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The monthly patch for Windows 11 24H2 reportedly has a bug that creates an enigmatic folderThis ‘inetpub’ folder appears in the system drive but it’s emptyIt’s harmless, and you can seemingly delete it safely – though there appears to be a history of ‘inetpub’ popping up on PCs

If you’re scratching your head because a mysterious folder has appeared on your system drive in Windows 11, you wouldn’t be alone.According to Windows Latest, the issue with the strange folder being created pertains to the latest April update for Windows 11 24H2.After installing that upgrade, apparently a good many users, including Windows Latest, have spotted that an empty folder called ‘inetpub’ has been created on the drive that Windows 11 is installed on (the C: drive normally).This folder is empty, and doesn’t do anything, but its appearance may cause quite some bewilderment among Windows 11 users who open their drive for whatever reason and happen to notice the folder.As Windows Latest explains, this appears to relate to IIS (Internet Information Services), which is Microsoft’s web server software for developers. The ‘inetpub’ folder is used to store the likes of web pages that a developer might be testing locally on the host PC.If you’re panicking at this point, thinking that this update has installed an entire piece of software you don’t need on Windows 11 without your permission, then don’t fret. Nothing has actually been installed, only the blank folder has been mistakenly created.In other words, there’s no harm done as such. Windows Latest has deleted the folder – as have others – and reports that it’s quite safe to remove it from your drive. Still, those who are more paranoid may just want to leave it (as it’s empty, and not doing anything – unless its presence annoys you, of course).

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

Analysis: Folder whack-a-mole?

This is an odd quirk indeed, and yet another in a long line of weird bugs with Windows 11. As to what causes it, as Windows Latest theorizes, we can presume that somewhere within the April cumulative update, Microsoft is making some tweaks to IIS components. This process likely triggered the creation of the folder related to IIS storage errantly on machines that don’t use the software – but that’s all that has happened.So, this is a relatively benign bug, and more a source of confusion than anything else. However, the danger is that strange behavior on a PC like this may cause a Windows 11 user to believe that they have perhaps been hit by a virus. Mysterious things appearing on your drive are, of course, a telltale sign of a virus infection (along with your PC becoming a lot more sluggish, or suffering from weird popups).The bug also appears to be widespread, so quite a number of Windows 11 users may be annoyed, or bothered by, the folder’s appearance (if they notice it at all, that is). Windows Latest observes that it appeared on all of their Windows 11 machines, and there are a fair few reports from confused folks on Reddit, too.At any rate, rest assured that nothing bad has happened to your system here, and hopefully Microsoft will be able to clean up this glitch relatively quickly. Running against that idea, though, is the fact that there are historical reports of the seemingly random appearance of this folder on system drives, and that doesn’t fill me with confidence that the software giant will stamp this out.So, even if you do go ahead and delete it as Windows Latest suggests (at your own risk, I might add) – and that works fine – there’s no telling if at some point in the future, this folder might reappear on your Windows 11 drive.It does indeed seem that some folks have been playing ‘inetpub’ whack-a-mole for some years now, and if that really is the case, it’s down to Microsoft to come up with a permanent solution.

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Windows 11 users are getting fixes for some longstanding bugs in 24H2 today, including the cure for a seriously annoying File Explorer glitchWindows 11 is getting a very handy change to the taskbar, as Microsoft takes a leaf from Apple’s Mac playbookMicrosoft looks to be making a big change to how you install and log in to Windows 11 – and I’m not happy about it at all

Microsoft will “not be moving forward at this time” with its Ohio data centersWork was meant to start as early as July 2025Other projects also reportedly cancelled

Microsoft has reportedly put its plans for new data center campuses in New Albany, Heath and Hebron in Ohio on hold amid economic concerns relating to tariffs.Speaking to The Register, Microsoft reportedly confirmed that it would “not be moving forward at this time with our plans to build datacenters at the Licking County sites” due to a strategic investment review, but that it would “continue to evaluate these sites in line with our investment strategy.”The halt doesn’t mark the complete ditching of Microsoft’s plans, though, with Redmond retaining its possession of the land for potential future developments.

Microsoft’s data center plans impacted by tariffs

Microsoft continued to confirm to The Register that it would facilitate farming at two of its sites in a welcome development to the areas’ biodiversities and economies, and that it would also continue with its infrastructure plans to develop roads and other utilities to boost the regions.The plans first came about in October 2024, just a couple of months before Trump took office, with $420 million allocated for New Albany and work originally set to start in July 2025. Microsoft’s Heath and Hebron sites were set for their construction phases later in 2025 and 2026, with the three locations promising hundreds of direct jobs as well as other opportunities relating to development and construction. Its three projects were set to cost Microsoft $1 billion.Separate Data Centre Dynamics reporting also alleges that Microsoft has backed out of as much as 2GW of data center projects in the US and Europe, alongside further cancellations in APAC and the UK.Among the key potential drivers was that steel and aluminium imports were hit with 25% tariffs in March 2025, and while Trump may have reversed some tariffs just this week, market volatility continues, as does Microsoft’s cautious approach.TechRadar Pro asked Microsoft for further commentary on the matter but we did not receive an immediate response.

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iPhone and iPad foldables could launch around the same timeNew report tips both to go into mass production late in 2026But it seems more likely that the folding iPhone will launch first

There's a new twist in the tale of the iPhone and iPad foldables, with a prominent analyst predicting that both these devices could be in mass production before the end of next year – though it seems more likely that they'll be launched separately.This comes from Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac), an analyst at GF Securities in Hong Kong. Pu has a somewhat mixed track record for predictions, but he reckons we'll see both a 7.8-inch foldable and an 18.8-inch foldable launch late next year or early in 2027.There's a good deal of evidence for the 7.8-inch device claim. Other well-placed sources have predicted a 2026 appearance, including industry expert Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, which suggests a folding iPhone will appear soon.As for the larger device, its potential release date is less clear – even if it was originally expected to show up before the foldable iPhone. There has been talk that the project has been hit by technical delays, too.

What can we expect?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

While I'd love to see Apple launch not one but two foldable devices in 2026, it seems unlikely that we'll get both a folding iPhone and a folding iPad next year – though admittedly Pu probably has better supply chain contacts than I do.Let's not forget that the first Samsung Galaxy Fold launched way back in 2019. Apple has been in no rush to join the foldable phone party over the last six years, and by all accounts, devices with this form factor aren't setting any sales records.Apple boss Tim Cook is a savvy operator, and likes to take his time – whether that's with smartwatches or ProMotion screens on the iPhone. The more plausible scenario is that the foldable iPhone launches first to test the waters, with a foldable iPad following later.However, Pu must know something – he made a very similar prediction last month, suggesting that the foldable iPad may actually come running macOS, which would make it a foldable MacBook rather than a foldable iPad.

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Code hints suggest that iOS 18.4.1 could launch within a week or twoIt’s likely to contain bug fixes that address problems in iOS 18.4iOS 18.5 is the next big release, which should land in May

Apple’s iOS 18.4 update has had its fair share of bugs, with little issues surfacing everywhere from CarPlay to users’ apps. Fortunately, it looks like Apple is about to launch an update that could fix a large number of problems for Apple fans.According to MacRumors, Apple employees have begun testing the iOS 18.4.1 update, which suggests that it could be released in a week or two, if not sooner. So if you're struggling with one of the many reported minor issues, look out for an update in the coming days.The earlier iOS 18.4 update made the news in recent weeks, and not all of the coverage has been positive. We’ve seen how it might be causing people’s iPhones to download random apps without their knowledge, while scores of CarPlay users have complained that iOS 18.4 has broken the in-car entertainment system in their vehicles.While we won’t know for sure what iOS 18.4.1 will contain until it is released, the .1 appended to the end of its version number suggests that it will be a minor tweak that addresses software bugs and issues. Minor updates like this don’t get developer betas – which might provide clues as to the content they contain – but we’re hopeful that Apple has been able to address some of the problems users have been facing.

iOS 18.5 is on the way

(Image credit: Apple)

Looking further ahead, the next big software update coming to Apple’s iPhones – iOS 18.5 – is currently in beta testing and could arrive as soon as early May.At the moment, though, it only seems to consist of two minor changes. The first contains a few adjustments to the Mail app, where you can now toggle off contact photos and the Group by Sender feature directly from the three-dot menu in the app’s top-right corner. These settings existed in iOS 18.4 but were buried more deeply in the app’s settings.The other change in iOS 18.5 is even more minor. In the AppleCare section of the Settings app, Apple has added a banner at the top of the page with the AppleCare logo and a link to learn more about the warranty service. Apple has also added an AppleCare option on each device’s page in the Apple Account section of the Settings app.Hopefully, iOS 18.5 won’t introduce new bugs in the way that iOS 18.4 seemed to do, and we may yet see other features added. That said, we wouldn’t call iOS 18.4 a troublesome release – there are actually a lot of great features to explore – it’s still never fun to find out an update causes fresh issues with your phone.With iOS 18.4.1 seemingly just around the corner, we’re hoping that the bugs get squashed once and for all.

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The Xbox Games Showcase returns on June 8, 2025The live stream will be immediately followed by The Outer Worlds 2 DirectA look at upcoming and unannounced games will be shared at the Xbox Games Showcase

The annual Xbox Games Showcase and a special The Outer Worlds 2 Direct have been officially announced for this summer.Microsoft shared the news in a new Xbox Wire post, confirming that the Xbox Games Showcase will return and be live-streamed on June 8, 2025, at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 7PM CEST / 6PM GMT.This year, the showcase will be digital-only and will present fans with a new look at upcoming titles from across Xbox's first-party studios and new titles from third-party partners.Just like the Starfield Direct in 2023 and the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct last year, the Xbox Games Showcase will be followed immediately by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct in an exclusive double feature.The Direct will "bring you inside the walls of Obsidian Entertainment" and reveal new details about the game, including gameplay and developer insights.You'll be able to tune in to the double feature broadcast on Xbox's official social media accounts, including YouTube, Twitch, Twitch (with ASL), and Facebook.

We’ve got another double feature this year!Mark your calendars for the Xbox Games Showcase followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct on June 8: https://t.co/wzwZ8Kp9JU | #XboxShowcase #TheOuterWorlds2 pic.twitter.com/hZZnu8XhR8April 9, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 was announced last December and is slated to launch this year for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. It will also be a day-one release for Xbox Game Pass.Obsidian also confirmed at the time that the sequel to the 2019 hit is a "fresh adventure" set in a brand new colony.As for what new titles will be shared at the Xbox Games Showcase, it's possible we could receive some news about Fable, which was recently delayed to 2026, Gears of War: E-Day, and perhaps even the long-rumored The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake.

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Upcoming games 2025 for console and PCHades 2 will be a Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 exclusive at launch, but don't worry it's still coming to other platforms laterFiraxis Games is 'extremely happy' with the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, says Nintendo thought Sid Meier's Civilization 7 was 'a great showcase' for the console's mouse mode

SentinelOne found a new spam framework called AkiraBotIt can bypass CAPTCHA filters and generates spam using OpenAI APIMore than 80,000 sites were successfully spammed

A major spam campaign leveraging ChatGPT targeted more than 400,000 websites and successfully spammed 80,000, even working around CAPTCHA filters to advertise shady services.This is according to cybersecurity researchers SentinelOne, who discovered the campaign and recently wrote an in-depth report about it.As per the report, at the center of the campaign is a platform called AkiraBot that targets website chats, comment sections, and contact forms. It is not related to the ransomware operation of the same name.

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Cracking CAPTCHA

It is a Python-based framework which uses an OpenAI API to create spam contents related to the general purpose of the website being targeted. The goal of the campaign is to advertise two dubious search engine optimization (SEO) services, called Akira and ServicewrapGO.What makes this spam campaign stand out is the way it works around CAPTCHA spam filters.“The bot creator has invested significant effort into evading CAPTCHA filters as well as avoiding network detections by relying on a proxy service generally marketed towards advertisers–though the service has had considerable interest and use by cybercriminal actors,” the researchers said in their report.To bypass CAPTCHA, the bot uses fake web browsers that mimic a real person’s browser behavior. It does this using a tool called Selenium, which is capable of opening websites and clicking around.Since websites can usually spot fake browsers (by hunting for clues such as missing fonts, mismatched browser info, etc.), the bot injects special code (inject.js) into the website as it loads. This code tweaks how the fake browser looks, making it seem more human.If this browser trick still doesn’t fool the CAPTCHA, the bot then uses external CAPTCHA-solving services (like Capsolver) to crack it. It even targets chat systems on websites (like Reamaze) to refresh tokens and keep spamming undetected.SentinelOne believes AkiraBot has been in use since at least September 2024, targeting GoDaddy, Wix, Squarespace, and other websites.According to The Hacker News, OpenAI has disabled the API key and other associated assets the threat actors used, to tackle the threat."The author or authors have invested significant effort in this bot's ability to bypass commonly used CAPTCHA technologies, which demonstrates that the operators are motivated to violate service provider protections," the researchers said."AkiraBot's use of LLM-generated spam message content demonstrates the emerging challenges that AI poses to defending websites against spam attacks."Via The Hacker News

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Shawn Layden has discussed the prices of Nintendo Switch 2 gamesHe argues that players will be willing to pay more for Nintendo-exclusive franchises"If it's the only place where you can play Mario then you get your wallet out and you buy into it," he said

Former CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America Shawn Layden has discussed the prices of Nintendo Switch 2 games.Speaking in a new episode of the PlayerDriven podcast, Layden argued that Nintendo would be able to get away with charging more for games."80 bucks for a game, but if it's the only place where you can play Mario then you get your wallet out and you buy into it," he said. "And Donkey Kong and Zelda.""That first-party exclusivity mitigates the sticker shock [...] of these price hikes because you want that content so bad," he continued.Information about the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its software became available after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct last week. The console itself will retail for $449.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95, with a separate Mario Kart World bundle available for $499.99 / £429.99 / AU$769.95.A physical copy of Mario Kart World on its own will cost $79.99 / £74.99, a step up from the $69.99 / £69.99 price point that has become largely standard for AAA PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S games.This high price tag has been the subject of much contention online, with many fans arguing that Nintendo is charging too much for its products. It is worth noting that the prices of other Nintendo Switch 2 games, for example, the $69.99 / £66.99 Donkey Kong Bananza, will vary.We'll have to see whether Layden is correct, though given the apparent excitement surrounding Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders it seems like many players are willing to stomach the cost.

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There are already 'some' Switch 2 units in the US according to Nintendo of America presidentI spent four hours with Nintendo Switch 2, and it hasn't just exceeded my expectations – it's blown them awayGoing hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller feels like a fantastic upgrade, but I have just one small concern

Fortinet found an escalation of privilege flaw in multiple versions of FortiSwitchThe flaw was given a critical severity scoreA patch and a mitigation measure are both available

Fortinet has patched a critical severity vulnerability in FortiSwitch which allowed malicious actors to change users’ login credentials.In a short security advisory published earlier this week, the company detailed the escalation of privilege flaw, the versions of FortiSwitch which were affected, and suggested a workaround for those unable to patch things up immediately.The bug is tracked as SWE-620, and was given a severity score of 9.3/10 (critical). Per NVD, it’s tracked as CVE-2024-48887 and has an even worse severity score - 9.8/10. Apparently, the bug was found in the password reset form, which can be forced to provide the original password, as well.

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Working around the bug

“Do not use "forgotten password" functionality,” the MITRE corporation explained in its advisory. “But if you must, ensure that you are only providing information to the actual user, e.g. by using an email address or challenge question that the legitimate user already provided in the past; do not allow the current user to change this identity information until the correct password has been provided.”Affected versions include FortiSwitch 6.4 through 6.4.14, 7.0 through 7.0.10, 7.2 through 7.2.8, 7.4 through 7.4.4, and 7.6. Users should upgrade to the newest version of the tool to mitigate the flaw.Those that cannot apply the fixes immediately are advised to deploy the workaround instead, and disable HTTP/HTTPS access from administrative interfaces.Fortinet FortiSwitch is a family of secure, high-performance Ethernet switches designed to integrate tightly with Fortinet’s security fabric, particularly FortiGate firewalls. It’s mostly used in business environments, which makes it a highly sought target. Firewalls, switches, and hubs are a great stepping stone into the entire target network and towards bigger, bolder targets.Via The Hacker News

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Polar launches Fitness Program, a 'subscription-based addition to the Polar ecosystem'It's an adaptive four-week training program costing €9.99 (around $11 / £8.50 / AU$18)The announcement comes following Garmin Connect+'s disastrous reception

Polar, maker of some of the best running watches, has revealed its new Fitness Program addition to its Polar Flow app, a 'subscription-based addition to the Polar ecosystem' costing €9.99 (around $11 / £8.50 / AU$18) per month.For the price, you get access to a four-week customizable training program claimed to be adaptive, science-backed and based on the data collected from users' Polar accounts.Users get weekly and monthly rewards (although what these rewards consist of is unspecified) and is said to be 'an ideal add-on for those users who’ve asked for new, more adaptable ways to train'.In a press release, Polar said Polar Flow will remain free, and a subscription is not necessary to 'fully enjoy' Polar products or the Polar Flow service.Polar must be painfully conscious of the disastrous reception of Garmin's Connect+ initiative, a paid tier on top of its previously-free Connect app. We saw a ton of readers write in with their Garmin Connect+ complaints, fearing that future new Garmin features, which previously would have been free updates to users' expensive Garmin watches, would be paywalled.The language of the official press release we saw uses words such as 'personalized' and 'adaptable', which usually means 'AI' in tech circles. Garmin's use of generative AI to create questionable insights has been getting a lot of stick on social media.

(Image credit: Polar)

However, there are some differences between Polar's approach to a premium tier and Garmin's: a Polar spokesperson reached out to me and confirmed AI is being used on some level to tailor the programs to individuals, but generative AI, responsible for placing Garmin's analytics into friendly sentences and paragraphs, is not being used.Polar's spokesperson also confirmed the company's stance on putting new features behind a paywall, stating: "the new Fitness Program does not affect the development of other Polar services in any way" and would continue to roll out new features to users of every tier.Fitness Program is available to Android users now in the EU, Norway, and in the UK. iOS expansion is expected later in the year.

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Reddit Answers is getting Google Gemini integrationThe upcoming Reddit AI platform will pull results from Google AICurrently in beta in the United States, Reddit Answers does not have a release date as of yet

Reddit Answers, the upcoming AI platform, is getting a major update that adds integration with Google Gemini.Reddit Answers uses AI and Reddit's almost endless community-driven knowledge to provide quick responses to any question you ask it. Think AI Quora or Yahoo Answers from back in the day.The new AI platform is currently in beta, and now it's getting even better before its official release to the wider public."By integrating Google Cloud's Vertex AI Search along with Reddit-built technology into Reddit Answers, we are bringing the same innovation that powers Google to our users," said Matt Snelham, SVP of Infrastructure, Reddit."Users are seeing improved search relevance and as a result, we've seen a growth in users directly navigating to the Reddit homepage through Reddit Answers, increasing platform engagement."Reddit Answers is currently available for beta testers on the web and iOS devices in the United States, the service initially launched in December 2024, and we're yet to get an official release date.Adding Gemini to the mix gives Reddit Answers an added credibility thanks to Google's impressive AI models. Although it's yet to be seen whether or not Reddit users will take to the new AI abilities.One Reddit user, Panxma, said three months ago in a thread, "I feel like the Answers thing takes away the community aspect of Reddit. I probably won’t ever use the thing since I just Google what I need and find a Reddit post rather than asking the AI itself."Now that Reddit Answers has Google Gemini integration, perhaps those who flock to Google to find Reddit posts will be more inclined to use Reddit's AI.

I'm excited by Reddit Answers

As an avid Reddit user who flocks to the platform to answer the majority of random questions that pop into my brain, I'm pretty intrigued by an AI chatbot that pulls from the community aspect of Reddit and merges it with Google Gemini.Reddit is yet to confirm when, or if, a beta of Answers will launch in the UK, but I'm patiently waiting to give the AI chatbot a go.I do, however, share the same sentiment as the Reddit user above. One of the best things about the website to begin with is the ability to get information from a wide variety of people from all walks of life.Bringing AI into the mix kind of feels like the antithesis of Reddit, and I'm interested to see how it works without losing what makes Reddit great in the first place.Google Gemini integration is a huge upgrade for Reddit Answers, now just launch the platform so we can all give it a try.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller is seemingly only compatible with GameCube gamesSmall print featured in a trailer reads, "The controller is only compatible with Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics"Similar disclaimers have been shared for previous retro controllers that have turned out to work with Switch games

It seems that the new Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller is only compatible with GameCube games in the Online Classics library.After months of rumors, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct finally unveiled its new GameCube controller and GameCube collection for Switch Online, which will arrive alongside the new console on June 5, 2025.The playable classics include the likes of Wind Waker and Soul Caliber 2, but if you were expecting to be able to use the new GameCube controller with new games like Mario Kart World or Donkey Kong Bananza, it looks like that won't be possible.As reported by VGC, the small print featured at the end of the Switch 2 GameCube trailer reads, "The controller is only compatible with Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics," seemingly confirming that the gamepad won't work with any other Switch 2 games.

Although retro Nintendo controllers were designed to be used for games in their corresponding Switch Online library, some can be used to play ordinary Switch games, like the NES, SNES, and N64 controllers. However, they can be limited due to their buttons.It's important to note that Nintendo has offered similar disclaimers about their previous retro controllers, like the SNES, but they have turned out to be playable with other Switch games.We'll have to wait and see if this will be the case when the GameCube controller releases this summer.The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a Mario Kart World bundle.Pre-orders are now live in the UK, but US pre-orders and Canada pre-orders have been delayed as Nintendo assesses the potential impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.

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An independent audit confirmed that IPVanish never stores user data as indicated in its privacy policyIPVanish also unveiled its latest Transparency Report, a quarterly update on government requestsA Trust Center page has also been launched to group all reports, IPvanish policies, and initiatives in one place

An independent audit has just confirmed that IPVanish doesn't log your data.Cybersecurity firm Schellman Compliance carried out a series of tests to determine that IPVanish's data-handling practices adhere to its privacy policy.As of today, April 10, 2025, you can find all IPVanish no-log audits, quarterly transparency reports, policies, and ongoing initiatives grouped on the newly launched Trust Center page.

A boost of transparency

This was the second time that IPVanish successfully put its privacy policy claims under scrutiny. The popular provider already aced an independent privacy audit in 2022.The team at Schellman inspected all of IPVanish's server configurations and relevant IT systems in February 2025 to determine whether user activity was being collected or stored on its VPN servers.The verdict? "No logs were retained by IPVanish," concluded auditors.Commenting on the findings, IPVanish's Chief Commercial Officer, Subbu Sthanu, told TechRadar: "People shouldn’t have to just take a VPN’s word for it when it comes to data handling."All the best VPN services boast, in fact, a regularly audited no-log privacy policy and infrastructure as a guarantee that no personal information or usage data can ever be collected and then linked to you or your online activities.It's worth remembering, however, that most no-log VPNs collect some basic data like your email address and the number of users connected to a server, for example. Yet, these details won't be enough to identify you or your activities when using the VPN.

In a further attempt to boost transparency, IPVanish has also unveiled its new Trust Center."The Trust Center gives users the receipts – proof of our no-log stance, independent audits, and infrastructure transparency – all in one place," said Stanu.There, you can find all past no-log audit results alongside the provider's quarterly transparency reports. The latter are regular updates of all the data requests the VPN receives from governments, as well as attempts at malicious activities.Nothing to worry about, though, as IPVanish explains, this data doesn’t exist, so the provider cannot provide it – no matter who requests it or why."By sharing more details about the requests we receive, we strive to offer greater transparency into the steps we take to protect our users," noted IPVanish.You can also head to the Trust Center to get more information on IPVanish's data-handling practices, all its available tools, and ongoing initiatives. You'll also find a similar resource directly on your iOS and Android VPN app.

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Trump has introduced a 90-day pause on tariffs excluding ChinaThere is still a 10% base tariff and a 25% tariff on semiconductor goodsNvidia and fellow companies partnered with TSMC are in the clear for now

Nvidia and its fierce rival AMD have had their third-party GPU prices hike to unprecedented levels in recent months, due to a mixture of scalping, high demand with limited availability, and tariffs - however, a new measure may halt GPU inflation from worsening.As reported by CNBC, Trump has implemented a 90-day pause on tariffs, excluding China. However, a 10% tariff on imports to the US and a 25% tariff on semiconductor goods (which includes our beloved GPUs) are still active - so we’re not out of the woods yet.While it doesn't exactly change much for consumers looking to buy new GPUs, what it does mean is that the new tariffs that could have been imposed on products like GPUs won’t have a terrible impact (at least, for the next 90 days).As previously reported by PCMag, GPUs were fortunately left untouched in terms of additional tariffs: it's something worth noting, as many GPU manufacturers are either headquartered or manufacture in tariffed regions.TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), which is Nvidia's main outsource for manufacturing its GPU chips, was previously warned that it would pay 100% tax if it didn't move at least part of its manufacturing arm to the US: TSMC's pledge to do so and the new 90-day pause have put Team Green and others using the TSMC foundries in the clear for now.Companies like Razer also paused laptop sales, alongside others like Nintendo, which stopped pre-order plans for the Switch 2 in the US. Now, there's a better chance of sales proceeding as normal - but I must say I doubt this will happen anytime soon.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Top Vector Studio / klyaksun)

This is good news, but it's not going to change anything regarding ridiculous GPU prices

Essentially, the biggest takeaway here is that Nvidia, AMD, and many other companies who rely on the TSMC process have dodged a bullet: what that means for us consumers, is the chances of PC hardware (especially GPUs) pricing suddenly ballooning to even more extreme amounts is less likely with no immediate threat of more tariffs.However, this doesn't mean new price hikes are impossible - and we've seen this occur recently with AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series partner cards. Long before tariffs were a major talking point, GPUs were already consistently retailing for more than their launch price, likely stemming from high demand and limited availability - caused by a combination of the factors I listed above, and the fresh hunger for hardware for AI enterprises.PC gamers have already shown that they will buy GPUs regardless of how much they are upcharged: it's evident across multiple online retailers, with GPUs way above their launch price, and they're still sold out.Most importantly, don't expect any significant shift in a positive direction GPU market's current landscape of inflation - but the 90-day pause will certainly cool tensions, so that’s something.

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If yesterday's Connections was tough then today's Connections is… also tough! But don't worry if you get stuck, because if you scroll down this page you'll find a few hints to point you in the right direction.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #367) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

DUMBOE.T.MY LEFT FOOTDOGMATHE GREENMILEBEETLEJUICEWALL STREETKILL BILLCHINATOWNFRIGHT NIGHTFOXY BROWNHEDWIG AND THE ANGRYINCHOCTOPUSSYTHE LONGESTYARDBE KIND REWINDMANHATTAN

NYT Connections today (game #367) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

Yellow: Big AppleGreen: Sounds similarBlue: How far?Purple: Natural thinking

Need more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #367) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: PLACES IN NEW YORK CITYGREEN: RHYMING TITLESBLUE: ENDING IN UNITS OF MEASUREMENTPURPLE: STARTING WITH ANIMALS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #367) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #367, are…

YELLOW: PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY CHINATOWN, DUMBO, MANHATTAN, WALL STREETGREEN: RHYMING TITLES BE KIND REWIND, E.T., FRIGHT NIGHT, KILL BILLBLUE: ENDING IN UNITS OF MEASUREMENT HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, MY LEFT FOOT, THE GREEN MILE, THE LONGEST YARDPURPLE: STARTING WITH ANIMALS BEETLEJUICE, DOGMA, FOXY BROWN, OCTOPUSSY

My rating: HardMy score: Perfect

This is another really clever Connections puzzle. I am a big fan. All the words are movies, obviously, but none actually have a movie connection whatsoever, which may well have thrown you in the same way it initially confused me. I spent far too long thinking about which films Jack Nicholson might have been in other than CHINATOWN, or whether JACK BLACK had been in any other than BE KIND, REWIND. Had some been a specific Oscar winner? Were any released in the same year? And so on.There may be some connections in that regard – I'm not enough of a movie buff to know without checking – but it was only when I changed my mindset that I began making progress. I solved the two hardest first, spotting that four of them ended in a unit of measurement for the blue group, then getting the animal connection for purple.The rhyming group, green, was pretty easy to find after that, which just left yellow. This was supposedly the easiest of the four, based on color, but as a non New Yorker (and non American) I guarantee that I would not have solved it if not by default, because I had zero idea that DUMBO was a region of NYC. Fair enough, this appears in the New York Times, but I still feel it's a little parochial for the NYT to include it given that they must know millions of people worldwide play Connections. Couldn't they have gone with something else?How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 11 June, game #366)

YELLOW: HOMOPHONES BI, BUY, BY, BYEGREEN: MUSCLES, INFORMALLY AB, PEC, QUAD, TRIBLUE: MUSIC GENRES DUB, EMO, POP, TRAPPURPLE: SETTINGS ON AN APPLIANCE KNOB HI, LO, MED, OFF

What is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

JLab GO Pods deliver hybrid ANC for just $36.99JLab JBuds Pods are $64.99 with spatial audio$114.99 Epic Open Sport are JLab's "best sounding and most advanced headphones"

JLab has carved out an impressive niche as a high-quality, low-cost headphone maker: its Go Pop ANC earbuds are some of the best ultra-cheap noise cancelling earbuds on the market. And now the firm has announced three new sets of headphones: new ANC earbuds, new spatial audio buds, and new open earbuds.There are three new models: the entry-level GO Pods with hybrid ANC; the JBuds Pods with spatial audio; and JLab's highest-end open-ear model to date, the Epic Open Sport.These are all priced aggressively: $36.99 for the GO Pods, $64.99 for the JBuds Pods and $114.99 for the Epic Open Sport.

The GO Pods are extremely cheap for ANC earbuds (Image credit: JLab)

JLab GO Pods, JBuds Pods and Epic Open Sport: key features

The GO Pods are compact earbuds with hybrid ANC and around 26 hours of playtime. There's no wireless charging at this price – there's a USB-C cable built into the case, in fact – but you do get three ANC modes: on, off and Be Aware, which is JLab's take on transparency mode. You can also adjust the ANC strength via the JLab app – all pretty impressive compared to the best budget earbuds.The JBuds Pods also come with ANC, and there are six microphones for in-call clarity. The drivers are 11mm with JLab's spatial audio for a 3D audio experience. Battery life is a very long 56-plus hours in total, and you can charge wirelessly or via USB-C. If the quality is there, they could be a wallet-friendly candidate among the best noise cancelling earbuds.

The JBuds Pods deliver spatial audio and have 11mm drivers for punchy performance (Image credit: JLab)

The most impressive of the three new models is the JLab Epic Open Sport. Inside there are enormous 14.2mm custom-tuned drivers and the headphones are certified for Hi-Res Audio. Frequency range goes up to an airy 50kHz and higher-res audio is delivered via LDAC. We're increasingly seeing the best open earbuds focus on sound quality, and JLab could deliver great bang for buck here.The Epic Open Sport earbuds will be available from 22 April 2025 from JLab.com. The other buds will be available from 13 May.

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WordPress.com’s AI site builder offers 30 free prompts – you can buy moreIt’s designed for SMBs, solopreneurs and freelancersAutomattic claims it’ll build your site “in minutes”

Keen to support solopreneurs and small to medium-sized businesses with their efforts to boost their online presences, WordPress.com has added a new AI-powered feature to its website builder for quicker development.The system works via a chat-style interface where users can describe what they want and WordPress.com gets to work building this in real-time.Neel Shivdasani, AI Product Lead, noted that users only need a vision for the AI to bring to life, complete with text, layouts and images.

WordPress.com gets a new AI website builder

WordPress.com’s parent company, Automattic, envisions entrepreneurs, SMB owners, freelancers, creators, bloggers, side hustlers and developers all being able to benefit from the considerable speed improvements, building themselves sites and portfolios “in minutes.”“Rather than piecing everything together yourself, like picking a theme, adjusting colors, adding text, and finding images, the builder streamlines the process for you,” Shivdasani added.Although singing up for a WordPress.com account is free, anyone wanting to share their creations online will need to pick a WordPress hosting provider to publish their site.In the announcement, Shivdasani gave first-time users some helpful advice to be as effective as they can, including highlighting that they should be as specific as possible. Although users can tweak things later on down the line, getting that solid baseline can help massively.Users will have access to 30 free prompts, so getting as much out of them as possible is key. Beyond that, WordPress.com offers hosting plans that unlock unlimited prompts.Shivdasani noted that “it’s still WordPress,” so anyone familiar with the user-friendly interface can still go back in and edit their sit to customize it to their own preferences.WordPress.com’s new AI website builder is available to try now, though the ‘Early Access’ banner suggests that some features may still be in development. No word has been given on general availability as yet.

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The OnePlus Watch 3 is now available to buyYou can score a discount if you buy before April 30It follows a two-month delay to the Watch 3's release date

After a two-month delay to the initial February release date, the OnePlus Watch 3 is now available to buy around the world.Unveiled earlier this year, the OnePlus Watch 3 is one of the best Android smartwatches of the year so far, thanks to industry-leading 120-hour battery life and excellent Wear OS features.We had been anticipating its launch in February, but that was delayed due to an unfortunate typo on the back that read 'Meda in China'. With that issue resolved, customers can now buy one starting April 10.There's some good news as a result of the delay: Depending on your location, you can score a range of excellent discounts and some deals on free extras. Here's everything you need to know.

OnePlus Watch 3 launches

The OnePlus Watch 3 is priced at $329 USD / £319, with no Australia availability as yet. With the release date now here, customers who order before April 30 will also get access to a slew of incentives.UK customers will instantly get £50 off their order, while US customers will save $30 (plus an extra $50 with trade-in).Lucky customers in the UK and elsewhere can also choose from a free gift, notably including a set of Nord Buds 3 Pro worth £79.99, a charging base, or an extra strap.There are also multi-buy bundle discounts available, with up to 50% off certain OnePlus devices when you buy a Watch 3. There are also discounts for students and options to pay in installments with Klarna in the UK.Available in one size and two colors, OnePlus has also confirmed that there should be a smaller size and an LTE model available later this year. It has also confirmed there will be three years of software and security updates for the Watch 3 through 2027, ensuring Wear OS 5, 6, and 7 should be supported.You can buy the OnePlus Watch 3 now at OnePlus.com.

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It's 2025, so it should be no surprise that another organization has sold its soul (entered into a licensing deal with an AI company) for an undisclosed sum. A new partnership allows UK-based Synthesia to access Shutterstock's content library for training its latest AI model, EXPRESS-2. This deal isn't the first of its kind for Shutterstock, which previously teamed up with OpenAI to sell stock images made using AI generator DALL-E 2.

Synthesia creates avatars for corporate videos about topics such as cybersecurity and good communication at work. It aims to use Shutterstock's video data to "try out new approaches that will improve the performance of EXPRESS-2, and increase the realism and expressiveness of our AI generated avatars, bringing them closer to human-like performances.," Synthesia stated in a release.

Typically, Synthesia uses actors to create avatars, paying to use their likeness for three years. But, now it will have access to individuals through Shutterstock's videos. Though these people will not be used to create avatars but to model body language, tone of voice and how people look at a desk or while using a whiteboard, for example.

While, it means that someone featured on Shutterstock won't suddenly see their face in a workplace video, it does mean that their existence — whether it's movements or words — is being fed to an AI company. Time and time again, companies are selling AI companies the rights to use individuals' work without any consultation (or typically compensation) for the creators or participants. Such is the case for licensing deals with the likes of DotDash Meredith, Time and Reuters, to name only a few instances. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/shutterstock-licenses-its-video-library-to-ai-corporate-video-company-120004055.html?src=rss

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #462) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

CLOWNDWELLTURKEYSEAWONDERSAPDWINDLESTAYDECLINEDWEEBEBBLIVESININHABITDWARFDROP

NYT Connections today (game #462) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

Yellow: Be somewhereGreen: Reduce in numberBlue: IdiotPurple: All associated with one number

Need more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #462) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: RESIDEGREEN: DECREASEBLUE: DOOFUSPURPLE: MEMBER OF A SEPTET

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #462) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #462, are…

YELLOW: RESIDE DWELL, INHABIT, LIVE, STAYGREEN: DECREASE DECLINE, DROP, DWINDLE, EBBBLUE: DOOFUS CLOWN, DWEEB, SAP, TURKEYPURPLE: MEMBER OF A SEPTET DWARF, SEA, SIN, WONDER

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

My streak reached 10 today, which is not particularly impressive but which does at least point the way to Connections being in the midst of a rare placid period. Will it change soon? Almost certainly. Am I complaining? No!After all, it's not like it still didn't get me thinking. Rather, each of these four groups was solvable with a bit of thinking and without the need for specialist knowledge. Yellow, green and blue were all fairly simple synonym-style groups, purple was the only more difficult one, being a clever connection of 'things of which there are seven' – SINs and WONDERs etc. I didn't need to solve it, because I had the other three by then, but I feel like I'd have had a chance – and that's all that I ask of my daily Connections, a chance of success.How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 14 September, game #461)

YELLOW: WINE BOTTLE INFO GRAPE, REGION, VINTAGE, WINERYGREEN: CONSOLE INPUTS BUTTON, KNOB, SLIDER, SWITCHBLUE: PREFIXES PRO, RETRO, SUB, SUPERPURPLE: ___ KING BURGER, CALIFORNIA, LION, PROM

What is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

It's that time again; there's a new episode of the TechRadar podcast, where we're asking if the Nintendo Switch 2 has the moxy to take on some of the biggest names in handheld gaming like the Steam Deck and the Asus Rog Ally X.The short answer is "yes", but the long answer is much more fun and interesting, so make sure to join us as we dive into the biggest stories in tech, including newly leaked images of Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Air, Microsoft's 50th Birthday celebrations and Copilot's new tricks.To take us through all this and more, I'm joined as always by Hamish Hector and Lance Ulanoff, as well as TechRadar's Hardware Writer Dash Wood and Computing Editor Christian Guyton.

You can catch the episode in the video player above, or you can stream it directly via our YouTube channel, on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts.While you’re there, you can also catch up on all our previous episodes, including our CES and gaming specials, and if you’re on YouTube you can watch all of our fun and informative video reviews of the latest tech.Our next episode is set to feature some interesting behind-the-scenes insights from one of the best-known names in mobile tech, as well as a celebration of 10 years of the Apple Watch. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it, and let us know in the comments below if you have any topics you want us to cover!

Apple TV+ has a ton of popular originals like Ted Lasso, Severance, Slow Horses, For All Mankind, Foundation and Silo. If you've been meaning to check them out, you can do so for less right now. Apple TV+ is on sale right now for $3 per month for the first three months, bringing the total cost to just $9 for the entire period. That saves you a total of $21 off the standard $10 monthly cost of the subscription that we consider to be one of our favorite streaming services.

Apple's shows won 10 Emmy Awards in 2024, including a Slow Horses victory for outstanding writing in a drama series. Although its films weren't up for anything at this year's Oscars, it received 13 nominations in 2024, including Best Picture nods for Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon.

Three months of Apple TV+ for $9 is available through April 24. Both new and qualified returning subscribers (those who haven't been subscribed for the past 30 days) are eligible. You also must sign up via Apple directly and not through a third-party provider or your mobile wireless provider. If you don't want to pay full price after three months, just remember to cancel before the renewal date.

Check out our coverage of the best streaming 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/apple-tv-deal-get-three-months-of-access-for-only-9-193009145.html?src=rss

OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of staging press attacks and malicious campaigns on "the social media platform he controls," as well as of making "harassing legal claims" and a "sham bid for OpenAI's assets." In its filing, courtesy of TechCrunch, the ChatGPT-maker said Musk could not tolerate seeing such "success for an enterprise he had abandoned and declared doomed" and had made it his own project to take down the organization. It also said that Musk's efforts have ramped up in recent months after it announced its plans to restructure and become a for-profit entity with a non-profit division.

Last year, Musk sued OpenAI, accusing it of ditching its nonprofit mission, becoming a "closed-source de facto subsidiary" Microsoft and of violating its foundational agreement to develop generative AI "for the benefit of humanity." But Musk, OpenAI said in its new lawsuit, is only pretending to represent the public and in truth is seeking to stop it from restructuring. Musk "advised that a similar reorganization was needed to salvage OpenAI's mission" years ago when he was still part of the company, it said.

After Musk filed a lawsuit last year, OpenAI published old emails from when he was still involved in its operations. The organization said Musk was there when it first started talking about going for-profit and even wanted majority equity, control of the initial board of directors and the CEO position. It also published an email wherein Musk suggested merging OpenAI with Tesla so that the automaker could fund its work. Musk left OpenAI in 2018 and eventually founded his own generative AI company, xAI. The AI company recently purchased X, formerly known as Twitter, for $33 billion.

In a tweet, OpenAI said that Musk's actions are just "bad-faith tactics to slow down OpenAI" and that he's spreading false information about the organization, as well as aiming to seize control of its technology for his personal benefit. In its lawsuit, it said that Musk "should be enjoined from further unlawful and unfair action" and should be "held responsible for the damage he has already caused." OpenAI has to complete its reorganization by the end of this year or its private funding could be cut by as much as $10 billion.

He’s been spreading false information about us. We’re actually getting ready to build the best-equipped nonprofit the world has ever seen – we’re not converting it away.More info here: https://t.co/oCHU0MUAoL— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) April 9, 2025

In response, Musk's legal team told Reuters that if OpenAI had taken a close look at his offer for the company, then it would know that the bid was serious and not a sham. "It's telling that having to pay fair market value for OpenAI's assets allegedly 'interferes' with their business plans," Musk's lawyer Marc Toberoff told the news agency. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-files-countersuit-against-elon-musks-bad-faith-attacks-123030861.html?src=rss

A new PS Portal update will be released today with new features aimed at improving the user experiencePlayers will be able to capture gameplay during cloud streaming and sort their gamesA new queue function has been added when a streaming server is full, among other features

A new PlayStation Portal update arrives today, bringing a ton of new features aimed at improving the user experience while using Cloud Game Streaming Beta.As detailed in a new PlayStation Blog post, the first new feature players can expect is a sort function on the catalog screen, allowing users to sort games by recently added to PS Plus (the default), name, and release date.Probably the most exciting new feature of the update is the ability to capture gameplay during cloud streaming.By pressing the Create button once, the Create menu will be displayed; pressing and holding will take a screenshot, and pressing twice will start or finish recording a video clip.Like the PlayStation 5, images and videos captured will automatically be uploaded to the cloud server and can then be accessed via the PlayStation App. It's noted that "captures will be stored for 14 days after they were created".Another improvement allows players to queue when a streaming server is full. An estimated wait time will be displayed on the screen, and when a spot opens up, the game session will automatically start.

(Image credit: Sony)

Gameplay will also now pause depending on the situation, including when the player opens the PS Portal quick menu, when they press the power button once to enter rest mode, or if a system error message is displayed.Finally, users will receive a system notification when their streaming session is about to end due to inactivity of over 10 minutes, and a user feedback screen has been added at the end of sessions to rate the quality of the experience.The new PS Portal update should be rolling out today, but TechRadar Gaming found that a 92.26MB download is currently available to download as of 12PM BST today.Sony added that since Cloud Streaming (Beta) is still an experimental offering, "the features available during the beta period may change over time and may not reflect the final experience".

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A viral post that claimed Apple was bringing pop star emojis to iOS 18.5 has officially been labeled as false The parody account on X, Drop Pop, started the rumor when it posted a very convincing image of celebrity emojis that included Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and more It managed to convince users online that it was a legitimate update, garnering millions of views across different social media platforms

iOS 18.4 has only just dropped, and users are still basking in the features that are new to Apple’s quietly big iPhone upgrade - which includes eight brand-new emojis. But users are already looking ahead to iOS 18.5, and after much speculation about Apple’s next wave of emojis, I’m sorry to say that no, pop star emojis won’t be coming to your iPhone.A post on social media showing mock-ups of celebrity emojis went viral, convincing people online that they would arrive in the next iPhone update. It spread like wildfire across different platforms, and after raising the hopes of pop fans everywhere, it turns out it was a lie all along.

The claim: Apple is bringing pop star emojis to its next iOS 18.5 update

It all started in the same way most unhinged online moments do - with one image from an account run by a pop-obsessed individual.If you’re not chronically online like myself, you may have missed the image that made it seem as if Apple were gearing up to introduce emojis of the biggest female artists, including Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and more. It was first shared on X by the pop culture account Drop Pop and garnered mass attention across social media.

Apple teases new emojis of female artists for the upcoming iOS 18.5 update. pic.twitter.com/mg0Eoa3qrfApril 2, 2025

Since it was posted, the celebrity emojis have received a total of 41.7 million views on X as well as accumulating 110k likes and 3.6k replies. Despite Apple not having made any kind of announcement, the account did a really good job at portraying it as realistically as possible, going the full length and including the Apple logo.The post managed to persuade millions that this was a legitimate update from Apple, sparking many humorous responses and reactions from online creators, and even almost two weeks after it was shared, it’s still making rounds. As unique and humorous it would be if Apple ever did such a thing, the post is completely false - here’s why.

@kdotfan727

lana del rey, beyonce, ?, ?, nicki, gaga, taylor, (ari?😭) like someone help ♬ Ode to Joy- Symphony No.9 in D Minor 'choral' - Lorne Balfe & Russell Emanuel & Steve Kofsky

The reality: it was a rumor sparked by a pop culture news parody account on X

When it comes to the pop star emojis rumor, the main issue is the source account.One of the most popular types of accounts on platforms such as X are parody pop culture news accounts, which take existing celebrity images and use them to make realistic-looking posts with the most bizarre news headlines solely for comedic and satirical purposes.

What's the emoji for 'fake'?

Drop Pop is one of these accounts, which the majority of gullible people failed to notice when they saw the emoji post. And it’s there in black and white in Drop Pop’s ‘About’ section, which states the account is a “parody/ satirical pop culture news outlet, solely and only meant for entertainment purposes. Nothing on this account represents factual news”.Whether these pop star emojis are all AI-generated, or whether an obsessed fan took the time to design them we don’t know, the realism is rather impressive regardless - but even I had to look twice before realizing it was completely made up.Though it would've been an even more internet-breaking moment if Apple went ahead and developed these emojis, I can't say it hasn't been fun endlessly scrolling through all the reactions online. But you never know; Apple could tap into this idea for a future software update. I'm not saying never.

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The push for the latest, greatest and most feature-packed gadgets often results in so much pressure that buying anything else can feel like self-betrayal. And while the Pixel 9a is technically a new device, its chip is six months old. The same goes for its design, which is nearly a carbon copy of its older sibling. To make matters even worse, this phone is meant to be a more affordable entry into the Pixel phone family, which feels like a death sentence for anyone who cares about keeping up with the Joneses (or just the most up-to-date specs). But you know what? That's okay, because starting at $500, the Pixel 9a offers the best value of any Android phone today.

Design and display: Simple but sturdy

The Pixel 9a looks so similar to the standard model — especially from the front — that it's hard to tell them apart until you put them side by side. Once you do, you'll notice the 9a features slightly thicker bezels. But aside from that, there aren't a ton of differences. You still get a relatively compact 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, just like on the regular Pixel 9. It's sharp, it's colorful and it's simply one of the best displays in this price range.

If you pick both of them up, you may also notice that the 9a is also a touch lighter (6.56 ounces vs 6.98 ounces). That discrepancy is due to Google forgoing Gorilla Glass 3 for the backpanel in favor of recycled polycarbonate (aka plastic). That said, you still get a sturdy aluminum frame (also made from recycled materials) and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The 9a's biggest departure by far is that unlike every other Pixel dating back to the Pixel 6, it doesn't have a large bar or visor housing its cameras. Instead, you get a small teardrop-shaped protrusion that houses the main and ultra-wide shooters. The module is so shallow it practically sits flush against the phone, which makes this one of the few handsets in recent memory that actually sits flat on a table. Granted, this is a really minor design tweak, but as someone who doesn't like cases, I think it's a nice touch.

Performance: Good enough speed

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Just like the rest of the Pixel 9 family, the 9a is powered by Google's Tensor G4 chip. The major change is that instead of featuring 12GB of RAM, you only get 8GB. That said, unless you're frequently switching between apps or doing more intense things like gaming or video editing, you aren't really going to notice a huge difference. In Geekbench 6, both phones posted very similar results with a multi-core score of 4,294 for the 9a and 4,360 for the standard Pixel 9. The biggest potential impact of this for most people is that you won't be able to have quite as many apps running in the background, and if you switch between them often, you may spend some extra time reloading.

The Pixel 9a also supports nearly all of Google's AI-powered tools including helpful stuff like car crash detection and Call Assist. You also have access to more advanced tools like Gemini Live (including camera and screen sharing) and Pixel Studio (now with the ability to generate images of people), the latter of which can be a fun way of creating silly custom images to troll your friends. Well, at least that's what I use it for.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

However, software support isn't quite the same as you get on more expensive models. That's because one app that I've grown quite fond of on recent Pixels — Google's Screenshots app — isn't available on the Pixel 9a. This is definitely a bummer, because I found the ability to use AI to quickly search through all the screencaps I've taken is way better than doing it manually. I'm not entirely sure why it's not available considering some of the other machine learning-based features that do work. But when asked, a Google representative told me that in order to "maintain a $499 starting price, the company did have to make some trade-offs. As a result, some [of the standard Pixel 9's] features won't be available on the Pixel 9a."

Cameras: Better image quality than phones twice its price

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

When it was first announced, Google claimed the 9a would have the best cameras of any phone under $500. And after considering the Pixel family's pedigree for excellent image quality, I pitted the phone's 48-MP main camera and 13-MP ultra-wide cam up against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to give it a real challenge. And despite costing $800 less, it acquitted itself with aplomb.

In a daytime photo of a cozy coffee shop, the Pixel 9a preserved more details and produced a generally better looking image than a similar pic taken by the S25U (though part of that is due to Samsung's tendency to oversharpen). But perhaps an even better example of this was when I took photos of a croquette. Not only did the Pixel 9a's shot look more accurate, it featured better colors and was generally much more appetizing. And in low light, I got similar results with the 9a doing a great job with white balance while capturing sharp, detailed images despite the tough conditions.

While the Pixel 9a doesn't have a dedicated telephoto lens, Google tries to make up for that with Super Res Zoom, which uses AI to support up to 8x digital zoom. On top of that, the phone has a macro focus mode. That said, you won't find a specific setting for it in the Camera app, because it activates automatically whenever you get really close to something. You'll know it's working when you see a tiny flower icon pop up in the corner of the screen. I found this mode gives you a way to capture a bit more detail, but nailing focus can be a bit finicky. I often had to adjust the phone a tiny bit forward or backward to find the camera's sweet spot.

Battery Life: The best yet from any Pixel

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Equipped with a 5,100 mAh power pack, the Pixel 9a just barely beats out its biggest sibling — the Pixel 9 Pro XL (5,060 mAh) — for the most battery capacity among Google's phones. What's more, the company claims the 9a has the best runtime of any of its handsets, which based on my testing, isn't just hot air. On our standard local video rundown test, the Pixel 9a lasted just over 28 hours on a single charge (28:04). That's half an hour better than what I got from a regular Pixel 9. Not too shabby.

The downside is that the phone's charging speeds haven't improved since last year, so you still get lackluster rates when using either wired (23 watts) or Qi wireless (7.5 watts) power adapters. That's notably slower than what you get from a standard Pixel 9 (27 watts wired and 15 watts wireless), which is probably one of the most compelling reasons you'd want to upgrade to the 9a's more expensive siblings. To better highlight the phone's lethargic charging speeds, I put it on a compatible pad at 25 percent battery and after 10 minutes, it only sucked down an extra 5 percent. On the 9a, wireless charging is definitely something you use more for convenience than speed.

Wrap-up

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Look, the Pixel 9a might not be jam-packed with fancy features and its raw specs aren't super impressive. I would love to see Google add a true telephoto lens and its charging speeds (both wired and wireless) could be better. But for $500, Google's most budget-friendly phone covers all the bases and then some.

The 9a’s camera quality can hang with flagships twice its price and it has more than enough performance for all but the most demanding gamers or multitaskers. When you add in support for almost all of Google's software like the Recorder app, Pixel Studio and more, you get a really compelling package. Plus, the lack of a big camera bump means this thing is surprisingly sleek. If my kids were old enough to need a cell phone, this is what I would buy. For everyone who says that all they want is a simple, solid handset with a nice screen that can take high-quality photos, this thing is basic in all the best ways.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-9a-review-basic-in-just-the-right-way-130050005.html?src=rss

Windows 10 and 11 users are getting an advert for AvowedIt’s pushing the more expensive version of the game via a pop-upThis has reportedly been happening for some time now, on top of other similar game promotions which are outright ads that cross a line

Microsoft seems to be getting more desperate with adverts these days, and more frequently pushing games in Windows for that matter, as I’ve just been confronted with a new ad for Avowed in Windows 10.Yes, my Windows 11 upgrade schedule is running a little behind my predicted timeline, and I’m still on Windows 10, but not for much longer, as the operating system’s End of Life is only six month away now. And I’ll be shifting over especially swiftly if Microsoft is going to shove popups like this in my face via the notification center on the right-hand side of the desktop. (That said, this promotion is apparently hitting Windows 11 PCs, too, and I’ll come back to that).The notification is labelled ‘suggested’ and is for the Avowed Premium Edition, urging me to ‘forge my destiny’ and click a button that says ‘Buy Now’ (or alternatively, there’s a button to ‘Dismiss’).Clicking on the buy option sends you through to Microsoft’s Xbox Store, where you can buy the standalone Avowed game, or gain access to it by signing up for the Game Pass.As you can see in the Reddit post below, I’m not the only person who’s witnessing this advert, either. Indeed, this promo is doing the rounds currently, and has also been in the past month or two, in Windows 11 and Windows 10 – since Avowed was released pretty much.

Rebooted my PC and this popped up. Microsoft must be really desperate to push Avowed. And this is the first time I've seen them suggest a game through the operating system notification on Windows 10. from r/KotakuInAction

(Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

Analysis: Outright ads are a no-go area in a paid OS, Microsoft

This Avowed advert comes on top of other games-related promotional activity, such as the same kind of notification pushing Windows 11 users to buy the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Vault Edition.It’s interesting to note that Microsoft is advertising the Premium Edition of Avowed, which is a considerable chunk costlier (almost 30%), and not worth it for most folks (as it only adds some skins and a digital artbook). I think it should link through to the standard edition, really, so folks are looking at the baseline product.At this point, there may be some of you shouting at your monitor (I can’t hear you incidentally) and berating me for not turning off Microsoft’s suggestions in Windows 10 (or indeed Windows 11 for those users). Well, I keep this turned on because otherwise I can’t see what kind of nonsense Microsoft is pulling like this, and then write about it. Hopefully persuading the company to drop this idea, and all the similar promotional stuff kicking about in Windows 10 and 11.To be fair to Microsoft, at least in this case, if you right click on the notification, there’s a link provided right there to ‘turn off all notifications for suggested’ and you can do just that. So, you don’t have to rifle through the Settings app to find this choice and exercise it.However, these suggestions are turned on by default in Windows, and I’d argue they shouldn’t be. Microsoft would doubtless disagree and perhaps counter that in some instances, recommendations can help people – but not in the case of what’s clearly an advert like this Avowed popup. There’s no arguing that you’re helping someone make their PC and data more secure in this scenario, as Microsoft might suggest when it comes to nudging to back up your PC via OneDrive.The truth is that outright adverts like this which clearly aren’t anything close to the typical veiled recommendations seen in Windows should not be happening at all in a paid-for desktop operating system, not unless the user explicitly wants and allows them.

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