Author Archives: Sarah Fielding

Fisker is the latest EV startup to declare bankruptcy

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Another EV manufacturer bites the dust with Fisker officially declaring bankruptcy. The US-based startup filed for Chapter 11 protections late Monday, June 17, with plans to restructure its debt and sell its assets. Unfortunately, this means the Alaska EV with a designated cowboy hat space will likely never come to fruition. 

"We are proud of our achievements, and we have put thousands of Fisker Ocean SUVs in customers' hands," a Fisker spokesperson stated. "But like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic headwinds that have impacted our ability to operate efficiently."

The news is not exactly surprising, as Fisker had already halted investments in future models, like the Alaska EV. That decision came alongside concerning figures in Fisker's February release of its preliminary Q4 and 2023 earnings. Among them was its plan to lay off 15 percent of its employees — about 200 people — as it attempted a switch to a Dealer Partner model. The startup had claimed it was in talks with "a large automaker" for an influx of cash and production support.

Fisker also revealed in the report that it had produced 10,193 units of its sole EV available, the Ocean SUV, in 2023 but only delivered 4,929 vehicles. Plus, there was the fact that, despite Fisker's fourth-quarter revenue increasing to $200.1 million from the previous quarter's $128.3 million, the company still had a gross margin of negative 35 percent. 

The decision to file for Chapter 11 protections adds Fisker to the ranks of other EV startups, such as Volta Trucks and Lordstown Motors. The two companies filed for bankruptcy last year in Sweden and the United States, respectively. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fisker-is-the-latest-ev-startup-to-declare-bankruptcy-123056157.html?src=rss

Anker’s magnetic charging gear is up to 50 percent off right now

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It has hit that time of year when all the rinky-dink chargers I bought have given up, and it's time to invest in some quality options. I'm personally a big fan of Anker, so it's exciting that Amazon is currently discounting some of Anker's best charging gear. Included in the sale is 30 percent off Anker's MagGo magnetic charging station, dropping its price to $70 from $100. This discount brings the Qi2-certified device to a new all-time low.

Anker's MagGo magnetic charging station is a great choice if you're looking for an all-in-one option for a range of devices. The 8-in-1 charger comes with two USB ports, two USB-C ports, three AC outlets and one magnetic pad. It offers 15W of power for wireless charging and gets faster when wired to devices — increasing to 67W for charging your MacBook through the USB-C port, for instance. Anker claims that speed can bring your laptop to 50 percent in just 26 minutes.

If you're just looking for a wireless charging pad, then you can opt for Anker's MagGo magnetic wireless charging pad instead. It's touting a 10 percent discount right now, which only saves you about $2 — it's available for $20 rather than $22 — but it's still something. The best deal of the bunch is half off Anker's 622 MagSafe power bank (5,000mAh), dropping its price to $35 from $70. It's a great option if you have a newer iPhone and want to have easy, cordless charging wherever you go.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ankers-magnetic-charging-gear-is-up-to-50-percent-off-right-now-134525337.html?src=rss

Google’s NotebookLM gets Gemini 1.5 and extra tools

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Google first launched NotebookLM, its AI-powered research tool, in summer 2023 and now the company is expanding its capabilities and access. In a new blog post, Google announced that NotebookLM is officially running on Gemini 1.5 Pro, an upgrade from the original Gemini Pro model that brings a host of new features. The research and writing assistant has also expanded to over 200 countries and territories. 

NoteBookLM works differently than many other AI-powered tools in that it only takes from the resources you provide, rather than a plethora of general knowledge. The research assistant has always accepted files such as transcripts, research notes and corporate documents from Google Docs or in PDF format, but now you can also upload Google Slides and web URLs. 

Other new features include letting you ask questions about images, charts and diagrams, along with including images in citations as further supporting evidence. Then there's a boost to inline citations, which now bring you directly to the supporting passages so you can confirm the AI knows what it's talking about. Plus there's Notebook Guide, which will convert your sources into clear formats like FAQs and briefing docs. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-notebooklm-gets-gemini-15-and-extra-tools-133054595.html?src=rss

Google Sheets’ new tool lets you set specific rules for notifications.

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I'm the first to admit that the amount of joy Google Sheets brings me is a bit odd, but I use it for everything from tracking my earnings to planning trip budgets with friends. So, I'm excited to see that Google is making it easier to get notified about specific changes to my spreadsheet without me learning to code (something I've just never gotten into). The company has announced that Google Sheets is getting conditional notifications, meaning you can set rules in spreadsheets that send emails when certain things happen.

For example, you could set it to send you an email notification when a number drops below or above a certain amount or when a column's value changes at all. You can also set rules that align more with a project manager tool, like getting a notification when a task's status or owner changes. This tool only requires edit access, with anyone able to set notifications for themselves or others by entering their email addresses. Don't worry, you can unsubscribe if someone starts sending you unwanted notifications.

To use conditional notifications, go to tools and then conditional notifications or just right-click in a cell. From there, click add rule (you can name the rule or let Google auto-label it) and then select a custom range or column. You can add additional criteria for the rule, such as exactly what a box should say for you to receive a notification. Then, you can manually input email addresses or select a column containing them. However, Google warns that if you do the latter, the number of cells must match the number included in the rule. So, if you have three cells in the rule, you can only highlight three cells with email addresses. If you get confused, Google gets into all the nitty-gritty of it here.

Google Sheet's conditional formatting is available to anyone with the following workplaces: Businesses Standard and Plus, Education Plus and Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus or Essential. It started rolling out for Rapid Release domains on June 4 and will begin showing up for Standard Release domains on June 18. In both cases, conditional formatting might take up to 15 days to appear.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-sheets-new-tool-lets-you-set-specific-rules-for-notifications-133030113.html?src=rss

Pick up Apple AirTag leather loops and keyrings while they’re on sale for only $10

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Apple's AirTag is certainly convenient for keeping track of everything from your cat to your keys, but it's lack of a key ring hole is frustrating to say the least. Fortunately, there are tons of great Apple AirTag accessories with a range of functions and prices. Right now, its worth checking out the Apple AirTag leather loop, on sale for $10 from $39 in California Poppy and Meyer Lemon. The 74 percent discount is part of a larger sale on Apple wireless accessories at Woot. 

While many Apple AirTag accessories are variations on key ring, the leather loop provides similar functionality with a sleeker look. It's a good option for attaching to a bag, suitcase or any item with a handle really. If you're in need of multiple AirTags then grab the two-pack, which Woot has discounted 81 percent to $15 from $78. You can also check out the AirTag leather key ring if you want a more traditional option. This model is on sale for $10 from $35, while the two-pack is discounted to $15 from $70. All of these items are marked down for 10 days or until they sell out. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pick-up-apple-airtag-leather-loops-and-keyrings-while-theyre-on-sale-for-only-10-133729231.html?src=rss

Australia ends legal fight for X to remove violent stabbing video

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Australia's independent regulator for online safety has ended its bid to remove a violent video from X (formerly Twitter). 

On April 15, a clergyman was stabbed in Sydney, Australia, and, like some other horrific incidents these days, it was broadcast online. Australia's national regulator, eSafety, requested that all social media platforms take down the video. While eSafety claims Meta, Google, TikTok and more removed it, X only stopped Australian viewers from accessing the video — something a VPN can easily circumvent. When eSafety pushed for it to be fully taken down, X's CEO Elon Musk called the request an assault on free speech and argued that one country's laws couldn't control the entire world, The Register reported.

Despite dropping the fight against X, eSafety further reiterated their frustrations. "Our sole goal and focus in issuing our removal notice was to prevent this extremely violent footage from going viral, potentially inciting further violence and inflicting more harm on the Australian community," Julie Inman Grant, the commissioner of eSafety, stated. "Most Australians accept this kind of graphic material should not be on broadcast television, which begs an obvious question of why it should be allowed to be distributed freely and accessible online 24/7 to anyone, including children."

Grant notes that X did take down a video globally that compiled this attack with two other stabbing incidents. She also details the violence policy X laid out to the European Commission last October as proof that the platform should remove the video entirely. "...our service has clear rules that prohibit violent and hateful entities, perpetrators of violent attacks, violent speech, sensitive media and the synthetic and manipulated media policy," the passage states. "For the avoidance of doubt, we strictly adhere to our policies concerning illegal content and we continue to remove illegal content, including terrorist content, from our platform." In that vein, she calls taking down the video a "reasonable request" for X to take. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/australia-ends-legal-fight-for-x-to-remove-violent-stabbing-video-120048421.html?src=rss

TheraGun massagers are up to 17 percent off right now

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If you're anything like me, you're reading this a bit hunched over and with sore neck and shoulder muscles. While weekly massages would be a great way to treat it, that's a big time and money commitment. Another option is the TheraGun Mini 2.0, our choice as an amazing gift for runners and fitness-minded college students. It's still an investment, but right now, it's on sale for $165, down from $199 — a 17 percent discount. 

The one-pound TheraGun Mini 2.0 is an amazing tool to use on the go, whether at the gym, when traveling or after a sports match. It has three speed settings and attachments with an ergonomic design that makes it easy to hold on to during use. You can get a "moderate 12mm" intensity and see visual routines. 

If you're looking for something cheaper, check out the TheraGun Relief, the company's newest massager. A 13 percent discount has cut its price to a record-low $129 from $149 in both Sand and Navy. The Relief is a good option if you want to keep your device in one place, as it has a larger frame and an extra third of a pound in weight. The massager is good if you don't want anything super firm, with an intensity labeled "comfortable 10mm." Plus, it offers TheraGun's patented triangle grip, three speed settings and three attachments. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/theragun-massagers-are-up-to-17-percent-off-right-now-145408266.html?src=rss

EU accuses Micrsoft of secretly collecting children’s data

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Microsoft is back under the microscope in the European Union, but Teams is finally not to blame. Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed two complaints against Microsoft over operations of its 365 Education software in schools and children's privacy. The group is also responsible for past complaints against OpenAI, Meta, Spotify and more tech giants. 

Noyb alleges that Microsoft 365 Education "installed cookies that, according to Microsoft's own documentation, analyse user behaviour, collect browser data and are used for advertising" — without the school's knowledge. The advocacy group further alleges that Microsoft is "consistently vague" about what it's doing with the students' data and could be tracking children in secret.

"Our analysis of the data flows is very worrying. Microsoft 365 Education appears to track users regardless of their age," Felix Mikolasch, a data protection lawyer at Noyb, expressed in a statement. "This practice is likely to affect hundreds of thousands of pupils and students in the EU and EEA. Authorities should finally step up and effectively enforce the rights of minors."

Noyb also claims Microsoft is dumping its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) responsibilities on schools without providing them with any access or insight into its privacy policies or data collection. "Microsoft holds all the key information about data processing in its software, but is pointing the finger at schools when it comes to exercising rights," Maartje de Graaf, another data protection lawyer at Noyb, said in a statement. "Schools have no way of complying with the transparency and information obligations."

The GDPR sets out strict guidelines for protecting minors' data, focusing on extra protections for the individual, transparency and accountability. Violating the GDPR could lead to a fine of €20 million ($22 million) or four percent of a company's annual worldwide turnover the previous year — whichever is the larger amount.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/eu-accuses-micrsoft-of-secretly-collecting-childrens-data-124141294.html?src=rss

Amazon Prime’s ‘Yakuza’ adaptation launches October 25

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Amazon has announced its latest series coming to Prime Video, and gamers might recognize it. The streamer is releasing Like A Dragon: Yakuza, a live-action adaptation of the Yakuza SEGA game series. The Japanese Original show will premiere worldwide in two batches of three episodes on October 25 and November 1, 2024.

SEGA launched Yakuza in 2005, with over 20 other titles and spinoffs joining it in the years since. Amazon bills Like A Dragon: Yakuza as a "crime-suspense-action series, follows the life, childhood friends, and repercussions of the decisions of Kazuma Kiryu, a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity." The show takes place during 1995 and 2005 in Kamurochō, a fictional entertainment district modeled off Kabukichō, the game's setting.

There will be similar themes between the show and the game, of course, but it seems creators are attempting to give it a unique identity. "While the games let you experience their world through the subjective lens, this adaptation will be the ultimately objective way to enjoy the show," Yokoyama Masayoshi, Yakuza writer, head of Ryugagotoku Studio and executive producer. "I have no doubt that fans of the series will be drawn to how it brings the games to life and adds new surprises. Newcomers, I'm sure will find themselves invested simply in the gritty realism of the show."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-primes-yakuza-adaptation-launches-october-25-123028936.html?src=rss

The 13-inch MacBook Air M2 drops back down to a record low of $829

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Less than a month after dropping to its all-time low price, our favorite budget MacBook is back on sale for $829. That's right — Apple's 2022 MacBook Air has a 17 percent discount, cutting its price from $999. This deal is available for the 256GB model in every color but doesn't include AppleCare+. 

Apple's 2022 MacBook Air might not be the flashiest option on the market, but it's really good. In fact, we dubbed it a "near-perfect Mac" in our review — in which we also gave it a score of 96. There are so many things to like about the 13.6-inch MacBook, including its Liquid Retina screen that offers 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen is slightly bigger and the device is slightly thinner than its predecessor, providing an extra bit of sleekness to the model. 

The biggest change for the 2022 MacBook Air was its M2 chip. The M2 features eight CPU cores and up to 10 GPU cores, making it a great, fast-performing option — even as Apple launches an M4 chip. The MacBook also has a quad-speaker system, compatible with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Plus, there's a three-mic array for excellent video chat quality. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-13-inch-macbook-air-m2-drops-back-down-to-a-record-low-of-829-140002280.html?src=rss