Category: Technology

Would you believe Google really wants to sell you on its AI? This week, we dive into the news from Google I/O 2025 with Engadget’s Karissa Bell. We discuss how Gemini is headed to even more places, as well as Karissa’s brief hands-on with Google’s prototype XR glasses. It seems like Google is trying a bit harder now than it did with Google Glass and its defunct Daydream VR platform. But will the company end up giving up again, or does it really have a shot against Meta and Apple?

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Lots of AI and a little XR: Highlights from Google I/O 2025 – 1:15

OpenAI buys Jony Ive’s design company for $6.6B, in an all equity deal – 29:27

Fujifilm’s $850 X Half could be the perfect retro camera for the social media age – 39:42

Sesame Street is moving from HBO to Netflix – 44:09

Cuts to IMLS will lead to headaches accessing content on apps like Libby and Hoopla – 45:49

Listener Mail: Should I replace my Chromebook with a Mac or PC Laptop? – 48:33

Pop culture picks – 52:22

Credits 

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Karissa Bell
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-the-ai-and-xr-of-google-io-2025-131552868.html?src=rss 

If you’re on grilling duty this Memorial Day and stressing about getting the steak and veggies just right, we’ve got a deal for you. The MasterClass Memorial Day sale, running from May 22 to 26, offers up to 40 percent off all subscriptions to the video learning platform. Starting at $72, you can learn how to grill from legendary Texas BBQ master Aaron Franklin, then enjoy other courses for a full year. Just make sure to subscribe before the end of Memorial Day itself to take advantage of the discount.

When you take a MasterClass course, one of the world’s top experts guides you through a series of videos on how to approach their craft. The Memorial Day deal drops the cost of a Standard subscription to $6 per month when billed annually, which comes out to $72 in total. That gives you access to more than 200 courses for a year, though you can only watch them on a device connected to the internet. It makes an excellent gift for someone you love — or for yourself.

MasterClass is also discounting its higher tiers for Memorial Day. With a Plus subscription, you can watch MasterClass courses on two devices at once, and download them to watch offline whenever you want. A Premium subscription boosts the number of devices to six. The latter also includes access to MasterClass On Call, which lets you chat with AI recreations of MasterClass experts (Although, as our review notes, that feature still needs a bit of polishing.)

After you’ve wowed your friends and family with your new grilling skills, MasterClass has plenty of other lessons that you can explore to continue your education. Creative writers can check out the BBC Maestro course that “resurrects” Agatha Christie, using her notes, an actress and AI rendering to teach the art of crafting a killer mystery. The platform also just launched a 20-episode series on healthy skin, featuring a panel of accredited dermatologists and cosmeticians.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/masterclass-subscriptions-are-40-percent-off-for-memorial-day-121509629.html?src=rss 

Bandai Namco has confirmed the rumors going around that Elden Ring will be adapted into a live-action movie. The project will be produced by Bandai Namco and American film company A24, and it will be helmed by filmmaker Alex Garland, who directed Ex Machina, Annihilation, Civil War and Warfare. He was also the novelist behind The Beach and had written the movies 28 Days Later, Dredd and 28 Years Later. The film will be produced by Peter Rice, along with Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich from DNA, as well as with George R. R. Martin and Vince Gerardis.

Elden Ring is a dark fantasy action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware, which was also the studio behind Dark Souls. Like other “Souls games,” it has a reputation for being notoriously difficult, and a movie would allow people too intimidated to even touch it to experience its story and its universe. Martin, who’s of course most known for the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, provided the game’s backstory and world building. FromSoftware’s president Hidetaka Miyazaki directed the game. Miyazaki was also the director behind the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne and Sekiro. 

Not much is known about the movie adaptation at the moment other than what Bandai Namco has announced. There are no stars attached to it yet, or a target release date. Fans do have Elden Ring Nightreign to look forward to, however: The co-op survival spinoff will be available on the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S starting on May 30. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/an-elden-ring-movie-directed-by-alex-garland-is-in-the-works-123042735.html?src=rss 

Whether you are trying to free up storage space or just want to tidy up your system, uninstalling apps on a Mac is a straightforward process. In many cases, removing an application is as simple as dragging it to the Trash, but depending on how the app was installed, there may be a few extra steps involved. Third-party tools are an option, but in most cases, you can uninstall Mac apps easily yourself. Some apps also leave behind associated files that you may want to get rid of to free up space, or to remove every last trace for a cleaner uninstall. Here is a step-by-step guide to uninstalling apps on a Mac, covering several different methods to help you manage your device effectively.

How to uninstall apps from Launchpad

Launchpad provides a simple way to remove apps that were downloaded from the App Store.

Open Launchpad by clicking its icon in the Dock or by pinching closed with your thumb and three fingers on the trackpad.

Find the app you want to delete. You can look it up in the search bar at the top if needed.

Press and hold the app icon until it starts to jiggle.

Click the small X button in the app icon’s corner.

Confirm by clicking Delete.

If you do not see an X button, the app was likely not installed from the App Store. In that case, you will need to use a different method to remove it.

How to uninstall apps by moving them to Trash

For apps downloaded from the internet or installed from a disk, you can uninstall them manually through Finder.

Open Finder.

Navigate to the Applications folder.

Locate the app you want to uninstall.

Drag the app to the Trash in the Dock, or right-click the app and select Move to Trash.

To completely remove the app, right-click on the Trash and select Empty Trash.

Some applications may require you to enter your administrator password to complete the deletion. Also, don’t empty your Trash too quickly after an install. Whether it’s a program or files associated with one, it can be easier to retrieve those things if they’re still lingering in your Trash.

How to use an app’s uninstaller

Certain apps come with their own built-in uninstallers, especially larger programs like Adobe products, Microsoft Office or antivirus software. These uninstallers are designed to remove the app and all associated files.

Open the Applications folder in Finder.

Look for a folder associated with the app you want to uninstall.

Open the folder and find the uninstaller tool, often labeled as Uninstall [App Name] or something similar.

Double-click the uninstaller and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you do not see an uninstaller, check the app’s official website for specific removal instructions.

How to delete app leftovers manually

Dragging an app to the Trash usually removes the application, but some support files, caches, and preferences can remain on your Mac. These leftover files do not typically harm your system, but they can take up unnecessary space over time.

To manually delete leftover files:

Open Finder and click Go in the menu bar.

Select Go to Folder.

Type ~/Library and press Return.

Search for any folders or files related to the app. Common places to check include:

~/Library/Application Support/

~/Library/Preferences/

~/Library/Caches/

Move any related files or folders to the Trash.

Empty Trash to permanently remove them.

Be cautious when deleting files from the Library folder. Only remove files that are clearly associated with the app you uninstalled.

How to uninstall apps using Terminal

For users comfortable with command-line tools, Terminal offers another way to remove apps. This method can be useful for stubborn apps that do not uninstall easily through other methods.

Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.

Type the following command: sudo rm -rf (do not press return/enter just yet), then drag across the app you wish to uninstall, and Terminal will automatically paste its path. Then press enter/return.

Enter your administrator password when prompted and hit return to complete the action.

Terminal does not provide a confirmation message, so make sure you enter the correct app name before executing the command.

How to uninstall system apps and default apps

MacOS does not allow users to remove core system apps like Safari, Messages or Mail through standard methods. These apps are protected to maintain system stability.

While it is technically possible to delete system apps using Terminal commands and disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP), this is not recommended. Removing system apps can cause unexpected behavior and security vulnerabilities, and may interfere with system updates.

For apps you cannot uninstall, consider hiding them or removing them from the Dock if you want to keep your workspace tidy.

How to reinstall apps on Mac

If you change your mind after uninstalling an app, it is usually easy to reinstall it.

For apps downloaded from the App Store, open the App Store, search for the app and click Get or the Download button.

For apps downloaded from the web, revisit the official website and download the latest version.

If you deleted a default macOS app, restoring it may require reinstalling macOS or using the macOS Recovery feature.

Keeping a backup of important apps or their installers can help avoid any inconvenience if you need to reinstall them later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/how-to-uninstall-apps-on-mac-110020116.html?src=rss 

As if early June wasn’t already going to be a wild enough time in the gaming world with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, that’s also when a whole host of showcases takes place as part of Summer Game Fest. Along with the two blockbuster events — Summer Game Fest Live and the Xbox Games Showcase — there are a bunch of other ones in store, including the always-delightful Day of the Devs.

There could be even more on the docket. There’s always a chance that Nintendo and Sony will run a Direct or State of Play, respectively, over the next few weeks. Ubisoft hasn’t yet announced a Forward event for this year either — perhaps because it has delayed a bunch of big games and isn’t ready to talk about them. We haven’t yet heard about a Devolver Direct either (c’monnnn, we need Baby Steps and Skate Story release dates already!).

As things stand, SGF is slated to run from June 6 until June 8. With E3 officially dead (organizer Entertainment Software Association is planning an industry-focused event for next April instead), SGF is now the de facto replacement and the biggest event for announcements and updates this side of Gamescom in August.

We’ll update this preview as more details about the showcases emerge, including additional events in the SGF nebula. We’ll embed videos for each stream as they become available as well.

Engadget will be on the ground in Los Angeles for the in-person side of SGF, which is for media and creators. We’ll be bringing you hands-on impressions of many of the games that are featured during SGF Live.

Most folks will be keeping up with everything from home, though. To that end, here’s a breakdown of how to watch Summer Game Fest 2025 and what to expect from the extravaganza (we’re bound to get a Hollow Knight: Silksong release date this time, right?!?!)

Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule

Summer Game Fest Live — June 6, 5PM ET

Day of the Devs — June 6, 7PM ET

Wholesome Direct — June 7, 12PM ET

Women-led Games Showcase — June 7, 1PM ET

Latin American Games Showcase — June 7, 2PM ET

Xbox Games Showcase — June 8, 1PM ET

How to watch Summer Game Fest Live — June 6, 5PM ET

Watch on YouTube or Twitch

Putting aside our annoyance at the timing of this showcase — late on a Friday evening in the UK and right when many folks on the East Coast are clocking out for the weekend — Summer Game Fest Live is one of the bigger events in early June. It starts at 5PM ET and will run for two hours.

Organizers are promising “spectacular new video game announcements, surprises and reveals.” That’s pretty compelling, especially since host Geoff Keighley (rightfully) downplayed expectations ahead of last year’s show. 

We do know about a few games that will appear. SGF Live will include a fresh look at Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, a Soulslike action RPG from Leenzee, a studio based in China. That game will arrive in July. Open-world MMORPG Chrono Odyssey will make an appearance as well.

You can watch SGF Live on more than 20 platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, X, TikTok, Steam and international services. The event will stream live from the YouTube Theater, and you can attend in person, if you like.

In any case, we’ll be bringing you all the major news from Summer Game Fest Live. We just can’t promise we won’t have an adult beverage with an umbrella next to us while we’re covering the event.

How to watch Day of the Devs — June 6, 7PM ET

Watch on YouTube (the same stream as SGF Live above) or Twitch

Immediately after SGF Live ends, the YouTube and Twitch streams will segue into the summer 2025 Day of the Devs stream. This indie-focused showcase invariably has a fantastic lineup of games worth keeping an eye on.

Among the games making appearances are Possessor(s) from Heart Machine and “nightmarish RPG” Neverway from Coldblood and co-publisher Outersloth. We’ll also see something from House House (Untitled Goose Game) — presumably the co-op “walker-talker” Big Walk that was revealed in 2023. In all, this edition of Day of the Devs will feature 20 games.

Last year’s show included 2024 game(s) of the year contender UFO 50, the very intriguing platformer Screenbound, survival climbing game Cairn, the delightfully kooky-looking Building Relationships and sci-fi mystery Phoenix Springs. My Steam wishlist somehow expands quite significantly after each Day of the Devs showcase. Weird how that always happens.

How to watch Wholesome Direct — June 7, 12PM ET

Watch on YouTube or Twitch

Definitely don’t overlook the smaller events that take place during SGF, as you can always find plenty of treats among them. One such event is the Wholesome Direct, which will feature around 60 cozy games. It will include world premieres, demo announcements and updates from publishers and developers including Playstack, btf Games, ustwo games and Wētā Workshop (whose Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game arrives in July).

How to watch Women-led Games Showcase — June 7, 1PM ET

Watch on YouTube

This one does what it says on the tin. It’s a showcase featuring games from women-led and majority-women studios. Women-led Games will feature 39 titles, including world premieres and release dates.

How to watch Latin American Games Showcase — June 7, 2PM ET

Watch on YouTube

The Latin American Games Showcase will feature more than 50 games, all of which are from Latin American developers, oddly enough. Expect world premieres, game update news and more from this one.

How to watch Xbox Games Showcase — June 8, 1PM ET

Watch on YouTube or Twitch (there’s a separate ASL stream on Twitch too)

What’s the over/under on the number of times the phrase “day one with Game Pass” will appear on this stream? That’s one phrase you can definitely expect to hear, but Microsoft will have plenty to share here. It’s the biggest Xbox showcase of the year. There will be reveals and updates from across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.

Games that the company has in the pipeline include Fable (2026), Perfect Dark, Gears of War: E-Day, Everwild, State of Decay 3, Clockwork Revolution, Hideo Kojima’s OD and Contraband. It feels a little early for an update on The Elder Scrolls 6 since that game is still years away. But we may find out more about those other games and some we don’t yet know about. 

I have my fingers crossed for more info on the Blade game that Arkane Studios is working on. It’s a reasonably safe bet that we’ll see something about the next Call of Duty here as well.

One game we’ll definitely hear more about on June 8 is The Outer Worlds 2. That’s getting its own time in the spotlight, with a dedicated event that will start as soon as the main Xbox Games Showcase ends.

Meanwhile, several publishers and other organizations are hosting their own shows around SGF. Here’s when those will take place: 

IGN Live — throughout June 7 and 8

Southeast Asian Games Showcase — June 7, 3PM ET

Future Games Show — June 7, 4PM ET (featuring more than 40 games) 

PC Gamer‘s PC Gaming Show — June 8, 3PM ET (with 50-plus games)

Phew. Get ready, gamers. Details on many, many new games are coming your way very soon.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/summer-game-fest-2025-what-to-expect-and-how-to-watch-games-revealed-live-000016769.html?src=rss 

The Federal Trade Commission has finally given up the ghost on challenging Microsoft‘s $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. “The Commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation in this case,” the agency said in an order issued today.

The federal regulator had attempted to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard both before and after the deal closed back in October 2023. The FTC just lost out on its latest appeal against the merger earlier this month. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FTC had not successfully argued several points of its case for a preliminary injunction against the merger, which is one of the biggest acquisitions in the video game industry.

“Today’s decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, D.C. We are grateful to the FTC for today’s announcement,” Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith posted on X about the dismissal.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-ftc-will-finally-stop-challenging-microsofts-purchase-of-activision-blizzard-225212384.html?src=rss 

Bluesky is ramping up its verification program, even though it’s still not exactly clear how it plans to determine which accounts are “authentic and notable” enough for a blue checkmark. One month after the company said it would start giving checkmarks to select accounts, the company is now allowing people to apply for verification.

Currently, the application consists of a multi-page Google Form that asks users to share details about their account and why they want to be verified. However, it’s not exactly clear what criteria Bluesky will be taking into account or how it will be reviewing what will almost certainly be a flood of applications.

The company notes that it will only verify accounts that are “active and secure, authentic, and notable.” Bluesky also recommends some obvious steps, like having a complete bio and using two-factor authentication. The linked form also asks users about what “category” they may fall into, such as an elected official, brand, athlete, journalist, academic or “other.”

But it sounds like Blueksy is very much still figuring out verification as it goes. “Our criteria for verification is evolving based on user feedback,” the form states. “We will continue to expand the scope of accounts that are eligible for verification over time. This is an initial version of the form that will change as we finalize the requirements for verification.” It also notes that “meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee verification.”

That could complicate things for Bluesky, which resisted the idea of having an in-house verification system until recently, despite repeated issues with impersonation. The service has more than 36 million sign-ups, and if even a small percentage of them request a badge, it could quickly overwhelm the company’s small team.

Notably, the platform is also expanding its “trusted verifiers,” which are third-party entities that can verify users (who get a slightly different-shaped checkmark) and vouch for their legitimacy. Organizations that want to verify on behalf of others can also sign up via the same form.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/you-can-now-apply-for-verification-on-bluesky-222802057.html?src=rss 

Valve officially added support for the Lenovo Legion Go S in its latest SteamOS release. The handheld, which begins shipping this weekend, is the first hardware other than the Steam Deck to formally run Valve’s gaming-centric operating system.

Valve has been laying the groundwork to bring SteamOS to more devices. Earlier in the month, it introduced a separate verification program to show players when a game is supported by the operating system. While the Legion Go S is the only third-party handheld to have official support, the patch notes for the recent update note that there is now “improved support for other AMD powered handhelds (like the ROG Ally and original Legion Go).”

Another standout item in the software update is the introduction of SteamOS support for the Proteus Controller. This is a nifty modular gamepad that can be arranged to address players’ individual accessibility needs.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/steamos-now-officially-supports-a-second-handheld-221702983.html?src=rss 

If you had trouble using X today, you’re not alone. DownDetector reports that over 5,000 people have reported issues accessing the social media platform as of 4PM ET. X’s official Engineering account claims the issue is due to a data center outage.

“X is aware some of our users are experiencing performance issues on the platform today,” X’s Engineering account writes. “We are experiencing a data center outage and the team is actively working to remediate the issue.” The platform last experienced a major outage in March 2025. At the time, X CEO Elon Musk blamed the outage on a “massive cyberattack.” Security researchers who looked into the issue later said it was poor security on X’s part that left the company’s servers vulnerable to attack.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-is-experiencing-a-data-center-outage-204254880.html?src=rss