Gadgets

Lenovo's robot concept can help you digitally sign documents (and maybe annoy coworkers)

Lenovo can make a robot, too. Alongside proof-of-concept foldable gaming PCs and modular laptops, it introduced the AI Workmate Concept at MWC 2026 . With its own Intel Core Ultra processor, 64GB of memory and its own Pico projector, its an AI-laced workmate meant to streamline office tasks and collaboration. And it has an LCD face. For now, its a proof of concept, musing on how to integrate voice commands and LLMs (large language models) into workplace settings. It's meant to sit on your desk, but preferably also near a wall more on that later. Voice commands aside, the concept bot supports writing, voice and gestures with on-device AI processing. While it can answer the usual voice assistant questions, it can also scan and summarize documents (both digitally and physically) and even assist with creating a PowerPoint presentation though you might want to check its work. Mat Smith for Engadget The 3.4-inch 480 x 480 screen doesnt seem to offer any data visualization or numbers. During my demo, it only seemed to show the bot's eyes and facial expressions: itll sip coffee as it listens (with a moustache), cup a floating hand to the side of its face when it needs you to repeat a command, or twinkle when its processing more complicated tasks, like that fictional PowerPoint presentation. With its articulated head, which houses the projector, cameras and LCD face, you can ask it to project images or documents on either the desk in front of it or a wall nearby. No need to flip around your monitor or laptop to share with colleagues. In one example, a spokesperson asked for a postcard. The Workmate then projected a (Lenovo-branded) image of Barcelona onto the desk. The rep laid paper down, then signed the postcard and got the robot to scan it (with two downward-facing 5-megapixel cameras), and then send the file to a nearby printer. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget In theory, this sort of flow could transition to document signing or adding notation to images and files. However, one caveat here is whether those of us who work in offices want the extra workplace noise of a chatty robo and the person barking orders at it. Lenovo says this concept (and it has a few at MWC) is meant to demonstrate the companys exploration of spatial and physical AI experiences that integrate seamlessly into professional environments. Hopefully, further evolutions offer a text-based way to make using it a little less noisy. Lenovo was also showing a simpler AI work device, the AI Work Companion Concept. Its a completely different premise, despite the name being a little too close to the AI Workmate Concept. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The AI Work Companion is not a robot, but a handsome chunky desk clock, with a solid, satisfying dial on the top and programmable buttons. The front is almost entirely display, able to show calendars, task lists and other work-centric dashes. It runs independently, plugging into a USB-C port for power and pulling data down wirelessly, while also acting as a port hub for charging other accessories and devices. Its certainly not as high-concept as the robot, but there are some AI smarts inside. The Work Companions Thought Bubble uses AI to sync a users tasks and daily schedule across devices, synthesizing a daily action plan. It will even suggest times to break up bursts of work and attempt to monitor screen time to better manage burnout. According to the press release, Lenovo says it also has playful interactions with the user and will, kind of bleakly, offer an end-of-week celebration report of tasks completed. Its lucky its a good-looking desk clock. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/lenovo-concept-robot-ai-workmate-mwc-2026-230159746.html?src=rss

Lenovo's ThinkPads get a spec bump at MWC 2026

Lenovo is updating its business-focused laptop lineup at MWC 2026. The best-selling ThinkPad T-series is getting a full refresh, and there's an updated ThinkBook 2-in-1 and an all-new Android tablet. The ThinkPad T-Series, the backbone of Lenovo's business PC lineup, now (optionally) ships with a 5MP camera that supports computer vision and vHDR. The 2026 versions of the laptops have larger speakers and a new color (cosmic blue) on some models. The ThinkPad T14 Gen 7 and ThinkPad T16 Gen 5 (each starting at $1,799) are the all-around workhorses of the ThinkPad lineup. Lenovo touts the 2026 models' 10/10 iFixit repairability score. They ship with either an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (with Intel vPro) or an AMD Ryzen AI Pro 400 Series processor. ThinkPad T14s Gen 7 Lenovo Meanwhile, the T14s Gen 7 ($1,899+) is an even lighter version of Lenovo's slim ThinkPad variant. The 2026 model weighs 2.45 lbs (1.1kg), making it the lightest T-series model to date. The T14s Gen 7 is powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (with Intel vPro) or AMD Ryzen AI Pro 400 Series processors. Rounding out the T-Series is the second-generation of the 360-degree-folding ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1. The 2026 model ($1,849+) is ever-so-slightly lighter than its predecessor, now weighing in at 3.06lbs (1.39kg). The new version includes a garaged pen, with its storage slot living above the screen. ThinkPad X13 Detachable Lenovo The ThinkPad X13 Detachable is the lineup's take on the Surface Pro . The tablet has Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and up to 64GB of RAM. Its 13-inch display supports up to 500 nits of brightness. It has a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, and its keyboard has full-sized keys with 1.5mm of travel. It ships with a full-size ergonomic pen that you can stash (and charge!) in a dedicated slot on the keyboard. The X13 Detachable starts at $1,999. The $499 ThinkPad X11 is a rugged Android tablet for industrial environments. Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, it has a 10.95-inch display with 2,560 x 1,600 resolution and 600 nits of brightness. It's MIL-STD-810H certified, meaning it passes stringent military testing for durability. ThinkTab X11 Lenovo Finally, there's the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 6 ($1,754+). This Yoga-like folding device has a 14-inch WUXGA touch display. It runs on an Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 3) processor and supports up to 32GB of RAM. Most of the devices start shipping in Q2 2026. (That includes the ThinkPad T14, T16, T14s, T14s 2-in-1, ThinkTab X11 and ThinkBook 14 2-in-1.) The lone exception is the ThinkPad X13 Detachable, which is slated for Q3 2026. You can learn more about the new business-focused devices on Lenovo's website. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-thinkpads-get-a-spec-bump-at-mwc-2026-230100419.html?src=rss

Lenovo unveils the 2026 refresh of its Yoga 9i 2-in-1 convertible laptop at MWC

Lenovo has given the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition a refresh for 2026 and launched the new device at this years Mobile World Congress . The convertible laptop comes with a new Canvas Mode when the Yoga Pen Gen 2 case its bundled with is attached to the A-cover. When you lay the device down on a flat surface with the case attached, youll get a slight elevation on the display, which may make it easier to sketch or draw. The Copilot+ laptop is powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with integrated graphics, has up to 32GB in memory and runs Windows 11. Its 14-inch screen has a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 pixels, has a variable refresh rate of 120 Hz and supports multi-touch. In addition to the new Canvas Mode, the device also supports Tablet, Tent, Stand and traditional Laptop Modes like its predecessors do. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition Gen 11 will be available in May, with prices starting at $1,949. Lenovo has also launched the new Yoga Pro 7a at MWC 2026. This Copilot+ laptop is powered by AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Series processors and comes with up to 128GB of RAM, so it can be used for heavy AI tasks. It has a 15.3-inch 2.5K PureSight Pro OLED display and is equipped with a big Force Pad trackpad that doubles as a drawing tablet. You can get the device starting in August this year for at least $2,099. For a more affordable option, theres the new IdeaPad Slim 5i Ultra laptop, which also has Copilot+ features. Its powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and comes with either a WUXGA OLED or a WQXGA IPS LCD 14-inch display that has a VRR of 120 Hz. The device was designed for portability, with its thinnest part measuring just 11.9 mm in depth, and weighs 2.5 lbs. It will be available starting in October for at least $799. Another affordable option is the new Idea Tab Pro Gen 2, which is specifically targeted towards students. Its powered by theSnapdragon 8s Gen 4 Mobile Platform and has a 13-inch 3.5K display. The Tab Pro Gen 2 is Lenovos first tablet to ship with its Qira AI assistant and the companys AI tools. It will be sold with a Lenovo Tab Pen Plus included for $419 starting in July. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovo-unveils-the-2026-refresh-of-its-yoga-9i-2-in-1-convertible-laptop-at-mwc-230100644.html?src=rss

Lenovos latest gaming tablet goes big on battery

Lenovos buzziest gaming-related MWC announcement is undoubtedly its foldable Legion Go handheld-cum-laptop hybrid, which you can read all about here. But that wasnt all the company showed off. Were also getting an updated Legion Tab, Lenovos powerful gaming tablet. Like the Gen 4 and 3 models before it, the latest Legion Tab features an 8.8-inch LCD display with an 165Hz refresh rate. The 3K panel can get up to 600 nits of brightness. The notable spec boosts come in the form of a jump up to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset and a larger 9,000mAh battery, which should help you power through those long-haul flight gaming sessions. The 360g Gen 5 Legion Go Tab is equipped with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It also features what looks like an RGB light ring next to the rear camera cutout (just in case anyone needs reminding that youre a capital G on-the-go gamer), and two USB-C ports. The latest Legion Go Tab also supports Lenovo AI Engine+, which uses AI for audio enhancement and noise cancellation. Available in Eclipse Black, Glacier White and Surge, it will be available to buy in May, with prices starting at $849. Lenovo also unveiled a new 15-inch variant of its Gen 11 Legion 7a gaming laptop, after announcing an updated 16-inch model at CES in January. It features a slightly smaller version of the same PureSight OLED display and is powered by a Ryzen AI Max+ 392 processor with integrated Radeon 8060S graphics. Weighing in 1.65kg, the Legion 7a is a slimline laptop designed to be easily portable without compromising too much on power, and its 84Whr battery is good for the size. It will be available with up to 2TB of storage in July, starting at $2,299. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/lenovos-latest-gaming-tablet-goes-big-on-battery-230017436.html?src=rss

The Lenovo Modular AI PC concept is a remixed dual-screen laptop with hot swappable ports

The potential of modular laptops has never fully translated to the real world. While companies like Framework have made major strides in recent years, there's still quite a bit of room for improvement. At MWC, Lenovo is looking to address that with its Modular AI PC concept. It features not one but two displays and a detachable keyboard to create something that strains the definition of a laptop, thanks to an innovative and very adaptable design. Compared to Framework's gadgets, which primarily use modularity to make upgrading the system and extending its lifespan easier, Lenovo's concept is based around a 14-inch chassis with hot swappable components. This allows you to move its keyboard and secondary display around at will, so the system can better adjust to its environment or workload. By default, its bonus screen is mounted on its lid, allowing you to do easy face-to-face sharing with someone sitting opposite you. However, without even needing to turn the system off, you can yank away the notebook's keyboard and put the display in its place to provide additional real estate. The Lenovo Modular AI PC concept's second screen can be attached to its lid or moved off to the side like a traditional dual monitor setup. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Or if you prefer a more traditional dual-screen setup, you can move it off to the side, prop it up via a built-in kickstand and connect to the laptop over USB-C. You even get the flexibility to arrange the display in vertical or landscape orientation, which is nice if you're doing stuff like coding or writing in a word doc (I feel targeted, but in a good way). And because the keyboard can connect to the notebook using pogo pins or Bluetooth, you have the freedom to position it practically anywhere you want. Meanwhile, Lenovo borrowed one aspect of Framework's modularity by including the ability to swap ports on the fly. During my demo, the company showed off modules featuring USB-C, USB-A and HDMI connectors, though I was told there are a ton of additional possibilities for those who might need things like a proper Ethernet jack or additional ports for audio. The Lenovo Modular AI PC concept's keyboard and be completely removed at a moment's notice and positioned anywhere you like thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity. Sam Rutherford for Engadget But what impressed me the most was that despite being a concept device, the whole setup felt quite polished. That almost suggests that this thing might be closer to becoming an actual retail product than some of the company's other demo gadgets . Build quality felt really sturdy and I had no issues changing out ports or moving the secondary display around without needing to troubleshoot or reboot the system. Everything just kind of worked. And while Lenovo isn't sharing details about what processor it's running or how much memory it has, its performance felt snappy too. My only question is that I'm not quite sure where AI fits into all of this. I was able to break down and reconfigure the system without any help from machine learning or a digital assistant. That said, I'm not complaining, because even with a lot of moving parts, its modular design is very approachable and easy to use. Ports on the Lenovo Modular AI PC concept can be hot swapped between to add USB-C, USB-A and HDMI connectors as needed. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Unfortunately, Lenovo isn't planning on turning this concept into a true retail device. But even so, I hope the company will at least consider bringing some of the modular laptop's features like its hot swappable ports to future products. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-lenovo-modular-ai-pc-concept-is-a-remixed-dual-screen-laptop-with-hot-swappable-ports-230000158.html?src=rss

The Lenovo Legion Go Fold gaming handheld concept looks awkward but its versatility is endless

Lenovo already has a large roster of gaming handhelds . However, it seems there's always room for another because at MWC the company showed off an ambitious concept device based around a flexible OLED display. And while the whole setup looks ungainly, after getting my hands on it, I'm very intrigued by its adaptability. Now I'll be the first to admit that an 11.6-inch display feels oversized on a handheld that, in theory, is meant to be somewhat portable. That said, the beauty of the Legion Go Fold's screen is that it can be bent in half to create a more appropriately-sized 7.7-inch panel. In this configuration, the system feels a lot less cumbersome while also sporting a more traditional aspect ratio. Then, at a moment's notice, you can extend the display to provide extra room when you need it. How silly does this look when its flexible display is fully extended in portrait mode? Sam Rutherford for Engadget However, the thing I like most about the Legion Go Fold is that its controllers are detachable and that the tablet has several different mounting points. This means if you have the space, you can remove the controllers, rotate the display into landscape mode and then reattach them to get an immersive widescreen experience. Alternatively, you can connect the gamepads together using one of Lenovo's accessories (which is similar to Nintendo's Joy-Con Grip ) and then prop the system up using the Go Fold's folio cover, which doubles as a kickstand. But wait, there's more: The handheld also features a strip of pogo pins for connecting a wireless keyboard, effectively transforming the whole setup into a miniature gaming laptop. Depending on how you're counting, that's at least four different modes you're getting from the Legion Fold, which is really quite impressive and speaks to the versatility of Lenovo's design. Another feature I really like is the small 1-inch OLED display on the right gamepad. It supports a handful of widgets that can display the time, performance settings and more. It also doubles as a small touchpad, which can be really handy when playing PC titles that were originally developed for mouse and keyboard. And just like on the Legion Go and Legion Go 2 , the Fold's right gamepad has a small scroll wheel and a hidden sensor, so it can also turn into a vertical mouse for playing FPS titles. At this point, it's important to mention that Lenovo doesn't have concrete plans to put this thing into production, so its specs don't really matter. That said, the Legion Go Fold I tried featured an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip with 32GB of RAM and a 48WHr battery, which is more than respectable. Though if this thing does become an actual retail device, I would like to see a power cell with a bit more capacity. I really love how the Legion Go Fold can turn into a miniature laptop just by moving some of its accessories around. Sam Rutherford for Engadget But as a concept gadget, I think the Legion Go Fold is a great showcase of how new technology (in this case, a flexible display) can bring new capabilities and greater flexibility to existing categories. And who knows, if a lot of people like the idea, it might encourage Lenovo to refine it and put it on sale for real. I would just be a bit worried about pricing, because all these components won't come cheap. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-lenovo-legion-go-fold-gaming-handheld-concept-looks-awkward-but-its-versatility-is-endless-230000816.html?src=rss

Anthropic's Claude grabs top spot in App Store after Trump's ban

Anthropic may have lost out on doing business with the US government , but it's gained enough popularity to earn the number one spot on the App Store's Top Free Apps leaderboard. At the top, Claude beat out both ChatGPT and Google Gemini, which respectively sit at the second and third spots on Apple's free apps charts. The sudden surge in user downloads isn't random. It follows news that President Trump has barred any federal agency from using Anthropic's Claude or other AI tools after the AI company refused to concede on certain guardrails. After declining to have its AI models be used for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons, Anthropic was also threatened with a supply-chain risk label by the Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The very public spat led to a wave of user support that finally allowed Claude to dethrone OpenAI's ChatGPT on the App Store as the most downloaded free app. While OpenAI has stepped into Anthropic's shoes after agreeing to a deal with the Department of Defense, the CEO still offered up some thoughts about the debacle during an AMA on X. Even though Claude is a competing model, Sam Altman said that Anthropic's supply-chain risk designation was a very bad decision that he's hoping gets reversed. On top of that, OpenAI's CEO called Anthropic's blacklisting an extremely scary precedent, but he's still hopeful for a much better resolution. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/anthropics-claude-grabs-top-spot-in-app-store-after-trumps-ban-193610130.html?src=rss

The US reportedly used Anthropic's AI for its attack on Iran, just after banning it

In a lengthy post on Truth Social on February 27, President Trump ordered all federal agencies to immediately cease all use of Anthropic's technology following strong disagreements between the Department of Defense and the AI company. A few hours later, the US conducted a major air attack on Iran with the help of Anthropic's AI tools, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal . The president noted in his post that there would be a six-month phase-out period for agencies like the Department of War who are using Anthropics products, so federal agencies are still expected to eventually move away from using Claude or other Anthropic tech. It's also not the first time that the US used Anthropic's AI for a major military operation, as the WSJ previously reported that Claude was used in the capture of the now-removed Venezuelan president Nicols Maduro. Moving forward, the Department of Defense may begin transitioning towards other AI options, especially after reaching deals with both xAI and OpenAI to use their models within the federal agency's network. However, the WSJ reported that it would take months to replace Anthropic's Claude with other AI models. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-us-reportedly-used-anthropics-ai-for-its-attack-on-iran-just-after-banning-it-172908929.html?src=rss

Everything announced at MWC 2026: Honor's Robot Phone, the new Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi, and more

MWC 2026 officially gets underway on March 2 and will continue through March 5, but the announcements are already coming ahead of its start. We can always count on the annual tech event to bring tons of new phones, laptops and tablets, and we're expecting to see some robots and other gadgets too plus plenty of AI news, of course. In addition to the announcements, MWC is our chance to get hands-on time with some of the most interesting new devices, like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Honor's Robot Phone . Engadgets Mat Smith is on the ground in Barcelona, and we'll be updating this story as the week goes on to keep you in the loop on everything that caught our attention. Keep checking back here for the latest MWC news. Honor The Robot Phone. (Image by Mat Smith for Engadget) Honor teased its Robot Phone this past fall and we just finally got a proper look at it at MWC. And it's pretty freakin' cute. The phone is equipped with a camera that's mounted on a highly mobile 4-degrees-of-freedom gimbal, which tucks away into a compartment on the back when it's not in use (making for a pretty beefy camera bump). In a demo at MWC, the camera, which behaves like a little robot head, bobbed along to music and showed off some of its gesture skills, like cocking its head and nodding in agreement. Honor didn't reveal too much spec-wise, but the company says the primary camera uses a 200-megapixel sensor. The gimbal will offer three-axis stabilization, which will be coupled with camera modes such as Super Steady Video and AI Object Tracking. The Robot Phone isn't quite ready for release at the moment, but the company says it will launch later this year. Be sure to check out Mat Smith's writeup on the Robot Phone for a more in-depth look. Honor's humanoid robot. (Image by Mat Smith for Engadget) Image by Mat Smith It's not a humanoid robot reveal without some backflips and a choreographed dance performance. Honor introduced its robot at MWC with all the spectacle we've come to expect (though the bot didn't do any talking).Its simply called the Honor Robot, and the company has plans for it to be used in both industrial and domestic settings. Honor Magic V6 (Honor) The Robot Phone isn't the only phone Honor showed off at MWC. The company also announced its Magic V6 smartphone , which it says is the thinnest phone in its category, measuring 8.75mm folded and 4.0mm open in the white colorway. The other three colors black, gold and red are slightly thicker, at 9mm folded and 4.1mm open. Not too much has changed from the V5, though, which only came out in August 2025. It does however have the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with 16GB RAM and 512 GB storage. As for the cameras, there are two 50-megapixel lenses and a 64-megapixel telephoto, plus a 20-megapixel f/2.2 selfie lens on the cover and internal display. The international version of the Magic V6 will have a 6660mAh battery with 25 percent silicon content, while the version sold only in China will boast a battery with a rated capacity of more than 7000mAh and 32 percent silicon content. Honor hasn't yet shared details about pricing and availability. Honor MagicPad Honor Ahead of MWC, Honor also announced what it claims is the thinnest Android tablet in the world: the 4.8mm thick MagicPad 4 . We're expecting to hear more about this at Honor's press conference on Sunday, but so far we know it features a 12.3-inch 165Hz OLED display and weighs just 450g. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. The thinness doesn't count the camera bump, Honor notes. The MagicPad 4 has 13MP rear and 9MP front cameras. It also boasts spatial audio, with eight speakers. Just as the display is slightly smaller than the previous MagicPad, the MagicPad 4 has a smaller battery at 10100 mAh. It comes with a 66W fast charger. The MagicPad 4 will run Honor's MagicOS 10. We don't yet know how much it will cost, but we'll update this after Honor's press conference (where we're also expecting to see the company's robot) with any new details. Xiaomi x Leica Mat Smith for Engadget Xiaomi kicked off MWC this year by announcing the global launch of its 17 Ultra smartphone, which debuted first in China back in December. It's unclear if the phone will ever come to the US, but it's now rolling out in Europe. Xiaomi teamed up again with Leica to make a photography-focused smartphone, and the 17 Ultra sports a 1-inch 50-megapixel camera sensor with a f/1.67 lens, a telephoto setup with a 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. There's also a manual zoom ring around the camera. Check out our hands on for our first impressions of what it's like shooting with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra . And there's more to it than just the camera. The 17 Ultra has a 6.9-inch OLED 120 Hz display that peaks at 3,500 nits of brightness, and a 6000mAh silicon-carbon battery. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts at 1,299 (roughly $1,750). Leica also announced a new phone made in partnership with Xiaomi at MWC. It looks a whole lot like Xiaomi's 17 Ultra, but isn't the 17 Ultra, exactly. Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi hands-on at MWC 2026 Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Like the 17 Ultra, Leica's Leitzphone by Xiaomi has a 1-inch camera sensor and physical controls for zoom and other settings, using a mechanical ring around the camera unit. It features a Leica-designed intuitive camera interface with the option to show just the essentials when you're shooting, hiding all the modes and labels. There's a monochrome shooting mode and Leica filters. The Leica branding is splashed all over it in design and wallpapers, but it's otherwise pretty similar to the 17 Ultra, with the same specs. Like the 17 Ultra, it has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 6.9-inch 120Hz display. This one's priced at 1,999 (roughly $2,362). The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro Xiaomi In addition to the 17 Ultra, Xiaomi announced two new tablets at MWC this year: the Xiaomi Pad 8 and Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro . There's nothing revolutionary here, but they're lightweight and thin, with both being 5.75mm thick and weighing 485g, and have a 9200mAh battery. The Pro model is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, while the regular Pad 8 uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. Xiaomi also unveiled a new 5000mAh powerbank, the UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W . The 6mm thick power bank comes in three colors with an aluminum alloy shell: orange, silver and charcoal gray. Along with that, the company introduced the Xiaomi Tag , its own take on the Bluetooth item tracker. The Xiaomi Tag has a built-in hanging loop so it can be attached directly to a keyring, and the company says it will work with both Apple Find My and Google's Find Hub for Android. Tecno Tecno We can always expect to see some wild phone concepts at MWC, and this year we're starting with one from Tecno . The company unveiled a modular concept smartphone design that can be as thin as 4.9mm in its base configuration. Thered be 10 modules to choose from based on the announcement, including various camera lenses, a gaming attachment and a power bank, relying on magnets to keep it all together or Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology, as Tecno is calling it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/everything-announced-at-mwc-2026-honors-robot-phone-the-new-leica-leitzphone-by-xiaomi-and-more-172442140.html?src=rss

A closer look at Honors Robot Phone

While Honor has already made plenty of product announcements, with tablets, foldables and more, its most interesting device at MWC 2026 is the Robot Phone and maybe the humanoid robot that came alongside it. After briefly showing off a model at CES, Honor isn't quite ready to launch its Robot Phone. However, we got more specs, tech demos and a closer look following the company's MWC press event in Barcelona. The Robot Phone is currently set to launch later this year. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Honor has put a lot of effort into ensuring its camera gimbal is highly mobile, to the point of creating a tiny personal robot that is, dare I say, adorable? The Robot Phone's pop-up camera can cock its head, shake to say no, nod to agree, and even flip or at least rotate 360 degrees. According to Honor's presentation, it can even bop along to songs. A spokesperson told me that it's got five songs in its repertoire, so it's not clear whether they're programmed for these kind of demos, or will be a feature of the final retail device. Another demo here at MWC showed how you could make the Robot Phone sleep by covering its gimbal eye, though it's odd that the camera is still exposed rather than folded away. My main concern with the Robot Phone is the robustness and durability of its robotic mechanisms. We've lived through several waves of smartphones that attempted much simpler mechanical camera functions and the threat of dust or heavy-handed users can't be ignored. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The company says it's taken what it learned from foldables, regarding high-performance materials and simulation accuracy, and applied it to shrinking the camera module. On stage, Honor CEO James Li revealed what he calls the industry's smallest micro motor, much smaller than a 1-euro coin and, he added, 70 percent smaller than existing micro motors. As this component has been reduced substantially, the Robot Phone's gimbal will be the industry's smallest 4-degrees-of-freedom gimbal system. That's a spec we finally got a spec! It'll also offer three-axis stabilization in this tiny camera package, with the primary camera using a 200-megapixel sensor. The fold-away panel that the primary camera tucks into also reveals more typical cameras, so you're not forced to use the gimbal if you don't need it. Still, that's one very thick camera unit: Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Honor has already started building out camera modes and features, with a Super Steady Video mode that enhances stability while swinging the Robot Phone around to capture video. AI Object Tracking will apparently intelligently follow subjects, while AI SpinShot supports intelligent 90-degree and 180-degree rotational movement for more cinematic transitions. We've seen these sorts of pre-programmed movements and functions in full-size phone gimbals and action cams. If Honor can nail it in such a tiny form, it'll be impressive. Other specifications during Honor's press event were sparse, although the company announced a collaboration with ARRI Image Science to bring its cinematic smarts to the Robot Phone's gimbal camera. In a press release, Honor's Li said the collaboration would bring ARRI's cinematic standards and professional workflows into mobile imaging. It's apparently the first time elements of ARRI Image Science are being integrated into a consumer device. Dr. Benedikt von Lindeiner, VP at ARRI, said the goal is to bring a true cinematic aesthetic, such as natural color, gentle highlight roll-off, and a sense of depth, to shooting with an Honor smartphone. Image by Mat Smith Honor also made a humanoid robot companion for its Robot Phone. The bot took to the stage alongside the Robot Phone, danced alongside human dancers, did a backflip and shook hands with CEO James Li. It didn't say a thing, but fortunately, during some on-the-rails banter between the robot, Robot Phone and Honor's CEO, the Robot Phone was particularly chatty. Like the many humanoid robots we've reported on and seen in person, Honor hopes to put it to work in both industrial and domestic settings, pitching it as a central part of the company's multi-million-dollar push into AI. For now, it's being called Honor Robot. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/a-closer-look-at-honors-robot-phone-145935198.html?src=rss

Honors Magic V6 doesnt have a new rabbit to pull out of its hat

Honor launched the Magic V5 in August 2025 and yet its successor is being announced just seven months later. Speak to Honors representatives, and you can imply that its racing to push the envelope against both its real competition (Samsung) and its anticipated one (Apple). With so little time between launches, youll be unsurprised to learn that little has changed. The only other real reason this device has been pushed out so swiftly is because itll help Honor retain the title of making the worlds thinnest foldable. Ill leave you to decide if you think thats a valid enough reason to release a whole new smartphone so soon. Last year, just one of the four Magic V5 colorways measured in at 8.8mm folded and 4.1mm open while the rest clocked in at 9mm and 4.2mm respectively. This year Honor is marking its own homework with a similarly generous spirit, with the white version of the Magic V6 measuring 8.75mm folded and 4.0mm open. The black, gold and red colorways will have to settle for the indignity of measuring 9mm folded and 4.1mm open. Now, I appreciate the engineering savvy necessary to make a device this slim, but this push for more thinness needs to stop. Last years Magic V5 crossed the millimeters-wide rubicon from slender to dainty , to the point where, while holding it, I was worried about how durable it was. After all, foldables are regularly put through mechanical stresses that regular phones never have to deal with in normal duty. Honor says the phone is well built to withstand the rigors of normal life, including a scratch-resistant display cover. The screen is impact-resistant, theres a far stronger hinge and its rated for IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance. Claims that, Im sure, will be tested to its limits by sceptical reviewers when the device goes on sale. The company has also been scraping away at the V6s weight, with the white model weighing in at 219 grams, while the other three colorways are 224 grams. Thats lighter than an iPhone 17 Pro Max (233 grams), and you can bet Honor mentioned that fact in its briefings to the press more than once. Honor has also seen fit to make some massive design changes to the inside of the V6 to help shrink many of its components. This redesigned internal structure includes a new antenna, speaker chamber, vibration motor, NFC module, SIM card slot and USB-C housing. All of the space vacated by those components has been filled by a new 6,660mAh battery with 25 percent silicon content. Honor says you should expect to be able to play a video on the primary display for 24 hours with that beefy battery. Its worth noting only the international version is equipped with this 6,660mAh cell, while the China-only variant gets an even better model. Honor said its domestic edition will have a CATL-manufactured battery with 32 percent silicon content and a rated capacity of more than 7,000mAh. Honor And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, seeing as he had no more worlds to conquer. The quote comes from Die Hard although its an urban myth that film coined the phrase entirely but the sentiment applies to much of the rest of this handset. The rest of the spec sheet is more or less the same as found on the Magic V5, which itself was a modest revision of its predecessor. Essentially, there arent too many more worlds to conquer even at the highest end of smartphone components, so grab your weepin tissues. Dab at the corners of your eyes when you see the cameras are more or less identical both in the main setup and for selfies. There are two 50-megapixel lenses paired with a 64-megapixel telephoto, and up front on both the cover and internal display, theres a 20-megapixel f/2.2 selfie lens. Youll find similarly-meager fare in the list of changes made to the displays, since the primary screen remains the same size and resolution as before. The bezels on the cover screen have been trimmed, so it now measures in at 6.52-inches, up from the 6.43-inch on the V5. But in most of the other ways in which it matters, youll find that here its business as usual. The V5 shipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, and that was plenty fast enough. The V6 can boast that its the first foldable to ship with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage). While it is an upgrade on the older SoC, its not transformative. Lets be honest, its hard not to see Honors desire to shuffle a new handset out the door with some marketing claims comes at the cost of any meaningful substance. On the software side, its business as usual, although one thing caught my eye enough to be worth comment. At several points during Honors briefing, the company went hard on the idea that its devices play wonderfully well with Apples. If you install Honor Connect onto your iPhone and Mac, youll be able to share files, extend your desktop and even control your AirPods. This was something the company has been pushing for a while now, but it surprised me how much it was brought up here. On one hand, it makes sense that any would-be Apple challenger would offer a friendly way in for iPhone diehards. Tell them that your Android handset will integrate with your existing devices and then hope to show them what youve got to offer. On the other, if youre so eager to tag your gear onto another companys ecosystem, it doesnt suggest a lot of confidence in your own. Especially when youre marketing your pricey, ultra-premium flagship foldable as an ideal macOS companion in your own marketing materials. Still, being able to use the V6 as an extended display for your Mac is a cool idea, no matter the broader narrative. At first blush, Honors Magic V6 looks like a phone that exists to satisfy a marketing demand rather than out of necessity. (Im sure someone will point out thats the case for a lot of new phones these days, but Im sure you take my meaning.) To stay ahead of its rivals, its nipped and tucked every corner of this phone to within an inch of its life, and the end result is more or less the same handset we saw less than a year ago. Thats not to say its a bad phone, the V5 was a lovely piece of kit, but I cant help but wonder if holding this device back until Honor had more meaningful improvements wouldnt have been better. At the time of publication, Honor hasnt shared pricing and availability information, which we will update here when its announced. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/honors-magic-v6-doesnt-have-a-new-rabbit-to-pull-out-of-its-hat-130048729.html?src=rss

How to share your location via satellite on iPhone

Apples satellite features are designed for situations where cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are unavailable. In supported regions, compatible iPhone 14 or later models can connect directly to a satellite to send messages, access Emergency SOS and share location data. Location sharing via satellite is particularly useful when traveling in remote areas, hiking or driving through regions with limited network coverage. This guide explains what is required to use location sharing via satellite on an iPhone, how to prepare the feature in advance and how to send your location when no signal is available. How to share your location via satellite When there is no cellular or Wi-Fi signal available, open the Find My app. If satellite connectivity is possible, the app will prompt you to connect to a satellite. Onscreen instructions will guide you to point the iPhone toward the sky and adjust its position to maintain a connection. Once connected, select the option to share your location . The iPhone will record your current location and send it via satellite to the selected contact. During this process, it is important to keep the device steady and follow the visual guidance until the transmission is complete. After the location is sent, the contact can view it in their Find My app. The shared location represents a specific moment in time rather than ongoing movement. What you need before using satellite location sharing Location sharing via satellite is available on iPhone 14 models and later that are running iOS 18 or newer. The feature is supported only in specific countries and regions , and its availability may vary by local regulations. Satellite services also require a clear view of the sky, which means dense tree cover, buildings, mountains or being indoors can interfere with connectivity. Apple offers satellite features free of charge for two years with the activation of an iPhone 14 or later, although this policy may change over time. It is important to confirm that satellite services are active on the device before relying on them in a remote setting. Location sharing via satellite works through the Find My app. Unlike Emergency SOS, it is not intended for urgent situations and does not contact emergency services. Instead, it allows trusted contacts to see your current location when standard connectivity is unavailable. Preparing your iPhone for satellite use Before heading somewhere with limited coverage, it is important to confirm that location services and Find My are properly configured. On the iPhone, open the Settings app and tap Privacy & Security , then select Location Services and ensure the feature is turned on. Scroll down to Find My and confirm that location access is set appropriately. Next, open the Find My app and make sure location sharing is enabled. If location sharing has not been set up, the app will prompt you to choose contacts who are allowed to view your location. Only contacts added in advance can receive location updates via satellite. If you are somewhere without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, youll need to use Apples Connection Assistant. Open Settings , then tap Satellite and choose a satellite feature. Apple also recommends reviewing the satellite connection demo, which is available within the Find My app and other satellite features. This demo shows how to hold the iPhone and move it to maintain a satellite connection. Practicing this step ahead of time can make the process quicker and less stressful when it is actually needed. Viewing shared locations and managing access Contacts who receive a satellite location update can see it in the same way as standard Find My location sharing. The location appears on the map with a timestamp indicating when it was sent. If additional updates are needed, the process must be repeated, provided satellite connectivity is still available. Location sharing permissions can be managed at any time. In the Find My app, users can add or remove contacts and adjust how long location sharing remains active. These settings apply to both standard and satellite-based sharing. How location sharing via satellite works When an iPhone loses access to cellular and Wi-Fi networks, the Find My app can switch to satellite mode. This allows the device to send limited data packets to a satellite, which then relays the information to Apples network and on to the selected contact. Because satellite bandwidth is limited, location updates are not continuous the iPhone sends a snapshot of the users location rather than live tracking. Updates may take several minutes to send, depending on conditions and satellite availability. Battery level can also affect satellite performance. Apple recommends ensuring the iPhone is sufficiently charged before relying on satellite features, especially during extended outdoor activities. Important limitations to keep in mind Satellite location sharing is not a replacement for Emergency SOS. In situations involving immediate danger, Emergency SOS via satellite should be used instead, as it connects directly with emergency services. Environmental factors can significantly affect satellite connectivity. Cloud cover, terrain and obstructions can slow or prevent successful transmissions. The feature also works best outdoors with a clear view of the horizon. Finally, satellite services are designed for occasional use rather than frequent messaging or tracking. Location updates may take longer than expected and should not be relied on for real-time navigation or coordination. Sharing your location via satellite can provide peace of mind when traveling beyond the reach of traditional networks. By setting up the feature in advance and understanding its limitations, iPhone users can make better use of Apples satellite tools when they matter most. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-share-your-location-via-satellite-on-iphone-130000085.html?src=rss

This retro-inspired handheld comes with Banjo-Kazooie and Battletoads built in

Who would've guessed we'd get to play the original Banjo-Kazooie on a handheld with just a D-pad in 2026. HyperMegaTech!'s latest release is a collaboration with Rare Ltd. , the legendary game developer known for the Banjo-Kazooie franchise and, more recently, Sea of Thieves , called the Super Pocket Rare Edition . The vertical handheld features 14 classics from the British developer, including two Battletoads titles, Conker's Pocket Tales and many more. While most of the games were released on 8- or 16-bit consoles, Banjo-Kazooie will be the headliner since it was originally released on the Nintendo 64. It may sound weird to control Banjo and Kazooie with a D-pad, but HyperMegaTech! assured that the game has been enhanced and optimized specifically for the Super Pocket handheld. Since HyperMegaTech! and Evercade share Blaze Entertainment as a parent company, that means the Rare Edition handheld will be compatible with Evercade cartridges . Once you're done with the 14 included games, you can expand your Super Pocket's library with cartridges that feature collections from Taito, NeoGeo or Atari. HyperMegaTech! said the Rare Edition handheld will be available for $69.99 in June 2026, but has already opened preorders . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/this-retro-inspired-handheld-comes-with-banjo-kazooie-and-battletoads-built-in-203111135.html?src=rss

Alaska could be the next state to crack down on AI-generated CSAM and restrict kids' social media use

Alaska's House of Representatives unanimously passed HB47 , a bill that imposes sweeping limits on when and how minors use social media apps, along with bans on generating or distributing harmful deepfakes of children. The bill's original form was focused on prohibiting the possession and distribution of sexually explicit images of children using AI, but Alaska lawmakers decided to add amendments that would impose social media restrictions. The proposed limitations include a statewide curfew on using social media between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM, banning addictive design features and requiring social media platforms to verify user ages and get parental consent if they are minors. While the House bill saw 39 votes in favor and zero against, the amendments offered some hints at potential upcoming revisions. Before the bill went to a vote, some of the House representatives expressed concern about adding such broad rules on social media without consulting the companies behind them first. The bill still has to make its way through the Alaska State Senate, which already has presented a companion bill , and the governor. Alaska is following the footsteps of many other states , and the House even modeled its social media amendments in the HB47 bill after Utah. While Utah was the first to propose social media restrictions for kids, it was later met with a preliminary injunction . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/alaska-could-be-the-next-state-to-crack-down-on-ai-generated-csam-and-restrict-kids-social-media-use-190506366.html?src=rss

Everything announced at MWC 2026: The new Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi, Honor's ultra-thin MagicPad 4 and more

MWC 2026 officially gets underway on March 2 and will continue through March 5, but the announcements are already coming ahead of its start. We can always count on the annual tech event to bring tons of new phones, laptops and tablets, and we're expecting to see some robots and other gadgets too plus plenty of AI news, of course. In addition to the announcements, MWC is our chance to get hands-on time with some of the most interesting new devices, like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra . We'll be updating this story as the week goes on to keep you in the loop on everything that caught our attention, so keep checking back here for the latest MWC news. Xiaomi x Leica Xiaomi kicked off MWC this year by announcing the global launch of its 17 Ultra smartphone, which debuted first in China back in December. It's unclear if the phone will ever come to the US, but it's now rolling out in Europe. Xiaomi teamed up again with Leica to make a photography-focused smartphone, and the 17 Ultra sports a 1-inch 50-megapixel camera sensor with a f/1.67 lens, a telephoto setup with a 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. There's also a manual zoom ring around the camera. Check out our hands on for our first impressions of what it's like shooting with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra . And there's more to it than just the camera. The 17 Ultra has a 6.9-inch OLED 120 Hz display that peaks at 3,500 nits of brightness, and a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts at 1,299 (roughly $1,750). Leica also announced a new phone made in partnership with Xiaomi at MWC. It looks a whole lot like Xiaomi's 17 Ultra, but isn't the 17 Ultra, exactly. Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi hands-on at MWC 2026 Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Like the 17 Ultra, Leica's Leitzphone by Xiaomi has a 1-inch camera sensor and physical controls for zoom and other settings, using a mechanical ring around the camera unit. It features a Leica-designed intuitive camera interface with the option to show just the essentials when you're shooting, hiding all the modes and labels. There's a monochrome shooting mode and Leica filters. The Leica branding is splashed all over it in design and wallpapers, but it's otherwise pretty similar to the 17 Ultra, with the same specs. Like the 17 Ultra, it has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 6.9-inch 120Hz display. This one's priced at 1,999 (roughly $2,362). Honor MagicPad 4 Honor Ahead of MWC, Honor announced what it claims is the thinnest Android tablet in the world: the 4.8mm thick MagicPad 4 . We're expecting to hear more about this at Honor's press conference on Sunday, but so far we know it features a 12.3-inch 165Hz OLED display and weighs just 450g. It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. The thinness doesn't count the camera bump, Honor notes. The MagicPad 4 has 13MP rear and 9MP front cameras. It also boasts spatial audio, with eight speakers. Just as the display is slightly smaller than the previous MagicPad, the MagicPad 4 has a smaller battery at 10,100 mAh. It comes with a 66W fast charger. The MagicPad 4 will run Honor's MagicOS 10. We don't yet know how much it will cost, but we'll update this after Honor's press conference (where we're also expecting to see the company's robot) with any new details. Tecno We can always expect to see some wild phone concepts at MWC, and this year we're starting with one from Tecno . The company unveiled a modular concept smartphone design that can be as thin as 4.9mm in its base configuration. Thered be 10 modules to choose from based on the announcement, including various camera lenses, a gaming attachment and a power bank, relying on magnets to keep it all together or Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology, as Tecno is calling it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/everything-announced-at-mwc-2026-the-new-leica-leitzphone-by-xiaomi-honors-ultra-thin-magicpad-4-and-more-172442426.html?src=rss

Xiaomi 17 Ultra hands-on: Incredible cameras, but maybe hard to get

Chinas biggest phone makers continue to relentlessly forge ahead with high-spec phones that you may never see in the US. With the Xiaomi 17 Ultra this year, the company has continued its pattern from previous iterations by focusing on powerful camera sensors, huge batteries and being selective about global availability. Xiaomis 17 series is launching across multiple European territories months after its Asia debut, but at the time of writing, no word yet on US availability. Another logistical point of interest? When we last checked out Xiaomis devices, it was the 15 series, and the company has decided to skip 16 and leap straight to 17, conveniently matching Apples latest number. Storied camera brand Leica has been involved with Xiaomis phones for a few years and its newest flagship doesnt disappoint in that regard , because this is another Xiaomi device dedicated to photography. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The 17 Ultra has a huge 1-inch 50-megapixel main camera sensor with a f/1.67 lens, and a telephoto setup with a 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor and going up to 4.3x optical zoom. Xiaomi claims its capable of up to 17x optical-level zoom, but quality doesnt measure up to, say, the Oppo Find X9, with its dedicated telescopic lens add-on. Theres also a 50MP ultrawide camera to round things out. The main camera is very impressive, delivering plenty of detail and performing incredibly well in low light, seemingly before any computational photography kicks in. A new Light Fusion 1050L sensor features LOFIC HDR technology, delivering stronger control over highlights and more detail in darker areas of your shots. I've been impressed by the balanced color tone and contrast, without having to edit or add one of the (many) Leica camera filters. If anything, the slightly heavy-handed algorithms can sometimes ruin parts of a shot. For instance, by scrambling lettering or capturing blurry, AI-mutated faces where computational photography takes a swing (and a miss) at people in the distance. Mat Smith for Engadget The telephoto camera alone is also technically interesting in a few ways. It offers continual optical zoom across the 75-100mm range without in-sensor cropping. This means the lenses physically move to deliver lossless zoom across a range of distances, without jarring leaps between camera sensors and crops. This doesnt run across the full gamut, but it does roughly cover the 3-4x optical zoom range, which is often used in portrait photography. The APO (apochromatic) lens design on the telephoto is more immediately useful and effective. An APO lens significantly reduces chromatic aberration by focusing three wavelengths of light (red, green and blue) onto the same focal plane. This lens design means it can correct color fringing and improve image sharpness. At full optical zoom, this light fitting at Soho Theatre Walthamstow doesn't bloom or fringe to the extent that most smartphone zooms suffer from. Mat Smith for Engadget At higher zoom levels, fringing and lighting bloom often hamper telephoto photos on smartphones, and Xiaomis solution has some appeal. I noticed less fringing than on other zoom-capable Android phones from Samsung, Oppo and Google. It also supports macro photography, but is hindered this time by a minimum focal distance of 30cm (11.8 inches). Most smartphone cameras macro modes let you get much closer. The 17 Ultra can capture up to 8K video (at 30 fps), 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, and 4K 120 fps Log video, ensuring you can make the most of that huge 1-inch sensor in video, too. That said, it seems to struggle with stabilization at times, while its low-light performance doesnt match its prowess in still photography, lagging behind flagship phones from Apple, Google and Samsung. There's also a special Leica edition of the 17 Ultra, which is largely the same, specification-wise, but with a manual zoom ring around the camera unit. It's a cool gimmick, but felt oddly loose on a few devices I've handled. Xiaomi made a few design changes to its Ultra line this year, with a new, entirely flat display, and flattened edges that look like a certain family of devices . In fairness, its not the only company using imitation as flattery . Theres also IP68 protection against dust and water. While cameras may be the highlight, this is a flagship device by any specification metric. With a 6.9-inch display, this expansive OLED display has variable refresh rates (1-120Hz) and peaks at 3,500 nits of brightness. At that size, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is in the territory of devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and S26 Ultra. A phone this size isnt for everyone, but it is the thinnest Ultra phone from Xiaomi to date, with a profile measuring 8.29mm. Xiaomi has also reduced the camera units diameter and raised it on the device, making it easier to use and helping keep fingers out of your shots. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget Also, Id be remiss if I didnt mention the huge 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, with support for Xiaomis 90W HyperCharge (if you have the right charger) and 50W wireless HyperCharge (which also requires Xiaomis own dock) speeds. Other phone makers: Please put a battery this huge in your flagship. At MWC 2026, the company announced the global launch and rollout of the device across Europe, including the UK where the Ultra will start priced at 1,299 (roughly $1,750). We're still waiting to confirm US availability and pricing. While the specs are powerful, launching a flagship device thats already been in the wild for a few months even if elsewhere in the world reduces the spectacle. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/xiaomi-17-ultra-global-launch-hands-on-leica-camera-143006810.html?src=rss

Leicas Leitzphone by Xiaomi has a huge 1-inch camera sensor and a stylish new design

Alongside a global launch for Xiaomi's 17 Ultra (read about that right here), the company announced a further deepening of its relationship with Leica . The CEO of Leica, Mattias Harsch, took to the stage to announce a new Leitzphone, which appears to be an even deeper collaboration than 17 Ultra by Leica, which is a different phone. Confused? That's fair. Design-wise, Leica has shifted back to a single tone body color, which looks more Leica to this camera dilettante's eyes. And if youre thinking youve heard of the Leitzphone before, you probably have: it was a series of phones made by Sharp that launched in Japan in 2021. They all had a 1-inch camera sensor and yes, as does Xiaomis first Leitzphone. It also gets a customizable ring to control camera settings. The camera interface is also designed by Leica. with the aim of being as intuitive as possible, with a new Essential mode within the camera app for stripping away all those modes and labels, showcasing whatever you're looking to shoot. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The regular Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Leica edition have a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 6.9-inch 120Hz display that can reach up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. While cameras are the focus, its a flagship device by pretty much any metric and the Leitzphone seems to have a very similar specsheet. Well be taking a closer look at whats different when we get to test it out very soon. After years of collaboration (and cute little badges), this may be the first pure Leica phone manufactured by Xiaomi but sold directly by both companies. It's priced at 1,999 (roughly $2,362), but it's not known yet whether this phone will launch in the US. This is a developing story... This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/leica-leitzphone-xiaomi-mwc-2026-135744417.html?src=rss

Steam Next Fest, a different flavor of The Witcher and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. It's Steam Next Fest week, with literally thousands of demos for upcoming games for us to dive into. I'm trying to check out as many as I can before the event wraps up on Monday. However, I made a near-critical error in my planning: I opted to try the Raccoin demo first. I could and would have happily played that all week. This is a coin-pushing roguelike deckbuilder that adopts the format of Balatro . To progress, you need to earn a certain number of points and the target increases each round. Every three rounds there's a sort-of boss a few coins that negatively impact your game until you can get rid of them. After every round, youll go to a shop to buy and sell special coins and other upgrades. As you might expect with this type of game, finding ways to boost the points you can score from each coin is how to win. On my first successful run, I found a way to electrify the coins (which boosts their score) by charging them and use passive abilities and special coins to spread and amplify the effect. Then I was able to replicate a special coin that pulls all other nearby coins into a cyclone having the water-based coins in there helped to spread the electrical effect between other coins. There were a few rounds in which I didn't even have to do anything. The cyclones just dumped enough coins over the edge for me. This was only the first way I've figured out how to break the game. Six hours in, I'm eager to find many more. Raccoin from Doraccoon and Balatro publisher Playstack will hit Steam on March 31. The demo is currently still available . I've had The Eternal Life of Goldman on my wishlist since we first learned about it a couple of years ago. I'm very glad that was one of the demos I've tried. This is an utterly gorgeous platform adventure with hand-drawn art. As Goldman, an elderly gentleman, you'll swap parts of your cane on the fly so you can hook onto floating rings or pogo off springs. The platforming is challenging enough that I had to focus to get through the demo, which lasts about 75-90 minutes. There's almost always something going on in the background or foreground too. This game from Weappy Studio is shaping up to be quite something. I can't wait to play the full thing when The Eternal Life of Goldman hits PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, hopefully later this year . Of course I had to check out the Next Fest demo for Vampire Crawlers , which is also available on Xbox . The latest game from Poncle is a turn-based deckbuilder roguelite. Oh, and it's also a Vampire Survivors spin-off. Instead of passively firing your weapons at surrounding enemies, you have a bit more control here. It plays a bit like those first-person maze games from the '90s. You'll walk around each level with the help of a map that shows where enemies, chests and bosses are located. When you encounter enemies, you'll play cards in a certain order to deal damage or boost your stats for that particular battle. You can play all your available cards in one go, but you might want to rearrange them first so that you, for instance, use a card that boosts your damage before firing any weapons. Each card has a mana point value you can only play a full hand if you have enough mana. And yes, there are weapon evolutions. Turn-based games usually aren't my bag, but sometimes they just hit right. The Vampire Crawlers demo hits right. I can already tell I'm going to spend dozens of hours with the full game, which is coming to Steam, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android this year. I tried a few other demos so far, including one for John Carpenter's Toxic Commando , a co-op shooter in the vein of Left 4 Dead . It's a little rough around the edges right now, but it seems enjoyable enough. There are a bunch of other Next Fest demos I'm hoping to try over the weekend, including precision platformer Croak , PvE pirate game Windrose , cyberpunk platformer Replaced , record store sim Wax Heads , match-three/tower-defense game Titanium Court and Dragon Care Tarot . I read that you can pet dragons in the latter, so I'm sold. New releases If you can't get enough of The Witcher and are impatiently waiting for CD Projekt Red to unleash The Witcher IV , here's one way to keep your thumbs busy in the meantime. Reigns: The Witcher is the latest installment of the Reigns series from Nerial and Devolver Digital for Steam , Android and iOS ($6). You still play as Geralt of Rivia. However, this is a narrative-focused game in which you make choices by swiping. It's something a little different for Witcher fans. It might just pull some long-time Reigns players into that fantasy universe for the first time too. Bread and Fred is the cutest thing. The co-op platformer from SandCastles Studio has been available on PC ( Steam , GOG and Epic Games Store ) and Nintendo Switch for a while, and this week it landed on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S , PS4 and PS5 . It normally costs $15 and there's a 20 percent launch discount on those consoles. You'll need to be a PS Plus subscriber to get those savings on PlayStation, though. You and a friend take control of a pair of adorable penguins that are tethered together. The aim is to ascend a mountain, sometimes by swinging each other to get to hard-to-reach places. But if you miss a jump, you can plummet back down and erase a chunk of your progress. There is a single-player mode in which one of the penguins is replaced by a rock. The pixel art aesthetic here is super charming. Here's another co-op game. This one is a sidescrolling RPG brawler. After several months in early access/game preview, the full version of Stoic's Towerborne arrived on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC , Steam and PS5 . It costs $25, though there's a 20 percent launch discount on Xbox. Its on Game Pass Ultimate and Premium as well. After the 1.0 update, the game has a full campaign that you can play offline by yourself or online with friends. Stoic has added fresh biomes, enemies and bosses, and there are said to be hundreds of missions, side quests and bounties. I really dig the fluidity of the animations in the trailer, though the action is a bit hard to parse at first glance. Still, I'm curious enough to try out Towerborne . Ive been a little too occupied with other Next Fest demos (plus Overwatch challenges, Ill admit it) to play Dice A Million yet, but this roguelike deckbuilder looks pretty interesting. The aim is to find the right combination of dice and rings (i.e. passive abilities) to roll a million points in one go. As with the likes of Balatro , it's all about figuring out powerful synergies between dice and rings to break the game and rack up ridiculous scores. I did quite enjoy a line on the Steam page that reads, Cutting edge next-gen graphics (not really, I drew all of them on paint). Dice A Million from Countlessnights and publisher 2 Left Thumbs is also available on Itch and Xbox on PC . It's on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Otherwise, it costs $13, but there's a 20 percent discount on Steam until March 11. There's a demo available on Steam too. Upcoming MOUSE: P.I. For Hire will now launch on 16 April 2026. pic.twitter.com/gwD3QW5Vyt MOUSE: P.I. For Hire (@mousethegame) February 23, 2026 Let's start this section with a news roundup. Mouse: P.I. for Hire continues to look rad, but unfortunately we'll have to wait a little longer to play it. Fumi Games and publisher PlaySide have delayed it by a few weeks until April 16 to polish the game up. I do love voxel-based heist game Teardown , so I'm jazzed for the online multiplayer update. Tuxedo Labs revealed it will go live on Steam on March 12. It will add a co-op campaign option (for up to 12 players!). There'll be hundreds of other multiplayer modes created by the studio and the community, including prop hunt, battle royale and floor-is-lava modes. There's going to be so much carnage. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Teardown will get the multiplayer update later this year. ConcernedApe (aka Eric Barrone) marked the 10-year anniversary of Stardew Valley by showing off some very early gameplay footage, some stories from his time of working on his all-time-great indie game and revealing the two additional characters that players will be able to marry when the 1.7 update goes live . Sandy's cool, so it'll be nice to have her as an option, but Clint? That guy sucks. Here's hoping Barrone will finally focus more of his attention on Haunted Chocolatier once this Stardew update is done and dusted. Also as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, it was revealed this week that an orchestra will deliver a one-night-only performance of music from Stardew Valley at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on October 25. I missed my chance to see the Symphony of Seasons tour in person when it stopped near me, because I don't always make the wisest decisions in life. At least we can now watch an official recording of a previous concert. Minimap, a social platform for gamers, ran its first indie game showcase this week. Among the highlights: Thrifty Business (Spellgarden Games), a cozy thrift-store management sim that's coming to Steam this year. A demo's available now . Another look at Please, Watch The Artwork , an anomaly-spotting game without jump scares or monsters from Please, Touch The Artwork developer Thomas Waterzooi. Lilys World XD , a psychological horror game from SonderingEmily in which you'll investigate a teenage girl's laptop in the early 2000s. The trailer brings to mind screenlife films like Searching and Unfriended . Coming-of-age adventure Ikuma - The Frozen Compass from Mooneye Studios. You'll play as both cabin boy Sam and husky Ellie (or have a friend take control of one of them) as you try to make your way home from the Arctic. This should hit Steam later this year. Tombwater was originally supposed to arrive in November , but Moth Atlas and publisher Midwest Games delayed it for further refinement. It's now set to arrive on Steam on March 31.A Next Fest demo is available now. This is a 2D Soulslike with a Western setting and 2D pixel art that's inspired by Bloodborne and early Legend of Zelda games. You'll face off against horrific eldritch creatures as you search for a missing friend. You'll have seven playable classes to choose from and the ability to wield more than 50 firearms and melee weapons, and more than 20 spells. Tombwater is said to have around 20 hours of gameplay. There's no release date for Solarpunk as yet, but I found this trailer quite soothing. It offers a first look at co-op gameplay for this base-building and exploration game from the two-person team at Cyberwave and publisher rokaplay. Up to four players will be able to explore floating islands, gather resources and build out a homestead together. As the title suggests, there's a technology-driven element to Solarpunk . You can use renewable energy sources to power tools that can automate things like resource harvesting and watering plants. The airships you use to travel between islands look cool too. Solarpunk is set to hit Steam later this year. A demo is available now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-next-fest-a-different-flavor-of-the-witcher-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-120000900.html?src=rss

OpenAI strikes a deal with the Defense Department to deploy its AI models

OpenAI has reached an agreement with the Defense Department to deploy its models in the agencys network, company chief Sam Altman has revealed on X. In his post, he said two of OpenAIs most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems. Altman claimed the company put those principles in its agreement with the agency, which he called by the governments preferred name of Department of War (DoW), and that it had agreed to honor them. The agency has closed the deal with OpenAI, shortly after President Donald Trump ordered all government agencies to stop using Claude and any other Anthropic services. If youll recall, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously threatened to label Anthropic supply chain risk if it continues refusing to remove the guardrails on its AI, which are preventing the technology to be used for mass surveillance against Americans and in fully autonomous weapons. Its unclear why the government agreed to team up with OpenAI if its models also have the same guardrails, but Altman said its asking the government to offer the same terms to all the AI companies it works with. Jeremy Lewin, the Senior Official Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, said on X that DoW references certain existing legal authorities and includes certain mutually agreed upon safety mechanisms in its contracts. Both OpenAI and xAI, which had also previously signed a deal to deploy Grok in the DoWs classified systems, agreed to those terms. He said it was the same compromise that Anthropic was offered, and rejected. Anthropic, which started working with the US government in 2024, refused to bow down to Hegseth. In its latest statement, published just hours before Altman announced OpenAIs agreement, it repeated its stance. No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, Anthropic wrote. We will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court. Altman added in his post on X that OpenAI will build technical safeguards to ensure the companys models behave as they should, claiming thats also what the DoW wanted. Its sending engineers to work with the agency to ensure [its models] safety, and it will only deploy on cloud networks. As The New York Times notes, OpenAI is not yet on Amazon cloud, which the government uses. But that could change soon, as company has also just announced forming a partnership with Amazon to run its models on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for enterprise customers. Tonight, we reached an agreement with the Department of War to deploy our models in their classified network. In all of our interactions, the DoW displayed a deep respect for safety and a desire to partner to achieve the best possible outcome. AI safety and wide distribution of Sam Altman (@sama) February 28, 2026 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-strikes-a-deal-with-the-defense-department-to-deploy-its-ai-models-054441785.html?src=rss

Trump orders federal agencies to drop Anthropic services amid Pentagon feud

President Donald Trump has ordered all US government agencies to stop using Claude and other Anthropic services, escalating an already volatile feud between the Department of Defense and company over AI safeguards. Taking to Truth Social on Friday afternoon, the president said there would be a six-month phase out period for federal agencies, including the Defense Department, to migrate off of Anthropic's products. The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution, the president wrote. Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow. Before today, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had threatened to label Anthropic a supply chain risk if it did not agree to withdraw safeguards that insist Claude not be used for mass surveillance against Americans or in fully autonomous weapons.In a post on X published after President Trumps statement , Hegseth said he was directing the Department of War to designate Anthropic a Supply-Chain Risk to National Security. Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic. Anthropic did not immediately respond to Engadget's comment request. Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for the company said the contract Anthropic received after CEO Dario Amodei outlined Anthropic's position made virtually no progress on preventing the outlined misuses. New language framed as a compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will. Despite DOW's recent public statements, these narrow safeguards have been the crux of our negotiations for months, the spokesperson said. We remain ready to continue talks and committed to operational continuity for the Department and America's warfighters. Advocacy groups like the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) quickly came out against the presidents threats. This action sets a dangerous precedent. It chills private companies ability to engage frankly with the government about appropriate uses of their technology, which is especially important in national security settings that so often have reduced public visibility, said CDT President and CEO Alexandra Givens, in a statement shared with Engadget. These threats undermine the integrity of the innovation ecosystem, distort market incentives and normalize an expansive view of executive power that should worry Americans all across the political spectrum. For now, it appears the AI industry is united behind Anthropic. On Friday, hundreds of Google and OpenAI employees signed an open letter urging their companies to stand in solidarity with the lab. According to an internal memo seen by Axios , OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the ChatGPT maker would draw the same red line as Anthropic. Update, February 27, 6PM ET: This story was updated after publish to include a link to and quotes from Hegseth about the designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk. The subheadline was also updated. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/trump-orders-federal-agencies-to-drop-anthropic-services-amid-pentagon-feud-222029306.html?src=rss

FCC approves the merger of cable giants Cox and Charter

The Federal Communications Commission has given the go ahead for two of the US' biggest cable providers, Charter Communications and Cox Communications, to merge. Charter announced its intention to acquire Cox for $34.5 billion in May 2025, with specific plans to inherit Cox's managed IT, commercial fiber and cloud businesses, while folding the company's residential cable service into a subsidiary. By approving this deal, the FCC ensures big wins for Americans, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement. This deal means that jobs are coming back to America that had been shipped overseas. It means that modern, high-speed networks will get built out in more communities across rural America. And it means that customers will get access to lower priced plans. On top of this, the deal enshrines protections against DEI discrimination. The FCC claims that Charter plans to invest billions to upgrade its network following the closure of the deal, leading to faster broadband and lower prices. The company's Rural Construction Initiative will also extend those improvements to rural states lacking in consistent internet service, a project the FCC was heavily invested in during the Biden administration, but has been pulling back from since President Donald Trump appointed Carr . The FCC also claims Charter will onshore jobs currently handled off-shore by Cox employees and commit to new safeguards to protect against DEI discrimination, which essentially amounts to hiring, recruiting and promoting employees based on skills, qualifications, and experience. While Carr's FCC paints a rosy picture of Charter's acquisition, history has provided multiple examples of mergers having the opposite effect on jobs and pricing. For example, redundancies created when T-Mobile merged with Sprint in 2020 led to a wave of layoffs at the carrier. And funnily enough in 2018, not long after Charter's merger with Time Warner Cable was approved by the FCC , the company raised prices on its Spectrum service by over $91 a year. The FCC's obsession with diversity, equity and inclusion as part of the deal is stranger, if only because it appears to fall outside of the commission's purpose of maintaining fair competition in the telecommunications industry. It does fit with other mergers the FCC has approved under Carr, however. Skydance's acquisition of Paramount was approved in 2025 under the condition it wouldn't establish any DEI programs. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/fcc-approves-the-merger-of-cable-giants-cox-and-charter-230258865.html?src=rss

Paramount agrees to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, pays Netflix $2.8 billion for breakup

Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are officially merging . The studio paid Netflix the $2.8 billion termination fee it was owed for breaking its original deal to buy Warner Bros. earlier today, and the historic film studio has now formally accepted Paramounts offer. Along with the deal, which values Warner Bros. Discovery at $31 per share, Paramount is making several commitments to assuage the fears of regulators and the entertainment community. Those include a guarantee that the new company will produce 30 theatrical films annually, that theatrical releases will have a minimum 45-day window in theaters before theyre brought to video on demand (something Netflix ultimately also agreed to ) and that deal itself will close by Q3 2026. This turnaround in Paramount's fortunes has happened quickly. Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Paramount's offer was superior to Netflix's on Thursday , and not long after the streaming service said that it wouldn't provide a counter offer, effectively abandoning its previous agreement. Ultimately, Netflix and Paramount were vying for different parts of Warner Bros. Disocvery. Netflix was primarily interested in Warner Bros. proper, while Paramount Skydance wanted the whole company, cable networks and all. Either deal would need to be approved by regulators, which is the hurdle Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery face now. The general assumption has been that the close relationship Paramount CEO David Ellison and his billionaire father Larry Ellison have with the Trump administration would smooth over any issues, but the deal will receive scrutiny abroad and likely also at the state level, based on a recent post from California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Paramount Skydance has proven its willingness to comply with President Donald Trump , but delays in closing the deal could be costly. The company is on the hook to pay Warner Bros. Discovery a daily ticking fee equal to $0.25 per share per quarter beginning after September 30, 2026. The company also has to pay $7 billion to Warner Bros. Discovery if the deal is terminated for regulatory reasons. Netflix lost the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery, but getting a competitor to potentially overpay for the studio might be its own reward. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/paramount-agrees-to-buy-warner-bros-discovery-pays-netflix-28-billion-for-breakup-215936514.html?src=rss

Google and OpenAI employees sign open letter in solidarity with Anthropic

Hundreds of employees at Google and OpenAI have signed an open letter urging their companies to stand with Anthropic in its standoff with the Pentagon over military applications for AI tools like Claude. The letter, titled We Will Not Be Divided, calls on the leadership of both companies to put aside their differences and stand together to continue to refuse the Department of Wars current demands for permission to use our models for domestic mass surveillance and autonomously killing people without human oversight. These are two lines that Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has said should not be crossed by his or any other AI company. As of publication, the letter has over 450 signatures, almost 400 of which come from Google employees and the rest from OpenAI. Currently, roughly 50 percent of all participants have chosen to attach their names to the cause, with the rest remaining anonymous. All are verified as current employees of these companies. The original organizers of the letter arent Google or OpenAI employees; they say are unaffiliated with any AI company, political party or advocacy group. The open letter is the latest development in the saga between Anthropic and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who threatened to label the company a supply chain risk if it did not agree to withdraw certain guardrails for classified work. The Pentagon has also been in talks with Google and OpenAI about using their models for classified work, with xAI coming on board earlier this week. The letter argues the government is trying to divide each company with fear that the other will give in. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told his employees on Friday that the ChatGPT maker will draw the same red lines as Anthropic, according to an internal memo seen by Axios . He told CNBC on the same day that he doesn't personally think the Pentagon should be threatening DPA against these companies. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-and-openai-employees-sign-open-letter-in-solidarity-with-anthropic-194957274.html?src=rss

Heres your first look at Kratos and Atreus in Amazons upcoming God of War TV adaptation

With the likes of The Last of Us and Fallout out of the way for a bit, Amazon has seized its opportunity to put the spotlight on the next big video game adaptation, its currently-in-production God of War show. Today we got our first look at Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson as Kratos and Atreus. The image released by Amazon shows the eponymous God of War standing next to a tree as he watches his son who notably looks a bit younger than the video game version of 11-year-old Atreus we first met in 2018s God of War take aim with his bow. Exactly what theyre hunting is unclear, but we know that the developing relationship between father and son that was such a big part of the PS4 game is also going to be at the heart of the show. Whether Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios have nailed the looks of its central characters is a matter of opinion. Personally I think Hursts Kratos in particular looks a little bit off here, but theres every chance it all comes together later in production. Or when we first hear him angrily exclaim boy! The Sons of Anarchy star was cast as Kratos back in January, and earlier this week we learned that Deadpool s Ed Skrein will play Baldur in the Amazon show. The rest of the cast includes Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Max Parker and Heimfall, lafur Darri lafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri and Danny Woodburn as Brok. No release date has been announced yet, but a second season of God of War has already been confirmed. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/heres-your-first-look-at-kratos-and-atreus-in-amazons-upcoming-god-of-war-tv-adaptation-172251366.html?src=rss

OpenAI secures another $110 billion in funding from Amazon, NVIDIA and SoftBank

OpenAI just announced a massive funding round of $110 billion , which is one of the biggest investment rounds in Silicon Valley history. The investors feature many of the usual suspects, including Amazon with $50 billion, NVIDIA with $30 billion and SoftBank with $30 billion. This investment brings OpenAI to a $730 billion valuation Were super excited about this deal, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told CNBC . AI is going to happen everywhere. That last statement seems more like a threat than a boast, but I digress. Beyond the funding round, OpenAI has announced strategic partnerships with both NVIDIA and Amazon. This will involve Amazon Web Services (AWS) running OpenAI models for enterprise customers to build generative AI applications and agents at production scale. It also names AWS as the exclusive third-party cloud distribution provider for OpenAI Frontier, which is an agentic enterprise platform. OpenAI has also committed to consuming 2 gigawatts of Amazon's Trainium capacity, which is the company's custom-designed AI training accelerator. In other words, Amazon is spending a lot of money on OpenAI and then OpenAI will turn around and spend a lot of money with Amazon. The AI funding ouroboros continues . It's also worth noting that Amazon's investment in OpenAI will be staggered. The funding begins with $15 billion, but the remaining $35 billion will only be invested when certain conditions are met. Oddly, it's been reported that one condition is that OpenAI achieves artificial general intelligence . AGI is when AI evolves to or beyond human-level abilities, at which point the entire world turns into rainbows and everyone gets a pony. This could happen later this year, according to those bullish on the technology , or never, according to many researchers . Sam Altman said it was coming in 2025 but has since grown weary of the term . The new partnership with NVIDIA evolves the long-standing collaboration between the two companies . OpenAI has pledged to consume 2 gigawatts of training capacity on NVIDIA's Vera Rubin systems and an additional 3 gigawatts of computing resources, likely in the form of GPUs, to run specific AI inference tasks. In other words, NVIDIA is spending a lot of money on OpenAI and then OpenAI will turn around and spend a lot of money with NVIDIA. The ouroboros must feed . As for revenue, OpenAI has forecast a massive loss of $14 billion in 2026. It lost around $5 billion in 2024 and reports estimate a loss of $8 billion in 2025 . Despite this trajectory, the company claims it'll be raking in $100 billion in revenue by 2029 . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-secures-another-110-billion-in-funding-from-amazon-nvidia-and-softbank-171006356.html?src=rss

NASA overhauls Artemis program, delaying Moon landing to 2028

NASA is making major changes to its Artemis Moon program. On Friday, Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the space agency would carry out an additional flight in 2027 to test commercial lunar landers from SpaceX and/or Blue Origin . The new mission will take the place of Artemis 3, which previously would have seen NASA attempt to land on the Moon for the first time since 1972. The flight will also see the agency test a new spacesuit made by Axiom Space. As part of the new plan, the redesigned Artemis 3 mission will give NASA the chance to test at least one lander in the relative safety of low Earth orbit. NASA will attempt to return humans to the Moon during Artemis 4 sometime in 2028, with the potential for another mission as early as later that same year. Per CBS News , the decision comes after NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Plan said the agency's existing mission plan was too risky. NASA must standardize its approach, increase flight rate safely, and execute on the Presidents national space policy. With credible competition from our greatest geopolitical adversary increasing by the day, we need to move faster, eliminate delays, and achieve our objectives, said Isaacman. Standardizing vehicle configuration, increasing flight rate and progressing through objectives in a logical, phased approach, is how we achieved the near-impossible in 1969 and it is how we will do it again. The change of plan also comes as Artemis 2 has faced multiple delays in recent months. The Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket has, once again, proven to be temperamental. NASA had planned to launch Artemis 2 in early February, but pushed the flight back after it caught a hydrogen leak during a fueling test . More recently, NASA delayed the mission to give its engineers time to fix a helium pressurization issue in the upper stage of the SLS. At the earliest, the mission can now get underway on April 1. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/nasa-overhauls-artemis-program-delaying-moon-landing-to-2028-164255318.html?src=rss

Celebrate Pokmons 30th anniversary with this Game Boy-shaped music player

Pokmon celebrates its 30th anniversary today, and as youd expect, Nintendo and The Pokmon Company are cranking up the nostalgia in every possible way. In addition to re-releasing the Game Boy Advance remakes of Pokmon Red and Blue on Nintendo Switch Online, theyre also selling us a Game Boy-shaped portable Pokmon jukebox. Officially titled the Pokmon Game Music Collection, the little music player is palm-sized and can be loaded up with 45 different cartridges, each featuring a different melody or sound effect from the original games' soundtrack. The device was announced by longtime series composer Junichi Masuda during todays anniversary Pokmon Presents livestream, where he said that special care has gone into the audio sounding like it did on the Game Boy. Each cartridge also features a screenshot from the games, so when you slide it into the devices display slot it looks like youre playing as well as listening. Put one of these next to last years equally charming Lego Game Boy on a shelf and youve got two entirely non-playable replicas of the iconic handheld, which is sure to confuse and disappoint your guests in equal measure. The Pokmon Game Music Collection is available to buy from Pokmon Center starting today, but US pricing is yet to be confirmed. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/celebrate-pokemons-30th-anniversary-with-this-game-boy-shaped-music-player-154644225.html?src=rss

Pokmon Winds and Waves are coming to Switch 2 in 2027

The Pokmon leakers were right: the Gen 10 games are called Pokmon Wind and Pokmon Waves . The Pokmon Company confirmed the titles during a 30th anniversary stream on Pokmon Day . The games are set to hit Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. (A Game Freak leak last October suggested Wind and Waves would be out this year with DLC to follow in 2027.) According to the Pokmon account on X , in Wind and Waves , youll travel across beautiful windswept islands and a vast ocean with glittering waves that ebb and flow. Youll also team up with Pokmon to overcome challenges and even the forces of nature! Theyll be playable in 11 languages, including Brazilian Portuguese . Introducing the first partner Pokmon from #PokemonWindsWaves ! Say hello to Browt , Pombon , and Gecqua . Who will you partner with on this adventure, Trainers? pic.twitter.com/UfKtE5lszu Pokmon (@Pokemon) February 27, 2026 A trailer for the two games revealed the three new starter Pokmon: Browt, Pombon and Gecqua. As suggested by their colors and environments theyre shown in, they are grass, fire and water types, respectively. Other Pokmon that were featured include Pikachu (sporting fetching beachwear) and Oddish. The trailer, which reveals a new region for the series, ends by taking us into the ocean to gawk at an number of water Pokmon. The Pokmon Presents stream on Friday included updates for many other games in the franchise, including the battle-focused Pokmon Champions (a modern spin on the likes of Pokmon Stadium ). That will debut on Nintendo Switch in April before arriving on iOS and Android later this year. Cross-play will be available between the three platforms. It was also confirmed that Pokmon XD: Gale of Darkness will hit the GameCube library on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on Switch 2 in March. Pokmon Day marks the 30th anniversary of the series debut with the 1996 release of Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green (later released as Pokmon Red and Pokmon Blue in the West) on Game Boy in Japan. The games were remade for GameBoy Advance in 2004 as Pokmon FireRed Version and Pokmon LeafGreen Version . Starting today, those are available on Switch and Switch 2 for $20 each. Meanwhile, Pokmon Pokopia , a cozy life sim spin-off, will hit Switch 2 on March 5. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/pokemon-winds-and-waves-are-coming-to-switch-2-in-2027-152248895.html?src=rss

The Morning After: The Galaxy S26 Ultras Privacy Display is pretty cool

Samsungs Unpacked event midweek revealed three new phones and two sets of earbuds, but the real standout, as usual, is the Galaxy S26 Ultra . This year, the Ultra actually features a bit of genuine tech innovation and no, we dont mean it folds. Lets talk about its new Privacy Display. This isn't a shimmery, holographic screen protector thats hard to read and constantly peels off at the corners; this tech is engineered directly into the S26 Ultras OLED display. Samsung Display revealed its Flex Magic Pixel technology back in 2024 . The S26 Ultras Privacy Display is built off the back of this. It controls the direction of light emitted from the AMOLED at the pixel level, integrating wide-angle and narrow-angle pixel arrays so the display can switch between a wide-angle viewing experience and more private, straight-on views. While HPs SureView tech is similar, the amount of customization possible is incredible and we all have our phones out in public much more than our HP laptops. It could be perfect for keeping prying eyes off your banking apps, messaging apps and even dating apps. Otherwise, the rest of the S26 series offers incremental updates with better cameras and newer processors. This makes the base S26 and S26+ a harder sell unless your current Galaxy phone is several years old. Also, following the 2026 trend, they are all pricier this year. Make sure you check out our early impressions ( S26 Ultra , S26 , Galaxy Buds 4 ); reviews are coming soon. Mat Smith The other big stories (and deals) this morning Apple and Netflix are teaming up to share Formula 1 programming Burger King will use AI to monitor employee friendliness Canadian government demands safety changes from OpenAI Amazon introduces three personality styles for Alexa+ Ambient Dreamie bedside companion review How much for a good nights sleep? $250? Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget Ambients dedicated alarm clock offers many of the conveniences of your smartphone alarms highly customizable alarm schedules, a library of soundscapes and noise masks and even Bluetooth so you can connect earbuds. Theres no subscription, it sounds great and sleep insights are supposedly incoming. However, $250 is a lot. Check out our full review. Continue reading. An AI-generated Resident Evil Requiem review briefly made it on Metacritic By a video game news site owned by ClickOut Media. Review aggregator Metacritic has removed a review of Resident Evil Requiem because it was AI generated. Kotaku explained the review was published by UK gaming site VideoGamer , but appears to be written by a fake AI journalist rather than a real person. Brian Merrygold doesnt seem to exist. The authors profile on VideoGamer is just as awkwardly written as the review, and the profile picture of the account also appears to be AI-generated. Literally, the file name includes ChatGPT-Image. ClickOut Media, the company that owns VideoGamer and a collection of other publications, reportedly laid off the staff of its gaming sites earlier this month to pivot to AI-generated content. Here it is. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-144951777.html?src=rss

Engadget Podcast: Xbox's leadership shakeup and Samsung's Galaxy S26

This week, we're diving into the big changes at Xbox and what it all means for Microsoft's gaming future. Phil Spencer, the longtime face of Xbox, announced he's retiring last week. He'll be replaced by Microsoft's former CoreAI CEO Asha Sharma, instead of his longtime deputy Sarah Bond, who plans to leave the company. Will this change actually help the beleaguered Xbox division, or is it another example of Microsoft shoving AI into everything? Also, Samsung held its latest Unpacked event this week to announce its new Galaxy S26 family. They look pretty much the same as last year, but the Ultra model includes a unique privacy feature that can instantly make the screen unreadable to bystanders. It's one of those features we expect to see in every phone eventually. Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topic Xbox leadership falls apart. what happens next with Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond out? 1:53 Samsung Unpacked: Privacy display on the S26 Ultra looks amazing 27:27 U.S. Defense leadership gives Anthropic a Friday deadline to let it use Claude as it sees fit 42:38 MrBeast editor accused of insider trading on Kalshi 50:40 Discord delays age verification program after user revolt 54:09 Around Engadget 1:04:04 Working on 1:05:16 Pop culture picks 1:08:21 Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonifacic Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence OBrien This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/engadget-podcast-xboxs-leadership-shakeup-and-samsungs-galaxy-s26-150000180.html?src=rss

Ultrahumans new Pro ring comes with 15 days battery life

If theres one thing that stops people using their smart rings over the long term, its the battery life. After all, theyre so unobtrusive , its easy to forget to drop it on the charging plate every few days. It doesnt take long for your pricey gadget to become little more than a very expensive piece of jewelry. Its one of many maladies Ultrahuman is looking to address with the advent of its new Pro, a smart ring boasting up to 15 days of battery life. It even ships with a fancy battery case, which itself includes enough power to last it 45 days, making it easier to keep re-charged on the go. Ultrahuman Ring Pro hasnt just got a far bigger battery, its been re-engineered from the ground up. The companys Bhuvan Srinivasan explained the older hardware had been pushed to its limit, especially in terms of the data it could process. Consequently, the Pro is equipped with a dual core processor with on-device machine learning to better crunch the numbers your body is throwing out. Its memory has also been increased, holding up to 250 days of data before it needs to sync with your smartphone. As well as improvements to durability, the new ring is also easier to cut apart in the hopefully rare event your finger, or its battery, begins to swell. Ultrahuman Ill admit, having seen a prototype Pro Charger in person back in January, that its the prettiest way to re-juice a smart ring Ive ever seen. Whereas Samsung and Oura have both opted for discreet, ring box-style hardware, Ultrahuman made something designed to sit on your nightstand. Its not taking up space just for show, either, since it includes the aforementioned battery, LED charge indicator, speaker and haptics. Its also got the ability to diagnose and address firmware issues to eliminate worries around firmware issues bricking devices. Ultrahuman At the same time, Ultrahuman is pulling the covers off Jade, its new real time biointelligence AI. The company promises Jade will be able to pull real-time actionable insights, and even start breathwork or trigger Afib detection. Jade is expected to get new features over time, with some examples being ordering good, changing your room temperature or flagging potential health issues. The idea is that Jade will keep a constant eye on your health, pulling in data from the ring, M1 continuous glucose monitor and environmental stats from your Ultrahuman Home. Naturally, well be getting in the Pro to test and will give our opinions on how effective all of this is when weve spent a month or two actually using it. But if youd rather not wait and youre based outside the US, you can pre-order the Ultrahuman Ring Pro right now, for $479, with shipments beginning in March. If you already have an Ultrahuman Ring, you can also get a trade-in deal to help cut the cost of the new model. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/ultrahumans-new-pro-ring-comes-with-15-days-battery-life-120038820.html?src=rss

OpenAI will notify authorities of credible threats after Canada mass shooter's second account was discovered

OpenAI has vowed to strengthen its safety protocols and to notify law enforcement of credible threats sooner in a letter addressed to Canadian authorities, according to Politico and The Washington Post . If youll recall, Canadian politicians summoned the companys leaders after reports came out that it didnt notify authorities when it banned the account owned by the Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia mass shooting suspect back in 2025. Some of OpenAIs leaders have already met with Candian officials, and British Columbia Premier David Eby said Sam Altman had also agreed to meet with him. While OpenAI has yet to announce changes to its rules, Ann OLeary, its vice president of global policy, reportedly wrote in the letter that the company will tweak its detection systems so that they can better prevent banned users from coming back to the platform. Apparently, after OpenAI banned the shooters original account due to potential warnings of committing real-world violence, the perpetrator was able to create another account. The company only discovered the second account after the shooters name was released, and it has since notified authorities. Further, OpenAI will now notify authorities if it detects imminent and credible threats in ChatGPT conversations, even if the user doesnt reveal a target, means, and timing of planned violence. OLeary explained that if the new rules had been in effect when the shooters account was banned in 2025, the company would have notified the police. OpenAI will also establish a point of contact for Canadian law enforcement so it can quickly share information with authorities when needed. The Canadian government sees OpenAIs decision not to report the shooters original account as a failure. It threatened to regulate AI chatbots in the country if their creators cannot show that they have proper safeguards to protect its users. Its unclear at the moment if OpenAI also plans to roll out the same changes in the US and elsewhere in the world. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-will-notify-authorities-of-credible-threats-after-canada-mass-shooters-second-account-was-discovered-112706548.html?src=rss

Google Maps will finally be usable in South Korea

Google will finally be able to provide real-time driving and walking directions in South Korea, The New York Times reported. The company has received permission from the nation's Transport Ministry to export geographic data out of the country, which will allow it to provide GPS services as well as detailed listings for restaurants and other businesses. We welcome todays decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea, Google's senior executive Cris Turner told the NYT in a statement. However, the approval is contingent on the condition that strict security requirements are met, a spokesperson from the Transport Ministry said. Those conditions reportedly restrict Google from displaying sensitive military sites and longitude and latitude coordinates. South Korea has generally restricted the export of 1/5000 scale map data over national security concerns, as it's still technically at war with its neighbor North Korea. Google hasn't been able to provide mapping directions or business details since it arrived in the nation, though it has applied twice in 2007 and 2016. This lack of data sharing has reportedly been a bone of contention in trade talks with the US. Google argued that it was unfairly handicapped by the restrictions that allowed local apps like Naver to thrive. However, critics in the nation have expressed concern that Google could now come in and monopolize the market. If Naver and Kakao are weakened or pushed out and Google later raises prices, that becomes a monopoly. Then, even companies that rely on map services logistics firms, for example become dependent [on Google], geography professor Choi Jin-mu told Reuters . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-maps-will-finally-be-usable-in-south-korea-104301396.html?src=rss

The best Wi-Fi extenders in 2026

Weak Wi-Fi can turn everyday tasks into small frustrations, whether its a video call that drops mid-sentence or a stream that refuses to load in certain rooms. If upgrading your router isnt an option, a Wi-Fi extender can be a practical way to stretch your existing network farther and smooth out coverage gaps without rewiring your home or rearranging furniture. Todays Wi-Fi extenders range from simple plug-in repeaters to more advanced models that behave like miniature access points or mesh nodes. Some are best suited for extending coverage to a single room, while others are designed to preserve faster speeds across larger spaces. Choosing the right one depends on your homes layout, your internet plan and how much performance youre willing to trade for convenience. Weve tested a variety of Wi-Fi extenders to find the best options for different budgets and setups, from affordable fixes for small dead zones to higher-end models built to handle heavier traffic and faster connections. Best Wi-Fi extender for 2026 How do Wi-Fi extenders work? These handy wireless devices do exactly what their name suggests: extend your Wi-Fi network so it covers more areas of your home. Most wireless extenders plug into an AC outlet and connect to your existing router so they can then rebroadcast it to spots that your router alone may not cover well. As a rule of thumb, youll get the best results by placing the extender half way between your router and the dead zone youre trying to fix or improve your W-Fi connection and strengthen the wireless signal. One important thing to note about Wi-Fi range extenders (also sometimes called repeaters) is that most of them actually create a new Wi-Fi network when rebroadcasting your existing one. That network will have a new name (itll often be your default networks name with an EXT appended at the end, unless you change it) and that means youll have to connect to different networks when in different parts of your home. While thats a small tradeoff in return for improved internet connection, some will be more inconvenienced than others. If youd rather have one, much larger network in your home, youre better off upgrading to mesh networking systems. Mesh systems come with a main router and a wireless access point or two that, by default, create one large Wi-Fi system that should be accessible throughout your whole home. They tend to be the best Wi-Fi routers you can get, but that also translates to more expensive, and possibly more complicated, devices. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are, by far, more costly than a simple extender, plus you may have to work with your internet service provider to get your homes existing network working on your new router. What to look for in a Wi-Fi extender Speed Extenders today can support single, dual or tri-band Wi-Fi, and they will tell you the maximum speeds they support on all of their available bands. For example, one dual-band device might support 600Mbps speeds over its 2.4GHz band and up to 1300Mbps over its 5GHz band, for a combined maximum speed of 1900Mbps. For the best performance, youll want to go with a Wi-Fi extender that has the highest speeds possible (and those, as you might expect, tend to cost more). Some extenders even support Wi-Fi 7, giving you the latest in wireless technology for higher bandwidth, faster internet speed and lower latency. However, its important to remember that Wi-Fi extenders are not true signal boosters since they are not designed to increase speeds across your home. In fact, you may find that the extenders network is slower than your routers. Instead, extenders are designed to increase the strong Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, making them ideal for filling in dead zones. Some mesh extenders can help create a more seamless network, reducing the drop in speed and improving connectivity in larger spaces. Range, and number of supported devices With the name of the gaming being coverage area, taking note of a devices range is important. Depending on the size of your home and property, you may only need up to 1,200 square feet of coverage. But those with larger homes will want to spring for an extender that can support upwards of 2,000+ square feet of coverage. Similarly, those with lots of gadgets will want an extender that can handle them all at once. If you spend most of your time on your phone or laptop and maybe have your smart TV online for a few hours of Netflix each day, you could get by with a more limited extender. Smart home aficionados and tech lovers should invest in one that wont buckle under the pressure of a few dozen connected devices. This is especially important if you plan on linking all of the devices in a certain part of your home to your Wi-Fi range extenders network, rather than directly to your existing router. Some models with external antennas can improve performance by providing stronger, more directional wireless signal. Design There isnt a ton of innovation when it comes to design in the Wi-Fi extender space. Most of the ones youll find today are rounded rectangles roughly the size of your hand that plug into a standard wall outlet. They usually have a few indicator lights that will show you when the extender is connected, how strong its signal strength is and when theres a problem, and some will even have moveable external antennas that companies claim provide even better Wi-Fi signal. Generally, they are pretty simple to install and get connected, but if youre struggling with how to set up your Wi-Fi extender, there are plenty of YouTube videos you can check out. Aside from that, there are the scant few standalone Wi-Fi extenders that sit on an end table or a desk, and those look pretty similar to regular ol routers. But make no mistake, anything labeled as an extender or a Wi-Fi repeater will need an anchor router in order for it to work. Another convenient feature youll find on most Wi-Fi extenders is an extra Ethernet connection port (or a few). This allows you to use the extender as a wireless access point if you connect it to your existing router, or an adapter to provide devices like TVs, smart home hubs or game consoles a hardwired connection to the internet. Unsurprisingly, this wired connection usually provides you with the fastest speeds possible, so you may want to use it for your most crucial devices. Wi-Fi extender FAQs What's the difference between a wifi booster and extender? Nowadays, theres really no difference between a Wi-Fi booster and Wi-Fi extender - theyre just different names for the same thing. Previously, however, Wi-Fi boosters were devices that received signals from wireless routers, broadcasting them to another network. This essentially extends the range of the signal. Wi-Fi extenders expand the coverage within your homes Wi-Fi network, but often you will see extenders described as boosters. Is a Wi-Fi extender better than a mesh router? Mesh routers, or mesh Wi-Fi systems , use multiple devices (or nodes) across your home to create a larger home network. Essentially, you have multiple routers around your home with these systems, and that will hopefully provide the best coverage possible. Wi-Fi extenders, on the other hand, are usually just one device that extends your existing Wi-Fi signal, and they often require you to switch networks when connecting. Wi-Fi extenders are more affordable, though, and are great if youre traveling or need a Wi-Fi signal in harder-to-reach areas. However, a mesh router can offer a better long-term solution to upgrade your entire homes Wi-Fi. Should I use multiple Wi-Fi extenders? Some people may need to use multiple Wi-Fi extenders, for instance, if your home is large or has dead zones in different areas. But if you do use multiple Wi-Fi extenders, theres a chance of interference. You may also need to manually connect to the extenders separately, which isnt always convenient. What is the maximum distance for a Wi-Fi extender? The maximum distance for a Wi-Fi extender varies depending on the model, but most can effectively extend your wireless signal between 800 and 2,500 square feet. Some high-end models may reach even farther, especially if they feature external antennas or are part of a mesh system with additional dedicated wireless access points. However, keep in mind that real-world performance depends on factors like your home's layout, wall materials and interference from other devices. For best results, place your extender about halfway between your router and the area with weak or no Wi-Fi connection. Always check the manufacturers specs some of our top picks clearly list their expected range so you can find one that fits your space. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/best-wifi-extender-130021313.html?src=rss

Anthropic refuses to bow to Pentagon despite Hegseth's threats

Despite an ultimatum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Anthropic said that it can't in good conscience comply with a Pentagon edict to remove guardrails on its AI, CEO Dario Amodei wrote in a blog post . The Department of Defense had threatened to cancel a $200 million contract and label Anthropic a supply chain risk if it didn't agree to remove safeguards over mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Our strong preference is to continue to serve the Department and our warfighters with our two requested safeguards in place, Amodei said. We remain ready to continue our work to support the national security of the United States. In response, US Under Secretary of Defense Emil Michael accused Amodei in a post on X of wanting nothing more than to try to personally control the US military and is OK putting our nation's safety at risk. The standoff began when the Pentagon demanded that Anthropic its Claude AI product available for all lawful purposes including mass surveillance and the development of fully autonomous weapons that can kill without human supervision. Anthropic refused to offer its tech for those things, even with a safety stack built into that model. Yesterday, Axios reported that Hegseth gave Anthropic a deadline of 5:01 PM on Friday to agree to the Pentagon's terms. At the same time, the DoD requested an assessment of its reliance on Claude, an initial step toward potentially labelling Anthropic as a supply chain risk a designation usually reserved for firms from adversaries like China and never before applied to an American company, Anthropic wrote. Amodei declined to change his stance and stated that if the Pentagon chose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations or other critical missions. Grok is one of the other providers the DoD is reportedly considering, along with Google's Gemini and OpenAI. It may not be that simple for the military to disentangle itself from Claude, however. Up until now, Anthropic's model has been the only one allowed for the military's most sensitive tasks in intelligence, weapons development and battlefield operations. Claude was reportedly used in the Venezuelan raid in which the US military exfiltrated the country's president, Nicols Maduro, and his wife. AI companies have been widely criticized for potential harm to users, but mass surveillance and weapons development would clearly take that to a new level. Anthropic's potential reply to the Pentagon was seen as a test of its claim to be the most safety-forward AI company, particularly after dropping its flagship safety pledge a few days ago. Now that Amodei has responded, the focus will shift to the Pentagon to see if it follows through on its threats, which could seriously harm Anthropic. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-refuses-to-bow-to-pentagon-despite-hegseths-threats-085553126.html?src=rss

Netflix backs out of Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war

For anyone who has been following the soap opera unfolding between Netflix and Paramount Skydance over the past few months in their financial brinksmanship to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the saga may be nearing its end. Today, WBD said its board of directors have determined that the latest offer from Paramount Skydance amounted to the better proposal. The media outfit gave Netflix four business days to match Paramount's terms, but the streamer didn't waste any time in declining to raise its own bid. We believe we would have been strong stewards of Warner Bros.' iconic brands, and that our deal would have strengthened the entertainment industry and preserved and created more production jobs in the US, the statement from Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said. But this transaction was always a 'nice to have' at the right price, not a 'must have' at any price. In addition to the purchase price of $31 per WBD share, Paramount's latest offer also included a provision that it would cover the $2.8 billion termination fee that WBD would owe to Netflix for dissolving the existing merger agreement between the businesses. So rather than paying $82.7 billion to acquire the Warner Bros. part of the operation, it appears Netflix may walk away with no new content but padding its coffers with an extra nearly $3 billion. After Netflix's initial offer, Paramount Skydance swooped in with a hostile takeover attempt of the entire Warner Bros. Discovery business. WBD rejected it, Paramount tried again . Several additional volleys between the involved parties occurred over the past few weeks. While WBD has not yet formally accepted Paramount's offer which will be subject to long-winded regulatory approvals sure to spark more drama it seems the dust will soon settle for this chapter. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/netflix-backs-out-of-warner-bros-discovery-bidding-war-233117188.html?src=rss

iFi's new GO Link 2 DAC is a cheap way to reap the lossless benefits of your Spotify plan

Audio company iFi just introduced a new DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) that's both smaller and lighter than its previous model, and only costs $59. The iFi GO Link 2 connects to a smartphone or other audio-playing device over USB-C and can instantly improve the listening experience on wired headphones. Wireless earbuds and music streaming services have normalized listening to your favorite songs at a lower quality. For anyone who doesn't consider themselves an audiophile, that might not matter, but now that several streaming services offer higher sample rates and lossless audio , you might consider other ways of listening. In order to experience all the benefits of high-res or lossless audio, you need wired headphones, something that's increasingly difficult when most smartphones only have a USB-C port. That's where the iFi GO Link 2 comes in. The dongle plugs into a USB-C port and lets you connect a pair of wired earbuds while preserving your high quality audio at the same time. iFi iFi's new DAC is eight percent smaller than the previous GO Link and 29 percent lighter, approaching the size of Apple's USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack dongle . The GO Link 2's built-in ESS Sabre DAC chipset is supposed to add 6dB of dynamic range between the loudest and quietest moments and reduce distortion for clearer sound by up to 62 percent when compared to the original GO Link. Via iFi's companion Nexis app on Android, the GO Link 2 can also be updated on the go and further customized with digital filters. The GO Link 2 supports two digital filters one hybrid and one linear so that you can adjust things to your preferred sound profile. You can also use the Nexis app to set volume limits when you're listening with the DAC attached. The previous GO Link made it on Engadget's list of the best DACs for Apple Music Lossless , and at the same price, the GO Link 2 seems like it could, too. The iFi GO Link 2 is available to purchase now for $59. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/ifis-new-go-link-2-dac-is-a-cheap-way-to-reap-the-lossless-benefits-of-your-spotify-plan-231535369.html?src=rss

Block, the parent of Square and Cash App, is laying off over 4,000 people

Block is the latest business to announce layoffs, with the operator of payment platforms Square and Cash App opting to cut jobs in favor of using more AI tools. The financial tech company, helmed by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, is slashing its current staff of 10,000 to just under 6,000. CNBC highlighted a letter Block sent to shareholders announcing the decision to nearly halve its workforce. According to the message from Dorsey: The core thesis is simple. Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company. We're already seeing it internally. A significantly smaller team, using the tools we're building, can do more and do it better. And intelligence tool capabilities are compounding faster every week. We learned last year that Block had developed an AI agent called codename goose for interacting with LLMs. Leadership is clearly putting high expectations on that project and any other in-house tools to fill the shoes of thousands. intelligence will be at the core of how the entire company works. How we make decisions, how we build trust and manage risk, how we build products, and how we serve customers, the shareholder letter states. Block also reported its latest financial results today. It finished the 2025 financial year with operating income (profit after expenses) of $1.71 billion. This isn't the first time the fintech company has made deep cuts in its employee count. Layoffs numbering about 1,000 were rumored both in 2024 and 2025 . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/block-the-parent-of-square-and-cash-app-is-laying-off-over-4000-people-223343068.html?src=rss

NATO approves the iPhone and iPad for classified use

Apple's mobile devices are secure enough for NATO. Following extensive testing by the German government, the iPhone and iPad are now considered secure enough for the NATO-restricted classified level. Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt fr Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, or BSI) tested the devices. BSI first approved the iPhone and iPad for governmental use by German authorities in 2022. To take the additional step of NATO approval, Apple says BSI conducted exhaustive technical assessments, comprehensive testing and deep security analysis. Unless you work for NATO, this won't mean a thing to you. But at least it appears to bolster some of Apple's marketing claims about security. (As for its privacy claims, well, that depends on which kind you mean .) Apple's press release emphasized that these are the first consumer devices to receive the certification, and they did so without any special software or settings. It applies to iPhones and iPads running iOS 26. Secure digital transformation is only successful if information security is considered from the beginning in the development of mobile products, BSI president Claudia Plattner is quoted as saying in Apple's press release. Expanding on BSI's rigorous audit of iOS and iPadOS platform and device security for use in classified German information environments, we are pleased to confirm the compliance under NATO nations' assurance requirements. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/nato-approves-the-iphone-and-ipad-for-classified-use-200857276.html?src=rss

An AI-generated Resident Evil Requiem review briefly made it on Metacritic

Review aggregator Metacritic has removed a review of Resident Evil Requiem because it was AI-generated, Kotaku reports . The review was published by UK gaming site VideoGamer , but appears to be written by a fake AI journalist rather than a real person. While it's unfortunately difficult to confirm with 100 percent accuracy whether a piece of text is AI-generated, you don't have to read VideoGamer 's review for long to notice all the ways it feels off. The biggest giveaway, beyond heavy use of contrived metaphors, is a striking lack of detail beyond what you could glean from a trailer for the game. Embargoes covering what parts of a video game can come up in a pre-release review can be strict, but a good critic usually finds a way to describe their experience without being vague. VideoGamer 's review, written by one Brian Merrygold, really doesn't. It's bleak. I was reading some RE Requiem reviews and found this thing published by videogamer. Can't find anything about the writer, everything about it reeks AI (dead giveaway being the image). Low effort, gargabe. Mind you, this review made its way to Metacritic. https://t.co/4STN8DjAwe pic.twitter.com/awk26P9wSA Andrs (@Andrew_east) February 26, 2026 As at least one user on X has pointed out, its worth` being suspicious of Merrygold, too. The author's profile on VideoGamer is just as awkwardly written as the review, and the profile picture of the account appears to be AI-generated. When you try to save the image locally, its file name, ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-11_57_34-AM-300x300, also seems like a dead giveaway. Kotaku looked at the X accounts of several other recent bylines at VideoGamer and found similar results. All their profile pictures appear to be AI-generated, and all the accounts were created around the same time in October 2025. Metacritic relies on reviews written by real publications to create a score representing the overall critical sentiment towards a game or movie, not unlike Rotten Tomatoes. While there's disagreement whether it's a good thing that a popular site strips out the nuance of written reviews to make a number people can argue over, everyone can probably agree that Metacritic incorporating fake, AI-generated reviews is a bad idea. In response to the discovery that VideoGamer 's review is likely AI-generated, Metacritic has removed it from its Resident Evil Requiem page. The RE Requiem review and a handful of other VideoGamer reviews from 2026 have been removed from Metacritic, Marc Doyle, Metacritic's co-founder, told Kotaku . Metacritic has also emailed all games sites and publishers that it aggregates with information on its policy towards AI-generated reviews, according to Alex Donaldson , founder and publisher of RPG Site . Alex Donaldson Our policy is that we will never include an AI-generated review on Metacritic, the aggregator says, and that if we subsequently discover that one has been posted we will remove it immediately and sever ties with that publication upon an investigation. A news site publishing an AI-written review is just as dire as Metacritic aggregating it, and that appears to be what VideoGamer is doing. ClickOut Media, the company that owns VideoGamer and a collection of other publications, reportedly laid off the staff of its gaming sites earlier this month to pivot to AI-generated content. Sifting through AI slop, whether on social media or Pinterest , is increasingly necessary online. Now apparently Metacritic is another place where readers should have their guard up. Update, February 26, 2:58PM ET: Added information about Metacritics email to publishers on its policy for AI-generated reviews. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-ai-generated-resident-evil-requiem-review-briefly-made-it-on-metacritic-194414929.html?src=rss

The new $25 action game from the creator of Just Cause arrives on April 8

Were still waiting for releases dates for Remedys in-development Max Payne remakes , but if youre in need of a noir fix sooner than that, keep an eye on Liquid Swords Samson: A Tyndalston Story , which just got a release date of April 8. The debut game from a new studio formed by Just Cause creator Christofer Sundberg, Samson looks like a tighter, more narrative-led experience than Avalanches proudly ridiculous open-world series, but no less packed with over-the-top action. You play as the eponymous Samson McRay, a man down on his luck and seriously in debt in the punishing city of Tyndalston. Samson is built on a simple, brutal truth: every day has a cost, said the developer in a press release. Debt grows with interest, and time is not on your side. Each job burns a limited pool of Action Points, and every decision shifts how the city treats you there are no do-overs. Players have to move forward because standing still makes everything worse. Sundberg, who by his own admission has spent much of his career making massive games and sounds a bit worn out by it all, says his studio set out to make a bloat-free experience for fans of gritty 90s action flicks, which will be music to the ears of anyone who likes blasting through a game in a handful of weekends. For more on gameplay, check out this recent developer diary focused on combat and driving sections. Samson s brevity is seemingly also reflected in its $25 price tag. It will be a PC exclusive at launch (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), with no word on a console release right now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-new-25-action-game-from-the-creator-of-just-cause-arrives-on-april-8-193058294.html?src=rss

eBay will lay off 800 workers, or 6 percent of its staff

eBay announced that it is cutting about 800 jobs from its global staff. We are taking steps to reinvest across our business and align our structure with our strategic priorities, which will affect certain roles across our workforce, the retailer said in a statement as reported by Bloomberg . This move will see about 6 percent of eBay's current full-time workers laid off. Bloomberg noted that eBay would continue hiring in key areas but did not specify what those fields are. The downsizing follows a week of business updates for eBay. On the same day it shared its latest financial results , the company announced that it would acquire Depop, a consumer-to-consumer secondhand fashion retailer, from Etsy. The Depop purchase carried a $1.2 billion price tag, which could put at least a small dent in the $11.1 billion it reported in 2025 full-year revenue. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ebay-will-lay-off-800-workers-or-6-percent-of-its-staff-191500844.html?src=rss

Everything you need to know about streaming F1 on Apple TV

Weve known Apple would follow up its blockbuster film F1: The Movie with live coverage of F1 races in 2026 . Now that were approaching the first grand prix weekend of the year, the company has provided details on what fans can expect to see inside the Apple TV app and beyond. Theres already a dedicated F1 channel in the Apple TV app, which is where youll stream races live when the time comes. You can also watch practice sessions, sprint races and both pre- and post-race coverage. Apple offers a number of additional F1 videos there (Id recommend watching the one on the new rules) and youll be able to stream the latest season of Drive To Survive on Apple TV as well. Apple will offer the F1 TV feed as the main broadcast alongside the Sky Sports feed for all races. If youll recall, ESPN used to show the Sky Sports feed with Skys commentary team for its coverage of F1. Apple says itll broadcast every grand prix in 4K (Dolby Vision) with 5.1 audio (no mention of Dolby Atmos). As part of Apples deal with F1, Apple TV subscribers get F1 TV Premium for the 2026 season. This gives you access to things like onboard cameras, team radios and live telemetry in addition to live coverage of the entire grand prix weekend. So, you can watch races on Apple TV or F1 TV, depending on your app preferences, or use the additional features of F1 TV Premium as a second (or third, etc.) screen setup. Netflix will also broadcast the Canadian Grand Prix in May as part of the deal that brought Drive To Survive to Apple TV. F1 TV Premium F1 Full replays for all sessions will be available in the Apple TV app as well. Apple will offer a condensed race in 30 minutes replay option too, and the company says its working to hide spoilers in case users are watching after the race begins or concludes. Apple has cooked up some new features for F1 grands prix as it takes over broadcast rights in the US. When you click on the F1 channel in the Apple TV app, the current grand prix weeks content is up top and you have the option to follow F1 so that you get notifications about the various events. Apple will provide a Driver Tracker, Driver Data and dedicated feeds for P1, P2 and P3. You can also watch the driver onboard cameras for each car in the Apple TV app. So, you dont necessarily have to venture out to F1 TV for those things. Apple will provide various Multiview options so you can put the main broadcast next to driver cams and race data. The company will offer some preset configurations, but you can make your own Multiview mix too. If you like Mercedes, for example, you can watch the main feed with driver cameras from Russell and Antonelli right beside it. Apple says Multiview will support up to five feeds at once (one main in the middle with two smaller ones on each side). The Formula 1 channel on Apple TV Billy Steele for Engadget If you can only listen to races, you can hear live coverage and commentary in Apple Music through a dedicated radio streaming channel. There are also updated features for Apple News, Apple Sports and Apple Maps, the latter of which will have detailed info for fans attending in-person so they can hopefully avoid any surprises like road closures on race day. The first race of the season is next week in Australia (March 6-8). Practice begins Friday with qualifying on Saturday and the grand prix on Sunday. Or if you live in the US, that will be Thursday night through Saturday night (race begins at 11PM ET). This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/everything-you-need-to-know-about-streaming-f1-on-apple-tv-190600771.html?src=rss

Meta sues advertisers in Brazil and China over 'celeb bait' scams

Meta has sued the people and groups behind three scam operations that used images and deepfakes of celebrities to lure users to scam websites. According to the company, the three entities were based in China and Brazil and targeted people in the US, Japan and other countries. The ads promoted fraudulent investment schemes and fake health products. Meta said that it had filed lawsuits against several people in Brazil who promoted fake or unapproved healthcare products and online courses promoting them. The company also sued a China-based entity it says used ads featuring celebrities as part of a larger fraud scheme that lured people into joining so-called investment groups. The company didn't provide details on how many ads these groups had run on Facebook, how many social media users had seen or interacted with the ads or how long the scammers had been operating on the platform. So-called celeb bait ads have been a long-running issue for the company. Engadget has previously documented celeb bait scams on Facebook, including ones that frequently use Elon Musk and Fox News personalities to hawk fake cures for diabetes . The Oversight Board has also criticized the company for not doing enough to combat such scams. In its update, Meta says that because scam ads are designed to look real, theyre not always easy to detect. The company also noted that it has now enrolled more than 500,000 celebrities and public figures into its facial recognition system that's meant to automatically detect scam ads using the faces of famous people. Meta's handling of scammy advertisers has come under increased scrutiny in recent months after Reuters reported that researchers at the company at one point estimated that as much as 10 percent of its ad revenue could be coming from scams. The fact that Meta has made billions of dollars from problematic advertisers has also caused the company to be slow to take action against repeat offenders. In addition to the groups behind the celeb bait ads, Meta says that it's upgraded its ability to detect scam ads that use cloaking , which has at times hindered its internal review systems. The company also sued a Vietnam-based advertiser it says used scam ads to hawk deeply discounted items from well-known brands, including Longchamp. Meta also took legal action against eight former Meta Business Partners, who promoted services that would un-ban or other account restoration services. The company says it will consider taking additional legal action, including litigation, if they dont comply with cease and desist orders. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-sues-advertisers-in-brazil-and-china-over-celeb-bait-scams-190000268.html?src=rss

Ambient Dreamie bedside companion review: The best sleep I've had in years

How much would you pay for a good night's sleep? This is a question I've asked myself repeatedly over the last few weeks as I've been testing the Dreamie, a $250 alarm clock and bedside companion that I couldn't stop thinking about after I first encountered it at CES . Ambient's Dreamie offers many of the conveniences of a smartphone-connected device highly customizable alarm schedules, a library of soundscapes and noise masks, Bluetooth so you can connect earbuds and podcasts (soon). But it is phone-free every step of the way, with all controls and features built-in so you don't end up getting sucked into a doomscroll while you're trying to wind down. It also has a light ring for ambient lighting modes and sunrise wakeups. This spring, it's expected to start providing sleep insights as well for users who opt-in, using its microphone and motion sensors to get a reading on their nightly habits. All of that's meant to work together to, according to the website, help you sleep better and break free from your phone, a goal I was eager to explore. This may be one of the least unique problems to have as an adult in today's world, but sleep has become a really complicated thing for me. Falling asleep is hard because my brain is always racing, my quality of the sleep is trash and waking up every day feels like an act of torture. It's gotten so bad that at some point in the last couple of years, I started using three alarms to make sure I get out of bed in time for work: a dedicated sunrise alarm clock, my smartwatch and my phone as the final, 11th hour save in case the other two methods don't do the trick. As you might imagine, my partner, who is forced to also endure this horrid morning ritual, hates it. So if there's a device that can help fix this mess, I'm open to it. And after some time with the Dreamie, I think I've found a promising contender. Getting into a sleep routine There's no companion app with the Dreamie and no subscription service you need to sign up for, which feels like a breath of fresh air in 2026. (I'm so tired of subscriptions, free us from this hell!) Your one-time purchase gives you access to everything it offers now and the updates that are in the pipeline. After taking it out of the box and plugging it in, you'll have to connect to your home Wi-Fi. Then, the Dreamie presents you with a tutorial to walk you through navigating its menus and physical controls. There's a touch strip on the top of the device to turn on the lamp and adjust its brightness, as well as the brightness of any ambient color scene that's active. By dragging the dot at the center of the lamp screen, you can throw the light in any particular direction. Volume is adjusted by turning the dial that's around the clockface. To access the menu for alarms and other settings, swipe up. To cycle through the different content modes ambient, wind down and noise mask just swipe down from the top of the screen. Easy peasy. Setting up your actual Sleep Routine takes a little more time and intention. A Dreamie Sleep Routine consists of multiple steps, which you can use all, some or none of for your custom routine. Those include the Bedtime Cue, which lets you know it's the time to start getting ready for bed (you designate this time); the Wind Down, or the sounds you'll fall asleep to; and the Noise Mask, the sounds that keep you asleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night, there's a Back To Sleep option too. You can choose different sounds from Dreamie's library for each category. Some options come with ambient lighting effects, too. There's a decent selection of soundscapes, from the dramatic Aurora Borealis and the sounds of storms and rivers to different colors of noise . Some noise masks, like Green Noise, coming with lighting effects. Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget The quality of the Dreamie's sound is what initially sold me during my demo at CES, and it holds up in daily use. The Dreamie has a 50 millimeter speaker inside, and the 360-degree grille on the bottom of the device makes it so the sound seems to come from everywhere. (My cats were extremely confused when I first turned it on). It really fills a room, and you don't have to crank it up to achieve that. When Bedtime Cue comes on, I typically turn it down to about 25, and then raise it back up to 45 when I flip it to Wind Down mode. I've never once set it higher than 50, and the alarm in the morning has still been loud enough to wake me up. After taking a few days to tweak my choices and figure out what I like best, I've settled into a really nice routine: Aurora Borealis as the Bedtime Cue, an hour of Forest Wind as my Wind Down and a Noise Mask of Brown Noise to play throughout the night. I love how easy it is to set the nighttime routine in motion once it's established. When I hear the Aurora Borealis come on, I start making my preparations for bed. Brush teeth, take meds, lights out and, crucially (I'm trying really hard to be disciplined, here), my phone goes face-down on the nightstand until morning. If I want to stay up late that night and ignore the Bedtime Cue, I can just hit the little stop button on the display. But once I'm ready to actually try to fall asleep, all I need to do is swipe down on the display to initiate the Wind Down, and Forest Wind will start playing. I have my Wind Down set for one hour, after which the Noise Mask begins. And man, that Forest Wind knocks me out. So far, I haven't found myself still up and staring at the ceiling by the time Brown Noise comes on. I've only been able to confirm that it is indeed working and switching to the Noise Mask because my cats regularly wake me up in the middle of the night, and it's been on each time that's happened. But aside from those instances where my head is being used as a springboard by the creatures that share my home, I've been sleeping pretty well through the night. To minimize distractions when you're trying to sleep, the Dreamie's display will dim in response to the surrounding darkness. There's also a Redshift toggle to make the nighttime display easier on the eyes, a Dark Mode with a simplified appearance and the option to have the display turn off completely when you've been inactive for a while. I set the Dreamie on my nightstand close to where my face is at night, and I haven't had any problems with light from the display keeping me up. Waking up with Dreamie In the morning, the light begins to come on 20 minutes before I want to be awake, followed by the gradually increasing sound of the alarm. There are only a handful of alarm sounds at the moment, but the options are all fine. There are no jarring, grating alarms here even the bird calls option sounds rich and natural, rather than the too-shrill, piercing recordings I've grown used to avoiding on other alarm clocks and sound machines. You can set multiple alarms with different bedtimes and wakeup times, which is really handy if your schedule is all over the place or you want to allow yourself to sleep in more on certain days. My only real complaint so far is that the sunrise feature isn't quite as strong as I want it to be. The Dreamie's sunrise goes from a warm glow to a bright blue-white, but it never gets big enough to wash over me in the way I expect a sunrise alarm to. Having the light on is helpful for orienting yourself when you're groggy and half-asleep, but it doesn't feel like it's having much effect on my actual wakeup process. Dreamie next to a Philips Wake-Up Light. Cheyenne MacDonald for Engadget Part of the problem may be that none of the light is really directed forward and at the sleeper's face. Even the Dreamie's lamp mode at maximum brightness seems to have more reach than the sunrise feature. (And a note on the lamp, while it's decently bright, it's still a bit too dim for reading in bed unless I'm huddled up to it.) Still, I've been sleeping well enough that I've been waking up alright most days even without being bathed in artificial sunlight. Don't get me wrong, I'm still hitting snooze a few times before dragging myself out of bed, but there's been a noticeable improvement in both the quality of my sleep and how miserable I feel come morning. I'm even down to using just two alarms: the Dreamie as my primary alarm, which is getting me up on its own for the most part, and my watch as a backup. At this point, I'm kind of attached to this thing. The Dreamie is refreshingly compact, too. It takes up significantly less real estate on my nightstand than the Philips Wake-Up Light I've been using forever, or something like a Hatch Restore . The smaller footprint is something I appreciate as a person always battling cluttered surfaces. That also makes it better for travel. Since podcasts and sleep insights aren't available yet, I haven't been able to test those out, but they're non-critical features for me. The company has shared an estimated timeline of Q1-Q2 for these features to arrive, with podcasts likely coming first. They'll be nice to have, podcasts especially, but the Dreamie is more than able to do its main job of creating an environment that supports better sleep without those things. Wrap-up All of this brings me back to the question that's been haunting me since discovering the Dreamie: Is it ridiculous to spend $250 on an alarm clock/noise machine? At a different time in my life, I would have said yes without hesitation. But the current version of me, who knows what it's like to move through each day like a zombie because I'm sleeping so terribly, would begrudgingly disagree. As I pack up this review unit to ship it back, I'll also be putting in an order for my own so I can keep my cherished new sleep routine going. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/ambient-dreamie-bedside-companion-review-the-best-sleep-ive-had-in-years-184019430.html?src=rss

Burger King will use AI to monitor employee 'friendliness'

Burger King, the chain that leans into creepy when others don't dare, is at it again. The Verge reported on Thursday that the company is rolling out a new voice-controlled AI chatbot for its workers. That may sound like business as usual in 2026, but this assistant doesn't just help with meal prep and monitor inventory. It also has an unsettling habit of surveilling employees' voices for friendliness. The voice-controlled chatbot will live inside employees' headsets. The company said the AI is trained to recognize when its low-paid workers utter phrases like welcome to Burger King, please and thank you. Managers can then keep tabs on their location's friendliness performance. This is meant to be a coaching tool, Thibault Roux, Burger King's chief digital officer, told The Verge . However, he added that the company is also iterating the system to detect tone in conversations. Is there a chatbot that can warn Burger King executives about off-putting ideas? Burger King retired its Creepy King mascot in 2025. Burger King / YouTube (Commercial Ads) The OpenAI-powered assistant's other duties sound potentially useful (and decidedly less creepy). It can answer workers' meal prep questions, like how many strips of bacon to put on burgers or instructions for cleaning the shake machine. It's also integrated into the chain's point-of-sale system, so it can tell managers when items are out of stock or machines are down. The Patty chatbot is part of a broader BK Assistant platform the company is launching. It will roll out to all US locations by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, its restaurant maintenance with a side of mass surveillance chatbot is currently being piloted in 500 restaurants. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/burger-king-will-use-ai-to-monitor-employee-friendliness-173349148.html?src=rss

The astronaut whose illness forced an early return from the ISS was Mike Fincke

NASA recently ended a manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) a month early, citing a medical issue with one of the astronauts. The space agency just revealed that the impacted astronaut was Mike Fincke . This was the first medical evacuation in the history of the ISS. NASA wrote a statement saying that the astronaut experienced an unknown medical event on January 7 that required immediate attention from his fellow crew members. Fincke added that his status quickly stabilized thanks to the quick response and the guidance of the flight surgeons. However, the incident did force NASA to cancel a spacewalk planned for January 8. Soon after that, the agency announced it would be ending the Crew-11 mission a month early. The four-person crew included Fincke, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They had been living and working aboard the ISS since August and were expected to stay until February. The crew returned on January 15, which was a decision made by NASA's chief health and medical officer. Once the crew had landed, administrator Jared Isaacman said it was a serious situation but didn't go into any detail. Fincke has said he is currently doing very well and still participating in standard post-flight reconditioning at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are, he said. Thank you for all your support. We don't know what medical issue Fincke is going through, and it's certainly his business and not ours. In any event, we wish for a speedy recovery. NASA also moved up the launch of Crew-12 to replace the prematurely-returned astronauts. That team docked at the ISS on February 14 and are scheduled to stay on the space station for around eight months. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-astronaut-whose-illness-forced-an-early-return-from-the-iss-was-mike-fincke-163752239.html?src=rss

Google's Nano Banana 2 is a faster version of Nano Banana Pro

Google has launched its new image generation model, the Nano Banana 2, which is powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash Image. The company says the new model has the capabilities, world knowledge and reasoning of Nano Banana Pro , but it can accomplish tasks at lightning-fast speed. That enables rapid editing and the quick creation of various iterations using a single prompt. Nano Banana 2 will give more people access to capabilities that were previously exclusive to the Pro model. That includes Pros ability to pull real-time information and images from web searches to create, say, infographics and diagrams. It will also be able to generate texts on images for marketing materials and greeting cards. Google says Nano Banana 2 can maintain character resemblance for up to five characters in a single workflow, which could be especially valuable if youre using it to create storyboards or visual stories. It can follow precise instructions for complex requests, as well, and can generate input with up to 4K in resolution with richer textures and sharper details than its predecessors could. Nano Banana Pro could already generate images so realistic, its almost impossible to tell that they were AI-generated. Google even had to limit its use due to high demand. Whether Nano Banana 2 can generate images that are markedly better than what Pro could create and whether we could still tell if an image was made by AI remains to be seen. The new model will replace Nano Banana Pro in the Gemini app, but Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will retain access to Nano Banana Pro for specialized tasks. It will also be the default model in Search for AI Mode and Lens, as well as in Googles Flow AI creative studio. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-nano-banana-2-is-a-faster-version-of-nano-banana-pro-160000695.html?src=rss

Tim Cook confirms a week of Apple product reveals

Apple CEO Tim Cook has teased a big week ahead for Apple, starting on the morning of Monday, March 2. The company had already announced an in-person event for media and creators on March 4, while rumors had pointed toward Apple revealing at least five products over three days next week, so it looks like the stars are aligning for that to actually be the case. Cook all but confirmed that Apple is about to reveal its newest MacBooks in the coming days. His tweet features a short video of someone shaping an Apple logo on a surface that appears to have the companys classic space gray colorway. A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/PQ9gM2Gl2r Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 26, 2026 Were expecting to see a new MacBook Air next week, along with updated 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. It's believed that the M5 Pro and M5 Max will debut in the higher-end devices. Apple may also be cooking up an entry-level MacBook that'll be available in an iMac-style array of bright colorways . New iPads and the iPhone 17e could well be in the hopper too. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/tim-cook-confirms-a-week-of-apple-product-reveals-144758464.html?src=rss

AI robotics company started by Alphabet is joining Google proper

Robotics company Intrinsic has announced it will be folding into Google as the company bets on the future of physical AI in manufacturing. The company focuses on software tools to make robots more affordable and easier to use, as well as using adaptive intelligence to help the robots perform real-world tasks. Intrinsic was started in 2021 as an Alphabet Other Bets project, part of a portfolio of high-risk and potentially high-payoff startups, Waymo among them. The project will now run as a distinct group within Google where it will leverage Gemini and Google Cloud while working closely with the Google DeepMind team. The company describes its platform as the Android of robotics, offering a universal canvas where developers can build apps for different robots, cameras, sensors and more. Meta has expressed interest in pursuing a similar business model. Also at the intersection of software and physical AI, the company aims to integrate adaptive intelligence into robots, helping them to perform real-world tasks. The goal is robots that can perceive, reason and react to changes in processes and their environment. The acquisition will complement Google's past work in robotics like Boston Dynamics, which it sold off in 2017. The Google DeepMind team has also developed Gemini-based models for robotics in the past. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-robotics-company-started-by-alphabet-is-joining-google-proper-144421411.html?src=rss

NVIDIA updates Shield TV after pledging further support

NVIDIA is a very busy company, and between all the graphics cards and AI-chasing , it wouldnt be wholly surprising to see the company forget about its more niche offerings, such as the Android-powered NVIDIA Shield TV . Happily for all those who own one of these powerful set-top boxes, that doesnt appear to be the case. Not only is NVIDIA continuing to support its Shield devices, but its just rolled out its first proper update in nearly a year. The Shield Experience Upgrade 9.2.4, to give it its proper name, applies to both the Shield and Shield Pro boxes. Its admittedly light on new features, instead being focused on updating security and fixing various issues, but is nice to see all the same. Heres the full list of changes. Enhancements: Security patches are updated to Jan 2026. Resolved Bugs: Resolved Disney+ playback issue. Resolved 3rd party remote connection issue with Xbox after sleep mode. Resolved a crash issue which turns on SHIELD and CEC devices during sleep mode. Resolved 3rd party Bluetooth remote frequent disconnect issue. Resolved Settings page closes when triggering NVIDIA share on top of settings page. NVIDIA hasnt given any strong indication that its preparing to launch a new Shield TV, but in a a recent interview with ArsTechnica , Andrew Bell, the companys senior VP of hardware engineering, said it has no plans to end support any time soon, teasing that it had played with new concepts. Bell also said that a first Shield refresh since 2019 would likely support codecs like AV1 and HDR10+, as well as the latest Dolby Vision profiles. The existing NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro remains our pick of the best streaming devices for gamers, thanks to its ability to stream in native 4K and effectively upscale lower-resolution content. And with NVIDIAs GeForce Now cloud gaming service going from strength to strength, the Shield retains a unique position in the PC gaming ecosystem. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nvidia-updates-shield-tv-after-pledging-further-support-141346264.html?src=rss

Watch the trailer for Louis Theroux's new documentary 'Inside the Manosphere'

Netflix has unveiled a trailer for its upcoming documentary Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere set to arrive on March 11th. It will be the first full-length Netflix documentary for Theroux, and see him interview manosphere influencers like Sneako, Justin Waller and HS Tikky Tokky, aka Harrison Sullivan. Ive made documentaries for over 30 years now, and in a way, this subject feels like the final boss, the filmmaker told GQ. From Miami to Marbella, meet the men that are reshaping and radicalising young mens ideas about masculinity and manhood, Netflix's description reads. In the trailer, we see Theroux interview the influencers and get the tables turned on himself. I know that they would be streaming or filming me and would put that content out, Theroux told Deadline. And I hoped wed get this feedback loop where there was a meta narrative that was then affecting my approach to the story. On top of making documentaries (and being famous for Jiggle Jiggle ), Theroux is known for his Louis Theroux Interviews... podcast in which he interviews stars like Sean Penn and Florence Pugh. Prior to that, he did stories on conspiracy theories, UFOS and the porn industry, topics that he said were once niche but are now driving the internet and culture. I wouldnt be the first to point out that a lot of this is down to the influence of social media and the way in which it has given vent to the darkest parts of the human soul. Not just given vent to them, but actively amplified them and pushed them into our feeds. So yeah, this is not a niche subject. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/watch-the-trailer-for-louis-therouxs-new-documentary-inside-the-manosphere-131726113.html?src=rss

The best budget cameras for 2026

Like other electronics products, cameras have shot up in price in the US of late due to tariffs and other reasons. Fortunately, there are still many models available for less than the price of a budget smartphone ($750 or less) that offer great features for creators and photographers alike. If its speed you want for sports or action shots of your kids, models like Canons R50 can shoot bursts as fast as many high-end cameras. Creators, meanwhile, can choose Sonys ZV-E10 for vlogging jobs. There are also great, and cheap, models in the action and gimbal camera categories. Which one to pick therefore depends not only on your budget but what you want to do with your camera. So well not only detail the best picks, but how to home in on the best model for your specific needs. Best budget cameras for 2026 What to consider before choosing the best budget camera for you Which camera to buy obviously depends on what you shoot. If its mostly things like extreme sports, skiing or other adventurous activities, the best choice is obviously an action camera from GoPro, DJI or Insta360. Then, you just need to decide whether you want to shoot flat or 360 video, and whether you need a tiny or regular-sized model. The same goes for gimbal-style cameras from DJI and others. Buying a camera for travel photography, sports photos or vlogging is a bit trickier. Here, you need to choose either a compact camera with a fixed lens or a mirrorless model that supports removable lenses. Compact cameras tend to have smaller sensors and slightly lower quality lenses, but theyre obviously easier to carry most will fit in a large pocket. So, if budget, convenience and portability is the most important to you, then go for a model in this category. When youre trying to make the highest quality videos, though, youll want to choose a mirrorless camera with a decent lens. With the larger sensor, youll be able to create nice blurred bokeh backgrounds to separate your subject from the foreground. Lenses are usually sharper as well, and youll be able to expand your collection over time for even more versatility. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/best-budget-camera-130000653.html?src=rss

NY AG: Valve's loot boxes can get kids hooked on gambling

New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused Valve of promoting illegal gambling through its video games in a lawsuit filed by her office. According to the AGs announcement , her office conducted an investigation and had concluded that Valve enabled gambling by enticing users to pay for a chance at rare items from loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2 , Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2 . In the lawsuit, the New York AG stressed that Valves loot boxes are particularly pernicious, because the games are popular among children and teenagers. The lawsuit described the loot box model, which requires a player to open a mystery chest for the possibility of winning rare items, as quintessential gambling. It argued that people introduced to gambling at an early age are at a significantly higher risk of developing gambling addictions later on, based on research. In addition, it explained that gambling is mostly illegal in New York. Players have to pay for chests or boxes and the keys to be able to open them in Valves games, and the company has reportedly sold billions of dollars worth of keys for Counter-Strike alone. The lawsuit said that Valve has made tens of millions of dollars in fees from the sale of virtual items on the Steam Community Market, as well. In addition to being able to sell items on Steam for funds directly credited to their Steam Wallet, players can also sell on third-party marketplaces for cash. According to James office, Valve facilitates and even assists third-party marketplaces in their operations, based on its investigation. Engadget has asked Valve for a statement about the lawsuit, but we have yet to hear back. However, the company previously denied being involved with third-party marketplaces that allow the sales of its game items for real-world money. In a response to an inquiry by the Danish Gambling Authority, Valve explained that those third-party websites create sock puppet accounts to sell and receive items on Steam in exchange for cash. [T]his behavior is in violation of our terms of service, Valve said. The lawsuit also pointed out that theres a huge market for Counter-Strike skins and referenced a Bloomberg article from 2025, which reported that the market for those skins had already surpassed $4.3 billion. As an example of in-game items sold for real money, it cited the sale of a Counter-Strike 2 AK-47 skin in 2024 for $1 million. The Attorney Generals Office wants the court to stop Valve from violating New York laws, to give up money it allegedly earned from illegal activities and to pay a fine three times what it allegedly earned from illegal business practices. The most expensive skin in Counterstrike history was publicly sold this morning, a StatTrak Factory New AK-47 Blue Gem pattern 661 For over $1 million pic.twitter.com/1FdxoNM2ov Jake Lucky GDC (@JakeSucky) June 5, 2024 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ny-ag-valves-loot-boxes-can-get-kids-hooked-on-gambling-122503556.html?src=rss

Gaming accessory maker and publisher Nacon files for insolvency

French AA gaming developer and accessory manufacturer Nacon has filed for insolvency after its majority shareholder Bigben failed to make a loan repayment, the company said in a press release . To date, the company reports available assets do not allow it to meet its liabilities, Nacon wrote. The objective with insolvency, it said, was to allow continued operation, protect employees and maintain jobs while renegotiating with its creditors. Nacon is behind the games Styx: Blades of Greed and was set to publish Terminator: Survivors before that title was delayed. It published Hell is Us last year to some praise, but Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown was buggy on release and failed to find much of an audience. The company will stream its next Nacon Connect presentation on March 4, and will supposedly show off some new games and footage for previously revealed games like Endurance Motorsport Series and Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss . The company also makes hardware like controllers and headsets and racing sim accessories via its Revosim brand. Those products never really caught on with mainstream gamers but did have some success with the pro gaming crowd. With Nacon's insolvency, the future of those games and accessories is now in question. A court will decide on the company's insolvency request at a hearing in early March, but in the meantime, trading of its shares is suspended. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/gaming-accessory-maker-and-publisher-nacon-files-for-insolvency-104832702.html?src=rss

The best ergonomic keyboards for 2026

If you experience discomfort after long hours behind a desk, simply slapping an ergonomic mouse and keyboard on your desk wont solve the problem. First, you have to address the root issue of sitting still for too long by standing up and walking around each hour or so. But after that, its worth considering your workstation ergonomics. An ergonomic keyboard can prevent the hunching, twisting and contorting that leads to discomfort. With split, tilt and angled keys, these boards help keep your shoulders and chest more open and your forearms and wrists more aligned. One ergonomic board wont work for everyone, so I tested out 15 different models. I found my personal favorite and hope this guide will help you find the best ergonomic keyboard for you, too. Best ergonomic keyboards for 2026 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 first tried out the Naya Create during CES 2025 and was immediately smitten with the design. Its a deliriously well-made fully-split keyboard with built-in modules at each thumb. You can swap in a trackball, dial, trackpad and the Float module a dial/joystick combo for manipulating 3D imagery. Each half of the board hinges in two places for minutely customizable center tenting. It has low profile keys with responsive yet quiet mechanical switches. It works wirelessly or corded, has thumb cluster keys and, of course, its all fully programmable. It's lovely to type on and the thumb clusters and modules make it easy to keep your fingers in the home position to minimize repetitive travel. Im still in the process of testing the board, and working with Nayas co-founder to get the modules customized to my liking. At $500 to $700, its not cheap. Its also a still very new device from a small company, so Im waiting to give it a proper assessment until the board is fully set up properly. In the meantime, batches of the Naya Create keep selling out, so its apparent Im not the only one who sees this boards potential. 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