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The biggest audio announcement at Apple’s iPhone event last month wasn’t the AirPods 4. Instead, the milestone news was the company’s plan to introduce a robust suite of hearing health features for the AirPods Pro 2 alongside iOS 18. Apple’s three-prong approach includes prevention, awareness and assistance with hearing protection, hearing test and hearing aid tools available directly on an iPhone.
People have been eagerly anticipating these hearing health features since Apple announced them in early September. I’ve had numerous friends and family members who aren’t regular Apple users inquire about the hearing test and hearing aid features specifically. The tools have the potential to put a wealth of information, and possibly life-changing assistance, in the pockets of people all over the world. Users will get help for a stigmatized condition without even having to set foot in a doctor’s office.
Just days after the big announcement in September, the FDA approved Apple’s hearing test and hearing aid features. Under the guidelines set forth in its 2022 decision, the FDA allows adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to obtain hearing assistive devices without a prescription or professional consultation. Apple describes its software-based test as “clinically validated,” one that was developed with 150,000 real-world audiograms and millions of simulations, and the FDA clearly agrees.
Apple has released the entire suite of hearing health tools this week with iOS 18.1 and a firmware update to AirPods Pro 2. I’ve spent a week with them, and I can definitively say that this upgrade will be a game changer for earbuds, but not in the way that you’d expect.
Hearing protection
Billy Steele for Engadget
Even if you don’t take Apple’s hearing test, and even if you don’t have hearing loss, the hearing protection feature on AirPods Pro 2 provides a significant benefit. It helps maintain your current level of hearing health with robust protection in certain loud environments. You could absolutely use it without ever taking the hearing test.
Although Apple discussed the potential of AirPods Pro as ear protection from loud noise at launch (specifically the Loud Noise Reduction feature), the company never officially recommended the earbuds for extended use for that purpose. That’s because AirPods Pro weren’t certified as meeting certain safety standards. What’s more, Apple improved the algorithms that reduce the effect of loud noise (attenuation) while maintaining the sound signature with this new firmware update.
I’ve used the AirPods Pro 2 at concerts since their release, employing Transparency mode to cleanly reduce sound to a safer level with minimal sacrifice to overall audio quality. In an age when ear plugs with various filters are a thing, AirPods Pro 2 now officially offer a high-fidelity concert experience that won’t kill the vibe of the show by muffling the band. Since you’re more likely to always have them when you leave the house, you won’t have to remember to grab that pair of Loops or SoundProtex Plus plugs before the show. What’s more, Apple says you can use hearing protection on AirPods Pro 2 for things like subway commutes, lawn-mowing and sporting events.
There are certain sounds that Hearing Protection isn’t recommended for – mostly extremely loud impulse noises like gunfire, fireworks or jackhammers. Apple also explains that the feature shouldn’t be used for sustained sound that’s louder than 110 dBA (A-weighted decibel). On the other end of the spectrum, the company says the AirPods Pro 2 can provide up to 10 dB of passive noise reduction when they aren’t even turned on.
Apple
Hearing Protection can be applied across transparency, Adaptive and noise-canceling modes on the AirPods Pro 2. As you can see in the chart above, the latter two provide the best protection, lowering environmental noise by up to 30 dB. Those two modes also extend the exposure time limit. As a reminder, Adaptive Audio on the AirPods Pro 2 lets you select the blend of active noise cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode that best matches your surroundings.
In my tests with the new hearing protection tools, transparency mode still offers the clearest sound here, but for certain genres, like chaotic heavy metal, ANC mode actually provided more details in the live guitars. I can’t tell a difference in Apple’s revised algorithms in transparency mode for concerts versus when I used the AirPods Pro 2 at a show last month, but it already sounded great before. I used the Noise app on Apple Watch to confirm the venue sound was at 100 dB, with transparency mode reducing my exposure to 86 dB and noise-canceling mode taking it down to a safer 74 dB – all of which is in line with Apple’s stated ratings.
As a reminder, the effectiveness of hearing protection relies on how well the AirPods Pro 2 fit in your ears. You’ll want to make sure that you have a good seal with properly sized ear tips, which can be validated via the fit test in the AirPods settings.
Hearing test
Billy Steele for Engadget
Apple’s hearing aid tool is likely to get the most attention, but I’d argue it’s the hearing test that’s the most important piece. I don’t know about you, but I can’t recall the last time I had a hearing test with an audiologist. It has been at least a decade, and most likely longer than that. It’s not something adults think about unless they notice potential hearing loss or someone else picks up on the cues. Since 1.5 billion people globally experience some degree of hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization, Apple’s tool will provide more awareness of the condition in a quick, easy and private way.
According to the company, the hearing test should take about five minutes. During my sessions, it took around seven minutes, which means the software may have repeated some tones I missed along the way. Once iOS 18.1 is installed and your AirPods Pro 2 have been updated, you’ll see the hearing test in the AirPods settings and in Apple Health. You’ll need to confirm that you’re 18 or older, that you aren’t experiencing any allergy or cold symptoms and that you haven’t been in a loud environment in the last 24 hours in order to proceed.
Before the test begins, the iPhone/earbuds duo will check your surroundings to make sure you’re in a quiet space and to ensure that the AirPods Pro fit properly in your ears. When the test begins, Do Not Disturb and ANC will be enabled and you’ll simply tap the screen when you hear tones. The software will test your left ear first before moving over to the right.
The test is as easy to complete as Apple describes, and as promised, you immediately get your results when it’s finished. I’ll admit that I was concerned about what I might discover about my hearing health since I didn’t always wear ear plugs at loud concerts in college and I was in a band long before in-ear monitors were widely available. Thankfully, Apple’s hearing test determined that I have little to no hearing loss, with numbers well under the 25 dBHL threshold. The test showed slightly more hearing loss in my left ear than my right, but still nothing to be concerned about. Even though I showed little to no hearing loss, the test still offers tips on healthy habits and clearly states that the current AirPods Pro tuning is correct based on the results. Here’s how the classifications shake out:

Little to No Loss: Up to 25 dBHL
Mild Loss: 26 – 40 dBHL
Moderate Loss: 41 – 60 dBHL
Severe Loss: 61 – 80 dBHL
Profound Loss Above: 80 dBHL (the test can’t measure anything above 85 dbHL)

No matter how much hearing loss the test detects, you’ll still get a detailed graph in Apple Health that shows how you fared with each frequency. Here, I was able to see that I do have some issues hearing high-frequency sounds, but not enough to indicate mild hearing loss. What’s more, Apple Health displays a list of test results, so you can quickly see how your hearing changes over time (Apple recommends you retest at least every 12 months). And when you need them, PDFs of individual tests are available for export.
I had some anxiety the first time I took the test. That probably had more to do with the fact that it had been so long since I’d done anything like this, and since I’m in my 40s, I’m now hyper-aware of ailments that could be coming my way. I also spend a lot of time testing earbuds, headphones and speakers, plus I’m a big fan of live music. So, my lifestyle could’ve easily led to different results.
Hearing aid
Apple
If the hearing test determines that you have mild to moderate hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 can now function as a clinical-grade hearing aid. You can also upload an audiogram to Apple Health if you have one from an audiologist. But in either cases, hearing aid will only be available to people who are 18 or older and you can’t turn it on without the required test results. If Apple’s test shows severe or profound hearing loss, AirPods Pro 2 won’t provide sufficient amplification and the software will offer guidance on how to proceed with a professional consultation.
Once you have the appropriate results, the hearing aid mode will be available under Hearing Assistance in the Hearing Health section of the AirPods Pro settings. Apple explains that it can take time to acclimate to the hearing aid feature, and while this should only take a few days, it could also require a few weeks. The company is clear that consistent use is paramount to the adjustment period. What’s more, once the hearing aid is set up on AirPods Pro 2, that hearing profile is embedded on the earbuds and you’ll be able to use it without having your iPhone nearby. However, Apple says you shouldn’t share the earbuds with anyone once hearing aid is enabled due to the personalized frequency adjustments.
Crucially, the hearing aid feature is customizable as Apple allows adjustments for amplification, tone and balance so that you can fine-tune the assistance based on your needs. These settings are accessible at any time on your iPhone, iPad and Mac, either from the AirPods menu or from Control Center. With an Apple Watch, you’ll have the ability to adjust Amplification, and the volume slider on the AirPods Pro 2’s stems will also control amplification when hearing aid mode is active. There’s also a Media Assist tool that will augment the sound of music, calls and video based on your hearing test results. Plus, the existing Conversation Boost feature on the AirPods Pro 2 will still be available.
Hearing aid will only be active when Noise Control is set to transparency mode. If you turn it off, or switch to Adaptive or noise cancellation, the assistive feature will still be enabled but it won’t be active. Hearing protection and hearing aid can be used simultaneously in transparency mode, where the former is turned on by default. You can turn hearing aid mode off entirely in the Hearing Assistance section at any time.
Lastly, Apple says you can expect the hearing aid feature to run for up to six hours on a charge. A quick five-minute top-up will give you an hour of use and the AirPods Pro 2 will fill up completely in 60 minutes. Since this isn’t enough to get you through a full day, the company recommends that you put the earbuds in their case when showering, sleeping or completing tasks where hearing assistance isn’t needed.
AirPods all the time
Depending on your personal preferences, you may have strong feelings about people who wear earbuds all day long. You may think it’s rude to speak to someone when you have earbuds in your ears, or you might feel awkward trying to have a conversation with someone who’s wearing them. Transparency mode has existed for a while now, and not just on AirPods, so there’s a good chance those folks have been listening to you and not trying to drown you out with Chappell Roan.
Now that AirPods Pro 2 can double as hearing aids, we’ll all have to get used to seeing people wearing them all the time. And we’ll also have to get used to people wearing them at concerts, which I’ll admit still seems weird – and I’ve done it. I think I’ve only ever seen two other people using AirPods Pro for concert hearing protection, but that number is sure to increase dramatically over the coming months. 
From now on, people may not be rude or want to put off a “don’t bother me” vibe, they could be protecting their hearing or using AirPods Pro to help them hear better. If someone doesn’t want to wear a clinical-looking hearing aid due to the stigma around them, they may be more likely to wear earbuds that offer the same benefit – especially if they already own a pair.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-pro-hearing-health-tools-could-normalize-wearing-earbuds-everywhere-140054858.html?src=rss

The biggest audio announcement at Apple’s iPhone event last month wasn’t the AirPods 4. Instead, the milestone news was the company’s plan to introduce a robust suite of hearing health features for the AirPods Pro 2 alongside iOS 18. Apple’s three-prong approach includes prevention, awareness and assistance with hearing protection, hearing test and hearing aid tools available directly on an iPhone.

People have been eagerly anticipating these hearing health features since Apple announced them in early September. I’ve had numerous friends and family members who aren’t regular Apple users inquire about the hearing test and hearing aid features specifically. The tools have the potential to put a wealth of information, and possibly life-changing assistance, in the pockets of people all over the world. Users will get help for a stigmatized condition without even having to set foot in a doctor’s office.

Just days after the big announcement in September, the FDA approved Apple’s hearing test and hearing aid features. Under the guidelines set forth in its 2022 decision, the FDA allows adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to obtain hearing assistive devices without a prescription or professional consultation. Apple describes its software-based test as “clinically validated,” one that was developed with 150,000 real-world audiograms and millions of simulations, and the FDA clearly agrees.

Apple has released the entire suite of hearing health tools this week with iOS 18.1 and a firmware update to AirPods Pro 2. I’ve spent a week with them, and I can definitively say that this upgrade will be a game changer for earbuds, but not in the way that you’d expect.

Hearing protection

Even if you don’t take Apple’s hearing test, and even if you don’t have hearing loss, the hearing protection feature on AirPods Pro 2 provides a significant benefit. It helps maintain your current level of hearing health with robust protection in certain loud environments. You could absolutely use it without ever taking the hearing test.

Although Apple discussed the potential of AirPods Pro as ear protection from loud noise at launch (specifically the Loud Noise Reduction feature), the company never officially recommended the earbuds for extended use for that purpose. That’s because AirPods Pro weren’t certified as meeting certain safety standards. What’s more, Apple improved the algorithms that reduce the effect of loud noise (attenuation) while maintaining the sound signature with this new firmware update.

I’ve used the AirPods Pro 2 at concerts since their release, employing Transparency mode to cleanly reduce sound to a safer level with minimal sacrifice to overall audio quality. In an age when ear plugs with various filters are a thing, AirPods Pro 2 now officially offer a high-fidelity concert experience that won’t kill the vibe of the show by muffling the band. Since you’re more likely to always have them when you leave the house, you won’t have to remember to grab that pair of Loops or SoundProtex Plus plugs before the show. What’s more, Apple says you can use hearing protection on AirPods Pro 2 for things like subway commutes, lawn-mowing and sporting events.

There are certain sounds that Hearing Protection isn’t recommended for – mostly extremely loud impulse noises like gunfire, fireworks or jackhammers. Apple also explains that the feature shouldn’t be used for sustained sound that’s louder than 110 dBA (A-weighted decibel). On the other end of the spectrum, the company says the AirPods Pro 2 can provide up to 10 dB of passive noise reduction when they aren’t even turned on.

Hearing Protection can be applied across transparency, Adaptive and noise-canceling modes on the AirPods Pro 2. As you can see in the chart above, the latter two provide the best protection, lowering environmental noise by up to 30 dB. Those two modes also extend the exposure time limit. As a reminder, Adaptive Audio on the AirPods Pro 2 lets you select the blend of active noise cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode that best matches your surroundings.

In my tests with the new hearing protection tools, transparency mode still offers the clearest sound here, but for certain genres, like chaotic heavy metal, ANC mode actually provided more details in the live guitars. I can’t tell a difference in Apple’s revised algorithms in transparency mode for concerts versus when I used the AirPods Pro 2 at a show last month, but it already sounded great before. I used the Noise app on Apple Watch to confirm the venue sound was at 100 dB, with transparency mode reducing my exposure to 86 dB and noise-canceling mode taking it down to a safer 74 dB – all of which is in line with Apple’s stated ratings.

As a reminder, the effectiveness of hearing protection relies on how well the AirPods Pro 2 fit in your ears. You’ll want to make sure that you have a good seal with properly sized ear tips, which can be validated via the fit test in the AirPods settings.

Hearing test

Apple’s hearing aid tool is likely to get the most attention, but I’d argue it’s the hearing test that’s the most important piece. I don’t know about you, but I can’t recall the last time I had a hearing test with an audiologist. It has been at least a decade, and most likely longer than that. It’s not something adults think about unless they notice potential hearing loss or someone else picks up on the cues. Since 1.5 billion people globally experience some degree of hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization, Apple’s tool will provide more awareness of the condition in a quick, easy and private way.

According to the company, the hearing test should take about five minutes. During my sessions, it took around seven minutes, which means the software may have repeated some tones I missed along the way. Once iOS 18.1 is installed and your AirPods Pro 2 have been updated, you’ll see the hearing test in the AirPods settings and in Apple Health. You’ll need to confirm that you’re 18 or older, that you aren’t experiencing any allergy or cold symptoms and that you haven’t been in a loud environment in the last 24 hours in order to proceed.

Before the test begins, the iPhone/earbuds duo will check your surroundings to make sure you’re in a quiet space and to ensure that the AirPods Pro fit properly in your ears. When the test begins, Do Not Disturb and ANC will be enabled and you’ll simply tap the screen when you hear tones. The software will test your left ear first before moving over to the right.

The test is as easy to complete as Apple describes, and as promised, you immediately get your results when it’s finished. I’ll admit that I was concerned about what I might discover about my hearing health since I didn’t always wear ear plugs at loud concerts in college and I was in a band long before in-ear monitors were widely available. Thankfully, Apple’s hearing test determined that I have little to no hearing loss, with numbers well under the 25 dBHL threshold. The test showed slightly more hearing loss in my left ear than my right, but still nothing to be concerned about. Even though I showed little to no hearing loss, the test still offers tips on healthy habits and clearly states that the current AirPods Pro tuning is correct based on the results. Here’s how the classifications shake out:

Little to No Loss: Up to 25 dBHL

Mild Loss: 26 – 40 dBHL

Moderate Loss: 41 – 60 dBHL

Severe Loss: 61 – 80 dBHL

Profound Loss Above: 80 dBHL (the test can’t measure anything above 85 dbHL)

No matter how much hearing loss the test detects, you’ll still get a detailed graph in Apple Health that shows how you fared with each frequency. Here, I was able to see that I do have some issues hearing high-frequency sounds, but not enough to indicate mild hearing loss. What’s more, Apple Health displays a list of test results, so you can quickly see how your hearing changes over time (Apple recommends you retest at least every 12 months). And when you need them, PDFs of individual tests are available for export.

I had some anxiety the first time I took the test. That probably had more to do with the fact that it had been so long since I’d done anything like this, and since I’m in my 40s, I’m now hyper-aware of ailments that could be coming my way. I also spend a lot of time testing earbuds, headphones and speakers, plus I’m a big fan of live music. So, my lifestyle could’ve easily led to different results.

Hearing aid

If the hearing test determines that you have mild to moderate hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 can now function as a clinical-grade hearing aid. You can also upload an audiogram to Apple Health if you have one from an audiologist. But in either cases, hearing aid will only be available to people who are 18 or older and you can’t turn it on without the required test results. If Apple’s test shows severe or profound hearing loss, AirPods Pro 2 won’t provide sufficient amplification and the software will offer guidance on how to proceed with a professional consultation.

Once you have the appropriate results, the hearing aid mode will be available under Hearing Assistance in the Hearing Health section of the AirPods Pro settings. Apple explains that it can take time to acclimate to the hearing aid feature, and while this should only take a few days, it could also require a few weeks. The company is clear that consistent use is paramount to the adjustment period. What’s more, once the hearing aid is set up on AirPods Pro 2, that hearing profile is embedded on the earbuds and you’ll be able to use it without having your iPhone nearby. However, Apple says you shouldn’t share the earbuds with anyone once hearing aid is enabled due to the personalized frequency adjustments.

Crucially, the hearing aid feature is customizable as Apple allows adjustments for amplification, tone and balance so that you can fine-tune the assistance based on your needs. These settings are accessible at any time on your iPhone, iPad and Mac, either from the AirPods menu or from Control Center. With an Apple Watch, you’ll have the ability to adjust Amplification, and the volume slider on the AirPods Pro 2’s stems will also control amplification when hearing aid mode is active. There’s also a Media Assist tool that will augment the sound of music, calls and video based on your hearing test results. Plus, the existing Conversation Boost feature on the AirPods Pro 2 will still be available.

Hearing aid will only be active when Noise Control is set to transparency mode. If you turn it off, or switch to Adaptive or noise cancellation, the assistive feature will still be enabled but it won’t be active. Hearing protection and hearing aid can be used simultaneously in transparency mode, where the former is turned on by default. You can turn hearing aid mode off entirely in the Hearing Assistance section at any time.

Lastly, Apple says you can expect the hearing aid feature to run for up to six hours on a charge. A quick five-minute top-up will give you an hour of use and the AirPods Pro 2 will fill up completely in 60 minutes. Since this isn’t enough to get you through a full day, the company recommends that you put the earbuds in their case when showering, sleeping or completing tasks where hearing assistance isn’t needed.

AirPods all the time

Depending on your personal preferences, you may have strong feelings about people who wear earbuds all day long. You may think it’s rude to speak to someone when you have earbuds in your ears, or you might feel awkward trying to have a conversation with someone who’s wearing them. Transparency mode has existed for a while now, and not just on AirPods, so there’s a good chance those folks have been listening to you and not trying to drown you out with Chappell Roan.

Now that AirPods Pro 2 can double as hearing aids, we’ll all have to get used to seeing people wearing them all the time. And we’ll also have to get used to people wearing them at concerts, which I’ll admit still seems weird – and I’ve done it. I think I’ve only ever seen two other people using AirPods Pro for concert hearing protection, but that number is sure to increase dramatically over the coming months. 

From now on, people may not be rude or want to put off a “don’t bother me” vibe, they could be protecting their hearing or using AirPods Pro to help them hear better. If someone doesn’t want to wear a clinical-looking hearing aid due to the stigma around them, they may be more likely to wear earbuds that offer the same benefit – especially if they already own a pair.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-pro-hearing-health-tools-could-normalize-wearing-earbuds-everywhere-140054858.html?src=rss

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The US presidential election is in its final stretch. Before election day on November 5, Engadget is looking at where the candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, stand on the most consequential tech issues of our day.
The Biden administration has been more aggressive than almost any in recent American history in its antitrust efforts. In the tech sector alone, it has ongoing cases against Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon, not to mention its battles with Ticketmaster, Microsoft, Kroger, CVS, Visa, Penguin Random House and more. Biden, Lina Khan (chair of the FTC) and Jonathan Kanter (head of the DOJ’s antitrust division) have spent the last several years working to prevent giant mergers, increase competition and punish companies (however lightly) for unfair business practices. It is unlikely that whoever succeeds Joe Biden will be quite as fervent in their fight against monopolies. That being said, it’s not only possible but probable that either a Harris or Trump administration would be very active in the antitrust field.
Kamala Harris
There is some expectation that a Kamala Harris White House will pursue these sorts of cases less aggressively. Part of that assumption is simply down to the fact that Harris hasn’t said a ton on the issue. She touts her record as attorney general of California in leading lawsuits against the medical industry, and says during her stump speeches that “companies need to play by the rules, respect the rights of workers and unions and abide by fair competition. And if they don’t, I will hold them accountable.” But she often doesn’t get more specific than that.
Her campaign also released a detailed economic policy document, though it makes little mention of antitrust and antimonopoly proposals. When it does discuss those issues, it focuses exclusively on landlords, grocery stores and the pharmaceutical industry. It does advocate for the passage of the Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act, though. This bill would make it illegal for landlords to use software from companies like RealPage and Yardi to coordinate on housing prices and rent increases.
However, Harris’ ties to Silicon Valley has led some to believe she would pump the brakes on antitrust efforts focused on the tech industry. Her brother-in-law, Tony West, is chief legal officer for Uber, her debate adviser was Karen Dunn, the lawyer currently heading up Google’s defense in an ongoing antitrust case, and she counts Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Steve Jobs) among her closest friends. She’s also been quiet in the face of calls from major donors like Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn) and Barry Diller (IAC, Expedia Group and TripAdvisor) to fire Lina Khan.
Nonetheless, she has also surrounded herself with many people deeply engaged in the Biden administration’s antitrust efforts, including Brian Deese, the former head of the National Economic Council (NEC); Rachel Brown, who led on competition policy at the NEC and Bharat Ramamurti, who was not only Deese’s deputy at the NEC but also worked for Elizabeth Warren, who has made fighting big business a cornerstone of her political identity. It’s unlikely these antitrust crusaders would join Harris’ campaign if they did not believe she would continue the work of the Biden administration in some meaningful capacity.
Donald Trump
Unlike what you’d expect from a typical Republican administration, the Trump White House was actually pretty active in the antitrust space, focusing primarily on the tech and healthcare industries. Trump has made no secret of his animosity towards some of the biggest players in the tech space, so there’s little reason to believe he’d scale back or abandon the cases against Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon underway.
During his first tenure, the Trump administration went after Google over its search results and Facebook following its purchase of WhatsApp and Instagram in antimonopoly cases. He also sought to block the acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T. Even after he left the White House, Trump continued his assault on big tech by filing personal lawsuits against Twitter, Facebook and Google, alleging censorship. According to Concurrences (an antitrust think tank), while Republican administrations tend to prioritize criminal cartel cases, the Trump DOJ pursued fewer of those than any administration since Nixon and focused more on mergers and antimonopoly cases.
While Trump hasn’t said much about his antitrust views on the campaign trail, his running mate, JD Vance, has made it a regular topic of his stump speeches. Vance has voiced strong support for breaking up big corporations, especially in the tech industry. He’s even praised Lina Khan as “one of the few people in the Biden administration I think is doing a pretty good job.”
Complicating this, however, under Trump, the DOJ and FTC were constantly mired in controversy, and he was routinely accused of using the agencies to punish his perceived enemies. To make things even murkier, there is no mention of antitrust or antimonopoly efforts or policies either on Trump’s Agenda 47 site or the official RNC platform. This makes it difficult to predict what to expect from a second Trump term. While there was significant antitrust activity on his watch, at times it seemed guided by political whims and personal vendettas. And without a guiding principle outlined in any official policy document, it’s impossible to know what avenues the DOJ and FTC might focus on to go after companies that find themselves the target of Trump’s ire.
While Donald Trump and the RNC don’t spill too many words discussing antitrust issues, the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 document does. It notes there is still some disagreement among Republicans on how aggressively to pursue antitrust action. But it focuses extensively on the changing view within the party that seeks more aggressive actions to break up the largest players in the market.
While Project 2025 pays some lip service to the negative impact on consumers of having too much industry power concentrated in too few hands, it spends most of its time discussing ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives by businesses as a non-economic reason to pursue antitrust efforts, suggesting the Heritage Foundation sees antimonopoly laws not as a way to prevent the concentration of economic power, but as a cudgel to punish those promoting social and political ideologies it dislikes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/election-2024-how-will-the-candidates-regulate-big-tech-133013600.html?src=rss

The US presidential election is in its final stretch. Before election day on November 5, Engadget is looking at where the candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, stand on the most consequential tech issues of our day.

The Biden administration has been more aggressive than almost any in recent American history in its antitrust efforts. In the tech sector alone, it has ongoing cases against Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon, not to mention its battles with Ticketmaster, Microsoft, Kroger, CVS, Visa, Penguin Random House and more. Biden, Lina Khan (chair of the FTC) and Jonathan Kanter (head of the DOJ’s antitrust division) have spent the last several years working to prevent giant mergers, increase competition and punish companies (however lightly) for unfair business practices. It is unlikely that whoever succeeds Joe Biden will be quite as fervent in their fight against monopolies. That being said, it’s not only possible but probable that either a Harris or Trump administration would be very active in the antitrust field.

Kamala Harris

There is some expectation that a Kamala Harris White House will pursue these sorts of cases less aggressively. Part of that assumption is simply down to the fact that Harris hasn’t said a ton on the issue. She touts her record as attorney general of California in leading lawsuits against the medical industry, and says during her stump speeches that “companies need to play by the rules, respect the rights of workers and unions and abide by fair competition. And if they don’t, I will hold them accountable.” But she often doesn’t get more specific than that.

Her campaign also released a detailed economic policy document, though it makes little mention of antitrust and antimonopoly proposals. When it does discuss those issues, it focuses exclusively on landlords, grocery stores and the pharmaceutical industry. It does advocate for the passage of the Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act, though. This bill would make it illegal for landlords to use software from companies like RealPage and Yardi to coordinate on housing prices and rent increases.

However, Harris’ ties to Silicon Valley has led some to believe she would pump the brakes on antitrust efforts focused on the tech industry. Her brother-in-law, Tony West, is chief legal officer for Uber, her debate adviser was Karen Dunn, the lawyer currently heading up Google’s defense in an ongoing antitrust case, and she counts Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Steve Jobs) among her closest friends. She’s also been quiet in the face of calls from major donors like Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn) and Barry Diller (IAC, Expedia Group and TripAdvisor) to fire Lina Khan.

Nonetheless, she has also surrounded herself with many people deeply engaged in the Biden administration’s antitrust efforts, including Brian Deese, the former head of the National Economic Council (NEC); Rachel Brown, who led on competition policy at the NEC and Bharat Ramamurti, who was not only Deese’s deputy at the NEC but also worked for Elizabeth Warren, who has made fighting big business a cornerstone of her political identity. It’s unlikely these antitrust crusaders would join Harris’ campaign if they did not believe she would continue the work of the Biden administration in some meaningful capacity.

Donald Trump

Unlike what you’d expect from a typical Republican administration, the Trump White House was actually pretty active in the antitrust space, focusing primarily on the tech and healthcare industries. Trump has made no secret of his animosity towards some of the biggest players in the tech space, so there’s little reason to believe he’d scale back or abandon the cases against Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon underway.

During his first tenure, the Trump administration went after Google over its search results and Facebook following its purchase of WhatsApp and Instagram in antimonopoly cases. He also sought to block the acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T. Even after he left the White House, Trump continued his assault on big tech by filing personal lawsuits against Twitter, Facebook and Google, alleging censorship. According to Concurrences (an antitrust think tank), while Republican administrations tend to prioritize criminal cartel cases, the Trump DOJ pursued fewer of those than any administration since Nixon and focused more on mergers and antimonopoly cases.

While Trump hasn’t said much about his antitrust views on the campaign trail, his running mate, JD Vance, has made it a regular topic of his stump speeches. Vance has voiced strong support for breaking up big corporations, especially in the tech industry. He’s even praised Lina Khan as “one of the few people in the Biden administration I think is doing a pretty good job.”

Complicating this, however, under Trump, the DOJ and FTC were constantly mired in controversy, and he was routinely accused of using the agencies to punish his perceived enemies. To make things even murkier, there is no mention of antitrust or antimonopoly efforts or policies either on Trump’s Agenda 47 site or the official RNC platform. This makes it difficult to predict what to expect from a second Trump term. While there was significant antitrust activity on his watch, at times it seemed guided by political whims and personal vendettas. And without a guiding principle outlined in any official policy document, it’s impossible to know what avenues the DOJ and FTC might focus on to go after companies that find themselves the target of Trump’s ire.

While Donald Trump and the RNC don’t spill too many words discussing antitrust issues, the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 document does. It notes there is still some disagreement among Republicans on how aggressively to pursue antitrust action. But it focuses extensively on the changing view within the party that seeks more aggressive actions to break up the largest players in the market.

While Project 2025 pays some lip service to the negative impact on consumers of having too much industry power concentrated in too few hands, it spends most of its time discussing ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives by businesses as a non-economic reason to pursue antitrust efforts, suggesting the Heritage Foundation sees antimonopoly laws not as a way to prevent the concentration of economic power, but as a cudgel to punish those promoting social and political ideologies it dislikes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/election-2024-how-will-the-candidates-regulate-big-tech-133013600.html?src=rss

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Getting a really great tablet for an affordable price is quite an achievement. That’s why we’re excited to see that Amazon’s Fire Max 11 tablet is currently on sale for $140, down from $230 — a 39 percent discount. The deal brings this 64GB tablet back to its all-time low price, previously seen during October Prime Day. 
Amazon released the Fire Max 11 tablet in 2023 and we were immediately impressed with how much it offered for the price (especially now that it’s discounted). It has slimmer bezels and a nice aluminum build, along with being just over a pound. Its 11-inch screen has a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution and is low blue light certified. Plus, it has a fingerprint sensor in the power button and supports Wi-Fi 6. 

It’s worth noting that this model comes with lockscreen ads. If that’s a deal breaker then check out the sale on the 64GB version that is ad-free. Right now, it’s 36 percent off, dropping to $155, from $245. You can even upgrade to the 128GB model without lockscreen ads for just $5, with a 43 percent discount dropping its price to $160 from $280. 
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/amazons-fire-max-11-tablet-returns-to-a-record-low-price-131516001.html?src=rss

Getting a really great tablet for an affordable price is quite an achievement. That’s why we’re excited to see that Amazon’s Fire Max 11 tablet is currently on sale for $140, down from $230 — a 39 percent discount. The deal brings this 64GB tablet back to its all-time low price, previously seen during October Prime Day. 

Amazon released the Fire Max 11 tablet in 2023 and we were immediately impressed with how much it offered for the price (especially now that it’s discounted). It has slimmer bezels and a nice aluminum build, along with being just over a pound. Its 11-inch screen has a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution and is low blue light certified. Plus, it has a fingerprint sensor in the power button and supports Wi-Fi 6. 

It’s worth noting that this model comes with lockscreen ads. If that’s a deal breaker then check out the sale on the 64GB version that is ad-free. Right now, it’s 36 percent off, dropping to $155, from $245. You can even upgrade to the 128GB model without lockscreen ads for just $5, with a 43 percent discount dropping its price to $160 from $280. 

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/amazons-fire-max-11-tablet-returns-to-a-record-low-price-131516001.html?src=rss

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It’s easy to give into cynicism writing about tech. There are so many underwhelming announcements and iterative improvements. Companies toss the letters AI around like it’s a magic elixir sent down from the Gods. The layoffs are harsh. Sometimes, though, you find something simple, useful and fun that forces optimism. That’s where I’m at with the Vizio MicMe. It’s a soundbar that doubles as a karaoke machine. That’s a neat idea, right?
The MicMe is being advertised as a “two-in-one soundbar system” that totally eliminates the need for a clunky standalone karaoke speaker. It’s a legitimate 2.1 soundbar, complete with a subwoofer. It’ll get the job done with regard to endless streams of Agatha All Along or Nobody Wants This.

Vizio

It also ships with two dynamic wireless microphones, and that’s where the karaoke magic comes in. The company says that the soundbar enters karaoke mode when one of the microphones is removed from the charging dock, without the user having to fiddle with anything. There is, however, an affiliated mobile app for making sound adjustments. This app also allows access to six different vocal effects.
Each microphone boasts eight hours of battery life per charge, which means a solid 8PM to 4AM karaoke session. Vizio says MicMe will have access to 80,000 songs via the proprietary app. It also integrates with many standalone karaoke apps, like Stingray. There should be no shortage of songs to ruin or master.
The soundbar hybrid is compatible with Vizio’s QuickFit technology, which allows it to attach to the company’s TVs without any tools. It’s also fully compatible with any smart TV with eARC. The MicMe costs $350. You can order one now but it won’t ship until the end of November.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/vizio-just-announced-a-soundbar-that-doubles-as-a-karaoke-machine-130016592.html?src=rss

It’s easy to give into cynicism writing about tech. There are so many underwhelming announcements and iterative improvements. Companies toss the letters AI around like it’s a magic elixir sent down from the Gods. The layoffs are harsh. Sometimes, though, you find something simple, useful and fun that forces optimism. That’s where I’m at with the Vizio MicMe. It’s a soundbar that doubles as a karaoke machine. That’s a neat idea, right?

The MicMe is being advertised as a “two-in-one soundbar system” that totally eliminates the need for a clunky standalone karaoke speaker. It’s a legitimate 2.1 soundbar, complete with a subwoofer. It’ll get the job done with regard to endless streams of Agatha All Along or Nobody Wants This.

It also ships with two dynamic wireless microphones, and that’s where the karaoke magic comes in. The company says that the soundbar enters karaoke mode when one of the microphones is removed from the charging dock, without the user having to fiddle with anything. There is, however, an affiliated mobile app for making sound adjustments. This app also allows access to six different vocal effects.

Each microphone boasts eight hours of battery life per charge, which means a solid 8PM to 4AM karaoke session. Vizio says MicMe will have access to 80,000 songs via the proprietary app. It also integrates with many standalone karaoke apps, like Stingray. There should be no shortage of songs to ruin or master.

The soundbar hybrid is compatible with Vizio’s QuickFit technology, which allows it to attach to the company’s TVs without any tools. It’s also fully compatible with any smart TV with eARC. The MicMe costs $350. You can order one now but it won’t ship until the end of November.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/vizio-just-announced-a-soundbar-that-doubles-as-a-karaoke-machine-130016592.html?src=rss

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Amazon, in what it described as a “difficult decision,” is winding down Kindle Vella and shutting it down completely in February 2025. When the company launched the serialized story platform in 2021, it said Vella was a way for readers to discover new fictional stories and a new way for authors to earn from the Kindle Direct Publishing service. But it hasn’t caught on as it had hoped, Amazon explains on its website, and it has decided to throw in the towel three years after Vella’s debut. 
Authors can only publish stories on Vella until December 4, which is also the last day readers can purchase tokens. While readers will no longer be able to purchase tokens after that, they can continue using those tokens to unlock episodes until the program closes in February. The good news for those who’ve been following specific authors or stories on Vella is that they won’t lose their access to whatever episodes they’ve already unlocked even after the platform shuts down. They can always read the stories they’ve purchased in their library in the Kindle app for iOS and Android, though they can no longer open them on the web. Any token they don’t use by February will be refunded. 
Responses to Vella have been pretty lukewarm since it became available. Some authors liked the fact that they could use it to earn money from unfinished stories, while some readers said they’d prefer getting a whole book instead of paying for installments. Personally, as someone who follows a lot of indie authors, I only know of one who publishes on Vella and very, very few readers who actually use it. Amazon tried drumming up interest earlier this year by making the first ten episodes of a story, instead of just three, available to readers for free. The company has also tried keeping authors on the platform by giving away bonuses, but its strategies probably didn’t work enough to make it consider keeping Vella around longer. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/amazon-is-shutting-down-its-kindle-vella-serialized-story-platform-in-february-2025-120030125.html?src=rss

Amazon, in what it described as a “difficult decision,” is winding down Kindle Vella and shutting it down completely in February 2025. When the company launched the serialized story platform in 2021, it said Vella was a way for readers to discover new fictional stories and a new way for authors to earn from the Kindle Direct Publishing service. But it hasn’t caught on as it had hoped, Amazon explains on its website, and it has decided to throw in the towel three years after Vella’s debut. 

Authors can only publish stories on Vella until December 4, which is also the last day readers can purchase tokens. While readers will no longer be able to purchase tokens after that, they can continue using those tokens to unlock episodes until the program closes in February. The good news for those who’ve been following specific authors or stories on Vella is that they won’t lose their access to whatever episodes they’ve already unlocked even after the platform shuts down. They can always read the stories they’ve purchased in their library in the Kindle app for iOS and Android, though they can no longer open them on the web. Any token they don’t use by February will be refunded. 

Responses to Vella have been pretty lukewarm since it became available. Some authors liked the fact that they could use it to earn money from unfinished stories, while some readers said they’d prefer getting a whole book instead of paying for installments. Personally, as someone who follows a lot of indie authors, I only know of one who publishes on Vella and very, very few readers who actually use it. Amazon tried drumming up interest earlier this year by making the first ten episodes of a story, instead of just three, available to readers for free. The company has also tried keeping authors on the platform by giving away bonuses, but its strategies probably didn’t work enough to make it consider keeping Vella around longer. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/amazon-is-shutting-down-its-kindle-vella-serialized-story-platform-in-february-2025-120030125.html?src=rss

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Apple Intelligence, the company’s all-encompassing branding for its AI tools, features and curios, is finally here. Did you think Apple launched this ages ago? It was announced in June, and drip fed to beta testers, first in the developer preview, then the open preview.
It was even a big part of the iPhone 16 sales pitch at launch, but Apple’s newest phones lacked those AI features — until now. Arriving as part of Apple’s updates to iOS, iPadOS and macOS, it’s not everything teased at WWDC (no making your own emojis for now), but it’s a tract of new features showing how the company is tackling AI in its software.
As well as new proofreading and rewriting tools, there’s live transcription for phone calls and Notes’ audio recordings. Apple Intelligence also adds text summaries for websites, emails and all those transcriptions. There’s also my personal favorite: notification summaries.
We’ll be taking a closer look at what Apple Intelligence is capable of, but broadly (and from our experience testing the preview builds), the additions won’t change your smartphone life. Some of them are very useful, while others, like photo editing, fall behind rivals like Google and Samsung.
— Mat Smith
The biggest tech stories you missed
Grok can try to explain Elon Musk’s terrible jokes
You’ll get another chance to pre-order the retro-themed PS5 today
The best iPhone accessories
Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

The iMac gets an M4 refresh for faster Apple Intelligence
It has the same design as the last two models.
Apple
In time for those new features, Apple’s new iMac includes new colorways and the latest Apple silicon. The new model has the same display and design as previous models, but there’s a new nano-texture glass screen option for a proper splurge. Apple says the M4 inside the new iMac makes the computer 1.7 times faster for daily productivity and up to 2.1 faster for more demanding tasks (i.e. gaming and photo editing) than the M1-powered iteration. The M4 iMac will be available on November 8, starting at the same $1,299 as its predecessor.
Continue reading.

Netflix’s latest feature makes it easier to share and rewatch your favorite scenes
Moments is a lot like clips on YouTube.

Netflix is rolling out a new feature called Moments, which lets you save, share and rewatch certain scenes from shows and movies. For now, it’s mobile only, starting on Netflix’s iOS app and coming to Android in the next few weeks. Netflix says episodes and films will start playing from bookmarked scenes when you rewatch them, with an array of share buttons for messaging and social media apps. It’s perfectly timed for my recent binging of Kath and Kim. All four series, done.
Continue reading.

Google starts selling refurbished Pixel phones
It’s only Pixel 6 and 7 handsets for now.

Google is selling refurbished Pixel 6, Pixel 6A and Pixel 7 handsets directly through the Google Store. Discounts are up to 40 percent compared to new models, but we are on Pixel 9 now, so there are no brand new Pixel 6s on sale, at least not from Google. Prices start at $339 for the Pixel 6.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111641713.html?src=rss

Apple Intelligence, the company’s all-encompassing branding for its AI tools, features and curios, is finally here. Did you think Apple launched this ages ago? It was announced in June, and drip fed to beta testers, first in the developer preview, then the open preview.

It was even a big part of the iPhone 16 sales pitch at launch, but Apple’s newest phones lacked those AI features — until now. Arriving as part of Apple’s updates to iOS, iPadOS and macOS, it’s not everything teased at WWDC (no making your own emojis for now), but it’s a tract of new features showing how the company is tackling AI in its software.

As well as new proofreading and rewriting tools, there’s live transcription for phone calls and Notes’ audio recordings. Apple Intelligence also adds text summaries for websites, emails and all those transcriptions. There’s also my personal favorite: notification summaries.

We’ll be taking a closer look at what Apple Intelligence is capable of, but broadly (and from our experience testing the preview builds), the additions won’t change your smartphone life. Some of them are very useful, while others, like photo editing, fall behind rivals like Google and Samsung.

— Mat Smith

The biggest tech stories you missed

Grok can try to explain Elon Musk’s terrible jokes

You’ll get another chance to pre-order the retro-themed PS5 today

The best iPhone accessories

Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

The iMac gets an M4 refresh for faster Apple Intelligence

It has the same design as the last two models.

In time for those new features, Apple’s new iMac includes new colorways and the latest Apple silicon. The new model has the same display and design as previous models, but there’s a new nano-texture glass screen option for a proper splurge. Apple says the M4 inside the new iMac makes the computer 1.7 times faster for daily productivity and up to 2.1 faster for more demanding tasks (i.e. gaming and photo editing) than the M1-powered iteration. The M4 iMac will be available on November 8, starting at the same $1,299 as its predecessor.

Continue reading.

Netflix’s latest feature makes it easier to share and rewatch your favorite scenes

Moments is a lot like clips on YouTube.

Netflix is rolling out a new feature called Moments, which lets you save, share and rewatch certain scenes from shows and movies. For now, it’s mobile only, starting on Netflix’s iOS app and coming to Android in the next few weeks. Netflix says episodes and films will start playing from bookmarked scenes when you rewatch them, with an array of share buttons for messaging and social media apps. It’s perfectly timed for my recent binging of Kath and Kim. All four series, done.

Continue reading.

Google starts selling refurbished Pixel phones

It’s only Pixel 6 and 7 handsets for now.

Google is selling refurbished Pixel 6, Pixel 6A and Pixel 7 handsets directly through the Google Store. Discounts are up to 40 percent compared to new models, but we are on Pixel 9 now, so there are no brand new Pixel 6s on sale, at least not from Google. Prices start at $339 for the Pixel 6.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111641713.html?src=rss

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The Oregon Trail, which is probably one of the most recognizable computer games for people who grew up in the 80s and 90s, is set to become a movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Apple is developing a live-action film adaption for the game, with Will Speck and Josh Gordon attached to the project as directors and producers. Seeing as the collaborators are known for films like Blades of Glory, The Oregon Trail movie will likely be a comedy rather than a depressing drama about a 19th-century pioneer family dying off one by one due to dysentery and starvation. 
The Hollywood Reporter’s sources also said that the movie will feature a couple of musical numbers “in the vein of Barbie.” Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen and who were recently nominated for an Emmy for a number Steve Martin performed in the past season of Only Murders in the Building, will reportedly produce original music for the film. Kenneth and Keith Lucas (Judas and the Black Messiah), along with Max Reisman, are writing the screenplay. It’s still very early days for the production, though: There are no actors attached to the project yet, and Apple hasn’t even formally announced it. 
Originally created by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann and Paul Dillenberger, the original Oregon Trail game was first released in 1971. In the game, you’re supposed to buy supplies, hunt for food and travel west at a reasonable pace while trying to keep your caravan your caravan alive. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-is-reportedly-developing-a-comedy-film-based-on-the-oregon-trail-110022317.html?src=rss

The Oregon Trail, which is probably one of the most recognizable computer games for people who grew up in the 80s and 90s, is set to become a movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Apple is developing a live-action film adaption for the game, with Will Speck and Josh Gordon attached to the project as directors and producers. Seeing as the collaborators are known for films like Blades of Glory, The Oregon Trail movie will likely be a comedy rather than a depressing drama about a 19th-century pioneer family dying off one by one due to dysentery and starvation. 

The Hollywood Reporter’s sources also said that the movie will feature a couple of musical numbers “in the vein of Barbie.” Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen and who were recently nominated for an Emmy for a number Steve Martin performed in the past season of Only Murders in the Building, will reportedly produce original music for the film. Kenneth and Keith Lucas (Judas and the Black Messiah), along with Max Reisman, are writing the screenplay. It’s still very early days for the production, though: There are no actors attached to the project yet, and Apple hasn’t even formally announced it. 

Originally created by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann and Paul Dillenberger, the original Oregon Trail game was first released in 1971. In the game, you’re supposed to buy supplies, hunt for food and travel west at a reasonable pace while trying to keep your caravan your caravan alive. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-is-reportedly-developing-a-comedy-film-based-on-the-oregon-trail-110022317.html?src=rss

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The next time you visit your local Apple Store, you might see Form’s Smart Swim 2 goggles in the accessory section. Starting November 5, Apple will begin stocking the $249 wearable at 20 of its retail locations across the US and Canada. That same day, the goggles will also go on sale on the company’s website, with availability there extending to the UK. In addition to home delivery, select Apple Store locations will offer in-store pickup.
“With Apple’s knowledgeable staff, we know the experience presenting our goggles will be exceptional. As a must-have fitness tech product, we’re excited to showcase Form at Apple,” said From founder and CEO Dan Eisenhardt.
From debuted Smart Swim 2 at the start of April. Building on its original smart goggles, the company integrated a heart rate sensor, and improved comfort and adjustability. It also managed to reduce the size of the “tech pack,” the component that houses all of the device’s electronics. The company continues to sell its original Smart Swim goggles for $179, and they remain a great bargain; they include From’s signature SwimStraight feature, which displays a digital compass inside the goggles to assist with open water navigation. However, if you want those, you’ll need to order them from the company’s website.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/froms-smart-swim-2-goggles-will-be-available-to-buy-at-select-apple-stores-soon-100004858.html?src=rss

The next time you visit your local Apple Store, you might see Form’s Smart Swim 2 goggles in the accessory section. Starting November 5, Apple will begin stocking the $249 wearable at 20 of its retail locations across the US and Canada. That same day, the goggles will also go on sale on the company’s website, with availability there extending to the UK. In addition to home delivery, select Apple Store locations will offer in-store pickup.

“With Apple’s knowledgeable staff, we know the experience presenting our goggles will be exceptional. As a must-have fitness tech product, we’re excited to showcase Form at Apple,” said From founder and CEO Dan Eisenhardt.

From debuted Smart Swim 2 at the start of April. Building on its original smart goggles, the company integrated a heart rate sensor, and improved comfort and adjustability. It also managed to reduce the size of the “tech pack,” the component that houses all of the device’s electronics. The company continues to sell its original Smart Swim goggles for $179, and they remain a great bargain; they include From’s signature SwimStraight feature, which displays a digital compass inside the goggles to assist with open water navigation. However, if you want those, you’ll need to order them from the company’s website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/froms-smart-swim-2-goggles-will-be-available-to-buy-at-select-apple-stores-soon-100004858.html?src=rss

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Microsoft is accusing Google of funding a proxy campaign designed to discredit it in the eyes of regulatory authorities and policymakers in the European Union and beyond. In a blog post penned by Rima Alaily, the company’s deputy general counsel, Microsoft claims the search giant has gone to “great lengths to obfuscate its involvement, funding and control” of the Open Cloud Coalition, a group of “cloud service providers, industry leaders and stakeholders” that says it’s committed to advocating for a “fair, competitive, and open cloud services industry across the UK and EU.”
According to Microsoft, Google hired a lobbying agency in Europe to create and operate the organization, and recruited “a handful of” European cloud providers to appear as the public face of the soon-to-launch campaign. The company says that Google plans to “present itself as a backseat member” of the Open Cloud Coalition, rather than its leader and primary funder. As one example, Microsoft points to a recruitment document (PDF link) that makes no mention of the group’s claimed affiliation to Google. It also notes the involvement of Nicky Steward, who co-wrote a complaint against Microsoft and Amazon Web Services as part of the UK’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the cloud services market.
“It remains to be seen what Google offered smaller companies to join, either in terms of cash or discounts,” Microsoft says. It adds that one of the cloud providers Google approached about joining the Open Cloud Coalition claims that the company will direct the group to attack “Microsoft’s cloud computing business in the European Union and the United Kingdom.”
Engadget was unable to independently verify Microsoft’s claims.
“We’ve been very public about our concerns with Microsoft’s cloud licensing. We and many others believe that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices lock-in customers and create negative downstream effects that impact cybersecurity, innovation, and choice,” a Google spokesperson told Engadget, and pointed us to four separate blog posts on the matter.
As for why Google would potentially go to the extraordinary lengths of funding an astroturf campaign, Microsoft points to the recent uptick in regulatory scrutiny of the company’s search, advertising and mobile app store businesses. By Microsoft’s count, Google faces at least 24 antitrust investigations globally, including a Department of Justice probe that could see the potential break up of the company.
“Never in the past two decades have Google’s search, digital advertising, and mobile app store monopolies faced such a concerted and determined threat as they do today.” Alaily writes. “At a time when Google should be focused on addressing legitimate questions about its business, it is instead turning its vast resources towards tearing down others. It is disappointing that, with the foundation of their business facing jeopardy, they have sought to bolster their cloud computing service – Google Cloud Platform – by attacking ours.”
The accusations come after Google had reportedly attempted to derail an antitrust settlement Microsoft had negotiated with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE). In July, Bloomberg wrote that Google had offered the group €470 million to go forward with litigation against its rival, an overture CISPE ultimately rejected.
As revenue growth from digital ads has slowed for Google in recent years, the company has increasingly turned to the cloud market to pick up the slack. In 2023, Google’s cloud business broke even for the first time. More recently, the unit generated a $900 million profit in the first quarter of this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-accuses-google-of-secretly-funding-regulatory-astroturf-campaign-203804594.html?src=rss

Microsoft is accusing Google of funding a proxy campaign designed to discredit it in the eyes of regulatory authorities and policymakers in the European Union and beyond. In a blog post penned by Rima Alaily, the company’s deputy general counsel, Microsoft claims the search giant has gone to “great lengths to obfuscate its involvement, funding and control” of the Open Cloud Coalition, a group of “cloud service providers, industry leaders and stakeholders” that says it’s committed to advocating for a “fair, competitive, and open cloud services industry across the UK and EU.”

According to Microsoft, Google hired a lobbying agency in Europe to create and operate the organization, and recruited “a handful of” European cloud providers to appear as the public face of the soon-to-launch campaign. The company says that Google plans to “present itself as a backseat member” of the Open Cloud Coalition, rather than its leader and primary funder. As one example, Microsoft points to a recruitment document (PDF link) that makes no mention of the group’s claimed affiliation to Google. It also notes the involvement of Nicky Steward, who co-wrote a complaint against Microsoft and Amazon Web Services as part of the UK’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the cloud services market.

“It remains to be seen what Google offered smaller companies to join, either in terms of cash or discounts,” Microsoft says. It adds that one of the cloud providers Google approached about joining the Open Cloud Coalition claims that the company will direct the group to attack “Microsoft’s cloud computing business in the European Union and the United Kingdom.”

Engadget was unable to independently verify Microsoft’s claims.

“We’ve been very public about our concerns with Microsoft’s cloud licensing. We and many others believe that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices lock-in customers and create negative downstream effects that impact cybersecurity, innovation, and choice,” a Google spokesperson told Engadget, and pointed us to four separate blog posts on the matter.

As for why Google would potentially go to the extraordinary lengths of funding an astroturf campaign, Microsoft points to the recent uptick in regulatory scrutiny of the company’s search, advertising and mobile app store businesses. By Microsoft’s count, Google faces at least 24 antitrust investigations globally, including a Department of Justice probe that could see the potential break up of the company.

“Never in the past two decades have Google’s search, digital advertising, and mobile app store monopolies faced such a concerted and determined threat as they do today.” Alaily writes. “At a time when Google should be focused on addressing legitimate questions about its business, it is instead turning its vast resources towards tearing down others. It is disappointing that, with the foundation of their business facing jeopardy, they have sought to bolster their cloud computing service – Google Cloud Platform – by attacking ours.”

The accusations come after Google had reportedly attempted to derail an antitrust settlement Microsoft had negotiated with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE). In July, Bloomberg wrote that Google had offered the group €470 million to go forward with litigation against its rival, an overture CISPE ultimately rejected.

As revenue growth from digital ads has slowed for Google in recent years, the company has increasingly turned to the cloud market to pick up the slack. In 2023, Google’s cloud business broke even for the first time. More recently, the unit generated a $900 million profit in the first quarter of this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-accuses-google-of-secretly-funding-regulatory-astroturf-campaign-203804594.html?src=rss

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You’re about to get another shot if you missed Sony’s brief pre-order window for its 30th anniversary PS5 console. The retro-themed hardware sold out in a flash on its initial September 26 pre-order period, leaving fans fuming at Sony’s predictably frustrating order process. An alert on Sony’s product page (via Kotaku) says the second go-round will happen on Tuesday, October 29, at noon ET.
The limited-edition consoles and accessories have a throwback skin reminiscent of the OG PlayStation, which launched in Japan in 1994. That includes a sleek gray color scheme that gives the old-school Playstation logo room to really pop.

Sony

The message (“Please check back on October 29th from 9 AM PDT”) only appears on the 30th Anniversary product pages for the $500 PS5 Slim Bundle and $80 DualSense controller. Unfortunately, no such message appears on the throwback PS5 Pro bundle or PlayStation Portal product pages.
Assuming only the Slim bundle is available, this will be your second (and perhaps last) chance to get the cheaper of the two consoles. It includes the digital (no disc drive!) PS5 Slim, a standard DualSense controller (also themed for the occasion), a retro cable connector housing, PlayStation-shaped cable ties and a vertical stand. Oh, and there are some extra goodies like a sticker, poster and PlayStation paperclip, which we can only imagine will be sold for three figures on eBay after the bundle arrives on November 21.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/youll-get-another-chance-to-pre-order-the-retro-themed-ps5-on-tuesday-202504921.html?src=rss

You’re about to get another shot if you missed Sony’s brief pre-order window for its 30th anniversary PS5 console. The retro-themed hardware sold out in a flash on its initial September 26 pre-order period, leaving fans fuming at Sony’s predictably frustrating order process. An alert on Sony’s product page (via Kotaku) says the second go-round will happen on Tuesday, October 29, at noon ET.

The limited-edition consoles and accessories have a throwback skin reminiscent of the OG PlayStation, which launched in Japan in 1994. That includes a sleek gray color scheme that gives the old-school Playstation logo room to really pop.

The message (“Please check back on October 29th from 9 AM PDT”) only appears on the 30th Anniversary product pages for the $500 PS5 Slim Bundle and $80 DualSense controller. Unfortunately, no such message appears on the throwback PS5 Pro bundle or PlayStation Portal product pages.

Assuming only the Slim bundle is available, this will be your second (and perhaps last) chance to get the cheaper of the two consoles. It includes the digital (no disc drive!) PS5 Slim, a standard DualSense controller (also themed for the occasion), a retro cable connector housing, PlayStation-shaped cable ties and a vertical stand. Oh, and there are some extra goodies like a sticker, poster and PlayStation paperclip, which we can only imagine will be sold for three figures on eBay after the bundle arrives on November 21.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/youll-get-another-chance-to-pre-order-the-retro-themed-ps5-on-tuesday-202504921.html?src=rss

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