News

You can now talk to Perplexity AI from within WhatsAppPerplexity joins Meta AI and ChatGPT inside the appThe move raises privacy concerns after comments from Perplexity’s CEO

If you regularly converse with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, it might seem like a natural move to talk to them inside your favorite messaging app. Well, you’ve just gained a new option, as you’re now able to chat with Perplexity AI directly within WhatsApp.To get started, all you have to do is add the following number within WhatsApp: +1 (833) 436-3285. Once that number is in your list of contacts, you can chat with Perplexity AI till your heart’s content.Announcing the move on X, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said that you’ll be able to get “answers, sources, image generation” from your WhatsApp chats, with “a lot more features coming soon.”In a video accompanying the post on X, Srinivas asked Perplexity what they would look like if they were bald, then attached a headshot of themselves to the question. Perplexity replied with a doctored image of Srinivas with a bald head.

ChatGPT in WhatsApp

(Image credit: OpenAI)

Perplexity is just the latest AI chatbot to be added to WhatsApp. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, has added its own Meta AI tool to the app in the form of a permanent button in the lower-right corner. This gives you quick access to the company’s AI but also means you might accidentally trigger it since you can’t hide the icon.If you’d rather your AI conversations appeared in your list of chats like those with living, human contacts, there are other options besides Perplexity. For instance, ChatGPT has recently become available in WhatsApp, and it can be contacted by adding the number +1 (800) 242-8478 to the app.That said, you might have second thoughts about using a tool like Perplexity based on recent comments from its CEO. According to TechCrunch, Srinivas said Perplexity wants to build its upcoming Comet browser so that it can collect extensive data on its users, then sell that personal information to the highest bidder.If that concerns you, you might want to think twice about feeding Perplexity’s WhatsApp AI with your personal questions.

You might also like

I tried Perplexity’s Deep Research and it doesn't quite live up to ChatGPT's research potentialFrom ChatGPT to NotebookLM, these are the 10 best free AI productivity tools to help you get things doneChatGPT just powered-up search for everyone, here are all the new features

Colorful has two new RTX 5060 gaming laptops on the horizonBenchmarks have leaked which indicates a sizeable leap over the RTX 4060 laptop GPU8GB of GDDR7 VRAM may suffice for both laptop and desktop GPUs

We're still waiting for Nvidia's RTX 5060 GPU to launch, a GPU that is expected to complete Team Green’s Blackwell GPU lineup (at least, before the rumored Super models). Now, we have some early insight into the laptop version of this GPU's performance, which could strongly indicate what the desktop counterpart has to offer.As reported by VideoCardz, Chinese laptop maker Colorful has two new Nvidia RTX 5060 gaming laptops on the way. Most importantly, benchmarks have already leaked (pictured below) for both systems; the Colorful iGame M15 Origo and the Colorful P15 Pro, which also use Intel's powerful Ultra 9 285H and Core i9-13900HX processors respectively.Using the OpenCL API (used in general computing applications), the iGame M15 Origo scored 102,564 points while the P15 Pro hit 109,431 points. It's worth noting that there are no leaked Vulkan benchmarks, which is a graphics API commonly used in plenty of triple-A games, so these scores don't give us the full picture.However, VideoCardz notably does highlight that the RTX 5060 laptop GPU is roughly 18% faster than its predecessor, the RTX 4060, thanks to its GDDR7 VRAM over the latter’s GDDR6 and more GPU cores.There's no official confirmation of these laptops from either Colorful or Nvidia, so this leak is all we have at the moment - apply salt pinches where necessary. The purported leap over its predecessor suggests that 8GB GDDR7 may be enough to provide good performance - the same could be true of its desktop variant as well.

(Image credit: Geekbench)

I still want 8GB GPUs gone for good, but I think GDDR7 speeds will be the difference

Now, don't get me wrong, I still absolutely want 8GB GPUs to be long gone. Modern games - especially poorly-optimized PC ports - are frequently very VRAM-hungry, to the point where 8GB can be too low for some triple-A titles. However, both RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPUs could highly benefit from the upgrade to GDDR7 memory, and these benchmarks indicate a significant leap over the RTX 4060 based on older Geekbench tests.With the anticipated improvements, I think 8GB of VRAM is slightly more acceptable for budget gaming laptops; particularly since gaming laptops with less powerful GPUs typically stick with 1080p and often don't go much higher than 1440p (which already makes no sense to me).The potential of improved base frame rates, coupled with the advantage of Nvidia’s new DLSS 4 resolution upscaling and Multi Frame Generation, could make RTX 5060 laptops more appealing to budget gamers.The desktop GPU is naturally expected to outperform the laptop variant (if it doesn't, something is seriously wrong), and these benchmarks tell me that the RTX 5060 may fare slightly better than I expected. Let's just hope that laptop pricing doesn't get too unrealistic, considering Nvidia's announced starting price of $1,099 for its major manufacturing partners.

You may also like...

Here's one of the strangest ways gamers are trying to buy an RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 - unsurprisingly, it's not workingNvidia's new GeForce hotfix driver 576.26 is its second in a row - and it's still giving users issuesNvidia and AMD are going to hate me for this - but I'm going to keep telling people not to buy overpriced GPUs

A new ChatGPT shopping experience is launching for all usersEarly users have expressed displeasure with the new recommendationsComparisons are being drawn to Corey Doctrow's "enshittification" concept

According to a new Reddit thread, some users are not happy with the new shopping features that are being integrated into ChatGPT and are rolling out now.The new features make it easy to search for and buy consumer products online using ChatGPT's search feature combined with its rich natural-language prompts.Reddit user 'Kjfitz', who started the thread, titled it, “the enshittification has arrived” in reference to the infamous neologism championed by Cory Doctrow in a 2022 essay about Amazon, which is generally used to describe how commercial pressures cause the experience of using platforms like Amazon, Google, and Facebook to gradually deteriorate over time as more monetization features are added.

The "Enshittification" has arrived from r/ChatGPT

“I asked ChatGPT about the impact of the current tariffs on inventories over the next few months. It returned a long list of links to toiletries I might want to buy”, said Kjfitz. “I asked it why it did that. It replied:"As of April 28, 2025, OpenAI introduced new shopping features to ChatGPT, enhancing its capabilities to provide product recommendations complete with images, reviews, and direct purchase links. These features are available to all users, including those on Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, and even to users not logged in. The recommendations are generated organically, without paid advertisements or commission-based incentives, relying instead on structured metadata from third-party sources such as pricing, product descriptions, and reviews.​"This update aims to offer a more personalized and streamlined shopping experience directly within the ChatGPT interface, allowing users to explore products across various categories like fashion, beauty, electronics, and home goods. If you have any specific preferences or need tailored recommendations, feel free to let me know!"Other Reddit users were quick to express their displeasure with the new features. In reference to the notice that "The recommendations are generated organically, without paid advertisements or commission-based incentives" User 'crystallin' commented, “I give it less than six months before that changes.”“Good God. Imagine the people using ChatGPT for mental health advice and it starts saying “you know what’ll fix your relationship with your kids? Switching to Allstate”, said Reddit user 'rosencranberry'.

A gradual deterioration

In 2024, the Macquarie Dictionary, the national dictionary of Australia, picked “enshittification” as its word of the year, describing it as “the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.”It should be noted that currently there are no paid adverts or sponsored links attached to any of the shopping features in ChatGPT; however there's nothing to stop these being added in the future.We’re still in the early days of shopping features being added to chatbots, and the AI search engine Perplexity has already made some inroads into adding shopping features, but this is the first time e-commerce features have been added to ChatGPT search.“We’ll continue to bring merchants along our journeys as we quickly learn and iterate”, said OpenAI commenting on the launch of the new features yesterday.

You may also like

Alexa+ early adopter gives their thoughts: "Old Alexa was hot garbage but this new one was a pleasant surprise"OpenAI has fixed ChatGPT's 'annoying' personality update - Sam Altman promises more changes 'in the coming days' which could include an option to choose the AI's behaviorChatGPT just powered-up search for everyone, here are all the new features

Security researchers found dozens of flaws in Apple's AirPlay protocolSome of them allowed remote code execution attacksApple has released patches addressing the flaws

Apple’s AirPlay Protocol and AirPlay Software Development Kit (SDK) carried numerous vulnerabilities that could be abused to run remote code execution (RCE) attacks, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, or denial of service (DoS) attacks. To make matters worse, some of these vulnerabilities could be used in zero-click attacks, meaning to pull it off - no interaction from the victim is required.Cybersecurity researchers Oligo Security found 23 flaws and collectively dubbed them AirBorne. Two of the flaws could be used in RCE attacks, which are now tracked as CVE-2025-24252, and CVE-2025-24132. There is also CVE-2025-24206, a user interaction bypass vulnerability that allows crooks to bypass “Accept” click requirements on AirPlay requests."This means that an attacker can take over certain AirPlay-enabled devices and do things like deploy malware that spreads to devices on any local network the infected device connects to. This could lead to the delivery of other sophisticated attacks related to espionage, ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and more," Oligo warned.

'Vast and concerning'

"Because AirPlay is a fundamental piece of software for Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, etc.) as well as third-party devices that leverage the AirPlay SDK, this class of vulnerabilities could have far-reaching impacts."The potential reach of AirBorne exploitation is “vast and concerning”, CyberInsider argues. The publication claims Apple’s wireless streaming protocol is “critical” to the company’s ecosystem and is operating on 2.35 billion active devices all over the world.It argues that, in theory, a threat actor could compromise a MacBook at a coffee shop, and later use it as a steppingstone into an enterprise network, once the compromised device connects to the company’s Wi-Fi.Apple has since fixed the flaws with iOS and iPadOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and visionOS 2.4. The AirPlay audio SDK, the AirPlay video SDK, and the CarPlay Communication Plug-in have all been updated, as well.Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

Apple fixes dangerous iOS zero days after threats against targeted individualsTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

The Smashing Machine sounds like the title of a Wallace & Gromit stop-motion comedy, but it's going to be a much more brutal experience than anything Feathers McGraw could come up with. It's a biographical drama based on real-life UFC legend Mark Kerr with Dwayne Johnson in the lead role.Kerr himself is very excited: he shared the poster to his Instagram and wrote that he's "in disbelief that this is real". He is "so proud of the work DJ put into becoming The Smashing Machine. I have so much gratitude, humility and respect for every little detail production uncovered."

A post shared by Mark Kerr (@markkerrtsm)A photo posted by on

This isn't the first time Kerr's story has been told on screen. There's another movie about his career which was made back in 2022 – but while the trailer is available to stream (and embedded below), you can't stream the movie, although I'll be amazed if one of the best streaming services doesn't buy the rights when the new movie's publicity starts to pick up steam.

What was the original Smashing Machine?

The 2002 movie, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, was critically acclaimed for its unflinching portrayal of the brutality of some of Kerr's earlier battles, and of Kerr's struggles with addiction.It's a tough watch and of course, it's often very violent. And it sounds like it'll have very little in common tonally with A24's take on the same story.While the new movie isn't out yet, some sites are running stories based on early viewings – and one of them, Worldofreel.com, says it could be the weirdest movie of 2025. According to Jordan Ruimy, "judging by what I’ve heard, there is zero doubt in my mind people are not ready for the type of film in store".Ruimi describes it as "gonzo filmmaking", "not Oscar-bait in the least" and "one of the weirdest films A24 has ever produced." Given that this is the studio that gave us Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommar and The Lighthouse that's quite the claim.

(Image credit: A24)

The A24 movie will be released in theaters on October 3, 2025, and given Warner Bros. Discovery deal with the indie powerhouse, we can expect The Smashing Machine to stream on Max in the US after its box office run.

You may also like

5 must-watch A24 moviesWhy Max is the place for A24 moviesBest Max movies: the 24 finest films to stream this month

Marvel Rivals patch notes arrive every couple of weeks or so, bringing bug fixes, Hero balancing changes, and more general updates. Sometimes, as is the case with the most recent patch, events are added, and certain Heroes receive buffs or nerfs to better bring them in line with the ongoing meta. Season 2's latest patch notes are now live, and they focus on improving the performance of a handful of Strategists.These constant changes to Marvel Rivals help keep Competitive Mode fresh while providing a steady stream of reasons for players to check back in regularly. Since launch, Marvel Rivals has really proven itself as a worthy contender, landing on our list of the best free games and the best crossplay games.Here are the latest Marvel Rivals patch notes for April 30, 2025. These outline buffs to Strategists like Adam Warlock and Mantis, while Captain America receives a nerf to his survivability. Read on for more info.Update (April 30, 2025): Detailed Patch Notes for Marvel Rivals build version 20250430, which adds a new event and some significant buffs to Strategists. There's also a much-welcome change to the ranked points scoring system. More below.

Marvel Rivals patch notes for April 30, 2025

(Image credit: NetEase)

The latest Marvel Rivals patch notes detail changes added to the game on April 30 at 9:00 UTC. The main updates are as follows:

All-New Event - Hellfire Gala: MomentsWinter Soldier - Thunderbolts* Bundle (store)Black Panther - Damisa-Sarki Bundle (store)Thor's "Lord of Asgard" costume has been refined to improve visibility and ensure the crosshair isn't obstructed.Doctor Strange's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" costume now boasts enhanced visual details and voice effects to more accurately capture the essence of the costume theme.You can now switch all costume-specific sound effects back to the default ones via Settings.Using the latest S2.0 data, we've recalibrated the baseline data for calculating each hero's performance scores.Locked accounts can now initiate the account deletion process even from a logged-out state.Hero balancing changes (full info later in this page)

These are just the main updates that arrived in Marvel Rivals alongside the latest patch. For full detail on all bug fixes, visit the Marvel Rivals blog.

Marvel Rivals balancing changes

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Below, you'll find a list of the latest balancing changes in Marvel Rivals, detailing the buffs and nerfs that've been applied to each character.

Captain America - Reduce base health from 650 to 600Doctor Strange - Decrease the energy cost to unleash the Eye of Agamotto (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 3100Groot - Reduce the health of Ironwood Wall from 700 to 600Spider-Man - Decrease the damage range of Amazing Combo from a 5m radius to a 4m radiusWinter Soldier - Adjust the Tainted Voltage ability to have 2 charge levels, while keeping the cooldown time unchangedAdam Warlock - Add a new effect to Quantum Magic: When a critical hit lands on an enemy, reduce the cooldown time of Avatar Life Stream by 1sCloak & Dagger - As Cloak, increase the damage of the Darkforce Cloak from 75/s to 80/s; As Dagger, increase the damage of the Lightforce Dagger on hit from 15 to 18Luna Snow - Adjust the Damage Falloff of Light & Dark Ice from 60% at 40m to 75%Mantis - Increase the hit damage of Life Energy Blast from 50 to 55Stars Aligned (Captain America - Winter Soldier Team Up) - Upon leaping to a teammate, Stellar Impact will provide 50 Bonus Health to allies within range

As you can see, the latest Marvel Rivals Hero balances apply to Strategists, upping their damage, or making their abilities more useful. Winter Soldier and Doctor Strange also get a buff, While Captain America, Groot and Spider-Man receive a slight nerf.

You Might Also Like...

Here's when to expect the next season of Marvel RivalsBest free gamesMarvel Rivals Mutant list: here's all of the playable Mutant Heroes

The first two episodes of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld will premiere in FortniteThey will be free to watch in the game on May 2 ahead of a May 4 Disney+ releasePlayers can also claim a free Stormtrooper skin right now

The first two episodes of the upcoming Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld TV show will premiere in Fortnite, where you will be able to watch them for free ahead of the series' Disney+ launch.As revealed at the recent Star Wars Celebration event, Fortnite: Galactic Battle, the next season of content for the hit battle royale game, will focus on the hit multimedia franchise.Ahead of the launch of Galactic Battle, which will introduce new Star Wars-themed content and gameplay, players will be able to visit the Star Wars Watch Party island on May 2 and see the first two episodes of the upcoming anthology animation series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld.The series will then launch for the paid Disney+ streaming service on May 4, so I wouldn't miss the chance to see some of it for free if you're interested. You will be able to find the island on the Fortnite main menu, or by searching the island code 2124-6713-8076.Those who watch both episodes will be rewarded with the Asajj Ventress Loading Screen. In addition to a screen showing the episodes, the island will feature a score-based Battle Arena with waves of enemies to defeat and a leaderboard for top players.

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If that wasn't enough, you are also able to get your hands on a free skin, the First Order Stormtrooper, right now by linking your Epic and MyDisney accounts.You can learn how to do this and see the eligibility requirements via a dedicated page on the Epic Games website.

You might also like...

Fortnite OG Season 4 release date - here's when the next season comes outForza Horizon 5 shines on PS5, but the Realms update left me wanting moreFinal Fantasy 14 composer Masayoshi Soken discusses his work and reveals why he'd love to make a horror game soundtrack: 'I have the desire to face that challenge'

Broadband provider Virgin Media has issued advice for UK users of its hubThe company warns against placing a router in direct sunlightThis could cause the router to overheat and perform badly – or ‘grind to a halt’ even – and there are other placement issues to consider, too

You might not have ever thought much about the positioning of your Wi-Fi router, but it’s important – particularly as summer is knocking on the door, and some countries are experiencing their first taste of a heatwave.The Independent reports that prompted by the unusually warm April temperatures in the UK, broadband provider Virgin Media has delivered a warning that it really isn’t a good idea to have your router placed in direct sunlight when the weather gets hot. (Or at any time for that matter).Virgin Media issued a statement to say: “Although we test our [broadband] hubs carefully at a range of temperatures, they are better off out of bright sunlight, just like your phone or laptop. If the hub gets too hot, it could slow down your connection or even grind to a halt altogether.”This underlines the point that your router is just like any other piece of hardware – it warms up when used, and has vents and needs to stay cool. Put the device in strong sunlight in a baking hot room, and the results may not be pretty, as Virgin Media suggests.In a similar vein, the statement advises that you shouldn’t stick your router in a cupboard, where again, it might get overly warm due to a lack of ventilation in the heat. Not to mention the fact that placing it in an enclosed space is interfering with the Wi-Fi signal anyway.Other placement advice to avoid interference with the Wi-Fi includes: “Keep the Hub at least 1m away from cordless phones or baby monitors, and as far as possible from big obstructions like cupboards and fish tanks.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Analysis: Tricks to make your router quick (or at least a bit quicker)

Isn’t this all rather alarmist? No, in a word, if your router does get too hot, performance is indeed likely to be impaired. (And it’s not beyond consideration that damage could be caused, too, in cases of extreme heat conditions – something we’re getting more used to seeing these days).Granted, this isn’t the first time Virgin Media has run this advisory, and in fact the company seems to trot this out on a yearly basis (ahead of summer in the UK). But it’s the first time I’ve seen it, and the advice given is good, plus more broadly, we should all think a bit more about the placement of our router.Don’t put it in the sun, for sure, or in a cupboard, or in your TV cabinet, for all the heat-related reasons given above. Similarly, don’t shove the router under your desk – try to have it up reasonably high, not near the floor, and with as few obstructions as possible around the device. Any obstacles near the router will only diminish the Wi-Fi signal, just as sure as overheating will.If you’re in the mood for improving your Wi-Fi in general, you might want to peruse our full guide on how to boost your Wi-Fi signal strength, which includes advice on positioning, as well as technical tweaks you can apply (such as changing Wi-Fi channels). It might be worth considering a Wi-Fi extender in some scenarios, too (such as getting a better signal in your garden for the summer, perhaps).

You might also like...

Best broadband deals for April 2025Wi-Fi 7: everything you need to know about the latest wireless standardWindows 11 24H2 update arrives in preview with important fix for blue screen crashes – but I still wouldn’t rush to install this upgrade

Google observed 75 zero-day bugs last yearMost were used by state-sponsored actorsCountries like China and North Korea were specifically mentioned

In 2024, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) discovered 75 zero-day vulnerabilities, and argued that the majority were used in state-sponsored hacking campaigns. The company made these claims in “Hello zero-day my old friend, a 2024 exploitation analysis” paper published recently.In the report, Google says that the number of zero-day flaws dropped compared to 2023 (from 98 to 75). However, the four-year trend is that the rate of zero-day exploitation “continues to grow at a slow but steady pace.”While consumer devices continue to be the most attacked targets, there is an increase in adversaries exploiting enterprise-specific technologies. In 2023, roughly a third (37%) of zero-days targeted enterprise products, jumping to 44% last year. This, Google says, is primarily fueled by the increased exploitation of security and networking software and appliances.

Governments at it again

In fact, zero-day vulnerabilities in security software and appliances were a high-value target in 2024. Google says it identified 20 security and networking flaws, which was over 60% of all zero-day exploitation of enterprise technologies. Since the exploitation of these products results in a more efficient and extensive system and network compromise, Google expects threat actors’ focus on these technologies to continue growing.The biggest abusers of zero-day vulnerabilities are the governments, Google says. “Between government-backed groups and customers of commercial surveillance vendors, actors conducting cyber espionage operations accounted for over 50% of the vulnerabilities we could attribute in 2024,” the report says.Google singled out China as a major player in this regard, but also mentioned North Korea, whose operatives mixed espionage with financially motivated operations.The number of Windows exploits rose to 22 (from 16 the year before), while on Safari and iOS it fell (from 11 and 9 to 3 and 2). Android retained its “lucky number” 7, as did Chrome. Firefox was up from zero in 2023 to one in 2024.Via Ars Technica

You might also like

Businesses must act now to address the zero day surgeTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

X (formerly Twitter) has been leaning into video content more and more since Elon Musk took over. The latest shift, announced by X's engineering account, sees the platform rolling out 4K video uploads to some of its creators.

The new video resolution should soon be available for all premium subscribers. Currently, they can share videos in 1080p that are a max of 8GB in size and about three hours in length. X has also taken steps such as creating a vertical videos feed a la TikTok and Instagram Reels.

We're starting to roll out 4k video uploads for some creators. Coming soon for all @Premium subscribers!— Engineering (@XEng) April 29, 2025

If you're one of the many people done with the platform — and want nothing to do with Musk — then you can delete your X account. We have a step-by-step guide on how to fully deactivate your profile and clear most of your tweets (posts?) from X. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/x-is-bringing-4k-video-uploads-to-premium-subscribers-120044356.html?src=rss

Immersion blenders (or hand blenders) might not be absolutely essential in every good kitchen arsenal. But they can unlock faster and easier ways of making soups, smoothies, sauces and more. Plus, they’re smaller than their countertop brethren, which often makes them a better choice for RVs, boats or apartments where space is a premium. Finally, because cleaning them is usually as simple as running them in a bowl of hot soapy water, there’s less hassle, too. To help you figure out which immersion blender is right for you, we’ve put together a list of our favorite models across a variety of needs and use cases.

Best immersion blenders for 2025

Which immersion blender is right for you?

Before you even think about buying a new kitchen appliance, it’s important to figure out how you’re going to use it and where it fits in with any gadgets you already own. In an ideal world, everyone would have a dedicated food processor, countertop blender and a stand mixer. But the reality is that many people don’t have the room or the budget.

While handheld blenders and traditional, full-size blenders have a lot of overlap, there are strengths and weaknesses to both. For example, if you’re looking to make smoothies every day, a countertop blender might be a better choice. The bigger pitchers make it easier to blend drinks for multiple people at once, while larger motors will make short work of ice and frozen fruit. Additionally, more expensive options like those from Vitamix, All-Clad, Ninja or Robocoupe can even cook soup during the blending process using the heat generated from the blender’s motor, which isn’t something you can do with an immersion model. I’d even go so far as to say that if you have the space for it and don’t already own one, a regular blender is probably the best option for most people.

That said, immersion blenders are often less expensive and, thanks to a wide variety of accessories offered by some manufacturers, they can be great multitaskers. A whisk attachment allows you to make whipped cream or meringues quickly without needing an electric hand mixer, or risk getting tendonitis in your elbow doing it manually. Some immersion blenders also come with food processing bowls, so you can easily throw together things like small batches of hummus, salad dressings or homemade pesto in minutes. And because immersion blenders are smaller and less bulky than traditional models, they're a great choice for apartment dwellers or anyone with limited storage or counter space. That means if you’re simply trying to expand your culinary repertoire without blowing up your budget, an immersion blender can be a great way to try something new without committing too hard.

Corded or cordless?

Similar to figuring out if you should get a blender or not, trying to decide between a corded or cordless model depends a lot on the other gadgets you already own. Corded versions typically have more powerful motors, which makes them great for people who don’t have a countertop blender or food processor. But if you do own one of both of those, cordless is the way to go. Not only do you get the convenience of not worrying about wires, but the ease of use makes it fast and easy to whip out your immersion blender to add some extra texture to a sauce, or puree a large pot of soup without having to do it in batches.

A quick word about safety

No one should be ashamed of being nervous around a device that is essentially a motorized blending wand with a spinning blade at the end. But with proper care and use, an immersion blender doesn’t have to be much more dangerous than a chef’s knife. The most important safety tip is to make sure you always keep the sharp blades pointed down and away from you or anyone else nearby. That includes your hands, along with any utensils (like a spoon), that might be in or around your mixing bowl.

Thankfully, all consumer immersion blenders are designed to prevent their blade from directly hitting the vessel holding your food (be it a mixing bowl or a pot). However, to be extra safe, you should avoid blending things in glass containers or nonstick cookware, as glass can chip or shatter while the metal blades and shroud of an immersion blender can damage teflon and ceramic.

You’ll also want to make sure you keep water away from the plug or outlet of corded immersion blenders. And if you want to remove the blade or clear away any food that might have gotten tangled, first make sure the blender is off, disconnected from its power source (either its battery or wall socket) and in safety mode with a lock button or other feature.

On the bright side, cleaning an immersion is rather simple and straightforward. All you have to do is fill up a bowl or cup with soapy water, submerge the immersion blender, and then run it for 10 to 20 seconds. That’s it. If it’s still not clean, you can repeat that process again until it is. And if hand washing is too much work, the blending wand on a lot of models (including all of the ones on this list) are dishwasher safe too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/best-immersion-blenders-150006296.html?src=rss

Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak's charges in Greece have been dropped after a two year legal battleThe charges were in connection to alleged internet offences by an unknown user in June 2023Sak was accused of "illegal access to electronic data"

Windscribe has won a landmark case in Greece after a two-year legal battle, in a win for no-log VPNs.Windscribe's Co-Founder and CEO, Yegor Sak, was charged in connection with an alleged internet offence perpetrated by an unknown user in June 2023. On April 11, 2025, an Athens Court decided to dismiss the case against Sak for lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.

Our legal battle is over. A few years back, some idiot used our VPN to do idiot things. Greece then decided to charge the Windscribe CEO @yegor for the crimes because it was his name on the VPN server bill. No logs existed of anything. Case dismissed. https://t.co/IPw0RKWgnRApril 25, 2025

As per the official legal document shared by Windscribe with TechRadar, Sak was accused of "illegal access to electronic data" to send mass spam emails.An anonymous user allegedly used a Windscribe-owned server in Finland to breach a website in Greece and launch the attacks.According to Sak, however, Greek authorities didn't issue any subpoena to the VPN company, as the norm requires. Instead, they directly charged Sak, the account holder of the Finland data center involved in the criminal activity."This sets a concerning precedent for anyone who owns servers that could be used by others," said Sak. "If upheld, it could have criminalised infrastructure ownership for actions taken by anonymous users."

Not only a Windscribe victory

The case against Windscribe was dismissed for lack of evidence that either the VPN company or Sak himself had committed any wrongdoing. This isn't only a victory for Windscribe, though."This was not just about me," said Sak. "It was about drawing a hard line around the role of privacy infrastructure providers. As we do not log user activity, we cannot hand over what we do not have."

Some say VPNs should be banned because a few people misuse them, but that's a rather misguided approachYegor Sak, Windscribe

A no-log VPN is a guarantee that the provider never stores or tracks users' activities and any other data that can identify them. This means that providers cannot share any information with law enforcement when asked, as these details simply do not exist.A few companies before Windscribe have proved the legitimacy of this feature in real life over the years. For example, Mullvad did so in 2023 after being hit by an inconclusive police raid. Private Internet Access (PIA) also proved its no-log claims twice in Court.The main goal of virtual private network (VPN) software is to keep people anonymous when they browse the web. This is why EU experts have deemed these services a "key challenge" to the work of law enforcement, with lawmakers currently considering whether data retention requirements should be changed.Sak, however, now reiterates Windscribe's commitment to users' privacy and transparency. He said: "Some say VPNs should be banned because a few people misuse them, but that's a rather misguided approach. By that logic, we should also ban hammers and cars."

You might also like

The VPN industry reacts to the EU's plan for end-to-end encryption backdoorsPakistan grants first VPN licenses in a bid to regulate VPN usage in the countrySurfshark has launched a free, privacy-first, public DNS service

Toyota and Waymo have announced that they've entered a preliminary agreement, along with the former's mobility tech subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, Inc. To be clear, they're not in the midst of developing anything yet — they're still exploring a potential collaboration between them. Ultimately, however, the goal is to develop a new autonomous vehicle platform together, presumably for robotaxies. They're also aiming to "leverage Waymo's autonomous technology and Toyota's vehicle expertise" for future personal vehicles.

In their announcement, the companies said they're looking to incorporate aspects of Waymo's technology into Toyota vehicles meant for sale to consumers, as well as to accelerate the development and adoption of driver assistance and automated driving technologies. Waymo's work, so far, has been focused on developing robotaxis that riders can hail through an app. The Alphabet-owned company currently operates Waymo One, a fully autonomous ride-hailing service, in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. It deploys Waymo One vehicles through Uber in Austin, and it's planning to expand the service to Las Vegas, San Diego, Miami and Atlanta sometime this year. This potential partnership could expand the reach of Waymo's tech.

"Waymo's mission is to be the world's most trusted driver. This requires global partners like Toyota that share our commitment to improving road safety and expanding accessible transportation. We look forward to exploring this strategic partnership, incorporating their vehicles into our ride-hailing fleet and bringing the magic of Waymo's autonomous driving technology to Toyota customers," said Tekedra Mawakana, the co-CEO of Waymo. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/toyota-and-waymo-pledge-to-team-up-on-a-new-autonomous-vehicle-platform-123032289.html?src=rss

Google Wallet has supported copies of US passports since December and now its UK residents' turn. The company has announced that UK passports will soon be available as digital passes in Google Wallets on Android devices.

To start, Google is partnering with Rail Delivery Group, which provides Railcards — or discount passes — for a range of travelers. Applying for a Railcard requires identity verification (some of them are also age-based) and individuals should be able to use their digital ID for proof.

Google also announced further updates and features to its Wallet. More states, including Montana and Arkansas, will soon have the ability to put their government IDs in their Google Wallet, and places like Georgia and Maryland will be able to use their digital IDs at the DMV. While travelers can use US passports stored on Google Wallet at select airports, Google cautions that ID passes for UK passports won't work at TSA for now.

The company is also bringing Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology to Google Wallet. It should also for quick age verification while "ensuring there is no way to link the age back to your identity." Google might use it with its own products or when verifying a person's age on partner apps. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-wallet-adds-support-for-uk-passports-123019945.html?src=rss

Spotify and record labels have been hyping "superfan" tiers for some timeSpotify's Daniel Ek now appears to be managing expectations: it's not arriving imminentlyHe says they need their partners to work with them on it

Has Spotify shelved its own 'Superfan' subscription tier? It certainly sounds like it: during the streamer's latest financial earnings call, Daniel Ek responded to a question about "a Superfan product" by saying that the existing subscription plans on offer were "plenty enough for us".As we reported back in February, Spotify was expected to launch a "superfan" premium tier this year; record company bosses and Ek have talked about it a few times, and in November 2024 Ek responded to a question about it by saying, "I can’t get into specifics, but I think I’ve left enough breadcrumbs for you guys to get excited by."The most likely reason for the sudden downgrade in the excitement department? Record companies and concert promoters.

Spotify has discussed offering early access to concert tickets for "superfan" users (Image credit: Spotify)

What's stalling Superfan?

When asked "can you share more details about what makes you enthusiastic about the product and when it may be available in the market?", chief business officer Alex Nostrom replied:"Now with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we've mentioned before. So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as a really opens up new opportunities to delight users matters. A new value-to-price ratio, if you will. And of course, we need alignment and support from our industry partners to offer these kinds of new experiences to our users."Daniel Ek then explained how the superfan concept could be "a huge part for the music industry" but "this is really one where I would put, again, the emphasis is for the superfan, we do need the partners to come to the table and be part of this journey."You don't need to be a weatherman to work out which way the wind is blowing here: everybody thinks superfan tiers will make a ton of money and the record companies want the lion's share of it.According to Hypebot, Spotify – and other streamers – have also tried to get ticketing giant Live Nation on board so that superfans would get early access to concert tickets.That could be a really big deal, because presales are big business. But Live Nation doesn't seem particularly excited at the prospect of getting yet another presale partner on board.Asked about such deals, CEO Michael Rapino using a lot of words where he could probably have just shrugged instead: "Spotify and Apple and Amazon, they’ve approached us, we’ve talked to them all, about ideas on if they wanted inventory. There’s a cost to that and we would entertain and look at that option if it made sense for us in comparison to other options we have for that presale which is a very valuable asset.”So until that impasse is, uh, passed it looks like there will be a wait for these new kinds of subscriptions. Ek said in the earnings call, "I think you should expect for the near term and midterm growth […] just working on our existing subscriptions, the family plans, all of these things [are] plenty enough for us."

You might also like

Spotify HiFi: release date rumors, price predictions, and everything we know so far Spotify's price may rise in some countries – and you might also pay more for Premium 'add-ons' soon anywayNo, Spotify Premium won't be getting ads: subscribers can relax as Spotify debunks rumors

During an earnings call, Samsung's chief financial officer Soon-cheol Park told reporters that "ongoing uncertainty surrounding US tariff policies continues to pose a potential risk of demand slowdown." According to Financial Times, Park said that US tariff policies and stronger export controls against artificial intelligence products are expected to have an impact on product demand in the second half of the year. In addition to a downward trend on sales, the company also expects tariffs to raise prices for the components it uses on its mobile phones, which will have further impact on its revenue.

Samsung's call discussed its results for the first quarter of 2025, which ended on March 31. The company posted KRW 79.14 trillion in revenue ($55.6 billion), an all-time quarterly high mostly due to strong Galaxy S25 sales. It also posted KRW 6.7 trillion ($4.7 billion) in profit, which is slightly lower than the previous quarter's KRW 6.5 trillion ($4.6 billion).

Despite the record revenue, Samsung's chip business already took a hit due to tougher US export controls to China on chips used in hardware for artificial intelligence. The division posted KRW 1.1 trillion ($774 million) in operating profit, down from KRW 2.9 trillion ($2 billion) last quarter. Financial Times previously reported that Samsung had a boost in profit in the first quarter of the year thanks to Chinese customers stockpiling memory chips ahead of US tariffs, but the impact of US export restrictions overshadowed the increase in orders. The publication has also noted that the tariffs the US will be imposing on semiconductors and consumer electronics will lead to an increase in prices of its smartphones and TVs, which are mostly made in Vietnam and Mexico, respectively. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/samsung-says-us-tariffs-will-affect-prices-and-demand-for-smartphones-and-memory-chips-124537214.html?src=rss

Andor actor Faye Marsay has had her say on season 2 episode 6's most shocking momentThe Star Wars show's latest act includes a moment that impacts Vel more than mostMarsay says the event will impact Vel's character arc moving forward

Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episode 6.

Andor star Faye Marsay has revealed how Cinta's death will impact her character Vel's story throughout the rest of season 2.Speaking to TechRadar prior to Andor season 2's launch, Marsay suggested that the shocking event will leave a lasting impression on Vel, not least because of the Romeo and Juliet-style nature of the relationship she had with Varada Sethu's Cinta.Cinta's demise is a heart-breaking and character-defining moment for Vel. Despite their estrangement in Andor season 1's latter half, and Cinta's decision not to contact Vel before suddenly appearing on Chandrila to kidnap (and presumably kill) Mon Mothma's long-time friend Tay in season 2 episode 3, the romantically entangled pair still clearly care for each other.The evidence for that is on full display in their eventual reunion on Ghorman in this season's sixth chapter, titled 'What a Festive Evening'. After Cassian refuses to do Luthen's bidding – essentially, help to incite a riot that might lead to the death of hundreds of Ghorman's citizens – Luthen sends Vel and Cinta to Ghorman to aid its burgeoning resistance to the Galactic Empire.

Vel and Cinta's reunion is described as "beautifully human" by Marsay's co-star Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

It's a decision that proves fatal for Cinta, and might be devastating enough for Vel to reconsider her loyalty to Luthen.Indeed, after a couple of heart-to-hearts that result in the duo rekindling their relationship, Vel and Cinta assist Ghorman's gang of freedom fighters in covertly disrupting an Empire convoy, stealing the arms that said convoy is shipping through Ghorman's streets, and escaping into the night.That would be the case, anyway, if this wasn't a trap laid by the Empire's Imperial Security Bureau. Long story short, a Ghorman citizen loyal to the Empire interrupts the rebels' attack, a scuffle ensues and, amid the confusion, Cinta is accidentally shot and killed by a member of the Ghorman resistance.

RIP, Cinta (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

In a Star Wars TV series that's already delivered its fair share of tragedies – I'm still pouring one out for Basso following his death in this season's third episode – it's another telling blow to the resistance. For Vel, Cinta's death is even more personal, and it may prove to be a turning point in the Disney+ show that might force her to reconsider her allegiances to Luthen and the Rebel Alliance."For Vel, the rebellion has always comes first," Marsay told me when I asked about the latest soul-destroying event in one of the best Disney+ shows. "The only time that's really tested is with this relationship with Cinta. Other than the rebellion, it's the only thing she could've chosen.

Cinta and Vel's time together could have been so different (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

"But, Cinta is stuck in the mindset of 'the rebellion comes first' and Val suffers for that," Marsay continued. "It's a relationship that they want, but can't have."Once Cinta is no longer with us, Vel really doesn't have anything else to live for. In itself, that's really sad because now she has a decision to make. She can either put her energy into the thing that, right from the beginning, she's believed so passionately in, or walk away from it completely. You'll see what decision she makes in the episodes still to come."Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 6 are out now. Three more episodes will arrive on May 6/7, with the final trio being released on May 13/14.

You might also like

Andor season 2 is laying the groundwork for one of the most mysterious and tragic events in Star Wars historyFind out how to watch the Star Wars movies in orderGet the lowdown on all of the new Star Wars movies and TV shows that are in production

US automakers will get some relief from US President Donald Trump's tariffs, according to a new White House fact sheet. Prior to his new executive order, manufacturers had to pay a 25 percent tariff on any parts used in any US-assembled vehicles. Now, they'll be able to deduct up to an amount equal to 3.75 percent of the price of a new US made car until April 30, 2026, and 2.5 percent until April 30, 2027. In addition, automakers will only be required to pay tariffs on steel or auto parts (not both as before), depending on which is higher.

The new rules reportedly came at the request of manufacturers, who said they need time to move parts production to the US. "We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term. We didn’t want to penalize them," Trump told reporters.

The 3.75 percent figures was reached by multiplying 15 percent of imported parts that make up a vehicle's sale price by the current 25 percent import tax. So if a $40,000 car had $6,000 or 15 percent of imported parts, the manufacturer would effectively pay no tariffs, but any higher percentage of foreign parts would result in some tariff being paid. The White House said the rebates wouldn't cost taxpayers anything since they'd come out of tariffs collected.

The White House pointed out that the US trade deficit on auto parts was $93.5 billion in 2024. A large chunk of those ($19.5 billion worth) came from Canada, and large numbers of US vehicles are also built in that country. However, the reason that US automakers manufacture cars and car parts in Canada is because it's cheaper, largely because of the high cost of employee healthcare in the US. So, even if automakers manufacture more parts in the US, car prices are still likely to go up.

The average price for a new vehicle in the US was $47,462 last month, according to The Associated Press. One noted analyst predicted that the original 25 percent tariffs could add $4,711 to the cost of a vehicle, while also boosting the cost of ownership and maintenance. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/trump-temporarily-eases-car-tariffs-following-automaker-complaints-130011086.html?src=rss

Geopolitical tensions are impacting US companies especiallyExpectations about AI are not realisticNetworks need major upgrades

Nearly one in five US organizations have experienced security incidents as a result of their AI deployments according to new research commissioned by Expereo.The report reveals how two in five (41%) organizations struggle to find and retain cybersecurity talent, yet cybersecurity is a close second when it comes to investment priorities at 38%, compared with networking and connectivity (43%).More broadly, ongoing geopolitical tensions are also affecting how organizations go about deploying artificial intelligence, with 50% noting the impact of such events on their growth strategies.

Rushed AI deployments are becoming costly

Before it even gets to the point of a potential breach, the research reveals how one in three global CIOs believe boards have unrealistic expectations about AI's impact - and more than a quarter (27%) of US tech leaders feel similarly.This is a trend that appears to be more of a concern abroad, with 28% of global technology executives saying AI expectations are growing faster than their ability to meet them – above the US average of 23%.Over half (52% globally, 53% in the US) agree that their network connectivity is not ready for new technologies like AI, with more respondents concerned about network performance limitations than last year.As if AI-induced cybersecurity concerns aren't enough, ongoing trade wars continue to add further complexity. One-third (34%) of global tech leaders have had to reassess their infrastructure due to geopolitical risks, with 37% noting the affect of such disruptions on their growth strategies – a figure that climbs considerably to 50% in the US."While the potential of AI is immense, its successful integration requires careful planning. Technology leaders must recognize the need for robust networks and connectivity infrastructure to support AI at scale, while also ensuring consistent performance across these networks," Expire CEO Ben Elms commented.Looking ahead, cybersecurity isn't the only consideration for businesses when it comes to adopting AI tools. AI governance, the pace of change and inadequate capabilities are among the three biggest external hurdles, with employee resistance still affecting companies internally.

You might also like

Over half of UK businesses who replaced workers with AI regret their decisionBoost device cybersecurity with the best endpoint protection softwareFind new workers with the best job sites

TSMC starts work on its third semiconductor manufacturing facilityEasier permit acquisition and tariffs influenced the move, says US Commerce SecretaryTSMC's quarterly revenue was up 41.6%, but it's still keeping an eye on tariff-induced worries

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has started construction of a third chip plant in Arizona according to South China Morning Post reporting, as the company continues to expand operations in the US.The announcement coincided with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's visit to the site, highlighting the political significance of TSMC's US investment amid the ongoing trade war.Driven by Trump's push for domestic manufacturing, supported by hefty tariffs on imports from certain countries, the project marks the largest foreign investment in US history.

TSMC invests in more US chip manufacturing

Though TSMC flies under the radar among consumers, the Taiwanese company is a key supplier for Apple and Nvidia. Domesticating manufacturing within the US would certainly help the companies that rely on TSMC keep costs down amid fears that tariffs could impact sales.In March 2025, the company announced plans to invest $100 billion in the US semiconductor manufacturing industry over the next four years, adding to its existing $65 billion investment in Arizona.Speaking with CNBC, Lutnick criticized slow permit and regulation processes that previously hampered companies' efforts to move to the US. "And what you saw today is they needed a couple of permits. We got those permits super fast. And here we go. They’re building it. So that’s the idea," Lutnick said.Reiterating that TSMC's plans mark the "largest foreign direct investment ever made in the United States of America," Lutnick stressed that domesticating manufacturing acts in the name of national security.Besides upcoming efforts, TSMC's CEO CC Wei confirmed in this month's quarterly earnings call that its second plant is already ramping up operations. Its first plant has also entered high-volume production, with yield matching those in Taiwan.TSMC confirmed earlier this month that its first-quarter revenue rose a staggering 41.6%. CFO Wendell Huang added: "While we have not seen any changes in our customers’ behavior so far, uncertainties and risks from the potential impact from tariff policies exist."

You might also like

We've listed the best processors you should consider in your next upgradeAccess powerful chips with the best cloud computing servicesIBM plans $150 billion in US investment over next five years

Trailers have been released for upcoming horror movies Fear Street: Prom Queen and Weapons The movies will be released on May 23 and August 8, respectivelyFear Street: Prom Queen is a Netflix release, while Weapons is coming to theaters

We've got plenty of great new movies coming up this year, and after seeing the trailers for Weapons and Fear Street: Prom Queen, I've got quite the list to look forward to.First up, Barbarian's director – Zach Creggor – is bringing us Weapons, which everyone is talking about due to that insane trailer and viral marketing website MaybookMissing.net, which features a fun reference to Barbarian.We've also got the highly anticipated Fear Street: Prom Queen, following on from Netflix's excellent horror series of movies, based on the books by R. L. Stine, which also saw its trailer drop today.I wasn't sure anything could top TechRdar's best horror movies of 2024, but it seems we're truly spoiled this year too. Let's take a closer look at these great trailers.

What do we know so far about Weapons?

Julia Garner is in her horror era lately, following on from her great performance in Leigh Whannell's Wolf Man. In Weapons, she plays a school teacher whose entire class disappears at the exact same time.In the trailer, you can see CCTV footage showing the school kids running in disturbingly inhuman poses – it's like T-posing in video games, but worse.Weapons has quickly shot to the top of my horror must-watches this year because all the teasers so far have me hooked. The trailer gives us flashes of disturbing imagery without spoiling the plot, I need to know what's going on.Weapons is scheduled to be released on August 8, 2025, before eventually likely streaming on Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service Max and hopefully becoming one of the best Max movies.

What do we know so far about Fear Street: Prom Queen?

You can thank Carrie for making prom night utterly disturbing. But before Mike Flanagan's TV adaptation of Stephen King's novel releases on Prime Video, Netflix is bringing us Fear Street: Prom Queen.Much like Weapons, this movie is centered around a school and also has the potential to become one of the best Netflix movies. Just like the Fear Street trilogy of movies, there's trouble again at Shadyside High (and with a name like that, why wouldn't there be? Shady indeed).As prom approaches, all the coolest girls are fighting for the crown, but they'll soon start fighting for their lives instead when all the candidates start to disappear. Someone out there is hoping it'll be a killer prom from all the wrong reasons.Fear Street: Prom Queen will be available to stream on Netflix on May 23.

You might also like

I'm obsessed with Netflix's new horror comedy movie that has glowing reviewsPSA: Here are Netflix’s secret codes to see all its horror movies and shows28 Years Later looks like it will be the horror movie of the year in new trailer

The human eye perceives a 300-nit OLED the same as a brighter, 500-nit LED screen, Samsung Display claimsSamsung's claim has been verified by UL Solutions, a global safety science companyBut OLEDs with higher actual light output are needed for more reasons than just 'perceived' brightness

Humans perceive a 300-nit OLED screen as having the same brightness as a 500-nit LED screen due to the great contrast ratio of OLED, according to Samsung Display.Samsung Display made the claim regarding its own 300-nit QD-OLED panels. It also says its 500-nit QD-OLED panels were perceived the same as 767-nit LED screens, meaning a 1.5x perceived brightness increase on both panels, as reported by FlatpanelsHD.It's worth noting that the quoted nit figure refers to fullscreen brightness, not peak brightness, which would be a much higher figure on both OLED and LED screens.Samsung Display manufactures the QD-OLED panels used in some of the best OLED TVs and best gaming monitors, as well as RGB OLED screens for some of the best phones.The firm has had the claim verified by UL Solutions, a global safety science company.Perceived brightness can be quantified using the Perceptual Contrast Length (PCL) metric, which accounts for perceived contrast. When a bright pixel is next to a true black pixel, like in OLED, it appears brighter than a white pixel next to a similar pixel on an LED screen, which typically is more of a dark gray than black.This perceived brightness claim could be seen as a win for OLED, especially after many years of being considered as falling behind LED screens when it comes to brightness in TVs. But while it's great for image quality, it doesn't help the real reason people like me have been hoping OLED TVs would become brighter.

The OLED brightness saga

A mid-range W-OLED TV (left) can't compete in brightness with a flagship mini-LED (right), despite similar pricing and specs. (Image credit: Future)

OLED has become one of the most popular display panel technologies in recent years, and is featured in some of the best TVs on the market thanks to its superb contrast and vibrant color display.One area OLED has always lagged is brightness. Only a few years ago, the most elite OLED TV would struggle to hit 1,000 nits peak brightness, which would be a breeze for the best mini-LED TVs. That has changed in recent years, with flagship OLEDs such as the LG G5 now surpassing 2,000 nits peak brightness (we measured 2,268 nits in Filmmaker Mode on a 10% HDR white window pattern in our LG G5 review), putting them right in line with their mini-LED rivals.However, fullscreen brightness remains an obstacle for entry-level and mid-range OLEDs. I measured the LG C5 at 195 nits in Filmmaker Mode on a fullscreen (100%) HDR white window pattern, which is easily beaten by entry-level mini-LEDs such as the Hisense U6N (measured at 580 nits in the same conditions).The LG G5, alongside the Samsung S95D from 2024, both exceeded 300 nits when measured with the same fullscreen pattern in Filmmaker Mode, meaning these would fit Samsung's claims (although Samsung only made the claim in reference to its own panels).While higher perceived brightness is a benefit to OLED screens, Samsung's claim is only relevant to picture quality, and that's not where fullscreen brightness matters. There's one thing that brighter, flagship OLEDs can do that mid-range OLEDs simply can't: reduce screen reflections.

Screen reflections: OLED's enemy

The LG G5 exhibits significantly higher full screen brightness, which is ideal for beating reflections (Image credit: Future)

Anyone who has used a typical OLED TV in even a mildly bright viewing environment will tell you just how reflective an OLED TV's screen can be.Testing TVs day in-day-out, I can confirm just how troublesome OLEDs can be in this regard compared to LED screens.Though there are ways of beating these mirror-like reflections – moving a light, for example – sometimes they can't be eliminated. TV manufacturers have made strides to combat reflections, however, such as Samsung with its excellent OLED Glare Free screen. But what would actually solve the issue is an OLED panel with higher fullscreen brightness.Mini-LED and even some LED screens typically have fullscreen brightness much higher than OLED, and for that reason, don't suffer from reflections.The LG G5, which uses LG's new 'four-stack' OLED panel, is one example of a brighter OLED, and it does a better job of limiting reflections compared to a standard W-OLED screen. But the LG C5, a step-down model from the G5, suffered from reflections during my testing, proving that a brighter panel can aid in beating reflections.A brighter panel is also useful for watching sports in daytime conditions. It's no coincidence that a lot of our best TVs for sport are mini-LED! Sports benefits from a brighter image, so again a brighter panel is preferred.So yes, while a confirmation of higher perceived brightness is good news for OLED picture quality, it's not the main reason I've hoped for OLEDs with higher actual brightness. That reason would be beating screen reflections in bright viewing environments.

You might also like

I compared the LG G5 to one of the best mid-range OLED TVs, and the results surprised meI tested Samsung's new flagship OLED TV, and it fixes my one key flaw with its predecessor, and has mind-blowing brightnessI tested a mid-range OLED and a flagship mini-LED 4K TV side by side – here's what you need to know before you buy

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #689).

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 Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.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 #690) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

POCKETSHAKEPURSEPANPOTDOLLYFUNPRIZETRAVELBREAKBITEKICKZOOMDROPREWARDTILT

NYT Connections today (game #690) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: What you get for being champGREEN: Cut it out BLUE: Film-makingPURPLE: Miniature versions

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 #690) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: WINNINGS GREEN: STOP, AS A HABIT BLUE: MOVIE CAMERA VERBSPURPLE: WORDS THAT PRECEDE "-SIZE" TO MEAN SMALL

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

NYT Connections today (game #690) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #690, are…

YELLOW: WINNINGS POT, PRIZE, PURSE, REWARDGREEN: STOP, AS A HABIT BREAK, DROP, KICK, SHAKEBLUE: MOVIE CAMERA VERBS DOLLY, PAN, TILT, ZOOMPURPLE: WORDS THAT PRECEDE "-SIZE" TO MEAN SMALL BITE, FUN, POCKET, TRAVEL

My rating: HardMy score: 3 mistakes

All three of my mistakes came in the same group: MOVIE CAMERA VERBS.My first hunch when I saw the grid of 16 words was that there was a group about photography, but I kept getting it wrong – at first thinking it was Photoshop tools, then something to do with special effects.It wasn’t until I’d trimmed my options down to eight words that I realised DOLLY was a movie-making word, although I didn’t realise it was a type of shot; I thought the equipment was a dolly.A frustrating round, then, even more so as I missed a purple group that I really should have got. Roll on tomorrow.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, April 30, game #689)

YELLOW: PARTS OF A SHOE HEEL, SOLE, TONGUE, UPPERGREEN: ACCOMMODATION CAPACITY, CHAIRS, ROOM, SEATINGBLUE: REPUTATION FACE, IMAGE, REGARD, STANDINGPURPLE: ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "YUCK" DYNASTY, ENGROSS, GIMMICK, MILDEW

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.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #423).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I get around

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

STEARROASTSOREDORKCOALSCORE

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 6th rowLast side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #424) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #424, are…

SKATEBOARDBICYCLEROLLERBLADESSCOOTERWAGONSPANGRAM: WHEELIE

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

I don’t think I will ever fail to be impressed by the sight of someone popping a WHEELIE.Perhaps because I’ve never been able to do it myself, I view it as some kind of low-level super power – not that it would be much use in a crime-fighting scenario.The other day I saw someone riding a BICYCLE with no hands while eating from a bag of chips. Less spectacular, but full marks from me. Yet exactly the kind of thing my dad would have told me off about and muttered something along the lines of “you’ll be laughing when you break both of your legs”.Anyway, I digress away from one of Strands’ easier days, with little in the way of stunts or odd words to get the hump about. A freewheeling kind of day, in fact.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, April 30, game #423)

EYESDRESSEDSMILECOUPLEATHLETEFRIENDSHAIRSPANGRAM: YEARBOOK

What is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #1192).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• I• E• S• D

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

Quordle today (game #1193) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1193, are…

IDIOMEXILESPOOFDRAPE

A very close call for me today after a long winning streak.I got really unlucky with SPOOF; after deducing that there was a double-O, I guessed incorrectly three times, leaving me with no margin for error with the remaining word.On such a tricky round I just knew that the Quordle gods were going to sneak in a rare letter, and so it proved.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1193) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1193, are…

NEVERRULERCOMMASHIRE

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWNQuordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSEQuordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNTQuordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDEQuordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICKQuordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPHQuordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRNQuordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFTQuordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEEQuordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACHQuordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUEQuordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULTQuordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTOQuordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURTQuordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUTQuordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAYQuordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCEQuordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOPQuordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THINGQuordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY

GreyNoise saw a significant increase in scanning activityIPs from Singapore are looking for exposed Git config files, also in SingaporeThe files could contain sensitive information such as login credentials and access tokens

Singaporean threat actors are on the hunt for organizations in the country that can be broken into and exploited, according to cybersecurity researchers GreyNoise, who recently observed a significant spike in reconnaissance activity.In a new analysis, published earlier this week, GreyNoise said that on April 20-21, it witnessed a significant increase in IP addresses scanning for exposed Git configuration files. In that timeframe, it saw 4,800 unique IP addresses doing the scanning, which is a “substantial increase compared to typical levels”.Most of the IPs originated in Singapore, although some were in the US, Germany, UK, and the Netherlands. They were mostly scanning through IPs in Singapore, as well, but also in the US, UK, Germany, and India.

Hunting for Git secrets

Git configuration files usually include sensitive information such as user email addresses, access tokens, authentication credentials, and remote repository URLs that embed usernames or tokens. As such, they are useful to cybercriminals in the reconnaissance and preparation stages of cyberattacks.Software developers will sometimes forget to prevent public access to these files, exposing the secrets to anyone who knows where to look. As BleepingComputer reminds, this is exactly what happened in October 2024, when Sysdig reported a large-scale operation that scanned for exposed Git config files and grabbed 15,000 cloud account credentials from thousands of private repositories.“In some cases, if the full .git directory is also exposed, attackers may be able to reconstruct the entire codebase — including commit history, which may contain confidential information, credentials, or sensitive logic,” GreyNoise explained.To mitigate the risk, the researchers advise software devs make sure .git/ directories are not accessible via public web servers, and to block access to hidden files and folders in web server configurations. Furthermore, they suggest devs monitor logs for repeated requests to .git/config and similar paths, and to rotate any credentials exposed in version control history.Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

Businesses must act now to address the zero day surgeTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers