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Apple is suing one of its former design engineers for allegedly stealing a trove of trade secrets that he then provided to his new employer, Snap. As reported by SiliconValley.com, Di Liu left his role as senior product-design engineer after a seven-year stint with Apple, citing personal and family reasons in his resignation to the company.

Before leaving Apple, Liu had worked on the Vision Pro headset, where according to the lawsuit seen by SiliconValley.com he was given “access to various Apple technologies that are embodied in Apple Vision Pro or not yet released.” The lawsuit also claims that Liu did not disclose to Apple that two weeks prior to resigning he’d been offered a job by Snap — where the designer has been working since January 2025 according to his Linkedin profile — that was “substantially similar” to his role at the company he departed. As well as owning Snapchat, Snap also makes AR glasses called Spectacles, which are currently in their fifth generation.

According to the report, Liu’s decision not to inform Apple that he’d soon be working on a similar product to the Vision Pro at another company meant he was allowed to work his standard two-week departure period. The lawsuit alleges that three days before leaving the company, Liu used his company credentials to download “thousands” of Apple’s corporate documents, which he uploaded into personal cloud storage. It claims he likely intended to deliberately use Apple’s proprietary information at Snap, given the obvious similarities between the products, and added that he deleted files from his company laptop that could have implicated him.

Apple is reportedly seeking unspecified damages, as well as the return of the allegedly stolen trade secrets, and for its former employee’s devices and cloud accounts to be handed over for inspection. SiliconValley.com unsuccessfully approached Liu for comment, but Snap said it has read the claims in Apple’s lawsuit and had “no reason to believe they are related to this individual’s employment or conduct at Snap.”

This isn’t the first time Apple has sued an ex-employee. In 2019, the company accused Gerard Williams III, who worked on mobile chips for 10 years before joining NuVia Inc, of breaching his contract. Williams disputed the lawsuit and claimed Apple had been spying on his text messages. In 2022, Apple accused the then startup Rivos of poaching employees from its chip design division, with two former employees allegedly taking with them gigabytes of confidential data.

Earlier this year, an ex-Apple engineer issued an apology after confessing to leaking information about upcoming products to journalists during his eight years at the company. A lawsuit alleging that Andrew Aude leaked information about the then unreleased Vision Pro to reporters at The Wall Street Journal and The Information was dismissed.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-claims-former-engineer-shared-vision-pro-secrets-in-new-lawsuit-144914706.html?src=rss 

Amazon’s Prime Day doesn’t officially begin until Tuesday, July 8, but we’re already seeing deals on some of our recommended Apple gear. Right now, Amazon has discounts on the AirPods Max, the latest iPad, the Apple Watch Series 10, and the M4 MacBook Air. So if your old AirPods are due for an upgrade or you’re ready to pass down your current iPad to your nephew and get yourself a new one, this is a good time to shop. While we don’t know whether these deals will get better once the sale officially starts, some of the discounts are already the best prices we’ve seen so far this year.

Best Prime Day iPad deals

Apple iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) for $899 ($100 off): We named the iPad Pro the best tablet money can buy. The screen is one of the best we’ve seen and Apple somehow managed to make the Pro model lighter than Air models. If you plan on handling heavy productivity — video rendering and editing, machine learning apps and the like, this is the way to go.

Apple iPad Pro (13-inch, M4) for $1,099 ($200 off): The larger iPad pro is the ultimate laptop replacer. The M4 chip is faster than many computers out there but the thin and light design makes it super portable. The battery life will last through a whole day of work and more (we clocked over 10 hours of use in our review) and the screen is brilliant. Our only real complaint is the price, and this Prime Day helps at least a little.

Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro) for $399 ($100 off): Apple’s smallest iPad earned an 83 review score from us when it came out late last year. Despite its compact size, it’s still a fully-featured iPad, with support for accessories and a laminated, anti-reflective screen. It’s not a laptop-replacer, but rather the perfect couch companion, handling games, video, web browsing and email triage.

Best Prime Day AirPod deals

AirPods Max (USB-C) for $480 ($69 off): Apple’s only over-ear headphones are due for an update. The company outfitted the AirPods Max with a USB-C port late last year, but the internals haven’t had an overhaul since 2020. Still, we named them the best (and only) over-earn AirPods. They are comfortable and relatively lightweight, have a balanced sound and the noise cancellation is solid.

Best Prime Day Apple Watch deals

Apple Watch SE (Gen 2) for $169 ($80 off): We wouldn’t be surprised to see an update to Apple’s budget smartwatch sometime soon (and we have a few suggestions on the matter). But thanks to some serious discounts, the Apple Watch SE has turned out to be the most affordable way to get an iPhone companion for your wrist. Despite the lackluster screen and limited extra features, it handles the basics well.

Best Prime Day MacBook deals

MacBook Air (M4, 15-inch) for $1,049 ($150 off): If you want a little more screen real estate, go for the 15-inch Air. Devindra found the screen more immersive than the smaller model, and only slightly less portable. The slightly larger battery gave it a few more minutes of life. Whichever size you go for, the MacBook Air will be able to handle all but the most demanding rendering tasks without breaking a sweat.

MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 24GB RAM) for $1,249 ($450 off): This higher-specced version of the M3 MacBook Air from last year has a 15-inch screen and a little extra internal memory. We gave the 15-inch model a score of 90 in our review when it came out in early 2024. Outside of its older M3 chip (which is still plenty fast for everyday use), marginally improved camera and inability to power two external displays with the lid open, this MacBook is virtually identical to the M4 version.

Best Prime Day deals on Apple accessories

Apple Pencil (USB-C) for $59 ($20 off): Before you buy an Apple Pencil, check this compatibility page to make sure it’ll work with your model and generation of iPad. To say the least, it’s confusing. This model has the widest compatibility, but note that it doesn’t charge through its magnetic attachment, you’ll need to use the USB-C for refilling it.

Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off): Apple announced the Pro version of its pencil at the same time as the iPad Pro with the M4 chip. It adds haptic feedback, squeeze gestures and roll capabilities to the usual stylus tricks. It works with the newest iPad Pro, Air and Mini models.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-prime-day-apple-deals-on-ipads-airpods-apple-watches-and-more-150005194.html?src=rss 

Edgar Wright is remaking The Running Man, and there’s a trailer to prove it. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1987 classic imagined a dystopian 2025 in which an authoritarian government forced cruelty on incarcerated people for entertainment. Now it’s actually 2025 and, well, that doesn’t sound that far off.

Wright’s version injects a bit of humor into the proceedings, while widening the stakes. The 1980s film, which was based on a novel by Stephen King, chronicled a game show in which prisoners had to survive in an abandoned section of Los Angeles while being chased by lethal assassins.

This new movie keeps the basic premise, but expands the location. The participants have to survive 30 days in the outside world while “the entire nation” hunts them down. It looks like they can go anywhere in the country, but there are cameras, prying eyes and, of course, trained killers everywhere.

The cast is pretty stacked. Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) replaces Schwarzenegger and Colman Domingo stands in for the iconic Richard Dawson as the nefarious game show host. This is a big year for Domingo. He starred in the hit Netflix show The Four Seasons and is currently filming an upcoming Steven Spielberg film. The rest of the cast includes Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, Jayme Lawson and Lee Pace.

As for Edgar Wright, this is the guy behind classics like Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. If anyone could put their own spin on a 1980s movie, it’d be Wright. The Running Man opens on November 7 in theaters.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-running-man-trailer-edgar-wright-adds-comedy-to-stephen-kings-sci-fi-dystopia-151559833.html?src=rss 

Robot vacuums can be a big help around the house by automating a regular chore, but they can be pretty expensive. That’s why it’s a wise decision to wait for a shopping event like Amazon Prime Day to buy one, when you can usually save hundreds off the sticker price.

Amazon Prime Day 2025 is nearly here, and it’s already brought excellent deals to many of our top picks for the best robot vacuums available today. The devices range from entry-level to midrange to high-end dirt suckers, and iRobot, Shark, Eufy and others are represented among the deals. There are even some solid cordless vacuums on sale as well as part of the Prime Day deals. Here are the best Prime Day vacuum deals we could find.

Best Prime Day robot vacuum deals

Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum for $150 (46 percent off): A favorite budget robot vacuum of ours, the 11S Max has a slim profile that allows it to easily get other some furniture that other robovacs can’t reach. It does a good job of sucking up dirt and debris, and even though it doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity, it comes with a remote control that gives you most of the functions an app would have.

iRobot Roomba 104 Combo robot vacuum and mop for $250 (44 percent off): This combo machine will vacuum and mop on its own, plus it comes with an auto-empty base as well. That means it will automatically empty the dry debris it collects into the base after every cleaning job.

Shark AV2501S AI Ultra robot vacuum for $280 (49 percent off): A version of our favorite robot vacuum, this Shark machine has strong suction power and won’t choke at the first sight of pet hair or big dust bunnies. Its self-emptying base is bagless as well, which means you won’t have to buy propriety bags to refill it with over time. This auto-empty base has a 30-day capacity, but you can spend a bit more if you want a model with a 60-day capacity.

Best Prime Day vacuum deals

Levoit LVAC-300 cordless vacuum for $250 ($100 off): One of Levoit’s newest cordless stick vacuums, the LVAC-300 has HEPA filtration, strong suction and an easily maneuverable design. Its single-button start makes it super easy to use, and you can choose from three power modes: Eco, Mid and Turbo. You’ll get a maximum of 60 minutes of battery life, and it comes with a few attachments for cleaning furniture, car interiors and more.

Tineco Pure One Station Furfree cordless vacuum for $299 (63 percent off): This cordless vacuum has its own self-emptying base, and it comes with attachments to groom your pets. It has solid suction power and the built-in iLoop smart sensor automatically adjust suction power depending on the messes in its path.

Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum for $350 (26 percent off): This Dyson stick vacuum has 40 minutes of runtime, a lightweight design and two power modes to choose from. It comes with four attachments, including the Motorbar cleaner head that works on all floor types, and it can easily convert to a more compact handheld vacuum to take out to your car when it needs a cleaning.

Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty cordless vacuum for $430 (28 percent off): Shark’s cordless vacuums are just as good as their robot vacuums, and you can usually find them on sale for less than other major brands. This one has great suction power and a relatively lightweight design, but the fact that it comes with a self-emptying base makes it an ultra-convenient choice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-prime-day-robot-vacuum-deals-for-2025-140049036.html?src=rss 

If your laptop simply isn’t cutting it anymore, Amazon Prime Day 2025 might have arrived just in time. As has been the case for the past few years, laptop deals are abundant this Prime Day (even now in the lead-up to the official dates), bringing discounts to MacBooks, Windows laptops, Chromebooks and more. But we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t know how to figure out if that laptop you’re eyeing actually has a good discount for Prime Day, or if the deal is stale.

That’s where Engadget can help. We’ve poured over the Prime Day laptop deals available this year to pick out the best ones you can get across all kinds of computers. If you’re super picky about the specs you want in a new laptop, we always recommend going straight to the manufacturer so you can configure the machine exactly to your needs. But if you’re willing to work with premade models, Prime Day deals could help you save some cash on your next laptop.

Prime Day laptop deals: MacBooks

Apple’s latest laptops are the MacBook Air M4 and the MacBook Pro M4, but the M3-powered machines are still available and great values when you can get them at steep discounts. But for the most future-proof options, we recommend going with the M4 MacBooks. Amazon actually has decent MacBook deals throughout the year, most of the time on the base configurations of any given model. In a welcomed update, Apple recently made all base models of the MacBook Air M4 have 16GB of RAM by default (which is the same as you’ll find on the base-level Pros).

MacBook Air (15-inch, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,049 ($150 off)

MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,249 (26 percent off)

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,429 (11 percent off)

Prime Day laptop deals: Chromebooks

Most Chromebooks start off pretty affordable, so that just means you can get them for even less during an event like Prime Day. If you’re a Chrome OS lover, it’s also a decent time to check out sales on premium Chromebooks, which can usually cost $500 or more. In general, we recommend looking for at least 4 to 8GB of RAM and at least 128GB of SDD storage in a Chromebook that you plan on using as your daily driver.

Google Pixelbook Go (13-inch, Intel Core M3) for $315 (51 percent off)

HP Chromebook Plus x360 (14-inch, Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) for $329 (45 percent off)

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (14-inch, Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $323 (19 percent off)

Prime day laptop deals: Windows laptops

You’ve got a lot of variety to choose from when it comes to Windows laptops, and that can be a blessing or a curse. We recommend looking for a laptop from a reputable brand (i.e. Microsoft, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and others like them), and one that can handle daily work or play pressures. That means at least 8GB of RAM and 245GB of SSD storage, plus the latest Intel or AMD CPUs. If you’re looking for a new gaming laptop, you’ll need a bit more power and a dedicated graphics card to boot.

Dell Vostro laptop (15.6-inch, Intel Core i3, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $549 (71 percent off)

Microsoft Surface Laptop (13.8-inch, Snapdragon X Plus) for $880 (27 percent off)

Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1 (13-inch, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $900 (25 percent off)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-prime-day-laptop-deals-on-macbooks-chromebooks-windows-machines-and-more-130057037.html?src=rss 

It’s still one week until Prime Day 2025 officially kicks off, but the sales are already here. There’s deals on some of our favorite products, like the TP-Link Deco AXE5400 WI-Fi mesh router system and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Now, another Amazon device is on sale: the Echo Spot.

Currently, you can get the Amazon Echo Spot for $45, down from $80. The 44 percent discount brings the smart alarm clock to a new all-time low. The deal is available on each of the color options, Black, Glacier White and Ocean Blue. 

Amazon launched the new Echo Spot in 2024, five years after it canned an initial iteration. It’s not too different than its predecessor, though its front is split between a screen and a speaker. Amazon also got rid of its camera, which made some people uncomfortable for a bedside table device. Of course, it offers Alexa integration so you can use the voice assistant for everything from getting the time to playing music. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-amazon-echo-spot-drops-to-a-record-low-price-for-prime-day-133212751.html?src=rss 

The Mexican Sinaloa cartel hired a hacker to track and surveil the FBI, then used that information to intimidate and even kill witnesses against drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, according to a Justice Department report spotted by Ars Technica. The hacker used relatively sophisticated data collection techniques and weaknesses in the FBI’s cybersecurity to identify the witnesses, the report states.

According to the highly redacted report, which is based in part on testimony from an “individual connected to the cartel,” the hacker offered gang leaders “a menu of services related to to exploiting mobile phones and other electronic devices.” 

The hacker “observed people going in and out of the United States Embassy in Mexico City” and identified people of interest, including the FBI’s Assistant Legal Attache (ALAT). They used the ALAT’s mobile phone number to “obtain calls made and received, as well as geolocation data associated with the [attache’s] phone.” The hacker also used Mexico City’s camera system to follow the ALAT around the city and identify people they met with. “According to the case agent, the cartel used that information to intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses,” the report states.

The exact technical methods are redacted but the report explains that the hacker used “ubiquitous technical surveillance” (UTS) to spy on the FBI, which was investigating and eventually convicted Guzmán. The report defines UTS as the “widespread collection of data and application of analytic methodologies for the purpose of connecting people to things, events or locations.” In other words, the cartel used some of the FBI’s own methods against it.

The report said that the recent availability of commercial tools that allow UTS is an “existential” threat. It cited other examples including the use of credit card transaction reports widely available from data brokers along with cell phone call logs. 

The FBI’s response to the UTS threat was “disjointed and inconsistent,” according to the Justice Department, and countermeasures instated in 2022 were “inadequate” and lacking in “long-term vision.” It recommended (among other things) that the agency incorporate all UTS vulnerabilities into its final mitigation plan, identify key officials authorized to execute the strategy, establish a line of authority for responding to UTS-related incidents and ensure ongoing training on UTS strategies.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/el-chapo-drug-cartel-reportedly-tracked-and-killed-informants-by-hacking-an-fbi-phone-120002259.html?src=rss 

Yesterday, the senate was poised to restrict states’ power to regulate AI. Now, the measure is dead in the water, with the Senate voting 99-1 to remove the provision. Are you also having a bit of whiplash? Here’s what you need to know about the amendments rightful journey into the trash can of history. 

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had pushed for an amendment to Trump’s tax bill that would ban states from regulating the AI industry for ten years — if the state took AI infrastructure funding included in the aforementioned bill. A version of the provision passed the House in May. 

On Sunday, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) agreed to a version which would reduce the moratorium to five years and include exceptions for regulations around child safety, deceptive acts and protection of a person’s likeness, voice, name and more. 

The new provision also exempted Tennessee’s Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, enacted last year. The ELVIS Act was passed to prevent AI from using musician’s likeness and voice without their consent. 

Yet, backlash against the amendment continued from Republican and Democrat leaders, Politico reports. My day’s end Blackburn had found sense and withdrew her support. The senate voted early Tuesday morning to nix the amendment, with even Cruz backing its removal. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/senate-votes-against-curbing-state-level-ai-regulation-130025055.html?src=rss