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Meta has misled users about scam ads on Facebook and Instagram, lawsuit says
Meta is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by the Consumer Federation of America, alleging the company misled users about scam advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit claims Meta prioritized profits over user safety by allowing high-risk advertisers and charging them more, rather than removing them. Meta denies these allegations, stating they aggressively combat scams and removed over 159 million scam ads last year.
The Morning After: The next CEO of Apple will be hardware exec John Ternus
Apple's Senior Vice President of hardware engineering, John Ternus, will succeed Tim Cook as CEO in September. Cook, who led Apple through its post-iPhone and iPad era, launching products like the Apple Watch and Vision Pro, will transition to executive chairman. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has been a prominent figure in hardware development, notably at the recent MacBook Neo launch.
Homeland Security reportedly wants to develop smart glasses for ICE
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly developing smart glasses, dubbed 'ICE Glasses,' intended for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. These devices would capture video and utilize facial recognition and gait analysis to identify individuals from a distance, with a target deployment by September 2027. Concerns have been raised by civil liberty groups regarding potential widespread surveillance of US citizens.
Instagram says a bug turned your photos black and white
Instagram has confirmed a bug that caused some HDR photos to incorrectly appear as black-and-white for a subset of users. The Meta-owned app stated that the technical issue has since been corrected and affected photos will revert to their original colors automatically over the next few hours.
Meta is testing a WhatsApp Plus subscription that mostly focuses on cosmetic upgrades
Meta is testing a new subscription service called WhatsApp Plus for its messaging app, offering cosmetic upgrades like premium stickers and themes. While basic functions remain free, subscribers can also pin more chats and customize alerts. This move follows Meta's trial of a similar premium tier for Instagram.
"We need to adjust our pricing" - The cost of the Meta Quest 3 and 3S is rising by up to $100, and that plays right into Valve's hands if the Steam Frame ever launches
Meta is increasing the prices of its Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S VR headsets by up to $100 starting April 19, 2026, citing rising component costs. This price adjustment may benefit Valve's upcoming Steam Frame by reducing the price gap between the devices. Meta reaffirmed its commitment to VR despite recent layoffs and market speculation.
The death of video game VR is a crying shame - Reader’s Feature
A reader laments the apparent decline of virtual reality gaming, citing the limited support for PlayStation VR2 and the closure of Meta's VR developers as evidence. Despite initial excitement and impressive experiences like Resident Evil Village VR, the high cost of headsets and the isolating nature of VR are seen as major barriers to its widespread adoption.
Virtual Reality Check
Meta's significant investment in artificial intelligence is contributing to increased costs for its Quest virtual reality headsets. The article also touches upon advancements in brain-computer interfaces, citing an example of monkeys navigating a virtual environment using only their thoughts.
A lot of you panic-bought PCs to avoid RAMaggedon 2026
Global PC shipments saw a modest 3.2% year-over-year growth in Q1 2026, driven by pre-emptive purchases before anticipated memory price hikes and the end of Windows 10 support. However, rising AI infrastructure investment is increasing component costs, with analysts predicting significant negative impacts on PC market growth and retail prices throughout 2026.
Enjoying Valve's famous paid "vacation in Hawaii," engineer jokes he's "in a dark room like a vampire" on Github anyway – a fitting use of Steam bucks
Valve engineer Fletcher Dunn confirmed he is enjoying the company's paid Hawaii vacation while working on his laptop, sparking discussions about Valve's unique company culture. The article contrasts Valve's employee perks with recent layoffs at Epic Games and examines the intense fan investment in Valve due to Steam's dominance in PC gaming.
Engadget Podcast: Allbirds goes from shoes to AI
This podcast episode discusses the surprising shift of shoe company Allbirds into the artificial intelligence sector and its implications for the AI economy. Additional topics include the Artemis II moon mission, Meta's facial recognition technology, and teens' perceptions of social media's influence.
Meta is raising the price of the Quest 3 and Quest 3S due to memory price rises made worse by Meta
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets due to rising component costs, particularly for memory chips. This price adjustment will affect both new and refurbished units, with the Quest 3 seeing a $100 increase in the US and the Quest 3S models increasing by $50. Meta cites the global surge in memory chip prices, exacerbated by AI infrastructure demand, as the primary reason for the change.
Virtual Reality Check
Meta has announced upcoming price increases for its Quest 3 virtual reality headsets. The company did not specify the exact new pricing or when the increases would take effect.
Evening Metaverse
This article touches on the evolving landscape of online services and company leadership, mentioning Meta's involvement in the metaverse. It also notes Reed Hastings' departure from Netflix to focus on new ventures.
Meta is raising prices on Quest 3 VR headsets
Meta is increasing the prices for its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets this week. The specific new pricing details were not immediately available in this short announcement.
Meta is giving Threads on web a redesign that finally adds direct messages
Meta is testing a redesigned web version of its Threads platform that will include direct messaging, a feature previously only available on mobile. The update also introduces new navigation shortcuts for feeds, saved posts, and insights. The rollout timeline for the new web interface has not yet been announced.
Meta isn't setting its Oversight Board free just yet
Meta's Oversight Board is seeking to expand its role beyond the company, exploring partnerships with AI firms. However, Meta has not yet approved changes to its governing documents that would allow for this. The board, funded by Meta, is also facing internal questions about its future and investment as Meta shifts its content moderation priorities.
Meta Quest 3 and 3S Price Hikes Coming in Just a Few Days
Meta is increasing the prices for its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets starting April 19th, citing rising costs for high-performance VR hardware components. The Meta Quest 3 (512GB) will rise to $600 from $500, and the Quest 3S will see its 128GB model increase to $350 from $300, and the 256GB model to $450 from $400. Meta attributes these increases to industry-wide component cost surges, similar to recent price adjustments by Sony for the PlayStation 5.
Meta Quest headset prices are going up on April 19
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets starting April 19 due to rising RAM costs. The Quest 3 will increase by $100 to $599, and the Quest 3S will be $50 more expensive at $350 for the 128GB model. Sony also recently raised prices for PlayStation 5 consoles and the PlayStation Portal for similar reasons.
Meta Quest 3 VR Headset Prices Are Increasing, Making Reality More Expensive To Escape
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets starting April 19 due to rising component costs, particularly memory chips. The Quest 3 (512GB) will go from $500 to $600, and the Quest 3S models will increase by $50 each. Meta cites the global memory shortage and the rising cost of building high-performance VR hardware as reasons for the adjustment.
