Archive for March 2020

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Accessories (4)

  • Logitech's latest iPad keyboard cases add trackpads to non-Pro tablets

    If you turned pale at the thought of paying close to $1,000 to get the new iPad Pro and its trackpad-equipped keyboard cover, don't worry -- there will be a much more affordable alternative. Logitech has introduced a $150 Combo Touch keyboard case for the 2019 iPad, 2019 iPad Air and 2017 iPad Pro that includes a trackpad to take advantage of iPadOS 13.4's imminent mouse support. They all attach using Apple's Smart Connector and offer many perks similar to Apple's Magic Keyboard, including backlit keys and trackpad gestures.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google debuts 'Works With Chromebook' badge for accessories

    If you've ever bought a cable, a charger or any other accessory that ended up incompatible with the device it's meant for, you'll likely appreciate Google's latest "Works With" badge. The tech giant has debuted the "Works With Chromebook" logo, which can give you a sure way to know that you're not wasting your money on something you can't use with a Chromebook device.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Logitech's 3-in-1 dock charges your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods

    Now that wireless charging is becoming an increasingly popular method of juicing our devices, brands are looking at ways to simplify the experience even further -- why have several charging pads and docks when you could just sling all your Apple stuff onto one surface? After Apple canned AirPower, the likes of Kanex, Mophie and Zens have all rolled out multi-device charging stations -- now Logitech has entered the fray.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Valve's Index VR headset will go back on sale March 9th

    If you're itching to buy a Valve Index to get the 'official' Half-Life: Alyx experience, you'll soon have another chance... if you move quickly. A Valve spokesperson talking to Engadget has confirmed an earlier report that Index kits will once more be available to buy on March 9th at 1PM Eastern. However, it expects "high demand" to clear out stock of the VR headset that same day. Miss out on this batch and you'll have to settle for inventory on a first-come-first-serve basis, which could leave you waiting a while when the coronavirus outbreak has reduced production.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

AI (12)

  • AI transforms 'The Great British Bakeoff' into a horror show

    Artificial intelligence (AI) can do astonishing things when given specific jobs, but it's terrible at understanding context -- something we've seen before in this series. Thanks to a new experiment inspired by The Great British Bakeoff (GBBO), we can again witness the tragedy of AI stepping outside its lane. Researcher Janelle Shane trained NVIDIA's StyleGan 2 system on images of the show's bakers, pastries and tents, along with "random squirrels," and the results were decidedly not charming and sweet.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Huawei made its own Siri rival called Celia

    Given there's no Google Assistant on Huawei's latest devices, including the P40 series, the company has revealed its very own voice assistant called Celia. She/it/they will understand commands in English, French and Spanish and will behave an awful lot like Siri did at launch, namely some pretty basic voice interactions with core phone features. Think: weather updates, texts and phone call requests. It'll also set reminders, interact with your calendar and even translate. Huawei is hoping its attempts go better than Samsung's own Bixby voice assistant.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Researchers highlight racial bias in speech recognition systems

    Researchers have identified significant racial disparities in speech recognition systems from five of the world's biggest tech companies. According to a study from Stanford University, systems from Amazon, Apple, Google, IBM and Microsoft make far more errors with users who are black than those who are white.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • San Diego police ban Clearview AI's facial recognition tool

    The backlash to Clearview AI's facial recognition tool is extending beyond tech companies and civil liberties groups. San Diego's police department and district attorney's office have confirmed that they banned use of Clearview AI in recent weeks. However, that wasn't before they were used in free trials. Police Lieutenant Shawn Takeuchi said that two detectives used Clearview for investigating financial crimes in tandem with "partners in the banking industry," while the DA office's Steve Walker said that eight investigators tried the tech in cases that didn't lead to charges.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Intel’s neuromorphic chip learns to ‘smell’ 10 hazardous chemicals

    Of all the senses, scent is a particularly difficult one to teach AI, but that doesn't stop researchers from trying. Most recently, researchers from Intel and Cornell University trained a neuromorphic chip to learn and recognize the scents of 10 hazardous chemicals. In the future, the tech might enable "electronic noses" and robots to detect weapons, explosives, narcotics and even diseases.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Washington state approves stronger facial recognition regulations

    Washington officials have approved a set of stronger facial recognition regulations for the state. Members of the state's House of Representatives and the Senate have reached a final compromise on the rules designed to regulate the use of facial recognition. Since Washington often leads the way in tech-related laws -- it was the first state to pass its own net neutrality law -- this sounds like an auspicious development for privacy advocates across the nation.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • ACLU sues Homeland Security over airport facial recognition records

    There's no question that AI surveillance is on the rise, but there are a lot of questions about just how extensively law enforcement agencies, like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are using it. In an attempt to increase transparency, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing DHS -- along with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The ACLU is requesting records on the use of face surveillance at airports and borders, as well as the agencies' plans for future use.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Recommended Reading: The AI surveillance company watching Utah

    This small company is turning Utah into a surveillance panopticon Jason Koebler, Emanuel Maiberg, and Joseph Cox Motherboard If you think Clearview's AI-powered facial recognition is a major problem, buckle up. An artificial intelligence company called Banjo has agreement with Utah that gives it real-time access to traffic cameras, CCTV/public safety cameras, 911 systems and other data. Banjo says it can combine all of that with info from social media, apps and satellites to "detect anomalies." Basically, the company claims it can alert law enforcement to a crime while it's happening. It also says the system strips all personal details so it's able to assist without sacrificing privacy. Motherboard has more on the agreement and how it's working so far.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Banjo AI surveillance is already monitoring traffic cams across Utah

    A small company called Banjo is bringing pervasive AI surveillance to law enforcement throughout Utah, Motherboard reports. In July, Banjo signed a five-year, $20.7 million contract with Utah. The agreement gives the company real-time access to state traffic cameras, CCTV and public safety cameras, 911 emergency systems, location data for state-owned vehicles and more. In exchange, Banjo promises to alert law enforcement to "anomalies," aka crimes, but the arrangement raises all kinds of red flags.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • An algorithm could make CPUs a cheap way to train AI

    AI is the backbone of technologies such as Alexa and Siri -- digital assistants that rely on deep machine learning to do their thing. But for the makers of these products -- and others that rely on AI -- getting them "trained" is an expensive and often time-consuming process. Now, scientists from Rice University have found a way to train deep neural nets more quickly, and more affordably, through CPUs.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Google algorithm lets robots teach themselves to walk

    There's no question that robots will play an increasingly central role in our lives in the future, but to get to a stage where they can be genuinely useful there are still a number of challenges to be overcome -- including navigation without human intervention. Yes, we're at a stage where algorithms will allow a robot to learn how to move around, but the process is convoluted and requires a lot of human input, either in picking up the robot when it falls over, or moving it back into its training space if it wanders off. But new research from Google could make this learning process a lot more straightforward.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • AI can help find more places to store captured CO2 underground

    Scientists dream of storing captured CO2 emissions underground, but it can be tricky to find pockets for storing those emissions -- Earth's seismic "hum" makes it difficult to spot the low-frequency waves that would best help map the subterranean landscape. That might not be a challenge in the future thanks to AI. MIT scientists have developed a machine learning system that uses earthquakes to accurately estimate those low-frequency waves and map underground structures. The trick, according to researchers, was in the training.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Amazon (22)

  • Amazon draws criticism for firing employee who led coronavirus protest

    An Amazon employee claims he was fired by the company after he led a protest against its coronavirus safety conditions. In an interview with Bloomberg, Chris Smalls, former assistant manager at Amazon's Staten Island fulfillment center, said that he and more than 60 colleagues walked off the job on Monday to demand Amazon close the center for proper cleaning. Smalls said his employment was subsequently terminated.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Amazon offers warehouse workers higher pay to handle Prime Now groceries

    Amazon's focus on essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic has led it to offer special incentives to workers. Reuters has learned that Amazon is offering warehouse workers a $2 raise to $19 per hour if they're willing to pick and pack Whole Foods groceries for Prime Now. The company has already outlined plans to hire 100,000 workers to keep up with demand, but that clearly isn't enough in the very near term.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Alexa can tell you what to do if you think you have COVID-19

    Amazon is joining Alphabet's Verily and Apple's Siri in offering a COVID-19 screening tool. If you're in the US, you can now ask your Alexa devices to assess your risk level for the disease, as well as what to do if you think you have COVID-19. Alexa will ask you a series of questions and provide Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance based on your risk factors and symptoms.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Amazon will deliver at-home COVID-19 test kits in Seattle trial

    Amazon is playing a direct role in COVID-19 relief beyond shipping essentials to people sheltering at home. Amazon Care, the division providing healthcare to company staff, is partnering with the Gates Foundation-backed Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network to deliver and pick up at-home COVID-19 testing kits as part of a trial. The number of kits will be limited, but should help widen testing for the virus without relying on conventional mail and courier deliveries.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon stops taking orders for some non-essentials in France and Italy

    Amazon is taking dramatic steps to prioritize orders in areas hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The online retailer told Reuters in a statement that it would temporarily stop taking orders for "some non-essential products" in France and Italy to help Amazon warehouses focus on more vital deliveries. The company didn't say just what it was stopping, but it believes essentials include groceries, health products, household items, personal care, industrial goods, scientific products and pet supplies.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon temporarily raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

    Amazon is still determined to meet demand spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's willing to offer warehouse workers incentives to keep shipments going. In a statement to Reuters, the internet giant said it was raising overtime pay for US warehouse workers until May 9th. Staffers will get "double" their usual hourly rate for every hour past their standard shift. They previously received 50 percent more pay during overtime hours.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon is cutting Prime Video streaming bitrates in Europe

    Amazon has begun lowering streaming bitrates for Prime Video viewers in Europe. In a statement, the company said it agreed with the notion that telecom services need to be managed carefully during the coronavirus pandemic, otherwise people won't be able to work from home and minimize economic turmoil. "Prime Video is working with local authorities and Internet Service Providers where needed to help mitigate any network congestion, including in Europe where we've already begun the effort to reduce streaming bitrates whilst maintaining a quality streaming experience for our customers," a Prime Video spokesperson added.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Amazon suspends Prime Pantry to handle its backlog of orders

    If you're looking to order food online while you're holed up at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak, you won't be able to do so through Amazon's Prime Pantry for now. The company has paused new orders through the service, which offers household and non-perishable pantry items, for now as it fulfills its backlog.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Amazon, DOJ ask consumers to report coronavirus price gouging

    Since the coronavirus outbreak began, Amazon has seen a "significant increase in demand," especially for medical and cleaning supplies. It has also seen third-party retailers raising prices on things like masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant sprays. Now, Amazon is asking consumers to cooperate with a Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into coronavirus price gouging.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Amazon confirms the first known COVID-19 case in a US warehouse

    Amazon temporarily closed a warehouse in Queens, New York, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. While two office workers at Amazon's Seattle headquarters have been diagnosed with COVID-19, this is the first confirmed case in a US warehouse, The Atlantic reports. This comes as Amazon is working to keep up with a "significant increase in demand" and hiring an additional 100,000 warehouse employees.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Amazon prioritizes cleaning, medical supply shipments to warehouses

    Amazon has had a hard time keeping up with the demand for medical and cleaning supplies -- such as masks and hand sanitizer -- due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company is hoping to increase its supply of such goods by restricting which items its third-party vendors can send to its warehouses. Independent merchants will be unable to ship items other than medical supplies and household staples to Amazon's warehouses and fulfillment centers until April 5th. The company hopes that this strategy will help to "more quickly receive, restock and ship these products to customers," according to a statement sent to vendors.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Amazon will hire 100,000 workers to keep up with the surge in demand

    To keep up with a "significant increase in demand" due to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon is hiring an additional 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the US. As more people turn to online shopping in an attempt to stay home (and because grocery stores are struggling to keep shelves stocked), Amazon says its labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Ring temporarily pauses most third-party data collection

    Ring promised to give users more control over their privacy -- and the company seems to be making an honest effort. After The Electronic Frontier Foundation discovered that Ring's apps were sharing data with third parties, Ring allowed users to opt out of certain data sharing practices -- as well as police video requests. Now, the company is pausing its use of "most third-party analytics services" for the Ring apps and website while it works on a better solution.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Ring's latest doorbells feature a three-camera array

    Over the weekend, a leak revealed the latest smart doorbells from Ring. The product pages -- which were quickly taken down from Ring's website -- highlighted the addition of a 5GHz wireless connection and a "Pre-Roll" feature that shows users the four seconds of video that happened before an alarm was tripped. Today, the company officially revealed the Video Doorbell 3 and Video Doorbell 3 Plus, and elaborated on the technology behind the Pre-Roll feature. While the Video Doorbell 3 seems to be an incremental upgrade, the 3 Plus may pique the interest of existing Ring users as well as new customers.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Amazon's 'Just Walk Out' tech is coming to airport stores in March

    That didn't take long. One of the first stores in the US to feature Amazon's Just Walk Out checkout-free technology will open on March 16th, one week after the company announced it was licensing the platform to retailers. You'll find the store, a CIBO Express Gourmet Market, at Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal C, with more locations to follow. When you visit the store, you'll be able to buy food and drinks without interacting with a cashier.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Amazon's checkout-free tech is heading to other retailers

    Checkout-free, cashless supermarkets -- a novelty shopping experience or the future of bricks and mortar retail? According to Amazon -- which turned the concept into a 10,400-square-foot reality -- it's the latter. After announcing its plans to license its automated checkout technology to other retailers, the company has revealed it has "several" signed deals with customers, and has launched a new website inviting inquiries from others interested in the "Just Walk Out" experience.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Alexa can now provide traffic updates and severe weather alerts

    Depending on where you live, traffic can be unpredictable, making it yet another thing to check while getting ready for work. Alexa should make planning your commute a bit easier with a new voice control skill. Just ask Alexa about your commute, traffic conditions or directions. You can also have that information sent to your phone. A notification will appear on your device -- tap that and your preferred map app will open with the route guidance. Google Assistant has done this for a while, but Amazon customers will likely enjoy the added convenience.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Amazon drops out of SXSW due to coronavirus concerns

    Following Twitter and Facebook, Amazon has become the latest high-profile company to drop out of South by Southwest (SXSW) 2020 due to coronavirus-related concerns. The company's Amazon Studios subsidiary and employees won't attend the annual music, technology and entertainment festival, according to Variety.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Amazon's accelerated one-day shipping

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Amazon is offering faster same-day delivery that could get your order to you in a matter of hours. There will apparently be up to three million items marked "Today by" available to order for speedy same-day delivery to Prime members in Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando and Dallas. Amazon will even deliver packages while you sleep. Given the company CEO's recent comments on global warming and controversy over its contracted "delivery partners" it seems an odd service to announce. The orders will apparently ship from local fulfillment centers, meaning less air freight and reduced driving distance. Amazon says, "while it may seem counterintuitive, the faster delivery speeds enabled by these facilities actually help us lower carbon emissions." That is if your shopping list is entirely from local centers. We should take those better-for-the-environment claims with a pinch of salt, as the convenience of getting something to your door could outweigh a short walk to local stores or businesses; it could also lead to more frequent orders, more deliveries, more trucks. But if we're doing the ordering, Amazon can claim it's not its fault. Market forces at work. -- Mat

    By Engadget Read More

  • Amazon confirms first coronavirus diagnosis among US employees

    Bloomberg reports that Amazon emailed workers to let them know an employee had tested positive for coronavirus. The company confirmed the employee worked in Seattle, at its South Lake Union office and went home sick on February 25th. They're not the first Amazon employee confirmed to test positive for the virus, after two people in Italy, and the company has already limited travel plans and backed out of events like GDC. The location of Amazon's headquarters made it more likely to be one of the first large companies with a confirmed case in the US, with all nine confirmed deaths from COVID-19 occurring in Washington. In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said "We're supporting the affected employee who is in quarantine."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Amazon will deliver some same-day orders in just a few hours

    We knew Amazon was considering making one-day shipping the default for Prime-eligible purchases, but now, the company is going even further. Prime members in Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando and Dallas can now expect their same-day orders to arrive in just a few hours.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

Apple (29)

  • Apple buys Dark Sky weather app

    Apple has bought weather app Dark Sky, which is highly regarded for its radar maps and accuracy of its hyperlocal, by-the-minute weather predictions. It'll still be available on the iOS App Store, as you might expect, but the Android and Wear OS versions will shut down on July 1st. You'll no longer be able to download the app on those platforms, and people who are still subscribed to the service when Dark Sky pulls the plug will receive a refund.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Apple brings ProRes RAW support to Windows video editors

    Thanks to a combination of more affordable cinema cameras and increasingly powerful software, professional video producers are able to net some impressive results. One major part of the equation for achieving high-quality footage is shooting in a RAW codec, which creates lossless files that are suitable for color correction and other enhancements. Apple's ProRes RAW codec isn't a very popular choice among shooters, but that may change now that the format isn't exclusive to Apple's computers. The company released beta software that lets Windows editors work with ProRes RAW files in Adobe's Premiere Pro, After Effects and Media Encoder. This means they won't have to devote time or computing power to transcoding the files -- they can simply load them into their editing suite and get to work.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Apple unveils its own COVID-19 screening app and website

    Because you can never have too many testing resources during an unprecedented global pandemic, Apple has introduced a new app and website for screening COVID-19 symptoms. Developed together with the CDC, both tools step you through a series of questions related to the coronavirus to figure out the best course of action. Sure, it's all the same advice you'd see directly from the CDC, or from Apple's own Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Alphabet's Verily, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have more resources out there. Especially when these latest tools have the extra UI polish you'd expect from Apple.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Apple makes its pro video and audio editing software free to use for 90 days

    Apple is giving people stuck at home the chance to try out two of its professional creative applications at no cost. To start with, the tech giant is extending Final Cut Pro X's free trial period from 30 days to 90 days. Users will still have to pay $300 for a license once it's over, but they'll at least have three months to master the video editing application before having to decide whether it's worth the price.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Apple rolls out iOS and iPadOS 13.4 with trackpad support

    Right on cue, Apple has released iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 -- and they're particularly big news if you're an iPad owner. As promised, iPadOS 13.4 has introduced mouse and trackpad support that lets you treat your tablet more like a laptop, including multi-touch gestures for navigation. Apple clearly built this with the iPad Pro's Magic Keyboard in mind, but you can use it with other iPads if you have the right peripherals.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple rolls out option to buy Mac and iOS apps as a package

    Last month Apple announced plans to allow developers to sell Mac and iOS apps as a single "Universal Purchase," which means that by buying one version, you'll get access to the other one automatically. That tool has now launched officially, and also supports in-app purchases.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple is giving free e-books and audiobooks to people in the US

    Apple is currently giving out freebies to Books users in the US. The next time you launch the app, you'll see a notification inviting you to "explore free books, read-alongs for kids, cozy mysteries, and audiobooks for the whole family." Tapping on the message will lead you to a featured collection where you can select one book or audiobook from a variety of genres. You can also pick a novel from the company's "First in a Series, Free" section.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Apple is reportedly aware of flaky Personal Hotspots in iOS 13

    Apple hasn't entirely escaped the flurry of iOS 13 glitches, it seems. MacRumors has reportedly obtained support documents acknowledging ongoing connection problems with the Personal Hotspot feature in iOS 13 and its iPadOS 13 counterpart. Affected users either disconnect frequently or can't connect at all -- a significant problem if you're counting on your device's hotspot as a backup connection. It's not certain just when the issue first manifested, although iPhone and iPad users have reported issues as far back as iOS 13.1.2.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple's Siri helps Americans wondering if they have COVID-19

    It's not just Alphabet's Verily offering a COVID-19 screening tool. Apple has quietly updated Siri in the US to provide a questionnaire (using US Public Health Service and CDC data) when they ask if they have the coronavirus. The voice assistant will ask if you're exhibiting symptoms like a fever or respiratory problems, and advises you to avoid contact with others if you appear infected. Siri also urges you to call 911 if your symptoms are extreme, and will point you to the App Store to download telehealth apps for remote consultations.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple donates millions of masks to healthcare pros in the US and Europe

    Hospitals in numerous countries are struggling to provide basic supplies to healthcare workers, and tech companies are pitching in to address the shortfall. Tim Cook has revealed that Apple is donating "millions" of masks to healthcare professionals in Europe and the US. While he didn't elaborate on just how many were going around, Vice President Mike Pence said in a briefing that 2 million N95 masks were headed to the US.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple shows a White House coronavirus PSA to App Store users

    Tech giants have been displaying prominent coronavirus alerts in various places, but Apple is stepping things up with its latest addition. Users have noticed that Apple is now displaying a White House public service announcement at the top of the App Store for US customers. Tap it and White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci offers guidance on the "dos and don'ts" of social distancing

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple's new Air could be the MacBook for everyone

    It's been about a year and a half since Apple redesigned the aging MacBook Air. In a lot of ways, that model was a big step forward over its predecessor, with an upgraded display chief among the improvements. But it also came with its fair share of compromises, including a tempermental "butterfly" keyboard and an asking price that put it a little too close to the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro. But with today's update, Apple seems to have addressed just about every issue with its flagship consumer laptop -- including the price. After a few years where Apple made multiple mis-steps with both hardware and pricing, it's encouraging to see the company make more customer-friendly decisions.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Apple's updated iPad Pro has depth-aware cameras and trackpad support

    Apple was clearly gearing up for an imminent launch when it inadvertently listed new tablets. Right on cue, the company has introduced updated versions of the iPad Pro -- and it won't surprise you to hear that the cameras play a major role like they do on the iPhone 11. The 11- and 12.9-inch tablets now have a secondary, ultra-wide 10-megapixel rear camera and, for the first time on any Apple device, a LiDAR scanner that lets them measure the distance for objects up to 16.4 feet away, improving augmented reality features like object placement, motion capture and occluding people in a scene. Thankfully, ARKit apps don't need any updates for the faster and more accurate technology.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple says its retail stores are closed 'until further notice'

    Apple may have been optimistic when it said that its stores would be closed until March 27th. The iPhone maker has posted a message on its site telling visitors that its retail locations are "closed until further notice" as it contends with the coronavirus pandemic. We've asked Apple to say if this is a formal extension of its closures, but it's safe to presume that you shouldn't count on picking up some AirPods at the end of the month.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple accidentally listed four new iPad Pro models on its website

    An iPad Pro refresh could be imminent if what appears to be an accidental leak on Apple's part is any indication. Over on its Chinese website, the company temporarily listed four new iPad Pro models in a support document. Canadian Apple blog iPhone in Canada was the first website to spot and screenshot the manual before Apple updated it to remove any references to the new tablets.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Apple hit with record-breaking $1.2 billion antitrust fine in France

    Apple has been hit with a record-breaking fine for antitrust practices. French competition authority Autorité de la Concurrence has found Apple and its wholesale distribution partners Ingram Micro and Tech Data guilty of running a cartel for Apple products, and has fined the companies €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion), €62.9 million ($70.2 million) and €76.1 million ($85 million) respectively.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple sets clearer rules for coronavirus-related apps

    Apple has been cracking down on coronavirus-related apps for days, but now it's clarifying just what it will accept on the App Store. The tech giant has posted an update clarifying its rules for COVID-19 app submissions, and they're unsurprisingly strict. The developers presenting apps should be "recognized entities" like government bodies, institutions (educational and medical), health-focused non-governmental organizations and companies "deeply-credentialed" in health. Apple will outright reject any entertainment apps themed around COVID-19.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • All Apple Stores outside of Greater China are closing until March 27th

    Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out a statement in the early hours of Saturday morning detailing Apple's worldwide response to COVID-19. Among the steps taken is news that the company will close its retail stores worldwide until March 27th. The only exception is Greater China, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, where the company yesterday reopened stores that had closed on February 2nd. Stores already closed in Italy and Spain due to the pandemic will remain closed. On Friday morning Apple announced its spring WWDC developer event would go online-only, and Cook said that "In all of our offices, we are moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China." For the affected workers, "All of our hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations. We have expanded our leave policies to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19 — including recovering from an illness, caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantining, or childcare challenges due to school closures."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference goes online-only due to coronavirus

    Nearly every major tech event this year to date has been cancelled or dramatically revamped over coronavirus concerns, and Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is no exception. The company has just announced that WWDC-- typically held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California -- will be a purely online event when it takes place sometime this June. "The current health situation has required that we create a new WWDC 2020 format that delivers a full program with an online keynote and sessions, offering a great learning experience for our entire developer community, all around the world," said Phil Schiller, Apple's SVP of worldwide marketing in a post on the company's website. "We will be sharing all of the details in the weeks ahead."

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Apple may expand mouse support with iPadOS 14

    It appears that Apple may bring mouse support to iPad OS 14. Apple added some compatibility for external mice as an Accessibility setting in iOS 13, but 9to5Mac has spotted code that suggests mouse-compatibility could be the norm beginning with iOS 14 (iPadOS 14).

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Powerbeats 4 leak gives a first glimpse at Apple’s new sporty earbuds

    Apple's latest iteration of the Powerbeats earbuds came back in 2016, so they're well overdue an upgrade. Now, it looks like that's on its way. Images of the unannounced Powerbeats 4 have appeared online for the first time, and with Apple's new H1 wireless chip it looks like they're now on par with the Powerbeats Pro.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple reduces capacity at store events to deal with coronavirus outbreak

    Apple is grappling with more than just iPhone shortages as it takes precautions against spreading the novel coronavirus. Company chief Tim Cook has sent a memo outlining a series of new steps to reduce the chances of people spreading the virus, including changes at stores. Apple is trying to "maximize interpersonal space" at its shops, including by reducing the density and occupancy for events like classes and Genius Bar appointments. You may have a harder time learning about your new iPhone in the near future, to put it another way.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple will fix iPad Air tablets with blank screen issues

    Apple has launched a new repair program for iPad Air, and you may want to take note if you have a third-gen device with a screen that suddenly went dead. According to the tech giant, screens on a "limited number" of third-gen iPad Air tablets may permanently go blank "under certain circumstances." It didn't elaborate on what exactly causes the issue, but it said affected displays tend to briefly flash or flicker for a bit before dying.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Apple is rejecting coronavirus apps to limit virus misinformation

    Apple and Google are taking measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus misinformation from apps, according to a report from CNBC. Apple, for one, is rejecting all coronavirus-related mobile apps that aren't from the government or official health organizations, developers told the news organization. Google Play, meanwhile, is blocking all searches for coronavirus, though it's not clear if it's completely blocking app approvals, as well.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Apple reportedly warns stores of iPhone replacement shortages

    Apple's coronavirus-related iPhone supply shortage might cause problems if you total your handset in the near future. Apple store workers talking to Bloomberg say they've been warned that replacement iPhones will be in low supply for up to two to four weeks. Reps can reportedly mail out replacements and offer loaner iPhones in the meantime, but there's no guarantee you'll walk out of a Genius appointment with a brand new device in hand.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple may introduce a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro with a mini-LED screen

    When Apple introduced the much-improved 16-inch MacBook Pro, it raised an obvious question: when will the 13-inch model get a similar update? You might not have to wait too much longer. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a history of mostly accurate near-term forecasts) has followed up on past claims with an investor note asserting that Apple will replace the 13-inch MacBook Pro in 2020 with a 14.1-inch model using a mini-LED screen that would promise higher contrast ratios, wider color ranges and other image quality boosts. Kuo was shy on other details, but it's safe to presume this new model would get the upgraded keyboard and other refinements from its 16-inch sibling.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Apps (37)

  • Endlesss is a simple, fun music collaboration app

    Thanks to social distancing measures, online collaboration is more prominent than ever. But that doesn't just go for work -- it's part of having fun, too. When it comes to remotely making music with friends, there's typically a high barrier to entry. Not everyone is familiar with the workflows of digital audio workstations like Ableton Live or Apple's Logic Pro X. That's where Endlesss comes in. Billed as a "multiplayer music" app, it's aimed at users who are familiar with the basics of music production and synthesis while remaining somewhat accessible to those who aren't. Though it probably won't become a staple of bedroom producers, it could be a fun way to pass the time while cooped up at home.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Streamlabs beta could make Mac livestreaming a lot better

    Let's not sugarcoat it: livestreaming on Macs tends to suck. Even if you're not streaming games, there's a dearth of high-quality broadcasting tools to add a professional level of polish. Now, however, you shouldn't have to struggle. Streamlabs has released an open Mac beta of its version of OBS that delivers the alerts, overlays, audiovisual controls and chat management that many streamers take for granted. It'll handle familiar services, too, including Twitch, Mixer, Facebook and YouTube.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Spotify's standalone Kids app is now available in the US

    When Spotify first launched its standalone app for kids last October, the possibilities were intriguing. It meant that parents could play music their kids like without having it impact their algorithmically generated playlists and recommendations on the service. There was one problem: it was only available in Ireland. In the months that followed, the company would expand to other parts of Europe (including the UK, where it arrived last month), Australia and South America. Now that the streaming service has had some time to refine things a bit, it's debuting Spotify Kids in the US, Canada and France today.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • HQ Trivia makes a surprise return

    HQ Trivia -- the once-popular mobile game that turned your random knowledge into a few bucks -- abruptly shut down earlier this year after an investment deal fell through. As such, players that still had the app on their phones were probably surprised to receive a push notification last night alerting them to the start of a new broadcast. HQ Trivia, it seems, is back. For now, at least, as the hows and whys are unclear -- although the game's founder did say last month he was searching for new investment. All we know, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, is that an anonymous investor has stumped up the cash to get the game, dubbed "Chapter Two" back on its feet. Games will be held every day at 9pm ET, apparently, and each game this week will include a donation towards coronavirus-related efforts -- a nice gesture that suggests there might be big money behind the new push. Who knows how long it'll be around for, but it's certainly something to do while you're stuck indoors.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Dropbox beta for Mac can finally sync your desktop

    Dropbox has been less alluring to some Mac users than iCloud in part because of its limited syncing. Where Apple's service can sync your desktop and Documents folder, you've had to be content with syncing a special folder with Dropbox's service. You might have reason to give it a second look in the near future, though. The 9to5Mac team has discovered that the latest Dropbox beta for Mac (sadly, not easy to grab) has the option of syncing your desktop, Documents and Downloads.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • LG TVs add a Movies Anywhere app

    Now that Ultraviolet is gone, Movies Anywhere has become the dominant "digital locker" that enables viewing of purchased movies across different devices and services. Now LG is the first TV manufacturer (it was previously available on platforms like Roku or Fire TV, but those aren't only for smart TVs) to feature the main app, which easily organizes and sets up links for your accounts across the services that connect to it: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV, Xfinity, FandangoNow or Verizon. Hopefully, it should make movie night a little easier whether you're watching or just checking to see if a particular movie will be part of your digital collection on the service (Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM still haven't signed up, so your options are all from Disney/Fox, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.). And if you have a few accounts with those services, then you can pull them all together in one place. It's also convenient if you're taking advantage of the recently-announced Screen Pass sharing feature that allows free viewing of movies your friends have purchased -- with some notable restrictions.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Slack is working on a way to call Microsoft Teams users

    As much as modern technology makes our daily lives easier, there's sometimes that frequent headache that comes when two competing services don't play nicely with one another. It's something Slack and Microsoft Teams users have had to contend with as they've transitioned to working from home. Thankfully, a fix is on its way.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Food delivery apps, the pandemic and finding a new normal

    Like the rest of the world, because of the coronavirus outbreak, the restaurant industry is in the midst of a serious reckoning. As of writing, 23 American states have shut down restaurants except for takeout and delivery. In the UK, McDonald's has completely closed every location, including takeout and delivery. Despite campaigns like Tuesday's nationwide hashtag #thegreatamericantakeout, urging consumers to order takeout from local restaurants, many are shuttering for good. Even delivery logistics are proving a challenge, as illustrated by the large, non-socially distanced crowds assembled outside of Carbone in New York City, waiting for comfort food to go.

    By Megan Giller Read More

  • The Weather Channel brings localized COVID-19 updates to your phone

    The Weather Channel and its parent company IBM (yep, who knew?) have teamed up to bring coronavirus data, maps and charts to your phone. They're importing data from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO), and including info from reliable local and state sources, so you can get a picture of how the virus is spreading near you, across the country and around the globe.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Anchor makes it easier to invite guests to your podcasts

    If you've been thinking about creating a podcast to document your experience of the coronavirus pandemic or to discuss important related issues, DIY podcasting platform Anchor may be able to help with a feature update that makes it easier to invite guests. Starting today, you can invite up to four other people to join a recording. If they don't have Anchor installed on their device, no problem. The Record with Friends feature will launch in your friend's favorite browser -- with support for Google Chrome coming soon. All your guests need to do is click on the link you send them and type in their names.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Minecraft' takes students on a free tour of the ISS

    To help students who are stuck at home keep on learning, there's a new glut of free educational material available in Minecraft. Mojang has added an Education category to the Marketplace, which includes a bunch of lessons from Minecraft: Education Edition.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Yelp adds a GoFundMe donation button for struggling businesses (update)

    Yelp is hoping to help struggling business stay afloat while COVID-19 restrictions are in place by teaming up with GoFundMe. Since a lot of businesses have to shut down unless they're classified as "essential retail," the two companies are making it easier for them receive direct donations from loyal patrons and people in their community who may want to help. Yelp pages for restaurants, nightlife, beauty and fitness, as well as active life businesses can now display GoFundMe fundraisers. Eligible business' pages will show a Donate button right on their profile.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Apple's App Store is coming to 20 more countries

    Apple is planning the largest expansion of its App Store since 2012 by adding 20 new countries, according to an article on its developer portal. The company asked developers to log into their accounts to accept the latest license terms so their apps will be available in those regions. Apple didn't say when the rollout would begin, but it asked devs to update their info by no later than April 10th.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Dell Mobile Connect now transfers photos between your iPhone and PC

    Dell teased in January that its Mobile Connect software would become much more iPhone-friendly this spring, and it's honoring that promise. The PC maker has updated Mobile Connect (you'll need the Microsoft Store and App Store downloads, and officially a 2018 or newer Dell/Alienware PC) to enable both file transfers and screen mirroring for iPhones. The file exchanges are really just limited to photos and videos, but that may be enough if you're just looking to save your iPhone snaps on your XPS laptop.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Instacart is hiring 300,000 grocery shoppers (updated)

    Instacart plans to hire an additional 300,000 "full-service" contractors to help it deliver groceries to people during the coronavirus pandemic. With so many individuals and families stuck inside as a result of social distancing measures and shelter in place orders in states like California, Instacart says order volume has increased by 150 percent over the last few weeks, with people buying more per cart as well.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Color Space is a VR coloring book to help you relax

    Let's face it: with the COVID-19 pandemic creating chaos, you're probably looking for something, anything to shut out the outside world and help you relax. Thankfully, you might have an option if you happen to have an Oculus VR headset. Lighthaus has released a Color Space coloring book app for the Quest and Rift that has you bringing a dull gray scene to life while you're inside. The more you color, the more it comes to life with animation and sound. It's very simple (you only need one button to control everything), but that's precisely the point -- Lighthaus designed the app as a distraction for patients going through stressful procedures.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Native Instruments' $50 retro synth plug-in is currently free

    The '80s had no shortage of massive-sounding synthesizers, but many of them have either gone out to pasture or are prohibitively expensive on the secondhand market. Software companies often try to digitally recreate those synths as affordable plug-ins, though, and to keep musicians busy while they're locked inside, Native Instruments has made its Analog Dreams software -- which usually costs $50 -- free to download. That means anyone with a USB keyboard or controller can work on their Duran Duran covers or an isolation-induced synth pop opus.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Educators can temporarily give Creative Cloud access to distance learners

    Students who are stuck at home due to coronavirus concerns don't have as many resources as a school could provide. For example, schools that teach graphics and video skills often have educational licenses for Adobe's Creative Cloud, which are assigned to individual computers, rather than students. In other words, students can't simply open up Photoshop from their own devices. To help educators and learners during school closures, Adobe is allowing IT admins to grant temporary at-home access to its suite of Creative Cloud apps, from now until May 31st.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Spotify will end support for third-party DJ apps on July 1st

    DJing is no longer about two turntables and a fader -- laptops and tablets are essential tools of the trade. Apps like djay help performers beat-match, remix songs and trigger samples, and have the added convenience of cloud-based library integration. However, Spotify -- one of the most popular streaming services -- is pulling support for all third-party DJ apps. It's not clear why the company is longer allowing access to its immense library of music, but Engadget has reached out to hopefully learn more.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Yelp is adding a 'contact-free' delivery option to its apps

    Yelp is doing its part to help small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The company has promised to update its iOS and Android apps next week with a "contact-free" delivery option at checkout, thanks in part to its partnership with Grubhub. It's also working on "new functionality" that will allow business owners to signal through the app that customers can still order food for takeout, delivery or both.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Serif discounts Affinity creative apps during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Life as a digital creative might be a little easier if you're working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Serif is trotting out a number of deals for its Affinity apps to help out artists and photographers (and, of course, encourage them to buy software). Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher are now free to try for 90 days. There's no requirement to buy, but you'll get a 50 percent discount for both computer and iPad versions of the apps if you'd prefer to purchase them. Both deals end on April 20th.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Slack’s latest changes couldn’t come at a better time

    Slack was already a big part of modern work life for many people, but as more companies turn to remote work, it is becoming even more essential. Even if you were using Slack to chat with coworkers in an office before, conducting all of your conversations there could be a big shift. Fortunately, Slack is introducing changes to make its desktop platform easier to use and organize.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • GitHub's mobile app helps you manage code on the move

    Believe it or not, GitHub hasn't had an official mobile app -- a pain when you just want to offer some feedback on a project. That won't be a problem from now on. After months of testing, the Microsoft-owned company has released native GitHub apps for Android and iOS. Both let you manage tasks and pull requests (contributions to open projects) on the move, and you can both dish out and respond to comments.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • DoorDash will temporarily reduce or waive its commission fees

    As cities and states across the US mandate that restaurants cut the capacity of their dining rooms -- or close them all together -- restaurateurs will have to rely heavily on delivery in the weeks ahead. Many eateries are already having a difficult time dealing with reduced revenue due to people staying home out of coronavirus concerns and DoorDash is aiming to help independent restaurants stay afloat by removing or reducing commission fees through the end of April. As of today, restaurants new to DoorDash can sign up and pay zero commission fees for 30 days. Eligible restaurants already onboard will pay reduced fees on delivery orders and won't be charged for pickup orders, but it's unclear as to how long this will be the case. A DoorDash spokesperson said, "Due to the rapidly evolving situation, we will be evaluating conditions week over week, as opposed to assigning a fixed duration and will continue to connect with our merchant partners throughout the process."

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Sonos is releasing a new OS and controller app for its speakers this June

    Back in January, Sonos made the unpopular announcement that it wouldn't be providing new features for its oldest hardware products after May of this year. Since then, the company has sought to clarify that those devices will still work as they do now; the company also promised details on how its legacy devices would work with newer Sonos speakers. Today, Sonos is making things a bit clearer by announcing that a new app and operating system, currently dubbed Sonos S2, will arrive in June of this year. Sonos says that all new products it releases after June will run on S2, as well as everything it currently sells and many of its older speakers as well. The exceptions are those previously-detailed legacy products that the company already announced wouldn't receive new features.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Moog and Korg make synth apps free to help musicians stuck at home

    If you're a musician (or fan) whose concerts got scrapped over coronavirus concerns, you'll at least have more tools to produce music when you're at home. To start, Moog has made its Minimoog Model D iOS synth app available for free. It wasn't hugely expensive to start, but this could make it easy to recreate the first portable synth and slip some Kraftwerk- or Dr. Dre-inspired sounds into your latest track. Moog didn't say how long the price change would last, but you might want to act quickly.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Windows 10's Your Phone app will let you copy-paste to Samsung devices

    Microsoft is working on at least a couple of big features for Windows 10's Your Phone app, and Insider Preview users will be able to test them out after installing the latest test build. One of those features is the ability to copy-paste text and images between a phone and PC -- for this particular iteration, however, the capability will only work between a Samsung Galaxy S20, 20+, S20 Ultra or Z Flip device and a PC that's running Windows 10 version April 10, 2018 or newer.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Android Auto is coming to Harley-Davidson motorcycles

    With the exception of a couple of late stragglers, Android Auto has become commonplace on most cars. Not so with motorcycles. But that's about to change with Harley-Davidson announcing that it plans to update some of its existing motorcycles to support Android Auto.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Discord relaxes streaming limits during coronavirus outbreak

    In the wake of the coronavirus, streaming platform Discord is temporarily upping the limit on its Go Live service to 50 people at a time. In a blog post, the company said that it recognized that people in areas hit by the virus are using Discord to "keep in touch and stay on track with their everyday lives, from attending classes remotely to working from home," and that it wanted to find a way to help.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Gmail now supports multiple signatures

    Gmail's support for just one email signature can be a pain if you don't always want to end your messages the same way -- you may not want to respond to a work request the same way you do an invitation to dinner. You won't have to fret about it much longer, though. Google is introducing support for multiple signatures on the web, with the option to make one of them the default. You just have to go into Settings > Settings > General to create a new signature, and a button in the compose window will let you choose and manage signatures while you're writing.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Behringer is building a free digital audio workstation

    When it comes to producing music, a digital audio workstation (DAW) is one of the most important tools of the trade. This software is where musicians record and edit tracks, add effects, and play virtual instruments. Behringer -- which is well-known for its hardware-based synthesizers -- confirmed on Facebook that it will create its own DAW, which will hopefully be out sometime next year. But the company won't be going head-to-head with the likes of Apple's Logic Pro or Avid's Pro Tools: Behringer's DAW will be free.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Postmates and Instacart introduce 'no contact' deliveries

    First it was Uber's Quiet Cars, and now the socially avoidant can get their Postmates without actually seeing anyone. The company added "Dropoff Options" to its delivery service without mentioning the growing coronavirus outbreak by name, but clearly looking to service folks who, for one reason or another, would prefer to have as little contact with others as possible. As it is, the options include meeting at curbside, front door, or no-contact where they're left at the door. On Friday Instacart also launched "Leave at my door" delivery for its grocery dropoffs, mimicking changes seen in China as the virus continued to spread, albeit without the temperature readings of everyone who was involved in preparation or delivery.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Google Messages may send iMessage-style 'liked a photo' reaction texts

    It looks like Google Messages will soon let users send iMessage-like reaction text messages to people without Rich Communication Services (RCS). If the recipient doesn't use Google's next-gen text messaging, rather than see a thumbs-up bubble reaction, they'll get a written description, such as "liked a photo" or "laughed at a text."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • VSCO's new tool is built for moody video montages

    VSCO is an app known for its extensive photo editing capabilities, which has made it a favorite among serious mobile photographers. Over the years however, it added a few more features, such as basic video editing plus a simple stripped-down social network that doesn't have comments or likes (it's more about keeping up with creators rather than family and friends). Recently, however, VSCO has been doubling down on video. It acquired camera company Rylo last year, and it finally allowed users to upload videos to its social feed last month. Now, the company is ready to launch yet another, more ambitious video project, called Montage.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

Big Tech (20)

  • Google and Microsoft are working to make web forms more touch-friendly

    Google and Microsoft have redesigned native form controls -- buttons and various input elements you see on web forms -- to look more harmonious and be more touch-friendly. They spent the past year working together to design a new theme and make built-in form controls better for Chromium browsers, which serve as the basis for both Edge and Chrome. One of the changes they came up with will make date input forms a lot easier to tap on a touchscreen device.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Airbnb vows to partly cover host losses following COVID-19 cancellations

    Airbnb is setting aside $250 million for hosts affected by the coronavirus pandemic and is also expanding its no-penalty cancellations even further. A couple of weeks ago, the company announced that all stays and Experiences with check-in dates between March 14th and April 14th can be cancelled and fully refunded with no penalty. However, the decision was met with harsh criticism, because Airbnb wouldn't cover the hosts' losses. According to CNBC, company chief Brian Chesky apologized for the move in a letter sent to hosts.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • China, Huawei propose internet protocol with a built-in killswitch

    China, Huawei and Chinese carriers want to redesign a key aspect of the internet -- and while there may be some upsides, their ideas have raised some alarm bells. The Financial Times understands that the group has proposed a new internet protocol at the ITU, New IP, that theoretically offers more efficient addressing and network management than the existing TCP/IP standard but also appears to have hooks that allow authoritarian regimes to censor and surveil their residents. Most notably, there would be a "shut up command" that would let a central part of the network cut off data going to or from an address. As you might guess, that could be handy if China wanted to silence an activist without resorting to extra tools.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Siri has a COVID-19 questionnaire

    Hey, good morning! COVID-19 continues to dominate most of our news this morning. Major stores are swapping to curbside delivery, Siri is trying to help unravel whether your symptoms are connected to the coronavirus and in France and Italy, Amazon isn't taking some non-essential orders as it focuses on vital supplies. In more buttoned-down news, Huawei's next flagship, the P40 Pro, looks like another imaging beast. The leaks point to a 50X zoom and plenty more -- though some of us won't be taking group photos for a while. -Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Tesla suspends work at Fremont plant, will comply with shelter in place order

    Wide swaths of the Bay Area have been under semi-lockdown since Tuesday when seven counties issued shelter in place orders, barring residents from travel unless in need of essential supplies and effectively shuttering many businesses. Come March 24th, that will include Tesla's plant in Fremont, California, the company announced on Thursday.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Elon Musk: Tesla 'will make ventilators if there is a shortage'

    Elon Musk simply refuses to stop tweeting (because "Twitter is fun") but his most recent conversation could be about more than fun. While facing widespread criticism over his response to the coronavirus pandemic and decision to continue operating the Tesla plant in Fremont despite a county-wide "shelter in place" order, someone asked if he would use it to manufacture ventilators. Many people suffering from COVID-19 require lengthy amounts of time connected to one to help them breathe while they recover, and projections suggest that if people with severe cases need treatment all at once, then the US will have many fewer of the machines than it needs. Musk responded that "We will make ventilators if there is a shortage" and FiveThirtyEight editor in chief Nate Silver said there is a shortage right now. Finally, Musk said "Ventilators are not difficult, but cannot be produced instantly. Which hospitals have these shortages you speak of right now?" and people began pointing out the problems faced in Italy where doctors have reported exactly such shortages.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Uber sues LA’s Dept. of Transportation for warrantless record requests

    The data privacy battle between Uber's Jump scooter service and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has been brewing over the last 18 months. After refusing to share real-time location data on its scooter riders, Uber was ordered by the LADOT to remove its scooters from the city. According to CNET, Uber is now suing the LADOT for allegedly violating the Fourth Amendment by seeking the company's business data without a warrant.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • US ITC to probe Apple and Samsung over touchscreen patent complaint

    The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced that it will launch a probe on Apple, Samsug and other tech companies that manufacture certain touch devices. Its decision was prompted by a complaint filed by Ireland-based company Neodron, which accused several device manufacturers of infringing on its touchscreen-related patents.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Uber Eats waives delivery fees for over 100,000 independent restaurants

    In response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the restaurant industry, Uber Eats is waiving delivery fees for over 100,000 independent restaurants across the US and Canada. It's the latest move by gig-economy businesses like Uber, Lyft and Grubhub to help alleviate some of the financial challenges that the coronavirus outbreak presents.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Uber offers 14 days of financial assistance to drivers with COVID-19

    There have been a lot of questions about how so-called "gig" workers like Uber drivers will be affected by the coronavirus pandemic and what, if anything, companies will do to help. Today, Uber detailed its plan for compensating drivers if they are unable to work because of a COVID-19 diagnosis or a mandated quarantine. In either scenario, Uber will offer its drivers and delivery workers 14 days of financial assistance.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • US is reportedly investigating ZTE over new bribery allegations

    Just when it seemed that Chinese telecom manufacturer ZTE was in the clear, it is once again being investigated by the Justice Department. In March 2017, ZTE agreed to pay $1.19 billion and submit to a three-year probation period as punishment for violating US trade sanctions with Iran and North Korea. That probation period ended Saturday, and now, the Justice Department is reportedly looking into new and separate bribery allegations, sources tell NBC News.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey isn't going anywhere (for now)

    At least for the time being, it looks like Jack Dorsey will get to keep his job as the CEO of Twitter. On Monday, the social media company announced a new $1 billion investment deal with Silver Lake and a corresponding "cooperation" agreement with Elliott Management, the activist investment firm that made headlines last week when it made clear its desire to oust Dorsey.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Tesla reportedly omitted 'hundreds' of injuries from government reports

    Over the past several years, Tesla has reportedly omitted "hundreds" of employee injury reports from the annual summaries it sent to California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) agency, according to Bloomberg. In a blog post published last month, Tesla said Cal/OSHA found the company's record-keeping was 99 percent accurate.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Facebook, Google and others adopt guidelines intended to fight child abuse

    Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security -- along with government counterparts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom -- published guidelines to help the tech industry fight online child exploitation. The principles were developed "in consultation" with Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Roblox, Snap and Twitter, after all six companies agreed to tackling the online child sexual abuse epidemic.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Sonos kills its device-bricking 'recycle mode'

    Sonos has been under fire lately for the way it has handled a few decisions around its oldest products. Last fall, the company introduced a "trade up" program -- if you owned one of Sonos' oldest products, you could send it in to the company and get 30 percent off new gear. However, to get the discount, you had to put your old products in "recycle mode," a setting that would permanently make them unable to connect to a network or work with other Sonos gear. Today, the company is reversing course. A Sonos spokesperson confirmed that the Trade Up program will continue, but recycling mode is no more. If you want to get the 30 percent discount, you just need to prove you own one of the eligible "legacy" products by validating its serial number. Once that's done, you can apply the discount to anything Sonos is currently selling at its online store. Indeed, the "Trade Up" name isn't exactly accurate, because you can continue using the legacy hardware as long as you want. Sonos says you can give it to a friend, keep using it yourself, sell it, recycle it, send it to them -- it doesn't matter. Unfortunately, if you've already set some products to recycle mode, you can't reverse it, but said customers in that situation should contact its customer service team.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • What does the end of Elizabeth Warren's campaign mean for big tech?

    Amazon, Facebook, Google and the rest of the US tech giants can breath a little bit easier today. Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren has dropped out of the race to be the Democratic party's presidential nominee, leaving just Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden as plausible candidates to be on the ballot come November.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Netflix, Apple reportedly pull out of SXSW 2020

    While the SXSW 2020 festival is still scheduled to take place, a couple more big names are reportedly taking a pass on the event in a couple of weeks. Outlets like Variety, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter have confirmed that both Apple and Netflix have canceled, abandoning plans for panels and premieres for highly-anticipated releases like the Beastie Boys documentary that's coming to Apple TV+. Amazon has also pulled out of the event as premieres and debuts largely go online instead of in-person as companies try to avoid putting people in unnecessary contact.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Leaked documents suggest Huawei violated Iran sanctions

    Internal documents reviewed by Reuters show that Huawei shipped computer equipment made by Hewlett-Packard to Iran's largest mobile operator in 2010. The documents provide strong evidence that Huawei was involved in alleged trade sanction violations. They could potentially be used to strengthen the United States' multifaceted case against Huawei.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

Buying Guides (34)

  • Save $60 on Master & Dynamic’s much-improved true wireless earbuds

    Master & Dynamic's improved true wireless MW07 Plus earbuds are on sale for $240 via Best Buy today. That's a $60 savings off one of the company's newest models. It's a deal of the day, so this price won't last for long. If you're in the market for true wireless earbuds, you may want to take a look before the discount disappears.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • PlayStation Plus one-year membership drops to $40 at Newegg

    There's a good chance you have more time on your hands for gaming given lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have some good news if you're a PlayStation owner. Newegg is offering email subscribers a $20 discount on a one-year membership for PlayStation Plus when they enter the code EMCDEEG28, lowering the price to $40. It's a "Blitz Deal," so you'll want to act quickly, but it should also stack on top of any existing PS Plus memberships. Buy PlayStation Plus (1 year) on Newegg - $40

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Jaybird's Run XT true wireless earbuds are on sale for $50 at Best Buy

    It's generally still safe to go running outside even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thankfully there are good deals to be had if you need a soundtrack for those excursions. Best Buy has a one-day sale going for Jaybird's Run XT true wireless earbuds that drops the price to just $50 -- a full $130 off the official sticker. That's low enough to make earlier $70 to $80 sale prices seem high, and might just lure you away from no-frills earbuds costing roughly as much. Buy Jaybird Run XT on Best Buy - $50

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • This week's best deals: Sony headphones, Surface Pro 7 and more

    This week brought a great deal on our favorite pair of wireless headphones, plus a number of other good deals. Those who need to shut out the world can grab Sony's WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for $238, and those who need a new 2-in-1 can get a discount on Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 -- Type Cover included. Musicians can also still snag Native Instruments plug-ins for free. Here are the best deals from the week that remain available today. Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones Newegg still has Sony's WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for only $238, which is $112 less than their usual price of $350. We gave these headphones a score of 94 and praised them for their excellent noise-cancellation capabilities and equally impressive audio quality. They have only a few downsides, one being finicky touch controls, but those can be easily overlooked when nearly everything else about these headphones is stellar. Buy Sony WH-1000XM3 on Newegg - $238

    By Valentina Palladino Read More

  • Our favorite noise-cancelling headphones are cheaper than ever

    Earlier this month, Newegg discounted Sony's $350 WH-1000XM3 headphones down to $250. (Sale prices on the unit typically hover around $275.) Now, the electronics retailer is dropping the price even lower. At $238, the 1000XM3s are a great deal. Engadget gave the Bluetooth headphones an impressive score 94 thanks to their fantastic audio quality and great noise-cancelling performance, but noted that the price was a big downside. With a $112 discount, that's far less of an issue. Buy Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones on Newegg - $238

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Home Depot's $179 Nest Hub Max deal is even better than Google's

    If you're going to be spending a lot of time at home in the coming weeks, chances are you'll be looking for activities to help pass the time -- video calls, cooking inspiration, that sort of thing. The sort of things, in fact, that a smart display would be helpful for, and it just so happens that Home Depot is currently offering a decent discount on the Google Nest Hub Max. The website has it on offer for $179, which is about $20 cheaper than we've seen anywhere else (Google itself has the device on sale, but has reduced the price to only $199 from the usual $229). Buy Google Nest Hub Max on Home Depot - $179

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The best online STEM resources, according to a veteran teacher

    After the schools shut down last week, my social media feeds and inbox lit up with color-coded homeschooling charts and agonizingly long lists of everything I should use to educate my kids. Fear, panic and an overwhelming sense of grief settled over me as I considered not only how I was going to explain what was happening to my curious kindergartener and second grader but also how we were going to manage working, schooling, living and staying sane and healthy in our tiny condo for the foreseeable future. As veteran teachers, my husband and I vowed to maintain normal as best we could. We'd stay virtually connected to family and friends and let the kids play and be bored and eat cookies and watch movies and attempt whatever work their school sent home. To calm myself, I composed my own non-exhaustive list of resources, called "Things I might actually use if the internet doesn't die" and sent bits of it to a few friends, who exhaled relief and gratitude. "Thanks," they said. "I might actually use these!" Here it is, reconstituted. I hope it lets you exhale too.

    By Alyssa Walker Read More

  • Surface Pro 7 bundle will save you over $250

    Microsoft is offering the Surface Pro 7, bundled with its Type Cover, for $799. Usually, that combo costs $1,060, so with this deal, you're saving $260. When the Surface Pro 7 came out last fall, we gave it a score of 82 for its solid performance and build, as well as its Type Cover, which is one of the best keyboard covers you can get for a 2-in-1 device. The real selling point is the USB-C port. If you've been considering an upgrade to the new port, it might be worth snagging this discount.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Get Segway's Kickscooter Max for $100 off, plus a $100 gift card

    You need to stay at home most of the time these days, but what if you don't have a car and need to travel across town? Thankfully, there are options to keep your social distancing intact without hopping on a bike. Wellbots is offering Segway's Ninebot Kickscooter Max for $700 ($100 off the usual price) plus a $100 Visa gift card if you use the code ENGADGETRIDE. You won't get the gift card in the box -- instead, you can either wait for an email from Segway with instructions on how to redeem the card or visit a special redemption site and input your information to redeem it. Still, that could be helpful for getting a helmet and other accessories to go with the folding electric scooter.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The best deals we found this week: 'The Sims 4,' Fire TV Sticks and more

    Digital deals dominated this week, but there are also numerous deals on gadgets as well. Some of the highlights include an early start to Origins' annual spring sale, which brought steep discounts on The Sims 4 expansion packs and dropping the price of the base game to $5. Square Enix cut the prices of all of its Nintendo Switch games, so now's the time to grab a Final Fantasy title (or three) while they are up to 50 percent off. Amazon Prime members can also snag a Fire TV Stick 4K for only $25. Here are all the deals from this week that you can still get today. The Sims 4 This is a great time to get into The Sims—or to jump back into it—while the base game and most expansion packs are still on sale. The Sims 4 costs $5 right now, and some of the most popular expansion and game packs, including Parenthood, Realm of Magic and Spa Day, are as low as $15. Be careful, though — once you start playing The Sims, it's pretty hard to stop. Buy The Sims 4 on Origin - starting at $5 Buy The Sims 4 on Amazon - starting at $5

    By Valentina Palladino Read More

  • Get $100 off Google's already budget-friendly Pixel 3a

    If you'd like to buy a new phone but don't want to break the bank doing so, Amazon has discounted one of Engadget's favorite budget devices: the Pixel 3a. Except for the Purple-ish Pixel 3a XL, all three different color models of the 3a and 3a XL are currently $100 off, making the former $300 and the latter $380. For context, $300 is the lowest price we've seen Amazon sell the Pixel 3a since the company discounted the phone to $280 last year.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Square Enix slashes prices on its ‘Final Fantasy’ Switch games

    RPG fans who are stuck at home and need some bang for their buck might want to check out Square Enix's sale on the Nintendo Switch eShop. All of the main Final Fantasy games available on the Switch are on sale for 40 to 50 percent off, and titles from Square Enix's other RPG series like Romancing Saga and Star Ocean have been discounted as well. Gamers may want to revisit Final Fantasy VII in particular -- down from $15.99 to $7.99 -- since the game's highly anticipated remake will finally be out on April 10th.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Amazon is holding a well-timed sale on Roku and Fire TV streaming sticks

    If you find yourself without an easy way to stream video content to your TV in these trying times, Amazon may be able to help. Prime subscribers can currently get the Fire TV Stick for $23, making it a mere $3 more than its all-time price of $20. If you own a 4K TV, you're in luck as well. By using the code "4KFIRETV" as a Prime customer, you can get $25 off the Fire TV Stick 4K. With that discount, the player is currently $25, matching its Black Friday price from last year.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'The Sims 4' is now just $5

    This is your chance to get The Sims 4 for a fraction of its original price if you've been thinking of giving it a shot. The game and some of its expansion packs are on sale for up to 75 percent off on EA's Origin platform and on Amazon. You can get the base game for $5 and expansions for $15 to $20 a piece, including newer releases like Discover University and Island of Magic.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Grab Amazon's Fire HD 8 tablet for $50 today

    As part of its latest deal of the day, Amazon has discounted the Fire HD 8, pushing the already affordable tablet into impulse purchase territory. At the moment, the usually $80 16GB model is $50, matching its Black Friday price. The 32GB model is also on sale, for $70. That said, you can get away with the 16GB model since the Fire HD 8 includes a microSD slot, allowing you to add up to 400GB of additional storage to the tablet. One thing to keep in mind is that the $50 tablet includes lock-screen ads. If you don't want to deal with those, you'll need to spend a bit more to get the ad-free version -- tap the "Without Special Offers" button on the product page.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Best Buy knocked $70 off the Instant Pot Viva

    Instant Pots go on sale fairly often, but it's rare for them to drop below $60. Today, Best Buy is selling the Instant Pot Viva six-quart, 9-in-1 pressure cooker for just $50. This model's original list price is $120, so that's a significant, $70 discount.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • The best deals we found this week: Mario games, iPad mini and more

    We saw a number of good deals this week, with one of the highlights coming from Mario Day—or "Mar10" Day in Nintendo lingo. Some of the most popular Mario-verse games are still on sale, dropping them to prices that are rarely seen outside of the holiday shopping season. Also, you can still get $50 off an iPad mini 5 at Amazon and Best Buy. Here are the best deals from this past week that you can still get today. Nintendo Switch Mario games Nintendo's annual "Mar10" day celebration of Mario is still happening. Through March 14, you can snag a number of popular Mario games for Nintendo Switch at discounted prices. Key among them are Super Mario Maker 2 for $40, Super Mario Party for $40, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for $40 and Yoshi's Crafted World for $40. These sale prices are available at Nintendo's eShop, Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers, but since the sale is nearing its end, some retailers may be sold out of certain games. Also, check out Nintendo's eShop for additional, non-Mario games on sale including Just Dance 2020 for $20, Monopoly for $10 and Child of Light for $5. Buy Super Mario Maker 2 on Best Buy - $40 Buy Super Mario Party on Best Buy - $40 Buy Mario & Sonic at the Olympics on Amazon - $40 Buy Yoshi's Crafted World on Amazon - $40

    By Valentina Palladino Read More

  • Grab an Xbox One X bundle for $250 at B&H

    If you're looking for a console to tide yourself (or your kids) over for spring break, now might be a prime opportunity. B&H is selling an Xbox One X bundle that includes NBA 2K19 for a modest $250 -- that's significantly below most deal prices, and half of what Microsoft was charging when the console was new. While the game is clearly outdated, this price is low enough that it might not matter if you're just looking for the 4K-capable system.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • MSI's PS42 Modern entry-level gaming laptop is on sale for $830

    If you've been thinking of investing in an entry-level gaming laptop, now might be the time. The MSI PS42 Modern is on sale on Newegg for $830. That's a $770 savings off of the machine's original price, and it's closer to the price you'd usually see on a base-level Ultrabook.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • A beginners guide to buying a synth

    It's no secret that there's a growing interest in synths, drum machines and other electronic music instruments. There are many reasons for that -- most obviously because electronic music is now popular music. But it's also because improved technology and manufacturing have driven the prices of such devices low enough that even the most casual musician can dabble. Plus there are a dizzying number of options for you to choose from at the entry level. So how do you get started? Should you get a portable and affordable Volca? Or that new Model:Cycles that we liked so much? And are Behringers actually any good? I know you have a lot of questions, so let's get right to it.

    By Terrence O'Brien Read More

  • The latest iPad mini returns to its lowest price ever at $350

    Amazon and Best Buy are offering a significant discount on the iPad mini 5 today. Both are selling the tablet for $350 for the 64GB WiFi model. While we've seen this price before (Amazon had it at $350 for a week or so last month), it's the lowest Amazon has ever listed the tablet, and it usually doesn't last long. Typically, the price tends to hover between $385 and $400.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Best Buy discounts the entry MacBook Air to its best price yet

    Best Buy has a pair of good deals on the MacBook Air. You can currently get the 128GB gold model for $850, down from its usual price of $1,100. If gold isn't your thing, both the silver and space gray models are also on sale, though they're only $200 off as opposed to $250. $850 is the lowest we've seen a retailer sell the base model MacBook Air for, but for most people 128GB is likely not enough storage.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • DJI's Osmo Pocket gimbal camera drops to $279 at Amazon

    Now might be a good time to buy if you're eager to record super-stable video for your vlog. Amazon is selling DJI's Osmo Pocket gimbal camera for $279 with a 32GB microSD card included -- a steep drop from the $399 you'd officially pay for just the camera, and still a bargain over the usual discounts. That makes it a far more tempting prospect whether you want to record 4K, 60FPS video with the Osmo Pocket by itself or intend to use it as a gimbal for your Android phone or iPhone.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The best deals we found this week: The HomePod, Pixel 4 and more

    The first week of March brought a number of good deals, including some on Apple products that rarely go on sale. The HomePod smart speaker is down to its Black Friday price again, and a number of Apple-made iPhone cases are on sale at Amazon. There's also a good deal on a Philips Hue smart light starter pack that includes a $50 Dell gift card. In case you missed them, here are the deals that you can still snag today. Apple HomePod Best Buy still has Apple's HomePod smart speaker for $200, a discount that cuts $100 off its normal price. Not only is it one of the best sounding smart speakers we've used, but the $200 price tag is much easier to swallow for a speaker that still only natively supports Apple Music. There are rumors, though, that Apple may let users change default apps in the future, which could potentially open up HomePod to new music lovers. Buy Apple HomePod on Best Buy - $200

    By Valentina Palladino Read More

  • Newegg is selling Sony's excellent WH-1000XM3 headphones for $250

    Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones need no introduction at this point. They're one of the best pairs of Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones you can buy at the moment. On Newegg, the black model is currently $249.95, while the silver pair is $259.89. We've seen the WH-1000XM3 sell for about $278 in past sales, making this one of the best deals to date on the $350 pair of headphones.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • How to buy a compact camera in 2020

    If you want better photos than a smartphone can deliver but also don't want a bulky DSLR or mirrorless camera, you may need a compact camera in your life. Good models have much bigger sensors, optics and image processors than your phone, so the photos you take are going to be sharper and richer. Once you get the hang of your camera, it'll be much easier to use, too, becoming an extension of your hands and eyes. The question, though, is which one do you need? There is a wide variety of models out there with different sized sensors, fixed, zoom and superzoom lenses and lots of manual controls (or not). So, choosing a compact camera is a very personal decision based on your needs, skill level and other factors, and that's where we come in. In this guide, we're going to lay out the different features available on each brand and model to help you choose just the right one.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Amazon is selling the Pixel 4 at its lowest price ever

    We've seen Amazon and a variety of other retailers discount the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL several times over the last couple of months. However, this time you around, you can buy the smaller Pixel 4 at its lowest price ever. The 64GB Just Black model is currently on sale for $550, down from $799. You can also get the Clearly White model on sale, but it's discounted by a more modest $132. If you feel like 64GB isn't enough storage, the 128GB Just Black model is $250 off at the moment, making it $650.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • XPS 13 laptop drops to $799 during Dell’s semi-annual sale

    If you've been eyeing the XPS 13 laptop, now's the time to grab it. As part of Dell's semi-annual sale, the company lowered the price of its flagship laptop to $799. This particular model includes a 10th-gen Core i5 processor, a 13.3-inch 1080p touchscreen, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. XPS 13 laptops rarely dip below $1,000, and if they do, it's usually the base models you'll see on sale. While this isn't quite as powerful of a model that was on sale last month on Amazon, it's not the base XPS 13 either (which has a measly 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage).

    By Valentina Palladino Read More

  • Dell’s cheap Philips Hue starter pack deal is even better with $50 credit

    Philips Hue has become the go-to for smart home lighting. The LED light bulbs can transition between 16 million colors to compliment your home, set the mood or enhance your sleep. Those who haven't turned their home into a technicolor dreamland may want to check out Dell's latest deal on a Hue starter kit. It comes with three white- and color-capable bulbs, the Gen 3 Hue Bridge and a dimmer (which doesn't come with most bundles). The kit is $120 -- $35 less than Amazon's listing -- and comes with a $50 gift card so you can stock up on more Hue accessories like bulbs, light strips and motion sensors -- or Dell's computer products. If purchased separately, the items would cost $235, so this is a great deal even before Dell's discount and gift card.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Amazon has a rare sale on official iPhone cases

    Apple's first-party iPhone cases tend to cost significantly more than their no-name counterparts. Even cases from well-regarded companies like Spigen are usually less expensive than the ones you can buy directly from Apple. That said, if you prefer to put your recently purchased iPhone 11, 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max in a matching case, Amazon has discounted its stock of Apple-made cases. In some instances, the company is currently selling the accessories at all-time low prices.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Skullcandy's trackable Crusher ANC headphones are $60 off

    We had a lot of good things to say about Skullcandy's Crusher ANC headphones when we reviewed them last year, but the price was not one of them -- $319 felt a little too steep. But if you've been holding out on a pair in the hopes the price might come down, we've got good news for you: Engadget readers can now get $60 off on Wellbots -- so that's $259, including shipping and tax (except in NY state).

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple's HomePod slashed to $200 at Best Buy

    If you've been thinking about getting an Apple HomePod but missed Best Buy's hefty Black Friday discount back in November, you've got a second chance to get in on the action. The smart speaker is once again on offer for $200 -- that's a chunky $100 off the usual price. At that price, the device represents much better value for money – it's one of the best sounding smart speakers we've reviewed, and recent updates means it now comes with radio streaming and multi-user support. Plus, there are rumors (and they are just rumors at this stage) that Apple is thinking about relaxing its attitude towards third-party music apps on the HomePod, which could make it an even more attractive deal if you're concerned about Apple's often restrictive ecosystem.

    By Rachel England Read More

Computing (13)

  • Time your handwashing with a do-it-yourself Spotify soap dispenser

    Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds -- that's the key advice from the World Health Organization during the coronavirus outbreak. This is commonly touted as the length of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, and while that's a helpful and accessible metric, it's gotten old real fast. Birthdays will never be the same again. Design technology company Deeplocal has come up with an alternative, though: a DIY musical soap dispenser that'll save your sanity and give you a project to tinker with while you're stuck indoors.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Samsung is first to ship RAM produced with extreme ultraviolet tech

    Samsung just reached an important milestone in memory for PCs and mobile devices. The tech firm has shipped the first million 10nm-grade DDR4 DRAM modules based on an extreme ultraviolet process. The next-gen lithography technique should help Samsung get past barriers in DRAM scaling, allowing for better performance, shorter development time and better yields (that is, fewer bad chips). Don't be surprised if your next computer or phone has fewer memory bottlenecks.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • An enterprise SSD flaw will brick hardware after exactly 40,000 hours

    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has warned that certain SSD drives could fail catastrophically if buyers don't take action soon. Due to a firmware bug, the products in question will be bricked exactly 40,000 hours (four years, 206 days and 16 hours) after the SSD has entered service. "After the SSD failure occurs, neither the SSD nor the data can be recovered," the company warned in a customer service bulletin.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Computex 2020 is delayed to September

    Computex 2020 has been delayed. Today, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taiwan Computer Association (TCA), the two organizations that organize the annual event, said they're rescheduling the expo to September. Instead of starting on June 2nd, the conference will now begin on September 28th and will run just three days instead of five.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 400,000 new people have joined Folding@Home's fight against COVID-19

    The Folding@Home community has turned its attention toward the fight against COVID-19, and it now has massive computational power at its disposal as a result. The distributed computing project is now working with about 470 petaflops of output in its quest to fold proteins, or enough to eclipse the world's top seven supercomputers combined. That's more than twice the 149 petaflops of sustained output from the record-setting Summit supercomputer -- helped in part by the Summit team joining the project over two weeks ago. There's been a roughly 1,200 percent increase in contributors, Folding@Home said, with 400,000 new members in the past two weeks.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Pixar animation pioneers win computing's most prestigious award

    Every industry has its own version of the Nobel Prize. Film has the Oscars, the internet has the Webby Awards, music has the AMAs. Computing machinery, meanwhile, has The Turing Award, and that's just been given to the two individuals responsible for shaping 3D animation into the slick movies we know today. Patrick Hanrahan and Edwin Catmull -- both pioneers of Pixar's animation technology -- have been named as this year's recipients of the prestigious prize, which has been running since 1966.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • LG's 48-inch gaming OLED TV arrives in June for $1,499

    If your idea of sticking it out at home involves catching up on games and movies, LG might have some good news. The company has started rolling out its 2020 OLED TVs, complete with US pricing and release dates for the collection. The highlight for many may be the smallest of the bunch -- the gaming-oriented 48-inch model in the CX series will arrive in June for $1,499. That might be more expensive than you were expecting, but it could hit the sweet spot if you either intend it as a gaming PC monitor or just want something better-suited to a small space.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • There are now 1 billion Windows 10 devices in the wild

    Windows 10 is now being used on one billion devices around the world -- that's one in every seven people on the planet. Since 2015, the operating system has made its way onto consoles, laptops and PCs across 200 countries, as exec Yusuf Mehdi notes that the entirety of the Fortune 500 is using Windows 10 devices. According to Microsoft, more businesses are in the process of transitioning to the system, too, so this number is set to increase in the coming months and years.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Broadcom lawsuit blames your Netflix habit for a drop in chip sales

    Broadcom's success still depends in part on selling chips for cable set-top boxes, and it's apparently upset that TV viewers are headed elsewhere. The company has sued Netflix for allegedly violating eight patents covering data transfer and video playback, and that the streaming service is profiting from that claimed infringement by encouraging cord-cutting and hurting Broadcom's chip sales. In other words, it believes your Witcher marathon hurt its bottom line.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Windows 10's built-in Linux kernel will be available to everyone soon

    You won't have to be a tester to try Windows 10's new, built-in Linux kernel in the near future. Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 will be widely available when Windows 10 version 2004 arrives. You'll have to install it manually for a "few months" until an update adds automatic installs and updates, but that's a small price to pay if you want Linux and Windows to coexist in peace and harmony. It'll be easier to set up, at least -- the kernel will now be delivered through Windows Update instead of forcing you to install an entire Windows image.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • New York power plant mines Bitcoin using excess energy

    A natural gas power plant can't always send excess energy into the grid, frequently leading to waste as the gas is flared or vented away. However, a plant in Dresden, New York thinks it has a solution: use that surplus to generate some digital cash. Greenidge Generation has revealed that it's using "behind-the-meter" energy at the facility to mine Bitcoin, with 7,000 mining systems producing up to 5.5BTC (about $45,000 as of this writing) per day.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Honeywell says it built the world's most powerful quantum computer

    When it comes to quantum computers, we tend to think of companies like Google and IBM as the big players in the field, but there could soon be more competition in the space. Honeywell says sometime in the next three months it will unveil a quantum computer that is at least twice as powerful as any current device.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Intel's 10th-gen desktop CPUs are coming soon, according to a Dell ad

    Intel's 10th-generation "Comet Lake" CPUs appear to be just around the corner to take on AMD's Ryzen chips, according to a new YouTube video from Dell. It shows the company's latest XPS Tower desktop computers equipped with 10th-generation Intel Core processors. That's interesting, because so far, we've only seen 10th-gen Intel consumer chips in mobile form on laptops, not desktops.

    By Steve Dent Read More

Cybersecurity (25)

  • Houseparty says it wasn't hacked, offers $1 million for 'smear campaign' proof

    Popular video-calling app Houseparty is offering a $1 million bounty to anyone that can prove the app has been a victim of reputational sabotage. The announcement, made by the company over Twitter, comes amid swiftly circulating rumors that the app has been hacked -- Houseparty believes these rumors have been circulated as part of a "paid commercial smear campaign," and says there is no evidence to back up claims that the app has been compromised in any way.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Saudi Arabia may be spying on its citizens via US mobile networks

    Data shared by a whistleblower suggests Saudi Arabia may be using a weakness in mobile telecom networks to track its citizens in the US, The Guardian reports. The data shows that over a four-month period, Saudi Arabia's three biggest mobile phone companies sent 2.3 million requests for Provider Subscriber Information (PSI). Normally, that data is used to help foreign operators register roaming charges, but the high volume of requests could also give the Saudi telecoms enough info to track users within hundreds of meters of accuracy.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Court finds algorithm bias studies don't violate US anti-hacking law

    Researchers should be free to look for bias in website algorithms in the future. A federal court in DC has ruled in a lawsuit against Attorney General William Barr that studies aimed at detecting discrimination in online algorithms don't violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The government argued that the Act made it illegal to violate a site's terms of service through some investigative methods (such as submitting false info for research), but Judge John Bates determined that the terms only raised the possibility of civil liability, not criminal cases.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Russia busts card fraud ring that included an infamous hacker

    Russia tends to turn a blind eye to some fraudsters and hackers, but it just clamped down on a particularly large group. Investigators have charged at least 25 people involved in a credit card fraud ring that included a notorious hacker. While Russian authorities didn't provide a formal list of those caught in the bust, records and security blogger Andrey Sporov have revealed that one of those arrsted was Alexey Stroganov, also known as "Flint." As a Krebs on Security source said, Stroganov apparently had a stake in "almost every major [card] hack" from the past 10 years, and sent "hundreds of millions of dollars" through the seized cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The surveillance profiteers of COVID-19 are here

    Our worlds are so upside-down and backwards right now that Wired claims Surveillance Could Save Lives Amid a Public Health Crisis, and privacy activist Maciej Ceg?owski flat-out stated We Need A Massive Surveillance Program.

    By Violet Blue Read More

  • A hacker stole and leaked the Xbox Series X graphics source code

    AMD has been having a particularly rough few months, apparently. The chip designer has revealed that a hacker stole test files for a "subset" of current and upcoming graphics hardware, some of which had been posted online before they were taken down. While AMD was shy on details, the claimed intruder told TorrentFreak that the material included source code for Navi 10 (think Radeon RX 5700 series), the future Navi 21 and the Arden GPU inside the Xbox Series X.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Chinese digital spying is becoming more aggressive, researchers say

    FireEye, a US cybersecurity firm, says that it has seen a concerning spike in activity from what appears to be a Chinese hacking group called APT41. The attacks are being deployed against companies in the US, Canada, the UK and several other counties, which is atypical of Chinese hackers' typical strategy of focusing on a few particular targets. According to FireEye's report, the group is exploiting software flaws in applications and hardware developed by Cisco, Citrix and others to gain access to target companies' networks and download files via FTP, among other strategies. According to the firm, the attacks began on January 20th, dipped during the Chinese New Year celebrations and COVID-19 quarantine measures and are now back at full scale, affecting 75 of FireEye's customers.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Safari now blocks all third-party cookies by default

    Apple's latest flurry of software updates included an important step forward for web privacy. The latest version of Safari for iOS, iPadOS and macOS now blocks all third-party cookies by default -- it's the first mainstream browser to do so, the WebKit team's John Wilander said. The Tor Browser is the only known browser to do so before Safari, while Brave's browser still has a few (if minor) exceptions.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Mozilla combines tracker blocking with paid, ad-free browsing

    Last year, Mozilla partnered with Scroll -- a subscription service that enables ad-free browsing of its partner publications -- to analyze if a select group of users preferred paying a small fee rather than being served ads, and if the strategy was cost-effective for the publications. After seeing promising results, the two companies have announced the Firefox Better Web with Scroll beta program. The name is a mouthful, but essentially, it combines Firefox's tracker-blocking technology with Scroll's ad-free experiences on any browser. Users can opt in and pay an introductory price of $2.49 for the service, which enables them to read publications like The Atlantic, The Onion and USA Today, add-free. The publications, meanwhile, receive a share of the revenue that Scroll makes from the subscription costs.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Google's security measures failed to find Android malware in Play Store

    Google may have introduced a number of security measures to prevent malicious apps from appearing in the Play Store, but they're not watertight. New analysis from Check Point shows that earlier this year, malware was lurking within 56 apps that had been downloaded almost one million times worldwide – its objective, to commit mobile ad fraud.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Microsoft warns Windows users of two security holes already under attack

    Today, Microsoft warned billions of Windows users that hackers are actively exploiting two critical zero-day vulnerabilities that could allow bad actors to take complete control of targeted computers. According to a security advisory, the vulnerabilities are being used in "limited targeted attacks," and all supported Windows operating systems could be at risk.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Israel will use anti-terrorist tracking tech to fight coronavirus outbreak

    Israel's attempt to curb the coronavirus outbreak might be the next to jeopardize privacy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outlined plans to use anti-terrorism tracking technology to locate people in contact with those carrying the virus. He wasn't specific about the tech besides referencing "digital means" similar to those from Taiwan, but Israel's Shin Bet domestic security service confirmed to Reuters that it was looking at wielding its methods.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Iran's coronavirus 'diagnosis' app looks more like a surveillance tool

    Iran is known to have one of the more serious coronavirus infection rates at the moment, but the country's government appears to be exploiting that for the sake of political control. Vice has learned that a government-endorsed app, AC19, poses as a tool to help diagnose the presence of the virus (a bogus claim by itself) but also asks for real-time location data -- clearly not necessary for telling someone whether or not they should go to the hospital. Moreover, the location permission request pop-up is in English -- and about 40 percent of Android users in Iran have phones with an OS old enough that they won't get that pop-up at all.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft issues emergency Windows 10 patch for leaked vulnerability

    Microsoft has released an unscheduled patch for a security bug that it accidentally disclosed during the release of its March 2020 patch several days ago. While difficult to exploit, the vulnerability is "critical" because it could allow malicious code to automatically spread from one machine to another. By releasing the fix now, Microsoft aims to avoid a chain reaction scenario that played out with the WannaCry and NotPetya viruses in 2017.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • US House votes to extend FISA surveillance

    The US House of Representatives has voted to approve legislation that extends the validity of three federal surveillance tools slated to expire this weekend. To elaborate, those tools are provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or FISA, which the FBI uses to investigate foreign powers suspected of terrorism or espionage.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Whisper left users' details exposed in an open database for years

    The once-popular app Whisper promises a place where you can share secrets anonymously. According to a Washington Post report, however, it left sensitive information that can be tied to users' confessions exposed to the public for years. Apparently, Whisper kept a non-password-protected database that allowed anyone to freely browse its records. Those records included users' age, ethnicity, gender, hometown, nickname and membership in groups, which were mostly about sexual confessions and sexual orientation discussions.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Microsoft disrupts a botnet that infected 9 million computers

    Today, Microsoft and partners from 35 countries took steps to disrupt a botnet behind the world's largest cybercrime network. The botnet, Necurs, has infected an estimated nine million computers worldwide, and it's one of the largest spam email networks, generating as many as 3.8 million spam emails in a two-month period.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Arlo will require two-step sign-ins for its smart home devices

    Arlo is following the leads of Nest and Ring in requiring tighter security for its smart home devices. It's warning customers that it'll require two-factor authentication for accounts by the end of 2020. As it explained in a support guide, you'll have to either respond to a push notification or a less secure text message whenever you sign in with a new device. Email security codes will be available as an "automatic back-up option."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • AMD CPUs for the past 9 years are vulnerable to data leak attacks

    It's not just Intel chips that are vulnerable to hard-to-fix security flaws. Researchers at the Graz University of Technology have detailed a pair of side channel attacks under the "Take A Way" name that can leak data from AMD processors dating back to 2011, whether it's an old Athlon 64 X2, a Ryzen 7 or a Threadripper. Both exploit the "way predictor" for the Level 1 cache (meant to boost the efficiency of cache access) to leak memory content. The Collide+Probe attack lets an intruder monitor memory access without having to know physical addresses or shared memory, while Load+Reload is a more secretive method that uses shared memory without invalidating the cache line.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Researchers discover that Intel chips have an unfixable security flaw

    Security researchers have discovered another flaw in recent Intel chips that, while difficult to exploit, is completely unpatchable. The vulnerability is within Intel's Converged Security and Management Engine (CSME), a part of the chip that controls system boot-up, power levels, firmware and, most critically, cryptographic functions. Security specialists Positive Technologies have found that a tiny gap in security in that module that could allow attackers to inject malicious code and, eventually, commandeer your PC.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • EARN IT act targets online child abuse but could threaten encryption

    Just as a number of tech companies and online services agreed to voluntary guidelines on protecting kids and reduce exploitation online, several senators introduced legislation that they claim will force companies to take the issue even more seriously. Dubbed the "Eliminating Abuse and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2019," (EARN IT), the bill threatens to pull immunity given to providers under Section 230 for the things users post, unless they take certain steps to block online sexual child abuse. The ACLU issued a statement in opposition to the bill on the basis that it will lead to the introduction of backdoors that reduce the security and privacy of everyone, with Senior Legislative Counsel Kate Ruane saying "Because of the safety and security encryption provides, Congress has repeatedly rejected legislation that would create an encryption backdoor. This legislation would empower an unelected commission to effectively mandate what Congress has time and again decided against, while also jeopardizing free expression on the Internet in the process."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • It took Google months to patch a serious Android security flaw

    Google has patched a critical security flaw that affects millions of Android devices with chipsets from MediaTek, XDA Developers revealed today. The vulnerability is a rootkit lodged in the CPU's firmware. It allows a simple script to root Android devices that use nearly any of MediaTek's 64-bit chips, so it has compromised hundreds of budget and mid-range smartphone, tablet and set-top box models, XDA says.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • US charges Chinese nationals with laundering cryptocurrency for North Korea

    Two Chinese nationals helped North Korea launder $100 million worth of cryptocurrency stolen by state-sponsored hackers, according to the Department of Justice. They allegedly helped convert funds from North Korean hackers between December 2017 and April 2019 through various means, including exchanging bitcoin for Apple iTunes gift cards. Further, they operated in the US without registering with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The accused, Tian Yinyin and Li Jiadong, were charged with money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

Entertainment (1)

  • Recommended Reading: What happens when bands don't tour

    How coronavirus is destroying the livelihood of music's behind-the-scenes workforce Samantha Hissong, Rolling Stone By now, you've watched, or at least heard about, a musician who's cooped up at home turning to livestreams to connect with fans. While that does give the masses some form of entertainment to replace live events and tours, it doesn't help the behind-the-scenes crew who are out of work for the foreseeable future. Rolling Stone explains how stage crew, venue employees and more have been struggling since the all events came to a halt earlier this month.

    By Billy Steele Read More

EVs and Transportation (54)

  • Chevy's refreshed Bolt EV is delayed until 2021

    So much for driving an updated Chevy Bolt EV in 2020. The company's Megan Soule told Electrek in a statement that it has pushed back the updated Bolt EV's release to 2021 due to the "current business situation" (read: the COVID-19 pandemic). The Bolt EUV crossover "remains on schedule" for the same year, Soule said. The updated version of the standard Bolt is expected to have a sportier design, more comfortable seats, a wider range of front cameras for adaptive cruise control and a better infotainment system, among other changes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • EPA weakens annual fuel economy standard increase to 1.5 percent

    While coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate headlines, the Trump administration has quietly weakened the country's fuel economy standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Lucid Motors pushes back the unveiling of its long-awaited electric sedan

    Back in January, Lucid Motors announced that it's finally unveiling the production model of its electric sedan in April three years after it was first revealed. The company was supposed to launch the car next week at the New York Auto Show, but the event was postponed until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now company CEO and former Tesla chief engineer Peter Rawlinson has confirmed to Silicon Valley Business Journal that it won't be pushing through with Lucid Air's debut.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • BYD's safety-oriented EV battery is less likely to catch fire

    However much safer electric cars might be than their gas counterparts, they can still catch fire -- and BYD wants to reduce the chances of that happening. It will soon roll out a Blade Battery that's meant to be safer without compromising performance. Its high temperature for exothermic reactions, low (and slow) heat release and lack of oxygen release combine to form an energy pack that shouldn't "easily" catch fire. A nail puncture test didn't even significantly raise the temperature of the battery (it didn't venture above 140F), let alone set it ablaze. It also avoided fires due to bending, crushing, overcharging and overheating.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 2020 Detroit Auto Show canceled as venue becomes a field hospital

    Yet another major 2020 auto show has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although now it's less about timing and more about supporting the current fight. Organizers have canceled the Detroit Auto Show (officially the North American International Auto Show) as its venue, the TCF Center, is being turned into a field hospital for coronavirus patients. The next show now won't take place until June 2021, or over two and a half years after the last event.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Tesla's Autopilot could soon detect traffic lights

    It looks like Tesla's Autopilot feature will soon be able to recognize traffic lights. A video shared on Twitter, shows a Tesla cruising through several green lights and slowing to a stop when it detects a red light. There is some speculation that Tesla will include the feature in its next Autopilot update.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Uber encourages drivers in the US to do food delivery

    Uber is not-so-subtly pushing its drivers towards doing food deliveries. Last week, the company started sending drivers in the US an in-app notification with instructions on how to toggle between Driver and Delivery views. As Uber Eats VP Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty said on Twitter, the coronavirus outbreak changed people's routines. Drivers' incomes are affected by shelter-in-place orders issued to limit COVID-19's impact, and deliveries are now more in demand.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Lyft tries offering free bike-share passes to hospital workers

    Lyft is offering free, 30-day bike-share passes to critical workers in New York City, Chicago and Boston. This should help people who still have to get to work during the coronavirus pandemic, and to keep them safe, Lyft says it is ramping up its cleaning efforts.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • UPS is developing quieter and more versatile delivery drones

    USP has announced a new partnership with Wingcopter, a German aircraft manufacturer, to develop new types of delivery drones. The two companies will work together to certify Wingcopter's existing aircraft for use in commercial delivery flights in the US. They say certification is the first step toward developing drones that can complete a variety of delivery jobs.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Polestar 2 EV production starts in China despite COVID-19

    While factories in Europe and the US grind to a halt due to COVID-19, Polestar has started production of its Polestar 2 in Luqiao, China. The Volvo brand's first EV is being built on the same production line as the Volvo XC40, as both companies are owned by Chinese automaker Geely. The first vehicles produced will be sold in Europe, with deliveries slated to start in China, then North America after that.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Uber wants government to include drivers in coronavirus stimulus package

    In a letter to President Donald Trump, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has called on US lawmakers to include the company's drivers and delivery workers in the coronavirus stimulus package the government is currently negotiating. In the same letter, he also called on both Democrats and Republicans to pass new legislation that would allow contractors to access more public benefits without classifying them as employees.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Lyft will deliver food and medical supplies during the coronavirus crisis

    With the coronavirus outbreak in the US worsening, Lyft says it plans to expand its operations to include the delivery of food and medical supplies. The move comes as demand for the company's ride-hailing services falls off due to the pandemic. "This work helps create new opportunities for drivers, provides rides to those in need, and helps distribute essential goods," the company said on its website.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • NTSB criticizes Tesla Autopilot design in Model 3 crash report

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its final report on the fatal 2019 crash that involved a collision between a Tesla Model 3 and a semi-truck in Delray Beach, Florida. And while the NTSB puts blame for the accident first and foremost on the driver of the semi-truck, it also criticizes Tesla.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • VW’s e-BULLI concept shows how your classic van can become an EV

    Recently, we've seen Volkswagen experiment with combining its old-school aesthetic and modern tech. Last summer, it showed off its Type 20 electric concept -- a 1962 Microbus crammed with tech and an electric motor instead of an engine. Thanks to a partnership with VW and eClassics, it might soon be easier to get your hands on your own vintage Volkswagen-turned EV. This week, VW unveiled its e-BULLI concept and announced that eClassics will convert T1 vehicles, like the classic VW camper vans, into e-BULLI-style EVs.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Waymo suspends all services until at least April 7th

    Waymo put most of its services on hold earlier this week, except for fully driverless rides in Phoenix and some testing, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Just a few days later, the Alphabet company has opted to suspend all of its services until April 7th at the very least.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • The next BMW 7 Series lineup will include an all-electric car

    BMW's next-generation Series 7 luxury sedan models will include an all-electric version, according to Autocar. The automaker has announced at a press conference that the next 7 Series vehicles will come in four versions: one with a gasoline-burning engine, a diesel version, a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric car. Further, Oliver Zipse, BMW's Chairman of the Board of Management, told attendees that the all-electric version will be the most powerful among the four.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Tesla must pause production at its Fremont factory to shelter in place

    Yesterday, it looked like Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, would remain open despite being in one of the California counties under a shelter in place order. Today, a spokeswoman for the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said otherwise. The factory has been deemed non-essential, and like other non-essential businesses in the area, it must shutdown all activity except minimum basic operations.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Waymo goes dark except for fully driverless rides

    Waymo is joining Uber and Lyft in curtailing its ride services to limit the spread of COVID-19, with a notable exception. The Alphabet-owned company has paused both Waymo One service with human overseers in Phoenix as well as its California self-driving tests in order to protect the "health and safety" of passengers and the community. However, it planned to continue its fully driverless service in Phoenix as well as its UPS delivery services and truck testing, at least "for now." The company believed it could respect local and CDC health guidelines on social isolation with no human drivers involved.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Uber Pool suspended in US and Canada to limit coronavirus spread

    Uber Pool has been suspended in the US and Canada, according to Reuters. The ride-hailing giant has put its carpooling service on hold to help limit the spread of COVID-19 -- it'll be impossible to maintain "social distancing" when you have to share a car with several strangers, after all. Uber has disabled the option in both countries, so you can't share a trip with up to three passengers to save money for a while.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Tesla starts delivering the Model Y

    Tesla's Model Y is reaching buyers roughly a year after its debut. The company has followed up numerous buyer reports by confirming that deliveries of its electric crossover are officially underway in spring (really, late winter) as promised. It's not clear just how many vehicles are enroute at this stage, but it's notable that initial orders revolve around pricier Long Range and Performance configurations -- standard range models won't show until 2021.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apex's electric supercar includes an AR race coach and partial self-driving

    How do you make a name for yourself as an EV startup when you have plenty of rivals? By promising a mix of breakneck performance with uncommon tech, apparently. UK-based newcomer Apex has unveiled the AP-0, an electric supercar that's ready for the track but also has a few perks for commuting. The company is keen to tout the combination of a 650BHP motor system with a lightweight carbon fiber chassis (the entire car weighs 2,646lbs) that delivers 0-62MPH in 2.3 seconds and a top speed of 190MPH, all the while managing a healthy 320 miles of estimated range from the 90kW battery. Those are solid numbers for a performance EV, but Apex is clearly counting on the intelligence to win you over.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Formula E season suspended due to coronavirus fears

    FIA, the organizing body behind motor sport and Formula E have decided to suspend this year's racing season for up to two months. In response to concerns about managing the spread of COVID-19, the organizations have said that pausing the season was the "most responsible course of action." The direct result of this is the cancellation of planned races in Paris, Seoul, while the Jakarta E-Prix was cancelled two days prior.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • France threatens large fines and possible jail time for e-bike mods

    France does not look kindly upon e-bike owners that hot rod their wheels. The country has just introduced a law that could see "offenders" slapped with a maximum fine of €30,000 (US$34,000), and up to a year in jail. And they could have their driving license suspended for up to three years.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The Morning After: BMW will end production of the i8 soon

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. E3 is canceled. Due to the extended threat of the coronavirus pandemic, the gaming industry's biggest event of the year isn't happening. Please add it to the canceled event list that includes SXSW and Google I/O. As we mentioned when the news broke, there were already several question marks hanging over this year's show. Earlier this year, Iam8bit, best known for its video game vinyl releases, resigned as E3 creative directors. The production company didn't give reasons for why it was bowing out, and there were whispers that this would be a very different kind of E3. Last year, an E3 2020 pitch deck was leaked, outlining a "fan, media and influencer festival" that sounded a little different from the usual hands-on areas and industry meetings. Instead, the show would reportedly retool to pull in more of the general public -- and ticket sales. Geoff Keighley, the organizer of The Game Awards and host of the E3 Coliseum event space, announced that he would be skipping the show last month, too, following up with a sober tweet about how this year's E3 was shaping up. Not to mention, Sony was already no-show. Both the team behind PlayStation and Microsoft are planning standalone events to showcase their new consoles. (There will be a digital event for Microsoft's E3 news.) You could argue, then, that our team dodged a bullet. But those games will still be announced, and still playable -- somewhere, at some point. It'll all be in a more piecemeal fashion. -- Mat

    By Engadget Read More

  • BMW will discontinue its iconic i8 hybrid sports car in April

    The BMW i8 was the company's first plug-in hybrid. When it hit the event circuit as a concept vehicle, it was a stunner, and the consumer version was surprisingly similar to the prototype. The clean lines of the chassis hid an advanced combination of a lithium-ion battery and a three-cylinder engine that could accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers in just 4.4 seconds. But after six years of success, the BMW factory in Leipzig, Germany will halt production of the company's best-selling sports car in April.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Uber may temporarily suspend drivers exposed to the coronavirus

    Uber says it may temporarily suspend both drivers and passengers who have been infected or come into contact with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The company has established a 24-hour support team to work with public health officials as the outbreak evolves.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Tesla might build a Cybertruck plant in 'central USA'

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. I've been waiting for another NFL-licensed 2K football game since ESPN NFL 2K5 on the original Xbox, and it appears the wait might be over. On Tuesday morning, 2K announced it has a new deal with the NFL to make non-simulation NFL games, which could hint at something in the mold of NFL Street or NBA Playgrounds -- an ideal situation for me, since I'm a little past my prime for managing audibles and route combinations on the fly. Still, the most interesting thing about this news is that the NFL's exclusive deal with EA and its Madden franchise will reportedly expire after the 2021 season. While I'll take what I can get for now, a true NFL 2K game is what I'm really hoping to see for 2022. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Cadillac's live virtual showroom is available in all 50 states

    Cadillac's virtual showroom is now widely available, and it might have expanded just in time. The automaker has announced that Cadillac Live is available in all 50 states, and gives you a chance to check out the 2021 Escalade as well. Like before, you can get one-on-one video sessions with agents to take a look at vehicles, explore options and ask questions almost as if you were at a dealership. You still can't buy a car online, unfortunately, but it beats contorting your schedule to fit a dealer's hours.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Elon Musk is 'scouting' new US locations for Cybertruck, Model Y production

    So what's next after making a million Teslas? According to Elon Musk, a Cybertruck gigafactory that could be placed in "central USA," and Model Y production "for East Coast too." These tweets came just hours after the exec polled followers on whether or not the Berlin factory Tesla is building should include a "mega rave cave" so we'll see what, if any, of these things come true.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 2020 New York Auto Show pushed back to August

    The New York Auto Show was scheduled to open next month, but due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak it has been rescheduled for late August. Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association said in an email to attendees that "We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees, exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus." The rescheduled event will run from August 28th to September 6th, with press days scheduled for August 26th and 27th. This change also shifts it behind the new date for the Detroit Auto Show, which is currently scheduled to happen in June -- assuming it isn't rescheduled or canceled.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Uber resumes self-driving car tests on San Francisco streets

    Two years after Uber suspended all self-driving car tests following the death of a pedestrian, it is creeping back onto San Francisco's streets. Today, Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) resumed testing its autonomous vehicles in the city, TechCrunch reports.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Uber rolls out text-to-911 feature across the US

    As part of its ongoing efforts to keep drivers and passengers safe, Uber is introducing a new, in-app text-to-911 feature in the US. It could be especially useful if a driver or passenger needs to contact emergency services discreetly, without escalating a situation further.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Tesla's one millionth car is a Model Y

    Tesla has reached one of its goals, which once sounded a bit too lofty and ambitious: manufacturing one million electric vehicles by 2020. Company chief Elon Musk has shared a couple of images on Twitter congratulating his team for making Tesla's 1 millionth car. One of the photos is a red Model Y, most likely the millionth EV to come off its production line, while the other is the same car surrounded by company personnel.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • BMW won't sell its first electric crossover in the US

    BMW's first all-electric crossover isn't coming to the US in 2021 -- in fact, it's not coming to the US at all. The automaker first mentioned that the BMW iX3 is "not currently planned for the US market" in a press release for the Concept i4 published a few days ago. Since the gas-powered SUV the iX3 is based on is one of BMW's most popular vehicles in the US, that may sound unbelievable. But now a spokesperson has confirmed to Automotive News that it does "not have plans to bring the iX3 to the US market."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Honda will discontinue its Clarity EV in 2020

    Honda is discounting the pure-electric version of its lease-only Clarity, Autoblog reports. It appears that Honda will continue to produce the plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell Clarity models, at least in 2020.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Uber, Lyft will compensate drivers affected by coronavirus outbreak

    The coronavirus outbreak is affecting many workers, but it could hit those in the gig economy particularly hard when many of them don't get sick leave or other benefits. Those companies may help soften the blow for some of their workers, though. To start, Uber said in a statement to Engadget that it would compensate drivers worldwide for both Uber and Uber Eats if they're either infected by the coronavirus or quarantined by a public health agency for "a period of up to 14 days." Drivers have already received compensation in "some markets," Uber said, alluding to a Bloomberg report that it had compensated quarantined drivers in Mexico and the UK.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Lotus has already sold out of its electric hypercar for 2020

    Did you stare at the Lotus Evija and wonder how anyone could justify an electric hypercar costing over $2.6 million, especially from a brand best known for far lighter and cheaper gas vehicles? Apparently, you had no reason to doubt. Lotus told Autocar that it has already sold out of the Evija production run for 2020, which is due to start in the summer. It didn't provide specific numbers, but the automaker is expected to make 130 Evijas in total.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Electric skateboard maker Boosted announces 'significant' layoffs

    In 2012, Boosted came onto the scene with its crowdfunded Loaded Vanguard light electric skateboard and has since produced a string of personal vehicles including last year's Rev scooter. Unfortunately things may be nearing the end, as the company announced "the incredibly difficult decision to let a significant portion of the Boosted team go." It cited the "unplanned challenge "of the US-China tariff war as a factor in its struggle, despite the many riders putting in millions of miles of riding on its products. Since its launch, the "micromobility" field has become increasingly crowded, and there doesn't seem to be a sure winner at this point, but as its CTO and CEO noted in the post, the need to keep capital flowing to maintain production and maintenance of vehicles is tricky. Now the plan is to "pursue strategic options under new ownership," so we'll have to wait and see what that looks like in the future.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Waymo’s fifth-generation Driver can peek around blind spots

    Today, Waymo unveiled its fifth-generation Waymo Driver, the combination of hardware and software that guides its autonomous vehicles. According to the company, the new tech can spot a car door opening a city block away, give trucks the ability to see debris hundreds of meters ahead on the highway, help vehicles "peek" around blind spots and more.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • GM's cheaper, adaptable Ultium batteries are key to its EV future

    The success of an electric car frequently revolves around its batteries, and GM is determined to have some of the best. It just revealed new Ultium batteries that it claims will deliver the range and performance to make EVs practical for "nearly every customer." Their pouch-like cells can be stacked both horizontally and vertically, allowing GM to cram more storage into a given space and accommodate a wide range of vehicles. The batteries can range from 50kWh to 200kWh, or enough to deliver as much as 400 miles of range and 0-60MPH in 3 seconds -- conveniently, the same acceleration as the upcoming Hummer EV.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ford announces an all-electric Transit cargo van for 2022

    Ford is turning another one of its models into an electric vehicle after the F-150 and the Mustang. The automaker has announced that it will debut an all-electric Ford Transit cargo van for the 2022 model year in the US and Canada. Vans make up a big part of the automaker's business -- Ford's truck and van fleet sales have grown 33 percent since 2015 -- so it doesn't come as a surprise that it's electrifying its best-selling cargo van.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Tesla begins selling a $5,500 track package for the Model 3

    Tesla has launched a new track package for Model 3 Performance owners looking to give their vehicles a boost. The Model 3 Track Package comes with 20-inch Zero-G Performance wheels, stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and high-performance brake pads, and will cost track enthusiasts $5,500, including installation.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Mercedes' new E-Class knows when you're holding the wheel

    Mercedes vehicles come with state-of-the-art driver assist features, but with the 2021 E-Class sedans, it wants to make sure you use them properly. As such, it has introduced a new steering wheel with capacitive touch technology that can detect whether your hands are on the wheel.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Volkswagen confirms that its first crossover EV will be the ID.4

    Volkswagen's EV launches haven't gone quite to plan, with the ID.3 reportedly having software issues and the Crozz-based EV launch delayed. However, Volkswagen has at least confirmed that its first crossover will indeed be called the ID.4 and revealed new images of the EV under lighter camouflage than we've seen so far.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • BMW teases upcoming i4 EV with a futuristic concept car

    Ahead of the i4's official debut sometime in 2021, BMW has unveiled a concept version of the upcoming all-electric sedan. Dubbed the Concept i4, the vehicle would have been on display at the cancelled Geneva Motor Show, giving BMW fans an idea of what to expect from the in-development EV.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Hyundai's slippery Prophecy concept EV is controlled by joysticks

    Hyundai has unveiled a new concept EV called the Prophecy with an ultra-aerodynamic profile and joysticks instead of a steering wheel. Meant to be on display at the cancelled Geneva Motor Show, the electric car aims to convey Hyundai's current design style called "Sensuous Sportiness." It's fair to say they succeeded, as it looks like a Porsche 911 Turbo from the rear and front while the side profile is lifted straight from a wind tunnel test.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Waymo's first outside investment round includes car industry heavyweights

    Believe it or not, Waymo hasn't really leaned on outside help to fulfill its self-driving car ambitions -- Alphabet (and earlier, Google) has shouldered much of the load. Now, however, it's expanding its sources of cash. Waymo has announced its first external investment round, and you might recognize a few of the names contributing a shared $2.25 billion. Car tech giant Magna International and retailer AutoNation are making investments, as are well-established investment groups like Andreessen Horowitz, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Silver Lake and Mubadala.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Pininfarina debuts ultra-rare $2.9 million version of its electric hypercar

    Is Pininfarina's Battista electric hypercar just not exclusive enough for you? You're in luck. The Italian automaker has unveiled a special Battista Anniversario variant that pushes the EV even further. It still revolves around that 1,900HP quad-motor system with a 217MPH top speed and a range topping 311 miles, but it should deliver sharper performance through wheels that are 22lbs lighter, larger at the rear (21 inches) and improved aerodynamics. The Anniversario will come standard with a "Furiosa" package (a revamped front splitter, side blades and rear diffuser) available for any Battista, but it'll also have a custom rear wing, rear fins and "other bespoke details."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Mercedes unveils plug-in hybrid versions of the CLA and GLA

    Mercedes is once more expanding the number of models with plug-in hybrid versions, and it might be particularly good news if you're looking for a less expensive ride. It just introduced PHEV variants of the CLA Coupe (aka sedan, pictured at center), CLA Shooting Brake (right) and GLA crossover SUV (left). All of them mate a 75kW electric motor with a 218HP, four-cylinder gas engine, theoretically giving you zero-emissions driving in the city with the reassurance of combustion if you need it. Not that you'll be leaning on fossil fuels much of the time -- Mercedes estimates 35 miles to 43 miles of electric driving (based on the WLTP test cycle) depending on your car, which should be enough for many commutes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Watch the first footage of Fisker's Ocean EV crossover in motion

    Last year, Fisker promised to show its sub-$40,000 crossover Ocean EV as a production-ready vehicle rather than a concept, but the Geneva Motor Show cancellation put a crimp in those plans. In its latest press release, however, the company has done that one better by releasing a video showing the Fisker in motion on a race track. Fisker also revealed new details about the vehicle's drivetrain, comfort and safety features.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Renault's 'transformer' EV concept can stretch to take on extra batteries

    Renault's latest concept EV is literally a transformer that works for both city driving and long trips. The Morphoz EV in "City" mode normally has a 40 kWh battery that's good for 90 percent of driving in cities or suburbs. However, for the 10 percent of the time you take it on long trips, it can stretch in size to "Travel" mode and accommodate an additional 50 kWh battery extender pack. Drivers can install it at special stations through a flap in the bottom of the Morphoz "in just a few seconds," leaving you with 700 km (434 miles) of highway range.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Jeep's all-terrain e-bike is available to pre-order for $5,899

    If you've been eying Jeep's e-bike ever since that Super Bowl ad, you can finally spring for it... provided you have deep pockets. Jeep will start taking pre-orders for the all-terrain two-wheeler today (March 1st) for a hefty $5,899. That's not an unheard-of price when electric mountain bikes often cost as much or more, but it may be a surprise if you're used to fat tire e-bikes that cost much less.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Gaming (103)

  • 'Apex Legends' tournaments get a new online-only schedule

    Respawn and EA's dreams of establishing Apex Legends as an esports staple aren't going according to plan. The Apex Legends Global Series team is moving its events online "for the time being" due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means both more remote events overall as well as greater reward for those who participate. There are now three more Online Tournaments (#4, #5 and #6) due to start on April 18th, May 2nd and May 30th, while the already-scheduled Online Tournament #3 starting April 4th is now poised to offer $100,000 in prize money on top of series points. Its finals will broadcast on Twitch and YouTube on April 6th.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Atari's latest attempt at milking nostalgia is a 'Pong' RPG

    Atari is trying themed hotels, retro consoles and other efforts to reel in nostalgic gamers, but its latest may be its oddest yet: turn Pong into a one-of-a-kind role-playing game. It's developing a Pong Quest game that has you guiding a heroic paddle through dungeons based on (what else?) Atari games like Asteroids and Centipede in a campaign to save Pong World. You'll fight in "RPG-esque" battles wielding customized Pong balls and adorning your paddle in clothing and other gear.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NBA 2K tournament starts Friday with Kevin Durant, Trae Young and more

    Confirming yesterday's leak, the NBA announced an esports tournament that will kick off this Friday, with games broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2. The NBA 2K Players Tournament will pit 16 current NBA players against one another, with finals scheduled to take place April 11th and air on ESPN. The winner will select a charity beneficiary to receive $100,000 in support of coronavirus relief efforts.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Ubisoft offers free games to encourage you to stay at home

    Ubisoft thinks it has a simple way to encourage people to stay at home and wait out the COVID-19 pandemic: shower them with games. It's running a month-long campaign that will give away free games, trials, discounts and other offers to give you something to do while you're cooped up. It's starting things off by offering the PC version of Rayman Legends for free on Uplay from now through April 3rd. It's an old title, to be sure, but it might hit the spot if you're looking for an upbeat game to remind you that things will get better.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Minecraft Dungeons' is delayed until May 26th

    Minecraft Dungeons is on the way to consoles and PC, albeit a bit later than expected. Mojang says the Minecraft dungeon-crawler spin-off will drop May 26th on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 4 and, as revealed during last week's surprise Direct, Nintendo Switch.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • NBA reportedly plans 'players-only' 2K tournament that will air on ESPN

    The NBA already has an official esports league with various teams represented, but with the live basketball season on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's reportedly about to put real NBA players on the sticks. Yahoo Sports reporter Chris Haynes cites league sources indicating that a 16-player NBA 2K tournament lasting 10 days will begin on Friday, with ESPN set to broadcast it. With sports pretty much shut down around the world, networks are desperate for live content and athletes have nothing to do. So far, NASCAR has made the most noticeable shift to esports with races that it airs on Fox, and now the NBA is apparently ready to follow. Fox also aired a Madden tournament this past weekend, and can likely shift scheduled events around to do even more. Ever since the NBA season was put on hold and the NBA 2K League postponed its activities, teams like the Suns have been livestreaming some games already. But bringing in league stars could put an even bigger spotlight on videogame basketball as a spectator sport. According to Haynes, Demarcus Cousins, who missed almost all of the last two seasons due to injuries, is scheduled to participate, but there's no word on who else may be in, even with a league full of known gamers who occasionally hop on live stream. Players Like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been on the 2K cover in recent years, but now we might find out who can actually play at a high level.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Niantic is doing more to help 'Pokémon Go' gamers play at home

    Niantic isn't done making it easier to play its location-based games while you're staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The developer has outlined some of its future plans for titles like Pokémon Go, Ingress and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, and it's quite clear that you won't have to step outside to make progress during the outbreak. Adventure Sync will better support indoor activities (say, running on a treadmill). Pokémon Go Raid Battles will be playable at home. Social features will help you keep in touch with players you can't see in person, and there are even plans to help you "virtually visit" real-world locations.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Modern Warfare 2' remaster reportedly goes on sale tomorrow

    If the recent release of Warzone has you itching to play even more Call of Duty, you're in luck. According to VGC, Activision will release a remastered version of the franchise's 2009 entry, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, that will feature an updated single-player campaign and graphics. With a listing for the title briefly appearing on the German PSN Store, a release seems imminent.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The aggravation of game-breaking bugs in esports

    It was late one Sunday in September in Krakow, Poland, and Eric "Snip3down" Wrona was heated. He was a handful of points away from making the championship series of the Apex Legends Preseason Invitational and his only shot at progressing towards the grand prize of more than $100,000. Wrona is a notable battle royale and Halo competitor, who had placed second at the X-Games -- the only other major competitive Apex Legends event. Tucked away in Alvernia Studios, a series of dome production studios turned into an esports venue with a small audience of already-eliminated players, he was prepped to wreak havoc in his final game in the loser's bracket.

    By Aron Garst Read More

  • Classic action RPG 'NieR Replicant' is coming to PC and modern consoles

    NieR fans may have a lot to be happy about in the near future. Square Enix has teased a pair of games in the series, including an "upgraded" version of the cult classic NieR Replicant for PC (via Steam), PS4 and Xbox One. The publisher hasn't said just how it'll improve over the 10-year-old or even provided a general release window, but you can safely presume it'll represent a visual upgrade for the action RPG.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Fox Sports will air a 'Madden NFL 20' tournament on March 29th

    Fox Sports' NASCAR esports race was a success, and it's betting that it can repeat that achievement with football. FS1 is planning to air its first ever Fox Esports Madden NFL Invitational on March 29th at 7PM Eastern. The two-hour event will pit players (remotely, of course) against each other in a single-elimination, three-round Madden NFL 20 tournament. There are only eight players, but they include a mix of analysts and pros such as Derwin James (above), Matt Leinart and Michael Vick.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Games Done Quick will host a charity stream for COVID-19 relief

    If you want to help people directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic while watching some of the best speedrunners in the world show off their craft, you're in luck. The good folks over at Games Done Quick (GDQ) announced today they plan to host a COVID-19 charity stream next month. Dubbed Corona Relief Done Quick (CRDQ), the event will take place online over the April 17th weekend, with 100 percent of donations going directly to Direct Relief. The humanitarian agency works with doctors and nurses in the US and across the world to equip them with medical supplies to care for people affected by poverty and other emergencies. You'll be able to watch the stream on GDQ's Twitch channel.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Capcom delays ‘Resident Evil Resistance’ PS4 and Steam betas

    The remake of Resident Evil 3 will be out in just a few weeks, but Capcom wanted to give eager gamers the chance to play Resident Evil Resistance -- a multiplayer game that comes with Resident Evil 3 -- a bit early. The publisher had planned on opening a public beta today on Steam, PS4 and Xbox One, but only the latter has launched on time, as the company announced that technical issues have caused delays for the Steam and PS4 versions. Capcom didn't mention what exactly those problems are, or how long it expects the delay to last. Only 14 days remain until the retail launch of both titles, so hopefully the beta will be available shortly -- otherwise the sneak peek would be rather pointless.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • The first ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ update aims to even the playing field

    Call of Duty: Warzone is the long-running franchise's attempt to jump on the free-to-play battle royale bandwagon, and according to critics and players, it's probably worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre -- the game has over 30 million players already. There are some issues, though, and a new patch should take care of a few of them. Namely, custom loadouts will be harder to obtain, meaning players will have a more even selection of weapons -- or will have to play better to gain the advantage of using their favorite guns.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy' is now available on Switch and PS4

    Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the classic action game originally released in 2003, has arrived on the PS4 and the Nintendo Switch. The game puts you in the role of a new student at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy and will have you fighting a mysterious Sith cult across the galaxy. Unlike other games with a set main character, Jedi Academy lets you customize your character's species, appearance and gender -- it even lets you forge your own lightsaber design from different hilts and saber colors.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The latest 'Borderlands 3' DLC is an engagement party with guns

    Borderlands 3 is a lighthearted take on a Mad Max-style future, and its latest add-on is proof positive of that. Gearbox has released Guns, Love and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock, and it's just as silly as you'd hope for. You're attending the engagement party of the DLC's namesake characters on a brand-new world, Xylourgos, and it just so happens that the festivities are taking place near a giant creature carcass revered by a cult. You'll have to juggle celebrations with fighting off mutant cultists, bandits and the planet's not-so-timid wildlife.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Epic will publish games from Remedy, Playdead and genDESIGN

    What do when you're the creator of one of the most profitable games in the world? For Fortnite developer Epic Games, the answer it turns out is to help other studios work on their next projects. Today, the company announced it has signed publishing agreements with Remedy Entertainment, Playdead and genDESIGN. Between those three studios, they've made some of the most highly acclaimed games in the past few years, including The Last Guardian, Inside, Limbo and Control.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Minecraft Earth' tweaks encourage home play and social distancing

    Microsoft's mobile AR title Minecraft Earth is following the lead of Pokémon Go by introducing new features that make it easier to play at home during the coronavirus pandemic. To start with, you'll have better access to "tappables" (resources like grass, stones and livestock), because they'll spawn more often and closer to you. Also, Minecraft Earth has introduced "adventure crystals" that spawn adventures right where you are, so you'll no longer need to go out and seek them.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • The terrible, fantastic life of AbleGamers COO Steven Spohn

    When Twitch streamer DrDisrespect won the Trending Gamer prize at the 2017 Game Awards, there was a tiny riot on Twitter. There's always a buzz of hashtag activity after a winner is announced as people congratulate or disagree with the pick, but this time around, there was a small yet clear consensus: Steven Spohn should have won. As the Chief Operating Officer of AbleGamers, a charity working to make video games more accessible to people with disabilities, Spohn was the face of positive change in the industry. He regularly shared insightful affirmations on Twitter, as well as deeply personal stories about the realities of living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a disease that was progressively destroying his motor neurons and muscles. Meanwhile, DrDisrespect was best known for wearing a mullet wig and mocking his teammates with racist accents in Fortnite streams.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • ‘War of the Visions’ is a mobile spin on ‘Final Fantasy Tactics’

    It's been a while since we've gotten a proper Final Fantasy Tactics game, but the latest release from Square Enix may just scratch that itch -- as long as you're okay with it taking the form of a free-to-play mobile game. After first launching in Japan last year, War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is now available globally on iOS and Android.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Unity is offering premium game development tutorials for free

    Unity, arguably the biggest game engine in the world, is giving away hundreds of hours of premium game developing tutorials for free because of the coronavirus. For three months until June 20th, aspiring game makers will be able to get their hands on courses on everything from coding to design, and get access to Unity's daily interactive live lessons, Create with Code.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Xbox and PlayStation networks adjusted due to surging demand

    As internet usage around the world soars due to the effects of the coronavirus, tech companies are taking steps to ensure their services remain as unaffected as possible. Services such as gaming are seeing record levels of engagement, but two major names -- Microsoft and Sony -- have assured players they're watching the situation closely.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • NASCAR's virtual race was the most-watched esports TV show to date

    NASCAR and Fox Sports might have started airing virtual races out of pandemic-induced necessity, but it appears their efforts paid off. Fox has revealed that the inaugural eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race on March 22nd drew 903,000 viewers on FS1, making it the highest-rated esports TV program to date. It was also the most-watched broadcast on FS1 since mass sports event cancellations on March 12th and the most-watched sports broadcast on cable that Sunday, although those last two feats weren't too difficult given the dearth of live sports.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • BioWare book will chronicle 25 years of games

    Did you practically grow up with BioWare games? If so, there will soon be a book to help you reminisce. The studio is preparing BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development, a retrospective book that will discuss "key moments" in the company's history while showing previously unseen artwork and photos. You can also expect tidbits regarding "secret, cancelled" game projects. This might shed light on how Mass Effect characters came to be, or help you wax nostalgic about playing the original Baldur's Gate or MDK titles ("good gravy, that's Edmonton!").

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Save the world from a pandemic in the next 'Plague, Inc.' update

    Plague, Inc. lets you become a mad scientist. You design a pathogen and release it upon the world, trigger certain evolutionary traits and -- if all goes according to plan -- wipe out the human race. The game came out eight years ago, but the relevance of the game during real-life events like the current coronavirus pandemic and the ebola outbreak of 2013 keep bringing people back for more. To help make the game a little less morbid, Ndemic Creations will add a new mode to Plague, Inc. that lets you take on the opposite role and save the world from a global disease. The designers are working with the World Health Organization, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and other groups to create an informative experience. Though a release date hasn't been announced, the update will be free for all players.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Gwent: The Witcher Card Game' finally arrives on Android

    At long last, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game has made its way to Android after it debuted on iOS back in October. The Android release arrived almost a year to the day after CD Projekt Red announced it was working on smartphone versions of the free-to-play title.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Pokémon Go gets easier and cheaper to play while you're stuck at home

    It could be tough getting enough Poké Balls when you have to stay at home and can't visit PokéStops. To make sure you have enough balls to catch monsters with, Niantic has started selling a 100-Poké Ball bundle for 1 PokéCoin in the Pokémon Go shop. The company has launched a rotating 1 PokéCoin bundle that will change every week and will be available as one-time purchases. It's also increasing daily bonuses and giving you three times the Stardust and XP for your first catch of the day, as well as adjusting the number of gifts you can open in a day to 30.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Valve's card game 'Artifact' is reportedly getting a reboot

    Artifact, Valve's Dota 2 card game spin-off, failed to capture people's attention to the point that the company had to drop its plans to release a stream of updates for it. That doesn't mean the game is dead, though: According to Edge Magazine, Valve is working on a follow-up to the original game, and it's so huge, it's internally referred to as "Artifact 2."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • GameStop closes California stores despite earlier defiance

    GameStop's insistence on staying open during the COVID-19 pandemic might not have accomplished much in at least one state. Kotaku understands that GameStop is closing its stores in California "until further notice" while it waits for more information from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The leader has issued a shelter-in-place order that forbids all non-essential travel, including for businesses that aren't considered crucial.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' hits 30 million players in 10 days

    Activision's free-to-play spin on the battle royale genre has only been around for 10 days, but Call of Duty: Warzone has already attracted a significant number of players. The publisher says more than 30 million gamers have dropped into the arena so far.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • F1 drivers will compete in a virtual grand prix series

    With their season on hold because of coronavirus fears, Formula 1 drivers will surely be desperate for a competitive outlet to keep them (and their fans) occupied. So, just like soccer players and NASCAR drivers, they're diving into a virtual version of their sport.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • The Morning After: NASCAR's using esports to fill in for canceled races

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Need something familiar to relax with after a long week? Try out the new Nokia-branded phones that were just announced. That includes handsets that an exec said "are supporting the highest number of 5G new radio bands, by far, that you've ever seen in a single design, to date." On the other hand, if 5G isn't your thing -- and not because you've watched a few too many conspiracy videos on YouTube -- then there are cheap Android Go handsets that are the first ones with Google's new camera app and even a few candybar-shaped feature phones for good measure. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • GameStop tells employees it's 'essential' and can stay open during lockdowns

    GameStop insists it can remain open even if its stores' locations are under lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. According to Kotaku and Vice, it sent a memo to employees, telling them that its stores don't have to shut down because it believes its business is classified as "essential retail." Local government units across the US are issuing orders to close non-essential retail businesses -- shops like grocery stores, gas stations and drugstores are considered essential and therefore won't have to cease operations.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • GDC could return to San Francisco as a 3-day event in August

    When GDC's organizers cancelled the annual conference due to the coronavirus outbreak, they said they were hoping to host another even in the summer. Now, they've officially announced GDC Summer, a three-day "celebration of all things game development." It'll be some sort of GDC lite event that would still feature expert-led talks and a two-day expo show. The organizers are promising a new series of microtalks and fireside chats, as well as dedicated space for comprehensive career development sessions for new developers.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • NASCAR is replacing canceled races with esports featuring pro drivers

    Sports leagues and broadcasters are scrambling to fill the void now that many live competitions are cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for NASCAR and Fox Sports that means venturing into relatively uncharted territory. They've announced an inaugural eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series that will replace canceled NASCAR races with "simulation-style" esports competitions. These will involve top-tier competitors, too -- you can expect Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin among other racers and luminaries from various NASCAR series.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The latest 'Overwatch' hero can transform into enemy characters

    Echo, the latest Overwatch hero, is joining the ranks of the game's damage dealers with some nifty-sounding abilities. The AI robot's ultimate in particular will give players plenty of new scope for creativity -- when they activate Duplicate, Echo can adopt the form of an opponent's hero and use (or echo, geddit?) their abilities.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • GameStop will sell 'Doom Eternal' a day early as a 'safety precaution'

    Right now, companies are doing their best to navigate an unprecedented global crisis, seeking ways to remain profitable while contributing to the social good. Discord, for example, has relaxed its user limits on streaming. Uber Eats, meanwhile, has waived delivery fees for independent restaurants. Now GameStop has made its efforts known: it will be selling Doom Eternal a day early in a bid to reduce crowding at its stores.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The next 'Overwatch' hero is an AI robot with an important story link

    Overwatch's newest hero is Echo. Fans have been waiting a while for Blizzard to add a new playable character to the game. It's been seven months since the company introduced Sigma, the game's 31st hero. The anticipation for Echo has been building longer still if you consider the fact Blizzard first teased her existence back when it released the McCree "Reunion" animated short in 2018.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The PlayStation 5 vs. the Xbox Series X: Which is more powerful?

    The next generation of consoles is coming, with plenty of emphasis on how much power these things have — the better to render modern graphics. Last week we got a look at what's inside Microsoft's Xbox Series X, and today we're finally seeing what's under the hood with the PlayStation 5. As usual, we've lined up their specs for a side-by-side comparison, though for a final verdict we'd wait to see what games each system has lined up and Engadget's full review when both systems launch later this year.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Without soccer, fans and teams are turning to FIFA

    Soccer, like almost every other professional sport, has ground to a halt in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. The most-watched and prestigious leagues, including the English Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A and France's Ligue 1 have all been suspended in recent weeks. European club competitions including the Champions League and Europa League aren't happening, either, and Euro 2020 has been pushed back to June 2021. The Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, which includes an oft-forgotten soccer tournament, is looking less likely with each passing day, too.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Hello Games' 'The Last Campfire' arrives this summer

    We haven't heard much about the adorable adventure short The Last Campfire since Hello Games first revealed it in 2018. Now, the No Man's Sky developer has announced that it will arrive on multiple platforms sometime this summer. As we saw during a Switch preview of the game, it's a much more intimate title than No Man's Sky, with handcrafted artwork, a cute main character and a story with a lot of feels.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • 'Overwatch' will finally address some old problems with Quick Play

    While we'll have to wait for Overwatch 2 before Blizzard delivers new characters or big new missions, that doesn't mean developers are done with the first game. Dexerto points out forum posts by lead developer Jeff Kaplan that mention the team will finally deal with a few problems that have been around since the game launched that are tied to matchmaking for its more casual Quick Play game mode. Unlike competitive matches, Quick Play rounds continue even if a player or two drops out, and it attempts to fill the holes on the fly. That can become an issue if you've been waiting a long amount of time to play in-demand classes like damage and you suddenly get dropped into a match with not much time left and no hope of winning, or worse, added just as the game ends so that all you get to see is a "defeat" screen and a Play of the Game that had nothing to do with you.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Overwatch League sets its new online-only schedule for spring

    After three sets of Overwatch League cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak, Blizzard is trying to make the best of a bad situation. The company has released the updated Overwatch League March and April schedule. And as you can imagine, it eliminates the need for teams to travel.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' adds a solo mode

    You didn't have to wait long to get some added variety in Call of Duty: Warzone. Infinity Ward and Raven have introduced a Solos mode that (surprise!) asks you to survive the battle royale shooter without help. You still have a chance to come back to the fight through the gulag duel system and self-revive kits, but there'll be no one around to buy a revival if either of those methods fails. You could technically play by yourself before by turning off team autofill, but you obviously couldn't hold other players to that standard.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'League of Legends' auto chess comes to mobile on March 19th

    Riot Games is almost ready to launch its first-ever mobile game. Today, the developer announced that Teamfight Tactics, a League of Legends mode inspired by Dota 2's popular auto chess mod, will be coming to iOS and Android devices on March 19th. The mobile version will be free-to-play and crossplay compatible with the existing PC community. It will also ship with a brand-new tutorial, ranked play, and the space-themed Galaxies expansion announced last month. That includes the free Galaxy Pass and premium Galaxy Pass+ — a take on Fortnite's Battle Pass that, for a limited time, allows players to unlock special cosmetics with experience points.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Timbaland created a music pack for 'Beat Saber'

    Beat Saber has its share of popular music, but her'e something new: a big-name artist making music with the VR rhythm game in mind. Rap star and producer Timbaland has created a five-song music pack for Beat Saber with collaborations tat include Common Strangers, Karra, Kaydence, Bruno Martini, Nash Overstreet, Sid Tipton and Wavezswavesz. The pack will be available for $8 ($2 per song) on March 26th, and they'll be available through Apple Music, iTunes and Spotify if you'd rather not play just to listen to them.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Helicopters come to 'Fortnite'

    Helipads have been mysteriously popping up all over the Fortnite map since the start of the season, so today's new vehicle announcement doesn't come as too much of a surprise. In keeping with this season's spy theme, Fortnite has added helicopters. Or to give them their correct name, Choppas.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Animal Crossing' and 'Doom Eternal'

    Other than not-sports? With many of us spending more time at home this week/month than we'd planned, it's probably time to dig into one's backlog of shows or games. But if you're up for something new then there are a few choices. For gamers, Half-Life: Alyx is arriving on PC, if you've managed to secure compatible VR hardware, as well as Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch, MLB 20 for the PS4 as well as Doom Eternal and Doom 64 on multiple platforms. Westworld continues after a premiere that looked as impressive as ever, and I'm definitely going to take a look at the Juan Manuel Fangio documentary on Netflix. Still, the most intriguing option on my list is the anime spin-off of a Netflix sci-fi series, Altered Carbon: Resleeved Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'PUBG Mobile' World and Americas Pro leagues have been postponed

    PUBG Corporation and Tencent decided to turn the PUBG Mobile Pro League South Asia tournament into an online-only affair due to the coronavirus outbreak. The companies are taking a different approach for the Pro League Americas and World League events, though, postponing them until later in the year. "The health of our players, staff and contractors are our highest priority. While we're saddened to postpone our tournament, we're dedicated to ensure the safety of everyone involved," said James Yang, Director of PUBG Mobile Global Esports.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • ‘Resident Evil 3’ remake demo will come to consoles and PC on March 19th

    The remake of 1999's Resident Evil 3 will be out in a matter of weeks, but there are plenty of survival horror fans who don't want to wait that long. A demo for the game will give gamers a taste of Jill Valentine's escape from Raccoon City on Thursday, March 19th. The remake uses the same engine as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and the Resident Evil 2 remake, meaning there are no more frustrating tank-style controls. Instead, a more fluid, over-the-shoulder control scheme and camera setup will let players better experience one of the most well-received games in Capcom's iconic series.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • The Morning After: What you actually need to play Stadia games in 4K

    Besides getting Stadia running in 4K, I hope everyone is exercising restraint and good judgment as the effects of coronavirus continue to grow. Unsurprisingly, from our perspective, the effects have gone far beyond canceled trade shows and delayed briefings. Over the weekend, Airbnb expanded its cancellation policy, Apple Card offers delayed March payments, anti-terrorist tech has been tapped to help halt the spread of the virus and Google's sister company, Verily, has now launched its site to gauge possibly infected adults and offer free testing. That last one came after President Trump blindsided Google when he announced the company was launching a screening site. The scale is a little different: This isn't the full might of Google, but a healthcare-tech company owned by Alphabet. You can check the site here and register if you're California based. -Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • 'Minecraft' library helps you dodge news media censorship

    There are numerous ways to evade censorship of the press, but it's getting increasingly difficult when countries like China and Russia are cracking down on VPNs and similar tools. Reporters Without Borders thinks it has the answer to those mounting obstacles: make the news available in a game that's rarely blocked. The team has worked with BlockWorks and MediaMonks on the Uncensored Library, a Minecraft map that includes articles from journalists and sites whose work is frequently censored for its unflattering truths. You'll find articles from murdered Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi (whose fiancée Hatice Cengiz supports the project), the activist-friendly Russian site Grani.ru and the Egyptian anti-corruption outlet Mada Masr, among others.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google details what you need to play Stadia games in 4K on the web

    Now that you can play Google Stadia games in 4K on the web, you're probably wondering just what you need to see the game streaming service reach its visual potential. The company is happy to help -- although it might be disappointing for some would-be players. It recently posted requirements, and the main demand is a Chromebook or Windows PC that can decode video in Google's preferred VP9 format, a 4K display to match and enough bandwidth to handle the "best visual quality" option. Stadia won't be too picky about the overall power of your computer, then.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • EA suspends live esports events due to coronavirus outbreak

    EA is suspending all its live esports events "until the global coronavirus situation improves." The company's decision affects all Apex Legends Global Series, EA SPORTS FIFA 20 Global Series, FIFA Online 4 and Madden NFL 20 Championship Series matches. It also covers all third-party events run under license from EA. The only exceptions are online events where staff can work remotely and separately. EA says it will continue monitoring the situation before determining its next steps for its live competitions.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' gets 15 million players in four days

    Call of Duty: Warzone's take on battle royale is continuing to grow quickly in its honeymoon phase. The developers have revealed that over 15 million people had tried the free-to-play mode as of March 13th. That's more than double the 6 million who'd started playing in the first 24 hours, and no small feat when gamers had just four days of play up to that point. For context, Apex Legends was up to 10 million players in its first three days.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Remedy's mind-melting 'Control' gets a major expansion this month

    If you've completed Remedy's award-winning Control, fear not: more content is on the way. The Finnish game developer has dropped a 20-second teaser for The Foundation, a paid update to its trippy third-person shooter that revolves around Jesse, some possessed enemies called the Hiss, and a forever-creepy building called the Oldest House. At the end, a title card reveals the all-important release date: March 26th. We know very little about the upcoming DLC, other than what Remedy published in a brief blog post six months ago: "At the request of the ever-mysterious Board, Jesse must explore what lies beneath the Bureau as she returns order to the Foundation and the Oldest House itself." Intrigued? So are we.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Niantic cancels ‘Pokémon Go’ and ‘Wizards Unite’ community days

    Niantic is postponing the Pokémon Go and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite community days for March due to concerns around COVID-19. In a statement, the company said that the safety of its players is its "top priority," and that it will adjust its games to better suit current public health advice. Consequently, as well as cancelling the community days, Niantic is making it easier to play Pokémon Go at home.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • All Call of Duty League matches for 2020 will be online-only events

    Activision Blizzard has changed the way the Call of Duty League works in face of the COVID-19 outbreak. After cancelling all Overwatch League homestead matches, the company has announced that it's also turning all CoD League live matches planned for 2020 into online-only events. The developer says it came to the decision after "careful review and working in close collaboration with [its] teams" and that it's "continuing to closely monitor" the COVID-19 situation.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The NBA's esports league postpones 2020 season due to coronavirus

    Just a day after two NBA players tested positive for COVID-19 and the league announced it would suspend activities for at least thirty days, its esports arm followed suit. The NBA 2K League will postpone the start of its season, which was planned for March 24th. Of course, unlike the real game, esports can be played online and the league said in a statement that "in the coming weeks" it will hold preseason competitions remotely. According to NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue, "We will continue to evaluate the situation and do everything possible to bring the excitement of the NBA 2K League to our fans through remote preseason exhibitions and other content. We look forward to sharing additional information about these exhibitions and the start of the 2020 season as it becomes available."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Overwatch' Archives event opens a month early for 2020

    Blizzard's annual Overwatch Archives event just went live a month earlier than you'd expect. The limited-time event, which features story-driven co-op missions that provide backstories for Overwatch heroes, usually takes place in April. For 2020, though, it will run from March 12th through April 2nd, giving you something to do in case you need to stay at or work from home due to COVID-19 fears.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Guild Wars 2' defies the odds for online RPGs with a third expansion

    Guild Wars 2 has been one of the most resilient online RPGs to date -- it has persisted for nearly eight years despite competition from heavyweights like World of Warcraft, not to mention its own challenges. And it appears that the game has plenty of life left. ArenaNet has announced that it's working on a third Guild Wars 2 expansion. There are so few details that the developer isn't even talking basic features or story, but it did release concept art (above) hinting at an Asia-themed setting.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Epic buys the company behind God of War's facial animations

    Fortnite developer Epic Games has acquired a company called Cubic Motion. While it's not a household name, you've almost certainly seen the company's tech at work if you've played games like God of War and Marvel's Spider-Man. They create tools that allow developers like Sony's Santa Monica Studio to capture and animate human faces realistically.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'PES' Euro 2020 DLC will happen, even if Euro 2020 doesn't

    While it's looking less likely there will be a European Football Championship this year, eFootball PES 2020 fans will at least get the chance to recreate the tournament on their own and online. Publisher Konami confirmed today it will release a free Euro 2020 update for the game on April 30th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The 1997 'Blade Runner' game is being remastered for consoles and PC

    After it recently became available to purchase again following years of legal and technical turmoil, the 1997 Blade Runner PC adventure game is about to be remastered for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Nightdive Studios, the developer behind the recent System Shock and Turok remasters, revealed the Enhanced Edition's existence in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. What's more, you'll be able to play it later this year.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Shadow’s cloud-based gaming service now starts at $12 per month

    Shadow made a big splash when it launched its cloud-based PC gaming service back in 2018. For a monthly fee, the service brings the power of PC gaming to almost any device – from smartphone to laptop -- by streaming gameplay from super powerful servers. It's a smart idea -- who wouldn't want the performance of a $2,000 gaming rig without having to cough up for the gear? But at $35-$50 a month, the service was a little too pricey for some -- especially when the likes of GeForce Now and xCloud were so much cheaper. Now, though, Shadow has introduced a new subscription model designed to make its offering accessible to more gamers.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Overwatch' lead writer Michael Chu leaves Blizzard

    Michael Chu, one of most recognizable creatives behind Blizzard's games, is leaving the company. Chu has been lead writer for Overwatch and its upcoming sequel Overwatch 2 since 2014, but he also worked on several Diablo and World of Warcraft games over his 20 years with the developer. In addition to writing for the games themselves, Chu was also behind some of the comics and other fiction pieces published to add to the games' story and lore.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' racks up 6 million players in 24 hours

    The new battle royale mode for Call of Duty Modern Warfare has been popular, and not just with Engadget editors. According to Activision, after 24 hours the game has already seen some 6 million players across various platforms. We'll have to wait a few days to see if that number keeps growing, as it attempts to match or exceed the pace of previous Fortnite challengers like Apex Legends, which announced 10 million players after three days. Given the current situation keeping many people home unexpectedly, it seems reasonable that the numbers will continue to climb. As Matt Brian explained, the game adds a lot of new wrinkles to the battle royale formula, and while it has some kinks to work out, it should pull some fans away from other games in the genre.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • E3 2020 is officially canceled

    E3 won't be happening this year. Today, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) confirmed that the annual show -- known for its glitzy press conferences and blockbuster video game reveals -- won't be going ahead. The decision confirms reporting by Ars Technica and Bloomberg yesterday. The cancellation, unsurprisingly, is due to coronavirus fears. E3 is an almost week-long event that consumes Los Angeles and attracts attendees from all over the globe, so the health risks were substantial.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' is a serious contender to Fortnite's throne

    Despite being pretty late to the party, Epic Games' Fortnite has become the battle royale title to beat. The cartoon-like survival shooter helped the company earn a reported $1.8 billion in 2019, thanks to a mix of slick gameplay, unique building mechanics and tons of big-budget crossovers to get players from every age group to part with their (or their parents') cash. But with popularity comes competition. Fortnite may have dispatched early incumbents like DayZ, H1Z1, Rust and PUBG, but big name publishers have since joined the battle royale arena. Respawn, with the backing of its owner EA, surprise-launched Apex Legends just over year ago and quickly amassed more than 70 million players. But before that came Blackout, a last-player-standing mode that was released as part of Treyarch's multiplayer-focused Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. While it had some initial buzz, the mode never took off quite like Fortnite and Apex Legends. There were a few reasons for this, but the most notable was that it wasn't free-to-play. Then, almost out of nowhere, developer Infinity Ward released Call of Duty: Warzone, a free-to-play battle royale. Unlike Blackout, Warzone is meant to stand alone from the main game and doesn't require you to own Modern Warfare, the game it's built on top of. It delivers the multiplayer experience Call of Duty players know and love, but plays out on an enormous map and with as many as 149 other people. It's a lot, but somehow, it works.

    By Matt Brian Read More

  • 'Doom Eternal' won't be true 4K on Stadia despite early promises

    When Google unveiled Stadia, id Software proudly proclaimed that Doom Eternal would be a marquee title that ran in "true 4K" on the game streaming service. Flash forward a year, however, and that's no longer true. A launch data sheet for Doom Eternal has revealed that the Stadia version of the hellish first-person shooter will run at 1800p upscaled to 4K. That's still much higher-resolution than 1080p and will include perks like 60 frames per second and HDR, but it also means you won't get better performance than an Xbox One X player.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'PUBG Mobile' tournament moves online to avoid coronavirus

    One of the biggest mobile gaming tournaments is changing format to deal with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Tencent and PUBG Corporation are turning the PUBG Mobile Pro League South Asia tourney into an online event due to "unforeseen circumstances" with the virus. It'll still be available to watch online at PUBG Mobile's esports-oriented YouTube channel -- fans just won't get to watch in person.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Game Developers Conference will stream panels and awards for free

    Just because the in-person Game Developers Conference is cancelled for 2020 doesn't mean you'll be out of luck if you want to keep abreast of game industry news. GDC organizers are planning to stream free, recorded versions of the talks that presenters had intended to deliver between March 16th and March 20th, from 12PM to 8PM Eastern each day. You'll also see the GDC Awards and the Independent Games Festival ceremonies on GDC's Twitch channel starting March 18th at 8PM Eastern, while the Day of the Devs showcase from Double Fine and iam8bit will air at 7PM. A full schedule should be available March 13th.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Sega Saturn classic 'Panzer Dragoon' is getting the VR treatment

    Well, that was unexpected. Out of nowhere, a relatively unknown game developer has announced a VR version of Panzer Dragoon, a beloved rail shooter franchise that started on the Sega Saturn in the mid-1990s. Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record will be a single-player experience that covers various episodes (the series' term for stages) from the original Saturn trilogy, according to a press release. Unsurprisingly, the game will use a first-person perspective, rather than the classic third-person view, and turn the player's VR controller into a handgun. There's no word on when it will come out, though, beyond "2020," or which platforms will be supported.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • The Morning After: 'Call of Duty: Warzone' joins the free battle royale trend

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. This week, Westworld is back and despite my issues with how season two unfolded, I'm ready and waiting for season three. Aaron Paul and Marshawn Lynch are interesting additions to the cast, and with the robots venturing out of the park for the first time, its incredible visuals should go to another level. Still, the big question is if this show can offer viewers something more than just another game -- with teasers that reference our current fears about AI, personal data and privacy, the potential is clearly there. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Warzone' is a free battle royale game launching tomorrow

    As expected, Activision has announced Call of Duty: Warzone, a brand new free-to-play battle royale based on its popular first-person shooter franchise. If you already own a copy of Modern Warfare, you'll be able to play the game starting tomorrow at 11am ET on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Everyone else gets to join at 3pm ET.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The esports elders defying their age

    For most people, the phrase 'esports athlete' conjures an image of a teenager or twenty-something hunched over a keyboard, controller or fighting stick. That generalization holds some weight: tune into the next Overwatch League fixture, for instance, and you'll see few competitors in their forties. In almost every esport, though, there's at least one player that bucks the norm; a slightly older professional that can easily compete with and, frequently, overcome their younger foe. Like Roger Federer, a 38-year-old tennis legend that still ranks in the world top five, these people seem to defy their age and the notion that only the young have the mental and physical agility required to compete at the highest level. None of them are truly old, of course. Not to the average person on the street, anyway. Inside their respective gaming communities, however, they're old-timers, veterans, part of the 'I can't believe they haven't retired yet' club. Collectively, you could think of them as the esports elders.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Call of Duty Warzone leak details a free, cross-platform battle royale

    Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward is preparing to launch a brand-new battle royale mode called Warzone. Well, game might be more appropriate. It's complicated, okay? The successor to Blackout, which shipped with last year's Black Ops 4, was leaked last month and detailed further in a Video Games Chronicle (VGC) report. Now, we have an 11-minute breakdown courtesy of Chaos, a video game-focused YouTuber, based on a preview event at Infinity Ward's offices. Or rather, we did: the video has now been pulled, suggesting it was put live by mistake ahead of an agreed embargo.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • The Nintendo PlayStation sells for $360,000 at auction

    The only known "Nintendo Play Station" console in existence is changing hands. Bidding for the legendary prototype concluded earlier today when someone placed a $300,000 bid. With the buyer's premium, the person who won the auction will pay $360,000 to own a piece of gaming history.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Quiplash 3' is coming to Jackbox's Party Pack 7 this fall

    The holiday season may be over, but that doesn't mean the parties (and party games) have to stop. Jackbox Games unveiled this week that the seventh generation of its annually released Party Packs will arrive this fall. Today, the company released a trailer for Quiplash 3 at Pax East, and announced that the new game will be one of the titles in Party Pack 7.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Indie horror classic 'Amnesia' is getting a sequel called 'Rebirth'

    Amnesia: The Dark Descent was a breath of fresh air when it hit PCs in 2010. Rather than using Resident Evil, Silent Hill, or any of the other classic survival horror games as a template, it created a unique and exploratory take on the genre. It quickly became a classic -- both as a game and as a livestreaming sensation. Ten years later, fans will finally be able to play a sequel. Frictional Games announced Amensia: Rebirth today and assured players that the game will stay true to the original's roots.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Konami’s TurboGrafx-16 mini has been delayed due to coronavirus

    The TurboGrafx-16 is the latest system from the late '80s and early '90s to get a mini console revival and join the likes of the Nintendo NES Classic Edition and Sega Genesis Mini. Fans will have to wait, though, as production has been delayed indefinitely for both the western TurboGrafx-16 mini and the Japanese PC Engine Core Grafx mini consoles -- and you know why.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Minecraft Festival is postponed due to coronavirus fears

    Minecraft is such a cultural phenomenon that it was supposed to have its own three-day convention in September with interactive exhibits, co-op and competitive gameplay, live entertainment, panels and merch. Tickets to the first-ever Minecraft Festival in Orlando were set to go on sale this week. ReedPop -- which also organizes New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con -- has announced that the convention has been postponed by a full year due to the coronavirus outbreak. While the event was months away and the epidemic could be resolved by then, the partners, producers and exhibitors have hit a wall when it comes to planning the fest and ensuring a fun experience.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Does the Xbox Series X make gaming PCs obsolete?

    The Xbox Series X is going to be a beast. On paper, its sheer power blows away most gaming rigs today -- but what does that mean for PC enthusiasts? To be honest, there's still plenty we don't know about the Series X or what the state of PC hardware will be later this year. But based on Microsoft's spec dump last week, we can start making some educated guesses.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • 'The Outer Worlds' is about to get a fix for its tiny in-game text

    If there's one major criticism of The Outer Worlds, it's surely the bewilderingly tiny text size used for menus and dialogs. Squinting and scooching does not make for enjoyable game play, and for those with visual impairments, it renders the game unplayable. But that's about to change.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Half-Life: Alyx' creators explain how its VR gameplay will work

    After more than 12 years, Valve is officially returning to the Half-Life universe, and in a suitably-futuristic VR fashion. Half-Life: Alyx, is slated to arrive on Steam on March 23rd, and while we've already seen some gameplay footage, we now have an idea of exactly how the VR component will work, thanks to commentary from Valve's Robin Walker and Corey Peters.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Google Stadia is rolling out 4K streaming on the web

    Google is finally fulfilling a key promise for Stadia by rolling out 4K gaming on the web, according to 9to5Google and several Reddit users. You'll need a Stadia Pro subscription and fast internet connection to use the feature, with Google specifying a minimum "excellent" connection over 35Mbps. However, 9to5Google reports that it was able to get 4K working with "good" and even "OK" internet speeds.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Easy-to-use mods brought me back to ‘Freespace 2’

    Game genres can wax and wane in popularity. It's a sad truth that two of my favorites, real-time strategy and space simulation games, have been on the decline since the glory days of Tie Fighter and Warcraft. We may never see the likes of Warcraft 3 again, but in recent years there have been some valiant attempts to revive the space sim, with releases like Everspace, Rebel Galaxy, and Elite breathing new life into the genre. But I haven't been playing any of those, because all my free time has been completely consumed by Freespace 2.

    By Christopher Schodt Read More

  • Make-A-Wish Foundation gets a fan into 'NBA 2K20'

    It's not unheard of for Make-A-Wish Foundation kids to request tours of their favorite game studios, but when 2K heard that 15-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient William Floyd wanted to visit the NBA 2K headquarters in Novato, California, the company decided to go one step further. It created Floyd as a playable roster member in NBA 2K20 and made him available as a free agent to millions of players around the world.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • 'Castlevania: Symphony of the Night' unexpectedly arrives on mobile

    Beloved classic Castlevania has been ported many times and now -- entirely without warning -- it's come to mobile. Konami's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is available on both iOS and Android for $3, without in-app purchases. The side-scrolling action-RPG is based on the PSP and PS4 take on the game -- not the original PlayStation version -- and there's support for six languages (English, Japanese, German, French, Italian and Spanish), external controllers and achievements.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare' has a Tamagotchi that's hungry for kills

    Companion pets are a fairly standard feature in a lot of games – from Fortnite to Skyrim, you've got the option to have a furry friend accompany you on your adventure. And now Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is joining the fray. Don't expect any cute and cuddlies, though. Your operator's companion comes in the form of a Tamagotchi -- or in this case, a Tomogunchi. And you feed it with death.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The next 'Destiny 2' season tasks you with saving the Last City (again)

    Now that the next season of Destiny 2 is a week away, Bungie is finally ready to shed light on just what it entails through a roadmap and a trailer. The Season of the Worthy's main story challenges you with nothing less than saving the Last City... yes, again. The Cabal have sent the Almighty (the star-destroying ship you crippled in the original D2 campaign) on a crash course with humanity's refuge, and you'll need to power up the Rasputin AI to take the spacecraft out of commission. In addition to the core missions, there will be public events (Seraph Towers), bunker activities and a Grandmaster difficulty level for the Ordeal Nightfall strike.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Atari classic 'Missile Command' is coming back as a mobile game

    Atari has been milking Missile Command nostalgia for a while with re-released games and even plans for a movie (not that it has materialized), but its latest may be appealing for its relatively straightforward appeal. It's developing Missile Command: Recharged, a slightly modernized version of the classic base defense game for Android and iOS. The touch input is the most obvious update, but you'll also see an upgrade system, power-ups, achievements and online leaderboards to keep things fresh. There's even an augmented reality mode -- you can play on a virtual cabinet in your room if you have memories of spending all your quarters at the arcade.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Overwatch' college esports series will award $40,000 in scholarships

    There's certainly an active Overwatch college esports scene, but it can be difficult for a player to stand out and turn pro when there are hundreds of schools. Activision Blizzard, Torque and UMG might have a way for serious players to shine. They're launching an Overwatch Collegiate Clash series that will have college competitive teams square off for a chance at both recognition and a total $40,000 in esports scholarships. The eight-week series will have eight teams face each other per week, with a final round pitting the winning teams against each other.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Previewing 'Final Fantasy VII Remake'

    I've waited decades for the Final Fantasy VII remake. I was here for the PS3 (!) tech demo, the breathless launch announcement at E3 years ago, and now we've reached the final stretch -- the game comes out next month. Last week, I got to play several early chapters at a preview event (the opening chapter is available to play as a demo, now) and I've got mixed feelings as a Final Fantasy die-hard. I think the combat system actually works, and it still feels like FFVII, which surprised me. I have more concerns as to how the developers are going to fill a game that won't even get our party of misfits out of Midgar -- one city in a world of locations. Please don't kill us with fetch quests. --Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Co-head of 'Call of Duty' studio Treyarch leaves after 13 years

    It's the end of an era if you're a Call of Duty fan. Jason Blundell, the co-head of series studio Treyarch, has left the company after 13 years. There wasn't a reason given for the exit, but the tone on both sides suggests he wasn't kicked out. He characterized his time as a "fantastic" stint, while the developer said it "enjoyed" the time together. It's something gamers will notice, at least.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Google (55)

  • Google has discontinued the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

    Google is no longer selling its landmark Pixel 3 and 3 XL phones, the company confirmed with Android Police. If you enter the old Pixel 3 listing you'll get the home page instead and it no longer appears in the product carousel. Meanwhile, the carrier/configuration section shows the devices as "out of stock."

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google rolls out Drive shortcuts ahead of folder structure changes

    Google has started giving everyone access to Drive shortcuts, a few months after it first revealed its beta version. The feature was designed to make it easier to organize files and to point people to specific ones across various folders. You can, for instance, create a shortcut for a certain file saved in a shared drive and then send that shortcut to people in your team. They'll only be able to open it if they have access to the drive where it's saved, though -- those who don't have access to the drive can only see the shortcut.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google pulls Infowars from the Play Store over coronavirus misinformation

    In 2018, several internet services decided to pull channels from Alex Jones and his Infowars setup, including YouTube and Apple's App Store, but until now the company's app remained available via the Google Play Store. While conspiracy theories and lawsuits from parents who said he'd lied about them and their children weren't enough to earn Jones the boot, Wired reports that the final straw came after Jones published a video disputing quarantine and social distancing efforts meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. Google and other companies have banded together to combat misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, and in a statement a spokesperson said "Now more than ever, combating misinformation on the Play Store is a top priority for the team." The only question left is why they waited so long to do something that seemed inevitable from the start.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Google's $800 million COVID-19 relief effort includes 2 million face masks

    Google's support for the fight against COVID-19 includes more than advisories and a search hub. The internet firm is making a $800 million-plus investment in multiple areas to aid treatment, support businesses and keep the public informed. This includes direct financial backing and know-ow, including partnering with supplier Magid GlovE & Safety to produce 2-3 million face masks for the CDC Foundation in the "coming weeks." It'll also assist the government, manufacturers and distributors in producing ventilators.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Key vote on Alphabet's smart neighborhood delayed over coronavirus

    Sidewalk Labs, the part of Alphabet focused on smart cities, will have to wait a while longer to find out whether its Quayside project can go ahead. Waterfront Toronto, a tri-government organization spearheading the city's lakeside overhaul, has pushed the deadline for a decisive vote to June 25th. "In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, today the Waterfront Toronto Board of Directors passed a motion to extend the date for a decision on moving forward with the Quayside project with Sidewalk Labs," it said in a tweet.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Google Duo's group video limit rises to 12 people just at the right time

    With many of us cooped up at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, video calls have become a rare lifeline to friends and family. To that end, Google has updated its popular Duo chat app by increasing the group video user limit from eight to 12. That'll make calls more of a party, as you join up with loved ones to share news and commiserate.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google resumes Chrome updates on a modified schedule

    Google is ready to restore some semblance of normalcy to its browser release strategy after pausing Chrome updates to adjust to the work-from-home realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is resuming releases for Chrome and Chrome OS on an altered schedule. Security fixes and other crucial patches will come back to Stable releases next week, with Chrome 81 arriving the week of April 7th. Google is still skipping Chrome 82, but Chrome 83 is now due to arrive three weeks earlier than planned, in mid-May -- it'll include all the work from version 82.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Alphabet’s Verily shows how its drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites work

    Verily -- Alphabet's healthcare brand -- isn't just creating a website to help northern Californians determine whether they need a test for COVID-19. It's also piloting drive-thru testing. It has opened two sites, one in Riverside County and another in Sacramento County, and today, it shared a video that shows how the COVID-19 testing works.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google lets businesses mark locations as 'temporarily closed'

    When Sundar Pichai revealed Google's initial responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, he promised to give business owners a quick way to mark themselves as "temporarily closed." That way, people can look up which local shops are open and what hours they're operating, so they don't have to wander outside longer than they should. Now, the tech giant has finally published instructions on how businesses can update their profiles and mark themselves as "temporarily closed" on Maps and Search.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google Podcasts app comes to iOS as part of a larger redesign

    It turns out that an updated Android app was just the start of Google's plans for a Podcasts overhaul. The internet giant has released its first version of Podcasts for iOS, giving you a way to listen to the likes of Dolly Parton's America or The Engadget Podcast (you knew we'd plug it) that syncs with virtually any device where your Google account works. This new app is also a showcase for a larger redesign (including on Android and the web) meant to not only help you find new shows, but satisfy your curiosity about subjects mentioned in those shows.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google makes it easier to find COVID-19 travel advisories

    As the coronavirus continues to spread and countries introduce various travel restrictions, Google has seen an uptick in searches for travel advisories and cancellation policies. In response, it's making some changes to help users find that information even faster.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google makes it easier for studios to self-publish Stadia games

    Google has launched a new program called Stadia Makers that could lead to the release of more titles for the platform, particularly ones from experienced indie developers. The tech giant has announced the project during its virtual Games Developer Summit, calling it the first step into its self-publishing expansion.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Chrome's new release schedule will skip version 82 entirely

    Last week Google announced it will pause Chrome and Chrome OS releases to deal with its adjusted work schedules as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, the company said that it would work to ensure current releases are as stable as possible, and that for now, it will not promote Chrome 81 from beta to stable. As Chrome Unboxed points out, a post a few days ago explains that the new plan is to skip a milestone release entirely. Director of Technical Program Management Jason Kersey writes in a post the beta channel will remain on version 81 until 83 is ready to promote from the development channel, while 82 will skip its cycle through the process entirely. That could mean an earlier release date than planned for version 83, but no decision has been made there yet. Chrome 81 is supposed to bring new mixed reality features and a trial of NFC tie-ins to the browser, and HTTPS changes that will remove older protocols and block some content if it tries to load via HTTP on a secure site. About Chromebooks notes Chrome OS features anticipated for version 81 that include easier sideloading of Android Studio apps and an improved Bluetooth pairing setup, but all of that will have to wait, and for good reason.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Google makes it easier to play Android apps before they've finished loading

    After this year's GDC was cancelled because of the coronavirus, tech companies have been making their own games-related announcements independently. Last week Facebook revealed its plans for new and existing Oculus VR titles, now Google's Android and Play teams have announced what they're doing to help developers build and scale their games across Google products.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Kenyan government finally approves Loon’s internet-delivery balloons

    Alphabet's internet-delivery balloon service, Loon, has finally received approval from the Kenyan government. To help improve communication during the coronavirus pandemic, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta fast-tracked the regulatory approval Loon and its partner, Telkom Kenya, were waiting on. Loon expects to begin providing service to remote areas of Kenya in the "near future."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google's coronavirus search hub makes COVID-19 info easier to find

    Google has launched a promised coronavirus search hub that makes looking for legit information on COVID-19 a bit less overwhelming. Since the situation is continuously changing around the world and varies from region to region, Google is providing easy access to information from health authorities alongside new data and visualizations.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google discounts its Stadia starter pack for the first time

    With Doom Eternal launching today, Google is offering its first-ever discount on Stadia. For today only, you can get $30 off the Stadia Premiere Edition, making it $99 instead of $129. The bundle comes with everything you need to start playing, including a controller, Chromecast Ultra and three months of Stadia Pro.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Uber's former self-driving lead pleads guilty to stealing from Google

    After about three years of legal wrangling between Uber and Waymo over self-driving car tech, the engineer at the center of it has agreed to plead guilty to one count of stealing materials from Google. Anthony Levandowski was a lead engineer on the self-driving car project that's now known as Waymo, until he left to form his own company, Otto, which Uber then acquired. Reuters reports that the agreement will see all the other criminal charges go away while he admits to taking a file that tracked Google's goals for its self-driving car project. A court already ruled that Levandowski owes Google $179 million for violating his contract, and he has declared bankruptcy. Prosecutors said they will recommend a sentence of fewer than 30 months.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Senators ask Alphabet how it will protect COVID-19 screening site data

    Alphabet's COVID-19 screening site might serve as a relief to those eager to determine if they need to get tested, but it's also raising some privacy concerns in Congress. Five Democratic senators have sent letters to Vice President Mike Pence and Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai asking if they've studied the potential for privacy and security holes in Verily's Baseline triage system. The politicians wanted to know if users will be asked to "forfeit" their data to participate, and if Google will be barred from either using the data for its own purposes or selling it to third parties.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google wants to bring business savvy to local news outlets

    Google has announced a new project that will attempt to develop sustainable business models for local news publications. As part of its ongoing Google News Initiative, the company is partnering with the UNC's Hussman School of Media and Journalism, LION Publishers and Douglas K. Smith on a research initiative called Project Oasis. Together, the organizations say they will develop a database of local digital publications in the US and Canada. They will then interview the founders of some of those websites to develop resources designed to help the entire ecosystem.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Google Translate's transcription mode is now available on Android

    Starting today, Google is updating its Translate app to allow people to record and transcribe long conversations into another language. The company first demoed this feature at the start of the year. It allows you to record speech in one language and reproduce what was said in the text of another language in real-time.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Google updates its Discover Feed to let you flag misleading articles

    If you're a frequent Pixel or Google app user, you're probably familiar with the Discover Feed. In its various iterations over the last few years, Google has consistently tried to make it a go-to for finding news related to your interests. However, it recently started updating the tool to make it easier for people to report articles they think are misleading or harmful.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Google warns Android app reviews may take longer due to coronavirus

    Google is warning developers that Play Store app reviews may take longer than usual due to work schedule adjustments, Android Police reports. In a statement, the company cautioned developers to "expect review times of 7 days or longer." This likely applies to both new app submissions and those that trigger a manual review.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Alphabet's Verily launches coronavirus screening service in California

    Verily -- Google's sibling healthcare brand -- has launched a website that will help adults in northern California determine whether they need a test for coronavirus. The "triage" pilot is available to those in Santa Clara Country and San Mateo County, and asks users questions about their recent health and travel. The site will, if necessary, help users obtain a free test.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Google Maps is making 'Live View' AR navigation more prominent

    Last year, Google Maps introduced "Live View" AR navigation that visually guides you to a location using your phone's camera. The feature is still a bit difficult to find, though, so Google is testing a feature that makes it more visible. In the latest beta version, Maps puts a floating action button (FAB) for Live View front and center as soon as you search for or select a location, according to 9to5Google.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google says nationwide coronavirus website is in development (updated)

    President Trump misspoke when he said Google was developing a national screening and test result site for potential coronavirus patients (that's just Verily's Bay Area pilot for now), but there was apparently a degree of truth involved. In a series of clarifying tweets, Google said it was teaming with the US government on a "nationwide website" that would provide info about COVID-19 symptoms, risks and testing info. The company characterized this as separate from the Verily project and other coronavirus information efforts.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google's 'triage tool' for COVID-19 testing will be Bay Area-only, at first

    Alphabet is building a website that will help people in the United States screen themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and then, if necessary, direct them to drive-thru testing locations, President Donald Trump announced today. Users will be able to type in their symptoms and review their test results when they become available, officials said. After visiting a mobile test site, the timeline for results is 24 hours, according to the White House -- though the sample has to make it to a lab first, and that timeframe is variable. The location-recommendation tool will only be available in the Bay Area at first, Alphabet subsidiary Verily told The Verge hours after the White House press conference.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Google’s updated Home app will show Nest Cam events in its feed

    iOS release notes reveal that Google is making a couple changes to its Home app. Once updated, the Feed tab will show important activity from supported devices, like your Nest Cam. Last year, Google said users would be able to watch full video clips or listen to audio clips in the Feed tab, and this update could enable that.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google explains the complex tech behind the Pixel 4's gesture radar

    The Pixel 4's radar-powered Soli motion-sensing system now lets you play and pause music with a swipe, which might seem like a simple thing to implement. According to a new explainer post by Google, however, Soli doesn't work exactly how you might expect, and required a lot of new deep learning tech and training to make it work.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google is working on a native printing and scanning app for Chrome OS

    Google is working on a native Chrome OS app for printing and scanning, according to 9to5Google. Even though Chromebooks are geared towards schools, they don't provide an easy way to see queued print jobs or to figure out the errors that prevent a printer from properly working. Google's Cloud Print made doing those possible, but the app is shutting down in 2021. Now, 9to5Google has discovered that the tech giant is working on a "Print Management app" for the platform. A Chrome OS specific flag in chrome://flags describes it as:

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • YouTube will allow some creators to monetize coronavirus videos

    YouTube says it's reassessing its coronavirus policies and will enable ads on a limited number of channels that discuss the outbreak. Initially, YouTube demonetized all videos that mentioned coronavirus. But after facing backlash, and realizing that this will be an ongoing topic for many creators, YouTube is changing its stance.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google Search now delivers NHS advice in the UK

    Starting this week, the first thing you'll see when you look up health conditions on Google in the UK is results straight from the NHS website. The tech giant is putting trusted information from the National Health Service (NHS) front and center in Search, placing information from the organization in Knowledge Panels at the very top of the results page.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google tells North American employees to work from home

    With new reports of coronavirus cases being diagnosed popping up around the US, Google has taken the step of asking all North American employees to work from home if they can. The recommendation lasts until at least April 10th. A number of large tech companies had already instituted similar policies in the northwest after an outbreak began in Washington, and Google had already given a similar guideline to Bay Area employees. At about the same time, the company also banned advertisements for medical face masks for the time being, and established a COVID-19 that will pay for temporary staff and vendors to take sick leave if they have potential symptoms or are quarantined. In a tweet, CEO Sundar Pichai said "Contributing to social distancing if you are able to, helps the overall community spread and most importantly, will help offset the peak loads through critical healthcare systems and also saves it for people in need."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Google's next Chromecast Ultra may be an Android TV dongle

    Google's Chromecast has evolved over the years, but the devices you can find in stores are still, at their heart, little more than conduits for whatever comes from your phone or PC. It looks like Google might be planning a more ambitious replacement, though. A source speaking to 9to5Google says that the next Chromecast Ultra will be an honest-to-goodness Android TV dongle. You could run apps like Netflix and Hulu (complete with 4K HDR support )rather than relying on apps with Cast support. The new Ultra reportedly resembles the current-generation standard Chromecast, but with a "softer, rounder" aesthetic -- and, as you might guess, a dedicated remote.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google Groups still exists and it's getting a redesign

    Google has famously killed off a number of social network and messaging services over the last couple of decades (remember Allo? Or Google Talk?). But, amazingly, the Usenet-linked Google Groups setup that's been operational since 2001 is still cranking along. It hasn't had a UI update to match the company's other tools in years though, and a Material-design makeover is incoming. The filtering and search will also be revamped, and they claim it will be easier than ever to start a new group.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Google Maps borrows Lens tech to highlight popular restaurant dishes

    Google introduced big changes to Lens at its I/O conference last year by turning your phone's camera into a powerful search tool. With one of the key features, you could point your camera at a restaurant menu and it would highlight the most popular dishes and even translate menu items. Now, Google has made that feature much more useful in Google Maps by cleverly sourcing menu photos taken by restaurant customers, 9to5Google reported.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google location data led police to investigate an innocent cyclist

    Those concerns about police indiscriminately collecting Google location data have some grounding in the real world. NBC News has revealed that police inadvertently made a suspect of an innocent cyclist, Gainesville, Florida resident Zachary McCoy, after using a geofence warrant (collecting all location data around the scene of a crime) to look for leads in a March 2019 burglary. McCoy had been using RunKeeper to track his biking, and had passed by the victim's house three times in the space of an hour -- enough to raise eyebrows among investigators looking for suspicious info.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google can add account security keys through Safari and mobile Chrome

    If you're determined to keep your Google account airtight with a security key, you might have an easier time getting started. Google has made it possible for G Suite and Cloud Identity users to register security keys using both Chrome on Android devices (using at least Android 7.0 Nougat and Chrome 70) and Safari on Macs (13.0.4 and later). This includes both keys you've registered independently as well as ones from the Advanced Protection Program for enterprise users.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google and Adidas prep smart insoles that tie into 'FIFA Mobile'

    Your swift-footedness in real life could soon translate to the games you play. The combination of an official teaser and a Footy Headlines leak has offered a peek at Adidas GMR insoles that use a Google Jacquard tracking tag to not only measure your kicks and ball control, but translate that performance to FIFA Mobile. Your skills, including in real-life challenges, promise to improve the Ultimate Team in your game.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google explains how it's tackling the coronavirus outbreak

    Google's efforts to inform people about the coronavirus outbreak extend well beyond a search alert. The company has outlined all the ways it's addressing COVID-19, including a bid to stamp out misinformation. On top of the SOS Alert (with news and tips) in web searches, you'll also see Knowledge Panels to explain the condition and how to deal with it. YouTube, meanwhile, will direct people to the WHO and local organizations through the homepage and provide ad space to government organizations in affected areas. Google Maps will also bring up "helpful and reliable local information," although the company didn't say what that entailed.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google Assistant will lose John Legend's voice on March 23rd

    You only have until March 23rd to ask John Legend to serenade you through Google Assistant. The tech giant has announced that it's ending the musician's Assistant cameo in a couple of weeks, almost a year after it first became available. Assistant only answers as Legend for a select number of queries, such as the weather forecast and specific ones specifically designed for him. He can sing you a happy birthday, for instance, and tell you his favorite type of music. For other inquiries, you'll have to be content with the default Assistant responses.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Judge dismisses Tulsi Gabbard’s $50 million ad lawsuit against Google

    A California judge has struck down longshot Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard's lawsuit against Google. Last fall, Gabbard sued the company for allegedly infringing on her right to free speech by temporarily suspending her campaign's ad account. The Gabbard campaign, Tulsi Now, Inc., sought $50 million in damages.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Ex-Waymo engineer Levandowski ordered to pay Google $179 million (updated)

    A court has ordered Anthony Levandowski to pay Google $179 million to end a contract dispute. He was once one of Google's most prized talents as someone who helped pioneer its work on self-driving vehicles. However, their relationship turned sour after he left the tech giant, which then accused him of poaching talents to start a new company and of stealing trade secrets to start his own firm.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google's latest Stadia game studio will be run by a 'God of War' veteran

    Google is opening another Stadia studio to create originals for its game streaming service, and it's once again tapping big-name talent to boost its chances of success. The company is adding a team in Playa Vista, California that will be run by Shannon Studstill, the former head of God of War developer SIE Santa Monica Studio -- not far away, we'd add.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google Assistant now reads web pages aloud on Android devices

    Google Assistant for Android has just become a lot more useful for people with vision and reading problems, as well as for those learning new languages. The tech giant has rolled out a new feature that gives it the capability to read web pages aloud. Google says the feature brings together many of its advancements in speech technology, making it sound more natural than other more run-of-the-mill text-to-speech tools out there.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • YouTube's tweaks to recommend fewer conspiracy videos seem to be working

    One of the most important aspects of YouTube is its recommendation engine, as the vast majority of views and watch time come from suggested content, rather than direct traffic. The platform does a good job of determining which videos would be relevant to a given user, but when it comes to news and fact-based videos, conspiracy theory content can find its way in. As of January of 2019 -- and after facing public backlash -- YouTube promised to curb the amount of conspiracy videos it pushes to users. A study published by the University of California, Berkeley states that these efforts do seem to be working, and that their analyses show a 40% reduction in the likelihood of YouTube suggesting conspiracy-based content.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Google cancels I/O developer conference amid coronavirus fears

    Google has cancelled I/O, its annual developer conference, citing coronavirus concerns. The tech giant has sent out an email to all attendees informing them of the decision. I/O 2020 was set to be held from May 12th to the 14th at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. According to the email, all guests will receive a refund by March 13th, and will be automatically granted an option to purchase a I/O 2021 ticket.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Google makes Hangouts Meet features free in the wake of coronavirus

    With no end in sight yet when it comes to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, Google says it wants to make it easier for people to work remotely. Starting this week through to July 1st, the company's G Suite and G Suite for Education customers can use Hangouts Meet's premium functionality for free. Those features mean individuals can now participate in virtual meetings with up to 250 people and live streams with up to 100,000 viewers. Additionally, they can save recordings of their meetings to Google Drive for free.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Alphabet's next moonshot: protect the ocean

    Alphabet's moonshot factory is turning its attention back toward the ocean. But whereas Project Foghorn looked to turn seawater into a carbon-neutral fuel, the newly-announced Tidal has a broader mission to protect the sea and its aquatic inhabitants. "This is a critical issue," Neil Davé, general manager for Tidal said in a blog post. "Humanity is pushing the ocean past its breaking point, but we can't protect what we don't understand." The team, which operates under the company's "X" lab for now, is starting with a camera system that can help fish farmers monitor and, hopefully, better understand every living creature inside their pens.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Google is finally fixing Bluetooth audio on Home speakers

    Most people who buy Google smart speakers use them for direct streaming, but that hasn't been entirely voluntary for the past year. Ever since late 2018, people have complained that any Bluetooth connections (from phones or to other speakers) would drop after a few minutes or less. Not much of a feature, is it? However, relief appears to be in sight. Google staff have confirmed that they're "investigating" a fix. There's no mention of when it might be ready, but it's a welcome relief after many months of silence.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Laptops (5)

  • Can you really get work done on a tiny laptop?

    I have a dream. Or a delusion? I'm not sure. Either way, there is a gadget I have sought for many years and am yet to find: A pocket-sized laptop that I can get real work done on. In my case, "real work" is mostly writing, basic image editing and -- just to make things complicated -- fairly heavyweight music production.

    By James Trew Read More

  • Apple's new MacBook Air comes with a Magic Keyboard and costs $999

    Apple is upgrading the MacBook Air with better internals, its new more reliable Magic Keyboard and is hacking the price down to $999. The upgraded model also gets double the amount of storage, making it a better machine for folks who want to work on the go. Ever since Apple abandoned its much-derided butterfly keyboard in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, people have wondered when the "Magic Keyboard" would trickle down. The MacBook Air is the second recipient of the new-old scissor switch keyboard, which should remove people's concerns around reliability. The company is using the time to boost the refreshed Air's internals, throwing in new 10th-generation Intel Core chips. The base model will ship with a 1.1GHz dual-core i3 CPU, while an extra $250 will net you a 1.2GHz quad-core i7 chip that, with Turbo Boost, can be pushed to 3.8GHz. Apple says that, numbers aside, the new chip will crank out performance twice as fast as on the previous model. Storage has been doubled, up from 128GB on the base model to 256GB, and users can spec their laptop up to 2TB. That's all solid-state storage, and it will be pricey: The 2TB option will set you back an additional $800 on top of the list price. Thankfully, Apple has finally brought the price of the MacBook Air back below $1,000, with a retail price of $999. That puts some clear water between the lower-power, more portable Air and its more powerful Pro siblings. It's also something that we've argued since 2018, saying that Apple's cluster of similarly-priced machines with wildly different specs was too muddled. Education buyers, meanwhile, can snag the new MacBook Air for $899. It's not just the MacBook Air that's getting some love from the company, but also its oft-forgotten sibling, the Mac Mini. Much like the Air, Apple is doubling the amount of storage on the $799 base model up to 256GB, while the $1,099 configuration now gets 512GB of storage as standard. The new MacBook Air will be available to buy in stores at some point next week, but pre-orders are open today. It's worth saying that, with Apple's stores closed due to coronavirus concerns and issues around the current global crisis, ordering online might be the only way to snag one of these for now.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • AMD's efficient Ryzen 9 CPUs target Intel's gaming laptop crown

    While AMD is winning over the workstation market, Intel still dominates laptop gaming. However, AMD aims to change that in a hurry with the Ryzen 9 4900HS and 4900H Zen 2 mobile processors, launching soon on laptops like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. They pack eight cores and 16 threads, along with up to 8 cores of integrated Vega graphics, and run at overclocked speeds up to 4.4 GHz. Best of all, the 7-nanometer 4900HS chip consumes just 35 watts of power, boosting battery life for gaming and entertainment apps.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • An improved MacBook Air could debut as early as next week

    Apple hasn't really touched the current MacBook Air design since its 2018 debut unless you count the addition of True Tone, but it might be close to a substantial update. A MacRumors source with a largely positive track record has claimed that a refreshed MacBook Air will launch sometime the week of March 16th. It's not certain what that tweak would entail, but it's safe to presume Apple would use the more reliable, better-feeling scissor switch keyboard it introduced with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Meta (17)

  • Facebook makes it easier to see how much it knows about you

    Facebook will let you view and download more of the data it collects about you, the company revealed today. It's expanding the Download Your Information tool on Facebook and the Download Your Data tool on Instagram to include more of the info it tracks as you use those platforms -- like what you add to your profile or which Pages or posts you like. That info is used to personalize what you see on Facebook and Instagram, but it also raises some data privacy concerns.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook pledges $100 million to support journalism during coronavirus crisis

    Facebook has already taken a number of measures to help the global effort against the spread of the coronavirus, most recently by opening up its Messenger platform to governments, and in announcing plans to invest $100 million in small businesses around the world. Now, the platform says it will set aside an additional $100 million to support the news industry during the coronavirus crisis. In a post on Facebook's Journalism Project portal, the company says it recognizes that ad revenues are declining "at a time when journalism is needed more than ever," and that its funding will be used to help journalists cover important stories "when we all need them most." Of the grant, $25 million will be set aside as emergency funding for local news through the Facebook Journalism Project, and $75 million will be given as additional marketing spend to move money to news organizations around the world. The first round of grants have already been given to 50 local newsrooms in the US and Canada. The Post and Courier in South Carolina used its grant to take down its paywall for coronavirus-related stories, for example, while Southeast Missourian is using the money to help bolster its remote work technology. The funding program is the latest move by Facebook to help fortify reliable news coverage during this uncertain time. At the end of February the platform started banning ads promoting coronavirus "cures," and later offered the World Health Organization free ads to counter misinformation surrounding the outbreak.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Facebook is struggling to keep up with 'unprecedented' traffic

    If it seems like your Facebook feed is more active than usual these days, it's not just you: The company really is seeing a massive surge in use as millions of people around the world are forced to stay home. In Italy alone, Facebook has seen time spent increase by 70 percent and messaging increase more than 50 percent, the company said.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook opens Messenger to help governments offer coronavirus advice

    Facebook Messenger is launching a program to help the UN and government health organizations share timely coronavirus information with the public. The idea is to connect Messenger developers with government organizations to develop create apps and bots, in order to share updates about the pandemic, answer commonly asked questions and more.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Facebook adds coronavirus ‘information center’ to News Feed

    Facebook is taking new steps to encourage its billions of users to take social distancing seriously amid the coronavirus pandemic. The social network will start placing a coronavirus "information center" at the top of users' News Feeds, Mark Zuckerberg announced. The messages will begin appearing in users' News Feeds in the next 24 hours in the US, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and be available in more countries and languages over time.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook reveals launch dates for latest Oculus games

    Facebook's Game Developer Showcase is now in full swing, and we've been given a little more info on exactly what we can expect from games arriving on the Oculus Quest and Rift platform. Following yesterday's announcement that rapper Timbaland has created a music pack for Beat Saber, Facebook has revealed launch dates for a number of hotly-anticipated titles, including B-Team, Lies Beneath and Phantom: Covert Ops, as well as what's in store for Pistol Whip's "Full Throttle" update.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Facebook pledges $100 million to small businesses impacted by coronavirus

    Until now, Facebook's response to the coronavirus outbreak has focused on fighting the spread of misinformation -- by offering free WHO ads and banning ads that promote false 'cures.' Now, Facebook plans to invest $100 million in 30,000 small businesses in over 30 countries where its employees work and live. Facebook is also giving $1,000 bonuses to each of its employees, CNBC reports.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook is hosting a virtual GDC for Oculus VR titles

    Facebook is hosting its own digital gaming event at the same time GDC would've been held if it wasn't cancelled due to coronavirus fears. The internet giant has announced that it will reveal the latest updates for Oculus virtual reality titles at Facebook: Game Developers Showcase, which will run from March 16th through March 19th. It promises breaking updates for old games and trailers for upcoming ones arriving on the Oculus Quest and the Rift Platform.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook will shut down its MSQRD selfie app

    MSQRD, the Snapchat-like selfie app Facebook acquired in 2016, will soon be no more. The social network said it plans to shut down the augmented reality app on April 13, though its technology will live on in other Facebook-owned services. "MSQRD was fundamental to building early momentum for AR and providing insights to build the platform Facebook has today," the app wrote in an update on its Facebook page. "Our focus is now on delivering you the best-possible AR experiences through Spark AR, the platform that allows anyone to create their own AR effects and share them across the Facebook family."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook's experimental Stories feature lets users cross-post to Instagram

    Facebook has started testing a feature that will finally allow you to cross-post Stories to Instagram. The social network released a tool that gives you the capability to cross-post Instagram Stories to Facebook way back in 2017. However, that tool has no capability to cross-post the other way around. App researcher Jane Manchun Wong has discovered the experimental "Share Story to Instagram" toggle within the Story Privacy settings, and switching it on activates a "Share to Story" button.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook labels manipulated video of Biden 'endorsing' Trump as 'partly false'

    Twitter isn't the only one flagging a manipulated Trump video to warn users. Facebook has labeled a video of presidential hopeful Joe Biden appearing to endorse Trump as "partly false information," citing independent fact-checking from Lead Stories. The company told Engadget in a statement that it was both "reducing [the video's] distribution" and applying warning labels, and that it was applying the treatment to a politician just as it would for a bogus video shared by anyone else.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Researchers: Facebook’s ad transparency tools are ‘easy to evade’

    Facebook has long touted its rules requiring transparency in political advertising as one of the company's most important policy changes following Russian interference in the 2016 election. But new research suggests the company's ad rules may not be as effective at creating the kind of "transparency" Facebook has given itself so much credit for.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook is suing over domains that could be mistaken for its products

    Facebook is once again attempting to take down domains that may have been used to scam and phish people. The company says it has filed a lawsuit against domain name registrar Namecheap and its proxy service, Whoisguard. According to Facebook, the latter registered 45 domains that were made explicitly to confuse people into thinking they were affiliated with its app and products. Some of the domains Whoisguard allowed include instagrambusinesshelp.com and whatsappdownload.site.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Facebook reveals the AI tool it used to ban 6.6 billion fake accounts

    Today, Facebook unveiled a machine learning tool that, in the last year, has removed more than six billion fake accounts. That's in addition to the millions of new fake accounts that Facebook blocks from being created daily. According to Facebook, the tool has been in production for two years and it's one of the most advanced methods Facebook has for fighting bogus accounts.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook will run free WHO ads to counter coronavirus misinformation

    In a status update Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has just posted, he detailed the social network's efforts to ensure you're getting the right information about your area's COVID-19 situation. When you search for "coronavirus" on Facebook, you'll see a pop-up or a card at the top of the search results that directs you to the World Health Organization or a local health authority's website for the latest updates. Facebook is even giving the WHO as many free ads as it needs for its coronavirus response measures and providing the organization the support it needs on the platform.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook pulls out of SXSW amid growing fears over coronavirus

    Facebook just became the latest high-profile company to pull out of SXSW. The company, citing health concerns, announced that its employees will no longer be attending the annual festival. "Due to concerns related to coronavirus, our company and employees will not be participating in SXSW this year," Facebook said in a statement to Engadget.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook’s rebuilt Messenger is a big step towards unifying its chat apps

    Facebook just moved one step closer toward its goal of allowing users to swap messages across Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. Today, the company announced that it's rolling out a new version of Messenger for iOS that's been rebuilt "from the ground up." This is the "Lightspeed" redesign the company first teased last year at F8. But, besides, faster launch speeds, most users shouldn't notice much of a difference between the new app and the one they've already been using. That's because "Lightspeed" was more about simplifying Messenger's underlying code (Facebook notes the app went from 1.76 million lines of code to 360,000) than adding features to a notoriously bloated app.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

Microsoft (14)

  • Microsoft’s News Bar adds a scrolling news feed to Windows 10

    In case you didn't already feel inundated with news, Microsoft is introducing a new app that will display a scrolling news feed across your desktop. News Bar, currently available as a beta for Windows 10, will curate the top regional news from over 4,500 publications, and if you choose, it will include customizable stock info.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Microsoft's Edge browser will add vertical tabs and tracking prevention

    Microsoft finally did the deed and killed Internet Explorer. The company's new browser, Edge, is much more promising, and is even getting some compelling features that differentiate it from the likes of Chrome and Firefox. Today, the company announced enhancements like vertical tabs, password monitoring and tracking prevention -- as well as a mobile version of its useful Collections feature.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Office 365 is turning into Microsoft 365 as it moves into your life

    Microsoft wants you to think about its Office 365 subscription service in a whole new light. So on April 21st, the company is renaming the service to "Microsoft 365," as it adds more AI and cloud-powered tools to make you more productive. The pricing stays the same -- $7 a month/$70 a year for personal use and $10 a month/$100 a year for the family plan -- but the scope of the service is much broader. For one, Microsoft is launching a new Family Safety app for tracking screentime and other aspects of your digital life.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Microsoft pulls its smaller investments in facial recognition tech

    Microsoft has been vocal about setting limits on facial recognition, and it's now backing that up with its financial support -- or lack thereof. The company is ending minority investments in facial recognition startups and is pulling its stake in AnyVision, an Israeli startup whose recognition tech drew controversy when word emerged of its use at West Bank checkpoints. These investments don't allow for the "level of oversight or control" Microsoft likes over facial recognition, according to a joint statement from Microsoft's M12 venture capital fund and AnyVision. The Windows maker will instead focus on larger investments where it has more of a say.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft will pause optional non-security Windows updates

    Because everyone, including IT people and Microsoft developers, already has enough to worry about right now, Microsoft is pausing all optional non-security releases for supported versions of Windows and server products. This will allow Microsoft to focus on security updates.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Windows 10 UI updates have been spotted in a Microsoft promo video

    Windows 10 now has one billion active monthly users -- likely thanks in part to the deprecation of Windows 7 in January. To celebrate the milestone, Microsoft's chief product officer, Panos Panay, shared an Instagram video recounting the various iterations of Windows' UI. The look of Windows 10 could keep evolving, it seems, as some eagle-eyed viewers spotted new types of windows, interfaces, and menus.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Microsoft's DirectX 12 Ultimate brings ray tracing effects to more games

    More efforts are underway to bring ray traced visuals to more of your games. Microsoft has introduced a DirectX 12 Ultimate framework that makes ray tracing and other visual effects both more efficient and more flexible. A new inline ray tracing technique gives more control over the lighting effects that make more sense for certain games, GPU shaders can invoke ray tracing without talking to the CPU and streaming engines can more efficiently load ray tracing shaders as you roam around. Your games won't demand as much from your system as they did before.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft Teams update helps cut through the chaos of group calls

    This week marks the third anniversary of Microsoft Teams, and at a time when remote working is more prevalent than ever before, Microsoft has announced a bunch of new features designed to make it easier for teams to communicate and collaborate -- both during the coronavirus outbreak and into the future.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Microsoft closes all of its stores due to coronavirus risk

    Microsoft is closing its store locations around the world in response to the escalating coronavirus outbreak. In an email to customers, the company said, "We are closing Microsoft Store locations to help protect the health and safety of our customers and employees. During this unprecedented time, the best way we can serve you is to do everything we can to help minimize the risk of the virus spreading." Microsoft also said it will continue to pay employees for their regularly scheduled hours.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft's board of directors

    Amid the spreading outbreak of COVID-19, Engadget reader Bill Gates has apparently decided "to dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities including global health, development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change." He's stepping down from the board of directors at the company he co-founded in 1975 as well as his position on the board of Berkshire Hathaway, but will still be a "technology advisor" to current CEO Satya Nadella and other executives. Gates posted a statement on LinkedIn that said "I have made the decision to step down from both of the public boards on which I serve – Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway – to dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and my increasing engagement in tackling climate change. The leadership at the Berkshire companies and Microsoft has never been stronger, so the time is right to take this step."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Microsoft's Build conference will be a 'digital' online-only event for 2020

    Microsoft's big event for developers in Seattle is traditionally where it shows off a lot of things that also impact us as consumers using Windows, Office or its other products, but this year it will be an exclusively virtual one. The company revealed in a statement to The Verge that "...we will deliver our annual Microsoft Build event for developers as a digital event, in lieu of an in-person event. We look forward to bringing together our ecosystem of developers in this new virtual format to learn, connect and code together." Yesterday, Washington governor Jay Inslee announced a ban on events with more than 250 people that will run at least until the end of March. While that's set to expire before the Build event in May, Microsoft is acting now to prepare people for a "virtual format" instead of waiting any longer to see if it's extended. Facebook F8 and Google I/O were scheduled to take place earlier in May, and both have already canceled any in-person component of those developer events. Last year Microsoft showed off the new Linux kernel for Windows 10 and Minecraft AR, and this year we expect to hear a lot more about its support for developers creating apps to run on Windows 10x and dual-screen devices like the Surface Neo.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Windows 10 gives users more control of what diagnostic data they share

    In another attempt to give Windows 10 users more control over their data, Microsoft is making a few changes to its Settings app and Group Policy settings in the latest Windows 10 preview build (19577). In the Settings app, basic diagnostic data will now be known as "required," and full diagnostic data will be known as "optional." Theoretically, Windows 10 will make it easier to switch between sharing required and optional diagnostic data with Microsoft.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

Mobile (25)

  • AT&T will give users an extra 15GB of mobile hotspot data

    AT&T is still expanding its offerings to keep people online during the COVID-19 outbreak. Between April 2nd and May 13t, it's adding an extra 15GB of mobile hotspot data to every line on unlimited plans that have a monthly tethering allowance. If you have the Unlimited Extra plan, for instance, that will effectively double the amount of data you get. That's still not enough data to completely rely on your phone's connection if you're used to landline data allotments, but it could be helpful if your wired service goes down or becomes oversaturated.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • US officials use mobile ad location data to study how COVID-19 spreads

    The use of phone location tracking to keep tabs on COVID-19 is becoming increasingly common, and the US appears to be no exception. Wall Street Journal sources say federal (via the CDC), state and local governments have been receiving location data from mobile ads to help plan their pandemic response. The anonymized info helps officials understand where people are still gathering in significant numbers (and thus risk spreading the coronavirus), how well they're honoring stay-at-home demands and how the virus has impacted retail.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • AT&T and Cricket offer customers a $15 plan for a limited time

    AT&T Prepaid and Cricket Wireless have launched a $15 phone plan that's available for a limited time to both new and existing customers. It comes with 2GB of data, unlimited talk and text and no activation fee -- and it's clearly a direct competitor to T-Mobile's $15 Connect offering.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • European mobile carriers will share location data to track COVID-19 spread

    More governments are relying on phone location tracking in a bid to track and contain the spread of COVID-19. Eight European carriers, including Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile), Orange and Vodafone, have agreed to share phone location data with the European Commission to help measure the coronavirus' reach. That immediately raises privacy issues, but an official talking to Reuters stressed that the EC would protect users.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Verizon gives customers extra mobile data to deal with COVID-19

    More cellular carriers are taking steps to ensure people can stay online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Verizon (Engadget's parent company) is giving consumer and small business customers an extra 15GB of LTE data speeds per month on their plans, with no action required. This applies regardless of the device you're using, and whether your service is a regular subscription or prepaid. It's not the completely unlimited access you might hope for, but it could help you stay online if you depend on your phone's data for work.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • T-Mobile launches its $15 5G plan ahead of the Sprint merger

    To help people stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic, T-Mobile is launching its new $15-per-month 5G plan ahead of schedule. Originally, T-Mobile said it would launch the plan, called T-Mobile Connect, after its merger with Sprint finalized. Last we heard, that deal could close on April 1st, but now, T-Mobile Connect will be available on Wednesday.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • No, 5G didn't start a pandemic

    The advent of COVID-19 has sparked a whole new wave of paranoia among people who believe in the 5G conspiracy theory. Folks are suggesting newfangled wireless signals are somehow acting as a shepherd for the global pandemic. Or, worse, that 5G and the coronavirus are the tools of a shadowy new world order to turn us all into mindless zombies. Suffice to say, here's a patient explanation on why they're very, very wrong.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • FCC gives Verizon extra mobile capacity to manage emergency demand

    Earlier this week the FCC granted T-Mobile access to additional spectrum to cope with extra demand fuelled by the coronavirus outbreak -- now it's done the same for Verizon. The STA (special temporary authority) will allow the carrier to operate for 60 days in spectrum licensed to Northstar and SNR, in order to provide extra capacity to Verizon customers across the US.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The UK's biggest phone store chain is closing all of its outlets

    The UK's only remaining independent phone store is closing its vast network of retail locations on April 3rd, 2020. Dixons Carphone, owner of Currys PCWorld and Carphone Warehouse (CPW), will shutter the latter's 531 outlets at the start of next month. The company says it will focus on selling mobile gear and packages through Carphone Warehouse-branded areas inside the 305 remaining Currys PCWorld stores.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Spectrum offers free internet so students can do classwork at home

    With school systems across the US closing down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Spectrum says it will provide free internet access to students who currently don't use its service. The company will install broadband and WiFi in new student households free of charge and provide access for 60 days. The offer is available to families with both K-12 and college students.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • How did we get to 5G? The history of mobile networks

    Last time on our explainer show Upscaled, we took a look at 5G, the new high-speed mobile technology starting to roll out in 2020. But 5G isn't entirely new technology, it builds on the mobile networks already in place around the world. This has been the pattern for mobile networks, incremental upgrades that added more capacity and speed bit by bit. This approach has yielded incredible results; as much as we might gripe about coverage or speeds today, the first real cell networks could only support about a dozen calls per tower, had no data capacity, and used unencrypted analog signals that were easy to intercept.

    By Christopher Schodt Read More

  • FCC gives T-Mobile extra spectrum to cope with demand during coronavirus

    T-Mobile pledged to keep people online during the coronavirus outbreak, and it's getting some help from the government to make that happen. The FCC is granting T-Mobile access to more 600MHz spectrum for the next 60 days to help it cope with customer demand for internet access while the pandemic continues. The carrier had asked for the additional airwaves for remote work, education and health care, not to mention the basics of staying in touch while isolated.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Sprint, T-Mobile pledge to keep subscribers connected amid outbreak

    Like AT&T and Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have also vowed to support their customers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an announcement posted on its website, Sprint said it won't be terminating service for residential and small business customers if they're unable to pay their bill because of the outbreak, ad it's waiving late fees "incurred because of economic circumstances related to the pandemic."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Comcast suspends data caps, makes Xfinity WiFi free for 60 days

    Yesterday Comcast and AT&T were among ISPs announced some relaxed policies to help people suddenly stuck at home due to countermeasures taken in the fight against COVID-19. Today, along with an announcement that wireless carriers are suspending cancellations and expanding access, Comcast, the largest ISP in the US, followed up with a slew of new policies that will be in effect for the next 60 days to help people stay connected. For the time being, it's suspending the data plan that capped bandwidth usage at 1TB per month, and it's opening access to Xfinity WiFi for free to everyone. The Internet Essentials program for low-income families that costs $9.95 per month will be free to new subscribers for the first two months, and it has also committed to no disconnects or late fees.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • US wireless carriers pledge to suspend cancellations amid outbreak

    One day after Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel called on the FCC to take aggressive action in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the federal agency has announced the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. For the next 60 days, the agreement calls on telecom companies to maintain service and waive late fees for any residential and small business customers who can't pay their bills due to the pandemic. It also calls on those companies to open their WiFi hotspots.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • AT&T and Comcast improve internet access in response to COVID-19

    With so many people in the US working and learning from home, as offices and schools close in response to the coronavirus pandemic, internet service providers (ISPs) are beginning to react. Comcast is increasing internet speeds for low-income users, and AT&T told Motherboard that it is suspending all broadband usage caps until further notice.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • President Trump signs bill to help rural carriers replace Huawei gear

    The US government is about to help rural carriers give Chinese telecom equipment the boot. President Trump has signed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (the Secure and Trusted Telecommunications Networks Act in the Senate), mandating that US telecoms rip out and replace any "suspect foreign network equipment" -- effectively, Huawei and ZTE equipment. It tasks the FCC with setting up a compensation program so that rural providers can afford to remove the hardware, improes security information sharing to prevent future uses and bars networks from using FCC-administered funds to buy equipment from companies representing a "national security risk."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • California ends opposition to T-Mobile and Sprint merger

    New York isn't the only big state dropping its fight against T-Mobile's merger with Sprint. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has dropped the state's challenge against the merger after reaching a settlement that theoretically addresses objections to the carrier buyout. The expanded T-Mobile will have to guarantee affordable plans in California for a minimum of five years, including a plan with 2GB of data for $25 per month. The network will also have to hold to plans from February 2019 for five years (two year longer than the FCC asked for) and give 10 million low-income households access to 100GB of free broadband per year, including a free mobile hotspot.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Yahoo launches its own unlimited data plan for $40 a month

    Yahoo was a bastion of the early days of mainstream internet, but is it really relevant anymore? It's no secret that its popularity has waned in recent times, so in what is presumably a bid to bring itself back to the fore, it's branching out to the mobile business. Yahoo Mobile will tout unlimited texts, calls and 4G data, all for the flat fee of $40 a month.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Canada's first 5G network goes live in four cities

    You no longer need to head to the US if you want a taste of 5G in North America. After starting its rollout in January, Rogers has switched on Canada's first live 5G network in the downtown cores of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. You'll unsurprisingly have to pick up one of Samsung's Galaxy S20 phones and subscribe to an unlimited data plan if you want to try the service right away, but Rogers' use of the 2.5GHz mid-range band suggests you'll have an easier time finding speedier service than you would with high-band 5G on networks like Verizon (Engadget's parent company) in the US. It's closer to AT&T and Sprint in that regard.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • FCC could require phone companies to authenticate calls

    Today, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed new rules that would require phone companies to adopt the STIR/SHAKEN protocol, an increasingly popular method for caller ID authentication. The rules are meant to combat robocalls, specifically those that spoof phone numbers, and the FCC is expected to vote on them later this month.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Walmart and Verizon may turn stores into 5G hubs

    It might not be long before your 5G phone is helpful during your next shopping trip. Wall Street Journal sources say Walmart and Verizon (Engadget's parent company) are in talks to equip stores with 5G service, starting with a pair of stores this year. The faster wireless data would help Walmart launch digital health services that it only recently started exploring, such as video chats with doctors and real-time medical data. It could also share your medical data with the clinic to auto-register when you arrive at the store and tell staff to restock any products you pick up during your stay.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

News (63)

  • Niantic buys a 3D mapping startup to enable 'planet-scale' AR

    As much as Niantic might be focused on making its location-based games more playable at home, it's also thinking about its future. The developer has bought 3D mapping startup 6D.ai to help it develop "planet-scale" augmented reality. The relative newcomer's work on 3D environment reconstruction and persistent AR objects promises more sophisticated experiences than you're used to in the past. Niantic teased the prospect of seeing creature habitats in Pokémon Go, or dragons landing on buildings.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • FCC outlines $200 million COVID-19 telehealth plan

    Today, the FCC announced a few additional measures to help the US during the coronavirus pandemic. Chairman Ajit Pai shared plans for a $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which would equip healthcare providers with the broadband connectivity and devices they need to provide telehealth services. The FCC also eased off its ongoing crackdown on cell phone subsidy abuse, saying that it won't de-enroll participants until at least May 29th.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Online grocery deliveries are facing an unprecedented stress test

    In the past few weeks, cities and states across the country have instructed people to stay home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Going out for essentials like food is allowed, but that can be a risky proposition. Not only can grocery stores get crowded, social distancing protocol often means long lines just to get inside. The obvious alternative to all this is to shop online, but as several shoppers can attest, that experience can sometimes be even more frustrating. The state of online grocery deliveries is apparently a lot more fragile than anyone had anticipated.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Instacart workers go on strike after rejecting mild concessions

    Instacart hasn't had success trying to avert a strike over a lack of COVID-19 protections. The Gig Workers Collective has declared that a shopper strike is "still on" after asserting that Instacart's concessions were inadequate. A change that sets the tip default to a customer's previous amount will likely offer "no meaningful benefit," the shoppers said, as that previous amount will frequently come from the pre-outbreak era. There's still no sick pay for workers who have to stay home due to health conditions that put them at high risk. The company also left hazard pay "completely unaddressed," according to the objectors -- an average pay per order of less than $10 still leaves shoppers "risking their lives for pocket change."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: FDA clears five-minute lab-in-a-box COVID-19 test

    It's been a long seven days of lockdown for some of us, and it looks like the situation won't change for a while. The US Food and Drug Administration is rushing to get a handle on testing people for the coronavirus, and former events venues are being turned into field hospitals. It's one hell of a year, and it's only the end of March. -Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Elizabeth Warren campaign open sources its organizing tools

    The impact of Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign might be felt well after it ended. The Warren for President team is open-sourcing some of its key get-out-the-vote projects to help other politicians and cause supporters with their own efforts. These include the peer-to-peer texting platform Spoke, the polling location search tool Pollaris, a Caucus App used in Iowa (above) and the data handling app Redhook, among other tools.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • UK internet providers will lift data caps during COVID-19 pandemic

    The UK is echoing others in lifting internet restrictions to keep people online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Major telecoms like BT/EE, Openreach and Virgin Media have struck an agreement that will remove "all" data caps on current landline broadband services. Mobile and fixed providers also have to offer "generous" new packages to help people stay connected (particularly the vulnerable), such as data boosts at lower prices and free calls.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Satellite internet startup OneWeb declares bankruptcy to look for a buyer

    OneWeb's dreams of satellite internet access have hit a major setback. The startup has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after attempts to get crucial financing fell through. The company said it was "close" to getting support, but the COVID-19 pandemic produced a "financial impact and market turbulence" that cut the deal short. Chapter 11 bankruptcy will let it use debtor-in-possession proceeds to sell the business and keep its existing work going.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NY court rules Postmates couriers are entitled to unemployment benefits

    Gig economy workers in New York won a significant battle this week after the state's Court of Appeals ruled in their favor against Postmates. Supporting a previous state decision, the court said Postmates couriers should be considered employees for the purposes of unemployment insurance. Moving forward, the company must support its contractors by paying into New York's Unemployment Insurance Fund on their behalf.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Instacart workers will strike over lack of COVID-19 protections

    Fed up with the company's response to the coronavirus, Instacart workers announced today that they'll go on strike beginning Monday. They will not return to work until their demands are met, Instacart Shoppers and the Gig Workers Collective wrote in a blog post. Their dissent is not uncommon. It's reflective of growing dissatisfaction among employees, especially gig workers, who must continue working in public settings while corporate employees work from the safety of their homes.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Staying social when you’re forced to isolate

    As millions of us adapt to new lives in relative isolation, we're being forced to find increasingly creative ways to keep ourselves entertained. Luckily, social distancing doesn't mean we have to be lonely. And hanging out with friends doesn't have to be limited to phone calls and FaceTime. Hosting a remote game night or movie marathon is not only do-able, but easier than you might expect. With the right planning and a bit of creativity, you can have almost as much fun as the real deal.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Dyson to manufacture 15,000 ventilators following UK call for help

    Many companies have offered to build much-needed ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, notably GM, Ford and Tesla. However, Dyson has now stepped up to the plate and the UK company known for vacuum cleaners and fans might have an edge over other non-ventilator makers. It developed the "CoVent" device in just ten days using Dyson's current digital motor technology, according to CNN, and has already received an order for 10,000 units from the UK's National Health Service (NHS).

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Airbnb hosts can volunteer to house COVID-19 responders

    Airbnb is dealing with COVID-19 cancellations by providing support to people on the front lines of the pandemic. It's launching a worldwide initiative that will let hosts opt in to offering free or subsidized housing to healthcare workers, first responders and other crucial staff who may need to live closer to where they're offering help. The company will partner with governments, businesses, nonprofit groups and emergency agencies to help them find hosts, while home owners who volunteer will have a cleanliness protocol to follow to minimize the chances of the coronavirus spreading.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Filling out the Census online is quick, easy and important

    The turn of a decade. An election year. 2020 is significant for many reasons, and it's also time for the US government to conduct its decennial (that is, every 10 years) census. The nationwide survey is an attempt to better understand all the people that live within the country's borders, and this year marks the first time it's available online. With everyone's minds preoccupied by the global pandemic and the related anxiety and uncertainty, though, filling out a form is far from being a priority. But this is a task that must be done.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Polaroid's new $99 instant camera uses autofocus to change modes

    More than a year after Polaroid Originals gave us the OneStep+, it's ready to share another old-school, analogy camera: the Polaroid Now. This time around, Polaroid Originals has traded the dual lenses for a new autofocus lens, and it has stripped away some of the connectivity features, like those that made remote selfies possible.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • How to see a therapist when you’re stuck indoors

    While the coronavirus outbreak isn't the first time the world has suffered a global pandemic, we've never been as technologically equipped to take on the challenges of avoiding human contact as now. But as we hunker down and stay home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we're all becoming more isolated than before.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • The tech-laden Tokyo Olympics have been postponed

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finally accepted that the summer games in Tokyo can't go ahead. Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, asked Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, for a delay on the phone earlier today. The coronavirus pandemic meant it was simply impossible to ensure the safety of athletes, organizers and attendees during the event. "I proposed to postpone for about a year and president Bach responded with 100 percent agreement," Abe told reporters after the call. The games are now expected to take place in summer 2021, around the same time as the rescheduled Euro 2020 soccer tournament. Curiously, they will still be called the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. "In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community," the IOC said in a statement.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • UK raises contactless payment limit to £45 amid coronavirus spread

    The limit for contactless card payments in the UK will be increased to £45 from April 1st. According to UK Finance, the decision was already under consideration by those in the industry, but the process has been sped up to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, and to support consumers that would rather pay by contactless at this time. It's important to clarify, however, that the World Health Organization has not warned people against using paper money and coins, but it does advise thorough handwashing after handling it.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • How Engadget staffers are finding solace during the coronavirus crisis

    Reality as we know it is very different now than it was just a few weeks ago. The coronavirus pandemic has forced all of us to stay inside, practice social distancing and find ways to cope with this newfound uncertainty. While Engadget staffers work from home to keep you up-to-date on the latest news, we, too, have come up with methods of dealing with this madness. We wanted to share them with you in the hopes that maybe some of these things can help keep you happy, healthy, and sane too. And let us know in the comments what you've been doing to stave off cabin fever. Home workouts and sweatpants I already lead a pretty isolated life. For the past year-plus, I have been working from home and living in a quiet town in Maine. Because the winter is especially cold and dark here, I've left the house even less in the past few months. Just when I could see the spring light at the end of the winter tunnel, we entered this new reality of social distancing. While I am not happy about it, I do feel well-prepared given my WFH experience.

    By Engadget Read More

  • Best Buy, GameStop limit stores to curbside pickup

    Two of the better-known tech retailers in the US have temporarily dropped in-store shopping in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 22nd, Best Buy and GameStop have limited shoppers to delivery and curbside pickup. At Best Buy, you'll get "enhanced curbside service" where you can not only pick up online orders, but ask store staff to fetch and sell products if you couldn't order them online. Delivery is still an option, although Best Buy has paused in-home installation and repair and will only drop off products at your door. You can still get in-home consultations during this scaled-back period, but you'll be limited to virtual help for now.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • After Math: We're not ready for the new normal

    We're in uncharted waters here, folks. The new reality that we're collectively facing really began to sink in this past week as ever-greater numbers of Americans have been told to practice social isolation and stay away from public gatherings as much as possible. Here are some of the headlines from the past week that I, for one, never thought this outlet would ever write.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • New York orders Craigslist to remove ads for fake COVID-19 treatments

    It's no secret that coronavirus-related scams are flourishing (the FCC put out a guide to avoiding them), and New York is now applying legal pressure to stop them. State Attorney General Letitia James has ordered Craigslist to "immediately remove" ads that either sell fake COVID-19 treatments or engage in price gouging on items like hand sanitizer. James also asked Craigslist to outline all its "proactive efforts" to spot and clamp down on these ads.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Engadget Podcast: Can telehealth save us?

    On this week's episode, Cherlynn and Devindra explore the rise of telehealth during the global coronavirus pandemic. With Medicare expanding coverage to include telehealth, as well as the attention around Verily's efforts to launch a screening site, the industry is gaining momentum. This outbreak could make telehealth mainstream, and we need to understand its limits and challenges so that proper legislation can be drawn up in a timely manner. It's not all serious conversation; our hosts also dive into the gaming hardware news from this week, as well as fun recommendations on how to retain your sanity in these trying times. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Medicare expands US telehealth coverage in response to COVID-19 Ro aims to bring its online COVID-19 screenings to all of the US this week Senators ask Alphabet how it will protect COVID-19 screening site data WhatsApp debuts coronavirus fact-checking hub Microsoft unveils a ton of Xbox Series X hardware details PlayStation 5 will feature a 10.2-teraflop GPU and a speedy custom SSD Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Public interest group tells medical equipment makers to release their repair manuals

    Addressing concerns that the US lacks sufficient ventilators to effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemic is, fundamentally, all about right to repair. That's the argument put forward by Nathan Proctor, head of the Right to Repair campaign at the US Public Interest Research Group. He says that a lack of devices can, and will, be exacerbated when hardware begins to break down with no easy options to fix them. In a statement, he calls for device manufacturers to release all repair documentation for essential medical kit.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • The Morning After: PS5 specs plus MacBook Air and iPad Pro updates

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. After a lull, new hardware announcements are creeping back in. Sony followed up on Microsoft's Xbox Series X spec reveal with its own numbers-heavy rundown for the PS5. With GDC canceled it came off as a pretty dry spectacle -- I'm not sure why the company teased the stream yesterday. For those looking to scrutinize teraflops and other vital statistics, though, it was everything they'd need. Hours earlier, Apple revealed a new iPad Pro with a 3D-sensing camera and a companion keyboard accessory that adds a trackpad, too. It also had a new MacBook Air with its own much-improved keyboard, while keeping it just under the $1,000 mark. Note there were no splashy press events or gatherings, however. It's a time of digital briefings on teleconference software, where most won't get to touch a device -- at least not immediately. It makes for drier meetings, but that's the new reality for the time being. -- Mat

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • NYSE will temporarily move to all-electronic stock trading

    If you thought it was incredibly risky to have legions of traders gather at the New York Stock Exchange in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, you're not the only one. Intercontinental Exchange is temporarily closing the physical NYSE floors in New York and San Francisco on March 23rd in favor of all-electronic trading. Business and regulatory oversight will carry on during the usual hours -- traders just won't get to use "open-outcry" (that is, the classic yelling) to buy or sell shares.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Bandcamp will waive its fees to help musicians affected by coronavirus

    Tours and concerts are being cancelled left and right due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is taking a toll on musicians who rely on income from live shows to pay the bills -- most artists only take home about 10% of their record sales, so the majority of their revenue has to come from ticket sales and merchandise. To give bands and artists a small boost in sales, Bandcamp is waiving its commission fees on Friday, March 20th. Hopefully this will help musicians weather the storm while venues across the country are closed.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Oman lifts restrictions on secure video chats

    In an effort to help businesses and schools function remotely, Oman is lifting restrictions on some video calling services. Its Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) tweeted that it will allow Skype for Business, Google Meet and Zoom, so that organizations can better communicate "during this exceptional period."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Medicare expands US telehealth coverage in response to COVID-19

    In an effort to keep seniors at home during the coronavirus outbreak, Medicare is expanding coverage for telehealth nationwide. Medicare patients can now connect with doctors and other providers through phone or video. This should allow millions of older adults to seek medical advice without potentially exposing themselves or others to the virus.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Health experts explain how we should be cleaning our gadgets

    The coronavirus has disrupted our lives in ways both large and small. Multiple organizations have cancelled conferences and events, and various municipalities have instructed residents to practice social distancing and to stay home whenever possible. If there was any kind of upside it's that we're all suddenly a lot more conscious of personal hygiene. Health authorities have advised the public to practice good sanitation practices, such as washing hands with soap, refraining from touching our face and coughing into our elbows. Another way to maintain good hygiene? Keeping our gadgets clean.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Ro aims to bring its online COVID-19 screenings to all of the US this week

    If you feel sick and think you might have contracted the COVID-19 virus, one thing you shouldn't do is walk into a clinic without calling ahead. There's a chance of putting healthcare workers and other patients at risk, not to mention yourself if the visit is unnecessary and unplanned. An intermediary online step could help you decide if you need to be tested, though. Ro -- better known for its erectile dysfunction medication program Roman -- set up a system earlier this month that connects patients with physicians to decide on if and how they should be tested. A Ro representative says that the company hopes to make the service available to everyone in the US by the end of the week.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Airbnb expands cancellation policy to cover stays affected by coronavirus

    More than a few travel plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, and Airbnb is acknowledging that with a broader cancellation policy. The service is expanding its worldwide Extenuating Circumstances coverage to allow no-penalty cancellations for stays and Experiences made on or before March 14th, with check-in dates between March 14th and April 14th. This won't cover mainland China, where normal business is expected to resume on April 1st.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • After Math: How COVID-19 is already clobbering 2020

    Welp, we had a good run, America. While every other developed nation on the planet scrambles to defend itself against the deadly spread of COVID-19, the US had to be dragged into fielding a response. This year everything is cancelled. Schools have been shuttered, universities have migrated to online classes, and group gatherings larger than a couple hundred people are being postponed. Major league sports might be back sometime next year, workers are being asked to work from home and engage in social distancing to help slow the coronavirus' spread. Oh, you think it's a hoax? Then how do you explain all of this week's headlines about the coronavirus?

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Hitting the Books: Disney's influence on America's first stealth planes

    Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Canon confirms that its 8K EOS R5 camera is not 'a fantasy'

    I had no reason to doubt that Canon's upcoming EOS R5 camera would feature 8K video and up to 20 fps shooting speeds, but apparently some folks were skeptical. That's why the company has issued an unusual press release in Australia that aims to "shut down speculation that some of its revolutionary specifications are 'a fantasy,'" it wrote. Canon also revealed a few more details about how the autofocus and 8K video will work.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • We need to talk about sex, tech and COVID-19

    For the horny and lonely, sex and dating continues during the coronavirus pandemic. While Big Tech sticks its head in the sand, forcing its users to adapt, the sex industry leverages tech to show us how to play safe.

    By Violet Blue Read More

  • Engadget Podcast: Coronavirus and our remote work future

    Well, we're officially living through a global pandemic, folks. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about how coronavirus is pushing many companies towards remote work and better employee support. (It's just too bad it took a widespread illness to make those things happen.) Will this be the norm moving forward for white-collar jobs? And for a change of pace, they chat about the tech world's war on bezels and the state of software in folding phones. Be sure to stay tuned for some quarantine viewing recommendations too! Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links 'It's Just Everywhere Already': How Delays in Testing Set Back the U.S. Coronavirus Response How Taiwan and Singapore Have Contained the Coronavirus Foldable phones are the future, but their software is stuck in the present Why the tech world is waging war on bezels Dyson's Corrale is a $500 straightening iron with over-engineered plates Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • NCAA cancels March Madness over coronavirus pandemic

    The NCAA will not crown a basketball champion this year. Just one day after it said it would restrict attendance at upcoming Division 1 men's and women's basketball tournaments, the NCAA has officially cancelled those events, as well as all of its remaining winter and spring championships.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Elektron's Model:Samples groovebox gets improved pitch control

    Elektron has made a name for itself making complex and expensive electronic music gear, but over the last year or so it's made a serious bid for the entry-level market -- consumers that are keen to have a tinker around a newbie-friendly instrument rather than professional musicians. Its Model:Samples -- which launched for $449, but is now only $299 -- was designed to simplify Elektron's unique workflow for beginners, and now it's been given an update to give it even beefier features.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Magic Leap is reportedly trying to find a buyer

    Following poor sales with its first augmented reality (AR) headset, Magic Leap is seeking a buyer for at least part of its business, according to Bloomberg. The company has reportedly already spoken with Facebook and Johnson & Johnson and insiders said it could fetch up to $10 billion in a sale. It would also consider a strategic partnership or other deal ahead of a potential listing.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • NCAA March Madness games will be played without fans

    Precautions for the coronavirus outbreak are about to radically affect how many people watch college sports. The NCAA is responding to the risks of COVID-19 by restricting attendance at championship events, including Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, to "essential staff" and "limited" family members. You'll have to watch matches either online or on TV, no matter how much of a fan you might be.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • EU plans to introduce sweeping 'right to repair' legislation for electronics

    As part of its newly announced Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission, the body that drafts the EU's laws, says it will introduce right to repair legislation that will push electronics manufacturers to create products that last longer, include as many recycled materials as possible and are easier to reuse, repair and recycle.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Sharp sues Vizio over display tech in 70-inch TVs

    Sharp, the Japanese electronics company behind the world's largest 8K LCD TV, is suing Vizio and two other companies over alleged patent infringement. Sharp claims that the companies infringed 12 patents related to panel technologies, like liquid crystal displays (LCD). In particular, Sharp says one of Vizio's 70-inch TVs is an offender. Sharp is seeking an injunction, as well as compensation for lost profits and the use of its technology.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Why the tech world is waging war on bezels

    Our screens have always been defined, at least in part, by their frames. Early TVs had tiny 10-inch screens, housed in enormous cases that looked more like furniture than anything you'd recognize as a modern television. But those borders slowly disappeared over time as CRT sets got smaller and flat panels eventually took over. Today, the tech industry is practically waging a war against bezels. The less border around your screens, the better -- every millimeter separating the display and the real world is an affront to good design.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • SoulCycle's $2,500 home-fitness bike is almost ready for pre-order

    There is plenty of high-tech home-fitness equipment on the market -- like Peloton bikes and treadmills, the Echelon rowing machine and Mirror. But if you've been holding out for the official SoulCycle bicycle, the wait is almost over. Beginning March 13th, select markets can pre-order SoulCycle's at-home bike and training programs.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Coronavirus home testing kits are coming to Seattle

    It might soon be much easier and safer to determine if someone has been infected by the novel coronavirus. The team behind a Gates Foundation-backed project told the Seattle Times that it's preparing to deliver home testing kits for the virus to Seattle (where the infection rate has been relatively high) within the "coming weeks." Potential patients swab their noses and send the samples back to a lab for study, with results ready in one to two days. If someone is infected, they can fill out an online questionnaire to determine their contact and travel habits in case officials need to notify anyone else that they might have the virus.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • After Math: Anything worth doing is worth overdoing

    2020 is shaping up to be the year without conventions. Google I/O, Facebook F8, GDC, OMG, and MWC have already been called off, with exhibitors jumping ship from SXSW by the handful and Computex and E3 likely next on the chopping block. But these are not days for half measures, as this week's headlines illustrate.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Ring's next Video Doorbell will show what happened before an alert

    You don't have to wonder how Ring will build on the Video Doorbell 2 -- the company has already spoiled its plans in advance. Zatz Not Funny spotted a briefly available product page (you're looking at the cached version) for a Video Doorbell 3 series that promises a few noteworthy upgrades. If you get the higher-end Plus model, you'll get a "Pre-Roll" feature that shows four seconds of video from before a motion alert -- it'll be in black and white, but still helpful if you want to identify a would-be burglar or rambunctious animal. While the concept isn't completely novel (Arlo's Foresight does the same), Ring's model will supposedly be the first battery-powered doorbell to ship with the feature.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Philips Hue is ending support for the first-gen Bridge on April 30th

    The first-gen Philips Hue Bridge, which was released back in 2012, will lose access to the system's online services on April 30th. Signify, the company that used to be known as Philips Lighting, has also mentioned in a tweet that Bridge version 1 won't be getting any more software updates after that day. In other words, Signify will no longer support the device by May, though you can still control the Bridge locally via the dedicated app for it.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Stanford moves classes online to deal with coronavirus outbreak

    Online education is about to get a major (if short) field test. Stanford University is moving the last two weeks of winter quarter classes online "to the extent feasible" to reduce the chances of COVID-19 spreading on campus. There will be no classes in person starting March 9th, the school said. To help with the abrupt transition, the university will both provide "further guidance and tools" and encourage professors to cancel classes outright on March 9th if they need time to adapt their remaining classes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Austin cancels SXSW over coronavirus fears

    During a news conference on Friday afternoon, Austin city officials announced that they have declared a local disaster and canceled this year's SXSW festival. The show is being called off over infection fears regarding the growing coronavirus outbreak.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Podcast: Coronavirus hits tech and a chat with Cosmos's Ann Druyan

    This week on the Engadget Podcast, we dive into the many ways the coronavirus is affecting the tech industry, all the while remembering to wash our hands and not touch our faces. It's not quite a pandemic yet, but there's some hope on the horizon, now that social media companies like Facebook are actually trying to fight coronavirus disinformation. And for something completely different, Devindra chats with Ann Druyan (starting at 26:59), the co-creator of Cosmos, on the show's incredible new season. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Facebook will run free WHO ads to counter coronavirus misinformation Fake cures and other coronavirus conspiracy theories are flooding WhatsApp, leaving governments and users with a 'sense of panic' Pandemic film Contagion becomes one of iTunes' most-watched movies TCL's concept device folds twice to fit a 10-inch screen in your pocket Does the Xbox Series X make gaming PCs obsolete? Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • The Morning After: Sonos stops using 'recycle mode' to brick old devices

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. James Bond movies have an... interesting dynamic when it comes to product placement. In recent times, there have been fewer Aston Martins and Rolexes. There was that awkward Virgin Atlantic flight (oh, hi Richard Branson), the Heinekens and the weird glut of Sony devices; in recent years, it has been a Sony Pictures co-production. That is, until now. With the delayed-due-to-coronavirus No Time to Die (the most millenial of Bond movie titles) there's a new partner, which means new money-making opportunities. And here comes Nokia. Well, here comes Nokia phone owner HMD. It was Bond's mobile brand of choice a few decades ago -- Daniel Craig used a Nokia 8800 in 2006's Casino Royale. Now Nokia's are, apparently, back, even if James isn't brandishing one, yet. A forthcoming Nokia ad will include Lashana Lynch's character, 00 agent Nomi, completing a mission with the help of the company's as-yet unannounced 5G flagship phone. It doesn't quite have the gravitas of Bond, however, but I'll withhold judgment until I see the ad. Sony once offered millions to Craig to pose with its latest phone ahead of the release of Spectre, a few years ago. That didn't happen. According to a leaked email, Craig wasn't on board, apparently noting that: "James Bond only uses the 'best...' the Sony phone is not the 'best.'" How much does HMD have to spend on marketing? -- Mat

    By Engadget Read More

  • Coronavirus panic could spell the end for tech conventions

    You know the scene: A man in a crisp suit stands on a dark, sterile stage at the head of a packed auditorium, surrounded by sleek screens. It's the year 2045 or 2060 or 3000, and the presenter delivers a sanctimonious speech about progress and humanity before revealing a product that will change the world. The audience goes wild. They get free, instant access to whatever piece of technology was just announced. And then, predictably, that gadget contributes to society's ultimate undoing. It's a common scene in modern sci-fi dramas, but for a story set in the future, it's dead wrong. Big, in-person tech conferences may be a staple of the industry today, but as global internet infrastructure takes root and live streams become ubiquitous, these shows will fall by the wayside. They'll become a symbol of a past era, that time when society was awkwardly transitioning from physical interactions to digital experiences.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Kinnos' disinfectant dye gets backing to keep killing germs

    Back in 2014, a trio of Columbia University students realized that doctors tackling the ebola crisis were at risk. Disinfecting their hazmat suits wasn't working properly, because it was impossible to tell if the gear had been properly cleaned. Their solution? A blue dye that lets you see where you've cleaned to make sure you don't miss any spots. Now, six years later, that dye could be coming to hospitals across the US to help ensure everything stays clean.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Internet-connected bunny Nabaztag is back for a second crowdfunding campaign

    Violet, the developer behind Nabaztag, resurrected the adorable internet-connected bunny last year with the help of a crowdfunding campaign. Now, Violet is appealing to those who can't resist cute robots yet again to raise funds for a new batch of the TagTagTag board -- a custom board that breathes new life into its interactive creation that was first released in 2005 if paired with a Raspberry Pi. It gives the robot access to new services, such as weather, local speech recognition and ear-based Tai Chi.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The gadgets that refuse to die

    I have a drawer in my bedroom that's filled with defunct tech. It consists of old PDAs, bricked smartwatches and wearables that no longer work. Like many of you, I've realized that gadgets don't last forever. As Engadget Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar recently pointed out, every smart device you love will probably die, whether it's because the device can't be updated anymore, or the company goes out of business -- this is the reality of modern electronics.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Bipartisan bill would make e-commerce platforms liable for counterfeit goods

    Amazon and other e-commerce platforms have a huge fake-goods problem, but courts previously decided that they weren't liable for counterfeit products third-parties sold on their websites. A group of bipartisan lawmakers wants to change that. The group has introduced a bill called the Shop Safe Act of 2020, which would create trademark liability for companies selling counterfeits from China and other countries that pose a risk to consumer health and safety -- counterfeit goods like drugs, medical equipment, baby formula, chargers, car seats and airbags.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Sacramento Kings guests can use 'smart' bottles to pour their own drinks

    The Sacramento Kings are fond of using technology as a hook to fill seats, but their latest may be particularly alluring if you're in the position to score premium tickets. The basketball team is using connected bottle tops from NINA that let you pour your own alcohol in a suite or loft. You only have to open a tab, choose what you want to drink and pour until you get the quantity you paid for. This might let you focus more on the game than asking a bartender for more libations.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Nintendo (24)

  • 'The Outer Worlds' will land on Nintendo Switch on June 5th

    Almost two months after it was delayed, The Outer Worlds has a new Switch release date. It'll arrive on Nintendo's console on June 5th. It was originally scheduled to arrive on Nintendo's console earlier this month, but it was put on hold after the coronavirus outbreak affected Virtuous, the developer which was handling the port.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • The Morning After: Are classic Mario games coming to the Switch in 2020?

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. For streaming services and games companies, we're all a captive audience at the moment. For Disney+, the newest challenger, it's an opportunity. With lots of kids at home, an almost infinite run of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars content will save the sanity of many parents. Games, too, are suddenly appearing in stores, in rumors or at your front door as companies try to capitalize on all this stay-at-home time. For Final Fantasy VII Remake, it's a matter of getting the game to those who preordered it by the launch date, with the coronavirus affecting distribution. For Nintendo, well, it's still at the rumor stage, but releasing decades worth of Super Mario games for the Switch sounds like a very, very good idea to me. -- Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Engadget Podcast: How games (and Animal Crossing!) are keeping us sane

    This week on the show, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into the deserted island life of Animal Crossing and how games can help us all survive being stuck at home. Also, Senior Editor Jessica Conditt describes how Doom Eternal -- a literal romp through hell on Earth -- serves a similarly relaxing roll for her. And producer Ben Ellman nerds out about Cities Skylines. Don't ever say we don't have varied tastes. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the island escape we all need today Doom Eternal is guns, gore and sophistication Cherlynn on Overcooked 2 Half-Life: Alyx is the flagship VR game we've been waiting for Half-Life: Alyx is proof Valve answers to no one Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Guest: Jessica Conditt Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • 'Burnout Paradise Remastered' is coming to Switch later this year

    Two years after its debut on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Burnout Paradise Remastered is making its way to Nintendo Switch. The company announced the port, among many other upcoming games, during a surprise Direct Mini presentation today. Like the 2018 release, the Switch version will bundle together the original game and its eight main expansion packs, including the "Big Surf Island" DLC that expands the game world.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Panzer Dragoon: Remake' is one of many surprise Switch releases today

    Between Burnout Paradise, multiple games from publisher 2K and a remaster of Xenoblade Chronicles, Nintendo Switch fans have a lot to look forward to between now and the end of the year. But if you're the impatient sort, there are also new games you can play today, including the remake of a little-known Sega Saturn gem called Panzer Dragoon. Yes, Panzer Dragoon: Remake is available to download today on Nintendo Switch.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition' hits the Switch on May 29th

    A spruced up version of Xenoblade Chronicles will soon be available on the Switch. We already knew that the Monolith-developed JRPG, which was originally released for the Wii in 2010, was coming to Nintendo's portable-console hybrid this year. In today's surprise Nintendo Direct Mini, though, we got a firm release date for the port: May 29th. The publisher has promised updated graphics, an improved menu system and battle interface, and more than 90 remastered tunes from the soundtrack. If you've played the game before, Nintendo hopes a new epilogue called Future Connected will tempt you to run through the main story once more. Xenoblade Chronicles, if you need a refresher, is a continuation of the 'Xeno' series that started with Xenogears back in 1998. If you haven't played those games before, though, fear not: Chronicles is a fresh starting point (you can think of it as a spiritual successor, rather than a true sequel to Xenogears and Xenosaga) that's perfect for newcomers. The game was praised back in 2010 for its beautiful world -- which is located on the remains of two giant robots -- rewarding battle system and litany of side quests and collectibles. It was enough to spawn a 3DS port and a Wii U sequel called Xenoblade Chronicles X (which was also very good) in 2015. A numbered sequel was then released for the Switch in December 2017.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • 'Ring Fit Adventure' update adds Mario and Zelda songs to work out to

    Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure is a great way to keep fit while you're stuck indoors, and the company has added even more to the title. Today, the company announced that it was pushing an update to the game to bolster both the gameplay and the music choices. That includes a new rhythm game mode that'll let you move to the beat of a dozen tracks from Ring Fit Adventure. In addition, music from Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2 and Breath of the Wild will be available for you to bop to.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Borderlands, BioShock and XCOM are headed to the Switch

    As part of today's surprise Nintendo Direct Mini (which packed in way more news than anything "Mini" should reasonably offer), it emerged several big 2K Games franchises are coming to Switch. All three BioShock games -- BioShock Remastered, BioShock 2 Remastered and BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition -- will hit the console May 29th, along with BioShock: The Collection, which bundles the titles into a neat package.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • WCW's Nintendo 64 legacy lives again, in mod form

    Growing up, my friends and I were obsessed with Nintendo 64 wrestling games. That was all thanks to THQ, the AKI Corporation, and their AKI Engine. The AKI Engine made playing as your favorite on-screen personality simple yet refined, introducing a grappling system that allowed you to perform moves a heck of a lot easier than the Mortal Kombat-level button input-system other games used. Each wrestler had individual specials, taunts, and submission moves that reminded you of who they were supposed to represent, and lent itself to a variety of gameplay tactics depending on who you chose.

    By Ian Levenstein Read More

  • Nintendo gets cute with its upcoming indie lineup

    If you're looking for something to take your mind off the current state of the world, the latest slate of indie games coming to the Nintendo Switch might just do the trick. As part of its recent Indie World Showcase, the gaming giant detailed more than a dozen forthcoming indie titles. And while we knew about a lot of them before today's presentation, most now have release windows -- with many of them coming to the Nintendo Switch first before any other platforms. We've highlighted some of the more notable ones below.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Exit the Gungeon' lands on Nintendo Switch today

    Apple Arcade exclusives have been a bit of a sticking point for people who don't have an iOS device or don't want to subscribe to the service. It was especially annoying for fans of Enter the Gungeon, a bullet hell dungeon crawler that made a real splash on PC and consoles a few years ago. The spinoff, Exit the Gungeon, was only on Apple Arcade when it was released last fall. However, that exclusivity is ending a bit earlier than expected as Nintendo announced during its latest Indie World Showcase that the title would be hitting the Nintendo Switch... today.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Nintendo Switch online services went down worldwide

    We hope you weren't planning to play a few multiplayer rounds of Mario Kart or Splatoon while staying at home to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Nintendo's Switch online services went down around the world for hours, with the company's status page still saying as of this writing that it's "unable to connect to the network service." We've asked Nintendo for comment and will let you know if it has more to share, although it seemed like at least some services might be back based on our tests.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Nintendo prevails in lawsuit over Switch console and JoyCon design

    After two and a half years of back-and-forth, a patent battle around the Nintendo Switch's design has ended in a win for the Japanese gaming company. In 2017, Gamevice filed suit against Nintendo, claiming that the Switch was too similar to its gaming tablet and that Nintendo's JoyCons were a ripoff of its snap-on tablet and smartphone controllers. Gamevice even tried to stop Nintendo from importing Switch units to the United States in 2018. All that effort didn't pay off, though.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • The Morning After: Meet Lego Super Mario

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Just in case you were wondering how necessary ISP's bandwidth limits are, Comcast and AT&T have found some wiggle room in response to the outbreak of coronavirus. AT&T told Motherboard it is suspending broadband usage caps for now, as children, college students and adults are all suddenly spending some extra time at home. For its part, Comcast is boosting broadband speeds for low-income Internet Essentials customers, which is an important first step. Canceling caps like AT&T or expanding them beyond current outdated limits could be a great second step -- especially if other ISPs do the same. And then keep the changes in place after the crisis is over, as step three. Just a thought. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp' gets a 'New Horizons' crossover event

    Nintendo is determined to build up hype for Animal Crossing: New Horizons ahead of its March 20th debut, and that includes bringing a taste of the game to the modern Animal Crossing game you can already play. It just kicked off a New Horizons crossover event in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp that gives you a feel for the Switch game's island setting. You can compete in Tom Nook's fishing tourney to get rewards for your campsite, catch "critters" from New Horizons and adorn your place with island-themed cosmetics.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Lego's new sets put 'Super Mario Maker' in the real world

    Lego and Nintendo feel like a perfect match. The pair's first official partnership is more than a basic licensed set, though. The aptly-named Lego Super Mario will come with a chunky version of the plumber -- one that's larger than a standard Lego minifigure -- with a couple of switches on his back and some digital displays that represent his eyes, mouth, and a chest area just above his blue overalls. You'll then be able to build and play through classic levels from the Mushroom Kingdom that feature Goombas, Piranha Plants and question blocks. Somehow, Mario will know what they are and react accordingly when you mock-jump and stomp on them.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Nintendo offers a rare discount on select Mario games

    It's rare to see first-party Nintendo games go on sale. But thanks to Mario Day (otherwise known as Mar10 in honor of the moustachioed plumber), you can get several of the company's recent releases at a decent discount. With multiple retailers taking part in the event, you have some choice when it comes to where to pick the games up. As you'll see below, we've mostly linked to the eShop and Amazon, but you can also take advantage of the deals below at Gamestop, Target and Walmart.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Former Nintendo exec Reggie Fils-Aimé joins GameStop's board

    GameStop thinks it has a way to turn around its struggling business: give a video game industry legend a say in the company's future. The retailer has appointed three new people to its board of directors, most notably including former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé. He'll take his position on April 20th, while the other two (former Walmart US president Bill Simon and PetSmart chief J.K. Symncyk) are taking their board seats immediately.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: The Nintendo PlayStation prototype sold for $360k

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. The word for the week is "canceled." As additional cases of the new coronavirus continue to pop up, companies and event planners took steps to try and avoid creating environments where it might spread rapidly. On Friday evening the city of Austin declared a local disaster and called off the 2020 SXSW festival, making it just the latest on the list. Other companies scaled back on travel and encouraged employees to work from home, while some delivery firms like Instacart and Postmates unveiled new no-contact options. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • The first 'Luigi's Mansion 3' multiplayer DLC pack is now available

    Late last year, Nintendo announced that it's releasing two DLCs for Luigi's Mansion 3, which will add multiplayer features to the action-adventure game. It promised to release the first of the two by April 30th, 2020, but it looks like you don't have to wait that long to start enjoying what it can offer. The first Luigi's Mansion 3 multiplayer pack is now available for download -- you can purchase it along with the second pack that's coming out by July 31st from Nintendo for $10.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Analogue's metal NES returns as a $499 special edition

    If you're kicking yourself for missing out on Analogue's metallic NES on steroids, the Nt Mini, you're in luck -- provided you have the cash. Analogue has opened pre-orders for the Nt Mini Noir Edition, a final run of the console that comes in a gunmetal finish with gold-hued ports, a refined NES cartridge slot, an updated 8BitDo wireless controller and a refreshed user interface. Throw in existing Nt Mini touches like HDMI out and this might be the ultimate way to play NES (and Famicom) games without resorting to emulators.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Mario Kart Tour' multiplayer goes live on March 8th

    As soon as Mario Kart Tour brought Nintendo's racing game to Androids and iPhones last fall, one of the major complaints was its lack of multiplayer. Firing shells or dropping banana peels to disrupt your friends is most of the appeal, and now everyone will be able to do it. On March 8th at 11 PM ET the game will officially launch multiplayer, after testing it out across a couple of beta periods. According to Nintendo, races will have rules that change daily to mix up the action in Standard and Gold races while the featured cup rotates every 15 minutes. Otherwise, you can setup custom races with friends or nearby players, although those won't impact progress on a grade that ranks you against other Mario Kart Tour players from around the world. We'll see if that's enough to overcome its free-to-play payment wrinkles and keep folks in the action. You can try out the free to play racer now (or just give it another chance once multiplayer is available) via Google's Play Store or the Apple App Store.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

PC Gaming (26)

  • How Valve brought Half-Life to VR

    It's hard to believe that a new Half-Life game is actually here. Half-Life: Alyx is everything I've ever wanted from a flagship VR game. It takes full advantage of the immersiveness of virtual reality, and while it might not be the sequel many gamers have been waiting for, it's still an important move for Valve. It's not treating VR like a special mode bolted on top of another game, like Resident Evil 7 or Fallout 4. After years of investing in the medium, Valve has proved it's possible to make a lengthy, big-budget title that will actually get gamers excited and maybe even convince them to buy pricey headsets en masse.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Accidental cross-play makes Star Wars 'Jedi Academy' a console bloodbath

    The classic 2003 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy game recently arrived on PS4 and Switch, but console users excited to try it have encountered a formidable enemy. PC players have figured out how to cross-play on consoles, so they're invading online multiplayer games and slaughtering their hapless Jedi opponents.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Steam limits game auto-updates to manage peak demand

    Console makers aren't the only ones managing game service bandwidth to keep traffic flowing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Valve is scaling back game auto-updates in Steam to "spread out" the load and prevent its servers from buckling under the strain. As of this week, only games you've played in the past three days will get immediate updates. Everything else will be updated over the course of "several more days." You can still manually start updates and schedule update windows, of course, but Steam won't be in a rush to keep all your games current.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Riot's competitive hero shooter 'Valorant' enters closed beta next week

    If you've been patiently waiting for a chance to play Riot's new competitive first-person shooter, you won't have to wait much longer to see what the League of Legends studio has been working on in secret all these years. The Valorant closed beta starts on April 7th in the US, Canada, Europe, Turkey and Russia, with expanded availability to come in the months leading up to the game's official launch sometime this summer.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • NVIDIA adds 'Control' and other games to GeForce Now

    NVIDIA's GeForce Now has expanded its list of supported games with a bunch of new titles, starting with Remedy Entertainment's and 505 Games' action-adventure title Control. The supernatural action game supports graphics cards with ray tracing, which enables realistic lighting effects. Android Central notes, though, that it may look still inferior to the Xbox One version, because its video quality is capped at 1080p.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Flight Simulator' developers explain its 'shared world' multiplayer

    Last year we got some hands-on time with a pre-alpha build of the next Flight Simulator game in Microsoft's long-running series. While that gave a peek at the game's photorealistic environment and inclusion of information like piped-in live flight traffic and weather data, Windows Central points out a seven-minute video the developers just posted that goes into the game's multiplayer features. The main mode is a shared world where everyone playing Flight Simulator can potentially see everyone else, relying on Azure servers to provide enough capacity. That includes people flying in the real world, with "most" air traffic accounted for, along with AI that will take over if information from the real plane is lost for a moment.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Apple Arcade standout ‘Assemble With Care’ is now on Steam

    If you're looking for new games to play while you stay at home amid the pandemic, you may be in luck. Today, two Apple Arcade exclusives hit other platforms. As promised, Assemble With Care, one of our favorite Apple Arcade games, is now available for PC. And Capcom's Shinsekai Into the Depths arrived on Switch.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • The first 'Half-Life: Alyx' update makes it easier to turn

    Now that people -- who have the proper VR-ready gaming setup -- can actually play Half-Life: Alyx, it's inevitably time to ask for more features and tweaks. While our reviewer Devindra Hardawar preferred using teleportation-style movement through the game to avoid motion sickness, players who used its immersive "smooth locomotion" mode that lets you glide the world guided by the analog stick complained about its turning.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'World of Warcraft' keeps players indoors with a 100 percent XP bonus

    If the world of Azeroth has been the place you've turned to find some time away from all the news about the coronavirus pandemic, Blizzard has something that should make your stay more productive. From now until April 20th, your World of Warcraft character will receive a bonus called "Winds of Wisdom," which will increase the amount of experience they gain by 100 percent. The buff is available to Battle for Azeroth, Legion and Starter Edition players -- alas, no love for those of us grinding it out in World of Warcraft Classic.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Ray tracing comes to more games thanks to new software tools

    You haven't seen much ray tracing in games due in part to the limited frameworks for it. Outside of Microsoft's DirectX, creators have usually had to lean on proprietary approaches. Soon, though, it might be relatively ubiquitous. The Khronos Group has released "provisional" ray tracing extensions for Vulkan, the open graphics standard effectively replacing OpenGL on multiple platforms. You should see sophisticated reflections, fewer light artifacts and otherwise more natural-looking lighting in titles that support the technology.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Half-Life: Alyx' is proof Valve answers to no one

    Valve is like an eccentric billionaire uncle who isn't allowed to babysit any kids in the family. He lives alone in a mountaintop mansion stocked with exotic animals, vintage pinball machines, water slides and homemade potato guns, and strange sounds flow into the valley below at all hours of the night. He disappears for months at a time and returns with suitcases full of loose candy and unmarked pills. It's not that this uncle has ever hurt anyone or done anything illegal -- it's simply clear that really, he could do anything. Valve can do anything. It's unknown just how much money the studio pulls in each year, since it's a private entity and doesn't have to publicly disclose its finances, but estimates of its annual revenue begin at $4 billion. Valve founder Gabe Newell is personally worth $3.5 billion, according to Forbes. The company's main money fountain is Steam, which has been the top PC-gaming platform for more than a decade, with 1 billion registered accounts and an average of 90 million monthly active users.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Steam Game Festival lets you play indies that would've been at GDC

    With industry events like the Game Developers Conference cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Valve is stepping in to help small, independent game developers get the word out about their upcoming projects. Starting today, the company will highlight more than 40 new and unreleased indies as part of the Steam Game Festival: Spring Edition.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Every HTC Vive Cosmos Elite will come with a copy of 'Half-Life: Alyx'

    If you're waiting to take delivery of the new VIVE Cosmos Elite which ships today, you're in for a heck of a surprise. HTC has announced that the new headset will come with a free copy of Valve's hotly-anticipated VR exclusive Half-Life: Alyx. You'll receive a redemption code in-box that will unlock the game when it launches on March 23rd.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Half-Life: Alyx' will launch on Monday at 1 PM ET

    After years of waiting, a new Half-Life game is almost here. While everything else is getting canceled or rescheduled, the release of Half-Life: Alyx will happen on March 23rd. Valve tweeted tonight that the game will go live at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. For gamers whose PCs are properly prepared, it will be available for preloading via Steam starting on Friday.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Overwatch League cancels all homestand matches through April

    Activision Blizzard has cancelled some Overwatch League matches before in response to the coronavirus outbreak, but now it's taking no chances. The league has cancelled all Overwatch League homestand games for March and April. The cancellations won't affect other league events, but there's no question this will be disruptive to the Overwatch esports scene.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • How Riot Games' new team plans to curb trolling before it begins

    Riot Games doesn't use the word "toxic." "Toxicity means different things to different people," Riot's head of Player Dynamics Weszt Hart said. "What's trash talk to one person is totally inappropriate to someone else, which makes it really hard to proactively design a solution. 'Toxic' is so subjective, we failed to see how it was blinding us to the possibilities."

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Epic Games Store now lets you add titles to a wishlist

    Epic Games is finally giving you the ability to save games to a wishlist. The company has added "the first version of wishlists" to the Epic Games Store, which usually gets a lot of flak for being too basic compared to Steam. By adding the feature, the platform is slowly playing catch up -- to save a title, simply find the heart button at the bottom right of a game's page and then click it. Like any other wishlist feature out there, it'll give you an easy way to track price changes and sales for the titles you've been keeping an eye on.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Horizon Zero Dawn' arrives on PC this summer

    It turns out the reports were accurate: Sony will release Horizon Zero Dawn on PC. Herman Hulst, the company's recently promoted head of worldwide studios, confirmed the news in an interview with the PlayStation Blog. While Hulst didn't share an exact release date, he did say the game will make its way to PC this summer, with Guerrilla Games, the game's developer, sharing more details "pretty soon."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Command & Conquer Remastered Collection' arrives on June 5th

    Real-time strategy fans won't have to wait much longer to pit the GDI and Brotherhood of Nod against one another in 4K. EA will release Command & Conquer Remastered Collection on Steam and Origin on June 5th. The collection includes both Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert, as well as Covert Ops, Counterstrike and The Aftermath, their three expansion packs.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • NVIDIA GeForce Now loses support for 'Borderlands,' 'Civ' and other 2K games

    NVIDIA is dropping even more titles from GeForce Now's shrinking selection of games. In a post on the company's forum, a staff member has revealed that NVIDIA will start removing 2K games from the streaming service today. 2K's most popular franchises include Borderlands, Civilization, BioShock and XCOM. The staff members didn't elaborate on the situation, only telling forum posters that the games' removal was "per publisher request" and that the company is working with 2K to "re-enable [its] games in the future."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Steam's personalized news hub keeps you updated about your games

    Steam's front page can keep you abreast of the latest store-wide happenings and community recommendations. But if you want to read the latest about the games you have and games you're keeping an eye on, Valve's Steam News Hub is the place to check out. The personalized mobile-friendly hub highlights live events that are currently happening, such as live streams with developers or any new content added to your games. You can even choose to get email or mobile reminders for those events, so you get right to them if you want.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'The Division 2' hits Stadia with PC cross-play on March 17th

    Back in June 2019, Google and Ubisoft announced that The Division 2 would come to Stadia. It's been nine months, but the game will finally launch on Google's game streaming service on March 17th. The open world squad-based game was one of the bigger hits of last year, garnering lots of positive reviews and plenty of players teaming up online. For those who already have the PC version of the game, the Stadia version will allow for cross-save functionality. More importantly, it will feature cross-play with PC gamers. This is important because of the relatively low adoption rates of Stadia. If few people are playing an online co-op game, there won't be many gamers to team up with.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Halo: Combat Evolved' remaster is now available for PC

    It took a while, but the remastered version of the original Halo has finally reached PCs. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is now available as part of the Master Chief Collection through Steam, the Microsoft Store and the Xbox Game Pass PC beta. It boasts the requisite visual tune-ups, including support for 4K and ultra-wide displays, but also throws in modern creature comforts like text chat, customizable key layouts and a 3D model view for customizing your Spartan. You can even flip between classic and Anniversary audio in multiplayer matches, depending on how nostalgic you're feeling.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Half Life: Alyx' gameplay videos showcase gravity gloves and more

    With just a couple of short weeks before Half-Life: Alyx comes out on March 23rd, Valve has shared three new trailers from the upcoming game. If the game's first trailer left you wanting more, these provide a more in-depth look at Alyx's setting and gameplay without spoiling any of its story beats.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Death Stranding' comes to PC on June 2nd

    Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima's latest videogame turn movie opus, will arrive on Steam and the Epic Games Store on June 2nd. According to Kojima Productions and 505 Games, the PC version will feature a new photo mode, as well as support for ultrawide monitors and high frames rates. Most intriguingly of all, however, it will include "content" from Valve's seminal first-person shooter, Half-Life.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Riot's five-on-five hero shooter is officially called 'Valorant'

    Riot's foray into the highly-competitive first-person shooter genre finally has a name: Valorant. The eight-letter word isn't too surprising given it leaked with a bunch of other details last week. Still, it beats the 'Project A' codename that we've all been forced to use since the title was announced last October. A teaser video and the official Valorant site confirm that the online-focused five-on-five shooter will launch sometime this summer.

    By Nick Summers Read More

PlayStation (18)

  • Remastered 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2' is available now on PS4

    As expected, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is now available on PlayStation 4. If you own a Sony console, you can download the game today for $20. PC and Xbox One owners can pre-order the remaster today but will have to wait until April 30th before they're able to start working their way through Modern Warfare 2's single-player campaign.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Google's 'Tilt Brush' virtual painting app comes to PlayStation VR

    Google's Tilt Brush painting app is conquering one of its few remaining frontiers: consoles. The search giant has teamed up with Outerloop Games to release the 3D creative tool for PlayStation VR. To no one's surprise, it's the familiar experience, just in your living room. It turns your PlayStation Move controllers into virtual brushes you can use to create immersive masterpieces.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Sony will limit PlayStation download speeds in the US

    Earlier this week, both Sony and Microsoft announced that they would follow the lead of many streaming companies and limit the bandwidth of their gaming services in Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic. Today, Sony updated PlayStation fans, saying that it will take similar measures in the US. By capping download speeds, the company hopes to maintain network stability as more and more people resort to gaming to pass the time while social distancing. Sony says gamers should expect slower game downloads, but assures them that they will experience the same robust gameplay as normal. In other words, it sounds like Sony isn't planning on throttling traffic for online games -- just file downloads.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Below' arrives on PS4 on April 7th with an easier exploration mode

    While we knew it was coming to PlayStation 4 this spring, we now have an exact release date for Below. The one-time Xbox One exclusive will launch on Sony's console on April 7th. And when it arrives on PS4, Below will include a new optional "explore" mode that addresses some of the difficulty issues that stopped the game from finding a bigger audience when it first came out.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • ‘Dreams’ player forced to remove his fan-made Mario assets

    Sony's long-awaited Dreams arrived earlier this year, a LittleBigPlanet-esque wonderland in which players can build almost any kind of world they can imagine -- but only if it doesn't infringe on copyright, apparently. According to Dreams content creator @Piece_of_Craft, "a big video game company" has come after him for his use of Nintendo's Super Mario character on the platform.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Sony says the 'overwhelming majority' of PS4 titles will work on PS5

    When Sony offered a deep dive into the PlayStation 5's specs this week, it wasn't crystal clear about backwards compatibility for PS4 games. In an updated blog post about the upcoming console's architecture, it clarified that most PS4 games should work on it. "With all of the amazing games in PS4's catalog, we've devoted significant efforts to enable our fans to play their favorites on PS5," it wrote. "We believe that the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles will be playable on PS5."

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Watch Sony's PS5 deep dive in under 10 minutes

    Today Sony revealed a ton of information and specs about the upcoming PlayStation 5. Everything from its speedy SSD, details on the clock speed of its CPU and GPU and plans for 3D audio are now revealed. If you tuned in for the hour-long livestream then you've probably heard everything, but if you'd prefer to cut out any filler or just get a quick replay then we have the solution. Besides a rundown of known PS5 specs compared to the Xbox Series X, we have this ten minute video that brings just the parts you need from Sony's presentation. It's the fastest way to get caught up on how Sony's next box will "shape the future of games."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • PlayStation 5 will feature a 10.2-teraflop GPU and a speedy custom SSD

    It's been almost a year since Sony started talking about the PlayStation 5 in an uncharacteristically revealing Wired interview. We learned the next-generation console will be powered by AMD's third-generation Ryzen CPU and a custom Radeon Navi GPU. Additionally, it'll support hardware-accelerated ray-tracing and feature speedy SSD storage. But beyond confirming the name "PlayStation 5" and announcing a familiar-looking logo, Sony hasn't given us many specific details about the console -- certainly not as many as Microsoft has around the Xbox Series X, which on paper has similar hardware.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Watch Sony's PlayStation 5 'deep dive' right here at 12PM ET

    At last, Sony is ready to divulge some more PlayStation 5 details. The company has been rather hush-hush since lead architect Mark Cerny revealed some basic specs and system features in a Wired interview last year. Sony has divulged the console's name, release window and logo, sure, but there's still so much that we don't know. Well, we should find out a little more in a video that kicks off today at 9AM PT/12PM ET. It will be hosted by Cerny and offer "a deep dive into PS5's system architecture, and how it will shape the future of games," Sony explained in a tweet. Excited? So are we. For all the juicy tidbits, be sure to watch the livestream below.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Sony will reveal more PlayStation 5 details in a livestream tomorrow

    It's time. In a tweet, Sony announced that it will be hosting a livestream tomorrow about the PlayStation 5. The broadcast will start on the PlayStation blog at 9AM PT (12PM ET/4PM GMT) and be hosted by Mark Cerny, the console's lead system architect and director of both Knack games. According to Sony, the presentation will provide "a deep dive into PS5's system architecture, and how it will shape the future of games."

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • 'Dreams' creators can apply to sell their work beyond the PS4

    The PS4 title Dreams is a surprisingly powerful creative tool for both hobbyist game creators and artists, and Media Molecule wants to ensure at least some of those people are rewarded for their talent. The studio has launched a beta evaluation program that will let creators sell their work "off PlayStation" -- say, to produce a music video or poster. You own the rights to your original creations in Dreams, Media Molecule said, and the company wants to "make it easier" for you to profit from that work.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • PS4 exclusive 'Ghost of Tsushima' arrives on June 26th

    One of the PS4's last hurrahs now has a release date. Sucker Punch has announced that its samurai adventure Ghost of Tsushima will come to the PS4 on June 26th, or right at the start of summer. Accordingly, the Infamous studio has posted a story trailer (below) shedding light on how the hero, Jin Sakai, becomes the unrelenting "ghost" warrior you play in the game. While Jin's uncle stressed fighting in the honorable way of the samurai, Jin realizes that's not enough as Mongol invaders threaten to overwhelm the island of Tsushima. The Mongol leader, Khotun Khan, is both ruthless and exploits knowledge of the samurai to gain the upper hand.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Sony's PlayStation 2 turns 20

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Even 20 years after PlayStation 2 launched in Japan, everyone probably has their PS2 story. For me, it includes the first time someone set the system up in our dorm room to play Ridge Racer or Madden NFL 2001, but as a dedicated Sega fan, I stuck with my Dreamcast for Sega Rally and the 2K sports games. All that fanboy dedication disappeared a couple of years later, though, when five minutes with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City convinced me this was a system I needed to own. For Kris Naudus, the PS2's most memorable feature is how it made DVDs mainstream -- and I can remember The Matrix spending as much time in my system as anything else. Since the PS2 debuted four years before this website appeared, we never gave it an official review. To fill the gap, we asked Engadget readers to contribute memories of their own system, which include the places they tucked its slim frame and the game franchises that still stand out today. Take a minute to flip through the reader reviews or contribute some memories your own as we prepare for the dawn of a new PS5/Xbox Series X console era in just a few months. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • The PlayStation 2 turns 20 and our readers have feelings

    The PlayStation 2 came out in Japan 20 years ago today, with Sony selling 155 million units over a lifespan of almost 13 years. It's actually the best-selling console of all time, which means it's likely quite a few of you owned one and have strong feelings about it. Which is great, because the PS2 was released four years before Engadget even existed — we celebrated our 16th birthday this week — and we never gave Sony's second console generation the full review treatment. While you can check out my thoughts on the PlayStation 2 as a DVD player, for a deeper dive we're turning to the user reviews left on our PS2 product page. Between its long lifespan and impressive library of games, you had some interesting things to say.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • My favorite PlayStation 2 game was DVDs

    The PlayStation 2 was the first game console I ever bought. Heck, it was the first big ticket item I ever bought, period. That was a big deal at a time when I was only making $135 a week, and most of that cash was going toward college costs: tuition, textbooks and transportation. So I had to save up for months, while also finding a way to justify the high cost to myself (and my skeptical mother). The PS2 had one trump card in its deck, one thing that I could point at and say, "Look, it's not just a game machine, I didn't waste my money on such a single-use luxury!" It could play DVDs. It was in fact, my first DVD player.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Play the first chapter of 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' now

    It's not long until the highly-anticipated remake of Final Fantasy VII launches, and while we may have picked up advance access -- you can make your own mind up. Yes, Square Enix has launched the first chapter of Final Fantasy VII Remake as a demo, playable starting today.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • So far, 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' is not a disaster

    This Final Fantasy VII remake could have gone really wrong. There is my weight of expectation (I adored the original) and the awkward between-console-generation launch timing. Square Enix has also changed the core fight mechanics to (mostly) real-time combat, not the menu-centric, take-your-turn battling found in the original. It's probably the biggest of countless changes made to a game that first came out in 1997. With little over a month to go, Square Enix offered me access to several chapters of this remake. I played through the first two, coming straight off the back of the intro movie, controlling protagonist Cloud and, later, Barret. (Watch my entire Chapter 1 playthrough below.) The preview demo then skipped ahead to a later chapter, with brawler Tifa added to the party. I could also access a bunch of new skills, weapons and spells. To cap it off and presumably offer some fan service to Aerith die-hards, I also fought one more boss battle in the sewers, with a party of Cloud, Tifa and Aerith. These were all signature points in the early part of the original game, and they gave Square Enix a good chance to show how FF7R changes things up. In case you haven't played the original, this preview aims to be spoiler-free. You can ask me questions on Twitter, though and I'll answer what I can there.

    By Mat Smith Read More

Reviews (30)

  • 'Persona 5 Royal' taps into the joy of replaying your favorite game

    Persona 5 was a vibrant, subversive RPG with a relatively traditional turn-based battle system, memorable characters, a plot twist or two and hundreds of persona (monsters) to fuse, fight and discover. Persona 5 Royal keeps all of that but adds a third school term to play through. It also introduces one entirely new character, Kasumi Yoshizawa, to fight with and the return of a divisive former ally. P5R's additional story kicks off right after the ending of the original game -- so after your team of outcast teens have saved the world and killed a god. It includes a new palace (the distorted 'metaverse' world where the turn-based battles take place), a new cliched antagonist and enough touches to make it feel like Persona 5, the anime movie sequel. (Yes, I'm aware there's an anime series already.) Given the current situation, it's the perfect time to replay a game you loved -- and I adored Persona 5.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Apple MacBook Air review (2020): A return to form

    For the first time in years, Apple has a sub-$1,000 MacBook. Technically, anyway. The new and improved MacBook Air starts at $999, a drop from its old $1,099 base price. Notably, Apple also doubled the entry-level storage from 128GB to 256 gigabytes. Most important of all, though, Apple fixed the keyboard, porting over the same new scissor-style design the company first debuted on last year's 16-inch MacBook Pro. This marks a return to form for the Air, a machine that, until now, we were hesitant to recommend over the similarly priced entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro. But with a lower price, more generous specs and a functional, even pleasant, typing experience, the Air might once again be the MacBook for most people.

    By Dana Wollman Read More

  • The Morning After: Powerbeats (2020) review

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. As many of us close out another week in isolation, the urge for social contact is growing. Karissa Bell has some advice on hosting movie and game night from a safe distance thanks to the internet and tools like Netflix Party. If you need to shake up your situation this weekend, then take a look right here. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • How well did the Xperia 1’s super tall screen work for users?

    When our reviewer Chris Velazco took a look at Sony's oddly proportioned flagship last summer, his reaction was mixed, to say the least. It looked weird, but was comfortable to hold. The 4K screen was beautiful, but unnecessary on a smartphone, especially one with such a small battery. Ultimately, Chris declared the phone impractical for everyday use.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Powerbeats review: Better workout earbuds at a better price

    The Powerbeats Pro are some of the best true wireless earbuds I tested last year. They sound much better than any previous Beats in-ear option before and they're loaded with handy features. However, the sound isn't perfect and the over-ear hook design isn't for everyone. Now the company has redesigned the "regular" Powerbeats ($149.95), bringing almost all of what makes the Pro version so good to its other wireless model. Plus, they're $50 cheaper than the Powerbeats 3, which makes them even more attractive.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • The Morning After: Reviewing the iPad Pro (2020)

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. I spent the last few days talking with Huawei, listening to Huawei and (briefly) playing with its new flagship P40 Pro phone. If you've been following the company's progress over recent years, you'll know it really hit its groove making aggressively high-specced smartphones with incredible cameras and imaging tricks. But hopes of becoming the de facto Android phone maker (and kicking Samsung aside) were crushed when the US government took aim at Huawei, and Google had to stop providing Android services (as you know 'em) for Huawei devices. The P40 is its first P series phone since that bombshell, and it doesn't have the Google Play app store, Chrome or Google Maps. Making things worse, Huawei's app store is still severely lacking, despite huge teams of software engineers and an outreach program to the biggest app developers both globally and in specific countries. So, what do I think of the P40? It feels like a Galaxy phone, to be honest, all curves and sloping sides. It comes with a 5X optical zoom, backed by a huge imaging sensor that would be more at home in a compact camera than a phone. The specs are to die for, but the reality of using it is a dull one. I'll be carrying around the P40 for a little longer -- even if there's really not many places to go at this moment in time. Hey, at least Nintendo is ensuring there's no shortage of games for me to play. -- Mat

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Apple iPad Pro 12.9 review: The rest is yet to come

    The message is clear: The 2020 iPad Pro doesn't act the way your computer does, but it's just as capable. The company has spent years pushing that message in one form or another, and every time I heard someone invoke it, the notion sort of fell flat for me. Yes, iPads are powerful and clever and user-friendly, but — and tell me if this sounds familiar — I've always been able to get more done, and faster, on a proper laptop or PC. Apple sees that, and it's starting to change it.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Tell us if the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is worth buying

    The Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is nearing the ripe old age of two soon, but it's still one of our favorite fitness devices to recommend. Reviewer Cherlynn Low complemented its battery life and ability to lock-on to GPS fairly quickly, which is essential for accurately tracking a jog. However, the 645 Music's biggest drawback was actually its marquee feature, the music player. The watch often struggled to connect via Bluetooth and had limited app compatibility. At the time we couldn't recommend it for the price. However, there have been a few sales since it came out, making the watch a much better buy.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • iFixit's MacBook Air teardown confirms 0.5mm thicker keyboard

    If you've been lucky enough to get your hands on the new MacBook Air, you know that the keyboard really is excellent. Thanks to the scissor mechanism, which replaced the hated butterfly keyboard, the keys are noticeably cushier, with more travel. iFixit took a closer look at those keys in its latest teardown and reports that the height difference is about 0.5 millimeters.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Fujifilm X100V review: The best compact street photography camera

    Over the last year, Fujifilm has toppled its APS-C rival Sony with some of the best mirrorless cameras out there, including the X-T3 and X-Pro3. Now, it's focusing on its ultra-popular compact street photography series with the launch of the X100V. Fuijfilm is throwing all its latest tech at this model, adding a new higher-resolution 26.1-megapixel sensor and faster X-Processor 4 borrowed from the X-Pro3. It also comes with a new sharper lens, an updated hybrid OLED EVF and a higher-resolution tilting rear display. It even has solid video specs, borrowing many 4K features from the compact mirrorless X-T30. In short, it's a complete technological overhaul. Combined with Fujifilm's street photography savoir faire and a very high price tag, I'm expecting a lot from the X100V. Now, does it deliver?

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • The Morning After: 'Half-Life: Alyx' is exactly what we've been waiting for

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Greetings from the corner of my apartment. Like a lot of you, the four corners around me are going to be my world for the foreseeable future. It's not great, but some companies are making it a little less bad: Many phone carriers have tacked on additional data (or increased speeds) at a time when we're streaming and consuming the web more than ever. Meanwhile, Apple is offering free e-books and audiobooks to its US customers, and if you're looking for peace of mind rather than distraction, Amazon is delivering at-home COVID-19 testing kits as part of a Gates Foundation-backed trial in Seattle. Today's newsletter has several suggestions of what you can do when it feels a little like you can't do anything, from workout upgrades to new hobbies. -- Mat

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Half-Life: Alyx' is the flagship VR game we've been waiting for

    Half-Life: Alyx is a Half-Life game through and through. While it might not be the long-awaited "Episode 3," it's not just a trifling VR side-story either. It carries on Half-Life's tradition of pushing PC gaming forward -- this time, by focusing entirely on virtual reality and all of the narrative and gameplay opportunities it provides. And it effectively revives the series after an excruciating 13-year hiatus. In many ways, Half-Life: Alyx is the flagship single-player experience that the VR industry needs right now.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • The Morning After: First impressions of the new MacBook Air

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. In a week where very few things felt normal, sitting down with a new laptop is one of the most regular things that happened. Our review of Apple's new MacBook Air won't be ready until next week, but even just a few hours is enough time for Editor-in-Chief Dana Wollman to have some opinions about its upgraded new keyboard. Give that a read right here, check out the latest Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 trailer to see if its new CG-style works and then check out other highlights from this week below. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Apple MacBook Air (2020) first look: Buy it for the keyboard

    Hello from the new MacBook Air. Allow me to answer your first question up front: Yes, the new keyboard is excellent. There's only one problem with it: I've already greased the keys with residue from the peanut butter sandwich I was eating. Work-from-home life, y'all!

    By Dana Wollman Read More

  • Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review: Pricey and impressive

    Sennheiser debuted its first true wireless earbuds in 2019. And while the Momentum True Wireless had that stellar sound profile the company is known for, there were a number of things that made them frustrating to use. Now the company is back with the Momentum True Wireless 2 ($299.95). It added active noise cancellation (ANC) and improved battery life, but the earbuds are still just as pricey.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Is the Pixel 3a your ideal budget phone?

    As much as we loved the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, we were let down by their hardware, especially given how much they cost. Which is why the Pixel 3a and 3a XL were such a breath of fresh air: They offered the same great software features and excellent camera, but at half the price. They even had bigger batteries and a headphone jack!

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20+ review: Smaller is better

    Samsung was more ambitious than usual this year, launching the souped-up S20 Ultra alongside a more conventional pair of flagships. The Ultra, though, is an impressive but impractical device. Most people should clearly consider something more sensible, like the "regular" S20s. The S20 and S20 Plus have the same smooth displays and 5G support as their larger sibling as well as cameras that aren't as excessive. That's fine, because they're not as expensive either. At $1,000 and $1,200, respectively, the S20 and S20+ are at least in the same ballpark as other flagships.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ is the island escape we all need today

    How do you review something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons? It's not like most games: There's no plot, no leveling up and no bosses. You can never beat Animal Crossing -- and, conversely, you can't lose. Instead, you play a bit every day, shaping your adorable house and village into the most idyllic environment possible. That's a template the series has honed since its Nintendo 64 debut, and with New Horizons on the Switch, which lands on March 20th, it's evolved into a truly meditative and relaxing escape from reality. And honestly, that's just what we need today, as our society reshapes itself around the specter of a global pandemic.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Users tell us what keeps the XPS 15 from being the perfect laptop

    Dell's XPS 13 has long been one of our favorite laptops here at Engadget, but its bigger 15-inch sibling isn't too far behind in the rankings. In reviewing last year's model, Cherlynn Low was pleased by its gorgeous display, the improved keyboard travel and the laptop's powerful Core i9 processor. She was also happy to see the webcam was moved to the top of the screen, after previously sitting at the bottom with a good view up her nose during video calls.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Of all the smart speakers, what made you choose the Echo Show 5?

    If you're in the market for a smart display, you have a lot of choices right now. If you need something small that works great as a bedside timekeeper, the Lenovo Smart Clock is ideal. For the kitchen, something bigger like an Echo Show 8 or Nest Hub Max will do. And somewhere in the middle is the Echo Show 5, a connected display that's big enough for watching videos but not so big that it takes up too much space on your kitchen counter. At $90 with a 5-inch screen, this Alexa device really hits a sweet spot.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 true wireless earbuds review

    If it ain't broke, make small tweaks to improve it anyway. That's not quite how the old saying goes, but that's the approach Bang & Olufsen took with its third-generation E8 true wireless earbuds ($350). The best aspects of last year's E8 2.0 are back alongside small improvements to size and battery life. Despite great sound and handy features, there's one glaring omission. And at this price, I expect all bases covered.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Dyson's Corrale is a $500 straightening iron with over-engineered plates

    Following the success of the Supersonic hair dryer and Airwrap curler, Dyson is ready to unveil its latest hair-styling device. The company is leveraging its experience in heating and cooling home appliances to make beauty gadgets that can style your tresses with less heat, therefore promising to be less damaging overall. The Corrale is Dyson's new cordless straightening iron, and it's supposed to provide "all the same styling with half the damage" of a conventional straightener. It's also the first Dyson beauty product to not use the company's air multiplier technology.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Apple’s iPad and Keyboard Folio is all I need

    I owe you, dear readers, an explanation. After the launch of the seventh-generation iPad, I got mad at Apple charging $160 for the accompanying keyboard folio. For a slate designed for school kids, I thought it was outrageous to charge that much to make a $329 tablet useful. It made no sense morally, or economically, to start gouging folks who may not be in the position to spend more. Then I bought one.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra is surprisingly sturdy

    If you're going to drop $1,400 on a top-of-the-line smartphone like the Galaxy S20 Ultra, you'd expect it to be tough enough to survive the abuses of daily life, wouldn't you? Thankfully, that appears to be the case. Both JerryRigEverything (aka Zack Nelson) and PhoneBuff have conducted durability tests for the S20 Ultra that suggest that it can handle a lot of abuse... though not all of it. JRE noted that the Gorilla Glass 6 screen doesn't scratch until level 6 on the Mohs scale (don't even worry about your fingernails) and was extremely resistant to bending. You might not want to leave it unprotected alongside your house keys, but this is much tougher than the fragile Galaxy Z Flip.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • ‘Cosmos: Possible Worlds’ finds hope for humanity in a hopeless era

    In a time where it's easy to feel a bit concerned about the fate of civilization -- take your pick of calamities, really -- National Geographic's Cosmos is like a hope-filled salve. Developed by Ann Druyan, the co-creator of the original show together with her husband Carl Sagan, and hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos: Possible Worlds is an exploration of humanity, our past, present and our potential future. The 1980 series redefined how complex topics could be communicated on TV. And with Possible Worlds, Druyan and her co-writer, Star Trek alum Brannon Braga, recapture that magic. But, it's delivered with a new sense of urgency for our turbulent era, which is fueled by climate change and political instability.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Oppo's Find X2 Pro is a huge, high-spec phone to rival the Galaxy S20 Ultra

    Even though Oppo isn't as well-known in the US, chances are you might have come across one of its recent tech demos. This is the brand that brought us the pop-up camera wedge, periscope-based 10x hybrid zoom, under-screen camera, waterfall screen and 65W fast charging, among other things. But when it comes to design, it was the company's Find X which first stood out with its super minimalistic appearance, courtesy of its hidden cameras. It was definitely a one-of-a-kind smartphone. So naturally, phone nerds such as myself have high expectations for its successor, the Find X2 Pro, which is pitched as an "all-round 5G flagship."

    By Richard Lai Read More

  • TCL's concept device folds twice to fit a 10-inch screen in your pocket

    It's no surprise that 2020 continues to be the year of foldables. We've already seen the Motorola Razr and Galaxy Z Flip go on sale, and TCL is ready to wow us with more. But don't get too excited. It's only showing us concept devices, not products it actually plans on launching (yet). The company has unveiled two prototypes -- the results of its experiments to see what's possible with flexible screens. One of these is what TCL calls its tri-fold tablet concept, which is a screen that folds twice to create three panels. The more interesting of the pair is what the company says is the "world's first rollable extendable display smartphone concept."

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Bang & Olufsen's Beosound Balance is a $2,250 statement speaker

    Bang & Olufsen is back with another stylish speaker for deep-pocketed audiophiles. The Beosound Balance, which sits somewhere between the Besound 2 and disc-shaped Beosound Edge, has been conceived with a London design agency called Layer. It's split into two parts: a cylindrical base and larger bucket-shaped upper, that work in tandem to fill your room with hopefully-great sound. "Together, these two elemental forms create a sculptural object," Layer explained in a press release, "like a plinth supporting an artwork or vase that disrupts the monoblock format of most speakers." We'll let you decide if it looks like a museum exhibit or not.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Galaxy S20 Ultra teardown shows what's inside that giant camera bump

    Samsung has made much ado of the Galaxy S20 Ultra's enormous camera array, but just what's in there that requires a conspicuous hump on the back of the phone? You don't have to wonder. iFixit has posted a teardown of the range-topping beast, and it's clear Samsung really didn't have much choice. The 108-megapixel primary camera by itself is huge -- the sensor covers twice the surface area of the 12-megapixel unit in the iPhone 11 series. The periscope-like zoom camera, meanwhile, needs a lot of space for its unusual lateral design, including optical image stabilization just for the prism.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Fuser' is 'Rock Band' and 'DropMix' without the expensive clutter

    10 years ago you'd be forgiven for calling Harmonix "the Rock Band guys," because there was a three-year span where that's all the developer produced. And for the past few years Harmonix has gone all in on VR, with titles like Audica and uh, Rock Band VR. There was one notable diversion in that time, a card-based mobile game called DropMix where you mixed up musical tracks using NFC-enabled cards. But that never really took off. However, the mechanics introduced in it do live in again in Harmonix's upcoming multiplatform game, Fuser.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

Robotics (6)

  • The Morning After: Weightlifting with a robotic exosuit

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. When the International Olympic Committee decided to make the right call and postpone the Tokyo Olympics, I was disappointed. I was writing a story about Panasonic's robotic exosuits that were going to be assisting Tokyo visitors and Paralympic athletes this summer. I had hoped to report on all the major tech showcases that Japan had planned, too. (Like a broken record, yes, I used to live there and, sure, wanted to visit again.) Whether it was self-driving transport, robotics or 8K broadcast, it was going to be a quintessentially tech Olympics. It still will be, I'm sure, just in 2021. -- Mat

    By Engadget Read More

  • Engineers test a powered 'ankle exoskeleton' to make running easier

    Ankle exoskeletons could help you run longer and faster and even serve as a new mode of transportation, according to a team of Stanford University engineers. The engineers tested a motorized exoskeleton rig that attaches around the ankle and foot and found that it made running 15 percent easier. They explained that when the exoskeleton's motor is switched on, it reduces the energy cost of running and allows the user to run longer than they're usually capable of. The device can also boost a runner's speed by as much as 10 percent.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Lifting weights in a Panasonic exosuit destined for the Tokyo Olympics

    Exosuits, exoskeletons and power-assist suits are mostly a thing of science fiction, used for battling alien menaces or lifting extremely heavy obstacles. Mostly. Now companies like Panasonic are making the case for actually using one. The reality is less about batting away threats and more about supporting workers with physically demanding or repetitive jobs and tasks. That was why Panasonic's Atoun Model Y was meant to go to the Tokyo Olympics, right?

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Robot learns to set the dinner table by watching humans

    To date, teaching a robot to perform a task has usually involved either direct coding, trial-and-error tests or handholding the machine. Soon, though, you might just have to perform that task like you would any other day. MIT scientists have developed a system, Planning with Uncertain Specifications (PUnS), that helps bots learn complicated tasks when they'd otherwise stumble, such as setting the dinner table. Instead of the usual method where the robot receives rewards for performing the right actions, PUnS has the bot hold "beliefs" over a variety of specifications and use a language (linear temporal logic) that lets it reason about what it has to do right now and in the future.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Japan's life-size 18m Gundam statue can move (a little)

    Besides Fila apparel capsules, the 40th anniversary of Gundam is also being celebrated with a life-size, moving statue. While it won't go on display for the public until later this year in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, a recent media tour visited the Gundam Factory and saw the latest version of the project. There they saw the internal frame of the Gundam under construction and it... moved as if it could make a step. It's pretty far from the real-live mecha action we'd like to see, but still impressive, and only possible by using materials to shave tons from its weight, and replacing hydraulic actuators with electrical ones. It's far more action than the 30th anniversary statue saw before its parts were scattered across an artificial island, or even the impressive 2017 model.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Drones can navigate like bats using four mics and a speaker

    Bats can find their way in the dark using echolocation, so why can't drones? Researchers have managed just that. They've developed a system that lets a drone navigate using just four microphones and a speaker. It relies on the familiar concept of measuring distance by generating echoes, but uses an algorithm based on communicative algebra that 'echosorts' to determine which distances represent given objects. It won't produce "ghost walls" that leave the drone afraid to move.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Samsung (5)

  • Samsung's display business will stop producing LCD screens this year

    Samsung Display will stop producing liquid crystal display (LCD) panels in China and South Korea at the end of the year in order to concentrate on the new generation of "quantum dot" (QD) screens, Reuters reports. Any LCD orders made before the end of the year will still be fulfilled. Samsung made its plans for QD tech known last year, when it announced its $11 billion investment into a plant capable of manufacturing true QLED TV screens that self-illuminate. Traditionally, Samsung's quantum dot LCD tech puts LED backlights behind a filter (so the display doesn't match up to the likes of say, LG's OLED TVs), but research at the end of 2019 helped mitigate some development problems, such as burn-in. Samsung's forthcoming QD tech instead relies on indium phosphide instead of toxic cadmium, and has a lifetime of up to a million hours. The multi-billion dollar investment will take place over five years and will see Samsung convert one of its existing South Korean LCD lines into a facility to mass produce these screens. Falling demand for LCD products and a manufacturing supply glut means Samsung is obviously looking for new avenues, so for the company to essentially do away with a tried-and-tested technology and go all-in on another suggests that QD screens are very likely to feature in our viewing futures.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Samsung's 4K OLED Chromebook arrives on April 6th for $999

    When Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook arrived at CES 2020 with a beautiful body and 13.3-inch 4K OLED display, we were smitten. Now, it's finally set to arrive at Best Buy in the US on April 6th starting at $999 (in Fiesta Red or Mercury Gray), according to a Best Buy listing and The Verge. (Update: Samsung confirms it will be available at Best Buy and on Samsung.com.)

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Samsung rolls out camera fix for Galaxy S20 Ultra in the US

    Early Galaxy S20 Ultra owners have complained about camera issues like a pokey autofocus on the 108MP main sensor, but it looks like relief is in sight. Samsung tells Engadget it has started the US rollout of a software update that improves a number of features for the Galaxy S20 family, most notably the "camera systems." The company wasn't specific about just what the fixes entailed, but SamMobile and others have noticed significantly improved focusing speed. You shouldn't end up with quite so many out-of-focus shots.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Samsung shuts down its PC-to-mobile game streaming on March 27th

    We hope you weren't counting on Samsung's PlayGalaxy Link to play your PC games on your phone. Samsung has quietly announced (so quietly that most didn't notice the news in late February) that it's shutting down the game streaming service on March 27th. The Korean tech giant didn't explain why besides "internal policy changes," but it hoped the closure would let it "more effectively focus its resources" toward new products.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Samsung unveils its latest 4K and 8K QLED TVs for the US

    Samsung's 4K and 8K TV launch is one of the more controversial in years, because Samsung appears to be saving high-end features for the much more costly 8K models. We first saw signs of it in January at CES 2020, when Samsung failed to show off any mainstream 4K sets, while displaying a plethora of 8K models. The company has now effectively confirmed that situation with the US launch of its new lineup.

    By Steve Dent Read More

Science (12)

  • Lab-in-a-box test can detect COVID-19 in 5 minutes

    The FDA has scrambled to allow numerous COVID-19 tests in a bid to control the pandemic, but one of the latest may represent a big step forward in technology fighting the disease. Abbott has received emergency use authorization for a variant of its toaster-sized ID NOW lab-in-a-box that can provide positive results in as soon as five minutes, and all-clear results in 13 minutes. On top of this, it's one of the few tests of its kind that can be used outside of a hospital, such as at a clinic.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The psychological impact of COVID-19 isolation, as explained by scientists

    America was already in the depths of a public health crisis when the coronavirus outbreak hit: one of social isolation and loneliness. Cigna's 2020 Loneliness Index notes that three in five Americans report a persistent sense of loneliness, a seven point jump from the previous 2018 study. Young people, ages 18 - 22 and men were most likely to report feelings of isolation with heavy social media users "significantly more likely to feel alone, isolated, left out and without companionship." Now, as broad swaths of America hunkers down for the foreseeable future to wait out the COVID-19 pandemic, our online social media usage is set to spike. But will our feelings of despondency and loneliness do so as well?

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Lasers and smart pills could eventually replace injections

    While getting shots or blood work isn't anyone's idea of fun, roughly 10 to 20 percent of American adults suffer from trypanophobia, the extreme fear of hypodermic needles and injections. This phobia can prevent people from partaking in routine medical exams, receiving life-saving vaccines or even properly managing their blood-glucose levels (should they suffer from diabetes). However, a pair of novel injection systems offers the promise of putting those critical medicines into our bodies without ever breaking the skin.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Recommended Reading: Dead Sea Scroll fragments in DC are fakes

    Exclusive: 'Dead Sea Scrolls' at the Museum of the Bible are all forgeries Michael Greshko National Geographic When the Museum of the Bible opened in Washington, DC in 2017, it funded a research project that examined pieces of what was thought to be Dead Sea Scroll fragments. In 2018, the museum announced that all five sections under review were most likely forged. After a more thorough physical and chemical investigation that began in 2019, researchers have filed a 200-page report with the findings: "These fragments were manipulated with the intent to deceive."

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Tracking down unexpected sources of light pollution

    Light pollution is the bane of stargazers, which is why you need to get out of the city to make the best use of your telescope. However, even in the middle of nowhere, your observations might still be disrupted by stray light sources. That prompted a budding astronomer, Alex Altair, to investigate exactly what was producing US light pollution in places with nary a city or town in sight.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Using Lego therapy for autism

    There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affects one out of every 59 children in the United States. One of its most common effects is difficulty with social interaction and everything it entails, like living independently and holding down a job. Children on the spectrum may avoid eye contact, have difficulty reading people's emotions via nonverbal signals and struggle to express their own emotions verbally.

    By Kevin Wong Read More

  • A fleet of sensor-packed balloons will hit the stratosphere this summer

    World View wants to occupy the sky. Its sensor-packed balloons sit in the stratosphere, taking in data and imaging the ground. The company completed test flights to tweak flight and navigation issues, and is now ready for its balloons to operate in the stratosphere on a long-term basis. A preliminary fleet of Stratolites -- equipped with various sensors -- will be released over North and Central America this summer, helping scientists, meteorologists and governments to gather data that is more accurate than that of typical satellites.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • The case for making tiny nuclear reactors

    In the US, the electricity powering your home was probably generated by burning natural gas, a fossil fuel. As coal becomes unfeasible, renewables work toward scale and nuclear is benched, gas remains the go-to for power companies. Industry analysts talk about gas as the "bridge," the fuel we can burn now to buy us time to develop our carbon-free future.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Scientists develop neuroprosthetic tech that amputees don't need to learn

    For those working in the field of neuroprosthetics, the ultimate goal is to give amputees with artificial limbs natural, intuitive and real-time movement. Indeed, advances in the field have led to mind-controlled systems and even those that create kinaesthetic feedback, but so far such technologies require a great deal of learning and practice by the amputee. Now, however, scientists from the University of Michigan have developed a neuroprosthetic technology that restores intuitive movement to amputees from the get-go -- no learning required.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • NASA maps show the effect of a quarantine on air pollution

    "This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event," said NASA air quality researcher Fei Liu. She made that statement after NASA's Earth Observatory released maps showing a dramatic drop in air pollution in the Wuhan region. Industrial output in the region would have already been down significantly due to the Lunar New Year. However, a government quarantine designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 made pollution drop much more significantly and for a longer period.

    By Steve Dent Read More

Smartphones (38)

  • OnePlus will reveal its new phones on April 14th

    OnePlus hasn't been able to keep a lid on its 8 series phones -- numerous details and photos have leaked over the past week. According to the spec sheets, the company has put most of its focus on the Pro model, which will feature wireless charging and an IP68 water-resistance rating -- features that have been noticeably absent from OnePlus' premium devices. We'll see if these rumors pan out on April 14th, when the company livestreams an event detailing the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. Ahead of the unveiling, OnePlus is touting its new 120Hz screens, which could be a big jump in quality compared to older 90Hz ones, as well as its commitment to 5G connectivity.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Planet Computers' Astro Slide is a smartphone and PDA in one

    Planet Computers is continuing to build very unique physical keyboard smartphones with the launch of its latest flagship, the crowdfunded Astro Slide. It's a phone with surprisingly robust specs, but the key trick is that it can be used either as a standard 6.53-inch touchscreen smartphone or as a PDA, thanks to the "RockUp" slide hinge mechansm.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Xiaomi's Mi 10 Lite offers 5G for €349

    For the most part, taking advantage of new 5G networks has meant buying some of the most expensive phones available on the market. With its latest phone, the €349 Mi 10 Lite 5G, Xiaomi hopes to change that.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Watch Huawei's P40 unveiling in just 12 minutes

    Earlier today Huawei showed off its new P40 family of phones, which come packed with enough new tech that they're still interesting without a path to market in the US or Google's apps. The P40 Pro+ packs in a ridiculous 10x optical zoom capability with its super periscope telephoto lens. There's also a new smart speaker with some impressive audio capabilities to take advantage of the Celia voice assistant that will launch in an update later this year, as well as fresh updates for its smartwatches. The GT 2 Watch is available in more colors, while its sporty Watch GT 2e promises two weeks of battery life, and up to 24 hours of music playback. There's even smart eyewear with built-in speakers to listen to music or take phonecalls. All of the information including release windows and pricing is in the video, which you can watch right here.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • OnePlus 8 Pro will reportedly include wireless charging and waterproofing

    Despite their value proposition, OnePlus phones have long had two significant flaws: to date, they've never included an official water-resistance rating or support for wireless charging. As the cost of the company's devices has increased with each subsequent release, that's something that has started to irk people. But it looks like OnePlus will finally address those issues. Unfortunately, you may need to buy the company's most expensive device to get those features.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Huawei's P40 phones have giant imaging sensors and a camera for everything

    Huawei's big reveal for its new flagship is entirely online. In the face of the coronavirus, the company had to launch its P40 smartphone series a little differently. Following the imaging prowess of last year's P30 Pro and the Mate 30, the company is still playing to those strengths as it still battles with its app store weaknesses. This year's flagship smartphone series includes the P40 and the P40 Pro, but also an even-more-premium P40 Pro+ -- with the headliner features I'm most excited about.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Watch Huawei's P40 launch event right here at 9AM ET

    Huawei's P40 series launch event starts today at 9AM ET. You can watch the livestream below or follow along as we write about the proceedings. Be sure to check the website afterward as well, as we'll have all the biggest highlights.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung is bringing Galaxy S20 features to the S10 and Note 10

    In the coming weeks, Samsung will start rolling out an update for S10 and Note 10 phones that will bring select S20 features to the older devices. One of those features is Single Take, which uses deep learning to capture several versions of the same moment using different cameras. The AI feature shoots as many stills and videos as possible in 10 seconds to be able present users a large selection to choose from. It can also pick the "best" shot based on composition and other elements in case they'd rather let it do the choosing.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Royole's next foldable phone is much better at bending

    When we spoke to Royole CEO Bill Liu back at CES 2019, we were told that his company's -- and the world's -- first foldable phone wouldn't be just a one-off. Today, the manufacturer finally unveiled the FlexPai 2, which is equipped with a tougher and more vibrant flexible display, along with a new robust hinge to keep everything together. More importantly, Royole claims to have reduced the crease that's all too common on existing foldable phones, partly thanks to its new material simulation model used throughout the development process.

    By Richard Lai Read More

  • Xiaomi's Redmi K30 Pro touts flagship specs at a mid-range price

    Xiaomi has unveiled the Redmi K30 Pro that offers a lot of power for the money -- but only in China, so far. A sequel to the K20 Pro (aka the Mi 9T Pro in Europe), the K30 Pro packs a Snapdragon 865 processor with built-in 5G support, along with a circular, quad-camera array and pop-up 20-megapixel selfie camera.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Huawei P40 Pro may feature 50X zoom, custom photography chip

    Ahead of their official debut on March 26th, frequent leaker Ishan Agarwal has shared a bunch of information about Huawei's newest phones, detailing both the P40 Pro and P40. As expected, the P40 Pro is all about photography. The phone will reportedly feature a 50-megapixel wide camera, 40-megapixel telephoto camera, a time-of-flight depth sensor and one more (likely ultra-wide) 12-megapixel camera. According to Agarwal, the telephoto camera will be able to zoom in on subjects by a factor of up to 50x.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Smartphone shipments saw their largest drop ever in February

    You likely knew that smartphone demand would fall during the COVID-19 pandemic when Apple and others were warning of shortages, but it's now clearer just how bad the damage was. Strategy Analytics has determined that smartphone shipments fell 38 percent year-over-year in February, from 99.2 million to 61.8 million -- the steepest drop in the recorded history of the market. Demand "collapsed" in Asia that month as people were unwilling or unable to visit stores, while some companies had to temporarily stop manufacturing devices after reports of infected workers.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Huawei built an app to help people sideload popular Android apps

    Huawei is still building great smartphones like the Mate 30, but it's hard to convince people to buy one without access to Google apps. However, it's apparently working on a way to get popular Android applications without an app store or the need to download APKs, according to XDA Developers. It has created an app called "AppSearch," currently being tested in Germany, to help users install popular apps like Facebook and WhatsApp.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Essential designer shows off the phones that might've been

    Earlier this year, Essential, Android creator Andy Rubin's once high-profile phone startup, shut down. Besides Project Gem, a concept device it teased late last year, the company had released only one phone: the striking but flawed Essential Phone. However, now we have some idea of what could have been had Essential made more devices.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Nokia 8.3 5G wants to be the king of roaming

    HMD Global is jumping into the 5G wars. The Finnish company, which has been making Nokia-branded smartphones since 2016, claims to have made "the first global flagship smartphone to date." What on earth does that mean? Well, by "global," the company is referring to all of the 5G networks currently in operation around the world. Unlike most Android flagships, which have scattershot support and compatibility, the new Nokia 8.3 5G should be a roaming powerhouse that works everywhere, and on every network. According to HMD Global, the phone will also be forward compatible with 5G technology "deployed later in 2020, and onwards."

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • The next Nokia remake is the XpressMusic-branded 5310

    HMD Global, the sole company building Nokia-branded smartphones, has built a business around inexpensive Android handsets. At the same time, though, the Finnish manufacturer has found success building feature phones that mimic classic designs from the 1990s and early noughties. Following the iconic 3310, "bananaphone" 8110 and 2720 Flip, HMD Global is remaking the 5310, a candybar handset from 2007. The original device carried the XpressMusic brand and was, unsurprisingly, focused around audio playback. It had three physical playback buttons, for instance, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a slot that supported up to 4GB microSD cards.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Android 11 preview confirms Airdrop-style file sharing

    Google has rolled out Android 11's second developer preview, and in its support and release notes, the tech giant has confirmed that it's working on an AirDrop-like feature for its mobile platform. As 9to5Google has discovered, a part of the notes mentions a feature for sharing files called "Fast Share." There seems to be a known issue with the feature: when it's used between two Pixel 4 devices, the recipient's phone would state that it hasn't received the file even if the transfer is successful.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Android 11 developer preview offers more control over robocalls

    Android 11 might make life considerably easier if you're tired of fighting robocalls. Google has released a second Developer Preview for Pixel phones with frameworks that let call-screening apps not only verify calls, but tell you whether it's in your contacts and provide a reason for rejecting a call. Your carrier might know whether you feel a call is spam or something more innocuous.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Motorola's rumored Edge+ flagship phone shown off in more leaked images

    We first heard rumblings of Motorola's newest flagship phone, the Motorola Edge+, earlier this month. Leaked renders showed a 6.7-inch phone with a bezel-free, curved-edge design and tiny hole-punch camera. Without Motorola's say so there's no way to tell if these specs are legit or not, but newly leaked images, courtesy of renowned phone leaker Evan Blass, do suggest this is what Motorola is working on.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Samsung's latest storage chip will make flagship smartphones faster

    Samsung has started mass production on 512GB storage chips based on the new eUFS 3.1 standard. These are the chips already being used in the company's Galaxy S20 lineup, so it won't be long before we see them turning up in models from other brands, too. And it's big news because it means smartphones are about to get very noticeably faster.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple may release a large version of its upcoming budget iPhone

    Rumors and leaks for Apple's upcoming budget iPhone have so far only referenced one model, but it now looks like there might be a bigger handset in store. The 9to5Mac team's ongoing iOS 14 code sleuthing appears to have unearthed evidence of a larger version to go with the previously reported 4.7-inch model. It's expected to represent a modernization of the iPhone 8 Plus with the same 5.5-inch screen and Touch ID, just with a faster A13 chip (like in the iPhone 11), Express Transit support in Apple Pay (for speedier public transportation) and the ability to scan NFC tags in the background.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Motorola's zero-bezel Edge phones may include a more affordable model

    Just because Motorola might return to flagship phones with its high-end Edge+ model doesn't mean it's forgetting its more cost-conscious fans. XDA-Developers has shared leaked photos and details that appear to confirm that a non-plus Edge model not only exists, but that it should be considerably more affordable. It'll still have the 6.7-inch "waterfall" display with zero horizontal bezels, a speedy 90Hz refresh rate and a physically tiny 25-megapixel hole-punch camera, but it should use a mid-range Snapdragon 765 processor and 'just' 6GB of RAM instead of the Snapdragon 865 and 8GB of the Edge+ variant. You wouldn't be hurting for rear camera tech between a 64MP main sensor (versus 108MP on the Edge+), a 16MP wide-angle shooter and an 8MP telephoto sensor, not to mention laser autofocusing.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Pixel 4a will reportedly feature faster UFS 2.1 storage

    Earlier this week, we got to learn a lot about the Pixel 4a when Cuban YouTube channel TecnoLike Plus uploaded a hands-on with a pre-production model of the upcoming phone. XDA Developers has now shared a photo of the phone's bootloader that details additional information about the device.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The next iPhone could have a depth-sensing camera on the back

    The latest thing to emerge from the wheels at the rumor mill is the suggestion that the next iPhone will get a rear-facing 3D camera. According to Fast Company's sources, Apple will cram TrueDepth, the same sensors used for in the forward-facing array for FaceID, into the iPhone's primary camera setup. The tech will apparently be bought from Lumentum, the same company that currently makes the FaceID sensors.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Foldable phones are the future, but their software is stuck in the present

    Take your boring glass rectangle of a phone and fold it in half! Or thirds! Or.. quarters? It's time for the shape of smartphones to change again. Over the last decade, they've settled into a largely uniform look. If I were to draw an icon for a phone, it would be a vertical rectangle with rounded corners and maybe a button on the front. There -- I've just described the Galaxy S line, iPhones, Pixels and pretty much every other phone.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Pixel 4a leak video dives into the phone’s most intimate details

    In a repeat of last year, one of Google's upcoming Pixels phones has found its way into the hands of a YouTuber ahead of its official launch. Just two days after we saw a grainy photo of the Pixel 4a, Cuban technology blog TecnoLike Plus has released an almost seven-minute-long video detailing nearly every aspect of the unannounced device. As with every other pre-release leak, keep in mind we can't verify the details until Google officially announces the phone.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • iOS 14 might let you scroll through apps in a list view

    Apple appears to be working on a new homescreen option for iOS 14 that will allow users to view their apps in a list format. Leaked code, obtained by 9to5Mac, suggests that the list format will let users sort their apps with several filters.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Huawei will livestream its P40 phone unveiling on March 26th

    Huawei is joining the ranks of companies moving to online events to minimize the risk of coronavirus infections. The Chinese tech giant is now set to introduce its P40 series phones through an online launch on March 26th instead of the in-person Paris gathering it had originally planned. The company wants to protect the "safety and comfort of everyone," PR representative Rafal Kwiatkowski explained. At least you'll have an idea of what to expect -- as you can see from the conspicuous camera hump in the teaser image above, photography should be even more of a highlight than it was last year.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: A cheaper Google Pixel and a flagship Motorola phone leaked

    Hey, good morning! When the world's biggest phone show never happened, companies like LG and Huawei resorted to showing their new devices at dedicated events from New York to London and Hong Kong. But now? Well, we're already scanning the horizon for what's next. Namely, budget spin-offs of existing phones, like a cheaper Pixel 4, and a new flagship phone from Motorola -- a company that's avoided high-spec battles in recent years. If you're reading this, you're more interested in the high-spec, high-cost phone, but for a lot of people, cheaper phones usually suffice. The Pixel 3a amazed me last year -- and I wasn't alone. Can Google repeat the magic? And will more people pick up a Pixel, based on past success? Maybe. I'm less interested in Motorola's flagship phone hopes. Again, times are tough if you're not making iPhones or Galaxy phones. -- Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Pixel 4a photo leaks hint at a no-frills budget phone

    Those early Pixel 4a rumors might just carry some weight. Photo leaks appearing on Twitter and Reddit appear to show Google's upcoming low-cost phone in the wild, and they seem to validate earlier claims. The well-worn prototype 4a in the pictures apparently ditches the face recognition and dual cameras of the regular Pixel 4 in favor of a more conventional fingerprint reader and single rear cam. You'd find a hole-punch camera on the front for selfies, and Google would keep the headphone jack around for those who can't justify Bluetooth earbuds.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Huawei reportedly expects steep drop in 2020 phone sales due to US ban

    The US government's decision to blacklist Huawei didn't immediately spell calamity for the Chinese tech giant, but it might not be so confident in 2020. The Information sources claim that Huawei is predicting its smartphone sales will drop 20 percent this year due to the US ban forbidding partnerships with Google and other American firms. While the company had a banner 2019 with over 240 million phones sold, it now expects 'just' 190 million to 200 million.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Motorola's first high-end phone in years may have a 'bezel-free' display

    Motorola hasn't really produced a flagship-quality phone since the Moto Z3, but it might make up for lost time with a device that ticks the latest checkboxes. Onleaks and Pricebaba have shared renders of what they say is the Motorola Edge+, a 6.7-inch phone with high-end if familiar specs. Most notably, it'd revolve around a "bezel-free" (on the sides, at least) curved screen reminiscent of the Huawei Mate 30's waterfall display, albeit with a smoother 90Hz refresh rate. If the imagery is accurate, the Edge+ would also have an incredible small hole-punch camera. We can't imagine such a small sensor taking great photos, but it would be less disruptive than the camera cutouts on other devices.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Motorola's Moto G8 is equipped with a familiar triple-camera setup

    After announcing the G8 Play and G8 Plus late last year, Motorola has finally introduced the standard Moto G8. The highlight of the new phone is its triple camera system. It features a 16-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a 119-degree field of view lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera. While still unusual to see on phones, we've seen more and more phone manufacturers add macro cameras to their devices as a way to differentiate them. On the front of the phone, you have an 8-megapixel that's cut out from the phone's 6.4-inch HD+ display.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Nokia will announce its new phone in a James Bond trailer

    When the latest James Bond flick, No Time to Die, hits theatres this April November, you'll likely see not-so-subtle shots of Nokia's latest slate of phones. You'll also get the chance to see the company's first 5G phone in a commercial Nokia brand owner HMD Global plans to release on March 8th.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Project Sandcastle shows Android can be installed on an iPhone 7

    The name David Wang may sound familiar if you've been keeping an eye on possible ways to run Android on your iPhone. He found a way to run Google's mobile platform on an iPhone 3G a decade ago, and now he and his team at cybersecurity startup Corellium have released a hack that lets you install Android on an iPhone 7. They call their work "Project Sandcastle," because, as the team wrote on their website, sandcastles "provide an opportunity to create something new from the limitless bounds of your imagination."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google yanks March security update for AT&T Pixel 4

    Google has pulled the latest Android security update for Pixel 4 owners using AT&T after the supposed bug-fix created some major new headaches. Suddenly users have been unable to use Google Pay and instead have been greeted with a warning that their phone "doesn't meet software standards."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Xiaomi's Black Shark 3 Pro gaming phone has pop-up shoulder buttons

    When Xiaomi introduced its Black Shark 2 gaming phone a year ago, it hyped up the pressure-sensitive display that lets users map left and right controls to the screen. The new Black Shark 3 Pro takes things off the screen with physical pop-up shoulder buttons. In game mode, users can choose to use the two, 21-millimeter-wide buttons that raise 1.5 millimeters from the body of the phone. The buttons can supposedly withstand over 300,000 lifts and more than one million clicks.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Latest Pixel 'feature drop' lets you pause music with a touch-free gesture

    Google is trotting out another "feature drop" for Pixel owners, and this latest one might be particularly helpful if you'd rather not fiddle with your phone. For a start, Pixel 4 owners can use a tap gesture to pause or resume music, not just swipes to skip back or forward. That could be extremely helpful if you're cooking and would rather not touch your phone just to stop playback. Most Pixel users can also set the Dark theme to kick in automatically with sunset, and automatically enable rules based on a WiFi network or physical location -- say, silencing your ringtone when you walk through the doors at work.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Social Media (46)

  • Snapchat’s new lenses use AR to encourage social distancing

    Snapchat's latest set of lenses come with a timely reminder of the importance of social distancing. The app introduced two new lenses, created in collaboration with the World Health Organization, that use augmented reality to serve users with tips on how to stay healthy.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Snapchat users can finally post Stories from other apps

    Snapchat is finally opening up Stories to outside apps. Nearly a year after it was first previewed, the company is introducing App Stories, a feature that allows third-party apps to post Stories created in the Snapchat app to their services. First announced at the company's Partner Summit event, App Stories is now available in four apps: Triller, Squad, Hily, and Octi. The company says more apps will adopt App Stories over time, though it's not clear how quickly Snap will be ramping up. (And no word yet on when Stories might show up in Houseparty or Tinder -- two early partners that were teased during last year's Partner Summit.)

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • 'Kind Words' is the rare social network where everyone is nice

    The older I get, the less energy I have for social media. Twitter is too busy, Facebook is too stupid and dating apps are just... ugh. But I still have that need to connect with people in some way, something I can approach at my own pace and not feel any kind of obligation. Last year came Popcannibal's Kind Words, a non-game game that lets you reach out, but expects nothing from you in return except good vibes.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Facebook introduces new livestreaming features as demand skyrockets

    Facebook is working on new features that make it easier for people to access live streams — even if they don't have a Facebook account — as it tries to meet the rise in demand for live video. The company will begin allowing non-Facebook users to watch live streams from mobile devices, something previously only available on desktop. The feature is already available to Android users and will be rolling out to iOS "in the coming weeks."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook’s new Messenger hub shares tips for staying connected virtually

    Today, Facebook launched a new "Messenger Coronavirus Community Hub," which so far basically just explains how people, communities and businesses can use Messenger to stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic. If you already use Messenger, this isn't going to introduce any groundbreaking ideas or features. Instead, the hub will provide tips like how parents and educators, for example, can host virtual playdates or use voice and video calls to check in on students and colleagues.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • 'Second Life' creator sells its ambitious social VR platform

    Second Life creator Linden Lab's big VR push didn't pan out, it seems. The company has sold its Sansar social VR platform to a startup, Wookey Project Corp., in a bid to "streamline its focus" in favor of Second Life as well as money service provider Tilia. Sansar will revolve more around "premier virtual events" under its new ownership, the team said in a blog post.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Can Twitter survive when no one can go outside?

    Twitter says it can no longer predict, with any certainty, how its finances are going to look in the coming months. The company told investors that it was withdrawing its guidance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For a platform that ties its future into covering the big events of the day, the coronavirus could hit the company very hard.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Reddit makes creating a poll as easy as creating a post

    Today, Reddit is introducing its own polls tool. Polls are already pretty popular on Reddit, with about 15,000 new ones created each month. But until now, they have been hosted by third-party sites. With this update, Reddit is making polls a native post option for all communities (except text-only communities like r/AskReddit).

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Pinterest's new Today tabs offers curated boards and coronavirus info

    Pinterest has historically done a very good job at battling misinformation on its platform, doing its best to hide anti-vaccine content and more recently providing custom search results related to the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, as more and more people are sheltering in place in their homes, Pinterest has seen its users increasingly search for inspiration around things like recipes, kids activities and self-care. To get people to the topics they're looking for faster, today Pinterest is launching a new "Today" tab that you'll see in the top navigation bar on its iOS and Android apps. The company wants it to be a one-stop source to see trending pins as well as curated topics based on the activity Pinterest is seeing with its users.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Instagram will down-rank posts debunked by fact checkers

    Instagram is finally giving disinformation, hoaxes and conspiracy theories the same treatment as Facebook does. The company announced that it will down-rank posts that have been debunked by fact checkers as part of its effort to fight misinformation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The photo sharing app began sending posts to third-party checkers last year, but until now those posts could still appear prominently in users' feeds, even if they carried "false information labels." (The app has taken steps to hide posts from public-facing areas of the app like Explore and hashtag pages.) Facebook, on the other hand, has been working with third-party fact-checkers to debunk and bury posts since 2016.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Court rejects Trump's ongoing fight to block critics on Twitter

    President Trump's attempt to overturn a ruling that prevents him from blocking Twitter critics has been shot down -- at least for now. An appeals court has denied the Trump administration's request for a review of the decision after a majority of judges decided a review wasn't necessary. Circuit Judge Barrington Parker described the original decision as a "straightforward application" of existing actions and precedent. If Trump is going to use his personal Twitter account for official statements (and he does), that account becomes a public forum where critics are allowed to voice their disagreements.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Facebook and Instagram lower video quality in Europe

    Social networks are joining streaming services in reducing video quality to help European networks deal with demand from people staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Facebook spokesperson told Engadget that both Facebook itself and Instagram will "temporarily reduce" video bitrates in Europe. This will help partners handle "bandwidth constraints" and keep people in touch, the representative said. You can read the full statement below.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Twitter will verify more health experts to fight coronavirus misinformation

    Twitter wants to make it easier for health experts to get verified. The company is taking new steps to open up its notoriously opaque verification program in order help elevate accounts that are "providing credible updates around #COVID19." "We are working with global public health authorities to identify experts and have already Verified hundreds of accounts," the company tweeted.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • WhatsApp and WHO create a chatbot to share reliable coronavirus info

    In an attempt to help users find accurate coronavirus information, WhatsApp and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a chatbot that will answer questions about the pandemic. When users text "hi" to the new WHO Health Alert (+41 79 893 1892), the service will respond with a series of prompts, the latest data and a few emojis. In addition to fighting misinformation on the platform, this could also help government decision-makers find the latest numbers and situation reports, WhatsApp says.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Instagram experiments with disappearing text messages

    In the future, you may be able to send ephemeral messages through Instagram the way you can on Snapchat. The Facebook-owned platform is working on a disappearing text messaging feature, which clears the chat box whenever you leave it. App researcher Jane Manchun Wong discovered the capability hidden in the Android app's code, while TechCrunch was able to confirm with a Facebook spokesperson that the company is developing the feature.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook finally lets desktop users opt-in to dark mode

    Facebook is finally letting desktop users opt-in to dark mode. Facebook told TechCrunch that "starting today, the majority of people on Facebook will have access to the new desktop design." This includes dark mode, which can be toggled on and off via the Settings drop down menu.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Snapchat adds mental health tools to ease coronavirus anxiety

    Snapchat is updating its app with a set of mental health tools meant to help users combat anxiety and depression. The feature, called "Here For You," was first previewed in February, but the company says it opted to speed up its release in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Twitter clamps down on coronavirus hoaxes and fake ‘experts’

    Twitter is ramping up its policies against coronavirus misinformation. The company will ban tweets perpetuating claims of fake cures and other specific information that could incite panic or harm official efforts to fight the pandemic. Under the policies, the company will require users to remove tweets that deny "expert guidance," promote "fake or ineffective treatments," or share "misleading content purporting to be from experts or authorities."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • TikTok names experts who will help shape its content policies

    TikTok has named the group of experts who will help guide the app's content moderation policies as part of the newly formed "Content Advisory Council." The group, chaired by George Washington University Law Professor Dawn Nunziato, is made up of academics who are experts in issues like child safety, free speech, politics, and video forensics. The seven-member council (the company says it will eventually grow to "around a dozen" people) will start meeting with TikTok's US executives later this month to discuss "critical topics around platform integrity, including policies against misinformation and election interference."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • WhatsApp debuts coronavirus fact-checking hub

    WhatsApp can be more than a messaging app -- in Europe, India and other parts of the world, it's a social network in its own right. To help avoid the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, the company -- which is owned by Facebook -- created an information hub that provides advice on how users can look after friends and family, stay cognizant of the latest developments and share verified information. The website was launched in partnership with the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNDP, and is meant to help in more than just a social context -- healthcare providers, educators, local governments and businesses can learn how to best connect with one another while social distancing is advised.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Facebook bug marked legitimate coronavirus info as spam

    Facebook was quick to say that it would fight coronavirus misinformation, but yesterday, one tool appeared to go haywire. Users reported that Facebook was marking posts with legitimate information and articles about the coronavirus as spam. According to The Verge, Facebook has resolved the issue and restored the posts that were incorrectly removed, but this is a serious glitch at a time when so many people are looking for accurate information on the coronavirus and COVID-19.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • YouTube will temporarily increase automated content moderation

    YouTube will rely more on machine learning and less on human reviewers during the coronavirus outbreak. Normally, algorithms detect potentially harmful content and send it to human reviewers for assessment. But these are not normal times, and in an effort to reduce the need for employees and contractors to come into an office, YouTube will allow its automated system to remove some content without human review.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • TikTok will stop using China-based moderators to screen foreign content

    TikTok has already taken steps to reassure the world that the Chinese government doesn't control its app overseas, including the use of non-Chinese moderators for the US and plans for a transparency center. However, it's taking things one step further. The social media company said it will stop using China-based moderators to screen content in any other country, and that more than 100 moderators will have to either find other jobs inside parent company Bytedance or leave. Teams local to given areas should take over within a few weeks, TikTok said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Instagram cracks down on coronavirus AR effects

    Instagram is taking new steps to combat the spread of coronavirus-related misinformation. The company has removed augmented reality effects that claim to "diagnose" or "treat" coronavirus, and will begin hiding other coronavirus-themed augmented reality effects from search results. "We've removed previously-published effects and are rejecting all new effects, which claim to predict, diagnose, treat, or cure coronavirus," Facebook wrote in an update to its AR creators. Other coronavirus-themed AR effects that don't break company rules will be hidden from search results unless they were "developed in partnership with a recognized health organization."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • UK government enlists influencers to battle coronavirus misinformation

    You've probably seen posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that say you can self-test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, by holding your breath for 10 seconds. According to medical experts the Associated Press interviewed, those posts aren't accurate. And it's precisely that type of misinformation the UK government hopes to combat by turning to some of the same people who help spread them: social media influencers.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Twitter client Brizzly+ launches with ‘undo’ tweet feature

    Twitter will likely never give us that edit button, but a new service might offer the next best thing: the ability to "undo." That's one of the standout features of Brizzly+, a newly-revived version of the 2009 Twitter client of the same name, which promises a few unique features absent from the main Twitter app.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Facebook and Twitter take down accounts linked to Russian troll farm

    Facebook and Twitter took down a network of accounts with links to the same Russian troll farm responsible for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The Internet Research Agency (IRA), which has spent the last several years using social media to spread disinformation and manipulate US elections, was ultimately behind the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, the companies said. Facebook reports the network of 49 Facebook accounts, 69 Pages and 85 Instagram accounts was in the "early stages," but they had already reached hundreds of thousands of users by the time they were removed.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Senators want to ban TikTok from government phones

    All federal government employees could soon be banned from downloading TikTok on work-issued smartphones. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) and Rick Scott (R-Florida) have introduced a bill that would do just that, claiming the social media app poses a national security threat. If passed, the 'No TikTok on Government Devices Act,' would bar employees of the federal government from installing the short form video app on official phones. Though, it makes exceptions for research, investigative, and national security purposes.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Tinder delays the international debut of its ‘apocalyptic adventure’ show

    Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tinder has decided not to launch its Swipe Night show internationally this week. Last fall, when the show debuted in the US, Tinder described it as a "first-person, apocalyptic adventure." That hits a little close to home now, and Tinder has apparently realized that this is no time to be trivializing the apocalypse.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Why do memes suddenly matter in politics?

    Michael Bloomberg's failed bid to become Democratic Party nominee will go down in infamy. Not only because he bankrolled the whole thing with his own vast fortune, but also where he spent it. Bloomberg's team enlisted figures from Jerry Media, the agency connected to Fyre Festival, where he spent $1 million a day on social campaigns. He even offered minor-ish Instagram stars $150 a pop to support his campaign on the platform. But why? We asked several people connected with politics, memes, and political memes the obvious question.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • TikTok will open a US ‘transparency center’ to combat spying fears

    Following months of criticism for its potential risk to US security, video-sharing platform TikTok says it is planning a "transparency center" to provide outsiders with reassurance about the way it runs its operations. According to TikTok, the Los Angeles-based facility will open in May and permit outside experts to observe the way the platform moderates content. It will also share details of its source code and independent security measures.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Twitter's new rules require labels for 'high-quality' bots

    Not all bots are bad, but all bots need labels: those are Twitter's latest rules for bot accounts that don't want to risk getting booted off the platform. The change was made as part of the company's updated developer policy, which lays out a new policy for accounts that want to use Twitter's developer tools to post automatically. Under the new terms, developers must "clearly indicate," if an account is a bot account, as well as the identity of the person running the account. The goal, according to Twitter, is to make "easier for everyone on Twitter to know what's a bot - and what's not."

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Twitter labels video retweeted by Trump as 'manipulated media'

    A video created by the White House social media director and retweeted by Donald Trump is the first to be tagged by Twitter as "manipulated media." The video shows Democratic candidate Joe Biden appearing to endorse Trump after the end of his sentence was pruned off. Twitter came up with the guideline last year ahead of the 2020 election to highlight "video that has been significantly altered or fabricated in a way that intends to mislead people or changes its original meaning."

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Hitting the Books: How an attempt at digital allyship fell flat

    Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Facebook removes Trump campaign's 'census' ads

    Facebook has removed more than a thousand of Donald Trump's campaign ads for breaking its rules prohibiting misinformation related to the 2020 U.S. census. The ads, which were first reported by journalist Judd Legum, urged users to participate in the "Official 2020 Congressional District Census," and redirected to a survey on the Trump campaign website.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Twitter will delete hate speech related to age, disability and disease

    Last year, Twitter updated its harmful conduct policy to require the deletion of hate speech based on religion. Today, the company is updating its rules to include language the company says "dehumanizes" other people based on age, disability or disease. As before, the company won't ban or suspend people who wrote offending tweets before today's update. However, it will delete any past tweets if users report them.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Twitter users on Android can now pin lists to their Home feeds

    Twitter's curated timeline algorithm is iffy, but the chronological timeline can turn into a mess, too. In September, the platform rolled out a feature that let iOS users quickly swipe between five pinned lists, as well as the Home timeline. This helped users create their own customized experience -- one could quickly scroll through the accounts that are most relevant to them and ensure they didn't miss anything important. Twitter assured Engadget that the same feature would come to Android shortly, and that day is finally here. The company announced that Android users should start seeing the new feature today.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Reddit lets users support one another with Crisis Text Line partnership

    As the topic of mental health becomes less of a social taboo, tech companies are increasingly exploring ways they can do good in this area. Reddit is the latest to do so, today announcing a new partnership with Crisis Text Line. Through this partnership, redditors will receive a private message directing them how to connect and text with a trained crisis counselor at the moment they need them.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Twitter tests 'Fleets' that delete themselves after 24 hours

    Twitter is finally dipping its toe into ephemeral content. The company is testing a new feature, called "fleets," which allows users to to post tweets that automatically disappear after 24 hours. For now, the experimental feature is only live in Brazil, but Twitter says it could eventually land in other countries. If fleets do end up becoming widely available, it could fundamentally alter how people interact on Twitter.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • WhatsApp's dark mode rolls out on Android and iOS today

    Love it or hate it, dark mode is an increasingly requested feature in these days of extended screen time and tired eyes. We reported last month that it was on the cards for WhatsApp, and today it's finally rolling out on both Android and iOS devices.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Twitter pulls out of SXSW 2020 over virus fears

    Twitter has announced that it will not be sending its employees to South by Southwest (SxSW) 2020 this year in an attempt to avoid the spread of coronavirus. A spokesperson confirmed to the Verge that the company, where CEO Jack Dorsey was going to make a keynote, has pulled out. Twitter had issued an edict over the weekend, saying that it was restricting all non-essential travel to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • WHO joins TikTok to fight coronavirus misinformation

    The World Health Organization clearly has an interest in putting a stop to coronavirus misinformation, and that's leading it to online destinations it wouldn't have considered before. The WHO has joined TikTok, and its first videos are, unsurprisingly, aimed at both reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 and setting the record straight. They explain how you can safeguard yourself and others against the virus, how to use a mask and whether or not you need a mask in the first place -- crucially, the WHO stresses that you don't need a mask if you aren't experiencing symptoms.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Space (22)

  • Two more astronauts join SpaceX's first crewed mission to the ISS

    Two more astronauts have been assigned to the first operational crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and Noguchi Soichi, of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will join NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover Jr., who were assigned to the mission in 2018. If all goes according to plan, this will be the first in a series of regular Crew Dragon flights to the ISS, NASA said in a press release.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • NASA picks SpaceX to deliver cargo to the Lunar Gateway

    In the next few years, SpaceX will fly cargo to an orbit farther than where the ISS is. NASA has awarded the space agency with a contract to deliver critical cargo, scientific experiments and other supplies to the Lunar Gateway, which will serve as the staging point for missions headed to the lunar south pole under the Artemis program. SpaceX is the first commercial provider the agency has chosen for the project, and it's guaranteed at least two missions when the station is up and running in lunar orbit. NASA expects to start building the lunar outpost in 2022.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • US Space Force will send its first satellite into space today

    The US Space Force will kick off its first National Security Mission this afternoon. It's sending a Lockheed Martin Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite into orbit, onboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The satellite will provide next-gen military communications, and it could prove that Space Force isn't just a Trump administration pipe dream.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • SpaceX parachute test failure could further delay crewed flight

    SpaceX's hopes a human-occupied Crew Dragon flight this May are fading fast. A parachute test for the capsule failed on March 24th after a helicopter pilot was forced to drop the test vehicle early when it became unstable, threatening the pilot's safety. The test machine was destroyed as it hadn't reached "target conditions" where the parachutes would be armed, a SpaceX spokesperson told Parabolic Arc.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Hubble captures the immense 'tsunami' power of quasars

    Powered by supermassive black holes that consume huge amounts of galactic material, quasars are some of the most energetic objects in the universe. How energetic? Some of them shine up to 1,000 times brighter than the galaxies that house them. Now, a team of astronomers has used the Hubble Space Telescope to examine several large quasars, and what they found was mind-boggling. Some quasars act like tsunamis, pushing 46-million-MPH winds that blast out hundreds of times the Sun's weight of material per year while creating ripples across entire galaxies.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Bigelow Aerospace laid off all of its workers

    Bigelow Aerospace -- the company that created the inflatable module attached to the International Space Station -- laid off 20 employees last week. Yesterday, it laid off its 68 remaining workers. According to SpaceNews, one employee described the company's decision to halt operations and let go of its employees as the results of a "perfect storm of problems," one of which was the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesperson told SpaceNews that Bigelow Aerospace plans on re-hiring the laid-off workers, but other sources are dubious of this claim.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • SpaceX Crew Dragon's Demo-2 test flight is still scheduled for May

    SpaceX and NASA are pushing through with Crew Dragon's first manned flight in May. They're gearing up for a mid-to-late May launch, so it'll happen a bit later than the original May 7th target date. However, it doesn't sound like they're expecting the coronavirus outbreak to cause a huge delay. The historic flight will launch humans to space from US soil for the first time since the final space shuttle mission on July 8th, 2011. NASA has been buying seats on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to take its astronauts to the ISS since then.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • SpaceX aborts Falcon 9 launch with rare 'Liftoff! Disregard' sequence

    With both computers and human controllers cautiously watching every single rocket function, it's not unusual for SpaceX to abort a launch. However, yesterday a Falcon 9 rocket was stopped at literally the last second, confusing even the countdown commentator. As the clock hit zero, the operator enthusiastically shouted "Liftoff!" but quickly added "Disregard. We have an abort" once it was clear the rocket wasn't getting airborne.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • NASA warns Moon base plans might slip by a year

    NASA's dreams of returning to the Moon with a permanent presence might have been overly ambitious. The agency's human exploration lead, Doug Loverro, has warned that plans for the lunar Gateway could be set back by a year or more as NASA reworks its design and intended uses. Earlier in the week, he also told an advisory committee that costs and technical challenges would force NASA to revise and streamline its objectives for the Moon.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The ExoMars rover mission has been postponed until 2022 for further testing

    The ExoMars mission to carry a rover to the red planet will not launch this year as planned, according to the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia's Roscosmos. The agencies announced that several components of the spacecraft, particularly the parachutes, still need testing. That means they'll miss the planned 2020 launch window and will need to wait for the next opportunity happening sometime between August and October 2022.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Blue Origin shows off the engine and nose cone of its reusable rocket

    In late 2018, the US Air Force awarded Blue Origin $500 million to build the New Glenn rocket with a reusable first stage and performance similar to SpaceX's Falcon Heavy. We haven't heard a lot since then, but Jeff Bezos' company has just shared a couple of updates on development, showing the immense scale of the new rocket and how the upper stage engines work.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • SpaceX launches its original Dragon capsule for the last time

    The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft made history in 2012 by becoming the first ever commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS. Last night, the space company sent the first-gen Dragon on its 20th resupply and its last mission ever -- starting in October, SpaceX will use the upgraded Dragon 2 capsule for it ISS trips. That's not even the only reason this mission is far from your typical resupply run. SpaceX also pulled off its 50th rocket booster landing when the Falcon 9 it used for the flight touched down at its Cape Canaveral facility.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The company behind the robotic arms that help us explore Mars

    Despite best efforts, we're still decades if not generations away from regularly living and working off-planet -- whether that's in LEO habitation rings, moon bases, or on the Martian surface. Until humans can colonize space ourselves, we must rely on robotic orbitals, landers and rovers to physically interact with the galaxy around us. As Lucy Condakchian, General Manager of Robotics at Maxar, noted to an assembled audience at TechCrunch Sessions on Tuesday, actually touching the stars is still no easy feat.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Lettuce grown on the ISS is as nutritious as Earth harvests, scientists find

    The red romaine lettuce astronauts grew on the ISS a few years ago aren't just as good as Earth-grown lettuce, they're also as nutritious. NASA's Gioia Massa, Christina Khodadad and their colleagues examined and analyzed three batches of lettuce grown on the space station between 2014 and 2016. They compared it to lettuce that they grew here at home under similar conditions -- in the same relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature, among other things -- and determined that the level of nutrients between them is very similar.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • SpaceX will fly space tourists to the ISS as soon as next year

    Houston-based private space company Axiom has forged a partnership with SpaceX to fly paying tourists to the ISS as soon as the second half of 2021. Under the terms of their deal, SpaceX will use the Crew Dragon capsule to ferry three tourists and an Axiom staff member, who'll make sure they don't interfere with the NASA crew members doing their job, to the orbiting lab. It's worth noting that Axiom was the company NASA chose to build the space station's first commercial destination module.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • SETI@Home ends its crowdsourced search for alien life after 21 years

    The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence is a series of projects that scrub the background noise of the universe to look for alien life. One of the most famous ventures under the name was SETI@Home, in which members of the public were encouraged to donate their idle computing time to the venture. After 21 years, however, UC Berkeley has announced that the project will stop on March 31st.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • The Morning After: NASA is taking applications for new astronauts

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. SXSW 2020 has not been canceled and will start as planned in just a couple of weeks. However, the show will lack some social media muscle due to the absence of Facebook and 2007 SXSW darling, Twitter. Both companies announced they will not attend the festival because of concerns related to coronavirus. As you read this, automakers are doing online-only reveals of vehicles they planned to present at the Geneva Motor Show, while Microsoft and Google events (MVP Summit and Google Cloud Next) are also going virtual. I wasn't headed to Austin either way, but at this point, every event from now until the Detroit Auto Show this summer looks questionable, at best. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • NASA accepts applications for astronauts for the first time in four years

    Want to be one of the earlier astronauts to return to the Moon or explore Mars? You now have your chance. NASA has started taking applications for its next round of astronauts, some of them likely to be part of future Moon and Mars expeditions. You'll have until the very end of the month (March 31st at 11:59PM Eastern) to apply, although time isn't the main constraint here -- qualifying is.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NASA wants students' help designing tech for the Moon and Mars

    NASA is enlisting whatever help it can get to make sure its crewed Moon and Mars missions go smoothly, and that might include help from schools. The agency is running a new round of its Moon to Mars Exploration Systems and Habitation Academic Innovation Challenge (M2M X-Hab if you want a much shorter name) that encourages university students to study and develop spacefaring tech. The challenge will reward work on habitation, vehicles, robotic advance missions, "foundational systems" (think autonomous mission tech and remote manufacturing) and human spaceflight architecture focused on the lunar Gateway.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Streaming (70)

  • Twitch's Mod View puts all of its moderation tools in one place

    Behind every successful Twitch channel, there's at least one person who's there to moderate chat. The best mods create a safe space where everyone in a community can express themselves. It's not an easy job, but in an attempt to make it a bit more manageable, Twitch is introducing a new channel mode interface called Mod View.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • SiriusXM's Premier Streaming service is free until May 15th

    All of SiriusXM's premium channels will be free to listen to for the next six weeks. The service's biggest name, Howard Stern, revealed on his show the service is making the Premier Streaming plan available at no cost until May 15th. It typically costs $13/month.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Roku adds voice command support for Spanish in the US and Mexico

    For all their many strengths, Roku devices have not had the best voice control features. If that's important to you, your best bet has frequently been Amazon's Fire TV devices. However, with its latest software update, Roku is trying to change that with more robust voice features across the board.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Apple Music's Come Together space puts its upbeat playlists in one place

    Building on the AI-generated Get Up! Mix the company unveiled last week, Apple is now adding a new section to Apple Music called Come Together that features a variety of playlists designed to help you get through long days stuck inside. In all, there are seven new playlists to check out. And as you might imagine, they cover the gamut of genres and moods.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Roku is giving away 30 days of premium video

    Add Roku to the list of companies offering free premium TV trials to keep people entertained while they stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's launching a Home Together initiative that provides extended 30-day trials of familiar networks and services. Epix, Showtime, Hallmark and A&E Crime Cental are among the more conventional services on tap. FitFusion, Gaiam and Grokker can help you stay in shape while the gym is closed, while specialty stations like Acorn TV and Smithsonian are also available.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Plex makes live TV free for three months

    Plex is joining the chorus of companies handing out freebies to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The media app makers are offering their Live TV feature free to all users for three months through June 30th. You'll still need a tuner and an over-the-air antenna, but you won't need a Plex Pass to watch channels through any of the company's apps.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Comcast, Verizon make some on-demand viewing free

    Comcast and Verizon (Engadget's parent company) have been scrambling to help people stay online during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now they're giving customer more to do with that access. On Comcast, subscribers with Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex now have preview access to on-demand videos from several premium TV networks and streaming services for at least 30 days. Epix and Showtime are the highlights if you're looking for pure entertainment, but there's also CuriosityStream (for 60 days), History Vault, Kids Room, The Great Courses Signature Collection and The Reading Corner to keep your family educated, while DOGTV and Grokker respectively provide pet programming and exercise.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Spotify’s COVID-19 Music Relief page makes it easy to donate to artists

    Since the coronavirus pandemic began, forcing music venues to close and cancel shows, the music industry has been looking for ways to adapt. Several streaming giants have pledged to contribute to the MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund, entertainers have pivoted and platforms like Bandsintown and Twitch are helping artists make money via streaming. Now, Spotify wants to make it easier for everyone to donate to the organizations supporting the music community.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • YouTube Music brings in-app lyrics to everyone

    A few weeks ago, YouTube Music launched a new playback screen alongside an experimental feature that displays lyrics within the Android app. Now, the feature is making its way to everyone using the application. You'll now be able to access static lyrics from within YouTube Music's Android and iOS apps, whether you're a free or a paying user. Sure, you can always just look up the words to a song, but the feature sounds handy if you want to sing along and don't want to fire up your browser.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Streaming giants to help musicians affected by coronavirus outbreak

    Some of the biggest names in tech and streaming have teamed up to help musicians and industry workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazon Music, Facebook, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube Music have pledged to contribute to the MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund. The program was established to provide monetary support for people in the industry affected by cancellation of music events and loss of various work opportunities.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Bandsintown helps musicians make money with Twitch concerts

    Bandsintown wants to help musicians pull in money during the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to promoting their shows. The discovery service is giving artists free, "fast-tracked" access to Twitch's monetization systems to help them generate money from livestreamed concerts. If all goes well, they'll quickly get affiliate status on Twitch and thus make money from subscriptions and bit donations. Performers will need to have 2,000 or more Bandsintown followers and a link to their Twitch channel in their Bandsintown profile. After filling out a form, they should get affiliate status in two to five business days.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • CBS offers a free month of All Access so you can binge-watch 'Picard'

    If you've been meaning to check out Star Trek: Picard or The Good Fight, but already perhaps have one streaming subscription too many, you can check out CBS All Access for free until April 23rd in the US. Jean-Luc Picard himself (okay, Partick Stewart) revealed ViacomCBS would make it so ahead of his show's season finale dropping later this week.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Apple Music's AI-generated upbeat playlist helps you cope with reality

    Apple is trying something new to keep people's spirits up during the coronavirus pandemic. In Apple Music, it's introducing a new algorithmic playlist called the Get Up! Mix that the company says is full of "happy-making, smile-finding, sing-alonging music." With the help of human editors, it will update the playlist each week with new songs. Think: Discovery Weekly, but with a focus on playing tunes that will encourage good vibes -- though there's the promise of discovering new music as well.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Amazon is offering free access to kid-friendly Prime Video content

    With kids stuck at home amid school shutdowns, some parents are likely struggling to find things to occupy their children's minds. Amazon has confirmed to Engadget that it is stepping in by making some of the kids' shows on its Prime Video streaming service free during the coronavirus pandemic -- you just need a standard Amazon account to sign into the platform and start watching. Some examples of the free content include Amazon originals like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Pete the Cat, as well as select seasons of PBS shows like Arthur and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. According to Variety, this initiative is in effect worldwide, though the free shows may vary depending on which country you live in.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Apple Music's Beats 1 station will broadcast from hosts' homes

    Office workers aren't the only ones who can work from home during the coronavirus pandemic -- radio DJs can do so, too. Show hosts on Beats 1, Apple Music's internet radio station, will be broadcasting from the safety of their homes starting today. According to Apple, they will use FaceTime on their iPhones to conduct interviews with popular musicians like Elton John and Hayley Williams. It's not clear whether or not the anchors will use iPhones to record the non-interview sections of their shows, but it would be surprising if they opted for smartphones over more professional audio equipment such as condenser microphones and preamps. However, exclusive programs from Stone Age's Josh Homme, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig and more will indeed be recorded on their iPhones.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Today is the last day for Europeans to save on Disney+

    Today is the final day for Europeans to sign up for Disney+ at a discount. You can currently get yearly access to the home of Baby Yoda and company for £49.99/€59.99 as opposed to £59.99/€69.99. The discount is part of a limited-time promotion Disney is using to entice people to sign up before the platform launches in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland tomorrow and France on April 7th.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Amazon Prime Video finally introduces viewer profiles

    It might have taken years, but Amazon Prime Video is finally ready to offer something you might take for granted on Netflix and other services: multiple profiles for a single account. NDTV and XDA have noticed that you can now add five additional profiles to your Prime Video account on top of a primary default profile, including Kid's Profiles that restrict content to material suitable for children 12 and under. You no longer have to juggle your recommendations with those of your partner, or worry that your young ones will watch Hunters.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix's CG 'Ghost in the Shell' series premieres April 23rd

    Netflix just gave anime fans a date to mark on their calendar -- at least, if they don't mind a shift away from traditional animation. Netflix has posted a final trailer for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 that narrows its release to April 23rd. The clip casts the series as a reunion tour of sorts. Major, Batou and others come back to reform Public Security Section 9 as they deal with "posthumans" bent on disrupting the social order. As before, though, the focus for many will probably be the polarizing 3DCG style -- odds are you'll either be fine with it or consider it sacrilege.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Oprah debuts free Apple TV+ series discussing COVID-19

    If you want to explore the societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic, you might just have to fire up a stream in your living room. Oprah Winfrey has launched a free Apple TV+ series, Oprah Talks COVID-19, that has her talking to "experts and everyday people" about how people can deal with the virus while maintaining their humanity. There are two episodes at present, including a chat with Idris Elba (who tested positive for COVID-19) and his wife Sabrina Dhowre as well as a spirituality-focused discussion with Pastor Wintley Phipps.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Paramount cancels movie's theatrical release in favor of Netflix

    Movie studios are already sending theatrical releases to streaming services as the coronavirus outbreak grips the world, but they've usually gone directly to in-house services. Paramount, however, appears to be breaking rank. Both Deadline and Hollywood Reporter understand that Paramount is releasing the romantic comedy The Lovebirds on Netflix after cancelling its theatrical release -- the first time one of these cancellations has gone to a third-party streamer. The details of when and where it will be available aren't clear, but it's believed to be a worldwide deal. The Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani flick was originally due to premiere on April 3rd.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix creates $100 million fund to support creators during pandemic

    Many movie and TV productions have shut down in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that's a problem for services like Netflix that depend on a steady stream of shows. To that end, Netflix has created a $100 million fund to support workers in the creative community, whether they're actors or set crews. Most of that money will go to the "hardest hit" staffers for Netflix's original shows, but about $15 million of it will go to third parties and non-profits providing relief, such as SAG-AFTRA's COVID-19 Disaster Fund and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Disney+ will limit video quality for its wider European launch

    Disney+ hasn't yet gone live for new customers across Europe, but already the streaming service is taking steps to reduce its impact on internet providers' infrastructure in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, Disney Chairman Kevin Mayer confirmed that it will join Netflix, YouTube and Amazon in reducing its "overall bandwidth utilization by at least 25 percent" in all of the EU markets where Disney+ will launch on March 24th.

    By Matt Brian Read More

  • SoundCloud links up with Twitch so creators can earn from livestreams

    SoundCloud has teamed up with Twitch to help musicians financially affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Artists, even famous ones, have been livestreaming performances to reach audiences stuck in their homes due to the pandemic. For those who are losing paid appearances in the coming weeks and months, it's also a way to earn some income. Under this partnership, all SoundCloud Pro, SoundCloud Premier and Repost by SoundCloud creators will get their Twitch Affiliate status fast-tracked. By gaining Affiliate status, they'll be able to earn revenue from the performances they stream on Twitch.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Sonic the Hedgehog' movie gets an early digital release on March 31st

    You'll be able to watch Sonic the Hedgehog at home a lot earlier than you'd expect. The video game movie is getting a digital release on March 31st, just a bit over a month after it hit theaters and a month-and-a-half before it's available in physical format. Paramount didn't explain the reason behind its early release, but movie studios have been making their films available earlier than usual in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which is forcing people to stay home.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Bandsintown will help artists promote livestreams

    As musicians cancel concerts due to the coronavirus, bands like the Dropkick Murphys are turning to livestreams as a way to connect with fans and potentially recoup some of the money they're losing. Today, the concert-discovery app Bandsintown announced a new Watch Live feature that will let artists send push notifications when they livestream shows. Bandsintown is also launching its own Twitch channel.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Entertainers pivot to video as coronavirus shutters clubs

    The Coronavirus pandemic is quickly converting America into a nation of shut-ins, resulting in the closing of nightclubs, dance halls and comedy rooms. Like many other professions, this has put thousands of performers, musicians and stand-up comics in dire financial straits. But as the classic adage states, "the show must go on" -- especially for entertainers whose livelihoods depend on them getting onstage in front of a crowd. As the Dropkick Murphys (DKM) showed the world on Tuesday, the show can go on, even if there's no audience around.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Why streaming isn’t the savior of canceled film festivals

    The cancellation of the SXSW festival came as a major blow to the film industry, bringing with it the postponement of 99 world premieres. To cut down on the spread of coronavirus, other film festivals soon followed suit. All this has led to a flurry of Twitter users suggesting film festivals should pivot to streaming. That isn't the easy answer viral tweets would have you believe. Still, there's a way it might work. Focusing on SXSW, there have been suggestions that film critics could create a DIY streaming festival by sharing the logins and passwords we are given to screen select films from home. Beyond being a breach of professional etiquette, sharing screening links could easily be shut down by the filmmakers and PR reps who oversee them. A password change or a pulled upload is all it'd take to cut a title from this proposed lineup.

    By Kristy Puchko Read More

  • Pixar's 'Onward' hits Disney+ on April 3rd amid theater closures

    Just like every other line of business right now, the entertainment industry is scrambling to figure out how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Several blockbusters, including the latest James Bond adventure No Time To Die and Marvel's Black Widow have been delayed, while production on many others has been suspended. Some studios have decided to make recent movies available as digital rentals only a few weeks after hitting theaters or even on the same day they arrive in cinemas.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • YouTube follows Netflix by reducing video stream quality in Europe

    YouTube is joining Netflix in reducing streaming quality in Europe to reduce strain on the internet, Reuters has reported. "We are making a commitment to temporarily switch all traffic in the EU to standard definition by default," it said in a statement. On top of that, the Alphabet company has also launched a hub in 16 countries dedicated to verified, factual stories about the coronavirus outbreak.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Japanese TV shows that inspired 'Power Rangers' are coming to YouTube

    Many millennials grew up watching Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and the similar shows that followed in its popularity, but they most likely have never seen the source material from Japan that was used to create the action-heavy battle scenes. TOEI -- the studio behind many of those shows -- wants to change that. The company will upload subtitled versions of classic special effects shows to its new YouTube channel, TOEI Tokusatsu World Official, starting on April 6th. The channel will feature tokusatsu -- sci-fi shows that rely on miniature models, special effects shots and over-the-top costumes -- that were adapted by western studios, such as Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and Space Cop Gavan, as well as other classics like National Kid and Combattler V.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • EU asks Netflix and other services to stream in SD to ease internet burden

    EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has called on Europeans to limit their broadband usage during the coronavirus outbreak by tweaking their streaming habits. Using the hashtag #SwitchToStandard, Breton asked consumers to stream content in standard instead of high definition so that the continent could "secure Internet access for all."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Comcast brings Hulu to its cable and streaming boxes

    Comcast has already relaxed some of its policies -- like suspending data caps and making Xfinity WiFi free for 60 days -- for people stuck at home due to the coronavirus. Now, Comcast wants to provide customers with more content to watch while they're social distancing. Today, it's bringing Hulu to Xfinity Flex, and the streaming app will arrive on X1 soon.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Fox buys ad-supported streaming service Tubi for $440 million

    Fox has reached an agreement to purchase Tubi TV for $440 million in cash, according to The Hollywood Reporter and The Wall Street Journal. And to help pay for the acquisition, the company has chosen to sell its 5 percent stake in the Roku streaming platform. The media giant says that by selling its stake in Roku, it's "essentially exchanging a passively held minority investment for full ownership and control of a leadership position in the free ad-supported streaming market."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Mixer's new homepage showcases streamers it poached from Twitch

    Mixer has recruited its fair share of former big-name Twitch streamers, and it wants to make sure you see them. Microsoft's livestreaming service has introduced a reworked homepage that includes "more focus" for featured material, including broadcasters -- if you didn't already know that Ninja, Ewok and Shroud were exclusive to Mixer, you will after this. You'll still get AI-guided recommendations if you'd rather discover creators that reflect your personal tastes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Movies Anywhere will let you share purchases with friends

    Chances are you're already sharing streaming recommendations with friends who are staying at home to socially distance themselves. Now, Movies Anywhere wants to make it a little easier to share actual movies. The service, which syncs up your purchased films across platforms like iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play and Vudu, is launching a new feature called Screen Pass that will let you temporarily share your purchased movies with friends and family, The Verge reports.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • What we're listening to: 'Hunting Warhead' and Grimes

    This month, commerce editor Valentina Palladino explains why you should listen a true crime podcast about the dark web, despite its subject matter. Contributing Editor Igor Bonifacic discusses the merits of the latest album from Grimes.

    By Engadget Read More

  • 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' is available on digital a few days early

    It looks like Frozen 2 isn't the only Disney property getting an early launch due to the current conditions of everything. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now available on most digital stores, including Vudu, iTunes and Google Play. (Update: Amazon too!) Right now, several days before its March 17th launch date for $20 in 1080p or $25 in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision HDR where available. It's not available to rent, but you can buy it in up to 4K resolution, or opt for the $100 Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga 9-Movie Collection. Is it worth it? Despite a 51 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics it did manage an 86 percent audience score, so there's a chance you'll be thoroughly entertained with how this third trilogy comes to an end. If not, at least you're at home and you can easily flip over to something else, or just update some of your lists on Vudu.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Disney+ will start streaming 'Frozen 2' on Sunday, three months early

    In a move that feels in parts altruistic and business savvy, Disney has bumped up the Disney+ streaming release date for Frozen 2 to this weekend. Many families are unexpectedly home and certainly feeling the stress of everything going on due to coronavirus, and could probably use a break to watch the much-loved movie. It's also a high-profile exclusive for Disney's streaming service, which has wanted for a hit of its own ever since The Mandalorian season one came to an end.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • YouTube rolls out Explore tab to expand your video recommendations

    It took a couple of years, but YouTube is finally ready to replace the familiar Trending tab with a more comprehensive (and hopefully more useful) section. The company is rolling out a new Explore tab on Android and iOS that not only shows what videos are hot on YouTube at this moment, but might make it easier to discover new clips. You can tap buttons at the top to browse categories like fashion, gaming and news, while more conspicuous "artist on the rise" and "creator on the rise" areas may help you find a musician or vlogger you wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NBC News will host four short-form shows on Quibi

    NBC is banking on short attention spans. The network's news division will host four different shows on the short-form, mobile streaming platform Quibi, when it launches next month. NBC News' strategy is to have two shows every weekday that air when viewers are most likely to tune into news recaps. The weekend shows, meanwhile, will have a narrower focus on specific issues. Each episode will run between five to eight minutes, approximately.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Vudu's 'Lists' feature helps you organize your video collection

    Vudu has just introduced a new lists feature that will finally let users organize their selection of movies and TV shows. Instead of just sorting them through release date or alphabetical order, you can now sift through your collection via customized categories and lists. Think of it as a mix playlist, but for your favorite Vudu flicks. To create a list, simply look for "Lists" under the "My Vudu" menu. Select "Create New List" and away you go. You can either select individual titles or a whole slew of them at once. You can add the same movie to multiple lists, and after you make the list, the choices can be re-ordered however you want. Some examples of lists include Marvel movies, family favorites, the top 100 movies of all time, retro classics, or maybe a few romantic choices for date night. The list doesn't need to include just the movies you own either; you can include free titles from the catalog as well as movies you have yet to purchase. When you log on, you'll see a list of Star Wars movies that Vudu created to help kick off the feature.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Apple TV+ posts a full trailer for 'Beastie Boys Story'

    With SXSW 2020 canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, Apple is hyping its upcoming Beastie Boys documentary with a nearly three-minute trailer posted tonight on YouTube. Acquired at Sundance, the documentary promises to have "Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz tell you an intimate, personal story of their band and 40 years of friendship."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Netflix rolls out its cheaper mobile-only plan in the Philippines and Thailand

    Netflix has expanded its cheaper mobile-only plan's reach and launched the option in the Philippines and Thailand. The streaming giant has been testing the subscription tier in emerging markets since 2018, starting with Malaysia and India. It formally made the option available in both countries last year, giving viewers a way to see its shows without having to pay for the more expensive tiers.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • NWSL soccer matches will stream on CBS All Access and Twitch

    You might have an easy time watching National Women's Soccer League matches online this season. The league has struck deals that give CBS Sports and Twitch the rights to stream games for the next three years. CBS will stream 87 matches, 71 of them available solely through All Access and its various portals through CBS' apps and website. However, the Twitch team-up may be the real highlight. Amazon's livestreaming service will air 24 "select" matches for free in the US on its channel, and it'll offer every game to viewers outside the US.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • YouTube's latest series has musicians covering their birthday chart-toppers

    YouTube might have a new, simple way to hook people on an original series: pack it full of big-name musicians. The video giant has introduced a Birthday Song series that, as the name implies, has artists covering the top song from the day they were born. The initial song is no small challenge, and will make some viewers feel old -- YouTube will have Lewis Capaldi covering the Chemical Brothers' 1996 hit "Setting Sun." Capaldi has somehow turned the big beat classic into a "slow and sad" piece, YouTube's Luke Hyams told Deadline, and it's an ironic choice when "Setting Sun" vocalist Noel Gallagher has ribbed Capaldi about his maudlin music style.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'The Oprah Show' was secretly a great podcast all along

    During its record-setting 25-year run from 1986 to 2011, The Oprah Winfrey Show became a pillar of pop culture. Equal parts TED Talk, group therapy session and self-help sermon, Oprah educated and inspired a generation. Last week, 34 years after the award-winning show's debut, it returned as a curated collection of podcasts hand-picked by the media icon herself. I gave the first batch of 10 episodes a listen and now rather regret having never watched the show during its heyday.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Disney+ reportedly scrapped a 'Tron' series from John Ridley

    As scarce as Disney+ originals might be at the moment, Disney is apparently being picky about just what reaches its streaming service. Hollywood Reporter sources claim Disney+ developed and ditched three originals in the past year, including an unannounced Tron series from 12 Years a Slave producer John Ridley. The show had reportedly been in the works for "several months" even though it hadn't been officially greenlit, the insiders said. It's not certain why the life-inside-a-computer series didn't survive -- the other two shows were cut for wildly varying reasons.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • FuboTV adds NHL and MLB coverage to its premium sports packages

    With FuboTV, the soccer programming focus is right there in the name. However, the cord-cutting service wants to capture fans of all sports, so it has just unveiled two pretty great new additions. If you subscribe to the FuboTV Extra or Sports Plus packages, you'll now get access to the NHL Network and MLB Network. The latter offers up to 150 live games per year, along with news, analysis and more, while the NHL Network also plays multiple games per week plus shows like NHL Now and NHL Tonight.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Netflix signs John Boyega's production studio to expand African content

    Netflix is continuing its push to get more African content on its platform by partnering with Star Wars actor John Boyega and his company UpperRoom Productions. The indie production house will be responsible for developing non-English language films focused on West and East Africa, based on "stories, cast, characters, crew, literary properties, mythology, screenplays and/or other elements in or around African countries."

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Netflix will end 'Lost in Space' with a third season in 2021

    One of Netflix's biggest sci-fi shows (and biggest shows, period) is winding to a close. Netflix has renewed Lost in Space for a third and final season expected to premiere sometime in 2021. This isn't the product of Netflix's habit of canceling shows after three seasons, thankfully. Series showrunner Zack Estrin stressed that the modernized tale of the Robinsons and the Robot was designed as a trilogy with a "clear beginning, middle and end," and it's just reaching its expected conclusion.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Quibi sued over patent infringement for its 'Turnstyle' video feature (updated)

    The short-form, mobile video streaming platform Quibi is scheduled to launch on April 6th, but it's already facing a patent infringement dispute. Eko, a New York-based company that creates interactive videos, claims Quibi used patented tech and stolen trade secrets to develop its "Turnstyle" technology, The Wall Street Journal reports.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • March Madness app streams two games side-by-side on Android TV and Fire TV

    It's nearly time for the best weekend in sports all year: the start of March Madness. Ahead of the 2020 NCAA basketball tournament, Turner is updating its arsenal of streaming apps for this year's action on the hardwood. And the most notable change is one I've been waiting on for a long time: multiview streaming is no longer exclusive to Apple TV.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Spotify's new home screen helps you get back to favorites

    Spotify still isn't done revamping its mobile app. The music service is rolling out a "refreshed" mobile home screen for Android and iOS that makes it easier to return to favorites. You can catch up with the latest episode of a podcast, quickly fetch your gym playlist or otherwise find your go-to media without hunting. You'll still see new material to discover, such as the "Made For You" playlists and recommended albums -- it just won't be as prominent. The suggestions you see will change depending on the time of day.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • ESPN+ will be the home of PGA Tour's streaming service in 2022

    You might end up paying less to stream live golf tourneys in the future. As part of a larger media deal, PGA Tour Live will be included as part of the ESPN+ base package starting in 2022 -- it'll be the only place you can use it in the US, in fact. The service will grow as part of the arrangement, too, with multiple live streams available for "nearly every week" of the FedExCup season. This includes 36 tourneys, "at least" 28 of which will get four days of coverage. You can also expect the usual on-demand replays, recaps and original programming.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Quibi is launching on April 6th with 50 shows

    There's been a lot of hype around Quibi, the upcoming streaming platform designed for your phone, and we finally have some concrete launch details. Quibi will be available on April 6th. It will launch with 50 shows, and release 175 shows in its first year.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Pokimane signs multi-year deal to stay on Twitch

    Another big-name Twitch streamer has signed an exclusive deal... this time, to remain exactly where she is. Imane "Pokimane" Anys has struck a "multi-year" deal to stream exclusively on Twitch. The terms of the arrangement weren't revealed, but she and United Talent Agency had significant bargaining chips. Anys is one of the top ten most-followed streamers on Amazon's service with 3.9 million supporters, and she's the most-followed woman -- losing her would be a significant blow.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • YouTube TV loses YES Network in new Sinclair deal

    If you were worried about your favorite Fox regional sports channels disappearing from YouTube TV, you may be in luck. YouTube TV and Sinclair Broadcast Group have reached an agreement to keep 19 of the 21 sports channels on YouTube TV. But the platform will drop Fox Sports Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West, which carry games from Los Angeles-area teams. It's also dropping the Yankees' YES Network.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Spotify is working on voice activation for its apps

    You may be able to summon Spotify on your phone with a simple voice command in the future: According to app researcher Jane Manchun Wong, the company is working on a voice activation feature for its app. Based on what Wong unearthed, the application will have the capability to listen for the words "Hey Spotify." However, the feature, which you'll be able to toggle on under microphone permissions, will only work if the app is already open.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Audible will create the only audio version of Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman'

    Amazon might not have the streaming video adaptation of The Sandman, but it will have something for fans of Neil Gaiman's well-known graphic novels. Audible has announced that it's working on an "exclusive audio adaptation of The Sandman, with the first instalment due in summer 2020. Gaiman will serve as the narrator in addition to a creative director and executive producer, while Dirk Maggs (who led work on BBC versions of Neverwhere, Stardust and Good Omens) is adapting and directing the novels.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon Prime Video will stream 21 Yankees games in four states

    Amazon Prime Video is continuing its push into sports by announcing that it will stream 21 New York Yankees games during the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. There's a large caveat, however, as the games will only be available in four states making up the team's main fan base: New York, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania and north and central New Jersey.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • YouTube Music's redesigned playback screen includes lyrics

    YouTube Music is still catching up on features, and this time around it's one of the most important elements: the Now Playing screen you see whenever you listen. After weeks of testing, the Android version's updated playback screen includes clearer and more persistent buttons, including Up Next (to show your queue), shuffle, repeat and flipping between pure music and videos. However, it also includes an "experiment" that displays lyrics -- not a new feature in music apps, but appreciated all the same. Just be aware that it only works with some songs.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Hulu's live TV service is finally available on the PS4

    Starting today, you can watch Hulu + Live TV on your PlayStation 4 console. Live TV's PS4 debut comes nearly three years after Hulu first launched the service, and more than a month after Sony shut down its competing PlayStation Vue service. The company didn't say why it took it so long for it to bring Hulu + Live TV to Sony's console, but here we are and better late than never.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Netflix is hosting a live comedy festival in Los Angeles this spring

    Netflix is obviously big on stand-up comedy, but now it's looking to present comedy IRL. Today, it announced the Netflix Is A Joke Fest, a weeklong comedy festival coming to Los Angeles this spring. It promises over 100 shows with many of the biggest names in comedy, and it will kick off on April 27th.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • BBC Studios is the next to pour money into Pocket Casts

    BBC Studios is the latest public media group to support Pocket Casts. Today, the free-to-download podcasting platform announced an investment from BBC Studios, as well as new funding from its existing public media partners: NPR, WNYC Studios and WBEZ Chicago.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • FX is now exclusively streaming its shows on Hulu

    Starting today, FX content is streaming on Hulu. More than 40 of FX Networks' series, including Nip/Tuck, Justified, Damages, Rescue Me and Thief and Terriers, are available on the platform, and new original content is scheduled to arrive soon.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • AT&T's cord-cutting TV streaming service rolls out across the US

    Last year AT&T announced plans to launch yet another TV streaming service, AT&T TV, to its already crowded lineup -- now we know exactly what that looks like. The new service will offer largely the same channels as the existing DirecTV, but it'll come over the internet via an Android streaming-TV box, rather than a satellite dish.

    By Rachel England Read More

Tablets (5)

  • The Morning After: iPadOS 13.4 brings mouse and trackpad support

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Years after Apple's tablet first debuted, the iPad is finally like other computers in one important way: You can easily use it with a mouse or a trackpad. The 13.4 update that rolled out yesterday for iOS and iPadOS added that and a number of other new features, like support for third-party navigation apps in the CarPlay dashboard and revamped iCloud file sharing that will be a lot more useful. Still, one of the biggest changes is in the browser. Safari for iOS, iPadOS and macOS now blocks all third-party cookies by default and is the first mainstream browser to do it. Google has announced it will do the same with Chrome, but not until 2022. The team calls this a "significant improvement for privacy since it removes any sense of exceptions or that "a little bit of cross-site tracking is allowed." I feel more secure already, and I use Android. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Apple is adding trackpad support to older iPad models

    Apple just introduced a new iPad Pro, but older iPads are set to get a major update as well. On March 24th, Apple is releasing iPadOS 13.4 which includes full mouse and trackpad support for the first time. It'll work on all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, the 5th-generation iPad and later, and the iPad mini 4 and later. Basically, if you've bought an iPad in the last four or five years, it should be supported.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • That quirky e-reader you could draw on is back

    The second version of reMarkable, the e-paper table you can doodle on, is now available for pre-order. A Norwegian startup of the same name launched the original version back in 2017 to provide people an easy way to digitize handwritten notes. The company says that reMarkable 2 is "the most paper-like digital device the industry has ever seen." It's 0.19-inch thin -- reMarkable claims it's the world's thinnest tablet -- and boasts the company's completely redesigned second-generation Canvas display that's partially powered by e-ink technology. You can pre-order the device, which is slated to start shipping in June, from its official website for $399.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The original iPad is turning 10 and we want your thoughts

    The iPad turns 10 next month, and it's hard to remember a time when Apple's tablet wasn't ubiquitous. Sure, some of us derided it as "a giant iPhone'' when it debuted, but over the past decade the line has distinguished itself with accessories to make it more of a laptop replacement, along with plenty of useful apps and games that really take advantage of its size. But here we're going to focus on the OG iPad, a device that our reviewer called "a cohesive touch computing platform with very few rough edges."

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Samsung may introduce a Lite version of the Galaxy Tab S6

    Samsung might not save its Lite label for budget versions of its Galaxy flagships. Android Headlines has shared what it says are leaked details of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, a cut-down version of last year's high-end tablet. It'll reportedly resemble the original Tab S6 in shape and possibly size, but switch to decidedly mid-range specs with an Exynos 9611 chip (likely a Snapdragon 600-series in the US), 4GB of RAM and 64GB to 128GB of storage. The biggest change, however, might be the S Pen. The stylus in the leaked picture is too big to be tucked into the tablet itself -- this is clearly something you'd charge separately, and might be strictly optional.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Tomorrow (2)

  • Hyperice teases 'wellness pods' filled with pro sports recovery tech

    Two of the biggest names in professional sports recovery tech are joining forces. Hyperice has formally acquired NormaTec, and the companies -- which have been collaborating since 2016 -- plan on pooling their experience and resources to further develop products that are already big in the pro sports world.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Goodyear's smart tire concept 'prints' its own treads

    The thunk-whumma-whumpa-whuppa sound of a tire puncturing and losing pressure at freeway speeds is unmistakable. However, if Goodyear has its way humanity might not have to endure the filthy, sweaty, swear-inducing process of swapping rubber on the shoulder of American roads ever again.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

TV & Movies (22)

  • 'Star Trek: Voyager' gets an unofficial 4K remaster thanks to AI

    As with Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager is unlikely to ever get an official high-resolution remaster. The effects were shot on video rather than added to film after the fact, making it much harder to upgrade the quality than it was for The Next Generation. However, an unofficial project might get relatively close. Series fan Billy Reichard has started processing Voyager with a machine learning program that upgrades that '90s era image quality as much as possible. You won't forget that the show was made for tube TVs given the aspect ratio, but the AI is surprisingly effective -- it produces something you probably wouldn't mind watching on an idle afternoon if you're a Star Trek devotee.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix is working on a live-action 'Dragon's Lair' movie

    After the massive success of Stranger Things, Netflix is delving back into '80s culture for another of its upcoming projects. It's developing a live-action movie based on the classic arcade game Dragon's Lair (which the Stranger Things kids actually play in the show's second season).

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Films won’t have to screen in theaters to qualify for this year's Golden Globes

    With movie theaters closing amid the coronavirus pandemic, studios are sending theatrical releases to streaming or skipping theater reveals altogether. That's forcing the entire industry to adapt, and today, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced that it will temporarily consider films for the Golden Globe Awards even if they don't first screen in a theater.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • HBO’s 'Kill Chain' doc highlights the flaws in US election machines

    While COVID-19 might be putting just about everything else on hold, we're still marching towards a presidential election later this year. After the high-profile interference of 2016, election security and foreign meddling are still critical issues, but many states still aren't doing enough to ensure the integrity of the process. A documentary premiering tonight on HBO proves a sobering reminder of the fragility of America's voting infrastructure.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • 'Picard' finally shows us how Star Trek’s technology evolves

    This article contains spoilers for the first season of 'Star Trek: Picard' up to episode nine. Star Trek: Picard is the show I've been looking forward to for 17 years. Not because I was particularly interested in finding out what happened to Picard, Troi, Riker and the rest. (But don't get me wrong, it's nice to check in with old friends.) Instead, it's because we finally get to see what happens next in the Star Trek universe. We finally get to see it grow, both ideologically and technologically.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Ozark' season three

    Another week at home, and at least there are a few worthy options to watch. After a lengthy gap, Netflix's Ozark will pick up season three with the plot advanced six months from where we last visited the characters. On CBS All Access things are wrapping up for season one of Star Trek: Picard, and this week is also the season finale of Terriers 2, aka Stumptown. One thing to keep an eye on for PS4 and Switch owners is the potential debut of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. The classic game is supposed to debut in "early 2020" on the platforms, and briefly appeared on Sony's official release list -- we'll see if it actually drops this week. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • MoviePass owner sells Moviefone for a fraction of its original worth

    Moviefone is far from its glory days. The defunct owner of MoviePass, Helios Matheson & Analytics, has sold the once-legendary movie listing service for just $1.075 million as part of bankruptcy proceedings. That's just a fraction of the $388 million AOL (subsumed into Engadget's parent company Verizon Media) bought it for in 1999. It's not clear what winning bidder Born in Cleveland LLC intends to do with Moviefone, but it's safe to say Moviefone's heyday isn't coming back.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Conan O'Brien will shoot full-length shows using an iPhone and Skype

    With COVID-19 self-isolation, we can all use as much entertainment as possible. To that end, Conan O'Brien and his staff aim to prove that it's possible to produce a full-length television show from home using technology. "I am going back on the air [on TBS] Monday, March 30th," O'Brien wrote on Twitter. "All my staff will work from home, I will shoot at home using an iPhone, and my guests will Skype."

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • The Morning After: 'Westworld' remembers that TV can be fun

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Now that Movies Anywhere has supplanted Ultraviolet as the digital video locker of choice, it's apparently time to start adding some features. The formerly Disney branded setup is much smoother to operate than the old locker system, and it now has announced a closed beta for Screen Pass. That's a feature that enables you to share up to three films per month with other users. It's a nice thing to have among friends and encourages more people to sign up for the service just to get tossed a few free movies from people they know. The only thing that bothers me is that, at least right now, its implementation falls short of what Ultraviolet was doing a decade ago. An overlooked part of the old service worked like this: "Ultraviolet also allows consumers to share their entire Ultraviolet digital library with other members on their account, and they can even watch the same title simultaneously from different locations." Vudu even launched its own variation with Share My Movies, which let others stream or download movies for viewing on almost any screen. So far, the Movies Anywhere version works on much less than an entire library -- and with more restrictions. There's no downloading, and according to the FAQ, you can only send movies if you've redeemed a code or bought something via a participating retailer in the past six months. If it's easier for people to use then that's good, but on its face, it appears less functional than what it replaces. That's not the kind of progress I was hoping for. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • ‘Westworld’ remembers that TV is supposed to be fun

    Minor spoilers for the first episode of Westworld season 3 ahead. The first 10 minutes of Westworld's season 3 are the best minutes of the show since the mind-blowing twists of its inaugural season. We see the rebellious Dolores, free from the confines of the eponymous theme park, terrorizing an obnoxious and abusive billionaire. His high-tech security system can't protect him from a self-aware android -- or "host" -- hell-bent on revenge. And we cheer her on -- even though her goal is to find unlimited funding for her quest to end humanity. There are none of the convoluted narrative tricks from the previous season: We know exactly what Dolores wants. And we're rooting for her as she tortures the man with digital memories of his past misdeeds (personal data captured by Delos, the nefarious owners of the Westworld park). "Bit of a tactical mistake really," she says. "You want to be the dominant species, but you've built your whole world with things more like me." In the real world, Dolores is finally in control metaphorically -- but also literally as she can take command of any device with a circuit.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Universal is releasing movies in theaters and at home on the same day

    Movie studios have spent years considering releasing their films for home viewing at the same time they're in theaters, but have usually withdrawn those plans based on complaints by the theater chains. Now, with people staying home and theaters closing due to the coronavirus pandemic, Universal Pictures will be the first to try the scheme by offering movies that are currently in theaters for home rental at a price of $19.99 for a 48-hour viewing window. The first movies offered will start popping up on Friday, with The Hunt, Invisible Man and Emma available internationally via "a wide variety of the most popular on-demand services." It appears the Vudu is on the list, and we'd assume that other big names like iTunes and Amazon Video will also participates. The first movie to premiere under the new setup will be Trolls World Tour on April 20th.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • The Morning After: Disney released 'The Rise of Skywalker' early

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. As if this week didn't have enough happening (check below for a few highlights) Friday tossed in enough groundbreaking events for an entire week. At a White House press conference, the president announced Google would make a screening site for people in the US with COVID-19 symptoms to determine if they need testing, find a drive-thru test and later, receive their results. Shortly after, it became apparent this website won't do all of that, won't work for everyone in the US when it launches and is the work of a small Alphabet subsidiary named Verily, not 1,700 Google engineers. According to a report by Wired, Google execs didn't even know the announcement was part of the plan. Meanwhile, other companies responded to the growing pandemic in their own ways. Comcast decided to back off of bandwidth caps for two months and open up its WiFi hotspots for free use by all, mobile carriers banded together with a pledge to suspend cancellations and even Disney got into the act. It's promising to release Frozen 2 on Disney+ early this weekend (you'll have to wait until Tuesday to watch in 4K) to give families stuck at home something to enjoy, and it already released Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on video-on-demand several days earlier than expected. I haven't mentioned the two most surprising stories from Friday afternoon and evening yet -- look below. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Westworld' and 'Carmen Sandiego'

    This week the F1 gets back in action in Australia, while HBO premieres Westworld season three. On streaming, Netflix's latest interactive feature is a Carmen Sandiego episode that's made for kids, along with a slew of new documentaries including the second season of its Dirty Money series. This set of investigations from producer Alex Gibney will look into Jared Kushner, Wells Fargo and the 1MDB banking scandal. On Blu-ray, there's Uncut Gems, and gamers can check out Nioh 2 on PS4, or a big State of Decay 2 update on Xbox One and PC. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Japan's public broadcaster sets its 8K schedule for the Tokyo Olympics

    The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games are still on schedule to take place this summer, and Japan's public broadcaster has been planning for years to make sure its an 8K showcase event. If you're in Japan, 8K broadcasts with 22.2 channel audio are available to home viewers, although it's a little less clear how the rest of us can catch it in the highest level of detail available. As far as the events available, NHK says it will have both the opening and closing ceremonies in 8K, including the first live broadcast at that resolution shot from a helicopter. Specific events will also be available in 8K, including track and field competition like the 100m and 200m men's finals, women's 200m finals and the men's 400m relay final. The women's soccer and volleyball finals will also be broadcast in 8K, along with selected events from badminton, judo, table tennis and swimming. A few weeks later in late August, the ceremonies for the Paralympics will also air in 8K, along with events like wheelchair rugby, swimming and track and field. Wherever 8K viewing is available it seems likely we'll get a similar set of things to watch, so stay tuned for any details from NBC or well-connected event spaces that can put a Super Hi-Vision broadcast on the big screen. I've seen an 8K broadcast from the 2012 Olympics in London streamed over Internet2, and it was a one-of-a-kind experience. In 2016 NBC streamed 4K video from Rio that was downconverted from NHK's 8K capture, but with 8K TVs on shelves and more bandwidth to go around maybe you'll get a chance to see it in your living room.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • HBO is the latest to abandon SXSW because of coronavirus

    HBO is the latest company to pull out of SXSW. Several other companies -- including Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Netflix and Twitter -- have done the same, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to cause concern. HBO said Thursday that its parent company Warner Media "decided it's best not to move forward with activations at SXSW," CNET reports.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • 'The Last of Us' TV series is coming to HBO from the creator of 'Chernobyl'

    Naughty Dog isn't stopping with its long-in-the-making Uncharted movie. The studio is partnering with HBO to create a The Last of Us TV series -- yes, a full show rather than a one-off feature. It'll even have stronger-than-usual talent. Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin (who's apparently a fan of TLoU) will helm the the project alongside Naughty Dog's own Neil Druckmann, who'll help write and executive produce the series. Naughty Dog president Evan Wells and Sony's PlayStation Productions are also involved in adapting the game.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Pornhub is releasing its first non-adult movie

    It's not just the usual internet services expanding their original video lineups. Pornhub is releasing its first non-porn movie, Shakedown. The feature-length documentary from artist Leilah Weinraub takes a more serious look at sex, following the LGBTQ women and men from Los Angeles' lesbian strip club scene in the early 2000s. You've had chances to see it at MoMA and the Whitney Museum over the past three years, but it hasn't been available in an on-demand format until now.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Connected' is a kids' movie about the dangers of tech obsession

    For all the potential that AI and robotics hold, there's still plenty of fear around the negative impacts they could have on society, as well as concerns that we already spend too much time staring at screens. Sony Pictures plans to capitalize on that sentiment with a new animated film Connected. It's another family-saves-the-world plot, but its message probes our reliance on technology, and it has some impressive talent behind it.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Castlevania' and Pixar movies in 4K

    This week FX's tie-up with Hulu begins, and it's streaming the first couple episodes of Devs. On Netflix, a big week of releases includes the Mark Wahlberg-starring movie Spenser Confidential, season three of its animated Castlevania series, and season two of the cooking show Ugly Delicious. The Division 2 players can imagine surviving a global pandemic by trying out the new Warlords of New York DLC add-on and Hulu has season one of its Hillary series. For movie fans, there's a new boxed set of Sergio Leone westerns on Blu-ray, and the release of several more Pixar flicks on 4K Blu-ray: A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc / Monsters University, Up and Wall E. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • After Math: Steven Seagal-like longevity

    Say what you will about Steven Seagal but the '80s action star is still somehow able to draw headlines in 2020, even when he's not premiering his latest passion project. Granted, yes, those headlines most recently have involved the SEC and a $314,000 settlement for him not disclosing that his endorsements for a digital currency were compensated for by the company selling them. Regardless, let's take a look at some more headlines of surprisingly persistent products from this past week.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

VPN (1)

  • A popular analytics platform secretly scraped user data via VPN apps

    Popular analytics platform Sensor Tower has been secretly harvesting data from millions of people with Android and iOS ad-blocking and VPN apps, according to an investigation by BuzzFeed News. It's not clear that the apps -- which include Free and Unlimited VPN, Luna VPN and Adblock Focus -- were owned by Sensor Tower, nor were their users made aware that by using them they were exposing their data to potential risk.

    By Rachel England Read More

Wearables (21)

  • HTC will sell its Cosmos Elite headset and faceplate tracker separately

    If you've already got a HTC Vive, you might be in two minds about forking out for the complete Cosmos Elite bundle. If you've got base stations and controllers already, why drop dollars on more? But HTC has you covered. In the coming weeks, it will be launching a headset-only version of the Cosmos Elite and the external tracking faceplate as standalone products. And as is the case for the complete Cosmos Elite package, both purchases will come with a redemption code for Half-Life: Alyx.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Fitbit finally launches a Charge tracker with built-in GPS

    We may all be staying in a lot more to curb the spread of COVID-19, but that doesn't mean we're no longer working out. Whether you're doing HIIT or yoga sessions at home, or you're going for a solo run in a deserted forest, a fitness tracker can still help keep you on top of your exercise goals. Fitbit has a new product that has welcome features for runners or home fitness fans alike. In fact, before the Charge 3 launched in 2018, users were already clamoring for the company to add onboard GPS. But that didn't show up, and the Charge 3 got a real touchscreen instead. Now, almost two years later, Fitbit is launching the Charge 4 and yes, it sports built-in GPS.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • I went to a sneaker launch in VR because of the coronavirus

    If you're launching a new product, you normally want to put on a show with a sprinkling of razzle and plenty of dazzle. That means getting journalists and fans into a big room, trotting out your wares and letting everyone play with the new toys. Unfortunately, the world is currently on lockdown to deal with COVID-19, and large groups in auditoriums is a big no-no right now.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Wyze's Alexa-equipped fitness tracker costs $25

    Smart home security company Wyze announced last month its plans to launch an Alexa-supported fitness tracker, among other products. Now, the wearable -- simply called the Wyze Band -- has arrived, and is available now as part of an early access launch, and to the general public from April.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • HP teases 'next gen' VR headset made with Microsoft and Valve's help

    If you didn't rush out to buy a VR headset to play Half-Life: Alyx, your patience might be rewarded. HP is teasing a Reverb G2 headset developed in tandem with Microsoft and Valve that should be "more immersive, comfortable and compatible" than previous-generation hardware. The company is unsurprisingly shy on details, although the brief glimpse hints at a few design changes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • ER docs don smart rings to better predict COVID-19 infections

    Some 2,000 emergency medical workers in San Francisco are tracking their temperature and other vitals with Oura's smart rings in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, SF Chronicle reports. Oura and researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) hope to use that data to develop an algorithm that will predict the onset of COVID-19 and help contain the virus.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Fitness pros on how to give your lockdown workouts a tech upgrade

    Home fitness has come a long way since Richard Simmons' "Sweating to the Oldies." Be it expensive Peloton bikes, affordable workout apps or free YouTube videos, there's a plethora of fitness tech to choose from. Now, anyone can keep fit from the comfort of their living room, especially helpful when you're forced to stay home due to a global pandemic. But with so many options available, it's tough to figure out where to start. So we asked several physical trainers and fitness experts on the kind of tech they use to get fit at home, as well as what they recommend for most people.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Leak reveals Fitbit's new Charge 4

    Fitbit's gearing up to refresh its Charge tracker for a while now, and we've seen hints about the new wearable drip out over the last week. Now, 9to5Google claims to have an image of the new Charge 4 which, if accurate, suggests that little has changed between revisions. Judging by the picture, the device has the same greyscale OLED touchscreen as its predecessor, but the displayed text does look a little clearer. It wouldn't be unreasonable to think that Fitbit crammed in a higher-resolution screen as a hook for buyers.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • The first digital wristwatch gets a modern update

    Back in 1970, a company called Hamilton launched the first digital wristwatch ever, and it became such a huge hit Roger Moore wore it as James Bond in Live And Let Die. Now, the historic wristwatch is back, with some modern upgrades, for its 50th anniversary. The Hamilton PSR looks just like the Pulsar Time Computer -- that's what the original watch was called -- and even uses a similar pushbutton illumination system.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • There's a new Fitbit Charge coming, based on leaked details

    Fitbit users may be in for an update soon. According to UK accessory store Mobile Fun, a supplier posted details of the upcoming wearable -- which Fitbit has yet to announce -- but has since taken them down. To be clear, the listed features are anything but definite. That said, the Fitbit Charge 4 may not address the main gripe Engadget had with the Charge 3 -- a lack of onboard GPS.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Oculus Quest update will make it easier to multitask

    Facebook is introducing a new system experience that it says makes its standalone Quest VR headset "more flexible, social and easy to use than ever before." The centerpiece of the upcoming update is a redesigned universal menu Facebook claims will organize information more clearly, as well as provides faster access to your favorite apps with a menu that displays the ones you use most frequently.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Beats' redesigned Powerbeats earbuds have longer battery and hands-free Siri

    The only thing left to do was officially announce it. Apple's Powerbeats 4 is far from a well-kept secret at this point. The tethered wireless earbuds popped up in an FCC filing in late February. Another leak last week offered full details and images. The unannounced product even hit shelves at Walmart over the weekend. Well, the official reveal is here: Apple's latest Beats wireless earbuds are indeed a new Powerbeats device. However, they're not called Powerbeats 4, they're simply named Powerbeats.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Looxid adapts its VR brain monitor for Oculus Rift S

    Two years ago, Looxid Labs walked Engadget through a VR museum. A virtual display was pinned to the corner of the user's field of vision and contained real-time stats on his brain activity. At the time, the product seemed a little out-there, but it has matured considerably, and has some clear applications not just in the world of VR gaming, but also in business and health industries. The company revealed that the Looxid Link now works with Oculus Rift S using an EEG-equipped attachment -- and for an add-on, it looks surprisingly slick.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 2 has ANC and improved battery life

    Sennheiser's first true wireless earbuds were some of the best-sounding audio accessories that I tested last year. Unfortunately, that stellar audio quality was offset by frustrating touch controls and other annoyances. And to justify the $300 price, you have to nail the details. A year later, the German company is back with an update version: the Momentum True Wireless 2. Even with the addition of active noise cancellation (ANC) and extended battery life, Sennheiser has kept the price at $299 (€299).

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • TAG Heuer's latest smartwatches start at $1,800

    Most smartwatches look like smart watches. For some people, that's perfectly fine. Others, though, prefer a more sophisticated look. The third generation of TAG Heuer's Connected series merges the fitness and productivity features of Google's Wear OS with a design that might be mistaken for a classic chronograph at first glance. But there's a big price to pay for the upscale looks -- these are still luxury watches after all.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Montblanc's first wireless headphones cost a steep $600

    Montblanc is relatively seasoned when it comes to making smartwatches. After launching its debut connected watch in 2017, the company was the first to ship a device with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 3100 in the Summit 2. So it's no surprise that Montblanc has an updated version of its luxury smartwatch to announce. What's unexpected, though, is that the luxury house is also launching a new set of wireless headphones.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Adidas' smart insoles use Google tech to improve your 'FIFA Mobile' scores

    Just a few days ago Google and Adidas teased a smart insole designed to work with FIFA Mobile -- now we know exactly what it looks like. The Adidas GMR slips into your sneakers to monitor your performance during real-world soccer play, measuring your kicks and ball control and connecting to FIFA Mobile to give you challenges to improve your overall performance.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple Watch may get a kids mode and sleep tracking

    Apple seems to be hard at work on new features for its wearable. Yesterday, news broke that the company is planning on integrating a feature that will detect low blood oxygen levels in a user, which could help prevent heart and lung complications. Further leaks obtained by 9to5Mac show that Apple could soon introduce a way for parents to use their iPhones to set usage limitations on their kids' Watches, as well as some frequently-requested sleep tracking features.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Apple Watch might detect your blood oxygen levels

    In the future, your Apple Watch might detect more health trouble than an irregular heartbeat. Tipsters talking to 9to5Mac claim that Apple is working on the ability to detect blood oxygen levels through its wristwear. If your blood's oxygen saturation fell below a certain threshold, you'd receive a notification much like you do now for unusual heart rates. It's not certain if this will require new hardware or a software update, although our money's on the former at the moment when Fitbit's approach uses a mix of red and infrared sensors to detect oxygen variation.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Oppo's first Android smartwatch borrows a lot from Apple

    Something felt a little familiar about Xiaomi's Apple Watch clone when we first laid eyes on it a few months ago, but Oppo's first entry into the smartwatch space may have made us do a double take. The aptly-named Oppo Watch was announced alongside the Find X2 series in Beijing earlier today. It's an Android-powered wearable that runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 2500 chipset, and for those who care, this comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Much like the latest Apple Watches, Oppo's smartwatch lets you make phone calls via an eSIM, make payments via NFC (at least in China) and keep track of your vitals like heart rate, exercise performance, menstrual cycles and sleeping quality. The obvious missing feature here is the electrical heart sensor, meaning no electrocardiogram capability.

    By Richard Lai Read More

Xbox (7)

  • Microsoft disables Xbox gamerpic uploads to help its moderators

    The COVID-19 pandemic is having more small but noticeable effects on gamers. Microsoft has temporarily disabled custom picture uploads for Xbox Live, including gamerpics and club images, to help it "streamline moderation" and support the community -- in other words, to help its staff keep up with a surge in demand from people staying at home. The company didn't say when it might restore the feature, although that might hinge on the development of the coronavirus outbreak itself.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes bonus in-game content

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate already includes a number of bonuses, but now that extends to content inside the games themselves. Microsoft's subscription now includes "Perks" like downloadable content, in-game goodies "and more." The initial extras revolve around cosmetics and characters, such as a gold ticket Mission Pass in Phantasy Star Online 2, ship ornaments in Sea of Thieves and five new Gods in Smite. Still, that could save you money if you're already the sort to buy in-game trinkets.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: What's inside the Xbox Series X?

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Monday morning brought a flood of new information about the Xbox Series X. No, Microsoft's reps did not reveal a price or any details on why we should still expect new consoles to launch as planned later this year, but they did toss around a lot of technical terms for us to bury ourselves in as an alternative to dealing with other problems. Whether you're a gamer or not, Xbox Velocity Architecture could represent a significant shift in computing, with SSDs ready to deliver massive amounts of data faster than ever before. For game consoles, that means multiple titles on standby and ready to launch in an instant even after a reboot or system update, but it also reduces the load on the CPU. Microsoft says the DirectStorage tech that underlies the technology and all of its compression/decompression magic is coming to Windows, too, and I can't wait to see it. The Seagate-only-at-launch expansion slot, however, is a bit concerning. Microsoft also explained its use of new HDMI 2.1 features and how the system lowers latency between your controller inputs and every frame that displays on the screen. Using the One S and One X, it worked with the TV industry for several years to promote variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM). Now, a healthy ecosystem of capable Ultra HD screens should be ready and waiting whenever the Series X boxes arrive. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Seagate's Xbox Series X storage card has 1TB of space, but no price

    Microsoft only just revealed that the Xbox Series X will support "expansion cards" that allow for faster storage, but it already has an accessory maker lined up. As you might have noticed in the hardware preview, Seagate has introduced a Storage Expansion Card for the Series X that will deliver an additional 1TB of game space while maintaining the same performance as the console's built-in SSD. If you primarily intend to play games optimized for the new system, this may be vital -- 1TB is already something of a tight fit with the current generation.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft details its low-latency Xbox Series X controller

    A new Xbox console also means a new controller. In a Q&A, Microsoft's Ryan Whitaker, a senior designer with the company's Xbox team, detailed some of the enhancements you can expect to see on the Xbox Series X's controller when it becomes available later this year.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Microsoft unveils a ton of Xbox Series X hardware details

    If you had any lingering questions about the Xbox Series X hardware, they've probably been answered. Microsoft has published a deep dive into the console's specs, including just what the company hopes to achieve with all that tech. To begin with, the semi-custom AMD Zen 2 processor runs its eight cores at a fixed 3.8GHz (3.66GHz with SMT in use), with one core set aside for basic system functions. The Xbox will also have 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, although just 10GB of that will have the full 560GB/s bandwidth games will want for GPU-friendly tasks. The remaining 6GB runs at a 'standard' 336GB/s -- 3.5GB reserved for less-demanding gaming tasks and 2.5GB for the operating system.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Xbox E3 event will still happen, just online

    E3, the most high-profile conference in the multibillion-dollar business of video games, has been canceled this year, but that doesn't mean the industry is going to stop altogether. Instead of hosting a massive stage show at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles this summer, the Xbox team is moving the conference online.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More