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  • A Google ‘test’ will omit EU publishers from news links

    A Google ‘test’ will omit EU publishers from news links

    Google is conducting a “test” in which results from EU-based news publishers will be omitted. The company says the time-limited test will only affect a small portion of users in nine EU countries and “will help assess how results from EU news publishers impact the search experience for our users and publishers’ traffic.”

    But given the delicate position of news media — and the company’s history of threatening to withdraw its services in the face of news-related regulations — it could be considered the equivalent of a mafia boss conducting a “small test” to see how the corner laundromat fares without security.

    Google describes this experiment (via The Verge) as a “small, time-limited test” to omit EU results from Search, Google News, and the personalized Discover feed. It will affect only one percent of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. Those users will still see results from other websites, including non-EU news publications.

    The company says news results will reappear as usual after the test ends. (It didn’t give a specific timeline.) Google has stressed that the experiment will not affect payments it makes to publishers under the European Copyright Directive (EUCD), under which the company has struck deals with more than 4,000 EU publishers.

    Google has a history of using the potential withdrawal of its visibility as a negotiating tool in similar situations. In some cases, the tactic has helped it win concessions.

    Last year, Google pulled its news links from Canada in response to Bill C-18 (the Online News Act), which required tech companies to negotiate compensation with online publishers for linked content. After months of negotiations, Google said Canada had addressed its concerns and granted it an exemption. Canada said it granted Google an exemption last month, under which the company agreed to pay news organisations $100 million annually.

    In April this year, Google briefly removed links to California news outlets in response to the proposed California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), which would require Google to pay news publishers in exchange for continuing to link to their websites. Although the fate of the bill is still uncertain, Google reached a deal with state lawmakers this summer, promising to donate hundreds of millions of dollars to a fund that supports local news.

    In 2021, the company threatened to pull its entire search engine from Australia, as proposed legislation at the time required tech companies to share royalties with news publishers. The country’s then-prime minister stood firm. “Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for the things you can do in Australia,” Scott Morrison said. After the bill was passed and enacted, Google entered into agreements with Australian media companies to license content.

    Google says it hopes the data analysis tools it provides to publishers will help them use the EU test to “understand traffic patterns”.

  • Hydrow just announced a new smart rowing machine

    Hydrow just announced a new smart rowing machine

    Smart rowing machine maker Hydro recently announced the Core, a new model that doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee. The Hydro Core rower features the same “award-winning design” as the original Pro rower, which we said was positioning itself to become “the Peloton of smart rowing machines.”

    Obviously, the highlight here is that the Core is a one-time purchase with no recurring subscription costs. It still comes with an attached display that lets users “row through amazing destinations.” In total, this machine provides access to 30 self-paced rows through these fascinating locations.

    The Core rower supports unlimited users, which is nice, but there’s a big caveat. There’s no subscription, so there’s no access to instructor-led workouts, badges, milestones, and other premium features.

    However, customers can add a subscription for all of that stuff later. Hydro charges $44 per month for the subscription. It might be worth trying it out for a month to see if all these extra features are worth it.

    The Hydro Core rower is available now and costs $1,995. That’s the same price as the flagship Pro rower. The company also recently released a smaller version called the Hydro Wave. It’s smaller and cheaper, costing around $1,700.

    At CES 2025, Anker announced several new products, including a 3-in-1 robot vacuum that transforms into a stick vacuum. Although you can’t buy that device right now, the company’s latest chargers and power banks are available to buy now — and at a discount.

    Anker’s 140W four-port wall charger is $10 off thanks to a coupon you can clip on both Amazon and Anker’s website. The charging brick has a built-in display that lets you keep an eye on various metrics, including an “odometer” to track its lifetime usage.

    When not on sale, the Anker charger (140W, 4-port, PD 3.1) costs the same as Apple’s 140W wall charger for MacBooks, but has several additional features. One of them is its “high-definition” (though we don’t know the exact resolution) color display.

    There, you can monitor its total output power, per-port wattage breakdown, temperature, and its total hours of operating time (the aforementioned “odometer”). The screen rotates 90 degrees with a long-press of its button to fit different outlet orientations.

  • Strava’s new Night Heatmaps look to make subscribers safer after dark

    Strava’s new Night Heatmaps look to make subscribers safer after dark

    Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go for a run outside without fear of harm? Technology has a way of making us safer and putting us at greater risk while out and about, but a new tool from Strava could help with the former. Strava has announced Night Heatmaps, a feature that shows which areas have more activity – or “heat” – between sunset and sunrise. Yes, heatmaps are the feature that accidentally revealed the location of US military bases.

    This update is welcome because in some areas of the world the sun sets very early, while nights last long into the morning. It also comes with a new Weekly Heatmap, which shows the heat level in an area over the past seven days. Again, this can help you know which trails will have the most people, but not at all times of the day. While this extra awareness is great for knowing where to go, some people may choose to deliberately avoid the busiest times for fear of unwanted attention (no winning here).

    In any case, the Night and Weekly heatmaps are only available on subscriber accounts (subscriptions will cost you $12 per month or $80 annually). It’s also worth noting that the heatmaps are only pulled from public activities on Strava, so you’re not getting a full picture of how many people go where.

    The Night and Weekly heatmaps join the Global heatmap (which is also subscriber exclusive) and your personal heatmap. You can access any of them via the Maps tab and filter the heatmaps by activity type.

    At CES 2025, Anker announced several new products, including a 3-in-1 robot vacuum that transforms into a stick vacuum. While you can’t buy that device just yet, the company’s newest chargers and power banks are available to buy right now — and at a discount.

    Anker’s 140W Four-Port Wall Charger is $10 off thanks to a coupon you can clip on both Amazon and Anker’s website. The charging brick has a built-in display that lets you keep an eye on various metrics, including an “odometer” to track its lifetime usage.

    When not on sale, the Anker charger (140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1) costs the same as Apple’s 140W wall charger for MacBooks, but it has a number of additional features. One of them is its “high-definition” (though we don’t know the exact resolution) color display.

    There, you can monitor its total output power, per-port wattage breakdown, temperature, and its total hours of operating time (the aforementioned “odometer”). The screen rotates 90 degrees with a long-press of its button to fit different outlet orientations.

  • I’m kinda in awe of this goofy solar scooter

    I’m kinda in awe of this goofy solar scooter

    This is the Lightfoot, a solar scooter conceived by San Francisco-based R&D outfit Otherlab, which is claimed to be available for purchase in the US from January. The most eye-catching feature are the two side panels covered in solar cells that hopefully won’t require you to plug in a charger.

    However, in the gap between the two is a fairly large cargo compartment with about 1.6 cubic feet of space. This should be more than enough to carry your stuff to and from work or to pick up some groceries when you’re out. The padded seat and footplate are also designed to carry the rider and an additional passenger.

    As for the specifications, it has a pair of 750W brushless DC motors with a maximum speed of 20 mph, producing a peak torque of 90Nm, which will hopefully be enough to traverse the hills around SF (and wherever you are).

    They’re connected to a 1.1kWh battery, which the company claims will give it 37 miles of range on a single charge. Two 120W panels on either side will slowly charge the battery when parked on the street or outside. Otherlab claims this passive solar charging will add three miles of charge per hour, or 18 miles if you leave it for a full day.

    Apart from the solar hardware, Otherlab claims you – or a qualified technician – will be able to keep it running without any outside help. That said most of the components are off-the-shelf motorcycle parts and can be easily repaired or replaced.

    There’s also a one-year whole bike and two-year mechanical guarantee, as well as a no-questions-asked buy-back policy. We’ll reserve judgement on every aspect of it until we’re able to try it out ourselves, but we’re curious to see what it feels like to ride this thing.

    Pre-orders for the Lightfoot start today for $4,995, with Otherlab promising first deliveries in January 2025.

  • You can now search for products inside Google Maps

    You can now search for products inside Google Maps

    Google is adding some new features to Maps just in time for the holidays, including the ability to search for specific products right within the app. For example, if you need a sweater for your annual ugly sweater party, new clothes or some last-minute gifts, you can type the item into Maps’ search bar to bring up nearby stores where you can find what you need. From the results that pop up, you can select one of the options and then see directions. Google says you can search for a variety of items from Maps, such as electronics, household goods and even groceries.

    The company has updated Maps to let you report and view delays affecting your transit lines, as well as show more details like alternate transit routes and subway station entrances. Maps will also show reports of weather-related disruptions like unplowed or flooded roads and areas with low visibility. In addition, Google is adding the ability to enter your vehicle’s dimensions to its built-in Maps app to show routes that don’t have bridges or tunnels you can’t cross. However, for now, these routes are only available on the 2024 Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, and GMC Yukon. The company says it will expand the feature’s capability to more vehicle models in the future.

    If you’re driving an EV and looking at routes with charging stops on your phone, you can now send the route you planned to your car with built-in Google Maps. Finally, if you want to avoid congestion while out and about, you can check Maps’ popular times information to see traffic trends at specific times.

    The ASUS Zenbook A14 feels impossibly light, weighing between 2.2 and 2.4 pounds, and has a gorgeous 14-inch OLED screen and a nice array of ports (USB-C, USB-A and HDMI)! What more could you want in a MacBook Air competitor? After years of copying Apple’s MacBooks, ASUS has proven it can outperform Apple without resorting to gimmicks like dual screens or bright lights.

    The Zenbook A14 is a compact little laptop that feels great in your hands, thanks to ASUS’ unique CeraAluminum case material. ASUS claims it can last up to 32 hours when playing video, which is far more than the 18 hours Apple claims for the MacBook Air. It might seem strange that the least bright laptop at CES 2025 is one of our favorites, but sometimes pure practicality can’t be denied.

    We’re always on the lookout for brand new, never-before-seen stuff at CES, but sometimes it’s the clever reinterpretations of existing technology that catch our attention. Such is the case with the Backup by Biolite. It’s essentially a cross between a universal power supply (UPS) and a whole-house backup battery, but improves upon both.

  • Apple’s AI-infused Final Cut Pro 11 is now available

    Apple’s AI-infused Final Cut Pro 11 is now available

    With its biggest update in years to Final Cut Pro (FCP), Apple may re-embrace the professional video creator crowd, which it has ignored since the launch of FCP X in 2011. The company finally unveiled its successor, Final Cut Pro 11 (FCP 11), an update that relies heavily on AI tools. Also, it introduced spatial video editing to prepare content for the Vision Pro headset.

    The main AI feature is Magnetic Masks, which let you cut out people and other moving objects, then stylize them or place them in another location. “This powerful and accurate automated analysis provides additional flexibility for customizing backgrounds and environments,” Apple wrote. “Editors can also combine Magnetic Masks with color correction and video effects, allowing them to precisely control and style each project.”

    The other major new AI feature is Transcribe to Caption, which automatically analyses interviews and other timeline audio, transcribes it and places captions directly on the timeline – effectively automating the entire process. The feature uses an Apple-trained large language model (LLM) designed to transcribe spoken audio, the company said. Final Cut Pro 11 also allows VR/AR video editing in conjunction with other pro editing apps like Premiere Pro and Davinci Resolve.

    “Spatial video editing” allows users to import and edit AR/VR videos directly in the app, while adding effects, colour correction and more. Footage can be captured from the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 models, as well as Canon’s R7 mirrorless camera paired with the new RF-S 7.8mm F/4 lens.

    Users can choose from different viewing modes to preview left and right eye angles, or bring their edits directly into Apple Vision Pro to get a 3D preview. Apple also unveiled Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.1, further optimizing it for Apple silicon.

    The app also improves the “Light and Color” feature that lets you quickly improve the color, contrast, and overall look of your videos. And finally, the company released a new version of Final Cut Camera, which includes the ability to shoot in compact but high-quality HEVC files with Apple Log, rather than using storage-gobbling ProRes.

    As a professional tool, Final Cut Pro 11 is still missing features found in Resolve and Premiere Pro, such as text-based editing and some advanced color correction tools. Still, the new version and feature will undoubtedly be welcomed by FCP enthusiasts. It’s now available to download for $299 for new users (after a 90-day free trial) and free for existing Final Cut Pro owners.

  • Meta will have to defend itself from antitrust claims after all

    Meta will have to defend itself from antitrust claims after all

    The Federal Trade Commission will get a chance to make its case for a Meta split in court. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg allowed the FTC’s lawsuit against the social media giant to proceed (PDF link).

    The FTC first sued Meta in 2020 to force the company, then known as Facebook, to divest itself of Instagram and WhatsApp. Along with dozens of attorneys general, the agency alleged that Meta acquired the platforms in 2012 and 2014 to stifle growing competition in the social media market.

    Last April, Meta asked Judge Boasberg to dismiss the case. In addition to noting that the FTC had previously approved both acquisitions, Meta argued that the agency failed to show that the company had monopoly power in the social networking services market, and that it had harmed consumers by buying Instagram and WhatsApp.

    Additionally, the company claimed it had invested billions of dollars in both platforms and made them better as a result, benefiting social media users everywhere. While he didn’t dismiss the lawsuit entirely, Boasberg forced the FTC to limit its case, dismissing the allegation that Facebook had provided preferential access to developers who agreed not to compete with it.

    “We believe the evidence in the lawsuit will show that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp have been good for competition and consumers.

    More than 10 years after the FTC reviewed and approved these deals, and despite overwhelming evidence that our services compete with YouTube, TikTok, X, Apple’s iMessage, and many others, the Commission continues to incorrectly claim that no deal is ever meant to be final, and that businesses can be penalized for innovating,” a Meta spokesperson told Engadget. “We will review the opinion when it is filed.”

    Judge Boasberg will meet with both parties on November 25 and set a date for the trial. It should be noted that the FTC lawsuit was filed under the previous Trump administration, although whether it moves forward and in what form will depend on who President-elect Trump appoints to lead the agency.

    Meta is continuing to make changes to its moderation and content rules. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri posted today that Instagram and Threads will begin including political content in recommendations.

    This is a reversal from a policy adopted by both platforms last year, under which political content was something users had to choose whether or not to see. Now, Mosseri said there will be three levels of political content that Instagram and Threads users can choose to see: less, standard (which will be the default) and more.

    “Drawing a red line around what is and is not political content has proven impractical,” Mosseri wrote. The change will begin rolling out in the US this week and to the rest of the world in the coming weeks.

    The announcement is the latest in a series of changes being made by Meta that appear to be efforts to curry favor with President-elect Donald Trump. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company would eliminate third-party fact-checkers in favor of a Community Notes model for Facebook, Instagram and Threads, mimicking the approach taken at X (formerly Twitter).

    Nick Clegg has resigned as Meta’s head of global affairs and has been replaced by Joel Kaplan, who has good ties to Republicans in Washington DC.

  • Amazon dropped a new Fire TV line just before Thanksgiving

    Amazon dropped a new Fire TV line just before Thanksgiving

    Amazon recently unveiled a new line of Fire TVs just ahead of Thanksgiving and, more importantly, Black Friday. The Fire TV Omni Mini-LED series is being advertised as the “most powerful and innovative Amazon-made TVs yet.” Let’s take a look at some specs.

    All of these TVs feature QLED Mini-LED panels that offer a peak brightness of up to 1,400 nits and up to 1,344 dimming zones. They offer support for Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, which should result in “more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and richer contrast.”

    Amazon says these sets include AI-assisted Intelligent Picture technology, which automatically enhances image quality to optimize scenes “in real time.” The TV’s light and color sensor takes the living space into account, delivering the proper brightness and color temperature settings as needed.

    They also allow access to Amazon’s Fire TV Ambient Experience, which turns the TV into a display of art. It’s similar to the Samsung Frame series, but without the full frame. The software doesn’t just display static artwork, but it can also handle custom animations and a number of widgets.

    This is the first Amazon-made TV with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification for my beautiful gamers. The software suite adds a variable refresh rate, an automatic low latency mode, and a new 144Hz refresh rate in gaming mode. It also offers support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for some great future-proofing. They all come with two speakers, two subwoofers, and allow access to Dolby Atmos audio.

    These are Amazon TVs, so of course they work great with Alexa. The company says users can “watch shows and movies, manage playback, and control the Fire TV ambient experience hands-free” via voice control.

    The Fire TV Omni Mini-LED boxes are available now. Prices range from $820 to $2,100, and size options range from 55-inches to 85-inches.

    These aren’t the only entertainment products Amazon released today. The company also launched a new line of soundbars and a refresh to the already existing Fire TV 4 series.

  • The best gaming mouse in 2025

    The best gaming mouse in 2025

    If money’s no constraint, the best gaming mouse with a symmetrical design we’ve tested is the Razer Viper V3 Pro. It costs $160, but if you play a lot of competitive PC games and can afford the price, you’ll find little to complain about.

    With its slightly grooved edges, noticeable but not aggressive hump, and slight flare-out at the back, the Viper V3 Pro’s shape should be comfortable for a range of hand sizes and grip types. It’s a little wide, and it probably works best with a claw or fingertip grip, but it’s not so short or flat that it can’t accommodate palm grippers.

    The main mouse buttons are laid out in a way that gives your fingers a natural resting place, and there are small ledges on either side to guide them into the right place when you’re moving around in a game. In other words, it’s one of the most secure shapes we’ve tested.

    The Viper’s build quality is excellent. It’s impressively light at 54g, making it easy to move around in fast-paced games, yet its matte plastic frame isn’t covered in dust-attracting pores, unlike many other options of similar weight. We’ve noticed no signs of creaking, flexing or rattling after months of testing. The finish shows some fingerprints, but it’s comfortable to grip and pleasantly soft to the touch.

    The main click buttons use durable optical switches, but aren’t particularly loud. Although they’re not as full or clear as the best mechanical switches, they’re still easy to press, neither too hard nor too light. The two programmable side buttons are well-sized and easy to reach. The scroll wheel, meanwhile, is tight and quiet, with clearly defined steps and a textured finish.

    Performance, as with many high-end gaming mice these days, is effectively flawless. Razer’s Focus Pro 35K optical sensor Gen-2 – five times faster – is basically overkill from a technical standpoint, but still makes the mouse exceptionally accurate and consistent. There’s generously sized, smooth-gliding PTFE feet and a rock-solid connection with the included “hyperpolling” dongle.

    The latter lets the mouse reach a maximum polling rate of 8,000Hz, but as explained below, few people will actually see any benefit from jumping that high. Mostly, it’ll reduce battery life: Razer says the Viper V3 Pro can last up to 95 hours at 1,000Hz, which is fine for this market and roughly consistent according to our experience, but it drops to just 17 hours at 8,000Hz.

    If the price didn’t make it clear, the Viper V3 Pro is for gaming enthusiasts. As such, it doesn’t offer some of the benefits you’ll find on more mainstream mice: there’s no RGB lighting or Bluetooth, while the power button/DPI switcher is located on the bottom of the device, making it difficult to press accidentally. Since the device uses a special dongle rather than a traditional receiver, it requires you to run a separate USB-C cable from your PC or gaming laptop.

    Thankfully, you can connect with that cable when the battery is low, but it’s relatively thick. And while Razer’s Synapse software makes adjusting settings fairly simple, it’s somewhat resource-intensive. It’s also Windows-only. These are all minor quibbles, though. The Viper V3 Pro is excellent, and it will feel right at home in the hands of committed FPS players.

    If you want a premium gaming mouse with a more ergonomic shape, get the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro. It has the same features as the Viper V3 Pro, but it has a taller, slightly wider and more dramatically protruding design that’s geared toward right-handed users.

    Most people with medium to large hands will find it a natural fit with a palm or claw grip, though it’ll probably be a bit too chunky for people with smaller hands and fingertip grips. This shape isn’t as easy to maneuver as the Viper, but its higher, side-sloping bulge will provide a more comfortable place to rest your hand throughout the day.

    Razer sells two variants of the DeathAdder V3 Pro: one with the same soft-touch finish as the Viper V3 Pro, and another with a more textured matte plastic coating. We tested the latter; it’s not as grippy or smooth to the touch, but it’s still nice, and it’s much less of a fingerprint magnet.

    Plus, the side buttons are larger, closer together and a little less tight, but they’re still hard to press accidentally. The design is 63 grams heavier, but still seriously lightweight. The PTFE feet are tiny, but still glide reliably. And while the sensor is technically a generation old, performance is effectively flawless.

    Otherwise, you’re looking at a similar feature set. The optical main buttons are satisfying and consistent, but not overly sensitive. The lightly notched scroll wheel is soft, quiet, and resistant enough, if not firm. Battery life is rated for 90 hours, and you can connect a lighter and more flexible USB-C cable in a pinch.

  • Meta will reportedly bring ads to Threads as soon as January

    Meta will reportedly bring ads to Threads as soon as January

    Threads could start getting ads much sooner than Meta previously revealed. According to a new report from The Information, the company is now planning to bring ads to its new app “early next year,” with the first ads arriving in January 2025.

    This suggests that Meta wants to start making money on the fast-growing service much sooner than Meta executives previously suggested. In August, when the app reached 200 million users, Mark Zuckerberg said that Threads could become the company’s next billion-user service. He added that making money from the app would be a “multi-year” effort.

    “All of these new products, we ship them, and then there’s a multi-year time horizon between scaling them and then scaling them into not just consumer experiences but very large businesses,” Zuckerberg said. In the company’s most recent earnings call, Meta CFO Susan Lee said the company “does not expect Threads to be a meaningful driver of 2025 revenue at this time.”

    According to The Information, Meta is planning a slow rollout for ads on Threads. The company will begin with a “small number” of advertisers in January. It’s unclear how quickly this effort could expand. “Since our priority is to build consumer value first and foremost, there are currently no ads or monetization features on Threads,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.

    Meta’s reported plans highlight how quickly the service has grown in recent months. According to Zuckerberg, Threads has 275 million monthly users and is seeing more than 1 million new sign-ups per day. That makes it by far the largest of the X alternatives that have emerged in the past few years.

    BlueSky, another popular Twitter-like service, has also seen significant growth recently, adding one million new users in the past week, the company said on Tuesday. It’s still much smaller than Threads, which has 15 million users. Like Threads, it also currently has no ads and the company has said it plans to experiment with subscription-based features.