Category: Technology

When Sony’s wireless earbuds come to mind, the flagship-quality WF-1000XM5 is probably the first product that jumps out. However, the company is also adept at building budget models, blending features and tech to give users a solid value for a lot less money. That was the proposition when the WF-C700N arrived in 2023, offering active noise cancellation (ANC), solid battery life and other features for $120. Now, Sony is back with the successor to those earbuds, the WF-C710N, that packs a host of improvements but keeps the price the same. 

First, Sony says it improved ANC performance by employing dual mics on each earbud on the C710N. The C700N only had one on each side. The company is also using AI Noise Reduction this time around to improve call quality. On the outside, Sony replaced the physical button for the onboard controls with a touch panel, and the company added wear detection for added convenience. 

You can also expect longer battery life on the C710N. At 8.5 hours with ANC enabled, that’s an hour longer than the C700N. With ANC off, you can expect up to two hours more than the previous model. Additionally, total battery life including the case is doubled, with up to 30 hours of noise-canceling use available (up to 40 hours with ANC off). Sony improved the quick charge feature as well, giving you an hour of play time in five minutes instead of the previous 10-minute window.

The WF-C710N is available for preorder today in black, white, pink and a transparent Glass Blue for $120. I guess Sony’s confusing product names aren’t entirely going away after all. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sony-overhauls-its-budget-earbuds-while-keeping-the-price-the-same-010025194.html?src=rss 

Waymo is continuing to expand its foothold across the US, having recently started offering paid robotaxi services in more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Next up are Atlanta and Miami, and now the company has revealed plans to offer its driverless Waymo One service in the nation’s capital in 2026.

Before that can happen, though, Waymo will need to get approval from regulators. The company says it will “continue to work closely with policymakers to formalize the regulations needed to operate without a human behind the wheel in the District.” DC currently requires autonomous vehicles to have a human at the wheel, ready to take control if necessary.

“Our priority remains ensuring that any company operating in the District — such as Waymo — does so in a manner that prioritizes safety, aligns with our regulatory framework, and integrates seamlessly into DC’s unique transportation ecosystem,” German Vigil, a spokesman for the District Department of Transportation, told The Washington Post. He noted that the agency is refining its approach to regulation “based on public input, emerging best practices and lessons learned” from other jurisdictions.

Waymo has tested its vehicles in DC for several years and it plans to “continue introducing ourselves to DC’s communities and emergency responders over the coming months.” Per the Post, if and when Waymo One does become available in the District, the robotaxis would not take riders to any of the region’s airports, as they wouldn’t (at least at the outset) have a permit to cross into Maryland or Virginia.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-aims-to-offer-paid-robotaxi-rides-in-washington-dc-next-year-161523916.html?src=rss 

The weather might be getting nicer, but that doesn’t reduce the need to sometimes stay home and have cozy nights in front of the TV. That’s all the more desirable thanks to the great discounts available for Amazon’s Spring Sale. For instance, the newest Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is currently down to $20 from $35. 

Amazon released the Fire TV Stick HD last October in a move that can best be defined as a rebrand. The company cut its price by $5 (pre-sale) while keeping pretty much all the features of its previous basic streamer. It’s also our pick for best budget streaming stick. 

The Fire TV Stick HD has HDR support and streams with full HD resolution. It also comes with an Alexa-powered remote control, which lets you search for titles with just a click of the Alexa button. That remote also has Netflix and Prime Video buttons, but the device can run most streaming apps, like Disney+ and Peacock. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-deals-include-the-fire-tv-stick-hd-for-only-20-144514114.html?src=rss 

Apple plans to start using images it collects for Maps to train its AI models. In a disclosure spotted by 9to5Mac, the company said starting this month it would use images it captures to provide its Look Around feature for the additional purpose of training some of its generative AI models.

Look Around is Apple’s answer to Google Street View. The company originally released the feature alongside its 2019 revamp of Apple Maps. The tool allows users to see locations from ground level. Apple blurs faces and license plates photographed in Look Around images to protect the privacy of any individuals caught in its survey efforts.

“In addition to improving Apple Maps and the algorithms that blur faces and license plates in images published in Look Around feature, Apple also will use blurred imagery collected during surveys conducted beginning in March 2025 to develop and improve other Apple products and services,” the company writes in the disclosure. “This includes using data to train models powering Apple products and services, including models related to image recognition, creation, and enhancement.”

Apple did not immediately respond to Engadget’s request for more information.

The company’s Apple Maps image collection policy page provides a list of regions and dates when it plans to collect new images for Look Around. People can find when Apple’s survey crews and vehicles plan to visit their area by sorting by country and then clicking on a specific region.

Apple currently offers a few different features that rely on image generation models. Image Playground, for instance, allows owners of Apple Intelligence-compatible devices to write a prompt to create a new image. There’s also Clean Up in Photos, which you can use to remove objects from your favorite snapshots.

Google has been using Street View images to train AI models for years. In 2017, for example, a pair of researchers from the company trained a machine learning model to generate professional-looking photographs from a dataset collected from Street View. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-will-use-its-street-view-maps-photos-to-train-ai-models-150919972.html?src=rss 

Starting today, DJs will have access to Apple Music’s catalog of over 100 million songs through more hardware and software platforms. DJs of all skill levels can build and mix sets on AlphaTheta, Serato, Engine DJ, Denon DJ, Numark and RANE DJ. This news follows the initial debut of Apple Music integration with Algoriddim’s djay Pro software last year. There’s also a new name for the whole initiative: DJ with Apple Music. And yes, a subscription is required.

This isn’t to be confused with Apple Music’s DJ Mixes, a separate program that began in 2021. The idea there was to attract creators of said DJ mixes and sets to the platform by leveraging Shazam’s technology (owned by Apple) to ensure proper royalties were paid out. Now, Apple says, it’s giving DJs access to its music catalog so it can be used as a creative tool and so they can easily tap into their personal libraries. There’s a new DJ with Apple Music category page in the streaming app with curated playlists, and each platform has its own curator page complete with practice material.

Spotify used to allow integration with third-party DJ apps, but the service stopped doing so in 2020. If you’re looking for options, djay Pro works with Tidal and SoundCloud, in addition to Apple Music.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/apple-music-integration-is-now-available-on-more-dj-platforms-140009346.html?src=rss 

Apple may avoid a fine in one of the European Union investigations it’s currently the subject of. The bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission, will next week end a probe into whether Apple hindered iPhone users from easily changing their browser or search engine, according to Reuters.

Apple is said to have complied with rules laid out under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to make it a cinch for users to switch to alternative browsers, social media platforms and other online services while giving smaller rivals a better chance to compete. Violations of the DMA, legislation that broadly seeks to keep the power of Big Tech in check, can lead to a fine of up to 10 percent of a company’s total annual revenue, and up to 20 percent for repeat offenses.

However, Apple may not be entirely off the hook. Per the report, the EU is set to dish out fines to both that company and Meta. The second Apple case concerns whether the company inhibited app developers from freely informing users about alternate payment options that are available away from the App Store ecosystem. As for Meta, it was reported this week that the EU may fine the company north of $1 billion for violating DMA rules as a result of its “consent or pay” ad-free subscription option in the region.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-may-evade-an-eu-fine-over-ios-browser-options-142115844.html?src=rss 

The next time you join a video call, Otter.ai is hoping its new AI tool will help make things run smoother. On Tuesday, the company introduced the Otter Meeting Agent. It’s part of a suite of three new AI helpers designed to assist a variety of different users. The first of those, the voice-activated Meeting Agent, can schedule follow-up calls and draft emails for you. It can also answer questions based on information it finds in your company’s meeting database.

“This agent goes beyond simple transcription and empowers users to interact with AI meeting data in real-time to increase productivity,” explains Otter.ai. The two other agents the company is releasing today can provide real-time coaching to sales agents during customer calls and live demos to potential customers. Otter.ai says it plans to release more “vertical” agents in the future. They will be designed to assist marketing, recruiting and other job functions.

In the meantime, Otter.ai has begun rolling out the Meeting Agent to all users. As of today, it works with Zoom exclusively, with support for Microsoft Teams and Google Meet arriving in the coming weeks. If you don’t have access right away, it may take a few days before the company rolls out the agent to you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/otterais-meeting-agent-can-schedule-calls-and-write-emails-for-you-130048189.html?src=rss 

Anker makes some of the best power banks on the market and debuted a few great options earlier this year. That included Anker’s Laptop Power Bank, a 25,000mAh portable charger with triple 100W USB-C ports and one USB port. Well, currently, that charger is on sale for $88, down from $110 — a 20 percent discount — as part of Amazon’s Spring Sale. 

The new power bank, available in Black and Silver, comes with two USB-C cables and can charge four devices simultaneously. It works with laptops, smartphones, cameras, gaming consoles and more. For example, it can charge an MacBook Air with an M3 chip to 50 percent in 33 minutes. It can also get an iPhone 16 to the same level in just 25 minutes. Plus, its display shows the battery’s health and temperature, along with output and input wattage. 

Anker’s 140W four-port wall charger is also discounted for Amazon’s Spring Sale. You can pick it up right now for $77, down from $90. It offers a display that tracks power usage for each port, fast-charge status and temperature. Plus, it has something Anker refers to as an “odometer,” tracking lifetime usage hour by hour. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-latest-chargers-and-power-banks-are-up-to-20-percent-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-130131799.html?src=rss 

Anker’s Eufy 3-in-1 E20 robot vacuum is $150 off right now, as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. That brings the price down to $450, which is a record low. For those averse to using Amazon, the deal is also available directly from the company.

The E20 made our list of the best robot vacuums, and with good reason. We loved the hybrid functionality, as this robovac quickly transforms into a cordless stick vacuum and a handheld unit. This in no way impedes the overall performance, as we found the automatic cleaning mode to be top-tier.

The self-emptying base also holds a lot, considering its compact size. We praised the proprietary app in our official review, as editing room maps is both quick and easy. All told, it only took the robovac ten minutes to scoot around the house and create an accurate map. 

The suction power of the robotic unit is strong enough for major cleaning tasks, but the same cannot be said of the stick vacuum attachment. The power is on the weaker side. Also, it doesn’t come with a wall mount for the stick vacuum. That costs extra, to the tune of around $30. Today’s savings more than makes up for that.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-eufy-3-in-1-e20-robot-vacuum-is-150-off-during-the-amazon-big-spring-sale-140020547.html?src=rss 

One of Samsung’s CEOs, Jong-hee Han, has died due to a heart attack, according to Reuters and CNBC. He was 63. Han joined the company in 1988 and became the head of product research and development for visual display in 2011. He then led Samsung’s TV business before he was named as the head of Samsung DX, which is what the company calls its merged mobile and consumer electronics divisions, in 2021. In 2022, he officially became the company’s Vice Chairman and CEO. Han had no experience in mobile before he started leading the company’s DX group, but Samsung gave him credit for helping it get to the top of global TV sales for 15 years. 

CNBC says Han was one of the executives who hosted Samsung’s annual general shareholders meeting just a week ago and answered questions about the company’s poor stock performance. During the meeting, Han apologized to the shareholders, telling them that Samsung “failed to adequately respond to the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor market.” He also told the shareholders that Samsung was having difficulties when it came to semiconductor-related mergers and acquisitions due to regulatory issues, but that the company was “determined to produce some tangible results this year.”

Based on the notice Samsung published, Han’s co-CEO Young-Hyun Jun is now the sole CEO of the company. Jun, who also heads Samsung’s semiconductor business, was appointed as Han’s co-CEO in November 2024. It’s not clear whether Samsung is planning to appoint another CEO in the future. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/samsung-ceo-jong-hee-han-has-died-120029286.html?src=rss