engadget-rss

Starting next week, Meta will no longer put an easy-to-see label on Facebook images that were edited using AI tools, and it will make it much harder to determine if they appear in their original state or had been doctored. To be clear, the company will still add a note to AI-edited images, but you’ll have to tap on the three-dot menu at the upper right corner of a Facebook post and then scroll down to find “AI Info” among the many other options. Only then will you see the note saying that the content in the post may have been modified with AI. 
Images generated using AI tools, however, will still be marked with an “AI Info” label that can be seen right on the post. Clicking on it will show a note that will say whether it’s been labeled because of industry-shared signals or because somebody self-disclosed that it was an AI-generated image. Meta started applying AI-generated content labels to a broader range of videos, audio and images earlier this year. But after widespread complaints from photographers that the company was flagging even non-AI-generated content by mistake, Meta changed the “Made with AI” label wording into “AI Info” by July.
The social network said it worked with companies across the industry to improve its labeling process and that it’s making these changes to “better reflect the extent of AI used in content.” Still, doctored images are being widely used these days to spread misinformation, and this development could make it trickier to identify false news, which typically pop up more during election season. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-hides-warning-labels-for-ai-edited-images-143004313.html?src=rss

Starting next week, Meta will no longer put an easy-to-see label on Facebook images that were edited using AI tools, and it will make it much harder to determine if they appear in their original state or had been doctored. To be clear, the company will still add a note to AI-edited images, but you’ll have to tap on the three-dot menu at the upper right corner of a Facebook post and then scroll down to find “AI Info” among the many other options. Only then will you see the note saying that the content in the post may have been modified with AI. 

Images generated using AI tools, however, will still be marked with an “AI Info” label that can be seen right on the post. Clicking on it will show a note that will say whether it’s been labeled because of industry-shared signals or because somebody self-disclosed that it was an AI-generated image. Meta started applying AI-generated content labels to a broader range of videos, audio and images earlier this year. But after widespread complaints from photographers that the company was flagging even non-AI-generated content by mistake, Meta changed the “Made with AI” label wording into “AI Info” by July.

The social network said it worked with companies across the industry to improve its labeling process and that it’s making these changes to “better reflect the extent of AI used in content.” Still, doctored images are being widely used these days to spread misinformation, and this development could make it trickier to identify false news, which typically pop up more during election season. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-hides-warning-labels-for-ai-edited-images-143004313.html?src=rss

Read More 

Uh oh, it appears that The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has leaked online a couple of weeks ahead of the game’s release date. Some new images and clips from the Nintendo Switch title are circulating online, per Nintendo Life.
YouTubers Nintendo Prime and Zelda Lore sounded the alarm, claiming that a ROM file of the game is already available and that some people are playing it via emulators. For what it’s worth, some of the more popular sites from which people obtain pirated Switch games don’t yet offer download links for the Echoes of Wisdom ROM, but it might take a little time for the leaked file to propagate on those.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare occurrence. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaked before its debut last year, with boss battles and other spoiler-laden footage popping up within a similar timeframe, around two weeks ahead of the release date.
As for how this latest leak happened, Echoes of Wisdom is set to arrive on September 26, so this is right around the time that Nintendo is likely to be sending out review copies. As such, someone with early access may have ripped the game and shared it online. In any case, it’s worth exercising some caution and maybe muting some keywords on the social media platforms you frequent if you don’t want any of the game’s surprises to be ruined.
It would be a real shame for fans to accidentally be spoiled on Echoes of Wisdom, since it marks the first time Zelda herself will be the main playable character in the series that carries her name. Any leak could also result in Nintendo being even more selective when it comes to providing review copies of games.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-may-have-leaked-already-142334680.html?src=rss

Uh oh, it appears that The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has leaked online a couple of weeks ahead of the game’s release date. Some new images and clips from the Nintendo Switch title are circulating online, per Nintendo Life.

YouTubers Nintendo Prime and Zelda Lore sounded the alarm, claiming that a ROM file of the game is already available and that some people are playing it via emulators. For what it’s worth, some of the more popular sites from which people obtain pirated Switch games don’t yet offer download links for the Echoes of Wisdom ROM, but it might take a little time for the leaked file to propagate on those.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare occurrence. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaked before its debut last year, with boss battles and other spoiler-laden footage popping up within a similar timeframe, around two weeks ahead of the release date.

As for how this latest leak happened, Echoes of Wisdom is set to arrive on September 26, so this is right around the time that Nintendo is likely to be sending out review copies. As such, someone with early access may have ripped the game and shared it online. In any case, it’s worth exercising some caution and maybe muting some keywords on the social media platforms you frequent if you don’t want any of the game’s surprises to be ruined.

It would be a real shame for fans to accidentally be spoiled on Echoes of Wisdom, since it marks the first time Zelda herself will be the main playable character in the series that carries her name. Any leak could also result in Nintendo being even more selective when it comes to providing review copies of games.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-may-have-leaked-already-142334680.html?src=rss

Read More 

A European consumer watchdog has filed a complaint against Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Roblox and other game publishers over deceptive in-game currency practices, Reuters reported. The European Consumer Organization (BEUC) said it has “identified numerous cases where gamers are misled into spending money” and called on authorities “to provide consumers with safe gaming environments.” 
The BEUC pointed out that consumers are unable to see the real cost of digital items price using in-game currencies, saying that in-game purchases should always be displayed in real money. It added that companies’ claims that gamers prefer in-game premium currencies are wrong; consumers are often denied their rights when using such currencies; and that children are particularly vulnerable to these “manipulative tactics.”
“Regulators must act, making it clear that even though the gaming world is virtual, it still needs to abide by real-world rules,” said BEUC director general Augustin Reyna in a statement. “Premium in-game currencies are purposefully tricking consumers and take a big toll on children. Companies are well aware of children’s vulnerability and use tricks to lure younger consumers into spending more.”
Also named in the complaint is Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios, Tencent-owned Supercell and Ubisoft. 
In a separate statement, Video Games Europe, which counts members including Epic Games, Roblox, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Supercell and and Ubisoft, said that consumers are already well-informed around in-game currencies. “The PEGI (Pan-European Game information) Code of Conduct requires developers to ensure that the real-world cost is clear and unambiguous at the point of purchase of the in-game currency,” it told Reuters. “Our members always respect European consumer laws in how they offer these purchases.”
The use of premium currencies purchased with real money has been controversial, especially around young players. In 2022, Epic was hit by a record FTC fine, in part for making it possible for children to purchase Fortnite’s V-Bucks in-game currency without parental consent until 2018. The regulator said that Epic ignored more than a million user complaints and employee concerns over wrongful charges. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/eu-complaint-urges-action-on-confusing-in-game-currencies-140028212.html?src=rss

A European consumer watchdog has filed a complaint against Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Roblox and other game publishers over deceptive in-game currency practices, Reuters reported. The European Consumer Organization (BEUC) said it has “identified numerous cases where gamers are misled into spending money” and called on authorities “to provide consumers with safe gaming environments.” 

The BEUC pointed out that consumers are unable to see the real cost of digital items price using in-game currencies, saying that in-game purchases should always be displayed in real money. It added that companies’ claims that gamers prefer in-game premium currencies are wrong; consumers are often denied their rights when using such currencies; and that children are particularly vulnerable to these “manipulative tactics.”

“Regulators must act, making it clear that even though the gaming world is virtual, it still needs to abide by real-world rules,” said BEUC director general Augustin Reyna in a statement. “Premium in-game currencies are purposefully tricking consumers and take a big toll on children. Companies are well aware of children’s vulnerability and use tricks to lure younger consumers into spending more.”

Also named in the complaint is Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios, Tencent-owned Supercell and Ubisoft. 

In a separate statement, Video Games Europe, which counts members including Epic Games, Roblox, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Supercell and and Ubisoft, said that consumers are already well-informed around in-game currencies. “The PEGI (Pan-European Game information) Code of Conduct requires developers to ensure that the real-world cost is clear and unambiguous at the point of purchase of the in-game currency,” it told Reuters. “Our members always respect European consumer laws in how they offer these purchases.”

The use of premium currencies purchased with real money has been controversial, especially around young players. In 2022, Epic was hit by a record FTC fine, in part for making it possible for children to purchase Fortnite‘s V-Bucks in-game currency without parental consent until 2018. The regulator said that Epic ignored more than a million user complaints and employee concerns over wrongful charges. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/eu-complaint-urges-action-on-confusing-in-game-currencies-140028212.html?src=rss

Read More 

Last year, I experienced my first iPhone launch cycle at Engadget and the fanfare got to me. It seemed I couldn’t call myself a respectable member of the tech world if I didn’t own any of the shiny new tech. So I headed to the Apple store on the iPhone 15’s opening weekend and put my name in to buy one. As I waited my turn, I idly played with the display model. Holding it up to my iPhone 11, my enthusiasm dimmed. A bright grid of apps, softly rounded corners, one button on the right, two buttons and a toggle on the left… These two phones were the same. Sure, the pill-shaped thing on the screen was new, but, so what?
Instead of splurging, I left the store with my old phone. One year later, as this week’s iPhone 16 event approached, the thought of upgrading my phone hadn’t really crossed my mind. I was more concerned with the real-time transcription abilities I’d need to help cover the event.
But then Apple went and announced a brand new feature for the iPhone 16. While rumors suggested the DSLR-like focus button (now known as the Camera Control) would grace only the Pro models, every iPhone announced this year actually got the fancy new thing. And the Action button from the 15 Pro would now be on the base model as well. Additionally, there’s a new “fusion camera” that combines a 48MP sensor with a 2x telephoto lens. I may not know what that really means, but anything that might help me take better pictures of cityscapes is a plus.
Of course, the new button was likely added because it’ll serve as the interface for October’s upcoming Visual Intelligence, Apple’s AI-fueled feature that interprets the real world through the lens of Apple Intelligence. Given that shareholders insist AI’s buzz be shoved into everything, it’s not surprising that Apple’s best selling product would have all the tools it needs to embrace the tech fully. AI isn’t something I need, but two new buttons? And one that seems potentially pretty cool? It’s enough to lure me to upgrade.
I’m not much of a shopper. I wear six-year old t-shirts, own seven pairs of shoes and still carry an iPhone 11. I’m not necessarily proud of these facts; the experience of buying A New Thing often just leaves me cold, particularly when the stuff I have still works just fine.
Up until now, every iPhone I’ve replaced was for a good reason: Three years in, the battery on my iPhone 3GS stopped holding a charge. After the same amount of time, my iPhone 7 got so slow I’d forget what I was trying to do before an app would open.
Conspiracy theories once abounded that Apple purposely built planned obsolescence into their handsets, but I think a saner reason was that battery and chip technology just weren’t where they are now. With the release of iOS 17, Apple dropped feature update support for the iPhone 8, but a security update went out as recently as last month. That’s nearly seven years of reasonable use (and I have family members with iPhone 8s who have no plans to upgrade anytime soon).
My iPhone 11 outside its case. Still quite shiny. Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
I got my iPhone 11 in early 2020 and, four and a half years later, it’s still an entirely serviceable device. I can play my daily games, waste time on Reddit, keep in contact with friends and family using their various preferred methods and take pictures of tall buildings and overhead wires that turn out pretty decent. The battery won’t last through a whole day if I’m relying heavily on navigation, though that’s not a huge problem for me — I have far too many power banks laying around to ever end up with a dead phone. But it won’t last forever.
The new iPhone 16 costs $799 — the same price as the iPhone 15 went for — and it comes in a new ultramarine color. It’s sort of a purply royal blue that I’m very drawn to and represents just the sort of superfluous, consumerist frivolity that provokes post-shopping dejection. But it’s so pretty! Granted, I’ll never really see that deep, blue-hour shade. The moment I get this new phone, it’s going directly into a case, where it will stay until the next time I upgrade — maybe around 2030 or so.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/my-iphone-11-is-perfectly-fine-but-the-new-buttons-on-the-iphone-16-are-compelling-133045569.html?src=rss

Last year, I experienced my first iPhone launch cycle at Engadget and the fanfare got to me. It seemed I couldn’t call myself a respectable member of the tech world if I didn’t own any of the shiny new tech. So I headed to the Apple store on the iPhone 15’s opening weekend and put my name in to buy one. As I waited my turn, I idly played with the display model. Holding it up to my iPhone 11, my enthusiasm dimmed. A bright grid of apps, softly rounded corners, one button on the right, two buttons and a toggle on the left… These two phones were the same. Sure, the pill-shaped thing on the screen was new, but, so what?

Instead of splurging, I left the store with my old phone. One year later, as this week’s iPhone 16 event approached, the thought of upgrading my phone hadn’t really crossed my mind. I was more concerned with the real-time transcription abilities I’d need to help cover the event.

But then Apple went and announced a brand new feature for the iPhone 16. While rumors suggested the DSLR-like focus button (now known as the Camera Control) would grace only the Pro models, every iPhone announced this year actually got the fancy new thing. And the Action button from the 15 Pro would now be on the base model as well. Additionally, there’s a new “fusion camera” that combines a 48MP sensor with a 2x telephoto lens. I may not know what that really means, but anything that might help me take better pictures of cityscapes is a plus.

Of course, the new button was likely added because it’ll serve as the interface for October’s upcoming Visual Intelligence, Apple’s AI-fueled feature that interprets the real world through the lens of Apple Intelligence. Given that shareholders insist AI’s buzz be shoved into everything, it’s not surprising that Apple’s best selling product would have all the tools it needs to embrace the tech fully. AI isn’t something I need, but two new buttons? And one that seems potentially pretty cool? It’s enough to lure me to upgrade.

I’m not much of a shopper. I wear six-year old t-shirts, own seven pairs of shoes and still carry an iPhone 11. I’m not necessarily proud of these facts; the experience of buying A New Thing often just leaves me cold, particularly when the stuff I have still works just fine.

Up until now, every iPhone I’ve replaced was for a good reason: Three years in, the battery on my iPhone 3GS stopped holding a charge. After the same amount of time, my iPhone 7 got so slow I’d forget what I was trying to do before an app would open.

Conspiracy theories once abounded that Apple purposely built planned obsolescence into their handsets, but I think a saner reason was that battery and chip technology just weren’t where they are now. With the release of iOS 17, Apple dropped feature update support for the iPhone 8, but a security update went out as recently as last month. That’s nearly seven years of reasonable use (and I have family members with iPhone 8s who have no plans to upgrade anytime soon).

My iPhone 11 outside its case. Still quite shiny. 

I got my iPhone 11 in early 2020 and, four and a half years later, it’s still an entirely serviceable device. I can play my daily games, waste time on Reddit, keep in contact with friends and family using their various preferred methods and take pictures of tall buildings and overhead wires that turn out pretty decent. The battery won’t last through a whole day if I’m relying heavily on navigation, though that’s not a huge problem for me — I have far too many power banks laying around to ever end up with a dead phone. But it won’t last forever.

The new iPhone 16 costs $799 — the same price as the iPhone 15 went for — and it comes in a new ultramarine color. It’s sort of a purply royal blue that I’m very drawn to and represents just the sort of superfluous, consumerist frivolity that provokes post-shopping dejection. But it’s so pretty! Granted, I’ll never really see that deep, blue-hour shade. The moment I get this new phone, it’s going directly into a case, where it will stay until the next time I upgrade — maybe around 2030 or so.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/my-iphone-11-is-perfectly-fine-but-the-new-buttons-on-the-iphone-16-are-compelling-133045569.html?src=rss

Read More 

Roomba robot vacuums are up to $620 off right now via Wellbots. These are some real-deal discounts, so if you’ve been saving up for a robovac, it might be time to take the plunge.
The best deal of the bunch is for the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which is down to $780. The standard asking price is a whopping $1,400, so this is a savings of $620 on the hybrid vacuum/mop. All you have to do is jot down “ENGAD620” in the checkout field.

We loved this robovac in our official review, calling it “the ideal robot vacuum and mop.” The vacuuming performance is top-tier and can even suction up stubborn cat hair. The obstacle detection is also on point, so it won’t get tripped up by the actual cat. The battery life is good and the base is well-designed and easy to use/empty.
The j9+ also found a place on our list of the best robot vacuums. It won the award for best combo model, as the mopping element is nearly as refined as the vacuum. It can struggle with extremely sticky messes, however, but will easily handle regular floor maintenance.
The only real downside with this device is the price. It’s hard to recommend any vacuum at $1,400, even if it helps save tons of time. This isn’t quite the case at $780.
Wellbots is also selling the Roomba Combo j5+ model for just $440 instead of $730, which is a savings of $290. Just pop the code “ENGAD290” in the checkout field. The regular j9+, without the mop, is on sale for $580 instead of $900 with the coupon code “ENGAD320.”
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/roomba-robot-vacuums-are-up-to-620-off-right-now-130055975.html?src=rss

Roomba robot vacuums are up to $620 off right now via Wellbots. These are some real-deal discounts, so if you’ve been saving up for a robovac, it might be time to take the plunge.

The best deal of the bunch is for the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which is down to $780. The standard asking price is a whopping $1,400, so this is a savings of $620 on the hybrid vacuum/mop. All you have to do is jot down “ENGAD620” in the checkout field.

We loved this robovac in our official review, calling it “the ideal robot vacuum and mop.” The vacuuming performance is top-tier and can even suction up stubborn cat hair. The obstacle detection is also on point, so it won’t get tripped up by the actual cat. The battery life is good and the base is well-designed and easy to use/empty.

The j9+ also found a place on our list of the best robot vacuums. It won the award for best combo model, as the mopping element is nearly as refined as the vacuum. It can struggle with extremely sticky messes, however, but will easily handle regular floor maintenance.

The only real downside with this device is the price. It’s hard to recommend any vacuum at $1,400, even if it helps save tons of time. This isn’t quite the case at $780.

Wellbots is also selling the Roomba Combo j5+ model for just $440 instead of $730, which is a savings of $290. Just pop the code “ENGAD290” in the checkout field. The regular j9+, without the mop, is on sale for $580 instead of $900 with the coupon code “ENGAD320.”

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/roomba-robot-vacuums-are-up-to-620-off-right-now-130055975.html?src=rss

Read More 

The entire Annapurna Interactive team has left the company after its executives walked out, according to Bloomberg. Apparently, the video game publisher’s president, Nathan Gary, had been negotiating with Annapurna Pictures’ founder Megan Ellison to spin off Annapurna Interactive into its own entity. A company spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that the parties had explored the possibility of a spinoff, but their discussions broke down. Gary and the publisher’s other executives had resigned and walked out as a result, and the team’s other members had followed suit. 
“All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,” the team said in a joint statement. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.”
Annapurna Interactive, like other publishers, teams up with developers, funds their games, takes care of the QA process and then markets and distributes titles when they’re ready for the public. Its partner developers have reportedly been scrambling to find out what the team exodus means for them over the past few days. Bloomberg says Hector Sanchez, an Annapurna Interactive co-founder, assured developers that the company will honor their agreements. Sanchez had been at Epic Games the past five years, but he recently rejoined the publisher as its president for Interactive + New Media. Annapurna will also reportedly hire new staff members to replace those who left, essentially building a brand new team. 
“Our top priority is continuing to support our developer and publishing partners during this transition,” Ellison told Bloomberg News. “We’re committed to not only our existing slate of games but also expanding our presence in the interactive space as we continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater.”
The publisher made a splash when it debuted with What Remains of Edith Finch back in 2017, and it now has a number of critically acclaimed and popular games under its belt. Its games include the cat simulator Stray, a puzzle adventure game featuring a world-hopping beetle called Cocoon, pop album rhythm action game Sayonara Wild Hearts, and action adventure game Outer Wilds, which is set in a solar system trapped in a time loop. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/annapurnas-entire-video-game-team-has-reportedly-left-the-company-123045395.html?src=rss

The entire Annapurna Interactive team has left the company after its executives walked out, according to Bloomberg. Apparently, the video game publisher’s president, Nathan Gary, had been negotiating with Annapurna Pictures’ founder Megan Ellison to spin off Annapurna Interactive into its own entity. A company spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that the parties had explored the possibility of a spinoff, but their discussions broke down. Gary and the publisher’s other executives had resigned and walked out as a result, and the team’s other members had followed suit. 

“All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,” the team said in a joint statement. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.”

Annapurna Interactive, like other publishers, teams up with developers, funds their games, takes care of the QA process and then markets and distributes titles when they’re ready for the public. Its partner developers have reportedly been scrambling to find out what the team exodus means for them over the past few days. Bloomberg says Hector Sanchez, an Annapurna Interactive co-founder, assured developers that the company will honor their agreements. Sanchez had been at Epic Games the past five years, but he recently rejoined the publisher as its president for Interactive + New Media. Annapurna will also reportedly hire new staff members to replace those who left, essentially building a brand new team. 

“Our top priority is continuing to support our developer and publishing partners during this transition,” Ellison told Bloomberg News. “We’re committed to not only our existing slate of games but also expanding our presence in the interactive space as we continue to look for opportunities to take a more integrated approach to linear and interactive storytelling across film and TV, gaming, and theater.”

The publisher made a splash when it debuted with What Remains of Edith Finch back in 2017, and it now has a number of critically acclaimed and popular games under its belt. Its games include the cat simulator Stray, a puzzle adventure game featuring a world-hopping beetle called Cocoon, pop album rhythm action game Sayonara Wild Hearts, and action adventure game Outer Wilds, which is set in a solar system trapped in a time loop. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/annapurnas-entire-video-game-team-has-reportedly-left-the-company-123045395.html?src=rss

Read More 

California firefighters needed to spray 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish a roadside Tesla Semi fire, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced in a preliminary report. Crews also used an aircraft to drop fire retardent in the “immediate area as a precautionary measure,” according to the agency.
The crash happened at 3:13 AM on August 19 on the I80 freeway east of Sacramento. The tractor-trailer departed the roadway while navigating a curve, struck a traffic delineator and eventually hit a tree. The driver was uninjured but taken to hospital as a precaution.
California Highway Patrol
The Tesla Semi’s large 900kWh battery caught fire and reached a temperature of 1,000 degrees F while spewing toxic fumes. It continued to burn into the late afternoon as firefighters dowsed it with water to cool it down (Tesla sent a technical expert to assess high-voltage hazards and fire safety). It wasn’t until 7:20 PM (over 16 hours after the crash) that the freeway was reopened. 
All of that caught the attention of the NTSB, which sent a team of investigators, mainly to examine the fire risks posed by large lithium-ion battery packs. The agency — which can only make safety recommendations and has no enforcement authority — said that “all aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause.” 
Given the long road shutdown time, dangerously hot fire and toxic fumes, the accident is likely to provoke a lot of discussion in and out of government. The NTSB concluded in 2021 that battery fires pose a risk to emergency responders and that manufacturers’ guidelines around such fires were inadequate. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-semi-fire-required-50000-gallons-of-water-to-extinguish-120006477.html?src=rss

California firefighters needed to spray 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish a roadside Tesla Semi fire, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced in a preliminary report. Crews also used an aircraft to drop fire retardent in the “immediate area as a precautionary measure,” according to the agency.

The crash happened at 3:13 AM on August 19 on the I80 freeway east of Sacramento. The tractor-trailer departed the roadway while navigating a curve, struck a traffic delineator and eventually hit a tree. The driver was uninjured but taken to hospital as a precaution.

The Tesla Semi’s large 900kWh battery caught fire and reached a temperature of 1,000 degrees F while spewing toxic fumes. It continued to burn into the late afternoon as firefighters dowsed it with water to cool it down (Tesla sent a technical expert to assess high-voltage hazards and fire safety). It wasn’t until 7:20 PM (over 16 hours after the crash) that the freeway was reopened. 

All of that caught the attention of the NTSB, which sent a team of investigators, mainly to examine the fire risks posed by large lithium-ion battery packs. The agency — which can only make safety recommendations and has no enforcement authority — said that “all aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause.” 

Given the long road shutdown time, dangerously hot fire and toxic fumes, the accident is likely to provoke a lot of discussion in and out of government. The NTSB concluded in 2021 that battery fires pose a risk to emergency responders and that manufacturers’ guidelines around such fires were inadequate. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-semi-fire-required-50000-gallons-of-water-to-extinguish-120006477.html?src=rss

Read More 

The iPhone 16 event is over, and now we’ve got plenty of thoughts to share after playing with all of Apple’s new hardware. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about the entire iPhone 16 and Pro lineup, and Senior Reporter Billy Steele joins to chat about his experience with the AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10. It turns out, the Apple Watch stole the show from the iPhone.

Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

Subscribe!

iTunes
Spotify
Pocket Casts
Stitcher
Google Podcasts

Topics

Post-Apple event thoughts on AirPods, Apple Watch Series 10, and, iPhone 16 with Cherlynn Low and Billy Steele – 0:47
Huawei releases a $2,800 tri-fold phone that won’t be coming to the US – 58:30
Taylor Swift endorses Harris for President, says AI material promoting Trump pushed her to make a statement – 59:24
No, Kamala Harris wasn’t wearing vaporware audio earrings at Tuesday’s debate – 1:01:00
Sony releases PS5 Pro Price, it’s $700! – 1:02:21
Meta admits to scraping all Australian user data for AI training – 1:04:12
Polaris Dawn astronauts perform first commercial spacewalk – 1:07:10
Around Engadget – 1:07:54
Pop culture picks – 1:09:33

Livestream

Credits 
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn LowGuest: Billy SteeleProducer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-iphone-16-airpods-4-and-apple-watch-series-10-impressions-113003225.html?src=rss

The iPhone 16 event is over, and now we’ve got plenty of thoughts to share after playing with all of Apple’s new hardware. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about the entire iPhone 16 and Pro lineup, and Senior Reporter Billy Steele joins to chat about his experience with the AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10. It turns out, the Apple Watch stole the show from the iPhone.

Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

Subscribe!

iTunes

Spotify

Pocket Casts

Stitcher

Google Podcasts

Topics

Post-Apple event thoughts on AirPods, Apple Watch Series 10, and, iPhone 16 with Cherlynn Low and Billy Steele – 0:47

Huawei releases a $2,800 tri-fold phone that won’t be coming to the US – 58:30

Taylor Swift endorses Harris for President, says AI material promoting Trump pushed her to make a statement – 59:24

No, Kamala Harris wasn’t wearing vaporware audio earrings at Tuesday’s debate – 1:01:00

Sony releases PS5 Pro Price, it’s $700! – 1:02:21

Meta admits to scraping all Australian user data for AI training – 1:04:12

Polaris Dawn astronauts perform first commercial spacewalk – 1:07:10

Around Engadget – 1:07:54

Pop culture picks – 1:09:33

Livestream

Credits 

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low
Guest: Billy Steele
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-iphone-16-airpods-4-and-apple-watch-series-10-impressions-113003225.html?src=rss

Read More 

OpenAI has unveiled yet another artificial intelligence model. This one is called o1, and the company claims it can perform complex reasoning tasks more effectively than its predecessors. Apparently, o1 was trained to “spend more time thinking through problems before they respond.” According to the company: “[the models] learn to refine their thinking process, try different strategies and recognize their mistakes.”
That more considered response means it’s significantly slower at processing prompts than GPT-4o. And while it might be thinking more, o1 hasn’t solved the problem of hallucinations — a term for AI models making up information. OpenAI’s chief research officer Bob McGrew told The Verge, “We can’t say we solved hallucinations.”
— Mat Smith
The big news you might have missed

A new report raises concerns about the future of NASA
The LCD Steam Deck is up to 25 percent off right now
White House gets voluntary commitments from AI companies to curb deepfake porn

iFixit wants to fix the soldering iron
The FixHub itself is easy to DIY repair.

The FixHub is a USB-C powered soldering iron designed to help fix whatever’s on your workbench (and be easily fixable itself). The iron includes a 55Wh battery pack, which acts as a stand and temperature control. Founder Kyle Wiens told Engadget FixHub was born of frustration with soldering irons and their limits. So his company tried to fix those.
Continue reading.

Elgato’s latest Stream Deck is a $900 rackmount beast
When does a streamer turn into a broadcaster?
Elgato
Elgato has introduced the Stream Deck Studio, a new version of its creative control tech targeting professionals. This 19-inch rackmount console has 32 LCD keys and two rotary dials. Oh, and a $900 price tag.
Continue reading.

Flappy Bird is back
10 years on.

A decade — and countless clones — later, the original Flappy Bird is coming back. If you don’t recall the 2014 hit mobile game, you’d tap the screen to flap the bird’s wings and squeeze it through gaps between pipes. The game debuted in May 2013, but it didn’t blow up until the following January. Developer Dong Nguyen soon revealed the game was raking in $50,000 per day from advertising. He decided to remove the game, but clones of his creation persisted. Under the banner of the Flappy Bird Foundation, some dedicated fans acquired the rights to the game, officially, so now it’s flapping back.
Continue reading.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-the-700-ps5-pro-111649960.html?src=rss

OpenAI has unveiled yet another artificial intelligence model. This one is called o1, and the company claims it can perform complex reasoning tasks more effectively than its predecessors. Apparently, o1 was trained to “spend more time thinking through problems before they respond.” According to the company: “[the models] learn to refine their thinking process, try different strategies and recognize their mistakes.”

That more considered response means it’s significantly slower at processing prompts than GPT-4o. And while it might be thinking more, o1 hasn’t solved the problem of hallucinations — a term for AI models making up information. OpenAI’s chief research officer Bob McGrew told The Verge, “We can’t say we solved hallucinations.”

— Mat Smith

The big news you might have missed

A new report raises concerns about the future of NASA

The LCD Steam Deck is up to 25 percent off right now

White House gets voluntary commitments from AI companies to curb deepfake porn

iFixit wants to fix the soldering iron

The FixHub itself is easy to DIY repair.

The FixHub is a USB-C powered soldering iron designed to help fix whatever’s on your workbench (and be easily fixable itself). The iron includes a 55Wh battery pack, which acts as a stand and temperature control. Founder Kyle Wiens told Engadget FixHub was born of frustration with soldering irons and their limits. So his company tried to fix those.

Continue reading.

Elgato’s latest Stream Deck is a $900 rackmount beast

When does a streamer turn into a broadcaster?

Elgato has introduced the Stream Deck Studio, a new version of its creative control tech targeting professionals. This 19-inch rackmount console has 32 LCD keys and two rotary dials. Oh, and a $900 price tag.

Continue reading.

Flappy Bird is back

10 years on.

A decade — and countless clones — later, the original Flappy Bird is coming back. If you don’t recall the 2014 hit mobile game, you’d tap the screen to flap the bird’s wings and squeeze it through gaps between pipes. The game debuted in May 2013, but it didn’t blow up until the following January. Developer Dong Nguyen soon revealed the game was raking in $50,000 per day from advertising. He decided to remove the game, but clones of his creation persisted. Under the banner of the Flappy Bird Foundation, some dedicated fans acquired the rights to the game, officially, so now it’s flapping back.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-the-700-ps5-pro-111649960.html?src=rss

Read More 

An artist who goes by @tofu_rabbit on X says that the look of Nerf’s Ace of Spades handgun from Bungie’s Destiny games came from a commissioned artwork they drew almost a decade ago.
Nerf and Bungie unveiled its newest foam dart gun collaboration on Tuesday featuring a limited edition version of Cayde-6’s iconic “Ace of Spades” blaster from Destiny 2 that is available for purchase on Bungie’s online store. The following morning, @tofu_rabbit posted images comparing Nerf’s newest foam dart launcher to a piece of art they made in 2015 and posted on their DeviantArt page based on the same gun from the game.
The artist pointed out 11 parts or designs on the Nerf gun that allegedly line up perfectly with their original design. They include features like an upside down spade on the handle, identical shaped cracks in a strip of paint on the bullet chamber and a paisley pattern etched on the gun just in front of the trigger. They claim the design of the Nerf gun “DIRECTLY lifts a commission” they did in 2015, and add that the likeness goes beyond just being “similar” or “coincidence.”

Hey @Bungie @BungieHelp @DestinyTheGame @A_dmg04 @Cozmo23 @DestinyComArt soo, the NERF ace of spades DIRECTLY lifts a commission i did in 2015. This is not “similar” or a coincidence, you can see my same brush strokes and scratches/smudges.Original: https://t.co/GobNslptoI pic.twitter.com/zQoYEbfdGV— Tofu 🏳️‍⚧️ Bunny (@Tofu_Rabbit) September 11, 2024
Bungie issued a statement on its official Destiny 2 X page that they are investigating the artist’s claims and “will share more on what next steps we are taking once we have gathered more information.” We’ve also reached out to Nerf’s parent company Hasbro for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/an-artist-says-nerfs-destiny-2-hand-cannon-is-a-ripoff-of-their-work-224824750.html?src=rss

An artist who goes by @tofu_rabbit on X says that the look of Nerf’s Ace of Spades handgun from Bungie’s Destiny games came from a commissioned artwork they drew almost a decade ago.

Nerf and Bungie unveiled its newest foam dart gun collaboration on Tuesday featuring a limited edition version of Cayde-6’s iconic “Ace of Spades” blaster from Destiny 2 that is available for purchase on Bungie’s online store. The following morning, @tofu_rabbit posted images comparing Nerf’s newest foam dart launcher to a piece of art they made in 2015 and posted on their DeviantArt page based on the same gun from the game.

The artist pointed out 11 parts or designs on the Nerf gun that allegedly line up perfectly with their original design. They include features like an upside down spade on the handle, identical shaped cracks in a strip of paint on the bullet chamber and a paisley pattern etched on the gun just in front of the trigger. They claim the design of the Nerf gun “DIRECTLY lifts a commission” they did in 2015, and add that the likeness goes beyond just being “similar” or “coincidence.”

Bungie issued a statement on its official Destiny 2 X page that they are investigating the artist’s claims and “will share more on what next steps we are taking once we have gathered more information.” We’ve also reached out to Nerf’s parent company Hasbro for comment.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/an-artist-says-nerfs-destiny-2-hand-cannon-is-a-ripoff-of-their-work-224824750.html?src=rss

Read More