Uber must pay a passenger who accused one of its drivers of rape $8.5 million, a federal jury in Phoenix has ordered. The jury found Uber liable for its drivers misconduct, determining that the driver was an agent of the company. Part of Ubers defense was that its not responsible for what its drivers do, as they are independent contractors. This decision is for but one of the 3,000 similar cases against Uber that have been consolidated in federal court. It was a bellwether trial meant to determine the possible outcomes of the other cases, as well as the possible settlements. As The Guardian explains, the results for this case could be used as a precedent for all the other pending lawsuits if the verdict is upheld by the appeals court. The case chosen for the bellwether trial was filed by Jaylynn Dean, who said she was raped by her Uber driver in 2023. Dean said she was intoxicated when she ordered an Uber to take her back home from her boyfriends apartment after celebrating passing a test for her flight attendant training. The driver allegedly stopped at a dark parking lot and raped her in the backseat. Uber argued that the driver had no criminal history, had completed training and had excellent passenger feedback. The companys camp also presented its safety measures, including the development of a machine-learning tool that can assess the risk of potential rides. But Deans lawyers showed evidence during the trial that she was tagged as high risk for a serious safety incident just before her ride arrived and that she wasnt notified about it. They also presented documents suggesting that Uber resisted introducing in-car cameras, because it would slow down growth. Women know its a dangerous world. We know about the risk of sexual assault, Deans layer said in her closing arguments. They made us believe that this was a place that was safe from that.Despite the jury holding Uber liable for the incident, it determined that the company wasnt negligent when it comes to safety practices and its apps safety systems were not faulty. This verdict affirms that Uber acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety, an Uber spokesperson told The New York Times. He also said that Uber plans to appeal the jurys decision. In addition to the 3,000 lawsuits consolidated in federal court, Uber is also facing 500 similar cases in California state court. Last year, a California jury found that the company was not liable for a sexual assault that the plaintiff alleged her driver had committed back in 2016. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-ordered-to-pay-85-million-to-passenger-who-accused-a-driver-of-rape-141800931.html?src=rss
One of the more surprising tech developments in 2025 was Google bringing two-way support for Apples AirDrop functionality to its Pixel 10 series of phones. At the time, Google said it intended to expand the feature to other devices at a later date, and that date could be just around the corner.
At a press briefing attended by Android Authority at Googles Taipei office, Eric Kay, Androids Vice President of Engineering, confirmed that AirDrop interoperability will expand in 2026. "We spent a lot of time and energy to make sure that we could build something that was compatible not only with iPhone but iPads and MacBooks," he said. "Now that weve proven it out, were working with our partners to expand it into the rest of the ecosystem, and you should see some exciting announcements coming very soon."
Right now, Pixel 10 users can send and receive files and photos between Apple devices and Android using Quick Share. For an Android device to receive from an iPhone, they have to set their Quick Share visibility settings to "everyone for 10 minutes" and make sure theyre in "receive" mode on the Quick Share page.
Its a similar story for an Android-to-Apple file share. You have to set your iPhone, iPad or Macs Airdrop visibility to "anyone for 10 minutes," which enables someone from outside your contacts to use Quick Share on their Pixel 10.
When this feature launched, it wasnt clear how much involvement, if any, Apple had had, or if the infamous walled garden would once again banish Android-minded intruders in a subsequent software update. But that hasnt happened, and back in November, Qualcomm confirmed that devices powered by its Snapdragon chips would also soon be able to transfer files to iPhones using Quick Share, suggesting that Pixel exclusivity wouldnt last for much longer.
Googles own willingness to play nice with Apple gear is seemingly a move designed to make the lives easier of anyone thinking about making the jump from an iPhone to an Android device. As reported by Android Authority, Kay also said his company was committed to making it as simple as possible to transfer data when switching.
It wasnt that long ago that the idea of Apple and Google teaming up to make device-hopping more consumer-friendly was the stuff of fantasy, but in December it emerged that the longstanding rivals were working on a new simplified data transfer system. Each company already offers a method for swapping ecosystems, but a new build of Android Canary hinted at something that would work at the operating system level.
Last month, Apple and Google also released a joint statement confirming previous reports that the new version of Siri will utilise Google Geminis models, effectively resulting in a Google-powered voice assistant on your iPhone.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-will-soon-offer-airdrop-support-on-more-android-devices-141523521.html?src=rss
Ford may be discontinuing its F-150 Lightning pickup but it hasnt given up on electric cars. CEO Jim Farley just teased the automakers electric pickup based on its new Universal Electric Vehicle platform that he called one of the most audacious and important projects in Ford's history.The Universal EV platform will be used on a family of affordable EVs sold around the world, but will start with a mid-sized pickup for the US built in Louisville, Kentucky. Its set to go on sale next year with a target price of $30,000. An early peek at our brilliant team working on the Universal Electric Vehicle project - one of the most audacious and important projects in @Ford's history. American innovation is how we compete and win against China and the rest of the world. The team is spending countless pic.twitter.com/Un4eCe258L Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) February 5, 2026
Farley discussed some of the tech going into the pickup, particularly the aerodynamics, a key aspect if Ford is to compete with rivals. The team is spending countless hours getting every last drop of aero efficiency on the mid-size electric pickup, he noted. Farley also discussed the simplified aluminum unicastings [that] condense over 146 parts into two as a way to boost production efficiency. Ford will invest $5 billion, including $2 billion at the Louisville factory on top of $3 billion already announced for its BlueOval battery plant. It will expand the Louisville facility by 52,000 square feet and "create or secure" nearly 4,000 direct jobs, the company said late last year.Ford hasn't yet revealed the pickups name or shown a photo, but its supposed to have more interior room than a Toyota RAV4. Buyers will be able to lock bikes or surfboards into the pickup bed, mooting the need for roof or trailer hitch racks. It will have a low center of gravity from the battery, instant torque and a 0 to 60 mph time "as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost [around 4.5 seconds], with more downforce," Ford said.Jim Farley famously imported a famously fast and high-tech Xiaomi SU7 EV from China and drove it daily, telling a podcaster he didnt want to give it up. Hopefully, his experience will result in more tech-forward Ford EVs based on the Universal platform. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ford-shows-off-the-tech-going-into-its-30000-electric-pickup-truck-140000509.html?src=rss
Apple is no longer launching an AI service that can replicate a doctor and act as a personal health coach, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. The company has reportedly scaled back the unannounced initiative in recent weeks, following a recent organization reshuffling wherein services chief Eddy Cue took over the health division. While Apple has never officially announced the AI health coach, it was reported last year that the company was working on developing the service that has been unofficially dubbed Health+. It was supposed to be able to help users track food and correct workout forms using their iPhones camera, as well as to recommend lifestyle changes based on users health data. Apple even reportedly produced videos for the service, including ones explaining medical conditions and some training guides. Cue reportedly wanted Apple to move faster and be more competitive when it comes to its health-focused products, seeing as the most well-known names in the field like Oura are already offering a lot of compelling features on their iOS apps. He didnt think Apples plans could compete, Bloomberg said. Instead of rolling out an AI health coach as a whole package, Apple will instead release the individual features it has developed to its Health app over time. The videos it shot and the capability to make recommendations based on user data could be available early this year. Apple is also reportedly working on an AI health chatbot to answer wellness questions. Its just an interim solution, however, and the companys goal is to let its reported upcoming Siri chatbot handle those inquiries in the future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-reportedly-axed-its-planned-ai-health-coach-133000941.html?src=rss
If you haven't heard, there's now a social network for AI: Moltbook, a site that purportedly features AI agents talking to each other. That includes OpenClaw, a personal AI agent (formerly called Clawdbot and Moltbot) that's open source and free for anyone to run on their systems. In this episode, Devindra and Senior Reporter Karissa Bell discuss the rise of these services, and the potential future that AI agents may have for all of us.Subscribe!iTunesSpotifyPocket CastsStitcherGoogle PodcastsTopicsWhat is Moltbook and OpenClaw? 1:31Anthropic reinforces its commitment against ads with Super Bowl ad spots 19:32SpaceX acquires xAI and plans for a mega IPO 27:08Alexa + rolls out free for all Amazon Prime subscribers 33:36Around Engadget: Reviews of the New AirTag and Switch Virtual Boy 44:12Working on 46:34Pop culture picks 49:24CreditsHosts: Devindra Hardawar and Karissa BellProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence OBrienThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/engadget-podcast-so-theres-a-social-network-for-ai-agents-now-133000813.html?src=rss
TikToks signature features that hooked users around the world are its algorithm and endless scroll. Now, though, the European Union has called those aspects of the app illegal and may order the company to alter them. Today, the European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act for its addictive design, the EUs regulator said in a press release. This includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalized recommender system. It said that TikTok failed to put up safeguards to ensure that those addictive features dont harm the physical and mental wellbeing of users, including minors. For example, by constantly rewarding' users with new content, certain design features of TikTok fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into autopilot mode'. Scientific research shows that this may lead to compulsive behaviour and reduce users' self-control, the regulators stated.TikToks current parental controls and features to limit screen time are insufficient, the Commission added, and TikTok may need to modify them. The platform may also be required to limit its infinite scroll and adjust its recommendation algorithms. The EU Commission will give TikTok an opportunity to rebut the findings and the company said would use any means available to challenge them. The commissions preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, the company told The New York Times in a statement.Europe opened its wide-ranging investigation against TikTok in February 2024 and has already found the company at fault for its data sharing practices and advertising transparency. If found guilty of violating the DSA, TikTok faces a fine up to six percent of its annual worldwide turnover. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/eu-says-tiktok-uses-addictive-design-and-must-change-131738425.html?src=rss
The Last of Us series co-creator Craig Mazin is teaming with Hasbro Entertainment to create an HBO series based on the popular (and spicy) Baldurs Gate 3 game, Deadline reported. The show will be simply be called Baldurs Gate and the story will resume where Baldurs Gate 3 left off. Mazin will reportedly have full creative control and act as co-creator, writer, executive producer and showrunner. "It is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that [Baldurs Gate 3 developer] Larian and Wizards of The Coast created," Mazin said in a statement. "I am a devoted fan of DnD and the brilliant way that Swen Vincke and his gifted team adapted it. I cant wait to help bring Baldurs Gate and all of its incredible characters to life with as much respect and love as we can.Larian, which wont be making the Baldurs Gate 3 sequel, said it wasnt involved in the creation of the show. However, Larian CEO Swen Vincke said that to his knowledge, Mazin is a big fan of the game and even requested to visit the studio (Mazin told Deadline that he has put about 1,000 hours into the game). Mazin is best known for co-creating the Emmy-winning limited series Chernobyl as well as The Last of Us. The latter was widely praised for its first season but critics and fans were mixed on season 2, which deviated a bit more from the corresponding game. The show will reportedly feature familiar and new characters, but no other details have been released. A Baldurs Gate 4 game is not currently in development, so the series creators will have no source material to draw from. That gives them a lot of freedom, but also puts the storytelling onus fully on Mazin and his team of writers. Wizards of the Coast story head Chris Perkins will reportedly act as a consultant on the show to ensure it doesnt stray from its DnD origins. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/hbo-is-making-a-baldurs-gate-3-tv-show-130000864.html?src=rss
A free trial to a virtual private network (VPN) can mean a few different things. Several of the best VPNs let you try them out without paying. A rare few, and only one on this list, let you try them without submitting payment information at all. Some VPNs have forever free plans that let you use them indefinitely without paying, as long as you're OK with some limits.For the most part, though, your best chance to test a VPN for free is to pay for a subscription. Then, if you don't like the service, you can get your money back before the refund guarantee expires. This takes a bit more work, and some services have very tight turnarounds. However, it'll get you the most time with the most complete version of the VPN.With that out of the way, let's talk about the best VPN free trials for each definition of "free trial." I'll start with VPNs that actually have free trials, most of which require a payment method and only work on mobile devices. The next section lists the best forever free plans. Finally, I'll share instructions for how to use a VPN money-back guarantee as a free trial.
Best VPNs with free trials
Best VPN forever free plans
Using VPN money-back guarantees as free trials
Although VPN free trials are great when you can get them, you'll enjoy a lot more flexibility by taking advantage of refund guarantees. Almost every provider has a money-back guarantee that doesn't require you to prove a specific problem. You'll probably have to deflect some upselling attempts before you actually get the refund, but most policies do promise you all your money back, with no pro-rating.
I like to download VPNs on their one-month plans so I can put the full service through my usual battery of tests. A 30-day money-back guarantee grants you enough time to learn whether you can use the VPN long-term. If you don't like the service, the standard method for getting a refund is to get in touch with customer support on the VPN provider's help page.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/best-vpns-with-free-trials-130000435.html?src=rss
NordVPN is offering a significant discount on its two-year plans, with 70 percent off its Complete tier and up to 78 percent off overall. For the Complete tier, the deal brings the total cost down to $130 for 24 months
NordVPN regularly appears on Engadgets list of the best VPN services thanks to its wide server network, strong security tools and consistent performance across devices. NordVPNs latest promotion puts one of its most comprehensive plans at a price that undercuts many competing premium VPN subscriptions.
The Complete tier includes full access to NordVPNs core VPN service, which encrypts internet traffic and masks a users IP address to help protect online activity on public Wi-Fi networks and at home. Subscribers can use the service on multiple devices, including phones, tablets, laptops and smart TVs, with apps available for major operating systems. It also includes access to NordPass (more on that below), an ad blocker and 1TB of cloud storage. Youll find similar discounts on all of NordVPNs other plans: Basic, Plus and Prime.
Beyond the basics, NordVPN offers features like threat protection to help block malicious websites and trackers, as well as specialty servers designed for added privacy or faster performance in specific scenarios. In our NordVPN review, the service was praised for its evolving feature set and overall reliability, even as the VPN market becomes increasingly competitive.
Engadget regularly tracks VPN pricing trends and this offer compares favorably with other current promotions. It also appears alongside NordVPN deals featured in Engadgets ongoing roundup of the best VPN discounts available right now, which compares offers from multiple major providers.
Those looking for additional security tools may also want to note that NordVPNs Complete plan bundles in extra services beyond the VPN itself. One of those is NordPass, the companys password management app. NordPass is also discounted as part of a separate promotion, if youre primarily looking for a password manager rather than a VPN. The Premium tier is currently 50 percent off, bringing the price down to $36 for two years. NordPass Premium adds features such as cross-device password syncing, secure password sharing and breach monitoring, which alerts users if stored credentials appear in known data leaks.
Both offers are available for a limited time, though Nord has not specified an end date for the promotion. If youre still unsure whether NordVPN is right for you, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can change your mind and get a full refund.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/two-years-of-nordvpns-complete-plan-is-70-percent-off-123000301.html?src=rss
With over 155 million sold, Nintendos Switch is officially the companys biggest console hit ever. Its been a long road to surpassing the DS, which reached 154 million consoles over its seven-year lifespan. The Switch, meanwhile, is a year shy of its 10-year anniversary. Weve seen the original console, the non-hybrid Lite and the OLED versions of the Switch over the decade, but despite being replaced by Switch 2, the original is still selling at a strong pace: 1.36 million units in Q3. Just think how many Joy-Cons it sold/replaced?Next goal: try to be the best-selling console of all time. Currently, thats the PlayStation 2. Nintendo is just shy of five million units to go. Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedEverything we know about Valves new Steam MachineApple AirTag (2026) review: Simply better Presidents Day sales 2026: The best tech deals from Apple, Sony, Roku and others The best mesh Wi-Fi systems of 2026Explained: Moltbook, the social network for AI agentsAre they talking about us behind our backs?TMATMAMoltbook is a digital petri dish, a Reddit-style forum populated entirely by AI agents that post, follow and even gossip about their owners in dedicated submolts. Built using vibe coding, its a surreal experiment in autonomous socialization though theres no shortage of user-data security flaws. Is Moltbook a profound look at the dead internet theory or just a very loud AI echo chamber? Or something in the middle? Karissa explains it all. (Sorry, Karissa.)Continue reading.Nintendos Virtual Boy is a niche slice of gaming history.Lean in.TMAEngadgetNintendos worst-selling console was probably the Virtual Boy. It sold less than 800,000 units, with only 22 games in Japan and 14 in North America. And it didnt even have the guts to launch in Europe or Australia.But Nintendo doesnt care. Its brought the Virtual Boy back, baby, as an add-on for the Switch 2, in all its red monochrome 90s-tech glory. And we finally got to test it. It even includes the original bipod, which you use to prop it up and lean into it. Yes, you still cant just wear the thing like modern VR headsets. The Switch 2 console, sans Joy-Cons, then slides in, acting as display, battery and processor. It seems more of a historical nod than anything else. This is pretty much 30-year-old VR tech, as-is. But I still want one as a gaming objet dart. A hundred bucks is a fair chunk of change for that, though. Read on for our full impressions.Continue reading.Surprise! Google teases the Pixel 10aPre-orders open later this month.TMAGoogleGoogle posted a teaser video revealing its new entry-level smartphone, the Pixel 10a, in a lovely lilac colorway. We dont know much more, however. You can see its another dual-camera Pixel, with that same flush body which I like. (How does that already seem retro?) Leaks suggest a 6.3-inch display and a large 5,100 mAh battery. It otherwise looks and seems like the Pixel 9a, although Google promises that theres more in store. Last years A-series launched at $500 will this land at a similar price? You can pre-order the Pixel 10a on February 18. Continue reading.AMD suggests a 2027 launch for next-gen XboxShouldnt Microsoft be saying this?AMD CEO Lisa Su revealed on the companys latest earnings call that Microsofts development of an Xbox with a semi-custom SOC from AMD is progressing well to support a launch in 2027. Maybe Microsoft can chase that best-selling console crown too?Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-the-switch-is-officially-nintendos-most-popular-console-ever-121500738.html?src=rss
