Fable Release Window Is Finally Revealed After Massive Developer Direct Deep Dive

Fable Release Window Is Finally Revealed After Massive Developer Direct Deep Dive
It’s been a long time coming, but Fable is finally back in a shiny new rebooted form, with a confirmed multi-platform release window for Autumn of this year across Xbox consoles & services including Play Anywhere, PC, and PlayStation 5. A deep-dive on the new Fable, as well as this release window confirmation, came out with Xbox’s Developer

China Makes Too Many Cars, and the World Is Increasingly OK With It

After years of Western governments raising alarms about Chinese automotive overcapacity and erecting tariff barriers, an unexpected pivot is now underway as major economies cautiously open their markets to Chinese electric vehicles, Bloomberg writes. Beijing itself has started acknowledging the problem at home. Chinese regulators last week warned of “severe penalties” for automakers defying efforts to rationalize pricing in the country’s car market, and earlier this month a government ministry urged battery makers to curtail expansion and cutthroat competition.

The European Union imposed steep tariffs on Chinese EV imports in 2024 and is now considering replacing them with minimum import price agreements. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney last week decided to allow 49,000 Chinese EVs annually at a 6.1% tariff rate, removing a 100% surtax. Germany announced this week that its $3.5 billion EV subsidy program will be open to all manufacturers including Chinese brands. Germany’s environment minister Carsten Schneider dismissed concerns during a January 19 press conference: “I cannot see any evidence of this postulated major influx of Chinese car manufacturers in Germany, either in the figures or on the roads.”

BYD registered an eightfold increase in sales in Germany last year and pulled ahead of Tesla, though Volkswagen still registered around 2,300 vehicles for every one BYD sold.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Apple will begin showing more App Store ads starting in March

More ads are coming to App Store search results starting in March, Apple shared on an advertising help page. The company first said that it would increase the number of App Store ads last month, and this new rollout of search ads will begin on Tuesday, March 3, according to a developer email viewed by MacRumors.

“Search is the way most people find and download apps on the App Store, with nearly 65 percent of downloads happening directly after a search,” Apple says. “To help give advertisers more opportunities to drive downloads from search results, Apple Ads will introduce additional ads across search queries.” Up until this point, ads for related apps have appeared at the top of search results, but now they’ll also appear “further down in search results,” according to Apple.

App Store activity makes up a significant portion of what Apple calls its “services” business. The company makes money on every App Store transaction, whether it’s an app download or an in-app purchase, and increasingly, by selling ad space to companies looking to reach users. App Store ads are hardly new, but the number of ads has steadily increased over the years. Apple added ads to the Today tab in 2022 — a space that’s already home to editorial curation that doubles as marketing — and in 2025, Bloomberg reported the company planned to bring ads to Apple Maps.

Apple’s decision to rebrand its advertising business from Apple Search Ads to Apple Ads in April 2025 was maybe the best indication that the company was interested in expanding the number of places it would help partners try and reach customers. And it makes sense: the company’s billions of devices, each pre-installed with default apps, are some of the most valuable real estate it owns.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-will-begin-showing-more-app-store-ads-starting-in-march-192031226.html?src=rss

10 Shows Like ‘Landman’ You Should Should Watch Next

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Taylor Sheridan and Billy Bob Thornton are such a natural pairing that it’s not at all surprising that Landman has been yet another hit for the creator behind Yellowstone and it’s many spin-offs. Thornton plays Billy Norris, a crackerjack consultant, fixer, and general hired gun for a major oil conglomerate in present-day West Texas. Beyond the complicated economics and politics of the oil industry, the poor guy’s also dealing with extremely complicated family drama, debt, criminal ties, and substance-abuse issues. Call it Dallas for a new generation.

You can stream Landman on Paramount+, and check out these similar shows after your binge is complete.

Mayor of Kingstown (2021– )

Another Taylor Sheridan creation, this one stars Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky, head of a family that’s been keeping the peace, more or less, in the title’s company town for decades. The “business” of the corrupt burg just happens to be incarceration, and the McLuskys thrive when business is up, even if Mike himself has slightly different ideas about how to run things. The show deals, at least broadly, with systemic racism and inequality in the prison system, but mostly it’s a modern day western about bringing justice to a corrupt town. Stream Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+.


Dallas (2012 – 2014)

It’s tempting to direct you back to the original series’ 14-season run, but that one’s a harder to stream—and besides, this direct continuation is still pretty fun. Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Larry Hagman (as the original’s J.R.) are all back, joined by a new generation lead by Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalf, and Jordana Brewster. They’re every bit as scheming, conniving, horny, and oil obsessed as their parents. Stream Dallas on Tubi.


Yellowstone (2018 – 2024)

The Taylor Sheridan drama that launched an empire, as well as a thousand spin-offs (well, seven, including those in development). The Dutton family of Montana, owners of the largest cattle ranch in the state, deal with family and political drama—a bit like a modern Dallas, but with the vibes of HBO’s Succession. Though the main series ended after five seasons, mostly to accommodate the departure of Kevin Costner, there’s plenty more to explore in the past and future of the Yellowstone universe. Stream Yellowstone on Peacock.


Empire (2015 – 2020)

Terrence Howard leads a truly impressive cast (among them Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe, and Vivica A. Fox) in this juicy, glossy, hip-hop infused soap opera. Howard plays Lucious Jackson (neé drug dealer Dwight Walker), who changed his own fortunes by building Empire Entertainment from the ground up. As the series begins, the music mogul is diagnosed with ALS and given a life expectancy of only a few more years. Refusing to watch his life’s work die, he sets his three sons at odds to determine who’ll be the one to control things when he’s gone. His schemes are complicated by the release from prison of Cookie Lyon (Henson), the co-founder of the company and Jackson’s ex-wife. As the kids say: drama! There’s a little bit of Dallas and a little bit of Succession (which Empire predates) here, sharing with those shows and Landman the whole family dynasty thing, but with hip-hop rather than black gold. Stream Empire on Hulu and Tubi.


Goliath (2016 – 2021)

If the pull of Landman is Billy Bob Thornton as a complicated anti-hero with substance abuse issues, this David E. Kelley legal drama will work just fine as a streamalike, even in the absence of oil wells. Here, Thornton plays Billy McBride, a once-successful lawyer who left the firm he built after a murder suspect he’d gotten acquitted went on to kill his family. After a long run of doing not much other than drinking, he’s drawn back into the fray when a dead man’s sister asks for his help on a case involving his old firm, a major corporation, and some very crooked cops. Stream Goliath on Prime Video.


Mine (2021)

American TV shows tend to view the wealthy with nuance, even when they’re engaged in overtly criminal behavior. South Korean creators, on the other hand, have no problem criticizing the 1% (Parasite and Squid Game are hardly outliers), particularly the plutocratic chaebol families who control huge portions of the country’s economy. The minseries Mine centers the women who are jockeying for control of the massive, fictional Hyowon Group from within their family’s outrageously opulent (and extremely photogenic) residential compound. The plans of two increasingly powerful women who married into the family, Hi-soo and Seo-hyun, are thrown into disarray when the new housemaid begins a romantic relationship with one of the male heirs, while a new tutor seems ready to expose old family secrets. It’s very much a Dynasty-style soap opera, with various family members crawling over each other seeking control and a sense of identity. Stream Mine on Netflix.


The Waterfront (2025)

Swapping big-time oil for a family fishing business may seem like a big leap, but we’ve still got plenty of crime and drugs in this Netflix series. Holt McCallany plays Harlan Buckley, returning to manage the family business, one which is tied up with multiple dueling drug cartels, as well as unreliable family members and at least one (Supergirl‘s Melissa Benoist) who’s looking to escape her own legal problems by working with the FBI against her father and brother. Stream The Waterfront on Netflix.


Joe Pickett (2021 – 2023)

A vibe match that, while it doesn’t replicate Landman‘s family and business drama, still runs with the neo-western feel that defines a Taylor Sheridan show. Michael Dorman stars as Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden with a violent past and, well, a violent present too. Dorman’s Pickett is less of a tough action hero type, and more of a likable, everyday guy who just happens to be wrapped up in a murder via his day job. It’s not a comedy, but is definitely a bit weirder and more surreal than the more literal style of something like Landman, which lacks flourishes like Pickett‘s memorable emu wrestling scene. Stream Joe Pickett on Paramount+.


Queen Sugar (2016 – 2022)

Another intense family business drama with a dash of a succession crisis: In Queen Sugar, three largely estranged siblings in distant cities are brought together by the death of their father, who has left them each an equal share in an 800-acre sugarcane farm in rural Louisiana. The Ava DuVernay-produced (and sometimes directed) series offers plenty of scandal and soapy drama, but ultimately, it’s a show about a family coming back together to preserve its legacy. The siblings (Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe) are a bit less gritty and troubled than the Norris family (they’re mostly trying to do the right thing), but they still generate enough drama to fuel seven successful seasons. Stream Queen Sugar on Hulu.


The Son (2017 – 2019)

The popularity of Taylor Sheridan-esque neo-westerns leads us, inevitably, to something closer to an actual western. In this series, adapting Philipp Meyer’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize-finalist novel of the same name, Pierce Brosnan plays Eli McCullough, a ruthless cattle baron making moves to get in on the burgeoning oil industry in the Rio Grande Valley of 1915. A parallel narrative sees Eli as a young man, kidnapped and raised among a Nʉmʉnʉʉ family. While his backstory lends the character welcome complexity, in the present, he’s as determined to build his empire as he is to prepare his son and grandson to take over when he’s gone. Stream The Son on Prime Video and AMC+.

Review: Tour de Zwift 2026 Kit by Pedal Mafia

Tour de Zwift 2026 is underway, and Zwift has partnered with Pedal Mafia to create a real-life version of the eye-popping in-game kit.

Shop the Pedal Mafia Kit >

Zwift has worked with Pedal Mafia on several kits in recent years, including:

This means I’ve grown very familiar with Pedal Mafia’s offerings. Fortunately, I like the fit and feel of Pedal Mafia’s stuff!

This year’s Tour de Zwift kit is nearly identical in construction to the Watopia Essentials kit I recently reviewed, since both are based on Pedal Mafia’s workhorse “Core” collection. Therefore, much of the content below will be duplicated from my recent review. (The two kits are built the same, but of course, use very different colors.)

Note: You may have noticed cycling influencers wearing this kit recently in social media posts. In the past year or two, Zwift has clearly pivoted away from traditional paid marketing campaigns and leaned instead into the influencer space, where you get more bang for your buck. That’s why you’re seeing more big-name riders pitching Zwift Ride and early-release versions of Zwift merch. And while I’m not a big-name rider by any stretch, I was sent this kit free of charge, like other “Zwinfluencers.” It’s how the cycling world works these days!

Also: sizing can be tricky with cycling kit. For reference, I’m 5′-10″ tall (178cm) and currently around 185 lbs (84 kg). I put my actual measurements in the text below where appropriate.

Tour De Zwift 26 Bib Shorts

Priced at $168USD, the bib shorts are from Pedal Mafia’s Core collection. (This is the more affordable “do everything” collection vs the more expensive “Pro” line.)

The most distinctive thing about these shorts is their bright turquoise color, which will certainly stand out in a crowd. I’d go so far as to call them high vis shorts, which isn’t something you see every day!

Speaking of colors, it’s worth noting that, like any non-black kit, sweat darkens these shorts (see the second photo below), which may or may not concern you.

I have a 34.5″ waist and 39.5″ hips, so I went with the medium bib as recommended by the sizing chart.

The Tour De Zwift 26 bibs aren’t indoor-specific, so they don’t include some of the extra-breathable features indoor kits often have, like mesh panels, minimal chamois, or super lightweight strapping. That said, the brace paneling on the back and lower front is nicely perforated, even though the straps themselves are not, and the main short fabric (75% recycled warp knit lycra) is just the right thickness to allow sweat to evaporate indoors while still working well outside in most conditions.

While I haven’t had time to run the Tour De Zwift 26 bibs through the wringer across many rides (since they were just released), I do own multiple pairs of Pedal Mafia’s core bibs, so I know what kind of durability to expect. I’d say these shorts hold up as well as other mid-range bibs, with the first point of failure for me being some frayed stitching in the inner leg area due to saddle rub. (This hasn’t affected the feel or wearability of the bibs, but it’s something worth noting.)

Chamois fit is a very personal thing, but I prefer thinner pads, especially for indoor riding. I’d say the Tour De Zwift 26 bibs’ chamois is on the thin side as chamois go, while still having plenty of thickness for all-day/outdoor wear.

Leg length on Pedal Mafia bibs tends to be on the longer side, as this “pro look” is the trend in today’s kits. I don’t particularly love super-long legs, as they aren’t helpful for indoor riding. That said, I ordered the medium bibs, which fit great on my frame.

If you look closely, you’ll see some nice finishing touches on these bibs: a little pocket on the back brace to hold a gel or even your phone, a logo on the chamois, plus the feel-good factor of 75% recycled lycra composition… these aren’t just basic bibs. They also feature an extra-wide leg gripper, which is actually the only difference I can see between these and the Watopia Essentials bibs, which feature a Pedal Mafia-branded leg gripper via the more “generic” diamond gripper of the TdZ bibs (see below).

Watopia Essentials leg gripper
Tour De Zwift 26 leg gripper

Tour De Zwift 26 Jersey

The Tour De Zwift 26 jersey, like the bibs, is based on Pedal Mafia’s “Core” line. Priced at $128USD, this is a well-made, indoor-friendly jersey with some nice finishing touches.

It’s interesting that the IRL jersey doesn’t quite match the in-game jersey, for whatever reason. The overall color panels match, as do a few of the graphics and their placements. But there are lots of differences, too. How many can you spot? �

Based on my chest measurement of 38″ (and my experience with wearing other PM Core kits) I went with a medium jersey, as I prefer a tighter fit.

While the sizing chart would have placed me in a large jersey (just barely), I went with a medium because I prefer a tighter fit, and because I’ve got a few medium Pedal Mafia core jerseys in my closet already. These jerseys fit nicely, with plenty of length in the arms and rear torso without being too long in the front. (I hate it when jerseys bunch up in front when you’re hunched over the bike.)

While this isn’t an indoor-specific jersey, it is a very breathable top that works well outdoors in summer heat as well as indoors on the trainer. The arms and side panels use a 3D mesh material that keeps you dry and cool without being so fragile that it breaks down in the wash (not an easy balance to strike!). The front and back use a denser but still lightweight perforated fabric that provides more coverage but still wicks sweat and allows airflow for drying.

In my experience, it takes a lot of riding to wear out a jersey, unless it’s a super-light one made specifically for indoor riding or hot weather. All of my Pedal Mafia Core jerseys have held up well with no tears from washing or frayed stitching, so I expect the Tour De Zwift 26 jersey to do the same.

There are lots of small finishing touches on this jersey. These include a PM-branded waist gripper, a tag with spaces to write your emergency details, a zippered side pocket, and various TdZ 26 graphics (see pics above).

Final Notes

Overall, I’d say the Tour De Zwift 26 kit does what Pedal Mafia’s core line is known for: walking the line between quality and price. It performs where you want kit to perform, without soaring into the upper price ranges.

The colors will be a sticking point with some, for sure. The bright bibs, especially, will prove to be a fashion bridge too far for some riders! But others will love the distinctive look of this kit. Tour de Zwift kits have historically been playful and brightly colored, and this year’s design clearly builds on that tradition.

Lastly, I should mention: it’s always fun to have the same in-game kit as you’re physically wearing, like I’m doing above. To unlock the TdZ 26 kit in game, you must complete all 6 stages.

Read all about Tour de Zwift 2026 here >

Questions or Comments?

Post below!

White House alters arrest photo of ICE protester, says “the memes will continue”

The Trump White House yesterday posted a manipulated photo of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minnesota civil rights attorney who was arrested after protesting in a church where a pastor is allegedly also an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted what seems to be the original photo of Armstrong being led away by an officer yesterday morning. A half hour later, the official White House X account posted an altered version in which Armstrong’s face was manipulated to make it appear that she was crying.

“The White House shared an AI-edited photo of Nekima, depicting her in tears and scared when, in actuality, she was poised, determined, and unafraid,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said yesterday.

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Vimeo lays off most of its staff just months after being bought by private equity firm

Vimeo just got hit by a brutal round of layoffs, according to a report by Business Insider. Staffers are posting on various social media sites that the layoffs have impacted most of the company, including the entire video team. Vimeo is a video-hosting platform, so that sounds bad.

“Yesterday, following Vimeo’s recent acquisition by a private equity firm, I learned that I, along with a large portion of the company, was impacted by layoffs,” wrote the company’s former vice president of Global Brand & Creative, Dave Brown. He is referring to a firm called Bending Spoons that bought Vimeo for $1.38 billion in the latter half of 2025.

We don’t know why parent company Bending Spoons conducted such a massive round of layoffs, but the equity firm is known for purchasing tech companies and aggressively cutting costs via layoffs. It did the same thing to Evernote back in 2023 and WeTransfer in 2024. Engadget has reached out to Vimeo to inquire about the exact number of employees that were laid off and will update this post when we hear back.

“I can confirm that a layoff was announced at Vimeo on January 20, 2026. To respect the privacy of those departing, we cannot provide additional details at this time,” a Bending Spoons spokesperson told Gizmodo in an emailed statement. “Going forward, Bending Spoons remains committed to growing Vimeo to meet the needs of its diverse user base.”

Reviving this account to say: Almost everyone at Vimeo was laid off yesterday, including the entire video team. If you’re looking for talented engineers, there are a few on the market.

Sucks to see something I built killed by private equity in a technology company skin suit.

— Derek Buitenhuis (@daemon404) January 21, 2026

It’s good to know the company “remains committed to growing Vimeo” after firing just about everyone that works there. One former employee said on X that it “sucks to see something I built killed by private equity in a technology company skin suit.”

Vimeo has been around a long time. The platform was founded a full year before YouTube and has positioned itself as being a premium alternative for hosting creative and business-adjacent videos. We have no idea what it’ll look like with a minimal staff and no video team.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/vimeo-lays-off-most-of-its-staff-just-months-after-being-bought-by-private-equity-firm-184556023.html?src=rss

Super Mario Wonder’s Talking Flower Becomes A Real Gadget With Time And Temp Quips

Super Mario Wonder’s Talking Flower Becomes A Real Gadget With Time And Temp Quips
Nintendo has a rich history of releasing unique accessories, like the R.O.B (Robotic Operating Buddy) during the Nintendo Entertainment System era and the more recent Alarmo designed to help fans start the day. And the company has a new one on the way based on the Talking Flower from the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game.

The Talking Flower

Solar and Wind Overtake Fossil Fuels in the EU

Wind and solar power overtook fossil fuels last year as a source of electricity in the EU for the first time, a new report found. Semafor adds: The milestone was hit largely thanks to a rise in solar power, which generated a record 13% of electricity in the EU, according to Ember. Together, wind and solar hit 30% of EU electricity generation, edging out fossil fuels at 29%.

The shift is especially important with the bloc’s alternative to Russian LNG — Washington — becoming increasingly unreliable and willing to weaponize economic tools. The US Commerce Secretary threw shade at the bloc’s renewable push during Davos, warning that China uses net zero goals to make allies “subservient” by controlling battery and critical mineral supply chains.

Still, renewables now provide nearly half of EU power, with wind and solar outpacing all fossil sources in more than half of member countries. “The stakes of transitioning to clean energy are clearer than ever,” the Ember report’s author said.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Tesla paywalls lane centering on new Model 3 and Model Y purchases

Tesla just objectively decreased the value of the Model 3 and Model Y. On Thursday, the company said it’s paywalling its lane-centering feature, Autosteer, for new purchases of the two EVs in the US and Canada. This was previously a standard feature. Lane centering is now part of the Full Self-Driving Supervised (FSD) package, which costs $99 per month.

Speculating on why Tesla would do this doesn’t require much imagination. Remember the pay package Tesla shareholders approved for Musk in November? One of his requirements for receiving up to $1 trillion is reaching 10 million active FSD subscriptions.

TOPSHOT - Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
One of Musk’s stipulations for receiving $1 trillion is reaching 10 million active FSD subscriptions. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images

As for the details, Tesla killed the Basic Autopilot feature that was standard on the Model 3 and Model Y. That package included both Autosteer and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC). Now, the latter will remain a standard feature, but Autosteer now requires that $99-per-month FSD subscription. The change applies only to new purchases, not existing owners.

The move comes ahead of FSD’s switch to a subscription-only service. After February 14, you’ll no longer be able to buy the package for a one-time $8,000 upfront fee. If you want FSD (or just lane centering) from now on, your annual cost will be $1,188.

Making matters worse, Musk warned that FSD won’t remain at $99 monthly forever. “I should also mention that the $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve,” the Tesla CEO posted on X. He didn’t indicate when that might happen or what the increase would be.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-paywalls-lane-centering-on-new-model-3-and-model-y-purchases-184000707.html?src=rss

Walkabout Mini Golf Studio Mighty Coconut Course Corrects With Layoffs, $1 More For Future DLC

The studio behind Walkabout Mini Golf confirmed layoffs and a course correction to strategy in the wake of Meta’s shifting platform ambitions.

Mighty Coconut joins Cloudhead Games and many others in layoffs, with the studios representing two ends of a spectrum of focused VR development that has been influenced directly or indirectly by the shifting spending and priorities at Facebook and Meta. Cloudhead’s Pistol Whip and Mighty Coconut’s Walkabout Mini Golf remain two of the best ways you can spend your time in a VR headset, but the engines of creativity behind those works keep changing.

Mighty Coconut posted contact information for several former workers to LinkedIn in an attempt to see them recruited elsewhere, and confirmed to UploadVR roughly eight jobs ended in the change with 27 continuing full time.

“We’re feeling the economic pressures of the VR space. It’s an incredibly rewarding place to build games—but it’s also a tough one, especially for studios of our size,” a statement reads. “After a lot of long conversations, trimming expenses, and careful number-crunching, it became clear that reducing our size by about 25% was the only sustainable path forward. As a result, we’re losing some immensely talented people that would be an asset to any studio. “

New DLC courses will be priced $4.99 in virtual reality with the parallel Pocket Edition for iPhones seeing a full pause to development, so no new courses outside VR. Existing paid DLC courses will remain $3.99 in VR.

“We’d like to keep crossplay between VR and mobile functional for as long as we can, but we will also be sunsetting that at some point,” a development update note explained. “We will be sure to announce that in advance once we do.”

When it comes to scheduling, Mighty Coconut is also planning a bigger pause to the release schedule over summer to leave them with one less course in their planned schedule for the year, even as work continues on courses for 2027.

Additional activities in the game like chess and slingshots remain functional but further development is being put into new courses first.

“We feel confident that with these changes, Walkabout Mini Golf will be around for many, many courses to come,” the note reads.

Walkabout Mini Golf was shown at standalone headset demo events powered by operating systems from Google and Valve, but Galaxy XR launched with limited controller availability and Steam Frame is still distributing development kits.

Telly’s “free” ad-based TVs make notable revenue—when they’re actually delivered

Telly, a company that accepts advertising data instead of cash for its TVs, has reportedly had a hard time getting its “free” TVs into people’s homes.

Telly debuted in May 2023. Its dual-screen design can show ads, even when people aren’t watching. Although the smaller, secondary screen can be used for more helpful applications, like showing the weather or sports scores, its primary purpose is to serve as a billboard south of the 55-inch primary display. Owners cannot disable tracking or cover up the secondary screen (or they have to pay for the TV, which Telly claims is worth $1,000), and they must fill out a lengthy, detailed survey to get one.

When it debuted its TV, Telly said it expected to ship 500,000 devices that summer. In June 2023, the startup said 250,000 people signed up to get a Telly. In a 2024 press release, Telly said that it planned to ship “millions more in 2024.”

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Tesla Has Dropped This Basic Autopilot Feature, Forcing US Drivers Into Subscriptions

If you’re in the market for a new Tesla, your fancy new electric car is going to be a little less smart—unless you pony up for a subscription. According to reporting from Elektrek and buying experiences from drivers, the company is ditching the basic Autopilot mode that used to come standard in new vehicles, and is now pushing buyers to subscribe to Full Self-Driving instead.

Before, Autopilot consisted of two minor but helpful driving assist features. The first was Traffic Aware Cruise Control, which automatically adjusts speed based on the speed limit and surrounding cars, and the second was Autosteer, which helps keep you in the center of your lane. The idea was that, while highway driving, you could turn on Autopilot and essentially let your car drive itself (while still remaining attentive and aware, of course).

Now, though, Autosteer will only be available as part of a Full Self-Driving, or FSD, subscription. Traffic Aware Cruise Control will still come standard on new vehicles, but highway drivers who aren’t paying Tesla a monthly fee will now need to make tiny corrections every once in a while to keep from veering into the wrong lane.

Making its cars dumber by default is an odd move for a company that wants to be seen as cutting-edge, although if removing Autopilot encourages more FSD subscriptions, that would see more users with Tesla’s most-advanced self-driving tech on the road. Unfortunately, that goal will be pretty costly for consumers. A Full Self-Driving subscription currently costs $99 per month, although until Feb. 14, you are able to buy a lifetime FSD subscription for $8,000.

Which features you’d get with an FSD sub depends on what’s legally available in your area, but in addition to bringing back Autosteer, upgrading could also net you assistance with parking, pickups, and lane changes. However, if all you want is to get your basic functionality back, disgruntled drivers are pointing out that the discontinued features continue to be offered standard on lower-cost models from competing brands, like Toyota.

The move to push Full Self-Driving subscriptions also comes alongside a promise from Tesla owner Elon Musk that pricing for the feature will go up as it improves, although the statement seemed to mostly focus on hopes of a future unsupervised FSD mode rather than more minor upgrades.

At any rate, it’s getting more expensive to buy a Tesla that lives up to the futuristic dreams the marketing promises. The company does still offer a slightly less expensive $6,000 “Enhanced Autopilot” add-on in some international regions, which combines the features from basic Autopilot with a few FSD features, but North American customers will now have no choice but to subscribe.

TikTok deal is done; Trump wants praise while users fear MAGA tweaks

The TikTok deal is done, and Donald Trump is claiming a win, although it remains unclear if the joint venture he arranged with ByteDance and the Chinese government actually resolves Congress’ national security concerns.

In a press release Thursday, TikTok announced the “TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC,” an entity established to keep TikTok operating in the US.

Giving Americans majority ownership, ByteDance retains 19.9 percent of the joint venture, the release said, which has been valued at $14 billion. Three managing investors—Silver Lake, Oracle, and MGX—each hold 15 percent, while other investors, including Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell’s investment firm, Dell Family Office, hold smaller, undisclosed stakes.

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