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50 years of Apple pushing tech forward, for better or worse
12 hours ago
by Mat Smith
Computing, Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mat Smith
Over the last 50 years, Apple reimagined personal computers, catalyzed the era of the smartphone, enlarged an iPhone and called it the iPad and garnered a strong position in wearable tech through its Watch series and its AirPods. It also popularized software and services like its App Store, FaceTime, iCloud, iMessages and many more. For a lot of us, the first time we pinched-to-zoom on a photo was likely on an iPhone.
However, Apple gives and it takes away. Things have had to change, be removed and consumers have to move on to whatever's new. For better or worse, the weight
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Uber to acquire Berlin-based chauffeur hailing app to ramp up its luxury travel efforts
12 hours ago
by Jackson Chen
Mergers, Acquisitions & Takeovers, Travel & Tourism, Investment & Company Information, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
Uber has acquired Blacklane, a Berlin-based startup that offers chauffeur services and bookings through its app, with plans to expand further into the luxury travel industry. Blacklane, founded in 2011, acts as a liaison between independent local chauffeur services and travelers looking for a more premium ride. According to Uber, the deal is subject to regulatory approvals but is expected to close by the end of 2026.
"This partnership marks a significant milestone in Blacklane’s next chapter and is a powerful step-change in introducing our service to new markets globally," Jens Wohltorf, founder and CEO of Blacklane said in a press
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Microsoft's research assistant can now use multiple AI models simultaneously
13 hours ago
by Jackson Chen
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
Microsoft's Copilot is getting even better at research thanks to a new feature that combines the power of both OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. In a blog post announcing Copilot Cowork's availability, Microsoft debuted the Critique feature that will be used in Microsoft 356 Copilot's Researcher tool. Unlike the standard Copilot, Researcher is designed to tackle more complex tasks with multiple steps.
Now, Researcher is getting even better at that with the Critique feature that uses GPT responses, which are then refined by Claude. In a blog post, Microsoft said that, "this architecture creates a powerful feedback loop that delivers higher-quality
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This year's Xbox Games Showcase is set for June 7
15 hours ago
by Kris Holt
Arts & Entertainment, Game Consoles, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Microsoft has confirmed exactly when this year’s Xbox Games Showcase will take place. It will air at the usual time, 1PM ET on the Sunday (June 7) of Summer Game Fest weekend. In recent years, the company has offered a deeper dive into one particular game straight after the showcase, and it’s sticking to that format this time with a closer look at Gears of War: E-Day.
The showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct will be available in more than 40 languages, including American Sign Language and British Sign Language. A stream with English audio descriptions will be available as
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Project Hail Mary is already Amazon MGM's highest-grossing film ever
17 hours ago
by Sarah Fielding
Movies, Media, Celebrities, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Sarah Fielding
It's safe to say that Project Hail Mary is a success. The movie has taken in over $300 million globally, making it the best showing for Amazon MGM yet, Variety reports. Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022.
Creed III previously held the record for Amazon MGM, having grossed $276 million. Notably, the achievement for Amazon MGM is just versus its own markers, rather than against other production companies. But it's certainly notable given streamers aren't known for focusing on theatrical releases.
With that said, Amazon MGM has pivoted recently, announcing last April that it planned to release 14 films in
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Bethesda is shutting down The Elder Scrolls: Blades on June 30
a day ago
by Jackson Chen
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
It's a sad day for the dozens of players still grinding The Elder Scrolls: Blades. Bethesda announced that it's permanently shutting down the servers for its free-to-play mobile spinoff on June 30. First spotted on Reddit, The Elder Scrolls: Blades has already been delisted from the App Store and Google Play store, and is currently unavailable on the Nintendo Store.
In the meantime, players will receive a free bundle of Gems and Sigils, while all items in the in-game store are available for just one Gem or Sigil each. With a server shutdown imminent, The Elder Scrolls: Blades' will at least
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The Avatar fighting game will release on July 2 for PC and consoles
a day ago
by Jackson Chen
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
The fighting game community is going to have their hands full this summer between the release of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game. The studio behind the 2D fighting game based in the Avatar universe announced that a July 2 release date with a trailer that shows off new gameplay and a base price of $29.99.
The game will launch with 12 characters, encompassing both the heroes and villains from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The game's developer, Gameplay Group International, said that there are more than 900 hand-drawn frames for each character,
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Bluesky's next product is an AI assistant that helps build custom social media feeds
2 days ago
by Jackson Chen
Software, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
Bluesky is the latest social media platform to throw its hat into the AI chatbot ring. Bluesky, but specifically its chief innovation officer Jay Graber and her new Exploration team, built a new AI assistant called Attie that's designed to help users create custom feeds. Graber called Attie an "agentic social app" that's built on its its open-source framework called the AT Protocol.
To use Attie, users can punch in prompts in natural language to generate social feeds without having to know how to code. On the Attie website, examples include prompts like, "Show me electronic music and experimental sound from
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Watch the trailer for Science Saru's Ghost in the Shell anime series
2 days ago
by Cheyenne MacDonald
Animation, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Cheyenne MacDonald
A new trailer has given us our best look yet at the upcoming The Ghost in the Shell anime. While it might not tell us all that much about the direction the show will go in plot-wise, it sure is aesthetically pleasing, with a throwback art style that looks a lot more like the original manga than we've seen with other adaptations. The series will be released on Prime Video this July.
The Ghost in the Shell is being produced by Science Saru. The studio hasn't revealed much about its story, only noting that it's based on Masamune Shirow's manga, so
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Austria is pursuing a social media ban for kids under 14
2 days ago
by Jackson Chen
Politics & Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
Austria is the latest country to prepare a social media ban for its children, but it's going even further than others by including anyone under 14. In a press release, the Austrian government said it has introduced a comprehensive catalogue of measures meant to shield minors from the harms of social media. According to the press release, an official bill will be introduced by the end of June.
Andreas Babler, a vice chancellor and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Austria, said the government's efforts would include the new age restriction, improved media literacy and clear rules for social media
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The White House app is just as weird and unnecessary as you'd expect
2 days ago
by Jackson Chen
Software, Politics & Government, Mobile Apps, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
President Donald Trump may have a tendency to put his name on everything, but his administration decided to go with the more authoritative The White House App for his latest pursuit. Now available on the App Store and Google Play store, the official White House App claims to gives Americans "a direct line to the White House."
From the press release, the app provides "unfiltered, real-time upgrades straight from the source." In more practical terms, the White House App is a one-stop shop for official communications from the administration and more. On the app, you can find press releases, livestream announcements
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Meta's next AI glasses are reportedly designed with prescription lenses in mind
3 days ago
by Jackson Chen
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Jackson Chen
Two new models of Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses are on the way, and they're going to be catered towards those who use prescription lenses, according to a Bloomberg report. While these are supposed to be announced next week, Bloomberg noted that these won't be a "new generation" of Meta's smart glasses.
You can already add prescription lenses to Meta Ray-Ban's AI glasses, but the upcoming models will come in rectangular and rounded styles and will be sold through traditional prescription eyewear channels. Bloomberg didn't specify how these new glasses will differ from existing options, but noted that it's the first time
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NASA pauses its lunar Gateway plan, a comet reverses its spin and more science news
3 days ago
by Cheyenne MacDonald
Science, Space & Astronomy, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Cheyenne MacDonald
The first crewed mission of NASA's Artemis moon program may take off in a matter of days, with a launch window that opens on April 1, and as preparations are underway for that, the space agency is refocusing its plan to establish a human presence on the moon. NASA announced major changes to its approach for moon landings that are expected to play out over the coming years, including axing its plan to build an orbiting station called Gateway. Read on to learn more about the agency’s new vision for the moon, along with other interesting science stories from this
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Wanderstop developer Ivy Road is shutting down
3 days ago
by Mariella Moon
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon
Ivy Road, the video game developer behind Annapurna-published cozy game Wanderstop, is shutting down on March 31. While Wanderstop was well-received and even critically acclaimed, it seems like it wasn’t enough of a hit to sustain the studio while it develops a new game without getting investors involved. In its announcement, the Ivy Road team said the company failed to land a funding and publishing deal for its new project, Engine Angel. The studio’s problems securing funding for its new game first came to light back in January when it laid off five team members.
Even though the studio is shutting
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Beat-based dungeon crawlers, card-battling soccer sims and other new indie games worth checking out
3 days ago
by Kris Holt
Media, Video Games, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As ever, we've got some new games for you to dive into this weekend, and a glimpse at some upcoming titles. But, first, a look at indie studio Albatross Interactive's take on a multiplayer mode from a much-loved blockbuster.
Terminal War is a 4v4 third-person shooter and it seems like the small team of developers is trying to keep things grounded. Ammo and supplies are scarce, and there's an emphasis on melee combat with the promise of "brutal executions." The action is set in the late '90s,
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Verizon waives late fees for federal workers affected by partial DHS shutdown
3 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Politics & Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Verizon will waive late fees and offer flexible payment arrangements for workers affected by the partial government shutdown. The carrier has made similar offers in the past, like during the COVID-19 pandemic when it gave customers extra mobile data at no additional cost.
The Department of Homeland Security has been hit the hardest by the partial shutdown, but Verizon's offer covers any federal worker who's able to offer employment verification. Verizon says employees can call 1-800-Verizon (1-800-922-0204) to get their late fees waived and set up a payment plan.
The partial government shutdown started in February after Congress failed to pass a
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Kash Patel's personal email account was accessed by hackers linked to Iran
3 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Internet & Networking Technology, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
A hacking group called Handala has gained access to FBI Director Kash Patel's email account, Reuters reports. The group published content from Patel's email on their website as proof, including photos of Patel "sniffing and smoking cigars" and "making a face while taking a picture of himself in the mirror with a large bottle of rum."
TechCrunch was able to independently confirm that at least some of the emails Handala stole were from Patel's account by checking information used by mail delivery systems that’s stored in an email's header. Several stolen emails included a cryptographic signature that linked them to Patel's
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Mark Zuckerberg offered to 'help' Elon Musk with DOGE in 2025
3 days ago
by Karissa Bell
Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Karissa Bell
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have a complicated history. In 2023, the two vowed to fight each other in a cage match that never happened. But by early 2025, when both were cozying up to the newly-elected President Donald Trump, they were apparently on more friendly terms.
In February of that year, Zuckerberg texted Musk approvingly about his work with the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). "Looks like DOGE is making progress," the Meta CEO texted. "I've got our teams on alert to take down content doxxing or threatening the people on your team. Let me know if there's anything
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Meta will fund seven new natural gas plants to power its biggest data center yet
3 days ago
by Will Shanklin
Sectors & Industries, Environment, Nature & Environment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
Meta will essentially foot the power bill for the $27 billion mega data center it's building in Louisiana. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company struck a deal to fund the energy infrastructure needed for the project.
Through a deal with Entergy Louisiana, Meta will fund seven new natural gas power plants, 240 miles of transmission lines and battery energy storage at three locations. The gas plants will have a combined power output of 5,200 megawatts, and the transmission lines will operate at 500 kilovolts.
In addition, the company will help fund up to 2,500 MW of new renewable
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European Commission confirms data breach
3 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Internet & Networking Technology, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
The European Commission has announced that it suffered a cyber attack that affected "cloud infrastructure hosting the Commission's web presence on the Europea.eu platform." While the attack has been contained, Bleeping Computer reports that the threat actor claiming to be behind it was able to take over 350GB of data before the Commission addressed the issue.
"Early findings of our ongoing investigation suggest that data have been taken from [Europa] websites," the European Commission says. "The Commission is duly notifying the Union entities who might have been affected by the incident."
The Commission's investigation is ongoing, and it has yet to disclose
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Crunchyroll is now available as a channel in the Apple TV app
3 days ago
by Will Shanklin
Software, Mobile Apps, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
If you're still using Crunchyroll after its AI subtitle fiasco and subsequent price increase, there's a new way to watch. The anime streaming service is now available as a channel in the Apple TV app.
That means you can subscribe and stream your favorite anime titles, all within Apple's video app. No need for the Crunchyroll app or a separate login. (Your Apple account handles your subscription using this method.) 9to5Mac notes that this is the first significant new channel added to the TV app in some time.
Crunchyroll starts at $10 per month, after the platform raised all of its monthly
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If you live in Georgia, there's a new exhibit you can visit celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary
3 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
History, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art in Roswell, Georgia is debuting a new exhibit celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary. The exhibit, iNSPIRE: 50 Years of Innovation from Apple, is set to open on April 1, the date the company was founded, and includes "more than 2,000 artifacts across 20,000 square feet, making it the largest public display of Apple products in the world."
iNSPIRE is supposed to offer "a unique look" into Apple, by "highlighting early computers, rare prototypes, original documentation and immersive installations inspired by Apple’s most iconic products and campaigns." Based on photos shared from the exhibit's launch event,
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It looks like we're finally getting an Ocarina of Time remake
3 days ago
by Matt Tate
Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate
After years of rumors and countless fan-made Unreal Engine tech demos of varying quality, it sounds like we might finally be getting a ground-up remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
That’s according to Nintendo insider NatetheHate, who said in the latest edition of his podcast that a remake of the seminal Nintendo 64 game would be coming to Switch 2 in the second half of 2026. The reliable tipster said he doesn’t know whether Nintendo is making a 1:1 remake of the original 3D Zelda entry, or something "that’s a little more free to explore design choices," adding
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The original Hollow Knight just got an update to fix a glitch with a final boss
3 days ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Sports & Recreation, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk
Team Cherry just fixed a bug with the original Hollow Knight, according to a report by GamesRadar. That game came out a full nine years ago, so it's pretty impressive that the dev team is still cranking out updates.
Spoilers follow, but it's been nine years so whatever. The update involves a glitch regarding an attack from The Radiance, one of the final bosses of the game. At later stages, she tosses out these honing balls of light. These are difficult to avoid on their own, but a glitch made it so the balls of light occasionally lingered in the air
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The AI Doc explores how we can survive an uncertain AI future
4 days ago
by Devindra Hardawar
Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar
Anxiety, more so than technological rigor, sits at the heart of The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. Director Daniel Roher is anxious about the future he's bringing a child into — will it be an AI-driven utopia? Or does it spell certain doom, something explored in countless sci-fi stories. To figure it all out, he interviewed some of the most well known AI proponents and critics, including The Empire of AI author Karen Hao, AI researcher Emily Bender and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
The AI Doc, which hits theaters this weekend, doesn't really shed new light. For that,
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The PS5 is getting more expensive... again
4 days ago
by Matt Tate
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate
It was only last August that Sony raised PS5 console prices in the US, blaming a "challenging economic environment" at the time. Today it has slightly tweaked the phrasing to "continued pressures in the global economic landscape," but the outcome is the same: price rises across the board, this time even affecting the PS Portal handheld.
Starting April 2, the price of the standard PS5 (that’s the one with the disc drive) is going up to $650. That’s a whopping $100 hike, or $150 if you go back to before the August price increases. The Digital Edition is getting the same
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Engadget Podcast: Can Microsoft fix Windows 11 by dumping AI?
4 days ago
by Devindra Hardawar
Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Devindra Hardawar
It turns out people don't actually love having Copilot shoved into their faces. This week, Devindra and PCWorld Senior Editor Mark Hachman discuss Microsoft's surprising plan to "fix" Windows 11 by refocusing on customization and core features, instead of bringing Copilot AI into tons of apps. Is there any enthusiasm left for Windows? Or will most people be better off considering macOS or Linux?
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TOPIC
* Microsoft hits the reset button on Windows 11, de-emphasizing Copilot AI – 1:03
* OpenAI pulls the plug on its Sora video generation
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The Morning After: Sony and Honda’s debut EV is dead before it even arrived
4 days ago
by Mat Smith
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mat Smith
Honda and Sony announced that they are discontinuing both the Afeela 1 and 2, their electric cars. The company is reviewing its “business direction,” but it's hard to expect much from a car company that’s cancelled all of its cars.
The Afeela 1, casually called the PlayStation Car, was meant to be a fusion of a modern EV and your own digital media bubble. (You could have a God of War-themed dash — if you wanted that.)
Engadget
There’s a wider pressure on Honda, beyond this risky collaboration with Sony. It expects to take a $15.7 billion loss after writing off a large
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Fender Mix review: Well-designed headphones that just fall short of greatness
4 days ago
by Billy Steele
Audio Technology, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Billy Steele
I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Fender a guitar company?” It sure is, and has been one of the most iconic names in guitars and amplifiers since 1946. So what is the company doing making headphones and speakers? Well, it isn’t, exactly. Like Zound Industries used to do with Marshall (before buying the amp business), another company is licensing the Fender name for its consumer audio products. Fender Audio, the brand that’s on the headphones I’m reviewing, is owned by the Fender Corporation, but Riffsound oversees the design and production of portable audio gear.
The first products from Fender Audio are
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MLB The Show 26 is turning me into more of a baseball fan
4 days ago
by Kris Holt
Baseball, Major League Baseball, Sports & Recreation, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
There were two questions I was looking to answer as I fired up MLB The Show 26. First, how much does the game cater to a baseball newbie like me? Second, will it keep me hooked enough to keep playing after my first few games?
I think it's important to share some personal context. I have very limited experience with baseball. I have been to one MLB game, which was on my first visit to Canada as a teen. The lead-off Toronto Blue Jays hitter scored a home run on his first at-bat. Fireworks went off and everyone was going wild.
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RGG's Stranger Than Heaven game will span five time periods
4 days ago
by Mariella Moon
Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has revealed more details about its upcoming title, Stranger Than Heaven, at the Xbox Partner Preview stream. While previous teasers showed that it was going to be set in the 1910s and 1940s, it turns out its gameplay will span five different time periods: 1915, 1929, 1943, 1951 and 1965. The game’s events will also take place in five different cities. Ryu Ga Gotoku has yet to reveal what the locations will be based on, but the setting for 1965 seems to be Kamurocho. That’s the fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho entertainment district in the studio’s
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Court temporarily blocks US government from labeling Anthropic as a 'supply chain risk'
4 days ago
by Mariella Moon
Politics & Government, Business, Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mariella Moon
The court has granted Anthropic’s request for a preliminary injunction, preventing the government from banning its products for federal use and from formally labeling it as a “supply chain risk,” at least for now. If you’ll recall, things turned sour between the company and the Trump administration when Anthropic refused to change the terms of its contract that would allow the government to use its technology for mass surveillance and the development of autonomous weapons.
In response to Anthropic’s refusal, the president ordered federal agencies to stop using Claude and the company’s other services. The Defense Department also officially labeled it
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Google Gemini now lets you import your chats and data from other AI apps
4 days ago
by Anna Washenko
Business, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
Google is adding a pair of new features to Gemini aimed at making it easier to switch to the AI chatbot. Personal history and past context are big components to how a chatbot provides customized answers to each user. Gemini now supports importing history from other AI platforms. Both free and paid consumer accounts can use these options.
With the first option, Gemini can create a prompt asking a competitor's AI chatbot to summarize what it has learned about you. The result might include details such as your typical written communication style, your family members' names or your key preferences. The
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Apple discontinues the Mac Pro
4 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Computing, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Apple has confirmed to Engadget that the Mac Pro, the desktop tower-shaped computer that was last updated in 2023, has been discontinued. As 9to5Mac notes, the computer no longer appears in the lineup of Macs on Apple's website or in its storefront. That means at least for now, the Mac Studio is the Apple's top-of-the-line professional computer.
The current version of the Mac Pro was introduced in 2019, with a distinct cheese-grater design, Intel chips and a bevy of easily-accessible expansion slots. Apple released the computer as a make-good for several years of inadequately meeting the performance needs of professional Mac
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X moves the ashes of TweetDeck behind its $40 Premium+ subscription
4 days ago
by Anna Washenko
Social & Online Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
X Pro, the feature most users would recognize as TweetDeck, has been removed as a benefit of the social network's Premium subscription. It is now only part of the Premium+ tier, which costs $40 a month.
TweetDeck was rebranded to X Pro in 2023 following Elon Musk's renaming of Twitter to X. It became a subscription feature shortly after. The tool offered a popular interface for showing multiple timelines, feeds and lists in a single interface.
Engadget staffers using X Pro at the Premium level didn't find any advanced notice that the feature would be changing subscription tiers, so people may be
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Ugh, Netflix is raising prices
4 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
Netflix is raising prices across all of its subscription tiers, according to an updated "Plans and Pricing" page spotted by Android Authority. The company last raised prices in January 2025, when the cost of all of its tiers were jacked up by $1 or more.
As of this latest price hike, Netflix's ad-supported Standard plan is going from $8 per month to $9 per month, while the ad-free version is rising from $18 to $20 per month. The company's Premium plan, meanwhile, which supports things like 4K streams, spatial audio and the ability to watch content on four devices at the
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Judge tosses out X's advertiser boycott lawsuit
4 days ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
Business, Company Legal & Law Matters, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell
A US District Court Judge for the Northern District of Texas has dismissed X Corp.’s lawsuit against advertisers it claimed participated in an “illegal boycott” of X, Reuters reports. X originally filed its lawsuit in 2024 in response to advertisers pulling ads from the social media platform, a decision reportedly motivated by X's lax approach to moderating hate speech.
Judge Jane J. Boyle was not swayed by X’s claims that advertisers like Twitch, Shell, Nestlé and Lego pulling advertising amounted to an “antitrust injury.” The companies named in X’s lawsuit are members of the World Federation of Advertisers’ Global Alliance for
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Blumhouse's horror-centric cozy game Grave Seasons will be released on August 14
4 days ago
by Lawrence Bonk
Media, Arts & Entertainment, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Lawrence Bonk
The spooky, yet cozy, game Grave Seasons is coming out on August 14, which was announced at today's Xbox Partner Preview event. This is basically Stardew Valley, but set in a Lovecraftian nightmare of a town. Players farm, mine and romance villagers, but also solve murders and deal with the occasional bloodthirsty demon or two. It looks fun!
This is being published by Blumhouse Games, which is a division of the film studio that pumps out modern horror hits like Happy Death Day, M3GAN and Five Nights at Freddy's. Perfect Garbage is the development studio behind the game, which previously made
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Dispatch is coming to Xbox this summer
4 days ago
by Matt Tate
Media, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate
Dispatch was one of 2025’s standout titles and one of the best narrative games in years, which made its no-show on Xbox all the more puzzling. Luckily, that’s being rectified this summer.
Announced during today’s Xbox Partner Preview broadcast, Dispatch is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Xbox Cloud later this year. It will also be an Xbox Play Anywhere title at launch, so you can play it on your console and continue on your PC or Windows handheld, or vice versa.
ICYMI last year, the game is pitched as a superhero workplace comedy by developer AdHoc Studio, which
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Stalker 2 is getting its first DLC, Cost of Hope, this summer
4 days ago
by Anna Washenko
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
Stalker 2 is getting its first DLC, titled Cost of Hope, this summer. The expansion and its general release window was announced during today's Xbox Partner Preview showcase.
It's been more than a year since the base game finally released, closing a long development cycle that was disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the studio GSC Game World was initially based. Stalker 2 was released on PlayStation 5 in the interim, but otherwise, the team has been focused on making this substantial DLC.
Stalker 2: Cost of Hope will add two new regions and a new story that takes place alongside
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Google begins rolling out Search Live globally
4 days ago
by Igor Bonifacic
Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Igor Bonifacic
Following a false start last week, Google has begun rolling out Search Live globally. The tool allows you to point your phone's camera at an object or scene and ask questions about what you see in front of you. With today's expansion, Google is making Search Live available in every location and language where it offers its AI Mode chatbot. With that, people in more than 200 countries and territories can use Search Live to get answers to their questions.
Behind the expansion is Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model. According to the company, the new AI system was designed to
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Hades 2 is coming to Xbox Series X/S and PS5 on April 14
4 days ago
by Kris Holt
Game Consoles, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Kris Holt
If you’ve been (impatiently) waiting for Hades 2 to hit Xbox Series X/S and PS5, there’s some great news for you coming out of Thursday’s Xbox Partner Preview showcase. Supergiant’s roguelite action RPG is coming to those consoles (as well as Xbox on PC and Xbox Cloud) on April 14. It’ll be available on Xbox Game Pass too.
The full version of Hades 2 hit PC and Nintendo Switch last September after over a year of Steam early access. It was one of our favorite games of 2025.
This time around, you play as Melinoë, the sister of the original game’s protagonist,
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The EU is investigating Snapchat over possible child protection breaches
4 days ago
by Matt Tate
Company Legal & Law Matters, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Matt Tate
The European Union has opened a formal investigation into whether Snapchat has breached Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations regarding the safeguarding of children using its app.
Regulators say that the company, whose audience demographic has always skewed young, may not be doing enough to protect minors from grooming and "recruitment for criminal purposes." The EU is also looking into whether Snapchat’s younger users are too easily accessing information on how to buy illegal drugs and age-restricted products.
Brussels argues that while Snapchat requires users to be at least 13 years of age to sign up for an account, its self-declaration age assurance
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Serious Sam: Shatterverse will hit Xbox platforms this year
4 days ago
by Anna Washenko
Video Games, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Anna Washenko
The Serious Sam game franchise is back with a new entry, giving the FPS series a co-op roguelite twist. Basically it's getting the Nightreign treatment in the same way Elden Ring did.
The latest title is Serious Sam: Shatterverse, where teams of up to five players will take on waves of perennial foe Mental's monster goons. Each run will offer the usual roguelite approach of upgrade options to make your team more powerful. And if you're a long-time fan of the series, the trailer has plenty of the same broad, loud humor; for instance, the three upgrade cards shown are all
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Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez introduce a bill to pause US data center construction
4 days ago
by Will Shanklin
Politics & Government, Government, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Will Shanklin
File this one under "things that might have a shot after the midterms." On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act. The bill would require an immediate pause on data center construction until specific new regulations are passed.
The legislation aims to address the problem that AI is advancing faster than Washington's regulatory response (basically none) has kept pace. Despite its benefits, the technology poses grave threats to the job market and the environment. Rapidly advancing deepfakes could soon leave people unable to determine truth from fiction. (That is, more