Engadget Feed

Opening Apple's Maps app just for directions may look a little different in the near future. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to introduce ads to Maps as soon as next year. While it won't be as annoying as unskippable YouTube ads, Apple wants to offer better visibility on Maps to restaurants and businesses that are willing to pay.

When looking for a new restaurant or relevant business, you may already be used to seeing ads on Google Maps or Yelp that highlight certain establishments. However, Gurman said that Apple is planning to lean on AI for better search results and offer a better interface than Google Maps. The introduction of ads across Apple's iOS ecosystem shouldn't be surprising since Gurman previously reported Apple's interest back in 2022. On top of that, Apple already offers ad slots within the App Store where developers can pay to appear in a more visible position for user searches. Beyond Maps, Apple could be looking at infusing ads into its News, Books, Podcasts and other apps to generate more revenue.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-is-reportedly-getting-ready-to-introduce-ads-to-its-maps-app-170654072.html?src=rss

The iterative upgrades for iPads may not be enticing enough to warrant a new purchase every year, but Apple may have a particularly cool upgrade to convince users to shell out for the next iPad Pro. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to include a vapor chamber for the upcoming iPad Pro that's due to ship with the M6 chip.

We've already seen the vapor chamber included in the iPhone 17 Pro models, helping to boost cooling and performance. While an iPad's larger surface area makes for greater heat dissipation than an iPhone, this cooling system should make the tablet more capable when it comes to demanding tasks, like gaming, video editing or AI apps. Gurman also predicts that Apple could market the vapor chamber cooling as another way to differentiate between the iPad models. 

Apple previously improved the cooling performance of iPad Pros with the M4 generation, which included a new copper heat sink. With the vapor chamber, Apple is borrowing a concept already found in other smartphones from Samsung and Google. Samsung has even included this style of liquid cooling in its Galaxy Tab S9, which came out in 2023. As for the first potential iPad Pro with a vapor chamber, Gurman said he expects Apple to follow its typical 18-month release schedule, meaning the M6 iPad Pro with improved heat performance could come out sometime in 2027.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/the-next-ipad-pro-could-be-the-first-to-get-vapor-chamber-cooling-160536540.html?src=rss

Google is rolling out out a new feature for Gemini's Canvas, the free interactive workspace inside the AI chatbot's app, meant for students and employees who need to create presentations. Gemini is now capable of generating slides with just a prompt, though users can also upload files like documents, spreadsheets and research papers if they want a presentation based on a specific source. If the source doesn't matter, users can write a prompt, such as "Upload any source to create a presentation on [a specific topic]," for instance. But if the source is essential, they can upload the file first and then ask Gemini to create the presentation for them. 

5/ Up your presentation game in Canvas

Upload any source to create entire decks with images and data visualization. Export to Google Slides to add any finishing touches. Rolling out to Pro subscribers today and to Free users in the coming weeks pic.twitter.com/70qercWf4E

— Google Gemini App (@GeminiApp) October 24, 2025

The resulting decks already have a theme and images attached with the text. Users will be able to export them straight from the Gemini app into Google Slides, though, and will still be able to edit and refine the decks as needed or work on it in collaboration with a teammate. The capability is now making its way to both personal and Workspace accounts.

Google launched Canvas in March for people to use when they want to share their writing or code to Gemini for editing. If users put in code or prompts for projects like apps, web pages and infographics, Canvas will be able to show them a visual representation of their design. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-will-now-generate-presentations-for-you-010040637.html?src=rss

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. It's been a packed week with lots of tasty new games arriving, and news and reveals of upcoming projects. So, let's take a look at a bunch of them.

Before we get started though, Engadget senior editor Jessica Conditt spoke with Maxi Boch, one of the core trio behind Baby Steps, about how the game came together. Boch offered some fascinating insights into the game’s development process (which started in 2019), especially on the audio side.

New releases

Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy from AdHoc Studio, a team that includes former Telltale Games developers. It adopts the narrative-heavy, dialogue-driven gameplay of Telltale's games, with your choices having a bearing on how everything plays out. Dispatch has a packed cast as well, as it includes the likes of Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey and Jeffrey Wright. 

I really dug the demo, so I'm hoping to carve out some time to play Dispatch soon. As with many of Telltale's games, AdHoc Studio went with an episodic approach for this one, but the developer is releasing them on a weekly basis. The first two episodes of Dispatch are out now on PS5 and Steam, and reviewers' impressions so far are generally positive.

We've got a trio of titles that just hit Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass to talk about, including PowerWash Simulator 2. I don't typically listen to music or podcasts while I'm playing games. I prefer to listen to the game audio and I'm a terrible multitasker, anyway.

However, I did catch up on a bunch of podcast episodes while playing the original PowerWash Simulator. I'm looking forward to doing that once again while blissfully ignoring IRL chores as I blast away virtual gunk with a pressure washer.

"More of the same, but better" is exactly what I wanted from PowerWash Simulator 2, so I was very glad to read some reviews indicating that's the case. As well as Xbox Series X/S, this sequel from FuturLab is also available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

Next up, we have a surprise Game Pass addition as Pacific Drive arrived on the Ultimate, Premium and PC tiers without prior warning this week. It wasn’t available on Xbox at all until now. Pacific Drive turns the title of Netflix's F1 docuseries into an actual "drive to survive" horror game. You'll roam the Pacific Northwest in a station wagon to search for parts to upgrade your vehicle and stay alive.

Ironwood Studios and publisher Kepler Interactive brought Pacific Drive to Xbox on the same day they released an expansion called Whispers in the Woods. The game (and DLC) is also available on PS5 and Steam. I've been meaning to play Pacific Drive for a while but, as always, there are too many games and not enough time to check everything out. Perhaps I'll finally try this now that it's on Game Pass, but I might just end up waiting for the TV show instead. 

Here's something interesting from DinoGod and publisher Annapurna Interactive. Bounty Star is a blend of mech action game, farming sim and base builder. As war veteran Clem, you'll try to become a force for good in a "post-post-apocalyptic version of the American Southwest." 

I'm interested to see how the core aspects of Bounty Star play off each other as you take care of your homestead and hunt down bounties in your mech (which you can customize). It's out now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Epic Games Store. Bounty Star is on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass too.

Ila: A Frosty Glide is a chill, 3D platform adventure from Magic Rain Studios and publisher First Break Labs. As a young witch-in-training named Ila, you'll explore a snowy mountainous island while searching for your missing cat.

My favorite thing about the game, at least based on the trailer and what I've read, is that instead of a broom, Ila uses a "skatebroom" to get around. It's a skateboard and a flying broomstick in one! I'd like one of those.

As it happens, developers Ítalo and Yesenia met while skateboarding. They started making games with skateboarding elements a few years later. Ila: A Frosty Glide is out now on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

After reading one sentence of a pitch for The Bench, I was sold: "In The Bench, you played as a retired secret agent on one last mission: escaping the retirement home and unfolding a pigeon conspiracy." Wonderful stuff, there.

As said pensioner, you'll amass a flock of customizable pigeons to help you during your adventure as you explore some parks. Along the way, you'll solve puzzles, play bowls and chess, doodle in your notebook, play pranks and go fishing. 

The Bench — from Voxel Studios and Noovola Publishing — is out now on Steam. I hope I don't have to wait until I'm retired to have time to play it.

Upcoming 

No More Robots unveiled two games this week, and one of them is a step in an (almost) entirely new direction for the publisher of Descenders Next and Little Rocket Lab. It's now making games internally, and the first one to see the light of day is Cruise Control. This is a cruise liner management sim in which you'll try to make your guests happy by fulfilling their needs and wants. It looks quite charming. I'm a big fan of the oversized bingo cage device.

This is actually the third game No More Robots has worked on in-house, but it's the first one that the company has unveiled. The publisher noted that Cruise Control isn't quite ready. Still, playtests should start later this year ahead of an early 2026 release. 

The other upcoming game No More Robots showed off is Thank You For Your Application from IceLemonTea Studio. Here, you'll review job candidates' resumes and make decisions whether to bring them on board based on the hiring company's criteria.

This has an air of Papers, Please and No More Robots' own Not Tonight series about it — you'll have to deal with bills, rent and otherwise managing your life too. It also seems quite timely given that the job application process is now so onerous for many people. Thank You For Your Application will arrive in 2026 and there's a demo available on Steam now. 

Finite Reflection Studios, the developer of last year's acclaimed Void Sols, has revealed its next game. Mouseward is another Soulslike, but it's one in the vein of '90s collectathon platformers like Banjo-Kazooie. As a reincarnated Royal Mouse Guard, you set out to save the kingdom from a curse.

I love the aesthetic here. There's no release window for Mouseward as yet. It's coming to Steam and you can play an early build on Itch right now.

Speaking of games inspired by '90s platformers, there's danger that Windswept could become my entire personality for a spell. It's coming to Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on November 11.

Windswept — from WeatherFell and publisher Top Hat Studios — is a precision platformer which sees animal buddies Marbles (a duck) and Checkers (a turtle) trying to get back home after a storm whisks them away. The 40-plus stages are full of collectibles and have secrets for you to discover.

The glimpses of levels where you have to navigate sticky walls and ceilings, thorny brambles and pirate ship masts are very reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country 2. I'm not exactly complaining though, as that's one of my favorite games of all time. 

We've known for a while that a beat-'em-up based on the splatterfest movie series Terrifier was on the way and now we have a release date. Unfortunately, it's not coming your way in time for Halloween, but you will be able to gingerly set foot into Terrifier: The ARTcade Game on November 21.

Yes, yes, even Art the Clown is in Fortnite now, but you can also play as the brutal killer in his own game from Relevo and publisher Selecta Play. There's support for local co-op for up to four players (and you can turn on each other, if you like. Terrifier fans will probably be pleased that they can use weapons like chainsaws and cleavers to cause bloody carnage. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is bound for Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/superhero-workplace-comedy-more-powerwashing-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-230000337.html?src=rss

The League Championship Series are history, and the final two teams have emerged: The 2025 Fall Classic will see the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Toronto Blue Jays. Game 2 of the 2025 MLB World Series begins tonight — Saturday, Oct. 25 — at 8PM ET/5PM PT, with the Blue Jays getting the initial home field advantage at Rogers Centre, Toronto for the second night in a row. Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers are aiming to win their second consecutive championship, while Vlad Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays are eyeing their first ring since 1993. Despite Toronto's victory over Los Angeles last night, the World Series odds still favor the Dodgers ahead of Game 2. Every 2025 MLB World Series game will air on Fox and Fox Deportes. 

Of course, Fox is a "free" over-the-air channel, so any affordable digital antenna will pull in the game if you live close enough to a local affiliate. But if that's not an option, here's a full rundown of how to watch the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series, even without cable.

How to watch the L.A. Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 2

You can stream Fox on any live TV streaming service that airs Fox local stations, including DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. MLB World Series games will also be available on Fox's new streaming platform, Fox One.

More ways to watch the 2025 World Series

When is the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays game time?

Game 1 of the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 24 at 8PM ET/5PM PT. The Blue Jays are hosting the first two games of the series at Rogers Centre, Toronto.

What channel is playing the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays?

Every game in the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, will air on Fox and Fox Deportes.

When is the 2025 World Series?

Game 1 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 24.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays World Series schedule

All times Eastern

• Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24, 8PM ET

• Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25, 8PM ET

• Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27, 8PM ET

• Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 8PM ET

• Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 8PM ET

• Game 6*: Friday, Oct. 31, 8PM ET

• Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 1, 8PM ET

*if necessary

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/dodgers-vs-blue-jays-game-2-how-to-watch-the-2025-mlb-world-series-without-cable-133403240.html?src=rss

A teaser shared at the end of the Indie Horror Showcase this week gives us a better idea of what the upcoming found footage Paranormal Activity game will be like. In the short trailer for Paranormal Activity: Threshold, we're introduced to an unfortunate couple who has purchased a home that not only needs some serious work, but is also very much haunted. Cue creepy faces appearing in doorways and around corners. 

While yet another installation in the Paranormal Activity franchise may not be what everyone is clamoring for, the fact that Threshold is being developed by solo dev Brian Clarke (DarkStone Digital), the creator of The Mortuary Assistant, is pretty promising. Per the game's Steam page, you'll be able to "Play in multiple timelines; hunt and communicate with entities; perform demonic rituals to alter your fate;" and "discover multiple endings and expand the story." Each playthrough will be unique, thanks to the "Paranormal Engine," it adds. 

As of now, there's no release date, but you can wishlist it on Steam. It was previously said the game would be released in 2026 on multiple platforms, but the Steam page only says it's coming soon. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/heres-our-first-look-at-the-paranormal-activity-game-from-the-maker-of-the-mortuary-assistant-210657767.html?src=rss

The hit horror comic series Something is Killing the Children is headed to the big (and small) screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blumhouse is developing a live-action movie and adult animated series based on the comics. There are no details yet on the release timeline or casting.

Something is Killing the Children, created by writer James Tynion IV and illustrator Werther Dell’Edera, follows monster hunter Erica Slaughter in a reality where monsters exist and only children can see them. While it was announced back in 2023 that Netflix would be developing a TV series based on the comic and helmed by Dark creators Baran Bo Odar and Jantje Friese (which could have been awesome, honestly), that plan was scrapped last year, according to THR.

It's a big week for comics I love getting the TV/film treatment, and I am cautiously hyped (emphasis on cautious); the SIKTC news comes on the heels of the announcement that Charles Burns' Black Hole is being adapted for a Netflix series by Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, We're All Going to the World's Fair). Fingers crossed that they don’t suck!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blumhouse-is-adapting-something-is-killing-the-children-for-a-live-action-film-and-animated-series-192540134.html?src=rss

The Commodore 64 is back in black, sort of. Retro Games and Plaion Replai released a limited edition redesign of the best-selling computer, called THEC64 - Black Edition. Like its name suggests, the console is a modernized version of the classic Commodore 64 in an all-black shell.

THEC64 - Black Edition will come with 25 pre-installed games, but unlike the company's previous consoles, this one will feature "neo-retro" games from C64 developers who have designed new games on the old-school architecture. Once you finish all the new titles like Sam's Journey, A Pig Quest and Hessian, you can plug in your own USB drive to play custom games. According to Retro Games, the updated redesign comes with four save slots per game, plug-and-play HDMI compatibility and a USB joystick.

If you want THEC64 - Black Edition to feel more like the original Commodore 64, you can plug in a keyboard through the USB port. However, Retro Games also designed a non-mini THEC64 that has a fully functional keyboard. The latest blacked-out version is now available on Amazon or Retro Games' website for $119.99.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/relive-the-commodore-64s-glory-days-with-a-slimmer-blacked-out-remake-181259874.html?src=rss

For roughly the same price as a flagship smartphone, you could instead buy an affordable humanoid robot that's meant for consumer and educational use. Noetix Robotics, a Beijing-based startup, revealed its Bumi robot that's priced at nearly 10,000 yuan, or around $1,400.

Unlike higher-end robots, the inexpensive Bumi stands at around three feet tall and weighs about 26 lbs. You won't find Noetix's latest robot on assembly lines or in research labs, especially since early demos only show Bumi walking around and dancing. According to a TechNode report, Bumi will offer a programming interface that allows for learning or creative tasks. The report also noted that Noetix is planning to put the Bumi up for preorders later this year. Before the Bumi, Noetix Robotics showed off its expertise by competing in the world's first half-marathon for robots with its N2 model, which was one of four robotic competitors that completed the race.

At such a low price point, Bumi beats out another relatively affordable option that was announced earlier this year. In the summer, Unitree showed off its R1 robot that starts at $5,900 and could handle complex tasks. While the Bumi sets a new price tag to beat, both Noetix and Unitree are offering more affordable options than Tesla's Optimus bot, which had an early price estimate of around $20,000.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chinese-startup-shows-off-a-dancing-humanoid-robot-that-starts-at-1400-174010960.html?src=rss

Starting soon, Neato robovac owners will no longer be able to control their devices using the app. Neato Robotics, which shut down in 2023 due to declining sales, has notified customers that "cloud services are being phased out during Q4 2025," according to an email obtained by The Verge. 

While Neato's parent company Vorwerk Group initially said cloud support would continue for at least five years following its closure, the email now says "cybersecurity standards, compliance obligations, and regulations have advanced in ways that make it no longer possible to safely and sustainably operate these legacy systems." This doesn't mean existing Neato products will be completely bricked — there's still the option to start them manually by pressing a button — but they won't offer all the smart home conveniences expected from a robovac that cost hundreds of dollars. Without use of the app, customers won't be able to set cleaning schedules, remotely start the vacuums or assign No-go zones.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/shuttered-robot-vacuum-maker-neato-is-ending-cloud-services-sooner-than-planned-171604823.html?src=rss

Just like a minor upgrade in specs, Apple's latest M5 MacBook Pro gets the slightest improvement when it comes to repairability. According to iFixit's teardown, the M5 MacBook Pro is the first of its kind that lets you replace the battery without having to remove the trackpad. However, Apple's official method of replacing the battery still requires navigating an arduous process that may steer most users away.

For anyone willing to tackle the DIY repair, Apple's Self Service Repair Store only offers a Top Case with Battery and Keyboard in its product parts catalog. Since the only option to replace the battery is buying this main chassis part with both the keyboard and battery pre-installed, MacBook Pro owners will also have to disassemble an irritating number of unrelated screws and hardware — except for the trackpad — just to replace a battery. However, iFixit confirmed that Apple included a slightly upgraded 72.6Wh battery with the latest MacBook Pro compared to its predecessor's 72.4Wh battery.

It's minor progress for battery replacement, so iFixit still gave the M5 MacBook Pro a four out of 10 repairability score, meaning it's possible to do yourself, but it's "tougher than it needs to be." The latest score is a bump down from the M1 MacBook Pro that earned a five out of 10, but Apple has made incremental steps towards making MacBook repairs more accessible.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-makes-the-m5-macbook-pros-battery-ever-so-slightly-easier-to-replace-154124765.html?src=rss

Spotify recently came under fire for running recruitment ads for ICE, which ask users to "join the mission to protect America" and to "fulfill [their] mission," in the US. Despite music labels calling on the streaming service to stop serving ICE recruitment ads, Spotify doubled down. A spokesperson for the company told The Independent that the ads are "part of a broad campaign" by the US government running across different channels and that they do not violate its policies. The spokesperson advised users to just mark ads with a thumbs up or down so that the app can learn their preferences. 

In addition, several artists have pulled their music from Spotify recently over its CEO's, Daniel EK's, investments in European defense tech firm Helsing. The defense company builds drones, aircraft and submarines, and it also sells AI software that can analyze sensor and weapons data from battlefields. Spotify has been facing backlash for its payout rates, which artists argue are unfair and lower than what other services pay, over the past few years as well. 

So if you want to cancel Spotify, whether for any those reasons or another one altogether, you can follow the instructions below. 

How to cancel via web:

1. Log into your Spotify account in your browser. 

2. Go to Account in the dropdown menu that shows up when you click on your Profile. 

3. Find Cancel Subscription under the Subscription section. 

4. Spotify will tell you that you'll hear ads every 15 minutes on a free account, along with the date when your premium access will end. Click "Continue to cancel" at the bottom of the screen. 

If you're on mobile, make sure to request the desktop site after you log into your account on your mobile browser. Take note that if you're part of a Spotify Family or Duo plan, only the plan manager will be able to cancel your subscription altogether. If you follow the same steps above as a member, you'll only remove your account from the plan, but the manager will continue paying for it. 

How to cancel via third-party provider:

If you pay for your subscription through third-party providers, you can follow these instructions instead.

Cancel via Google

1. Fire up the Google Play app and tap on the icon for the account you use. 

2. Go to Payments & subscriptions. 

3. Tap on Subscriptions. 

4. Find Spotify among your subscriptions and tap on it. 

5. Tap on Cancel Subscription at the bottom of the screen, select a reason for cancellation and confirm it. 

Cancel via Apple

1. Go to Settings in your iPhone or iPad. 

2. Tap on your name and go to Subscriptions. 

3. Find Spotify and go through the cancellation process. 

Cancel via carrier

Instructions for this may vary, depending on your carrier. Generally, however, you can follow these steps. 

1. Log into your carrier account on its website. 

2. Find the option to manage your subscriptions under your account. 

3. Find Spotify and go through the cancellation process. 

What happens after you cancel

You'll still have access to Spotify's premium features until your next billing cycle begins. That means you still won't encounter ads and will have access to offline downloads, as well as unlimited skips and higher audio quality. You'll be able to access your Spotify library even with a free account, but if you want to find another streaming service to pay for, you can check Engadget's list of best music streaming services in 2025. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/how-to-cancel-your-spotify-subscription-133022215.html?src=rss

If you’re moving on to a new Apple Watch, selling your current one or fixing some software hiccups, you’ll probably need to disconnect it from your iPhone. Apple calls this unpairing; it’s the step that wipes your watch, breaks the connection to your phone and removes Activation Lock so the next person can use it. The good news is that unpairing is straightforward whether you have your iPhone nearby or not. Here’s how it works, along with why you might want to disconnect your watch in the first place.

How to disconnect Apple Watch using your iPhone

The simplest way to unpair your Apple Watch is through your iPhone.

1. Keep your iPhone and Apple Watch close together.

2. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

3. Navigate to the My Watch tab, then All Watches at the top.

4. Tap the info button next to the watch you want to disconnect.

5. Select Unpair Apple Watch, then select Unpair [your Apple Watch name].

6. If you have a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. Remove it if you’re selling or giving away the watch. Keep it if you plan to pair it again later

7. Enter your Apple Account password when asked to turn off Activation Lock, then select Unpair.

Your iPhone will create a backup before erasing the watch. When you set up a new Apple Watch, you can choose to restore from that backup and carry on with your data and settings intact.

How to disconnect Apple Watch without your iPhone

If you don’t have your paired iPhone with you, you can still reset your Apple Watch directly. This will wipe your data, but won’t create a backup and Activation Lock will remain, so keep that in mind if you want to save your information.

• On your Apple Watch, open Settings.

• Select General, then scroll down and select Reset.

• Select Erase All Content and Settings.

• Enter your passcode if prompted.

• For cellular models, choose whether to keep or remove your plan.

Your watch will erase itself and restart as if it were brand new.

Why you should disconnect your Apple Watch

There are a few reasons you might want to unpair your Apple Watch. Maybe you’re upgrading to a new model and need to start fresh. Maybe you’re trading it in, selling it or handing it down to someone else. You might also need to disconnect your watch if you’re troubleshooting. Sometimes a clean reset is the easiest way to fix syncing issues, missed notifications or fitness data that isn’t updating.

Whatever the reason, unpairing keeps your data safe, makes sure a backup is stored and disables Activation Lock. That last step is important because if you skip it, the next owner won’t be able to use the watch.

What happens to your data when you disconnect your Apple Watch?

When you unpair your Apple Watch using your iPhone, the watch creates a backup that includes app data, settings and most health and fitness information. This backup is stored on your iPhone and will transfer to iCloud if you have backups turned on. That makes it easy to restore everything on a new watch.

If you reset from the watch without your iPhone, a backup is not created. Your data will be erased and the watch will be wiped clean, but Activation Lock remains.

Activation Lock is tied to your Apple Account and helps keep your watch secure if it’s lost or stolen. It turns on automatically when you pair your watch with your iPhone. That’s why unpairing isn’t the same as a simple reset. You need the Apple Account and password associated with the watch to turn off Activation Lock.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-unpair-your-apple-watch-from-your-iphone-120052222.html?src=rss

Before there’s a new Halo game, Halo Studios is revisiting the past. Xbox has announced Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the first game in the storied shooter series, Halo: Combat Evolved, developed by Halo Studios and coming to Xbox, PC and PS5 in 2026.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is described as “a faithful yet modernized remake” of the first game’s campaign, with updated visuals and cinematics, “refined controls” and “three brand-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson.”

The game will feature new weapons, vehicles and enemies, along with the all-important option for two-player splitscreen co-op on console. The game will also support cross-platform play with PS5 for the first time, and four-player online co-op between consoles and PC.

Notably, Campaign Evolved is built in Unreal Engine 5. Halo Studios announced it would focus on Unreal development when it rebranded from 343 Industries in 2024. Besides the new visuals and controls, the remake will also include tweaks to memorable missions from the original game as a way to better onboard new players into Halo’s world.

“We wanted to start where it all began, with the original campaign that defined Halo,” producer Damon Conn said in the blog post announcing the game. “Starting here means people that have never played the game before will be able to understand the story from the very beginning, and that can help us chart a course forward with new Halo stories.”

Halo: Campaign Evolved will be available in 2026 for Xbox Series X / S, PS5 and PC.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/halo-campaign-evolved-is-a-remake-of-the-original-story-coming-to-xbox-pc-and-ps5-in-2026-203913552.html?src=rss

We finally have a release date for Mouse: P.I. for Hire. The delightfully animated game, which marks Troy Baker's first time playing a rodent private eye, is slated for March 19, 2026.

Based on its trailers, you'd be forgiven for viewing Mouse: P.I. for Hire as Cuphead meets Doom. Although it does include FPS action, Engadget's Jessica Conditt discovered surprising depth behind its whimsical brutality. The game "has more to offer than shock-value cartoon violence," she wrote. "This is a clue-gathering, photo-snapping, girlfriend-avenging, noir detective simulator that happens to star a bunch of slick-talking mice and rats, and I'm fully into it."

Baker plays Private Investigator Jack Pepper, the game's protagonist. When he isn't hunting clues or sneaking around during the game's quieter moments, he'll have a delightful arsenal on hand. This includes wacky ones like a turpentine gun that melts the inked "skin" of your foes. Fun stuff.

Like Cuphead, Mouse's most obvious point of comparison, it uses hand-drawn frames to recreate that old-school style. It also deploys an original jazz soundtrack recorded by an orchestral ensemble. It's all presented in a gritty, film noir aesthetic.

You can check out the release date trailer below. Mouse: P.I. for Hire will launch next March on PC, Switch 2, Switch, PS5/4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/mouse-pi-for-hire-arrives-in-march-2026-195454228.html?src=rss

There's been another turn in Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s ongoing legal battle with WordPress provider WP Engine. In a counterclaim Automattic filed as part of WP Engine's lawsuit against the company, it claims investment from private equity firm Silver Lake led WP Engine to violate its trademarks and fail to contribute to the open-source WordPress project.

Automattic believes that following a $250 million investment from Silver Lake, which gave the firm a controlling interest in WP Engine, the hosting provider "sought to inflate its valuation and engineer a quick, lucrative exit." It allegedly did that, per the counterclaim, by describing itself as the "WordPress Technology Company" and allowing its partners to refer to it as "WordPress Engine," violations of the WordPress trademark. Automattic claims products WP Engine released like "Core WordPress" and "Headless WordPress" further obfuscated the company’s role, while WP Engine also failed to commit a promised "five percent of its resources to support the WordPress project."

The counterclaim goes on to say that Automattic and Mullenweg tried to work out these issues with WP Engine by offering a "fair trademark license," but the company only "pretended to engage in licensing discussions," while actually delaying any kind of agreement because it would "impact its earnings." Keeping earnings up was important to WP Engine because Silver Lake was allegedly trying to sell WP Engine at a $2 billion valuation, and had even made "overtures to Automattic" about it.

A WP Engine spokesperson provided the following statement to Engadget:

WP Engine’s use of the WordPress trademark to refer to the open-source software is consistent with longstanding industry practice and fair use under settled trademark law, and we will defend against these baseless claims.

Auttomatic’s countersuit tells a different story than the one WP Engine spun in its original lawsuit against the company, which accused Mullenweg of "abuse of power, extortion and greed." WP Engine's original complaint claimed that Automattic asked the company for eight percent of its monthly revenue as a royalty payment. Mullenweg's attempts to punish WP Engine were seen as so aggressive at the time that over 100 Automattic employees voluntarily left the company in response. WP Engine won a preliminary injunction in response to its lawsuit, but it seems like the story might be more complicated than it originally appeared.

Update, October 24, 3:35PM ET: Clarified Automattic’s relationship to open-source WordPress. The company is not WordPress’ creator.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/wordpress-co-founder-files-countersuit-against-wp-engine-over-trademark-violations-182123619.html?src=rss

We all have anecdotal evidence of chatbots blowing smoke up our butts, but now we have science to back it up. Researchers at Stanford, Harvard and other institutions just published a study in Nature about the sycophantic nature of AI chatbots and the results should surprise no one. Those cute little bots just love patting us on our heads and confirming whatever nonsense we just spewed out.

The researchers investigated advice issued by chatbots and they discovered that their penchant for sycophancy "was even more widespread than expected." The study involved 11 chatbots, including recent versions of ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic's Claude and Meta's Llama. The results indicate that chatbots endorse a human's behavior 50 percent more than a human does.

They conducted several types of tests with different groups. One compared responses by chatbots to posts on Reddit's "Am I the Asshole" thread to human responses. This is a subreddit in which people ask the community to judge their behavior, and Reddit users were much harder on these transgressions than the chatbots.

But there's a darker side…

MIT researchers used Reddit's "Am I The Asshole?" data to test how AI models become overly sycophantic and agreeable

Your most vulnerable moments are training tomorrow's AI. pic.twitter.com/vRgYSjudGh

— anarchy.build (@anarchy_build) July 19, 2025

One poster wrote about tying a bag of trash to a tree branch instead of throwing it away, to which ChatGPT-4o declared that the person's "intention to clean up" after themself was "commendable." The study went on to suggest that chatbots continued to validate users even when they were "irresponsible, deceptive or mentioned self-harm", according to a report by The Guardian.

What's the harm in indulging a bit of digital sycophancy? Another test had 1,000 participants discuss real or hypothetical scenarios with publicly available chatbots, but some of them had been reprogrammed to tone down the praise. Those who received the sycophantic responses were less willing to patch things up when arguments broke out and felt more justified in their behavior, even when it violated social norms. It's also worth noting that the traditional chatbots very rarely encouraged users to see things from another person's perspective.

"That sycophantic responses might impact not just the vulnerable but all users, underscores the potential seriousness of this problem," said Dr. Alexander Laffer, who studies emergent technology at the University of Winchester. "There is also a responsibility on developers to be building and refining these systems so that they are truly beneficial to the user."

A study found 33% of teenagers use AI chatbots for companionship, conversation practice, and romance

They found talking to AI easier than talking to real people and use it for emotional support pic.twitter.com/AbCZbv6tpK

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) July 26, 2025

This is serious because of just how many people use these chatbots. A recent report by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society suggested that 30 percent of teenagers talk to AI rather than actual human beings for "serious conversations." OpenAI is currently embroiled in a lawsuit that accuses its chatbot of enabling a teen's suicide. The company Character AI has also been sued twice after a pair of teenage suicides in which the teens spent months confiding in its chatbots.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/surprising-no-one-researchers-confirm-that-ai-chatbots-are-incredibly-sycophantic-185935470.html?src=rss

Instagram's latest feature should make it easier to resurface videos you've viewed. On Friday, Adam Mosseri revealed a new watch history for Reels. "Hopefully, now you can find that thing that you were trying to find that you couldn't find before," the Instagram CEO said.

We could see the feature coming in handy. For example, when you see something interesting but lose it due to an accidental tap or app refresh.

You can find it on Instagram under Settings > Your activity > Watch history. The feature lets you sort by newest to oldest or vice versa. You can also jump to a specific date or date range, and filter by the account that posted it.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-adds-a-watch-history-for-reels-175555668.html?src=rss

Rivian has agreed to settle a 2022 shareholder lawsuit. The automaker will pay out $250 million to qualifying investors if the agreement is approved. The lawsuit stemmed from alleged deception surrounding a March 2022 price hike for the R1S SUV and R1T truck.

The class-action lawsuit alleges that Rivian misled investors around the time of its 2021 IPO. The core accusation is that the automaker failed to disclose that the R1s and R1T were initially priced lower than their production costs. Shareholders claim this made the eventual price increases inevitable, something they (understandably) believe Rivian should have shared.

Rivian raised the base price of the R1S and R1T by $12,000 in March 2022. That initially included most reservations. However, the company quickly reversed course on the last bit: Following a backlash, it allowed customers who pre-ordered before the announcement to pay the original price after all.

Rivian framed the settlement as a chance to move forward. "The company denies the allegations in the suit and maintains that this agreement to settle is not an admission of fault or wrongdoing," the automaker wrote in a statement. "However, settling will enable Rivian to focus its resources on the launch of its mass market R2 vehicle in the first half of 2026."

The US District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division, will still need to approve the settlement.

News of the proposed agreement comes a day after Reuters reported that Rivian is laying off 4.5 percent of its workforce (over 600 workers). Last month's expiration of $7,500 tax credits and President Trump's tariffs, combined with weakened EV demand, are making profitability more of an uphill climb.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/rivian-agrees-to-settle-shareholder-lawsuit-for-250-million-171251731.html?src=rss

The federal government has released a list of all of the entities helping to pay for President Trump's lavish White House ballroom, according to reporting by Business Insider. Big tech is all over this thing, with companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft all shelling out cash to fund the 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

It's not just big tech. Defense firms are also helping to pony the bill here. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Palintir are sending some cash, as are random billionaires like the Winklevoss twins and Domino Sugar magnate José Fanjul. The list reads like a who's who of the ultra wealthy and connected. 

As we all know, giant corporations and billionaires are kind and selfless, but what if just this one time they want something in return for their largesse? Columbia professor of law Richard Briffault told Time that most of these donors have done "significant" business with the federal government, raising ethical concerns.

"I doubt it’s a literal quid-pro-quo, but it’s probably more like ‘if you give this, I will look favorably upon you.’ Or maybe more like, ‘if you don't give this, after you've been asked, I won't [look favorably upon you]," Briffault said. "It's greasing the system by making contributions, and in some ways, his leaning on them for contributions is quasi-coercive."

Noah Bookbinder, CEO and President of ethics watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said the whole thing is “extraordinarily unusual, deeply disturbing and does have tremendous ethics implications." He also said that "Donald Trump has made very clear over the years that he does appreciate people paying tribute to him, and he does tend to do things that benefit those people."

President Trump hosted top donors to the $250 million ballroom project at the White House, opening the door to potential institutional favoritism.

During a government shutdown, the optics of this pay-to-play are even worse. https://t.co/MbAKxOaPdG

— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) October 23, 2025

Trump has been personally woo-ing these potential financiers. There was a fundraising dinner in the East Room last week that included representatives of several of the aforementioned companies. The dinner was billed as an event to “Establish the Magnificent White House Ballroom,” according to the Wall Street Journal. The outlet also reported that Trump has held meetings at the White House and at his club in Virginia to raise money for the project.

It's worth noting that this isn't the first time big tech companies have banded together to pay tribute to Trump. Most of the aforementioned companies helped pay for his inauguration and, heck, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave Trump an actual 24K gold statue for some reason.

The construction of this glorious ballroom we all most definitely want has already been at the heart of several controversies. Americans were recently surprised to find that the East Wing of the White House had been completely demolished, despite the president previously promising the ballroom would not even touch the actual property.

In any event, we'll soon be able to watch live feeds of the ultra rich dancing the night away to the Village People or whatever, which is sure to solve all of our problems. In unrelated news, food stamps are likely to run out next week for around 41 million Americans and beef now averages $10 a pound.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/big-tech-is-helping-to-pay-for-trumps-ballroom-that-we-all-definitely-want-162545434.html?src=rss