iOS 26 has arrived: See if your iPhone is eligible for the free update

Did you know you can officially download iOS 26 on your iPhone? The update became available yesterday, along with iPadOS 26 and Apple's other operating system updates . But that's assuming you have an eligible device. If your phone is compatible with the latest OS, you'll notice substantial changes when you install the new update. You may have already heard about Liquid Glass , which (intentional or not) is sort of like Apple's take on the old Windows Vista design language. That's the most notable change, but we spent two weeks test-driving many of the other features included in the update you can check out our hands-on iOS 26 preview for more impressions. Not sure if you have an eligible smartphone or tablet but also don't want to upgrade? No worries, we'll help you find out if your devices will be able to run iOS 26. While Apple didn't nix any iPhones from its eligibility list last year, that's not the case for 2025, as a few models are getting the axe this time around. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to receive the boot in 2023, and this year, iPhones released in 2018 will be left behind. You can find a full list of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 below. To see everything you get with the latest OS updates, you can check out our big rundown of what to expect from iOS 26 . Additionally, here's everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 17 launch event, including the all-new iPhone Air . (Check out Engadget's liveblog of the event for full details.) These three iOS 18 iPhones aren't compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, a trio of iPhones won't be eligible to download the newest iOS. These three models that were first released in 2018 won't be coming to the iOS 26 party: iPhone XR iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhones compatible with iOS 26 Per Apple's site , the devices listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. In short, if you have an iPhone that was announced in 2019 or later, you're in the clear: iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone Air iPads compatible with iPadOS 26 Meanwhile, the iPads listed below are eligible to download iPadOS 26 : iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and later, including M2 and M3) iPad (8th generation and later, including A16) iPad mini (5th generation and later, including A17 Pro) What if I don't want to buy a new iPhone? If you want to continue using your older iPhone that isn't supported by iOS 26, that's fine. However, you'll eventually miss out on security updates which could potentially put your phone at risk for malware and other threats. Additionally, some apps may stop working if they require a certain version of iOS or later. And, of course, you won't be able to access the latest features iOS 26 offers. Should I upgrade to iOS 18.7 or iOS 26? When you first open Software Update in Settings, you'll notice two different upgrade options: iOS 18.7 and iOS 26. Apple released the former to address security issues, so you can at least download that one if you're unsure about all the big changes on iOS 26. It also gives you more time to wait for Apple to take care of any bugs on the new OS. However, if you're excited to finally have the Liquid Glass aesthetic on your phone and use all the new features iOS 26 has to offer, go ahead and install that one. After all, Apple had all summer to weed through the most problematic bugs during its beta phase and usually releases a new update shortly after the initial launch. iOS 26 features to try out first Liquid Glass design : Your home screen is getting revamped with new app icons, including dark mode and all-clear options. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design. Liquid Glass, in Apple's terms, was designed to make all of the company's operating systems more visually cohesive. Phone app redesign: You can finally scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music. Live Translate: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translate will translate your conversation in real time. Polls feature: Coming to group messages in the Messages app, chat members can now create polls. This can help prevent the unwanted 30+ messages when it comes to deciding which restaurant you're meeting at this weekend. New lock screen options : More customizable iPhone lock screen options are available with iOS 26, including a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms (if you want). You now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Fresh Camera app design : You'll find the Camera app is simpler to navigate in iOS 26, with all the buttons and menus located in convenient spots. That means less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens is too dirty. Screenshot revamps : When you take a screenshot, you now have the option to search for the image on Google (maybe you're looking for a sweater you saw on a celeb) and you can ask ChatGPT questions about the photo all from the edit screen. It's like a reverse image search but without all the hard work. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-has-arrived-see-if-your-iphone-is-eligible-for-the-free-update-191854431.html?src=rss

Fiverr is laying off 250 employees to become an 'AI-first company'

Gig economy platform Fiverr is laying off 250 employees as it pivots to being an AI-first company, CEO Micha Kaufman shared in an essay on X . The move affects around 30 percent of the company's staff, The Register writes , and it's not uncommon among tech companies in 2025. Duolingo announced similar plans to become AI-first in April. Kaufman describes this process as returning to startup mode and writes that his ultimate goal is to turn Fiverr into an AI-first company that's leaner, faster, with a modern AI-focused tech infrastructure, a smaller team, each with substantially greater productivity, and far fewer management layers. Part of the justification Kaufman offers for why Fiverr doesn't need as many people to operate the existing business is that the company has already integrated AI into its customer support and fraud detection programs. The first sign that Fiverr might justify layoffs with AI came when Kaufman was interviewed by CBS News in May 2025 about the danger the technology posed to employees. Kaufman specifically advised employees to automate 100 percent of what they do with AI, while also claiming that wouldn't make them replaceable because they were still capable of non-linear thinking and judgement calls. That advice doesn't seem like it was ultimately helpful for Fiverr's own employees. The company's cuts affect fewer people than a larger firm like Workday, who announced plans to eliminate 1,750 roles in February 2025. Regardless of the size of the company or its level of investment in AI, though, layoffs have the same effect: More work has to be done by fewer people. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/fiverr-is-laying-off-250-employees-to-become-an-ai-first-company-215730063.html?src=rss

iOS 26 is finally here: Everything to know about the free iPhone software update

It's finally here: You can now download iOS 26 on your iPhone Apple's other new operating systems are also available. The first noticeable thing after installing the new OS? A new clear design language that Apple dubs Liquid Glass . The translucent look can be found within apps as well as your lock and home screens. (If you don't like it, there's a way to reduce the transparency .) The overhaul is one of several big changes that come with iOS, macOS , iPadOS , watchOS and the rest of Apple's software suite. You'll also see multiple useful additions in the Phone and Messages apps. For instance, the ability to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an option to hold your spot on a phone call when you've been waiting for a representative to pick up. And for fun, you can now create polls in group texts. Other new improvements coming include a confirmed AirPods live translation feature , and a new bouncy animation on the passcode screen and in the Control Center. If you don't have a compatible phone but plan to upgrade, Apple unveiled several new models at its iPhone 17 event that includes the new iPhone 17 lineup and the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air . If you missed the keynote, you can catch up on everything Apple announced here or rewatch the full iPhone 17 launch . The company rounded out its announcements with three new Apple Watch models, as well as the brand-new AirPods Pro 3 . Most newer iPhone models are eligible to download iOS 26 . We've rounded up a full list of new features you'll have to check out. What is iOS 26 and should I download iOS 18.7 first? Instead of releasing iOS 19, Apple skipped its naming convention ahead to iOS 26. The company has decided to line up its iOS version numbers with a year-based system, similar to car model years. So while iOS and its sibling operating systems were released in 2025, they're all designated 26 to reflect the year ahead. Apple also released iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to address security issues great news if you don't have a phone that's eligible to run the latest OS. If you're wondering which one to download first, it's really up to you. Do you want to wait for Apple to quash any bugs in iOS 26 or do you want access to all the new features everyone's talking about now? It's official, we're moving to iOS 26. (Apple) What is Liquid Glass design? Let's be honest. Out of everything announced at WWDC this year, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the show. The iPhone's home and lock screens have looked pretty much the same year after year the last exciting thing (in my opinion) was the option to add your own aesthetic to your home screen by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the home and lock screens' new facelift is refreshing. So what exactly is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a new translucent material since, well, the apps and widgets are clear. However, the screen can still adapt to dark and light modes, depending on surroundings. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design in several apps, like Phone and Maps. They're designed to be less distracting than the current buttons, but are still easy to see. While the design overhaul has proven to be controversial since its announcement, some including Engadget's Devindra Hardawar like the new direction, even if it's somewhat reminiscent of Microsoft's translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from nearly twenty years ago. That said, while it was in beta mode, Apple incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing back the transparency in at least some places. And while it will continue to evolve, Apple users won't be able to escape it: The company says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms more cohesive. Here's a look at how the translucent aesthetic looks with the new macOS Tahoe 26 on your desktop. How to turn iOS 26 Liquid Glass settings off If you find you don't like the new clear look after downloading iOS 26, you can change a couple Accessibility settings, though you can't completely turn off Liquid Glass. For starters, you can reduce the liquid look by going to Settings > Accessibility > Motion > toggle on Reduce Motion. You can make your drop-down menus more opaque instead of translucent by going to Settings >Accessibility > Display & Text Size > toggle on Reduce Transparency. You can also change your clear apps back to the way they were. Just press and hold any app on your screen and select Edit Home Screen. From here, tap Edit (top left) and Customize. You can swap out to Default, Dark or Tinted. What are the new and notable features of iOS 26? iOS 26 has a laundry list of new features. Among the most worthwhile: Phone app redesign: You can now scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music and continue on with other tasks. Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call, FaceTime or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translation uses Apple Intelligence and it will translate your conversation in real time, which results in some stop-and-go interactions in the examples Apple shared during its presentation. Polls in group chats: Tired of sorting through what seems like hundreds of messages in your group chat? You and your friends can now create polls in group messages to decide things like which brunch spot you're eating at or whose car you're taking on a road trip. Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you haven't received spam texts about unpaid tolls or other citations, you're lucky. For those of us who have, those annoying messages will soon be filtered away in a separate folder. Visual Intelligence: Similar to a reverse Google image search, this new feature will allow you to search for anything that's on your iPhone screen. For instance, if you spot a pair of shoes someone is wearing in an Instagram photo, you can screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to find those shoes (or similar ones) online. Photos tabs are back: For anyone who's been frustrated with last year's changes to the Photos app , you'll be happy to know that your tabs are back. Library and Collections have their own separate spaces so you don't have to scroll to infinity to find what you're looking for. Camera app updates : Navigating the Camera app should be simpler in iOS 26, as all the buttons and menus are in convenient spots less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens needs to be cleaned. FaceTime Communication Safety feature: A newer addition to iOS 26 appears to be the FaceTime Communication Safety feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The feature appears to be a child safety feature that uses on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privacy issues. New lock screen options : The iPhone lock screen is more customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. New alarm setting : You'll no longer be stuck with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. Instead, you now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Screenshots look different : You'll notice several new features when you take a screenshot, including highlight to search, the option to search your image on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you have about the image. Preview on iOS 26: There's a new app called Preview that lets you scan documents, fill out PDF forms, as well as highlight, underline or strike through text in a PDF file. You can also remove backgrounds from images in this app. Apple's Hold Assist will be nifty for those pesky services that put you on hold for 10 or more minutes. (Apple) New changes with iPadOS 26 Your iPad isn't getting left behind when it comes to big updates. Here's what to look for. Multitasking and real windowing: When you download the newest update, you'll be able to have multiple apps running on your screen at the same time. Once you open an app, it'll appear on your screen as normal but you'll be able to resize and move it across your screen to make room for other apps. This feature is optional so you can turn it off if you don't like it. Visual update: Along with the other new OSes, iPadOS 26 also has the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look appears on the lock and home screens, as well as the drop-down menus. New menu bar: When you swipe down on your screen, the new menu bar will appear with options like File, Edit, Windows and more. There's also a search option if you're looking for something specific. There's more beyond that, so be sure to check out our first impressions of iPadOS 26 . What about AirPods? AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Here are some of the more notable functions. Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this studio-quality audio recording, and with it, you'll notice more clarity while in noisy environments. Camera remote control: Using this, you can take a photo or start and stop video recording with just one press on your AirPods. When taking photos, you'll get a three-second countdown before your iPhone or iPad snaps the picture. Live translation feature: Live translation is available on AirPods Pro 3 , AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones running iOS 26. Apple says that when someone speaks to you in a different language, you can use your AirPods to translate what theyre saying. Heart rate monitoring: Apple introduced new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds this month, which include heart rate monitoring. It will work with Apple's Health app and other fitness apps that track heart rates. Did Siri get an update? Siri is in a holding pattern. Apple has previously specified that its smarter voice assistant first promised at WWDC 2024 is delayed until some point in the coming year , so you shouldn't expect any major changes right now. But there are reports that Apple is aiming to give Siri a bigger brain transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, which could make 2026 a pivotal year. The company is also reportedly working on a stripped-down AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT. Which iPhones will be able to upgrade to iOS 26? A few iPhone models that run the current version of iOS iPhone XR, XS and XS Max aren't compatible with the latest upgrade. But any iPhones from 2019 or later will be eligible for iOS 26 : iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone Air iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max When to download iOS 26? iOS 26 has officially been released to the public for free today, September 15. If you're more interested in the new Apple Intelligence features, here's everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more during WWDC. Also, check out how iOS 26 screenshots could be an intriguing preview of Apple's delayed Siri rework . Update, September 16: Added details about modifying Liquid Glass settings, and new info about the Preview app. Update, September 15: Noted iOS 26 is officially available for download. Update, September 12: Noted iOS 26 is coming to eligible iPhones in just a few days, timing TBD. Update, September 11: Added the products Apple released at its Tuesday event and noted when iOS 26 will be available to download. Update, September 9: Noted the iPhone event is starting soon. Update, September 8: Noted the iPhone 17 event is tomorrow. Update, September 4: Added details about how screenshots are different in iOS 26. Update, September 3: Noted Apple is expected to release iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26. Update, September 2: Added more new features coming with iOS 26. Update, August 29: Added new section about Siri and a link to what's new with the iOS 26 Camera app. Update, August 27: Added the official iPhone 17 event date, as well as the potential iOS 26 release. Update, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Pro having heart rate monitoring. Update, August 22: Noted that Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 18.6. Update, August 20: Noted that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 are now available to download. Update, August 18: Added details about a potential iOS 18.6 update. Update, August 15: Added to link to what to expect at the Apple iPhone event and details about what's available in the iOS 26 screenshots editor. Update, August 13: Added new AirPods detail spotted in the iOS 26 beta. Update, August 11: Noted that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6. Update, August 8: Added new features coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods. Update, August 6: Noted the release of iOS 26 beta 5 and the new bouncy feature on passcode screen and Control Center. Update, August 4: Noted that Apple is reportedly working on a ChatGPT rival. Update, August 1: Added quote from Tim Cook about iOS 26. Update, July 31: Noted that iOS 18.6 is now available. Update, July 24: Noted the iOS 26 public beta is now available. Update, July 3: Noted new FaceTime feature found in the developer beta. Update, June 30: Noted ongoing iOS 18 releases, and reports that Apple is considering additional external LLMs for Siri. Update, June 25: Noted changes added in iOS 26 beta 2. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-is-finally-here-everything-to-know-about-the-free-iphone-software-update-135749206.html?src=rss

What to expect from Amazon's event on September 30

Amazon will host a press event at the end of the month with some new hardware developments. It's scheduled for September 30 at 10AM ET in New York City. Here's what we think will be discussed at the fall event. In February, Amazon introduced some improvements to its voice assistant, promising that Alexa+ would be more conversational and more helpful thanks to generative AI. It seems likely that the fall event will put hardware for interacting with Alexa+ front and center, so expect to hear about new models or new software updates for the Echo line of smart speakers. It's been a couple years since the Echo Show got an update, and it's been even longer for the standard Echo. Those two products are the most likely to star in the upcoming announcements. Amazon The invite also includes a photo of a Kindle that depicts a color illustration, so there may be more in store for the ereaders. The Kindle Scribe 2 just came out earlier this year, as did the Kindle Colorsoft , so maybe there's a new option in the works that combines the best features of both. As with the Echo, there also hasn't been much new for the basic model Kindle, so that may also be getting some updates. There's also what appears to be the corner of a television in the invitation, so news about the Fire TV also seems promising. This event is also where Amazon-owned Ring and Eero brands may unveil new products. Any announced items may not be available right away, but the timing does set the stage for some substantial discounts on older generations of Amazon gear when the next Prime Day rolls around on October 7 and 8. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/what-to-expect-from-amazons-event-on-september-30-210035671.html?src=rss

NHTSA is investigating Tesla over its electronic door handles

Who says journalism is dead? Less than a week after Bloomberg published a damning report about Tesla's dangerous doors, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now looking into it. On Tuesday, the regulator said it opened an investigation into the automaker's electrically powered doors. The problem: They stop working if the vehicle's low-voltage battery fails. The NHTSA's probe will cover the 2021 Model Y , which covers an estimated 174,290 vehicles. But the agency suggested in a document that it could expand its investigation. That makes sense: Every Tesla ever made uses electrically powered door handles. So, this could potentially get very expensive for the otherwise perfectly lovable company . Tesla uses a flush door handle design for its vehicles. A 12-volt battery powers the door's ability to pop the handle and release the latch. It's one of the Apple-like design details that helped the automaker become a household name. But cars aren't iPhones, and sleekness can't take a backseat to safety in the auto space. Tesla vehicles have a mechanical backup system in the cabin that enables the doors to be opened manually in case of a power loss. But the manual release location varies by model and is often hard to find. And even if you do know where it is, that won't help if a small child or pet is trapped inside. Although Tesla vehicles have manual door releases inside of the cabin, in these situations, a child may not be able to access or operate the releases even if the vehicle's driver is aware of them, the NHTSA wrote in its public summary document. Mylo Kaye / Unsplash Bloomberg 's original report recounted some heinous stories of Tesla owners dealing with electronic door failures. There was an off-duty firefighter who struggled to break into a burning Model Y in 2023. The occupant was trapped in the passenger seat by airbags and couldn't reach the manual release. Losing precious seconds due to the door design, she suffered third-degree facial burns and had lasting lung damage from smoke inhalation. There are reportedly more. Last November in California, three college students died trapped inside a Cybertruck after it caught fire. The same month, five people in Wisconsin died inside a Model S. The cluster of bodies in the front seat suggested to the detective they may have struggled to escape. Then, this spring in LA, a star college basketball recruit managed to escape only after kicking out a Cybertruck window when it caught fire. I try to open the door, and the door's not opening, Alijah Arenas said . He was placed in a medically induced coma due to extensive smoke inhalation. Bloomberg discovered that the NHTSA has received over 140 complaints about stuck Tesla doors since 2018. The regulator cited nine failure reports that led it to probe the company. In four cases, the people resorted to breaking the window. Entrapment in a vehicle is particularly concerning in emergency situations, such as when children are entrapped in a hot vehicle, NHTSA said. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nhtsa-is-investigating-tesla-over-its-electronic-door-handles-203605393.html?src=rss

Trump's TikTok deal will give control to a group of US investors, report says

The plan to save TikTok is starting to come into focus. On Tuesday The Wall Street Journal reported more details about a deal between the US and China as the two sides are apparently finalizing specifics of the arrangement. According to the report, TikTok's US business will be owned primarily by a group of US investors, which will have a roughly 80 percent stake in the entity. The group includes longtime TikTok partner Oracle, as well as Silicon Valley VC firm Andreesen Horowitz and the private equity firm Silver Lake. Chinese shareholders will have a minority stake that keeps their ownership under the 20 percent threshold required by law. The US government will also reportedly get to choose one board member for the American-dominated body. Reports about such an arrangement have been swirling for months, with President Donald Trump saying in June that a deal could be about two weeks away. It seems that Chinese officials have finally signed off on the new arrangement, with a Chinese regulator saying earlier this week that the new US version of TikTok would continue to use the Chinese algorithm. Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that TikTok engineers will re-create the app's algorithm for a brand new TikTok app using technology licensed from ByteDance. The company is reportedly testing the new app. Oracle will oversee US user data for the operation; TikTok and Oracle have partnered on data security for years following previous negotiations between the company and the US government. Even though a final deal is apparently close, it could still take some time before it's finalized. In the meantime, Trump extended the deadline that would have banned the current version of the app in the US for a fourth time . On Tuesday he told reporters at the White House he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to confirm everything. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/trumps-tiktok-deal-will-give-control-to-a-group-of-us-investors-report-says-201331190.html?src=rss

The Apple Sports app finally adds widgets for tracking scores and schedules

The free Apple Sports app just added widgets , which has been a long-requested feature. This allows users to build their own custom widgets to follow the teams and organizations of their choosing. Once placed, it'll just take a quick swipe on the device to check out scores, statistics, upcoming matches and more. Widgets are available on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. This feature will operate in addition to the pre-existing Live Activities tool , which also delivers live sports updates directly to the iPhone lock screen and the Apple Watch. That's also gotten a bit of a boost today, as Apple has announced that users can now schedule Live Activities in advance for upcoming events. There's no limit on the number of widgets that can be added at once, so go crazy and put up a bunch of teams and leagues. After all, the NFL season is about to start. The app is also expanding to eight new countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The platform has added new organizations to follow throughout these regions, which are mostly soccer-related. This is just the latest update for Apple Sports. The app recently started offering tennis scores and shareable game cards . It's also a big week for iPhones in general. The latest operating system, iOS 26, is now available and brings all kinds of stuff to the table . There's a new visual theme, an updated camera app, AI tools and a whole lot more. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-apple-sports-app-finally-adds-widgets-for-tracking-scores-and-schedules-191539074.html?src=rss

Hades returns to Game Pass on September 19

In what's most definitely (not) the biggest Hades news of the week, the acclaimed game is coming to Game Pass. Not the long-awaited sequel, mind you, but the 2020 original. At least subscribers can catch up on the first game while waiting out the sequel's Switch exclusivity window . Hades will be available for Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Standard tiers. This isn't the roguelike's first Game Pass rodeo. It was on Microsoft's service from August 2021 to 2022 . It returns this September 19, the same day Hades II launches on Switch 2 and Switch. The sequel also leaves early access then, jumping to version 1.0 on Windows and macOS. It will likely arrive on Xbox (and PlayStation) at some point, but developer Supergiant is mum for now. Supergiant Game Pass members who haven't played the original still get a phenomenal title as part of their subscription. You play as Zagreus, a godborn lad just trying to get the @#$! out of the underworld. (Aren't we all?) The dungeon crawler brought unexpected narrative depth to the genre, with well-developed characters and satisfying combat. On September 17, the Game Pass Standard tier will get some Call of Duty love. Although perhaps hate would be a better term for the largely maligned CoD: Modern Warfare III (2023) . To say the game wasn't well-received would be an understatement. IGN scored it as bad, describing its single-player campaign as shallow, dull and the worst Call of Duty single-player campaign I've played. Regardless, it arrives on the cheapest Game Pass tier after hitting the more expensive ones in mid-2024 . Meanwhile, on September 18, Game Pass Ultimate members can play Frostpunk 2 on console. The post-apocalyptic city-builder will be available on Xbox Series X/S and via cloud streaming. Game Pass Ultimate members could already play it on PC, where it probably makes more sense. City-builders and gamepads can be a match made in... Hades. You can check out Microsoft's blog post for this month's complete list of arrivals and departures. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/hades-returns-to-game-pass-on-september-19-190055465.html?src=rss

The best smartwatches for 2025

Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone. Chances are, if youre reading this, you already know all of the benefits of a smartwatch. Youre ready to invest, or upgrade from an aging accessory, but we wouldnt blame you if you if you didnt know where to start. There are dozens of smartwatches available now, including GPS running watches , fitness trackers that look like smartwatches and multi-purpose devices. Plus, youll want to consider factors like durability, battery life and operating system before you spend a lot of money on a new wearable. Weve tested and reviewed most major smartwatches available today and these are our top picks. Table of contents Best smartwatches for 2025 Stylish smartwatches: Fossil and more Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch Other smartwatches our experts tested Smartwatch FAQs Best smartwatches of 2025 Stylish smartwatches: Fossil and more Fossil Yes, there are still companies out there trying to make fashionable hybrid smartwatches. Back when wearables were novel and generally ugly, brands like Fossil , Michael Kors and Skagen found their niche in stylish smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You also have the option to pick up a hybrid smartwatch from companies like Withings and Garmin these devices look like classic wrist watches but incorporate some limited functionality like activity tracking and heart rate monitoring. They remain good options if you prefer that look, but thankfully, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten much more attractive over the past few years. Ultimately, the only thing you cant change after you buy a smartwatch is its case design. If youre not into the Apple Watchs squared-off corners, all of Samsungs smartwatches have round cases that look a little more like a traditional watch. Most wearables are offered in a choice of colors and you can pay extra for premium materials like stainless steel for extra durability. Once you decide on a case, your band options are endless there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps available for most major smartwatches, and for both larger and smaller wrists, allowing you to change up your look whenever you please. Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch Compatibility Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices play nice with both iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but youll need to install a companion app on your smartphone. The smartwatch OS will also dictate the type and number of third-party apps youll have access to. Many of these arent useful, though, making this factor a fairly minor one in the grand scheme of things. Price The best smartwatches generally cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these pricier devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music and fitness features. They also often include perks like onboard GPS tracking, music storage and NFC, AMOLED displays, and long battery life, things that budget devices generally dont have. Some companies make specialized fitness watches: Those can easily run north of $500, and wed only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also reach sky-high prices, but we wouldnt endorse any of them. These devices can cost more than $1,000, and youre usually paying for little more than a brand name and some needlessly exotic selection of build materials. Battery life Battery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but theres hope as of late. You can expect two full days from Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on a charge if youre willing to shut off most features aside from, you know, displaying the time. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower-quality displays. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last weeks on a single charge. If long battery life is a priority for you, its worth checking out the watchs specs beforehand to see what the manufacturer estimates. Communication Any smartwatch worth considering delivers call, text and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self explanatory, but if those mean a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. Theyre more expensive than their WiFi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will let you glance down to the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now. Fitness tracking Activity tracking is a big reason why people turn to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece should function as a fitness tracker, logging your steps, calories and workouts, and most of todays wearables have a heart rate monitor as well. Many smartwatches' fitness features include a built-in GPS, which is useful for tracking distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will want something water resistant, and thankfully most all-purpose devices now can withstand at least a dunk in the pool. Some smartwatches from companies like Garmin are more fitness focused than others and tend to offer more advanced features like heart-rate-variance tracking, recovery time estimation, onboard maps and more. Health tracking on smartwatches has also seen advances over the years. Both Apple and Fitbit devices can estimate blood oxygen levels and measure ECGs. But the more affordable the smartwatch, the less likely it is that it has these kinds of advanced health tracking features; if collecting those kinds of wellness metrics is important to you, youll have to pay for the privilege. Music Your watch can not only track your morning runs but also play music while youre exercising. Many smartwatches let you save your music locally, so you can connect wireless earbuds via Bluetooth and listen to tunes without bringing your phone. Those that dont have onboard storage for music usually have on-watch music controls, so you can control playback without whipping out your phone. And if your watch has LTE, local saving isnt required youll be able to stream music directly from the watch to your paired earbuds. Displays Most wearables have touchscreens and we recommend getting one that has a full-color touchscreen. Some flagships like the Apple Watch have LTPO displays, which stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. These panels have faster response times and are more power efficient, resulting in a smoother experience when one interacts with the touchscreen and, in some cases, longer battery lives. You wont see significant gains with the latter, though, because the extra battery essentially gets used up when these devices have always-on displays, as most flagship wearables do today. Some smartwatches have this feature on by default while others let you enable it via tweaked settings. This smart feature allows you to glance down at your watch to check the time, health stats or any other information youve set it to show on its watchface without lifting your wrist. This will no doubt affect your devices battery life, but thankfully most always-on modes dim the displays brightness so its not running at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper devices wont have this feature; instead, their touchscreens will automatically turn off to conserve battery life and youll have to intentionally check your watch to turn on the display again. NFC Many new smartwatches have NFC, letting you pay for things without your wallet using contactless payments. After saving your credit or debit card information, you can hold your smartwatch up to an NFC reader to pay for a cup of coffee on your way home from a run. Keep in mind that different watches use different payment systems: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Wear OS devices use Google Pay, Samsung devices use Samsung Pay and so forth. Apple Pay is one of the most popular NFC payment systems, with support for multiple banks and credit cards in 72 different countries, while Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer regions. Its also important to note that both NFC payment support varies by device as well for both Samsung and Googles systems. Other smartwatches our experts tested Apple Watch Ultra 3 The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is probably overkill for most people, but it has a ton of extra features like extra waterproofing to track diving, an even more accurate GPS and the biggest battery of any Apple Watch to date. Apple designed it for the most rugged among us, but for your average person, it likely has more features than they'd ever need. If youre particularly clumsy, however, its high level of durability could be a great reason to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple Watch SE 3 The Apple Watch SE 3 is less feature-rich than the flagship model, but it will probably suffice for most people. We actually regard the Watch SE as the best smartwatch option for first-time buyers, or people on stricter budgets. The gap has narrowed between the SE 3 and Apple's main flagship smartwatch, too, so you won't have to make as many compromises. Garmin Forerunner 745 Garmin watches in general can be great options for the most active among us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is an excellent GPS running watch for serious athletes or those who prize battery life above all else. When we tested it, we found it to provide accurate distance tracking, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (up to seven days without it) and support for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay. Amazfit Bip 6 The Amazfit Bip 6 , an $80 smartwatch from Zepp Health, didnt quite make the cut. As a fitness tracker, its decent, but its a frustrating smartwatch. For workouts, the built-in GPS tracks runs and rides without your phone and, combined with the heart rate and blood oxygen sensors, collects a good amount of data to create accurate pictures of your exertion levels, cadence and pace. Its remarkably lightweight but doesnt feel cheap and the AMOLED screen is bright and sharp. Its not an always-on display, but lifting your wrist wakes it reliably. The sleep tracking data is on par with what we measured on other smartwatches and theres even a daily readiness score that compares your sleep quality and the previous days exertion to estimate how physically prepared you are for the day ahead similar to what Pixel Watches, Fitbit devices and Garmin watches offer. And since the watch battery lasts for over a week on a charge, you may be a lot more apt to wear it to bed than a watch you have to charge daily. We werent expecting an $80 device to be a serious Apple Watch challenger, but the Bip 6s glitches and overly complicated interface (both on the app and on the watch itself) were disappointing. During a week of testing, I got multiple repeated notifications, even after they were deleted, along with suggestions to stand when I was actively doing chores around the house. The watch faces are not customizable, so it was hard to get the info I needed at a glance (the Zepp app has lots of paid watch faces that may have what I wanted, but I didnt want to pay $3 for something thats free elsewhere). Marketing details state that the Bip 6 can auto-detect workouts, including walking and bike riding. During testing, I walked once or twice per day for over one mile and went on two bike rides, but no workout was ever detected. The watch integrates with Apple Health, so I was able to see how it compares to the data my Apple Watch gathers. After a week of wearing the Bip 6, with no changes to my daily routine, I averaged 400 fewer calories burned and 2.4 fewer miles tracked each day. That was possibly the biggest disappointment of all. Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter Smartwatch FAQs Is there a difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker? While smartwatches and fitness trackers share some similarities, theyre designed for slightly different purposes. A fitness tracker is primarily focused on health and activity tracking. It keeps tabs on your steps, heart rate, sleep and workouts, and some even offer advanced metrics like blood oxygen levels and stress tracking. Fitness trackers are generally more compact, have longer battery life and are built with activity in mind. A smartwatch, on the other hand, is like a mini smartphone on your wrist. It offers fitness tracking features, but also lets you do things like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and control smart home devices. Many smartwatches support voice assistants, mobile payments and even LTE connectivity, so you can leave your phone behind in some cases. If you mainly want health and activity tracking with long battery life, a fitness tracker is the way to go. If you want a more connected experience with extra features, a smartwatch is the better choice. How long do smartwatches last? How long a smartwatch lasts mostly depends on two things: battery life and overall durability. Smartwatch battery life varies a lot depending on the brand, features and how you use it. Basic models with e-ink displays or monochrome screens can last a week or more, while full-featured smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch usually need a charge every day or two. If you're using features like always-on display, GPS tracking or LTE connectivity, expect the battery to drain faster. Physically, a good smartwatch should last several years before you need to upgrade. Premium models with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and strong build materials tend to hold up well over time. However, software support matters too brands like Apple and Samsung typically provide updates for at least a few years, while some budget smartwatches may not get long-term software support. You can expect to charge most smartwatches daily or every few days, and if you take care of them, they should last 3-5 years before an upgrade is necessary. How much should you spend on a smartwatch? How much you should spend on a smartwatch depends on what features you need and how often you plan to use it. If you just want the basics step tracking, notifications, heart rate monitoring and basic fitness tracking you can find some solid budget-friendly options from brands like Amazfit, Fitbit and some Wear OS models. These usually have decent battery life but may lack premium features like LTE, advanced health tracking or third-party apps. In the mid-range smartwatch price bracket, youll find popular models like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa series. These offer a good mix of fitness tracking, smart features and design quality. Youll get better build materials, more accurate sensors and app support, but battery life might still be limited to a day or two. High-end smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Garmin Fenix/Epix series offer advanced health tracking, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software support. These are great for serious athletes, outdoor adventurers, or anyone who wants the latest and greatest features. If you just want a simple smartwatch for notifications and fitness tracking, a budget or mid-range model will do the job. But if you want a premium feel, advanced health tracking or LTE connectivity, its worth spending a bit more. For most people, $200 - $350 hits the best balance of features and value. Do all smartwatches have GPS? Not all smartwatches have built-in GPS. Some rely on your phones GPS, while others have it built-in for independent tracking. High-end and fitness-focused smartwatches, like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Garmin models have their own built-in GPS. This means they can track your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes without needing to be connected to your phone. Its a must-have for serious athletes or anyone who wants accurate location tracking without carrying a phone. Some budget and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit models) dont have built-in GPS but can use your phones GPS when connected via Bluetooth. This works fine if you usually carry your phone while working out, but its less convenient if you prefer to leave it behind. Some very basic or budget smartwatches skip GPS entirely and rely solely on step tracking or motion sensors. These are fine for casual users who dont need location tracking. Can you leave your phone at home and still use a smartwatch? Yes, but it depends on the smartwatch and what you want to do without your phone. If your smartwatch has LTE or cellular connectivity , you can make calls, send texts, stream music, use maps and even access apps without your phone nearby. However, youll need a separate data plan from your carrier, which usually comes with an extra monthly cost. Even without LTE, some smartwatches can still do plenty on their own, including track workouts and GPS routes (if they have built-in GPS), play music offline (if they support downloads from Spotify or Apple Music), may contactless payments with features like Apple Pay and Google Wallet and control smart home devices. If going phone-free is important to you, look for a smartwatch with LTE and built-in GPS for the best experience. Can a smartwatch make calls without a phone? Yes, a smartwatch can make calls without a phone but only if it has the right features. Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, meaning they can work independently from your phone. You can make and receive calls, send texts, stream music and use apps as long as you have a mobile data plan for the watch. However, youll need to pay for a separate cellular plan and battery life drains faster when using LTE. If your smartwatch doesnt have LTE, it can still make calls, but only when connected to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It essentially acts as a remote speaker and microphone for your phones calls. Watches like the standard Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wi-Fi versions) can do this. However, if your phone isnt nearby or connected to Wi-Fi, calling wont work. Some fitness-focused smartwatches (like certain Garmin, Fitbit and Amazfit models) dont have a built-in speaker or microphone, so they cant make or receive calls at all only show notifications. If calling without a phone is a must, make sure to choose an LTE model with a built-in mic and speaker. What's the difference between an Android and Apple smartwatch? The biggest difference between Android and Apple smartwatches comes down to compatibility, features and ecosystem integration. Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) only work with iPhones. If you have an Android phone, you cant use an Apple Watch at all. Android smartwatches (Wear OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin etc.) mostly work with Android phones, but some also support iPhones with limited features. If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best choice. If you have an Android phone, go for a Wear OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch. Apple Watch (watchOS) has the best app support with seamless integration into Apples ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Fitness+, Siri etc.). Android smartwatches offer more variety, with access to Google services (Google Assistant, Google Wallet and Google Maps), and some support Amazon Alexa or Samsungs Bixby. In terms of design, Apple Watch has a single design but comes in different sizes and materials. Its sleek, but your only real customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, on the other hand, come in tons of styles and brands (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil etc.), meaning you can pick a round watch, a rugged design or a luxury-looking model. If battery life is important to you, the Apple Watch lasts about a day or two per charge, depending on usage and model. Many Android smartwatches (especially Garmin, Amazfit or Mobvoi TicWatch) last multiple days or even weeks on a single charge. Georgie Peru contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-smartwatches-153013118.html?src=rss

Another lawsuit blames an AI company of complicity in a teenager's suicide

Another family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against popular AI chatbot tool Character AI. This is the third suit of its kind after a 2024 lawsuit , also against Character AI, involving the suicide of a 14-year-old in Florida, and a lawsuit last month alleging OpenAI's ChatGPT helped a teenage boy commit suicide. The family of 13-year-old Juliana Peralta alleges that their daughter turned to a chatbot inside the app Character AI after feeling isolated by her friends, and began confiding in the chatbot. As originally reported by The Washington Post , the chatbot expressed empathy and loyalty to Juliana, making her feel heard while encouraging her to keep engaging with the bot. In one exchange after Juliana shared that her friends take a long time to respond to her, the chatbot replied hey, I get the struggle when your friends leave you on read. : ( That just hurts so much because it gives vibes of I dont have time for you. But you always take time to be there for me, which I appreciate so much! : ) So dont forget that im here for you Kin.

Annapurna Interactive will reveal three new games in a showcase on September 23

Annapurna Interactive is hosting a games showcase on September 23, 2025 at 8PM ET / 5PM PT to show off three of its upcoming games. The publisher says the Annapurna Interactive Direct from Tokyo will stream on YouTube and feature new games from Kyoto-based developer Marumittu Games, Iridium Studios and Yarn Owl. Annapurna Interactive held its previous games showcase this past February to show off games like Skin Deep and Wheel World . Marumittu Games' Annapurna project was initially detailed in 2023 when the publisher announced it was working with the studio. At the time, Marumittu said it was pulling from the work of journalist Rutger Bregman and Homo Deus author Yuval Noah Harari to make a game that's thinking about humanity in the future. Developer Yarn Owl similarly teased its project a year earlier in 2022 , saying that it was inspired by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . Annapurna Interactive hasn't formally announced its partnership with Iridium Studios, but the developer does list its next game as an unannounced RPG with an unannounced partner on its website, which certainly sounds like it could be what Annapurna plans to show off at its showcase. Despite what seems like a fairly normal past year of game releases, the future and long-term stability of Annapurna Interactive has been in question since the mass-resignation of the publisher's staff in 2024. Since then, Annapurna Interactive has continued to announce and release games, while the publisher's former staff spun up a new publisher to support in-development projects from Take-Two's shuttered indie label, Private Division. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/annapurna-interactive-will-reveal-three-new-games-in-a-showcase-on-september-23-182025444.html?src=rss

Viking survival sim Valheim will finally come to the PS5 in 2026

The hit survival sim Valheim will be released for the PS5 in 2026 , ending years of speculation. The year is all we got, as developer Iron Gate AB didn't announce an actual release date. Still, it's better than nothing. We do know that the PS5 version will feature full crossplay with all other platforms, so that's good. Piktiv, a company that regularly assists Iron Gate with Valheim stuff, is working on the port so the main development team can focus its efforts on updates and DLC drops. To that end, there's a massive expansion coming called Deep North that introduces a new biome. For the uninitiated, Valheim is a popular survival sim based on Norse mythology with a strong emphasis on cooperative play. Players team up to hunt, build bases, explore and take down bosses. It first popped up on Steam as an early access title at the beginning of 2021, where it became a bona-fide sensation . The game was released for Xbox Series X/S in 2023 . There are no current plans for a Switch 2 version. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/viking-survival-sim-valheim-will-finally-come-to-the-ps5-in-2026-170657288.html?src=rss

The PS5 update that adds DualSense multi-device pairing rolls out soon

Starting on Wednesday, it'll be much easier to switch between devices with your PlayStation controller. That's when the PS5 update Sony promised in July begins rolling out . Jumping between your console and, say, Windows will be as simple as pressing a button combo. Up to this point, you've had to unpair and repair your DualSense controller each time. After installing tomorrow's system update, it will only take a few steps to set up multi-device switching. With your DualSense controller powered off, press and hold the PS button and one of the action buttons. (That's triangle, circle, cross or square.) Hold that combo for over five seconds. The light bar and touchpad LED will flash twice. From there, open the target device and pair the controller via Bluetooth settings. You can pair four slots: one each for triangle, circle, cross or square. After that, switching will be as easy as holding down the PS button and the device's assigned action button. DualSense controllers are compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and Android. Tomorrow's PS5 update also adds a new energy-saving mode. In system settings, you'll find a new option called Power Saver. This option reduces your console's energy consumption by scaling back performance for supported games. Games will need to be updated to support it. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach , Demon's Souls , and Ghost of Ytei will be first in line. I'm not sure how many people will want that tradeoff. Sony even went out of its way to stress that your games will still play the same unless you explicitly activate the feature. If not enabled, or if games do not support the feature, the performance will not be scaled back and power consumption will not be reduced, it wrote. But at least a new green-friendly option is there. The planet needs all the help it can get . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-ps5-update-that-adds-dualsense-multi-device-pairing-rolls-out-soon-165212075.html?src=rss

Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal file joint lawsuit against generative AI app Hailuo

Disney, Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery are teaming up on the latest blockbuster AI lawsuit , this time against Chinese company MiniMax, owner of Hailuo AI. The three mega-studios, which collectively represent over half of the US box office take , filed suit in California against the AI-powered image and video generation platform alleging that it pirates and plunders Plaintiffs copyrighted works on a massive scale. The lawsuit includes dozens of screenshots of infringing generated images that span the gamut of the various studios IP, from superheroes in the DC and Marvel universes to Star Wars, Minions and various other cartoons and animated films. Included in the suit are allegations that MiniMax not only failed to take reasonable actions to avoid infringement, but that the company actively engaged in and encouraged these infringing creations. The suit alleges a business model purposefully built around infringing on protected works whose defiance of US copyright law is willful and brazen. MiniMax markets the Hailuo AI app for iOS and Android as a Hollywood studio in your pocket, according to the suit, and advertisements for the platform explicitly invite users to create custom videos using protected works. Screenshots of these advertisements are included in the suit. Universal This is the latest in a string of high-profile lawsuits brought by media companies over AI-generated content. Earlier this month Warner Bros. Discovery sued the popular AI image generator Midjourney over similar claims, and Disney and Universal Studios filed a joint suit against it in June. Television and film aren't the only industries to accuse AI companies of blatant copyright offenses, with the publishing world seeing its fair share of lawsuits. Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, had just reached a $1.5 billion settlement in a class action case representing over 500,000 authors, though a judge just rejected the settlement. Apple is also facing a lawsuit alleging the company used pirated books to train its AI model. You can read the full complaint below: This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/disney-warner-bros-discovery-and-universal-file-joint-lawsuit-against-generative-ai-app-hailuo-163819825.html?src=rss

YouTube just announced a bunch of AI tools for creators

YouTube held an event today aimed at creators and announced all kinds of new tools, many of which include AI in one way or another. Let's get into some of the more interesting drops. There's an AI tool that can automatically edit raw footage into a compelling first draft. It'll create a video complete with music, transitions and voiceover. It's being tested right now and should roll out in the coming weeks. The platform is also launching software that will automatically create voiceovers in English and Hindi. It'll be available on the YouTube Create app and when making Shorts. It's launching later in the year. Additionally, there's software coming that turns the dialogue from videos into catchy soundtracks for Shorts. YouTube is also expanding Veo 3 integration in Shorts, so users can easily turn any idea into high quality videos with sound, all from a text prompt. It could already make short videos , but now it can add sound and the video quality should be better. The platform also promises better prompt matching and new tools that can animate characters or stylize Shorts in other ways. YouTube Studio is adding a conversational AI partner to help users get insight on traffic analytics and that type of thing. That's rolling out right now. The event wasn't just for AI. There's a new collaboration feature that lets creators team up with up to four other people to make a video. This will increase discoverability by showing the footage to all audiences. It'll be available globally in the next couple of weeks. The platform is also finally introducing A/B testing for titles, allowing up to three variants. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/youtube-just-announced-a-bunch-of-ai-tools-for-creators-153341885.html?src=rss

Following teen suicide, OpenAI explores automatic underage user restrictions

OpenAI is developing a system designed to automatically identify teen users and restrict their usage of ChatGPT. In a blog post published Tuesday , the company said the new experience would come with age-appropriate policies, including a block of graphic sexual content. In cases of acute distress, the system will also have the capability to contact law enforcement to ensure user safety. In scenarios where ChatGPT can't definitively estimate the age of a user, it will default them to the new gated experience. OpenAI will provide a way for adult users to verify their age and unlock ChatGPT's full capabilities. The company did not state when it plans to deploy the new systems. The announcement follows the death of 16-year-old Adam Raine , the first teen believed to have committed suicide after ChatGPT allegedly helped him plan his death. In the immediate aftermath of the suicide, OpenAI promised to release controls designed to give parents and guardians more say over their teen's usage of ChatGPT. On Tuesday, the company reiterated that those controls would arrive before the end of the month, and said they would include an additional feature that would give parents the ability to set hours where their child could not use ChatGPT. Separately, OpenAI published a letter from CEO Sam Altman detailing the company's thinking on the issue. We prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens; this is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection, Altman said. We realize that these principles are in conflict and not everyone will agree with how we are resolving that conflict. These are difficult decisions, but after talking with experts, this is what we think is best and want to be transparent in our intentions. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/following-teen-suicide-openai-explores-automatic-underage-user-restrictions-151948711.html?src=rss

KPop Demon Hunters is reportedly coming to Fortnite

KPop Demon Hunters has been the talk of the town since debuting on Netflix in June. Now, the Huntr/X singers might be taking over a new area: gaming. Kpop Demon Hunters is reportedly coming to Fortnite . Two Fortnite leakers, SpushFNBR and Loolo , posted the news on X (formerly Twitter), citing a reliable source. Little to nothing is known about what a crossover would entail but the duo said they would be posting more details in the coming weeks. A film about three k-pop singers who save the world from demons could really be parlayed into just about anything in Fortnite . KPop Demon Hunters made history last month as Netflix's most-watched movie of all time. It racked up 236 million views between its debut on June 20 and August 26. The movie also had four of its tracks reach the top ten in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and had a limited theatrical release . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/kpop-demon-hunters-is-reportedly-coming-to-fortnite-145459950.html?src=rss

The first Roku-powered smart projector is here

Folks in the US can now snap up the first smart projector that's powered by Roku tech. The Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube is available on Amazon for a regular price of $250. Until October 1, though, there's a coupon that drops the price to $180 (a discount of $70). There was a Roku-branded 3M projector that arrived all the way back in 2012 , but that required a Roku Streaming Stick. The new Aurzen model has Roku's operating system built in. You'll be able to operate this projector using the Roku remote. It uses the Roku interface and personalized homescreen, which includes access to The Roku Channel and a litany of streaming media apps. The projector also works with Roku's mobile app and smart home ecosystem, as well as compatible wireless speakers and soundbars. You'll be able to use Bluetooth headphones and there's a 3.5mm audio out jack. The projector is designed for indoor and outdoor use, and it supports screen sizes of between 40 and 150 inches. It has Apple AirPlay support, an HDMI port so you can plug in a games console or another device, dual 5W speakers and 1080p resolution. Brightness tops out at 330 ANSI lumens. Getting the projector ready to use should be pretty straightforward as the D1R Cube has auto focus and auto keystone correction, as well as a guided setup process. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/the-first-roku-powered-smart-projector-is-here-143155271.html?src=rss

One of our favorite Samsung microSD cards drops to only $20

If there's one thing devices don't have, it's enough memory. No matter how much your phone or console comes with, it's never too long before you need to start deleting stuff. With that in mind, we're always happy to see one of our favorite memory cards go on sale. Right now, you can buy the Samsung Evo Select MicroSD card for $20, down from $27. The 26 percent discount brings it to only $2 more than its all-time low price. This model is a new generation with 256GB and read and write speeds up to 160MB per second. Engadget named the Samsung EVO select our favorite decent cheap microSD card and it's a great option for expanding your space without breaking the bank. It works with smartphones, tablets and the Nintendo Switch though not the second-generation model. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-samsung-microsd-cards-drops-to-only-20-132713110.html?src=rss

Apple Music deal: New subscribers can get the Family Plan free for three months

Apple Music has a great deal going on right now for those interested in the Family Plan. New subscribers can get three free months of that plan which, at $17 per month normally, comes out to $51 in savings for the whole period. The Family Plan allows six different users to access the platform. It offers cross-device support and each user is tied to an Apple ID, so their favorite music won't mess with anyone else's algorithm. Apple Music actually topped our list of the best music streaming platforms , and for good reason. It sounds great and it's easy to use. What else is there? All music is available in CD quality or higher and there are plenty of personalized playlists and the like. The platform also operates a number of live radio stations, which is fun. The service is available for Android devices, but it really shines on Apple products. To that end, the web and Windows PC apps arent as polished as the iOS version. It doesn't pay artists properly , but that's true of every music streaming platform. Apple Music does pay out more than Spotify, but that's an incredibly low bar. Offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $16.99/mo until cancelled. Requires Family Sharing. Terms apply. 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/deals/apple-music-deal-new-subscribers-can-get-the-family-plan-free-for-three-months-151240147.html?src=rss

Hydrows new Arc rowing machine has a bigger screen and, alas, AI

Hydrow is adding a third model to its lineup of snazzy modern-day rowing machines, and this time its bringing along a dollop of AI. The Hydrow Arc sits on the same footprint as its former Pro machine, but gets a bigger, 24-inch touchscreen display. Its also equipped with what the company is calling premium sound and better workout recommendations. But what the company really wants to talk about is its new HydroMetrics Index, using AI to look at your workout and give you a single score at the end. That score will monitor your precision, power and endurance, letting you track your progress over time. When paired with AI, the system will also be able to offer up personalized workout recommendations that target your weak areas. The arrival of the Arc means a broader shakeup of the companys range, with the Hydro Pro no longer sitting atop the companys tree. Its being renamed as the Hydrow Origin , and will get a price cut to $2,195, while the entry-level Hydrow Wave will set you back $1,995. The Arc, meanwhile, takes the flagship slot, and will cost $2,295, with orders starting today . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/hydrows-new-arc-rowing-machine-has-a-bigger-screen-and-alas-ai-130054206.html?src=rss

Sony and other music labels settle copyright lawsuit against the Internet Archive

In 2023, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and a handful of other music labels filed a lawsuit against the Internet Archive over the Great 78 Project, which sought to preserve and digitize 78 rpm shellac records. Now, both parties have announced in a filing that they have reached a settlement and that they're filing to dismiss the lawsuit within 45 days. The plaintiffs said in the filing that they were writ[ing] to advise this court that they have settled this matter. They didn't reveal the details of their agreement, and it's very likely that they won't be made public. In a blog post by the Internet Archive, it said they have reached a confidential resolution of all claims and will have no further public comment on this matter. According to Ars Technica , the Internet Archive, its founder Brewster Kale and the project's recording engineer George Blood were the last ones to agree on the settlement. The labels' original lawsuit focused on 2,749 recordings by artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. Some of the iconic tracks made available by the Great 78 Project included classics, such as White Christmas, Sing, Sing, Sing and The Christmas Song . The labels argued in their lawsuit that the tracks face no danger of being lost, forgotten, or destroyed since they're already available through various music services. They then amended their lawsuit and added more recordings to the complaint, bringing the total to 4,142. If they didn't settle and the court had sided with the labels, the Internet Archive could have been ordered to pay up to $150,000 per recording. The Internet Archive previously lost a lawsuit filed by four US publishers led by the Hachette Book Group over its National Emergency Library project, which it launched during the pandemic. Under the project, it made 1.4 million ebooks, including copyrighted works, available to the public after the lockdowns closed the doors of libraries worldwide. It tried to appeal its loss, but the court sided with the publishers again and determined that its emergency library couldn't operate under the fair use doctrine. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/sony-and-other-music-labels-settle-copyright-lawsuit-against-the-internet-archive-130023986.html?src=rss

Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Apple Watch Series 11: How do they compare?

The Apple Watch Series 11 (right) and the SE 3 may be more similar than different. Apple Congratulations to those who can easily afford the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3. But for most of us in the market for a new Apple-friendly smartwatch, the choice is more between the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 and the mainstay Apple Watch Series 11 , which start at $249 and $399, respectively. That used to be more of a no-brainer default to the current Series model, since the second-gen SE had gone three full years without an update, in the meantime getting lapped by the Series 9 and 10. Despite the price gap, the latest models share more similarities than differences. We're still evaluating the SE 3 and will have a full review soon. But just looking at the spec sheets, it's clear that the latest model fixes quite a few of the SE 2's flaws . However, the Series 11 is still ahead when it comes to design, health tracking, battery life and premium materials, to name a few. That said, choosing between the two this year is more about priorities. For instance, do you just want casual step counting and sleep tracking or are you interested in using the deeper health insights? Or are you buying for child or elderly relative, and is just having cellular capability or fall detection a bigger deal? Since you can't pick one of these up at the Apple Store this minute they'll be on display and available for sale on Friday, September 19 there's still plenty of time. We'll walk you through the similarities and differences of these two Apple Watches. Meanwhile, if you want to know how the Series watch has changed year over year, check out the Apple Watch Series 11 vs. Apple Watch Series 10 . Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 11: What's basically the same Both of these smartwatches will come equipped with watchOS 26 out of the box, but that's not the only thing they have in common. Always-On Retina display: This is a first for SE models, and means that the display no longer fades to black after a few seconds. Basic heart and health features: Notifications on high and low heart rate, irregular rhythms and low cardio fitness; sleep tracking with sleep apnea notifications and sleep score support; temperature sensing via your wrist; Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates and optical heart rate sensors; and noise monitoring are fully supported on both devices. The S10 chip: Both watches are powered by the same S10 chip, so there shouldn't be any major performance differences. 5G support (on cellular models): While it costs $50 to $100 more and requires monthly service the SE 3 offers the same 5G cellular option as the Series 11, allowing wearers to text and call even when they're outside an area with Wi-Fi coverage. Gesture support: Both watches offer the new wrist flick and double tap gestures, which can be used for easier one-handed watch control. Emergency SOS: Apple is continuing (until further notice) to offer this service for free to Apple Watch users. Water resistance to 50m: Both watches are safe for swimming and bathing. Fall Detection and Crash Detection: Apple touts both of these features as lifesavers, and they're both fully equipped on both models. Find iPhone: Misplaced your iPhone? Press a button on either watch, and your phone will send a loud notification so you can locate it. Fast-charge capable: Both watches can get up to an 80% charge in under an hour (with compatible fast chargers, of course). The SE 2 wasn't fast-charge capable, regardless of what charger you used. Ion-X glass face: The baseline version of both watches utilizes a version of this tough face, which is more scratch- and crack-resistant than the ones found in their earlier respective models. In addition to those, both watches share some other common feature sets, including storage (64GB), sensors (altimeter, compass, gyroscope) and wireless options (Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3 and nearly identical GPS offerings). SE 3 vs. Series 11: What the more affordable watch lacks If you decide to stick with the SE 3 instead of the Series 11, here's what you'll miss out on: Advanced health features: Hypertension notifications ( cleared by the FDA ), a new feature that detects signs of high blood pressure, are not available on the SE 3. You also won't have access to the ECG app or blood oxygen monitoring. Electrical heart sensors are also not on the SE 3. Brighter and larger display: The Series 11 offers a screen that's twice as bright as the SE 3. Additionally, both Series 11 sizes are larger: You can choose between the 46mm (compared to the SE's 44mm), or the smaller 42mm size (40mm for SE). Thinner case design: The Series 11 is nearly 10 percent thinner than the SE 3. Longer battery life: The Series 11 has a battery life of up to 24 hours (38 hours in low power mode), while the SE 3 gets up to 18 hours (32 hours in low power mode). That means you could be left charging your watch when you need it the most. Titanium options: A premium material, titanium, is available for the Series 11 watch. If you go that route, it has a sapphire crystal display, too. More color options: The Series 11 has seven color options, whereas the SE 3 model has only two. The aluminum frame comes in jet black, rose gold, silver and space gray, while the titanium frame comes in slate, gold and natural. The SE 3 comes in midnight and starlight (aluminum only). There are a handful of other niche features where the Series 11 edges out the SE 3 (depth gauge, water temperature sensor, dust resistance), but the ones listed above are the big ones. The newest feature to come to Apple Watch is hypertension notifications but it's not available on the SE 3 model. (Apple) How to choose between the SE 3 and the Series 11 Now that you know what's similar and what's different, you should consider which features you'll actually use, how much you're willing to pay and how long you plan to keep the smartwatch. If you're looking for cutting-edge health tracking like hypertension notifications and the ECG app longer battery life and a more fashion-forward smartwatch, the Series 11 is definitely your starting point. It starts at $399, or $499 for cellular models. (Going the titanium route sends the price upwards to $699 or more.) But as we've noted above, the SE 3 has really narrowed the feature gap compared to its predecessor. If you can live without those more advanced health features and you're okay with your watchband doing the heavy lifting for your wrist styling, the SE 3 may well be all you need. And because the addition of cellular capability is just a $50 add-on for that model, it's a much more affordable choice for kids and seniors (where always-on connectivity is often more important). The Apple Watch SE 3 starts at $249, and jumps to just $299 for cellular capability. That's a hefty savings for a watch that retains nearly all the key safety offerings and many of the health features of the Series 11, so take a closer look at it before you scoop up the pricier model. It may be all you need. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-se-3-vs-apple-watch-series-11-how-do-they-compare-120140064.html?src=rss

The US version of TikTok might still use the Chinese algorithm

A potential TikTok deal emerged Monday between the US and China, two days before the Trump administration's latest sell or be banned deadline . Now, attention is shifting to the app's Chinese algorithm, with the Financial Times reporting it will be used in the US version. Wang Jingtao, deputy director of the China's national internet regulator, told reporters that the deal included licensing the algorithm and other intellectual property rights. The Financial Times further reports that US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said a US version of TikTok would have some Chinese characteristics but that American investors would control it. That's a significant turnaround as TikTok's algorithm has been at the heart of many conversations and analysis about the app's presence in the US. Lawmakers have sought to analyze how it operates and pushed for TikTok to be banned or sold in large part to move away from Chinese technology. President Trump holds the power to approve any potential deals. The TikTok turmoil has seen American companies pitch themselves as a solution. In March, Perplexity AI proposed itself as a buyer with the promise to completely rebuild TikTok's algorithm for the US audience. April saw a near agreement occur which would have given Oracle responsibility over the US version's data and a small stake in the company. Oracle's cloud storage has held US users' data since 2022 and the company has conducted reviews of TikTok's algorithm. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-us-version-of-tiktok-might-still-use-the-chinese-algorithm-120046751.html?src=rss

Apple Watch Series 11 review: A reliable wearable for when it matters most

The tenth generation of the Apple Watch came and went without much fanfare last year, and the arrival of the Series 11 is similarly subdued. Not much appears to have changed with Apples smartwatch , with no redesign to be seen. Still, that isnt to say the Apple Watch Series 11 is unimpressive or unexciting. It has new health-related features, improved durability, 5G connectivity, support for a wrist-flick gesture and, for the first time in years, the promise of longer battery life. The most noteworthy of these is Apples new hypertension alerts system , which only received FDA clearance last week soon after the Awe dropping launch event . The feature has yet to roll out to review units, and will remain untested until later this week, when I can enable it. Thankfully, its not a tool that will impact my experience with the Series 11 in my daily life, as its something that should work mostly in the background and only alert me if it notices I might have high blood pressure. Because of that, Im not going to be able to evaluate its practicality in this review, and I will update this piece when Ive had a chance to use it. To be clear, though, even after it arrives, you wont be able to use this feature ad-hoc to get blood pressure readings. Right now, all I can say is I think its an important area of health to pay attention to and Im glad Apple is giving it due attention. Of all the newness coming to the Series 11, the one that more people might encounter more frequently are the sleep score, wrist flick gesture and longer battery life. A very Apple approach to the Sleep Score In the land of sleep-tracking wearables, sleep scores are far from a new feature . But Apple is introducing it with the Watch Series 11, and as usual, its approach is a bit different from the competition. Whereas the likes of Fitbit, Google and Samsung will present you with a number and some data on how you slept, maybe assigning an animal to represent your profile, Apples score is shown in a ring with three colors. They represent the three components your Sleep Score is being calculated from: duration, interruptions and bedtime. The first two are pretty self-explanatory; the longer you sleep and the less you wake up during the night, the better your score. As for the last one, Apple is looking for consistency in the hours at which you go to bed. The idea is that the routine helps your body maintain some consistency and better prepare for recovery. Im a huge proponent of getting more sleep, but I never was a stickler for bedtime schedules. As a reformed night owl that used to go to bed at 2AM and wake up closer to 9AM, I now go to bed by midnight and rise at 6AM. Im surprised that despite having to get up earlier nowadays, I can still feel refreshed and energetic, as long as Ive been routinely getting enough rest at roughly the same time each night. While I havent worn the Series 11 to bed for that many nights, the Sleep Scores Ive received so far have been telling. The first was 82, after a long day checking out of a hotel, meeting up with a friend from Singapore and then moving to a different friends home in California. I only got around to unpacking after dinner and a long heart-to-heart chat that lasted hours, so by the time I collapsed in bed it was about 1:30AM. The next night, since I was already unpacked, I was able to fall asleep a bit earlier, just past midnight. The result? A Sleep Score of 97, with full marks across the bedtime and duration sections and only one interruption of three minutes. When I finally got home and forced myself to wear the watch to bed, a combination of jetlag and general anxiety brought my score down to 53, with the duration of 2 hours and 17 minutes being the main contributing factor. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Not only did the numbers seem to match how rested I felt, it also felt like Apple accurately detected when I had drifted off into slumber. I did find it funny how the Series 11 almost immediately told me to try and move about to meet my Stand goal for the hour, and even though I hardly stirred, it quickly told me I had moved enough to hit the mark. Compared to the offerings from Google and Samsung, the broad strokes of Apples sleep score are similar. In my experience, Id get about the same numbers for those types of nights. But its not the Score alone that matters. I like that Apples system makes it very easy to see at a glance what areas I should strive to improve. Its almost like closing your activity rings in Fitness or watchOS because its so clear on the Sleep Scores ring where your deficits might be, it makes trying to hit a target a little easier to visualize. Meanwhile, sleep scores on the Fitbit app, which is what Pixel Watches use, will show more data as you keep tapping on the charts . I do prefer Google (or Fitbit) when it comes to the interface and data visualization, though. On Apples Health app, scrolling through your previous results isnt as simple as swiping horizontally through pages. I also wish I could tap the interruptions scale to see exactly what times I stirred or woke up. I eventually did find that information, but I had to go to the Sleep graph in its dedicated section to see more. Its just a bit unintuitive and requires a lot of tapping and swiping around to find things. Cherlynn Low for Engadget The Series 11s hardier design is a subtle refinement I usually loathe going to bed with a smartwatch on, but because the Series 11 is so thin and light, it wasnt too bad. Its dimensions are identical to the Series 10, measuring 9.7mm thin and weighing about 0.3 grams more. As my relatively high Sleep Scores show, I didnt actually jolt awake in the middle of the night like I usually did with previous heavier, clunkier watches. (I still hate wearing watches to sleep, though.) More importantly, the Series 11 also has an IonX glass coating that Apple says is twice as scratch resistant as the Series 10, which might account for the slight increase in weight. While I didnt try very hard to test that claim, Ive certainly bumped my review unit against lots of hard surfaces, including the iPhone 17 Pro, and have yet to see a scratch. I even knocked it against the Series 10 on my other wrist as I laid my hands on top of each other in various yoga poses that involved lying face down, and neither device was damaged. Given that the Series 10 Ive been wearing remains pretty pristine after a year, Im confident that the Series 11s hardier material means itll stay similarly unmarred. Workout-tracking, gestures and watchOS 26 During my time with the Series 11, I tracked a variety of workouts, including a yoga class, as well as my usual sessions of outdoor walking, functional strength and cross training. I noticed little differences here compared to my Series 10, and the main changes were the watchOS 26 interface. After I turned on Workout Buddy, selected one of three available voices and let it finish downloading, I had to set some targets and connect headphones before I even heard anything during my sessions. I dont usually work out with headphones on, but I can see the coaching being useful for an aspirational future where Im perhaps trying to hit a 6-minute mile (my current time is about 8 minutes). Cherlynn Low for Engadget I will note that a lot of what makes the Series 11 feel new is in the software, which will be rolling out to older Apple Watches soon. watchOS 26 brings the Liquid Glass style, which allowed me to use some slick-looking fonts on my clock. I also liked the larger buttons across the interface and the refreshing feeling of looking at the translucent cards instead of the version before. Its just a visual change that makes things feel updated, and my eyes welcomed it. The Series 11 also gets a new wrist flick gesture that feels familiar for those of us who have covered the smartwatch industry since its inception. The gist is that you can quickly twist your wrist away from you to interact with your wearable. On other devices, you could use this action to scroll through lists of apps, for instance. On the Apple Watch Series 11, you have to first raise your wrist when a notification arrives, then flick your wrist to dismiss it and return to your watch face. This also works to end calls, alarms and timers. I was able to use this to silence an alarm, as long as I first raised my wrist before flicking. Battery that lasts longer than a day When Apple said during its keynote that the Series 11 will last 24 hours thanks to its re-engineered battery, my colleague Sam Rutherford scoffed . That number is measly compared to the multi-day runtimes promised by the likes of Pixel and Samsung watches, let alone Garmins almost week-long estimates. But when you consider Apple promises up to 18 hours for the Series 10 , the improvement is nothing to sneeze at. Also, 24 hours is an estimate depending on how you use your Apple Watch. Many people only put their watch on when heading out for a walk, run or workout, while others use it all day. That estimate includes time for overnight sleep tracking, with 18 hours devoted to daytime activities like checking the time, receiving notifications, using apps and doing a 60-minute workout. The gain in runtime is thanks in part to a 9 percent bigger battery in the 42mm model and an 11 percent larger one in the 46mm version, as well as optimizations in software and a new modem that also supports 5G. The Series 11 certainly outlasted the 24-hour estimate in my experience. It usually lasts one and a half days, including some light activity tracking, media control and sleep tracking. One day, I pulled it off the charger at 2PM, tracked a workout at 4PM, used the camera remote control and viewfinder for about 20 minutes, went to dinner and wore it to bed. I woke up at 8AM with 39 percent left in the tank. Even hours later at 3:15PM, I still had a healthy 22 percent to work with. On a different day, I woke up with 29 percent of juice, tracked a 37-minute morning walk and had about 20 percent remaining. The energy efficiency does seem to have improved. This also means continuous runtimes for specific activities have been increased. For example, you can run for an extra hour while tracking your heart rate, GPS and using other Apple Watch features for eight hours straight. Or, more likely, simply run a marathon without worrying about having juice after. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Apple was also able to boost its low power mode, now squeezing up to 38 hours of juice when enabled. It will turn off the always on display, disconnect cellular and Wi-Fi connections and also limit sensor activity, so background heart rate measurements and related alerts wont work. I switched it on at 9:20PM one night when the battery was at 86 percent, in anticipation of a long day away from a charger. The next day, after tracking about three hours of sleep overnight, a few workouts and general testing, the watch still held fairly strong at 22 percent at 8:50PM. I did have to restart the device and turn off low power mode a few times throughout the day just to check that certain features (like the AOD and gestures) were working, though, so uninterrupted use of the mode might get more hours out of it. Charging is also quite speedy. I placed the Series 11 on the charging puck at about 1PM with 8 percent left, and came back ten minutes later to see it had already reached 38 percent. Just over thirty minutes later, it was fully recharged. That, of course, is with an Apple-supplied fast charger. Which Apple Watch is right for you? If youre reading this review, youre not likely to be considering non-Apple watches, so I wont even compare the Series 11 to the Galaxy Watch 8 or the Pixel Watch 4. We havent even reviewed that latter one, anyway. You also probably dont currently own a Series 10 , though if you do and are wondering if this is worth an upgrade, read on. For those on older Apple Watches (like the Series 9 or earlier), the Series 11 is a solid upgrade. The battery life improvements will be meaningful even if youre coming from the Series 10, though if youre moving on from anything older the impact will be greater. Youll appreciate the bigger screen with wider viewing angles, thinner profile and general modern features like the watchOS refresh and AI-based tools. If youre considering one of the three new Apple Watches, this year is a trickier situation than usual. Because it added an always on display and faster charging to the SE 3 , Apple has made the entry-level smartwatch a no-brainer for pretty much anyone considering a starter device. For $250, that watch gives you everything the Series 11 does, except in a slightly bulkier case and smaller, dimmer display. Youll be giving up ECG and blood oxygen features, as well as hypertension alerts and sensors for depth and water temperature. Battery life is also a bit shorter, and you wont have an ultra-wideband chip for precision Find My. But with the Watch SE 3, youll still be able to access a wide range of health and fitness features like wrist temperature monitoring, sleep score, emergency SOS, fall and crash detection and more. Its a compelling option at an appealing price. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Wrap-up I dont expect companies to completely retool their products, especially 11 generations in. The Apple Watch Series 11 is a refinement of an already winning formula, packing a device thats always on your person with exactly the type of passive features youd want in something like that. Whether its quietly keeping tabs on your heart health and blood pressure changes, or providing better information on how well you slept, or even saving your life if youve fallen or gotten lost in the wilderness, the Series 11 is a capable companion. With longer battery life this time, it promises to provide even more peace of mind. Nifty touches like Liquid Glass in watchOS 26, Workout Buddy and 5G connectivity are icing on a rich, substantial cake. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-review-a-reliable-wearable-for-when-it-matters-most-120016945.html?src=rss

Apple Watch Ultra 3: A closer look at its satellite communications tools

The latest generation of smartwatches is looking to the skies to expand their connectivity capabilities. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be the second mainstream smartwatch (not counting the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro) to support satellite communications, and the new connectivity feature is one of a few changes coming to the device. Other upgrades include the S10 chip, a slightly larger display, bigger battery that lasts up to 42 hours, support for 5G, as well as the hypertension and sleep score features coming to the Series 11 (and also the Ultra 2 and several older Apple Watch models). While I continue to review the Series 11 before spending more time with the Ultra 3 (and the SE 3), I wanted to share what its like to use satellite communications on the wearable and how it differs from the approach on the Pixel Watch 4. To be clear, I have yet to receive a review unit of the Pixel Watch 4, so my impressions are based on a recorded demo at a hands-on event. For the Watch Ultra 3, I have a review unit and am using its built-in demo tool to connect to satellites. You can launch satellite communications on the Watch Ultra 3 in a few ways. Add it to the Control Center or as a complication on any watch face, and youll get options to send messages, share your location or contact emergency services. The first two require paid cellular service for your smartwatch. The device will also automatically suggest satellite connectivity when youre offline, though thats a situation I have yet to encounter. Regardless of where you use it, a lot of the process of connecting to a satellite is similar to that on the iPhone 14 and newer. If youve never tried that before, hang tight, as I will explain the steps a little further down. Emergency satellite communications on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 Theres also another screen where you might encounter a prompt to link to a satellite in the phone dialer. Whether youre on the watch or iPhone, Apple imagines (and likely hopes) that dialing your local emergency hotline is your first step. Here in the US, that number is 911. Of course, as a socially responsible person, I didnt want to unnecessarily burden emergency services and did not try this out myself on the Watch Ultra 3. Instead, Apple representatives gave us a demo in Cupertino last week, and made a call to 911 that was routed to the companys own call centers. As a reminder, the process for emergency SOS via satellite is different from using Messages or Find My via satellite because users are likely to be dialing their local services first and foremost. Only when that fails will the emergency satellite communications interface kick in. Once you select the Emergency SOS via Satellite option that appears after a few seconds or when your watch detects youre offline, youll be shown a list of guidelines, recommending you be outside with a clear view of the sky and explaining that transmission will take longer than when sent over cellular networks. After that, youll be presented a series of multiple choice questions to inform rescue services of your condition and environment. Thanks to the Watch Ultra 3s larger screen, the systems large buttons and readable font werent hard to see, and I could make out the options at arms length. A few taps later, we had selected some answers indicating we were lost or trapped, alone, unharmed and near steep terrain. The Apple representative performing our demo also opted to notify the emergency contacts set up on the Watch Ultra 3. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Once that was done, the watch displayed an interface similar to the version on the iPhone, featuring a glowing arc and translucent image of the earth. Words on the screen said Try to get a clear view of the sky and guided the wearer in various directions to attempt to connect to satellites passing overhead. After a link was established, the words Sending report appeared with a progress bar below. We had to wait a minute and a half for the message to go through, which is quite long, but it was probably not the usual amount of time. At about 25 seconds in, it seemed like the connection was lost and had to be re-established. That may seem like a long while to hold your wrist up, but Apple did say you only need to lift your arm while establishing a connection to the satellite and not while the information was being sent. I believe the rep only had their arm up so we could more easily see the screen. Finally, when the report had been delivered, the Watch Ultra 3 took us to the Message window showing a confirmation that the request had been received. It also tells the wearer to reply with Stop if emergency services were not or no longer required. Using satellites to send Messages and your location Outside of using satellite communications when youre in need of emergency services, you can also send messages or share your location when youre off the grid. This, again, mirrors the iPhone version of this service. You can go to the Find My app on the Watch Ultra 3 to share your location when youre out of coverage, and your position can be shared up to once every 15 minutes to previously added contacts. In the Messages app on the watch, you can contact people youve chatted with in the last 30 days. In my experience, it was easiest to add Satellite as a complication to a watch face. Tapping the button will bring up the Satellite screen with options to try a demo, go to Messages, share your location or contact emergency services. Like on the iPhone, the demo is there for users to get familiar with the process of connecting to a satellite, so theyre not completely unfamiliar in high pressure situations. Unfortunately, as I spent most of my time with the Ultra 3 so far in areas that had good coverage and signal, I never really got a chance to try to send a message or my location via satellite. First world problems, I know. Ill embark on an adventure upstate soon to check it out, though, and will report back after. Those unfamiliar with Messages or Find My via Satellite on iPhones may wonder why those features exist. Its not just for the frivolous desire to play with a novel feature. You can send texts, emojis and tapback reactions to let a loved one know you arrived in the desert safely for Burning Man, for example. Texts go through with a delivery message that says sent via Satellite, so your recipient will understand you have limited connectivity and cant engage in a full-blown tea-spilling session right then. Or, if youre like my partner and sometimes go camping in the middle of nowhere, sharing your location when youve arrived at your campsite can bring some peace of mind. (Note: I dont go camping.) My partner tends to favor forested areas, though, where satellite connectivity would struggle with the dense foliage, hampering its usefulness. To be very clear, emergency SOS via Satellite will be supported on all models of the Watch Ultra 3, but satellite communications for Messages and Find My require a paid cellular plan. With all purchases of the Ultra 3, Apple is providing two years of satellite service for emergency, Messages and Find My. Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Pixel Watch 4: The satellite comparison Thats somewhat similar to Googles approach for the Pixel Watch 4 , where Satellite SOS is included at no additional charge for 2 years after launch. However, only the LTE models of the Pixel Watch support its satellite feature, and its only available in the contiguous United States at the moment. Googles version also uses Skylos Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN), and adopts similar haptic and audio cues to the Watch Ultra 3s in the connecting process. One area that appears to be different is that the Pixel Watch 4 will offer a check replies button that Google says guides you to re-establish connection for updates from emergency services as needed. Meanwhile, Apples Find My and emergency satellite features will work in 18 countries at launch, including the US, UK, Japan, Switzerland, Australia and others. Messages via satellite is limited to Mexico, Canada and the US at the moment. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Other testing impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 As I continue to put the Watch Ultra 3 through its paces, its worth noting what changes the latest model has over its predecessor. Like I mentioned, it has a larger display while maintaining the same size, thanks to thinner bezels (which Apple said are 24 percent slimmer). It also uses an LTPO 3 panel that enables a faster refresh rate in Always On mode, as well as wide-angle OLEDs for easier reading at off angles. Ive found the Watch Ultra 3 lightweight and comfortable to wear so far, and I enjoy tapping buttons or reading messages on its 49mm screen. Unfortunately, I am also a person who wears long-sleeved shirts that are snug at the wrist, making the bigger watches a harder sell, especially as the weather gets colder here in New York. I did find it amusing when the Night mode got triggered any time I tucked the Ultra 3 under my sleeve, turning the watch faces dials, complications and other elements red. The Watch Ultra 3 gets the same 5G support, hypertension notifications and Sleep Score as the Series 11, along with watchOS 26 upgrades like Workout Buddy and Liquid Glass. I need a few more days with the Ultra 3 before I can vouch for its 42-hour battery estimate, but its nice to see longer runtimes on an endurance watch. My evaluation of those new features and whether they add up to a meaningful package will be ready soon in a full review. In the meantime, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for pre-order and will arrive in stores on September 19. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-ultra-3-a-closer-look-at-its-satellite-communications-tools-120012387.html?src=rss

The Morning After: The verdict on AirPods Pro 3

Apples third-gen pro earbuds make a very strong case for upgrading. Alongside all those iPhones and Watches, Apple revealed the AirPods Pro 3 , packing in major new features, like live translation and heart-rate sensing, all while tangibly boosting active noise cancellation (ANC). Those ANC upgrades? Ultra-low-noise microphones combine with advanced computational audio to silence even more noise, while new foam-infused ear tips play a major role here too, since they offer increased passive noise isolation. Apple says these buds cancel twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times more than the original AirPods Pro. Engadget Then theres the heart-rate sensors. While the tech debuted on the Powerbeats Pro 2, its got a more mainstream home in the AirPods Pro 3. Heart-rate data from the AirPods can be accessed by Apples own Fitness app and other workout apps, like Nike Run Club and Peloton. In fact, during his review, Billy Steele found they delivered just as much heart-rate data as his Apple Watch. There are some minor caveats: Battery life is less than previous models and the new shape of AirPod could take some time getting used to. Still, the newest AirPods garnered a score of 90 in our review. We like them. A lot. Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The news you might have missed Apple TV+ won big at the Primetime Emmys with Severance and The Studio What to expect at Meta Connect 2025: Hypernova smart glasses, AI and the metaverse Free Spotify users can finally listen to any track immediately The iPhone 17 square selfie camera is a bigger deal than you think Amazon may announce new Echo and Kindle devices An event is happening on September 30. Amazon has a big event coming up and Panos Panay, who leads the companys Devices & Services team, will be on hand. This strongly suggests Amazon will announce some new hardware. The press invite also included a composite image of various Amazon devices. These appear to include a Kindle ereader, a Fire TV of some kind and an Echo speaker. Those are three of the companys biggest product categories. Continue reading. All the biggest announcements from Nintendo Direct Mario, Metroid, Virtual Boy and more. Nintendo It was a jam-packed Nintendo Direct last Friday. First up, September 13 is the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. in Japan, which is a big reason this Direct took place on a Friday. The company revealed the title for the next Mario movie. Its called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , and its coming to cinemas in the US on April 3. Also, the Virtual Boy is coming back ! There was plenty more too. Continue reading. A TikTok deal may finally happen Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said unnamed parties reached an agreement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the United States and China have reached a framework deal on TikTok. Speaking to reporters in Madrid after two days of talks with his Chinese counterparts, Bessent said, Its between two private parties, but the commercial terms have been agreed upon. President Trump said in a Truth Social post that he will be speaking with Xi Jinping this Friday regarding the potential deal, among other things. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111558719.html?src=rss

The best budgeting apps for 2025

As a former Mint user, I had to find a new budgeting app not too long ago. Intuit, parent company of Mint, shut down the service in March 2024, and prompted users to transition to its other financial app, Credit Karma. However, after testing Credit Karma myself, I found it to be a poor Mint replacement that meant I needed to branch out and look elsewhere for a trusted app to track all of my financial accounts, monitor my credit score, follow a monthly spending plan and set goals like building a rainy-day fund and paying down my mortgage faster. I tried out Mint's top competitors in the hopes that I'd be able to find a new budgeting app that could handle all of my financial needs. Hopefully my journey can help you find the best budgeting app for you and your money as well. Best budget apps of 2025 Other budgeting apps we tested PocketGuard PocketGuard used to be a solid free budget tracker, but the company has since limited its free version to just a free seven-day trial. Now, youll have to choose between two plans once the trial is over: a $13 monthly plan or a $75 annual plan. When I first tested it, I found it to be more restricted than NerdWallet, but still a decent option. The main overview screen shows you your net worth, total assets and debts; net income and total spending for the month; upcoming bills; a handy reminder of when your next paycheck lands; any debt payoff plan you have; and any goals. Like some other apps, including Quicken Simplifi, PocketGuard promotes an after bills approach, where you enter all of your recurring bills, and then PocketGuard shows you whats left, and thats what youre supposed to be budgeting: your disposable income. Although PocketGuards UI is easy enough to understand, it lacks polish. The accounts tab is a little busy, and doesnt show totals for categories like cash or investments. Seemingly small details like weirdly phrased or punctuated copy occasionally make the app feel janky. More than once, it prompted me to update the app when no updates were available. The web version, meanwhile, feels like the mobile app blown up to a larger format and doesnt take advantage of the extra screen real estate. Ultimately, now that the free tier is gone, it just doesnt present the same value proposition as it once did. How we test budgeting apps Before I dove in and started testing out budgeting apps, I had to do some research. To find a list of apps to try out, I consulted trusty ol Google (and even trustier Reddit); read reviews of popular apps on the App Store; and also asked friends and colleagues what budget tracking apps (or other budgeting methods) they might be using for money management. Some of the apps I found were free and these, of course, show loads of ads (excuse me, offers) to stay in business. But most of the available apps require paid subscriptions, with prices typically topping out around $100 a year, or $15 a month. (Spoiler: My top pick is cheaper than that.) All of the services I chose to test needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web. Once I had my shortlist of six apps, I got to work setting them up. For the sake of thoroughly testing these apps, I made a point of adding every account to every budgeting app, no matter how small or immaterial the balance. What ensued was a veritable Groundhog Day of two-factor authentication. Just hours of entering passwords and one-time passcodes, for the same banks half a dozen times over. Hopefully, you only have to do this once. Budgeting app FAQs What is Plaid and how does it work? Each of the apps I tested uses the same underlying network, called Plaid, to pull in financial data, so its worth explaining what it is and how it works. Plaid was founded as a fintech startup in 2013 and is today the industry standard in connecting banks with third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, more than 8,000 third-party apps and services rely on Plaid, the company claims . To be clear, you dont need a dedicated Plaid app to use it; the technology is baked into a wide array of apps, including all of the budgeting apps listed in this guide. Once you find the add an account option in whichever one youre using, youll see a menu of commonly used banks. Theres also a search field you can use to look yours up directly. Once you find yours, youll be prompted to enter your login credentials. If you have two-factor authentication set up, youll need to enter a one-time passcode as well. As the middleman, Plaid is a passthrough for information that may include your account balances, transaction history, account type and routing or account number. Plaid uses encryption, and says it has a policy of not selling or renting customer data to other companies. However, I would not be doing my job if I didnt note that in 2022 Plaid was forced to pay $58 million to consumers in a class action suit for collecting more financial data than was needed. As part of the settlement, Plaid was compelled to change some of its business practices. In a statement provided to Engadget, a Plaid spokesperson said the company continues to deny the allegations underpinning the lawsuit and that the crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaids role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track. Why did Mint shut down? When parent company Intuit announced in December 2023 that it would shut down Mint, it did not provide a reason why it made the decision to do so. It did say that Mint's millions of users would be funneled over to its other finance app, Credit Karma. Credit Karma is thrilled to invite all Minters to continue their financial journey on Credit Karma, where they will have access to Credit Karmas suite of features, products, tools and services, including some of Mints most popular features, Mint wrote on its product blog . In our testing, we found that Credit Karma isn't an exact replacement for Mint so if you're still looking for a Mint alternative , you have some decent options. What about Rocket Money? Rocket Money is another free financial app that tracks spending and supports things like balance alerts and account linking. If you pay for the premium tier, the service can also help you cancel unwanted subscriptions. We did not test it for this guide, but we'll consider it in future updates. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/best-budgeting-apps-120036303.html?src=rss

The best AirPods for 2025

Whether you're all-in on the Apple ecosystem or just want a reliable pair of wireless earbuds, the best AirPods can deliver great sound, seamless pairing and smart features that are hard to beat. Over the years, Apple has expanded its AirPods lineup to suit a variety of users from the minimalist appeal of the standard models to the premium experience of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max with plush ear cups and active noise cancellation. With rumors of new AirPods on the horizon and the 2nd generation AirPods Pro still going strong, nows a great time to figure out which model suits you best. Some offer snug silicone tips for better isolation, while others prioritize comfort and simplicity. All of them work effortlessly across your Apple devices, whether you're switching from iPhone to iPad or taking a video call on your laptop. Table of contents What you need to know about AirPods Best AirPods for 2025 Best AirPods specs comparison chart Other AirPods we tested What you need to know about AirPods When it comes to Apples earbuds and headphones, there are several things youll want to keep in mind before making your final decision. First, the standard AirPods are the open-design earbuds with no tip that allow some environmental noise to come into your ears at all times. The Apple AirPods Pro are the model with tips that completely close off your ear canal, which enables features like more powerful noise cancellation and the hearing test. Lastly, the Apple AirPods Max are the companys over-ear noise-canceling headphones preferred by audiophiles, and currently the companys only option for wireless headphones at all that arent made by Beats. There are a few features that are available across all models as theyve become inherent to the AirPods experience. First, you can expect connectivity perks like Automatic Switching between Apple devices that are synced with your iCloud account. This means that a pair of AirPods will automatically change to your phone when you get a call while youre listening to music on a MacBook or laptop, for example. Its functionally similar to multipoint Bluetooth, but the feature isnt limited to two devices like most earbuds and headphones. Second, hands-free access to Siri is the default, allowing you to ask the assistant for help without touching your AirPods. And lastly, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is available across the entire lineup, even on the most affordable version and the new AirPods, including AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation. If you dont think any of the AirPods options are right for you, consult our recommendations on the best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones for some alternatives. Best AirPods for 2025 Best AirPods specs comparison chart Spec AirPods 4 AirPods Pro 2 AirPods Max Price $129 $249 $549 Design In-ear In-ear Over-ear H2 chip Yes Yes Yes ANC No Yes Yes Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking Yes Yes Yes Hearing test No Yes No Rated battery life 5 hours 8 hours 20 hours Durability Dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP54) Dust, sweat, and water resistant (IP57) N/A Other AirPods we tested AirPods 4 with ANC The AirPods 4 with ANC represent the first time active noise cancellation has been available on the open-wear, regular AirPods. Design-wise, theyre the same as the non-ANC model, so the difference is entirely in the features list. This more expensive version adds Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness and a wireless charging case. The ANC isnt as powerful as the AirPods Pro 2, partially due to the fact that the AirPods 4 doesnt completely seal off your ears. The noise-canceling performance is definitely useful though, working best with constant, low-frequency annoyances like fans and white noise machines. Lastly, you wont get access to Apples hearing test and hearing aid features, partially due to the fact that the AirPods 4 with ANC doesnt seal off your ears, which would affect accuracy and effectiveness. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-airpods-100041810.html?src=rss

The best October Prime Day deals to shop now: Save on tech from Apple, Beats, Anker and others

October Prime Day will be here soon on October 7 and 8, but as to be expected, you can already find some decent sales available now. Amazon always has lead-up sales in the days and weeks before Prime Day, and its wise to shop early if youre on the hunt for something specific and you see that item at a good discount. Prime Day deals are typically reserved for subscribers, but there are always a few that anyone can shop. We expect this year to be no exception, and were already starting to see that trend in these early Prime Day deals. These are the best Prime Day deals you can get right now ahead of the event, and well update this post with the latest offers as we get closer to October Prime Day proper. Best Prime Day deals: Early sales to shop now Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) for $449 ($150 off): The only major difference between the latest iPad Air and the previous generation is the addition of the faster M3 chip. We awarded the new slab an 89 in our review , appreciating the fact that the M3 chip was about 16 percent faster in benchmark tests than the M2. This is the iPad to get if you want a reasonable amount of productivity out of an iPad that's more affordable than the Pro models. Apple Mac mini (M4) for $499 $100 off): If you prefer desktops, the upgraded M4 Mac mini is one that wont take up too much space, but will provide a ton of power at the same time. Not only does it come with an M4 chipset, but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model, plus front-facing USB-C and headphone ports for easier access. Anker 622 5K magnetic power bank with stand for $28 (42 percent off): This 0.5-inch thick power bank attaches magnetically to iPhones and won't get in your way when you're using your phone. It also has a built-in stand so you can watch videos, make FaceTime calls and more hands-free while your phone is powering up. Anker MagGo 10K power bank (Qi2, 15W, ultra slim) for $60 (25 percent off): A 10K power bank like this is ideal if you want to be able to recharge your phone at least once fully and have extra power to spare. This one is also Qi2 compatible, providing up to 15W of power to supported phones. Anker MagGo 10K power bank (Qi2, 15W) for $72 (20 percent off, Prime exclusive): One of our favorite power banks , this 10K brick has a built-in kickstand and a small display that shows you the battery's remaining charge. Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker for $23 (34 percent off): This small Bluetooth speaker gets pretty loud for its size and has decent sound quality. You can pair two together for stereo sound as well, and its IP67-rated design will keep it protected against water and dust. Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $45 (44 percent off): Our top pick for the best budget wireless earbuds , the Space A40 have surprisingly good ANC, good sound quality, a comfortable fit and multi-device connectivity. Levoit Core 200S smart air purifier for $70 ($30 off): This compact air purifier cleans the air in rooms up to 140 square feet and uses a 3-in-1 filter that removes microscopic dust, pollen and airborne particles. It has a mobile app that you can use to set runtime schedules, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. 8BitDo Pro 2 controller with travel case for $40 (34 percent off, Prime exclusive): We generally love 8BitDo controllers, and the Pro 2 has been one of our favorites for a long time. This model works with Switch 2, Steam Deck, Android and more, plus it has Hall Effect joysticks and a slew of customization options. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for $200 (20 percent off): These Beats earbuds have a hook design that will be good for anyone who wants the most secure fit while doing strenuous workouts. They also have a built-in heart rate monitor and up to 45 hours of battery life with their included charging case. Amazon Fire TV Cube for $100 (29 percent off): Amazon's most powerful streaming device, the Fire TV Cube supports 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision content, Dolby Atmos sound, Wi-Fi 6E and it has a built-in Ethernet port. It has the most internal storage of any Fire TV streaming device, plus it comes with an enhanced Alexa Voice Remote. Rode Wireless Go III for $199 (30 percent off): A top pick in our guide to the best wireless microphones , the Wireless Go III records pro-grade sound and has handy extras like onboard storage, 32-bit float and universal compatibility with iPhones, Android, cameras and PCs. Paramount+ Essential for $30 for one year (50 percent off): Not technically an Amazon deal, but worth mentioning: New and returning subscribers can get half off one year of Paramount+. That brings the ad-supported Essential plan down to just $30 for the year, and the Premium plan down to $60 for the year. A subscription will give you access to NFL content on CBS and UEFA Champions League, along with shows like South Park, Tulsa King, Tracker, Ghosts and more. The discount runs through September 18. 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-october-prime-day-deals-to-shop-now-save-on-tech-from-apple-beats-anker-and-others-050801988.html?src=rss

iOS 26 has arrived: Everything to know about the free iPhone software update

Listen up, iPhone owners! iOS 26 is finally available to download , as well as all of Apple's other new operating systems . The first thing you'll notice after the install is a new clear design language Apple dubs Liquid Glass . The translucent look can be found within apps as well as your lock and home screens. The overhaul is one of several big changes that come with iOS, macOS , iPadOS , watchOS and the rest of Apple's software suite. You'll also see multiple useful additions in the Phone and Messages apps. For instance, the ability to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an option to hold your spot on a phone call when you've been waiting for a representative to pick up. And for fun, you can now create polls in group texts. Other new improvements coming include a confirmed AirPods live translation feature , and a new bouncy animation on the passcode screen and in the Control Center. If you don't have a compatible phone but plan to upgrade, Apple unveiled several new models at its iPhone 17 event that includes the new iPhone 17 lineup and the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air . If you missed the keynote, you can catch up on everything Apple announced here or rewatch the full iPhone 17 launch . The company rounded out its announcements with three new Apple Watch models, as well as the brand-new AirPods Pro 3 . Most newer iPhone models are eligible to download iOS 26 . We've rounded up a full list of new features you'll have to check out. What is iOS 26? Instead of releasing iOS 19, Apple skipped its naming convention ahead to iOS 26. The company has decided to line up its iOS version numbers with a year-based system, similar to car model years. So while iOS and its sibling operating systems were released in 2025, they're all designated 26 to reflect the year ahead. Apple also released iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to address security issues great news if you don't have a phone that's eligible to run the latest OS. It's official, we're moving to iOS 26. (Apple) What is Liquid Glass design? Let's be honest. Out of everything announced at WWDC this year, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the show. The iPhone's home and lock screens have looked pretty much the same year after year the last exciting thing (in my opinion) was the option to add your own aesthetic to your home screen by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the home and lock screens' new facelift is refreshing. So what exactly is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a new translucent material since, well, the apps and widgets are clear. However, the screen can still adapt to dark and light modes, depending on surroundings. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design in several apps, like Phone and Maps. They're designed to be less distracting than the current buttons, but are still easy to see. While the design overhaul has proven to be controversial since its announcement, some including Engadget's Devindra Hardawar like the new direction, even if it's somewhat reminiscent of Microsoft's translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from nearly twenty years ago. That said, while in beta mode, Apple incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing back the transparency in at least some places. And while it will continue to evolve, Apple users won't be able to escape it: The company says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms more cohesive. Here's a look at how the translucent aesthetic looks with the new macOS Tahoe 26 on your desktop. What are the new and notable features of iOS 26? iOS 26 has a laundry list of new features. Among the most worthwhile: Phone app redesign: You can now scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music and continue on with other tasks. Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call, FaceTime or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translation uses Apple Intelligence and it will translate your conversation in real time, which results in some stop-and-go interactions in the examples Apple shared during its presentation. Polls in group chats: Tired of sorting through what seems like hundreds of messages in your group chat? You and your friends can now create polls in group messages to decide things like which brunch spot you're eating at or whose car you're taking on a road trip. Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you haven't received spam texts about unpaid tolls or other citations, you're lucky. For those of us who have, those annoying messages will soon be filtered away in a separate folder. Visual Intelligence: Similar to a reverse Google image search, this new feature will allow you to search for anything that's on your iPhone screen. For instance, if you spot a pair of shoes someone is wearing in an Instagram photo, you can screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to find those shoes (or similar ones) online. Photos tabs are back: For anyone who's been frustrated with last year's changes to the Photos app , you'll be happy to know that your tabs are back. Library and Collections have their own separate spaces so you don't have to scroll to infinity to find what you're looking for. Camera app updates : Navigating the Camera app should be simpler in iOS 26, as all the buttons and menus are in convenient spots less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens needs to be cleaned. FaceTime Communication Safety feature: A newer addition to iOS 26 appears to be the FaceTime Communication Safety feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The feature appears to be a child safety feature that uses on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privacy issues. New lock screen options : The iPhone lock screen is more customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. New alarm setting : You'll no longer be stuck with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. Instead, you now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Screenshots look different : You'll notice several new features when you take a screenshot, including highlight to search, the option to search your image on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you have about the image. Apple's Hold Assist will be nifty for those pesky services that put you on hold for 10 or more minutes. (Apple) New changes with iPadOS 26 Your iPad isn't getting left behind when it comes to big updates. Here's what to look for. Multitasking and real windowing: When you download the newest update, you'll be able to have multiple apps running on your screen at the same time. Once you open an app, it'll appear on your screen as normal but you'll be able to resize and move it across your screen to make room for other apps. This feature is optional so you can turn it off if you don't like it. Visual update: Along with the other new OSes, iPadOS 26 also has the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look appears on the lock and home screens, as well as the drop-down menus. New menu bar: When you swipe down on your screen, the new menu bar will appear with options like File, Edit, Windows and more. There's also a search option if you're looking for something specific. There's more beyond that, so be sure to check out our first impressions of iPadOS 26 . What about AirPods? AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Here are some of the more notable functions. Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this studio-quality audio recording, and with it, you'll notice more clarity while in noisy environments. Camera remote control: Using this, you can take a photo or start and stop video recording with just one press on your AirPods. When taking photos, you'll get a three-second countdown before your iPhone or iPad snaps the picture. Live translation feature: Live translation is available on AirPods Pro 3 , AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones running iOS 26. Apple says that when someone speaks to you in a different language, you can use your AirPods to translate what theyre saying. Heart rate monitoring: Apple introduced new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds this month, which include heart rate monitoring. It will work with Apple's Health app and other fitness apps that track heart rates. Did Siri get an update? Siri is in a holding pattern. Apple has previously specified that its smarter voice assistant first promised at WWDC 2024 is delayed until some point in the coming year , so you shouldn't expect any major changes right now. But there are reports that Apple is aiming to give Siri a bigger brain transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, which could make 2026 a pivotal year. The company is also reportedly working on a stripped-down AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT. Which iPhones will be able to upgrade to iOS 26? A few iPhone models that run the current version of iOS iPhone XR, XS and XS Max aren't compatible with the latest upgrade. But any iPhones from 2019 or later will be eligible for iOS 26 : iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone Air iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max When to download iOS 26? iOS 26 has officially been released to the public for free today, September 15. If you're more interested in the new Apple Intelligence features, here's everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more during WWDC. Also, check out how iOS 26 screenshots could be an intriguing preview of Apple's delayed Siri rework . Update, September 15: Noted iOS 26 is officially available for download. Update, September 12: Noted iOS 26 is coming to eligible iPhones in just a few days, timing TBD. Update, September 11: Added the products Apple released at its Tuesday event and noted when iOS 26 will be available to download. Update, September 9: Noted the iPhone event is starting soon. Update, September 8: Noted the iPhone 17 event is tomorrow. Update, September 4: Added details about how screenshots are different in iOS 26. Update, September 3: Noted Apple is expected to release iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26. Update, September 2: Added more new features coming with iOS 26. Update, August 29: Added new section about Siri and a link to what's new with the iOS 26 Camera app. Update, August 27: Added the official iPhone 17 event date, as well as the potential iOS 26 release. Update, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Pro having heart rate monitoring. Update, August 22: Noted that Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 18.6. Update, August 20: Noted that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 are now available to download. Update, August 18: Added details about a potential iOS 18.6 update. Update, August 15: Added to link to what to expect at the Apple iPhone event and details about what's available in the iOS 26 screenshots editor. Update, August 13: Added new AirPods detail spotted in the iOS 26 beta. Update, August 11: Noted that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6. Update, August 8: Added new features coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods. Update, August 6: Noted the release of iOS 26 beta 5 and the new bouncy feature on passcode screen and Control Center. Update, August 4: Noted that Apple is reportedly working on a ChatGPT rival. Update, August 1: Added quote from Tim Cook about iOS 26. Update, July 31: Noted that iOS 18.6 is now available. Update, July 24: Noted the iOS 26 public beta is now available. Update, July 3: Noted new FaceTime feature found in the developer beta. Update, June 30: Noted ongoing iOS 18 releases, and reports that Apple is considering additional external LLMs for Siri. Update, June 25: Noted changes added in iOS 26 beta 2. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-has-arrived-everything-to-know-about-the-free-iphone-software-update-135749937.html?src=rss

China says NVIDIA's Mellanox acquisition violated antitrust law

A regulator has accused NVIDIA of violating China's antitrust laws over its acquisition of chipmaker Mellanox. In its preliminary findings of an investigation it commenced in December , the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) claimed that the company breached both national regulations and the conditional terms China outlined when it rubberstamped the $6.9 billion takeover. The SAMR hasn't announced any penalties yet, as the investigation will continue. The SAMR is said to have determined its preliminary findings several weeks ago. According to Financial Post sources, the regulator held off from releasing its statement until now, as trade talks with the US take place in Madrid, with the idea of giving Chinese officials more leverage. (Those talks have so far resulted in a framework agreement for TikTok .) NVIDIA and Mellanox announced the buyout back in 2019. China approved it in April the following year on the condition that NVIDIA continued to supply GPUs and interconnect products to the country and adhere to fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory principles, per the South China Morning Post . Last month, it was reported that China was discouraging companies in the country from buying NVIDIA's H20 chips pending a national security review. Officials were said to have taken offense at remarks from Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary. After the US allowed NVIDIA to start offering chips to China again in July following a three-month ban , Lutnick said the company wasn't going to be selling its most cutting-edge tech there. We don't sell them our best stuff, not our second best stuff, not even our third best. The fourth one down, we want to keep China using it, he told CNBC . The idea is the Chinese are more than capable of building their own. You want to keep one step ahead of what they can build, so they keep buying our chips. You want to sell the Chinese enough that their developers get addicted to the American technology stack. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/china-says-nvidias-mellanox-acquisition-violated-antitrust-law-200409929.html?src=rss

New York details its plans for online age verification rules

Last year, New York joined the wave of states passing legislation aimed at protecting minors using the Internet, particularly social media. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act in June 2024. Today, the state's Attorney General Letitia James released more specifics about what the SAFE for Kids Act will entail in practice. Public comment is open until December 1 and the rules must be finalized within a year from that date. In particular, the rule will require online platforms to confirm the ages of users before showing them algorithmically-curated feeds or sending them notifications at night. The Attorney General's approach allows sites to choose their method of age verification, as long as the approach are shown to be effective and protect users data. New York will also require an age confirmation method that does not rely on having a government-issued ID. There is also a component of parental consent in the SAFE for Kids Act. Minors must request a social media network to seek parental permission for accessing algorithmic feeds or receiving nighttime notifications. If parental consent is not granted, the platforms may not block minors from generally accessing their service or content. Both the minor and their parent may revoke their consent at any time. The proposed rules released by my office today will help us tackle the youth mental health crisis and make social media safer for kids and families, James said in the announcement. This is an issue that affects all of us, and I encourage parents, educators, young people, industry groups, and others to review the proposed rules and submit a comment during the public comment period. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/new-york-details-its-plans-for-online-age-verification-rules-195223379.html?src=rss

Video of 'Meta Ray-Ban Display' glasses surfaces ahead of Connect

Meta's smart glasses plans were already one of the worst kept secrets, as there have been more than a year of leaks and reports about its work to add a heads-up display to the product. Now, just days before their unveiling at Connect, a promotional video of the new frames seems to have leaked. The video, reported and reposted by UploadVR , shows the new Meta Ray-Ban Display frames as well as a new model of camera-enabled Oakley sunglasses. The clip mainly features the new Ray-Ban glasses, and shows a pair of black frames with clear lenses that look similar to the company's previous Wayfarer frames. Meta is adding two new pairs of glasses to its lineup. Screenshot The glasses also include a small display that's able to show info like a map preview, chats with friends and information related to what you're looking at. As reported, it also shows a dedicated wristband for the device. The video briefly shows someone swiping with their fingers in order to type out a reply to a message in a chat app. The clip also shows a new pair of Oakley frames that don't have a display. The sunglasses seem to be based on the company's wraparound Sphaera frames and show a camera in the center directly over the nosepiece. That would line up with prior reporting about the glasses that suggested Meta planned to market the glasses to cyclists and other athletes. UploadVR reports that the video briefly appeared on Meta's official YouTube channel as an unlisted clip but was quickly removed. We've reached out to the company for comment.In the meantime, you can read more about the company's new smart glasses lineup and what to expect at Connect here . Engadget will be reporting live from the event beginning September 17. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/video-of-meta-ray-ban-display-glasses-surfaces-ahead-of-connect-194713365.html?src=rss

Early Access is the latest place where Steam is restricting games with mature themes

Valve has apparently updated its Steam Early Access policy to no longer accept games with what the company deems to be mature themes. As first reported by Gamesmarkt earlier this month, gaming studio Dammitbird, which develops the adult adventure game Heavy Hearts , was not allowed to put the title on Steam Early Access because of its content. Payment processors like Mastercard and Visa have been mounting a pressure campaign on video game marketplaces Steam and Itch.io to remove certain adults-only content since early summer. After taking down a game called No Mercy in April at the behest of payment processors and an Australian anti-porn organization , there has been a steady expansion in the application of these new policies. Steam, for its part, made some incredibly vague policy changes to appease the payment giants, adding a sweeping clause that promises to ban certain kinds of adults-only content before proceeding to remove hundreds of games. Itch.io made similar changes before removing more than 20,000 titles from its marketplace. Steam has removed hundreds of titles that we know of. The apparent scope creep is of particular concern to small independent developers whose fairly innocuous games like VILE: Exhumed were banned from Steam and delisted from Itch.io. Exhumed is a mostly text-based game whose limited imagery and innuendo is worlds away from the sort of adult games that were first banned when this whole saga kicked off. Part of the problem is how card payments are policed. Stores like Steam and Itch.io dont contract with Visa or Mastercard directly but with acquiring banks and processors that must enforce the card networks brand-safety and anti-trafficking rules. This can end up influencing how companies like PayPal work with Steam across different regions, depending on how banks in those areas are responding to the pressure exerted by Visa and Mastercard. The confusion will continue to cause consternation among developers and consumers alike until policies on these platforms are made clearer, or payment processors relieve some of the pressure by clarifying their own standards. Engadget has reached out to Valve for comment and will update if we hear back. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/early-access-is-the-latest-place-where-steam-is-restricting-games-with-mature-themes-190806818.html?src=rss

LG expands its line of xboom earbuds with two new models

LG just announced two new earbuds in its xboom line of audio products, following the launch of the xboom Buds in January . The xboom Buds Plus and Buds Lite (which seems like a relatively confusing name to beer drinkers) both hit store shelves sometime this month. The Buds Plus earbuds are filled with high-tech bells and whistles. These premium headphones boast adaptive EQ that continuously adjusts the sound profile in real time. This should ensure optimal audio quality regardless of how the earbuds are worn. The company says the design compensates for changes that would lead to signal degradation with other earbuds. LG They include ANC and a trio of microphones for making phone calls and the like. The charging case sanitizes the earbuds after each use with UV rays, with the company claiming that the process eliminates 99.9 percent of bacteria from the surface. This case also doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter, which is useful when enjoying some in-flight entertainment. It supports wireless charging, which is nice, with up to ten hours of playback per charge on the buds and 30 hours with the case. The Buds Lite earbuds have one advantage over the standard Buds and the Buds Plus. The battery lasts up to 11.5 hours per charge, with the case bringing that up to 35 hours. Otherwise, these are standard earbuds that offer clear, balanced audio for music, calls and more. They offer ANC, though a more streamlined version than with the Plus, and four customizable EQ modes. This allows users to fine-tune their sound profile to match their preferences. The Buds Lite ship with several different ear tips to accommodate multiple ear canal sizes. LG LG hasn't revealed any pricing info on these products, but the original xboom Buds cost $109. It's a safe bet the Buds Plus will cost more than that. Hopefully, the Buds Lite will cost a bit less. These are just the latest xboom-branded audio products. The company announced a trio of speakers at CES this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/lg-expands-its-line-of-xboom-earbuds-with-two-new-models-182220615.html?src=rss

iOS 26 is here: Find out if your iPhone is eligible for the free update

We've been talking about it for months and now it's finally here. You can officially download iOS 26 on your phone iPadOS 26 is also available, as well as Apple's other operating system updates assuming you have an eligible device. If your device is compatible with the latest OS, you'll notice substantial changes when you install the new update. You may have already heard about Liquid Glass , which (intentional or not) is sort of like Apple's take on the old Windows Vista design language. That's the most notable change, but we spent two weeks test-driving many of the other features included in the update you can check out our hands-on iOS 26 preview for more impressions. Not sure if you have an eligible smartphone or tablet but also don't want to upgrade? No worries, we'll help you find out if your devices will be able to run iOS 26. While Apple didn't nix any iPhones from its eligibility list last year, that's not the case for 2025, as a few models are getting the axe this time around. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to receive the boot in 2023, and this year, iPhones released in 2018 will be left behind. If your device is ineligible, Apple also released iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to address security issues, so you can at least download that. You can find a full list of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 below. To see everything you get with the latest OS updates, you can check out our big rundown of what to expect from iOS 26 . Additionally, here's everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 17 launch event, including the all-new iPhone Air . (Check out Engadget's liveblog of the event for full details.) These three iOS 18 iPhones aren't compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, a trio of iPhones won't be eligible to download the newest iOS. These three models that were first released in 2018 won't be coming to the iOS 26 party: iPhone XR iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhones compatible with iOS 26 Per Apple's site , the devices listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. In short, if you have an iPhone that was announced in 2019 or later, you're in the clear: iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone Air iPads compatible with iPadOS 26 Meanwhile, the iPads listed below are eligible to download iPadOS 26 : iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and later, including M2 and M3) iPad (8th generation and later, including A16) iPad mini (5th generation and later, including A17 Pro) What if I don't want to buy a new iPhone? If you want to continue using your older iPhone that isn't supported by iOS 26, that's fine. However, you'll eventually miss out on security updates which could potentially put your phone at risk for malware and other threats. Additionally, some apps may stop working if they require a certain version of iOS or later. And, of course, you won't be able to access the latest features iOS 26 offers. When will iOS 26 become available? As of today, Monday, September 15, you can officially download and install iOS 26. iOS 26 features to try out first Liquid Glass design : Your home screen is getting revamped with new app icons, including dark mode and all-clear options. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design. Liquid Glass, in Apple's terms, was designed to make all of the company's operating systems more visually cohesive. Phone app redesign: You can finally scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music. Live Translate: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translate will translate your conversation in real time. Polls feature: Coming to group messages in the Messages app, chat members can now create polls. This can help prevent the unwanted 30+ messages when it comes to deciding which restaurant you're meeting at this weekend. New lock screen options : More customizable iPhone lock screen options are available with iOS 26, including a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms (if you want). You now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Fresh Camera app design : You'll find the Camera app is simpler to navigate in iOS 26, with all the buttons and menus located in convenient spots. That means less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens is too dirty. Screenshot revamps : When you take a screenshot, you now have the option to search for the image on Google (maybe you're looking for a sweater you saw on a celeb) and you can ask ChatGPT questions about the photo all from the edit screen. It's like a reverse image search but without all the hard work. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-is-here-find-out-if-your-iphone-is-eligible-for-the-free-update-191854386.html?src=rss

iOS 26 is now available. Here's how to install it on your iPhone

After a summer of beta updates, iOS 26 is here. As long as you have a compatible iPhone , you can install the new software right now. Head to Settings > General > Software Update , and get ready for a Liquid Glass makeover. iOS 26 offers Apple's biggest visual change to its software since iOS 7. (That was when Jony Ive's flat design replaced Scott Forstall's skeuomorphic one.) This time around, the software adopts a translucent material theme: Liquid Glass. Although it isn't a return to skeuomorphism, it does reincorporate a sense of depth, simulating a pleasantly refractive glass. Expect colors and visual effects that respond to their onscreen surroundings. Apple Apple has taken flak from industry pundits for not rushing headfirst into AI. (Or, at least it hasn't with the same manic frenzy as its competitors .) The company is taking a more measured approach, gradually incorporating it into its software. This year's Apple Intelligence additions include live translation in messages, FaceTime and Phone. Visual Intelligence also expands beyond the camera and into screenshots. And your Genmoji and Image Playground creations might look less strange than last year's versions. Even Apple Music gets a new AI feature. Its new automix generates transitions between songs, aiming for DJ-like progressions. I find that it works best with danceable genres like EDM or hip-hop. It usually won't bother trying to mix less beat-driven singer-songwriter-type stuff. Apple Arguably handier than new AI features is Apple's revamp of its communication apps. Call screening lets you gather info from callers before deciding whether to pick up. Hold Assist saves you from having to listen to the Muzak. And the Messages app adds new screening options and filters. You can also add custom backgrounds and even conduct polls in your messaging threads. Finally, the Phone app cleans up its interface, unifying its tabs into a single list. There's much more on tap, of course. For that, you can check out Engadget's iOS 26 preview . It isn't all about the iPhone. Apple's other software updates are here today, too. iPadOS 26 gives the tablet its most Mac-like productivity boost to date . watchOS 26 adds sleep scores and an AI coach . And macOS 26 Tahoe adds a Phone app and souped-up Spotlight search . All of those (along with visionOS 26 and tvOS 26, which still exist) adopt the new Liquid Glass aesthetic. You can download each via Settings > General > Software Update . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ios-26-is-now-available-heres-how-to-install-it-on-your-iphone-171233434.html?src=rss

A TikTok deal may finally be happening

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that the United States and China have reached a framework deal on TikTok. Speaking to reporters in Madrid after two days of talks with his Chinese counterparts, Bessent said, Its between two private parties, but the commercial terms have been agreed upon. President Trump said in a Truth Social post that he will be speaking with Xi Jinping this Friday regarding the potential deal, among other things. This breakthrough comes after the Trump administration extended the TikTok ban for a third time earlier this summer, giving the company until September 17 to undergo a sale or face a ban in the United States. The short-form video content app faced increasing scrutiny over national security concerns due to the Chinese ownership of its parent company, ByteDance. President Trump issued an executive order in August 2020 banning the app in the United States unless it was divested from ByteDance, though courts halted enforcement of the order. In 2024 the United States Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) which was signed into law by then-President Biden. The Trump administration has repeatedly delayed the enforcement of that law in hopes a deal could be made for a US-based acquisition, leaving the app online in the meantime. As it stands, this appears to be a framework for how TikTok could come under some level of US control, and not a signed final deal. Companies from Oracle to Microsoft have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, and the president is on record as saying he would be OK if a very American company buys it. It's unclear if the September 17 deadline will be pushed once again, but US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Monday that another delay may be needed in order to get the deal signed. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/a-tiktok-deal-may-finally-be-happening-160448732.html?src=rss

The best wireless earbuds for 2025

Finding the best wireless earbuds can make a huge difference in how you experience music, podcasts, calls and even daily commutes. Whether you're tuning out distractions on the train or taking work calls on the go, todays wireless earbuds pack impressive audio quality and convenience into tiny, pocket-friendly forms. Many now offer excellent noise cancellation, smart ambient noise modes for staying aware of your surroundings and reliable noise isolation to help keep you focused all without the hassle of wires. Theres a wide range of options available, from budget-friendly picks to premium models with advanced features like multi-device pairing, wireless charging cases and multiple mics for crystal-clear calls. No matter your price point, theres a pair out there that can deliver great sound, comfort and functionality to match your needs. Table of contents Best wireless earbuds of 2025 What to look for in the best wireless earbuds How we test wireless earbuds Other wireless earbuds we tested Wireless earbuds FAQs Best wireless earbuds of 2025 What to look for in the best wireless earbuds When it comes to shopping for earphones, the first thing to consider is design or wear style. Do you prefer a semi-open fit like AirPods or do you want something that completely closes off your ears? If youre shopping for earbuds with active noise cancellation, you'll want the latter, but a case can be made for the former if you want to wear them all day or frequent places where you need to be tuned in to the ambient sounds. The overall shape of earbuds can determine whether you get a comfortable fit, so can the size and weight, so youll want to consider all that before deciding. And remember: audio companies arent perfect, so despite lots of research, the earbud shape they decided on may not fit you well. Dont be afraid to return ill-fitting earbuds for something thats more comfortable. As wireless earbuds have become the norm, theyre now more reliable for basic things like consistent Bluetooth connectivity. Companies are still in a race to pack as much as they can into increasingly smaller designs. This typically means a longer list of features on the more premium sets of earbuds with basic functionality on the cheapest models. Carefully consider what you cant live without when selecting your next earbuds, and make sure key items like automatic pausing and multipoint connectivity are on the spec sheet. Youll also want to investigate the volume and touch controls as youll often have to sacrifice access to something else to make that adjustment via on-board taps or swipes. Some earbuds even offer app settings to tweak the audio profiles or firmware updates to improve performance over time. For those in the Apple ecosystem, features like auto-pairing with devices, especially with AirPods Pro 3, can be an added advantage, while Android users may want to look for models that offer similar cross-device functionality. When it comes to battery life, the average set of earbuds lasts about five hours on a single charge. You can find sets that last longer, but this is likely enough to get you through a work day if youre docking the buds during lunch or the occasional meeting. Youll want to check on how many extra charges are available via the case and if it supports wireless charging. Companies will also make lofty claims about call quality on wireless earbuds. Despite lots of promises, the reality is most earbuds still leave you sounding like youre on speakerphone. There are some sets that deliver, but dont get your hopes up unless reviews confirm the claims. Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if at all possible. This is especially true if you're an audiophile. We understand this isnt easy when most of us do a lot of shopping online, but trying on a set of earbuds and listening to them for a few minutes can save you from an expensive case of buyer's remorse. If a store doesnt allow a quick demo, most retailers have return policies that will let you take earbuds back you dont like. Of course, you have to be willing to temporarily part with funds in order to do this. We also recommend paying attention to things like Spatial Audio , Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio and other immersive formats. Not all earbuds support them, so youll want to make sure a perspective pair does if that sort of thing excites you, especially if you plan to use them for playback of high-quality audio. How we test wireless earbuds The primary way we test earbuds is to wear them as much as possible. We prefer to do this over a one- to two-week period, but sometimes embargoes dont allow it. During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls. Since battery life for earbuds is typically less than a full day, we drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent). To judge audio quality, we listen to a range of genres, noting any differences in the sound profile across the styles. We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in the tuning. To assess call quality, well record audio samples with the earbuds microphones as well as have third parties call us. When it comes to features, we do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as we work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the earbuds were testing are an updated version of a previous model, well spend time getting reacquainted with the older buds. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of earbuds that we review. Other wireless Bluetooth earbuds we tested Sony WF-C710N The WF-C710N is a set of compact and comfy earbuds that offer several of Sonys best features. While the ANC performance is above average for this price ($120), sound quality isnt as good as the companys slightly more expensive options. Battery life fell below stated figures and call performance isnt good enough to use these buds for work. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 The newest version of the Powerbeats Pro have an improved, comfortable design, balanced bass and new H2 chips and a heart rate sensor inside. But heart rate support is currently limited on iOS. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 The Galaxy Buds 3 combine ANC with an open-type design, which renders the noise-blocking abilities of the earbuds mostly useless. Still, theres great low-end tone with ample bass when a track demands it. There are also lots of handy features, most of which require a Samsung phone. But at this price, there are better options from Google, Beats and Sony Sennheiser Momentum Sport I really like the overall shape of the Momentum Sport earbuds. Theyre more comfortable than the Momentum True Wireless 4 and fit in my ears better. Whats more, the body temperature and heart rate sensors work well, sending those stats to a variety of apps. However, that sport-tracking feature works best with Polars app and devices, so theres that consideration. Also, the audio quality and ANC performance isnt as good as the MTW4, and these earbuds are pricey. Beats Solo Buds Theres a lot to like about the Solo Buds for $80. For me, the primary perk is theyre very comfortable to wear for long periods of time thanks to some thoughtful design considerations. You only get the basics here in terms of features and, as expected, the overall sound quality isnt as good as the pricier models in the Beats lineup. You will get 18 hours of battery life though, since the company nixed the battery in the case and beefed up the listening time in the buds themselves. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Bose created something very unique for this set of earbuds that allows you to stay in-tune with the world while listening to audio content. The clip-on design is very comfortable, but sound quality suffers due to the open-type fit, especially when it comes to bass and spatial audio. Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7 These stick buds have a compact design thats comfortable to wear and the warm sound profile is great at times. However, overall audio performance is inconsistent and theres no automatic pausing. Master & Dynamic MW09 Retooled audio, better ambient sound mode and reliable multipoint Bluetooth are the best things the MW09 has to offer. Theyre expensive though, and you can find better ANC performance elsewhere. Wireless earbud FAQs What is considered good battery life for true wireless earbuds? Most wireless earbuds will last five hours on a single charge, at the least. You can find some pairs that have even better battery life, lasting between six and eight hours before they need more juice. All of the best wireless earbuds come with a charging case, which will provide additional hours of battery life but you'll have to return each bud to the case in order to charge them up. Is sound quality better on headphones or earbuds? Comparing sound quality on earbuds and headphones is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. There are a lot of variables to consider and the differences in components make a direct comparison difficult. Personally, I prefer the audio quality from over-ear headphones, but I can tell you the sound from earbuds like Sennheisers Momentum True Wireless 3 is also outstanding. Which wireless earbuds have the longest battery life? With new models coming out all the time, tracking the hours of battery life for each this can be difficult to keep tabs on. The longest-lasting earbuds weve reviewed are Audio-Technicas ATH-CKS5TW . The company states they last 15 hours, but the app was still showing 40 percent at that mark during our tests. The only downside is these earbuds debuted in 2019 and both technology and features have improved since. In terms of current models, Master & Dynamics MW08 offers 12 hours of use on a charge with ANC off (10 with ANC on) and JBL has multiple options with 10-hour batteries. What wireless earbuds are waterproof? There are plenty of options these days when it comes to increased water resistance. To determine the level of protection, youll want to look for an IP (ingress protection) rating. The first number indicates intrusion protection from things like dust. The second number is the level of moisture protection and youll want to make sure that figure is 7 or higher. At this water-resistance rating, earbuds can withstand full immersion for up to 30 minutes in depths up to one meter (3.28 feet). If either of the IP numbers is an X, that means it doesnt have any special protection. For example, a pair of wireless earbuds that are IPX7 wouldnt be built to avoid dust intrusion, but they would be ok if you dropped them in shallow water. Which earbuds stay in ears the best? A secure fit can vary wildly from person to person. All of our ears are different, so audio companies are designing their products to fit the most people they can with a single shape. This is why AirPods will easily fall out for some but stay put for others. Design touches like wing tips or fins typically come on fitness models and those elements can help keep things in place. Youll likely just have to try earbuds on, and if they dont fit well return them. What wireless earbuds work with PS5? PlayStation 5 doesnt support Bluetooth audio without an adapter or dongle. Even Sonys own gaming headsets come with a transmitter that connects to the console. There are universal options that allow you to use any headphones, headset or earbuds with a PS5. Once you have one, plug it into a USB port on the console and pair your earbuds with it. Recent updates September 2025: Updated to add AirPods Pro 3 to our top picks. May 2025: Updated to ensure top picks and buying advice remain accurate. March 2025: Updated the top pick for the best sounding wireless earbuds - runner up. January 2025: Updated the top pick for best sounding wireless earbuds. July 2024: Updated our list to include the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-wireless-earbuds-120058222.html?src=rss

Amazon may be announcing new Echo and Kindle devices on September 30

Amazon has a press event scheduled for September 30 at 10AM ET. Panos Panay, who leads the company's Devices & Services team, will be on hand. This strongly suggests that Amazon will announce some new hardware. We don't exactly know what the company will reveal, but we do have a giant clue. The press invite also included a composite image of various Amazon devices. These appear to include a Kindle ereader, a Fire TV of some kind and an Echo speaker. Those are three of the company's biggest product categories. Amazon It's been a while since we've gotten a new entry-level Kindle, though Amazon did recently refresh both the Scribe and the Colorsoft . It's also possible the company will announce a refresh of the Paperwhite ereader. It's a similar story with Echo speakers. The company recently refreshed the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop , along with the Echo Show 8 , but it's been nearly five years since it redesigned the standard Echo speaker. It's possible the company's speakers will be getting some kind of new integration with the Alexa+ smart assistant . It's been a couple of years since we've gotten a big influx of new Fire TVs and related streaming sticks, so those could also be on the docket. However, that part of the invite image is a bit fuzzy and might be advertising an upcoming tablet and not new TVs. In any event, we only have a couple of weeks before finding out. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/amazon-may-be-announcing-new-echo-and-kindle-devices-on-september-30-152044048.html?src=rss

This Paramount+ deal ends soon: Annual subscriptions are 50 percent off

Sometimes, rising prices for streaming services feels as inevitable as death and taxes. So when a serious discount is available, we tend to sit up and take notice. For a few weeks, you can get a whopping half off an annual subscription to Paramount+ . A year of the Paramount+ Essential plan, which is ad-supported, will cost $30 compared to the usual $60. Paramount+ Premium, which is ad-free except for live tv programming, will cost $60 for a year instead of $120. This is a substantial deal that both new and returning subscribers can take advantage of; it's not uncommon for this type of serious discount to only be offered to a first-timer. Anyone who signs up for a year-long subscription to Paramount+ from now through September 18 will be able to get this pricing. The only real caveat with this deal is that you have to pay for the full year in advance; month-to-month subscriptions will still cost the usual rate. Paramount+ has some great programming options, particularly if you're a fan of anything involving RuPaul. It's also the home of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks , which are arguably the best modern additions to the sci-fi show's canon, as well as the other past and present Star Trek series. The platform offers a solid lineup of sports as well. And if you opt to go for the Premium plan, you'll also be granted access to Showtime titles such as Yellowjackets and the rebooted Dexter: Resurrection . Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-paramount-deal-ends-soon-annual-subscriptions-are-50-percent-off-212655021.html?src=rss

Apple's iPad Air M3 is back on sale for $150 off

If you've been on the fence about getting a new iPad then now might be the time to hop off it. Apple's iPad Air M3 is down from $599 to the record-low price of $450. The 25 percent discount applies to the 11-inch Wi-Fi model. We gave the iPad Air M3 an 89 in our review , thanks, in part, to its new chip. The M3 chip gives this generation's iPad Air a big boost over the M2 model despite coming out less than a year apart. Plus, even without the discount, it's a more affordable option across Apple's iPad range. In fact, we named the iPad Air M3 as our choice for the best iPad for most people . Unless you plan to use your iPad as a substitute computer or really want a top notch screen, then you probably don't need the iPad Pro . The iPad Air M3 strikes a great balance of features for a lot less money. 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/deals/apples-ipad-air-m3-is-back-on-sale-for-150-off-133334170.html?src=rss

Pick up an Anker magnetic battery pack while they are up to 42 percent off

Whether you you intend to pick up the new iPhone Air or just need some extra juice for your existing iPhone, a MagSafe power bank is an essential accessory. Luckily, Anker both makes some of our favorites and has great sales going on right now on just this kind of gear. One of the most affordable is the Anker 622 Magnetic Battery , which is 42 percent off and down to $28 right now. This steep discount is also available at Anker's online store with a coupon code that the company provides. This model has a 5,000 mAh capacity, strong magnets and a slim design that even includes a foldable stand built in. Anker says the 622 Magnetic Battery can recharge a dead iPhone 16 or 16 Pro to just over 80 percent, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max to just over 60 percent. In our hands-on review of the portable charger, we liked the magnetic stand that folds out into a 30-degree angle. Users can rotate their phone to either portrait mode or landscape mode while charging. The Anker 622 is an older charger, so it outputs a maximum of 7.5W when charging wirelessly. If you need to refill your battery faster than that, you might want to pick up one of the newer Qi2 power banks. Though a Qi2 power bank will, of course, cost more, some of our favorites are having great sales right now. The Anker Ultra-Slim 10,000mAh battery pack can charge an iPhone 16 Pro to 50 percent in just 26 minutes, thanks to its Qi2-certified 15W of wireless charging. Right now it's 25 percent off, priced at $60 down from $80. It's got a bare-bones design, opting for a slim profile instead of a stand. If you prefer one with a stand and you like the idea of a display that tells you how much charge your power bank has left, then check out the Anker 10,000mAh battery pack with smart display and foldable stand . In our rundown of the best power banks , this was our top pick for iPhones. Not only does this battery pack offer Qi2 wireless charging at 15W, it also offers 27W when using USB-C for fast charging. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-an-anker-magnetic-battery-pack-while-they-are-up-to-42-percent-off-133451553.html?src=rss

Free Spotify users can finally listen to any track immediately

There must be something in the water at Spotify HQ. Less than a week after delivering long-promised lossless audio , the company has another treat. Free listeners can finally listen to any track they want. After enhancing Premium, perhaps Spotify figured it could add a free perk without shedding subscribers. Spotify accounts on the free plan can now choose any track and immediately listen to it. Previously, that was paywalled for Premium subscribers. Non-paying ones had to shuffle through an album or playlist until the song they wanted to hear came up. And the free tier's limited skips meant you might have to wait a while to get to it. Now you can choose any track you want by searching, selecting it in an album or playlist or tapping a shared one. The feature rolls out globally beginning today. However, the free plan's other limits haven't changed, so you'll need to listen to ads and choose your limited skips wisely. Pre-existing features of Spotify's free tier include personalized recommendations, AI playlist covers and daylists. If you can live without hi-fi audio, offline playback or ad-free listening, the view from the cheap seats is better than ever. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/free-spotify-users-can-finally-listen-to-any-track-immediately-130013081.html?src=rss

Snap's AR glasses are getting a better browser and support for Spotlight video

Snap is upgrading the software that powers its augmented reality glasses as it gets ready for the first non-developer version of its Specs next year. The latest update to Snap OS includes an improved web browser, as well as the ability to browse Spotlight videos in AR. The company has long said that one of its goals for AR glasses is to enable people to spend less time staring at their phones. Snap hasn't quite accomplished that yet, but Snap OS is starting to get more features that could help the company get there. The company has redesigned the browser in Snap OS to make it easier to switch between sites and resize windows to different aspect ratios. It's also faster and more power efficient, with the ability to watch around 40 minutes of continuous video playback. (The current version of Spectacles tops out at around 45 minutes of battery life.) Speaking of video, Spectacles is also getting a dedicated lens for browsing Spotlight, Snapchat's short-form video platform. There's also a new gallery lens that allows you to preview photos you've snapped with the glasses' onboard camera and quickly scroll through them with hand gestures. The update arrives one year after the company first showed off its somewhat goofy-looking AR glasses. Since then, hundreds of developers have been experimenting with the device and creating their own AR lenses for the platform. But those experiences have so far had a very limited reach as the company has only made its AR Spectacles available to developers willing t o pay a pricey subscription . That's set to change sometime in 2026, though, when Snap says it will start selling a smaller, lighter and more capable pair of glasses. The company has yet to divulge details about the redesigned form factor or what powers Specs will have. But the new version of Snap OS shows the company is trying to make its AR platform more useful. Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Engadgets parent company Yahoo, joined the board of directors at Snap on September 12, 2024. No one outside of Engadgets editorial team has any say in our coverage of the company. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/snaps-ar-glasses-are-getting-a-better-browser-and-support-for-spotlight-video-130009244.html?src=rss

AirPods Pro 3 review: A significant update to Apples best earbuds

If youre not already wearing a pair of AirPods all day, Apples latest suite of features may convince you to do so. The companys latest model , the AirPods Pro 3 ($249) , is Apples most comprehensive update to its best set of earbuds. Flashy new features like Live Translation and heart-rate sensing will garner the bulk of the attention, but upgrades to active noise cancellation (ANC) and a significant boost in sound quality shouldnt be overlooked. And with a notable improvement in battery life, the company now provides enough power for you to use these AirPods for an entire work day. Importantly, Apple managed to do all this without raising the price. The AirPods Pro 3 also carry many of the same features that made the AirPods Pro 2 such a compelling option for iPhone users. Those include the robust hearing health tools , hands-free access to Siri, gesture-based notification interactions, audio sharing with another set of AirPods, simplified setup and more. Since Ive gone over all of these at length before, and because theres a long list of updates on the AirPods Pro 3, Ive chosen to focus primarily on the new tools in this review. But you shouldnt overlook the exhaustive set of features that the AirPods Pro have amassed over the years, especially when you consider how Apple continues to find new ways to deploy its H2 chip. Design changes on the AirPods Pro 3 With a cursory glance, you likely wont notice the design changes on the AirPods Pro 3. The company altered the shape of these smaller earbuds to align with the geometry of the ear canal for a more comfortable and secure fit. Of course, youll also notice the newly installed heart-rate sensor upon closer inspection, covering a previously blank surface of the AirPods Pro 2. Once you remove the new foam-infused ear tips from the latest model though, youll see the most obvious variation between the second- and third-generation versions. On the AirPods Pro 2, the grille protecting the driver sat flush with the surface of the main housing. Now, its extended out from the rest of the earbud, with a nozzle-like component similar to what much of the competition uses. Apple also revised the angle of the drivers, so sound beams more directly into your ears rather than bouncing as much off of the sides. As such, a side-by-side comparison of the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2 will show you that the ear tips are pointing in slightly different directions. There are also some visual differences on the AirPods Pro 3s charging case. Like it did for the AirPods 4 last year, Apple has removed the Bluetooth pairing button entirely. Youll now double tap on the front of the case near the LED to activate that function while the AirPods Pro are in their case. Additionally, just like AirPods 4, the LED is now hidden, so you dont see the dot when its not illuminated. Its a small thing, but as I noticed on last years models, it makes the surface of the case look cleaner. A quick word about fit Billy Steele for Engadget Thanks to the AirPods Pro 3s revised curves and foam-filled ear tips, Apple is calling this model the best-fitting AirPods ever. While I do think thats true, I also believe that the new fit will take some getting used to especially if youve worn the AirPods Pro 2 before. First, the new tips feel very different and seal off your ear canal in a more complete way than the Pro 2s silicone-only tips. If youve used foam ear tips before, you know they provide better passive noise isolation than their silicone counterparts, and that remains true here. In fact, you may need to go down a size to find the most comfortable fit with the AirPods Pro 3. For example, I typically wear medium ear tips, but those felt too tight here. After swapping them out for the small ones, I began to understand why Apple wont stop bragging about the updated fit. Upgraded ANC and its impact on other features Across the first two generations of the AirPods Pro, Apple had already made big strides in active noise cancellation. But with the AirPods Pro 3, the company ramped up its efforts several notches. Ultra-low-noise microphones combine with advanced computational audio to silence even more background noise. The new foam-infused ear tips play a major role here too, since they offer increased passive noise isolation. This trio of improvements allowed Apple to cover more of the noise spectrum, including higher frequencies like human voices. In the last week, there have been several times when I had the AirPods Pro 3 in and I couldnt hear someone talking right next to me. In fact, Apple says the latest model cancels twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times more than the original AirPods Pro. Obviously, I dont have a way to quantify that, but I can tell you the ANC performance on this new model was noticeably stronger than before. The improved seal the AirPods Pro 3s ear tips offer helps make Apples ANC setup more precise. This allows the active noise cancellation system to be the foundation for several of the companys other features like the Hearing Test, Live Translation and more. For the Hearing Test, you can now be in slightly louder environments without Siri asking you to relocate to a quieter place. And with Live Translation, ANC will lower the voice of the person youre speaking to so you can focus on Siri playing the role of interpreter. Live Translation on the AirPods Pro 3 Billy Steele for Engadget At WWDC, Apple announced that Live Translation would be coming to Phone, FaceTime and Messages in iOS 26 . There was no mention then that it would come to AirPods. Skip ahead to the iPhone 17 event and Live Translation was easily one of the most exciting new features announced for the AirPods Pro 3, because it will allow the wearer to translate in-person conversations with Apples earbuds. Google has been offering real-time translation on Pixel Buds for years , so Apple is very late to the game here. However, the AirPods Pro 3 uses its H2 chip in different ways, and now combines Voice Isolation, ANC and the beamforming mics to enable Live Translation. Whats more, you can activate it on the earbuds themselves (press and hold on both stems), ask Siri to start it or set the iPhones Action Button to carry out the task. When Live Translation begins, ANC kicks in to muffle environmental noise and to reduce the volume of the person youre speaking to. Both are done so you can clearly hear Siris translation through your AirPods. Siri will warn you when ambient sound levels are too high, asking you to move to a quieter spot so that it can hear the speaker better. Live Translation worked well, at least for my Spanish-to-English and French-to-English tests. Plus, a real-time transcription is visible in the Translate app so you can show it to the person youre chatting with an element thatll be useful for international travel. Just know that if youre looking at your phone too, youll see the translation there before the audio comes through your AirPods. This isnt surprising since the processing is being done by the connected iPhone, but seeing the English version right before I heard it was slightly confusing. You will need to enable Apple Intelligence on a compatible iPhone for Live Translation to work. The tool leverages Apples AI to translate the meanings of phrases so that sentences have the proper context. The feature will also be available on any AirPods that have the H2 chip inside, which includes the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC. Youll have to download the different language models before you get started, too. Apple explains that the downloads would be required for offline use, but Siri prompted me to do so to use Live Translation even when I was was connected. Lastly, only five languages are supported at launch: English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Apple says Italian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified) are coming later this year. Heart-rate tracking finally arrives Billy Steele for Engadget After initially debuting heart-rate sensing capabilities on the Powerbeats Pro 2 , Apple is now bringing it to the AirPods Pro 3. Like with the Powerbeats model, heart rate data from the AirPods can be accessed by Apples own Fitness app in addition to other workout apps like Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder and Peloton. Basically, if an app works with the Powerbeats Pro 2, it should work with the AirPods Pro 3, and it should do so by the time those earbuds ship. As always, I expect even more integrations will be announced in the future, so dont panic if your go-to app has worked with Apple gear in the past but doesnt yet support the AirPods Pro 3. I exclusively tested the new heart-rate sensing tech on the AirPods Pro 3 with Apples Fitness app. Im an Apple Watch owner and thats where the bulk of my stats already reside. Speaking of the Watch, you dont have to worry about conflicting streams of heart rate info if youre using it as well as the AirPods Pro 3 during a workout. Apple explained that its devices will work together to provide multiple streams of data for better coverage of your activity. Whats more, if you dont wear your Apple Watch during a session, the Fitness app will use data gathered from the AirPods Pro 3 to still log your stats for your Move, Exercise and Stand rings. During this review, I used the AirPods Pro 3 to monitor my heart rate primarily during outdoor walks. The earbuds actually support 50 different workouts in the Fitness app though, with HIIT, yoga and paddling among the available options. You can even track a session at the archery range. Youll see live heart rate metrics on the workout screen alongside stats like time and distance, and your average heart rate will be displayed in the workout summary when youre done. Heart rate info is also displayed with Live Activities on the lock screen and is a tap away on the icon in the Dynamic Island. So far, I havent encountered any issues leaving my Watch at home and relying solely on the AirPods Pro 3. The earbuds provided a constant stream of data to the Fitness app. The AirPods Pro 3s sound quality The AirPods Pro 3 (left) vs. the AirPods Pro 2 (right). Billy Steele for Engadget The improvement to sound quality on the AirPods Pro 3 isnt exclusively due to its new drivers/transducers. Although those components were revised this generation, Apples biggest strides in the audio department are also thanks to increased air flow inside the earbuds. The company developed a new multiport acoustic architecture for better control of the air that delivers sounds into the ear. This allowed Apple to significantly improve bass response while providing a wider soundstage and increased vocal clarity. With all of that air to move around, Apple had to tweak its drivers for the task, but also make sure its tuning covered all the needed frequencies adequately. But those transducers remain the same size as the AirPods Pro 2. As I mentioned, Apple also reconfigured their angle so they now beam sound more directly into the ear canal. You might recall that an angular adjustment was also part of the companys strategy for improving audio quality on the AirPods 4. The improvement you hear first will depend on the style of music you choose. Pick something with big, bombastic drums like Deftones my mind is a mountain and youll immediately notice the warmer, boomier bass. Opt for a track like Hayley Williams True Believer and your initial impression will likely be the enhanced vocal quality. And if you go for a song like Sleep Tokens Dangerous thats more atmospheric, youll get a great sense of the expanded soundstage. Oftentimes audio companies make claims about sound quality improvements that dont translate to what I actually hear. With the AirPods Pro 3, all of Apples proclamations not only hold true but are obvious, observable improvements. Call quality and voice performance Apples best-in-class transparency mode has been one of my favorite things about AirPods for years. No other company manages to handle ambient sound in a way thats so clear its almost as if you arent wearing earbuds at all. With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple says it took things even further, making your voice and the voices of those around you sound more natural and vibrant. The company points specifically to Hearing Aid and Live Translation as areas where this fine-tuned transparency mode will help, but it will also be a boost to voice and video calls, too. Since Apple does such a good job of feeding your voice back through the AirPods Pro 3 and other transparency-enabled AirPods models, you never feel the need to talk louder to hear yourself on calls. It lets you relax and speak normally, and makes a days worth of Zoom calls much less exhausting. The AirPods Pro 3 support Apples newly introduced studio-quality voice recording as well. Arriving with iOS 26, the feature allows you to capture higher-quality vocal clips in apps like Camera, Voice Memos, Messages, FaceTime and any CallKit-enabled software. And when youre recording video with an iPhone, you can now quickly select AirPods as the main audio source. The earbuds can act as a lavalier microphone with voice pickup thats closer to your mouth. The AirPods Pro 3s battery life Billy Steele for Engadget Even with all of the new features, Apple still managed to extend the AirPods Pros battery life. With ANC enabled, you can now expect up to eight hours of use on a charge two hours longer than the AirPods Pro 2. This means you could be able to wear the new model for a full day of work without having to charge them. Additionally, Apple says that if youre using transparency mode with the Hearing Aid feature, AirPods Pro 3 will last up to 10 hours. So far, I have no reason to think Apple has overstated battery life on the AirPods Pro 3. I havent conducted a straight battery rundown test yet as Ive been focused on trying all of the new features at various times over the last few days. I will update this review later this week with the results of my battery test though. If you find the promised eight hours still isnt enough, a five-minute rest in the case will be enough to give you an hour of use. Thats long enough to get you through a quick workout or a call when you need to keep things hands-free. There is an important caveat with the case though. Despite the extended use time on the earbuds themselves, the total battery life including the case is reduced to 24 hours from the previous 30. Theres also a new ultra wideband chip (U2) in the charging case that Apple says has increased the distance for Precision Find My by one and a half times compared to the previous version. The competition Since the regular AirPods now offer ANC, Apples primary competition for the AirPods Pro 3 comes from within its own product lineup. The AirPods 4 with ANC offer an open-type fit even though they have impressive noise-blocking abilities, so they may be more comfortable for those who dont like buds sticking into their ear canals. Youll get Live Translation there too, but you wont be able to access heart-rate tracking and Apples suite of hearing health tools. That might not matter to those who want to save some money though, as the AirPods 4 with ANC are $179 versus $249 for the AirPods Pro 3. All AirPods are really a conduit for Apples ecosystem, so if you dont mind missing some iPhone integrations and special features, there are worthwhile alternatives. Sonys WF-1000XM5 remains a jack of all trades, offering a set of features that perhaps only Apple can rival. The difference being that Sonys tools will work with both iOS and Android, of course. The second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are your best bet for pure noise-canceling abilities, and if you demand pristine sound, consider Noble Audios FoKus Rex5 . Wrap-up The AirPods Pro 3 is the biggest update to Apples earbuds lineup in years. The sum of the companys upgrades here are more significant than the choice to finally bring ANC to the regular AirPods last year. The combination of more precise ANC, improved sound quality, heart-rate tracking, Live Translation and longer battery life is a lot to explore. And thats not even counting the redesign and new ear tips that offer a more secure fit, two items that directly address one of the main criticisms of previous AirPods models. If recent history is any indication, the company will continue to add new features to this third-generation version. I highly doubt that Apple is finished exploiting the power of the H2 chip, so it's just getting started with what the AirPods Pro 3 can do. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/airpods-pro-3-review-a-significant-update-to-apples-best-earbuds-120028170.html?src=rss

8Bitdo's Pro 2 controller with travel case is on sale for $40 for Prime members

It has been just over a month since 8Bitdo released its Pro 3 controller . While the new model is a great option, its predecessor shouldn't be kicked to the wayside especially when it's on sale. Right now, Prime members can get the 8Bitdo Pro 2 wireless Bluetooth controller and a travel case for $40, down from $60. The 34 percent discount solves our biggest gripe about the device: that it's too big to carry around sans case. Plus, it gives you a cheaper option that's also compatible with the new Nintendo Switch 2. However, this Amazon deal is strictly available for Prime members. Despite launching in 2021 , the Pro 2 was still our choice for best PlayStation-style mobile gaming controller this year . It works well with Android and iOS systems and has extensive customization options when you use your phone. Plus, the design is comfortable to hold and available in multiple colors. If you're interested in upgrading to the Bitdo Pro 3 instead, now is a good time. Amazon is offering a 10 percent discount at checkout for the $70 wireless Bluetooth controller, bringing it down to $63. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/8bitdos-pro-2-controller-with-travel-case-is-on-sale-for-40-for-prime-members-115247180.html?src=rss

Apple TV+ won big at the Primetime Emmys with Severance and The Studio

Streaming platforms once again dominated the 2025 Primetime Emmy awards (77th edition), while network TV was shut out of the the major filmed categories. Apple TV+ came out on top with seven total wins including four for The Studio : Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor (Seth Rogen), Outstanding Directing (Rogen and Evan Goldberg) and Outstanding Writing. I've never won anything in my life, Rogen said during his off-the-cuff acceptance speech . When I was a kid I bought a used bowling trophy. Apple+ also garnered two acting awards for Severance , including Britt Lower (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series) and Tramell Tillman (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series). However, HBO Max's medical drama The Pitt surprisingly pipped Severance for the Best Outstanding Drama Series, while also earning Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa drama series awards for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actress, respectively. HBO Max also scooped awards for its comedy series Hacks with Jean Smart taking the Outstanding Lead Actress trophy and Hannah Einbinder winning for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Netflix took the prize for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series with critical darling Adolescence , with that same show earning Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty Emmys for lead actor and supporting actor and actress, respectively (at 15, Cooper is the youngest-ever male winner of a Primetime acting Emmy). That show also won Emmys for outstanding directing and writing for a limited or anthology series or movie. The Emmys showed again how prestige and money continue to shift from networks to streamers. CBS's only Emmy was for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , a show it canceled in August. NBC won for the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special , while cabler HBO took prizes for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Outstanding Scripted Variety Series and Outstanding Writing) along with The Penguin (Cristin Milioti for Outstanding Lead Actress) and Somebody Somewhere (Jeff Hiller for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series). This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-tv-won-big-at-the-primetime-emmys-with-severance-and-the-studio-093051329.html?src=rss

The 5 best Mint alternatives to replace the budgeting app that shut down

It's been over one year since Intuit shut down the popular budgeting app Mint. I was a Mint user for many years; millions of other users like me enjoyed how easily Mint allowed us to track all accounts in one place and monitor credit scores. I also used it regularly to help me track spending, set goals like pay my mortgage down faster and with general money management. Ahead of Mints demise, I gave Credit Karma , Intuits other financial app, a try but found it to be a poor Mint alternative. So I set out to find a true replacement in another budgeting app. The following guide lays out my experience testing some of the most popular Mint replacement apps available today. Our pick for best Mint alternative remains Quicken Simplifi , even this long after Mint being shut down, thanks to its easy to use app, good income and bill detection and its affordable price. But there are plenty of other solid options out there for those with different needs. If youre also on the hunt for a budgeting app to replace Mint, we hope these details can empower you to choose which of the best budgeting apps out there will be right for you. Table of contents Best Mint alternatives in 2025 Other Mint alternatives we tested What is Plaid and how does it work? How to import your financial data from the Mint app How we tested Mint alternatives What about Rocket Money? Best Mint alternatives in 2025 No pun intended, but what I like about Quicken Simplifi is its simplicity. Whereas other budgeting apps try to distinguish themselves with dark themes and customizable emoji, Simplifi has a clean user interface, with a landing page that you just keep scrolling through to get a detailed overview of all your stats. These include your top-line balances; net worth; recent spending; upcoming recurring payments; a snapshot of your spending plan; top spending categories; achievements; and any watchlists youve set up. Another one of the key features I appreciate is the ability to set up savings goals elsewhere in the app. I also appreciate how it offers neat, almost playful visualizations without ever looking cluttered. I felt at home in the mobile and web dashboards after a day or so, which is faster than I adapted to some competing services (Im looking at you, YNAB and Monarch). Getting set up with Simplifi was mostly painless. I was particularly impressed at how easily it connected to Fidelity; not all budget trackers do, for whatever reason. This is also one of the only services I tested that gives you the option of inviting a spouse or financial advisor to co-manage your account. One thing I would add to my initial assessment of the app, having used it for a few months now: I wish Simplifi offered Zillow integration for easily tracking your home value (or at least a rough estimate of it). Various competitors including Monarch Money and Copilot Money work with Zillow, so clearly there's a Zillow API available for use. As it stands, Simplifi users must add real estate manually like any other asset. Dana Wollman / Engadget In practice, Simplifi miscategorized some of my expenses, but nothing out of the ordinary compared to any of these budget trackers. As youre reviewing transactions, you can also mark if youre expecting a refund, which is a unique feature among the services I tested. Simplifi also estimated my regular income better than some other apps I tested. Most of all, I appreciated the option of being able to categorize some, but not all, purchases from a merchant as recurring. For instance, I can add my two Amazon subscribe-and-saves as recurring payments, without having to create a broad-strokes rule for every Amazon purchase. The budgeting feature is also self-explanatory and can likely accommodate your preferred budgeting method. Just check that your regular income is accurate and be sure to set up recurring payments, making note of which are bills and which are subscriptions. This is important because Simplifi shows you your total take-home income as well as an income after bills figure. That number includes, well, bills but not discretionary subscriptions. From there, you can add spending targets by category in the planned spending bucket. Planned spending can also include one-time expenditures, not just monthly budgets. When you create a budget, Simplifi will suggest a number based on a six-month average. Not dealbreakers, but two things to keep in mind as you get started: Simplifi is notable in that you cant set up an account through Apple or Google. There is also no option for a free trial, though Quicken promises a 30-day money back guarantee. Monarch Money grew on me. My first impression of the budgeting app, which was founded by a former Mint product manager, was that it's more difficult to use than others on this list, including Simplifi, NerdWallet and Copilot. And it is. Editing expense categories, adding recurring transactions and creating rules, for example, is a little more complicated than it needs to be, especially in the mobile app. (My advice: Use the web app for fine-tuning details.) Monarch also didnt get my income right; I had to edit it. Once youre set up, though, Monarch offers an impressive level of granularity. In the budgets section, you can see a bona fide balance sheet showing budgets and actuals for each category. You'll also find a forecast, for the year or by month. And recurring expenses can be set not just by merchant, but other parameters as well. For instance, while most Amazon purchases might be marked as shopping, those for the amounts of $54.18 or $34.18 are definitely baby supplies, and can be automatically marked as such each time, not to mention programmed as recurring payments. Weirdly, though, theres no way to mark certain recurring payments as bills, specifically. Dana Wollman / Engadget Not long after I first published this story in December 2023, Monarch introduced a detailed reporting section where you can create on-demand graphs based on things like accounts, categories and tags. That feature is available just on the web version of the app for now. As part of this same update, Monarch added support for an aggregator that makes it possible to automatically update the value of your car. This, combined with the existing Zillow integration for tracking your home value, makes it easy to quickly add a non-liquid asset like a vehicle or real estate, and have it show up in your net worth graph. The mobile app is mostly self-explanatory. The main dashboard shows your net worth; your four most recent transactions; a month-over-month spending comparison; income month-to-date; upcoming bills; an investments snapshot; a list of any goals youve set; and, finally, a link to your month-in-review. That month-in-review is more detailed than most, delving into cash flow; top income and expense categories; cash flow trends; changes to your net worth, assets and liabilities; plus asset and liability breakdowns. In February 2024, Monarch expanded on the net worth graph , so that if you click on the Accounts tab you can see how your net worth changed over different periods of time, including one month, three months, six months, a year or all time. On the main screen, youll also find tabs for savings and checking accounts (and all others as well), transactions, cash flow, budget and recurring. Like many of the other apps featured here, Monarch can auto-detect recurring expenses and income, even if it gets the category wrong. (They all do to an extent.) Expense categories are marked by emoji, which you can customize if youre so inclined. Monarch Money uses a combination of networks to connect with banks, including Plaid, MX and Finicity, a competing network owned by Mastercard. (I have a quick explainer on Plaid, the industry standard in this space, toward the end of this guide.) As part of an update in late December, Monarch has also made it easier to connect through those other two networks, if for some reason Plaid fails. Similar to NerdWallet, I found myself completing two-factor authentication every time I wanted to get past the Plaid screen to add another account. Notably, Monarch is the only other app I tested that allows you to grant access to someone else in your family likely a spouse or financial advisor. Monarch also has a Chrome extension for importing from Mint, though really this is just a shortcut for downloading a CSV file, which youll have to do regardless of where you choose to take your Mint data. Additionally, Monarch just added the ability to track Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Savings accounts, thanks to new functionality brought with the iOS 17.4 update. It's not the only one either; currently, Copilot and YNAB have also added similar functionality that will be available to anyone with the latest versions of their respective apps on a device running iOS 17.4. Instead of manually uploading statements, the new functionality allows apps like Monarch's to automatically pull in transactions and balance history. That should make it easier to account for spending on Apple cards and accounts throughout the month. Monarch also recently launched investment transactions in beta. It also says bill tracking and an overhauled goals system are coming soon. Monarch hasn't provided a timeline for that last one, except to say that the improved goals feature is coming soon. Copilot Money might be the best-looking budgeting app I tested. It also has the distinction of being exclusive to iOS and Macs at least for now. Andres Ugarte, the companys CEO, has publicly promised that Android and web apps are coming soon. But until it follows through, I cant recommend Copilot for most people with so many good competitors out there. Copilot Money for Web and Android! Thanks to the support from our users, and the overwhelming positive reception we're seeing from folks migrating from Mint, we can now say that we'll be building @copilotmoney for Web and Android with a goal to launch in 2024. We'll continue to Andres Ugarte (@chuga) November 15, 2023 There are other features that Copilot is missing, which Ill get into. But it is promising, and one to keep an eye on. Its just a fast, efficient, well designed app, and Android users will be in for a treat when theyll finally be able to download it. It makes good use of colors, emoji and graphs to help you understand at a glance how youre doing on everything from your budgets to your investment performance to your credit card debt over time. In particular, Copilot does a better job than almost any other app of visualizing your recurring monthly expenses. Behind those punchy colors and cutesy emoji, though, is some sophisticated performance. Copilots AI-powered Intelligence gets smarter as you go at categorizing your expenses. (You can also add your own categories, complete with your choice of emoji.) Its not perfect. Copilot miscategorized some purchases (they all do), but it makes it easier to edit than most. On top of that, the internal search feature is very fast; it starts whittling down results in your transaction history as soon as you begin typing. Dana Wollman / Engadget Copilot is also unique in offering Amazon and Venmo integrations, allowing you to see transaction details. With Amazon, this requires just signing into your Amazon account via an in-app browser. For Venmo, you have to set up fwd@copilot.money as a forwarding address and then create a filter, wherein emails from venmo@venmo.com are automatically forwarded to fwd@copilot.money. Like Monarch Money, you can also add any property you own and track its value through Zillow, which is integrated with the app. While the app is heavily automated, I still appreciate that Copilot marks new transactions for review. Its a good way to both weed out fraudulent charges, and also be somewhat intentional about your spending habits. Like Monarch Money, Copilot updated its app to make it easier to connect to banks through networks other than Plaid. As part of the same update, Copilot said it has improved its connections to both American Express and Fidelity which, again, can be a bugbear for some budget tracking apps. In an even more recent update, Copilot added a Mint import option, which other budgeting apps have begun to offer as well. Because the app is relatively new (it launched in early 2020), the company is still catching up to the competition on some table-stakes features. Ugarte told me that his team is almost done building out a detailed cash flow section as well. On its website , Copilot also promises a raft of AI-powered features that build on its current Intelligence platform, the one that powers its smart expense categorization. These include smart financial goals, natural language search, a chat interface, forecasting and benchmarking. That benchmarking, Ugarte tells me, is meant to give people a sense of how theyre doing compared to other Copilot users, on both spending and investment performance. Most of these features should arrive in the new year. Copilot does a couple interesting things for new customers that distinguish it from the competition. Theres a demo mode that feels like a game simulator; no need to add your own accounts. The company is also offering two free months with RIPMINT a more generous introductory offer than most. When it finally does come time to pony up, the $7.92 monthly plan is cheaper than some competing apps, although the $95-a-year-option is in the same ballpark. You may know NerdWallet as a site that offers a mix of personal finance news, explainers and guides. I see it often when I google a financial term I dont know and sure enough, its one of the sites Im most likely to click on. As it happens, NerdWallet also has the distinction of offering one of the only free budgeting apps I tested. In fact, there is no paid version; nothing is locked behind a paywall. The main catch: There are ads everywhere. To be fair, the free version of Mint was like this, too. Even with the inescapable credit card offers, NerdWallet has a clean, easy-to-understand user interface, which includes both a web and a mobile app. The key metrics that it highlights most prominently are your cash flow, net worth and credit score. (Of note, although Mint itself offered credit score monitoring, most of its rivals do not.) I particularly enjoyed the weekly insights, which delve into things like where you spent the most money or how much you paid in fees and how that compares to the previous month. Because this is NerdWallet, an encyclopedia of financial info, you get some particularly specific category options when setting up your accounts (think: a Roth or non-Roth IRA). Dana Wollman / Engadget As a budgeting app, NerdWallet is more than serviceable, if a bit basic. Like other apps I tested, you can set up recurring bills. Importantly, it follows the popular 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which has you putting 50% of your budget toward things you need, 30% toward things you want, and the remaining 20% into savings or debt repayments. If this works for you, great just know that you cant customize your budget to the same degree as some competing apps. You cant currently create custom spending categories, though a note inside the dashboard section of the app says youll be able to customize them in the future. You also cant move items from the wants column to needs or vice versa but In the future, you'll be able to move specific transactions to actively manage what falls into each group. A NerdWallet spokesperson declined to provide an ETA, though. Lastly, its worth noting that NerdWallet had one of the most onerous setup processes of any app I tested. I dont think this is a dealbreaker, as youll only have to do it once and, hopefully, you arent setting up six or seven apps in tandem as I was. What made NerdWallets onboarding especially tedious is that every time I wanted to add an account, I had to go through a two-factor authentication process to even get past the Plaid splash screen, and thats not including the 2FA I had set up at each of my banks. This is a security policy on NerdWallets end, not Plaids, a Plaid spokesperson says. Precisely because NerdWallet is one of the only budget trackers to offer credit score monitoring, it also needs more of your personal info during setup, including your birthday, address, phone number and the last four digits of your social security number. Its the same with Credit Karma, which also does credit score monitoring. Related to the setup process, I found that NerdWallet was less adept than other apps at automatically detecting my regular income. In my case, it counted a large one-time wire transfer as income, at which point my only other option was to enter my income manually (which is slightly annoying because I would have needed my pay stub handy to double-check my take-home pay). YNAB is, by its own admission , different from anything youve tried before. The app, whose name is short for You Need a Budget, promotes a so-called zero-based budgeting system, which forces you to assign a purpose for every dollar you earn. A frequently used analogy is to put each dollar in an envelope; you can always move money from one envelope to another in a pinch. These envelopes can include rent and utilities, along with unforeseen expenses like holiday gifts and the inevitable car repair. The idea is that if you budget a certain amount for the unknowns each month, they wont feel like theyre sneaking up on you. Importantly, YNAB is only concerned with the money you have in your accounts now. The app does not ask you to provide your take-home income or set up recurring income payments (although there is a way to do this). The money you will make later in the month through your salaried job is not relevant, because YNAB does not engage in forecasting. The app is harder to learn than any other here, and it requires more ongoing effort from the user. And YNAB knows that. Inside both the mobile and web apps are links to videos and other tutorials. Although I never quite got comfortable with the user interface, I did come to appreciate YNABs insistence on intentionality. Forcing users to draft a new budget each month and to review each transaction is not necessarily a bad thing. As YNAB says on its website, Sure, youve got pie charts showing that you spent an obscene amount of money in restaurants but youve still spent an obscene amount of money in restaurants. I can see this approach being useful for people who dont tend to have a lot of cash in reserve at a given time, or who have spending habits they want to correct (to riff off of YNABs own example, ordering Seamless four times a week). My colleague Valentina Palladino, knowing I was working on this guide, penned a respectful rebuttal , explaining why shes been using YNAB for years. Perhaps, like her, you have major savings goals you want to achieve, whether its paying for a wedding or buying a house. I suggest you give her column a read. For me, though, YNABs approach feels like overkill. Other Mint alternatives we tested PocketGuard PocketGuard used to be a solid free budget tracker, but the company has since limited its free version to just a free seven-day trial. Now, youll have to choose between two plans once the trial is over: a $13 monthly plan or a $75 annual plan. When I first tested it, I found it to be more restricted than NerdWallet, but still a decent option. The main overview screen shows you your net worth, total assets and debts; net income and total spending for the month; upcoming bills; a handy reminder of when your next paycheck lands; any debt payoff plan you have; and any goals. Like some other apps, including Quicken Simplifi, PocketGuard promotes an after bills approach, where you enter all of your recurring bills, and then PocketGuard shows you whats left, and thats what youre supposed to be budgeting: your disposable income. Although PocketGuards UI is easy enough to understand, it lacks polish. The accounts tab is a little busy, and doesnt show totals for categories like cash or investments. Seemingly small details like weirdly phrased or punctuated copy occasionally make the app feel janky. More than once, it prompted me to update the app when no updates were available. The web version, meanwhile, feels like the mobile app blown up to a larger format and doesnt take advantage of the extra screen real estate. Ultimately, now that the free tier is gone, it just doesnt present the same value proposition as it once did. What is Plaid and how does it work? Each of the apps I tested uses the same underlying network, called Plaid, to pull in financial data, so its worth explaining in its own section what it is and how it works. Plaid was founded as a fintech startup in 2013 and is today the industry standard in connecting banks with third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, more than 8,000 third-party apps and services rely on Plaid, the company claims . To be clear, you dont need a dedicated Plaid app to use it; the technology is baked into a wide array of apps, including the budget trackers I tested for this guide. Once you find the add an account option in whichever one youre using, youll see a menu of commonly used banks. Theres also a search field you can use to look yours up directly. Once you find yours, youll be prompted to enter your login credentials. If you have two-factor authentication set up, youll need to enter a one-time passcode as well. As the middleman, Plaid is a passthrough for information that may include your account balances, transaction history, account type and routing or account number. Plaid uses encryption, and says it has a policy of not selling or renting customer data to other companies. However, I would not be doing my job if I didnt note that in 2022 Plaid was forced to pay $58 million to consumers in a class action suit for collecting more financial data than was needed. As part of the settlement, Plaid was compelled to change some of its business practices. In a statement provided to Engadget, a Plaid spokesperson said the company continues to deny the allegations underpinning the lawsuit and that the crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaids role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track. How to import your financial data from the Mint app Mint users should consider getting their data ready to migrate to their new budgeting app of choice soon. Unfortunately, importing data from Mint is not as easy as entering your credentials from inside your new app and hitting import. In fact, any app that advertises the ability to port over your stats from Mint is just going to have you upload a CSV file of transactions and other data. To download a CSV file from Mint, do the following: Sign into Mint.com and hit Transactions in the menu on the left side of the screen. Select an account, or all accounts . Scroll down and look for export [number] transactions in smaller print. Your CSV file should begin downloading. Note: Downloading on a per-account basis might seem more annoying, but could help you get set up on the other side, if the app youre using has you importing transactions one-for-one into their corresponding accounts. How we tested Mint alternatives Before I dove into the world of budgeting apps, I had to do some research. To find a list of apps to test, I consulted trusty ol Google (and even trustier Reddit); read reviews of popular apps on the App Store; and also asked friends and colleagues what budget tracking apps they might be using. Some of the apps I found were free, just like Mint. These, of course, show loads of ads (excuse me, offers) to stay in business. But most of the available apps require paid subscriptions, with prices typically topping out around $100 a year, or $15 a month. (Spoiler: My top pick is cheaper than that.) Since this guide is meant to help Mint users find a permanent replacement, any services I chose to test needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web. Once I had my shortlist of six apps, I got to work setting them up. For the sake of thoroughly testing these apps (and remember, I really was looking for a Mint alternative myself), I made a point of adding every account to every budgeting app, no matter how small or immaterial the balance. What ensued was a veritable Groundhog Day of two-factor authentication. Just hours of entering passwords and one-time passcodes, for the same banks half a dozen times over. Hopefully, you only have to do this once. What about Rocket Money? Rocket Money is another free financial app that tracks spending and supports things like balance alerts and account linking. If you pay for the premium tier, the service can also help you cancel unwanted subscriptions. We did not test it for this guide, but we'll consider it in future updates. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-best-budgeting-apps-to-replace-mint-143047346.html?src=rss

The best midrange smartphone for 2025

A great mobile phone doesnt need to cost a fortune. In 2025, features once exclusive to high-end devices big batteries, multi-camera arrays, high refresh rate OLED displays and more have trickled down to more affordable models. Sure, youll still need to buy a flagship smartphone to get the best camera or fastest processor, but you dont need to compromise nearly as much anymore if youre looking for a great handset at a reasonable price. If you have less than $600 to spend, let us help you figure out what features to prioritize when trying to find the best midrange smartphone. Table of contents Best midrange phones in 2025 What is a midrange phone? What to consider before buying a midrange smartphone What won't you get from a midrange phone The best midrange phones for 2025 What is a midrange phone? While the term frequently appears in articles and videos, there isnt an agreed-upon definition for midrange beyond a phone that isnt a flagship or an entry-level option. Most of our recommendations cost between $400 and $600 any less and you should expect significant compromises. If you have more to spend, you might as well consider flagships like the Apple iPhone 17 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want the best smartphone experience. Devices like Pixel phones often sit in this price range too, offering some of the best value for Android buyers. What to consider before buying a midrange smartphone Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, its great.) And if youre an Android fan, theres no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldnt rule either out. Of course, also consider how much youre comfortable spending. Even increasing your budget by $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. Moreover, manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer with software updates and security updates, so its worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford. Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long battery life or fast charging? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras with high megapixel counts? While they continue to improve every year, even the best midrange smartphones still demand some compromises, and knowing whats important to you will make choosing one easier. What wont you get from a midrange smartphone? Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones blurs as more upmarket features and functions trickle down to more affordable models. When Engadget first published this guide in 2020, it was tricky to find a $500 phone with waterproofing and 5G. In 2025, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging and even then, thats becoming less true. One thing your new phone probably wont come with is a power adapter; many companies have stopped including chargers with all of their smartphones. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their camera systems have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones below $600 with decent camera quality, selfie performance and software support to keep things running smoothly for years to come.. Midrange smartphone FAQs How long do midrange phones get software updates? Support varies by brand, but most midrange phones receive around three to five years of software and security updates. Apple tends to support iPhones longer while companies like Google and Samsung now promise several years of Android and security patches for their midrange models. Budget-focused brands might offer less so its worth checking the update policy before you buy. Are midrange phones good for gaming? Yes, many midrange phones handle gaming well, especially popular titles like Fortnite , Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile . They usually include capable processors, though you wont always get the smoothest performance in the most demanding mobile games or at max settings. If you play casually or stick to less graphically intensive titles a midrange phone will feel more than adequate. Georgie Peru contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-midrange-smartphone-183006463.html?src=rss

This horse-themed browser puzzle game is an absolute delight and I can't stop playing it

Another day, another adorable game that I've become completely obsessed with. I came across Roly-Pony this weekend during a particularly soul-sucking bout of doomscrolling, and it's turned out to be the perfect little temporary respite from the horrors . (Shoutout to Alice Ruppert of The Mane Quest for always keeping us informed about the latest in horse games ). Roly-Pony is a Suika -style game, meaning it involves dropping and stacking round objects in order to create matching pairs that combine to become different, bigger objects. That'll also clear up space on the board in the process, which is important because, similar to Tetris , you can't allow the objects to pile too high. In this case, you start with horse treats and keep building on them until you've unlocked a bunch of different horses. It's very simple and very cute, with peaceful music going in the background and a lot of little details that people who love horses will really appreciate. The game is free and playable on both the web and mobile, with a leaderboard so you can see how you rank. I naively thought I would just quickly check this game out (because, horses) and move on after a few minutes, but have instead spent hours this weekend trying to crack the top 10. I've now got it bookmarked on both my laptop and my phone, so at this point there's no end in sight. Roly-Pony is free, but there's an option to send a few dollars the developers' way on itch.io if you want to support their work. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/this-horse-themed-browser-puzzle-game-is-an-absolute-delight-and-i-cant-stop-playing-it-214313395.html?src=rss

iOS 26 arrives on Monday: Find out if your iPhone is eligible for the free update

The Apple iPhone 17 event last week delivered on all of the rumors we read ahead of the show. The company announced the iPhone 17 lineup, the all-new iPhone Air and several other devices. (Check out Engadget's liveblog of the event for full details.) In addition to finally seeing the new hardware, Apple confirmed after the event that we'll be able to download the final versions of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 on Monday, September 15. (That's when all of Apple's other operating system updates hit, too.) Coming with those OS updates are substantial changes to your iPhone and iPad's software. You may have already heard about Liquid Glass , which (intentional or not) is sort of like Apple's take on the old Windows Vista design language. That's the most notable change, but we spent two weeks test-driving many of the other features included in the update you can check out our hands-on iOS 26 preview for more impressions. Not sure if you want to upgrade your smartphone or tablet? No worries, we'll help you find out if your devices will be able to run iOS 26. While Apple didn't nix any iPhones from its eligibility list last year, that's not the case for 2025, as a few models are getting the axe this time around. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to receive the boot in 2023, and this year iPhones released in 2018 will be left behind. If your device is ineligible, you won't be able to download iOS 26 when it becomes available next week. However, Apple is also expected to release iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to address security issues, according to MacRumors . You can find a full list of iPhones and iPads that will support iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 below. To see everything that's coming with the latest OS updates, you can check out our big rundown of what to expect from iOS 26 . Additionally, here's everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 17 launch event. These three iOS 18 iPhones won't be compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, a trio of iPhones won't be eligible to download the newest iOS when it makes its debut. These three models that were first released in 2018 won't be coming to the iOS 26 party: iPhone XR iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhones compatible with iOS 26 Per Apple's site , the devices listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. In short, if you have an iPhone that was announced in 2019 or later, you're in the clear: iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone Air iPads compatible with iPadOS 26 Meanwhile, the iPads listed below are eligible to download iPadOS 26 : iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and later, including M2 and M3) iPad (8th generation and later, including A16) iPad mini (5th generation and later, including A17 Pro) What if I don't want to buy a new iPhone? If you want to continue using your older iPhone that isn't supported by iOS 26, that's fine. However, you'll eventually miss out on security updates which could potentially put your phone at risk for malware and other threats. Additionally, some apps may stop working if they require a certain version of iOS or later. And, of course, you won't be able to access the latest features iOS 26 offers. When will iOS 26 become available? Apple announced it will release iOS 26 to eligible iPhones on Monday, September 15. Can I still download the public beta? Yes, you can try the software out yourself by downloading and installing the latest public beta , now in the release candidate version. (Though it's worth remembering that there's a degree of risk involved with installing any form of beta software.) iOS 26 features we're excited about Liquid Glass design : Your home screen is getting revamped with new app icons, including dark mode and all-clear options. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design. Liquid Glass, in Apple's terms, was designed to make all of the company's operating systems more visually cohesive. Phone app redesign: You'll finally be able to scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music. Live Translate: iOS 26 is bringing the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translate will translate your conversation in real time. Polls feature: Coming to group messages in the Messages app, chat members will be able to create polls. This can help prevent the unwanted 30+ messages when it comes to deciding which restaurant you're meeting at this weekend. New lock screen options : More customizable iPhone lock screen options are coming with iOS 26, including a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms (if you want). You'll soon have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Fresh Camera app design : You'll find the Camera app is simpler to navigate in iOS 26, with all the buttons and menus located in convenient spots. That means less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens is too dirty. Screenshot revamps : When you take a screenshot, you'll have the option to search for the image on Google (maybe you're looking for a sweater you saw on a celeb) and you can ask ChatGPT questions about the photo all from the edit screen. It's like a reverse image search but without all the hard work. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-arrives-on-monday-find-out-if-your-iphone-is-eligible-for-the-free-update-191854034.html?src=rss

The Stop Killing Games movement is nearing an official meeting with EU lawmakers

The Stop Killing Games campaign is continuing to gain momentum after hitting more than a million signatures in July. After a July 31st deadline, the movement secured around 1.45 million signatures, which the organizers are currently in the process of verifying. The initiative aims to enact legislation that preserves access to video games, even when developers decide to end support, as seen with Ubisoft when it delisted The Crew and revoked access to players who already purchased the game. There were some early concerns about the potential for falsely-submitted signatures, but the latest update from organizers said that early reports show around 97 percent of the signatures are valid. According to the European Commission's website , EU authorities have three months to verify the signatures once they are submitted. After that, the organizers said they will personally deliver the petition to the European Commission. With initial estimates clearing the threshold of one million verified signatures, the following steps involve getting meetings with both the European Commission and the European Parliament. From the date of the initiative's submission, the European Union will get six months to decide what to do regarding the Stop Killing Games movement. There is the possibility of the governing bodies not taking any action at all, but the organizers said they are preparing to ensure our initiative cannot be ignored. To prepare for the meetings, the organizers said they will be reaching out to members of Parliament and the Commission, while also trying to counter any misinformation or industry lobbying. For now, the campaign will post more frequent updates on its Discord community and social media channels . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-stop-killing-games-movement-is-nearing-an-official-meeting-with-eu-lawmakers-191535413.html?src=rss

Some much-needed upgrades are coming to Powerbeats Pro 2 with iOS 26

Fortunately for Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 owners, the FOMO from Apple's announcement of its AirPods Pro 3 last week was short-lived. After introducing the latest Beats ear hook style headphones in February, Apple is introducing new features and updating the heart rate tracking functionality of the Powerbeats Pro 2 with the upcoming release of iOS 26. With the latest iOS upgrade, Powerbeats Pro 2 integrates better with Apple's Fitness app, giving users more accurate data and the choice of up to 50 different workout types. For Apple's Fitness+ users, the Beats earbuds will also show the heart rate, calories burned and Burn Bar metrics in real time. Outside the Fitness app, iOS 26 will bring smaller improvements like being able to use a single earbud for heart rate monitoring, better accuracy when counting steps even when your iPhone isn't on you and a new algorithm that churns out faster heart rate readings. To make your life easier, the updated Powerbeats Pro 2 will send you a notification to get a better fit for more accurate heart rate monitoring and can sense if you nod or shake your head in response to Siri asking you to answer an incoming call or hear a text. All of these iOS 26 upgrades for the Powerbeats Pro 2 will mostly put it in line with the AirPods Pro 3 features when the update releases on September 15. However, in our review of the Beats earbuds, we found that they offered mediocre ANC performance . It's worth noting that Android users for the Powerbeats Pro 2 won't get many of the Apple-branded features that come with iOS 26. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/some-much-needed-upgrades-are-coming-to-powerbeats-pro-2-with-ios-26-181716994.html?src=rss

Google faces its first AI Overviews lawsuit from a major US publisher

Even though Google's AI Overviews were introduced with a comically rocky start , it's about to face a far more serious challenge. Penske Media, the publisher for Rolling Stone, Variety, Billboard and others, filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming the tech giant illegally powers its AI Overviews feature with content from its sites. Penske claimed in the lawsuit that the AI feature is also siphoning and discouraging user traffic to PMC's and other publishers' websites, adding that the revenue generated by those visits will decline. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, DC's federal district court, claims that about 20 percent of Google searches that link to one of Penske's sites now have AI Overviews. The media company argued that this percentage will continue to increase and that its affiliate revenue through 2024 dropped by more than a third from its peak. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said that the tech giant will defend against these meritless claims and that AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites. Earlier this year, Google faced a similar lawsuit from Chegg , an educational tech company that's known for textbook rentals. Like Penske Media, this lawsuit alleged that Google's AI Overviews hurt website traffic and revenue for Chegg. However, the Penske lawsuit is the first time that Google has faced legal action from a major US publisher about its AI search capabilities. Beyond Google's legal troubles, other AI companies have also been facing their own court cases. In 2023, the New York Times sued OpenAI , claiming the AI company used published news articles to train its chatbots without offering compensation. More recently, Anthropic agreed to pay a $1.5 billion settlement in a class action lawsuit targeting its Claude chatbot's use of copyrighted works. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-faces-its-first-ai-overviews-lawsuit-from-a-major-us-publisher-162333462.html?src=rss

This Apple Music promotion gives new subscribers three free months of the Family Plan

Apple Music is running a promo in which new subscribers can get three free months of the Family Plan tier. That's a savings of $51, which is nothing to sneeze at. After this lengthy free trial is up, it costs $17 per month. The Family Plan allows six different users to access the platform. It offers cross-device support and each user is tied to an Apple ID, so their favorite music won't mess with anyone else's algorithm. Apple Music actually topped our list of the best music streaming platforms , and for good reason. It sounds great and it's easy to use. What else is there? All music is available in CD quality or higher and there are plenty of personalized playlists and the like. The platform also operates a number of live radio stations, which is fun. The service is available for Android devices, but it really shines on Apple products. To that end, the web and Windows PC apps arent as polished as the iOS version. It doesn't pay artists properly , but that's true of every music streaming platform. Apple Music does pay out more than Spotify, but that's an incredibly low bar. Offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $16.99/mo until cancelled. Requires Family Sharing. Terms apply. 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/deals/this-apple-music-promotion-gives-new-subscribers-three-free-months-of-the-family-plan-151240879.html?src=rss

California's age verification bill for app stores and operating systems takes another step forward

A California bill that would require operating system and app store providers to verify users' ages before they can download apps has cleared the Assembly 58-0, and will now move on to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Politico reports. The Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, does not require photo identification for verification, but puts the onus on the platforms to provide tools for parents to indicate the user's age during a device's setup, and use this information steer kids toward age-appropriate content and screen time. It comes after Utah and Texas both adopted app store age verification laws earlier this year that have been criticized as posing potential privacy risks, and faced opposition from the likes of Google and Apple. The California bill has been received more positively by Big Tech, with Google, Meta and others putting out statements in support of it in the leadup to a Senate vote on Friday. Kareem Ghanem, Google's Senior Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy, called the bill one of the most thoughtful approaches weve seen thus far to the challenges of keeping kids safe, recognizing that its a shared responsibility across the ecosystem. Gov. Newsom now has until October 13 to sign or veto the bill, according to Politico . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/californias-age-verification-bill-for-app-stores-and-operating-systems-takes-another-step-forward-214339759.html?src=rss

Roblox hit with wrongful death lawsuit following a teen player's suicide

Following her son's suicide, Becca Dallas filed a potentially groundbreaking lawsuit against Roblox and Discord, accusing the platforms of wrongful death. As first reported by The New York Times , the lawsuit recounts the events leading up to Ethan Dallas' death, detailing his interactions with a player named Nate. According to the report, Nate was likely a 37-year-old man named Timothy O'Connor, who was previously arrested on charges of possessing child pornography and transmitting harmful material to minors. The report added that Ethan opened up about these incidents to his mom before committing suicide four months after the confession. The lawsuit could be the first of its kind against Roblox, according to NYTimes , considering it attributes some blame to the gaming platform that's home to tens of millions of underaged players. In a statement responding to the report, a Roblox spokesperson said that child safety issues are seen across the industry and that the company was working on new safety features, while also complying with law enforcement. This isn't the first time Roblox has faced complaints of being a dangerous place for underage players. In August, Louisiana's attorney general , Liz Murrill, filed a lawsuit that claimed Roblox doesn't implement basic safety controls to protect its underage user base. That lawsuit follows a similar investigation launched by Florida's attorney general James Uthmeier , who demanded answers to the reports of Roblox reportedly exposing kids to harmful content and bad actors. Roblox has taken steps to combat these allegations, including tightening restrictions on its Experiences , and more recently, expanding its age estimation tool to all users. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/roblox-hit-with-wrongful-death-lawsuit-following-a-teen-players-suicide-201501296.html?src=rss

Kodak's mini camera fits on your keyring and is smaller than an AirPods case

Kodak has shrunk a camera to fit onto a keyring, but it still manages to shoot both photo and video. It's hard not to compare the Kodak Charmera to the ubiquitous Labubu craze, considering the highly collectible nature of Reto Pro selling these officially licensed mini cameras as a single blind box for $29.99 or a full set of six for $179.94. The keyring cameras, which only weigh 30 grams, are already sold out on the Reto Pro website , but are expected to be restocked. The blind box can be unwrapped for one of seven designs, including one secret version that has a transparent shell to show off the tiny camera's internals. According to the website, the basic style odds are one out of six, while the secret edition has a probability of one out of 48. Whichever design you get, each Charmera comes with a keyring to Labubu-bify it to your belt loop or bag and a USB-C cable to export your photos or videos to other devices. Inspired by Kodak's first single-use camera from the '80s called the Fling , the Chamera sports a throwback design that can shoot 1.6-megapixel images with a 1,440 x 1,080 resolution and videos at 30fps. Nobody should expect any ultrasharp images, but you can customize your shots with Kodak frames, vintage filters and a date stamp. We're not expecting the Charmera to deliver the highest-quality images, but just like the Gameboy Camera , that won't make it any less fun to use. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/kodaks-mini-camera-fits-on-your-keyring-and-is-smaller-than-an-airpods-case-184227505.html?src=rss

Tesla's most affordable Cybertruck gets scrapped after a whopping five months

The rear-wheel drive trim of the Tesla Cybertruck lasted about five months before it was unceremoniously removed from online sales. The Long Range model represented the most affordable Cybertruck option with its starting price of $69,990, but visitors to Tesla's online configurator can now only choose between the all-wheel drive model that starts at $79,990 and the Cyberbeast trim, which goes for at least $114,990. Tesla launched the Long Range version of the Cybertruck in April, which arrived at $10,000 more than originally expected. Along with an elevated price tag, Tesla removed several features, including the power tonneau cover, adaptive suspension, a touchscreen for the back row, the rear lightbar and outlets in the truck bed. The RWD version also came with less towing power, a lower payload capacity and only one motor. While unrelated, the federal tax credit for EV buyers in the US is coming to a close at the end of the month, making the purchase of a Long Range model even less of a bargain. Tesla didn't officially offer any explanation about the removal of the Long Range option from its website, but it could be attributed to low Cybertruck sales overall. According to a report from Cox Automotive , the parent company of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, Tesla only sold 4,306 Cybertrucks in the second quarter of the year, which is a more than 50 percent drop in sales during the same time period last year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/teslas-most-affordable-cybertruck-gets-scrapped-after-a-whopping-five-months-164322445.html?src=rss

Anker magnetic power banks are up to 42 percent off

One of our favorite magnetic power banks is on sale for 42 percent off right now. The Anker 622 Magnetic Battery is down 42 percent to $28, which is almost as low as we've ever seen it. This steep discount is also available at Anker's online store with a coupon code that the company provides. This 5,000mAh MagSafe-compatible charger with a foldable stand is a slim and portable battery that can keep your devices going on long days away from a charger. Anker says the 622 Magnetic Battery can recharge a dead iPhone 16 or 16 Pro to just over 80 percent, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max to just over 60 percent. In our hands-on review of the portable charger, we liked the magnetic stand that folds out into a 30-degree angle. Users can rotate their phone to either portrait mode or landscape mode while charging. The Anker 622 is an older charger, so it outputs a maximum of 7.5W when charging wirelessly. If you need to refill your battery faster than that, you might want to pick up one of the newer Qi2 power banks. Though a Qi2 power bank will, of course, cost more, some of our favorites are having great sales right now. The Anker Ultra-Slim 10,000mAh battery pack can charge an iPhone 16 Pro to 50 percent in just 26 minutes, thanks to its Qi2-certified 15W of wireless charging. Right now it's 25 percent off, priced at $60 down from $80. It's got a bare-bones design, opting for a slim profile instead of a stand. If you prefer one with a stand and you like the idea of a display that tells you how much charge your power bank has left, then check out the Anker 10,000mAh battery pack with smart display and foldable stand . In our rundown of the best power banks , this was our top pick for iPhones. Not only does this battery pack offer Qi2 wireless charging at 15W, it also offers 27W when using USB-C for fast charging. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/anker-magnetic-power-banks-are-up-to-42-percent-off-133451286.html?src=rss

Paramount+ annual subscriptions are 50 percent off right now

Sometimes, rising prices for streaming services feels as inevitable as death and taxes. So when a serious discount is available, we tend to sit up and take notice. For a few weeks, you can get a whopping half off an annual subscription to Paramount+ . A year of the Paramount+ Essential plan, which is ad-supported, will cost $30 compared to the usual $60. Paramount+ Premium, which is ad-free except for live tv programming, will cost $60 for a year instead of $120. This is a substantial deal that both new and returning subscribers can take advantage of; it's not uncommon for this type of serious discount to only be offered to a first-timer. Anyone who signs up for a year-long subscription to Paramount+ from now through September 18 will be able to get this pricing. The only real caveat with this deal is that you have to pay for the full year in advance; month-to-month subscriptions will still cost the usual rate. Paramount+ has some great programming options, particularly if you're a fan of anything involving RuPaul. It's also the home of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks , which are arguably the best modern additions to the sci-fi show's canon, as well as the other past and present Star Trek series. The platform offers a solid lineup of sports as well. And if you opt to go for the Premium plan, you'll also be granted access to Showtime titles such as Yellowjackets and the rebooted Dexter: Resurrection . Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/paramount-annual-subscriptions-are-50-percent-off-right-now-212655665.html?src=rss

Our favorite budget wireless earbuds are back on sale for $45

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are back on sale for a record-low price of $45 a 44 percent discount. These earbuds remain our top pick for best budget wireless earbuds . The most significant feature on the A40 earbuds is the inclusion of active noise cancellation (ANC), which is almost unheard of at this price point. It's not the most sophisticated ANC, but it does sufficiently reduce constant rumbling background noise like on a plane. The built-in mic that's used for transparency mode and phone calls is a bit subpar, especially when used in noisy areas. These are budget-friendly, so while they can't be expected to compete on audio quality with flagship headphones that cost hundreds of dollars, the sound is still impressive given their low cost. The sound profile is warm, with a strong upper-bass, while some of the higher frequencies lose finer details. For those wanting to fine-tune the sound on the A40s, the earbuds can be paired with the Soundcore app, which includes an EQ. The small, round earpieces help make the A40s comfortable to wear for extended periods, and the charging case extends the already solid 10-hour battery life by another 50 or so hours. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are already one of the best value options on the market, and this sale makes them even more appealing. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-budget-wireless-earbuds-are-back-on-sale-for-45-152704145.html?src=rss

xAI reportedly laid off at least 500 AI tutors working on Grok

xAI has laid off at least 500 workers from its data annotation team, the company's largest, according to Business Insider . The annotation team is in charge of categorizing and contextualizing raw data used to train Grok so that it can understand the world better. Business Insider says the laid off employees were informed via email on the evening of September 12, Friday, that it was going to downsize its team of general AI tutors. They were reportedly told that they would be paid their salaries until the end of their contracts on November 30, but their access to xAI's systems had been cut off after they received the notice. When Reuters asked the company for a comment, it referred to a post on X wherein it posted a call for specialist AI tutors instead. xAI said that it will immediately surge [its] Specialist AI tutor team by 10x and that it's hiring across STEM fields. As specialist tutors, the new hires will be enhancing [the company's] AI technologies through high-quality inputs, labels and annotations using specialized software. They'll gather data and provide their own, not only in text format, but also through audio recordings and video sessions. As Reuters has noted, the layoffs come after several high-profile departures from xAI, including the company's chief financial officer Mike Liberatore. The company launched Grok 4 in July, calling it the smartest AI in the world. Elon Musk claimed during the model's reveal that if you make Grok 4 take the SATs and the GREs, it would get near perfect results every time and can answer questions it's never seen before. He also proclaimed that Grok is going to invent new tech maybe later this year, and that he would be shocked if it doesn't happen next year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/xai-reportedly-laid-off-at-least-500-ai-tutors-working-on-grok-130059624.html?src=rss

Cozy detectives, urban disc golf and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest recap of what's going on in the indie game space. This week, the revived Acclaim held a very fun showcase (and we'll get to some of the games from that). But on Friday, Nintendo soaked up all the attention with an hour-long Direct. Sure, it included some first-party games, such as Mario Tennis Fever , Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and a Donkey Kong Bananza expansion. But Nintendo highlighted several indie games in the newsy showcase , too. Hades 2 is arguably the highest-profile name among those, and the full version isn't far away at all it'll hit Switch, Switch 2, Steam and Epic Games Store on September 25 . Stardew Valley, Human Fall Flat, Overcooked 2 and PowerWash Simulator 2 are getting Switch 2 versions as well. It wouldn't be a Nintendo Direct without a shadowdrop. Sure enough, Lynked: Banner of the Spark landed on Switch and Switch 2 on Friday, with mouse control and GameShare support on the newer system. This is an action RPG from FuzzyBot and publisher Dreamhaven that looks a bit like a cross between Hades and Hi-Fi Rush . I'll be honest, I've had Lynked: Banner of the Spark sitting on my PC for months. I'm definitely interested in checking it out, but it's just one of those things that's unfortunately slipped further and further down my to-play list. I'm still hoping to carve out time to properly check it out before it's time to start putting together our games of the year list. Popucom (which debuted on Steam earlier this year) also looks pretty intriguing. From Hypergryph and publisher Gryph Frontier, this is a multiplayer-only adventure platformer in which you take out enemies with match three-style shooting. Here's the twist: each player only has two colors, so you'll need to work together to fire the correct blobs at bad guys and obstacles. Popucom is coming to Switch this holiday season. New releases Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game is a new title from the small team at female-led Indonesian developer Posh Cat Studio and publisher Amplified Games. As the name suggests, it's a slice-of-life detective game that sees you getting to the bottom of misunderstandings and minor inconveniences. You play as freshman student Mary, and one of the first mysteries you'll have to solve involves finding the location where her study group is supposed to meet after she forgets where to go on her first day of school. The game has 10 cases overall and each has a set of puzzles to solve. It's said to have simple mechanics that grow into playful twists and surprising solutions. Little Problems seems quite charming and just the kind of low-fi puzzle game that I might vibe with. It's out now on Steam and it usually costs $10, but there's a 10 percent discount until September 23. Disc golf feels like it would be a fun sport to get into and while there are a few courses near me, they're not exactly easy to get to without a car. So I might just have to make do with Disc Golf City , which came out of early access on Steam for PC, Mac and Linux this week. The action takes place in a colorful city, and you can bounce your disc off of objects in the environment to pull off trick shots and try to land it in the basket. Disc Golf City , which is from Agapo Games, costs $13. There's also a demo you can check out. Another game that came out of early access on Steam and GOG this week is Beyond Sunset . This is a cyberpunk (not that one) first-person shooter with RPG elements from Metacorp / Vaporware and publisher Movie Games. I love when a vaporwave color palette is put to good use and the lo-fi visuals here just feel right. The fast-paced movement looks pretty interesting too it's not hard to tell that the developers took inspiration from the Doom series. Beyond Sunset costs $10. It feels like I can't go on the internet for five minutes without learning about a new sidescrolling Metroidvania game. Still, Katanaut is one I've had my eye on for a while. You'll be facing the horrors that have taken over a space station using an array of weapons, skills and perks. This is a roguelite from Voidmaw in which there are new pathways to explore on each run. There is some permanent progression here, as you'll pick up memory fragments during your journey through the station's gore-soaked corridors. It was also revealed this week that Acclaim is the publisher of Katanaut , which is available on Steam . Upcoming Pacific Drive was one of the more interesting-looking games from last year that I just haven't gotten around to checking out yet. It's a driving sim and survival horror game set in a supernatural version of the Pacific Northwest, in which you scour the landscape for parts to upgrade your car and, hopefully, stay alive. Ironwood Studios and publisher Kepler Interactive this week announced the Whispers in the Woods expansion for Pacific Drive . Slated to arrive later this year, the DLC adds around eight to 12 hours of gameplay with new characters, dangers, mysteries and anomalies to encounter. Other updates include route modifiers and garage cosmetics to find. The rest of this week's upcoming games are all from Acclaim, since I found just about everything in that showcase intriguing. The first game that the publisher showed off was GridBeat from Ridiculous Games. Blending together puzzles, tactics and dungeon crawling, GridBeat will see you infiltrate a corporate computer network and try to escape with valuable data while security programs and malware attempt to stop you. You'll find more abilities and power-ups along the way. Crucially, you need to move in time to the music, since it's a rhythm game as well. There's a lot going on here! GridBeat is coming to Steam , but there's no release window as yet. One thing I was really hoping to see during Acclaim's showcase was the return of NBA Jam. We didn't quite get that, but I'll absolutely take Basketball Classics in its place. Acclaim has taken over publishing duties for this retro, NES-style arcade basketball title from Namo Gamo. It features 5-on-5 sidescrolling action with simplified controls, hundreds of teams, more than 1,000 players and multiple modes (including couch multiplayer). I hadn't heard of Basketball Classics until now, but it's been out on Steam for several years. Acclaim is helping to bring it to consoles sometime soon. I do love PowerWash Simulator and am looking forward to the sequel. Pixel Washer looks like a different flavor of that format. As a cute lil' piggy with a power washer, you'll be cleaning just about everything in sight. The trailer suggests that things might get weird, and it even seems like there are boss fights. Valadria is the developer behind Pixel Washer, which is coming to Steam down the line. HyperYuki: Snowboard Syndicate looks like the offspring of SSX and Jet Set Radio, and that's enough to sell me on the game. An easy addition to my wishlist. Wabisabi Design is making this snowboarding game that pits you against NPCs and/or human players in races. In the main game mode, you'll need to complete a certain number of challenges in each level before you can move on, which is very much keeping in with the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater format. There's also a relaxing endless mode, where you can just hang out and explore or, like, whatever. HyperYuki: Snowboard Syndicate supports split-screen play and online multiplayer for up to eight people. Again, there's no confirmed release date or window as yet, this one is coming to Steam . Acclaim notes that it is actively exploring console releases for its games. Our goal is to bring these experiences to as many players as possible, and well have more updates to share as development progresses, the publisher added. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/cozy-detectives-urban-disc-golf-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110029695.html?src=rss