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With the recent confirmation of Mark Meador as Federal Trade Commissioner, the Republicans now have a 3-0 majority at the FTC, giving President Donald Trump broad control over what was once an aggressive business regulator under former FTC chair Lina Khan. The vote fell along party lines, with all Senate Democrats voting against confirming Meador. Under normal circumstances three Republican members at the FTC is expected. Whichever party the president represents typically holds three seats, while the other party holds two. What makes the new Republican majority unusual is that Trump fired the Democrat Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter in March, something that's not supposed to happen without "good cause." The FTC, like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is technically part of the executive branch, but exists independently of the rest of the government, with the current president adding new members as terms end or in the rare case there's good cause to remove a commissioner, like if they're found guilty of malfeasance or neglecting their duties. An executive order Trump signed in February 2025 sought to exert more control over these independent organizations in the name of "accountability." That was the primary justification for removing Bedoya and Slaughter, both of which are fighting their termination in court. Given the actions Biden's FTC took against corporate America, like suing John Deere over unfair practices and leading antitrust investigations into Meta, Amazon, Google and Apple, it makes sense business-friendly Republicans would prefer less pushback from Democrats. That doesn't make anything that's happening legal, though.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-now-has-full-control-of-the-ftc-180816016.html?src=rss
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Sony just announced pricing for a number of upcoming products, including the Bravia Theater Bar 6 soundbar. This 3.1.2-channel system costs $650 for US consumers. It comes with a wireless subwoofer and is compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The soundbar includes up-mixing tech to transform stereo content to 3D sound when immersive formats arent available. Dialogue gets an upgrade here, thanks to a dedicated center speaker and an AI-powered tool called Voice Zoom 3. Sony The beefier Bravia Theater System 6 is a 5.1-channel system that costs $770. This is an all-in-one setup that comes with a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers. The included soundbar is not the Bar 6, despite the similar name. However, it does support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The subwoofer also features a slightly different design than the one that ships with the Bar 6. This system does offer stereo up-mixing to transform content into 3D audio via Sonys proprietary algorithm. The Bravia Theater Rear 8 speakers are compatible with the companys soundbars and work with its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech to calibrate the system to the acoustics of a specific living room. The speakers cost $450. Having the pricing here is nice, but we still dont have any official release dates. The current plan by Sony is to start selling these products later this spring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sony-has-priced-the-bravia-theater-bar-6-soundbar-at-650-175824102.html?src=rss
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It hasnt been that long since the Pixel Watch 3 dropped, but excitement is already building for the follow-up device. An industry leaker who goes by OnLeaks, whose real name is Steve Hemmerst, has partnered with 91mobiles to publish images and a video render of the upcoming smartwatch Surprise, it looks like a Pixel Watch. It maintains the iconic circular design, though does look a bit thicker than the previous model. The screen bezels appear to be slightly slimmer. Otherwise, the design remains mostly unchanged. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. However, there are some minor hardware changes that allude to new features. The watch is missing the four pins at the back, which suggests that it could support wireless charging. The Pixel Watch 3 charges via a USB-C port. Also, there are two buttons on both sides of the speaker. We dont know what they do. Its also possible that the added thickness could be hiding a bigger battery, which would be much appreciated. OK #FutureSquad, today comes your very first look at the #Google #PixelWatch4 (360° video + sharp 5K renders + dimensions)!On behalf of @91mobiles https://t.co/VhS5eS9d7R pic.twitter.com/wPOgVr86uY Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) April 11, 2025 Googles next smartwatch is expected to launch later this year, likely alongside the Pixel 10 series. We dont have too many concrete details regarding specs, but reports have indicated that it will include a new chipset. The Pixel Watch 3 uses a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1. Some rumors have suggested that the company is developing an in-house Tensor chip for Pixel Watches, but that might not be ready until the Watch 5.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/the-pixel-watch-4-could-be-thicker-and-offer-wireless-charging-164555210.html?src=rss
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