Apr 30

PlayStation Plus monthly games for May include Balatro and Ark: Survival Ascended

Posted in: Today's Chili

There are some cool games coming to PlayStation Plus in May, including one modern classic. This month’s titles include the universally-beloved Balatro, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and Ark: Survival Ascended. All three games will be available to PS Plus members beginning on May 6.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of Balatro. It’s sort of a sequel to poker and sort of a roguelike. It’s also utterly hypnotic and addictive. I’ve yet to find a human who didn’t become entranced by its simple and captivating gameplay. We have given this game lots of love, and with good reason. To play Balatro is to love Balatro and, over time, to start dreaming about insane combos. This is an absolute must-play for subscribers. It’ll be available for both PS4 and PS5.

Ark: Survival Ascended is a remake of 2015’s Ark: Survival Evolved that has been “reimagined from the ground-up with Unreal Engine 5.” There’s new graphics, a new physics system and tons of quality-of-life upgrades. This version includes access to all DLC, like Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ark Genesis Part 1 and Ark Genesis Part 2. It also allows for public online multiplayer for up to 70 players and local split-screen for two players. This one’s only for PS5.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a FPS set in the popular Warhammer universe. It boasts visuals inspired by classic shooters from the 1990s, with an eclectic arsenal of weapons to match. The levels are huge, the enemies are fun to mow down and the gameplay is speedy. What’s not to like? It’ll be playable on PS4 and PS5.

Now for some bad news. As new stuff comes to PS Plus, old games get shuttled to that farm upstate. Subscribers only have until May 5 to download titles like RoboCop: Rogue City and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory to their game libraries.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-may-include-balatro-and-ark-survival-ascended-172617683.html?src=rss

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Apr 30

Duolingo Will Replace Its Workforce By AI For Some Tasks

Posted in: Today's Chili

Duolingo has officially announced a major shift towards becoming an AI-first company. CEO Luis von Ahn stated that AI is already reshaping work processes and emphasized the importance of adapting quickly. Drawing parallels to Duolingo’s early success with a mobile-first strategy in 2012, von Ahn noted that betting early on emerging platforms has been key to the company’s growth. With AI now seen as the next major shift, Duolingo is positioning itself to lead rather than follow.

According to the announcement, AI will not simply improve efficiency; it is central to fulfilling Duolingo’s mission of providing scalable, high-quality education. The company highlighted how AI has already enhanced its operations by replacing a previously slow, manual content creation process. Without AI, expanding their educational content to reach more learners would take decades. AI is also enabling new features, such as Video Call, bringing the company closer to offering tutoring experiences comparable to the best human instructors.

As part of this transition, Duolingo will gradually reduce reliance on contract workers for tasks that AI can handle. In addition, proficiency with AI tools will become a criterion in hiring decisions and performance reviews. Headcount increases will only be approved when automation is not a viable alternative, and most teams will launch initiatives to rethink and redesign their workflows around AI capabilities.

Despite these changes, Duolingo reassured its employees that the move is not about replacing its workforce but about empowering it. The goal is to eliminate bottlenecks and free employees from repetitive tasks so they can focus on creative problem-solving and innovation. The company committed to offering additional training, mentorship, and AI-focused tools to support employees during the transition.

Leadership acknowledged that while change can be intimidating, moving swiftly to adopt AI will better position Duolingo to achieve its goals and ensure employees remain ahead of industry trends. Although some risks and imperfections are expected, Duolingo prefers to act decisively rather than waiting for the technology to mature fully. The overall message emphasizes optimism: the integration of AI is intended to strengthen the company’s mission and enhance the work experience for its current team members.

Duolingo Will Replace Its Workforce By AI For Some Tasks

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Apr 30

PlayStation Plus monthly games for May include Balatro and Ark: Survival Ascended

Posted in: Today's Chili

There are some cool games coming to PlayStation Plus in May, including one modern classic. This month’s titles include the universally-beloved Balatro, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and Ark: Survival Ascended. All three games will be available to PS Plus members beginning on May 6.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of Balatro. It’s sort of a sequel to poker and sort of a roguelike. It’s also utterly hypnotic and addictive. I’ve yet to find a human who didn’t become entranced by its simple and captivating gameplay. We have given this game lots of love, and with good reason. To play Balatro is to love Balatro and, over time, to start dreaming about insane combos. This is an absolute must-play for subscribers. It’ll be available for both PS4 and PS5.

Ark: Survival Ascended is a remake of 2015’s Ark: Survival Evolved that has been “reimagined from the ground-up with Unreal Engine 5.” There’s new graphics, a new physics system and tons of quality-of-life upgrades. This version includes access to all DLC, like Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ark Genesis Part 1 and Ark Genesis Part 2. It also allows for public online multiplayer for up to 70 players and local split-screen for two players. This one’s only for PS5.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a FPS set in the popular Warhammer universe. It boasts visuals inspired by classic shooters from the 1990s, with an eclectic arsenal of weapons to match. The levels are huge, the enemies are fun to mow down and the gameplay is speedy. What’s not to like? It’ll be playable on PS4 and PS5.

Now for some bad news. As new stuff comes to PS Plus, old games get shuttled to that farm upstate. Subscribers only have until May 5 to download titles like RoboCop: Rogue City and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory to their game libraries.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-may-include-balatro-and-ark-survival-ascended-172617683.html?src=rss

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Apr 30

Nintendo Switch update adds Virtual Game Cards and Switch 2 cloud transfer support

Posted in: Today's Chili

Those who have been fortunate enough to lock in a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order will surely be counting down the days until the console arrives on June 5. Nintendo is laying the groundwork for its upcoming system with an update for the original Switch that adds support for a few key features.

One that you can start using right now is the Virtual Game Cards function. This lets you lend digital games to friends and family members who are on the same Nintendo Family Account. Nintendo says the aim here is to make it as easy to share digital games with your loved ones as letting them borrow a physical game card. A key catch here is that you need to connect to another Switch system locally to borrow a game. The Switch 2 will support this feature as well.

Next up, Nintendo has enabled cloud transfers for those who are moving to the Switch 2. Once you’ve updated your Switch software to version 20.0.0, in the System section of the settings, you should see a “System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2” option. This will let you transfer all your data to a Switch 2 locally once you have the latest console in your possession.

There’s also the ability to send all of your transfer data to the cloud now. That could come in useful for you’re planning to sell your Nintendo Switch to help fund a purchase of a new system. You’d be able to do that immediately to help you prepare to buy your Switch 2. The main downside is that uploading transfer data to the cloud will reset the Switch to its factory settings, so maybe don’t do that just yet if you’re still planning to play it for the next month (or until you get your Switch 2).

Nintendo will store the data on its servers for one year. You can either complete the transfer to a Switch 2 in that time or cancel it and download the data back onto a Switch.

The latest Switch system update adds support for one other key feature. It’s called GameShare, and it enables local wireless multiplayer across several Switch systems. Only one person needs to own a copy of a compatible game to do this. You can’t do anything with GameShare yet, however. You’ll only be able to share games from a Switch 2, but you’ll be able to do so to Switch, Switch Lite and other Switch 2 units.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-update-adds-virtual-game-cards-and-switch-2-cloud-transfer-support-160057826.html?src=rss

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Apr 30

Our favorite budget earbuds are back on sale for $45

Posted in: Today's Chili

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are on sale for just $45 via Amazon. This represents a discount of 44 percent, as the typical price is $80. This particular deal only applies to the blue and white models, but other colors are on sale for $50. Also, the sale only works for Prime members, but there’s a similar deal straight from the company.

These topped our list of the best budget wireless earbuds. The built-in ANC is actually very good, especially when compared to other budget-friendly earbuds. We also enjoyed the sound, which we found to be pleasant and warm. There’s multi-device connectivity and wireless charging support.

The fit is comfortable, which isn’t always the case with earbuds, and the battery life is decent. We got around eight hours per charge in our testing, though the included charging case supplies 40 hours or so. The IPX4 water resistance rating is average, but does let the earbuds survive light rain and sweat.

The mic quality is fine, but doesn’t handle sibilant sounds too well and can lose your voice in noisy areas. In other words, these aren’t the best earbuds for phone calls, though they work in a pinch. They also don’t have an auto-pause feature.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-budget-earbuds-are-back-on-sale-for-45-152016314.html?src=rss

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Apr 30

Nubia Pad Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 144Hz Display, DeepSeek AI, And 1TB Storage

Posted in: Today's Chili

Nubia has officially unveiled the Pad Pro, positioned as a high-performance tablet, that stands out with its advanced Qualcomm chipset, a high refresh rate display, and integrated artificial intelligence capabilities.

The device features a 10.9-inch LCD screen with a 2.8K resolution and an impressive 144 Hz refresh rate, aiming to deliver a smoother and sharper visual experience. Under the hood, it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform, Qualcomm’s latest high-end processor.

It comes in several configurations, offering up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring fast data access and multitasking efficiency. To manage heat more effectively during intensive use, the Pad Pro incorporates a six-layer cooling system.

In terms of battery life, the nubia Pad Pro houses a substantial 10,100 mAh battery, supporting 66W fast charging technology. This ensures the device can be quickly recharged and remain operational for extended periods. A notable feature of the tablet is the integration of DeepSeek-R1 AI, allowing real-time interaction through its dedicated application, enhancing user experience with intelligent assistance and system optimization.

The audio system is designed for immersive media consumption and communication, comprising four speakers and three microphones. The microphones feature noise-canceling technology aimed at improving voice clarity during calls and recordings.

Specs

SpecificationDetails
Display10.9-inch LCD with 2.8K resolution
Refresh Rate144 Hz
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR5X
Storage256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB UFS 4.0
ConnectivityBluetooth, USB-C port
Battery10,100 mAh with 66W fast charging support
AudioQuad-speaker system with DTS:X support
Weight523 grams

Availability And Price

Regarding availability, the nubia Pad Pro is currently offered for pre-sale in China, with official sales scheduled to commence on May 6. Although Nubia has confirmed plans for a global release, specific launch dates for markets outside China have not yet been disclosed.

Pricing for the nubia Pad Pro varies according to the configuration selected:

nubia Pad Pro:

  • 8/256GB: CN¥ 2,799 (~$383)
  • 12/256GB: CN¥ 2,999 (~$411)
  • 16/512GB: CN¥ 3,399 (~$465)
  • 16GB e 1TB: CN¥ 3,999 (~$548)

Keyboard: CN¥ 499 (~$68)

Nubia Pad Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 144Hz Display, DeepSeek AI, And 1TB Storage

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Apr 30

Trump temporarily eases car tariffs following automaker complaints

Posted in: Today's Chili

US automakers will get some relief from US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to a new White House fact sheet. Prior to his new executive order, manufacturers had to pay a 25 percent tariff on any parts used in any US-assembled vehicles. Now, they’ll be able to deduct up to an amount equal to 3.75 percent of the price of a new US made car until April 30, 2026, and 2.5 percent until April 30, 2027. In addition, automakers will only be required to pay tariffs on steel or auto parts (not both as before), depending on which is higher. 

The new rules reportedly came at the request of manufacturers, who said they need time to move parts production to the US. “We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term. We didn’t want to penalize them,” Trump told reporters. 

The 3.75 percent figures was reached by multiplying 15 percent of imported parts that make up a vehicle’s sale price by the current 25 percent import tax. So if a $40,000 car had $6,000 or 15 percent of imported parts, the manufacturer would effectively pay no tariffs, but any higher percentage of foreign parts would result in some tariff being paid. The White House said the rebates wouldn’t cost taxpayers anything since they’d come out of tariffs collected.

The White House pointed out that the US trade deficit on auto parts was $93.5 billion in 2024. A large chunk of those ($19.5 billion worth) came from Canada, and large numbers of US vehicles are also built in that country. However, the reason that US automakers manufacture cars and car parts in Canada is because it’s cheaper, largely because of the high cost of employee healthcare in the US. So, even if automakers manufacture more parts in the US, car prices are still likely to go up. 

The average price for a new vehicle in the US was $47,462 last month, according to The Associated Press. One noted analyst predicted that the original 25 percent tariffs could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle, while also boosting the cost of ownership and maintenance. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/trump-temporarily-eases-car-tariffs-following-automaker-complaints-130011086.html?src=rss

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Apr 30

Nubia Pad Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 144Hz Display, DeepSeek AI, And 1TB Storage

Posted in: Today's Chili

Nubia has officially unveiled the Pad Pro, positioned as a high-performance tablet, that stands out with its advanced Qualcomm chipset, a high refresh rate display, and integrated artificial intelligence capabilities.

The device features a 10.9-inch LCD screen with a 2.8K resolution and an impressive 144 Hz refresh rate, aiming to deliver a smoother and sharper visual experience. Under the hood, it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform, Qualcomm’s latest high-end processor.

It comes in several configurations, offering up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring fast data access and multitasking efficiency. To manage heat more effectively during intensive use, the Pad Pro incorporates a six-layer cooling system.

In terms of battery life, the nubia Pad Pro houses a substantial 10,100 mAh battery, supporting 66W fast charging technology. This ensures the device can be quickly recharged and remain operational for extended periods. A notable feature of the tablet is the integration of DeepSeek-R1 AI, allowing real-time interaction through its dedicated application, enhancing user experience with intelligent assistance and system optimization.

The audio system is designed for immersive media consumption and communication, comprising four speakers and three microphones. The microphones feature noise-canceling technology aimed at improving voice clarity during calls and recordings.

Specs

SpecificationDetails
Display10.9-inch LCD with 2.8K resolution
Refresh Rate144 Hz
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR5X
Storage256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB UFS 4.0
ConnectivityBluetooth, USB-C port
Battery10,100 mAh with 66W fast charging support
AudioQuad-speaker system with DTS:X support
Weight523 grams

Availability And Price

Regarding availability, the nubia Pad Pro is currently offered for pre-sale in China, with official sales scheduled to commence on May 6. Although Nubia has confirmed plans for a global release, specific launch dates for markets outside China have not yet been disclosed.

Pricing for the nubia Pad Pro varies according to the configuration selected:

nubia Pad Pro:

  • 8/256GB: CN¥ 2,799 (~$383)
  • 12/256GB: CN¥ 2,999 (~$411)
  • 16/512GB: CN¥ 3,399 (~$465)
  • 16GB e 1TB: CN¥ 3,999 (~$548)

Keyboard: CN¥ 499 (~$68)

Nubia Pad Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 144Hz Display, DeepSeek AI, And 1TB Storage

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Apr 30

Toyota and Waymo pledge to team up on a new autonomous vehicle platform

Posted in: Today's Chili

Toyota and Waymo have announced that they’ve entered a preliminary agreement, along with the former’s mobility tech subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, Inc. To be clear, they’re not in the midst of developing anything yet — they’re still exploring a potential collaboration between them. Ultimately, however, the goal is to develop a new autonomous vehicle platform together, presumably for robotaxies. They’re also aiming to “leverage Waymo’s autonomous technology and Toyota’s vehicle expertise” for future personal vehicles. 

In their announcement, the companies said they’re looking to incorporate aspects of Waymo’s technology into Toyota vehicles meant for sale to consumers, as well as to accelerate the development and adoption of driver assistance and automated driving technologies. Waymo’s work, so far, has been focused on developing robotaxis that riders can hail through an app. The Alphabet-owned company currently operates Waymo One, a fully autonomous ride-hailing service, in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. It deploys Waymo One vehicles through Uber in Austin, and it’s planning to expand the service to Las Vegas, San Diego, Miami and Atlanta sometime this year. This potential partnership could expand the reach of Waymo’s tech.

“Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver. This requires global partners like Toyota that share our commitment to improving road safety and expanding accessible transportation. We look forward to exploring this strategic partnership, incorporating their vehicles into our ride-hailing fleet and bringing the magic of Waymo’s autonomous driving technology to Toyota customers,” said Tekedra Mawakana, the co-CEO of Waymo. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/toyota-and-waymo-pledge-to-team-up-on-a-new-autonomous-vehicle-platform-123032289.html?src=rss

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Apr 30

Toyota and Waymo pledge to team up on a new autonomous vehicle platform

Posted in: Today's Chili

Toyota and Waymo have announced that they’ve entered a preliminary agreement, along with the former’s mobility tech subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, Inc. To be clear, they’re not in the midst of developing anything yet — they’re still exploring a potential collaboration between them. Ultimately, however, the goal is to develop a new autonomous vehicle platform together, presumably for robotaxies. They’re also aiming to “leverage Waymo’s autonomous technology and Toyota’s vehicle expertise” for future personal vehicles. 

In their announcement, the companies said they’re looking to incorporate aspects of Waymo’s technology into Toyota vehicles meant for sale to consumers, as well as to accelerate the development and adoption of driver assistance and automated driving technologies. Waymo’s work, so far, has been focused on developing robotaxis that riders can hail through an app. The Alphabet-owned company currently operates Waymo One, a fully autonomous ride-hailing service, in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. It deploys Waymo One vehicles through Uber in Austin, and it’s planning to expand the service to Las Vegas, San Diego, Miami and Atlanta sometime this year. This potential partnership could expand the reach of Waymo’s tech.

“Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver. This requires global partners like Toyota that share our commitment to improving road safety and expanding accessible transportation. We look forward to exploring this strategic partnership, incorporating their vehicles into our ride-hailing fleet and bringing the magic of Waymo’s autonomous driving technology to Toyota customers,” said Tekedra Mawakana, the co-CEO of Waymo. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/toyota-and-waymo-pledge-to-team-up-on-a-new-autonomous-vehicle-platform-123032289.html?src=rss

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