Who Were the Black Hawk Pilots in the Washington D.C. Plane Crash?

New details have come to light about the tragic collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet carrying several U.S. figure skaters.

New details have come to light about the tragic collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet carrying several U.S. figure skaters. 

Uber files racketeering suit against New York groups alleging car crash fraud

Uber has filed a racketeering suit against a group of legal firms and medical professionals, claiming they staged car crashes and performed unnecessary surgeries to commit insurance fraud, Bloomberg reported. The group allegedly recruited passengers involved in purported or minor vehicle collisions and provided “medical unnecessary… [sometimes] invasive and painful surgeries like spinal fusions,” according to the federal suit filed in Brooklyn yesterday.

Driving the alleged racket is New York’s no-fault insurance, particularly as it applies to cab and rideshare chauffeurs. The city forces those workers to carry personal injury coverage up to $200,000, four times that required for individual drivers — providing potential scammers with lucrative targets. 

There are other issues behind the claim. New York City’s largest taxi insurer, ATIC (American Transit Insurance Co.), which insures about 60 percent of the 120,000 for-hire vehicles in the city, recently went insolvent. Uber sued ATIC last year, saying that its “unreasonable practices” spawned 23 lawsuits against Uber, forcing it to deal with the claims itself in court. 

On top of that, ATIC itself filed a $450 million racketeering suit in December last year, also seeking damages from doctors and others for insurance fraud. That has left New York with a big mess around the availability and pricing of for-hire insurance, so Governor Kathy Hochul recently proposed legislation to make it easier for insurance to adjust commercial car insurance rate. 

Uber has been pushing for insurance and tort reform in multiple states to address rising insurance costs that have hurt its business. The company recently agreed to a $328 million settlement with New York rideshare drivers who were underpaid between 2014 and 2017. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-files-racketeering-suit-against-new-york-groups-alleging-car-crash-fraud-130056714.html?src=rss 

The Morning After: Our verdict on the Galaxy S5 Ultra and Galaxy S25

It’s early 2025, the weather’s still cold, so it must be time for Samsung to kick off the year’s flagship smartphone race with its latest barrage of devices. This time, we’ve got three S25 phones, ranging from the $800 S25 through to the $1,300 S25 Ultra.

Let’s start with the flagship, the S25 Ultra. This year, Samsung has honed the design of the slate to closer match the rest of its family, while adding a substantially upgraded ultrawide camera sensor. There’s also a powerful 3nm Snapdragon Elite for Galaxy added, a collaboration between Samsung and Qualcomm that augments its computational photography skills and more. (Not to mention incredible battery life.)

And you know what? It’s another great phone, capable of going toe-to-toe with the iPhones and Pixels of this world. However, it also looks very similar to last year’s model, which makes the S25 Ultra a less impressive update, given its price.

Then there’s the Galaxy S25 — priced the same as the last few S-series base models. I spent over a week with it, and much of its hardware remains the same, with incremental improvements to the camera, courtesy of behind-the-scenes processing, and that incredible battery life. And it’s Samsung, so it was always going to be a solid premium phone with a gorgeous screen. But if you were thinking of upgrading from an S24 (or S23, even S22), it’s a hard pitch.

— Mat Smith

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The biggest tech stories you missed

Comcast unveils ultra-low lag internet connection

UPS plans to slash its shipping business with Amazon by half

A private start-up called Helion aims to have a working fusion reactor by 2028

OpenAI isn’t happy with DeepSeek’s sudden rise, thinks IP theft is bad now

Even if it didn’t name the Chinese startup explicitly.

The big story this week is around DeepSeek AI: the open-source chatbot that reportedly requires far less computing power than competitors and was developed on a (relative) shoestring budget.

It subsequently put stocks related to AI, like NVIDIA, into a tailspin, although they have somewhat recovered. DeepSeek’s had brief success, even stimulating a response from President Trump.

Now, ChatGPT maker OpenAI says Chinese startups are cribbing the models of US AI companies. It claims rivals are persistently trying to copy the technology of existing AI companies, adding that OpenAI and its partner Microsoft have been banning accounts suspected of “distilling” its models.

The company didn’t explicitly mention DeepSeek in its statement, but… yeah. Also, let’s not forget: OpenAI admitted last year that getting its AI models up to speed was impossible without dipping its toes into copyrighted materials.

How does it feel, having your hard work repurposed and regurgitated? I couldn’t possibly relate.

Continue reading.

CVS will let you unlock its cabinets with your phone

If you install its app. And are in a handful of stores.

UCG via Getty Images

Offering the biggest reason yet to install a retail store’s app, CVS says it will let select users, without needing staff, to shop for items typically locked away in its stores. If you haven’t been to a CVS, many items are locked up to prevent theft (and antagonize everyone). The feature is only available to loyalty program members and in a handful of unnamed stores. It was being trialed in just three stores but will be expanded to 10 to 15 stores. (There are over 9,000 CVS locations in the US.)

Continue reading.

Incention is a desperate attempt to make new Hollywood IP with AI, fans and the blockchain

White hole? More like white noise.

By the headline alone, this sounds terrible, but you should read Devindra’s takedown in full. So many questions: Why the name? Why even make Incention? Who wants this? Does it smell like a blockchain-scented Quibi? Yes, yes it does.

Continue reading.

Ask Engadget!

AMA or AEA.

Engadget

What is the best Galaxy phone under $500? Are refurb iPads worth it? My Roomba stole my girlfriend, please advise. We’re bringing back Ask Engadget, with an entirely new email address: askmat@engadget.com. Aside from spamming free trials of apps and streaming services, let’s put it to use.

Ask me something!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121727846.html?src=rss 

Engadget Podcast: DeepSeek blows up the AI world

In the span of a week, the Chinese startup DeepSeek has completely disrupted the AI landscape with its free and “open source” R1 model. In this episode, Devindra, Engadget Senior Reporter Igor Bonifacic and Producer Ben Ellman dive into what makes R1 so special, and what DeepSeek is doing differently from OpenAI and other competitors. Also, we try to figure out what’s up with “Incention,” a weird AI/blockchain project for creating new Hollywood IP, and wonder if Helion’s fusion reactor is actually legit.

Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

Subscribe!

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Topics

DeepSeek’s R1 model shakes up the AI landscape – 1:55

Quick mention: Sam Rutherford’s Galaxy S25 review “Too much AI, not enough Ultra” – 30:19

Incention is proof that blockchain nonsense is alive and well – 37:16

Fusion startup Helion has Altman and Thiel on its side, but maybe not physics – 42:50

Google agrees to rename Gulf of Mexico on U.S. version of its maps – 49:19

Working on – 50:07

Pop culture picks – 51:32

Credits 

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonifacic
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/engadget-podcast-deepseek-blows-up-the-ai-world-123036730.html?src=rss 

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 secures a movie adaptation before it’s even released

Hollywood has been turning to video games for source material quite a bit in recent years. And while their success rate has been improving (mostly), it’s a surprise to see a a movie adaptation announced before the game that inspired it has even been released. Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 clearly made a big impression on somebody important, because it will be turned into a live action movie from Story Kitchen. The fantasy RPG was part of Microsoft’s summer showcase in August and was highlighted during last week’s Xbox Developer Direct. It’s slated for release on April 24. 

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Sandfall Interactive to bring the rich, immersive world of Expedition 33 to the big screen,” Story Kitchen founders Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg told Variety. “The game’s compelling narrative and complex characters provide a solid foundation for a cinematic experience that will resonate with both gamers and moviegoers alike.”

Story Kitchen has been assembling quite the lineup of video games to translate to the big and small screens. The outfit, which was previously called dj2 Entertainment, has been attached to a movie of It Takes Two, a Tomb Raider TV series, a film of Lovecraftian fishing sim Dredge, an animated series inspired by Vampire Survivors and a Sifu movie

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/clair-obscur-expedition-33-secures-a-movie-adaptation-before-its-even-released-000443246.html?src=rss 

Amazon Music Unlimited subscription prices are rising again

Yet another streaming service is raising its prices. This time, it’s Amazon Music Unlimited that’s getting more expensive. Prime members will pay $11 a month or $109 a year for an individual plan, up from $10 and $99, respectively. Listeners who aren’t part of Prime will see their monthly rates change from $11 to $12 for the individual plan. The family plan is also seeing increased prices, from $17 to $20 per month and from $169 to $199 for a year.

The new pricing structure took effect for new customer sign-ups on January 29. Current subscribers will be charged the updated rates in their next billing cycle on or after March 5.

The FAQ detailing the increased costs states that the change will bring listeners “more content and features,” which was the same rationale given when Amazon Music Unlimited previously raised its fees in 2023. The service has added the ability to borrow Audible audiobooks and a personalized year-in-review since then, which is nice, but possibly not as nice as paying less each month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/amazon-music-unlimited-subscription-prices-are-rising-again-232426667.html?src=rss 

Super Bowl 2025: How to watch the Chiefs vs Eagles on Sunday, February 9

The Caesars Superdome will host Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 9. Here’s how to tune in to the big game! (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Chris Graythen via Getty Images

The Kansas City Chiefs have won their third AFC Championship in a row, sending them to Super Bowl LIX where they’ll face NFC champions the Philadelphia Eagles. The two teams both made it to the championship game back in 2023 when the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35; will the Eagles get their revenge this year, or will the Chiefs nab an unprecedented third win in a row? We’ll find out on Super Bowl Sunday! 

Super Bowl LIX will be played at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, Feb. 9 with a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show will feature Kendrick Lamar, who just confirmed that SZA will be joining him. The championship game will be broadcast nationally on Fox this year and will be available on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo. Looking for a free way to tune in? The Super Bowl will also be livestreamed on Tubi — in 4K, no less!

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Super Bowl.

When is Super Bowl LIX?

The 2025 Super Bowl will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9.

What time does the Super Bowl start?

Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

How to watch the Super Bowl live

Super Bowl LIX will air nationally on Fox and stream live on Tubi.

How to stream the Super Bowl for free this year

Tubi will be livestreaming Fox’s coverage of the Super Bowl this year — the first time the free platform has done so. It will also be available in the Fox Sports app on mobile platforms. Beyond that, you can also sign up for free trials of DirecTV Stream, Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, each of which carry Fox in most locations. Two important caveats: Verify that your locality includes a Fox stream by inputting your ZIP code on their respective sites. And if you don’t want to pay, make sure you cancel before the trial subscription ends — they can be as short as three days, so plan ahead.

How to watch the 2025 Super Bowl without cable

The Tubi option above is the easiest go-to starting point for free Super Bowl streaming — but no one knows how the service will hold up under what’s certain to be its most intensive influx of concurrent users. There are plenty of worthwhile backups, each of which offer more comprehensive options for cordcutters beyond the game itself — say, watching SportsCenter on ESPN before or after the game. And most of our picks for best live TV streaming services offer free trials, so you can check them out risk-free. If you time it right, your free trial can include the Super Bowl broadcast, too. 

Where is the 2025 Super Bowl?

The 2025 Super Bowl will be held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The venue has been host to seven previous Super Bowl games.

Who is performing in the Super Bowl 59 halftime show?

Kendrick Lamar is headlining Super Bowl LIX, with a guest appearance by SZA.

Who is playing in the Super Bowl 2025?

AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs will play NFC champs the Philadelphia Eagles.

More ways to watch Super Bowl LIX 

Thanks to the wide array of streaming options detailed above, you’ll be able to watch the Super Bowl on nearly any current device with a screen. There are plenty of Super Bowl TV deals ahead of the game if you need to upgrade that aging 40-inch screen with the dead pixels in the corner. And for as little as $40 or less, a new Roku or Fire TV device will ensure that you have all of these apps (including Tubi) if they’re not already built-in to your screen. See our list of best streaming devices for the full range of options.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/super-bowl-2025-how-to-watch-the-chiefs-vs-eagles-on-sunday-february-9-214817647.html?src=rss 

Netflix will stream its 2025 Tudum event on Netflix

Netflix’s next Tudum fan event will take place on May 31 in Los Angeles. For the first time, the company will stream the event live on its own platform. Past iterations have been livestreamed on YouTube, Twitch and Netflix’s social channels.

Tudum, which is meant to sound like the audio effect that plays at the start of any Netflix program, is the streaming business’ showcase of its content lineup. The company has used this event in previous years to share behind-the-scenes tidbits and first looks at upcoming programming. The 2023 Tudum drew 11,000 attendees in São Paulo, Brazil and 78 million viewers streamed it, according to the company.

While there will probably be some fun announcements and reveals, the most notable takeaway is that Netflix is pushing more definitively into the live event space. A Chris Rock comedy special in 2023 was the company’s first livestream. It also snapped up the rights to livestream the Screen Actors Guild awards on its platform and hosted a flashy boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul in 2024. However, the Tyson/Paul match had extensive technical issues. Airing its own event and keeping those millions of eyeballs on its own platform will be positive steps for the company’s ambitions in this space. Assuming everything works. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/netflix-will-stream-its-2025-tudum-event-on-netflix-222604357.html?src=rss 

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