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A federal judge has temporarily blocked Florida's new law that bans some children from using social media and requires parental consent for others, according to court documents. Judge Mark Walker ruled in favor of two tech organizations (NetChoice and the CCIA) representing social media organizations like Meta, Snap and X, saying that the state's bill HB3 signed into law in March this year is "likely unconstitutional."

The law requires parent or guardian consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to make an account or use a pre-existing account on a social media platform, while children under 14 are banned altogether. Platforms must abide by requests to delete these accounts within five business days and each violation could result in a $10,000 fine. That increases to $50,000 per instance if it is ruled that the company participated in a “knowing or reckless” violation of the law.

"Floridians have the right to access lawful speech without the government controlling what they say, share or see online,” said NetChoice Director of Litigation, Chris Marchese.

The state of Florida tried to bypass normal first amendment free speech protections by employing the "narrowly tailored" rules, saying the law is designed to protect children from five addictive features of social media: push notifications, auto-play videos, live streaming, infinite scrolling and personal metrics. However, the judge ruled that the application is too broad in ways that have been shot down before by the Supreme Court.

"As applied to Plaintiffs' members alone, the law likely bans all youth under 14 from holding accounts on, at a minimum, four websites that provide forums for all manner of protected speech: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat," Judge Walker wrote. "It also bans 14- and 15-year-olds from holding accounts on those four websites absent a parent's affirmative consent, a requirement that the Supreme Court has clearly explained the First Amendment does not countenance."

Children could also be banned from social media even if the platforms created youth accounts without any of the five addictive features — as long as they were available for adults. The judge also called out the law's specificities about the ability of a child to access a platform based on how much time all children spend on the app.

The ruling does leave one provision in place. Social media companies are still required to "terminate any account held by a youth under 16 in the state upon the request of a parent or guardian," as required by the bill.

Yahoo, the parent company of Engadget, is a member of NetChoice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/floridas-social-media-law-has-been-temporarily-blocked-by-a-federal-judge-123004847.html?src=rss

The iPad we consider to be the best iPad for most people is on sale for a record-low price at the moment. You can pick up the new iPad Air M3 for $499 right now, which is $100 off its regular price.

You'll find the 17-percent discount on the 128GB models of the M3 Air in all color options. We gave the new iPad Air (M3) an 89 in our review, thanks, in part, to that M3 chip. Its single- and multi-core scores came in 16 percent higher compared to its predecessor when tested with Geekbench.

The iPad Air M3 also has a much better screen and multitasking abilities this time around. Plus, it's compatible with a much improved Magic Keyboard. The add-on is akin to the one you'd get with Apple's iPad Pro M4 while also dropping by $30 from the previous model. But, it will still cost you $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch one.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-ipad-air-m3-is-cheaper-than-ever-right-now-133932572.html?src=rss

NVIDIA releases a brand new video card and AMD follows up with a cheaper one. That's basically been the cycle of the GPU industry for the last decade, with NVIDIA typically leading the pack and AMD rushing to keep up. But with the recent Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, AMD finally found a winning formula with GPUs that were both cheaper than NVIDIA's and, in many cases, more powerful. The new Radeon RX 9060 XT, which is meant to take on NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti in 1080p and 1440p gaming, mostly repeats that formula. Starting at $350 with 16GB of RAM (and $300 with a paltry 8GB), it's launching for much less than the $429 RTX 5060 Ti while delivering a similar level of performance.

Once again, the key for AMD is offering much more RAM than NVIDIA for far less money. Sure, AMD is using slower GDDR6 RAM with 320 GB/s of memory bandwidth, compared to NVIDIAs' 448 GB/s GDDR7. But in practice, actually having a larger memory pool is more useful when you're dealing with massive textures and 3D models in modern games. So if you're looking for the best gaming bang for the buck under $400, the 16GB Radeon RX 9060 XT is undoubtedly a winner.

What is the Radeon RX 9060 Ti?

The least powerful member of AMD's Radeon RX 9000 family (so far), the RX 9060 XT is basically the card you'd get if you can't stomach spending more than $500 on a GPU. Just remember that video cards tend to jump up in cost once they actually hit stores, depending on availability and the whims of retailers. The RX 9060 XT sports 32 RDNA 4 compute units, 32 RT accelerators and 64 AI accelerators. It can reach up to 3.1GHz speeds with its boost clock and consumes up to 180W of power. In comparison, the $549 MSRP RX 9070 has 56 compute units, while the $599 RX 9070 XT has eight more.

AMD is pitching this GPU as a replacement for the RX 7600 XT, which launched at $329 last year. That card also had 16GB of VRAM, but it had a slower 288 GB/s bandwidth. While the 7600 XT was more focused on entry-level 1440p gaming, the 9060 XT's hardware improvements make it far more capable. AMD claims it's 46 percent faster than the 7600 XT across more than 40 games, and in my testing that figure checks out.

For this review, I tested Gigabyte's RX 9060 XT GPU, which has three cooling fans pointed at a typical copper heatsink. There's no fancy vapor cooling chamber or any extravagant materials on the card, but at this price range I didn't expect much.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

What's good about the Radeon RX 9060 Ti?

Across games and benchmarks, the 9060 XT clocked in just about where I expected: noticeably slower than the RX 9070, and either on-par or slightly slower than the NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti. In 3DMark's Steel Nomad benchmark, the 9060 XT scored 200 more points than that NVIDIA card, and it was also 90 points ahead in Timespy Extreme. But NVIDIA had a 1,000 point lead in the Speedway benchmark and it was more than 2,000 points ahead in the Luxmark HDR 4 test.

Despite those figures, I'm still impressed that the 9060 XT can stay in the same league as NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti while costing a lot less. AMD's ray tracing performance has also improved quite a bit from its previous generations, scoring 45 percent faster in the 3DMark Port Royal benchmark. NVIDIA still has the lead in ray tracing in games though, especially with the one-two punch of DLSS 4 AI upscaling and multi-frame generation. NVIDIA's RTX 5000-series cards can produce up to three interpolate frames for every natively rendered frame, while AMD is still stuck with generating a single extra frame with its FSR 3 and 4 (Fidelity Super Resolution 4) upscaling.

None

3DMark TimeSpy Extreme

Geekbench 6 GPU

Cyberpunk (1440p RT Overdrive DLSS/FSR 3)

Blender

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT

8,192

91,617

80fps

1,560

NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)

8,100

139,756

136 fps (4X frame gen)

4,220

AMD Radeon RX 9070

10,997

113,012

117 fps

N/A

AMD Radeon RX 7600

5,526

N/A

20 fps

1,013

The Radeon RX 9060 XT was able to run Cyberpunk 2077 in 1440p ray tracing "overdrive" mode at a respectable 80 fps, whereas NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti hit 136 fps thanks to multi-frame generation. Still, there's plenty of wiggle room to crank out more frames: Stepping down to 1080p got me 120 fps, and I saw 90 fps while using the less demanding ray tracing "ultra" preset in 1440p. In terms of raw performance, without any upscaling fanciness, the 9060 XT hit 114 fps in 1080p and 90 fps in 1440p.

The Radeon RX 9060 XT didn't run very hot during my testing, but that makes sense since it's purely focused on 1080p and 1440p gaming, During 3DMark's Steel Nomad stress test, which repeats the benchmark 20 times in succession, the card only topped out at 54 Celsius. I'm used to seeing video cards reaching upwards of 70C under load, so the 9060 XT was a nice surprise. While idling, it sits at 42 Celsius. That's higher than cards with vapor chamber cooling, but it's about average for cards in this price range. I didn't hear any annoying fan noise under load either, since it barely broke a sweat.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

What's bad about the Radeon RX 9060 XT?

There isn't really much to complain about with the Radeon RX 9060 XT, so long as you're not expecting too much from a sub-$400 GPU. Still, it would be nice to see support for AMD's new FSR 4 AI upscaling spread out more quickly. When the RX 9070 XT launched, the feature was only available in a handful of games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and now it's supported over 60 games. That's still about half of the games that NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 supports (which so far includes over 125 titles).

On the RX 9060 XT, the FSR 4 user experience still isn't as simple as activating DLSS on NVIDIA cards. I had to enable it manually in AMD's Adrenaline software, then flip it on in Call of Duty: Warzone to activate it. On the bright side, I saw an average of 254 fps while playing a match in 1440p with extreme graphics settings, FSR 4 and frame generation flipped on. With frame gen enabled, but no FSR 4, performance dipped to 174fps. And if I removed both of those features, it fell to 110 fps. Clearly, FSR 4 and frame gen helps quite a bit, I just wish it were in more games.

Should you buy the Radeon RX 9060 XT?

Assuming retailers don't go wild by overpricing the Radeon RX 9060 XT, it's a solid option if you're looking for an affordable GPU that's dedicated to 1080p and 1440p gameplay. At $350, the 9060 XT is well below the RTX 5060 Ti's $429 retail price, and certainly much cheaper than models being sold for more than $500.

To reach a lower $300 price point, AMD also unveiled an RX 9060 Ti with 8GB of RAM. But honestly, I'd recommend avoiding that entirely unless you only play ancient games in 1080p. It's worth spending a bit more so you can play newer games with less headaches, and it's practically a requirement if you want to play in 1440p.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Wrap-up

The Radeon RX 9060 XT is a reminder of a world where we didn’t have to pay more than $400 to get a capable GPU. We already know more than 80 percent of PC gamers play at 1440p or lower resolutions, according to Steam’s data. So for the vast majority of players out there — the ones who aren’t using monitors with crazy high refresh rates or 4K+ resolutions — it’s all the GPU you really need.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amd-radeon-rx-9060-xt-16gb-review-finally-a-powerful-350-gpu-130037952.html?src=rss

Uber just announced dedicated account profiles for senior citizens, bringing a streamlined app design and features aimed at older adults. This is part of the pre-existing "family profile" feature that also allows for teen accounts.

As for these senior accounts, the biggest draw is the design. The company promises "larger text, fewer steps and easy-to-follow screens." To that end, there are fewer buttons and larger text throughout. This should make it easier for seniors, or anyone with minor eyesight issues, to book rides.

Loved ones and caregivers can book rides on behalf of the account holder. They can also help with stuff like adjusting payment methods and checking in during trips. Family members can track rides in real time or receive text updates upon arrival. In the case of an emergency, the app offers the ability for caregivers to contact the driver.

Frequent destinations, such as the doctor's office, can be stored for easy access. There are even some unique payment options here, like the ability to accept Medicare Flex.

Uber

If older adults don't have access to a family profile, they can still experience a streamlined version of the app via the platform's Simple mode. This provides the same interface, with larger text and easier navigation.

Rival Lyft recently introduced a similar suite of features, called Lyft Silver. However, Lyft's service will match older riders with cars that are easier to get in and out of, which is something Uber doesn't seem to be offering at this moment. Senior accounts on Uber are rolling out now throughout the US, with global availability coming at a later date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/uber-now-offers-a-streamlined-app-for-seniors-complete-with-flexible-payment-options-130013443.html?src=rss

AWS launches a European business to oversee its European Sovereign CloudLed by Germany's Kathrin Renz, only European workers will have access to itIts first Region in Brandenburg, Germany, will launch by the end of 2025Amazon Web Service (AWS) has announced it will be establishing a new European organization designed to oversee its European Sovereign Cloud efforts in a bid to appeal to European customers seeking to break ties with the US.The separate businesses, incorporated in Germany, will be "legally obliged to act in the best interest of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud," with AWS Industries VP Kathrin Renz confirmed as its first Managing Director – a German national.Its advisory board is also set to include at least one non-Amazon-affiliated independent member, further strengthening its commitment to European regulations and desires.AWS European Sovereign CloudMost importantly for European customers, the sovereign option will have no critical dependencies on non-EU infrastructure, supporting local talent, technology and networks.Furthermore, only EU-resident AWS employees will have operational control over data centres and technical support."The design of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud enables it to continue operations indefinitely, even in the event of a connectivity interruption between the AWS European Sovereign Cloud and the rest of the world," the company confirmed.The network will consists of multiple Availability Zones with independent power, networking, facilities and security capabilities."Customers tell us they don’t want to choose between feature-limited solutions or the full power of AWS, so we’ve designed the AWS European Sovereign Cloud to address European digital sovereignty requirements while maintaining the services portfolio, security, reliability, and performance that customers expect from AWS," Renz commented.Further reflecting its commitment to sovereignty, AWS is establishing its Sovereign Requirements Framework to outline technical, legal and operational controls developed from customer expectations, regulatory body requirements and pre-existing industry framework guidance.Underpinned by €7.8 billion investment, AWS' first European Sovereign Cloud Region will launch in Brandenburg, Germany, by the end of 2025.You might also likeWe've listed the best cloud hosting providersAWS continues European investment with new sovereign cloudStore your work online with the best cloud storage and best cloud backup tools

New research estimates that it could be 20 times easier for quantum computers to break current encryption Experts urge software developers to advance their work in developing next-generation cryptographyRecommendations include that vulnerable systems be deprecated after 2030 and disallowed after 2035Experts have long warned that the computational power of quantum machines is poised to render current encryption methods obsolete. New research now estimates that it could be 20 times easier for quantum computers to break RSA encryption.This is why researchers at Google Quantum AI are urging software developers and encryption experts to begin implementing next-generation cryptography. They also recommend that all vulnerable systems should be deprecated after 2030 and disallowed after 2035.Many across the industry, however, have already begun their post-quantum transitions. These include Big Tech giants like Microsoft, which recently made its latest Windows 11 quantum-proof, as well as popular encrypted services like the best VPN and secure email apps.TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than five minutes to complete!To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpnBreaking encryption may be 20 times easierEncryption is a technology that software uses to scramble information into an unreadable form to prevent unauthorized access. Developed in the late 1970s, RSA-based key exchange is the most common technique, which involves generating two public keys – an encryption key and a decryption key.Quantum computers are set to break RSA-based techniques, though, as these machines can run computations that today's computers can't handle, within minutes.As lead researchers, Craig Gidney noted in the paper, the new research considerably lowers his previous estimation of the resources that a quantum computer may need to break RSA encryption. From 20 million quibits (the equivalent of a bit in classic computing) to only 1 million quibits."My hope is that this provides a signpost for the current state of the art in quantum factoring, and informs how quickly quantum-safe cryptosystems should be deployed," wrote Gidney.Gidney also echoed the suggestion coming from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that vulnerable systems should all be deprecated in five years' time."Not because I expect sufficiently large quantum computers to exist by 2030, but because I prefer security not to be contingent on progress being slow," he wrote.In August 2024, NIST released the first three quantum-resistant encryption standards set to shape the future of cryptography. (Image credit: Shutterstock)Gidney's revelations don't come as a cold shower for the industry, however.For example, the team behind encrypted email and cloud drive Tuta began work on quantum-resistant encryption in 2020, becoming the first quantum-resistant email service with a hybrid protocol in 2024."Google's breakthrough in quantum computing proves what we at Tuta Mail have been believing in for years already: The timeframe during which our currently encrypted data can still be considered secure could be much shorter than what we expect," Tuta CEO Matthias Pfau told TechRadar.For NordVPN, which recently expanded post-quantum encryption (PQE) to all applications, it's a no-brainer. "Transitioning from classical cryptography to PQC is not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’ – and that planning must begin now," said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.Surfshark's Lead Systems Engineer, Karolis Kaciulis, also agrees that the quantum era could come sooner than the world expected. "However, I don’t think it would be right to try to predict the exact time," he said, adding that the team is taking the time to fully evaluate PQE across their platforms before implementing it.According to ExpressVPN, this latest research is further confirmation that there's "no firm consensus" across the industry when it comes to quantum computing. Nonetheless, the team first added PQE protection on its Lightway protocol in 2023, then upgraded to the NIST standards last January."The core premise of the research is certainly interesting, but doesn’t change anything practically. Given the potential for ‘store now, decrypt later’ attacks, we must have protection against these threats today, as quantum computers will work perfectly well retrospectively on data captured years – or even decades – before," said Pete Membrey, Chief Research Officer at ExpressVPN.Also for Proton, the provider behind Proton VPN and Proton Mail, these new revelations shouldn't be a reason to panic but rather a "call to stay on track with developing and rolling out quantum-resistant encryption," Proton's CTO, Bart Butler, told TechRadar.You might also likeVPNs need to be ready for the post-quantum world – here's what's being doneIs the internet ready for the "biggest security threat of all time"?Here's how quantum computing may end up saving encryption

There's a big Anker sale on Amazon that covers several well-regarded power banks and charging accessories. This includes the 737 portable laptop charger, which is just $88. That's the best deal of the bunch, as the price represents a 41 percent discount.

The 737 is a 24,000mAh charger that can juice up a laptop, but also works with other devices like smartphones, tablets and virtual reality headsets. The design is similar to our favorite premium power bank. This one, however, includes a trio of ports, making it a great option for multi-device charging.

Anker says the battery is large enough to charge an iPhone 16 Pro over four times before requiring a refill. Beefier devices, like the newest iPad Pro or MacBook Pro, will get just over a single charge. This is a portable device, with a nice form factor that makes it easy to pack. However, it is on the heavier side.

The Anker MagGo 621 magnetic charger is also on sale for $30, which is a discount of 25 percent. This one attaches to the back of a smartphone to provide more juice. The deal applies to multiple colorways. Alternatively, you can pick up this Anker 10K power bank for only $13, or half off its usual price. It's roughly the size of a credit card and has a built-in USB-C cable — both of which make it an excellent option for on-the-go power ups. This is a lightning deal, though, so you'll want to grab it while you can.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/anker-portable-chargers-are-on-sale-for-up-to-50-percent-off-152352617.html?src=rss