Max now requires a fee for extra members who join a plan outside of the household. Each person who joins a subscription plan will cost $8 a head, no matter which access tier the main account holder is on. This type of “extra member” charge is how several streaming services have tried to cut down on password sharing by users. Netflix introduced this approach in 2023 and Disney+ followed suit in 2024.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned platform has at least temporarily allowed live sports and news content to be viewed for free, which is a nice perk for as long as it lasts. Max last raised its subscription prices in 2024, so hopefully viewers will get a reprieve on any more new costs for the rest of this year.
These non-household members will be able to stream Max content from their own accounts on one device at a time, and they’ll have access to the same plan benefits such as video quality and downloads. In addition, when an extra member joins a plan, they can import their existing watch list and preferences with Max’s new profile transfer option.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/max-implements-8-extra-member-charges-on-all-subscription-plans-195228707.html?src=rss
Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion, but tensions between Mark Zuckerberg and the app’s founders persisted for years afterward. On Tuesday, Instagram’s former CEO and cofounder Kevin Systrom took the stand in Meta’s antitrust trial in Washington D.C and offered a firsthand account of how Zuckerberg viewed the photo-sharing app as a “threat” to Facebook.
Systrom, who ran Instagram until 2018, said that Zuckerberg slowed hiring and other investments into Instagram despite its success. Zuckerberg, Systrom testified, “believed we were a threat to their growth,” and as a result “was not investing” in the photo-sharing app, according to testimony reported byThe New York Times. As The Times notes, Instagram had only a fraction of the employees as Facebook even after reaching 1 billion users. “As the founder of Facebook, he felt a lot of emotion around which one was better, meaning Instagram or Facebook,” Systrom reportedly said.
Tensions between Instagram’s founders and Zuckerberg over company resources have been previously reported, but Systrom’s testimony is the first time he’s publicly spoken in detail about the issues that ultimately led him to resign from the company. On the stand Tuesday, Systrom said that Zuckerberg “believed we were hurting Facebook’s growth,” according toBloomberg.
Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram is central to the FTC’s case against Meta. The government has argued that Meta’s purchase of WhatsApp and Instagram were anticompetitive and that the social media company should be forced to divest the businesses. Systrom’s testimony comes a week after Zuckerberg took the stand and defended Meta’s $1 billion Instagram acquisition. However, a 2018 email from Zuckerberg that surfaced earlier in the trial showed that the Facebook founder was aware as early as 2018 that he could be forced to spin off the services into independent entities.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagrams-former-ceo-testifies-zuckerberg-thought-the-app-was-a-threat-to-facebook-202112282.html?src=rss
Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion, but tensions between Mark Zuckerberg and the app’s founders persisted for years afterward. On Tuesday, Instagram’s former CEO and cofounder Kevin Systrom took the stand in Meta’s antitrust trial in Washington D.C and offered a firsthand account of how Zuckerberg viewed the photo-sharing app as a “threat” to Facebook.
Systrom, who ran Instagram until 2018, said that Zuckerberg slowed hiring and other investments into Instagram despite its success. Zuckerberg, Systrom testified, “believed we were a threat to their growth,” and as a result “was not investing” in the photo-sharing app, according to testimony reported byThe New York Times. As The Times notes, Instagram had only a fraction of the employees as Facebook even after reaching 1 billion users. “As the founder of Facebook, he felt a lot of emotion around which one was better, meaning Instagram or Facebook,” Systrom reportedly said.
Tensions between Instagram’s founders and Zuckerberg over company resources have been previously reported, but Systrom’s testimony is the first time he’s publicly spoken in detail about the issues that ultimately led him to resign from the company. On the stand Tuesday, Systrom said that Zuckerberg “believed we were hurting Facebook’s growth,” according toBloomberg.
Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram is central to the FTC’s case against Meta. The government has argued that Meta’s purchase of WhatsApp and Instagram were anticompetitive and that the social media company should be forced to divest the businesses. Systrom’s testimony comes a week after Zuckerberg took the stand and defended Meta’s $1 billion Instagram acquisition. However, a 2018 email from Zuckerberg that surfaced earlier in the trial showed that the Facebook founder was aware as early as 2018 that he could be forced to spin off the services into independent entities.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagrams-former-ceo-testifies-zuckerberg-thought-the-app-was-a-threat-to-facebook-202112282.html?src=rss
Google is under the microscope following a court ruling last year that it has a monopoly over online search, but the future of its vast suite of digital services is still uncertain at this stage. Last month, the Justice Department suggested that Google would need to sell off the Chrome browser; if the tech giant does make that move, there’s already at least one interested buyer.
Bloomberg reports that Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, spoke at a hearing today about the Google monopoly situation and was asked whether OpenAI would be interested in acquiring Chrome. “Yes, we would, as would many other parties,” he said. Users can currently use the ChatGPT AI assistant in Chrome through a plugin, but Turley said there could be deeper integrations if OpenAI owned the browser. Under OpenAI’s hypothetical ownership, Chrome could “introduce users into what an AI first experience looks like.”
Chrome isn’t the only property Google may lose control over. A separate judge determined earlier this month that Google has also been engaged in anti-competitive behavior over online ad tech. It’s no surprise that any other major tech operation would be interested in acquiring one of the many popular services Google has developed over the years. The real question is which one of them landing a purchase wouldn’t create a new monopoly. For now, the DOJ is allowing Google to continue its AI investments amid the break-up talk, but adding the browser to OpenAI’s holdings may raise new concerns. Since the wheels of justice often turn slowly, it may be a while before we learn the outcomes of the recent Google rulings.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/openai-says-it-would-buy-chrome-if-google-is-forced-to-sell-215239832.html?src=rss
Google is under the microscope following a court ruling last year that it has a monopoly over online search, but the future of its vast suite of digital services is still uncertain at this stage. Last month, the Justice Department suggested that Google would need to sell off the Chrome browser; if the tech giant does make that move, there’s already at least one interested buyer.
Bloomberg reports that Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, spoke at a hearing today about the Google monopoly situation and was asked whether OpenAI would be interested in acquiring Chrome. “Yes, we would, as would many other parties,” he said. Users can currently use the ChatGPT AI assistant in Chrome through a plugin, but Turley said there could be deeper integrations if OpenAI owned the browser. Under OpenAI’s hypothetical ownership, Chrome could “introduce users into what an AI first experience looks like.”
Chrome isn’t the only property Google may lose control over. A separate judge determined earlier this month that Google has also been engaged in anti-competitive behavior over online ad tech. It’s no surprise that any other major tech operation would be interested in acquiring one of the many popular services Google has developed over the years. The real question is which one of them landing a purchase wouldn’t create a new monopoly. For now, the DOJ is allowing Google to continue its AI investments amid the break-up talk, but adding the browser to OpenAI’s holdings may raise new concerns. Since the wheels of justice often turn slowly, it may be a while before we learn the outcomes of the recent Google rulings.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/openai-says-it-would-buy-chrome-if-google-is-forced-to-sell-215239832.html?src=rss
Google is under the microscope following a court ruling last year that it has a monopoly over online search, but the future of its vast suite of digital services is still uncertain at this stage. Last month, the Justice Department suggested that Google would need to sell off the Chrome browser; if the tech giant does make that move, there’s already at least one interested buyer.
Bloomberg reports that Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, spoke at a hearing today about the Google monopoly situation and was asked whether OpenAI would be interested in acquiring Chrome. “Yes, we would, as would many other parties,” he said. Users can currently use the ChatGPT AI assistant in Chrome through a plugin, but Turley said there could be deeper integrations if OpenAI owned the browser. Under OpenAI’s hypothetical ownership, Chrome could “introduce users into what an AI first experience looks like.”
Chrome isn’t the only property Google may lose control over. A separate judge determined earlier this month that Google has also been engaged in anti-competitive behavior over online ad tech. It’s no surprise that any other major tech operation would be interested in acquiring one of the many popular services Google has developed over the years. The real question is which one of them landing a purchase wouldn’t create a new monopoly. For now, the DOJ is allowing Google to continue its AI investments amid the break-up talk, but adding the browser to OpenAI’s holdings may raise new concerns. Since the wheels of justice often turn slowly, it may be a while before we learn the outcomes of the recent Google rulings.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/openai-says-it-would-buy-chrome-if-google-is-forced-to-sell-215239832.html?src=rss
The chinese brand vivo has officially launched the X200 Ultra and X200s smartphones in China, highlighting cutting-edge photography and premium specifications. The X200 Ultra positions itself as the flagship model with advanced imaging features, while the X200s offers a slightly smaller display and a larger battery.
vivo X200 Ultra
The X200 Ultra features a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with Quad HD+ resolution (3168 × 1440), 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 2,160Hz PWM dimming. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite Edition, paired with the Adreno 830 GPU, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.1 storage (256GB, 512GB, or 1TB). It houses a 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired and 40W wireless charging.
Camera performance is central to the X200 Ultra. It includes a 50MP Sony LYT-818 main sensor, a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP9 telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor, along with a 50MP front camera. The phone also includes two dedicated image processing chips: the vivo VS1, for focus and exposure control, and the V3+ for post-processing tasks like noise reduction and image sharpening.
An optional 2.35x zoom lens (included in a photography kit) allows for shots with an equivalent 200mm focal length. The device runs Android 15 with OriginOS, and offers IP68/IP69 ratings, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, Hi-Fi audio, 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB-C connectivity.
vivo X200s
The vivo X200s features a 6.67-inch LTPS AMOLED display (2800 × 1260 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 5,000 nits peak brightness). It runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 Plus, with the Immortalis-G925 GPU, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The battery has a capacity of 6,200mAh, supporting 90W fast and 40W wireless charging.
Its triple camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor (f/1.6), 50MP ultrawide (f/2.0), and 50MP telephoto (f/2.6) with 3x optical zoom, along with a 32MP front camera. It also runs Android 15 with OriginOS and offers similar connectivity and durability features as the Ultra model.
Specs
Specification
vivo X200 Ultra
vivo X200s
Display
6.82″ LTPO AMOLED, Quad HD+, 1–120Hz
6.67″ LTPS AMOLED, Full HD+, 120Hz adaptive
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Plus
RAM
12 GB or 16 GB
12 GB or 16 GB
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Front Camera
50 MP
32 MP
Rear Cameras
50 MP main sensor 50 MP ultrawide 200 MP telephoto
50 MP main sensor 50 MP ultrawide 50 MP telephoto
Connectivity
5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS, IR, USB-C
5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS, USB-C
Battery
6,000 mAh, 90W fast charging
6,200 mAh, 90W fast charging
Operating System
Android 15 with OriginOS
Android 15 with OriginOS
Certifications
IP68, IP69
IP68, IP69
Dimensions
163.14 × 76.76 × 8.69 mm
160.01 × 74.29 × 7.99 mm
Weight
229 g
205 g
Pricing and Availability (approximate conversions)
vivo X200 Ultra
12GB + 256GB: ¥6,499 (~$891)
16GB + 512GB: ¥6,999 (~$959)
16GB + 1TB (Satellite): ¥7,999 (~$1,096)
16GB + 1TB + Full Kit: ¥9,699 (~$1,330)
Accessory Kits for X200 Ultra
ZEISS Telephoto Kit: ¥1,299 (~$177)
Pro Photography Kit: ¥699 (~$96)
Complete Kit: ¥1,699 (~$232)
vivo X200s
12GB + 256GB: ¥4,199 (~$575)
16GB + 256GB: ¥4,399 (~$602)
12GB + 512GB: ¥4,699 (~$643)
16GB + 512GB: ¥4,999 (~$685)
16GB + 1TB: ¥5,499 (~$754)
Both phones are in pre-order in China, and will hit the stores on April 25th. We still don’t know if they will be released outside the Chinese market.
Max now requires a fee for extra members who join a plan outside of the household. Each person who joins a subscription plan will cost $8 a head, no matter which access tier the main account holder is on. This type of “extra member” charge is how several streaming services have tried to cut down on password sharing by users. Netflix introduced this approach in 2023 and Disney+ followed suit in 2024.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned platform has at least temporarily allowed live sports and news content to be viewed for free, which is a nice perk for as long as it lasts. Max last raised its subscription prices in 2024, so hopefully viewers will get a reprieve on any more new costs for the rest of this year.
These non-household members will be able to stream Max content from their own accounts on one device at a time, and they’ll have access to the same plan benefits such as video quality and downloads. In addition, when an extra member joins a plan, they can import their existing watch list and preferences with Max’s new profile transfer option.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/max-implements-8-extra-member-charges-on-all-subscription-plans-195228707.html?src=rss
Wheel of Time is getting a new video game adaptation. The popular fantasy book series has already seen an imagining for the small screen with an Amazon Prime Video series that is currently airing its third season. Now iwot Studios, which has a hand in creating the Amazon show, is launching a new game studio to create a AAA open-world RPG set in the same fictional universe.
iwot brought in Craig Alexander to helm its new video game studio. Alexander has held management and leadership roles at game operations including Warner Bros. Entertainment, Activision, EA and Sierra On-Line. According to Variety, the studio is projecting a three-year development for the game, which seems pretty ambitious considering the it’s still hiring team leads. iwot is also behind a planned live action movie as well as an animated feature film set within the same world as Wheel of Time. According to iwot Studios CEO Rick Selvage, the company will have “a lot of continuity in regards to how we approach our transmedia strategy” across the different projects.
This isn’t the first time Robert Jordan’s books have been source material for a game. Legend Entertainment released a first-person shooter based on Wheel of Time in 1999, and it’s still available to play on modern hardware thanks to the preservation efforts at GOG.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/wheel-of-time-is-getting-a-new-aaa-open-world-rpg-adaptation-184741772.html?src=rss
Fellow has been slowly growing its collection of coffee gadgets with its brewers, scale, grinders and more. But up until now, there’s always been a big hole in its lineup. That changes today with the arrival of the company’s first espresso machine: the Espresso Series 1.
When I got to try it out a couple weeks ago prior to launch, Fellow CEO Jake Miller said the goal was to make a device that “baristas would be excited to use and that they could actually afford.” That said, at $1,500, it certainly isn’t cheap. However, when you start comparing the Espresso Series 1 capabilities to competing machines, that price quickly begins to make a lot of sense. That’s because unlike a lot of similarly priced rivals, Fellow’s offering offers a ton of ways to customize and adjust the brewing process, which includes control over not just temperature, but also pressure, extraction time, steaming and the ability to create or download profiles for specific beans.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
When compared to other modern machines, competitors like the $1,350 Meticulous support custom profiles and pressure settings, but it doesn’t have a built-in steamer for milk like the Series 1. And if you want a ton of control over everything, espresso enthusiasts often look to even more complex and expensive options like the Decent, which goes for well over $3,000. So while Fellow’s latest product might seem pricey, it feels very reasonable in context.
Now, I will admit that when I saw the Series 1 in its cherry red hero color, I thought Fellow had departed from its previous design language. But after closer inspection, it’s clear the company still retains its focus on clean lines while still making the device easy-to-use. It just has a bit more character now thanks to elements like the polished stainless metal brewer and the wood accents on the included 58mm portafilter’s handle. The Series 1’s base kit comes with both a single-wall double-shot basket and a pressurized double-shot basket. Fellow even went out of its way to create a rear housing made from a single sheet of metal with curvy corners, because the company wanted the back to look just as good as the front.
Similar to the Aiden, the Series 1 features a circular screen, except this time it’s slightly larger. And while you can adjust everything using the espresso machine’s single control dial, for more complex tasks like creating custom profiles, it’ll probably be easier to use Fellow’s free companion app (iOS and Android) instead.
When it comes to brewing, I really appreciate that if you just want a cup of espresso, the Series 1 streamlines things and makes it easy to bust out a cup quickly. There are three rather self-explanatory buttons on top for espresso, steaming and dispensing hot water. Plus, there are a ton of small but handy features like a temperature-sensing wand (with auto-purge) that helps take a lot of the guesswork out of making perfectly frothy milk. Fellow even thought about stuff like someone’s daily workflow, which is why there’s a small rubberized mat on top of the machine for storing demitasse cups.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Of course, the proof is in espresso. The Series 1 produced a cup with a surprising amount of crema that highlighted the beans’ fruity notes. It was rich and smooth and pretty much everything I want in a shot of java. It also made the brewing process very approachable, because for people who might not have a ton of experience, there are guided brew settings as well.
Normally, when I want espresso, I go out to a coffee shop because I’ve yet to find a machine that hits the right balance between modern styling and ease of use while still having the ability to adjust and tinker with settings. But with the Espresso Series 1, it feels like Fellow has made a machine that delivers on everything that all levels of enthusiasts can get into.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The Espresso Series 1 will be available for $1,500 in three colors: cherry red, malted chocolate and black. However, Fellow says early buyers can get a special launch price of $1,200, which includes a $100 credit for the company’s Drops program that offers a curated selection of coffee beans for purchase.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-espresso-series-1-is-the-new-crown-jewel-in-fellows-coffee-gadget-lineup-170008473.html?src=rss
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