From Engadget · 40 stories
iOS 27 Beta Introduces Custom EQ Settings for AirPods
Apple's iOS 27 beta includes a new custom equalizer feature for AirPods, allowing users to adjust audio frequencies. This update provides more control over sound profiles for compatible AirPods models, addressing a long-standing user request for audio customization.
X and NFL Launch Dedicated Football Feed "NFL Gametime" on X Platform
X and the NFL have launched "NFL Gametime," a dedicated football feed on the X platform, available until the 2027 Super Bowl. This initiative provides NFL content, real-time scores, and news, aiming to attract advertisers back to X.
Several Smartwatch Models, Including Pixel Watch 2 and Apple Watch Series 6-8, End Software Support in 2026
Multiple popular smartwatch models, including the Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series, and several Apple Watch models, will cease receiving software updates and new features in 2026. This change means these devices will no longer get security patches, which is significant for users handling sensitive data or making contactless payments.
Bilibili Relaunches International App and English Website for Global Expansion
Chinese video platform Bilibili is expanding its international presence by relaunching its global Android app, planning an iOS version, and developing an English website. These changes, including removing identity verification requirements, aim to attract Western creators and viewers, potentially increasing competition for platforms like YouTube.
Australia passes law to levy tech companies for not reaching news publisher deals
Australia has passed a new law requiring tech companies like Meta, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn to pay levies if they do not reach agreements with local news publishers. This legislation replaces previous rules from 2021 that were deemed ineffective, aiming to ensure tech companies contribute to the production of local news content.
FDA Approves Aletta, a Robotic Device for Automated Blood Draws in Outpatient Settings
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aletta, a robotic device designed to automate blood draws in outpatient settings. This approval addresses a shortage of trained phlebotomists and could improve efficiency in medical procedures.
Guerrilla reportedly retooling Horizon Hunters Gathering into a traditional co-op game
Guerrilla Games is reportedly overhauling its multiplayer title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, by reducing live-service elements and adding a story mode, following poor feedback from closed playtests. This shift reflects ongoing challenges for Sony's live-service game strategy, with several projects facing cancellations or re-evaluations.
Gmail launches Verified Sender Program for political campaigns, bypassing spam filters
Google is introducing a new Gmail Verified Sender Program on September 8, allowing US political campaigns to bypass spam filters if they meet specific criteria. This program responds to past complaints from political committees regarding email delivery and aims to ensure desired emails reach users.
AI-generated bills create errors and workload for US House legislative lawyers
The US House Office of Legislative Counsel is experiencing increased workload due to errors in AI-generated legislative proposals submitted by representatives' offices. These proposals, drafted using public AI tools like ChatGPT, contain incorrect terms, citations, and miss crucial nuances, requiring extensive review and rewriting by lawyers. This development highlights the challenges of integrating general AI tools into complex legislative processes and raises concerns about congressional staffers' understanding of the bills they introduce.
ByteDance and MPA Sign Agreement to Protect Hollywood IP in AI Models
ByteDance and The Motion Picture Association (MPA) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for protecting Hollywood intellectual property from infringement by ByteDance's AI models. This agreement follows a cease-and-desist letter from the MPA in February and ByteDance's subsequent commitment to strengthen IP safeguards, impacting AI models used across TikTok, CapCut, and Dreamina.
Kia EV3 US Pricing Announced, Starting Under $31,000
Kia announced the US pricing for its EV3 electric vehicle, which will start at $29,450 plus a $1,495 destination charge, totaling $30,945. This makes the EV3 the most affordable electric car in Kia's lineup, arriving as other manufacturers retire EV models due to market conditions and policy changes.
Namecheap experiences outage due to data center cooling failure in Phoenix
Hosting provider Namecheap suffered an outage affecting multiple services after a cooling system failure at its Phoenix data center. The incident, caused by storm damage, impacted hosting plans, DNS, and email, with services expected to begin returning by 3:00-3:30 PM ET. This disruption highlights the vulnerability of cloud services to physical infrastructure failures and environmental events.
CBP Officers Accused of Misusing Surveillance Technology for Personal Reasons
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers reportedly misused electronic databases, including facial recognition and license plate readers, to spy on family members, seek dates, and provide intelligence to drug traffickers. This misuse highlights concerns about privacy violations given the Department of Homeland Security's extensive access to private citizen data.
Pixel 11 Series Introduces Instant Night Sight, Magic Capture, and Larger Camera Sensors
Google has updated the Pixel 11 series with new camera features including Instant Night Sight, which reduces night capture time, and Magic Capture for improved group photos. The new phones also incorporate larger camera sensors and enhanced computational photography capabilities, aiming to improve image quality and user experience.
Google launches Pixel 11 with Tensor G6, 30-hour battery, and slimmer camera bar
Google has released its Pixel 11 smartphone, featuring the new Tensor G6 processor, which contributes to over 30 hours of battery life and improved AI task handling. The device also includes a redesigned, slimmer camera bar with an upgraded 48-megapixel main lens and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens, marking significant hardware updates for the Pixel line.
US Government Lifts Ban on TikTok for Federal Devices
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a memo officially lifting the ban on TikTok for US government-issued devices. This decision follows a Justice Department opinion stating that the 2022 law banning the app no longer applies due to TikTok's current American ownership and revised recommendation algorithm, allowing federal workers to use the app again.
NYC Mayor Mamdani Supports Delivery Protection Act to Regulate Last-Mile Delivery
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his support for the Delivery Protection Act, proposed legislation that would require last-mile delivery companies to use employees instead of contractors and establish new licensing rules. This measure aims to hold large delivery companies accountable for working conditions and incidents, potentially increasing costs and slowing deliveries for consumers.
NASA proposes sending a repurposed Mars rover test model to the Moon as PROMISE
NASA announced a proposal to send PROMISE, a rover built from engineering test models of the Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rovers, to the lunar south pole. This initiative aims to utilize existing hardware and explore the Moon's surface and subsurface, particularly for water ice, without reliance on solar power.
NASA's PUNCH Mission Improves Solar Storm Prediction Accuracy to Within 30 Minutes
NASA's PUNCH mission has demonstrated the ability to predict solar storm arrival times with an accuracy of within 30 minutes, a significant improvement over previous methods with a five-hour error margin. This enhanced forecasting capability, achieved by continuously tracking coronal mass ejections, can help mitigate the effects of solar storms on Earth's infrastructure.
Perplexity overturns Amazon's injunction on its AI shopping bot in appeals court
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an injunction that prevented Perplexity's Comet browser from accessing Amazon, ruling that Amazon's claim under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) was unlikely to succeed. This decision allows Perplexity's AI shopping tool to operate on Amazon while the broader lawsuit continues.
Honda Partners with QuantumScape for Solid-State Battery Development
Honda has partnered with American battery development firm QuantumScape to research and develop solid-state batteries and manufacturing techniques. This collaboration signals a shift in Honda's electric vehicle strategy, prioritizing solid-state technology for greater range, faster charging, lower costs, and enhanced safety.
Apple Watch Water Lock Feature Disables Screen and Ejects Water
The Apple Watch's water lock feature disables the screen to prevent accidental taps and ejects water from the device. This feature significantly aids in protecting the watch during water activities, enhancing its usability for swimmers and divers.
EU Right to Repair Directive Takes Effect, Mandating Manufacturer Repairs and Manuals
The EU's Right to Repair directive officially begins today, requiring manufacturers to offer repairs for faulty products within a reasonable timeframe and price, and to publish free repair manuals. This initiative aims to promote a more sustainable economy by making it easier for consumers to maintain their hardware, including smartphones, tablets, and major household appliances.
Xbox App Rolls Out to Hisense and Other VIDAA OS TVs for Cloud Gaming
The Xbox app is now available on Hisense and other VIDAA OS-powered TVs, allowing users to play Xbox games via Game Pass without a console. This expansion continues Microsoft's strategy to bring Xbox gaming to more devices, making it accessible to a wider audience.
ChatGPT and Roblox to be designated as 'very large online platforms' in EU
The European Union is reportedly designating ChatGPT and Roblox as "very large online platforms" (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in August. This designation subjects them to stricter regulations, including requirements for transparency, risk assessment, and content moderation, due to their large user bases.
Global Oil Crisis Drives Record Electrified Vehicle Sales in Q2 2026
Electrified vehicle sales reached new highs globally in Q2 2026, with 50 countries reporting quarterly records, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This surge, driven by fuel price spikes from the US and Iran conflict, occurred despite a 5% drop in overall global car sales during the first half of 2026.
Netflix surpasses BBC as preferred default viewing choice in UK, Ofcom survey finds
Ofcom's latest annual report indicates that 26% of UK viewers now default to Netflix, compared to 25% for the BBC, marking the first time Netflix has exceeded the BBC in this metric. This shift highlights changing media consumption habits, particularly among younger demographics, and coincides with BBC budget cuts leading to show cancellations.
Google DeepMind reassigns AlphaFold team members to Gemini projects, some leave company
Google DeepMind has reassigned key members of its AlphaFold team to focus on Gemini-related projects, with some original team members also departing the company. This shift indicates Google's strategic decision to prioritize resources towards its Gemini AI development.
Fired Tesla Manager Sues Company Over Full Self-Driving Safety Concerns
A former Tesla manager is suing the company for unlawful retaliation, alleging he was fired after raising concerns about understaffing and safety issues within the Full Self-Driving (FSD) testing operations. The lawsuit claims that inadequate resources led to FSD robotaxis becoming "rolling hazards" and contributed to an accident. This legal action highlights potential safety oversight deficiencies in Tesla's autonomous vehicle development.
God of War Laufey to Release on PS5 on February 16
The next installment in the God of War franchise, titled God of War Laufey, will launch on PlayStation 5 on February 16. This game will feature Kratos' wife, Laufey, as the playable character, exploring the afterlife of gods.
Oppo Watch X3 offers strong battery life and versatility in smartwatch design
Oppo launched the Watch X3, featuring a battery nearly twice the size of Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8. The smartwatch offers a combination of durability and functionality under Wear OS 6, positioning it as a competitive alternative in the market.
Bethesda Union Files Complaint Alleging Canadian Labor Law Violations in Montreal Layoffs
OneBSG, the union representing Bethesda workers, has filed a legal complaint against Bethesda, alleging violations of Canadian labor laws during recent layoffs in Montreal. The union claims employees were initially promised employment until September for severance negotiations, but then received termination letters offering only the legal minimum severance. This action follows broader layoffs by Xbox and previous accusations of bad-faith bargaining against Microsoft.
EU Approves Antitrust for Saudi-led $55 Billion Takeover of Electronic Arts
The European Union's executive branch has granted antitrust approval for the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. This approval marks a significant step towards the deal's completion, though further regulatory reviews, including foreign subsidy rules and approvals from other international bodies, are still pending.
FCC Delays Software Update Ban for Foreign-Made Routers Amid Supply Chain Concerns
The FCC has extended the deadline for banning software updates to foreign-made home internet routers until at least January 1, 2029, after initially setting a 2027 cutoff. This delay addresses concerns from the National Consumer Technology Association about potential disruptions to broadband services due to supply chain shortages for critical components.
Uber lays off 10% of customer service team, citing AI adoption and policy changes
Uber laid off 10% of its Community Operations customer service team, citing AI adoption as the reason for the job cuts. The company also walked back its remote work policy for the affected division, requiring relocation to hub offices. This action aligns with a growing trend of companies reducing workforces and adjusting operational policies in response to advancements in AI capabilities.
Sony FX5 Cinema Camera Introduces Open Gate and RAW 5K Recording
Sony has released the FX5 cinema camera, which includes new features like open gate recording and 5K RAW video capture using its X-OCN codec. This camera also features a new 16.6MP stacked sensor and three base ISO settings, positioning it between the FX3 and FX6 in Sony's Cinema Line.
Steam Updates Gifting and Wishlist Features for Easier Game Purchases
Steam has introduced updates allowing guest accounts to purchase games and enabling direct game gifting via email links. The platform also added categorization and enhanced management features for user wishlists.
EU approves Paramount's Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition with distribution condition
The European Commission has approved Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, contingent on Paramount ending its joint distribution business with Universal in Europe. This decision removes a significant regulatory hurdle for the merger, though legal challenges in the US and scrutiny from UK regulators persist.
Colorado Law Makes Automakers Responsible for EV Battery Collection and Recycling
Colorado enacted a law (SB26-003) making automakers responsible for collecting and processing unwanted electric vehicle (EV) batteries, banning them from landfills starting July 2029. This legislation addresses the significant logistical and environmental challenges associated with end-of-life EV batteries and could serve as a blueprint for other states facing similar issues.
LG OLED evo TVs introduce Creator Original mode for enhanced streaming control
LG Electronics has announced a new Creator Original picture mode for select 2026 OLED evo TVs, enhancing streaming experiences in partnership with Prime Video. This mode allows studios to customize settings like color balance and motion handling, offering more control compared to the existing Filmmaker Mode.