Category: Technology

Nearly two years after launching Threads, Meta is finally giving in to users on one of the most requested features for the service: direct messaging. The company is beginning to test a dedicated inbox for Threads, beginning with Hong Kong, Argentina and Thailand, Mark Zuckerberg revealed in a post on Threads.

Threads has had some messaging capabilities since last year, but the feature only allows users to send Threads posts to friends via their Instagram DMs. This is more than a little clunky as it requires switching back and forth between apps. It’s also been the source of some confusion — at least among my friends — because it allows you to send Threads posts to contacts on Instagram even when they don’t have a corresponding Threads account. For me, this means I sometimes send a post to a friend on Instagram only for them to tell me they can’t view it properly because they don’t use the app.

Needless to say, all this has been far from ideal. And, unsurprisingly, DMs have been a highly requested feature from Threads users. But Meta executives — and Instagram head Adam Mosseri in particular — have been inexplicably skeptical of the feature. Mosseri said last year that he wanted to “make the Instagram inbox work” for Threads rather than build out a separate messaging feature for the app.

That’s finally changing, though. Meta is beginning its initial tests of a Threads-specific inbox this week. The feature will only support 1:1 chats — at least for now — so it will still be much more limited than what’s available on Instagram or even X. It will also only be available in a couple of countries to start, though Meta says it plans to expand to more regions “soon.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/threads-is-finally-getting-its-own-dm-inbox-160001216.html?src=rss 

OpenAI has inked a deal with Google to begin using the latter’s cloud service to meet its growing needs for increased computing capacity, according to a report by Reuters. This is something of a surprise, given that Google and OpenAI are rivals in the AI space.

The terms of the deal remain unknown, but reporting indicates it has been in the negotiation phase for the past several months. This marks OpenAI’s latest move to diversify its compute sources away from Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft had been OpenAI’s exclusive data center provider until January, after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman blamed the lack of compute capacity for the delay of several products. The company made a deal in March with CoreWeave to provide increased cloud compute capacity. That deal was worth nearly $12 billion.

Microsoft Azure may no longer be the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI, but it’s not as if the two companies have parted ways. OpenAI still relies heavily on Azure and the corporations are currently in negotiations to revise the terms of their partnership, which will likely revise the equity stake Microsoft holds in OpenAI.

However, this is certainly a win for Google Cloud. ChatGPT poses the biggest threat to Google’s search business in years, and this deal could indicate a softening between the two companies. In any event, it’ll certainly bring a whole lot of money into Google Cloud’s coffers. The platform made $43 billion last year and accounted for 12 percent of parent company Alphabet’s overall revenue. The addition of OpenAI to its customer portfolio will likely extend those numbers dramatically.

There is an elephant in the room. Google has famously struggled to meet customer demand for its cloud services, and this was before bringing on OpenAI. Simply put, it needs more data centers. Will OpenAI get priority access over pre-existing customers? Engadget has reached out to Google and will update this story if we hear back.

To that end, OpenAI is certainly thriving. The company recently announced that the current adoption rate of its software will lead to $10 billion in annual revenue as of June. It told investors that it has a target revenue goal of around $12 billion for the year, which it should easily meet with new subscribers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-will-reportedly-start-using-googles-cloud-servers-162311068.html?src=rss 

Sonos has announced a major software update for its flagship Sonos Ace headphones that brings some new features to the premium wireless cans. Chief among them is the long-awaited TrueCinema feature, which was first promised as upcoming when the headphones launched in 2024. TrueCinema uses a compatible Sonos soundbar to measure the acoustic dynamics of the room you’re sitting in. It then uses that data to increase the accuracy of the spatial sound in your headphones, in the same fashion as Trueplay on Sonos speakers. The idea is for the audio the user hears to mimic that of a well-balanced surround sound system thats sits right in the room you’re listening in.

TV Audio Swap is also getting an update and will now support two sets of Sonos Ace headphones synced to the same compatible soundbar, where it previously supported just one set. This feature allows users to seamlessly transfer the audio from their soundbar to their headphones.

The update also improves the headphones Active Noise Cancellation by leveraging on-board sensors to adapt to a user’s hair, glasses or hats in real time. Using the sensors, the Sonos Ace will then compensate for sound leaks.

Some improvements to call quality are also coming to Sonos Ace with the addition of SideTone, a feature that plays a user’s voice back to them at low volume while on a call. The audio fidelity on phone calls has also received a bump through this update, though details on what bitrate or exactly how it was improved are not available.

Jason White, head of software at Sonos, said the company’s goal has been to share meaningful software updates that deliver new enhancements to existing products. “Our goal has always been to create products that earn their place in people’s lives for years, and this Sonos Ace update is a great example of that. It proves that your best tech investment doesn’t need to be your newest, it just has to be built right,” White said.

This update launches globally today and is available through the Sonos app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonos-ace-headphones-get-long-awaited-truecinema-sound-and-more-in-big-update-163012056.html?src=rss 

Looking for a budget-friendly iPad you can use for everyday tasks, like catching up on emails and messages, then reading the latest news before streaming a show? This might be the deal for you. The A16-powered iPad (a model that Apple released just a few months ago) has dipped to $299. That’s $50 off the list price.

The tablet briefly dropped to $278 at one point. However, this is the best price we’ve seen for this iPad otherwise.

This 11-inch iPad has 128GB of storage and has Wi-Fi 6 connectivity (no LTE capabilities here). The discount applies to all four colorways: blue, pink, silver and yellow.

This is our current pick for the best budget iPad. We gave it a score of 84 in our review.

We feel that Apple could stand to upgrade the entry-level iPad’s display, which does not have an anti-reflective coating and has a 60Hz refresh rate (which is the bare minimum for a new device these days). The screen isn’t laminated, either — there’s a gap between the actual panel and the glass that encases it. While this is good for repairability, we feel that it makes the screen look cheaper. Actions like writing notes with an Apple Pencil feel less natural than on the likes of the iPad Air too.

Speaking of the Apple Pencil, the A16 iPad isn’t compatible with the second-gen model or the Pencil Pro. As such, the only pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil that works with this iPad is the original model from 2015, which doesn’t attach to the tablet magnetically. The USB-C Pencil can stick to the tablet, but it does not offer wireless charging or pressure sensitivity.

Still, perhaps you don’t care about doodling or taking handwritten notes on an iPad. If that, the screen issues and the lack of Apple Intelligence generative AI features (this model doesn’t support them) don’t matter to you, this iPad might be all you need.

The chip is fast enough to handle everyday tasks, while the storage and RAM increases compared to the previous model are very welcome — especially considering that Apple didn’t bump up the price. The build quality and battery life are still solid overall too.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-latest-entry-level-ipad-is-back-on-sale-for-299-145940023.html?src=rss 

Nintendo just dropped a trailer for a Splatoon spinoff game. Titled Splatoon Raiders, the third-person paint slinging shooter spinoff will be released exclusively on the Switch 2. This marks the first spinoff in the franchise and will take players to a new location called the Spirhalite Islands.

While details are sparse at this early stage, the trailer mentions players will take on the role of “a mechanic” alongside Deep Cut, a fictional band in the Splatoon universe. There’s no mention of multiplayer (and no footage of it in this teaser), so Splatoon Raiders may well be a single-player experience. While the initial launch will be exclusive to Nintendo’s newest handheld, the trailer says that “research is still underway,” implying there may be future releases on additional consoles.

A substantial update for Splatoon 3 was also announced, with version 10.0 landing on both Switch and Switch 2 June 12. Included in the update is the Splatlands Collection, a cache of 30 new weapons from the Barazushi and Emberz in-game brands. While they are based on previous weapons, they will sport new designs, sub weapons and specials.

The update also includes matchmaking improvements, with an added metric called Series Weapon Power, which will track your effectiveness per weapon based on your win-loss ratio in battles. This new metric will be considered when pairing you with other online players. Version 10.0 is also bringing back Urchin Underpass, a popular multiplayer map from the original Splatoon game. Nintendo says that Switch 2 players will notice more detailed visuals and improved performance with this update.

Alongside the Animal Crossing franchise, Splatoon and its sequels have been star properties for Nintendo, and have sold over 30 million copies worldwide. The Nintendo Switch 2 was released on June 5 and has been hard to find in stock during its first launch week.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/splatoon-spinoff-game-will-launch-exclusively-on-switch-2-151541869.html?src=rss 

Robot vacuums are undeniably a big convenience, saving you so much time while keeping your house clean. But sometimes there’s a small mess you want to quickly remove or a little corner the robovac can’t reach, requiring a traditional vacuum. While you could purchase one of each, there’s another option available to you.  

Eufy released the E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum earlier this year and it comes with a robot vacuum and a cordless option. Plus, right now, it’s on sale for $380, down from $650 — a 42 percent discount. It’s one of our favorite robot vacuums on the market, especially with such a steep price cut. 

We gave Eufy’s E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum an 80 in our review largely thanks to its versatility. We also found that the robot vacuum performed well and that the self-emptying base held quite a lot for its petite size. The Eufy Clean app has also come a long way and offers great options like manual control. While having two vacuum options is great, we did find that most of the stick vacuums cleaning modes have weak suction. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/eufys-3-in-1-robot-vacuum-is-42-percent-off-right-now-141019001.html?src=rss 

It’s been two years since Roku first introduced its in-house TVs to the market and the streaming-device-turned-TV-maker isn’t slowing down. For 2025, Roku refreshed its entire TV lineup and added more features to its midrange Roku Plus models that were previously reserved for its higher-end TVs.

The latest Roku Plus Series TV gets Smart Picture Max, a feature that automatically adjusts your TV’s picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis and was exclusive to the company’s Pro Series TVs. To make the Plus Series an even better deal, Roku added mini-LED backlighting for better picture quality, a remote finder button on the back of the TV and an integrated cable management system, which are all features also pulled from Roku’s Pro models. To round out the Plus Series, Roku added a built-in subwoofer and a new processor for faster navigation throughout the interface.

To ensure the Pro Series TVs still feel pro, Roku upgraded them with the next generation of its Smart Picture Max. The latest software improves motion clarity, corrects compression artifacts, and automatically selects the best picture mode based on what you’re watching. Roku is also claiming a 75 percent increase in dynamic contrast thanks to its re-engineered mini-LED backlighting for its most expensive models. Roku is introducing hands-free voice controls without a remote with the Pro Series TVs, but they also come with the updated and rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro that has backlit buttons and customizable shortcuts. The most affordable models, Roku’s Select Series, are mostly getting software upgrades that are available across the lineup, but now have size options going up to 85 inches. However, all of Roku’s refreshed TVs can support its Bluetooth Headphone Mode and Dolby Audio.

Roku’s expanded Select Series offerings are available in sizes ranging between 24 and 85 inches, starting at $130, while the Plus and Pro Series still only have the 55-, 65- and 75-inch options. The upgraded Roku TVs are out now at retail partners including Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Amazon.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/roku-adds-more-premium-features-to-its-own-line-of-midrange-tvs-130013368.html?src=rss 

Robotaxis are coming to the UK next year thanks to a partnership between Uber and Wayve, a British company focused on AI for autonomous vehicles. A pilot program is set to take place in Spring 2026 and follows last year’s passage of the Automated Vehicles Act, which set the stage for self-driving cars to be deployed across the country. 

“This is a defining moment for UK autonomy,” said Alex Kendall, CEO and co-founder of Wayve, in a statement. “Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond.”

According to Heidi Alexander, the UK’s secretary of state for transport, the agreement will add £42 billion ($56.7 billion) for the economy and create 38,000 jobs. Alexander doesn’t state how exactly the latter will occur as a result of driverless taxis. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/the-uk-will-get-its-first-robotaxis-next-year-131731015.html?src=rss 

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg has been recruiting experts to join a team he’s assembling to achieve AI superintelligence, according to Bloomberg and The New York Times. Zuckerberg has reportedly been discussing potential recruits with other senior leaders from the company in a WhatsApp group chat dubbed “Recruiting Party.” He reportedly has a personal list of recruits, which include AI researchers, infrastructure engineers and other entrepreneurs. Zuckerberg has invited them to lunch and dinner at his homes in California to get them to join his team over the past month.

At the moment, the immediate goal of AI companies is to achieve true artificial general intelligence (AGI), wherein a machine has human-level intelligence and can achieve any task a human can do. Superintelligence is a step beyond that. An AI system with superintelligence is supposed to have intellectual powers far beyond any human’s. 

The Times says Zuckerberg has already tapped Alexandr Wang, the founder of AI startup Scale AI, to join the new team. Meta is planning to invest billions of dollars into Wang’s company, which provides other AI companies with data to train their models. The deal will also bring Scale’s other employees onboard Meta, though it’s unclear if any of them are joining the new team, as well. 

Meta has also offered dozens of AI experts from other companies, including Google and Open AI, compensation packages worth seven to nine figures to join the team. Some, according to The Times, have already agreed. In his pitch to potential recruits, Zuckerberg apparently said that his company’s advertising business can finance its own AI development even if it costs tens of billions of dollars, unlike rivals who have to raise funds first. 

Zuckerberg, Bloomberg said, decided to oversee recruitment himself due to frustration over the quality of and the public’s response to Meta’s Llama 4 large language model. Llama 4 wasn’t well-received, and critics argued that Meta overpromised but underdelivered. The company also had to delay the release of its “Behemoth” Llama 4 model, which the company vowed will outperform “GPT-4.5, Claude Sonnet 3.7, and Gemini 2.0 Pro on several STEM benchmarks.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-is-reportedly-forming-an-ai-superintelligence-team-133030015.html?src=rss