BMW's North American EV customers should have an easier time finding charging stations in the future. The company has announced it's adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for all its battery-powered EVs in the United States and Canada. The changeover should be official beginning in early 2025.

The remodel's rollout coincides with all BMW and Rolls-Royce EVs built with a Combined Charging System (CCS) getting access to specific Tesla Supercharger stations. "With six fully electric BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models now available in the US market, and more to come, it is our top priority to ensure that our drivers have easy access to reliable, fast charging," Sebastian Mackensen, President and CEO, BMW of North America, said in a statement. "This agreement is the latest in our longstanding and continued effort to expand charging options for our customers as we continue on the road to electrification."  

BMW was one of the last car manufacturers in the region which had yet to adopt the NACS. The company follows Ford, General Motors and Volvo — among others — who have recently made the change. Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda are all still holdouts, though the latter two have been in talks with Tesla about making the shift. 

In July, BMW announced a joint venture with six other car manufacturers — including General Motors and Honda — to build a minimum of 30,000 charging stations in urban areas and highways. They should each offer compatibility with the CCS and the NACS. The joint venture plans to start rolling out locations across the US in early 2024 and in Canada at a later point. 

Volta Trucks has declared bankruptcy in Sweden after four years in business. The EV manufacturers' board announced the news in a statement that thanked its workers and pointed to its existing accomplishments and unattained potential. "We created the world's first purpose-built 16-tonne all-electric truck, including a unique cab and chassis design, that would have contributed to decarbonising the environment and enhanced the health and safety and air quality of urban centres." The company had piloted its delivery vehicle, Volta Zero, in five European countries and originally planned to expand to Los Angeles in mid-2023. 

Volta Trucks blames its situation, in part, on that of another bankruptcy: Its battery supplier, Proterra, filed for bankruptcy protection in August following cost-trimming efforts. According to Volta Trucks, this turn of events reduced the number of vehicles it planned to produce and made raising the capital necessary to continue operations more challenging. 

The EV industry has faced a great deal of layoffs and closures, especially from startups navigating the ever-evolving (and supply chain issues-plagued) field. Lordstown Motors declared bankruptcy in mid-2023 after five years in business, and Arrival has gone through multiple rounds of layoffs with all signs pointing toward bankruptcy — to name only two examples. As was the case with Lordstown Motors, Volta Trucks could seek a buyer for its existing technology. 

Snapchat has rolled out two new features, including the ability to embed content from the platform into a website. Users can now embed Lenses, Spotlight videos and public stories or profiles through their computer browser by clicking the embed button under share options. This will automatically copy the code — just as competitors like Instagram and TikTok have long allowed users to do. 

Following years of trying to broaden from just a platform to send pictures back and forth with friends, the option to embed is a logical next step from Snapchat. It builds on other features like articles and discovering local places of interest and, in 2022, Snapchat for Web. 

Along with embeds, Snapchat has also launched an OpenAI-powered feature that lets users extend their snaps to include more of their possible surroundings. The tool is reminiscent of Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill but, in this case, estimates what the entire border area looks like versus one targeted piece. Engadget has confirmed this feature is available for Snapchat+ subscribers. 

The company has regularly been using AI tools as perks for its now five million-plus Snapchat+ subscribers. The company's AI-powered Dreams feature — which lets users generate eight packs of "fantastical" images — is limited to one time only for regular users or one set per month for Snapchat+ subscribers. Anyone can buy extra packs for $0.99 each.

Snapchat was quick to hop on the AI boom, rolling out a chatbot called My AI using "OpenAI's GPT technology that the authors have customized" back in February. Initially also available solely to Snapchat+ subscribers, My AI expanded to all global users two months later with everything from restaurant recommendations to photo responses (as has been the case for AI bots in 2023, not always appropriately). 

TikTok is the latest social media company to announce its plan for mitigating misleading and violent content in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. A point-by-point blog post details recent steps, such as the creation of a command center "that brings together key members of our 40,000-strong global team of safety professionals, representing a range of expertise and regional perspectives, so that we remain agile in how we take action to respond to this fast-evolving crisis." The company's statement follows similar ones from Meta and X — both companies had received letters from the European Union's regulatory commissioner detailing misinformation concerns. 

Additional steps outlined by TikTok include hiring "more" moderators who speak Arabic or Hebrew and regularly updating its automatic detection systems to identify graphic or violent content so as not to expose users or moderators. To that end, TikTok has expanded the well-being care available for frontline moderators. Notably, a moderator sued TikTok in 2021 for mental trauma, alleging that she would view between three and ten videos at once that featured horrific events like school shootings and cannibalism. 

Users should also now see opt-in screens over graphic imagery that is being kept on the platform for "public interest" reasons and further restricted Live eligibility in an attempt to limit misinformation. Speaking of falsehoods circulating on the internet, TikTok reiterated that it removes spliced content that users have edited to be misleading. 

TikTok reportedly took down about 500,000 videos and ended 8,000 livestreams occurring in Israel and Gaza between the initial attacks on October 7 and the statement's October 15 release. Moving forward, the company plans to roll out misinformation warnings in English, Hebrew and Arabic when certain terms are searched. 

Minecraft is turning 15 next year and we've been given insight into how popular it still is in the lead up: the game has now sold more than 300 million copies. To put that in perspective, Grand Theft Auto V is not even a close second, with over 185 million copies sold. Even its slightly later release (2013) doesn't do much to make up for the gap — especially considering Minecraft surpassed the 200 million mark in 2020. 

Mojang Studios announced the achievement during a Minecraft Live event that shared new features coming to the game, like a trial chamber that has traps and mobs coming at you along a series of rooms and corridors. A new Star Wars: Path of the Jedi DLC and Planet Earth DLC are also in development and will be available on November 7 and early next year, respectively. 

"As we approach the 15th anniversary, Minecraft remains one of the best-selling games of all time with over 300 million copies sold," said Helen Chiang, head of Mojang Studios. "[Its] a milestone no one could have dreamed of when we were all placing our first blocks."

The exact launch date of Minecraft is a bit confusing. Game developer Markus Persson, commonly known as Notch, first made Minecraft available to the public in 2009 (the anniversary being celebrated), but the game wasn't officially released until late 2011. Persson used the initial launch as an opportunity to better the game, keeping track of feedback and releasing alpha and beta updates in 2010 under his new company, Mojang. Jens Bergesten took over as lead designer at the end of that year, and in November 2011, the official Minecraft game launched on iOS.

The fight to keep DVD sales going is taking another big hit. Best Buy is allegedly ending all physical media sales — that means Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD — in-store and online, The Digital Bits reported. Multiple sources claim the move will occur in early 2024, possibly as soon as the first quarter. The news of Best Buy's decision comes only a few weeks after Netflix ended its 25-year DVD delivery service, sending out its final copies on September 29.

Best Buy's exit from the DVD and Blu-ray market leaves limited options in the United States. Walmart (which has a 45 percent share of the market) and Target still offer the discs at their physical stores, while Redbox is holding on to 29,000 rental kiosks. Amazon stands as a major player online, with Paramount recently releasing their Blu-ray and 4K Steelbook exclusive titles on the site versus Best Buy.

Disc purchases have been dropping since streaming came on the scene. According to the Digital Entertainment Group, the first six months of 2023 saw a 28 percent drop in physical products sold compared to the same period in 2022. Scondhand stores may be the best place to find DVDs for the time being, unless they come back in fashion like vinyls. 

Meta has shared an updated content monitoring action plan as the devastating Israel-Hamas war continues. It follows a stern letter from Thierry Breton, the European Union's (EU) regulatory commissioner, to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about misinformation concerns (such as deep fakes) and compliance with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The company had 24 hours to respond. 

In its statement, Meta said that it created an ever-evolving operations center with experts fluent in Hebrew and Arabic: "Since the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on Saturday, and Israel's response in Gaza, expert teams from across our company have been working around the clock to monitor our platforms while protecting people's ability to use our apps to shed light on important developments happening on the ground." Meta claims this new setup lets them remove content and fight misinformation faster.

Meta reportedly took over 795,000 distinct pieces of content in Hebrew or Arabic and removed or marked them with a disturbing label in the three days following the terrorist attack by Hamas. Seven times more content across these two languages was removed daily for violating its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy compared to the two months leading up to the conflict.

Hamas is listed under Meta's Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy and banned from all of the company's platforms — as is any content praising the terrorist group. However, "social and political discourse," such as news articles and general discussion, are allowed.

Further actions by Meta include restricting certain hashtags that are regularly associated with content that violates its policies and removing any content that clearly identifies a hostage (though blurred images are allowed). The company has also lowered the threshold for its monitoring technology, ideally reducing the chances of it recommending harmful content to users. "We want to reiterate that our policies are designed to give everyone a voice while keeping people safe on our apps," Meta's statement continued. "We apply these policies regardless of who is posting or their personal beliefs, and it is never our intention to suppress a particular community or point of view."

Whether these steps will satisfy Breton is unclear. Breton sent a similar letter to X's owner, Elon Musk. X then released an outline of updated policies, but the EU has decided to move forward with an investigation into its compliance with the DSA.

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. 

A new bill out of New York is targeting the thing we all have a love-hate relationship with on social media: the algorithm. Governor Kathy Hochul joined lawmakers in introducing the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, which would require a parent or guardian's consent to access algorithm-based feeds on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. In her statement of support, Hochul called for adults to protect their children and villainized algorithms as technology that "follows" and "preys" on young people.

Lawmakers pointed to a range of studies demonstrating social media's association with poor mental health and sleep quality in young people — especially with excessive use. "Social media platforms are fueling a national youth mental health crisis that is harming children's wellbeing and safety," New York State Attorney General Letitia James said. "Young New Yorkers are struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression, and social media companies that use addictive features to keep minors on their platforms longer are largely to blame. This legislation will help tackle the risks of social media affecting our children and protect their privacy."

While pages like TikTok's For You face restrictions, the legislation would allow young people to view content from people they follow without permission. This setup means they can still see accounts with dangerous misinformation or ideals — such as promoting harmful eating habits — as long as they click the follow button. However, the law would also allow parents or guardians to limit the number of hours a person can spend on each app and to restrict access and notifications completely between midnight and 6 AM. Social media platforms that fail to enforce these policies could owe up to $5,000 in damages.

Lawmakers proposed an identical fine for violations of the New York Child Data Protection Act, which was introduced alongside the SAFE for Kids Act. This legislation would ban "collecting, using, sharing or selling" anyone under 18's personal data unless they receive consent or can prove it absolutely necessary.

SAFE for Kids Act's sponsors, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, could bring it before the New York legislature as soon as early 2024. The bill has already faced opposition from Meta and TikTok, as well as Tech:NYC, which represents more than 800 tech companies. Concerns range from restricting free speech to losing out on community-building.

The first state-led bill of this kind passed in Utah earlier this year, requiring anyone under the age of 18 to obtain a parent or guardian's consent to create a social media profile — not just to explore the algorithm. Arkansas enacted a similar law soon after, but a judge blocked it from taking effect in September. Utah's legislation is set to take effect in early 2024. Each of these cases would require more comprehensive age verification on the part of social media companies, likely reviewing an ID of some sort — not something every early adolescent has.

Amazon's October Prime Day sale is discounting many of Anker's best accessories. So if you're in the market for cables, portable chargers or power adapters, you can get a those devices for a lot less money right now. While most of these deals are just for Prime members, one or two are open to anyone. One notable deal is on the new Nano power bank with a built-in USB-C connector. Now that the iPhone 15 has USB-C charging, you can handle iPhone charging with the same accessories Android phones use. We've tested and recommended Anker products in plenty of our buying guides as they tend to be reliable, well-designed and reasonably priced buys. Here's the best of what's on offer for Anker's Prime Day sale. 

Nano Power Bank with built-in USB-C

Anker's Nano Power Bank comes with either a built-in USB-C connector, for iPhone 15 and Android phones or a built-in Lightning connector for iPhone 14 and earlier. They're both on sale for Prime Day, but only for Prime Members. You'll save 38 percent on the Lightning version and 25 percent on the USB-C version. Both will give your phone a partial charge whenever you need it.

Anker Prime 67W USB C Charger

The Prime 67W USB-C Charger comes with two USB-C ports and one USB-A and it's 37 percent off, bringing its price from $60 to $38. Though keep in mind, you'll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of the sale. 

Anker X Transformers USB-C 65W Charger, 735

The Anker 65W USB-C Charger 735 is 20 percent off right now for Prime members. We named this the best 65W fast charger you can buy after putting it through a slew of tests on five different devices. Of course, we didn't test the one branded with the Transformers, but that can only make it faster, right?

Anker Lightning Cable (3-pack)

If you're still rocking an iPhone 12, 13 or 14 and your cords are breaking at the seams, pick up Anker's lightning cable three-pack for 20 percent off, dropping from $25 to $20.

Anker 765 USB C to USB C Cable

One of the best deals in the sale comes courtesy of Anker's fast charging 765 USB-C to USB-C cable, which is down from $35 to $15 — a 57 percent discount for Prime members. It's compatible with the new iPhone 15 models, along with the MacBook Pro 2021, iPad Pro, iPad Air 4th and Samsung's Galaxy S23+ and Ultra.

Other notable deals

Then there's Anker's portable chargers currently on sale for every time you stay out later than expected or drain your battery playing games. The Prime 20K Power Bank is down to $22.40 from $28 and can juice up an iPhone 12 halfway in 30 minutes using USB and USB-C chargers. For $30 (down from $60), you can pick up Anker's Magnetic Portable Charger 5K for wireless charging. Plus, the Prime Power Bank with 200W Output and a smart display has fallen from $130 to $90 for Prime Day — giving you high-speed charging with enough money left over to buy quality cables.

If you're a Prime Member, you can also save on our pick for the best budget wireless charging stand, Anker's 313 Wireless Charger. Don't expect fast charging here — this tops out at 10W (and just 5W for iPhones). But you can position your phone in landscape orientation to take advantage of StandBy mode on iPhones. 

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.