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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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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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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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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Microsoft revealed that it was working on an AI chatbot specifically for gamers back in March, and now it's here for a test drive. The beta version of Gaming Copilot is available to Xbox Insiders on PC via the Game Bar functionality. It's also available to try on Windows-based handheld gaming devices, but the company says the functionality there is currently limited. A variant of this tool recently launched as a beta for mobile.

This is kind of like an AI version of those old Nintendo phone help lines. The chat box appears as an overlay on the screen and players can use it to ask questions about the game they're playing. Microsoft says this tool has been designed to help players traverse obstacles and that it "knows what you're playing and understands your Xbox activity." The system uses in-game screenshots to make sure it's providing useful advice.

With that in mind, Gaming Copilot can also offer suggestions about new games to buy and answer questions about system accounts. It allows for text-based and voice-based queries, assuming a microphone is connected.

Microsoft says it'll be adding more features in the future, including "richer game assistance such as proactive coaching." The beta build of Gaming Copilot is only available in English at the moment, though it can be used in various regions including the US, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/you-can-now-try-microsofts-gaming-copilot-ai-assistant-on-pc-184853884.html?src=rss

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Dyson is hosting a week-long sale on many notable products. This includes the well-regarded Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum for $300 off, bringing the price down to $700. This is the best discount we've seen on this particular model.

The Vis Nav made our list of the best robot vacuums. This was primarily based on the item's superior suction power, especially when compared to rival units. We said it had the strongest suction power of any robovac we've tested and made short work out of dog hair stuck to carpeted floors. We noted that the suction power is on par with the company's stick vacuums in our official review.

The unit also boasts a fantastic obstacle avoidance system, thus the 360 in the name. Cameras and LED lights help the vacuum navigate around things like furniture. It doesn't fully avoid crashing into a chair leg once in a while, but we found that this happened rarely. We also never got any alerts that the robot got stuck somewhere while working.

The bin here is on the larger side, but this unit is missing some key features found with other pricey robot vacuums. This is a really good vacuum and nothing else. It's not a hybrid unit, so there's no mopping functionality. It also lacks a self-emptying base.

Dyson is also selling the V8 Absolute stick vacuum for $360, which is a discount of $160. The 15s Detect Submarine Absolute wet and dry vacuum is on sale for $800, which represents $200 in savings. This week's sale also includes stuff like hair dryers and air purifiers.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/dyson-week-deals-include-the-360-vis-nav-robot-vacuum-for-300-off-183002169.html?src=rss

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© Valentina Palladino for Engadget

Instagram just announced an update with some long-requested features. The most notable is the introduction of a location-sharing tool for friends, though the long-awaited reposting tool is nothing ot sneeze at, either. Once opted into, the map shares a user's last active location with chosen contacts. The location sharing feature is turned off until selected and there are numerous customization controls.

For instance, Instagram users can choose to share location data with all friends, Close Friends, selected accounts or nobody at all. This data can be restricted when at certain locations or when with specific people.

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It sounds and looks a whole lot like Snapchat's Snap Map, just without the cute emoji animations. This isn't the first time Meta's Instagram has looked toward Snapchat for inspiration. The platform introduced Snapchat-like tags for adding friends and a Stories slideshow carousel that was nearly identical to the one found on Snapchat.

Instagram's update, however, brings more than just location sharing. The platform has finally introduced reposts, which it first teased all the way back in 2022 and then again earlier this year. This lets people repost public Reels and feed posts. These reposts will be recommended to friends and followers and they're housed in a separate profile tab. Reposts are also automatically credited to the original poster, though users can add personalized notes.

Finally, Instagram is rolling out a new Friends tab in Reels. This lets people see public content that friends have interacted with. Meta began experimenting with this feature earlier this year, but now it's launching globally. I have no interest in knowing what my friends are looking at unless they specifically share something, but maybe that's just me.

These tools are rolling out today and should be available to most users right now. Just check the app for an update.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/instagram-adds-a-new-friends-map-feature-that-sure-looks-a-lot-like-the-snap-map-170811567.html?src=rss

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Israel has allegedly been recording and storing millions of phone calls made by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as part of a large surveillance effort dating back to 2022, according to reporting by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Local Call. The report suggests that the country has been shuttling these recordings to Microsoft Azure cloud servers.

Company CEO Satya Nadella allegedly okayed the effort personally after meeting with a commander from Israel’s military surveillance agency, Unit 8200. He reportedly gave the country a customized and segregated area within the Azure platform to store millions of phone calls made each day without knowledge or consent from Palestinians.

According to sources within Unit 8200, these recordings have assisted in the preparation of deadly airstrikes and helped shape military operations throughout the region. Israel has long been intercepting calls in the occupied territories, as it basically controls the entire Palestinian telecommunications infrastructure.

This new method, however, reportedly captures the conversations of a large pool of regular civilians. The mantra when building out the project was to record "a million calls an hour." Leaked Microsoft files suggest that the lion's share of this data is being stored in Azure facilities in the Netherlands and Ireland.

Microsoft has been facing increased scrutiny regarding its role in Israel's 22-month offensive in Gaza. CEO Nadella was interrupted by an employee at a keynote speech in May, with the worker pleading for the executive to "show how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure."

Earlier this year, the company commissioned an external review that "found no evidence to date” that Azure or its AI products were "used to target or harm people" in the territory. Today's reporting suggests otherwise. Unit 8200 sources indicate that intelligence drawn from this data was used to identify bombing targets. Microsoft says it has "no information" about the kind of data stored by Israel on its servers.

“At no time during this engagement,” a company representative added, “has Microsoft been aware of the surveillance of civilians or collection of their cellphone conversations using Microsoft’s services, including through the external review it commissioned.” Sources say that usage of the surveillance system increased during the campaign in Gaza. So far, 60,000 people in the territory have been killed, including over 18,000 children.

Microsoft isn't the only company that has been accused of assisting Israel in what many are calling a genocide in Gaza. A report recently found that Google employees have repeatedly worked with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s Defense Ministry (IDM) to expand the government's access to AI tools.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/israel-is-reportedly-storing-millions-of-palestinian-phone-calls-on-microsoft-servers-161127912.html?src=rss

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AI startup Eleven Labs just announced a service called Eleven Music, which generates fake songs that are cleared for commercial use. It's a prompt-based affair, so it can create just about anything users dream up. 

The songs can feature vocals and lyrics. The Washington Post gave examples of prompts like "a smooth jazz song with a ‘60s vibe and powerful lyrics, but relaxing for a Friday afternoon." The service reportedly only takes a few minutes to generate music.

The company has been quietly testing the platform for some time, with WSJ indicating it has given 20 of its customers access to the model and that they've used it to make stuff for films, TV shows, video games and apps. ElevenLabs hasn't specified who the 20 customers are, likely because people get angry about AI slop.

As for training, the company has inked deals with two digital rights agencies for smaller music labels called Merlin Network and Kobalt Music Group. ElevenLabs co-founder and CEO Mati Staniszewski says he's aiming to get major labels on board. He also says that "the model is strictly created on data that we have access to." This is good news for the company, as other music-generation platforms like Suno and Udio have been sued for alleged use of copyrighted works.

AI-generated music is having something of a moment right now. The "band" Velvet Sundown is completely made up and managed to amass millions of listens on Spotify. It remains to be seen how much of that interest was based on actual fandom or morbid curiosity.

ElevenLabs is primarily known for its voice-generation technology. It created a news app that reads stories to consumers with AI-generated voices based on celebrities like Judy Garland and James Dean. One of its tools was used to emulate Joe Biden's voice in robocalls urging voters not to participate in a primary. It's also been used to create deepfakes for other celebrities.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elevenlabs-launches-its-own-royalty-free-ai-music-service-183033630.html?src=rss

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Google has an event lined up for August 20 and has promised to reveal "new Pixel phones, watches, buds" and more. However, rumors have been swirling that the company won't have many of these products ready to go after being unveiled.

Winfuture has reported that the Pixel Watch 4, Fold Pro 10 and Buds 2a will be announced at the Made by Google event, but won't be available until October. The Pixel 10 line of smartphones will reportedly be available on August 28, which is just around a week after the announcement.

The holdup for the other products is reportedly due to supply chain issues, according to sources who spoke to Winfuture. Google hasn't confirmed this delay. As a matter of fact, the company hasn't even officially confirmed that the products in question exist. That's what the Made by Google event is for.

There have been plenty of leaks, so we likely know what's coming and some specs. The splashy Pixel 10 Pro Fold reportedly features a new display and hinge, which could account for the supply chain delay. The Pixel Watch 4 reportedly includes new internal hardware and a modified charging system which both could be contributing to the delay.

We'll just have to wait for August 20. This isn't a streaming event, so follow along with our liveblog of the entire proceedings.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/googles-pixel-watch-4-fold-pro-10-and-buds-2a-are-rumored-to-launch-later-than-the-rest-of-its-new-gear-165020931.html?src=rss

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© Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Roku just revealed a new ad-free streaming service called Howdy. The service costs $3 per month, making it an enticing prospect for budget-conscious viewers. The company says this isn't an introductory price and should be permanent.

Howdy will stream a whole bunch of content, but it's mostly pre-existing movies and shows. The company has inked deals with Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate and other providers, so the platform will host movies like Elvis and Mad Max: Fury Road and shows like Weeds and Party Down. It'll also be home to Roku Originals, like the stellar Weird Al "biopic."

Company founder and CEO Anthony Wood spoke to Deadline and called Howdy "a response to the reality that many consumers are interested in a service that is ad-free and low-cost." He may be right. Consumers are likely to flock to something that's $3 a month, especially when the other streamers keep raising prices and stuffing ads everywhere.

This isn't Roku's only recent foray into the world of paid streaming, after years of relying on free, ad-supported television (FAST) channels. The company acquired the service Frdnly, which streams live TV from a number of noteworthy cable channels. Prices for this platform range from $7 to $10 per month.

Howdy will be available later today on Roku devices. The company promises a "rollout on mobile and additional platforms in the near future."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rokus-new-howdy-service-offers-ad-free-streaming-for-3-per-month-151550247.html?src=rss

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The HORI Piranha Plant camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 is on sale for just $40, which is a discount of $20 and a record-low price. This is a great deal for those who own a Switch 2 and want to take advantage of the camera functionality in games like Mario Kart World and that recently-released campfire sim.

This was designed specifically for Nintendo's new console, so it's a plug-and-play affair. It's actually cheaper than the official Switch 2 camera with this sale and it looks a whole lot cooler. It's a Piranha Plant from the Mario franchise. We called it a "work of art" upon encountering the device and that holds true today.

This thing is not only stylish, resembling an Amiibo more than a camera, but it's downright useful. The pot the Piranha Plant sits in functions as both a stand and USB extension for the device. The plant itself detaches from the pot, so the camera can be used in portable mode by popping it into the USB port at the top of the console.

There's also a built-in privacy shutter. Just close the plant's mouth to obscure the lens. The actual camera specs here aren't going to win any awards, with a frame rate of 30FPS and a resolution of 640 x 480p. However, that's more than enough to capture footage of your floating head to accompany your kart as it races through the Mushroom Kingdom.

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-hori-piranha-plant-camera-for-switch-2-is-33-percent-off-right-now-145031796.html?src=rss

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Elon Musk recently announced that he's bringing back the Vine archives, after teasing the return of the social platform over the last week or so. The X owner says that the company recently discovered the entire video archive of the once-popular short-form video app and is working to restore user access. Twitter bought Vine all the way back in 2012.

Musk says that X users will be able to post these Vines, but it's just an archive. In other words, this doesn't sound like a renaissance for the actual platform.

It remains unclear as to what Musk's intentions are for the brand, but the announcement about the returning archive was accompanied by an ad for the Grok Imagine video-creation platform. He called the service the "AI Vine." Why expand energy to make short-form content when you can type some words into a prompting field?

There's also the Musk of it all. He doesn't have the best track record when it comes to delivering on promises. We'll just have to wait and see if the Vine video archive actually returns and what happens after that.

For the uninitiated, Vine was sort of like TikTok before TikTok. It was a platform for 6-second looping videos. The app was extremely popular for a while, but Twitter never really capitalized on that after its $30 million purchase. It was shut down in 2016, which ended uploads, and was completely discontinued in 2017.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/elon-musk-says-the-vine-archive-is-coming-back-180935178.html?src=rss

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Spotify is raising prices for many international customers. The company just said that Premium subscribers throughout the world will be receiving an email within the next month that outlines the increase.

It hasn't announced which countries will be impacted, but did say that the areas include South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. That's most of the world.

The company didn't provide specific details regarding the price increase, but did post a sample email in a blog post that showed an uptick of around $1 per month. The email notes an increase from €10.99 to €11.99 in an unspecified country. In American dollars, the new cost shakes out to around $13.90. The price for American consumers is still $12 per month.

Spotify

Spotify announced this news after a disappointing earnings report in which it missed revenue expectations. This caused the stock to drop by 11 percent and for CEO Daniel Ek to announce that he's "unhappy" with the company's current performance.

The Verge scoured the Internet Archive and found that some countries have already experienced a recent price increase. The new subscription cost has already been applied to users in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Ek has been branching away from the music and podcast streaming business in recent months. He recently led a $694 million investment in a defense startup called Helsing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/spotify-is-raising-prices-for-international-customers-162540129.html?src=rss

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Employees at Raven Software, known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise, finally have a union contract with Microsoft. This happened nearly years after quality assurance (QA) workers at the company voted to unionize.

Workers voted unanimously to ratify the first contract between the company's Game Workers Alliance-CWA (GWA-CWA) members and Microsoft. This contract includes a guaranteed 10-percent wage increase over two years, along with additional raises through "merit and promotions."

It also eliminates crunch time, with a requirement to give employees seven days' notice for mandatory overtime. There will be no excessive overtime on back-to-back weeks and "no mandatory overtime of any duration for the majority of weeks in a quarter."

The contract also mandates a "fair promotions process" along with expanded disability accommodations. Finally, there are a spate of layoff protections, including severance, recall rights, COBRA subsidies and career transition services.

As previously stated, these workers voted to unionize three years ago. At the time, it was the first union at Activision Blizzard or any major US publisher. This was before Microsoft scooped up Activision.

The past three years have been fraught for Raven's QA workers. An investigation found that Activision had been withholding raises from unionizing workers and the company's top brass were accused of "bad faith bargaining." Workers at ZeniMax, another company owned by Microsoft, secured a contract in June.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/raven-software-gets-its-union-contract-with-microsoft-three-years-after-voting-to-organize-150133353.html?src=rss

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