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Iconic synth manufacturer Moog has been acquired by super conglomerate inMusic, joining other brands snatched up by the company like Alesis, Akai, M-Audio and, well, a bunch more. In a statement, Moog president Joe Richardson says the acquisition could help the company overcome “ongoing challenges”, citing global distribution supply chain concerns.

To that end, chip shortages and various supply chain issues have plagued the company since early Covid, leading to stark price increases for some of its flagship instruments, as originally reported by Synth Anatomy and others. Moog has managed to stay an independent brand for decades, since the 1960s, so this is something of a shock for the synthesizer world.

Moog says it’ll still be developing synthesizers at its Asheville, North Carolina headquarters but makes no mention about the manufacturing process. To this day, many of the iconic instruments under the company’s umbrella are manufactured in the USA, so we’ll keep an eye on if that changes. Alesis, also owned by inMusic, designs its products in America but manufactures them in China.

There’s also the idea of brand cross-pollination. In the announcement letter, Richardson says the acquisition will allow Moog to “enhance the capabilities of inMusic and its exclusive brands.” Does this suggest a future Moog synth with actual Akai MPC pads or a budget-friendly Alesis synthesizer that takes advantage of Moog’s audio-shaping expertise? We shall see. In the meantime, Moog just celebrated its 70th anniversary with a Model D-inspired web app and recently released the Moog One, its most ambitious (and expensive) instrument ever.

The Instant Pot has been one of the most important kitchen gadgets of the past decade, but that hasn't prevented financial turmoil at its parent company. Instant Brands has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US citing worldwide "macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges" that include higher interest rates and tighter credit. While the company says it endured the pandemic and the ensuing supply chain problems, these latest problems proved to be too much.

Instant Brands still expects to put products on shelves, including Instant Pot as well as sibling brands like Corelle, CorningWare and Pyrex. It also received a promise of $132.5 million in financing to pay creditors while it works through the bankruptcy process. The court still has to approve the financing.

The Instant Pot range first launched in 2010 with a simple strategy: it combined a pressure cooker with many other functions (such as sauté and a steamer) in one device. It's particularly appealing if you want a quick meal that doesn't involve a microwave. Despite a lack of advertising, it developed a cult-like fan base and became synonymous with modern kitchens. That translated to surging demand — the lineup dominated Amazon's Prime Day sales for years starting in 2016.

This isn't the end for Instant Brands. As with other companies' Chapter 11 filings, it's a chance for the firm to get its financial affairs in order and (ideally) ensure its long-term health. However, this is a reminder that success in tech doesn't last forever, even for kitchen hardware.

General Motors and Samsung SDI have chosen Indiana for their joint EV battery plant. The state’s governor, Eric Holcomb, announced today that the companies will build the $3 billion facility in St. Joseph County, scheduled to open in 2026. The factory, designed to help GM meet rising EV demand, is expected to bring 1,700 new manufacturing jobs to the Hoosier State.

The plant will manufacture nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells. GM and Samsung SDI expect the completed factory to have “more than 30 GWh of capacity.” The automaker currently runs five plants in Indiana, employing more than 5,700 people, and it is now the second-largest EV maker in the US, behind Tesla. GM aims to produce more than one million EVs annually by 2025 and “accelerate from there,” completing its transition to electric-only vehicles by 2035.

GM and Samsung SDI announced the joint venture in April without naming the location. It follows GM’s three previous US factory partnerships with LG Energy Solution, including a 900-worker plant in Warren, OH and upcoming Spring Hill, TN and Lansing, MI facilities.

The companies plan to begin construction within the next year, creating over 1,000 jobs during that period. “This joint venture and the 1,700 people there will help supply cells for millions of all-electric vehicles for customers across North America,” said Mary Barra, GM’s Chair and CEO. “The strong support of local and state leaders in Indiana and the combined resources and expertise of GM and Samsung SDI will help us move faster than we could on our own.”

It's been a packed few days of game announcements, but Summer Game Fest isn't done yet. Microsoft will host the awkwardly named Xbox Games Showcase Extended at 1PM ET and you can watch it below.

The stream perhaps won't be quite as newsworthy as the main Xbox showcase that took place on Sunday, but it seems like it'll have some juicy details. Microsoft says this presentation will include deeper dives into several of the first-party projects it showed off at the weekend, including Avowed, Towerborne, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom and the Dune expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

This showcase will include gameplay walkthroughs, interviews and some behind-the-scenes features. We'll also get a look at some games from Microsoft's third-party partners, and some "special guests" will make appearances.

There are two more Summer Game Fest events taking place today after the Xbox affair. At 4PM ET, you'll be able to check out Dames 4 Games. This will feature "interviews with women who work in the industry, women who love gaming and those who aspire to make a change." The stream will include looks at several indie games.

At 6PM, you can tune into the Black Voices in Gaming stream. This will focus on projects from Black developers, games with Black protagonists and interviews with Black creators. You can catch both the Dames 4 Games and Black Voices in Gaming events on Guerrilla Collective's YouTube and Twitch channels.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest right here!

If you’re in the market for a new SSD, Amazon is holding a sale on Crucial drives. The company might not have the brand recognition that Samsung and SanDisk do, but rest assured, Crucial’s products are known for their reliability. The highlight of the sale is the company’s P5 Plus NVMe drive. If your PC features a Gen4 M.2 connection, the P5 Plus offers sequential read speeds of up to 6,600MB/s. It’s also worth noting the P5 Plus is fully compatible with the PlayStation 5; in fact, it’s one of Engadget’s top picks for the best storage you can get for Sony’s latest console. The 1TB model is 24 percent off, making it $65 at the moment.

If you don’t have an M.2 slot on your PC but still want to upgrade your storage, consider the MX500. After a 48 percent discount, the 1TB model is $52. The MX500 is Engadget’s pick for the best 2.5-inch SATA drive you can buy. It hits the perfect balance of price, performance and reliability. If you won’t take our word for it, consider that the MX500 holds a five-star Amazon rating on more than 90,000 reviews.

For those looking for a portable drive, you can get Crucial’s X6 1TB SSD for $60, or 45 percent off its usual $110 price. I haven’t tested the X6, but it has a solid spec sheet, offering transfer speeds of up to 800MB/s and USB 3.2 connectivity. Crucial claims the X6’s enclosure is also shock- and vibration-proof, so that should offer some peace of mind. For what it’s worth, the X6 carries a four-and-a-half star rating on more than 8,000 reviews.

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Polestar has outlined pricing for the significantly upgraded 2024 Polestar 2, and it's evident you'll get a lot more value for your money. The electric sedan now starts at a slightly more expensive $49,900 for a rear-wheel drive long range single motor variant that's arguably the more compelling model. It now includes a new 299HP motor (up 68HP from before) while delivering an estimated 320 miles of combined EPA range and faster 205kW charging. A sprint to 60MPH takes 5.9 seconds. Compared to previous front-wheel drive variants, this should be considerably more exciting.

The all-wheel drive long dual motor Polestar 2 starts at $55,300. The rear motor upgrade pushes this to 421HP and a longer 276-mile range with a 4.3-second 0-60MPH dash. You'll have to make do with 'just' 155kW charging, but you also get the previously $3,400 Pilot Pack as standard. That bundle includes a swath of driver assistance features that include adaptive cruise control and emergency stop assist.

All trim levels now come with driver aids for blind spots, cross traffic and parking, as well as 360-degree cameras and auto-dimming side mirrors. The Plus Pack is down to $2,200 ($2,000 less) and includes cold weather upgrades (such as a range-friendly heat pump) as well as Harman Kardon audio and an air quality system. The as yet unpriced Performance Pack adds low-drag Brembo brakes, new alloy wheels, Öhlins adjustable dampers and a 455HP powerplant that takes the car to 60MPH in 4.1 seconds.

Deliveries start in August. The new Polestar 2 qualifies for a $7,500 federal credit on leases. Canadians get a better deal if they're planning to purchase — their single motor edition starts at $54,950 CAD ($41,317 US) and qualifies for a $5,000 CAD federal credit.

The aggressive upgrades aren't surprising. Polestar now faces fiercer competition than it did when the 2 first reached customers, including a lower-priced Tesla Model 3 (currently starting at $40,240). The improved EV may cost more than its most obvious rival, but you're also getting a longer claimed range and more safety features. The performance is roughly on par, too.

It seems that Meta has a fully fledged Twitter alternative that ties into Instagram on the way. In the meantime, Instagram still has its own Notes feature, which is getting an upgrade today as it now supports music and translation.

Since December, the feature has enabled users to share short status updates including text and emoji on their profiles. Friends and followers can see these mini missives in the inbox. Adding music to your notes will help you express yourself, Meta says. You'll be able to include a 30-second clip of a song along with a caption. You might think of this as a souped-up version of an AIM away message, where you can post a clip of a song alongside a lyric that vaguely hints at your feelings about a certain someone or takes a passive-aggressive shot at one of your enemies.

Instagram

In addition, you'll be able to translate notes with a tap. This could be handy if one of your friends tends to post their notes in a language you may not know well. 

Meta says that many teens have taken to Notes. More than 100 million teen accounts have posted a note in the last three months. Music and translation are both solid additions to the feature and they'll likely go over well with teens. 

Instagram

Meanwhile, Meta has confirmed it's working on a "standalone decentralized social network" that's focused on text-based updates. According to reports, you'll be able to log in with your Instagram credentials and populate your profile with details from your existing account. The service will hook into ActivityPub, the networking protocol that powers Mastodon, while Meta's said to be trying to convince high-profile users such as Oprah and the Dalai Lama to use it.

Embracer Group has announced a major restructuring of its business — which includes game cancellations, layoffs and selling or closing studios — in an attempt to reduce costs and make the business more efficient. The news comes in the wake of the company revealing that a deal that would have been worth $2 billion in revenue over six years fell apart, despite Embracer having a verbal agreement from its unnamed proposed partner.

It will take until March next year to complete the restructuring process. It's "too early to give an exact forecast" on how many of Embracer's nearly 17,000 workers will be impacted, CEO Lars Wingefors wrote in an open letter. 

"The actions will include, but not be limited to, closing or divestments of some studios and the termination or pausing of some ongoing game development projects," Wingefors wrote. "It will also include decreased spending on non-development costs such as overhead and other operating expenses. We will reduce third party publishing and put greater focus on internal [intellectual property] and increase external funding of large-budget games."

It is not yet clear which studios the company plans to close or sell. Embracer says the game cancellations are "almost entirely" for projects that haven't been announced and for which it projects low returns. "All announced significant releases will still be released as planned," Wingefors said. For instance, Crystal Dynamics, which is working on a new Tomb Raider game and helping The Initiative with Perfect Dark, says those projects won't be impacted by the changes.

Over the last several years, Embracer has vacuumed up a wide array of notable gaming companies and intellectual property rights. It bought Gearbox for $1.3 billion in 2021. Last year, Embracer acquired Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montreal and Square Enix Montreal (a studio that Embracer renamed shortly before closing it) in a $300 million deal that included the rights to the likes of Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief and Legacy of Kain. 

Embracer last year secured the rights to The Lord of the Rings, which it plans to turn into “one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world.” According to IGN, the company's interim chief operations officer Matthew Karch told investors on Tuesday that "we know we need to be exploiting Lord of the Rings in a very significant fashion." Multiple LOTR games are in the works, including another attempt by Amazon at an MMO based in JRR Tolkien's universe.

Going forward, Embracer plans to establish a more comprehensive review process for investments in ongoing projects as well as potential new ones. Wingefors noted there will also be more accountability across the company to make sure "performance is in line with or exceeding current targets."

Wingefors ended the letter by noting some of the decisions Embracer makes as part of the restructuring will be "difficult" ones. However, he wrote, "we are doing this because we are confident that we will emerge a stronger, more efficient company setting out on a stable future to build even greater value across our many studios and fantastic portfolio of IPs."

Following a sneak peek and a teaser, Apple TV+ has finally released the official trailer for season two of Foundation — set 100 years ahead of season one's finale. The show, based on Isaac Asimov's book series, will introduce viewers to a second crisis: war with the Empire. Season two also follows the Cleons unraveling, "a vengeful Queen" plotting to destroy the Empire and the Foundation in its religious phase. As Dr. Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) reveals in the trailer, it will bring "Despair, death, destruction. This is even bigger than the last crisis." Whatever happens will decide the fate of all humanity — no big deal.

The ten new episodes come almost two years after season one first premiered and keep some of the original cast, including Lee Pace and Jared Harris. Its new season debuts Friday, July 14, on Apple TV+, with new episodes premiering weekly. In the meantime, enjoy the official trailer and have solace in knowing that filming for season three is already underway. 

AI-assisted vocals aren't just for bootleg songs. Paul McCartney has revealed to BBC Radio 4 that he's using AI to turn a John Lennon demo into one last song for The Beatles. The technology helped extract Lennon's voice to get a "pure" version that could be mixed into a finished composition. The piece will be released later this year, McCartney says.

McCartney didn't name the song, but it's believed to be "Now and Then," a 1978 love song Lennon put on cassettes meant for the other former Beatle. The Guardian notes the tune was considered for release as a reunion song alongside tracks that did make the cut, such as "Free As A Bird," but there wasn't much to it — just a chorus, a crude backing track and the lightest of verses. The Beatles rejected it after George Harrison thought it was bad, and the electrical buzz from Lennon's apartment didn't help matters.

The inspiration for the revival came from dialog editor Emile de la Rey's work on the Peter Jackson documentary Get Back, where AI separated the Beatles' voices from instruments and other sounds. The tech provides "some sort of leeway" for producing songs, McCartney adds.

To date, music labels typically haven't been fond of AI due to copyright clashes. Creators have used algorithms to have famous artists "sing" songs they never actually produced, such as a recently pulled fantasy collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd. This, however, is different — McCartney is using AI to salvage a track that otherwise wouldn't have reached the public. It won't be surprising if other artists use the technique to recover work that would otherwise sit in an archive.