Google has been offering the Results About You tool since 2022 and updated it once in 2023. A part of Google Search, the tool looks for your personal information online and lets you request its removal. Today, the tech giant is announcing the latest changes, including a redesigned hub and the ability to update outdated search results to reflect the latest changes.

The redesign isn’t only for show. You can now submit removal requests directly from Search with fewer actions by clicking or tapping the three dots beside a search result. If you manage to have content about you deleted or changed from a website but Google Search hasn’t caught up, you can refresh the search, which will ”recrawl the page and obtain the latest information.” In other words, you can always see the most up-to-date results about you.

While these updates are helpful, they don’t introduce any major changes. The 2023 update to Results About You was more substantial, introducing proactive searches containing your info and the ability to remove consensual explicit images of yourself.

While Google didn’t introduce any significant changes to “results about you” last year, it did become available in Australia and South Africa last May. However, this helpful privacy feature remains inaccessible in many countries, including Malaysia, where I’m from. Google also doesn’t say where it’s available, so you’ll have to check your Google account to see if it works for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/google-is-making-it-even-easier-to-remove-your-personal-information-on-search-145326075.html?src=rss

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Apparently almost all undergraduate students are using AI now, in one way or another. A new report from the UK's Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that 92 percent of students have used generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, for their studies. At the same time, 88 percent of these students have used it for exams. These numbers are a tremendous increase from HEPI's February 2024 report in which 66 percent and 53 percent participants relayed use, respectively. 

The top reasons students reported using AI include saving time, improved quality of their work and getting instant support. Wealthier, STEM-focused and male respondents were more enthusiastic about AI in the survey. Students' main arguments against utilizing AI included cheating accusations, being given fake results or hallucinations and getting biased results. Women and younger students were more likely to voice concerns. HEPI surveyed 1,041 British and international students in the UK during December 2024.

Meanwhile, universities tended to score well with students on the integrity of their AI policies. Four-fifths of respondents stated that their school had a clear AI policy and, notably, 76 percent believe their university would spot AI use for assessed work (yes, despite that 88 percent that have done it). Staff are also better prepared to help with AI, with 42 percent of students responding that the staff is "well-equipped," up from 18 percent last year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nearly-all-uk-undergrads-use-ai-in-their-studies-according-to-a-new-report-144221715.html?src=rss

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Alibaba is giving people free access to its generative artificial intelligence models that can produce highly realistic videos and images from both text and image input. The company has announced that four variants of its Wan 2.1 series, the latest version of its generative AI technology, are now open source and can be downloaded and modified by users. Researchers, academics and commercial entities can all get them from Alibaba Cloud's ModelScope and Hugging Face platforms, both of which give people access to open-source AI models. As Reuters said, the models Alibaba has open sourced are called T2V-1.3B, T2V-14B, I2V-14B-720P and I2V-14B-480P, with the 14B indicating that the model can accept 14 billion parameters. 

Last month, Chinese company DeepSeek made its R1 reasoning model free to download and use, creating a clamor for more open-source AI technologies. DeepSeek even expanded its commitment to the open-source community and is in the process of releasing five code repositories behind its service. 

Alibaba was one of the companies that joined the fray to develop generative AI tech following the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT two years ago. Just recently, Alibaba Group's Chairman, Joe Tsai, said that the company's generative AI technology will power artificial intelligence features for iPhones meant for sale in the Chinese market. Apple couldn't use the same AI tech for phones released in China due to strict regulations surrounding AI products, so it has to look for local partners, Alibaba being one of them.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/alibaba-offers-free-access-to-its-ai-model-that-can-generate-realistic-video-and-images-133045633.html?src=rss

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Apple is far from saintly, but, compared to its fellow tech giants, it did something right. The company's shareholders have voted to keep its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, following a push by conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), to remove them, Reuters reports. The Center's proposal, Request to Cease DEI Efforts, failed 8.84 billion votes to 210.45 million votes — or about 2.3 percent of the vote. 

Many of these programs emerged or expanded when the Black Lives Matter movement exploded onto the global stage in 2020. However, President Trump's criticisms and threats that DEIs could violate the law — along with spineless greed from executives — has seen companies like Meta and Google reduce or even fully remove these programs. Those in favor of the proposal at Apple argued that the company could face an uptick in discrimination cases if current policies remain. 

At the meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that "strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration, one where people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to innovate."

Now, none of this is to say that Apple has incredible DEI efforts. Previously, its shareholders rejected greater transparency about its racial and gender gaps. They also voted down a measure that would require Apple to further investigate the risks of its AI efforts. 

Cook is also doing plenty of appeasing when it comes to Trump. The pair reportedly met last week and Apple has announced $500 billion in US-based spending over the next four years. He also donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration and attended it alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and other tech executives.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-keeping-its-dei-program-130033491.html?src=rss

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If you know you want an Apple Watch, but aren’t sure which one to get, this guide is here to explain the differences between the three models. The company’s flagship Apple Watch Series 10 has robust fitness tracking and health monitoring, as well as helpful iPhone integrations. We named it the best smartwatch overall. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 packs a few extra features and is geared towards serious athletes and outdoor adventurers — and it’s also the most expensive. The oldest model of the bunch is the budget Apple Watch SE from 2022, which you can often find on sale for under $200. It gives you a surprising number of features for the price. Check out the buying advice below to get the full story on the chips, sensors, features, battery life and price to help you pick the best Apple Watch for your wrist.

Table of contents

• Best Apple Watch in 2025

• What to look for in an Apple Watch

• How we tested Apple Watches

Best Apple Watch in 2025

What to look for in an Apple Watch

Chips and sensors

The new Apple Watch Series 10 has an S10 SiP (system in a package) chip with a four-core Neural Engine. The Ultra 2 was updated last September with Apple’s S9 SiP. Both chips allow for on-device processing of Siri requests as well as dictation, translation, automatic workout detection and the Double Tap gesture that lets you answer calls or stop an alarm by tapping your thumb and forefinger together twice. It also enables faster machine learning performance for interpreting sensor data, speech recognition and performing other “thinking” tasks. The Apple Watch SE still relies on the S8 SiP, which was also used in the Series 8 and the original Ultra.

Both the Series 10 and Ultra 2 can measure certain vital signs like heart rate, as well as take an ECG. Temperature sensors can help track ovulation, while underwater temperature sensors may come in handy while swimming and snorkeling. Both also support fall-detection and crash-detection as a safety feature. All three models have a compass and altimeter. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has an onboard SOS siren, as well as dive features like a depth gauge. Water features were added to the Apple Watch Series 10, but with a shallower depth rating (just six meters, as compared to 40 meters on the Ultra). The Ultra includes blood oxygen sensors, but a patent dispute has forced Apple to disable that health feature on new models sold in the US and the hardware isn’t present in the new flagship model.

All three models support near field communication (NFC), the chip that enables Apple Pay. Once you set it up using the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, you can pay for stuff at any store that accepts Apple Pay, even if you don't have your phone with you.

Displays and case sizes

The wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch 10 lets you see the always-on display from more angles. The Ultra 2 also has an always-on display, but you’ll have to lift your wrist to tell time or read notifications on the SE. The SE can reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, the Series 10 can get as bright as 2,000 and the Ultra 2 hits 3,000 nits. Both higher-end screens can dim to a single nit, making them less distracting in the dark.

The Apple Watch Series 10 came with a new finish and case material — a glossy anodized jet black finish on the aluminum model and the option for a titanium case. The Ultra 2 also got a new finish, satin black, that utilizes a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process to apply the color.

As for case sizes, the SE is available in 40 or 44mm. The Series 10 increased in size from the prior generation and now has a choice of a 42 or 46mm case. The Ultra 2 comes in just one size measuring 49mm. You also get the opportunity to pick the length and style for watch bands. The SE and Series 10 come in small/medium or medium/large and the Ultra 2 gives you the choice of small, medium or large.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Battery life

Since it’s the largest wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 sports the biggest battery and can last for a claimed 36 hours on a charge. That number jumps up to 72 hours if you turn on low power mode. Both the Apple Watch 10 and the SE are rated by Apple to go for 18 hours before they need a visit to the charger, and longer when using battery saver mode. That means if you want to use either of those models regularly for sleep tracking, you may need to recharge them a bit before bed. 

Fitness and wellness features

Believe it or not, all three Apple Watches have similar fitness tracker chops. The Activity app uses three “rings” to keep tabs on how much you’re moving in a day: The Move ring tracks your active calories; the Exercise ring monitors the minutes you’ve spent walking, running, doing yoga and so on; and the Stand ring tells you how many hours in a day you’ve stood up and moved around for at least one minute.

Different internal sensors detect those activities, for example the accelerometer senses when you’re moving versus sitting still, and the optical heart rate sensor judges how hard you're working out and how many calories you’ve burned. You can set your goals for each ring and you’ll earn badges and animations when you hit them.

The Workout app lets you start and track an exercise session. The sensors can even auto-detect when you’re working out, tapping your wrist to suggest you track the activity. Apple Watches will integrate with Apple’s Fitness+ subscription, displaying real time heart rate and calorie burn data on your iPhone, iPad or even Apple TV 4K as you take a class. Fitness+ also includes audio-guided walks and runs with just your watch and Bluetooth earbuds. All three models support the Activity and Workout apps for free. The Fitness+ app also works with all Apple Watches, but costs $10 per month.

New features enabled with watchOS 11 include Training Load that gauges your body’s response to workouts over time, which could help athletes better prepare for events like marathons. Users can also now skip a day (or more) from fitness tracking metrics when they need to rest or aren’t feeling up to the challenge of closing their rings. The new OS also supports offline maps, which could prove useful when hiking far from cellular coverage.  

Siri

You can get the weather, start a workout, identify a song and dictate a text just by asking Siri. All Apple Watch models support the Raise to Speak feature that bypasses the need to say “Hey Siri” and will instead listen for your request when you lift your wrist near your mouth.

Both the Series 10 and the Ultra 2 utilize onboard processing of Siri requests. That means executing simple requests like starting workouts and timers are quicker, as they won’t need to access external networks. However, requests like sending texts or getting weather forecasts still need to communicate with Wi-Fi or cellular, so you’ll need to have your phone nearby if you have a GPS-only model.

Carbon neutral options

The Apple Watch Series 9 with the aluminum case was the company's first carbon neutral product. Apple defines its carbon neutral products as those that use "100 percent clean electricity for manufacturing and product use, 30 percent recycled or renewable material by weight and 50 percent of shipping without the use of air transportation." Combined, Apple says those changes reduced the emissions by around 75 percent, and the company will use credits so make up for the remaining emissions.

Currently, the Apple Watch Series 10 in either aluminum or titanium with the sport loop band, braided solo loop or Milanese loop, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the trail loop or alpine loop bands are designated as carbon neutral products. 

Price

There’s a $550 difference between the cheapest and most expensive Apple Watches. For $250 (and often on sale for less), you can get the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS-only connectivity; adding cellular connectivity ups the price by $50. The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for the 42mm, non-cellular model in aluminum and goes as high as $749 for the 46mm titanium case (which is only available with GPS and cellular). The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has just one price: $799 for a titanium 49mm case with both GPS and cellular power.

How we tested Apple Watches

Engadget has been reviewing Apple Watches since the first one came out in 2015. Since then, we’ve tested every subsequent model Apple has released, including the Ultra and SE models, spending at least a few days or even a couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. During that time, we run, hit the gym, go on hikes and wear it while sleeping, all the while gauging how it tracks various metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs every other trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do.

Since we also review smartwatches from other companies, such as Samsung and Google, our editors can compare Apple Watches not just to previous generations, but also to other wearables on the market. Our buying guides and recommendations rely on first-hand testing by Engadget staff. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-apple-watch-160005462.html?src=rss

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Microsoft announced that it is making some features available for free in its Copilot AI assistant. Everyone now has unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper, which is powered by OpenAI’s o1 model.

Copilot got the Voice feature, which allows users to have conversations with the AI assistant, in October 2024. Think Deeper is intended to parse complicated queries, such as assessing the pros and cons of major home purchases, taking cost and long-term value into account.

"We are working hard to scale unlimited access to advanced features to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible," the blog post noted. Microsoft noted that users could experience delays or interruptions during times of high usage for these newly free Copilot applications. Members of the Copilot Pro subscription will still have preferred access to the company's latest AI models at those peak usage times, as well as to new features that are still in the experimental stage.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-copilot-offers-voice-and-o1-powered-think-deeper-for-free-232723768.html?src=rss

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A bizarre bug is causing iPhones to automatically change the word “racist” to “Trump” when using the built-in dictation feature in iOS. The issue, which seems to have been discovered by TikTok users, crops up when using the voice-to-text feature in Apple apps like Messages.

When speaking the word “racist,” iOS briefly transcribes the text as “Trump” before changing it back to the intended word. It’s not clear what could cause this behavior. Engadget was able to replicate the issue, as you can see in the GIF below.

Apple told The New York Times it was due to “phonetic overlap between the two words,” despite the fact that the two words do not sound similar. That also doesn't explain why "racist," with a lowercase "r" would transcribe as "Trump" — seemingly a reference to our current president — and not "trump," the noun. An AI expert who once worked on Siri told the paper it could be a “serious prank” on the part of an Apple employee. 

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Whether it’s a bug or prank, it surfaced at a particularly embarrassing time for the iPhone maker, which announced on Monday that it planned to invest $500 billion in manufacturing facilities for AI servers. The investment, most of which was already planned, came after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump at the White House last week. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/iphones-are-briefly-changing-racist-to-trump-due-to-an-ios-dictation-issue-230712021.html?src=rss

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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is one of my favorite games of the year, so you'll forgive me if I spend the next 300 words or so writing about a limited-edition plush the game's creator, Gareth Damian Martin, is producing with the help of crowdfunding platform Makeship. Starting today, you can pledge $30 to support Martin's campaign, and if enough other people do as well, everyone will get a cute cat plush sometime later this year. The toy was designed by French illustrator Guillaume Singelin, who also did the character designs for the game. Right now, the campaign is sitting at 45 percent funded with 90 toys sold, and the better part of 22 days to go. 

And I mean look at the plush, isn't it one of the cutest things you've seen? For the uninitiated, the Stray, not to be confused with another cyberpunk cat, is one of the characters Citizen Sleeper 2's protagonist can encounter during their journey. As far as I'm aware, they only appear in one scene throughout the entire runtime of the game (how very cat-like of them, I know), but it's a moment that's emblematic of so many of Citizen Sleeper 2's strengths. 

"This cat, the one on your ship, was born here. That much is obvious," writes Martin in the scene. "It is a creature of zero-gravity, a being that orbits and glides, not one that leaps and stalks." Without spoiling anything, what follows is a touching and thoughtful meditation on memory, and how we can choose whether our memories define us.   

If you haven't played Citizen Sleeper 2 yet, consider this a recommendation. It is easily worth your time and more. You can play the game on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. As for the Stray, they're expected to start shipping on June 12, 2025. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/im-writing-about-this-cute-cat-plush-so-you-play-one-of-2025s-best-games-223325680.html?src=rss

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The Federal Aviation Agency has started testing Starlink terminals for upgrades to the networks that manage airspace, creating the latest conflict of interest between the US government and Elon Musk. The FAA posted (fittingly on the social network Musk also owns) that it is testing a Starlink terminal in Atlantic City, NJ, and two terminals in Alaska. The post claims that the department had been considering using the SpaceX tech since the prior presidential administration.

The agency, which oversees all areas of civil aviation, has levied fines and required reviews over the years related to various SpaceX operations. Most recently, the agency ordered SpaceX to investigate what caused a mid-flight explosion with its Starship rocket last month.

A source told Bloomberg that Musk had approved a shipment of 4,000 Starlink terminals to the FAA last week. The agency has an existing contract with Verizon Communications, worth $2 billion, for supporting and maintaining its infrastructure. Bloomberg's sources were unsure how the Starlink tests would impact the Verizon deal.

This isn't the first time a Musk-owned business has benefited since the South African billionaire inserted himself into the US political landscape. He and his so-called DOGE group has been leading cuts within the federal ranks, including at the FAA and at other departments that oversee his companies. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saw about a 10 percent reduction to its staff this month, including cuts to the small division overseeing autonomous vehicles such as those from Tesla.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/amid-a-musk-led-overhaul-the-faa-starts-doing-business-with-spacex-221900620.html?src=rss

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Samsung's new 9100 PRO Series solid-state drives (SSDs) include the company's first consumer-grade 8TB NVMe SSD. The latest models use the speedy PCIe 5.0 standard, which — unless you train AI models for a living — is almost certainly overkill for your PC needs.

The Samsung 9100 PRO series offers up to double the storage of its predecessor, the 990 PRO line. It launches in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models, with the 8TB ones not arriving until later this year. Each tier ships in models with and without a heatsink (whether you need that will depend on whether your motherboard includes one for NVMe drives).

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The company says the 9100 PRO SSDs have sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 13,400 MB/s. Their random read speeds are as fast as 2,200K IOPS (input-output per second), with random write speeds up to 2,600K IOPS. The company says the 9100 PRO SSDs are up to 49 percent more power-efficient than the 990 PRO line and have a profile as slim as 0.35 inches (around 8.9mm).

But as Engadget's Igor Bonifacic wrote in our SSD buying guide, very few real-world use cases demand those speeds. (Think people training large-scale AI models and the like.) As it stands, PCIe 4.0 drives already benchmark far beyond what most gamers and other consumer uses require. They also cost about half as much.

The first 9100 PRO SSDs arrive in March: 1TB ($200), 2TB ($300) and 4TB ($550). Variants with a heatsink tack an extra $20 onto those prices. As for the 8TB tier, which Samsung hasn't announced pricing for, it doesn't arrive until the second half of the year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/samsungs-9100-pro-ssd-line-includes-its-first-8tb-nvme-model-for-consumers-205727818.html?src=rss

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Warner Bros Discovery made sweeping cuts to its games division today, closing three studios and ending development on its planned Wonder Woman project. Monolith Productions, Player First Games and WB Games San Diego will be shuttered due to a “disappointing 2024” for WB's gaming business, according to an internal memo from JB Perrette, the company's CEO and president of global streaming and games. Bloomberg broke the news of the restructuring.

Monolith Productions made two well-regarded Lord of the Rings games, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. The studio was going to apply its popular Nemesis system from those titles to a Wonder Woman game, which was announced back in 2021.

WB acquired Player First Games last year. The team was responsible for MultiVersus, a platform fighting game that reached 20 million players in its early days before dwindling to a planned shutdown of the online services when its fifth season ends this May.

WB Games San Diego was working on AAA free-to-play gaming. In December, Warner Bros Games also announced that it would lay off employees at WB Games Montreal as well as pulling back on the studio's game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

According to the internal email from Perrette, WB's gaming efforts will be focused on four of its properties: Harry Potter (including Hogwarts Legacy), Mortal Kombat, the DC universe and Game of Thrones. "We need to make some substantial changes to our portfolio/team structure if we are to commit the necessary resources to get back to a ‘fewer but bigger franchises’ strategy," Perette said.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/warner-bros-discovery-slashes-gaming-business-closing-three-studios-204344213.html?src=rss

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Razer just announced a refresh to the popular Blade 18 gaming laptop. This model uses those newly-released Intel Core Ultra 200HX series processors and can be purchased with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU.

As the name suggests, it also boasts a ginormous display, which Razer describes as “the world’s first 18-inch dual mode display.” This means that users can instantly switch between UHD+ at 240Hz for appreciating the finer details of AAA games and FHD+ at 440Hz for absolute speed.

The keyboard has been fully redesigned, with a new scissor switch that allows for 35 percent more travel distance versus the previous generation, along with a 63g actuation force. There’s a 10-key numeric keypad and dual-LED backlighting per key. Otherwise, the design remains mostly unchanged since the first Razer Blade 18 hit store shelves back in 2023.

Razer

Razer also promises “desktop levels of connectivity.” To that end, there are a pair of Thunderbolt ports, including a Thunderbolt 5 port. It supports Wi-Fi 7, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.4 and Gigabit LAN. Each Blade 18 includes a six-speaker virtual surround sound system that supports THX Spatial Audio and a 5MP camera with a privacy shutter.

The good news? Pre-orders are open right now. The bad news? This is a Razer Blade 18, so it’s a real wallet-buster. Pricing starts at $3,200, but can shoot all the way up to $4,900 depending on RAM and storage configurations. Early adopters do get a free skin and a laptop stand.

The company has also opened up pre-orders for the slightly smaller Razer Blade 16. This ultra-thin laptop starts at $2,800, which is a $100 bump over its predecessor.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/razer-announced-a-refreshed-blade-18-laptop-with-a-dual-mode-display-200943604.html?src=rss

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When OpenAI announced Deep Research at start of February, the company promised to bring the tool to Plus users "in about a month," and now it's doing exactly that. Starting today, the feature, which you can use to prompt ChatGPT to create in-depth reports on nearly any subject, is rolling out to Plus, Team, Edu and Enterprise users. Previously, you needed a $200 per month Pro plan to try out Deep Research. 

For the time being, Plus users will get 10 Deep Research queries per month included with their plan. For Pro subscribers, OpenAI is increasing the monthly limit to 120, up from 100 previously. Additionally, the company has made a couple of improvements to how the tool works. ChatGPT will now embed images alongside citations to provide "richer insights." The system also has a better understanding of file types, which should translate to better document analysis. 

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If you want to give the new feature a try, write a prompt as you normally would but then tap the Deep Research icon before sending your request through to OpenAI. Depending on the complexity of question, it can take ChatGPT anywhere between five and 30 minutes to compile an answer. OpenAI has said Deep Research is currently "very compute intensive," so it be a while before Free users get to try the capability out for themselves.   

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-expands-deep-research-to-all-paying-chatgpt-users-200045108.html?src=rss

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Upheavals within the US government continued today as a group of technology experts announced their resignations. These federal employees had originally worked for the United States Digital Service, a tech-focused department created under the Obama administration. About 40 people from the original Digital Service staff were fired by the Elon Musk-led team known as DOGE earlier this year, and the remaining 65 employees were incorporated into his unit. Today, 21 of those people resigned.

"We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services," the former employees wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the Associated Press. "We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions."

The Digital Services director, Anne Marshall, also resigned from her post last week, stating in a public letter that "This is not the mission I came to serve."

Both Marshall and the participants in today's group resignation raised concerns that people from Musk's outfit do not have the knowledge or desire to continue Digital Services' mission of developing and maintaining digital resources for Americans.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/doge-workers-quit-rather-than-help-musk-dismantle-critical-public-services-194237479.html?src=rss

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Framework, the company making an ever-wider range of modular, endlessly repairable machines is showing off its next big project. Today, it previewed the Laptop 12, an affordable 12.2-inch touchscreen convertible built with the same ethos as its bigger siblings. Laptop 12 is targeted as an entry-level machine for young people, students and folks on low incomes. But, rather than the usual compromises inherent in such a machine, it will be just as repairable, modular and crucially upgradeable as the rest of the Framework lineup.

Framework

“Few categories are as emblematic of the problems with consumer electronics as entry-level laptops,” explained founder Nirav Patel, “they tend to be janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered and frankly, boring.” Laptop 12 takes the general design language of the Laptop 13, but trimmed to suit the smaller footprint and screen. It ships in five colors, with an optional color matched stylus, each one clad in TPU with a metal skeleton for rigidity. Patel said if users are able to break it, repairs are even easier than on the Laptop 13.

Framework

The company emphasized the Laptop 12 won’t use the same sort of no-name bargain-bin parts you often find on entry-level machines. It hasn’t released a full spec list yet, but said you will see options for a 13th-generation i3 or i5 Core Processor supporting up to 48GB DDR5 RAM. You can also opt for an NVMe SSD up to 2TB and Wi-Fi 6E, with the usual pick of Windows 11 or Linux. Patel added the 1,920 x 1,200 display has been customized to push out 400 nits of peak brightness with touch and stylus support.

Framework says we’re likely to see all of the gory details arriving at some point in April, which is also when pre-orders will open. Shipments are expected to begin at some point in the summer, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this operates out in the real world.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/framework-teases-a-low-cost-2-in-1-convertible-version-of-its-modular-laptop-191231244.html?src=rss

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Framework is today announcing a raft of new products, the most intriguing of which has to be the Framework Desktop. Like the rest of the company’s wares, it’s a modular desktop PC with a focus on modularity, upgradeability and repairability. Naturally, the first question is why, given PCs are already modular, upgradeable and repairable, but the focus here is on making it accessible for the sorts of folks who might see the words “thermal” and “paste” and need an urgent trip to the ER. It’s not the first time something like this has been mooted: In 2014, Razer pitched Project Christine, a gaming PC with standalone components clad in cartridges that could be swapped in and out.

Framework

The second reason for this machine existing was AMD’s new Ryzen AI Max chip, which was shown to the public at CES in January. Ryzen AI Max is an all-in-one APU, packing a CPU and GPU in the same package mirroring how Apple Silicon chips are designed. Ryzen AI Max promises some fairly spectacular performance despite the lack of a discrete GPU, like 1440p gaming and local AI. But there is one downside to all of these gains — the RAM is soldered to the mainboard to enable its staggering 256GB/s memory bandwidth, which Framework says isn’t feasible with standard RAM. To compensate, Framework has pledged to ensure to play fair with memory pricing, making it “more reasonable than you might find with other brands,” i.e. Apple.

Framework knows it’s swimming in different waters with this product, and so has pledged to use as many standard components as possible. Inside that Mini-ITX case you’ll find a custom mainboard with ATX headers, a PCIe x4 slot, two USB4, two DisplayPort, one HDMI and 5G ethernet ports. The PCIe NVME slots will let you spec up to 16TB storage, and the case has two forward-facing expansion card slots that will let you plug in your own Framework Expansion Cards. The case is equipped with a semi-custom 400W power supply that uses standard 120mm CPU fans or, again, you can bring your own fans if you’d prefer. The case has either black or clear sides, and the front is made up with 21 tiles you can design yourself, or 3D-print an alternative if you’d prefer.

Of course, you can also just buy the mainboard and cram it into your own case, should you prefer to roll your own. 

Framework

Pre-orders for the Framework Desktop are opening now, but shipping won’t begin until Q3 of 2025. You can order the mainboard on its own for $799, or get the base model with an AI Max 385 and 32GB RAM for just $1,099. Should you want the flagship AI Max+ 395 with 128GB RAM, you’ll need to fork over $1,999. All of the systems are sold as “DIY Editions” with users able to grab their storage and OS from whatever supplier they prefer, too.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-builds-its-own-modular-desktop-191211936.html?src=rss

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It’s a little weird to talk about Framework “launching” a new laptop given it just makes the same machine over and over again. That, of course, is the point, since it’s building a fleet of modular, upgradeable and repairable machines that eliminate unnecessary e-waste. Let’s agree that while launching isn’t the right word, it is how we’ll describe the advent of the updated AMD edition of the Framework 13, which now comes with the Ryzen AI 300 on board.

Naturally, the big news is the fancier AMD unit welded to the mainboard, which boasts dramatically improved AI performance for Microsoft Copilot+. But Framework has made its usual series of nips and tucks, adding Wi-Fi 7, a new thermal system, improved keyboard and new color options. As usual, all of these features can be bolted onto any existing Framework 13 when required.

One of the biggest issues for every Framework 13 so far has been the cooling — the tiny fans have to work overtime whenever the system gets taxed. So the advent of the new mainboard also sees a(nother) attempt at keeping the silicon far cooler than it has been before. Open this up and you’ll find a new single 10mm heat pipe paired with Honeywell’s PTM7958 thermal paste which, it’s hoped, will ensure you can hear yourself think over your laptop.

If you recall from the previous AMD Framework 13, there was an issue with what standards each port supported. The situation is a little clearer here, since the rear ports support USB 4, while the forward ones both have USB 3.2 plus DisplayPort. We explored this in greater detail at the time, but the situation remains mildly annoying if you forget what can go where.

Framework has also very gently tweaked the keyboard to address an issue with rigidity with the wide keys, like shift and the spacebar. If you buy a Windows 11 model, you’ll also have a Copilot key printed on it — but Framework reminds you it’s possible to buy a DIY edition without one, too.

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Rounding out the changes is the advent of injection molded packaging, which enables Framework to sell you transparent hardware. It will now sell you a transparent bezel, as well as translucent purple, green and black options for greater customization. Plus, you’ll be able to pick up many of the expansion cards clad in transparent plastic, too, not just the ethernet expansion card — letting you relive your dream of owning the coolest Game Boy ever made.

The new Framework Laptop 13 with AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series starts at $800 for the DIY edition and $1,099 for pre-built. Naturally, that price can go all sorts of places depending on how much gear you choose to throw on top of what comes as standard. Pre-orders are open today with shipments due to begin in April. Plus, the company will sell you the older Ryzen 7040 model for $749 — with CEO Nirav Patel saying this isn't just a while stocks last deal, but as a way to lower the entry price for new buyers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-updates-its-13-inch-laptop-with-amds-ryzen-300-ai-series-chips-191128145.html?src=rss

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Researchers just discovered evidence to suggest that Mars was once home to oceans and sandy beaches on the red planet, according to data published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a far cry from the arid, freezing and radiation-filled conditions of modern Mars.

Scientists discovered evidence of buried beaches after they analyzed below-ground imaging data from China’s Zhurong rover. This data from the northern lowlands of Mars is extremely similar to what researchers find when using similar ground-penetrating radar here on Earth, as indicated by The Guardian. They found subsurface material that’s angled and tilted toward a lowland, which likely was an ocean at some point.

"Typically the radar picks up on even subtle changes in sediment size, which is probably what’s happening here," said Dr Benjamin Cardenas, a co-author of the research from Penn State University. "It tells you there had to be tides, there had to be waves, there had to be a nearby river supplying sediment, and all these things had to be active for some extended period of time."

Scientists have long debated whether or not Mars had oceans, and this discovery certainly implies the planet was once home to vast bodies of water. Previous discoveries have indicated that it used to have flowing rivers and lakes. There’s also evidence of liquid water deep underneath the Martian surface in the present day.

"A beach is an interface between shallow water, air and land. It’s these sorts of environments where it’s thought life first came to be on Earth, and I think it would be a great place to send a follow-up mission looking for signs of past life," Cardenas said.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/new-evidence-suggests-that-mars-used-to-have-an-ocean-and-sandy-beaches-181146248.html?src=rss

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© Planet Volumes / Unsplash

Microsoft is delaying one of the major first-party games it had lined up for 2025. The company said during its big annual Xbox showcase last June that its Fable reboot would arrive this year. But that’s no longer the case as Xbox has pushed back the fantasy RPG to 2026.

"We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time and it's going to ship in 2026 now," Craig Duncan, the new head of Xbox Game Studios, said on the latest edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. "While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it's definitely worth the wait."

The reboot, which is being developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground Games, was announced all the way back in 2020 and there have been a few teasers since then. While the delay might be disappointing to those who have been waiting for Fable — especially since it's been 15 years since the last mainline game in the series — Xbox can afford to give it a little more time.

Microsoft's games division has a pretty healthy slate for the coming months. Avowed only just came out, the promising South of Midnight is not too far away and then Doom: The Dark Ages and its ridiculous shield-saw is slated to arrive in May. The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4 are also on the docket for this year, and there are likely others in the pipeline (such as the inevitable annual Call of Duty entry). That's not to mention all the third-party titles coming to Game Pass and Microsoft selling more of its games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. So Xbox is probably going to be okay while Playground keeps Fable simmering away.

Duncan claims that the studio is crafting "the most beautifully realized version of Albion you've ever seen" but with its own spin and British humor. The Xbox Game Studios chief visited Playground to play some of Fable and see how things were going. Duncan brought back some new, early footage to show on the video version of the podcast, which you can see below starting at 15:55. Even the pre-alpha versions of these environments look very pretty, so here's hoping Playground makes good use of that extra time to make the most of the game.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-has-delayed-its-fable-reboot-until-2026-173118802.html?src=rss

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© Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios

One thing writers and multinational consumer electronics corporations have in common is we both need a good editor. Or, failing that, at least a good spell-checker. OnePlus somehow missed that step when launching the OnePlus Watch 3, which had its scheduled Tuesday launch abruptly halted because of an embarrassing typo. On the back of the watch, early buyers discovered that their $330 smartwatch was "meda in China." As a result, you'll now have to wait until April to buy the device.

At least someone on OnePlus' social team saw an opportunity. "Oops, we've meda mistake!" the company posted on X on Friday. "A typo slipped through and made its way onto your shiny new OnePlus Watch 3." The acknowledgment came three days after a post showing photo evidence of the flub gained traction in the OnePlus subreddit. "Yikes lol how did this pass QC?" u/kbtech wondered in the comments.

The OnePlus Watch 3's new release date is sometime in April, with the order page currently estimating an April 9 ship date. On the bright side, the company is extending its $30 pre-order discount. (For those shopping in Canada, it's $50 off.) You can use code TIME1010 to get the lower price, which lasts until April.

Those who already got one of the "Meda in China" models can either keep it or return it with no questions asked. (Not that the answers would be too difficult to guess.)

OnePlus says the Watch 3 can run for an estimated 16 days in power saver mode, five days in smart mode and up to 72 hours for heavy users. The Wear OS watch also has a new titanium bezel and a sapphire crystal screen. All in all, it sounds like a well-meda piece of gear.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/oneplus-is-delaying-the-watch-3-launch-because-of-a-typo-171009126.html?src=rss

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© u/Sanizore05 / Reddit