Neon is an call-recording app that pays users for access to the audio, which the app in turn sells to AI companies for training their models. Since its launch last week, it quickly rose in popularity, but the service was taken offline today. TechCrunch reported that it found a security flaw that allowed any logged-in user to access other accounts’ phone numbers, the phone numbers called, call recordings and transcripts. 

TechCrunch said that it contacted Neon founder Alex Kiam about the issue. “Kiam told TechCrunch later Thursday that he took down the app’s servers and began notifying users about pausing the app, but fell short of informing his users about the security lapse,” the publication reported. The app went dark “soon after” TC contacted Kiam. Neon does not appear to have a timeline about if or when the service will resume or what additional security protections it may add.

The full report from TechCrunch is here and certainly worth reading if you’ve used Neon.

Following their announcement earlier this month, Nothing Ear (3) are now available for purchase.

Nothing Ear (3) is the fourth generation of the brand’s earbuds, and they’re a solid option in the space as we explained in our review this week.

What’s new?

Nothing Ear (3) has a familiar overall design, but with a case now made partially from metal. The earbuds themselves feature longer battery life, as well as a new sound profile. The case also now integrates a “Super Mic” that lets you use the case as a handheld microphone for calls, which Nothing says is ideal for better noise cancellation.

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Like prior generations, Nothing Ear (3) still undercuts the competition in price, at least a little bit. At $179, they’re cheaper than Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Pixel Buds Pro 2, as well as other alternatives. That’s while still supporting features like Android’s Fast Pair.

Nothing Ear (3) is available for purchase today from Nothing’s website as well as Amazon. Pre-orders have already shipped, but new buyers can expect deliveries as soon as early next week.

Are you buying?

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Now that we know October Prime Day is on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about what you may want to snag at a discount during the sale. If you pay the $139 annual fee for Prime, sale events like these are a great time to stock up on essentials and cross things off your wishlist while you can save some money.

Most discounts will be exclusively available to Prime subscribers, but there are always a few that anyone shopping on Amazon can grab. Similarly, there are always early deals in the days and weeks leading up to Prime Day, and this year is no different. Here, we’ve collected the best October Prime Day deals you can shop for right now and we’ll keep updating this post as we get close to Prime Day proper.

Best Prime Day deals: Engadget’s top picks

Apple

Apple MagSafe charger (25W, 2m) for $35 (30 percent off): The latest version of Apple’s MagSafe puck is Qi2.2-certified and supports up to 25W of wireless power when paired with a 30W adapter. The two-meter cable length on this particular model gives you more flexibility on where you can use it: in bed, on the couch, at your desk and elsewhere.

$35 at Amazon

Apple iPad (A16) for $299 ($50 off): The new base-model iPad now comes with twice the storage of the previous model and the A16 chip. That makes the most affordable iPad faster and more capable, but still isn’t enough to support Apple Intelligence.

Apple Mac mini (M4) for $499 $100 off): If you prefer desktops, the upgraded M4 Mac mini is one that won’t take up too much space, but will provide a ton of power at the same time. Not only does it come with an M4 chipset, but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model, plus front-facing USB-C and headphone ports for easier access.

Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) for $449 ($150 off): The only major difference between the latest iPad Air and the previous generation is the addition of the faster M3 chip. We awarded the new slab an 89 in our review, appreciating the fact that the M3 chip was about 16 percent faster in benchmark tests than the M2. This is the iPad to get if you want a reasonable amount of productivity out of an iPad that’s more affordable than the Pro models.

Jisulife Life7 handheld fan for $25 (14 percent off, Prime exclusive): This handy little fan is a must-have if you life in a warm climate or have a tropical vacation planned anytime soon. It can be used as a table or handheld fan and even be worn around the neck so you don’t have to hold it at all. Its 5,000 mAh battery allows it to last hours on a single charge, and the small display in the middle of the fan’s blades show its remaining battery level.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025 for $29 (27 percent off): Roku makes some of the best streaming devices available, and this small dongle gives you access to a ton of free content plus all the other streaming services you could ask for: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and many more.

Anker 622 5K magnetic power bank with stand for $34 (29 percent off, Prime exclusive): This 0.5-inch thick power bank attaches magnetically to iPhones and won’t get in your way when you’re using your phone. It also has a built-in stand so you can watch videos, make FaceTime calls and more hands-free while your phone is powering up.

Leebein 2025 electric spin scrubber for $40 (43 percent off, Prime exclusive): This is an updated version of my beloved Leebein electric scrubber, which has made cleaning my shower easier than ever before. It comes with seven brush heads so you can use it to clean all kinds of surfaces, and its adjustable arm length makes it easier to clean hard-to-reach spots. It’s IPX7 waterproof and recharges via USB-C.

Anker Nano 5K ultra-slim power bank (Qi2, 15W) for $46 (16 percent off): A top pick in our guide to the best MagSafe power banks, this super-slim battery is great for anyone who wants the convenient of extra power without the bulk. We found its proportions work very well with iPhones, and its smooth, matte texture and solid build quality make it feel premium.

Shark AI robot vacuum with self-empty base for $230 (58 percent off, Prime exclusive): A version of one of our favorite robot vacuums, this Shark machine has strong suction power and supports home mapping. The Shark mobile app lets you set cleaning schedules, and the self-empty base that it comes with will hold 30 days worth of dust and debris.

Levoit LVAC-300 cordless vacuum for $250 ($100 off, Prime exclusive): One of our favorite cordless vacuums, this Levoit machine has great handling, strong suction power for its price and a premium-feeling design. Its bin isn’t too small, it has HEPA filtration and its battery life should be more than enough for you to clean your whole home many times over before it needs a recharge.

Best Prime Day deals on tech

Soundcore

Samsung EVO Select microSD card (256GB) for $23 (15 percent off): This Samsung card has been one of our recommended models for a long time. It’s a no-frills microSD card that, while not the fastest, will be perfectly capable in most devices where you’re just looking for simple, expanded storage.

JBL Go 4 portable speaker for $40 (20 percent off): The Go 4 is a handy little Bluetooth speaker that you can take anywhere you go thanks to its small, IP67-rated design and built-in carrying loop. It’ll get seven hours of playtime on a single charge, and you can pair two together for stereo sound.

Anker MagGo 10K power bank (Qi2, 15W) for $63 (22 percent off, Prime exclusive): A 10K power bank like this is ideal if you want to be able to recharge your phone at least once fully and have extra power to spare. This one is also Qi2 compatible, providing up to 15W of power to supported phones.

Rode Wireless Go III for $199 (30 percent off): A top pick in our guide to the best wireless microphones, the Wireless Go III records pro-grade sound and has handy extras like onboard storage, 32-bit float and universal compatibility with iPhones, Android, cameras and PCs.

Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $300 (57 percent off, Prime exclusive): If you’re looking for an autonomous dirt-sucker that can also mop, this is a good option. It has a mopping pad and water reservoir built in, and it supports home mapping as well. Its self-emptying base can hold up to 60 days worth of debris, too.

Nintendo Switch 2 for $449: While not technically a discount, it’s worth mentioning that the Switch 2 and the Mario Kart Switch 2 bundle are both available at Amazon now, no invitation required. Amazon only listed the new console for the first time in July after being left out of the initial pre-order/availability window in April. Once it became available, Amazon customers looking to buy the Switch 2 had to sign up to receive an invitation to do so. Now, that extra step has been removed and anyone can purchase the Switch 2 on Amazon.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Operating as a sub-brand of Nothing for the past couple of years, it’s been announced today that what was formerly “CMF by Nothing” is becoming an indepedent subsidiary and India’s first global smartphone company.

CMF by Nothing started operations as a budget-focused sub-brand of the Carl Pei-owned Nothing back in 2023 with a smartwatch and its own earbuds. A year later, the first CMF Phone debuted with an absurdly low $199 price point, and CMF has since continued to put out new, budget-focused hardware ever since.

But, now, CMF is being spun off into its own company.

CMF will ditch the “by Nothing” footnote and become an independent subsidiary of Nothing. The move will see CMF continuing to focus on budget hardware, but more importantly, it will also become the first global smartphone “and smart hardware” company based in India.

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Nothing is spinning off CMF with the help of Optiemus, which will also be working with Nothing to use India as a global production and export hub for both Nothing products and CMF products.

Meanwhile, CMF is gearing up for its next product launch in CMF Headphone Pro, which have shown to still be carrying the “CMF by Nothing” branding.

CMF’s full press release on the spin-off follows:

CMF to become India’s first global smartphone and smart hardware company, starting with a strategic joint venture with Optiemus

India to become CMF’s global headquarters with end-to-end smartphone operations. A brand built in India, for the world.

Gurugram, India – 25th September 2025 – London-based technology company Nothing today announced that CMF, previously a sub-brand, will operate as an independent subsidiary, with India to become its base for operations, R&D, and manufacturing. This milestone demonstrates India’s capability to anchor and scale next-generation consumer technology brands.

Alongside this evolution, Nothing and leading Indian electronics manufacturer  Optiemus Infracom limited today announced a strategic manufacturing joint venture to establish India as a global production and export hub for Nothing and CMF products. The joint venture marks a significant investment in India’s technology manufacturing capabilities, reinforcing Nothing’s support for the Government of India’s Make in India initiative.

Through this next chapter, CMF will pursue its vision of establishing India’s first truly global consumer technology brand – built from India, to the world. As part of the joint venture, Nothing & Optiemus will invest over USD $100 million and create more than 1,800+ jobs in India over the next three years. To date, Nothing has already invested over USD $200 million in the country.

Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, said: “India will play a key role in shaping the future of the global smartphone industry. CMF has been well received by the market since we launched it two years ago. With our end-to-end capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to now build it into India’s first truly global smartphone brand. Our joint venture with Optiemus is a key milestone toward making that vision a reality.”

Optiemus brings world-class engineering and production capabilities. Their proven expertise in supporting global brands and establishing robust manufacturing and export opportunities further strengthens India’s position as a global hub for electronics manufacturing.

Ashok Gupta, Executive Chairman, Optiemus said: “We are extremely excited about this partnership with Nothing; it will allow us to further strengthen our world-class manufacturing capabilities for the products of today and tomorrow. Global brands choosing India to build is a testament to the strength of the Indian ecosystem and the vision of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. This partnership goes beyond high-tech manufacturing—it will empower us to create export-ready products that will be designed in India, showcasing the innovation and talent of our people to the world in the coming years.”

This announcement follows recent strategic moves that have positioned India at the centre of CMF’s global operations, including relocating CMF’s global marketing to India and appointing senior leaders such as Himanshu Tandon as VP of CMF Business. Nothing also recently announced its USD $200M Series C funding at a $1.3B valuation led by Tiger Global, and with Nikhil Kamath joining as one of the new investors.

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One of the surprise announcements during Sony’s State of Play presentation today was the debut of a literary-themed game titled Chronoscript: The Endless End. It’s an action-adventure game with a very cool hand-drawn art aesthetic. Players will navigate the 3-dimensional world of a mysterious manor as well as the 2-dimensional world of illustrated manuscript pages.

The trailer mostly focused on those 2D sections, showing combat and platforming and seriously did I mention the very cool hand-drawn art? I would have been interested in this for the visuals alone, but throw in a story about writers and editors and I’m hooked.

Perhaps fittingly for this writerly endeavor, the game’s publisher is Shueisha, which is a heavyweight in publishing manga, including the popular Shonen Jump. The developer is DeskWorks, and the studio’s also boasted a lovely, illustrative style. We’ll have a little longer to wait before we can dive into the inky world of Chronoscript, however, because this game isn’t expected to arrive on the PlayStation 5 until some time in 2026.