Sony’s smartphones probably haven’t made much money in a long time, but they do provide a showcase for the company’s latest camera and AV tech. A case in point is the new Xperia 1 VII flagship, a model that borrows Sony’s Alpha camera and Bravia TV tricks and now features Walkman audio technology for the first time as well. 

On the camera side, Sony introduced a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (16mm full-frame equivalent) with a good-sized 1/1.56-inch sensor, significantly improving the specs of the Xperia 1 VI’s ultrawide. That’s on top of the main 48MP 1/1.35-inch 24mm camera and 12MP 85-170mm telephoto zoom. 

Another new camera feature is AI-powered Auto Framing. It lets you capture an entire scene with a wide angle, while automatically creating a closeup crop (vertical or horizontal) of a subject within the frame. That matches technology already available on Sony’s Alpha camera lineup. Other key camera features include an improved Bokeh mode, real-time tracking and real-time eye autofocus, “telemacro” photography via the 120mm equivalent lens (with focus as close as 4cm), pro controls, a dedicated shutter button, live streaming and “low-light capability in line with full-frame cameras,” Sony claims. 

As for audio, Sony has upgraded the Xperia 1 VII considerably from the previous model. It now uses the high-end Walkman components in key areas like sound resistors. Unlike other smartphone makers, Sony has kept its headphone jack and improved wired sound via a premium-grade integrated circuit, while also improving its LDAC wireless audio quality. Plus, the Xperia 1 VII supports Sony’s DSEE Ultimate AI sound upscaling technology, along with 360 Reality audio or Dolby Atmos formats. 

The Xperia 1 VII is also taking a cue from Sony’s Bravia displays with a new adaptive brightness feature for the 6.5-inch OLED display. It now has light sensors both front and back to better gauge environmental light levels and adjust brightness, contrast and color accordingly. 

Other key features include a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (expandable to 2TB with microSD), WiFi 7, FPS gaming optimizer, two days of battery life via the new 5,000mAh battery, a vapour chamber cooler and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for environmental protection. Sony is even throwing in a free set of its top-end WH-1000XM5 headphones worth around $300.

Unfortunately there’s no sign that the Xperia 1 VII is coming to the United States. It’s now available to order in Europe and the UK for €1,499 and £1,399 respectively, or around $1,700. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/sonys-new-xperia-1-vii-borrows-hi-fi-sound-tech-from-its-walkman-133017552.html?src=rss

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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are now going for $199.99 (down from $249.99), which is helpful, because they’re not exactly a budget pick.

SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

$189.99
at Amazon

$269.99
Save $80.00

$189.99
at Amazon

$269.99
Save $80.00

Available in either white or silver, they’ve got a bold new look with angular stems and built-in LEDs that you can customize to blink, fade, or stay lit—more than just a style choice, they double as status indicators. Inside, they house a 10.5mm dynamic driver and a 6.1mm planar driver, which work together to deliver full-bodied audio from bass to treble across a wide frequency range (20Hz to 40kHz). That said, reviewers like PCMag have noted that enabling active noise cancellation can slightly muffle the higher-end clarity, so you may want to play with the EQ if you’re picky about audio sharpness.

They support Bluetooth 5.4 and handle the usual AAC and SBC codecs, but the real bonus—for Samsung users at least—is support for the brand’s proprietary Seamless Codec, which allows for 24-bit/96kHz playback. That’s not something you’ll get if you’re using a non-Samsung device, though, since that codec doesn’t work outside the ecosystem. And with no LDAC support in sight, high-res fans using other Android phones might feel a little boxed in. Still, the IP57 rating is solid for daily use—it’ll hold up against dust, sweat, and the occasional dunk in water.

If you’re using a Galaxy phone, they’ll pair instantly through the Galaxy Wear app when you open the case. That unlocks all the smart features—noise control modes like ANC, Ambient, and Adaptive Sound, plus a nine-band EQ and even an Adaptive Equalizer that tweaks sound based on ear fit. The app also gives you access to Interpreter mode and Listening mode, which use AI for real-time translation. Non-Samsung Android users still get the Wear app via Google Play, though with fewer perks. iPhone users, on the other hand, don’t get access to any of these app features at all. Without the app, these basically turn into standard Bluetooth buds.

These days, when Nicole Yelland receives a meeting request from someone she doesn’t already know, she conducts a multistep background check before deciding whether to accept. Yelland, who works in public relations for a Detroit-based nonprofit, says she’ll run the person’s information through Spokeo, a personal data aggregator that she pays a monthly subscription fee to use. If the contact claims to speak Spanish, Yelland says, she will casually test their ability to understand and translate trickier phrases. If something doesn’t quite seem right, she’ll ask the person to join a Microsoft Teams call—with their camera on.

If Yelland sounds paranoid, that’s because she is. In January, before she started her current nonprofit role, Yelland says, she got roped into an elaborate scam targeting job seekers. “Now, I do the whole verification rigamarole any time someone reaches out to me,” she tells WIRED.

Digital imposter scams aren’t new; messaging platforms, social media sites, and dating apps have long been rife with fakery. In a time when remote work and distributed teams have become commonplace, professional communications channels are no longer safe, either. The same artificial intelligence tools that tech companies promise will boost worker productivity are also making it easier for criminals and fraudsters to construct fake personas in seconds.

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After teasing us for months, Samsung has formally revealed the Galaxy S25 Edge. At just 5.8 millimeters (0.22 inches) thick, it’s the slimmest member of the S25 family — and its slimmest smartphone ever. It’s available to preorder now and launches on 30 May, starting at $1,100.

Samsung said that S25 Edge “unlocks a new era of growth for the mobile industry” — and it’s easy (too easy!) to cynically see this as a way of hawking another Samsung phone into a thinner — and yet similar — slice of hardware, with familiar cameras, technical specs and AI software. This isn’t an Ultra, nor is it a new foldable. However, it could be a new direction for Samsung’s flagship S series.

What’s the difference between the S25 and S25 Edge?

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

Surprise! The Edge is thinner. While the S25 Edge measures in at less than the base S25, which is 6.4mm (0.25 inches) thin, it weighs almost the same. In fact, there’s only a gram’s difference between the two, despite the S25 Edge packing a much bigger 6.7-inch screen than the S25’s 6.2-inch one.

And boy, can you tell the difference. The most contemporary comparison I can make is when Apple switched to a titanium frame for the iPhone 15 Pro. Spec sheets and numbers be damned: I could sense how much lighter the device was. Despite having a much bigger screen than my iPhone 16 Pro, the thinner S25 Edge felt light yet premium. I easily slipped it in and out of my pants pockets, because, well, how else am I going to assess the biggest selling point for Samsung’s latest phone?

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

The thing is: Device thickness isn’t an issue I have with flagship smartphones — it’s the screen size. The base Galaxy S25 (or the Pixel 9 Pro) hit the sweet spot for my hands. While this new S25 Edge may be easier to hold than similar-sized phones, a 6.7-inch screen isn’t for everyone.

Like most phones (the Pixel 9a is a curious outlier), the S25 Edge still has a substantial camera unit derailing otherwise clean hardware lines. The dual-camera setup protrudes a good 4.5mm (0.17 inches), although it features the same 200-megapixel sensor packed into the pricier S25 Ultra.

Samsung says it re-engineered the camera unit to ensure it could fit on the Edge, but it still sticks out — a lot. Before I got to handle the phone, I thought this would lead to the new phone being oddly unbalanced and top-heavy. But whatever Samsung has done to arrange the component furniture inside the S25 Edge, it worked. The phone doesn’t feel lopsided or fragile at all, but like any other premium flagship smartphone.

The Galaxy S25 Edge’s cameras

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

Alongside the primary 200MP sensor, Samsung included a 12MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and macro photography support. And… that’s it. There’s no dedicated telephoto system, which typically takes up more space however you position the camera. The two lenses are stacked in a vertical arrangement, which I think looks cleaner than the camera cornucopias found on other devices — but many folks are going to miss the versatility of a true telephoto. Sure, you can digitally zoom by cropping in on that huge 200MP sensor, but it’s not the same.

The S25 Edge can also capture up to 8K video and packs all the other photography tricks you’d expect in an S-Series phone, like night photography and lossless zoom. Of cours,e it also handles post-capture AI tools like generative editing (removing photobombers and unwanted objects from your photos) and Audio Eraser for cleaning up video in loud environments.

And when it comes to AI — or Galaxy AI — you’re getting the same array of features that we saw in the base S25 and S25 Ultra, powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM. Those AI tools include the Now Brief and Now Bar which takes contextual clues from your apps and smartphone to lay out a plan for your day, remind you of the weather and more. Samsung’s integration of Google’s Gemini now includes Gemini Live, so you can tap into your camera feed to ask questions about your photos and things in your surroundings.

It’ll likely pick up any future Gemini and Android upgrades, too: The Galaxy S25 Edge will receive seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

At a media briefing, Samsung also outlined how it’s trying to ensure the S25 Edge runs cool despite all the packed-in hardware, using a new Thermal Interface Material (TIM) for better heat dissipation within that limited space. I didn’t really get the time to push the device to its limits during the briefing, so we’ll wait for a review to assess whether it works well enough.

The company did have to make compromises to fit all the S25 Edge’s features into this svelte profile. It has a 3,900mAh battery, which is small for a phone with a 6.7-inch display that costs more than $1,000. In comparison, the base S25 has a 4,000mAh cell — that’s a bigger battery on a cheaper phone with a smaller screen. Then, there’s the S25+, which has a 4,900mAh battery with the same screen size as the S25 Edge.

In its defence, Samsung has made considerable progress on the battery life of its devices (particularly with this year’s crop of Galaxy S phones). The company claims the S25 Edge can run video for up to 24 hours. However, with a bigger screen inside a thinner device, battery life may be the biggest compromise—and it’s something we will have to test when we review the Edge properly.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is priced at $1,100 (£1,100) with 256GB of storage. It will launch on May 30 in three colors: Silver, Jet Black and Icy Blue. It’s hard to draw any concrete conclusions on whether the S25 Edge’s compromises for a smaller device footprint are worth it, but expect our review in the next few weeks.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-edge-hands-on-release-date-price-000022902.html?src=rss

Philips is launching a new program called Fixables, where it will make plans available so that customers can 3D print replacement parts for the company’s personal care products. The video introducing the initiative touts it as a simpler and easier way to extend the lifetimes of functional items rather than throwing them out because a single part or attachment is broken. Philips has partnered with Prusa Research and LePub on this endeavor, and Printables is hosting the plans.

There are some caveats and limitations to this concept. The quality of the replacement part will depend on the materials used to create it, and not every customer has a 3D printer at home. (Although some public library systems, universities and local maker communities may have equipment that can be used or rented on site.)

It’s also still a project in its early stages. Fixables is initially launching in the Czech Republic. On the website for the Fixables program (which is in Czech), Philips explains that it’s starting with the home country for Prusa Research and it is reaching out to the 3D printing company’s existing maker community for this project. Another sign that the initiative is still in the early stages is that there’s only one part plan available: a comb attachment for the OneBlade trimmer. But per Google Translate, two more plans are labeled as “We are working on it” and there are three different icons with no descriptions that point to additional plans. The Fixables website also has an option for customers to submit a request for parts they want to be able to 3D print.

So while Fixables is a long way from making a real dent in waste from personal care products, it’s exciting to see a major brand making a serious effort to explore the potential of 3D printing for better sustainability.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/philips-fixables-will-let-you-3d-print-replacement-parts-for-your-electric-razors-and-trimmers-233025245.html?src=rss

Jamie Lee Curtis is the latest celebrity to call attention to scam ads on Facebook and Instagram that use AI-manipulated video to hawk sketchy products. Curtis also appears to have encountered another issue familiar to many Facebook users: struggling to get the company’s attention.

In posts on Facebook and Instagram, the actress asked Mark Zuckerberg to intervene to stop the spread of a “totally AI fake commercial” of her. “My name is Jamie Lee Curtis and I have gone through every proper channel to ask you and your team to take down this totally AI fake commercial for some bullshit that I didn’t authorize, agree to or endorse,” she wrote. The post also included screenshots of the Meta CEO’s Instagram — Zuckerberg apparently doesn’t follow Curtis — and a screenshot from the scam ad.

“If I have a brand besides being an actor and author it is that I am known for telling the truth and saying it like it is and for having integrity and this use of my images … with new, fake words put in my mouth, diminishes my opportunities to actually speak my truth,” she wrote. “I’ve been told that if I ask you directly, maybe you will encourage your team to police it and remove it.”

It’s not clear what the video, which seemed to rely on manipulated footage from an interview Curtis did with MSNBC, was intended to promote. Curtis shared a screen grab with text that said “I’d want everyone suffering from.” But Curtis is far from the first celebrity to get caught up in such a scam.

Earlier this year, Engadget reported that dozens of Facebook pages were using AI tech to manipulate videos of Elon Musk and other celebrities in order to promote fake cures for diabetes. Many of those clips used similar phrasing, such as “If I were to die tomorrow, I’d want every diabetic, including you, to know this.”

The rise of cheap and readily available AI tools have made it relatively easy for scammers to impersonate celebrities to sell sketchy products or promote other schemes. Last year, Tom Hanks warned his followers about ads “promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs” using his name and voice. He said the ads were made “fraudulently” with the help of AI.

Johnny Depp also warned his fans about AI-enabled impersonators. “Today, AI can create the illusion of my face and voice,” he wrote. “Scammers may look and sound just like the real me.”

A spokesperson for Meta said the company was removing the video flagged by Curtis for violating its policies but declined to comment further. The company said last year it was cracking down on “celeb bait” scams, but hasn’t disclosed how many celebrities or public figures are participating in the program which relies on facial recognition technology.

In a comment on her Instagram post, Curtis confirmed that she did eventually get Meta’s attention. “IT WORKED! YAY INTERNET! SHAME HAS IT’S VALUE! THANKS ALL WHO CHIMED IN AND HELPED RECTIFY!”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/jamie-lee-curtis-publicly-shamed-mark-zuckerberg-to-remove-a-deepfaked-ad-225448916.html?src=rss

Over the past few days, eagle-eyed Google users may have noticed that in some instances, the capital G logo for the company now sports a gradient softening the transitions between the four solid-color sections. The branding has been changed for the Google app on both Android and iOS devices as of this writing. However, there are still several places that continue to sport the classic color block look, including browser favicons. It’s also not included in Google’s official collection of images for press; the classic version is still being used as the entry for the Google app logo. 

None of the logos for other Google smartphone apps appear to have adopted a new gradient look. But perhaps notably, the branding for Google’s Gemini AI assistant does have a slight gradient on its star symbol. Maybe AI is leading the way for aesthetics as well as for technical choices at Google? Or maybe this is a trial run to gauge reactions before rolling out a full brand redesign? 

Whatever the reason, the biggest surprise isn’t that Google may be rolling out a logo refresh, but that the change seems to be happening with zero fanfare. When the company last redesigned its branding in 2015, there was a whole campaign explaining every last detail of the new look. Branding is a big deal for a corporation as big as Google. Even changes that seem minor would go through many iterations and committees and vetting before they go live. And any marketing exec knows that consistency is key, so it’s especially strange that, if this is a permanent change, it’s happening in a piecemeal approach. 

We’ve reached out to the company for more information about whether gradients will be the hot style trend for all Google products in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/g-is-for-gradient-google-has-redesigned-its-app-logo-220437771.html?src=rss

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 might feature a cover screen that looks very similar to the Razr Ultra, according to animation files dug up by Android Authority from a leaked version of One UI 8. Up until now, the biggest difference between Samsung’s foldable flip phones and Razr’s is that Razr has offered a cover screen that’s edge-to-edge, without the notch on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6.

The images Android Authority found show a cover screen that wraps around the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s two back cameras instead of nestling them in a display-free cutout. This seemingly confirms renders shared by Android Headlines of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 in March. Samsung has taken a very conservative approach to the year-over-year updates its made to the Flip, so changing the cover screen would be big. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks nearly identical to the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Android Headlines / OnLeaks

Changing the front screen would also be a pretty obvious example of Samsung playing catchup to Motorola, who’s long offered a larger and more useful cover screen on the Razr. The entry-level 2023 Moto Razr only had a small sliver of a cover screen, but since then, all of the company’s foldables have a cover that can run full-on Android apps.

Besides the visual change, how meaningful a Galaxy Z Flip 7 with a larger cover screen is will really hinge on what Samsung lets you do with it. So far the company has limited the screen to acting as a tool for checking notifications and using select apps. You have to download extra apps and fuss with settings to do anything else. 

We’ll have to wait until the summer — when Samsung typically announces it’s new Galaxy Z Flips and Folds — to know more, but it certainly seems like the updates could be a lot bigger than some new colors this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-may-finally-give-the-galaxy-z-flip-a-larger-cover-screen-202258392.html?src=rss

We’ve still got about a month until Apple‘s WWDC 2025 event, but that hasn’t stopped the rumors from flying about potential iOS 19 announcements. Today brings a new one from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, who reports that Apple is working on a new AI-driven battery management feature for its next operating system update.

According to his sources, Apple will use AI to analyze iPhone usage trends and make adjustments to the power draw of different apps to better conserve battery on the device. iOS 19 will reportedly also add a battery indicator to the lock screen detailing how long it will take the phone to fully charge up. 

A more personalized improvement to battery life further points toward the speculation that this year will see Apple unveil an iPhone Air. As with its laptop counterpart, a slimmer chassis means a much smaller battery, so any path to eking out more performance will be key to making that new smartphone land with potential buyers.

This new battery management feature would be part of the company’s Apple Intelligence suite, which has been slowly rolling out since last fall to mid and meh reactions. We likely won’t know until WWDC whether the iOS 19 overhaul will include the features we really, really want.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apples-ios-19-will-reportedly-have-ai-powered-battery-management-200127723.html?src=rss

Ticketmaster wants you to know it’s “all in” on up-front pricing. In a blog post published on Monday, the company triumphantly declared that it’s “putting fans first” and including fees in the first price you see for a ticket. Not mentioned in Ticketmaster’s announcement: An FTC rule requiring that exact change just so happened to take effect today.

The FTC’s bipartisan junk fees rule was finalized in December. It requires live event ticket vendors, hotels and rentals to “tell consumers the whole truth up front about prices and fees.” Starting on Monday, they must display the full price (minus taxes) more prominently than other pricing information. Astonishing how Ticketmaster’s consumer-friendly policy arrived on the very day Live Nation was required by law to do so. (The Lord works in mysterious ways.)

Ticketmaster

The company added another handy feature on Monday that wasn’t mandated by law. The new Ticketmaster queue should, at least in theory, make buying in-demand tickets less frustrating. When an event goes on sale, you’ll be placed in a queue and told your exact place in line. The idea is to prevent bots from snatching everything up before you can even get the dang page to load.

Once you’re in line, there’s no need to mash F5 or Cmd-R. The page will automatically refresh as you move up in line. For the biggest shows, availability and pricing will update in real time as you wait.

When it’s your turn, you’ll get a notification. If you’re on a mobile device, it will be an app alert. If you’re using a browser, you’ll hear a chime. So, crank that volume up if you have to step away.

Waiting rooms typically open 15 minutes before tickets go on sale, so check in early. For the smoothest process, the company recommends saving your payment info ahead of time with a current email, phone number and billing info.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/ticketmaster-proudly-announces-it-will-follow-the-law-and-show-prices-up-front-194624489.html?src=rss

xMEMS has launched the Sycamore-W, which it claims is the “world’s thinnest speaker designed specifically for wrist-worn wearables.” The Sycamore-W is only 1 mm thin and weighs only 150 mg, making it approximately 70 percent smaller than the speakers typically used for smart watches. xMEMS took the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology used in cell phones’ microphones and developed drivers based on it for use in earphones instead. Last year, it launched the Sycamore speakers, based on the same platform as its original product, for open-fit earbuds, smart glasses and smart watches. 

While the original Sycamore could already be used in smartwatches, the Sycamore-W was engineered specifically for wrist-based wearables. Since it’s very thin, companies can fit larger batteries or more biometric sensors into their products. The speakers are also water, dust and shock-resistant. “Sycamore-W redefines audio for smart watches, combining compact design with robust performance to meet the demands of next-generation wearables,” said Mike Housholder, xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development. “As the wrist becomes a key interface for ears-free, hands-free AI interactions, Sycamore-W empowers manufacturers to deliver premium audio in smaller, lighter, more durable devices.”

The company is planning to start volume production for the Sycamore-W in the second quarter of 2026, so we won’t be seeing products that use the component until sometime next year. xMEMS will continue producing the original Sycamore speakers for smart glasses, open-fit earbuds and laptops, but it will announce more models for more specific applications in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/xmems-launches-a-tiny-speaker-for-smartwatches-130026711.html?src=rss

Imagine a world where AI-powered bots can buy or sell cryptocurrency, make investments, and execute software-defined contracts at the blink of an eye, depending on minute-to-minute currency prices, breaking news, or other market-moving events. Then imagine an adversary causing the bot to redirect payments to an account they control by doing nothing more than entering a few sentences into the bot’s prompt.

That’s the scenario depicted in recently released research that developed a working exploit against ElizaOS, a fledgling open source framework.

ElizaOS is a framework for creating agents that use large language models to perform various blockchain-based transactions on behalf of a user based on a set of predefined rules. It was introduced in October under the name Ai16z and was changed to its current name in January. The framework remains largely experimental, but champions of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)—a model in which communities or companies are governed by decentralized computer programs running on blockchains—see it as a potential engine for jumpstarting the creation of agents that automatically navigate these so-called DAOs on behalf of end users.

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Spotify’s AI DJ is taking requests. Starting on Tuesday, Premium subscribers can ask it to play something that fits the mood. Although the company added a Spanish-speaking version last year, requests are only available in English at launch.

The AI DJ will respond to verbal requests for a specific artist, genre, mood or something that fits an activity. Spotify suggests phrases like “DJ, morning motivation needed ASAP,” “Surprise me with some indie tracks” or “Play me something with a Y2K vibe.”

You can find it by heading to the search tab and entering “DJ.” After it starts spinning, press and hold the DJ button in the lower right-hand corner. Once you hear a beep, you can tell your synthetic disc jockey about your insatiable thirst for A Flock of Seagulls deep cuts.

Spotify’s AI DJ launched in 2023, aiming to strike a balance between today’s ultra-personalized streaming algorithms and old-school radio. The company says none of its dialog is pre-recorded. It’s all generated on the fly via OpenAI.

Whether you love or hate the DJ, it can make for unintentional comedy as it butchers names and falls prey to AI’s inevitable awkwardness. When I tried it with a classic blues mix, it consistently pronounced Howlin’ Wolf as “Hole-in’ Wolf.” Some gems from a 2024 Reddit thread include “Blink One Hundred Eighty-Two” and “Here are some of your typical Sunday morning vibes, starting off with Shitfucker.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/spotifys-ai-dj-now-takes-requests-130005706.html?src=rss