Following the announcement of its first smart glasses with a built-in display, Meta is opening several temporary retail locations where you’ll be able to demo the Meta Ray-Ban Display, their Meta Neural Band controller and the rest of the company’s Reality Labs products. These new “Meta Lab” locations will offer another way to see the company’s new $799 smart glasses, which currently aren’t available for purchase without an in-person demo and fitting.

For the rollout of the Meta Ray-Ban Display, Meta Lab locations will be available to visit in Las Vegas starting on October 16, Los Angeles starting on October 24 and New York starting on November 13. Meta also says interested Bay Area customers will  be able to demo and purchase the new smart glasses at the company’s existing Meta Store location in Burlingame, which has been rebranded as a “Meta Lab.”

While the appeal of having the face-mounted camera and speakers of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is easy to understand, Meta clearly believes adding a display into the mix changes that calculus. The company says interest in the new glasses is part of the reason it’s opening these new retail locations. “Demand for in-person demos of Meta Ray-Ban Display and the Meta Neural Band is strong, with appointments in many major cities already booked out through mid-October,” according to Meta. Interestingly, Meta also plans to test selling its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from vending machines, not unlike Snap did with its Spectacles.

These new Meta Labs join Ray-Ban, Verizon, Best Buy and LensCrafters stores as the only official places where you can try Meta’s new wearable. It’s hard to say if demand for demos will translate into actual sales, but clearly the positive buzz the company’s Connect showing was able to drum up has caught some people’s interest. You can book a demo at a Meta Lab through the company’s website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-lab-pop-ups-will-let-you-try-on-the-companys-new-smart-glasses-for-yourself-205756155.html?src=rss

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: After deflecting the US Department of Justice’s attack on its illegal monopoly in online search, Google is facing another attempt to dismantle its internet empire in a trial focused on abusive tactics in digital advertising. The trial that opened Monday in an Alexandria, Virginia, federal court revolves around the harmful conduct that resulted in US district Judge Leonie Brinkema declaring parts of Google’s digital advertising technology to be an illegal monopoly in April. The judge found that Google has been engaging in behavior that stifles competition to the detriment of online publishers that depend on the system for revenue.

Google and the justice department will spend the next two weeks in court presenting evidence in a “remedy” trial that will culminate in Brinkema issuing a ruling on how to restore fair market conditions. If the justice department gets its way, Brinkema will order Google to sell parts of its ad technology — a proposal that the company’s lawyers warned would “invite disruption and damage” to consumers and the internet’s ecosystem. The justice department contends a breakup would be the most effective and quickest way to undercut a monopoly that has been stifling competition and innovation for years. […]

The case, filed in 2023 under Joe Biden’s administration, threatens the complex network that Google has spent the past 17 years building to power its dominant digital advertising business. Digital advertising sales account for most of the $305 billion in revenue that Google’s services division generates for its corporate parent Alphabet. The company’s sprawling network of display ads provide the lifeblood that keeps thousands of websites alive. Google believes it has already made enough changes to its “ad manager” system, including providing more options and pricing options, to resolve the problems Brinkema flagged in her monopoly ruling.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Texas officials are telling residents to check their pets and livestock, and insisting on immediate use of pesticide bait after officials in Mexico confirmed an infection with the flesh-eating New World Screwworm (NWS) less than 70 miles from the US border.

NWS is a horrifying parasitic fly that attacks warm-blooded animals, laying hundreds of eggs in any openings or wounds, even minute ones. The resulting larvae both look and act like screws, boring and twisting into the animal while feasting on its living flesh. The ravenous larvae create ghastly wounds that can be deadly to livestock and wild animals.

Long ago, this ferocious fly was endemic in the US and stymied the livestock industry. However, in the 1950s, eradication efforts using sterile male flies and livestock monitoring began to push the fly population southward. By around 1966, it was cleared from the US, and Mexico zapped the population in the 1980s. By 2006, it was pushed out of Central America, with Panama declaring it eradicated and holding the flies at bay at the Darién Gap at the border with Colombia. However, in 2022, the gap was breached, and the flies have been steadily moving northward.

Read full article

Comments

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days are coming up, and you can get a jump on things today. A mainstay of Prime Day sales, a pair of Blink Mini 2 cameras is on sale for only $35. That’s 50 percent off, a record low and less than what you’d usually pay for one. It’s also Engadget’s pick for the best budget security camera.

This is the newest (2024) model of Blink’s budget wired model. The camera is well-suited for nighttime video: It has a built-in LED spotlight, color night vision and a low-light sensor. Day or night, it records in sharp 1080p resolution. It also has a wider field of view than its predecessor.

The Blink Mini 2 is primarily designed for indoor use. But you can use it outdoors, too. You’ll just need to fork over $10 for a weather-resistant adapter. Wherever you use the camera, it works with Alexa and supports two-way audio. (“Hello, doggy, I’ll be home soon.”)

It also supports person detection. (That’s a neat feature that differentiates between people and other types of movement.) However, the feature requires a Blink Subscription Plan. They start at $3 per month or $30 per year for one device.

The camera is available in black or white. Both colors are available for the $35 Prime Day deal, but they can’t be mixed unless you buy each separately. It’s worth noting that this deal is open to anyone — no Prime subscription necessary.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-day-deals-include-two-blink-mini-2-cameras-for-35-201049269.html?src=rss

Microsoft on Sept 24 announced new options for US and European customers to safely extend the life of the Windows 10 operating system free of charge just days before a key deadline to upgrade to Windows 11. From a report: The US tech giant plans to end support for Windows 10 on Oct 14, a move that has drawn criticism from consumer advocacy groups and sparked concerns among users who fear they will need to purchase new computers to stay protected from cyber threats.

Users who are unable to upgrade or choose to forgo the extended security updates will face increased vulnerability to cyberattacks. In response to these concerns, Microsoft informed European users that essential security updates will be extended for one year at no additional cost, provided they log in with a Microsoft account. Previously, the company had offered a one-year extension of Windows 10 security updates for $30 to users whose hardware is incompatible with Windows 11. In the US, a similar free option will allow users to upload their Windows 10 profiles to Microsoft’s backup service and receive security updates for up to one year.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Doomed Egyptian queen Cleopatra has captured the imaginations of people all over the world for centuries. Archaeologists have long sought to locate her tomb, which she shared with her lover, Mark Antony, per popular legend. Thus far, the search has been unsuccessful, although many believe she would have been buried near the royal palace in Alexandria, Egypt.

National Geographic explorer Kathleen Martinez thinks she might be on the verge of locating Cleopatra’s final resting place at a site called Taposiris Magna. Her 20-year journey (and counting) to prove her hypothesis—and the exciting new discovery of a submerged ancient port several miles off the Mediterranean shore that was likely once part of that temple—are chronicled in Cleopatra’s Final Secret, a new documentary film from National Geographic.

Martinez has a degree in archaeology but initially became a criminal lawyer. She brought that legal training to bear on the question of the location of Cleopatra’s tomb, treating it as she would a forensic case. “I tried to understand her personality, who were her friends, who were her enemies,” Martinez told Ars. “She was a strategist and she always had a Plan A and a Plan B.” It simply made sense to her that Cleopatra would have brought that same strategic thinking to orchestrating her death. Martinez suggested that the queen arranged for loyal subjects to transport her body through secret tunnels to a hidden final resting place.

Read full article

Comments

If you’ve heard that Apple’s new iPhone 17 Pro models are more prone to scratches than past models, the story is not as cut and dry as it might appear. Bloomberg reported on September 19 that in-store iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro were already showing scratches, including circular marks from where the phones mounted on MagSafe stands. Now Apple tells 9to5Mac those marks aren’t scratches but rather “material transfer” from the stands to the body of the phone.

Apple’s explanation suggests that simply cleaning demo iPhone 17 Pro units and replacing old MagSafe stands will prevent those markings from happening in the future. That doesn’t account for the scratches some iPhone 17 Pro owners have noticed around the phone’s camera bump, though. In a recent scratch test video, YouTuber JerryRigEverything speculated that Apple’s decision to not add a chamfer or fillet to the sides of the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera bump left it more prone to damage. Through 9to5Mac, Apple says it designed the Pro’s aluminum camera bump in the same way as its other aluminum products and that it’s durable, but prone to “small abrasions” over time.

So Apple has effectively denied one instance of the iPhone 17 Pro scratching and sidestepped another. Notably, at no point in 9to5Mac‘s reporting is Apple or a spokesperson actually quoted, though, which might suggest the company isn’t ready to stick to a single explanation for the issues some users are dealing with. Engadget has contacted Apple for more information and will update this article if we learn more.

Switching from the titanium frame of the iPhone 16 Pro to the unibody aluminum one on the iPhone 17 Pro lets Apple’s new phone be both more performant and offer longer battery life. Aluminum does come with a natural drawback, though: It’s less scratch-resistant than titanium. It’s entirely possible reports of iPhone 17 Pro scratches are just a way to squeeze a few more drops of attention out of Apple’s launch, but if the company does have a problem, its choice of material might be the cause.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-clarifies-some-iphone-17-pro-scratches-are-caused-by-magsafe-stands-200016073.html?src=rss

Much to President Trump’s dismay, Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV last night. In a wide-ranging monologue met with near-constant applause, Kimmel discussed the comments that got him suspended and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s attempts to silence speech the president doesn’t like.

“Brendan Carr is the most embarrassing car Republicans have embraced since this one, and that’s saying something,” Kimmel said, showing a photo of a Tesla Cybertruck painted with the American flag and the word “Trump” in big, gold letters.

Carr justified his threats to Disney by saying the FCC has to uphold the public interest standard applied to broadcasters with licenses to use the public airwaves. Carr’s stance is the opposite held by previous FCC chairs from both major parties, who said the FCC should uphold the free speech rights of broadcasters.

Read full article

Comments

Waymo has unveiled a new enterprise transportation program. The Waymo for Business service offers companies access to the brand’s autonomous vehicles on a larger scale than individual one-off rides, with features such as establishing commuter programs, transporting riders to events and providing other forms of corporate travel. Waymo for Business is available in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix at launch.

Clients who sign up for this option can use Waymo’s business portal to establish their program and manage riders, whether that’s regular employees or limited-time guests. It will also have metrics for budget management and ride activity. The whole operation is still in early days, and it seems possible that Waymo for Business will adapt based on what customers most want from the autonomous vehicle company.

2025 has been a busy year for Waymo. The company plans to test its fleet in ten new cities this year, rolled out a teen account option in July, and already has its sights set on Nashville in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymos-newest-service-caters-to-businesses-194530536.html?src=rss

Pocket Casts is being flogged for showing advertisements to legacy users who were promised an ad-free experience. From a report: The first reports started to appear in early September in the Pocket Casts support forum and subreddit. The issue is a bug, according to Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Pocket Casts’ parent company Automattic, and will be corrected. Pocket Casts launched as a purchase-only app in 2010, charging users a one-time download fee of up to $10, depending on the OS and platform. The service later switched to a subscription-based model and made the app available for free in 2019. After backlash from users, the company gave anyone who paid for the web or desktop apps before the pricing changes free lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus, its ad-free premium subscription service.

The app was acquired by Automattic in 2021, and the Pocket Casts Lifetime memberships were rebranded to “Pocket Casts Champion” in August 2024.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.

Right now, a bundle with the Ring Pro 2 doorbell and the Chime Pro is 48% off, saving you almost $140—but the deal is only available for Prime members.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro

$149.99
at Amazon

$289.98
Save $139.99

$149.99
at Amazon

$289.98
Save $139.99

This wired video doorbell features enhanced dual-band wifi, two-way HD audio, and radar-powered 3D motion detection, which improves accuracy and enables a feature called Bird’s Eye View, showing you surveilled areas from an aerial view. It also has a wider field of view, according to CNET’s review, allowing you see visitors in full view and packages dropped at your doorstep.

Ideal for users in the Alexa ecosystem, the Pro 2 includes Quick Replies and Alexa Greetings, which lets Alexa answer the door on your behalf. It’s worth noting that it has limited integration with Google Home and Apple HomeKit ecosystems, and some of these features do require a Ring Protect Plan subscription, even if you use Alexa. The Ring Chime Pro is a plug-in device that doubles as an audible doorbell chime (so you can hear your doorbell without relying on your phone) and a dual-band wifi extender that boosts signal strength.

Unlike older Ring models, the Pro 2 is more compact since it doesn’t contain a battery. While this means you won’t have downtime for charging, it may offer less flexibility in placement and have a more involved setup, though many people seem to prefer the reliability of a wired model.  Reviewers praise the sharp image quality in a range of lighting settings, enhanced by HDR support that balances contrast for better details. 

Valve has broadly rolled out a new Steam store menu after testing it since July. This redesign is available for the standard Steam PC client, the Steam Deck and Steam Mobile.

The big news here is that the update makes it easier to find stuff you want to play, which is a good move given the clutter of the current Steam store. Everything has been streamlined, with a new search menu existing up top. This search menu includes options for top sellers, new releases, discounted games and more. These criteria were already available, but all options are now grouped together in a nice and colorful menu.

The new “Categories” pull-down menu provides a more tailored feed, as it snags content from your top genres and offers suggested tags to find similar games.

Valve says the pre-existing search bar has gotten some upgrades underneath the hood. It can now offer suggestions based on common searches and can bring up a list of games you’ve recently searched for.

“With these changes, we’re aiming to make your experience smoother and more tailored to your needs,” Steam wrote in a blog post back in July. “We’ve been hearing from players, and experiencing ourselves, that some of the most commonly visited areas of Steam were hard to get to.”

The store update is rolling out now, so check your preferred Steam client to get started. It might be time to start clearing out that long-neglected wishlist.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/valve-rolls-out-a-new-steam-store-menu-to-make-it-easier-to-find-games-190027385.html?src=rss

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

On Tuesday, Apple dropped the first beta for iOS 26.1. With it, we can see what the company is planning for the successor to iOS 26, including new gestures in Apple Music, a new scrubbing bar for the video player, and Liquid Glass support for the keypad in the Phone app. It’s a small update on the surface, but there’s something quite interesting going on behind the scenes.

‘Notification Forwarding’

As discovered by Macworld, code within the iOS 26.1 beta suggests that Apple is working on support for third-party smartwatches in future versions of iOS. Macworld found references to a new feature called “Notification Forwarding,” which supposedly would allows users to direct alerts from their iPhone to a device not made by Apple. It’s a bit vague, as that could mean anything from a tablet to a PC, but Macworld believes it is intended to support notification forwarding to non-Apple smartwatches.

The code also seems to indicate that this feature supports notification forwarding to one device at a time. If you were to set your notifications from your iPhone to a Galaxy Watch, for example, it might disable notifications to your Apple Watch. In addition, there are references to an unfinished feature called “AccessoryExtension,” which might support pairing third-party watches to your iPhone.

Notification Forwarding and AccessoryExtension could be indicative of a big change for Apple. One of the things that makes the company so successful is its “ecosystem,” the idea that Apple’s products are designed to work seamlessly together. If you have an iPhone, it connects to and works with iPads, Macs, and, of course, Apple Watches. When you try to connect to and work with third-party devices, however, you run into road blocks.

Smartwatches might be among the biggest hurdles here. Apple’s smartwatch, of course, does everything you’d expect a smartwatch to do with your smartphone. But if you’re thinking of picking up a Pixel Watch or Galaxy Watch, it’s a different story. In fact, there’s really no way to pair one of these to your iPhone. If you’re coming from Android and you try to use your Pixel Watch with your iPhone, you’re going to have a bad time. “Notification Forwarding” could offer a bridge.

Some smartwatches, like those from Garmin, do offer notification forwarding support already, so the feature wouldn’t necessarily be groundbreaking. But it could expand smartwatch options for users beyond the limited devices that currently work with iOS’ notifications.

Two reasons you might not see these changes on your iPhone

Before you get too excited, there are a couple of caveats here. First, these changes are not an active part of iOS 26.1; rather, they are simply references within the code. That indicates this is something Apple is working on, but not necessarily something that will definitely launch. Until we see the features appear in a future beta update, it’s possible this will simply remain an experiment.

And even if Apple does roll out these changes, it might only be to a select group of users. There’s a chance third-party smartwatch support is solely targeted towards the EU, following the union’s Digital Markets Act. That legislation requires Apple to open up iOS to third-party devices, which, notably, includes smartwatches. Apple doesn’t tend to open up when it doesn’t have to, which is why the EU has third-party app stores on iOS and the rest of the world does not. We could see yet another EU-specific feature in this case: Europeans might be able to use their Android watches with iOS, while the rest of us are stuck with Apple Watches.