitive voice-controlled interface for accessing information, scheduling appointments, sending messages, and much more. The vision was grand: A personal assistant in your pocket, capable of understanding and acting upon a wide array of voice commands with ease and accuracy. So what happened? Enthusiasm for Siri has undeniably waned in the intervening years. Despite regular updates and improvements from Apple, Siri has struggled to keep pace with its advancing rivals, and in an era of generative AI chatbots and large language models, Siri's failings have only been magnified. Issues ranging from misinterpreted commands to limited contextual understanding have not only hindered Siri's usability but have also led to an almost universal perception of the virtual assistant as a source of user frustration rather than assistance. This persistent underperformance begs the question: Is it time for Apple to kill Siri and start over? Siri's Birth Pangs Siri's conceptual roots at Apple can be traced back to the company's early exploration of human-computer interaction. Thirty years ago, Apple commissioned a group of employees to create a video showing how in the future humans might interact with computers using spoken language. The video, known as Knowledge Navigator , featured a professor chatting with a virtual assistant to perform everyday tasks and academic research. In one of the tasks, the professor asks the assistant to search for a five-year-old publication. The assistant pulls up an article dated 2006, suggesting the video is supposed to be set in September 2011. The video was criticized at the time for being an unrealistic portrayal of the capacities of a virtual assistant in the foreseeable future. Yet the demonstration inspired developers Adam Cheyer, Dag Kittlaus, and Tom Gruber, who began AI research on virtual assistants at SRI International, a DARPA-funded research laboratory in Menlo Park, California. Their work would result in a spin-out called Siri, named by Kittlaus after a co-worker in Norway. (Siri is short for Sigrid, which has its origins in Old Norse for words meaning victory and eautiful.) In February 2010, Kittlaus launched Siri as an app on Apple's App Store. Steve Jobs soon began playing with the app and was impressed with how it allowed the user to search the internet by voice. A few weeks later, Apple acquired the start-up. Siri's AI backend was in place, while its voice recognition technology would be supplied by Nuance Communications. Apple subsequently released its Siri virtual assistant (in beta) for the iPhone 4S in October 2011, just one month later than the fictional future in which Knowledge Navigator had been originally envisioned. Fiction vs. Reality Apple marketed Siri as more than just a tool it was your intelligent assistant ready to help with a variety of tasks. Whether setting reminders, sending texts, making phone calls, or finding information online, Siri aimed to streamline it all with a simple voice command. There was nothing like it at the time and the initial results were impressive, but the underlying promise was that Siri would not only understand you but also learn from you, becoming more efficient and personalized over time. Regular iOS updates in the intervening years have worked towards making Siri more effective and realizing its original promise. Whenever a new iOS feature comes along, Apple usually ensures that it works with Siri, and these days it can be used to identify songs, get driving directions, send money via Apple Pay, and control HomeKit products, to name just a few of its skills. In 2021, Apple announced that Siri would work offline by default whenever possible, it would process user requests on-device, with the same quality of server-based speech recognition. However, even now, the assistant that was supposed to understand context and grow with the user still faces significant challenges with context, understanding, and integration, regardless of whether it pings Apple's servers or processes requests locally. Many Apple device owners often say it struggles with even basic commands. Indeed, many users believe that, at least in some areas, Siri's abilities have gotten worse over time, especially since the release of iOS 17. It is astounding how bad it is. Even things that used to work fine like asking Siri to send a text message now dont seem to work consistently anymore. Sometimes she asks me if I want to use the phone number or email, and other times it just tries to call the person. Sigh. Joseph Bella (@jbella) March 20, 2024 Michael Tsai's blog has done a good job of recording users' more recent frustrations with Siri. Here are just a handful of serial issues some users have recently reported: Setting timers instead of alarms. Bungling music requests (even for purchases that Siri has local access to). Delayed responses over fast data connections. Nonsense responses to conversion requests. Creating notes instead of reminders. Acknowledging requests without acting on them. Overwrought punctuation when dictating. Inability to consistently control smart devices. The list could go on. But has Siri really gotten more stupid? Could most issues be put down to fringe use cases, or over-expectations in a brave new world of chatbots powered by immensely resource-heavy large-language models? Consider what Walt Mossberg said in 2016, writing for The Verge : Before Apple bought it, Siri was on the road to being a robust digital assistant that could do many things, and integrate with many services even though it was being built by a startup with limited funds and people. After Apple bought Siri, the giant company seemed to treat it as a backwater, restricting it to doing only a few, slowly increasing number of tasks, like telling you the weather, sports scores, movie and restaurant listings, and controlling the device's functions. ...On too many occasions, Siri either gets things wrong, doesn't know the answer, or can't verbalize it. Instead, it shows you a web search result, even when you're not in a position to read it. Many users would agree that very little has changed in the past eight years. AI Hopes on the Horizon Apple's next major software update, iOS 18, is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri that will assist users in their daily lives. Generative AI is the key term here. The concept surged in popularity in late 2022, when OpenAI released its ChatGPT chatbot that can reply to questions and prompts with unnervingly nuanced human-like responses. The company has since expanded into generative AI tools for images and videos. One leaker has suggested that Apple is planning to use large-language models to entirely revamp Siri and turn it into the ultimate virtual assistant. Rumors suggest that improvements could come in the form of better natural conversation capabilities (potentially aided by an improved iPhone microphone) and improved user personalization. The new functionality is expected to be available across devices, so Siri may retain conversation information from one device to another. According to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman, one of the specific features Apple is developing is an improved interaction between Siri and the Messages app , which would let Siri auto-complete sentences more effectively and answer complex questions. However, more recent reports have claimed that Apple is not planning to debut its own generative AI chatbot. Apple has reportedly held discussions with companies such as Google, OpenAI, and Baidu about potential generative AI partnerships, but Apple's first set of new AI features in iOS 18 will not rely on cloud servers at all, according to Gurman. Move Over Siri? Whether or not a groundbreaking incarnation of Apple's virtual assistant is on the cards, given the persistent issues that have tarnished Siri's reputation, could a new name and branding help Apple distance itself from past failures? The idea of rebranding Siri into something entirely new has been floated by some observers in the tech world. Josh Johnson 's blunt assessment echoes a common sentiment: I honestly think Apple should kill the Siri brand. I'm not sure it can recover from the universal understanding that its just not good. He suggests the introduction of an LLM-powered assistant under a new name, proposing a fresh start to overcome the negative associations that currently plague Siri. Ty Belisle supports a drastic transformation, noting, I've thought they should make a very bold 'Siri 2.0' announcement, but it's true the name Siri is so spoiled that they should ditch it. He also points out the practical benefits of a new name, such as reducing accidental activations a problem that shorter names like Siri often face. John Gruber 's perspective underscores the importance of first impressions and the long-term effects of Siri's underwhelming performance: First impressions really matter, but in Siri's case, it's over a decade of lived experience. If Apple has significantly improved its voice technology, he argues, it should be introduced under a new brand to signify a clean break from the past. These voices present a compelling case for rebranding, but Apple would face significant risks if it introduced a new virtual assistant. Siri is deeply integrated into Apple's ecosystem and recognized worldwide. Abandoning the brand could confuse and alienate existing users who are accustomed to the name and functionality, despite its flaws. That being said, unlike Amazon's Alexa and Google's assistant, Siri has become the butt of numerous jokes . A new name and persona for the assistant could potentially revitalize its image, but Apple would have to ensure that any new product lives up to its promises, otherwise another misstep could be potentially disastrous. What are your thoughts about and experiences with Siri? Has its performance gotten better over time as Apple's software has become more complex, or is it in a death spiral? Let us know in the comments. Tag: Siri This article, Should Apple Kill Siri and Start Over? first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

lululemon drops specials from $9: T-shirts, shorts, pullovers, and more + free shipping

lululemon offers its new markdowns up to 50% off including t-shirts, shorts, pullovers, accessories, and more. Prices are as marked. Customers receive free delivery on all orders. With golf season officially starting in most places, the Half-Zip Windbreaker is a must-have for just under $100 . Its regularly priced at $148 and you can choose from several color options. The material is water-repellant, features UV protection, and has stretch to give you a full golf swing. Plus, the oversized fit allows for complete range of motion as well. Find even more deals by heading below, and be sure to check out our fashion guide for additional deals today. more

NIU KQi3 Max foldable electric scooter returns to $760 (Reg. $1,000) in 1-day Best Buy sale

Best Buy is offering the NIU KQi3 Max Foldable Electric KickScooter for $759.98 shipped through the end of the day. Normally fetching $1,000, this model saw few discounts over 2023, dropping to $559 with the biggest of them. Last month we saw this same 1-day discount down to $760, with todays deal coming in as a repeat 24% markdown off the going rate that lands at the fourth-lowest price we have tracked. Equipped with a 450W rear-wheel drive motor and a 48V battery, this scooter can reach top speeds of 23.6 MPH with a range of up to 40 miles and can handle up to a 25% incline. It features a triple braking system alongside self-healing tires that are able to seal themselves if and when punctured, giving you a more worry-free ride. It also features a halo headlight, brake lights, a foldable frame, and an array of smart capabilities through the NIU app or the LED display, such as allowing you to lock your scooter, check your riding statistics, and even customize your speed and cruise control functions. more

Airchat is the latest app trying to make 'social audio' cool again

Theres a new invite-only app going semi-viral among VCs, tech execs and other Silicon Valley personalities. Its called Airchat and its trying to revive the concept of an audio-first social media app. The premise is similar to Clubhouse, the audio app that had a viral moment at the height of the pandemic in 2021 and inspired copycat features in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Reddit before gradually fading into obscurity. But unlike the original version of Clubhouse, Airchat isnt built around live audio streams that require users to all tune it at once. Its more like Twitter or Threads, except posts can only be shared as voice notes. The app uses a timeline format, and automatically plays audio clips as you scroll your feed. You do have the ability to pause the playback and read text instead each post is accompanied by an AI-generated transcript but posts and replies can only be shared by recording an audio clip. There dont seem to be any time constraints on how long individual clips can be, I found at least one post where a user spoke for a full hour just to see if it would work (it did). It sounds a bit gimmicky (because it is), but the app has all the hallmarks of the kind of social apps that briefly go viral among a certain segment of extremely-online Silicon Valley nerds. Its led by a pair of well-connected tech founders: AngelList co-founder Naval Ravikant and former Tinder exec Brian Norgard. Its invitation-only and has drawn a number of well-known tech personalities among its early users: Y Combinator CEO and San Francisco political provocateur Gary Tan, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, OpenAI founder Sam Altman, VC and Elon Musk confidant Jason Calacanis. Over on X, Airchats high-profile user base is building hype and creating FOMO for those who havent been able to score an invite. (The app had to briefly shut off invites over the weekend due to an influx of new users, according to Ravikant, Airchats CEO.) Its not clear exactly how many users Airchat has just yet, but it seems to be in the low tens of thousands. The app has been downloaded close to 50,000 times, research firm Appfigures told Engadget, but its likely some of those downloads have come from people who dont yet have an invite. Ravikant, who seems to be one of the most-followed users, currently has just over 11,000 followers in the app. Using Airchat is, well, noisy and a bit confusing. Upon joining, the app asks to tap your contacts list to find friends who are already on the app, but finding people to follow beyond that can be challenging. The app doesnt have the equivalent of a for you feed with recommended content so your only options are to manually search for users or lurk in conversations that do appear in your feed and check out other users posts and follows. When I signed up, there were four people from my contacts in the app, only two of whom are actual friends. I followed them and the apps founders and a couple other familiar names. I then began randomly following other users as conversations began to appear in my feed. This was a terrible strategy as my feed was quickly dominated by the voices of a few especially active (but not terribly interesting) posters. With so many new users all joining at the same time, at one point my feed was just a bunch of people talking about Airchat . Its also somewhat jarring to actually hear the voices of people youve followed on social media for ages but havent interacted with IRL. The app defaults to playing back audio at 2x speed, which tends to make peoples speaking voices sound a bit unnatural, but is also kind of necessary for long-winded posts. The bigger issue, though, is that its not entirely clear what Airchat is for. There are a handful of channels, smaller groups dedicated to chatting about specific topics like coffee or astrology or AI or war, but conversations are disjointed and hard to follow. There seem to be some corners with spirited discussion. The coffee channel has 755 members and has lots of earnest discussion of pour-over techniques and photos of latte art. The channel is also moderated heavily, according to Ravikant (Airchats moderation policy is self moderation, which means they expect you to make good use of blocking and muting features, though an FAQ states they will remove users for harassment, impersonation, foul behavior, and illegal content.) More creative users are also finding ways to play with the audio-centric format. I found an ASMR group that consisted mainly of people speaking in breathy whispers that kind of gave me the ick (one person did post a nice clip of their cat purring). I listened to a few poetry readings in the poetry channel, but didnt have the patience, even at 2x speed. Theres also a lot of talk of in-app karaoke, though I have yet to see it actually happen. Some might see these kinds of gimmicks as the start of some new paradigm, where people use their voices to unlock new ways of interacting. But all I can think about is how Clubhouse, at its peak, had similar gimmicks: in-app game shows, open mic nights and (very NSFW) moan rooms. It was new and interesting at a time when most people were stuck at home with nothing to do, but the novelty wore off quickly. While Clubhouses initial success sparked copycat features from almost every other major social media company, many of those have since shut down due to lack of interest. Even Clubhouse itself is a shell of what it once was. While the app still exists, its an entirely different service than the one that briefly captured the attention of bored tech workers. The company laid off half its staff in 2023 and has since pivoted to audio-centric group chats. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/airchat-is-the-latest-app-trying-to-make-social-audio-cool-again-140050450.html?src=rss

Over half a million Roku accounts compromised in second cybersecurity breach

Streaming giant Roku has recently been targeted by a pair of cyberattacks, and the company confirmed over a half million Roku accounts were compromised.

Todays best iOS app deals: SpongeBob Cosmic Shake, Rotaeno, Chicken Police, more

Thursday mornings best iOS game and app deals are now up for the taking down below the fold. Take a look at the deals we are tracking on the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pros from $1,029 , Satechis 16-port Thunderbolt 4 Pro Dock , and HYPERs high-capacity 27,000mAh USB-C Battery Pack , but for now we are focused on the apps. Highlights include titles like SpongeBob The Cosmic Shake, SpongeBob SquarePants, Rotaeno, Chicken Police, Forest Golf Planner, and more. Head below for a complete look at todays best iOS game and app deals. more

IISc to pioneer ageing research with Longevity India initiative

Todays best game deals: Super Mario Bros. Wonder $47.50, Prince of Persia $28 low, more

Top Walmart seller Direct Distributors (4.2/5 star rating) is now offering physical copies of Super Mario Bros. Wonder for $47.49 shipped . Regularly $60, this triumph of modern 2D side-scrolling action hasnt really seen any major price drops since its release and is now at the best price we can find. Amazons best third-party listings have it starting at $50, for comparison sake. We came away from this wonderful experience saying it reinvents 2D platformers with silly, strange, and whimsical gameplay it is a must-have for any Switch owner, no matter what age or experience level they are if you ask me. Many feel, us included, this is one of the best 2D side-scrolling Mario adventures yet, and certainly in the modern era. With the introduction of loads of new gameplay mechanics and power-ups (Elephant Mario!) layered on top of the usual 2D action, Super Mario Bros. Wonder deserves a place in any Switch game library. Head below for more of todays best console game deals. more

Author granted copyright over book with AI-generated textwith a twist

Copyright Office changed course after initially denying request.

Rare deals land on latest 12.9-inch iPad Pros from $1,029 ahead of a spring refresh

While everyone waits to see what the new spring refresh brings for the iPad Pro lineup, B&H is offering some of the first discounts in months on the latest 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro . Pricing starts with the Wi-Fi 128GB model at $1,029 shipped . Thats $70 off the usual $1,099 price tag and the best price of the year for those who werent able to take advantage of the member-only Best Buy promos earlier in the spring. Also on sale is the 256GB model at $1,119 , down from $1,199. We break down what to expect over at 9to5Mac in our feature on Apples latest iPad Pro, and then offer plenty of insight below on just what todays discount gets you. more

GPT-4 performed close to the level of expert doctors in eye assessments

As learning language models (LLMs) continue to advance, so do questions about how they can benefit society in areas such as the medical field. A recent study from the University of Cambridge's School of Clinical Medicine found that OpenAI's GPT-4 performed nearly as well in an ophthalmology assessment as experts in the field, the Financial Times first reported. In the study, published in PLOS Digital Health , researchers tested the LLM, its predecessor GPT-3.5 , Google's PaLM 2 and Meta's LLaMA with 87 multiple choice questions. Five expert ophthalmologists, three trainee ophthalmologists and two unspecialized junior doctors received the same mock exam. The questions came from a textbook for trialing trainees on everything from light sensitivity to lesions. The contents aren't publicly available, so the researchers believe LLMs couldn't have been trained on them previously. ChatGPT, equipped with GPT-4 or GPT-3.5, was given three chances to answer definitively or its response was marked as null. GPT-4 scored higher than the trainees and junior doctors, getting 60 of the 87 questions right. While this was significantly higher than the junior doctors' average of 37 correct answers, it just beat out the three trainees' average of 59.7. While one expert ophthalmologist only answered 56 questions accurately, the five had an average score of 66.4 right answers, beating the machine. PaLM 2 scored a 49, and GPT-3.5 scored a 42. LLaMa scored the lowest at 28, falling below the junior doctors. Notably, these trials occurred in mid-2023. While these results have potential benefits, there are also quite a few risks and concerns. Researchers noted that the study offered a limited number of questions, especially in certain categories, meaning the actual results might be varied. LLMs also have a tendency to hallucinate or make things up. That's one thing if its an irrelevant fact but claiming there's a cataract or cancer is another story. As is the case in many instances of LLM use, the systems also lack nuance, creating further opportunities for inaccuracy. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gpt-4-performed-close-to-the-level-of-expert-doctors-in-eye-assessments-131517436.html?src=rss

iPhone's New AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Begins Rolling Out

Apple has announced that iPhone and iPad users can wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from their device to their hotel room TV via AirPlay at select IHG Hotels & Resorts properties in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico starting today, including select Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Candlewood Suites, and InterContinental locations. Apple says IHG has made AirPlay available at more than 60 hotels so far, and additional hotels will support the feature in the coming months. The feature allows you to scan a unique QR code on the hotel room TV to establish an AirPlay connection, allowing you to wirelessly stream content from your iPhone or iPad to the TV. After the pairing process, your device will also automatically be connected to the hotel's Wi-Fi network. The device must be updated to iOS 17.3 or iPadOS 17.3 or later. In addition to services like Apple TV+ and Apple Music, AirPlay on hotel room TVs works with Apple Arcade for gaming and Apple Fitness+ for workouts. Apple emphasized the privacy and security of the AirPlay feature. When a guest checks out of the hotel, the company says their connection to the TV is erased, preventing future guests and hotel staff from accessing the user's activity. Apple first announced this feature at WWDC 2023 last June, in partnership with LG. Google already offers a similar Chromecast streaming feature on many hotel TVs that works with both iPhones and Android devices, so Apple has a lot of catching up to do on this front, but AirPlay support is certainly a useful addition for iPhone users. Related Roundups: iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 Tag: AirPlay Related Forums: iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 This article, iPhone's New AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Begins Rolling Out first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums