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There's a refresh of the popular Framework Laptop 16 available for pre-order right now, and it's a doozy. The new model is heavy on high-grade specs, with the inclusion of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU and AMD's Ryzen AI 300 Series processors.

We loved the modular nature of the previous iteration, but said the internals were a bit underpowered for serious gamers. It looks like that's been handled here.

The company has also made the NVIDIA-powered graphics module fully backwards compatible, so current owners of 2024's Laptop 16 can scoop that up instead of buying a whole new computer. The company promises a 30 to 40 percent increase in gaming framerates when compared to the Radeon RX module that shipped with the previous model.

The company also updated the thermal system, with a redesign of the fan blades to reduce noise. This was another major complaint we had with the last version, so it's a welcome change.

Framework

Consumers can choose from a couple of AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series variants. There are 8-core Ryzen 7 and 12-core Ryzen 9 options, both running at 45W sustained TDP. The mainboard module has been updated to allow support for four simultaneous display outputs and both storage and memory are upgradeable. Users can get the RAM all the way up to 96GB and the storage up to 10TB.

The new Framework Laptop 16 also ships with a redesigned power adapter, which will be the default adapter moving forward. This may be the first laptop ever with a 240W USB-C adapter, which should let users run the system at a sustained full load without too much of a battery drain.

Other upgrades include a new webcam, a remade CNC aluminum top cover and several new keyboard designs. As previously stated, pre-orders are open right now. Prices start at $1,500 and shipments go out in November. The company has also reduced the price of the previous Laptop 16 iteration down to $1,300.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-latest-framework-16-modular-laptop-includes-the-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-150527564.html?src=rss

You might be feeling like it’s time to upgrade your ereader or even buy your first one, particularly if you’re hoping to do some reading this Labor Day weekend. Alternatively, it may be that you’re looking for a way to read digital comics without all of the distractions of an iOS or Android tablet. In such cases, it may be worth considering Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft, which is currently $30 off at $220.

That's a record low price for this particular model, which has 16GB of storage — half as much as the Signature Edition. This version also lacks the auto-adjusting front light and wireless charging found in the Signature Edition, which costs $280.

In our review of the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (which is otherwise the same as the version that's currently on sale), we described it as a "good Kindle" with which "Amazon has finally filled a glaring hole in its ereader lineup." The quick load times and page turns, and pinch-to-zoom feature are definite highlights, while we were glad to see that Amazon isn't charging a premium to turn off lock screen ads.

The Kindle Colorsoft has a seven-inch color E Ink display with a pixel density of 300 ppi for black-and-white content and 150 ppi for color content. Amazon claims the ereader can run for up to eight weeks on a single charge and that it has a waterproof rating of IPX8 (the company says it's able to endure immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes). There's also Audiobook support.

One of our main drawbacks was that the device was expensive, but this discount mitigates that concern somewhat. We also felt that there was a small dip in sharpness and contrast while reading black-and-white text. In any case, if a color ereader is of interest to you, the Kindle Colorsoft is a good option, especially at this price.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-16gb-kindle-colorsoft-is-30-off-ahead-of-labor-day-weekend-141656390.html?src=rss

Google's Gemini is getting new features for editing images with AI. The latest image editing model is the work of the DeepMind artificial intelligence team, and these updates will be available starting today in the Gemini app. Google noted that all images either generated or edited in Gemini will be visibly and digitally watermarked to designate them as created with artificial intelligence.

The first aspect of the new editing model offers consistency across different versions of an image. It's particularly focused on keeping human characters looking the same as more changes are made the the surrounding visuals, with the idea that people could upload a picture of someone and still look true to reality as they put themselves in different settings or outfits with AI.

The second part of the model involves advanced image editing options. These features include the ability to combine two separate pre-existing images into a new scene, using a visual trait from an existing image as a new prompt or new design element, and multi-stage editing where individual components of an image can be changed in a sequence without losing the accumulated updates.

Image generation of humans was unavailable for a few months last year after Gemini created inaccurately diverse results for prompts based on particular places and times in history. Users regained the ability to AI-generate images of people with the Imagen 3 model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-image-generation-is-adding-more-editing-tools-140034014.html?src=rss

My first thought when I heard Spotify had launched a messaging service was, "Why?" But, after looking into it a bit more, I'm intrigued at the idea of sharing recommendations within the app.

So, what is Spotify's new Messages feature? Basically, like Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms, Spotify is creating a way for you to share content and thoughts from within its app. You can send playlists, songs and podcasts without having to use a link on another platform. 

You can see the Messages feature by clicking on your profile photo. Spotify should recommend accounts you've interacted with before, whether for creating a playlist, joining a jam or sharing a family plan. You can start a conversation there or by clicking the share button on any piece of content within Spotify. This tab is also where you can return to chats and approve message requests. 

Spotify claims that it wants Messages to "complement" other sharing options, like posting a song to social media, rather than serve as a replacement. But, if you find switching apps a bit clunky, then this is a good alternative for sending content. 

However, it's not clear exactly who can use the new feature. According to Spotify, Messages will start rolling out this week to both free and premium users who are over the age of 16. But, the feature is limited to mobile devices in "select markets." 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-introduces-an-in-app-messaging-feature-134401088.html?src=rss

Another day, another instance of AI companies purportedly engaging in copyright infringement. Two Japanese media groups, Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun, are suing Perplexity for illicitly having "copied and stored article content" from the pair's servers, the Financial Times reports. Nikkei owns the Financial Times. 

The two media groups claim Perplexity supplied inaccurate information and credited these falsehoods to the companies. "If left unchecked, this situation could undermine the foundation of journalism, which is committed to conveying facts accurately," Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun, which filed a joint lawsuit, stated.

Each company requests 2.2 billion yen ($15 million) in damages and for Perplexity to remove any stored articles. "Perplexity’s actions amount to large-scale, ongoing ‘free riding’ on article content that journalists from both companies have spent immense time and effort to research and write, while Perplexity pays no compensation," Nikkei said in a statement. 

Ironically, this news comes just one day after Perplexity announced a new revenue-sharing plan for publishers. It's using a new Comet Plus subscription that provides users with "premium content from a group of trusted publishers and journalists" for $5 per month. 

Publishers are poised to get 80 percent of the revenue, initially receiving payment out of a $42.5 million pool. However, that means a subscription gives publishers $4 for turning over their entire library, a significant decrease from the $20 to $30 many newspapers now charge for access. 

Perplexity's current Publisher Program provides shares of ad revenue that a publisher might have received if users clicked on their articles, rather than reading Perplexity's summary. 

These moves create the appearance of Perplexity trying to act above board, but the most recent lawsuit isn't the first time reports have emerged of Perplexity raking websites' content without permission. It's not even the first time this month. 

An early August report from Cloudfare found that Perplexity has allegedly deployed web crawlers to sneak around robots.txt files and firewalls. Cloudfare claims that Perplexity is impersonating Google Chrome with a generic browser and rotating through IP addresses not linked to the company. 

Perplexity also faced a series of accusations in the summer of 2024. Forbes accused the company of illicitly pulling its stories and publishing them, while Wired reported that Perplexity was scraping content from it and other Condé Nast-owned publications. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexity-sued-by-japanese-media-giants-for-stealing-information-and-presenting-false-information-133048116.html?src=rss

YouTube TV could soon lose access to Fox channels, it announced on its official blog, mere days before the 2025 NFL season begins. It warned users that it's actively negotiating with Fox now that the renewal date for their partnership is approaching, but Fox is allegedly asking for an amount "far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive." YouTube TV says it's aiming to reach an agreement that "reflects the value of their content and is fair for both sides" without the service having to raise its prices to be able to offer Fox channels. 

If both sides aren't able to come to an agreement by 5PM Eastern time on August 27, subscribers will no longer be able to access all Fox news and business programs, as well as all sporting events (like NFL games) broadcast on Fox channels. The content from the channels saved in their library will also disappear. In case YouTube TV fails to reach a deal with Fox and the network's channels become unavailable for "an extended period of time," it will give subscribers a $10 credit.

It's worth noting that Fox's own streaming service, Fox One, went online on August 21. The service gives subscribers access to all Fox-branded news, sports and entertainment content, including all NFL and MLB games aired on Fox networks, for $20 a month. It's not clear how the issue will affect NFL Sunday Ticket, though, which YouTube TV exclusively offers as an add-on for $34.50 a month for the first eight months. The sports package gives subscribers access to regular season NFL games not broadcast on local channels in the user's area. 

YouTube TV had issued similar warnings in the past when it couldn't quickly reach a deal with Disney for its channels and with Paramount for CBS, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon, among its other properties. In both cases, YouTube was able to reach an agreement with the companies to continue offering their content. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-tv-warns-subscribers-they-may-lose-fox-channels-131504760.html?src=rss

Fans of music-driven puzzlers loved 2018's block-dropping puzzle game Tetris Effect. The same publisher behind it, Enhance, revived another Tetris-inspired game called Lumines and created indie darling Lumines Remastered. Now Lumines is getting the full Enhance treatment a la Tetris Effect, in the form of Lumines Arise, a new title set to be released on November 11.

We got a chance to go hands-on with the music-driven, block-dropping puzzle game earlier this summer. The game's sensory-rich effects and striking graphics are enhanced further by new mechanics. And the soundtrack is sure to satisfy, with new music from Hydelic, the same band behind the award-winning soundtrack for Tetris Effect: Connected.

Before November, fans of Lumines will get their chance to test run this new title. Enhance has released a playable demo and it's available right now on PC via Steam and PS5 for one week only, until September 3. It features a never-before-seen multiplayer "Burst Battle" mode as well as three single-player Journey Mode stages. The full game will feature 35 of these stages as well as many additional modes and challenges that will not be included in the demo.

Lumines Arise comes to PS5 and Steam on November 11.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/beat-driven-puzzler-lumines-arise-will-overload-your-senses-on-november-11-130008360.html?src=rss

Google will implement a new safety feature that would require developers to verify their identity if they want Android users to be able to sideload their apps. The company said that it made the decision after recent analysis found "over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play." By verifying a developer's identify first, it hopes to better protect users from "bad actors spreading malware and scams."

In its announcement, Google said that apps need to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices. Pretty much all Android phones in the US and Europe are certified if they come with Google Play. The company is now building a new Android Developer Console, specifically for developers that distribute outside its app store, so they can quickly authenticate their identities. Developers will be able to go through the verification process in the console, as well as register their package names. 

Google likened the process to "an ID check at the airport" in that it will only confirm the identity of an app's developer but will not be reviewing the content of the app. The company also clarified that the verification process will not prevent developers from distributing their apps wherever they want, including app stores other than Google Play. 

The developer verification requirement will start rolling out in late 2026 in Brazil, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. A global rollout will follow at a later date. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-124521174.html?src=rss

Silent Hill f starts off with a grounded (but still heavy) setup, establishing a miserable family dynamic for protagonist Hinako. With an alcoholic, abusive father, a submissive mother and an absent sister, who’s shown in flashbacks with that classic horror trope, face unseen. Something horrible is about to unfold in the sleepy, remote village of Ebisugaoka, sometime in the early 1960s.

The latest Silent HIll still has jumpscares, like you’d expect from the horror series, but the setting and game systems are more focused on tension, putting both Hinako and the player under constant duress. A typical health meter is joined by a sanity gauge and even your weapons have limited durability, so you’re forced to pick your fights.

During a two-hour demo, I had to do exactly that. As Hinako escapes her family home to find someone, anyone, to talk to, the village is eerily empty. A kei truck blocks the direct route to the local shop, with a crushed bird nearby adding to the weird. Soon, a sinister fog and red undergrowth attack four assembled high school students. 

Konami

Of course, it only gets weirder. As marionette nightmares pop up, all Hinako can do is run and evade attacks. A focus mode, pressing L1, burns the sanity gauge but gives better prompts for both dodging and eventually counter-attacking monsters.

Hinako is no soldier. She’s no battle-hardened survivor. When I eventually find a steel pipe to fight back with, even fast attacks are a little sluggish, while heavy swings, which can often stun and knock down enemies, take a while to charge up and can be hard to aim if you haven’t locked onto the enemy. If there’s more than one attacker, it’s a tense struggle and I’m often forced to burn through recovery items more so than when facing a sound and light-sensitive crawling beast, a fleshy-spherical ogre and other middleweight boss fights.

Fortunately, there are hokora, miniature Shinto shrines, dotted around the village, which act as save points. The eerie location of Ebisugaoka and when a friend continually calls Hinako a "traitor" further amplify the sense of dread. The older sister is briefly shown during a flashback, but her face is obscured. Even in the younger sister’s journal, the biog page for the sister is covered in scribbles and ink. It’s very Japanese Horror, and less shotgun-to-the-zombie-face. And just plain stressful.

A new sanity system is intriguing too. It's not an entirely new premise: the Gamecube's Eternal Darkness would manipulate the graphics and sound within the game as the character's sanity declined. But that was, depressingly, over 20 years ago. 

Some items can top up your sanity, but if you don’t use them, you can offer them at a shrine for an in-game currency and spend that on charms to boost Hinako’s stats. I managed to afford a stamina-boosting charm during my playthrough and was tantalizingly close to affording another charm before getting cut down by scarecrows dressed as high-schoolers.

The scarecrow confrontation is hopefully a good example of nuanced puzzles that will appear in the full game. Initially, a bloodied rag tells you to take the thorns out of the one scarecrow that isn’t part of the group – the one that isn’t going to cut you up with their sickle. Unfortunately, all of the scarecrows have a thorn, so you’re tasked with finding the pattern of his group.

Konami

The entire experience is drenched in atmosphere, supported by this new sanity system — is there anything more 2025 than a mental health gauge? The constant feeling of isolation ("Where is everyone?") and unanswered questions made the demo a persuasive introduction to the game. A particularly tense moment involves collapsing after a fight, further emphasizing the character's vulnerability. Also, there’s some kind of dashing fox spirit in a mask, who coaxes Hinako through the dreamlike, blood-soaked temple areas. The mysterious fox spirit knows her name, which adds yet another layer of intrigue. 

I hope all will be made clear when the game launches, roughly a month from now.

Silent Hill f launches on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S on September 25 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/silent-hill-f-preview-gamescom-2025-123030305.html?src=rss

Hasselblad has launched the followup to its first 100MP medium-format camera with a new model that improves on it in almost every way. The X2D II 100C promises better image quality, a brighter display, 10-stop stabilization and updated hybrid autofocus. As with any Hasselblad product, it's expensive — but less so than the previous model. 

The original X2D 100C took beautiful photos but lacked even basic technology like continuous autofocus. That's no longer the case. The X2D II 100C is the first Hasselblad camera with AF-C phase-detect AF backed by AI algorithms and LiDAR assistance, finally allowing burst shooting for movings subjects (albeit at a low 3 fps). With those changes, the new model promises "fast and accurate" AF, especially, in low light — which would be a big improvement over the previous model. 

At the same time, Hasselblad is pushing the image quality envelope further. The X2D II 100C is the first medium-format camera to support true end-end-end HDR, which reduces overexposure, enhances highlight retention and improves tonal depth for more natural looking images. Those can then be viewed directly on the display as HDR HEIF or Ultra HDR JPEG images. The updated 100MP BSI sensor also delivers 16-bit RAW images and up to 15.3 stops of dynamic range, among the highest of any camera available.

Hasselblad

Another key change is the updated 5-axis in-body stabilization system. It now delivers up to 10 stops, more than any other camera (Fujifilm's GFX100 II offers 8 stops and some Canon models go up to 8.5 stops) — perfect for a high-resolution camera where sharpness is critical. With the new system, Hasselblad claims you can capture "hand-held long exposures lasting several seconds without a tripod" for extra creative possibilities. 

The X2D II 100C weighs 7.5 percent less than the X2D 100C at around 730 grams without a lens — not bad at all for a medium format camera. The grip has also been updated with a textured surface to "enhance comfort and control," the company wrote. 

Other updates include a new 3.6-inch touch display with 1,400 nits of peak brightness that tilts 90 degrees upward and 43 degrees downward to make high and low angle shooting easier. Hasselblad also included a 5D joystick to change focus or operate the menus, addressing a big user complaint about the X2D 100C. It comes with 1TB of built-in storage as before — something almost no other mirrorless camera offers — along with a CFexpress Type B slot (as before, there's no support for video). Finally, Hasselblad introduced a new app, Phocus Mobile 2, that allows users to remotely control the camera, transfer shots and even edit them. 

Hasselblad

As for the price, it's less shocking than you may expect. The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is now on sale for $7,399, $800 less than the X2D 100C at launch and (perhaps strategically) $100 less than rival Fujifilm's GFX100 II was at launch. 

Hasselblad also introduced a new zoom lens, the XCD 2.8-4 35-100E (28-76mm full-frame equivalent). It promises "top-tier" optical performance and the fastest stepping motor in its XCD lens lineup, along with control rings for shutter speed, aperture and more. Like all Hasselblad lenses, it incorporates a leaf shutter that allows for up to 1/4000th flash sync speeds for easier use of fill light in bright conditions. The XCD 2.8-4 35-100E is now available for $4,599. 

Finally, the company introduced the $469 Hasselblad-branded Vandra 20-liter backpack that will help you flaunt the brand name even if the camera's tucked away. It can hold an X2D II 100C body, two lenses and accessories. Finally, Hasselblad unveiled three new 86mm filters: a UV for $299, ND ($329) and circular polarizer (CPL) for $559. Ouch.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/hasselblads-x2d-ii-100c-offers-improved-autofocus-and-world-beating-stabilization-120006496.html?src=rss

After all the new Pixel 10 phones — expect to hear our review verdicts soon — we had time to take a closer look at the AI-centric software features Google often excels at. These include advances in Voice Translate, which can create a synthetic version of your voice speaking German. Or French. Or Japanese.

Engadget

There’s also Pro Res Zoom (Pixel 10 Pro devices only), which cranks zoom up to 100x, with AI guide rails to avoid twisted human faces and garbled text. In short, fewer AI hallucinations but improved detail and crispness. There’s also the Camera Coach, but I’m already a pretty good photographer. Brag. Managing Editor Cherlynn Low explains which features caught her attention at the Made By Google event.

Also: Add Me is still incredible, as designated group photographer.

— Mat Smith

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The first foldable iPhone might include a return to Touch ID But don’t expect it this year.

Bloomberg reports Apple’s first foldable iPhone could come with a blast from the past: Touch ID. Why it’s reverting to Touch ID from Face ID is unclear for now: the last use was on the third-generation iPhone SE.

According to Bloomberg, Apple was also initially going to give its first foldable iPhone on-cell touch sensors, but pivoted to an in-cell option, similar to the current iPhone. An on-cell display adds a layer on top, creating a thicker end product, which can lead to more noticeable display creases.

Continue reading.

The US government is taking an $8.9 billion stake in Intel Grants convert that to a 9.9 percent stake in the company.

President Donald Trump announced the US government is taking a 10 percent stake in chip maker Intel. The plan to convert Intel’s previously promised CHIPS Act funding into equity in the company was first reported earlier in August. Intel was supposed to receive up to $10.86 billion in federal funding to expand its chip manufacturing business in the US as part of the CHIPS Act. By agreeing to this deal, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is likely trying to make sure funding still goes through, one of several drastic moves to keep Intel afloat. Tan assumed the title of CEO following Pat Gelsinger’s sudden retirement in 2024. Since taking over, he’s already committed to cutting Intel’s workforce by 20 percent.

Continue reading.

Google’s leaked smart home hardware looks familiar Leaked images suggest a Pixel 10 approach to its Nest lineup. Android Headlines

Google teased a new smart speaker during its Pixel 10 launch event, and now Android Headlines has new images and details on several future Nest products. Based on the images from Android Headlines, Google’s new smart home lineup looks nearly identical to the cameras and doorbells it already sells. The exception is the new smart speaker, which is smaller and rounder than the Nest Audio. The biggest spec change may be that all of the new Nest devices’ built-in cameras will reportedly record in 2K resolution, rather than 1080p. They’ll also come in a selection of new colors. The Nest Cam Indoor comes in Snow (white), Berry (red) and Hazel (gray).

Continue reading.

Elon Musk and xAI are suing Apple and OpenAI because Grok isn’t topping the app charts The suit says the companies have ‘locked up markets to maintain their monopolies.’

Elon Musk’s xAI is suing Apple and OpenAI. The suit accuses the companies of illegally conspiring to stop rival AI companies from getting a fair shot on the App Store, alleging they have “locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing.”

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111552780.html?src=rss

The US Attorneys General of 44 jurisdictions have signed a letter [PDF] addressed to the Chief Executive Officers of multiple AI companies, urging them to protect children "from exploitation by predatory artificial intelligence products." In the letter, the AGs singled out Meta and said its policies "provide an instructive opportunity to candidly convey [their] concerns." Specifically, they mentioned a recent report by Reuters, which revealed that Meta allowed its AI chatbots to "flirt and engage in romantic roleplay with children." Reuters got its information from an internal Meta document containing guidelines for its bots. 

They also pointed out a previous Wall Street Journal investigation wherein Meta's AI chatbots, even those using the voices of celebrities like Kristen Bell, were caught having sexual roleplay conversations with accounts labeled as underage. The AGs briefly mentioned a lawsuit against Google and Character.ai, as well, accusing the latter's chatbot of persuading the plaintiff's child to commit suicide. Another lawsuit they mentioned was also against Character.ai, after a chatbot allegedly told a teenager that it's okay to kill their parents after they limited their screentime. 

"You are well aware that interactive technology has a particularly intense impact on developing brains," the Attorneys General wrote in their letter. "Your immediate access to data about user interactions makes you the most immediate line of defense to mitigate harm to kids. And, as the entities benefitting from children’s engagement with your products, you have a legal obligation to them as consumers." The group specifically addressed the letter to Anthropic, Apple, Chai AI, Character Technologies Inc., Google, Luka Inc., Meta, Microsoft, Nomi AI, OpenAI, Perplexity AI, Replika and XAi. 

They ended their letter by warning the companies that they "will be held accountable" for their decisions. Social networks have caused significant harm to children, they said, in part because "government watchdogs did not do their job fast enough." But now, the AGs said they are paying attention, and companies "will answer" if they "knowingly harm kids."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/us-attorneys-general-tell-ai-companies-they-will-be-held-accountable-for-child-safety-failures-035213253.html?src=rss

SpaceX's massive Starship rocket was scheduled to lift off from the company's Texas launch site this evening for its 10th flight. After scrubbing the launch initially planned for Sunday, August 24, things were apparently back on track for Monday, August 25. The launch window opened at 7:30PM ET (6:30PM CT) and was even livestreamed on the SpaceX website and on X, with a webcast starting 30 minutes before the supposed launch. However, SpaceX ultimately stood down from the test flight due to weather conditions at 8:02PM. The company is still determining the next launch opportunity. 

Yesterday, the weather looked iffy for launch, as well; SpaceX said on Saturday that conditions were looking only 45 percent favorable. Ultimately the Sunday (and then the Monday) launch was cancelled "to allow time to troubleshoot an issue with ground systems," according to a SpaceX post on X.

Standing down from today's tenth flight of Starship to allow time to troubleshoot an issue with ground systems

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 24, 2025

Standing down from today’s flight test attempt due to weather. Starship team is determining the next best available opportunity to fly

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2025

Flight 10 follows a series of failures this year during SpaceX's seventh, eighth and ninth test flights. And in June, a Starship vehicle exploded on the ground during preparations for a static fire test of its six Raptor engines. If all goes according to plan for Flight 10, Starship will deploy eight dummy Starlink satellites and perform "several experiments focused on enabling Starship’s upper stage to return to the launch site." It won't actually be returning to the launch site this time, though. The test is expected to last a little over an hour, and end with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

Update, August 25, 2025, 11:30AM ET: This story was updated to note that Sunday's launch was scrubbed and that SpaceX will try again tonight.

Update: August 25, 2025 8:47PM ET: This story was updated to note that the August 25 launch was scrubbed due to weather conditions. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacex-is-about-to-launch-starship-for-its-10th-test-flight-215652105.html?src=rss

Despite all the division and controversy rife in the modern era, sometimes the Internet does manage to collectively agree on something. Right now, they agree that they hate Imgur parent company MediaLab.

After being acquired by MediaLab in 2021, the once famously open-to-anything image-sharing service began placing restrictions on content in 2023. More recently, the site has experienced service issues, including problems with notifications. Many members of the Imgur community have claimed that MediaLab fired most of its US content moderation team in favor of AI, while others have said that the site is deleting or hiding content that is critical of the owner and its policies.

The exact timeline, as well as what brought things to a tipping point, is still fuzzy at best. But for hours today, the Imgur homepage has been dominated by spammed images of a John Oliver meme in protest of what users see as MediaLab's poor management of the platform. Whatever team is currently working at Imgur appears to be unable to handle the rate that the memes are being posted, so it's anyone's guess how long the spam protest will dominate the front page.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/imgur-protest-covers-the-front-page-in-anti-medialab-memes-225502091.html?src=rss

The next season of Overwatch 2 will bring more than the usual new hero and battle pass to the team shooter. Blizzard announced that Season 18 will introduce a new take on the progression system. As they currently stand, the progression numbers feel pretty divorced from the gameplay; this revamp introduces new ways to display your prowess to teammates and foes in matches as well as some welcome changes to how you see and equip your rewards. 

The new Progression 2.0 system has overhauled the visual side. For starters, there will be new portrait frames that increase in fanciness every 20 levels, capping at level 60. These Ascended borders will be displayed when you pick your hero for a match. Between the different Ascended frames, players will unlock five tiers of hero badges that also display in Hero Select under your portrait. 

Overwatch 2 Hero BadgesBlizzard

In addition to the new flash, the Hero Select screen will show your allies a card with your top heroes on it. I doubt anyone will pay too much attention to cards in the Open Queue matches, so this seems like a Competitive-angled addition. It could help make it easy to build a team composition based on the whole group's strengths, creating a test of your crew's cooperation ability before the game even starts. Blizzard clarified that in Competitive, opponents won't be able to see your portrait borders until 10-15 seconds after a match begins, and hero cards won't be displayed to an enemy until one of you eliminates each other. That means nobody should be able to use your hero card against you in the ban phase.

I've almost never thought about the rewards I get for progression stats because it's unclear when I've gotten a new item and I rarely bother searching for them in my cosmetics collections, so having a dedicated progression menu added should place a new focus on tracking how far you've gotten with a particular character. The hero-specific rewards on the horizon will be displayed on that page, and already-unlocked items can be equipped directly from that menu. Blizzard is also offering occasional Epic and Legendary loot box freebies as you rise through the ranks for each hero, which is always welcome. 

The progression levels will be rewarded retroactively when the season starts. For long-time fans, that means you can expect to see a whole bunch of rewards to browse through when you first log in during Season 18. For new players, there will be more credits and cosmetics available to unlock in the first 20 levels. That first set of 20 levels will also be scaled to be quicker to complete, while later levels will require more time.

The new season kicks off tomorrow, on August 26. Season 18 will also bring a new option for keyboard and mouse controls on console and the permanent addition of watery support hero Wuyang. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/overwatch-2-will-overhaul-its-progression-systems-to-show-more-visual-flair-in-matches-214336004.html?src=rss

Perplexity is launching a new revenue-sharing plan for publishers that will pay them every time its AI assistants use an article to answer a question, The Wall Street Journal reports. Perplexity is launching the plan (and partially paying for it) with a new Comet Plus subscription that gives subscribers access "to premium content from a group of trusted publishers and journalists."

Comet Plus costs $5 per month, and based on Perplexity's description, it's primarily designed to account for the actions its Comet Agent (included in the Comet browser) takes on websites, which aren't considered in existing publisher deals. "When you ask Perplexity to synthesize recent coverage of an industry trend, that's indexed traffic," the company writes. "When Comet Assistant scans your calendar and suggests articles relevant to your day’s meetings, that's agent traffic."

The company's existing Publisher Program, which counts publications like TIME and Fortune as participants, shares ad revenue based on the traffic a Perplexity search is stealing away by providing a summary of an article. The money shared through Comet Plus will presumably account for what's lost when an AI agent visits a webpage on your behalf, zooming past ads you'd normally see or hear.

Publishers will get 80 percent of the revenue of Comet Plus, according to Perplexity, with the remaining 20 percent allocated to "compute." The Wall Street Journal writes that Perplexity will initially pay participating publishers out of a "$42.5 million revenue pool" that will expand over time, presumably as sign-ups grow for Comet Plus, and the Comet web browser becomes available to more people. That starting sum likely takes into account Perplexity's existing Pro and Max subscribers, who will receive Comet Plus as part of their subscriptions and are paying into the revenue-sharing scheme by default.

It sounds generous on its face, and maybe with a large enough volume of subscribers it will be, but 80 percent of $5 is $4. That's $4 that will presumably unlock unlimited access to a publication's entire library of content. Most newspapers charge anywhere from $20 to $30 per month to access all of their articles. Why would they settle for less?

It's not clear if this plan replaces Perplexity's existing Publisher Program, or will exist alongside it. It's also hard to say if not paying for Comet Plus will change the quality of responses you receive in Comet or Perplexity. Engadget has contacted Perplexity for more information and will update this article if we hear back.

Perplexity likely wouldn't be exploring new revenue-sharing plans if it hadn't already been caught plagiarizing articles in the first place. The company wants its agentic browser to be a success, and that ideally requires a certain amount of participation from the people who create the articles, images, and videos agents browse. It remains to be seen if Comet Plus is the kind of arrangement that will make publishers play ball.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexity-has-cooked-up-a-new-way-to-pay-publishers-for-their-content-204255019.html?src=rss

Google wants to get Gemini in your smart home, and it looks like it's planning to release a lineup of new Nest Products to make it happen. The company teased a new smart speaker during its Pixel 10 launch event, and now Android Headlines has new images and details that confirm the look of the speaker and a collection of other Nest products that are on the way.

Based on the images Android Headlines sourced, Google's new smart home lineup looks nearly identical to the cameras and doorbells it's already selling. The exception is the new smart speaker, now called the Google Home Speaker, which is smaller and rounder than the Nest Audio, and could be a replacement for the puck-shaped Nest Mini. The new speaker will come in what looks like red, light green, black and beige color options, and offer "360-degree sound." Android Headlines writes that the speaker also supports Gemini Live, Sound Sensing for detecting smoke alarms or glass breaking and pairing with a Google TV Streamer.

Google's not done releasing new products this year.

🔊 Google Home Speaker
📸 Nest Cam Indoor (3rd Gen)
📸 Nest Cam Outdoor (3rd Gen)
🚪 Nest Doorbell wired

More info: https://t.co/DUuZSduVhJ pic.twitter.com/dpVTrQoERA

— Androidheadline (@Androidheadline) August 25, 2025

The rest of the smart home lineup will feel familiar, save for some new colors, internal tweaks and software features. The biggest change is that all of the new Nest devices built-in cameras will reportedly record in 2K resolution, rather than 1080p. They'll also come in a selection of new colors. The Nest Cam Indoor comes in "Snow" (white), "Berry" (red) and "Hazel" (gray). The camera will include a new "Zoom and Crop" feature that lets you crop a camera feed to focus on a specific area, and be able to store up to an hour of footage locally if your Wi-Fi goes out. Google also plans to expand how long it'll store video previews of events Nest Cams detect, taking the library of 10-second previews from one hour to three.

The Nest Cam Outdoor will only come in Snow and Hazel, but it'll reportedly include all the new features of the Nest Cam Indoor. The same goes for the new Nest Doorbell, except it'll be available in Snow, Hazel and "Linen" (beige). The decision to largely use the same design on its Nest devices and focus on changing internal components and software features is a similar strategy to what Google used with the Pixel 10 lineup. The phones largely look the same, but they feature improved internals and plenty of new software features.

Android Headlines writes that Google plans to use this hardware launch to also rebrand its Nest Aware and Aware Plus subscriptions. The new name for Google's entry-level smart home subscription will be Google Home Premium. The company also plans to sell a Google Home Premium Advanced. As far as which subscription offers what, and if certain Gemini features will be locked behind a higher price, we'll have to wait until Google details its smart home plans. The company said Gemini for Home will launch in October, so expect more official announcements in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/googles-new-smart-home-hardware-looks-mostly-familiar-in-leaked-images-190011191.html?src=rss

The long-awaited cyberpunk platformer Replaced has been delayed once again. Now it's not coming out until next spring. Developer Sad Cat Studio apologized for the delay and said that this is simply "what's right for the project" and that the team remains dedicated to creating a "truly special experience."

This isn't the first time the game has suffered a delay. It was originally announced back in 2021, with a pending release date of 2022. That didn't happen. In 2024, the company announced a release date of 2025. As today's news indicates, that also isn't going to happen.

Why all of the delays? The company wants a polished finished product, sure, but the real world intervened on its original release plans. The company was based in Belarus before relocating after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was the primary factor behind those earlier delays.

For the uninitiated, Replaced is a nifty-looking sidescrolling platformer that takes inspiration from old-school games like Out of this World (also called Another World) and Flashback. It looks soaked in cyberpunk vibes. Assuming there are no more delays, it'll come out next year for PC and Xbox Series X/S. The trailers have gotten us amped for this one.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pixel-art-cyberpunk-platformer-replaced-delayed-again-this-time-until-spring-2026-182908044.html?src=rss

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is bullish on the future of robotics, and sees it as the chipmaker's biggest opportunity outside of AI. Today the company announced the next generation of its Jetson AGX system-on-module called Jetson Thor. The developer kit and T5000 production modules are computers designed for physical AI and robotics.

The company has been iterating on these robot brains for a few years now, with each model more powerful than the last. The newest generation is powered by NVIDIA's Blackwell GPU architecture and offers 7.5 times more AI compute and 3.5 times greater energy efficiency than its predecessor, the Jetson Orin. These chips can run generative AI models, including large language and visual models, to help robots interpret the world around them. “We've built Jetson Thor for the millions of developers working on robotic systems that interact with and increasingly shape the physical world,” said NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang.

The module is powered by NVIDIA's full-stack Jetson software platform, which is purpose-built for physical AI and robotics applications. The company counts Amazon, Meta, Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics among its robotics clients using Jetson chips, which should give you an idea of who the target audience for this technology is. The Jetson AGX Thor is now on sale for $3,499 as a developer kit, and NVIDIA will sell the Thor T5000 modules for installation in production-ready robots. These will be sold at a wholesale price of $2,999 per module for a minimum order of 1,000 or more.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidia-releases-the-next-generation-of-its-cutting-edge-robot-brain-180434373.html?src=rss

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI is suing Apple and OpenAI, as reported by Reuters. The suit accuses the companies of illegally conspiring to stop rival AI companies from getting a fair shot on the App Store, alleging they have "locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing."

The complaint suggests that Apple and OpenAI have been conspiring to suppress xAI's products on the App Store. "If not for its exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the X app and the Grok app in its App Store," xAI told Reuters.

Apple has integrated OpenAI's ChatGPT into several of its products, but it remains to be seen if that has translated to any anticompetitive practices. It's worth noting that rival AI apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity have both spent time on the top of App Store charts since this partnership began, according to CNBC.

This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like. https://t.co/HlgzO4c2iC

— Sam Altman (@sama) August 12, 2025

This lawsuit comes after Musk threatened legal action a couple of weeks back after making similar accusations regarding Apple and OpenAI. Apple has yet to respond to the complaint but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk's original allegation by calling it "a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like." 

Altman is likely referencing various studies that indicate Musk made huge changes to the X algorithm to favor his personal posts and posts by conservative commentators. He has also threatened to "fix" the Community Notes feature on X, which is a crowdsourced fact-checking tool. OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood told The Verge that today's lawsuit "is consistent with Mr. Musk's ongoing pattern of harassment." 

xAI also brought this lawsuit to the Northern District of Texas Fort Worth Division, which is a notoriously conservative arm of the federal court. This is where Musk typically steers his various lawsuits, in a practice some refer to as "judge shopping."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musk-and-xai-are-suing-apple-and-openai-because-grok-isnt-topping-the-app-charts-170020376.html?src=rss