Rocket Report: Chinese rockets fail twice in 12 hours; Rocket Lab reports setback

Welcome to Edition 8.26 of the Rocket Report! The past week has been one of advancements and setbacks in the rocket business. NASA rolled the massive rocket for the Artemis II mission to its launch pad in Florida, while Chinese launchers suffered back-to-back failures within a span of approximately 12 hours. Rocket Lab’s march toward a debut of its new Neutron launch vehicle in the coming months may have stalled after a failure during a key qualification test. We cover all this and more in this week’s Rocket Report.

As always, we welcome reader submissions. If you don’t want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets, as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

Australia invests in sovereign launch. Six months after its first orbital rocket cleared the launch tower for just 14 seconds before crashing back to Earth, Gilmour Space Technologies has secured 217 million Australian dollars ($148 million) in funding that CEO Adam Gilmour says finally gives Australia a fighting chance in the global space race, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The funding round, led by the federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and superannuation giant Hostplus with $75 million each, makes the Queensland company Australia’s newest unicorna fast-growth start-up valued at more than $1 billionand one of the country’s most heavily backed private technology ventures.

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Intel Beats Q4 Estimates, Guides Lower But Nova Lake Desktop CPUs Arrive In 2026

Intel Beats Q4 Estimates, Guides Lower But Nova Lake Desktop CPUs Arrive In 2026
Intel’s fourth quarter earnings are in and they reflect a 4.1% year-over-year loss to $13.7 billion (same as the previous quarter), bringing the full-year tally to a flat $52.9 billion. According to Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, the company “delivered a solid finish to the year” despite the loss, which along with downward guidance for the current

GNU Guix 1.5.0 released

Version
1.5.0
of the GNU Guix package manager and the Guix System have
been released. Notable improvements include the ability to run the
Guix daemon without root privileges, support for 64-bit RISC-V, and
experimental support for the GNU Hurd kernel.

The release comes with ISO-9660 installation images, virtual
machine images, and with tarballs to install the package manager on
top of your GNU/Linux distro, either from source or from
binaries—check out the download page. Guix users can update by running
guix pull.

It’s been 3 years since the previous release. That’s a lot of time,
reflecting both the fact that, as a rolling release, users
continuously get new features and update by running guix pull; but it
also shows a lack of processes, something that we had to address
before another release could be made.

During that time, Guix received about 71,338 commits by 744 people,
which include many new features.

LWN last looked at Guix in
February 2024.

Tiny falcons are helping keep the food supply safe on cherry farms

Every spring, raptors return to nesting sites across northern Michigan. The smallest of these birds of prey, a falcon called the American kestrel (Falco sparverius), flies through the region’s many cherry orchards and spends its days hunting for even tinier creatures to eat. This quest keeps the kestrels fed, but it also benefits the region’s cherry farmers.

Fruit farmers have been working symbiotically with kestrels for decades, adding nesting boxes and reaping the benefits of the birds eliminating the mice, voles, songbirds, and other pests that wreak havoc by feeding on not-yet-harvested crops. In addition to limiting the crop damage caused by hungry critters, new research suggests kestrels also lower the risk of food-borne illnesses.

The study, published in November in the Journal of Applied Ecology, suggests the kestrels help keep harmful pathogens off of fruit headed to consumers by eating and scaring off small birds that carry those pathogens. Orchards housing the birds in nest boxes saw fewer cherry-eating birds than orchards without kestrels on site. This translated to an 81 percent reduction in crop damage—such as bite marks or missing fruit—and a 66 percent decrease in branches contaminated with bird feces.

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Samsung Bespoke Fridge with AI review: All the bells and whistles

At their core, refrigerators are relatively simple devices. If you’re the type of person to view every extra feature as a component that could potentially go wrong, basic iceboxes are probably the kind you go for. But for those on the other end of the spectrum, Samsung’s latest Bespoke Refrigerators with AI inside have more bells and whistles than you might think possible — including an optional 32-inch screen.

Editor’s note: The model we tested for this review came out in the second half of 2025 and will continue to be on sale throughout 2026. Hardware will remain the same, the only changes will come in the form of an OTA software update slated for later this year that will add support for Google Gemini, improved food recognition/labeling and more. 

Design: As sleek as a fridge can be

If you’re into faux vintage appliances like Smeg’s retro-inspired models, Samsung’s offerings might not be for you. For everyone else, the Bespoke family does minimalist design better than practically any other line of fridges on the market. Granted, the counter-depth French Door AI model I tested is a bit of a departure thanks to a huge 32-inch screen embedded in its right-side door. That said, there are a ton of configurations, including the choice of a smaller 9-inch panel or models without a display at all. The latter looks like a big rectangle, but in a way that Dieter Rams would probably appreciate (I’m just guessing, I don’t have his contact info). Other options include setups ranging from four-door models to side-by-side two-door variants or even a single-panel upright model. 

Glare is one of the tiny downsides of a fridge with a glass front.
Glare is one of the tiny downsides of a fridge with a glass front.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

On my review unit, the fresh food section is a touch smaller (16.5 cubic feet) than you might expect from a fridge this size, though I’ve never really felt limited by the amount of available storage. Samsung does a good job of optimizing interior space by providing a number of adjustable shelves, including a sliding one on the right side that makes it easy to store taller items without completely sacrificing flat space for others. The shelves are also spill proof and made out of tempered glass, so they resist scratches and just look a bit nicer than those made from lower-quality materials. I also appreciate how Samsung found a spot between the two crisper drawers for the water filter, instead of just sticking it in the top corner like a lot of competitors. 

Even with the FlexZone drawer stealing some space, the main section of this Bespoke model still features 16.5 cubic feet of storage.
Even with the FlexZone drawer stealing some space, the main section of this Bespoke model still features 16.5 cubic feet of storage.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Meanwhile, in exchange for a slightly smaller main cabinet, this model has what Samsung calls a FlexZone drawer, which might be my second favorite thing about this fridge. It’s perfectly designed for storing things like 12-ounce cans and juice boxes, and as someone who always likes to keep a couple of chilled Coke Zeros on standby, it’s super convenient. That said, taller bottled drinks may need to be stored on their sides, which doesn’t feel quite as efficient. But really, you can put anything you want in there and if you have young children like me, it’s an excellent place to keep refrigerated kids’ snacks. My four-year-old can go in there on his own without needing help from an adult to reach stuff higher up. Samsung even gives you the ability to set a different temperature for the FlexDrawer, which is a nice touch.

The optional FlexZone drawer is amazing for stashing drinks or having a refrigerated section that's easy for kids to reach.
The optional FlexZone drawer is amazing for stashing drinks or having a refrigerated section that’s easy for kids to reach.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Additionally, along with some rivals from LG, this fridge also has touch sensors at the bottom of each door that let you open them with a light tap. While I still prefer to just grab the built-in handles (which are located both above and below each door), this is a nice inclusion, particularly on a fridge that doesn’t have giant handgrips bolted to the outside. My one small gripe with Samsung’s exterior design is that its top isn’t completely flat as it dips down in back. Admittedly, this hasn’t stopped me from storing stuff like sheet pans and roasting trays above the fridge, but it would be nicer if things were fully level up there. 

Water and ice dispensing: Samsung’s Beverage Center reigns supreme

I’ve already gone on record about how Samsung’s Beverage Center is the best new feature to land on any fridge in years, so without belaboring the point, but I’ll happily wax poetic about it again. Instead of having a water dispenser installed smack dab on the outside of the door, Samsung opted to hide things behind an exterior flap on the left side of the fridge. This accomplishes several things. Not only does it feel a bit more hygienic because the spigot isn’t subjected directly to all the germs swirling around the kitchen or a cough or sneeze from anyone passing by, it also simplifies the fridge’s exterior design. This might sound a bit weird, but I’ve always thought that putting water dispensers on the outside of a fridge was kind of like installing a shower in the middle of a room. It’s just kind of awkward. Furthermore, by opening the Beverage Center’s door, you also have access to one of the fridge’s interior shelves, which makes it quick and easy to grab things like ketchup, mustard or any other sauces you might need for a meal. My wife stashes her matcha there, so it’s readily available first thing in the morning. 

Samsung's Beverage Center is one of the best fridge innovations and years. It includes both a water dispenser and a built-in pitcher that refills itself automatically.
Samsung’s Beverage Center is one of the best fridge innovations and years. It includes both a water dispenser and a built-in pitcher that refills itself automatically.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

But the most important thing is that right next to the spigot, there’s also a built-in water pitcher that automatically refills itself after every use. This means there’s pretty much always 40+ ounces of ice-cold water (depending on the specific model) that you can pull out and pour. This allows you to fill up everyone’s cup in seconds like a server at a restaurant, instead of blocking the entire fridge while you slowly top off each glass individually. To me, it’s the difference between an active process where you can dictate your own pace versus having to stand there while the machine takes its sweet time. Plus, if you like infusing your water with fruit or tea, there’s a built-in basket filter for that too. The Beverage Center is a truly useful innovation and one of Samsung’s biggest advantages over its rivals, and because the company patented it, it’ll be years before competitors can come up with copies.

The top shelf in the freezer also contains the ice maker, which comes with an included scoop and the ability to make two difference kinds of cubes.
The top shelf in the freezer also contains the ice maker, which comes with an included scoop and the ability to make two difference kinds of cubes.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

As for ice, the model I’m testing can produce two different types: regular cubes and smaller pebbles. There’s also an included scooper and a dedicated shelf for storing it. Now I will admit that the smaller pebbles aren’t quite as good as what you get from a standalone nugget-style icemaker, but in my experience they’re more than good enough for anyone who likes variety in their frozen water. My small critique for Samsung is that I’ve heard the ice trays on other models come with sliders that have actual ball bearings instead of plastic rails and I wish the latter were a standard inclusion on every model. There’s never so much friction that anything would get properly stuck, it would just be nice if things slid a bit more smoothly.

The screen: A welcome addition to a digital lifestyle

The fridge's 32-inch display can be used to write memos or draw, along with a ton of other functions.
The fridge’s 32-inch display can be used to write memos or draw, along with a ton of other functions.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Of course, one of the biggest potential objections about Samsung’s latest fridges may also be one of its biggest strengths: their optional displays. With the continued intrusion of screens into our daily lives, I’m not here to tell you that you need one more. However, even though I was skeptical at first, I’ve grown to really appreciate having one on the fridge and I’d argue that unless you’re skipping the feature entirely, the larger 32-inch panel is what you want. 

The main reason is that, at least for my family, so much of what we do is already digital. Things like calendars, shopping lists, recipes and family photos already live on my phone and being able to share all of that with the fridge directly via Wi-Fi is a major plus. Frankly, it’s easier to upload a picture to the fridge’s display than it is to print one out and post it, which goes double for Samsung’s Bespoke line since its glass front means magnets don’t stick. Even though I already have a smart display in our kitchen, the size of Samsung’s screen, along with support for a handful of important apps, have turned the fridge into a better family hub than anything else we own. Because there’s so much space, there’s room for photos, memos, the weather, filter status and a full 30-day calendar — the latter of which has significantly improved my family’s planning and coordination.

You can even watch TV or YouTube videos right on the fridge's display.
You can even watch TV or YouTube videos right on the fridge’s display.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The fridge runs Samsung’s Tizen OS, which is basically the company’s lightweight take on Android, so it’s super easy to use. You can swipe left and right to add additional widgets to your screen, play music or even watch videos (YouTube, Samsung TV Plus, etc.) if you’re so inclined. That said, sometimes I wish the screen was a bit more responsive, because even though I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker, after having reviewed several generations of the company’s phones, I know Samsung can do better. There are also some settings from its handsets that I wish would get ported over to its fridges — like a dedicated dark mode. When I grab a glass of water later at night, the last thing I need is the entire display blasting my kitchen like a pair of hi-beams.

AI Inside: A work in progress with benefits today

With seemingly every tech company trying to shoehorn AI into its latest products, it’s easy to roll your eyes at the idea of adding that into a fridge as well. And I think even Samsung would admit that its efforts to integrate machine learning into the Bespoke line are a work in progress. I’ve found that while it certainly isn’t essential, the AI features found here can be a handy bonus in the right situations. 

Bespoke models with AI feature a camera mounted to the top of the fridge that can recognize and take pictures of the food you put inside.
Bespoke models with AI feature a camera mounted to the top of the fridge that can recognize and take pictures of the food you put inside.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

AI Vision is the headline feature in Samsung’s package, which uses machine learning and a camera mounted to the roof of the fridge to automatically recognize and record items you put inside. However, there are some limitations. Currently, Samsung’s AI can detect 37 different food items like fresh fruit and veggies, along with an additional 50 kinds of packaged goods like yogurt. Furthermore, the camera only records what goes into the fridge’s main cabinet, so anything you put in the FlexZone drawer, freezer or either door won’t get recorded. Regardless of whether an item is recognized or not, the fridge will then take a photo of the item (and tag it with the name of the food if it can be properly identified). You can then view a list of everything in the fridge via a dedicated tab on its screen (assuming your model has one) or from your phone via Samsung’s SmartThings app. From there, you can do things like set names for anything uncategorized or add an expiration date, though I wish the fridge would do that last part on its own.

The fridge uses AI to automatically track food that it can recognize and applies labels to the corresponding photo.
The fridge uses AI to automatically track food that it can recognize and applies labels to the corresponding photo.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

In practice, this means you just put items in the fridge like you would normally and let the AI sort things out on its own. You can always go through the main list to see if you have a specific item or let the fridge automatically delete things when you take them out. That said, the AI doesn’t get things right every time, because while Samsung’s programming does clear things out after a certain amount of time, you will still need to delete food manually from time to time. Thankfully, for items in the door, the fridge can show you a live feed of what’s there, so if you’re at the store and can’t remember if you have milk or not, you can simply pull out your phone and see for yourself. 

Because the camera is mounted to the top of the fridge, you might not get the clearest picture or you may end up with your hand covering part of the food as the fridge takes a picture as you put items inside. Even so, that’s still more than enough for me to be able to tell what something is just by looking at a small icon. I’ve found that Samsung AI Vision legitimately makes it easier to grocery shop by allowing me to see what food I have at a glance, regardless of whether I’m at home or at the store. 

Samsung also uses AI to suggest recipes based on ingredients you already have in the fridge. You can even specific things like food preferences and dietary restrictions.
Samsung also uses AI to suggest recipes based on ingredients you already have in the fridge. You can even specific things like food preferences and dietary restrictions.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

On top of that, the fridge also has built-in meal planning capabilities. This means you can ask the fridge to come up with a dish based on ingredients you already have, and it’s surprisingly good. Not only do you have the ability to specify preferences and dietary restrictions, there’s a wide variety of recipes it can choose from. On several occasions, I even found that when asked to suggest a recipe, the fridge came up with dishes I already had in mind. Alternatively, it will highlight when you’re missing items for a potential dish, so you can grab them the next time you’re at the store. This is one of the most helpful features, because often at the end of the week, I find myself with a handful of leftover ingredients. So when the fridge uses that info to suggest recipes that use those items, it helps reduce food waste. 

Sadly, the weakest part of Samsung’s AI is Bixby. In addition to being overeager when listening for voice prompts, which ended up causing a lot of inadvertent triggers, Samsung also put the Bixby icon near the bottom left corner of the screen. That’s right next to the sensor and handle for the door, resulting in even more unwanted summons. After using this fridge for four months, I wish Bixby would just go away, and it seems Samsung agrees. Sometime later this year, the company is adding support for Google Gemini, which should deliver a massive upgrade to the fridge’s voice-controlled capabilities.

A word on ads

You can disable ads that show up on the fridge's cover screen, though that will also get rid of the news and weather widgets. Thankfully that doesn't impact that widgets on the fridge's main home screen.
You can disable ads that show up on the fridge’s cover screen, though that will also get rid of the news and weather widgets. Thankfully that doesn’t impact that widgets on the fridge’s main home screen.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Last fall, to the dismay of many, Samsung announced that it was adding ads to its Family Hub fridges, including Bespoke models with built-in displays. Now no one likes being taunted with commercials, especially when they’re on expensive appliances located in the busiest room of their home. Thankfully, I’ve found that these ads only show up on the Cover Screen, which only appears after no one has used the fridge in a while, kind of like a screensaver on a desktop. Furthermore, you can disable these ads entirely. The downside is that doing so also gets rid of the rotating news and weather widgets that appear on the home screen. But in my experience, that’s just fine, because I don’t need what is effectively the fridge’s lock screen to have that much going on. Plus, when you open the fridge or touch its screen, it instantly reverts to the main home menu, which includes its own set of widgets that you can customize how you like.

Some quick notes and observations

For some reason, the door to the Beverage Center doesn't soft close like the rest of the doors do.
For some reason, the door to the Beverage Center doesn’t soft close like the rest of the doors do.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The Bespoke fridge’s screen does collect smudges, but so does stainless steel, and it doesn’t really impact viewability. And on white glass models like my review unit, the simple design makes it easier to clean and maintain than typical metal-clad rivals. 

The door to the Beverage Center doesn’t soft-close like you’d normally expect on a fridge. It’s more of a clack, which isn’t a bad thing on its own, though I hope Samsung changes its design to match the other doors on future models for consistency’s sake. 

Because the fridge runs Tizen and not full Android, there aren’t nearly as many choices for widgets. For example, there’s a widget for Spotify and Amazon Music, but not YouTube or Apple Music. There’s also only a single option for weather and a widget for pinning your favorite websites, but very little choice when it comes to dedicated news options. In my testing, the SmartThings integration worked better on Samsung phones compared to standard Android handsets, but your experience may vary. 

If you are so inclined, you can create shopping lists directly on the fridge and then order them from partners including Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Walmart and others. 

Wrap-up

AI in a fridge might sound ridiculous, but it allows for some genuinely useful features, even if the tech suffers from growing pains. And while this might sound preposterous, I think Samsung should actually double down on the tech by adding even more cameras, so the fridge has more angles and viewpoints to choose from as its algorithms evolve. The ability to automatically track what goes in and out of the fridge makes it easier to both shop and plan meals, and this is just in the early stages of the tech. 

That said, obsessing over AI is sort of besides the point because even without it, Samsung’s Bespoke French Door fridge is a first-class icebox. For tech-savvy people, its big screen helps simplify and organize our digital lives while simultaneously allowing the fridge to be helpful in ways you might not have even considered. It’s also well-built and exquisitely designed to fit in seamlessly with other modern devices, which feels refreshing considering how often appliances feel like they are lagging years or decades behind gadgets like phones and laptops. And I can’t overstate how much I like Samsung’s Beverage Center, which in my opinion, is so good it’s worth going with a Bespoke fridge just for that one feature. 

In the end, the two biggest factors you’ll need to consider are price and your appetite to digitize your kitchen, and by extension, your life. Starting at $3,500 for AI-equipped Bespoke models, Samsung’s top-of-the-line fridges are far from cheap. Thankfully, versions without machine learning can be had for much less. But more importantly, you have to be willing to embrace technology’s role in your home. You may not agree or want to pay this much for features like this just yet, but Samsung’s Bespoke AI 4-Door French Door refrigerator has convinced me there’s a happy home for smarter iceboxes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/samsung-bespoke-fridge-with-ai-review-all-the-bells-and-whistles-140000099.html?src=rss

Ring can now verify if a video has been altered

Ring has launched a new tool that can tell you if a video clip captured by its camera has been altered or not. The company says that every video downloaded from Ring starting in December 2025 going forward will come with a digital security seal. “Think of it like the tamper-evident seal on a medicine bottle,” it explained. Its new tool, called Ring Verify, can tell you if a video has been altered in any way. Even adjusting a video clip’s brightness or trimming a few seconds off will break that seal, and the tool will tell you that it cannot be verified. All you have to do is visit the tool’s web page and upload the video you want to check.

In the era of AI, you can also use the tool to make sure you’re looking at a real Ring video instead of something generated by artificial intelligence models. OpenAI’s Sora, for instance, can easily create Ring video doorbell footage with just a prompt or two, leading to a lot of fake security cam footage on social media apps. The company suggests asking the owner of the camera to share videos straight from the Ring app to make sure they’re unaltered. It also doesn’t matter what camera it is: All of the company’s models now embed digital security seals to downloaded videos and videos shared from Ring’s cloud storage. However, the tool can only tell you if a video has been tampered with or can’t be verified at all. It can’t tell you what has been edited or if it’s AI-generated.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/ring-can-now-verify-if-a-video-has-been-altered-140000140.html?src=rss

US Formally Withdraws From WHO

The United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization on Thursday, making good on an executive order that President Trump issued on his first day in office pledging to leave the international organization that coordinates global responses to public health threats. The New York Times: While the United States is walking away from the organization, a senior official with the Department of Health and Human Services told reporters on Thursday that the Trump administration was considering some type of narrow, limited engagement with W.H.O. global networks that track infectious diseases, including influenza.

As a W.H.O. member, the United States long sent scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to participate in international decision-making about which strains to include in the flu vaccine. A W.H.O. meeting on next year’s vaccine is scheduled for February. The official said the Trump administration would soon disclose how or whether it will participate.

On Thursday, the administration said that all U.S. government funding to the organization had been terminated, and that all assigned federal employees and contractors had been recalled from its Geneva headquarters and its offices worldwide.


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This Rugged Sony Portable Speaker Is $100 Right Now

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

The Sony ULT Field 3 is part of Sony’s newer ULT lineup from 2025, alongside the larger ULT Field 5 and the ULT Tower 9. This is the smallest and most portable of the three, clearly aimed at people who want something tough, loud, and easy to carry. Right now, Woot is selling a refurbished unit for $99.99, with free shipping for Prime members and a $6 fee for everyone else. As a “Grade A” refurbed unit, it’s been inspected, tested, and guaranteed to work like new, with cosmetic wear that isn’t noticeable from arm’s length. It also comes with a one-year eReplacements limited warranty. The same speaker has been sitting at $125 on Amazon, and price trackers show it hasn’t gone lower there, so this is a genuine drop rather than a recycled deal.

In actual use, the ULT Field 3 leans hard into bass. Sony squeezed a real woofer into a body that’s still backpack-friendly, and you can feel that low-end emphasis even at moderate volume. Turning on ULT mode pushes the bass further, which works well outdoors or in larger rooms, but it’s not subtle. Vocals can take a slight back seat if you don’t tweak the sound. Speaking of, the seven-band EQ in Sony’s Sound Connect app helps dial things in, especially if you want a flatter profile for podcasts or background music. The speaker is rated IP67, so it can handle dust, water, and the occasional drop without much worry, notes this PCMag review. It also supports Party Connect, letting you link it with other compatible Sony speakers for wider coverage.

Battery life is another strong point, with up to 24 hours of playback when you’re not pushing the volume too hard. At full volume, that drops closer to five hours, which is expected given the bass output. Fast charging helps: A 10-minute charge reportedly gives you about two hours of listening, which is useful when you forget to plug it in. It’s not the most balanced-sounding speaker for critical listening, and the app extras like DJ effects might feel gimmicky for some. But for portability, durability, and long battery life at this price, it’s a solid option if bass-forward sound fits your needs.

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Engadget Podcast: Why would Apple want to make an AI pin?

Apple is reportedly working on an AI pin of its very own to compete with OpenAI’s non-existent pin. No, it doesn’t really make much sense to us, either. In this episode, Devindra and Engadget Managing Editor Cherlynn Low discuss why Apple might be quick to jump on the AI pin trend, even before it jumps into smart rings. Also, we dive into Sony’s Bravia TV deal with TCL, and the aftermath of Verizon’s massive service outage.

Subscribe!

Topics

  • TCL is taking over Sony’s Bravia TV business in a new joint venture – 0:58

  • Last week’s Verizon outage was resolved after 10 hours, no official word on what caused it – 8:39

  • Youtube CEO promises more AI video tools for creators while also denouncing deepfakes – 12:19

  • The FTC isn’t giving up on its Meta antitrust case – 14:22

  • Trump family earnings from crypto may total $1.4B in 2025, but likely much more – 19:00

  • Adobe Acrobat can now generate presentations and podcasts from your documents – 21:12

  • Why the heck would Apple make an AI pin?? – 25:15

  • Around Engadget: Sony LinkBuds Clip review, Volvo EX60 and Canon EOS R6 III reviews – 43:14

  • Pop culture picks – 46:34 

Credits

Host: Devindra Hardawar
Guest: Cherlynn Low
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/engadget-podcast-why-would-apple-want-to-make-an-ai-pin-130732754.html?src=rss

TikTok Finalizes Deal To Form New American Entity

An anonymous reader quotes a report from NPR: TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years. The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture. The new version will operate under “defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for U.S. users,” the company said in a statement Thursday. American TikTok users can continue using the same app. […] Adam Presser, who previously worked as TikTok’s head of operations and trust and safety, will lead the new venture as its CEO. He will work alongside a seven-member, majority-American board of directors that includes TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew.

[…] In addition to an emphasis on data protection, with U.S. user data being stored locally in a system run by Oracle, the joint venture will also focus on TikTok’s algorithm. The content recommendation formula, which feeds users specific videos tailored to their preferences and interests, will be retrained, tested and updated on U.S. user data, the company said in its announcement. The algorithm has been a central issue in the security debate over TikTok. China previously maintained the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. But the U.S. regulation passed with bipartisan support said any divestment of TikTok must mean the platform cuts ties — specifically the algorithm — with ByteDance. Under the terms of this deal, ByteDance would license the algorithm to the U.S. entity for retraining.

The law prohibits “any cooperation with respect to the operation of a content recommendation algorithm” between ByteDance and a new potential American ownership group, so it is unclear how ByteDance’s continued involvement in this arrangement will play out. Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX are the three managing investors, who each hold a 15% share. Other investors include the investment firm of Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of Dell Technologies. ByteDance retains 19.9% of the joint venture.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of January 24-25

This week, all of our event picks are from community organizers. Zwift-sponsored events like Tour de Zwift and the Fondo Series are always popular (and fun), but that’s mostly because they get a lot of exposure! Hopefully, shining some light on the events below brings even more participation to these deserving rides…

� BMTR Cares Flat 125 (Miles) – Pedaling for a Purpose!

Top-down view of three cyclists in matching black BMTR jerseys riding on a road, with the BMTR logo featuring a bear on the left side of the image.

✅ Popular  ✅ Good Cause

We regularly feature BMTR’s popular Flat 100 ride, but this week it’s an extra-special event, as it’s being increased to 125 miles “to highlight the significance of the cause we are passionate about supporting.” Several members of BMTR are riding 225 miles on the day to support the Autism Society of America (ASA) (donate here). Be sure to read the event details for more info!

Three pace groups are available, all riding on France’s Sacre Bleu route.

Saturday, January 24 @ 1:10pm UTC/8:10am ET/5:10am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5369952

�Vatternrundan Group Ride Series #3

✅ Popular  ✅ Endurance Training  ✅ Tour de Zwift Route  

The Vätternrundan group ride series seems to be getting more popular as the rides get longer! This week the ride has increased to 120 minutes, and there are over 250 riders signed up when this post was composed, making it the most popular event of the weekend.

The premise of the series is simple: rides increase in duration from January 11 to March 1, with the goal of preparing you to handle many hours on the bike when the IRL race day arrives in June. (The Vätternrundan Group Ride Series is part of Vätternrundan’s official training program.)

This week’s ride is on Greatest London Flat (a Tour de Zwift stage 4 route), and there are two pace group options (1.8-2.2 and 1.5-1.8 W/kg).

Sunday, January 25 @ 8am UTC/3am ET/12am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5203599

�Level Racing Chase Race

✅ Chase Race ✅ Popular 

Chase Races are fun events we don’t see often enough in Zwift, and this event from Level Racing has lots of signups already, which is always a good sign!

Related: Zwift Chase Race Basics, Strategies, and More

This race is on two laps of Makuri Islands’ Sprinter’s Playground route (24.9km, 135m).

Sunday, January 25 @ 2pm UTC/9am ET/6am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5356937

�Zwift Riders Scotland: Badge Hunters on PRL Full

✅ Endurance Challenge ✅ Route Badge  

What’s that… you still haven’t completed The PRL Full, Zwift’s longest route (173.5km, 2625m)? Take it from me: you want to do it in a group. And here’s your chance! Join Zwift Riders Scotland for eleven repeats of Box Hill, and earn that coveted route badge with its 3460 XP bonus.

Related: The Longest Route: 7 Tips for London’s PRL Full

Saturday, January 24 @ 8am UTC/3am ET/12am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5327954

�(Rubber-Banded) TDZ Ride with James’ Friends!

✅ Banded  ✅ Tour de Zwift Route

This beginner-friendly banded ride is on Yorkshire Double Loop, so completing it will count as completing Tour de Zwift stage 3.

Ride at whatever pace you’d like. As long as you keep pedaling, you’ll stay with the group!

Saturday, January 24 @ 1:30pm UTC/8:30am ET/5:30am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5369957

How We Make Our Picks

We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:

  • Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
  • Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
  • Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
  • Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
  • Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
  • Is it for a good cause?
  • Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
  • Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?

In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!

Apple accuses Europe of ‘delay tactics’ following alternative app store collapse

Following the shutdown of an alternative app store, Apple has accused the European Commission (EC) of using “political delay tactics” as an excuse to probe and fine the company, Bloomberg reported. Apple issued the statement preemptively as commission is reportedly preparing to blame Apple for the shutdown of third-party app store Setapp due to what the developer called “still-evolving and complex business terms.”

As part of an EU ruling, Apple was forced to allow third-party marketplaces for apps once the Digital Markets Act (DMA) took effect in 2024. Apple agreed to allow such stores, but implemented fees of €0.50 per installation if the number of downloads exceeded one million, among other rules.

In April 2025, the EC found Apple to be in “non-compliance” with the DMA over rules on “steering” users to alternative payments and levied a $500 million fine. In June last year, Apple said it would change its pricing for third-party App Stores to a five percent revenue share called the Core Technology Commission (CTC).

However, Apple said that the EC has so far refused to allow those changes. In the meantime, a developer called MacPaw shut down its fledgling Setapp store, saying Apple’s terms “don’t fit Setapp’s current business model” due to the complexity. As a result, the EC will reportedly rule that Apple hasn’t addressed the key issues it raised regarding business terms, including their complexity.

“The European Commission has refused to let us implement the very changes that they requested,” Apple said in a statement to Bloomberg. “In October, we submitted a formal compliance plan and they have yet to respond. The EC is using political delay tactics to mislead the public, move the goal posts, and unfairly target an American company with burdensome investigations and onerous fines.”

In reply, the EC told Engadget that it’s in “constant” contact with Apple with the aim of finding a DMA-compliant solution. “The Commission’s main objective is that gatekeepers operate in full compliance with the DMA. The Commission is available to discuss and work with gatekeepers to achieve full compliance. In this context, the Commission has been in a constant dialogue with Apple to solve all pending issues, while also listening to developers from all over the world. We remain committed to this exchange to find a DMA compliant solution.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-accuses-europe-of-delay-tactics-following-alternative-app-store-collapse-124701591.html?src=rss