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Sony will soon release its Access controller, which it designed to help people with disabilities play PS5 games with greater ease. The $90 peripheral comes with a variety of customization options in the box, and there are four 3.5mm ports that people can use to connect third-party accessories to the controller.

Logitech has teamed up with Sony to release an Adaptive Gaming Kit for the controller. It includes eight buttons and triggers you can plug into the peripheral. These include two small and two large buttons with mechanical switches, two light-touch buttons and two variable trigger controls. These are all configurable on the console to best meet a player's needs. The kit includes labels with PS5 symbols that you can attach to the buttons and triggers, along with mats and velcro ties to keep everything in place.

The Adaptive Gaming Kit, which will be available in January, costs $80. Logitech previously released a version for the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Since both console platforms' accessibility controllers use industry-standard 3.5mm connectors, the Xbox variant of Logitech's kit should be compatible with the Access controller. Still, perhaps you'd prefer stickers with PlayStation symbols to help keep track of what's what.

Meanwhile, Sony has offered a look at the accessible packaging for the upcoming peripheral. It designed the packaging so that you can open it with one hand by pulling loops from either side. The company said that the components are placed in a single layer to make it easy to identify them.

The Access Controller will be available on December 6. Pre-orders are open at the PlayStation Direct store.

Back in the olden days of last December, we had to go to specialized websites to have our natural language prompts transformed into generated AI art, but no longer! Google announced Thursday that users who have opted-in for its Search Generative Experience (SGE) will be able to create AI images directly from the standard Search bar.

SGE is Google’s vision for our web searching future. Rather than picking websites from a returned list, the system will synthesize a (reasonably) coherent response to the user’s natural language prompt using the same data that the list’s links led to. Thursday’s updates are a natural expansion of that experience, simply returning generated images (using the company’s Imagen text-to-picture AI) instead of generated text. Users type in a description of what they’re looking for (a Capybara cooking breakfast, in Google’s example) and, within moments, the engine will create four alternatives to pick from and refine further. Users will also be able to export their generated images to Drive or share them via email.

Google

What’s more, users will be able to generate images directly in Google Images. So, if you’re looking for (again, Google’s example) “minimalist halloween table settings” or “spooky dog house ideas,” you’ll be able to type that into the search bar and have Google generate an image based on it. What’s really cool is that you can then turn Google Lens on that generated image to search for actual, real-world products that most closely resemble what the computer hallucinated for you. 

There are, of course, a number of limitations built into the new features. You’ll have to be signed up for Google Labs and have opted-in to the SGE program to use any of this. Additionally, the new image generation functions will be available only within the US, in English-language applications and for users over the age of 18. That last requirement is a just bit odd given that Google did just go out of its way to make the program accessible to teens.

The company is also expanding its efforts to rein in the misuse of generative AI technology. Users will be blocked from creating photorealistic images of human faces. You want a photorealistic capybara cooking bacon, that’s no problem. You want a photorealistic Colonel Sanders cooking bacon, you’re going to run into issues and not just in terms of advertising canon. You’ll also be prevented from generating images of “notable” people, so I guess Colonel Sanders is out either way. 

Finally, Google is implementing the SynthID system developed by DeepMind announced last month. SythID is a visually undetectable metadata watermark that denotes a generated image as such, as well as provides information on who, or what, created it and when. The new features will be available through the Labs tab (click the flask icon) in the Google app on iOS and Android, and on Chrome desktop to select users today and expanding to more in the coming weeks.

Amazon's October Prime Day sale officially ended yesterday, but some of the deals are still live. That means there's time to run through your holiday gift list one more time or pick up something for yourself at a discount. We combed through our coverage over the past few days to find the best sales still available today. Amazon has returned most of their own devices, like Echos and Kindles, back to their full prices. But products from other brands, notably Google, Samsung and Anker, have maintained the same lows they hit on Prime Day. Here are the best deals from Prime Big Deal Days that you can still get right now. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 went down to $269 for October Prime Day and it's still on sale. That's lowest price we've seen since it came out a few months ago. You can't get a better smartwatch than this one if you have an Android phone (bonus points if you have a Samsung phone), and it's smaller and lighter than previous versions. Samsung brought back the spinning bezel on the Classic version, which is which makes the software's UI easier to navigate, plus it has improved performance and updated health and fitness tracking tools.

Apple MacBook Air M2 (15-inch)

The 15.3-inch version of Apple’s MacBook Air is still down to $1,049 for an entry-level model with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. That matches the best price we’ve seen and takes $250 off Apple’s list price. The MacBook Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave the 15-inch model a review score of 96 earlier this year, as it covers just about all of the things we look for in a quality mainstream notebook. Compared to the 13.6-inch version, it also includes a more powerful speaker system and a slightly upgraded GPU. The SSD in this base configuration is technically slower than the one in higher-capacity SKUs, but that shouldn’t be a major problem unless you’re looking to do more complex work. In general, you wouldn’t buy the Air for things like high-res media editing, though its M2 chip is still plenty powerful for everyday tasks.

If you do need more storage space, the 512GB model with 8GB of RAM is on sale for a low of $1,249. Variants with double the RAM are up to $250 off as well. Meanwhile, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air isn’t discounted on Amazon, but it’s down to $899 at Best Buy. That’s $200 off the notebook’s list price.

Apple iPad mini

The Apple iPad mini dropped to $400 for October Prime Day and it's one of the few Apple products (apart from the 15-inch MacBook Air above) to maintain its sale price the day after the sale. It's the best small tablet on the market right now and really your only option if you want a true one-hand-friendly iPad. It's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip and sports a Touch ID-toting power button, solid cameras, a good battery life and a USB-C port for charging.

Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony's WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds went down to $278 for Prime Day and are still going for that price today. Impressive as that's their best price yet. These are the best wireless earbuds on the market right now, and Sony improved upon it's already remarkable buds with a more comfortable fit, better sound quality and features likes adaptive sound and Speak-to-Chat.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

The previous generation of Fire TV Stick 4K dropped to $23 for the sale and is one of the few Amazon devices still on sale. It has the same processor, RAM and storage as the standard Fire TV Stick, but it can stream 4K HDR content in all its glory. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, while a picture-in-picture live view feature can show you feeds from compatible security cameras right on your TV screen.

Do note, though, that this is the previous model of the streaming stick. The newly refreshed Fire TV Stick 4K isn't sale but has a faster processor and supports Wi-Fi 6.

Anker Soundcore Motion +

One of the top Bluetooth options in our speaker guide is Anker’s Soundcore Motion +, which gives out good sound for its price point. The $100 MSRP is discounted to $70 if you clip the on-page copuon. That's a 30 percent discount and an all-time low. It has a bright and bassy output and offers EQ customization in the app. Plus it’s water-resistant, so you can take it to the park or on a hike and share your good taste in music with whoever is nearby.

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

The top budget pick in our gaming headphones buying guide, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, is on sale for $35. That’s just a modest $5 discount over its street price recently, but matches the lowest price we’ve seen. The Cloud Stinger 2 doesn’t have the most balanced or detailed sound, but its V-shaped signature gives action scenes a nice level of impact, and its mic quality belies the dirt-cheap price. The design is comfortable too, though it’s made from cheap-feeling plastic.

Shokz OpenRun Pro

The Shokz OpenRun Pro is down to $125 for Prime Big Deal Days, which is $25 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked but still $55 below its usual going rate. This is a recommended pair of bone conduction headphones, which means it hugs the side of your head and delivers sound by passing vibrations through your skull. (It’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds.) The main benefit is that this leaves your ear canals completely open, so you can enjoy a playlist or podcast without being shut out from the outside world. The downside, usually, is that you don’t get as full a sound as you would with a traditional pair. That’ll still be the case here, but we’ve found the OpenRun Pro to deliver more low-end depth than most of its peers. They’re fairly comfy and get up to 10 hours of battery life beyond that.

Logitech G535

If you’re looking for a wireless headset, the Logitech G535 is back down to $80, which is about $25 below its average street price. This is an honorable mention in our gaming headsets guide, as we like its lightweight design, Bluetooth support and agreeable, relatively well-balanced sound. It forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level though, and its mic makes voices sound a little too thin. It also doesn't work with Xbox consoles. But if you really want a wireless gaming headset for less than $100, it’s well worth a look.

Chipolo ONE

The Chipolo One is our pick for the best overall Bluetooth tracking device. It's currently down to $20 for the single tag, or you can get a 4-pack for $60, which is an even better deal. In our guide, we found the Chipolo to reliably and consistently inform us when we'd left our keys behind. It also has the loudest ring of the trackers we tried, which makes it easier to find lost keys and other items when they're nearby.

Samsung Smart Monitor M8

The Samsung Smart Monitor M8 is down to just $500, which is $200 off its starting price (though it regularly sells for $600) and the lowest price we've seen thus far. This 32-inch display has built-in apps and allows you to access streaming services, just like you would on a smart TV. It can also act as a smart home hub, showing you your smart camera feeds and more. This discounted model is the updated 2023 version of the monitor that launched at CES 2022.

Google Indoor Nest Security Cam

A slew of Google Nest home security devices are still on sale the day after Prime, including the battery-powered Nest Cam that can go inside or outside your home. Typically priced at $180, the security cam dipped down to $120 for Amazon's October Prime Day event. The Nest Cam works with smart speakers and displays enabled with Alexa or the Google Assistant and can last up to seven months depending on how much activity it picks up. Its weather-resistant build and magnetic mount should make it easy to install on most surfaces. It sends live alerts to your phone and will even allow for on-demand check-ins without a subscription, though it only stores the last three hours for free. For six months of stored footage, you'll need a Nest Aware membership.

Google Nest Thermostat

In other Google deals, the Nest Thermostat is on sale for just $90, which is only about $10 more than the lowest price we've tracked and $40 off Google's MSRP. This is Google's entry-level smart thermostat, but it still lets you control your heating and cooling from anywhere, suggests tweaks to help you save money, and in some cases, can entitle you to rebates from your utility provider. It's all relatively easy to program, and it works with Google's Nest Hub and other smart displays like the Echo Show.

Beats Studio Pro

The Beats Studio Pro headphones are still on sale for $179 right now. That's a sizable $170 discount. We reviewed these back in July when they came out and gave them a decent review score of 81. Unfortunately they didn't push any of the top picks from our our best headphones list off their pedestals. They aren't bad, however, offering pleasant, even-handed sound and good noise cancellation. Though Beats is now owned by Apple, these headphones still play nice with Android. There's no wear detection and the mostly plastic design isn’t super premium, but at this price, you may not care.

Tribit StormBox Micro 2

The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is another small speaker we like that puts out decent volume for its size, and for Prime day it went down to $48, which is $12 off its usual going rate. Right now it's on sale for $60, but an on-page 15 percent coupon brings it back to that Prime Day low. This device has a strap on its back that works well on belts, backpacks, or even bike handlebars, so it’s easy to take on the road. And "on the go" is where the StormBox Micro 2 performs best, as it’s more about portable volume than pure fidelity.

Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E

The Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E is holding strong at $300 right now for a pack of three routers. That's within a dollar of the lowest price it's sold for on Amazon. It's one of the best Wi-Fi 6 router systems you can get at the moment thanks to its easy setup process, convenient Google Assistant integrations and Matter and Thread support. If you're looking for a not-too expensive way to upgrade your home Wi-Fi system, and one that will take little time to set up, Google's is the one to get.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Our favorite streaming stick, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, remains at $37 after the sale. It packs a ton of features into an affordable package, including 4K HDR streaming capabilities, Dolby Vision, AirPlay 2 and private listening when you have a pair of headphones. And since it's so small, it makes for a great travel entertainment device too.

Hisense U6K

The Hisense U6K is one of the more affordable TVs. And the 55- and 65-inch models are still down to $400 and $548, respectively. We’ve seen these deals before, but each matches an all-time low. The U6K is has received generally positive reviews around the web, as it's one of the few budget-level sets with quantum dots, full-array local dimming and a mini-LED backlight. All of that should help it deliver better contrast and color volume than most TVs in its price range. It’s not ideal for gaming though, as it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks HDMI 2.1 ports. In general, it can’t match the brightness or viewing angles of a more expensive set, but it looks to be a good buy if you’re on a tighter budget.

For a well-reviewed midrange model, the Hisense U8K provides much better contrast and peak brightness, plus more gaming-friendly features like ability to play 4K content at up to a 144Hz refresh rate. That one is down to $748 for a 55-inch model and $998 for a 65-inch set.

Samsung The Frame smart TV

Samsung’s The Frame TV is down to $998 for the 55-inch set. Yesterday it included a bezel cover at no extra charge, but today just the set alone is discounted. That's still a $500 discount and matches the lowest price it's sold for. Other sizes are discounted too. The expensive sets don't have the high-end features you may expect like local dimming and mini-LED backlighting, so their picture quality isn’t as premium as others in their price range. But the realistic art-when-it's-off effect is convincing.

iRobot Roomba 694

iRobot's Roomba 694 dropped to $199 for Prime Day and stayed there. While that's still $20 more than the lowest we've seen it go, it's still a good deal on our favorite cheap robot vacuum. It's got strong suction power, an attractive design and easy to use app. It'll be a good option for robo-vac novices, or anyone that doesn't want to fuss too much with an automatic dirt sucker. It clears hard and carpeted floors well, and it automatically returns to its base once a cleaning job is finished so it can recharge.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD

The Samsung Pro Plus microSD card is on sale for $20 right now. It's our top pick in our best microSD card guide because it was the most consistent of the ones we tested, with some of the best overall speeds and all of the important ratings that a good card should have: U3, V30 and A2. It'll be a great pick for your tablet, smartphone or Nintendo Switch, and it comes with a full-sized adapter in case you need to use it with a camera or connect it to your computer.

Crucial MX500

The Crucial MX500 internal drive is on sale for $46 right now. It's been an Engadget favorite for a while thanks to its sequential read speeds of 560MB/s and a standard 2.5-inch design that should make it easy to swap in for your desktop's or laptop's used-up drive.

Other great deals for after Prime Day

Anker 511 Charger

New Apple Watches don’t come with power adapters, so if you’re looking for one that can deliver a quick charge, we recommend Anker's 511 (Nano 3) charging brick. It’s down to $20 which is a mild, $4 discount, but still a welcome price for a worthwhile smartwatch accessory.

OtterBox Fast Charge Power Bank

The OtterBox Fast Charge Power Bank is currently just $36 for the 15,000mAh capacity model, which is the version we tested and recommend in our portable battery guide. This pack looks sharp and delivers a fast and reliable charge via USB-C or USB-A.

SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch

If you need more room on your Switch, SanDisk's officially licensed microSDXC card is a good pick, particularly when it’s on sale. Right now a 128GB model is within a dollar of its all-time low at just $18.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD card

Our favorite microSD card for most people is the Samsung Pro Plus. It had the fastest sequential write speeds and random performance of any card we tested, and the USB reader that comes with included with this listing helps it reach higher speeds on compatible devices. It’s listed at $38 for the set (though it often goes for $25), and now Prime Day in October brings it to $23.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Twitch has finally begun rolling out a previously announced feature that lets creators block banned users from watching their streams. Before this tool, banned users couldn’t participate in chats, but they could watch every second of your stream with their creepy little eyes. Now, they can’t. Well... mostly.

There’s a big-time caveat. While banned users can’t watch your streams, logged-out users can. So the workaround would be simply to log out and cruise to your page. Still, they’d have no way to make their presence known so it would become something of an “out of sight, out of mind” type thing.

This feature must be enabled via moderation settings in the Creator Dashboard, according to Twitch. Once you turn it on and drop the ban hammer on some pest, they’ll immediately lose the ability to watch your stream. You can un-ban them to renew access, or they can log out and watch you anonymously.

It’s also worth noting that Twitch is just banning users and not IP addresses, so another possible workaround would be for someone to sign-up with a new username via a new email address. That’s a fair bit of work, however, just to watch someone fool around with Baldur’s Gate 3. Still, it’s the internet so you never know.

The tool begins rolling out today, but Twitch says it could be a while before it reaches every account, noting that “these updates roll out over time, so some people get it a bit sooner than others.” Check your Twitch app and look for the update.

This is just the latest step in Twitch’s war against harassers. Other moves to address the issue have included the inclusion of a one-button anti-harassment tool, enhancing its reporting and appeals process, rewriting community policies and taking a strong stance against explicit deepfakes.

Comcast is upgrading its residential cable internet service to offer upload and download speeds of up to 2 Gbps through decades-old coaxial cables. The company says it's the first ISP in the world to offer multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds to customers through DOCSIS 4.0 technology, which it's powering through the Xfinity 10G network.

The zippy X-Class Internet service will first be available in some neighborhoods in Colorado Springs, Colorado starting next week. It will arrive in parts of Atlanta and Philadelphia soon, and then in other markets over the next few years.

Comcast says DOCSIS 4.0 connections are already available in tens of millions of homes across the US. Multi-gigabit download speeds have been possible via cable for several years. Upgrading to DOCSIS 4.0 will not only improve download speeds but make it possible to deliver symmetric uploads while minimizing lag and avoiding any impact to downstream service.

Comcast has been working on this technology for several years and it aims to offer 2 Gbps symmetrical service in more than 50 million homes by the end of 2025. Since they'll be able to access faster connections through existing coaxial cable infrastructure, many consumers won't need to wait for Comcast to connect their home to a fiber network before they can make the most of multi-gigabit upload and download speeds.

What's more, DOCSIS 4.0 is capable of supporting up to 10 Gbps downstream and up to 6 Gbps upstream speeds, so coaxial cables may be able to carry even faster internet connections in the future. In a test last year, Comcast achieved download speeds of 6 Gbps and upload speeds of 4 Gbps.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event included many discounts on Nintendo Switch games and accessories, but one thing we didn't see on sale was the console itself. Now, though, Amazon subsidiary Woot has rolled out a new deal that brings the Nintendo Switch OLED down to $315. That's $35 off Nintendo's list price. While this isn't the largest price drop we've ever seen, discounts on Switch consoles are relatively uncommon, so any opportunity to save is usually a good one. Woot says the offer applies to both the White and Neon Blue & Red versions of the console, and that it'll run for nine days or (more likely) until the consoles sell out. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you'll get free shipping.

We gave the Switch OLED a review score of 89 when it arrived in late 2021. As a refresher, it's the highest-end model in the Switch lineup, with a 7-inch OLED display that's larger, brighter and more vibrant than the panels on the original Switch or Switch Lite (both of which remain available at lower prices). Despite the bigger screen, the machine itself is virtually identical in size to the standard model. 

Beyond that, the Switch OLED has a larger and far less flimsy kickstand around the back, and its built-in speakers are generally louder and clearer. Its included dock is a bit more convenient, as it features a LAN port and an easily removable back plate. There's also double the internal storage at 64GB, though you'll pretty much need a microSD card either way. All that said, there's no difference in actual performance between the three consoles, and Nintendo rates the OLED and standard models with the same 4.5 to nine hours of battery life.

The big caveat to this or any other Switch deal right now is that the console seems very likely to be nearing the end of its cycle. The original device arrived nearly seven years ago, and a follow-up is widely expected to arrive sometime in 2024. A recent Eurogamer report, for one, said that Nintendo demoed a potential "Switch 2" for game developers during the Gamescom trade fair in August. So if you aren't itching to play anything on the Switch today, it seems safe to wait. 

However, the Switch is still home to a tremendous library of games, with promising titles like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and the Super Mario RPG remake still on the way. (Yours truly is currently obsessed with F-Zero 99, another recent release.) For now, the Switch OLED is the best way to enjoy all of them, so this is a nice chance to save if you've wanted to catch up. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

At Kia's EV day event, the automaker has launched its upcoming electric vehicle, the EV5, and introduced two new concepts meant to make the technology more accessible. The company says it aims to offer people a wide-ranging EV lineup that includes the EV6 and the newer EV9, which promises Level 3 autonomy and a 336-mile range. It's hoping to sell the EV5 and, eventually, the EV4 and EV3 at prices ranging from $35,000 to $50,000 "to accelerate the widespread adoption of EVs."

The EV5 SUV is the third purely electric vehicle in its lineup. Kia designed it on top of E-GMP, its dedicated EV platform, and currently plans to manufacture and sell them in China and Korea. Its specifications differ for each market, with China getting a standard, a long-range and a long-range AWD variant. China's standard model will come with a 64kWh battery pack, along with a 160kW motor, and is expected to have a range of 530 km or 329 miles. 

Meanwhile, the long-range version will have a bigger battery that can reach a range of 720 km or 447 miles on a single charge. The AWD model will have a range of 650 km or 404 miles and will come with a fast-charging capability. As for the Korean models, their range will apparently be tailored to meet market demands. Kia says a GT variant with performance features will also be unveiled at a later date. 

Kia

While the EV5 is very much a real product that will initially be available for sale in the Chinese market later this year, the other electric vehicles Kia unveiled during its event are still a concept at this point. The EV3 (pictured above), if it turns out exactly as the automaker has envisioned, will be a compact and accessible version of the EV9. Kia's EV4 (below), on the other hand, will be a sedan with a low nose, sharp lines and a futuristic cocoon-like interior. It remains to be seen whether Kia can achieve a $35,000 price point, which seems to be a common target among EV makers, for any of the aforementioned vehicles.

Kia

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Two weeks have passed since the Writers Guild of America reached a deal to resume working, but things aren't looking good for its counterpart, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Talks broke down Wednesday night with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) due to "bully tactics," with CEOs reportedly walking away without any proposed counteroffer, SAG-AFTRA's negotiating committee said in a statement. CEOs such as Disney's Bob Iger and Netflix's Ted Sarandos started personally meeting with SAG-AFTRA negotiators in early October. 

The committee is working to reach an agreement for actors, striking since mid-July. "We have negotiated with them in good faith, despite the fact that last week they presented an offer that was, shockingly, worth less than they proposed before the strike began," SAG-AFTRA added. "These companies refuse to protect performers from being replaced by AI, they refuse to increase your wages to keep up with inflation, and they refuse to share a tiny portion of the immense revenue your work generates for them."

The AMPTP claims a requested cut in streaming revenue would cost $800 million a year, a figure SAG-AFTRA says is inflated by 60 percent after "big, meaningful counters" from the union. According to SAG-AFTRA, this tactic is an attempt to fool members and break down support. The union also claims AMPTP is requiring day one AI consent from actors to use their likeness across an entire franchise. For now, SAG-AFTRA encourages its members to continue showing up at picket lines and solidarity events. 

The reviews keep coming this week. After all the AI tricks, rock-climbing and specification barrage we saw at Google’s big Pixel reveal event, how do Google’s flagship smartphones stack up?

Pretty well, according to our reviews of both the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8. The surprise highlight is AI, using machine learning and its homemade Tensor G3 chip in a tangible and practical way compared to services like ChatGPT or Midjourney. This includes making your photos look better, videos sound better and adds interactive robo-voice panache to call screening.

Engadget

Both devices once again have incredibly capable cameras, with 5x optical zoom on the Pixel 8 Pro (matching the iPhone 15 Pro Max) and new pro controls too. According to Engadget’s Sam Rutherford, the Pixel 8 Pro feels like the most powerful smartphone camera on the market.

If there is one caveat, both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro cost $100 more than their predecessors. In the review, we break down all the new AI features and test the cameras out at that classic photo event — a coworker’s wedding.

(We also reviewed the Pixel Watch 2, but it’s less of a ringing endorsement.)

— Mat Smith

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California’s right to repair bill is now California’s right to repair law

Governor Newsom signed the legislation Tuesday.

Phone-Service-Centre via Getty Images

California is the third state to pass a right to repair consumer protection law, following Minnesota and New York. The California Right to Repair bill was originally introduced in 2019.

“This is a victory for consumers and the planet, and it just makes sense,” Jenn Engstrom, state director of CALPIRG, told iFixit. “Right now, we mine the planet’s precious minerals, use them to make amazing phones and other electronics, ship these products across the world and then toss them away after just a few years’ use.”

There are exceptions to the rules. No, it doesn’t cover your PS5 — not even that new skinny one. Nor are alarm systems or heavy industrial equipment that “vitally affects the general economy of the state, the public interest and the public welfare.”

Continue reading.

EU official gives Mark Zuckerberg 24 hours to respond to Israel misinformation concerns

It comes a day after a similar letter to X owner Elon Musk.

The European Union’s regulatory commissioner posted a single-page correspondence to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, giving the Facebook founder 24 hours to respond. The letter acknowledges areas where Meta’s content moderation has improved but raises concerns about misinformation (including deepfakes) on the company’s social platforms as the Israel–Hamas conflict continues.

The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) requires social companies, like Meta, to moderate and remove illegal and harmful content. The law requires platforms operating in the EU to police malicious material proactively. It can levy fines of up to six percent of any infringing companies’ total revenue.

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NASA reveals what it found on the asteroid Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx even returned ‘bonus asteroid material.’

NASA

In a livestream show-and-tell, NASA scientists outlined what they’ve discovered so far. The big news here is that samples from the 4.5-billion-year-old Bennu asteroid contain not only carbon, but also water. These are the building blocks of life on Earth and, likely, everywhere else. These samples have only been on the planet since September 25, and initial studies just began. NASA also noted it got “bonus asteroid material” covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid and base.

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Microsoft might owe $28.9 billion in back taxes

It needs to check its spreadsheets again.

Microsoft owes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) $28.9 billion in back taxes, not including penalties and interest, at least according to the tax authority. The tech giant has revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it received a series of Notices of Proposed Adjustment (NOPAs) from the IRS for the tax years 2004 to 2013. Microsoft has been working with the IRS for nearly a decade to address the questions about how it distributed its profits among countries and jurisdictions. The result is this multi-billion-dollar tax bill. The company disagrees, as expected, and said newer tax laws could reduce the back taxes it owes from this particular audit by $10 billion. That’s still $18.9 billion, though.

Continue reading.