The long-awaited cyberpunk platformer Replaced has been delayed once again. Now it's not coming out until next spring. Developer Sad Cat Studio apologized for the delay and said that this is simply "what's right for the project" and that the team remains dedicated to creating a "truly special experience."

This isn't the first time the game has suffered a delay. It was originally announced back in 2021, with a pending release date of 2022. That didn't happen. In 2024, the company announced a release date of 2025. As today's news indicates, that also isn't going to happen.

Why all of the delays? The company wants a polished finished product, sure, but the real world intervened on its original release plans. The company was based in Belarus before relocating after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was the primary factor behind those earlier delays.

For the uninitiated, Replaced is a nifty-looking sidescrolling platformer that takes inspiration from old-school games like Out of this World (also called Another World) and Flashback. It looks soaked in cyberpunk vibes. Assuming there are no more delays, it'll come out next year for PC and Xbox Series X/S. The trailers have gotten us amped for this one.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pixel-art-cyberpunk-platformer-replaced-delayed-again-this-time-until-spring-2026-182908044.html?src=rss

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© Sad Cat Studio

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI is suing Apple and OpenAI, as reported by Reuters. The suit accuses the companies of illegally conspiring to stop rival AI companies from getting a fair shot on the App Store, alleging they have "locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing."

The complaint suggests that Apple and OpenAI have been conspiring to suppress xAI's products on the App Store. "If not for its exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the X app and the Grok app in its App Store," xAI told Reuters.

Apple has integrated OpenAI's ChatGPT into several of its products, but it remains to be seen if that has translated to any anticompetitive practices. It's worth noting that rival AI apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity have both spent time on the top of App Store charts since this partnership began, according to CNBC.

This lawsuit comes after Musk threatened legal action a couple of weeks back after making similar accusations regarding Apple and OpenAI. Apple has yet to respond to the complaint but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk's original allegation by calling it "a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like." 

Altman is likely referencing various studies that indicate Musk made huge changes to the X algorithm to favor his personal posts and posts by conservative commentators. He has also threatened to "fix" the Community Notes feature on X, which is a crowdsourced fact-checking tool. OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood told The Verge that today's lawsuit "is consistent with Mr. Musk's ongoing pattern of harassment." 

xAI also brought this lawsuit to the Northern District of Texas Fort Worth Division, which is a notoriously conservative arm of the federal court. This is where Musk typically steers his various lawsuits, in a practice some refer to as "judge shopping."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musk-and-xai-are-suing-apple-and-openai-because-grok-isnt-topping-the-app-charts-170020376.html?src=rss

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The Ooni Labor Day sale is here, bringing deep discounts to all kinds of pizza ovens and aspiring pizzaiolo accessories. One of the highlights of the sale is the Volt 12 pizza oven, which is 30 percent off and down to $629. Ooni also discounted the Volt's cover as well, so you can pick on up for only $49 along with the oven itself.

The Volt 12 is an electric pizza oven that operates indoors, a first for the company. We praised the unit in our official review, saying that it "works just as well" as the company's indoor models. It preheats quickly and the interior is spacious. It can hit 850 degrees, which cooks a pizza in 90 seconds.

The oven also requires little-to-no supervision during use. It's pretty much a set it and forget it type appliance. This operates in stark contrast with the company's outdoor models, which demands that folks pay attention to the fire during use.

The Volt 12 made our list of the best pizza ovens, and it's absolutely the finest indoor model available right now. The only major downside is the price. It's tough to recommend any indoor kitchen doodad at $900, but it's easier to do so at $629.

This isn't the only interesting item on sale right now at Ooni. The company's selling the Koda 2 Max outdoor pizza oven for $1,039, which is a discount of $270. This extra-large gas-powered oven can handle multiple pizzas at once.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ooni-labor-day-sale-get-30-percent-off-the-volt-12-pizza-oven-150908698.html?src=rss

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© Billy Steele for Engadget

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just announced an investigation into Tesla regarding its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems, according to a report by Electrek. The road safety regulator says the probe involves inconsistencies with how the company reports crashes regarding the aforementioned systems.

The NHTSA requires automakers to report crashes involving autonomous and driver assistance systems within five days of being notified of them. The agency claims that Tesla has sometimes waited months to report these crashes. It's worth remembering that the company's vehicles are outfitted with technology that automatically records and sends out data regarding a collision within minutes of an accident.

Tesla has acknowledged the issue but says this is all due to an error in its systems, which has since been fixed. However, the agency will continue the investigation, citing that it will "assess whether any reports of prior incidents remain outstanding and whether the reports that were submitted include all of the required and available data."

The NHTSA has good reason to not accept Tesla's explanation at face value. It currently has other open investigations into the company. There's one involving its remote parking feature that has allegedly caused a number of crashes and another looking into the efficacy of a recent software fix that followed a massive recall.

NHTSA

Tesla also recently lost a wrongful death case involving an Autopilot crash in which it was revealed in testimony that the company lied and misled police and plaintiffs to hide pertinent data. The company leads other auto manufacturers by a country mile when it comes to crashes involving driver assistance systems. Tesla vehicles were involved in the vast majority of total incidents reported to the NHTSA from 2021 to 2024. That translates to over 2,300 crashes, compared to 55 for second-place GM.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/feds-investigate-tesla-over-inaccurate-autopilot-and-fsd-crash-reports-175837772.html?src=rss

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© Unsplash/Gábor Szlonkai

Apple is once again raising the price of its streaming service. Apple TV+ is shooting up to $13 per month, from $10 per month. This is effective immediately.

Current subscribers will see the price change 30 days after the next renewal date. There's one spot of good news here. The pricing for the yearly subscription remains unchanged, as does the cost of an Apple One bundle.

Many platforms start cheap before slowly turning the heat up, using the drug dealer method of salesmanship. However, Apple really did a speed run here. The platform isn't very old and cost $7 per month as recently as 2023. Now it's nearly twice that amount. In a recent earnings call, the company said that overall Apple TV+ viewership rose "strong double digits year over year."

The platform has been generating mainstream buzz. Severance has proven to be a gigantic hit and The Studio scooped up plenty of Emmy nominations this year. The platform's also a sci-fi powerhouse, releasing shows like For All Mankind, Invasion, Foundation, Murderbot, Silo and Dark Matter, among others.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/apple-tv-subscriptions-just-rose-to-13-a-month-150516370.html?src=rss

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The last thing anyone wants at the end of a long day is to look down at their phone and see its battery almost dead. One way to avoid that is to keep a compact power bank on you at all times, and it's arguably easiest to do that with one like Anker's 621 MagGo portable battery. This sleek, 5K magnetic brick attaches to the back of your iPhone to power it up, even while you're still using it. Now, it's on sale for 30 percent off — you can pick up any of five coloways for only $28 a pop.

This particular model didn't make our list of the best power banks, but plenty of other Anker products did. The 621 MagGo is equipped with magnets that attach to the back of certain iPhone models, which makes it easy to charge up the handset while still using it. The 5,000 mAh device can juice up the latest flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max to around 60 percent when fully charged.

This is a thin and light device, so it's perfect for pockets, purses, backpacks and just about anywhere else. It charges up via an included USB-C cable.

As a warning, the Anker 621 MagGo requires a magnetic connection via the smartphone itself or a magnetic case. It won't work with non-magnetic cases. It also runs a bit hot, reaching internal temperatures of up to 118 F, which could be something to keep an eye on during use.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-anker-5k-magnetic-power-bank-is-on-sale-for-only-28-161505856.html?src=rss

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The second season of Prime Video's Fallout is coming this December and the marketing machine is just starting to ramp up. The streamer has released some light plot details and, more importantly, several cool images. Two of these photos reference the franchise's iconic New Vegas location, which was teased at the end of the first season.

Prime Video says that season two will take "audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas." However, we still don't know if the show's depiction will be franchise accurate. The released images show Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins) touring the actual Las Vegas in the before times, long before becoming the Ghoul.

Prime Video

However, one picture does show the Lucky 38 casino, which is extremely important to fans of the games. The remaining images catch up with other major players from season one. There's one of Lucy (Ella Purnell) butting heads with the Ghoul and another showing Maximus (Aaron Moten) back with the Brotherhood of Steel after the events of the season finale.

Prime Video

We don't have a trailer yet, but that should be coming soon. December is just a few months away. The Fallout TV show has proven to be a huge hit, both with fans and critics. Prime Video has already renewed it for a third season.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/first-images-from-fallout-season-2-tease-new-vegas-182528357.html?src=rss

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Substack now lets users subscribe to any paid publication via an in-app purchase from the official iOS app. The news comes after the company tested the feature with 30,000 creators.

This makes subscribing to something a much speedier affair, with the entire process taking just a few taps on the old smartphone screen. Prior to this, it wasn't always possible to upgrade to a paid subscription directly in the app.

Substack

However, there's a fairly major caveat. It's likely that subscriptions paid for by in-app purchases will be more expensive than usual. That's to accommodate Apple's cut of the revenue. Substack says it "automatically sets" iOS app prices higher so creators take home approximately the same amount. These creators can dive into the settings to lower the price.

There's another way to subscribe to your favorite Substack creators without burning too much time. Apple now allows iOS apps in the US to include external payment links, which stems from a legal ruling following a lawsuit from Epic Games. This isn't quite as speedy as an iOS sub, but the prices are right.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/substack-turns-on-ios-in-app-payment-option-for-all-paid-newsletters-172237507.html?src=rss

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We have some great news for fans of rhythm games. Ratatan hits Steam early access on September 19. This is a spiritual successor to one of the most renowned rhythm games of all time, Patapon. The designer behind the original game, Hiroyuki Kotani, is involved. 

The mechanics here are similar to Patapon and its sequels, but look to be more elaborate. The game tasks players with rhythmically controlling cute little soldiers called Cobuns, but directing these warriors while avoiding damage is easier said than done. We said it felt like "the gaming equivalent of patting your head and rubbing your stomach."

The developer also announced some new features coming to the game. It revealed two new worlds, including a jungle and a garden that's been frozen over, along with new soldier and weapon types. This is 2025, so the game also features a roguelike element, as players can encounter unique power-ups and buffs during each run.

There's still a lot we don't know about this title, including the price and when it'll eventually come to gaming consoles. The developer has a livestream planned for September 14 hosted by voice actor Tomokazu Sugita. The stream "will feature the latest updates, our post-launch roadmap and information on upcoming events."

Patapon originally came out all the way back in 2007 for the PSP. It was followed by a handful of sequels, all originally for Sony's first portable console. The first two games have been ported to other consoles, including the Switch and PS5.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/ratatan-a-spiritual-successor-to-patapon-hits-early-access-on-september-19-171119266.html?src=rss

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Solos is teaming up with Envision, a company that makes assistive technology for the blind and low-vision community, to add an AI called Ally to its AirGo smart glasses platform. This chatbot was designed for those with vision issues. The companies say this integration creates a "first-of-its-kind, hands-free, voice-activated wearable."

Solos says the specs can perform a number of tasks that should make life easier for the low-vision community, including recognizing and reading text in real time, describing scenes, recognizing faces and more.

Just by speaking, users can ask the glasses to scan documents or photos for context, answer questions, check calendars and converse naturally about just about anything. The companies say that Ally remembers context across conversations.

Solos says that the innovative nature of the glasses should make them useful for lots of folks, low-vision or not. This includes the elderly, people with cognitive disabilities and "anyone overwhelmed by modern devices but curious about what AI can do."

The Ally-equipped AirGo glasses support prescription lenses, which is great, and include a directional speaker system. These smart glasses also include a modular component, as users can swap out different frame fronts to change up the look.

Preorders are open right now, with shipments beginning in October. Prices start at $399. All purchases come with a free trial for Ally Pro, which adds more customization and functionality to the AI.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/solos-is-equipping-its-smart-glasses-with-an-ai-for-the-blind-and-low-vision-community-130009539.html?src=rss

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Sony just announced some new additions to the PS Plus Game Catalog for August and it's a pretty beefy lineup. All of these titles will be ready to play on August 19. There's something here for just about everyone, so let's get started.

Perhaps the biggest game of the bunch is Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered. This is the PS5 port of the PS4 hit, which upgrades the graphics and swaps out the actor playing Peter Parker. PS4 owners aren't being left out in the cold here, as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition will also be available.

Not into web-slinging? Mortal Kombat 1 will be available for PS5 players. This is the latest and greatest fighting game in the long-running franchise. It garnered positive reviews upon launch back in 2023. The graphics are stunning and there's a Johnny Cage skin made to resemble actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The fantasy surfing adventure Sword of the Sea will be available for subscribers as a day one release on August 19. That's the same day it launches for all platforms. This one's by the same developers behind Journey and Abzû, so color us excited.

Other games available on August 19 include the utterly charming narrative adventure Harold Halibut and the horrifically captivating Indika. Beyond that, there's the life sim Coral Island and the RPG Atelier Ryza 3 Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/spider-man-and-mortal-kombat-1-head-up-augusts-ps-plus-game-catalog-additions-172758798.html?src=rss

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Riot is making a major change to League of Legends after 16 years. It's adding the option to move around by using WASD controls instead of relying on a mouse to point and click, according to a video detailing the upcoming change.

Paul Bellezza, an executive producer on the game, says this is an attempt to attract new players. "We found that a lot of new or returning players struggle a lot with League's controls early on," he said. "Click to move just isn't the sort of control scheme they're used to, and it puts a lot of people off including many that we believe would otherwise really love the game."

The company says it's "working hard to ensure that both control schemes feel great across all ranks, champions and modes." One of the producers behind the new feature says it won't be "changing what makes League, League," which should assuage the worries of long-time players. The company is also not shy about reversing course if something doesn't work.

Riot has been testing the control scheme for some time to fine-tune the option. It'll be arriving as a public beta in the near future, sometime in "the next few patches." The devs say the feature will stay in beta so the team can "catch any bugs, unintended interactions and to ensure that your ranked games aren't disrupted by someone WASDing into walls."

It's smart for the team to take the slow approach here to make sure that both control schemes are fairly balanced. This also makes me wonder if the introduction of WASD controls signals a forthcoming release on home consoles.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/riot-is-trying-to-make-lol-more-accessible-by-adding-wasd-controls-170549596.html?src=rss

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© Riot Games

Apple's AirPods could be getting a live translation feature in the near future as part of iOS 26, according to a report by 9to5Mac. A new beta version of the operating system dropped today and users have spotted a system asset that strongly points to the earbuds getting a language translation tool.

The asset appears to depict a gesture that's triggered by pressing both earbud stems at once. The image shows a pair of AirPods surrounded by words in various languages, like English, French, German and Portuguese.

This tracks for a couple of reasons. Apple announced a Live Translation tool at WWDC25, but AirPods weren't mentioned as a potential use case scenario. This feels like a natural extension for the feature that we already know is coming to FaceTime, Messages and phone calls. However, the AirPods software will be used for live in-person conversations. 

Also, this isn't the first time we've heard rumblings that the software would be coming to Apple's line of earbuds. Bloomberg announced it was likely coming back in March, which was well before WWDC. Wearables are the perfect place for any kind of live translation software and we've already seen it pop up in stuff like the Meta Ray-Bans smart glasses.

There are still some unknowns. We don't know if the feature will run entirely on the actual earbuds or if it'll require an iPhone. The latter is likely, given that it seems tied to iOS 26. We also don't know which iPhones will support the software, though it'll likely be on models that offer Apple Intelligence. Apple iOS 26 is due next month, so we don't have that long to wait.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-rumored-live-translation-feature-for-airpods-could-be-coming-with-ios-26-152715034.html?src=rss

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© Billy Steele for Engadget

Revel Transit is shutting down its rideshare operation in NYC, as reported by Bloomberg. The company will instead focus its efforts on EV charging. It's also seeking buyers for its fleet, including the 165 for-hire vehicle license plates it owns.

"At the end of the day, rideshare is a very competitive market and asset-heavy. It’s low margin," CEO Frank Reig said. “We have made the difficult decision that the best way we can keep the EV transition moving forward is by ending our rideshare service and focusing on building the fast-charging infrastructure our biggest cities need to keep going electric.”

The company was the first in NYC to operate an all-electric ridehailing fleet, launching with just 50 vehicles but eventually growing to 500 vehicles. However, that's a drip in the bucket compared to rivals like Uber and Lyft. Revel averages about 100,000 rides per month, but Uber and Lyft complete more than 20 million trips each month.

Revel did find success with its EV chargers, after unveiling the platform back in 2021. It operates more than 100 chargers across five stations in NYC, along with a dozen or so more chargers in San Francisco. These stations are primarily used by Uber and Lyft drivers. It hopes to have 400 charging stalls by the end of next year and 2,000 by 2030 in markets like NYC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

“Uber and Lyft are electrifying fast and they’re providing a ton of utilization for our chargers on a much larger scale than even two or three years ago," Reig said.

This is just the latest pivot by Revel. The company once operated a moped rental service, but that was shuttered last year. It also laid off drivers to transition to a contractor-based model like Uber and Lyft.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/revel-is-ending-its-ridesharing-operation-to-focus-on-ev-charging-181814989.html?src=rss

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© Revel

Paramount just acquired the US rights to UFC for seven years in a deal worth $7.7 billion dollars, according to reporting by NBC News. This contract begins in 2026 and covers the organization's full slate of 13 marquee bouts and 30 Fight Night events per year. All matches and events will stream in the US on Paramount+ and select fights will simulcast on CBS.

This ends the pay-per-view (PPV) model that ESPN+ has favored for premium UFC events. "What’s on pay-per-view anymore? Boxing? Movies on DirecTV? It’s an outdated, antiquated model," said Mark Shapiro, president of UFC's parent company TKO Group. Matches take place throughout the year, which isn't true of other sports. This should keep the UFC's massive fanbase tethered to that Paramount+ subscription.

This happened just a few days after Skydance Media officially acquired Paramount and its subsidiaries for $8 billion. It's fairly wild that Skydance paid $8 billion to own Paramount and its various IPs in perpetuity and $7.7 billion to air UFC fights in one country for seven years.

“UFC is a unicorn asset that comes up about once a decade,” said TKO Group CEO David Ellison. Paramount is also interested in purchasing the international rights to air UFC matches and it's being given an exclusive negotiation window with each country to do just that.

It's been reported that Paramount likely placated Trump in several ways to ensure the FCC approved the acquisition. The company coughed up $16 million to settle a "frivolous and dangerous" lawsuit with Trump after 60 Minutes interviewed Kamala Harris and cut an answer for time, which is something televised interviews have always done. Paramount will allocate that money to Trump's future presidential library and did not provide a "statement of apology or regret."

CBS, which is owned by Paramount, also canceled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which was seen by many as a move to pacify Trump. The president denies this, saying the cancellation was due to a "pure lack of talent."

Paramount has promised to end all US-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and to hire a bias monitor for CBS News to make sure that conservative voices aren't drowned out by the constant drumbeat of reality. Trump has also publicly stated that CBS will be giving him $20 million worth of airtime for public service announcements consistent with his ideological beliefs.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/paramount-buys-ufc-rights-for-77-billion-ending-ppv-events-161512875.html?src=rss

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Nintendo just announced a forthcoming app called Hello Mario! that's headed to iOS, Android and the Switch in Japan. The free app seems pretty basic, as it's just a giant Mario head that users can poke and prod. That sounds eerily reminiscent of the intro screen of Super Mario 64.

The company says that Mario will react in various ways based on player input. His face will even turn "around and around on the screen" when manhandled. Nintendo says "parents and young children" should play together to "enjoy each reaction they see."

The app rolls out on August 26, but we don't know if it'll be released outside of Japan. We reached out to Nintendo for information on a global launch.

Beyond the app, Nintendo is releasing a bunch of new Mario-themed products for kids. These include plush toys, teething toys, dinnerware, clothing and an interactive board book that also features Mario's mustached face. The highlight of this collection is likely a pair of wooden block sets that include Amiibo functionality.

Nintendo

These products will be available in Nintendo's Japan-based stores on August 26. A report by Video Games Chronicle has indicated that they will be available in other regions next year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/nintendos-upcoming-app-lets-kids-smoosh-marios-face-170150258.html?src=rss

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© Nintendo

The Google Finance web app is getting a major overhaul with an emphasis on AI. This redesign includes an AI-powered chatbot, which will answer finance-based queries and provide relevant links. Here's hoping the chatbot will keep hallucinations to a minimum, given that people use the app to make financial decisions with real world consequences.

The platform is also introducing new charting tools that the company says should help users understand asset performance. There will be options to view technical indicators and candlestick charts.

Google boasts that the app will soon feature a broader range of market data. This includes an increased emphasis on cryptocurrencies. The app will also display an "up-to-the-minute" live news feed, which should be a decent resource for tracking market fluctuations.

However, not everyone wants to use a chatbot to make major financial decisions. The update includes a toggle that reverts everything back to the traditional Google Finance design. It begins rolling out to US customers in the coming weeks. 

This is just the latest app in Google's roster that is getting stuffed to the gills with AI. We all know about Gemini's hold on search, but the company's various productivity apps like Docs and Sheets have all gotten AI tools to some degree. The same goes for the Discover feature of the Google app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-finance-redesign-goes-all-in-on-ai-complete-with-a-chatbot-151923704.html?src=rss

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The Fitbit Charge 6 fitness tracker is $50 off right now via Wellbots, bringing the price down to just $110. All you have to do is enter the code ENGADFIT50 at checkout.

This little device actually topped our list of the best fitness trackers, so now is a good time to pick one up. The battery life is fantastic, lasting around seven days on a charge, and it features built-in GPS. The heart rate monitor is extremely accurate, especially when compared to rival units.

It also tracks ECG, SpO2, skin temperature, stress and sleep. The Charge 6 integrates with Google Maps, Fitbit Pay and Google Wallet. The full-color AMOLED display and thin design gives the whole thing a luxe feel.

On the downside, some elements of the device are locked behind a Fitbit Premium paywall and there's no Apple Health integration. It does, however, work fine with both iOS and Android smartphones.

If the $110 price tag is a bit rich for your blood, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is also on sale. This one is down $20, making the price $76. Just enter the code ENGADFIT20 at checkout.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-the-fitbit-charge-6-fitness-tracker-while-its-50-off-130041372.html?src=rss

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Another major streaming platform is set to crack down on password sharing. JB Perrette, head of streaming and gaming at Warner Bros. Discovery, just told investors that HBO Max will begin an "aggressive" messaging campaign about the practice beginning next month, according to an earnings report.

Beyond stricter messaging, the company is looking to close any and all loopholes that allow users to share account passwords by the end of the year. Perette said the company has been testing to determine “who’s a legitimate user who may not be a legitimate user." 

“The message language right now has been a fairly soft, cancelable message,” he said. It will “start to get more fixed and such that people have to take action as opposed to right now sort of having to be a voluntary process.”

The company hopes that these actions will reap financial rewards, with Perette saying that “the real benefit will start probably in the fourth quarter and then kick in in 2026.” This isn't a desperation move. HBO Max has actually been doing pretty well, despite consistent name changes, as it added 3.4 million new subscribers this quarter.

HBO Max is just the latest streamer to put the kibosh on password sharing. Netflix ended the practice back in 2023 and Disney+ performed its own crack down on the practice last year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/hbo-max-plans-aggressive-crack-down-on-password-sharing-starting-next-month-164357329.html?src=rss

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© Warner Bros. Discovery

The latest Apple iPad mini, which was released at the tail-end of 2024, is on sale for $399 via Amazon. That's a discount of $100 and close to a record low price. The only caveat? The deal doesn't apply to the iconic Space Gray colorway, but all other hues are on sale.

The iPad mini 7 made our list of the best Apple tablets because, well, it's the only one the company makes at this size. However, the specs haven't been hobbled here. It's a real iPad, through and through. We said it was everything we want in a small tablet in our official review, and that holds true today.

The tablet supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the integrated A17 Pro chip is plenty powerful. It's not an M-series chip, but you probably won't notice. The entry-level model, which is the one on sale today, ships with 128GB of storage. It's also small and can therefore fit just about anywhere.

On the downside, we found the bezels to be a bit thick. We were also a bit disappointed with the 60Hz refresh rate, though the display does look great. This model lacks a Face ID sensor, but that suits me just fine. I prefer fingerprint scans or passcodes.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-latest-ipad-mini-is-100-off-right-now-151127280.html?src=rss

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© Nathan Ingraham for Engadget