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12.04.2025 18:20 Meta has announced that Patrick Collison and Dina Powell McCormick are joining its board of directors on April 15. Collison is the co-founder and CEO of Stripe, the payment processor and financial services company that he started with his brother. He is also the co-founder of the Arc Institute, a biomedical science and technology institution. Meanwhile, Powell McCormick was a partner at Goldman Sachs and ran its Global Sovereign investment banking business. She also worked for the US government and served as Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump during his first term. Powell McCormick helped shape the Trump administration's foreign policy, especially in regards to the Middle East as an Egyptian-American. She served as an Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor for Economic Initiatives during Trump's first term, as well. Her Trump-era appointments weren't the first time she worked in the US government, though: Back during the George W. Bush administration, she served as the Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and Deputy Undersecretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. She is married to Republican senator Dave McCormick. "Patrick and Dina bring a lot of experience supporting businesses and entrepreneurs to our board. Patrick is deeply committed to expanding economic opportunity, and Dina has a long career advocating for economic development and supporting entrepreneurs. Their perspective will be extremely valuable to businesses that rely on our services to grow," Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. In January, Meta also welcomed UFC CEO Dana White, who's a known friend and associate of Donald Trump and a supporter of his re-election bid, to its board of directors. White's and Powell McCormick's additions to Meta's board are signs that the company is tacking right now that Trump is back in power, and perhaps one of the ways the company is ingratiating itself to the current administration. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/metas-new-board-members-include-former-trump-security-advisor-121510374.html?src=rss

12.04.2025 18:20 Apple’s new Passwords app is a big leap forward in making password management simple and user-friendly for Apple users, even if it's not as robust as other password managers. If you’ve ever fumbled through Safari settings to find a saved login or toggled through iCloud Keychain menus to edit credentials, the Passwords app is for you. It’s designed to give you a dedicated home for all your saved login credentials, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords and two-factor authentication codes, all in one secure, easy-to-navigate interface. What is the Apple Passwords app? The Passwords app is Apple’s standalone password manager. While Apple users have long been able to save passwords using iCloud Keychain, the actual management experience was buried within Settings or Safari. With the Passwords app, Apple has turned what was once a tucked-away feature into a full-fledged application that works across iPhone, iPad and Mac. The app holds all your saved login credentials, plus passkeys, verification codes and Wi-Fi passwords. Everything is securely stored, synced via iCloud and protected by Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode. With it, you can more easily search for logins, get security recommendations, share credentials with family members and store two-factor authentication codes all in one place. Rob Webb for Engadget How to access the Passwords app on iPhone To access the Passwords app on your iPhone: Make sure your device is updated to iOS 18 or later. Find the Passwords app using Spotlight Search, the App Library or your Home Screen. Tap the app icon and authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode. Once you've opened the app, you'll see your saved accounts organized alphabetically. A search bar at the top makes it easy to find what you're looking for. Logins are grouped by category, including: Passkeys Codes Wi-Fi Security Tapping any item shows detailed information, including login URLs, usernames, passwords and any associated notes. How to add and edit passwords manually Most passwords are saved automatically when you use Safari to log in to websites, but you can also add entries manually, including verification codes and passkeys. To manually add a login: Open the Passwords app. Tap the + icon in the bottom-right corner. Choose New Password. Enter the site or service name, username and password. Add any optional notes using the Notes field. Tap Save to finish. To edit a saved password: Open the relevant entry. Tap Edit. Update any details as needed. Select Set up code , where you will be prompted to enter a setup key or scan a QR code with the camera. Tap Save to save your changes. How to enable and use Autofill with the Passwords app Autofill makes logging in fast and seamless. Instead of typing out usernames and passwords, your iPhone can automatically suggest saved credentials when you visit a login page. To enable Autofill: Go to Settings > Apps > Passwords. View Autofill Settings. Make sure Autofill Passwords and Passkeys are turned on. Choose Passwords as your default autofill provider. Once Autofill is enabled, Safari and many third-party apps will offer login suggestions from the Passwords app when you tap into a username or password field. If there are multiple logins for a site, you’ll be prompted to select the right one. When creating a new login in Safari, you’ll also be asked to save the new password to the Passwords app. This ensures it’s available across all your Apple devices. How to sync passwords to your devices with iCloud Keychain The Passwords app uses iCloud Keychain to sync your saved credentials across your Apple devices. If you use multiple devices like an iPhone, iPad and Mac, enabling Keychain ensures your logins stay consistent everywhere. To enable iCloud Keychain: Open Settings. Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen. Tap iCloud > Passwords and Keychain. Turn on Sync this iPhone . You may be prompted to authenticate or confirm your identity with a verification code. Once it’s set up, all your saved credentials will be securely synced via iCloud. This also allows the Passwords app to work in harmony with macOS and iPadOS, meaning you can view and edit your saved data from any of your Apple devices. Rob Webb for Engadget How to use passkeys and verification codes The Passwords app supports two newer authentication features that improve both security and convenience: passkeys and verification codes. Passkeys Passkeys are a new way to sign in without using a traditional password. Instead, they use Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode to confirm your identity. They are intended to be more phishing-resistant since they can’t be reused or copied across services. If a website or app supports passkeys, Safari will prompt you to create one when signing in or registering. Once saved, the passkey is stored in the Passwords app. To view and manage passkeys: Open the Passwords app. Tap Passkeys. You’ll see a Passkey section if one has been saved. Passkeys work across Apple devices and can even be used on non-Apple platforms by scanning a QR code when prompted. Verification codes Verification codes are used in two-factor authentication systems. The Passwords app can now generate these codes automatically. To set up a verification code: Open the Passwords app. Tap the login entry you want to edit. Tap Edit > Set Up Code. Scan a QR code provided by the website, or enter the code manually. The app will generate a six-digit code that refreshes every 30 seconds. The code will also autofill when you log into a compatible website or app, saving you the hassle of switching to a separate authenticator app. How to share passwords securely You can share saved credentials with others using iMessage. This is helpful for families or teams who need access to shared accounts. The passwords are sent via end-to-end encrypted messages, ensuring privacy and security. To share a password: Open the Passwords app. Tap the entry you want to share. Tap the Share button . Choose a recipient in Messages. How to check for weak or compromised passwords Apple includes built-in security checks for your saved credentials. To view security recommendations: Open the Passwords app. Tap Security. You’ll see a list of passwords that are: Reused across multiple accounts Easily guessable Involved in known data breaches You can tap any entry to update the password directly. This feature helps improve your overall security hygiene with minimal effort. How secure is the Passwords app? Apple uses end-to-end encryption for everything in the Passwords app. That means your data is encrypted on your device and can only be decrypted by your device. Even Apple doesn’t have access to your credentials. Accessing the app requires authentication via Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. And if someone steals your device, your saved passwords remain locked behind biometric security. Additionally, Apple participates in the FIDO Alliance, promoting secure, passwordless logins and helping drive adoption of technologies like passkeys. Using the Passwords app on iPad and Mac The Passwords app is also available on: iPad tablets running iPadOS 18 or later Mac laptops and desktops running macOS Sequoia or later On iPad, the app works the same way as on iPhone, offering full management of your saved credentials. On Mac, you can find Passwords in System Settings or by using Spotlight Search. Syncing is handled automatically through iCloud Keychain. If you're logged into the same Apple ID on all your devices, your passwords will stay in sync.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/how-to-use-the-apple-passwords-app-120026715.html?src=rss

12.04.2025 03:30 With Nintendo's April 2 Direct showcase over and done, we now know more about the Switch 2 than ever before, including its release date and price . We're also keeping a close eye on how the recently-announced tariffs in the United States are affecting Nintendo's launch plans — the company has already paused pre-orders in the US that were set to take place on April 9. Thanks to Nintendo's January 16 teaser trailer, we've long known what the Switch 2 will look like, and that it will arrive in 2025 — over eight years after its predecessor. The Nintendo Switch 2 looks very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games. Looking to catch up on everything we know about the Switch 2? Read on. What are the key new features of the Nintendo Switch 2? Display and dock The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 1080p 7.9-inch display with a 120Hz refresh and HDR compatibility. It also supports up to 4K output at 120Hz when docked. Joy-Con and Pro Controller The new Joy-Con 2 for Nintendo Switch 2 attaches magnetically with a button to release them. They have larger SL and SR buttons to make playing multiplayer games on individual Joy-Cons more feasible. These buttons are also made of steel and attach to the Switch 2's magnets. The analog sticks are no longer tiny nubs, and are closer in size to the ones you might find on a PS5 or Xbox controller. However, they do not have Hall effect sensors, the use of which can minimize the risk of the "stick drift" issue that plagued the original Joy-Cons. The Joy-Con 2 have what Nintendo is calling “HD Rumble 2” built in, which seems to be a refinement of the original vibration function. Finally, each Joy-Con 2 has an optical sensor that allows you to use it as a mouse, and a C button, which we’ll get to in a minute. Nintendo The new Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with everything you’d expect based on the refreshed Joy-Con 2: Namely HD Rumble 2 and the C button. There are also remappable GL/GR buttons around the back and a standard audio jack for connecting a headset. Both options come with Amiibo support built in. The Switch 2 comes with two Joy-Con 2, as you’d expect, and additional pairs are priced at $90. The Pro Controller will cost $80. The C button stands for “chat” The new C button is a dedicated way to enter a chat session with friends. As well as the standard features you’d expect from voice chat, Nintendo has built a Discord-like video-sharing feature, which lets you show your gameplay to others and see other people’s screens while you’re playing. The GameChat function works with a mic built into the console, though headsets are also supported. Nintendo will also sell a $50 camera that plugs into the USB-C port on the top of the console, which will allow you to stream your face along with your game. Nintendo GameCube support The Switch 2 will work with GameCube games via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. The three titles available at launch will be F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II. Improved specs Perhaps the biggest feature, though, is one you can’t see: The Switch 2 has an all-new processor and GPU and significantly more storage , along with support for faster and more capacious microSD cards. This will obviously lead to better first-party games and upgraded Switch experiences, but more importantly it will mean multi-platform games that had to skip the original, underpowered Switch will be able to be ported over. With games like Cyberpunk 2077 coming to the Switch 2 at launch, it seems like far more ports will be feasible than on the original console. Another major improvement comes in the form of networking — the Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6, which will improve the original's often glacial download speeds. Similarly, the new dock sports an Ethernet port for a rock-solid connection. What's it like to play? Nintendo gave the press a chance to check out the Switch 2 and a few of the games it highlighted. You can read our impressions of Mario Kart World as well as more general thoughts on how the Switch 2 feels in person. Right off the bat, Mario Kart World feels like an outstanding launch title, with more depth and better visuals than we've ever seen from a Mario Kart game. The core formula is intact, but there are a lot of new features and play styles to dig into. As for the Switch 2 hardware, it feels like a major step forward from the original Switch — it has grown up a lot and feels far more polished and refined. And while it may not have an OLED screen, the 7.9-inch LED display Nintendo did use is outstanding. When will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out? June 5, 2025. When do pre-orders open for Nintendo Switch 2? Pre-orders were originally set to begin on April 9, but on April 4 Nintendo announced it was suspending pre-order plans in the US "indefinitely" in reaction to the original slate of tariffs imposed by President Trump. However, Nintendo says that the release date for the console is unchanged. An April 11 report from IGN originally elevated May 8 as the new US pre-order date, but the publication has since walked that back. In fact, that date was already the one slated for Nintendo to confirm the first batch of pre-orders through its site. How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? On April 2, Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would cost $450 standalone, or $500 with a bundled digital copy of the new Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World. That’s significantly more expensive than the original Switch, which launched at $300, and has remained at that price ever since. It’s also more expensive than the entry-level current-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft. The comparison looks a little better up against Valve’s Steam Deck, which costs $400 for the LCD model or $550 for the basic OLED model. The Steam Deck is more affordable than most PC handhelds. Within 48 hours of the pricing announcement, however, Nintendo delayed the original pre-order schedule "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions." With heavy US tariffs levied on Nintendo's Asian production centers, the implication was that would have little choice but to pass at least some of those costs on to American consumers. But Trump's April 9 tariff pivot — reverting to 10 percent across the board for 90 days for all countries except China, which now gets a triple-digit hit — further muddied the waters. That's because it's unclear how much, if any, of the components and assembly of US-bound Switch 2 consoles will originate in China. How long will the Switch 2's battery last? Nintendo says that the Switch 2 will last between 2 and 6.5 hours on a single charge. This is similar to the original Switch, which was rated for 2.5-6.5 hours, though later revisions upped that figure significantly. The company cautions that "this time is an estimate ... battery life will depend on the games you play and usage conditions." When can I try the Nintendo Switch 2? Nintendo is planning a worldwide roadshow to let gamers go hands-on with the console. These events started in New York and Paris on April 4-6, with others taking place throughout the following two months. Ticket registration for many of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events has closed, but waitlists are available. However, given that Nintendo is taking a first come, first served approach, your chances of attending the roadshow if you don't already have a ticket seem very small at this point. The full list of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience dates is as follows: North America: New York, April 4-6, 2025 Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025 Dallas, April 25-27, 2025 Toronto, April 25-27, 2025 Europe: Paris, April 4-6, 2025 London, April 11-13, 2025 Milan, April 25-27, 2025 Berlin, April 25-27, 2025 Madrid, May 9-11, 2025 Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025 Oceania: Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025 Asia: Tokyo , April 26-27, 2025 Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025 Hong Kong, To be announced Taipei, To be announced Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatible? Nintendo confirmed in November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. It will also feature access to Nintendo Online, so users will be able to play all of those old retro titles. In the initial Nintendo Switch 2 press release, Nintendo reiterated that physical and digital Switch games will work on the new system. However, it noted that "certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." We now have more information on which games are working thanks to a guide Nintendo put together. Nintendo's software compatibility chart on April 2, 2025.Nintendo As of April 1, the vast majority of Switch 2 games are marked as compatible, but many popular games are said to have some issues. Nintendo has marked most of these as “under investigation,” suggesting a fix may be on the way in time for launch. Nintendo says it is manually testing every Switch game for compatibility. Only one title is marked as incompatible: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit. This was part of Nintendo’s Labo range of games that worked with Cardboard accessories, and is incompatible as the Switch 2 doesn’t physically fit in the VR headset. Will old games be enhanced in any way? The original Switch has, to put it mildly, struggled to run some of the late-generation software that's come down the pike. Could these games be enhanced to take advantage of the increased horsepower of the Switch 2? That’s unclear. In an “Ask the Developer” page on its site, Nintendo says that old games are working through a real-time translation system, which sounds similar to how Rosetta allows modern Macs to run old software. With that said, the new and old Switch are much closer in hardware than that. In the same developer interview, it’s said that in its testing of old games for compatibility, there were some occasions “where loading times became faster, or game performance became more stable,” but we don’t have any detail beyond that. As well as backward compatibility, Nintendo is also offering up premium "Switch 2 Edition" upgrades for a select few games. These have improved resolutions and frame rates, and some bonus features and content. What exactly that means will vary, but Nintendo did confirm that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will have 4K/60 fps and 1080p/120 fps options on the Switch 2. Games confirmed to have a Switch 2 Edition to date include: Super Mario Party Jamboree The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Kirby and the Forgotten Land Pokémon Legends: Z-A Metroid Prime 4: Beyond In the case of the two mainline Zelda games, those upgrades will be included with a Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership or cost $10 each. Upgrades for the other games are also paid, but Nintendo has not said how much those will cost. What will the cartridges taste like? You may remember that the original Switch cartridges taste absolutely awful. This was on purpose, to discourage folks from putting the games in their mouth. Similarly, the Switch 2 carts are also said to taste terrible, in large part to stop children or pets from accidentally ingesting them. It is not yet clear what substance Nintendo has coated the Switch 2 cartridges in to make them taste foul, but Nintendo's Takuhiro Dohta advised against licking them all the same. "We don't want anybody to be at risk of any unwanted consumption," he told GameSpot. "We have indeed made it so that if it enters your mouth, you'll spit it out." What are the launch games? We expect this list to change substantially over the coming weeks and months, but the titles currently confirmed to be available on day one follow: Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Cyberpunk 2077 Deltarune Fast Fusion Fortnite Hitman: World of Assassination Hogwarts Legacy Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Split Fiction Street Fighter 6 Survival Kids Yakuza 0: Director's Cut That's everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We'll update this article with any information we can gather directly from sources. Any changes made to the article after its initial publishing will be listed below. Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about price, potential game enhancements and the taste of cartridges. Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This story has been updated to note the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts. Update, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about storage and information about the new microSD Express standard. Update, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This story has been updated to note recent FCC filings to indicate the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC support. Update, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been updated to include pricing and sales speculation from analysts. Update, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Updated to include a note about the Seattle Mariners new jersey patches featuring Nintendo and the Switch 2. Update, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Updated to add details about the C button, Nintendo Today! and Virtual Game Cards. Update, April 1, 2025, 10:16AM ET: Updated to add link to livestream and details on its length. Update, April 2, 2025, 4:40PM ET: Added details from the April 2 Nintendo Direct event, including specifications, price, release date and launch titles. Update, April 4, 2025, 11:17AM ET: Added details about pre-orders being put on hold. Update, April 7, 2025, 1:56PM ET: Added details about the Switch 2 cartridges still tasting terrible, the lack of Hall effect sensors in the controllers and game upgrade pricing. Update, April 9, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added context on how the changing rules on the Trump tariffs may or may not affect Switch 2 pricing in the US. Update, April 11, 2025, 7:11PM ET: Re-affirmed that May 8 is when Nintendo is confirming the first batch of pre-orders through its site, after a faulty report online suggested otherwise. Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-recent-updates-release-date-price-new-games-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-175623663.html?src=rss

12.04.2025 03:30 The Social Security Administration is planning to stop issuing press releases and move all of its official communications to X, according to Wired. The change is happening amidst cuts at the department directed by DOGE, the organization created by Elon Musk, the CEO of X. "We are no longer planning to issue press releases or those dear colleague letters to inform the media and public about programmatic and service changes," SSA regional manager Linda Kerr-Davis reportedly told staff in a meeting. "Instead, the agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public." Like any other government organization, the SSA uses press releases to inform the public and update employees about any changes they should be aware of. That could be simpler things, like correcting the record on how the SSA's death record works, to more vital updates like changes being made to how the SSA does identity verification. The SSA using X for official announcements will do little to dissuade anyone who sees Elon Musk's presence in government as a way to benefit him and his companies. X is not most retirees' preferred social media app, nor is it reasonable to expect them to know how to make an account. Moving official communication there makes it more likely elderly people will miss important updates. That fits with DOGE's other moves, though. The department reportedly cut jobs at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has butted heads with Musk's Tesla, and has a plan to deploy a custom government chatbot.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/the-social-security-administration-is-reportedly-moving-all-official-communication-to-x-223201698.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 Tequila Works, the Spanish developer that created games like Rime and Gylt and published games like The Sexy Brutale, is auctioning off its intellectual property . The studio filed for insolvency in 2024 after "prolonged market conditions" made it financially-difficult to stay above water. The games and IP rights available to bid on at auction site Escrapalia include Tequila Works' first game Deadlight, Rime and its horror adventure game Gylt. The company is also auctioning off in-development projects, including "The Ancient Mariner," "Dungeon Tour" and "Brawler Crawler." Prior to it filing for insolvency and Tequila Works' founders stepping down, the studio released Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story, one of the games on the short-lived Riot Forge publishing label. Riot announced it was shutting down Riot Forge in January 2024. The label published League of Legends spin-off games in variety of different genres, including turn-based RPG Ruined King, 2D action RPGThe Mageseeker, and more. Back in 2022, Tencent acquired a controlling stake in Tequila Works, a connection that made sense given the Chinese company also owns Riot. Contraction across the games industry, the failure of Riot Forge games to connect with a larger audience and Tequila Work's Gylt starting life as a Google Stadia-exclusive all likely contributed to the studio's current position.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-rights-for-tequila-workss-games-are-up-for-auction-after-insolvency-filing-193627934.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 The never-ending Trump tariff saga continues. Tesla has halted Model S and X sales in China, according to reporting by Bloomberg. These particular vehicles are imported to the country from the US so they are impacted by a 125 percent tariff on goods flowing into China. This was enacted by China in response to President Trump placing a 145 percent tariff on imported goods from the country. This isn’t a huge deal for Tesla, as the high-end Model S and Model X are some of the company’s least-popular vehicles in the region. It’s still selling off pre-existing inventory, but the models will be unavailable after that. The more affordable Model 3 and Model Y vehicles are actually made at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, so they aren’t impacted by the tariffs. Trump's tariffs on China and the ones the country has put on the US in response could seriously harm the EV industry here in the states. The European Union has been thinking about opening up its doors to more Chinese electric vehicles, which would likely ding American automakers. Many Chinese-made EVs are significantly more budget-friendly than their American-made counterparts. For instance, the BYD Seagull hatchback would cost just $9,600 in US dollars. Chinese EV manufacturers are also making strides in the world of autonomous driving. As for the tariffs, who knows what the future will bring. Maybe they’ll go away tomorrow or maybe President Trump will whip out his poison pen and increase them tenfold on a whim. What a nice predictable world we live in.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-halts-model-s-and-x-sales-in-china-due-to-tariffs-185752814.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 Ireland's data privacy regulator is investigating Elon Musk's X. The country's Data Protection Commission said on Friday that it's opening an inquiry into the social platform's use of European users' public posts to train its Grok AI chatbot. In this case, Ireland handles EU regulation enforcement because X's European headquarters are in Dublin. The DPC said it will probe "the processing of personal data comprised in publicly-accessible posts posted on the 'X' social media platform by EU/EEA users." Under Europe's General Data Protection Regulation rules, Ireland has the legal muscle to fine X up to four percent of its global revenue. "The purpose of this inquiry is to determine whether this personal data was lawfully processed in order to train the Grok LLMs," Ireland's DPC said. If this sounds familiar, the DPC took X to court in 2024, seeking an order to stop it from training Grok on EU user data without consent. That followed a platform policy change in July that let the social site use public posts to train its AI chatbot. However, Ireland's data regulator ended the legal proceedings weeks later, saying the company had agreed to permanently limit its use of EU users' personal data in Grok. The DPC hasn't specified why it now believes the company may be violating GDPR rules. The DPC's last fine against the company was a €450,000 penalty in 2020 for failing to notify the regulator about a data breach within the 72-hour window.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/irelands-privacy-regulator-is-investigating-xs-use-of-public-data-to-train-grok-182010855.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 With the recent confirmation of Mark Meador as Federal Trade Commissioner, the Republicans now have a 3-0 majority at the FTC, giving President Donald Trump broad control over what was once an aggressive business regulator under former FTC chair Lina Khan. The vote fell along party lines, with all Senate Democrats voting against confirming Meador. Under normal circumstances three Republican members at the FTC is expected. Whichever party the president represents typically holds three seats, while the other party holds two. What makes the new Republican majority unusual is that Trump fired the Democrat Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter in March, something that's not supposed to happen without "good cause." The FTC, like the Federal Communications Commission , is technically part of the executive branch, but exists independently of the rest of the government, with the current president adding new members as terms end or in the rare case there's good cause to remove a commissioner, like if they're found guilty of malfeasance or neglecting their duties. An executive order Trump signed in February 2025 sought to exert more control over these independent organizations in the name of "accountability." That was the primary justification for removing Bedoya and Slaughter, both of which are fighting their termination in court. Given the actions Biden's FTC took against corporate America, like suing John Deere over unfair practices and leading antitrust investigations into Meta, Amazon, Google and Apple, it makes sense business-friendly Republicans would prefer less pushback from Democrats. That doesn't make anything that's happening legal, though.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-now-has-full-control-of-the-ftc-180816016.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 Sony just announced pricing for a number of upcoming products, including the Bravia Theater Bar 6 soundbar. This 3.1.2-channel system costs $650 for US consumers. It comes with a wireless subwoofer and is compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The soundbar includes up-mixing tech to transform stereo content to 3D sound when immersive formats aren’t available. Dialogue gets an upgrade here, thanks to a dedicated center speaker and an AI-powered tool called Voice Zoom 3. Sony The beefier Bravia Theater System 6 is a 5.1-channel system that costs $770. This is an all-in-one setup that comes with a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers. The included soundbar is not the Bar 6, despite the similar name. However, it does support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The subwoofer also features a slightly different design than the one that ships with the Bar 6. This system does offer stereo up-mixing to transform content into 3D audio via Sony’s proprietary algorithm. The Bravia Theater Rear 8 speakers are compatible with the company’s soundbars and work with its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech to calibrate the system to the acoustics of a specific living room. The speakers cost $450. Having the pricing here is nice, but we still don’t have any official release dates. The current plan by Sony is to start selling these products later this spring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sony-has-priced-the-bravia-theater-bar-6-soundbar-at-650-175824102.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 Folks in the UK may be able to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 now, but Americans are still waiting for their time to shine. Switch 2 pre-orders in the US remain indefinitely delayed. In response to new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, Nintendo delayed Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. Canadians will also have to wait as Nintendo has now also indefinitely delayed pre-orders in that country as well, according to a report from MobileSyrup and confirmed by Walmart of Canada via a post on X. According a statement Nintendo provided to Engadget: "Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged." President Trump recently announced a 90-day pause on steep “reciprocal” tariffs affecting 75 countries, but also announced that the tariff imposed on China will go up to 125 percent . It’s still unclear what this could mean for Switch 2 pre-orders and pricing, but we do know this: Nintendo started moving some of its Switch console manufacturing to Vietnam in 2019. The reciprocal tariff for Vietnam was set to be 46 percent, but with this latest announcement, that appears to be on hold for now in favor of a 10 percent reciprocal tariff that’s now in effect for the 90-day pause period. The latest speculation is that Nintendo will ramp up production of Switch 2 units in Vietnam so it can ship them to the U.S. on schedule, and possibly even selling them at a loss in the short term. Nintendo had previously announced the April 9 pre-order date for North America, along with the June 5 date for wider availability. The starting price was to be $450, but that could change now in response to the proposed tariffs. Participating retailers will also be selling the Switch 2 when it eventually makes its way to the U.S. We expect those to include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and others. There's some fine-print attached to pre-ordering directly from Nintendo. According to the pre-order page on Nintendo's site, you must be 18 years or older, sign in with your Nintendo account and register your interest in pre-ordering. Then, you'll be sent an invitation email when it's time to play your pre-order, and the invitation will be valid for 72 hours. And then there's this bit of info: "Invitation emails will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis to registrants who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours, as of April 2, 2025." That seems to mean those who have paid for Switch Online in the recent past and those who have spent a good amount of time playing Switch games as of late will get first pick at buying a Switch 2. There's no telling if these same restrictions will apply if you want to pre-order from third-party retailers. We knew from the teaser trailer for the Switch 2 that Nintendo's new hardware would be bigger and would have a new approach to the detachable Joy-Cons. The new Joy-Con 2 have a new C button, mouse controls and a built in gyroscope for tilt control. The console has a built-in mic to support a new feature called Game Chat that will let you communicate with friends in-game. The device is indeed a bit larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR and a 1080p resolution. When docked, you'll be able to play at up to 4K on your TV, and Nintendo says it improved the consoles internal speakers as well. The new dock also has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. The Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, and the base storage amount has increased to 256GB. The Switch 2's storage can be expanded like the previous model, but it will only work with newer microSD Express cards. The Switch 2 has a number of accessories that you'll be able to purchase separately as well, including the new Switch 2 camera for $50, a new Switch 2 Pro controller for $80, an extra pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers for $90, a Joy-Con 2 charging grip for $35 and more. However, considering the new question of tariffs, it's unclear if those accessory prices will change before customers can actually order the gear. Pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 from: Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-pre-orders-release-date-prices-delays-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-140931024.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 22:50 It hasn’t been that long since the Pixel Watch 3 dropped, but excitement is already building for the follow-up device. An industry leaker who goes by OnLeaks, whose real name is Steve Hemmerst, has partnered with 91mobiles to publish images and a video render of the upcoming smartwatch Surprise, it looks like a Pixel Watch. It maintains the iconic circular design, though does look a bit thicker than the previous model. The screen bezels appear to be slightly slimmer. Otherwise, the design remains mostly unchanged. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, there are some minor hardware changes that allude to new features. The watch is missing the four pins at the back, which suggests that it could support wireless charging. The Pixel Watch 3 charges via a USB-C port. Also, there are two buttons on both sides of the speaker. We don’t know what they do. It’s also possible that the added thickness could be hiding a bigger battery, which would be much appreciated. OK #FutureSquad, today comes your very first look at the #Google #PixelWatch4 !

11.04.2025 22:50 GPT-4, OpenAI's first big upgrade to ChatGPT months after unleashing it on the world, is on its way out. A changelog the company published on Thursday said the model will be retired from ChatGPT on April 30. GPT-4o, which has been available since last May, will fully replace it. Despite GPT-4's significance in modern AI's brief but world-changing history, its sunsetting isn't a great loss for customers. OpenAI says GPT-4o improves on it in writing, coding and STEM. Recent upgrades have boosted the newer model further, enhancing its instruction following, problem-solving and conversational flow. The company describes the multimodal GPT-4o as the "natural successor" to the soon-to-be-retired GPT-4. Despite its upcoming removal from ChatGPT, API users will still be able to access GPT-4 after April 30. The announcement comes as OpenAI reportedly prepares a slew of new models for launch. Reverse engineer Tibor Blaho posted images on Friday that seemingly confirm that o3, o4-mini and GPT-4.1 models are in the pipeline. In February, the company introduced a research preview of GPT-4.5, a better, more natural conversationalist that will serve as a stepping stone to GPT-5. OpenAI's release notes included a nod to the role GPT-4 played in the company's development. "GPT‑4 marked a pivotal moment in ChatGPT's evolution," the notes read. "We're grateful for the breakthroughs it enabled and for the feedback that helped shape its successor. GPT‑4o builds on that foundation to deliver even greater capability, consistency and creativity."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-prepares-to-send-gpt-4-out-to-pasture-163643868.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 18:10 WhatsApp just rolled out a dozen new features. Most of these are small, but they add up to a fairly substantial software update. Let’s go over some of the more notable additions. Chats now allow for tappable reactions, which is basically like adding a thumbs up to someone else’s reaction. Group chats feature an indicator that lets users know how many people are actually online. This will be right underneath the group name. Solo conversations now offer the ability to create an event, complete with an RSVP mechanic. This event can also be pinned in the chat. There are a couple of chat tools just for iPhone users, including the ability to scan and send documents directly from the app. Users can also now set WhatsApp as the default messaging and calling app on iPhones. Calls finally have their own dedicated tab, which is where folks go to make calls, share call links and manage their history. Users can also add someone from a video call directly from a chat thread. Video calls now offer a pinch to zoom feature, but only on iPhones. WhatsApp also says it has updated its technology for smoother video calls. Channel admins can now record and share short videos with followers and there are voice message transcripts available on the Channels tab. Finally, admins can share QR codes that link directly to the channel. ICYMI, here’s what’s new on WhatsApp

11.04.2025 18:10 Maybe you're in a position where you suddenly need a new laptop to see you through the rest of the school year. Perhaps you've got a bigger tax return than expected and you want to treat yourself. Or it may be that you're a long-time Windows user and fancy a change. Whatever reason you might have for being interested in a MacBook Air, we've got another one. The M4 MacBook Air is back on sale for $949. That's $50 or five percent off. That deal is available for the sky blue and starlight colorways of Apple's laptop. But there's not terrible news if you prefer the midnight look — that variant will run you just $5 more at $954. This deal is for the base model of the M4 MacBook Air. It's a 13-inch laptop with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. The M4 MacBook Air arrived several weeks ago and it instantly became our top picks for both the best MacBook overall and the best laptop for most people, supplanting the previous model in both categories. We gave it a score of 92 in our review. We appreciated the light and thin design, excellent keyboard and touchpad, fast performance and the terrific battery life. The 13-inch model we tested ran for 18 hours and 15 minutes while playing HD video. Our only real qualms with the M4 MacBook Air are that it could use more ports and the display has a relatively paltry refresh rate of 60Hz. One of the best things about the M4 MacBook Air is that Apple actually lowered the starting price for this generation of the laptop to $999 from $1,099 for the M3. That's a very welcome change. The current $50 discount makes things even sweeter. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-m4-macbook-air-is-back-on-sale-for-50-off-143801604.html?src=rss

11.04.2025 18:10 When Nintendo launched the Switch 2, it also revealed that it was going release upgraded versions of several existing Switch games, including both Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It also revealed that games for the upcoming console will cost you more than what you're usually paying for games now. If you were hoping that the $70 price tag for the upgraded Breath of the Wild will at least include its DLC Expansion Pack, though, you're unfortunately out of luck. The company has told IGN that you will have to pay an extra $20 for the game's DLC season pass. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition does not include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass DLC. That DLC is available as a separate purchase," a spokesperson told the publication. To be clear, you don't have to buy the new version if you don't want to. The Switch 2 has backwards compatibility, and you can play your old copy of the game if you still have it — it was released way back in 2017 — and its DLC at no additional cost. If you own a copy for the first Switch and want to enjoy the new version's enhanced framerates and resolution, as well as HDR support, you can purchase an upgrade pack for $10. But if you're buying the Switch 2 version new, then you'll have to be prepared to pay $90 to get the base game and its DLC. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-70-switch-2-version-of-breath-of-the-wild-wont-even-come-with-dlc-140032303.html?src=rss