Google seems to be cracking down on the use of Disney characters in AI-generated videos on YouTube after it was hit with a cease and desist letter. According to reports by Variety and Deadline, the company removed dozens of videos featuring Deadpool, Moana, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars characters and other Disney IP as of Friday, just days after Disney accused it of "infringing Disney’s copyrights on a massive scale." The letter, seen by both publications earlier this week, called out Google not just for hosting these videos on YouTube, but also for using copyrighted works to train models including Veo and Nano Banana.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-pulls-ai-generated-videos-of-disney-characters-from-youtube-in-response-to-cease-and-desist-220849629.html?src=rss
Apple has released iOS 26.2, bringing a number of new convenience features and security updates. The update includes auto-generated chapters for episodes in the Podcasts app, the option to make AirDrop more secure using verification codes, alarms for Reminders and more. It also introduces new controls for how Liquid Glass appears on the Lock Screen, adding a slider to adjust the transparency level. The drop also includes updates for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS and tvOS.
What's new in iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2
It's not exactly a major update feature-wise, but iOS and iPadOS 26.2 bring a bunch of quality of life improvements to apps including Apple Music, Podcasts and Games. In Apple Music, you'll now see your Favorite Songs playlist in the Top Picks section, and lyrics will be available offline for songs you've downloaded. In addition to automatically generated chapters, Podcasts will display links to any other podcasts mentioned in the episode you're listening to. And, Games is getting in-game score banners, along with filters for the library to make it easier to find titles based on category and other descriptors. Apple says it also improved support for Backbone and Razer controllers.
With iOS 26.2, Apple made Safety Alerts for natural disasters and other emergencies more detailed, and they'll now come with maps of affected areas and other useful information. For iPad users, Apple has added drag-and-drop gestures for its new windowing system to make multitasking smoother. The update for iPhones and iPads also addresses several potential security issues, including vulnerabilities in WebKit that Apple says "may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26." So, if you're not yet running the latest OS on your iPhone and iPad, it's a good time to update.
OS updates for the rest of the family
Beyond the iPhone and iPad, macOS Tahoe 26.2 introduces Edge Light for Mac, which turns your display into a ring light for video calls. For the Apple Watch, 26.2 fixes an issue with stuck songs in the Music app, and adds some new controls for the Sleep app. The tvOS update brings the option to add profiles even for people who don't have an Apple Account, and new restriction options for kid profiles. With visionOS 26.2, Travel Mode now has settings for cars and buses, and you'll now be able to use spatial accessories including "Logitech Muse in Notes, Freeform, and any PencilKit-enabled app" to create hand-drawn content with the Apple Vision Pro.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-262-is-here-with-another-liquid-glass-tweak-new-podcasts-features-and-more-181020133.html?src=rss
No need to fret if you missed out on some of the best Black Friday deals this year — some of them have returned already. Case in point: Apple's AirPods Pro 3, which came out in September this year, are on sale for a new record low of $199. That's 20 percent off and better than the discount we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With the new AirPods Pro, Apple made some big improvements, including better battery life and sound quality, and introduced useful new features, such as Live Translation.
The AirPods Pro 3 are the best AirPods available today, with Apple's H2 chip, and earned a score of 90 out of 100 in Engadget's review this fall. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is one of the biggest selling points of the AirPods Pro, and Apple has made the experience even better with the AirPods Pro 3. They sport new foam-infused ear tips that create a better seal to improve passive noise isolation, and as Engadget's Billy Steele wrote in his review, "Ultra-low-noise microphones combine with advanced computational audio to silence even more background noise." In testing, they had no problem blocking out the chatter of people nearby or otherwise noisy environments.
With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple introduced heart-rate sensing, so you'll be able to see your heart rate data from the earbuds in the Fitness app and other workout apps. The AirPods Pro 3 also boast Live Translation, which you can activate via controls on the earbuds themselves. As long as you have an Apple Intelligence-capable device, you'll be able to translate in-person conversations in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin).
Also on sale in the world of AirPods are the AirPods 4 with ANC, which are down $119 when you pick them up with two years of AppleCare+.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-pro-3-drop-to-a-new-record-low-of-199-222806888.html?src=rss
A federal judge has expanded on the remedies decided for the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google, ruling in favor of putting a one-year limit on the contracts that make Google's search and AI services the default on devices, Bloomberg reports. Judge Amit Mehta's ruling on Friday means Google will have to renegotiate these contacts every year, which would create a fairer playing field for its competitors. The new details come after Mehta ruled in September that Google would not have to sell off Chrome, as the DOJ proposed at the end of 2024.
This all follows the ruling last fall that Google illegally maintained an internet search monopoly through actions including paying companies such as Apple to make its search engine the default on their devices and making exclusive deals around the distribution of services such as Search, Chrome and Gemini. Mehta's September ruling put an end to these exclusive agreements and stipulates that Google will have to share some of its search data with rivals to "narrow the scale gap" its actions have created.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/judge-puts-a-one-year-limit-on-googles-contracts-for-default-search-placement-215549614.html?src=rss
Cyber Monday deals have come for VR headsets, and you can pick up our favorite budget set for less than usual. Meta's entry-level Quest 3S is 17 percent off and down to $250 for the 128GB version right now. Its normal price is $300, and with this version you get the game Gorilla Tag for free.
The Meta Quest 3S is an impressive VR headset for the price, and scored a 90 in Engadget's review, landing it among our picks for the best VR headsets around right now. It's comfortable to wear, gets over two hours of battery life before needing to be recharged and offers a 96-degree field of view. While its 1,830 by 1,920 pixel per eye screen doesn't quite achieve the sharpness of the Quest 3, it does have the same chip — the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 — as the pricier model, making for fast performance. It also comes with 8GB of RAM.
The Quest 3S also comes with the Touch Plus controllers, which have button and joystick controls as well as motion controls. It can also connect to gaming PCs and stream gameplay to Chromecast and AirPlay devices. Despite being relatively inexpensive, the 3S offers a great experience. In his review, Engadget's Devindra Hardawar said the 3S is "the best $300 standalone VR headset we've ever seen."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-cyber-monday-2025-deal-drops-the-meta-quest-3s-vr-headset-to-a-record-low-price-151719747.html?src=rss
If your friend group or family happens to include multiple Playdate owners, there's now a cute way to chat amongst yourselves right within the device. Jon Simantov, the developer who gave us Cranky Cove, has released an app called helloyellow where you can send voice messages, create group chats and share achievements with anyone you've added as a friend. It's available to download from itch.io for free, with some limitations, or $5 to get the full version. Now, excuse me while I lament being the only person in my circle with a passion for weird little gadgets.
A screenshot of a chat in the helloyellow app
Jon Simantov
The app works over Wi-Fi, but you can record messages even when you're offline that will be sent once you reconnect. You can also record voice notes for yourself. The full version of helloyellow allows for messages of up to 10 minutes long, while messages in the free version are capped at two minutes. Friends are added via hellocodes, and there's an emoji library so you can send reactions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/theres-a-cute-voice-messaging-app-for-playdate-now-223620942.html?src=rss
After taking a break from the Playdate following Season Two and the wonderfully weird experience that was Blippo+, I finally dusted off my little yellow console this week and dove back in. And what better place to start than with a couple of games about cheese? Cheese 'n Crackers and Say When! both hit the Playdate Catalog recently, but aside from the thematic similarity, they're two very different games. As an extra treat (unrelated to cheese), I also picked up Ware-wolf Campfire Stories, a free game on itch.io that's actually over a dozen bite-sized games in one.
Cheese 'n Crackers
When it comes to snacking, everyone's got their preferences. Some crave a savory blast of umami, while for others, a sweet treat might be what always hits the spot. Or maybe you're like me, and if you have one, it needs to be followed by the other. Creating snacks that hit just right iswhat Cheese 'n Crackers is all about.
In this Playdate game, you have what is essentially a neverending charcuterie board with all the fixins you could imagine. There are meats, cheeses, spreads, spices, vegetables, fruits and various types of crackers and breads to adorn with those toppings. You have to combine ingredients to make the perfect snacks for whatever group you're serving that round. Each group — like the Speed Daters or Grandma's Bridge Club — has a specific set of guidelines that may include favorites, dietary restrictions or aversions to certain tastes.
A still from the Playdate game Cheese n Crackers showing a cutting board with various meats, vegetables, cheeses and crackers
Scenic Route Software
While pairing ingredients is pretty intuitive, there are specific combinations that will earn you more points, so you'll have to pay attention to descriptions of each food item. Or, you can turn to the Cheese 'n Crackers Compatibility Spreadsheet for all of that information in one place. Yes, that exists, and it's an intimidating work of culinary organization. Toppings will go bad if they sit out for too long, so you won't want to waste too much time scouring the spreadsheet, but it's still a relatively low-pressure game that you can play at your own pace. For the more competitive among us, though, there are leaderboards so you can challenge yourself with scores to beat.
Say When!
This is the more intense of our cheese games, with a Root Bear-like structure that sees you tending to a revolving door of restaurant patrons and trying to grate the perfect amount of cheese for their meals using the crank. And despite being called Say When!, your customers (very unhelpfully) will not actually say "when" to let you know you can stop cranking; you have to pay attention to their unique tells to know when they're satisfied — the twitch of a mustache, a change in facial expression, etc.
A still from the Playdate game Say When! showing a man wearing dark sunglasses sitting at a table, with a dish in front of him. Grated cheese is pouring onto the dish from a cheese grater that floats above it
Smashtoad Studios
There's a customer satisfaction meter at the top of the screen that will take hits any time you under- or over-serve cheese, or suffer if you're moving too slowly, and once it's down to the bottom, you're fired. After each shift, you'll be given the choice to use a modifier that can help you out in areas like customer satisfaction or getting the boss off your back. To mix things up, there are also mini-games that pop up in the middle of your shift. You might be furiously grating cheese and then have to switch gears and save the life of a choking customer, for example.
It's fast-paced, it's silly and it's pretty hard to put down once you get going.
Ware-wolf Campfire Stories
While the Playdate Catalog has lots of great titles to choose from, there are plenty of gems not on there that are worth checking out too. One such example is Ware-wolf Campfire Stories, a unique package of 14 tiny games that's free on itch.io. It's the result of a collaboration between 15 developer teams — including the developers of Off-Planet Dreams, the Life's Too Short series, Voidblazers and other popular Playdate titles.
Per the description:
In Ware-wolf Campfire Stories, 5 kids are sitting around a fire with their counselor telling spoooooky tales! Each story launches a separate game that you may win or lose.... with consequences.
It's a cool format, and there's some nice variety among the games, which each only take a few minutes to get through for the most part. They're all of the spooky sort, so expect bats, ghosts and skeletons galore. It's a nice way to get a taste of some of the many different game styles you'll encounter on the Playdate, and maybe discover some developers whose games you haven't yet checked out.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/two-playdate-games-about-cheese-and-spooky-campfire-stories-with-a-twist-232516706.html?src=rss
After years of introducing major changes with its annual iOS releases, Apple may be altering its approach next time around, instead focusing on refinement over a bevy of flashy new features. According to Mark Gurman in this week's Power On newsletter, for iOS 27, Apple is "focused on improving the software’s quality and underlying performance." That, and beefing up its AI offerings.
On the heels of iOS 26, which brought the Liquid Glass design overhaul, and the trickle of underbaked AI features that have arrived since the rollout of Apple Intelligence last year, Apple is reportedly honing in to improve the experience. Gurman writes that "engineering teams are now combing through Apple’s operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality." Gurman compares the strategy to 2009's Snow Leopard release for Mac, which focused on bug fixes, decluttering and efficiency.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ios-27-will-reportedly-focus-on-performance-improvements-and-ai-upgrades-175700261.html?src=rss
Black Friday deals have come for VR headsets, and you can pick up our favorite budget set for less than usual. Meta's entry-level Quest 3S is 17 percent off and down to $250 for the 128GB version right now. Its normal price is $300, and with this version you get the game Gorilla Tag for free.
The Meta Quest 3S is an impressive VR headset for the price, and scored a 90 in Engadget's review, landing it among our picks for the best VR headsets around right now. It's comfortable to wear, gets over two hours of battery life before needing to be recharged and offers a 96-degree field of view. While its 1,830 by 1,920 pixel per eye screen doesn't quite achieve the sharpness of the Quest 3, it does have the same chip — the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 — as the pricier model, making for fast performance. It also comes with 8GB of RAM.
The Quest 3S also comes with the Touch Plus controllers, which have button and joystick controls as well as motion controls. It can also connect to gaming PCs and stream gameplay to Chromecast and AirPlay devices. Despite being relatively inexpensive, the 3S offers a great experience. In his review, Engadget's Devindra Hardawar said the 3S is "the best $300 standalone VR headset we've ever seen."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-meta-quest-3s-vr-headset-drops-to-a-record-low-this-black-friday-180911450.html?src=rss
Apple's AirPods 4 have dropped back down to a record low price in a Black Friday deal on Amazon. If you aren't looking for active noise cancellation, the model without ANC is a steal at 47 percent off, bringing it down to just $69 from its usual price of $130.
The Apple AirPods 4 are the best budget AirPods you can get in 2025, with Apple's H2 audio chip to support some of the more advanced audio features from more expensive models.
They offer Voice Isolation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking and more. If you get the model without active noise cancellation, you won't have features like Transparency Mode and Conversation Awareness, or Apple's hearing health tools. But, the entry-level model still offers great sound quality for the price.
This model also features the redesigned shape, which makes for a more comfortable and secure fit so you don't have to worry about them falling out of your ears. A force sensor on the stem allows for basic touch controls, including play and pause, play next track, previous track and answer a call. You can also summon Siri by pressing and holding the stem.
You can expect to get up to 5 hours of battery life on a charge with the non-ANC model, and up to 30 hours using the USB-C charging case.
Elsewhere when it comes to Black Friday AirPods deals, you can pick up the AirPods 4 with ANC for $100, the new AirPods Pro 3 for $220 and the AirPods Max (in certain colors) for $400.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-apple-deals-include-the-airpods-4-for-47-percent-off-162917296.html?src=rss
