Nothing launches Ear 3 wireless earbuds with talk button: Price and features

The talk button uses two microphones and beamforming technology to improve voice clarity in noisy environments

NVIDIA throws Intel a $5 billion lifeline to build PC and data center CPUs

NVIDIA has today announced it will invest $5 billion in Intel as part of a new collaboration between the two companies. In a statement, NVIDIA said it would work with its ailing rival to jointly develop multiple generations of custom data center and PC products. The partnership will focus on marrying NVIDIAs class-leading GPU and AI chips with Intels ailing x86 CPUs. That includes Intel building NVIDIA-custom x86 CPUs for integration with the latter companys AI products. PC users, meanwhile, should expect to see Intel building and / or selling x86 chips that integrate NVIDIAs RTX GPU chiplets. Its not clear if this means the end of Intels in-house graphics silicon or if these products will focus on broadening access to NVIDIAs high-end GPU technology. The statement includes personal remarks from both NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who says the deal tightly couples Intels x86 CPUs with NVIDIAs AI technology. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, meanwhile, says the deal will combine its CPU know-how, its process technology, manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities with NVIDIAs. The partnership is interesting for a wide variety of reasons, including the fact few companies have opted to go with Intels foundry business to actually build chips. And that the momentum in the chip space has been pointed away from Intel for several years after several high-profile stumbles . This breaking news story is developing, please refresh for more information. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/nvidia-throws-intel-a-5-billion-lifeline-to-build-pc-and-data-center-cpus-122030186.html?src=rss

Bumble BFFs revamped app is here, focusing on friend groups and community building

Bumble BFF's revamped app introduces a new groups feature to help users connect with new friends beyond one-on-one matching.

Mumbai hosts 1.42 lakh millionaires, more than Delhi and Bengaluru combined

Delhi hosts 68,200 millionaires and Bengaluru 31,600, but neither has matched Mumbais scale of corporate and financial wealth.

Construction tech firm Infra.Market secures Rs 732 Cr funding by Nikhil Kamath

Indian construction materials platform Infra.Market secured Rs 732 crore in fresh funding as the company prepares for a public listing. The Series G round was led by Nikhil Kamath's family office NKSquared with a Rs 200 crore investment. Silverline Homes, a company associated with co-founder Aadit

Uber will (once again) test delivering food by drone this year

Uber Eats is testing out drone deliveries yet again, this time in partnership with Flytrex. To note, Flytrex is one of the drone operators behind Walmart's drone deliveries and already delivers food in some parts of the US. It's one of the four providers that received authorization by the FAA for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, in which pilots can't see the aircraft they're controlling directly. The partnership, the companies said, will enable Uber Eats customers to receive orders within minutes while reducing road congestion. They're planning to launch their drone delivery service for pilot markets in the US by the end of the year. As part of their partnership, Uber is also making an investment in Flytrex, giving it the resources needed to be able to accelerate the deployment of its drone technology in the US. Autonomous technology is transforming mobility and delivery faster than ever before said Sarfraz Maredia, the President of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber. With Flytrex, we're entering the next chapter bringing the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to the Uber Eats platform, at scale, for the first time. It sounds like Uber is expecting this pilot testing program to have a much wider reach that its previous attempt. Way back in 2018, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi talked about the possibility of starting a drone-based food delivery service by 2021. Uber, under a product called Uber Elevate, then made a few test deliveries in partnership with McDonald's in 2020, but the service didn't get a wide release. The company also unveiled its own unmanned aerial system capable of vertical take-off and landing that was designed to carry meals for two people, but it's unclear what happened to that particular project. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/uber-will-once-again-test-delivering-food-by-drone-this-year-120017602.html?src=rss

Heavy-duty truck maker Blue Energy Motors raises $30M from Nikhil Kamath, others

Blue Energy Motors will use the fresh funds to expand its manufacturing capacity and develop LNG and electric heavy-duty trucks.

Insects are vanishing! Population drops by 72%, triggering biodiversity crisis

A recent study reveals a concerning decline in insect populations, even in remote, untouched ecosystems. Researchers observed a staggering 72% decrease in insect abundance in a Colorado subalpine meadow over two decades, linking it to rising summer temperatures. This alarming trend underscores the far-reaching impact of climate change on global biodiversity and ecosystem health, demanding urgent conservation action.

India adds a millionaire every 30 minutes: Hurun report

The Mercedes-Benz Hurun India Wealth Report 2025 estimates that millionaire households comprise about 0.31% of all Indian households and are projected to keep rising, driven by strong economic momentum.

Scientists detect strange shifts in the Earths core using GRACE satellites

A recent study reveals dynamic transformations in Earth's lower mantle, impacting both earthquakes and the magnetic field. GRACE satellites detected a gravitational anomaly in 2007, linked to a mineral phase change that increased mantle density. This deformation of the core boundary coincided with unusual magnetic field disturbances, suggesting a connection between deep mantle activity and Earth's surface phenomena.

The Home Depot Deals During the 2025 Decor Days Sales Event

The Home Depot is offering up to 50 percent off home goods during September. Heres the breakdown on the biggest Home Depot deals.

iPhone 17 review: Closer to Pro

For years, the regular iPhone received hand-me-downs from the Pro models. This was less so with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, but the trickle-down philosophy was still there to a degree. For 2025 and the iPhone 17 ($799) is no longer the compromise that the base model used to be. Apple finally blessed it with a 120Hz display and this years most exciting camera feature, Center Stage. While it may seem like Apple is no longer forcing iPhone users to compromise, or at least not to the degree it used to, theres still one big thing to consider. With the introduction of the iPhone Air , the company has shaken up the screen sizes across the iPhone 17 lineup. Instead of the previous 6.1-inch iPhone and 6.7-inch Plus model, Apple is splitting the difference with the iPhone 17s 6.3-inch screen. That also aligns it size-wise with the iPhone 17 Pro, while the Air sits in the middle of the series at 6.5 inches. I guess Im a big-phone guy now, because its been a rough week transitioning from the 16 Plus to the iPhone 17. At times I feel like my phone is a toy, and at others its like I stepped back in time. I dont particularly like either sensation. Putting my screen size preferences aside, the iPhone 17 remains the best iPhone for most people. Since Apple brought its best new features to this regular model this year, you dont have to feel like youre waiting for the exciting tools from the Air or Pro to make it to a more affordable iPhone model in 12 months. The upgraded display and new front camera are certainly the highlights, but the iPhone 17 remains a solidly built device with dependable all-day battery life and capable performance. Finally, a 120Hz display A big change on the iPhone 17 is the 6.3-inch ProMotion 120Hz display. Not only is it slightly bigger than the 6.1-inch iPhone 16, but it finally refreshes faster now. The higher refresh rate was one of the last remaining items Apple had yet to bring down from its Pro models, and this one makes a big difference to the overall experience. Swiping around iOS 26 feels a lot smoother. Apps like Instagram and Safari where I previously encountered some jitters now move effortlessly. When its time to venture outside, youll be glad that Apple boosted the peak brightness to 3,000 nits a 1,000-nit increase from the iPhone 16. Its a welcome upgrade for the times you need to use your phone in direct sunlight. The company also equipped the iPhone 17 with an always-on display, which is useful for updates at a glance if youve missed a notification. And of course, Dynamic Island is still there, providing ongoing info for progress on things like live sports, music playback, navigation, ride sharing and more. You wont really notice the display upgrade until you start using the phone, so a quick glance wont reveal any obvious hardware changes. Unless you do a side-by-side with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, where the size variation will be apparent, you wont detect any difference. Flip over to the back though and theres an almost entirely new color palette. Black and white remain, but Lavender, Sage and Mist Blue have replaced last years Ultramarine, Teal and Pink options. I prefer this years hues, as they arent as pastel-y as the 2024 lineup, and that Sage green looks really sharp in person. Venture back to the front and theres another important update that isnt visible. Apple upgraded the scratch resistance with Ceramic Shield 2, which the company says provides three times better protection than on the iPhone 16. I needed to keep my iPhone 17 pristine for photos during my review, so I havent put it in situations with the potential for injury just yet. My mischievous cocker spaniel did get a hold of it for a few minutes, but there are no visible teeth marks or scratches from that harrowing (for me) incident. Camera updates take Center Stage Billy Steele for Engadget For many, camera performance is the most essential aspect of an iPhone, and this years model got a significant upgrade there. The biggest change is the new 18MP Center Stage front camera that replaces the 12MP TrueDepth camera. This new version has a square sensor that enables the iPhone 17 to automatically switch from portrait to landscape when more people enter the frame for a selfie. After using Center Stage for about a week, its easily the best new camera feature Apple has released in years. I can concede that the addition of macro mode and Photographic Styles in previous iPhones were also excellent, but Center Stage feels like magic. Im not even a big selfie taker, but when I do need to snap one on a family outing, this 41 year old no longer feels like a Boomer holding his phone sideways. The adjustments happen quickly so youre not left waiting, and if you dont like it, you can disable the auto rotation, auto zoom or both. Center Stage also works with video calls to keep you in the frame. This is particularly helpful if youre walking or otherwise moving around while trying to have a chat. It does take a second for the system to make its adjustment after you move from the center of the frame, but its smooth and wont be a distraction to anyone on the call. Another update to the front-facing camera is a new Dual Capture mode. This simultaneously records footage with the front and rear cameras for things like reaction videos. As the parent of two kids in youth sports, I can see the utility for things like championship games, or even milestone moments at school. I think a lot of people will also film themselves singing along at concerts, but Im not one of them. Billy Steele for Engadget The only issue I have with Dual Capture is that its a challenge to keep both the action and yourself in frame. You cant look in two places at once, so if you want to maintain a centered reaction shot or ongoing commentary, youll have to figure out a way to juggle the shots. Ive yet to master it myself and youll likely struggle if you prefer your selfie clips shot from a downward angle. The front-facing camera isnt the only photography-centric upgrade on the iPhone 17. Around back, there are now two 48MP Fusion cameras. On the iPhone 16, only the main was a Fusion camera while the ultra-wide has a 12MP sensor. Youll get the same 0.5x, 1x and 2x zoom options as before, automatic macro mode, True Tone flash and the rest of the handy features from the iPhone 16 like Portrait Lighting. If youre into Apples Photographic Styles, theres a new one called Bright that enhances skin tones and makes the rest of the image more vibrant. My colleague Cherlynn Low compared it to the now-retired Oslo filter on Instagram, and I think thats an apt comparison. By default, the main camera delivers shots in 24MP resolution for a balance of detail and brightness. In general, the photos I took with the iPhone 17 appeared to be slightly sharper than those I captured with my iPhone 16 Plus, especially in details like texture (as evidenced by the photos of pumpkins and my dog Biscuit). There isnt a huge leap in rear camera performance here, but I noticed a slight improvement. In lower-light settings, like in my pictures under the awning of my local produce stand and inside a local bar, colors remained accurate and crisp. Macro images were just as sharp and detailed as before, judging from my close-up of a sunflower which you can see here. Night time pics still produce accurate colors, especially when rendering the warmth or coolness of street lights, and those elements arent lacking in clarity either. Swap your camera settings to 48MP and youll notice enhanced detail in images that contain landscapes, as one example. Just keep in mind that those max-res photos are limited to 1x zoom and any Night mode or flash shots will always be saved at 12MP. Besides the fact that it uses the non-Pro A19 processor, the cameras are the main area the iPhone 17 lags behind the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max . They have a third camera around back a 48MP Fusion telephoto thats equipped with 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization. That three-camera array also provides additional zoom options at 4x and 8x. They also unlock ProRAW for stills and both ProRes and ProRes Raw for video, and come with a four-microphone setup for studio-quality audio capture. If you desire the pinnacle of Apples photographic prowess (currently, anyway), the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 $300 more than the iPhone 17. Performance Billy Steele for Engadget While Apple equipped the iPhone 17 with its latest A19 chip, theres still a six-core CPU and five-core GPU same as the iPhone 16. The difference here is that the GPU now has Neural Accelerators on each core, which Apple says will boost peak computing power for AI tasks. Unless youre coming from an older iPhone, you probably wont notice too much of an improvement year-to-year. Apple explains that the CPU performance in the iPhone 17 is up to 50 percent faster than the iPhone 13, but that phone is from four years ago basically an eternity. Obviously, youd expect to see a major uptick in speed when comparing the flashy new model to such an aging device. That said, the iPhone 17 speedily handled any task I threw at it. During my everyday use, I didnt encounter a single time the phone stuttered or struggled to complete the job. The only time I had to wait for anything was for Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT to generate my latest prompt or make a Genmoji in Image Playground (I dont recommend asking for a hot dog thunderstorm, by the way). Whats more, I never noticed the iPhone 17 getting warm when using these AI tools on their own, but it did start to heat up when I simultaneously started multitasking (playing music, etc.). The iPhone 17 never got more than noticeably warm to the touch, though. Im not an avid mobile gamer, but I did play some Destiny: Rising (a recommendation from the Engadget staff) on the iPhone 17 for my due diligence. The combination of the A19 chip and the 120Hz display provided silky smooth action for the first-person shooter, even in chaotic skirmishes. Plus, the iPhone 17 didn't get hot during my gaming sessions, despite not having the vapor chamber that the Pros do. This probably led me to play a lot longer than I should at times, since the device never got warm enough to remind me of how much time had passed. The iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max and Air all have the more powerful A19 Pro chip, but the regular iPhone this year is a capable mobile gaming device too. The arrival of iOS 26 My colleague Mat Smith covered all the new features of iOS 26 in detail, so Ill refer you to his guide for the nitty gritty on the update. I will offer some quick thoughts on the new software overall, starting with Liquid Glass. After a week with the latest design, Im still not a fan. In some areas the refresh is useful: I particularly like the changes to CarPlay, the phone app and Messages. Im also starting to get onboard with the tweaks to the Camera app. But for every one update thats helpful, I find five more I hate. I dont like the new menu in Apple Music that sometimes requires an extra tap to reveal the options, which is one of my biggest annoyances. I do love the combination of the iPhone 17s always-on display and iOS 26s Priority Notifications. Its immensely helpful to glance over at my phone and see if theres anything I need to address immediately. This pairing is also handy when it shows me things when I mightve missed a notification as it first popped up. Its only been a week, so Im likely to find other elements I can put to good use as I spend more time with the new OS. And since iOS 26 is a bigger visual overhaul than Apples typical annual refresh, the iPhone 17 feels like even more of an upgrade. Since Ive also been using the AirPods Pro 3 for the last several days, two features Ive tested a lot are the earbuds heart-rate tracking and Live Translation. Its nice to not have to postpone a workout if my Apple Watch is charging, since I now know the AirPods Pro 3 will track my movement and properly credit my Activity Rings. I also cant wait to travel abroad with Live Translation, since the tests Ive conducted at home have already produced surprisingly helpful results. Battery life Billy Steele for Engadget Once again, Apple promises all day battery life on the iPhone 17. Of course, the company doesnt quantify that phrase, other than a commitment to 30 hours of video playback or 27 hours of streaming time. My colleague Sam Rutherford got nearly 25 hours while streaming a video as a comparison for his review of the iPhone Air . During a day of what Id consider regular use checking email, responding to Slack messages, listening to music, calls, texting, scrolling Instagram and watching a few episodes of The Bear I still had 16 percent battery left by bed time. Thats after a day that started at 7AM and ended at 12AM, and I had the always-on display active the entire time. Apple slightly increased the MagSafe wireless charging wattage on the iPhone 17. Its now up to 25W (with a 30W adapter), which matches the iPhone 16 Plus, and is a 3W increase from the iPhone 16. If you dont mind cables, you can expect to recharge to 50 percent in 20 minutes with a 40W (or higher) adapter and to get halfway with a 30W charging accessory in half an hour. That charging-to-50-percent time on the iPhone 17 is faster than what you get on the 16 and 16 Plus by 10 and 15 minutes respectively. The competition If youre looking for a non-Apple alternative, Googles Pixel 10 is your best bet. It has improved performance compared to its predecessor along with an upgraded telephoto camera with 5x zoom. Theres support for Googles take on MagSafe (Pixelsnap) and the Gemini-powered Magic Cue feature is surprisingly handy. Plus, the Pixel 10 starts at $799, just like the iPhone 17. Samsungs latest entry-level flagship, the Galaxy S25 , is less of an obvious choice. Since the series has long been a rival of Apples iPhone, it merits inclusion here. The S25s display and cameras havent been upgraded over the S24s, but it has a powerful new processor and excellent battery life. Gemini works better on the S25 than it did in the past and theres the solid build quality that Samsung always offers at this price range. Speaking of cost, the S25 also costs the same as the iPhone 17. Wrap-up With the most significant update in years, the iPhone 17 is an easy choice for an upgrade for most people. Even if youre coming from the iPhone 16, youll reap the benefits of the overhauled display and improved cameras. I dont say any of that lightly as Im not a person who recommends getting a new phone every year. Most of the time, there simply aren't compelling enough changes to warrant it. Thats not the case this year, and if youre coming from an iPhone thats a few years old, youll likely feel as if youve stepped into the future. I went into this review expecting to be eager to return to my iPhone 16 Plus when I was through testing. And while I do prefer the larger device after using it for a year, the updates Apple has amassed on the iPhone 17 especially the Center Stage camera have appeased that desire for now. I dont have much use for the performance boosts that the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max provide, and I cant justify splurging just for a bigger display. So, I can confidently say that even though theres one less option in the regular iPhone lineup than there was a year ago, the iPhone 17 is still the best iPhone for most of us. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-17-review-closer-to-pro-110055511.html?src=rss

Cybercriminals Have a Weird New Way to Target You With Scam Texts

Scammers are now using SMS blasters to send out up to 100,000 texts per hour to phones that are tricked into thinking the devices are cell towers. Your wireless carrier is powerless to stop them.

Anti-Trump Protesters Take Aim at Naive US-UK AI Deal

Thousands marched in London to protest President Donald Trumps second state visit. Among them were many environmental activists unhappy with Britains new AI deal with the US.

Metas New Smart Glasses Got a Subtle Name Change. It Speaks Volumes About Whats Wrong With Them

Having left competitors in the shade by adhering to vital lessons on what works on your face, Mark Zuckerberg has reverted to old habits with Meta Ray-Ban Displayand thats not good.

DevSparks Chennai 2025: Whats lined up for devs on Sep 20?

Ahead of DevSparks Chennai edition, heres your guide to the tech, talks, and talent at the event, and why you wont want to miss it.

Relationships with AI chatbots made children suicidal, claim three parents at U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Parents shared their experiences at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots

The best ergonomic keyboards for 2025

A simple experiment can tell you whether an ergonomic keyboard could be more comfortable for you: With your elbows hugged into your sides, bring your thumbs to touch in front of you. Now angle your elbows slightly outward and separate your hands. If the latter position feels better, you may appreciate the design of an ergonomic keyboard. These boards split, tilt and/or angle the keys in so your shoulders and chest feel more open and your forearms and wrists stay aligned. Some ergonomic keyboards are fully split, some are unibody split (Alice designs). Some use a columnar orientation, have thumb clusters and take advantage of programmable keys. I tried more than 15 with a mix of all these features and included info about the benefits of various designs so you can pick the best ergonomic keyboard for you (because it wont be the same for everyone). Table of contents Best ergonomic keyboards for 2025 What to look for in an ergonomic keyboard How we tested ergonomic keyboards Other ergonomic keyboards we tested Ergonomic keyboard FAQ Best ergonomic keyboards for 2025 What to look for in an ergonomic keyboard You might be looking into ergonomic accessories to help with a specific problem, such as carpal tunnel or tendonitis. Or maybe youre simply looking for a way to make long hours at your desk more comfortable. It can help to know some of the terminology and reasons behind various features, which we explain below. Just keep in mind that new equipment alone wont solve the problem. Changing positions , doing regular stretches and taking walk breaks will all go a long way towards making you feel better while you work. Alice vs split Most ergonomic keyboard layouts fall into two categories: unibody (or Alice) and split. The former is a single board with the two halves of the keys rotated about 30 degrees apart at the bottom. The separation forms an A-shaped space between the keys which has nothing to do with why its called an Alice layout, its just a happy coincidence. This subtle tweak pushes your elbows away from your ribs while keeping a straight line from your forearm to your middle knuckle. Using one, I pretty instantly felt more open along the front side of my body. This layout more closely resembles a traditional keyboard, so it should be easier for most folks to get used to than a fully split option. Speaking of, split boards break the keys into two separate parts you can position individually. You can put them shoulder distance apart, bring them closer together or angle them as much as feels comfortable. You can also put your mouse between the halves, which may feel like an easier trip for your cursor hand and could potentially help with conditions like repetitive strain injuries (RSI). Personally, I like being able to put my current snack between the two parts. I've also found that pairing a split keyboard with a good ergonomic mouse has helped me even more, particularly a vertical mouse. Tenkeyless You can find ergonomic keyboards with and without number pads. Not having those number keys on the right hand side lets you keep your mouse closer in, minimizing overall reach. But if you work with numbers a lot, youll likely want that pad included. Some programmable boards allow for the use of layers, which temporarily repurpose keys and can provide you with a ten-key option through clever remapping of letter keys. Tenting and negative tilt Tenting raises the middle of the keyboard up, so your hands move closer to a handshake position. Alice keyboards usually angle up towards the middle and always to a fixed degree, since the two sides are connected. Split boards often let you adjust the degree of tenting, going from flat to subtle to extreme lift. You may have encountered keyboards with an optional lift at the back of the board, raising the top keys higher than the space bar. Every set of hands is different, but for most people, pulling the backs of the hands towards the forearms increases strain. Negative tilt has the opposite effect by sloping in the other direction, lowering the top number keys while raising the edge with the spacebar. Many Alice and some split keyboards offer an optional negative tilt. I found it was more comfortable to enable that feature when Im standing, and I preferred to have the keys flat when sat at my desk. Staggered vs columnar This decision seems to be one of the more hotly-contested among ergo enthusiasts. A conventional keyboard has staggered keys, with each row slightly offset to the rows above and below it so the A key is about halfway between the Q and W above it. This is a holdover from vintage mechanical typewriters, in which each press activated a hammer that smashed ink onto paper in the shape of a letter. To fit the hammers as close together as possible, while still allowing for finger pads, the keys were staggered. Columnar or ortholinear keyboards stack the keys in orderly columns, often with rows that are not linear. Proponents claim this makes the keys easier to reach. Whether thats true will be up to your fingers to decide, but I can say for certain that if you learned to type on a staggered keyboard, switching to a columnar layout is tough. It will take days, possibly weeks before you instinctively hit the C key. The N, M and B keys dont fare much better. Programmable keys With a few exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as a standard typing input, but the use of function and hot keys may require some remapping. It can be as easy as an onboard switch to toggle between Mac and PC layouts, or as involved as downloading software to change up the keys. Some boards even include (or let you buy) extra keycaps to change, say, the Macs Command and Option keys to PCs Start and Alt buttons. Those are what's called hot-swappable keys, meaning you just pull the old key off (usually with a provided key puller) and stick the new one on, no soldering required. For some boards, remapping or programming keys using software is a crucial feature. Gaming peripherals have extra keys that you can set to execute a series of keystrokes with the push of a single button, and we cover the best gaming keyboards in a separate guide. Keyboards that work with layers, in which a single button can perform several functions, typically allow you to change what those are. Some ergo keyboards have non-standard layouts, like thumb clusters with multiple keys near the space bar that you operate with your thumb. Youll also be able to program those. Other considerations Ergonomic keyboards come in mechanical, membrane, and scissor switch versions. Which works best for you is, again, up to your preference. I wont get too deep into the particulars here, as we have an entire guide devoted to the best mechanical boards , but the short of it is that membrane and scissor switches are less customizable than mechanical and typically cheaper. Typing on them tends to be quieter and softer. Mechanical switches are more customizable, offer a more responsive typing experience and are usually pricier. Youll also have the option of wired or wireless ergonomic boards. All other things being equal, wired models are less expensive. Competitive gamers who rely on split-second responses may prefer the zero-lag of wired keyboards. Wired models also never run out of battery life and have fewer connectivity issues. But wireless keyboards keep your desk less cluttered. Some ergonomic keyboards come with permanent or removable wrist or palm rests, which can be cushioned or hard. This is another area where opinions diverge: proponents claim they help you maintain a neutral hand position, while detractors say they put pressure on the tendons and can cause wrist pain or even exacerbate conditions like carpal tunnel. Ideally, your palms should be resting, not your wrists, and you might find you like having that support or you may find the pressure uncomfortable. Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget How we tested ergonomic keyboards All our guides begin with extensive research to figure out whats out there and whats worth testing. We consider brands with good reputations that weve heard good things about from colleagues and look at keyboard reviews in forums and other trusted publications. For this guide, I looked for keyboards with ergonomic features like tenting, split keys, palm support and so on. I also zeroed in on boards that didnt require a deep amount of familiarity with the vast and exhaustive world of custom keyboards. Once I settled on ten boards, I acquired them and used each one for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I tried out the remapping and macros software and considered the comfort, design, price and durability of each model before arriving at picks I think will work best for the most people out there. For subsequent updates to this guide, I have continued to acquire and test out new keyboards as they come on the market, adding and replacing the top picks as warranted. If and when Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, like the Sculpt, come back on the market, as a collaboration with Incase has promised , I'll try those models, too. Other ergonomic keyboards we tested Naya Create I didnt get to fully test the Naya Create keyboard, but I was able to try one out for a few minutes during CES this year . Its one of the more customizable keyboards youll find. Not only is it a fully split, mechanical board with programmable keys, the thumb clusters sit just below two modular platforms that each accept a touchpad, trackball, dial or a 3D joystick. These are meant to replace your mouse and other input devices, eliminating travel for your cursor hand. Each half of the keyboard body bends in two places to allow for precise tenting and, from my short time with the Naya, the hinges and the entire board felt solidly built. The Naya Create starts at $500 before you add on any of the mouse modules, but thats not stopping people from ordering. According to Nayas website, the first three batches of pre-orders sold out and the fourth batch will ship in July 2025. Kinesis Advantage 360 If you want something fully split with thumb clusters and a columnar layout but thats a little less minimal than the Zsa Voyager and wireless to boot the Advantage 360 from Kinesis, makers of the popular Advantage 2 is a good one to check out. It looks like it comes from an 80s-era IBM office, but is somehow also from the future. The tenting goes from low to intense and the key well curves concavely to meet your fingers where they naturally land. The 360 is per-key programmable , works with layers and has four macros keys. Periboard 835 For a mechanical Alice keyboard with both wireless and wired capabilities, the Periboard 835 is a good pick. The Mac and Windows-compatible board has a solid build, low profile switches, RGB lighting, comfortable tenting and a few extra programmable keys. Goldtouch Elite Adjustable I remember wondering if something like the Goldtouch Elite Adjustable existed when I first started testing ergonomic keyboards. It didnt at the time, as far as I could tell, but now a connected yet adjustable split board is indeed a product you can buy. Its a solidly-built board and the ball joint connecting the two halves feels like it will put up with a lot of use. A squeeze of the lever at the top of the keys lets you set the board just how you like, adjusting both the vertical tenting and the angle between the two halves. Theres no programming to speak of, just the ability to swap a few function keys like print screen and home. Unfortunately, the tenting doesnt work for me. Because of the extra keys at the outer edges, raising the middle edges upwards lifts the center keys considerably, which brings my wrists and forearms off the desk instead of letting them rest. Holding them like that created extra neck and shoulder strain on my part, which is sort of the opposite of the goal. But if youre not into tenting anyway and want a flat, Alice-split board with an adjustable splay, this works quite well. Kinesis Form Split Touchpad Keyboard The idea behind the Kinesis Form Split Touchpad Keyboard is pretty ergonomic: put the trackpad between the two halves and minimize travel for your mouse hand. The distance between the two puts your elbows at a comfortable distance and keeps your wrist nearly in-line with your forearms. The build is excellent, with low profile mechanical switches that feel smooth and just the right amount of clacky. The trackpad is responsive, but gestures only work with Windows computers. Even dragging and dropping doesnt work on a Mac here, so I dont see Apple users getting much use out of the board. I also found myself wishing for the slightest rotation of the keys though theyre a good distance apart, a slight angle would keep my wrists fully unbent. Theres no tenting or negative tilt either, both of which could help a bit more, ergonomically speaking. Logitech Wave Keys While it's a perfectly fine and affordable Bluetooth keyboard, the Logitech Wave has minimal ergonomics. The keys rise up slightly in the middle and there's a comfortable wrist rest attached, but the layout is the same as any other keyboard, with no splitting of the keys to open up your arms or keep your wrists straight. Ergonomic keyboard FAQs What kinds of ergonomic keyboard styles are there? Most ergonomic keyboards fall into two categories: fully split which separates the board into two pieces, and unibody split, also known as an Alice design, which angles the keys outward at the bottom. When the keys are rotated outward or split into two halves, it allows for a wider spread between your elbows for a more relaxed typing position. Other ergonomic features, such as thumb clusters, center tenting and negative tilting are sometimes added to either type of board. Which keyboard layout is the most ergonomic? Since every person is different, theres no one best ergonomic keyboard layout. The standard QWERTY layout is what most people are used to. The Dvorak, Colemak and Workman layouts rearrange the board to put the more commonly used letters closer to the home-key position. All three are intended to minimize your finger movements. That may indeed feel more comfortable and less fatiguing, but people used to the QWERTY layout will likely need to relearn how to type. When do I need a split keyboard? You might feel some relief with a fully split keyboard if you find yourself tensing up at the shoulders as you type on a standard board. Putting some distance between your hands may allow your chest to stay more open, which for some is an easier position to maintain. You may also appreciate being able to place your mouse or trackpad between the two halves of the board to minimize the distance your cursor hand needs to travel. How long does it take to adjust to an ergonomic keyboard? That depends on the type of keyboard. Since the Alice-split design simply rotates the keys apart, typing on it feels fairly similar to the regular keyboards youre already used to. A fully split board will take a little more adjustment, particularly if it uses thumb clusters. The enter, shift and control buttons may now be operated by your thumbs instead of your other fingers and that can be tough to get used to. It took me a full month to get completely comfortable with a fully split keyboard with thumb clusters. But now, I prefer it to typing on regular boards. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-ergonomic-keyboard-130047982.html?src=rss

A Collision With Another Planet Could Have Allowed for Life on Earth

Analysis by researchers at the University of Bern suggests that water and other volatile compounds arrived on Earth from outer spacespecifically via a collision with a Mars-sized planet billions of years ago.

Walmart Indias losses narrow to Rs 111 Cr as revenue inches up in FY25

Walmart India's revenue from operations rose 2.5% to Rs 5,330 crore in FY25 from Rs 5,200 crore in the previous year, according to the companys filings.

Jaro Education announces Rs 450 Cr IPO

The edtech firm has fixed a price band of Rs 846 to Rs 890 per share for its maiden IPO.

Elon Musk announces SpaceXs new watership Youll Thank Me Later: The bizarre name and the mission behind it

SpaceX, under Elon Musk's leadership, is developing a new watership named 'You'll Thank Me Later' to transport Starship rockets from Starbase, Texas, to Cape Canaveral, Florida. This vessel will support SpaceX's goal of 25 Starship launches per year from Florida, improving efficiency and reducing logistical challenges. The watership's name reflects SpaceX's tradition of science-fiction-inspired naming conventions.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Review | Stands strong on AI integration, refined performance and a stellar camera system

Positioned as the more affordable entry in the series, the Galaxy S25 FE brings signature highlights like a triple-camera setup, AI-powered features, and a long-lasting battery, wrapped in a design that closely mirrors its premium siblings

PayU raises holding in payments startup Mindgate to 70%

Established in 2008, Mumbai-based Mindgate Solutions provides digital payment solutions to banks, governments, merchants, and corporations.

OpenAI and Google DeepMind AI models win gold at ICPC

While OpenAI said GPT-5 achieved a perfect score, Googles Gemini 2.5 Deep Think solved 10 of the 12 problems in the contest

NASA alert! Massive 2025 FA22 asteroid FA22 racing past Earth at 24,000 mph September 18; heres what you need to know

A massive asteroid, 2025 FA22, will safely pass Earth on September 18, 2025, at a distance of 4.6 million miles. Initially considered potentially hazardous due to its size, it has since been removed from the risk list. This flyby offers a valuable opportunity for scientists to study a large near-Earth object and refine asteroid tracking models.

The best smartphones to buy in 2025

You might already have a good idea of which smartphone you want to be your next one. But there are more solid options available now than ever before, making the decision not as cut-and-dry as it used to be. While the decision is a bit easier if you know you want an iPhone, there's even enough variation between those new models that you may have to think about it longer than you anticipated. If youre an Android person, you have even more options to choose from including foldables and more questions to answer before you spend any money. At Engadget, we review phones regularly and have tested dozens over the years. Whether youve had your eye on one of our current top picks, one of Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones, a cheap phone or another device, were here to help you decide which is the best phone to buy this year. Table of contents Best smartphones for 2025 Other smartphones we've tested What to look for in a smartphone Smartphone FAQs Recent updates Best smartphones for 2025 Other smartphones we've tested iPhone Air At just 5.6mm, the iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made. But its so much more than that. Its beautifully crafted and thanks to a titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 screen and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, its surprisingly durable too. The Air also has a gorgeous 6.5-inch display with ProMotion support and an A19 Pro processor, so it delivers nearly the same performance as you get from the iPhone 17 Pro line. And despite its super thin chassis not leaving a ton of room for a big power cell, battery life isnt an issue. In short, this is the iPhone design that everyone wants. However, with the Air only having a single rear camera, the question you need to answer is if youre willing to give up some extra lenses to get the most exquisitely engineered iPhone and all of its style and sleekness. S.R. OnePlus 13 While the OnePlus 13 features some basic AI features like Googles Circle to Search and Gemini assistant, its really just an old-fashioned flagship in all the best ways. Thats because instead of focusing on machine learning, OnePlus crammed the phone with tons of top-notch hardware. It sports a 6.8-inch OLED display with an incredible peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits. The OP13 also offers excellent performance thanks to Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, along with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are also three 50-MP rear cameras including one with a 3x telephoto zoom and a massive 6,000 mAh battery thats bigger than what you get in practically all of its competitors. OnePlus didnt skimp on the phones design either, as the OP13 still comes with the companys signature Alert Slider. Plus, if you opt for the blue or white variants, youll get a durable and very touchable vegan leather back that helps the phone stand out among all its glass brick rivals. But the best part is that starting at $900, it costs less than an equivalent Galaxy S25+ too. What to look for in a smartphone Android or iOS? When you're searching for the best smartphone, it becomes clear that each OS has its pros and cons. Apples tight-knit ecosystem makes it super easy to share data between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off phone calls or music from one device to another. At the same time, youre effectively locked in, as services like Apple Messages arent available on other platforms. As for Android, theres a much wider range of handsets from companies like Google, Samsung, Sony and more. However, Android phones dont enjoy that same length of software support and often have lower trade-in values. In short, theres no wrong answer. However, you will want to consider how your phone will fit in with the rest of your devices. So unless youre really fed up with one OS and willing to learn another, it probably doesnt make a lot of sense to switch from an iPhone to an Android phone (or vice versa) especially if everyone else in your household is using the same platform. Cameras Since your cell phone often pulls double duty as your primary camera, figuring out what kind of photo tools you want is key. Nowadays, practically every mobile phone can take a great picture in bright light. But if you want a long optical zoom, youll probably have to upgrade to a more expensive device. Mid-range phones often only have two rear cameras (a primary wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide camera) and can sometimes struggle in low-light situations. Each phone maker also has various features that might be a better fit for your style, with Apple offering four different color presets on the latest iPhones, while Googles Pixel 9 Pro comes with neat tools like dedicated long exposure and Action Pan modes. Will you get mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7? The good news is that in 2025, most phones have at least Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and support for some kind of 5G connectivity. However, if you want the fastest wireless speeds possible, its going to cost you a little extra. For example, on certain networks, mmWave 5G offers up to gigabit download speeds, less latency and better bandwidth. But mmWave 5G also requires more sophisticated (and pricier) modems, which means support for it is often missing on less expensive devices. On the bright side, mmWave 5G isnt as widely available as other versions of 5G, so depending on where you live and what network youre on, you may not be missing out on much right now if you buy a phone that doesnt support it. Its a similar situation for Wi-Fi 7, which is available on some high-end handsets like the Galaxy S25, but harder to find on cheaper devices. Wi-Fi 7 also requires you to have a compatible router , so unless you know you need it or have a specific use case in mind, the lack of support for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldnt be a dealbreaker when looking for a new phone. Other features to consider Because not everyone agrees on what makes the best phone, you should think about any other specs that might be extra important for you. Mobile gamers will almost certainly appreciate the 120Hz refresh rates you get on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 or the Apple iPhone 17 Pro. Alternatively, if long battery life is important, youll probably want to go with a larger iPhone or an Android phone with a battery thats between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in size. Meanwhile, if you find yourself juggling a lot of devices, it can be really nice to have a phone that supports reverse wireless charging, which on Samsung phones even lets you recharge the companys Galaxy Watches. Smartphone FAQs How do I know which smartphone is the best for me? While choosing the best smartphone can be challenging, it mostly comes down to how you plan on using the device. All of the best phones available now get the basics right youll be able to make calls, text and access the internet without many hiccups. If your smartphone is your most used gadget, you may want to consider paying for a device on the higher end of the price spectrum. That will get you better overall performance, higher-quality cameras and a phone that will last for many years. If you dont use your phone for everything, you may be able to compromise on performance and extra perks and spend less on a still-capable handset. How much is a smartphone? Smartphones range in price from $300 to over $1,500. The best budget phones available now will usually compromise on overall performance, design, camera prowess and extra features to keep costs down. On the flip side, the most expensive phones will have powerful processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most people will find a phone that fits their needs somewhere in the middle of that wide price range weve found that most of the best smartphones available right now cost between $500 and $1,000. What can you do on a smartphone? Smartphones are essentially small, portable computers that let you do things like check email, browse social media, follow map directions, make contactless payments and more. This is all on top of the basics like making phone calls and texting, which weve come to expect in all modern cell phones. Smartphones have also mostly replaced compact cameras thanks to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the fact that most smartphones today as just as portable, if not more so, as compact cameras. How long do smartphones last? Smartphones can last years and people are holding on to their phones longer now than ever before. Software updates and battery life are two of the biggest factors that can affect phone longevity. Apple promises five years worth of software updates for its latest iPhones, and Google promises the same for its Pixel phones. Samsung phones will get four years worth of Android updates from the time they launch. As for charging speeds and battery life, your phone can deteriorate over time as you use and recharge your phone on a regular basis. Recent updates September 2025: Updated to include the iPhone 17 Pro. August 2025: Updated to include the Google Pixel 10 Pro. July 2025: Updated to include the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. April 2025: Updated to include the Google Pixel 9a. February 2025: Updated to include the iPhone 16e. January 2025: Updated to include details about Samsung's latest Galaxy S-series phones. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-smartphones-140004900.html?src=rss

Startup News and Updates: Daily Roundup (September 18)

YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Monday, June 16, 2025.

Fintech apps halt rent payments after RBI tightens aggregator rules

The move follows the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) updated rules for Payment Aggregators (PAs) which bar them from handling transactions for businesses that do not have a direct contractual tie-up with them.

Republican lawmaker raises concerns about TikTok divestiture deal

TikTok U.S. would also likely still be able to access ByteDance's algorithm under the new deal, two of the sources said

IFC to invest up to $25M in Trifecta Capitals fourth debt fund

The infusion into Trifecta Venture Debt Fund IV is expected to provide venture debt to select startups at Series A stage and beyond.

YouTube, new leader of U.S. media industry, bets on AI as key for creating content

Backed by Google's deep pockets and market-leading AI know-how, YouTube has stretched its lead over Disney, which dominated the market for most of 2024, according to Nielsen data

Groq more than doubles valuation to $6.9 billion as investors bet on AI chips

Groq, founded by a former Alphabet engineer, is among a long list of new chip players looking to capitalize on hundreds of millions of dollars in investments on AI infrastructure

Apple explores test production of foldable iPhones in Taiwan: Report

Once steps are figured out, the process would be replicated in India to mass produce the phones, according to the report

Google, PayPal partner to roll out AI-powered solutions across platforms

The AI startup provides artificial intelligence search tools that deliver information summaries to users

Amazon violated online shopper protection law, judge rules ahead of Prime signup trial

The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Chun in the case accusing Amazon of deceptive practices to generate Prime subscriptions puts the company at a disadvantage at trial

Moody's flags risk in Oracle's $300 billion of recently signed AI contracts

Oracle said this month it expected booked revenue at its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure business to exceed half a trillion dollars

India leads the way on Googles Nano Banana with a local creative twist

Indian users turning Googles Nano Banana into a viral trend engine, from retro AI portraits to figurine-style selfies.

A tribute to Indias artisans; Amazon India cuts FY25 loss

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday unveiled India Handpicked, a book co-authored by Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, and Chhavi Mahajan in Mumbai. The launch also saw participation from Sumeet Jarangal, Director, DPIIT.

This investment platform is enabling fractional ownership in the F&B industry

Bengaluru-based Investorant is building unique F&B IPs with a transparent model that enables fractional sponsorship, helping investors minimise risk.

India is poised to become a global AI data centre hub

Ahead of TechSparks 2025, we explore the various elements that put India in a pre-eminent position in the AI-led data centre ecosystem.

Meta Horizon TV is an entertainment hub for VR headsets

After revealing his company's latest augmented reality and smart glasses at Meta Connect this year, Mark Zuckerberg has introduced a new entertainment hub for its Quest headsets called Horizon TV. Zuckerberg said Meta believes watching video content is going to be a huge category for both virtual reality headsets and glasses in the future. Meta has already teamed up with several major streaming services to provide shows and movies you can enjoy in VR. One of those partners is Disney+, which will give users access to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on their headsets, as well as to content from ESPN and Hulu. Based on the interface Zuckerberg showed on the event, which had a lineup of streaming apps that will be available on the hub, Meta also teamed up with Prime Video, Spotify, Peacock and Twitch. That will allow you to watch shows, such as The Boys and Fallout on your virtual reality devices. Meta also partnered with Universal Pictures and iconic horror company Blumhouse, so that you can watch horror flicks like M3GAN and The Black Phone on your Quest with immersive special effects you wont find anywhere else. The Horizon TV hub supports Dolby Atmos for immersive sounds, with Dolby Vision arriving later this year for richer colors and crisper details. For a limited time, you'll be able to watch an exclusive 3D clip of Avatar: Fire and Ash on Horizon TV, as well, as part of Meta's partnership with James Camerons Lightstorm Vision. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-horizon-tv-is-an-entertainment-hub-for-vr-headsets-011216955.html?src=rss

Meta launches Hyperscape, technology to turn real-world spaces into VR

Meta launches Hyperscape into beta, allowing users to turn real world spaces into digital spaces for VR.

Meta unveils new smart glasses with a display and wristband controller

Meta showed off its newest AI-powered smart glasses, which have a display and are controlled by a wristband, at Meta Connect 2025.

Meta Goes Even Harder Into Smart Glasses With 3 New Models

New glasses with a built-in display bring Meta's vision of the augmented reality future into focus. The popular Ray-Bans also get an update, and there's a new Oakley style for action sports.

Oakley Meta Vanguard are the smart glasses athletes might actually want

When Meta announced its first pair of Oakley-branded sunglasses, the HSTN frames , earlier this year, it called them performance AI glasses even though they only came with modest upgrades compared with Meta's Ray-Ban lineup. But the new Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, which were just unveiled at Connect, are much more clearly aimed at serious athletes and they have the features to back it up. The $499 sunglasses feature Oakley's familiar wraparound frames and shiny (swappable) lenses. They are the first of Meta's smart glasses to change the placement of the camera, which is now in the center of the frames above the nose. According to Meta, this should make it harder for a hat or a helmet to ruin your shots, which was a consistent issue for me with the HSTN glasses. Meta is making other camera adjustments that should make the glasses more reliable for capturing first-person action cam-style footage. The 12 megapixel camera now has a wider, 122-degree angle lens and adjustable video stabilization. There are also now dedicated modes for capturing slow motion videos as well as Instagram-ready hyperlapse slips. There are other spec upgrades too. Battery life has been improved to six hours of continuous music playback and nine hours of mixed use. The charging case can provide another 36 hours of battery life. Meta also told me the glasses have been optimized for a wider range of temperatures, so the battery should hold up better in very cold or very hot environments. Meta The onboard speakers are more powerful. When I cranked up the volume during my demo, I had to pause the music in order to hear the person next to me speaking. The glasses are also much more water resistant than their predecessors, with an IP67 rating that means they can be fully submerged. Meta has also changed up the button placement on the glasses, putting the capture button on the bottom right side of the glasses instead of the top. There's also a new action button that's particularly intriguing. This is a customizable button that users can program to trigger specific actions. For example, it could start playing a specific Spotify playlist or it could trigger a hyperlapse video. It can also be mapped to actions that take advantage of Meta AI, like providing a surf report or identifying what you're looking at. I'm not sure what I would use this button for, but I'm looking forward to trying it out when I get my hands on a pair for more than a few minutes. The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses will come with integrations for Strava and Garmin. In my demo, I walked on a treadmill while wearing a Garmin watch and the Vanguard glasses. This meant I could ask Meta AI for info about my heart rate and my pace. If you're a Strava user, you can overlay photos and videos from your run onto the stats you get at the end of your run. Like the HSTN glasses, I have a feeling the Vanguard frames could be a bit polarizing. Most people do not want to wear big wraparound sunglasses for daily activities. I definitely don't! But Meta has added enough new features that the $499 sunglasses might actually make sense for athletes. I've been wearing Oakley ski goggles for years and I suspect a pair of Vanguard glasses could easily replace them in most conditions. The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are available now for pre-order. They officially go on sale October 21. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/oakley-meta-vanguard-are-the-smart-glasses-athletes-might-actually-want-001511094.html?src=rss

Meta unveils its second-generation of Ray-Ban smart glasses at Connect

As expected, Meta has introduced new smart glasses during its Connect conference today. The announcements included a Gen 2 of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which retail starting at $379. There are a bunch of upgrades over the $299 Ray-Ban Meta set that the duo released in 2023. Meta highlighted improvements to battery life, which it says now lasts up to eight hours with typical use. The included charging case now provides an additional 48 hours of juice, versus 32 hours for the current one. The glasses can also charge to 50 percent battery in 20 minutes. The second-gen glasses are equipped with a 12-megapixel camera and offer 3K Ultra HD video capture, with up to 60 frames per second and HDR support. Meta says it will release updates that add hyperlapse and slow-motion video capture to all of its AI glasses later in the fall. The second-gen Ray-Ban Meta has 32GB of storage and is IPX-4 rated for water resistance. On stage at Meta Connect, Mark Zuckerberg spoke about conversation focus, a new feature that will help you hear voices better in live environments. This feature will also be coming to the first-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses. There was also a demo of live AI that did not go well. It was supposed to show Metas AI looking at ingredients on a table and helping to prepare a dish, but it appeared to skip forward a few steps and the demo ended unsuccesfully with a bad Wi-Fi excuse. On the style side, the Gen 2 Ray-Bans be available with the same three base frames as the originals: Wayfarer, Skyler and Headliner. All three will be available with a range of lenses, including regular, polarized, transitions and prescription. Polarized lenses will cost an additional $30, while transitions add $80 to the bill. Theres no set price for prescription lenses due to the innumerable ways our eyes can suck. The second-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses are available to purchase now in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, UAE, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Mexico, India and Brazil will have access to the new glasses soon.At least for now, it seems as though Ray-Ban and Meta will continue to sell its Gen 1 wearable at the same $299 price alongside the new model. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-unveils-its-second-generation-of-ray-ban-smart-glasses-at-connect-000834514.html?src=rss

Crosstalk: waning immunity against Japanese encephalitis worsens dengue

Both JEV and dengue virus belong to the same genus. Previous research had hinted at interactions between JEV immunity and dengue outcomes. To understand more, a new study examined three large dengue outbreaks in Dharan in Nepal between 2019 and 2023

Nvidia AI chip challenger Groq raises even more than expected, hits $6.9B valuation

The fresh raise comes in above the rumored numbers when word leaked in July that it was raising.

Eric Bakers long, winding road to taking StubHub public

Although StubHub's shares fell 6% in first day of trading, the IPO is testament to the co-founder's 25-year effort.

Tesla exec says the company will redesign door handles that reportedly pose safety risks

Yesterday, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Tesla following a report by Bloomberg that its electric door handles could stop working when a vehicle's low-voltage battery fails. That created a safety hazard that the publication found could trap passengers when a Tesla car was in an emergency situation, such as a crash. Now, Bloomberg is back with the news that Tesla plans to redesign those problematic handles. Tesla design head Franz von Holzhausen appeared on Bloomberg 's Hot Pursuit! podcast and said the company is considering a new approach that combines the electric and manual release mechanisms. The idea of combining the electronic one and the manual one together into one button, I think, makes a lot of sense, he said. Thats something that were working on. He didn't specify why Tesla was working on a redesign, but it's hard to imagine the timing of the federal probe isn't relevant. The company has already been in the NHTSA's sights this year. Last month, the regulator opened an investigation into how Tesla was reporting crashes with its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. Although Tesla claimed the inconsistencies in reports were due to a system error that it has fixed, the NHTSA said it would continue the probe. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-exec-says-the-company-will-redesign-door-handles-that-reportedly-pose-safety-risks-225500245.html?src=rss

Ambrosia Sky is an essay on death masquerading as a sci-fi cleaning sim

Dalia is a death cleaner. Death cleaning, as we know it, is the process of sanitizing and tidying the spaces where people take their final breaths, sometimes long after their bodies have begun to decompose. Its a job here on Earth in the year 2025, but Dalias version of death cleaning takes place on the rings of Saturn in a distant future filled with space travel, interplanetary colonization and devastating disease outbreaks. In this scenario, death cleaning involves spraying chemicals over bulging piles of otherworldly contamination and avoiding their defense mechanisms, which can cause fires, explosions and electrical interference. Dalia learns from the alien material as she cleans, harvesting fruit from fungal mounds to create new options for her sprayer. She also listens to the last words of the dead. Ambrosia Sky is the first game from independent studio Soft Rains and its story trailer landed on Wednesday. In Ambrosia Sky , Dalia is cleaning the Cluster, an agricultural outpost on Saturns rings that collapsed when a mysterious biological force subsumed the colony and its people. It's also Dalias former home. As a Scarab with The Ambrosia Project, her job is to clear out the alien fungus, research its origins and perform Death Rites on the corpses she encounters. Scarabs operate in the shadowy spaces between science and mysticism, and The Ambrosia Projects goal is to discover a cure for mortality among the stars. Death Rites involve hearing the deceased persons Last Will and cremating their body with specialized spores, adding their DNA to The Ambrosia Project for further research. Its a ritualistic acknowledgement of a persons life as much as their death, and these small ceremonies are just as critical in Ambrosia Sky as the games first-person cleaning mechanics. I really let myself and our team explore more mythological or fantastical elements, or even folkloric elements, because I think there's only so much we can know about outer space, Soft Rains narrative director Kaitlin Tremblay told Engadget. [Also] there are things that we know concretely about death, but there's so much about it we don't know. I think it's the same kind of interesting liminal space. What dont we know, and how do we tell stories and try to comfort ourselves and contend with that? That actually makes my brand of sci-fi and my approach on death really similar. Ambrosia Sky is an investigation of the universe and mortality alike, in the form of a first-person, speculative-fiction cleaning sim on Saturns rings. It features zero-gravity scenes, crafting, equipment upgrades and classic FPS play, underpinned by a slowly unfurling story of lethal disaster. Soft Rains has been quietly working on Ambrosia Sky since late 2022 and formally announced the game in March 2025. The studio was founded by Tremblay who was narrative designer on Watch Dogs Legion and Grindstone , and lead writer of A Morticians Tale and Seasonala Cemetery and other industry veterans from Bethesda, Ubisoft and indie teams. Ambrosia Sky' s story trailer features a staticky, disembodied voice saying, Hey, Dalia. Its me. When I die, I want a Scarab called in. And I want it to be you. Its surprisingly heart-wrenching, for a two-minute teaser of a sci-fi clean-em-up. Soft Rains It's just honest, right? Tremblay said. We have a lot of emotions about death, and our own death and everything around it. Some of those emotions contain brightness and some of them contain darkness, and both are equally valid. Both can exist at the same time. Death is a regular visitor in Tremblays writing. In particular, A Morticians Tale is an acclaimed presentation of the business of mortality, and Seasonala Cemetery is a meditative experience about spending time in a graveyard. In a devlog entry on June 10, Tremblay compared the mortality angle in Ambrosia Sky to that of A Morticians Tale , writing, With Ambrosia Sky , we wanted to have the opportunity to explore how we feel about our own death, rather than the death of our loved ones. I was struck by this distinction when I first read it, and because I'm also consumed by thoughts of my own inescapable expiration, I asked Tremblay for more. They said the following: That is particularly the approach I'm taking for the Death Rituals. The Death Rituals are when you find those individuals in the world and you sample their DNA for the project, but you're also listening to their recorded Last Wills. I really wanted those to be a moment to let the characters talk authentically about what their death actually means to them. Because I feel like in my work and in so many other games, it's often about how we feel about death, or our grief or our mourning process. I think this is probably a symptom of post-pandemic brain and getting older, but Im thinking a lot more about what does my death actually mean to me, and trying to sit with it in a way that doesn't keep me up until 4AM. So I think this is really that kind of approach. We all probably think about our own death and people have a lot of feelings on their own potential death, and so I wanted to give voice to that, and have this space to talk through and work through some of those emotions. And clean up giant tendrils of neon fungus, of course. Ambrosia Sky is being developed and published by Soft Rains, and it's due to come out soon. A demo is available now on Steam . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/ambrosia-sky-is-an-essay-on-death-masquerading-as-a-sci-fi-cleaning-sim-223022816.html?src=rss

Democrats are investigating Trump crypto advisor David Sacks over a possible SGE violation

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are leading a group of congressional Democrats in investigating White House Special Advisor David Sacks for possibly serving in his position for longer than he's allowed. Sacks, a former PayPal executive and venture capitalist at Craft Ventures, was originally picked by President Donald Trump to be the White House A.I. & Crypto Czar in 2024. Any effort to stay beyond the time limits imposed on you as a Special Government Employee (SGE) would raise additional ethics concerns for you and the Trump Administration, the group writes in a letter to Sacks ,particularly as it moves to implement recently enacted cryptocurrency legislation and put in place new rules for the crypto industry. Besides being friendly with the Trump campaign and allies like Elon Musk, Sacks was given his position because of his knowledge of the crypto and AI industries as an investor. That poses an obvious conflict of interest, something that's only waived during the 130-day limit that SGEs are supposed to serve. As Warren and the other Democrats backing the investigation note, though, it's possible Sacks has been working in his role for longer than that. If you have worked every calendar day since the presidential inauguration, your 130th day of work in this role was May 29, 2025, the group writes. If you have worked every business day, your 130th day was July 25, 2025. As of the date of this letter, it is the 167th business day of this Administration. As part of the investigation, Sacks is expected to offer a more detailed account of when and how he works in his advisory role, including if he answers government emails while working in Silicon Valley. Congressional Democrats are trying to verify if norms have been violated to make sure that they won't be violated in the future, but there are larger ethical concerns to contend with, too. The second Trump administration has been friendly to the crypto industry, likely thanks in part to the influence of Sacks. Trump signed an executive order calling for the creation of a federal Bitcoin stockpile and signed the GENIUS Act into law in July, establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency typically tied to the value of the US dollar. Continuing to serve in his role without leaving his position at Craft Ventures or disclosing his investments would only raise more questions about how Sacks stands to benefit from advising on regulation. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/democrats-are-investigating-trump-crypto-advisor-david-sacks-over-a-possible-sge-violation-215758087.html?src=rss

Irregular raises $80 million to secure frontier AI models

Irregular, the AI security startup, now has a valuation of $450 million, a source close to the deal told TechCrunch.

RGG accidentally leaked that it's working on Yakuza Kiwami 3

Get ready for a return to the life of Kazuma Kiryu, because it seems that a remake of Yakuza 3 is on the way. The leak was discovered on developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios' website. Fans noticed that there was an entry for Yakuza Kiwami 3 alongside the listings for the remakes of the first two Yakuza games Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 on the RGG site. Although the listing has since been removed, screencaps shared on social media documented the accidental reveal. 3 https://t.co/3a8NsbTFlu pic.twitter.com/lhzATp6yQZ (@Renka_schedule) September 17, 2025 The timing of the leak also aligns nicely with the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, where RGG is scheduled to host a dedicated event. That certainly looks like the prime moment to officially announce Yakuza Kiwami 3 as its latest remake project. It is still technically possible to play the original Yakuza 3 , which was released on PlayStation 3 in 2009. The game got remasters for the PlayStation 4 and later for the Xbox One and PC, but a full overhaul to the third entry in the franchise will be welcome news for its many loyal fans. The action-adventure Yakuza game series is known for its excellent combat mechanics, memorable characters, and storytelling that manages to weave deftly between ludicrous and profound. The whole franchise got a revamp in 2020 under the new name of Like A Dragon , and the latest entry is the wordily titled Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rgg-accidentally-leaked-that-its-working-on-yakuza-kiwami-3-211036458.html?src=rss

The DOGE Subcommittee Hearing on Weather Modification Was a Nest of Conspiracy Theorizing

A House Oversight Committee hearing produced a flood of bizarre claims about cloud seeding, chemtrails, and solar geoengineering. Proven, human-driven changes to the weather were dismissed.

Big Deals on Big TCL TVsSome Of Our Top Tested Models Are Nearly 50% Off

TCL is offering deep discounts across its mini LED range, but our favorites are at the top end.

Tesla is redesigning its door handles following safety probe, Bloomberg investigation

Chief designer Franz von Holzhausen said Wednesday that the company is working on combining the electronic and manual door releases after owners have reported getting trapped.

Kleiner Perkins-backed voice AI startup Keplar aims to replace traditional market research

The two-year-old startup raised a $3.2 million seed round led by Kleiner Perkins.

Meet Macroscope: an AI tool for understanding your code base, fixing bugs

On Wednesday, former Twitter head of product Kayvon Beykpour announced the launch of Macroscope, an AI system aimed at developers and product leaders that summarizes updates to a codebase and catches bugs, among other things.

China tells its tech companies theycantbuyAI chips from Nivida

After strongly discouraging tech companies from buying Nivdia's AI chips in August, the country is now banning the practice outright.

Fired CDC Director Says RFK Jr. Pressured Her to Blindly Approve Vaccine Changes

Susan Monarez told a Senate committee that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanded she dismiss career officials without causeand accept vaccine recommendations regardless of whether science backed them up.

The iPhone Airs real breakthrough is its battery

Apple's slimmest iPhone uses a evolutionary battery design that allows the cell to fill more space within the device, boosting overall energy storage.

Google will upgrade its revenge porn defenses with help from a UK nonprofit

Google is partnering with a UK nonprofit to fight non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII). (You may know it better as revenge porn .) Over the coming months, the company will begin using StopNCII's hashes. These user-uploaded digital fingerprints can block individuals' unwanted intimate content from appearing in search results. StopNCII has a pretty neat system to combat revenge porn. Say you have some images you most definitely don't want surfacing online. Select the picture on your device, and StopNCII will create a digital fingerprint of the file. That hash will be uploaded to the service. The photo itself never leaves your device. The organization then shares the hash (again, not the spicy pic) with participating platforms. Then, if an asshole ex takes the liberty of uploading said photo to one of those companies' services, it should be removed automatically. If the platform uses real-time hash matching, it can even block the upload immediately before it reaches anyone's eyes. It's a pretty solid defense against an ugly problem. The system isn't bulletproof. First, it only works for known images. So, if someone else has an intimate photo that you don't have a copy of, you'll have to fight that using other means. StopNCII doesn't work for AI-generated images, audio recordings or saucy text chats. The system also won't help if the content is uploaded to a non-partner platform. In addition to Google, StopNCII partners with Meta, Reddit, Pornhub, OnlyFans, Snap, Microsoft Bing, X and more. This is far from Google's first move to combat NCII. A decade ago, it created a system for submitting revenge porn takedown requests . In 2024, it made it easier to remove deepfake NCII . On Wednesday, Google product manager Griffin Hunt explained that given the scale of the open web, there's more to be done to reduce the burden on those who are affected by it. If you're 18 or older and have any photos of yourself that you want to flag proactively, you can start using StopNCII right now. Head to the org's website to create a case . Note that the service only works for pictures that are nude, semi-nude or show a sexual act. And remember, the photo itself never leaves your device , so your privacy remains intact. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-will-upgrade-its-revenge-porn-defenses-with-help-from-a-uk-nonprofit-181016291.html?src=rss

Logitech adds new devices to its gaming accessories lineup

Logitech hosted its annual G Play showcase today and unveiled a collection of new gaming peripherals. The lineup includes headsets, mice and a keyboard. The G Pro X Superlight 2c is an even more compact redesign of the company's Superlight 2 wireless mouse. This version weighs 51 grams and has up to 95 hours of battery life. It will be available on October 21 and will cost $160. Logitech's other new gaming mouse is the G Pro X Superstrike, which boasts a haptics system in its main click buttons, allowing players to customize their actuation points. It also has battery life of up to 90 hours and weighs 65 grams. There's no pricing information yet, and the release window is broadly set for the first quarter of 2026. Logitech The company also announced a pair of headsets. The Astro A20 X is a mid-range model with the handy feature of being able to connect to two consoles or PCs at once. It has 40 mm PRO-G Audio Drivers, and RGB settings. Battery life is up to 40 hours with the RGB equipped or up to 90 hours without. The A20 X comes with the same microphone as Logitech's Astro A50 X model, which is one of our favorite gaming headsets . The A20 X will cost $180 and will be available on October 8. The other new headset is the G321 Lightspeed, a budget option at $60. This set has just 20 hours of battery life and emphasizes wearability in the design. It will be available starting sometime in October. The rest of the G Play lineup includes the G515 Rapid TKL keyboard, which has a low profile and magnetic analog switches. That's available today for $170. Logitech also added new RS50 and RS pedals for driving games. On the software side, the company has also added a game launcher to its G Hub portal. It supports Epic Game Store, GOG and WeGame libraries. The G Hub Games update will roll out during the holiday season. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/logitech-adds-new-devices-to-its-gaming-accessories-lineup-180138486.html?src=rss

A MacBook Pro touchscreen? About damn time

It's somewhat ironic that Apple, the company that popularized the use of capacitive touchscreens with the iPhone and iPad, has been staunchly opposed to bringing our fingers anywhere near MacBook screens. Meanwhile, Microsoft and PC makers jumped at the opportunity to build touchscreen laptops years ago. The tablet-focused Windows 8 was a failure, sure, but touchscreens led to excellent convertible notebooks and hybrid tablets like the Surface lineup. Now, according to a new rumor from longtime Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple might finally be ready to bring touchscreens to the MacBook Pro. In a tweet posted this morning , Kuo wrote, MacBook models will feature a touch panel for the first time, further blurring the line with the iPad. This shift appears to reflect Apples long-term observation of iPad user behavior, indicating that in certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the overall user experience. MacBook models will feature a touch panel for the first time, further blurring the line with the iPad. This shift appears to reflect Apples long-term observation of iPad user behavior, indicating that in certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) September 17, 2025 Specifically, Kuo says that touchscreen MacBook Pro models are expected to enter mass production by late 2026, and that they'll use on-cell touch technology. Cheaper MacBooks (likely the Air) coming in late 2025 likely won't have touchscreens, but that could change with a 2027 refresh. Its worth pointing out that Kuos predictions, which typically come from sources within Apples supply chain, arent always accurate. But given the timing of this particular note, and the ubiquity of touchscreen laptops these days, its the idea of a touchscreen MacBook isnt too farfetched. Apple is a stubborn company, no doubt especially when it comes to adopting features from others. When referring to iPad competitors in 2010, Steve Jobs famously said, If you see a stylus, they blew it. While he was referring to using a stylus for general operation of a device, and not a highly specific use-case, it was still funny to see the Apple Pencil arrive five years later on the iPad Pro. There's a certain nobility to sticking with your design convictions, but it would have been stupid for Apple to completely ignore the benefits of tablet stylii, something Microsoft was leaning into hard with its Surface devices. So it goes with the touchscreen MacBook Pros. It's hard to deny the convenience of lazily swiping the screen when scrolling through long articles, instead of tapping repeatedly on your keyboard or swiping a touchpad. Apple's desire to keep touchscreens away from Macs is understandable. MacOS doesn't have large touch-points like iPadOS, and it's been honed for decades to work best with keyboards, mice and touchpads. But adding in basic touchscreen support doesn't really require a complete macOS redesign, especially when the platform has already had support for multitouch gestures on trackpads since the first MacBook Air arrived in 2008 . It's funny that the touchscreen MacBook Pro could also be arriving just as Apple is finally starting to make the iPad more Mac-like. iPadOS 26 adds the ability to resize app windows, easily organize them on your screen and it even brings over the menu bar from MacOS. It's as if Apple is trying to appease all of its fans: The iPad owners who want more multitasking and productivity options, as well as the Mac owners who want a bit of iPad-like convenience. Both of my kids were able to nimbly swipe around my phones and tablets at the age of two that's the power of a truly intuitive input mechanism. And to a certain degree, I also think it helped them get used to the idea of computing in general. If it's easy enough for kids to grasp, why not make touchscreens a core feature of as many products as possible? Simply put, Apple has run out of excuses. The time for touchscreen Macbooks is now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/a-macbook-pro-touchscreen-about-damn-time-180000315.html?src=rss

Google Discover is going to start showing social media posts and YouTube Shorts

Google's Discover content feed is getting some new features . It'll soon include more than just articles from throughout the web. The company says the platform will be incorporating stuff like social media posts from platforms like Instagram and X along with YouTube Shorts. In our research, people told us they enjoyed seeing a mix of content in Discover, including videos and social posts, in addition to articles, the company wrote in an announcement. These changes will start showing up in the coming weeks. However, that's not the only new tool arriving for Discover. Starting today, users can customize feeds in a number of ways. Folks can follow creators or publishers to see more content from them. Users can also tap the creator's name to preview social posts and articles before making a final decision. This is all similar to a recently-introduced feature for Search that lets people set preferred news sources. This is just the latest update to the company's Discover feed. Google recently introduced AI-generated summaries and a tool that automatically creates a podcast based on the feed. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-discover-is-going-to-start-showing-social-media-posts-and-youtube-shorts-175754283.html?src=rss

How to Change Your Kindles Language: Spanish, French, Japanese, and More (2025)

Every Kindle works in multiple languages, and can download books in just about any tongue. Heres how to take advantage.

One of the best Ninja air fryers for small kitchens is $60 off right now

If youre in the market for an air fryer, first of all, welcome to the club. A world of perfectly- cooked fries awaits you. But which model to get? Well, you can save some cash right now if you pick Ninjas Foodi DZ090C 5-in-1 air fryer, which is down to $120 from its regular price of $180 when purchased directly from the brand. Thats a sizable saving of $60. A smaller version of the air fryer we featured as the best dual-zone option in our 2025 air fryer buyers guide , the two-basket DZ090C lets you cook up two totally different foods in separate baskets simultaneously. And while its six-quart capacity isnt hugely spacious, you should have more than enough space for small or solo meals. And if you have a small kitchen, its probably a more sensible pick than the DZ401 we highlight in our guide. If youre thinking about what to have for dessert, you might also be interested in Ninjas Creami, a 7-in-1 ice cream maker that also excels at smoothies, sorbets and milkshakes. We gave it a score of 90 in our review , praising its ease of use and versatility, which landed it a spot in our best tech of 2024 awards. At $200 , its currently $30 off. There are also a range of discounts to be found on SharkNinjas entire product lineup at the moment. Shoppers can save 10 percent on $150+, 15 percent on $250+, or 20 percent on $350+ on Ninja products, and 10 percent on $200+, 15 percent on $250+, or 20 percent on $300+ when shopping directly from Shark. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-the-best-ninja-air-fryers-for-small-kitchens-is-60-off-right-now-170505340.html?src=rss

Zoom launches a cross application AI notetaker, AI avatars and more in its latest update

Zoom is launching new tools for its meeting and productivity platform including new AI avatars that would resemble users.

Jaguar Land Rover to pause production for third week due to cyberattack

The company owned by Tata Motors is estimated to be losing millions of pounds a week due to the shutdown.

Airbuds is the music social network Apple and Spotify wish they had built

Airbuds, a music social app aimed at Gen Z, raises $5M as the app reaches 5 million monthly users.

The best Apple Watch in 2025

Apple released an entirely new lineup of Apple Watches during its Awe dropping launch event in mid September. Theres now a new flagship, Apple Watch Series 11, a revamped entry-level model, Apple Watch SE 3, and the next generation of the premium wearable, Apple Watch Ultra 3. We didnt get a new version of either the SE or the Ultra last year, and Apple made up for the wait by giving those two significant updates. The Series 11 is still what we recommend for most people, but the other two are more compelling than ever. Here, we break down the differences between the models so you can pick the best Apple Watch for your wrist computer needs. Table of contents Best Apple Watch in 2025 What to look for in an Apple Watch How we tested Apple Watches Apple Watch comparison chart Apple Watch FAQs Best Apple Watch in 2025 What to look for in an Apple Watch Like all Apple products, Apple Watches will only work with other devices from the brand's ecosystem. You won't be able to pair any Apple Watch to your Android phone. Note that you can pair other wearables (like a Garmin tracker or a Fitbit band) with your iPhone. There are some more features that are specific to Apple Watches and that set each of the three models apart from one another. Chips and sensors All three models in the current lineup have the same S10 SiP (system in a package) chip with a four-core Neural Engine. The chip allows for on-device processing of Siri requests as well as dictation, translation, automatic workout detection and the double tap and wrist flick gestures that let you control your watch hands-free. You get an optical heart rate sensor, temperature sensor, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope and light sensor in every Apple Watch model, but the Series 11 and Ultra 3 have a more advanced heart monitor that in part enables the new hypertension detection feature. The two higher-end watches also have sensors that can generate an ECG and detect blood oxygen , water temperature and water depth. Fall and crash detection come standard no matter which Apple wearable you pick and all support near field communication (NFC) for Apple Pay. If you opt for the cellular versions of the Series 11 or SE 3, your watch will have access to 5G networks. Cell connectivity comes standard on the Ultra 3 and the watch now also has satellite-enabled SOS, messaging and Find My abilities. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Displays and case options Every Apple Watch model now has an always-on display. The wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch 11 and Ultra 3 lets you see the always-on display from more angles. The SE can reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, the Series 11 can get as bright as 2,000 and the Ultra 3 hits 3,000 nits. Both higher-end screens can dim to a single nit, making them less distracting in the dark. And the Ultra model has the added night mode feature on certain watch faces that turns the dial red to preserve your night vision. As for case sizes, the SE 3 is available in 40 or 44mm. The Series 11 has a choice of a 42 or 46mm case. The Ultra 3 comes in just one size measuring 49mm. The SE 3 has an aluminum case in two colors (Starlight or Midnight). The Series 11 lets you pick from aluminum (in Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray or Jet Black) or titanium (in Natural, Gold or Slate). And the Ultra 3 only comes in titanium (either Natural or Black). Battery life The Apple Watch Ultra 3 sports the biggest battery and can last for a claimed 42 hours on a charge. The Apple Watch 11 is rated to go for 24 hours and the SE 3 gets an estimated 18 hours before it needs a visit to the charger. Low power mode will get you many more hours, going for as long as 72 hours for the Ultra 3, 38 hours on the Series 11 and 32 hours on the SE 3. All three are now capable of fast charging and Apple states an 80 percent charge in 45 minutes for the SE 3 and Ultra 3 and 80 percent in 30 minutes for the Series 11. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Fitness and wellness features All three Apple Watches have similar fitness tracking chops. The Activity app uses three rings to keep tabs on how much youre moving in a day: The Move ring tracks your active calories; the Exercise ring monitors the minutes youve spent walking, running, doing yoga and so on; and the Stand ring tells you how many hours in a day youve stood up and moved around for at least one minute. Different internal sensors detect those activities, for example the accelerometer senses when youre moving versus sitting still, and the optical heart rate sensor judges how hard you're working out and how many calories youve burned. You can set your goals for each ring and youll earn badges and animations when you hit them. The Workout Buddy will work with all three watches, but youll need to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby as well as Bluetooth headphones to use it. All three can access offline maps , which could prove useful when hiking far from cellular coverage. But if going off-grid is something you plan to do often, you may appreciate the satellite connectivity of the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Siri You can get the weather, start a workout, identify a song and dictate a text just by asking Siri. All Apple Watch models support the Raise to Speak feature that bypasses the need to say Hey Siri and will instead listen for your request when you lift your wrist near your mouth. Every Apple Watch model utilizes onboard processing of Siri requests now, too. That means executing simple requests like starting workouts and timers are quicker, as they wont need to access external networks. However, requests like sending texts or getting weather forecasts still need to communicate with Wi-Fi or cellular, so youll need to have your phone nearby if you have a GPS-only model. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Carbon neutral claims Apple declared the Series 9 with the aluminum case its first carbon neutral product. But has since dropped those claims , possibly due to legal challenges in a German court . Instead, Apple states that all three watches have been designed to reduce environmental impact and the company still maintains its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 . Price Perhaps the most surprising thing about the three new wearables was the lack of price increase from previous models. The Apple Watch SE still starts at $249, the Series 11 goes for $399 and up, and the Ultra 3 begins at $799. That puts a $550 difference between entry prices for the cheapest and most expensive Apple Watches. For $250 you can get the 40mm Apple Watch SE 3 with GPS-only connectivity; adding cellular connectivity ups the price by $50. The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 for the 42mm, non-cellular model in aluminum and goes as high as $749 for the 46mm titanium case (which comes with cellular). The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is $799 for a titanium 49mm case with both GPS and cellular, but the price goes up with different bands. You may also need a few Apple Watch accessories , if so, you can factor that into your purchasing decision. Cherlynn Low for Engadget How we tested Apple Watches Engadget has been reviewing Apple Watches since the first one came out in 2015 . Since then, weve tested every subsequent model Apple has released , including the Ultra and SE models , spending at least a few days or even a couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. During that time, we run, hit the gym, go on hikes and wear it while sleeping, all the while gauging how it tracks various metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs every other trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do. Since we also review smartwatches from other companies, such as Samsung 's Galaxy Watches and Google Pixels, our editors can compare Apple Watches not just to previous generations, but also to other wearables on the market. Our buying guides and recommendations rely on first-hand testing by Engadget staff. Apple Watch comparison chart Product Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple Watch SE 3 Release date September 2025 September 2025 September 2025 Case sizes 42mm or 46mm 49mm 40mm or 44mm Case material Aluminum or titanium Titanium Aluminum Display LTPO3 OLED Always-On LTPO3 OLED Always-On LTPO OLED Always-on Max brightness 2,000 nits 3,000 nits 1,000 nits Chip S10 SiP S10 SiP S10 SiP Max battery life 24 h./38 h. low power 42 h./72 h. low power 18 h./32 h. low power Water resistance 50 m. 100 m. 50 m. Featured sensors Electrical heart, optical heart (3rd gen), blood oxygen, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, light, depth gauge, water temp Electrical heart, optical heart (3rd gen), blood oxygen, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, light, depth gauge, water temp Optical heart (2nd gen), temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, light Apple Watch FAQs What are the best Apple Watch apps for fitness tracking? All three watches use the same Fitness and Workout apps to track your progress, and they all have sensors to track speed, cadence, distance and heart rate. But the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11 have more sensors than the Apple Watch SE 3. Additional tech includes an electrical heart rate sensor and a depth gauge. The two pricier watches also have a blood oxygen app and an ECG app, all of which may give you a better picture of your overall health. All three models are compatible with the AI-powered Workout Buddy from watchOS 26 (the feature also requires an AI-compatible iPhone ). Are any of the Apple Watch series waterproof? All three models are water resistant . But they can all handle immersion in water, including a swim. The Apple Watch SE 3 and Series 11 can handle a depth of up to 50 meters while the Ultra 3 can be submerged up to 100 meters. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-apple-watch-160005462.html?src=rss

AI and the Future of Defense: Mach Industries Ethan Thornton at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Ethan Thornton, CEO of Mach Industries, joins the AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 (Oct. 2729, San Francisco) to discuss how AI is transforming defense from autonomous weapons to decentralized strategy. Register now and save up to $650 before rates increase.

Google revamps Discover page to show content from creators

Google will now let you follow publishers and creators directly through its Search app's Discover page.

Garmin's new smartwatch for kids costs more than the Apple Watch SE

Garmin just announced a refresh of its Bounce smartwatch for kids and the big headline is the exorbitant price. It costs $300, which is twice the cost of the previous generation and $50 more than an Apple Watch SE. The Bounce 2 still offers tracking and communication features, both powered by an LTE connection. The exterior has been completely redesigned, with a rounded 1.2-inch AMOLED display. The original model was square-ish, resembling an Apple Watch. Communication is better here, which is good as this is a smartwatch intended for parents to keep track of kids. Voice messages sent to the watch will be transcribed and can be read or listened to. It also allows for actual phone calls, which the original did not. The Bounce 2 offers GPS tracking and the battery lasts two full days between charges. It can play music, but only with an Amazon Music subscription. Also, all communication features require a subscription to one of Garmin's in-house smartwatch plans. These cost $10 per month or $100 annually. The Bounce 2 is available to order right now and comes in three colors. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/garmins-new-smartwatch-for-kids-costs-more-than-the-apple-watch-se-153134955.html?src=rss

Inside Trumpworlds Reality Distortion Field

In the immediate aftermath of Charlie Kirk's killing, Donald Trump's advisors were sure who was to blame. That law enforcement says they were wrong didn't, and doesn't, much seem to matter.

Inside the Apple audio lab where AirPods are tested and tuned

When you enter the building that houses Apples audio lab, venture just beyond reception and youll encounter a massive vintage stereo setup. The deck and accompanying speakers were a gift from Steve Jobs to the team of engineers who work in this office. The group sees the old-school tech as a source of inspiration, but also as a reminder of Jobs obsession with both music and sound. More than inspiration, though, the stereo is a reminder to the experts in software, acoustics and sound design how important sound is to everything Apple builds. Inside, I was led into a maze of nondescript halls, weaving from room to room with a trio of Apple engineers as my guides. I was in for a rare peek into the companys product development facilities a step further behind the curtain than whats typically allowed during Apple events . Validating the AirPods hearing test Billy Steele for Engadget As Apples audio team works to correct and calibrate the AirPods' fit for natural variations in ear geometry, they use a collection of audio metric booths to check their work. These rooms look like small, windowless offices. The walls are covered in sound-dampening panels and theres a single workstation with a Mac and various tools for hearing analysis. If youll recall, one of the companys major ambitions with AirPods has been the end-to-end hearing health experience that it debuted last year . In order to validate its claims of a clinical grade hearing test, engineers use devices you might see in an audiologist's office, like audiometers. These spaces arent unlike the small booths youve probably sat in for a professionally-administered hearing test. In one booth alone, the team ran thousands of tests on the feature to ensure that the hearing screening in your pocket was as accurate as what you could get from a doctor. Not only does this allow AirPods users to set up a hearing aid at home (if needed), but it also creates an accurate hearing profile so that you can hear music the way it was intended. Another important step in the product design process was making sure there was a tuning baseline for every person that listens to music with AirPods. Everyone hears various frequencies differently, so there needs to be an adjustment to achieve the desired consistency. With the hearing test and accompanying audio profile, Apple then has a starting point to make both technical and artistic decisions. Its here that the technology and liberal arts expertise among the audio lab team starts to mix. When your office is a tuning studio Billy Steele for Engadget The media tuning lab works on any product Apple makes that can reproduce recorded audio, including the iPhone, Mac and iPad. In order to bridge the gap between the art and science of that pursuit, this team comes from a variety of backgrounds from live concert sound, to Broadway sound design and even traditional acoustic engineering. The various tuning studios in this area are set up like music creation rooms: complete mini studios with various instruments scattered around, a prime seat for listening in the back and a desk replacing the recording engineers sound board. As a nice touch, they're all named after famous recording studios (like Abbey Road). The main idea there is that the tuning team needs to reference what the recorded content sounded like at the time it was created. That, in turn, provides a better picture of the artists intention that can then be applied to products like the AirPods Pro 3 . Due to the combination of the ear tips seal and the computational audio inside Apples latest earbuds model, the tuning engineers believe these AirPods provide the most authentic sound thus far in the companys lineup because the team has been able to reduce so much of the variation across users and fits. To create a sound profile thats exciting for customers and still maintains all of that authenticity, the media tuning team listens to thousands of hours of music, movies, podcasts and YouTube videos in mono, stereo and Dolby Atmos. Theres also a lot of vinyl lining the shelves of these tuning studios. During the development process, the team will test multiple versions of hardware with tons of tuning variations using computational audio. The goal is for all of the tuning decisions to translate better to all users, with a desire that everyone hears the same sound from Apples products. In addition to listening to music through speakers and headphones, microphones are also important to the tuning work. In order to create features like the studio-quality audio recording on AirPods Pro, the team captured clips from the earbuds in the studio and out in the real world before comparing them with benchmarks from high-end recording mics. That analysis allows the engineers to translate pro-grade audio features for consumer products like AirPods. Studio-quality audio, for example, replaces a lavalier with your earbuds for iPhone videos. It wont ever replace a studio microphone, obviously, but it does put more capable audio tools in your pocket. The completely silent room Billy Steele for Engadget An important part of testing Apples audio products, and features like spatial audio, is to use them in a completely silent room. Known as an anechoic chamber, its a room within a room thats physically separated from the rest of the building. This is essential because things like footsteps in the hall or cars driving by outside can create vibrational noise that would otherwise be transmitted into the chamber. Inside, foam wedges on the walls, floor and ceiling absorb all sound thats emitted in the space. Theres no echo (hence the name anechoic), so voices and claps just die. In fact, you have to walk on a suspended grid that looks like wire fencing, because the true floor of the room is more foam wedges meant to absorb sonic reflections from below. Its an off-putting space to spend time in, since it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie not to mention the lack of reverb. Over the decades that Apple has been designing and manufacturing electronics, the company has learned a lot about all of the unwanted noise that its devices make. The anechoic chamber allows a dedicated team of acoustic engineers to listen very carefully to products like AirPods to determine if any sounds are unintended. They collaborate with other engineering teams to make sure the product isnt doing anything the company doesnt intend for it to do. The anechoic chamber is also a vital part of spatial audio development. In its current configuration, theres a chair in the room with a ring of tiny speakers around it. Engineers study the variable physiology of test subjects, like the way sound bounces off the body and around the inside of their ears. To then create the perception of sound coming from a particular direction, the team uses computational audio and signal processing to create the ideal angle for a persons hearing signature. This sort of analysis was directly responsible for Personalized Spatial Audio , which takes a scan from an iPhone camera and analyzes it with various models and algorithms to tailor the sound to each person. Fantasia Lab: Verifying ANC, transparency mode and spatial audio The last stop on my tour was the most visually and sonically appealing. This room is called the Fantasia Lab, named for the first film that used surround sound. The name also speaks to the Apple engineers ability to generate (or simulate) any sound they can think of with the rooms spherical speaker setup. The audio lab team used this room to verify features on the AirPods Pro 3, including transparency mode, active noise cancellation (ANC) and spatial audio. The array of dozens of loudspeakers enable the engineers to assess whether environmental sounds in transparency mode are as accurate and natural as possible. The team will have someone sit inside the sphere and have them indicate which direction the audio is coming from to eliminate any issues with the feature. To gauge ANC performance, different types of sounds at various volumes are piped in. This gives the engineers insight into the workings of the adaptation and oversight algorithms, the bits of software employed to make sure the ANC is steadily and effectively blocking as much noise as possible. And for spatial audio, the team will play sounds at different locations and angles from real speakers before trying to recreate the perception that sound is coming from the same place inside of the AirPods. I was able to take a seat for a few seconds to get a sense of what the Fantasia Lab is capable of. One of the engineers played a live recording of a concert in spatial audio. With speakers all around me, sound was coming from all directions including the roar of the crowd singing along. I closed my eyes and I was there, vibing to Omar Apollo with tens of thousands of people. Except, of course, I wasnt. I was surrounded by speakers in a small room with four other people, through a maze of corridors, tucked into one of Apples myriad buildings around Cupertino. Imagine my disappointment when I opened my eyes. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/inside-the-apple-audio-lab-where-airpods-are-tested-and-tuned-150025891.html?src=rss

Paramount+ deal: It's the last chance to save 50 percent on annual subscriptions

Sometimes, rising prices for streaming services feels as inevitable as death and taxes. So when a serious discount is available, we tend to sit up and take notice. Now, you can get a whopping half off an annual subscription to Paramount+ through September 18. A year of the Paramount+ Essential plan, which is ad-supported, will cost $30 compared to the usual $60. Paramount+ Premium, which is ad-free except for live tv programming, will cost $60 for a year instead of $120. This is a substantial deal that both new and returning subscribers can take advantage of; it's not uncommon for this type of serious discount to only be offered to a first-timer. Anyone who signs up for a year-long subscription to Paramount+ from now through September 18 will be able to get this pricing. The only real caveat with this deal is that you have to pay for the full year in advance; month-to-month subscriptions will still cost the usual rate. Paramount+ has some great programming options, particularly if you're a fan of anything involving RuPaul. It's also the home of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks , which are arguably the best modern additions to the sci-fi show's canon, as well as the other past and present Star Trek series. The platform offers a solid lineup of sports as well. And if you opt to go for the Premium plan, you'll also be granted access to Showtime titles such as Yellowjackets and the rebooted Dexter: Resurrection . Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/paramount-deal-its-the-last-chance-to-save-50-percent-on-annual-subscriptions-212655375.html?src=rss

Report: Apple inches closer to releasing an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro

More iPad-like Mac hardware would balance Apples push for Mac-like iPads.

From Startup Battlefield to the Disrupt Stage: Discord founder Jason Citron returns to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

From Startup Battlefield in 2013 to the Disrupt Stage in 2018: Discord founder Jason Citron returns to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco on October 27-29. Register here to join.

The new 14-inch Wacom One ups the display size, but not the price

Wacom has announced its latest beginner-friendly graphics tablet, the Wacom One 14. The obvious upgrade from its 2023 predecessor is a larger 14-inch IPS display, which gives digital artists a bit of extra space for their sketching. The bezels have been trimmed down to accommodate the bigger canvas, while keeping the design thin and compact enough to easily throw the Wacom One in a backpack. The 1920 x 1080 HD displays textured surface is supposed to replicate the feeling of drawing on paper, with an anti-glare coating that with an anti-glare coating that theoretically allow you to use it outdoors with minimal frustration. Itll resist fingerprints too, but unlike other tablets in Wacoms lineup, this one lacks multitouch tech. Its designed to be used strictly with the included battery-free pen, which has a 16ms response time and clips to the top of the tablet for easy access. Its pressure-sensitive and has two customizable buttons. Given its marketed at amateurs just getting started on their artistic journey, you get a selection of bundled software that includes Skillshare lessons and a trial for Clip Studio Paint Pro. You can also use Foxit to edit and annotate PDF files, making the Wacom One a good pick for teachers who dont need the additional functionality of an iPad . You connect the Wacom One 14 to a Mac or PC by either using the provided USB-C cable, or via a Wacom converter to which you connect separate cables if your device isnt equipped with Thunderbolt or DisplayPort Alt Mode. You can pick one up now for $300. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/the-new-14-inch-wacom-one-ups-the-display-size-but-not-the-price-142322193.html?src=rss

Amazon launches AI agent to help sellers complete tasks and manage their businesses

The company is updating Seller Assistant, its AI tool for third-party sellers, to help handle tasks on the seller's behalf.

Waymo is headed to Nashville in 2026

Waymo is plotting a route for Tennessee, as it plans to bring its robotaxis to Nashville. The company expects to start autonomous driving operations in the city in the coming months before opening up to the public in 2026. At the outset, folks in the area will be able to hail a ride via the Waymo app. Down the line, Lyft will be able to match users with Waymo rides in Nashville. Waymo is currently up and running in five US cities: San Francisco (and other parts of the Bay Area ), Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta. Along with Nashville, Waymo is planning to soon move into Denver and Seattle, where it started testing its vehicles this month , as well as Miami and Washington DC . The company also received permission from New York City in August to start test rides there , albeit with a human driver behind the wheel. In addition, testing is underway in Tokyo Waymo's first international location though human drivers are manually operating the vehicles at the outset. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/waymo-is-headed-to-nashville-in-2026-140807997.html?src=rss

VC firm Insight Partners says thousands of staff and limited partners had personal data stolen in a ransomware attack

The venture capital giant, behind cyber giants Wiz and Databricks, notified current and former employees, as well as the firm's limited partners, that their data was stolen in a January cyberattack.

Lovable co-founder and CEO Anton Osika on building one of the fastest-growing startups in history at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Lovable has quickly become one of the most talked-about startups of the year, breaking records and making headlines as one of the fastest-growing software companies in history. Co-founder and CEO Anton Osika will take the Disrupt Stage to discuss Lovable and the Future of Consumer Tech. Register here to save your seat.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Is Bananas for Google Geminis AI Image Generator

The Nvidia CEO reveals his consuming love for Googles image generator, the artsy side of Grok, and what exactly he uses Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT for right now.

You absolutely should not buy Apples iPhone Air MagSafe battery pack

Apple released its thinnest phone yet last week, the iPhone Air , and revealed the new iPhone Air MagSafe Battery alongside it. The existence of a specially-made battery pack wasnt a big surprise to me, because there had been rumors of the iPhone Air for months leading up to the event. Everyone was prepared for the thinnest iPhone ever to make some battery life sacrifices to achieve its svelte design. However, what was a surprise to me was how much Apple leaned on the new battery during the iPhone Air launch presentation. The company even lists battery life estimates with and without this optional battery pack in the iPhone Air specs . That tells me and regular consumers that the battery pack is a highly-recommended purchase on a good day and downright necessary on a bad day for all iPhone Air owners. So, folks spending $999 (or more) on an iPhone Air should plan to pony up another $99 for this specially designed battery pack? Im here to tell you thats a ridiculous notion and that you shouldnt do it, especially when there are so many other options available at lower prices. To be clear, I personally havent tried out the iPhone Air with this battery pack. My colleague Sam Rutherford has (check out his iPhone Air review ), and he thinks its a great fit for the iPhone Air. In particular, he likes some of the (admittedly) smart features Apple included like the battery's ability to charge itself and the phone simultaneously while the phone is plugged in, and that it can wirelessly top up a pair of AirPods Pro 3. However, he does acknowledge that the math simply aint mathin on this one when it comes to value for money. The $99 iPhone Air MagSafe Battery has a 3,149 mAh, according to the information written on the power bank itself. That comes out to about $0.03 per milliampere hours. Lets compare that to one of the top picks in our guide to the best MagSafe power banks , this Anker Nano battery : that 5,000 mAh pack is priced at $55, which comes out to $0.01 per milliampere hours. Even the watt-hour rating (Whr) on Apples pack is lower: 12.26Whr, as compared to 25Whr on this Anker option. And don't forget, the Anker pack isn't exclusively made for the iPhone Air it, like other magnetic power banks, can be used with other iPhones and smartphones. To add insult to injury, Apples Air MagSafe Battery tops out at 12W wireless charging unless its plugged in while powering the phone up and can employ help from passthrough USB-C charging. The Anker pack is Qi2-certified for up to 15W of wireless charging, and since the iPhone Air supports up to 20W of wireless power, that means Anker's accessory could deliver its full 15 watts when snapped to the back of the Air. Not only are you getting nearly double the mAh capacity for half the price with the Anker option (and faster charging to boot), but the numbers become even more ridiculous if you consider (hypothetically), what a larger Apple-made battery pack could cost. With those numbers, a 5K Apple MagSafe battery would cost $150 and a 10K bank would set you back $300. Imagine paying those prices for any other power bank made by any other company its laughable, and we should treat it as such. Now, is this out of character for Apple to make an overpriced accessory? Absolutely not. But this is different from a $99 Milanese Loop band for Apple Watch or even a $250 Magic Keyboard for iPad. This battery pack is so important to the overall iPhone Air story that the handsets power specifications cant be examined properly without it. Thats insane. I used one of the picks from our guide as an example, but rest assured, there are plenty of other MagSafe battery packs available now made by reputable manufacturers with similar specs. Just look for any Qi2-compatible magnetic power bank that works with the iPhone Air, and youll probably have a better value on your hands than Apples in-house made pack. Those who want to overpay for sleekness and convenience can certainly do so, but dont let anyone convince you its your best or only option. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/you-absolutely-should-not-buy-apples-iphone-air-magsafe-battery-pack-131009089.html?src=rss

Terra Oleos oil-producing microbes could replace destructive palm oil plantations

Terra Oleo had operated in stealth for years, developing yeast strains capable of producing high-value oils that don't need refining. It has raised $3.1 million.

Samsung HW-Q990F Soundbar System Review: Glorious Atmos

Samsung's flagship soundbar system sounds as excellent as ever, filling rooms with massive Dolby Atmos goodness.