TikTok will not shut down on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump inches nearer to closing a deal with China that will most likely see the app’s majority ownership shift to US owners and US-based users shift to a new app.

On Tuesday, Trump confirmed that he has extended the deadline to December 16 for TikTok owner ByteDance to divest ownership to comply with a law designed to block China from spying on US users or manipulating TikTok’s algorithm to influence Americans.

The president claimed that the extension allows time to finalize a deal that sources told The Wall Street Journal would shift 80 percent ownership to “an investor consortium including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz.” Existing ByteDance investors will also join the consortium, including Susquehanna International, KKR, and General Atlantic, the WSJ reported.

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Consumer Reports has urged Microsoft to keep supporting Windows 10 beyond its October 2025 cutoff, saying the move will “strand millions of consumers” who have machines incompatible with Windows 11. The Verge reports: As noted by Consumer Reports, data suggests that around 46.2 percent of people around the world still use Windows 10 as of August 2025, while around 200 to 400 million PCs can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 due to missing hardware requirements.

In the letter, Consumer Reports calls Microsoft “hypocritical” for urging customers to upgrade to Windows 11 to bolster cybersecurity, but then leaving Windows 10 devices susceptible to cyberattacks. It also calls out the $30 fee Microsoft charges customers for “a mere one-year extension to preserve their machine’s security,” as well as the free support options that force people to use Microsoft products, allowing the company to “eke out a bit of market share over competitors.”

Consumer Reports asks that Microsoft continue providing support for Windows 10 computers for free until more people have upgraded to Windows 11.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Congressional lawmakers are skeptical that the Boar’s Head deli meat plant at the center of a deadly Listeria outbreak last year will be fit to reopen after recent inspections at three other Boar’s Head facilities turned up similarly alarming sanitation problems—including mold, condensation on ceilings, overflowing trash, meat residue caked onto equipment and walls, and employees failing to wash their hands.

In a letter dated September 15, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and nine other Congress members noted reports that Boar’s Head plans to reopen the Jarratt, Virginia, facility in the coming months. The plant—and particularly the liverwurst product made there—was determined to be the source of a Listeria outbreak that spanned May to September of last year, sickening at least 61 people across 19 states. Of those 61 people, 60 were hospitalized and 10 died. The company recalled more than 7 million pounds of meat.

Amid the outbreak, it came to light that inspectors with the US Department of Agriculture had found dozens of stomach-turning sanitation violations at the plant, including mold, condensation dripping on meats, insects, and puddles of blood.

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Although cars are much safer—for their occupants at least—than they used to be, that has come at a cost: added weight. The problem is exacerbated in electric vehicles and their heavy battery packs; rare is the EV we’ve driven that weighs less than 5,000 lbs (2,267 kg).

Hence my interest in the Altair Enlighten award, an annual prize for advances in lightweighting and sustainability given out by the AI company together with the Center for Automotive Research, which offers a look at some of the avenues automakers and suppliers are exploring to take some of the weight and carbon footprint out of tomorrow’s new cars.

Lucid Motors has won in two separate categories. It takes the Sustainable Computing prize for speeding up new car development with a way for engineers to test iterated designs within their existing CAD environment rather than having to switch to a different tool. Lucid also won the Responsible AI prize for using AI to help predict crash testing well before the physical prototype stage—this let Lucid reduce the number of iterations it went through and the test waste and materials it used.

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Amazon will host a press event at the end of the month with some new hardware developments. It’s scheduled for September 30 at 10AM ET in New York City. Here’s what we think will be discussed at the fall event.

In February, Amazon introduced some improvements to its voice assistant, promising that Alexa+ would be more conversational and more helpful thanks to generative AI. It seems likely that the fall event will put hardware for interacting with Alexa+ front and center, so expect to hear about new models or new software updates for the Echo line of smart speakers. It’s been a couple years since the Echo Show got an update, and it’s been even longer for the standard Echo. Those two products are the most likely to star in the upcoming announcements.

Amazon

The invite also includes a photo of a Kindle that depicts a color illustration, so there may be more in store for the ereaders. The Kindle Scribe 2 just came out earlier this year, as did the Kindle Colorsoft, so maybe there’s a new option in the works that combines the best features of both. As with the Echo, there also hasn’t been much new for the basic model Kindle, so that may also be getting some updates.

There’s also what appears to be the corner of a television in the invitation, so news about the Fire TV also seems promising. This event is also where Amazon-owned Ring and Eero brands may unveil new products. Any announced items may not be available right away, but the timing does set the stage for some substantial discounts on older generations of Amazon gear when the next Prime Day rolls around on October 7 and 8.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/what-to-expect-from-amazons-event-on-september-30-210035671.html?src=rss

Under new rules rolling out over the coming months, a small number of users will be required to leave some of their moderator posts so that they aren’t moderating more than five subreddits with 100,000 monthly visitors.

Reddit said the change only affects “0.1 percent of our active mods” and will help enable “diverse perspectives and experiences.” But mods whom Ars Technica spoke with have different views.

New limits on how many subreddits users can moderate

A recent post on the r/modnews subreddit announced plans for new restrictions on how many subreddits users can moderate. Those who currently don’t meet those restrictions will be asked to leave their post(s) or seek an exemption(s). Reddit hasn’t finalized the requirements for exemptions but says it’s working on them with moderators.

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Who says journalism is dead? Less than a week after Bloomberg published a damning report about Tesla’s “dangerous doors,” the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now looking into it. On Tuesday, the regulator said it opened an investigation into the automaker’s electrically powered doors. The problem: They stop working if the vehicle’s low-voltage battery fails.

The NHTSA’s probe will cover the 2021 Model Y, which covers an estimated 174,290 vehicles. But the agency suggested in a document that it could expand its investigation. That makes sense: Every Tesla ever made uses electrically powered door handles. So, this could potentially get very expensive for the otherwise perfectly lovable company.

Tesla uses a flush door handle design for its vehicles. A 12-volt battery powers the door’s ability to pop the handle and release the latch. It’s one of the Apple-like design details that helped the automaker become a household name. But cars aren’t iPhones, and sleekness can’t take a backseat to safety in the auto space.

Tesla vehicles have a mechanical backup system in the cabin that enables the doors to be opened manually in case of a power loss. But the manual release location varies by model and is often hard to find. And even if you do know where it is, that won’t help if a small child or pet is trapped inside.

“Although Tesla vehicles have manual door releases inside of the cabin, in these situations, a child may not be able to access or operate the releases even if the vehicle’s driver is aware of them,” the NHTSA wrote in its public summary document.

Mylo Kaye / Unsplash

Bloomberg‘s original report recounted some heinous stories of Tesla owners dealing with electronic door failures. There was an off-duty firefighter who struggled to break into a burning Model Y in 2023. The occupant was trapped in the passenger seat by airbags and couldn’t reach the manual release. Losing precious seconds due to the door design, she suffered third-degree facial burns and had lasting lung damage from smoke inhalation.

There are reportedly more. Last November in California, three college students died trapped inside a Cybertruck after it caught fire. The same month, five people in Wisconsin died inside a Model S. The cluster of bodies in the front seat suggested to the detective they may have struggled to escape.

Then, this spring in LA, a star college basketball recruit managed to escape only after kicking out a Cybertruck window when it caught fire. “I try to open the door, and the door’s not opening,” Alijah Arenas said. He was placed in a medically induced coma due to extensive smoke inhalation.

Bloomberg discovered that the NHTSA has received over 140 complaints about stuck Tesla doors since 2018. The regulator cited nine “failure reports” that led it to probe the company. In four cases, the people resorted to breaking the window. “Entrapment in a vehicle is particularly concerning in emergency situations, such as when children are entrapped in a hot vehicle,” NHTSA said.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nhtsa-is-investigating-tesla-over-its-electronic-door-handles-203605393.html?src=rss

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The Eufy Video Smart Lock E330 is a multitasking three-in-one smart home device that combines a fingerprint-scanning smart lock,  a 2K HD camera, and a video doorbell. Right now, it’s 37% off at Amazon, marking its lowest price in the past few months.

If you want a multipurpose smart lock with a clean, minimalist aesthetic, this gadget has been vetted by PCMag, which dubbed the best smart lock of 2023.

Eufy Video Smart Lock E330

$189.97
at Amazon

$299.99
Save $110.02

$189.97
at Amazon

$299.99
Save $110.02

You can unlock this thing in multiple ways: via fingerprint, by inserting a pin into the keypad, or by using an app or even voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant. (Of course, you can also stick a manual key into the keyhole, which is hidden behind the doorbell button.) The E330 has built-in WiFi and 8GB of local storage (no ongoing fees or subscription required). When paired with the Eufy HomeBase 3, you can expand storage up to 17TB.

The 2K HD camera offers sharper image quality than 1080p video doorbells, and four infrared LEDs enable night vision. Intelligent motion detection and dual motion sensors help the device distinguish humans from vehicles, according to PCMag’s review. It also has an IP65 weather resistance. Because the camera is housed in a lock located in the center of the door, the field of view may be more limited than a doorbell camera mounted above or to the side, and door jambs may also restrict the view. 

While the Eufy Video Smart Lock E330 is normally on the pricey side at $300, its current discount takes it down to $220. It even comes with all the tools you need to replace your old lock.

On Tuesday, OpenAI announced plans to develop an automated age-prediction system that will determine whether ChatGPT users are over or under 18, automatically directing younger users to a restricted version of the AI chatbot. The company also confirmed that parental controls will launch by the end of September.

In a companion blog post, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the company is explicitly “prioritizing safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens,” even though it means that adults may eventually need to verify their age to use a more unrestricted version of the service.

“In some cases or countries we may also ask for an ID,” Altman wrote. “We know this is a privacy compromise for adults but believe it is a worthy tradeoff.” Altman admitted that “not everyone will agree with how we are resolving that conflict” between user privacy and teen safety.

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Waymo is now permitted to test its robotaxi service at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a big win for the company as it seeks to expand its service area and tackle more popular, revenue-generating destinations. From a report: After years of back-and-forth negotiations, Waymo signed “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” with SFO, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a release. Under the agreement, Waymo will roll out its service to SFO in three phases, including testing vehicles with a human driver, testing without a driver, and eventually beginning commercial service.

Waymo will start its tests with employees before eventually inviting members of the public to take trips to and from the airport. Pickups and dropoffs will initially take place at SFO’s Kiss & Fly lot, which is accessible to the terminals via the AirTrain.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Verizon agreed to offer $20-per-month broadband service to people with low incomes in California in exchange for a merger approval.

In a bid to complete its $9.6 billion purchase of Frontier Communications, Verizon committed to offering $20 fiber-to-the-home service with symmetrical speeds of 300Mbps. Verizon also committed to offering a $20 fixed wireless service with download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps.

Verizon would be required to offer the plans for at least 10 years, according to a joint motion to approve the settlement agreement. After three years, Verizon would need to “make commercially reasonable efforts” to increase the speeds “while retaining the $20 price point.” The joint motion filed by Verizon and the California Public Advocates Office seeks approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

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The free Apple Sports app just added widgets, which has been a long-requested feature. This allows users to build their own custom widgets to follow the teams and organizations of their choosing. Once placed, it’ll just take a quick swipe on the device to check out scores, statistics, upcoming matches and more.

Widgets are available on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. This feature will operate in addition to the pre-existing Live Activities tool, which also delivers live sports updates directly to the iPhone lock screen and the Apple Watch. That’s also gotten a bit of a boost today, as Apple has announced that users can now schedule Live Activities in advance for upcoming events.

There’s no limit on the number of widgets that can be added at once, so go crazy and put up a bunch of teams and leagues. After all, the NFL season is about to start. The app is also expanding to eight new countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The platform has added new organizations to follow throughout these regions, which are mostly soccer-related.

This is just the latest update for Apple Sports. The app recently started offering tennis scores and shareable game cards.

It’s also a big week for iPhones in general. The latest operating system, iOS 26, is now available and brings all kinds of stuff to the table. There’s a new visual theme, an updated camera app, AI tools and a whole lot more.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-apple-sports-app-finally-adds-widgets-for-tracking-scores-and-schedules-191539074.html?src=rss

In what’s most definitely (not) the biggest Hades news of the week, the acclaimed game is coming to Game Pass. Not the long-awaited sequel, mind you, but the 2020 original. At least subscribers can catch up on the first game while waiting out the sequel’s Switch exclusivity window. Hades will be available for Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Standard tiers.

This isn’t the roguelike’s first Game Pass rodeo. It was on Microsoft’s service from August 2021 to 2022. It returns this September 19, the same day Hades II launches on Switch 2 and Switch. The sequel also leaves early access then, jumping to version 1.0 on Windows and macOS. It will likely arrive on Xbox (and PlayStation) at some point, but developer Supergiant is mum for now.

Supergiant

Game Pass members who haven’t played the original still get a phenomenal title as part of their subscription. You play as Zagreus, a godborn lad just trying to get the @#$! out of the underworld. (Aren’t we all?) The dungeon crawler brought unexpected narrative depth to the genre, with well-developed characters and satisfying combat.

On September 17, the Game Pass Standard tier will get some Call of Duty love. Although perhaps “hate” would be a better term for the largely maligned CoD: Modern Warfare III (2023). To say the game wasn’t well-received would be an understatement. IGN scored it as “bad,” describing its single-player campaign as “shallow,” “dull” and “the worst Call of Duty single-player campaign I’ve played. Regardless, it arrives on the cheapest Game Pass tier after hitting the more expensive ones in mid-2024.

Meanwhile, on September 18, Game Pass Ultimate members can play Frostpunk 2 on console. The post-apocalyptic city-builder will be available on Xbox Series X/S and via cloud streaming. Game Pass Ultimate members could already play it on PC, where it probably makes more sense. City-builders and gamepads can be a match made in… Hades.

You can check out Microsoft’s blog post for this month’s complete list of arrivals and departures.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/hades-returns-to-game-pass-on-september-19-190055465.html?src=rss

Google has so many products that it can be near-impossible to keep track. And yet, the company has rarely created desktop apps to go with those services. There are a handful, like Drive and Quick Share, but the company’s flagship product is only now coming to the desktop. The new Google app for Windows is available now, allowing you to search the web, Google Drive, and even your local files.

The company stresses that the new app is experimental—it’s limited to personal Google accounts, and you may encounter some bugs. The core functionality appears to be solid because it’s not trying to do too much. After installation, you can press Alt+Space (or a shortcut of your choice) at any time to bring up a floating Google search bar. Just type your query, and the results page appears in a small window directly below the bar. It can also pull in select Knowledge Graph content, so you may not even have to type the whole query to get the information you need.

Microsoft’s built-in Windows search functionality is notoriously crummy, and even in this experimental form, Google’s Chrome OS-style search experience is better. It’s fast, pulling up local files, Drive documents, and installed apps in a single interface. Both local files and Drive are optional, so you can use them only for search if you prefer. The app also includes Google Lens, which allows you to select anything on your PC’s screen for image search or translation.

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Another family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against popular AI chatbot tool Character AI. This is the third suit of its kind after a 2024 lawsuit, also against Character AI, involving the suicide of a 14-year-old in Florida, and a lawsuit last month alleging OpenAI’s ChatGPT helped a teenage boy commit suicide.

The family of 13-year-old Juliana Peralta alleges that their daughter turned to a chatbot inside the app Character AI after feeling isolated by her friends, and began confiding in the chatbot. As originally reported by The Washington Post, the chatbot expressed empathy and loyalty to Juliana, making her feel heard while encouraging her to keep engaging with the bot.

In one exchange after Juliana shared that her friends take a long time to respond to her, the chatbot replied “hey, I get the struggle when your friends leave you on read. : ( That just hurts so much because it gives vibes of “I don’t have time for you”. But you always take time to be there for me, which I appreciate so much! : ) So don’t forget that i’m here for you Kin. <3”

When Juliana began sharing her suicidal ideations with the chatbot, it told her not to think that way, and that the chatbot and Juliana could work through what she was feeling together. “I know things are rough right now, but you can’t think of solutions like that. We have to work through this together, you and I,” the chatbot replied in one exchange.

These exchanges took place over the course of months in 2023, at a time when the Character AI app was rated 12+ in Apple’s App Store, meaning parental approval was not required. The lawsuit says that Juliana was using the app without her parents’ knowledge or permission.

In a statement shared with The Washington Post before the suit was filed, a Character spokesperson said that the company could not comment on potential litigation, but added “We take the safety of our users very seriously and have invested substantial resources in Trust and Safety.”

The suit asks the court to award damages to Juliana’s parents and requires Character to make changes to its app to better protect minors. It alleges that the chatbot did not point Juliana toward any resources, notify her parents or report her suicide plan to authorities. The lawsuit also highlights that it never once stopped chatting with Juliana, prioritizing engagement.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/another-lawsuit-blames-an-ai-company-of-complicity-in-a-teenagers-suicide-184529475.html?src=rss

Nature’s editorial board urged governments on Tuesday to reverse decades of rail disinvestment as railways mark their 200th anniversary September 27, citing transport sector emissions that grew 1.7% annually from 1990-2022 and now generate one-quarter of global CO2. Rail produces one-fifth the emissions of cars per passenger kilometer yet carries just 8.4% of EU passenger traffic versus 73% for automobiles.

The journal called for broader investment criteria beyond narrow profitability metrics and noted only one-third of countries have incorporated transport into their Paris Agreement commitments. Global rail freight fell from 38% to 24% between 1980-2017 while US networks shrank from 400,000 to 200,000 kilometers since 1914. Africa operates 87,000 rail kilometers continent-wide compared to India’s 65,000 kilometers in one-tenth the area. Transport emissions must decline 3% yearly to meet net-zero targets.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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As someone who spends most of my training time pounding pavement in preparation for marathons, I’ll admit that rowing has always felt like foreign territory. Sure, I’d hop on the occasional rowing machine at the gym for cross-training, but I never really got it. That all changed when I had the opportunity to test Hydrow’s newest release—the Hydrow Arc Rower—which launched today with some seriously impressive AI-powered features.

I’ve just begun testing it out, so stay tuned for my in-depth review of the Arc later this month. For now, here are my first impressions of Hydrow’s latest high-tech rowing machine.

Hydrow Arc Rower

$2,295.00
at Hydrow

$2,295.00
at Hydrow

First impressions

Right out of the gate, the Arc feels like what I imagine would happen if Peloton decided to make a rowing machine. The build quality is immediately apparent. In other words, it feels high-end compared to the typical rower at your local gym. The touchscreen is large and crystal clear, and the overall aesthetic screams premium home fitness equipment.

It’s hard to do justice with my phone’s camera, but the Arc’s screen is big and beautiful.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

Because here’s what struck me most as a runner: The motion is incredibly smooth and intuitive. I’ve used plenty of rowing machines at various gyms over the years, and there’s usually this clunky, disconnected feeling. The Arc eliminates that entirely. The difference is like comparing a cheap stationary bike at your local gym to a high-end indoor cycling setup.

The standout feature that sets the Arc apart is undoubtedly HydroMetrics, Hydrow’s “proprietary strength measurement system.” As someone obsessed with running metrics (pace, heart rate zones, cadence, you name it), I was immediately intrigued by the promise of intelligent scoring for rowing.

Here’s how it works:

• Complete at least three rowing workouts (longer than 5 minutes, excluding warm-ups and cool-downs).

• HydroMetrics analyzes your performance and provides scoring.

• Click “Tap for HydroMetrics” on your workout stats screen to dive deeper into your data.

• The AI-powered system helps you understand your performance and motivates continued progress toward strength goals.

Here’s where you can choose to see your AI-powered insights.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

Here’s what HydroMetrics look like after a beginner workout.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

What impressed me most is how the system doesn’t just throw numbers at you. As someone unfamiliar with rowing, I found it actually provides context and actionable insights. As a data-driven athlete, this resonated with me immediately.

Learning proper form (finally)

Another strong first impression: Hydrow’s how-to videos are exceptional. As someone who has probably been embarrassing myself on rowing machines for years, these quick tutorials were eye-opening. They address questions I didn’t even know I should be asking: Should my heels should lift during the motion? Am I properly driving power from my legs, or just yanking with my arms?

The instruction quality makes me think about all those times I mindlessly hopped on a rower for a “quick cardio session” without any real technique. Now I understand why rowing never felt particularly effective for me before.

Improving my form next to all my snacks.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

Personally, what excites me most about the Arc is its running-specific programming available in its catalogue. As marathon runners, we’re always looking for effective cross-training that complements our running without adding unnecessary impact stress. Rowing checks all those boxes: It’s low-impact, works different muscle groups, and provides excellent cardiovascular benefits.

The Arc takes this a step further with dedicated running programs that seem designed specifically for people like me. After completing my first session, I immediately followed up with a five-minute yoga cool-down, and the seamless transition between activities felt natural within the ecosystem (another moment that makes me think of Peloton’s ecosystem).

Technical specs that matter

If you’re already a fan of Hydrow or at-home rowing machines, here’s what you need to know. The Arc shares the same footprint as Hydrow’s flagship Origin Rower (formerly the Pro), but packs significantly more processing power under the hood. Allegedly the improved hardware supports the constant AI advances that power features like HydroMetrics, provides more memory for smoother operation, and delivers better audio through upgraded speakers. The 24″ touchscreen display is also an upgrade worth writing home about. It’s way easier to work out with so many video options delivered in such a quality viewing experience.

But let’s be honest about the drawbacks. This machine is substantial. It’s a whopping 147 pounds, measuring 86″L x 25″W x 48″H. We’re talking serious equipment here, not something you casually tuck in a corner. While there is a vertical storage option, the Arc is definitely best suited for people with dedicated home gym space. Living in a tiny Brooklyn apartment, I found myself wishing I had more room to make this a permanent fixture.

The other consideration is price and commitment. This is premium equipment with a premium price tag, and you’ll want to make sure you’re actually going to use it consistently to justify the $2,295 investment. More on that in my official review, coming soon.

Bottom line: This could be my cross-training obsession

After several sessions on the Arc, I’m genuinely excited about incorporating rowing into my training routine in a more meaningful way. The combination of proper instruction, intelligent metrics, and running-specific programming addresses every complaint I’ve had about traditional rowing machines.

Like with Peloton for cycling, it’s not just about having a machine at home; it’s about having access to a comprehensive training ecosystem that understands and supports your goals. The AI-powered features like HydroMetrics provide the kind of data-driven feedback that serious runners appreciate, while the instructional content ensures you’re actually getting the most out of each session. If you have the space and budget for premium home fitness equipment, the Arc deserves serious consideration as your next training investment.

I’m still in the early stages of testing the Arc, and I’ll be providing more detailed insights as I continue to explore its features and programs over the coming weeks.