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28.04.2026 15:50 ASUS is often best when it's weird, and this year at CES 2026 the company decided to resurrect one of its weirdest laptops ever: the ROG Zephyrus Duo. Unlike the last model from 2023 that had a smallish, tilting second screen, the 2026 model rocks massive dual 16-inch OLED displays that should make it an ideal content creation and gaming machine. ASUS has now opened up pre-orders for the Zephyrus Duo and revealed that pricing will start at a breathtaking $4,500. The Zephyrus Duo is the "world's first 16-inch dual-screen gaming laptop," according to ASUS. It boasts a pair of 3K HDR OLED touchscreens that offer a combined 21 inches of diagonal screen space. They're DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certified, and can each hit 1,100 nits of peak HDR brightness. Both offer a 120Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time, though only the main screen supports NVIDIA G-Sync. ASUS Another important piece is the detachable magnetic Bluetooth keyboard. Despite the thin 5.1mm profile, it offers a generous 1.7mm of key travel and ultra-large touchpad. With the two hinging touch displays and the keyboard, it offers five dedicated operation modes. Dual Screen mode removes the keyboard altogether, Laptop mode provides a standard 16-inch screen and keyboard setup, Sharing mode sets the Duo flat at 180 degrees, Book mode sets both screens in a portrait orientation, and Tent mode has the hinge forming an A-frame. There's a lot of power under the hood, with a 16-core Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or RTX 5090 laptop GPU with a max TGP of 135 watts. The latter is NVIDIA's flagship mobile GPU with the latest AI and gaming features including DLSS 4, frame generation and fourth-gen ray-tracing cores. It also comes with a redesigned motherboard and larger vapor chamber, along with dual fans to keep things cool. All of that is housed in a CNC-milled aluminum chassis with a new "Stellar Grey" colorway and "Slash" lighting array with 35 discrete zones. The Zyphyrus Duo is now available for pre-order from ASUS or partners including Newegg starting at $4,500 for the RTX 5070Ti version or $5,500 for the RTX 5090 version. Both models come with 32GB of memory and 1TB of PCIe 5.0 storage. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/asus-dual-screen-rog-zephyrus-duo-is-now-on-pre-order-starting-at-4500-130041463.html?src=rss

28.04.2026 15:50 Not long ago, high-quality wireless mic systems cost over $500 and required a bulky transmitter and lav mic wire tucked under the subject’s shirt. DJI’s Mic Mini showed how unnecessary all of that was, combining mic and transmitter into a 0.35-ounce device that delivered high quality sound for under $100. Now, DJI has released the Mic Mini 2 as a mild update to the original at a much lower price. It’s more fashion forward thanks to the colorful new magnetic covers and offers an audio upgrade via new voice tone presets. Those changes make it the best budget wireless mic for new buyers, but it’s not worth the upgrade if you already have a Mic Mini — and DJI’s flagship Mic 3 is better if you can afford it. However, beware that the Mic Mini 2 isn’t currently on sale in the US as it hasn’t yet been certified by the Federal Communications Commission . Design and features The Mic Mini 2 now comes in two packages for smartphone and camera users. One includes a receiver with a 3.5mm mic output for mirrorless cameras, while the other offers a mobile receiver with a USB-C port for smartphones. Both kits include a charging case, one or two transmitters and a receiver. You also get a magnetic mount, clip mount, black and white magnetic front covers and a windscreen for each mic. The camera kit includes a smartphone adapter as well. The camera kit contains 10 mic covers in a rainbow of hues that look like they were borrowed from ‘90s iMacs, letting you match a subject’s clothing or add a pop of color. They all have a huge, distracting DJI logo, though, so many creators may want to cover it with a piece of tape. DJI also has optional designer front covers with four very ‘90s looking abstract patterns in several pastel shades, available for around $45. Steve Dent for Engadget DJI has changed the transmitter design slightly from the previous model's faceted shape to a flatter design to better accommodate the new magnetic covers. The mic portion also weighs slightly more at 0.39 ounces. Though tiny, each mic is rated to run up to 11.5 hours on a charge, and the receiver is supposed to go for about 10.5 hours with noise cancellation disabled. In my own testing , I was even able to slightly exceed these times, so you could easily use it for a full shooting day. This is better than nearly all rivals including the Rode Wireless Go III, which is rated for seven hours on a charge. Another wireless mic in this price range, the Hollyland Lark M2, has a stated runtime of 10 hours between charges. As before, the transmitters and receiver snap into the charging case magnetically. The mobile charging case is small enough to slide into a pants pocket, while the larger camera version fits into a jacket pocket or a bag. On top of being a convenient way to store the transmitters and receiver, they can charge the mics and receiver 3.6 times, giving you 48 hours of use even without a wall plug in sight. It took me about two hours to charge all three devices in the camera case and about an hour to charge the smaller receiver and single transmitter with the mobile case. The Mic Mini 2 transmitters can be paired directly with smartphones via Bluetooth or you can connect them to DJI cameras like the Osmo Action 6, Osmo 360 and Osmo Pocket 4 via DJI’s OsmoAudio system. Audio quality To use the Mic Mini 2, just affix the mics to your subject, either via the clip or magnetic attachment, and turn them on. Then, power up the receiver and connect it to your camera via a 3.5mm cable or plug it into your smartphone’s USB-C port. Everything pairs automatically, and the final step is to adjust the level between -12 db and +12 db using the dial on the side . Noise reduction is set via a switch on the mobile receiver, or the Mimo app for the camera receiver. There are a few major differences between DJI’s Mic Mini 2 and the more expensive flagship Mic 3 when it comes to audio specs. The biggest is that the Mic 3 supports 32-bit float internal recording that eliminates clipping in most situations, even if your levels are too high. It also comes with dynamic gain control to balance volume if your subject tends to lower or raise their voice a lot. Steve Dent for Engadget In comparison, the Mic Mini 2 only offers automatic limiting, which does prevent clipping but can reduce audio quality. It also offers no internal recording so you won’t have a backup if your camera or smartphone recording fails. The Mic Mini 2 also lacks an audio level display like the Mic 3. Despite those limitations, the 48Khz, 24-bit audio quality on the Mic Mini 2 is excellent. I recorded my voice using all three voice tone presets, and found that I could use the “rich” mode without the need to do equalization in post. The “regular” setting offers neutral and balanced sound, while the “bright” mode adds clarity in noisy situations. If you prefer doing EQ yourself, the regular mode is best. A good test of a microphone is to record your voice and then max out EQ levels in a narrow band across a range of frequencies. A mediocre mic will distort audio in more than one range, reducing sound quality. DJI’s Mic Mini 2 performed well here, showing minor distortion for my voice only at one frequency. When I reduced the gain at that range, my voiceovers sounded clear and full. Another key feature is noise cancellation. DJI’s Mic Mini 2 offers two levels of AI-powered cancellation depending on the amount of background noise. At the low setting, it reduced background noise but produced some distortion. However, the high level noise cancellation distorts audio considerably, so you should only use it in a pinch when noise is excessive. I also tested the Mic Mini 2’s wireless range and was able to record audio at 450 yards away from the receiver as DJI claims, though the device disconnected once at that distance. The Mic Mini 2 retains other functions from the original Mini like automatic limiting to prevent clipping. It supports two mics at once, and when used in Stereo mode, lets you capture each mic to a separate channel so you can mix them later on. To set those functions, you need to use DJI’s Mimo smartphone app. Wrap-up Steve Dent for Engadget The Mic Mini 2 is now available in Europe and elsewhere but not yet the US due to lack of certification. It costs almost half as much as the Mic Mini did at launch, just €89/£89 for the camera kit with two transmitters and a receiver, or €49/£54 for the mobile kit with one transmitter and a receiver. Given the features and price, the Mic Mini 2 doesn’t have a lot of competition. One of its main rivals is the Rode Wireless Go III, but that model is double the price and lacks noise cancellation. It does have slightly better audio quality, though. Other options in the same price range from Hollyland, Boya and others either can’t connect to both a camera and smartphone or don’t stack up in terms of sound quality and features. Overall the Mic Mini 2 offers a great combination of range, audio quality and noise cancellation. It’s not worth an upgrade from the Mic Mini, but if you’re buying your first wireless mic and don’t want to spend a bundle, it’s a great option. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/dji-mic-mini-2-review-the-tiny-wireless-mic-is-colorful-and-much-cheaper-120046171.html?src=rss

28.04.2026 15:50 Magic: The Gathering Arena developers at Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast are set to join the Communications Workers of America , the union announced. The CWA says it has secured a "supermajority" among workers in favor of unionization for the chapter, called United Wizards of the Coast . The CWA has filed for a formal election with the National Labor Relations Board , but that will be withdrawn if Hasbro voluntarily recognizes the union by May 1st. "At Wizards, we’re organizing for a say in layoffs, accountability that runs up and down the chain, and a living wage that actually lets people build a life," said UWOTC-CWA member and senior software engineer Damien Wilson. "I’m hopeful about what we can build here and being clear-eyed about why it’s necessary." Workers have outlined several areas of concern including protections over layoffs and remote work, generative AI guardrails and mandatory crunch time, along with "increased transparency and equity" in the workplace. "This isn’t just something that affects Wizards of the Coast; it’s how most American workplaces are set up," Wilson added. "Unions are the missing counterweight to protect our craft." The push to unionize was triggered back in 2023 following mass Hasbro layoffs that affected nearly 2,000 workers, software engineers told Kotaku. Developers were also concerned about issues like remote work, saying that Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast decisions "have not aligned with the values of their employees." The CWA has been involved in recent unionization drives across the games industry, with workers from Blizzard and ID Software, along with indie devs from publishers including Heart Machine recently joining. Over 4,000 workers have organized across the industry as part of CWA's CODE , according to the union. "Every worker deserves job security, fair compensation, and a seat at the table," said CWA District 7 VP Susie McAllister. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/magic-the-gathering-arena-developers-intend-to-form-a-union-with-the-cwa-104438341.html?src=rss

28.04.2026 15:50 The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union has accused Apple of unlawfully discriminating against the unionized employees of the company’s Towson, Maryland retail store. IAM has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Apple with the National Labor Relations Board after the company announced on April 9 that it was shutting down three of its US stores. One of those locations was the Towson retail outlet, which employed nearly 90 workers and became the first Apple Store in the country to unionize back in 2022. In its complaint, IAM said that Apple didn’t offer the employees it represents the transfer opportunities it provided to non-unionized employees from its other stores. Unlike those non-represented employees, Towson personnel were allegedly told that they had to reapply for positions through the same process as external candidates. “Apple is denying union-represented workers the same opportunities it is giving to others — and doing so because these workers chose to organize,” the organization said. “That is discrimination, and it is exactly what federal labor law is designed to prevent.”In addition to the Towson location, Apple also shut down its stores in Trumbull, CT, Escondito, CA. Back when the closures were announced, IAM said that “Apple’s claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/union-accuses-apple-of-unlawful-discrimination-against-represented-workers-094531505.html?src=rss

28.04.2026 11:10 Google is determined to impose AI search onto as many of its products as possible, and the latest, er, victim is YouTube. A new feature called "Ask YouTube" will let you pose complex questions and receive "comprehensive results that include video and text, then ask follow ups to dive deeper," Google explained on its YouTube Labs page. The experimental feature is available starting today until June 8 for Premium US subscribers 18 and older. To use it, first, enable the feature in your account. Then, click on the new "Ask YouTube" button in the search bar and you'll see prompt suggestions, or you can enter your own, like "plan a 3-day road trip between San Francisco and Santa Barbara." After getting the results, you can try follow-up questions or choose from suggested prompts to explore in more detail. As shown in The Verge's quick test, the prompt "short history of Apollo 11 moon landing" brought up a summary of the mission, along with videos and time stamps for relevant information. Follow-up questions yielded similar results, but some queries just showed a list of videos like you'd see in a classic YouTube search. As happens with AI, one of the searches yielded factually inaccurate information, according to The Verge's Jay Peters. Tech companies love AI a lot more than the public, and YouTube users are particularly passionate about hating AI-generated slop. YouTube's AI search function may fare better with subscribers, but only if it helps them find quality content more quickly. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/youtube-is-testing-an-ai-search-mode-that-feels-more-like-a-conversation-075057461.html?src=rss

28.04.2026 11:10 Thanks to the adoption of features like rapid triggers, analog switches and TMR sensors, the tech in fancy gaming keyboards has changed surprisingly quickly in the past few years. So to keep up with the pace of development, Logitech is putting a bunch of advanced components in its latest flagship offering — the G512 X — to create what may be its most configurable keyboard to date. Available in both 75 and 98 percent layouts, the G512 X is based on a novel design that supports both mechanical and analog switches. Out of the box, every key features PBT keycaps and uses one of Logitech's MX mechanical switches. However, for important buttons like WASD, users can swap in up to nine bundled Gateron KS-20 magnetic analog switches. This means that when combined with the keyboard's 39 tunneling magnetoresistance switch beds, users can enable support for customizable rapid triggers and multipoint actuation, complete with five bundled second actuation pressure point rings in case you need even more control over every keystroke. The one potential downside is that Logitech only added TMR switch beds to the left side of the keyboard, so if you prefer more unusual keybinds, you won't have quite as many configuration options. The 39 TMR sensors on the left of the keyboard are the ones that support the included TMR switches. LogitechMeanwhile, to meet the demands of competitive gamers who need lightning-fast response times, Logitech added an 8K polling rate. This includes both 8K reporting and processing to deliver input times of just 0.125 milliseconds. Elsewhere, the G512 X comes with dual dials, a large RGB lightbar and game mode presets — all of which can be tweaked in Logitech's G Hub app. However, the coolest thing about the G512 X might be all the handy little details scattered across the keyboard. For example, its adjustable feet serve double duty as keycap and switch pullers, so when you want to adjust your layout, you won't need to go searching elsewhere for the right tool. On top of that, there is built-in storage for the nine included magnetic analog switches and five SAPP rings, so you'll always have them on hand if you want to make changes. Finally, while it is an optional accessory, Logitech created a transparent palm rest with a laser-etched surface that will enhance the G512 X's onboard RGB lighting. Logitech's optional palm rest really boosts the output of the Logitech G512 X's front-mounted RGB lightbar.LogitechUnfortunately, at $180 for the 75 percent layout or $200 for the 98 percent model, the G512 X is a bit pricey. And unlike some other members of Logitech's G5 family, there's no option for a wireless variant. But if you want a keyboard with practically all the latest tech and a ton of customizability , the G512 X is a very intriguing option for demanding gamers. The G512 X is available directly from Logitech today, with wider availability slated for May 2. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-g512-x-is-logitechs-most-advanced-and-customizable-gaming-keyboard-yet-070100610.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 Images and details about Samsung's upcoming smart glasses have leaked, according to a report by Android Headlines. We knew these were coming at some point, but we now have what could be actual photos and they look pretty nifty. The glasses are reportedly being developed under the codename "Jinju" and could cost anywhere from $380 to $500. These are the first smart glasses from Samsung and look to offer a similar feature set to stuff like Meta Ray-Bans and the forthcoming Google Gemini glasses. Samsung's specs will run on the Android XR wearables platform and will likely feature heavy integration with the Google Gemini chatbot. It has been reported that these glasses will not feature a display, but that's likely coming with another pair in 2027. The second release is being developed under the codename "Haean" and will reportedly include a micro-LED display, allowing for similar functionality to something like the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. These could cost anywhere from $600 to $900. We don't know when the Jinju glasses will launch, but later this year is a safe bet. Samsung has a major Unpacked event scheduled for July. We could get some official details at that point, though it's unlikely the smart glasses will launch alongside stuff like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Watch 9. It's far more likely we'll get a tease at that event, with a launch later in the year. This is what Samsung did with its Galaxy XR virtual reality headset last year. It's also been reported that the Jinju glasses will include a 12MP camera, a Snapdragon AR1 chip and directional speakers with bone-conduction tech. These specs are, of course, subject to change before launch. It's also highly possible the price will tick up beyond the aforementioned range, thanks to global economic uncertainty and the rising costs of RAM and storage.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/images-of-samsungs-rumored-smart-glasses-have-leaked-184129483.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 Joby Aviation is kicking off 10 days of electric air taxi demo flights in New York City. Before you try to book one to bypass the city's awful traffic, Joby's aircrafts aren't taking customers yet. Instead, the company is trialing the air taxis in "real flight routes and real environments," as indicated in its press release. With the first point-to-point flight of its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft completed, Joby said that one of its electric air taxis made it from John F. Kennedy International Airport to NYC's heliports in Lower Manhattan and Midtown in less than 10 minutes. Unlike helicopters, Joby's CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, said this "quiet, zero operating emissions air taxi service" will better serve New Yorkers. These demo flights are part of Joby's participation in the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, the Federal Aviation Administration's program to fast-track the commercial rollout of air taxis. Joby said it's still in the final stages of securing FAA certification, but this latest campaign in NYC should propel its process forward, especially after having completed piloted demos in the San Francisco Bay Area in March. Joby was previously targeting to launch its air taxi service in 2025, but that goal has since been pushed back. The company's CEO said that Joby is planning to start passenger flights in New York, Texas and Florida as soon as the second half of 2026, according to Bloomberg.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/joby-aviation-is-demoing-10-minute-air-taxi-flights-from-jfk-to-manhattan-for-a-week-180247411.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns for its fourth season via Paramount Plus on July 23. The ten episodes air weekly until September 24. This is actually the second-to-last batch of episodes, as the show was recently renewed for a fifth and final season. The streamer has dropped a trailer for season four and it looks promising. The tone looks slightly darker when compared to season three, which was maligned for being a bit too silly and uneven. The trailer is narrated by Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike, who discusses the "terror" of space as a planet explodes. This is still Strange New Worlds, so it won't be all doom and gloom. The trailer shows us a screeching alien dinosaur, which is pretty fun. There have also been reports that season four will feature a puppet episode with involvement from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. This new batch of episodes will lean even heavier into connections to the original Star Trek show from the 1960s. Paul Wesley's version of Captain Kirk features prominently in several scenes, with one looking like a direct callback to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. A younger Scotty also makes an appearance. For the uninitiated, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a prequel to the first show and starts several years before Kirk takes over as captain of the Enterprise. It's been said that the series will end with Kirk taking the big chair. It's also primarily an episodic series, with no real serialized season-long arcs. It's pretty good! It's also ending in the near future. Season five will presumably premiere next year and will include just six episodes. As a matter of fact, it looks like the modern incarnation of Star Trek is ending in totality. Sets are being taken down and there are currently no new shows in production for the first time in a decade. This is a bummer, even if I didn't always love some of the newer content. The upcoming second season of Starfleet Academy will be its last, which is exceptionally sad because it was really beginning to fire on all cylinders. It was 12 years between the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise and the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery, which kicked off the modern era. Who knows how long we'll have to wait this time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-returns-for-its-penultimate-season-on-july-23-170946603.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 Valve's Steam Controller will hit the market on Monday, May 4, for a going price of $99 in the United States. The Steam Controller does precisely what it says: It communicates with anything running Steam or the Steam Link app, so this includes PCs, Macs, mobile devices and the Steam Deck. Eventually, the Steam Controller will connect to the new Steam Machine console and Steam Frame VR headset, but neither of these products have solid release dates just yet. They were originally slated to come out in early 2026 alongside the Steam Controller, but we're nearly five months into the year and only a third of that promise is poised to be fulfilled. Valve in March said it hopes to ship in 2026, dropping the "early" bit. As noted in our review, the Steam Controller is a solid gamepad, especially for the price. It feels and looks a lot like a Steam Deck, complete with two trackpads beneath a pair of TMR thumbsticks and a standard face array. It's reactive, ergonomic, and comes with a cute little charging and connection puck that snaps onto the bottom of the gamepad. Just note that the Steam Controller is not a PC controller: It works with Steam, and only Steam. You'll have to add games with their own launchers like Overwatch, Valorant, Minecraft or Fortnite to your Steam library before playing them with Valve's proprietary controller. How convenient — for Valve, at least. Valve Worldwide, Steam Controller prices are as follows: US: $99 Canada: $149 CAD EU: €99 UK: £85 AUD: 149 PLN: 419 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/valves-steam-controller-costs-99-and-arrives-may-4-170058529.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 Don’t mistake the Steam Controller for a PC controller. Even though its main function is to play PC games, Valve’s new gamepad communicates with Steam, and only Steam. This is not a general controller for your PC, Android or iOS devices, and it’s certainly not compatible with any console on the market today, unless you count the handheld Steam Deck. In order to play a game with the Steam Controller, you have to boot it up through Steam. . Valve’s end goal for the Steam Controller is compatibility with the Steam Machine, a console that doesn’t yet have a public release date or price point. The Steam Machine will support 4K gaming at 60 fps with FSR, it’ll come with 512GB or 2TB of SSD storage, and it’ll work with the Steam Frame VR headset, as will the Controller. The new Steam Machine was supposed to drop early this year, fulfilling a long-promised dream of PC gaming by moving your entire Steam library to the couch in a compact but powerful box. Due to the memory shortages plaguing the tech industry, the Machine and Frame aren't here yet, so the Steam Controller is the first step in Valve’s hardware takeover of living room territory. It’s due to come out on May 4, priced at $99. The Steam Controller represents roughly 13 years of R&D, from its first iteration announced in 2013 to the debut of the Steam Deck in 2022, and the refinement period clearly paid off. The Steam Controller is a tidy chonker of a gamepad with a broad, Duke-like face holding two square trackpads beneath the standard analog sticks and face buttons. Despite its extra girth, the Steam Controller feels light, slim and balanced, even in my smaller-than-average hands. The grips are slender and have four circular rear buttons, two per side, that are super satisfying to click even when they don’t do anything in-game. The bumpers, triggers, D-pad and face buttons are shiny black plastic, and all of the controller’s edges are rounded, allowing for a smooth glide between the bumpers and triggers especially. The trackpads don’t get in the way when you don’t need them, but in-use, they’re incredibly sensitive and kind of mesmerizing. They look and feel just like the trackpads on the Steam Deck, following the trails of your thumbs with miniature popping bubbles. The Steam Controller uses tunnel magnetoresistance joysticks, which are a leveled-up version of Hall effect sticks, offering ultimate precision and long-term stability with no chance of drift. After a few days of use across a range of game genres, including competitive first-person shooters, they’ve proven to be reliable and accurate. In terms of stick precision and feel, I find the Steam Controller is comparable to the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, my PC gamepad of choice. I otherwise much prefer the swappability, rubberized microswitches and crisp clickiness of Razer’s gamepad — but the Wolverine also costs about $100 more and doesn’t come with trackpad capabilities, so we’ll call it a wash. Sam Rutherford for Engadget One of the neatest aspects of the Steam Controller is its charging and connection puck, which plugs into your PC or Steam Deck through a USB cable and enables stable wireless play. The puck snaps onto the belly of the controller for charging, and when you hover the gamepad’s connection point over it, it jumps up and latches on like a cute little sucker fish. I don’t know if this behavior is an intentional selling point, but it certainly is for me. The Steam Controller also connects to devices via Bluetooth or with a cable, and in all configurations it’s performed without issue for me. Of course, Bluetooth mode has the highest latency, so that’s mainly for phones and Steam Link play. The puck can support two Steam Controllers at once. Swapping between Puck and Bluetooth mode is a simple matter of holding the right bumper and A or B, respectively, when you turn the controller on. Pressing the power button with the Steam logo wakes up the gamepad, and pressing it twice when you’re connected to a PC launches Steam in Big Picture mode. The Steam Controller feels like a natural extension of Valve’s storefront, and with its matte black finish and bubbled edges, it’ll be familiar to anyone who’s fallen in love with a Steam Deck these past few years. I tested out the controller on my PC with Steam games and non-Steam games , and in my living room with my Steam Deck acting as a makeshift, low-powered Steam Machine. On PC I played The Seance of Blake Manor, Creature Kitchen and Overwatch, and on Steam Deck I played Blake Manor, Demonschool and Balatro. Whether connected with Bluetooth, the puck or USB, the Steam Controller provided seamless play and no noticeable latency. The distance from my couch to the puck nestled behind my Steam Deck is about eight feet, and I didn’t feel a frame drop while cosplaying as a Steam Machine owner. I also never ran into battery issues, but that’s not shocking considering Valve’s claim that the gamepad has more than 35 hours on a single charge. In my testing, the battery barely registered a drop after multiple hours of playtime, and I was happy to snap on the charging puck whenever I wanted to set the controller down. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Valve notes the battery life may be lower if playing with the Steam Frame. The Steam Controller has infrared LEDs for tracking, which will obviously drain the battery a little faster. Some VR games may have you waving your controller, as there are gyroscopic sensors in there as well. As the Steam Frame isn’t out, I wasn’t able to test some of the controller’s more interesting features. Even against players using a keyboard and mouse in competitive Overwatch matches, I won games and earned awards, passing my personal ultimate test of a controller’s capabilities. When it comes to Overwatch, I’m mostly comparing the Steam Controller to Sony’s DualSense, and it feels surprisingly similar. I enjoy the Steam Controller’s smooth slide between the bumpers and triggers, though its haptic feedback is more subtle than the DualSense’s, lacking in the analog sticks particularly. Much like with the Steam Deck, I haven’t found a consistent use case for the trackpads on the Steam Controller, but I appreciate their inclusion, the accessibility factor, and the fact that they aren’t otherwise intrusive. Now, just add a Playdate crank and I’m really sold. The Steam Controller is a clear and unmistakable signal that Valve is joining the console wars, and perhaps by patient and diligent design, it’s appearing at a vulnerable time. Xbox is fumbling the current generation and attempting to redefine its place in the console market amid a significant leadership shakeup, while Sony and Nintendo are carrying on with standard hardware upgrade cycles in a landscape that’s based less on platform exclusivity every day. Right now there’s room for a robust PC-based storefront to stake its claim on couch gaming, and voila, here’s Valve with the Steam Machine and Steam Controller. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Similarly to the way Valve used Half-Life 2 to get people to download Steam in 2004, the Steam Controller pushes players to fully consolidate their PC libraries in its own ecosystem. You’ll have to add games with their own launchers like Overwatch, Valorant, Minecraft and Fortnite to your Steam library before you can play them using Valve’s controller. This is a small inconvenience, since it takes just a few clicks to add a non-Steam game to your profile. . However, I don’t enjoy doing it. As I was browsing through files to add Overwatch to my Steam library, I couldn’t help thinking that it would have been pretty easy for Valve to add a switch that would let the Steam Controller communicate with any PC game. Maybe it's a touch of oppositional defiant disorder, but I despise being coerced into behaviors that are designed to serve a corporation’s market control over my own workflow, especially in my personal spaces. Now more than ever, I value my ability to choose — which businesses I work with, where I store my software, how I play — and the Steam launcher requirement is another small expansion of Valve’s incredible power in the PC games industry. It’s too easy to say, most of my games are already on Steam, no big deal, and use the Controller as an excuse to consolidate them all on Valve’s launcher. Suddenly, Steam is where you begin and end every gaming session, rather than just most. Obviously and especially with the coming rollout of the Steam Machine, this is the reality that Valve wants: a rich industry utterly reliant on its platform of DRM, shitty revenue splits and random opaque censorship. It’s the situation that Microsoft, Apple or Epic also want for themselves, but the main difference is that this future is actually in reach for Valve, and the Steam Controller is a tiny part of the plan. If willing and unforced support of a monopoly makes you bristle as well, feel free to stick with 8BitDo. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Truly though, I get it. The Steam Controller doesn’t come with a PC switch because it’s not a PC controller. It’s for controlling Steam, a service that’s become synonymous with PC and handheld gaming, and is now creeping onto the living-room scene. The Steam Controller is designed to follow you everywhere Steam is, for all your gaming needs across every screen forever and always — and there is something soothing about that idea in a Brave New World Soma kind of way. A PC controller? That’s far too limited, from Valve’s perspective. Encroaching corporate dystopia aside, the Steam Controller is a sturdy and sleek gamepad that stands up to the competition. It’s for Valve diehards, trackpad fanatics and anyone whose main gaming hub is Steam. Which, to be clear, is a massive market that’s only poised to grow.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/valve-steam-controller-review-a-gamepad-in-search-of-a-console-170054068.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 There's something deeply relaxing about chucking on a solid pair of headphones, listening to some good music and cleaning muck off structures and vehicles. Not in real life, though. Heavens, no. PowerWash Simulator 2 lets you do that without having to deal with any actual muck — as long as you're regularly cleaning your keyboard or controller, anyway.You'll soon be able to carry out powerwashing jobs in six more locations, all of which are in a galaxy far, far away. In the game's upcoming Star Wars expansion, you can visit the likes of Tatooine and Hoth to clean the Lars homestead, an X-wing and a Star Destroyer bridge. Lars homestead in PowerWash Simulator 2FuturLabDeveloper FuturLab has created an exclusive powerwasher for these levels, in which you'll play as a labor droid called P0-W2. You can take on the jobs with up to four friends. Expect a bunch of Easter eggs too.FuturLab says the expansion is set during the original Star Wars trilogy. You'll first be taking on work for the Galactic Empire before defecting to the Rebel Alliance . The studio has previously brought other franchises into the fold. Those who own the first PowerWash Simulator can snag the Final Fantasy and Tomb Raider expansions for free before they’re delisted at 10AM ET on May 19. There are also Back to the Future and Shrek expansions for the original game.The Star Wars expansion is coming to PowerWash Simulator 2 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 this summer. It'll cost $10. In the meantime, spare a thought for those poor contractors whose jobs the P0-W2 droids are taking:This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-star-wars-expansion-is-coming-to-powerwash-simulator-2-162946670.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 21:40 OpenAI is opening up its partnership with Microsoft in the latest amendment to the major multi-year collaboration between the tech giants. The latest changes allow OpenAI to offer its latest AI models to other companies and through other cloud providers, stripping Microsoft of its exclusivity rights. In a joint announcement posted on OpenAI and Microsoft's websites, Microsoft will still be OpenAI's primary cloud partner with the latest products shipping first on Azure, but OpenAI is now allowed to use any cloud provider. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, posted on X that the company is "now able to make our products and services available across all clouds." On top of that, Microsoft will still have a license for OpenAI's models and products through to 2032, but the license will no longer be exclusive. On the business side, Microsoft will no longer pay a revenue share to OpenAI, but OpenAI would still make revenue share payments to Microsoft until 2030, which will now be subject to a total cap. The two companies have worked closely together since announcing a multiyear partnership in 2019. Microsoft and OpenAI have gone through several phases for its collaboration, but the two put out a joint statement in February of this year that still mentioned the exclusivity agreements. However, the latest update confirms that OpenAI can break exclusivity, with the companies arguing these changes are for "flexibility, certainty, and a focus on delivering the benefits of AI broadly."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/openai-breaks-out-of-exclusivity-agreements-in-its-partnership-with-microsoft-162829584.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 17:04 In its quest to become an all-in-one app, Spotify is now breaking into the fitness app world by offering "guided workout experiences" and on-demand Peloton classes. Premium subscribers will get access to Peloton's library of more than 1,400 classes in the app, while both Free and Premium can browse curated playlists Spotify Spotify said the classes are primarily in English, but there are some options in Spanish and German. Like music and podcasts, Spotify lets you bounce between different devices for its fitness media, so you can start a video workout on your TV and switch to an audio-only version on your phone or smart speaker. Users can even download the classes for offline use. The fitness category may feel like a sharp turn for Spotify, but the company said that nearly 70 percent of its Premium subscribers work out monthly and that fitness and workout content was one of the top use cases for its Prompted Playlist feature. Spotify has long been expanding its offerings outside of music, with its latest efforts giving users a way to buy physical books or create group chats. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/spotify-is-now-a-fitness-app-too-144037057.html?src=rss

27.04.2026 17:04 Amazon has brought another high-profile podcasting name into its fold after agreeing to a multiyear licensing deal with Oprah Winfrey. Her podcast will expand to two episodes a week starting in July and it will be available across the likes of Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV channels and Audible. New episodes will still hit YouTube and other podcast platforms, according to Variety.Winfrey will stick to the same format she's been using on YouTube since starting a podcast channel there at the end of 2024. It will feature interviews with authors, celebrities and others in the public eye.In addition, Winfrey will create specials based on her Oprah's Favorite Things and Oprah’s Book Club franchises for Amazon. The company is also licensing all 25 seasons of The Oprah Winfrey Show but Winfrey and Amazon haven't figured out exactly how to repurpose the long-running talk show as yet. Last year, Amazon split its Wondery podcast company in two, with a team focusing on narrative podcasts merging with Amazon’s Audible team and a crew that handles celebrity-hosted shows forming a new division called Creator Services. That group promotes podcasts like New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard across Amazon's various properties, as The New York Times notes. Oprah's Book Club will tie into Audible, Kindle, Goodreads and the Amazon storefront. Products featured in the annual Oprah's Favorite Things holiday list will be highlighted on the latter as well. Winfrey and Amazon will split sales and ad revenue.It’s become common for major media companies to make a play for popular podcasts over the last several years. As video podcasts have grown, the likes of Netflix have gotten in on the action too. Some people play these as background noise and Winfrey's podcast might be particularly appealing to fans of her TV show, which ended in 2011.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/oprah-brings-her-podcast-to-amazons-streaming-services-142846445.html?src=rss