Amazons autonomous vehicle company Zoox has begun testing its robotaxis in Los Angeles. It has deployed a small fleet of retrofitted test vehicles throughout the city for the purposes of mapping and data-collection. This will, eventually, lead to paid rides for consumers.
Lidar, camera, action! LA, we're coming your way. Our test fleet is expanding to the Los Angeles metro area. Give us a wave if you see us around. Learn more: https://t.co/cLNuc1LuAt. pic.twitter.com/VgwZc8U6oJ Zoox (@zoox) April 8, 2025
The company is sending out manually-driven Toyota Highlanders at first. These have been equipped with Zooxs self-driving tech and will gather mapping data. Broader autonomous testing will start in LA this summer. This will happen after the Highlanders gather enough data regarding "driving conditions, potential roadwork, city events" and other potential surprises.
After that, it should send in the actual robotaxis, which operate without a steering wheel or pedals. The vehicles are already being test-driven in several cities but, again, not with commercial passengers. These areas include Foster City, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Zoox says it should begin offering public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. Its also testing manned robotaxi drives in Miami, Austin and Seattle. This is done with a Highlander and a human safety operator behind the wheel.
This expansion is happening just a few weeks after the company issued a software recall on 258 of its vehicles, due to issues with the driving system unexpectedly hard braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received two incident reports involving motorcycles crashing into the back of Zoox vehicles due to this hard braking.
Rival Waymo is the only autonomous vehicle company right now that offers actual paid rides. The Alphabet-owned company provides this service in several cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin. It plans on expanding to Atlanta, Miami and Washington DC in the next two years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/amazons-zoox-starts-testing-its-robotaxis-in-los-angeles-172605497.html?src=rss
When Hades II moves out of Early Access and into v1.0 later this year, Nintendo will have a prime seat at the table. A "Creator's Voice" promo video published on Tuesday (via Kotaku) echoed what developer Supergiant Games posted in a FAQ last week: Switch 2 and Switch will be the only consoles to play the roguelike on out of the gates.
The video's mention of Hades II "launching first for consoles on Nintendo Switch 2" further confirms that PlayStation and Xbox owners will at least have to wait a while before playing the highly anticipated sequel on their systems. That was already established by a Supergiant FAQ update from April 2: "While we haven't ruled out bringing Hades II to any other platforms, our current focus is only on the versions listed above," referencing its Early Access platforms (PC and Mac, via Steam and Epic) and Nintendo's Switch 2 and OG Switch.
This follows a similar pattern to the one the developer used in Hades. It initially launched on PC, Mac and Switch before later landing on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.
Supergiant
The developer laid to rest any concerns that the roguelike won't perform well on Nintendo's platforms. "We have both versions running smoothly at a target 60 frames per second, with the Switch 2 version taking advantage of the bigger, higher-definition 1080p display," Supergiant wrote last week.
We don't know when Hades II, which arrived in Early Access last spring, will jump to v1.0 (apart from a general 2025 window). In February, Supergiant pushed the game's Warsong Update, which added Ares, an updated Altar of Ashes and a final boss fight. A third big patch is also in the works before the sequel is released to the public.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/hades-ii-will-launch-on-switch-2-and-switch-before-playstation-and-xbox-163757321.html?src=rss
Triband Games is back with another entry in its What the franchise. What the Clash? is an exclusive for Apple Arcade and will be available on May 1. Apple describes it as a "quirky, fast-paced multiplayer game" that features Tribands take on popular minigames like table tennis, archery, racing and tag.
However, this isnt just a simple multiplayer minigame collection. Players can use modifier cards to "create absurd combos." This includes stuff like "giraffle, toasty archery, sticky tennis and milk the fish." Remember, this is the developer behind the monumentally silly What the Car? and related titles.
The game offers simple touch controls, which makes sense given the platform, and theres a solo mode for those who dont want to goof on their friends and family. It includes leaderboards and tournaments. Also, everyone plays as a giant stretchy hand with legs (?!) that can be customized with clothes and accessories.
Trident also made the fantastic What the Golf? and the VR-focused What the Bat? Both are very good. Two of the companys games ended up on our list of the best Apple Arcade titles. What the Car? also won mobile game of the year at the 2024 D.I.C.E. Awards.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-goofy-multiplayer-game-what-the-clash-hits-apple-arcade-on-may-1-155951496.html?src=rss
Millions of us got into Wordle over the last few years and while there have been many clones of that game, other developers went in a slightly different direction and found success, as The New York Times did with the excellent Connections. Another game that has been doing the rounds for a couple of months has a new home, as The Atlantic becomes the latest publisher to get in on the daily puzzle trend.
Starting Tuesday, you can play Bracket City on the magazine's website. Ben Gross, an independent game designer who created the game, will continue to work on it alongside The Atlantic's director of games, Caleb Madison.
The aim of Bracket City is to solve a nested series of clues to reveal a fact about that given day in history. You have to solve the clues in order, but if you figure out an answer at a higher level, you can use that to work your way backwards and help you get to the solution. There's a tutorial to help you get started.
The Atlantic
Tuesday's fact of the day is 10 words long, while Monday's was only six words, but revealing each meant solving 17 clues first. The clues include cryptic hints, fill-in-the-blank idioms and general knowledge teasers. Clicking on a hint will reveal the first letter of its answer. There's also a hard mode in which you don't have to press enter to submit a guess but "every keystroke counts."
You'll earn a city-based rank depending on how well you did, such as Commuter or Mayor, while completing a puzzle perfectly will see you earn the title of Kingmaker. Every previous edition of the game is available in a free archive, which you can access by clicking on the date.
I've only been playing Bracket City for half an hour but I'm already obsessed. It tickles my brain in a similar way to Connections. It's less about guessing letters to find the right word and more about general knowledge and wordplay. Bracket City is already a winner in my book, and it's an instant addition to my rotation of once-a-day puzzle games.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bracket-city-could-be-your-latest-word-game-obsession-151405964.html?src=rss
Sega just announced that Sonic Rumble will be available on May 8. It was supposed to come out last winter, but will finally see the light of day next month. Its being described as a "multiplayer action game" and it really reminds me of Mediatonics Fall Guys, which even offers a mode that stars the speedy hedgehog.
To that end, Sonic Rumble can accommodate 32 players at once. Its a battle royale-style title that has players race around worlds inspired by the franchise. The last one standing at the end wins. You know the drill.
This being a Sonic game, there are rings to collect. These can be used to purchase new skins and stickers. Sega specifically mentioned a Sonic skin from the recent Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, which is neat.
The company also promises "key gameplay enhancements designed to add depth and strategic layers to every round." Each player gets a customizable set of skills, with multiple slots per character. Theres also a newly-announced co-op mechanic that brings players together to "strategize and overcome obstacles as a unit."
Theres a spot of bad news here for console players. Sonic Rumble will only be available for iOS, Android and PC via Steam.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-fall-guys-esque-sonic-rumble-comes-out-on-may-8-145632617.html?src=rss
A new report from Reuters has shed light on how Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is employing tech in its processes, including the alleged use of artificial intelligence to monitor communications. The initiative is said to be keeping an eye out for chatter that's considered hostile toward Musk or President Donald Trump.
Some managers at the Environmental Protection Agency have reportedly been told that DOGE is deploying AI to monitor communication apps and software such as the widely used Microsoft Teams for anti-Musk or anti-Trump sentiment. It's said that DOGE is watching out for individuals whose work didn't square with the administration's agenda. One manager reportedly told EPA staffers to Be careful what you say, what you type and what you do."
The EPA didn't explicitly state whether AI was being used to monitor employees for signs of disloyalty, though it told Reuters that it was "looking at AI to better optimize agency functions and administrative efficiencies." It added that it wasn't using AI "as it makes personnel decisions in concert with DOGE." The EPA has placed nearly 600 workers on leave and pledged to cut its budget by 65 percent amid DOGE's government-wide cost-slashing efforts.
Meanwhile, it's said that DOGE staffers are using Signal to communicate with each other. This could be a violation of federal record-keeping rules given the app's ability to automatically delete messages after a certain period of time. And that's not to mention the security risks of accidentally inviting, say, a journalist to a top-secret chat about government operations.
Some DOGE workers are also said to be using Google Docs to edit official documents collaboratively, in effect bypassing usual vetting procedures and chains of custody. In addition, staffers are reportedly making use of Musk's chatbot Grok AI in their work, but exactly what they're doing with it remains unclear. It emerged this week that the White House wants federal agencies to make full use of "American AI."
DOGE has been accused of operating under a shroud of secrecy. The administration has contended that since DOGE is operating under the Executive Office of the President, it's not obligated to allow the public to request access to its records, which would be the case if it were an official government agency. Nevertheless, a federal judge last month ordered DOGE to start providing records of its operations to the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which sued for access to such documents under freedom of information laws. The watchdog told Reuters that, as of Monday, it had received no records from DOGE.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/doge-is-reportedly-using-ai-to-monitor-government-comms-for-anti-musk-and-anti-trump-chatter-141411751.html?src=rss
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As someone who has moved around quite a bit, VPNs have always been essential to ensure I can access my sites and shows. The problem is that these often cost a pretty penny, sometimes more than I'm willing to fork out. But, now, our favorite VPN for multiple devices is now having a massive sale.
Surfshark Starter VPN is down to $54 for 27 months a plan that typically costs $417. It breaks down to $2 each month and three months free. This tier offers perks like a secure VPN, unlimited devices, ad and cookie pop-up blockers, a rotating IP and masked email and personal detail generators.
The two other plans, Surfshark One and One+, are on sale for $67 and $81, respectively. They both offer the Starter's features, along with scheduled scans, leak alerts, no data tracking or storage and personal data security reports. Surfshark One+ also includes data removal from company databases and data removal from people search sites.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/surfshark-vpns-two-year-plan-drops-to-only-54-133540084.html?src=rss
