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Apple is rolling out auto-pause for AirPods when you're asleepIt seems the feature could come to Beats headphones tooThe option is currently in testing in the developer beta of iOS 26At WWDC 2025 last month, Apple briefly mentioned a new AirPods feature coming with iOS 26: a toggle switch for having audio automatically pause if you fall asleep while wearing your wireless earbuds. Now it seems the same functionality is coming to Beats headphones, too.Beats is of course now owned by Apple, but it wasn't previously clear if Beats-branded devices would get the pause media option. According to code spotted by tipster Steve Moser and MacRumors, these headphones and earbuds will indeed be included.Right now, you need the developer beta of iOS 26 and the beta version of the AirPods firmware installed, and either the AirPods Pro 2 or the AirPods 4 to find the option: with your AirPods in your ears, open Settings on your iPhone, then tap AirPods. You should see a new Pause Media When Falling Asleep toggle switch.It's a clever trick, but Apple hasn't explained how it works – and I haven't had chance to test it yet (though I'm more than willing to spend some time napping for work). It apparently doesn't need any additional hardware to work, such as an Apple Watch.Details to be confirmedThe new toggle switch in the developer beta of iOS 26 (Image credit: Future)While the full iOS 26 rollout (due September) is still a way off, Apple has presumably already got this working reliably enough – even if there's not much of a difference between someone lying back and relaxing while listening to a podcast or playlist, and someone actually falling asleep with their AirPods in.If this does end up working reliably, it'd certainly be a welcome feature: it'd help save on battery life, as well as meaning you don't lose your place in whatever media you're listening to – although it's not known how quickly the auto-pause kicks in.Nor do we know which Beats headphones are going to be included and have the necessary sensor tech inside them. Presumably, the more recent models would be included, such as the impressive Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds we reviewed earlier this year, but we'll have to wait for confirmation from Apple.This pause-when-sleeping functionality isn't the only new trick coming to the best AirPods with iOS 26: the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 are also going to get better audio recording through their mics and remote iPhone camera control.You might also likeNew iOS 26 beta fixes the big problem with Liquid GlassThese are the best Beats headphones you can buyHere's why the next iPhone should be the iPhone 26

Ironheart finally introduces a villain to the MCU that Marvel fans have waited years for Its producers admit he might not have appeared in the Disney+ showOnly one actor was considered for the roleIronheart has granted Marvel fans' long-held wish to introduce a much-discussed villain to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – but the wait might have been even longer if its story had gone in another direction.Ahead of the Disney+ show's debut in late June, I sat down with producers Zoie Nagelhout and Sev Ohanian to chat about the Marvel TV Original. As you can imagine, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask them about that grand unveiling in the series' finale.Full spoilers immediately follow for Ironheart episode 6, aka 'The Past is the Past'. Don't scroll past this point if you haven't seen it yet!Ironheart finally introduces Mephisto, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, to the MCU (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)Yep, Mephisto, whose MCU debut has been a hot topic of discussion since the airing of WandaVision, the first Marvel TV show to be released on Disney+ in January 2021, has finally made his way into Marvel's cinematic juggernaut. Borat and The Trial of the Chicago 7 actor Sacha Baron Cohen is the star behind this demonic entity. For a crash course on this demonstrably evil character, let me point you in the direction of Ironheart ending explained piece.Now, long-time Marvel comic book readers might wonder why Mephisto makes his long-overdue MCU arrival in Ironheart. After all, Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, who is the Marvel Phase 5 TV show's primary antagonist, acquires his supernatural abilities from Dormammu, the Big Bad of 2016's Doctor Strange, in Marvel literature. Dormammu is even referenced in episodes 4 and 5, ie before Mephisto's grand reveal, which suggests this cosmic entity is pulling The Hood's strings from the shadows.In Ironheart, though, Mephisto is responsible for gifting these powers to Robbins by way of a dark magic-infused hooded cloak. So, why didn't the show's creative team adapt The Hood's origins story ad verbatim from the comics?"We knew there needed to be someone behind Parker's powers," Nagelhout told me, "And we did play around with a couple of ideas. As you know, in the comics, Dormammu has pretty heavy ties to Parker."But, we ultimately started looking towards what made the most thematic sense," Nagelhout said of Ironheart's antagonist-based bait-and-switch. "Which villain actually offered this show the same sort of payoff that we were building to? For us, it was Mephisto. It was this concept of ambition versus what it would cost you in order to achieve everything you want in life, and Mephisto fit that beautifully."Comment from r/marvelstudiosAs for why Cohen, who was reportedly cast as Mephisto way back in October 2022, was the right individual to tackle such an extremely powerful being, Nagelhout added: "To be honest, Sacha was the only person we really could envision."The idea came from Angela Barnes, who directed that episode as well. As soon as we imagined him as the character, we couldn't unsee it. We're very lucky that he agreed to come on board, because he brought a really fun, scary, interesting version of this character to life that I don't know if anyone else could have done."What did you make of Mephisto's long-awaited MCU debut? And did you enjoy Cohen's portrayal? Let me know in the comments.All six episodes of Ironheart are out now on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services. For more Ironheart coverage, check out the section below, too.You might also likeI watched all six episodes of Ironheart on Disney+, and Marvel and Ryan Coogler have conjured up a magical show that falls just short of being iconicIronheart cast and character guide: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, and who else you'll see in the Marvel TV show'It changed our release plan': Ironheart producers explain why it's taken so long to come out on Disney+

SoftBank's $6.5 billion acquisition of AI-chip designer Ampere is facing an in-depth US government probe that may delay the deal, according to Bloomberg. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened a so-called second request for information, a relatively rare investigation that can go on for more than a year or even lead to a lawsuit blocking it, according to people familiar with the matter. Neither SoftBank nor Ampere have commented on the matter.

Japan's SoftBank, headed by Masayoshi Son, already owns chip designer Arm following a $32 billion acquisition in 2016. Ampere, founded in 2018 with a focus on cloud-native computing, recently moved strongly into AI chip design — so SoftBank is betting that the company will bolster's Arm's research and development in that area. Under the deal, Santa Clara-based Ampere would would keep its name and run as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

If the deal goes through, SoftBank will own Arm, UK chip designer Graphcore Ltd. and Ampere, all key players in the AI space. The FTC may therefore be probing the deal as a potential antitrust issue. SoftBank's attempt to sell Arm to NVIDIA was eventually abandoned for similar reasons. The AI space has also become politicized with projects like Stargate, which heavily involves SoftBank as well.

SoftBank has battled some headwinds of late. Stargate has been facing delays due to US tariffs and its Arm division is battling Qualcomm over chip licenses and antitrust complains in Europe, the US and South Korea. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/softbanks-acquisition-of-ai-chip-designer-ampere-may-be-facing-an-ftc-probe-120006145.html?src=rss

US PC shipments were up 15% in Q1 2025 compared with 9% globallyConsumers aren't aware of Windows 10 EOS, or just don't want to upgradeBusinesses are preparing for Windows 10 EOS, but 2025 PC market growth could be lowNew data from industry analysts Canalys has revealed PC vendors are stockpiling inventory in anticipation of higher tariffs from the Trump administration, but they're not selling enough to clear their stock.A sizeable 15% surge in PC shipments was observed in the US during the first three months of 2025, however this also aligned with an excess in inventory, with consumers far less likely to renew their devices this year compared with businesses.The market outlook aligns with suspicions of higher tariffs, with US PC shipments expected to only grow 2% in 2025 despite strong first-quarter growth.US vendors are preparing for higher pricesAccording to the data, inflation from broader tariffs and general economic uncertainty is seeing consumers hold onto their devices for longer than usual.Canalys expects consumer PS shipments to decline 4% this year, compared with the 8% increase in PC shipments to businesses, largely driven by October's end-of-support date for Windows 10.Research Director Ishan Dutt explained: "Although PCs currently remain exempt, broader tariffs impacting key spending categories have already resulted in inflationary pressure."Furthermore, the hype around AI PCs appears to have tamed. High prices, a lack of clear value and confusing messaging is preventing many buyers from hopping on the bandwagon as AI PCs remain in their first generation.Canalys Research Manager Kieren Jessop explained that poor battery life, slow performance or hardware failures tend to push consumers towards updates , indicating that the Windows 10 deadline may not be as much of a motivation to consumers as it is to businesses.A March 2025 poll suggested that 14% of customers are now aware of Windows 10 deprecation, and a further 21% don't plan on upgrading as a result.In the meantime, US stockpiling continues to distort PC shipment figures on a global scale, with Q1 2025 global PC shipments up 9%. Dutt summarised: "This preemptive strategy allowed manufacturers and the channel to stock up ahead of potential cost increases, boosting sell-in shipments despite otherwise stable end-user demand."You might also likeWindows 11 migration shows surprising surge for some businesses - but for once, desktop is leading the wayTime to upgrade? Why not consider the best workstations for power that should last years?The best business laptops and best mobile workstations are great portable options

We now know that the 2025 edition of Amazon's blockbuster Prime Day sales event will start on July 8, and it's set to be bigger than ever as it will run for four days. But you don't need to wait until then for tasty deals. There will be plenty in the lead up to the event, including this one for the Levoit Core 400S air purifier. At $183, the device is $37 off. It's not quite the lowest price we've seen for this model. However, it's not too far off that mark of $176.

The Levoit Core 400S is our current pick for the best air purifier overall. Sure, it might not have the prettiest design of all the options we have tested and the companion app might have a little too much going on. But the Core 400S does its job and does it well.

This smart air purifier is slated to clean the atmosphere in spaces of up to 1,733 square feet in as little as one hour. The Core 400S has a cylindrical shape with vents at the top and a touch display that shows air quality readings. You'll be able to get a sense of the current air quality in your space at a glance with a color-changing ring that will light up in blue, green, orange or red. The 360-degree filtration system is said to be capable of capturing over 99.9 percent of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, such as dust, pet dander and pollen.

There is an auto mode that should suffice for maintaining air quality, but the Core 400S is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls too. The fan isn't too loud, even when it's operating at maximum speed — the volume topped out at 62dB in our testing.

Meanwhile, at $50 each, the air filter replacements aren't too expensive compared with those from many of Levoit's competitors. You can also find other Levoit Prime Day deals on Amazon right now that include more air purifiers, cordless vacuums and more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-air-purifier-is-37-off-for-prime-day-143224984.html?src=rss

Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle its lawsuit with Donald Trump filed during the 2020 presidential campaign, according toThe Washington Post. The deal is controversial as legal experts said Paramount had a strong chance of prevailing in court and may have settled to smooth the path for its $2.4 billion Skydance merger.

Paramount said the $16 million would be allocated to Trump's future presidential library and not paid to him "directly or indirectly." In addition, it "does not include a statement of apology or regret," according to the media company.

Trump filed the lawsuit over a CBS interview with Kamala Harris that aired in October, initially demanding $10 billion. The network said it edited one of her answers for time (about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanhau), but Trump's attorney alleged that CBS intended to "confuse, deceive and mislead the public" by leaving out her full comments. Several legal experts called the lawsuit "frivolous and dangerous," as CBS didn't report any factual inaccuracies and the First Amendment gives media companies wide leeway in presenting information.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reviewing the Skydance merger has said that its approval wasn't linked to Trump's lawsuit. However, some Paramount executives saw the complaint as an obstacle to completing the deal, according to The New York Times, and the settlement was championed by Paramount's board chair, Shari Redstone. Inside CBS's newsroom, it was seen by some employees as a low point for a network with a storied history in news and investigative reporting.

Paramount has struggled financially after investing billions into its streaming service, Paramount+, which has yet to turn a profit. Under Skydance owner and new CEO David Ellison, the company plans to rebuild its streaming technology while reducing costs and improving efficiency. That won't happen until the merger is final, though, and the delay is reportedly also holding back the development of key franchises like Star Trek.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/paramount-pays-trump-16-million-to-settle-harris-lawsuit-124505902.html?src=rss