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May 07, 2025
The US Patent and Trademark Office has refused one of Tesla's initial attempts to trademark the term "Robotaxi" because it believes the name is generic and already in use by other companies, according to a filing spotted by TechCrunch. Tesla was hoping to trademark the term in connection to its planned self-driving car service, but now it'll have to reply with more evidence to change the office's mind.
The main issue outlined in the USPTO decision is that "Robotaxi" is "merely descriptive," as in its an already commonly used term. A robotaxi typically refers to the self-driving cars used in services like Waymo. As long as Silicon Valley has believed money could be made selling autonomous vehicles (and the rides you can take in them), the term has been in use. That means Tesla can't trademark "robotaxi" because the "term is used to describe similar goods and services by other companies," the USPTO writes. Like,
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May 07, 2025
The Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court's ruling that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard did not violate antitrust laws. The Federal Trade Commission had sued to block the merger of these large gaming brands on claims that the new entity would fall afoul of antitrust laws. In the court's ruling, released today, the FTC failed to prove that Microsoft would have blocked access to popular titles such as Call of Duty on hardware owned by other gaming brands. The appeals court was also unswayed by the FTC's arguments that the deal would have lessened competition in gaming subscription services and cloud streaming.
The issue of platform-exclusive titles was one of the core tenets of the FTC's latest charge against this acquisition. However, the opinion written by Judge Daniel P. Collins observed that "all major manufacturers have engaged in this practice." And as Microsoft has been making more and more of its once-exclusive titles available on new hardware, this may mean that the competition agency will finally accept the deal as done.
The $68.7 billion deal for Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard closed in
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May 07, 2025
Add Microsoft's Surface lineup to the list of gear that now costs more. XDA first spotted price hikes of around 20 percent for most existing models. The damage applies to the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro lines, as well as power bricks.
The starting prices of the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop and 13-inch Surface Pro increased from $1,000 to $1,200. Of course, the new devices Microsoft launched on Tuesday stand pat. (And their curiously high prices now make more sense.) Only the 15-inch Surface Laptop was spared, sticking to its original $1,300.
Even accessories like power supplies are part of the fun. The 65W Surface power supply shot up from $90 to $120, and the 127W variant went from $125 to $175.
PCMag notes that retail partners like Best Buy and Amazon still show the original prices. So, if you were considering a new Surface, that's a good place to start.
The move follows last week's Xbox price i
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May 07, 2025
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned the National Weather Service of possible attacks from an armed conspiracy group targeting Doppler radar stations, according to a report from CNN. The group, Veterans on Patrol, is going after government radars because it believes they're being used as "weather weapons."
CNN learned of the possible attacks through NOAA emails warning NWS staff that Veterans on Patrol was planning to conduct "penetration drills on NEXRAD sites to identify weaknesses," with the ultimate goal of destroying NEXRAD. Despite its cooler-than-average name, the NWS uses NEXRAD or "Next Generation Weather Radar" for a fairly mundane purpose: detecting precipitation in the atmosphere. NEXRAD plays a vital role in locating thunderstorms and tornados, making it easier to evacuate vulnerable communities before disaster strikes.
It's not clear what Veterans on Patrol sees as threatening about radar — the group was previously focused on white nationalism and Pizzagate-style government conspiracies — but concern over the effects of being exposed to radio waves is a common bugbear for conspiracy-types. For example, groups set fire to cell towers ea
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May 07, 2025
Diminished tech privacy appears to be another ripple effect from Trump 2.0. The Information reported on Wednesday that Meta has changed its tune on facial recognition. After considering but ultimately bailing on the technology for the first version of its smart glasses, the company is now actively working on wearables that can identify nearby faces. Remember when being a "Glasshole" was considered a faux pas?
According to The Information, Meta has recently discussed adding software to its smart glasses that scans bystanders' faces and identifies people by name. The company has also reportedly considered adding the tech to future AI-powered earphones with built-in cameras.
Facial recognition tech would be part of a Meta feature dubbed internally as "super sensing." The feature would build on the glasses' live AI feature, which can only remain active for around half an hour (thanks to its battery). But in future devices, expected in 2026, it could run for hours.
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May 07, 2025
Google is once again crossing the great divide between rival tech giants, at least with artificial intelligence. The company has launched a dedicated iPad app for its Gemini AI assistant. In addition to natively running on Apple hardware, Gemini's iPad app can take advantage of the tablet's split view, so that the AI assistant is open on the screen at the same time as another program for easier use. The app is available today from the App Store in all countries where Gemini is currently available.
Gemini has been a huge focus for Google's recent announcements as it works to put its service in front of more and more potential users. iPhones got their first native Gemini app last November. The company recently introduced a program for children to explore the AI assistant and it opened the Deep Research capability to all Gemini users. With Google I/O 2025 right around the corner, it's a safe bet that we'll be hearing about more features and integrations for the
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May 07, 2025
When we think about gifts that moms will appreciate, the idea of "time" comes up a lot. If you can give the mom in your life a few hours back to do whatever — relaxing, creating, or getting things done— do that. The next best thing is a device that'll help mom make the most of her time. We've rounded up some clever gadgets and useful gear that we've tried out ourselves, so we can confirm they're worthwhile. Our favorite air fryer will save time in the kitchen, a quality style-dryer could make her morning routine more efficient, and one of our favorite smartwatches will literally mark the minutes for her. We also suggest a subscription to The New York Times Games, to help make the most of precious downtime.
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May 07, 2025
Mother's Day is coming up quick. If you're still trying to figure out a good gift, we have some ideas. Here at Engadget, our minds reflexively focus on tech. While it's true an electronic gadget might not be the "traditional" Mother's Day gift — just about every mom we know would prefer a cool new piece of tech over a short-lived bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates. A number of us collaborated on this guide, filling it with gadgets and services we've tested, used, or even given to the moms in our own lives. Thanks to speedy shipping times (particularly from Amazon), many of these gifts should arrive by Sunday. There are also a couple of subscriptions that you can buy truly last minute if your gifting process comes down to the wire.
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May 07, 2025
AI services like Perplexity or OpenAI's SearchGPT could be search engine options in a future version of Safari, Bloomberg reports. The tentative plans were shared by Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, while on the stand for Google's ongoing search antitrust case. Cue was called to testify because of the deal Google and Apple have to keep Google Search as the default search engine on the iPhone.
Cue claims Apple has discussed a possible Safari-integration with Perplexity, but didn't share any definitive plans during his testimony. It's clear that he believes AI assistants will inevitably supplant traditional search engines, though. "Prior to AI, my feeling around this was, none of the others were valid choices," Cue said. "I think today there is much greater potential because there are new entrants attacking the problem in a different way."
Whatever AI search Apple ultimately adds likely won't be the default at first, according to Cue, but "there's enough money now, enough large players, that I don't see how it doesn't happen." There's some evidence to back up the idea that things are changing, too.
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May 07, 2025
If you've been shocked by how much you spend on streaming services lately, you're not alone. Companies like Netflix, Disney, Max and others have been consistently raising prices to the point where you may question if streaming is even worth it anymore. We at Engadget still think it is, but we also think you should be smart with your money — and that's where streaming deals come in.
Yes, it is possible to get discounts on services like Peacock and Paramount , even if those deals aren't as common as a sale on AirPods. If you're looking to save money and still stream all of the content you want, Engadget can help by laying out the best streaming deals you can get right now, how you can save with bundles and everything you should know before paying for yet another streaming service.
Best streaming deals
True streaming deals can be hard to come by. Most often, they'll pop up during the Black Friday shopping period. On occasion, we'll see them sparingly throughout the year and they usually take the form of a discounted monthly or annual rate for a limited period of time. Also, true streaming deals are typically on the ad-supported versions of a service, but once in a
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May 07, 2025
"We welcome the addition of body-worn cameras and appreciate the enhanced transparency and assurance they provide," a then-DEA official wrote in a 2021 press release. So much for that. ProPublica published an investigative report on Tuesday that details how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Trump administration has abandoned its bodycam program.
The DEA announced the change internally through an email, viewed by ProPublica. However, the agency never made a formal announcement or any public acknowledgment of its about-face.
The DEA's email said it made the change to be "consistent" with Trump's "Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions" order, signed on Inauguration Day. The action rescinded 78 Biden-era executive orders, including the one that expanded federal law enforcement's use of body cameras.
ProPublica notes that the "consistent" rationale for bailing on the program is questionable. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) beat the DEA to the punch in abandoning bodycams — shocker! — other DOJ agencies still use them. These include the US Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
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May 07, 2025
It's earnings season, and automakers are warning investors about the impact tariffs will have on vehicle pricing. As first reported by Reuters, the cost of Ford's Mustang Mach-E, Ford's electric SUV, could rise by as much as $2,000 on some models.
Ford manufactures the Mach-E as well as other non-electric models in Mexico, which are now tariffed when sold in the United States. Aside from the Mach-E, Ford estimates that it will take a $1.5 billion hit from current tariff policy.
The Trump administration has long insisted that tariffs are not paid for by the American consumer, and while the company made clear it was absorbing some of the increased cost, it could not absorb all of it.A Ford spokesperson told Reuters that the price increase is partly due to typical mid-year repricing "combined with some tariffs we are facing. We have not passed on the full cost of tariffs to our customers."
Despite the administration's partial acquiescence to automakers last week in softening the blow on auto tariffs, EV makers Rivian and Lucid have said higher costs are coming. Rivian's CEO shared that he expects vehicle pricing to rise by "a couple of thousand dollars," while Lucid's interi
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May 07, 2025
A four-pack of Samsung SmartTag 2 Bluetooth trackers is available for just $52 at Woot. That's a record low price and a discount of 38 percent. This pack includes two white and two black trackers. There's a limit of two packs per customer.
This particular model made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, and this is particularly true for those already tied into the Samsung ecosystem. We love the design. It's an oblong fob with a big hole for attaching directly to keys and the like. This is something that Apple AirTags don't offer out of the box, as you need a case for the purposes of attaching.
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May 07, 2025
Electronic Arts has confirmed that the next Battlefield game will be revealed this summer, ahead of a launch date some time before April 2026. The news was shared in the company's Q4 and and financial year 2025 results, published this week.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson called the latest installment in the long-running first-person shooter series a "pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment" and recommitted to a previously announced FY26 release window for the currently untitled game. That means it can't launch any later than March 2026, when EA's fiscal year ends.
A launch date before April next year would mean the new Battlefield game will get a bit of room to breathe before the recently delayed Grand Theft Auto 6, which is supposed to arrive on May 26, 2026. Like every other publisher on the planet, EA has likely factored GTA 6 into its own upcoming launch plans for a number of titles. Eurogamer reported earlier this year that Wilson had admitted a willingness to delay games in order to get out of the way of the (unnamed, but heavily implied) competition.
The most recent Battlefield game was 2021's Battlefield 2042, to which EA has steadily added new content. Back in February, EA launched Battlefield
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May 07, 2025
The Golden Globes is expanding beyond film and TV with a new category. It will dole out an award for the best podcast of the year starting at next January's ceremony. Organizers told Variety that the idea was to recognize the influence and reach of podcasts within the spectrum of entertainment.
Six finalists will be selected from the 25 most popular podcasts across audio and video formats (sorry, middle-aged dads who spent hundreds of dollars on recording gear to grouse about their team in their basement studios). So it's likely that more celebrities could appear on the show.
Amy Poehler and Trevor Noah have podcasts that are among the 25 largest in the US on Spotify. SmartLess — the show hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes — is on the list too. As such, the best podcast award feels like a ploy by the Golden Globes to get more stars on the show, which would make it quite funny if, say, The Daily won instead.
It feels like an odd move for the Golden Globes (which started handing out an award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement last year) to wade into the podcasting world. Still, it's nice to see a mainstream awards ceremony shining a spotlight on podcasts. There are dedicated awards shows for podcasts, but the Golden Globes is putting them on a bigger stage.
Other awards shows have been refining their category lineups. We'll soon start seeing a long-overdue category for
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May 07, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are technically open, but you may have trouble grabbing the console before its June 5 release date if you haven't secured an order already. As of our latest sweep, the device is still completely out of stock at Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target and other retailers. This has (mostly) been the case in the US since the Switch 2 first went up for sale on April 24, and it remains unclear when it'll change.
Your best hope right now might be ordering through Nintendo itself, as the console maker will start accepting pre-orders at its My Nintendo Store tomorrow, May 8. However, the company is only offering the Switch 2 through an invite system. It's been accepting registrations for that since April 2, and it's prioritizing invites for past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers before anyone else. So if you're just registering now, don't be surprised if your invite doesn't arrive for some time after the initial batch. Nintendo even updated the language on its pre-order page last month to note that some invite emails may not arrive until after the console has been released.
Nevertheless, we're keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that may pop up. If you're still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we've rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could
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May 07, 2025
Apple's latest diminutive desktop, the M4 Mac mini, is on sale via Amazon for more than $100 off. That brings the price of the entry-level model down to just $495. This version includes 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The 16GB/512GB
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May 07, 2025
Netflix has been gradually culling its library of interactive content for a while now, but Black Mirror's Emmy award winning Bandersnatch was one of the few survivors. Until now. As spotted by What's on Netflix, the choose-your-own-adventure film set in a fictional game development studio will be leaving the service globally on May 12.
At the beginning of December 2024, only four of Netflix's "Interactive Specials" remained, of which Bandersnatch was one. As of today there are only two left. The other is Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend, which first debuted back in 2020 and is also being removed imminently.
Netflix's first interactive effort was 2017's Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale, but Bandersnatch, which arrived the following year, was the first to be targeted at an adult audience, and arguably the company's most successful of these experiments. Set in the UK in the mid-80s, it follows a young programmer who sets out to adapt a dark fantasy novel into a story-driven video game, before things inevitably take a dark turn. The film featured multiple endings and branching paths based on the decisions you made, and went on to win two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Which probably leaves you wondering why Netflix is getti
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May 07, 2025
Sony has expanded its PlayStation Studios roster with teamLFG, which spun out from Bungie and is working on an "ambitious" incubation project. The studio is based in Bellevue, Washington (where Bungie's HQ is), though some team members work remotely elsewhere in the US and Canada. The crew includes a mix of industry newcomers and veterans who have worked on the likes of Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite and Roblox.
The focus of teamLFG will be on immersive multiplayer games. That's perhaps not too much of a surprise given the veterans' experience and that "LFG" stands for "looking for group," a phrase used by players who are seeking teammates for multiplayer games.
Its first project takes place in "a lighthearted, comedic world set in [a] brand new mythic, science-fantasy universe." The studio is taking inspiration from platformers, MOBAs, life sims, fighting games and elsewhere for its team-based action title. Since it's an incubation project, the game is likely quite some time away from seeing the light of day.
Bungie went through a restructuring process last summer, which included 220 people being laid off as it narrowed its focus on Destiny and Marathon. To that end, the company spun out an
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May 07, 2025
LinkedIn is still on a mission to persuade job hunters to apply for fewer roles. But the company is rolling out a new set of AI-powered upgrades to its job-searching features it hopes will make that prospect more appealing.
The company is introducing a revamped search tool that aims to make it easier for job seekers to find relevant roles. Up to now, LinkedIn's job search feature relied mostly on matching keywords. With the update, though, LinkedIn is ditching the keywords in favor of AI so its system is able to understand job listings on a much deeper level. This should, according to the company, allow job hunters to search postings using more natural language.
"Search used to be [a] very specific couple of boxes, and the box that really mattered was the box that said, ‘show me a title or a keyword or skill,' and you basically had to hope that you will find a title or keyword or skill that the system understands," LinkedIn product manager Rohan Rajiv explains. Now, though, he says, job searchers should be able to just "say what you want and the system will understand you."
That may sound like a subtle change but it's a potentially powerful one because it allows people to get much more specific with their queries. Users can still search for roles based on job tiles like "product manager" but LinkedIn will also be able to understand more complex searches like "business development roles in the video game industry."
As an extra layer of transparency, LinkedIn will also surface indicators when the company behind a given posting is actively reviewing applications. Premium subscribers will also get access to AI-powered "job coaching," with the ability to practice interview questions, pitches and other tasks.
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May 07, 2025
Harman International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung, is purchasing the audio business of health technology company Masimo for $350 million in cash. The deal is expected to finalized by the end of 2025, though it's still subject to regulatory approvals. Samsung purchased Harman International back in 2017 for $8 billion, though it allowed the company to operate as an independent subsidiary. Harman's brands include JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Arcam and Revel. If and when the acquisition pushes through, Masimo's audio brands under Sound United will be added to the list, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz and Polk Audio.
It is unclear if the purchase will lead to layoffs, but it sounds like Harman is taking on Sound United's employees. "Built on a shared legacy of innovation and excellence in audio technology, this combined family of brands, together with the talented employees of both companies, will deliver complementary audio products, strengthen our value proposition and offer more choices to consu
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May 07, 2025
Sonos and IKEA are ending their partnership and phasing out existing products. The duo collaborated on the Symfonisk lineup, which included lamp speakers, picture frame speakers and bookshelf speakers. Software updates will still be available for Symfonisk products.
Over the past eight years, we've had the pleasure of working closely with IKEA and are proud of what we've achieved," Sonos told Engadget. "Although our work together has largely wound down and we won't be releasing new products as partners, we'll continue to support every existing SYMFONISK product so customers can keep enjoying great sound in their homes for many years to come."
The Symfonisk lineup offered Sonos technology at a cheaper price point than buying its speakers outright. The cheapest speaker directly from Sonos is just under $200, with other models easily doubling or tripling that.
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May 07, 2025
Tesla has started offering a cheaper configuration of its refreshed 2025 Model Y electric vehicle in the US. As first noticed by Electrek, you can now get a Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y in the US with prices starting at $37,490 if it's with $7,500 in tax credits. Without tax credits, prices start at $44,990. The automaker was only previously offering the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version in the country for at least $48,990 without tax credits.
The updated Model Y retains the old version's proportions, but it has rounder edges and smaller headlights, as well as taillights bookending a redesigned lightbar. It has ambient lighting wrapping around most of the car inside, and it also comes with ventilated seats and a 15.4-inch touchscreen display in the front. Passengers in the backseat have access to a Bluetooth-enabled 8-inch display. The new rear-wheel drive model has an EPA-estimated range of 357 miles on a single charge, 30 miles longer than the all-wheel drive's 327-mile range. They have the same top speed of 125 mph, but the all-wheel drive has a faster acceleration rate and can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. It will take the rear-wheel drive 5.4 seconds to reach 60 mph.
Delivery for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y in the US starts in the next three to five weeks. As Electrek noted, the automaker has already started deliveries in China and Europe. Tesla's sales continue to plunge across Europe, ho
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May 07, 2025
New photos leaked from the FCC appear to confirm that an Xbox-branded handheld gaming console is coming soon. A listing shows two versions of ASUS's ROG Ally 2 handheld, a dark model with a dedicated Xbox labeled button at the top left and a white version with the same button blacked out. The latter could carry a different function or be removed altogether from the production model, according to the leak (related to Wi-Fi modules) from Videocardz seen by The Verge.
The models otherwise look identical but carry different specs, according to other parts of the listing. Both have 7-inch 120Hz displays, but the ROG Ally 2 Xbox version (RC73X1) will come with an AMD 8-Core 36W Ryzen Z2 Extreme and 64GB LPDDR5X memory, while the regular model (RC73YA) will pack an AMD 4-core 20W AMD Aeirth Plus chip (memory unknown). Compared to the ROG Ally, the Rog Ally 2 has a thicker design and more rounded grips. It also offers a pair of USB-C controllers, along with HDMI and 3.5mm connectors, according to the rear view.
It's not yet known what the Xbox button will do, but Microsoft is expected to add features like support for the Xbox Game Bar, Play Anywhere functionality and Game Pass Ultimate. It could go even deeper, possibly launching the Xbox app on Windows, according to Videocardz. Some peripherals like the
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May 07, 2025
Netflix is giving its TV user interface a major overhaul. Alongside a fresh, cleaner look, you'll see recommendations that adapt to your activity as Netflix tries to better gauge what you might be in the mood to watch. The company plans to roll out the update over the coming weeks and months.
It seems that the aim here, as has long been a goal for Netflix, is to help you find something you want to watch faster. That way, you won't spend an eternity scrolling through the various options while struggling to figure out what to start streaming.
Netflix originally designed its TV user interface for shows and movies, but it had to evolve to better handle new entertainment offerings, such as live events and cloud gaming. The company has been working on the new TV experience since last year, according to Eunice Kim, Netflix's chief product officer. "Our redesigned TV home page is simpler, more intuitive and better represents the breadth of entertainment on Netflix today," Kim said on a call with reporters.
The new tiles for each show, movie and so on are much larger. Rather than having information about a highlighted title appear at the top of the screen, the redesign brings everything together.
Each tile includes more at-a-glance contextual details as to why you might want to watch something. It might indicate that a show or movie was recently added, is in Netflix's top 10 list of the most-watched titles, has won awards or is leaving the service soon. Otherwise, Ne
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May 07, 2025
Amazon has deployed over 750,000 robots to its fulfillment centers over the last decade or so, but now there's a new, shall we say, more sensitive addition. The company has announced Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch. It's one in a series of new robots introduced today at Amazon's Delivering the Future event in Germany.
Vulcan uses force feedback sensors to monitor how much it's pushing or holding on to an object and, ideally, not damage it. "In the past, when industrial robots have unexpected contact, they either emergency stop or smash through that contact. They often don't even know they have hit something because they cannot sense it." Aaron Parness, Amazon director, applied science, stated in the release. "Vulcan represents a fundamental leap forward in robotics. It's not just seeing the world, it's feeling it, enabling capabilities that were impossible for Amazon robots until now."
Of course, there's an AI component, with Amazon training Vulcan's AI on physical data around touch and force. Vulcan also uses algorithms to determine what it can handle, identify different products and find space in the fulfillment center. The machine has "tackled thousands" of objects and tasks, like moving electronics and picking up socks. The system can also learn from its mistakes, with Amazon stating the robot will become more capable as time goes on.
Amazon, which has faced continual
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May 07, 2025
Making your first apartment after college a little smarter doesn't have to cost a ton of money — and it shouldn't take a lot of effort, either. If you're just getting settled in your new place or are ready to give your long-term digs some automated tricks, this list can help.
When we test smart home devices for an Engadget guide, we always look for budget options as well as picks that are good for newbies, both of which you'll find here. Combine a smart speaker with a smart plug and you'll never have to fumble with a lamp in the dark again. Set your robo vac to clean up while you're gone and you'll come home to sparkling floors. We included our favorite streaming stick for a lifetime supply of free TV content, and of course there's a mini air fryer pick, because every kitchen needs an air fryer, no matter how small.
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May 07, 2025
We've long considered Apple's iPads to be the best tablets on the market, but determining exactly which model you should buy isn't always straightforward. Do you just want a big screen for streaming and web browsing? Do you want to use it like a pseudo-laptop? Do you care about Apple Intelligence at all? If you're not sure, allow us to help. We've tested every iPad available today and broken down which ones should best fit your needs below.
Table of contents
The best iPads for 2025
How we test the best iPads
iPad FAQs
Recent updates
The best iPads for 2025
How we test the best iPads
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May 06, 2025
Minecraft is no longer (officially) available on virtual and mixed reality platforms. The change was confirmed in today's patch notes for the game's Bedrock edition following an announcement from developer Mojang in October. Those fall patch notes suggested that the platforms would be removed in March, so players who favored VR wound up getting a few extra weeks to fully immerse themselves in their blocky worlds.
Removing entire platforms isn't a choice game devs make lightly. Especially when Minecraft's player base still numbers in the hundreds of millions at any given time, it seems unlikely that Mojang would take away virtual and mixed reality unless it wouldn't cause a serious disruption for its many fans. There are still plenty of critically received games that make VR ownership worthwhile (Beat Saber, anyone?), but a title as major as Minecraft abandoning the hardware isn't a great look.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/minecraft-ended-virtual-reality-support-today-224649126.html?src=rss
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May 06, 2025
Bungie laid out its plans for the next year of Destiny 2 content, and the back half of 2025 could be particularly exciting for Star Wars fans. The studio teased an expansion titled Renegades that draws inspiration from the sci-fi universe. Destiny has always featured classic space opera themes about battles between the light and the darkness, so maybe it was inevitable that the game would one day pay homage to Star Wars.
If you fear that there will suddenly be Skywalkers and Fetts running around your game a la Fortnite or Call of Duty, that does seem like a possibility. The teaser video features a guardian wielding an iconic green light saber, and there are some recognizable nods to the Imperial alarm sounds and uniforms in a few close-up shots. And if you really want to embrace the dark side, the most expensive pre-order option for this year's content includes armor ornaments that can turn your guardian into Darth Vader, Kylo Ren or General Grievous.
Bungie
More information about the Renegades expansion will be announced on September 9 ahead of the update's ar
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May 06, 2025
A jury has ruled that the company behind the infamous Pegasus spyware must pay Meta more than $167 million in damages for spreading malware via WhatsApp. The ruling is a major victory for Meta after a years-long legal battle with NSO Group.
Meta sued the NSO Group in 2019 over its Pegasus spyware. Meta said at the time that more than 1,400 people in 20 countries had been targeted, including journalists and human rights activists. The company said that the "highly sophisticated cyber attack" spread malware via video calls even when the calls went unanswered. Last year, a judge sided with Meta and found the Israeli company had violated the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Tuesday's verdict followed a week-long jury trial to determine just how much NSO should pay in damages to Meta.
The jury ultimately awarded Meta $444,719
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May 06, 2025
In about two weeks, Google's annual developer conference will kick off on May 20. The event is probably the most important on the company's calendar, offering a glimpse at everything it has been working on over the past year.
Judging from rumors and information Google has trickled out, I/O 2025 should be one of the more exciting tech keynotes in recent memory. Plus, for the first time, Google has spun out a dedicated Android showcase planned a whole week earlier. If you want to know what to expect from the company later this month, read on.
Android 16
In years past, some of my favorite I/O moments involved watching Dave Burke take to the Shoreline stage to talk about the latest updates for Android. But for the past couple of years, Android hasn't had much of a spotlight at Google's annual developer conference. That's about to change, with the company hosting a dedicated showcase that will air a week before I/O proper. Scheduled for May 13, Google says it has "so many things to share" during the Android Show: I/O Edition.
Meet our team and learn about new experiences coming to Android.
Set a reminder and be the first in the know ? https://t.co/z8QLNSYkl6 #TheAndroidShow pic.twitter.com/RTzTOwUtFN
— Android (@Android)
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May 06, 2025
Zoox, the Amazon-owned robotaxi company, announced a voluntary software recall for 270 of its vehicles. The company had paused its driverless vehicle operations for a review following an incident last month where a Zoox car and a passenger car collided in Las Vegas. According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the crash did not cause any injuries. CNBC reports that Zoox has resumed usual operations following the software update.
"After analysis and rigorous testing, Zoox identified the root cause," the company said in a blog post today. "We issued a software update that was implemented across all Zoox vehicles. All Zoox vehicles on the road today, including our purpose-built robotaxi and test fleet, have the updated software."
Last year, the NHTSA investigated issues with Toyota Highlander cars equipped with Zoox's automated driving system exhibiting unexpected braking. Car models retrofitted with the Zoox system recently began testing and mapping in Los Angeles.
Update, May 6, 2025, 4:54PM ET: Revised to state exact number of vehicles impacted by the recall.
This article originally appeared on
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May 06, 2025
If you're suffering from Netflix fatigue and are looking to cancel your subscription, the process is relatively simple. In fact, depending on how you initially signed up for the service, you'll typically be able to end your membership in just a few steps. It's also worth noting that Netflix allows you to downgrade or upgrade your plan if you want to keep your account but pay less. This guide covers how to cancel Netflix, how to switch your plan and what to know before doing either.
How to cancel your Netflix subscription
Netflix offers a fairly straightforward cancellation process, but the steps to do so vary slightly depending on how you're subscribed. If you signed up directly through Netflix, you can cancel via the website or mobile app. However, if you subscribed through a third-party service such as Apple, Google or your cable provider, the process may be slightly different.
Cancel Netflix via the web
If you signed up through Netflix.com, these are the steps for canceling your subscription from a desktop or mobile browser:
Go to Netflix.com and sign i
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May 06, 2025
Zoox, the Amazon-owned robotaxi company, announced a voluntary software recall for its vehicles. The company had paused its driverless vehicle operations for a review following an incident last month where a Zoox car and a passenger car collided in Las Vegas. According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the crash did not cause any injuries. CNBC reports that Zoox has resumed usual operations following the software update.
"After analysis and rigorous testing, Zoox identified the root cause," the company said in a blog post today. "We issued a software update that was implemented across all Zoox vehicles. All Zoox vehicles on the road today, including our purpose-built robotaxi and test fleet, have the updated software."
Last year, the NHTSA investigated issues with Toyota Highlander cars equipped with Zoox's automated driving system exhibiting unexpected braking. Car models retrofitted with the Zoox system recently began testing and mapping in Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/zoox-issues-software-recall-for-all-robotaxi
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May 06, 2025
OpenAI has abandoned its controversial restructuring plan. In a dramatic reversal, the company said Monday it would no longer try to separate control of its for-profit arm from the non-profit board that currently oversees operations. "We made the decision for the nonprofit to retain control of OpenAI after hearing from civic leaders and engaging in constructive dialogue with the offices of the Attorney General of Delaware and the Attorney General of California," said Bret Taylor, the chairman of OpenAI.
OpenAI had originally argued its existing structure would not allow its nonprofit to "easily do more than control the for-profit." It also said it needed more money, a mere two months after securing $6.6 billion in new investment. "We once again need to raise more capital than we'd imagined," the company wrote in December. "Investors want to back us but, at this scale of capital, need conventional equity and less structural bespokeness."
OpenAI's previous plan called for the nonprofit to cede absolute control of the for-profit, in return for whatever degree of control came with the amount of stock it was granted through the reorganization process.
This was the controversial part of OpenAI's plan, with many, including former employees, labor and nonprofit groups and even Elon Musk, voicing opposition to the proposal. Now, the company says its nonprofit will retain control and be
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May 06, 2025
The Trump administration has announced plans to eliminate the Energy Star program, as originally reported by The Washington Post. This announcement occurred during an all-hands meeting of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Atmospheric Protection, in which the department was shuttered.
As for Energy Star, this program started all the way back in 1992 under the first Bush administration. This is the department that's responsible for the iconic yellow stickers on home appliances. The long-standing public-private partnership certifies energy efficient appliances and helps consumers find tax credits for these fixtures.
Data indicates that the program has helped Americans save more than $500 billion in energy costs in the past 33 years. The organization states that the average American saves about $450 per year on energy bills by choosing appliances that have been Energy Star-certified.
The EPA hasn't said when this would go into effect and when consumers would stop seeing Energy Star certifications on home appliances. It's technically illegal for a presidential administration to end this program without Congress, but the same goes for many of Trump's pronouncements and executive orders.
"Eliminating the Energy Star program would directly contrad
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May 06, 2025
Microsoft announced a series of upcoming new features for Copilot PCs and Windows 11. One of the most compelling updates for Copilot PCs is agent, which provides on-device AI assistance for adjusting a PC's settings. Some of the example tweaks Microsoft gave for this application are issues such as "how to control my PC by voice" and "my mouse pointer is too small."
Not only can the agent answer these types of queries, but if the necessary permissions are granted, the AI can also make the requested changes for a user. The blog post specifies that only questions in English are "initially" supported, which hints that more languages will be added at a later date. This feature will first roll out to Copilot PCs with Snapdragon chips, while thoe computers powered by Intel and AMD will get agents "soon."
Microsoft is also adding more actions to the Click to Do capability for Copilot AI assistance with whatever is currently active on a computer's screen. Copilot will be able to act on text or an image, including creating a bulleted list from selected text or drafting copy into Microsoft Word. Other new actions include scheduling a meeting, sending a message to Microsoft Teams and sending data to Microsoft Excel. Click to Do will also support engaging a computer's Reading Coach and Immersive Reader modes.
While most of Microsoft's recent messaging about Windows 11 has put Copilot PCs at front and center, but there will be some new goodies for the owners of oth
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May 06, 2025
You can save today on our top security camera pick for Alexa users. Amazon has the Blink Outdoor 4 for half price. A single camera (usually $100) only costs $50, which is only $10 more than its all-time low for Black Friday. And the half-off savings also apply to multi-camera bundles.
The Blink Outdoor 4's name is somewhat deceiving because it works just as well for indoor use. The weather-resistant camera records in up to 1080p and supports black-and-white infrared for nighttime recording. The wireless camera is powered by a pair of AA batteries.
If the impressive Blink Outdoor 4 has an asterisk, it's the company's
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May 06, 2025
You might know the story by now: Framework makes repairable, modular laptops where you can sub in new components for old or broken ones. It's been two years since the company debuted an AMD mainboard for the Laptop 13 and so it's time for the first replacement to arrive. The new model gets AMD's Ryzen AI 300, a series of power-efficient chips for notebooks that can do all the Copilot AI nonsense the industry insists people need and want.
Framework sent me the new AMD mainboard to slot into the existing chassis, along with a new bezel and input cover. Rather than the usual solid colors, the company is now offering translucent plastic versions for all those late ‘90s kids who owned Game Boy Colors. I prefer the tinted translucent version over the clear transparent one, but you can judge for yourself in the pictures.
Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI 300
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May 06, 2025
High-end Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen has announced the third generation of its Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker. The updated A1 remains as portable as its predecessor, retaining its puck-shaped design and minimalist appearance, but there are some key upgrades under its pearl-blasted aluminum shell.
Arguably the most important of these is the larger woofer, which delivers a bass of 64dB, a 2dB improvement on the second-generation model. While that admittedly sounds modest on paper, B&O claims it's one that makes the speaker capable of comfortably filling a room with meaty sound. If you happen to have an older A1 around, you can form a stereo pair with the latest model for even more sonic muscle.
Battery life has also been increased to 24 hours, which is a sizable six hours more than its predecessor. And while it uses the slightly older Bluetooth 5.1 standard, the new A1 supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair, both of which cut down on the steps required to pair devices. The previous speaker's three-microphone setup also makes its way to the A1 3rd Gen, allowing you to take calls from the device itself.
The updated speaker has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating, and sports a modular design that allows you to replace or upgrade broken or outdated components over time. Bang & Olufsen say it's the first speaker in the world to get a Bronze certification from Cradle to Cradle. The C2C is a globally recognized sustainability standard that assesses a product fr
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May 06, 2025
Recteq makes pellet grills, but those can't do it all when it comes to backyard cooking. So when the company sought to create an alternative for gas grillers, without making an actual gas grill, it needed to do something radically different.
With its newly launched X-Fire Pro, Recteq may have done that. The company says that its Dual Mode Cooking combines the best of wood pellets and gas, offering a temperature range between 225 and 1,250 degrees Fahrenheit. But it wasn't just about getting to that high level of heat. For Recteq, harmonizing the dual capabilities with an intuitive design was most important.
"Part of our development process was going after the gas grill market, attracting new users to the pellet grill universe," Recteq's VP of products Ben Lesshafft said. "We really felt the best way to do that was to meet them on their turf."
Gas grills are very easy to use. They feel more familiar to most people because they function a lot like a stove and light with the press of a button. Primarily designed for higher-heat cooking, these are the grills you want for burgers, steaks and other cookout essentials when you don't want to futz with the extra care and clean up of charcoal. Turn it on, cook your food, turn it off. What's more, gas grills have multiple burners, which allow backyard cooks to adjust and maintain multiple temperature zones as needed.
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May 06, 2025
Meta is facing its biggest existential threat in its history. Years after the Federal Trade Commission first sued the social network in an attempt to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, the trial that will shape its future is finally underway. FTC v. Meta began last month when CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand, and is expected to last for several weeks.
The FTC is hoping to prove to US District judge James Boasberg that Meta's acquisitions of its one-time rivals were anticompetitive and hurt US consumers. Meta, meanwhile, has argued that Instagram and WhatsApp were only able to grow to the billion-user services they are because of its investment into them over the last decade or more.
While the case is unlikely to be fully settled anytime soon, the trial has successfully uncovered tons of new details about the inner workings of Meta and its approach to potential competitors. And testimony from former execs like Instagram cofounder Kevin Systrom and longtime COO Sheryl Sandberg have shed new light on the company's past.
Instagram's former CEO speaks
Facebook's 2012 acquisition of Instagram is a central part of the FTC's case against Meta. The government has argued that Mark Zuckerberg bought Instagram in order to neutralize it as a competitor
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May 06, 2025
Meta is facing its biggest existential threat in its history. Years after the Federal Trade Commission first sued the social network in an attempt to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, the trial that will shape its future is finally underway. FTC v. Meta began last month when CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand, and is expected to last for several weeks.
The FTC is hoping to prove to US District judge James Boasberg that Meta's acquisitions of its one-time rivals were anticompetitive and hurt US consumers. Meta, meanwhile, has argued that Instagram and WhatsApp were only able to grow to the billion-user services they are because of its investment into them over the last decade or more.
While the case is unlikely to be fully settled anytime soon, the trial has successfully uncovered tons of new details about the inner workings of Meta and its approach to potential competitors. And testimony from former execs like Instagram cofounder Kevin Systrom and longtime COO Sheryl Sandberg have shed new light on the company's past.
Instagram's former CEO speaks
Facebook's 2012 acquisition of Instagram is a central part of the FTC's case against Meta. The government has argued that Mark Zuckerberg bought Instagram in order to neutralize it as a competitor and is trying to force Meta to di
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May 06, 2025
NVIDIA's RTX 5060 finally has a release date. When the company announced the budget 50-series graphics cards last month, it gave the higher-end Ti model a firm April 19 launch but limited the base 5060 model to a vague "May" window. On Tuesday, we learned that the card with a $299 MSRP arrives on May 19.
The RTX 5060 has 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 19 TFLOPS Blackwell shader cores, 5th-gen tensor cores with 614 AI TOPS performance and 4th-gen RT (ray tracing) cores that can reach 58 TFLOPS. It also has 3,840 CUDA Cores.
According to NVIDIA's benchmarks, the RTX 5060 reaches 234 fps in Hogwarts Legacy, 148 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, 220 fps in Avowed and 330 fps in Marvel Rivals. Those numbers are all set for 1080p with maxed-out graphics and 4x frame generation.
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May 06, 2025
Finding the right gift for a new graduate in your life can be tough. Default ideas like a fancy watch or a monogrammed bag can be pricey and, let's face it, boring. Tech can be a good option, and no, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a solid gadget that they'd like.
While expensive stuff like iPhones, smartwatches and game consoles may come to mind immediately, they aren't the only options out there. And sometimes all it takes is a practical gadget like a power bank to make someone's life a little easier — that's especially applicable to new grads who are focusing all of their attention on snagging that new job or applying for further education. Here's Engadget's list of the best gifts under $50 for new graduates.
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May 06, 2025
Amazon has finally streamlined the process by which folks can buy books via the iOS version of the Kindle app. The iPhone and iPad apps now include a "Get Book" button with each listed title. Hitting this button will bring up the corresponding Amazon page, along with the option for a 1-Click purchase. Once finalized, it directs users back to the Kindle app for some reading.
This isn't as seamless as a simple in-app purchase, but it's miles better than the old method. This would require Kindle users to buy titles on their own via a web browser. There was no portal within the Kindle app or anything like that. Basically, you'd have to jot down the name of the book and head to the web version of Amazon to look it up and make a purchase.
— Six Colors (@bleedsixcolors) May 6, 2025
This move is, of course, thanks to a recent court ruling that banned Apple from collecting fees for digital items bought outside of the official App Store. This forced the company to update the App Store to allow for external payment options. As such, companies like Amazon can now experiment with new purchasing methods
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May 06, 2025
If you've been looking to grab a new set of AirPods, good news: The AirPods 4 are on sale via Amazon for $99. That's $30 off Apple's list price, and it ties the largest discount we've seen for the entry-level earbuds. This particular deal is also available at
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May 06, 2025
Mother's Day is this Sunday and the window to get presents delivered is dangerously close to shutting. But there are plenty of great subscription gifts to buy your mom, including a year of MasterClass. Even better, the learning site is currently running a Mother's Day sale — though you can also use it to pick up a subscription for yourself.
If you're not familiar, MasterClass offers video lessons by more than 200 experts everything from cooking to music. For Mother's Day, you can gift a 12 month Standard MasterClass subscription for $60, down from $120. This tier allows your mom to use MasterClass on one device, but doesn't include offline mode.
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May 06, 2025
Samsung's "Tap to Transfer" payment feature will come to the US this month, following a preview of the feature in January when it launched the Galaxy S25 series. This will allow you to make payments to friends and family via the Samsung Wallet app on Galaxy smartphones by tapping your devices together, bypassing the need to manually transfer funds from your online banking app. Samsung says payments will land in the bank account of the recipient within minutes.
Samsung's partnership with Visa and Mastercard means that as long as you have a debit card stored in your Samsung Wallet, you can use Tap to Transfer without needing to download a separate app. Like when you make payments in a store, Samsung Wallet uses NFC to connect the respective debit card chips of the users making or receiving a payment, and if one party would rather use a physical debit card to make the transfer, it works just the same provided the card itself has tap-to-pay functionality.
You can also make payments Venmo-style between Samsung Wallets by searching for the recipient's phone number and making the transfer remotely, but this obviously isn't as fast as the person-to-person phone bump method. Apple has its own version of this, called Tap to Cash, but it requires you to use its Apple Cash service and, as you'd expect, only works with compatible Apple devices. As reported by Android Central, the new feature was first spotte
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May 06, 2025
YouTube has launched an experimental Premium plan that would let you and another person in your household share one discounted subscription. First reported by Moneycontrol, the online video platform is currently piloting the test option in India, Taiwan, Hong Kong and France. To be able to opt for the subscription tier, you and your companion have to be 13-years-old and above and have Google accounts that are part of one Google family group.
The plan's pricing will, of course, cost you less than if you're paying for two Premium accounts. In India, the two-person plan costs Rs 219 per month ($2.60), which is less than the Rs 298 ($3.53) you'd pay for two individual plans and the Rs 299 ($3.54) you'd pay for a 5-person Family subscription. YouTube has been pushing for the adoption of its paid Premium plans in recent years by offering perks like enhanced 1080p for full-priced subscriptions and launching a cheaper Premium Lite option with reduced ads. The full-priced, ad-free Premium plan costs at least $14 a month in the US.
To prevent viewers from being able to watch videos ad-free without paying, and to urge them to sign up for Premium subscriptions, YouTube even launched "a global effort" to crack down on ad blockers back in 2023. This experimental plan puts Premi
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May 06, 2025
It's so annoying when publishers release a trailer for a game that's ages away. What's even the point of getting folks excited for something that won't come out for over a year? I'm sure no one's going to be interested in a fresh look at Grand Theft Auto 6, indisputably the most anticipated game on the planet. No one at all. [/s]
Just a few days after Rockstar Games said it was delaying the blockbuster from this fall to next May, it has surprised everyone by dropping the second trailer for GTA 6. It's our first proper peek at the game in nearly 18 months. This one is more story focused than the first trailer. It highlights the relationship between the dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, and (of course) some of their law-flouting escapades.
"Vice City, USA. Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them," a description of the story reads. "But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive." The game's website has more screenshots and details about the characters shown in the trailer too.
GTA 6 marks a return to an old favorite location, but you've never see
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May 06, 2025
Amazon
Who needs cable TV anymore? Thanks to the wealth of streaming apps, you have more on-demand viewing options than ever before. And those streaming apps like Disney , Netflix and Max are available on a wide range of hardware, too. Roku, Apple TV and Google TV (aka Chromecast) let you view thousands of movies and TV shows at the touch of a button, though we'd argue that seeing all your favorites on a big-screen TV is way better than watching it on a smaller laptop or smartphone screen.
But there's at least one big reason to go with Amazon's Fire TV instead. Unlike archrival Roku, Amazon's Fire TV system offers VPN apps straight through its built-in app store. That's important if you want to watch a show or movie that's otherwise unavailable in your country. Fire up a VPN, set your virtual location and you'll likely get a different set of viewing options on many streaming services — or the ability to access ones to which you otherwise didn't have access. We'll explain the details and tell you how it works.
Choose the right VPN for your Fire TV
For starters, we're going to assume you have a Fire TV device. If you don't, we have good news: If your TV doesn't already have
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May 06, 2025
In April, a US District Court ruled that Google monopolized open-web digital ad markets. Now, the tech giant and the US Justice Department are at odds about what Google must do about it. The DOJ argues that Google should sell AdX, or Ad Exchange, a platform for publishers to sell unused ad space in real-time. It also wants the company to offload Google Ad Manager, previously DoubleClick for Publishers (Google DFP).
The DOJ claims that both platforms minimize competition and contribute to Google's monopoly in the advertising space. The executive department has also pushed Google to sell Chrome due to a separate ruling that the company held a monopoly on search engines.
Unsurprisingly, Google has no interest in getting rid of its products — it also plans to appeal the Court's ruling on Google Ad Manager. Google has announced "a proposal that fully addresses the Court's findings." These changes include allowing all rival publisher ad servers to make real-time bids on AdX and letting publishers set different price floors for each bidder.
"In contrast, the DOJ is seeking remedies that go significantly beyond the Court's narrow ruling by forcing a divestiture of Google Ad Manager," Google stated in its announcement. "This would risk breaking a tool advertisers use to connect with publishers and efficiently reach their customers, and that app and video publishers use to monetize their content — businesses that aren't even part of the narrow market of 'open web displ
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May 06, 2025
Roku's streaming player lineup is a little easier to understand in 2025 than ever — but it's still a bit confusing. With the release of the Roku Streaming Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, there are now three streaming sticks and one set-top box in the company's streaming player family. Express models and ones with the plus symbols are no longer in the mix. The Roku Ultra set-top box is the most expensive at $100. The 2021 Streaming Stick 4K goes for $50, while the Streaming Stick and the Streaming Stick Plus cost $30 and $40, respectively. After reviewing the Streaming Stick Plus and comparing it to other streamers, I think it packs a decent amount of power (and Roku's convenient interface) into a small dongle.
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May 06, 2025
Since arriving in 2020, the Backbone One has helped popularize dedicated mobile game controllers, the kind you might use for streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now, remote play apps, emulators or any smartphone game you'd rather play with buttons and joysticks instead of your fingers. While you can always clip your phone to a PlayStation or Xbox controller paired over Bluetooth, telescopic gamepads like the One tend to be more ergonomic, creating a Nintendo Switch-style shape by clamping around your device at both ends. Backbone is far from the only company making these things now, but the One is still among the most frequently recommended options on the market — Engadget's own Mat Smith gave it a
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May 06, 2025
Last year was a major one for Microsoft's Surface lineup, thanks to the launch of Copilot AI PC initiative, as well as surprisingly capable Arm-powered Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models. But aside from the addition of OLED and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon chips, the overall design for those Surface machines didn't really evolve much. That changes this year, as Microsoft has announced smaller versions of its Surface family: A 12-inch Surface Pro hybrid tablet and a 13-inch Surface Laptop. To be clear, they won't be replacing the existing Surface devices, instead they're more like compact siblings.
While they may sound only a bit smaller than the existing 13-inch Surface Pro and 13.8-inch Surface Laptop, Microsoft managed to cut off plenty of excess weight. The new 12-inch Surface Pro is a half-pound lighter than the 13-inch model, clocking in at 1.5 pounds, and the revised Surface Laptop is 0.3 pounds lighter (2.7 pounds). Notably, the Surface Pro is coming in 0.2 pounds lighter than the Surface Pro X, a device we praised for having "gorgeous" hardware that was betrayed by Windows' terrible Arm support in 2019.
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May 06, 2025
DoorDash has agreed to purchase British food and grocery delivery service Deliveroo for $3.9 billion, the companies have revealed in a filing with the London Stock Exchange. The acquisition will "strengthen DoorDash's position as a leading global platform," the filing said. Deliveroo operates in nine regions, namely Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. All those regions are new for DoorDash and will give the combined companies access to a total population that exceeds 1 billion people.
It doesn't sound like DoorDash is erasing Deliveroo's brand after it takes over. Instead, they'll both be part of an "Enlarged Group" operating in multiple regions around the world, giving DoorDash an expanded presence in Europe and giving it an entry into the Middle Eastern market. "Both companies are highly complementary, whether in their geographic footprints or their missions, and I am confident that being part of the Enlarged Group will accelerate the realisation of Deliveroo's full potential," Deliveroo chair Claudia Arney said in a statement.
The acquisition is still subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals. As
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May 06, 2025
Whether your grad plans to schlep it to the office every day or needs to build their own workspace at home, chances are they could use some help prepping their desk for the professional world. If you know a recent graduate and want to make their first days on the job a little more convenient, we've rounded up a few of our favorite office essentials — gadgets and accessories that should prove useful in anyone's day-to-day life. Have a look below if you need help jogging your brain for a gift idea.
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May 06, 2025
Apple may see further fallout over its failure to comply with a court order that led to last week's contempt ruling. A class action suit filed on behalf of developers claims that Apple's actions cost Pure Sweat Basketball (and other developers) revenue during the period it was found to have violated the original court order. "Had Apple complied with the injunction, as required, Pure Sweat would have been able to sell subscriptions to its app directly to its customers," the law firm, Hagens Berman, alleges.
The original 2021 court ruling forced Apple to allow App Store developers to direct user to other payments systems so that they could bypass the 30 percent of of in-app payments taken by Apple. The App Store was supposed to stop preventing developers from including buttons or links in their apps and metadata that would allow allow users to make purchases outside the App Store environment.
However, developer Epic Games accused Apple of "malicious compliance" with the ruling because it still charged a commission of up to 27 percent on any sales made through links to external payment systems. It also said Apple came up with onerous restrictions on external buttons, among other violations.
In her ruling last week, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said Apple "chose the most anticompetitive option" at every turn. She even alleged that Apple lied under oath to hide the truth about its actions and referred the case to a US attorney for a criminal contempt investigation.
"The court ultimately held that Apple will
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May 06, 2025
It's been eight years since Nintendo released its revolutionary hybrid console, and while many have spent the last couple of those itching for sequel hardware, it's a good time to recall how Nintendo smashed expectations and continued to forge its own path in gaming, graphical fidelity be damned.
Whether it was its core conceit — a handheld and a TV-connected console — or Nintendo's continued production line of hit games, which included arguably the best game of the decade, we have a lot to say. And let's not forget the Switch came before the Steam Deck and the tidal wave of handheld gaming PCs that have appeared in recent years. Nintendo proved people would play triple-A games without being tethered to their TV.
We've pulled together some of the Engadget team's reflections. I love to say "reflections".
— Mat Smith
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All the biggest stories you might have missed
Half-Life 3 is reportedly playable in its entirety and could be announced this year
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May 06, 2025
Finding good laptops can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options to choose from. Whether you need a lightweight machine for work, a business laptop for productivity, or something with plenty of storage for all of your projects, there are plenty of options. Modern laptops are more powerful and efficient than ever, offering a mix of portability, performance, and features tailored to different needs. From sleek ultrabooks to gaming beasts and budget-friendly options, there's no shortage of great choices.
Out of all of the notebooks we've tested and reviewed recently, we consider Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air M4 to be the best laptop for most people, and this is still the case for our top picks to start off the new year. It's powerful enough to handle most tasks (even light video editing); it has a great screen and built-in speakers; and its battery could last over 18hours (d
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May 05, 2025
Netflix has released its first teaser trailer for the final season of Squid Game. Based on the scenes the streaming service included in the video, the games will be restarted after a failed uprising led by the show's protagonist Seong Gi-hun, or Player 456. While Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger, it hinted strongly that the rebellion will fail to end the games right then and there.
In the teaser, Player 456 could be seen being brought back into a room full of players inside a coffin. And after he wakes up, the games resume, players are segregated into groups, mother and son are separated and, curiously, a baby could be heard crying by the end of the teaser. We also get glimpses of Jun-ho as he searches for the island where the games are being held and his brother In-ho, who resumes his role as the games' Front Man after pretending to be a player in the previous season.
Squid Game is a Korean survival thriller with themes revolving around class struggle and social inequality. In the story, ordinary people, often buried in debts and desperate to earn money, are locked in a facility where they're forced to play games. Only one person wins the pot of money players collectively earn by winning games. Everybody else? Well, they die. Seong Gi-hun, the first season's winner, chose to come back for another round in order to dismantle the organization running the games, and the third season will show the culmination of his efforts. Squid Game season 3 arrives on Netflix on June 27.
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May 05, 2025
Yet another high-profile Xbox franchise is making the leap to PlayStation. While Halo isn't yet making the transition, Gears of War is about to join the likes of Forza Horizon 5 in crossing the divide. Gears of War: Reloaded, a remaster of the first game in the series from 2006, is coming to PS5, PC (on the Xbox PC app and Steam) and, naturally, Xbox Series X/S on August 26. However, it's not making its way to Nintendo Switch 2, at least for the time being.
The game costs $40, though it will also be on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one. Those who bought the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before the remaster announcement will get a free upgrade. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will also be able to play the third-person shooter on Xbox Cloud Gaming.
The Coalition, an Xbox studio that focuses on Gears of War, worked on the remaster with Sumo Interactive and Disbelief. The game includes all of the Gears of War DLC at no extra cost, including a bonus act for the campaign and all multiplayer features. There will be some characters and cosmetic items that you unlock through progression.
As ever, you can play through the campaign with a friend either online or in classic split-screen co-op. There's cross-play for all platforms with support for up to eight players in the versus multiplayer mode. If you sign in with a Microsoft account (which isn't required), you can enable cr
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May 05, 2025
The Apple TV is one of the best streaming devices you can get right now to add Netflix, Disney , Max and other streaming apps to your boring old TV. It costs more than the competition, but it offers a more polished experience (the screensavers are worth the price of admission) as well as more privacy protections.
One perk of Apple TV you may not know about is its support for several native VPN apps. You can use a VPN to unlock shows, movies, and sporting events that are usually restricted to other territories. If you use a VPN to change your IP address to a different virtual location, you can fool streaming sites into changing what content they make available. Here's how to use a VPN on your Apple TV and why you might want to install one.
How to use a VPN on Apple TV
As of the September 2023 release of the tvOS 17 software update, the Apple TV platform supports third-party VPN apps. Setting them up is easy; just follow these steps (these may vary slightly between VPNs):
In the Apple TV App Store, search for the VPN you want to download or search for the keyword "VPN" to see your options.
Download and install your chosen VPN.
Sign up or log in.
Choose a server location in a different country.
Once the VPN is up and running, return to the home screen and run the streaming app of your choice. In some cases, it will give you access to a new set of programming options based on your new virtual location.
We have a comprehensive guide on
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May 05, 2025
Ecco the Dolphin, the Sega-published game series starring a time-traveling bottlenose dolphin, is making a comeback, according to a new interview in Xbox Wire. The series' creator Ed Annunziata says that both Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time are being remastered, and a third game is in the works.
"Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Tides of Time games," Annunziata says. "Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and GPU sensibilities." Ecco the Dolphin was featured alongside games like Tchia and Coral Island for Xbox's celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and games that draw "inspiration from API cultures." For its part, Ecco the Dolphin is about a porpoise, but Annunziata says his goal was always to "create a game that sparked curiosity and respect for the ocean."
Annunziata tried to get a spiritual successor to Ecco funded on Kickstarter in 2013, but failed to raise enough money to get the project off the ground. He sued Sega for the rights to the original franchise that same year, and ultimately settled with the publisher in 2016, GamesBeat reports. The set
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May 05, 2025
The Switch 2 is nearly here, which means the original Switch is entering its twilight years. It's been eight years since Nintendo released its revolutionary hybrid console, and while many fans have spent the last couple of those itching for the device to be replaced, now seems like an opportune time to look back at what its legacy may wind up being (while acknowledging that it still has some life ahead of it).
Instead of bleating on myself, though, I turned to the rest of the Engadget staff to see what comes to mind when they think of the Switch, as just about everyone on the team has played with the console. We've collected our reflections below — some take a bigger-picture view, some are more personal, some contradict others' experiences entirely. There's plenty more that went unsaid. But I think that's part of the Switch's beauty; it's a device that's resonated with so many, in so many different ways, in its near-decade on the market.
The Switch embodied Nintendo's lateral thinking with withered technology
Broadly speaking, you can group Nintendo consoles into two types. On one side you have devices that may be distinctive in certain ways but mostly iterate on a previous success or focus on technical upgrades first — think the SNES, GameCube, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, 3DS and, by the looks of it, the Switch 2. (The N64 and original NES could go either way, but I'd put them here too.) On the other you have m
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May 05, 2025
Last week a federal judge issued a scathing ruling over Apple's handling of fees for in-app transactions. As promised, Apple has appealed the latest decision in the protracted lawsuit brought by Epic Games over the company's anti-competitive App Store policies. The initial 2021 ruling attempting to loosen Apple's grip on in-app sales was all but ignored, as the company went to great lengths in attempting to circumvent the decision.
While the company complied with the judges ruling, it has now filed its promised appeal after it made clear last week that it strongly disagreed with the court's decision. It remains to be seen if there is any chance for Apple to win the appeal, as Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sternly reprimanded Apple in her latest ruling.
Her ruling in part read "Apple willfully chose not to comply with this Court's Injunction. It did so with the express intent to create new anticompetitive barriers which would, by design and in effect, maintain a valued revenue stream; a revenue stream previously found to be anticompetitive. That it thought this Court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation." |
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May 05, 2025
Google plans to start producing its own films and television shows via a "production initiative" called 100 Zeros, Business Insider reports. The company is working with Range Media Partners, a talent management and production company, to identify projects that appeal to younger audiences and could "promote a positive view of [Google's] products."
Besides the obvious opportunity for product placement, the larger goal of the initiative is to fund projects that have a positive view of technology, and to get the creative industry interested in using Google's products. Immersive View, Google's 3D aerial scans featured in Google Maps, could be a tool it pushes, Business Insider writes. Veo 2, Google's AI video model, seems like a natural candidate, too. Whichever way the company goes, 100 Zeros already has a movie under its belt: The initiative reportedly helped pay for the marketing for the indie horror movie Cuckoo.
Engadget has reached out to Google to confirm the details of Business Insider's report and share more information about 100 Zeros. We'll update this article if we hear back.
Google has some experience in the entertainment i
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May 05, 2025
If you're struggling to come up with just the right gift for your mom, you're not alone. Mothers can be particularly difficult to shop for, especially if your mom is like many we know who insist that they don't want or need gifts. Short of giving them some time back in their day to do what they want to do instead of things they need to do, the gift ideas we collected below can help you show the mother figure in your life that you care and want to spoil them a bit even when they claim it's not necessary — because they deserve it.
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May 05, 2025
Whether your mom keeps on top of the latest tech trends or still calls you for help logging into her email account, a carefully considered gadget can be a practical way to tell her thanks for, y'know, putting up with you. Sure, the usual flowers, breakfast in bed or complementary spa day will always be worthwhile Mother's Day gifts, but if you want to take a different (and much nerdier) approach, a good piece of tech can make her life easier even after the holiday has passed. If you need some help brainstorming some gift ideas, we've put together a list of gadgets, services and other gear that should bring any mom a little joy.
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May 05, 2025
A hacker has exploited a vulnerability in TeleMessage to breach the service and steal data, according to reporting by 404 Media. TeleMessage is an Israeli company that provides modded versions of encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.
It was revealed last week that former US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz used TeleMessage's modified version of Signal to archive messages. Today's report indicated the presence of other high-ranking government officials in archived chats on the app, including Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard and Vice President JD Vance.
The unnamed hacker was able to access archived chats, but it doesn't look like they got into any of Waltz's conversations. The hack does, however, prove that the app's message archiving service is not end-to-end encrypted.
The hacker also accessed contact information of government officials, login credentials for TeleMessage and data pertaining to the US Customs and Border Protection agency. Some businesses who use the service, like Coinbase and Scotiabank, were also hacked. 404 Media spoke to the anonymous hacker, who said the whole thing only "took about 15-20 minutes" and that it "wasn't much effort at all." TeleMessage's parent company Smarsh has yet to comment on the matter.
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May 05, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are technically open, but you may have a tough time grabbing the console before its June 5 release date if you haven't secured one already. As of our latest sweep, the device is still completely out of stock at Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target and other retailers. This has (mostly) been the case since pre-orders first went live in the US on April 24, and it remains unclear when it'll change.
Right now, your best hope might be to order through Nintendo itself, as the console maker is set to start accepting pre-orders at its My Nintendo Store on Thursday, May 8. That said, the company is only offering the Switch 2 through an invite system. It's been accepting registrations for that since April 2, and it's prioritizing invites for past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers first. So if you're just registering today, don't be surprised if your invite doesn't arrive until some time after the initial batch. Nintendo even updated the language on its pre-order page last month to note that some invite emails may not arrive until after the console's release date.
Nevertheless, we're keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that may pop up. If you're still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we've rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could find for
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May 05, 2025
The recently-released seventh-gen Apple iPad mini is on sale for 20 percent off via Amazon, which represents a record low price. You can scoop up a 128GB model for just $399, though
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May 05, 2025
A wide-ranging sale on Beats headphones has brought some of the brand's products down to record-low prices. Take, for instance, the Beats Solo 4. That model is currently half off at $100 at Amazon. Although we've seen those headphones hit this price before, it's matching an all-time low. The same offer is also available at
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May 05, 2025
Whether you're looking for a good Mother's Day gift or just refreshing your aging tablet, it's hard to find a better deal right now than the new iPad A16. We already consider it the best budget iPad at its standard going rate, but it remains on sale for $299 at Amazon,
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May 05, 2025
Graduating college is a major milestone — then comes the not-so-fun part: learning to be an adult. If you know a recent grad and want to celebrate, there are countless gadgets and services you can give them to make the next step in their life a little less daunting. We spend our days testing exactly these kinds of products and figuring out which ones are actually good; if you need a hand coming up with something, we've rounded up a few of our favorite college graduation gift ideas below.
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May 05, 2025
In a development that can only be seen as positive, non-consensual deepfake porn site Mr. Deepfakes has shut down for good, reports 404 Media. This news comes due to the site losing one of its service providers.
"A critical service provider has terminated service permanently. Data loss has made it impossible to continue operation," a notice on the site reads. "We will not be relaunching. Any website claiming this is fake. This domain will eventually expire and we are not responsible for future use. This message will be removed around one week."
As sites continued to crack down on non-consenual deepfake porn, Mr. Deepfakes became an open space for it. Users could upload videos and connect with creators to commission videos. People also used it as a way to collaborate on new techniques, share their methods and provide datasets. All of it was with the goal of creating this non-consensual media, sometimes with a strong likeness to real people.
The creator of Mr. Deepfakes is still technically anonymous. However, German newspaper Der Spiegel reportedly tracked down one of the individuals behind it, a 36-year-old in Toronto.
Governments across the world have been taking steps to make sexually explicit deepfakes illegal. Last week, the
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May 05, 2025
Foldable phones have gone from futuristic novelties to genuinely useful devices that blend portability with big-screen versatility. Whether you're into multitasking, mobile gaming or just love having a phone that turns heads, the best foldable phones you can buy offer powerful performance, durable designs and impressive displays that unfold to reveal more room for apps, videos and productivity.
From book-style designs to flip-style clamshells, the best foldable phone for you depends on how you like to use your device. Some models focus on flagship-level power and multitasking features, while others aim to keep things compact and stylish. Either way, these folding handsets are pushing the boundaries of what smartphones can do.
Note: For this guide, we're focusing on devices that are widely available in North America and Europe. That's because while there are even more options for people who live in Asia (especially China), they are often difficult to buy from abroad and may not support your local carriers.
Table of contents
Best foldable phones for 2025
How we test foldable phones
Are foldable phones worth it? A note on durability
Foldable phone FAQs
Best foldable phones for 2025
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May 04, 2025
Nintendo is going after the company that showed off unauthorized mockups of the not-yet-announced Switch 2 at CES 2025. In a lawsuit filed on Friday, Nintendo accuses accessory maker Genki of trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising, arguing that Genki "embarked upon a strategic campaign intended to capitalize on the public interest surrounding Nintendo's next-generation console." According to Nintendo, Genki promoted accessories it claimed are compatible with the Switch 2 despite not having official access to the console, and used the Switch logo to do so.
Following the initial reports in January that Genki brought Switch 2 mockups to CES and published a video said to show a 3D render of the console, Nintendo released a statement to say that neither the hardware nor imagery were official, per IGN. While Genki reportedly claimed it had access to a Switch 2 at first, the company later wrote on X that it does "not own or possess a black market console," and told Game*Spark (translated by
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May 04, 2025
The votes are in and residents of a small swath of southern Texas are in favor of Starbase becoming a real city. The newly-designated city is home to SpaceX and many of its employees, and it's where Elon Musk's company builds rocket engines, launches spacecraft and manufactures other space-related tech. According to the final vote tally, 212 residents voted in favor of incorporating as Starbase, while six voted against the measure — but, it's worth noting that most of the eligible voters in the locale are SpaceX employees and only 143 votes were needed to make Starbase a city.
Musk celebrated on X, while the city also made its first post, stating that "becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity's place in space." The idea for Starbase dates back to March 2021, when Musk first teased the idea on what was then Twitter. Now that the vote has taken place, Starbase will be separated from Cameron County as its own roughly 1.5-square mile city. This designation is particularly important considering SpaceX may be able to circumvent governmental red tape when it comes to scheduling rocket launches. Previously, Musk's company had to get permission from county authorities to close a nearby highway or restrict public access to Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park for rocket launches.
While the vote to designate Starbase as an official Texas city passed, county commissioners and judges still need to declare the election results official, according to Remi Garza, the elections admin
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May 04, 2025
A space observatory designed to map the entire sky over a period of two years to further our understanding of the early universe has started snapping images. SPHEREx, which launched in early March, got started with its observations this past week after over a month of setup procedures and system checks, according to NASA. The space telescope will complete about 14.5 orbits of Earth per day, capturing roughly 3,600 images daily and observing the sky in an unprecedented 102 wavelengths of infrared light. Its observations will eventually be combined to create four "all-sky" maps.
SPHEREx's 25 month survey will be a comprehensive one. The spacecraft "orbits Earth from north to south, passing over the poles, and each day it takes images along one circular strip of the sky," NASA explains. "As the days pass and the planet moves around the Sun, SPHEREx's field of view shifts as well so that after six months, the observatory will have looked out into space in every direction." Researchers will use the SPHEREx observations to study the universe's expansion in the moments after the big bang, and search for the ingredients for life elsewhere in the Milky Way.
This article originall
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May 04, 2025
Instead of deciding between four new models of iPhones every fall, you may have to choose among three in both the spring and the fall. A new report from The Information claims that Apple will change the release cycle for its smartphones, starting with the iPhone 18 in 2026. According to The Information, three unnamed supply chain sources detailed that the more expensive models will launch first, meaning the Pro models will keep the fall release window and the standard model iPhones will get pushed to the following spring.
It's a notable departure from the typical all-at-once release schedule, but it could indicate that Apple wants to make room for other models, like the long-rumored foldable iPhone. If the report is accurate, Apple would release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and potentially the foldable iPhone in fall 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 base model, the iPhone 18 Slim and the iPhone 18e in spring 2027.
If you've been paying close attention to Apple's releases, this change may not be much of a surprise. While the company has been releasing its annual batch of new iPhones in September or October since the iPhone 5, Apple started breaking from the schedule with the introduction of the iPhone SE models, which were usually released in March or April. More recently, Apple introduced the iPhone
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May 03, 2025
Computex 2025 is approaching, and it's sure to bring a ton of announcements about the latest chips, laptops, gaming devices and more from leading brands. The event in Taipei will kick off on Monday, May 19 with a keynote from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang at the Taipei Music Center. There will be a livestream for anyone not attending in person, so you can watch along on the Computex website or YouTube channel.
Huang's keynote is scheduled for 11PM ET/ 8PM PT on May 18 (11AM on May 19 in Taiwan Time), and we can expect to hear all about the company's developments in the AI space. It'll be followed that same day by a keynote from Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. Computex this year will, perhaps unsurprisingly, focus heavily on AI, with the overall theme being "AI Next." It'll also highlight products in three categories: AI & Robotics, Next-Gen Tech and Future Mobility.
An estimated 1,400 exhibitors will be in attendance, including ASUS, Acer and AMD, all of which have previously made big
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May 03, 2025
Spoilers for "Lucky Day."
When the writers for this season of Doctor Who were announced, one name in the roster put me instantly on edge. Pete McTighe may have a distinguished filmography but, in this house, he's known as the person who wrote "Kerblam." That's the Chibnall-era episode summed up as "Space Amazon is great and the people protesting poor working conditions and mass-layoffs are the real villains." Imagine then, my delighted surprise when "Lucky Day" doesn't just get its politics right, but it does so with molotov cocktails in hand.
James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf
It's 2007 and the Doctor and Belinda land in London as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Day. The Doctor, Vindicator in hand, gets another set of coordinates before realizing a small boy, Conrad Clack, saw the TARDIS land. He hands Conrad a 50 pence piece and tells him it's his "lucky day," before the boy sprints back to his mother. But she's not interested in his story about a magical blue box, striking the boy and saying she's had enough of his lies.
Conrad next encounters the TARDIS 17 years later when he spots it parked down a dark alley. There's a nearby door with a broken lock and he ventures inside to a closed down department store, where he's stalked by an unseen monster. After a few seconds, the monster brushes past Conrad, leaving green slime on his neck — which is how it marks its prey. When the creature, the Shreek, emerges into the open ready to strike, it's zapped away by the D
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May 03, 2025
Cue a new batch of "Half-Life 3 confirmed" memes. The latest rumor surrounding Valve's long-awaited next installment in the Half-Life series claims that the game is currently "playable, end-to-end" and could even be announced in the summer, followed by a release in winter of this year. The speculation comes from Tyler McVicker, who's known for reporting on Valve rumors, during his latest Q&A livestream. According to McVicker, the game is currently playable from beginning to end, which he guesses could put it on track for an announcement and release this year.
Besides McVicker's hours-long livestream, there have been other recent hints about Valve's progress on its highly anticipated title. In March, Valve concept artist Evgeniy Evstratiy claimed that he was in the room where Valve made Half-Life 3 on CG Voices Podcast. In the same month, another Valve leaker, Gabe Follower, claimed that Half-Life 3 would be the "end of Gordon's adventure," potentially signaling a non-cliffhanger ending to one of gaming's best franchises. Outside of these rumors, internet sleuths discovered code referencing HLX, which is widely thought to be the codename for Half-Life 3, in major updates to Deadlock and Dota 2.
While these rumors are unconfirmed, they are promising signs of life for Half-Life 3. McVicker said during his livestream that the HLX project won't be another virtual reality game like Half-Life: Alyx and that there are procedural generation features that aren't for terrain generation or roguelike mechanics. Before you
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May 03, 2025
Google Gemini is adding nannying to its chatbot skillset. According to a New York Times report, Google will make Gemini available to users under 13, so long as they're under a parent-managed Google account using Family Link. In an email sent to parents, Google said that kids will get access to Gemini to "ask questions, get homework help and make up stories." This expanded availability will come with guardrails for its new user base, Google spokesperson Karl Ryan told NYTimes, adding that it would prevent Gemini from offering up unsafe content to kids.
In the email, Google acknowledged that "Gemini can make mistakes" and recommended that parents teach their kids how to fact-check Gemini's responses. Along with double-checking, Google suggested reminding younger users that Gemini isn't human and to not enter any sensitive or personal data into conversations. Even with those measures, the email still warned that children could "encounter content you don't want to see."
With the staggering pace of AI chatbot adoption, concerns about underage users have been bubbling up to the surface thanks to instances of factually incorrect or suggestive responses. In a report published last week, Common Sense Media warned that AI chatbots were "encouraging harmful behaviors, providing inappropriate content, and potentially exacerbating mental health conditions" for users under 18. Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that Meta's AI chatbots were able to engage in sexual conversations with minor
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May 03, 2025
It's the first Saturday of May, which means Free Comic Book Day is here, and this year, even Tamagotchi is getting in on the fun. Bandai has released a limited edition comic for the event, and it sports the new moniker that's been fueling fan speculation for months: Tamagotchi Paradise. The comic will only be available in physical form, so if you want one, you'll have to take a trip to your local comic store to pick it up. You can find participating shops using the FCBD store locator.
Internet sleuths first spotted a trademark filing for Tamagotchi Paradise earlier this year, sparking theories about the company's plans for an upcoming device. The comic doesn't outright confirm anything — there's no official statement about whether the device and previously unseen characters pictured in its pages will be brought to market — but it sure does seem to suggest that something really cool is on the way.
Per the Tamagotchi website:
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May 03, 2025
In a few months, you'll no longer be able to rent a Nintendo 3DS to guide you around the Louvre and tell you about the pieces exhibited in it. The website Nintendo Everything has spotted a notice in Louvre's official website, stating that the Nintendo 3DS console audio guides "will go out of operation in September 2025." It also stated that the 3DS will be replaced by a new system, but the museum has yet to reveal more details about it. Is the Louvre swapping the 3DS for the Switch or a more traditional audioguide device? Guess we'll find out in a few months.
The Louvre has been offering Nintendo 3DS audio guides since 2012 as a €6 rental. It can tell you about exhibits in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. It can also tell you about the history of the palace and not just the artworks inside it, as well as give you access to high-resolution images of select artwork so you can zoom in and see the smallest details. But if you've ever gotten lost inside big museums, you may perhaps consider its geolocation tracking capability its best feature. The Louvre is massive, and with 782,910 square feet of space to explore, it's very much possible to lose your way and not find an exit when you need it the most.
Nintendo's Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto demonstrated how the 3DS worked as a Louvre audio guide and location tracker over a decade ago, and you can watch it below.
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May 03, 2025
Volkswagen has recalled 2025 ID.Buzz electric vans, because their rear seats are only configured for two people but are wide enough to fit three. According to the NHTSA note (PDF) found by Electrek, Volkswagen is recalling 5,637 vehicles, which were manufactured between September 18, 2024 and February 11, 2025. The removable third-row of the 2025 ID.Buzz are only fitted with seatbelts for two people. However, its seating surface width exceeds the value specified for two occupants under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, which sets the standards to reduce the number of deaths in the event of a crash.
In other words, the third row of the 2025 ID.Buzz is wide enough to require three seatbelts. As it is, it'll be very easy to fit a third person in, and they will have no protection while the vehicle is on the road, increasing their likelihood of getting injured or dying if they get into an accident. Volkswagen intends to fix the issue by installing permanent "unpadded trim parts" to limit the surface width where passengers can sit on the rear bench. The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric van was released in the US in November 2024 and has a starting price of $60,000. It has an EPA-estimated range of 234 miles on a full charge and comes in several possible color schemes.
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May 02, 2025
Google's annual I/O developer conference is coming on May 20, and for the first time, there's two major events you'll want to watch to stay on top of all the updates the company's making to its software platforms. I/O 2025 kicks off on May 20, and a week earlier on May 13, there's also The Android Show: I/O Edition, a dedicated showcase for the Android ecosystem.
The Android Show: I/O Edition airs on May 13 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. Android is developed partially in the open, so there's already some indication of what could be coming with Android 16. So far, that's a visual redesign of some of the operating system's core features, like the notification shade, a take on Apple's Live Activities for tracking ongoing events and possibly a Samsung DeX-like "Desktop Mode" for Android phones.
I/O 2025 starts on M
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May 02, 2025
In a couple of weeks, Google's annual developer conference will kick off on May 20. The event is probably the most important on the company's calendar, offering a glimpse at everything it has been working on over the past year.
Judging from rumors and information Google has trickled out, I/O 2025 should be one of the more exciting tech keynotes in recent memory. Plus, this year Google has a dedicated Android showcase planned a whole week earlier. If you want to know what to expect from the company later this month, read on.
Android 16
In years past, some of my favorite I/O moments involved watching Dave Burke take to the Shoreline stage to talk about the latest updates for Android. But for the past couple of years, Android hasn't had much of a spotlight at Google's annual developer conference. That's about to change, with the company hosting a dedicated showcase that will air a week before I/O proper. Scheduled for May 13, Google says it has "so many things to share" during the Android Show: I/O Edition.
Meet our team and learn about new experiences coming to Android.
Set a reminder and be the first in the know ? https://t.co/z8QLNSYkl6 #TheAndroidShow pic.twitter.com/RTzTOwUtFN
— Android (@Android)
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May 02, 2025
The Trump administration's preliminary 2026 budget proposes the biggest single-year cut to NASA funding in the agency's 67-year history. The cuts are part of the White House's broader government "skinny budget," which aligns with Elon Musk's DOGE wishlist. The NASA portion would gut the agency's science programs, cancel the Gateway space station project and phase out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after a measly three flights.
Trump's proposal would cut NASA's funding by more than $6 billion from its 2025 budget, from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. That's a 24 percent decrease and, according to The Planetary Society, the biggest single-year drop in NASA funding ever. Space.com says the most brutal cuts would be to space science (a $2.3 billion decrease), Earth science ($1.2 billion less) and legacy human exploration programs ($900 million less).
Also on the chopping block would be Gateway, the planned lunar orbit space station that would act as a hub for missions to the Moon and (eventually) Mars. Ditto for a joint program with the European Space Station to
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May 02, 2025
A hacking group called "DragonForce" has gained access to Co-op's membership data, the UK retailer and insurance provider shared in a press release. DragonForce actually contacted the BBC directly to confirm that it had the private data of 20 million people.
Co-op's statement says the hackers accessed name and contact details, but don't have things like "members' passwords, bank or credit card details, transactions or information relating to any members' or customers' products or services ." The story is a little different for Co-op's employees. According to the BBC, DragonForce was able to produce a database that includes the usernames and passwords of all of Co-op's employees.
"We have implemented measures to ensure that we prevent unauthorized access to our systems whilst minimizing disruption for our members, customers, colleagues and partners," Co-op writes. The company also says it's working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate how the hackers accessed its data in the first place.
Co-op's breach is the latest in a string of cyberattacks targeting UK retailers. Marks & Spencer experienced a similar attack in late April that led the company to stop accepting online orders, Reuters reports. The department store Harrods
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May 02, 2025
NotebookLM, the Google research tool that gained notoriety for its uncanny AI-generated podcasts, is getting an official app on May 20, 2025. You can pre-register for the Android or iOS version of the app right now and have it automatically downloaded to your device on May 20, the first day of Google I/O 2025.
Based on the listings in the Play Store and App Store, Google seems intent on keeping all of the core functionality of the web version of NotebookLM intact for its mobile debut. You can upload a variety of different sources (PDFs, website URLs, YouTube videos and copied text) and have NotebookLM, powered by Gemini, do stuff with them. That could be answering specific questions, generating study guides or creating an Audio Overview, the previously-mentioned "podcasts."
Google
NotebookLM started life as
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May 02, 2025
The window for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders is technically open, but you may have a tough time grabbing the console before its June 5 release date if you haven't secured an order already. To recap the current situation: After an extended delay from the device's original April 9 pre-order date, Nintendo finally kicked off pre-orders in the US and Canada on April 24. A couple of headache-inducing hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy sold out. GameStop began taking orders later that morning but quickly met the same fate.
Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as late as Saturday, April 26, but that retailer has since taken down one of its
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May 02, 2025
The knock-on effects continue for Apple after a blistering ruling from a federal judge earlier this week that ordered the company to stop collecting fees for purchases made outside the App Store. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple was using loopholes to circumvent her own ruling against the company from 2021. Companies are wasting no time streamlining payments outside of Apple's walled garden, and Spotify is the latest to make these changes.
With the latest update available in the App Store, version 9.0.40, Spotify has added external links for subscription purchases, allowing it to advertise lower prices and different tiers without giving nearly a third of its revenue generated back to Apple from those subscription sales. These changes also lay the groundwork for content-specific microtransactions, like audiobooks, taking place outside the app. Spotify expressed its hope that these changes will create "seamless buying opportunities that will directly benefit creators."
In a blog post shared on the Spotify website, the company was incensed that it took this long for Apple to comply with the same judge's previous order in the landmark Epic Games case dealing with the exact same issue. It reads in part: "The fact that we haven
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May 02, 2025
It's no secret that Apple devices tend to be in particularly high demand, whether it's your nephew who wants an iPad, your sibling who needs a set of AirPods or your parent who could really use a new MacBook. Unfortunately, that demand can make finding big discounts on Apple gadgets a bit harder than usual. But make no mistake: Good Apple deals are usually out there, so long as you know where to look.
To make things easier for you, we're keeping a running list of the best Apple deals on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads and more that you can shop right now. Just note that you'll find the best Apple deals from retailers like Amazon,
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May 02, 2025
Kuwait is cracking down on cryptocurrency miners throughout the country, as reported by Reuters. Officials have blamed the practice for blackouts and for causing stress on its power grid. The country started this crackdown just before the onset of summer, which experts say could reach scorching temperatures of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kuwait's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that it has been conducting a "wide-ranging" security operation that targets homes suspected of being used for cryptocurrency mining. The government agency went on to say that crypto mining is illegal, as the country's Capital Markets Authority banned the practice in 2023. Crypto trading was also banned at that time.
The crackdown has been targeting homes in the Al-Wafrah region of Kuwait, which is located in the southern part of the country. The region's electricity ministry has said that around 100 homes were being used for mining operations, often consuming up to 20 times the normal power levels. To that end, energy consumption in the area dropped by 55 percent following the operation, according to a government statement.
It's no secret that cryptocurrency mining gobbles up vast amounts of computing power and, as such, electricity. Kuwait isn't the only country to regulate or outright ban the practice. Russia has banned crypto
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May 02, 2025
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined TikTok owner ByteDance €530 million ($602 million) for breaching the European Union's privacy laws. The regulator said TikTok sent European user data to China without being able to guarantee that the information was safe from government surveillance.
It was reported last month that the DPC was going to slap TikTok with such a fine — the third-largest ever for a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) breach. The regulator confirmed that on Friday.
The DPC, which handles enforcement of the GDPR when it comes to TikTok (which has its European HQ in Ireland), also ruled that the platform wasn't adequately transparent with users. Along with the fine, the DPC gave TikTok six months to halt all illegal data transfers.
TikTok claimed during the four-year probe that it didn't store data from European Economic Area users on servers in China. However, it told the DPC last month it learned in February that "limited EEA User Data" had been stored there and admitted that contradicted what it previously said to regulators.
"The DPC is taking these recent developments r
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