Uber's robotaxi service with EV maker Lucid and self-driving car company Nuro is officially coming to the Bay Area in 2026. The ride-hailing service previously announced plans to deploy at least 20,000 self-driving Lucid cars powered by Nuro's driving software in July. The partnership between the companies also included investment from Uber in both Nuro and Lucid.
Uber's final robotaxi experience will offer rides in Lucid Gravity SUVs running the Nuro Driver Level 4 autonomy system, and be available exclusively through the company's app. Ahead of launch, Uber says Lucid and Nuro are also helping to build out an "Engineering Test Fleet" of over 100 robotaxis to run safety tests. "Nuro will lead the development and validation of a comprehensive safety case across dozens of categories," Uber says, "using simulations, closed course testing, and supervised on-road testing to verify that the robotaxi will operate safely." The final service will be fully owned and operated by Uber.
Since Uber sold off its own self-driving software team in 2020, the company has worked with multiple self-driving car companies to continue to offer robotaxis on its service. Just in 2025, Uber partnered with Waymo in Austin and Atlanta, announced plans to work with Momenta in Europe and debuted a partnership with Volkswagen to offer self-driving ID.Buzz vans. This Lucid and Nuro deal is really just one way the company is making serious investments in self-driving.
"The Bay Area has long been the birthplace of transformative technology, and it's only fitting that Uber's next-generation robotaxi program with Lucid and Nuro will begin here — launching to the public next year," Sachin Kansal, Uber's Chief Product Officer, shared in a press release. "By combining deep expertise in electric vehicles, autonomy, and ride-hailing, we're laying the groundwork for safe and scalable autonomous rides in the Bay Area and beyond."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-and-lucids-robotaxis-will-debut-in-the-bay-area-in-2026-120000876.html?src=rss
Engadget has been reviewing the latest devices for over two decades, adding well over 100 in-depth product tests to our tally every year. For 2025, we have compiled a list of the best gear we reviewed this year based on the highest review scores in each category. From Pixel to iPad, and Switch 2 to Sony WH-1000XM6, our reviews team has spent thousands of hours testing new products this year to discover the best of the best. Now it’s your turn to rediscover the best gadgets of 2025, including explanations from our editors as to why these products were rated so highly.
Best overall phone: Google Pixel 10 Pro
Best iPhone: iPhone 17 Pro
Best foldable: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Best laptop: MacBook Air M4
Best Windows laptop: Dell 14 Premium
Best gaming laptop: Acer Predator Triton 14 AI
Best smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 11
Best tablet: Apple iPad Air (M3, 13-inch)
Best desktop: Apple Mac Studio M4 Max
Best gaming handheld: Nintendo Switch 2
Best headphones: Sony WH-1000XM6
Best earbuds: Apple AirPods Pro 3
Best CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Best drone: DJI Neo 2
Best camera: Sony A1 II
Best smart glasses: Ray-Ban Meta (2nd gen)
Best home theater: Anker Nebula X1
Best kitchen appliance: Ninja Swirl by Creami
Best kitchen accessory: Thermoworks RFX
Best EV: 2026 Nissan Leaf
Best VPN: Proton VPN
Best wireless mouse: Logitch MX Master 4
Best charging accessory: Anker Laptop Power Bank
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadgets-best-of-2025-114500543.html?src=rss
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, Reuters reported. It claims that OpenAI's use of "Cameo" is likely to cause consumer confusion and dilute its brand.
"Via the conduct alleged in this Complaint, OpenAI has knowingly co-opted a well-established, federally registered trademark, ignoring... the clear risk of consumer confusion, and the irreparable harm that will be inflicted on Plaintiff’s Cameo trademark rights and brand," the complaint states.
Open AI is reviewing the complaint, but "disagree[s] that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word 'cameo,'" a spokesperson told Reuters. Meanwhile, Cameo's CEO Steven Galanis said it tried to resolve the dispute "amicably," but OpenAI refused to stop using the name.
Cameo lets users choose from a stable of celebrities — including the likes of Jon Gruden, Lisa Vanderpump and Colin Mochrie — to create short, personalized videos. Prices range from around $30 to $600 per video.
Sora, meanwhile, uses OpenAI's Sora 2 video generation tech to create and share videos. The app immediately drew attention over potentially unauthorized use of anime, deceased celebrities and other legally protected sources.
Cameo stated that OpenAI not only used its name, but starting offering its own cameo service using deepfake likenesses of celebrities like Mark Cuban and Jake Paul. "Users seeking a personalized celebrity video [could] use Plaintiff's Cameo service to book talent and receive an authentic, custom video prepared by that celebrity, or use Sora’s 'Cameo' service to create an extremely realistic AI-generated video featuring a celebrity’s likeness," the lawsuit states.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/openai-sued-for-trademark-infringement-over-soras-cameo-feature-113047158.html?src=rss
I really like Surfshark VPN. Like I said in my full Surfshark review, it's the fastest VPN on the market, with download speeds that beat all the other best VPNs. It also gives you universal split tunneling, multi-hop with customizable endpoints and unlimited simultaneous connections.
Surfshark does have its flaws, though. The apps hang up on error messages a bit too often and features sometimes turn on when you don't need them. If anything about Surfshark is annoying you enough that you're ready to switch, here's how you can cancel your subscription, get a refund and (if you want) delete your account altogether.
How to cancel auto-renewal on Surfshark
To cancel Surfshark, all you need to do is stop your subscription from automatically renewing. After you cancel auto-renewal, you can keep using Surfshark for the rest of the period you paid for (unless you get the refund or delete your account entirely). Assuming you bought your subscription through the Surfshark website, follow these steps to cancel.
Go to Surfshark.com. At the top-right of the screen, click My account.
Enter your username and password, then log in. You'll be taken to your account dashboard at my.surfshark.com.
At the top-right of the screen, click your account email address. Click on Subscription in the drop-down menu.
Click the Payments tab under the words "Your subscription."
Scroll down to the "Subscription details" section. Next to your Surfshark subscription, click on Cancel auto-renewal.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
That's all there is to it. Remember that unless it's been 30 days or less since you subscribed, you won't be able to get a refund, and Surfshark doesn't offer prorating for unused time. Additionally, you can always cancel Surfshark by simply opening a live-chat window and asking the support team to do it for you — just be warned that you'll probably be asked to reconsider several times first.
How to cancel Surfshark if you subscribed through an app store
If you subscribed through an app store, the cancellation process is different. You'll have to stop your auto-renewal through the platform where you first bought the subscription. In this section, I'll cover how to cancel through the desktop versions of each app store, since requests submitted there are more likely to work. Just note that you can do the same thing by going to the subscriptions section of your profile on the appropriate mobile app store.
If you bought Surfshark through the Google Play Store, open play.google.com on a desktop computer. Click the circle at the top-right that contains your account's first initial, then click Payments & subscriptions in the menu that appears. On the new page, click the Subscriptions tab, then scroll down until you find Surfshark. Click Manage, click Cancel Subscription and follow the instructions.
If you went through the Apple App store, a desktop computer is also the easiest way to cancel. Open the App Store in macOS, click Sign In at the bottom-left, then enter your email and Apple ID password. After signing in, check the bottom-left again and click your name, then click Account Settings at the top-right. Click Subscriptions, find Surfshark, then click Edit and Cancel Subscription.
How to cancel Surfshark if you subscribed through Amazon
You can buy Surfshark through Amazon, but if you do, you'll also have to cancel through Amazon. Go to Amazon and log in to your account. At the top-right, click Account & Lists, then Membership & Subscriptions. Scroll until you find Surfshark and click Cancel Subscription. After that, follow the onscreen prompts.
How to delete your Surfshark account
It's possible to delete your Surfshark account and immediately end your association with every Surfshark app, but there's no direct method — your only option is to start a live chat conversation. To do that, go to support.surfshark.com, scroll to the bottom and click Chat with us. In the conversation window, tell the bot you want to delete your Surfshark account. Be prepared to fend off several requests for you to reconsider.
How to get a refund from Surfshark
Surfshark offers a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Live chat is the only way to request a refund. Go to support.surfshark.com and click Chat with us at the bottom of the page, then tell the live chat bot you want a full refund. It'll guide you from there.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
If you subscribed through Amazon or an app store, you'll need to request the refund through there instead. The typical refund policy for each platform applies, superseding Surfshark.
Surfshark alternatives
After you've cancelled Surfshark, I strongly recommend considering another VPN — it's not only a vital privacy precaution, but opens up worlds of streaming fun as well. My favorite for both price and performance is Proton VPN, but NordVPN is also a good choice, providing a similar experience to Surfshark but with apps that function a bit better. If you're prepared to pay a bit more for a service that works seamlessly, ExpressVPN may be for you.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-cancel-your-surfshark-subscription-110005758.html?src=rss
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. These results are then sent to the Withings app, letting you track the quality of your urine over time. Your humble narrator holds the dubious honor of being the first reporter to test the U-Scan during its debut, and found the results pretty interesting.
There are two cartridges available at launch, the first dubbed Nutrio, which looks at your body’s response to nutrition. It will look at your urine’s pH, specific gravity, ketones and the presence of vitamin C over time. Those factors can help you understand if your diet is too acidic, how much fluid you’re drinking on a regular basis, if you’re burning fat, and your anti oxidant intake. The company says that Nutri will be of special interest to people taking GLP-1 medication for weight loss to help them monitor changes to their nutrition levels. Calci, meanwhile, will track your urine’s pH, specific gravity and calcium levels, to keep an eye on your risk of developing kidney stones.
Naturally, such a tool will not be the most affordable in the world, and you can expect to pay a hefty price to own one. Pay $379.95 and you’ll be able to get a U-Scan, a single cartridge that will last for three months, and access to Withings+. The options are then split across “Proactive” and “Intensive” Plans, with the former giving you 2-4 analyses per week, while the latter runs near-daily. If you want the closer monitoring, then $449.96 will get you two cartridges and Withings+ access, which will last you the same three month window. As for replacement cartridges, those on the Proactive tier will spend $99.95 every quarter, while those in team Intensive will pay $179.95. As part of signing up for Withings+, you’ll get a free coaching session with a registered dietician available in all 50 states.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/withings-380-toilet-mounted-urine-analyzer-is-finally-ready-to-buy-040146049.html?src=rss
The 2025 Fall Classic saw a historic Game 4 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, with the Dodgers defeating the Blue Jays 6-5. The World Series continues in Los Angeles tonight — Monday, Oct. 27 — at 8PM ET/5PM PT, with the Shohei Ohtani starting Game 4 on the mound. The World Series odds favor the Dodgers ahead of tonight's game. Every 2025 MLB World Series game will air on Fox and Fox Deportes.
Of course, Fox is a "free" over-the-air channel, so any affordable digital antenna will pull in the game if you live close enough to a local affiliate. But if that's not an option, here's a full rundown of how to watch the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series, even without cable.
How to watch the L.A. Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 4
You can stream Fox on any live TV streaming service that airs Fox local stations, including DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. MLB World Series games will also be available on Fox's new streaming platform, Fox One.
More ways to watch the 2025 World Series
How to watch the MLB World Series from Canada:
When is the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays game time?
Game 4 of the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series is tonight, Oct. 28 at 8PM ET/5PM PT.
What channel is playing the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays?
Game 4 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays World Series schedule
All times Eastern.
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 8PM ET
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 8PM ET
Game 6*: Friday, Oct. 31, 8PM ET
Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 1, 8PM ET
*if necessary
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/dodgers-vs-blue-jays-game-4-tonight-how-to-watch-the-2025-mlb-world-series-without-cable-153110271.html?src=rss
If you’re a person who enjoys the social side of online gaming, this product launch is not for you. Board was designed by entrepreneur Brynn Putnam, alongside former World of Warcraft exec Seth Sivac, as a way to make the idea of "screen time" a more immersive in-person experience. "Families want to connect, but they’re competing with incredibly powerful technologies," Putnam told USA Today. "Board is about flipping that dynamic — using tech to support real human connection instead of replacing it."
The product acts like a typical tabletop game that you lay out flat, just like the cardboard play space for Monopoly or Settlers of Catan, but it offers additional digital interactions on the digital screen. The 12 games included are original to Board, each with unique piece sets.
Putnam has past experience creating tech that blends the physical and the digital. Her previous project, Mirror, was a workout screen for delivering live fitness classes at home. The company later got bought up by lululemon for a cool $500 million. Putnam is billing Board as "the first ever face-to-face gaming console" and at $499, its price tag nearly matches what you'd expect for current console hardware. And that’s the limited time offer; the website says Board will normally retail for $699. The sales pitch leans hard on the idea of connecting families without their phones, but for that cost, you could also buy more than a dozen different board and card games to eliminate the screens altogether. And screens don’t have to be the enemy. There are plenty of amazing couch co-op video games out there, including kid-friendly ones, not to mention the fact that even single-player games can be multiplayer experiences if you have the right mindset.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/board-is-a-500-board-game-console-with-12-original-titles-223313978.html?src=rss
GOG kicked off its annual Autumn Sale today with some discounts on excellent PC games that can carry you through the end of 2025. The sale runs through November 4, and notably also includes discounts on several older games maintained as part of the GOG Preservation Program.
The Autumn Sale includes sales on newer games like Cyberpunk 2077, which normally costs $60 but is available during the sale for $21, and the open-world game's excellent DLC, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, which you can pick up for $21, down from $30. GOG is also offering Silent Hill 2, the 2024 remake of the classic horror game, for 50 percent off, bringing its price down to $35. And if you're looking for something a little more ruminative, Disco Elysium - The Final Cut is 75 percent off, taking it from $40 to $10.
GOG is best known for selling old games, and the Autumn Sale includes some great options there, too. While it's not that old, Doom (2016) for $4, which is 80 percent off its normal $20 price, is pretty hard to deny. There's also classics like Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition, which you can get for $10, down from $20. And EA gems like Spore Collection andSimCity 3000 Unlimitedare also both 50 percent off, at $15 and $5, respectively.
New Vegas, Spore and SimCity 3000 are all part of GOG's Preservation Program, which was formally launched in 2024 as a way to guarantee classic titles run on modern hardware, support controllers and more. Maintaining the program has apparently led to its fair share of headaches, though. "To be perfectly honest, it's harder than we thought it would be," Marcin Paczynski, GOG’s senior business development manager, shared in an interview with The Game Business. "what we’ve found out is that the games and how they work has deteriorated way faster than what we thought. And we are not talking only about the game not launching. We are talking about more subtle things as well."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/gog-autumn-sale-discounts-cyberpunk-2077-silent-hill-2-and-fallout-new-vegas-221329021.html?src=rss
Two directors from MultiVersus are striking out on their own, forming a new, independent game studio. The platform brawler's production director, Justin Fischer, and technical director, Brock Feldman, have joined forces to launch a new endeavor called Airlock Games. Rather than continuing to follow the AAA route, the first project from Airlock is a sci-fi sim management horror game called What the Stars Forgot. The team plans to run a Kickstarter to generate backing for the game ahead of a planned early access launch in December.
Player First Games, the studio behind MultiVersus, was acquired by WB Games last summer, but despite a promising early showing, the game was shuttered in May at the close of its fifth season. But the choice for devs to bounce back with something new and smaller is becoming a familiar refrain in the games industry after several years of layoffs and cancelations. After so many highly anticipated projects have gotten the axe as a money-saving, cost-cutting decision by large outfits, it makes sense that devs might want to have more control over their own destinies.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-pair-of-multiversus-directors-are-launching-a-new-game-studio-211118742.html?src=rss
With digital games outselling physical ones by embarrassing margins, it's easy to conclude that the latter is done for. But sometimes, approaching extinction leads to pockets of nostalgic enthusiasm. (Think the modest resurgence that point-and-shoot cameras are currently enjoying.) That leaves room for Limited Run Games, which specializes in physical copies. The company's latest showcase, LRG3, is happening on Wednesday.
This month marks the 10th anniversary of Limited Run Games. There's been plenty of fun stuff during that decade. LRG has launched physical editions of Doom and Doom II — complete with a game box that plays (yep!) Doom. For LucasArts fans, there was a Monkey Island box set (Guybrush statue in tow!). LRG also launched physical editions of indie games like Celeste and Runner 2.
What's on tap for the anniversary event? Well, your guess is as good as ours. But the company did tease some of the partners who will have announcements. They include Ubisoft, Square Enix Collective, Astral Shift, Retroware, The MIX and WayForward.
LRG3 begins on Wednesday, October 29, at noon ET. You can stream the shindig on LRG's YouTube and Twitch channels.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-limited-run-games-2025-showcase-200050327.html?src=rss