Sky Glass, an all-in-one TV with a six-speaker sound bar and 4K Quantum Dot Display, came out in late 2021. Now the system is getting its successor: the Sky Glass Gen 2. One of the biggest improvements is sound quality, with a seven-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, including a new dual sub-woofer.
The second gen Sky Glass model also has a brighter 4K Quantum Dot display, a wider viewing angle and a better contrast. It gets a newly designed stand, which just slots right into the TV without any nuts and bolts. The TV also now fits on universal wall mounts.
A lot of things do remain the same between the new and older model. The TV's core offerings remain the same, filled with Sky Originals, Sky Exclusives and access to apps like BBC iPlayer and Netflix. The new model also keeps Playlist, a feature that lets you add your favorite shows and movies to their own tab. Plus, it's still available in 43-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch models. However, the Gen 2 comes in three new colors: Volcanic Grey, Arctic Silver and Atlantic Blue.
Get the Sky Glass Gen 2 43-inch model for 699, 55-inch model for 949 or the 65-inch model for 1,199.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/the-sky-glass-gen-2-offers-a-brighter-display-and-better-sound-113000277.html?src=rss
Elon Musk has launched a $97.4 billion bid to take control of OpenAI. The Wall Street Journal reports a group of investors led by Musk's xAI submitted an unsolicited offer to the company's board of directors on Monday. The group wants to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI's for-profit arm.
When asked for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson pointed Engadget to an X post from CEO Sam Altman. "No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want," Altman wrote on the social media platform Musk owns.
no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want Sam Altman (@sama) February 10, 2025
"Its time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was," Musk said in a statement his attorney shared with The Journal. "We will make sure that happens."
OpenAI
It's hard to say how serious this bid from Musk is and what if any chance it has to succeed. OpenAI is not a traditional company, and the nonprofit structure Sam Altman and others at the company want it to get away from may in fact protect it from Musk's offer. Were OpenAI purely a for-profit company with traditional shares Musk's bid would likely trigger what's known in corporate law as a Revlon moment, where, under certain circumstances, the company's board of directors would be forced to sell the company to the highest bidder to maximize shareholder profits.
Musk, as you can imagine, wasn't a fan of Altman's joke, writing "Swindler" in response and later calling him "Scam Altman." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musk-wants-to-buy-openai-for-974-billion-215221105.html?src=rss
A new iPhone update patches a flaw that could allow an attacker to turn off a nearly seven-year-old USB security feature. Apples release notes for iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 say the bug, which allowed the deactivation of USB Restricted Mode, may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.
The release notes describe the now-patched security flaw as allowing a physical attack, which suggests the attacker needed the device in hand to exploit it. So, unless your device was hijacked by extremely sophisticated attackers, there was nothing to panic about even before Mondays update.
USB Restricted Mode, introduced in iOS 11.4.1, prevents USB accessories from accessing your devices data if it hasnt been unlocked for an hour. The idea is to protect your iPhone or iPad from law enforcement devices like Cellebrite and Graykey. Its also the reason for the message asking you to unlock your device before connecting it to a Mac or Windows PC.
Aligned with its typical policy, Apple didnt detail who or what entity used the attack in the wild, only noting that the company is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited. Security researcher Bill Marczak of the University of Torontos Citizen Lab reported the flaw. In 2016, while in grad school, he discovered the iPhones first known zero-day remote jailbreak, which a cyberwarfare company sold to governments.
You can make sure USB Restricted Mode is activated by heading to Settings > Face ID (or Touch ID) & Passcode. Scroll down to Accessories in the list and ensure the toggle is off, which it is by default. Somewhat confusingly, toggling the setting off means the security feature is on because it lists features with allowed access.
As usual, you can install the update by heading to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/apple-patches-iphone-exploit-that-allowed-for-extremely-sophisticated-attack-214237852.html?src=rss
Roblox, Discord, OpenAI and Google are launching a nonprofit organization called ROOST, or Robust Open Online Safety Tools, which hopes "to build scalable, interoperable safety infrastructure suited for the AI era."
The organization plans on providing free, open-source safety tools to public and private organizations to use on their own platforms, with a special focus on child safety to start. The press release announcing ROOST specifically calls out plans to offer "tools to detect, review, and report child sexual abuse material (CSAM)." Partner companies are providing funding for these tools, and the technical expertise to build them, too.
The operating theory of ROOST is that access to generative AI is rapidly changing the online landscape, making the need for "reliable and accessible safety infrastructure" all the more urgent. And rather than expect a smaller company or organization to create their own safety tools from scratch, ROOST wants to provide them, free of charge.
Child online safety has been the issue du jour since the Children and Teen's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) started making their way through Congress, even though both failed to pass in the House. At least some of the companies involved in ROOST, specifically Google and OpenAI, have also already pledged to stop AI tools from being used to generate CSAM.
The child safety issue is even more pressing for Roblox. As of 2020, two-thirds of all US children between nine and 12 play Roblox, and the platform has historically struggled to address child safety. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that the company had a "pedophile problem" in 2024, which prompted multiple policy changes and new restrictions around children's DMs. ROOST won't make all of these problems go away, but should make dealing with them easier for any other organization or company that finds itself in Roblox's position.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/roblox-discord-openai-and-google-found-new-child-safety-group-194445241.html?src=rss
Lyft is scrambling to compete as Uber racks up autonomous vehicle (AV) partners. On Monday, Lyft said it partnered with Japanese conglomerate Marubeni to bring robotaxis to Dallas roads as soon as next year before expanding to thousands of vehicles in other cities.
Its the first fruit from Lyfts Mobileye partnership, announced in November. TechCrunch notes that the Intel-owned Mobileyes tech is already available in models from (among others) Audi, Ford, GM, Nissan and Volkswagen. Lyft hasnt yet said which automaker(s) its partnering with for the Dallas rollout. But Lyft executive vice president of driver experience Jeremy Bird told TechCrunch that its in talks with every major autonomous carmaker.
Marubeni, which owns subsidiaries in industries ranging from cereal to fossil fuels (fortunately, not in the same product), owns and manages fleets with over 900,000 vehicles across the globe. The companys Mobileye-equipped robotaxis will be available for folks in Dallas to hail through the Lyft app after the program launches.
Although the Dallas launch will serve as Lyfts pilot program for Mobileye AVs, it may not end up being the companys next robotaxi rollout. Last year, it also partnered with AV company May Mobility and aims to bring robotaxis with its tech to Atlanta sometime in 2025.
The pressure is on Lyft to keep up, as Uber has inked deals with a long list of companies in the AV space, including Avride, Aurora Innovation, Nuro, Waabi and Wayve. Uber and Alphabets Waymo also plan to launch AV fleets in Austin and Atlanta early this year. (The waitlist is already open.) Tesla has also said it plans to introduce its first autonomous vehicle service in Austin this June.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/lyft-aims-for-a-2026-dallas-launch-of-its-first-mobileye-robotaxis-190137968.html?src=rss
OnePlus has revealed that you'll be able to get your hands on (or wrist under) its latest smartwatch very soon. The OnePlus Watch 3 will be available in the US, Canada and Europe on February 18. The company hasn't announced pricing just yet, but you can get a $30 discount if you sign up for updates.
It claims that the Watch 3 can run for up to 16 days in power saver mode and five days in smart mode (which would be 20 hours longer than the Watch 2). Meanwhile, the wearable is said to run for up to 72 hours on a single charge if you're a heavy user. The company added that you can get a full day of use out of a 10-minute charge as well.
OnePlus is trying to balance performance and battery life by employing two chipsets: the Snapdragon W5 performance chipset and the new BES2800 MCU Efficiency chipset. The Watch 3 also uses the same battery tech that the company employed in the OnePlus 13, while battery capacity has increased from 500mAh in the previous model to 631mAh. The extra capacity plus the promise of lower power consumption make for a potent combination to boost battery life.
As was the case last time around, the OnePlus Watch 3 supports WearOS. The latest model doesn't look very different from the previous one on the surface, though there's a new bezel made from titanium and the sapphire crystal screen should bolster durability. The OnePlus Watch 3 will be available in two colorways, emerald titanium and obsidian titanium.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/the-oneplus-watch-3-arrives-on-february-18-155208939.html?src=rss
Last month, a pack of two Blink Mini 2 security cameras was $40, down from $80. Theyre currently 46 percent off at $38, meaning you get two for less than the price of one. These are also the latest model, offering advantages previous iterations dont have.
The Blink Mini 2 security camera captures live video in 1080p HD, and theres also a night HD view. If you have a Blink Subscription Plan, you can stream continuously for 90 minutes. The plan is sold separately, of course, but this package comes with a 30-day free trial to let you have a taste of these extra features. The subscription also grants access to more features like motion detection alerts and clip-saving. You can even send clips to others later.
The newest model comes with a spotlight for improved night visibility and has a wider field of view, 143 degrees up from 110 degrees that the original Blink Mini has. Its also compatible with Amazons Alexa, allowing you to see whats going on outside with just a few words.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-two-blink-mini-security-cameras-for-only-38-152645383.html?src=rss
Its a classic New York experience. Youre riding the subway to work, and suddenly the train stops. The lights go off, and you seem to be trapped between stations in a tunnel. For many New Yorkers, hardened over years of bad weather, prevalent trash and cohabitation with rats, this is just another recurring event thats made less nerve-wracking by experience. But for Jarrod Musano, being stuck on a southbound 6 train that had lost power, there was little relief. Musano was born deaf, and the audio-only announcements were of no help. Musano couldnt see anything in the darkness, and had to rely on gauging the amount of panic in his surroundings.
I knew if it were serious, people would be moving quickly, he recalled of the incident. Musanos experience reflects one of many ways people who have disabilities and, more specifically, who are hard of hearing, have difficulty when using public transportation. Musano is the CEO of Convo, a company that was founded in 2009 and connects people with sign language interpreters on demand. Today, the company is announcing a partnership with the New York Transit Authority, New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that brings its service to area airports, trains and other major transit hubs. This includes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system, the Long Island Rail Road and NJTransit.
Through this partnership, QR codes will be placed at various locations across those systems, and scanning them will launch Convos web app through a browser. The user will be asked to grant access to their microphone and camera, and theyll then be connected to a real-time sign language interpreter on their devices. This, of course, requires that people have mobile phones or tablets with working internet connections, which might not always be reliable. Its worth noting, though, that the MTA has been adding Wi-Fi coverage to subway stations across its network. Plus, many of these QR codes are placed at customer service booths, which have gadgets on hand that could provide access.
Convo and its partners had been conducting pilot tests at Penn Station, Times Square and the Port Authority terminal for months, and said in a press release that in general, users reported feelings of empowerment, inclusion and newfound confidence in interacting with transit staff. The company added that 44 out of 47 users were able to successfully access the service during the pilot.
There are a number of reasons using a sign language interpreter would be more effective and efficient than, say, typing messages on your phone and handing them to another person to read. First, for many deaf individuals, sign language is their native language, and it would be more intuitive to express themselves that way than to type in English. Sign language also has different syntax than English. A sign language interpreter can also help translate as a deaf person is signing and also while a person with hearing is speaking, which can reduce frustration and time spent handing a phone back and forth. It can feel comforting and reassuring to have an interpreter available that understands what youre communicating, and since they are likely to be fairly familiar with the situation, the interpreter could also help share information they already know from context and experience.
I went to look for these QR codes when I was at Moynihan Train Hall (an extension of Penn Station) this weekend, and once I spotted the first one at a ticketing counter at the LIRR service area, I started noticing them all over. I counted five of the little green squares in total, and after scanning one, I was brought to Convos page on my browser, which displayed an explanation and tips for better service. I didnt want to waste an interpreters time, so I stopped after that.
I do have to point out that as a T-Mobile user, I frequently lose my signal in Moynihan Train Hall and have to use the stations public Wi-Fi, which in my experience has unreliable speeds.
Thats one of the challenges Convo will have to contend with and work on as the service reaches more people. As we deploy this out to the MTA, were going to learn the types of behaviors, the types of requests, the types of challenges that were going to face, Musano said when I asked if languages other than American Sign Language would be supported. For now, ASL is the default, though Convo wouldnt have to stretch too hard to find interpreters for British Sign Language and others. In fact, Convo already works with major networks in countries like Australia and the UK, with Musano saying it has partnerships with British Airlines, Aer Lingus, the British railway and more.
Convos service in the New York and New Jersey transit systems is free, and its app Convo Now provides 20 free minutes per month to all users who need sign language interpreters.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/new-york-metro-transit-systems-add-on-demand-sign-language-interpreters-152034505.html?src=rss
Having thought-out, unique passwords for each account is hard recently, I got stopped for putting the same letter twice in a row especially when it comes to remembering them all. That's why a password manager is so helpful: It creates and stores all your passwords, so you have peace of mind instead of a major headache. Now, one of our favorite password managers for cross-platform availability is having a sale.
NordPass Premium is currently available for $1 per month or just shy of $27 for 27 months, rather than $65, and includes three free months. While NordPass offers a free tier, the Premium plan keeps you logged in when you've switched devices.
NordPass Premium also gives you tools such as Password Health, which identifies weak, old or reused passwords, and Data Breach Scanner, which alerts you if your emails or credit cards appear in a data breach. Plus, it has Emergency Access, which allows a chosen friend or family member to access all your accounts if you're unable to do so.
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/two-years-of-nordpass-premium-is-56-percent-off-right-now-144511622.html?src=rss
Apple currently has four different Apple Pencil models, and if you arent sure which one to get, try reading this guide first. But if the USB-C Apple Pencil seems like the best option for your needs, it's now back on sale for $69 from its list price of $79. Thats only $4 more expensive than the lowest price we've seen it listed for.
The USB-C Apple Pencil is currently the most affordable Apple Pencil that you can use with all current-generation iPads, like the M2 iPad Air, M4 iPad Pro, 10th gen iPad and 6th gen iPad mini. It also works with some older devices, like the 3rd to 6th gen 12.9-inch iPad Pros, 1st to 4th gen iPad Pros and 4th and 5th gen iPad Airs. Whew, what a mouthful.
Its a standard stylus and has low-latency input, perfect for artists who prefer drawing using an iPad. Unlike the Apple Pencil Pro, it doesnt have pressure sensitivity or wireless charging capabilities, though you can also connect the pen to the iPad using a cable. However, it does support the hover feature if you own an M2-powered iPad.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-usb-c-apple-pencil-is-back-on-sale-for-69-140710599.html?src=rss
