Author: Engadget Online News

Microsoft negs Activision Blizzard to push through $68.7 billion acquisition

Microsoft is taking an interesting approach to secure regulatory approval for its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In a recent filing spotted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the company told New Zealand’s Commerce Commission the troubled publisher produces no “must have” games. Yes, you read that right. “There is nothing unique about the video games developed and… Continue reading Microsoft negs Activision Blizzard to push through $68.7 billion acquisition

Spotify’s latest fancy feature for Premium users is a play button

It’s 2022 and Spotify is adding the most basic of functions to its iOS and Android apps: dedicated play and shuffle buttons on playlists and album pages. Until now, tapping the button on most playlists started playback with shuffle mode enabled. To play tracks in order, you’d need to tap an individual song. The split… Continue reading Spotify’s latest fancy feature for Premium users is a play button

Sony is retiring the PlayStation 5’s Accolades feature because people aren’t nice

Sony plans to remove a software feature many PlayStation 5 users may not know even exists. In fall 2022, the company will discontinue support for Accolades. As the name suggests, Accolades allow you to commend players you meet online for sportsmanship and good behavior. Sony launched the feature alongside the PS5 but now plans to… Continue reading Sony is retiring the PlayStation 5’s Accolades feature because people aren’t nice

Chromecast with Google TV is on sale for $40 once again

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. While many modern TVs already have streaming services baked in, you might still need (or want) a… Continue reading Chromecast with Google TV is on sale for $40 once again

BioLite adds portable power stations and a solar array to its charging lineup

After years of providing off-the-grid camping, cooking and pocketable charger tech, BioLite has moved further into the genre with its newest and more robust power-backup solutions. The company just announced the BaseCharge 600 and BaseCharge 1500 portable power stations, along with an accompanying SolarPanel 100. As with most products of this type, they’re great for… Continue reading BioLite adds portable power stations and a solar array to its charging lineup

Cellular service is coming to New York’s subway tunnels, but it’s going to take a while

Cellular service is coming to New York’s subway tunnels. This week, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced it was embarking on a 10-year project to wire all 418 miles of underground track underneath the city with wireless connectivity. Transit Wireless will build the necessary infrastructure and foot the resulting $600 million bill as part of an… Continue reading Cellular service is coming to New York’s subway tunnels, but it’s going to take a while

Debris from an out-of-control Chinese rocket fell over the Indian Ocean

After carrying the latest piece of the country’s Tiangong space station to orbit on July 24th, a Chinese Long March 5B rocket reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday, creating a dazzling (albeit somewhat unsettling) display as it crashed down in the Indian Ocean. A Twitter user named Nazri Sulaiman captured a 27-second clip of the rocket’s… Continue reading Debris from an out-of-control Chinese rocket fell over the Indian Ocean

BMW recalls 83 iX and i4 EVs over battery fire concerns

BMW is recalling 83 iX and i4 vehicles after investigating multiple battery fire incidents involving the two EVs. In an advisory spotted by Autoblog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns owners of select iX xDrive 50, iX M60, i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50 vehicles not to drive their cars, charge them or park them… Continue reading BMW recalls 83 iX and i4 EVs over battery fire concerns

Hitting the Books: How Moderna dialed-in its vaccine to fight COVID variants

The national news cycle may have largely moved on from coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic — despite, as of this writing, infections being on the rise and more than 300 deaths tallied daily from the disease. But that certainly doesn’t diminish the unprecedented international response effort and warp speed development of effective vaccines.  In The… Continue reading Hitting the Books: How Moderna dialed-in its vaccine to fight COVID variants