Apple has moved to settle a five-year-old class action lawsuit over Siri privacy. Reuters reports that the proposed settlement was filed on Tuesday in Oakland, CA. The company agreed to pay $95 million to class members, estimated to be tens of millions of Siri-enabled device owners. US District Judge Jeffrey White needs to approve the settlement before it becomes official.The lawsuit stemmed from a 2019 report that Apple quality control contractors could regularly hear sensitive info accidentally recorded by the voice assistants Hey Siri feature. The clips were said to include medical information, criminal activities and even sexual encounters. Reuters says Apple denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle the case.Engadget reached out to Apple for comment. Well update this story if we hear back.Two plaintiffs claimed their inadvertently recorded mentions of Nike Air Jordans and Olive Garden restaurants led to receiving ads for those products. After talking about it with his doctor, another plaintiff said he got ads for a brand-name surgical treatment.After the original story broke five-plus years ago, Apple highlighted its layers of privacy protections and stressed that the recordings werent tied to Apple accounts. It also said its quality control teams studied the clips in secure facilities and were bound by strict confidentiality agreements.After an internal review, Apple suspended the program and admitted it wasnt fully living up to its ideals. The company returned to reviewing Siri recordings soon after but with some big changes. It reportedly fired hundreds of quality control contractors and changed its policy so that only Apple employees could review private Siri data. It also moved to delete inadvertently triggered audio clips and began requiring users to opt in to sharing Siri recordings or transcripts.Reuters notes that the proposed $95 million in cash amounts to about nine hours of profit for the company. (Nice work if you can get it.) The settlements class period runs from September 17, 2014 when Apple launched Hey Siri in iOS 8 to December 31, 2024. If you owned a Siri-enabled mobile product during that period (and Judge White approves the settlement), you might get up to $20 per device. However, youll have to join the class, and it isnt yet clear how to do that.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-agrees-to-settle-a-2019-siri-privacy-lawsuit-for-95-million-195820723.html?src=rss

Samsung just announced pending US availability for a new smartphone and fitness tracker. The Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy Fit3 are both modest devices that are just about perfect for the budget-conscious. These gadgets will be available for purchase in the US on January 9, after becoming available in other parts of the world a couple of months back. The Galaxy A16 5G is a step up from its predecessor in nearly every way. This is a very good thing, as the Galaxy A15 5G easily found a spot in our list of the best budget Android phones. The A16 features a thinner design and slimmer bezels, all while including a slightly larger screen. This 6.7 FHD Super AMOLED display boasts 800 nits of peak brightness and a 90Hz refresh rate. It comes equipped with an Exynos 1330 processor, a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast-charging and up to 8GB of RAM. Customers can also choose up to 256GB of internal storage, though it supports microSD cards. As with many modern smartphones, the cameras are the real stars of the show here. Theres a 50MP rear camera, a 5MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro lens and a 13MP front camera. Thats a pretty good setup for the price, which starts at just $200. The A16 5G will be available in black and light gray. Samsung The Galaxy Fit3 is a fairly bare-bones health tracker thats described as the perfect entryway for anyone seeking to begin their health journey. It offers some decent capabilities, like fall detection and sleep tracking. It even monitors blood oxygen levels, which is something not many trackers do at this price point. The battery life is great, at 13 days, and the IP68 rating means that it should be able to handle being submerged in water, so long as its not taken too deep. The tracker pairs with the Samsung Health app, which allows access to 100 different workout types. The Fit3 costs $60 and comes in a few colors, including gray, silver and gold. These colors apply to both the band and the tracker itself. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-galaxy-a16-5g-phone-and-fit3-tracker-are-coming-the-us-193710051.html?src=rss

The best thing about the start of a new year isn't the goal-setting or the aspirational self-improvement it's watching Awesome Games Done Quick. AGDQ is one of the premiere events for speedrunning, with an entire week of high-skill gameplay and loads of heart as gamers raise money for charity. The organization's winter beneficiary is the Prevent Cancer Foundation, which runs programs intended to stop cancer before it starts, emphasizing early detection and prevention.The fun begins on January 6 and there is a lot to see. GDQ events highlight a great mix of modern and retro games across just about every genre. Expect plenty of platformers like Astro Bot, one of our favorite new game releases of 2024, which will be run on January 6 at 6:30 PM ET.Games Done Quick / Richard NgoWednesday is packed with good stuff, such as New Super Mario Bros. Wii with the unusual category of "Any% While Playing Piano," which you can catch at 4:43 PM ET. The beloved and hilarious awful block is also on January 8, kicking off with the truly terrible game Superman 64 at 11:24 PM ET. And the entire finale day is looking excellent, with another intriguing musical category of "Saxophone-Controlled Boss Showcase" happening for Elden Ring. Groovy!Be sure to keep an eye on the schedule during the week. It displays your local time zone and will be updated with any shifts that happen from delays or extra zippy world records. All the action happens on the Games Done Quick Twitch channel, which is also embedded below. The pre-show begins on January 6 at 11:30 AM ET and the stream will be live 24/7 until the final run calls time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-awesome-games-done-quick-2025-191752532.html?src=rss

Things aren't looking good right now for Netgear because of a patent litigation.

We've got some new hints about the OnePlus Watch 3 series and the software features it could have.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.0 drops soon with a new world, story chapter, and two five-star characters.

It's the latest sign of how tech companies are positioning themselves for a new administration in Washington.

Constellation Energy has been awarded a record $1 billion in contracts to supply nuclear power to the U.S. government, the company said on Thursday.Constellation, the countrys largest operator of nuclear power plants, will deliver electricity to more than 13 federal agencies, as part of the agreement with the U.S. General Services Administration.The GSA estimated that the contracts, set to begin on April 25, will comprise over 10 million megawatt-hours over 10 years and provide electricity equivalent to powering more than 1 million homes annually.The procurement will deliver electricity to 80 federal facilities located throughout the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission operator that covers parts of 11 mid-Atlantic and Midwest states and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Army Corps of Engineers are some of the facilities that will get the power.Constellation said the deal will enable it to extend the licenses of existing nuclear plants and invest in new equipment and technology that will increase output by about 135 megawatts.The investments we make as a result of this contract will keep these plants operating reliably for decades to come and put new, clean nuclear energy on the grid while making the best use of taxpayer dollars, Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation said in a release.The GSA said in the face of uncertainty over future electricity prices and soaring power demand from data centers and AI facilities, the contracts will provide federal agencies with budgetary stability by keeping electricity costs fixed for 10 years.Robin Carnahan, the GSA administrator, said the deal demonstrates how the federal government can join major corporate clean energy buyers in spurring new nuclear energy capacity and ensuring a reliable, affordable supply of clean energy for everyone.The announcement comes on the heels of Constellation Energy signing a 20-year deal to supply Microsoft Corporation with nuclear power. A previous report in Fast Company noted that deal would reopen Three Mile Island, the site of the worst accident at a U.S. commercial nuclear power plant in American history.Laila Kearney and Timothy Gardner, Reuters

You might not have unwrapped a Herms Birkin this holiday season, but what about a Walmart Wirkin?The $78 handbag has taken the internet by storm in recent weeks, offering an affordable dupe to one of the most exclusive luxury items in the world. With a starting price of $10,000 and resale values soaring as high as $300,000, the Birkins aspirational value has long been in its exclusivity. Prospective buyers must endure rigorous vetting processes and years-long waitlists for the chance to own one. Per The New York Times, the Birkin is a globally recognized emblem of status and wealth. Its investment potential rivals that of the S&P 500 and gold, with a 500% return over 35 years, according to Baghunter.In comparison, Walmarts alternative costs less than $100 and is (or was) accessible to anyone who could find it in stock. While currently sold out, the BESTSPR Platinum Lychee Tote gained traction after TikToker @styledbykristi shared her excitement over her emerald green version in a viral video that racked up 8.6 million views. For $80, you can pretend you got a Birkin, she joked, unboxing the bag. Another creator, Dillion Reeds, marveled at the designs accuracy. Other than it not having the Herms logo, it literally has all the same hardware. @styledbykristi Walmart Birkin. Thanks for the recommendation @Jessi My She has them linked in her LTK. I dont have an LTK so go use hers!! They sell out fast so you just have to just keep checking back! original sound StyledByKristi However, not everyone is thrilled by the viral dupe. Critics argue that lookalikes undermine the value of original designs and blur ethical boundaries. Herms, known for protecting its intellectual property, has a long history of legal battles against counterfeiters and inspired designs. The luxury house has won multimillion-dollar lawsuits, including a $100 million judgement against fake Herms websites in 2012 and ongoing disputes over Birkin-inspired NFTs.Yet, for some, the Walmart Birkin represents more than just a knockoff. Former Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel described it as the mob storming the castle, allowing everyday shoppers a slice of what was once an unattainable luxury. The people that are going to be pissed off about are a**holes because they are not interesting people and flexing a bag is the most interesting thing about them, she said in a video posted to TikTok. @bethennyfrankel This disruption is fascinating #disruption #fascinating #walmart #birkin #yourewelcome #forthepeople #lordswork original sound Bethenny Frankel The Walmart Wirkin isnt an isolated case. Affordable dupes of expensive items, from Stanley water bottles to Skims bodysuits, have become ubiquitous online, offering consumers access to coveted styles without the exorbitant price tags. As one commenter added, Jane Birkin would love the Walmart Birkin and you cannot change my mind.