Gadgets News

Engadget review recap: Dell 16 Premium, Nikon ZR, Ooni Volt 2 and more

Weve slept off our collective turkey coma and returned to the review lab here at Engadget. Our team may also be in full CES prep mode , but weve got a few more devices to get off or our desks before 2025 is over. Catch up on all of the reviews you might have missed over the last few weeks a perfect activity for a lazy December weekend. Dell 16 Premium Theres no denying the design of the Dell 16 Premium makes the laptop live up to its name. Unfortunately, all of that polish leads to some issues: a high price and hampered usability. The more I looked at the Dell 16 Premium's beautiful facade, the more I wanted something... more, senior reporter Devindra Hardawar wrote . It needs more usable ports, like HDMI and a full-sized SD card reader. It needs more useful function keys that are visible in bright light and also stay in one place so I can touch type more easily. And for the love of god, just give up on the invisible trackpad. DJI Osmo Action 6 DJIs drone business in the US faces an uncertain future, and the companys action cams could be swept up in the ordeal as well. Thankfully, our contributing reporter Steve Dent resides in the EU where he observed first hand the Osmo Action 6s superior low light performance and battery life. With a bigger sensor and larger aperture than the competition, DJIs Action 6 is now the best action cam on the market for night shooting, delivering clean, sharp video with better stabilization than rivals, he said . Its also ideal for users who output to both YouTube and TikTok. Nikon ZR In keeping with the video theme, Steve also spent time testing the Nikon ZR. While this is primarily a model for shooting video, it benefits from the addition of RED RAW, excellent autofocus and more. With the ZR, Nikon has shown that its finally catching up to and even surpassing its rivals for content creation, he explained . Whether youre doing social media, YouTube, documentaries or even film production, this camera is versatile and powerful with few compromises. Ooni Volt 2 The Ooni Volt brought the companys popular brand of pizza making indoors for the first time, but that model wasnt without it faults. Now Ooni is back with the Volt 2, and the completely overhauled design is a big upgrade over the original. Its easier to use for all skill levels thanks to its clearer controls and large display, I explained . Presets work well, but they can also serve as a starting point for further recipe refinement for experienced users. And the pizza my goodness, the pizza is consistently restaurant quality (or better) across a range of styles. Antigravity A1 Insta360s spin-off Antigravity is now shipping its first drone and our UK bureau chief Mat Smith has already flown it. The A1 comes with a controller and FPV headset to assist with the piloting, but the mix of unique features and crisp video (in good conditions) is also laudable. The intuitive controls and ability to look all around you make it unlike anything else currently available, he said . Its a delightful introduction to drones, FPV or otherwise, but a shame that software issues marred my tests. Other recent reviews On the gaming front, Mat spent some time with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles while deputy editor Nathan Ingraham put Metroid Prime 4 through its paces. Contributor Tim Stevens stepped back in time with the Analogue 3D to revisit some Nintendo 64 classics after getting behind the wheel of the 2025 Porsche Macan Electric . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-dell-16-premium-nikon-zr-ooni-volt-2-and-more-130000527.html?src=rss

A Marvel beat-'em-up, long-awaited survival horror and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. A bunch of titles that are arriving very late to make it into game of the year conversations debuted this week, and we learned some new details about upcoming projects, such as a release date for a rad-looking arena shooter called Don't Stop, Girlypop. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is one of the higher-profile indies to hit consoles and PC this week. It's from Tribute Games and publisher Dotemu, the same pair that brought us Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge . Cosmic Invasion largely draws from the same playbook: it's also a retro-style side-scrolling beat-'em-up with a look that apes the Marvel animated shows from the '90s . It's an enjoyable enough game, largely thanks to the variety of characters and how differently they play. Captain America is one of my favorites. Each character has a secondary move (often a ranged attack) to go with their basic melee strikes, and Cap's one has no ammo or cooldown.I never grew tired of spamming his shield projectile attack and knocking enemies off the screen. I really enjoyed playing as She-Hulk too. Her secondary move involves grabbing an enemy and throwing them around. She-Hulk can also toss them into the air then leap with McTominay-esque athleticism to deliver a kick and send the baddie crashing into its cohorts. The character swap system (each player chooses two and can switch between them any time) evokes tag fighting games and the co-op features work well too. There isn't a ton of depth to Marvel Cosmic Invasion , unfortunately, but the presentation is spot on. It's out now on Steam , Nintendo Switch , Nintendo Switch 2 , PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for $30. It's also on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. New releases It only took 13 years from announcement to release but survival horror title Routine (from Lunar Software and publisher Raw Fury) has emerged on Steam , the Xbox PC app, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Cloud . It's available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Routine offers up a slice of liminal space terror with a dash of retro-futurism. Lunar Software based the aesthetic on how people from the 1980s might envision a believable moon base with analogue technology. Your mission is to explore the base and try to determine how it got to this state. Lunar wanted Routine to feel as immersive as possible, so there are no waypoint markers and you won't see a heads-up display. Instead, you have a personal data assistant that connects to wireless access points throughout the base and provides you with information about your current goals. Here's another horror title we've been looking forward to for several years . Sleep Awake deals with things that go bump in the night. It's a first-person psychedelic horror game in which a force called The HUSH makes anyone who falls asleep vanish. So, our hero Katja and other residents of the last-known city on Earth try various ways to stay awake, but theyll inevitably have to deal with the effects of sleep derivation. Sleep Awake is from Eyes Out a studio formed by Spec Ops: The Line director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck and publisher Blumhouse Games. It's out now on Steam , PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for $30. How about another horror game? It's the last one we have this week, I promise. Tingus Goose has been on my radar for a while because it just looks so deeply strange. This is billed as a cozy body horror idle game in which you plant seeds in patients, bounce babies for profit and ascend through surreal worlds toward riches. I'm glad for that description from the game's PR team, because I don't fully know what to make of the trailer. A goose emerges from a human being's torso and grows a giant neck and human fingers stick out of it and it's all just so strange. But I kinda dig it? Tingus Goose is from SweatyChair and co-publishers Playsaurus and UltraPlayers. It's on Steam for $5.94 until December 8, and it will cost $7 after that. I haven't seen anything that looks quite like Effulgence RPG before. It's a party-based RPG with a 3D ASCII art style. Here, you'll need to take out enemies to acquire better gear. Andrei Fomin released Effulgence RPG in early access on Steam this week for $10. The solo developer is aiming to release the full version of the game in June and to add more content and quality-of-life updates in the meantime. It's not usually the kind of game that I'd normally be drawn toward, but that art style alone is cool enough to make me want to try it. Looking for something a little more relaxing? Log Away is a cozy cabin builder fromThe-Mark Entertainment. There are several environments to choose from and a variety of decorations at your disposal depending on your interests. You can have a pet too, so that qualifies Log Away as this week's dog game. I've played it a bit and found it to be quite relaxing, a soothing counter punch to the non-stop action of Cosmic Invasion . It's out now on Steam for $10, but if you buy it by December 11 you'll save a dollar and get a Christmas-themed DLC at no extra cost. I adore Sayonara Wild Hearts with every fiber of my being and I appreciated what Simogo did with Lorelai and the Laser Eyes , even if I never stuck with it for long . I haven't played any of the studio's earlier games, though. That's something I'm planning to fix very soon now that the Simogo Legacy Collection is here. The studio reworked all of its first seven mobile games including Year Walk and Device 6 and combined them into a collection that's available on Steam , Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 . It costs $15 though there's a 15 percent discount until December 12. I'm very much looking forward to digging into this over the holidays. Upcoming I've been very much looking forward to Dont Stop, Girlypop! for a while. It's a movement-focused arena shooter with a Y2K aesthetic. Think of it as an anti-capitalist, hyperpop riff on games like Doom Eternal . The demo is a lot of fun and I'm glad there's finally a release date for this game from Funny Fintan Softworks and publisher Kwalee. It's coming to Steam on January 29. Limbot seems like it could be a fun party game. You can play it by yourself, but having three friends join you seems like the optimal way to go. In that case, each of you will take control of one of a cardboard robot's limbs. So you'll have to coordinate to move around this papercraft world effectively and complete precision-based objectives. It sounds like a recipe for an Overcooked -style tiff between friends. This physics-based game from Ionized Studios is coming to Steam , Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It's slated to arrive between April and June next year. Polyperfect's Zlin City: Arch Moderna is a diorama city builder inspired by historical events of the 1930s and '40s and the architecture of Zlin, a town in Czechia (Czech Republic). The developers used 3D printing, photogrammetry and 3D scanning to capture the objects that are used in the game. The result is something that at least at first glance looks beautifully textured. There's no confirmed release window for Zlin City: Arch Moderna as yet. It'll be available on Steam . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-marvel-beat-em-up-long-awaited-survival-horror-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-120000228.html?src=rss

The 1977 cut of Star Wars will return to theaters in 2027

Here's some good news for the Han shot first crowd. The original cut of Star Wars (1977), the film known today as A New Hope , is coming back to theaters. We first learned in August that some version of the film would be screened again in 2027 for its 50th anniversary. But we know now this will indeed be the version everyone saw before George Lucas made those questionable, CGI-heavy changes in the 1997 Special Editions. The re-release arrives in theaters on February 19, 2027. In a short update posted Friday on the official Star Wars website, Lucasfilm all but clarified that this will be the original cut. It described it as a newly restored version of the classic Star Wars (1977) theatrical release. Gizmodo reported that it received further clarification that this will indeed be the OG one, before those improvements in the Special Edition (and subsequent re-releases). Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in a scene from Star Wars: A New Hope. Disney Plus Those mid-'90s edits included early CGI effects that essentially served as a testing ground before Lucas moved on to the Prequel Trilogy . It also added a CG Jabba the Hutt / Han Solo scene (originally shot with actor Thomas Declan Mulholland as Jabba) that was cut from the original version. Perhaps most infamously, Lucas made Greedo shoot first at Han in the canteen scene. Hardcore fans hated the change. It smoothed some of the rough edges of Han's start. It gave him a shorter, less dramatic journey into the reluctant hero he grew into as the story progressed. It's as if Lucas was signaling, Okay, Han may have started as kind of a jerk, but he wouldn't shoot a bounty hunter in cold blood! Think of the children watching! But in my view, Return of the Jedi had the worst changes in 1997 and later. Although I didn't mind the new celebration music and location montage at the end (others disagree), it also added that cringey and out-of-place musical number in Jabba's palace. But I despised the change Lucas made for the films 2011 Blu-ray release: Darth Vader's overly telegraphed Nooooooo as he makes the climactic decision to chuck the Emperor into the Death Star's reactor shaft. Cmon, George: Its so more powerful for the audience to project Vaders thought process onto his silent helmet. But if Disney sticks with the 50th Anniversary scheme, we'll have to wait until 2033 to see the untainted version of that movie in theaters again. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/the-1977-cut-of-star-wars-will-return-to-theaters-in-2027-221113091.html?src=rss

Pixel owners: You can now use your phone as a Switch 2 webcam

The Switch 2's lack of a built-in camera means you need an external one for GameChat video calls . But now, if your phone is a Google Pixel , you don't even need one of those. Android Authority reported on Friday that the two now work nicely together (without needing third-party apps), and our tests confirm that. Google has technically supported the use of Android devices as external webcams for two years: The company added it in a quarterly update for Android 14. (Specifically, it added the ability for devices to use USB Video Class mode, or UVC.) But that functionality didn't work with the Switch 2 before the November Pixel Drop . How do we know it was that version? Well, before our Editor-in-Chief, Aaron Souppouris, installed Novembers update on a Pixel, the Switch 2 webcam feature didn't work. After updating to that one today (but before installing the December update), it worked. If that wasn't enough, the November firmware's release notes listed a fix for an issue where webcam mode does not work properly with connected devices under certain conditions. That pretty much cinches it. Regardless, we reached out to Google for official confirmation, and we'll update this story if we hear back. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/pixel-owners-you-can-now-use-your-phone-as-a-switch-2-webcam-203407555.html?src=rss

The Netflix and Warner Bros. deal might be great for shareholders, but not for anyone else

Netflix's $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. is, in many ways, the last thing a weakened Hollywood needs right now. The industry is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, where theaters were forced to close and audiences became even more comfortable with streaming films at home . The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, which were driven by legitimate concerns around studio interest in generative AI , delayed production and promotion of many film and TV projects. And the rise of streaming content pushed many media companies towards taking on debt and unwise mergers (see: Warner Bros. Discovery ), which led to higher subscription costs , layoffs and production belt-tightening. How can a troubled media company survive today? The answer seems to be further consolidation. Amazon's $8.45 billion MGM takeover in 2022 heralded future deals, like Skydance's $8 billion acquisition of Paramount . But Netflix's WB deal goes even further: It could fundamentally reshape the media industry as we know it, from theatrical movie-going to the existence of physical media. What will the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal include? After next year's already-announced separation of Warner Bros. and Discovery , Netflix says it plans to acquire all of Warner Bros. remaining assets including its film and TV studios, HBO Max and HBO for $82.7 billion. According to Game Developer , representatives also say Warner Bros. Games, which includes Mortal Kombat developers NetherRealm, will also be part of the deal. Will the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal be approved by regulators? Even before the deal was formally announced, it was clear that whoever bought WB would be facing government opposition from every side. Yesterday, Paramount sent WB a letter questioning the fairness and adequacy of the acquisition bidding process (which also included Comcast as a potential buyer). Afterwards, the New York Post reported that Paramount CEO David Ellison, son of the Trump-boosting Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, met with administration officials to make his case for buying Netflix. As of this morning, the Trump administration views the Netflix/WB deal with heavy skepticism, an official tells CNBC . On the other side of the aisle, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has called the Netflix/WB deal an anti-monopoly nightmare. She added, A Netflix-Warner Bros. would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market. It could force you into higher prices, fewer choices over what and how you watch, and may put American workers at risk. At this point, it's too early to tell if the Netflix/WB deal will make it past regulators, but it's clear that both companies should prepare for a rocky approval process. What does the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal mean for streaming video? According to data from JustWatch, a combined Netflix and HBO would account for 33 percent of the US streaming video market, putting it ahead of Prime Video's 21 percent share. As for how the two media companies would co-exist, Netflix says it will maintain Warner Bros. current businesses, which includes HBO Max and HBO, theatrical releases for films and well as movie and TV studio operations. JustWatch streaming video market stats. JustWatch We think its too early to talk specifics about how were going to tailor this offering for consumers, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said in an investor call this morning, when asked if HBO would remain a separate service. Needless to say, we think the HBO brand is very powerful, and would constitute part of our plan for consumers. That then gives us a lot of options to figure out how to package things to offer the best options for consumers. At the very least, we can expect increased prices across the board for HBO and Netflix. There's also potential for the company to offer combination subscriptions, similar to how Disney juggles Disney+, Hulu and ESPN. What does the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal mean for theaters? In short, a combined Netflix/WB wouldn't be great for theaters. Previous mergers, like Disney and Fox's union , led to fewer theatrical releases, not more. Since its transformation into a streaming-first company, Netflix has also been primarily focused on increasing subscriptions and engagement, with theatrical releases of its original content treated as an afterthought. Weve released about 30 films into theaters this year, so its not like we have opposition to theatrical release, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in the investor call (without specifying how short some of those theatrical releases were). Its the longer windows that arent consumer friendly. Life cycle that starts in the movie theater, well continue that. Over time, the windows will evolve to be much more consumer friendly, to meet the audience where we are. He added: All things that are going to theaters through WB will continue to do so. Our primary goal is to bring first-run movies to consumers, and we intend to continue with that. In an April interview at the Time100 Summit , Sarandos also famously called the theatrical model outdated, since most people in the US can't easily walk to a multiplex. Cinema United, a trade group representing over 30,000 movie theater screens in the US, is unsurprisingly against the entire deal. The proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix poses an unprecedented threat to the global exhibition business. The negative impact of this acquisition will impact theatres from the biggest circuits to one-screen independents in small towns in the United States and around the world, Cinema United President and CEO Michael OLeary said in a statement. Cinema United stands ready to support industry changes that lead to increased movie production and give consumers more opportunities to enjoy a day at the local theatre, he added. But Netflixs stated business model does not support theatrical exhibition. In fact, it is the opposite. Regulators must look closely at the specifics of this proposed transaction and understand the negative impact it will have on consumers, exhibition and the entertainment industry. What do artists think of the Netflix and WB deal? Writers, directors and producers are already having a tough time getting projects off the ground, so having one less place to pitch isn't going to help. There are also a handful of artists, including former WB darling Christopher Nolan, who have refused to work with Netflix entirely. The end goal of these consolidations is to limit choices in entertainment to a select handful of providers, so they can capture our whole attention, and thus our every available dollar, C. Robert Cargill, the screenwriter behind Doctor Strange and The Black Phone , said in a statement to Engadget. The result will be a gutting of diversity and fresh voices in the industry, sending thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people back to their home towns to start their lives over, as there simply isn't a place for them in Hollywood any more, while homogenizing film and television into the content word we all grumble about hearing. WB has made so many daring choices this year, with executives taking big risks that made real cultural and financial impacts at the box office, he added. And HBO, constant name changes be damned, is still making some of the best television there is, bar none. Will those creative environments survive the merger, or will many of those brilliant execs be sent packing along with the writers, directors, and crews? In short, it's a very scary and heartbreaking time to be a filmmaker. No shade on Netflix and the people that work there; it's just that less choice in entertainment always makes for fewer winners and more people on the outside looking in. What about physical media? Other than noting that Netflix used to be a DVD-by-mail company, there was no mention of physical media on the acquisition's press release or investor call. Thats not too surprising, as physical releases have always been an afterthought for Netflix. A few of its films, like Roma and Frances Ha , are available as discs through the Criterion Collection, and some shows like Stranger Things are also on DVD and Blu-ray. Netflix claims it'll continue to run WB's businesses as usual if the deal goes through, which should include physical media, but those sorts of pre-acquisition promises rarely last for long. WB's home video business isn't entirely its own, either: In 2020, it formed the joint venture Studio Distribution Services with Universal, which also handles physical media distribution for Sony Pictures, PBS and Neon. Given the slowing demand for physical media, its likely one of the first things a combined Netflix/WB would eventually drop. But theres also been a resurgence of premium physical releases from distributors like Arrow Video , so theres a chance Netflix may want to keep it around for special releases. Steve Dent contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/the-netflix-and-warner-bros-deal-might-be-great-for-shareholders-but-not-for-anyone-else-183000247.html?src=rss

Get three months of Apple Music for only $1 right now

Looking to switch music streaming platforms for no real reason ? Apple Music is holding one heck of a sale right now. You can get three months of use for just $1 . There are some caveats, as this is only for new users on the individual plan. Students and family plans don't count for this. Also, this has to be redeemed on iPhone, iPad or Mac. When you click the link it'll open up the Apple Music app, so click it from an Apple product to get the deal. Finally, it auto-renews after 90 days at $11 per month. Make sure to cancel ahead of time if you aren't enjoying the service. As for Apple Music, it's one of the best music streaming platforms out there and certainly a perfect choice for those already tied to the Apple ecosystem. It lets you import your own files, which is great for anyone still hanging on to an iTunes library. Otherwise, it offers streaming access to millions upon millions songs like all the rest. It does, however, include some live radio stations staffed by actual people, which is cool. The app works with Android devices, but it's really designed for Apple products. We also found the spatial audio to sound unnatural at times, but that's partly a limitation of the tech. Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-three-months-of-apple-music-for-only-1-right-now-180536582.html?src=rss

India is reportedly considering another draconian smartphone surveillance plan

You know what they say: If at first you don't succeed at mass government surveillance, try, try again. Only two days after India backpedaled on its plan to force smartphone makers to preinstall a state-run cybersecurity app , Reuters reports that the country is back at it. Its said to be considering a telecom industry proposal with another draconian requirement. This one would require smartphone makers to enable always-on satellite-based location tracking (Assisted GPS). The measure would require location services to remain on at all times, with no option to switch them off. The telecom industry also wants phone makers to disable notifications that alert users when their carriers have accessed their location. According to Reuters , India's home ministry was set to meet with smartphone industry executives on Friday, but the meeting was postponed. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears on a screen to deliver a speech remotely as other leaders attend the 22nd ASEAN - India Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. (Photo by Rafiq Maqbool / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RAFIQ MAQBOOL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) RAFIQ MAQBOOL via Getty Images Predictably, proponents claim the plan is about helping law enforcement keep you safe from the bad guys. (See also: Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four .) The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long been concerned that law enforcement agencies cant obtain precise enough locations during investigations. Cell tower data alone can be off by several meters. And hey, what's the privacy of 1.4 billion people next to tracking criminals with an extra 10 ft. or so of accuracy, right? Apple, Google and Samsung are said to oppose the move and have urged the Modi government to reject it. The lobbying group India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents them, reportedly wrote in a confidential letter this summer that the proposal has no precedent anywhere in the world. The group's letter described the measure as a regulatory overreach, which is probably putting it mildly. They warned that it could compromise military personnel, judges, corporate executives and journalists. In a statement sent to Engadget, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sounded the alarm on the proposal. Requiring phones to have A-GPS enabled all the time would be a horrifying decision by the Indian government with significant impacts on the privacy of everyone in the country, EFF Senior Staff Technologist Cooper Quintin said. With this change, the phone company and law enforcement get your exact location at any time, potentially even without legal due process. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/india-is-reportedly-considering-another-draconian-smartphone-surveillance-plan-173500327.html?src=rss

New Philo subscribers can get their first month of access for $25

Philo has a decent discount for newcomers who are looking for a solid bundle of live TV channels and on-demand streaming services. New subscribers can get their first month of access to the Core plan for $25. That's a discount of $8. For your 25 bucks, you'll gain access to more than 70 channels, including AMC, BBC America, Comedy Central, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, several MTV stations, Nickelodeon and TLC. AMC+, HBO Max basic with ads and Discovery+ are included at no extra cost. Philo is our pick for the best cheap live TV streaming service . Having unlimited DVR is welcome and recordings expire after one year, which is three months longer than many competing platforms. There's no contract either, so you can cancel at any time. The platform also offers more than 110 free channels, but unfortunately there are no local channels and there's not much in the way of sports programming. Other notable channels, such as Bravo and Freeform are missing too. However, if the lineup of channels and streaming services covers all your needs, Philo is a solid streaming option, especially with the discount. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/new-philo-subscribers-can-get-their-first-month-of-access-for-25-171033925.html?src=rss

The best iPad deals this week include $100 off the iPad Air M3

We generally think iPads are the best tablets for most people, but they usually dont come cheap. To help those looking to grab one today get the most value possible, were keeping an eye on sale prices and rounding up the best iPad deals we can find each week. Hopefully you were able to snag whatever iPad youve been eyeing at some point in the last couple of weeks, as most of the all-time lows we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday have expired. If you were late to the party, though, there are still some savings to be had, including $100 off both iPad Air models and an all-time low for the 13-inch iPad Pro . Beyond tablets, other Apple devices like the AirPods 4 with ANC , Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Pencil Pro are still on sale at their Black Friday prices. Here are all of the top deals on Apple gear we could find this week. Best iPad deals Apple iPad Air (13-inch, M3) for $699 ($100 off MSRP) : The 13-inch iPad Air is exactly the same as its smaller counterpart, only it has a larger and slightly brighter display. We gave it a review score of 89 earlier this year. This deal is $50 above the discount we saw on Black Friday but still $100 cheaper than buying from Apple directly. Also at B&H . Apple iPad Pro (11-inch, M5) for $927 ($72 off) : The latest iPad Pro is still far more tablet than most people need, but its class-leading OLED display, impressively thin design and super-powerful M5 chip make it a luxury experience for those who can afford it. This 11-inch model sold for $899 during Black Friday, but the device was only released in October, so any sort of savings is still noteworthy. Also at Best Buy for $949. Apple iPad Pro (13-inch, M5) for $1,199 ($100 off) : Its not a massive discount, but this matches the lowest price so far for the larger iPad Pro, which may be worthwhile if youve got cash to burn and want to use an iPad as your main computer. We gave it a score of 85 in our review. Also at B&H . Best Apple deals Apple Watch SE 3 for $199 ($50 off) : This discount has been around for a few weeks, but its the lowest price to date for Apples newest entry-level smartwatch. We gave this device a score of 90 in our review last month: The big upgrade is an always-on display, which makes it so you no longer have to wake the watch to check the time or notifications. It still includes most of the essential health and fitness features beyond that, plus it now runs on the same chipset as the higher-end Apple Watch Series 11. Also at Walmart . Apple Watch Series 11 for $329 ($70 off) : The SE 3 may be a better raw value, but the Apple Watch Series 11 remains our preferred smartwatch overall for iPhone owners. Compared to its cheaper sibling, it has a bigger, brighter and more scratch-resistant display, longer battery life and a few advanced health features like an ECG app and hypertension alerts. It also earned a score of 90 in our review. This is an all-time low for the standard 42mm model, but keep in mind that theres no pressing need to upgrade if you already own a Series 10. Also at Walmart . Apple Pencil Pro for $95 ($34 off) : The Pencil Pro is Apples most feature-rich stylus, offering pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, haptic feedback and unique gesture controls compared to the standard USB-C model (which isnt significantly discounted). Just note that its not compatible with the entry-level iPad and other older models. While this discount is only $5 below the devices usual street price, its still the largest discount weve seen this year. Also at Walmart . Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) for $1,349 ($250 off) : The newest MacBook Pro is the best high-end pick in our laptop buying guide and a fine choice for creative types who need something more powerful than the MacBook Air. The latter is still a much better value for most people, but the Pro gets you a superior mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, more ports and improved performance, especially with GPU-intensive tasks. It can even hold its own with certain games, though its noticeably thicker and heavier than the Air. We gave it a score of 92 in our review. This deal matches the lowest price to date for a configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Also at Walmart . Apple Mac mini (M4) for $679 ($100 off) : The latest iteration of Apples tiny desktop PC has a smaller footprint, a faster M4 chip, 16GB of RAM by default, two front-facing USB-C ports and an extra Thunderbolt 4 port. It can also drive three external displays, though it lacks USB-A ports entirely. We gave a higher-end model with Apples M4 Pro chip a score of 90 in our review. This deal marks the lowest price we could find for a configuration with the base M4 chip, 24GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Read more Apple coverage : The best AirPods The best Apple Watches The best MacBooks The best iPhones The best iPads Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-ipad-deals-this-week-include-100-off-the-ipad-air-m3-150020616.html?src=rss

Meta cuts deals with several news publishers for AI use

Meta has cut several deals with news publishers to help provide real-time data for its AI chatbot services, as reported by Axios . The commercial agreements will allow its Meta AI chatbots to better answer user queries about news and current events. These are multiyear deals where publishers will be compensated for the use of their content, but we don't have any monetary specifics. The contracts do stipulate that Meta's chatbots will link out to articles when answering news queries, potentially offering a slight traffic boost to publishers. The news partners include USA Today , People , Le Monde and CNN . However, there are also a whole lot of conservative outlets included in today's announcement, such as Fox News , The Daily Caller and Washington Examiner . It's a good thing Meta's AI will provide the aforementioned links, just in case a chatbot says something crazy about whatever nonsense culture war topic is going on that day. Meta has announced that this is just a first step and that it will be adding more news partners to cover more topics in the future. This is an interesting move because Meta has long-been averse to paying news companies for access to content . It stopped paying US publishers for access to news in 2022 and the Facebook news tab went away entirely last year . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-cuts-deals-with-several-news-publishers-for-ai-use-163404107.html?src=rss

X hit with $140 million fine from the EU

The European Commission has fined Elon Musks X 120 million (around $140 million) for breaching its transparency rules under the Digital Services Act . The European Unions executive arm announced that it was investigating the social media companys blue checkmarking verification system first introduced when it was still known as Twitter last year, along with other alleged DSA violations. Todays verdict concerns the deceptive design of the checkmark, as well as the lack of transparency of [X's] advertising repository, and the failure to provide access to public data for researchers. The Commission's issue with Xs verification system is that where blue checkmarks were once something that Twitter that Twitter vetted, they can now be bough by anyone. According to the EU, this puts users at risk of scams and impersonation fraud, as they cant tell if the accounts theyre engaging with are authentic. While the DSA does not mandate user verification, it clearly prohibits online platforms from falsely claiming that users have been verified, when no such verification took place, it wrote in a statement. The EU has also ruled that Xs advertisement repository employs design features and access barriers that make it difficult for good faith actors and the general public to determine the source of online ads and spot scams or threat campaigns. It says that X fails to provide information pertaining to both the content of an ad and the entity paying for its placement. The third alleged infringement concerns the public data that companies are required by the DSA to make available to qualifying researchers. The European Commission claims that Xs practices in this area are unnecessarily prohibitive, therefore effectively undermining research into several systemic risks in the European Union. X has 60 working days to respond to the EUs non-compliance decision the first of its nature on blue checkmarks, and 90 days to submit an action plan of how it will address the alleged breaches relating to its advertising repository and access to public data. Failure to comply could result in financial penalties. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/x-hit-with-140-million-fine-from-the-eu-161259324.html?src=rss

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

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

The New York Times and Chicago Tribune sue Perplexity over alleged copyright infringement

The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune have filed separate lawsuits against Perplexity over alleged copyright infringement. The Times said it had sent Perplexity several cease-and-desist demands to stop using its content until the two reached an agreement, but the AI company persisted in doing so. In the lawsuit [ PDF ], the Times accused Perplexity of infringing on its copyrights at two main stages. First, by scraping its website (including in real time) to train AI models and feed content into the likes of the Claude chatbot and Comet browser . Second, in the output of Perplexity's products, with the Times accusing the companys generative AI products of often reproducing its articles verbatim. The Times also says Perplexity damaged its brand by falsely attributing completely fabricated information (aka hallucinations) to the newspaper. The Chicago Tribune also filed a lawsuit against Perplexity for similar reasons. Perplexitys genAI products generate outputs that are identical or substantially similar to the Chicago Tribunes content, the newspaper claimed in its suit. Upon information and belief, Perplexity has unlawfully copied millions of copyrighted Chicago Tribune stories, videos, images and other works to power its products and tools. These lawsuits are the latest in dozens of legal cases involving copyright holders and AI companies in the US. The Times, for instance, previously sued OpenAI and Microsoft. It accused the companies of training their large language models on millions of its articles without permission. That case is ongoing . Copyright holders have licensed their content to AI companies in some cases, though. OpenAI has struck multiple deals with media companies. The Times and Amazon reached an agreement this year that's said to be worth as much as $25 million per year to the media company. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-new-york-times-and-chicago-tribune-sue-perplexity-over-alleged-copyright-infringement-153656431.html?src=rss

Where the hell is Samsung's Ballie robot?

Another CES is nearly upon us , another year where well see new gadgets aplenty from giant companies and tiny ones youve never heard of. And the not-so-secret secret of CES is that many of these things never make it to market but usually it isnt things companies like Samsung show off. But here we are, nearly six years since Samsung first showed off its Ballie personal robot and it is nowhere to be found. For those who may not recall, Ballie is an adorable circular robot that can putter around your house and project things onto the floor and wall. Its kind of a virtual assistant on the go. Samsung first revealed this tiny robot at CES 2020, but it was more of a prototype than something anyone expected to purchase. And then there was a global pandemic and we all sort of forgot about weird ball-shaped robots for a few. But Samsung triumphantly unveiled a larger and more refined Ballie at CES 2024, saying it would be on sale that year! Well, that didnt happen, but a year later Ballie was back at CES again . Samsung promised it would go on sale in 2025, and followed up with a press release this past April saying it was on track for a summer launch in Korea and the US. As far as I can tell, thats the last weve heard of it. But with CES looming again, I cant help but feel like Samsung will roll Ballie out once more, trying to sell the dream of a cute robotic companion who just gets you. I spent some time watching Ballie do its thing in a carefully controlled demo at CES 2024, and I cant say I was overwhelmed by its purported usefulness or thought thered be much of a market for this thing. I now cant help but wonder if Samsung has data backs up my intuition. If this thing was going to sell like gangbusters, it likely wouldnt be subjected to such a long and public gestation period. It reminds me a little of one of my favorite Samsung gaffes, the Galaxy Home smart speaker. It was announced at a time when Apple and Google were challenging Sonos and Amazon with voice-activated speakers of their own, moving Siri or the Google Assistant from your phone to a more omnipresent place in your home. The first rumor of the Galaxy Home happened way back in 2017 , and the speaker was officially revealed and briefly shown off by Samsung in August of 2018. My immediate reaction was that this product made very little sense for both Samsung and potential customers Bibxy sucked, and there were plenty of speakers with better voice assistants. Apparently, Samsung agreed. After multiple years of vague commitments and references to the Galaxy Home, Samsung just stopped talking about it. Oddly enough, a Galaxy Home Mini speaker was briefly released in South Korea, part of a promotion for people who pre-ordered the Galaxy S20. But I dont think you could ever just walk into a store and buy one, and the larger Galaxy Home never materialized at all. Ballie isnt quite the abandonware situation that the Galaxy Home was, at least not yet. After all, its only been about eight months since Samsung dropped that press release claiming it would arrive soon. The company has definitely pushed Ballie in a more public way than the Galaxy Home, making it a little harder to just drop entirely. Maybe well see a revamped Ballie with even more weird tricks next month, or maybe well just get another vague promise that itll arrive in 2026. After failing to deliver two years in a row, though, Im not going to expect Ballie to show up as a real product until I can punch in my credit card and pre-order it... not that Id do that anyway. Ballie needs to show that its a lot more than a cute rolling robot before Samsung gets my cash. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/where-the-hell-is-samsungs-ballie-robot-151112829.html?src=rss

Chinese hackers reportedly targeting government entities using 'Brickstorm' malware

Hackers with links to China reportedly successfully infiltrated a number of unnamed government and tech entities using advanced malware. As reported by Reuters , cybersecurity agencies from the US and Canada confirmed the attack, which used a backdoor known as Brickstorm to target organizations using the VMware vSphere cloud computing platform. As detailed in a report published by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security on December 4, PRC state-sponsored hackers maintained long-term persistent access to an unnamed victims internal network. After compromising the affected platform, the cybercriminals were able to steal credentials, manipulate sensitive files and create rogue, hidden VMs (virtual machines), effectively seizing control unnoticed. The attack could have begun as far back as April 2024 and lasted until at least September of this year. The malware analysis report published by the Canadian Cyber Centre, with assistance from The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), cites eight different Brickstorm malware samples. It is not clear exactly how many organizations in total were either targeted or successfully penetrated. In an email to Reuters , a spokesperson for VMware vSphere owner Broadcom said it was aware of the alleged hack, and encouraged its customers to download up-to-date security patches whenever possible. In September, the Google Threat Intelligence Group published its own report on Brickstorm, in which it urged organizations to reevaluate their threat model for appliances and conduct hunt exercises against specified threat actors. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/chinese-hackers-reportedly-targeting-government-entities-using-brickstorm-malware-133501894.html?src=rss

Splitgate: Arena Reloaded tries to fix what Splitgate 2 broke

Portal shooter Splitgate 2 is coming back with a new name and rebuilt experience after being pulled back to beta earlier this year, developer 1047 Games announced . The free-to-play Splitgate: Arena Reloaded will relaunch on December 17th across platforms including Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC. After months of community feedback, testing and rebuilding the entire experience, this is Splitgate refocused on what made it special in the first place: classic arena combat without factions, abilities, or extra noise, the developer shared in a blog post, along with a gameplay video. Splitgate 2 originally launched in June, but 1047 Games pulled it back to beta after deciding that the release had been rushed. For the new version, the company said, we took the best of Splitgate 1 and Splitgate 2 and cut the parts that didn't fit, while refining the ones that did. in the process, we not only rebuilt the game, we reconnected with the magic of the genre that built this studio in the first place: a return to the Arena. Here are some key changes made: Removed Splitgate 2's factions, abilities, and select equipment so the focus is back on classic arena combat without the extra noise. Rebuilt progression from the ground up so your time in game feels rewarding, with weapon and character cosmetics you can earn simply by playing. We've added a true Classic Arena mode with even starts and new map pickups, recapturing the feel of the original. Fine tuned combat to better match expectations for a modern arena shooter, with more meaningful gunfights and fewer what just happened moments. Completely overhauled the ranked system so your rank reflects your actual skill for players who love to climb and compete. Added key systems you have been asking for: Mode Select, Player Stats, Ranked Leaderboards, and Account Levels. Introduced five brand new maps and six fully reworked arenas, bringing the total map pool to 20. Added three new LMG primary weapons and the iconic Power Weapon, the Railgun. 1047 Games was savaged earlier this year by Splitgate players after co-founder Ian Proulx wore a hat at Summer Games Fest stating Make FPS Great Again. Later, he posted to the studio's X account on Splitgate 2's release date that he was not here to apologize and that the hat was not a political statement, finally admitting that it was all basically a publicity stunt . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/splitgate-arena-reloaded-tries-to-fix-what-splitgate-2-broke-130027714.html?src=rss

Microsoft's Copilot+ AI PC plan fizzled, but it still served a purpose

Microsoft's Copilot+ initiative launched last year with a clear goal: To produce capable laptops for people eagerly anticipating AI-powered features. Read that sentence again, and it's glaringly obvious that Microsoft's plan was flawed from the start. Most consumers aren't nearly as hyped for AI features as the companies eager to foist artificial intelligence upon us. And those features aren't exactly compelling, either. Microsoft's Recall which snaps screenshots of your PC to create a database of everything youve done was dogged by privacy concerns from the start. And to be honest, I haven't found its ability to remember the files and websites I've opened to be that useful. Without any sort of killer AI app, most consumers weren't going to pay a premium for Copilot+ systems either. Not in this precarious economy, anyway. So it wasn't a huge surprise to see sales of Copilot+ systems going practically nowhere over the last year. In the third quarter of 2024, they accounted for less than 10 percent of systems shipped, according to data from Mercury Research ( via Toms Hardware ). The research firm IDC ( via PCWorld ) also found that Copilot+ systems made up just 2.3 percent of Windows machines sold in the first quarter of 2025 (and a mere 1.9 percent of the entire PC market). Instead of continuing to promote Copilot+, Microsoft now wants to make every Windows 11 computer an AI PC . The new Hey Copilot voice commands and Copilot Vision , a feature that lets the AI assistant see what's on your screen, are both cloud-powered. That means you won't need the beefy 40 TOPS neural processing units (NPU) found on Copilot+ systems to use them. Microsoft spent the past few years touting NPUs as the gateway to useful AI features, like Recall and Windows Studio webcam effects, but only one of its new AI capabilities actually requires an NPU. (And even that is just a slight update to Click to Do , allowing you to send Zoom invitations by right-clicking on e-mail addresses.) It's easy to view the whole Copilot+ initiative as a cynical way to ramp up AI hype and push people towards expensive new laptops, especially as the October 14 Windows 10 end of support date loomed . But it also led to some genuinely useful changes: Microsoft made 16GB of RAM a standard for Copilot+ systems, along with 256GB of storage and the aforementioned 40 TOPS NPUs. The launch of Copilot was also the kick in the pants Microsoft needed to revamp Windows for mobile Arm processors . I never thought I'd love a Surface with a Snapdragon chip, but the improved Arm support on the Surface Pro and this year's smaller model finally won me over. The Dell 16 Premium sitting on a ledge. I wouldnt call the Copilot+ program a huge swing, but its still the sort of industry-wide cat herding thats rare to see in the PC space. Microsoft couldnt just snap its fingers and shift all PCs to efficient mobile chips with powerful NPUs, like Apple did with its own jump to M-series chips years ago. Microsoft had to wait for new NPU-equipped hardware from Qualcomm (and eventually Intel and AMD). It had to finally fix the Windows on Arm problem. And it also had to double-down on AI features that felt truly transformative. Its just a shame that consumers didnt seem to care. Microsoft said that Copilot+ systems accounted for 15 percent of premium PCs sold during last years holiday season, but the company hasnt released any new sales figures since then. This is the fastest adoption I've seen of a new category of hardware, and we've done it faster than the normal generational shift of silicon, James Howell, Microsofts VP of Windows marketing, said in a conversation with Engadget. Copilot+ PCs continue to be a transition that we are pushing for and prioritizing. But I can't give you the exact numbers beyond that Just for the last two or three months, we've been doing pretty well with year-on-year growth in the Windows business. Surface Pro Copilot+ Devindra Hardawar for Engadget While Microsoft ultimately doesnt have much to show for the Copilot+ initiative, the steady progression of hardware will lead to AI PCs dominating over the next five years. The research firm Omdia predicts that AI PCs will account for 55 percent of computers shipped in all of 2026, up from 42.5 percent of systems in Q3 2025. By 2029, Omdia predicts AI PCs will make up 75 percent of all systems shipped, giving Windows 80 percent of the AI PC market. Omdia AI PC shipment predictions Omdia Its important to note that this steep adoption curve [for AI PCs] is driven more by the product roadmaps of the PC market, rather than consumers and businesses seeking PCs specifically for AI, according to Omdia research analyst Kieren Jessop. For businesses, and consumers especially, AI-capable PC adoption is more a function of a customer going to purchase a device and that device just so happens to have an NPU. Microsoft was basically right: AI PCs are the future. But it turns out the AI features people actually want to use like ChatGPT, Sora and Microsofts own Copilot are mostly powered by the cloud, making onboard NPUs superfluous. That wont be true forever. There are tangible security, speed and convenience benefits for onboard AI processing, like transcribing sensitive audio instead of sending it to the cloud. But for now, those AI workloads are relatively niche, and theyre not enough to make the Copilot+ a true success by any measure. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/microsofts-copilot-ai-pc-plan-fizzled-but-it-still-served-a-purpose-130000239.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Flying Antigravitys A1 drone is unlike anything else

Spinning off from the action-camera company Insta360, Antigravity now has its debut drone on sale. With 360-degree cameras that capture 8K and offer you a truly unconstrained view of the skies, the A1 is a different drone from everything else out there. Sorry, DJI. Instead of typical drone joysticks, you get a motion controller that lets you point and shoot like video game gesture controls, while crisp FPV goggles put you right inside the cockpit. Engadget Its easy to fly after takeoff, but the A1s myriad parts are often tricky to sync together and pulling video down to the companion app is even trickier. Going on specs alone, like speed and camera sensor size, it doesnt stand up to cinematic drones from the likes of DJI. Still, its not meant to be a cinematic drone. Its a hybrid mix of flight experience, FPV drone and a not-miss-a-thing camera drone. Its truly unique and fun. Mat Smith The other big stories (and deals) this morning The best Christmas gifts to give everyone on your 2025 holiday shopping list A shaky year for American EVs could set the tone for 2026 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review Amazon Lunas December lineup includes Hollow Knight, Lego 2K Drive and a few Fallout games Amazon halts its incredibly poor AI anime dubbing beta Ridiculed by all. Amazon has quietly removed its terrible AI-generated English dubs for several anime shows on Prime Video, following widespread ridicule from viewers and the industry. AI dubs were recently added to Banana Fish , No Game , No Life and Vinland Saga , where they were labeled AI beta in the Languages section of the app. For shows lacking an English-language dub, it was a seemingly cheap way to consume anime for Amazon. However, it quickly became clear that the dubs were really quite bad. Baaaad. Voice actor Daman Mills called the AI-generated dub for Banana Fish a massive insult to us as performers in a post on X. Continue reading. Amazon thinks about ending ties with the US Postal Service The company continues to invest heavily in its own shipping network. An Amazon double today. According to The Washington Post , Amazon is considering discontinuing use of the US Postal Service and building its own shipping network to rival it. The e-commerce behemoth spends more than $6 billion a year on the public mail carrier almost 8 percent of the services total revenue. Thats up from just under $4 billion in 2019. That split might be due to a breakdown in negotiations between Amazon and the USPS rather than Amazon proactively pulling its business. Amazon has invested heavily in all kinds of delivery methods, including shipping logistics, buying its own Boeing planes, launching its own electric delivery vans and slowly building a drone delivery network. Continue reading. Amazons Kindle Scribe Colorsoft finally has a release date December 10, just in time for the holidays. Engadget A triple? Sorry. Amazon didnt have a specific release date to share beyond later this year for its latest Scribe slates. And talk about brinkmanship! Here we are in December. The company says the devices will be available on December 10. This is the third generation of the Kindle Scribe line of E Ink writing tablets the first time Amazon has three versions of the Scribe. At the entry level, the Scribe without a front light starts at $430, while the model with a light starts at $480. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will start at $630. You always have to pay more for color. Continue reading. Nikon ZR camera review A highly capable cinema camera at a reasonable price. The Nikon ZR could be a breakthrough for content creators, largely because it incorporates technology from RED a company now owned by Nikon. The combination of professional-grade video quality (specifically RED RAW) and autofocus comes at a fraction of the cost of dedicated cinema rigs. There are some compromises on battery life and the lack of a viewfinder, but the ZR arguably offers the best video quality for the money. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121538076.html?src=rss

Netflix to buy Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion

Shortly after rumors of a deal between the two media giants broke, Netflix has announced it is buying Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max for approximately $82.7 billion. If approved, the deal will take place after Warner Bros. has disentangled itself from both its legacy cable and Discovery assets as part of the already-announced de-merger . That's likely to take place in the third quarter of 2026, with this new tie-up taking place at some point after that. In a statement, Netflix said it expects to maintain Warner Bros. current operations, as well as its policy of theatrical releases for its films. But the deal may spell the end for HBO Max as its own product in the longer term, as the statement also says by adding the deep film and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming, Netflix members will have even more high-quality titles from which to choose. Naturally, the deal will see Netflix become one of the biggest players in global media, combining its global reach with some of the most recognizable names in entertainment. That includes HBO, DC Studios, Cartoon Network and TCM, as well as the chunks of TNT not cast adrift with Discovery. It's likely the deal will not go ahead without a lot of objections from other buyers, as well as the government itself. Yesterday, Paramount Skydance said (via the Hollywood Reporter) any deal between WB and Netflix would be the result of an unfair process. Given the close ties between Paramount's new owners and the administration, it's likely any deal will be subject to scrutiny as well as the usual questions around the size of the combined operation. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/netflix-to-buy-warner-bros-for-827-billion-120836295.html?src=rss

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw live today

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is this Friday. (Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Hector Vivas - FIFA via Getty Images The draw for the 2026 World Cup is this Friday at 12 PM ET, where well learn which group the 39 qualified countries and three host nations will land in for the international soccer tournament. The 2026 World Cup draw will air live on Fox. Pre-show coverage of the draw begins at 11:30 a.m. The venues and kickoff times for the World Cup group stage games be announced the following day. Tickets for the World Cup are already available. Here's how to watch the 2026 World Cup draw live, plus what you need to know about buying World Cup tickets, before or after the groupings are announced. How to watch the 2026 World Cup draw: Date: Friday, Dec. 5 Time: 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT Location: Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. TV channel: Fox Streaming: Fox One , DirecTV , YouTube via VPN and more When is the 2026 World Cup draw? The World Cup draw will take place on Friday, Dec. 5. All the group stage venues and kickoff times will then be announced the following day, on Saturday, Dec. 6 2026 World Cup draw start time: The World Cup draw will officially kick off at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, though there will be pre-show coverage of the event as early as 11:30 a.m. ET. What channel is the World Cup draw on? The World Cup draw will air across Fox networks, including Fox and via the Fox Sports app. Coverage will also likely air on FS1. How to watch the World Cup draw: For those with live TV access, you may be able to watch Fox totally free over the air. But if not, here's how we recommend tuning in. How to watch the World Cup draw for free: In the U.S., the draw will air on Fox, but globally in many regions, a livestream of the draw will be available to watch via YouTube livestream, totally free. If you dont have access to Fox, you might want to consider trying a VPN, so you can tune into the World Cup draw free livestream. Dont want to navigate a VPN? Many live TV streaming services offer free trials, so you can also tune into the 2026 World Cup draw for free via a free trial. When is the 2026 World Cup? The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, 2026 and runs through July 19, 2026. Where will 2026 World Cup games be held? There will be 15 host cities for the 2026 World Cup throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. They are: United States Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA Boston Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA Dallas At&T Stadium, Arlington TX Houston NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Kansas City GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO Los Angeles Sofi Stadium, Inglewood, CA Miami Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL New York/New Jersey MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Philadelphia Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA San Francisco Bay Area Levis Stadium, Santa Clara, CA Seattle Lumen Field, Seattle, WA Mexico Mexico City Estadio Azteca, Coyoacan, Mexico City Monterrey Estadio BBVA, Gudalupe, Nuevo Leon Guadalajara Estadio Akron, Guadalajara Canada Toronto BMO Field, Toronto, ON Vancouver BC Place, Vancouver BC How to get 2026 World Cup tickets: Individual match tickets are now available to purchase through the FIFA website . To purchase tickets that are part of a multi-game or hospitality package, you can sign up here to receive more information. In addition, there will also be a final ticket lottery held after this week's draw; fans will be able to submit applications for specific matches once the group-stage matchups have been revealed to try and grab a limited number of lower-priced tickets at select matches. (An exact date for this lottery has not yet been revealed but you can sign-up to receive up-to-date information on the FIFA site .) When do 2026 World Cup tickets go on sale? Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are now on sale, though the match schedule doesn't specify team groupings (yet). Find tickets on FIFA's website Find tickets on StubHub How much are 2026 World Cup tickets? Currently, individual tickets for the 2026 World Cup run anywhere from $1,400 to $3,500 (if you're searching for tickets for matches in Mexico or Canada, don't be scared off by their higher price tags they're all in the same price range after adjusting for conversion rates). Tickets for the group stage, knockout rounds, and the bronze final are currently available. It's important to note that FIFA is employing a dynamic pricing strategy, so prices may fluctuate as we get closer to the tournament, depending on demand. For those lucky enough to enter and be selected in the ticketing lottery, prices are significantly less they're broken out into four categories based on seating, and range from $60 to $620, but these prices are not available to the general public. Hospitality packages, which guarantee entry to multiple matches are also on sale now and start at $5,300. (Note that depending on the venue and package you select, some of these packages can cost up to $68,000 per person, and while that price includes food, drinks and premium seating, it doesn't include travel expenses or accommodations.) Tickets are also available through FIFA's own resale marketplace and on third-party resale sites like StubHub already have single-game matches available, with some starting around $275 per seat and going up from there, depending on the game and venue. Find tickets on StubHub Find tickets on FIFA's Ticket Resale Marketplace 2026 World Cup Schedule ( All times Eastern) The 2026 World Cup will begin on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and the final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. You can take a look at the existing schedule here. Group Stage June 11 June 27, 2026 Knockout stage matches Round of 32: June 28 July 3, 2026 Round of 16: July 4 July 7, 2026 Quarterfinals: July 9 July 11, 2026 Semifinals: July 14 15, 2026 Bronze Final (3rd Place Match): July 18, 2026 Final: July 19, 2026 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-draw-live-today-120501930.html?src=rss

What to expect at CES 2026

CES doesn't start until January, but whispers of the products and announcements that could be in store for tech's biggest annual conference have already started to take shape. The CES 2026 show floor is officially open from January 6 through 9, although the show kicks off with events on Sunday January 4 and a host of press conferences on Monday. As always, product demos, announcements and networking happening at the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding hotels all over the city. As usual, Engadget will be covering the event in-person and remotely, bringing you news and hands-ons straight from the show floor. More specific details and pre-announcements should trickle out as CES approaches, but in the meantime, we do know what companies will be hosting press conferences and what tech trends could rear their heads at the show. What we already know about Press conferences and show floor booths are the bread and butter of CES. The Consumer Technology Association has already published a searchable directory of who will have a presence at the show, along with a schedule of every official panel and presentation. On Sunday, January 4, Samsung will kick-off CES with The First Look, a presentation hosted by TM Roh, the CEO of Samsung's DX Division, on the company's vision for the DX (Device eXperience) Division in 2026, along with new AI-driven customer experiences. That'll be followed by multiple press conferences throughout Monday, January 5. LG is hosting its Innovation in Tune with You presentation to share its vision for elevating daily life through Affectionate Intelligence at the start of the day, Intel is launching its new Core Ultra Series 3 processors in the afternoon, Sony Honda Mobility is holding a press conference on its first car and AMD CEO Lisa Su will cover AMD's upcoming chip announcements at a keynote address that closes out the day. Finally, on Tuesday, January 6, Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang will host Lenovo's Tech World Conference at Sphere, using the large and decidedly curved screen to share the company's commitment to delivering smarter AI for all by constantly redefining how technology can engage, inspire, and empower. Outside of the formal introduction of new products and initiatives, reading the tea leaves of what was announced last year and what companies are reportedly working on, we can make some educated guesses at what we could see at CES 2026. New chips from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm CES is frequently the start of a cascade of new chip announcements for a given year, and one of the first places new silicon appears in real consumer products. AMD will likely use its keynote to introduce new versions of its Ryzen chips, including the recently spotted Ryzen 7 9850X3D , which is expected to offer better single-threaded performance, and the Ryzen 9000G series, which could be built with AMD's Zen 5 architecture. The company might also use its CES stage to go over its new FSR Redstone AI upscaling tech. Intel has already publicly announced that it'll launch its Panther Lake chips at CES 2026. The officially titled Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips fit into Intel's overall AI PC push, but are specifically meant for premium laptops. Based on a preview from October 2025, Intel says the first chip made with its 2-nanometer 18A process will offer 50 percent more processing performance than previous generations and for the chip's Arc GPU, a 50 percent performance bump from last generation. Qualcomm is also rumored to be targeting laptops at the show, building on the work it's done moving its Snapdragon chips out of phones and tablets and into other types of computers. The company's Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Premium chips should start appearing in laptops at CES 2026, offering a look at the improved speed and AI performance the company promised in 2025. Brighter, truer screens Sony announced a collection of new Bravia TVs in April 2025, replacing the company's flagship, filling in its midrange options and adding a new budget model to the mix. The star of this updated Bravia lineup is the Bravia 9, which features a QD-OLED panel, but Sony appears to be prepping entirely new display tech for 2026. In March 2025, Sony introduced a new RGB LED panel that uses individual Mini LED backlights colored in red, green and blue to produce even brighter, more accurate colors. In contrast to a QD-OLED, which filters a layer of blue organic light emitting diodes through quantum dots that change color, Sony's General RGB LED Backlight Technology can get as bright as a Mini LED panel without needing an extra filter layer or worrying about OLED's problems with burn-in. The company has already trademarked the name True RGB, which could end up being what Sony calls this new flavor of display if it decides to show them off at CES. It seems entirely likely, because CES is nothing if not a TV show its a sure bet that well see new TVs from the likes of LG and Samsung in addition to Sony. If the company doesn't introduce new display tech for its TVs, it does have a new 240Hz PlayStation monitor coming in 2026 that it could show off at CES instead. Sony isn't the only company hyped on bright screens. Samsung is reportedly pushing an updated version of the HDR10 and HDR10+ standards that could be ready to demo at CES 2026. The new HDR10+ Advanced standard would be Samsung's answer to Dolby Vision 2 , which includes support for things bi-directional tone mapping and intelligent features that automatically adapt sports and gaming content. Samsung's take will reportedly offer improved brightness, genre-based tone mapping and intelligent motion smoothing options, among other improvements. Ballie Watch 2026 The ball-shaped yellow robot lovingly known as Ballie has been announced twice, first in 2020 and then again in 2024 with a projector in tow. Samsung said Ballie would go on sale in 2025 at CES last year and then shared in April 2025 that Ballie would ship this summer with Google's Gemini onboard. But it's nearly 2026, and Ballie is nowhere to be seen. It's possible Samsung could make a third attempt at announcing its robot at CES 2026, but whether or not it does, robotics will still be a big part of the show. Robot vacuums and mops were a major highlight of CES 2025, and it's safe to expect notable improvements from the new models that are announced at CES 2026. Not every company will adopt the retractable arm of the Roborock Saros Z70 , but robot vacuums with legs for rising over small ledges like the Dreame X50 seem like they could become the norm. Roborock could also show off its new Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow , the first of its robot vacuums to feature a retractable roller mop. Beyond just traversing spaces more efficiently, improving robots' navigation could also be a major concern at the show. Prominent members of the AI industry are turning their attention from large language models to world models , which aim to give AI a deep understanding of physical space. Those world models could be the key to making robots, bipedal or otherwise, competent at navigating homes and workplaces, and will likely be a significant talking point at CES 2026. Well be updating this article throughout the month as more rumors surface and new products are confirmed stay tuned for future updates! This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/what-to-expect-at-ces-2026-120000278.html?src=rss

The best laptops for gaming and schoolwork in 2025

Balancing schoolwork with gaming usually means finding a laptop that can do a little bit of everything. The best gaming laptops arent just built for high frame rates. They also need to handle long days of writing papers, running productivity apps and streaming lectures without slowing down. A good machine should feel reliable during class and powerful enough to jump into your favorite games once homework is out of the way. Theres a wide range of options depending on how much performance you need. Some students prefer a slim, lightweight model thats easy to carry to school, while others want a new gaming laptop with enough GPU power to handle AAA titles. If youre watching your budget, there are plenty of solid choices that qualify as a budget gaming laptop without cutting too many corners. Its also worth looking at features that help with everyday use. A bright display makes long study sessions easier on the eyes, and a comfortable keyboard is essential if you type a lot. USB-C ports, decent battery life and a responsive trackpad can make a big difference during the school day. Weve rounded up the best laptops that strike the right mix of performance, portability and value for both gaming and schoolwork. Table of contents Best laptops for gaming and school in 2025 Best laptop for gaming and schoolwork FAQs Best laptops for gaming and school in 2025 Best laptop for gaming and schoolwork FAQs Are gaming laptops good for school? As weve mentioned, gaming laptops are especially helpful if you're doing any demanding work. Their big promise is powerful graphics performance, which isn't just limited to PC gaming. Video editing and 3D rendering programs can also tap into their GPUs to handle laborious tasks. While you can find decent GPUs on some productivity machines, like Dell's XPS 15, you can sometimes find better deals on gaming laptops. My general advice for any new workhorse: Pay attention to the specs; get at least 16GB of RAM and the largest solid state drive you can find (ideally 1TB or more). Those components are both typically hard to upgrade down the line, so its worth investing what you can up front to get the most out of your PC gaming experience long term. Also, dont forget the basics like a webcam, which will likely be necessary for the schoolwork portion of your activities. The one big downside to choosing a gaming notebook is portability. For the most part, we'd recommend 15-inch models to get the best balance of size and price. Those typically weigh in around 4.5 pounds, which is significantly more than a three-pound ultraportable. Today's gaming notebooks are still far lighter than older models, though, so at least you won't be lugging around a 10-pound brick. If youre looking for something lighter, there are plenty of 14-inch options these days. And if you're not into LED lights and other gamer-centric bling, keep an eye out for more understated models that still feature essentials like a webcam (or make sure you know how to turn those lights off). Do gaming laptops last longer than standard laptops? Not necessarily it really depends on how you define last longer. In terms of raw performance, gaming laptops tend to pack more powerful components than standard laptops, which means they can stay relevant for longer when it comes to handling demanding software or modern games. That makes them a solid choice if you need a system that wont feel outdated in a couple of years, especially for students or creators who also game in their downtime. But theres a trade-off. All that power generates heat, and gaming laptops often run hotter and put more strain on internal components than typical ultraportables. If theyre not properly cooled or regularly maintained (think dust buildup and thermal paste), that wear and tear can shorten their lifespan. Theyre also usually bulkier and have shorter battery life, which can impact long-term usability depending on your daily needs. Gaming laptops can last longer performance-wise, but only if you take good care of them. If your needs are light browsing, writing papers and streaming a standard laptop may actually last longer simply because its under less stress day-to-day. What is the role of GPU in a computer for gaming and school? The GPU plays a big role in how your laptop handles visuals and its especially important if youre using your computer for both gaming and school. For gaming, the GPU is essential. Its responsible for rendering graphics, textures, lighting and all the visual effects that make your favorite titles look smooth and realistic. A more powerful GPU means better frame rates, higher resolutions and the ability to play modern games without lag or stuttering. For schoolwork, the GPU matters too but its importance depends on what you're doing. If your school tasks mostly involve writing papers, browsing the web or using productivity tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Office, you dont need a high-end GPU. But if youre working with graphic design, video editing, 3D modeling or anything else thats visually demanding, a good GPU can speed things up significantly and improve your workflow. Georgie Peru contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops-for-gaming-and-school-132207352.html?src=rss

iam8bit is suing Skybound Game Studios alleging fraud and theft of designs

Skybound Game Studios is being sued by indie outfit iam8bit over fraud and breach of contract, including the theft of original designs. Skybound Entertainment, the parent company of Skybound Game Studios, is chaired by Robert Kirkman, who may be best known for creating the original comic book of The Walking Dead . We've reached out to Skybound for comment on the lawsuit but have not received a response as of publication. iam8bit is a video game producer as well as a merchandise operation selling vinyl soundtracks and other geek gear. The company entered into a partnership with Skybound Game Studios in April 2021. Since then, iam8bit alleges that Skybound conducted a multi-year accounting scheme and failed to provide accurate financial reports for the partnership each month. Skybound failed to provide the monthly reports as agreed, the Los Angeles Superior Court complaint reads. It also padded its expenses with millions of dollars in fake line items. iam8bit claims Skybound has yet to explain the line items, even to a third-party auditor that it engaged. The company is alleging more than $4 million in damages related to the accounting issues. iam8bit also accused Skybound of cutting it out of a deal regarding indie video game Stray . According to the company's counsel, iam8bit designed and developed promotional materials for the launch of Stray on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The complaint claims that Skybound used trade secrets from iam8bit to secure its own deal for the Nintendo launch of the game. It alleges Skybound used confidential information about iam8bits royalty split with publishing Annapurna Interactive to cut out its business partner, while also using almost exact copies of its creative output for marketing. The full list of allegations in iam8bit's complaint include breach of contract, fraud, conversion, unjust enrichment and misappropriation. The company's legal team is seeking monetary damages, punitive damages and attorneys' fees in compensation. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/iam8bit-is-suing-skybound-game-studios-alleging-fraud-and-theft-of-designs-000822886.html?src=rss

Liquid Swords' debut title is a $25 'noir action game' coming next year

The debut game from Liquid Swords will arrive in early 2026, it was announced at today's PC Gaming Show. Samson: A Tyndalston Story is billed as a consequence-heavy noir action game by its developer, and focuses on the eponymous Samson McCray, a man who's got himself into serious debt in a city that doesnt seem particularly forgiving. The debut trailer doesnt give too much away in terms of story, but Im getting gritty Max Payne-y vibes. Combat looks crunchy and visceral, and it sounds like Liquid Swords is going for an oppressive atmosphere. Samson is built on a simple, brutal truth: every day costs you, writes the studio in a press release. Debt grows with interest, and time works against you. Each job burns a limited pool of Action Points and every decision shifts how the city treats youthere are no do-overs. You move forward because standing still makes everything worse. Liquid Swords has been teasing its first game for a while. The studio has some serious pedigree, being founded in 2020 by Christopher Sundberg, who created the Just Cause franchise when he was at Avalanche Studios. Developers who previously worked on Mad Max and the Battlefield series have also joined Sundberg at Liquid Swords, and the studio says it drew on its collective experience in combat systems, systemic design, animation and action-oriented storytelling to create Samson . Just Cause was an open-world series, but it sounds like Samson will be a more focused experience, possibly reflected by its $25 price tag. At the beginning of the year, the studio laid off an undisclosed number of employees, something it said was necessary to ensure its long-term sustainability amid challenging industry conditions. Samson: A Tyndalston Story launches in early 2026 on Steam and the Epic Games Store. We don't yet know if it's coming to console as well. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/liquid-swords-debut-title-is-a-25-noir-action-game-coming-next-year-215544328.html?src=rss

Cairn's new release date is January 29, 2026

We've been monitoring the upcoming rock climbing game Cairn for several months, as have the many folks who've already enjoyed the demo which has an impressive 99 percent rating on Steam. In September, developer The Game Bakers pushed back the game's planned 2025 debut to give some extra time for polish. Today, the team dropped a fresh trailer announcing the revised launch date for the project. Cairn will be available on January 29, 2026 for Steam and PlayStation 5 for $30. The Game Bakers have a solid track record of indie gems, often with a strong, unique sense of place and character. The survival-climbing experience seems like an excellent new topic for the team behind games including Haven and Furi . Cairn captures the intensity of winding your way up a mountain and paints a psychological portrait of the people who are drawn to tackling that mental and physical challenge. And if you find the basic gameplay isn't difficult enough, there will also be a free solo mode for channelling your inner daredevil without ropes. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/cairns-new-release-date-is-january-29-2026-211508330.html?src=rss

Russia reportedly bans Snapchat and FaceTime

Roskomnadzor, Russia's federal agency for monitoring and censoring mass media, has blocked access to Snapchat and FaceTime in the country, Bloomberg reports , citing Russian news service Interfax. The bans were reportedly put in place because the platforms were used to organize and carry out terrorist acts, and commit fraud. It's not clear if either service is still accessible by using a VPN, but banning Snapchat and FaceTime fits with Russias crackdown on communication and social platforms that started after the countrys invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Facebook and X were blocked in March of that year, and Instagram was added to the ban list not long after. In 2024, the encrypted messaging app Signal was also banned, and more recently in July 2025, Russia threatened to block access to WhatsApp . Engadget has contacted both Apple and Snap to comment on the Russian bans. We'll update this article if we hear back. Banning or restricting these platforms is a way to exert control over where and how conversation happens in Russia and prevent the spread of LGBT propaganda, if you believe Roskomnadzor's reasoning for banning Roblox but it might also be an attempt to drive people to use MAX, a state-run super app that offers services like communication, banking and document storage. The app is part of a long-standing push to rely on Russia's tech industry rather than foreign companies, and could potentially give the Russian government an easier method for surveilling its citizens, The New York Times reports . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/russia-reportedly-bans-snapchat-and-facetime-194906404.html?src=rss

Meta says it's fixing its broken support system, with the help of AI

If you've ever had something go wrong with your Facebook or Instagram account, then you probably have a good idea of just how frustrating the support process can be. The company's automated processes are so broken that some people have found that suing Meta in small claims court can be a more reliable way of getting help from the company. Now, Meta says it's trying to address some of these longstanding issues. In an update , the company acknowledged that its support hasnt always met expectations but that a series of AI-powered updates should make it easier for people to get help. The company is rolling out a new support hub on Facebook and Instagram that is meant to bring all of its support features into one place. The hub will also have a new AI chat feature so users can ask questions about account issues or Meta's policies. An in-app support hub might not be that helpful if you can't access your account, though. A Meta spokesperson pointed to its external account recovery tool, which is meant to help people get back into their accounts. Recovering hacked accounts has long been a pain point for Facebook and Instagram users. But Meta says that it's now improved the process with better email and text alerts. AI has also helped the company's systems detect devices and locations you've frequently used in the past. Our new account recovery experience adjusts to your particular situation with clearer guidance and simpler verification, Meta writes. Weve also expanded recovery methods to include taking an optional selfie video to further verify your identity. Meta is also starting to test a new AI support assistant on Facebook that can provide instant, personalized help for issues like account recovery or managing your profile. It's not clear how this will work, or if it will enable people to talk to an actual person who works for Meta. For now, the most reliable way to access live support is via a Meta Verified subscription, though many users report that the chat-based service isn't able to help with more complex issues. A Meta spokesperson said that the assistant is in the early stages of testing and is currently only available to some Facebook users globally. Those who are part of the test can find it via the app's new support hub. According to Meta, these improvements have already shown some success in helping people get back into hacked accounts. The company says that this year it has increased the relative success rate of hacked account recovery by more than 30% in the US and Canada. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-says-its-fixing-its-broken-support-system-with-the-help-of-ai-185348328.html?src=rss

The Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle is still on sale for $50 off right now

Cyber Monday may be long gone, but there are still some deals floating around on the internet today. One deal that wasn't available on Black Friday but made an appearance on Cyber Monday was a discount on the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle . It's back again today at both Amazon and Walmart you can get the bundle for $50 off, bringing the final price down to $449. For Amazon, you have to add the bundle to your cart to see the discounted price. For Walmart, you'll need to be signed in to a Walmart account (which is free to make) and add the bundle to your cart to see the sale price. The long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 came out in June and somehow beat our expectations. We gave it a 93 in our review thanks to features like its larger 7.9-inch LCD screen with HCR and very polished design. We were also impressed by its 256GB of base storage, magnetic Joy-Con and overall much improved performance. Nintendo introduced Mario Kart World alongside the new Switch and we're big fans. It brings wall riding and rail grinds to the Mario Kart franchise in a bright, colorful space. The game is extremely replayable and a great option for anyone looking to quickly pass the time during their travels this holiday season. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-nintendo-switch-2-mario-kart-world-bundle-is-still-on-sale-for-50-off-right-now-150612988.html?src=rss

Amazon Luna's December lineup includes Hollow Knight, Lego 2K Drive and a few Fallout games

Amazon Lunas December lineup of games has been announced, and there are plenty of early Christmas presents to sink your teeth into. For those unaware, Prime members automatically qualify for Luna standard, the entry-level tier of Amazons cloud gaming service, and each month the company also hands out a number of codes for PC games that permanently join in your library once redeemed. Among those claim-and-keep-forever games this month are the underrated open-world Lego racing game, Lego 2K Drive , the very pretty Metroidvania, B: Path of the Teal Lotus , and a couple of retro Fallout games, just in time for the new season of the Prime Video show. Heres the full list of games for December. Most come in the form of codes you can redeem on GOG, but a couple are tied to the Epic Games Store or Legacy Gaming. LEGO 2K Drive B: Path of the Teal Lotus Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game Fallout 2 Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One Gylt Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two Christmas Adventure: Candy Storm Gunslugs 2 Ashworld Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Three Dreamscaper On the cloud side of things, Luna members can stream the likes of Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition , with Fallout 3 and fan favorite New Vegas already available. Quite the month for wasteland wanderers, then. Mafia: Definitive Edition , Hollow Knight and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition also feature in the current library. Amazon relaunched its revamped Luna service at the end of October, when it also added a beginner-friendly collection of smartphone-controlled multiplayer games for Prime subscribers to play at no additional cost. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amazon-lunas-december-lineup-includes-hollow-knight-lego-2k-drive-and-a-few-fallout-games-180048528.html?src=rss

Pixel-art cyberpunk game Replaced arrives in March

Based on what we've seen, Replaced is a gaming art director's dream . The long-delayed indie title has lush pixel-art environments, set in a cyberpunk fever dream. And now we finally know when it's arriving. Mark your calendar for March 12, 2026. If you've been following Replaced 's journey, you'll know that's four years after its original release date . Shit happens! In this case, that included having to relocate from Belarus to Cyprus after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. It will be the first game from developer Sad Cat Studios. Thunderful Games is publishing. Gaming still from Replaced. Pit's Diner, set in a dystopian cyberpunk world (pixel art). Various shady characters mill about. Sad Cat Studios / Thunderful Games Replaced is set in a dystopian alternate 1980s America. In this timeline, nuclear winter has reshaped the world. Step into a world where neon lights flicker over rain-soaked streets, industrial decay meets futuristic technology, and every shadow holds a secret, the blurb reads . You play as R.E.A.C.H., an AI unwillingly trapped in a human body. As for gameplay, it's a 2.5D cinematic action platformer. Chain precise melee strikes with satisfying ranged attacks to take down enemies in high-intensity encounters while keeping the flow of exploration, the description reads. Expect plenty of running, climbing and kicking ass. You can see some of the dazzling art direction, fluid movement, and smooth combat in the new trailer below. You can wishlist Replaced now through Steam or Xbox . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pixel-art-cyberpunk-game-replaced-arrives-in-march-170253220.html?src=rss

Meta is reportedly going to slash spending on the metaverse

Meta is reportedly planning steep cuts to its metaverse division, according to Bloomberg . This is happening just a few years after the company changed its name from Facebook to reflect its renewed interest in that same metaverse. Bloomberg notes that the metaverse department could get hit with significant budget cuts in the near future, with layoffs potentially occurring early next year. The budget cuts could go as high as 30 percent and will likely impact the virtual worlds product Meta Horizon Worlds and the Quest virtual reality headset. The publication did note that this isn't a done deal just yet. Company insiders say this is all part of Meta's annual budget planning for 2026 and that the cuts were discussed at a series of meetings at CEO Mark Zuckerberg's compound in Hawaii. The metaverse team was reportedly asked for deeper-than-average cuts because the technology hasn't exactly taken the world by storm. As a matter of fact, the whole metaverse idea has been a dud with investors, who see it as a drain on resources. Consumers aren't exactly keen on the idea either, even if they still buy VR headsets and traditional games . It's one thing to throw on a headset to shoot bad guys for 20 minutes but it's a whole other thing to, well, wander around a fake Abercrombie & Fitch for hours looking to spend real money on fake clothing for an avatar. $META has spent $37.7B on reality labs over the last two years pic.twitter.com/ppW7uo2sGB Buddy Wiseman-Barker (@buddy_barker) December 4, 2025 The report does suggest that Zuckerberg still believes that people will one day spend the majority of their time in virtual worlds, but these cuts signal that he understands that this idea is still years or decades away from fruition. The metaverse sits within a company division called Reality Labs that has lost more than $70 billion since 2021 . Zuckerberg has also largely refrained from mentioning the metaverse in public and in earnings calls. So what will Meta be spending money on instead? It's reportedly focused on further developing large AI models and chatbots, in addition to hardware products linked to AI experiences like those Ray-Ban smart display glasses . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-is-reportedly-going-to-slash-spending-on-the-metaverse-164547153.html?src=rss

The best tech gifts and cool gadgets for 2025

It can be tough to find a good gift for tech obsessives. Since they keep up with the latest releases, they probably already have the new high-profile gadgets out there. Luckily, Engadget staffers keep their eyes peeled all year long for the truly unique stuff. We travel to CES, attend product launches, cover major and minor tech events we also cant help but buy ourselves any zany , clever , addictive or productive tech we happen to stumble across. In short, weve got some ideas about good gifts for tech nerds (which we are). Here are the best tech gifts and gadgets for 2025. Best tech gifts and gadgets Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/the-best-tech-gifts-and-cool-gadgets-for-2025-140052697.html?src=rss

PlayStation teams up with Bad Robot and the creator of Left 4 Dead for a co-op shooter

Sony Interactive Entertainment has signed a deal to produce and publish a game from Bad Robot, JJ Abrams production company. The two sides are keeping most of the details close to their chest for now, but the game is a four-player co-op shooter for PlayStation 5 and PC directed by someone who knows a thing or two about that genre: Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth. Bad Robot Games which is a fully remote studio was formed in 2018 with the help of Tencent. It has lent a hand on games including Weird West (as an investor and creative consultant ) as well as interactive streaming series Silent Hill: Ascension . This new game is the first one that Bad Robot Games is developing in-house. A few months back, Booth dropped into the Left 4 Dead subreddit to say that he was working on a new co-op game built on the foundations of what made L4D special. If you enjoyed the teamwork, tension and replayability of my past games, youll probably find this one interesting. It expands on the co-op formula in ways Ive wanted to explore for a long time. He added that, while the game was still in early development, Bad Robot was opening up a waitlist for access to playtests. According to a press release , Bad Robot Games is a dedicated game studio working on new and existing transmedia franchises. So, this project could well be part of an entirely new franchise, but the prospect of co-op shooter from the designer of Left 4 Dead thats set in the Cloverfield universe is pretty darn intriguing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-teams-up-with-bad-robot-and-the-creator-of-left-4-dead-for-a-co-op-shooter-144637802.html?src=rss

Amazon reportedly considering ending ties with the US Postal Service

Amazon is reportedly considering discontinuing use of the US Postal Service and building out its own shipping network to rival it, according to The Washington Post . The e-commerce behemoth spends more than $6 billion a year on the public mail carrier, representing just shy of 8 percent of the service's total revenues . That's up from just shy of $4 billion in 2019 , and Amazon continues to grow. Over the past decade, Amazon has invested heavily in shipping logistics, buying its own Boeing planes , debuting electric delivery vans and slowly building out a drone delivery network . Last year, Amazon handled over 6.3 billion parcels, a 7 percent increase over the previous year, according to the Pitney Bowes parcel shipping index . USPS, for its part, handled roughly 6.9 billion, just a 3 percent increase over 2023. That is to say that Amazon's shipping network can already handle over 90 percent of the volume of the US Postal Service (at least by sheer numbers). The USPS has been in dire financial condition for some time, losing billions of dollars a year. Negotiations between Amazon and the public carrier have reportedly stalled, which, together with the agency's need to keep raising its prices, may create more urgency for the company to eliminate its reliance on the service altogether. The Postal Service has struggled to modernize and adapt (its attempt to electrify the truck fleet was a bust ) in a market where the likes of Amazon and Walmart are investing billions in delivering packages around the country at lightning speed. The ever-accelerating digitization of communication and heavy investment in privately owned shipping operations threatens the very existence of one of the country's greatest public goods. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-reportedly-considering-ending-ties-with-the-us-postal-service-144555021.html?src=rss

Antigravity A1 drone review: FPV flying unlike anything else

The Antigravity A1 is what happens when Insta360s 360-degree cameras are given wings and flying feels like a video game. Spinning out as its own brand, Antigravitys debut drone is a big swing: a three-piece set with a drone that captures 8K 360-degree video, FPV goggles and a motion controller. Challenging the dominance of DJIs (many!) consumer drones is a big ask. Antigravitys approach is to play to its strengths in 360-degree video and smartphone-first editing. A lot of the appeal comes from how the A1 captures 8K video in all directions, meaning you can edit, cut and swap around your footage and hopefully rarely miss a moment youre trying to document. Its a lot of fun, too, if you can get through the early teething issues, updates and the learning curve. The drone Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The A1 drone is just 249 grams (0.548 lbs). This helps it bypass some drone regulations, though flying permissions vary by region. The pair of cameras mounted on the top and bottom of the drone's body is one of its unique features. Its difficult to directly compare the A1 against competitor drones, as it offers a mix of features found across different categories and some unique tools of its own. The A1 can capture 360-degree video at up to 8K resolution, and thanks to Insta360s action cam experience, it can magically remove the drone body from video. This means you can capture video and never see propellers or, well, any part of the drone itself. Along the base of the drone, two landing gears automatically lower when you attempt to land the A1, although you will have to manually retract them when youre looking to launch the drone. You can also lower the landing gear from one of the controllers many buttons. The removable battery has a handy one-touch gauge to monitor levels and provides over 20 minutes of flight time, depending on conditions and whether youre recording video. Antigravity suggests it should last up to 24 minutes during normal filming use. My review device came with two spare batteries and a charging dock. Its very easy to swap out the batteries, and the charging dock can fully charge a single cell in 45 minutes and even charge all three slots at once. Theres a microSD card slot on the rear of the drone, alongside a USB-C port for (slowly) charging the battery. Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The cameras have a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 lens aperture and an ISO range from 100 to 6,400. To adjust those settings beyond auto, youll have to dive into the menu inside the goggles, which can be laborious to navigate with a gesture-based controller. Fortunately, auto ISO and white balance are usually good enough. Pro-level content creators might want to tinker with levels here, and theres a histogram you can toggle on or even a zebra pattern to highlight overexposed shots and areas. and the A1 can record 8K video at up to 30fps or 4K at up to 100fps. You can also meet in the middle, with a 5.2k recording mode. There are also three different flying modes, which are easy to select on the controller. Alongside Normal mode, Sport mode increases the maximum flight speed and offers enhanced flight performance, improves control sensitivity and turns off obstacle avoidance. Sport mode offers a tangible difference when flying the A1: it doubles the horizontal flight speed compared to Normal mode. Theres also a Cinematic (C) mode, with a lower max speed for smoother video footage. The controller and goggles Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The flight mode switcher is one of many controls, wheels, buttons and sliders that pepper the surface of the A1s grip controller. Intriguingly, though, the main way to control the A1 drone is through gestures, not joysticks or buttons. Instead of pitching control sticks to the left and right, up and down, its more akin to a video game, where you point the controller where you want to go, shown with a reticle, and pull the trigger. The A1 then shoots off in that direction. The crucial part is that this doesnt have to be where youre looking from the drones POV. This means you can strafe and fly in any direction without your view being constrained by static cameras. Its a sensation unlike any other drone Ive flown. It feels more like playing a video game like piloting a helicopter in GTA 5. Youre able to look in any direction, both while in motion and while hovering stationary. There are controls for recording video, controlling vertical flight and rotating your POV without turning your head. Theres even a RTH (return to home) function that can be accessed by long-pressing the emergency brake button. The included goggles deliver a crisp view of everything, with a pair of 1.03-inch micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 2,560 2,560 and a 72Hz refresh rate. Other FPV drone goggles typically offer 100Hz refresh rates, but it wasnt a dealbreaker for me. I feared that latency hiccups could make airsickness an issue while flying the A1, but I didnt experience it. My take is that being able to fully control your view makes nausea less of an issue. Another nice touch, especially if youre flying with friends, is a circular outer display on the goggles, so everyone can see what the A1 sees. Naturally, it cant encompass the entire view of the drone pilot, but theres also nothing duller than watching someone else fly a drone. This offers a mild respite. The other eyepiece is a touchpad for steering through menus inside the goggles without having to point and click with the controller. Performance Image by Mat Smith for Engadget While the Antigravity A1 may offer a more immersive drone-flying experience, in pure numerical terms, it lags behind some competitors. For example, even in Sport mode, the A1 tops out at a maximum speed of just under 36 mph, falling behind the likes of DJIs Avata 2 (60 mph). I was still pleasantly surprised by how responsive the A1 felt, especially in Sport mode. An additional FPV mode (accessible from the goggles) adds more sensitive controls, although I havent been able to test it much since it was introduced in a recent firmware update. For someone with more gaming experience than drone piloting hours, Antigravitys central control system fits like a glove. I could fly where I wanted, confident in the controls and in the knowledge that I would capture what I wanted to. According to Antigravity, you can fly the A1 within a 10km transmission range, although I didnt manage to test that limit in central London. The experience of starting with the drone felt, at times, unnecessarily arduous. Pairing everything together has to be done in a specific order: power up drone, power up goggles, power up controller. And turning off each item isnt a typical long press of the power button. Instead, you use a press-once-press-it-again-and-hold method that I forget pretty much every time. Downloading video from the A1 to your phone is also laborious, but thats not a flaw specific to this drone. Antigravity has attempted some shortcuts, including a microSD card quick reader that connects to your phone or PC via USB-C. However, at the time of testing, manually connecting the microSD is less of an option and more of a necessity. The drone repeatedly failed to connect to the companion app and reliably transfer video files. Some video files recorded seemingly evaporated between firmware updates, only to reappear later. Another file had been converted to two separate circular views, one from each camera, which made it essentially unusable. Hopefully these intial teething problems have been solved by firmware updates and won't be in retail devices. Its a shame everything isnt more stable, especially when both flying the A1 and using Antigravitys editing software are bothis so beginner-friendly. It's something Ive mentioned before with the parent companys action cams, but the ability to create barrel rolls, tilt rotations with just one tap or click is, again, just fun. And because you can reframe and tinker with video warping, create tiny planet effects or simply crop to a more traditional, cinematic camera view, Antigravitys software offers almost infinite ways to present your drone footage. Deeptracking can be done both during recording and editing in post, keeping a moving subject or point of interest centered as the A1 zips around. There are also AI-powered video editing features to chop up your 20 minutes of flying footage into something digestible and engaging with minimal effort. Because its a 360-degree video, the footage can be easily cropped to suit both horizontal and vertical formats. However, with a smaller sensor and 8K resolution spread across a 360-degree view, the A1 is not the best video drone. The video is pleasingly crisp and clear, and while the footage is best recorded in bright daylight or other well-lit locations, murky British November days didnt affect it much. As the A1 has to stitch together its two sensors, theres often a visible seam to your video, but its usually a very subtle glitch. It might stop some video creators from tapping it for their most polished aerial shots though. Recording video later in the day resulted in more noise and less detail. This is when the A1s Cinematic mode (and generally slower flying) is a good idea, but it still wont make up for the fact that this drones sensors are covering such wide angles. More video-centric drones will deliver cleaner video and better performance in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Wrap up Image by Mat Smith for Engadget The Antigravity A1 is available now, with a standard bundle including the drone, controller and goggles for $1,599. The Infinity Bundle ($1,999) adds two extra batteries, quick reader dongle, sling bag and a charging dock. That does make it substantially more expensive than rival FPV drones like the DJI Avata 2, but the A1 is also a very different kind of drone. The intuitive controls and ability to look all around you make it unlike anything else currently available. Its a delightful introduction to drones, FPV or otherwise, but a shame that software issues marred my tests. Plus, pairing all the devices can be convoluted and frustrating at times. If Antigravity is thinking about what to do next, Id be intrigued to see a version with the camera bonafides to take on similarly priced DJI drones. But that shouldnt detract from the companys debut model since the A1 is arguably the most intriguing consumer drone since the Mavic Pro. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/antigravity-a1-drone-review-140026021.html?src=rss

Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC are back on sale for $99

If you missed the Black Friday sale on Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC, you're in luck they're back on sale at the same $99 price for a substantial $80 savings (45 percent). What's more, if you're one who frets about damaging your gear, you can grab them with AppleCare+ for $118 , saving 43 percent from the normal price. We think that the AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods overall, but the ANC-enabled AirPods 4 are also a solid choice, especially at this price. We gave them a score of 86 in our review . Apple's AirPods 4 come in two variants, with and without ANC. Though the base model is solid, the version on sale here with ANC offers a number of advantages like Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. They also have a charging case that supports MagSafe and Qi-compatible wireless charging, along with a built-in speaker that emits beeps when you activate Find My. And as Apple recently announced , AirPods 4 with ANC supports the company's Live Translation feature. Our main reservation with the AirPods 4 with ANC is that the Airpods Pro 2 are a better noise-cancellation option when they go on sale. At this price, though, the AirPods 4 with ANC are a real bargain if you're looking for new buds especially if you prefer the open-ears type. As mentioned, for extra peace of mind you can also get the Airpods 4 with ANC plus AppleCare+ protection for $118, or 43 percent off. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/apples-airpods-4-with-anc-are-back-on-sale-for-99-140903670.html?src=rss

UK fines porn company 1 million for weak age checks

The UK has fined a porn operator called AVS Group 1 million ($1.33 million) for failing to have strong enough age checks, regulator Ofcom announced . The company which was also hit with an additional 50,000 fine for its failure to respond to information request and now has 72 hours to introduce effective age checks or face a further penalty of 1,000 a day. In July, the UK government announced it would start checking compliance by websites that publish or display pornographic content to implement a system for highly effective age checks. Methods approved by Ofcom include credit card checks, photo ID matching and even estimating a user's age with a provided selfie. However, users have been circumventing the age checks via methods like using a VPN and providing a fake ChatGPT-generated photo ID. The fine is the third such penalty arising from the UK's Online Safety Act designed to protect children and adults from harmful content. In October, 4Chan was also hit with a 20,000 ($26,700) fine for failing to comply with the internet and telecommunications regulator's request for information under the same law. The UK isn't the only region to have implemented age checks. Around half of US states now require it, as do France, Italy, Australia and China. Australia took things a step further by banning social media use by children under 16, including sites popular with young people like Twitch and YouTube. Ofcom's safety director, Oliver Griffiths, said the crackdown on weak age verification for adult sites would continue. The tide on online safety is beginning to turn for the better. But we need to see much more from tech companies next year and well use our full powers if they fall short. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/uk-fines-porn-company-%C2%A31-million-for-weak-age-checks-130056578.html?src=rss

Proton Sheets joins the company's productivity suite

The latest addition to Proton's workplace suite is a spreadsheet tool called Proton Sheets. It will offer real-time collaboration, and users can control who has access to view and edit files. Proton Sheets can also be accessed on any device, including mobile ones. It supports importing CSV and XLS files, and the spreadsheets also support commonly used formulas for calculations. A big part of Proton's pitch is privacy, promising that users' information won't be used for training AI. The company also protects user data with end-to-end encryption by default; the press release pointedly notes that products like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel don't do the same. The Sheets app will be a part of Proton Drive, which already includes a Docs platform with several features similar to those offered by other productivity tools from big tech brands. Proton also offers a VPN and a Mail app . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/proton-sheets-joins-the-companys-productivity-suite-110000344.html?src=rss

Meta's Oversight Board wants to expand its powers in 2026

The Oversight Board is getting ready to tackle a new pain point for Facebook and Instagram users. Up to now, users have been able to appeal content moderation decisions related to specific posts to the board, but haven't been able to ask the group to intervene in other situations that affect their accounts. That could soon change. The board says that it will weigh in on individual account-level penalties in a pilot next year. The board noted the change in an impact report recapping its five-year history and what lies ahead in the year to come. In 2026, our scope expands once more as we pilot the ability to review Metas decisions removing and impacting accounts, something that has created ongoing frustration for platform users, the report says. It's not clear how this process will work, but if the board plans to take on account-level issues like suspensions, it would be a significant expansion of its purview. In an interview with Engadget, board member Paolo Carozza said that Meta is expected to refer a case to the board in January that will deal with an account-level issue. The handling of that case will allow the board to explore how it might take on similar cases in the future. We're really excited to take it on because we think it's an important area that really affects a lot of users and their interests, he told Engadget. We all know how many people are constantly coming forward complaining about account-level restrictions or blocking or whatever else, and so if we get it right and it's going to be important to work it out this first pilot we're really optimistic that it's going to help open up a whole new avenue for us to be helpful to the users of [Meta's] platforms. Carozza added that there are a number of technical aspects and other questions still being worked out between the board and Meta. So for now, it's too soon to say whether there will ever be an official appeals process for suspensions, like there currently is for post removals. But he says Meta is equally invested in the effort. It's something we've been talking about with Meta for well over a year, he said. They've been expressing an openness and a willingness to give us access to those kinds of questions. The Oversight Board's report hints at another way its influence could potentially expand. It notes that the group's work has made it well-positioned to partner with a range of global tech companies as they navigate issues arising from free speech debates globally. Both Meta and Oversight Board officials have previously floated the idea that other companies might want to take advantage of its expertise. Up to now, most other platforms have had little incentive to do so. But Carozza says the rise of generative AI has created some new interest from non-Meta affiliated platforms, and that there have been really preliminary conversations with other companies. It feels like quite a different moment now, largely because of generative AI, LLMs, chatbots [and] the way that a variety of retail-level users of these technologies are facing a whole new set of challenges and harms that's attracting a lot of scrutiny, he said. We have had conversations in recent months with other tech companies in this space about the possibility that the board might be able to contribute helpful services to them to help navigate some of these really thorny questions. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/metas-oversight-board-wants-to-expand-its-powers-in-2026-100000385.html?src=rss

The best streaming deals: Save on Disney+ and Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV+ and more

If youve been shocked by how much you spend on streaming services lately, youre not alone. Companies like Netflix, Disney, HBO Max and others have been consistently raising prices to the point where you may question if streaming is even worth it anymore . We at Engadget still think it is, but we also think you should be smart with your money and thats where streaming deals come in. Yes, it is possible to get discounts on services like Peacock and Paramount+, even if those deals arent as common as a sale on AirPods. If youre looking to save money and still stream all of the content you want, Engadget can help by laying out the best streaming deals you can get right now, how you can save with bundles and everything you should know before paying for yet another streaming service. Best streaming deals True streaming deals can be hard to come by. Most often, theyll pop up during the Black Friday shopping period. On occasion, well see them sparingly throughout the year and they usually take the form of a discounted monthly or annual rate for a limited period of time. Also, true streaming deals are typically on the ad-supported versions of a service, but once in a while youll find a unicorn of a deal on a tier that has ad-free viewing. If youre able to wait for a deal before subscribing to a streaming service, we recommend doing so. Youll save money upfront and in the long run, and you also have the option to cancel your subscription before the price goes back up to the normal rate. Audible three months for $3 : For literally $1 per month , you can get access to Audible's enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It's only three months, after which you'll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days. Starz (one year) for $12 ($58 off): Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $40 off a Stars annual subscription. There's a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don't want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads. Spotify Premium Individual four months for free ($48 off): This is our favorite music streaming service for podcasts and social features. The Premium Individual plan lets you listen ad-free and skip songs at will. You can also organize your listening queue and download content for offline listening. Just be aware, your subscription will auto-renew at the end of the trial period. So if you don't want to be on the hook for the $12 monthly fee, set a reminder to cancel and go back to the free version. Amazon Music Unlimited three months for free ($36 off): Amazon's own music streaming service is now free for three months, for new subscribers only. With it, you get access to 100 million songs with no ads, many podcasts and some audiobooks from Audible as well. Fubo Pro for $55/month for the first month ($30 off): Fubo has introductory discounts on most of its packages, and the Pro package is the least expensive plan currently listed. It offers access to 224 channels, unlimited cloud DVR and up to 10 simultaneous streams. It even includes regional sports content from the NHL, MLB and NBA. DirecTV starting at $50/month for one month (up to $40 off): All of DirecTV's signature packages are up to $45 off right now for your first month when you sign up. If you opt for the base Entertainment package, you'll spend $50 for the first month and get access to over 90 channels, including many local stations as well as ESPN, ESPN 2 and Fox Sports 1. You'll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app. Streaming bundle discounts Theres more consolidation happening now than ever before in the streaming space, and that means there are more streaming bundle options. These bundles offer you access to more content with one subscription price, but those prices are typically higher than paying for a single service by itself (obviously). It may be tempting to just get the bundle, but if only one of those services in the bundle speaks to you, youll spend less overall by just paying for the single service. Speaking of a deep love for a single streaming service: if all of your favorite shows are on Peacock or the latest releases on HBO Max consistently bring you joy, consider paying for one year upfront. Subscribing with an annual plan usually saves you money in the long term over paying on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, not all streaming services (looking at you, Netflix) have an annual subscription option. Disney+ If you feel like Charlie Kelly trying to figure out who Pepe Silvia is when you look at Disney's streaming prices chart , you're not alone. The confusion comes from the fact that Disney owns, or has a hand in, many streaming services including Hulu and ESPN. Throw in a partnership with HBO Max and you have a ton of options to consider and, probably, whiplash to match. Here's a quick overview of popular Disney+ bundle pricing. Disney+ and Hulu bundle (with ads) $13/month Disney+ and Hulu bundle (without ads) $20/month Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select (with ads) $20/month Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select (without ads on Disney+ and Hulu only) $30/month Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max (with ads) $20/month Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max (without ads) $33/month Peacock TV Peacock doesn't have any streaming bundles available all year round, but you can save if you pay for one year upfront. Peacock Select (with ads) $8/month or $80/year Peacock Premium (with ads) $11/month or $110/year Peacock Premium Plus (without ads) $17/month or $170/year Paramount+ Paramount+ used to bill its tier with Showtime as a sort of bundle, but it has since renamed its plans and focused the Showtime inclusion in its premium tier as just another bonus of paying for the higher priced plan. Paramount+ Essential (with ads) $8/month or $60/year Paramount Premium (without ads) $13/month or $120/year Student discounts on streaming services It pays to be a student sometimes, at least. A number of streaming services have student discounts you can take advantage of as long as you're actively studying. What that translates to most of the time is being able to verify your student status and signing up with your .edu email address. HBO Max student discount subscribe for $5/month (50 percent off): HBO Max offers their ad-supported tier to students for half off the usual rate. Youll just have to verify that youre a student through Unidays , and make note that this offer is only good for up to 12 months of service. Hulu student discount subscribe for $2/month (75 percent off): Those with a valid student ID can get Hulus ad-supported tier for 75 percent off the typical rate. Theyll keep the same sale price for as long as theyre a student as well. Spotify student discount Premium + Hulu with ads for $6/month (72 percent off): Spotifys student offer continues to be one of the best around, giving you access to the Premium tier of the music streamer and Hulus ad-supported plan for only $6 monthly. Purchased separately, youd pay $22 per month for both of the services. Plus, the first month is free when you sign up. NBA League Pass student discount one year for $120 (40 percent off) : Students can get one year of League Pass for only $10 per month, which includes access to NBA TV and the ability to watch classic and archive games on-demand. On the NBA League Pass website, look for the student discount banner at the top and follow the instructions to verify your student status. Read more streaming coverage The best live TV streaming services to cut cable The best streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and more The best streaming devices Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-streaming-service-deals-133028980.html?src=rss

Meta Ray-Ban Gen 2 AI glasses launch in India

The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) AI glasses will be available nationwide at Ray-Ban India and leading optical and eyewear retailers, starting at 39,900

US Department of Transportation doubles down on gas, cuts fuel efficiency standards

The Department of Transportation under President Donald Trump is moving to reverse more of the climate policies that had been enacted by President Joe Biden. Under a proposed rulemaking by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks in model year 2031 will be reduced to an average of 34.5 miles per gallon, down from the standard of 50.4 miles per gallon that was part of Biden's plans to encourage more adoption of electric vehicles among US drivers. The move was expected since Trump re-took office. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered the NHTSA to review fuel efficiency standards in January a day after he assumed the title. The current administration also ended a tax credit for buying electric vehicles over the summer. In the meantime, international manufacturers are racing ahead in their progress on building better EVs, offering other markets more exciting models that wont arrive in the US thanks to tariffs . While Trump's announcement today claimed that the change would reduce the average cost of a new car by $1,000 and offer a savings of $109 billion over five years, gas prices are on track to increase if the Environmental Protection Agency does successfully repeal the finding that climate change causes human harm. Plus there's the incalculable financial and human cost of a growing number of catastrophic weather events that have been predicted if the planet continues to get warmer. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/us-department-of-transportation-doubles-down-on-gas-cuts-fuel-efficiency-standards-234542939.html?src=rss

Apple design lead Alan Dye is heading to Meta

Alan Dye, Apple's Vice President of Human Interface Design, has been poached by Meta, Bloomberg reports . The designer played a pivotal role in the look and feel of Apple's products since Jony Ive left the company in 2019 , and now hell be taking his talents to Meta. Dye will reportedly work under Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth as the head of a new studio that will oversee the design of hardware, software and AI products. The studio will also include former Apple designer Billy Sorrentino, Metas interface design lead Joshua To, an industrial design team led by Pete Bristol, and metaverse design and art teams led by Jason Rubin, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Threads . The new studio will bring together design, fashion, and technology to define the next generation of our products and experiences, Zuckerberg shared in the post. Our idea is to treat intelligence as a new design material and imagine what becomes possible when it is abundant, capable and human-centered. Apple, meanwhile, is replacing Dye with Stephen Lemay, Bloomberg reports, a senior designer at the company who's worked on all of the companys interfaces since 1999. Considering the secrecy of Apple as a company, it's hard to credit individual breakthroughs to individual designers, but Dye worked on several of Apple's major new platforms and design changes, including things like the interface of visionOS and its new Liquid Glass design language. Meta has had success with its Quest virtual reality headsets and more recently, its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses , but the company clearly hopes to release many more consumer hardware products with Dye and its new design studios help. Those will likely include future versions of the Meta Ray-Ban Display and its Neural Band accessory. Dye isn't the first designer Apple has lost to a competitor. Evans Hankey, the companys former head of industrial design, left Apple in 2022 to work with Ive. Hankey is now one of several former Apple employees building OpenAI's upcoming hardware device . Dye joining Meta is particularly interesting in this case because Apple is rumored to be working on products that will bring the company in even closer competition to the social media giant. The Vision Pro could be considered to be a high-end competitor in VR, but Apple is reportedly working on its own pair of smart glasses , too. Update, December 3, 5:54PM ET: Added information from Mark Zuckerbergs Threads post on hiring Alan Dye and Metas new design studio. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-design-lead-alan-dye-is-heading-to-meta-214449944.html?src=rss

Artist Bungie plagiarized for Marathon alpha says the issue has been resolved

Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment appear to have settled the plagiarism scandal that rocked Marathon before the game was indefinitely delayed in June 2025. Fern Hook, an artist who goes by the name Antireal online, posted on X that her issues with Bungie using her work without credit in Marathon have been resolved to her satisfaction. Marathon 's distinct art style is one of its charms, but as Hook claimed on X and Bungie later confirmed , a portion of the assets and textures featured in the game's alpha were lifted from Hook's work. At the time, Bungie announced that it was conducting an investigation and hoped to discuss the issue with Hook. It's not clear what kind of agreement Bungie, Sony and Hook came to, but it appears to have solved any outstanding issues. The Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction. N (@4nt1r34l) December 2, 2025 Bungie delayed Marathon from its original September 2025 launch date in June, and more recently ran closed playtests of an updated version of the game in October. As of Sony's November earnings report, the company now says Marathon will launch by March 2026 . Marathon is a reimagining of an older Bungie franchise, but more importantly, it's also the developer's first new game since Destiny 2 was released in 2017. Considering Sony's increased scrutiny of Bungie's performance , settling this issue and hopefully setting up Marathon for a smoother launch is definitely a good thing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/artist-bungie-plagiarized-for-marathon-alpha-says-the-issue-has-been-resolved-223901094.html?src=rss

Your 'dear algo' Threads posts might actually do something soon

In a lot of social media use, the algorithm is an intangible entity, silent and all-powerful in controlling what we see in our feeds. And like supplicants to a deity, sometimes we may find ourselves calling into the void, hoping to receive aid from that mighty being. Seems that for Threads users, at least, those prayers have been heard. Many people on the Threads platform have taken to writing posts with the phrase dear algo, politely asking the network algorithm to show them more of what they want or less of what they don't. According to a post today from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Threads will try out a feature where that's exactly what happens. Connor Hayes, head of Threads, also posted about this limited test, adding that it will be an AI-powered feature. When people add Dear Algo to a post, it will tell your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days, he wrote . If your profile is public, people can see your request, connect with you about it, or repost it. There is something satisfying about having users' feedback taken seriously, even if it started as a bit of a joke. Threads has seen rapid growth since its debut in 2023. It had 400 million monthly active users as of August 2025 and in October it reached 150 million daily active users. Update, December 3, 2025, 5:15PM ET: Added more detail from Connor Hayes about the tests. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/your-dear-algo-threads-posts-might-actually-do-something-soon-215448062.html?src=rss

How to use Accessibility Reader on Apple devices

Earlier this year, Apple launched a new tool that makes it easier to read anything on your devices screen. Designed for people with visual disabilities, Accessibility Reader provides a full-screen view of any on-screen text. (Its a bit like Safaris Reader Mode, only for any app.) The feature also lets you listen to your text read aloud. Accessibility Reader is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro. Your device will need to be on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe or visionOS 26. Its a fairly straightforward experience. But since it offers several launch and customization options, heres a quick breakdown on getting started and tweaking it to your liking. How to turn on and open Accessibility Reader The Accessibility Reader settings toggle on macOS. Activating the feature is the same on any Apple device. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak , and turn on Accessibility Reader. (Its at the very top.) Once youve done that, there are several ways to launch the tool. Accessibility Shortcut (iOS / iPadOS / visionOS) Triple-click the lock button . Thats the side button on iPhone and the top button on iPad and Vision Pro. (On older iPads, triple-click the Home Button.) This brings up the Accessibility Shortcut, which includes a quick-launch item for Accessibility Reader. If you dont need the other items in this menu, you can remove them at Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut . Then, using the shortcut will immediately launch Accessibility Reader. Control Center (iOS / iPadOS) You can add a Control Center shortcut for the tool. Swipe down from the top-right to launch Control Center. Then, hold your finger on an empty part of the screen. Choose Add a control (bottom), and find the Accessibility Reader shortcut. You can now tap that Control Center icon whenever you want to launch it. Keyboard Shortcut (macOS) The default Accessibility Reader shortcut on Mac is Cmd-Esc . Or, customize it in Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Reader by clicking the i next to the menu item. Accessibility Shortcut (macOS) The tool is also available as part of the Macs Accessibility Shortcut. You can launch this menu using a keyboard shortcut ( Opt-Cmd-F5 ), by quickly pressing Touch ID three times or with a Control Center shortcut. (However, the above Cmd-Esc shortcut should be the simplest for most people.) How to listen to text in Accessibility Reader The tool also includes a text-to-speech (TTS) option. Once youve launched Accessibility Reader, listening is as simple as pressing the play button (). You can then use the pause () shortcut to take a break. Other options include skipping backward or forward using the rewind or fast-forward symbols. Theres also a speed adjustment, which you can change by choosing the 1x button. If you want the Reader to speak text automatically when it opens, you can do that, too. That option is found under Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Reader . (On Mac, select the i symbol next to the menu entry to find this option.) How to customize Accessibility Reader Its easy to adjust the font size, color, theme and more. Once youve launched Accessibility Reader, tap the customization (AA) button. There, you can change the theme, colors, font, line spacing and much more. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-use-accessibility-reader-on-apple-devices-212231319.html?src=rss

Netflix is getting rid of another of its game studios by selling it back to its founders

The developer of Cozy Grove and Alphabear is leaving Netflix. Spry Fox is being sold back to its original founders, Game File reports , and will continue to work on its upcoming cooperative village life sim Spirit Crossing as an independent company. Unlike other shuttered Netflix games studios Team Blue and Boss Fight Entertainment , Netflix will remain involved with the studio as Spirit Crossing 's publisher on mobile. As part of the arrangement, Spry Fox founders David Edery and Daniel Cook will be able to shop Spirit Crossing to other publishers for console and PC releases of the game. While reverting to being an independent studio is definitely a happier version of the typical studio closure story, it might not be without issues. Game File reports that layoffs at Spry Fox are still possible and the developer will need to find additional funding to continue long-term. Spirit Crossing may also need to be altered so that Spry Fox can continue to make money from the game after players purchase it. Netflix acquired Spry Fox in 2022, a little over a year after it acquired Oxenfree developer Night School . Spry Fox released its first game for Netflix subscribers, a sequel to Cozy Grove , in 2024. The studio formally announced Spirit Crossing in March of this year, as an ambitious attempt to fuse the cozy life simulation elements of something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons with the online social experiences of MMOs like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV . That pitch apparently no longer jives with Netflix's current game strategy, which changed when Epic Games' Alain Tascan took over from ex-EA executive Mike Verdu . Whereas Netflix Games under Verdu acquired studios, funded projects and licensed an eclectic collection of mobile games for Netflix subscribers, Tascan has refocused the company's games business around titles based on Netflix IP , social party games and known quantities , Game File writes. Spirit Crossing doesn't fit neatly into any of those categories, which might be one reason Netflix is parting ways with Spry Fox. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/netflix-is-getting-rid-of-another-of-its-game-studios-by-selling-it-back-to-its-founders-203645232.html?src=rss

Tencent agrees to stop promoting its Horizon ripoff during Sony lawsuit

Tencent has agreed to stop promoting and publicly testing Light of Motiram as a lawsuit with Sony works its way through the courts, according to a report by TheGamePost . This is Tencent's game that looks suspiciously similar to Sony's Horizon franchise, so much so that Sony sued the publisher. Sony wants the court to block the game from sale entirely, but as the case continues Tencent has agreed to keep Light of Motiram out of the spotlight. The company submitted a court filing that says there will be no new promotion of public testing of the game as Sony's injunction request is argued. In return, Sony will give Tencent more time to respond to the injunction. Tencent has also issued a request to dismiss the lawsuit entirely. Both companies have jointly requested that the injunction request and the motion to dismiss be moved to the same day, which could be as early as January. For the uninitiated, Light of Motiram is an open-world hunting game that has some obvious similarities to Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel. The basic setup is similar, as is the visual appearance of the characters and marketing materials. This all caused Sony to refer to it as a slavish clone in the lawsuit. Sony To be fair, there are differences. The Horizon games are third-person adventures in the mold of Zelda, but Light of Motiram looks to be primarily a cooperative survival game. Tencent is a giant multi-tentacled company that actually owns Riot Games , Supercell and Funcom. It also has investment stakes in Epic, Ubisoft, Activision and Blizzard and Larian Studios, among many others. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tencent-agrees-to-stop-promoting-its-horizon-ripoff-during-sony-lawsuit-193043644.html?src=rss

Crucial is a casualty of AI's hunger for RAM

Micron Technology is winding down its consumer-facing Crucial brand to focus on providing RAM and other components to the AI industry, The Wall Street Journal reports . The company plans to continue shipping Crucial RAM and storage through February 2026, and will honor warranty service and support for its existing Crucial products even after it stops selling directly to consumers. The AI-driven growth in the data center has led to a surge in demand for memory and storage. Micron has made the difficult decision to exit the Crucial consumer business in order to improve supply and support for our larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments, Sumit Sadana, Micron Technology's EVP and Chief Business Officer said in an announcement to investors . Micron Technology didn't share how many jobs could be impacted by shuttering Crucial, but did note that it hoped to soften the blow via redeployment opportunities into existing open positions within the company. The majority of generative AI products used today are supported by a growing network of data centers that train and host large language models. The rapid buildout of servers at these data centers has been a boon to PC parts makers like NVIDIA , who provide the GPUs used to power them, but also companies like Micron, who build the memory components these computers need to run. It's not surprising the company would want to focus on where growing demand is, but it does put considerable strain on the remaining companies who continue to service both businesses and hobbyist PC-builders. There were next to no true deals on memory or pre-built PCs for Black Friday due to how costly RAM has become now that AI companies are buying it in bulk. PC maker CyberPowerPC even went as far to say that global memory (RAM) prices have surged by 500 percent and SSD prices have risen by 100 percent, forcing it to raise prices on its products. Losing another source of RAM like Crucial likely won't make things any better. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/crucial-is-a-casualty-of-ais-hunger-for-ram-185910113.html?src=rss

The best VPN deals: Up to 88 percent off ProtonVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, NordVPN and more

With a good virtual private network (VPN) , you can stream TV shows and events from all over the world, protect your information from hackers and thwart those online trackers that watch you sleep and show you weird personalized ads. Although we strongly recommend using a VPN , you shouldn't jump on just any deal a bit of comparison shopping goes a long way in this market. The pricing you see on VPN websites is often not an accurate portrayal of what you'll actually pay. Even so, there are some great bargains on the table. Most VPNs now have their Black Friday deals live, and you can save anywhere from 67 to 88 percent on annual subscriptions to the best VPNs. Most of these discounts only apply if you sign up for a year or more, but committing is not a bad idea while you pay more at the start, if you divide the cost by the months of service, it's significantly cheaper over time. Most of the deals we highlight below follow that pattern, so make sure you're comfortable with a longer commitment before you take the plunge. If you've been thinking about subscribing to a VPN service, read on for the best VPN deals we could find right now. Best VPN deals ExpressVPN Basic $68.40 for a two-year subscription with four months free (81 percent off): This is one of the best VPNs, especially for new users, who will find its apps and website headache-free on all platforms. In tests for my ExpressVPN review , it dropped my download speeds by less than 7 percent and successfully changed my virtual location 14 out of 15 times. In short, it's an all-around excellent service that only suffers from being a little overpriced which is why I'm so excited whenever I find it offering a decent deal. This Cyber Monday deal, which gets you 28 months of ExpressVPN service, represents an 81 percent savings. Be aware, though, that it'll renew at the $99.95 per year price. ExpressVPN Advanced $88 for a two-year subscription with four months free (77 percent off): ExpressVPN recently split its pricing into multiple tiers , but they all still come with similar discounts for going long. In addition to top-tier VPN service, advanced users get two additional simultaneous connections (for a total of 12), the ExpressVPN Keys password manager, advanced ad and tracker blocking, ID protection features and a 50 percent discount on an AirCove router. It's rare to see ExpressVPN doing anything for Cyber Monday, so give this deal some serious thought. As above, note that it renews at $119.95 annually. NordVPN Basic $80.73 for a two-year subscription with three months free (74 percent off): NordVPN gets the most important parts of a VPN right. It's fast, it doesn't leak any of your data and it's great at changing your virtual location. I noted in my NordVPN review that it always connects quickly and includes a support page that makes it easy to get live help. NordVPN includes a lot of cool features, like servers that instantly connect you to Tor. This early Black Friday deal gives you 74 percent off the two-year plan, which also comes with three extra months. NordVPN Plus $105.03 for a two-year subscription with three months free (74 percent off): In another early Black Friday discount, NordVPN has also taken 74 percent off its Plus subscription. For only a little more, you get a powerful ad and tracker blocker that can also catch malware downloads, plus access to the NordPass password manager. A Plus plan also adds a data breach scanner that checks the dark web for your sensitive information. Surfshark Starter $53.73 for a two-year subscription with three months free (87 percent off): This is the asic level of Surfshark , but it includes the entire VPN; everything on Surfshark One is an extra perk. With this subscription, you'll get some of the most envelope-pushing features in the VPN world right now. Surfshark can rotate your IP constantly to help you evade detection it even lets you choose your own entry and exit nodes for a double-hop connection. That all comes with a near-invisible impact on download speeds. With this year-round deal, you can save 87 percent on 27 months of Surfshark. Surfshark One $61.83 for a two-year subscription with three months free (88 percent off): A VPN is great, but it's not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware) and Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach), plus Surfshark Search and Alternative ID from the tier below. This extra-low deal gives you 88 percent off all those features. If you bump up to Surfshark One+, you'll also get data removal through Incogni, but the price jumps enough that it's not quite worthwhile in my eyes. CyberGhost $56.94 for a two-year subscription with two months free (83 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you'll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost's other best feature is its streaming servers I've found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites. Currently, you can get 26 months of CyberGhost for 83 percent off the usual price. hide.me $69.95 for a two-year subscription with four months free (75 percent off): Hide.me is an excellent free VPN in fact, it's my favorite on the market, even with EventVPN and the free version of Proton VPN as competition. If you do want to upgrade to its paid plan, though, the two-year subscription offers great savings. Hide.me works well as a no-frills beginner VPN, with apps and a server network it should frankly be charging more for. Private Internet Access $79 for a three-year subscription with four months free (83 percent off): With this deal, you can get 40 months of Private Internet Access (PIA) for a little bit under $2 per month an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA has plenty of features, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you're connected. What makes a good VPN deal Practically every VPN heavily discounts its long-term subscriptions year-round, with even sharper discounts around occasions like Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The only noteworthy exception is Mullvad, the Costco hot dog of VPNs (that's a compliment, to be clear). When there's constantly a huge discount going on, it can be hard to tell when you're actually getting a good deal. The best way to squeeze out more savings is to look for seasonal deals, student discounts or exclusive sales like Proton VPN's coupon for Engadget readers . One trick VPNs often use is to add extra months onto an introductory deal, pushing the average monthly price even lower. When it comes time to renew, you usually can't get these extra months again. You often can't even renew for the same basic period of time for example, you may only be able to renew a two-year subscription for one year. If you're planning to hold onto a VPN indefinitely, check the fine print to see how much it will cost per month after the first renewal, and ensure that fits into your budget. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-vpn-deals-up-to-88-percent-off-protonvpn-surfshark-expressvpn-nordvpn-and-more-120056445.html?src=rss

Russia blocks Roblox, citing 'LGBT propaganda' as a reason

Russia has blocked the popular gaming platform Roblox , according to a report by Reuters . The country's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor accused the developers of distributing extremist materials and LGBT propaganda. The agency went on to say that Roblox is rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children. This is just the latest move the country has taken against what it calls the international LGBT movement. It recently pressured the language-learning app Duolingo into deleting references to what the country calls non-traditional sexual relations. Russian courts regularly issue fines to organizations that violate its LGBT propaganda law, which criminalizes the promotion of same-sex relationships. President Vladimir Putin has called the protection of gay and transgender rights a move towards open satanism. An update on our safety initiatives. https://t.co/fyJ9mHtWnY pic.twitter.com/uDGlu1EqiM Roblox (@Roblox) December 3, 2025 Roblox doesn't have a LGBT propaganda problem because there's no such thing, but the platform does have plenty of issues that Russia doesn't seem all that concerned about. It's a noted haven for child predators , which has caused other countries like Iraq and Turkey to ban the platform. To its credit, the company has begun cracking down on user-generated content and added new age-based restrictions. Roblox is still one of the more popular entertainment platforms in the world. It averaged over 151 million daily active users in the third quarter of this year alone. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/russia-blocks-roblox-citing-lgbt-propaganda-as-a-reason-180757267.html?src=rss

You can get three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free right now

Amazons Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales might be over, but the company is still running a deal on its premium music streaming service. Right now, you can get three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free if youre a new subscriber. As with most offers of this nature, your subscription will auto-renew for the full price of $12 per month (or $11 for Prime members) after your three months are up. But you can cancel whenever you like and wont be charged a penny if you do so before the trial ends. Amazon Music Unlimited offers lossless streaming and podcasts, and as youd expect, it works best with Amazons ever-swelling army of Alexa devices. Its a bit clunky compared to the likes of Apple Music and Spotify, and not as good for music discovery and curation, but the app has made strides over the years. It even has its own Spotify Wrapped-alike now. If you do take advantage of this deal, bear in mind that Amazon Music Unlimited is more expensive than Apple Music, YouTube Music and Tidal without a Prime subscription, after Amazon put its prices up earlier this year. A paid Spotify Premium Individual plan costs the same as Amazons service (sans Prime), and you can also try that for free right now, with the company offering four months without payment provided youve never been a Premium subscriber in the past. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/you-can-get-three-months-of-amazon-music-unlimited-for-free-right-now-175508803.html?src=rss

Epic bans indie game Horses from its storefront 24 hours before release

Indie studio Santa Ragione is facing more strife after claiming its latest game has been blocked on another major storefront. The developer previously said it was at risk of closure after Valve banned Horses from Steam, noting that it would be very difficult to recoup its investment without access to the worlds largest PC gaming storefront. The situation became more dire this week after Epic Games blocked Horses as well. Santa Ragione said Epic notified the studio of its decision just 24 hours before the game was released on Tuesday, despite approving Horses for sale on the Epic Games Store weeks earlier. Once again, no specific indication of problematic content in the game was given, only broad and demonstrably incorrect claims that it violated their content guidelines, the studio wrote in an FAQ . Our appeal was denied twelve hours later without further explanation. According to an email from Epic that Santa Ragione shared, the company banned Horses from its store due to violations of its inappropriate content and hateful or abusive content policies, the latter of which prohibits content that promotes abuse and animal abuse. It also determined that Horses had received an adults-only rating, and such games arent allowed on its store. Engadget has contacted Epic for comment. Horses is a horror game about a college student who works on a farm during the summer. The farms so-called horses are actually nude human adults who wear equine masks and live as horses. Santa Ragione said that, in its appeal to Epic, it pointed out that Horses is a strong critique of violence and abuse in general and that it doesnt promote any kind of abuse. It claimed that there are no explicit or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, as nudity is pixelated and although the three-hour game has four sexual sequences, these are brief and censored, with two mainly taking place off-camera. However, Santa Ragione said Epic stuck by its decision to block the game from its store. With Horses being banned from Steam and the Epic Games Store, that leaves GOG (where its currently at the top of the bestsellers chart) and Itch .io as the only storefronts on which the $5 game is available as Santa Ragione tries to recoup the $100,000 or so it spent on development. Horses was supposed to have been available via the Humble Store as well but, as Gamespot notes, the URL for the list ing now redirects to the stores homepage. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-bans-indie-game-horses-from-its-storefront-24-hours-before-release-173500417.html?src=rss

India will no longer require smartphone makers to preinstall its state-run 'cybersecurity' app

India will no longer require smartphone makers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi security app . After blowback from Apple, Samsung and opposition leaders, the Modi government issued a statement saying it has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers. The app is still available as a voluntary download. India's Ministry of Communications framed the U-turn as a result of strong voluntary adoption. The nation said 14 million users (around 1 percent of the nations population) have downloaded the app. The number of users has been increasing rapidly, and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process and make the app available to less aware citizens easily, the statement read. The country had previously given smartphone makers 90 days to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app on all new phones. They were also required to deliver it to existing devices via software updates. India claims its app exists solely for cybersecurity purposes. It includes tools allowing users to report and lock lost or stolen devices. But privacy advocates warned that it could be used as a government backdoor for mass surveillance. According to the BBC , the apps privacy policy allows it to make and manage calls and send messages. It can access call and message histories, files, photos and the camera. Reuters reports that industry experts cited Russia as the only known precedent for such a requirement. In August, Vladimir Putin's regime ordered the messenger app MAX to be preinstalled on all mobile devices in the country. Like with India's example, experts warned that it could be used for surveillance. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Apple would not comply with India's order , citing privacy and security concerns. Samsung reportedly followed. Opposition leaders in the Indian government also joined the fray. Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala called on the Modi government to clarify its legal authority for mandating a non-removable app. Despite India's framing, it seems likely that the two companies' stances, along with domestic political pressure, played no small role in the reversal. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/india-will-no-longer-require-smartphone-makers-to-preinstall-its-state-run-cybersecurity-app-171500923.html?src=rss

Zillow removes climate risk scores after agents complain about sales

Zillow has dropped its climate risk score program just one year after it started, according to a report by TechCrunch . It has removed climate risk scores from over one million listings after real estate agents complained that the data was misleading and leading to lost sales. In their place, listings now feature a small link to data sourced from climate risk startup First Street , which is the organization that provided the original assessment. The startup isn't too happy about this move, with spokesperson Matthew Eby telling TechCrunch that the risk doesn't go away; it just moves from a pre-purchase decision into a post-purchase liability. First Street's climate scores still appear on listings from Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com. The California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) is pleased with Zillow's decision, as this real estate database is used primarily by industry professionals. CRMLS CEO Art Carter told The New York Times that displaying the probability of a specific home flooding this year or within the next five years can have a significant impact on the perceived desirability of that property. Carter also questioned the validity of First Street's data, saying that areas that haven't flooded in 40 or 50 years were not likely to flood in the next five . First Street responded by saying our models are built on transparent, peer-reviewed science and are continuously validated against real-world outcomes. Zillow Zillow's climate risk score labels have been controversial since the company launched the program in 2024, particularly among real estate agents. One agent told The Boston Globe last year that they were putting thoughts in peoples minds about my listing that normally wouldnt be there. More than 80 percent of prospective buyers consider climate risks when shopping for a new home so, yeah, those thoughts are already in there. First Street maintains that its climate risk scores are extremely useful for consumers, noting that its maps correctly identified risk for over 90 percent of the homes that burned during the Los Angeles wildfires. The company says its internal maps have been significantly outperforming CalFire's official state hazard maps. Engadget has reached out to Zillow to ask about its reasoning here. We will update this post when we hear back. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/zillow-removes-climate-risk-scores-after-agents-complain-about-sales-164405763.html?src=rss

Sony is bringing MLB The Show to iOS and Android

Sony is bringing another of its long-running game franchises to iOS and Android in the shape of MLB The Show Mobile . This is a free-to-play standalone experience built from the ground up to deliver realistic baseball gameplay on mobile devices. San Diego Studio, the developer of every MLB The Show game since the series debuted in 2006, is behind this mobile game as well. MLB The Show Mobile, which was spotted by Gematsu , doesnt feature crossplay with console games. For now, its only available in the Philippines and it went live there on Wednesday. Sony says it doesnt have a timeline in place for expanding availability to more territories, but it certainly plans to do that. Its not uncommon for mobile games to have a soft launch in select regions before theyre made available elsewhere. Sony is doing the same thing with a Ratchet and Clank multiplayer game . Sony is optimizing MLB The Show Mobile for more recent mobile devices. On the iOS side, that means iPhone 16 or comparable devices. As for Android, youll get the best experience on Samsung Galaxy S25, Sony Xperia V or a comparable device, according to the games website . MLB The Show Mobile features solo and player-vs-player modes. There are more than 1,100 cards representing baseball players in the game. Youll be able to build out an all-star roster of MLB players past and present, and upgrade their cards. San Diego Studio appears to be tapping into the Ultimate Team modes of EA Sports games, as youll be able to buy and sell cards with other players in a marketplace. Sony also notes that in-game purchases can include random items. Each of these player cards has a momentum cost. These are stat points you can use strategically to better your chances of winning. The gameplay is skill-based. Youll need to get the timing right to throw a great pitch or hit the ball out of the park. Youll have real-time control of runners as well, so you can try to steal bases. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-is-bringing-mlb-the-show-to-ios-and-android-163300468.html?src=rss

Waymo's testing AVs in four more cities, including Philly

Waymo is adding four new US cities to the gradual rollout of its robotaxi service. As reported by TechCrunch , the company said it has already started trialling self-driving cars in Philadelphia, albeit with a human safety monitor, and that it will now commence similar manual tests in Baltimore, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. After the initial supervisory and data-collecting stage, the plan is to deploy fully autonomous vehicles, as Waymo recently did in Miami , ahead of launching in five new cities across Texas and Florida in 2026. Waymo's taxis currently accept passengers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, and it recently announced that San Diego, Las Vegas and Detroit would soon be joining them. Also key to the companys aggressive nationwide expansion is New York City, even if a fully functioning robotaxi service is likely still some way off. New York state law currently prohibits the operation of vehicles without a driver behind the wheel, but back in August, Waymo was temporarily granted the permit needed to be able to test autonomous vehicles in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. The testing phase ran until late September, marking the first time a permit for the testing deployment of AVs in the city had been signed off. Waymo has international ambitions too. Next year it will partner with Moove to launch a robotaxi service in London, which will be its first major expansion outside the US. Fully driverless cars are currently banned in the UK, but new legislation will begin a long regulatory process that starts with government-approved robotaxi pilots in the Spring. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/waymos-testing-avs-in-four-more-cities-including-philly-161709279.html?src=rss

Nikon ZR review: A highly capable cinema camera at a reasonable price

Video used to be an afterthought for Nikon, but since the company purchased RED last year, content creators are now high on its priority list. A perfect example of that is Nikons new $2,200 ZR : a full-frame mirrorless model that stands up against dedicated cinema cameras for a fraction of the price. Its the first consumer camera to capture video using REDs 12-bit RAW format, but unlike REDs Hollywood cameras , it has a fast and accurate autofocus system. It also comes with a huge display, pro video monitoring tools, in-body stabilization and 32-bit float internal audio recording. After shooting a short film that tested its capabilities, I can confirm that the Nikon ZR offers incredible video quality at this price. Body and handling While a bit lighter than Nikons Z6 III, the 1.19-pound (540-gram) ZR feels solid. It has a boxy design like Sonys FX2 but a much smaller grip because its designed to be rigged up for cinema shooting with cages and handles. However, unlike the FX2 which has multiple 1/4-inch mounting threads to do such rigging, the ZR unfortunately has only one of those on the bottom. The ZR also lacks an electronic viewfinder like the FX2, but it more than makes up for that with its huge 4-inch display the largest Ive ever seen on a mirrorless camera. At 1,000 nits, its bright enough to shoot on sunny days, extremely sharp (3.07 million dots) and flips out for vloggers. All of that makes it a perfect primary display for checking the image and controlling the camera. Nikon has nailed the ZRs handling, too. While its not covered with buttons and dials like some models, it does have two shooting dials to control exposure and a joystick for autofocus. Theres also a camera/video switch, two record buttons, a power switch and five customizable buttons. Many of Nikons lenses come with control rings as well, so extra manual control is available. The menu button is unusual: you press once for the quick menu and hold to see the full menu. Given the large number of settings, I would advise anyone buying this camera to learn all the important adjustments, then customize the controls to avoid wading through dense menus while shooting. Another unique feature is in the battery compartment. Theres a single fast CFexpress slot to handle RAW video, plus a microSD slot for proxies. The lack of a second CFexpress slot or fast SD card slot for backup isnt ideal for a professional camera, though. Finally, the ZR runs on the same NEL15c batteries as other Nikon mirrorless cameras. They allow 90 minutes of HD shooting on a charge, or 390 photos per CIPA standards. Thats mediocre, so if youre planning long shoots, stock up on batteries. Video Steve Dent for Engadget The Nikon ZR has the largest selection of RAW video settings Ive seen. The centerpiece is REDs RAW R3D NE light codec (designed by RED for Nikon) with REDs Log3G10 log format. It also supports Nikons N-RAW, ProRes/ProRes RAW and H.265 with resolution that ranges from 6K at up to 60 fps to 4K 120 fps and 1080p at 240 fps. Despite the smallish body, it can capture 6K RAW video continuously for 125 minutes without overheating. The 24MP sensor uses a dual ISO system with native 800 and 6,400 ISOs, providing a nice range for indoor and outdoor shooting. The company claims 15+ stops of dynamic range, which is more than just about any other mirrorless camera. Other key video features include five-axis in-body stabilization with seven stops of shake reduction, waveform and vectorscope monitoring and a false color display for manual focus. To test the cameras features and video quality, I shot a short film in a mix of indoor low light, outdoor daytime and a mix between the two. I also shot handheld (including running with it) to test the stabilization. I primarily captured in R3D RAW, as well as Nikons N-RAW at the native 800 and 6,400 ISOs to maximize dynamic range. (You can take 24MP photos with this camera, but Im focusing on video as its mainly designed for that.) In order to not see a flat log profile when shooting, youll need to apply a look-up table (LUT) designed for RED cameras, like Achromic, Bleach or Caustic. Those are only for in-camera previews and not baked into the video, but you can apply those LUTs later in Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve to get the same look. Steve Dent for Engadget With such a high native ISO, I was able to shoot inside with a single studio light. Video quality was outstanding with little noise in shadow regions, even after boosting black levels in post. Meanwhile, the RED R3D codec and Log3G10 gave me extra latitude to reveal shadow detail and dial down highlights when I shot the subject against a bright window. When you use the R3D codec, exposure is strictly manual with no ability to set auto shutter speed (shutter angle) or f-stop. So, for a scene with varying light, I used Nikons N-RAW to see if it would give me the correct exposure at the beginning and end of the scene. It did a good job, with no noticeable jumps during the shot. Video in sunlight at ISO 800 was also sharp with accurate colors after downscaling to 4K from 6K in DaVinci Resolve. ISO 800 is a relatively high native setting, though, and the ZR doesnt have a built-in ND filter to reduce exposure. That means youll need to buy ND filters for outside shooting or the high shutter speeds will result in choppy video. Cinema cameras from Blackmagic Design, Arri or RED are manual-focus only. But the ZR is a Nikon camera, and it has the best AF system Ive seen on any of the companys models, consistently nailing focus even with moving subjects. You can also automatically track vehicles, birds and other animals. At the same time, the ZR handles manual focus well. Thats thanks to a built-in display thats big enough to check focus accurately and Nikons focus peaking setting with three levels of sensitivity. Steve Dent for Engadget In-body stabilization on the ZR wasnt up to par with Panasonics S1 II, however. Video was smooth for handheld shooting if I panned the camera gently, but all my running and walking shots showed noticeable camera shake. That said, the ZR at least has in-body stabilization, unlike most cinema cameras, and most filmmakers will use a gimbal for running shots, regardless of which camera they use. (Note that the rattling you hear when the ZR is turned off is the sensor, which floats by design .) Finally, I was able to capture good audio quality via an external microphone without any clipping worries thanks to the Nikon ZRs 32-bit float internal audio capture. The company also touts directional capture using its built-in mics, but as with any such system, audio quality isnt high enough for production use. Wrap-up With the ZR, Nikon has shown that its finally catching up to and even surpassing its rivals for content creation. Whether youre doing social media, YouTube, documentaries or even film production, this camera is versatile and powerful with few compromises. Video quality and ease of use even beats models that are double or triple the price. The ZRs primary competition is in the low-end cinema cameras, particularly Sonys $2,998 FX2 and the $3,899 Canon R5C . While more expensive, both come with an electronic viewfinder that the ZR lacks, and the R5C can shoot up to 8K video. Another option is Blackmagic Designs Pyxis 6K camera, but it only offers basic autofocus capabilities and lacks in-body stabilization. Compared to those options, Nikons ZR delivers better dynamic range thanks to the inclusion of REDs R3D RAW codec. It also comes with an excellent autofocus system and decent in-body stabilization. If youre a creator looking to get the best video quality for the money without losing those niceties, Id highly recommend the ZR. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/nikon-zr-review-a-highly-capable-cinema-camera-at-a-reasonable-price-152634311.html?src=rss

Amazon rolls out a find-a-scene Alexa+ feature for Prime Video

Amazon is rolling out a new Alexa+ feature on Fire TV that can take you to a specific moment in a given movie on Prime Video based on a natural language voice command. The company says that, when you describe a certain scene, quote or character action, Alexa+ can start playing that part of the film. The company previewed this feature at its Devices and Services event in September. According to Amazon, you can say something like Jump to the card scene in Love Actually or Jump to the Ozdust ballroom scene in Wicked with Glinda, to quickly get to that moment. Alexa+ can apparently figure out which movie you're referring to if you don't say the title. So if you say, for instance, Jump to the scene when John McClane says come out to the coast, well get together, have a few laughs, Prime Video will start playing that bit in Die Hard where McClane is in an air duct. To make this work, Alexa+ uses visual understanding and captions to determine what's happening in each scene so it can take you to the one you're looking for. It's all processed through the X-Ray feature in Prime Video. As with Alexa+, it's built on Amazon Bedrock and it harnesses large language models such as Amazon Nova and Anthropic Claude. Alexa+ has indexed tens of thousands of scenes across thousands of movies on Prime Video so far, including many that you can purchase or rent. Amazon plans to expand this feature to more films and scenes, as well as TV shows, in the near future. While this is pretty interesting from a tech perspective and how Amazons able to make it work, Id be interested to know how many people actually end up using it. This isnt how most people who genuinely love cinema watch movies maybe just start at the beginning of a film and take it from there? Besides, if you really want to watch a specific scene, YouTube exists. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-rolls-out-a-find-a-scene-alexa-feature-for-prime-video-150557530.html?src=rss

Amazon halts AI anime dub 'beta' after widespread ridicule

Amazon appears to have quietly removed its truly terrible AI-generated English dubs for several anime shows currently streaming on Prime Video, following widespread (and entirely fair) ridicule from viewers and industry professionals. AI dubs were recently added to Banana Fish , No Game , No Life and Vinland Saga , where they were labeled AI beta in the Languages section of the app. As shows that previously only offered English subtitles, the option of a dub for those who prefer it could have been seen as a win for Amazon. But it quickly became clear that the dubs were unspeakably bad, completely devoid of any emotion or convincing intonation in dramatic moments. Particularly awful clips of the AI English dub for Banana Fish soon started circulating on social media, and the National Association of Voice Actors released a statement in which it branded the dubs AI slop. In his own statement , voice actor Daman Mills called the AI-generated dub for Banana Fish a massive insult to us as performers. In a post on X, which at the time of writing has been liked 14,000 times, he said: Voice Actors deserve the same level of respect as on camera performers. Anime already pays talent very little. Dub production costs shouldnt make a dent in these companies pocket books. Using AI for a dub of a show that released nearly 8 YEARS AGO AND HAD NO RUSHED SCHEDULE just spits in our faces, has infuriated the consumer, and completely destroys the art. Amazon's AI English Dub for Banana Fish is hilariously bad at times. #BANANAFISH pic.twitter.com/CtiE47W4yh Otaku Spirit (@OtakuSpirited) November 29, 2025 Decision-makers at Amazon apparently noted the backlash, as the English dub options no longer show up, as acknowledged by Mills and others yesterday. An AI-generated Spanish dub for Vinland Saga appears to have survived the silent cull, but otherwise its back to Japanese language-only and subtitles for the other shows. The company is clearly committed to introducing more AI to Prime Video along with its various other services despite this latest public shaming. It launched an AI-aided dubbing program for Prime Video earlier this year, piloting English and Latin American Spanish dubs in 12 licensed series and movies on Prime Video in March. Last month, it also introduced video recaps that summarize shows most pertinent plot points using generative AI. The feature is currently in beta for select English language Prime Original shows in the US. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/amazon-halts-ai-anime-dub-beta-after-widespread-ridicule-141501051.html?src=rss

Superhuman (formerly Grammarly) has some AI updates for its Superhuman Mail app

Superhuman, the AI-powered mail app, is heading in a more agentic direction with its latest update. Its write with AI feature, which you could previously activate when drafting an email, now works across your inbox, calendar, and the web. This means it can now pull in information from other emails or research a topic online. The AI will think for as long as it needs before responding to a prompt and will open its Ask AI tool if it needs clarification. Ask AI now lives in a left sidebar when youre on desktop, so its always accessible should you need to draft a note, ask a question or quickly schedule a meeting without digging around in your emails. You can also now check your Ask AI history on iOS and desktop for previous conversations. Write with AI is also now available on Android, which will soon gain the other new features too. Superhuman Superhuman was acquired by Grammarly earlier this year, with the latter recently rebranding so all of its AI apps now sit under the Superhuman umbrella. The mail service is seemingly primarily targeted at business rather than consumers, with its most advanced version of Write with AI and Ask AI being included in Business and Enterprise plans. The more basic standard version of Write with AI is rolled into the Starter plan for desktop and mobile. Superman is promising further agentic updates in the near future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/superhuman-formerly-grammarly-has-some-ai-updates-for-its-superhuman-mail-app-140017716.html?src=rss

Spotify Wrapped 2025 is here and now it's a competition?

It's that time of year again, when all of our favorite streaming platforms start dropping personalized lists of what we've been consuming. Spotify Wrapped is perhaps the biggest of the bunch and it's available for perusal right now. As always, users can access Wrapped to find their most listened-to genres, artists, songs, albums and podcasts from the past year. This information is shareable via social media if you want random bald eagle avatars to comment on your music taste, but there's a new interactive feature called Wrapped Party . Spotify This is a game of a sort. Spotify says it turns your listening data into a live competition. Wrapped Party hands out awards for stuff like listening to smaller artists and obsession with a particular artist, in addition to total minutes streamed. Finally, friends can settle the age-old debate of who listens to music more. Spotify Wrapped is also about the platform itself, so we have plenty of little tidbits from the global user base. Bad Bunny was named the most streamed artist in the world, just ahead of his Super Bowl performance that internet bozos have turned into a controversy for some reason . This is the fourth time he's come out on top in the past five years. He also had the most popular album of the year. Spotify The global top song is something of a surprise, as it's not Bad Bunny or even Taylor Swift. It's the Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars duet Die With a Smile. The top podcast is, as always, The Joe Rogan Experience . At least Spotify is getting what it paid for with Rogan. If you don't use Spotify for whatever reason , other major streaming platforms offer something similar to Wrapped. Apple Music has Replay and Amazon Music has Delivered . Even YouTube got in on the act this year, unveiling a recap for video watchers. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-wrapped-2025-is-here-and-now-its-a-competition-130052418.html?src=rss

How to watch the Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree lighting special tonight

It's time for the annual Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting! The Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree lighting special will air tonight, Dec. 3 from 8-10 PM ET though coverage of the tree lighting will start an hour prior, at 7 PM ET. The Voice and Happy's Place star Reba McEntire will host and perform at the Rockefeller Tree lighting, which will also feature performances from Halle Bailey, Michael Bubl, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, the Radio City Rockettes and more. Heres how to tune into the 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting. When is the 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting? The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be lit on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting time: Coverage of the 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting will start at 7 p.m. ET. The official Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree lighting special will air from 8-10 p.m ET. 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting channel: The Christmas in Rockefeller Center special will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. How to watch the 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting without cable: Who is hosting the 2025 Rockefeller Tree lighting? Reba McEntire will host NBC's annual holiday special, and perform throughout the evening. 2025 Rockefeller Tree Lighting performers: Alongside Reba McEntire, the tree lighting ceremony special will feature performances from Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bubl, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Gwen Stefani and the Radio City Rockettes, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Ways to watch the Rockefeller Tree lighting for free: This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-the-christmas-in-rockefeller-center-tree-lighting-special-tonight-111504725.html?src=rss

The best horror games to play in 2025

Are you tired of feeling safe and happy all the time? Is your daily life overrun by feelings of security, contentment and peace? Do you want an escape from all of the oppressive niceness around you? Well, look no further these are the games for you. Here, weve collected more than a dozen of the most evocative and disturbing horror games in recent memory. These selections cover a wide range of genres and styles, but each one comes with at least a tinge of unsettling terror. So take a peek, find your game, and prepare your skeleton for some fresh air because youre about to jump out of your skin. Best horror games Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games , the best PS5 games , the best Xbox games , the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-horror-games-120029388.html?src=rss

Xiaomi launches Redmi 15C 5G for budget buyers in India

The phone runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 2 with Circle to Search and Google Gemini integration

How to use Magnifier on a MacBook to zoom in on faraway text

One of the iPhones many accessibility features is something Apple calls Magnifier, which uses the smartphone's cameras to magnify and identify objects in the world around you. For Global Accessibility Awareness Day in May this year, Apple brought Magnifier to the Mac, opening up even more places the assistive tool can be used, like classroom or work environments where you might already have a MacBook pulled out. Magnifier requires macOS 26 Tahoe and can work with a built-in webcam, a connected third-party camera or an iPhone via Apple's Continuity feature . Provided your MacBook can run Apples latest software update, its a natural fit for zooming in on a whiteboard at the back of a large lecture hall or getting a closer look at documents on a desk in front of you. You can use the app to both capture an individual image you want to refer to later, or to analyze text in a live video feed. But where to begin? Heres how to set up and use Magnifier on your Mac. How to use Magnifier to identify and display text A MacBook using Magnifier and a connected iPhone to identify and format text from a book. Apple Magnifier's most powerful feature uses the MacBook's machine learning capabilities to identify, display and format text that your camera captures. This works with text your camera can see in the room around you, and things it captures via macOS' Desk View feature. For example, to view documents on your desk: Open Magnifier . Click on the Camera section in Magnifier's menu bar and then select your Desk View camera from the dropdown menu. Click on the Reader icon (a simple illustration of a document) near the top-right of your Magnifier window. Click on the sidebar menu icon to access settings to format text. Apple gives you options to change the color, font and background of text Magnifier identifies, among other customization options. If you'd prefer to capture faraway text, you can position a webcam or iPhone camera facing away from you and swap to it via the Camera section in Magnifier's menu bar. You can also listen to any text Magnifier has identified by clicking on the Play button in the top-right corner of Magnifier's reader mode. Clicking the Pause button will pause playback, clicking the Skip Forward or Skip Backward buttons skip through lines of text, and if you want to adjust playback speed, you can click on the 1x button and pick a speed from the dropdown menu. How to use Magnifier to zoom in on yourself Magnifier can identify text, but it also works as a way to get a zoomed in view of your own face. Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget By default, Magnifier uses your MacBook's built-in webcam, which means you'll see a view of yourself and whatever's behind you if you don't have another camera selected. This might not be usual for seeing faraway text, but it is handy if you're applying makeup, putting in contacts or doing anything else where you need a detailed view of your face. In my tests, using Magnifier worked the best with my MacBook's built-in webcam or an iPhone. When I tried using a third-party webcam from Logitech, my live camera feed was noticeably laggy. Your mileage may vary, but if you experience any issues with your own webcam, it's worth trying your built-in webcam to see if that helps. You can swap between cameras and zoom in to your camera feed inside the Magnifier app: Open Magnifier. In the top menu bar, select Camera and then click on the camera you'd like to use in the dropdown menu. Use the slider in the top center of the Magnifier window to zoom in on yourself. You can see a live feed of your zoomed in view in Magnifier's main window. If you click on the Camera button in the bottom-left corner of the app, you can also snap a photo to review later. Any photos you capture will appear in Magnifier's left sidebar menu. Clicking on them lets you view them, zoom in on them and adjust their visual appearance (Brightness, Contrast and other visual settings) via the Image section in Magnifier's menu bar. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/how-to-use-magnifier-on-a-macbook-to-zoom-in-on-faraway-text-080100677.html?src=rss

Vivo X300 Review | Industry-leading photography in a compact form factor

Vivo has pushed the boundaries of what mobile photography can be, and with the X300, the company takes an even more confident leap

Nothing to launch Phone 3a Lite Community Edition on December 9

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Apple to resist India order to preload state-run Sanchar Saathi app as political outcry builds

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Vivo focused upon evolving consumers needs with a premium push, says companys spokesperson

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Apple names Amar Subramanya new VP of AI, replacing John Giannandrea

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Samsung unveils first multi-folding phone as competition set to heat up

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India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

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Sennheiser HDB 630 Review | In a different league

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MacBook Pro M5 Review: A runner working on VO2 max, not sprint speed

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Apple to Open Fifth India Store at Noida on December 11

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Buying a laptop under 20,000 Heres what you need to know

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iQOO 15 Review | Stands out for what it does best

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Nothing launches Phone 3a Lite for mid segment buyers in India

Nothing Phone 3a Lite has features like Essential Key/Essential Space, Glyph light and a transparent design

Nothing starts rolling out NOS 4.0 based on Android 16 to Indian users

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iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Should you upgrade?

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Oppo Find X9 Pro Review | A flagship that finally feels whole

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Oppo unveils Dimensity 9500 running Find X9 and Find X9 Pro in global market

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iPhone 17 Review: The rise of the underdog

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Sony WH-1000XM6 Review | A superb all-rounder

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Nothing unveils AI-native OS Essential and Playground, its own version of App Store

Nothing said that Essential is going to be the foundation for a future personal operating system

Vivo and iQOO smartphones to shift to Origin OS 6

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Meta expands AI glasses line in a bet on the future

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Apples iPhone Air shines as AI remains in the shadows

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Nothing to open its first flagship store in India later this year

Nothings first flagship store would be on the lines of Apple Stores in India, which is also expanding its retail reach in most populated country of the world