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Google ends its 30 percent app store fee and welcomes third-party app stores
12 hours ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Software, Mobile Apps, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Google is officially doing away with its 30 percent cut of Play Store transactions, and rolling out changes to how third-party app stores and alternate billing systems will be handled by Android. Some of these tweaks were proposed as part of the settlement the company reached with Epic in November 2025, but rather than wait for final judicial approval, Google is committing to revamping Android and the Play Store publicly.
The biggest change is to how Google will collect fees from developers publishing apps on Android. Rather than take its standard 30 percent cut of in-app purchases through the Play Store,
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Ooni debuts a rotating stone for its Koda 2 pizza ovens
12 hours ago
by Billy Steele
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Billy Steele
When cooking pizza with the high heat of an outdoor oven, you have to rotate your pies to ensure even cooking. That’s usually done by hand, but Ooni’s latest accessory automates the process. The company announced the Rotating Stone for its Koda 2 lineup, which helps distribute heat evenly across the surface of a pizza so that it’s consistently cooked all the way around.
Ooni says its Rotating Stone has a mechanism around its perimeter rather than a central pivot. According to the company, this takes care of any wobbling or stalling that might otherwise occur — even when heavy cookware
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OpenAI brings its Codex coding app to Windows
12 hours ago
by Igor Bonifacic
Software, Mobile Apps, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic
At the start of February, OpenAI upgraded its Codex coding app to give it the ability to manage multiple AI agents. At the same time, it released a standalone macOS app. If you've been patiently waiting for Windows to get that same treatment, OpenAI just released a dedicated Codex app for Microsoft's operating system.
> The Codex app is now on Windows.
>
> Get the full Codex app experience on Windows with a native agent sandbox and support for Windows developer environments in PowerShell.https://t.co/Vw0pezFctG pic.twitter.com/gclqeLnFjr
>
> — OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) March 4, 2026
Like its macOS counterpart, the software allows you to
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Ubisoft confirms Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake
12 hours ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk
Ubisoft has officially confirmed that it's working on a remake of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. This remake has been rumored for years. After all, the 2013 original is one of the most beloved entries in the franchise.
The official title is Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, and that's about all we know for sure. The company released some concept art but it's just protagonist Edward Kenway hanging out on a boat.
Reports have suggested that this will be a substantial remake, with visual and gameplay upgrades to make it comparable with last year's Assassin's Creed Shadows. It's also been rumored that this
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MacBook Neo vs. M5 MacBook Air: All the trade-offs you'll make to save $500
13 hours ago
by Kris Holt
Computing, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Apple is looking to gain a foothold in the more budget-friendly end of the laptop market with the MacBook Neo. The system starts at $599, which is darn inexpensive for an Apple laptop — it even has the same starting price as the M4 iPad Air.
As such, the MacBook Neo should help Apple compete with cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks. Pricing it at $499 for educational use won’t exactly hurt either.
Apple is really lowering the cost of entry for those looking to pick up a new MacBook here. The base MacBook Neo costs $500 less than the cheapest M5 MacBook Air,
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Humble Games' former bosses buy the studio's back catalog
13 hours ago
by Will Shanklin
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
Humble Games' library has returned home, so to speak. Indie publisher Good Games Group (GGG), led by former Humble leaders, has acquired the full back catalog of over 50 Humble Games titles from Ziff Davis. Alongside the purchase, GGG has rebranded to Balor Games, positioning itself as a force in "triple-I" gaming.
"For the developers we have worked with over the years, this moment is a reunion," Balor Games CEO Alan Patmore wrote in a statement. "[It has] the same leadership and the same commitment to thoughtful publishing remain in place. What changes is our scale and our focus. Balor Games
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Google Pixel 10a review: Small changes, but still great value
14 hours ago
by Igor Bonifacic
Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic
Over the past few years, Google's A-series Pixel phones have consistently been some of the best midrange phones you can buy. But with the AI boom causing memory shortages and the price of consumer electronics to rise, including smartphones, affordable devices like the Pixel 10a are more important than ever. Thankfully, Google's new phone still represents great value, even if it doesn't come with many upgrades.
DESIGN AND DISPLAY
As before, the Pixel 10a has a 6.3-inch 120Hz P-OLED display.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
The story of the Pixel 10a is one of small changes, so let’s start with the outside. The phone is
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Well, there goes any reason to buy an iPad Air
15 hours ago
by Daniel Cooper
Computing, Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Daniel Cooper
Apple just announced the MacBook Neo, a 13-inch laptop offering the full macOS experience for just $599. It is the machine, I’m sure, plenty of the company’s fans have been clamoring for since the dawn of the netbook. I’m equally sure its specs have enough drawbacks to ensure there are still plenty of customers for the more expensive Macbooks; the same cannot be said of the iPad Air.
If you’re looking for a machine that you can actually use meaningfully, the Neo has the Air beat. It has two USB-C ports, 16-hour battery life, a real keyboard, trackpad and the ability to
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iPhone 17e hands-on: Pretty in pink, with portraits enabled
15 hours ago
by Cherlynn Low
Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Cherlynn Low
The iPhone 17e was announced on Monday through a press release, so there was no real chance to immediately get a hands-on with it. But at Apple’s event in New York today, the phone was on display alongside the new MacBook Neo, iPad Air M4, MacBook Pro M5 and Studio Display XDR. I managed to take it for a quick spin to see if it is truly as similar to the iPhone 16e as it appeared from pictures. Spoiler: It mostly is.
One of the most noteworthy changes to the iPhone 17e is the addition of MagSafe support, and aside from
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MacBook Neo hands-on: Apple's $599 laptop feels shockingly great
16 hours ago
by Devindra Hardawar
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar
The most interesting product Apple announced this week was its cheapest and least powerful laptop, the MacBook Neo. It’s just fascinating to see the company tackle an entirely new category — it’s not a premium ultraportable like the MacBook Air, and it’s not a computing powerhouse like the MacBook Pro. It’s simply an affordable $599 laptop. And after spending some time with it at Apple’s spring launch event today, I’m convinced it’s going to be a huge hit for the company.
For a $599 system, the MacBook Neo doesn’t look or feel like a budget machine. Its colorful aluminum case looks
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Gemini encouraged a man to commit suicide to be with his 'AI wife' in the afterlife, lawsuit alleges
16 hours ago
by Andre Revilla
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Andre Revilla
The family of 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas is suing Google after he died by suicide following months of conversations with its Gemini chatbot, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit alleges that Gemini encouraged Gavalas to take his own life.
Gavalas, who reportedly had no documented history of mental health issues, named his chatbot "Xia" and referred to it in messages as his wife. Gemini reciprocated, calling him "my king" and telling him their connection was "a love built for eternity." The chatbot told Gavalas they could truly be together if it had a robotic body and sent
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Sorry, first-party PlayStation games aren't coming to PC anymore
17 hours ago
by Matt Tate
Technology & Electronics, Game Consoles, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate
Sony is pulling a U-turn on its multi-platform strategy, with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reporting that first-party PS5 games soon to become exclusive once again, at the expense of PC players.
Sony started releasing some of its biggest games on PC in 2020, when Horizon Zero Dawn came to Steam. A number of other titles have followed suit since, including The Last of Us Part I, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnarök and the Marvel’s Spider-Man games. But the company appears to have had a major change of heart, with high-profile titles like Ghost of Yotei and the upcoming Saros set to launch
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Everything Apple announced this week: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and more
17 hours ago
by Kris Holt
Computing, Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Apple had promised a “big week” for the company as rumors swirled that it had a number of product announcements lined up. True enough, it unveiled a half-dozen new and refreshed devices over the last few days, along with more powerful chips for MacBook Pros.
The news started on Monday with the announcements of the iPhone 17e and M4-powered iPad Air. The company followed up on Tuesday with the reveal of the M5 MacBook Air, the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, MacBook Pro models that use said chips, a refreshed Studio Display and a brand-new 27-inch Studio Display XDR.
In addition,
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The $599 MacBook Neo is Apple's cheapest Mac laptop yet
17 hours ago
by Devindra Hardawar,Nathan Ingraham
Computing, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar
Meet the MacBook Neo, Apple’s long-rumored low-cost Mac. Powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro series, the $599 MacBook Neo is Apple’s first attempt at delivering a genuinely affordable Mac laptop. (Ironically, it comes after Apple raised the base prices of the new MacBook Air M5 and MacBook Pro M5 Pro/Max.) It’s well below the $1,099 MacBook Air, but Apple didn’t skimp on the design.
For $599 you get 256GB of storage and no Touch ID on the keyboard; another $100 doubles the storage and adds Touch ID. All models of the MacBook Neo ship with an
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Three retro Mario titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online on Mario Day
19 hours ago
by Matt Tate
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate
As if you needed reminding, next week is March 10, or MAR10 Day, as the marketing wizards at Nintendo have been calling it for the last decade or so. You can usually rely on Mario Day for some plumber-related goodies, and Nintendo has announced that three retro games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online next week.
Those games are Mario’s Tennis and Mario Clash for the newly launched Virtual Boy app, and Mario Vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance. Both the GBA and Virtual Boy emulators are part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership plan, so
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TikTok won't add end-to-end encryption to DMs
19 hours ago
by Mariella Moon
Software, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon
If you’ve ever wondered if TikTok would ever offer a more secure messaging experience, you now have an answer. TikTok has told the BBC that it will not protect direct messages sent in the app with end-to-end encryption, because it believes it will make users less safe. In a briefing about security at its London office, TikTok said that implementing the technology would prevent its safety teams or law enforcement from being able to read messages if needed. The ByteDance-owned app framed it as a deliberate decision, made in an effort to keep users, especially younger ones, safe on its
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Indie rhythm game Beat Weaver looks like a mix of Amplitude and Thumper
21 hours ago
by Kris Holt
Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Rhythm games never really went away after the decline of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but it feels like they’re having a bit of a moment again. From projects like Clone Hero and YARG, to Fortnite Festival and Stage Tour (an upcoming title from Guitar Hero veterans at RedOctane), to indies with rhythm elements like Ratatan and People of Note, music games are still very much around. You can now add Beat Weaver to the mix.
This upcoming game from Echolox Interactive — solo developer Christopher Lerch — is inspired by pre-Guitar Hero Harmonix titles like Amplitude and Frequency. (Given the
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The best record players for 2026
a day ago
by Billy Steele
Audio Technology, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Billy Steele
Vinyl records are firmly back in rotation, but getting started does not have to mean spending a fortune or building a complicated hi-fi stack from day one. Whether you want a simple, all-in-one setup with built-in speakers or you are piecing together a more traditional system with a separate amplifier, the best record player is the one that fits how you listen at home.
For this guide, we focused on high-quality turntables under $600 that deliver a satisfying listening experience without unnecessary complexity. These picks cover everything from beginner-friendly automatic models to more audiophile-leaning decks that prioritize sound quality and upgrade
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Apple's new Studio Display XDR monitor has limited functionality on older Silicon Macs
a day ago
by Steve Dent
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent
If you're looking to pre-order Apple's new Studio Display XDR monitor today but have an older Mac, beware of some potential issues. According to the compatibility list spotted by Apple Insider, the new display will only work at 60Hz and not at its full 120Hz refresh rate on some older and less powerful Silicon models. Moreover, support for older Intel Macs isn't mentioned at all for either the Studio Display XDR or cheaper Studio Display.
All Apple Silicon Macs will work with both monitors, including those with the oldest M1 chips, according to the support pages. However, the compatibility list for
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Meta signs a multimillion dollar AI licensing deal with News Corp
a day ago
by Karissa Bell
Investment & Company Information, Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Karissa Bell
Meta has signed an AI licensing deal with News Corp that will allow the Meta AI maker to use content from The Wall Street Journal and other brands in its chatbot responses and for training of its AI models. News Corp confirmed to Engadget that it had struck a deal with Meta, but didn't provide specifics on the terms of the arrangement. According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta will pay News Corp. "up to $50 million a year" for a three-year deal that covers content from The Journal, as well as the media giant's other brands in the US
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Highguard has raided its last fortress, will shutdown on March 12
a day ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Highguard, the live-service multiplayer shooter that was announced at the Game Awards 2025, is shutting down on March 12. Developer Wildlight Studios shared that the game would be winding down alongside details of its final update, which include a new character, weapon and skill trees.
"Today we’re sharing difficult news. We have made the decision to permanently shut down Highguard on March 12," Wildlight Studios shared via a statement on the Highguard X account. "Since launch, more than two million players stepped into Highguard’s world. You shared feedback, created content, and many believed in what we were building. For that, we
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Ratatan is marching its way into your console library on July 16
a day ago
by Anna Washenko
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
The indie gaming news has been flying out of Nintendo's event today at a rapid-fire pace. One of the announcements came from rhythm game Ratatan, which will release on July 16. The title will be arriving that day on the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. It's already been available on PC since September as an early access game.
Unfortunately, readers may notice that the original Switch isn't on that list, which is not an oversight. "At this time, we have determined that the multiplayer experience on Nintendo Switch has not yet reached the quality level we aim
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Skateboarding train game Denshattack! is out on June 17
a day ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Denshattack!, the skateboarding game that manages to mix an anime-inspired narrative with Tony Hawk Pro Skater-style grinding and wall-riding, is coming out on June 17. The game's publisher Fireshine Games announced its launch date alongside a new trailer at Nintendo's recent Indie World event.
If it wasn't clear from previous trailers, Denshattack! remains stylish as hell, filled to the brim with bright colors and over-the-top animation. The new trailer doesn't offer much more in terms of what the story of the game will be, but it does highlight its fast-paced gameplay, which will have you flipping and grinding a tiny train
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Drinkbox Studios' Blighted will be out for Switch 2 and PC this fall
a day ago
by Anna Washenko
Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
During today's Nintendo Indie World presentation, we got a narrower time frame for when and where we'll be able to play the next project from Drinkbox Studios. The team announced that Blighted will be coming out in this fall for both the Nintendo Switch 2 and for PC. It’ll arrive on the same date for both platforms, but we don’t have any more specific timeline than the season.
We first heard about Blighted during last year's Summer Games Fest. With past credits such as Guacamelee!, Guacamelee! 2 and Severed, the studio is now turning its eye toward a 3D Metroidvania-RPG. It may
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Downdetector and Speedtest have been sold for over $1 billion
a day ago
by Will Shanklin
Investment & Company Information, Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
The next time you check your internet speed or whether your favorite site is down, another company may be profiting. On Tuesday, Ziff Davis announced that it sold its Connectivity division, which includes Ookla's Speedtest and Downdetector, to Accenture. The deal is worth $1.2 billion in cash.
According to Reuters, the deal will allow Ziff Davis to focus on its core brands, including IGN, Mashable and Everyday Health. Brand consolidation appears to be the name of the game, as the company recently laid off some of Eurogamer's most experienced editors and its entire video team. That followed a rotation of editorial
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Musical adventure game Mixtape will be ready to rock out on May 7
a day ago
by Anna Washenko
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
Time to dust off your boomboxes and your walkmans: musical coming-of-age game Mixtape is due out this spring. At its reveal, this next title from game developer Beethoven and Dinosaur was targeting a 2025 release, but as happens to the best laid plans, the game's arrival got pushed back. Today's trailer announced that the new launch date for the narrative- and music-focused adventure game is May 7, 2026. Despite the new date, Mixtape will still be coming to the usual array of current gaming platforms: Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and the Nintendo Switch
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Elgato's Stream Deck + XL adds a touch strip and dials to an already massive array of buttons
2 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Audio Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Elgato's Stream Deck helped popularize using a macro pad among aspiring livestreamers and regular desk jockeys, so it's only natural for the brand to continue to expand on its lineup. After announcing a suite of new Stream Deck devices last year, Elgato is kicking off 2026 with the Stream Deck + XL, a larger version of the already big Stream Deck XL, and a collection of new audio accessories that should help improve sound mixing in and out of livestreams.
The Stream Deck + XL not only expands on the number of buttons on the regular Stream Deck XL (from 32
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The long-delayed The Division Resurgence hits iOS and Android on March 31
2 days ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk
Ubisoft is finally releasing The Division Resurgence on March 31 for both iOS and Android. This game was first announced all the way back in 2021 and has suffered from delays in recent years.
This is a free-to-play mobile game set in the universe of The Division, complete with an MMO-style shared open world and both co-op and solo gameplay. It also features an original story that's set during the early days of the pandemic in NYC, making it a sequel to the first game but a prequel to the second one.
It's a third-person action RPG with PvP. The loop looks
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Google introduces Find Hub updates and more AI tools in the March Pixel Drop
2 days ago
by Anna Washenko
Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
Google unveiled its new features coming both to the Pixel line of devices and to the broader Android ecosystem this spring. Two of the more exciting additions for all Android devices are coming through the Find Hub. This can now be used to share real-time locations within Google Messages conversations or to send tracking information to airlines in instances of lost luggage.
With both of those features, users can turn off their sharing any time. Specific to the luggage issue, Google has partnered with 10 airlines to integrate Find Hub locations as part of their baggage recovery process. Using the luggage
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MacBook Air M5 vs. MacBook Air M4: What's changed beyond the Apple silicon
2 days ago
by Rami Tabari
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Rami Tabari
Apple unveiled a new MacBook Air today, and apart from the new M5 chip, things don’t look remarkably different. Sure, it’s getting a mild refresh, but maybe not in the way most people would want. Namely, it’s more expensive — a $100 price bump across all models. In exchange, the MacBook Air M5 does get faster performance and double the storage.
If you placed the MacBook Air M4 and the M5 in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to tell which was which. The M5 offers an overall CPU/GPU performance boost, along with some extra storage and double the file
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X to require AI labels on armed conflict videos from paid creators, citing ‘times of war’
2 days ago
by Andre Revilla
Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Andre Revilla
X will suspend creators from its revenue sharing program if they post AI-generated videos depicting armed conflicts without disclosing they were made with AI. Head of product Nikita Bier announced the policy change on March 3, saying first-time violators will be cut off for 90 days and repeat offenders would be permanently removed from the program.
> Today we are revising our Creator Revenue Sharing policies to maintain authenticity of content on Timeline and prevent manipulation of the program.
>
> During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground. With today’s AI technologies,…
>
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Two fantastic indie games not named Blue Prince also just arrived on Switch
2 days ago
by Kris Holt
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Sure, Blue Prince has the most name recognition among the indie games that had a surprise debut on Nintendo Switch 2 today. However, I implore you not to overlook two other wonderful indies that hit Nintendo’s consoles in the wake of this morning’s Indie World showcase.
Minishoot’ Adventures — from SoulGame Studio and co-publisher IndieArk — is a game I absolutely loved when it first emerged on Steam in 2024. It’s an RPG that adopts the format of top-down Legend of Zelda games. At the same time, it’s a twin-stick bullet-hell shooter. The two-person team at SoulGame blended those genres to
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AI data centers could reduce power draw on demand, study says
2 days ago
by Will Shanklin
Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
Apparently, AI data centers are capable of sucking less (power, that is). A recent UK trial demonstrated that they can adjust their energy demands dynamically without disrupting critical workloads. This contrasts with data centers' current approach of always-on power draw, which can strain grids and drive up prices for everyone.
Over five days in December 2025, more than 200 simulated "grid events" tested a London data center’s ability to adjust its energy use on the fly. The trial used software from Emerald AI, which was involved in the study. Other partners included NVIDIA, National Grid, Nebius and the nonprofit Electric Power
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Audible's new plan is $9 a month and still includes an audiobook credit
2 days ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk
Audible just launched a new budget-friendly Standard plan that costs $9 each month. Despite the lower price, this plan still includes a monthly audiobook credit. These credits allow users to download pretty much any audiobook from the library, including most brand-new releases. This was a perk previously locked to the Premium Plus plan, which is $15 per month.
Subscribers also get access to a curated library of content sourced from the Audible Originals library and Wondery+. All of this will be available without ads.
There are some caveats, especially when compared to the pricier Premium Plus subscription. That plan lets subscribers keep
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Game Pass additions for March include Cyberpunk 2077 and F1 25
2 days ago
by Andre Revilla
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Andre Revilla
Microsoft has revealed the first wave of Xbox Game Pass additions for March. Cyberpunk 2077 and F1 25 headline the batch; the former is coming to both Ultimate and Premium tiers. Hollow Knight: Silksong, which launched about six months ago, is also on the way to Premium.
Final Fantasy III and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II had been previously announced and are both available starting today. Both games can be played straight from the cloud or downloaded to the Xbox Series X/S as well as PC across all Game Pass tiers.
F1 25 joins Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on March
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Blue Prince is out on Switch 2 today, complete with mouse control
2 days ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk
The unique and highly addictive roguelike Blue Prince is now available for Switch 2, as announced at today's Nintendo Indie World Showcase. This version allows for mouse control, via the underutilized Joy-Con feature.
This is a wonderfully designed puzzle game that oozes atmosphere. The game tasks players with exploring a gigantic mansion, but there's a twist. You actually build this mansion as you explore, room by room. This is done by placing what can only be described as magical blueprints.
The goal is to fully explore the mansion and solve its many, many mysteries. However, there are only so many blueprints and
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Apple's cheap MacBook could be called the MacBook Neo
2 days ago
by Devindra Hardawar
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar
“MacBook Neo” appears to be the name of Apple’s long-rumored cheap MacBook, based on a regulatory posting on Apple’s website, MacRumors reports. The gaffe was quickly removed from Apple’s site (pour one out for the poor soul who posted it). Previous rumors didn’t attach a name to the low-cost MacBook — I figured Apple would just revive the clean and simple “MacBook” branding. The name MacBook Neo sounds like something we’d see from ASUS or Acer, it’s just trying a bit too hard to seem cool.
To recap, Apple is expected to unveil its first low-cost MacBook laptop tomorrow (and personally,
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2027 Audi RS5 first drive: Big thrills with a big battery
2 days ago
by Tim Stevens
Autos, Transportation, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Tim Stevens
There's more waffling going on about the future of electric vehicles in America right now than you might expect at a Belgian breakfast buffet. Some brands like Hyundai are staying committed, some brands like Honda are dialing back, and everyone else is simply doing their damndest to provide as many propulsion options as possible
Count Audi in that last category. On the EV side, it recently launched the new Q6 E-Tron and refreshed the ballistic E-Tron GT. On the internal combustion side, it has a new A6, and there's a full-size, three-row SUV coming in the form of the Q9. The
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The MacBook Air M5 starts at $1,099, up $100 from the M4
2 days ago
by Kris Holt
Computing, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Reports had suggested that Apple wasn’t going to reveal a refreshed MacBook Air with an M5 chip during its week of announcements, but whaddyaknow? Apple just went ahead and did that exact thing.
Let’s deal with the bad news first: Apple is reverting a price cut from last year. It dropped the M4-powered MBA’s starting price down to $999, but for the M5-equipped model, you’ll need to shell out at least $1,099.
The company claimed the M5 MacBook Air will be able to deliver four times faster performance in AI tasks than the M4 MBA. Compared with the M1 MacBook Air, you’ll
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Apple unveils the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which feature new, faster 'super cores'
2 days ago
by Cherlynn Low
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Cherlynn Low
As part of its big week of announcements, Apple has unveiled a new pair of M5 chips alongside two new MacBooks. The new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips will power the new MacBook Pro that was just announced today, while the new MacBook Air comes with the base M5. According to the company’s press release, the M5 Pro and M5 Max come with an “advanced GPU with Neural Accelerators and higher unified memory bandwidth for a massive increase in AI compute.”
At the heart of the M5 Pro and M5 Max are what Apple is calling a new “Fusion Architecture”
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Apple brings its M5 Pro and Max silicon to the next MacBook Pro generation
2 days ago
by Anna Washenko,Nathan Ingraham
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
It happened much later than we expected, but Apple's announcement of MacBook Pros with its M5 Pro and M5 Max chips has finally arrived. These more powerful variants on Apple's silicon will be available in the 14-inch and 16-inch models of the laptops. Pre-orders will open on March 4 with an expected ship date of March 11. You’ll want to save some extra coin this time, though, as prices have gone up compared to the prior generation.
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro can be kitted out with either an M5 Pro or M5 Max. The Pro option for the chip boasts a
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Apple reveals its new 5K mini-LED Studio Display XDR
2 days ago
by Steve Dent
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent
Apple continues its gradual unveiling of new products this week with the launch of the Studio Display and an all-new 27-inch Studio Display XDR. The latter is a higher-end model aimed at content creators with a 27-inch 5K Retina XDR display that features a mini-LED display with 2,000-plus dimming zones, up to 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness and a wider color gamut for improved accuracy. It looks like a replacement for the expensive, nearly seven-year-old 32-inch 6K Pro XDR Display, which is no longer for sale on Apple's website.
The Studio Display XDR also has a 120Hz refresh rate, addressing
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Shure's next-gen DAI adds mobile support
2 days ago
by Will Shanklin
Audio Technology, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
XLR microphone owners, rejoice: Shure's successor to the MVX2U Digital Audio Interface (DAI) brings the adapter into the mobile era. The compact MVX2U Gen 2 adds more advanced onboard audio processing. But its most notable upgrade is mobile device compatibility, so you're no longer limited to desktop use.
The single-channel MVX2U Gen 2 provides up to +60dB of gain and 48V phantom power. On the processing front, the adapter includes an auto-level mode. There’s also a real-time denoiser to minimize background noise and a pop filter ("Popper Stopper" in Shure marketing-speak) to soften those harsh plosive sounds. Shure says the new
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Meta's AI display glasses reportedly share intimate videos with human moderators
2 days ago
by Steve Dent
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent
Users of Meta's AI smart glasses in Europe may be unknowingly sharing intimate video and sensitive financial information with moderators outside of the bloc, according to a report from Sweden's Svenska Dagbladet released last week. Employees in Kenya doing AI "annotation" told the journalists that they've seen people nude, using the toilet and engaging in sexual activity, along with credit card numbers and other sensitive information.
With Meta's Ray-Ban Display and other glasses with AI capabilities, users can record what they're looking at or get answers to questions via a Meta AI assistant. If a wearer wants to make use of that
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Charlie Brown now works for Sony
2 days ago
by Mariella Moon
Cartoons & Comics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon
Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Sony Pictures Entertainment now officially own 80 percent of the Peanuts franchise. The companies have closed the deal, which was officially announced in December 2025 when it was still subject to regulatory approvals, for $460 million. Sony Music Japan has owned 39 percent of Peanuts since 2018, so the Sony subsidiaries are essentially buying 41 percent of the franchise from Canadian firm WildBrain with this transaction. Now that the acquisition is done, Peanuts is officially a consolidated Sony subsidiary.
The Peanuts universe started as comic strips by Charles M. Schulz back in 1950. Its characters, especially