American Airlines has announced plans to finally offer free Wi-Fi on flights. The company said that its AT&T-sponsored program will start offering free, high-speed Wi-Fi “across more than 2 million American flights per year” in January 2026.
To be able to access free Wi-Fi you’ll have to be a member of American’s AAdvantage loyalty program, but once you’re signed up, all you’ll need to do is log in to access the internet. Wi-Fi will be offered on planes with “Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity”, according to American, which includes 90 percent of the airline’s fleet. “American is also on pace to outfit more than 500 regional aircraft with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2025,” the company says.
Nearly every major US-based airline offer some kind of free Wi-Fi program, and they’re all able to do so thanks to satellite connectivity. United started using Starlink for Wi-Fi earlier this year, and both Hawaiian Airlines and Delta ran tests with SpaceX’s satellite internet service back in 2022. Delta ultimately went with Viasat for its T-Mobile-sponsored Wi-Fi program in 2023, with the same loyalty program requirement as American Airlines.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/american-airlines-will-provide-inflight-wi-fi-for-free-starting-next-year-211243870.html?src=rss
The US government has continued to make drastic cuts to budgets and personnel, but one cybersecurity service has at least temporarily avoided the chop. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database operated by nonprofit MITRE Corp will receive 11 months of federal support. A representative from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, whose parent agency funds the MITRE database, told Reuters that the department exercised an “option period on the contract to ensure there will be no lapse in critical CVE services.” The news was an eleventh-hour announcement, as federal funding for the project was slated to expire today.
This CVE database identifies and tracks cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and it is regularly used by IT professionals. It offers a standardized approach that allows complex and technical information about potential problems to be quickly shared across companies and organizations worldwide.
“We appreciate the overwhelming support for these programs that have been expressed by the global cyber community, industry, and government over the last 24 hours,” said Yosry Barsoum, vice president and director for MITRE’s Center for Securing the Homeland.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/database-for-cybersecurity-vulnerabilities-secures-last-minute-government-funding-202703659.html?src=rss
It seems like every few years, gadget makers try to come up with something that will make us care about seeing things in 3D again. Without going all the way back to the 1800s, the first Avatar movie brought millions to theaters to watch blue cat people dance around in stereoscopic vision. Then came the flop that was 3D TVs in the early 2010s before things heated up again with the arrival of VR headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Soon, Samsung will release a new take on the tech with its glasses-free Odyssey 3D Gaming Monitor (model G90XF) and after trying it out, I feel like if 3D has been this good all along, people wouldn’t roll their eyes every time the idea gets brought up.
If this monitor looks somewhat familiar, that’s because Samsung actually demoed very early pre-production models at CES in both 2024 and 2025. In fact, I tried the first version in Las Vegas almost a year and a half ago, playing Lies of P back when it was a slightly larger 37-inch display. Regardless, the Odyssey 3D is finally going on sale later this month on April 28 for $2,000 and while I don’t think it’s an essential piece of tech, it’s definitely a fun way to experience both games and videos in a new dimension.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The G90XF features a 27-inch 4K LCD panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, which isn’t all that impressive considering its price. And in some respects, it gets even worse when the 3D effect is active. In addition to having two eye and face tracking sensors hidden beneath its bezels, the Odyssey 3D also uses a lenticular filter to create two slightly different versions of the same scene (one for each eye), which gets interpreted by your brain as a 3D image.
This lowers the perceived resolution of the screen, which results in a very faint screen door effect like you might get on a VR headset. For me, this meant I saw a little chromatic fringing around certain objects while individual pixels became more noticeable. Unfortunately, because the monitor is designed to be viewed with two eyes, the effect doesn’t come across in photos or videos as cameras typically only record with a single lens/sensor at a time. (Womp womp.)
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
That said, even with all of those limitations, I was still impressed by the Odyssey 3D. In games, the monitor can handle two different levels of integration. There is one for titles specifically co-developed with input from Samsung (denoted with a yellow badge) that take full advantage of the tech and another more general setting for games with basic 3D support.
The first game I played — Khazan: The First Berserker — is a fully certified title and it demonstrated a surprising level of immersion. Even without pushing the sliders for 3D effects like focal distance and depth factor all the way up, trees and foliage around the edge of the screen looked like they were popping out the display right at me, while little gameplay elements like floating orbs of blood just hovered in the space between my face and the monitor. There were also details like snowflakes that looked like they were flying past my head, which was a nice touch.
Importantly, the tech never felt oppressive and thanks to the built-in head tracking, I had the freedom to move around in my seat (just a little bit) without ruining the effect. So instead of being a distraction, it simply added a bit of atmosphere to the game. And it still looked quite sharp and ran as smooth as you’d expect. Sadly, I couldn’t play Octopath Traveler, which is another one of Samsung’s supported titles, as I think the combination of the 3D effect with the game’s retro HD-2D art style would be a great showcase of the tech.
As for other titles, the monitor can convert standard 2D graphics into 3D on the fly. Though, as you might imagine, the effect isn’t nearly as pronounced, particularly in more modern titles with fancier graphics. However, when I played Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, characters and vehicles still popped out in a very pleasing way that made a more than 20-year-old game feel brand new. Once again, it wasn’t a groundbreaking change, but added an extra level of fun and immersion to an already very nostalgic game.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
But the Odyssey 3D’s abilities don’t stop at gaming because the monitor can also convert non-DRM-protected videos (like clips from YouTube) into 3D on the fly. Similar to games, more recent trailers like Avengers: Endgame had an obvious depth effect that made certain scenes shine, though I still wouldn’t call it a revolutionary experience. However, for other genres like anime, the display did an even better job of separating stuff in the background from characters up front. On top of all that, the monitor can also convert side-by-side stereoscopic footage into standard 3D videos as well, which is a nice, though rather niche, inclusion. I just wish I didn’t have to click on the notification to activate the 3D effect every time I pulled up a new video.
Of course, the big question is if the Odyssey 3D’s added dimensionality is worth an extra $1,000 or more compared to a more traditional monitor with similar specs. And to that I’d probably say no. But I don’t think that means this display is a failure, because I found that being able to turn this effect on and off at will without needing extra equipment like glasses made the whole experience rather enjoyable, instead of completely off-putting like so many devices in the past. And if Samsung can make this tech a bit more affordable, it would feel more like a nice bonus that has definite value when viewing certain games or movies. When you consider all the false starts and flops 3D gadgets have had throughout the years, that feels like a small but important win in my book.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Finally, while there are currently 12 games that are fully certified to work with the Odyssey 3D, Samsung says it hopes to bring that number closer to 50 by the end of the year. Currently support titles are listed below.
KHAZAN: The First Berserker
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Lies of P
Psychonauts 2
Little Nightmares II
Palworld
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake
Like a Dragon: Ishin
Only UP
Darksiders Genesis
Octopath Traveler
The Samsung Odyssey 3D Gaming Monitor will be available for $2,000 starting on April 28, with pre-orders eligible for a $200 credit from select retailers like Samsung.com.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/samsung-odyssey-3d-monitor-hands-on-this-should-be-the-new-baseline-for-glasses-free-3d-190015689.html?src=rss
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), and despite concerns over tariffs, there are still a lot of manufacturers here showing off new models including a handful of US and global debuts. So without further ado, here are some of the coolest cars on display at the 2025 NYIAS.
The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker
First up on the docket is Subaru, which is here today with a first look at its second-ever EV: the Trailseeker. Now I admit that the followup to the Solterra might not be the most exciting announcement, as this model will once again be based the e-TNGA platform, which is shared with Toyota’s bZ4x. That said, while the Trailseeker doesn’t have the most impressive range (around 260 miles), its updated styling, larger body and improved off-roading capabilities feels more suited to an outdoor lifestyle.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The 2026 Kia EV4
Kia has been on a roll when it comes to EVs thanks to existing cars like the EV6 and EV9. And at the 2025 NYIAS, the company is looking to keep that momentum rolling with the US debut of the EV4, which incorporates many of the headline features from its previous battery-powered offerings, but with an even more affordable expected price of between $35,000 and $40,000. It also features Kia’s improved i-PEDAL 3.0 regenrative braking tech which now works in reverse.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Kia EV9 Nightfall edition
Speaking of the EV9, while there aren’t a ton of updates for 2025, Kia did rollout a new Nightfall edition for its flagship EV SUV. It features blacked-out accents throughout the vehicle including dark wheels, trim and badging. That color scheme even continues inside the vehicle with an exclusive all-black interior. And when you consider that this remains one of the most affordable three-row electric cars, I think this is a pretty nice way to freshen up the look of the EV9.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Genesis X Gran Equator concept
Billed as a luxury overlander, the Genesis X Gran Equator concept is easily one of the most striking cars at the 2025 New York Auto Show. It features an extremely long hood and LED light strips that wrap all the around to the side of the vehicle along with matching tail lights around back. Inside, while it has fancy diamond-stitched upholstery, there’s also dedicated holders for resuable waterbottles, which hint at its role as a potential camping vehicle. And while Genesis has not said what kind of powertrain it will have if the X Gran Equator reaches official production, the lack of a distinct grille up front means there’s hope it will be an EV.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
This story is in progress so stay tuned for more updates throughout the day.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-coolest-cars-at-the-2025-new-york-international-auto-show-144832805.html?src=rss
Bloober Team has provided a first proper look at gameplay for its latest project, Cronos: The New Dawn, after a brief tease at the end of the initial reveal in October. The trailer has a very Dead Space-like feel, which shouldn’t be too surprising given that this is a third-person survival horror game, but that’s hardly a bad thing. There appear to be some other influences at play here, and there’s one particular feature that seems quite terrifying.
The game takes place across two time periods, a decayed post-apocalyptic future and 1980s-era Poland. As a Traveller, you’re sent back in time to rescue certain people before they die in an apocalypse. To do that, you’ll need to battle creatures known as Orphans, which Bloober describes as “twisted, body-horror monstrosities born from humanity’s darkest nightmares.” But you’ll need to be sure to burn the bodies of fallen monsters. If you don’t, that can spell a whole heap of trouble.
Living Orphans can absorb the bodies of their fallen ilk. This so-called Merging evolves the creatures. They become fast, stronger and tougher to take down, and they gain new abilities to boot. So yeah, you’ll want to torch any Orphans that you take out.
There’s a lot going on elsewhere in the trailer. Along with Dead Space, the action and visuals evoke games like The Last of Us Part 2 (if you know, you know), Returnal, Bioshock and Control — not least because of the shifting, fractured Brutalist architecture. The creature designs are reminiscent of those in last year’s Silent Hill 2 remake, a game that Bloober Team just happens to be behind.
Those aren’t criticisms in any way. There’s nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from others and fashioning them into something new. Cronos: The New Dawn is looking pretty compelling, and it’s already got a spot on my wishlist.
Cronos: The New Dawn is slated to arrive later this year. It’s coming to Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/cronos-the-new-dawn-seems-to-smush-dead-space-and-control-together-in-a-good-way-172611962.html?src=rss
With the A1, Sony was the first to introduce a high-resolution hybrid camera that was equally adept at stills and video — but boy was it expensive. Nikon and Canon followed that template with the R5 II and Z8 models that offered similar capabilities for less money, but those were still well north of $4,000.
Enter the S1R II. It’s Panasonic’s first camera that can not only shoot up to 8K video at the company’s usual high standards, but also capture 44-megapixel (MP) photos in rapid bursts. And unlike its rivals, the new model is available at a more reasonable $3,300 — half the price of Sony’s A1 II. At the same time, it’s a massive upgrade over the original S1R.
The main catch is the lack of a high-speed stacked sensor found in the other models, which can cause some skewing in both images and video. As I discovered, though, that tradeoff is well worth it for the lower price and picture quality that matches its competition. All of that makes the S1R II Panasonic’s best camera yet and a very tempting option in the high-resolution mirrorless category.
Design and handling
The S1R II is similar to other recent Panasonic models like the GH7 in terms of the design and control layout. It’s much lighter than the original S1R at 1.75 pounds compared to 2.24 pounds, so it’s less tiresome to carry around all day. As for handling, the massive grip has a ridge where your fingertips sit, making it nearly impossible to drop. The rubberized exterior is easy on the hands, though not quite as nice as the R5 II’s softer material.
I’ve always liked Panasonic’s controls and in that regard the S1R II may be the company’s best model yet. Along with a joystick and dials on the top front, top back and rear, it has lockable mode and burst shooting dials on top. You also get a dedicated button for photos, video and slow and quick (S&Q) modes, each with separate settings. There’s a dedicated autofocus switch, video record buttons both on top and front, a tally light and multiple programmable buttons.
The menu system is equally good, with logical color-coded menus and submenus. You can also rapidly find your most-used functions in the quick menu. All of that allowed me to shoot photos and video without fumbling for settings. You can also fully program buttons, dials and the quick menu to your own preferences.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The rear display is great for content creators and photographers alike. It tilts up and down to allow for easy overhead or shoot-from-the hip photography and also swivels out to the side so vloggers can conveniently film themselves. It’s very sharp and bright enough to use on sunny days. The electronic viewfinder is also excellent with 5.76 million dots of resolution and 100 percent magnification, matching Canon’s R5 II and beating the Nikon Z8.
Battery life isn’t a strong point, though, with 350 shots on a charge or just 280 when using the electronic viewfinder — far below the 640 shots allowed by the R5 II. It also only allows just over an hour of start-and-stop video shooting. However, Panasonic’s optional DMW-BG2 battery grip doubles endurance and also allows for battery hot-swapping.
The S1R II supports both SDXC UHS II and much faster CFexpress Type B cards, while also supporting SSD capture via the USB-C port like the S5 IIX and GH7. The latter two storage methods enable shooting in high-bandwidth RAW and ProRes to maximize quality.
Panasonic also included a full-sized HDMI port along with microphone and headphone jacks. For the best possible sound quality, the optional XLR2 accessory lets you capture four channels at up to 32-bit float quality to reduce the possibility of clipped audio. And finally, the S1R II is Panasonic’s first mirrorless model with a protective carbon fiber curtain that comes down to protect the sensor, just like recent Canon and Sony models.
Performance
Steve Dent for Engadget
Although the original S1R could only manage an anemic 6 fps burst speeds, its successor can hit 40 RAW images per second in silent electronic mode, beating all its rivals — though shooting at that speed limits quality to 12-bit RAW. To get 14-bit quality, you need to use the mechanical shutter for burst shooting which tops out at 9 fps.
However, the Panasonic S1R II doesn’t have a fast stacked sensor like rivals. The result is rolling shutter that can be a problem in some circumstances, like shooting race cars, propellers or golf swings. However, it does outperform many other non-stacked high-resolution cameras like Sony’s A7R V and Panasonic’s own S5 IIX in that area.
Pre-burst capture is now available and starts when you half-press the shutter. That lets you save up to 1.5 seconds of photos you might have otherwise missed once you fully press the shutter button.
With an overhauled phase-detect autofocus system and a new, faster processor, the S1R II features Panasonic’s fastest and smartest AF system yet. It can now lock onto a subject’s face and eyes quicker and follow their movements more smoothly, while also detecting and automatically switching between humans, animals, cars, motorcycles, bikes, trains and airplanes. I found it to be fast and generally reliable, but it’s still not quite up to Sony’s and Canon’s standards for speed and accuracy.
Panasonic boosted in-body stabilization to 8 stops. That’s nearly on par with rivals, though Canon leads the way with 8.5 stops on the R5 II. Still, it lets you freeze action at shutter speeds as low as a quarter second in case you want to blur waterfalls or moving cars when shooting handheld.
Image quality
Photo quality is outstanding with detail as good as rivals, though understandably short of Sony’s 61-megapixel A7R V. Colors are as accurate as I’ve seen on any recent camera, matching or even beating Canon’s excellent R5 II. My pro photographer friends took a number of shots with the S1R II and found it slightly superior to their Sony A1, noting that they rarely needed to white balance in post.
Thanks to the dual-ISO backside-illuminated sensor, low-light capability is excellent for a high-resolution camera, with noise well controlled up to ISO 12,800. Beyond that, grain becomes more problematic and shadows can take on a green cast. JPEG noise reduction does a good job retaining detail while suppressing noise, but gets overly aggressive above ISO 6,400.
If 44MP isn’t enough, the S1R II offers a high-resolution mode that captures eight images with a slightly offset sensor position and composes them into a single 177 megapixel file (either RAW or JPEG). It can supposedly be used without a tripod, though I found I had to remain very still to get decent images when doing so.
Video
The S1R II is Panasonic’s best mirrorless camera yet for video, albeit with some caveats I’ll discuss soon. You can capture up to 8K 30p 10-bit video at a reasonably high 300 Mbps, close to what Sony’s far more expensive A1 can do. Better still, it supports oversampled 5.8K ProRes RAW video internally with no crop for maximum dynamic range, or 4K video at up to 120 fps. Finally, the S1R II is capable of “open gate” 3:2 capture of the full sensor at up to 6.4K (and 8K down the road via a firmware update), making it easy to shoot all types of formats at once, including vertical video for social media.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Some of these resolutions, particularly the 5.9K 60 fps and 4K 120 fps modes come with a slight crop of about 1.1x and 1.04x, respectively. 4K 120 fps also uses pixel binning, which introduces a loss of resolution and other artifacts like rainbow-colored moire.
That takes us to the main downside: rolling shutter. The S1R II is actually a bit better than the S5 II in that regard, with a total readout speed of about 1/40th of a second, or about 25 milliseconds at any of the full sensor readout resolutions (8K or 5.8K). That can result in wobble or skew if you whip the camera around or film fast-moving objects. However, it’s acceptable for regular handheld shooting.
One complication is Panasonic’s dynamic range expansion (DRE) that boosts video dynamic range by a stop, mostly in an image’s highlights. Enabling that feature makes rolling shutter worse.
Should you need to reduce rolling shutter, you can simply disable DRE without a big hit in quality. And shooting 4K at 60p minimizes rolling shutter so that it’s nearly on par with stacked sensor cameras, while still offering high-quality footage with just a slight crop.
As for video quality, it’s razor sharp and color rendition is accurate and pleasing. Dynamic range is on the high end of cameras I’ve tested at close to 14 stops when shooting with Panasonic’s V-log, allowing excellent shadow and highlight recovery, especially in DRE mode. It’s still very good without DRE though, particularly if you’re not shooting in bright and sunny conditions.
Frame grab from Panasonic S1R II 8K video
Steve Dent for Engadget
Video AF is also strong, keeping even quick-moving subjects in focus. Face, eye, animal and vehicle detection work well, though again, the system isn’t quite as reliable as what I saw on Sony and Canon’s latest models.
The S1R II offers more stabilization options than its rivals, though. Optical stabilization provides good results for handheld video, while electronic stabilization (EIS) smooths things further . Cranking that up to the most aggressive high EIS setting provides gimbal-like smoothness but introduces a significant 1.5x crop.
Along with those, Panasonic introduced something called “cropless” EIS. That setting takes advantage of unused areas of the sensor to correct corner distortion typical with wide angle lenses while also fixing skew. I found it worked very well to reduce rolling shutter even for quick pans and walking, which may help alleviate such concerns for some creators.
So yes, rolling shutter wobble is worse on this camera than rivals like the R5 II. However, there are ways to work around it. If minimal skewing is a critical feature then don’t buy the S1R II, but it shouldn’t be an issue for most users, particularly at this price.
Wrap-up
Steve Dent for Engadget
The S1R II is Panasonic’s best hybrid mirrorless camera to date, offering a great balance of photography and video powers. It’s also the cheapest new camera in the high-resolution hybrid full-frame category, undercutting rivals like Canon’s R5 II and the Nikon Z8.
The main downside is rolling shutter that primarily affects video. As I mentioned, though, it won’t pose a problem for many content creators and there are workarounds. Aside from that, it delivers outstanding photo and video quality while offering innovative features like cropless electronic stabilization.
If you need even more resolution, Sony’s 61MP A7R V offers slightly better image quality. And if rolling shutter is really an issue then I’d recommend Canon’s R5 II (though that model does cost $1,000 more) or the Nikon Z8. Should you want to spend considerably less, the Canon R6 II or even Panasonic’s S5 II or S5 IIx are solid picks. For other hybrid shooters, though, Panasonic’s S1R II is a great choice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/panasonic-s1r-ii-review-an-excellent-hybrid-camera-thats-cheaper-than-rivals-163013065.html?src=rss
A VPN (virtual private network) can help you stay safe online and one of our top picks is currently on sale. A two-year subscription to the ProtonVPN Plus plan is currently $86.16. That’s 64 percent off the usual price. The deal drops the cost from $10 to $3.59 per month, and it reduces the overall price for 24 months by $153.
This plan allows you to use ProtonVPN on up to 10 devices at a time. It should be pretty easy to find a server to route your internet traffic through as well, since ProtonVPN has more than 8,600 of them across north of 110 countries.
ProtonVPN is our pick for the best VPN overall due to a blend of its security, usability and privacy. ProtonVPN has a no-logs policy. That means it doesn’t keep any records of information that passes through its network. In other words, it doesn’t track your internet activity while you’re using it, helping to protect you and your anonymity.
Other features of ProtonVPN Plus include ad-, malware- and tracker-blocking, as well as fast performance. In our testing, ProtonVPN had a minimal impact on connection speeds in our geoblock, streaming and gaming tests. ProtonVPN is also open source, meaning that anyone with enough knowhow can take a look under the hood and validate Proton’s technical claims.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/two-years-of-protonvpn-is-64-percent-off-right-now-152355980.html?src=rss
As TikTok continues to wait for a deal that will secure its future in the United States, the company is embracing a crowd-sourced approach to fact-checking. The service is adding “Footnotes,” a Community Notes-like feature that will allow contributors to add “more context” to videos on the platform.
“Footnotes offers a new opportunity for people to share their expertise and add an additional layer of context to the discussion using a consensus-driven approach,” TikTok’s head of operations and trust and safety Adam Presser wrote in a blog post.
The update, which has apparently been on the company’s roadmap since last year, makes TikTok the latest platform to add a version of the crowd-sourced notes popularized by X. However unlike Meta, which recently began publishing Community Notes on its apps, TikTok’s update isn’t coming with a change to its moderation policies or its fact-checking partnerships. Instead, the company describes the change as a way for users to “add helpful details that may be missing.” Footnotes won’t affect a video’s algorithmic ranking or its ability to appear on the “For You” page.
Presser says that the company will use a “bridge-based ranking system designed to find agreement between people who usually have different opinions, inspired by the open-sourced system that other platforms use.” That’s clearly a reference to X, which created a ranking system that requires contributors to rate each other’s notes before they become publicly visible. Meta has adopted X’s Community Notes algorithm for its own apps. But while TikTok’s approach may be inspired by X, the company plans to use its own algorithm for Footnotes.
It’s not yet clear exactly what Footnotes will look like on TikTok or how prominent they will be. Like Community Notes on X, Footnotes are required to cite a source, whether it’s another TikTok video or a third-party website.
The company is kicking off its experiment by allowing users in the US to sign up to become contributors. Footnotes contributors must be 18 or older with an account at least 6 months old and without a recent history of a Community Guidelines violation. Over the next few months, contributors will be able to start writing notes and rating notes from others. It will be a few months before any Footnotes appear publicly in the US. The company hasn’t indicated when Footnotes may roll out globally.
The change comes at a time when TikTok’s future in the US is still somewhat uncertain. President Donald Trump recently gave the company another 75-day extension to strike a deal that will allow it to remain in the US. Reports indicate that the White House favors a deal involving TikTok’s existing US investors, though it’s unclear how Trump’s tariffs on China have affected the negotiations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-is-adding-footnotes-its-take-on-community-notes-140040044.html?src=rss
If you’ve ever tried to buy a digital photo frame, you likely know the market is full of bad products. Aura’s frames are an exception — they’re well-designed, have great screens, the software is easy to use and there are no subscription upsells. Today, the company is diversifying its lineup with the new Aspen frame, which sits comfortably between the 10-inch Carver frame and 15-inch Walden option.
With an 11.8-inch, 1,600 x 1,200 display, it’s larger and has a significantly higher resolution than the 10.1-inch Carver Mat frame (my current pick for the best digital frame on the market). That display has built-in light sensors to adjust brightness depending on the environment that does a good job of keeping it from feeling like you’re staring at a monitor or tablet — the viewing experience on these frames is definitely more subtle. It also has a removable stand that lets you set the frame up in either portrait or landscape orientation; the Carver Mat’s larger and thicker base means it can only be set up in landscape. Because the stand is removable, the Aspen is much thinner and lighter than I expected.
But its more svelte dimensions don’t come at the expense of structural integrity. I’ve tested a bunch of frames with removable stands so they can be aligned in portrait or landscape, and basically all of them have stands that are flimsy, ugly or both. The Aspen’s stand, on the other hand, feels impressively solid and well-engineered.
The Carver line of frames featured a touch bar for swiping through photographs or adjusting how fast it moves between images. On the Aspen there’s two, so the controls are easily accessible no matter which orientation it’s in. Getting photos onto the Aspen requires using Aura’s app, but it again is probably the best digital photo frame app I’ve used. It’s pretty simple to sync specific images and albums from your phone and you can also add photos by sending them to a specific email address you can set up.
There are a few new software tricks in the app now, too. You can add a text caption to any image you’ve uploaded to the frame that’ll display when the picture comes up, and you can also filter by people on the app now. Aura says that all facial processing is done on-device. The app otherwise integrates easily with Apple / iCloud Photos and Google Photos.
The Aspen is on sale today for $229 and comes in either ink black or clay white; both have a subtly textured white mat surrounding the image. That’s a good bit more than the $179 Carver Mat — but a bigger, higher-resolution screen, smaller footprint and the flexibility of going portrait or landscape may be worth it.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/auras-aspen-digital-photo-frame-features-a-bigger-better-screen-but-itll-cost-you-132728549.html?src=rss
xAI has launched a new interface for its Grok chatbot that could be compared to ChatGPT’s Canvas. The Elon Musk-helmed AI company has introduced the first version of Studio, which can generate documents, code and even browser games on a separate window. If you ask Grok to write an essay for you, for instance, you’ll find text formatting buttons (Bold, Italics and Underline) at the top of the interface. You’ll also find a a drop-down menu with header options and buttons to create bullet and numbered lists.
If you ask Grok to write code for you, you’ll immediately see how it runs on a preview tab that you can switch to on the upper part of the interface. In addition to being able to preview HTML, the chatbot can also run and preview Python, C++, Javascript, Typescript and bash scripts. In addition, the company has added Google Drive support for Grok, which now works with documents, spreadsheets and slides. You can upload a spreadsheet and ask it to use information from the file to prepare a report for you, complete with charts and illustrations, open an essay you want to edit, or slides you’d like to jazz up. Grok Studio is available for all premium and free users. You don’t have to type in a prompt or click anything to activate it, but you’ll have to sign up for an account and sign in before you can access its features.
Code Execution If you ask Grok to generate code, you can quickly see how it runs in a “preview” tab. You can preview HTML snippets, run Python, C++, Javascript, Typescript and bash scripts. pic.twitter.com/HqVMROSl9N
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/xais-grok-launches-studio-interface-for-documents-and-code-123016714.html?src=rss
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