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22 states join California to sue the Trump admin over emissions standards

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As part of that, officials formally revoked California’s waiver. For decades, the state had the right to determine its own emissions goals under the Clean Air Act.

Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW agreed a deal with California in July to build cars and light trucks that would average 50 miles per gallon across their fleets by 2026. The Department of Justice is investigating whether the agreement violated antitrust laws. The District of Columbia and 13 other states also followed California’s standards.

But officials claimed only the federal government has the right to determine fuel economy standards under the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act. They argued California can’t use its exemption to regulate emissions.

“EPA has granted those waivers over many years. But California cannot misuse that authority to set national fuel economy standards and attempt to control national greenhouse gas emissions standards,” EPA spokeswoman Corry Schiermeyer told the Washington Post. “We are confident we are correctly applying the law and will prevail in the courts.”

The administration claims lowering the standards will keep the price of cars down and prompt drivers to swap their vehicles for safer models. It aims to finalize the One National Program Rule by the end of the year.

Los Angeles, New York and the District of Columbia have joined the 23 states in the suit. In it, California state attorney general Xavier Becerra argued the administration had overstepped its authority in revoking the waiver. He pointed to two federal court decisions from 2007 as precedent — judges ruled in both that state limits on car and light truck emissions didn’t contravene federal law.

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Walmart will reportedly stop selling e-cigarettes

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We’ve asked Walmart for comment.

It’s not hard to see why the retail chain might be hesitant. Michigan and New York state are in the midst of banning flavored e-cigs, while the federal government also has plans on deck. The CDC has concerns after reports of lung disease that has killed eight, while the FDA has chastised Juul and other e-cig makers for allegedly marketing to teens and offering misleading health claims. Walmart doesn’t know which e-cigs it can sell in the near future, and might not want to sell any if the stigma around them grows.

This isn’t Walmart’s first move to address risky products in recent months, either. It pulled displays for violent games and media in August, and in Spetember outlined plans to reduce gun and ammo sales as well as discourage visitors from openly carrying guns. Walmart clearly sees itself playing a key role in the conversation around products like e-cigs and guns, and it doesn’t want to play a role in any potential tragedies.

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‘Minecraft’ adds a character creator option

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The option is only available through Xbox One, Windows 10 and Android for now. It’ll hit Minecraft Earth and Bedrock versions of the game, including Nintendo Switch and iOS, once the beta is over. You’ll still be able to use custom skins on Windows 10 and mobile.

The customization option is a nice addition, and it follows a long line of games (such as many RPGs) that allow players to make their characters look the way they want. Many other titles, such as Fortnite, offer custom character items for sale too. While Minecraft has had a marketplace for community-created skins and texture packs for a couple of years, it’s interesting to see the development team selling their own virtual items.

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Netflix renews ‘GLOW’ for a fourth and final season

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The third season dropped last month and shifted the action from Los Angeles (where the wrestlers had their own TV show) to Las Vegas, where they became an attraction at a casino. Without giving anything away, the finale pointed to another major shift in the dynamic, and while it wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger ending, it’s good to know one of Netflix’s best shows will get a proper sendoff.

The show won its second Emmy last weekend for stunt coordination, while Betty Gilpin is among the supporting actress in a comedy nominees for Sunday’s Primetime Emmys. Netflix hasn’t revealed when you’ll get to see the final batch of GLOW episodes. However, judging by previous seasons, you might expect it to make a splash on your TV (or phone or tablet) again next summer.



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‘Untitled Goose Game’ arrives today on Mac, PC and Switch

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Geese are jerks, and now you can be one too. Untitled Goose Game is available today on Mac, Windows and Switch. The odd ball game puts you in the role of a goose that’s determined to annoy residents of a village. You’ll prank them, steal items and honk, a lot. As the description puts it, “it’s a lovely morning in the village and you are a horrible goose.”

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Not even Allbirds is safe from Amazon’s copycat ways

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Copying a hugely successful product is nothing new for Amazon. For example, the company has offered an Instant Pot clone for more than a year now. However, what makes this latest instance of creative theft so brazen is the way in which Amazon has tried to hide the copying. With the company’s Instant Pot clone, there’s no mistaking the slow cooker’s origins; it says right on the front that it’s an AmazonBasics product. With its newest clone, however, Amazon markets the shoes under its private 206 Collective label.

As The Verge points out, blatant copying is nothing new to the fashion world. However, Amazon’s copying underlines an uncomfortable aspect of the company’s power. With its vast amounts of data, Amazon can easily identify popular products. With its unprecedented scale, it can then offer those products at a fraction of the cost that other companies sell their wares. It’s an aspect of the company that regulators have struggled with for a while. One potential solution to the problem is to not allow big e-commerce platforms to sell their own products on their platforms. This is something India does. With Amazon’s new shoes, you can see why that might be a good idea. A pair of Allbirds typically cost around $95. Amazon’s new shoes, by contrast, cost as little as $35. And while copying a pair of shoes is a relatively minor offense, the episode is likely to feed into the perception that Amazon and other companies should be regulated as part of the government’s recent antitrust investigations into big tech.



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The best headsets for the Switch Lite

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Turtle Beach Recon 70

Recon 70

We’ve recommended this a few times in recent gift guides, and for good reason: It’s comfortable, affordable and the audio is stellar. The faux leather ear cups mean they don’t get too hot and are easy to clean, while the mic flips up for easy storage. And it hits a sweet spot of $35 — less than the cost of most Switch games.

Logitech G432

Logitech G432

While the company is better known for its non-gaming accessories, Logitech’s G line of gaming gear is no slouch. We’re particularly fond of the G432 because of its incredibly lightweight plastic build that also manages to be surprisingly durable, and a comfortable fit that can sit on your head all day. At only $50, it makes a great choice for a kid’s first headset.

Turtle Beach Recon Spark

Turtle Beach Recon Spark

Another good headset for the kids is the Recon Spark ($50), which offers a snug, but still breathable, fit for small heads and has pretty decent noise isolation to boot. It’s also one of the cuter headsets out there too, thanks to a soothing white and lavender color scheme that will appeal to femmes and anyone who’s tired of “g4m3r” oriented red, black or green designs.

HyperX Cloud Alpha

HyperX Cloud Alpha

If you prefer something a bit more high-end (and, accordingly, are willing to spend a little more), we recommend the HyperX Cloud Alpha ($86). The large mic is great for chatting over Discord, and you can detach it when out and about. The audio of the 50mm drivers sounds great, and it has excellent sound isolation so it’ll be good for hearing sound effects and music over the clatter of a subway train during your daily commute. There are two color schemes available — the standard black and red, and a prettier white and lilac version — so you can match it to your personal style.

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

While many wireless headsets are compatible with the Switch, they rely on USB receivers, meaning your console needs to be docked for them to work. Not so with the Arctis 1 Wireless, whose 2.4GHz receiver connects via USB-C, so it can easily be plugged into your Switch while it’s in portable mode. This makes the Arctis 1 Wireless the only real wireless choice for the Switch Lite, though the $100 asking price means you’ll pay a premium for the privilege. But at least you’re guaranteed solid audio and a great fit, as with all Arctis headsets.

All of these headsets will work well with the Switch or Switch Lite, though we’ve focused on the ones you can use with the latter system since it’s out now. If you’re still using your original Switch be sure to check out our full headset guide for other options, including more wireless sets that you can use when it’s docked. If you already have a wireless headset that you refuse to part with, HomeSpot’s Bluetooth transmitter ($40) for the Switch might work in a pinch, and it even has a built-in mic. And, if you’re still on the fence about whether to pick up a Switch Lite, check out our review of Nintendo’s newest portable console.

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Lime will shut down its car-sharing service in December

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The company said it chose not to do a wide launch, because it couldn’t find the right partner that’ll enable it to deploy an electric fleet, and using gas-powered cars isn’t an option. “We are similarly committed to that goal and the information gained during our pilot will support the work necessary should we decide to expand and improve this service with an all-electric fleet in the future,” a spokesperson told GeekWire in a statement.

Lime also sent an email to LimePod users, telling them that while the program was a great learning experience, it’s “an electric mobility company first.” Part of the email reads: “We are committed — like Seattle is — to sustainability, lower carbon emissions, and to make cities more livable, all of which require reduced car travel.”

LimePod gives people a way to rent a car via an app, drive it to their destination and then leave it in a parking spot when they’re done. It challenged BMW’s ReachNow car-sharing service when it launched in Seattle, but both services will no longer be available once LimePod closes in December. ReachNow also shut down in July, and its closure was so abrupt, its email to users included instructions for people currently driving its cars.

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iOS 13’s Audio Sharing feature is coming to more Beats headphones

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Audio Sharing allows pairing two sets of headphones to the same iPhone or iPod, so you and another person can listen to the same tune or watch a movie together. It requires an iPhone 8 or above, and is activated through the Bluetooth menu in Settings.

Before, the feature was available on AirPods and Powerbeats Pro, but it will soon come to all Beats headphone models that use Apple H1 and W1 chips. That includes the Studio3 Wireless, BeatsX, Powerbeats3 Wireless and Solo3 Wireless models as well as the Powerbeats Pros.

The feature will be available on Beats headphones from September 23rd.

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iOS 13 is here, and iOS 13.1 arrives next week

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How will it sell without support from Google?Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro has a ‘quad-camera’ and a vegan leather option

Huawei’s party may have been spoiled by leaks, but the Mate 30 has been refashioned as a camera first, smartphone second. For Huawei, it’s breaking away from Google’s services to forge its own path. Uh oh.

The Mate 30 Pro has the most eye-catching specs, with a 6.53-inch, “always on” OLED screen that curves around both edges of the device. The volume buttons are now on-screen and available with a double tap at the edge of the display. Huawei has included four image sensors poking out of the Mate 30 Pro’s Halo Ring back. That includes a 40-megapixel Cine Camera, a 40-megapixel SuperSensing camera, an 8-megapixel Telephoto and a 3D depth-sensing lens. Huawei had nailed still image smartphone photography on the P30 pro — the Mate 30 seems more focused on videography. We’ll see how these claims fare later today. The specs seem killer, but the lack of Google Services, from Google Play through to YouTube and Maps, could literally kill the Mate 30’s chances of success.

Maybe wait to install that update.iOS 13 is here — and iOS 13.1 is coming next week

If you’ve been holding on patiently for Apple Arcade, system-wide dark mode on your iPhone, the Sign in with Apple feature and better Maps and Siri, your wait is over: Apple has released iOS 13 and watchOS 6.

Of course, you could just wait until the 24th (you won’t, but you could) because that’s when iPadOS and iOS 13.1 will be released. That’s nearly a week earlier than expected, but the updates will hopefully clear up a few annoying glitches and even potential security holes once they arrive.

A short but wonderful game about fixing old technology and relationships.Ustwo’s ‘Assemble with Care’ sets the standard for Apple Arcade exclusives

Assemble with Care is the latest title from Ustwo Games, the London-based studio behind Monument Valley and Land’s End. And it’s all about fixing sentimental items. Throughout its roughly two-hour adventure, you’ll repair a dozen-or-so objects, including a cassette deck, film camera and handheld game console. A few of the items aren’t electrical — there’s an old camping stove, for instance, and an analog watch — but the most memorable and challenging involve some buttons and colorful circuitry.

Ustwo Games prides itself on making games for a broad, so-called “casual” audience to enjoy. “The strategy for the company has been to take what’s great about games and deliver them to a casual audience,” Dan Gray, the studio’s chief creative officer told Engadget. That does explain its status as an Apple Arcade exclusive.

Putting the fun back in utility.Arcimoto is finally shipping its three-wheeled EV to customers

The FUV was designed to lower CO2 emissions but also to take up less space than the typical EV. The result is something between a car and a motorcycle that can hit speeds of up to 75 MPH and about 102 miles of range per charge. If you have 19,900 bucks to spare, then keep an eye out for these zipping around California, Oregon and Washington in the near future.

Review time.Nintendo’s Switch Lite is all about portable gaming, and it shows

This version of the Switch addresses the elephant in the room with Nintendo’s convertible console. While it can do gaming on the go or docked, it’s not really optimized for either. The Switch Lite leans into handheld use, with controllers that won’t go flying if you drop it, and the small design differences make it easier to use on a crowded subway. Along with a price that’s $100 cheaper than its sibling, it makes a compelling case for new players and Switch owners who can appreciate better pocketability.

Roku features, Dolby Vision HDR and calibration via mobile app await.TCL’s 2019 quantum dot-enhanced 4K TVs go on sale starting at $599

The 65-inch version still costs $799.

Many TVs’ USB ports will be able to power the updated Roku Express.Roku’s latest Ultra player is faster and has better shortcuts

Roku has made some of its streaming players smaller and faster, while teasing what Roku OS 9.2 has in store. The latest $99.99 Ultra, which supports 4K and HDR video, should be zippier at launching channels than previous iterations, and it’ll come with a remote that has programmable shortcut buttons. Interestingly, JBL headphones are also bundled with the player — you can plug them into the remote to watch shows without disturbing others.

The revamped Roku Express is 10 percent smaller than the previous model and, because most TVs’ USB ports can power it, the device should be more portable and cause less clutter. It’ll set you back $29.99, while the Walmart-exclusive Express+, which features the same design and includes the Roku Voice Remote, will cost $39.99. Roku OS 9.2 will start rolling out soon, with an overhauled 4K Spotlight channel for easier access to Ultra HD titles, while Roku’s Tips & Tricks channel could help you get more out of your device. The Roku Zones feature will display a curated selection of titles when you search for a genre or subject like “superhero movies” or “comedies.”

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