TikTok is once again available in Apples App Store and Googles Play Store in the United States. The app disappeared from both Apple and Googles stores January 19, 2025, as a nationwide ban took effect. Briefly.
What will ultimately happen to TikTok remains unclear. President Trump wants to strike a deal that will allow the company to remain operational in the US, including arrangements that would give the US government a stake in the company.
You know whos probably furious? Every other social media company.
Mat Smith
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The biggest tech stories you missed
Avowed review: Elder Scrolls? I dont know her
Gemini Advanced can now recall your past conversations to inform its responses
The OnePlus Open 2 isn't happening this year
Apple will introduce its newest member of the family next week
On February 19, maybe a new iPhone SE and a 2nd-gen AirTag.
Apple
In a tweet on Thursday, CEO Tim Cook told Apple aficionados to get ready to meet the newest member of the family. What that product is remains a slight mystery, though we wont have to wait too long to find out. The reveal will take place on Wednesday, February 19.
While weve focused on a next-gen iPhone SE, Cooks tweet also featured an animated image of a shimmering Apple logo on what appears to be the outline of an AirTag. There have been rumors for a while that Apple would introduce a second-gen tracker sometime this year.
Also: AirTags have changed my life. Or at least stopped me getting locked out of my apartment multiple times in the last few years. Itll be intriguing to see what else a tracker can offer. Please dont make it AI.
Continue reading.
Honda and Nissan have ended their merger plans
No Honsan. No Ninda.
The tech love story of 2025 is over. Honda and Nissan have ended merger plans. If theyd gone through with it and also brought Nissan-controlled Mitsubishi on board, the new entity wouldve had a net worth of around $50 billion.
The Financial Times reported in early February that Honda presented a new company structure that would make Nissan its subsidiary as a take it or leave it offer. Nissan decided to leave it.
Continue reading.
Ask Engadget: Where is the best place to buy a cheap iPad?
Ask Mat Anything.
Thanks to all the early question-askers (hit me up on askmat(at)engadget.com), including a timely question in the face of new Apple hardware. From Matt Ali: Whats the cheapest way to get an iPad? And which one should I get in early 2025?
Instead of doing my own research or asking unhinged AI chatbots, I tapped our iPad expert (and reviewer), Nathan Ingraham, for an answer:
Engadget
Apple hardware is known for being expensive, but the company has a store packed with high-quality refurbished products that can save you some serious cash. Ive bought many devices there over the years and have never had a problem everything is in like-new condition and has the same warranty as a brand-new product.
At the time of writing, there are a few good options in Apples refurbished store if you want an iPad nearly as capable as the newest models but want to save some cash. If you want the largest screen possible, you can grab a sixth-generation, 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an M2 chip and 256GB of storage for $979. Considering the latest 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1299, this merits consideration especially if youre an artist who wants a large canvas.
If you dont need that large screen, consider the fifth-generation iPad Air. For $529, youll ge an 11-inch display, M1 chip and 256GB of storage. Thats $170 less than the current M2 iPad Air with the same amount of storage. Apples standard iPad is also available refurbished, but you can often find a brand-new version of it on sale on Amazon. Between that and the rumors of a new basic iPad coming this spring, Id avoid this one, for now.
If you want to upgrade the storage or get a model with cellular connectivity, that should also be doable for extra cash. For me, 256GB or 512GB is the sweet spot for storage given the ubiquity of the cloud, having a ton of local storage doesnt feel particularly necessary.
Similarly, cellular connectivity is probably not worth the extra cash unless you plan to travel with your iPad. Most of the time, you can easily tether an iPad to your phone if you need to get online quickly. But, those refurb options are available if you want them.
Thanks Nate! Other tech dilemmas? Modern texting etiquette? The best way to make your wearable nag you into your new year fitness goals? Hit. Me. Up!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121508200.html?src=rss
Monks and nuns from the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan will soon be able to explore their religion with BuddhaBot Plus. Trained on ancient texts, the generative AI chatbot is designed to disseminate Buddhist teachings through a modern yet faithful interpretation. Created by a team from Kyoto University and Japanese start-up Teraverse, BuddhaBot Plus was previously only available in Japanese. The English version was developed at the request of the Bhutanese government and will be rolled out in a pilot to 200 monastic individuals who will share feedback for improvements and help shape usage guidelines.
TikTok is once again available in Apples App Store and Google's Play Store in the United States. The app disappeared from both Apple and Googles stores January 19, 2025, as a nationwide ban briefly took effect. But though the apps service was quickly restored after President Donald Trump promised not to enforce the ban, the app had remained unavailable for download in US app stores.
Apple has now reversed course. Bloomberg reported the company made the decision after a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi. Trump previously told the Justice Department in an executive order to delay enforcing a ban for 75 days. Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok is now also officially available in Googles Play Store, after the company encouraged Android users to sideload the app. According to Axios, Google was assured by the Justice Department that restoring people's access to TikTok wouldn't violate the law.
Its still not clear what will ultimately happen to TikTok longterm. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to strike a deal that will allow the company to remain operational in the US, including arrangements that would give the US government a stake in the company. A number of investors and companies have also proposed offers to take over some aspect of TikTok, though the company hasnt indicated which bids it might be taking seriously.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-is-back-in-apples-app-store-in-the-us-014013369.html?src=rss
Addressing growing concerns about mobile device theft, telecommunications provider TIM has developed a wearable security device that automatically locks smartphones when they're separated from their owners. The TIM Block Pin, which debuted last month at the Salvador Summer Festival, adds a layer of protection for festivalgoers.Users attach the pin to their clothing and use a free app to connect it to their smartphone. If the pin and phone are separated by a distance of 10 meters or more, the app triggers an automatic screen lock and sounds an alarm to help the owner locate their phone. TIM is a major sponsor of the Salvador festival and introduced the technology to its 40,000 attendees via QR code-based contests at one of the brand's festival booths. The company plans to expand the program during this month's Carnival celebrations, with Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo supporting the rollout. Given TIM's sponsorship of music events, festivals are a natural fit. But there's plenty of opportunities for brands in other spaces, too. Airlines could offer frequent flyers a smart wristband that ensures a phone or tablet is locked if separated from its traveling owner. High-end fashion retailers could add a pin to newly purchased clothing to prevent shoppers from leaving their haul in a cab or café. One to launch for the crowded environments your audience frequents?
Google is making Gemini just a bit better. Starting today, the company's chatbot will recall past conversations in an effort to provide more useful responses. "That means no more starting over from scratch or having to search for a previous conversation thread," Google explains. "Plus, you can build on top of previous conversations or projects youve already started."
Google notes Gemini "may" indicate if it referenced a past conversation to formulate a response. If the idea of a chatbot recalling information about you makes you feel uncomfortable, Google says users can "easily review, delete or decide how long" Gemini retains their chat history. Additionally, it's possible to disable this feature altogether from the My Activity panel.
Gemini is not the first chatbot to include a memory feature. ChatGPT will "remember" things about you in certain contexts. For example, I recently asked OpenAI's chatbot a question about Jeff Buckley's vocal range, to which it later asked me if I was a fan of his music. When I said yes, a notification appeared stating "memory updated."
More broadly, building chatbots with long, reliable memories is part of the "agentic" AI future many companies, including Google and OpenAI, are building towards. At I/O 2024, for instance, Google debuted Project Astra, which featured a built-in memory, though it was limited to a relatively short window of time and could "mis-remember" things.
Gemini's new memory feature has begun rolling out in English to Gemini Advanced subscribers. It will become available in more languages over the coming weeks. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-advanced-can-now-recall-your-past-conversations-to-inform-its-responses-222407226.html?src=rss
The spiritual successor to Life is Strange is heading to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog as a day-one freebie. The first installment of Dont Nods Lost Records: Bloom & Rage hits Sonys subscription service later this month, along with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and immersive tennis in TopSpin 2K25. In addition, Sony previewed a couple of other cool-looking day-one titles heading to the service before long: Blue Prince and Abiotic Factor.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage tells the story of four high school friends (and punk rockers!) living in a deceptively picturesque Michigan town in 1995. The narrative adventure jumps between that era and 2022 as we gradually peel back the layers of, well, some freaky-ass stuff the girls uncovered.
Don't Nod
Each timeline gives you more of a glimpse into the life-changing secrets they stumbled upon back when Blues Traveler was on the charts and why theyre reuniting 27 years later. If you were into the Life is Strange series, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage should be right up your alley.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can claim the game on its February 18 release date. And if you get sucked into the world, you wont have long to wait for the next chapter: It arrives in the April 15 batch of Sonys catalog.
EA / Respawn
Thats also when Extra and Premium subscribers can claim Respawns Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. The follow-up to Jedi: Fallen Order puts you back in the boots of Cal Kestis as he tries to fend off the Empire and rebuild the Jedi Order. In our 2023 preview, Engadgets Igor Bonifacic found it to be a bigger and better (if perhaps a bit too safe) sequel with larger worlds and new Force abilities to explore, as well as a handy grappling hook to kick it like Bionic Commando.
Arriving a bit later is Blue Prince, Dogubombs clever title that takes the escape room concept and expands it into an entire mansion. Set in 1993, you inherit Mount Holly Estate, a sprawling building with a layout that changes daily. You get to choose its room configurations. The mansion has 45 rooms; your challenge is to find the 46th before all of your allotted movements expire.
Each door is a decision, the developer promises. And each room you pick adds another layer of strategy, puzzles and exploration to your adventure. PS Plus subscribers can step into the mysterious world of Blue Prince on its release date this spring.
Playstack / Deep Field Games
Another day-one Plus title, Abiotic Factor is a six-player survival crafting game. Deep Field Games creepy title has throwback graphics and a survival crafting vibe. Up to six players (but you can play solo, too) take on the roles of scientists stranded miles underground in a strange research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade and chaos from a dozen realms, the worlds greatest minds must survive against the universes biggest threats, the game blurb reads. It arrives as a day-one Game Catalog release this summer.
Other titles available for Premium and Extra members on February 18 include Hangar 13s TopSpin 2K25, where you can play as (among others) Serena Williams, Roger Federer or even throwbacks like Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe. The 2021 remake of the 1998 RPG SaGa Frontier is also on tap, as well as narrative sci-fi adventure Somerville, puzzle game Tin Hearts and the medieval slash-em-up Mordhau.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/lost-records-and-blue-prince-are-coming-to-the-playstation-game-catalog-at-launch-213659797.html?src=rss
Metas Oversight Board is coming under new pressure to respond to the companys recent policy changes on fact-checking and moderation, which were made without input from the advisory group. A coalition of civil society organizations has published an open letter to the Oversight Board saying the group should resign en masse as recent developments make it clear that the company has abandoned any pretense of oversight and acts with no regard as to the consequences.
The letter, which was first reported by The Washington Post, comes from the Global Coalition for Tech Justice, which is made up of more than 250 human and digital rights advocates, fact-checking organizations and other civil society groups from around the world.
A mass resignation would be a historic act of conscience one that makes clear Metas reckless disregard for human rights cannot be excused, ignored, or concealed behind the curtains of an oversight board that has no real power, the letter says. By stepping down collectively, you would show solidarity with all those communities impacted by Metas unconscionable actions, increase public pressure on Meta and demonstrate that true accountability cannot exist within a system designed to suppress it.
Last month, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would end its long-running fact-checking programs and roll back content moderation standards that protected immigrants and LGBT people on its platform. The Meta CEO, who upon creating the board said that Facebook should not make so many important decisions about free expression and safety on our own, reportedly decided to make the changes following a visit with then President-elect Donald Trump last year and consulted only a handful of people at Meta.
The Oversight Boards co-chair later said that these changes came as a surprise to the group, which was created to help shape platform-wide policy but was not consulted ahead of time in this instance.
The Global Coalition for Tech Justice isnt the first group to question the Oversight Boards role in the wake of Zuckerbergs sweeping policy changes. Members of Congress also recently raised the issue in a letter addressed to the Meta CEO. The Oversight Board, once touted as a beacon of accountability, is rendered toothless when Meta itself refuses to adhere to the principles of trust and safety, they wrote.
One member of the Global Coalition for Tech Justice has been even more direct. If the Oversight Board has no role (even consultory) in the single biggest change in content moderation since their founding, clearly the experiment has failed, the Real Facebook Oversight Board, a group of longtime Oversight Board critics, said in a statement last month.
Meanwhile, the Oversight Boards response to Metas changes has so far been muted. The group published a statement shortly after Zuckerbergs announcement, saying that it would engage with Meta on its plan to implement community notes. It later added a brief update that said it would be reviewing the implications of the various changes that go beyond fact-checking.
Representatives for Meta and the Oversight Board didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement to The Washington Post, the board said that it planned to propose nuanced policy recommendations that Meta must respond to.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/civil-society-groups-urge-metas-oversight-board-to-resign-in-protest-211134922.html?src=rss
Blue Origin, the SpaceX competitor founded and funded by Jeff Bezos, is cutting 10 percent of its employees or about 1,400 people, according to The Seattle Times and CNN. Staff were informed of the news by Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp, in an email reviewed by Engadget, who claims the layoffs are an attempt to address a lack of focus and an excessive amount of bureaucracy at the company.
The areas of the business primarily impacted by the cuts are program and project management, research and development and engineering. Blue Origin is making these changes as it finalizes its annual operating plan, CNN notes, which is focused on increasing manufacturing and the pace at which the company launches rockets. For example, Blue Origin is one of several space companies with commercial moon missions planned for 2025.
The company has been on a bit of a hot streak as of late. Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn orbital rocket in January, and retrieved the rocket's second stage when it landed back on the launch platform. That's a trick that took SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket a few years to master. In December 2024, Blue Origin also returned to space tourism, launching six paying customers into space.
Despite the progress, the company is still seen as lagging behind SpaceX, at the very least because Elon Musk's space company has spent more time actually launching rockets into space. Reducing staff doesn't change that, but it may save Blue Origin money, something that's been a goal of Bezos' for a while now, according to Ars Technica.
Dave Limp's full email is reproduced below:
Subject: Difficult Org News Changes To Our Team
Folks,We just finished this mornings meeting, during which I gave an update on our organization. As I mentioned, we have made the tough decision to reduce our workforce by about 10%. The impact this has is not lost on any of uswe are saying goodbye to our friends and colleagues who have helped us build Blue into what it is today.I know this is a lot to absorb, and I would like to explain how we got here. Over the last few months, as a leadership team, we have worked together to define our 2025 Annual Operating Plan and growth strategy. Our primary focus in 2025 and beyond is to scale our manufacturing output and launch cadence with speed, decisiveness, and efficiency for our customers. We grew and hired incredibly fast in the last few years, and with that growth came more bureaucracy and less focus than we needed. It also became clear that the makeup of our organization must change to ensure our roles are best aligned with executing these priorities. Sadly, this resulted in eliminating some positions in engineering, R&D, and program/project management and thinning out our layers of management.While I acknowledge that these messages are better delivered personally and individually, the reach of these changes across multiple locations and teams makes that difficult. We will notify impacted employees immediately via their work and personal email addresses of their status with Blue. We will also email employees who are not impacted to confirm their employment with Blue. Both emails will arrive by 7:30 AM PT/10:30 AM ET today. While our sites are open, I encourage you to work from home for the rest of the day if your role allows you to do so.We are doing what we can to support everyone impacted. The email notifications will provide support details, which include severance packages, COBRA coverage, career support services, and access to counseling through our Employee Assistance Program.Let me add that I am extremely confident in the enormous opportunities in front of us and have never been more optimistic about our mission. We will continue to invest, invent, and hire hundreds of positions in areas that will help us achieve our goals and best serve our customers. We will be a stronger, faster, and more customer-focused company that consistently meets and exceeds our commitments. This year alone, we will land on the Moon, deliver a record number of incredible engines, and fly New Glenn and New Shepard on a regular cadence.To our colleagues who are impacted today, thank you so much for your hard work and passion for our mission. I hope we all support one another with grace and empathy while upholding our leadership principles during this time.Dave-This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/blue-origin-is-cutting-10-percent-of-its-workforce-203642991.html?src=rss
The next major expansion for Diablo IV wont come out until 2026, according to remarks made by franchise general manager Rod Fergusson at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas on Wednesday. This isnt too surprising, given that the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, didnt release until the game had been out for 17 months.
Fergusson announced that Blizzard will drop a 2025 roadmap just ahead of Season 8, but that it wont include any details on the next major expansion. Additionally, he didnt say when in 2026 it was likely to drop, nor did he provide any details.
Blizzards original plan was to put out a new expansion every year, similar to how Destiny 2 handled things in its early run. That idea went out the window when Vessel of Hatred missed the release window by nearly six months. There were bugs that needed to be fixed and community feedback to incorporate. Its tough maintaining a live-service game.
In any event, I would prefer a polished expansion with plenty of new gameplay mechanics instead of a rushed effort to meet a yearly release quota. The next season of Diablo IV is currently set to go live in April, so we can expect that 2025 roadmap sometime ahead of that. Its also highly likely well start to get teases for the next expansion later in the year. The hype machine surrounding Vessel of Hatred started up in 2023.
We called Diablo IV one of the best games that Blizzard had released in a decade in our official review. The dungeon-crawling mechanics are just about perfect, though we thought the world-building felt a little flat. Vessel of Hatred added a new class and a new area to explore.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/diablo-iv-wont-get-another-expansion-until-2026-194245537.html?src=rss
Those who are in the market for a new game controller that works with pretty much any device outside of a PlayStation or Xbox could do a lot worse than consider the options from 8BitDo. The brand's Pro 2 controller is certainly worth your attention, not least because it's on sale. The black version of the peripheral has dropped from $50 to $38.39. That's a record low price.
The other two colorways G Classic and Gray have been discounted as well, but the deals aren't quite as generous there. Those versions have each dropped by $10 to $40, which is still a solid offer.
These discounts are for variants of the Pro 2 with Hall Effect thumbsticks. These should prevent stick drift (an issue that had emerged with Nintendo's own Joy-Con controllers for the Switch) and help you to aim more precisely. In fact, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is among our picks for the best Switch controllers.
Along with the Switch, the Pro 2 controller is compatible with Apple devices (i.e. those running iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and macOS), Android devices, Windows PC, Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi. The controller is deeply programmable, thanks to 8BitDo's Ultimate software, which you can even use to set up macros for the controller.
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/deals/8bitdos-pro-2-controller-with-hall-effect-thumbsticks-drops-to-38-193028015.html?src=rss
