Tag Archives: author_name|Mariella Moon

Microsoft isn’t releasing a diversity report for 2025

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Microsoft will not release a diversity and inclusion report for 2025 like it has been doing every year since 2019, Stephen Totilo from Game File has reported. Totilo asked the company if it was skipping this year after it failed to publish a report from October to early November like it had done so the previous years. “We are not doing a traditional report this year as we’ve evolved beyond that to formats that are more dynamic and accessible — stories, videos, and insights that show inclusion in action,” said Microsoft’s chief communications officer, Frank Shaw, in a statement. “Our mission and commitment to our culture and values remain unchanged: empowering every person and organization to achieve more.”

As Totilo notes, the Trump administration made it very clear early on that it was against government and corporate diversity, equality and inclusion programs. Trump signed executive orders directing government agencies to roll back DEI initiatives and encouraged the private sector to do the same. Meta reportedly ended its DEI programs earlier this year, while Google reportedly announced that it will “no longer set hiring targets to improve representation in its workforce.”

Totilo previously reported that Microsoft didn’t mention anything about its diversity programs in two shareholder reports for 2025, signifying that the company wasn’t highlighting its DEI initiatives anymore like it did the previous years. Based on its statement, Microsoft isn’t completely dropping its DEI efforts. Without a report, however, we can’t keep an eye on its progress when it comes to things like pay equality and workforce diversity.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-isnt-releasing-a-diversity-report-for-2025-180000401.html?src=rss

Waymo gets California DMV’s approval to test robotaxis in more areas

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The California DMV has approved Waymo’s request to conduct driverless testing and to deploy its robotaxis in more locations in the state. As CBS News reports, Waymo now has the permission to operate across the whole Bay Area, Sacramento and most of Southern California up to the border of Mexico. It’s a huge expansion, based on the maps the state DMV has provided. In the images below, you’ll see Waymo’s old areas shaded in a darker color, while the locations with a lighter shade indicate areas added in the expansion.

Waymo's new operation map in California.
Waymo's new operation map in California.
California DMV

“We're officially authorized to drive fully autonomously across more of the Golden State,” Waymo said in an announcement on X. It didn’t say when it’ll start testing and offering rides to the public in the new areas, but it said the company’s “next stop” in California after this is San Diego. Waymo will start offering rides in the city sometime in mid-2026. It will also deploy robotaxis in Las Vegas, including the Strip with plans to expand to the airport, and Detroit next year. In addition, it recently announced that it’s coming to Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando in 2026.

On the Waymo and San Francisco subreddits, people pointed out that Waymo robotaxis could become a hit in Wine Country. People could call them for transportation, for instance, if they’re doing wine tasting.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-gets-california-dmvs-approval-to-test-robotaxis-in-more-areas-170000104.html?src=rss

HP and Dell cut HEVC support in some laptops

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HP and Dell has disabled support for the High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard in some of their laptops, Ars Technica reports. HEVC is a codec that enables the compression of large videos into smaller files while retaining their quality. Sixth-gen Intel Core chips and later, as well as AMD chips made over the past 10 years, come with built-in support for the standard. But as some HP and Dell owners on Reddit have shared, they found themselves faced with an infinite loading screen when they tried to view HEVC Content on a browser, like Chrome and Firefox.

Ars Technica found documentation for some HP business laptop models, including the HP ProBook 460 G11, ProBook 465 G11 and EliteBook 665 G11, stating: “Hardware acceleration for CODEC H.265/HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) is disabled on this platform.” Dell didn’t explicitly mention disabling support for HEVC, but it has a support page explaining that HEVC content streaming is only possible on devices with specific configurations.

To be clear, users will still be able to play HEVC videos on programs like VLC and Windows Media Player. However, users with the affected laptops will have to deal with broken videos if they try to play anything on their browsers that use the standard. HP told Ars that it disabled HEVC on select devices way back in 2024 and encouraged people to use “licensed third-party software solutions” instead. Meanwhile, Dell told the publication the its premium laptops still support HEVC videos. For users with base and standard laptops that can no longer play them, the company also encourages the use of third-party software.

The companies didn’t say why they decided to switch off HEVC playback for certain models, but as Ars notes, it could be associated with increasing licensing fees. After September 30 this year, the royalty rates for the HEVC codec went from 20 cents to 24 cents per unit for over 100,001 units. HP and Dell are two of the largest laptop manufacturers in the world, so that translates to a considerable chunk of money.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/hp-and-dell-cut-hevc-support-in-some-laptops-130000940.html?src=rss

Amazon Alexa+ is now available in Canada

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Amazon has launched Alexa+, its next-generation digital assistant, in Canada. The company unveiled the new assistant in February, and it has been making its way to more and more people since. Canada is the first region outside the US to get access Amazon’s upgraded Alexa. Like the version that rolled out in the US, users can communicate with Alexa+ in natural language. They can say “I’m cold,” for instance, and the assistant will turn up the heat in their home. If they say “It’s dark,” Alexa+ can switch on the lights for them.

In Amazon’s announcement, Allison Siperco, the Alexa manager for Canada, said the assistant understands Canadian culture and regional expressions. It can understand distinctly Canadian topics, such as the country’s hockey teams and musicians. In addition, the assistant links with services Canadians use. It can make restaurant reservations for them through OpenTable, connects them to CBC news and help them look for and buy items from their e-commerce platforms. Siperco said the assistant will also support Yelp, Uber Eats, Suno and TripAdvisor in the country “soon.”

Alexa+ is capable of adapting its tone to everyone in the household, suggesting different routines based on the user. It can suggest meditation, for example, to someone who’s had a long day at the office. And it can remember if someone has dietary restrictions when recommending restaurants. Alexa+ can also help users shop by finding items with the best pricing, by creating grocery lists for them while taking dietary restrictions into account, as well as by comparing features across products and summarizing reviews on Amazon Canada.

Amazon’s upgraded assistant is free during its Early Access phase, though those who are interested to try it out right now will have to purchase the new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max or Echo Studio. After Early Access, it will remain free for Prime subscribers, while everyone else will have to pay $28 CAD a month for it.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-alexa-is-now-available-in-canada-050827689.html?src=rss

Google Maps’ Gemini integration will make hands-free navigation more conversational

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Google has been replacing Assistant with Gemini across all its apps, and Maps is the latest one getting an upgrade. The AI assistant will let you interact with the app using natural conversation while you navigate the roads hands-free. You can, for instance, ask it: "Is there a budget-friendly Japanese restaurant along my route within a couple of miles?" And after it has responded, you can keep on asking it follow-up questions, such as if a specific restaurant has a parking space and what dishes are popular there. Once you've decided on a place, you can simply tell Gemini: "Okay, let's go there," to start navigating to it. 

You'll also be able to ask Gemini to do random tasks while it's navigating and without leaving the Maps app, such as adding events to your Calendar if you allow it to connect to the app. In addition, Gemini will let you report traffic disruptions, simply by saying "there's flooding ahead" or "I see an accident." Gemini in Google Maps is rolling out over the next few weeks to Android and iOS in all regions where Gemini is available. It's also coming to Android Auto in the future. 

In the US, Maps is getting more capabilities powered by the AI assistant. You can now get directions that mention landmarks that are easy to spot. Instead of saying "turn left in 500 feet," for example, Gemini will say "turn left after the Thai Siam Restaurant." The landmark will also be highlighted in Maps as a visual cue. This feature is now rolling out to both Android and iOS devices. Maps will now proactively notify you of road disruptions on Android, as well, even if you're not actively navigating. Finally, you'll be able to use Lens with Gemini within the Maps app when it starts rolling out later this month to Android and iOS. You simply have to tap on the camera in the Maps search bar, point to an establishment and ask it questions about the location, such as "What is this place and why is it popular?"

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-maps-gemini-integration-will-make-hands-free-navigation-more-conversational-140009629.html?src=rss

Google and Epic Games reach settlement for antitrust lawsuit

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Google and Epic Games have reached a settlement that would bring their years-long court battle to a close. The companies have filed a proposal in the federal court of San Francisco, asking US District Judge James Donato to approve a modified version of the order he originally imposed on Google when it lost the case. "Together with Epic Games we have filed a proposed set of changes to Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe," said Sameer Samat, the President of Android Ecosystem at Google, on X. 

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney praised the proposal for "genuinely [doubling] down on Android's original vision as an open platform to streamline competing store installs globally, reduce service fees for developers on Google Play and enable third-party in-app and web payments." Epic Games sued Google in 2020, accusing it of an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices. 

The court sided with Epic Games in late 2023, and Google lost its appeal in July this year. Google tried to ask the Supreme Court to block the injunction Donato handed down, which required the company to make major changes to the Play Store, while it appealed the case again. But the Supreme Court denied its request. That means Google will be prohibited from paying manufacturers and app developers to exclusively install and distribute on the Play Store, respectively. It will also be prohibited from forcing developers to only use its payment system, and it will have to allow third-party app stores to be installed on Android devices. 

Google will still have to follow most of Donato's orders under the proposal, but the companies made some modifications. To start with, they've worked out how to "allow developers and users to seamlessly use alternative payment mechanisms," both in-app and via external links, while adhering to Google's security and safety standards. They've also specified the maximum fees Google can charge for both in-app and linked transactions, which are 9 percent or 20 percent, depending on the type of transaction. This fee cap also depends on when the app in question was installed. Specifically, the commission caps on third party in-app payment systems would only apply to new app installs.

The companies have identified "reasonable, neutral criteria" that third-party stores would be required to meet, as well. Users will easily be able to download stores that meet those criteria so they can compete against the Play Store and each other around the world. 

Samat said that the companies are meeting with Judge Donato on Thursday, and if he approves of the proposal, it "would resolve [the] litigations."

Update, November 5, 2025, 2:22PM ET: This story has been updated with more details on how the fee caps for in-app purchases and linked transactions work.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-and-epic-games-reach-settlement-for-antitrust-lawsuit-120019374.html?src=rss

Apple TV has a new intro bumper and soundmark

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Apple dropped the "plus" from its streaming service's name in October, because the company typically uses the plus sign for free services with paid versions, such as iCloud+. Now, the company has released a new intro bumper and soundmark for its TV service. Apple has uploaded a five-second video showing its streaming service's new logo appearing in a hazy multi-colored animation before it shifts into focus at the center of the screen. Playing in the background is a soundmark, or as its composer calls it, a "mnemonic." 

The soundmark will appear before every show and every episode in a series, according its composer Finneas, whom you may know as Billie Eilish's brother and frequent collaborator. "The things that I think of as real classic mnemonics are NBC — you can hear that in your head — or HBO has its static," he told Variety. Netflix's "tudum" sound is pretty iconic, as well. Only time can tell if Apple's will have the same impact. He explained that the five-second version Apple released as a video will be played before every movie and in between the episodes of a show, so you're bound to hear it multiple times if you're bingeing a series. Apple also made a one-second version of the intro for trailers and a 12-second one for anything released in theaters, such as Killers of the Flower Moon. 

Finneas said that he was approached by Apple's Head of Music, David Taylor, who apparently told him that the company was "simplifying" the service. Removing the "plus" from its name was just the beginning. In addition, Apple has also debuted a new logo for Apple One, a subscription option that bundles multiple Apple services, including Apple Music, TV and iCloud+, into a lower-priced monthly plan. The new logo uses a textured multi-colored Apple illustration. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-tv-has-a-new-intro-bumper-and-soundmark-140016449.html?src=rss

Elon Musk teases a flying car on Joe Rogan’s show

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Elon Musk has told Joe Rogan that he hopes to unveil a flying car "before the end of the year." As Gizmodo has reported, Rogan asked Musk about about the long-delayed second-gen Tesla Roadster in his show, when the Tesla CEO suddenly started talking about wanting the vehicle to fly. If you'll recall, Tesla unveiled a new Roadster in 2017 and had plans to start deliveries in 2020, but its production got delayed again and again. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently tweeted that he'd been having difficulties getting a refund on the $50,000 deposit he made for one way back in 2018. But instead of talking in depth about Roadster's status, Musk talked about getting close to an "unforgettable" product demo of a prototype instead. 

He was giving Rogan vague answers in the interview, but he eventually said: "Well, you know, my friend Peter Thiel, once reflected that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don’t have flying cars. I mean, I think if Peter wants a flying car, we should be able to buy one" He didn't want to divulge all the details in the show, but he claimed that the vehicle Tesla is supposedly working on contains "crazy, crazy technology." Musk said he wasn't sure it's a car but that "it loos like a car." He didn't answer when Rogan asked if it had "retractable wings" or mentioned if the vehicle would be VTOL, or a Vertical Take-off and Landing, aircraft. 

Musk has been talking about developing flying cars as early as 2014, as Gizmodo notes. However, take note that the CEO is rather infamous for being overly optimistic and ambitious with his timelines, not just for the automaker but also for his other companies like SpaceX. Take for example, the aforementioned Roadster, which is yet to go into production, and the SpaceX Falcon Heavy whose first launch didn't happen until five years later than he predicted. That said, it's also possible for Tesla to unveil a prototype that would still have to go through massive changes and improvements if and when it becomes ready for production. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/elon-musk-teases-a-flying-car-on-joe-rogans-show-120022824.html?src=rss

Samsung is using NVIDIA chips to build its new AI chip factory

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NVIDIA has teamed up with with South Korea's biggest companies and the country itself, as they build out their AI infrastructure. One of those companies is Samsung, which is building a new AI factory that will use 50,000 NVIDIA Blackwell server GPUs and other NVIDIA technologies to make its own chips. This "AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing," as the companies call it, will help Samsung improve its processes, better predict maintenance needs and improve the efficiency of its autonomous operations. NVIDIA will help Samsung adapt its chipmaking lithography platform to work with its GPUs, and it will apparently result in 20 times greater performance for Samsung. 

Korean carmaker Hyundai will also use 50,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to develop its AI models for manufacturing and autonomous driving. Meanwhile, the SK Group conglomerate, which includes SK Telecom and DRAM and flash memory chip supplier SK Hynix, will use 50,000 NVIDIA Blackwell server chips to launch an industrial AI cloud. The facility, NVIDIA says, will power the "next generation of memory, robotics, digital twins and intelligent AI agents." As Bloomberg reports, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who's in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit, was recently photographed with Samsung's Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai’s Chung Euisun in a local restaurant. 

Finally, NVIDIA is working with the South Korean government for its sovereign AI infrastructure, or AI it will have control over. The Korean government will deploy 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs to the National AI Computing Center it's establishing, as well to facilities owned by local companies that include Kakao and Naver.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/samsung-is-using-nvidia-chips-to-build-its-new-ai-chip-factory-130057773.html?src=rss

YouTube TV loses ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels

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Disney's channels have gone dark on YouTube TV after the companies failed to reach an agreement by their October 30 deadline. The affected channels include ESPN, local ABC stations, ABC News, FX, NatGeo, Disney Channel and Freeform. "Last week Disney used the threat of a blackout on YouTube TV as a negotiating tactic to force deal terms that would raise prices on our customers," YouTube said in an announcement on its blog. "They’re now following through on that threat, suspending their content on YouTube TV." YouTube added that Disney's decision harms its subscribers while benefiting its own live TV products, such as Hulu+Live TV and Fubo.

In a statement sent to the Los Angeles Times, however, Disney accused Google's YouTube TV of choosing to deny "subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay fair rates for [its] channels, including ESPN and ABC." Disney also accused Google of using its market dominance to "eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms" that other pay-TV distributors have agreed to pay for its content. YouTube TV lost access to Disney channels back in 2021, but they were immediately able to strike a deal that restored the channels the very next day. The companies are most likely still trying to negotiate at the moment, but Google says it will offer subscribers a $20 credit if Disney channels remain offline for an extended period of time. 

Google has had to make several similar announcements over the past year. In February, YouTube TV almost lost Paramount content, including CBS, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon, before reaching a last-minute deal. The same thing happened in August with Fox. More recently, Google and NBCUniversal also came to an agreement at the eleventh hour, though YouTube TV lost access to Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-tv-loses-espn-abc-and-other-disney-channels-113026329.html?src=rss