Hardware

Apple will again appeal to the Supreme Court in battle with Epic Games

The legal battle between Epic Games and Apple is escalating once again. For a second time, the warring factions are going straight to the top of the judicial system. Apple is asking for the Supreme Court to review when and how it can charge commissions on mobile purchases made via third-party payment systems. The business has requested a motion to stay on a lower court ruling regarding the fees Apple charges to software developers using those external financial systems rather than the App Store. The last time Apple petitioned for an appeal at the top of the judicial branch, it was about a lower court requiring it to allow developers to use third-party payment options. The Supreme Court declined to hear that case. It's possible that the tech company will once again be denied, although this effort regards specifically limits on commission rates rather than the basic premise of allowing in-app payments to be processed outside the App Store. Epic Games has been pushing both Apple and Google on the subject of their app store commission fees for years. Recently, the gaming company did appear to reach an accord with Google that saw the company's popular game Fortnite globally return to the Google Play Store in March. That ruling reportedly requires Epic's notoriously opinionated CEO to keep quiet on the subject of Google's app store fees until 2032. Epic Games recently made substantial job cuts, laying off more than 1,000 workers last month. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-will-again-appeal-to-the-supreme-court-in-battle-with-epic-games-193551758.html?src=rss

Three YouTubers accuse Apple of illegal scraping to train its AI models

Three YouTube channels have banded together and filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, as first spotted by MacRumors . According to the lawsuit , the creators behind h3h3 Productions, MrShortGameGolf and Golfholics have accused Apple of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act by scraping copyrighted videos on YouTube to train its AI models. While the YouTubers' videos are available to watch on the platform, the lawsuit alleged that Apple illegally circumvented the controlled streaming architecture that regular users are limited to. The creators claimed that Apple's video scraping was used to train its generative AI products, adding that the tech giant's massive financial success would not have been possible without the video content created by the YouTubers. MacRumors noted that these YouTube channels have also filed similar lawsuits against other tech companies, including Meta, Nvidia, ByteDance and Snap. It's not the first time a company's alleged AI training methods have gotten them in legal trouble. OpenAI and Microsoft were both accused of using copyrighted articles from the NYTimes to train its AI chatbots. Similarly, Perplexity was recently sued by Reddit and Encyclopedia Britannica for alleged copyright and trademark infringements. Last year, Apple was also named in a separate class action lawsuit from two neuroscience professors who claimed their copyrighted works were used without permission. We reached out to Apple for comment and will update the story when we hear back. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/three-youtubers-accuse-apple-of-illegal-scraping-to-train-its-ai-models-181028745.html?src=rss

NASA's Artemis II crew just flew farther away from Earth than anyone ever has before

NASA's Artemis II crew just set a new distance record in miles traveled away from Earth. The team of four astronauts are in the process of circling the Moon , reaching 5,000 miles beyond the natural satellite. That brings the total distance traveled away from our home to over 250,000 miles. Gene Roddenberry would be proud. This broke the previous 1970 record set by Apollo 13's crew by around 4,000 miles. The four astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch of NASA and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency are the first humans to cross the lunar threshold since 1972's Apollo 17 mission. We challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived, Commander Reid Wiseman said upon crossing the distance threshold. He also suggested that NASA name a lunar crater after the craft itself. The astronauts aren't landing on the lunar surface, but are conducting a lengthy flyby that should provide clear images of the Moon's far side that have never been seen by humans. These areas were too difficult to clearly see by the various Apollo crew members. They'll also get a peek at a solar eclipse, though the crew will be out of contact with mission control for around 40 minutes. Well get eyes on the moon, kind of map it out and then continue to go back in force, NASA flight director, Judd Frieling, said. Astronaut Christina Koch has called today's record an important milestone that people can understand and wrap their heads around. As for that mapping, the crew has a series of different cameras, and they're going to get data from that. This is according to NASA administrator Jared Isaacman who also said the astronauts have been training for this moment for almost four years. This mapping data will be used to plan future crewed missions to the lunar surface. The Orion capsule is now on its crawl back to Earth. It'll drop down in around four days. NASA is planning for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on April 10, which is nine days after the launch . Astronaut Victor Glover delivered an Easter message over the weekend in which he called Earth an oasis and said that humanity is special in all of this emptiness. This is a marked contrast from the Easter message delivered by President Trump. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-artemis-ii-crew-just-flew-farther-away-from-earth-than-anyone-ever-has-before-180259867.html?src=rss

You can now search through app reviews on the Google Play Store

Finding the right app on the Google Play Store just got a lot easier. Google is rolling out a new search function for an app's reviews when navigating its Play Store, as first spotted by Android Authority . The new feature only currently searches for exact matches of at least two words, but it should still help users identify if certain apps and games have specific features or gameplay elements. You can find the search function after hitting the See all reviews button on the Play Store, and it will also offer some popular search terms next to the feature. It's similar to Amazon's Search customer reviews feature and will bold the search phrase in the reviews. The ability to search reviews is a welcome addition to the Play Store, especially when compared to the App Store that can only sort an app's reviews. Google has also been cracking down on bad apps that violate its policies in recent years, but giving users the ability to search through reviews could offer another layer of scrutiny for any apps that slip through the cracks. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/you-can-now-search-through-app-reviews-on-the-google-play-store-170459063.html?src=rss

Netflix just released a standalone gaming app for kids

Netflix just released a free app called Playground for smartphones and tablets. This is a gaming app for kids, aged eight and under. It's available to all Netflix members on any tier, and the company promises it doesn't have ads or in-app purchases. It also works without a mobile or Wi-Fi connection. Netflix says this makes it the perfect companion for long airplane rides or grocery trips. Kids do love their screens. The company promises an ever-growing library of games for children. The platform launches with titles based on some massively popular franchises. There's something called Playtime with Peppa Pig , which is a collection of minigames starring the titular Peppa and friends. There's also a game set on Sesame Street, in which kids get to hang out with Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar and more beloved puppet pals. This is another minigame collection, with a memory card game, a connect-the-dots game and more. The catalog also includes a couple of games based on Dr. Seuss properties and a racing title based on the show Bad Dinosaurs . There are other things on the platform, like a sticker book collection and jigsaw puzzles. Again, every title here is intended for young children. Netflix Playground is available now in the US and many other parts of the world. It launches globally on April 28. The regular Netflix app still offers access to traditional video games, though the streamer's interactive division has been struggling lately. It closed its AAA gaming studio back in 2024 and has since removed many titles from the platform . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/netflix-just-released-a-standalone-gaming-app-for-kids-170030884.html?src=rss

How to watch the historic Artemis II lunar flyby

NASA's Artemis II mission is about to make history. After a successful April 1 launch , and a trip of 39,000 miles through space , astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen are about to travel farther from Earth than any human beings have before, and you can watch the entire thing unfold online. NASA will stream the entire flyby on YouTube and its own NASA+ website , with coverage beginning at 1PM ET. You can also watch NASA+ through Netflix . It's going to take some time for things to get underway, so if you're working or have plans this evening but don't want to miss seeing history being made, your best bet is to try and catch a handful of key moments. At approximately 1:56PM ET, Artemis II will fly farther than any crewed mission has before, breaking the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Then, the Orion spacecraft will begin its flyby of the Moon at 2:45PM ET, with the craft expected to make its closest approach to the lunar surface at approximately 7:02PM ET. A few short minutes later, the spacecraft will reach its maximum distance from Earth at about 7:07PM ET. A little more than an hour later at 8:35PM, the Artemis II crew will get a chance to see a total solar eclipse from the far side of the Moon. This is something that won't be visible from Earth. So if you can only catch one part of the broadcast, this is the one to watch. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/how-to-watch-the-historic-artemis-ii-lunar-flyby-155114417.html?src=rss

Samsung's Music Studio speakers and two of its 2026 soundbars are available now

Back at CES, Samsung showed off a new line of speakers and two of its 2026 soundbars . Today, the company announced pricing for the entire suite of new products, including two soundbars that werent inside its showroom in Vegas. All but two of the new devices are available to order now, so you might not have to wait to get your hands on some new Samsung audio gear. Lets start with the Music Studio 7 and Music Studio 5 speakers . The Music Studio 7 is the more rectangular model in the duo. Its a 3.1.1-channel unit with left, right and center speakers alongside one woofer and one up-firing driver. This $500 device is also equipped with Pattern Control tech to direct the sound evenly through the room while keeping distortion to a minimum. The more circular Music Studio 5 has a 2.1-channel configuration composed of two tweeters and a single woofer. It has waveguide technology to evenly disperse the sound and costs $300 . Both the Music Studio 7 and Music Studio 5 use AI processing to customize the sound based on the room and the content. Those capabilities come in the form of Samsungs Dynamic Bass Control and SpaceFit Sound Pro room calibration features. Both speakers also use Active Voice Amplifier Pro to boost dialogue. Two Music Studio 7 speakers being used with a TV Samsung Yes, this means you can use a pair of either model as your living room setup. In fact, they can work with a compatible TV or soundbar to employ Samsungs Q-Symphony feature that uses all of your speakers as an immersive group. Samsung is also expanding Q-Symphony to work with up to five of its audio devices and the feature will automatically adjust the sound based on speaker locations. Those upgrades seem an awful lot like LGs Sound Suite and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect , if you ask me. Samsung revealed its flagship soundbar, the Q990H, at CES. Unfortunately, the company is keeping the same overall design its been using for about years now, so I think its time for a change. This is the companys 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos option that comes with rear satellite speakers and a subwoofer for $2,000 . Samsungs home theater features like Dynamic Bass Control, SpaceFit Sound Pro and Adaptive Sound are all here, but there are also two new features on the Q990H for 2026. First, Samsung promises that Sound Elevation will improve the audio by making dialogue sound like its coming from where characters are on the screen rather than the position of your soundbar. Theres also Auto Volume, which will supposedly nix sudden volume jumps as you switch channels or streaming services. The QS90H is the member of Samsungs 2026 soundbar lineup that really impressed me at CES . The company says this is its first all-in-one soundbar, which means you shouldnt have to use a subwoofer for adequate bass. Other companies have made that claim, and its almost never true , but the $1,000 QS90H pumped out some great low-end tone back in Vegas. Thats thanks to four built-in woofers and an overall 7.1.2-channel setup. The QS90H has a similar design to the existing QS700 soundbar Samsung Like the QS700F , the QS90H has a gyro sensor that automatically detects if its sitting flat on a shelf or mounted on a wall. This allows the soundbar to automatically adjust the sound based on its position so you dont sacrifice performance for what looks best in your home. The QS90H also offers Q-Symphony, SpaceFit Sound Pro room calibration, Adaptive Sound, Active Voice Amplifier Pro and Dynamic Bass Control plus the new Sound Elevation and Auto Volume from the Q990H. Two other soundbars that Samsung didnt discuss at CES are the Q930H ($1,500) and the Q800H ($1,100). As you might expect based on the numbers, these two models sit below the Q990H in the companys lineup. The Q930H is a 9.1.4-channel option that comes with rear speakers and a subwoofer in the box. In terms of features, Q-Symphony, SpaceFit Sound Pro room calibration, Adaptive Sound, Voice Amplifier Pro and Sound Elevation are all here. Step down to the Q800H and youll get all of those features in a 5.1.2-channel arrangement. This soundbar only comes with a subwoofer though. Its also worth noting that both the Q930H and Q800H have a similar angular design to the Q900H. The Music Studio 7 , Music Studio 5 , Q990H and Q800H are available now. The Q930H and QS90H are still listed at coming soon. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/samsungs-music-studio-speakers-and-two-of-its-2026-soundbars-are-available-now-150000056.html?src=rss

Artemis II arrives in lunar space ahead of its trip around the Moon

Artemis II and its four-man crew have entered the Moons sphere of influence, meaning the spacecraft is more affected by lunar gravity than the Earths pull. The transition occurred at a distance of 39,000 miles from the Moon, four days, six hours and two minutes into the mission. The next and most important phase will happen tomorrow when the craft loops around the Moons far side, taking humans deeper into space than theyve ever been before. At their apogee, Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Canadas Jeremy Hansen will be 252,757 miles from Earth. That will break the previous record held by the Apollo 13 crew by just over 4,000 miles. Theyre the first humans to cross the lunar threshold since 1972s Apollo 17 moon landing mission. The crew spent this weekend carrying out preparations for their lunar flyby. That included manual piloting demonstrations, reviewing their science objectives for the six-hour observation period and evaluating their space suits, which are there for life support in the event of an emergency and for their return home. But, they've had plenty of time to take in the views, too and those views sure are spectacular. In the latest series of images shared by the space agency, the astronauts are seen gazing at Earth through the windows of the Orion spacecraft . Orion will reach the moon's vicinity shortly after midnight on Monday, April 6. Later that day, the crew is expected to reach a point farther than any humans have traveled from Earth, surpassing the record of 248,655 miles from Earth set by the Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970. Mission specialist Christina Koch takes in the view. NASA The lunar observation period will start at 2:45PM ET, and a few hours later, they'll be behind the moon and briefly drop out of communication. The spacecraft's closest approach to the moon is expected to occur at 7:02PM, when it will be 4,066 miles from the surface. From that distance, the crew will see the entire disk of the Moon at once, including regions near the north and south poles, according to NASA . The crew will later get a chance to see a solar eclipse as Orion, the Moon, and the Sun align in such a way that the astronauts will see our star disappear behind the Moon for about an hour. NASA will have coverage of the flyby starting at 1PM ET. Update April 7 at 1:40 AM ET : The post has been updated with news that Artemis II has entered the Moons sphere of influence. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/artemis-ii-arrives-in-lunar-space-ahead-of-its-trip-around-the-moon-211919381.html?src=rss

NASA shares breathtaking images of Artemis II astronauts taking in the view from Orion's windows

The Artemis II crew is almost at the moon , and the astronauts spent this weekend carrying out preparations for their lunar flyby on Monday. That included manual piloting demonstrations, reviewing their science objectives for the six-hour observation period and evaluating their space suits, which are there for life support in the event of an emergency and for their return home. But, they've had plenty of time to take in the views, too and those views sure are spectacular. In the latest series of images shared by the space agency, the astronauts are seen gazing at Earth through the windows of the Orion spacecraft . Orion will reach the moon's vicinity shortly after midnight on Monday, April 6. Later that day, the crew is expected to reach a point farther than any humans have traveled from Earth, surpassing the record of 248,655 miles from Earth set by the Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970. Mission specialist Christina Koch takes in the view. NASA The lunar observation period will start at 2:45PM ET, and a few hours later, they'll be behind the moon and briefly drop out of communication. The spacecraft's closest approach to the moon is expected to occur at 7:02PM, when it will be 4,066 miles from the surface. From that distance, the crew will see the entire disk of the Moon at once, including regions near the north and south poles, according to NASA . The crew will later get a chance to see a solar eclipse as Orion, the Moon, and the Sun align in such a way that the astronauts will see our star disappear behind the Moon for about an hour. NASA will have coverage of the flyby starting at 1PM ET. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasa-shares-breathtaking-images-of-artemis-ii-astronauts-taking-in-the-view-from-orions-windows-211919760.html?src=rss

The UK government reportedly wants Anthropic to expand its presence in London

While the US and Anthropic are in the midst of a major dispute , the UK is trying to sway the San Francisco-based AI company to expand its presence on English soil. According to a report from The Financial Times , staffers at the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have worked on proposals that include expanding Anthropic's office in London, along with a potential dual stock listing. The UK's strategy follows a public fallout between Anthropic and the US Department of Defense earlier this year. After the AI company said it wouldn't budge on certain AI guardrails, the Department of Defense pulled its contract and eventually designated Anthropic a supply chain risk . While the designation is currently temporarily blocked by a court-ordered injunction , the feud is far from over. In the meantime, the UK's efforts to court Anthropic have ramped up in the recent weeks thanks to the company's disagreements with the US, according to FT 's sources. With no end in sight for the debacle with the Department of Defense, Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, is expected to visit the UK in May, according to FT . However, even in London, Anthropic will have to compete against OpenAI , which already committed to expanding its footprint in the English capital in February. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-uk-government-reportedly-wants-anthropic-to-expand-its-presence-in-london-174201049.html?src=rss

Samsung will discontinue its Messages app in July and replace it with Google's

Samsung is putting the final nail in the coffin for its own messaging app. The smartphone maker posted an End of Service Announcement on its website , revealing that the Samsung Messages app will no longer be available by July of this year. Samsung also recommended that anyone still using Samsung Messages switch over to Google Messages as the default messaging app. For Samsung Messages users in the US, the switch to Google offers RCS messaging that lets you send high-quality media, join group chats and get real-time typing indicators no matter the smartphone's OS. Galaxy smartphone owners may lose out on some of the Samsung Messages customization options, but Google Messages will make up for it generative AI from Gemini that can remix your photos in chats. On top of those features, Google Messages makes it easier for Samsung users to switch chats between a smartphone, tablet or smartwatch. It's no surprise that Samsung is only using Google Messages from now on, since it has been phasing out Samsung Messages for a few years now. Dating back to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, and then followed by the Galaxy S25 series , Samsung stopped preloading the Samsung Messages app and instead pre-installed the Google Messages app. The Samsung Messages app is still available on the Galaxy Store , but Samsung said the exact final date will eventually be announced on the app itself. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-will-discontinue-its-messages-app-in-july-and-replace-it-with-googles-162204307.html?src=rss

Devils on the Moon brings the score-chasing of pinball to the Playdate

Pinball video games have been around for years I cut my teeth on Space Cadet 3D Pinball , which was pre-loaded on Windows 95. They range from realistic recreations of pinball tables youll find at arcades to games that could never exist in real life like 2019s Demons Tilt or older ones like Metroid Prime Pinball for the Nintendo DS or Pokmon Pinball for the Game Boy Color. I didnt expect to find a detailed pinball game for the humble and delightful Playdate, but a pair of developers working under the name Amano pulled it off with Devils on the Moon Pinball , which arrived last week. Its the developers third game for the Playdate, and Mario and JP (who make up Amano) pointed directly to Pokemon Pinball as the inspiration for this game. I think one of my most-played games is Pokemon Pinball, JP said. But the idea to make a pinball game came from Mario he came to me and say JP, I want to make a custom engine for Playdate and we should make a pinball game. I love playing pinball in real life, but owning a full-size table is extremely expensive and takes up a ton of room. But Devils on the Moon completely scratches the itch. The controls are extremely simple: pressing left on the d-pad flips the left fipper, A flips the right flipper, and pressing down on the d-pad launches the ball. Amano also included tilt controls; pressing right or up on the d-pad or the B button shakes the table in a particular direction so you can try and save the ball. Sadly, the crank doesnt come into play, but I cant say I have a good idea for how it would be used. A screenshot from Devils on the Moon Pinball. Amano I was impressed with both the physics and table design of Devils on the Moon after playing for just a few minutes. Despite not having analog control, the way the ball reacted when I hit the flippers felt consistent and smooth, and while I was often surprised at some of the bounces it took, it never felt unfair. When I drained a ball, it was almost always something I could have avoided if I knew the game better or had faster reflexes just like a good, real-life pinball table. JP and Mario described the game as using stylized physics rather than it being fully realistic. It may not necessarily be accurate to real life, JP said. But since the screen is wider than it is tall unlike actual pinball, we needed the ball to feel a little bit floaty and not fall as fast because then it would just zoom straight down the screen. The table design feels both grounded in reality while also taking advantage of its virtual nature. There are three vertical levels, each with its own set of flippers. The 2D nature of the game means there arent any true ramps like youll on most pinball tables, but having three separate sections of the game to get used to makes up for that. And provided you complete various modes in the game, you can reach boss battles where youre tasked with whacking a giant enemy repeatedly to drain away their health bar. Physical pinball tables often have similar encounters, but they have to be worked into the design of the game in this case, your ball essentially ports to an entirely different space when you battle a boss. The full three-stage board layout for Devils on the Moon pinball. Amano It's kind of playing like the old pinball machines where the rules are really simple, Mario said.. You just have a few things to do. In our case, it ended up going beyond our original scope, but its still quite simple compared to an actual pinball machine in terms of rules. He said the design intent was to make the game friendlier to people who might try it out without a lot of pinball experience while still putting enough challenge into it. The audio and visual presentation is top-notch for a Playdate game, too. Perhaps most crucially for a pinball game, theres no lag or stuttering. The game also has a distinct visual identity, something thats always important for pinball to draw you into the world of the playfield as much as possible. The games page cheekily promises at least (1) songs and it delivers on that with a solid theme for the main game that serves well as background music that doesnt get old if youre playing for a while, and the beeps and boops the table makes as you play feel well-suited to the game. It doesnt sound like a real pinball table but it isnt one, so thats okay. A screenshot of Devils on the Moon Pinball. Amano I havent played a video pinball game in a long time, but the Playdate feels like an ideal platform for this. I can bring it with me anywhere and play a round or two (provided theres decent light) or settle in for a longer play session. The game is challenging enough that youll need to practice a lot to get the hang of it, but theres enough variety to the three-tiered table to keep players interested for the long haul. After all, the fun of pinball isnt necessarily playing a table for the first time its learning it inside out so you can maximize your score. Im looking forward to getting to that point with Devils on the Moon. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/devils-on-the-moon-brings-the-score-chasing-of-pinball-to-the-playdate-130000414.html?src=rss

The Spaceballs sequel will be released in April next year

There's finally a release date for the Spaceballs sequel but before you get too excited, it's a whole year away. As first reported by Deadline , Amazon MGM Studios announced on Friday night that the upcoming Spaceballs movie will hit theaters on April 23, 2027, right around the 40th anniversary of the first film. Several members of the original cast will be reprising their roles, according to Deadline , including Mel Brooks, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, George Wynder and Daphne Zuniga. Spaceballs: The Release Date. April 23, 2027. pic.twitter.com/5Xv0BKmf7C Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) April 4, 2026 Whispers of a potential Spaceballs 2 go back a couple of years, but Brooks officially confirmed in an extremely on-brand announcement video last summer that the movie is actually happening. Following Deadline 's latest report, Amazon MGM Studios posted a screenshot of the article on X, along with the words, Spaceballs: The Release Date. April 23, 2027. The movie is being directed by Josh Greenbaum and written by Josh Gad, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, according to Deadline . Along with the returning cast members, it will star Gad, Keke Palmer (!!), Lewis Pullman and Anthony Carrigan. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-spaceballs-sequel-will-be-released-in-april-next-year-213543871.html?src=rss

Ursula K. Le Guin's blog has been turned into a podcast

For those will never tire of the words of Ursula K. Le Guin, a special treat is on the way. The esteemed late author's blog , which she started in 2010 at the age of 81, is being rereleased as a podcast, In Your Spare Time . Le Guin's blog ran until 2017, and a book collecting a selection of those posts was published that year. But, the podcast will include everything: essays, poems and even the ones that are mostly cat pictures, according to the announcement. The first episode will be released April 8 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms. From Le Guin's official Instagram account, which is managed by her estate: We always wanted to hear a version of the blog that includes every single post, even the ones that are mostly cat pictures. So for the next two years and change, we'll release an episode every Wednesday. Each episode features a different reader of Ursula's text, and each reader adds their own thoughtsabout their relationship with Ursula and her work, or about the specific topic of the post, or whatever catches their fancy. You can listen to a trailer here ahead of the first episode's release this week.Post zero, A Note at the Beginning, will be read by David Mitchell. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/ursula-k-le-guins-blog-has-been-turned-into-a-podcast-193257106.html?src=rss

Ireland is testing out a digital wallet that conducts age verification for social media users

Before it's publicly available later this year, the Irish government is trialing its Government Digital Wallet , which includes a way to verify a user's age to access social media platforms. In its press release , the government's Department of Public Expediture, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation said people can store digital versions of their birth certificates, driving licenses, European health cards and more. Frank Feighan, the department's minister, said that this testing phase would help inform the development of the digital wallet and ensure it was user friendly. The government hasn't laid out when the Government Digital Wallet graduates beyond the testing phase, but Ireland is required to create a digital wallet by the end of 2026 as part of a European Union regulation. It will be able to facilitate secure age verification capability as set out in Digital Ireland and the implementation of the Online Safety Code, under which designated platforms must have age verification measures in place to help protect, in particular, children and young people from online harm, Feighan said of Ireland's digital wallet. The pilot phase will be done on an opt-in basis and the government has a short survey available for comments and concerns. Along with Ireland, many other European Union member states are working on their own age verification methods. Earlier this year, Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez announced a law to ban social media for anyone under 16. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/ireland-is-testing-out-a-digital-wallet-that-conducts-age-verification-for-social-media-users-175002131.html?src=rss

Apple iOS 26.5 public beta is now available

Apple has released the first public beta for iOS 26.5, just a few days after the beta for developers came out. One of the biggest changes the new operating system brings is the Suggested Places feature in Apple Maps. It will show you trending places to visit, such as restaurants and other establishments, near your location or based on your search history. You can see Suggested Places when you tap on the search bar in the Maps app. iOS 26.5 beta also will also come with notifications that the company will be putting ads inside Maps. Apple confirmed in March that it was going to expand its ads outside of the App Store and Apple News apps. The ads you see will be based on your location, the search terms youve used and what youre looking up on Maps. They will show up at the top of your search results and in Apples Suggested Places list. Apple said the ads will be clearly marked and wont be a danger to your privacy. Your current location and the ads you interact with will not be associated with your Apple Account, and your personal data will stay on your iPhone and wont be collected. In addition, Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages on iOS 26.5 beta yet again. However, the company has yet to reveal whether the feature will roll out with the operating systems stable release. To be able to get Apples public beta releases , go to the Apple Beta Software Program website and sign up using your Apple credentials. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-ios-265-public-beta-is-now-available-170103425.html?src=rss

It's no longer free to use Claude through third-party tools like OpenClaw

Anthropic is no longer offering a free ride for third-party apps using its Claude AI. Boris Cherny, Anthropic's creator and head of Claude Code, posted on X that Claude subscriptions will no longer cover using the AI agent for third-party tools, like OpenClaw, for free. As of 3PM ET on April 4, anyone using Claude through third-party apps or software will have to do so with an extra usage bundle or with a Claude API key, according to Cherny. Most of Claude's workload may come from simple user questions, but there are those who use the AI chatbot through OpenClaw, a free and open-source AI assistant from the same developer as Moltbook . Unlike more general AI solutions, OpenClaw is designed to automate personal workflows, like clearing inboxes, sending emails or organizing calendars, but leans on external large language models, including Claude, ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Cherny replied to X users that this change is about engineering constraints and optimization. Weve been working hard to meet the increase in demand for Claude, and our subscriptions weren't built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools, Cherny explained on X. Capacity is a resource we manage thoughtfully and we are prioritizing our customers using our products and API. If OpenClaw users still want to use Anthropic as its LLM, they will have to buy a usage bundle, which are currently discounted, or switch to another AI integration like xAI, Perplexity or even DeepSeek. Of course, Anthropic has its own alternative, which tackles some similar tasks as OpenClaw, called Claude Cowork . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/its-no-longer-free-to-use-claude-through-third-party-tools-like-openclaw-160912082.html?src=rss

The latest on the Artemis II mission to the moon, and more science stories

We got to share in a rare moment of collective awe this week as four astronauts blasted off toward the moon , beginning a 10-day journey that will take them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in the last 50 years. It'll still be a little while before they reach their destination the Orion spacecraft is expected to loop around the moon on Monday but they've already seen some pretty incredible stuff on the way there. Here's the latest on the Artemis II mission, and other interesting science stories from this week. Artemis II crosses the halfway point After years of planning, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are finally on their way to the moon for the Artemis II mission. This test flight is a crucial step in NASA's plans to send humans to the surface of the moon again for the first time since Apollo 17, and the high-stakes launch went off without a hitch on Wednesday. The Artemis II crew is now more than halfway to the moon, according to NASA. When Orion reaches the moon on April 6, the astronauts will have a six-hour window of opportunity to observe the partially lit lunar far side, which can't be seen from Earth. If you're curious about where exactly the astronauts are at any given moment, you can track the mission by visiting NASA's Artemis Real-Time Orbit website . And, if you just want to see what space looks like from Orion, here's a livestream from outside the capsule.The moon is now in view! The crew did experience some technical difficulties after leaving the ground, though all were resolved fairly quickly. Early Thursday morning, Wiseman contacted mission control to troubleshoot some issues with a Surface Pro he was attempting to use, noting, I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working. Relatable. The Artemis II crew was also greeted by a malfunctioning toilet not long into the flight, and astronaut Koch had to work with the ground team to figure out a fix which they thankfully were able to do. In a livestream later, the astronaut joked that she is now a space plumber . Small issues aside, the Artemis II mission is off to a pretty amazing start. The Orion spacecraft completed its translunar injection burn on Thursday, officially taking it out of Earth orbit and putting it on its way to the moon. Commander Wiseman shared some pictures of the view from Orion's windows afterward, and they are breathtaking. In one unbelievably crisp shot of Earth, you can even see two auroras. And there's plenty more observations to come. Students discover a pristine, ancient star Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), a group of undergraduate students at the University of Chicago has discovered what's thought to be one of the oldest stars ever observed. Their analysis indicates that the star, called SDSSJ0715-7334, was born in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud billions of years ago before eventually making its way to the Milky Way. Vedant Chandra and the SDSS collaboration Background ESA/Gaia image, A. Moitinho, A. F. Silva, M. Barros, C. Barata, University of Lisbon; H. Savietto, Fork Research The star was one of 77 that the students selected for closer observation after poring through the SDSS data in their Field Course in Astrophysics class, which is led by Professor Alex Ji, the deputy Project Scientist for SDSS-V. SDSS-V is an ongoing all-sky survey that's mapping the Milky Way. After creating their list, they set out to observe the stars during a field trip to Carnegie Sciences Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, and honed in on SDSSJ0715-7334 on day two. The team found it's made mostly of hydrogen and helium, with very little carbon and iron. In the paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy , the researchers note that this composition could be the product of a primordial supernova. This ancient immigrant gives us an unprecedented look at conditions in the early universe, said Ji in a statement. Ji added, The star has so little carbon that it suggests an early sprinkling of cosmic dust is responsible for making it. This formation pathway has only been seen once before. Before you go, be sure to check these stories out too: Whats going on with Donut Lab's so-called super battery? SpaceX has reportedly filed for the biggest IPO in history This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-latest-on-the-artemis-ii-mission-to-the-moon-and-more-science-stories-160000539.html?src=rss

Super Meat Boy 3D, coin-pushing chaos and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As ever, we've got a whole bunch of new games for you to dive into this weekend, along with announcements and updates on several others that are coming down the pike. I love how spoiled we are for game showcases these days, and I'm really looking forward to the latest installment of the indie-focused Triple-i Initiative at noon ET on April 9 as the first two editions were really strong. The trailer for this one features the likes of Cairn , Warhammer Survivors (the Warhammer-themed Vampire Survivors spinoff), the excellent CloverPit , Final Sentence and Far Far West . The organizers are promising to share release dates and gameplay reveals. Expect to see eight game announcements here too. Summer Game Fest is fast approaching. That means the mid-year edition of Day of the Devs, one of the biggest indie game showcases around, isn't too far away. Developers still have a chance to be featured in the show. Submissions for Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Digital Showcase are open , but you'll need to hurry if you're ready to shoot your shot at being included. The deadline for submissions is this Monday, April 6. Meanwhile, Id normally write about notable ports in the new releases section of this roundup, but there was no trailer for this, so I'll mention it here. Before its success with Peak last year, Landfall also scored a hit with Content Warning on PC (making it free for the first 24 hours didn't hurt!). Now, this friendslop game is out on PS5 , Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC , Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 for $10. Landfall added cross-play to the Steam version as well. New releases A sequel to an all-time indie classic dropped this week, and it took the squishy protagonist of the series to another dimension. Like its predecessors, Super Meat Boy 3D is a tough precision platformer. You'll need to guide the titular meat cube past saws, shredders, burning forests, laser-guided rockets, enemies and other obstacles. There are boss fights too. A mistake spells a quick trip back to the beginning of the level. Meat Boy does have an air dash this time around, though. I played through the first world and Sluggerfly and Team Meat haven't changed the base formula too much. The additional dimension and fixed perspective make platforming a little trickier. When there's a gap while I'm running across a wall, for instance, I might forget to stop pressing up while I'm crossing the hole, causing Meat Boy to disappear into the void. I found it easier to control him with the D-pad than a thumbstick, for what it's worth. You can try it for yourself right now as Super Meat Boy 3D , from publisher Headup, is available on Steam , Epic Games Store , GOG , PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 for $25. There's a 10 percent launch discount on PC, and it's on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC Game Pass. I really enjoyed the Raccoin demo, so I'm bummed that I haven't had much of a chance to jump into the full game yet. I have some other things on my plate at the minute (more on some of those next week!). When I do have time to properly sit down with Raccoin , though, I may just lose the rest of the month to it. Raccoin is a roguelike deckbuilder in the vein of games like Balatro and CloverPit . Instead of racking up giant scores in spins on poker or one-armed bandits, the action here takes place in a coin pusher. The aim, as ever, is to find wild synergies between special coins and items to break the rules and earn enough points to keep moving forward. I'm excited to experiment with a much larger box of tools in the full game. Raccoin, from Doraccoon and Balatro publisher Playstack, is out now on Steam . It'll usually cost $12, but there's an 18 percent discount until April 7. I've only played around an hour of Tombwater , but I'm really digging this game from Moth Atlas and Midwest Games. It's a 2D, eldritch horror Western Soulslike. It feels like Bloodborne meets The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (there's even a hookshot), by way of Red Dead Redemption . After a brief prologue, you'll pick a character class and jump right into the action as you search for a former train-robbing partner who has somehow become a sheriff. Enemies are quite varied, and you'll use a mix of melee attacks, firearms and magic to battle them. Resource management is vital. You restore ammo by dishing out melee damage. The magic meter has an interesting twist too. Using spells too often can send your character spiraling into madness, which can cause hallucinations. There are lots of hallmarks of the Soulslike genre here. When (not if) you die, you'll leave behind a totem that has all your cash and unused leveling experience. You can destroy this to regain your lost loot, or wait until you've dispatched nearby enemies to do so, as the totem can heal you (helpful in a tough boss battle). You can level up and restore health flasks at campfires. There's a wonderfully gloomy tone to Tombwater . The lovely pixel art and atmospheric music are spot on so far. However, I got lost quite a few times the map didn't help much and I don't love the way aiming works with a controller or on Steam Deck. You aim by holding the left trigger and fire with the right. But you can only point your weapon in the four cardinal directions, and you need to let go of the left trigger before you can change your aim. That's not a problem with a mouse, as you can aim freely. I hope Moth Atlas improves controller aiming, since Tombwater is very promising so far. I'm looking forward to playing more when I can. Tombwater is out now on Steam . It'll typically run you $25, but if you pick it up before April 14, it can be yours for $20. Corgis in mechs. That's the first thing you need to know about Animalkind , a co-op village-building game. You and your friends can play as corgis (or tuxedo cats or raccoons) in mechs. You'll first need to find the parts to assemble your ancient mech before you can actually pilot the machine, though. Exploring the open world, gathering resources, crafting and recruiting NPCs are all elements of this charming-looking game. Animalkind is available on Steam for $20, with 10 percent off until April 6. Developer Uncommon Games expects it to remain in early access until 2027. Once again, corgis in mechs. Hozy is another lovely-looking game perhaps the title is a portmanteau of home and cozy. The idea behind this home renovation title is that you'll be restoring a neighborhood of abandoned abodes. There are nine locations for you to clean up and decorate. There are so many nice touches in the trailer, from the robot mop cleaning floors to pulling a new table out a box filled with packing peanuts (on that note, Unpacking hit Apple Arcade this week). The animations for things like laying down floorboards, changing the height of a chair and unfurling a roll of wallpaper are all delightful. The lighting looks great too. Hozy , from Come On Studio and publisher TinyBuild, is out now on Steam for PC and Mac. It will normally run you $15, but you can save 10 percent if you snap it up by April 6. You stay in the warmth of your friends, reads a narrative subtitle as three characters stand on a rooftop, looking out at a cityscape and a multicolored sky. By itself, that shot from the launch trailer was enough to sell me on Fishbowl, a coming-of-age adventure from the two-person team at imissmyfriends.studio and co-publisher Wholesome Games Presents. I then looked back at a previous trailer , which included the prompt hydrate? with the options of yes, hydrate and live and o, dehydrate and die. Shortly afterward, Fishbowl became the latest addition to my Steam library. Funny how that happens. You'll play as Alo, taking care of her and her home and trying to give her a fulfilling life even as she remains isolated. You'll meet Alo's loved ones and co-workers on video calls, edit video in her work-from-home job and rearrange items in boxes to discover her childhood memories. Learning about Alo's past (with the help of a magical talking fish from her youth) can help you shape Alo's future through you narrative choices. There's a surrealist aspect to this game too. Fishbowl is out now on Steam for PC and Mac, as well as PS5 . It costs $10, though there's a 10 percent discount on Steam until April 16. There's a demo available on both platforms. Upcoming Here's a deep dive into gameplay from Nightholme , a survival extraction game from Studio Ellipsis, which is led by Assassin's Creed Revelations and Assassin's Creed Unity creative director Alexandre Amancio. It's coming to Steam and consoles, with a closed beta lined up for this summer. Each match will have 12 monster hunters. You can run solo or group up with other players. At the start of each match, you load into a camp on the edge of a town full of horrors. Here, you'll drink a potion that turns your character into a monster three archetypes will be available at the outset. There are a number of things you can opt to do in each match, from carrying out quests tied to factions, scavenging, defeating enemies and taking out other players to snag their loot. Each match also has a boss that's protecting a high-value item. The horror aspect makes me more interested in this than many other survival extraction games out there. I'm definitely looking forward to checking this one out. We've seen a bunch of interesting climbing games over the last few years. You can add another one to the list. Ascenders: Beyond the Peak is a turn-based roguelite in which you'll go exploring with a team of climbers. It seems that you'll encounter Lovecraftian horrors on these mountain, along with dangers like avalanches, blizzards and rockfalls. You'll have nine character classes to choose from and you can level up your climbers and their gear and skills between runs. While the levels are short, you'll need to be mindful as there's a permadeath element to this game. You might even end up having to sacrifice a member of the party in order to save the rest. Brutal. Ascenders: Beyond the Peak, from Ludogram Games and publisher Twin Sails Interactive, is coming to PC and consoles. It'll debut in early access on Steam later this year for $20. Puzzling Places has been a hit on PlayStation and Meta virtual reality platforms, as it has racked up 400,000 players. The 3D jigsaw game will soon be playable without a VR headset for the first time, as it's going to hit Steam on April 9 it will run on Steam Deck and SteamVR as well. A Steam demo is available now. There are a wide range of puzzles for you to solve, ranging from 25-piece quick hits to gargantuan 1,000-piece endeavors. Each features animations, including of figures going about their lives. It seems very relaxing! It's only 86 seconds long, but I felt a lump in my throat as I watched this trailer for The Day I Became a Bird . The visuals, music and story beats got me caught up in my feelings. It's a narrative adventure about a first love. You play as a young lad named Frank who tries to grab the attention of a classmate, bird-lover Sylvia. Designing and wearing a bird costume just might help him do that. Developer Hyper Luminal Games is based in my hometown, which is yet another reason for me to get on board. I'm not familiar with the children's book by Ingrid Chabbert and illustrator Guridi that the game is based on. I kind of want to buy it for my partner's kid... and maybe myself. The Day I Became a Bird is coming to Steam , PS5 and Nintendo Switch on April 16. The base game costs $20. On Steam and PS5, that version includes a short animated film from Passion Games, which found out about the book and teamed up with Hyper Luminal and publisher Numbskull to make the game. A $25 Feathered Adventurer edition includes the film, a digital artbook and the soundtrack. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/super-meat-boy-3d-coin-pushing-chaos-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110000960.html?src=rss

AI animation studio Toonstar will turn books into digital shows for HarperCollins

HarperCollins is tapping into AI to bring some of its book franchises to life. Specifically, the publisher is teaming up with Toonstar , an AI animation studio, to turn them into digital shows. The first project will be an adaptation of Lisa Greenwalds Friendship List series, which will also be joined by a graphic novel. Youd be forgiven for being unaware of Toonstar, a studio that received some buzzy early on for simplifying typically complex animation pipelines with AI, but has mostly remained under the radar. Its biggest claim to fame is producing StEvEn and Parker YouTube series, which has amassed 3.38 million subscribers and sometimes has episodes reaching around a million views. Its not something Ive heard animation fans speaking about, though. And honestly, it was tough to sit through a few minutes of its sub- South Park animation. By leaning into the [AI] technology, we can make full episodes 80 percent faster and 90 percent cheaper than industry norms, Toonstar co-founder John Attanasio, told The New York Times last year . In that same interview, the company revealed that it uses AI across its production, including having it dub dialog for international audiences, as well as working on storylines. Toonstar initially pitched itself as an animation studio leaning into Web3 and NFTs, but those technologies seem virtually absent from the companys presence today. Space Junk , one of its early series , was put on hold for a variety of reasons, a representative told Engadget. Its possible well resurrect the concept in the future, they added. Its original domain now points to a crypto gambling site . Were honored to bring Friendship List to life as an animated series, Attanasio said in a press release. Our artist-centered approach ensures these beloved characters and stories stay true to the authors vision, while our Ink & Pixel production technology enables fast, high-quality production at scale which unlocks the ability to meet audiences where and when they enjoy content today. Toonstar has certainly proved it can make content for YouTube. Can it actually produce an enjoyable animat edshow? Thats another question entirely. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-animation-studio-toonstar-will-turn-books-into-digital-shows-for-harpercollins-211419155.html?src=rss

Jason Blundell announces his new-new studio, Magic Fractal

Jason Blundell, a former creative lead on Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has announced that he's formed a new development studio called Magic Fractal Studios . Blundell announced the studio on a livestream with former Dark Outlaw Games coworker JC Farmer, a little over a week after the previous studio was closed by Sony . Little is known about Magic Fractal beyond its logo and social media accounts. Dark Outlaw Games was similarly mysterious, and closed before it could even announce its first project. All that's known is what Blundell has shared after the studio was shut down: Dark Outlaw wasn't working on a live-service game . The distinction is notable, if only because live-service games have been connected to at least two notable studio closures in the past. Sony shut down Firewalk Studios in October 2024, not long after its live-service shooter Concord was released, and in February 2026, closed Bluepoint Games after its live-service game based on the God of War series was reportedly cancelled . Magic Fractal is Blundell's third studio after leaving Activision Blizzard in 2020. He formed Dark Outlaw Games with Sony's backing in March 2025 . Before that, he led Deviation Games, which was closed in 2024 and was reportedly also working on a game for PlayStation. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/jason-blundell-announces-his-new-new-studio-magic-fractal-201055837.html?src=rss

Banks working on the SpaceX IPO reportedly have to subscribe to Grok

Cutthroat capitalism sure does bring out the best in humanity. Take, for example, Elon Musk. He reportedly set a condition for banks, law firms, auditors and advisors who want to work on the SpaceX IPO. They're required to subscribe to the bastion of nonconsensual deepfakes and occasional Hitler praise known as Grok. Surely the best and brightest banks our nation has to offer would refuse such a pay-to-play demand, right? Well, no. The New York Times reports that some of them have agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars on Grok. Those financial institutions are said to already be integrating the chatbot into their IT systems. The Times' sources say this wasn't a no-strings request. Rather, Musk insisted they subscribe to Grok as part of the privilege of working on SpaceX's IPO. He also reportedly asked the banks to advertise on X, but was less firm about that. See? He's a flexible, easy-going guy at heart. Five banks are expected to work on the IPO: Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. Meanwhile, the law firms Gibson Dunn and Davis Polk are said to be advising. We can probably assume that all of them are currently installing Grok on their internal systems. Good times. SpaceX's IPO, filed confidentially earlier this week , is expected to raise over $50 billion and value the company at over $1 trillion. With banks set to rake in over $500 million from their work on the deal, perhaps paying for Grok, despite its myriad issues , seemed a small price to pay. See? Just outstanding people doing upstanding things in the good ol' US of A. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/banks-working-on-the-spacex-ipo-reportedly-have-to-subscribe-to-grok-200213071.html?src=rss

March Madness 2026: How to watch the Final Four

Lets face it: your bracket was probably busted a long time ago. The 2026 NCAA basketball tournaments, affectionately known as March Madness , is ending soon. The Final Four for both the mens and womens tournaments starts this weekend. Both the mens and womens tournaments are available to stream through various apps and services, but navigating the web of broadcasters and TV channels can be confusing. Weve broken down when all the games are happening, where to watch and the best options for saving some cash doing so. What does the Final Four start? The mens NCAA Basketball Tournament Final Four begins on Saturday, April 4 with two games. The first game begins at 6:09PM ET with the second following at 8:49PM ET. The winners will then face each other for the national championship on Monday, April 6 at 8:30PM ET. On the womens side, everything is offset by a day. The Final Four starts Friday, April 3 at 7:00PM ET. The second game follows at 9:30PM ET. The womens national championship will see the Final Four winners face each other on Sunday, April 5 at 3:30PM ET. Heres the full schedule for each tournament: 2026 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament First Four: March 17-18 First round: March 19-20 Second round: March 21-22 Sweet 16: March 26-27 Elite Eight: March 28-29 Final Four: April 4 Championship game: April 6 2026 Womens NCAA Basketball Tournament First Four: March 18-19 First round: March 20-21 Second round: March 22-23 Sweet 16: March 27-28 Elite Eight: March 29-30 Final Four: April 3 Championship game: April 5 How to stream the 2026 Mens NCAA Tournament Jacob Kupferman via Getty Images CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery share the broadcast rights to the mens tournament, so TV coverage will be spread across four networks. During the course of March Madness, games will air on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV, with the final rounds and championship game landing on TBS. If you already have a paid TV plan (such as traditional cable), a good way to watch the mens tournament is with the March Madness Live app or website. There's a big catch though: CBS games aren't available in the app. That means this is really only a good option through the Elite Eight. Once you log in with your TV provider credentials, you can watch games on the other networks in one spot with features like multiview (up to four games at once) and a Fast Break stream that covers all the in-progress games in one spot. The app also offers ways to follow your bracket, if you filled it out on MarchMadness.com. And when youre watching on desktop, the crucial Boss Button will throw up a fake work screen to keep your job safe. In addition to your laptop or phone, March Madness Live is also available on Amazon devices, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, macOS, Google Play, LG smart TVs, Roku and Xbox consoles. The most affordable option to watch every game is to actually use two services. Its not ideal, I know, but it will save you a lot of money. HBO Maxs Basic plan is $11/month and gives you access to live games from TNT, TBS and truTV with three-game multiview (46 games total). That includes the Final Four and National Championship as those three games are on TBS this year. If you splurge for a pricier plan ($23/month), you can stream games in Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos surround sound. For the CBS games, youll need a Paramount+ Premium subscription that costs $14/month ($6 for two months for new users). So, with this best price scenario, streaming all of the mens tournaments will cost $25 across two apps. A live TV service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV is over $80 more per month at full price, but they would offer you all the games in the mens tournament in one place. YouTube TV is currently on sale for $60/month for the first two months after a free 10-day trial. Hulu + Live TV now includes Disney+ and ESPN Select, hence its higher price. How to stream the 2026 Womens NCAA Tournament Joe Buglewicz via Getty Images While Warner Brothers Discovery owns the rights to the mens NCAA Tournament, ESPN has the womens bracket locked down. Every game of the womens tournament will be spread across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNEWS, including the First Four matchups. The Final Four will be on ESPN, but the championship game will air on ABC. All three of those culminating games will stream on ESPN+ (and in the ESPN app) as MegaCast feeds. ESPN says the MegaCasts are available in two options. First, Beyond the Rim provides an aerial camera angle with the main commentary and replays, plus the addition of enhanced stats. On the Rail shows you game action the full length of the floor. This feed will offer natural sound and replays. Since ESPN+ wont get every game, its not an option if you want to watch the entire tournament. However, since last years March Madness, Disney debuted standalone offerings for ESPN. The most affordable option here is ESPN Select which includes womens college basketball and costs $13/month. You could also opt for a live-TV streaming service like Sling , YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV for a comprehensive experience. Sling is the cheapest of these, with the requisite Orange and Sports Extra plan costing $57 (Sling is currently offering a discount on the first month of Orange). YouTube and Hulu live TV options are both more expensive at over $80/month (YouTube TV currently discounted to $60 for the first two months), so its a matter of which set of content and features you like best. YouTube TV offers a handy multiview tool so you can watch up to four games at once, but Hulu + Live TV comes with Disney+ and ESPN Select for that cost. Once you have a TV plan that includes the ESPN family of networks, the ESPN app is the best place to watch the tournament. The mix of scores and info, along with multiview streaming for up to four games at a time on Apple TV and Xbox, make the app a well-equipped conduit for the womens tournament. The March Madness website only shows scores and news for the womens tournament. None of the womens games will be available for streaming live on the website. Are any of the March Madness games available to stream for free? Michael Reaves via Getty Images Without a TV provider login, you can watch all of the games broadcast on CBS on the March Madness website and mobile apps. Sure, its a small sample of the tournament, but its completely free and a good option for casual fans who dont have a paid TV plan they can exploit for more of the action. Its also a good way to watch the first round at work, if your company hasnt blocked streaming sites, or if you can discreetly watch on your phone. For the womens tournament, there arent any games available for free. Unless you have an old-school OTA antenna, that is, in which case you can watch womens games on ABC (and mens games on CBS) without any kind of streaming plan. Of course, as this is a streaming guide published in 2026, Id consider an antenna an extraordinary move. If you were hoping to use a free trial period to watch March Madness, Ive got bad news. None of them will last long enough to cover the entire tournament. Some services dont offer a free trial at all, but the longest is YouTube TV at 10 days. Sadly, that wont even get you through the second weekend. What if I want to stream both the mens and womens tournaments? If youre hoping to stream all of the mens and womens NCAA tournaments, I hope you ordered Samsungs eight-TV bundle . In terms of streaming services, just jump straight to a live-TV option like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. I prefer the former because of its multiview feature. At times when there are multiple games that you want to watch, especially during the first two rounds, youll want multiview in order to keep tabs on all of the action. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/march-madness-2026-how-to-watch-the-final-four-154903746.html?src=rss

Much like the games zombies, State of Decay 3 is somehow still alive

Amid Microsoft's hacking and slashing of its Xbox division , you wouldn't be crazy for thinking State of Decay 3 was dead. After all, the title was announced nearly six years ago , and, well, we haven't heard much since. But the survival game is still in the pipeline, and developer Undead Labs will hold a series of playtests beginning in May. In the announcement, franchise co-creator Brant Fitzgerald emphasized the role of community input in the game's continued development. We've read your feedback on Discord, we've watched your gameplay clips and livestreams on YouTube, he said. It became clear that community is survival and that we need your help. The Alpha playtests will include four-player co-op, new base building and resource strategies and plenty of combat. If scavenging supplies in the middle of a zombie outbreak sounds fun to you, then grab your ruck, pack some mags and head over to our website to find more information and register for a chance to be included in the Alpha, Fitzgerald said. Assuming it eventually launches, State of Decay 3 will be available for Xbox and PC . You can sign up for the playtest on the game's website . Undead Labs warned that not everyone will be selected for the first round, but they'll keep your names on the list for future opportunities later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/much-like-the-games-zombies-state-of-decay-3-is-somehow-still-alive-170709155.html?src=rss

Trump labor board tells Amazon to negotiate with Staten Island warehouse union

The Trump administration's labor board has ordered Amazon to recognize and bargain with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, which represents workers at a warehouse in Staten Island. This is just the latest chapter in a multiyear standoff between Staten Island warehouse workers and Amazon, according to a report by The Washington Post . The union has been trying to bring Amazon to the bargaining table for years to negotiate pay, benefits and workplace safety. The labor board's proclamation doesn't mean that the battle is over. It's highly likely this will be settled in court. An Amazon spokesperson maintains that the vote to create the union was wrong on the facts of the law and that representatives from the National Labor Relations Board improperly influenced the election. The company recently stated it is confident an unbiased court will overturn the original certification. Despite the eventual outcome, Teamsters President Sean OBrien is lauding the Staten Island workers for becoming the first group ever to force the company to recognize their union. Workers at the facility voted to unionize in 2022 and this was the first union victory for Amazon employees in the US. It was considered a milestone victory for US workers across the board, given that Amazon is the country's second-largest employer . That was four years ago and led to a contracted legal battle, as Amazon has refused to recognize the union. Since that original vote, the labor board has repeatedly found that Amazon violated workers union rights at the Staten Island warehouse. For instance, the company didn't pay employees when they were forced to stop working due to a warehouse fire at the tail-end of 2022 and suspended 50 employees for staging a walkout due to unsafe work conditions. A labor union for an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island said 50 workers at the facility were suspended for staging a walkout after a fire earlier in the day led to unsafe work conditions. https://t.co/iVY62wv0rX CBS News (@CBSNews) October 5, 2022 There were also several harrowing incidents leading up to the union vote. It's been reported that the company illegally fired multiple Staten Island warehouse workers during the Covid pandemic . The NY Attorney General also found safety conditions at the warehouse to be inadequate. A recent study echoes that sentiment , calling out the Staten Island warehouse for dangerous working conditions. The report says that there are 7.2 serious injuries for every 100 workers. Other US-based Amazon warehouses have yet to follow suit and unionize like Staten Island, but the same isn't true in Canada. Workers at a warehouse in Quebec voted to form a union back in 2024. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-labor-board-tells-amazon-to-negotiate-with-staten-island-warehouse-union-161149065.html?src=rss

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a black hole of entertainment

I realized something was genuinely wrong with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie about 30 minutes in: I hadn't laughed even once. My audience of around 15 people, including a few families, was dead silent as well. The guy sitting behind me, a Nintendo fan decked out in Mario gear, was so bored he fell asleep. Sure, this is made for kids, but as a Nintendo devotee myself, and someone who has to watch a ton of children's films on repeat, even the Despicable Me films are more entertaining. To be fair, there's the pretense of a plot: Koopa Jr. and Peach are on parallel tracks to reconnect with a sense of family, in their own ways. But the movie leaps from scene to scene joylessly, with no sense of storytelling or characterization, glued together by the oh I remember that guy-ness of empty corporate nostalgia. It's even less of a movie than the previous Pratt-led popcorn flick. Luigi, Yoshi, Mario and Toad in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo and Illumination Take the discovery of Yoshi, which takes place early in the film. Mario and Luigi just find him in a cave and he immediately becomes part of the crew, no questions asked. There's a brief creative sequence where Yoshi wreaks havoc in the real world, but it's far too short. Yoshi's got plot duties to fulfill, after all! Hes the perfect sidekick, with no desires of his own and the bare minimum of characterization (thanks to Donald Glovers voice, oddly enough. Dude's got range !) I argued that the first Mario film felt a bit too safe, but at least it had a few moments to shine: Like an early side-scrolling sequence, and Jack Black's endearingly musical take on Koopa. The only truly inventive sequence in this movie involves Star Fox's Fox McCloud, voiced with just the right dose of attitude by current Hollywood it guy Glen Powell. He briefly recounts his story in anime form, and yes, he does a barrel roll or two. Bowser Jr. and Bowser in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Nintendo and Illumination Now it doesn't make much sense why Fox is actually in the film, but a few half-hearted fight sequences throughout makes it seem like Nintendo is setting up an eventual Avengers -style Smash Bros. movie. What better way to cram in even more characters and references! Isn't that what franchise filmmaking is all about? I'd like to think Nintendo and its collaborators can do better. This is a company known for the thoughtfulness of its game designs, for delivering quirky and inventive player experiences and for not always following the competition. None of that applies to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie . Theres little in the way of creativity. It barely respects the audiences time. And it is, in every sense, just following the More, Louder, Busier playbook for unfocused franchise sequels. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is so soulless, it makes me worried about the upcoming Legend of Zelda film (which at least has a far more respectable creative team). Sure, its hard to expect genuine cinema from a Mario film. But we live in an era of great kids movies Pixars Hoppers was an absolute hoot wrapped in an environmentalist message; The Lego Movie (and its sequel and side stories) manage to deliver both laughs and heart. Kids deserve better than an empty sequel moneygrab. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-is-a-black-hole-of-entertainment-154406362.html?src=rss

Engadget Podcast: How Apple keeps redefining personal computing at 50

For a 50-year-old company, Apple remains pretty hip and nimble. This week, Devindra and Senior Reporter Igor Bonifacic dive into Apple's big birthday, the state of the company today and what the next 50 years could bring. It remains one of the few PC companies thats still firmly committed to the idea of personal computing. Also, we celebrate the successful launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, which will bring us back to the Moon (but just for a close look). Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topic Apple at 50: Why its still all about personal computing 1:16 Artemis II is safely on its way to the moon, but theyre having problems with Outlook 37:48 SpaceX files for the largest IPO ever, whats driving their hopes for a 1.75 Trillion valuation? 40:52 Another Starlink satellite broke up in orbit, the second in 6 months 47:21 Anthropic accidentally leaked source code for Claude Code 52:17 FCC issues ban on all foreign-made WiFi routers 57:18 Around Engadget 1:02:09 Working On 1:07:18 Pop culture picks 1:08:20 Credits Hosts : Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonifacic Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence OBrien This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/engadget-podcast-how-apple-keeps-redefining-personal-computing-at-50-122121591.html?src=rss

Fan fiction website AO3 is finally coming out of beta

The famous fan fiction website Archive of Our Own or AO3 has finally exited open beta, 17 years after it launched way back in 2009. AO3 is a nonprofit created by the by the Organization for Transformative Works. In an announcement, the team reminisced about its early days and how volunteers had to manually send out invitations to prospective writers. Upon launching the website on open beta, it only had 347 accounts and hosted 6,598 works. Now, it has 10 million registered users and is hosting 17 million fan-created works. The team has highlighted some of the most useful features it has added over the past 17 years, including its tagging system. It also mentioned a feature it calls Orphaning, which allows authors to leave their works online even after deleting their account. In addition, it released the ability to download fanworks in AZW3, EPUB, MOBI, PDF or HTML format for offline access. Even though the website has only just exited open beta, it has been stable for a long time. Users will not see huge changes, but the team also promised that it will not stop improving the fan fiction portal. It says its contributors and volunteers will continue tweaking the website, and it also continues to welcome anybody who has coding knowledge to contribute their time. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/fan-fiction-website-ao3-is-finally-coming-out-of-beta-115952633.html?src=rss

The Morning After: NASAs Artemis II is on a voyage around the Moon

NASAs Artemis II successfully launched on April 1 , with its crew on a 10-day mission to circle the Moon. Its the first crewed Artemis flight and a major step toward humanity returning to our little neighbor in the future. Since launch, the vehicle has separated from its launch system and been manually piloted, testing how the Orion capsule will dock with future lunar landers. There have been some snags, however: The onboard toilet went awry, and Microsoft Outlook has been acting screwy . Jokes aside, there is something magnificent about seeing humanity taking to the stars once again. That, for all of our worst instincts, we can still come together to solve problems and explore beyond our own horizons. Dan Cooper The other big stories (and deals) this morning SpaceX has reportedly filed for the biggest IPO in history Could be as much as $75 billion. The hottest EVs from the 2026 New York Auto Show (plus one brawny concept) Corvette CX? Take my money now, please. Apples controversial Fitness VP Jay Blahnik is retiring Controversial is one way of saying it. Whats going on with Donut Lab's so-called super battery? The company is long on promises, short on evidence. Donut Lab At CES 2026, a FinnishEstonian startup claimed to have invented a world-changing solid state battery. Rather than explain how it did so, it engaged in a lengthy campaign teasing out data that didnt quite support its explosive claims. Weve dived deep to separate truth from hype and found theres little of the former and far, far too much of the latter. Continue Reading. Roland Go:Mixer Studio review: Portable, professional and plenty of polish Its pricier than other portable mixers, but for good reason. James Trew for Engadget As James Trew says, $300 is a lot for a portable mixer in this class, but Rolands brand new Go:Mixer Studio justifies its price. Unlike its predecessor, the Pro-X, it gets a second XLR port, MIDI connectivity and a display offering visible VU meters. That you can also use it as a desktop interface adds another layer of icing on an already sweet cake. Continue Reading. What to expect from WWDC 2026 Im actually rather excited about this one. Sam Rutherford for Engadget WWDC 2026 isnt until the summer, but were already collating enough rumors from the mill to bring you the inside skinny. Early reports suggest Apple is making this a Snow Leopard year , tidying up after itself inside its software rather than going hard on new features. Hopefully, that will see the gaudier excesses of Liquid Glass dialed down, a lot of trimmed cruft and stability improvements. Oh, and some guff about AI. Continue Reading. Robosen Soundwave review: A childhood dream made real Who cares about sound quality when your speaker transforms!? Sam Rutherford for Engadget There are some things in life that would normally be a hard sell, a $1,400 boombox that could just about move around with poor sound quality being one of them. Dress it up as Soundwave from the original Transformers toy line / cartoon , however, and suddenly Sam Rutherford is racing for their wallet. Continue Reading. Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro review: The king of party projectors On the subject of expensive things Steve Dent for Engadget Nebulas built quite the track record for making projectors youre actually proud to show off. Its latest is the X1 Pro , which combines a beefy 4K projector with a 400-watt Dolby Atmos 7.1 speaker system. Thats a hell of a lot of tech in a single package and is clearly at home at the center of a backyard movie night under the stars. But is it worth the $5,000 asking price? For that, youll need to read Steve Dents review. Continue Reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111544222.html?src=rss

NASA's Artemis II mission has left Earth's orbit

The Integrity, the name of the Orion capsule carrying Artemis II astronauts on a trip around the moon, has left Earths orbit . NASA has announced that it has successfully completed a key burn of Orions main engine. That six-minute firing of the engine provided approximately 6,000 pounds of thrust, which gave the spacecraft the acceleration it needed to set it on its path to the moon. Today, for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, humans have departed Earth orbit, said Dr. Lori Glaze from NASA Headquarters in Washington. Orion is operating with crew for the first time in space, and we are gathering critical data, and learning from each step. Commander Reid Wiseman called seeing the entire globe from pole to pole after leaving Earths orbit a spectacular moment. Artemis II launched on April 1 at 6:35PM Eastern time after a couple of delays caused by a hydrogen leak and then a helium issue . Its the first crewed flight of the Artemis program and the first time humanity has ventured beyond Low Earth Orbit after the Apollo program shut down. Within a few hours after its launch, the astronauts reported an issue with their onboard toilet, which crew member Christina Koch eventually fixed. Commander Wiseman then reported to mission control that they were having problems with Microsoft Outlook on the Surface Pro device they were using. But they were ultimately manageable setbacks that wouldnt prevent the crew from achieving the missions goal. The mission is taking NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day trip around the moon. On April 6, the spacecraft will pass by the far side of the moon that humans have never directly seen before, and the crew will take photographs, as well as provide their own observations of the lunar surface. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-artemis-ii-mission-has-left-earths-orbit-104219933.html?src=rss

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