We’re getting a brand-new ‘Simpsons’ movie 20 years after the first one was released! Here’s everything we know about the upcoming animation, from the cast to the release date.
We’re getting a brand-new ‘Simpsons’ movie 20 years after the first one was released! Here’s everything we know about the upcoming animation, from the cast to the release date.
It’s been a couple years since the Echo 8 has gotten an update and even longer for the aging Echo Show 10. But today Amazon is fixing that with two brand-new smart displays: The fourth-gen Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11.
Right away, the first thing you notice about Amazon’s refreshed lineup is their designs. In front, there’s a slim tablet-based HD display (either 8.7 inches or 11 inches depending on the model). Around back there’s a curvier housing covered in a mesh fabric for the display’s internals and speakers that borrows a lot from the new Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max. This is a pretty big departure from Amazon’s wedge-shaped predecessors and I think it’s a success. Both models look more elegant and refined, while their rounded bases make it easier to angle them properly in whatever room they’re in.
That said, while both models feature new 13MP cameras with auto-framing tech (meaning they can track your face if you need to move around the room while on a video call), neither version has a built-in motor that would allow the entire display to rotate and spin like you got on the old Echo Show 10. I suspect this is a tacit admission by Amazon that a movable display is a bit of a gimmick, at least on a smart display. Or it’s just not super necessary when you can just have the device’s camera re-compose your video framing dynamically in software.
Elsewhere, there are a few handy physical controls for volume located on the right side of the Echo Shows’ displays along with a toggle for disabling the onboard mics and camera. Aside from that, there’s a single barrel plug in back for power (which is slightly annoying, I wish it was USB-C) and not much else. So if for some reason you want to connect the new Echo Shows to wired internet, you’re going to need to get pretty creative.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see how the audio on the new Echo Show models compares to the refreshed Echo Studio or Dot Max. However, Amazon’s updated displays are a big improvement. They have huge viewing angles so it’s never hard to see what’s on the screen from wherever your standing. And while Amazon hasn’t provided official brightness figures, based on what I’ve seen, the panels are rather vibrant, so there shouldn’t be any major issues viewing things in sunny rooms.
Amazon’s refreshed UI is also rather straightforward. All you need is a couple taps or swipes to open things like the video tab, music controls, settings and a list of upcoming calendar events. Meanwhile, the addition of Amazon’s AZ3 Pro chip has greatly improved the responsiveness of touch and gesture input to the point where it felt a bit faster than the Google Nest Hub Max I have at home.
Of course, the real impact of the new Echo Shows is yet to be seen, because while updated hardware is nice, the real value of these smart displays is how they are now better positioned to be the center of Amazon’s smart home ecosystem. Both devices support Zigbee, Matter and Thread so it should be easy to use them to control other devices, while features like a Wi-Fi radar enables a wider range of contextual interactions from Alexa. And while I think the ability to create routines and automations strictly using your voice is a major upgrade for the average user, I wasn’t able to test that functionality out myself at the event.
The other potential omission is that while Amazon’s two largest smart displays got much needed refreshes today, the same can’t be said for the Echo Show 5. So while that model continues to be on sale, I wouldn’t be surprised if it got discontinued when supply runs out or re-imagined as something closer to a smart alarm clock sometime in the future, as it’s smaller screen makes it’s role as a smart home hub a bit more limited.
The new Echo Show ($180) and Echo Show 11 ($220) are available for pre-order today and will come with early access to Alexa+ before official sales begin on November 12.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-echo-show-8-and-show-11-hands-on-a-cuter-more-unified-smart-display-173918264.html?src=rss
Avalanche Studios is following in the footsteps of so many game developers this year. Today, the company posted a notice to its website announcing plans for a restructuring. Avalanche said it will close its studio in Liverpool, impacting all staff members in the city. The company said it will also “reduce our workforce and restructure the teams” at its studios in Malmo and Stockholm, but did not provide specifics about the scope of those layoffs.
Although the statement simply credited the decision to “current challenges to our business and the industry,” it’s hard not to think that the cancellation of Avalanche’s planned game Contraband had something to do with the current need to consolidate. Microsoft ended active development on the project in August during the fallout from the massive layoffs the tech giant announced over the spring and summer. Those cuts appeared to impact the fate of many other upcoming games and game studios that were working with Microsoft as either a developer or a publisher.
Since we won’t get to know them for Contraband, Avalanche Studios will remain best known for its Just Cause games of open-world mayhem for now. Contraband is the only game currently listed as a forthcoming title on the company website, so it’s unclear what the next moves for the remaining team members will be. The notice closes by saying, “Despite these changes, we remain deeply committed to providing amazing games to our passionate player communities.” Hopefully they’ll be able to bounce back.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/just-cause-developer-avalanche-studios-is-the-latest-game-company-to-announce-layoffs-180048615.html?src=rss
Imgur has shut off its image-hosting platform for users in the UK, displaying a “content not available in your region” notice across the site and on third-party embeds. The move comes after the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) warned that it intended to levy fines against Imgur’s owner, MediaLab AI, after an investigation into the service’s handling of children’s data, age verification and privacy protection. Exact details of the fine, or what the findings of the investigation were, have not been shared.
“We are aware of reports that the social media platform Imgur is currently not available in the UK. Imgur’s decision to restrict access in the UK is a commercial decision taken by the company,” said regulators in a statement. They also stressed that “exiting the UK” does not mean a company can avoid any levied penalties, and that the investigation is ongoing.
“Our findings are provisional and the ICO will carefully consider any representations from MediaLab before taking a final decision whether to issue a monetary penalty,” said regulators.
In recent years, the ICO has stepped up enforcement of its policies governing data privacy for minors. In 2023, the watchdog fined TikTok $15.8 million for what it said were several violations of data protection laws. The regulator alleged that in 2020 TikTok allowed as many as 1.4 million children under the age of 13 to use the app, against its own policies. TikTok found itself under investigation yet again this year over similar alleged violations. The ICO also previously raised concerns surrounding a Snapchat generative AI chatbot named My AI, alleging that it placed children’s privacy at risk.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/imgur-has-left-the-uk-181715724.html?src=rss
Among the horde of new devices Amazon unveiled during its New York City event on Tuesday are two new Echo speakers: a higher-end Echo Dot called the Echo Dot Max and a next-generation Echo Studio with a new ball-shaped design. Both are available to pre-order starting today, with shipping to start on October 29. The Dot Max costs $100 — well above the standard Dot (which remains available) — while the Studio is priced at $220.
The Echo Dot Max looks to be Amazon’s answer to Apple’s HomePod mini, which is similarly compact yet touts quality sound for its size. The company says the new speaker offers “nearly three times” as much bass response as the cheaper Echo Dot. That’s largely because it’s been redesigned on the inside to include two speakers — a woofer and a custom tweeter — instead of one and to increase the amount of internal air space.
The new Echo Studio, meanwhile, gets a fairly major design overhaul. It essentially looks like a bigger version of Echo Dot Max, with the old cylindrical design replaced by a spherical shape. Amazon says it’s 40 percent smaller than the last one, with the goal being to make it easier to stick the device in varying locations around the house. This one is built with three full-range drivers alongside a woofer, and it supports both Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with services that offer that (such as Apple Music).
The Amazon Echo Dot Max.
The Studio’s smaller footprint could be handy if you want to take advantage of the new Alexa Home Theater mode. This lets you turn up to five new Echo Studios or Echo Dot Maxes into a surround sound setup for your TV, sort of like an Alexa-fied version of the room calibration tech Sonos offers with its home speakers. If you have compatible gear, Amazon says the voice assistant will automatically locate the different speakers in your room and map out an appropriate acoustic profile. An Amazon representative told us that you need a Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max streamer for this to work for now, however, since Alexa uses your TV’s location to determine where the front of the surround system is, then uses that in tandem with your speakers’ locations to estimate where you’re sitting. This whole process takes “less than five minutes,” according to the company, and it’ll auto-adjust if you add in more speakers. You won’t be able to mix and match Studios and Dot Maxes in one setup at launch, however — it has to be all of one speaker or the other.
I was briefly able to check out and listen to the new speakers at the event through a controlled demo. I wouldn’t say either looks particularly “premium” at first blush, but the spherical designs are clean and simple, and the knitted fabric surrounding the hardware feels firm and sturdy. Neither strays too far from the traditional Echo aesthetic; you could pop them on a counter or TV stand and they won’t draw much attention to themselves. Of note, the volume/mic control buttons and Alexa light ring are now angled on the front of each device, which may make quickly adjusting things a little bit quicker.
As for how the two speakers actually sound, I have to reiterate that my demo was highly controlled, i.e. orchestrated to make the new speakers sound as good as possible. I wasn’t able to pick a song, adjust volume or actually talk to Alexa myself. (Though Amazon says there are new chips and mic arrays to improve conversation detection.)
The Amazon Echo Studio.
With that said, the Echo Dot Max did indeed produce more bass thump and clearer separation than the cheaper Dot in a side-by-side comparison using Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” It better, given the price, but it sounded far less “closed-off” all the same. The Echo Studio was a marked step up from there, producing a much wider soundstage, more impactful bass and more natural highs. Again, take all of this with a grain of salt, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we said it’s worth the premium for audio-focused buyers when we test it ourselves. An Amazon rep said this new Studio model isn’t noticeably louder than the last one — — though that’s not surprising given how much more compact it is — the focus is on making a smaller frame and a “richer” sound. To that end, both devices seemed to go for a slightly more bass-heavy profile than a neutral one, based on my limited listen.
I was also able to demo four Echo Studios paired in tandem. Predictably, this setup filled the room with sound and delivered more precise imaging, whether we were listening to an ambient soundscape of birds chirping in the woods or an action-heavy scene from Ready Player One. I do question the value, though: You’re getting close to the $1,000 range with four of these things, and at that point, many people may be better off just getting a decent soundbar and a dedicated subwoofer for fuller bass.
Naturally, Amazon says both speakers — along with the new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 — are designed with Alexa+ in mind, and anyone who buys either device will be able to use the upgraded assistant in early access. Both are still likely to be more niche than the less expensive Echoes, given that many people still use these things for simpler smart home tasks and basic listening. But for those who’ve grown accustomed having an Echo around the house and are willing to pay for improved sound quality, there may be enough to like here. We’ll know more clearly when we’re able to test them on our own.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/amazon-echo-studio-and-echo-dot-max-hands-on-more-bass-round-shapes-182339624.html?src=rss
From red carpet premieres to everyday bathrooms, women are always searching for products that deliver smoother, firmer skin. One name generating buzz lately is Cellexia, a European anti-aging line focused on targeted formulas. But what do real women say about it, and how does it fit into a daily routine? Why Women Are Talking About…
From red carpet premieres to everyday bathrooms, women are always searching for products that deliver smoother, firmer skin. One name generating buzz lately is Cellexia, a European anti-aging line focused on targeted formulas. But what do real women say about it, and how does it fit into a daily routine? Why Women Are Talking About…
Polina Nioly’s English-language accounts on Instagram and TikTok have already attracted more than 2 million followers, and her audience continues to grow rapidly. She has developed a unique growth method that has helped numerous individuals and businesses cultivate an audience in a short amount of time. Today, Polina is not only an influencer but also…
Polina Nioly’s English-language accounts on Instagram and TikTok have already attracted more than 2 million followers, and her audience continues to grow rapidly. She has developed a unique growth method that has helped numerous individuals and businesses cultivate an audience in a short amount of time. Today, Polina is not only an influencer but also…
You may not be looking to spend big on tech this October Prime Day, but it’s still a good idea to look for tech essentials during the shopping event while you can get some at good discounts. Anker makes some of our favorite charging gear and I always end up picking up an accessory or two during Prime Day to ensure I have what I need when I need it most, and I feel better knowing I didn’t spend full price on it.
For example, in sales past, I picked up a couple of extra USB-C charging cables so I could keep one in my carry-on luggage so I always have one when I travel. My partner will likely be upgrading to an iPhone 17 this year, so we’ll have to get a few more USB-C cables now that Lightning is officially banished from our home. Also, every year it seems I need yet another surge protector, so even though I picked one up the year before — but one can never have too many. Here, we’ve collected all of the best October Prime Day deals on Anker devices and other charging gear we could find, and we’ll update this post as the event goes on with the latest offerings.
Power banks are not as straightforward as you might think. They come in all shapes, sizes and capacities and can have extra features like magnetic alignment, built-in kickstands, extra ports and more.
It’s worth considering how you’ll use a power bank before you decide on the right one to buy. Smartphones don’t need huge-capacity bricks to power up a couple of times over; a 5K or 10K portable charger should be plenty if that’s all you’re looking to support. If you want a more versatile accessory that can charge a tablet, laptop or gaming handheld, consider a brick with a higher capacity — and more ports so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously.
A good wireless charger can lighten your cable load. While wired charging remains faster and more efficient, wireless chargers can clean up your space by eliminating a few of those cables that constantly trip you up.
We recommend thinking about where you’ll use a wireless charger before buying one. Those outfitting a home office with new tech may want a wireless charging stand that puts their phone in an upright position that’s easier to see while it’s powering up, while those who want a wireless charger for their nightstand might prefer a lay-flat design or a power station that can charge a smartphone, smartwatch and pair of earbuds all at once.
Plenty of other charging gear is on sale for Prime Day. It’s never a bad idea to pick up a few 30W USB-C adapters so you always have what you need to reliably power up your phone. Same goes for extra USB-C (or USB-A) cables that can live in your car, in your office at work or by the couch.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-october-prime-day-deals-on-anker-charging-gear-and-other-accessories-164536998.html?src=rss
What good is an update if it doesn’t actually add anything new? That’s the question I’m left asking about Microsoft’s Windows 11 2025 update (AKA Windows 11 25H2), which the company will begin pushing out today. Instead of adding any major new capabilities, Microsoft says it’s an “enablement package” that includes recent features added to last year’s 24H2 release. If anything, it could be a push for stragglers who’ve ignored recent updates to get onboard with new Windows 11 capabilities.
Microsoft says the Windows 11 2025 update also “includes significant advancements in build and runtime vulnerability detection, coupled with AI assisted secure coding.” Additionally, the new update should be leaner than before, thanks to the removal of PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management instrumentation command-line (WMIC). Those are legacy features most users have never touched, but their removal could annoy power users and IT admins who have built ancient scripts using PowerShell 2.0.
As usual, Microsoft says it will start delivering the Windows 11 2025 update to users in waves. The first batch includes users with 24H2 devices who’ve turned on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” in Windows Update. Now that Microsoft has moved to a frequent update cadence, you can expect to see actual new features for Windows 11 25H2 arriving in the coming months.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/microsofts-windows-11-2025-update-starts-rolling-out-today-but-dont-expect-anything-new-170005064.html?src=rss
Amazon may have just unveiled a ton of new products across its Ring, Blink, Echo and Kindle categories, but it still had one more piece of hardware to show. Though it didn’t get mentioned during the company’s Devices and Services event earlier today, there is a new Smart Remote under the Amazon Basics brand that will be available for pre-order for $19.99 and will ship in October. According to the product listing page, it will be released on October 30.
At first glance, the Smart Remote looks like a regular switch that you mount on your wall to control your lights or other appliances. Its full name on Amazon’s current pre-order page even says it’s a “Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote.” It basically has four buttons that you can configure via the Alexa app or ask Alexa+ to map routines to. During a demo at the event space, an Amazon representative told an Echo Show “Alexa, when I press the top button I want you to activate the party time scene and play “Alive” by Pearl Jam.
The assistant acknowledged the request and within 10 seconds said it had completed the task. The rep pressed a button and lights in the demo room came on, while the song started playing on the Echo Show.
You can also use the Routines section of Amazon’s app to customize what you want the device to do. In the same demo, the company also showed how the assistant can suggest routines based on your habits. It can also remind you to, say, take out the trash if you’ve connected a Ring camera and it’s noticed patterns in which day of the week your garbage is removed from the street.
The battery-powered remote can be mounted on a wall or surface and can be magnetically attached for maximum convenience. Though a simple remote might not be the most exciting thing, especially at an event where Amazon’s voice assistant and AI were so widely talked about, it’s still something people might find useful. Particularly if you want to just press a button to trigger a series of actions instead of finding the exact words to say in the precise pronunciation that is required to be understood by your smart speaker.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-has-a-new-smart-remote-thats-completely-programmable-by-alexa-170021739.html?src=rss
