Tag Archives: region|US

Verizon may cut 15,000 jobs next week

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The Wall Street Journal reported that Verizon plans to cut about 15,000 jobs over the next week. Sources told the publication that Verizon is attempting to reduce costs as it faces more competition for wireless service and home internet customers. At the reported scope, this would be the largest reduction in history for the telecom company. 

Verizon leadership indicated that a sea change was coming in its third-quarter financial report last month, although many of the figures for the period were positive. The company's net income reached $5.1 billion and most other metrics showed year-on-year growth. However, Verizon did a marked drop in postpaid wireless customers, losing 7,000 customers in that segment compared with a gain of 18,000 in Q3 2024. "We are going to take bold and fiscally responsible action to redefine Verizon's trajectory at this critical inflection point for our company," CEO Dan Schulman said. "These will not be incremental changes." 

According to WSJ, most of the coming cuts will take the form of layoffs, but Verizon may also look to reduce employee count by turning about 200 stores into franchise locations.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/verizon-may-cut-15000-jobs-next-week-214143406.html?src=rss

Apple suffers setback in UK App Store fee lawsuit

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Apple will not be granted a preliminary option for appealing a landmark antitrust ruling in the UK. In October, the country's Competition Appeal Tribunal determined that Apple benefited from "near absolute market power" over app distribution and in-app payments and was "abusing its dominant position by charging excessive and unfair prices" as developer commission. At the time, Apple was reportedly planning to appeal, but today, the Tribunal refused to give the company permission to challenge its decision. 

That means Apple's next recourse, if it wants to not pony up more than £1 billion in damages, is to take its case directly to the UK Court of Appeal. The company has requested 21 days to file any application with that judicial body. 

It has been a busy year for Apple as it faces more regulatory pressure over its rules for the App Store and fees charged to mobile developers. Earlier today, Apple announced a new partner program that would halve the commissions it charges for mini-app transactions.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-suffers-setback-in-uk-app-store-fee-lawsuit-204627286.html?src=rss

Apple will bring MLS games to its normal TV subscription

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Apple is retiring its Major League Soccer Season Pass and including the next season of MLS as part of its normal Apple TV subscription. Details of a new partnership agreement between Apple and MLS were first reported by The Athletic. The arrangement appears to be similar to the one the company made in October to bring F1 races to all subscribers.

Starting in 2026, all MLS games will be available to Apple TV subscribers. That includes regular season matches, and annual events like the Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup and the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

First announced in 2022, the MLS Season Pass remains one of Apple's most significant forays into sports programming to date. As part of its original agreement with MLS, Apple became the exclusive way soccer fans streamed MLS games globally, eliminating any kind of regional blackout as long as Apple TV was accessible. That level of access will now continue, without the need to pay $15 a month for MLS Season Pass. You just need an Apple TV subscription to keep up with your favorite team.

"We're thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV," Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, shared in the announcement. "Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it's a win for fans everywhere."

The new agreement reportedly also comes with some wrinkles for Apple. Sportico writes that the company will not only pay more, but the partnership will also now end in 2029 rather than 2032. MLS will reportedly be paid $200 million for the 2026 season, $175 million for a shorter 2027 “sprint campaign” and then $275 million for both the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons. Afterward, MLS will be able to shop around its licensing rights to other streamers, or renew with Apple.

While Apple hasn't succeeded in locking down NBA or NFL games like its competitors Amazon and Google, the company has been slowly growing its sports ambitions. Apple's Friday Night Baseball streams now seem modest in comparison to what it's doing with the MLS and F1. The company's five-year F1 deal includes every Grand Prix race, along with practice, qualifying and sprint sessions. With the FIFA World Cup on the way in 2026, the company's new MLS deal is also impeccably timed.

Update, November 14, 5:08PM ET: Added new financial details of the MLS deal from a Sportico report.

Update, November 13, 5:03PM ET: Added details and a quote from Apple’s official announcement.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-will-bring-mls-games-to-its-normal-tv-subscription-200831479.html?src=rss

A new Nintendo Switch 2 system update just bricked many third-party docks

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The most recent Switch 2 software update looks to have bricked many third-party docks and related accessories, according to users across the internet and a report by Kotaku. We don't know if this was an intentional move by Nintendo or simply an accident. Engadget has reached out to the company for clarification.

The Switch 2 update 21.0.0 brings some much-needed quality-of-life features, like the ability to turn off autoplaying videos in the eShop and new icons that indicate whether a game is digital or physical. However, it also brought along the aforementioned dock hiccup.

Switch 2 owners have reported that these docks either don't work at all or are now much more finicky, often requiring a restart. This doesn't seem to have impacted all third-party docks, but complaints are coming in pertaining to many different products. YouTuber AustinJohnPlays tested out two different Switch 2 dock dongles after the update and reported that both were borked.

Nintendo has responded to these allegations, suggesting that this was an accident that only impacted certain devices. The company wrote that it "does not have any intention to hinder or invalidate legal third-party dock compatibility." Sometimes new console firmware impacts third-party accessories. At the very least, this was something that happened to the original Switch a couple of times. 

The companies that make these accessories will have to perform their own software updates to get things going again. In the meantime, exercise caution when buying a third-party dock. 

Update, November 14 2025, 12:55PM ET: This story has been updated to include Nintendo's response and a likely cause of the issue. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/a-new-nintendo-switch-2-system-update-just-bricked-many-third-party-docks-194551477.html?src=rss

Tesla is reportedly testing Apple CarPlay in its vehicles

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Tesla may finally be capitulating to the calls of iPhone users wanting what practically every other major automaker offers them, Apple CarPlay. Bloomberg is reporting that the EV giant is working to add Apple’s car infotainment integration to its vehicles, according to the outlet’s sources. The feature has reportedly begun internal testing and could be ready for release in the coming months. Of course, development and testing of the feature is not a guarantee that it sees the light of day.

An about-face of this magnitude would be truly surprising given Tesla’s years of steadfast commitment to its own infotainment solution, which doesn’t require connecting a smartphone. In the past, there has been a somewhat frosty relationship between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the iPhone maker. Musk once said that he offered to sell Tesla to Apple when the Model 3 program almost bankrupted the company, but said Tim Cook refused to take the meeting. Apple had also previously poached key Tesla employees for its failed Apple Car project.

Tesla will reportedly be including CarPlay in a separate window within its existing software interface, ensuring it won’t be fully replacing the existing Tesla system. Bloomberg also reported that Tesla would be using the standard version of CarPlay, as opposed to the newer CarPlay Ultra that integrates with the vehicle’s instrument cluster.

This would be an interesting time to jump on the bandwagon as Apple CarPlay may be just past its peak. GM recently announced it would be phasing out support for both CarPlay and Android Auto in favor of a system built around Gemini, which seems to go directly against the popularity of the platform. Ford's CEO recently expressed disappointment in Apple's latest beefed up version of the tool. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment on the report, and at the time of publication Elon Musk has not commented either.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-is-reportedly-testing-apple-carplay-in-its-vehicles-192505635.html?src=rss

Black Friday deals include this Roomba robot vacuum for only $130

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Robot vacuums can be a huge help, keeping your floors clean regularly without much extra work on your part. Black Friday deals often include some of our favorite robovacs, and this year is shaping up to be no different. iRobot's entry-level Roomba 104 Vac robot vacuum is available for 48 percent off right now, bringing it down to a record low of $130. A number of other Roombas are on sale for Black Friday, too.

In iRobot's lineup of robot vacuums, the Roomba 104 sits on the low end, adept at vacuuming up dust and hair, but without the mopping ability of its more expensive Max, Plus or Combo counterparts. The Roomba 104 Vac makes for a great first robot vacuum all the same, though, because of its four levels of powerful suction, and easy-to-use app. Like iRobot's other vacuums, the Roomba 104 maps and navigates your home with LiDAR, which helps it avoid obstacles. And using the Roomba Home app, you can schedule it to clean specific rooms, and even spot-clean particularly dirty spots.

An earlier version of the Roomba Vac is Engadget's favorite budget robot vacuum, and you'll get the same great performance out of the newer Roomba 104 Vac. That includes a specialized brush for cleaning the hard-to-reach corners of your home, and also a charging dock that the vacuum can automatically return to once it's down charging.

This sale on Roomba vacuums comes at an admittedly difficult time for iRobot at large, with the company dealing with a serious financial shortfall as of its last earning statement. Regardless of what happens to iRobot, though, the Roomba 104 Vac's offline mode should mean that it can clean your home and charge itself without the need of an app or an internet connection. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/black-friday-deals-include-this-roomba-robot-vacuum-for-only-130-191506142.html?src=rss

Red Dead Redemption is coming on December 4 to mobile for Netflix subscribers

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Red Dead Redemption will finally be available on mobile devices, but only for Netflix subscribers. This was discovered by prolific news source and deals curator Wario64, who also revealed a release date of December 4. The game will be free to play on both iOS and Android devices and will include the zombie-centric DLC Undead Nightmare.

That same leaker has also discovered an ESRB website with ratings for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and the Switch 2. Rockstar's open world western is heading to current-gen platforms on December 2. It's already available for the PS4 and the original Switch.

It's worth reiterating that this is the first Red Dead Redemption from 2010, and not the sequel. It's still a great game, despite not quite reaching the highs of Red Dead Redemption 2.

This is just the latest team-up between Netflix and Rockstar. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition became available on Android and iOS for Netflix subscribers back in 2023.

Update, November 13 2025, 2:12PM ET: This story has been updated to include the current-gen console release date and trailer. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/red-dead-redemption-is-coming-to-mobile-for-netflix-subscribers-180557451.html?src=rss

Vampire Survivors VR asks what if the bullet hell was on your face?

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During my many hours playing Vampire Survivors I often wondered what it would feel like to have the absolutely insane bullet hell action extremely close to my eyeballs. Now my dream is being fulfilled, as there's a VR port for Meta Quest headsets.

The appropriately-named Vampire Survivors VR costs $10 and is available for the Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S and Pro. This isn't a game that puts you in the middle of the action, as you won't have to duck and weave around the living room to avoid incoming hordes. Rather, it gives you a top-down view of the stage and you use a controller to navigate as you would on any other platform. This kind of tactic has worked in the past with VR titles like Demeo.

It can be played seated or standing, which isn't true of all VR games. Also, this is a standalone version and there's no cross-buy with other platforms. That means that save files don't carry over. That's a bummer, but I guess it makes sense given the uniqueness of VR. Developer Poncle has not revealed if this version will feature online co-op, which was recently announced as coming soon to the PC and console builds.

As for DLC, Vampire Survivors VR includes the base game and the Legacy of the Moonspell and Tides of the Foscari expansions. We don't have any information regarding the status of other expansions like the cool Castlevania one or the utterly bizarre Balatro tie-in.

Vampire Survivors VR is available right now, for those willing to risk a massive headache and perhaps a spot of nausea. Poncle currently has no plans to develop it for other VR platforms, like Steam VR or Pico.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/vampire-survivors-vr-asks-what-if-the-bullet-hell-was-on-your-face-190749256.html?src=rss

Apple halves App Store fees for mini apps

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Apple has introduced a new plan for developers who offer mini-apps that could see the commission rate cut in half. Under the App Store Mini Apps Partner Program, devs would pay a reduced rate of 15 percent, compared to the current 30 percent, on qualifying in-app purchases. Apple has a bunch of more detailed explanations and an FAQ about how the partner program will work and what mini apps are eligible. 

Mini apps are "self-contained experiences" — often web-based games — that live within a larger "host" app. Apple has allowed developers to offer these experiences for years, but only allowed mini app developers to support in-app purchases of their own last year.

In order to participate in the Mini Apps Partner Program, developers will need to meet a few additional requirements. To start, developers will need to support both iOS and iPadsOS functionality. They're also required to implement Apple's Advanced Commerce API, as well as the Declared Age Range API. The latter requirement would prevent underage users from circumventing parental controls by accessing a mini app with a higher age rating than the host app.

Apple's fee structure has been an ongoing subject of debate, and the company has faced global pressure from regulators to change its commission policies to prove it isn't engaged in monopolistic, anti-competitive practices. We've already seen some changes at Apple this year, as its legal saga with Epic Games wound towards a conclusion and some of the App Store guidelines were changed to allow for external payment options.

Update, November 13, 2025, 2PM PT: Added additional details about the Mini Apps Partner Program.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-halves-app-store-fees-for-mini-apps-190251153.html?src=rss

Disney+ may start hosting user-generated AI videos

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During Disney's latest earnings call, CEO Bob Iger spoke about next steps for the Disney+ streaming service, and he noted that the entertainment giant has had "productive conversations" with potential AI partners. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ might soon play host to user-generated short-form AI videos. 

"The other thing that we’re really excited about, that AI is going to give us the ability to do, is to provide users of Disney+ with a much more engaged experience, including the ability for them to create user-generated content and to consume user generated content — mostly short-form — from others," Iger said. He didn’t specify which companies Disney has been in talks with or offer any particularly timeline for the arrival of gen-AI features.

There are already a bunch of ways for people to make and share AI slop videos, so this isn't a new concept he's touting. But it is a surprising direction for Disney, which has long been hawkish about protecting both its image and its IP. The company has already made legal moves against multiple different AI platforms, including a cease and desist sent to Character.AI and copyright infringement lawsuits against Midjourney and Hailuo. Iger said he hoped any partnership would "reflect our need to protect the IP," and it would almost certainly be a lucrative deal for Disney. But even within the confines of its own platform, this is still quite an about-face for the company to now encourage gen-AI creations of familiar characters.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/disney-may-start-hosting-user-generated-ai-videos-185000745.html?src=rss