Author Archives: Sarah Fielding

Amazon Prime Day headphone deals include the Sony WH-1000XM5 for $298

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Cue my jealousy as my favorite headphones — which I paid full price for — go on sale for Amazon Prime Day. They also happen to be Engadget's favorite wireless headphones at the moment. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are currently available for $298, which is roughly $100 off and close to a record-low price. Best of all, the discount applies to all color options: black, midnight blue, silver and smoky pink. We gave the WH-1000XM5 a 95 in our review when Sony released them in 2022, and they are still holding up against all their newer competitors.

One of the best things about the M5s is how comfortable they are. I've used them on a few transatlantic flights this year, and the fit, combined with the incredible active noise cancellation, meant I could sleep the whole way without any disruption. Plus, they have excellent sound quality, with double the processors and microphones of the WH-1000XM4s.

The M5's predecessor is also on sale, with the WH-1000XM4 down to $228 from $348. Despite being an earlier model, these are still an amazing option and offer one thing the M5s don't: folding. Released in 2020, this model garnered a 94 in our review thanks to their great sound quality, ANC and comfort

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-headphone-deals-include-the-sony-wh-1000xm5-for-298-094549320.html?src=rss

YouTube Shorts can now run up to three minutes

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YouTube Shorts are about to get quite a bit longer. Starting on October 15, the platform is increasing video limits from one minute to three minutes. TikTok, arguably Shorts' biggest competitor, has allowed users to share 10-minute videos for over two years. The new update should work for any Shorts that are square or taller in aspect ratio, and it won't affect any videos you shoot before the 15th. 

YouTube is also releasing a few other Shorts updates, including a preview of comments in the Shorts' feed. Plus, the company is working on letting you to pull clips from across YouTube through the Shorts camera and make remix clips. YouTube first released the remix feature in early 2024, letting you strip the audio, use the video as a background, cut a piece of it to use in your Short or put it side-by-side with your creation. 

If Shorts aren't your thing, it's also going to be easier to skip them as YouTube is introducing a tool to show fewer Shorts. You can choose this option through the three dot menu on the upper right corner — though YouTube says the preference only lasts temporarily. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-shorts-can-now-run-up-to-three-minutes-160002081.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Echo Spot smart alarm clock is at a record-low price for October Prime Day

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October Prime Day deals are proving to be just as good as those we saw in July, at least for some of Amazon's own devices. The recently revamped Echo Spot is back on sale for a record low of $45, a discount that we last saw during the summertime sale event. The original Echo Spot came out in 2017, but it only lasted two years before it was discontinued. Amazon brought back a redesigned version of the Alexa speaker earlier this year. You can also opt for a bundle and get a TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb with it for the same price. 

The new Amazon Echo Spot forgoes the circular speaker of the original and instead offers a split look: the top half screen and the bottom half speaker. Amazon bills it as having improved sound and display quality. Otherwise, it has all the same basic features, like Alexa integration, music streaming, and displaying the weather forecast.

If you were put off from getting an Echo Spot in the past due to the inclusion of a camera (it does feel a bit weird for a bedside device), then you're in luck. Amazon foregoes the camera this time, giving you extra peace of mind. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-echo-spot-smart-alarm-clock-is-at-a-record-low-price-for-october-prime-day-151013382.html?src=rss

Jeep recalls 194,000 plug-in hybrids due to fire risks

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Jeep's owner, Stellantis, has recalled about 194,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs from the brand due to a risk of fire. The recall impacts specific Jeep Wrangler 4xe models from 2020 to 2024 and some Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs from 2022 to 2024 — the company estimates about five percent of the vehicles will have the defect. It discovered the issue after 13 fires were reported, all when the vehicle was parked and off. 

Despite the risk, Stellantis is not yet having customers bring their hybrids in for servicing. Instead, the company claims a "remedy is imminent," and owners will get notified when they can come in. For now, Stellantis states, "Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained." Basically, good luck if this is your mode of transportation because you really don't want to use it.

The recall has the greatest impact on US-based customers, with 154,032 vehicles recalled across the country. There are just over 14,000 affected vehicles in Canada, 673 in Mexico and 25,502 outside of North America. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/jeep-recalls-194000-plug-in-hybrids-due-to-fire-risks-150059282.html?src=rss

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle drops to its lowest price of the year ahead of Prime Day

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If you're on the hunt for a new ereader, early Prime Day deals might have just what you're looking for. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle is down to $203 right now, which is $55 off and the best price we've seen all year. It includes Amazon's higher-end ereader with 32GB of storage along with a fabric cover and its own wireless charging stand, so you'll have an attractive and dedicated spot to place the ereader for charging when you're not using it.

The Kindle Paperweight Signature Edition launched in 2021 and we called it "The best e-reader. Period." While other e-readers have come into the picture, it's still a great option — especially for Prime members. We gave it a 97 in our review thanks to features like a larger, more responsive screen and smaller bezels. The combination of the two gives this device an extra lux feel compared to alternatives. This edition also includes 17 individual LEDs, up from the five in its predecessor. The lights let you adjust the warm hue, similar to Apple's Night Shift.

It also has some logistical benefits like USB-C charging and wireless charging — with the e-reader lasting up to ten weeks on just one charge. The addition of the fabric case and wireless charging dock make it easy to keep your Kindle juiced up and damage free for only $13 more than buying the Paperwhite Signature Edition on its own. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-kindle-paperwhite-signature-essentials-bundle-drops-to-its-lowest-price-of-the-year-ahead-of-prime-day-141717270.html?src=rss

Watch the trailer for Squid Game 2

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We are so close to getting season two of Squid Game — the show famously rejected for nearly a decade before becoming a sensation on Netflix. The streamer has just shared a full-length trailer ahead of the season's December 26 premiere, calling for viewers to "Get back in the game."

It features Gong Yoo reprising his role as the salesman. Yoo starts his day calmly, looking at the cityscape and getting ready alongside cheery music before the atmosphere turns sinister as he opens a safe, grabbing ddakji pieces. He then heads to the subway and approaches a new player, asking, "Sir, would you like to play a game with me?"

Netflix first announced Squid Game season two in 2022 but only set a release date in August — nearly three years after the first season came out. Next time, there shouldn't be as large a gap as Netflix also shared that the show's third and final season should arrive in 2025. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/watch-the-trailer-for-squid-game-2-133047996.html?src=rss

Football Manager 25 is out on November 26

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Football Manager 25 is finally on its way, with Sports Interactive confirming the news and announcing a release date. The game will arrive for PC, Mac, Xbox and PS5 on November 26, just in time for some Thanksgiving gameplay. At the same time, FM25 Mobile is launching exclusively on Netflix, while FM25 Touch should come to Nintendo Switch on December 3.

FM25 comes with two big updates: a switch to the Unity engine (everywhere except mobile) and women's football (or soccer, depending on where you're reading this from) arriving into the same world as the men's teams. Sega-owned SI first announced the development of women's games in 2021, claiming it would take a while to do in order to provide the same depth as the men's ones. Last year, it confirmed women's teams would be in FM25.

In a statement, Sports Interactive Studio Director Miles Jacobson said, "The world gets to see two of our multi-year projects come to fruition: the switch to the Unity engine and the introduction of Women's Football. It gives us a real sense of achievement to begin sharing our hard work with you and we're really looking forward to showing you more of the game in the weeks before the game's release."

Right now, anyone who pre-orders FM25 for PC or Mac from a SEGA-approved digital retailer will get 10 percent off. SI will announce pre-orders for Xbox and PS5 editions later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/football-manager-25-is-out-on-november-26-140032348.html?src=rss

The UK says goodbye to coal production

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The UK's last coal plant will sigh out its final pollutants Monday before shutting down for good and officially ending the country's century and a half of coal production. Nottinghamshire's Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant was the last of its kind following Britain's 2015 commitment to close all coal power plants by 2025. Ratcliffe was originally scheduled to shut down in 2022 but stayed open after Russia invaded Ukraine and Europe entered a gas crisis.

The Ratcliffe plant once had 3,000 engineers but only employs 170 staff now. That group will gather to watch a livestream of the plant being turned off, and over 100 of them are set to work on decommissioning the plant over the next two years. Many of the other employees will enter new jobs at different power plants owned by Uniper, Raticliffe's German owner, while others will enter training programs to work on other aspects of the industry.

Britain opened the world's first coal power plant in 1882, London's Holborn Viaduct, with the help of Thomas Edison's Edison Electric Light Company. Coal has played a major part in the UK until very recently. According to a report from energy think tank Ember, coal was responsible for 39 percent of the UK's energy supply in 2012 but shrunk to just two percent in 2019. The decrease in coal production was reportedly equal to double the amount of all greenhouse gases used in the UK in 2023. Between 2012 and 2023, wind and solar generation also increased from six percent to a 34 percent share of the UK's energy. Britain still has a long way to go, but this step has made it the first G7 country to remove all coal power production.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-uk-says-goodbye-to-coal-production-114520865.html?src=rss

NotebookLM can now summarize YouTube videos

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You can now upload YouTube videos and audio files to NotebookLM, an AI-powered summarizing tool for education and research. The update means Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro-powered virtual assistant can now handle Google Docs, PDFs, text files, Google Slides, YouTube video URLs, audio files and web pages. This expands NotebookLM's potential sources to include lecture recordings, informative YouTube content and group discussions. Google claims that it securely stores all information uploaded to NoteBookLM and does not use it to train AI.

Google launched the virtual research assistant in the summer of 2023 and upgraded it to run on Gemini 1.5 Pro this past June. Alongside the AI-powered bump, Google expanded NotebookLM to be available in over 200 countries and territories. Most recently, Google added Audio Overview to NotebookLM. The tool has two AI hosts — hopefully not foreshadowing what hosting will look like in the future — discuss your sources, summarize material and "banter." Google is now adding the ability to share Audio Overviews with others through a public URL. 

The irony here is that the reason we'd need an AI to briefly summarize a YouTube video in the first place is because Google incentivized the creation of ever-longer videos.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/notebooklm-can-now-summarize-youtube-videos-160037375.html?src=rss

Google Maps will flag businesses with potentially fake reviews

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I have slowly turned into that frustrating person who won't go somewhere before checking its reviews on Google Maps. However, I also get suspicious when the reviews are too good — there's no pleasing me, apparently — so I'm relieved to hear that Google is making it easier to spot fake ones. Google is now issuing a warning for applicable businesses, stating, "Suspected fake reviews were recently removed from this place." 

Google has previously come under fire with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which opened an investigation into their handling of fake reviews in 2021. A user on X (formerly Twitter) first spotted the change in review handling on a Maps page for a company in the UK (possibly a coincidence).

Google has yet to confirm the feature or where it will be available, but Search Engine Roundtable reports Google recently updated its relevant support page to apply globally.

Google outlines possible restrictions that can be placed on businesses violating its Fake Engagement policy. One point is that the "business profile will display a warning to let consumers know that fake reviews were removed." Other temporary restrictions include not receiving new ratings or reviews, or having existing ones unpublished. If any of these actions occur, business owners will receive an email from Google and can appeal the decision.

While fake reviews can come from businesses in an attempt to boost their ratings, they can also derive from people hoping to tank them. If a business reports these fake reviews, it's unclear whether the same warning will come up (as the wording certainly makes the business seem at fault).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-maps-will-flag-businesses-with-potentially-fake-reviews-123133579.html?src=rss