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When it launched a couple of years back, the Ninja Creami became a viral sensation by making it easy to turn almost anything into a tasty frozen treat. However, there was still one thing it couldnt do: a classic soft serve, like the kind you dream about on hot summer days. But Ninja has made it its goal to change that by launching the Swirl by Creami today, and after getting a chance to taste what it makes, Id say: mission accomplished.
In a lot of ways, even though the Swirl is its own standalone gadget, it sort of like an expansion pack for the original Ninja Creami. Thats because if you look at the right side of the machine, it looks almost identical to its predecessor. The big change is the new module on the left, which is reserved entirely for soft serve. The other major difference is the design of Ninjas pint containers. Now theres a new base featuring a built-in nozzle for spitting out soft serve and not one but two lids. There are also a few other details like a large handle on the side of the device, but well get to that later.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
For anyone who has used the original, the general workflow is quite familiar. First, whip up an ice cream base and then freeze it in a pint container. From there, you select one of two main modes (traditional scoops or soft serve), attach the paddle lid and then spin your frozen base as normal. If youre making a traditional churned-style ice cream or one of its variants, you can simply stop there. But if you want soft serve, heres where things take a turn.
After spinning your base, you take the paddle lid off, put on Ninjas soft serve lid before slotting the entire pint into the cavity on the left side of the machine. Then you need to twist the base of the container to open up the previously mentioned nozzle. Now you can pull down on the handle to the right and after a short pause, the Swirl will push out smooth, airy soft serve just like your favorite local shop. Or Pinkberry, because this thing can do froyo too.
The Ninja Swirl uses a new pint container with a built-in nozzle for dispensing soft serve.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Granted, Ninjas latest two-in-one contraption takes a few extra steps to get to the end zone, but the results really do speak for themselves (assuming you started with a decent recipe, of course). The Swirls soft serve is light and creamy without a hint of any crystal to mess up that unique semi-solid texture. And as its name implies, you can even twirl it around to create that signature spiral of frozen goodness on top of a cone or cup.
Honestly, its kind of magical. I will die on this hill, but to me theres nothing better than enjoying soft serve on a super hot day (preferably after a game of mini golf or a trip to the beach). So to have the power to make it at home feels really special, as soft serve has long been one of those things you need to go outside to get. During my demo, I tried a basic chocolate soft serve, froyo, peanut butter Creamifit (which is basically soft serve with added protein and less sugar) and even a faux Shamrock Shake, all made using the Swirl. Heck, there was even some frozen mango and pineapple that were blended up to create homemade Dole Whips. And all of them tasted fantastic.
The nozzle on the Swirl's pint container even recreates the look and shape you get from commercial soft serve machines.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Aside from soft serve, the Swirl also features a few improvements over previous models. Ninja says it has refined some of its programs to reduce things like the need to respin ice cream in order to get the proper consistency. The machine is also a bit quieter and it has indicator lights that tell how long it takes to finish blending a frozen base. And for people who like making treats with alternative sugars, the Lite Ice Cream mode has been adjusted to produce better results.
That said, there are a couple of important things to know about the Swirl before you run out and buy one. Like the standard Creami, it uses traditional pint-sized containers instead of the larger 24-ounce cups used with the Creami Deluxe. You also cant spin half a pint like you can on the larger models, though if you want, you can make soft serve out of store-bought ice cream (you know, in case youre too lazy or impatient to make your own). Finally, when making soft serve, mix-ins are better left for the end rather than trying to blend them in.
Regardless, similar to what the original Creami did for ice cream by distilling the tech from a $5,000+ Pacojet into a $200 machine regular folk can actually afford, the Swirl is now doing the same for soft serve. Right now, even the cheapest single-purpose machine on the market costs almost $1,000, while the $350 Ninja Swirl can do everything the old Creami could do (which includes making milkshakes, sorbets, gelatos and more) plus practically every type of soft serve you can imagine all in one device. So while its definitely pricer and bulkier than its predecessor, the Swirl really feels like a one-stop home ice cream shop.
The Ninja Swirl by Creami is available today directly from Ninja or third-party retailers including Amazon, Target, Best Buy and Kohls.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-ninja-swirl-by-creami-is-conquering-the-hardest-type-of-ice-cream-to-make-at-home-143002442.html?src=rss
YouTube has officially been around for two decades and a lot has changed over the years including how people watch it. Now, a new report from YouTube claims TV has overtaken mobile to become the primary device for viewing content in the US.
Yes, despite the tremendous push to smart phones, TVs, with their big screens and chunky remotes are still relevant. YouTube looks at watch time to determine device positions.Nielsen, a market research company that's been reporting on TV viewing habits for decades, says that YouTube has been the number one service in streaming watch time for the last two years.
YouTube has also announced that its working on a new feature called Watch With. This tool should allow creators to produce live commentary and reactions to any games and events. Of course, many creators already do something like this, but the new tool could be more integrated into the platform. YouTube began testing it with the NFL but will try it out with other content throughout the year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/more-users-are-watching-youtube-on-tv-than-mobile-140035151.html?src=rss
Eric Council Jr. from Alabama has pleaded guilty to being a co-conspirator in the unauthorized takeover of the US Securities and Exchange Commission's Twitter account last year. In early January 2024, SEC's official X account tweeted that bitcoin ETFs had been approved "for listing on all registered national securities exchanges," but SEC Chair Gary Gensler quickly announced that the agency's account was compromised. The commission later revealed that it was the victim of a SIM swapping attack, though it also admitted that it account wasn't protected by multi-factor authentication. Council was the one who carried out the SIM swap, according to the Department of Justice.
Council used an ID card printer to create a fake ID that he then used to gain access to a phone number associated with the SEC's account. In a SIM swap, the perpetrator typically gets a user's carrier to reassign a phone number to a new SIM card that they control. His co-conspirators, who paid Council in bitcoin, then changed the SEC account's password to control it before posting the false news along with a fake quote from Gensler. As for why the SEC's account was protected by MFA, the agency previously said that it asked X's support staff to disable it last July, because it was having issues with account access. But it remained disabled until after the account was compromised.
Council, who was arrested in October, has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. He will be sentenced on May 16 and could face up to five years in prison. The Justice Department said Bitcoin rose by $1,000 after the fake announcement went up and then fell by $2,000 when the SEC issued a correction. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/man-from-alabama-pleads-guilty-over-secs-fake-bitcoin-post-on-x-133045810.html?src=rss
Sports Illustrated and Dove are rewriting the narrative of athletic representation with Sports reIllustrated. It's a special edition that puts young female athletes in the spotlight, including 10-year-old wrestler Honor Smoke as the youngest cover athlete in the magazine's history. The initiative tackles a sobering reality: 48% of girls abandon sports after being told they have the 'wrong' body type. Through vivid profiles of ten diverse young athletes, from basketball players to para-athletes, the special edition aims to expand the visual narrative of what athletes look like.
Google Maps now officially shows the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America if you open the app in the US. In a blog post, Google said it rolled out the named change because the government has already updated the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which decides the "federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature." One of the executive orders President Donald Trump signed in January when he took office renames the body of water, but Google previously explained that it's the company's longstanding policy to wait for official government resources to be updated before applying any name change.
The Gulf of America label will only be visible if you use the Maps app in the US, or if you open Maps on the web and your device's location is set to the region. If you're in Mexico, the label still shows Gulf of Mexico. And if you're elsewhere, you'll see it marked as both, specifically: Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America). It's also longstanding policy for the company to show official local names when they vary between countries. Trump's executive order also renames Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, to Mount McKinley. So far, the location is still being shown as Denali on Maps.
Google
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-adopts-gulf-of-america-for-us-maps-users-140026397.html?src=rss
If youre currently in the market for a music-streaming subscription, have we got a deal for you. Pick up six months of Apple Music for just $3. Thats not a typo. This discount brings the price down to, checks math, $0.50 per month. The cost is typically $11 per month, so todays sale represents a savings of more than $60.
The usual caveats apply. This is an enticement to bring in new subscribers, so current members are out of luck (myself included.) Its also not available for those who currently qualify for a three-month free trial of the service. Finally, this deal must be redeemed on an Apple device, and only iPhones running iOS 16 and later, Mac computers running MacOS 13 and later and the Vision Pro headset are applicable here.
Apple Music is a fine little streaming platform. The audio quality is on point, with lossless streaming available at no charge, and the UI is easy-to-navigate. It may not allow exclusive access to Joe Rogan episodes, like Spotify, but thats because Apple Music seems dedicated to, well, music.
To that end, the app places a heavy emphasis on curation. There are all kinds of playlists that were created by actual humans, and they receive regular updates. Many artist pages include playlists of deep cuts, essential hits and more. Albums are often accompanied by a review or synopsis, which is a nice touch. The app also gives access to several live radio stations that are hosted by actual DJs, and not AI simulacrums.
Apple Music still uses an algorithm for many of its custom playlists unique to each user, but the human touch is still appreciated. The Spotify algorithm for discovering new music is a bit more adventurous, but the Apple algo gets the job done.
On the downside, the service works best on Apple devices. Theres also no free tier, which is something of a bummer. To that end, make sure you cancel before the six months runs out, if its not your bag. Otherwise, youll start getting charged $11 each month.
Offer for eligible new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $10.99/mo after offer period until cancelled. Offer not available if you are eligible for a 3-months free Apple Music offer. Terms apply.
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/get-six-months-of-apple-music-for-just-3-130027706.html?src=rss
Elon Musk has launched a $97.4 billion bid for AI darling OpenAI. The Wall Street Journal reported that a group of investors led by Musks xAI submitted an unsolicited offer to the companys board of directors on Monday. Its a bid for the non-profit that controls OpenAIs for-profit arm.
OpenAI is not a traditional company, and the non-profit structure Sam Altman and others at the company want it to get away from may, in fact, protect it from Musks offer.
Theres further drama around all this: Musk had sued OpenAI and Sam Altman for allegedly ditching its non-profit mission around this time last year.
An OpenAI spokesperson pointed Engadget to an X post from CEO Sam Altman that said, No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want. Musks purchase of Twitter was a heady lump of money that didnt lead to a typical ROI. It did, however, help him attach himself to President Trumps successful bid for office.
Mat Smith
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Civilization VII is coming to Meta Quest 3
Its the first Civ game to get a VR port.
In a bid to demolish my social life, Civilization VII is getting a VR port, exclusive to Metas most recent headsets. Meta and developer Firaxis Games announced last weekend that it will land on Meta Quest 3 and 3S in spring 2025. Apparently, players are transported to an ornate museum as they look out onto a vista personalized to their leader; in mixed reality, the Command Table adapts to its placement in a players physical space. Civilization VII is available now for Advanced Access buyers on PC and consoles, but reviews havent exactly set the world on fire. (Then again, thats how I sometimes play Civ games)
Continue reading.
Apple will reportedly announce a new iPhone SE this week
A new entry-level phone could land later this month.
Apple could finally unveil a new iPhone SE. According to Bloomberg, the company will announce its latest lower-cost model as soon as this week before it goes on sale later this month. The last iPhone SE was released in 2022.
Last week, an X user who goes by Majin Bu posted a video of a device thats supposedly Apples upcoming low-cost iPhone model. That model had a camera notch at the top, which Apple had removed from its latest phones in favor of its Dynamic Island design. Its also expected to have a USB-C port. The last SE iPhone cost $429, but that was two years ago the new model may cost a bit more.
Continue reading.
OnePlus 13 phone review
A focused flagship with no AI fat.
Engadget
Instead of focusing on AI, the OnePlus 13 packs a bunch of top-of-the-line components into an attractive chassis. And we mean great specs: a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 4,500-nit screen and 6,000mAh battery, all for $100 less than a base Galaxy S25+. Camera quality could be better, though.
Continue reading.
Weber Searwood grill review
Second times the charm.
Engadget
If not the world, how about a pellet grill? Webers second pellet grill is more versatile than the original SmokeFire. With reliable cooking performance and a much-improved display, the grill is definitely more dependable than its predecessor.
Continue reading.
TikTok suggests Android users in the US sideload the app
Its not back in app stores, yet.
In a tweet, the TikTok Policy account has announced the service has made Android Package Kits available for download through its official website. Companies dont typically endorse sideloading as it opens up the opportunity for bad actors and security wobbles if you use a bad source for your apps. The Apple App Store and the Google Play Store are still required to remove the app unless they want to get slapped with a $5,000 fine for every user in the US who downloads it.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121537981.html?src=rss
