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Without meaningful deterrents, Big Tech companies will do what's profitable, regardless of the cost to consumers . But a new bipartisan bill could add a check that would make them think twice, at least in one area. On Wednesday, Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced legislation that would require social platforms to crack down on scam ads. The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act would require platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent frau

A digital photo frame shouldnt be complicated. At its best, its just a good-looking screen that can be set up quickly that reliably shows the photos you care about. Unfortunately, thats not always how things play out. The market is flooded with cheap digital frames that promise simplicity but end up delivering washed-out displays, clunky apps and a frustrating experience leading you to abandon it after a week. Thats a shame, because a good digital frame can be really enjoyable. Most of us have

Hot on the heels of AGDQ in January, Games Done Quick is hosting its second speedrunning event of the year, Back to Black 2026, starting tomorrow, February 5. The four-day event is organized by Black in a Flash and is raising money for Race Forward , a nonprofit that works across communities to address systemic racism. Back to Black is timed to the start of Black History Month and highlights the deep bench of talent in the Black speedrunning community. A few runs, like ones for Hades II , Donkey

Roblox launched an open-source AI model that generates 3D objects on the fly early last year and now that toolset is getting a massive boost. The platform has introduced a model that whips up 4D objects . I put 4D in quotes because it doesn't actually allow access to the fourth dimension, but rather lets users make interactive 3D objects via prompts. As suggested, these aren't static 3D models. They are fully functional and interactive objects that move and react to players. The beta toolset can

Blizzard is running a series of showcases for several of its major franchises and on Wednesday, it was time for Overwatch to step up to the plate. Thats Overwatch, by the way, and not Overwatch 2 . The studio is formally nixing the number from the game's name. Overwatch is more than just a digit: it's a living universe that keeps growing, keeps surprising, and keeps bringing players together from around the world, the Overwatch team said in a statement. This year marks a huge turning point in ho

The groundhog has predicted six more weeks of winter, which means more time indoors on our devices and that means it's a great time to improve your cybersecurity . By subscribing to a virtual private network (VPN) and connecting every time you get online, you can keep your activity hidden from your ISP and any advertisers it may sell that data to all while streaming sporting events and TV dramas from all across the globe. We strongly recommend using a VPN , but shopping for one takes some care

When X's engineering team published the code that powers the platform's for you algorithm last month, Elon Musk said the move was a victory for transparency. We know the algorithm is dumb and needs massive improvements, but at least you can see us struggle to make it better in real-time and with transparency, Musk wrote . No other social media companies do this. While it's true that X is the only major social network to make elements of its recommendation algorithm open source, researchers say t

The Pixel 10a is official, though details are limited. On Wednesday, Google posted a teaser video showing the mid-range phone dancing around colorful backgrounds. You can pre-order the Pixel 10a on February 18. Google hasn't yet revealed the phone's specs. In the short video, we can see a blue model that's virtually indistinguishable on the outside from the Pixel 9a. And alleged leaks point to a phone with few changes on the inside. That (unconfirmed) list includes a 6.285-inch display, dual rea

If you're looking to up your privacy game on the internet in the new year, you can do so for a little less than usual thanks to ExpressVPN's latest deal. Its two-year plans are up to 81 percent off right now: the Advanced tier is on sale for $88 for two years, plus four additional free months. The Basic plan is where you'll see the biggest discount: it's $68 for two years, plus the same four additional free months. Weve consistently liked ExpressVPN because its fast, easy to use and widely avail

Anthropic has announced that its chatbot Claude will remain ad-free . This is in direct contrast to rival company OpenAI, which recently brought ads to ChatGPT for many users. The company says that including ads in conversations with Claude would be incompatible with the chatbot becoming a genuinely helpful assistant for work and for deep thinking. The reasoning here is rather simple. People tend to share personal details with chatbots, for better or for worse , and getting ads based on that stu

The most hyped tech is often also the most expensive: flagship smartphones, ultra-powerful gaming laptops, immersive VR headsets and the like. But it would be wrong to assume that those are the only pieces of technology worth gifting. You dont have to drain your wallet to get someone a cool gadget that will both be useful and make their lives easier. There are more solid, affordable gadgets out there now more than ever, but that also means youll discover some junk along the way. Weve collected o

Apples long-rumored foldable iPhone hasnt been announced yet, but after years of speculation, it seems like this device could finally be coming out soon(ish). Multiple sources claim that Apple could be targeting a late-2026 launch for its first foldable phone, and new rumors suggest the company is even already thinking about its second model, which could be a clamshell-style foldable iPhone. But of course, nothing is official yet. Plans can change, features can be dropped and timelines can slip.

You can find a lot of good deals for Presidents Day, but to say its a tech-deal boon would be an overstatement. The best Presidents Day deals are usually on mattresses, appliances and furniture, but you can find some decent tech sales thrown in as well. This year, Presidents Day comes right after Valentines Day and Super Bowl 2026, which means there are even more chances to save as sales and discounts overlap. If youre looking for a new streaming device, a fresh iPad or an upgraded vacuum so you

Egyptian regulators have banned Roblox , a popular children's video game, Bloomberg reports. The nation's Supreme Council for Media Regulation is coordinating with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on the decision to ensure its enforcement. The state-owned outlet reported that Senator Walaa Hermas Radwandid had proposed regulation of the platform to protect childrens moral and educational values. The senator outlined his concerns with the nature of the Roblox platform, includ

Amazons next-generation AI assistant is now available to everyone in the US for $20 per month, or for free if youre a Prime member. Amazon has also introduced a try-before-you-buy free tier for non-Prime members, but its limited to text-based chat. Alexa+ has been in e arly access since last year, and Amazon says its listened to user insights ahead of rolling out the update nationwide today. If youre a Prime member, you can start using the new assistant by saying Alexa, upgrade to Alexa+ or by h

The New England Patriots are headed to the 2026 Super Bowl. (Lauren Leigh Bacho via Getty Images) Lauren Leigh Bacho via Getty Images The countdown is on, and Super Bowl LX , between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, is less than a week away. This year's game will be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, and the Bay Area will be host to loads of other football events this week, too, including Thursday's NFL Honors , where we'll learn who this season's MVP is. (That event, which

Apple's smallest tablet is a great option for frequent travelers or anywho who prefers their slabs be the size of an ereader. The latest iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip is down to one of the best prices we've seen right now $400, which is $100 off. Apple released this iPad mini in late 2024 and it was a solid update. We gave it an 83 in our review thanks to the power of its A17 Pro chip and that it comes with a minimum of 128GB of storage. The model currently on sale comes with 128GB, Wi-Fi and

Whether youre having people over to watch the Patriots and the Seahawks battle it out in Super Bowl 2026 , or youre more interested in the Bad Bunny halftime show, your TV will be an important part of the puzzle of putting together an excellent big-game party. If youve been thinking about upgrading your current TV, nows a decent time to do it. The weeks leading up to the Super Bowl are typically awash with TV deals to consider. Generally, TV prices steadily decrease after a new model comes out.

If you need a little help with your New Year's resolution to be more active, you can save on the latest Apple Watch right now. The Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for $299, which is $100 off and the lowest price we've seen. We named the Apple Watch Series 11 as our choice for best smartwatch overall . It scored a 90 in our review thanks to its 24 hours-plus of battery life and a thin, light design that's easy to wear. It also offers new health metrics, including Apple's hypertension alerts syst

Despite its supremely sleek design, the iPhone Air actually has a pretty respectable battery life, lasting for somewhere in the region of 27 hours if youre continuously streaming video. But youre still going to be wary of it dying on you if youre on a trip or just having a particularly screen-heavy day. Thats where Apples iPhone Air MagSafe battery pack comes in, and its currently on sale for $79. This accessory only works with the iPhone Air, but much like the phone it attaches to, its extremel

Its hard to tell the difference between Apples second-generation AirTag and the almost-five-year-old original just by looking at them. In fact, the only way to tell is the many scratches on my old tracker, picked up from all those years attached to my keyring, living in my pocket. While the price is still $29, Apples latest tracker packs some core upgrades. The new AirTag has a second-generation ultra-wideband (UWB) chip that extends its Precise Finding range up to 50 percent, though it requires

Nintendo has lined up its first showcase of the year. The next Nintendo Direct is taking place on February 5 at 9AM ET, the company has announced . It will run for around 30 minutes. As previous reports suggested, it will focus on third-party titles from partners instead of first-party games from Nintendo itself. So if you were hoping for new Mario or Zelda announcements, that may not happen during this event. Still, you can expect to hear about new games that are coming to Switch and Switch 2.

Anker introduced a nifty little charger at CES 2026 , which is a refresh of the pre-existing Nano Charger . It's already on sale for $30 on Amazon, which is a 25 percent discount. The 45W charger includes a smart display that shows real-time data like power flow, temperature and charging status. It also features fun animations to keep things cheerful. Anker says it can recognize what's being charged and automatically adjust certain metrics to ensure a longer battery lifespan. To that end, it wor

Like many other companies during Super Bowl season, Sonos is discounting its home theater gear. Today, you can save $130 on the Beam (Gen 2) soundbar , bringing its price down to $369. You'll also find deals on the flagship Arc Ultra Soundbar, Sonos subwoofers, and more. The Sonos Beam is the company's sub-$500 soundbar. Engadget's pick for the best midrange model , the compact speaker has impressive sound for its size. Part of that is its Dolby Atmos support. Although the soundbar lacks upward-

If you're looking to expand the storage on your Switch 2, the 512GB Samsung P9 microSD Express card is on sale right now for 33 percent off, marked down to $80 from $120. With component prices skyrocketing these days, it's getting increasingly rare to see good storage on sale, and 512GB for $80 is a much better deal than you'll currently find directly from Nintendo . The P9 boasts transfer speeds of up to 800MB/s, making moving games to the card that much faster. As for load times, in our testin

Apples AirTag makes it easy to keep tabs on everyday items like keys, bags and luggage using the Find My network. Setup is quick, requires no tools and takes just a minute or two as long as you have a compatible iPhone or iPad. Once paired, your AirTag quietly works in the background to help you locate misplaced belongings. This guide walks through how to set up an AirTag, how to name it so you can easily identify what its attached to and what to do if setup doesnt go as planned. What you need b

Stepping into VR is about more than strapping on a headset and loading a game. The best VR headsets today are gateways to fully realized experiences, whether thats gaming, fitness, creative work or simply spending time inside a richly rendered virtual world. As the hardware has improved, so has the sense of presence, with sharper displays, wider fields of view and tracking systems that make movement feel more natural and responsive. The result is VR that feels less like a novelty and more like a

One of the toughest parts of any new computer build or upgrade is finding the right video card. In a gaming PC, the GPU is easily the most important part, and you can limit your experience by going with the wrong model. The buying process can be frustrating, especially right now with memory shortages leading to higher prices. In this guide, we'll help you navigate the market and find the right GPU for your needs. It's all about the games The first question to ask yourself is what kind of games d

Google might have been officially ruled to have a monopoly, but we're still a long way from figuring out exactly what that determination will change at the tech company. Today, the US Department of Justice filed notice of a plan to cross-appeal the decision last fall that Google would not be required to sell off the its Chrome browser. The agency's Antitrust Division posted about the action on X. According to Bloomberg , a group of states is also joining the appeal filing. At the time of the 202

If you had trouble using ChatGPT today, you aren't alone. The AI chatbot experienced a partial outage for many users this afternoon, with Down Detector saw reports reaching more than 12,000 reports around the peak point of the issue today.. OpenAI issued a status update shortly after noting that elevated error rates were occurring for ChatGPT and Platform users. That problem was marked as resolved at 5:14PM ET. While the initial outage may be repaired, OpenAI does still have an active status ale

2K owner Take-Two has paused development on Borderlands 4 for the Nintendo Switch 2, the company shared during its Q3 2026 earnings presentation . The Switch 2 port was originally planned to be released on October 3, 2025, a few weeks after the game's September 12 launch on all other platforms, but was indefinitely delayed on September 23. We made the difficult decision to pause development on that SKU, Take-Two told Variety . Our focus continues to be delivering quality post-launch content for

If you've had trouble using ChatGPT today, you aren't alone. The AI chatbot is experiencing a partial outage for many users this afternoon. Down Detector reports of issues with the service leapt from almost nothing to more than 12,000 around 3PM ET. Down Detector OpenAI issued a status update noting that elevated error rates are occurring for ChatGPT and Platform users. All 13 components of ChatGPT are marked as having degraded performance on the OpenAI status page. We are working on implementin

Apple has just released Xcode 26.3 , and it's a big step forward in terms of the company's support of coding agents. The new release expands on the AI features the company introduced with Xcode 26 at WWDC 2025 to give systems like Claude and ChatGPT more robust access to its in-house IDE. With the update, Apple says Claude and OpenAI's Codex can search documentation, explore file structures, update project settings, and verify their work visually by capturing Xcode Previews and iterating through

Fitbit's founders have a new startup. Two years after leaving Google , James Park and Eric Friedman announced a new platform that shifts the focus from the individual to the family. They say the Luffu mobile app uses AI quietly in the background to collect and organize family health information. At Fitbit, we focused on personal health but after Fitbit, health for me became bigger than just thinking about myself, Park said in a press release. The app is particularly focused on the CEO of the fa

Sony's wireless WH-1000XM6 headphones are on sale for $398 via Amazon . This is a record-low price, as it drops $62 from the price tag. The sale applies to all three colorways. These easily topped our list of the best wireless headphones . They are, in a word, fantastic. The headphones are packed with premium features , like advanced ANC. There are a whopping 12 ANC microphones throughout and a brand-new chip to power the feature. The end result? It successfully blocks background noise at medium

When it comes to making a great cup at home, us coffee nerds are constantly learning and love to try new things. Whether the person youre shopping for is a newly indoctrinated pour over lover or obsessive over every brewing parameter, weve compiled a list of the best gear for coffee geeks that you can get. Spanning brewing, grinding and, of course, drinking, weve got a range of options that can help the java geek in your life expand their at-home setup or just try something new. And for the pers

So you've decided you need a virtual private network to hide your browsing activity from your ISP, change your virtual location, stay safe on public Wi-Fi and enjoy all the other benefits . The inevitable next question is: Should I pay for one? If so, how much? All the best VPNs cost money, but it can be hard to tell an overpriced service apart from one that's priced according to its value. On this page, I'll share the costs for top VPN services, calculate the industry average and explain what m

Stop me if you've heard this one before. Disney has announced a successor to outgoing CEO Bob Iger, effective in March. Josh DAmaro, current chairman of Disney Experiences, was tapped for the role in a unanimous vote by the company's board of directors. DAmaro has been at Disney for 28 years, where he oversaw theme parks, cruises and consumer products including video games. The company had previously appointed Bob Chapek, the Disney Parks chairman at the time, as successor to Bob Iger in 2020. A

Microsoft has revealed the first wave of Xbox Game Pass additions for February, and it feels like there's a bit of something for everyone this time around. Two of the titles land on the service today across the Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass tiers: Final Fantasy II (cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC) and Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (cloud, console, handheld and PC). Final Fantasy II is a remodeled 2D take on the classic 1988 RPG, while Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a wild-looki

Samsungs 2025 was filled with new foldables , an ultra-thin new form factor and the launch of Google's XR platform . After making some announcements at CES 2026 , the company is expected to host its first Galaxy Unpacked of the year in February to introduce the Galaxy S26 lineup. Official invites have yet to be shared, but the date is widely expected to be near the end of the month. Whenever it does happen, Engadget will be covering Galaxy Unpacked live, and we'll most likely have hands-on cover

The Dyson PencilVac stick vacuum is finally available for purchase in the US after being revealed . It costs $600. The company says this is the world's slimmest vacuum cleaner. We haven't broken out any rulers to confirm that statement, but it's certainly a ridiculously thin stick vac. It achieves this thinness by using a motor inspired by the company's . This is a small motor that can actually rest in the shaft, so there's not a noticeable bulge where the components have been placed. This stick

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a surprisingly powerful ultraportable held back by a clunky trackpad. It's a shame, really, because it's very well-designed and thanks to Intels Panther Lake CPU , it can even run games like Arc Raiders without breaking a sweat. It also has more ports than most thin and light machines, its OLED screen is great for productivity work and at three pounds it's easy to carry around all day. But curse its mechanical trackpad why does it even exist when Apple, Microsoft and

Netflix is back with another livestream production guaranteed to excite K-POP fans worldwide. The streamer has announced that BTS will be performing live on Netflix . It marks the band's first performance after almost four years the members took a hiatus to complete South Korea's mandatory military service. The live concert will air on Saturday, March 21, one day after BTS releases their new album Arirang and will be aptly titled BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang . The show will physically take p

Spain will join the growing list of countries banning access to social media for children, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Tuesday. The law will apply to users under 16 years of age amidst a broader push to hold social media companies accountable for hate speech, social division and illegal content. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Sanchez excoriated social media, calling it a failed state where laws are ignored and crime is endured. He spoke to the import

Amazon is running a sale on two of its newest devices. First, there's the Echo Show 8 , which is down to $150 from $180 a 17 percent discount. Next up is the Echo Show 11 , which is more or less the same device, just bigger. This model has dropped 18 percent to $180 from $220. Both deals bring the Echo Shows down to new all-time low prices. The Echo Show 8 and 11 came out in mid-November with the main difference being screen size. The Echo Show 8 has an 8.7-inch HD screen that Amazon claims is

NASA started making the final preparations for the Artemis 2 mission in early January, with the hopes of opening its launch window as soon as February 6. After issues showed up during the missions wet dress rehearsal in the early hours of February 3, however, the agency had to push back its earliest launch opportunity to March. With more than three years between SLS launches, we fully anticipated encountering challenges. That is precisely why we conduct a wet dress rehearsal. These tests are des

New Mario sports games typically only come around once in a generation. So to get a fresh installment of tennis featuring a deep roster of characters this early in the Switch 2's lifecycle is rather exciting. And after getting a chance to play Mario Tennis Fever prior to its official release on February 12, the best entry to the franchise yet might only be a couple of weeks away. Once again, Mario Tennis Fever relies on the series' familiar mix of topspin, slice and flat (power) shots used in pr

Even in 2026, VR still feels like tech that isn't quite ready for prime time. When Nintendo released the original Virtual Boy way back in 1995, it was hard for my 10-year-old brain to comprehend a 3D console with a bipod, a facemask and a monochrome red display. Then, when you factor in weak sales that led to the system being discontinued after only a year, you end up with a gadget that felt more like a mythical creature than something you could actually buy. But that's changing later this month

Tax season is fast approaching, and unfortunately for 2026, Direct File isn't an option anymore . The free, government-provided service was shut down, so you'll need to look to other federal programs, including IRS Free File , to file your paperwork. If you don't qualify for Free File , TurboTax might be your best bet for a relatively cheap, efficient way to file your taxes. While it pains us to suggest you give money to a company that has spent decades lobbying to ensure America's tax system re

If you've been inside all winter gaming then it might be time to upgrade your gear . Right now, the 8Bitdo Pro 3 Bluetooth Controller is available for just over $48, down from $70. The 31 percent discount is the lowest price we've seen yet for the controller. Notably, the sale is only available on the Gray model. The new 8Bitdo Pro 3 came out in August and offers TMR Joysticks with a 12-bit ADC sampling chip. It also has a Trigger Mode Switch, 2 Pro paddle buttons and swappable magnetic ABXY but