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Amazon is closing all Fresh grocery stores in the UK

Amazon is pivoting its grocery operations in the UK, announcing that it will close 14 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the country. The remaining five Amazon Fresh locations in the UK will be converted to the Whole Foods Market brand. Rather than the brick and mortar shops, Amazon said it will focus on online grocery deliveries within the region. In 2026, the company said it expects to add perishables to its Same-Day Delivery orders for UK customers, which was just introduced in the US last month.

The move echoes a similar contraction in 2023, where Amazon said it would shutter both some Fresh supermarkets and some Go convenience stores. Many of these shops highlighted the Just Walk Out tech from Amazon, which it introduced in the US in 2018 and in the UK in 2021. Just Walk Out eliminated cashiers in those stores and instead charged customers by using a network of cameras, sensors and human observers to calculate the tab for a person’s purchase and then charge them afterwards. However, the approach turned out to have problems with cost, accuracy and privacy to the point of being unsustainable; Amazon stopped using Just Walk Out in the US last year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-closing-all-fresh-grocery-stores-in-the-uk-195200222.html?src=rss

There’s more than one way to make an Xbox handheld

With the launch of the ROG Xbox Ally only a few weeks away on October 16, the fantasy of a portable Xbox is about to be a lot more real. As a recent video from YouTuber James Channel shows, though, with a first-generation Xbox and the right components, you can make your own version of an Xbox handheld right now. Just don’t expect it to be pretty.

James’ “portable monstrosity” strips away the original Xbox’s large plastic casing and thick internal cables and preserves the bare essentials: a motherboard and the console’s disk drive, with a new flash drive and a display from an iPod video accessory. All those components are precariously mounted between the left and right halves of an Xbox controller, for a complete package that seems less easy to hold than ASUS’ current handheld PCs, but only marginally so. It’s a quick and dirty assembly with a surprising amount of super glue — a far cry from the polished Xbox 360 handheld created by YouTuber Millomaker — but it gets the job done.

You can already stream Xbox games to a multitude of screens, or play their PC versions on a growing number of handheld PCs. You don’t need to turn an original Xbox into a portable device, but considering Microsoft and ASUS have yet to announce pricing for their new handhelds, maybe keep this cheaper alternative in your back pocket.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/theres-more-than-one-way-to-make-an-xbox-handheld-201503415.html?src=rss

Costco reportedly stops selling Xbox consoles online

Costco has reportedly stopped selling Xbox consoles online throughout the US and UK, according to reports by The Gamer and others. The wholesaler has removed any mention of the console and related accessories and games from its website. I checked this myself and, sure enough, the search yielded no results.

The site still has dedicated sections for both Sony and Nintendo and is selling the PS5 and the Switch family of consoles, along with accessories and games for each system. It’s unclear if online unavailability has extended to brick-and-mortar locations, but some Reddit users noticed a distinct lack of Xbox products at the retailer. We reached out to Costco to ask what’s going on and will update this post when we hear back.

Costco/Engadget

We don’t know why Costco would make this move, but there’s a chance this is in relation to Microsoft’s poor showing this console generation. The PS5 has sold nearly 80 million units, while the Xbox Series X/S has sold around 42 million units.

The Xbox One also struggled during the previous generation, leading some to speculate that Microsoft has been preparing to exit the console business. The company has denied this and there have been rumors that it’s actively working on the follow-up to the Series X/S. However, the company has also begun porting its games to rival consoles.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/costco-reportedly-stops-selling-xbox-consoles-online-184906670.html?src=rss

YouTube may reinstate channels banned for spreading covid and election misinformation

Channels once banned by YouTube for spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2020 election may soon have the opportunity to get their channels back, in a decision transparently courting “conservative voices.”

Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, has sent a letter via counsel to the House Judiciary Committee in which it alleges the company was pressured by the Biden administration to take down misinformation on YouTube related to the COVID-19 pandemic that did not violate the company’s existing policies at the time. It now describes the Biden administration’s actions as “unacceptable and wrong.”

It also informed the committee that YouTube would be offering a path to reinstatement for creators whose channels were banned for repeatedly violating community guidelines on election-integrity-related content, as well as for COVID-19-related content. The guidelines under which those bans were carried out were removed by the company in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Details on exactly what the path for reinstatement looks like were not shared.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented time in which online platforms had to reach decisions about how best to balance freedom of expression with responsibility,” the letter reads. “Senior Biden administration officials, including White House officials, conducted repeated and sustained outreach to Alphabet and pressed the company regarding user generated content related to the COVID-19 pandemic that did not violate its policies.”

Alphabet goes on to denounce any government attempts to “dictate how the Company moderates content,” and says it will always “fight against those efforts on First Amendment grounds.”

Notable YouTube channels banned for either COVID-19 or election-integrity-related content include Steve Bannon’s War Room, Co-Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino’s channel and the channel for Children’s Health Defense, an organization previously linked with Secretary of HHS RFK Jr. “YouTube values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes that these creators have extensive reach and play an important role in civic discourse,” the company wrote. In its letter, Alphabet also expresses concern that the European Union’s Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression.

The letter was sent in response to subpoenas as part of the House Judiciary Committee’s ongoing investigations into alleged government-directed content moderation. The committee recently held a hearing on “Europe’s Threat to American Speech and Innovation,” among others.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/youtube-may-reinstate-channels-banned-for-spreading-covid-and-election-misinformation-190257602.html?src=rss

Microsoft claims a ‘breakthrough’ in AI chip cooling

AI is an enormous energy drain, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions at a time when the planet desperately needs progress in the opposite direction. Although most of that comes from running GPUs, cooling them is another significant overhead. So, it’s worth noting when a company of Microsoft’s stature claims to have achieved a breakthrough in chip cooling.

Microsoft’s new system is based on microfluidics, a method long pursued but hard to implement. The company claims its approach could lead to three times better cooling than current methods.

Many data centers rely on cold plates to prevent GPUs from overheating. Although effective to a degree, the plates are separated from the heat source by several layers of material, which limits their performance. “If you’re still relying heavily on traditional cold plate technology [in five years], you’re stuck,” Microsoft program manager Sashi Majety is quoted as saying in the company’s announcement.

In microfluidics, the coolant flows closer to the source. The liquid in Microsoft’s prototype moves through thread-like channels etched onto the back of the chip. The company also used AI to more efficiently direct the coolant through those channels.

Microsoft

Another aspect separating this prototype from previous attempts is that it drew inspiration from Mother Nature. As you can see in the image above, the etchings resemble the veins in a leaf or a butterfly wing.

Microsoft says the technique can reduce the maximum silicon temperature rise inside a GPU by 65 percent. (However, that number depends on the workload and chip type.) This would enable overclocking “without worrying about melting the chip down,” Microsoft’s Jim Kleewein said. It could allow the company to place servers closer together physically, reducing latency. It would also lead to “higher-quality” waste heat use.

Although this sounds good for the environment in a general sense, Microsoft’s announcement doesn’t lean into that. The blog post primarily discusses the technique’s potential for performance and efficiency gains. Green benefits are only alluded to briefly as “sustainability” and reduced grid stress. Let’s hope that’s only a case of a cynical observer overanalyzing framing. Our planet needs all the help it can get.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-claims-a-breakthrough-in-ai-chip-cooling-193106705.html?src=rss

Nexstar Media Group: Which ABC Stations Are Owned by the Company?

Like Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar is also refusing to air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on its ABC-affiliated stations.

PlayStation’s Franchise Rewards program gates merch behind in-game trophies

Sony is introducing a new rewards program for PlayStation owners that lets you purchase exclusive physical merchandise if you’ve unlocked certain in-game trophies. The company is starting with rewards for two trophies from Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima (rewards for Ghost of Yotei are in the works), and Sony will presumably offer something similar for all of its most popular game franchises.

The “Ghost Rewards” you might have earned playing Ghost of Tsushima include a $25 commemorative pin shaped like a mask (unlocked for earning the game’s “Living Legend” Platinum trophy) or a $30 custom t-shirt with what looks like a gold woodblock print design (unlocked for earning the “Mono No Aware” Gold trophy). In order to claim either reward you have to login to your PlayStation account on a dedicated website before December 31, 2025, and despite what the term “reward” might suggest, pay for either item to actually receive it. The reward, in this case, is access, not the merch itself.

Sony’s last attempt at some kind of loyalty or rewards program was the short-lived and entirely digital PlayStation Stars program. While it was running, it let you earn “Stars” for playing specific games or doing activities on your console, and then spend those Stars on what amounted to digital models of characters or items. The program always felt a bit like an NFT feature that the company had quickly reworked when blockchain tech fell out of style, and it made sense when it abandoned it.

Rather than PlayStation Stars, Franchise Rewards is most similar to Bungie Rewards, the program and online store the Destiny 2 developer has run since 2018. Via Bungie Rewards you can unlock commemorative shirts, jackets and more for completing in-game activities in Destiny and Destiny 2, including the series’ multi-hour raids.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstations-franchise-rewards-program-gates-merch-behind-in-game-trophies-182001158.html?src=rss

How to cancel your Disney+ subscription

The inevitable has happened and Disney+ has once again announced that prices will be going up for its streaming service. Whether it’s because of the ever-increasing costs or because of the company’s recent teetering toward censorship or because you simply aren’t using it, you may decide it’s time to take a break. Here’s everything you need to know about canceling your Disney+ subscription.

How to cancel via web or mobile

The simplest way to end your Disney+ service is if you’re being billed directly by the mouse. You can follow the same steps in a web or mobile browser, or within the Disney+ mobile app.

Select your Profile.

Select Account.

Select your Disney+ subscription under Subscription.

Select Cancel Subscription.

Easy peasy. But things can get a little more convoluted if you’re not in a direct-billing situation.

How to cancel via third-party provider

Like many entertainment services, Disney+ offers the option to access its streaming service from a third-party provider. Most often, these are the companies running mobile app stores, like Apple and Google, or through wireless service brands, like Spectrum or Verizon. Since those companies are the ones that handle the money, you need to start the cancellation process with them rather than with Disney.

The exact details might vary, but the general approach is to sign into your account with the third party, then find the place to manage either billing or subscriptions, and pick the Disney+ option. Here are the specific steps for a few of the most common providers.

Cancel via Apple

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

Tap on your name at the top of the screen and tap Subscriptions.

Select your Disney+ subscription to manage and make changes.

Cancel via Google

Go to the Google Play store using a web browser.

Confirm that you’re signed in to your Google account.

On the top right, click your Google account icon and select Payment & subscriptions.

Click the Subscriptions tab and select your Disney+ subscription.

Click Manage and select Cancel subscription.

Cancel via Amazon

Go to Amazon Memberships and Subscriptions using a web browser.

Navigate to your Disney+ subscription and select Cancel Subscription.

How to cancel a bundle subscription

Because Disney owns everything, at some point you may have upgraded to a bundle plan that includes Hulu, ESPN or HBO Max as well as Disney+. If you originally had a subscription for one of those services that you upgraded to include Disney+, canceling the Disney service will only end that part of the package deal. You will continue getting billed for the original plan you bought under the terms at the time you signed up. Ending the entire bundle means you’ll also need to separately cancel your streaming service with Hulu, ESPN or HBO Max.

How to pause your Disney+ service

If you want to simply take a break because you won’t be using a Disney+ subscription for a few months, the company does offer a pause option. It’s not available for the Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle subscription, but for any other plans, you can pause your subscription as long as your Disney+ account is active and you have no outstanding payments to the company. And once again, if a third party handles your billing, you’ll need to contact them to initiate a pause. For direct-billing customers, here’s how to pause your Disney+ service:

Select your Profile.

Select Account.

Select your Disney+ subscription under Subscription.

Select Pause Subscription.

Choose the duration of the pause.

Select Pause Subscription.

What happens after you cancel

Clicking the final button doesn’t immediately end your service. Since Disney doesn’t offer any refunds on partially-used subscriptions, you’ll still have access to the service until the end of the current billing period after canceling. That means that if you change your mind and decide to keep the service, it’s pretty easy to resume your previous plan before the billing period ends. There will be a “Restart Subscription” option under the Account tab. If you decide to resume Disney+ use after the end of your final billing period, you’ll have to start up a new subscription with the platform.

Cancellation also doesn’t erase your data with Disney. The company will hold onto your name, email address and other info unless you choose to delete your Disney+ account.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-cancel-your-disney-subscription-183643669.html?src=rss

Apple is expanding Tap to Pay on iPhone across more of Europe

Apple is expanding its Tap to Pay on iPhone feature for merchants to five more countries in Europe. Businesses in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco and Norway will now be able to accept in-person contactless payments on their iPhones.

The functionality is limited to specific third-party iOS apps that vary by nation. For example, British fintech company SumUp will now support Tap to Pay on iPhone in its iOS app in four of the five new countries, since SumUp is not offered in Monaco.

Norway will see the most payment platforms gain access to Apple’s NFC payment tech, with over half a dozen platforms, including PayPal and Stripe, now supporting Tap to Pay on iPhone in the kingdom. Details on which merchant platforms were enabled by country can be found in Apple’s announcement.

Merchants using these now supported platforms will be able to accept Apple Pay as well as contactless credit and debit cards. Every transaction done using Tap to Pay on iPhone is encrypted and processed using Secure Element, a dedicated chip designed for storing sensitive information. Platforms wishing to use Apple’s NFC technology when accepting payments must enter into a commercial agreement with the tech giant and pay the associated fees.

Tap to Pay on iPhone is now available in 43 countries and regions worldwide. Merchants using approved platforms will not require any additional hardware to accept these payments.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-expanding-tap-to-pay-on-iphone-across-more-of-europe-163910943.html?src=rss

The Secret Service seized a network capable of shutting down New York City’s cell service

The Secret Service says it thwarted a telecommunications cyber-op in New York City. On Tuesday, the agency announced that it seized a network of SIM servers. It was capable of jamming cell towers, conducting DDoS attacks and enabling encrypted communications. The discovery came ahead of world leaders gathering for the UN General Assembly this week.

The network, reportedly discovered in August, was extensive and sophisticated. It included over 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites. A Secret Service official told The New York Times that it was powerful enough to send 30 million anonymous text messages per minute. Photos provided by the Secret Service (below) show racks of SIM- and antenna-laden servers.

“This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City,” special agent Matt McCool said in a video statement. He said an early analysis points to communications between at least one foreign country and “individuals that are known to federal law enforcement,” which reportedly includes cartel members.

US Secret Service

McCool added that, due to the sensitivity and complexity of the investigation, he couldn’t go into specifics. Cybersecurity researcher James A. Lewis told The New York Times that only a handful of countries were capable of pulling that off, including Russia, China and Israel. Another security expert, Anthony J. Ferrante of FTI, said the network could have also been used for eavesdropping. “My instinct is this is espionage,” he told the Times.

Secret Service officials told The New York Times that there was no specific information that the network posed a threat to the UN conference. Regardless, the confiscated devices were concentrated within a 35-mile radius of the assembly. The agency is responsible for security at the gathering.

“This is an open and active investigation, and we have no arrests to announce today,” McCool said in his statement. “The Secret Service will continue to run down all leads until we fully understand the intent of the operation and identify those responsible.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/the-secret-service-seized-a-network-capable-of-shutting-down-new-york-citys-cell-service-164958013.html?src=rss