An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg called the company’s Tumblr acquisition his biggest failure — but one he hasn’t given up on yet. The comments were made at the recent WordCamp Canada 2025 conference, where Mullenweg went live for a Town Hall session to connect with the open source-focused WordPress community.
The exec noted that Tumblr was still on a different technical stack than WordPress — something he had intended to correct by migrating the back end to WordPress infrastructure. However, that massive undertaking was put on hold earlier this year, as the cost to move Tumblr’s half-billion blogs would be difficult given that the blogging platform wasn’t profitable and continues to be sustained by the profits of other Automattic products.
The company has tried to trim costs with layoffs and the reallocation of Tumblr resources to more profitable parts of the business, but those efforts have yet to pay off. Mullenweg acknowledged these concerns at his Town Hall session, saying, “I need to switch [Tumblr] over to WordPress, but it’s a big lift. It’s over 500 million blogs, actually, and, as a business, it’s costing so much more to run than it generates in revenue.” As a result, Automattic had to prioritize other projects to make Tumblr sustainable, he said. “It’s probably my biggest failure or missed opportunity right now, but we’re still working on it,” he added.
Google announced Wednesday that its quantum computer achieved the first verifiable quantum advantage, running a new algorithm 13,000 times faster than a top supercomputer. The algorithm, called Quantum Echoes, was published in the journal Nature. The results can be replicated on another quantum computer of similar quality, something Google had not demonstrated before. The quantum computer uses a chip called Willow, which was announced in December 2024. Hartmut Neven, head of Google’s Quantum AI research lab, called the work a demonstration of the first algorithm with verifiable quantum advantage and a milestone on the software track.
Michel H. Devoret, who won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics and joined Google in 2023, said future quantum computers will run calculations impossible with classical algorithms. Google stopped short of claiming the work would have practical uses on its own. Instead, the company said Quantum Echoes demonstrated a technique that could be applied to other algorithms in drug discovery and materials science.
A second paper published Wednesday on arXiv showed how the method could be applied to nuclear magnetic resonance. The experiment involved a relatively small quantum system that fell short of full practical quantum advantage because it was not able to work faster than a traditional computer. Google exhaustively red-teamed the research, putting some researchers to work trying to disprove its own results.
Prineha Narang, a professor at UCLA, called the advance meaningful. The quantum computer tested two molecules, one with 15 atoms and another with 28 atoms. Results on the quantum computer matched traditional NMR and revealed information not usually available from NMR. Google’s research competes against Microsoft, IBM, universities and efforts in China. The Chinese government has committed more than $15.2 billion to quantum research. Previous claims of quantum advantage have been met with skepticism.
Sonic Rumble has a new worldwide launch date: November 5. The game, which we’ve previously likened to Fall Guys, was supposed to come out last winter before its release was rescheduled for May 8 this year. By the end of April, however, Sega announced that its global launch had been postponed yet again because its developers needed more time to “build the kind of high-quality, long-lasting Sonic game [their] players deserve.” At the time, the company said it had blasted past its goal of 1.4 million pre-registrations and that it had received “amazing positive response” from players in pre-launch regions. Players who pre-register will receive bonuses when the game launches globally.
Similar to Fall Guys, Sonic Rumble is a battle royale-style game that can accommodate up to 32 players at once. Players will race against each other in worlds inspired by the Sonic franchise while collecting Rings they can use to buy new skins and stickers. It has several different modes, including Run wherein players compete for the top spot and Survival wherein they compete to stay in the game. Players can choose between various Sonic characters, including Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow and Dr. Eggman, and form a team of four to race against other teams around the world.
Sega developed Sonic Rumble for mobile devices and PC, and it will be available to play on iOS and Android, as well as on Google Play Games on PC and Steam.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/sonic-rumble-is-coming-out-november-5-160031039.html?src=rss
Germany’s Sovereign Tech Agency (nee Sovereign Tech Fund) is out with their latest newsletter where they outlined some new investments in various key open-source projects…
In an industry rapidly accelerating toward an all-electric future, Porsche has just reminded us that the age of the internal combustion engine is far from over. How so? A newly-uncovered patent filing has revealed that engineers at Zuffenhausen have developed the design for a radical space-optimized W-arrangement engine featuring 18 cylinders
Netflix’s November lineup includes the long-awaited return of the hit sci-fi show Stranger Things—the first of three “volumes” that makes up the fifth and final season drops at 5 p.m. PT on Nov. 26. The show picks up a year after the events of the fourth installment, with the group attempting to find and kill their inter-dimensional antagonist Vecna, even as Hawkins falls under military quarantine. Expect all of the series regulars to return: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, etc.
Also returning in November is Squid Game: The Challenge (Nov. 4). The second season of the Emmy-nominated show brings 456 new contestants together to compete for a $4.56 million prize.
Netflix also has a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein (Nov. 7), directed by Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro and starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth. Clare Danes and Matthew Rhys star in a new thriller miniseries The Beast in Me (Nov. 17), executive produced by Jodie Foster and Conan O’Brien.
A highlight of the documentary slate is Being Eddie (Nov. 12) about the life, work, and range of Eddie Murphy. The film, directed by Oscar winner Angus Wall, includes appearances from comedy legends like Dave Chappelle, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jamie Foxx, Jerry Seinfeld, and Reginald Hudlin.
Finally, Netflix is dropping a whole lot of holiday content ranging from original films like A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Nov. 12) starring Alicia Silverstone to new seasons of seasonally themed cooking competitions like The Great British Baking Show: Holidays (Nov. 20) and Is It Cake? Holiday (Nov. 25).
Here’s everything coming to Netflix in November, and everything that’s leaving.
The proliferation of difficult-to-treat bacterial diseases represents a growing threat, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report. Wired: The report reveals that, between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance increased by more than 40 percent in monitored pathogen-drug combinations, with an average annual increase of 5-15 percent. According to data reported by more than 100 countries to WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), one in six laboratory-confirmed bacteria in 2023 proved resistant to antibiotic treatment, all related to various common diseases globally.
For the first time, this edition of the report includes prevalence estimates of resistance to 22 antibiotics used to treat urinary tract, gastrointestinal, bloodstream, and gonorrheal conditions. The analysis focused on eight common pathogens: Acinetobacter spp, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, non-typhoidal Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The results show that resistant gram-negative bacteria pose the greatest threat. Of particular note are Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are associated with bloodstream infections that can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death. “More than 40 percent of E. coli and more than 55 percent of K. pneumoniae strains worldwide are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, the first-choice treatment for these types of infections,” the report warns.
The Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) is on sale via Amazon for just $57. This is a discount of 37 percent, which is nothing to sneeze at. The sale applies to multiple colorways.
This model topped our list of the best power banks, and with very good reason. It’s a workhorse that gets the job done. It includes Qi2 tech for fast wireless charging and ships with a sturdy kickstand to prop up smartphones during use. The integrated LED display makes it easy to see the battery percentage, which is always nice.
The 10,000mAh battery should charge a modern iPhone nearly two times before requiring a trip to the outlet. For those not keen on wireless charging, there’s a USB-C port.
As for compatibility, this power bank has been optimized for Apple iPhones. It’ll work with Android handsets, but the wireless charging will be disabled. That’s basically the only downside here.
That’s not the only Anker product on sale right now. A nifty Anker laptop power bank with a built-in cable is on sale for $92, which is a discount of 32 percent. This one also made our list of the best power banks and won the award for most premium product.
After nine years as CEO of the studio behind Control and Alan Wake, Tero Virtala has departed the role. Remedy cofounder Markus Mäki is taking over on an interim basis (and stepping down as chairman of the board) while the company looks for a permanent CEO. Henri Österlund, a board member since 2017, is Remedy’s new chairman.
“I want to thank Tero Virtala for his substantial contribution to the management of Remedy since 2016,” Mäki said in a statement. “I personally thank Tero for good cooperation and wish him all the best for the future.” Virtala will remain at Remedy for a transition period to help with the handover of CEO duties.
Remedy didn’t spell out the reasons as to why Virtala is leaving as CEO, but said it was by mutual consent. However, it’s been a rough year for Remedy after its latest game, FBC: Firebreak, failed to meet sales expectations. Earlier this month, the company issued a profit warning to investors and lowered “its long-term sales forecast for the game.” Remedy now expects its operating profit for the year to be in the red after recognizing a “non-cash impairment” of €14.9 million ($17.3 million) related to FBC: Firebreak development costs as well as publishing and distribution rights.
FBC: Firebreak (a co-op Control spinoff) arrived in June and while the game reached half a million players in its first 10 days, most were on consoles, where it was available via PlayStation Plus and Game Pass Ultimate. Remedy said in August the game had underperformed on Steam, which the company had intended as its “primary consumer sales channel on PC.”
After feedback from players, Remedy swiftly rolled out multiple patches for FBC: Firebreak — its first multiplayer title — to try to improve the game. It released the first major update for FBC: Firebreak last month to revamp the core gameplay and overhaul the onboarding experience. However, that didn’t fully turn the tide. “Despite improved player and sales metrics after the update, sales have not reached Remedy’s internal targets,” the company said in its profit warning.
Another major FBC: Firebreak update is planned for November, which will add a new game mode as well as cross-platform voice chat. Remedy also has Control 2in the oven, as well as remakes of the first two Max Payne games.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/remedys-ceo-is-out-amid-the-struggles-of-fbc-firebreak-151023995.html?src=rss
As a rule of thumb, if you receive an unsolicited text, especially one claiming to include a security code, it’s likely part of a phishing scheme. Such is the case with a recent spate of unprompted texts purporting to be from the crypto wallet service Coinbase. If you receive such a message, even if you have a Coinbase account, delete it. Someone is likely trying to scam you.
Coinbase isn’t texting you
Here’s how the scam works: You receive an unsolicited text message that reads “Your Coinbase withdrawal code is…” followed by a six-digit number. The message continues: “Please do not share this code with anyone. If you have no requested this, please call:” followed by a phone number and a reference number.
On the surface, this seems like a fairly standard two-factor authentication (2FA) code. Most companies include a similar warning in their messages when sending along your code, as hackers really want you to give them those digits. In many cases, a 2FA code the only thing standing between them and your account, so companies want to ensure you don’t hand yours over to someone else.
Unfortunately, this text is an example of the opposite: a scammer impersonating the language of a legitimate company in order to gain your trust. The hope on the scammer’s part is that you receive this text and assume that it’s real, but worry, because you know you didn’t request a 2FA code. Since you now trust that the message really is from Coinbase, you might turn to the contact number conveniently included with the message to follow up. Hey, they’ve even attached a reference number, so the “Coinbase rep” you talk to can track your issue. How considerate.
In reality, this is one big scam. If you called the number, the scammer will likely continue the charade, perhaps by assuring you that they’ll help secure your account. My guess is that the scammer would ask you to “verify” your Coinbase login credentials, which they would enter on their end, triggering the legitimate 2FA process. Once you receive that code, the scammer might ask you to tell them what it is as part of verification process. But once they have that code, they can log into your account for real, change the password, and lock you out. Bye bye crypto.
If you’re a Coinbase user, this definitely seems concerning, but don’t worry too much: I’ve been getting these scam texts myself, and I don’t have a Coinbase account. While scammers might be targeting Coinbase users who have had their information leaked in data breaches, it’s more likely they’re simply sending these scam texts to leaked phone numbers en masse. They’ll likely snag some anxious Coinbase users in their net, but I’m sure they’d happy “chat with” anyone who doesn’t have a Coinbase account who happens to call, too. “Oh, you don’t have a Coinbase account? No problem, we’ll get this cleared up for you. Can you just confirm your Social Security number for us, so we can make sure you’re really not in our system?”
What to do when you get a suspicious texts
It can be tempting to respond to these texts once you know they are scams, especially when the goal is to simply waste the scammer’s time. But as fun as that can be, my advice is to ignore these texts whenever you receive them. While the immediate risks are diminished once you know the “rep” is really malicious, responding to these texts lets the scammer know your number is active, and, in response, they might file it away for a future scam attempt. Scammers can also be clever. If you’re not careful, you might give away more information than you realize while you’re “messing” with them. Part of a phishing scheme is establishing a rapport: The scammer wants to lull you into a false sense of security so you give them personal details that might help them steal your info or break into accounts.
The best thing you can do is to delete these texts whenever you receive them. If your messaging app of choice gives you the option to report the text as spam, all the better.
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to peel back layers of our cosmic viewpoint: its latest discovery reveals that the youth of the universe was sometimes quite the jumbled mess. Astronomers have found that galaxies just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang were not the tidy, well-organized structures that current models
More than 1,100 public figures have signed a statement calling for a prohibition on the development of superintelligence. The signatories included Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, former chief strategist to President Trump Steve Bannon and Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio. The statement was organized by the Future of Life Institute, led by Anthony Aguirre, a physicist at the University of California, Santa Cruz. It proposes halting work on superintelligence until there is broad scientific consensus on safety and strong public support.
The institute’s biggest recent donor is Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum. Notable tech executives did not sign the statement. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in July that superintelligence was now in sight. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said last month he would be surprised if superintelligence did not arrive by 2030.
NVIDIA is determined to share the fruits of its labor with Unreal Engine 5 developers, and has now released a Bonsai Diorama demo showcasing several features, including RTX Mega Geometry, to the public.
Before AMD users get too concerned: no, RTX Mega Geometry won’t make an end product NVIDIA-exclusive—rather, it’s meant to accelerate the
Uber Green is rebranding to Uber Electric, and to coincide with the name switch — a move designed to make it clearer for Uber users preferring to hail zero-emissions rides — the company will incentivise its drivers to swap their current vehicle for an EV by way of a $4,000 grant. According to Uber’s numbers, there are currently more than 200,000 EVs on its global network, and drivers are switching to electric up to 5x faster than regular motorists in the US, Canada and Europe.
Uber’s carrot for drivers is particularly timely given that President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill“ recently wiped out the federal tax credit on used EVs, which was worth (at its maximum value) the same amount as its new “Go Electric” EV grant. The grant automatically qualifies drivers in New York City, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts to receive $4,000 when they switch to an EV. Grants are available for both new and used electric vehicles, and Uber drivers nationwide can also get $1,000 when they purchase any new or used EV through TrueCar.
Uber has also announced that it’s rolling out its battery-aware matching (BAM) feature to EVs made by Kia, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz in 25 countries including the US and Canada. This allows drivers to connect their vehicle to the Driver app, and will subsequently only receive ride requests that they are able to fulfill with their remaining range at the time. Uber said that 49 percent of non-EV drivers on its platform are put off switching to an EV due to battery-related concerns, which the expansion of BAM should help alleviate.
The Uber Electric rebrand follows Uber transitioning Uber Green to fully electric in the US earlier this year, where previously it has consisted of a mix of hybrids and all-electric vehicles. Riders are also being enticed to seek EV drivers, with Uber offering them 20 percent off (up to $8) their next electric ride with code GOELECTRIC20, which is valid for a week.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/uber-will-pay-drivers-4000-to-switch-to-an-ev-144704532.html?src=rss
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The Meta Quest Pro is currently down to $799.95 at Walmart, a $200 drop from its original $999 price tag and a solid $90 less than what Amazon is asking right now. It’s one of the most advanced VR and mixed reality devices you can buy without needing a gaming PC (meaning you can dive straight into immersive apps and environments right out of the box). PCMag named it the best VR headset of 2022, and even two years later, it remains one of the most well-built and feature-rich VR headsets around.
It’s stylish, comfortable, and built for extended use, with a balanced strap design that places the battery at the back to distribute weight evenly. Battery life, though, is short—around two hours per charge—which might be its biggest limitation for heavy users. Inside, the hardware is serious: a Snapdragon XR2+ chip (which Meta says is 50% faster than the Quest 2), 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Each lens delivers 1,920 by 1,800 resolution per eye with improved contrast and a 130% wider color gamut, thanks to a local dimming backlight. That means brighter highlights, deeper blacks, and a much sharper image overall.
As for the Quest Pro’s controllers, Meta removed the bulky tracking rings and replaced them with built-in cameras, so each controller tracks itself independently. The result is smoother hand movement and better precision for things like drawing or sculpting in 3D. Eye and face tracking are also part of the package, letting your avatar mimic your actual expressions in real time. That said, if you want full immersion, you’ll need the $32.90 light blocker since the default face padding lets light leak in from the sides, notes this PCmag review.
With the impending OnePlus 15 debuting in China on October 27, OnePlus has, like in the past, the potential to shake up the flagship smartphone market once more. The device’s final details, pieced together from new leaks, point to a flagship that not only pushes the high-performance angle but comes with a more accessible MSRP plus upgraded
Lenovo is currently serving up the least expensive gaming laptop to sport a mid-range GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, though to get the low price, you need to input a couple of stackable coupon codes. Once you do, the retail cost drops by a staggering $530 versus MSRP, making this the most affordable laptop option with the aforementioned GPU. It’s also
If I had a dollar for every time a vehicle manufacturer launched a new in-car software experience designed to achieve the same levels of user experience as your average tablet or smartphone, I’d probably have about enough cash for a decent lunch at a middling restaurant. It’s a common refrain, and yet after years of hearing that same story over and over, I still find myself firing up Android Auto or Apple CarPlay as soon as I get into just about every new car I evaluate.
At the launch of the 2026 Toyota RAV4, I heard that story yet again, about how they’d rewritten their in-car software to deliver an experience like that found in modern mobile devices. And I have to say, for once, they might have actually delivered. Toyota’s latest SUV has voice and touch capabilities that are not only quick and responsive but genuinely pleasant to use. And thankfully, the rest of the SUV has been upgraded to match.
The RAV4 has been in production for over 30 years now. This, the sixth generation, comes hot on the heels of its predecessor becoming the world’s best-selling car in 2024. Over 1.1 million were sold last year, which goes a long way towards explaining why you can’t kick a pebble in a grocery store parking lot without hitting a RAV4.
The overall changes for the 2026 RAV4 aren’t radical, but they are appreciated. For starters, every trim of this SUV is a hybrid, with base models powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels, offering 226 horsepower. Those wanting all-wheel drive can add another electric motor at the back, adding a little more power (10 hp) and a good bit more drive for low-grip situations.
For 2026, every trim of the RAV4 is a hybrid.
Tim Stevens for Engadget
From there, buyers can step up to a revised plug-in hybrid model, which now makes 324 horsepower, up 22 from before. Fuel economy is up too, up to 48 mpg depending on what trim you choose, and you can now get up to 52 miles of range from a 22.7 kWh battery pack in the plug-in.
And that’s usable range. I took a RAV4 XSE plug-in edition out for a morning drive and covered nearly 20 miles without spinning up the engine. Even at highway speeds the RAV4 was slow but perfectly manageable. With that much range and even reasonably quick DC charging (50 kW maximum), it’s easy to see this as the introduction to EVs for many.
For better or worse, that DC charging is handled on a CCS port, not the newer NACS ports that most manufacturers (even Toyota) are using on their EVs. The lack of any kind of vehicle-to-load functionality is a bummer, too, especially on the rugged-ish Wilderness edition, which would seemingly be a perfect machine for powering a campsite.
Regardless of which trim you go with, you’ll get that new software system running on either a 10.5-inch touchscreen on the lower trims or a 12.9-inch display on higher-end machines. The overall experience is the same, looking bright and crisp either way, just with more finger-friendly controls on the bigger panel.
Toyota’s revamped software is quick and responsive, especially the voice assistant.
Tim Stevens for Engadget
Toyota’s software layout is familiar, with a vertical column of icons on the left for toggling between major sections like media or navigation, and then a row of controls along the bottom for controlling the car’s heating, ventilation and cooling system. The rest of the display is taken up by a customizable series of panels. As you swipe from left to right, you swing through different pages, which you can move around and rearrange as you like. None of this is particularly revolutionary, but is pleasantly responsive. Swiping from page to page was quick and easy, without any annoying lag waiting for content to load.
That responsiveness continued through to the voice assistant, which is the quickest I’ve ever used in a car. Just say “Hey, Toyota” and ask for whatever you want. When asked for pizza, the voice assistant listed nearby joints, even quoted their star rating and offered navigation, all without the annoying round-trip processing lag that’s common in these systems. Some of that speed might be thanks to the addition of 5G connectivity (provided by AT&T), but there’s surely some quicker hardware running beneath the skin powering the Linux-based software.
The car’s integrated navigation was also easy to use, quick to route and re-route and features all the points of interest you could ever want. There’s even an integrated dashcam feature that will record any incidents on the road, or whatever else you feel like highlighting, while also storing the footage from the SUV’s other cameras.
Despite the quality experience through the touchscreen, Toyota didn’t take this as an opportunity to delete all the car’s buttons. You’ll still find physical controls for all the major features, including (praise be) a volume knob. It was all good enough to make me not feel compelled to reach for my phone, but of course, I did in the interest of testing. Both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, not only in the main touchscreen but also able to feed navigation details into the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. That, too, is customizable, with a series of panels of information that hover over your phone’s map view.
The meaner, sportier GR Sport edition.
Tim Stevens for Engadget
So, even if you still prefer your phone, you’re covered, and powered, too. The RAV4 has a pair of Qi wireless chargers, conveniently situated in the center stack just below the HVAC controls. You’ll also find two 45-watt USB-C ports up front, plus a pair of 15-watt ports in the back for rear-seat passengers.
The new RAV4 has a roomy, comfortable cabin with some fun touches, like a neoprene-like insert in the dash that’s pleasant to touch. The overall interior design won’t win any awards for dramatic styling or eye-catching flair, but it’s comfortable and seems like the kind of thing that’ll stand up to whatever you or your kids throw at it.
In terms of driving dynamics, the extra power offered by the RAV4 doesn’t turn it into a rocket ship, but the PHEV trim in particular feels more than quick enough. There’s also a new GR Sport edition for those who aspire to something even more engaging, but despite a more aggressive grille up front and a big wing hanging off the back, it still feels like a RAV4 from behind the wheel. That is to say: It’s not the most exciting thing on the road.
But people don’t buy RAV4s to be wowed, they buy them because they’re practical and comfortable and priced right. Price, unfortunately, is one thing we don’t know about the new model, with Toyota only saying that it’ll start somewhere in the low $30,000 range. But all the SUV’s other virtues carry forward into 2026 with upgrades. Add to that a massively improved software experience, and you have an SUV that doesn’t disappoint.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/toyotas-new-all-hybrid-rav4-has-software-you-might-actually-want-to-use-140000442.html?src=rss
