to what Apple has up its sleeves. So, with that in mind, here's what to expect from the upcoming iPad event: M3 iPad Pro Nathan Ingraham / Engadget It's been about 18 months since Apple updated any of its iPads , so its tablet lineup is due for a refresh. It won't exactly come as a surprise to see Apple slot M3 chips into the latest iPad Pro models, since the most recent versions run on M2 chipsets. Otherwise, the biggest update is expected to come in the form of OLED displays , according to Bloomberg s Mark Gurman. That should bring richer colors and deeper blacks to the iPad Pro. Since OLED panels are thinner than LCD panels, that should allow Apple to reduce the thickness of the iPad Pro. According to 9to5 Mac , the 11-inch iPad Pro will be 0.8 mm thinner at 5.1 mm, while the 12.9-inch model will be more noticeably slender, as the thickness is expected to drop by 1.5 mm to 5 mm. A leaker has suggested that the bezels could be up to 15 percent thinner than previous models as well. Rumors have been swirling for a while that Apple may offer a glass-backed iPad Pro this year to enable MagSafe charging . Meanwhile, there have been hints that Apple will solve one of our biggest iPad bugbears and move the front-facing camera to the landscape edge of the Pro, as it did with the entry-level iPad in late 2022. That means the camera will be more optimally placed for those who use a Magic Keyboard or folks who simply prefer a landscape orientation. M2 iPad Air Nathan Ingraham / Engadget As for the iPad Air, which Apple has left in stasis for over two years , that's expected to get an upgrade to M2 chips from the M1 that the tablets currently use. There are rumblings that Apple will go with the older chip in the iPad Air to differentiate it from Pro models and ensure that the latter devices clearly remain its highest-end tablets. Reports suggest that the iPad Air's front-facing camera is also blessedly moving to the landscape edge. There is one other big change we're expecting for the iPad Air, and I mean that in the most literal sense. Apple is rumored to be prepping the first 12.9-inch iPad Air. It's likely to be the least expensive option for a large-screen iPad, even though that would run somewhat against the "Air" part of the name. Display analyst Ross Young previously suggested that the 12.9-inch iPad Air screen would have a mini-LED display, but that no longer appears to be happening at least for now. However, Young says that Apple may release an iPad Air with such a display later this year. Meanwhile, the new iPad Air models may have a larger camera bump , perhaps so Apple can add a flash. New Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Engadget Gurman reported last year that Apple was working on a revamped Magic Keyboard, but only for the iPad Pro, not the Air lineup . The updated keyboard is said to make the iPad Pro look more like a laptop, with a larger trackpad. It's said to be made of aluminum to make it sturdier than previous models, though "the exterior shell of the Magic Keyboard will retain the cover material of the current model," Gurman says. In addition, Apple is expected to unveil a new Apple Pencil to replace the second-gen model. Dataminers have suggested that an updated peripheral could include a squeeze gesture to carry out certain actions and have Find My support . Some reports have indicated the next Apple Pencil could work with Vision Pro drawing apps too. What not to expect: A new iPad or iPad mini Even though the iPad mini in particular is getting very long in the tooth the most recent model arrived in September 2021 you probably shouldn't expect a new model to show up at the Let Loose event. Not are we expecting to see a new base iPad. Reports suggest an 11th-gen iPad and an updated iPad mini may arrive later this year, but maybe don't hold your breath for them. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...-event-210041117.html?src=rss

means we still cant give EU consumers the information they need and the choices they deserve in our app. Heres what we mean. pic.twitter.com/tkcXQkRqLy Spotify News (@SpotifyNews) April 24, 2024 In the news, shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Spotify's chief public affairs officer Dustee Jenkins further stated, "By charging developers to communicate with consumers through in-app links, Apple continues to break European law. It's past time for the Commission to enforce its decision so that consumers can see real, positive benefits." In the hours following Spotify's stunt, Apple swiftly moved to reject the update. In a response sent to Spotify and shared with Engadget, the company said the following: Hello team at Spotify, We are reaching out to let you know about new information regarding your app, Spotify - Music and Podcasts, version 8.9.33. As you may be aware, Apple created a new Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) for iOS and iPadOS music streaming apps offered in EEA storefronts. The entitlement allows music streaming apps to use buttons, external links, or other calls to action to direct customers to a purchase mechanism on a website owned or controlled by the developer. You must accept its terms before adding any of these capabilities to your app. Please find more information about the entitlement here. We note that your current submission includes a call to action to purchase a Spotify subscription on your website. As such, you must accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) and include the entitlement profile in your app for submission. To be clear, this entitlement is required even if your app does not include an external link (nor does it require that you offer an external link). We will, however, approve version 8.9.33 after you accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) and resubmit it for review. If you have any questions about this information, please reply to this message to let us know. Best regards, App Review Spotify is surprise! not pleased with this development. A spokesperson for the company told Engadget that "Apple has once again defied the European Commissions decision, rejecting our update for attempting to communicate with customers about our prices unless we pay Apple a new tax." They added that Apple's "disregard for consumers and developers is matched only by their disdain for the law." Apple and Spotify have consistently butted heads over what the latter can and can't do with its iOS app. Following the DMA going into effect, Spotify submitted an update to Apple that would have allowed users to purchase plans directly from the app, but Apple rejected it. Apple did so even though the European Union had just hit it with a nearly $2 billion fine for "blocking" alternative music apps. The EU is also investigating Apple, Meta and Google for self-preferencing and charging developers additional fees. Update, April 25 2024, 2:50PM ET: This story has been updated twice since publishing. The first update, at 8:45AM ET, included Spotify's reaction to Apple's rejection. The second update, published at 2:50PM ET, included a letter sent by Apple to Spotify. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...tml?src=rss

with Pulitzer and 17-time Grammy award winner Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast savior / Engraving your name in some hip-hop history, an AI-generated 2Pac recreation raps in Drakes track. If you deal with this viciously / You seem a little nervous about all the publicity. Representing Shakurs estate, King wrote in the cease-and-desist letter that Drake has less than 24 hours to pull down Taylor Made Freestyle, or the estate would pursue all of its legal remedies to force the Canadian rappers hand. The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of Tupacs voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult, King wrote, according to Billboard . The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupacs voice and personality, King wrote. Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupacs publicity and the estates legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use. SnoopDogg.com Taylor Made Freestyle also used AI to clone Snoop Doggs voice, with Drake using digital clones of two of Lamars west-coast hip-hop influences to try to hit him where it hurts. In a video posted to social media the following day, Snoop didnt appear to know about the track. They did what? When? How? Are you sure?, the 16-time Grammy nominee and herb connoisseur said. Why everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the fuck? What happened? What's going on? I'm going back to bed. Good night, he continued. Engadget emailed Snoop Doggs management to ask about his thoughts on Drake cloning his voice. At the time of publication, we hadnt heard back. The saga contains more than a bit of irony if not outright hypocrisy from Universal Music Group (UMG), the label representing Drake. You may remember the track Heart on My Sleeve by Ghostwriter977, which briefly went viral last year . It was pulled after UMG complained to streaming services because it used an AI-generated version of Drakes voice (along with The Weeknd). Engadget asked UMG if it approved of Drakes use of AI-generated voices in Taylor Made Freestyle and where it stands on the broader issue of using artists digital clones. We havent received a comment at press time. Without a clear explanation, its hard not to see the label as being on the side of whatever seems most financially advantageous to it at any particular moment (surprise!). Laws addressing AI-cloned voices of public figures are still in flux. Billboard notes that federal copyrights dont clearly cover the issue since AI-generated vocals typically dont use specific words or music from the original artist. Mr. King, speaking for Shakurs estate, believes they violate Californias existing publicity rights laws. He described Drakes use of Shakurs voice as forming the false impression that the estate and Tupac promote or endorse the lyrics for the sound-alike. Last month, Tennessee passed the ELVIS (Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security) Act to protect artists from unauthorized AI voice clones. The first-of-its-kind legislation makes copying a musicians voice without consent a criminal Class A misdemeanor. But none of the parties involved in this feud are in Tennessee. On the federal level, things are moving much more slowly, leaving room for legal uncertainty. In January, bipartisan US House legislators introduced the No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications Act (No AI FRAUD), putting cloned voices like those Drake used in the governments crosshairs. Congress hasnt taken any public action on the bill in the more than three months since. It is hard to believe that [Tupacs record label]s intellectual property was not scraped to create the fake Tupac AI on the Record, King wrote in the cease-and-desist letter. He demanded Drake offer a detailed explanation for how the sound-alike was created and the persons or company that created it, including all recordings and other data scraped or used. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...s-182518997.html?src=rss

approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years," Blizzard wrote in a blog post . The publisher plans to spill the beans about expansions (including the upcoming three-part WoW saga and Diablo IV DLC ) for its franchises at other events, such as industry trade shows and Gamescom. Now that Blizzard is under Microsoft's umbrella, we can probably expect some news from the publisher at the annual Xbox showcase in June. There are also in-person events lined up for Overwatch esports and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Warcraft. BlizzCon 2023 was the first in-person edition since 2019 , so to miss out once again in 2024 may come as a blow for many fans. Now they'll likely need to wait until at least late 2025 to meet up with a bunch of their peers and Blizzard developers again. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

do good work. Update, April 25 2024, 1:39PM ET: This story has been updated to include the fact that Reddit engineers have fixed the problem and that the site is back. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ....html?src=rss

durability, particularly to the nose, along with all-wheel drive (AWD) for the first time on a Formula E car. Formula E says the Gen3 Evo is capable of accelerating a full second faster than the Gen3 version, going from 0 to 60 mph in 1.82 seconds (0-100 kph in 1.86 seconds). It explained that that time is 30 percent faster than a 2024 Formula 1 car and 36 percent faster than the Gen3 EV currently used in races. Those numbers aren't theoretical either: the series has already achieved the benchmarks on track in Misano, Italy. "It's not simulated, it's real," Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds told Engadget. "It was really timed by the FIA at that speed." Dodds added that there were some "slight tweaks" in some areas, but the Gen3 Evo should still hit 60 mph in under two seconds when it debuts on track for races next year. A key aspect of this unlocked acceleration is the use of AWD on a Formula E car for the first time. The series debuted dual powertrains with Gen3, but until now, the one up front was only being used for battery regeneration. AWD will only be used during the later rounds of qualifying (head-to-head duels), the race start and when a driver has activated Attack Mode during the race. Besides the boost to acceleration, drivers should have better control grip when AWD is active. Plus, it entirely changes team strategy and could lead to even more exciting racing. "One of the occasional criticisms I hear is Attack Mode doesn't have a big enough difference," Dodds said. "I think with all-wheel drive, that will make a difference." He also noted that when you have 22 cars that are all capable of 0 to 60 mph in under two seconds barreling towards turn one, "that makes for a high jeopardy, exciting start of a race." The redesigned front wing on the Gen3 Evo. Formula E One frustration of Gen3 that Formula E is addressing with the Gen3 Evo is the fragility of the front wing. As part of a larger overhaul to the body that includes new side pods, rear wing , the new car has a redesigned, slightly pointier nose and a strengthened front wing. With the Gen3 car, front wing damage is common, and it often gets stuck under the car, which becomes dangerous for a driver trying to make his way back to the pit lane. In addition to being "stronger" and "more robust," according to Formula E, the body changes also improve aerodynamics, which could contribute to more wheel-to-wheel battles on track. Another key change is to the tires. Formula E is still working with Hankook on the all-weather compound used for its races, but the updated version offers 5- to 10-percent more grip compared to the current spec. Dodds explained that this increase in traction is essential since Gen3 Evo employs the front powertrain for AWD. "If you haven't got the increase in grip on the tires, that's pretty challenging to control," he said. In total, Formula E says the performance upgrades on the Gen3 Evo equate to a two-second drop in qualifying lap times around the tight, twisty Monaco street circuit. Since the series stipulates qualifying time in that estimate, that means AWD and a higher power mode would be active to achieve it. But, it also means Formula E is unlocking the full potential of what Gen3 has been capable of since its debut last season. Formula E Indeed, the bulk of the Gen3 car is still intact. That includes an all-electric race car that's incredibly efficient, converting 90 percent of its energy to mechanical power. By employing 600kW regenerative braking, the cars produce almost 50 percent of the energy they need to complete a race while on track. Like its predecessor, the Gen3 Evo remains capable of a top speed of 200 mph. And just like before, teams will make performance updates to the cars via software changes in search of any on-track advantage. Formula E says there has already been some driver testing of the Gen3 Evo behind closed doors, and the feedback has been very positive. Dodds explained that Tag Heuer Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein and DS Penske's Jean-ric Vergne both drove the car in test sessions with rave reviews. Vergne, who is one of the more outspoken drivers on the grid, specifically noted how much better it drives than the current car. "The sooner we can get to [Gen3 Evo] in season 11, the better, as far as he's concerned," Dodds explained. "It's lovely to get that feedback, because happy drivers often create happy races." This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...-seconds-173038751.html?src=rss

recording. It also integrates with the companys AnkerWork software for editing and for making quick adjustments to brightness, sharpness and contrast ratio. The default resolution is 2K, but you can adjust to 1080p, 720p or even 360p as the content requires. The field of view is similarly adjustable, so you can offer watchers an ultra-wide view of an extremely messy bedroom. It boasts dual stereo mics with omnidirectional vocal pickup and ships with a built-in lens cover. The webcams autofocus is quite fast, even when compared to pricier models, and its larger f/2.0 aperture helps the image stay illuminated even in dark environments. The overall image quality isnt quite on par with our favorite webcam, the Logitech Brio 500 , but its also less than half the price. We do have some complaints about the C200. Its a bit cumbersome to adjust the angle when perched on a screen, due to the design. Theres no short neck that connects the camera to the base. Its just one chunky piece of plastic, requiring both hands to make adjustments. Also, the provided USB-C cable is on the shorter side, so you might want to have a longer one ready to go, particularly if you use a standing desk. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...rss

broadband internet in a similar way to water, power and phone services. That includes giving the agency oversight of outages and the security of broadband networks. Brendan Carr, one of the Republican commissioners, referred to the measure as an "unlawful power grab." Under net neutrality rules, internet service providers have to treat broadband usage in the same way. Users have to be provided with access to all content, websites and apps under the same speeds and conditions. ISPs can't block or prioritize certain content they're not allowed to throttle access to specific sites or charge streaming services for faster service. The FCC adopted net neutrality protections in 2 during the Obama administration. But they were scrapped when President Donald Trump was in office. Back in 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to bring back the Obama-era rules, but the FCC was unable to do so for quite some time. The commission was deadlocked with two Democratic votes and two Republican votes until Anna Gomez was sworn in as the third Democratic commissioner on the panel last September. The FCC then moved relatively quickly (at least in terms of the FCC's pace ) to re-establish net neutrality protections. The issue may not be entirely settled. There may still be legal challenges from the telecom industry. However, the FCC's vote in favor of net neutrality is a win for advocates of an open and equitable internet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

subtractive manufacturing, continuous tape layup and robot arm operations. These technologies make the printer uniquely suited for a number of industries, including housing, infrastructure and the development of military vehicles. Most of the stuff it makes is recyclable, so you can basically deconstruct it, grind it up if you wish and do it again, according to Dr. Habib Dagher, the Director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine. To that end, the printer prioritizes biobased materials, like wood residuals. This tech seems like a great way to build a ton of affordable housing quickly and thats exactly what some proponents have in mind. Maine needs an estimated 80,000 additional homes by 2030, many specifically for households with incomes at or below the area median income, said MaineHousings Development Director Mark Wiesendanger. This effort creates another means of producing quality affordable housing, while further driving costs down, and using abundant wood residuals from Maine sawmills. AP suggests the printer may one day create entire neighborhoods. The specs indicate that it should be able to make a modest single-story home in around 80 hours. However, this is America, so its not like people built this thing just to help the unhoused. UMaine researchers received funding from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. These governmental institutions are going to want a return on their investment, so the printer will also likely be used to whip up lightweight rapidly deployable vessels, like submarines and other maritime vehicles. Senator Susan Collins called the printer invaluable to our national security." The FoF 1.0 has a sibling printer on the UMaine campus, which was the previous record holder for the worlds largest 3D printer. Its already been used to manufacture a 600-square-foot, single-family home made of wood fiber and bioresin materials. The new printer, however, is four times the size. Luckily, the two models are housed in the same location and can work on different aspects of the same projects simultaneously. The University of Maine will soon break ground on a new research laboratory called the Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) Factory of the Future. This will be the new home of both printers, with a primary aim to facilitate and scale up more sustainable manufacturing practices. It will also likely house even larger printers in the future. Were learning from this to design the next one, Dr. Dagher told ABC News . This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...22.html?src=rss

notices. Facepunch Studios said in its new announcement, that it believes the demands legitimately came from Nintendo and that it has to respect the company's decision and start taking down items related to its IPs. "This is an ongoing process, as we have 20 years of uploads to go through," the developer wrote. "If you want to help us by deleting your Nintendo related uploads and never uploading them again, that would help us a lot." [PSA] False flaggers on the Garry's Mod Workshop. There is someone, or a group of trolls going around the Gmod workshop filing false DMCA claims and shutting down addons, over 10 Gmod addon makers, myself included have been attacked, with over a dozen of our addons gone. pic.twitter.com/ZwVVhQjQlu Brewster T. Koopa (@brewsterkoopa) February 11, 2024 Koopa said in a follow-up tweet that they sent an email to the company to let it know that the demands aren't actually from Nintendo. They previously argued that the takedown notices couldn't be from the Japanese gaming giant, because Nintendo add-ons have been around since 2005 and because the company would've contacted Valve, the publisher of Garry's Mod , itself. While the announcement is still up, Facepunch founder Garry Newman announced that his team has received people's emails and DMs and that the developer is conducting an investigation. "We need to take these things seriously (particularly from Nintendo), but we also can't let people misuse DMCA takedowns," Newman wrote. We've reached out to Nintendo to ask whether the takedowns Facepunch received truly came from the company, and we'll update this post once they respond. Yes, we have got your emails and dms, we have seen your theads, we're doing our own investigations. We need to take these things seriously (particularly from Nintendo), but we also can't let people misuse DMCA takedowns. garry (@garrynewman) April 25, 2024 Update, April 25 2024, 11:x04AM ET: Newman has since taken to X to state that he has "been assured that the takedowns have been verified by Nintendo as legit" and the takedowns "will now continue as planned." This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...9.html?src=rss

Engadget at ...

as music gadgets . Like all those things, it combines a retro-futuristic aesthetic with solid build quality, shiny surfaces, glass and metal accents. Engadget Then again, the Humane AI Pin was a beautiful piece of tech too, but it was also rubbish. The Rabbit R1 is a different device. First, it costs $199 less than a third of the AI Pins $700. Humane also requires a monthly $24 subscription fee to use the thing you dont need a sub for the R1 at all. Immediately, thats much better. The category of AI assistant-centric devices is very new, however. Rabbits device is different to Humanes in both hardware and features, but we know the R1 isnt launching with all its features just yet. There are a few curiously simple tools missing, like alarms and calendar support. Make sure you check out our first impressions here . Review incoming! Mat Smith You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The biggest stories you might have missed Mercedes-Benz quad-motor G-Class could be the ultimate EV off-roader TikTok Lite axes addictive as cigarettes reward-to-watch feature The best ereaders for 2024 JetBlues in-flight entertainment system just got a watch party feature Joe Biden signs the bill that could ban TikTok The company has called the law unconstitutional. That thing thats been happening since Saturday is still happening. But, well, TikTok still isnt banned. In a statement , the company said it would challenge the law in court, which could delay an eventual sale or ban. Continue reading. Threads has 150 million monthly users Mark Zuckerberg has speculated it could be Metas next billion-user app. Threads is still growing. During the company's first-quarter earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg shared the latest user numbers of Metas latest spin-off social network, saying the app continues to be on the trajectory that I hope to see. Notably but perhaps not surprisingly Threads seems to outperform X (formerly Twitter), with analytics firm Apptopia indicating Threads has more daily users than X in the United States. Continue reading. Windows 11 now comes with its own adware App promotions in the startup menu are enabled by default. Microsoft The latest update to Windows 11 comes out this week and includes ads for apps in the recommended section of the Start Menu. The Recommended section of the Start menu will show some Microsoft Store apps, says the release notes. Apps are apparently from a small set of curated developers. Thankfully, you can restore your previously ad-free Windows experience by going into Settings and selecting Personalization > Start and toggling off Show recommendations for tips, app promotions . Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...l?src=rss

(General Adversarial Networks), according to Adobe. At the same time, it adds sharpness and detail where most other systems fail to do do both of those things at once. Adobe Of course, the system is making up detail that doesn't exist out of whole cloth, so this wouldn't be suitable for things like forensic video enhancement, la CSI-style crime shows. But the detail it does add looks impressively real, like skin textures, fine hairs, swan feather details . The model builds on a large-scale image upsampler called GigaGAN, according to to Adobe's researchers. Previous VSR models have had difficulty generating rich details in results, so Adobe married "temporal attention" (reducing artifacts that accumulate over time), feature propagation (adding detail where none exists), anti-aliasing and something called "HF shuttle" (shuttling high-frequency features) to create the final result. Adobe If added to products like Premiere Pro or After Effects, it could allow video producers to make low-resolution shots look a lot better, though using AI too enhance people is a controversial practice . There's no word yet on whether Adobe plans to do this (currently, the clips are short and only play at 12fps) but plenty of companies including NVIDIA, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design and others are working on AI upscaling technology as well. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

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letter sent to Mohan (PDF) requesting a meeting, Bragg referenced a study conducted by the Tech Transparency Project in 2023 , wherein it created four test YouTube accounts and gave them the profiles of 14-year-old and 9-year-old boys. Apparently, after playing at least 100 gaming videos, YouTube's algorithm started recommending them instructional videos on how to make ghost guns. It doesn't matter if they'd only watched, say, Call of Duty gameplay videos and had never interacted with any content featuring real guns. YouTube still pushed real gun content to their accounts, as well as other violence-related videos, such as those of school shootings and serial killers, even if they were supposed to be minors. Bragg also called YouTube's attention to the fact that there's no way for guardians to switch off the website's recommendations in parental controls. A lot of young individuals being investigated for gun possession in New York City said they learned how to make ghost guns from YouTube, Bragg wrote. While the website does remove those videos when they're flagged by gun safety groups, the DA said YouTube should be more proactive in removing them, should make sure they get blocked from being uploaded in the future and should provide viewers a way to switch off recommendations. Especially since the website does have a policy that prohibits the uploading of videos intending to sell firearms or to instruct viewers on how to make them. YouTube told New York Daily News in a statement that it'll "carefully review" videos the Manhattan DA shares with the company and that it remains committed to "removing any content that violates [its] policies." This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...kids-070219455.html?src=rss

money with Kindle alternatives our current top pick is a Kobo model. We put together this list of the best ereaders out there to help you find which will work for you. What to look for in an ereader Plenty of apps, including the Kindle app, will let you download and read digital books on a phone or tablet. But what makes ebook readers different is the screen: nearly all of them use technology from a company called E Ink. It manufactures electronic paper displays (EPD) composed of three sheets: one containing millions of microcapsules filled with black and white ink particles sandwiched between transparent electrode layers. When a charge is applied, either the black or white particles shift to the top, forming letters and the whitespace around them. Because these displays are so different from standard LED panels, you can expect most ereaders to do a number of things well. Theyll be easier to stare at for long periods of time and easier to read in direct sunlight. Also, since E Ink displays only require power to rearrange the ink, these devices have much longer battery lives than even the best tablets: were talking weeks, not days. The ereader market is not as saturated as, say, the smartphone market, but there are still plenty of options out there and they do have small but important differences among them. They tend to range from around $100 to more than $400, though usually the higher end options are stylus-enabled read/write E Ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe. Beyond price, you should consider physical properties like buttons, lights, storage and resolution, as well as how the software lets you find and access books. Reading features With any ereader, youll navigate the OS via taps and swipes, and some add physical page-turn buttons. Most with built-in buttons have an auto-rotating screen so you can press with your right or left hand. As E Ink technology has advanced, resolution has greatly improved even the budget Kindle ereader has a 300 ppi display. You can still find models with lower resolution, but we dont recommend them. Some ereaders have front LEDs that support light temperature adjustment. That means you can switch to a warmer light after the sun goes down, which will feel easier on the eyes. If youre concerned about blue light, you should go for a reader with that feature. Other features The capabilities of these pocket libraries have advanced considerably since the early days. In addition to storing books, some let you browse the web, run apps and play music. The screens frame rate cant handle gaming, but its good enough to show you the Wikipedia entry for New Zealands South Island while you read Birnam Wood . If you listen to audiobooks, you may want a Bluetooth-enabled ereader capable of playing them. Most of the models we tested have that ability, with the notable exception of the Nook ereader we tried. Keep in mind that audiobook files can take up more space than print files so you'll probably want a device with a higher storage capacity if you plan on doing a lot of listening. Above all, you should consider where and how you intend to find books to read. Most ereaders make it easiest to shop through their own ebook store, but all of them (even Kindles ) will now let you download titles from other sources, like libraries, unaffiliated ebook sellers and free public domain sites. Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget How to get books for your ereader Kindle, Nook and Kobo all have their own stores that you access directly from each brands devices. Prices are fairly competitive between the sellers, too as I write this, the current NYT bestselling fiction ebook is $12 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Kobo store. The top nonfiction release, The Anxious Generation , costs $16 at all three. Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited for $12 per month, and it includes four million titles from which you can pick your next read. It includes audio and ebooks, but you wont find many big, new releases or older bestsellers. Kobo has a subscription called Kobo Plus with about 1.3 million titles: it goes for $8 per month for ebooks only, $8 for audiobooks only or $10 for both. Buying a book from a proprietary store instantly delivers it to your device, provided youre connected to WiFi. It also syncs your reading across devices and apps, so you can pick up where you left off on your phone if you forgot your ereader at home. It truly is the most convenient way to go, but if you dont want to be locked into one brands store, or if you opt for an ereader without its own marketplace, you do have options. How to upload ePubs onto an ereader Stores like ebooks.com and Google Play have millions of ebooks for sale as digital rights-managed (DRM) ePub files, which nearly all current ereaders (including Kindles) can display. Titles from some publishers like Tor and public domain classics from sites like Project Gutenberg are also sold as ePubs, but without the added DRM. Books you get from these sources will look just like ones you bought from a proprietary store, thanks to the flowable, formatted nature of ePub files. While these device-agnostic ebook collections give you extra options for finding your next read, they require a few additional steps to get the files onto your ereader. To do so, youll typically need a computer running a free program called Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). After buying and downloading the ePub file, open ADE and plug your ereader into your computer. Your device should pop up in the left panel. Drag and drop the ePub file from your downloads folder into the main panel in ADE. The file will display as an image of the book cover. Drag that image onto your device on the left panel. If the file includes digital rights management (which protects against unauthorized copying) youll need to authorize your ereader, which requires using or creating a free Adobe ID . Once youve finished adding files to upload, eject the reader from your computer to complete the transfer process. Kindles use a web-based uploader instead of the ADE method. After downloading an ePub file, drag and drop it into your browser with the Send to Kindle page open. As long as youre signed into Amazon, this wirelessly transfers the files to your associated device. Boox also uses a browser uploader called BooxDrop (along with many other methods ) to deliver ePubs to the device. Open it from the Boox App menu and youll see a device-specific url. Type that into your browser to access a file delivery portal that uploads to your library. Booxs built-in ereader app, NeoReader, doesnt support files with DRM, so you wont be able to read current titles from most publishers using that app. Fortunately, Boox devices run nearly every ereader app out there, letting you access ePubs any number of ways, though youll need to upload the files using each apps requisite method. How to read library books on an ereader Your local library card lets you borrow audio and ebooks through a program called Overdrive and its companion app Libby . On a Kobo , you have have built-in access to Overdrive in a separate tab. Once youve linked your library card, the search function will include results for titles available from your local library; a few taps will upload your selections to your device for the length of the loan. I personally find it easiest to borrow the title I want through the Libby app on my phone. After that, the book pops up on my Kobos home screen once the device syncs. To read library books on a Kindle , you can either go through the Libby app or the Overdrive section of your librarys website. Once you click Borrow, youll see the option to Read now with Kindle, which takes you to Amazons site to sign in. After that, the book will be delivered to your device the next time it connects to WiFi. For other ereaders, youll go through your librarys Overdrive portal and download the ePub after clicking the Borrow button. You can then use the ADE process we described above. Devices that run external apps, like the Boox Leaf 2, allow you to read library books via the Libby app, just as you would on a smartphone or tablet. You can also use the Libby app to borrow audiobooks, but you wont be able to access them through your ereader. (The exception is an ereader, like the Boox Leaf 2, that allows external apps). I found it was easier to listen to an audiobook on my phone anyway, regardless of whether I borrowed it through Libby or bought it from Kindle or Kobo. Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget How we tested When putting together any guide, the first thing we do is spend hours researching the field. We look at whats available, whats new, and what shoppers and professional reviewers have to say. Then we narrow a list to the best candidates for hands-on testing. I ended up getting eight ereaders, representing five different brands: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Boox and PocketBook. I bought, borrowed and uploaded books for each device using the methods above. Over the course of four weeks I evaluated each one in the areas of book access, ease of reading, extra features and overall value. Kobo and Boox have recently released new ereaders. Were in the process of testing the new Libra Colour and Clara Colour from Kobo, as well as the Page and Poke 5 from Boox. Once weve had the chance to evaluate them well update this guide with our recommendations. Until then, heres everything we tested so far: Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kobo Libra 2 Kobo Clara 2E Kobo Nia NOOK GlowLight 4 Boox Leaf 2 PocketBook Era Boox Page The best ebook readers for 2024 This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

videos. They can then exchange their points for real-world perks like Amazon vouchers or in-app ones like TikToks virtual currency, which is used to tip creators. The EU Commission said the task and reward feature can stimulate addictive behavior in childre n. Our children are not guinea pigs for social media, EU commissioner Thierry Breton posted on X (Twitter) on Wednesday. I take note of TikToks decision to suspend the #TikTokLite Reward Program in the EU. However, he added a parting shot to remind ByteDance it isnt out of the woods: The cases against TikTok on the risk of addictiveness of the platform continue. Statement on TikTok Lite: "TikTok always seeks to engage constructively with the EU Commission and other regulators. We are therefore voluntarily suspending the rewards functions in TikTok Lite while we address the concerns that they have raised." TikTok Policy Europe (@TikTokPolicyEUR) April 24, 2024 Breton fired a warning shot at ByteDance earlier this week, saying the EU had opened a formal investigation into TikTok for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA). The landmark legislation, adopted in 2022, gives European regulators the teeth to force significant changes in social media platforms to protect consumers. Companies that break the rules can risk fines of up to six percent of their global revenues enough to force compliance from even the richest companies. Wednesdays suspension marks the first concrete example of the EU using the DSAs enforcement powers to force significant changes on a social platform. The EUs formal investigation into TikTok Lite was its second targeting the platform this year. An earlier case, launched in February, opened proceedings against TikTok and Meta for their handling of the privacy and safety of minors . The Guardian notes that both cases remain active. TikTok always seeks to engage constructively with the EU Commission and other regulators, the platforms Policy Europe X account posted on Wednesday. We are therefore voluntarily suspending the rewards functions in TikTok Lite while we address the concerns that they have raised. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...-eus-watchful-eye-211157092.html?src=rss

modern tweaks to deliver the enjoyable gameplay experiences that players have grown accustomed to. In other words, much like remasters of other classic games , the goal is to feel as close to the original as possible without chucking out all of its subtle quality-of-life improvements from the games evolution. Krafton If the revamped map idea sounds familiar, Fortnite brought back its original 2018 island map late last year, breaking its records for player counts. (It peaked at 44.7 million players, marking its biggest day ever.) Its easy to see why Krafton would want a piece of that action. Specific nods to the original map include foggy and rainy weather to add an air of unpredictability. In addition, youll find bench weapons on the starting island (get ready to scramble for your favorite), and all weapons will have reduced recoil to match the original. It will also have a Tommy Gun in the care package, a vintage map UI and a charmingly tacky font and graphics. The tiered rollout will arrive on PCs and consoles at different times, extending the playtime for those who own the game on multiple platforms (perhaps helping Krafton sell a few extra in-game items). Erangel Classic will be available in PUBG: Battlegrounds on PC from May 14 to May 28 and on consoles from May 23 to June 6, replacing the modern Erangel map during those periods. Krafton says the May 14 patch notes will go into more detail about all the maps changes, so keep an eye out. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...6249.html?src=rss

hope nobody has to go to the bathroom method. The watch party feature includes functionality that pauses content for all viewers, should one have to take a break to deal with existential panic from being six miles above the ground. It also works no matter where the seats are. Introducing Blueprint by JetBlue, a personalized inflight experience, giving you new ways to use your seatback screen with watch parties, the ability to resume your content on your next flight, entertainment recommendations and real-time arrival details. Available on select pic.twitter.com/KCg5StLNNV JetBlue (@JetBlue) April 24, 2024 The watch party tool is just one aspect of the revamped in-flight entertainment experience. The system will now provide content recommendations based on previous viewing history, as it will be tied to individual accounts. This means that customers can save their favorite movies and shows for repeat viewings. It also means that people can pick up where they left off from one flight to the next. JetBlue says this can be useful for a connecting layover flight or even a trip months down the line. JetBlue has a content partnership with Peacock, so customers have access to the streamers catalog during flights. Both Twisted Metal and Mrs. Davis are solid in-flight binges. The company also teased more exclusive entertainment and offers coming to Blueprint in the future. As for availability, Blueprint is ready to go on JetBlue aircraft with AVANT seatback touchscreens. This includes the Airbus A321neo, Airbus A321LR (Long Range) and Airbus A220. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...913233.html?src=rss

securely storing an authentication credential on your device that pairs with one saved by the service you want to log into. To turn on passkeys for WhatsApp on iOS, go to the Account section of the apps Settings, and then tap Passkeys. Passkey verification will make logging back into WhatsApp easier secure. Were excited to launch this on WhatsApp and give users an added layer of security, Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApps head of product, said in a statement. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

designed to advance the Biden Administrations goal of supercharging the buildout of the infrastructure necessary to make a zero-emissions freight ecosystem a reality in the United States. Unsurprisingly, the freight industry uses a lot of energy and produces a lot of pollution to match. Bloomberg notes that the transportation sector emits about 29 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions, and freight (including shipping, trucking and trains) makes up about a third of that figure. So, you can ballpark that the American freight industry is responsible for roughly 10 percent of the countrys carbon emissions. As part of the election-year rollout, the Biden Administration plans to ask the public to comment on charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles, signaling that the specifics of the plan arent yet finalized. The White House wants to avoid a fragmented industrial EV charging system without a universally agreed-upon standard. The industry has seemingly settled on Teslas NACS as the de facto choice in the lightweight consumer sector. Alongside the newly announced industrial goals, the Biden Administrations Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is opening up about $1 billion in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to replace Class 6 and 7 vehicles (school buses, garbage trucks and delivery trucks) with electric equivalents. The IRA requires that at least $400 million of that funding goes to local communities hit the hardest by industrial pollution. The White House says 72 million Americans live near truck freight routes and bear the brunt of their short-term output. Sadly but unsurprisingly (given the nations history), people of color and those from low-income households are most likely to be heavily affected by high environmental toxin levels. The White Houses goals are admirable, given the urgency of the global climate crisis and the freight industrys role. However, one significant problem remains: These are voluntary, non-binding resolutions that could and, given public comments , almost certainly would be undone by a second Trump Administration, should the serial napper return to office next year. As with many other aspects of the nations and worlds future, US voters will decide the outcome this November. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ... 37.html?src=rss

which is a streaming service on smart TVs and, of course, Roku devices. The 24/7 channel airs all of the shows youre likely picturing right now, including Reading Rainbow and Mister Rogers Neighborhood . Youll also be able to introduce your kids to Thomas and Friends , Zoboomafoo and Kratt's Creatures , among others. Its a collection of old-school classics. This isnt the only PBS-adjacent channel available on Rokus platform. Its home to other ad-supported channels like PBS Antiques Roadshow, Antiques Road Trip, PBS Food, Julia Child and PBS Nature. There are also plenty of PBS-related channels available via subscription, including PBS Masterpiece, PBS Kids, PBS Living, PBS Documentaries and PBS America. Some of these are available on Hulu+ Live TV . PBS may become an even bigger fixture in the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) space in the future. The organization says it's in the early days of experimentation with a goal of making PBS content available in new places. It will continue to consider additional opportunities if these FAST channels increase revenue and brand awareness. In the meantime, Mister Rogers Neighborhood makes for some mighty fine ASMR. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...rc=rss

I awarded it a score of 50 (out of 100) earlier this month , while outlets like Wired and The Verge gave it similarly low marks of 4 out of 10. The people at Rabbit have been paying close attention to the aftermath of the Humane AI Pin launch and reviews. It was evident in founder and CEO Jesse Lyu's address at an unboxing event at the TWA hotel in New York last night, where the company showed off the Rabbit R1 and eager early adopters listened rapturously before picking up their pre-orders. Engadget's sample unit is on its way to Devindra Hardawar, who will be tackling this review. But I was in attendance last night to check out units at the event that industry peers were unboxing (thanks to Max Weinbach for the assistance!). What is the Rabbit R1? As a refresher, the Rabbit R1 is a bright orange square, co-engineered by Teenage Engineering and Rabbit. It has a 2.88-inch color display built in, an 8-megapixel camera that can face both ways and a scroll wheel reminiscent of the crank on the Playdate . The latter, by the way, is a compact gaming handheld that was also designed by Teenage Engineering, and the Rabbit R1 shares its adorable retro aesthetic. Again, like the Humane AI Pin, the Rabbit R1 is supposed to be your portal to an AI-powered assistant and operating system. However, there are a few key differences, which Lyu covered extensively at the launch event last night. Rabbit R1 vs Humane AI Pin Let's get this out of the way: The Rabbit R1 already looks a lot more appealing than the Humane AI Pin. First of all, it costs $199 less than a third of the AI Pin's $700. Humane also requires a monthly $24 subscription fee or its device will be rendered basically useless. Rabbit, as Lyu repeatedly reiterated all night, does not require such a fee. You'll just be responsible for your own cellular service (4G LTE only, no 5G), and can bring your own SIM card or just default to good old Wi-Fi. There, you'll also find the USB-C charging port. The R1's advantages over the Pin don't end there. By virtue of its integrated screen (instead of a wonky, albeit intriguing projector), the orange square is more versatile and a lot easier to interact with. You can use the wheel to scroll through elements and press the button on the right side to confirm a choice. You could also tap the screen or push down a button to start talking to the software. Now, I havent taken a photo with the device myself, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of images I saw on its screen. Maybe my expectations were pretty low, but when reviewers in a media room were setting up their devices by using the onboard cameras to scan QR codes, I found the images on the screens clear and impressively vibrant. Users wont just be capturing photos, videos and QR codes with the Rabbit R1, by the way. It also has a Vision feature like the Humane AI Pin that will analyze an image you take and tell you whats in it. In Lyus demo, the R1 told him that it saw a crowd of people at an event or concert venue. Cherlynn Low for Engadget Well have to wait till Devindra actually takes some pictures with our R1 unit and downloads them from the web-based portal that Rabbit cleverly calls the Rabbit Hole. Its name for camera-based features is Rabbit Eye, which is just kind of delightful. In fact, another thing that distinguishes Rabbit from Humane is the formers personality. The R1 just oozes character. From the witty feature names to the retro aesthetic to the onscreen animation and the fact that the AI will actually make (cheesy) jokes, Rabbit and Teenage Engineering have developed something thats got a lot more flavor than Humanes almost clinical appearance and approach. Of all the things Lyu took shots at Humane about last night, though, talk of the R1s thermal performance or the AI Pins heat issues was conspicuously absent. To be clear, the R1 is slightly bigger than the Humane device, and it uses an octa-core MediaTek MT6765 processor, compared to the AI Pins Snapdragon chip. Theres no indication at the moment that the Rabbit device will run as hot as Humanes Pin, but Ive been burned (metaphorically) before and remain cautious. I am also slightly concerned about the R1s glossy plastic build. It looks nice and feels lighter than expected, weighing just 115 grams or about a quarter of a pound. The scroll wheel moved smoothly when I pushed it up and down, and there were no physical grooves or notches, unlike the rotating hinge on Samsungs Galaxy watches. The camera housing lay flush with the rest of the R1s case, and in general the unit felt refined and finished. Most of my other impressions of the Rabbit R1 come from Lyus onstage demos, where I was surprised by how quickly his device responded to his queries. He was able to type on the R1s screen and tilted it so that the controls sat below the display instead of to its right. That way, there was enough room for an onscreen keyboard that Lyu said was the same width as the one on the original iPhone. Whats next for the Rabbit R1? Rabbit also drew attention for its so-called Large Action Model (LAM), which acts as an interpreter to convert popular apps like Spotify or Doordash into interfaces that work on the R1s simple-looking operating system. Lyu also showed off some of these at the event last night, but Id much rather wait for us to test these out for ourselves. Lyu made many promises to the audience, seeming to acknowledge that the R1 might not be fully featured when it arrives in their hands. Even on the companys website, theres a list of features that are planned, in the works or being explored. For one thing, an alarm is coming this summer, along with a calendar, contacts app, GPS support, memory recall . Throughout his speech, Lyu repeated the phrase were gonna work on amid veiled references to Humane (for instance, emphasizing that Rabbit doesnt require an additional subscription fee). Ultimately, Lyu said we just keep adding value to this thing, in reference to a roadmap of upcoming features. Hopefully, Lyu and his team are able to deliver on the promises theyve made. Im already very intrigued by a teach mode he teased, which is basically a way to generate macros by recording an action on the R1, and letting it learn what you want to do when you tell it something. Rabbits approach certainly seems more tailored to tinkerers and enthusiasts, whereas Humanes is ambitious and yet closed off. This feels like Google and Apple all over again, except whether the AI device race will ever reach the same scale remains to be seen. Last nights event also made it clear what Rabbit wants us to think. It was hosted at the TWA hotel, which itself used to be the head house of the TWA Flight Center. The entire place is an homage to retro vibes, and the entry to Rabbits event was lined with display cases containing gadgets like a Pokedex, a Sony Watchman, a Motorola pager, Game Boy Color . Every glass box I walked by made me squeal, bringing up a pleasant sense memory that also resurfaced when I played with the R1. It didn't feel good in that it's premium or durable; it felt good because it reminded me of my childhood. Whether Rabbit is successful with the R1 depends on how you define success. The company has already sold more than 100,000 units this quarter and looks poised to sell at least one more (Im already whipping out my credit card). I remain skeptical about the usefulness of AI devices, but, in large part due to its price and ability to work with third-party apps at launch, Rabbit has already succeeded in making me feel like Alice entering Wonderland. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...163622560.html?src=rss

with the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ensure that any tools it implements to replace the cookies tracking and measurement capabilities arent anti-competitive. These tools are known collectively as the Privacy Sandbox and Google says it has to wait until the CMA has had sufficient time to review results from industry tests thatll be provided by the end of June. Googles Privacy Sandbox has stirred up some controversy in recent years. The proposed tools have drawn complaints from adtech companies, publishers and ad agencies, on the grounds that they are difficult to operate, dont adequately replace traditional cookies and give too much power to Google. To that end, the company said that it recognizes ongoing challenges related to reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators and developers. This is another reason given for the delay until next year. The CMA isnt the only regulatory agency giving the side-eye to the current iteration of these Privacy Sandbox tools. The UK-based Information Commissioners Office drafted a report that indicated these tools could be used by advertisers to identify consumers, as suggested by the Wall Street Journal . Those in the ad industry want to see cookies given the heave-ho, despite complaints about Privacy Sandbox. Drew Stein, CEO of adtech data firm Audigent , told Engadget that its time for Google to deliver on the promise of a better ecosystem by implementing its plans to eliminate third-party cookies. The CMA, on the other hand, has indicated a willingness to keep third-party cookies in play, particularly if Googles solution does more harm than good. Craig Jenkins, the CMAs director of digital markets, recently said the organization would delay implementation of Privacy Sandbox tools if were not satisfied we can resolve the concerns, as reported by Adweek . Well see what happens in 2025. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ....html?src=rss

believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation. This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans. The law gives TikToks parent company ByteDance, which is based in China, up to a year to sell the app to a new owner. If the company fails to divest, then TikTok will be banned from US app stores and web hosting services. Unlike previous attempts to force a sale or ban of the app, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, had overwhelming bipartisan support and was able to move through Congress with remarkable speed. The original version of the bill, which called for a six-month window to divest, passed the House in March , just days after it was introduced. An updated version, which allows up to 12 months for a divestment, passed over the weekend. In a video shared on TikTok , CEO Shou Chew called it a disappointing moment for the company. Make no mistake, this is a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice, he said. It's actually ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...950.html?src=rss

prior to the release date, the two hour playtime limit for refunds will apply (except for beta testing), but the 14-day period for refunds will not start until the release date," Valve's updated policy reads, as noted by IGN . "For example, if you purchase a game that is in Early Access or Advanced Access, any playtime will count against the two-hour refund limit. If you pre-purchase a title which is not playable prior to the release date, you can request a refund at any time prior to release of that title, and the standard 14-day/two-hour refund period will apply starting on the games release date." Early access enables players to try an incomplete version of a game. Its helpful for developers as they can take feedback from players and use that to improve their project before ramping up the marketing campaign ahead of the official release. Supergiant famously used this strategy to tremendous success with Hades (and is perhaps looking to repeat that trick with the sequel ). But a game can remain in early access for years. Under the previous policy, players could put many hours into an early access game and still claim a refund on Steam. As for advanced access, that relates to playing a full version of a game before its proper debut. It's pretty common for publishers to sell a deluxe edition of a game that lets players dive in a few days early. However, Steam made it possible for someone to beat a game in advanced access and get their money back before the standard version was available to everyone. Now, the two-hour time limit applies to games in early access and advanced access. There's also a new advanced access label to make it clear when a game offers that. There is one other key issue with the otherwise generous two-hour refund policy that Steam hasn't fully addressed, however. It's not uncommon for players to roll credits on very short games, typically indie titles. That leaves the game's developer and publisher out of pocket . This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...src=rss

be used in slightly more affordable mainstream laptops, and as such it only has 10 CPU cores (vs 12 for the X Elite) and reduced clock speeds (3.4Ghz vs 3.8Ghz for the X Elite). This positioning is a lot like what Qualcomms rivals have been doing for a while, with the X Elite serving as the flagship chip (like Intels Core Ultra 9 series) and the X Plus sitting just below that (which would be equivalent to the Core Ultra 7 line). Qualcomm However, one thing that hasnt changed is that just like the X Elite, the X Plus Hexagon NPU puts out the same 45 TOPS of machine learning performance. This is particularly notable as Microsoft recently suggested that laptops would require at least 40 TOPS in order to run various elements of its Copilot AI service on-device. Qualcomm is also making some big claims regarding power efficiency, with the X Plus chip said to deliver 37 percent faster CPU performance compared to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H when both chips are running at the same wattage. And when put up against other Arm-based chips, Qualcomm says the X Plus is 10 percent faster than Apples M3 processor in multi-threaded CPU tasks. Photo by Sam Rutherford Unfortunately, the X Plus is not expected to show up in retail devices until sometime in the second half of 2024. That said, at a hands-on event, I was able to run a few benchmarks on some early Qualcomm-built reference devices. And to my pleasant surprise, the X Plus performed as expected with multi-core scores in Geekbench of 12,905 and multi-thread performance in Cinebench 2024 of 852. (Note: Because the processor has not been released yet, theres an error in Cinebench that results in the chips GPU incorrectly being listed as from the X Elite instead of the X Plus.) This is a promising showing for Qualcomms second and less expensive chip featuring its Oryon architecture. Though as always, the real test will come when the X Plus starts showing up in proper retail hardware. Thats because even if it boasts impressive benchmark figures, these processors will still need to play nicely with Windows, which has not had nearly as smooth a transition to Arm-based silicon as Apples macOS. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget But with renewed support for Windows on Snapdragon PCs and Qualcomm recently working with major players like Google to bring dramatic performance improvements in Chrome for devices running its laptop chips, things may be smoother this time. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...plus-130018288.html?src=rss

suggestions are enabled by default, but you can restore your previously pristine Windows experience if you've installed the update, fortunately. To do so, go into Settings and select Personalization > Start and switch the "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions " toggle to "off." The new "feature" arrives just weeks after it appeared as an Insider beta , showing how quickly Microsoft can implement things when it wants to. It certainly wasn't enough time to receive the kind of user feedback the Insider program is designed for. The update is bound to rub customers the wrong way, considering that Windows 11 starts at $139 for the Home version. While removing it isn't a huge deal, it may also remind folks of the needless time they spent stripping bloatware from OEM Windows installations. Microsoft previously tested ads in the Windows 11 File Explorer, but ended the experiment shortly afterward. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

new rule will allow the creation of 8,500 new business each year, increase worker earnings by $524 per year and lower health care costs by $194 billion over the next decade. Noncompete clauses, widely used in the tech industry, keep employers from freely changing to similar jobs or starting a business in the same field. The result is that workers must often stay in jobs they don't want, switch to a lower-paid position, relocate, or defend against costly litigation. "An estimated 30 million workers nearly one in five Americans [in the workforce] are subject to a noncompete," according to the FTC. The Commission found that noncompetes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in labor markets by inhibiting efficient matching between workers and employers. There is also evidence that noncompetes lead to increased market concentration and higher prices for consumers. Companies must now cancel existing noncompete clauses and notify employees about the change. The ruling applies to most employees and future hires, but current deals with senior executives still apply on the grounds that such agreements are likely to have been agreed upon by both parties. Tech companies ostensibly use noncompetes as a way to protect IP, but they function in reality to lock in workers. The FTC said that trade secret laws and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are a better way to protect IP, and "employers that wish to retain employees can compete on the merits for the worker's labor services by improving wages and working conditions." Microsoft, the third largest tech industry employer in the US, eliminated such clauses back in 2022. "While our existing employee agreements have noncompete obligations, we do not endorse the use of such provisions as a retention tool," the company said at the time. The FTC vote went 3 to 2 along party lines. Republic commissioner Melissa Holyoke said the Commission "overstepped the boundaries of its power" and estimated the ruling would be challenged in court and struck down. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

little easier thats especially applicable to new grads who are focusing all of their attention on snagging that new job or applying for further education. Heres Engadgets list of the best gifts under $50 for new graduates. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

draw juice from a 116-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Total output is 580 horsepower. Those four motors enable the electric G to do some amazing things, like a so-called G-Turn, where it spins in place. The idea is to help this big rig get out of some tight off-road situations, but we think it'll be even more effective at impressing your neighbors. There's a bevy of other tech here too, including dedicated off-road driving modes and a series of cameras that allow drivers to spot every rock and rut when crossing the trails. No formal word on pricing just yet, but it's important to note that the gas-powered versions of the G-Class live on, so if you're really attached to internal combustion there's still a G for you. Really, though, if you can't do a tank turn, then what's the point? Watch the video above for the full story. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...4168.html?src=rss

Representatives before being approved (bundled with a package for foreign aid) by the Senate on Tuesday. The bill states that TikTok would have up to 12 months to divest from its parent company ByteDance, or face a ban in US app stores and web hosting services. The company, naturally, has protested this push, calling the bill unconstitutional and vowing to mount a legal challenge if the bill is signed into law. If it does so, it could bounce around courts for years before any eventual ban, if the company declines to sell. A few years is a long time in social media. Ask Snap, or worse, Vine. And who would buy TikTok? While many major tech companies might love to grab the social networks engaged young audience, many politicians would balk at making a Big Tech company even bigger. Steve Mnuchin, who was Treasury secretary in the Trump administration, told CNBC he was putting together an investor group. What could go wrong? Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed X, for some reason, has a TV app now The best travel gear for graduates Adobe Photoshops latest beta makes AI-generated images from simple text prompts You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! Microsofts new lightweight AI model can run on smartphones It can supposedly respond similarly to models 10 times its size. Microsoft has unveiled its latest light AI model, called the Phi-3 Mini, for smartphones and other local devices. The aim is to provide a cheaper alternative to cloud-powered large language models (LLMs), allowing smaller organizations to adopt AI, with presumably lower energy burdens and without heady processing costs. According to Microsoft, the new model handily outperforms its previous Phi-2 small model and is on par with larger models like Llama 2. In fact, the company says the Phi-3 Mini responds close to the level of a model 10 times its size. The trick is apparently in the data Microsoft used to train its tiny model. Continue reading. Tesla teases its ride-hailing app ahead of robotaxi unveiling The feature would be available in the Tesla app in the future. Tesla teased ride-hailing features coming to its app ahead of an August robotaxi unveiling. The company released mock-ups of the upcoming feature, which showed the ability to summon a ride from the Tesla app. The company has been promising self-driving taxi services for years . Tesla didnt offer many details, but it seems to have Uber-like functionality and the ability to remotely set the cars temperature before arrival. Continue reading. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses get improved AI smarts that dont require a subscription Take that, Humane. Meta After a few months of testing, Meta is bringing multimodal AI to its smart glasses. Multimodal AI means the system can process multiple types of information, including photos, videos, text and audio. You might have seen feature showcases of AI-connected devices that can view what a device is looking at and offer extra information that kind of thing. Meta also announced hands-free video call integration with WhatsApp and Messenger and a few more frame designs. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...tml?src=rss

Nm. The electric model looks pretty much like the gas-powered G-Class, with its sharp angles and its distinctive door handles, grilles and round headlights. Mercedes offers optional lighting exclusive to the EQ version of the vehicle, though, so you can change its looks and give it a design that's considerably different from a standard G-Class. The vehicle is powered by four electric motors located near each wheel and has several modes for off-road use: G-TURN, which will allow you to turn the vehicle almost on the spot, G-STEERING, which could eliminate the need for multi-point turns, and the intelligent off-road crawl function that provides cruise control for off-road drives. Mercedes-Benz made sure the vehicle's battery is ready for off-road journeys, as well, and encased it in a torsion-resistant casing that protects it from water and dirt. Since the vehicle can be driven in up to 33.5 inches of water, the battery definitely needs that kind of protection. It can charge with both alternating current and direct current, and when plugged into a fast-charging DC system, it can go from 10 to 80 percent in just 32 minutes. The G-Class can convert kinetic energy into electrical energy when you coast or hit the brakes, as well. EDITION ONE, the G-Class with EQ Technology coming out at launch later this year, will have an "an expanded palette of standard features." A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that a range-extended version with a battery that uses a more energy-dense silicon-anode technology from Mercedes' partner Silas will also be available in the next few years. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...0316.html?src=rss

well beyond being glorified pedometers, providing in-depth reports on how you're sleeping at night or giving you a breakdown of your heart rate variability during a workout. But given their price, there will be some sacrifices. To help you decide which is right for you, I tested a number of the best cheap fitness trackers available today to find the ones that are worth your money. What to look for in a cheap fitness tracker All of the best fitness trackers should have at least three features: a program to track workouts or movement of some sort, the option to monitor and collect sleep data and the ability to measure health metrics like heart rate and blood oxygen levels (though, the readings might not be super accurate). Fitness features A cheap workout tracker can be great for someone looking to keep tabs on small, achievable goals like 10,000 steps before sundown or 30 minutes of a HIIT workout to get your heart rate peaking. An experienced long-distance runner looking to train for a triathlon might opt for a more expensive device that can measure cadence or ground contact time, and can track more customizable workouts or give deeper insights into performance data. At the very least, a budget workout tracker should be able to track workouts beyond walking and running otherwise, it would just be a pedometer. The number of activities a device will recognize varies. Some will get funky with it and consider skateboarding a workout, while others wont be able to track a jumping jack. At this price, you can expect a device to measure a mix of cardio, machine workouts and strength training. With each, you might get a numerical or visual breakdown of heart rate activity, overall pace, and calories burned per session. Although some cheap trackers can offer a really good overview of heart rate zone activity during a workout, a more technically advanced device might be able to go a step further and explain what your results mean and coach you on how to keep your heart rate in a specific bracket so that you can burn more fat per workout. I found that the more budget-friendly the device, the more likely it is that a tracker will fall short when it comes to smart counseling or offering predictive insights beyond a given workout. If a budget tracker does happen to offer some semblance of a coaching program, you can expect it to sit behind a paywall. Tracking and planning your recovery is just as essential to any fitness journey. A sub-$100 device should be able to tell you how long youve slept and provide a breakdown of deep, light and REM sleep activity. It's not a guarantee that you will get a sleep score or insights on how to get better rest that data is usually found on more expensive wearables. Also, because these trackers arent designed for bedtime specifically be mindful of comfort. The bands and watch face on a budget fitness tracker may not be ideal for getting some good shut-eye. Connectivity and practicality Not all activity trackers, budget-friendly or not, are designed to seamlessly integrate with a smartphone. The trackers tested for this roundup cant directly make calls or send texts to contacts on a paired smartphone. They can, however, display and dismiss incoming calls and notifications. You can forget about checking your email or paying for a coffee from your wrist using these more affordable devices. Most cheap fitness trackers also won't include a built-in GPS. Instead, they usually depend on a paired smartphone to gather location data. The drawback of using a fitness tracker without GPS is that it might not provide as precise for tracking distance or pace. You also can't use a budget tracker to get turn-by-turn directions during a walk or while running errands. For the more outdoorsy consumers, having GPS could be a key safety feature. Design You also might find that an inexpensive fitness tracker is harder to navigate than a more advanced smartwatch. Whether it be a screen size issue or simply not having a smart enough interface, don't expect every feature to be one that you can engage with directly on your wrist. Oftentimes, you will need to pull out your smartphone to log information or access more in-depth health data. The quality and build of displays and bands will also vary in this category. Dont expect the highest resolution displays or the fanciest materials in the bands. But you can expect some level of sweat and water resistance. Other cheap fitness trackers we tested Wyze Watch 47c I didn't have high expectations of the Wyze Watch 47c , but I was shocked at how little this tracker can do. The 47c can only track walks and runs. It has a dedicated widget, a small logo of a man running, and when you tap it, it begins measuring your pace, heart rate, calories burned and mileage. It does not auto-detect or auto-pause workouts and it doesn't differentiate between a run and walk. Most importantly, this device cant track any other exercises. Its basically a glorified pedometer. The 47c was also my least favorite to sleep with, mainly because the square watch face is so large and heavy. Even if I did manage to sleep through the night with it on, it only gave me a basic sleep report. Garmin vivofit 4 The Garmin vivofit 4 has a tiny display that is not a touchscreen and all navigation happens through one button. The watch face is impossible to read outdoors and the exercise widget is also very finicky. To start tracking a run, you have to hold down the main button and flip through some pages until you get to a moving person icon. Once there, you have to press the bottom right corner of the bar and hold down and if you press for too long or in the wrong spot, itll switch to another page, like a stopwatch. Its incredibly frustrating. Once you start a run though, it will start tracking your steps, your distance and that's pretty much it. It does not auto-detect or auto-pause workouts. It doesn't alert you of any mileage or calorie milestones. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

given a choice between a replacement or a repair. If they choose the latter, the warranty is to be extended by a year. Once it expires, companies are still required to repair "common household products" that are repairable under EU law, like smartphones, TVs and certain appliances (the list of devices can be extended over time). Consumer may also borrow a device during the repair or, if it can't be fixed, opt for a refurbished unit as an alternative. The EU says repairs must be offered at a "reasonable" price such that "consumers are not intentionally deterred" from them. Manufacturers need to supply spare parts and tools and not try to weasel out of repairs through the use of "contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques." The latter, while not stated, may make it harder for companies to sunset devices by halting future updates . In addition, manufacturers can't stop the use of second-hand, original, compatible or 3D-printed spare parts by independent repairers as long as they're in conformity with EU laws. They must provide a website that shows prices for repairs, can't refuse to fix a device previously repaired by someone else and can't refuse a repair for economic reasons. While applauding the expanded rules, Europe's Right to Repair group said it there were missed opportunities . It would have liked to see more product categories included, priority for repair over replacement, the right for independent repairers to have access to all spare parts/repair information . "Our coalition will continue to push for ambitious repairability requirements... as well as working with members focused on the implementation of the directive in each member state." Along with helping consumers save money, right-to-repair rules help reduce e-waste, CO2 pollution . The area is currently a battleground in the US as well, with legislation under debate in around half the states. California's right-to-repair law going into effect on July 1 forces manufacturers to stock replacement parts, tools and repair manuals for seven years for smartphones and other devices that cost over $100. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...vices-081939123.html?src=rss

tested, along with some general advice on what to look for when buying a new card. Editors note (4/24/24) : Samsung has released an upgraded version of our best value pick, the Evo Select. We plan to test it soon and update our guide accordingly. Samsung says the new model can reach sequential read speeds up to 160 MB/s, so it should still be a step down from our other top picks, which we continue to recommend What to look for in a microSD card Capacity The first thing to figure out when buying a microSD card is how much space you need. Modern cards are usually available in sizes ranging from 32GB to 512GB, while a handful offer 1TB models as well. 2TB cards are theoretically possible but still in the prototype stage. For most, a 128GB or 256GB model should be the sweet spot between price and storage space. But if you need more room say, for stashing a bunch of games on a Steam Deck a 512GB card could make more sense and often provides a better cost-per-GB ratio. These days, you can find a decent 128GB card for around $15 or less, a good 256GB card for less than $30 and a solid 512GB card for less than $40 (though many cost closer to $50 or $60). Theres a starker increase when you go up to 1TB cards, which typically cost closer to $100. Note that a microSD cards performance may differ depending on what capacity you buy. SanDisk says its 128GB Extreme card delivers sequential write speeds up to 90 MB/s, for example, while the higher-capacity models in the same line offer up to 130 MB/s. When we talk about microSD cards today, we usually refer to cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard , which have a capacity between 32GB and 2TB. Your device needs to support this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This will almost never be an issue these days, but some older devices (a Nintendo 3DS , for instance) are only compatible with microSDHC (High Capacity) cards, which range from 2GB to 32GB. Read and write speeds MicroSD cards are primarily judged on their read and write speeds, which are usually measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). Generally, most microSD cards have faster read speeds than write speeds. These metrics can then be broken down into sequential and random performance. Sequential read and write speeds matter when youre trying to access or save long, constant streams of data, such as opening a large video or copying a big batch of files from a PC. If you want to use a microSD card for media storage, this is particularly important. Random performance, meanwhile, is about how quickly a card can read and write small files scattered throughout the device. Since random read/write speeds are much lower than sequential ones, storage device makers tend not to advertise them as loudly. But theyre important if you use a card with a gaming device or a single-board computer like the Raspberry Pi , where it often has to rapidly save and access small bits of data in random locations. SD Association Speed ratings If you look at a microSD card, youll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of these refer to the cards speed class and performance ratings, which are determined by the SD Association . A cards Video Speed Class, or V-rating, details its minimum sequential write speed, which is especially important when recording video from a camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. Most of the cards we tested had a V30 rating, so they have a sequential write speed of at least 30 MB/s. This should be enough to support up to 4K video at lower bitrates. Higher-rated V60 and V90 cards are usually better for capturing 8K, but they come at a much higher cost. The UHS Speed Class, or U-rating, also refers to a cards minimum sequential write speed. It comes in two varieties: U3, which mandates a minimum of 30 MB/s, and U1, which is rated for 10 MB/s. The older Speed Class rating overlaps with the other two systems. Its signified by a C symbol and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the number (again) indicating minimum sequential write speed. This rating is less relevant nowadays, but you may still see a C10 logo on some cards. The Application Performance spec, marked by an A symbol, is an indicator of random read/write speeds. This is measured in IOPS, or input/output operations per second, rather than MB/s. There are two categories here: A1 cards offer a minimum random read speed of 1,500 IOPS and a minimum random write speed of 500 IOPS, while A2 cards bump those up to 4,000 IOPS and 2,000 IOPS, respectively. Both ratings also guarantee sequential write speeds of at least 10 MB/s. To keep it simple, most people should look for a card with V30, U3 and A2 ratings. Its totally possible to get a solid card without those: A U1 card might be worth it if you just need a cheap, high-capacity option, for example. V60 and V90 cards are worth a look if youre serious about shooting high-resolution photos and video as well. But overall, cards with the certifications above should provide the best blend of price and performance today. Its important to emphasize that these ratings are baselines. Most V30 cards offer significantly higher write speeds than 30 MB/s, for instance, and some A1 cards can outperform some A2 models in practice. The speeds advertised by manufacturers arent always 100 percent accurate, either: Sometimes the card will be slower in real-world use, other times it may actually be a bit faster. UHS bus speeds The other spec to note is the cards bus interface. Most microSD cards available today are UHS-I, which have a theoretical maximum speed of 104 MB/s. There are also UHS-II cards, which have an extra row of pins on the back and can reach up to 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III standard exists as well but hasnt seen wide adoption.) These are labeled on the card with a Roman numeral I or II. The fastest microSD cards you can buy right now are UHS-II cards, and theyre usually the ones with V60 or V90 ratings. If you shoot lots of 4K to 8K video or frequently use burst mode to capture ultra high-res photos, the performance gains of a good UHS-II card can save you time. But these are much more expensive than UHS-I cards: For instance, this 128GB model from Lexar is a decent bargain at $40. Thats less than many UHS-II models weve seen in the past but still more than double the typical price of our top pick mentioned below. You need a device thats compatible with the UHS-II interface to see any benefits, too, and stock for UHS-II cards is generally spottier. For now, the higher speeds arent worth the price premium for most people, so we stuck mostly to UHS-I cards here. Well also note Samsungs recent announcement of a new 256GB microSD card based on an entirely different standard called SD Express. This is theoretically much faster than any UHS-I or UHS-II option: Samsung claims this specific model can reach sequential read speeds up to a whopping 800 MB/s. For context, thatd be quicker than some older SSDs. SD Express has technically been around for several years but hasnt seen wide adoption, so exactly how this card performs in reality and how much itll cost remains to be seen. Well test the device once it becomes available, which Samsung says will be sometime later in 2024. Kris Naudus / Engadget A note on card readers, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck While the UHS-I spec has a theoretical maximum of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I cards can exceed that speed through proprietary extensions. You need a compatible card reader and host device to take advantage of that extra performance, though. If you find a UHS-I card advertising speeds higher than 104 MB/s, this is whats going on. You can see these limits in action with a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming devices support the UHS-I interface and dont go beyond its official speed, flattening any sequential gains some cards may have elsewhere. The broader takeaway: Your microSD card will only be as fast as the slowest link in your chain. Warranty Many microSD cards are designed to be durable, with protection from water, extreme temperatures, X-rays and drops. Still, in case of catastrophe, a long warranty is always good to have. Many manufacturers offer lifetime limited warranties, though weve noticed that endurance cards marketed to withst hours of writing are usually covered for a much shorter period of time. Avoiding counterfeits The memory card market has had a particular problem with scammers selling fake products. To guard against this, only buy from a known brand and a reputable retailer such as Best Buy, B Photo or Adorama. If you shop at Amazon, only buy if the shipper and seller is Amazon.com. (Though a handful of users have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon directly in the past.) Remember: If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any retailer offering significantly a lower price than others. Once you receive a card, check its packaging for any irregularities. You can run benchmark tests like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to verify its speeds arent drastically lower than whats advertised (or possible, given its specs). You can also use software thats designed to verify the true capacity and performance of your card, such as H2testw and FakeFlashTest . How we tested We put 13 microSD cards through a series of tests to verify their sequential and random performance. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark , BlackMagic Disk Speed Test , ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Test , as well as a few real-world tests. We copied and pasted a small folder of photos about 1.15GB in size to and from each card, then did the same with a larger 12.2GB folder containing multiple file types and subfolders, timing the process each time. We also checked how each card performed on the Steam Deck, downloading games of varying sizes including Stardew Valley , Aperture Desk Job , Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends then timing how long it took to launch each game and load save files. We used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to test each card on both Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma. For the former, we used an Alienware gaming PC with an Intel Core i9-10900F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. For the latter, we used a 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 Pro chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. To use our card reader on the MacBook, we used Apples USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter . We tested the 128GB version of each card wherever possible, though for a few cards SanDisk's Extreme and Samsung's Pro Plus and Pro Ultimate we were only able to test their 256GB models. We also reformatted each card before testing with the SD Associations Memory Card Formatter tool . Other notable microSD cards The SanDisk Extreme and PNY Elite-X. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Delkin Devices Power We didnt use it ourselves, but if youre willing to pay for a more powerful UHS-II card built for heavy-duty video recording, the Delkin Devices Power has tested well elsewhere and should deliver significantly faster sequential write speeds than our picks above. Its one of the few UHS-II cards we could actually find in stock, but it costs a ton, with a 128GB model normally priced at $93. SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch The SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch is another decent option if you ever see it available for less than the Pro Plus and Canvas Go Plus. Its sequential read speeds were about the same as the latter in our benchmarks, but its sequential writes were slightly slower (and farther behind the Pro Plus). Its random read/writes were a bit behind according to CrystalDiskMark as well. The 128GB version of this card is priced around $18 as of this writing, while the 512GB model costs around $50; both are higher than the Pro Plus. SanDisk backs the card with a lifetime warranty, however, plus its available in a 1TB capacity . Note that we tested the Apex Legends version of the 128GB card; SanDisk also sells a Super Mario model , but we cant speak to whether that one performs any differently. SanDisk's Nintendo Switch-branded microSDXC card. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Lexar Professional 1066x Similarly, the Lexar Professional 1066x is a decent alternative to the Pro Plus if our main picks are unavailable. Its another V30, U3 and A2 model, and like Samsungs card, its sequential write speeds were a bit faster than the Canvas Go Plus and SanDisk Switch card in our benchmarks. Those write speeds werent as quick as the Pro Plus, and its sequential reads trailed all three cards. Random read/writes also lagged behind the Pro Plus and Canvas Go Plus, and we noticed its speeds peak and dip more noticeably in our file transfer test. Still, its not slow, so depending on its price, it might be a good bargain if you need fast write speeds for video recording and the like. Its also available in 1TB , plus it comes with a lifetime limited warranty. SanDisk Extreme The SanDisk Extreme effectively matched the Pro Plus in a few of our sequential write tests and delivered sequential reads about on par with the Canvas Go Plus, but that was partly due to us only being able to secure the cards 256GB model, which is higher-rated than the 128GB version. Its a fine choice if you see it on sale at a reputable seller, but its random performance lagged behind the Samsung Pro and Kingston cards, and it typically costs more. It does have a 1TB model , though. SanDisk Extreme Pro The SanDisk Extreme Pro is a rival to the Samsung Pro Ultimate but, as of this writing, is either unavailable at most trusted retailers or priced too high by comparison. PNY Elite-X The PNY Elite-X wasnt too far off the random read/write performance of the Pro Plus and Pro Ultimate in CrystalDiskMark, and it often goes for cheap, but it was well behind in our sequential tests. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

was introduced in March and sailed through the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan agreement. A slightly revised version was approved as part of a package of foreign aid legislation on Saturday. Under the updated terms, TikTok would have up to 12 months to divest from parent company ByteDance or face a ban in US app stores and web hosting services. The company has called the bill unconstitutional and indicated it would mount a legal challenge to such a law, which could further delay an eventual sale or ban. The company didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok has long been viewed with suspicion by lawmakers and the intelligence community. Ahead of votes in the House and Senate, members of Congress were briefed by intelligence officials on the alleged national security threat posed by the app. The exact nature of those concerns is still unclear, though some members of Congress have asked for details from the briefings to be declassified . At the same time, some lawmakers have expressed skepticism, saying that the alleged threat posed by TikTok is largely hypothetical . Free speech and digital rights groups also oppose the bill, noting that comprehensive privacy legislation would be a more effective way of protecting Americans personal data. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has made a similar argument, telling Congress last year that a forced sale wouldnt resolve data concerns about the app. But TikToks recent efforts to muster opposition to the bill may have backfired . Lawmakers rebuked the company for sending in-app notifications to users about the bill after the alerts resulted in a flood of calls to Congressional offices. And the app may have drawn even more suspicion when Politico reported last week that Chinese diplomats were lobbying Congressional staffers to oppose the bill. Officials in China have condemned the measure. A Chinese law, passed in 2020 , could prevent ByteDance from including TikToks recommendation algorithm in a sale of the app. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...

from sexual abuse as a feature with generative AI unfolds. The goal of the initiative is to prevent the creation of sexually explicit material involving children and take it off social media platforms and search engines. More than 104 million files of suspected child sexual abuse material were reported in the US in 2023 alone, Thorn says. In the absence of collective action, generative AI is poised to make this problem worse and overwhelm law enforcement agencies that are already struggling to identify genuine victims. On Tuesday, Thorn and All Tech Is Human released a new paper titled Safety by Design for Generative AI: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse that outlines strategies and lays out recommendations for companies that build AI tools, search engines, social media platforms, hosting companies and developers to take steps to prevent generative AI from being used to harm children. One of the recommendations, for instance, asks companies to choose data sets used to train AI models carefully and avoid ones only only containing instances of CSAM but also adult sexual content altogether because of generative AIs propensity to combine the two concepts. Thorn is also asking social media platforms and search engines to remove links to websites and apps that let people nudity images of children, thus creating new AI-generated child sexual abuse material online. A flood of AI-generated CSAM, according to the paper, will make identifying genuine victims of child sexual abuse more difficult by increasing the haystack problem an reference to the amount of content that law enforcement agencies must current sift through. This project was intended to make abundantly clear that you dont need to throw up your hands, Thorns vice president of data science Rebecca Portnoff told the Wall Street Journal . We want to be able to change the course of this technology to where the existing harms of this technology get cut off at the knees. Some companies, Portnoff said, had already agreed to separate images, video and audio that involved children from data sets containing adult content to prevent their models from combining the two. Others also add watermarks to identify AI-generated content, but the method isnt foolproof watermarks and metadata can be easily removed . This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...nline-213558797.html?src=rss

long-promised robotaxis August 8. Tesla has been promising a self-driving ride hailing service for years , with Musk promising the companys robotaxi would start picking up riders back in 2019. For now, its unclear exactly when such a service might launch. We are currently working on ride-hailing functionality that will be available in the future, the company wrote in its latest earnings report . We believe the Tesla software experience is best-in-class across all our products, and plan to seamlessly layer ride-hailing into the Tesla App. The update was shared in Teslas first-quarter earnings report for 2024. The automaker reported a revenue decline of 9 percent from last year, its steepest loss in more than a decade. During a call with investors, Musk suggested the ride hailing service, which he referred to as "Cyber Cab," would function like some combination of Airbnb and Uber, so Tesla owners could choose to make their vehicles part of the service. There'll be some number of cars that Tesla owns itself and operates in the fleet, Musk said. There'll be a bunch of cars where they're owned by the end user, but that end user can add or subtract their car to the fleet whenever they want. And they can decide if they want to only let the car be used by friends and family, or only by five star users, or by anyone. This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...738199.html?src=rss

dual-camera setups. The latter can work simultaneously with your smartphones front and back cameras, or you can pair a second satellite camera to complement your phones. It also supports wireless screen sharing for things like live-streaming mobile gameplay. The microphones polar pattern options include cardioid (best for one person speaking), omni (multi-directional) and stereo (best for two people or musical performances). A fourth option lets you flip the stereo channels to match your video. Roland Somewhat confusingly, many of Rolands product photos (like the one above) show a mini smartphone tripod and V-Moda headphones alongside the mic, but those accessories arent included. A Roland spokesperson clarified to Engadget that those were meant to illustrate an example of a complete mobile podcasting system with the mic and app at its center. The Go:Podcast app includes perks like overlaying text and images, playing video clips and audio tracks, picture-in-picture and split screen. It has free-to-use background music tracks (which hopefully sound better than I imagine) along with stock photos and videos. Rolands $140 Go:Podcast studio will arrive in early May. You can learn more (and look out for more specific availability as its launch date approaches) at Rolands website . This article originally appeared on Engadget at ...-193359879.html?src=rss