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Today — 29 January 2025Latest Tech News From Engadget

NVIDIA says it’ll likely run out of RTX 5090 and 5080 cards due to ‘significant demand’

29 January 2025 at 09:20

NVIDIA just warned consumers that it might be pretty difficult for gamers to get their hands on its upcoming high-end RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards. The company says it expects “significant demand” for the cards and that “stock-outs may happen.” The term “stock-out” is business speak for “we ran out of the thing you want.”

The official launch is January 30, so many gamers could find themselves out of luck on release day. Several distributors have revealed they won’t even have the cards on January 30. MSI says it won’t be selling the GPUs in the US until February 6 and PC maker PowerGPU told its customers that availability “will be the worst” for the “first three months.”

Warning you all now.

The launch of the RTX 5090 will be the worst when it comes to availability. Already being told to expect it to be that way for the first 3 months.

— PowerGPU (@PowerGPU) January 21, 2025

This is a global issue. VideoCardz has reported that Korea likely won’t see shipments until mid-February and the UK retailer Overclockers has posted that it only has “single-digit” numbers of RTX 5090s in stock. The retailer does, however, have slightly more 5080s in stock. 

Gizmodo has reported that folks are already camping out in the cold for the expensive cards. NVIDIA, for its part, has stated that its “shipping more stock to retail every day to help get GPUs into the hands of gamers.” We’ll see how that goes. In any event, we have compiled some tips to help folks snag one of these cards.

If you pay attention to NVIDIA product launches, this news should come as no surprise. The same thing happened with the 40 series. There was high demand and limited initial availability. It took months until gamers could cruise online and purchase one of the latest graphics cards. The 30 series cards were also difficult to find at launch, due to the pandemic and bitcoin mining.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/nvidia-says-itll-likely-run-out-of-rtx-5090-and-5080-cards-due-to-significant-demand-172030639.html?src=rss

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© Engadget/Devindra Hardawar

A GPU.

Sony's PlayStation division will once again have a single CEO

By: Kris Holt
29 January 2025 at 09:07

Sony is once again shaking up its leadership ranks. Effective April 1, Hideaki Nishino will be president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). Nishino was appointed CEO of the division's Platform Business Group last year. He ran SIE in partnership with Hermen Hulst, who will remain in his role as the head of PlayStation's studios but now report to Nishino. The pair replaced former SIE CEO Jim Ryan.

"I am truly honored to take the helm at Sony Interactive Entertainment," Nishino said in a statement. "Technology and creativity are two of our biggest strengths as we continue to focus on developing experiences that deliver entertainment for everyone. We will continue to grow the PlayStation community in new ways, such as IP expansion, while also delivering the best in technology innovation."

Hulst, meanwhile, will continue to oversee Sony's first-party games. He's also responsible for helping adapt the company's video game franchises into other mediums via PlayStation Productions.

The pair have had a tumultuous first year in charge of SIE. Just before they took the reins, Ryan announced that the division was laying off 900 staff and shutting down London Studio.

Since then, Nishino and Hulst have been dealing with the fallout of Ryan's deeply misguided efforts to focus on live-service games. After the disastrous debut of Concord — a hero shooter that vanished within just two weeks, never to return — Sony shut down the game's developer Firewalk Studios, as well as Neon Koi. A subsequent review of Sony's live-service efforts led to the company canning two other projects that were in development at Bluepoint and Bend Studio, with the former said to be a God of War title.

Elsewhere within the company, SIE Chairman Hiroki Totoki is giving up that post to become the new CEO of Sony. He'll succeed Kenichiro Yoshida, who will remain the company's chairman. Totoki is also the current president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Sony. Replacing him as CFO is Lin Tao, a senior vice-president of finance, corporate strategy and development at SIE.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-playstation-division-will-once-again-have-a-single-ceo-170758830.html?src=rss

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© Engadget

PS5 Pro next to a skull and potted plant

No Man's Sky update adds billions of stars and even more planets

29 January 2025 at 08:51

No Man's Sky is back with Worlds Part II, expanding the universe in new ways as only games can. Hello Games, the studio behind No Man's Sky, has announced the release of its newest iteration and the billions of stars and trillions of planets added to its universe. 

In a statement about the release, Sean Murphy, founder of Hello Games, explained, "This allows us to push the boundaries of our engine and technology without changing the things people love about the game already. If you settled on your home planet with a beautiful base that you lovingly crafted, that is safe — but now there are new worlds to explore with a level of variety no one has seen before." 

This shift includes the addition of Gas Giants, which Hello Games claims are up to 10 times bigger than any planets previously included in the game. The developers have also improved things under the sea, with better fishing and deep sea diving. Plus, the lighting should be better, with more detailed shadows, sharper sunlight and, of course, those shining starry skies. 

Hello Games also says Worlds Part II offers quests that connect existing storylines and mysteries. A lot of this development comes from work on Hello Game's new fantasy game Light No Fire

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/no-mans-sky-update-adds-billions-of-stars-and-even-more-planets-165102362.html?src=rss

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© Hello Games

No Man's Sky update

NordVPN’s NordWhisper protocol can get around VPN blockers

29 January 2025 at 08:25

NordVPN is known for developing its own VPN protocol, NordLynx, based on the popular and reliable WireGuard protocol. It also supports the tried-and-true OpenVPN protocol. Today, Nord Security is adding NordWhisper as its latest encryption offering.

Some countries like China, India, Pakistan, and Russia prevent their citizens and visitors within their borders from using VPNs. Even if you visit these countries with a VPN app preinstalled, these governments have anti-VPN solutions to prevent you from using them. That’s where NordWhisper comes in. The company claims that instead of relying on standard obfuscation techniques, NordWhisper mimics regular internet traffic, which makes it harder for governments to tell if you’re using a VPN, though it’s not foolproof.

All VPN protocols introduce lag and latency, and Nord Security also mentioned that NordWhisper will likely be slower than other protocols due to its technology. Even so, the company has promised to make it smarter, faster, and more effective at its job.

NordWhisper will gradually roll out to users, starting with the Windows, Android and Linux apps. The other apps will receive support at a later date, though Nord Security hasn’t mentioned any specific days or timeframes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/nordvpns-nordwhisper-protocol-can-get-around-vpn-blockers-162525626.html?src=rss

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© Nord Security

NordVPN

Pick up a four-pack of Apple AirTags while on sale for $70

29 January 2025 at 08:13

Do you constantly lose all of your stuff? No shame, but now might be a great time to invest in a few tracking devices. Luckily, a four-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale right now for $70 via Amazon. This is a record-low price and represents a 30 percent discount. It also breaks down to around $17.50 per tracker.

Apple AirTags easily made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, and this is especially true if you use an iPhone. The finding network is comprehensive and works just about anywhere. Just imagine all of those other Apple devices out there in the world helping to create this network. The end result? You’ll likely find what you’re looking for.

These trackers can also use the ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless protocol, which gamifies finding lost objects. As long as the object is within 25 feet of your smartphone, the screen will display directional arrows and a distance meter. You use this data to zero in on the object, all without constantly ringing the AirTag.

Of course, AirTags aren’t perfect. They are designed to work with iPhones and other Apple products, so Android users should keep scrolling. Also, the ringer only pings for seven seconds at a time. Sometimes that’s enough to find a lost item, but not always. 

Finally, Apple decided to not include attachment points with these trackers, so they can’t connect to a keychain or a related accessory. However, there are plenty of amazing accessories for AirTags that get the job done.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-while-on-sale-for-70-161335051.html?src=rss

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© Chris Velazco/Engadget

An AirTag, an iPhone and a hand.

OpenAI suddenly thinks intellectual property theft is not cool, actually, amid DeepSeek’s rise

By: Kris Holt
29 January 2025 at 07:42

OpenAI claims that Chinese startups are persistently trying to copy the technology of American AI companies. Aligned with that, OpenAI says it and partner Microsoft have been banning accounts suspected of “distilling” its models. The two are trying to identify those behind such efforts and, per The Wall Street Journal, buzzy upstart DeepSeek is among the entities OpenAI is looking into.

Distillation refers to the process of bolstering smaller and more efficient AI models by tapping into responses from more advanced ones. The aim is to achieve similar results in certain circumstances by aping larger models’ reasoning. OpenAI permits business users to distill its models on its platform, as the Journal notes, but under the company's terms of service, users aren’t allowed to train their own models on the output of its systems. DeepSeek has said that it uses distillation on R1, its most capable model, to train smaller ones.

“We know [China]-based companies — and others — are constantly trying to distill the models of leading US AI companies,” an OpenAI spokesperson told The Guardian. They added it was “critically important” for OpenAI to work with the government to “best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take US technology.”

The company didn’t explicitly mention DeepSeek in its statement, but the Chinese startup’s open-source chatbot has blown up in recent days. For one thing, it hit the top of the free apps list in Apple’s App Store. Its success wiped $1 trillion of stock market value from publicly listed tech companies that are neck deep in the AI sector. It’s been claimed that DeepSeek’s chatbot performs about as well as AI systems from the likes of OpenAI and Google but at a fraction of the cost and with less-powerful chips, undercutting the belief that such technology is very expensive to develop and run.

There have been reports that DeepSeek cites OpenAI policies in its outputs. Meanwhile, David Sacks, who is President Donald Trump's AI advisor, claimed there's "substantial evidence" that DeepSeek "distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models."

Still, all of this concern seems extremely rich from OpenAI, a company that has faced a swathe of lawsuits from authors, comedians, news organizations and others who accused it of using their copyrighted work without consent to train its models. Indeed, the company admitted last year that it would be "impossible to train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials." It seems OpenAI would have you believe that what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-suddenly-thinks-intellectual-property-theft-is-not-cool-actually-amid-deepseeks-rise-154249605.html?src=rss

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© REUTERS / Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Deepseek and OpenAI logos are seen in this illustration taken January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Comcast unveils ultra-low lag Internet connection

29 January 2025 at 07:00

Comcast has announced new technology for ultra-low lag Internet on its Xfinity service. According to the company's release, users of select products and software from its partners will experience less delay in situations with bi-directional traffic. The first wave of supported applications include select games from Valve's Steam platform, GeForce Now from NVIDIA, select apps on mixed reality headsets from Meta, and FaceTime on Apple hardware.

The reduction in latency comes from the Internet Engineering Task Force's L4S open standard. The tech is complex — here's a whitepaper on L4S if you're interested — but broadly if a packet traveling between your device and the server experiences congestion, it will report that on arrival, which can improve future packets' journeys.

A rep from Comcast told Engadget that the products from Apple, Meta, NVIDIA and Valve are the first to support the tech because they were initial partners for testing this low-latency connectivity. Other developers can choose to take advantage of the open standard technology once Comcast has fully rolled out the low lag option and it will be available to all Xfinity customers then. Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Philadelphia, Rockville (Maryland) and San Francisco are among the first cities to receive the low latency tech. Comcast said in its release that it plans to deploy to additional locations in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/comcast-unveils-ultra-low-lag-internet-connection-150034901.html?src=rss

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© SOPA Images via Getty Images

GARHAM, GERMANY - 2022/03/25: In this photo illustration, the Comcast Cable (Xfinity) logo is displayed on a smartphone screen with a Xfinity logo in the background. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

China's DeepSeek AI hit by information request from Italy's data protection watchdog

29 January 2025 at 05:30

China's DeepSeek AI has already caught the eye of a data protection watchdog, shortly after it went viral and became the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store in the US and other regions. As TechCrunch reports, Garante, or the Italian Data Protection Authority, has written DeepSeek to ask for information about the AI chatbot due to the "possible risk for the data of millions of people in Italy." The watchdog is in charge of monitoring the application of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules in the country. 

In an announcement about the information request on its website, Garante said it contacted both the Hangzhou and the Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence offices to ask them what kind of personal data the AI chatbot collects. It also asked them to clarify their purposes for the data they collect and whether the information they gather is stored on servers physically located in China. In its privacy policy, DeepSeek admitted that it transfers personal information of the country where the user lives and that it keeps them "in secure servers located in the People's Republic of China." However, it said that the service will "do so in accordance with the requirements of applicable data protection laws."

In addition, Garante is asking DeepSeek what type of information is used to train its AI system. And, in case web scraping is involved, it wants the service to clarify how both registered and non-registered users are informed about the processing of their data. Notably, Bloomberg has published a report that Microsoft and OpenAI are already investigating whether DeepSeek took OpenAI data and possibly used it for training. Apparently, a group of users exfiltrated a large amount of data using OpenAI's API back in the fall of 2024, and Microsoft's security researchers reportedly believe that they have a connection to DeepSeek. 

The chatbot service now has 20 days to respond to Garante's request. In the US, Reuters said authorities have started looking into the national security implications of the China-based AI chatbot.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chinas-deepseek-ai-hit-by-information-request-from-italys-data-protection-watchdog-133025226.html?src=rss

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© Reuters / Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Deepseek app icon is seen in this illustration taken, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Apple enables support for T-Mobile and Starlink satellite network on the iPhone

29 January 2025 at 05:00

The latest update Apple rolled out for the iPhone allows T-Mobile customers — a select few, for now — to be able to send text messages even in locations where they have no coverage. iOS 18.3 adds support for SpaceX and T-Mobile's direct-to-cell satellite service, which is currently being trialed after the companies opened signups for beta testing in December. As Bloomberg notes, the service used to be only compatible with certain Android phones, including Samsung models like the Z Fold and S24 along with select devices running Android 15. Meanwhile, Apple already has a partnership with Globalstar that provides users with texting capabilities when they're out of coverage. 

Users who've signed up to participate in the fledgling service's beta trials have reportedly started receiving texts. "You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere," the message reads, according to Bloomberg. And for iPhone users, it asks them to "update to iOS 18.3" to "start experiencing coverage beyond." Once they do download the update, they'll see a toggle in their cellular data settings to activate the capability. 

At the moment, the direct-to-cell service only offers text messaging. If a beta tester finds themselves in rural areas and other locations that typically don't have coverage, they'll be able to use Starlink's satellite network to send a text. In the future, the plan is to add voice and data connectivity to give people more options in far-flung locations. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apple-enables-support-for-t-mobile-and-starlink-satellite-network-on-the-iphone-130022775.html?src=rss

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© Starlink

A hand holding a phone in front of a grassy field.

The best power banks and portable chargers for every device in 2025

29 January 2025 at 00:01

On a recent work trip, I had plenty of things to worry about — but being able to recharge my two smartphones, laptop and iPad were not among my concerns. In my carry-on luggage, I had two medium-capacity portable chargers, one high capacity bank, a MagSafe power bank and plenty of cables. Over the past couple years, I’ve tested more than 50 portable batteries and have seen first hand what life-savers they can be — but not every power bank has the best combo of price, capacity, performance and features. Here are the results of our testing and research so you can determine the best power bank for your next work trip — or just a day trip across town. 

Table of contents

Best power banks for 2025

What to look for in a portable battery pack

Battery type

Nearly every rechargeable power bank you can buy (and most portable devices) contain a lithium-ion battery. These beat other current battery types in terms of size-to-charge capacity, and have even increased in energy density by eight fold in the past 14 years. They also don’t suffer from a memory effect (where a battery's lifespan deteriorates due to partial charges).

One drawback you may have heard is the possibility of lithium ion batteries catching fire. To limit the danger, battery packs require internal mechanisms to limit things like voltage and pressure. While you should still make sure a battery isn’t exposed to unnecessary stress like excessive heat, damage from drops or operating in freezing weather, battery packs are considered safe enough to bring on an airplane. According to the TSA, external batteries rated at 100Wh or less (which all of our recommendations are) can fly with you – just make sure you stash them in your carryon as they aren’t allowed in checked baggage.

Capacity

Power bank manufacturers almost always list a battery’s capacity in milliamp hours, or mAh. Smaller batteries with a 5,000mAh capacity make good phone chargers and can fill a smartphone to between 50 and 75 percent. Larger batteries that can recharge laptops and tablets, or give phones multiple charges, can exceed 25,000mAh and we have a separate guide that covers that entire category. 

Unsurprisingly, the prices on most batteries goes up as mAh capacity increases, and since batteries are physical storage units, size and weight go up with capacity as well. If you want more power, be prepared to spend more and carry around a heavier brick.

You might think that a 10,000mAh power bank could charge a 5,000mAh phone to 100 percent twice, but that’s not the case. In addition to simple energy loss through heat dissipation, factors like voltage conversion also bring down the amount of juice that makes it into your phone. Most manufacturers list how many charges a battery can give a certain smartphone. In our tests, 10,000mAh of battery pack capacity translated to roughly 5,800mAh of device charge. 20,000mAh chargers delivered around 11,250mAh to a device, and 25,000mAh banks translated to about 16,200mAh of charge. That’s an average efficiency rate of around 60 percent.

Wireless

More manufacturers are making power banks with wireless charging. Not hassling with cables is nice, but it’s important to note that wireless charging is less efficient than plugging in your phone. Outside of MagSafe options, wireless portable chargers historically didn’t make the cut for our top picks for this guide for that reason. The Qi2 wireless charging standard arrived last year and improves performance for wireless charging, including for portable banks. Currently, iPhones are the only handsets that support the new tech, but as it’s an open standard, expect Google, Samsung and others to adopt it for future phones. In my testing, I’ve noticed an uptick in the performance of non-Qi2-enabled batteries as well, so you'll now see wireless options on this list.

Ports

Since Apple ditched the Lightning cable and adopted USB-C, we’re getting closer to a standard for charging connections — and all of our picks have at least one such port. But plenty of other devices use older interfaces, like USB-A and microUSB ports, plus Lightning for older iPhones. You can find cables with just about any combination of those connections, so when you’re picking out a battery, just check that one end of your preferred cord will fit.

Most battery packs have more than one port, which gives you different charging options. You’ll typically see at least one port labeled “in/out,” which means you can use it to both charge the bank and charge your device. While USB-A output ports can power up smartphones and other small devices, they can’t charge larger devices. Plus, they aren’t as fast as USB-C ports overall. That’s something to keep in mind when you’re deciding which ports and charging cables to use to connect your phone to the pack.

There’s even more variation among USB-C ports themselves, with different ports on the same device supporting different power transfer rates. What that means in practical terms is an iPhone will charge just fine plugged into a power bank’s 18W port. But to properly charge, say, a MacBook or similar laptop, it’ll need the extra juice supplied by a 100W port (which larger power banks can offer). Power banks with more than one port can also charge multiple devices at the same time, but speeds and the overall charge delivered will be lower.

You’ll also want to consider your charging cable. For anything larger than a smartphone (and to access fast-charging capabilities) you’ll want to use USB-C ports and cables. But not all cables are created equal, even when they have the same USB-C plugs on the end. If you want power delivery from a 100W USB-C power bank port, you’ll need a 100W-rated USB-C cable. Luckily, power banks capable of delivering 100W tend to include a compatible cable. For any devices that don’t, we’ve tried and liked Anker’s 100W USB-C cable. For smaller devices, we used this 60W cable from Nimble and we don’t recommend bothering with cables under 60W. For around $20, higher-capacity charging cables will make sure you’re not wasting time with connections that limit your potential power transfer.

Design

For the most part, these rechargeable batteries have a squared-off, brick-like design, though many nod towards aesthetics with attractive finishes and detailing. While that doesn’t affect how they perform, it’s a consideration for something you’ll interact with regularly. Some portable power stations include extra features like MagSafe compatibility, a built-in wall plug or even a kickstand. Nearly all have some sort of indicator to let you know how much available charge your power bank has left, usually expressed with lighted pips near the power button. Some of the newer banks take that a step further with an LED display indicating remaining battery percentage.

How we test best power banks

Before we even put our hands on a battery pack, we did extensive research. We considered brands Engadget reviewers and staff have tried over the years and we checked out customer ratings on retail sites like Amazon and Best Buy. Then we get our hanHere’s the full list of power banks we've tested, which range from small wireless banks to large, multi-device batteries.

an assortment of power banks sit on a wooden table
Amy Skorheim for Engadget

MagSafe-compatible

Low capacity (≤10,000mAh)

Mid capacity (10,001 - 20,000mAh)

High capacity (20,001mAh+)

We're continuously updating this guide as companies release new products and we test them. We remove some products as we find picks that are more worthy of the best portable charger designation. We also add updated specs and prices where necessary. 

For testing, I used each battery with some combination of an iPhone 15, an iPhone 14 Plus, an iPhone 11, a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, a Galaxy S23 Ultra, a 5th-gen iPad Air and an M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro. I charged one phone battery at a time, even though some packs are capable of multiple-device charging. I charged the phones and tablets from between zero and five percent until they were 100 percent full (or until the power bank was dead), and didn’t use the phones or tablets while they charged other than to power them on and enter the unlock code. In the case of the MacBook, I used it while it was charging (it’s my work computer).

I used the charging cable included with each power bank to charge the Galaxy S22 Ultra, MacBook Pro and the iPad Air. For the iPhones, I used the USB-C to Lighting cable that Apple provides. In the case of the lower-capacity power banks that didn’t include a cord or included one with USB-C to USB-A connectors, I used this 60W-rated USB-C to USB-C cable.

For reference, here are the battery capacities of each device we used for testing:

I noted the times for each charge and the number of charges each bank provided. I also paid attention to things like ease of use and overall design.

Other power banks we tested

Baseus Blade 2

The Blade 2 from Baseus has a unique, flat shape that’s just a little wider than an ereader — which may make it easier to slip into a low profile laptop bag. It charged a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra considerably faster than any other battery bank we tried, getting it from four percent to full in just over an hour. It then filled the phone back to 62 percent from dead on a second charge in about a half an hour. But $100 is a lot for a standard power bank that holds fewer than two full charges. But if you can find the Blade 2 on sale, snap it up.

Anker MagGo (6.6K)

Anker’s 6.6k MagGo is pretty similar to our top pick for a MagSafe-compatible battery pack. It supports the Qi2 charging standard and props up your iPhone so you can use it or enable StandBy mode while powering up. This one even lets you set the viewing angle from 30 to 65 degrees. It was speedy in getting an iPhone 15 up to 50 percent in about 40 minutes. But for the added bulk, it doesn’t have as much capacity as the 10K MagGo, holding just enough juice for a single full charge plus about 5 percent. But it is $20 cheaper, which may be key for some.

Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Mini

The Mophie snap+ Powerstation Mini is terribly well-built. It feels premium with a rubberized contact point for the MagSafe charging pad and a stand that runs the entire width of the bank itself, making it extra sturdy. It’s compact, too, but only carries a 5,000mAh capacity, which gets you a partial charge on most newer or larger phones. Our current MagSafe/iPhone pick has double the capacity, a stand and a digital display — for just $20 more than the Powerstation Mini.

Power bank FAQs

What's the difference between a portable power bank and a portable charger?

A slew of terms are used to describe power banks, including portable batteries, portable chargers, external battery packs and even, somewhat confusingly, USB chargers, which is what wall chargers are often called. They all mean the same thing: a lithium ion battery that stores a charge so you can refill a smartphone, tablet, earbuds, console controller, ereader, laptop, or just about any other device with its own built-in, rechargeable battery. 

There’s little difference between the terms, so the specs you’ll want to pay attention to are capacity (expressed in mAh), size and weight so you can find the right balance between recharging what you need and portability.

Power stations, on the other hand, are distinct. These are bigger units (often around the size of a car battery) that can be used to charge multiple devices multiple times, but notably, they can’t be taken on airplanes.

Does fast charging actually ruin your battery?

Not exactly. The real enemy of a battery’s longevity is heat. The faster you charge a battery, the more heat is generated. Modern phones have features that keep the battery cool while charging, like physical heat shields and heat sinks, as well as software features that slow down processes that generate too much heat. Phone manufacturers are keen to promote a phone’s fast-charging abilities, so they had to figure out ways to make faster charging work.

While there aren’t long-term studies on what fast charging does to a phone, a study on EV batteries (which use the same general concept of charged lithium ions flowing from one side of the battery to the other, absorbing or releasing a usable charge) showed a very slight decrease in capacity over time with only fast charging — though what actually made a larger difference was how hot the battery itself was, due to ambient temperatures, when it was charged.

In short, fast charging could be slightly harder on your battery than normal charging. But the safeguards most smartphones have make that difference fairly negligible. To really ensure you’re taking the best care of your battery, limiting heat exposure overall is one of the best things you can do.

Can you use a power bank for all your devices?

That depends on the size of the bank and the size of your device’s battery. A small 5,000mAh battery isn’t strong enough to charge laptops, but a portable charger with a 20,000mAh capacity will give your computer a partial refill. You also have to consider port compatibility. If your device has a USB port, you’ll be able to easily find a cable to connect it to a battery. If your device has a more unique port, such as a DC port, you won’t be able to use a battery. Devices with an AC cable and plug can be charged, and sometimes powered (such as in the case of a printer or speaker), by larger laptop batteries with AC ports.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-power-bank-143048526.html?src=rss

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© Engadget

The best power banks
Yesterday — 28 January 2025Latest Tech News From Engadget

Doom + Doom II now supports multiplayers mods

28 January 2025 at 13:42

Old-school Doom fans have something new to chew on until The Dark Ages arrives. Doom + Doom II, the latest in a long line of rereleases of the two id Software classics, was updated on Tuesday with multiplayer mod support. And balance was restored in Hades.

At launch in August, the bundle — available for PC, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Switch — supported mods and multiplayer, but not the two together. The game’s second update, which Bethesda pushed on Tuesday, only adds multiplayer mod support if everyone in your match does a little planning.

First, hosts need to activate each mod before entering the multiplayer menu. In addition, all players in the match have to subscribe to the same mod before joining. Only mods authored with Vanilla DOOM, DeHackEd, MBF21 or BOOM are compatible.

Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch on May 15. It takes place in the medieval wastelands of Hell and adds new goodies like mech battles and a ridable cyber dragon. If that isn’t an elevator pitch for a Doom game, I don’t know what is.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/doom--doom-ii-now-supports-multiplayers-mods-214215269.html?src=rss

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© Bethesda / id Software

Screenshot from the classic game Doom. First-person perspective of firing a shotgun at a demon.

Jack Dorsey’s Block has an AI agent too

28 January 2025 at 13:27

Jack Dorsey’s Block has created its own open-source AI agent. Called “codename goose,” the tool allows users to complete tasks using popular large language models.

“You can think of Goose as an assistant that is ready to take your instructions, and do the work for you,” Block explains in a blog post. According to the company, the agent can autonomously complete engineering tasks like looking for bugs or making code changes.

Users can configure goose to run on their preferred LLM. Iit supports Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI and others, though the company says it “works best” with Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI's o1 model. It’s also compatible with extensions, which allows it to plug into popular developer tools, like GitHub and Google Drive,

Block is, of course, known for its financial apps, Square and Cash App, as well as the music streaming service Tidal, which it acquired in 2021. Those may not be industries you immediately associate with AI development, but Block founder Jack Dorsey is a longtime advocate for open-source software. The company also notes that goose could eventually extend to “non-engineering use cases” as well. Block engineer Brad Axen told ZDNET that the company envisions more “creative’ uses for goose, like music generation.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/jack-dorseys-block-has-an-ai-agent-too-212706083.html?src=rss

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© Block

codename goose

Good luck figuring out what time it is on this cool Asteroids watch

By: Kris Holt
28 January 2025 at 12:55

Here's one for the fashion-conscious retro gamers out there. Atari has teamed up with watchmaker Nubeo to release an Asteroids-themed watch to celebrate the game's 45th anniversary (even though it came out in 1979).

The watch has a multi-layered disc system that's designed to reflect the gameplay of Asteroids. Atari says it's powered by "a Japanese automatic movement." The watch has a stainless steel 50mm case and a sapphire lens. It also has a 20 ATM rating for water resistance at depths of up to 200 meters, so it should be sturdy enough if you want to wear it while scuba diving.

The timepiece even comes in a case that looks like an Atari VCS. Atari and Nubeo created five colorways for it: nebula blue, supernova red, nova nightfall, plasma pumpkin and celestial citrine. Best of all, the watch glows in the dark.

Asteroids-themed watch with a yellow band in an Atari-branded case.
Atari/Nubeo

Actually telling what time it is on this thing might take you a moment or two, though. A pair of UFOs indicate the time in hours and minutes. As for the A-shaped spaceship in the center and the shots it fires, that's your second hand. But the display looks quite chaotic, as a number of asteroids spin around on the discs as well.

Look, I really like my Apple Watch for lots of reasons, not least because I can actually play some video games on it, like the absorbing Galaxy Mix (there's an Asteroids clone that's apparently playable on the device too). Maybe I'll just need to become one of those people who wear two watches, since I want the Asteroids timepiece as well.

You'll likely need to act quickly if you want one, though. Nubeo only made 125 of each variant. The colorways are listed for $499 each on the Atari and Nubeo websites. Good luck!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/good-luck-figuring-out-what-time-it-is-on-this-cool-asteroids-watch-205505602.html?src=rss

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© Atari/Nubeo

A person wearing an Asteroids-themed watch on their wrist.

CVS tries to juice app signups with cabinet unlocking feature

28 January 2025 at 12:39

CVS is launching a new app today and it could address one of the more obnoxious elements of in-person drugstore shopping: locked cabinets. One way the CVS Health app can expedite the store experience is by letting select users access products behind those clear plastic panels through their phones, without asking for assistance from an employee.

This tool is being tested in just three stores for now and is only available to loyalty program members. And within those limits, shoppers will need to log into the app, join the store's Wi-Fi and enable Bluetooth on their phones to unlock cabinets on their own.

For any irritated customer who has been delayed by the clear plastic cage, or for any busy store employee called away just for their keys, the addition of a mobile tool for accessing locked cabinets sounds like a welcome idea. Tilak Mandadi, executive vice president at CVS Health, told The Wall Street Journal that the pilot program has gone well so far, and the company's next step will be expanding the feature to 10-15 stores.

The app, which is a successor to the company's CVS Pharmacy app, also includes resources for managing prescriptions and immunizations. And because it's a software product in the year 2025, CVS Health uses some artificial intelligence. The app is launching with AI-powered search options and is expected to add an AI chat tool for checking medication refills and order status later in the year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/cvs-tries-to-juice-app-signups-with-cabinet-unlocking-feature-203954391.html?src=rss

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© UCG via Getty Images

Man pressing button for employee assistance at locked merchandise, CVS store, Queens, New York. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Get more than $400 off one of our favorite Alienware gaming monitors

28 January 2025 at 11:56

Looking to upgrade your gaming rig? Dell is selling one of its most popular Alienware gaming monitors at a deep discount. The 32-inch model is more than $400 off, now costing $765 instead of $1,200. The display is on sale for $900 outright, but enter "MONITORS15" at checkout for an additional 15 percent off. The 34-inch model is $250 off, but there's no available coupon code. 

This is one of our favorite gaming monitors and we called it “an incredible ultrawide OLED.” It boasts a curved QD-OLED panel. It also features 4K resolution and a max refresh rate of 240Hz, which is a fantastic metric for gaming. These monitors allow access to Dolby Vision, NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD Free-Sync.

The ports are also on point. These displays include a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, a single USB-B upstream port, four USB-A downstream ports and a single USB-C port. One of the USB-A ports also supports BC1.2 power-charging.

Some ports.
Dell

The 34-inch model is actually cheaper, at $650, but there are some trade offs. This one doesn’t support G-Sync and offers a max refresh rate of 165Hz. The 25-inch and 27-inch variants aren’t on sale, and aren’t even curved, but the coupon code does work. Respectively, this brings the price down to $300 and $510.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-more-than-400-off-one-of-our-favorite-alienware-gaming-monitors-195620194.html?src=rss

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© Dell

A monitor.

Some Garmin GPS watches are stuck in a blue triangle boot loop

28 January 2025 at 12:40

If you own a Garmin GPS watch, you may want to power it down for a while. Users on Reddit and Garmin’s forums (via The Verge) report that a botched software update is leaving the wearables in a “blue triangle” boot loop, putting them out of commission until further notice.

In a statement to Engadget, Garmin acknowledged the issue. “We are aware of an issue causing some devices to be stuck on the start-up screen or a blue triangle.” The company points readers to its support webpage for updates.

A pinned message from the company on its forums details a possible fix that some users claim is only temporary. “We are aware of an issue causing some devices to be stuck on the start up screen or a blue triangle,” the message reads. “To resolve this, press and hold the power button until the device turns off, then power it back on, and sync with the Garmin Connect app or Garmin Express.” 

A person sitting by an outdoor fire, wearing a Garmin GPS watch, holding wrist up with coffee in the opposite hand.
Garmin

Some crafty Redditors claim to have traced the issue to a file related to GPS functionality. Although some reported that following Garmin’s reset instructions worked, others said it was only temporary, with the issue returning later. The problem appears to affect various models, including the Forerunner, Venu, Fenix, Vivoactive and Epix lines.

If your Garmin smartwatch has no problems (... so far), you may save yourself a headache by powering it down and waiting for an official solution from Garmin. If you’ve encountered the issue and want to roll the dice, this Reddit thread includes some unofficial — and untested by Engadget — fixes and workarounds.

Update, January 28, 2025, 3:40PM ET: This story has been updated to add a statement from Garmin.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/some-garmin-gps-watches-are-stuck-in-a-blue-triangle-boot-loop-193920555.html?src=rss

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© u/SuspiciousCucumber16 / Reddit

Photo of a person holding a Garmin smartwatch with a blue triangle on its screen.

Waymo's autonomous robotaxis are starting to merge onto LA freeways

28 January 2025 at 11:10

Waymo posted on X today that it has opened fully autonomous rides on LA freeways to its employees. The company noted that this is a preliminary step toward bringing its vehicle fleet onto highways for all passengers in the city.

Freeways are an intrinsic part of the LA experience. To better serve our expansive 79-square-mile service area, we're beginning to provide our employees with access to fully autonomous rides on LA freeways—a key step toward expanding this capability to all riders. pic.twitter.com/oWqVQ1hlJz

— Waymo (@Waymo) January 28, 2025

After getting approval to begin local robotaxi operation in March 2024, Waymo offered autonomous rides in LA at a small scale, with a waitlist for interested customers. In November, the waitlist ended so any Angelenos could call for a ride. But for a sprawling city like LA, having access to a highway is all but essential for getting around, so adding freeways to the cars' capability would mark a big improvement in how useful Waymo robotaxis will be there.

Waymo, which is owned by Google parent company Alphabet, has set its sights on its first international expansion. The business said it anticipates starting vehicle tests and mapping in Japan early this year. On the home front, Waymo is also slated to launch in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymos-autonomous-robotaxis-are-starting-to-merge-onto-la-freeways-191035547.html?src=rss

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© Waymo

One of Waymo's Ipace 3 autonomous vehicles

Heads up, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete will only be $10 for a couple more days

By: Kris Holt
28 January 2025 at 10:35

Heads up, Animal Crossing fans: if you haven’t yet bought the paid version of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and plan to do so, it might be a good idea to snap it up in the next day or so. The mobile game for iOS and Android is currently $10, but the price will double to $20 after 1AM ET on January 31. That’s when the introductory offer comes to an end.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete arrived in December, a few days after Nintendo shut down the free-to-play edition. Folks who played the original version can still transfer their save data via their Nintendo account and continue from where they left off. The deadline transferring the data is 2AM ET on June 2.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp debuted in 2017. It employed a freemium model with microtransactions, but Nintendo has since decided to ditch that approach. While you'll now need to pay for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete upfront, the current iteration of the game doesn't have any in-app purchases. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/heads-up-animal-crossing-pocket-camp-complete-will-only-be-10-for-a-couple-more-days-183525135.html?src=rss

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© Nintendo

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete

X’s payments app will be available later this year

28 January 2025 at 10:10

It seems that X is getting ready to finally roll out the payments app the company’s leaders have long been promising The company will introduce X Money later this year with Visa as partner, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced.

According to Yaccarino, X Money will support person-to-person payments via users’ debit cards with the ability to transfer funds to a bank account, much like Venmo. The service will also allow you to deposit money into an “X Wallet.”

Another milestone for the Everything App: @Visa is our first partner for the @XMoney Account, which will debut later this year.

💰Allows for secure + instant funding to your X Wallet via Visa Direct

🪪 Connects to your debit card allowing P2P payments

🏦 Option to instantly…

— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) January 28, 2025

Bothe Yaccarino and X owner Elon Musk have long promised to bring financial services to X as they attempt to turn the platform into an “everything app.” In a memo last year, Yaccarino said the company planned to support banking and payments features for users. Musk has also said he wants people to be able to run their “entire financial world” via X.

So far, X Money sounds like it’s a long way off from that vision, though Yaccarino said the Visa partnership is the “first of many big announcements about X Money this year.” X hasn’t disclosed specifics about how X Money will work for users or how it might make money off the service. X’s business is reportedly struggling. Musk recently told employees that “our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we’re barely breaking even,” in a memo reported by The Wall Street Journal.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/xs-payments-app-will-be-available-later-this-year-181046773.html?src=rss

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© NurPhoto via Getty Images

X logo displayed on a phone screen is seen in this illustration photo taken in Poland on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Whole Foods workers form first union since Amazon acquisition

28 January 2025 at 10:00

A majority of workers at a Whole Foods location in Philadelphia have voted to unionize, as reported by Reuters. This makes the Pennsylvania store the first to unionize under Amazon’s ownership, and the second time overall.

Workers voted 130 to 100 for representation, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which translates to nearly 60 percent of workers choosing to unionize. Workers at this particular location filed to hold a union election back in November. A successful vote is just the beginning of this process, however, as a contract has yet to be ratified and accepted by both parties.

"We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers' needs and priorities," Wendell Young IV, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, said in an email.

Workers at Amazon’s Whole Foods in Philadelphia made history today as they voted to unionize and WON! pic.twitter.com/jKpkuhwRIi

— UFCW Local 1776 (@UFCWLocal1776) January 28, 2025

Coming as no surprise, Whole Foods expressed disappointment over the outcome of the vote. A company representative told Reuters that it already offers “competitive compensation, great benefits and career advancement opportunities.” Ahead of the vote, workers cited the need for better wages and benefits.

As previously noted, this is the first successful unionization bid for Whole Foods workers since Amazon bought the company in 2017 for nearly $14 billion. It’s not, however, the first time a Whole Foods location has voted to unionize. Workers in a Wisconsin location voted to unionize back in 2002, but the union was dissolved the following year.

In the interest of full disclosure, I worked at a Whole Foods location in 2005 and, one day, someone snuck in the store to hand out pro-unionization pamphlets. Management sent an armed guard around to collect the pamphlets from us. It was weird. 

It’s no secret that Amazon isn’t exactly a friend to unions. Workers in Quebec unionized last year but, surprise, the company now says it’s closing the entire facility. Amazon is worth over $2.5 trillion dollars and has doubled in value throughout the past year or so.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/whole-foods-workers-form-first-union-since-amazon-acquisition-180026628.html?src=rss

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© Unsplash/Marcus iStrfry

A Whole Foods location.
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