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The feud between WP Engine and Matt Mullenweg, WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO, recently came to a head when the web hosting service sued the latter, accusing him of "abuse of power, extortion and greed." In a new blog post, Mullenweg said his opponent's attacks on him and his company have been effective enough so that "a good chunk of [his] Automattic colleagues disagreed with [him and his] actions." As a response, he created a "buy-out package" that offered employees $30,000 or six months of salary, whichever is higher, if they resign. A total of 159 people, or 8.4 percent of the company, took the offer. Most of the employees who left came from the company's Ecosystem / WordPress business, while the rest came from the division working on apps like Tumblr and Cloudup. As TechCrunch notes, Mullenweg gave the event a positive spin and exclaimed that "the other 91.6 percent gave up $126 million of potential severance to stay!" Mullenweg called WP Engine a "cancer to WordPress" and accused the company of violating WordPress trademarks. He said they offered WP Engine the option to "pay a direct licensing fee, or make in-kind contributions to the open source project," but the company refused. WP Engine argued that its use of the WordPress trademark was legal. In response, the WordPress Foundation changed its trademark policy page to say that the "WP" abbreviation is indeed not covered by the WordPress trademark, but to please not use it "in a way that confuses people." It named WP Engine outright and even said that the company has "never once even donated to the WordPress Foundation, despite making billions of revenue on top of WordPress." The WordPress co-founder also banned WP Engine from accessing some of WordPress' plug-ins and themes, which broke a lot of the websites it's hosting. WP Engine accused Mullenweg of demanding eight percent of the companys monthly revenue as royalty and of libel, slander, as well as of violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and IRS fraud. In a statement, Mullenweg said he stayed up all night reading the complaint and found the whole thing "meritless." He added that he's looking "forward to the federal courts consideration of [the] lawsuit."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/159-employees-leave-wordpress-founders-company-after-extortion-lawsuit-133040801.html?src=rss
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As to be expected, we're less than a week out from October Prime Day and Amazon devices are already on sale. Among the deals is an all-time-low price on one of our top picks for the best smart displays, the Echo Show 8. The latest model is back on sale for $85, which is $65 off its normal price. Any time you can get this smart display for less than $100, it's a good deal but this is the best price we've seen, and it hasn't been this cheap since Prime Day in July. We consider this to be the best smart display with Alexa compatibility due to the fact that it combines a lot of handy features and is almost a goldilocks size. The Show 8 has an eight-inch 1,280 x 800 touchscreen, which is just big enough to clearly see recipes and watch videos comfortably without being too large that it would take up too much space on a countertop or side table. The Show 8 has an improved 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing, which will make for better video calls with friends and family. The camera can also double as a security device, allow you to check in on your home when you're away. And when you're not using it, or if you just prefer extra privacy, there's a physical shutter that will cover the camera entirely. Of course, devices like the Show 8 are designed to showcase Alexa's talents. You can use the voice assistant through the smart display to check weather forecasts, refer to your calendar to know when your next appointment is, bring up the show you were binge-watching on Netflix and more. This model also has a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, which means you can directly connect smart home gear like smart light bulbs and plugs without the need for an extra hub. And if those IoT devices have Alexa smarts, you can use voice commands to control them as well. If you're looking for something a bit more nightstand-friendly, there are other Alexa smart displays on sale right now, too. The Echo Show 5 is down to $50, while the recently revived Echo Spot has dropped to $45. The former is also one of our favorites thanks to its compact design, ambient light sensor and sunrise alarm feature. The Echo Spot just came back into the lineup a few months ago, and Amazon's billing it as a true smart alarm clock. It has a cute, circular design with a bold, half-moon shaped screen that can show the time, weather, alarms, currently playing music and more. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/early-prime-day-deals-include-the-echo-show-8-for-an-all-time-low-price-131553231.html?src=rss
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Some of iRobots best robo-vacs are on sale. Wellbots has the ultra-premium Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock for $420 off with Engadgets code ENGDT420. Or, if you want a high-end model without spending quite as much, the Roomba j9+ and Roomba Combo j7+ are on sale for up to $320 off with these exclusive deals. The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock is the companys most advanced (and expensive!) robot vacuum. This model sucks up dirt, mops and even self-cleans: Its dock can wash and dry the mopping pad, leaving less work for you. You can run self-cleaning manually, but its companion app will also remind you when its time for standard maintenance or deeper cleaning. This models base can store dirt and debris for up to 60 days before emptying. Its mopping pad and self-cleaning tank hold up to seven days of water. Usually a whopping $1,399, Wellbots has the Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock on sale for $979. Although thats still a pretty penny, this deal puts the vacuum within range of alternate models that dont match its feature set. Use Engadgets exclusive code ENGDT420 to see that price. iRobot Also on sale is the Roomba j9+. This model doesnt mop, but it gives you powerful automated vacuuming in a stylish package that wont be an eyesore in your home. It has a three-stage cleaning system, multi-surface rubber brushes and high-end suction. This model is usually a daunting $899, but you can get the Roomba j9+ for $619. Use Engadgets code ENGDT270 during your checkout at Wellbots. Finally, the Roomba Combo j7+ is a slightly older vacuum / mop model with high-end features. It has a 96.4 percent debris removal rate, obstacle avoidance and a four-stage cleaning system. This model has an edge-sweeping brush, dual multi-surface rubber brushes and power-lifting suction. The Combo j7+ can empty itself for up to 60 days. You can pick up the Roomba Combo j7+ for only $679 (compared to its usual $999). Just enter the coupon code ENGDT320 while checking out. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to te Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/irobot-roomba-vacuum-and-mop-machines-are-up-to-420-off-right-now-130046509.html?src=rss
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