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Apple may be releasing a new iPad Pro with an M5 chip in the very near future, according to an unboxing video made by a Russian YouTuber. This is the same creator that leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip last year, so the information in the video is likely credible.

To that end, the creator unboxes what appears to be a new 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip and 256GB of storage in a Space Black finish. The exterior design doesn't look noticeably different from current models, as the tablet still has a single rear camera, four speakers and a Smart Connector. 

Previous leaks had indicated that the next iPad Pro would feature a second front camera, but this video doesn't confirm that. It also looks like this new model is still plenty thin.

The video even puts the tablet through some testing. A Geekbench 6 benchmark shows a 12 percent increase in multi-core CPU performance when compared to the previous generation. This benchmark result suggests a 36 percent faster GPU. It also indicated that the 256GB model of this tablet will include 12GB of RAM. Current models with 256GB of storage ship with just 8GB of RAM.

The footage shows that this tablet is running iPadOS 26, which makes sense, and that the battery was manufactured in August of this year. This could all be a ruse but, again, the leaker has been proven correct in the past. It's likely that Apple will announce the refreshed iPad Pro with the M5 chip sometime in October, which tracks with previous reporting.

It was also recently reported that the company is working on a refresh of the MacBook Pro laptop with the M5 chip. These computers could be available later this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/it-looks-like-an-m5-ipad-pro-is-coming-very-soon-184406117.html?src=rss

It's not technically Techtober yet since we’re one day shy, but we've already had a bunch of fall hardware events from some of the bigger companies in the tech space. Today, it was Amazon's turn to step up to the plate. 

Going into its event, the company teased new Echo speakers and Kindle news. Rumors suggested Amazon was ready to ditch its long-standing Android-based OS on Fire TVs in favor of the Linux-based Vega OS it's already using on the Echo Show 5, Echo Hub units and Echo Spot.

Indeed, Echo, Kindle and Fire TV are all being featured at the event, along with Ring and Blink devices. Oh, and lots of Alexa+ updates, of course.

Amazon doesn’t usually livestream its product events and that remained the case here. However, we’ve got you covered with all the news and announcements with both our liveblog and this here rundown of everything Amazon announced at its fall hardware event:

Echo speakersEcho speakersAmazon

The Echo lineup was beyond overdue for a refresh — it's been five years since the 4th-gen Echo arrived, while the most recent Echo Studio debuted a couple of years later. And, with Amazon looking to push Alexa+, it's certainly time for some new models.

To that end, the $100 Echo Dot Max and $220 Echo Studio are up for pre-order and will ship on October 29. No sign of a new standard Echo this time!

The Echo Dot Max delivers almost three times the bass of the fifth-gen Echo Dot and sound that adapts to your space, Amazon claims. The company added that the updated design integrates the speaker directly into the device’s housing, freeing up extra space for more bass. In fact, the Echo Dot Max has two speakers: a “high-excursion woofer optimized for deep bass and a custom tweeter for crisp high notes.”

Amazon has shrunk down the Echo Studio to 60 percent of the size of the last version. Even so, it has a “powerful high-excursion woofer that delivers deep, immersive bass and three optimally placed full-range drivers to create immersive,” room-filling sound, according to the company. The latest model supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.

If you’re in the US and you snap up either of the new Echo speakers — or the latest Echo Show devices — Amazon says you’ll get early access to Alexa+. We’ve had a chance to try the speakers, so be sure to check out Engadget senior reporter Jeff Dunn’s first impressions.

Alexa Home Theater with Echo

🔊 Introducing the next generation of AI-powered Echo devices, purpose-built for Alexa+. With custom AZ silicon and our Omnisense sensor fusion platform, these are the most advanced Echo devices ever. And, they come with Alexa+ right out of the box. pic.twitter.com/lwFuRB8bVl

— Amazon (@amazon) September 30, 2025

Amazon is looking to take on the likes of Sonos with a home theater feature. You’ll be able to connect as many as five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices to a compatible Fire TV stick for surround sound.

The company says that, with the Alexa Home Theater feature, Alexa will take care of everything after you plug in your speakers. That includes tuning them for your space automatically. Amazon will sell the Echo speakers in Alexa Home Theater bundles too.

Echo Show2025 Echo Show smart displaysAmazon

Quelle surprise, Amazon has refreshed the Echo Show smart displays. As with the rest of its new products, Amazon built the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 with Alexa+ in mind.

They boast new front-facing stereo speakers and upgraded microphones, all the better to bolster the chats you might have with Alexa+. The new units have improved cameras with 13MP lenses. Alexa will be able to recognize you when you approach the device and display personalized information. It might show you, for instance, an AI-powered summary of footage from your Ring devices. The Echo Show smart home hub supports devices in the Zigbee, Matter and Thread ecosystems too.

As for the display, both of the new Echo Show units have a negative liquid crystal screen designed to maximize viewing angles. Amazon also said there are new color-coded calendars to help everyone in the family to stay on top of their schedules. Alexa will keep an eye out for scheduling conflicts. Such a clever cookie.

The new Echo Show 8 costs $180, while the Echo Show 11 will run you $220. Pre-orders for the latest Echo Show models open today. They’ll ship on November 12.

The new Echo Show 8 costs $180, while the Echo Show 11 will run you $220. Pre-orders for the latest Echo Show models open today. They’ll ship on November 12. Be sure to check out Engadget senior writer Sam Rutherford’s initial impressions of the latest models.

Kindle Scribe ColorsoftKindle Scribe ColorsoftAmazon

The Kindle Scribe 2 and Kindle Colorsoft appear to have been smushed together, as there's now a full color version of Amazon's writing tablet (which has some other upgrades). The company is using its custom display tech for the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which has a color filter and “light guide” with nitride LEDs. The idea, according to Amazon, is to boost color without washing out details.

The company says it developed a new rendering engine for the Kindle Colorsoft too. It claims this helps make sure writing on the device feels fluid, natural and fast. Moreover, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is said to run for several weeks on a single charge. 

You'll be able to choose from 10 pen colors for writing, drawing and annotation. There are five highlighter colors as well.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be available in the US later this year, starting at $630. It's coming to the UK and Germany in early 2026. 

We’ve been able to try out the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. You can check out Engadget managing editor Cherlynn Low’s initial hands-on impressions.

Refreshed Kindle ScribeKindle ScribeAmazon

Amazon is refreshing the regular Kindle Scribe too. It has a larger, 11-inch display to match the proportions of a sheet of paper. It's 5.44mm (0.2 inches) thin and weighs 400g. Amazon also says it's 40 percent faster than the previous model when it comes to page turns and writing. 

The standard 2025 Kindle Scribe shares a bunch of features with the Colorsoft model. Both boast a front light system with miniature LEDs, a texture-molded glass that's designed to improve friction for writing and revamped display tech that's said to make it feel like you're writing directly on the page.

The latest devices have a quad-core chip and more memory than previous models. That helps to power new AI-driven features. You'll be able to get an AI-generated summary of information that you search for across your notes and the option to ask follow-up questions. Starting in early 2026, you’ll be able to send notes and other docs from your Kindle Scribe to Alexa+, and have a conversation with the chatbot about them.

🌟 Introducing the all-new Kindle Scribe lineup. Thinner, lighter, and faster with new productivity features, including an AI-powered notebook which allows you to naturally search across notebooks and quickly get insights. pic.twitter.com/ioE4pI4eVn

— Amazon (@amazon) September 30, 2025

There's support for Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, so you can pull in documents from there to mark them up. There's an option to export annotated PDFs, as well as to export notes as converted text or an embedded image to OneNote. 

The home screen has a new Quick Notes function to help users start jotting down their thoughts faster. You’ll have swift access to recently opened or added books and documents from there too. 

Meanwhile, there's a new pen that attaches to your Kindle Scribe. This refreshed Kindle Scribe will go on sale in the US by the end of the year, and it starts at $500. A version without a front light will be $430. Again, these models will be available in the US and Germany in early 2026.

Fire TVAmazon Fire TVAmazon

The image Amazon sent out as part of its event invite included the corner of a television, hinting that Fire TV would get some time in the spotlight during today's event. And, yup, that turned out to be the case.

There's a new 4K streaming stick called the Fire TV Stick 4K Select ($40). Amazon says it supports HDR10+ and your favorite streaming services. Support for Alexa+, Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming is on the way too. As with the other Fire TV devices Amazon announced today, pre-orders are open and the Fire TV Stick 4K Select will ship next month.

If you’d rather have the Fire TV ecosystem baked into your television, Amazon’s got you covered there. The latest Omni QLED Series models have displays that are 60 percent brighter than previous versions, Amazon says. The TVs adjust their display colors automatically depending on the ambient lighting and can turn on by themselves when they detect your presence. The TV can also display your photos or artwork and switch off when you exit the room. The Omni QLED Series TV come in 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch variants and start at $480.

The Omnisense feature is available on the latest 2-Series Fire TV models too. These budget-friendly 4K options are said to be 30 percent faster than their predecessors. A Dialogue Boost feature will be present on all the latest Fire TV models. You can snap up a 2-Series Fire TV in either a 32-inch or 40-inch variant, starting at just $160.

Janko Roettgers of LowPass reported last week that Amazon was set to bring its Vega operating system to Fire TV by the end of this year. Whaddya know? The company confirmed that it's bringing Vega to Fire TVs and streaming devices, including the 4K Select. So, it’ll debut in October on at least one device. Amazon didn’t say when it would roll out the OS more broadly, but helpfully noted that Vega is “responsive and highly efficient.”

Blink2025 Blink camera lineupAmazon

No, you didn’t miss it: there are new Blink devices as well. All of them can capture 2K video, and pre-orders for all three go live today.

Amazon says the $90 Blink Outdoor 2K+ has a 4x zoom, two-way talk with noise cancellation, enhanced low-light performance and, for Blink Plus subscribers, smart notifications when people and vehicles are detected.

The $50 Blink Mini 2K+ is primarily designed for indoor use, but you can place it outside thanks to a weather-resistant power adapter. Otherwise, it has the same features as the Blink Outdoor 2K+.

Blink had an entirely new device to show off as well. The Blink Arc looks quite odd, almost like a pair of goggles. It houses two Blink Mini 2K+ cameras and combines the footage into “a single, seamlessly stitched feed.” If you have a Blink Plus subscription, you’ll have access to a 180-degree view. The Blink Arc can also be used outside with the weather-resistant power adapter. It costs $100, and the mount is an extra $20.

RingRing DoorbellAmazon

Retinal Vision is a concept that Ring has built its latest devices (for what it’s worth, the name reminds me I’m probably due for an eye exam). The idea is to use AI to optimize image quality. It taps into back-side illumination sensors to deliver superior low-light performance, Amazon says.

A function called Retinal Tuning samples your Ring camera's video quality several times per day for up to two weeks in a attempt to improve it. Large-aperture lenses in the new devices will help with all of that.

To that end, Amazon has announced a Wired Doorbell Plus with 2K visuals for $180 and the Indoor Plus Cam 2K for $60. There are 4K models too: Outdoor Cam Pro 4K ($200), Spotlight Cam Pro 4K ($250), Wired Doorbell Pro 4K ($250) and Floodlight Cam Pro 4K ($280). Pre-orders for all of them open today.

🤩 The next era of @ring is here. From Retinal Vision cameras to AI-powered features like Alexa+ Greetings and Search Party, we're redefining neighborhood safety. pic.twitter.com/TR1HYVqoAV

— Amazon (@amazon) September 30, 2025

Of course, there are Alexa+ features for the new cameras. Alexa+ Greetings is a function that will enable the AI to make "informed decisions about how to greet certain visitors." Amazon will roll this out for the new cameras in December.

Familiar Faces, meanwhile, is a facial recognition feature. It identifies known faces, so Ring will be able to notify you when they’re at your door (or if someone unfamiliar is there). That’s coming in December too.

There’s another new feature called Search Party, which Amazon says is about helping people find lost dogs. When a neighbor reports a missing pooch in the Ring app, a Search Party commences on nearby Ring cameras. These will keep a look out and notify camera owners if they spot what may be the missing dog. The camera owner will then see a photo of the pet alongside relevant camera footage, and can then choose whether to alert the dog’s owner. Search Party will roll out in November.

Alexa+ and other AI features

Zero prizes for anyone who guessed that Amazon was going to talk up Alexa+ features. That one was a gimme. All of the devices Amazon just announced will support Alexa+ out of the box.

AI features for books are coming to the Kindle Scribe devices and other compatible Kindles in early 2026. The Kindle iOS app will be the first to gain access later this year. Amazon says the Story So Far option will catch you up on everything you've read in a book to that point without any spoilers — which could be handy if you're returning to a digital tome after a break. With the Ask this Book option, you'll be able to highlight any text, ask questions about it and get "spoiler-free answers." Amazon says thousands of Kindle books will support these features.

With Alexa+ on Fire TV, find your next watch fast. Mention shows you loved for personalized recommendations. Share who's watching for family suggestions. In the mood for something funny? Get tailored options.

Best part—Alexa+ doesn't just tell you where to watch, it takes you… pic.twitter.com/UA7QMfWd6x

— Amazon (@amazon) September 30, 2025

On Fire TV devices, Alexa+ will be able to find scenes in movies using natural language prompts. You'll be able to ask the assistant to find a scene where a certain thing happens and it will try to find that for you. This feature is coming soon.

You’ll be able to ask the voice assistant to find a show like one you watched a couple of nights earlier, a family-friendly movie or something that features your favorite performer. This isn’t limited to Prime Video as Alexa+ can tap into a variety of streaming services, including Netflix and HBO Max.

You can ask the assistant questions about what you’re watching too, such as details about an actor (handy if you recognize them from another show or movie but you’re not sure what) and behind-the-scenes info. This works for live sports as well, so you can find out stats and other nuggets about what you’re watching on Prime Video, Sling TV, DirecTV and Fubo.

On the new Echo Show devices, there’s an Alexa+ shopping widget. From here, you’ll be able to keep tabs on your Amazon, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh deliveries; access detailed info on products; and re-order items with a voice command or a tap.

Amazon claims Alexa+ can help you figure out what gift to get someone based on responses to questions it asks you. The assistant will offer personalized recommendations from Amazon.

Alexa+ is going to hook into all manner of devices and services. Through the Alexa+ Store (which will be available soon), you’ll be able to access services from the likes of TaskRabbit, Fandango, Priceline, Uber, Lyft, Thumbtack, GrubHub and Yahoo Sports. You can manage your various Amazon subscriptions via Alexa+ too.

In addition, Alexa+ is coming to speakers, TVs and in-car systems from other brands. Those include Bose, Sonos, LG, Samsung and BMW.

As things stand, Alexa+ is currently free with Prime. Non-Prime members can use it for $20 per month — but you may as well pay $15 per month or $139 per year for Prime if you really, really want access to Alexa+.

Smart remote

Amazon had another product to unveil today, but this one wasn’t highlighted during the event. The company has revealed a $20 smart remote for Echo devices. Pre-orders are open and it’ll ship on October 30.

You can use the Alexa app or Alexa+ to customize the Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote. There are four buttons to which you can map individual actions (like making a change to your smart lights) and multi-stage routines. Amazon might also suggest routines for you to set up based on your habits. As well as using this device as a traditional remote, you can attach it to wall, which might be the way to go if you’re going to use it primarily for managing your lights.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/everything-announced-at-amazons-fall-hardware-event-143557140.html?src=rss

Among the horde of new devices Amazon unveiled during its New York City event on Tuesday are two new Echo speakers: a higher-end Echo Dot called the Echo Dot Max and a next-generation Echo Studio with a new ball-shaped design. Both are available to pre-order starting today, with shipping to start on October 29. The Dot Max costs $100 — well above the standard Dot (which remains available) — while the Studio is priced at $220.

The Echo Dot Max looks to be Amazon’s answer to Apple’s HomePod mini, which is similarly compact yet touts quality sound for its size. The company says the new speaker offers “nearly three times” as much bass response as the cheaper Echo Dot. That’s largely because it’s been redesigned on the inside to include two speakers — a woofer and a custom tweeter — instead of one and to increase the amount of internal air space.

The new Echo Studio, meanwhile, gets a fairly major design overhaul. It essentially looks like a bigger version of Echo Dot Max, with the old cylindrical design replaced by a spherical shape. Amazon says it’s 40 percent smaller than the last one, with the goal being to make it easier to stick the device in varying locations around the house. This one is built with three full-range drivers alongside a woofer, and it supports both Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with services that offer that (such as Apple Music).

The Amazon Echo Dot Max. Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The Studio’s smaller footprint could be handy if you want to take advantage of the new Alexa Home Theater mode. This lets you turn up to five new Echo Studios or Echo Dot Maxes into a surround sound setup for your TV, sort of like an Alexa-fied version of the room calibration tech Sonos offers with its home speakers. If you have compatible gear, Amazon says the voice assistant will automatically locate the different speakers in your room and map out an appropriate acoustic profile. An Amazon representative told us that you need a Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max streamer for this to work for now, however, since Alexa uses your TV’s location to determine where the front of the surround system is, then uses that in tandem with your speakers’ locations to estimate where you’re sitting. This whole process takes “less than five minutes,” according to the company, and it’ll auto-adjust if you add in more speakers. You won’t be able to mix and match Studios and Dot Maxes in one setup at launch, however — it has to be all of one speaker or the other.

I was briefly able to check out and listen to the new speakers at the event through a controlled demo. I wouldn’t say either looks particularly “premium” at first blush, but the spherical designs are clean and simple, and the knitted fabric surrounding the hardware feels firm and sturdy. Neither strays too far from the traditional Echo aesthetic; you could pop them on a counter or TV stand and they won’t draw much attention to themselves. Of note, the volume/mic control buttons and Alexa light ring are now angled on the front of each device, which may make quickly adjusting things a little bit quicker.

As for how the two speakers actually sound, I have to reiterate that my demo was highly controlled, i.e. orchestrated to make the new speakers sound as good as possible. I wasn’t able to pick a song, adjust volume or actually talk to Alexa myself. (Though Amazon says there are new chips and mic arrays to improve conversation detection.)

The Amazon Echo Studio. Sam Rutherford for Engadget

With that said, the Echo Dot Max did indeed produce more bass thump and clearer separation than the cheaper Dot in a side-by-side comparison using Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” It better, given the price, but it sounded far less “closed-off” all the same. The Echo Studio was a marked step up from there, producing a much wider soundstage, more impactful bass and more natural highs. Again, take all of this with a grain of salt, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we said it’s worth the premium for audio-focused buyers when we test it ourselves. An Amazon rep said this new Studio model isn’t noticeably louder than the last one, though, which isn't surprising given how much more compact it is. Instead, the focus is on the smaller frame and a “richer” sound. To that end, both devices seemed to go for a slightly more bass-heavy profile than a neutral one, based on my limited listen.

I was also able to listen to four Echo Studios paired in tandem. Predictably, this setup filled the room with sound and delivered more precise imaging, whether we were listening to an ambient soundscape of birds chirping in the woods or an action-heavy scene from Ready Player One. I do question the value, though: You’re getting close to the $1,000 range with four of these things, and at that point, many people may be better off just getting a decent soundbar and a dedicated subwoofer for fuller bass.

Naturally, Amazon says both speakers — along with the new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 — are designed with Alexa+ in mind, and anyone who buys either device will be able to use the upgraded assistant in early access. Both are still likely to be more niche than the less expensive Echoes, given that many people still use these things for simpler smart home tasks and basic listening. But for those who’ve grown accustomed having an Echo around the house and are willing to pay for improved sound quality, there may be enough to like here. We’ll know more clearly when we’re able to test them on our own.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/amazon-echo-studio-and-echo-dot-max-hands-on-more-bass-round-shapes-182339624.html?src=rss

Imgur has shut off its image-hosting platform for users in the UK, displaying a “content not available in your region” notice across the site and on third-party embeds. The move comes after the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) warned that it intended to levy fines against Imgur’s owner, MediaLab AI, after an investigation into the service's handling of children’s data, age verification and privacy protection. Exact details of the fine, or what the findings of the investigation were, have not been shared.

"We are aware of reports that the social media platform Imgur is currently not available in the UK. Imgur's decision to restrict access in the UK is a commercial decision taken by the company," said regulators in a statement. They also stressed that "exiting the UK" does not mean a company can avoid any levied penalties, and that the investigation is ongoing.

"Our findings are provisional and the ICO will carefully consider any representations from MediaLab before taking a final decision whether to issue a monetary penalty," said regulators.

In recent years, the ICO has stepped up enforcement of its policies governing data privacy for minors. In 2023, the watchdog fined TikTok $15.8 million for what it said were several violations of data protection laws. The regulator alleged that in 2020 TikTok allowed as many as 1.4 million children under the age of 13 to use the app, against its own policies. TikTok found itself under investigation yet again this year over similar alleged violations. The ICO also previously raised concerns surrounding a Snapchat generative AI chatbot named My AI, alleging that it placed children's privacy at risk.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/imgur-has-left-the-uk-181715724.html?src=rss

Avalanche Studios is following in the footsteps of so many game developers this year. Today, the company posted a notice to its website announcing plans for a restructuring. Avalanche said it will close its studio in Liverpool, impacting all staff members in the city. The company said it will also "reduce our workforce and restructure the teams" at its studios in Malmo and Stockholm, but did not provide specifics about the scope of those layoffs.

Although the statement simply credited the decision to "current challenges to our business and the industry," it's hard not to think that the cancellation of Avalanche's planned game Contraband had something to do with the current need to consolidate. Microsoft ended active development on the project in August during the fallout from the massive layoffs the tech giant announced over the spring and summer. Those cuts appeared to impact the fate of many other upcoming games and game studios that were working with Microsoft as either a developer or a publisher.

Since we won't get to know them for Contraband, Avalanche Studios will remain best known for its Just Cause games of open-world mayhem for now. Contraband is the only game currently listed as a forthcoming title on the company website, so it's unclear what the next moves for the remaining team members will be. The notice closes by saying, "Despite these changes, we remain deeply committed to providing amazing games to our passionate player communities." Hopefully they'll be able to bounce back.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/just-cause-developer-avalanche-studios-is-the-latest-game-company-to-announce-layoffs-180048615.html?src=rss

It's been a couple years since the Echo 8 has gotten an update and even longer for the aging Echo Show 10. But today Amazon is fixing that with two brand-new smart displays: The fourth-gen Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11.

Right away, the first thing you notice about Amazon's refreshed lineup is their designs. In front, there's a slim tablet-based HD display (either 8.7 inches or 11 inches depending on the model). Around back there's a curvier housing covered in a mesh fabric for the display's internals and speakers that borrows a lot from the new Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max. This is a pretty big departure from Amazon's wedge-shaped predecessors and I think it's a success. Both models look more elegant and refined, while their rounded bases make it easier to angle them properly in whatever room they're in. 

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

That said, while both models feature new 13MP cameras with auto-framing tech (meaning they can track your face if you need to move around the room while on a video call), neither version has a built-in motor that would allow the entire display to rotate and spin like you got on the old Echo Show 10. I suspect this is a tacit admission by Amazon that a movable display is a bit of a gimmick, at least on a smart display. Or it's just not super necessary when you can just have the device's camera re-compose your video framing dynamically in software. 

Elsewhere, there are a few handy physical controls for volume located on the right side of the Echo Shows' displays along with a toggle for disabling the onboard mics and camera. Aside from that, there's a single barrel plug in back for power (which is slightly annoying, I wish it was USB-C) and not much else. So if for some reason you want to connect the new Echo Shows to wired internet, you're going to need to get pretty creative. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see how the audio on the new Echo Show models compares to the refreshed Echo Studio or Dot Max. However, Amazon's updated displays are a big improvement. They have huge viewing angles so it's never hard to see what's on the screen from wherever your standing. And while Amazon hasn't provided official brightness figures, based on what I've seen, the panels are rather vibrant, so there shouldn't be any major issues viewing things in sunny rooms. 

Amazon's refreshed UI is also rather straightforward. All you need is a couple taps or swipes to open things like the video tab, music controls, settings and a list of upcoming calendar events. Meanwhile, the addition of Amazon's AZ3 Pro chip has greatly improved the responsiveness of touch and gesture input to the point where it felt a bit faster than the Google Nest Hub Max I have at home. 

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Of course, the real impact of the new Echo Shows is yet to be seen, because while updated hardware is nice, the real value of these smart displays is how they are now better positioned to be the center of Amazon's smart home ecosystem. Both devices support Zigbee, Matter and Thread so it should be easy to use them to control other devices, while features like a Wi-Fi radar enables a wider range of contextual interactions from Alexa. And while I think the ability to create routines and automations strictly using your voice is a major upgrade for the average user, I wasn't able to test that functionality out myself at the event. 

The other potential omission is that while Amazon's two largest smart displays got much needed refreshes today, the same can't be said for the Echo Show 5. So while that model continues to be on sale, I wouldn't be surprised if it got discontinued when supply runs out or re-imagined as something closer to a smart alarm clock sometime in the future, as it's smaller screen makes it's role as a smart home hub a bit more limited. 

The new Echo Show ($180) and Echo Show 11 ($220) are available for pre-order today and will come with early access to Alexa+ before official sales begin on November 12. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-echo-show-8-and-show-11-hands-on-a-cuter-more-unified-smart-display-173918264.html?src=rss

Well, that was fast. One day after Wired reported that OpenAI was preparing to release a new AI social video app, the company has revealed it to the wider world. It's called the Sora app, and it's powered by OpenAI's new Sora 2 video model, allowing it to generate AI-made clips of nearly anything. As expected, the app's signature "cameo" feature allows people to add your likeness to videos they generate. 

Cameos are likely to be controversial, even if OpenAI is giving users a lot of control over whether someone can replicate their likeness in clips Sora generates. When you first start using the app, you can allow your friends (and even strangers) permission to generate images of you. Whenever someone uses your likeness in a video Sora will designate you as the "co-owner" of that clip, allowing you to later delete it or prevent others from further modifying the video with subsequent generations. The latter plays into Sora's "Remix" feature, which allows users to jump on trending videos to offer their own take on them. Sora 2 can generate sound alongside video, a first for OpenAI's model.

Separately of the above restrictions, Sora can't generate videos of public figures — unless they upload their likeness to the app and grant their friends or everyone permission to use it in their creations — and the software will refuse to make pornographic content.    

Right now, Sora is only available on iOS, with no word yet on when it might arrive on Android, and you'll need an invite from the company. However, those lucky few who can join are able to invite four friends to download the software, much like the early days of say, Bluesky or Clubhouse (lol). OpenAI is only making Sora available to people in the US and Canada (sorry, everyone else).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-sora-app-is-real-but-youll-need-an-invite-to-try-it-171849671.html?src=rss

The survival climbing game Cairn has been delayed until the first quarter of 2026. Development studio The Game Bakers had previously announced a release date for November 5 of this year.

The delay is so the team can spend more time on "optimization, debug and polish." Creative director Emeric Thoa said that "after 5 years of work, it makes no sense to rush it" as "we want to be proud of the game we launch." Delays are never fun, but they are a whole lot better than buying a broken game at launch.

We don't have an actual release date yet, but the game's still coming to both PC and PS5. There is a demo available, which has racked up 600,000 players on both platforms. The Game Bakers are beefing up that demo on October 13, adding ghost recordings of speedrunners and staffers. The company says these ghosts can be followed to "check new techniques or discover new routes and hidden areas." Mario Kart and other racing games have been doing something similar for years.

For the uninitiated, Cairn is a tough-as-nails rock-climbing game with a free solo mode for added difficulty. There's no UI feedback, so players have to pay attention to the avatar's breathing and body language. It feels like a more intense cousin of the peaceful Jusant, which is another rock-climbing sim.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/survival-climbing-game-cairn-has-been-delayed-until-2026-171512591.html?src=rss

Amazon may have just unveiled a ton of new products across its Ring, Blink, Echo and Kindle categories, but it still had one more piece of hardware to show. Though it didn't get mentioned during the company's Devices and Services event earlier today, there is a new Smart Remote under the Amazon Basics brand that will be available for pre-order for $19.99 and will ship in October. According to the product listing page, it will be released on October 30.

At first glance, the Smart Remote looks like a regular switch that you mount on your wall to control your lights or other appliances. Its full name on Amazon's current pre-order page even says it's a "Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote." It basically has four buttons that you can configure via the Alexa app or ask Alexa+ to map routines to. During a demo at the event space, an Amazon representative told an Echo Show "Alexa, when I press the top button I want you to activate the party time scene and play "Alive" by Pearl Jam.

The assistant acknowledged the request and within 10 seconds said it had completed the task. The rep pressed a button and lights in the demo room came on, while the song started playing on the Echo Show.

You can also use the Routines section of Amazon's app to customize what you want the device to do. In the same demo, the company also showed how the assistant can suggest routines based on your habits. It can also remind you to, say, take out the trash if you've connected a Ring camera and it's noticed patterns in which day of the week your garbage is removed from the street.

The battery-powered remote can be mounted on a wall or surface and can be magnetically attached for maximum convenience. Though a simple remote might not be the most exciting thing, especially at an event where Amazon's voice assistant and AI were so widely talked about, it's still something people might find useful. Particularly if you want to just press a button to trigger a series of actions instead of finding the exact words to say in the precise pronunciation that is required to be understood by your smart speaker. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-has-a-new-smart-remote-thats-completely-programmable-by-alexa-170021739.html?src=rss

What good is an update if it doesn’t actually add anything new? That’s the question I’m left asking about Microsoft’s Windows 11 2025 update (AKA Windows 11 25H2), which the company will begin pushing out today. Instead of adding any major new capabilities, Microsoft says it’s an “enablement package” that includes recent features added to last year’s 24H2 release. If anything, it could be a push for stragglers who’ve ignored recent updates to get onboard with new Windows 11 capabilities.

Microsoft says the Windows 11 2025 update also “includes significant advancements in build and runtime vulnerability detection, coupled with AI assisted secure coding.” Additionally, the new update should be leaner than before, thanks to the removal of PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management instrumentation command-line (WMIC). Those are legacy features most users have never touched, but their removal could annoy power users and IT admins who have built ancient scripts using PowerShell 2.0.

As usual, Microsoft says it will start delivering the Windows 11 2025 update to users in waves. The first batch includes users with 24H2 devices who’ve turned on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” in Windows Update. Now that Microsoft has moved to a frequent update cadence, you can expect to see actual new features for Windows 11 25H2 arriving in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/microsofts-windows-11-2025-update-starts-rolling-out-today-but-dont-expect-anything-new-170005064.html?src=rss

Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek will be transitioning to the role of executive chairman on January 1 of next year. The current Co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström will take his place as co-CEOs.

“Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav — who have shaped the company from our earliest days and are now more than ready to guide our next phase. This change simply matches titles to how we already operate. In my role as Executive Chairman, I will focus on the long arc of the company and keep the Board and our co-CEOs deeply connected through my engagement," Ek said in a statement.

In a letter to Spotify employees, Ek also shared that he wants to help create more technology-driven "supercompanies" that "tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time."

As a recent example of Ek's other interests, this summer he led a $700 million investment round into the defense tech firm Helsing. The company sells AI-powered software that analyzes weapons and sensor data in battlefields to help with military decision-making. Last year Helsing started manufacturing a line of military drones. Ek has received pushback on this investment in the form of a number of smaller artists, as well as Massive Attack pulling their music catalogs from Spotify.

Daniel Ek founded Spotify in 2006 alongside Martin Lorentzon and oversaw the company's growth to almost 700 million monthly active listeners. It's been a busy year for the music streaming giant, which finally started offering lossless streaming after a multi-year wait.

The company also finds itself at a crossroads as more AI-generated music is making its way to the platform. The company recently made some policy changes to address AI, though this was only aimed at fraudulent and deceptive uses of the technology. Fully AI-generated songs and albums are still permitted.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/daniel-ek-is-stepping-down-as-spotify-ceo-161519791.html?src=rss

During its invite-only and not live-streamed Devices and Services event today out of New York City, Amazon announced its upcoming Ring and Blink devices, new Fire TVs and streaming sticks, Kindle Scribes and, finally, a whole new Echo device lineup — including new Echo Show smart displays. The latest smart-home screens were built to showcase Alexa+, the new and AI-improved smart assistant.

There's a new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 (as well as new Echo speakers). Amazon called them the most powerful Echo devices ever created. They have custom silicon, the AZ3 Pro with an AI Accelerator, as well as more advanced sensors and improved microphones for better noise cancellation. The look has been completely redesigned, and resembles a cross between the existing Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 10, with a prominent speaker module at the bottom and floating screen up top. The speakers pack full-range drivers that fire audio forwards for clearer sound. 

Both of the new displays have negative liquid crystal screens designed to maximize viewing angles, so you can see them better from anywhere in a room. They each have 13MP cameras as well, which is the best camera ever included on an Echo Show. That and other sensors, including Wi-Fi radar, will enable contextualized Alexa+ interactions, like recognizing when you walk up to the display, triggering the AI to greet you, display your relevant information and even deliver one of your personalized reminders. 

Software upgrades include a new media control center to allow better access to your video and music and streaming apps. A new home hub has support for Zigbee, Matter and Thread, which should let you hook up even more smart home devices for Alexa to tap into. If you use your display for family scheduling, you can try the new color-coded calendars. If you wear an Oura ring, look for new wellness integrations centered around that fitness tracker. A new Alexa+ shopping widget will give you more control over your Amazon and Whole Foods deliveries while also suggesting items to buy and even gifts to give someone. 

Amazon/ Sam R for Engadget

The Echo Show 8 and Show 11 were redesigned with Alexa+ in mind, the service that Amazon revealed at an event earlier this year. The AI-enhanced upgrade to Amazon's virtual assistant is supposed to be more conversational, retaining memories of your chats for more contextualized responses. Our experience with an early version of the assistant was… complicated. It was better at many things like multi-step tasks and using information from previous interactions, but it, like all AI-experiences, highlighted the limitations of computers trying to be people. Alexa+ is currently free with Prime, or costs $20 per month for non-Prime members.

Prior to the announcement of the new display, the Echo Show lineup consisted of four models: The Echo Show 5, 8, 15 and 21 (the Echo Show 10 hasn’t been consistently available these past few months). Each model number refers to the size of the screen (measured on the diagonal) and the smallest, the Echo Show 5, is designed for office desks or small kitchens. The older Show 8 was more suited to acting as a smart home hub and, like the Echo Show 5, designed to sit on a table or countertop. Both were last updated in 2023. The Show 15 and 21 are wall-mountable and can act as calendars and family planners in addition to subbing in as small TVs when needed. The two larger Show displays were last updated in 2024.

The new Echo Show devices are available for pre-order today and will come with Alexa+ Early Access. The Echo Show 8 sells for $180 and the and Echo Show 11 for $220. Both will ship on November 12. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-just-announced-a-totally-redesigned-echo-show-8-and-echo-show-11-145937172.html?src=rss

What if you could just use a ton of Echo speakers as a surround sound setup for your TV? That’s basically what Amazon is trying to accomplish with its new Alexa Home Theater feature, which was announced during its 2025 device launch today. As the name implies, Alexa Home Theater works with up to five of its new Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices to create a surround sound environment with the Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max. According to the company, Alexa will automatically set up the Home Theater feature once you’ve plugged in several Echo devices.

Clearly, Amazon isn’t aiming for the home theater enthusiast crowd here. A surround sound system without a subwoofer simply won’t sound very exciting. But if you’re going for a fairly minimalist setup, I could see how having a few Echo orbs around your living room could be more aesthetically pleasing than giant speakers. Unfortunately, Alexa Home Theater won’t work with the original Echo Studio, Amazon representatives confirmed today.

While the company is pitching this feature as an inexpensive entry into surround sound, a full Alexa Home Theater setup will start at $500 for five Echo Dot Max speakers, and it’ll get even pricier once you throw in the $220 Echo Studio. At that point, just get a decent soundbar, which will be able to virtualize surround sound and offer better low-end.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/alexa-home-theater-will-let-you-use-amazons-echo-speakers-for-surround-sound-153325469.html?src=rss

Before it began slowly trickling out Alexa+ to users at the start of February, Amazon promised a smarter, more conversational assistant. It turned out the reality was more complicated, and, more than anything, Alexa+ in its current state is a showcase of the limitations of generative AI. Of course, that's not stopping Amazon from iterating on the digital assistant. During its "Devices and Services" event on Tuesday, Amazon announced a host of Alexa+ updates, with many of them enabling new integrations alongside the company's brand new devices. 

One of those new features is Alexa+ Greetings, which will roll out to Ring's new 2K and 4K devices this December. With the help of Ring's image recognition technology, Alexa+ will be able to make decisions about how to handle different visitors to your home. If it sees one of your friends or family members, it will know to greet them. Conversely, the digital assistant will ask questions of strangers to determine the purpose of their visit. It can also manage deliveries by providing instructions to couriers about where to leave a package.    

Amazon

Alexa+ is also built directly into Vega, Amazon's new smart TV operating system. The integration will translate into more personalized recommendations, and the ability for Alexa+ to show you content related to your questions. For example, you can use the assistant to find a specific scene in a movie. In the demo Amazon showed, Vice President of Fire TV Aidan Marcuss instructed Alexa to "find the scene where Hatteburg hits a home run," and the assistant pulled up the appropriate spot in the film Moneyball. This functionality will be available while watching live sports too, meaning you can ask the assistant for updates on your favorite teams and more. 

Over on the Kindle side of things, you'll be able to send notes and documents you have stored on your Kindle Colorsoft or Scribe 3 to Alexa+. This feature will allow you to have a conversation about the contents of those files with the digital assistant, with the integration slated to arrive sometime early next year.    

Amazon

Of course, the place you're most likely to interact with Alexa+ is when using an Echo device. Amazon is billing the refreshed 2025 Echo line — made up of Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 — as "designed for Alexa+". To that end, the company has equipped all of the new devices with two new chips, the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro. The silicon is faster and offers better voice processing, with Amazon claiming Alexa+ is over 50 percent better at detecting when you go to wake it. At the same time, there are new third-party integrations, with some notable partners including Fandango, Uber and Lyft. All of these will be found in the new Alexa+ Store where you'll be able to see the assistant's growing list of capabilities. If you would rather use a speaker from a different brand, Amazon said Bose, Sonos and Samsung, among others, are working to bring Alexa+ to their devices. Automakers like BMW are doing the same with their cars.  

Elsewhere, a new Alexa+ shopping widget will allow you to keep track of your Amazon, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh purchases, including any deliveries you have scheduled. Naturally, Alexa+ can search the entire Amazon catalog and answer questions about any products you might want to buy. 

All of the new Echo devices Amazon announced today will ship with early access to Alexa+ out of the box. You can pre-order all four today, with general availability of the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio to follow on October 29, while the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 are slated to arrive on November 12. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/alexa-at-amazons-2025-event-greetings-and-more-143211291.html?src=rss

When it comes to new Echo speakers, Amazon rarely shows something that will appeal to customers who crave premium sound quality. The last time it did, it debuted the Echo Studio, which could handle immersive Dolby Atmos and double as a home theater speaker. At its hardware event in NYC today, Amazon unveiled an updated Echo Studio with new drivers, a new chip and an all-new design. 

Amazon says the new model offers "incredible high fidelity sound" thanks to three full-range drivers and an excursion woofer for maximum bass. Like the original Studio, this speaker is designed for Dolby Atmos content, which is available across both movies and music. There's a new AZ23 Pro chip inside as well, silicon that's built to power audio features and Alexa+ on the new Studio. Amazon says the component offers advanced speech and audio processing — as well as visual processing on the new Echo Show lineup. 

The company also updated the Echo Studio design, ditching the large cylinder for the more spherical shape. The blueish light ring for Alexa is now on the front instead of the top. The controls are now on the front as well, where you'll find buttons for volume and muting the microphones. Overall, the new Echo Studio is 40 percent smaller than the original and is now covered in a 3D knit fabric for acoustic transparency.

Amazon also announced Alexa Home Theater during its reveal of the Echo Studio. This feature allows you to connect up to five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices to create a more immersive sound setup. The company promises that you'll simply plug in the speakers and Alexa will handle the rest. The assistant will use OmniSense to automatically tune the speakers based on their position, the size of the room and the space's acoustic characteristics. As you might expect, Amazon plans to sell these new speakers in Alexa Home Theater bundles so you don't have to spend too much time shopping for a multi-speaker system. 

The new Echo Studio is available for pre-order today for $220, and early adopters will get Alexa+ Early Access with the purchase. The new speaker will ship on October 29.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/amazon-reveals-an-updated-echo-studio-speaker-with-a-new-chip-and-upgraded-drivers-150303898.html?src=rss

Amazon has seen the power and potential of Alexa+, its AI-powered smart assistant, and is now launching a raft of devices to support it. Today, at the company's September 2025 devices event, the company unveiled several new Echo devices, with the Dot Max (pictured, right) leading the pack.

The Echo Dot Max is a $100 smart speaker designed to occupy every room in your home, complete with the usual smart home bonuses. The major changes inside and out are to ensure it's better able to use Alexa+, which includes new custom silicon, sensors and better sound. 

For instance, Dot Max features two drivers which, when combined, produces three times as much bass as the fifth-generation Echo Dot. The sound, which will adapt to the local space, is apparently so good that Amazon's Daniel Rausch described it as the "most performant" smart speaker at this sort of price.

Similarly, new microphones are paired with a new, custom-made AZ3 chip for improved conversation detection and background noise filtering. AZ3 can also harness Amazon's "Omnisense" platform that combines Wi-Fi Radar, audio and its accelerometer to monitor what's going on in your home. 

You'll notice the hardware has been redesigned, with the light ring moved to a new control surface on the front of the sphere. 

Amazon's Echo Dot Max, along with the rest of its Echo devices, are available to pre-order today, with buyers getting early access to Alexa+ as part of the deal. Shipping is expected to commence on October 29 for both the Dot Max and its pricier and bigger sibling, the Echo Studio (pictured, left).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazons-new-echo-dot-max-is-a-smart-speaker-for-alexa-150222265.html?src=rss

Today Amazon held its annual Devices and Services event, debuting its next generation of products. While Amazon isn't live streaming the event, we're on the floor sharing everything it announces in our live blog, including a slew of new Ring products and features. 

Take Ring's Retinal Vision, rolling out across its new line of 2K and 4K doorbells and cameras. It offers back-side illumination sensors and 10x zoom for clear vision, even in low light. Ring pairs these features with custom large aperture lenses that it claims will capture more light and maintain sharpness throughout the frame.

Retinal Vision also "optimizes every step of the imaging process with advanced AI tuning," according to Ring. Basically, it will alter your camera's clarity based on its location. Ring will use AI to sample your camera's quality across up to two weeks, multiple times a day. Then, it will do a "final optimization" that should provide the best video for your location. 

Retinal 4K Vision will be available on the all-new Wired Doorbell Pro, Spotlight Cam Pro, Floodlight Cam Pro and Outdoor Cam Pro. There are also three power over Ethernet devices, Power over Ethernet devices: the Spotlight Cam Pro POE, Outdoor Cam Pro POE and Wired Doorbell Elite. Whereas Retinal 2K Vision is coming to the all-new Indoor Cam Plus and Wired Doorbell Plus. These devices are available to pre-order today. 

Beyond 2K and 4K retinal techology, Ring is also introducing Alexa+ Greetings, an intelligent doorbell attendant. It will basically do the hard work of talking to strangers for you. Alexa+ can ask why someone is at your door, give them instructions and manage your deliveries. 

It works hand-in-hand with another new feature called Familiar Faces. This tool allows Ring to recognize your familiar people and let you know exactly who's at your door. It also lets you limit notifications that come from one of their typical routines, separating them from alerts triggered by an unknown person. 

Alexa+ Greeings and Familiar Faces — both available in December —build on AI-generated descriptions of your alerts, introduced in June. Jamie Siminoff, founder and gave the example text, "A person is walking up the steps with a black dog" and said the descriptions will be "intentionally concise." It lets you know exactly who is coming to the door through text, not just that someone's there. The feature is available for Ring Home Premium subscribers, which costs $20 a month or 200 annually.

Then there's Search Party, which makes your outdoor Ring camera into another lookout for lost pets. If one of your nighbors reports their pet missing in the Ring app, your camera can use AI to identify the animal and send you an alert. However, it wont share any images or videos without your permission. It will start working for lost dogs in November, followed by cats and other pets. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/ring-announces-retinal-4k-vision-and-search-party-for-finding-pets-143314419.html?src=rss

Amazon is making two additions to its lineup of writing tablets: the Kindle Scribe 3, and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. The company showed off the new ereaders at its fall hardware event in New York. 

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is the first time Amazon has added a full-color display to its notebook-like ereader. According to the company, the full-color display is meant to look crisp but "subtle," without the harsh brightness of a typical tablet. The included pen will support writing in 10 different colors and five different shades of highlighter. 

Meanwhile, the new Scribe 3 has been redesigned to be significantly thinner and lighter than its predecessor. At 5.4mm thick, Amazon says it’s meant to have a “paper-like” design. It's also been revamped for a faster writing and page-turning experience. During the event, the company said that writing latency "is down to under 12 milliseconds."

Writing on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. Amazon

The Scribe 3 and Scribe Colorsoft support importing documents from your existing Google Docs and OneDrive accounts. Both tablets come with a new "texture-molded glass" display and a redesigned LED light system at the front of the display. And the display itself has been “rearchitected” to make the writing experience feel more like writing on actual paper than on a tablet. Both Scribes come with an updated processor (Amazon described it as a "quad-core" chip) and increased memory compared with the Scribe 2.

Like last year's Scribe 2, both new models will come with a bunch of AI features, including the ability to generate summaries and search through your notes. Amazon also plans to integrate the Scribe devices into its Alexa+  service so users can ask Alexa questions based on the contents of their notebooks. Amazon is also adding an AI-powered summary feature for ebook readers, called "So Far," that will deliver summaries based on how much of a book you've already read, so you don't have to worry about potential spoilers.

The new Kindle Scribe devices go on sale in the United States “later this year” and will be available in the UK and Germany in early 2026. The third-generation Scribe will start at $500 and the Scribe Colorsoft starts at $630. Amazon will also sell a version of the Scribe 3 without a front light for $430.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/amazon-adds-the-kindle-scribe-colorsoft-and-scribe-3-to-its-writing-tablet-lineup-145031938.html?src=rss

It's hard to muster much excitement for Amazon's Fire TV hardware these days — the company's main goal has been to offer cheap TVs and set top boxes for mainstream consumers who haven't been swayed by more compelling offerings from Roku, Apple and Google. Apparently, not much is changing this year, judging from everything announced during Amazon’s 2025 device launch event. There’s a new lineup of Fire TV sets, as well as the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which the company describes as “the fastest streaming stick under $40.”

Once again, the star of Amazon’s TV selection is the Fire TV Omni QLED Series, which starts at $480 for the 50-inch model. The company says these new sets offer 60 percent better brightness, almost double the amount of local dimming zones (which helps with contrast and black levels) and a new processor that’s over 40 percent faster. The Omni series can also automatically adjust their settings to deal with lighting changes in your room.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select Amazon

The less exciting Fire TV 2-series and 4-series are 30 percent faster than before, but their main features are their low prices, starting at $160 and $330, respectively. All of Amazon’s new Fire TV sets also feature a new Dialog Boost option, as well as Omnisense, a feature that can automatically turn them on when you walk in the room (something that reeks of an Orwellian panopticon, much like the rest of Amazon’s Echo speakers and cameras).

Naturally, Amazon’s Fire TV devices are ways to lure you into Amazon’s $20-a-month Alexa+ subscription. With Alexa+, you can ask questions about actors on the screen, or have it suggest movies similar to a show you watched over the weekend. It can also direct you straight to content in Netflix and other services. None of that sounds compelling on its own, but if you have a ton of Echo devices, the AI benefits of Alexa+ might be worth the subscription.

As for the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Amazon confirmed that it’s running its new Linux-based Vega OS, which replaces the old Android Fire TV software. That’s likely one reason why Amazon was able to bring the cost down to $40.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-unveils-a-new-fire-tv-lineup-including-the-40-fire-tv-stick-4k-select-144541988.html?src=rss

Amazon just held a hardware event and introduced some new Blink security camera products. These include updates of the Blink Mini and Blink Outdoor. The Blink Mini 2K+ and the Blink Outdoor 2K+ are brand-new entries in the line-up that both capture 2K video, for added detail. The previous versions were locked at 1080p.

The Blink Outdoor 2K+ features 4x zoom, enhanced low-light performance, two-way talk with noise cancellation and a whole lot more. It can detect both people and vehicles, automatically sending smartphone notifications to Blink Plus subscribers. The battery life is on-point and it includes the company's proprietary Weather Shield.

Amazon is calling the Blink Mini 2K+ its "most advanced plug-in compact camera yet." It can handle 2K video and can also be used outdoors, if you purchase a weather-resistant power adapter. 

Amazon

The company also announced something called the Blink Arc, which is another camera primarily intended for outdoor use. This one can capture a panoramic view of a yard with maximum coverage. The Arc is actually two cameras in one, with an AI-enhanced algorithm that fuses the footage together into a single 180-degree panorama.

All of this stuff is available to pre-order right now. The Blink Mini 2K+ costs $50 and the Outdoor 2K+ costs $90. The Blink Arc costs a cool $100. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/amazon-just-revealed-new-blink-security-cameras-including-the-outdoor-2k-144042562.html?src=rss