The Dungeons & Dragons faithful have another option for times when a physical tabletop isn’t feasible. Wizards of the Coast’s Sigil is a 3D virtual tabletop (VTT) experience that borrows some elements from video games without straying too far from the joy of sitting around a table with like-minded cohorts. It launched publicly this week and is now available for anyone to try.
If you have no clue what a 3D VTT is, imagine a graphical recreation of all the hallmarks of tabletop D&D: virtual versions of a game board, miniatures, dice, character sheets and so on. It isn’t a full-on video game like Baldur’s Gate because the characters are still static minis that you move around as if they were physical pieces. But it adds digital touches like animated spell effects and lighting. If done well, it’s like recreating top-of-the-line D&D gear (with some added flair) that you can use to play with anyone in the world.
Sigil (named after a city in D&D lore) isn’t the first of its kind. BouncyRock Entertainment’s TaleSpire is a popular 3D VTT currently in early access for PC and Mac. And its business model will be preferable to many: Everyone pays $25 as a one-time purchase. Although Sigil is free to tinker around with and join others’ games, you’ll need a D&D Beyond Master Tier subscription ($6 monthly or $55 annually) to host multiplayer games and unlock extra goodies like builder kits and mini customization options.
Wizards of the Coast
Where Sigil has an advantage is its integration with D&D Beyond’s character sheets. So, if you’ve already built out your characters, equipment and abilities with the official D&D digital companion service, you should (at least in theory) have an easy transition.
Sigil provides a library of assets, brushes and lighting effects for you to play around with and customize your maps and minis to your heart’s content. “These customizable tools let you bring your world to life, whether you’re exploring fantastical landscapes, towering fortresses or dangerous dungeons,” the company says in its pitch.
It also includes tabletop-esque touches like virtual dice that tumble realistically across the game board. You can customize your miniatures with different scales, sizes and appearances. “All of our assets are created in a way that’s like actually buying a high-end mini or figure,” the company said in its 2024 introduction video. “We wanted them to feel kind of painted, but kind of realistic — trying to capture that beautiful in-between where art, figures and games come together.”
Wizards of the Coast
Sigil runs on Unreal Engine 5, and you’ll need at least a decently powerful gaming PC to partake. Although its minimum system requirements are less daunting, D&D Beyond recommends at least an Nvidia RTX 2080, AMD R9 380 or Intel UHD on the GPU front, along with 16GB of RAM. It’s Windows only for now, but the company wants it to eventually run on consoles, mobile and maybe even your fridge. (Fridge-top gaming, anyone?)
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, you can sign up with your D&D Beyond account on the product page. (For a more established alternative, you can also give the highly rated TaleSpire a spin.) For a better sense of Sigil, check out Wizards of the Coast’s intro video from D&D Direct 2024:
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/dds-3d-virtual-tabletop-experience-sigil-is-now-available-for-pc-212113793.html?src=rss
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 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 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 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
It’s not every day that we get to see a glimpse of what a mysterious space plane is up to in orbit. This week, the US Space Force shared a picture it says was snapped last year by the X-37B, showing Earth in the distance and a bit of the craft itself. X-37B launched on its seventh mission at the end of 2023, though not much is known about what that mission entails. Its previous flight, which wrapped up in 2022, set a new endurance record for the space plane, logging 908 days in orbit.
There isn’t too much information to glean from the photo, but it does offer a rare look at X-37B in space. “An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO in 2024,” the Space Force wrote on X.
US Space Force
One thing we have been told about the current mission is that it marks the first time the Boeing-made X-37B has tried out a maneuver known as aerobraking, or a more fuel-efficient method of changing orbit through “a series of passes using the drag of Earth’s atmosphere.” The Space Force said back in October that the vehicle had begun the process, and the latest update indicates it was successful. “The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel,” the Space Force noted. It’s unknown how much longer the mission is expected to go on.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-secretive-x-37b-space-plane-snapped-this-picture-of-earth-from-orbit-204803146.html?src=rss
After three years, Apple has finally unveiled its next entry-level iPhone. The iPhone 16e takes over for the iPhone SE in the company’s lineup. It borrows the blueprint of the iPhone 14 and spices it up with (among other changes) an updated processor that’s ready for Apple Intelligence. At $599, it’s the cheapest AI-equipped iPhone by $200.
As leaks suggested, the fourth-generation iPhone 16e resembles the iPhone 14, the company’s 2023 standard (non-Pro) model. This is the first entry-level model to adopt the iPhone’s modern full-screen design. That means it’s also the first with Face ID. At 6.1 inches, this is the biggest screen yet on an entry-level model. (The 2022 iPhone SE is only 4.7 inches.) But like Apple’s 2017 to 2022 flagships, it has the notch at the top of the display, so you’ll still have to pay for a more expensive model to get Dynamic Island.
Some external details differ from those of the iPhone 14. It has a USB-C port instead of Lightning, and like older iPhone SE models, it has only a single camera lens on the back. However, it’s a 48MP “2-in-1” with integrated 2x zoom capabilities, which is quite an upgrade over the last SE.
Apple
It also gets the Action button, the customizable physical shortcut button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro. On the other hand, it lacks the MagSafe charging found on Apple’s more expensive handsets: It only supports Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. That aligns with the iPhone SE it replaces, but it could still be a big drawback for some buyers.
One of the biggest differences is inside, where you’ll find the A18 chip. It’s the same one powering the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, though it only has four GPU cores, compared to the five in the 16 and 16 plus and six in the iPhone 16 Pro models. It’s also the first iPhone with an in-house modem, which Apple is calling C1. Recent iPhones have all used Qualcomm modems, and with the switch away the iPhone 16e loses out on the ultra-wideband 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support that the rest of the 16 series has. The iPhone 16e still plays nice with sub-6GHz 5G and Wi-Fi 6, both of which are currently far more prevalent than their faster cousins.
Correction, Feb 19 2025, 3:50PM ET: This story originally stated that the iPhone 16e was the cheapest iPhone with Apple Intelligence by $300. The gulf between it and the iPhone 16 is actually $200. We apologize for the error.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-announces-the-iphone-16e-with-apple-intelligence-for-599-161435140.html?src=rss
Presidents’ Day typically brings discounts on mattresses and appliances more so than consumer tech. But every year, there are a few standouts in the areas Engadget knows best like smartphones, tablets, earbuds and more. This year is no different; notably, Presidents’ Day deals include $50 off an annual subscription to Peacock Premium, and get the best price on the AirPods Pro 2 that we’ve seen since the holidays last year. If you want to get a jump-start on spring cleaning, iRobot and Dyson deals can help with that, and there are a number of discounts on Blink security cameras at the moment. These are the best Presidents’ Day deals we found on tech for 2025.
Spotlight President’s Day deal
The best President’s Day tech deals
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Apple iPad mini for $499 at Amazon ($100 off): Apple’s smallest tablet was updated in October and got a new A17 Pro chip, which Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham found to be plenty fast for anything you’d want to do with the mini — casual browsing, couch binging, game playing and email checking. He gave it an overall score of 83 in our official review and particularly enjoyed it as a Balatro machine. It’s also our favorite (partly because it’s the only) small iPad on our list of the best iPads.
Apple AirPods 4 for $100 at Amazon ($29 off): Apple’s newest wireless earbuds came out in September and last week, they hit their lowest price yet. That price is still going strong, so you can still pick them up at a discount. Engadget’s Billy Steele gave them a review score of 88, saying they sounded clearer and more balanced than most open-back earbuds. Plus you get all the Apple-perks like fast pairing and device switching with other Apple gadgets, hands-free Siri and Find My tracking. Also at Target and Best Buy. There’s also a noise-canceling version on sale for $149.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro M4 for $1400 at Amazon ($199 off with coupon): Apple’s latest Pro-model laptop is down to $1,400 at Amazon with a discount and an on-page coupon. The 14-inch MacBook Pro has 16GB of memory and 512GB SSD storage and both the Space Black and Silver colorways are on sale. Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar gave the computer a 92 in his review and it’s currently Engadget’s pick for the best MacBook for creatives. It has a fast M4 chip, long battery life, bright display and Sharp 12MP Center Stage webcam.
Apple Pencil (USB-C) for $69 at Walmart ($10 off): Apple sells too many versions of the Apple Pencil. So we made a guide. The USB-C model works with all current-generation iPads, including the M2 iPad Air, the M4 iPad Pro, the new iPad mini and the 10th generation iPad. It’ll also work with a few older tablets too. Just note that this one attahced magnetically but doesn’t recharge that way, like the other Apple Pencils. And it doesn’t have pressure sensitivity. Also at Amazon and Target.
Peacock
Peacock Premium (one-year) at Peacock for $30 ($50 off): Here’s one from our new streaming deals guide: A year of Peacock’s streaming service is $30 if you use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. The code is valid through February 18 and saves you 60 percent off the usual $80 annual fee. Though it’s called “Premium” it’s actually the ad-supported tier (Premium Plus is the ad-free plan but it’s not discounted and goes for $140 yearly). Peacock is one of our picks for the best streaming services and has some great original content, including Poker Face, a Twisted Metal adaptationand Mrs. Davis.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $135 at Amazon ($25 off): Our choice for best premium ereader. is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition that goes for $200 and isn’t discounted. The standard Paperwhite, on sale here, is basically the same machine, minus a few (inessential) perks like auto-adjusting front lights, extra storage and wireless charging. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked this year (it went about $5 lower for Black Friday) on a very lovely e-reader with remarkably fast page turns, a super crisp display and a great battery life.
Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB) for $230 at Amazon ($50 off): Engadget’s Valentina Palladino found a lot to like about the Kindle Colorsoft in her review including quick page turns, the fairly accurate (if a bit cold) color technology and the pinch to zoom feature, which was especially nice for reading comics. If you’re just looking to read black and white text, you can save yourself a bit of money and go with the Paperwhite — text on the Colorsoft is not as crisp.
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max for $789 at Wellbots ($610 off with code): Wellbots has a few iRobot vacuums on sale for President’s Day, including the new Roomba Combo 10 Max and its Autowash Dock, which can empty and cleans the vac. Right now it’s on sale for $789 if you use the code ENGAD410 at checkout. That’ll take a full $610 off the hefty $1,399 MSRP. That’s even cheaper than the last time it was on sale. Not only does the robot itself mop and vacuum, the dock can hold 60 days worth of dust and seven days worth of dirty mop water. For a slightly cheaper combo robo vac, Wellbots is also discounting the Roomba Combo j5 for $239 instead of the full $529 with the code ENGAD210.
Dyson V12 vaccuum for $499 at Dyson ($150 off): Now through President’s Day, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim stick vacuum is $150 off. This is the lighter sibling to the V15 model we picked as the best cordless vac in our guide. This one includes the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that won us over in our testing. It’s a hard-floor brush head with a laser “blade” that clearly shows you the tiniest bits of dust so you can be sure to suck them up. The Gen5 Outsize Absolute is also on sale for $150 off. It’s down to $899. That model is the largest cordless vac and has up to 140 minutes of run time.
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
Samsung LS60D Music Frame for $150 at Woot ($250 off): You might be familiar with Samsung’s Frame TV — the sets that mimic works of art when you’re not watching television. The Music Frame furthers that home-theater-as-decor aesthetic by hiding Dolby Atmos audio equipment behind what looks like a regular picture frame. This one doesn’t have a screen, instead you’ll insert your own photo or art behind the glass. Inside are two woofers, two tweeters and two mid-range drivers. The speaker array is capable of Dolby Atmos audio and it leverages Samsung’s SpaceFit tech to calibrate the sound to the room. We checked it out at CES 2024 and were impressed with how robust the music sounded.
Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker for $116 at Amazon ($44 off): Our current top pick for a fitness tracker is back on sale. It went as low as $100 for Black Friday, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen this year. Our favorite fitness tracker is the successor to our previous top pick, the Charge 5. This new generation has a more accurate heart rate monitor and the ability to pair with exercise machines via Bluetooth. Plus there’s now a physical side button for navigation in addition to the touchscreen.
Mill food recycler for $874 at Mill ($125 off): A President’s Day sale from Mill, the kitchen food recycling company, will run until Monday, February 17 and will give you $125 off a new food recycling bin. If you’ve explored the different options for composting food and have decided to give a machine a try, Mill could be a good one to check out. The machine dries and grinds food scraps, reducing odors and bulk while creating grounds that you can add to your garden.
Blink Mini 2 (2-pack) for $38 at Amazon ($32 off): The Blink Mini 2 security camera sell for $40 each at full price, so this deal gets you two for less than the MSRP for one. The small security cameras have two way talk and listen, capture live video in 1080p and have infrared sensors for black and white images at night. You’ll need a Blink Subscription Plan if you want to save clips to the cloud, but if you also buy a Sync Module 2, you can save clips from your Blink Mini cameras to a flash drive.
Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2 for $35 ($35 off): Here’s a bundle that combines the Video Doorbell with a Sync Module 2, the device that allows you to store footage from your Blink cameras and doorbells locally. The doorbell offers 1080p daytime footage and infrared night video plus two-way audio. You can use it wired or on batteries that should last two years before needing to be replaced. The Blink subscription plan is required if you want person detection and the ability to store clips in the cloud.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell for $60 at Amazon ($40 off): Another Amazon security device company, Ring, is also having a sale right now. The discount matches the record-low price for the Ring Video Doorbell. This battery-powered model doesn’t need to be wired into your home, so you can put it near any door. The removable battery is rechargeable via USB-C and will likely need a refill every couple months. You’ll need a Ring subscription to access all the features, like person and package alerts and extended event history.
Apple
Apple Music (6 months) for $3 at Apple ($60 off): Normally an Apple Music subscription is $11 per month after a 30-day free trial. And when you buy a new Apple device, you usually get a three-month trial. But if you somehow haven’t yet signed up for the service, this promotion applies to you. The deal will run through February 27 and is open only to people who are entirely new Apple Music — current and previous customers are not eligible, nor are those who qualify for the free trial that comes with a new device. You’ll need to redeem the offer through an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Apple Music made our guide to the best music streaming services for its lossless streaming quality, ease of use with Apple devices and emphasis on using DJ curation over AI and algorithm playlists. Note that the subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel.
NordPass Premium (27 months) for $35 at Nord ($46 off): One of our favorite password managers for cross-platform availability is having a sale. NordPass Premium is currently available for $35 for 27 months. At full price, two years would cost you $81, and this deal throws in three months for free. NordPass also offers a free tier, but the Premium plan keeps you logged in when you switch devices while also helping you analyze your passwords to improve their strength.
LG B4 OLED TV (48″) for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off): This ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG’s 2024 OLED lineup. While it’s not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It’s also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small.
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/the-best-presidents-day-tech-deals-on-apple-samsung-dyson-blink-and-more-173252189.html?src=rss
The spiritual successor to Life is Strange is heading to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog as a day-one freebie. The first installment of Don’t Nod’s Lost Records: Bloom & Ragehits Sony’s subscription service later this month, along with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and immersive tennis in TopSpin 2K25. In addition, Sony previewed a couple of other cool-looking day-one titles heading to the service before long: Blue Prince and Abiotic Factor.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage tells the story of four high school friends (and punk rockers!) living in a deceptively picturesque Michigan town in 1995. The narrative adventure jumps between that era and 2022 as we gradually peel back the layers of, well, some freaky-ass stuff the girls uncovered.
Don’t Nod
Each timeline gives you more of a glimpse into the “life-changing secrets” they stumbled upon back when Blues Traveler was on the charts — and why they’re reuniting 27 years later. If you were into the Life is Strange series, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage should be right up your alley.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can claim the game on its February 18 release date. And if you get sucked into the world, you won’t have long to wait for the next chapter: It arrives in the April 15 batch of Sony’s catalog.
EA / Respawn
That’s also when Extra and Premium subscribers can claim Respawn’s Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. The follow-up to Jedi: Fallen Order puts you back in the boots of Cal Kestis as he tries to fend off the Empire and rebuild the Jedi Order. In our 2023 preview, Engadget’s Igor Bonifacic found it to be a bigger and better (if perhaps a bit too safe) sequel with larger worlds and new Force abilities to explore, as well as a handy grappling hook to kick it like Bionic Commando.
Arriving a bit later is Blue Prince, Dogubomb’s clever title that takes the escape room concept and expands it into an entire mansion. Set in 1993, you inherit Mount Holly Estate, a sprawling building with a layout that changes daily. You get to choose its room configurations. The mansion has 45 rooms; your challenge is to find the 46th before all of your allotted movements expire.
“Each door is a decision,” the developer promises. “And each room you pick adds another layer of strategy, puzzles and exploration to your adventure.” PS Plus subscribers can step into the mysterious world of Blue Prince on its release date “this spring.”
Playstack / Deep Field Games
Another day-one Plus title, Abiotic Factor is a six-player survival crafting game. Deep Field Games’ creepy title has throwback graphics and a survival crafting vibe. Up to six players (but you can play solo, too) take on the roles of scientists stranded miles underground in a strange research facility. “Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats,” the game blurb reads. It arrives as a day-one Game Catalog release this summer.
Other titles available for Premium and Extra members on February 18 include Hangar 13’s TopSpin 2K25, where you can play as (among others) Serena Williams, Roger Federer or even throwbacks like Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe. The 2021 remake of the 1998 RPG SaGa Frontier is also on tap, as well as narrative sci-fi adventure Somerville, puzzle game Tin Hearts and the medieval slash-’em-up Mordhau.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/lost-records-and-blue-prince-are-coming-to-the-playstation-game-catalog-at-launch-213659797.html?src=rss
Elon Musk has launched a $97.4 billion bid to take control of OpenAI. The Wall Street Journalreports a group of investors led by Musk’s xAI submitted an unsolicited offer to the company’s board of directors on Monday. The group wants to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI’s for-profit arm.
When asked for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson pointed Engadget to an X post from CEO Sam Altman. “No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” Altman wrote on the social media platform Musk owns.
no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want
“It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk said in a statement his attorney shared with The Journal. “We will make sure that happens.”
OpenAI
It’s hard to say how serious this bid from Musk is and what — if any — chance it has to succeed. OpenAI is not a traditional company, and the nonprofit structure Sam Altman and others at the company want it to get away from may in fact protect it from Musk’s offer. Were OpenAI purely a for-profit company with traditional shares Musk’s bid would likely trigger what’s known in corporate law as a Revlon moment, where, under certain circumstances, the company’s board of directors would be forced to sell the company to the highest bidder to maximize shareholder profits.
Musk, as you can imagine, wasn’t a fan of Altman’s joke, writing “Swindler” in response and later calling him “Scam Altman.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musk-wants-to-buy-openai-for-974-billion-215221105.html?src=rss
The latest edition of our weekly deal roundup includes a range of discounts on Apple’s AirPods. The standard AirPods 4 are down to $100, which ties their lowest price to date, while ANC version of those earbuds and the higher-end AirPods Pro 2 are cheaper than usual at $149 and $169, respectively. If you don’t need new headphones, we’re also seeing discounts on Peacock and Apple Music subscriptions, our favorite robot vacuum and microSD card for those on a budget, Sonos speakers and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Spotlight deal
The rest of the best tech deals this week
Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169 at Amazon ($80 off MSRP): If you’re willing to pay extra and don’t mind a traditional in-ear design, the AirPods Pro 2 are still the best wireless earphones Apple makes and our favorite pair for iPhone owners overall. They have the same set of Apple-friendly features noted above, but add stronger ANC, a more secure fit, fuller sound (thanks to that in-ear design), an hour or two of extra battery life and onboard volume controls. As of last fall, they can also function as an FDA-approvedhearing aid. That said, if you aren’t tethered to the Apple ecosystem, there are other pairs with superior noise cancellation, battery life and audio quality out there. This discount is $15 more than the all-time low we saw around Black Friday, but it’s a good $20 to $30 below the pair’s typical street price and $80 less than buying from Apple directly. Also at Walmart, Target and Best Buy.
Peacock Premium (1-year) for $30 at Peacock ($50 off, new and returning users only): New and returning subscribers can grab a year of Peacock’s ad-supported plan for $30 through Feburary 18. (Yes, it’s called “Premium” even though it has ads.) If you’re not a current subscriber and don’t see the discount, use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. NBCUniversal ran a similar offer around Black Friday that dropped the subscription to $20, but this is still $50 off the annual plan’s usual price. While we wouldn’t call Peacock essential, it should be worth checking out if you’re big into Premier League soccer, WWE live events or most shows from NBC and Bravo — The Office and Law and Order included.
The Samsung Evo Select. (The 1TB model is on sale today, not the 512GB model pictured here.)
Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Samsung Evo Select (1TB) microSD card for $70 at Amazon ($10 off): The Evo Select is the budget pick in our guide to the best microSD cards: It’s certainly not the fastest model we’ve tested, but it’s quick enough if you just want to boost the storage of a Nintendo Switch or Android tablet on the cheap without feeling totally bogged down. Just don’t expect it to be all that great for large file transfers. This deal matches the all-time low for the extra-spacious 1TB model. Also at Samsung and B&H.
Sonos Era 100 for $199 at Sonos ($50 off): To address the elephant in the room, no, Sonos is not doing well right now. A redesign of the company’s control app last May has been a colossal failure, eventually leading to the departure of the audio brand’s CEO and chief product officer last month and sizable layoffs just this week. It’s hard to get jazzed about discounts with all of that in mind, but this is a deal roundup, and we still do recommend much of firm’s audio gear in our various buying guides, so we’re obligated to mention that the company is still running a sale on its soundbars and home speakers through February 9. One highlight is the Sonos Era 100 for $199, a $50 discount that ties the lowest price we’ve seen. This is the top midrange pick in our guide to the best smart speakers: While the software situation is still iffy, the hardware still delivers impressively clean and balanced sound for its size. If you just want a single speaker for enjoying music at home, it remains a decent value at less than $200. Also at Amazon, Walmart, B&H and others.
The Sonos Era 100.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
$100 Apple Gift Card + $10 Best Buy Gift Card for $100 at Best Buy ($10 off): If you buy a $100 Apple gift card at Best Buy, the retailer will throw in a bonus $10 gift card to its own store for no extra cost. Both cards will be emailed to you digitally. For the unfamiliar, you can apply an Apple gift card to just about anything Apple makes, be it a new iPhone, an Apple TV+ subscription or purchases on the App Store. If you’re looking to grab something along those lines and know you’ll shop at Best Buy again anyway, it’s hard to complain about a bit of bonus money.
Apple Music (6-month) for $3 at Apple ($52 off, new subscribers and select devices only): Speaking of Apple services, the company is running a promotion that doles out six months of Apple Music for $3 total. Normally, a solo subscription costs $11 per month after a 30-day free trial, or a three-month trial if you’ve recently bought an Apple device. This newest promo comes with a few caveats, though: You must be new to Apple Music, not eligible for the aforementioned three-month trial and able to redeem the offer through an iPhone, iPad or Mac. If you meet all of that criteria, however, this is a nice way to get a half-year of music streaming for cheap. We praise Apple Music in our guide to the best music streaming services for its lossless streaming quality, ease of use with Apple devices and emphasis on letting actual people introduce you to new music. Apple says this deal will run through February 27. Just be aware that your subscription will be set to auto-renew until you cancel.
The iRobot Roomba Vac Essential.
iRobot
iRobot Roomba Vac Essential (Q0120) for $130 at Amazon ($120 off): The Roomba Vac Essential is the top pick in our guide to the best budget robot vacuums. It’s a basic entry-level model, as it navigates semi-randomly instead of mapping set paths and will still bonk into furniture every now and then. But it cleans well enough, especially on hard floors, and we’ve found it easy to set up and control through Roomba’s mobile app. If you’re on a budget and live in a smaller place that isn’t inundated with pet hair, you could do much worse. This discount is the lowest price we’ve tracked and a $20 drop from the robovac’s typical going rate in recent months. Also at Best Buy, Target and others.
Anker 713 USB-C Charger for $20 at Amazon ($20 off): The Anker 713 Charger is a compact wall charger with one USB-C port that can deliver up to 45W of power. It’s not the newest or fastest model out there, but it’s easy to tuck in a bag and powerful enough to charge many modern smartphones and tablets at full speed. This discount matches the lowest price we’ve seen and takes about $8 off the device’s common street price. Also at Anker. If you need something faster with a couple more ports, the 67W Anker Prime charger is also on sale for a low of $36.
The Razer Viper V3 Pro.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Razer Viper V3 Pro for $145 at Amazon ($15 off): It’s not a massive discount, but this $15 drop marks the lowest price we’ve seen for the Viper V3 Pro, which tops our guide to the best gaming mice. This is very much a niche device, aimed squarely at those who take competitive PC games seriously, but its 54-gram design is super lightweight, consistently responsive and comfortable for a wide range of grip types and hand sizes. Just don’t expect it to keep you from getting owned in Counter-Strike 2 or Marvel Rivals on its own. Also at Best Buy.
LG B4 OLED TV (48″) for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off): This ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG’s 2024 OLED lineup. While it’s not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It’s also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small. If you’re curious about what other TV deals are available ahead of the Super Bowl, note that we have a separate roundup just for those.
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/the-apple-airpods-4-hit-an-all-time-low-of-100-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-170248131.html?src=rss
Google has made one of the most substantive changes to its AI principles since first publishing them in 2018. In a change spotted by The Washington Post, the search giant edited the document to remove pledges it had made promising it would not "design or deploy" AI tools for use in weapons or surveillance technology. Previously, those guidelines included a section titled "applications we will not pursue," which is not present in the current version of the document.
Instead, there's now a section titled "responsible development and deployment." There, Google says it will implement "appropriate human oversight, due diligence, and feedback mechanisms to align with user goals, social responsibility, and widely accepted principles of international law and human rights."
That's a far broader commitment than the specific ones the company made as recently as the end of last month when the prior version of its AI principles was still live on its website. For instance, as it relates to weapons, the company previously said it would not design AI for use in "weapons or other technologies whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people.” As for AI surveillance tools, the company said it would not develop tech that violates "internationally accepted norms."
Google
When asked for comment, a Google spokesperson pointed Engadget to a blog post the company published on Thursday. In it, DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and James Manyika, senior vice president of research, labs, technology and society at Google, say AI's emergence as a "general-purpose technology" necessitated a policy change.
"We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights. And we believe that companies, governments, and organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security," the two wrote. "… Guided by our AI Principles, we will continue to focus on AI research and applications that align with our mission, our scientific focus, and our areas of expertise, and stay consistent with widely accepted principles of international law and human rights — always evaluating specific work by carefully assessing whether the benefits substantially outweigh potential risks."
When Google first published its AI principles in 2018, it did so in the aftermath of Project Maven. It was a controversial government contract that, had Google decided to renew it, would have seen the company provide AI software to the Department of Defense for analyzing drone footage. Dozens of Google employees quit the company in protest of the contract, with thousands more signing a petition in opposition. When Google eventually published its new guidelines, CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly told staff his hope was they would stand "the test of time."
By 2021, however, Google began pursuing military contracts again, with what was reportedly an "aggressive" bid for the Pentagon's Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability cloud contract. At the start of this year, The Washington Post reported that Google employees had repeatedly worked with Israel's Defense Ministry to expand the government's use of AI tools.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-now-thinks-its-ok-to-use-ai-for-weapons-and-surveillance-224824373.html?src=rss
The Caesars Superdome will host Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 9. Here’s how to tune in to the big game! (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Chris Graythen via Getty Images
Super Bowl LIX is about a week away, and the hype is building for the NFL’s final game of the season. The NFC champions the Philadelphia Eagles will face AFC champs — and two-time defending Super Bowl winners — the Kansas City Chiefs. If that roster sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a rematch of the 2023 Super Bowl, where the Chiefs edged out the Eagles 38-35. Will the Eagles get their revenge this year, or will the Chiefs go where no NFL team has gone before: an unprecedented three straight Super Bowl wins?
Super Bowl LIX will be played at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, Feb. 9 with a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show will feature Kendrick Lamar, who recently confirmed that SZA will be joining him. The championship game will be broadcast nationally on Fox this year and will be available on platforms like DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Looking for a free way to tune in? The Super Bowl will also be livestreamed on Tubi — in 4K, no less!
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Super Bowl.
When is Super Bowl LIX?
The 2025 Super Bowl will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9.
What time does the Super Bowl start?
Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
How to watch the Super Bowl live
Super Bowl LIX will air nationally on Fox and stream live on Tubi.
How to stream the Super Bowl for free this year
Tubi will be livestreaming Fox’s coverage of the Super Bowl this year — the first time the free platform has done so. It will also be available in the Fox Sports app on mobile platforms. Beyond that, you can also sign up for free trials of DirecTV Stream, Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, each of which carry Fox in most locations. Two important caveats: Verify that your locality includes a Fox stream by inputting your ZIP code on their respective sites. And if you don’t want to pay, make sure you cancel before the trial subscription ends — they can be as short as three days, so plan ahead.
How to watch the 2025 Super Bowl without cable
The Tubi option above is the easiest go-to starting point for free Super Bowl streaming — but no one knows how the service will hold up under what’s certain to be its most intensive influx of concurrent users. There are plenty of worthwhile backups, each of which offer more comprehensive options for cordcutters beyond the game itself — say, watching SportsCenter on ESPN before or after the game. And most of our picks for best live TV streaming services offer free trials, so you can check them out risk-free. If you time it right, your free trial can include the Super Bowl broadcast, too.
Where is the 2025 Super Bowl?
The 2025 Super Bowl will be held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The venue has been host to seven previous Super Bowl games.
Who is performing in the Super Bowl 59 halftime show?
Kendrick Lamar is headlining Super Bowl LIX, with a guest appearance by SZA.
Who is playing in the Super Bowl 2025?
AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs will play NFC champs the Philadelphia Eagles.
More ways to watch Super Bowl LIX
Thanks to the wide array of streaming options detailed above, you’ll be able to watch the Super Bowl on nearly any current device with a screen. There are plenty of Super Bowl TV deals ahead of the game if you need to upgrade that aging 40-inch screen with the dead pixels in the corner. Live close to a broadcast tower of a Fox station? Attach a good old-fashioned over-the-air antenna (like the Channel Master linked above), and you can get the game for free.
Have a fast Internet connection but don’t have access to the latest and greatest streaming apps on your TV? For as little as $40 or less, a new Roku or Fire TV device will ensure that you have all of these apps (including Tubi). See our list of best streaming devices for the full range of options.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/super-bowl-2025-watch-the-chiefs-vs-eagles-on-sunday-february-9-214817982.html?src=rss
