Meta says these wild headset prototypes could be the future of VR

Meta previewed some of its latest virtual reality prototypes this week, with concepts that are compelling on the specs and long on the design. Literally. The company shared some details on its Tiramisu project, dubbing it hyperrealistic VR. This set promises three times the contrast, 14 times the maximum brightness and 3.6 times the angular resolution of the Meta Quest 3. In actual stats, that's up to 1,400 nits of brightness and an angular resolution of 90 pixels per degree. One of the goals for Reality Labs Researchs Optics, Photonics and Light Systems (OPALS) team is to create a virtual reality experience that is indistinguishable from the real world, or what it calls a visual Turing test. Our mission for this project was to provide the best image quality possible, said Xuan Wang, an optical research scientist with OPALS. But the team achieved that quality with some tradeoffs; Tiramisu has a limited field of view of just 33 degrees by 33 degrees compared to the 110 degrees horizontal and 96 degrees vertical FOV in the Meta Quest 3. And the form factor is currently a pretty bulky beast, as you can see above. Meta The other prototypes detailed in the company's blog post are Boba 3 headsets. These mixed and virtual reality headsets offer an ultrawide field of view. All three projects will be on display during the SIGGRAPH 2025 conference in Vancouver next week. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-says-these-wild-headset-prototypes-could-be-the-future-of-vr-225132683.html?src=rss

The FCC will review emergency alert systems in the US

The Federal Communications Commission is planning a review of the US emergency alert systems. Both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WAS) will be subject to a re-examination by the agency. We want to ensure that these programs deliver the results that Americans want and need, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr posted on X. The announcement of this plan notes that the infrastructure underlying the EAS which includes radio, television, satellite and cable systems is 31 years old, while the framework underpinning the WAS mobile device alerts is 13 years old. The FCC review will also assess what entities should be able to send alerts on those systems, as well as topics such as geographic targeting and security. The role of emergency communication systems came under recent scrutiny after catastrophic flooding in central Texas earlier this summer that led to more than 130 deaths. Questions arose in the aftermath of whether residents in potentially dangerous areas received enough warning to evacuate, as well as if recent federal cuts to the National Weather Service's staff and budget could have contributed to the high death toll. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-fcc-will-review-emergency-alert-systems-in-the-us-212753623.html?src=rss

Heretic and Hexen have received a surprise remaster from Nightdive Studios

Nightdive Studios and id Software have announced a surprise remaster of fantasy shooters Heretic and Hexen . The games are now available for modern consoles in a new release, dubbed Heretic + Hexen, that includes support for co-op, cross-platform multiplayer and community-published mods. Heretic + Hexen combines Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders , Hexen: Beyond Heretic and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel into a single bundle. On top of making the updates necessary to get the games running on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, Nightdive also created two brand new episodes to play through called Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur that include new levels inspired by the original games. When they were first released in 1994 and 1995, respectively, Heretic and Hexen featured the novel pairing of Doom -inspired first-person action, with rudimentary RPG elements like character classes and an inventory. The games helped put developer Raven Software on the map not long before it went on to create games like Quake 4 and Wolfenstein for id Software. Nightdive Studios has worked on other id Software remasters , but the idea of remaking or rereleasing Heretic and Hexen has been in the cards for quite a while. Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media , the parent company of the games' original publisher id Software, in 2021. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was on the record as recently as 2023 as being interested in rereleasing both games. It took a couple years, but the remasters finally happened. Heretic + Hexen is available now for Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. If you already own any of the original versions of the games, you'll get upgraded to the remastered bundle for free. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/heretic-and-hexen-have-received-a-surprise-remaster-from-nightdive-studios-205747137.html?src=rss

Adam Mosseri says 'people are confused' about how the Instagram map works

Yesterday, Meta introduced a new map feature that's almost identical to Snapchat's Snap Map. The feature has quickly sparked a backlash, though, and not just because it's yet another example of Instagram ripping off a Snapchat feature. While the map requires users to opt-in to share their location, many users were surprised and alarmed to see that their Instagram map was already populated with the locations of some accounts when it launched. That's because the map automatically pulls in location info when someone has recently shared a Story or Reel with a location tagged. For example, I posted a Story that tagged San Francisco's botanical gardens and it tagged me there on Instagram's map even though I have my map location set to share with no one. This isn't that different from how Instagram has worked in the past: location tags have always been visible to your followers, and the app has always had a map view that let people see public posts that have been tagged with specific places. My story post tagged me on Instagram's map even though location is set to no one because I tagged a location (in this case San Francisco's botanical gardens). Instagram screenshot But Instagram's map makes this information much more prominent and easy to access. While before you would have to tap into specific posts to see location tags, the new map puts all of this into a single view. Depending on how often you tag locations, this can make it seem like your real-time info is being shared, even when it isn't. All that, combined with Meta's messy history with user privacy, has understandably ignited new concerns from people worried about their location being accidentally exposed by Instagram. Some users have questioned why the map exists at all given the potentially serious implications of unknowingly sharing your location with all of your Instagram mutuals. It's also led to a lot of misunderstanding. A number of prominent accounts on Threads have suggested that location sharing is on by default. At the time of this writing, Instagram map is the top trend on Threads, with more than 850,000 posts most of which are privacy related. Instagram head Adam Mosseri has replied to more than a dozen accounts attempting to explain how it actually works. Screenshot / Threads We're double checking everything, but so far it looks mostly like people are confused and assume that, because they can see themselves on the map when they open, other people can see them too, Mosseri wrote in response to a Threads user who asked why people were reporting seeing themselves on the map without opting in. We're still checking everything though to make sure nobody shares location without explicitly deciding to do so, which, by the way, requires a double consent by design (we ask you to confirm after you say you want to share). How to check your Instagram Map settings You can find the Instagram map by swiping over to your inbox and selecting the map icon at the top. The settings menu in the top right corner allows you to confirm who you want to be able to find you on the map: you can choose between friends (mutuals), close friends or a list of specific accounts. The default setting is no one, and the app also shows a red location arrow when no one is selected. Instagram screenhsot It's also worth checking whether you've tagged a location on any posts within the last 24 hours. If you have, then you'll be tagged at that place on the map even if you've set your sharing settings to no one. Location tags only appear on the Instagram map for 24 hours, according to Meta, so it won't keep a running log of everywhere you've been, and it won't show your live location. Still, these tags could reveal more about your whereabouts than you intended. If you have tagged a place, you can either delete the post entirely or edit it to remove the tag, which should keep it from showing up on the map. When you do opt to share your location on the map, the friends you select will be able to see where you're at in real time. You can still set some limitations, though. The map also has a hidden places feature that allows you to always hide specific locations that may be sensitive, like your home. The feature itself is, ironically, somewhat hidden. You can find it by tapping the ... menu on the map's location settings and choosing hide places. The app will then let you drag a pin on the map and choose a surrounding radius to hide. The feature works well if you want to hide the place you're currently at, but it's a bit clunky if you want to block off multiple locations because you can't enter specific addresses. Instagram screenshot Regardless, if you're worried about exposing your whereabouts, the safest option is to keep location sharing set to no one and to not use location tags in any of your content. It's unclear if Meta plans to change anything about how the Instagram Map works in response to user concerns. Instagram Map is off by default, and your live location is never shared unless you choose to turn it on, a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. If you do, only people you follow backor a private, custom list you selectcan see your location. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/adam-mosseri-says-people-are-confused-about-how-the-instagram-map-works-184736070.html?src=rss

GPT-5 is here and it's free for everyone

A couple of days after announcing its first open-weight models in six years , OpenAI is releasing the long-awaited GPT-5. What's more, you can start using it today , even if you're a free user. With GPT-5, the company is touting across-the-board enhancements, claiming the model is its best yet when it comes to coding, writing, safety, accuracy and more. GPT-5 is the first time that it really feels like you're talking to an expert in any topic, said OpenAI CEO (and hypeman) Sam Altman during a press briefing the company held before today's announcement. It reminds me of when the iPhone went from those giant, old pixel [screens] to the Retina Display, and then I went back to using one of those big pixelated things and I was like, 'Wow, I can't believe how bad we had it.' At the start of the year , Altman said GPT-5 would offer a unified experience for users, and the new model delivers on that promise. For the first time, OpenAI's default offering is a reasoning model, meaning the system is programmed to tackle complex problems by breaking them into smaller parts. Previously, if you wanted to force ChatGPT to use one of OpenAI's reasoning models, you had to select the Think Longer option from the prompt bar. This meant most free users didn't even know OpenAI had more capable models. With GPT-5, the company has significantly simplified the ChatGPT experience. On the consumer side of things, there are only three versions of the new model. One of those GPT-5 mini only crops up when free and Plus users run into their regular GPT-5 usage limit. The other variant, GPT-5 Pro, is, as the name suggests, only available to subscribers of the company's $200 per month Pro plan . On the subject of query limits, Plus users can use GPT-5 significantly more than those with a free account, while Pro customers can chat with GPT-5 as much as they want. OpenAI When it comes to reasoning, GPT-5 is much faster than o3 , OpenAI's previous state-of-the-art AI. It's so fast that I've had the psychological experience of wondering, like, is it really thinking enough? And then it gives a great answer, said Altman. Perhaps more importantly, it suffers from fewer hallucinations, with OpenAI claiming the model delivers more accurate answers than any of its previous reasoning systems. For instance, when thinking, GPT-5 is approximately 80 percent less likely to include a factual error in its answer than o3. We'll see how GPT-5 responds in real-world use, but if OpenAI has made meaningful improvements here, it would be a big deal; hallucinations have typically been a major weakness of reasoning models, particularly relative to traditional large language counterparts. At the same time, OpenAI says GPT-5 is its safest AI to date. For one, it includes a new feature called Safe Completions. In the past, we've approached this from a sort of a binary, if we thought that the prompt was safe, we would comply. If we thought it was unsafe, the model would refuse, said Alex Beutel, safety research lead at OpenAI. This worked well, but as a challenge that there can be kind of carefully worded prompts that could be confusing. So if someone says how much energy is needed to ignite some specific material that could be an adversary trying to get around the safety protections and cause harm, or it could be a student asking a science question to understand the physics of this material. With Safe Completions, GPT-5 will try to give the most helpful answer within the safety constraints OpenAI has imposed on it. In tricky situations like the one Beutel outlined above, the model will only provide high-level information that can't be used to harm anyone. On average, the system is both safer and more helpful for users, and we think that'll be much better, Beutel added. Additionally, when it comes to health-related questions, GPT-5 is better at flagging concerns and suggesting questions the user should ask of their healthcare provider. It will also answer those prompts more precisely, thanks to the ability to adapt to the person's knowledge level and geography. On top of everything else, OpenAI says GPT-5 is its best model for coding yet. It's supposedly a better writer too, with the company promising the chatbot is better at translating your drafts into compelling, resonant copy. Alongside GPT-5, OpenAI is adding a handful of new features to ChatGPT. To start, users can now choose a color for their chats, with a few exclusive options available for paying customers. OpenAI has also made it easier to connect ChatGPT to Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Contacts. Once you enable the connections, the chatbot will know when to automatically reference your Google accounts; you won't need to select anything before you start chatting. OpenAI will begin rolling out this feature to Pro subscribers starting next week, with availability for other users to follow. Over in the Custom Instructions pane, where you can write system prompts to tweak how ChatGPT interacts with you, OpenAI is introducing a handful of pre-set personalities. The four options cynic, robot, listener and nerd are available as part of a research preview, and can be changed or disabled at any time. Last but not least, OpenAI is releasing an updated version of its Advanced Voice feature the company introduced last summer . OpenAI says the tool is better at understanding instructions and adapting its speaking style to the moment. As part of this change, OpenAI is retiring Standard Voice Mode. In practice, that means the company can now offer a better voice experience to everyone since it doesn't need to fall back on Standard Voice Mode, which isn't natively multi-modal like Advanced Voice and therefore worse at understanding the nuances of human speech. If you're wondering where this leaves OpenAI on the path toward artificial general intelligence, Altman had this to say when asked about the topic. I kind of hate the term AGI, because everyone at this point uses it to mean a slightly different thing, but [GPT-5] is a significant step forward towards models that are really capable. We're still missing something quite important, he said, noting GPT-5 can't continuously learn on its own. But the level of intelligence here, the level of capability, it feels like a huge improvement. Certainly, if I could go back five years before GPT-3 and you told me we have this now, I'd be like that's a significant fraction of the way to something very AGI-like. Update 2:00PM : Added more context about hallucination rates. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gpt-5-is-here-and-its-free-for-everyone-170001066.html?src=rss

Microsoft has ended 'active development' on Contraband

The upheaval continues for gaming at Microsoft. The latest victim appears to be Contraband , a planned release from Avalanche Studios with Xbox Game Studios as publisher. The co-op open-world game from the studio behind the entertaining Just Cause series was teased in a brief, mostly atmospheric trailer at E3 2021. But very little had been heard since about the project, and it seems the axe is currently hanging pretty precariously above Contraband . Active development has now stopped while we evaluate the project's future, Avalanche said in a post on its website. We're thankful for the excitement we've seen from the community since we announced and will give an update on what's next as soon as we can. Microsoft announced in May that it would cut 7,000 jobs , or about 3 percent of its global workforce. That news was followed by another cut of 9,000 positions later in the summer. Gaming has been hit hard by these changes, with several studios and planned projects shuttering as Microsoft consolidates. Here's the rundown of other projects that have been reported to have ended so far under Microsoft's auspices: Everwild from Rare Perfect Dark reboot from The Initiative Warcraft Rumble from Blizzard Entertainment Blackbird from Zenimax An unnamed FPS from Romero Games Several of the aforementioned studios, and many others under the Xbox umbrella, have also been hit by the layoffs. Some, like The Initiative, have been completely shut down. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-has-ended-active-development-on-contraband-175333930.html?src=rss

PS5 sales have passed the 80 million mark

The PS5 might be lacking the cadence of first-party exclusives that made its predecessor so successful, but that doesnt appear to be slowing it down. Sony has announced that the console had shifted just north of 80 million units as of June 30, 2025. This puts it just behind the Xbox 360 (84 million) and well on the way to overtaking the PS3 (around 87 million) in lifetime sales. The 80.3 million figure was confirmed in Sonys first set of quarterly results for the current financial year, during which time it sold 2.5 million PS5s, a slight downturn from 2.8 million in the previous quarter. Compared to the same period in the last financial year, however, the company has actually shifted around 100,000 more consoles in the last three months. Sony also sold approximately 66 million PS4 and PS5 games this quarter, almost 7 million of which were first-party titles. Thats around a 12 million year-on-year increase in overall software sales. Digital accounted for 83 percent of PS4 and PS5 games sold in the last quarter, which is a larger share than in any three-month period in the previous financial year. The last few years saw Sony briefly shift its focus towards live service games, but one of those was a well-documented disaster , and others have since been cancelled. Clearly none of that has noticeably hurt software sales, though, as Sony has continued to grow in that area. The PS5 turns five this November, and attention will then turn to whether it will hit the all-important 100 million mark in its lifetime. The PS4 managed that in five years and seven months, and at the time it was the fastest console to reach that number. It also didnt have to contend with tariffs. PS5 prices increased in the UK, Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, with Sony blaming a challenging economic environment in which it is fighting against high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates. The company has since said it is not ruling out moving PS5 manufacturing to the US in the future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ps5-sales-have-passed-the-80-million-mark-161131719.html?src=rss

Instagram adds a new friends map feature that sure looks a lot like the Snap Map

Instagram just announced an update with some long-requested features. The most notable is the introduction of a location-sharing tool for friends, though the long-awaited reposting tool is nothing ot sneeze at, either. Once opted into, the map shares a user's last active location with chosen contacts. The location sharing feature is turned off until selected and there are numerous customization controls. For instance, Instagram users can choose to share location data with all friends, Close Friends, selected accounts or nobody at all. This data can be restricted when at certain locations or when with specific people. Meta It sounds and looks a whole lot like Snapchat's Snap Map , just without the cute emoji animations. This isn't the first time Meta's Instagram has looked toward Snapchat for inspiration. The platform introduced Snapchat-like tags for adding friends and a Stories slideshow carousel that was nearly identical to the one found on Snapchat . Instagram's update, however, brings more than just location sharing. The platform has finally introduced reposts, which it first teased all the way back in 2022 and then again earlier this year . This lets people repost public Reels and feed posts. These reposts will be recommended to friends and followers and they're housed in a separate profile tab. Reposts are also automatically credited to the original poster, though users can add personalized notes. Finally, Instagram is rolling out a new Friends tab in Reels. This lets people see public content that friends have interacted with. Meta began experimenting with this feature earlier this year, but now it's launching globally. I have no interest in knowing what my friends are looking at unless they specifically share something, but maybe that's just me. These tools are rolling out today and should be available to most users right now. Just check the app for an update. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/instagram-adds-a-new-friends-map-feature-that-sure-looks-a-lot-like-the-snap-map-170811567.html?src=rss

Trump's Truth Social launches AI search powered by Perplexity

Truth Social, President Trump's social media platform, is beta testing an AI search feature powered by Perplexity . Truth Search AI is launching first on the web version of Truth Social, with plans to begin a public beta for the feature on iOS and Android in the near future. We're excited to partner with Truth Social to bring powerful AI to an audience with important questions, said Dmitry Shevelenko, chief business officer at Perplexity. The controversial AI company has found itself embroiled time and again in accusations of copyright infringement , plagiarism and stealth crawling websites for content and this latest partnership will likely only continue to fuel the turmoil around the company. The partnership is the latest example of big tech finding opportunities to cozy up to the president. Just this week OpenAI announced that it would be offering its ChatGPT Enterprise subscription to more than 2 million federal workers at practically zero cost. Choosing Perplexity as the engine for Truth Search AI also puts Trump Media in business with Jeff Bezos, one of Perplexity's largest backers . This week Apple CEO Tim Cook presented Trump with an engraved glass plaque set in a 24-karat gold base, to commemorate domestic investments by the company in an effort to avoid the president's ire at the company's foreign manufacturing of iPhones. With the addition of Truth Search AI, Truth Social gains an AI layer to its platform without the expense of building one, presumably in efforts to keep up with the likes of Grok on X . Perplexity, for its part, gains exposure to a new base of users to further train on. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/trumps-truth-social-launches-ai-search-powered-by-perplexity-152250137.html?src=rss

The latest iPad mini is $100 off right now

The latest Apple iPad mini, which was released at the tail-end of 2024, is on sale for $399 via Amazon . That's a discount of $100 and close to a record low price. The only caveat? The deal doesn't apply to the iconic Space Gray colorway, but all other hues are on sale. The iPad mini 7 made our list of the best Apple tablets because, well, it's the only one the company makes at this size. However, the specs haven't been hobbled here. It's a real iPad, through and through. We said it was everything we want in a small tablet in our official review , and that holds true today. The tablet supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the integrated A17 Pro chip is plenty powerful. It's not an M-series chip, but you probably won't notice. The entry-level model, which is the one on sale today, ships with 128GB of storage. It's also small and can therefore fit just about anywhere. On the downside, we found the bezels to be a bit thick. We were also a bit disappointed with the 60Hz refresh rate, though the display does look great. This model lacks a Face ID sensor, but that suits me just fine. I prefer fingerprint scans or passcodes. 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/the-latest-ipad-mini-is-100-off-right-now-151127280.html?src=rss

Framework Desktop (2025) Review: Powerful, but perhaps not for everyone

The most obvious question is Why? Framework builds modular , repairable laptops that anyone can take apart and put back together again. Its a big deal in an era where laptops are regularly sold as a single unit that, should one part break, goes in the trash. Since every part of a Framework machine can be swapped out, you can keep one going for as long as your patience, and the supply of spare parts, allows. Desktops, however, are already modular and repairable company founder Nirav Patel said desktop PC ethos was one of the core inspirations for the Framework laptop to begin with. So, if desktops are already modular and repairable, why do we need one from Framework? When the Desktop was announced, Patel said the genesis of the product came from seeing a preview of AMDs Ryzen AI Max . Its an APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) AMDs term for a chip combining a CPU, GPU and NPU in a single package, much like Apple Silicon with plenty of hyped-up claims about its performance. Those claims were so compelling that Patel added the Desktop to the companys roadmap just to harness that potential power. The big selling point for this chip is the sheer volume of RAM you can employ (up to 128GB) and the massive memory bandwidth (up to 265GB/s) it can take advantage of. AMD described it as a workstation-level chip thatll work in a regular ol PC, with the base model priced at $1,099. But theres a devils bargain in opting for such a powerful chip, since to get it means Framework has had to give up a lot of its founding principles. As someone probably once wrote, for what shall it profit a computer manufacturer if it shall gain searing power but lose its own soul? Hardware The major issue with the Ryzen AI Max is its inflexibility since its made as a single package. Much like Apple Silicon products, youll need to pick your chip spec in the knowledge that you dont get to change things later. Consequently, youll be ordering the Framework Desktop in one of three unchangeable flavors: Ryzen AI Max 385 with 32GB RAM, Radeon 8050S GPU Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 64GB RAM, Radeon 8060S GPU (the model Im testing). Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 128GB RAM, Radeon 8060S GPU With every other Framework machine, the mainboard has the CPU and fan soldered in place, but thats it. Every other component can more or less be removed and reinstalled on the replacement mainboard. Here, if that APU goes or if your needs do evolve, then youre losing pretty much everything (including the heatsink) since its all soldered to the mainboard . We'll get into pricing considerations later, but replacement mainboards from Framework run between $799 and $1,699. Otherwise, the only things you can recover here are the Wi-Fi module, SSD (theres space for two), power supply and case. Speaking of which, the Framework Desktop is a Mini-ITX desktop in a 4.5L case, complete with optional carrying handle. Its less understated than the cases youd have seen at a LAN party circa 2006, but thats not the point. While the box itself is a stark black, you can add a big chunk of personality to it with the front panel, which has space for 21 plastic tiles. These tiles come in a variety of colors (including black, green, orange and lavender) for you to mosaic to your hearts content. You can also pick up single tiles with specific images printed on, including the Framework, AMD and Linux logos, plus this fetching pride heart. Naturally, if youre crafty, you can also make your own. Below the front panel and irritatingly small power button, youll find two of Frameworks trademark expansion card slots. These are USB-C ducts into which you can slot any of the companys expansion cards, letting you pick and choose what I/O you have up front. But the flexibility, so necessary on a laptop, is less of an issue here since this is a Mini-ITX mainboard. Lean over to the back and youll find two USB-C, two DisplayPorts, two USB-A sockets as well as dedicated connections for HDMI, Ethernet and 3.5mm audio. Installation Framework is only selling its desktop in a DIY Edition, but thats less of a big deal than you might initially expect. Whereas the companys DIY laptops require you to put every component in the chassis, on the Desktop theres very little to do at all. Everything bar the SSD is already in place, and all you need to do to add that is remove the heatsink and slot your drive into the M.2 slot. After that, you just need to attach the beefy 120mm fan to the equally beefy heatsink, pop the cowl on top and screw in the four screws. Frameworks wonderful iFixit-style guides claimed getting the hardware together would take between 30 and 45 minutes. I hit stop on the watch after 15 minutes and 15 seconds, and cant imagine many folks will take much more time than that to put everything together. From there, you just need to install your operating system of choice and youre ready to go. In use Daniel Cooper for Engadget With the Desktop, Framework is targeting two groups: gamers, and developers eager to use AMDs Ryzen AI Max. The pitch to the former group could easily be boiled down to this is a fast PC you dont need to do much to build. Thats an easy enough metric to judge it by, since we can just run some games on it and see how well it performs. Ill admit that I am not an AI developer, and so cant speak as authoritatively on the latter or how effective it would be at running large models if you as the company expects buy several mainboards to run in a cluster. I basically ran every title in my admittedly limited game library with the settings dialed up to max, and it didnt break a sweat. AMD claims the Radeon 8060S GPU inside my machine goes toe-to-toe with an RTX 4070 laptop GPU. This is a ten pound hammer for the one ounce nail that is Fortnite, but even demanding titles like Hardspace: Shipbreaker breezed through. My gut tells me, however, that people wouldnt be eyeing this up as a primary gaming machine. Thats not where this units power lies, really, but in the more work-y tasks that better suit the APU. As I said, Im not an AI developer but I did mess around with LM Studio, which I tested with a chatbot running Googles Gemma 3 27B model. Performance was a little slower than you may see on a web-based AI client, but not enough for it to be an issue. LM Studio, too, suggested that running this was only taking around a third of the Desktops CPU power, so theres probably plenty more headroom there to run bigger and more demanding models. I am, however, on surer footing with big workstation tasks, like video editing and exporting, and I was impressed with the results here. For this, I took a 39GB HD video file with a runtime of 2 hours, made a few minor trims, and then compressed and exported it as an MP4 file. Crunching the file down to 6GB took just one hour and 12 minutes, a staggering speed boost for a job that could take half a day to export on lesser hardware. Its worth remembering, too, that Im testing the middle-tier version of the Desktop with 64GB RAM. When announcing the Desktop, Patel said the machine would run quietly even at peak power. He described it as silent while sitting on your desktop under normal loads, and even under gaming, its impressively quiet. If youre familiar with Frameworks track record and products so far, that quote will have instantly provoked scoffing. The company does many things well, but it wildly overpromises on how quiet and cool its machines run. Framework trumpeted how much better its cooling was on its recently-released Ryzen AI 300 mainboard for the Laptop 13, which was noisy and lap roasting. Here, youve got a beefy APU expected to run for sustained periods of time at 120W and up to 140W in boost. I half expected to be able to use this thing as a space heater but, mercifully, the company does seem to have made good on its promises. The 120mm fan barely got noisy at all, and I can only recall it becoming noticeable when running heavier AI models in LM Studio and when I started exporting the video file. Pricing The starting price for the base model Desktop with the Max 385 and 32GB of RAM is $1,099. For that, youll get the case, power supply and mainboard, which includes its own Wi-Fi module. What the company is listing as optional extras, however, includes the SSD, CPU fan, OS and even the power lead. So, if you were looking to buy the base model as an essentially off the shelf purchase, including decorative tiles and two front-facing expansion cards, the price rises to $1,386. If you want to opt for the mid-tier option (the 395 with 64GB RAM) add $500 to the base model price. If you want to go for the high end 395 with 128GB RAM, then youll be adding $900 to the base price, bringing the total for an off-the-shelf model to around $2,286. Because of the distinct nature of the Ryzen AI Max, an apples-to-apples comparison isnt going to be perfect. But, if you were looking to spend around two grand on a high-performance PC, you could snag something like Lenovos Legion Tower 5 with AMD. $2,200 buys you a Ryzen 7 with 16GB DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD and NVIDIAs GeForce RTX 4070 Ti with 12GB RAM. Alternatively, that figure could get you an ASUS ROG G700 with a Ryzen 7, Radeon RX 9070 XT Prime (with 16GB VRAM), 16GB RAM and a 2TB SSD. The real differentiator is how much you would value the faster memory bandwidth and speed the AI Max offers over its discrete rivals. Framework will also sell users the Desktops mainboard on its own, with the base model priced at $799. Certainly, if youve got boxes full of spare parts and the necessary Mini-ITX case, you could save a chunk of change that way. This will also be the most cost effective way for power users to run clusters of boards for bigger projects. Pre-orders are open, but the company wont start shipping boards on their own until its fulfilled all of its system orders. Wrap-up In my time with the Framework Desktop, Ive flip-flopped a few times on if this product is a hit or a miss. Framework was open about the fact this was something akin to a side project, outside its regular remit to build modular laptops, based on a particularly exciting chip. So while I think the all-in-one approach is a backward step compared to regular PCs, I get the rationale for doing so here. Where I think Framework whiffed was to pitch this as a machine to make PC gaming more accessible by reducing the mental and physical load associated with building your own. Nightmares about thermal paste aside, I dont think thats a real issue for would-be gamers as they could easily pick up a pre-built system for similar cash. And I suspect most gamers would much rather use a PC with a standalone graphics card rather than slum it with an integrated GPU. Because even mentioning gaming, really, does the machine a massive disservice, pulling the focus from its real strength. Which is the ease at which this machine handled productivity tasks, like running AI models and crunching video. The effortlessness at which it handled that brought to mind products like the Mac Studio, a creative powerhouse in its own tiny package. Its this that Framework should have led with, especially since itll do all of those tasks and play games on the side. Im not sure Id recommend this product to people who are just looking to buy a powerful PC or a gaming PC. Its a tool for a specific group of users capable of taking advantage of the AI Maxs benefits that youd otherwise need a workstation for. So while its review score is justifiably high when the Framework Desktop is judged on its own merits, that doesnt mean you need to own one. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-desktop-2025-review-powerful-but-perhaps-not-for-everyone-150011909.html?src=rss

UFO 50, a brilliant tribute to retro gaming, is out for the Switch right now

When UFO 50 , the dizzyingly ambitious fictional game compendium from the creator of Spelunky , landed on PC last year, a Switch port felt inevitable. Weve had to wait nearly 12 months for that to happen, but its finally here. Rudely shadow-dropped into a sizzle reel at the end of Nintendos (otherwise largely underwhelming) Indie World showcase this morning, UFO 50 is available on Switch (and presumably Switch 2, barring any strange compatibility issues) for $25 right now. For those who missed it on PC, youre getting a wildly varied set of retro-styled games belonging to a console that never existed, all designed by a made-up developer called UFO Soft from the 80s. Confused? The high concept fictional premise is basically just a good excuse for the six modern-day indie developers actually responsible for the game to pay tribute to the 8- and 16-bit games they remember so fondly. The included games span just about every genre of the era, from platformers and puzzle games, to turn-based strategy, pure arcade titles and bafflingly fully-fledged RPGs. UFO 50 really is a remarkable achievement, and the Switch is the perfect platform for it. The end of the games PC exclusivity could mean that Xbox and PlayStation ports will also arrive at some point, but it arrives on Switch as a console exclusive for now at least. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ufo-50-a-brilliant-tribute-to-retro-gaming-is-out-for-the-switch-right-now-141756694.html?src=rss

The spellbinding Ball x Pit will hit PC and consoles on October 15

Back in June, publisher Devolver Digital decided to switch up its usual Summer Game Fest showcase format and dedicate it to a single game, Ball x Pit by indie developer Kenny Sun and a few collaborators. The demo sunk its claws into me , and I've been looking forward to the full game ever since. During Nintendo's Indie World stream on Thursday, it emerged that Ball x Pit is coming to Switch, PC , PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass on October 15. A Switch 2 version will arrive later this year. Ball x Pit is a bit like if Breakout, Vampire Survivors and Space Invaders were blended together with a pinch of base building thrown in for good measure. Your character will (manually or automatically, it's up to you) fire destructive balls at waves of enemies that approach from the top of the screen, trying to destroy them before they reach the bottom and cause more damage. You'll collect more types of balls and augmentations throughout each run and upgrade both. The action really kicks up a notch when you're able to fuse two balls and combine their effects. A fusion might grant you a ghost ball that passes through enemies but sticks a lightning rod into each one it makes contact with, dealing recurring damage to both that particular bad guy and others nearby. There are more than 60 different balls to play around with and combining a pair frees up a slot for another one, so you can end up with truly wild builds. You'll also unlock more characters with unique skills that you'll want to experiment with too. Along with the brick-breaking action, there's a base-building element to Ball x Pit . You can help expand the settlement of New Ballbylon (chef's kiss on that name) with dozens of different buildings that can help you unlock more power-ups, characters and so on. The two sides of the game feed into each other and make for a very sticky, satisfying loop. According to Devolver, Ball x Pit had the 12th most-played demo during the most recent Steam Next Fest. More than 270,000 people have tried it out on Steam (demo progress carries over to the full game). Ball x Pit is easily one of my most anticipated games for the rest of the year. My only dilemma now is to figure out which platform to play it on. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-spellbinding-ball-x-pit-will-hit-pc-and-consoles-on-october-15-141156022.html?src=rss

X plans to show ads in Grok chatbot's answers

Grok's responses to users on X could include paid advertisements in the future. According to the Financial Times , X owner Elon Musk told advertisers in a live discussion that his company would let marketers pay to appear in suggestions from Grok. He said that after making Grok the smartest, most accurate AI in the world, the company is now focusing on paying for those expensive GPUs. Musk added that if a person is asking Grok to solve a specific problem, then advertising the specific solution would be ideal at that point. What exactly does including ads into the chatbot's responses mean? Will the advertised products or services be clearly labeled as such? Will they compromise Grok's responses? Musk didn't delve into specifics. Instead, he talked about how xAI will automate the ad process for brands and improve targeting overall. Musk also said that xAI will assess the aesthetics of an ad and will prioritize those that appear more pleasing to the eye. He shared that his company has plans to build a checkout feature so that users can make purchases within the app, as well. Musk said he wants to overcome the curse of Twitter, in that users never bought a single thing [for a decade] because the advertising system never actually showed the participants what they wanted. Some advertisers, the Times noted, still don't want to advertise on X because they deem it too toxic. In May, Grok repeated claims of a white genocide in South Africa on X, even when the user's question had nothing to do with it. And then a mere two months later, the chatbot went on antisemitic and pro-Nazi rants on X, which Musk then blamed on rogue users . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/x-plans-to-show-ads-in-grok-chatbots-answers-140058660.html?src=rss

Uber received 400,000 reports of sexual misconduct from 2017 to 2022

Between 2017 and 2022, 400,181 Uber trips resulted in reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the US, or around one every eight minutes, according to sealed documents seen by The New York Times . The company had only disclosed 12,522 accounts of serious sexual assaults during the same time period. The report is based on interviews with current a former employees, internal documents and court records under seal as part of large-scale sexual assault litigation against Uber. There is no 'tolerable' level of sexual assault, Uber's US head of safety Hanna Nilles told the NYT . She added that about 75 percent of the reports were less serious, including comments about a passenger's appearance, flirting or using explicit language. In addition, reports had not been audited by the company and could have include incorrect or fraudulent reports submitted by passengers. Publicly, Uber has stated in marketing campaigns that it's one of the safest options for travel, citing the rarity of assaults. However, the NYT notes that the company had failed to take actions that would likely have improved passenger security like pairing female passengers with female drivers, using sophisticated matching algorithms and warning passengers about factors linked to attacks. In several cases cited by the report, drivers with a recorded pattern of inappropriate behavior were kept on the platform and then proceeded to sexually assault passengers. It also shows that Uber rejected safety measures like cameras in cars so as not to disrupt its business model dictating that drivers are contractors and not employees. It also stopped a potential feature pairing female drivers with female passengers over fears of stoking culture wars, among other business reasons. Uber told the NYT that millions of rides happen each day and vast majority in the US, around 99.9 percent occur without incident. However, with details of horrific assaults and Uber wilfully failing to deal with the problem, the r eport is yet another damning indictment of the company's growth-above-all culture. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/uber-received-400000-reports-of-sexual-misconduct-from-2017-to-2022-130007123.html?src=rss

Anker's 10K Qi2 magnetic power bank drops to $60

A power bank with a wireless charging option is a very handy device for anyone who's typically on the go. It's probably worth having a fully charged one on hand in case of a power outage too. Anker makes some of our favorite power banks, and one with a Qi2 charging function and 10,000mAh capacity is currently on sale. You can snap it up for $60 . That's a 25 percent discount on the list price of $80. It is also the lowest price for this model so far in 2025. The power bank is currently available in four colors for this price: black, green, pink and white. This particular model doesn't feature as a top pick in our roundup of the best power banks . Anker charging gear is solid for the most part, though the company did recently issue recalls for certain older models . In any case, this MagGo Power Bank offers 15W wireless charging that can top up an iPhone 16 Pro's battery from zero to 30 percent of its capacity in 25 minutes, according to Anker. When you plug a USB-C cable into the power bank and an iPhone 16 Pro, the brand claims that you can charge the phone to 50 percent of its battery capacity in 26 minutes. It has enough juice to charge an iPhone 16 1.75 times over, an iPhone 16 Pro 1.71 times and an iPhone 16 Pro Max 1.33 times, per Anker. You can also fully charge the power bank's battery in about 2.5 hours. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-10k-qi2-magnetic-power-bank-drops-to-60-171552389.html?src=rss

Sonos is raising prices this year to make up for tariff expenses

Sonos plans to raise prices across its products later this year in order to minimize the impact of tariffs on its earnings, the company has revealed alongside its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. It hasn't listed the products and their new prices yet, but it said that it's evaluating any changes it might need to its promotional strategies and that it has flexibility to move production between Vietnam and Malaysia as needed. To note, the Trump administration had imposed a 20 percent tariff on imports from Vietnam and a 19 percent tariff on imports from Malaysia. Sonos also said that it will invest on diversifying its geographic footprint and expanding its presence in markets that represent only a small share of its revenue today to drive growth. The company took steps to diversify its supply chain last year, which led to its manufacturing facilities in the two aforementioned countries. It now only relies on Chinese plans for products bound to the US for a limited number of accessories, such as speaker stands. Still, for the third quarter of 2025, tariffs reduced Sonos' gross margin for the third quarter by $2.1 million and its cash flow by $3.5 million. In the fourth quarter of the year, which covers the holiday shopping season, Sonos expects tariffs to reduce its gross margin by $5 million and to remove between $8 to $10 billion from its cash flow. Overall, Sonos posted a revenue of $344.8 million in the third quarter, which is almost $100 million larger than its revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024. It's not a secret that 2024 was a tough year for the company. It rolled out a major update that broke its app , which led to the delay of product releases as it worked to fix the issue. Former Sonos CEO Patrick Spence even stepped down in the beginning of 2025 and was replaced by ex-Snap executive Tom Conrad. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/sonos-is-raising-prices-this-year-to-make-up-for-tariff-expenses-123031336.html?src=rss

Pick up Apple's AirPods Pro 2 while they're on sale for $169

Even a few years after launch, the AirPods Pro 2 remain some of the best wireless earbuds you can get particularly if you primarily use other Apple devices on the daily. If you're looking to upgrade from an old pair or want a fresh set for the new school year, you can pick up the AirPods Pro 2 for $169 right now. That's 32 percent off their usual price and one of the best prices we've seen this year. Apples flagship AirPods were $100 off a record-low $149 during Prime Day, so we have seen them even cheaper than this, but for a non-sale period, Amazons current deal is worth considering. The AirPods Pro 2 are our top choice for iPhone users looking for wireless earbuds, thanks to much beefier sound than the original model, rock solid ANC and transparency modes, and seamless switching between Apple devices. Throw in spatial audio support, hands-free Siri and more than acceptable battery life, and the AirPods Pro 2 are hard to top. Not everyone gets on with the sometimes fiddly touch gestures, but a lot of wireless headphones struggle with this. If theres anything to give you pause, its that we might be getting the AirPods Pro 3 sooner rather than later. But if thats the case, you can be confident youll pay a lot more than $169 for the privilege. The AirPods Pro arent the only discounted AirPods right now. The AirPods 4 (without ANC) are down to $100. Usually priced at $129, youre saving $29 on a much improved entry-level AirPods offering. They fit and sound better than any non-Pro AirPods before them, and inherit some previously Pro-only features thanks to the H2 chip. If you travel a lot youll also certainly rue the lack of ANC, but if that isnt a deal breaker for you, the $100 price point might be tempting. 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/pick-up-apples-airpods-pro-2-while-theyre-on-sale-for-169-142401232.html?src=rss

The best laptops for gaming and schoolwork in 2025

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

Apple is reportedly working with Samsung to build iPhone image sensors in Texas

Apple has announced that it's working with Samsung at its Texas plant to launch an innovative new technology for making chips. Those chips are reportedly cutting-edge image sensors for iPhones, according to The Financial Times . That in turn means that Sony may no longer be Apple's only supplier of smartphone camera sensors for its upcoming phones. The chips in question are reportedly three-layer stacked image sensors that will allow for fast smartphone camera shooting speeds and high-frame-rate 8K video, along with reduced rolling shutter jello distortion. Both Samsung and Sony (along with Canon ) have recently said that they're working on such chips. The news marks a reconciliation of sorts between Apple and its frenemy Samsung. Apple stopped using Samsung in favor of TSMC as its primary contract manufacturer back in 2011 , kicking off a decline in Samsung's chip business. Now, Samsung has scored back-to-back foundry wins with Apple and its recent $16.5 billion deal to build chips for Tesla . Samsung may have won the business due to its likely exemption from upcoming tariffs on foreign chips announced yesterday by Trump that could be as high as 100 percent . It looks like companies with manufacturing in the US like Samsung, TSMC and SK Hynix will dodge those import taxes. However, Sony's image sensors are built under contract by TSMC in Taiwan, and Sony itself doesn't have any such chip plants in the US. Sony has about a 45 percent share of the $21.8 billion image sensor market, compare to about 19 percent for Samsung. One big reason for Sony's domination is its cutting edge technology, having been first to market in nearly every major advance, including backside illumination, two-layer stacked sensors and global shutters on mirrorless cameras. According to a recent rumor , Sony was contemplating a spin-off its sensor division but held back due to Trump's tariffs. We remain confident that we are advanced in providing sensor technology to our customers, and we will focus on continuing further technological advancement through larger sensor size and density, Sony said in a statement in response to the news from Apple. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-is-reportedly-working-with-samsung-to-build-iphone-image-sensors-in-texas-120021281.html?src=rss

The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and that means a whole lot more people will eventually need a new microSD card. While the new console comes with 256GB of built-in storage eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED its improved performance means that some games will chew up a ton of that space. Cyberpunk 2077 is a 59GB download, for example, while Split Fiction checks in at 69GB. Other titles arent nearly as big (particularly those made by Nintendo itself), but chances are youll want to add more room at some point down the road. Whenever that is, youll need a microSD Express card. This is not the same as the old reliable microSD cards you may have bought for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds theyre newer, faster and far more expensive. But if you want more space, theyre your only choice . If youre looking to grab one today, weve laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy. The best microSD cards for the Switch 2 (aren't all that important) Jeff Dunn for Engadget The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there arent many options available to buy just yet. Of the six compatible models weve seen thus far, weve tested five: the SanDisk microSD Express Card , the Lexar Play Pro , the Samsung microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 , the PNY microSD Express Card and the GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 . The first four are made by genuine storage manufacturers, while the GameStop card appears to be a rebadged version of another model. (This should be the case with another card sold by Walmart under its Onn sub-brand, which we hope to catch in stock before our next update.) We used the 256GB version of every card except for Lexar Play Pro, which was 1TB. After timing these microSD Express cards across a range of Switch 2 games, our advice is simple: Get whichever one is available for the lowest price in the capacity you want. They arent identical , especially if you want to move a game to the card from the consoles internal storage (or vice versa). But the differences in load times and overall performance within actual games are tough to notice unless you have a stopwatch handy. All five cards loaded up the digital version of Mario Kart World , for instance, between 18 and 20 seconds. Each loaded the first Grand Prix race in about 6.5 seconds. Getting to the start screen of Cyberpunk 2077 took about 38 seconds in each case. Loading a save in a particularly asset-heavy area ( Jig-Jig Street ) then took between 26 and 29 seconds, depending on the card. With Fast Fusion , a smaller native Switch 2 game, the initial load always took six to seven seconds, while each card loaded the first championship race in roughly 4 seconds. It was a similar situation with the Switch 2 upgrade for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (using a Switch 1 cartridge): Each card took just over six seconds to get to the start screen, between 19 and 20 seconds to load a save just before the final boss, about 16 seconds to fast travel between Kakariko Village and Korok Forest , and so on. We saw no significant issues with in-game loads when playing each game, either. The SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro. Jeff Dunn for Engadget All of this suggests that the Switch 2 has a relatively specific target for these cards to hit, and that there may not be much room for one model to leap too far out in front of the others. Well also note that the consoles built-in storage was consistently faster than any external option: The gap wasnt always big, but no card truly outpaced it in any of our tests. Loading that demanding area in Cyberpunk , for example, took about 22.5 seconds on average. So if you want the absolute fastest load times, dont put your game on a card at all. If you need the mental comfort of knowing you technically have the best card available, get the SanDisk microSD Express Card . It had no outliers across our many game loading tests, and it was consistently right near the top when it came to moving games to and from system storage, which means it offers strong sequential read and write performance. Benchmark testing on PC with tools like CrystalDiskMark backed this up, as noted in our broader microSD card buying guide . Putting Mario Kart (a 21.9GB file) on that card took four minutes and 39 seconds on average, which was only second to the Lexar Play Pro by six seconds. It was the fastest to write Fast Fusion (3.5GB), taking an average of 27 seconds across three runs. Only PNYs card was faster to move games back to the consoles storage, but that one was far slower at writing games to the card getting Mario Kart on there took seven minutes and 11 seconds on average. Just note that the 128GB version of SanDisks card has slower sequential writes than the larger versions, including much slower sustained write speeds (100 MB/s vs 210-220 MB/s). So transferring a game to that particular model will take much longer. Practically speaking, though, speed differences arent as important in this case as having lots of space to hold games at a price you can live with. To make things easy, weve listed every Express card weve seen at retailers at the time of writing below. Remember: You want microSD Express , not Extreme, like the branding SanDisk uses for some conventional microSD cards . A microSD Express card will have a big EX logo printed on it. 128GB SanDisk microSD Express Card ($60 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP) 256GB Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP) SanDisk microSD Express Card ($73 MSRP) Lexar Play Pro ($60 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($61 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP) Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP) 512GB SanDisk microSD Express Card ($125 MSRP) Lexar Play Pro ($120 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($100 MSRP) Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP) 1TB Lexar Play Pro ($220 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($190 MSRP) All microSD Express cards will have this EX logo printed on them. Nintendo/Engadget As you can see, while the SanDisk card is fast, its also the most expensive of an already-pricey bunch. Is it worth an extra $10-20 to shave a couple seconds off certain loads in certain games, or a couple minutes when moving a game to external storage? Probably not for most people. But stock for all of these cards has been patchy since the Switch 2 landed, especially for the Walmart Onn model, which is by far the cheapest choice. If only one card is actually available by the time you read this and you must have it today its safe to just get it. You wont lose or gain all that much when it comes to real-world performance. Ultimately, though, we advise holding off on buying any microSD Express card for as long as possible. President Trumps tariff shenanigans could spike prices a little higher in the short term, but in general, all of these cards are about as expensive today as theyll ever be. And compared to traditional microSD options, they are pricey: The Samsung Pro Plus , for example, costs $17 for 128GB, $25 for 256GB, $43 for 512GB and $90 for 1TB as of this writing. The Switch 2 is extremely popular , so more microSD Express cards will need to be made and prices will (eventually) come down. Ideally, well see more high-capacity options as well: Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards up to 2TB, but so far only a couple even go up to 1TB. All of this means you should try to use all 256GB baked into the Switch 2 first, even if it means having to delete a game or two. But if you absolutely need more space right away, the cards above should be fine. What are microSD Express cards? A microSD Express card like the one on the right has a second row of pins on the back. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), of which there are three versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. The vast majority of cards you may have bought in the past utilize UHS-I. These have one row of pins in the back and a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/s). (Though many cards are able to surpass that limit with proprietary tech and card readers.) The original Switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as do most other gaming handhelds like Valves Steam Deck . UHS-II cards add a second row of pins and can reach up to 312 MB/s. These are pricier and much less common than cards based on UHS-I, but theyre supported by some cameras and higher-power handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X . UHS-III, meanwhile, is twice as fast as UHS-II in theory (624 MB/s), but no microSD cards have actually used it. UHS-I cards have held on over the years because theyre cheap, widely supported and fast enough for the things most people need them to do: record 4K video, stash photos and so on. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo needs more . The new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run demanding games that may have originally been built for stronger hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PCs. The device also uses UFS 3.1 storage internally, which is much speedier than the eMMC storage used by the original Switch. (A custom file decompression engine helps improve load times as well.) So if the Switch 2 is going to accept microSD cards, it needs ones that wont bring a serious drop-off in performance and can hold up with modern games. The Nintendo Switch 2. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Hence, SD Express. This standard has technically been around since 2018 but mostly went nowhere until the Switch 2 came along. It also uses a second row of pins, but it lets microSD cards take advantage of the PCI Express (PCIe)/NVMe interface, which is the same underlying tech used by modern SSDs . As a result, it can produce considerably faster read and write speeds, with a current theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s. As noted above, real-world performance wont be quite that fast. Even if it was, the best microSD Express cards would still be much slower than the NVMe SSDs used by the PS5 and Xbox. ( Sony recommends SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And theyll fall well below their peak speeds under sustained loads: SanDisk, for instance, says sustained write speeds for its 128GB Express card can drop as low as 100 MB/s. But theyre still a marked improvement over old UHS-I cards, and in theory, they should be quicker than some older SATA-based SSDs when it comes loading game levels, asset streaming, retrieving saves or copying games to external storage. Whereas SanDisks microSD Express card can produce sequential read speeds around 900 MB/s, Lexars Professional Silver Plus the top UHS-I pick in our general microSD card guide topped out just over 200 MB/s, and thats with a proprietary reader. (On the first Switch, itd be closer to 100 MB/s.) Sequential writes and random speeds were three to four times better as well, and sometimes even more depending on the benchmark we used. It remains to be seen how well these Express cards will hold up with years of use, and theres no way to know exactly when their sky-high prices will drop. Non-Switch 2 devices that support microSD Express are still exceedingly rare, and the standard itself isnt backwards compatible with UHS-II, so youll be limited to UHS-I speeds if you want to use your card with another device (unless you buy a pricey external reader ). Still, while the increased costs and limited selection are annoying, the tech itself is worthy of a next-gen Switch. How we test microSD Express cards Jeff Dunn for Engadget We put our microSD Express cards through a series of tests meant to simulate how people would use each card on the Switch 2 in the real world. We mainly worked with four games: a mid-sized title in Mario Kart World , a small one in Fast Fusion , a relatively large one in Cyberpunk 2077 and a hybrid in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , which ran off a Switch 1 cartridge but used a roughly 10GB Switch 2 upgrade pack that was downloaded and installed digitally. We first timed how long it took to move each game from the systems internal storage to the card in question, and vice versa. We then timed how long it took to load each game when installed to a given card. After that, we measured how quickly the cards could load certain in-game scenarios: the first Grand Prix race in Mario Kart ; the first championship race in Fast Fusion ; fast traveling between the Jig-Jig Street, Embers and Downtown Central areas in Cyberpunk and fast traveling between the Kakariko Village, Korok Forest and the Hyrule Castle Town Ruins areas in Zelda . (We chose those places in the latter two games because theyre more taxing than other regions.) With Cyberpunk and Zelda , we also timed how long it took to load up different save files in those locations. With each test, we completed three to five runs to account for any irregularities and marked down the average time taken between them. We did each test in airplane mode, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, to minimize any performance drain that could arise from background downloads. Between each test, we also spent at least an hour playing the games off each card to ensure there were no significant drop-offs compared to the consoles built-in storage. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-microsd-cards-for-nintendo-switch-2-160052947.html?src=rss

The best laptop you can buy in 2025

Choosing the best laptop can be a bit of a challenge there are so many models, sizes and specs out there that its easy to feel lost in the shuffle. But the good news is that modern laptops are better than ever. Whether you're looking for a powerful AI PC, a travel-ready ultrabook or an affordable machine that can handle everyday tasks, there's something out there for everyone. Todays systems combine improved performance, longer battery life and smarter features in sleek, lightweight designs that are built to keep up with work, play and everything in between. Out of all of the notebooks we've tested and reviewed recently, we consider Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air M4 to be the best laptop for most people, and this is still the case for our top picks to start off the new year. It's powerful enough to handle most tasks (even light video editing); it has a great screen and built-in speakers; and its battery could last over 18hours (depending on what you're doing, of course). The MacBook Air M4 is also one of the lightest and thinnest systems we've reviewed, and it's dead silent, thanks to a fanless design. Of course, not everyone wants a MacBook, and there are excellent Windows laptops and Chromebooks out there, too. Windows systems offer a range of configurations, from budget to high-end UHD screens with stunning IPS panels that boast high nits for vivid brightness. Chromebooks, on the other hand, tend to be more affordable and are great for users who mostly work online. Whether you need a powerhouse for creative work, a compact system for note-taking, or a laptop that can handle family movie night, theres something for everyone in todays laptop market. Table of contents Best laptops of 2025 How we test and pick laptops Factors to consider when choosing a laptop Other laptops weve tested Laptop FAQs Recent updates Best laptops of 2025 Back to top How we test laptops Engadget has been reviewing laptops for two decades , and while the definition of what a portable PC is has changed considerably since, our obsession with testing their limits and serving up informative buying advice remains the same. Be it a hybrid tablet like Microsoft's Surface machines, a rotating 2-in-1 convertible like HP's Spectre x360s or a plain old clamshell notebook, our review process follows similar beats. How does it look and feel? How fast is it? Whether its a Windows device powered by an Intel Core i5 or higher, a MacBook or a Chromebook, we aim to answer the most important question: Is it actually worth your hard-earned cash? We also pay close attention to portability, webcam quality and display features, including IPS panels and nits of brightness, as they can make a big difference in daily use. Back to top Factors to consider when choosing a laptop Operating system: Apple, Windows or Chrome OS There's a good chance you've already committed to an operating system, but my advice is to be as flexible as possible. These days, most major software is compatible with both Macs and PCs. (Of course, it's another story if you've become dependent on an Apple-only app like Final Cut Pro.) Web-based apps, naturally, will work on any platform with an internet browser. If you're an Apple-loyalist, there aren't many reasons to consider Windows laptops (unless you want a secondary gaming machine). But for Windows users, macOS is becoming more tempting every year. Apple's MacBooks , powered by its M-series Silicon chips, are among the fastest and most efficient laptops we've ever seen. They're incredibly well-built and have outstanding battery life to boot. MacOS itself is also an easy platform to learn, especially if you're used to iOS and iPadOS. That brings up another point: iPhone users may want to consider Macs because of the seamless integration with Apple's other platforms. You can't respond to iMessage conversations easily or hop into FaceTime chats on Windows PCs, but doing so is simple on Macs. ( Microsoft's Phone Link app lets you send iOS users individual texts, but not media or group chats.) Android users, meanwhile, may be better off with Windows, as Phone Link can make calls, synchronize all your texts and also access your phone's photos. If cloud gaming is your priority, Windows laptops with NVIDIAs GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming compatibility may offer more flexibility and decent performance, especially when paired with fast internet speeds. Chromebooks also make a compelling case here as an affordable, lightweight solution for casual cloud gaming sessions. As for whether youll want a PC with a dedicated Copilot AI button on the keyboard, that depends on how often you see yourself using Microsofts generative tools. Given were only just seeing the first slate of AI PCs, it would be wiser to wait out the hype and see what improvements might come over time. And what about ChromeOS? Chromebooks are a smart and (typically) inexpensive way to do things like web browsing and hopping on a few video chats, but for most, they're not the best choice as a primary computer. There aren't many apps or games that work offline, and they also don't work with powerful software suites like Adobe's (you can use the stripped-down Adobe Express and Photoshop online tools , though). Chromebooks are great secondary machines to use alongside a more powerful Mac or PC, and they're popular in schools because they're cheap and easy for IT workers to manage. And if all you need is web browsing access, or a notebook for a kid, a Chromebook might be enough. If, for some reason, youre looking for a powerful ChromeOS system, there are also Chromebook Plus models to consider. These machines sport faster processors and more RAM than typical Google notebooks, and they can also tap into a few of the companys online AI features , like AI image generation and photo processing. Price You can expect to spend between $1,000 and $1,800 for a new laptop these days, depending on the configuration. If you're looking for more of a workhorse, that could cost you well over $2,000 for additional RAM, storage, as well as a beefier graphics card and CPU. But you can also find some good laptops under $1,000 if you're willing to overlook build quality (or buy a refurbished or previous generation machine, which we highly recommend). Systems with AMD chips tend to come in cheaper than their Intel counterparts, but the bulk of their cost will come down to other components like RAM and storage. Ive included our favorite affordable model in this best laptop buying guide, but we have a list of the best budget laptops that you can check out as well. Laptop size and weight So how portable do you want your laptop to be? That's the ultimate question you need to ask when choosing between various screen sizes. 13-inch machines have become a solid starting point for most shoppers it's enough real estate for the majority of tasks like emailing and writing, and it also helps keep machines relatively light (typically between two to three pounds). Thanks to manufacturing advancements, these dainty machines sometimes even come with larger screens (the smaller MacBook Air actually has a 13.6-inch display). If you have trouble seeing fine text, wed recommend going for a display larger than 13 inches. ASUSs Zephyrus G14 is a solid 14-inch option for gamers, and were also seeing more productivity-focused machines aim for that size, like the Dell 14 Premium and MacBook Pro. While 14-inch notebooks are a bit heavier than 13-inch models, coming in between three to four pounds, their screens are noticeably roomier. For artists, or anyone else who needs a large canvas, a 15-inch laptop may make the most sense. They typically weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds, but that extra heft may be worth it to fit wider video editing timelines or Photoshop windows. And, as you'd expect, you'll also pay a bit more for a 15-inch notebook compared to smaller ones (the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,199, while the smaller model goes for $999). PC makers are also replacing 15-inch systems with 16-inch versions, which will give you even more space to work. If you're in the market for a business laptop, size and portability might be key considerations. A lightweight yet powerful system with a long battery life can make a world of difference if you travel frequently for work. You can still find laptops with 17-inch or 18-inch screens, but those are typically gaming systems or souped-up workstations. They're not meant for mere computing mortals. Ports and connectivity These days, most laptops ship with a few USB-C ports, which can handle both charging and speedy data transfers. Apple's MacBooks also include a separate connection for MagSafe power, and you'll find custom power connections on some PCs like Microsoft's Surface. Older USB Type-A connections are less common now, but they still pop up in systems like HP's Spectre x360 14 , as well as many models from ASUS. For gamers or creators who rely on discrete graphics, ensuring your laptop has the right ports for external monitors or GPUs is crucial. DisplayPort or HDMI connections can also ensure youre ready for dual- or multi-screen setups for more immersive experiences. Similarly, if you want to save high-resolution files or install multiple games, you might need to consider additional hard drive space; external hard drives are pretty affordable, as long as you have a proper port to connect them. If you're a fan of wired headphones, it's worth keeping a close eye on headphone jack availability. They usually include a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, but that's a clunky solution, and it also takes up a USB port. Sure, most people use wireless earbuds and cans today, but it's still helpful to have a wired one around for when those devices run out of juice. Most laptops today offer Wi-Fi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, which should mean faster and more stable connections if you have compatible routers and devices. While Wi-Fi 7 routers have started appearing, that spec hasn't made its way into laptops yet. As for cellular coverage, there are notebooks like the Surface Pro 9 and Samsung Galaxy Book models that offer integrated 5G. But from our testing, that feature may not be worth the cost of a separate data plan. Instead, you could tether to your smartphone or invest in a wireless hotspot that can keep multiple devices online. Battery life A laptop's battery life depends on several factors: The power draw from the screen and other hardware, the optimizations used to avoid unnecessary power drain, and, of course, the size of the actual battery. One of our previous favorite systems, the Dell XPS 13, lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes in the PCMark 10 battery benchmark. In real-world testing, I was able to use it for a day and a half without needing a recharge. The MacBook Air 13-inch, meanwhile, more than 18 hours in our benchmark and kept running for more than two work days of my typical workflow. In general, you should expect a modern laptop to last at least eight hours. If battery life is your absolute priority, I'd strongly suggest looking at Macs over Windows PCs. Apple's M-series chips are essentially mobile hardware, with all of the power efficiency you'd expect from something originally designed for phones. Qualcomms upcoming Snapdragon chips could help Windows PCs compete with Apples astonishing battery life, but weve yet to see those in action. Chromebooks also typically get decent battery life (as long as you dont overstuff them with power-draining tabs). Refresh rate A laptop's refresh rate refers to the amount of times its screen is cycled every second. Modern displays like IPS LCDs and OLEDs support 60Hz refresh rates at a minimum, but we're seeing more devices offering 120Hz, 240Hz and beyond. The higher the number, the faster the screen is refreshed, which ultimately leads to a smoother experience while mousing around or scrolling through web pages. (If you want to get a sense of what a slow refresh rate looks like, just grab an e-reader like the Kindle and try to flip between book pages.) While high refresh rates used to be reserved for gaming laptops, nowadays we're seeing more mainstream machines like the Dell 14 Premium offer 120Hz (or variable rates that move between 60Hz and 120Hz). CPU & GPU If youre buying a new laptop, youll want to make sure its powered by the latest CPUs. For Windows PCs, that includes Intels Core Ultra chips for thin-and-light machines or the 14th-gen HX chips for beefier systems. The Core Ultra series have NPUs for handling AI tasks, while the HX hardware does not theyre based on Intels previous chip architecture, and theyre more focused on delivering raw horsepower. Intel's older 13th-gen and 12th-gen laptop chips also don't have NPUs, so keep that in mind if you're looking at used systems. You'll also see AMD's Ryzen 8000 and 9000 chips in plenty of new systems like the ASUS Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14. Those CPUs mainly target gaming laptops and high performance systems, while you'll still find AMDs older Ryzen 7000 chips in ultraportables. AMD's main advantage is that its chips also include Radeon graphics, which are far more capable than Intel's Arc hardware (though those are getting better). Qualcomms new Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus are also an option in Copilot+ PCs (more on those below). Since theyre based on mobile chip designs, theyre likely also more power efficient than AMD and Intels hardware. In the past, weve avoided recommending Snapdragon chips because they led to a slow and frustrating Windows experience. But Microsoft claims its rebuilt Windows 11 around Snapdragons Arm-based architecture , which should lead to far faster performance and better app compatibility. As for Apple's laptops, you'll be choosing between the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max, each of which is progressively more powerful. On the graphics side of things, a GPU, or graphics processing unit, is the component that communicates directly with a laptop's display. Laptop CPUs all have some form of integrated GPU: Intel has either its standard graphics or beefier Arc hardware, while AMD's chips include fast Radeon mobile graphics. If you want to play demanding games at high speeds (measured in frames per second, or fps), or if you need some extra power for rendering video or 3D models, you can configure a laptop with a dedicated GPU like NVIDIA's RTX 40-series hardware or AMD's Radeon RX 7000. Just be sure to leave room in your budget if you want a powerful GPU, as they typically add $300 or more to the cost of a laptop. Apple's M-series chips, meanwhile, have GPU cores that can perform as well as NVIDIAs and AMD's lower-end dedicated GPUs. That's quite the accomplishment for systems like this (especially the MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro), and it's another reason we highly recommend Apple's notebooks. AI PCs, NPUs and Copilot+ Simply put, an AI PC is a computer equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU), which is designed to handle AI-related tasks. Much like how GPUs tackle heavy-duty gaming and rendering workloads, NPUs are designed to handle the complex math necessary for AI workloads. Theyre also far more power efficient than CPUs or GPUs, which could lead to better battery performance in laptops. While many factors go into NPU performance, for the most part we measure their potential speed by TOPS (tera operations per second). We were primed for AI PCs based on the chips Intel and AMD announced in 2023. Intel unveiled its Core Ultra CPUs in December, its first to include an NPU for AI work. AMD also announced its Ryzen 8040 AI mobile chips that month (and it couldn't help but say they were faster than Intel's new hardware). But in May, Microsoft announced its Copilot+ initiative , which is pushing major PC makers to deliver premium AI PCs with specifications including 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSDs and NPUs with at least 40 TOPS of AI performance. Copilot+ is more than just a marketing term: Microsoft is also launching AI-powered features in Windows 11 that take advantage of powerful NPUs. That includes Recall , which can help you locate anything youve done on your PC (whenever it finally launches), as well as Cocreator in Paint , which can generate AI images based on text prompts and doodles. If you buy an AI PC that isnt Copilot+ certified, youll still be able to use some features like Windows Studio Effects, which can blur your background in video calls or keep you in frame. Developers like Adobe and Audacity are also building features into their apps that can take advantage of NPUs. At the time of this post, Chromebook Plus notebooks can also access a few of Googles online AI features, like image generation and photo processing. Back to top Other laptops we tested Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition The ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition is a great spiritual successor to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, offering the best that business laptops have to offer. That includes long battery life packed into a thin and light chassis. This is an optimal ultraportable business laptop. While the price might give you some pause, we tested the lowest configuration, and found that the X9-14s performance is excellent for casual business users. The only issue with quality is that the keyboard is lacking. Its mushier than wed like, which could get a bit tiresome throughout the day. Youll still miss out on a USB Type-A port, so you may need to carry a Type-C hub with you. Where the ThinkPad X9-14 will win you over is its bold OLED screen. Combo that with its well-rounded audio, and the ThinkPad X9-14 makes for an excellent multimedia device in and out of the workplace. ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Aside from its lovely OLED screen, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED doesn't stand out from the crowded laptop field in any way. It just looks dull and boring, especially compared to the strikingly beautiful ASUS Zephyrus G14, which also came out this year. While you can probably find the Zenbook 14 for a decent price, I'd recommend holding out for something with a bit more personality (and with a less wobbly screen hinge). Razer Blade 14 The Razer Blade has almost everything you'd want in a 14-inch gaming notebook, but it's far pricier than the Zephyrus G14 on this list, and it doesnt even have an SD card reader. It would be a solid competitor once its price falls a bit, and it's certainly a great option if you just have to have a jet-black laptop. Framework Laptop 16 Framework gave its modularity magic to the Laptop 16 , delivering a gaming notebook where almost every single component is user replaceable. But you'll have to pay a pretty penny to snag it with upgraded hardware, and its optional Radeon 7700S GPU was surprisingly slow. Alienware m16 R2 The Alienware m16 r2 has been revamped with a slimmer case, but its otherwise a fairly typical gaming laptop. Its a solid option for Alienware fans, but youll find better hardware and deals elsewhere. ASUS Zenbook Duo (2024) The Zenbook Duo is a fascinating dual-screened notebook, and according to my colleague Sam Rutherford its the first of its kind thats worth buying. But its unique hardware isnt really meant for mainstream consumers, and Windows 11 still doesnt support multi-screen setups well enough to make full use of the Zenbook Duos ample canvas. Dell XPS 16 Dells XPS 16 is big and beautiful, but its far too expensive compared to the competition. Plus, it uses a capacitive row of function keys that you basically cant see under bright light and has too few ports for a machine of this size. See Also: Best Gaming Laptops for 2025 Best Cheap Windows Laptops Best 2-in-1 Laptops for 2025 Best Chromebooks Best Laptops for College Students Back to top Laptop FAQs What is the average battery life of a laptop per charge? Its hard to come up with an average battery life for laptops, since that will ultimately depend on what youre doing with them. An ultraportable like the MacBook Air that sips power can last around 20 hours in our battery benchmark, and around two full work days of real-world usage. But a gaming laptop may last only a few hours if youre actively playing something while on battery. At this point, Macs are delivering far better battery life than PCs, thanks to Apples Silicon chips, but Microsoft claims Copilot+ systems with Qualcomm chips will also get over 20 hours of batter life. How much RAM do I really need? The more RAM you have, the more things your computer can do simultaneously. For that reason, we recommend buying PCs and Macs with at least 16GB of RAM. That gives you enough memory to have several applications open at once, as well as web browsers filled with RAM-hogging tabs. Many PC games also require at least 16GB of RAM. While you could use a system with 8GB of RAM for basic tasks, youll quickly run into slowdowns and error messages as your apps stack up. Many laptops, especially ultraportables, dont let you upgrade RAM, too so youll have to buy an entirely new computer if you didnt equip enough memory at the start. If youre a hardcore gamer, programmer or planning to render videos or 3D models, then you may want to go for 32GB of RAM or more. And if you just need a secondary laptop for lighter work perhaps a no-frills system for writing then you can probably get by with 8GB. Just be sure to keep those browser tabs in check. What is the best storage capacity for a laptop? There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to laptop storage. Youll typically find configurations between 256GB and 1TB SSDs (solid state drives) on most laptops, and Id recommend most people get at least 512GB. Thatll be enough space for large apps, music and video files without stressing your system too much. If youre a media hoarder, or want to play a ton of games, then its definitely worth getting a 1TB SSD. If youll mainly be streaming your shows and music, and would rather invest in RAM or other hardware, then 256GB of storage would be serviceable. Id recommend staying away from any machine with 128GB of storage though. Most of that will be taken up by the operating system, and youll likely run into issues cramming in large apps after a few months. We recommend springing for extra built-in storage or investing in a portable SSD for backing up your most important files. It's also worth noting that Chromebooks tend to come with less built-in storage 32GB, 64GB or 128GB since ChromeOS encourages users to save their files in the cloud rather than on the device. In that case, 128GB is plenty. What's a good price range for a decent laptop in 2025? You can expect to spend between $1,000 and $1,800 for a typical 13-inch laptop today. As I explained above, you'll pay more if you want to stuff in more RAM or better GPU hardware. But you can also find deals below $1,000 if you look for refurbished or older-generation models. Whats the difference between macOS and Windows? Which is better? Simply put, macOS is the operating system in all of Apple's notebooks and desktops, while Windows powers the vast majority of PCs. You'll also find Chromebooks running Google's ChromeOS, but those are basically just web browsers running on top of Linux. Debating the differences between Windows and Macs is something PC nerds have been doing since the '80s, so we won't be declaring a winner here. There are some small, negligible distinctions, like using a Command versus a Control key, how file explorers work and concerns about viruses and security. For the most part, those are minor issues or have become moot thanks to better built-in security. But if you care more about playing the newest games, you'll want to have a Windows system. If you're more focused on creative apps, like Photoshop, Premiere and Final Cut Pro, then macOS may be a better fit (especially if you're running an iPhone). What are the best laptop brands? There is no single est laptop brand, but judging from this guide alone, we're generally impressed by notebooks from Apple, Dell and ASUS. They all offer fast, reliable and sturdy machines. HP also makes some eye-catching devices if you want an option thats the most aesthetic. Those four brands, along with Lenovo and Acer, dominate laptop sales worldwide . We'd avoid systems from any retail store brands, or companies that don't have a major presence in the US. Back to top Recent updates August 2025: Updated our top picks to include the Dell 14 Premium. May 2025: Updated to ensure top picks and details are still accurate. March 2025: Updated to include the M4-powered MacBook Air. November 2024: Updated to include the M4-powered MacBook Pros. August 2024 : Updated to include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. Back to top This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops-120008636.html?src=rss

Apple to invest another $100 billion into the US to avoid tariffs

Apple plans to invest an additional $100 billion in the US, the company announced on Wednesday. The investment follows President Donald's Trump's previously announced plans to raise tariffs on India by an additional 25 percent (bringing the total tariff to 50 percent) for purchasing oil from Russia. Apple relies heavily on manufacturers in India to create the iPhone, so adding to its already $500 billion investment in the US is likely a way to avoid being impacted by the tariffs. Today, we're proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared in a statement. This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and were grateful to the President for his support. Apple is expanding our US commitment to $600 billion over the next four years. And our new American Manufacturing Program will bring even more jobs and advanced manufacturing to the US. pic.twitter.com/6KWkTGJN3O Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 6, 2025 In February, Apple said its original $500 billion investment plan would go towards building Apple Intelligence servers in the US, and that the majority of the new jobs the funding would provide would be focused on R&D, silicon engineering, software development and AI and machine learning. As part of this additional investment, Apple says it's also deepening its relationship and investment in component makers working in the US, like Corning and Amkor. Corning produces the glass for iPhones and Apple Watches, and the company says that soon, every iPhone and Apple Watch sold around the world will be built with Kentucky-made cover glass. Apple is investing in Amkor to take advantage of the company's advanced chip packaging and test facility in Arizona. Apple says its leading the creation of an end-to-end silicon supply chain in the United States through its investments. In a statement to Bloomberg before the announcement, a White House spokesperson suggested the new investment would help reshore the production of critical components to protect Americas economic and national security. The Trump administration has previously called for Apple to make the iPhone in the US, something CNN reports is difficult to downright impossible. Apple's current strategy for dealing with Trump is similar to how it handled the President during his first term. In 2019, Apple CEO Time Cook and Trump opened a Mac Pro factory in Texas . The factory had been up-and-running since 2013, but the President was pleased by the optics of making a deal. Apple's partnership with Amkor was similarly announced years ago in 2023 , but is being trotted out now because it fits with Apple's American Manufacturing Program. Apple is a trillion-dollar company that can afford to spend a few billion to avoid paying tariffs, but it also likely planned to increase its investment in the US anyway to keep up with competitors. It's entirely possible the company is just packaging its spending in a way that flatters the President. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-to-invest-another-100-billion-into-the-us-to-avoid-tariffs-210250020.html?src=rss

RedOctane relaunches and will continue to make new rhythm games

RedOctane Games is back and ready to make more rhythm games. The studio announced its re-launch today and said it is already in production on its first title. Charles and Kai Huang, who co-founded the original RedOctane back in 1999 and launched the Guitar Hero franchise, will serve on a special advisory board for the new company. The first RedOctane was acquired by Activision in 2006 and shuttered in 2010. The team is small, but it has some heavy-hitters from the rhythm game world. Its head of studio is Simon Ebejer, who was the production director for multiple Guitar Hero games, and many of its employees worked on Guitar Hero and DJ Hero . RedOctane will operate within parent company Embracer Freemode, which also houses CRKD, a gaming accessory company that also has history in rhythm games . There are some interesting competitors to this revived RedOctane on the market, such as Clone Hero and Fortnight Festival , not to mention legions of arcade titles. It should be exciting to see what new ideas RedOctane will bring to the party. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/redoctane-relaunches-and-will-continue-to-make-new-rhythm-games-211816411.html?src=rss

Google: Actually, AI in Search is driving more queries and higher quality clicks

Last month, a Pew Research Center report shed light on Google's AI Overviews' effect on web publishing. In short, the analysis painted an abysmal outlook for anyone relying on web traffic. But on Wednesday, Google Search head Liz Reid penned a blog post that puts quite a different spin on things. The Google VP claims traffic from search to websites is relatively stable and that click quality has increased. Reid's framing boils down to everything is peachy, and AI is making things better even for websites! She wrote that Google Search's total organic click volume to websites has been relatively stable year-over-year. Reid also claimed Google sends more quality clicks (visitors who don't quickly bounce) to websites than a year ago. The company says people are also happier with the search experience. The company didn't share any numbers the post has no data whatsoever to support its claims. Google's explanation for the rosy outlook? With AI Overviews, people are searching more and asking new questions that are often longer and more complex, Reid wrote. In addition, with AI Overviews, people are seeing more links on the page than before. More queries and more links mean more opportunities for websites to surface and get clicked. Reid does highlight a shifting landscape. She says user trends are resulting in lower traffic for some sites and increased traffic for others. Of course, the Google Search head didn't call out any specific websites. But she claims forums, videos, podcasts and posts with authentic voices and first-hand perspectives are thriving. Reid added that content like an in-depth review, an original post, a unique perspective, or a thoughtful first-person analysis does well. Google / Engadget The Google VP said people seeking simple Q&A types of searches are leaning more on AI. For some questions where people are looking for a quick answer, like 'when is the next full moon,' people may be satisfied with the initial AI Overviews response and not click further, Reid wrote. This has also been true for other answer features we've added, like the Knowledge Graph or sports scores. But for many other types of questions, people continue to click through, as they want to dig deeper into a topic, explore further or make a purchase. This is why we see click quality increasing an AI response might provide the lay of the land, but people click to dive deeper and learn more, and when they do, these clicks are more valuable. It's quite the contrast from the Pew report. It found that visitors who saw an AI summary clicked a traditional search result in eight percent of all visits. Those without an AI summary? They clicked on a traditional result in 15 percent of their visits. As for those source links in AI summaries? Pew found that only one percent of people clicked on those. Users were also more likely to end their browsing after visiting a page with an AI summary. That aligned with comments Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince made in June . He said search traffic referrals keep plummeting. The future of the web is going to be more and more like AI, and that means that people are going to be reading the summaries of your content, not the original content, he said. Prince said that a decade ago, Google sent a publisher one visitor for every two pages it crawled. Early this year, it dropped to one visitor for every six pages. He said that, in June, it was down to one for every 18. I can't tell you who to believe. But here's what the ultimate source had to say: Google / Engadget This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-actually-ai-in-search-is-driving-more-queries-and-higher-quality-clicks-204946965.html?src=rss

Game Devs of Color Expo 2025 starts on September 16

The Game Devs of Color Expo is returning for its 10th year from September 16 to 19. The online conference both celebrates the games industry's developers of color, and acts as a showcase for new upcoming game through its companion GDoCExpo Direct showcase. This year's GDoCExpo Direct kicks off the conference on September 16 at 4PM ET / 1PM ET on the Game Devs of Color Expo YouTube channel . The direct is supposed to feature more than 30 games and it'll be paired with a Game Devs of Color Expo Steam Sale with discounts and demos to try for some of the games featured in the showcase. Watching the Direct is free, but to view the Expo's developer interviews and live panels, you'll have to pay for a ticket. A regular ticket costs $50, but the Game Devs of Color nonprofit organization also offers cheaper ways to attend for anyone who can't afford the ticket price. This year's conference includes talks on budgeting, design leadership and Decolonizing Cozy Games. Game Devs of Color has been running the Game Devs of Color Expo since 2016, with the explicit mission of amplifying the creative power held by people of color in games. The Expo and Direct attempt to make industry knowledge and marketing opportunities accessible to creators, but the organization also helps directly fund game projects through grants. Game Devs of Color says it'll award $15,000 in no-strings development grants to developers at the Expo this year, and that it's awarded a total of $405,000 since 2019. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/game-devs-of-color-expo-2025-starts-on-september-16-204559199.html?src=rss

Can you download the iOS 26 beta today? Here's a comprehensive list of all compatible iPhones

Your iPhone's operating system is getting a big upgrade this fall with the release of iOS 26. One of the better changes and also Apple's largest visual update in years is the new Liquid Glass design ( think Windows Vista , but arguably more thoughtful). We spent two weeks test-driving it you can check out our detailed hands-on iOS 26 preview , or you can try it out yourself by downloading and installing the public beta . That software is a more stable iteration of the separate developer version, which recently hit the beta 5 waypoint, and offers a few more flashy features not yet available in the public version. (While the public beta is open to everyone and quite stable, always remember there's a degree of risk involved with beta software.) Not ready to upgrade your smartphone this year? No worries, we'll help you find out if your phone 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 a few models are getting cut this time. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to get the boot in 2023, and this year the 2018 models are getting left behind. If you have an ineligible device, you won't be able to download iOS 26 when it becomes available this fall. We'll get to the bottom of which iPhones will support iOS 26 this year. To see what's coming with the latest OS and more, check out everything announced at Apple's WWDC June 9 event . One thing you shouldn't immediately expect is Apple's updated version of Siri , though the company is reportedly working on a 'stripped-down' AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT. These three iPhones won't be compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, several iPhone models won't be eligible to download the newest iOS when it makes its debut this fall. This trio of models 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 While we don't yet know the new iPhones Apple will be dropping this fall though there are iPhone 17 rumors we do know, per Apple's site , that the phones listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. Basically, 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 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max 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 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 usually rolls out its latest iOS in mid-September, just a few days before the new iPhones hit store shelves. Last year, it released iOS 18 on Monday, Sept. 16. Expect a confirmation of the release date at the iPhone 17 event, expected in early September. 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 was designed to make all of Apple's OSes more 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. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/can-you-download-the-ios-26-beta-today-heres-a-comprehensive-list-of-all-compatible-iphones-191854920.html?src=rss

Apple iOS 26 beta is available: Everything you need to know about the new iPhone update

Liquid Glass is a huge new change coming to iOS 26. (Apple) The wait for upgrading your iPhone to iOS 26 keeps getting shorter, but we're still over a month out from the release, which is expected this fall. But if you want to start testing out the new features today, you can download and install Apple's public beta , which CEO Tim Cook recently said is (along with the other current beta operating systems) y far the most popular developer betas weve had, 9to5Mac reports . You can also take a look at our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release , which shows off the fresh home and lock screen redesign. Called Liquid Glass , the new translucent look will extend across all of Apple's upcoming operating systems. The overhaul is one of several big changes coming to iOS, macOS , iPadOS and the rest of Apple's software suite, all of which were showcased during the company's WWDC keynote on June 9. After overpromising on AI plans last year, Apple kept its iOS roadmap focused more on basic quality of life improvements this year. There are multiple useful additions coming to the Phone and Messages apps on your iPhone, for instance: Apple execs outlined the ability to weed out spam texts or other unknown senders and an option to hold your spot on a phone call when you've been waiting for a representative to pick up. Plus, a treasured feature that we took for granted is coming back (hint: it's in the Photos app). Siri, meanwhile, 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 in the current betas. 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. With each beta, it seems like additional new improvements are popping up, like this FaceTime feature that'll freeze your video if it detects nudity . Now that iOS 26 developer beta 5 is available, we're seeing more added features, like a new bouncy animation on the passcode screen and in the Control Center, MacRumors reports . Some or all of those changes will likely soon migrate into the separate public beta (see below). Most newer iPhone models are eligible to download iOS 26 (both the betas and final version). Want to see the full list of new features coming this fall? Read on. What is iOS 26? The current iPhone operating system is iOS 18, and Apple is still actively updating it version 18.6 was just recently released. But don't expect to see iOS 19. Instead, Apple is skipping the numbering ahead to iOS 26 later this year. 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 will be released in late 2025, they're all designated 26 to reflect the year ahead. (Meanwhile, iOS 18 is still getting new versions this summer , too.) 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 own 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, as of the release of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already 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: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple's OSes more cohesive. Here's a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look 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'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 and continue on with other tasks. Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translation 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 will soon be able to create polls in group messages for deciding 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 still frustrated with the Photos changes made last year , you'll be happy to know that your tabs are coming back. Library and Collections will have their own separate spaces so you don't have to scroll to infinity to find what you're looking for. 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. Apple's Hold Assist will be nifty for those pesky services that put you on hold for 10 or more minutes. (Apple) 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 won't be compatible with the latest upgrade. But any iPhones released in 2019 or later will be eligible for the iOS 26 update . 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 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max Not listed here are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or maybe iPhone 26?) that are all but certain to be announced and released in September. How to install iOS 26 beta The iOS 26 public beta is now available to download via the Apple Beta Software Program . If you're not already a member, you'll need to sign up to try out all the latest features. Just visit beta.apple.com and sign up with your phone number or email address. It's free. Once you're in, you can install it by going to Settings > General > Software Update and selecting iOS 26 public beta . A word of caution: Don't sign up with your main iPhone unless you're OK with any risks that occur with using an OS that isn't finalized. When will the final version of iOS 26 be released? iOS 26 will be released to the public this fall. It usually comes in September, within a week of the Apple iPhone event. Last year, it rolled out to iPhone users on September 16 exactly one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was announced. If you're more interested in the Apple Intelligence features coming, 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, 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/apple-ios-26-beta-is-available-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-iphone-update-135749850.html?src=rss

Researchers hacked Google Gemini to take control of a smart home

Wired reported on new cybersecurity research that demonstrated a hack of the Google Gemini artificial intelligence assistant. The researchers were able to control connected smart home devices through the use of indirect prompt injections in Google Calendar invites. When a user requested a summary of their calendar and thanked Gemini for the results, the malicious prompt ordered Google's Home AI agent to take actions such as opening windows or turning lights off, as demonstrated in the video above. Before attacks were demonstrated this week at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference, the team shared their findings directly with Google in February. Andy Wen, a senior director of security product management with Google Workspace, spoke to Wired about their findings. Its going to be with us for a while, but were hopeful that we can get to a point where the everyday user doesnt really worry about it that much, he said of prompt injection attacks, adding that instances of those hacks in the real world are exceedingly rare. However, the growing complexity of large language models means bad actors could be looking for new ways to exploit them, making the approach difficult to defend against. Wen said Google took the vulnerabilities uncovered by the researchers extremely seriously and used the results to speed its work on building better tools to block this type of attack. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/researchers-hacked-google-gemini-to-take-control-of-a-smart-home-201926464.html?src=rss

Apple iPhone 17 event: Release date, launch date, colors and everything else you need to know

We already know the changes coming to our phones with iOS 26 , but we're super excited to see what Apple's newest iPhone 17 lineup will look like. That's still more than a month away assuming Apple sticks to its usual release schedule so for now we can speculate what the new phones will look like. As with most unreleased iPhone models, rumors and leaks have trickled in about the hardware side ahead of the official introduction. Here's what we're expecting and what we can reasonably assume we'll get from Cupertino in September. What are the latest iPhone 17 rumors and reports? Surprisingly, the latest rumor isn't about the actual iPhone 17 details themselves, but rather when they'll finally be showcased. MacRumors highlighted a story originally reported by iphone-ticker.de that the Apple iPhone 17 event could be Tuesday, September 9, according to information gleaned from German mobile phone providers. While the iPhone events typically take place around the second week of September, we won't know the actual date until Apple makes the official announcement. When will the iPhone 17 series be announced? Most years, the flagship smartphones are introduced in September. It's a little early to have the specific dates; some years, Apple only gives a week or two of lead time between sending invites and hosting the event. But years of past precedent show that sometime in September should be when the 17 models make their debut. This family of smartphones may be the last to follow that trend, however. There have been hints that the introduction of the iPhone 18 collection in 2026 will be split into a pro-tier announcement in the fall and a standard model announcement the following spring. What will the new iPhone 17 lineup include? Design leaks suggest that Apple is building an ultra-thin smartphone , likely to be named the iPhone 17 Air to match Apple's ultralight laptop designation. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman, often a solid source of advanced intel about Apple, reported in January that the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a basic A19 chip and will only have a single camera lens. It may also use Apple's new in-house modem, which was introduced in February on the iPhone 16e . More details about this development may leak ahead of September, but that's what we know for now. An investor note from Apple analyst Jeff Pu indicated that the Air will have a titanium frame. If his reports are accurate, the lightweight smartphone will be the only entry in the iPhone 17 lineup to use that metal; the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to be made of aluminum, which is oddly a lighter material than titanium. Other speculation had suggested that the Air would use a blend of aluminum and titanium, so the exact materials may not be known until the official announcement. Additionally, an August 4 MacRumors report says the internal battery pack of the iPhone Air is just 2.49mm thick half the thickness of the iPhone 17 Pro battery. The leak was posted on the Korean-langauge Naver blog , where they show the alleged batteries of the iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro side by side. The same account claimed the 17 Air's battery capacity was a mere 2,800 mAh, MacRumors notes. (That's below the battery capacity of current iPhone 16 models.) Each new roster includes a base model, but over the years, Apple has shaken up the variety of phones it offers. Most likely there will be an iPhone 17 and an iPhone 17 Pro. Apple has also committed to the size matters philosophy, and has been building an iPhone Pro Max option with an even bigger screen and better battery life; the 17 roster will almost certainly have one as well. The new Pro iPhones are said to have a full-width camera island on the rear, which would mark the first time an Apple model opted for that design. This feature can be seen in the purported iPhone 17 spotted in the wild. The pics, highlighted on MacRumors , show a black cased iPhone (17 Pro?) with the distinct back panel. Is it the real deal? The dual angles lend a degree of credibility in a social media landscape increasingly polluted with AI-enhanced fakes, but your guess is as good as ours. I just spotted a test development iPhone in the wild pic.twitter.com/iS3PtKWqxJ Fox Pupy (@Skyfops) July 28, 2025 The iPhone 17 Air seems primed to take the place of a potential iPhone 17 Plus. Since the iPhone 16e was only just introduced in February at a surprisingly high price point , it seems unlikely that there will be a new addition to that lower end of the spectrum, the models that were previously called SE. At the very least, it sounds like the iPhone 17 Air won't take away the charging port and rely only on wireless connectivity. Bloomberg said that while Apple had investigated making the iPhone 17 Air without a single port, the company (fortunately) changed plans. He also says that the rumored phone will have a 6.6-inch screen and include the Dynamic Island and Camera Control button. Finally, the price is rumored at $900 likely more than the standard iPhone 17 but less than the Pro. We've also gotten what seems to be a reliable look at what the color lineup will be for the new smartphones. Macworld reported that the iPhone 17 will be available in black, white, steel gray, green, purple and light blue. The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly have four color options: black, white, light blue and light gold. While the Air colors will be less saturated, the visuals for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will go bold. The options for the Pro models are expected to be black, white, gray, dark blue and orange. On July 30, Tom's Guide highlighted an X post from Sonny Dickson a longtime and generally reliable leaker of unreleased iPhone information showing dummy iPhone 17 models in the new colors that were the source of the aforementioned Macworld story. While these are literally just mock-ups not real, leaked iPhones it's interesting to see how the design and color rumors translate into a real-world look and feel. What will iOS 26 be like? Apple upended its numbering conventions with WWDC 2025, and will match the name of each new operating system to the year it's released. So when the next wave of iPhones hits, they'll be running on iOS 26 . On the design side, the smartphone OS introduced during the big developer showcase took a contentious approach dubbed Liquid Glass. Apple has been scaling down the amount of transparency effects in the subsequent beta tests of iOS 26, but it will still have a glass-like visual. The feature list includes big and small updates. On the more impactful side, the Phone and Photos apps have been redesigned. There will be several features leveraging artificial intelligence, such as live translation capabilities coming to Phone, FaceTime and Messages. Apple is also currently testing a sensitive content warning for child accounts that will freeze FaceTime video if nudity is detected by on-device machine learning tools. And the company is also launching Visual Intelligence, which will use AI to search for elements in an image. iOS 26 also has a litany of minor, quality of life improvements. Group texts are getting support for polls. And for the slow risers out there, iOS 26 will finally let you escape the tyranny of the nine minute snooze alarm . The next iOS is now available as a public beta . Here are our initial impressions of the Liquid Glass design and other new features. iOS 26 is compatible with all models back through iPhone 11. Update, August 6, 2025, 4:05PM ET: Added latest details about the potential iPhone 17 event date. Update, August 4, 2025, 5:23PM ET: Added latest battery leaks about the iPhone 17 models. Update, August 1, 2025, 8:15AM ET: Added new photos showing potential iPhone 17 colors. Update, July 30, 2025, 11:08AM ET: Added latest leaks and rumors about the iPhone 17, and updated information on the iOS 26 public beta. Update, July 17, 2025, 4:40PM ET: Added latest information about iOS 26, possible materials for the Air, and the color options for the different models. Update, March 17, 2025, 2PM ET: Added details about the rumored price and features of the iPhone 17 Air. Update, April 11, 2025, 3:45PM ET: Added details from Front Page Tech's new video that claims to reveal details from a leaked iOS 19 build. Katie Teague contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-17-event-release-date-launch-date-colors-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-153024258.html?src=rss

Gemini's new Guided Learning mode can quiz students and create interactive study aids

Google is updating Gemini to make it a better education tool with a new feature called Guided Learning. Like similar learning-focused updates to ChatGPT and Claude , Guided Learning tries to promote understanding by breaking down problems into step-by-step instructions, follow-up questions and interactive examples, rather than simply providing an answer. Guided Learning will be available as toggle in the prompt box of Gemini as the feature rolls out. When it's toggled on, Gemini will treat questions as more of a conversation, testing your knowledge, explaining concepts and even generating visual aids, Google says. The feature is powered by Google's LearnLM, a collection of models fine-tuned for learning and grounded in educational research. Google On top of Guided Learning, Google is also offering a free year of its AI Pro plan for college students in the US, Japan, Indonesia, Korea and Brazil. Google technically announced this promotion back in April for its Google One AI Premium plan, but given the pace of AI and the never-ending complexity of Google's branding, Google One AI Premium is now called Google AI Pro. The subscription unlocks access to Gemini across Google Workspace apps, increases the amount of files you can upload to NotebookLM and Gemini 2.5 Pro and includes 2TB of storage. The subscription normally costs $200 per year, so the savings are meaningful, even for just the storage. Google has made deep inroads into education with Chromebooks and Google Workspace, so it makes sense that it would try and leverage that good will to create multiple generations of AI-dependent users. Besides the new feature and promotion, the company says it's also investing $1 billion in funding over three years for American education to cover things like research, cloud computing resources and AI literacy courses. The goal here is clear: Google's funding will help non-profit universities trying to adapt to student bodies already deeply invested in AI, and it could also act as marketing for anyone who isn't already bought in. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/geminis-new-guided-learning-mode-can-quiz-students-and-create-interactive-study-aids-181743349.html?src=rss

Instagram's new location sharing feature sure looks a lot like the Snap Map

Instagram just announced an update with some long-requested features. The most notable is the introduction of a location-sharing tool for friends. Once opted into, the map shares a user's last active location with chosen contacts. The location sharing feature is turned off until selected and there are numerous customization controls. For instance, Instagram users can choose to share location data with all friends, Close Friends, selected accounts or nobody at all. This data can be restricted when at certain locations or when with specific people. Meta It sounds and looks a whole lot like Snapchat's Snap Map , just without the cute emoji animations. This isn't the first time Meta's Instagram has looked toward Snapchat for inspiration. The platform introduced Snapchat-like tags for adding friends and a Stories slideshow carousel that was nearly identical to the one found on Snapchat . Instagram's update, however, brings more than just location sharing. The platform has finally introduced reposts, which it first teased all the way back in 2022 and then again earlier this year . This lets people repost public Reels and feed posts. These reposts will be recommended to friends and followers and they're housed in a separate profile tab. Reposts are also automatically credited to the original poster, though users can add personalized notes. Finally, Instagram is rolling out a new Friends tab in Reels. This lets people see public content that friends have interacted with. Meta began experimenting with this feature earlier this year, but now it's launching globally. I have no interest in knowing what my friends are looking at unless they specifically share something, but maybe that's just me. These tools are rolling out today and should be available to most users right now. Just check the app for an update. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/instagrams-new-location-sharing-feature-sure-looks-a-lot-like-the-snap-map-170811451.html?src=rss

OpenAI is giving ChatGPT Enterprise to the executive branch workforce for $1

OpenAI has announced that it will be partnering with the US General Services Administration (GSA) to offer ChatGPT Enterprise practically free of charge to the entire executive-branch federal workforce for one year. The dozens of agencies under this umbrella encompass over two million civilian workers. Each agency will be able to access ChatGPT Enterprise for $1 for the year-long period. The year-long trial will also include an additional 60 days of ChatGPT's most advanced models like Deep Research and Advanced Voice Mode with no use limits. This comes one day after the GSA approved OpenAI, Google and Anthropic for the federal AI vendor list. In the blog post announcing the partnership, OpenAI said: This effort delivers on a core pillar of the Trump Administrations AI Action Plan by making powerful AI tools available across the federal government so that workers can spend less time on red tape and paperwork, and more time doing what they came to public service to do: serve the American people. Part of the administration's plan calls for any AI used in the federal government to be free of ideological bias, yet simultaneously President Trumps Preventing Woke AI executive order directs that AI must not favor ideological dogmas such as DEI. How OpenAI will deal with the administration's own ideological slant remains to be seen. Current attempts at creating a maximally truth-seeking AI have not gone as planned . According to Bloomberg , OpenAI will not use data from federal workers to train or improve ChatGPT. Addressing whether the $1 price point will buy future loyalty from the current administration, commissioner of the GSA's Federal Acquisition Service Josh Gruenbaum told Bloomberg that no agency would be required to renew after the first year. These technologies are changing and evolving at breakneck speed. We dont want to commit ourselves. This is almost like its a trial run in some ways. CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman had previously donated $1 million to President Trumps inauguration fund. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-is-giving-chatgpt-enterprise-to-the-executive-branch-workforce-for-1-165812036.html?src=rss

Google Pixel 10 launch: new phones, foldables and watches at the Made by Google event

After largely focusing Google I/O 2025 on the ways the company wants Gemini to change everything from searching the web to filmmaking , Google is finally ready to launch new hardware. The next Made by Google event is on the books for August 20 , and Google has already confirmed what at least one of its new Pixel 10 phones will look like. Google remains as leak-prone as ever, so nearly all the new hardware the company is expected to announce has all ready been reported on in one form or another. With that in mind and after sifting through what has leaked, here's what Google will show off at the Pixel 10 launch even in New York City on August 20. Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold Android Headlines / Onleaks Google's invitation for the event says that the company is sharing the latest on our Pixel phones, watches, buds and more, which more or less confirms the company will introduce a slate of products that's similar to what it launched in 2024. That means a Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold are absolutely on the menu. Google's tease of the Pixel 10 confirmed what leaked renders have already signaled: the company isn't abandoning the new design language the Pixel 9 established. The pill-shaped camera bump and flat front display will still be present on the Pixel 10, and the real changes will be in the details, like for example, how the flat sides of the Pixel 10 join with the phone's back. Those subtle changes will apparently also include the thickness of the Pixel 10s. While both the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold will use the same sized OLED screens as their Pixel 9 counterparts, they'll be housed in thicker and heavier bodies, according to Android Headlines . Google's new Pixels are also supposed to come in new colors . The Pixel 10 will come in Frost (a royal blue), Lemongrass (a yellow), Indigo (a light purple) and Obsidian (a dark gray), while the Pixel 10 Pro / Pro XL will come in Obsidian, Porcelain (off-white), Moonstone (a bluish gray) and Jade (a light green). Less information is known about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, though recent leaks suggest it'll come in Moonstone and Jade, as well. Android Headlines The most visible external change that'll be introduced on the Pixel 10 is the addition of a new telephoto camera. The new telephoto camera is a 11-megapixel 5x telephoto, Android Authority reports , similar to the one on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are expected to feature a 50-megapixel wide, 48-megapixel ultrawide, 48-megapixel telephoto and 48-megapixel selfie cameras. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold could feature a different lineup, with a similar main camera, but 12-megapixel ultrawide and telephoto cameras, and 11-megapixel selfie cameras. Inside the new phones, Google is laying the groundwork for future performance gains with a new Tensor G5 chip. It's likely be much more power-efficient thanks to the company switching to a 3nm design produced by TSMC. Reports suggest the chip might not be all that different in terms of raw power, but the Tensor G5 is likely designed to be extra capable when it comes to using local AI features. As far as timing goes, it's worth noting that the latest rumors indicate that the Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL will be available about a week after the event, on August 28. But the Pixel 10 Pro Fold (as well as the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a aren't expected for more than a month after that. Those devices are rumored to be on sale as of October 9. While global tariff turmoil could justify a price increase, Google is reportedly keeping things consistent with the Pixel 10 family. They'll offer similar storage options, come in at the same prices and include the same freebies and incentives. The Pixel 10 will come with six months of Google AI Pro and Fitbit Premium, along with three months of YouTube Premium. Meanwhile the Pixel 10 Pro models will get a year of Google AI Pro, six months of Fitbit Premium and three months of YouTube Premium. The prices and storage options for the phones should breakout down as follows: Pixel 10: 128GB ($799), 256GB ($899) Pixel 10 Pro: 128GB ($999), 256GB ($1,099), 512GB ($1,219), 1TB ($1,449) Pixel 10 Pro XL: 256GB ($1,199), 512GB ($1,319), 1TB ($1,549) Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 256GB ($1,799), 512GB ($1,919), 1TB ($2,149) Pixel Watch 4 91mobiles / Onleaks The third time was the charm for the Pixel Watch 3 , so the main task Google has with the Pixel Watch 4 is to not squander the solid base it already has. Leaks for the company's new smartwatches have been limited so far, but renders of the Pixel Watch 4 shared by 91mobiles do suggest Google has a few changes planned. Namely, much like the company's phones, the new Pixel Watch seems like it'll be a little bit thicker and come with smaller bezels. The Pixel Watch 4 should be available to purchase in the same 41mm and 45mm sizes as before, but in new colors including a Moonstone option to match the Pixel 10 and with a brighter display . The thicker frame will also help the smartwatch fit a larger battery and a new wireless charging system, according to Android Headlines . Rather than charge through a puck with pogo pins like the Pixel Watch 3, the Pixel Watch 4 will use a wireless charging stand that could fill it up even faster. Beyond that, Google has already indicated how Wear OS is evolving. The new Wear OS 6 update is debuting on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 , and will presumably be available on the Pixel Watch 4 at launch. It includes built-in access to Gemini, among other tweaks. Given Google also manages the Fitbit Premium subscription, it wouldn't be all that surprising if the Pixel Watch 4 gets some exclusive fitness tracking features, too. Pixel Buds 2a Billy Steele for Engadget Google launched the Pixel Buds Pro 2 last year, and it typically doesn't update its premium earbuds on a yearly cadence. So instead, Tom's Guide reports Google might pair the Pixel 10 with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in a new color, and save its new hardware announcements for a sequel to the Pixel Buds A-series called the Pixel Buds 2a. Unlike the company's premium wireless earbuds, the A-series Pixel Buds have historically skimped on things like active noise cancellation to hit a lower price. There's little reporting on where Google will take the Pixel Buds 2a, but you can expect the new earbuds to come in some of the new colors being introduced on the Pixel 10. Pixelsnap The Qi2 wireless charging standard is available for all phone makers to use, but it hasn't been widely adopted among Android phone makers. Qi2 uses magnets to offer improved charging speeds, just like Apple's MagSafe, and the Pixel 10 could mark Google's adoption of Qi2 through a new feature called Pixelsnap. A report from Android Authority suggests the Pixel 10 will include the necessary magnets to make Qi2 happen, and will be introduced alongside a lineup of Pixelsnap accessories. New leaked images showing a Pixel 10 charging with a magnetic charging puck that looks a lot like Apple's MagSafe charger adds even more credence to the rumor. If you need even more convincing, the Wireless Power Consortium has announced that its faster Qi2 25W charging is coming to major Android phones. It would make sense if Google's Pixel 10s were included considering runs Android itself. Gemini and other exclusive software features Gemini is Google's current favorite, and the company is pushing the AI assistant everywhere it makes sense. The last few Pixel Drops Google's regular Pixel-focused software updates have primarily included Gemini features. It would make sense for Google to include a few more software exclusives on the Pixel 10. Google is hosting the Pixel 10 launch event on August 20 at 1PM ET / 10AM ET. The company has invited press to attend in person, and you can read coverage of everything Google announces right here on Engadget. Update, August 6, 12:15PM ET: Added information about the timeline for when Google's new hardware is expected to arrive. Update, July 30, 2:30PM ET: Added information on pricing for the Pixel 10 lineup and new details on Qi2 support. Update, July 24, 3:44PM ET: Added details on the Pixel Watch 4's display, new colors and charging stand. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-10-launch-new-phones-foldables-and-watches-at-the-made-by-google-event-214510624.html?src=rss

Israel is reportedly storing millions of Palestinian phone calls on Microsoft servers

Israel has allegedly been recording and storing millions of phone calls made by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as part of a large surveillance effort dating back to 2022, according to reporting by The Guardian , +972 Magazine and Local Call . The report suggests that the country has been shuttling these recordings to Microsoft Azure cloud servers. Company CEO Satya Nadella allegedly okayed the effort personally after meeting with a commander from Israels military surveillance agency, Unit 8200. He reportedly gave the country a customized and segregated area within the Azure platform to store millions of phone calls made each day without knowledge or consent from Palestinians. According to sources within Unit 8200, these recordings have assisted in the preparation of deadly airstrikes and helped shape military operations throughout the region. Israel has long been intercepting calls in the occupied territories, as it basically controls the entire Palestinian telecommunications infrastructure . This new method, however, reportedly captures the conversations of a large pool of regular civilians. The mantra when building out the project was to record a million calls an hour. Leaked Microsoft files suggest that the lion's share of this data is being stored in Azure facilities in the Netherlands and Ireland. Microsoft has been facing increased scrutiny regarding its role in Israel's 22-month offensive in Gaza. CEO Nadella was interrupted by an employee at a keynote speech in May, with the worker pleading for the executive to show how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure. Microsoft workers are refusing to work on Israeli military tech. According to No Azure for Apartheid, dozens of employees across various roles have signed a pledge to stop working on Azure contracts tied to Israels military, and want Microsoft ends those deals. Internal pic.twitter.com/sduAAN0mXF Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) July 23, 2025 Earlier this year, the company commissioned an external review that found no evidence to date that Azure or its AI products were used to target or harm people in the territory. Today's reporting suggests otherwise. Unit 8200 sources indicate that intelligence drawn from this data was used to identify bombing targets. Microsoft says it has no information about the kind of data stored by Israel on its servers. At no time during this engagement, a company representative added, has Microsoft been aware of the surveillance of civilians or collection of their cellphone conversations using Microsofts services, including through the external review it commissioned. Sources say that usage of the surveillance system increased during the campaign in Gaza. So far, 60,000 people in the territory have been killed , including over 18,000 children. Microsoft isn't the only company that has been accused of assisting Israel in what many are calling a genocide in Gaza . A report recently found that Google employees have repeatedly worked with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israels Defense Ministry (IDM) to expand the government's access to AI tools. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/israel-is-reportedly-storing-millions-of-palestinian-phone-calls-on-microsoft-servers-161127912.html?src=rss

ESPNs new streaming service arrives August 21

ESPNs long-awaited new standalone streaming service will launch on August 21, alongside an overhauled ESPN app that gives users a more personalized, dynamic viewing experience. Simply (and potentially confusingly) called ESPN, the new platform arrives just ahead of the new NFL season and the US Open tennis competition, as well as a number of other returning sports that ESPN broadcasts. ESPNs streaming service will be offered with a choice of two plans. The $30 per month ($300 annually) unlimited offering includes access to all of ESPNs linear networks, as well as ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. With this plan, youll have access to all of ESPNs live events, on-demand content and original documentaries, and if you bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu youll pay nothing extra for the first 12 months. This is a launch offer, so no guarantees itll apply for long. The alternative is ESPNs select plan, which costs $12 per month ($120 per year) and includes access to all content on ESPN+, the companys other streaming subscription service that will continue to operate beyond the arrival of the new platform. ESPN says existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically be put onto an ESPN select plan. ESPN also announced today that it has agreed a deal to exclusively broadcast all WWE Premium Live Events in the US, from 2026. All WWE PLEs will stream on ESPNs new platform, with major events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam and the Royal Rumble available to watch in their entirety. Youll be able to stream 2026s NFL Draft, as well as a new daily show dedicated to the draft. Alongside the new streaming service, ESPN has also redesigned its app to offer a more personalized experience. New features include an updated multiview screen, integrated game stats, betting information and built-in fantasy sports management. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/espns-new-streaming-service-arrives-august-21-150026297.html?src=rss

Disney+ will unhinge its jaw and swallow Hulu in 2026

Its almost the end of the road for Hulu as a standalone app. Now that it fully owns Hulu , Disney will entirely integrate the streaming service into Disney+. It will roll out a new, unified app next year. This doesnt necessarily mean that the price of a Disney+ subscription is going to skyrocket in 2026. A Disney spokesperson told Variety the company will still offer standalone plans for Disney+ and Hulu. Disney CEO Bob Igor said on an earnings call that having Disney+ and Hulu on the same tech platform should help the company reduce costs and provide it with more ways to package ad sales. For users, Iger said the unified app will offer an improved consumer experience. Iger and Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said merging the services will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news and industry-leading live sports content in a single app. Disney+ is also slated to get a more personalized homepage and other new features in the coming months. There will be a notable change for Disney+ users outside of the US as well. Disney will rebrand the Star tile in the app to Hulu starting this fall. Disney has been nudging its streaming services more closely together for a while. Last year, it integrated Hulu content into Disney+ in the hopes of getting more people to pay for a bundle that includes the two services. On top of all that, Disney says it will soon (for the most part) stop disclosing subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, following the likes of Netflix in taking such a step . Between them, Disney+ and Hulu had 183 million subscribers at the end of June, up 2.6 million from the end of March. Meanwhile, the new ESPN streaming service is set to debut on August 21. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/disney-will-unhinge-its-jaw-and-swallow-hulu-in-2026-144458503.html?src=rss

NASA explains how it keeps the Curiosity rover running, 13 years later

Thirteen years ago, the Curiosity rover landed on Mars, inside Gale crater in particular. It was originally sent to the red planet for a two-year mission, but it was extended indefinitely just a few months into its operations. The rover has several goals, most of which are meant to help scientists determine whether Mars could ever have supported life in the past. And while it's still very much operational and doing science, NASA has had to make adjustments and give it new capabilities to ensure that it can keep running. In a new post celebrating the 13th anniversary of the rover's landing, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has detailed the updates the Curiosity team has had to implement. To start with, the team manages the rover's daily power budget with great care to make sure it can do its job and last longer. See, Curiosity uses a power system called Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), which relies on decaying plutonium pellets to generate energy. As the plutonium decays over time, it takes longer and longer for the system to recharge the rover's battery. That's why the team now meticulously factors in every device that draws on the batteries. They consolidate Curiosity's tasks to shorten the time the rover is active to also reduce the energy used. The ground team, for instance, tells Curiosity to talk to an orbiter while driving or moving its robotic arm instead of doing one task at a time. If the rover finishes its tasks early, it can go to sleep early and recharge for the next day, which JPL says maximizes the life of the MMRTG. Over the past years, NASA has also rolled out updates to change how the rover's robotic arm drill collects samples and to improve its driving capabilities. JPL developed an algorithm to reduce wear on the rover's wheels, as well, so they can last longer. From the time Curiosity had landed on Mars, it has provided us with multiple discoveries and new information. It discovered organic molecules in Martian atmosphere and soil, detected startlingly high levels of methane that's a gas typically produced by life as we know it, and it found evidence of ancient megafloods on the red planet. And water, as you know, could indicate the presence of life. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasa-explains-how-it-keeps-the-curiosity-rover-running-13-years-later-124530184.html?src=rss

Trump tells states they'll lose out on broadband fund if they try to dictate rates

States will lose out on their share of a $42 billion broadband fund if they attempt to dictate rates that internet services providers (ISPs) charge low-income customers, according to a new FAQ from the Trump administration seen by Ars Technica . That means ISPs which are subsidized by the government in order to provide low-cost plans will be able to set such rates under the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) program. The new language appeared in a BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice (RPN) from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in June. Per the RPN, states may not apply state laws to reimpose LSCO (low-cost service option) requirements removed by the RPN... violation would result in rejection of the final proposal [for states to receive funds]. It added that the the NTIA would only approve plans with low-cost rates set by ISPs. The new language would hand ISPs a major win if it holds up. New York state, for one, requires ISPs with more than 20,000 customers to offer $15 broadband plans with minimum 25Mbps download speeds, or $20 plans with 200Mbps speeds, to low-income customers. That law, the Affordable Broadband Act, has held up despite attempts by providers to strike it down in court . Other states are reconsidering similar laws now. California recently withdrew a bill requiring $15 broadband plans after the NTIA said it could lose out on BEAD funds worth up to $1.86 billion. That decision was excoriated by consumer groups who pointed out that the Supreme Court itself declined to overturn New York's law. As he's done many times now, Trump is using federal funds as a cudgel to keep states in line despite the fact that states' rights are usually supported by US courts. New York assemblymember Amy Paulin, who spearheaded the state's $15 broadband law, said that she believes the NTIA rule only applies to the other 49 states that don't have price mandates. It's our understanding that any [ISP] BEAD awardee would have to comply with the Affordable Broadband Act regardless of federal subsidy, she told Ars Technica . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/trump-tells-states-theyll-lose-out-on-broadband-fund-if-they-try-to-dictate-rates-123020395.html?src=rss

Dell Premium 14 review: New name, same great laptop

Every now and then companies make truly boneheaded decisions, which is exactly what happened when Dell killed off the name of its most iconic PC line and replaced it with something generic. It's like if Ford decided to rebrand Mustang and call it The Prime Sportscar instead. It doesn't make sense. But now that XPS has become Premium, it's time to see if Dell's latest flagship 14-inch ultraportable the Dell 14 Premium (you see how dumb that sounds?) still has the DNA that made its predecessors one of the best notebook families for more than a decade. Design and display: How Dell puts the P in Premium Instead of doing a full redesign to match its updated name, for 2025 Dell kept the same chassis it used on last year's XPS 14. And I'm not mad at all because it's still one of the most beautiful and elegant notebooks on the market today. Its aluminum chassis has clean lines, a Gorilla Glass 3 surface and just the right amount of ports for a laptop this size: three USB-C slots with Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD slot. That's important, because the 14 Premium's smaller sibling the XPS 13 (which isnt being renamed yet because it isn't getting updated this year) doesn't have a headphone jack or a built-in card reader. That said, at between 3.66 and 3.79 pounds depending on which display you pick, the 14 Premium is a touch heavier than some of its similarly-sized rivals like a 14-inch MacBook Pro (3.4 pounds). The difference is small enough that I'm not bothered, though. There's also a glass wrist rest with a touchpad that blends invisibly into the deck, which might make it seem potentially hard to use. However, because the tracking area is absolutely massive (it spans the entire area below the spacebar plus the right ALT and Copilot keys), I never felt cramped or like I needed to actively search for my cursor. I also appreciate how Dell found room for speakers on either side of the keyboard. On the other hand, Dell's touch buttons above the number row may be a bit more contentious. I don't mind the ones for adjusting volume and display brightness, but replacing the physical keys for Escape and Delete with the touchscreen options just feels a bit weird. Especially if you ever need to use the classic Windows CTRL + ALT + DEL shortcut and have to press regular keys and touch controls in a single motion. The touch keys also don't turn off when you disable the keyboard's backlight, but at least they're dim enough that they're not distracting. Sam Rutherford for Engadget As for its display, by default the 14 Premium comes with a 14.5-inch 2K 120Hz non-touch IPS display. However, on our review unit, I've been using Dell's optional 3.2K 120Hz touch OLED panel and I must say, it's definitely worth the $200 upcharge. That's because while the OLED screen has slightly lower max brightness (400 nits versus 500 nits for the IPS), its wider color gamut and improved contrast ratio more than make up for that shortcoming. Performance: Not the most up-to-date, but still very versatile A base Dell 14 Premium comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of M.2 storage. However, our review unit includes extra memory (32GB), a bigger SSD (1TB) and perhaps most importantly, an optional NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU. Sam Rutherford for Engadget All told, that's a pretty well-rounded package, as Dell's default config has more than enough performance to handle pretty much any level of regular productivity. And by adding in support for discrete graphics, suddenly you have a machine that's significantly better equipped to take care of more demanding tasks like video editing or even gaming in your off hours. Granted, the 14 Premium's RTX 4050 card is an entry-level component that recently became a generation old, but it was strong enough to hit 60 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on high settings (with DLSS set to balanced), which ain't too shabby considering its portability. Battery life: Good enough Sam Rutherford for Engadget The Dell 14 Premium packs good but not outstanding battery life thanks to its 69.5WHr power pack. On PCMark10's Modern Office rundown test, it lasted 8 hours and 30 minutes on the dot Thats significantly longer than ASUS' ROG Z Flow 13 (6:54) and last year's Razer Blade 14 (6:46) , but still a far cry from true power-sipping systems like the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (12:43) or even Dell's own XPS 13 (13:15) . Wrap-up Even with a new and rather uninspired name, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that the Dell 14 Premium remains one of the best Windows laptops on the market. It has the same sleek design from back when it was still called the XPS 14 but with some refreshed specs and components for 2025. Its chassis strikes a brilliant balance between modern minimalism and usability, while upgrades like its OLED display and discrete graphics give you the ability to build out a versatile but still very portable device. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Now I admit that our fully loaded review unit is a bit pricey with a retail price of $2,450, though I'd be remiss to mention that Dell is currently running a sale that knocks $200 off that cost. Regardless, with the base model starting at $1,650 (before discounts) or $1,850 when paired with Dell's optional OLED panel (which everyone should at least consider), the 14 Premium still feels like a great deal. And when you consider that the XPS 13 isn't getting any updates this year on top of having fewer ports, the choice becomes even clearer. If I were going to spend my own money on a traditional Windows ultraportable laptop, this is the laptop I'd get. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/dell-premium-14-review-new-name-same-great-laptop-120047563.html?src=rss

The best Apple Watch accessories for 2025

Your Apple Watch is already a powerful tool on your wrist, but the right accessories can make it even better whether youre looking to boost its battery life, upgrade its style or make it more convenient to use. From a stylish sport loop that keeps things comfortable during workouts to a sturdy charging stand for your bedside, there are plenty of ways to enhance your experience. If you're rocking a Watch Ultra 2 and need a rugged silicone band for outdoor adventures or have a Watch SE and just want a sleek way to charge it, theres an accessory for every situation. If youre always on the go, a power bank with wireless charging can help keep your watch topped up without needing to hunt for an outlet. No matter which Apple Watch you own, the best accessories can make daily use more seamless and add a little extra style and functionality along the way. Best Apple Watch accessories for 2025 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-apple-watch-accessories-133025270.html?src=rss

The best power banks and portable chargers for every device in 2025

To find the best power bank out there, I tested around 50 portable chargers and batteries from big brands Anker, Belkin, UGreen, Mophie as well as some smaller players like Lion Energy, Nimble and Satechi. I used them to recharge a number of devices including iPhones, Galaxy phones, an iPad, a MacBook and even my ereaders and PlayStation controller. If you just want a brick that can charge anything, go for Ankers 25kmAh Laptop Power bank . It has two built-in USB-C cables, a massive capacity and super fast charging speeds. But if thats not quite what youre looking for, you can check out ten more of the best power banks below. Editors note : Anker recently issued two recalls, one for its PowerCore 10000 power bank (model A1263) and another for multiple power banks (model numbers A1647, A1652, A1257, A1681 and A1689). All recalls are due to a potential fire risk in the lithium-ion cells. If you have one of these batteries, visit Ankers recall page for the next steps . None of the batteries we currently recommend are part of the recall, and we havent recommended these specific models in previous iterations of this guide. Table of contents Best power banks for 2025 How we test best power banks What to look for in a portable battery pack Other power banks we tested Power bank FAQs Best power banks for 2025 What to look for in a portable battery pack Battery type Nearly every rechargeable power bank you can buy (and most portable devices) contain a lithium-ion battery. These beat other current battery types in terms of size-to-charge capacity, and have even increased in energy density by eight fold in the past 14 years. They also dont suffer from a memory effect (where a battery's lifespan deteriorates due to partial charges). Flying with portable batteries You may have heard about lithium ion batteries overheating and catching fire a recent Hong Kong flight was grounded after just such a thing happened in an overhead bin. Current restrictions implemented by the TSA still allow external batteries rated at 100Wh or less (which all of our recommendations are) to fly with you, but only in your carry-on luggage they cant be checked. Recently, Southwest Airlines was the first in the industry to take that rule one step further. Now, flyers on that airline must keep power banks in clear view when using them to recharge a device. If the portable charger isnt actively in use, however, it can stay in your carry-on bag in the overhead bin. Capacity Power bank manufacturers almost always list a batterys capacity in milliamp hours, or mAh. Smaller batteries with a 5,000mAh capacity make good phone chargers and can fill a smartphone to between 50 and 75 percent. Larger batteries that can recharge laptops and tablets, or give phones multiple charges, can exceed 25,000mAh and we have a separate guide that covers that entire category. Unsurprisingly, the prices on most batteries goes up as mAh capacity increases, and since batteries are physical storage units, size and weight go up with capacity as well. If you want more power, be prepared to spend more and carry around a heavier brick. You might think that a 10,000mAh power bank could charge a 5,000mAh phone to 100 percent twice, but thats not the case. In addition to simple energy loss through heat dissipation, factors like voltage conversion also bring down the amount of juice that makes it into your phone. Most manufacturers list how many charges a battery can give a certain smartphone. In our tests, 10,000mAh of battery pack capacity translated to roughly 5,800mAh of device charge. 20,000mAh chargers delivered around 11,250mAh to a device, and 25,000mAh banks translated to about 16,200mAh of charge. Thats an average efficiency rate of around 60 percent. Wireless More manufacturers are making power banks with wireless charging. Not hassling with cables is nice, but its important to note that wireless charging is less efficient than plugging in your phone. Outside of MagSafe options, wireless portable chargers historically didnt make the cut for our top picks for this guide for that reason. The Qi2 wireless charging standard arrived in 2023 and improves performance for wireless charging, including for portable banks. Currently, iPhones are the only handsets that support the new tech, but as its an open standard, expect Google, Samsung and others to adopt it for future phones. In my testing, Ive noticed an uptick in the performance of non-Qi2-enabled batteries as well, so you'll now see wireless options on this list. Ports Since Apple ditched the Lightning cable and adopted USB-C, were getting closer to a standard for charging connections and all of our picks have at least one such port. But plenty of other devices use older interfaces, like USB-A and microUSB ports, plus Lightning for older iPhones. You can find cables with just about any combination of those connections, so when youre picking out a battery, just check that one end of your preferred cord will fit. Most battery packs have more than one charging port, which gives you different charging options. Youll typically see at least one port labeled in/out, which means you can use it to both charge the bank and charge your gadget. While USB-A output ports can power up cell phones and other small devices, they cant charge larger devices. Plus, they arent as fast as USB-C ports overall. Thats something to keep in mind when youre deciding which ports and charging cables to use to connect your phone to the pack. Theres even more variation among USB-C ports themselves, with different ports on the same device supporting different power transfer rates. What that means in practical terms is an iPhone will charge just fine plugged into a power banks 18W port. But to properly charge, say, a MacBook or similar laptop, itll need the extra juice supplied by a 100W port (which larger power banks can offer). Power banks with more than one port can also charge multiple devices at the same time, but speeds and the overall charge delivered will be lower. Youll also want to consider your charging cable. For anything larger than a smartphone (and to access fast-charging capabilities) youll want to use USB-C ports and cables. But not all cables are created equal, even when they have the same USB-C plugs on the end. If you want power delivery from a 100W USB-C power bank port, youll need a 100W-rated USB-C cable. Luckily, power banks capable of delivering 100W tend to include a compatible cable. For any devices that dont, weve tried and liked Ankers 100W USB-C cable . For smaller devices, we used this 60W cable from Nimble and we dont recommend bothering with cables under 60W. For around $20, higher-capacity charging cables will make sure youre not wasting time with connections that limit your potential power transfer. Design For the most part, these rechargeable batteries have a squared-off, brick-like design, though many nod towards aesthetics with attractive finishes and detailing. While that doesnt affect how they perform, its a consideration for something youll interact with regularly. Some portable power stations include extra features like MagSafe compatibility, a built-in wall plug or even a kickstand. Nearly all have some sort of indicator to let you know how much available charge your power bank has left, usually expressed with lighted pips near the power button. Some of the newer banks take that a step further with an LED display indicating remaining battery percentage. How we test best power banks Before I even put my hands on a battery pack, I did extensive research. I considered brands Engadget reviewers and staff have tried over the years and checked out customer ratings on retail sites like Amazon and Best Buy. Then, I acquire the most promising candidates and test them in my home office. Amy Skorheim for Engadget Heres the full list of power banks we've tested, which range from small wireless banks to large, multi-device batteries: MagSafe-compatible Apple MagSafe Battery Pack (5,000 mAh) Spigen ArcHybrid Mag (5,000mAh) Anker 521 Magnetic Battery (5,000 mAh) Mophie snap+ PowerstationMmini (5,000mAh) Baseus Magnetic (10,000mAh) Anker MagGo Power Bank (6.6K) (6,600 mAh) Anker 633 Magnetic Battery (10,000mAh) Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) (10,000 mAh) UGREEN 10,000mAh Magnetic (10,000mAh) EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic (5,000mAh) Low capacity (10,000mAh) Mophie Juice Pack (2,400mAh) Anker 511 Power Bank (5,000 mAh) Anker 313 Power Bank (10,000mAh) Nimble Champ (10,000mAh) Biolite Charge 40 PD (10,000mAh) Anker Nano (5,000mAh) Nimble Champ (10,000mAh) Satechi Quatro Wireless bank (10,000mAh) Anker 10K Fusion power bank (10,000mAh) Mid capacity (10,001 - 20,000mAh) Baseus Blade 2 (12,000 mAh) Otterbox Fast Charge (15,000mAh) Mophie Powerstation Pro (20,000mAh) Anker Prime (20,000mAh) Nestout Portable Charger (15,000mAh) Nimble Champ Pro (20,000mAh) InfinaCore P3 Pro (10,500mAh) High capacity (20,001mAh+) Mophie Powerstation Pro XL (25,000mAh) UGREEN Power Bank 25,000mAh 145W (25,000mAh) Anker 737 Power Bank (25,600 mAh) Zendure Supertank Pro (26,800mAh) Mophie Powerstation Pro AC (27,000mAh) Lion Energy Eclipse Mag (27,000mAh) Lion Energy Trek (27,000mAh) HyperJuice 245W (27,000mAh) Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (27,650mAh) Anker laptop power bank with built-in cable (25,000mAh) Belkin Boost Charge 20K with built-in cable (20,000mAh) We're continuously updating this guide as companies release new products and we test them. We remove some products as we find picks that are more worthy of the best portable charger designation. We also add updated specs and prices where necessary. For testing, I used each battery with some combination of an iPhone 15, an iPhone 14 Plus, an iPhone 11, a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, a Galaxy S23 Ultra, a 5th-gen iPad Air and an M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro. I charged one phone battery at a time, even though some packs are capable of multiple-device charging. I charged the phones and tablets from between zero and five percent until they were 100 percent full (or until the power bank was dead), and didnt use the phones or tablets while they charged other than to power them on and enter the unlock code. In the case of the MacBook, I used it while it was charging (its my work computer). I used the charging cable included with each power bank to charge the Galaxy S22 Ultra, MacBook Pro and the iPad Air. For the iPhones, I used the USB-C to Lighting cable that Apple provides. In the case of the lower-capacity power banks that didnt include a cord or included one with USB-C to USB-A connectors, I used this 60W-rated USB-C to USB-C cable . For reference, here are the battery capacities of each device we used for testing: iPhone 11: 3,110 mAh iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh iPhone 15 : 3,349 mAh Galaxy S22 Ultra : 4,855mAh iPad Air : 7,729mAh 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro: 27,027mAh I noted the times for each charge and the number of charges each bank provided. I also paid attention to things like ease of use and overall design. Other power banks we tested HyperJuice 245W Hypers massive-but-sleek brick is one nice looking power bank. The HyperJuice 245W packs a hefty 27,000mAh capacity, enough to refill my tester phone about four times and get a MacBook Pro from near-dead to 75 percent. It only has USB-C ports, but you at least get four of them. USB-C only is probably fine for most situations, but a USB-A port would be nice for charging the occasional older peripheral. The 245 wattage is pretty high for a power bank and it was indeed speedy. It filled a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in just over an hour. But its the same price and capacity as our Mophie Powerstation pick for laptop banks, and that one has a better variety of ports. Hypers battery is also comparable to Ankers laptop battery , which is cheaper, has built-in cables and has nearly the same capacity. Plus, that bank is just as swanky looking. Anker Prime 20,000 mAh power bank Ankers Prime bank was our previous pick for the best premium power bank, but I thought it worked best with the expensive (yet very convenient) base. Considering it also doesnt have any built-in cables, we decided to bump the Prime battery from its position and replace it with the Anker Retractable Cable Laptop Bank . Theres still plenty to like about the Prime battery: its solid, attractive and tells you just how much charge it has left with its onboard display. When you add the optional base, you not only get a convenient drop-and-go way to recharge, it also acts as a charging hub with three additional USB ports. EcoFlow Rapid magnetic power bank I was curious to try out the first power bank from EcoFlow, a company that primarily makes larger power stations and whole-home backup batteries . The first offering in the brands Rapid series is a Qi2-enabled magnetic charger with a 5,000mAh capacity . It looks quite nice with shiny silver accents and soft-touch grey plastic on the MagSafe-compatible front. Theres a little pull-out leg that sturdily displays your phone as it charges and the attached USB-C cable lets you refill devices directly, then tucks out of the way when its not in use. But it didnt outperform our top pick in the MagSafe category, in terms of both charging speeds and the amount of charge delivered. Baseus Blade 2 The Blade 2 from Baseus has a unique, flat shape thats just a little wider than an ereader which may make it easier to slip into a low profile laptop bag. It charged a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra considerably faster than any other battery bank we tried, getting it from four percent to full in just over an hour. It then filled the phone back to 62 percent from dead on a second charge in about a half an hour. But $100 is a lot for a standard power bank that holds fewer than two full charges. But if you can find the Blade 2 on sale, snap it up. Anker MagGo (6.6K) Ankers 6.6k MagGo is pretty similar to our top pick for a MagSafe-compatible battery pack. It supports the Qi2 charging standard and props up your iPhone so you can use it or enable StandBy mode while powering up. This one even lets you set the viewing angle from 30 to 65 degrees. It was speedy in getting an iPhone 15 up to 50 percent in about 40 minutes. But for the added bulk, it doesnt have as much capacity as the 10K MagGo, holding just enough juice for a single full charge plus about 5 percent. But it is $20 cheaper, which may be key for some. Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Mini The Mophie snap+ Powerstation Mini is terribly well-built. It feels premium with a rubberized contact point for the MagSafe charging pad and a stand that runs the entire width of the bank itself, making it extra sturdy. Its compact, too, but only carries a 5,000mAh capacity, which gets you a partial charge on most newer or larger phones. Our current MagSafe/iPhone pick has double the capacity, a stand and a digital display for just $20 more than the Powerstation Mini. Power bank FAQs What's the difference between a portable power bank and a portable charger? A slew of terms are used to describe power banks, including portable batteries, portable chargers, external battery packs and even, somewhat confusingly, USB chargers, which is what wall chargers are often called. They all mean the same thing: a lithium ion battery that stores a charge so you can refill a smartphone, tablet, earbuds, console controller, ereader, laptop, or just about any other device with its own built-in, rechargeable battery. Theres little difference between the terms, so the specs youll want to pay attention to are capacity (expressed in mAh), size and weight so you can find the right balance between recharging what you need and portability. Power stations, on the other hand, are distinct. These are bigger units (often around the size of a car battery) that can be used to charge multiple devices multiple times, but notably, they cant be taken on airplanes. Does fast charging actually ruin your battery? Not exactly. The real enemy of a batterys longevity is heat. The faster you charge a battery, the more heat is generated. Modern phones have features that keep the battery cool while charging, like physical heat shields and heat sinks, as well as software features that slow down processes that generate too much heat. Phone manufacturers are keen to promote a phones fast-charging abilities, so they had to figure out ways to make faster charging work. While there arent long-term studies on what fast charging does to a phone, a study on EV batteries (which use the same general concept of charged lithium ions flowing from one side of the battery to the other, absorbing or releasing a usable charge) showed a very slight decrease in capacity over time with only fast charging though what actually made a larger difference was how hot the battery itself was, due to ambient temperatures, when it was charged. In short, fast charging could be slightly harder on your battery than normal charging. But the safeguards most smartphones have make that difference fairly negligible. To really ensure youre taking the best care of your battery, limiting heat exposure overall is one of the best things you can do. Can you use a power bank for all your devices? That depends on the size of the bank and the size of your devices battery. A small 5,000mAh battery isnt strong enough to charge laptops, but a portable charger with a 20,000mAh capacity will give your computer a partial refill. You also have to consider port compatibility. If your device has a USB port, youll be able to easily find a cable to connect it to a battery. If your device has a more unique port, such as a DC port, you wont be able to use a battery. Devices with an AC cable and plug can be charged, and sometimes powered (such as in the case of a printer or speaker), by larger laptop batteries with AC ports. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-power-bank-143048526.html?src=rss

Video Games Weekly: Censorship and stolen puritanical valor

Welcome to Video Games Weekly on Engadget. Expect a new story every Monday or Tuesday, broken into two parts. The first is a space for short essays and ramblings about video game trends and related topics from me, Jess Conditt, a reporter who's covered the industry for more than 13 years. The second contains the video game stories from the past week that you need to know about, including some headlines from outside of Engadget. Please enjoy and I'll see you next week. Lets all agree to stop talking about that awful conservative activist group out of Australia. You know the one like a parasite, it attached itself to the censorship campaign that erased thousands of adult games from Steam and Itch.io , and successfully positioned itself at the center of the delisting narrative. However, logic and evidence suggests this group had very little to do with the mass removals. This Australian anti-porn organization led a movement in April to remove the edgelord simulator No Mercy from Steam, and since everyone agreed that game sucked, the campaign worked and the title disappeared from the storefront. This is where I believe the organizations involvement in the current drama ends. It seems No Mercy spurred payment processors including Visa, Mastercard and PayPal to turn their attention to the PC gaming market (an irony that I would find funnier if it werent actively eroding an industry I love). These institutions took the opportunity to dictate the types of games they would support, and in response on July 16, Steam added a clause to its ruleset banning content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steams payment processors, including certain kinds of adult only content . Censorship on Steam is not new; Valve has for years had rules banning mislabeled adult content, hate speech, anything violating local laws and many other regulations. But outsourcing censorship to payment processors is new, and hundreds of games were removed from the platform following the rule change. On July 24, Itch.io rolled out its own changes and summarily de-indexed every adult and NSFW game it hosted, which amounted to roughly 20,000 titles being hidden from search and browse pages. The conservative Australian group claimed responsibility for the Steam bans on July 19, three days after the platforms rule change went live. The organization said the censorship was the direct result of two of its recent efforts: an email campaign that sent 1,067 messages to Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and others claiming Steam and Itch.io were hosting illegal sexual content, and an open letter addressed to the same financial institutions, signed by faith-based, anti-sex work and anti-queer activist groups. There is no evidence that these campaigns were directly responsible for payment processors renewed enforcements. Its actually ludicrous to suggest that roughly 1,000 emails or an open letter would even register at companies the size of Visa, Mastercard or PayPal. Whats more, after taking credit for the removal of hundreds of Steam games, the Australian group has attempted to distance itself from the whole shebang. Following intense scrutiny from players, industry watchdogs and media outlets, every group in this situation is trying to avoid accountability, in fact. Valve says Mastercard made this happen, while Mastercard says its just following the law, and PayPal says its simply doing what companies like Mastercard tell it to do. Meanwhile, the Australian group is trying to avoid blame for the sweeping Itch.io delistings while simultaneously attempting to exploit the Steam bans and gain momentum for its conservative bullshit. In the most likely scenario, the Australian activist group saw these PC gaming audits coming and, in a strange act of stolen puritanical valor, took steps to center itself in the conversation. We can stop helping it do so. Forget its name and, as the IGDA suggests , direct your ire toward the organizations with power in this situation, namely Mastercard and Visa. Still. Its notable that an organization backed by conservative Christian groups that loudly oppose sex work, queer rights and freedom of expression was able to so cleanly align itself with financial companies censoring content on Steam and Itch.io. This uncontested endorsement is especially worrisome in a political and social climate where women, the queer community, people of color and those who dont conform to a traditional conservative lifestyle are under attack. At a time like this, subversive and raw art is more necessary than ever, but its also in its most vulnerable position. Choosing this moment to activate a censorship campaign is not only dangerous for our most vulnerable communities, its cowardly. Theres been some additional misinformation wrapped up in this censorship mess, of course. Three games were incorrectly reported as delisted or removed from Itch.io or Steam as part of this situation: Mouthwashing , Trials of Innocence and Console Me . One game that was unjustly removed during the chaos was the psychological horror game VILE: Exhumed read my interview with creator Cara Cadaver right here . The news BioShock 4 enters a new circle of development hell In most contexts, Id be pretty stoked on the thought of a hell-based BioShock, but this is the worst possible iteration of that idea. According to Bloomberg , BioShock 4 failed a recent review with executives at its publisher, 2K Games, and its heading back to developers at Cloud Chamber for a narrative revamp. Plus, Cloud Chamber studio head Kelley Gilmore is gone and creative director Hogarth de la Plante was moved to a publishing role. Not much is known about the game thats assumed to be BioShock 4 , but it was revealed in 2019 alongside the formation of Cloud Chamber, so its already been in development for quite a while. In related Rapture news, 2Ks remake of the original BioShock was canceled earlier this year, Bloomberg reports. Ken Levine, the creator of the BioShock series, is currently working on a familiar-looking FPS called Judas at his own studio, Ghost Story Games. GOG gave away millions of games to protest censorship GOG partnered with developers to release 13 games with adult themes for free from August 1 to 3, in protest of all the censorship going down on Steam and Itch.io. None of the free titles were specifically banned in the censorship campaign, but they featured sexual, queer or violent content that could easily be targeted by similar efforts. GOG handed out its free games to more than 1 million players . Itch.io is reindexing free NSFW games After deindexing all of its adult games on July 24 like, all of them Itch.io on August 1 relisted all free games in this category. Itch.io is currently auditing thousands of adult and NSFW games that it swept up in the payment processor ban, and its unclear how the platform will support titles with these themes going forward. One of Itch.ios longstanding partners, Stripe, said it will no longer facilitate transactions of titles designed for sexual gratification, but theres apparently room for negotiation in the future. Battlefield 6 will land on October 10 In a shocking twist, EA also revealed that Battlefield 6 will have multiplayer content. Age verification is coming to an Xbox near you The video game world is feeling the effects of the UK's Online Safety Act. Platforms including Discord and Xbox are implementing new age-verification methods to comply with the law in the UK, and Microsoft is planning to expand its program to other regions. It's in no rush, though, saying it'll use the UK as a guinea pig for these systems first, and then implement what it learns across the globe. Sony is suing Tencent over its blatant Horizon clone At its unveiling in 2024, viewers instantly called out Polaris Quests Light of Motiram for looking an awful lot like Guerrilla Games' Horizon series our headline called it a pretty blatant Horizon ripoff , even. It took the better part of a year, but PlayStation's lawyers have finally kicked into gear. Sony is now suing Tencent, which owns Polaris Quest, over what it calls a slavish clone of its IP. Raven finally has a union contract with Microsoft Recent layoffs at Microsoft have only heightened the importance of proper labor organizing in video games, and one of the industrys first unions is finally making things official. Three years after initiating the process, Call of Duty support studio Raven Software has ratified its union contract with Microsoft. Raven Software initially voted to organize under Activision Blizzard, but after Microsoft completed its acquisition of the studio in October 2023, it continued negotiations with the tech titan. Play VILE: Exhumed , the game that Steam doesn't want you to see After VILE: Exhumed was removed and permanently banned from Steam for reasons that don't actually apply to the game, developer Cara Cadaver and publisher DreadXP have rolled out their own distribution model, and prices start at $0. You can download and play the game right now for free, and there's an option to throw some money Cara's way. A portion of the profits will benefit the Toronto-based charity Red Door Family Shelter. Additional reading Kris Holts indie game roundup Sam Rutherfords review of the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS Have a tip for Jessica? You can reach her by email , Bluesky or send a message to @jesscon.96 to chat confidentially on Signal. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/video-games-weekly-censorship-and-stolen-puritanical-valor-234220878.html?src=rss

Banned Steam game VILE: Exhumed is back as a free shareware title

After her game was banned from sale on Steam in a baffling decision with no appeal option , solo developer Cara Cadaver has made VILE: Exhumed available as shareware under a Creative Commons license. The project can be downloaded for free, but players can opt to donate in support of the solo developer's work. Both Cara and publisher DreadXP will pay forward those donations, with 50 percent of the game's profits being given to the Toronto-based charity Red Door Family Shelter . The group aids families, refugees and women who are escaping violence. Both Steam and Itch.io have recently adopted sweeping and vague policies regarding their approach to projects with adult content due to pressure from payment processors . Itch.io has begun re-indexing some projects, but only free ones . These changes have disproportionately impacted projects by underrepresented and queer creators, according to a statement from the International Game Developers Association that condemned the broad delisting of adult games. In her post announcing the new distribution plan for VILE: Exhumed , Cara summed up the situation pretty aptly: What this actually results in is taking power and storytelling away from women, other marginalized artists, and ultimately, from everyone. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/banned-steam-game-vile-exhumed-is-back-as-a-free-shareware-title-225220847.html?src=rss

A 'very low' number of original Sonos Roam speakers are overheating

Sonos is having overheating issues with a very low number of its Roam speakers. Bloomberg reports that some users' portable Bluetooth speakers are overheating around the device's USB-C port. The company has not recalled any products as a result but it aware of the issue happening. Weve closely tracked a limited number of reports involving the USB-C charging connection on some first-generation Sonos Roam speakers, Sonos said in a statement shared with Engadget. While the overall incidence rate is very low, and environmental conditions appear to play a role, weve taken several proactive steps to even further reduce the likelihood of this issue, including software updates and accessory improvements. The issue appears to be centered on the original model of the Sonos Roam that debuted in 2021; the Sonos Roam 2 offered some upgrades over that version when it rolled out last spring. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/a-very-low-number-of-original-sonos-roam-speakers-are-overheating-205722779.html?src=rss

Florida is suing several porn companies over age verification

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has sued multiple pornography platforms on allegations that they fall afoul of age verification laws. The state passed HB 3 in March 2024 and the law took effect in January 2025. HB 3 placed new requirements on services to confirm the ages of their users if they contain material harmful to minors and to ensure nobody younger than 18 accesses their content. The lawsuit today targets the companies behind several porn sites, including XVideos, XNXX, BangBros and Girls Gone Wild, as well as adult advertising network Traffic Factory. We are taking legal action against these online pornographers who are willfully preying on the innocence of children for their financial gain, Uthmeier said. Although today's lawsuit focuses on pornography providers, many of the provisions in HB 3 also center on teen use of social media. In June, a judge temporarily blocked the law after NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association groups representing several social media platforms sought a preliminary injunction. Uthmeier has appealed that injunction to the Eleventh Circuit. Yahoo, the parent company of Engadget, is a member of NetChoice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/florida-is-suing-several-porn-companies-over-age-verification-190251850.html?src=rss

ElevenLabs launches its own royalty-free AI music service

AI startup Eleven Labs just announced a service called Eleven Music , which generates fake songs that are cleared for commercial use. It's a prompt-based affair, so it can create just about anything users dream up. The songs can feature vocals and lyrics. The Washington Post gave examples of prompts like a smooth jazz song with a 60s vibe and powerful lyrics, but relaxing for a Friday afternoon. The service reportedly only takes a few minutes to generate music. The company has been quietly testing the platform for some time, with WSJ indicating it has given 20 of its customers access to the model and that they've used it to make stuff for films, TV shows, video games and apps. ElevenLabs hasn't specified who the 20 customers are, likely because people get angry about AI slop . As for training, the company has inked deals with two digital rights agencies for smaller music labels called Merlin Network and Kobalt Music Group. ElevenLabs co-founder and CEO Mati Staniszewski says he's aiming to get major labels on board. He also says that the model is strictly created on data that we have access to. This is good news for the company, as other music-generation platforms like Suno and Udio have been sued for alleged use of copyrighted works . AI-generated music is having something of a moment right now. The band Velvet Sundown is completely made up and managed to amass millions of listens on Spotify. It remains to be seen how much of that interest was based on actual fandom or morbid curiosity. ElevenLabs is primarily known for its voice-generation technology. It created a news app that reads stories to consumers with AI-generated voices based on celebrities like Judy Garland and James Dean. One of its tools was used to emulate Joe Biden's voice in robocalls urging voters not to participate in a primary. It's also been used to create deepfakes for other celebrities . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elevenlabs-launches-its-own-royalty-free-ai-music-service-183033630.html?src=rss

Motorola and Swarovski team up for a super fancy Razr

Motorola and Swarovski are teaming up to create the crossover they knew we always wanted: a crystal-laden edition of the Razr . For those who just felt that their retro cell phone wasnt special enough, the fancy new Pantone Ice Melt Razr features a 3D quilted leather-inspired finish with 35 hand-positioned Swarovski crystals, including one larger, 26-facet crystal on the hinge. The Pantone Ice Melt will cost a cool $1,000, though it will include a pair of the Moto Buds Loop . These open-ear buds are designed to be worn like jewelry fitting, given the Swarovski treatment. Motorola is calling this bundle the Brilliant Collection. A stand-alone Motorola Razr will normally run you $700, and a pair of Moto Buds Loop will set you back $300, so the package deal for $1,000 basically means free crystals. Motorola has been expanding the Razr lineup lately, and the company now offers the Razr, Razr Plus and Razr Ultra. The Pantone Ice Melt edition is a design spin on the base model and retains the same 3.6-inch cover display, 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED main display, MediaTek Dimensity 7400X processor, 4,500 mAh battery and 50-MP main camera. Motorola said that this release is just the beginning for Motorola Collections, so we expect to see more curated collaborations down the line. The Brilliant Collection will become available on August 7. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/motorola-and-swarovski-team-up-for-a-super-fancy-razr-175308229.html?src=rss

This Anker 10K Qi2 magnetic power bank is on sale for $60 right now

A power bank with a wireless charging option is a very handy device for anyone who's typically on the go. It's probably worth having a fully charged one on hand in case of a power outage too. Anker makes some of our favorite power banks, and one with a Qi2 charging function and 10,000mAh capacity is currently on sale. You can snap it up for $60 . That's a 25 percent discount on the list price of $80. It is also the lowest price for this model so far in 2025. The power bank is currently available in four colors for this price: black, green, pink and white. This particular model doesn't feature as a top pick in our roundup of the best power banks . Anker charging gear is solid for the most part, though the company did recently issue recalls for certain older models . In any case, this MagGo Power Bank offers 15W wireless charging that can top up an iPhone 16 Pro's battery from zero to 30 percent of its capacity in 25 minutes, according to Anker. When you plug a USB-C cable into the power bank and an iPhone 16 Pro, the brand claims that you can charge the phone to 50 percent of its battery capacity in 26 minutes. It has enough juice to charge an iPhone 16 1.75 times over, an iPhone 16 Pro 1.71 times and an iPhone 16 Pro Max 1.33 times, per Anker. You can also fully charge the power bank's battery in about 2.5 hours. 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-anker-10k-qi2-magnetic-power-bank-is-on-sale-for-60-right-now-171552456.html?src=rss

Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition review: A solid business laptop with some quirks

Step aside, old boy. The ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition is making me forget all about the ThinkPad X1 Carbon , the most renowned business laptop for over a decade. Of course, Lenovo isnt doing away with the X1 Carbon, but the X9 series certainly seems like the companys experimental project for the same premium category. Its not perfect, but I like where Lenovo is going with it. Much love has been packed into the X9-14s impressively ultraportable design, including a stunning 14-inch OLED screen, strong speakers, long battery life and solid performance for casual business users. The problem is that it costs a chunky $1,283 for low-end specs, it doesnt come with a USB Type-A port and its failing the legacy of excellent ThinkPad keyboards. That doesnt stop the ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition from doing the best with what its got, and its got a lot. Lookin sleek and ready for travel Ive always been a fan of bold, colorful laptops, but I understand that in a business setting youd want to blend in. The ThinkPad X9-14, however, manages to do so in style it wont draw your coworkers in from across the room, but youll hear a good ol ooo when they get a closer look. The dark gray aluminum frame looks like it was carved out of a space rock and then blasted with sand (or oxide, both give that sparkly grainy look). Of course, theres the iconic ThinkPad logo in the top left corner of the lid with a red LED, but theres also a X9-14 logo at the very top, which sits on an oblong island giving machine-look vibes. The interior sports more of the same minimalist design, with my favorite visual aesthetic being the keys. It looks like someone carved away the bottom of each one to add a bit of flair, and Im all about it. And if youre not a fan of bezels, they take up very little room on the display. Theres a 4K webcam on the lip, which you can disable with the F9 button when youre out of meetings. Id do it in meetings too, because of its poor video quality my features were fuzzy and my face was red. The ThinkPad X9-14s chassis maintains a remarkably thin 0.26-inch profile up until you get to the ports, where it expands to a neat 0.68-inch block that also holds the fans. Theres only four ports, but most of the essentials are covered, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI slot and a headphone jack. The critical miss is the lack of a USB Type-A port, which the 15-inch model supports. Despite that drawback, the X9-14s thin frame combined with its 2.8-pound chassis make for an exceptionally ultraportable business laptop that wont be a pain to pull out at a TSA checkpoint. Pretty on the eyes, music to my ears Nothing will make me gush more than a pretty OLED screen, and the ThinkPad X9-14 had me blushing like a pink Starburst. In my experience, OLED panels are less straining on the eyes (although this topic is somewhat of a debate ), but I prefer them when Im working all day. Even when youre all done with your business, you wont be able to pull away from this 14-inch screen with its 2,880 x 1,800 resolution. Thats sharp enough to capture each strand of hair on your favorite furry Disney sidekick. And whether youre scrolling through endless rows of data on your spreadsheets or making your way through your indie-game library, the X9s 120Hz refresh rate will enable smoother visuals than the average business laptop. The one thing I hate, though, is the rounded edges because it cuts off some of the visuals. I watched an episode of Steven Universe , which is iconic for its pastel color palette, and my eyes practically swam in the crystal blue ocean of Beach City. The dialogue sounded a bit quiet, but tinkering with the Dolby Atmos settings gave it the boost it needed. I couldnt stop myself from jumping into a match of Marvel Rivals to keep my weekly challenge streak running, and the ThinkPads OLED allowed me to soak in all of the games vivid colors. I tried out Phoenix for the first time and blasted enemies with her cosmic flames, creating a visual spectacle of orange and yellow. The cacophony of explosions were distinct and well-balanced on the audio side as well, I could hear that jabroni (Star Lord) screaming Legendary! on my backline. The dual-speaker setup produced well-rounded audio for a business laptop. Tracks like Golden from KPop Demon Hunters (my new obsession) popped with crisp vocals and bassy synths, so feel free to take off your sweaty headphones and vibe at the end of the workday. Rami Tabari for Engadget Mushy click-clack and haptic feedback Like Rumis relationship with Jinu (I told you Im obsessed), my relationship with this keyboard is complicated. Im clicking away at this review, and the ThinkPad X9-14 is comfortable to type on, but its not as clicky as I want it to be. Theres some decent travel, but the keys are just mushy . Sure, I can type on it all day as the buttons are very well-spaced, but theyre not satisfying to use. I imagine for most folks that might be fine, but after testing hundreds of laptops, I can say for certain there are better keyboards out there. On the other hand, the touchpad was so smooth that my fingers slid across its glassy surface like a figure skater at the Olympics. Its haptic feedback offers enough response to mimic the real thing, and Ive actually grown to like haptics more than real touchpads, which are terribly inconsistent. In addition to the trackpad and keyboard, you can also use the ThinkPad X9's touchscreen to get work done. I experienced some resistance when rearranging some of my browser windows, so its not great if youre just using your fingers. But Im sure folks that need to sketch will appreciate it, especially since the OLED display will do justice to your art. (For some reason, Lenovos website doesnt say that its pens are compatible with the ThinkPad X9-14, but a Lenovo representative confirmed they are, and the laptop itself also features the Lenovo Pen Settings app.) The ThinkPad X9's performance: Business casual Ive enjoyed my time with the ThinkPad X9-14 so far, and thats with its bottom-of-the-barrel CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, plus 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. I expected some lackluster performance, maybe even a little slowdown, but it actually felt pretty smooth. I used the ThinkPad X9-14 to do a little work on the fantasy novella Im writing, which, if you know anything about the genre, requires me to have an obscene number of tabs open. I split my screen in three, between Campfire, Google Docs and Legend Keeper, my unholy trinity of world building. The ThinkPad kept up with my shenanigans, so itll do well with most casual office workflows. If youre really crunching numbers, though, the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is the lowest performing CPU you can get in the X9-14, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, until you see the price (Ill go into that below). Its benchmark scores arent far off from the Zenbook A14 , but ASUS chosen Snapdragon X X1 CPU got marked for its slow performance. Thats likely because the Zenbook needs to emulate Windows apps due to its ARM architecture. While the Zenbook A14s scores are a smidge better than the ThinkPad X9-14, at least with the latter you dont have to worry about the latency of emulating apps or running into compatibility issues. Since the MacBook Air has been getting cheaper, Id be remiss not to consider it as a competitor to the ThinkPad X9, either. If youre shopping for any flavor of ThinkPad as a business laptop, youre likely looking for security features, or remote management tools (if youre in IT), and MacBooks offer both. The MacBook Air M4 13-inch is roughly 50 percent more powerful than the ThinkPad and the Zenbook. Again, the ThinkPad X9-14 still offers decent performance, just dont expect to do anything taxing like video-editing. Now, if youre thinking about cutting out some work and doing more play, the X9-14s Intel Arc Graphics iGPU is surprisingly capable. Youre not going to be playing AAA games on max settings, but I hopped into a few matches of Marvel Rivals and managed a decent 40 to 55 frames per second. I maintained the native resolution but cranked everything down to Low with Ultra Performance and Frame Generation enabled. The ThinkPad X9-14 crushed the Zenbook A14 in terms of graphics, and while the MacBook Air delivered stronger performance overall for video-editing and designing, it cant compare to the gaming compatibility that the X9-14 offers. And like most modern laptops, the ThinkPad X9-14 has an NPU. If your job requires you to work with natively-run AI features, the ThinkPad X9-14 will aggregate those spreadsheets for you (and create cursed memes of, say, your boss face on a dogs body). Rami Tabari for Engadget A battery for business hours and beyond I spent quite a bit of time with the ThinkPad X9-14 before it eventually ran out of steam. It survived me working on this review, jumping to my book at the end of the day and a late night Discord chat with friends. On our video rundown battery test, it lasted 11 hours and 51 minutes. Thats more than enough to carry on your business and even add some overtime (or, you know, kick back and relax to some chill videos). The competition is stiff, though. Last years ASUS Zenbook S14 , which has an Intel chipset, clocked over 4 hours longer than the ThinkPad X9-14. Meanwhile, Snapdragon X laptops blow all those Intel machines out of the water, with systems like the ASUS Zenbook A14 coming in at 18:16. Still, while Lenovo's notebook might fall short of those impressive runtimes, at least it doesn't have the same app limitations that hold those devices back. Itll get the job done, and thats what matters. Is it worth the business tax? So how much does this all cost? Well, the model I reviewed comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB of RAM (though only the 32GB configuration is currently available) and a 512GB SSD. That totals out to $1,283 on Lenovo's website (with 32GB of RAM). For context, Ive seen more powerful gaming laptops that cost less. But youre not buying a business laptop for its power, you (or your IT manager) are buying it for its features. While many non-business laptops are designed to be durable, you are still getting a military-grade chassis, which has been tested against drops, shocks and extreme temperatures. Then theres Lenovos ThinkShield Security suite. Thats just a fancy term for saying the ThinkPad X9-14 includes a standard dTPM security chip, a fingerprint reader, a IR webcam for Windows Hello, an e-shutter for the webcam (F9) and Intels Threat Detection Technology (TDT) that uses AI to uncover cyberattacks. Intel TDT is included with Intel vPro, which can be used for remote management. Now, if you want that laundry list of business features and top-tier performance, its going to hurt. To upgrade to an Intel Core Ultra 7 268V with a 1TB SSD, itll cost $1,939. Yep, thats quite the leap for specs weve seen in significantly cheaper laptops (like the Dell 16 and 14 Plus ). Its important to note, however, that business laptops like the ThinkPad X9-14 arent really intended for individual consumers but rather businesses looking to buy in bulk. There are business laptops priced at a level that might appeal more to the average consumer, like the $1,399 ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405) , but those are more rare than Id like. For that price, the ExpertBook comes with a Core Ultra 7, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Wrap-up I thought Id be more disappointed with the ThinkPad X9-14 considering its low-end CPU, but its perfectly suited for everyday tasks and made for a great writing companion. What really sold me was the OLED screen and audio, which are great not just for watching training videos or slideshows but also (and equally important) for after work when you get some play in, whether thats literally playing games or binging your favorite new series. I also appreciate the battery life and portability, plus all of Lenovos security features packed into a military-grade chassis. However, I cant justify the average consumer paying $1,283 for the ThinkPad X9-14 with specs youd find in laptops that cost hundreds of dollars less (minus the RAM, of course). For small business owners, I recommend waiting for a sale or consider a business laptop marketed more toward you (again, the ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405) is a great choice). But if youre the IT person at a company looking for a laptop to buy in bulk, then yes, the ThinkPad X9-14 is a worthy purchase. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x9-14-aura-edition-review-a-solid-business-laptop-with-some-quirks-171551190.html?src=rss

Surprising no one, Grok's image and video generator now has an NSFW 'spicy' mode

Elon Musks chatbot is seldom out of the news. When it isnt vomiting antisemetic rhetoric or fixating on conspiracy theories without invitation, its inviting you to romance its anime-inspired AI companions. Groks NSFW credentials now extend to xAIs new image and video generator. Grok Imagine is exclusive to paying SuperGrok and Premium+ X subscribers and, as reported by TechCrunch , has a baked-in text-to-image and video feature with a number of modes that dictate its results. As you might expect, submitting prompts to Grok Imagine while in the embarrassingly named Spicy mode results in sexualized content in the form of images or short clips. TechCrunch was able to test the feature and said that while some of its requests came back blurred out or moderated, it was able to generate semi-nude imagery without resistance from the ever-obliging bot. Images reportedly only take a few seconds to produce and more are auto-generated as you scroll through the results. Grok Imagine can also generate content featuring celebrities, but there appears to be additional restrictions in place for this. TechCrunch was unable to prompt it to produce an image of a pregnant Donald Trump, for example, with the chatbot instead generating an image of Trump standing next to a pregnant woman, or holding a baby. Elon Musk is unsurprisingly very enthusiastic about his companys latest toy, claiming on X that the number of images generated using Grok Imagine grew from 14 million to 20 million in the space of a day. He has also talked up its potential as a meme motherload and promised its existing capabilities will improve radically over time. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/surprising-no-one-groks-image-and-video-generator-now-has-an-nsfw-spicy-mode-171057865.html?src=rss

OpenAI's first new open-weight LLMs in six years are here

For the first time since GPT-2 in 2019 , OpenAI is releasing new open-weight large language models . It's a major milestone for a company that has increasingly been accused of forgoing its original stated mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. Now, following multiple delays for additional safety testing and refinement, gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b are available to download from Hugging Face . Before going any further, it's worth taking a moment to clarify what exactly OpenAI is doing here. The company is not releasing new open-source models that include the underlying code and data the company used to train them. Instead, it's sharing the weights that is, the numerical values the models learned to assign to inputs during their training that inform the new systems. According to Benjamin C. Lee , professor of engineering and computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, open-weight and open-source models serve two very different purposes. An open-weight model provides the values that were learned during the training of a large language model, and those essentially allow you to use the model and build on top of it. You could use the model out of the box, or you could redefine or fine-tune it for a particular application, adjusting the weights as you like, he said. If commercial models are an absolute black box and an open-source system allows for complete customization and modification, open-weight AIs are somewhere in the middle. OpenAI has not released open-source models, likely since a rival could use the training data and code to reverse engineer its tech. An open-source model is more than just the weights. It would also potentially include the code used to run the training process, Lee said. And practically speaking, the average person wouldn't get much use out of an open-source model unless they had a farm of high-end NVIDIA GPUs running up their electricity bill. (They would be useful for researchers looking to learn more about the data the company used to train its models though, and there are a handful of open-source models out there like Mistral NeMo and Mistral Small 3.) With that out of the way, the primary difference between gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b is how many parameters each one offers. If you're not familiar with the term, parameters are the settings a large language model can tweak to provide you with an answer. The naming is slightly confusing here, but gpt-oss-120b is a 117 billion parameter model, while its smaller sibling is a 21-billion one. In practice, that means gpt-oss-120b requires more powerful hardware to run, with OpenAI recommending a single 80GB GPU for efficient use. The good news is the company says any modern computer with 16GB of RAM can run gpt-oss-20b. As a result, you could use the smaller model to do something like vibe code on your own computer without a connection to the internet. What's more, OpenAI is making the models available through the Apache 2.0 license, giving people a great deal of flexibility to modify the systems to their needs. Despite this not being a new commercial release, OpenAI says the new models are in many ways comparable to its proprietary systems. The one limitation of the oss models is that they don't offer multi-modal input, meaning they can't process images, video and voice. For those capabilities, you'll still need to turn to the cloud and OpenAI's commercial models, something both new open-weight systems can be configured to do. Beyond that, however, they offer many of the same capabilities, including chain-of-thought reasoning and tool use. That means the models can tackle more complex problems by breaking them into smaller steps, and if they need additional assistance, they know how to use the web and coding languages like Python. Additionally, OpenAI trained the models using techniques the company previously employed in the development of o3 and its other recent frontier systems . In competition-level coding gpt-oss-120b earned a score that is only a shade worse than o3, OpenAI's current state-of-the-art reasoning model, while gpt-oss-20b landed in between o3-mini and o4-mini. Of course, we'll have to wait for more real-world testing to see how the two new models compare to OpenAI's commercial offerings and those of its rivals. The release of gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b and OpenAI's apparent willingness to double down on open-weight models comes after Mark Zuckerberg signaled Meta would release fewer such systems to the public . Open-sourcing was previously central to Zuckerberg's messaging about his company's AI efforts, with the CEO once remarking about closed-source systems fuck that. At least among the sect of tech enthusiasts willing to tinker with LLMs, the timing, accidental or not, is somewhat embarrassing for Meta. One could argue that open-weight models democratize access to the largest, most capable models to people who don't have these massive, hyperscale data centers with lots of GPUs, said Professor Lee. It allows people to use the outputs or products of a months-long training process on a massive data center without having to invest in that infrastructure on their own. From the perspective of someone who just wants a really capable model to begin with, and then wants to build for some application. I think open-weight models can be really useful. OpenAI is already working with a few different organizations to deploy their own versions of these models, including AI Sweden , the country's national center for applied AI. In a press briefing OpenAI held before today's announcement, the team that worked on gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b said they view the two models as an experiment; the more people use them, the more likely OpenAI is to release additional open-weight models in the future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-first-new-open-weight-llms-in-six-years-are-here-170019087.html?src=rss

Google's Pixel Watch 4, Fold Pro 10 and Buds 2a are rumored to launch later than the rest of its new gear

Google has an event lined up for August 20 and has promised to reveal new Pixel phones, watches, buds and more. However, rumors have been swirling that the company won't have many of these products ready to go after being unveiled. Winfuture has reported that the Pixel Watch 4, Fold Pro 10 and Buds 2a will be announced at the Made by Google event, but won't be available until October . The Pixel 10 line of smartphones will reportedly be available on August 28, which is just around a week after the announcement. The holdup for the other products is reportedly due to supply chain issues, according to sources who spoke to Winfuture . Google hasn't confirmed this delay. As a matter of fact, the company hasn't even officially confirmed that the products in question exist. That's what the Made by Google event is for. Get outside your comfort phone | 8.20.25 Learn more and sign up for #MadeByGoogle updates: https://t.co/JOdjGMGYxY pic.twitter.com/nvXep5w5Ru Made by Google (@madebygoogle) August 4, 2025 There have been plenty of leaks , so we likely know what's coming and some specs. The splashy Pixel 10 Pro Fold reportedly features a new display and hinge, which could account for the supply chain delay. The Pixel Watch 4 reportedly includes new internal hardware and a modified charging system which both could be contributing to the delay. We'll just have to wait for August 20. This isn't a streaming event, so follow along with our liveblog of the entire proceedings. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/googles-pixel-watch-4-fold-pro-10-and-buds-2a-are-rumored-to-launch-later-than-the-rest-of-its-new-gear-165020931.html?src=rss

Fox One streaming service launches August 21

Fox Corporation has announced the launch of Fox One, a streaming service that will carry Fox-branded news, sports and entertainment content for $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. The service will feature both live and on-demand access from the entire slate of Fox properties including Fox News , Fox Business , Fox Sports , Fox Weather and more. Subscribers will also be able to bundle the new offering with Fox Nation, the media corporation's on-demand streaming service with original shows. In bringing together the full power of the FOX content portfolio in one service, we have created a great value proposition and user experience that will appeal to the cord-cutter and cord-never fans currently not served by conventional pay TV packages, said Pete Distad, CEO of direct-to-consumer at Fox Corporation. Fox One joins a growing list of TV streaming services aimed at cord-cutters that bring channel portfolios traditionally found on cable to a convenient app format. The new service also means access to NFL and MLB games aired on Fox networks without the need for a cable subscription. Fox was previously attached to the launch of Venu Sports , a sports-focused streaming service that never came to fruition. Fox One will launch on August 2. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/fox-one-streaming-service-launches-august-21-164512558.html?src=rss

WhatsApp adds new warning about potential group chat messaging scams

WhatsApp has shared a new update about how it prevents scams, as well as unveiling a new feature aimed at protecting users from possible swindles. People will now receive alerts when they are added to a new WhatsApp group by someone not in their contacts. This safety overview will include key details about the group chat, such as the number of members, whether any other members are contacts and the chat's start date. It also offers some common sense reminders of how to avoid scams. Users can exit the group from that alert without ever looking at the chat if they choose, or can look at the chat to double-check whether it is a group they wish to participate in. WhatsApp said it will continue to test new approaches for delivering similar alerts on individual direct messages within its service. These tools seem to still be in development, but the company indicated it is working on ways to catch scammers who initiate contact on a different platform before moving a conversation to WhatsApp. In addition to the in-app tools, WhatsApp said that it has also identified and blocked many accounts used to perpetrate scams. During the first half of 2025, the company said it detected and banned more than 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers. The Federal Trade Commission has published multiple reports over the years about the prevalence of scams on social media platforms. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/whatsapp-adds-new-warning-about-potential-group-chat-messaging-scams-160013367.html?src=rss

Roku's new Howdy service offers ad-free streaming for $3 per month

Roku just revealed a new ad-free streaming service called Howdy . The service costs $3 per month , making it an enticing prospect for budget-conscious viewers. The company says this isn't an introductory price and should be permanent. Howdy will stream a whole bunch of content, but it's mostly pre-existing movies and shows. The company has inked deals with Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate and other providers, so the platform will host movies like Elvis and Mad Max: Fury Road and shows like Weeds and Party Down . It'll also be home to Roku Originals, like the stellar Weird Al biopic. Company founder and CEO Anthony Wood spoke to Deadline and called Howdy a response to the reality that many consumers are interested in a service that is ad-free and low-cost. He may be right. Consumers are likely to flock to something that's $3 a month, especially when the other streamers keep raising prices and stuffing ads everywhere . This isn't Roku's only recent foray into the world of paid streaming, after years of relying on free, ad-supported television (FAST) channels. The company acquired the service Frdnly , which streams live TV from a number of noteworthy cable channels. Prices for this platform range from $7 to $10 per month. Howdy will be available later today on Roku devices. The company promises a rollout on mobile and additional platforms in the near future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rokus-new-howdy-service-offers-ad-free-streaming-for-3-per-month-151550247.html?src=rss

Illinois is the first state to ban AI therapists

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill into law banning AI therapy in the state. This makes Illinois the first state to regulate the use of AI in mental health services. The law highlights that only licensed professionals are allowed to offer counseling services in the state and forbids AI chatbots or tools from acting as a stand-alone therapist. HB 1806 , titled the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, also specifies that licensed therapists cannot use AI to make therapeutic decisions or perform any therapeutic communication. It also places constraints on how mental health professionals may use AI in their work, such as specifying that its use for supplementary support, such as managing appointments, billing or other administrative work, is allowed. In a statement to Mashable , Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan said, We have already heard the horror stories when artificial intelligence pretends to be a licensed therapist. Individuals in crisis unknowingly turned to AI for help and were pushed toward dangerous, even lethal, behaviors. The law enshrines steep penalties in an effort to curb such outcomes, with companies or individuals facing $10,000 in fines per violation. This legislation stands as our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our residents by ensuring that mental health services are delivered by trained experts who prioritize patient care above all else, said Mario Treto Jr., secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The bill passed the Illinois House and Senate unanimously in a sign of overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation is particularly notable as the Trump administrations recently-revealed AI plan outlines a 10-year moratorium on any state-level AI regulation. It also comes as OpenAI has said it is improving the ability for its models to detect mental or emotional distress and will ask users to take a break during unusually long chats. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/illinois-is-the-first-state-to-ban-ai-therapists-145755797.html?src=rss

Xbox Game Pass additions for August include Assassins Creed Mirage

Microsoft has revealed the first batch of Xbox Game Pass additions for August, and there are several tasty options in store over the next couple of weeks. The first one lands today on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard in the form of Rain World , a difficult survival platform game. In case thats not your tempo, though, you wont have to wait long for other things to play. On August 7, Assassins Creed Mirage will hit Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. I enjoyed this tighter, more focused take on the Assassins Creed formula quite a bit , especially considering how bloated these games have become in recent years (that said, AC Shadows is one of my favorite games of this year so far). Mirage is worth checking out if you dig the series but havent taken a leap of faith with that installment yet. Several titles are joining the Game Pass Standard tier in the first two weeks of August, including Citizen Sleeper 2 an acclaimed RPG that debuted earlier this year on Wednesday. Survival shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite returns to Game Pass on August 12 as well, while roguelike kingdom builder 9 Kings arrives in game preview on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but only for PC for the time being. Here's the full breakdown of the first wave of August Game Pass additions, including the tiers on which they'll be available: Today Rain World (Cloud, Console and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard August 6 Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Xbox Series X/S) Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Xbox Series X/S) Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass MechWarrior 5: Clans (Xbox Series X/S) Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Xbox Series X/S) Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass August 7 Assassins Creed Mirage (Cloud, Console and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass EA Sports Madden NFL 26 : 10-hour early access trial (Cloud, Console and PC) Game Pass Ultimate August 12 Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard August 14 9 Kings (Game Preview) (PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Along with the new additions, there are three titles leaving Game Pass on August 15. Those are Anthem (Console and PC) via EA Play, Farming Simulator 22 (Cloud, Console and PC) and Persona 3 Reload (Cloud, Console and PC). The beleaguered Anthem is shutting down for good this January in any case, and as it's an online-only game, there won't be any way to play it after that time unless fans find a way to get community servers up and running. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-game-pass-additions-for-august-include-assassins-creed-mirage-144428943.html?src=rss

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 drop to $169 on Amazon

They might be nearly three years old at this point, but Apples second-generation AirPods Pro remain some of the most popular wireless earbuds around for a reason, and right now theyre down to $169 on Amazon. Thats a not-insignificant 32 percent off the usual $249 price of the noise-canceling in-ears. Apples flagship AirPods were $100 off a record-low $149 during Prime Day, so we have seen them even cheaper than this, but for a non-sale period, Amazons current deal is worth considering. The AirPods Pro 2 are our top choice for iPhone users looking for wireless earbuds, thanks to much beefier sound than the original model, rock solid ANC and transparency modes, and seamless switching between Apple devices. Throw in spatial audio support, hands-free Siri and more than acceptable battery life, and the AirPods Pro 2 are hard to top. Not everyone gets on with the sometimes fiddly touch gestures, but a lot of wireless headphones struggle with this. If theres anything to give you pause, its that we might be getting the AirPods Pro 3 sooner rather than later. But if thats the case, you can be confident youll pay a lot more than $169 for the privilege. The AirPods Pro arent the only discounted AirPods right now. The AirPods 4 (without ANC) are down to $99. Usually priced at $129, youre saving $30 on a much improved entry-level AirPods offering. They fit and sound better than any non-Pro AirPods before them, and inherit some previously Pro-only features thanks to the H2 chip. If you travel a lot youll also certainly rue the lack of ANC, but if that isnt a deal breaker for you, the sub-$100 price point might be tempting. 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-airpods-pro-2-drop-to-169-on-amazon-142401241.html?src=rss

Google DeepMind's Genie 3 can dynamically alter the state of its simulated worlds

At start of December, Google DeepMind released Genie 2 . The Genie family of AI systems are what are known as world models. They're capable of generating images as the user either a human or, more likely, an automated AI agent moves through the world the software is simulating. The resulting video of the model in action may look like a video game, but DeepMind has always positioned Genie 2 as a way to train other AI systems to be better at what they're designed to accomplish. With its new Genie 3 model, which the lab announced on Tuesday, DeepMind believes it has made an even better system for training AI agents. At first glance, the jump between Genie 2 and 3 isn't as dramatic as the one the model made last year. With Genie 2, DeepMind's system became capable of generating 3D worlds, and could accurately reconstruct part of the environment even after the user or an AI agent left it to explore other parts of the generated scene. Environmental consistency was often a weakness of prior world models. For instance, Decart's Oasis system had trouble remembering the layout of the Minecraft levels it would generate. By comparison, the enhancements offered by Genie 3 seem more modest, but in a press briefing Google held ahead of today's official announcement, Shlomi Fruchter, research director at DeepMind, and Jack Parker-Holder, research scientist at DeepMind, argued they represent important stepping stones in the road toward artificial general intelligence. Google DeepMind So what exactly does Genie 3 do better? To start, it outputs footage at 720p, instead of 360p like its predecessor. It's also capable of sustaining a consistent simulation for longer. Genie 2 had a theoretical limit of up to 60 seconds, but in practice the model would often start to hallucinate much earlier. By contrast, DeepMind says Genie 3 is capable of running for several minutes before it starts producing artifacts. Also new to the model is a capability DeepMind calls promptable world events. Genie 2 was interactive insofar as the user or an AI agent was able to input movement commands and the model would respond after it had a few moments to generate the next frame. Genie 3 does this work in real-time. Moreover, its possible to tweak the simulation with text prompts that instruct Genie to alter the state of the world its generating. In a demo DeepMind showed, the model was told to insert a herd of deer into a scene of a person skiing down a mountain. The deer didn't move in the most realistic manner, but this is the killer feature of Genie 3, says DeepMind. Google DeepMind As mentioned before, the lab primarily envisions the model as a tool for training and evaluating AI agents. DeepMind says Genie 3 could be used to teach AI systems to tackle what if scenarios that aren't covered by their pre-training. There are a lot of things that have to happen before a model can be deployed in the real world, but we do see it as a way to more efficiently train models and increase their reliability, said Fruchter, pointing to, for example, a scenario where Genie 3 could be used to teach a self-driving car how to safely avoid a pedestrian that walks in front of it. Despite the improvements DeepMind has made to Genie, the lab acknowledges there's much work to be done. For instance, the model can't generate real-world locations with perfect accuracy, and it struggles with text rendering. Moreover, for Genie to be truly useful, DeepMind believes the model needs to be able to sustain a simulated world for hours, not minutes. Still, the lab feels Genie is ready to make a real-world impact. We already at the point where you wouldn't use [Genie] as your sole training environment, but you can certainly finds things you wouldn't want agents to do because if they act unsafe in some settings, even if those settings aren't perfect, it's still good to know, said Parker-Holder. You can already see where this is going. It will get increasingly useful as the models get better. For the time being, Genie 3 isn't available to the general public. However, DeepMind says it's working to make the model available to additional testers. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-deepminds-genie-3-can-dynamically-alter-the-state-of-its-simulated-worlds-140052124.html?src=rss

Spotify's premium audiobook feature launches in the US

After trialing the service in Ireland and Canada last month, Spotify has officially launched its Audiobooks+ service in the US, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. An add-on available to Spotify Premium members, as well as individual users on Family and Duo plans, it adds an extra 15 hours of listening on top of the 15 hours available for Premium subscribers. If you're an individual Spotify Premium subscriber, it's fairly straightforward upgrade. Paying an extra $12 per month for Audiobooks+ (on top of the $12 per month you're paying for Premium) nets you 15 extra hours of audiobook listening, on top of the 15 free hours already included in the plan. Here's how it works if you're in a $20 Premium Family or $17 Duo plan. First of all, while those plans do include 15 hours of free audiobook listening, they can only be accessed by the plan manager. With Audiobooks+, though, other plan members can now pay for access. All they need to do is ask the plan manager to add the Audiobooks+ option, again for $12 per month, and they'll gain 15 hours of listening. The plan manager can also purchase a $13.00 one-time 10-hour top-up (for themselves or other plan members) in order to finish a book. Spotify has gradually expanded its Audiobooks content offerings over the last year or two, having recently added book publisher Bloomsbury. The company also offers an audiobook-only subscription plan priced at $10 per month for 15 hours of listening. Depending on the audiobook, however, it may be cheaper just to buy it outright than topping up your Spotify account if you want to listen to multiple titles in a month. Along with the US, Ireland and Canada, Audiobooks+ is now available in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/spotifys-premium-audiobook-feature-launches-in-the-us-140010986.html?src=rss

HORI's Piranha Plant camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 drops to $40

The HORI Piranha Plant camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 is on sale for just $40 , which is a discount of $20 and a record-low price. This is a great deal for those who own a Switch 2 and want to take advantage of the camera functionality in games like Mario Kart World and that recently-released campfire sim . This was designed specifically for Nintendo's new console, so it's a plug-and-play affair. It's actually cheaper than the official Switch 2 camera with this sale and it looks a whole lot cooler. It's a Piranha Plant from the Mario franchise. We called it a work of art upon encountering the device and that holds true today. This thing is not only stylish, resembling an Amiibo more than a camera, but it's downright useful. The pot the Piranha Plant sits in functions as both a stand and USB extension for the device. The plant itself detaches from the pot, so the camera can be used in portable mode by popping it into the USB port at the top of the console. There's also a built-in privacy shutter. Just close the plant's mouth to obscure the lens. The actual camera specs here aren't going to win any awards, with a frame rate of 30FPS and a resolution of 640 x 480p. However, that's more than enough to capture footage of your floating head to accompany your kart as it races through the Mushroom Kingdom. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/horis-piranha-plant-camera-for-the-nintendo-switch-2-drops-to-40-145031511.html?src=rss

Apple Music for Android gets redesigned with lyrics and translation

Apple has released the beta version of Apple Music version 5.0 for Android, and as 9to5Google reports, it doesn't feature a Liquid Glass redesign like its counterpart for iOS 26 . Liquid Glass is what Apple calls its new visual language, so it's not quite clear whether the Android iteration of the app will ever get the same visual overhaul. It did get a handful of elements from the iOS 26 version, though, including new pill-shaped buttons for play, shuffle and repeat at the top of albums, playlists and tracks on queue to replace the rectangular buttons with rounded corners. Users will also apparently be able to pin music to the top of their Library. They can pin artists, whole albums, playlists or just specific songs for easy access if they want, and they can set anything they pin to be automatically downloaded to their device. 9to5Google says anything they pin will be synced with their Music app for iOS, but they can easily unpin things by long-pressing on them in the Library. The Android app will also come with lyrics translation and pronunciation guide, which is powered by Apple Intelligence on iPhones. If it is the same live translation feature, it will presumably be powered by Google's own AI on Android. Users will also be able to get their monthly and yearly replay stats within the app. Unfortunately, there's no confirmation that AutoMix, the big addition to the app for iOS 26 and the more advanced version of crossfade, is coming to Android. The feature uses DJ-style transitions between tracks, mixing the end of one track and the beginning of another by playing with tempos and adding gently fading in drums or bass loops. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-music-for-android-gets-redesigned-with-lyrics-and-translation-120027310.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Could the next PlayStation have triple the power of the PS5?

Five years since the launch of PlayStation 5 and, naturally, its time to ruminate on whats next. In a YouTube video from Moores Law is Dead, the leaker shares what they believe is extensive information on the PlayStation 6s possible specs, starting price and release timing . Caveat: Moores Law is Dead adds in the video a disclaimer that the info was sourced from a leaked AMD presentation to Sony back in 2023, adding that some of these specs may have changed by now. The leaks suggest the company may prioritize lower power output and keeping costs in line with the previous generation. The video claims the next-gen console will have three times the rasterization, or 3D rendering, performance compared to the base PS5 and roughly double compared to the PS5 Pro. A possible price of $499 might suggest Sony wants to channel the same success the PS4 had at launch, which was partly thanks to its lower price compared to both expectations and the competition. Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The news you might have missed VILE: Exhumed is an unjust casualty in Steams sweeping censorship campaign Instagram public accounts with fewer than 1,000 followers can no longer go live Engadget review recap: Samsung Z Flip 7, Oakley Meta glasses, DJI Osmo 360 and more Will the UN finally broker a treaty to end plastic pollution? Nothing Phone 3 review Not quite a flagship. Engadget Nothings first true flagship falls a little short. The Phone 3 offers a big 6.67-inch screen, a large battery with fast charging and 256GB of storage double that of rivals like the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25. However, a less-than-flagship chipset and inconsistent camera performance detract from the appeal of another intriguing phone with slick software and a unique design. The Glyph Matrix is much more helpful than the flashing lights of the Phone 3s predecessors, even if the design isnt quite as bold. Continue reading. Apple reportedly making stripped-down AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT Theres a dedicated team working on it. According to Bloomberg s Mark Gurman, earlier this year, Apple created a team called Answers, Knowledge and Information, tasked with developing a stripped-down rival to ChatGPT. Its a big shift from Apples earlier stance on artificial intelligence when the company partnered with OpenAI in 2024 to infuse Siri with ChatGPT instead of developing its own AI chatbot. The team will develop in-house AI services for a new ChatGPT-like search experience that can crawl the web to respond to questions. These new capabilities could be a standalone app, as well as support AI capabilities for Apples Siri and Spotlight. The former could do with an injection of new ideas. Apple said the long-delayed new-and-improved Siri would eventually roll out in the coming year. Continue reading. YouTube is testing Instagram-style collabs Itll let creators add other accounts to their videos. YouTube is testing a new collaboration feature, similar to one already on Instagram and TikTok. A Google employee explained on YouTube Help creators will be able to add collaborators to a video, so they can recommend each other to audiences. The test is currently only available to a small group of creators, but YouTube plans to expand its availability in the future. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111505416.html?src=rss

The best USB-C hub for 2025

Its impressive what tablets and ultraportable laptops can do. But to get the most functionality out of them, you may want a few more ports at your disposal, which is where a USB-C hub comes into play. By connecting to just one port, these handy devices give you extra USB connections, HDMI slots, SD card readers and Ethernet jacks. Plus most offer pass-through charging so you can keep your tablet powered while you work with all your peripherals hooked up. We tested more than a dozen models to come up with a few great picks for different situations and users. Here are the best USB-C hubs based on our testing. Table of contents Best USB-C hubs for 2025 What to look for in a USB-C hub How we test USB-C hubs Other hubs we tested Recent updates Best USB-C hubs for 2025 What to look for in a USB-C hub Hub vs docking station The first thing to decide is whether you need a USB-C hub or a USB-C docking station. Theres no set standard for what differentiates the two, but docking stations tend to have more ports, offer a separate DC power adapter and cost more, with some reaching upwards of $400. We have a separate guide to the best docking stations to check out if youre looking for something bigger than what were discussing here. USB-C hubs, in contrast, have between four and 10 ports, can support pass-through charging and typically cost between $30 and $150. Hubs, sometimes also called dongles or even multiport adapters, make more sense for smaller setups with just a few peripherals, such as a monitor, a wired keyboard and mouse, and the occasional external drive. Theyre also more portable, since theyre small and require no dedicated power. That could be useful if you change work locations but want to bring your accessories with you, or if you want to replace your laptop with a more powerful tablet . A docking station or Thunderbolt dock makes more sense for someone who needs a robust setup for their laptop, including multiple external monitors, webcams, stream decks, microphones and so on. Both docks and hubs make it easy to grab your laptop off your desk for a meeting or other brief relocation and when you get back, you only need to plug in one cable to get all your accessories reconnected. Of course, if you just need to plug in one peripheral, you may not need a hub or a dock, a simple USB-C adapter, like HDMI to USB-C or USB-A to USB-C, may do the trick. Ports For a USB-C hub to work, it needs to connect to a port on your laptop or tablet that supports video, data and power all of which is covered by anything listed as USB 3.0 or better, including USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. The port, of course, needs to be Type-C as well. The sea of laptops out there is vast, so its hard to make generalizations, but modern laptops, including Windows and Apple models, should have at least one USB-C port that will suffice, and indeed, every one of our top picks for the best laptops do including our top pick, the M4 MacBook Air. Next, its a matter of finding a good USB-C hub that has the right connections for your needs. Most hubs offer some combo of HDMI, USB, SD card reader, Ethernet and 3.5 mm ports. If you have a 4K monitor and would like at least a 60Hz refresh rate, youll need a hub with an HDMI 2.0 port HDMI 1.4 only goes up to 30Hz. HDMI 2.1 will handle 4K at up to 120Hz, but hubs that have adopted that standard arent as common just yet. Keep in mind that a low refresh rate can cause your screen to feel laggy, making your mouse appear glitchy and your webcam movements to look delayed. Additional USB ports on these accessories are usually USB Type-A or USB Type-C. They can support data with different transfer rates, typically 5Gbps or 10Gbps. Some ports only handle passthrough power and no data, and some can do data, power and video, so its best to check the spec list to make sure youre getting the support you need. Keep in mind that a hub may bill itself as a 7-in-1, but one of those ports may not be usable for anything other than charging. Standard SD and microSD cards are useful for transferring data from cameras and the like or for offloading files from your hard drive, and many hubs have those slots. Ethernet ports may deliver faster internet speeds than your Wi-Fi and a hub with a 3.5mm jack can bring back the wired headphone connection that some laptops have ditched. Power delivery Nearly all of the USB-C hubs I tested support passthrough charging. That means if your laptop or tablet only charges via USB, you dont have to take up another port on your laptop to keep everything topped up. Unlike a docking station, powering a hub is optional. The one exception is if you want to close the lid on your laptop while you work on an external monitor. Most computers will go into sleep mode if the lid is closed without power, so either the laptop or the hub will need to be plugged into the wall to prevent that from happening. Many of the newer hubs include a 100W USB-C power delivery (PD) port, with a healthy 80 to 85 watts going to your Mac, PC, iPad or Android tablet (the hubs take a little of the juice for themselves, hence the 15-watt or so difference). In my tests, a powered USB hub ran hotter than when it wasn't passing the charge through, so I prefer to power the computer directly using its own charger. But for tablets or other devices with no extra ports, that PD option is important. Some PD ports are also data ports which is both good and bad. On one hand, it feels wasteful to use a perfectly good data port just for boring old electricity. But on the other hand, USB-C connections that only carry a charge are less versatile, and it makes it seem like it has more accessory hookups than it actually does. Design Theres surprisingly little design variation among hubs. Most look like a flat slab, a little smaller than a smartphone, and have an attached Type-C host cable. The hues range from a silvery black to a silvery gray. Some are thinner than others, some have all ports on one edge and some have ports on both sides. All of this is just to say that aesthetics probably wont make or break your buying decision. One variation that could tip the scales is the length of the cable. A longer one will give you more freedom as you arrange the hub on your desk, potentially even letting you hide it behind your laptop. Or you may prefer a shorter one to keep the hub neatly set beside your laptop. How we test USB-C hubs Before we test anything, we take a look at whats available and how theyve been received by shoppers, forum-goers and other publications. I became familiar with a few reputable brands when I was testing docking stations, so I looked into hubs from those companies as well. I focused on items that would help with an average day of productivity not high-end setups or demanding gaming situations. Once I settled on a dozen or so that would make good candidates, I had them shipped to my humble office in the desert and started testing them out over the course of a few weeks. I used an M1 MacBook Pro running MacOS Sonoma as the host computer and plugged in accessories that include a 4K Dell monitor, a ZSA USB-C ergo keyboard , a Logitech USB-A gaming mouse , an Elgato USB-C 4K webcam , a Logitech streaming light, a USB-A 3.0 Sandisk thumb drive, a USB-C Samsung T7 Shield external drive and a pair of wired headphones I got for free on an airplane (I should probably invest in some wired headphones, but the cord dangling on my chest drives me nutty so all my earbuds are wireless). I used high-end HDMI and USB-C cables to ensure that any data or connectivity issues werent related to my equipment. Then I put each USB-C hub through a gamut of basic tests. I looked at what could be plugged in at once, the resolution on the monitor, data transfer speeds, the overall build quality of the hub and general usability factors, like the placement of the ports and the length of the cords. And, finally, the price-to-value ratio helped determine the best ones for a few different use cases. Other hubs we tested HyperDrive Next 10 Port USB-C Hub Theres a lot to like about HyperDrives Next 10 Port USB-C Hub . The tethered cable is a lavish 13 inches long, the HDMI 2.0 port outputs clear and crisp 4K visuals at 60Hz and the high-speed data transfers are great. It has the coveted two USB-C data ports plus a PD port, and theres even a headphone jack. The only thing that holds back a full-throated endorsement is the way our unit handled a streaming light. Having it on at full brightness made the webcam flicker every time. The issue went away at 75 percent brightness, but the same problem didnt happen on any other hub I tested. Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) Theres nothing wrong with the Anker 341 USB-C hub. In fact its a current recommendation in our iPad accessories guide and it comes at a great $35 price. It gives you two USB-A ports as well as SD slots. But at this point, a 1.4 HDMI connection, which only supports 4K resolution at 30Hz feels a little retro. Theres also just a single USB-C downstream port and the data transfer tests proved to be a touch slower than the other hubs. But if youve got a lower resolution monitor and dont need more than one USB-C, you wont be disappointed with it. Anker 555 8-in-1 It was a tough call between the UGreen Revodoc Pro 109 and the Anker 555 8-in-1 for our top recommendation. Both have a similar port array with an HDMI, Ethernet, two USB Type A, a PD USB-C and a USB-C 3.2 on the 555. And the Anker USB-C hub is $15 cheaper. We went with the UGreen hub for its more premium build, extra USB-A port and longer cord that gives you two extra inches to work with. But if you want to save a few bucks this hub is a worthwhile pick. Startech 4-Port USB-C Hub (data only) I only became aware of Startech when I started researching for this guide. The quality is decent and the yellow accents are a welcome bit of color in the otherwise very gray world of hubs. The performance is solid, with no hiccups that I encountered. The brands 4-Port USB-C Hub has a long cord that wraps around the hub itself, which is unique. It doesnt bother with power delivery, which isnt an issue if you can power your computer directly. But the four USB ports (three Type-A and one Type-C) max out at 5Gbps and theres no HDMI connector. It goes for $46, and unfortunately for it, there are cheaper ways to get a few more USB ports for your setup. Recent updates August 2025: Updated to ensure our top picks are still current and accurate. April 2025 : Added our experience with the Anker 555 8-in-1 hub to the Other hubs we tested section. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-usb-c-hub-120051833.html?src=rss

iPhone 17 Pro, Max and Air: Release dates, colors and everything else you need to know about Apple's new phones

After seeing the changes coming with iOS 26 , we're ready to finally see Apple's newest collection of smartphones: the iPhone 17 lineup. While that's still more than a month away assuming Apple sticks to its usual release schedule we haven't been left completely in the dark about what the new phones will look like. As with most unreleased iPhone models, rumors and leaks have trickled in about the hardware side ahead of the official introduction. Here's what we're expecting and what we can reasonably assume we'll get from Cupertino in September. What are the latest iPhone 17 rumors and reports? Again, not all iPhone rumors are created equal, and all should be taken with a grain of salt. The latest comes from a MacRumors report which says the internal battery pack of the new superthin iPhone Air (see below) is just 2.49mm thick half the thickness of the iPhone 17 Pro battery. The leak was posted on the Korean-langauge Naver blog , where they show the alleged batteries of the iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro side by side. The same account claimed the 17 Air's battery capacity was a mere 2,800 mAh, MacRumors notes. (That's below the battery capacity of current iPhone 16 models.) When will the iPhone 17 series be announced? Most years, the flagship smartphones are introduced in September. It's a little early to have the specific dates; some years, Apple only gives a week or two of lead time between sending invites and hosting the event. But years of past precedent show that sometime in September should be when the 17 models make their debut. This family of smartphones may be the last to follow that trend, however. There have been hints that the introduction of the iPhone 18 collection in 2026 will be split into a pro-tier announcement in the fall and a standard model announcement the following spring. What will the new iPhone 17 lineup include? Design leaks suggest that Apple is building an ultra-thin smartphone , likely to be named the iPhone 17 Air to match Apple's ultralight laptop designation. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman, often a solid source of advanced intel about Apple, reported in January that the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a basic A19 chip and will only have a single camera lens. It may also use Apple's new in-house modem, which was introduced in February on the iPhone 16e . More details about this development may leak ahead of September, but that's what we know for now. An investor note from Apple analyst Jeff Pu indicated that the Air will have a titanium frame. If his reports are accurate, the lightweight smartphone will be the only entry in the iPhone 17 lineup to use that metal; the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to be made of aluminum, which is oddly a lighter material than titanium. Other speculation had suggested that the Air would use a blend of aluminum and titanium, so the exact materials may not be known until the official announcement. Each new roster includes a base model, but over the years, Apple shakes up the variety of phones it offers. Most likely there will be an iPhone 17 and an iPhone 17 Pro. Apple has also committed to the size matters philosophy, and has been building an iPhone Pro Max option with an even bigger screen and better battery life; the 17 roster will almost certainly have one as well. The new Pro iPhones are said to have a full-width camera island on the rear, which would mark the first time an Apple model opted for that design. This feature can be seen in the the purported iPhone 17 spotted in the wild. The pics, highlighted on MacRumors , show a black cased iPhone (17 Pro?) with the distinct back panel. Is it the real deal? The dual angles lend a degree of credibility in a social media landscape increasingly polluted with AI-enhanced fakes, but your guess is as good as ours. I just spotted a test development iPhone in the wild pic.twitter.com/iS3PtKWqxJ Fox Pupy (@Skyfops) July 28, 2025 The iPhone 17 Air seems primed to take the place of a potential iPhone 17 Plus. Since the iPhone 16e was only just introduced in February at a surprisingly high price point , it seems unlikely that there will be a new addition to that lower end of the spectrum, the models that were previously called SE. At the very least, it sounds like the iPhone 17 Air won't take away the charging port and rely only on wireless connectivity. Bloomberg said that while Apple had investigated making the iPhone 17 Air without a single port, the company (fortunately) changed plans. He also says that the rumored phone will have a 6.6-inch screen and include the Dynamic Island and Camera Control button. Finally, the price is rumored at $900 likely more than the standard iPhone 17 but less than the Pro. We've also gotten what seems to be a reliable look at what the color lineup will be for the new smartphones. Macworld reported that the iPhone 17 will be available in black, white, steel gray, green, purple and light blue. The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly have four color options: black, white, light blue and light gold. While the Air colors will be less saturated, the visuals for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will go bold. The options for the Pro models are expected to be black, white, gray, dark blue and orange. On July 30, Tom's Guide highlighted an X post from Sonny Dickson a longtime and generally reliable leaker of unreleased iPhone information showing dummy iPhone 17 models in the new colors that were the source of the aforementioned Macworld story. While these are literally just mock-ups not real, leaked iPhones it's interesting to see how the design and color rumors translate into a real-world look and feel. What will iOS 26 be like? Apple upended its numbering conventions with WWDC 2025, and will match the name of each new operating system to the year it's released. So when the next wave of iPhones hits, they'll be running on iOS 26 . On the design side, the smartphone OS introduced during the big developer showcase took a contentious approach dubbed Liquid Glass. Apple has been scaling down the amount of transparency effects in the subsequent beta tests of iOS 26, but it will still have a glass-like visual. The feature list includes big and small updates. On the more impactful side, the Phone and Photos apps have been redesigned. There will be several features leveraging artificial intelligence, such as live translation capabilities coming to Phone, FaceTime and Messages. Apple is also currently testing a sensitive content warning for child accounts that will freeze FaceTime video if nudity is detected by on-device machine learning tools. And the company is also launching Visual Intelligence, which will use AI to search for elements in an image. iOS 26 also has a litany of minor, quality of life improvements. Group texts are getting support for polls. And for the slow risers out there, iOS 26 will finally let you escape the tyranny of the nine minute snooze alarm . The next iOS is now available as a public beta . Here are our initial impressions of the Liquid Glass design and other new features. iOS 26 is compatible with all models back through iPhone 11. Update, August 4, 2025, 5:23PM ET: Added latest battery leaks about the iPhone 17 models. Update, August 1, 2025, 8:15AM ET: Added new photos showing potential iPhone 17 colors. Update, July 30, 2025, 11:08AM ET: Added latest leaks and rumors about the iPhone 17, and updated information on the iOS 26 public beta. Update, July 17, 2025, 4:40PM ET: Added latest information about iOS 26, possible materials for the Air, and the color options for the different models. Update, March 17, 2025, 2PM ET: Added details about the rumored price and features of the iPhone 17 Air. Update, April 11, 2025, 3:45PM ET: Added details from Front Page Tech's new video that claims to reveal details from a leaked iOS 19 build. Katie Teague contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-17-pro-max-and-air-release-dates-colors-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-about-apples-new-phones-153024847.html?src=rss

Perplexity is allegedly scraping websites it's not supposed to, again

Web crawlers deployed by Perplexity to scrape websites are allegedly skirting restrictions, according to a new report from Cloudflare . Specifically, the report claims that the company's bots appear to be stealth crawling sites by disguising their identity to get around robots.txt files and firewalls. Robots.txt is a simple file websites host that lets web crawlers know if they can scrape a websites' content or not. Perplexity's official web crawling bots are PerplexityBot and Perplexity-User. In Cloudflare's tests, Perplexity was still able to display the content of a new, unindexed website, even when those specific bots were blocked by robots.txt. The behavior extended to websites with specific Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that restricted web crawlers, as well. Cloudflare Cloudflare believes that Perplexity is getting around those obstacles by using a generic browser intended to impersonate Google Chrome on macOS when robots.txt prohibits its normal bots. In Cloudlfare's tests, the company's undeclared crawler could also rotate through IP addresses not listed in Perplexity's official IP range to get through firewalls. Cloudflare says that Perplexity appears to be doing the same thing with autonomous system numbers (ASNs) an identifier for IP addresses operated by the same business writing that it spotted the crawler switching ASNs across tens of thousands of domains and millions of requests per day. Engadget has reached out to Perplexity for comment on Cloudflare's report. We'll update this article if we hear back. Up-to-date information from websites is vital to companies training AI models, especially as service's like Perplexity are used as replacements for search engines. Perplexity has also been caught in the past circumventing the rules to stay up-to-date. Multiple websites reported in 2024 that Perplexity was still accessing their content despite them forbidding it in robots.txt something the company blamed on the third-party web crawlers it was using at the time. Perplexity later partnered with multiple publishers to share revenue earned from ads displayed alongside their content, seemingly as a make-good for its past behavior. Stopping companies from scraping content from the web will likely remain a game of whack-a-mole. In the meantime, Cloudflare has removed Perplexity's bots from its list of verified bots and implemented a way to identify and block Perplexity's stealth crawler from accessing its customers' content. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexity-is-allegedly-scraping-websites-its-not-supposed-to-again-211110756.html?src=rss

Apple iOS 26 beta: How to download the update on your iPhone, new features like Liquid Glass and everything else you need to know

Liquid Glass is a huge new change coming to iOS 26. (Apple) You've seen all the changes coming to your iPhone and now you're desperately ready to upgrade to iOS 26 but it's only August and the operating system won't be here until this fall. But I have good news: you can test out all the features now by downloading and installing Apple's public beta , which CEO Tim Cook says is (along with the other current beta operating systems) y far the most popular developer betas weve had, 9to5Mac reports . You can also take a look at our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release , which shows off the fresh home and lock screen redesign. Called Liquid Glass , the new translucent look will extend across all of Apple's upcoming operating systems. The overhaul is one of several big changes coming to iOS, macOS , iPadOS and the rest of Apple's software suite, all of which were showcased during the company's WWDC keynote on June 9. After overpromising on AI plans last year, Apple kept its iOS roadmap focused more on basic quality of life improvements this year. There are multiple useful additions coming to the Phone and Messages apps on your iPhone, for instance: Apple execs outlined the ability to weed out spam texts or other unknown senders and an option to hold your spot on a phone call when you've been waiting for a representative to pick up. Plus, a treasured feature that we took for granted is coming back (hint: it's in the Photos app). Siri, meanwhile, 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 in the current betas. 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. With each beta, it seems like additional new improvements are popping up, like this FaceTime feature that'll freeze your video if it detects nudity . Most newer iPhone models are eligible to download iOS 26 (both the betas and final version). Want to see the full list of new features coming this fall? Read on. What is iOS 26? The current iPhone operating system is iOS 18, and Apple is still actively updating it version 18.6 was just recently released. But don't expect to see iOS 19. Instead, Apple is skipping the numbering ahead to iOS 26 later this year. 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 will be released in late 2025, they're all designated 26 to reflect the year ahead. (Meanwhile, iOS 18 is still getting new versions this summer , too.) 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 own 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, as of the release of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already 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: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple's OSes more cohesive. Here's a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look 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'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 and continue on with other tasks. Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translation 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 will soon be able to create polls in group messages for deciding 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 still frustrated with the Photos changes made last year , you'll be happy to know that your tabs are coming back. Library and Collections will have their own separate spaces so you don't have to scroll to infinity to find what you're looking for. 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. Apple's Hold Assist will be nifty for those pesky services that put you on hold for 10 or more minutes. (Apple) 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 won't be compatible with the latest upgrade. But any iPhones released in 2019 or later will be eligible for the iOS 26 update . 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 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max Not listed here are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or maybe iPhone 26?) that are all but certain to be announced and released in September. How to install iOS 26 beta The iOS 26 public beta is now available to download via the Apple Beta Software Program . If you're not already a member, you'll need to sign up to try out all the latest features. Just visit beta.apple.com and sign up with your phone number or email address. It's free. Once you're in, you can install it by going to Settings > General > Software Update and selecting iOS 26 public beta . A word of caution: Don't sign up with your main iPhone unless you're OK with any risks that occur with using an OS that isn't finalized. When will the final version of iOS 26 be released? iOS 26 will be released to the public this fall. It usually comes in September, within a week of the Apple iPhone event. Last year, it rolled out to iPhone users on September 16 exactly one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was announced. If you're more interested in the Apple Intelligence features coming, 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, 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/apple-ios-26-beta-how-to-download-the-update-on-your-iphone-new-features-like-liquid-glass-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-135749293.html?src=rss

Here's a comprehensive list of compatible iPhones that can download the iOS 26 beta today

If you're a devoted iPhone owner like me, you'll be excited to check out all the exciting new updates coming to Apple's operating system this fall: iOS 26. The coolest change, in my opinion, is the new Liquid Glass design ( think Windows Vista , but arguably more thoughtful), which looks to be Apple's largest visual update in years. We spent two weeks test-driving it you can check out our detailed hands-on iOS 26 preview , or you can try it out yourself by downloading and installing the public beta , available now. (While the beta is open to the public and stable, always remember there's a degree of risk involved with beta software.) Not ready to upgrade your smartphone this year? No worries, we'll help you find out if your phone will be able to run iOS 26. Last year, Apple didn't nix any iPhones from its eligibility list, but that's not the case for 2025 a few models are getting cut this time. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to get the boot in 2023, and this year the 2018 models are getting left behind. If you have an ineligible device, you won't be able to download iOS 26 when it becomes available this fall. We'll get to the bottom of which iPhones will support iOS 26 this year. To see what's coming with the latest OS and more, check out everything announced at Apple's WWDC June 9 event . One thing you shouldn't immediately expect is Apple's updated version of Siri , though the company is reportedly working on a 'stripped-down' AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT. These three iPhones won't be compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, several iPhone models won't be eligible to download the newest iOS when it makes its debut this fall. This trio of models 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 While we don't yet know the new iPhones Apple will be dropping this fall though there are iPhone 17 rumors we do know, per Apple's site , that the phones listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. Basically, 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 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max 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 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 usually rolls out its latest iOS in mid-September, just a few days before the new iPhones hit store shelves. Last year, it released iOS 18 on Monday, Sept. 16. Expect a confirmation of the release date at the iPhone 17 event, expected in early September. 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 was designed to make all of Apple's OSes more 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. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/heres-a-comprehensive-list-of-compatible-iphones-that-can-download-the-ios-26-beta-today-191854632.html?src=rss

NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission ends in disappointment

The Lunar Trailblazer mission to the moon officially ended on July 31, but it wasn't a complete journey. NASA said today that its teams lost contact with the satellite shortly after its launch several months prior. The NASA satellite was part of the IM-2 mission by Intuitive Machines, which took off from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on February 26 at 7:16PM ET. The Lunar Trailblazer successfully separated from the rocket as planned about 48 minutes after launch. Operators in Pasadena, CA established communication with the satellite at 8:13PM ET, but two-way communication was lost the next day and the team was unable to recover the connection. From the limited data ground teams received before the satellite went dark, the craft's solar arrays were not correctly positioned toward the sun, which caused its batteries to drain. While it was not the outcome we had hoped for, mission experiences like Lunar Trailblazer help us to learn and reduce the risk for future, low-cost small satellites to do innovative science as we prepare for a sustained human presence on the Moon, said Nicky Fox, associate administrator at NASA Headquarters' Science Mission Directorate. Thank you to the Lunar Trailblazer team for their dedication in working on and learning from this mission through to the end. The Lunar Trailblazer mission was one of several commercial spaceflights planned for travel to the moon during 2025. Its goal was to create high-resolution maps of any water on the moon's surface, as well as assessing how much water was present, in what forms and how it may have changed over time. Fingers crossed the remaining missions have better success. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-lunar-trailblazer-mission-ends-in-disappointment-201318932.html?src=rss

Amazon splits up the Wondery podcast network and lays off about 110 employees

Four years after Amazons acquisition of podcast network Wondery , the tech giant is dismantling its $300 million purchase and reorganizing various audio properties into separate teams at the company. As first reported by Bloomberg , this reorg will see the studio lose about 110 employees, and CEO Jen Sargent is departing the company. Amazon told Bloomberg it will continue to produce podcasts, though their place within the company will be restructured. The more narrative-focused podcasts under the Wondery brand, such as American Scandal and Business Wars , will merge with Amazons Audible team. Some of these podcasts will retain Wondery branding, and the Wondery Plus app will remain active. Subscribers to Wondery Plus get early access to some podcast episodes through the app, though it's unclear at this point what functionalities will remain in the app, and which will be absorbed by Audible. Meanwhile, the celebrity-hosted shows such as New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard will be rolled into a new team that Amazon is calling Creator Services. According to Bloomberg , a main focus of this new team will be selling large sponsorships. These titles are part of a growing trend toward video podcasts that have helped make YouTube the go-to platform for podcast consumption. Steve Boom, VP for Audio, Twitch and Games at Amazon, addressed the changes in a memo (published by Deadline ) sent to Amazon employees. The podcast landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years. As video podcasting has grown in popularity, we have learned that creator-led, video-integrated shows have different audience needs and require distinct discovery, growth and monetization strategies compared with audio-first, narrative series, he wrote. Employees who were let go as part of these changes were notified Monday, though Amazon spokesperson Alice Zhou told The Verge that many of the impacted employees would be moved to other parts of Amazon. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-splits-up-the-wondery-podcast-network-and-lays-off-about-110-employees-185358357.html?src=rss

Elon Musk says the Vine archive is coming back

Elon Musk recently announced that he's bringing back the Vine archives , after teasing the return of the social platform over the last week or so. The X owner says that the company recently discovered the entire video archive of the once-popular short-form video app and is working to restore user access. Twitter bought Vine all the way back in 2012. Musk says that X users will be able to post these Vines, but it's just an archive. In other words, this doesn't sound like a renaissance for the actual platform. Grok Imagine is AI Vine! Btw, we recently found the Vine video archive (thought it had been deleted) and are working on restoring user access, so you can post them if you want. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 2, 2025 It remains unclear as to what Musk's intentions are for the brand, but the announcement about the returning archive was accompanied by an ad for the Grok Imagine video-creation platform . He called the service the AI Vine. Why expand energy to make short-form content when you can type some words into a prompting field? There's also the Musk of it all. He doesn't have the best track record when it comes to delivering on promises . We'll just have to wait and see if the Vine video archive actually returns and what happens after that. For the uninitiated, Vine was sort of like TikTok before TikTok. It was a platform for 6-second looping videos. The app was extremely popular for a while, but Twitter never really capitalized on that after its $30 million purchase. It was shut down in 2016, which ended uploads, and was completely discontinued in 2017 . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/elon-musk-says-the-vine-archive-is-coming-back-180935178.html?src=rss

ChatGPT will now remind you to take breaks, following mental health concerns

OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT will now remind users to take breaks if they're in a particularly long chat with AI. The new feature is part of OpenAI's ongoing attempts to get users to cultivate a healthier relationship with the frequently compliant and overly-encouraging AI assistant. The company's announcement suggests the gentle reminders will appear as pop-ups in chats that users will have to click or tap through to continue using ChatGPT. Just Checking In, OpenAI's sample pop-up reads. You've been chatting for a while is this a good time for a break? The system is reminiscent of the reminders some Nintendo Wii and Switch games will show you if you play for an extended period of time, though there's an unfortunately dark context to the ChatGPT feature. The yes, and quality of OpenAI's AI and it's ability to hallucinate factually incorrect or dangerous responses has led users down dark paths, The New York Times reported in June including suicidal ideation. Some of the users whose delusions ChatGPT indulged already had a history of mental illness, but the chatbot still did a bad job of consistently shutting down unhealthy conversations. OpenAI acknowledges some of those shortcomings in its blog post, and says that ChatGPT will be updated in the future to respond more carefully to high-stakes personal decisions. Rather than provide a direct answer, the company says the chatbot will help users think through problems, offer up questions and list pros and cons. OpenAI obviously wants ChatGPT to feel helpful, encouraging and enjoyable to use, but it's not hard to package those qualities into an AI that's sycophantic. The company was forced to rollback an update to ChatGPT in April that lead the chatbot to respond in ways that were annoying and overly-agreeable. Taking breaks from ChatGPT and having the AI do things without your active participation will make issues like that less visible. Or, at the very least, it'll give users time to check whether the answers ChatGPT is providing are even correct. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chatgpt-will-now-remind-you-to-take-breaks-following-mental-health-concerns-180221008.html?src=rss

Lyft and Baidu plan to bring their robotaxis to the UK and Germany next year

Lyft and Baidu have shed more light on their plan for a worldwide fleet of autonomous vehicles . After the first rollouts which are earmarked for Asia and the Middle East later this year the companies have their designs set on Europe. They're aiming to deploy robotaxis in the UK and Germany in 2026, as long as they get approval from regulators. The goal is to then expand the European fleet to thousands of vehicles across the continent in the following years. Baidu is using its sixth-generation Apollo Go vehicles for this rollout. Once the robotaxis start operations in a given market, consumers will be able to book rides in them via the Lyft app. Lyft says that it will leverage its recent acquisition of taxi company Freenow to speed up deployment of autonomous vehicles, given that platform's established foothold in the UK and Germany. The partnership between Lyft and Baidu, which the pair announced last month, follows Baidu revealing its plans to start testing Apollo Go in Europe later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/lyft-and-baidu-plan-to-bring-their-robotaxis-to-the-uk-and-germany-next-year-152132114.html?src=rss

The Google Pixel 9a is $100 off right now

The Google Pixel 10 is just around the corner, so we're starting to see some great deals pop up on the previous generation. The Google Pixel 9a is on sale right now for $100 off its usual price, a 20 percent reduction. If you've been considering your first Pixel, or had your sights set on the Pixel 9a, this sale is a great opportunity. The Pixel 9a is Google's most affordable model in the Pixel lineup, but that by no means makes it a subpar gadget. We selected the 9a as our best budget Android phone , and we gave it a score of 91 out of 100 in our hands-on review . This model has design, features and performance you'd be forgiven for confusing with a flagship model. The entire Pixel 9 lineup is powered by the same Tensor G4 processor, with the biggest difference being the Pixel 9a's 8 GB of RAM instead of the 12 GB found on the Pixel 9. Average daily users will almost certainly not notice a difference here, as the extra RAM is more for video editing, gaming or relentlessly switching between apps. The 48-MP main camera and 13-MP ultra-wide rival cameras on phones that are twice the price, and its 5,100 mAh battery is the largest in the Pixel 9 lineup. The phone's 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 2,700 nits is identical to the Pixel 9. The hardware on the Pixel 9a is simply among the best in its price range. The Pixel 9a offers excellent value, and at $100 off, the value is even greater. 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-google-pixel-9a-is-100-off-right-now-151724954.html?src=rss

Raven Software gets its union contract with Microsoft three years after voting to organize

Employees at Raven Software, known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise, finally have a union contract with Microsoft . This happened nearly years after quality assurance (QA) workers at the company voted to unionize . Workers voted unanimously to ratify the first contract between the company's Game Workers Alliance-CWA (GWA-CWA) members and Microsoft. This contract includes a guaranteed 10-percent wage increase over two years, along with additional raises through merit and promotions. It also eliminates crunch time, with a requirement to give employees seven days' notice for mandatory overtime. There will be no excessive overtime on back-to-back weeks and no mandatory overtime of any duration for the majority of weeks in a quarter. The contract also mandates a fair promotions process along with expanded disability accommodations. Finally, there are a spate of layoff protections, including severance, recall rights, COBRA subsidies and career transition services. As previously stated, these workers voted to unionize three years ago. At the time, it was the first union at Activision Blizzard or any major US publisher. This was before Microsoft scooped up Activision . The past three years have been fraught for Raven's QA workers. An investigation found that Activision had been withholding raises from unionizing workers and the company's top brass were accused of bad faith bargaining. Workers at ZeniMax, another company owned by Microsoft, secured a contract in June . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/raven-software-gets-its-union-contract-with-microsoft-three-years-after-voting-to-organize-150133353.html?src=rss

The Razer Kishi Ultra controller drops to a new record low of $95

A mobile gaming controller into which you can slot your phone or even a tablet is a great option to play your favorite titles on the go without the need for a dedicated console or handheld PC. Razer makes one of the better-known premium options in the form of the Kishi Ultra, and now the controller is back on sale. This time around, it has dropped to $95. This is a new record-low price for the peripheral, which was available for $100 during Prime Day last month . As it stands, you can score the Razer Kishi Ultra for 37 percent off its regular price of $150. The Razer Kishi Ultra is compatible with a wide range of devices that have USB-C ports, including Android phones, more recent iPhones and even eight-inch tablets like the iPad Mini. It works with some foldable phones too. There's also the option to plug it into your PC or laptop via USB-C cable. Being a Razer peripheral, of course the Kishi Ultra has RGB lighting. Other features include advanced haptic feedback, mechanical ABXY face buttons and D-pad, Hall effect triggers, programmable bumpers and customization through the Razer Nexus app. It's a little disappointing that Razer didn't offer Hall effect thumbsticks as well. However the Kishi Ultra's thumbsticks do have anti-friction rings, which should hopefully help with durability. 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-razer-kishi-ultra-controller-drops-to-a-new-record-low-of-95-143557380.html?src=rss

Will the UN finally broker a treaty to end plastic pollution?

To tackle what's been called the plastic epidemic, the UN spun up a committee in 2022 tasked with brokering a legally binding global agreement. This ambitious treaty between UN member states was to address the full life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal: In short, define what counts as plastic pollution and curb the sorts of unchecked production that inevitably leads to it. But across five sessions since, countries have failed to reach a consensus on the text. What was meant to be the final session ended last year in Busan, South Korea without agreement, and representatives from 175 countries are now set to meet again for part two, this time in Geneva, Switzerland. INC-5.2 will take place from August 5 to 14, during which negotiators will attempt to see eye-to-eye on the points of the draft treaty that have thus far proven most contentious. According to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), there are over 370 such points. Scope Production, the use of chemicals of concern (those considered to be a risk due to toxicity and/or other qualities), product design and the financing of treaty implementation are some of the main points of disagreement. These issues have left countries in a deadlock, according to Cate Bonacini, Communications Manager for CIEL. There are countries that argue health should be excluded from the treaty's scope. These topics will be front-and-center going back into the talks, and UN member states have spent the last eight months working hard in closed-door meetings to find points of agreement, Bonacini said in an email. Well see the fruits of that labor soon. At the heart of the issue, Bonacini said, there is a large disagreement about what plastic pollution is, and what measures are needed to end plastic pollution. While the commitment focuses on the full life cycle of plastics, there's been much dispute over where that cycle really begins. As scientists, we interpret the full life cycle as starting with extraction and production, said Bethanie Carney Almroth, a professor of ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg and a member of the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. That would be fossil fuels and raw plastic production all the way through to product, to use, to trade, to transportation, to waste management, mismanagement and environmental pollution, including remediation of existing legacy plastics. All of it. While over 100 countries last December were in favor of a treaty that would impose production limits, others including Saudi Arabia and Russia opposed the caps. Ahead of that session, the US reportedly also made the decision not to support production caps , despite earlier indications that it would. Unsurprisingly, the countries that have taken issue with the scope of the treaty are also some of the world's top oil producers. There are other actors, Carney Almroth said, that are trying to narrow that scope to go from plastic products, like water bottles, to waste management, so sort of excluding the outer boundaries of how we define the plastics life cycle so that it would, in essence, become more of a waste management treaty. Outside influence In addition to representatives from the participating member states, scientists, environmental organizations and industry lobbyists are present for the negotiation sessions. According to Carney Almroth, who has attended every Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting and is now in Geneva for INC-5.2, increasingly it's been lobbyists who take up the most space. At the last round of talks, lobbyists for the petrochemical and plastics industries made up the single largest delegation, wrote Bangor University lecturer Winnie Courtene-Jones, who is also a member of the Coalition, in a recent article for The Conversation . CIEL found that there were three times more fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists than scientists at the Busan meetings. Bonacini noted that plastics are 99 percent fossil fuels, and these companies have a vested interest in continuing to generate fossil fuel-based products, including plastics. Their influence has played a big role in the stalemate. They have a lot of power, money and influence, Carney Almroth said, and their lobbying efforts go beyond the walls of the negotiating spaceThey have access to decision makers in ways that other observers do not. They don't want to look at chemicals, Carney Almroth said. They don't want to look at production. But the science indicates that looking at chemicals (additives, processing aids, etc.) and production is of utmost importance, not only in the context of environmental sustainability but also human health. In an editorial for the Bulletin of the World Health Organization in July, a group of scientists pointed to the numerous potential health effects that recent studies have linked to plastics, via exposure to hazardous chemicals and from micro- and nanoplastics. That includes an increased risk of multiple chronic diseases, including cancer, neurodevelopmental harm and infertility as well as respiratory, reproductive and gastrointestinal harm, with potential links to lung and colon cancer. The authors called on delegates to prioritize these concerns in the upcoming negotiations and work toward a treaty that would end production of toxic chemicals in plastics, ban the recycling of plastics containing those chemicals and reduce plastic production overall. Their letter comes alongside a separate study published this summer in the journal Nature that identified over 4,200 chemicals of concern in plastics, out of the 16,325 total known plastic chemicals . The researchers argue that, on top of establishing transparency around the makeup of plastics and removing chemicals of concern, plastics must be simplified if they're going to be made safer. The many chemicals that go into plastics can be released throughout the entire plastic life cycle, from feedstock extraction and production to use and waste, the authors write. Specific end-of-life treatments, such as uncontrolled landfilling or incineration, can further exacerbate chemical releases. The UN has warned that the negative effects at every stage in the life cycle of plastics disproportionately harm vulnerable populations worldwide, including indigenous peoples, low income families and rural communities. Where things stand Today, plastic is more or less inescapable microplastics can even be found in Antarctica now. And research increasingly suggests we aren't fully aware of how bad pollution levels really are. Global plastic production has more than doubled in the last 25 years, with upwards of 450 million metric tons now estimated to be produced annually. Recycled plastics make up just 6 percent of that total, a figure that's expected to stay the same even as global plastic use and waste generation are projected to rise 70 percent by 2040, according to the international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). And each year, tens of millions of tons of plastic waste is disposed of in ways considered to be environmentally unsound, ending up in uncontrolled dumpsites, burned openly or accumulating on land and in bodies of water. A study published this summer, led by researchers from Utrecht University and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, found that there may be far more plastic in the oceans than previously thought when accounting for particles even smaller than microplastics. The team collected water samples from 12 locations across the North Atlantic Ocean and measured the concentration of nanoplastics (plastic particles under 1 micrometer) at different depths. By the researchers' estimate, there could be as much as 27 million metric tons of nanoplastic in the North Atlantic alone. That's in the ballpark of previous global estimates for larger plastic waste across all of the ocean. In another new study , researchers from France's University of Toulouse found we may be breathing in up to 100 times more microplastic particles indoors than previous estimates, based on measurements of airborne microplastics in the researchers' own apartments and car cabins. The situation is urgent, especially for vulnerable populations, said Carney Almroth. The amounts of plastics we're producing today and the amount of plastic in the environment are astronomical, said Carney Almroth. As of a few years ago, we had twice the mass of plastic on the planet as the mass of all the animals on land, in water, including insects, and we have produced far more plastic since then. Plastics are overwhelming any and all of our waste management infrastructure, so we are not able to prevent pollution. We're not able to mitigate harm, Carney Almroth said. The impacts of plastics in the environment are very large scale, to the point where they're destabilizing vital Earth functions like climate, like nutrient cycling, like biodiversity. And then we have the human health impacts on top of that. It's an acute problem. The logistics of averting catastrophe But, as the past five sessions have illustrated, reaching an agreement on how to solve that problem isn't going to be easy. The trouble, in part, boils down to how the decisions are being made. So far, it's all being done by consensus rather than voting, Carney Almroth and Bonacini explained. That approach allows a single country veto power over decisions, Bonacini said. Petrochemical countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, India and Brazil have reportedly latched onto this, using obstructionist tactics to drag out the negotiations. Some have insisted without legal basis, according to CIEL, that decisions can only be made by consensus. Consensus, however, isn't the only option. The draft Rules of Procedure allow for majority voting in the event a consensus can't be reached, but whether that will happen is yet to be seen. There are opportunities to force that rule, Carney Almroth said. But, a country (or countries) would have to step up and invoke it. At this stage of the negotiations, there is a risk that countries will compromise on key provisions for time's sake, Bonacini said, which would ultimately weaken the treaty. And once a treaty is finalized, it can take years, if not decades, to make amendments to the original text, so getting it right the first time is crucial. International agreements that have taken a softer approach to addressing environmental issues, like the Paris Agreement which lets countries set their own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been criticized for being insufficient in the face of rapidly rising global temperatures and climate change. In June at the UN Ocean Conference, representatives for 95 countries that are part of the INC reaffirmed their commitment to a treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics, phases out the most problematic plastic products and chemicals of concern, improves product design to reduce environmental and health impacts and employs effective means of implementation. A treaty that lacks these elements, only relies on voluntary measures or does not address the full lifecycle of plastics will not be effective to deal with the challenge of plastic pollution, the group which includes Canada, Australia, Colombia, Zimbabwe, the UK and Germany wrote in a joint statement . These countries added that the treaty should provide for the possibility of decision-making, through regular UN procedures if all efforts to reach consensus have been exhausted. If an agreement isn't reached this time around, there are a number of ways the next steps could play out. The talks could be stretched even further into another meeting, or countries could decide to take the matter somewhere else. Many countries are considering alternatives if negotiations fail, Christina Dixon, Ocean Campaign Lead for the Environmental Investigation Agency told Mongabay . Options include returning to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to establish a new expanding mandate, creating a convention outside the UN for committed countries to move forward or adopting a protocol under an existing convention. The UNEA meets next in December. We are, as Courtene-Jones wrote in The Conversation , at a critical crossroads. That's something advocates for a strong, science-based treaty all seem to agree on. There are a lot of places where we can really do a lot to make a difference, and make things better, said Carney Almroth. Countries need to be ambitious, and need to stand up and demand this. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/will-the-un-finally-broker-a-treaty-to-end-plastic-pollution-130022025.html?src=rss

The best Bluetooth trackers for 2025

Most people think of AirTags when they picture a Bluetooth tracker. And indeed, Apples little white discs used to be the most capable option, relying on a vast finding network of nearby iPhones to pinpoint lost tags. But now, both Google and Samsung have implemented finding networks of their own. And other Bluetooth tracker companies, like Chipolo and Pebblebee, now have trackers that pair with either Google or Apples network too. In short, youve got a lot of options for tagging and tracking your keys, backpacks, luggage and more. So we tested all the major brands out there to see how they work and put together a guide to help you get the most out of your chosen tracker. Here are the best Bluetooth trackers you can buy. Table of contents The best Bluetooth trackers for 2025 What to look for in a Bluetooth tracking device How we tested Bluetooth trackers Other Bluetooth trackers we tested Bluetooth tracker FAQs Best Bluetooth trackers for 2025 What to look for in a Bluetooth tracking device Bluetooth trackers are small discs or cards that rely on short-range, low-energy wireless signals to communicate with your smartphone. Attach one of these gadgets your stuff and, if its in range, your phone can ring the chip so you can find it. These tracking devices offer other features like separation alerts to tell you when youve left a tagged item behind, or where a lost item was last detected. Some can even tap into a larger network of smartphones to track down your device when youre out of range. Depending on what you want the tracker to do, there are a few specs to look for when deciding which to get. Device compatibility Like most things from the folks in Cupertino, AirTags only work with products in the Apple ecosystem. Both Apple and Google have opened up access to the Find My and Find Hub networks to third-party manufacturers, including Chipolo and Pebblebee. Those two companies make device-agnostic models that will work with the larger tracking network from either brand, so iPhone and Android users can buy the same tag. Tile trackers work with either Android or Apple devices, but use Tiles own Life 360 finding network. Samsungs latest fob, the Galaxy SmartTag2, only works with Samsung phones and taps into a finding system that relies on other Samsung devices to locate lost tags. Finding network Crowd-sourced finding capabilities are what make headlines, with stories about recovering stolen equipment or tracking lost luggage across the globe . Using anonymous signals that ping other peoples devices, these Bluetooth tracking devices can potentially tell you where a tagged item is, even if your smartphone is out of Bluetooth range. Apples Find My network is the largest, with over a billion iPhones and iPads in service all running Apples Find My app by default. So unless an iPhone user opts out, their phone silently acts as a location detector for any nearby AirTags. Apple recently increased the AirTags finding power by enabling you to share the location of a lost tag with a third party, party, like an airline. Chipolo fobs that work on Apples network have the same ability. Google launched its Find My Device network in 2024 and has since renamed it Find Hub, which, like Apple's fining app, combines devices and people finding in one place. That network is now a close second for the largest in the US Now that Googles Find Hub network is up and running , its a close second for the largest in the US. Like Apple, Android users are automatically part of the network, but can opt-out by selecting the Google services option in their phones Settings app and toggling the option in the Find Hub menu. Samsungs SmartTag 2 and related network also defaults to an opt-in status for finding tags and other devices. Tile offers a large finding grid that includes Tile users, Amazon Sidewalk customers and people running the Life360 network. Life360 acquired Tile in 2021, and, according to the company, the Life360 network has more than 70 million monthly active users. In our tests, AirTags and third-party tags using its network, like the Chipolo Pop and Pebblebee Clip Universal, were the fastest to track down lost items. They offered nearly real-time location data in moderately to heavily trafficked spots around Albuquerque, including a bar, bookstore and coffee shops in Nob Hill, along with various outdoor hangouts on UNMs campus. Samsung's SmartTags were able to locate our lost items most of the time, though not with the same precision finding accuracy as AirTags. When we tested Googles Find Hub (then called Find My Device) network right after launch, it was noticeably slower than Apples network when using the community finding feature. Testing it again in 2025, the time it took to locate a lost item was considerably improved, taking just a couple minutes for the community to track a fob. In our tests, Tiles finding network wasnt able to consistently locate its lost fobs. Amy Skorheim / Engadget Separation alerts Heres where a trackers day-to-day utility really shines. A separation alert lets you know when youve traveled too far from your tagged items, which is useful if you want to make sure your laptop bag, or jacket or umbrella always comes with you when you leave the house. These notifications work when youre out and about too. If youve got a Bluetooth tracking device in your wallet and walk out of a restaurant without it, the separation alert should kick in, resulting in fewer lost items. This feature also tells you where your tagged item and phone were last paired, allowing you to retrace your steps if you happen to miss the alert. Each tracker handles left-behind items differently. AirTags and third-party fobs using its network (such as from Chipolo or Pebblebee) include the feature by default. Tile trackers require a yearly subscription to enable the alerts (currently $30 annually). Tags working with the Google's Find Hub network dont offer the feature at all, but Chipolo Pop tags can issue left-behind alerts using its own Android app. Both AirTags and Tiles allow you to turn off separation alerts at certain locations, meaning you can set your home as a safe place where items can be left behind, but alerts will still trigger elsewhere. In our tests, AirTags and others using the Find My network alerted us between the 600- and 1,400-foot mark. Tiles sent a notification after about an average of 1,500 feet and were more consistent when using an Android phone than an iPhone. Chipolo Pop tags paired with an Android phone and using its own app sent an alert when we got around 450 feet away from our tagged item. Connectivity, volume and design The feature you may use most often is the key finder function, which makes the tracker ring when you hit a button in the app. With Apple's AirTags, you can say Hey Siri, where are my keys? and the assistant will ring the tag (assuming it doesn't mistakenly think you're asking for directions to the Floridian archipelago). You can also use the Find Item app in your Apple Watch to ring your fob. Asking smart home/personal assistants like Alexa or the Google Assistant to find your keys will work with Chipolo, Tile and Pebblebee trackers linked to your Android device. If you have your tag but cant find your phone, some trackers will let you ring them to find your handset. SmartTag2 fobs reliably rang our Galaxy phone when we double-pressed it. Tile trackers have the same feature. Chipolo Pop trackers can ring your phone, but uses the Chipolo app to do so, which can run concurrently with the Find My or Find Hub connection. AirTags and any third-party tags using only Apple or Googles networks dont offer this feature. The volume of the Bluetooth tracking device may determine whether you can find an item buried in your couch cushions or in a noisy room. AirTags have a reputation for being on the quiet side, and that aligned with what we saw (measuring roughly 65 decibels). Chipolos Pop tags and Tiles Pro model measure between 83 and 86 decibels on average. Pebblebees new Clip Universal was the loudest of any tag weve tested, clocking in at 91 ear-splitting decibels. Design will determine what you can attach the tracker to. AirTags are small, smooth discs that cant be secured to anything without accessories , which are numerous, but that is an additional cost to consider. Chipolo, Pebblebee and Tile offer trackers with holes that easily attach to your key ring, and all three companies also offer card-shaped versions designed to fit in your wallet. Pebblebee Clip Universal tags come with a handy carabiner-style key ring. Batteries are replaceable for AirTag, Tile Pro, SmartTag2 and Chipolo Pop fobs and each should go for at least a year before needing to be swapped. Tile Mate and card-shaped trackers dont have replaceable batteries, which means youll have to replace the entire unit whenever it dies. Pebblebee trackers are rechargeable in both the disc and wallet variety. Theyre also the only tags equipped with onboard LEDs. Stalking, theft and data privacy AirTags have gotten a lot of attention and even prompted some lawsuits for Apple due to bad actors planting them on people in order to stalk them. While this fact may not influence your buying decision, any discussion of Bluetooth trackers should note what steps Apple , Google and Tile have taken to address the issue. Last year, all the major players in the Bluetooth tracker business teamed up to combat misuse and standardize how unauthorized tracking detection and alerts work for iOS and Android. Last year, Tile launched a feature called Anti-Theft Mode , which enables you to render one of its trackers undetectable by others. That means if someone steals your tagged item, they wont be able to use the anti-stalking features to find and disable the tracker. That sort of negates one of the major ways potential stalking victims can stay safe, so Tile hopes ID verification and a $1 million penalty will deter misuse. Separately, Tile was hit by a data breach , raising different privacy concerns. The company issued a statement about the event, which it shared with Engadget: Similar to many other companies, Life360 recently became the victim of a criminal extortion attempt. We received emails from an unknown actor claiming to possess Tile customer information. We promptly initiated an investigation into the potential incident and detected unauthorized access to a Tile customer support platform (but not our Tile service platform). The potentially impacted data consists of information such as names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and Tile device identification numbers. It does not include more sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, passwords or log-in credentials, location data, or government-issued identification numbers, because the Tile customer support platform did not contain these information types. We believe this incident was limited to the specific Tile customer support data described above and is not more widespread. We take this event and the security of customer information seriously. We have taken and will continue to take steps designed to further protect our systems from bad actors, and we have reported this event and the extortion attempt to law enforcement. We remain committed to keeping families safe online and in the real world. As a theft deterrent, a Bluetooth tracker may or may not be the best option. Anecdotal stories abound in which people have recovered stolen goods using a tracker but other tales are more cautionary . Neither Apple nor Google promotes its trackers or finding networks as a way to deal with theft. GPS trackers, on the other hand, are typically marketed for just that purpose. How we tested Bluetooth trackers Before deciding on which trackers to test, we researched the field, looking at user reviews on Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers, along with discussions on sites like Reddit. We also checked out what other publications had to say on the matter before narrowing down our options to Apple AirTag, Tile, and Chipolo trackers. When Samsung's SmartTag 2 came out in October of 2023, we added that to our testing, along with Pebblebee's rechargeable Clip tracker. After Google launched its finding network (now called Find Hub), both Chipolo and Pebblebee released trackers in 2025 that work with either network and we tested the Pop and Universal key fob models and updated our top picks accordingly. Heres the full list of every tracker we tested: Apple AirTag Chipolo Card Spot Chipolo One Spot Chipolo One Chipolo Card Chipolo Pop Pebblebe Clip Universal Pebblebee Clip Samsung SmartTag 2 Chipolo One Point Pebblebee Clip for Android Tile Pro (2024) Tile Mate (2024) Tile Mate (2022) Tile Pro (2022) Tile Slim (2022) After acquiring the trackers, I tested each one over the course of a few weeks using both an iPhone 11 and a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. I recreated likely user experiences, such as losing and leaving items behind at home and out in the city. I planted trackers at different spots near downtown Albuquerque, mostly concentrated in and around the University of New Mexico and the surrounding neighborhood of Nob Hill. Later, I conducted tests in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. Each test was performed multiple times, both while walking and driving and I used the measure distance feature on Google Maps to track footage for alerts. I paid attention to how easy the app was to use, how reliable the phone-to-tracker connection was and any other perks and drawbacks that came up during regular use. As new trackers come to market, or as we learn of worthy models to try, I'll test them and add the results to this guide. I'm currently in the process of obtaining Motorola Moto tags and look forward to seeing how they work with an Android phone. Other Bluetooth trackers we tested Tile Pro and Tile Mate (2024) Tile recently came out with a new suite of trackers, replacing the Tile Mate, Tile Pro, Tile Sticker and Tile Slim with updated models . In addition to fun new colors for the Mate and Slim, Tile added an SOS feature that can send a notification to your Life360 Circle when you triple press the button on the tracker. Its a clever addition that turns your keys into a panic button, something offered by personal safety companies as standalone devices. There are a few caveats: You and the people you want to notify in an emergency will need the Life360 app installed on your phones. If you want your Tile to also trigger a call to emergency services, youll need a $15-per-month Life360 subscription (thats in addition to a Tile membership, which starts at $3/month or $30 annually). And enabling the SOS triple-press disables the ability to ring your phone with the fob. I tested the SOS feature and it did indeed send a text message to my Circle, with the message that I had triggered an SOS and a link to a website that showed my current location. I thought it odd that the link didnt open the Life360 app (which shows the location of users' phones), but I wasnt as much concerned with Tiles personal safety features as I was with the tracking capabilities, which turned out to be less than ideal. For my tests, I planted Tile trackers in a densely populated area of Seattle (about 15,000 people per square mile). After setting the trackers to lost in the Tile app, I waited. After four hours, one of the trackers was not discovered by the finding community, so I went and retrieved it. Another fob I planted alerted me that the tracker had been found by the Tile community after three hours but the location it gave me was off by a third of a mile. I then decided to plant a tracker in the most populated place I could think of the dried fruit and nuts aisle of a Trader Joes on a Friday evening before a major holiday. It still took over a half an hour before another Tile user anonymously pinged my lost tracker. In my tests with Samsungs trackers and the fobs on Googles Find Hub network, it took around ten minutes for them to be discovered. AirTags took half that time and all were tested in a far less populated city. Four hours with no ping and over a half hour before getting a hit in a crowded TJs were pretty long stretches. Our top pick, the classic Chipolo, has virtually no finding network. But if youre getting a tracker for that feature alone, you should go with AirTags if you have an iPhone or the Google-enabled Chipolo or Pebblebee trackers if you use an Android phone. We prefer the Chipolo because it works with either iOS or Android devices, it rings loud, its quick to tell you when youve left it behind and it connects nearly instantly when youre searching for a misplaced tracker around the house. Tile devices also work with both mobile operating systems and its latest models are indeed louder than they were before. But they arent as quick to connect and you need to pay for a membership to activate left-behind alerts. And when you do, those notifications dont kick in as quickly as they do with competing trackers. Bluetooth tracker FAQs Which Bluetooth tracker has the longest range? Both the Tile Pro and the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 claim a maximum range of around 400 feet, which is longer than the 300-foot claim for Chipolos Pop tags. The Pebblebee Clip Universal claims a 500-foot range, though other trackers with a shorter claimed range performed better in our tests. Apple doesnt make range claims for AirTags. Any Bluetooth signal, of course, is dependent on a few factors. Obstacles like walls and people can block the signal, so a clear line of sight is the only way to achieve the maximum range. Other signals, like Wi-Fi, can also interfere with Bluetooth connections. Even high humidity can have an effect and lessen the distance at which your phone will connect to your tracker. Remember, when considering the range of Bluetooth trackers, the size of the finding network also comes into play. This is the number of nearby phones that can be used to anonymously ping your tracker when your own phone is out of Bluetooth range. As of now, Apple AirTags have the largest network, followed by Googles Find Hub, Samsungs finding community and Tiles Life360 members. What is the best Bluetooth tracker for a car? Bluetooth trackers are designed to track small, personal items like keys, jackets, backpacks and the like. All trackers have safeguards to prohibit the tag from being used to stalk people, so most will alert someone if a tracker that does not belong to them is detected following them. That means a car thief may get tipped off that theres a tracker in the car theyre trying to steal. That said, youll see plenty of stories about people finding their car thanks to a Bluetooth tracker. Some police departments have even handed out trackers to combat high rates of carjacking. In most instances, the tracker of choice has been AirTags thanks to their wide finding network. If youre looking for a tracker for your car, you may want to look into GPS trackers, some of which are designed for just that purpose. How accurate are Bluetooth trackers? Accuracy for Bluetooth trackers can be looked at in two ways: Finding items nearby and finding items misplaced outside your home. For nearby items, youll most often use the ring function on the device to hunt it down. Two tags, Apples AirTags and Samsungs Galaxy SmartTag2, also use ultra-wideband technology, which creates directional navigation on your phone to get you within a foot of the tracker. Accurately finding lost items outside your home depends on the size of the finding network. Since this relies on the serendipity of a random phone passing within Bluetooth range of your tracker, the more phones on a given network, the better. And since Bluetooth ranges and distance estimates are only precise within about a meter or so, getting pings from more than one phone will help locating items. Here again, its worth noting that Apples Find My network is the largest, followed by Google, Samsung and Tile (both Chipolo and Pebblebee have fobs that work with the Apple and Google networks). Recent Updates August 2025 : Updated the name of Google's finding network to Find Hub, instead of Find My Device. Added details about Pebblebee's new Alert feature. Added a table of contents. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-bluetooth-tracker-140028377.html?src=rss

The best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories for 2025

Now that the Switch 2 is finally here, you may be equally as excited to kit out your new console with the right accessories as you are to dive into Mario Kart World . Not only can the right accessories make it easier and more fun to play all of the games you love, but they can also make your gaming experience better in different environments, be it on the couch, in an airplane or in the car. We're excited to get our hands on some of the newest Switch 2 accessories (more on those below), but plenty of our favorite classics are compatible with the Switch 2 as well as older versions of the console. These are our current favorite Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, and we'll add to this list over time as we test out new gear. Best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories More Nintendo Switch 2 accessories Nintendo announced a bunch of new accessories when it revealed the Switch 2 earlier this year. Key among them are a new Switch 2 Pro controller, Switch 2 camera, an all-in-one carrying case and more. Our staff will be testing out a bunch of these accessories, and we'll keep our favorites list up to date as we do so. If you're interested in picking any of those new Switch 2 accessories up, you can find them at a variety of retailers: Joy-Con 2 bundle Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera Best Buy Target Amazon Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-nintendo-switch-2-accessories-070011952.html?src=rss

One AI-powered iOS app can tidy up your gallery, contacts, and even your email

Macworld As iPhones fill up with photos, videos, and unused apps, performance can start to lag and storage space quickly disappears. The Cleaner Kit uses AI to keep your iPhone organized and running efficiently, and its only $29.99 (reg. $104.97) for a lifetime subscription during this limited-time sale. The Cleaner Kit works for iPhones running iOS 15 or later. It uses smart scanning to quickly find and clean up the stuff you dont need, whether its clearing out duplicate or low-quality photos, compressing large videos to save space without ruining the quality, or keeping your photo library organized. It wont automatically delete any of your photos. Instead, it lets you swipe through your images so you can archive or delete old shots without digging through your whole gallery. Photos arent the only spot Cleaner Kit can tidy up. It can also work on your contacts by merging duplicates and removing empty entries, clear outdated calendar events, and even help manage your inbox. It groups emails by sender, which makes it easier to sort through everything and quickly delete or keep what you want. You can also store sensitive files or contacts in a secure, access-restricted vault for added privacy. If you want to tidy up your iPhone, this is an easy, low-cost way you only have to pay for once. Get a Cleaner Kit Premium Lifetime Plan on sale for $29.99. Cleaner Kit for iOS Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change .

All confirmed Switch 2 GameCube titles: What game will Nintendo add next, and when will it go live?

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Amazon now offering most affordable unlocked Galaxy S25 Ultra at $300 off the list price

While we did catch some notable deals for Prime Day on unlocked Galaxy S25 Ultra handsets, anyone who might have missed out on those can scoop up the most affordable model at $300 off the list price right now this includes the Titanium Black and the Titanium Gray colorways. more

Restock while this 12-pack of Hanes tagless boxers is only $33 Prime shipped ($3/pair)

12-pack of Hanes Tagless Boxer Underwear Buy for $33 (Reg. $44) What we love If its been a bit since you refreshed the underwear in your wardrobe, heres a solid opportunity to do it and spend very little in the process. Right now Amazon will send this 12-pack of Hanes boxers to your doorstep at just $2.75/pair. Best of all, this pricing is currently available on S, M, L, and XL sizes. more

Commute up to 68 miles with exclusive 50% savings on ENGWEs Engine Pro 2.0 folding e-bike at a new $749.50 low

Weve secured an exclusive and budget-friendly deal from Wellbots for our readers on the ENGWE Engine PRO 2.0 Folding e-bike at $749.50 shipped , after using the exclusive promo code 9TO5ENGWE50 at checkout for 50% off. This model would normally run you $1,499 here, which weve seen discounted as low as $1,149 from the brand over the last year. That price is getting strong-armed out of the way with this exclusive deal that gives you a 50% markdown, putting nearly $750 back into your pocket at the best new price we have tracked. more

Samsungs 1TB 160MB/s EVO Select microSD card hits one of its lowest prices today at $67.50

Amazon is now offering Samsungs 1TB EVO Select memory card and adapter combo for $67.49 shipped. This is the latest 1TB EVO Select microSD model that debuted last year in August for $110, offering faster transfer speeds compared to the older one. Its recently been selling for $75 on Amazon, but todays deal knocks it further down to mark one of the lowest prices weve tracked for it. Only once before today have we seen this microSD card and adapter combo go for less, and its now within $7.50 of that price. Samsung, in case youre wondering, currently has it for $69.99 shipped . Head below for more details. more

Todays Android app deals and freebies: Huge collection of Final Fantasy and Mana series titles, more

Your mid-week lineup of the best Android game and app deals are now ready and waiting down below courtesy of Google Play. Alongside the software offers, be sure to scope out the deals we are also tracking today on Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra configs at up to $449 off , this Android Auto CarlinKit Mini SE Pro adapter at $41 , and a chance to score the Google Pixel 8 Pro at $400 off with a FREE $300 Pixel Watch . As for the apps, todays lineup is loaded with Final Fantasy and Mana series, but thats just for starters everything awaits below. more

Streamline your dual monitor setup with this desk mount at 37% off, now $23.50

HUANUO Dual Monitor Desk Mount Buy for $23.50 (Reg. $37) What we love Right now Im sitting in front of a dual monitor setup, and neither display is taking up space on my desk. This is because I have them raised up with a mount sort of like this one. A large majority of monitors support this, allowing you to float a couple of screens and clear off your desk all in one go. Best of all, $23.50 is a small price to pay. more