Top deals & savings
- YouTube will livestream Coachella for free starting April 10 — an option that can save viewers the cost of a trip or a ticket that can top ~$650.
- Uber is expanding its EV incentive program across the US, offering drivers a $4,000 grant to switch to electric vehicles.
- Samsung’s 2026 Frame Pro and new OLED TVs are now available to order — watch for retailer promos and bundled offers as orders begin.
Notable subscription & service updates
- Indie Pass: indie.io announced a forthcoming Indie Pass, a subscription service focused exclusively on indie games (pending launch details).
- Russia closed a payments loophole that now fully blocks purchases of Apple digital services there, affecting App Store and media-service subscriptions.
- OpenAI added ChatGPT’s Voice mode to Apple CarPlay — available if you have the latest iOS and the ChatGPT app on a CarPlay-compatible vehicle.
Gaming & product release notes
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City (VR) launches April 30 on Meta Quest, Steam VR and Pico.
- Look Outside’s April 1 update that let you kiss enemies has been made permanent as a playful “smooch mode.”
- Sony Interactive Entertainment acquired Cinemersive Labs, a UK startup that converts 2D photos/videos into 3D volumes — a capability that could influence future PlayStation imaging and media features.
- Google released Gemma 4, a family of open models built off Gemini 3 — relevant for developers exploring open AI models and tools.
Key takeaways
- Free livestreams and platform features (YouTube Coachella, ChatGPT on CarPlay) can cut entertainment and convenience costs immediately.
- Big incentives (Uber’s $4,000 grant) and new product availability (Samsung TVs) are timely savings opportunities; compare offers before buying.
- Subscription markets are shifting — new indie-focused services and geopolitical payment changes can affect access and pricing.
Sources
- Look Outside smooch mode (now permanent): https://www.engadget.com/gaming/look-outsides-april-1-update-that-let-you-kiss-enemies-is-now-a-permanent-smooch-mode-223746232.html?src=rss
- Sony buys Cinemersive Labs: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-gaming-division-just-bought-an-ai-startup-that-turns-photos-into-3d-volumes-220648699.html?src=rss
- TMNT: Empire City VR launch info: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/vr-game-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-empire-city-launches-on-april-30-210451025.html?src=rss
- ChatGPT Voice on CarPlay: https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-brings-chatgpts-voice-mode-to-carplay-191422297.html?src=rss
- YouTube Coachella free stream: https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/psa-youtube-will-be-streaming-coachella-for-free-next-week-183033874.html?src=rss
- Indie Pass announcement: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/indie-pass-is-a-forthcoming-subscription-service-exclusively-for-indie-games-171304359.html?src=rss
- Russia blocks Apple services payments: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/russia-closes-loophole-to-fully-block-payments-for-apple-services-163228262.html?src=rss
- Google releases Gemma 4: https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-releases-gemma-4-a-family-of-open-models-built-off-of-gemini-3-160000332.html?src=rss
- Uber EV incentive expansion: https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/uber-expands-its-ev-incentive-program-across-the-us-152923864.html?src=rss
- Samsung Frame Pro and OLED availability: https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsungs-new-frame-pro-and-oled-tvs-are-now-available-to-order-150000440.html?src=rss
Disclaimer: Not financial/professional advice.