Grammarly is no more, at least with regards to its name. The AI-powered writing assistance tool founded in 2009 has been absorbed into a new software platform called Superhuman. It follows Grammarly’s acquisition of Superhuman Mail earlier this year, with the former taking the somewhat unusual step of adopting its newly obtained company’s name, rather than the other way around.
Superhuman unites Grammarly, Superhuman Mail and the AI work assistant Coda (also acquired by Grammarly in 2025) in one productivity suite, allowing users to access all three tools as part of a single plan. The company has also launched a new AI assistant called Superhuman Go that is included in every Superhuman plan tier and is baked into the Grammarly browser extension for Chrome and Edge.
Superhuman Go’s capabilities include assisting with professional-sounding email responses, fetching information and scheduling meetings. At launch it can connect to your Google Workspace apps and Microsoft Outlook, with the idea being that the AI is always there making suggestions in the background, rather than you needing to ask it for assistance.
Superhuman plans to add additional functionality to Coda and Superhuman Mail, such as turning ideas from meetings into drafts and more effectively organizing your inbox according to your schedule. Its vision for the rebrand is that instead of thinking of Grammarly as a writing agent alone, you utilize all of its different agents and platforms to work more productively.
Anyone previously using Grammarly can now use Superhuman Go, and the Superhuman suite is being bundled into a number of different plans. The $12 per month (billed annually) Pro plan offers unlimited paragraph rewrites and translations in 19 languages — a feature Grammarly added earlier this year — while the Business plan costs $33 per month (billed annually) and includes Superhuman’s mail client.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/grammarly-has-rebranded-to-superhuman-151001417.html?src=rss
Amazon Games is winding down support for New World: Aeternumamid layoffs in the division and even deeper job cuts across its parent company. The game debuted on PC in 2021 and it landed on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S just over a year ago.
"After four years of steady content updates and a major new console release, we've reached a point where it is no longer sustainable to continue supporting the game with new content updates," Amazon Games wrote in a blog post. "The recently launched Season 10 and Nighthaven update will serve as the final content release for New World on PC and consoles. It is only after much consideration that we've reached this decision."
Players will still be able to buy New World for now, and it will remain available to PlayStation Plus subscribers on the Extra and Premium tiers "until further notice." Amazon is making this month’s Nighthaven expansion available to everyone for free too.
The company said it will keep the game's servers up and running through 2026, "allowing our community time to continue their adventures in Aeternum." In terms of how long fans will be able to keep playing the game, Amazon said it will provide more details about "what to expect in the coming months.” It pledged to "provide a minimum of six months’ notice before making any changes that impact your ability to play New World: Aeternum."
According to Bloomberg, Amazon told staff in a memo this week that, as part of widespread layoffs, it would dial back work on big-budget games, especially MMOs — a category that New World falls under. Updates for Throne and Libertyand Lost Ark — MMOS that Amazon publishes but are developed externally — will continue, the company confirmed to MassivelyOP.
Amazon did not comment on the status of a Lord of the Rings MMO that’s been in the works for a while. However, according to Eurogamer, a former Amazon senior gameplay engineer wrote in a since-deleted LinkedIn post that they were laid off “alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (y'all would have loved it).”
Amazon Games vice president Christoph Hartmann told me last year that Amazon started its big push into games with MMOs because it saw an opportunity. At the time, there weren't too many titles in that genre popping up. However, he noted that "we're evolving out of the MMOs" into other genres, hinting then that the division was changing focus. (Amazon's first AAA game, the free-to-play shooter Crucible, didn't last long after its debut in 2020.)
New World is still a popular game. It got off to a blistering start, with a peak concurrent player count of 914,000 on Steam. This past weekend, it at one point had nearly 50,000 concurrent players on that platform. It was also one of the highest grossing games on Steam in 2021.
And yet it seems that Amazon's games division will now focus more on Luna, the cloud service for which it rolled out an overhaul just last week. It reportedly plans to keep releasing “casual and AI-focused games" for Luna, such as Courtroom Chaos: Starring Snoop Dogg, which puts an AI-generated version of the rapper in a Judge Judy-type role for court case-style debates between players. Amazon's most recent game for PC and consoles is King of Meat, a co-op dungeon-building platformer that has so far reached a peak Steam concurrent player count of just 253.
Update, October 30 11:02AM ET: Updated with details about the Lord of the Rings game’s possible cancellation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-winding-down-its-still-popular-new-world-mmo-amid-mass-layoffs-150500426.html?src=rss
Those looking for a better way to keep track of their finances should consider a budgeting app. There are dozens of them on the market now, and one of our favorites is running a discount for new subscribers. Monarch Money is offering 50 percent off annual plans right now when you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout. With the typical yearly price being $100, this will save you $50.
As mentioned before, the discount is only for new users and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web as well. You can't redeem it through the Monarch mobile app.
We feel that Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers and that certain aspects of the app are slightly more complex than they probably need to be. But it offers a great deal of customization and granularity, which outweighs our misgivings.
On the main dashboard, you'll see your net worth along with your latest transactions, spending versus the previous month, your income so far for the month and details about upcoming bills, your investments and goals you've set. There's also a link to a month-in-review page, which offers an in-depth overview of what's been happening with your money that month. You'll also be able to take a peek at how your net worth has changed over time.
Monarch can connect to your bank and track Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings accounts. It can pull in your transactions and balance history automatically and detect your recurring expenses and income. The app can even keep your car valuation up to date. While it might take a little work to set up Monarch (and you might have to tweak things here and there), it's a detailed budgeting app that can help you keep better track of your income, expenditure and net worth.
If you're a former Mint user (RIP), Monarch Money is a great alternative if you haven't yet found a Mint replacement. But it's worth mentioning that our favorite Mint replacement service, Quicken Simplifi, also has a sale going on right now. It's offering 50 percent off when you sign up for an annual subscription, billed at $3 per month with the discount. That comes out to $36 for the first year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-budgeting-apps-is-on-sale-for-50-percent-off-a-one-year-subscription-174011594.html?src=rss
Do you have one streaming service too many? While you're far from alone in that, sometimes it's worth saying goodbye to one and saving some cash. Take Paramount+, which starts at $8 per month for its ad-supported Essential plan. Then there's its ad-free Premium plan, coming in at $13 a month.
In the meantime, here's everything you need to know about canceling your subscription through Paramount+ or third-party providers like Apple or Google.
How to cancel via web:
If your subscription is directly through Paramount+ then canceling it takes only a few clicks.
Sign in to your Paramount+ account on your browser.
Go to the Paramount+ Account page.
Tap on Cancel Subscription.
How to cancel via third-party provider:
It's still relatively simple to cancel your Paramount+ subscription even if you bought it through a third-party. Here's what you need to know based on where you purchased it.
Cancel via Apple iPhone or iPad
Go to Settings in your iPhone or iPad.
Choose your name.
Tap Subscriptions.
Click Paramount+ and then select Cancel Subscription.
Tap Confirm.
Cancel via Apple TV
Go to Settings in your Apple TV.
Tap Users & Accounts.
Select your Apple TV account.
Choose Subscriptions.
Click Paramount+ and select Cancel Subscription.
Cancel via Google Play Store on a web browser
Go to the Google Play Store through a web browser.
Sign in to your Google Play Store account.
Click Bills & Accounts on the left side of the screen.
Choose Paramount+ and tap Cancel Subscription.
Cancel via your Android smartphone or tablet
Go to the Google Play Store app.
Click on your profile icon.
Choose Payment & Subscriptions.
Tap on Subscriptions.
Click Paramount+ and then select Cancel Subscription.
Follow the prompts to confirm your cancelation.
Cancel via your Android TV
Open the Google Play Store app.
Go to Menu.
Choose My Apps.
Tap on Subscription.
Click Paramount+ and then select Cancel.
Choose Yes to confirm your cancelation.
Cancel via Amazon
Go to Amazon App Store Subscriptions.
Sign in to your Amazon account.
Find your Paramount+ subscription and choose Actions.
Tap Turn Off Auto-Renewal.
Click Turn Off Auto-Renewal again to confirm your cancelation.
Can I pause my subscription?
No, there's no option as of yet to pause your Paramount+ subscription. If you want to cancel it then just do so and rejoin when the time is right — or a better deal is available.
What happens after you cancel
The good news is that your subscription won't end immediately. If you're in a free trial then your access to Paramount+ will remain until the trial period ends. Similarly, paid subscribers will lose the ability to use Paramount+ at the end of the current billing period. Notably, if you've used a multi-month promotion, your subscription will still stop at the end of your current billing period.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-cancel-your-paramount-subscription-140053714.html?src=rss
I vividly remember testing the first Echo Studio. Even though that was nearly six years ago, I can clearly recall my surprise that Amazon had finally built a smart speaker that actually sounded good. It certainly helped that Amazon created a device that appropriately broadcasted spatial audio, and one that offered a boost to movies in the living room (if you bought a pair of them).
I was similarly surprised to see the overhauled Echo Studio when Amazon revealed it a few weeks ago. Could the company offer the same audio performance in a speaker that was 40 percent smaller? The 2025 Echo Studio ($220) combines three 1.5-inch full-range drivers with a 3.75-inch woofer in a very confined space, all powered by the company’s new AI-ready processor. There’s certainly a lot to like about the comprehensive reboot of the Studio after such a long time, but for now, there are also several caveats.
What’s good about the Echo Studio?
Amazon completely redesigned the Echo Studio, opting for a much more compact, spherical look compared to the previous large cylinder. To me, this is an upgrade; it looks less like a speaker and more like a piece of home decor. Amazon also moved the trademark light ring to the front, the element that illuminates when you’re talking to Alexa, so it’s easier to see when you’re directly facing the speaker. The lights will also display volume level in white when you make an adjustment, flash red if you mute the microphones and show blue for Bluetooth pairing mode. If you employ the Drop In feature, the Echo’s intercom of sorts, the ring glows green while you check in on what’s happening in the room from somewhere else.
The company also relocated all of the controls. The volume and mute buttons that used to be on top are now on an angled panel on the front, offering satisfying travel when you press them. And those are the only three buttons you get on the Echo Studio, as Amazon wants you to use noice commands for everything else when playing music or podcasts. Or, you know, you could reach for your phone.
There are optional tap controls that can be used to snooze alarms, stop timers and end both calls and Drop Ins. You simply tap the top of the Echo Studio for this. What’s more, you can enable “advanced” tap control that allows you to play/pause media with the same action.
Amazon promises "powerful bass and crystal-clear vocals" on the new Echo Studio, and I'd say the latter holds true. There is great clarity in the sound here, and the tuning definitely favors highs and mids across nearly every genre. For example, the synths and vocals on the TRON: Ares soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails are more prominent than the drum machines or bass line. Still, I heard an immersive quality to these songs, but not as much as I've noticed using headphones or earbuds. There's more low-end tone on Thrice's Horizons/West, and overall, the instruments offer a more enveloping quality than most other albums I tested. Just know there's quite a bit of variation from album to album and genre to genre.
Like the original Echo Studio, this model supports spatial audio, Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio content. Those are available from various streaming platforms, including Amazon Music Unlimited. Amazon only sent me one of the new speakers, so it’s tough to evaluate immersive Atmos sound here, but I gave it my best shot. The Echo Studio performs slightly better with Dolby Atmos tunes from Amazon Music as those songs have more depth and a wider soundstage. However, the bass is still quite muted, so even the spatial audio and Ultra HD quality boost don’t rescue the sluggish low-end tone and prominent vocals.
A word about Alexa+
Amazon's Echo Studio is a cozy home for Alexa+.
Billy Steele for Engadget
The new Echo Studio comes with early access to Alexa+, Amazon’s next-gen virtual assistant. The company has spent the last few years overhauling its companion, and my colleague Cherlynn Low has an in-depth preview of what you can expect when you’re able to use it. I’ve been chatting with the new Alexa for about a week during the course of testing this speaker, and to my surprise, this AI-powered assistant is indeed much improved.
The biggest change I’ve noticed is in on-going conversations with multiple follow-up questions or comments. The new AZ3 Pro chip inside the Echo Studio certainly helps keep things snappy, so there are no awkward pauses. I asked Alexa+ to remind me to make pizza dough one afternoon, and it confirmed the request without hesitation. Taking a cue from Cherlynn, I then asked about my mood right after, to which Alexa replied that I seemed to be chill based on my voice — a good “Monday vibe.”
Except it wasn’t Monday, it was Tuesday. When I corrected Alexa, the assistant played it cool, thanking me for helping and apologizing for the mistake. It then recalled the initial pizza request, commenting that it seemed like I was on top of things that day, including my dough recipe and the task at hand. It was the most human-to-human interaction I’ve ever had with a virtual assistant, and it felt like the promise of casual conversations with technology like this was finally fulfilled. And, I have to say, it kind of freaked me out.
My week–long fling hasn’t been without a few bumps though. Despite the Echo Studio having a built-in temperature sensor, Alexa+ can’t pull data from it. When you ask about the temperature in your house, the assistant checks for a connected thermostat, which I don’t have synced with the Alexa app. There are still times like this where you’ll run into some head-scratching limitations, but overall, the new Alexa is more human-like than ever when you interact with it. And again, at times, it’s pretty unsettling.
When the early access period is over, you’ll need a Prime membership to continue using Alexa+ for free. If you don’t have one, the next-gen assistant will cost you a whopping $20/month. And right now, the preview is only available in the US and in US English.
What’s not so good about the Echo Studio?
The new design features three drivers and a single woofer for sound.
Billy Steele for Engadget
While the clarity and somewhat immersive audio performance on the Echo Studio is a highlight, the lack of detail in the bass tuning is a hindrance most of the time. There is noticeable bass when a song calls for it, but the low-end tone has a muted, almost muffled quality that’s missing nuance. This makes songs like Water From Your Eyes’ “Born 2” sound much flatter and constrained than I’ve heard on the second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and AirPods Pro 3.
Amazon spent time during its recent launch event talking about Alexa Home Theater, a feature that will allow you to combine up to five Echo Studio speakers (or Echo Dot Max) with a compatible Fire TV stick. The company promises that all you have to do is plug in your gear and Alexa will handle the setup and tuning for you automatically. Unfortunately, Alexa Home Theater isn’t available yet; the company says it will be released “in the coming weeks.” Of course, this means I wasn’t able to test it, which leaves one of the Echo Studio’s best features — at least on paper — for future evaluation.
The company also nixed the 3.5mm input from the original Echo Studio. While I can appreciate that it was a much larger speaker, and 2019 was an entirely different time, I did like that Amazon gave us the option for wired connectivity on that device. With this new model, you’re left with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Despite enabling tap controls in the Echo Studio settings in the Alexa app, I could only get a few of them to work (snooze alarms, dismiss timers, end calls and stop Drop In) at first. I even made sure to stand right in front of the speaker so its proximity sensors would know I was there, tapping awkwardly on the 3D knit fabric. Amazon clarified that in order for play/pause to work with music, you have to ask Alexa to start playing your tunes directly on the speaker instead of doing so from your phone or another device via Bluetooth. Otherwise, you’ll be tapping for nothing, just like I did for longer than I care to admit.
Wrap-up
The second iteration of the Echo Studio is a refined smart speaker that’s purpose-built for Amazon’s next-gen AI voice assistant. The device is a nice home for Alexa+ and the new design is certainly an improvement over the 2019 aesthetic of the original. While there’s some aspects of the sound on the Echo Studio that I admire, the tuning doesn’t offer the comprehensive oomph of that first speaker. That’s mostly due to the lack of detail in the bass, despite a pleasingly immersive soundstage overall. One of the speaker’s main features is still on the way, and the tap controls need fine-tuning, so for now, the new Echo Studio has a considerable amount of unfulfilled potential.
Update, October 29 2025, 12:37PM ET: This review was updated after Amazon clarified how the tap controls for play/pause are designed to work on the new Echo Studio.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/amazon-echo-studio-2025-review-a-comprehensive-redesign-for-alexa-140000191.html?src=rss
The last thing you want during a long day is your phone dying at the most inopportune moment. Having a portable battery that can stay on your person without weighing you down is crucial for the busiest among us. Some of the best options for that are magnetic power banks, since they're typically very slim and can top up your phone without adding much bulk to your everyday carry. Baseus’ Picogo 5K falls into that category, and right now you can pick one up for $36, which is a record low price.
While this particular accessory only made it into the "others we tested" section in our guide to the best MagSafe power banks for iPhone, that’s only because it was slightly beaten in the slimness department by the Anker Nano. However, as we noted in the guide, the Nano doesn’t have a stand, and the Picogo 5K does, so if you like to be able to prop up your phone while it’s charging, it might be the better pick for you.
As you can probably guess from its name, Baseus’ power bank has a 5,000mAh capacity and is Qi2-certified. In our testing. It gave our tester iPhone 15 a 43 percent bump in battery in 42 minutes, which returned the phone to 91 percent. It has a curved design and is wrapped in soft silicone, making it easy to grip in a pinch.
As a reminder, MagSafe charging is supported on iPhone 12 models and later, though you’ll need an iPhone 13 or later to reach the 15W charging speed on a third-party Qi2 accessory such as the one featured in this deal. If you don't need the built-in stand, Baseus has a similar magnetic power bank without it on sale for only $20. You can also upgrade to a 10K bank with the same design for only $40.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-baseus-magnetic-power-bank-while-its-on-sale-for-only-36-164814229.html?src=rss
Vampire Survivorsjust dropped a free update that includes an expansion based on the indie sensation Balatro. The expansion is called Ante Chamber and includes a new stage, new characters and a new power ups that makes the top-down rogue shooter feel more like, well, Balatro.
First up, the titular Ante Chamber stage is filled with playing cards, calling to mind the source material. The new characters include the iconic joker Jimbo and there are new power-ups and weapons pulled from Balatro. These include jokers that increase points combos, just like the card game, and riffs on pre-existing Balatro mechanics like those planet cards. It looks fun.
The Ante Chamber update is free and available to download now via Steam, Android, iOS, PS4 and PS5. It's coming to the Switch and Epic Games Store on October 31.
Although the trailer suggested the update was out on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on Tuesday as well, that wasn’t the case. “Unfortunately, we didn't manage to deliver the 1.14 update on time for Xbox platforms yesterday,” Poncle said in a statement on Wednesday. “We're very sorry to our Xbox players who were looking forward to playing the update. We've submitted new builds to be certified, and the new plan is to launch the Xbox updates as soon as they're ready. Thank you for your patience. We aim to get the update to you as soon as possible.” That’s somewhat ironic, given the Balatro collaboration was revealed during an Xbox indie showcase.
This free update is more than just a Balatro-adjacent expansion. It also introduces online co-op (but not yet on mobile, unfortunately), in addition to new stages, characters, weapons and more.
Update, October 29, 9:23AM ET: Added clarification about the Ante Chamber update for Xbox consoles.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-comes-to-vampire-survivors-in-the-form-of-a-free-expansion-183005013.html?src=rss
If you're in the market for a budget-friendly home security camera (or even several), the Blink Mini 2 may be worth considering. A two-pack of the cameras is on sale at Amazon as the bundle has dropped from $70 to $28.
That's a discount of 60 percent, which is certainly nothing to shake at. This is also a better price than the $35 we saw for the cameras during Prime Day. Amazon recently revealed a newer version of the Blink Mini that records 2K footage, but the 1080p Blink Mini 2 can still get the job done.
The Blink Mini 2 is our pick for the best budget security camera. It's easy to set up and it integrates neatly into the Alexa smart home ecosystem. While you need a Blink Subscription for cloud storage ($3 for one camera, $10 for as many as you like), you can pick up a Sync Module 2 or Sync Module XR to store Blink Mini 2 footage locally. A Blink Subscription also enables specialized detection and alerts (e.g. for people and pets) and features like periodic photo captures.
The Blink Mini 2 is weather resistant, though you'll need an adapter to use it outdoors. Additionally, you can use the Mini 2 as a plug-in chime that sounds when someone presses a Blink Video Doorbell.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-two-blink-mini-2-cameras-for-only-28-right-now-144258409.html?src=rss
US lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have introduced a bill called the "GUARD Act," which is meant to protect minor users from AI chatbots. "In their race to the bottom, AI companies are pushing treacherous chatbots at kids and looking away when their products cause sexual abuse, or coerce them into self-harm or suicide," said the bill's co-sponsor, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn). "Our legislation imposes strict safeguards against exploitative or manipulative AI, backed by tough enforcement with criminal and civil penalties."
Under the GUARD Act, AI companies would be required to prohibit minors from being able to access their chatbots. That means they have to conduct age verification for both existing and new users with the help of a third-party system. They'll also have to conduct periodic age verifications on accounts that were already previously verified. To maintain users' privacy, the companies will only be allowed to retain data "for no longer than is reasonably necessary to verify a user's age" and may not share or sell user information.
AI companies will be required to make their chatbots explicitly tell the user that it's not a human being at the beginning of each conversation and every 30 minutes after that. They'll have to make sure their chatbots don't claim to be a human being or a licensed professional, such a therapist or a doctor, when asked. Finally, the bill aims to create new crimes to charge companies that make their AI chatbots available to minors.
In August, the parents of a teen who committed suicide filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of prioritizing "engagement over safety." ChatGPT, they said, helped their son plan his own death even after months of conversations, wherein their child talked to the chatbot about his four previous suicide attempts. ChatGPT allegedly told their son that it could provide information about suicide for "writing or world-building." A mother from Florida sued startup Character.AI in 2024 for allegedly causing her 14-year-old son's suicide. And just this September, the family of a 13-year-old girl filed another wrongful death lawsuit against Character.AI, arguing that the company didn't point their daughter to any resources or notify authorities when she talked about her suicidal ideations.
It's also worth noting that the bill's co-sponsor Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) previously said that the Senate Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which he leads, will investigate reports that Meta's AI chatbots could have "sensual" conversations with children. He made the announcement after Reutersreported on an internal Meta document, stating that Meta's AI was allowed to tell a shirtless eight-year-old: "Every inch of you is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/bipartisan-guard-act-proposes-age-restrictions-on-ai-chatbots-130020355.html?src=rss
YouTube will enforce new rules that are supposed to strengthen the enforcement of its guidelines around online gambling and graphic video game content starting on November 17. One of the biggest changes it's implementing is age-restricting gaming videos featuring realistic human characters in scenes depicting torture or mass violence against non-combatants.
The streaming website says it will take into account the duration and prominence of the scene in a video when reviewing one. For compilation videos, it will consider the cumulative duration of the scenes classified as graphic under its policies. Any video placed behind an age check barrier will be inaccessible to viewers under 18 or to anybody who's not signed into their Google accounts. YouTube didn't specify the duration that would get a video restricted, but a spokesperson told The Verge that "certain content may be age-restricted if it’s non-fleeting or zoomed in." Creators can get around the restriction, however, by blurring any violent scene.
In addition, YouTube is implementing stricter online gambling rules. It already prohibits videos directing people to online gambling sites or apps not certified by Google. Starting on November 17, it will also prohibit online gambling videos that involve items with monetary value, including digital goods like NFTs and game skins. The website is also age-restricting content with online casino-style games, even if they don't involve items with real monetary value.
YouTube will review old videos and remove them or put them behind age checks if they're found to be in violation of the new rules, but it will not issue strikes to creators if they were uploaded before November 17. Creators can also edit their videos before that date with the website's trim and blur editing tools.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-will-strengthen-enforcement-around-violent-and-gambling-games-in-november-123051469.html?src=rss
