Tesla receives ride-hailing permit in Arizona in last required step to launch robotaxi service

The permit is the final regulatory step to launch a robotaxi service in Arizona, a state that has become a hub of autonomous vehicle technology testing and development.

Polestar EVs can power your home in California

EV maker Polestar has announced that it's bringing bi-directional charging the ability for an electric car to be tapped as a battery for your home or the grid to Polestar 3 owners who live in California. The feature is one of several ways EV owners can save money with their electric car, by either using less energy overall, or receiving credits for providing their excess power to the grid. Polestar's bi-directional charging feature uses direct current, according to the company, and enables V2H functionality for Polestar 3 customers on the 400 Volt electrical architecture. Polestar is offering the feature in partnership with home energy company dcbel , who helps administer a California Energy Commission program for installing home energy stations that can manage multiple clean energy sources in residential homes, including EVs with bi-directional charging. Polestar claims that using dcbel's Ara system, customers can reduce charging costs by up to $1,300 per year and use their car as an energy backup during blackouts for up to 10 days. The ability to send excess charge from an EV battery back into your home was originally a major selling point of Ford's F-150 Lighting . Bi-directional charging has also shown up on GM's EV lineup and the third-generation Nissan Leaf . Polestar says it'll continue the development of the bi-directional charging capabilities of its cars and plans to introduce a wider offer in the future. While this partnership is the first time the EV maker is offering the charging feature in the US, Polestar already offers bi-directional charging to customers in Germany via a home charger it developed with Zaptec. If you live in California and own a Polestar 3, you can apply for rebates on a home energy station at dcbel's website so you can try the feature for yourself. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/polestar-evs-can-power-your-home-in-california-220215757.html?src=rss

CDC data confirms US is 2 months away from losing measles elimination status

Elimination status is lost if the virus spreads continuously for 12 months.

Meta wins monopoly trial, convinces judge that social networking is dead

People are ored by their friends' content, judge ruled, siding with Meta.

The Google Sans Flex typeface is now available to download

Typography nerds and Android fans, rejoice: You can now download an official version of the next generation of Googles brand typeface. The company has released the Google Sans Flex font to the public for free. The variable sans-serif font is part of Google's Material 3 design language , which arrived in 2023. 9to5Google notes that it's since been integrated into many of the company's products, including in some corners of Pixel software. A 2024 Google Design blog post about variable typography highlights the font's flexibility, as seen in the image above. Casey Henry, a designer with the company, wrote that Google Sans Flex allows the font's letterforms to shape-shift at different scales. OpenType Font Variations is the standard Google uses for variable fonts. Meanwhile, a Reddit thread about the download dove deeper into typography nerdery. Interesting behaviour when you condense the width, u/hbpencil102 wrote . Instead of circles becoming ovals, they become more rectangular with rounded tops and bottoms, reminding me of DIN 1451. Amen to that. You can download Google Sans Flex from Google Fonts . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-google-sans-flex-typeface-is-now-available-to-download-214535934.html?src=rss

Hugging Face CEO says were in an LLM bubble, not an AI bubble

Hugging Face co-founder and CEO Clem Delangue says all the attention is on LLMs, but smaller, specialized models will make sense in many use cases going forward.

The best stocking stuffers you can get for $50 or less

The big ticket tech gifts may get the lion's share of attention during the holidays, but it's surprising how much people appreciate small and thoughtful accessories and gadgets. We picked out a dozen such stocking stuffers for under $50 perfect for a little something extra for a loved one or a welcome gift for a coworker. Just be sure to check the shipping windows to make sure these handy gizmos will arrive in time. Here are some of our favorite techie gift ideas that come in at $50 or less. Best stocking stuffers for $50 or less Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/the-best-stocking-stuffers-you-can-get-for-50-or-less-130049325.html?src=rss

AI data center provider Lambda raises whopping $1.5B after multibillion-dollar Microsoft deal

Lambda's new raise was a solid beat over the amount that deal-watchers say it was hoping to hit.

You can turn a cluster of Macs into an AI supercomputer in macOS Tahoe 26.2

Who needs a revamped Mac Pro when you can just turn several Mac Studios into a unified computing system? With the upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 release, Apple is introducing a new low-latency feature that lets you connect several Macs together using Thunderbolt 5. For developers and researchers, it's a potentially useful way to create powerful AI supercomputers that can run massive local models. That allows four Mac Studios, which can each run up to 512GB of unified memory, to run the 1 trillion parameter Kimi-K2-Thinking model far more efficiently than PCs with power-hungry GPUs. While weve seen Thunderbolt Mac clusters before , they were limited by slower Thunderbolt speeds, especially if they required a hub (which could reduce speeds to 10 Gb/s). Apples new feature allows for the full Thunderbolt 5 connectivity of up to 80Gb/s. The clustering capability also isn't just limited to the pricey Mac Studio, it will also work with the M4 Pro Mac mini and M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro. Developers won't need any special hardware to build clusters, just standard Thunderbolt 5 cables and compatible Macs. In a demo, I watched as a cluster of four Mac Studios loaded and ran that massive Kimi-K2-Thinking model in an early version of ExoLabs's EXO 1.0. Notably, the cluster used less than 500 watts of power, which is around 10 times lower than a typical GPU cluster (NVIDIAs RTX 5090 is rated for 575W, but its demands can also jump higher). macOS Tahoe 26.2 will also give Apples open source MLX project full access to the neural accelerators on the M5 chip, which should dramatically speed up AI inferencing. Ironically, though, the only M5 Mac available today the 14-inch MacBook Pro only supports Thunderbolt 4. That means it wont be able to take advantage of the new Mac clustering capability. The unified memory and low power design of Apple Silicon already made Macs a useful choice for demanding AI work, but the ability to cluster multiple systems together over Thunderbolt 5 is potentially even more tempting to anyone working with large models. Of course, a Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM isn't cheap -- it starts at $9,499 with the M3 Ultra chip -- but that's only the highest-end option. Labs and companies that already have Mac Studios, Mac minis and MacBook Pros could potentially cluster systems they've already purchased. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/you-can-turn-a-cluster-of-macs-into-an-ai-supercomputer-in-macos-tahoe-262-191500778.html?src=rss

Epic Games Store will finally let you gift games

There's finally a way to gift games purchased on the Epic Games Store. Epic has announced that it's now possible to gift digital games through the Epic Games Store, provided the person you're sending them to has an Epic Games account. On a game's store page, you'll now see a Gift button under the normal Buy Now button. Clicking it will prompt you to log in to your Epic account if you haven't done so already, and then ask you to enter the Epic account of whoever you're sending the game to, pick one message from a selection of pre-written messages and then select the date you want the gift to arrive. The menu that appears when you purchase a game as a gift. Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget Epic says that if the person you're sending the game to already owns it, you'll be automatically refunded. If the other person chooses to reject the gift, you'll also receive your money back. Not every purchase on the Epic Games Store can be gifted, though. Free games, subscriptions, pre-purchase offers and in-game currency are excluded. Gifting is a basic feature of online stores, so on some level it's more surprising that the Epic Games Store didn't have the feature than it is that gifting is being added now. One reason why, could be that most of Epic's focus for its digital store has been on undercutting the fees of both Steam and the Apple App Store. For example, in May, the company announced that it wouldn't take a cut of the first $1,000,000 in revenue that an app makes, after which it would only take 12 percent. That undercuts both Apple and Valve's financial arrangements with developers. Epic also regularly offered free games through its game store to lure new users, something it plans to continue to do with its mobile app store . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/epic-games-store-will-finally-let-you-gift-games-191000946.html?src=rss

Meta has won the antitrust case that could have forced it to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp

Meta has successfully avoided what was once the biggest existential threats to its company. A federal judge has sided with the social media company in a landmark antitrust case, ruling on Tuesday that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had not proven that Meta is a monopoly. The FTC filed antitrust charges against Meta, then known as Facebook, in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. The government had argued that by acquiring its one-time rivals, Instagram and WhatsApp, the company had hurt US consumers by stifling competition in the social media industry. Meta had argued that those services were only able to grow to the 1 billion-user apps because of its investment and had cited the rise of TikTok as proof that it continues to face strong competition. On Tuesday, US District judge James Boasberg ruled in favor of Meta . Whether or not Meta enjoyed monopoly power in the past, though, the agency must show that it continues to hold such power now, he wrote. The Courts verdict today determines that the FTC has not done so. If the FTC had succeeded, it could have called for Meta to unwind its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. The FTC could still appeal the ruling, though its not clear if it has plans to do so. Weve reached out to the agency for comment. The Court's decision today recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition, a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. Our products are beneficial for people and businesses and exemplify American innovation and economic growth. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Administration and to invest in America. A number of current and former high-profile executives, including Adam Mosseri, Sheryl Sandberg, Kevin Systrom and Mark Zuckerberg testified during the weeks-long trial earlier this year. In his testimony, Zuckerberg spoke about the immense pressure Meta felt from TikTok, saying that Meta's growth had slowed down dramatically as TikTok became more popular. It turns out that Meta's defense that TikTok and YouTube are major competitors to it helped sway Judge Boasberg. While the FTC's lawyers had tried to claim that Meta had a monopoly on personal social networking apps a narrow group it said included Snapchat and the decentralized app MeWe Boasberg was unable to ignore the dominance of TikTok and YouTube. PSN [personal social networking] apps may have been a market unto themselves when the FTC filed this case in 2020 or when it approved Facebooks acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014, he wrote. That is no longer the case. The Court ultimately finds that YouTube and TikTok belong in the product market, and they prevent Meta from holding a monopoly. Even if YouTube is out, including TikTok alone defeats the FTCs case. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-has-won-the-antitrust-case-that-could-have-forced-it-to-spin-off-instagram-and-whatsapp-184320742.html?src=rss

The Best Delivery Thanksgiving Meal Kits (2025)

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Meta wins antitrust trial as judge denies that its a monopoly

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Waymo is coming to five more cities

Waymo is launching in five new cities across Texas and Florida. Autonomous vehicles in Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando will begin accepting rides next year. The Alphabet-owned company said operations (sans passengers) will begin on Tuesday in Miami. The other cities will follow over the coming weeks. This phase is where the vehicles drive around town without anyone inside. That gives the company a chance to spot local quirks and adjust the driving algorithm accordingly. Waymo said this local adjustment phase requires fewer changes with each added city. This data feeds into a flywheel of continuous improvement, bolstered by rigorous validation through real-world driving and advanced simulation, then implemented through regular software releases, it wrote. The company claims its robotaxis are involved in 11 times fewer serious injury accidents than human drivers. Waymo's autonomous vehicles currently accept passengers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta and Austin. The list of up next cities is much longer, including a recently announced expansion into San Diego, Detroit and Las Vegas . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-is-coming-to-five-more-cities-190000992.html?src=rss

This Quest 3S Bundle Is $50 Off and Includes a Game and Gift Card

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Hypixel Studios buys its IP from Riot, so Hytale is back in development

Hypixel Studios has officially purchased the license to Hytale from Riot Games, according to a report by Game Developer . This means that development will continue just months after Riot shut everything down and cancelled the project. The developer is also rehiring 30 staffers that were laid off as part of the cancellation. We write so often about layoffs in the industry , so it's always a distinct treat to cover the opposite. We did it. Hytale is saved. We have acquired Hytale from Riot Games. Simon (@Simon_Hypixel) November 17, 2025 Hypixel co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme calls this a new and exciting chapter for the game, which has been in development for nearly ten years. He says he is grateful to Riot Games for making this possible. Riot Games, which is owned by the conglomerate Tencent, purchased Hypixel Studios back in 2020 for an undisclosed sum. However, Hytale was riding high at that point. The game had attracted over 2.5 million signees for an upcoming beta and was supposed to be officially released in 2021. Years passed, and still no Hytale . This eventually led to Riot canning the project entirely. After years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldnt bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise, an official post on the Hypixel website once read. The studio hasn't disclosed how it got funding for this move, but Collins-Laflamme said that the founders are personally committed to funding for the next 10 years. Here's to hoping the game is actually playable by that point. To that end, the company does plan on announcing an early access release date in the near future. Hytale has had a long and challenging journey. It's taken longer than anyone hoped, and it's changed a lot along the way, the company wrote. This is not going to be easy. This is not going to be fast. This is not going to be perfect. But it's going to be ours. Built together: one feature at a time, one bug fix at a time, one mod at a time. For the uninitiated, Hytale is a nifty-looking adventure game that can be described as an open world riff on Minecraft . It certainly looks like Minecraft , but it has a much bigger emphasis on action and RPG mechanics. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/hypixel-studios-buys-its-ip-from-riot-so-hytale-is-back-in-development-185040959.html?src=rss

The Analogue 3D is the modern N64 fans have been waiting for

Excellent design and display filters, but the lack of OpenFPGA support rankles.

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The best Black Friday deals under $50 are already live: Anker chargers, Apple AirTags, Blink cameras, Legos and more

You dont have to spend a ton to get your hands on quality tech, thanks to Black Friday . Were already seeing lots of tech deals many for under $50 and some hitting the best prices weve seen all year. Many of the discounts apply to accessories the chargers, hubs, cables and drives that play supporting roles for smartphones and laptops but plenty of other small electronics are on sale, too. We rounded up smart speakers, portable speakers, streaming devices, smart plugs and Bluetooth trackers that are seeing notable discounts. It's all things Engadget recommends in our guides and elsewhere and we linked to our coverage so you can read up before you buy. Here are the best Black Friday tech deals we could find. Best Black Friday deals under $25 Audible, 3 months and a $20 credit for $3 ($42 off) at Amazon : As it does each Black Friday (and at a few points besides), Amazon is offering a near-free intro deal for its audiobook subscription. The plan auto-renews at a dollar per month for three months, then defaults to the standard $15 monthly. So set a reminder to cancel before then if you dont want to pay full-price. Philips Fabric Shaver for $13 ($7 off) at Amazon : Did you know you needed a fabric shaver? You need a fabric shaver . Our editor grabbed this one (at full price) and loves it. It keeps blankets, sweaters and joggers pill free and looking fresh. For just $13. Glocusent Tri-head Clip On Book Light for $16 ($10 off) at Glocusent : My family vies for this handy device each night. Its ideal for reading a book in bed with a light that lets you adjust the warmth, angle and spread of the beam. Its also great for shining some light on a desk as you can use its clip like a stand. LEGO Botanicals Happy Plants for $18 ($5 off) at Amazon : Heres an ideal Secret Santa gift everyone loves Legos and these cheery little guys will keep your giftee company at their desk or on their windowsill, and are the lowest-maintenance plants around. Also at Target and Walmart . Apple AirTag Bluetooth tracker for $18 ($11 off) at Amazon : An updated version of Apples little finding discs is almost certainly on the horizon. For now, an AirTag is our pick for the best Bluetooth tracker for iPhone users. Its a little quieter than third party tags like Chipolo, but when it comes to trackers, this is what most people think of. Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $18 ($17 off) at Amazon : If you just want the Amazon Fire TV experience for the fewest dollars possible, here you go. The HD stick is the best budget option in our opinion and could be all you need if your TV doesnt support 4K content anyway. Blink Mini 2 indoor security camera for $18 ($22 off) at Amazon : Do you wonder what the dog and cat do when youre gone? (The answer is sleep.) An indoor camera lets you keep an eye on your home while youre gone or just in the other room. We named the Blink Mini 2 the best budget pick in our guide to security cameras for 2025 . The tiny squares are easy to set up, work well (and only) with Alexa and deliver suitable (but not ultra high quality) images. Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug (dual socket) for $20 ($7 off) at Amazon : Tired of turning off our outdoor holiday lights manually each night? Get one of these and schedule the controls. Or better yet let Alexa, Siri or the Google Assistant turn them off with just a command. This is the one we recommend in our guide to smart plugs and the one that faithfully controlled my Halloween lights last month. Its gone as low as $17 in the past. Samsung SmartTags 2 Bluetooth tracker for $20 ($10 off) at Amazon : If youve got a Samsung phone, the brands own trackers will serve you well. Theyre one of the best-looking fobs we tested . It hooks up with Samsungs own finding network, which is surprisingly robust, and was able to locate lost stuff nearly as quickly as AirTags in our tests. Kasa Smart Plug Matter Compatible KP125M (2-pack) for $24 ($11 off) at Amazon : If you want to control your lamps, humidifiers and other simple appliances just by talking to your home assistant of choice, a smart plug will let you do so. We deemed this the top pick for a Matter-enabled plug in our smart plug guide . Set-up is seamless and it supports Siri, Alexa, the Google Assistant and more. LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Retro Telephone for kids for $24 ($6 off) at Amazon : One of our top picks for the best tech toys for kids is on sale for Black Friday. This cute as a button retro telephone is rated for kids eight and older and is a three-in-one set that can be rebuilt into three different configurations: A rotary phone, cordless phone and an early-days cell phone/flip phone combo. Chipolo Pop Bluetooth tracker for $25 ($4 off) at Amazon : Quit losing your keys (or jacket or backpack) by attaching this colorful tracker to it. The Pop is our overall favorite in Engadgets guide to Bluetooth trackers as its loud, feature-rich and taps into Apples Find My or Googles Find Hub networks. Also available directly from Chipolo . Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus for $25 ($25 off) at Amazon : We dont know why Amazon needs so many streaming sticks in its lineup, but here we are. The 4K Plus is very similar to the 4K Max except it has a little less storage at 8GB and no Wi-Fi 6E (just Wi-Fi 6). You also dont get the Ambient experience that turns your TV into art. If you can swing the extra bucks, go for the Max , but if those features dont matter to you, this saves you $10 right now. Best Black Friday deals under $50 Meross WiFi Dual Smart Plug (2-pack) for $26 ($7 off) at Amazon : The difference between this one and others is the dual outlet a surprising rarity among smart plugs. Merosss dual plug works with home systems from Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung and lets you control each of the two outlets independently. Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $30 ($15 off with Prime) at Amazon : Share your good taste in music with Ankers portable sound box. Its Bluetooth connected, goes for 24 hours on a charge and can handle a dunk in water with no ill effects to its 12 watts of sound. Soundcore makes a few of the picks on our list of the best speakers this is a more affordable model. Zagg Glass Elite Screen Protector for iPhone 17 for $35 ($5 off) at Amazon : Youre thinking of saying yes to the new iPhone 17. You probably wont be disappointed . Just make sure you protect it. We like Zaggs shields and said so in our guide to iPhone accessories . Also available at Best Buy . Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 ($25 off) at Amazon : We recently wondered why Amazon needs so many streaming devices (Google just has one and its our favorite ). But in the battle among the Fire TV streamers, we think this one is the best. It can display 4K resolution and Dolby Video, supports the more future-proof Wi-Fi 6E, has more memory than the other sticks and lets you use the Ambient Experience that displays art on your screen when youre not watching The Expanse . UGreen Uno Nexode Charger Block (65W, 3-Port) for $35 ($15 off with Primea) at Amazon : There are other ways to charge your devices, but few are this cute. Thats why we named it one of the best stocking stuffers you can buy. You get three ports in its head and outlet prongs hidden in its removable magnetic feet. Its 65 watts are enough to charge multiple devices at once. Also available directly from UGreen and at Walmart . UGreen Revodok Pro 109 USB C Hub for $36 ($55 off) at Amazon : I tested a bunch of USB-C hubs and deemed this one the best. Plug in the generously long cable into your tablet or laptop and youll be able to read memory cards, use USB-A peripherals, connect a 4K monitor via HDMI and use Ethernet. The lowest price we tracked on this guy yet is $30. Baseus Picogo magnetic portable charger with stand (5K mAh, Qi2 15W) for $37 ($13 off) at Amazon : This little guy gave a solid 43 percent bump to our tester iPhone 15 in 42 minutes, ultimately charging it to 91 percent. It earned a mention in our guide to MagSafe batteries thanks to those speeds, its compact size and the handy (and sturdy) little stand on the back. Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 (4-pack) for $37 ($13 off) at Amazon : In my house, we call these the good plugs. The connection is fast and fuss-free and itll work with Alexa, Siri, OK Google and via the Kasa app so if youre a smart home mad scientist with multiple home assistants you can ask one to turn on the lamp and another helper to turn it off. This is the best smart plug we tested . The four-pack went as low as $30 is the lowest price weve tracked. Also at B&H Photo . JBL Go 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker for $40 ($10 off) at Amazon : Our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers ranks the Go 4 as one of the winners. Its super compact at less than half a pound so dont expect top-end sound but it outputs good volume for its size and even has a handy carry loop. Also available directly from JBL and at Walmart . Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $40 ($10 off) at Amazon : Another of our stocking stuffer picks are these smart LED light bars from Govee. They can stand up or lie flat so they can go just about anywhere and are infinitely adjustable via the app. You can even set them to light up in sync with your music. Alexa and the Google Assistant will let you control them with just your voice (and a smart speaker). Leebein Electric Spin Scrubber for $40 ($20 off with Prime) at Amazon : Shower scrubbing is no ones favorite activity (Im assuming here, but Im pretty sure Im right). This makes the job so very much easier. Discovered by our editor who abhors the task , the Leebein runs on a USB-C rechargeable battery and has swappable brushes. The course brush combined with the higher speed is no match for any shower scum. Anker Nano Charger Block (70W, 3-port) for $40 ($10 off) at Amazon : This specific model isnt in our guides, but weve seen other Anker Nano chargers prove themselves, so were comfortable recommending it. This one has two USB-C ports for fast charging devices, plus a Type-A outlet for devices that need it. Blink Outdoor 4 XR for $42 ($78 off) at Amazon : Heres the extended range model of the Blink Outdoor cameras that we named among the best . That means you can stick it farther from your house and still see the goings on your property. Like most security cameras, youll get more out of it with a subscription (smart motion detections, cloud storage, and longer live views). Ugreen Nexode Pro GaN slim wall charger (65W 3-port) for $45 ($11 off with Prime) at Amazon : In the battle for fast charger supremacy , UGreens flatish block got a nod for being pretty good at its job. It has three USB outputs, including one Type-A for your more retro electronics and can pump out up to 65W for phones and tablets, or even laptops if needed. Just note the flat-but-wide design could block other outlets. Also available directly from UGreen and at Best Buy . Sharge AeroMag Magsafe Power Bank (Qi2 15W, 5K mAh) for $50 ($20 off) at Amazon : To recharge a dying iPhone (12 and later) in the most unobtrusive way possible, go for a MagSafe power bank. Its not as fast as a wired connection, but super convenient. After testing Sharges AeroMag, it earned a runner-up spot in our guide . Ultimate Ears Miniroll Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker for $50 ($30 off) at Amazon : Ultimate Ears makes some of our favorite Bluetooth speakers . This is the smallest of the UE portable speakers and fits in the palm of your hand or clips to your handlebars (with its hookable strap) and goes for 12 hours on a charge and supports a 40 meter Bluetooth range. Ring Battery Doorbell for $50 ($50 off) at Amazon : We havent officially tested doorbell cameras just yet (its on the list). But Ring is one of the best-known and most popular brands you can buy. This one runs on batteries so you dont have to mess with doorbell wires and it supports two-way talk, live view and smart alerts. Just note that many features are tied to a Ring subscription ($5 to $20 per month). Ring Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) for $50 ($50 off) at Amazon : This weather-resistant outdoor cam has a removable and rechargeable battery that can go for a few months on a charge. We didnt test this exact model for our security cam guide , but other Ring cameras worked well for us. Here you get live views, color night vision, two-way talk and motion alerts. Just note that it only works with Alexa and some features require a subscription. Anker Prime GaN Charger (100W, 3-port) for $50 ($20 off) at Anker : Heres a variant of the top pick for travel in our fast charger guide . This higher-wattage Prime charger can charge three devices at once (two via USB-C and one via Type A). Plus the prongs fold down. Perfect for keeping everything topped off on the road. Note that the discount comes courtesy an auto-applied code. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-black-friday-deals-under-50-are-already-live-anker-chargers-apple-airtags-blink-cameras-legos-and-more-173833576.html?src=rss

Snapchats new Topic Chats feature makes it easier to comment publicly on things youre interested in

Snapchat has introduced a new feature called Topic Chats, which allows users of the social network to participate in public conversations about popular trends. By its own admission, Snapchat has previously focused on private conversations, but says the growth of its TikTok-like Spotlight feature made it clear that people want to comment publicly about topics theyre interested in. Topic Chats, which are coming to Canada, New Zealand and the US first, will appear in different areas of the Snapchat app in the shape of a big yellow button that says Join the Chat. Tap it and youll join that conversation, where you can also browse related Spotlight videos. The company used F1 and the reality show Below Deck as examples of topics that could feature. Snapchat will show you when your friends are in a particular chat, and any that you join will then appear at the top of your personalized Topic Chat page. Snap says it will moderate the new platform to ensure it remains safe, and told TechCrunch that it will use LLMs, among other measures, to ensure that topics being engaged with are of an appropriate nature. All profiles will remain private unless youre already friends, which Snap says will prevent unwanted friend requests or direct messages. Topic Chats are set to go live in the coming weeks, and will appear in Chat shortcuts and the Stories page, as well as when searching or viewing Spotlight videos. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/snapchats-new-topic-chats-feature-makes-it-easier-to-comment-publicly-on-things-youre-interested-in-171111409.html?src=rss

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Sundar Pichai says no company is immune if AI bubble bursts, echoing dotcom fears.

MacBook Air deal: Get Apple's M4-powered laptop for $750 for Black Friday

Apples latest MacBook Air M4 is now discounted to $750 for Black Friday . The deal applies to the entry-level 13-inch model, giving you the same sharp Liquid Retina display and impressive M4 performance that we praised in our review , now for less. The MacBook Air M4 continues Apples streak of refining whats already its most popular laptop. It runs on the new M4 chip with a 10-core GPU, offering fast performance for everyday work, creative apps and light gaming. The upgrade from the M3 model is noticeable in both speed and efficiency, making it ideal for multitasking or editing photos and videos on the go. Despite the power boost, it keeps the same slim profile that helped define the MacBook Air line. The unibody design is still one of the thinnest and lightest in its class, weighing just under three pounds, with a durable aluminum chassis available in four colors midnight, starlight, silver and space gray. The fanless build keeps it completely silent during use, even when running intensive tasks. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports the P3 wide color gamut and reaches up to 500 nits of brightness, making text and images look crisp and vibrant whether youre working indoors or near a window. You also get a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a three-mic array for clear video calls and a four-speaker setup with Spatial Audio support. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a MagSafe 3 charging port and a headphone jack. Battery life remains one of its standout features, with Apple rating it at up to 18 hours on a single charge. That easily covers a full day of work or travel without reaching for the charger. There are a few small limitations, like the lack of a high refresh rate display and the fact that both USB-C ports sit on the same side. Still, for most users, the MacBook Air M4 strikes the best balance between power, portability and price. If you want a larger screen, Apples 15-inch MacBook Air M4 offers the same specs with more workspace, but the 13-inch remains the best pick for portability. You can read more about how it compares to other Apple laptops in our guide to the best MacBooks . This MacBook Air M4 deal makes one of Apples best laptops an even smarter buy. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/macbook-air-deal-get-apples-m4-powered-laptop-for-750-for-black-friday-183808919.html?src=rss

The AI-powered Perfecta from Seergrills is now shipping after its CES 2024 debut

When a brand new company debuts its first product at CES, it can take a while before the device makes it to market. In fact, sometimes those products dont make it at all. Thats not the case with Seergrills though, as the company has started shipping its AI-powered Perfecta grills to early adopters after introducing the machine at CES 2024. The Perfecta relies on AI-powered cooking tech that helps you create chef-quality results in a fraction of the time as traditional grilling. Its powered by a quad-core processor and an arsenal of sensors which allow it to detect food thickness, temperature and doneness. All you have to do is select the food and desired sear and doneness levels via the built-in touchscreen or the Seergrills app. The Perfecta utilizes a vertical cooking system where food is held by so-called VertiGrates. Dual infrared burners move closer to foods as needed during the cooking process and can achieve a maximum temperature of 1,652 degrees Fahrenheit hot enough to cook a steak in 90 seconds. Seergrills says the Perfecta can hit those temps in under two minutes, drastically reducing preheating times. This setup also means that theres no flipping required. The company says the configuration will consistently provide the perfect sear, doneness and moisture retention. Over time, the Perfecta learns from your culinary exploits, refining various cooking profiles to become more precise with each grilling session. The Perfecta has a vertical cooking configuration with infrared burners that move automatically during use. Seergrills And its not just a grill either. The Perfecta has oven, pizza and rotisserie modes if you splurge for the requisite accessories and a manual mode (called Human Mode) for AI-free operation. Whats more, you can build and save your own cooking profiles for future use. Despite the oven look, the Perfecta is very much an outdoor grill. It runs on 120-volt electricity and propane gas in order to power the electronics and those high-heat burners. The grill is built with aerospace-grade aluminum, marine-grade stainless steel and both ceramic and tempered glass. The cooking grates are made of naturally non-stick stainless steel and internal components also use stainless steel for easy cleaning. Lastly, the drip tray and grease management system are dishwasher safe. If you were waiting until the company starting shipping units before committing to one, youre going to have to wait even longer. Seergrills is now taking orders for its fifth wave of shipments, but those arent scheduled to go out until May 2026. Youre also going to pay a lot more for it. Back in 2024, the price tag on the Perfecta was set at $3,500, but now that has gone up to $5,999. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-ai-powered-perfecta-from-seergrills-is-now-shipping-after-its-ces-2024-debut-163000474.html?src=rss

What is a VPN and what can you do with one?

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a tool you can use to protect your identity online, change your virtual location, evade censorship, check out foreign streaming services and more. They mostly take the form of commercially available subscription apps, often so simple to operate that all you need to do is press a button to turn them on and off. While using a VPN is easy in practice, there's a lot going on under the hood. Knowing what's really happening can help you decide which VPN is right for you, then use it more effectively once you've got it. In this guide, I'm going to delve into what a VPN really is, how it works and what you might need one for. If this article convinces you that you need a VPN and I hope it does! I curate a collection of the best VPN deals that I update at least once a week. Head over there to get your VPN shopping started. What is a VPN? The name virtual private network comes from the initial use of the technology to access restricted networks from off-site if you work remotely, you probably still use a VPN this way. Those are corporate VPNs, though, from providers like Cisco. Here, we're talking about commercial VPNs sold for individual use. These services came about when people realized that if you connected to the public internet through a VPN, every server you contacted would see the VPN server instead of your personal computer. The VPN effectively becomes a mask that interacts with the web on your behalf. That's the simple principle underlying every commercial VPN you've seen advertised. Sam Chapman for Engadget VPNs like Proton VPN and ExpressVPN operate servers in various locations around the world. When you use their apps, you've got access to all the servers in their network. After you connect, communications between your device and your chosen server are encrypted so nobody can trace your activities back to you. This is called tunneling, and is the main difference between a full VPN and a simple proxy server. How does a VPN work? Questions like the above can get into the weeds fast, so I'll be oversimplifying here. VPNs handle encryption in two steps. First, they establish a secure tunnel to your computer or phone, then they send information through it. The first step establishing the connection is called a handshake. It uses asymmetric encryption, where each party has a public and a private key. In a handshake, two parties use public keys to confirm that they are who they say they are, then exchange the keys they'll use for simpler symmetric encryption. Sam Chapman for Engadget Once the handshake has confirmed the path between your device and the VPN server, the tunnel is complete. From then on until you disconnect, every packet of data you send will be encrypted before it leaves your device and not decrypted until it reaches the VPN. The same is true in the other direction. Website requests and other data sent between the VPN and your internet service provider (ISP) will not be encrypted, but that's OK without the information on the first step, it's impossible to identify you behind the VPN. This is a complicated process, but VPNs use sets of instructions called VPN protocols to run through it near-instantly. A VPN protocol covers encryption and transit using several sets of ciphers. The most common protocols these days are OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec, though many VPN services have their own proprietary protocols as selling points. What are the benefits of using a VPN? Although the above process happens mostly in the background, it does tax your internet connection a little. The best VPNs keep impacts to a minimum, but you may notice a drop in speed, plus higher latencies when connecting to servers far away. So, what benefits do you get in exchange for all that? Anonymity The first and biggest boon is near-total anonymity. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) put out a comprehensive report on everything your ISP knows about you confirming that nearly every ISP gets a second profit stream from selling information on your online activities. In essence, they're making you pay them for the right to hose your own privacy. But a VPN lets you strike back. Since you connect to the VPN server before your ISP ever clocks you (let alone your destination websites), your computer and modem broadcast no information about who you really are. Anyone can see what you're doing, but they'll only see the VPN server doing it. And hiding your IP address is vital lots of people (not just ISPs) can deduce a shocking amount about you with no other information, including your real location. Prevent ISP speed throttling Speed isn't normally one of the benefits of a VPN, but in some specific cases, you might get faster internet. ISPs occasionally throttle the speeds of certain users they perceive as using too much bandwidth. This can happen to you, whether or not the charge is accurate. Using a VPN can get around the slowdown, since the ISP can't identify you to throttle you. Just note you still can't go faster than your unprotected internet speed. Public Wi-Fi safety A VPN can also keep you safe when using public Wi-Fi. On an unsecured Wi-Fi network the sort you often find in cafes, hotel lobbies and other public buildings hackers can spy on you through various vulnerabilities, or even set up fake networks (called rogue hotspots) to capture your information. If your connection with the network is encrypted, the criminal's window of opportunity slams shut. Get around content blocks and firewalls The other most important thing a VPN can do is to change your virtual location. IP addresses are keyed to specific locations some to countries or regions, and some to networks as small as one building. Authorities can use this to restrict internet access on the networks they control. This can vary in scale, from your school or workplace blocking certain content, all the way up to the nation-level firewalls in China, Saudi Arabia and other countries. Remember, though, that your internet goes to the VPN before it goes anywhere else. If your school's internet blocks some sites, you could get on a VPN server and the school's firewall won't know you're connecting from inside. This even works with countries (though not always). By connecting to a server outside the sphere of oppression, you can organize activism online even when the government doesn't want you to. Sam Chapman for Engadget Of course, you can also use this trick for fun by checking out other countries' streaming libraries, viewing local exclusive events or protecting you while you download a torrent file. The key takeaway is that VPNs are versatile, and can be used for casual entertainment, life-and-death anonymity or both at once. Will a VPN keep me completely safe online? VPNs are a huge positive for individual privacy rights, but just having one doesn't mean you can ignore your online safety. It's better to think of VPNs as one part of a comprehensive strategy . A VPN keeps you anonymous, prevents you from being tracked and changes your location to bypass censorship. However, it can't directly protect you from downloading malware, falling for a phishing scam, oversharing information on social media, using an easily guessed password or getting your phone stolen in real life. There's one key difference between threats a VPN can prevent and those it can't: A VPN only protects you from being spied on without your consent. If all you're doing is browsing on a network, a VPN keeps you concealed. But today's malefactors have all sorts of tricks to get you to give your consent. Websites spam message windows until you click allow cookies. Hackers send phishing emails and make you click links that download malware. And so on. Can VPNs be trusted? There's also one other critical point. Even if a VPN keeps you completely anonymous, the VPN itself can still tie your identity to what you do online. That's why VPNs all claim to have strict no-logging policies or something similar they're promising not to abuse their access. Naturally, some do anyway. A VPN can be sued if it breaks its own privacy policy, but many escape liability by leaving just enough leeway that they technically aren't in violation. The best way to determine if you can trust a VPN is to look at its history. How long has it been operating? Has it ever mishandled or profited off customer data in that time? On the other hand, has it ever been raided by police who then found nothing, bolstering its claim to not keep logs? An excerpt from the privacy policy of Private Internet Access. Sam Chapman for Engadget Some of the most trustworthy VPNs take technical steps to guarantee that they aren't logging user activity. Many use RAM-only or diskless servers that automatically delete any logs. Proton VPN goes even farther, using full-disk encryption to render any logs unreadable (even if they did exist). These services back their claims up with independent audits from reliable firms. Bottom line: A VPN is no substitute for common sense, threat awareness and a suite of strong security tools. It'll work best alongside a password manager, virus scanner and two-factor authentication. Are VPNs legal? VPNs are legal in every free country on Earth. While the UK recently suggested that a VPN ban was on the table to enforce its age verification laws, and the US states of Wisconsin and Michigan are considering bans in various forms, no democracy has yet outlawed VPN usage. The countries that do ban VPNs are the ones you'd probably expect those with deep-rooted internet censorship regimes that VPN use might threaten. Belarus, Iraq, Myanmar, North Korea and Turkmenistan have made all VPNs illegal. In China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Uganda and Iran, only state-approved VPNs are permitted, and services that get approved tend to have government backdoors. Other countries heavily restrict VPNs without banning them altogether, including Turkey and Pakistan. In India, VPNs are legal, but the law requires them to keep logs of user activities. The law's passage in 2022 led many VPNs to pull their servers from India and replace them with virtual locations. Finally, there are countries like Egypt where using a VPN is legal, but you'll face extra penalties if you're caught using one to commit a crime. Also, it should go without saying, but VPNs don't make crime legal. If something is illegal without a VPN, it's illegal with a VPN, even if VPNs themselves are allowed in your state and country. Are VPNs free? Some of them are, but many of them are dangerous. If you've just been faced with a new threat to your online freedom like, say, the UK's new age restriction laws it can be tempting to jump to a free VPN to solve the problem quickly. But free VPNs are easy to hack together, and app stores rarely probe them for violations before listing them. I frequently see free VPNs that either don't work, track you for ad sales or even sneak malware onto your computer . Another big problem is that many of these shovelware VPNs are all secretly run by the same monolithic entities . Sam Chapman for Engadget The best free VPNs are free plans offered by paid services. With subscription fees supporting the free tier, you don't need to worry that the real money comes from selling your information to advertisers. Proton VPN, hide.me, Windscribe, TunnelBear and PrivadoVPN all fall into this category. None of them show you ads, but they're all restricted in other ways, whether by the amount you can use the VPN per month, the speeds you'll get or the servers you can access. Do I need a VPN? If you use the internet which you must, if you're reading this you'll benefit from a VPN. To determine what you'll need it for, though, ask yourself the following questions. If you answer yes to any of them, think about subscribing to a VPN to address the problem in question. Do you feel strongly about whether your ISP and other third parties can see what you do online and use that information for profit? Do you live in a place where the law prevents you from freely using the internet and/or forbids certain platforms? Have online freedoms been temporarily suspended in your country because of unrest? Are you planning to travel to a country with restrictive internet laws? Do you normally use the internet on a network that restricts access to certain sites? Do you use the internet for any tasks that would risk your own safety or someone else's if exposed? Do you often get online through public Wi-Fi networks or networks without passwords? Are you concerned that your ISP is throttling your internet speeds? Do you want to watch TV shows and movies that aren't available in your country on the streaming services you're subscribed to? Do you want to watch events that are limited to specific regions, such as local sports? Do you enjoy looking in various regions for better deals on products you want? Are you an online gamer concerned about doxxing and/or DDoS attacks from sore losers? Different VPNs have features that make them better at various tasks from the lists above. However, the providers on my best VPN list are good at just about everything. Proton VPN is my favorite for its balance of speed, design and anonymity, but ExpressVPN is another excellent choice if you're willing to pay more for fantastic ease of use. Surfshark is the fastest VPN I've tested this year, while NordVPN has a great set of features. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/what-is-a-vpn-and-what-can-you-do-with-one-161549146.html?src=rss

Hank Greens Focus Friend is Google Plays app of the year

In a year that again saw AI assistants and tools climb the app store charts over and over, it's interesting to see a timer that helps you disconnect from your tech winning Google's highest app award.

Major tech outages in recent years

Cloudflares global outage on November 18, 2025, disrupted major platforms like X and ChatGPT, highlighting internet infrastructure vulnerabilities

Google's new Gemini 3 model arrives in AI Mode and the Gemini app

A few weeks short of Gemini 2's first birthday , Google has announced Gemini 3 Pro . Naturally, the company claims the new system is its most intelligent AI model yet, offering state-of-the-art reasoning, class-leading vibe coding performance and more. The good news is you can put those claims to the test today, with Google making Gemini 3 Pro available across many of its products and services. Google is highlighting a couple of benchmarks to tout Gemini 3 Pro's performance. In Humanity's Last Exam , widely considered one of the toughest tests AI labs can put their systems through, the model delivered a new top accuracy score of 37.5 percent, beating the previous leader, Grok 4 , by an impressive 12.1 percentage points. Notably, it achieved its score without turning to tools like web search. On LMArena , meanwhile, Gemini 3 Pro is now on top of the site's leaderboards with a score of 1,501 points. Okay, but what about the practical benefits of Gemini 3 Pro? In the Gemini app , the new model will translate to answers that are more concise and better formatted. It also enables a new feature Google calls Gemini Agent. The tool builds on Project Mariner , the web-surfing Chrome AI the company debuted at the end of last year. It allows users to ask Gemini to complete tasks for them. For example, say you want help managing your email inbox. In the past, Gemini would have offered some general tips. Now, it can do that work for you. To try Gemini 3 Pro inside of the Gemini app, select Thinking from the model picker. The new model is available to everyone, though AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers can use it more often before hitting their rate limit. To make the most of Gemini Agent, you'll need to grant the tool access to your Google apps. In Search , meanwhile, Gemini 3 Pro will debut inside of AI Mode , with availability of the new model first rolling out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Google will also bring the model to AI Overviews, where it will be used to answer the most difficult questions people ask of its search engine. In the coming weeks, Google plans to roll out a new routing algorithm for both AI Mode and AI Overviews that will know when to put questions through Gemini 3 Pro. In the meantime, subscribers can try the new model inside of AI Mode by selecting Thinking from the dropdown menu. Google In practice, Google says Gemini 3 Pro will result in AI Mode finding more credible and relevant content related to your questions. This is thanks to how the new model augments the fan-out technique that powers AI Mode. The tool will perform even more searches than before and with its new intelligence, Google suggests it may even uncover content previous models may have missed. At the same time, Gemini 3's better multi-modal understanding will translate to AI Mode generating more dynamic and interactive interfaces to answer your questions. For example, if you're researching mortgage loans, the tool can create a loan calculator directly inside of its response. For developers and its enterprise customers, Google is bringing Gemini 3 to all the usual places one can find its models, including inside of the Gemini API, AI Studio and Vertex AI. The company is also releasing a new agentic coding app called Antigravity. It can autonomously program while creating tasks for itself and providing progress reports. Alongside Gemini 3 Pro, Google is introducing Gemini 3 Deep Think. The enhanced reasoning mode will be available to safety testers before it rolls out to AI Ultra subscribers. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-new-gemini-3-model-arrives-in-ai-mode-and-the-gemini-app-160054273.html?src=rss

Amazon Black Friday deals: The Fire TV Stick 4K Max drops to $35

Amazon has Black Friday savings on its most potent streaming stick. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is 41 percent off, bringing it close to its record low. You can get it now for $35. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of Engadget's favorite streaming devices . The stick supports a solid mix of advanced technologies for its price: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 4K and HDR10+. As long as the rest of your entertainment setup can handle it, you'll get a high-quality picture and sound. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E , enabling better, faster connectivity with compatible routers. The 4K Max has the fastest processor of any Amazon Fire TV Stick, so expect zippy navigation. It also supports Amazon's Ambient Experience. This mode displays art (like on Samsung's The Frame ) while the device is in standby. It's also a solid choice for gaming: It supports Xbox cloud streaming and works well as a retro game emulator , too. The UI is where Amazon appears to be subsidizing the device's low cost. Expect to see loads of Prime Video content promos, along with other ads. But for $35 (compared to its MSRP of $60), you may find it easier to justify that tradeoff. Also on sale is Amazon's Fire TV Stick HD , our pick for the best budget streaming stick. This model doesn't support 4K; instead, it limits you to 1080p at 60 fps. At $18 for Black Friday, it's certainly cheap. But if you have a 4K TV (or plan to soon), you may want to consider the slightly more expensive model. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-black-friday-deals-the-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-drops-to-35-132100017.html?src=rss

Google launches Gemini 3 with new coding app and record benchmark scores

Google released Gemini 3, its latest and most advanced foundation model, to be made immediately available through the Gemini app and AI search interface.

Analogue 3D review: Modern processing can't fix vintage flaws

While there are countless ways to play old video games, endless emulators that eat up ROMs and spew out memories, the hardware offerings from Analogue have elevated the act of retro gaming to an art form . With an obsessive dedication to pixel-perfect reproductions of classic platforms, Analogue's various devices generally set the benchmark for consuming old games on new displays . The company's latest entry is an ode to the Nintendo 64 , and that poses a bit of a problem. While Analogue's other systems honored the golden age of 2D gaming, the pinnacle of pixel art in many ways, the N64 ushered gamers into the early, ugly days of 3D gaming. Nearly three decades after its initial release, most N64 games look pretty catastrophic by modern standards. Can the Analogue 3D ($250) treatment save them? Origin Story The early to mid-'90s were a heady time for console gaming. Sega and Nintendo had printed so much money in the 16-bit era that both were throwing everything they could at the wall to capture the fluorescent pink, velcro wallets of the gamers of the day. Wild controllers, endless system add-ons and even virtual reality were in the cards. But it would be the humble CD-ROM that really pushed things forward. Sega did its own multimedia add-on in-house, with the Sega CD. Nintendo decided to team up with Sony for the development of its own disc drive. When that project fell apart, Sony famously decided to continue on, releasing the original PlayStation in 1995. Almost overnight, the gaming world was all about three-dimensional gaming, a landscape that Sega's Saturn was ill-prepared for. Nintendo, though, went all-in for its next system, the Nintendo 64. It not only packed more polygons and colors than Sony's system, but Nintendo finally cracked the code of how to make a truly good three-dimensional platformer with Mario 64 . Mario 64 is not only a great game, it became the template for how player and camera controls worked, defining rules that still exist today. The N64 was also the first mainstream console to feature an analog controller out of the box, the first console since the Atari 5200 in the early '80s to have four controller ports and the first American console to offer haptic feedback in the form of 1997's Rumble Pak. Today it all sounds quaint, but it was a truly revolutionary machine back in the day. N64 redux The Analogue 3D has the look of a N64 console, right down to the four controller ports up front. Tim Stevens for Engadget The Analogue 3D is somewhat revolutionary as well, but for different reasons. At its core, it relies on a field programmable gate array, or FPGA, much like Analogue's previous devices (the Super Nt, Mega Sg, Pocket and Duo). An FPGA is effectively a processor full of virtual building blocks, called logic elements, which enable it to replicate any other system. It takes a massive amount of configuration, but the result is pure hardware emulation. Again, its the same concept as Analogue's previous devices, just on a massively larger scale. Where the Pocket used an Altera Cyclone V FPGA with 49,000 logic elements, this one uses an Intel Cyclone 10 GX FPGA clocking in at 220,000 logic elements. While Analogue never gave much in the way of explanation, it's likely that the extreme complexity that resulted in delay after annoying delay well, that and the complexities of running an international business in the tariff-laden minefield that is today's global trading landscape. Beyond that, the Analogue 3D very much follows the same aesthetic seen in the company's previous units: a minimalist take on the original hardware. It looks like a smaller and thinner N64 one that requires active cooling, by the way, so make sure you don't crowd this thing in among your other, lesser game consoles. It (virtually) supports all the N64's key accessories, like the Transfer Pak, the Expansion Pak and the Rumble Pak. It's USB-C powered and output comes via HDMI, and you'll find the requisite cables included in the box. There's also an SD card around the back for firmware updates and a pair of USB-A ports for good measure. Up front, you'll find four controller ports, with the distinctive circular style used by the N64. But you can connect controllers via USB or wirelessly too, if you prefer. Analogue opted for a another 8BitDo controller. Tim Stevens for Engadget The system's default controller is again provided by 8BitDo , which has created special designs for Analogue's other recent releases. For better or worse, the $39.99 8BitDo 64 controller doesn't imitate the three-pronged N64 style, but does offer all that system's buttons in a more traditional layout. It's perhaps too traditional, difficult to tell apart from Nintendo's own Switch Pro controller from a distance. I havent been a fan of 8BitDo controllers in the past. Given the premium Analogue charges for its systems, the 8BitDo controllers haven't risen to that level of polish. This new generation, though, is definitely a step up. The controller's buttons don't rattle when you shake it, the inputs have a good feel to them, the vibration isn't harsh and pairing is quick and easy. That said, I did run into latency issues if I was more than about 10 feet away from the system, or if I closed the door on the cabinet that held the Analogue 3D. That's a far cry from the connectivity of a Switch Pro controller, which I can readily use from another room if I'm ever so inclined. CRT vibes in an OLED era The Analogue 3D and the Nintendo 64. Tim Stevens for Engadget Analogue has made a name for itself by obsessing over striking the perfect blend of honoring original systems while making them great in a modern world. If I may insert one automotive reference, they are doing to game systems what Singer Vehicle Design does to Porsches. But where cars both old and reimagined look great on the same road, vintage consoles struggle with modern TVs. Plug an original N64 into your 4K HDTV via a tangle of adapters, and you'll get a blurry, blocky mess that will make you question everything your childhood self held dear. Even if you go the hardcore route with something like an Open Source Scan Converter or an HDMI mod kit to take vintage analog signals and turn them into modern digital ones, you're still probably not going to like the results. That's because it isn't all about getting crisp signals from console to display. These systems were designed for cathode rays, where one colored pixel bled into the next to create a seamless view to hide many of the N64's 320 x 240 flaws. The Analogue 3D goes to great lengths to replicate that look through a series of filters meant to replicate everything from a consumer-grade CRT to the sort of professional-grade monitor that cost as much as a new car did back in the '90s. Analogue has experimented with these filters in the past, but they're taken to a new level here, with options for specifying monitor type, quality and size. The results are quite impressive, still a bit grittier than a giant-sized CRT would be in real life, but looking miles better than the unfiltered view of the games. You can even tune and tweak those display settings on a per-game basis, if you're especially finicky. Unfortunately, you'll have to take my word for that. The 4K CRT effects don't really show up through a capture card, and as of now the Analogue 3D has no integrated screen capture functionality. That, I was told, is coming later. Back to the future of gaming Perfect Dark on the Analogue 3D. Tim Stevens for Engadget I started my testing with the game that, in the eyes of many, represents the high-water mark of the N64 experience: Perfect Dark . Rare's classic first-person shooter shares a lot of its concepts (and surely its code) with that other N64 icon, Goldeneye . But, in the three years between those games, developers learned plenty of tricks, resulting in a game that really pushed the hardware to its limits. Or past its limits, really. Perfect Dark was equally famous for its uneven frame rates. Expecting a one-to-one recreation of the original hardware, I was surprised to find the game running buttery smooth on the Analogue 3D. How? The system includes a series of tweaking and tuning options, including something of a baked-in overclocking function. By default, it's on Auto, which, at least in the case of Perfect Dark , dialed up the Analogue 3D's power to make up for the original system's polygon processing shortcomings. But the Analogue 3D is nothing if not tweakable, and with a few taps into the system's menu, I was able to turn that off. Now locked into Force Original Hardware mode, Perfect Dark played just like it did back in the day, a shaky and jittery testament to the overachieving aspirations of Rare's developers. And, thanks to more settings adjustments, I could enable the 16:9 mode in Perfect Dark and stretch the video output on the Analogue 3D, getting a proper widescreen effect even though the game doesn't output a full 16:9 grid of pixels. Super Robot Spirits on the Analogue 3D. Tim Stevens for Engadget Beyond Auto, you can set the game to run in Enhanced, Enhanced+ and Unleashed speeds. I switched over to another game notorious for its poor performance: Superman: The New Superman Adventures . I initially reviewed this game way back in 1999, and it has since become notorious as one of the worst of all time. It's no better today, but thanks to the Analogue 3D, it is at least more fluid. The game's choppiness is gone, replaced by a too-rapid pace to the uninspired ring-chasing gameplay. Sadly, the faster frame rate doesn't make up for the omnipresent green fog that makes Superman 64 feel so claustrophobic. Neither does it fix the crunchy, murky textures that surround you in Perfect Dark . It's not all bad, though. 1997's Super Robot Spirits , a giant robot fighting game released only in Japan, features untextured 3D models that use Gouraud shading to look a little less blocky. The result looks genuinely crisp and clean on the Analogue 3D.So too do games like Mario Kart 64 and Yoshi's Story , 3D games that rely heavily on 2D elements, which scale very nicely up to a modern, 65-inch 4K OLED, like the LG B7 I used for testing. Unfortunately, there were few games that really popped for me. Much of the time, I was stuck looking at blurry, blocky textures poking out of foggy landscapes that were far less breathtaking than I remembered them 25-plus years ago. Wrap-up The Analogue 3D and the Nintendo 64. Tim Stevens for Engadget Analogue's earlier systems take some of the greatest 2D games ever made and elevate them to crisply defined, high-resolution pixel art. They are gorgeous and charming to behold, which just makes them all the more engaging to play. Sadly, few of the games on the N64 stand up so well. Making these games look truly good would require pushing back the omnipresent fog and upscaling the ugly textures that plague many N64 games. That, it's safe to say, would go well past the point of faithful recreation that Analogue strives for. It's hard to fault the Analogue 3D itself for this. The hardware does a remarkable job of recreating that original experience. My N64 library has never looked better, and I am definitely enjoying digging into games I haven't played in decades, plus a few newly acquired gems that I missed back in the day. But, more often than not, I'm left shaking my head at just how bad these games looked, and no amount of 4K upscaling and CRT emulation can fix that. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/analogue-3d-review-modern-processing-cant-fix-vintage-flaws-160000410.html?src=rss

Cloudflare outage hits internet traffic across ChatGPT, X and other platforms

According to Downdetector, the majority of the impact was on the server connection, followed by problems with website connectivity and DNS being down.

Intuit is integrating its tax and accounting products with ChatGPT

The financial software company Intuit has signed a nine-figure deal with OpenAI which will allow customers to use its various services within ChatGPT. Intuits apps include Intuit Turbo Tax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and MailChimp, all of which will now be accessible when using OpenAIs chatbot for personalized financial advice and management. The partnership is driven by what Intuit calls the hundreds of millions of consumers and businesses that ask ChatGPT finance-related questions every week. Consumers will be able to use Intuits apps within ChatGPT to research credit cards and mortgages, with advice tailored to their spending. They can also permit the chatbot to access their financial data to estimate their tax refund amounts and schedule appointments with a live, AI-powered tax expert. On the business side, companies can use ChatGPT to get advice on how to increase their revenue based on their current performance. They can also create targeted campaigns to send out to prospective customers and use AI to generate invoice reminders. Intuit has been investing heavily in AI for the last 10 years, introducing its own AI assistant back in 2023 and building it into its products. Its $100 million contract with OpenAI will also see it widen its use of the latters models and their agentic capabilities across its platform. Generative AI allows Intuit customers to complete their financial tasks and ask questions about complex subjects using natural language prompts. OpenAI is seemingly committed to growing its reputation as a credible source of finance-related guidance and information. Last month it acquired a personal investing app called ROI, which uses a built-in chatbot to advise users on potential investments. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/intuit-is-integrating-its-tax-and-accounting-products-with-chatgpt-153809280.html?src=rss

Waymo removes safety drivers in Miami ahead of 2026 launch

Waymo said it will do the same in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando in the coming weeks -- the latest steps in the company's continued expansion across the U.S.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes a Fortnite Crew subscription

Xbox has revealed the last batch of Game Pass additions for November along with a couple of titles that are coming to the service in December. Starting today, though, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have a Fortnite Crew subscription at no extra cost. That includes access to the current Fortnite battle pass, along with the OG pass, Lego pass, music pass and Rocket League s rocket pass premium. On top of that, Fortnite Crew puts 1,000 V-Bucks in subscribers wallets every month. Microsoft announced Fortnite Crew as a perk for Game Pass Premium in early October, when it jacked up the price of the service to $30 per month . Still, its a decent value add for Fortnite players, given that a Crew membership costs $12 per month by itself. Seems like as good a reason as any to check out the current Simpsons-themed season of Fortnite Battle Royale if you have an Ultimate subscription. As for the games that are joining the service over the next couple of weeks, there are two day-one additions to Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass. Action RPG title Moonlighted 2: The Endless Vault joins the lineup as a PC-only game preview on November 19. Then, on December 1, a game were pretty darn excited for joins the fray in the form of Marvel Cosmic Invasion . This is a sidescrolling beat-em-up from Tribute Games and publisher Dotemu, the same tandem that brought us the terrific Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge . You can choose from a roster of 15 fighters in Cosmic Invasion , including Iron Man, Phoenix/Jean Grey, Spider-Man and Wolverine. The demo is a blast, so here's hoping for more of that from the full game, which is also coming to Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS4 and PS5 on December 1. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a spiritual successor to Life is Strange from the creator of that series, Don't Nod. It debuted earlier this year and it's coming to Game Pass Ultimate and Premium, as well as PC Game Pass, for cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S on December 2. Don't Nod is also behind last year's action RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden , which I enjoyed quite a bit. That's coming to the same Game Pass tiers on the same platforms on November 25. The other Game Pass additions for the next two weeks are: Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (cloud, console and PC) November 19, arriving on Game Pass Premium Revenge of the Savage Planet (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S) November 19, arriving on Game Pass Premium Monsters are Coming! Rock & Road ( handheld and PC) November 20 on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass The Crew Motorfest (cloud, console and PC) November 20 on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass Kill It With Fire! 2 (cloud, console, and PC) November 25 on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass As for the titles leaving Game Pass this month, Barbie Project Friendship, Lords of the Fallen, Octopath Traveler, Octopath Traveler II and SteamWorld Build (all for cloud, console and PC) will depart the service for the time being on November 30. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-game-pass-ultimate-now-includes-a-fortnite-crew-subscription-151826277.html?src=rss

Project Hail Mary keeps us intrigued in a second trailer

Amazon MGM has released another full-length trailer for Project Hail Mary and we are already at the theater seated. The three minute and four second trailer shows Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace, a school teacher and former biologist who wakes up on a spacecraft with no idea who he is or why he's there. The first trailer gave us a look at Dr. Grace's first moments after waking up and an overview of his mission: find the one star in the universe that's not dying and save the world no big deal. Today's trailer gives us a better idea of how he'll go about this and the alien he teams up with along the way. Check it out for yourself on Amazon MGM's YouTube channel here . Project Hail Mary is adapted from Andy Weir's novel of the same name. Weir also wrote The Martian , which was successfully turned into a 2015 film starring Matt Damon. This time around, Oscar-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are directing with a screenplay by Drew Goddard the latter also wrote the adaptation of The Martian so we're in good hands. The movie also stars Sandra Hller as the head of the titular Project Hail Mary. You can see Project Hail Mary for yourself on March 20, 2026 in theaters and IMAX. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/project-hail-mary-keeps-us-intrigued-in-a-second-trailer-151108278.html?src=rss

The 26 Best Advent Calendars (2025): We Opened Every Door

Treat yourself or someone else to days of little gifts, ranging from sweet treats and savory beverages to beauty products and toys. We found a tiny door for everyone.

PlayStation 2025 Black Friday deals announced: Sony is taking $100 off PS5 consoles starting on Friday

The PlayStation 5 is getting a major Black Friday discount, with $100 off consoles starting November 21 . That will bring the PS5 Digital Edition down to $399, the standard PS5 to $449 and the new PS5 Pro to $649. If youve been holding out for the right time to upgrade or buy your first console, this is the deal to beat. You'll find the deals direct at Sony and from other retailers including Amazon and Walmart . Sonys flagship console remains one of the most popular gaming systems available, and this Black Friday discount makes it even easier to jump in if you havent already. The standard PS5 and the slimmer PS5 Digital Edition both offer fast load times, smooth frame rates and crisp visuals powered by the custom AMD Zen 2 processor and RDNA 2 GPU. The difference between them comes down to the disc drive the standard model includes one, while the Digital Edition relies entirely on digital downloads. For those who want top-tier performance, the PS5 Pro is also getting a rare $100 discount. It features upgraded specs and enhanced ray tracing for sharper graphics, along with improved cooling to handle more demanding titles. Whether you play cinematic single-player hits or fast-paced competitive games, the PS5 lineup remains one of the strongest options on the market for next-gen gaming. Each console supports 4K output, 3D audio and access to PlayStation Plus , which unlocks online multiplayer and a rotating library of free games. The DualSense controller remains a highlight, with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback that make everything from racing to combat feel more immersive. If youre already set with a console, there are also a few solid accessory deals to consider for Black Friday. Also starting November 21, the DualSense Wireless Controller will be down to $60, a $20 discount available in multiple colors. The premium DualSense Edge controller , which adds customizable buttons and replaceable stick modules, drops to $170 during Black Friday. Meanwhile, the PlayStation Portal Sonys portable Remote Player that lets you stream games from your PS5 gets discounted to $180. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/playstation-2025-black-friday-deals-announced-sony-is-taking-100-off-ps5-consoles-starting-on-friday-145622599.html?src=rss

GoPro's Hero 13 Black action camera drops to an all-time low for Black Friday

The GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera is down to $310 as part of an early Black Friday sale, which is a record low price. That's a discount of 23 percent or $90. This model topped our list of the best action cameras , and for good reason. It's a fantastic device with all kinds of bells and whistles . It's the most versatile Hero camera that GoPro has ever made. There's a new family of modular lenses and it can shoot up to 5.3K and handle 2X optical zoom. The battery is bigger than ever before and offers around 90 minutes of continuous shooting in 4K/30FPS. The camera is waterproof up to 10 millimeters, so don't worry about puddles. The full-color front screen is vivid and makes it easy to review footage without getting a computer involved. There's no internal storage here, but it accepts microSD cards. There's a camera bundle on sale right now that includes a 64GB microSD, three batteries, a dual charger and a case. That pack costs $349 , which is a discount of 30 percent . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/gopros-hero-13-black-action-camera-drops-to-an-all-time-low-for-black-friday-160154416.html?src=rss

14 Best Housewarming Gifts We Can't Stop Using (2025): Coasters, Blenders, Sheets

Make a house into a home with these gifts, whether your recipient is moving into their first house or a great new apartment.

Mastodon's founder is no longer its CEO

Mastodon's founder Eugen Rochko has officially stepped down as CEO . The move comes ten months after the company announced it would transition into a nonprofit entity and that Rochko would leave his post. Rochko will take on an advisory role with the company. In a blog post about this decision, Rochko pointed to a desire for guardrails to avoid becoming another egotistical founder sabotaging thriving communities. He added, But it would be uncouth for me to pretend that there isnt some self-interest involved. Being in charge of a social media project is, turns out, quite the stressful endeavour, and I dont have the right personality for it. In his place, Felix Hlatky has taken on the role of executive director. Hlatky has worked at Mastodon since March 2020 and plans to focus on expanding the team, long-term financial stability and making it easier to run servers safely and efficiently. Currently, Mastodon is operating as a nonprofit in the US, but aims to set up a permanent home base as a nonprofit in Belgium, known as an AISBL. Mastodon previously held nonprofit status in Germany but lost that it last year. Mastodon has pursued outside funding since its announced transition to a nonprofit. It shared that Stock Exchange co-founder Jeff Atwood and his family gave the organization 2.2 million ($2.5 million). Part of that influx of cash has gone toward hiring new employees in its engineering, marketing, operations and product teams. Rochko also received a one-time 1 million ($1.2 million) compensation after ten years of taking less than a fair market salary. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/mastodons-founder-is-no-longer-its-ceo-143011438.html?src=rss

My favorite fabric shaver is on sale for only $13 in this Black Friday deal

If you clicked on this story because you don't know what a fabric shaver is, you're not alone. That was me not too long ago when I started searching for something that could get rid of the pilling on some of my most loved pieces of clothing. Blessedly, I stumbled upon the Philips Fabric Shaver , a type of device I didn't even know existed, and decided to give it a shot. It's now an essential piece of tech in my house, and you don't have to pay as much as I did for it thanks to this Black Friday deal that knocks it down to $13. Sure, it may not seem revolutionary especially if you already knew of the wonders of such devices but it was for me. I have a lot of T-shirts, joggers, sweaters and more that I've had for at least three years and wear regularly. We also have a bunch of throw blankets around the house, partially because I love a good throw, and partially because my cat demands soft spots on which to sleep. All of those well-worn, well-loved fabrics have pilled over time, and I was tired of picking at the pills myself. This Philips Fabric Shaver makes it so I never have to do that anymore. It runs on two AA batteries, has a simple on-off switch and a shaving head with three sized holes that, as you glide it over your sweater or blanket, catches the pills and shaves them right off. It's literally as simple as that; after I tried it the first time on a pair of joggers, I spent far too much time running around my house and through my closet de-pilling as many things as I could. All the little fabric bits collect in a removable chamber that you simply empty as often as you need into the trash. If you're like me and try to make the most of the wardrobe you have and not buy new clothing all the time, this little gadget will keep the pieces in your closet looking fresh. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/my-favorite-fabric-shaver-is-on-sale-for-only-13-in-this-black-friday-deal-163402654.html?src=rss

A Simple WhatsApp Security Flaw Exposed 3.5 Billion Phone Numbers

By plugging tens of billions of phone numbers into WhatsApps contact discovery tool, researchers found the most extensive exposure of phone numbers everalong with profile photos and more.

Agentio secures $40 million from Forerunner as it scales its creator marketplace beyond YouTube

Agentio, which matches creators with brands, is expanding beyond YouTube and testing Meta platforms to facilitate sponsored content.

Boops new app turns social recommendations into bookable itineraries

Instead of getting an AI-generated travel plan, Boop aims to give users access to itineraries from real people who went on real trips.

Stack Overflow is remaking itself into an AI data provider

Stack Overflow wants to remake its classic problem-solving forum into a tool for translating human expertise into an AI-accessible format.

Zoox to begin offering robotaxi rides to public in San Francisco

This is not a large-scale public launch, nor a commercial one. But it brings the Amazon-owned company one step closer to competing with Waymo.

Zap Energy ramps up the pressure in its latest fusion device

Zap Energy's Fuze-3 device has generated record plasma pressures for the startup's unique approach to fusion power.

Creator Tayla Cannon recieves $1.1 million investment from Slow Ventures creator fund to build PT software

TaylaCannon's Rebuildr receives $1.1 million investment from Slow Ventures

This Ninja dual-zone air fryer is 22 percent off for Black Friday

Black Friday is arguably the best time of the year to pick up small kitchen appliances like blenders, toaster ovens and air fryers. In the latter category, one of our favorites is on sale right now for a great price. The Ninja DZ401 dual-zone air fryer is down to $180, which is 22 percent off its normal price. Admittedly, we have seen this model a bit cheaper in the past, but if youre on cooking duty for Thanksgiving, you might not have the option of waiting until what could be a deeper discount on Black Friday . And the DZ401 is the perfect air fryer for the holiday season, owing to its trademark dual baskets, which allow you to cook up two completely different foods simultaneously. It takes up a fair amount of space, but its worth it if you have a lot of hungry mouths to feed. This 10-quart fryer includes a smart cook thermometer and six cooking modes, including air broil, roast and dehydrate alongside the default air fry mode. The spacious baskets are quick and easy to clean, and youre safe to throw the plates into the dishwasher if theyre particularly messy after cooking up chicken wings or some brownies for dessert. The Ninja DZ401 has had the title of best dual-zone air fryer in our buying guide for a long time for a reason. An air fryer like this isnt for everyone, especially those with smaller kitchens, but for a Thanksgiving dinner youll struggle to find better. A number of other Ninja devices are on sale for Black Friday right now. If you don't need quite as big of a machine, the Ninja Crispi glass air fryer/multicooker could be a better option. It's down to $160 right now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-ninja-dual-zone-air-fryer-is-22-percent-off-for-black-friday-170959965.html?src=rss

15 Best Office Chairs of 2025 Ive Tested Nearly 60 to Pick Them

Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.

PhysicsWallahs stock surges over 40% after strong market debut

PhysicsWallah opened strongly and closed more than 40% higher in a robust first trading session, capping an IPO that gained late momentum buoyed by QIB demand and sizeable anchor commitments.

Black Friday deals include the Meta Quest 3S for a record-low price

Black Friday deals have come for VR headsets, and you can pick up our favorite budget set for less than usual. Meta's entry-level Quest 3S is 17 percent off and down to $250 for the 128GB version right now. Its normal price is $300, and with this version you get the game Gorilla Tag for free. There's also a 256GB option , which is on sale for $330, down from its usual price of $400. The Meta Quest 3S is an impressive VR headset for the price, and scored a 90 in Engadget's review , landing it among our picks for the best VR headsets around right now. It's comfortable to wear, gets over two hours of battery life before needing to be recharged and offers a 96-degree field of view. While its 1,830 by 1,920 pixel per eye screen doesn't quite achieve the sharpness of the Quest 3, it does have the same chip the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 as the pricier model, making for fast performance. It also comes with 8GB of RAM. The Quest 3S also comes with the Touch Plus controllers, which have button and joystick controls as well as motion controls. It can also connect to gaming PCs and stream gameplay to Chromecast and AirPlay devices. Despite being relatively inexpensive, the 3S offers a great experience. In his review, Engadget's Devindra Hardawar said the 3S is the best $300 standalone VR headset we've ever seen. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deals-include-the-meta-quest-3s-for-a-record-low-price-180911231.html?src=rss

The best gifts for coffee lovers in 2025

When it comes to making coffee at home, us coffee nerds are constantly evolving. Whether the person youre shopping for is newly indoctrinated into the world of small-batch roasters or obsessive over every possible aspect of every brewing process, weve compiled a list of the best coffee gear for any coffee geek this holiday season. For brewing, grinding and drinking, weve got multiple options at a range of prices to help expand any java geeks horizons. And if you think the coffee aficionado on your list already has everything they need, weve got a recommendation for them too. Best gifts for coffee lovers Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-best-gifts-for-coffee-lovers-in-2025-184515015.html?src=rss

Bose's second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are $50 off for Black Friday

Holiday travel is getting closer and that means a lot of babies, crowds and nosey seat neighbors to contend with through it. Fortunately, Black Friday comes first and, with it, sales on a bunch of tech products that can make your journey a lot more enjoyable. Take the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds , which are 17 percent off in an early Black Friday sale. Our choice of best noise-canceling earbuds for 2025 are currently available for $249, down from $299. The deal brings these new Bose Earbuds to a record-low price in all colors. We gave the second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds an 88 in our review when they launched in early fall. We called them the best option for blocking distractions and that Boses tweaks make its best earbuds even better. The earbuds have enhanced call quality and further improved ANC filters than their predecessors. They also offer improved comfort and a new guard designed to prevent wax build up something that all earbud users know is very important. However, the newer model offers the same six hours of battery life per charge four when using Immersive Audio as the originals. Plus, despite the improved comfort, they still have the bulkier design that's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. With that said, the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds are also down to an all-time low price. You can grab them for $199, down from $299 a 33 percent discount. Notably, this deal is only available in the White Smoke model. We also gave these earbuds an 88 when they debuted in 2023, so they're still a great option for $50 less than the second-gen model. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/boses-second-generation-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-are-50-off-for-black-friday-130007879.html?src=rss

14 Best Fitness Trackers (2025), Tested and Reviewed

Whether youre skiing in the backcountry or trampolining in the backyard, we have an activity tracker for you.

Intuit signs $100M+ deal with OpenAI to bring its apps to ChatGPT

Intuit said its tools, such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, will be accessible through ChatGPT, allowing users to ask questions and complete tasks such as estimating tax refunds, reviewing credit options, or managing business finances.

33 Best STEM Toys for Kids (2025): Make Learning Fun

We found lots of math-filled and science-rich toys for tiny nerds to assemble, bake, squishor even tear apart and rebuild.

The Morning After: The first Zelda movie looks like this

While unofficial videos from filming The Legend of Zelda hit the internet first, Nintendo also unveiled the first images of its live-action project. One photo shows Link and Zelda amid the hills of New Zealand if youve got characters with Elven ears, you have to film in NZ. Nintendo As Engadgets Nathan Ingraham notes, Zelda appears with a bow and quiver, so hopefully its a more modern spin than the damsel-in-distress original. I mean, the game is named for her. Filming has just started, so this is all we have until a proper trailer arrives. Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The news you might have missed Metroid Prime 4: Beyond thrillingly brings the series into the modern era The best air purifiers for 2025 To change PC gaming, Valves Steam Machine must solve Linuxs anti-cheat problem DJI Neo 2 drone review The best budget drone, now even better. Engadget DJIs latest drone and its hard to keep track is the Neo 2. Its a relatively inexpensive, lightweight model for creators and hobbyists, and its loaded with new features, like LiDAR obstacle detection, improved video quality, and longer battery life. Gesture control is a major new Neo 2 feature that isnt on other DJI drones. Wave a hand up, down or sideways to climb and bank, move two hands apart or together to make it approach or move away, clench a fist to stop it and hold out your palm to land. Like a bird! Manual flight controls on your smartphone is another new feature not on other DJI drones. Its also only slightly more expensive than its predecessor. Continue reading. The 22 best gift ideas for the remote worker in your life Hi, hey, hello, sorry, your camera is off There have never been more remote workers in my life, so finding a sweet present to improve their nine-to-five has often been my approach. Weve rounded up a few techy ideas that should make their days a little more delightful and we didnt even suggest noise-cancelling headphones. Because they probably already have them. Continue reading. Meta and Google delay undersea cables over security concerns Its due to a lot of things, apparently. Meta and Google are facing delays with long-promised undersea cable projects, according to a report by Bloomberg . A Meta spokesperson blames the delays on a range of operational factors, regulatory concerns and geopolitical risk. Metas 2Africa subsea cable system is designed to give fiber internet to the African continent. Its also intended to connect Europe with Asia and Africa. The Google-backed Blue-Raman intercontinental cable system in the region has also been delayed, following its initial announcement in 2021. The company has not provided an updated timeline. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121532744.html?src=rss

The Best Home Cocktail Machinesand Whether You Need One

Automatic cocktail machines are silly, but also kind of fun. Here's how to choose between the Bartesian and Barsys cocktail machines.

Use this hack to get a year of Peacock for $49 ahead of Black Friday

If you've wanted to check out The Paper or any other new NBC show on Peacock, you can do so now while spending less thanks to this hack. Walmart, believe it or not, comes into play here: the retailer is offering Walmart+ subscriptions for half off right now, bringing the cost down to $49 for your first year. Thanks to a streaming benefit for subscribers, you can then sign up for Peacock at no extra cost. Walmart+ subscribers are able to choose between a Peacock Premium or a Paramount+ Essential subscription. Considering Peacock premium would run you $110 for the year on its own, signing up for Walmart+ while this discount is available gets you access to the streaming service for less than half the normal cost. Just about every major streaming service has raised its prices in the last year, including HBO Max , Disney+ , Netflix , Apple TV and YouTube TV , so saving some money on one of them just might be worth the effort. Cord cutting is not nearly as affordable as it used to be, so finding a deal like this is pretty helpful. Walmart+ itself offers myriad additional benefits like early access to Black Friday deals, free shipping on orders over $35, discounts on gas, free online veterinary care and more. Earlier this year, Walmart+ subscribers got first dibs on the Nintendo Switch 2 at the retailer. You can also use that free shipping to take advantage of Walmart's drone delivery program in a handful of select cities. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/use-this-hack-to-get-a-year-of-peacock-for-49-ahead-of-black-friday-192739357.html?src=rss

DJI's Osmo Action 6 is the first action cam with a variable aperture

DJI has released its third action cam in less than four months, the Osmo Action 6. The new GoPro rival offers something we've never seen in this type of camera: a variable aperture for more control over exposure. It also has a new, square sensor (like the one we saw on the Osmo 360 ) that makes it easier to crop video for social media-friendly aspect ratios. I've had the Osmo Action 6 for a few days and it looks impressive so far. Rather than a fixed f/2.8 setting as before, the Osmo Action 6 offers a variable f/2.0-4.0 aperture, which offers several benefits. When at f/2.0, it allows twice as much light as before. That in turn allows for higher shutter speeds in dim conditions, which reduces the motion blur that can hurt image quality and stabilization. It also delivers shallower depth of field to help separate the subject from the background. On sunny days, meanwhile, changing the aperture to f/4.0 lets you lower the shutter speed so video looks less staccato and more natural. Steve Dent for Engadget Oddly, DJI doesn't let you fully control the f-stop, however. You can either choose a fixed aperture at f/2.8, or Auto aperture with a range of ISOs, varying from f/2.0 - 4.0 up to f/2.8 - 4.0. That's unfortunate, as it would be nice to be able to select a fixed f/2.0 aperture, for example, to have a shallow depth of field for portraits. (Note that you can pick an f/4.0 fixed aperture as well to get a starburst pattern on bright parts of the image.) The Action 6 has a new, 1/1.1-inch square sensor (9.8 x 9.8mm), as well. It doesn't boost resolution as some people had hoped , but does allow for more aspect ratio choices. As with the Action 5, video can be shot at up to 4K 120 fps, or 4K at 60 fps in SuperNight Mode. However, it now offers a 4K Custom mode that lets you capture 3,840 x 3,840 square video at up to 60 fps, for cropping at full 4K resolution in both horizontal and vertical formats. It also supports 4:3 4K (3,840 x 2,880) at up to 120 fps for more cropping options when shooting slo-mo. Steve Dent for Engadget The new sensor is also considerably larger than the 1/1.3-inch sensor on the Osmo Action 5 and the 1/1.9-inch sensor on the GoPro 13. That allows for improved low-light performance, according to DJI, and the larger pixels also boost dynamic range to a claimed 13.5 stops. That, combined with DJI's D-LogM and 10-bit capability, should make footage from the Osmo Action 6 easy to adjust, even on high contrast sunny days. DJI has also taken a page from Fujifilm by introducing a Film Tone function to get six distinct looks straight out of the camera, including cool tones, classic negative film and pleasing skin tones. The Osmo Action 6 also offers a 2x lossless zoom (a digital zoom, effectively), portrait mode and subject centering and tracking. Finally, the new Natural Wide mode gives you a wider field of view without the usual ugly distortion at the corners. For closeup photography, the Action 6 is available with an optional macro lens, as well as an FOV Boost lens that increases the field of view from 155 to 182 degrees. Sample 34MP photo from DJI's Osmo Action 6 Steve Dent for Engadget From my tests so far, low-light video quality looks considerably cleaner and more color-accurate than the Action 5. In addition, the SuperNight Mode is more useful as shutter speeds are higher and thus stabilization in low light is improved over the Action 5. I'll have more information in my full review, coming soon. There are a number of other improvements as well. DJI has boosted the internal storage to 50GB from 47GB before, so you can largely shoot without a memory card, though a microSD slot is also available. As before, it's waterproof to 20 meters (66 feet) by itself, or nearly 200 feet with DJI's waterproof case. And on top of voice control, the Action 6 now supports gestures as well. With the same 1,950mAh Extreme Battery Plus as before, shooting time between charges is 4 hours at 1080p and 2 hours at 4K, both with Rocksteady 3.0 stabilization enabled and the screen off. DJI The Osmo Action 6 is compatible with DJI's increasingly generous accessory lineup, like selfie sticks, bike, helmet and body attachments, suction mounts and more. However, the company upgraded its Quick-Release Adapter Mount to a dual-latch system (first introduced on the Osmo Nano) that can be attached in either direction without mechanical limitations, the company said. That's a big quality-of-life improvement over the old mounts, which could only be attached one way. That said, the old mounts are still compatible with the new camera and vice-versa. So what about US availability? It looks like, as with the Osmo 360 and Osmo Nano, that DJI's Action 6 won't be available on the company's US store, but it will be sold at Amazon, B&H Photo Video and other third-party resellers, with pricing tba. In Europe, the Osmo Action 6 is now available at DJI's store and Amazon at 379 for the standard combo with one battery, or 479 in the Adventure Combo that includes three batteries and the Battery Case 3 charger. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/djis-osmo-action-6-is-the-first-action-cam-with-a-variable-aperture-120058873.html?src=rss

Roblox begins asking tens of millions of children to verify their age with a selfie

Roblox is starting to roll out the mandatory age checks that will require all of its users to submit an ID or scan their face in order to access the platform's chat features. The updated policy, which the company announced earlier this year, will be enforced first in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands and will expand to all other markets by early next year. The company also detailed a new age-based chat system, which will limit users' ability to interact with people outside of their age group. After verifying or estimating a user's age, Roblox will assign them to an age group ranging from 9 years and younger to 21 years and older (there are six total age groups). Teens and children will then be limited from connecting with people that aren't in or close to their estimated age group in in-game chats. Unlike most social media apps which have a minimum age of 13, Roblox permits much younger children to use its platform. Since most children and many teens don't have IDs, the company uses age estimation tech provided by identity company Persona. The checks, which use video selfies, are conducted within Roblox's app and the company says that images of users' faces are immediately deleted after completing the process. Roblox didn't provide details on how accurate its age estimation features are, but the company's Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, said that it was pretty accurate at guessing the approximate age of most of its users. What we find is that the algorithms between that 5 and 25 years old [range] are typically pretty accurate within one or two years of their age, he said during a briefing with reporters. All Roblox users can now voluntarily submit to a face scan or provide an ID to the company to ensure their access to its chat features isn't interrupted. The company says it will be enforcing age checks for all users by January and that people in the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand will need to comply beginning in early December. Next year, the company also plans to put age restrictions around users' ability to access links to outside social media sites and to participate in Roblox Studio. Roblox has repeatedly come under fire for alleged safety lapses even as it's released a flurry of child safety updates in recent years. The company is facing lawsuits from Texas , Louisiana and Kentucky amid accusations that it hasn't done enough to prevent adults from targeting teens and children on its service. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/roblox-begins-asking-tens-of-millions-of-children-to-verify-their-age-with-a-selfie-120000311.html?src=rss

Roblox will require all users to perform age-checks to access chat from January

Starting Tuesday, users can voluntarily undergo the age-check process to secure access to communication features.

Daily Quiz: On Lunokhod 1

On November 17, 1970 Lunokhod 1 made its landmark lunar landing. Test your knowledge of the worlds first rover to explore another celestial body

Odd Lots Cohost Joe Weisenthal Has Predictions About How the AI Bubble Will Burst

Much of the US economy rests on AIs future. On this episode of The Big Interview podcast, Odd Lots cohost Joe Weisenthal breaks down why AIs impact on finance goes beyond billion-dollar investments.

One year of Headspace is only $35 with this Black Friday deal

Headspaces Black Friday deal is live, offering 50 percent off its annual subscription through December 4. That brings the cost of a full year down to $35, giving you access to guided meditations, courses and stress-management tools that can help you stay balanced heading into the new year. Headspace has become one of the most recognizable names in digital mindfulness. The app blends practical meditation guidance with structured courses and calming soundscapes designed to make everyday stress easier to manage. Its programs cover everything from beginner-friendly introductions to mindfulness to focused content on topics like anxiety, productivity and sleep. Subscribers get access to hundreds of guided sessions led by the Headspace team, including short daily practices that can be completed in a few spare minutes, plus longer courses that help build consistency. The apps Sleepcasts and soundscapes are unique, designed to create a steady nighttime routine that promotes better rest. For mornings, there are breathing exercises and motivational mini-sessions that can help set focus for the day ahead. Headspace also includes personalized progress tracking, mood check-ins and optional reminders that make it easier to stay consistent with your new mindfulness habits. For anyone new to meditation, the apps clear structure is a major strength. You dont have to know where to start, since it suggests sessions based on your goals or current mood. This annual deal is ideal for users who want to stick with mindfulness practice over time, or anyone interested in incorporating a new habit into their lives. Paying for the year upfront typically saves money compared with the monthly plan, and the discount brings that cost down even further. Whether youre learning the basics of meditation or refining an existing routine, the full library provides enough variety to keep things engaging throughout the year. If youre still comparing wellness apps, check out our guide to the best meditation apps to see how Headspace stacks up against other options. But for those ready to commit to a calmer routine, this annual offer is one of the simplest ways to start the habit at a lower cost. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-year-of-headspace-is-only-35-with-this-black-friday-deal-163051774.html?src=rss

Social Security Data Is Openly Being Shared With DHS to Target Immigrants

For months, the Social Security Administration was quietly sharing sensitive data about immigrants with DHS. Now its official.

Did humans really outbreed Neanderthals? A new mathematical model says yes

New research suggests Neanderthals didn't face a sudden extinction but were gradually absorbed into the growing human population. A mathematical model indicates repeated, small-scale human migrations led to genetic dilution, effectively merging Neanderthal DNA over thousands of years. This demographic shift, rather than conflict, explains their fading identity, with their genes now present in modern humans.

No Firm is Immune if AI Bubble Bursts: Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Pichai said in an interview with the BBC that the current wave of AI investment was an extraordinary moment but acknowledged elements of irrationality in the market, echoing warnings of irrational exuberance during the dotcom era

In Delhi study, ragas in the operation theatre cut anaesthesia use

Even under anaesthesia, the brain doesnt shut down. The auditory cortex still registers sound. As surgery begins, the bodys stress systems stir and the levels of cortisol and other hormones rise, pushing up blood pressure to cope with the strain. The person feels nothing but the body still braces. Music seems to mellow this response

Fintech company Yubi bags Rs 411 Cr via debt and equity

Yubi Group Founder and CEO Gaurav Kumar has invested an additional Rs 75 crore, bringing his cumulative equity infusion to over Rs 330 crore.

Microsoft India earnings surge on robust cloud, support services demand

Microsoft India reported a net profit of Rs 1,245.2 crore in FY25, up 38.6% YoY, while its operating revenue rose 27.5% YoY to around Rs 28,754.8 crore in the fiscal.

AI100 Sixth Cohort: Diamonds, disruptions and DigiLocker

From fintech innovations to AI-powered governance, personalized jewellery to enterprise transformation, the 6th cohort of AI100 leaders is shaping AI into a mindset, building intelligent systems and scaling businesses - now.

Naveen Setia: Powering AI that personalizes and protects

Paytms Senior Vice President Naveen Setia discusses how Paytms AI capabilities drive hyper-personalization, fraud prevention, and real-time customer experiences for over 100 million users.

Anagh Prasad: Investing at the intersection of intuition, ethics, and AI

Anagh Anagh, Vice President - Investment, Accel, feels that despite the boom in AI across sectors, great ventures still hinge on people, purpose, and persistence.

Elon Musks X rolls out Grok 4.1 model, end-to-end encrypted Chat

Elon Musks social media platform X (formerly Twitter) introduced its improved Grok 4.1 model, while X-powered messaging is being rolled out to iOS, Android and web users

Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (November 18, 2025)

YourStory presents daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Monday November 18, 2025. From fintech IPOs and AI breakthroughs to emerging startup hubs and leadership moves in tech, heres a quick look at this week's roundup. Featured Stories PhysicsWa

Sarla Aviation Unveils a 500-Acre eVTOL Sky Factory in Andhra Pradesh

Sarla Aviation will invest Rs 1,300 crore in a 500-acre eVTOL manufacturing campus in Andhra Pradesh, aiming to build 1,000 aircraft a year.

Narendra Babu: Driving security, personalization, and speed with AI

From fraud prevention to personalized credit, PayU CTO Narendra Babu shares how AI has evolved from a niche tool to a company-wide enabler, driving security, efficiency, and innovation across fintech and beyond.

This budgeting app has half off annual subscriptions for Black Friday

Those looking for a better way to keep track of their finances should consider a budgeting app . There are dozens of them on the market now, and one of our favorites is running a discount for new subscribers. Monarch Money is offering 50 percent off annual plans right now when you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout. With the typical yearly price being $100, this will save you $50. As mentioned before, the discount is only for new users and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web as well. You can't redeem it through the Monarch mobile app. We feel that Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers and that certain aspects of the app are slightly more complex than they probably need to be. But it offers a great deal of customization and granularity , which outweighs our misgivings. On the main dashboard, you'll see your net worth along with your latest transactions, spending versus the previous month, your income so far for the month and details about upcoming bills, your investments and goals you've set. There's also a link to a month-in-review page, which offers an in-depth overview of what's been happening with your money that month. You'll also be able to take a peek at how your net worth has changed over time. Monarch can connect to your bank and track Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings accounts. It can pull in your transactions and balance history automatically and detect your recurring expenses and income. The app can even keep your car valuation up to date. While it might take a little work to set up Monarch (and you might have to tweak things here and there), it's a detailed budgeting app that can help you keep better track of your income, expenditure and net worth. If you're a former Mint user (RIP), Monarch Money is a great alternative if you haven't yet found a Mint replacement . But it's worth mentioning that our favorite Mint replacement service, Quicken Simplifi , also has a sale going on right now. It's offering 50 percent off when you sign up for an annual subscription, billed at $3 per month with the discount. That comes out to $36 for the first year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-budgeting-app-has-half-off-annual-subscriptions-for-black-friday-174011264.html?src=rss

Le Wand Lick 3-in-1 Review: Three Times the Pleasure

This double-ended vibrator gives you a bit of everything in one unique-looking package.

iPhone Air designer Abidur Chowdhury leaves Apple for an AI startup

Abidur Chowdhury, per Bloombergs Mark Gurman, has left the tech giant to join an artificial intelligence startup

Assam launches national programme to push innovation and traceability in tea sector

The initiative, held at the Assam Water Centre Auditorium in Guwahati, brought together central ministries, export agencies, global brands, research institutions and startups to chart a technology-led future for Assams tea sector.

Do animals have mental health problems?