Top headlines from Engadget, the internet's original tech blog.

The Pinterest Assistant can make recommendations based on the items you've saved and the boards you've made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-A number of US government agencies are backing a potential move by the Commerce Department to ban TP-Link routers, according to The Washington Post. Multiple sources familiar with internal deliberations spoke with the publication on the condition of anonymity, including a former senior Defense Department official. -Donald Trump and China's leader, Xi Jinping, have agreed to a one-year pause on the punitive Trump-instated tariffs that are at the heart of the ongoing trade war between the two superpowers. -Immersive productivity for Windows 11 is now available on the Meta Quest 3 and 3S with the latest release of Meta's Horizon OS. The feature, called Mixed Reality Link, was available on a limited basis after public previews began last year. The Windows virtual desktop experience is now rolling out to all users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It starred an AI-generated, crypto-hawking Jensen Huang. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-As part of an AI-focused reorganization, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan told employees that it will offer voluntary buyouts, according to an internal company memo. At the same time, he emphasized that there would be no specific role eliminations as part of the new structure. -It looks like Meta's Vibes feed is just the start of the company's pivot toward AI slop. In an earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that "we're going to add yet another huge corpus of content" to Meta's recommendation system, via AI's ability to create and remix content — so you're likely to see even more AI generated posts on Facebook and Instagram. -Proton, the company behind Proton VPN and other encrypted apps like Proton Mail and Proton Drive, just launched a new web page called the Data Breach Observatory that aims to make accurate cybercrime data more widely accessible. The Observatory is intended to be a continually updated report that records any data leak detected on the dark web, with information sourced from the underground data marketplaces themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's also introducing new AI tools for Illustrator, Premiere Pro and Lightroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-When OpenAI launched its TikTok-like Sora app, a key feature was "Cameo" that allows people to add any likeness to videos they generate. Now the maker of Cameo, an app that allows you to buy short videos from celebrities, has filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of violating its trademark by using the same name. -Google has been forced to reassure its users that it has not suffered a large-scale data breach that could affect their Gmail accounts. A few months ago the company released an unusual statement intended to put to bed allegations that its email service had been hit with a serious security issue. And it did so again this week, after numerous news outlets published stories suggesting that 183 million passwords may have been compromised in a new breach. -It's been nearly three years since Withings first showed off U-Scan to a bemused world, and now it's finally on sale. U-Scan is the company's at-home urinalysis gizmo which sits in your toilet bowl and tests your first splash of the day. The device runs a tiny sample through a microfluidic to test, depending on what cartridge you use, either your nutritional or kidney health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next iPad Pro to come with a new M6 chip and a vapor chamber for better cooling performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Some Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged are said to have run red lights and driven against the flow of traffic. Tesla initially offered a Mad Max mode in 2018, before FSD was available. The company revived Mad Max this month and it didn't take long before there were reports of Tesla vehicles that were using the mode rolling stop signs and driving above speed limits. -Google's long-awaited AI health coach is nearly upon us, as a preview version is launching tomorrow for some Fitbit Premium users in the US. This will only be for Android devices at first, but the company promises an iOS version is in the works. -It's no secret that YouTube has been taking every step it can to make Shorts compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels. Now, YouTube creators will be able to access Premiere mobile in Shorts by clicking on "Edit in Adobe Premiere." It will include Adobe's editing tools, generative sound effects and, of course, a range of AI features powered by Firefly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Noetix Robotic's Bumi is an affordable, lightweight robot that's designed for consumer use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-The US Customs and Border Protection submitted a new measure that allows it to photograph any non-US citizen who enters or exits the country for facial recognition purposes. According to a filing with the government's Federal Register, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security are looking to crack down on threats of terrorism, fraudulent use of travel documents and anyone who overstays their authorized stay. -Google is rolling out a new feature for Gemini's Canvas, the free interactive workspace inside the AI chatbot's app, meant for students and employees who need to create presentations. Gemini is now capable of generating slides with just a prompt, though users can also upload files like documents, spreadsheets and research papers if they want a presentation based on a specific source. -The Commodore 64 is back in black, sort of. Retro Games and Plaion Replai released a limited edition redesign of the best-selling computer, called THEC64 - Black Edition. The latest blacked-out version is now available on Amazon or Retro Games' website for $119.99. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A watchdog group says millions of tons of discarded US electronics is being shipped overseas every month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-When fully stretched out on a sunny day, Nissan's solar panel system can add about 1,864 miles of driving distance a year and power multiple accessories. The panel works whether you're driving or parked. -The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that the iPhone maker abused its dominant market position to inflate developer fees. The tribunal found that the company has "near absolute market power" for iOS app distribution and in-app payments. The decision declared that Apple has been "abusing its dominant position by charging excessive and unfair prices." -Strava's big attack on Garmin didn't last long. On Tuesday, the former filed paperwork to dismiss its patent infringement lawsuit against the latter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The vehicle company says it'll be able to suss out maintenance concerns and offer route suggestions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Amazon has revealed that it's currently working on smart glasses designed for delivery drivers, confirming previous reports about the project. The company said that glasses use AI-powered sensing capabilities and computer vision to detect what their cameras are seeing. Drivers then get guidance through the glasses' heads-up display embedded right into the lens. -YouTube is adding a timer to Shorts to help curb all of that incessant doomscrolling, according to a report by TechCrunch. This feature is rolling out to all users after being spotted in an Android APK file earlier this year. Here's how it works. Users set a daily time limit for Shorts via the app's settings. Once reached, they'll see a pop-up reminding them to take a break. This pop-up is easily dismissed with a tap, but it's the thought that counts. -The Spotify app has been freezing and crashing on some Android devices, according to multiple users and a report by 9to5Google. This is happening only when a phone or tablet is connected to Wi-Fi, so keep on listening to Spotify while out and about. Users first took note of the problem around two weeks ago, taking to Spotify forums to address their concerns. Many folks say that the app becomes essentially unusable on Wi-Fi due to the constant crashes and freezing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The company reportedly believes it could avoid more than half a million future hires. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Users can skip the command-line tools and start vibe coding faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hardware giant marked a major milestone by manufacturing one of its next-gen AI chip parts in TSMC's Arizona facility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's like Cortana resurrected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-The difference in emissions between plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and gas cars is merely 19 percent and not 75 percent as lab tests show, according to a report by a group of European transport and environment NGOs. -OpenAI has paused video generations of Martin Luther King Jr. on Sora at the request of King Inc., the estate that manages his legacy. The company said in an announcement on X that it worked with the estate to address how his "likeness is represented in Sora generations" after people used the app to create disrespectful depictions of the American civil rights leader. -CNN has unveiled its new All Access subscription streaming service that will cost $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually. The new tier will include a "selection" of CNN's live programming along with originals and more — but it doesn't appear to offer a live CNN feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's due to arrive next year, along with an indoor security camera. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Apple has introduced a new M-series chip on updated versions of the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro and for the first time, Apple Vision Pro. The new M5 chip shares plenty of similarities with the M4 chip Apple introduced in 2024, but the biggest seems to be a focus on improving graphics and AI performance. -Google has released a new update to its Veo AI video generation model that should make it do a better job of sticking to prompts and converting images into videos. - Meta has started rolling out group chats for the app, which lets you add up to 50 of your followers to a single conversation. Just start a new message and add anybody who follows you on Threads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new section provides details on when an account was created and where the person running it is based. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-In order to avoid paying billions of dollars in fines for violating the European Union's Digital Markets Act, Google is considering changing how search results are displayed, Reuters reports. -Customer service support company 5CA contradicted claims by Discord that it was the victim of a hack last month. -OpenAI plans to open the floodgates to more adult uses of ChatGPT starting in December, according to a new post from CEO Sam Altman. The company announced that it would add parental controls and automatic age detection features in September, and it seems like a benefit of sorting out children from adults is an ability to offer more freedom in what ChatGPT can show users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom also signed bills concerning social media warning labels, chatbots and deepfake pornography. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-NVIDIA revealed its DGX Spark AI computer earlier this year and today is officially on for $3,999. Though relatively tiny, it hosts the company's entire AI platform including GPUs and CPUs, along with NVIDIA's AI software stack "into a system small enough for a lab or an office.” -Ofcom has slapped 4chan with a £20,000 fine, that's the equivalent of $26,700 here in the states, for failing to comply with the internet and telecommunications regulator's request for information under the UK's Online Safety Act of 2023. -Slack's new Slackbot is basically an AI chatbot like all the rest, but this one has been purpose-built to help with common work tasks. Folks can use natural language to converse with the bot and it can do stuff like whip up project plans, flag daily priorities and analyze reports. It can also help people find information when they only remember a few scant details. The company says it will "give every employee AI superpowers" so they can "drive productivity at AI speed." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A recent report on the Klopatra malware operation shows hackers taking advantage of a surge in VPN use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Just about a month after being accused of using pirated books to train its AI, Apple is facing another similar proposed class action lawsuit. As first reported by Bloomberg Law, two neuroscience professors from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn claimed that Apple used their "registered works without authorization." The neuroscientists said Apple trained its AI models using "shadow libraries" and "web-crawling software" that provide access to pirated, copyrighted books, including two of their own. -The controversial preservation order requiring OpenAI to indefinitely keep records of its ChatGPT data has been terminated. A federal judge filed a new order on October 9 that frees OpenAI of an obligation to "preserve and segregate all output log data that would otherwise be deleted on a going forward basis." -One of the most affordable EVs in America, the Chevrolet Bolt, has made its long-awaited comeback. After discontinuing the Bolt in 2023, the American automaker has refreshed the popular EV with a 2027 model that has some key upgrades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lyft has committed to buy 'hundreds' of the AVs for its own fleet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Apple is updating its Security Bounty program this November to offer some of the highest rewards in the industry. It has doubled its top award from $1 million to $2 million for the discovery of "exploit chains that can achieve similar goals as sophisticated mercenary spyware attacks" and which requires no user interaction. -China's antitrust regulator has opened an investigation into Qualcomm's acquisition of Israeli connected-vehicle chip company Autotalks. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) alleges that Qualcomm is suspected of violating China's anti-monopoly laws by not disclosing certain details of the deal. -The Programmed Data Processor-1 is perhaps most recognizable as the home of Spacewar!, one of the world's first video games, but it also works as an enormous and very slow iPod, too. In the video, Boards of Canada's "Olson" plays off of paper tape that's carefully fed and programmed into the PDP-1 by engineer and Computer History Museum docent Peter Samson. Here's a link to the video. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Developers will have to change how their apps work in the state too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-California has passed three new bills designed to boost privacy for internet users, governor Gavin Newsom's office announced. The biggest one, AB 566, builds on a 2018 law by requiring web browsers to let users universally opt-out of allowing third parties to sell their data. -Apple has removed Eyes Up, an app that collects and archives videos of Immigration Customs and Enforcement arrests, 404 Media reports. The app's removal follows similar action taken against ICEBlock last week, an app that tracks ICE activity in an attempt to offer real-time alerts of when and where arrests are happening. Unlike ICEBlock, though, Eyes Up's main purpose is to serve as an archive, not a tool for eluding government agents. -Verizon is buying the smaller broadband carrier Starry for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is expected to close by the first quarter of 2026, but is subject to FCC approval. Verizon has already done some work to appease the US government by ending DEI initiatives, so the FCC is likely to give this merger its stamp of approval. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It now has to allow non-Play Store payments and external download links by October 22nd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded Google's Chief Scientist of Quantum Hardware, Michel Devoret, the Nobel Prize in Physics. alongside former Google employee John Martinis, and University of California, Berkeley professor John Clarke. The award recognizes "the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantization in an electric circuit." -Mastodon, the federated social network built on ActivityPub, is taking cues from Bluesky and introducing its own version of the social platform's "Starter Packs." The hope is that Mastodon's "Packs" will make it easier to find people to follow when you first join a server, a sometimes daunting task given the distributed nature of decentralized social networks. -California has passed a law to ban loud commercials on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Governor Gavin Newsom just signed the law and the ban goes into effect on July 1, 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The company could also take up to a 10 percent stake in AMD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Instagram is launching its own awards program. This is sort of like the Oscars, but for short-form social media content with 25 winners getting physical rings. -The reaction to iPadOS 26 has been mostly positive, but some users have bemoaned the absence of the decade-old Slide Over multitasking feature. Well, Apple just announced that it's coming back as part of iPadOS 26.1. -It's probably been a hot minute since you've thought about Evernote. For years, the note-taking app, once a darling of the App Store, faced declining popularity and profitability. Now, it's back with a trove of AI features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The project in its current proposed state would add at least 28 full-time staffers tasked solely with generating leads 24/7. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Tesla launched its own auto insurance options for California customers back in 2019, but it may soon lose its authorization to do just that. The California Department of Insurance issued enforcement actions against Tesla Insurance, which acts as an agent for State National Insurance Company and is also named in the legal notice. -OpenAI and Jony Ive could still have some serious loose ends to tie up before releasing their highly anticipated AI device. According to a Financial Times report, the partnership is still struggling with some "technical issues" that could ultimately end up pushing back the device's release date, which is expected to be sometime next year. -One of Discord's third-party customer service providers has been infiltrated by an unauthorized party who was able to gain access to users' information. Discord said it recently discovered the incident, which took place on September 20. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lawsuit alleges that anti-competitive practices reduce options for renters and advertisers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Apple has removed ICEBlock from the app store. The app allowed users to put a pin on a map to show where ICE agents have recently been spotted. It has also pulled other apps that served a similar purpose. -Fitness tech appears to be having a strange spat. Earlier this week, Strava filed a lawsuit alleging that Garmin infringed on its patents for two features related to tracking exercise routes: segments and heatmaps. It's also claiming that Garmin violated a Master Cooperation Agreement by developing its own heat map feature. -Now that Threads has grown to more than 400 million users, Meta is adding more features that could help the platform establish an identity. The company is testing a new "communities" feature that creates dedicated spaces for people to chat about specific topics and interests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It goes into effect on December 16th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Forbes has published an investigation into Amazon's efforts to court law enforcement clients for artificial intelligence and surveillance services. The article reveals that not only is the company promoting Amazon Web Services as a potential police tool, but it has been partnering with other businesses in that sector to use its cloud infrastructure. -The Federal Trade Commission is suing home-search website Zillow, alleging that it paid rival Redfin $100 million to eliminate competition in the online listing business. The suit refers to a deal inked back in February between the two companies in which Redfin allegedly agreed to become "an exclusive syndicator of Zillow listings." -On Wednesday, scientists published a paper outlining the increasing complexity of molecules emitted from beneath the moon's surface. "We now have all elements required for Enceladus to harbor life.” Enceladus gives researchers a unique window into its subsurface world. The Cassini mission already taught us that plumes of water ice shoot 6,000 miles into space from Enceladus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just tell the assistant to make the buttons do what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-(00:39) Disney has demanded that Character.AI stop using its copyrighted characters. Axios reports that the entertainment juggernaut sent a cease and desist letter to Character.AI, claiming that it has chatbots based on its franchises, including Pixar films, Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. -(02:25) One day after Wired reported that OpenAI was preparing to release a new AI social video app, the company has revealed it to the wider world. It's called the Sora app, and it's powered by OpenAI's new Sora 2 video model, allowing it to generate AI-made clips of nearly anything. -(04:21) Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek will be transitioning to the role of executive chairman on January 1 of next year. The current Co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström will take his place as co-CEOs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The company has released new tools for AI-powered workflows in its Office products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-(00:39) Alphabet will pay President Donald Trump $22 million as part of a settlement in a class action lawsuit brought against the company over the suspension of various YouTube accounts following the January 6 riot at the US capitol. -(02:34) In a development that should surprise no one, OpenAI is preparing to release a standalone social app powered by its upcoming Sora 2 video model, Wired reports. The app reportedly "closely resembles" TikTok, with a vertical video feed and swipe-to-scroll navigation. The catch? It will only feature AI-generated content. -(04:46) Researchers have discovered major security flaws with Tile tracking tags, according to a report by Wired. These flaws could allow both the company itself and tech-savvy stalkers to track a user's location. The security issue could also let a malicious actor falsely frame a Tile owner for stalking, as the flaw can make it appear as if a particular tag is constantly in the vicinity of somebody else's tag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus, Apple is reportedly nearing production for its latest M5-powered MacBooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the latest Apple silicon is about to hit the assembly lines. In the latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple "is nearing mass production of its next MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs and two new Mac monitors." Gurman added that these upgraded products are scheduled for release sometime between the end of this year and the first quarter of next year. -Electronic Arts is close to reaching a $50 billion deal that will turn it into a privately held company. That's according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The video game company filed for an IPO way back in 1990 and has been public ever since, but now a group of investors are in talks with the company to take it private. -Assuming it can turn its Project Orion augmented reality glasses into a real product people can buy, Meta apparently wants to get into robots next. That's according to Sources' Alex Heath, who spoke to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth and reports that much like Apple, Google and Tesla, Meta is researching robotics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The company will also have to make it easier for consumers to cancel a Prime membership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Elon Musk's xAI is suing OpenAI, alleging that the ChatGPT maker has stolen its trade secrets. The lawsuit comes after the company recently sued a former employee, Xuechen Li, for allegedly stealing confidential information from the company before taking a job at OpenAI. -Spotify has announced a set of policy changes surrounding AI-generated music and spam on its streaming platform. The company is helping to develop an industry standard for AI disclosure in music credits, alongside DDEX. It will be strengthening its approach to AI-assisted spam, such as unauthorized vocal clones, as well as uploaded music that fraudulently delivers music to another artist's profile. -The European Union has summarily rejected calls from Apple to repeal and replace its Digital Markets Act, the law that governs much about how giant tech companies must operate within the 27-nation bloc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-Qualcomm has unveiled its new Snapdragon X Series chips for laptops, in addition to its new system-on-a-chip for flagship phones. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip meant for "ultra-premium" Windows 11 laptops are designed to handle "complex, expert-level workloads" and to enable fast AI processing, as well as a multi-day battery life -Following the announcement of its first smart glasses with a built-in display, Meta is opening several temporary retail locations where you'll be able to demo the Meta Ray-Ban Display, their Meta Neural Band controller and the rest of the company's Reality Labs products. -If you use Proton Mail on your phone, things are about to pick up. The company is rolling out new apps for Android and iOS. The updated mobile applications are rebuilt from the ground up with a "cleaner, faster and more private experience." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They come with a better camera, battery life and water resistance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices