Kalakshar US

A potential TikTok deal emerged Monday between the US and China, two days before the Trump administration’s latest sell or be banned deadline. Now, attention is shifting to the app’s Chinese algorithm, with the Financial Times reporting it will be used in the US version. 

Wang Jingtao, deputy director of the China’s national internet regulator, told reporters that the deal included “licensing the algorithm and other intellectual property rights.” The Financial Times further reports that US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said a US version of TikTok would have some “Chinese characteristics” but that American investors would control it. 

That’s a significant turnaround as TikTok’s algorithm has been at the heart of many conversations and analysis about the app’s presence in the US. Lawmakers have sought to analyze how it operates and pushed for TikTok to be banned or sold in large part to move away from Chinese technology. President Trump holds the power to approve any potential deals. 

The TikTok turmoil has seen American companies pitch themselves as a solution. In March, Perplexity AI proposed itself as a buyer with the promise to completely rebuild TikTok’s algorithm for the US audience. 

April saw a near agreement occur which would have given Oracle responsibility over the US version’s data and a small stake in the company. Oracle’s cloud storage has held US users’ data since 2022 and the company has conducted reviews of TikTok’s algorithm. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-us-version-of-tiktok-might-still-use-the-chinese-algorithm-120046751.html?src=rss 

We can all be honest and say that carrying around a bulky power bank almost makes it seem like your phone dying isn’t so bad. Between the heaviness and any necessary cords, they can just be a pain. So, we were intrigued when Anker debuted a new, very thin power bank this summer: the Anker Nano 5K MagGo Slim power bank. 

Now, both Anker and Amazon are running sales on it, dropping the price from $55 to $46. The 16 percent discount a new low for the power bank and available in the black and white models. It’s just about a third of an inch thick and attaches right to your iPhone. On that note, it works with any MagSafe compatible phone with a magnetic case. 

Anker’s Nano 5K MagGo Slim is our pick for best, well, slim MagSafe power bank. It took two and a half hours to charge an iPhone 15 from 5 percent to 90 percent. However, it could boost the battery to 40 percent in just under an hour. Overall, though, the minimalist design and easy to grip matte texture, really sold it to us.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-slim-magsafe-power-bank-is-down-to-a-new-low-123012935.html?src=rss 

Like clockwork, October Prime Day will be back this year in a few weeks. Amazon announced that its Prime Big Deal Days sale event will take place on October 7 and 8 this year, returning back to a 48-hour duration after extending Prime Day in July to four full days this summer.

And that July Prime Day continues to be Amazon’s marquee sale event for Prime members, being a big driver of the “Black Friday in Summer” trend. But ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day gives Prime subscribers the opportunity to shop thousands of exclusive deals closer to the holidays and get a jump on their actual Black Friday shopping. Of course, it also provides Amazon a way to boost sales during the same time period and, arguably more importantly, increase the number of overall Prime subscribers.

As for the deals we expect, Prime Day(s) is often a boon for discounts on apparel, shoes, household goods and more. Discounts on elecontrics are some of the most sought after, but it can be difficult to decipher if you’re actually getting a good deal or not. Here’s what we at Engadge think you should keep in mind before shopping during October Prime Day.

Use a price tracker. Handy online price trackers like CamelCamelCamel and Keepa show price history charts for items available on Amazon. That way you can see if those earbuds you’ve been eyeing were $10 cheaper last week, or if the Prime Day price is the lowest in months. You can also add things to your cart or wishlist ahead of Prime Day, and you’ll see an alert the next time you visit your cart or wishlist if any items have dropped in price since you added them.

Shop early, and shop for the big stuff first. Over the past few years, Amazon has made a habit of releasing solid Prime Day deals in the two weeks leading up to the actual shopping event. Historically, many of those deals stick around through the event itself, so if you seen something on your list drop in price a week before Prime Day, it could be a good time to buy it. It’s also wise to look for big-ticket items first like robot vacuums, premium headphones and more when you’re shopping an event like this.

Amazon devices will be some of the best deals. Most commonly, we see Amazon’s own devices — Kindles, Echo speakers, Blink and Ring cameras and more — drop to record-low prices during Prime Day and in the weeks leading up to it. If you have anything like that on your shopping list, we highly recommend waiting until at least the last few days of September to buy any that have early discounts.

Stock up on stocking stuffers. We’ve noticed a trend of affordable tech getting even cheaper during Prime Day over the past couple of years. Think things like wireless chargers, charging cables, power banks, Bluetooth trackers, cheap speakers and more. If you need a few backup charging cables or want to pick up a couple of stocking stuffers early in preparation for the gifting season, definitely use Prime Day deals to your advantage to do that.

Lightning deals are generally questionable deals. “Lightning deals” are Amazon’s limited-time discounts that are, thankfully, clearly labeled with the amount of time remaining to grab the sale price. In our experience, only a handful of these flash deals are actually worth your money — but if you see something that’s been on your wishlist drop in price for only a few hours, it’s in your best interest to grab it immediately.

If history is any indication, the sale prices we see during October Prime Day will be similar (and in some cases, the same) as those we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you can shop early and cross a few things off your list, we recommend doing so. Engadget will be covering October Prime Day in full, so if you have a lot of tech on your to-buy list, be sure to check back here on Prime Day for the best tech deals we can find.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-prime-day-dates-revealed-prime-big-deal-days-is-back-on-october-7-and-8-050552812.html?src=rss 

October Prime Day will be here soon on October 7 and 8, but as to be expected, you can already find some decent sales available now. Amazon always has lead-up sales in the days and weeks before Prime Day, and it’s wise to shop early if you’re on the hunt for something specific and you see that item at a good discount.

Prime Day deals are typically reserved for subscribers, but there are always a few that anyone can shop. We expect this year to be no exception, and we’re already starting to see that trend in these early Prime Day deals. These are the best Prime Day deals you can get right now ahead of the event, and we’ll update this post with the latest offers as we get closer to October Prime Day proper.

Best Prime Day deals: Early sales to shop now

Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) for $449 ($150 off): The only major difference between the latest iPad Air and the previous generation is the addition of the faster M3 chip. We awarded the new slab an 89 in our review, appreciating the fact that the M3 chip was about 16 percent faster in benchmark tests than the M2. This is the iPad to get if you want a reasonable amount of productivity out of an iPad that’s more affordable than the Pro models.

Apple Mac mini (M4) for $499 $100 off): If you prefer desktops, the upgraded M4 Mac mini is one that won’t take up too much space, but will provide a ton of power at the same time. Not only does it come with an M4 chipset, but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model, plus front-facing USB-C and headphone ports for easier access.

Anker 622 5K magnetic power bank with stand for $28 (42 percent off): This 0.5-inch thick power bank attaches magnetically to iPhones and won’t get in your way when you’re using your phone. It also has a built-in stand so you can watch videos, make FaceTime calls and more hands-free while your phone is powering up.

Anker MagGo 10K power bank (Qi2, 15W, ultra slim) for $60 (25 percent off): A 10K power bank like this is ideal if you want to be able to recharge your phone at least once fully and have extra power to spare. This one is also Qi2 compatible, providing up to 15W of power to supported phones.

Anker MagGo 10K power bank (Qi2, 15W) for $72 (20 percent off, Prime exclusive): One of our favorite power banks, this 10K brick has a built-in kickstand and a small display that shows you the battery’s remaining charge.

Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker for $23 (34 percent off): This small Bluetooth speaker gets pretty loud for its size and has decent sound quality. You can pair two together for stereo sound as well, and its IP67-rated design will keep it protected against water and dust.

Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $45 (44 percent off): Our top pick for the best budget wireless earbuds, the Space A40 have surprisingly good ANC, good sound quality, a comfortable fit and multi-device connectivity.

Levoit Core 200S smart air purifier for $70 ($30 off): This compact air purifier cleans the air in rooms up to 140 square feet and uses a 3-in-1 filter that removes microscopic dust, pollen and airborne particles. It has a mobile app that you can use to set runtime schedules, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

8BitDo Pro 2 controller with travel case for $40 (34 percent off, Prime exclusive): We generally love 8BitDo controllers, and the Pro 2 has been one of our favorites for a long time. This model works with Switch 2, Steam Deck, Android and more, plus it has Hall Effect joysticks and a slew of customization options.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for $200 (20 percent off): These Beats earbuds have a hook design that will be good for anyone who wants the most secure fit while doing strenuous workouts. They also have a built-in heart rate monitor and up to 45 hours of battery life with their included charging case.

Amazon Fire TV Cube for $100 (29 percent off): Amazon’s most powerful streaming device, the Fire TV Cube supports 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision content, Dolby Atmos sound, Wi-Fi 6E and it has a built-in Ethernet port. It has the most internal storage of any Fire TV streaming device, plus it comes with an enhanced Alexa Voice Remote.

Rode Wireless Go III for $199 (30 percent off): A top pick in our guide to the best wireless microphones, the Wireless Go III records pro-grade sound and has handy extras like onboard storage, 32-bit float and universal compatibility with iPhones, Android, cameras and PCs.

Paramount+ Essential for $30 for one year (50 percent off): Not technically an Amazon deal, but worth mentioning: New and returning subscribers can get half off one year of Paramount+. That brings the ad-supported Essential plan down to just $30 for the year, and the Premium plan down to $60 for the year. A subscription will give you access to NFL content on CBS and UEFA Champions League, along with shows like South Park, Tulsa King, Tracker, Ghosts and more. The discount runs through September 18.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-october-prime-day-deals-to-shop-now-save-on-tech-from-apple-beats-anker-and-others-050801988.html?src=rss 

Last year, New York joined the wave of states passing legislation aimed at protecting minors using the Internet, particularly social media. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act in June 2024. Today, the state’s Attorney General Letitia James released more specifics about what the SAFE for Kids Act will entail in practice. Public comment is open until December 1 and the rules must be finalized within a year from that date.

In particular, the rule will require online platforms to confirm the ages of users before showing them algorithmically-curated feeds or sending them notifications at night. The Attorney General’s approach allows sites to choose their method of age verification, as long as the approach “are shown to be effective and protect users’ data.” New York will also require an age confirmation method that does not rely on having a government-issued ID.

There is also a component of parental consent in the SAFE for Kids Act. Minors must request a social media network to seek parental permission for accessing algorithmic feeds or receiving nighttime notifications. If parental consent is not granted, the platforms may not block minors from generally accessing their service or content. Both the minor and their parent may revoke their consent at any time.

“The proposed rules released by my office today will help us tackle the youth mental health crisis and make social media safer for kids and families,” James said in the announcement. “This is an issue that affects all of us, and I encourage parents, educators, young people, industry groups, and others to review the proposed rules and submit a comment during the public comment period.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/new-york-details-its-plans-for-online-age-verification-rules-195223379.html?src=rss 

A regulator has accused NVIDIA of violating China’s antitrust laws over its acquisition of chipmaker Mellanox. In its preliminary findings of an investigation it commenced in December, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) claimed that the company breached both national regulations and the conditional terms China outlined when it rubberstamped the $6.9 billion takeover. The SAMR hasn’t announced any penalties yet, as the investigation will continue.

The SAMR is said to have determined its preliminary findings several weeks ago. According to Financial Post sources, the regulator held off from releasing its statement until now, as trade talks with the US take place in Madrid, with the idea of giving Chinese officials more leverage. (Those talks have so far resulted in a framework agreement for TikTok.)

NVIDIA and Mellanox announced the buyout back in 2019. China approved it in April the following year on the condition that NVIDIA continued to supply GPUs and interconnect products to the country and adhere to “fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory principles,” per the South China Morning Post.

Last month, it was reported that China was discouraging companies in the country from buying NVIDIA’s H20 chips pending a national security review. Officials were said to have taken offense at remarks from Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary. After the US allowed NVIDIA to start offering chips to China again in July following a three-month ban, Lutnick said the company wasn’t going to be selling its most cutting-edge tech there.

“We don’t sell them our best stuff, not our second best stuff, not even our third best. The fourth one down, we want to keep China using it,” he told CNBC. “The idea is the Chinese are more than capable of building their own. You want to keep one step ahead of what they can build, so they keep buying our chips. You want to sell the Chinese enough that their developers get addicted to the American technology stack.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/china-says-nvidias-mellanox-acquisition-violated-antitrust-law-200409929.html?src=rss