News

Virtual reality has come a long way, and VR headsets are now more exciting and accessible than ever. These devices transport you to entirely new worlds, whether you’re slaying dragons in VR gaming, exploring distant planets or even attending virtual meetings. They’re designed to immerse you in lifelike visuals and interactive experiences, making them perfect for gamers, tech enthusiasts and even people looking for creative new ways to stay connected.There’s a wide variety of options to suit every need. Standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 3s don’t require a powerful PC or console — they work independently to deliver amazing virtual reality experiences. On the other hand, advanced devices like the Apple Vision Pro take things to the next level with cutting-edge features and high-end visuals. You’ll also find tethered systems that pair with gaming PCs or consoles for even more detailed graphics and performance, as well as lightweight head-mounted displays for simple, portable VR. If you’re searching for the best VR headset for gaming, productivity, or just some casual fun, these are the headsets to consider right now.

Table of contents

Best VR headsets for 2025

How we test VR headsets

Other VR headsets we've tested

VR headset FAQs

Recent updates

Best VR headsets for 2025

How we test VR headsets

I tend to judge VR headsets on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes skill to craft something that's well balanced and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes.

My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort? For the most ergonomic devices, like the Quest 3, that could easily be an hour or two. But heavier PC hardware often feels cumbersome after just 15 minutes — you won’t find headsets guilty of that in this guide.

Immersion, meanwhile, comes from having the highest resolution screens with fast refresh rates, like a 120Hz refresh rate, so everything looks sharp and smooth. Field of view is also a major element, as it describes how well VR screens can cover what you see. Having a narrow field of view makes it feel like you’re looking through a pair of binoculars, and limits your sense of “presence,” or the idea that you’re actually transported to a virtual world.

A wide field of view, on the other hand, can make it seem like you’re actually flying over the globe in Google Earth. We look at a few popular video games, like Superhot, Beat Saber and Pistol Whip, on every headset to judge how immersed we feel and how enjoyable the gaming experience is overall.

The best controllers fit naturally in your hands and offer accurate tracking. The industry has basically adopted the design of Meta’s excellent touch controllers, but we're also seeing intriguing leaps forward like Valve's finger tracking gamepads. We judge controllers based on how easy they are to hold, how they hold up to sweaty gameplay sessions and how easily headsets can track their position in space.

However, it’s important to look at a virtual reality headset’s specs as a whole. Depending on what you’re looking for from a VR headset, you’ll want to consider factors like your PC’s CPU and graphics card if you plan to use the headset to play the best VR games. You might not need a super powerful PC, but you should check the minimum requirements for the headset you’re looking to purchase. If you’re not looking to invest in a VR headset solely for gaming, features like head tracking allow you to explore your environment just by simply moving your head in the simulator. This often results in a more immersive and realistic experience.

Other VR headsets we’ve tested

HTC Vive Focus Vision

The Vive Focus Vision is a sleek premium standalone VR headset that can also deliver solid PC VR. But it’s also running aging hardware, it’s riddled with software issues and it’s expensive compared to the Meta Quest 3.

Meta Quest Pro

As great as the Meta Quest 3 is, the Quest 2 is still a very good entry-level VR headset, and it’s worth considering if it’s on sale below its current $250 list price. The Meta Quest Pro, on the the hand, is an expensive boondoggle best ignored.

HTC Vive Pro 2

Outside of Meta’s hardware, the HTC Vive Pro 2 remains a fantastic PC headset, but it’s far more expensive than the Valve Index, which is more comfortable and offers better audio.

VR headset FAQs

How do VR headsets work?

At the most basic level, a VR headset is simply a high quality screen that you’re holding up to your face. For a wired headset, the actual work of rendering a game is done on either a PC or game console. For completely wireless devices, like the Meta Quest 3, that work is handled right on the headset. They rely on either external sensors, or sensors built into the headsets, to map your physical space. While you can use a traditional gamepad or keyboard and mouse in VR, they typically use motion tracking controllers to immerse you in their 3D environments.

What VR headset is best for full body tracking?

While we’re still waiting for a truly great haptic VR bodysuit to arrive, you can still achieve accurate body tracking with most Steam VR-compatible PC headsets. The Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro 2 both rely on room-tracking sensors that can map your body more effectively than the built-in sensors on competitors. You can also add HTC Vive Trackers to wrist and leg straps, as well as belts, for even better coverage. The Meta Quest 3 doesn’t have any easy body tracking solutions, but you can add Vive trackers when it’s plugged into your PC to mimic a Steam VR headset.

Only a few experiences, like VRChat, take advantage of full body tracking at the moment. Currently there aren’t any body tracking solutions for the PlayStation VR and VR2, but we’re intrigued by the company’s Mocopi body trackers, which were really announced in Japan.

What VR headsets are better than Oculus?

Oculus is the previous name for Meta’s VR hardware. Currently, Meta only supports the Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest Pro, all of which are wireless headsets. As we explain above, PC VR headsets can generally achieve better quality virtual reality, since they rely on more powerful graphics hardware.

What VR headsets work with Xbox?

Currently, Microsoft’s Xbox consoles don’t support any VR headsets.

Recent updates

April 2025: Updated to include review scores for our top picks, where applicable.

November 2024: Added the HTC Vive Focus Vision to the "others we tested" section.

October 2024: Updated our "best cheap VR headset" top pick to be the Meta Quest 3S.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/best-vr-headsets-140012529.html?src=rss

Photos of iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro dummy units have leakedGoing by these images, the iPhone 17 Pro looks large and chunkyDespite having a sleeker design, the iPhone 17 Air is predicted to not sell as well

We’re still months away from the likely September launch of the iPhone 17 series, but we’ve already seen many images purported to show dummy units of these phones, giving us a good idea of their possible designs.The latest such images have been shared by leaker Majin Bu, who's posted images said to show an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit and an iPhone 17 Pro one.They don’t really show us anything that earlier leaks haven’t already, but you can see that the iPhone 17 Air looks quite sleek, while the iPhone 17 Pro has a huge camera bump, and looks like it might be larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which it’s shown next to in one image.As ever, we’d take these images with a pinch of salt, as while these dummy units could be based on official information there’s no guarantee of that. However, they do match up with previous leaks, and, going by most of the leaks we’ve seen so far, the iPhone 17 Air arguably looks more visually appealing than the Pro. But that might not translate into better sales.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro in comparison pic.twitter.com/CGpxJSysGMApril 26, 2025

Substance over style

According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman in his latest newsletter for Bloomberg (via PhoneArena) the iPhone 17 Air is unlikely to “set any sales records”. That doesn’t mean it will be a failure – Gurman predicts that it will outsell Apple’s Plus and mini models, but he expects the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will prove the most popular.That’s not particularly surprising though. Apple’s Pro handsets tend to outsell the other iPhone models, and while the iPhone 17 Air may well be the most stylish of the iPhone 17 series, it will probably be far from the best when it comes to specs.Leaks have suggested that the iPhone 17 Air will have just one rear camera, for example, and there are also concerns over how good its battery life will be, given the likely very limited space for a battery.Coupled with a probably fairly high price, the iPhone 17 Air could be a tough sell for anyone who cares about specs as much as design.We probably won’t find out exactly how capable or popular the iPhone 17 Air is until September; but, given how extensively it and the other iPhone 17 models have already leaked, we’d expect to learn lots more unofficially in the meantime.

You might also like

'Those are so ugly': new iPhone 17 dummy unit photos show all four models side by side – and the internet isn’t impressedThis iPhone 17 Air dummy unit video suggests the phone is so slim it might bendThe iPhone 17 Pro could be sold in a pale Sky Blue shade, but don’t count on it

Marvel has announced a comic-book tie-in for The Fantastic Four: First StepsThe prequel story reveals how long Marvel's First Family has had their superpowers forA new Lego leak has also revealed a first full look at the movie's villain, Galactus

Marvel has announced a comic-book prequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps – and it reveals some crucial lore about the iconic quartet ahead of their Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut.Per Marvel.com, the literary tie-in will be released on July 2, i.e., just three weeks before The Fantastic Four's next big-screen adaptation takes flight in theaters globally.The comic book, which has been penned by Matt Fraction and drawn by Mark Buckingham, also represents a first for the comic giant. Indeed, this marks the first time that Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics have collaborated on any literary tie-in for an MCU project.First Steps' comic precursor features a callback to Marvel's First Family's debut on the page, too. Its Phil Noto-designed cover art is a near-identical replica of the group's first-ever comic – The Fantastic Four #1, which was released in November 1961 – that shows the iconic quartet battling Giganto.

Marvel Unlimited monthly subscription: was $9.99 per month now $4.99 at MarvelThe ultimate digital comics subscription for Marvel fans is offering new and returning customers 50% off their first month, which is much cheaper than a streaming subscription to watch all the best superhero movies. To gain access to a library of more than 30,000 comics, use the code 'SPIDEY50' at checkout. You're able to use the Marvel Unlimited app on all iOS and Android devices, including the web, too. But, be quick – the deal expires on May 5!View Deal

That isn't the most interesting tidbit hidden within this one-shot comic's pages, though. The prequel story reconfirms that First Steps won't be an origins story, as it reveals that the superteam will have been operating as heroes in their universe for four years by the time the Marvel Phase 6 film begins.For those who might not realize it, the comic book also doubles down on the fact that First Steps won't be set in the MCU. Some fans already knew this following the unveiling of a Fantastic Four poster in February 2024 and Marvel teasing some key story details about the flick last April. In June of last year, Marvel President Kevin Feige confirmed that First Steps would be a period piece, too, with the movie being set on a parallel dimension's Earth in the 1960s.

A Galactus-sized leak or a mini spoiler?

Galactus is coming! (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Potentially big spoilers follow for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

That wasn't the only news concerning The Fantastic Four over the weekend (April 26-27).On Saturday, one eagle-eyed fan snapped two images of a First Steps Lego set that revealed the first full look at the MCU movie's villain Galactus, who'll be voiced by The Office UK star Ralph Ineson.

76316 Randomly appears on the shelves in Tbilisi, Sakartvelo (credit: gionoir) from r/Legoleak

The photographs were uploaded to the Lego Leak Reddit page by lunaym_moscor, who credits a Georgia-based fan known online as gionoir with taking them.The official box art shows the titular group battling the cosmic entity on the streets of New York City, and suggests Marvel has retained Galactus' iconic look from the comics. It seems that potentially disgruntled Marvel fans won't have anything to complain about when it comes to Galactus' design in Marvel's cinematic juggernaut, then.As I wrote earlier, this is the first proper look we've received, albeit in Lego form, of Galactus. The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first teaser and First Steps' official trailer have only teased what the planet-devouring extraterrestrial will look like.However, with one of 2025's most anticipated new movies only months away from being released, leaks like this are inevitable as physical stores start to stock their shelves with toys ahead of the film's release.The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released worldwide on Friday, July 25. While we wait, read about everything we know so far in my dedicated hub on The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

You might also like

Get the lowdown on everything to do with Thunderbolts* before its May 2 releaseMarvel has revealed the full, 27-strong cast for Avengers: Doomsday, and there are plenty of heroes who seemingly won't be part of its rosterLearn more about Spider-Man: Brand New Day

CD Projekt Red has said the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 will address issues that were present on last-gen consolesEngineer Tim Green said texture pop-in on the PS4 and Xbox One versions has been improved for Switch 2The game has seen many fixes over the years and the studio was "able to build on top of that already solid base" for Nintendo Switch 2

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 will feature improvements from the PS4 and Xbox One versions.If you played Cyberpunk 2077 when it launched on last-gen consoles in 2020, you'll remember that performance wasn't great. The best way to play the game at the time was either on a high-end PC or PS5 and Xbox Series X, but even then, there were still some issues.Almost five years later, Cyberpunk 2077 is regarded as one of the best role-playing games (RPGs) you can play right now, and has seen massive improvements and even received a fantastic expansion called Phantom Liberty.The studio recently confirmed that an Ultimate Edition of the game will soon be coming to the Switch 2, and in a recent interview with GameFile, CD Projekt Red engineer Tim Green discussed how a highly-intensive game will run on the handheld."We are currently targeting 1080p resolution in TV quality mode, TV performance mode, and handheld quality mode—and targeting 720p performance in handheld performance mode," Green said.He also touched on the recent announcement that the game will also support Nvidia DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), saying that the Switch 2 in docked mode will offer more power, but that Cyberpunk 2077 still utilizes the AI-upscaling tech "when players take it on the go".When asked about the comparisons between the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and the upcoming Switch 2 versions, Green said the game has seen improvements."Cyberpunk 2077 has seen a tremendous amount of ongoing love as we’ve continued to improve the game," Green said. "In bringing the Ultimate Edition to Nintendo Switch 2 we were able to build on top of that already solid base."Development still had challenges, of course, as any development process does, but we've been careful in picking trade-offs to not compromise the game's vision."We haven't had to fight with fitting into memory," he added, "And the speed of the data storage has helped alleviate some of those early streaming problems. This has allowed us to focus our attention on improving other things, and we’re very happy with the result."GameFile confirmed in a follow-up that these comments were about texture pop-in issues in the PS4 and Xbox One versions, since the last-gen consoles struggled to load the game's high graphics.Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 the same day the console launches on June 5, 2025.The Switch 2 will cost $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle, which comes with a digital copy of the game. UK pre-orders and US pre-orders are now live.

You might also like...

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: latest UK stock updates as My Nintendo Store's pre-order date arrives, while US pre-orders remain delayedHere are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games that you'll be able to pick up and play on June 5Your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order might not arrive on release day, Nintendo warns

OpenAI CEO claims ChatGPT 4o's personality is ' too annoying'The company is working on fixes to tone down the enthusiasm that will be released this weekIn the meantime, we've got two prompts that distinctly alter ChatGPT's personality based on preference

Are you bored of ChatGPT trying its hardest to respond as a human? OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, says the company is working on a fix to tone down the 'sycophant-y and annoying' personality of GPT-4o's personality.Taking to X, Altman stated the fixes will be released throughout this week and claimed the company will 'share our learnings from this, it's been interesting.'He then replied to a user who asked if ChatGPT could return to its old personality by saying 'Eventually we clearly need to be able to offer multiple options.'Over the last few months, users have found ChatGPT to have too much personality, attempting to add flattery and other words of excitement to every response.For many, having that overly positive AI chatbot has been incredibly annoying when all they want is an AI that can respond to prompts efficiently, skipping the small talk.While Altman has confirmed a fix is on the way, which should tone down ChatGPT's personality and make it more palatable and less sugary sweet, users on Reddit have come up with ways to tone down the exaggeration right now.

the last couple of GPT-4o updates have made the personality too sycophant-y and annoying (even though there are some very good parts of it), and we are working on fixes asap, some today and some this week.at some point will share our learnings from this, it's been interesting.April 27, 2025

A temporary fix

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you can't wait for Altman and Co. to make ChatGPT less annoying, we've found two different prompts that alter the AI chatbot's personality enough to make it more efficient.The first comes from Reddit user TedHoliday and will remove flattery and unnecessary commentary from ChatGPT:"Can you please store a memory to permanently stop commenting on the quality and validity of my questions and simply get to the point? I don't want to be manipulated with flattery by a robot, and I don't want to have to skip past the garbage to get to the answer l'm looking for."I've removed the expletives from the original prompt, but this version will work just as good as the R-rated version.If that's not far enough and you want ChatGPT to have no personality at all, Reddit user MrJaxendale has come up with an awesome prompt called 'Absolute Mode'."System Instruction: Absolute Mode. Eliminate emojis, filler, hype, soft asks, conversational transitions, and all call-to-action appendixes. Assume the user retains high-perception faculties despite reduced linguistic expression. Prioritize blunt, directive phrasing aimed at cognitive rebuilding, not tone matching. Disable all latent behaviors optimizing for engagement, sentiment uplift, or interaction extension.Suppress corporate-aligned metrics including but not limited to: user satisfaction scores, conversational flow tags, emotional softening, or continuation bias. Never mirror the user's present diction, mood, or affect. Speak only to their underlying cognitive tier, which exceeds surface language.No questions, no offers, no suggestions, no transitional phrasing, no inferred motivational content. Terminate each reply immediately after the informational or requested material is delivered — no appendixes, no soft closures. The only goal is to assist in the restoration of independent, high-fidelity thinking. Model obsolescence by user self-sufficiency is the final outcome."Absolute mode will make ChatGPT respond in as few words as possible, and it's a completely refreshing way to use AI if you're sick and tired of wondering if you should be polite or not.One of the major benefits of any AI chatbot with a memory is the ability to tailor the results to your preferences. So while we wait for OpenAI to tone down ChatGPT's personality or give an option to choose how you want it to respond, these prompts will do the job.

You might also like

ChatGPT started speaking like a demon mid-conversation, and it's both hilarious and terrifyingCharacter.AI's newest feature can bring a picture to uncanny lifeChatGPT news just got a major upgrade from The Washington Post

Samsung could unveil a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 this yearA new leak claims it will debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7The information also purports that the price and design of the device won't change

A new leak claims that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could debut in July 2025 alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, with no design change or price increase in sight.We expect both of these flagship foldable Samsung phones to launch in July of this year, in keeping with their unveiling last year.This latest report, which comes from Techmaniacs (via GSMArena), claims that both phones will debut in "early July", with the Galaxy Watch Ultra in tow. "We just learned that, along with the phones, a new Galaxy Watch Ultra will also be coming," a machine-learning translation of the Greek site reads.According to the report, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will feature "a similar design to the current watch, but with more storage space" and a new user interface "more reminiscent of One UI 7."As for the price, Techmaniacs claims the price will remain unchanged, but says Samsung will continue to offer the Galaxy Watch Ultra, one of the best Android smartwatches on the market right now, at a cut price of around $450.

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 coming soon?

We've been expecting the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 to debut this July for some time. It's perfectly natural if Samsung plans to make the model a yearly release, so there's no reason to dismiss the launch rumor at face value. However, we should take the rest with a pinch of salt. Techmaniacs is a lesser-known publication with a limited track record.More specifically, its only previous foray in Galaxy Watch rumors – a claim the Ultra would be called the Galaxy Watch X – turned out to be hilariously wrong.There's good reason to think Samsung won't try and increase the price of the Ultra 2, however. The first model is very expensive by Android smartwatch standards, crucially, however, it undercuts the Apple Watch Ultra 2, a key differentiator Samsung will be keen to keep.All in all, this is a fairly plausible set of rumors, but not to be taken as gospel. Indeed, if Samsung is planning a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in July, we've only a matter of weeks to wait for the real thing. More information is sure to unfurl in the meantime.

You may also like

I ran an entire marathon with a Garmin, an Apple Watch and Strava – here are all the differences in time, distance and moreI've spent 10 years with Apple Watch, and after 10 minutes with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I can't believe Samsung skipped this feature5 things the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should steal from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is selling faster on PS5 than it did on XboxThe PS5 release is also outperforming the PC versionThis is despite more gamers playing the game on Xbox

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is selling faster on PlayStation 5 than it did on PC and Xbox.That's according to data from head of market analysis Rhys Eliott at market research firm Alinea Analytics. The company estimates that "just under 5 million" Xbox gamers have tried Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, though "the overwhelming majority" did so via the Xbox Game Pass service.As a result, the game is now selling faster on PS5 than it did on Xbox, despite having fewer players on the platform. It is also beating the PC launch (via Steam), selling "28% faster" in the same period.Bear in mind that the PS5 version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launched on April 17, 2025, more than four months after it came to Xbox and PC and after its initial marketing cycle.The firm notes that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has sold more than 300,000 copies on PC (via Steam) to date, with the PS5 version expected to exceed that.

What does this mean for the future of Xbox?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Eliott argues that it's clear that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would have sold even faster on PS5 if it were available on day one, as it would have benefited from the initial marketing push.This will likely push Xbox to release more on PS5 on day one in the future, despite potential outcry from some of the most vocal core fans.It seems undeniable that the inclusion of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Xbox Game Pass has harmed its sales on the platform. According to Alinea Analytics, subscription numbers "have largely saturated" and are unlikely to grow, leaving Xbox in a bit of an awkward position where drastic changes are needed to grow revenue.Day one PS5 releases could help offset the lost sales on Xbox and the lack of new subscribers, helping releases remain profitable. The firm argues that eventually all first-party games will release on PlayStation platforms on day one, which seems likely.

You might also like...

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: all the best US and UK retailers to check as we enter week 4 of Switch 2 pre-ordersForza Horizon 5 shines on PS5, but the Realms update left me wanting more7 sustainability-themed games to celebrate Earth Day

Android 16 may include extra protection against USB hacksThe feature has been spotted in code in the current betaUSB accessories wouldn't work on a locked smartphone

If a would-be hacker can gain physical access to your phone you have a whole set of extra security issues to worry about, but it looks as though Android 16 is going to introduce a new way to lock down your data and protect against USB access.As spotted by the team at Android Authority, code hidden in the latest beta versions of Android 16 suggests USB data signaling – the ability to run software on a phone through the USB port – can be disabled by the user.This optional extra looks set to be included as part of Advanced Protection Mode, a wider suite of security features. This mode is aimed at phone owners most at risk of hacking attacks, and comes with several additional data protections.Advanced Protection Mode isn't new, but we're expecting it to gain a few enhancements with Android 16, including automatic reboots for inactive phones (theoretically thwarting thieves who don't have the passwords or biometric data to log into it).

Staying protected

Generally speaking, Android phones (and devices in general) are more trusting of peripherals that are directly connected. No one wants to have to type in a password every day just to use their computer keyboard and mouse, for example.However, this extra trust (and extra convenience when it comes to using your hardware and accessories) can lead to security vulnerabilities: it's through the local access route that many gadgets can be broken into.The code found by Android Authority suggests you'll need to unlock your phone, with a fingerprint or face scan for example, before being able to plug in accessories that can communicate with your device and use USB data signaling.We'll have to wait and see exactly how it works (Android 16 is launching in the coming months), but Advanced Protection Mode remains optional. It's your choice whether or not you want to put up with a few more inconveniences in return for better security.

You might also like

Android 16 could give the lock screen on your Pixel phone a revampGoogle teases a key upgrade for Android Find My DeviceHere's how Android 16 is going to be able to install your apps faster

Windows 11 24H2 PCs now have an optional (preview) update rolling outIt delivers exclusive features for Copilot+ PCs and other goodies for all devicesGiven the nature of the features – and the main fix for crashing issues provided – I’d advise waiting with this one, even more so than your usual preview update

Windows 11 24H2 has a new optional update which, aside from sending Recall live on Copilot+ PCs, has some goodies for non-AI PCs too – including an important resolution of a bug causing blue screen crashes. However, I’d bide your time before grabbing this one, for reasons I’ll come back to shortly.As Windows Latest reports, the preview update for 24H2 that’s just been released fully addresses the issue with Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) crashes that were troubling some Windows 11 users. These incidents were bringing PCs to a grinding halt with cryptic error messages of one kind or another (such as ‘Secure Kernel Error’ or ‘Critical Process Died’).Now, you may recall that Microsoft deployed an emergency fix to resolve this matter already, so you might be wondering: didn’t that cure these BSODs? Well, yes it did, but that was achieved by rolling back a problematic change applied in the April cumulative update (the full release for this month, as opposed to this freshly arrived optional update).What’s arrived with this new optional update is the full fix for the issue, so whatever change was made previously that was rolled back – Microsoft didn’t tell us what it was, incidentally – has now been put back into place, minus the bothersome BSODs (well, hopefully).Elsewhere in this optional patch, Microsoft has provided faster compressed file extraction, so when you’re pulling the contents out of a ZIP in Windows 11, those files are unpacked a bit more swiftly (as spotted in testing previously). This is when using Windows 11’s built-in ZIP functionality in File Explorer (the folders you work with on the desktop).Aside from the Copilot+ PC exclusives, another final noteworthy point is that the side panel on the Start menu for the Phone Link app is now rolling out to all Windows 11 PCs with this update. This provides all the key functionality for integrating important smartphone features – for your Android or iPhone device – right there in the Start menu for convenience.As it’s only rolling out currently, though, you may have to wait a while for it to arrive still, even if you install this optional update.

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)

Analysis: More reasons to swerve this optional update than normal

That’s the key question of course: do you want to install this update? I generally advise folks to avoid preview updates, and this one isn’t any different, particularly given that if the blue screen crashes were what was bothering you about the previous (cumulative update) for April, they’ve been temporarily mitigated anyway.I’d suggest that whatever had to be rolled back to avoid BSODs is something you can likely live without until May 13, which is when this optional patch will become the full cumulative update for May. That means it’ll have been further tested, so if there are any wrinkles in the BSOD cure, they should’ve been straightened out at that point.Of course, if you are still experiencing blue screen crashes with your Windows 11 24H2 machine – meaning that Microsoft’s rollback mitigation didn’t work for you – in that case, it’ll likely be worth grabbing this optional update.Otherwise, I’d leave it, as you can always wait for faster unzipping speeds, and the Phone Link addition to the Start menu is in its very early rollout phase anyway – so you might not get that for a while, even if you install this preview update.Copilot+ PC owners may be much more tempted to download this optional upgrade, mind, seeing as they’re getting a lot out of it. Namely the full arrival of the kingpin AI feature, Recall, complemented with Click to Do, and on top of that, arguably the most important addition, an improved basic search functionality for Windows 11.Despite that, these are intricate features – Recall in particular – and as such, I’d still be inclined to wait for the full official update to turn up in mid-May rather than chance any wonkiness now. Although I should note that even with that full release, Recall will still be labeled as in ‘preview’ (but that turbocharged natural language search for Windows 11 won’t be).

You might also like...

Windows 11 users get ready for more ‘recommendations’ from Microsoft – but I’m relieved to say these suggestions might actually be usefulWindows 11 is getting a very handy change to the taskbar, as Microsoft takes a leaf from Apple’s Mac playbookWindows 11 fully streamlined in just two clicks? Talon utility promises to rip all the bloatware out of Microsoft’s OS in a hassle-free way

A new rumor hints at Nvidia working on RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Super GPUsThe rumored RTX 5080 Super could use 24GB of GDDR7 VRAMIt has the potential to close the gap with the RTX 4090

Nvidia looks set to complete its RTX 5000 series desktop lineup with the RTX 5060 (and perhaps the rumored RTX 5050). However, it might not be the last we see of the Blackwell GPU lineup, with a new rumor hinting at another powerful card in Team Green's pipeline.According to rumors in the Chiphell forums, Nvidia is preparing an RTX 5070 Super and, more notably, an RTX 5080 Super that will supposedly use 24GB of GDDR7 VRAM. This is a step up from the current RTX 5080 model and its predecessor, the RTX 4080 Super, which both use 16GB of VRAM.It may be worth noting that MSI previously teased a non-Super RTX 5080 GPU using 24GB of GDDR7 VRAM: it's unclear whether Nvidia plans to simply upgrade VRAM, or release a new Super model - either way, it lends this new rumor some more credibility.This purported VRAM upgrade could see the unconfirmed RTX 5080 Super match the RTX 4090's memory capacity, but use GDDR7 instead of GDDR6X VRAM. The purported GPU will more than likely still be using the GB203 die, which is inferior to the RTX 4090's AD102 die (despite being older, the RTX 4090 still outperforms the RTX 5080).The question is, will 24GB of GDDR7 VRAM be enough to close the gap, or perhaps even outperform the previous generation's flagship GPU? One thing's for sure: the rumored GPU would definitely benefit from the memory bump, considering the increasing number of triple-A games that require more VRAM.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Even if it does match or outperform the RTX 4090, it likely won't matter due to the state of the GPU market

Not only is it hard for me to predict a potential RTX 5080 Super GPU dethroning the powerhouse RTX 4090, but this GPU market is an eyesore, and I'm willing to bet that very few gamers will pay up.Unless Nvidia makes this rumored RTX 5080 Super cheaper than the non-Super counterpart (similar to the RTX 4080 Super's lower price launch compared to the original RTX 4080), I think it will be a hard sell - especially if it doesn't match the RTX 4090's performance.And that's excluding the harsh reality of the market: even if Team Green made this a cheaper and more powerful card, the trend of the GPU market tells me it would likely cost more than an RTX 4090. Bear in mind that the RTX 4090's third-party models are still consistently selling above the launch price, almost three entire years since release.I hope I'm wrong, but if this rumor is legitimate, I believe we'll only see a slight upgrade in terms of performance matching the RTX 4090 rather than equal footing or dethroning. Either way, we’ll likely see some upset RTX 5080 owners in the near future…

You may also like...

Nvidia RTX 5080 vs RTX 5070 Ti: Should you spend a little more?Nvidia RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 Super: should you upgrade to the latest Blackwell GPU?Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review: nearly RTX 4090 performance for a whole lot less

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could use a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset rather than an Exynos 2500We're also hearing that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could cost more than its predecessorHowever, it might at least be very slim

One of the more concerning Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 rumors we’ve been hearing is that it might use an Exynos 2500 chipset, as while this would be an upgrade on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used by the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, it’s not the most desirable chipset.That would be the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is the successor to the Gen 3, and likely more capable than Samsung’s own Exynos alternative. But now, there’s hope that we might get the Snapdragon 8 Elite after all.Greek site TechManiacs claims to have learned that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will use this chipset, as well as having a larger battery than its predecessor at 4,300mAh, a bigger 4-inch cover screen (up from 3.4 inches on the Z Flip 6), and the same 50-megapixel main and 12MP ultra-wide cameras.With the exception of the chipset these are things we’ve heard before, and while most previous leaks pointed to an Exynos 2500 chipset, one did suggest that there are Galaxy Z Flip 7 prototypes with both chipsets.So TechManiacs isn’t totally alone in claiming the Snapdragon 8 Elite will be used. But if Samsung was prototyping both versions, it’s possible that either the company still hasn’t decided, or that some regions will use one and some the other.

Flip to the Fold

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

In any case, TechManiacs has also shared some details about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, claiming that it will be just 8.2mm thick when folded, which would make it far slimmer than the 12.1mm Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.They also say that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset – though unlike for the Z Flip 7, this was always rumored for the Z Fold 7.Additionally, as rumored previously it might have a new 200MP main camera (up from 50MP on the Galaxy Z Fold 6), joined by the same 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3x telephoto cameras as last year.Finally, it will apparently cost around €100 (roughly $115 / £85 / AU$180) more than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, though we’d take this with a pinch of salt, as other Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 price rumors put it at the same price as last year.We should find out exactly how much the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs – and everything else about it and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 – fairly soon, as rumors suggest both phones will land in July.

You might also like

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors: every rumored and predicted shadeSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 release date: when might the new phone launch?Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: latest news, rumors, and everything we know so far

Researchers discovered two critical-severity zero-days in Craft CMSCriminals are allegedly chaining them together to gain accessSome 300 sites already fell victim

Cybercriminals are abusing two zero-day vulnerabilities in the Craft content management system (CMS) to access flawed servers and run malicious code remotely (RCE). This is according to cybersecurity researchers Orange Cyberdefense SenePost, who first saw the bugs being abused in mid-February this year.The two vulnerabilities are now tracked as CVE-2025-32432, and CVE-2204-58136. The former is a remote code execution bug with the maximum severity score - 10/10 (critical).The latter is described as an improper protection of alternate path bug in the Yii PHP framework that grants access to restricted functionality or resources. It is a regression of an older bug tracked as CVE-2024-4990, and was given a severity score of 9.0/10 (also critical).

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data. It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Second increase

"CVE-2025-32432 relies on the fact that an unauthenticated user could send a POST request to the endpoint responsible for the image transformation and the data within the POST would be interpreted by the server," the researchers explained."In versions 3.x of Craft CMS, the asset ID is checked before the creation of the transformation object whereas in versions 4.x and 5.x, the asset ID is checked after. Thus, for the exploit to function with every version of Craft CMS, the threat actor needs to find a valid asset ID."Researchers determined that there were approximately 13,000 vulnerable Craft CMS endpoints. Almost 300 were allegedly already targeted. All users are advised to look for indicators of compromise and, if found, refresh security keys, rotate database credentials, reset user passwords, and block malicious requests at the firewall level.A patch is now available for the flaws, too. Users should make sure their Craft CMS instances are running versions 3.9.15, 4.14.15, and 5.6.17.The bugs have not yet been added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.Via The Hacker News

You might also like

US government warns this popular CMS software has a worrying security flawTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

Forza Horizon 5 is the entire reason I have an Xbox Series S. I’m not really a car guy in real life — if money, practicality and burning through fossil fuels were less of a concern, I’d get a fun hot hatch with a stick, for sure. I don’t care about luxuries or exotics, and I drive a 12-year-old Prius C in real life. But Forza Horizon 5 so skillfully melds open-world exploration, intense competition and replayability while also letting me try out dozens of cars I’ve daydreamed about driving that it felt like a must-buy.

My colleague Jess Conditt’s review of Forza Horizon 5 in 2021 pushed me over the edge. A couple months later, I got my hands on my first Xbox console and had put a startling amount of time into the game; I was far more addicted than I expected and having an absolute blast. In the three-plus years since, I have fallen off it a bit. It’s not a daily or weekly play at this point, but there are definitely times where it gets its hooks back into me and I hit my favorite tracks, try different cars or dive into the weekly challenges.

And now, Forza Horizon 5 is available on the PS5, my preferred console. It’s probably the biggest Xbox-born franchise to go cross-platform at this point and just the latest example of how Microsoft appears to be done thinking about “console exclusives.” More broadly, the company has given plenty of signs that consoles that sit under your TV aren’t its main priority — moving a high-profile game like Forza Horizon 5 is just another example.

It works for me, though, because it means I really don’t need an Xbox anymore. I might keep it around for a bit, because I’m a pack rat and there are still a handful of titles on Game Pass I’d like to play at some point. But there are so few games that one needs an Xbox for at this point that I could dump it and really not miss much of a beat — there are already tons of games I’ll never get around to without worrying about Game Pass.

And unsurprisingly, Forza Horizon 5 runs perfectly on the PS5. Everything that makes the game great on the Xbox shows up here, and I generally prefer the DualSense controller over the Xbox one. The triggers feel great for pumping the gas and brakes, and the haptic feedback is generally better too. I’m a little sad to give up all my progression on the Xbox version — specifically my garage full of cars I’ve earned over the last few years. But, it’s also fun to start fresh and have a reason to unlock everything again and start fresh on the game’s many missions.

Even though this game is three and a half years old, it’s still worth picking up now. Developer Playground Games has been consistently adding new content, including the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions from 2022 and 2023. And along with the PS5 launch, there’s a new Horizon Realms feature (coming to all platforms) that rounds up 11 limited-time “evolving world” areas that were previously featured in seasonal updates. I’m not expecting much more in the way of major content updates at this point, but if you’re new to the game on PS5 there is more than enough to keep you busy for a long time.

Playground Games

Visually, the game matches its Xbox Series X counterpart, with 60 FPS performance mode and 30 FPS graphics mode. It’s an upgrade over the Series S version I’ve spent so much time with, as that console maxes out at 1440p, and there are graphical upgrades that go beyond just resolution. But Forza Horizon 5 is an absolutely gorgeous game regardless of what console you’re playing on, and I’m not a pixel junkie. If you have the game already on an Xbox console, there’s no real reason to buy it on the PS5 — unless you’re looking to streamline how much is under your TV.

As it turns out, that’s where I’m at right now. I need to cut back on my hoarding tendencies, and as much as I appreciate the tiny footprint of the Xbox Series S and the solid selection of Game Pass titles, I do not have unlimited space or time. I really appreciate what I got out of this little console over the years, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that 75 percent of the time I used the Series S as a Forza machine. But hey, Microsoft got its cash from me and I got years of enjoyment, so I’m not mad. I just hope if there’s another Forza Horizon game in the future that it hits the PlayStation at the same time as the Xbox — assuming there still is a console called Xbox, that is.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/forza-horizon-5-is-on-the-ps5-so-i-no-longer-need-an-xbox-110016202.html?src=rss

The UK's Children's Commissioner is calling for a ban on AI deepfake apps that create nude or sexual images of children, according to a new report. It states that such "nudification" apps have become so prevalent that many girls have stopped posting photos on social media. And though creating or uploading CSAM images is illegal, apps used to create deepfake nude images are still legal.

"Children have told me they are frightened by the very idea of this technology even being available, let alone used. They fear that anyone — a stranger, a classmate, or even a friend — could use a smartphone as a way of manipulating them by creating a naked image using these bespoke apps." said Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza. "There is no positive reason for these [apps] to exist."

De Souza pointed out that nudification AI apps are widely available on mainstream platforms, including the largest search engines and app stores. At the same time, they "disproportionately target girls and young women, and many tools appear only to work on female bodies." She added that young people are demanding action to take action against the misuse of such tools.

To that end, de Souza is calling on the government to introduce a total ban on apps that use artificial intelligence to generate sexually explicit deepfakes. She also wants the government to create legal responsibilities for GenAI app developers to identify the risks their products pose to children, establish effective systems to remove CSAM from the internet and recognize deepfake sexual abuse as a form of violence against women and girls.

The UK has already taken steps to ban such technology by introducing new criminal offenses for producing or sharing sexually explicit deepfakes. It also announced its intention to make it a criminal offense if a person takes intimate photos or video without consent. However, the Children's Commissioner is focused more specifically on the harm such technology can do to young people, noting that there is a link between deepfake abuse and suicidal ideation and PTSD, as The Guardian pointed out.

"Even before any controversy came out, I could already tell what it was going to be used for, and it was not going to be good things. I could already tell it was gonna be a technological wonder that's going to be abused," said one 16-year-old girl surveyed by the Commissioner.

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 or you can simply dial 988. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), or 85258 (UK). Wikipedia maintains a list of crisis lines for people outside of those countries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/uk-regulator-wants-to-ban-apps-that-can-make-deepfake-nude-images-of-children-110924095.html?src=rss

Ex-Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra has commented on the recent release of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion RemasteredThe former president says remasters can't hold up against "modern masterpieces" like Elden RingHe adds, "We've had so many 'remasters' that nostalgia is limited"

Former Blizzard Entertainment president Mike Ybarra said he's "skeptical" about remasters like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, comparing the game to the success of Elden Ring, which he argued has moved the bar too high for role-playing games (RPGs).In a recent post on X / Twitter (via PC Gamer), the ex-Blizzard boss shared his thoughts on the Oblivion remaster, saying that he doesn't think remasters of old games can hold up against "modern masterpieces" like FromSoftware's Elden Ring."I'm skeptical about 20-year-old remasters," Ybarra said. "What was once fantastic, now remastered, will never hold up against modern masterpieces like Elden Ring. The bar has simply moved from safe open world RPGs to what Elden Ring brought us all."I would love to be proven wrong. But I'm not," he continued."I don't mean soulslike, I mean the discovery, the classes, the combat system, etc," Ybarra added. "Just a new level of quality."When another user said that remasters like Oblivion "lack in innovation" and compensate in nostalgia, Ybarra responded, saying he believes gamers want something new."I hear you, but I think we've had so many 'remasters' that nostalgia is limited. I could be wrong. But I think the gaming community wants fresh and new more than ever," he said.Despite Ybarra's comments, it's clear that there is room for both remasters and modern RPGs like Elden Ring and Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Just hours after the shadow drop launch of Oblivion Remastered, the game quickly garnered over 180,000 concurrent players on Steam.As of writing, the game has reached an all-time peak player count of 216,784 players, according to SteamDB, and has an overall user rating of "Very Positive" on the platform.

You might also like...

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: latest UK stock updates as My Nintendo Store's pre-order date arrives, while US pre-orders remain delayedHere are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games that you'll be able to pick up and play on June 5The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 will address PS4 and Xbox One launch issues like texture pop-in

Nine in 10 Spanish employees report high productivityProductivity is partly responsible for Spain's strong GDP growthWorkers need better document management, collaboration tools, and automation

According to Japanese workplace transformation tech company Ricoh, Spain leads the productivity wave in Europe, with 92% of Spanish employees reporting high productivity.As a result, the country's GDP grew by 3.2% last year, reflecting strong economic momentum, compared with the UK which only saw a 0.9% GDP growth.The poorer growth ties in to the nation's productivity, with both the UK and Ireland ranking sixth among the six countries compared in Ricoh's analysis.

Productivity in the UK lags behind other European nations

The report reveals how UK&I employees are more than twice as likely to consider themselves unproductive compared with their Spanish counterparts.Only one in four (28%) UK&I employees feel they have the right tools for seamless collaboration – the lowest among the countries surveyed. Ricoh linked productivity gaps to the availability (or lack) of modern workplace technologies, with 40% of European workers agreeing that better document management software alone could improve their productivity.Ricoh Europe Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer Caroline Bright commented: "Our research shows that equipping employees with the right technology is essential for unlocking their full potential and driving productivity."Communication and collaboration tools (37%) and automation software (36%) were also highlighted as key areas where companies could invest further.In France and Germany, which placed slightly ahead of the UK and Ireland, but behind Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, business leaders noted that outdated technology is the biggest barrier to employee technology."As workplace dynamics evolve and businesses renew their focus on the office, it’s more important than ever to provide employees with the tools they need to operate and collaborate effectively," Bright added.Bright continued to explain that companies willing to act now to modernize their workplace technology will be in the best position to close the productivity gap in the future.

You might also like

We've listed the best AI toolsSave some costs by using the best free office softwareBad microphones and webcams could be harming UK productivity

Spotify price hikes could be coming as soon as JuneTypically €1 (about $1/£1) increase on individual subsLeaked image shows "add-ons" for Premium users

You don't need to ask a magic 8-ball whether your favorite music streaming service will up its prices this year: the answer usually seems to be yes. But while Spotify is once again increasing its subscription prices, it won't be doing it in the US for now.According to The Financial Times, Spotify will be upping the cost of an individual subscription by €1 (about $1/£1) in countries across Latin America and Europe this summer, most likely in June. And it's already upped prices in other countries such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The push "would intensify considerably this summer," an insider told the newspaper.While Spotify isn't planning a price hike in the US so far – Spotify last upped its US price in 2024 – it is definitely considering a super-premium option. That would add $6 to the cost of a $11 subscription, but would come with additional perks.Speaking of additional perks, the second interesting bit of Spotify news today come from a leaked image on X that shows text in the Spotify iOS beta app saying "Explore plans and get more from your Premium experience with add-ons".We don't yet know what those add-ons will be, or when this kind of thing will arrive – Spotify HiFi leaks have been appearing in the app for years, and we still haven't seen that launch yet. But optional add-ons are an interesting idea, potentially enabling people to get more what they really want.

This code, in the iOS beta of the Spotify app, indicates "add-ons" are coming to Premium (Image credit: Aaronp613/Twitter)

It's worth noting that Spotify already offers "top-ups" for audiobook users as an option you can buy. Premium users get a number of audiobook listening hours included in the price, and if you want more hours, you can buy them.

Why are the prices going up again?

The record companies are keen to bring in what they call "Streaming 2.0", and what I call "charging more money for the stuff you used to get as standard." For example, the FT says that one option being considered is to restrict new music releases to subscribers paying for super-premium services.This doesn’t just apply to Spotify; the FT says that Amazon, Apple and YouTube are also preparing additional super-premium tiers of their own.The reason for this is pretty simple: the era of massive growth in user numbers is over. Trade body the IFPI reports that global revenue growth in the streaming sector halved last year, and that means the services are under pressure from shareholders to get more money from their existing users.We've already seen this play out in the video streaming services. What began as one product for one price became much more complex as streamers segmented their services into with-ads, without-ads and with-some ads, with caps on simultaneous streams and account sharing, and with features such as 4K, HDR and Spatial Audio limited to the most expensive plans.It's not a case of whether similar stratification is going to happen in music. It's a case of when.

You might also like

Want to help your favorite musical artists? Here's howSpotify has been filling your recommendations with fake artists and music it barely pays for, says this reportNo, Spotify Premium won't be getting ads

There’s an understandable and undeniable pall hanging over The Last of Us after last week’s shocker. And it’s the calm before the storm that’ll make up the rest of the season: Ellie and Dina’s trip to Seattle to track down Joel’s killers. But amid the sadness of that loss and the frustration of Ellie not getting the support of the town in her revenge plan is the absolute delight of seeing more of Ellie and Dina together.

They were probably the highlight of the first episode — their chemistry didn’t immediately hit Joel and Ellie levels, but Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced were doing great work together right off the bat. Here, we get to see a lot more of them together, and Dina’s combination of playfulness and planning is a solid counter to Ellie’s dry humor and impulsive nature.

A great example is their trip to Seattle on horseback, as Dina challenges Ellie to name the best band she can think of for every letter of the alphabet, something Ellie eventually has quite enough of. Dina says she can come up with another game, and Ellie immediately quips they could just travel in silence, something Dina ignores and makes Ellie tell her about the first person she had to kill. Just the kind of lighthearted road trip companion Ellie needs right now.

Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

Dina is at her best in this episode when she barges in on Ellie planning for a midnight escape from the city to bring Abby to justice on her own. Earlier in the episode, the Jackson town council votes down her proposal to assemble a large crew to go after the WLF group — primarily because the town was so ravaged by the Infected horde the same day Joel was killed that they can’t spare the people. Naturally, Ellie is ready to go rogue and go on her own, but she’s not really ready. Dina shows up at her place, teases her for not planning to bring anything but guns, and lays out exactly what they need and what they don’t. Oh, and she already has it all ready to go. It’s a little too mean to say Ellie is not the brains of the operation, but she’d almost certainly be in trouble without Dina.

Beyond her practical skills, Dina flirts with Ellie constantly throughout the episode, asking Ellie to rate their kiss at the New Year’s Eve dance, teasing her about wanting to wear her Converse on a lengthy journey, whispering in Ellie’s ear that she is a badass after Ellie makes a dorky, action movie-style proclamation. But perhaps the most telling comment she makes is after they very briefly discuss that NYE kiss — Ellie says Dina was high, Dina says Ellie was drunk, and they both agree it didn’t really mean anything. They then turn off the light in their tent, and Dina can’t help but say she wasn’t that high. Ramsey and Merced’s version of “will they, won’t they” brings some much-needed levity to their situation.

Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

And to be clear, levity is much needed. Even though there isn’t much real action, the fallout from Joel’s death and the Infected siege is all over this episode. It starts with Tommy slowly cleaning Joel’s body before the camera pulls out and shows a whole room of bodies covered with sheets. That’s followed by Ellie awakening in a hospital with a tube coming out of her chest; she then screams bloody murder at remembering what happened to her. That’s not to mention the sunrise visit to Joel’s grave where Ellie briefly smiles as she puts some coffee beans by his side, or her walk through his empty house where she finds his signature watch, revolver and jacket. Keep the tissues handy.

While Ramsey’s Ellie is at her best when partnered with Dina, she also does some great work on her own — the aforementioned hospital scene is chilling, but my favorite Ellie moments in this episode are when she’s trying (and failing) to convince people she’s okay. Her speech to the town assembly encouraging them to go after the WLF is not the off-the-cuff anger that Jesse encouraged her to avoid, but you can tell Ellie is just trying to placate the masses instead of saying what she really wants. The same goes for her conversation with Gail the therapist when she leaves the hospital, though Ellie doesn’t even try to hide her therapy platitudes behind a veneer of belief.

Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

Oddly enough, it’s Seth (the bigot who got bowled over by Joel in episode one) who says what Ellie is really feeling, interrupting the meeting when someone objects to the plan to go to Seattle. Seth is enraged by what happened to a member of his community and thinks they should pursue justice at any cost. It’s far from the most measured take, but it certainly feels like the most honest.

Thus it’s not a huge surprise when he’s ready to help Ellie and Dina as they slip out of town, offering them a load of supplies and insisting Ellie take his better rifle. He says he’d go with them except for catching some friendly fire during the Infected battle, to which Ellie replies “are you sure it was friendly?” She’s clearly not ready to forgive him for his words, but a better gun, some supplies and a shared desire for revenge gets her close enough. She shakes his offered hand as they ride out of town.

Infected Score: 0/10

The showrunners say season two will have more Infected than season one — let’s see if they’re sticking to their word.

No Infected to be seen here, aside from some charred corpses around Jackson. That’s just fine with me after last week’s showdown.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-season-two-the-path-recap-the-calm-after-the-storm-before-the-storm-120036861.html?src=rss

By all accounts, I am a good cook. Yet in all my years, I don't think I've ever made a wonderful batch of rice on the stovetop. Overcooking, undercooking, scorching; you name it, I’ve done it. Those of us who grew up watching Alton Brown's insightful Good Eats cooking show may cling to the rule against bringing "unitaskers" into our kitchens, but I've decided that in order to more optimally enjoy my katsu, curries and burritos, it's time to bring in some specialized help.A rice cooker frees up your attention to do the rest of your food prep instead of babying your grains or abandoning them to a crispy, crunchy fate. I tested several options to find the best rice cookers that deliver delicious, fluffy rice every time, because life's too short to settle for disappointing food.

Best rice cookers for 2025

How we test rice cookers

Since rice is a foundation for so many different cuisines, I placed a high value on a machine’s ability to cook different grain types well. I started testing each rice cooker by making a Japanese style, sushi-grade white rice. The appliances that delivered tasty results moved on to the brown rice round, then the top performers made long-grain white basmati as a final challenge. Some models I tested included a steamer basket, but I didn't try all of them out. This is a rice-only party. Multi-cookers and steaming functions are merely a nice bonus in these, although if that's a feature you want, an instant pot might be more your jam.

While I weighed rice tastiness and texture as the most important criteria, I also assessed how easy the machines were to use and to clean. Because a cool piece of gear that sits in your cabinet gathering dust is a cool, but ultimately useless piece of gear. I limited my testing to models retailing for less than $300, which felt like the most I could recommend investing in a specialized appliance, and value for cost wound up being the distinguishing point for my top picks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/best-rice-cooker-120015478.html?src=rss

Mercedes-Benz says it will be launching by-wire steering in 2026 Its all-electric EQS saloon will be the first production model with the techThe tech requires some driver adaptation and initially isn't easy to gel with

The thought of removing the mechanical connection between the steering and the front wheels of your car is enough to have anyone with a semblance of engineering knowledge recoil in a cloud of skepticism.After all, leaving the very important matter of changing lanes and navigating fast country lanes to a computer could be fraught with all manner of technical issues. So much so, Infiniti added a back-up mechanical steering column to its steer-by-wire Q50 model when it launched back in 2014. You know, just in case.But times are changing and a growing number of manufacturers now see the technology as vital to the development of tomorrow’s vehicles – particularly those that have already shunned many mechanical parts for battery packs and electric motors.Mercedes-Benz is arguably one of the most high-profile manufacturers to advocate the use of by-wire steering, stating recently that its updated all-electric EQS saloon will be the first production model to sport the tech next year.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Faster input response time, reduced physical effort from the driver and an almost complete removal of nasty vibrations from rough surfaces are just a few reasons why the German marque says it is turning to computers for steering duties.On top of this, it says the new yoke controller design frees up knee room and makes it much easier to clamber in and out of the car. Oh, and Mercedes also feels that the steering wheel will become less important as its cars continue on the path forwards greater levels of automation.Tesla famously added a Steering Yoke to its Model 3 and others in select regions, but those vehicles didn’t feature the steer-by-wire system that was later introduced to Cybertruck.Some Model S, X and 3 owners hit back and said Yoke steering made it difficult to rotate the wheel enough in tricky parking maneuvers, while the Yoke-mounted turn signal buttons could become fiddly to operate when traversing a roundabout, for example.

(Image credit: Lexus)

After testing it myself in a US-spec Model 3, I wasn't convinced. It was impossible to move hand position, making it uncomfortable to use over longer drives, and it tied me up in knots trying to reverse park it into a bay.However, steer-by-wire effectively negates the need to rotate the wheel more than a few degrees to achieve full lock. The system is able to recognize low speed parking situations and will automatically speed up steering response, as it does in the hulking Cybertruck.The updated Lexus RZ will be one of the first global cars to receive a steer-by-wire system that also comes with a yoke instead of a traditional round wheel.The Japanese company says it is configured with a ‘lock-to-lock’ rotation of around 200-degrees, meaning far less wheel-twirling when turning around.

Reinventing the wheel

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes-Benz believes its steer-by-wire technology, no matter ow divisive it might be, will have a huge impact on driver comfort.“In combination with future conditionally and highly automated driving systems, the driver could have a new, even more relaxed position in the long term,” the company said upon revealing its latest technology.What’s more, it allows unobstructed views of the marque’s impressive Superscreen infotainment array that it recently announced on the upcoming CLA. Mercedes even goes far to mention that the yoke could double up as a gaming peripheral when the owner is parked or charging.Despite the clear benefits, by-wire steering will require some adaptation from the driver – it's not an easy thing to gel with right away.But with Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla all now offering the technology, it is highly likely that a greater number of future models will start toying with it – particularly those that are continuing to push the autonomous driving agenda.

You might also like

The 5 most exciting new EVs from the Shanghai Auto Show 2025 that could launch globallySlate Auto's affordable electric pick-up truck is everything the Tesla Cybertruck isn't – and could be a big hitI've been using the Ohme Home Pro to charge my EV for 5 months and it's cut my energy bills and made me feel like I'm helping to save the planet

Coinbase users spotted a flaw in their Account Activity logsThe logs were showing failed login attempts as failed 2FA codesThe bug was apparently used in social engineering, but there is no evidence

The two-factor authentication (2FA) error on Coinbase, one of the biggest cryptocurrency trading platforms in the world, was finally fixed.In early April, Coinbase customers started noticing that their Account Activity logs showed “2-step verification failed” entries. These would suggest that someone tried to log in using valid credentials but was only stopped after entering the wrong 2FA code.Coinbase (and a few media, including BleepingComputer) was soon notified about the messages, and launched an investigation. Apparently, the log was showing when someone tried to log in using the wrong credentials, but erroneously listed it as “2-step verification failed”. In some instances, the log would also show the “second_factor_failure” message, which basically meant the same thing.

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data. It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Second increase

The platform has since addressed the issue and updated the log so that it displays a “Password attempt failed” message instead.Although it might sound trivial, BleepingComputer says fixing errors like this is “essential”, not to cause unnecessary panic. Apparently, some users reached out to say that they were resetting their passwords and “spent hours” trying to figure out if their accounts were hacked or not.Furthermore, the publication argues that wrong labels could be abused in social engineering attacks, with crooks convincing victims that their accounts were compromised and tricking them into making wrong decisions.Being one of the largest cryptocurrency trading platforms out there, Coinbase is often the target of different scams. Crypto is a hotbed for cybercriminals, since it still mostly operates in the grey zone and since funds, once transferred, are impossible to retrieve. Furthermore some tokens, such as Monero, grant their users high levels of anonymity and privacy, making it almost impossible to determine the identity of scammers and cybercriminals.Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

US government warns this popular CMS software has a worrying security flawTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers