Gadgets

Think your office computers are overdue for an update? They probably don’t compare to one of the European Space Agency’s best-known spacecraft. ESA is updating the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ioniospheric Sounding (MARSIS) software on its Mars Express orbiter 19 years after its launch in June 2003. For context, the original code was …

The Mars Express orbiter finally gets a software update, 19 years later Read More »

What’s so “Pro” about the new 13-inch MacBook Pro? Devindra and Cherlynn chat with Laptop Magazine editor Sherri L. Smith about Apple’s puzzling new ultraportable. Sure, the M2 chip makes it faster, but why does it have a worse screen and fewer features than the new MacBook Air? Are true professionals better off with the …

Engadget podcast: Apple’s baffling 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Read More »

When you hear the word “bacteria”, you probably imagine organisms that could not be seen unless placed under a microscope. A bacterium that has now been ranked as the largest ever discovered in the world, however, does not need any special tools to be visible to the naked eye. Thiomargarita magnifica, as it is called, …

The largest bacterium discovered is visible to the naked eye Read More »

We may be weeks away from Amazon Prime Day, but the first deals are already starting to roll in. If you need a new smart TV, Amazon has discounted a bunch of Fire TVs, and Prime members can pick up a 55-inch Omni Series for just $300. Elsewhere, Apple’s second-generation AirPods are back on sale …

Apple’s second-generation AirPods drop to $100, plus the best Prime Day deals you can get now Read More »

asked a federal appeals court to temporarily block a ban on the sale of its vaping products in the United States. The agency on Thursday, citing a lack of sufficient evidence provided by the company to show its devices are safe. The FDA has acknowledged that it was not aware of an “immediate risk” related …

Juul asks appeals court to block US ban on its vaping products Read More »

Twitch has tightened its content policies in recent months, and that now includes mentions of self-harm. The live-streaming service has updated its community guidelines to include examples of self-harming behavior it does not allow. The clarified policy aims to foster a “meaningful conversation” about mental and physical health while preventing further harm. Broadcasters can share …

Twitch clarifies its self-harm policy Read More »

Jhe Metaverse, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions, will be a fully immersive virtual experience that rivals the real thing, at least from the waist down. But the visuals are only part of the overall Metaverse experience. “Achieving the correct spatial audio is key to providing a realistic sense of presence in the metaverse,” Zuckerberg …

Meta’s latest auditory AIs promise a more immersive AR/VR experience Read More »

GM Cruise has started charging passengers for fully driverless journeys in San Francisco. The company obtained a driverless deployment permit from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier this month, making it the first in the industry to do so. This allows Cruise to charge for driverless safety-driving trips, though its vehicles are restricted to …

Cruise begins charging fares for its driverless taxi service in San Francisco Read More »

Yes, Juul e-cigarettes have been banned in the US, but we covered that yesterday. But what are vapes? Replicants and science fiction of the 80s? Maybe not, but anyway, Nightdive Studios has finally released Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition for Windows PCs (via Steam), PlayStation, Switch and Xbox consoles. The modernized version runs at 60fps instead …

The Morning After: A remastered version of the 1997 ‘Blade Runner’ game finally arrives Read More »

Dish’s plan to use 12 GHz radio spectrum for its 5G network could significantly affect the Starlink satellite internet network, SpaceX said in a letter to the FCC. “If Dish’s lobbying efforts are successful, our study shows that Starlink customers will experience harmful interference more than 77% of the time and total service outage 74% …

SpaceX accuses Dish of ‘flawed’ analysis in ongoing battle over 5G spectrum Read More »