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Engadget review recap: Sony WF-1000XM6, ASUS Zenbook Duo and more

Gather ‘round, it’s time to catch up on the latest batch of Engadget reviews. Whether you missed our in-depth testing of Sony’s latest flagship earbuds or a truly unique ASUS laptop, I’ve compiled our recent reviews so you can get up to speed quickly. Read on for the list that also includes a love letter to a tiny camera and another VPN option that worth considering. Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony’s 1000X earbuds have always been the top pick in our best wireless earbuds guide. With the M6 though, the company doesn’t do enough to clearly separate itself from the competition like it has in the past. “The two most obvious places the company is lagging behind the competition is ANC performance and overall voice quality, not to mention my continued dissatisfaction with the fit that Sony’s foam tips provide,” I wrote. ASUS Zenbook Duo (2026) If you’re looking for something unique in your next laptop, the ASUS Zenbook Duo is worth considering. Dual screens? Yep. Detachable keyboard? Sure. Good battery life? It does that too. “I'm a believer that one day people will eventually embrace typing on screens with laptops just like they have for smartphones,” senior reporter Sam Rutherford explained. “However, even if you're not willing to make that jump just yet, the Zenbook Duo still has all of its bases covered.” Kodak Charmera A tiny $30 camera was too cute for our editors to resist. Despite the subpar images it captures, they’re still smitten with the thing. “I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I'm enjoying the Charmera experience,” weekend editor Its crunchy photos are just good enough to feel like they're successfully preserving a moment in time. And being so tiny, it's really convenient to bring everywhere.” Mullvad VPN Senior writer Sam Champman’s latest VPN review is Mullvad, which he says is often regarded as one of the best in terms of overall privacy. “It's not trying to be an everything app — it does privacy and does it well,” he noted. “Of course, it has its own

Have we leapt into commercial genetic testing without understanding it?

Ars Technica

about 23 hours ago

Have we leapt into commercial genetic testing without understanding it?

A new book argues that tests might reshape human diversity even if they don't work.

Testing Super Mario Using a Behavior Model Autonomously

Hacker News

1 day ago

Testing Super Mario Using a Behavior Model Autonomously

Article URL: https://testflows.com/blog/testing-super-mario-using-a-behavior-model-autonomously-part1/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47092348 Points: 11 # Comments: 3

Nintendo turned its biggest flop into an expensive, uncomfortable novelty

The Verge

2 days ago

Nintendo turned its biggest flop into an expensive, uncomfortable novelty

I've written about a lot of different video game hardware over the years, from new consoles to retro gadgets to whatever you want to call the Playdate. But I can't remember ever being perpetually sore from testing a device; such are the joys of the Virtual Boy. Nintendo has turned its biggest flop into an accessory for the Switch, but the costs involved - to your wallet, eyes, and neck - make it a tough sell. Much like the original, this is a novelty for Nintendo sickos only. First released in 1995, the original Virtual Boy looked like a VR headset but wasn't actually VR or a headset. Instead, the console offered stereoscopic 3D games that … Read the full story at The Verge.

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Milei's overhaul of labor law advances in Congress as unions strike in protest

France 24

2 days ago

Milei's overhaul of labor law advances in Congress as unions strike in protest

A general strike protesting Argentine President Javier Milei’s flagship overhaul of the country's labor law disrupted public transport, hospitals, ports and schools across Argentina on Thursday and intensified a standoff between the libertarian leader and long-powerful workers’ unions.

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Google Play used AI to help block 1.75 million bad apps in 2025

Engadget

2 days ago

Google Play used AI to help block 1.75 million bad apps in 2025

Google has announced that with the help of AI, it blocked 1.75 million apps that violated its policies in 2025, significantly down from 2.36 million in 2024. The lower numbers this year, it said, are because its "AI-powered, multi-layer protections" are deterring bad actors from even trying to publish bad apps. Google said it now runs more than 10,000 safety checks on every app and continues to recheck them after they're published. Its use of the latest generative AI models helps human reviewers discover malicious patterns more quickly, it added. The company also blocked 160 million spam ratings, preventing an average 0.5-star rating drop for apps targeted by review bombing. Finally, Google stopped 255,000 apps from gaining excessive access to sensitive user data in 2025, down from 1.3 million the year before. Meanwhile, Google Play Protect, the company's Android defense system, sniffed out over 27 million new malicious apps, either warning users or preventing them from running. The company added that Play Protect's enhanced fraud protection now covers 2.8 billion Android devices in 185 markets and blocked 266 million risky "side-loading" installation attempts. "Initiatives like developer verification, mandatory pre-review checks, and testing requirements have raised the bar for the Google Play ecosystem, significantly reducing the paths for bad actors to enter," the company said its blog. "This year, we’ll continue to invest in AI-driven defenses to stay ahead of emerging threats and equip Android developers with the tools they need to build apps safely." Google has steadfastly justified its relatively high fees on app purchases and subscriptions by touting its investments in app safety. However, its Play store has been under pressure from regulators in Europe and other regions that claim it amounts to a monopoly. Last year, the company changed its fee structure for developers using alternative payment channels, but EU regulators recently claimed the company sti

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Best Coffee Grinders For Espresso and Drip, Machine-Tested (2026)

Wired

2 days ago

Best Coffee Grinders For Espresso and Drip, Machine-Tested (2026)

We used particle size analysis and real-world testing to find the best conical burr, flat burr, and blade grinders for every budget and style of coffee drinker.

Doctors implant dopamine-producing stem cells in Parkinson’s patients

Science Daily

2 days ago

Doctors implant dopamine-producing stem cells in Parkinson’s patients

A groundbreaking clinical trial is testing whether specially engineered stem cells can help the brain restore its own dopamine production in people with Parkinson’s disease. Because the condition is driven by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing cells—leading to tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement—researchers are implanting lab-grown cells directly into the brain’s movement center to replace what’s been lost.

YouTube’s latest experiment brings its conversational AI tool to TVs

TechCrunch

3 days ago

YouTube’s latest experiment brings its conversational AI tool to TVs

YouTube is testing conversational AI on smart TVs, allowing viewers to ask the assistant questions related to the video they're watching on the big screen.

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Reddit is testing a new AI search feature for shopping

TechCrunch

3 days ago

Reddit is testing a new AI search feature for shopping

A small group of users in the U.S. will start to see search results that include interactive product carousels with pricing, images, and direct where-to-buy links.

US trade deficit widens sharply in December, testing Trump tariff claims

South China Morning Post

3 days ago

US trade deficit widens sharply in December, testing Trump tariff claims

The US trade imbalance widened sharply in December 2025, highlighting continued challenges in America’s economic relationship with the world and with key economic competitor China, according to a release from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis on Thursday. For the full year 2025, the US recorded a goods and services trade deficit of US$901.5 billion, a modest decline of 0.2 per cent from 2024, one of the largest since 1960. The total goods and services deficit in 2024 was US$903.5 billion, the...

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Mastodon is testing easier ways to get you started in the fediverse

The Verge

3 days ago

Mastodon is testing easier ways to get you started in the fediverse

New users on the decentralized social network Mastodon could soon have an easier time getting started. Mastodon is running "onboarding experiments" to test ways to improve the new user experience, starting with default server recommendations. Now when new users join Mastodon from the mobile app, they may see a button to "join" a recommended server rather than the default "join mastodon.social" button that's currently displayed. Unlike most other social platforms, Mastodon has hundreds of independent servers users can join, catering to different communities and niches. The addition of default server recommendations could potentially help ne … Read the full story at The Verge.

8 Best Cheap Phones (2026), Tested and Reviewed

Wired

3 days ago

8 Best Cheap Phones (2026), Tested and Reviewed

There’s little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. These iPhones and Android devices—ranging from $100 to $600—stood up to WIRED’s testing.

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Can Europe reduce its dependence on the US and at what cost?

Al Jazeera

3 days ago

Can Europe reduce its dependence on the US and at what cost?

Trump's tariffs, Greenland and defence spending are testing US-Europe alliance.

Politico Europe

3 days ago

Testing Trump’s Board of Peace

Presented by Amazon

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Politics with Michelle Grattan : New Liberal Deputy Jane Hume on why she wants a woman contesting every seat

theconversation.com

3 days ago

Politics with Michelle Grattan : New Liberal Deputy Jane Hume on why she wants a woman contesting every seat

Published: 20260219T051500Z

Microsoft is bringing a built-in network speed test to Windows 11

The Verge

4 days ago

Microsoft is bringing a built-in network speed test to Windows 11

Microsoft is working on a bunch of new features for Windows 11, including a new network speed test that you can access from your taskbar. The tool is bundled in an update rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, allowing you to right-click the network icon in the system tray to access a speed test option that opens in your default browser. From there, you can check how fast your connection is over Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular data. Microsoft first started testing this feature last year, and it could offer a convenient alternative to checking your connection speed by navigating to third-party websites. There's also … Read the full story at The Verge.

Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is $200 off, marking a new low price

The Verge

4 days ago

Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is $200 off, marking a new low price

Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is an excellent 2-in-1. | Image: The Verge If you want a Chromebook that can double as a tablet when you need it to, Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is one of the better 2-in-1s on the market. And you can buy it with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $499 ($200 off), which is a new low price, at Best Buy until the end of today, February 18th. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (2025) Where to Buy: $699 $499 at Best Buy $799.99 $769.99 at Acer Powered by the Kompanio Ultra 910 processor, the 14-inch Chromebook offers impressive performance that’s great for everyday work and play. In our testing, we found it can comfortably handle Slack, Spotify, and dozens of open Chrome tabs without slowing down. Battery life is excellent too, lasting a full workday and pushing well into the next. The 1920 x 1200 IPS touchscreen is also nice, with a snappy 120Hz refresh rate. You also get a comfortable keyboard that’s pleasant to type on, along with a sharp 5MP webcam that’s great for video calls. If you want to use it for note-taking or sketching, the Chromebook also supports the USI 2.0 stylus, though you’ll have to buy that separately. The main downside is the speakers, which sound muddy and muffled, so you’ll likely want to use headphones or external speakers. If you can overlook that, though, it’s a good overall Chromebook that can handle most tasks without costing a fortune. Read our Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 review. A few more deals worth a look Some of Google’s Pixelsnap cases for the Pixel 10/Pro and 10 Pro XL are down to new record low prices at Amazon, starting at $29.99 ($20 off). The cases are specifically designed so you can use them with Google’s wireless Pixelsnap Charger along with other Qi2-certified chargers and accessories. Made from durable polycarbonate, the slim cases are also built to help protect the Pixel phone’s camera bar. You can buy the Anker Nano Charger (30W) for $9.99 ($10 off) in white at Amazon, which mar

Russia's hybrid warfare rattles Poland and NATO

NPR News

4 days ago

Russia's hybrid warfare rattles Poland and NATO

Russia is stepping up covert attacks across Europe — rail sabotage, drones, cyber strikes — testing NATO. Polish officials warn "disposable agents" are sowing fear and weaken support for Ukraine.

US offers more details on claim China conducted secret nuclear weapons test

South China Morning Post

4 days ago

US offers more details on claim China conducted secret nuclear weapons test

A senior state department official said that the US would resume nuclear tests to match “opaque” Chinese activity, flagging new details about a 2020 test the US recently accused China of secretly conducting, as US President Donald Trump seeks a new trilateral nuclear control deal with China and Russia. “As the president has said, the United States will return to testing on an ‘equal basis’,” Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation Christopher Yeaw said on...

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Google’s AI search results will make links more obvious

The Verge

5 days ago

Google’s AI search results will make links more obvious

Google says it will now display links more prominently inside its AI-powered features in Search. Robby Stein, the vice president of Google Search, announced on Tuesday that a list of links will now appear inside a pop-up when you hover over the sources in AI Overviews and AI Mode on desktop, alongside a description of each linked article and accompanying images. Stein adds that Google will also show these "more descriptive and prominent link icons" in its AI responses on desktop and mobile. "Our testing shows this new UI is more engaging, making it easier to get to great content across the web," Stein writes. While AI Overviews appear as … Read the full story at The Verge.

Engadget

5 days ago

The 512GB Samsung P9 microSD Express card is 33 percent off

If you're looking to expand the storage on your Switch 2, the 512GB Samsung P9 microSD Express card is on sale right now for 33 percent off, marked down to $80 from $120. With component prices skyrocketing these days, it's getting increasingly rare to see good storage on sale, and 512GB for $80 is a much better deal than you'll currently find directly from Nintendo. The P9 boasts transfer speeds of up to 800MB/s, making moving games to the card that much faster. As for load times, in our testing we found that any microSD Express, the standard the Switch 2 requires, will offer roughly the same performance. This format is pretty new, so there aren't a ton of cards on the market. As such, the P9 makes our list of best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2. The P9 microSD Express is also compatible with the Steam Deck or any other gaming console that accepts the format, as well as cameras and more. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-512gb-samsung-p9-microsd-express-card-is-33-percent-off-143849572.html?src=rss

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Cheating row at Winter Olympics challenges curling's culture of trust

Euronews

5 days ago

Cheating row at Winter Olympics challenges curling's culture of trust

A cheating row over "double-touching" has rattled curling at the Winter Olympics, testing the sport's culture of trust and self-officiating.

Politico Europe

5 days ago

Power play in Parliament

A battle for power in the European Parliament is already underway — though quietly for now — with the midterm reshuffle a year away. Behind the scenes, MEPs are counting votes, testing alliances and positioning themselves for the presidency and other top jobs. On this episode of the Brussels Playbook Podcast, host Zoya Sheftalovich is […]

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