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Apple is slated to hold its annual Worldwide Developer Conference today, and based on the rumors and leaks we’ve seen, it’s shaping up to be a monumental year. The industry is expecting the company to launch its first mixed reality headset, along with a new platform that powers VR or AR applications, as well as the usual suspects like updates to iOS, macOS, watchOS and more. In addition, there might be new Mac hardware and we never know what surprises might be in store. Will there be a Ted Lasso reveal? Or maybe new Fitness+ updates or a celebrity appearance? I guess we’ll just have to wait till find out. The show kicks off at 1pm ET/10am PT, and we’ll be starting to publish updates at 12pm ET, so stay tuned!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-wwdc-2023-live-updates-160004876.html?src=rss 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is acting on concerns crypto giant Binance may have broken the law with its US operations. The regulator has filed 13 charges against Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao accusing the two of violating securities laws. Most notably, officials claim Binance knowingly undermined its own international compliance controls to help US investors keep trading on Binance.com when they were only supposed to rely on the separate Binance.US system. Zhao and his company also controlled Binance.US “behind the scenes,” the SEC alleges.

The Commission also maintains that Binance and Zhao mixed and diverted customers’ assets at will, including with the Zhao-owned Sigma Chain. The company and its US affiliate are further accused of running unregistered exchanges, broker-dealers and clearing agencies, with Zhao serving as the control. They also allegedly sold unregistered crypto assets, the SEC adds.

The SEC aims to not only force Binance to comply with the law, but to bar Zhao from helming any domestic securities issuers. It also wants the company to disgorge its financial gains from the alleged violations, and to pay additional penalties.

Binance says it’s “disheartened” by the charges and maintains that it has participated in “good-faith” talks to reach a settlement. Reuters investigators reported that Binance commingled $20 million from a corporate account with $15 million for a customer-oriented example. The company denied the allegation, saying that the relevant accounts were only used to “facilitate” cryptocurrency purchases and that the funds were exclusively corporate.

The SEC allegations come a few months after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed its own charges against Binance and Zhao. It too accused the crypto firm of skirting US regulations and offering unregistered crypto assets. Unlike the SEC, the CFTC charged former compliance officer Samuel Lim.

The action against Binance is the latest phase in a broader crackdown against the crypto industry. FTX and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried are facing numerous charges over alleged fraud and bribery. New York State has sued former Celsius chief Alex Mashinsky over purported fraud, while the SEC has charged Terraform Labs with running a “multi-billion dollar” fradulent operation. Combine this with Congress’ efforts to shape crypto policy and there’s intense pressure on crypto exchanges to alter their practices.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/binance-faces-sec-charges-for-allegedly-mishandling-funds-and-dodging-rules-162321241.html?src=rss 

Apple’s WWDC kicks off today and the company may well reveal some fresh Macs. Before you pick up one of those, though, you may be looking to snag some new AirPods. As it happens, several models are on sale, including the third-gen AirPods. Those have dropped by 12 percent to $149, which is just $10 more than the record low price.

The latest AirPods marked a major improvement over the second-gen model. We gave them a score of 88 in our review, lauding them for having much better audio, a more comfortable design and a substantially improved battery life. That said, the lack of onboard volume controls remained a disappointment and the fit and visual appearance may still not work for everyone.

The third-gen AirPods don’t have active noise cancellation either, but you will find that feature on the most recent AirPods Pro, which are also on sale. You can snag a pair for $200. That’s $50 off the regular price. We gave the second-gen AirPods Pro a score of 88 as well. The transparency mode impressed us and the earbuds delivered better audio quality than the previous model. The finicky touch gesture, so-so battery life and Apple’s choice to retain the same design were negative points, however.

If you’re looking for a less expensive set of AirPods, it’s worth considering the second-gen model. While they might be showing their age a bit (Apple released them in 2019), they’re still a good choice for true wireless earbuds, especially for those who use Apple devices. The second-gen AirPods are on sale for $99, which is $30 off.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-third-gen-airpods-have-dropped-back-down-to-149-144926943.html?src=rss 

It’s WWDC time, folks. Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off today with a keynote that’s sure to be full of big news. We’ll have full coverage of everything you need to know from the event right here on Engadget, along with immediate reactions to the announcements in our liveblog. You’ll also be able to watch the keynote, which starts at 1PM ET, below.

We’re expecting some major updates from Apple at this year’s WWDC. For one thing, rumors suggest the company will reveal a high-end mixed-reality headset. Apple has been developing the device for many years, according to reports. The headset, said to be called the Reality Pro, is the company’s most notable product launch at least since the arrival of the Apple Watch in 2015. However, at an expected price of $3,000, the first version of the headset could be one primarily for early adopters.

Elsewhere, we’ll surely hear updates on Apple’s operating systems. There could be an enormous change to the iPhone and iPad ecosystem in store if rumors hold true and Apple officially supports third-party app stores in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. We may well learn about several new Macs at the event too, such as a 15-inch MacBook Air. In any case, we won’t have to wait long to find out what Apple has in store.

Follow all of the news from Apple’s WWDC 2023 right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-wwdc-2023-keynote-watch-it-here-at-1pm-et-150024806.html?src=rss 

Spotify isn’t done with layoffs this year. The company is cutting 200 jobs in its podcast division, or about 2 percent of its workforce, as part of a “strategic realignment.” Spotify is moving to a more “tailored approach” that optimizes resources for each podcast creator and their shows, and the streaming service believes this requires a leaner team.

The new strategy will also see Spotify merge its Gimlet and Parcast production houses into an updated Spotify Studios unit. They’ll continue to produce well-known originals and start new shows, although there will be a new emphasis on frequent content that fosters large audiences. Spotify as a whole will work on “maximizing consumption” from the existing audience, encouraging them to listen more often and to more podcasts. The firm is also growing its Spotify For Podcasters analytics, refining its ad options and adding “more business models” to help creators profit.

The provider is keen to tout its growth since it started investing heavily in podcasts in 2019, including the acquisitions of Gimlet, Parcast and the creator platform Anchor. It now claims to be the most popular podcast platform in “most corners” of the planet, with over 100 million listeners and 5 million shows. Usage has grown over 1,400 percent, Spotify says. It also says it’s the top publisher in the US. 

Even so, the layoffs add to a string of blows for the company. Spotify reportedly dropped numerous shows last fall, shedding nearly 5 percent of its podcast team in the process. The service also laid off 6 percent of its total staff in January, with chief content officer Dawn Ostroff (credited with growing podcast content 40-fold) stepping down at the same time. There have also been difficulties with the content itself, including misinformation concerns with Spotify exclusive The Joe Rogan Experience. The company may be a powerhouse in the category, but it’s no longer as secure as it once was.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-is-laying-off-200-employees-from-its-podcast-division-134749721.html?src=rss 

If you’re ready to pull the trigger on a PS5 and want the popular title God of War: Ragnarok as well, Amazon has them on sale in a bundle at a new all-time low. The PS5 God of War: Ragnarok bundle is currently on sale for $500, or $60 off the usual price. That means you can get the game for just $1, considering the disc version of the console on its own is normally $499. Amazon has a big sale on a number of other games too, including Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition, along with God of War: Ragnarok by itself. 

Sales for Sony’s PS5 exploded once supply constraints disappeared, with Sony announcing it sold 19.1 million units in the last year alone, compared to 11.5 million the year before. Still, the console rarely goes on sale, so this is one of the best deals we’ve seen, effectively giving you both the disc version of the PS5 and God of War: Ragnarok for the price of the console alone. 

Meanwhile, God of War: Ragnarok made Engadget’s list of the best PS5 games for 2023. We called it a “massive adventure” and lauded features like an incredible combat experience, greater variety of enemies and more realms to visit. It also provides visuals up to 4K or high 120Hz frame rates, assuming your TV can handle it.

Along with the bundle, Amazon is offering deals on a bunch of PS5 games as part of its Days of Play sale. As mentioned, you can grab significant savings on Horizon Forbidden West ($40 or 43 percent off), Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition ($40), and God of War: Ragnarok ($50 or $30 percent off). Other titles on sale include Spider Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition ($40), Demon’s Souls ($30) and Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut ($30). 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-god-of-war-ragnarok-playstation-5-bundle-is-cheaper-than-ever-140108829.html?src=rss