News

Nvidia's new 572:xx Game Ready Drivers are reportedly causing issues in InZoi and The First Beserk: Khazan gamesIssues appear to occur on RTX 4000 and RTX 3000 GPUsGame developers have advised previous-gen GPU users to use driver version 566.36 instead

If it wasn't evident enough already, Nvidia's recent Game Ready Drivers have frustrated users with persistent black screens and performance issues: I've already suggested gamers stay away until a resolution is found. Now, there's arguably even more of a reason to do so.As reported by Wccftech, InZoi and The First Beserk: Khazan game developers on Steam are advising RTX 4000 and RTX 3000 series GPU users to avoid Nvidia's 572:xx drivers due to performance issues resulting in frame drops and stuttering. On Steam, both developers advise rolling back to driver version 566.36 if issues with the new drivers persist.This comes after several complaints from users with the new drivers installed, many of whom have had black screens occur when installing or booting into Windows 11. More importantly here, it's the performance in these games that has raised concerns from devs, which is a surprise, to say the least.It doesn't help that the latest driver version 572.83 offers DLSS 4 support for both games, so gamers won't be able to get the best out of them using Team Green's new technology for better image quality using the new super resolution transformer model.Seemingly, Nvidia RTX 5000 series users are in the clear: both notes from the game devs suggest RTX 5000 series users should stick with the latest driver, so it begs the question. Could the Blackwell GPU lineup be the culprit for recent Game Ready Driver hiccups?

(Image credit: Krafton)

This seems to happen with every new GPU lineup launch...

I recall purchasing an RTX 3080 Ti closer to Nvidia's RTX 4000 series launch, and I remember its new drivers leading to some performance issues at the time. With the new Blackwell lineup, it seems that this could be a pattern with every new GPU lineup.Now, before I continue, I must mention that this is purely speculative, but I believe the driver issues may stem from support for the RTX 5000 series GPUs. The problems appear to have begun from the very first driver release for the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, which also added DLSS 4 support for all RTX GPUs - and the current issues are notably affecting previous-gen GPUs.It's hard to believe that it's coincidental to see nearly system-breaking bugs suddenly crop up the moment support for a new GPU lineup arrives. We've reached out to Nvidia for a comment on the driver concerns, but we've yet to hear back from them. So, as I've mentioned before, just stick with a stable driver for now - or roll back to a previous version if you’ve already installed a 572 driver.

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The Atonemo Streamplayer is a Wi-Fi add-on for regular hi-fi systemsLooks like a Zippo lighter, and is similarly sized24-bit/192kHz DAC, and costs $99 / £99 (about AU$158)

If like many people you've got a really great sound system that doesn't have up-to-date streaming capabilities, the Atonemo Streamplayer was made for you. It's a tiny, affordable DAC that adds hi-res streaming audio to pretty much anything that can connect to its 3.5mm aux port.According to Atonemo CEO Leo Ballesteros, the Streamplayer was made to solve "a huge problem" in the audio industry: "Why was there no way to make any speaker smart? The way an Apple TV makes any TV smart?"(It's only fair to point out here that there have been quite a few products like this, including the WiiM Pro, Audio Pro Link2 and – back in the day – the Yamaha WX-AD10.)

(Image credit: Atonemo)

Atonemo Streamplayer: key features

One of the key selling points here is that you’re not getting locked into a particular ecosystem or made to depend on the whims or app quality control of a single manufacturer.The Streamplayer works with both AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, so you've got iOS and Android compatibility without requiring a standalone app: simply use whatever streaming app you prefer and send it to the Streamplayer. There's also Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.Specs-wise you're looking at Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, a standard USB-C connector for power and lossless audio support of up to 24-bit/192kHz (although what you get will depend on the service you're streaming from).I like the philosophy here: Ballesteros says he wants to "let people choose the speakers they love, without worrying about connectivity, ecosystems, or brand lock-ins." If the Streamplayer does what it promises, this could be a really good way to add useful extra features to the best stereo speakers.The Streamplayer will ship this spring for $99 / £99 / about AU$158.

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We've reached the final day of Amazon's Spring Sale, but there are still plenty of great deals to shop. That list includes a $50 price cut on our pick for best MacBook overall this year, Apple's 2025 MacBook Air M4. The 13-inch, 16GB model is available for $949, down from $999.

Apple only released the new MacBook Air M4 in mid-March. It scored a 92 in our review, thanks to features like its M4 chip. The 13-inch base model boasts a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. It also has an excellent battery life, lasting more than 18 hours while playing HD video.

The 2025 MacBook Air M4 is also well done from an exterior standpoint. It has a 13.6-inch liquid retina display and it's very lightweight. The smaller model (it's also available, and on sale, in a 15-inch option) is 0.44 inches thick and weighs 2.7 pounds. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-macbook-air-is-50-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-132413964.html?src=rss

A Minecraft Movie's director has defended its visuals amid fierce fan criticismPeople have reacted negatively to the film's art style in various trailersJared Hess said test screening audiences responded more positively to how it looks

Jared Hess has launched a staunch defense of A Minecraft Movie's visuals following fierce fan criticism of its art style.Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, Hess admitted he was always concerned that the live-action-animated hybrid film ran the risk of having its own "Ugly Sonic moment."The incident he's referring to, of course, is the nightmare fuel reveal of a humanoid-looking Sonic the Hedgehog in the first trailer for the Sega mascot's first movie. A vociferous backlash followed, and after Paramount Pictures saw sense and frantically raced to fix how Sonic looked in his big-screen debut, fans of the Blue Blur were much happier with the final product.

Minecraft fans formed an online mob after the first teaser for A Minecraft Movie dropped (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

Following the release of A Minecraft Movie's first teaser in September 2024, a similarly fierce fan campaign to overhaul the Warner Bros-produced film's horrifying visuals quickly gained traction online.In fact, some long-time fans of the world's best-selling video game took it upon themselves to fix its art style. Numerous fan-made videos, including ones from X/Twitter user Alumio and Redditor JustinIsNotWeird, remade the teaser with the franchise's signature pixel art.Unfortunately, Minecraft fans' calls to tweak the movie's actual aesthetic fell on deaf ears. Now, Hess has explained why A Minecraft Movie's visuals weren't overhauled in the seven months between the first trailer launch and one of 2025's new movies' forthcoming April 4 release.

Nope, kill it with fire, thank you (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

"You know, it's so funny because, ever since I boarded this project, people kept saying, 'Hey, we have to avoid an Ugly Sonic moment'," Hess told me. "That was something we talked about all the time."And then, you know, when the first teaser came out, there was so much that was taken out of context. Teasers tend to be short and visually blast you with content that doesn't have a lot of context."

People kept saying 'Hey, we have to avoid an Ugly Sonic moment'Jared Hess, A Minecraft Movie director

"For the record, there was a lot of stuff [in the teaser] that was unfinished," Hess continued. "A lot of trailers have the look of a film that hasn't been fully realized. You've still got months of work to do on it, so, when those reactions came in, we said 'Oh, that [the backlash] is just something we have to navigate.""But, we had such faith in the movie we were making. We'd started to screen it and, based on audience reactions, we knew we were on the right track. It's wild to be as a filmmaker as, even when you're test screening, you still have unfinished visual effect shots, so you're asking the audience to use their imagination as they watch it.""So, it's amazing to see it once it's finally complete and see all pf the hard work that's gone into everything and into bringing this world to life. To be able to share it with people, and see them enjoy it and have a blast. it's a dream come true for any filmmaker."I'll be *ahem* crafting more news exclusives from my chat with Jared Hess in the coming days, so make sure you check back in with me soon. And, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for my review of A Minecraft Movie later this week to see what I made of Warner's take on Microsoft and Mojang's incredibly popular sandbox game.

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It's time to welcome Max – well, if you're Australian, anyway. Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) super streamer replacement for HBO Max has officially launched Down Under. So, if you're curious about what one of the best streaming services has to offer, this guide has got you covered.Indeed, whether you're an Aussie native who's checking it out for the first time, or a US or Canadian national who's similarly considering signing up for an account, we've rounded up the latest information on Max. That includes our round-up of the best films and shows on offer, how much a subscription costs, news on last year's password crackdown, and more. So, dive in!

What is Max?

Max is the official home of The Last of Us season 2 in the US, Canada, and Australia (Image credit: HBO)

Max was born when WBD merged its streaming platforms – HBO Max and Discovery+ – in May 2023.Essentially, it's bigger and more streamlined streaming service than its predecessor. You;ll gain access to all of HBO Max's vast library (including most DC Comics content, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and more) – and the best programs from Discovery Plus' TV brands, including TLC, Magnolia Network, and HGTV (NB: It's worth noting that Discovery+ is still available as a separate service).Here are some of the other big benefits that the Max service offers over its predecessor:

Smarter recommendationsImproved performanceEasier sign-in and useProfile PIN for adult profilesNew hubs and genres

To start viewing, you'll need to download the Max app on your device of choice (more on these later) or head to Max.com to begin streaming via a web browser.

Where is Max currently available?

You can set the 'Juice loose on Max in multiple territories around the world (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

HBO Max, which was been rebranded to Max in the US, was only available in that nation for a number of years.Then, in February 2024, Max rolled out in Latin American and Caribbean countries. A few months later, Max landed in Europe, meaning it's now available in 25 European nations. Before 2024 ended, Max also launched in Japan (via U-Next), New Zealand (via Sky), and in Southeast Asian nations, including Hong Kong and Singapore, too.Max's global roll out continued in March 2025 with WBD's streaming platform finally launching in Australia (NB: watch these five fantastic shows first if you've just signed up to Max Down Under). In mid-April, it'll arrive in Turkey (it'll replace BluTV, FYI), meaning it'll soon be available in 77 countries.Alright, but what about in countries where HBO Max is still unavailable, such as the UK? HBO-developed movies and TV shows still air on Sky. That licensing agreement isn't expected to end for some time, so WBD's HBO-based contract with Sky will continue.With Sky's WBD deal now running until early 2026, UK viewers will definitely have got another 12 months to wait for the service's potential arrival.Will Max finally launch on British shoes alongside the in-development Harry Potter TV show, which could make its debut on the platform sometime in 2026? We wouldn't rule it out.

Max price: how much does it cost?

The White Lotus is a big reason to sign up for a Max subscription (Image credit: HBO )

There are three main Max price points to choose from in the US and Canada, with the more expensive tiers offering extra perks over their cheaper cousins. All three are available for monthly and annual fees, with the 12-month deals offering significant savings of up to 20%.Here's a closer look at what's available:

If you're subscribed to HBO through your cable or satellite TV package, internet plan, or wireless plan, the Max home page explains that users may have access to Max at no extra cost. However, you'll need to head to the Max providers page to see if you're eligible.You can also add Max to your Hulu plan for $16.99 per month, or to your Prime Video subscription for $9.99 (ad-supported) or $16.99 (ad-free) per month. Alternatively, a Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu bundle is available that'll save you money in the long run with prices starting at just $16.99 per month.

Dune Part Two is available to all Max customers (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)

As for Australians, Max's Basic With Ads (the ad-supported tier and cheapest one available) will set you back AU$11.99 a month. The Standard plan (the cheapest tier without ads) costs AU$15.99 for a monthly subscription, while the Premium tier is at the high end from a price point perspective – indeed, it weighs in at a hefty AU$21.99 every 30 days.As long as you sign up before April 30, you'll get a discount on whatever subscription you pick, too. So, it's well worth checking out Max at the Premium level first and, if you're not happy with what you're offered, hop down to a cheaper tier or cancel your subscription entirely.Oh, and if you're currently a Foxtel subscriber, you'll gain access to Max at no additional cost. It might be worth keeping your Foxtel subscription, then, if it's cheaper than the alternative.

Is there a Max free trial?

WBD has no plans to revive its free trial period for Max anytime soon (Image credit: Max)

No. In the early days of HBO Max, potential subscribers could give the new platform a free seven-day spin before deciding whether to sign up. However, that hasn't been an option since December 2020 and remains the case with Max two years after the name change.WBD occasionally slashes the price across Max's various tiers but, as of March 31, 2025, there's no free trial to take advantage of.

Max password sharing crackdown explained

Want to let someone else watch Creature Commandos on your Max account? It'll cost you extra (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Like Netflix and Disney+, Max is taking steps to crackdown on password sharing. In December 2024, WBD confirmed it was in the early stages of implementing a crackdown on account sharing, with a view to rolling out a full-scale crackdown from early 2025 onwards.As of March 31, 2025, Max subscribers have only been politely informed that WBD is clamping down on sharing your account with people in a separate household to yours. Be sure to keep an eye our Max password sharing guide, though, for more details on when it'll actually take effect and how much it might cost you to share your password with other households.

Max movies: DC, A24, Studio Ghibli, and more

2023 megahit Barbie is available to stream on Max (Image credit: Dale Robinette/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Max is packed with plenty of critically-acclaimed and highly-rated movies. Netflix's library might contain notable highlights from other studios, but Max offers tons of amazing films from Warner Bros' impressive, 100-year-plus film library.So, what's on offer? For one, an eclectic range of movies based on DC Comics starring legendary superheroes like Batman and Superman.That includes a slate of movies in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – find out how how to watch the DC movies in order while you're here – and soon-to-be new movies set in James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU).

James Gunn's Superman movie will come to Max at a to-be-announced date (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures/James Gunn)

Genre movies are generally well represented, with The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and the Dune duology also available. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best Max movies for our top-tier choices and our new Max movies list, which is updated every month with the latest movies to hit the platform.One of Max's bespoke channels features Studio Ghibli movies, which gives subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio. There's plenty more for kids among the best Max family movies, too. Another channel – TCM (Turner Classic Movies) – delivers plenty more classics, such as Casablanca, and recently enjoyed an expansion to its catalog that brings even more unmissable flicks to this channel.Since December 2023, more than 100 A24 films have joined Max's library thanks to a new licensing deal between Max and A24 as well. WBD has also extended its licensing partnership with the Criterion Collection, so those films will stay on the service for years to come.

Max shows: The Pitt, The White Lotus, and more

The Penguin is an unmissable TV show set in Matt Reeves' Batman universe (Image credit: Macall Polay/HBO)

Max may have ditched the HBO from its branding but the cable behemoth's acclaimed content remains a key selling point of the streaming giant.That connection means few platforms can compete with the TV drama offering available on Max, with long-standing classics such as The Wire, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones sitting alongside more recent (but similarly acclaimed) fare. Indeed, Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, The Penguin, and The Pitt are just some of the recent global hits that Max has at its disposal.HBO isn't just known for its highly bingeworthy dramas. Smash-hit comedies including Veep, Flight of the Conchords, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm , and The Big Bang Theory are all on the platform. There are numerous stand-up comedy specials available at your fingertips, plus a plethora of highly-rated docuseries for fact-based fans to consume.

Euphoria has been one of Max's edgiest – and most acclaimed – dramas of recent years (Image credit: HBO)

Great animated shows from the ’90s like Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and the more futuristic Batman Beyond can be beamed right into your living room, too. And, if you're after some anime, Crunchyroll has a channel on Max that offers a broad selection.Access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time, while the channel's more grown-up cousin, Adult Swim, supplies not-for-kids animated shows, like Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Unfortunately, though, WBD has rang the death knell on its Looney Tunes line-up of programming, which frustratingly means it's on longer streamable on the service.Lastly, import shows include Italian crime drama Gomorrah, Brit hit I Hate Suzie, and the first 13 seasons of the BBC's successful 2005 Doctor Who reboot are notable TV library inclusions. For more recommendations encompassing Max's impressive suite of TV content, check out our comprehensive guide to the best Max shows.

Max vs HBO: what's the difference?

Is Max worth investing in over HBO? (Don't ask Jon Snow – he knows nothing) (Image credit: HBO)

The main difference between HBO and Max comes down to the range of programming you can access. Subscribing to HBO will allow you to stream every original series and movie that the premium channel has to offer.Signing up for Max, meanwhile, gets you more than triple the content. You won't only gain access to Max's originals line-up, but you'll get everything on HBO and numerous other channels, such as Adult Swim and the best of Discovery+'s back catalog. Essentially, there's no reason to get HBO over Max. They cost roughly the same, but you get way more stuff with the latter.

What devices is Max available on?

You can stream Challengers via Max on a whole host of devices (Image credit: MGM Pictures)

Want to know what devices support Max via web browsers or its app? Read on:

Amazon Fire tablets (4th generation or later)Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5 or later)Android (5.1 or later)Android TV (with TV OS 5.1 or later)Apple TV 4K or HD (with tvOS 14 or later)AirplayChromecastChrome/Firefox/Microsoft Edge (latest versions) and Safari (version 13 or later)Cox Contour 2 and Contour Stream PlayerHDMI cableiOS (14 or later)LG Smart TV (webOS 3.5 or later)PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5Roku (OS 11.0 and later)Samsung smart TVs (2016 models or later)VIZIO Smart TV (2016 models or later)Xbox One and Xbox Series S/XXClass TVXfinity X1 and Flex

Max app: what features are available?

There are plenty of ways to personalize your Max account (Image credit: Warner Bros. Discovery/Max)

Max lets you download content for offline viewing, except on its Ad-Lite tier. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles, and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney+ categorizes Star Wars content and Marvel films.Other features are also available for subscribers, including SharePlay. This is now available to Max subscribers globally with Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free tiers with adult profiles, allowing users to watch shows and movies on Max alongside their friends and family over FaceTime and iMessage. There are also adult profile ratings and in player discovery for series.Max also comes packaged with a number of accessibility features, including Alexa voice commands, audio description and audio description quick access, close captions, keyboard navigation, and screen readers.Classic HBO channels are also now available on Max for users on Ad-Free or Ultimate Ad-Free plans in the United States. Max was testing HBO Channels, which is similar to the experience of watching cable. Following its successful test period, you can now tune into a channel that's essentially a stream of HBO programming, like HBO 2 and HBO Comedy.Max's features list continues to be updated, too. Recently, it received a big change to its user interface navigation menu, introduced new multiview functionality to 2025's Nascar Cup Series on TNT Sports, and retained its Live Sports and News output at no additional cost to Standard and Premium customers.Throw in other new additions like Audio in Hero for CTV and Web, movie and TV recommendations in-player, skip button functionality on Google Chrome, QR Code and Wi-Fi sign in improvements, and ad-based tweaks, and Max is becoming a better service all round.

Does Max support 4K streaming?

House of the Dragon can be streamed in 4K on compatible devices (Image credit: Theo Whiteman/HBO)

Yes. Max supports 4K streaming on a selection of compatible devices, with over 1000 movies and TV shows available to watch in 4K UHD. That's eight times (!) the quantity that was available on HBO Max, including a bunch of new movies that weren't supported previously.There are a couple of caveats, thoug. 4K UHD support is only offered as part of the Ultimate Ad-Free tier, which will set you back $20.99 a month / $209.99 per year. Additionally, Dolby Atmos and Vision are only supported on specific films and TV series (read the full list in this WBD blog post), as well as on certain devices, which you can see below:

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV CubeAndroid TVs, including AT&T Streaming BoxApple TV 4KGoogle Chromecast Ultra and Chromecast with Google TVPlayStation 5Roku Ultra 4800x, Roku 4k TVs, Roku Premiere, and Roku Streaming Stick PlusXbox Series XXfinity X1 (Xi6) and Flex

Is Max worth the money?

The Dark Knight is one of the best comic book movies ever made (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

There are some streamers that won't survive the ongoing content war, but Max has a lot of positives in its corner, especially with WBD's ongoing investment in blockbuster movies, HBO Originals the addition of the Discovery+ library, and more besides.HBO Max was already great, but Max has built upon the foundations laid by its predecessor in impressive style. However, it's unclear whether those Max originals make it stand out in the overpopulated streaming landscape, especially when the price of entry (particularly on its ad-free tiers) is higher than the equivalents on Disney Plus, Netflix, and Prime Video.For us, Max's superb movie and TV line-ups make it worth investing in even before all of its other features are accounted for, especially with the impressive raft of exclusive upcoming content already confirmed for the platform. Big hitters in the pipeline include new TV shows set in the worlds of The Conjuring and The Big Bang Theory, plus the new DCU Chapter One TV series like Lanterns and Peacemaker season 2.

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing news, however, is that Max will be the home of more Game of Thrones prequel shows – including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – and a big-budget TV adaptation of JK Rowling's Harry Potter franchise.We're unsure how popular Max will prove to be in the long term – it only launched in 2023 – and WBD will need to ensure that any early teething problems are ironed out quickly. But, if Max can start to make a dent in Netflix's dominance of the landscape – as well as actively competing with other popular streamers, such as Disney Plus for audience attention – WBD's decision to merge its two platforms will become a justifiable expense. As always, however, the proof will be in how many new subscribers Max can entice in the coming months and years.

For more Max-based coverage, read our guides on The Last of Us season 2, Euphoria season 3, House of the Dragon season 3, and Creature Commandos season 2.

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 31 (game #1162).

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 #1163) - 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 #1163) - 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 #1163) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1163) - 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 #1163) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• H• B• W• E

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

Quordle today (game #1163) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1163, are…

HUMUSBALMYWORRYERECT

I’m still surprised when I breeze through Quordle without any errors, especially when my guesses begin with some big gaps.Today, I got three words correct with three letters in each to guide me, but I was the most thrilled after getting HUMUS as it’s a word that’s most commonly spelled with a double M in the UK.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1163) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1163, are…

NOMADUNTILADULTSASSY

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1162, Monday 31 March: RECUT, MOODY, WHERE, BRACEQuordle #1161, Sunday 30 March: CRIME, DRINK, CLOVE, TRUERQuordle #1160, Saturday 29 March: LATER, ODDLY, CUMIN, AGREEQuordle #1159, Friday 28 March: TERSE, MUSHY, PROVE, FRONDQuordle #1158, Thursday 27 March: CRONE, APNEA, LIGHT, AWOKEQuordle #1157, Wednesday 26 March: LEFTY, NOOSE, NOISE, TRIADQuordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAINQuordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALLQuordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADIIQuordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLYQuordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISSQuordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCHQuordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNICQuordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINKQuordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEERQuordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANKQuordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATEQuordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBEQuordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORTQuordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 31 (game #659).

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 #660) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

⊾&X)NP€→$(+£√R¥

NYT Connections today (game #660) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: MoneyGREEN: In additionBLUE: Pre-emoji commsPURPLE: Correct

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 #660) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: CURRENCY SYMBOLSGREEN: AND/TOGETHER WITH BLUE: EMOTICON MOUTHS PURPLE: "RIGHT"

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

NYT Connections today (game #660) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #660, are…

YELLOW: CURRENCY SYMBOLS $, £, 7, €GREEN: AND/TOGETHER WITH &, +, N, XBLUE: EMOTICON MOUTHS (,), 0, РPURPLE: "RIGHT" R, →, ⊾, V

My rating: HardMy score: 3 mistakes

If the NYT was looking to make April Fools of us all then this was the perfect way to do it.Hopefully it’s an experimental one-off for Connections, though – because like many people I suspect/hope, I found today’s puzzle baffling beyond belief.The currencies were straightforward enough, but beyond that I struggled to find any links at all and wasted two mistakes thinking P, R, N and X were an acronym for something I didn’t know and that the ampersand along with the brackets and plus symbol were punctuation marks.After thinking more laterally and pondering alternative uses for brackets I got there, but not before guessing P and X instead of P and 0.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 31 March, game #659)

YELLOW: CONSUMED ATE, HAD, PUT AWAY, TOOK INGREEN: ALSO AS WELL, BESIDES, TO BOOT, TOOBLUE: ATM OPTIONS BALANCE, DEPOSIT, TRANSFER, WITHDRAWALPURPLE: __PLAY FORE, HORSE, SCREEN, WORD

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 31 (game #393).

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 #394) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's a sign!

NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #2 - clue words

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

MOSSBITEBREWSHOESROOMSLING

NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: bottom, 5th columnLast side: top, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #394) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #394, are…

SHOWERSBUDSROBINSPOLLENPUDDLESBLOSSOMSSPANGRAM: SPRINGTIME

My rating: EasyMy score: 1 hint

There are some interesting cultural differences in today’s Strands that make it a little strange for someone from the UK.ROBINS are something we associate with Christmas, while PUDDLES are a year-round phenomenon thanks to the combination of ceaseless rain, poor drainage and neglected street maintenance.BLOSSOMS, meanwhile, are a global sign of SPRINGTIME and now, for the few weeks when fruit trees burst into flower, are often accompanied by people taking selfies in front of them.I initially thought this was a tourist social media thing — over the weekend in London's Hyde Park I cycled past a queue of couples waiting for their turn to take snaps in front of a particularly fine cherry tree — but it’s spread everywhere. If they were in bloom year-round there’d be a lot less fuss.April also marks the return of wasps and their long-term campaign of terror against the human race.There are 120,000 different species of wasps in the world (the most common in the US are yellowjackets) and the only place on Earth where they don’t exist is Antarctica – a place where springtime doesn’t happen at all.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 31 March, game #393)

ROANDAPPLEBUCKSKINCHESTNUTPALOMINOSPANGRAM: HORSE COLORINGS

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.

ChatGPT is currently down for many users, or at least behaving very erratically – and it isn't yet clear what's causing it or how long it'll last.The website Downdetector is showing a large spike in reports in both the US and UK, with the issues starting at around 9amET / 2pm BST. Most users are reporting either laggy performance or error messages like "something went wrong" on the desktop version and "upstream connect error" on the mobile app.We've also noticed some intermittent issues on the TechRadar team on both ChatGPT's mobile app and browser versions. So what's going on? Have too many Studio Ghibli image requests pushed OpenAI's over the edge, or is this (hopefully) just a short-term blip?Here's everything we know about the latest ChatGPT outage so far...

The latest news

ChatGPT is down for many users on both desktop and mobileThe issues started at around 9am ET / 2pm BSTThe problems include error messages and laggy performance

When did the problems start?

(Image credit: Downdetector)

According to Downdetector, the latest ChatGPT outage started at around 9am ET / 2pm BST, when we saw a big spike in reports in both the US and UK.The issues are seemingly intermittent, with the main problems including "something went wrong" error messages in ChatGPT's browser version and "upstream connect errors" in the mobile app.We've seen both issues on the TechRadar team, though it doesn't appear to be a complete outage that's affecting everyone equally...

Windows 11 has a new ‘Black Screen of Death’ that’s apparently rolling outIt’s way more streamlined than the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ we’re all used toHowever, Microsoft has gone too far with paring it back, and it now has an unfortunate resemblance to a Windows update reboot

Microsoft appears to be changing the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for Windows 11, switching not just the color, but also majorly simplifying the look of the screen that appears when your PC locks up and crashes.The traditional BSOD in Windows 11 is blue (hence the name) and it’s also furnished with some bits of information on the error that has caused the crash (I’ll come back to that). Furthermore, there’s a sizeable frowny face on the screen to let you know that something has gone seriously wrong with the operating system.Windows Latest reports that the redesigned BSOD is apparently going live in Windows 11 24H2 already (or it’s at least rolling out to some users), as well as being spotted in testing. (Note that it’s a green screen, or GSOD, in testing, as that’s actually the color it’s always been for preview builds – but for anyone who isn’t a Windows tester, it’ll be black).The bigger change than the color of the background is that the screen is far plainer, only offering a message stating that: “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.”Microsoft has dispensed not only with the sad face, but also the QR code which you could scan with your phone (if you were quick) to try and get further details on the error that crashed your PC. You do still get a bit of error info at the bottom of the new black screen showing a stop code. (The URL shown for details on stop codes is also missing on the new screen.)

(Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft)

Analysis: Blank space overload and an unfortunate update similarity

What to make of the refreshed BSOD is somewhat tricky. Has Microsoft gone too far with its streamlining here, and made the error screen too basic and uninformative? Well, you could certainly argue that, but there’s a counterargument in that the details provided by the traditional, and still current blue screen setup, for most folks – as the change is seemingly only just starting to roll out – are generally unhelpful anyway.That QR code is unlikely to give you any joy if you do use it, as in my experience it just links to generic Microsoft support info, and nothing specific or relevant. (Although I fully admit, I’ve not used it in quite some time – or had many crashes in the recent past, to be fair to Microsoft). Overall, then, I don’t think it’s an element that’ll be missed. However, that said, the solution to this, at least longer-term, is not to dump it – but to make it more helpful. (The plan could be to return the code, though, or at least that’s possible).As for the frowny face being deleted, some think that it’s kind of childish or silly to have it plastered across the screen, and I get where that’s coming from. However, it does clearly mark the BSOD as an error screen and it gets the message quickly across that ‘something bad has happened.’As Windows Latest points out, the problem with the new black screen version of the BSOD is that it’s reminiscent of a Windows update running – with the plain black background, and completion percentage front and center – and that could be confusing for novices. They might not even notice the error message, tucked away in small text at the foot of the screen, and think their PC is somehow suddenly resetting to apply an update, perhaps. (That can happen, after all, in some unfortunate circumstances).Overall, then, I like the idea of streamlining the BSOD, and I don’t think we need the QR code anyway – not as it stands – but Microsoft needs to do better than this replacement Black Screen of Death. Make the error text larger, and more readable at a glance (because you may only get a glance). And make it very clear that this is an error message – I wouldn’t insist on a frowny face, but a large error icon or similar could be displayed (maybe an icon of a spanner in the works). Whatever the case, fill up the acres of blank space in the new black screen to bring added clarity to what’s happening – and to make it clear that what’s happening isn’t a system update.While this new BSOD is certainly present in test builds of Windows 11 – as a GSOD, as noted – I find it strange that Microsoft is pushing it out to finished versions of Windows 11 in this form, as Windows Latest asserts. But this does seem to be happening, given the screenshot the tech site has presented of the black – rather than green – screen of death (see above). So, I’d imagine this is a very limited rollout at this point, testing the waters with everyday users.Longer-term, I’d like to see more helpful error messages in general for Windows 11’s BSOD, so that as well as a technical description, there could be clues for PC novices as to what went wrong (even just vague clues, as I appreciate that this is something of an ask).

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Ransomware gang C10p appears to have claimed its latest victimSam's Club - Walmart wholesale club is investigating the breachThe breach is most likely part of an earlier exploitation of a Cleo File Transfer vulnerability

Infamous ransomware gang C10p has posted files it claims belong to Walmart-owned membership organization Sam’s Club. The group posted a message on a dark leak site claiming “the company doesn't care about its customers, it ignored their security!!!”This is the latest development in an earlier attack from late in 2024, where a vulnerability in Cleo File Transfer led to the compromise of at least two dozen organizations, with C10p claiming responsibility for stealing the information.Researchers from CyberNews discovered the leaked information, but were told by Sam’s Club that there is currently no evidence of a security incident or intrusion, although the issue is being investigated.

Ransomware resurgence

Sam’s club claims to have over 70 million members, and over 2 million employees, with locations across North and Central America.Sam’s Club customers can fill medical prescriptions and offer health screenings, which means the breach may have exposed extremely sensitive customer health information. Its suspected hackers intercepted the personal data of around 100,000 employees in the breach, although the scope of the compromise isn't yet known.C10P is a notorious ransomware gang, and has been so prolific that it is fuelling a resurgence in ransomware in 2025, claiming responsibility for 385 attacks in the first few weeks of the year."The Clop ransomware gang are still making hay while the vulnerable secure file transfer sun continues to shine for them, raking in around half a billion dollars to date – quite a staggering success story," confirmed Matt Aldridge, Senior Principal Solutions Consultant at OpenText Cybersecurity."This continues an increasing trend we are seeing of ransomware gangs focusing on extortion based on data theft rather than purely on denied access to data through the use of encryption."The group was formed in 2019, and has since been responsible for one of the biggest cyberattacks of 2023 - a breach that saw the data of over 600 organizations stolen, with more than 40 million customers affected.

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This year’s Amazon Spring Sale is nearly over, but there's still time to grab a bunch of household, fashion and outdoor gear for record-low prices. Tech isn’t a huge focus for this sale, but there are a decent number of devices on sale right now for some of the best prices we’ve seen all year. The selection may not be as good as that of Amazon Prime Day in July, but it still provides a good opportunity to save on things like headphones, robot vacuums, air purifiers and more. We’ve collected the best Amazon Spring Sale deals on tech gear here so you don’t have to go searching for them.

Best Amazon Spring Sale deals

Dyson AM09 heater and fan for $300 (36 percent off): The AM09 has been around for ages, and for good reason. It's an excellent heater during cold months and fan during warm months, so you can use it all year round. Jet Focus control lets you choose from Focused or Diffused for personal or whole-room heating or cooling, and the handy sleep timer lets you set when the device turns off in intervals from 15 minutes up to nine hours.

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine for $849 ($100 off): This Dyson cordless stick vacuum and mop is a top pick in our best cordless vacuums guide thanks to its sleek design and included mop attachment that easily swap in so you can clean tile, hardwood and other flooring with liquid solution. Yes, it's expensive, but you're essentially getting two cleaning machines in one — plus, when used as a vacuum, it has excellent suction power and great battery life.

Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (LVAC-200) for $150 ($50 off): The lowest price we’ve tracked on this stick vac is $130 but this matches the lowest price we’ve seen this year. It’s our runner up budget pick for a stick vac in our guide. It doesn’t have a storage base and the bin is smallish, but it’s lightweight and super affordable. It also disassembles easily for storage making its lack of base less of a deal breaker.

Sonos Ray for $179 ($100 off): This is our favorite midrange soundbar thanks to its compact, attractive design and easy setup. It's best for those who have a smaller living room or den they want to outfit with better TV sound. Also available at Sonos in their March Madness sale.

Bose QuietComfort headphones for $249 ($100 off): These Bose over-ear headphones provide excellent noise cancellation, a comfortable fit and up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge. A quick-charge feature will net you 2.5 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging, so you'll rarely have to go without them, too.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $349 ($80 off): These hold the top spot in our best wireless headphones guide for excellent noise cancellation. These cans will give you a step up in ANC, blocking out most noise and chatter of those around you. General audio quality has been improved as well, and they have a comfy fit.

Beats Studio Pro for $180 (49 percent off): These Beats headphones have improved sound quality, good Transparency mode and USB-C charging, plus decent mic quality for phone calls. They support wired USB-C audio, plus they have solid ANC as well.

Beats Fit Pro for $169 (15 percent off): These are the best wireless earbuds for working out thanks to their comfortable, secure fit, good sound quality with thumping bass and handful of convenient features provided by Apple's H1 chipset. It provides quick-pairing and switching between Apple devices (and quick pairing with Android phones), Find My compatibility and hands-free Siri.

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for $318 (20 percent off): These top our list of the best wireless headphones you can get right now thanks to their supreme comfort, excellent sound quality and ANC, multipoint connectivity and 30-hour battery life.

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer for $260 ($90 off): A version of one of our favorite air fryers, this air fryer toaster oven has 11 cooking modes including air fry, broil, bake, roast and more, and it has a large capacity that can fit up to six slices of bread at once or a 13-inch pizza. The Pro model is also on sale, down to $320 from $400.

Spigen Spring Sale deals: Spigen makes some of our favorite tech accessories, and a number of the brand's products have been discounted as part of the Spring Sale. Key among them is one of our favorite iPhone cases, the Spigen Ultra Hybrid MagFit case; Prime members can pick up an iPhone 16 case for only $12.

Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) for $949 ($50 off): The latest version of the MacBook Air tops our list of the best MacBooks you can get right now, period. It's plenty powerful for most people, plus it has a lightweight but sturdy design, a bright display and excellent battery life.

Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off): Apple’s flagship wearable is the best smartwatch you can buy, period. While the Series 10 was an iterative update, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It sports a slightly longer battery life, a slimmer design and wide-angle OLED screen for better viewing angles. It tracks workouts accurately and delivers alerts to your wrist efficiently.

Apple Watch SE for $199 (20 percent off): Those on tighter budgets can opt for the Apple Watch SE and know they’re getting the core Apple wearable experience with few compromises. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for newbies.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $170 ($79 off): The AirPods Pro 2 remain Apple’s best set of wireless earbuds, as they offer the full set of Apple-focused features, strong ANC, onboard volume controls, a (generally) comfy in-ear design and a warm sound profile that most should find agreeable. They can even work as a hearing aid, though their six-hour battery life still isn’t the best, and you should only get them if you’re all-in on Apple hardware. If that’s the case, though, we call them the best choice for iPhone owners in our wireless earbuds buying guide. We saw this pair drop as low as $154 back in December, but this deal comes within a dollar of its best price since then.

iPad Air M3 for $549 ($50 off): The latest version of the iPad Air now runs on the M3 chipset, and it continues to hold the top spot in our best iPads guide. It has the best combination of power, design and extra features, so you can use it primarily as a media consumption device if you wish, or you can add iPad accessories like an Apple Pencil or a Magic Keyboard to turn it into a true workhorse.

10th-gen iPad for $279 (20 percent off): The previous version of most affordable iPad gives you an A14 Bionic chip, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, TouchID built into the lock button and more. It’s compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the keyboard folio, plus we found it to have solid performance and a matching battery life.

Chipolo One for $20 ($5 off): The Chipolo One is the top overall pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers. While Apple’s AirTag can tap into a substantially larger crowd-sourcing network, we’ve found the One to send separation alerts faster when you’ve left an item behind and ring louder when you’re back in its vicinity.

Blink Mini 2 for $20 (50 percent off): Blink's latest wired, indoor security camera is one of our favorites, particularly if you're just starting out building a security camera system. It's easy to set up and use, and it works seamlessly with Amazon's Alexa. Plus, if you want a local storage option, you can buy the Blink Sync Module 2 and a thumb drive to store video clips locally.

Audible (three months) for $3 ($42 off): This deal gives you access to Audible Premium Plus, which includes one credit each month that you can spend on any book you'd like, along with listening access to thousands of other books, podcasts and Audible Originals. You also get to take part in Audible's exclusive member sales. Only US customers who are not already subscribed to Audible can take advantage of this deal.

Eufy 3-in-1 E20 robot vacuum for $400 ($200 off): If you can’t decide between a robot vacuum or a lightweight stick vac, you don’t have to. The new Eufy E20 combines a robo vac, cordless upright and handheld vacuum in one machine. Plus the automatically emptying base holds a lot of debris for its size. While we found the robot performance to be better than the stick vac suction, it’s still impressive and convenient for an all-in-one model.

Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer for $90 ($30 off): One of our favorites in our best air fryers guide, this Cosori model has nine preset cooking modes and a spacious cooking basket that can handle more food at once than you might expect. It's not too large, so it can sit on your countertop all the time, and the basket has a safety release button that prevents accidental pulls.

Levoit Core 400S air purifier for $190 ($30 off with coupon): Our top pick for the best air purifier for most people, the Core 400S has easy-to-use onboard controls, powerful filtering technology that isn't too loud and relatively affordable replacement filters. It reliably improved air quality in our testing, and even though its mobile app is a little overstuffed, it gives you another way to control and monitor the device.

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro mesh Wi-Fi system for $280 (30 percent off): Our current pick for the best mesh Wi-Fi system you can get, this TP-Link bundle may be no-frills, but it gets the job done nicely. It's easy to set up and provides excellent Wi-Fi 6E performance, plus the three included nodes can cover up to 7,200 square feet.

Samsung Evo Select microSD card (512GB) for $35 ($5 off): A value pick in our best microSD cards guide, this Evo Select card provides respectable read and write speeds, and it comes with a full-sized adapter.

Samsung T7 portable SSD (2TB) for $140 (48 percent off): We're on the T9 series now, but if you're looking to save a bit of cash, the T7 remains a great option for on-the-go storage. It supports read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s and sports a pocket-friendly design.

Amazon Spring Sale FAQs

When is the Amazon Spring Sale?

The Amazon Spring Sale 2025 runs from March 25 through March 31.

What is Amazon's Spring Sale?

The Amazon Spring Sale is a multi-day sale event that has taken place at the end of March since 2024.

Do I have to be a Prime Member to shop the Amazon Spring Sale?

No, Amazon Spring Sale deals are available to all, including those who do not subscribe to Prime.

What types of deals can I expect to find during the Amazon Spring Sale?

In the past, we've seen a lot of spring cleaning and fashion items in sale during the Big Spring Sale. We expect this year to be no different. We at Engadget in particular will be on the lookout for discounts on our favorite spring cleaning tech, including robot vacuums, cordless vacuums and air purifiers, along with deals on kitchen and smart home gear.

Are there deals I can shop now ahead of the Amazon Spring Sale?

Yes, check out our list of the best Amazon Spring Sale deals you can get right now above.

How long does the Amazon Spring Sale last?

The Amazon Spring Sale lasts seven days this year, running from March 25 through March 31.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-the-best-sales-from-apple-bose-irobot-dyson-and-others-130607743.html?src=rss

Amazon’s latest Big Spring Sale is into its final day, and while the week-long event hasn't been as big on tech as Black Friday or Prime Day, it's still served up a few genuinely decent discounts on Apple devices. If you’re looking for a new iPad, pair of AirPods or Beats speaker, we’ve rounded up the best Apple deals going on right now below. In truth, most of these offers aren’t explicitly tied to the Spring Sale, and more than a few have expired since the sale began. Still, a number of Apple gadgets we recommend remain available for lower prices than usual. As a reminder, the deals below are not exclusive to Prime members.

Best Amazon Spring Sale Apple deals

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC for $149 ($30 off MSRP): This version of the AirPods 4 is nearly identical to the base model, only it supports active noise cancellation and comes with a wireless charging case. It also supports other listening modes like Adaptive Audio, and that case can tap into Apple’s Find My tracking network if you ever misplace it. The ANC isn’t as effective as what you can get with a pair that fully seals off the ear canal, but it makes the earbuds a little more useful in noisy environments all the same. We gave the device a score of 86 in our review. This discount is $11 higher than the best price we’ve seen, but it’s about as low as the earbuds have fallen outside of that.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $170 ($79 off): The AirPods Pro 2 remain Apple’s best set of wireless earbuds, as they offer the full set of Apple-focused features, strong ANC, onboard volume controls, a (generally) comfy in-ear design and a warm sound profile that most should find agreeable. They can even work as a hearing aid, though their six-hour battery life still isn’t the best, and you should only get them if you’re all-in on Apple hardware. If that’s the case, though, we call them the best choice for iPhone owners in our wireless earbuds buying guide. We saw this pair drop as low as $154 back in December, but this deal comes within a dollar of its best price since then.

Apple iPad (A16) for $329 ($20 off): The newest entry-level iPad only arrived three weeks ago, but Amazon is currently selling it for $20 less than Apple direct, which is a decent little savings if you planned on grabbing the tablet early anyway. This one is another small update, but it now comes with a faster A16 chip, more RAM and 128GB of storage as standard. It earned a score of 84 in our review — if you only need an iPad for media consumption and lighter work, it's still a fine value. Also at B&H and Best Buy.

The Apple iPad (A16).

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) for $549 ($50 off): Much like the deal on the base iPad above, this isn’t a huge discount, but it’s a nice chance to save a few bucks compared to buying from Apple directly. The new iPad Air was released on the same day as the iPad (A16) and is a similarly minor update; the only big addition is a more powerful M3 chip. However, we still prefer the Air over the base model if you can swing it: Its display is more color-rich and better at fending off glare, its speakers are more robust, it works with Apple’s best accessories and its performance should hold up better in the years ahead. The older M2-powered model is an even better value if you can find it on sale, but either way the Air is the iPad we recommend to most people. Also at B&H, Best Buy and Walmart.

Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) for $738 ($61 off): We gave the 13-inch iPad Air a review score of 89 earlier this month. It has a bigger and slightly brighter display than its 11-inch counterpart; otherwise, the two slates are the same. If you plan to keep your iPad hooked up to a keyboard, the extra screen space is lovely for taking in movies and multitasking for work. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 128GB model. Also at Walmart.

Expired deals

Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) for $1,199 ($200 off): It's still not cheap, but here's the lowest price we've seen for this higher-spec configuration of the latest Mac mini, which includes an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This specific model is overkill for casual users, but it should be a decent buy for those with more professional needs who want a compact Mac but can’t spring for the top-end Mac Studio. We gave the Mac mini a score of 90 in our review last November, praising its performance, pint-sized design and port selection, though it can get noisy under load and it still lacks an SD card reader.

If you do only need a desktop for basic tasks, the entry-level model with a standard M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD has also dropped back to $499. That $100 discount matches the best price we’ve tracked.

Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 ($70 off): The top pick in our guide to the best smartwatches, the Series 10 is a mostly iterative update, with faster charging, a slightly slimmer profile and a marginally larger display compared to the previous Series 9. That said, it remains a comprehensive fitness tracker, and no other smartwatch can integrate as neatly with iPhones and other Apple devices. It should be a welcome upgrade if you’re looking to upgrade from an older Apple Watch (think pre-Series 7) — just keep in mind a patent dispute has locked it out the blood oxygen detection features found on those older models. This $100 discount matches the lowest price we’ve seen for the non-cellular model with a 42mm case.

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) for $1,099 ($200 off): The iPad Pro is more tablet than most people need, but it’s the ultimate iPad for those who can stomach its price tag. It’s wonderfully thin, its OLED display is one of the best we’ve seen on a consumer device and its M4 chip can handle virtually anything you’d ever do on an iPad. It’s also the only Apple tablet with Face ID, plus it has a better speaker setup than the iPad Air. We gave it a score of 84 in our review, with the only real drawback being how expensive it all is. This deal on doesn’t truly lessen that — and it’s another deal we’ve seen multiple times in recent months — but it still ties the 13-inch model’s all-time low.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-apple-deals-airpods-ipads-and-more-are-still-up-to-100-off-092050849.html?src=rss

Breville makes some of our favorite kitchen tech, and now thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale, you can get a top pick air fryer for much less than usual. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is currently on sale for $260, which is $90 off its usual price. That's the lowest price we've seen on this air fryer toaster oven this year, a version of which has been a top pick of ours for a long time.

Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer combines convection baking and air frying into a single, compact appliance. It features Element iQ system technology, which intelligently adjusts heat distribution to ensure precise and even cooking. Whether you’re roasting a chicken, crisping up fries or baking cookies, this oven is designed to handle it all. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer has 11 cooking functions, including toast, bake, roast, broil, air fry, and pizza, making it a versatile tool for any kitchen. While throwing down close to $300 might seem steep, you have to consider how flexible this oven is, plus how good of a deal you can get right now.

Air fryers have become convenient alternatives to ovens thanks to the speed at which you can cook with them. The Breville Smart Air Fryer is no different; its super convection technology speeds up cooking times while delivering that golden, crispy finish we all love. The LCD display and easy-to-use dials make navigating the settings simple, while the spacious interior can fit a 13-inch pizza or six slices of toast at once — handy when you have a big family or crowd to feed.

If you want even more features and are prepared to part with a little more cash, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is also on sale for $320, down from its usual $400. In our roundup of the best air fryers, we consider it the best air fryer toaster oven thanks to its extra cooking presets, a larger capacity and dehydration capabilities, making it an even better choice for those who frequently cook in bulk.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-breville-smart-oven-air-fryer-is-down-to-260-during-the-amazon-spring-sale-145714684.html?src=rss

The Nintendo Switch 2 will arrive in 2025, over eight years after its predecessor. Nintendo officially revealed the successor to its best-selling home console in a brief trailer on January 16. Now it's time for the other shoe to drop: A special Nintendo Direct streaming on YouTube at 9AM ET on April 2 is expected to reveal the price, release date and pre-order details — and maybe even show off some new games, too.

Thanks to the January teaser trailer, we already know quite a lot about Nintendo's new console, however. The Switch 2 looks functionally very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.

As we continue counting down the hours until Nintendo's big Wednesday reveal, Switch 2 anticipation is appearing in unusual places. Take the Seattle Mariners' jerseys this year — Nintendo and the MLB team announced they'll have a Nintendo logo on the sleeve of the home jersey and a Switch 2 logo on the away jersey.

Looking to catch up on everything we know — or think we know — about the Switch 2? Read on.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on January 16

The rumor mill had heavily suggested that Nintendo would pull back the curtain on the Switch 2 on January 16, and that turned out to be the case.

The company hasn't changed the core form factor. It's a portable console with detachable Joy-Cons. The Switch 2 can be placed in a dock for big-screen gaming. There are some significant differences from the original console, however.

The most obvious one is that the next-gen Joy-Cons will no longer slide into place mechanically. Instead, they appear to attach to the main unit magnetically. There is a small connector that's likely used to charge the controllers. It's unclear at this point if Joy-Cons from the original system will be compatible with the Switch 2.

One other big (and very welcome) change is the addition of a second USB-C port on the top of the device. That should make it much easier to plug in accessories while the Switch 2 is docked. FCC filings suggest that you'll be able to charge the console using either USB-C port, which is another nice quality-of-life change.

It's great to see that Nintendo has kept the headphone jack as well. Let's just hope that Bluetooth headphone support is live from the jump this time and Nintendo doesn't leave everyone waiting four years for that feature.

The kickstand is getting an upgrade. As with the Switch OLED, it spans the length of the console this time around. But, according to the reveal trailer, this one looks fully adjustable, so you can tweak the viewing angle to one that works for you.

There are still a great many unknowns regarding the upcoming console. We don't really know the specs yet, or what type of display it uses. We also don't know anything about battery life, the UI or launch games. We'll surely learn a whole lot on April 2.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?

2025. That's all we know for sure at this point.

It's highly unlikely that Nintendo will release the console before the dedicated Direct on April 2, and not only because that's at the start of Nintendo's next financial year. Accessory manufacturer Genki, which had been a major source of leaks before Nintendo's January reveal, claimed the console would be released in April. Other reports have pegged June as the release window, as have several analysts.

In any case, we should learn the release date during the April 2 Direct.

When can I pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2?

As with the release date, we expect clarity on this during or after the April 2 presentation. A Best Buy Canada post spotted on Reddit (since deleted, but archived) states that pre-orders will open on that day, but that has yet to confirmed.

When can I try the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo is planning a worldwide roadshow to let gamers go hands-on with the console. These events start in New York and Paris on April 4-6, with others taking place throughout the following two months. That lends credence to some suggestions that Nintendo will release the Switch 2 in June.

Ticket registration for many of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events has closed, but waitlists are available. However, given that Nintendo is taking a first come, first served approach, your chances of attending the roadshow if you don't already have a ticket (or unless you signed up for the waitlist immediately) seem very small at this point.

The full list of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience dates is as follows:

North America:

New York, April 4-6, 2025

Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025

Dallas, April 25-27, 2025

Toronto, April 25-27, 2025

Europe:

Paris, April 4-6, 2025

London, April 11-13, 2025

Milan, April 25-27, 2025

Berlin, April 25-27, 2025

Madrid, May 9-11, 2025

Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025

Oceania:

Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025

Asia:

Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025

Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025

Hong Kong, To be announced

Taipei, To be announced

Will the Nintendo Switch 2 have some weirdness?

Everything we've seen and so far about this console has been fairly, well, traditional. It looks like the original Switch, but better. That's awesome, but will there be any of that unpredictable Nintendo magic? Maybe! There are two puzzling additions that folks can't make hide nor hair of.

Genki, the accessories manufacturer, just published a landing page for their Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. This landing page features a video that includes a very detailed look at a Switch 2 mockup. pic.twitter.com/Db7RSk4YlQ— Bob Wulff (@BobWulff) January 8, 2025

Keen eyes will have noticed a new button on the bottom of the right Joy-Con. Promotional images for a new app called Nintendo Today!, which the company says will provide users with daily news updates about things like games and the Switch 2, confirmed that it is a C button.

However, it is not yet clear what this button does. Could it initiate voice chat during gameplay? Could it calibrate the controllers? Could it create a room-sized hologram of Bowser in your living room? We'll have to wait and see.

Now onto the updated Joy-Cons. There appears to be a new sensor on the connecting side of each controller. It looks a whole lot like an optical sensor, which is what a computer mouse uses. This has led to speculation that players will be able to flip the Joy-Con over and use it like a mouse. Of note: the trailer shows the Joy-Cons moving along a flat surface, connector side down and looking suspiciously like a mouse.

But why would anyone even want this? We can think of three words. New Mario Paint.

Genki reveal isnt a mockup, its straight up just the Switch 2, optical sensor is literally flashing in this shot @Stealth40k #Switch2 pic.twitter.com/COeLsonqMd— Ash  (@Ashinarii) January 8, 2025

Mouse control isn’t the only “too strange for any company but Nintendo” rumor floating around. A patent filed by the company suggests you can swap the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, snapping them onto either side of the console. That would align with the magnetic Joy-Con attachment scheme.

But much like the weird mouse rumors, it doesn’t necessarily align with, well, any logical reason for why you’d want to do that. The patent suggests it could allow for more user choice in where the headphone jack is. But since it’s Nintendo, the company that brought us Labo cardboard peripherals and the Game Boy Advance e-reader attachment, we have to wonder if there are… quirkier designs at hand.

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatible?

The company confirmed in November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. It will also feature access to Nintendo Online, so users will be able to play all of those old retro titles.

In the initial Nintendo Switch 2 press release, Nintendo reiterated that physical and digital Switch games will work on the new system. However, it noted that "certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." More details about which games those are will be revealed later.

During a Nintendo Direct on March 27, the company revealed a new system for loaning digital Switch games out to friends and family members. Virtual Game Cards are designed to make it easier to start a game on one console and continue on another as well. Although Nintendo's approach to this is not as simple as it perhaps should be, Virtual Game Cards will also be available on the Switch 2.

Will old games be enhanced in any way?

The original Switch has, to put it mildly, struggled to run some of the late-generation software that's come down the pike. Could these games be enhanced to take advantage of the increased horsepower of the Switch 2? We have no idea. We also don't know if any of these releases will receive graphical upgrades, perhaps taking advantage of upscaling tech.

What will the cartridges taste like?

You may remember that the original Switch cartridges taste absolutely awful. This was on purpose, to discourage folks from putting the games in their mouth. Will the successor follow suit and continue to dip cartridges in a foul-tasting bitter coating? Only time will tell.

What about specs?

The rumors regarding specs are all over the place, so it’s tough to pin down. We know one thing for sure: It’ll be more powerful than the ancient Switch hardware, which was already antiquated back in 2017. One analyst allegedly got a hold of a spec sheet from the Korean United Daily News that said the Switch 2 would boast an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. This tracks, as these specs are about as underpowered now as the original Switch was in 2017. However, some reports do indicate that the console will include 12GB of RAM.

Another source suggests that the eight-core CPU will be packaged inside an NVIDIA-produced Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Given the current Switch runs on an NVIDIA chip, that makes a lot of sense. The CPU will be more powerful, but it's the Switch 2's new GPU that will be a major differentiator. It's all-but-confirmed that the Switch 2 will support DLSS, NVIDIA's "deep learning supersampling" upscaling tech, which would allow the console to render games at a low resolution internally while outputting a high-resolution image. (Fun fact: We actually wrote about how perfect DLSS was for the Nintendo Switch 2 when the technology was announced alongside the RTX 20 series back in 2018.)

There are still questions about the Switch 2 and DLSS: Will the system support newer DLSS features like frame generation? Will existing games be automatically tidied up by NVIDIA's algorithm? Regardless of the exact implementation, DLSS upscaling will be a huge leap over the rudimentary techniques available to Nintendo Switch developers.

As for the display, there are many conflicting rumors. Early reports from solid sources suggested the Switch 2 would have an 8-inch LCD screen. The Switch 2's display certainly looks larger than that of the original Switch in a side-by-side comparison in the reveal trailer. Some folks have worried that the Switch follow-up may actually be too big, especially for kids.

Certain analysts have suggested this would be an OLED screen, while others have said it would be a Mini-LED display. A Mini-LED display is basically an LCD display that has a backlight made of (surprise!) mini-LEDs rather than edge lighting. This allows for local dimming, making the blacks more black.

We're hedging our bets here. We think it’ll be a standard LCD, to cut costs, with an OLED or Mini-LED model coming later down the line. However, Mini-LED screens are slightly cheaper than OLED displays, so that’s certainly a possibility at launch.

As for resolution, recent reporting suggests that the console will output 1080p in handheld and 4K when docked. That's much better than the OG Switch.

More tenuous “leaks” have intimated that the Switch 2 could also support a faster microSD card standard known as microSD Express. This allows for significantly faster transfer rates than the common UHS-I cards supported by the Switch today. It’s technically been around for several years, but we’ve only recently started to see microSD cards that take advantage of the spec hit the market.

We actually tested one of them from SanDisk for our microSD card buying guide and found it could reach sequential read speeds up to around 900 MB/s. With the current Switch, microSD transfer speeds top out closer to 100 MB/s.

So, in theory, all of this could bring a sizable boost in load times and general storage performance for the Switch 2 (though it’s still not likely to be on par with the SSDs in the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S). But again, these rumors are far from concrete. It’s also worth noting that microSD Express cards cost significantly more than what we usually see today — the SanDisk card we tested, for instance, starts at $45 for just 128GB of storage.

Recently-unearthed FCC filings also indicate that the console will support Wi-Fi 6 and NFC. The latter indicates that the Switch 2 will continue Amiibo integration.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

We don't have too much information regarding price but we do have plenty of history to work with. The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300, which is pretty much the "magic number" when it comes to Nintendo console releases in recent years. The Wii U also came in at $300.

However, there are plenty of rumors circulating that Nintendo could be upping the asking price for the Switch 2. Several analysts are expecting Nintendo to hike the price to at least $400 and possibly even as much as $500. Rising costs of components and development, as well as US tariffs, are likely to mean that the Switch 2 is more expensive than its predecessor.

Dipping back into history, there is some precedence for a price uptick. The GameCube was $200 and the Wii was $250. The Wii U and Switch increased to $300 and, well, numbers like to go up. A $400 price tag would make the Switch 2 nearly as expensive as a PS5 and Xbox Series X. That would also put it at the same price as the 256GB LCD Steam Deck.

Again, we should get confirmation of the price during the April 2 Nintendo Direct.

How well will the Nintendo Switch 2 sell?

Even with an expected price increase, Nintendo is likely to sell boatloads of Switch 2 consoles. The company seems to be positioning itself to shatter sales records. Reports suggest that Nintendo wants to have as many units ready to sell as possible on release day. One analyst told Bloomberg that they expected Nintendo to have an inventory of between 6 million and 8 million units at the outset.

As Bloomberg notes, the company sold 2.7 million Switch units in that console's first month. Sony's PS4 and PS5 each sold 4.5 million units in their first quarter on the market, though it's worth noting the PS5's early momentum was hindered somewhat by shortages.

Nintendo has sold more than 150 million Switch units. Given that many fans are more than ready for an upgrade (and to perhaps give their old Switch to a young relative or sell it on the cheap), the Switch 2 is very likely to go gangbusters right out of the gate.

Do we know about any launch games?

Not so much. The reveal trailer offered a peek at a new Mario Kart game. Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U over a decade ago and it's been milking that cash cow ever since, having sold more than 64 million copies of the game across that console and the Switch. It's definitely time for a new entry!

It's certainly been a long time since we’ve gotten a proper 3D Mario adventure as well, so a new one could be a launch title. That would be one heck of a system seller. Other than that, your guess is as good as ours. Past as prologue, we can expect something from Ubisoft and an off-the-wall title like 1-2-Switch. One report suggested that PowerWash Simulator 2 is bound for the Switch 2, so that's something.

If there’s a gimmick or hook involved with the console, we’ll also get a game that takes advantage of that. A dual release of Metroid Prime 4, just like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess before that, is also a possibility.

It's all but nailed on that we'll learn much more about the Switch 2 launch lineup during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which starts at 9AM ET. You'll definitely want to set your Alarmo for that one.

That's everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We'll update this article with rumors we trust and with information we gather directly from sources. Any changes made to the article after its initial publishing will be listed below.

Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about price, potential game enhancements and the taste of cartridges.

Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This story has been updated to note the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts.

Update, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This story has been updated to include speculation about storage and information about the new microSD Express standard.

Update, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This story has been updated to note recent FCC filings to indicate the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC support.

Update, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been updated to include pricing and sales speculation from analysts.

Update, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Updated to include a note about the Seattle Mariners new jersey patches featuring Nintendo and the Switch 2.

Update, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Updated to add details about the C button, Nintendo Today! and Virtual Game Cards.

Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-we-know-about-pre-order-plans-specs-pricing-games-and-more-195136485.html?src=rss

It's the last day of Amazon's week-long Big Spring Sale, and while the event has mostly focused on things like apparel and outdoor goods, it still does include a few noteworthy deals on electronics. We’ve been highlighting the best of those across Engadget, but if you’re on a tighter budget, we’ve also dug up a few decent discounts on gadgets and services we like that are available for less than $50. As a reminder, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to see most of the price drops.

Best Amazon Spring Sale deals under $50

Anker PowerConf C200 for $48 ($12 off MSRP): The PowerConf C200 is our favorite webcam for those on a tighter budget due to its crisp video quality, easy setup, solid microphones and built-in privacy cover. Its USB cable is on the shorter side, and it can’t match the overall accuracy of our top pick, but it’s still a clear upgrade over a built-in laptop camera for a much lower price. This is another deal we’ve seen numerous times in the last year, but it’s as low as the camera usually goes. Also at Anker.

The Anker 525 Charging Station.

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Anker 525 Charging Station for $30 ($36 off): We recommend this reliable desktop charging station in our remote worker gift guide. It can’t provide the absolute fastest charge to your smartphone or laptop (topping out at a quick enough 67W), but it packs four USB ports — two USB-C, two USB-A — and three AC outlets in a frame that’s small enough to fit on a crowded desk. This deal ties the lowest price we’ve seen. Also at Anker.

Anker Nano Charger 30W for $13 ($10 off): It’s hard to have too many portable wall chargers on standby. This one from Anker should be particularly useful for traveling: At just over an inch thick, it’s small enough to fit in a pocket, while its 30W USB-C port is enough to top up recent iPhones at full speed. (That’s not enough for some newer Android phones, though.) This discount matches the lowest price we’ve seen. Also at Anker.

Blink Mini 2 for $20 ($20 off): This deal ties the lowest price to date for the Blink Mini 2, which is the budget pick in our guide to the best security cameras. This one comes with its share of trade-offs for the low price — its image quality isn’t the best, it locks certain features behind a paywall and it won’t automatically arm when you leave the house — but it still provides functional 1080p video, color night vision, motion alerts and Alexa support in a weather-resistant frame. It’s fairly simple to set up, too, though you’ll need to buy an external module if you want to store clips locally. Also at Best Buy and The Home Depot.

The Blink Mini 2.

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $20 ($15 off): This is the budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It can only play up to 1080p, so it’s really meant for older or smaller TVs that you want to modernize with streaming apps. It’s a bit more sluggish than Amazon’s higher-end 4K sticks, too, and all Fire TV devices tend to promote Amazon-owned services like Prime Video above all else. Still, it works with nearly all the major streaming apps, and its remote has Alexa built-in, so you can control your TV and certain smart home devices with voice commands. It also supports basic HDR10 — but not Dolby Vision — plus it can pass-through Dolby Atmos audio to a compatible soundbar or receiver. You could do worse if you just want the cheapest streamer possible. This deal is $2 higher than the all-time low we saw during the holidays, but it matches the best price we’ve tracked otherwise.

Amazon Music Unlimited 3-month trial for free ($24 off): Amazon is offering new subscribers three months of its Music Unlimited streaming service for free. Normally, it gives new users a one-month trial. Though Music Unlimited isn’t a top pick in our guide to the best music services, it still gets you lossless streaming quality and an extensive library of both music and podcasts. You could do worse if you just want to bum a few months of music streaming for no cost. Just note that your subscription will auto-renew once the trial period ends until you cancel.

Chipolo One for $20 ($5 off): The Chipolo One is the top overall pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers. While Apple’s AirTag can tap into a substantially larger crowd-sourcing network, we’ve found the One to send separation alerts faster when you’ve left an item behind and ring louder when you’re back in its vicinity. Unlike the AirTag, it can also attach directly to a keychain. It probably isn’t the safest choice for long-distance travel, but it’s a convenient security blanket if you, say, leave your keys or wallet behind at a restaurant. This is another discount that’s been available for a few weeks, but it’s just 10 cents more the best price we’ve seen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-under-50-the-best-discounts-you-can-still-get-on-chargers-earbuds-accessories-and-more-091512018.html?src=rss

Levoit's Core 400S air purifier is down to $190 from its usual $220 price, thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale. While it’s not the lowest price we’ve seen — the air purifier briefly hit $177 last year — it’s still a solid discount on one of the most convenient air purifiers for large spaces. Just clip the $30 on-page coupon to get the discount. This deal is part of a larger Levoit sale during the Spring Sale that includes other air purifiers, humidifiers and more.

We’ve featured Levoit in our list of the best air purifiers for its strong performance and smart features. The Core 400S can cover rooms up to 1,980 square feet using a three-stage filtration system to capture allergens, dust, pet dander and smoke. It also includes a smart sensor that adjusts fan speed based on air quality, so you’re not running it at full blast when you don’t need to.

One of the Levoit Core 400S’ biggest selling points is its low noise output, which makes it a good fit for bedrooms or home offices. If you need to knuckle down and get some work done without distraction whilst keeping your room’s air clean and fresh, even at higher speeds, it stays relatively quiet compared to bulkier purifiers. It also supports smart controls via the VeSync app, allowing you to tweak settings, set schedules or monitor air quality from your phone. If you have a smart home ecosystem in place, you can connect the purifier to third-party voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant — an added layer of convenience that allows you to control the Core 400S with simple voice commands.

Its 360-degree filtration system uses activated carbon to remove gases and odors, while an efficient middle filter captures 99.97 percent of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. The built-in air quality sensor continuously monitors pollution levels, automatically adjusting performance as needed. You can track real-time air quality data on the LCD screen or through the VeSync app, which is handy (and interesting) to have access to at all times. At night, sleep mode keeps things extra quiet and subtle, dimming the display and operating at the lowest settings — or you can turn off the display completely for total darkness.

If you’ve been looking for an air purifier that can handle larger spaces without taking up too much room, this deal is worth considering, saving you over $30 on its usual price thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-air-purifiers-is-still-down-to-a-near-record-low-price-for-the-amazon-spring-sale-133052953.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has finally reached its last day. Like last year, the deals are focused less on tech and gadgets and more on home, cleaning and fashion discounts. That's not Engadget's area of expertise — except when it comes to robot vacuums, where home cleaning and hi-tech neatly intersect. We’ve tested dozens of these handy automatic floor cleaners and put the results in two buying guides one for budget models and one covering the best of the best. We've also tried out a few cordless vacs, which make good spot-cleaners to supplement automated cleaning. Right now, a number of our picks and related models are on sale and we’ve rounded up the best deals on vacuums Amazon’s latest sale has to offer.

The best Amazon Spring Sale robot vacuum deals

Shark's Matrix Plus robovac for $400 ($350 off): In our testing, we’ve been consistently impressed with Shark vacuums — but they’re not cheap. This machine can mop in addition to vacuum and is nearly half price at 47 percent off.

Anker Eufy Robot Vacuum 11S MAX for $140 (44 percent off): The “S” in the model name stands for “slim” and it was one of the more low-profile machines we tried. It’s a pick in our guide to budget robot vacuums and has a long battery life and good suction power for its price. The main drawback is the lack of Wi-Fi, so instead of programming it with your phone, you’ll use the included remote.

Anker Eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 for $400 ($200 off): If you can’t decide between a robot vacuum or a lightweight stick vac, you don’t have to. The new Eufy E20 combines a robo vac, cordless upright and handheld vacuum in one machine. Plus the automatically emptying base holds a lot of debris for its size. While we found the robot performance to be better than the stick vac suction, it’s still impressive and convenient for an all-in-one model.

The best cordless vacuum deals

Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (LVAC-200) for $150 ($50 off): The lowest price we’ve tracked on this stick vac is $130 but this matches the lowest price we’ve seen this year. It’s our runner up budget pick for a stick vac in our guide. It doesn’t have a storage base and the bin is smallish, but it’s lightweight and super affordable. It also disassembles easily for storage making its lack of base less of a deal breaker.

Tineco Pure ONE Station 5 for $349 ($110 off): This vac earned an honorable mention in our tests. The self-emptying base is a big selling point. We also liked the auto-adjusting suction and single-button start feature. The fact that it doesn’t require proprietary bags helps keep down the long-term cost, too.

Tineco Pure ONE S11 cordless vacuum for $200 ($100 off with coupon): Click the coupon to get $95 off our top pick for a budget stick vac. We like that it automatically adjusts suction depending on what it's picking up and is relatively lightweight when you’re pushing it around your floors. The bin is on the small side and the battery life isn’t as good as on other models, but it’s an easy-to-use, no-frills way to clean floors.

Tineco Pure ONE Station FurFree for $400 ($300 off): Of all the stick vacs our reviewer tried for our guide, this is the one she wanted to use the most. It’s super convenient with a dock that charges and empties and cleans all parts of the machine — brush, tube and dustbin — after each use. Plus the suction power is great and the iLoop smart sensor kicks up the suction when needed.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-robot-vacuum-deals-the-best-sales-from-irobot-tineco-shark-and-anker-092652460.html?src=rss

DTS support seems to have been removed from 2025 LG TVsAlmost all streaming services are Dolby, not DTSYour AV streamer or soundbar may have a DTS decoder

History appears to be repeating: LG has removed DTS support from its 2025 OLED TVs, including the LG C5, just like it did in 2020.Noticed by TV reviewer Vincent Teoh (via FlatpanelsHD) reports, the EDID information on the LG G5 – the information that tells audio and video sources what formats a TV supports – doesn't include DTS audio.When LG brought DTS back in 2023, we said that it was good news for home theater lovers, as it would give them support for content that didn't use Dolby Atmos. But it seems that according to LG's internal data, there weren't many such users or much of that content being played on LG TVs: Dolby was by far the most-used surround sound format.That's largely because Dolby and Atmos is the preferred format of the best streaming services. The one notable DTS exception, the IMAX Enhanced streamed by Disney+, wasn't supported on LG TVs due to its particular variation on the format.The 2025 models will be Dolby-only – but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy DTS soundtracks.

If DTS is a dealbreaker, there are tons of C4 and G4 OLEDs still available – and for amazing prices now. (Image credit: Future)

How to get around the lack of DTS on 2025 LG TVs

The issue here is all about decoding. DTS is a compressed audio format, and that means you need a device that can uncompress it and send it to one of the best soundbars, or your home theater speakers.If your TV is removed from the equation, then it doesn't matter if it's supports DTS, though.If your TV can't decode DTS, you may have other devices that can. So if your source device is connected to an AV receiver that's DTS-compatible, then you don't need to worry whether your TV has DTS: the decoding happens on your receiver, not on your TV.With soundbars it's a little more complex, because you'll need a soundbar that supports HDMI passthrough as well as DTS so that the soundbar can handle the audio and send the video to the TV.Many models don't offer that connectivity, though most high-end or mid-range models from Sony, Samsung and LG do. You can can connect one of the best 4K Blu-ray players or other DTS source directly to the soundbar's HDMI input and then connect the TV to the other port, and the soundbar will take and decode the DTS audio.If that's not an option, there's one more thing you can do: if your LG TV (or any other TV) doesn't have the ability to decode DTS, but your 4K Blu-ray players does, then you can usually set the player to decode the DTS and to output uncompressed audio.Try setting your player's audio output format to LPCM, often labelled Linear PCM. This format can be passed through the TV to your soundbar in surround sound without any concerns about format at all, though you'd lose the spatial sound of DTS:X.It's a shame that LG has dropped this format, and we're not sure that LG TVs likely adding Eclipsa Audio in the future will really make up for it.However, for the next few months, LG's 2024 TVs will remain on-sale, including the LG C4 and LG G4, and are arguably better value than its 2025 models – doubly so if you want DTS support…

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A newly redesigned MacBook Pro is rumored to arrive in 2026If leaks are accurate, it will feature an OLED display and a thinner chassisThis redesign will also be powered by Apple's M6 silicon

It could finally be happening, folks: the long-awaited OLED MacBook is finally on the way, if new claims from renowned Apple leaker Mark Gurman are to be believed.Gurman has claimed in his latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg that Apple is planning a major overhaul to the MacBook Pro in 2026, which will deliver several noteworthy changes – and chief among them is the introduction of a Tandem OLED display designed by Samsung, the same type seen on last year's new iPad Pro 13-inch.It may also ditch the 'notch' in the screen for the webcam in favor of a floating 'hole cut' camera – perhaps adopting something more similar to the Dynamic Island seen on modern iPhones.That's not all, though: Gurman's sources also state that the new MacBook Pro will feature a thinner design than previous models, stating that Apple "had once hoped to release this new version in 2025".In other words, next year's MacBook Pro could look very different from the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro we reviewed back in November. But how does Apple plan to make its pro-grade laptop even more compact without sacrificing power? The answer could lie with the M6 chip.

Powered up

Yes, Gurman also believes that these next-gen MacBook Pros will come featuring the M6 chip (presumably also with M6 Pro and M6 Max versions) - implying that we can expect M5 MacBooks this year, without the OLED upgrade.The M6 chips will be the first laptop processors from Apple that utilize chip fabricator TSMC's new 2nm process (alongside the expected A20 chips for iPhones). The 2nm process is expected to bring new developments in both performance and power efficiency, which could explain how Apple expects the M6 chips to run at a high performance level even in a thinner MacBook.As for the MacBook Air, there's no news on any potential M5 or M6 variants, but we have to assume that they'll be in the works; after all, the new M4 MacBook Air didn't arrive on the scene until several months after the M4 chip landed in MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models. However, a previous report we covered claims that an OLED MacBook Air is still on the way, though it won't use the same Tandem OLED panel as the Pro and will likely arrive in 2027 or later - something that would align with Apple's existing release cadence, if the OLED MacBook Pro does indeed land in late 2026.

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IDC says AI demand drives hyperscalers to accelerate server infrastructure investmentsSuper Micro challenges Dell with rapid revenue growth in 2024Nvidia leads GPU servers as AI adoption continues expanding rapidly

The global server market saw a record-breaking surge in the final quarter of 2024, with revenue nearly doubling compared to the same period in 2023.New figures from IDC claim total server sales reached $77.3 billion in Q4 2024, marking a 91% year-over-year rise.This rapid expansion, fueled by hyperscalers, cloud storage service providers (CSPs), and enterprises investing in high-performance computing, is expected to push the market past an annual run rate of $300 billion by 2025.

Record growth fuels server market expansion

A significant portion of this increase came from x86 servers, which saw a 59.9% revenue jump, while non-x86 servers experienced an unprecedented 262.1% year-over-year surge.The growing adoption of AI-driven workloads has also contributed to the rise of servers equipped with embedded GPUs, with Nvidia maintaining a dominant 90% market share in this segment.As AI integration accelerates, demand for high-performance servers, and the best dedicated server hosting providers, continues to reshape the industry.Super Micro has also emerged as one of the fastest-growing server vendors, with its revenue surging by 55% in Q4 2024. With $5 billion in sales, it is now in a statistical tie with Dell Technologies, which saw a more modest 20.6% increase in revenue during the same period.The company’s surge is largely fueled by demand for AI-optimized infrastructure, and best small business server solutions also favors other key players, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, and IEIT Systems, all of which reported revenue growth exceeding 50% year-over-year.“IDC expects AI adoption to continue growing at a remarkable pace as hyperscalers, CSPs, private companies, and governments around the world are increasingly prioritizing those investments,” said Lidice Fernandez, group vice president, Worldwide Enterprise Infrastructure Trackers.“Growing concerns around energy consumption for server infrastructure will become a factor in datacenters looking for alternatives to optimize their architectures and minimize energy use”Cloud service providers and hyperscalers accounted for nearly half of all server sales in Q4 2024, while ODM Direct category, comprising manufacturers that sell directly to large-scale operators like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud generated a staggering $36.57 billion in revenue during the quarter, marking a 155.5% increase year-over-year.This surge in spending reflects the increasing demand for the best web hosting and cloud computing solutions as organizations migrate more workloads to the cloud and invest in AI-powered infrastructure.

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Apple's annual September iPhone event is just a few months away, and all signs point to the Apple Watch UItra 3 making an appearance alongside the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch SE 3.Apple only unveiled one new smartwatch in 2024, so 2025 is shaping up to be a fairly bumper year by comparison, with fully three new models plus watchOS 12 expected over the coming months.But what will 2025 bring to the Apple Watch Ultra? The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best Apple Watch and the best smartwatch out there right now thanks to its excellent design, battery life, and epic display, but there's always more to be added.Early leaks and rumors point to a fairly muted design change but some big health improvements under the hood. Here's what we know so far.

Cut to the chase

What is it? A new Apple Watch UltraWhen is it out? Most likely announced September 2025How much will it cost? Probably at least $799 / £799 / AU$1,399

Apple Watch Ultra 3: rumored release date and price

The Apple Watch 9 should get an upgrade alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Image credit: Apple)

Apple always releases its new watch models in September at its iPhone event. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 didn’t materialize in 2024, so we’d expect it in 2025 instead. That’s also the opinion of the inimitable Apple Insider Mark Gurman. Reporting in January, he revealed that Apple’s 2025 slate of products includes a new Apple Watch Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE 3 coming in September.In terms of pricing, there’s no indication that Apple will depart from its current pricing structure of one Apple Watch Ultra model in the region of $799 / £799 / AU$1,399. Apple usually keeps the pricing fairly similar, and for reasons we’ll come to, it seems unlikely the price will increase.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: leaks and rumors

There's a lot to like about the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Image credit: Future)

Display

Rumors abounded in 2024 that Apple was planning to adopt a microLED display for the Apple Watch Ultra, however, the latest reports indicate this has been shelved indefinitely. Writing in March 2024, Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that microLED wouldn’t add significant value to the Apple Watch.However, Apple has recently upgraded the Apple Watch Series 10 with a new LTPO3 OLED technology that is 40% brighter when viewed from any angle. It's odd that the Ultra would persist with inferior display tech, so this seems like a nailed-on update for 2025.

Satellite connectivity and 5G

One of the biggest rumored upgrades is the inclusion of satellite connectivity and Reduced Capability 5G, which could drastically improve the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s communication features. The satellite connectivity is likely a safety feature for emergency services communication, although it may also be for sending messages over satellite waves like the iPhone 16 lineup. 5G would seriously boost the Ultra’s data capability when it comes to navigation and streaming, as well as communication and voice call improvements.

Chip

Just like the display, the Ultra 2 now lags behind the Apple Watch Series 10, sporting the S9 chip compared to the S10. There might be a new chip across the board for all of these models, but at the very least the S10 will be included as an upgrade.

Design

Those are all under-the-hood changes; however, top insider Mark Gurman warns that Apple is not planning any kind of redesign. He says the Apple Watch SE 3 is the only model we should expect to get a new look, while the Ultra 3 and Series 11 will stay roughly the same.One possible design tweak could be the inclusion of the Apple Watch Series 10's newer rear casing. The metal back is more efficient when it comes to charging and cellular performance, so this seems like another no-brainer.

Hypertension

Perhaps the biggest rumored change to the Ultra 3 could be the advent of new high blood pressure detection. According to reports, Apple is planning a new health monitoring feature for blood pressure. While it won't be able to give specific blood pressure readouts, it may well be able to detect hypertension, similar to the workings of its sleep apnea detection feature. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports we can expect this feature in the Ultra 3 and the Series 11.According to reports, Apple is set to overhaul its Health app in iOS 19, replete with an AI-powered Doctor. Chances are this will lean heavily on Apple Watch metrics for data and as such we can also expect the Ultra 3 to get some revamped health features, at the very least a more comprehensive health app.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: what we want to see

All the signs are that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 isn't going to be a huge jump forward in tech from the Apple Watch Ultra 2 – but we still have a few ideas about how Apple could improve its most capable smartwatch.

1. A cheaper price

Lower prices are always welcome, and while we do understand the premium materials used on the Apple Watch Ultra don't come cheap, surely Apple can find some compromises to offer a cheaper version of the Ultra? There's a not-insignificant $400 / £400 / AU$750 difference between the starting prices of the Apple Watch 10 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and an additional smartwatch model could bridge that gap nicely.

2. More design options

More strap options would be most welcome (Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

Right now, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available with just one casing choice: standard silver titanium. The three straps (each available in three colors) give you some customization options, but we'd like to see more options when it comes to both the casing around the display and the straps you can get with it. If there's not much changing with the watch specs or design, then Apple can at least give users some more personalization options. Maybe an all-black option?

3. More exclusive features

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a number of exclusive features to differentiate it from the Apple Watch 9, including an Action button and a siren button you can use to call for help. We'd like to see even more of these upgrades added to make the hefty price jump from the standard model worth it – perhaps in the form of exclusive apps for more advanced outdoor activity tracking or a more advanced set of sensors for deeper health insights.

4. Improved Siri

Apple Intelligence is rolling out later this year (Image credit: Apple)

We've heard plenty about the Apple Intelligence upgrades that are coming to Siri on iPhones, iPads and Macs, but as yet, there's nothing for the Apple Watch or watchOS 11. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 could be the perfect showcase for a smarter Siri that gives better answers and can provide more information – a key upgrade for a device where voice control is often preferable to tapping at the screen with your fingers and thumbs.Unfortunately, this is still a long way off and may not even debut in time for watchOS 12 in 2026.

5. Better battery life

The up-to-36-hours battery life on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 isn't too bad at all, but it there wasn't any upgrade in this department over the original Apple Watch Ultra, and it still falls short if you want to take the wearable away for a few days in the mountains or into the middle of nowhere. A combination of a bigger battery capacity, a more efficient chipset, and some software optimizations should be possible to extend battery life even further.

To say that Garmin has upset its users with its new subscription service would be putting it mildly. The company recently announced Garmin Connect+, a new paid premium tier of its Connect app that features some shiny new paywalled features, including AI-powered insights and a performance dashboard for all of the best Garmin watches.It hasn't gone down well. Thousands of furious Garmin fans have taken to Reddit over the news, demanding customers take a stand.The uproar has been so intense that you might have actually missed what the subscription entails, so if you're at least a little bit curious or you'd happily give the free trial a go, here's what you get from Garmin Connect Plus for $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$12 per month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$120 annually.

1. Active Intelligence

(Image credit: Garmin)

Garmin Connect+ gets you AI-powered training insights. Garmin says you'll get personalized suggestions based on health and activity data. Previews showcase friendly summaries about your sleep, battery, and more. As you'd expect from AI, the insights will reportedly get better over time. Here's an example:You fell 1 hour and 23 minutes short of your sleep need, but you still managed to charge your battery 57 points. You're ready for exercise today, but balance it with rest to avoid bottoming out.

2. Performance Dashboard

(Image credit: Garmin)

Connect+ features a comprehensive view of training data, available on the website, that lets you compare your fitness and health data over time. Showcased examples include your running duration comparison, time in power zones, average pace, and distance over time.

3. Live Activity

(Image credit: Garmin)

Your smartphone will now give you real-time heart rate, pace, reps and videos for your indoor workouts (such as strength and yoga) when paired with a compatible smartwatch.

4. Exclusive Coaching Guidance

(Image credit: Garmin)

As you use Garmin Run Coach or Garmin Cycling Coach, you'll get expert guidance from coaches, including educational content and videos.

5. Enhanced Livetrack

(Image credit: Garmin)

Starting an activity on a compatible device will now notify your friends and family via text, and you can create a personalized LiveTrack profile page for people to follow.This seems to have changed the existing text feature for Garmin users, and we've got some concerns that this might have pushed some of the existing LiveTrack features behind a paywall. We've reached out to Garmin to confirm.

6. Social features

(Image credit: Garmin)

Finally, social features include exclusive badges, some of them worth an increased amount of points, and badge challenges that you can use to personalize your profile.

Not a lot?

The Garmin Connect+ subscription isn't enormously expensive, but it's not cheap either. As you can see, you don't get an enormous amount for your money, and Garmin hasn't exactly been forthcoming on the details about these features – this is really all the information we have right now.As such, it's possible we'll get more detailed insight about some of these features over the coming days and weeks.On paper, Garmin Connect+ looks pretty thin, and while that's not the main reason people are objecting to its rollout, I have to imagine that it's a factor.

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How can we push CPUs forward? That's the question the computing industry has been asking since the Intel 4004 processor launched in 1971. Chipmakers have tried cranking up clock speeds, adding multiple cores and miniaturizing chip architectures to make them faster and more efficient. The conflict between RISC and CISC chip instruction sets (ISAs) — "reduced" designs versus "complex" ones — rages on to this day with RISC-V.

For the past few years, AMD has been exploring a unique approach to speeding up some of its processors with 3D V-Cache, a technology that stacks more L3 cache on top of Ryzen cores. By doing so, the company avoids crowding the 2D plane of its chips, and it's able to cram in more memory without making its CPUs larger. With the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, AMD has now evolved 3D V-Cache to the point where every hardcore gamer will want one — even if few people actually need a $700 CPU.

3D V-Cache first appeared in the Ryzen 5800X3D in 2022, and AMD brought it to laptops in 2023. While there were some obvious downsides initially — the 5800X3D had slower clock speeds than the standard Ryzen 5800 — AMD has steadily improved the technology. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X3D were both notable for reaching the same maximum clock speeds as their 2D counterparts. While AMD's second-generation 3D V-Cache technology isn't as big of a leap in the 9950X3D (and other recent chips like the 9900X3D and 9800X3D), the company has managed to overcome the few compromises it's had to make so far. Simply put, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a beast of a CPU for gaming and productivity work alike.

What's new in the Ryzen 9 9950X3D?

The 9950X3D is a 16-core processor with a 4.3GHz base clock speed and a boost speed of 5.7GHz, just like its 2D sibling the 9950X. The big difference between the two is in their total L2 and L3 cache: the 9950X has 80MB, while the 3D V-Cache technology crams 144MB in the 9950X3D. By having more cache, the 9950X3D is able to tackle more processing loads without hitting RAM, which could take eight to 10 times as long, according to Robert Hallock, AMD's director of technical marketing.

The major upgrade in the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, in addition to being powered by AMD's new Zen 5 cores, lies in the positioning of its 3D V-Cache layer. Previously, it sat on top of Zen 3 and Zen 4 cores, which slightly hindered cooling and overall performance. Now, the 3D V-Cache layer sits below the 9950X3D's Zen 5 cores, which gives those hotter elements direct access to your CPU fan’s heatsink. The 9950X3D has the same 170 Watt TDP (Thermal Design Profile) as its 2D variant, so cooling shouldn't be a huge problem, and unlike most other 3D V-Cache chips, it's also fully overclockable.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

In-use: An absolute powerhouse

I expected the Ryzen 9 9950X3D to wallop every other PC CPU I've tested, but I didn't expect the leap to be so dramatic. In the Geekbench 6 single-threaded CPU benchmark, it was 20 percent faster than the Ryzen 9 7900X I was previously using. The 9950X3D was also 33 percent faster in the same benchmark's multi-threaded test. (I didn't have a 7950X3D for direct comparison, but based on a median of scores from 3DMark users, it hits 14,290 points. The 9950X3D reached 17,025, or 19 percent faster, in my testing)

CPU

GeekBench 6 CPU

3DMark CPU Profile

Cinebench 2024

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

3,366/18,950

17,025 Max

134/2,124

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X

2,822/14,216

12,553 Max

113/1,103

Apple M4 Max

4,090/26,394

N/A

190/2066

Apple M2 Ultra

2,776/21,403

N/A

N/A

I've only seen better scores from Apple's hardware. The M4 chip is slightly faster for single-threaded tasks, while the M4 Max and M2 Ultra chips in the Mac Studio trounce AMD's multi-threaded Geekbench 6 scores. Still, you could build a solid Ryzen 9 system for far less than the Mac Studio M4 Max's $2,000 starting cost, even while accounting for the 9950X3D's $700 price tag.

Apple doesn't always come out ahead. In the Cinebench 2024 multi-threaded benchmark, the 9950X3D slightly surpassed the M4 Max chip. That result is also a sign that AMD's flagship chip will be a big help for Windows-based content creators. The 9950X3D and the M4 Max both took 14 seconds to transcode a 4K clip into 1080p, which is the fastest result we've ever seen.

The major appeal of the 9950X3D is that it'll also be able to handle demanding games over the next few years without bottlenecking high-end GPUs like NVIDIA's RTX 5080 and 5090. On my system, which is using an RTX 5090 and 64GB of RAM, the 9950X3D reached 195 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 while playing in 1080p with high graphics settings. The Ryzen 9 7900X, on the other hand, hit 166 fps with the same GPU and RAM. You'll see less of an immediate uplift at higher resolutions, where your video card is doing more of the work. Cyberpunk hit 64 fps in 4K without DLSS upscaling on the 9950X3D, while it struggled to reach 56 fps on the 7900X with the same settings.

For 4K, in particular, the 9950X3D could be useful for scaling performance for monitors with faster refresh rates. On the 7900X, Dragon Age: The Veilguard ran at a smooth 250 fps in 4K with graphics settings and frame generation cranked up, but with the newer chip I saw 270 fps. If you’re running a 4K 240Hz monitor with a less powerful GPU, you’ll likely have a better shot of edging close to 240 fps thanks to 3D V-Cache.

Given all of its power, I was surprised to find that the 9950X3D ran at a relatively cool 81.5 Celsius at 100 percent load. It also idles between 30C and 35C, depending on what you’re doing. Those results are pretty impressive for a CPU that can push up to 170 Watts.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Should you buy the Ryzen 9 9950X3D?

Much like NVIDIA's $2,000 RTX 5090, I can't easily recommend the $700 Ryzen 9 9950X3D to most people. Most gamers would likely be better off with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which sells for a more reasonable $479. Sure, it has half as many cores, but the majority of titles don't tap into many of those to begin with. There's also the $600 12-core 9900X3D, which could be more useful for people who actually need a healthy amount of CPU cores.

You could of course consider AMD's current chips without 3D V-Cache, like the Ryzen 7 9700X, which has an MSRP of $359 but is currently selling for under $300. But if you're already in the market for an expensive video card, it's likely worth paying a bit extra to get more L3 cache. When AMD first debuted the 5800X3D, the company claimed 3D V-Cache alone boosted 1080p performance by 15 percent. As games get more complex and demanding, having more available cache could be even more useful. (And it's also easier to pay more for a better chip now than buying a new one in a few years.)

As for Intel, it only has plans to bring its version of the technology, dubbed Local Cache, to next-generation Xeon server chips, according to der8auer and Bens Hardware (via Tom's Hardware). Intel's current high-end desktop chip, the 24-core i9-14900K, is no gaming slouch, but it's saddled with just 36MB of L3 cache.

Wrap-up

If anything, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is yet another sign that AMD is on a hot streak. After releasing a pair of excellent midrange GPUs, which showed that the company can genuinely go toe-to-toe with NVIDIA, this CPU and its accompanying 3D V-Cache technology is a reminder of how AMD is far ahead of Intel in many ways. And let’s not forget that it was also the first x86 chipmaker to include NPUs in laptop and desktop CPUs. While it’s certainly not the best deal around, if you can afford it, the 9950X3D is the best desktop CPU you can buy today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-review-a-no-compromise-cpu-for-demanding-gamers-152452811.html?src=rss

Oracle Health has potentially suffered a second data breachAny such incident could affect sensitive patient dataOracle has not yet confirmed the scale of the breach

Oracle Health has denied having had sensitive patient data stolen by threat actors in two separate data breaches, leaving millions of customers potentially at risk.The company had previously denied any breach after a hacker claimed to hold six million records belonging to the company but now a second incident appears to have led to a separate breach.The company hasn’t yet commented on the compromises, but BleepingComputer has now reportedly seen private communications sent to impacted customers which confirm patient data was stolen.

Sensitive stolen data

The attack used compromised customer credentials to breach servers, and the legacy Cerner data migration servers sometime after January 22 2025, and the firm was made aware of the breach on February 20, 2025.Reports confirmed patient information was included in the information stolen in the attack, and that the company will help identify the affected users. It’s not clear if this was the result of a ransomware attack, or if this was just data exfiltration, and it's also as yet unknown how the customer credentials were obtained.The attacker, going by the name “Andrew”, has not claimed affiliation with any ransomware or hacking groups, and is demanding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to stop the sale or leak of the exfiltrated information.Healthcare organizations are increasingly at risk from cyberattackers, especially given the sensitive nature of the data they collect, and the often limited budgets for cybersecurity.In fact, a 2024 breach of insurance firm United Healthcare impacted almost 200 million patients.Since a data breach containing personally identifiable information such as this would put those exposed at serious risk of identity theft or fraud, Oracle Health has apparently offered to pay for credit monitoring services for those impacted."As cybersecurity leaders, we’re responsible for strong cyber hygiene: continuously monitoring our environments for unusual activity, leveraging cyber threat intelligence to stay ahead of emerging risks, and empowering employees to be our human firewall," commented Pierre Noel, Field CISO EMEA at Expel."No system is completely impenetrable, but understanding our risk landscape and layering defenses can make it much harder for attackers to succeed. Cyber resilience starts with us."

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iRobot’s Roomba Combo Essential machine, which is a robot vacuum and mop in one, is down to only $149 as part of the Amazon Spring Sale. Normally priced at $275, this is the best discount we've seen on the 2-in-1 robot, matching the sale price we saw during the holiday shopping season last year.

As you can see in our roundup of the best budget robot vacuums, we’ve consistently rated iRobot’s machines highly for their reliability and ease of use. The Roomba Combo Essential is a simple, no-frills option that both vacuums and mops, making it a solid pick for small apartments, dorm rooms or anyone who wants a cleaner floor without spending a fortune.

The vacuum uses special multi-surface brushes to pick up dirt, dust and pet hair from hard floors and carpets. Unlike some budget models that struggle with transitions, this one automatically adjusts to different surfaces, so you won’t have to worry about it getting stuck. When it’s time to mop, the built-in mopping pad wipes down hard floors, tackling light spills and everyday messes. It’s not as advanced as iRobot’s higher-end models with precision scrubbing, but it’s a convenient way to keep your floors looking fresh with minimal effort.

One of iRobot Roomba Combo Essential's most convenient features is its auto-adjusting cleaning power — the robot increases suction when it detects extra debris, so it’s more effective on high-traffic areas like entryways or around pet bowls. It also has cliff sensors to prevent it from tumbling down stairs and a low-profile design that helps it slip under some couches and other furniture for a more thorough clean.

Despite it being an entry-level robot vacuum, the iRobot Roomba Combo Essential comes with app control and voice assistant support, so you can set cleaning schedules and initiate cleaning whether you’re at home lounging on the couch or away on vacation. For $150, this is a solid deal for an iRobot machine that can vacuum and mop, especially considering its usual $275 price tag. If you’ve been thinking about automating some of your floor cleaning, this is one of the most affordable ways to do it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-vacuum-deals-this-irobot-2-in-1-vacuum-and-mop-falls-to-149-123058239.html?src=rss

The Amazon Big Spring Sale has reached it's last day, but a number of the deals we've been tracking for the past week are still going strong — but we don't imagine that'll be the case tomorrow. Like last year, the discounts appear to be more focused on kitchen, fashion and cleaning supplies than all-out tech categories, but as cooking gear gets more tech-reliant we've tested out more than a few cooking gadgets. We’ve reviewed Instant Pots, air fryers, coffee gear, sous vide machines and more. Some of what we recommend is now on sale for Amazon’s latest shopping event. Here are the best deals on kitchen tech we could find.

The best Amazon Spring Sale deals on air fryers, Instant Pots and more

Breville Juice Fountain Plus for $140 ($40 off): The powerful Juice Fountain impressed us with its extraction abilities. Plus it’s relatively easy to clean (as long as you do it right after you juice). It takes up a good amount of space, but can extract an impressive amount of juice from even the driest-seeming carrot. This price isn’t as low as the $110 Amazon sold it for back in January, but this is the lowest price we’ve tracked since then.

Cosori 9-in-1 air frier for $90 ($30 off): Cosori’s fryer earned a spot as the runner up for best overall air fryer in our guide. It has nine preset cooking modes and a six-quart capacity. We like that it doesn’t take up too much space, but can still cook up a decent amount of food

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro for $320 ($80 off): If you want a more traditional toaster oven design with a huge capacity, go for our premium air fryer pick. The fryer-and-oven combo can accommodate a five-quart dutch oven, so it’s almost an auxiliary oven, which could come in handy when you’re cooking for a crowd. This isn't an all-time low — it went for $300 at the end of last year.

Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer for $260 ($90 off): This is the non-Pro version of the Breville air fryer we recommend. It has a slightly smaller capacity (0.8 cubic feet instead of one cubic foot) and is missing two cooking functions (dehydrate and proof). But if you’re not making your own jerky or baking a ton of bread, this one can toast, broil, air fry and slow cook. You can even get it in cool colors like Red Velvet Cake for the same price.

Ninja DZ401 Foodi 10-quart air fryer for $190 ($40 off): If you need to air fry two different foods at once, go for our recommendation for a dual-zone air fryer. It’s a beast, so we think it’s best for larger kitchens and people who make big meals. It went as low as $130 for Black Friday last year, but this is the cheapest price we’ve seen since then.

Ninja AF150AMZ Air Fryer for $120 (25 percent off): This went as low as $100 for the holidays last year, but this matches the lowest price we’ve seen since then. The fryer gets an honorable mention in our air fryer guide because it makes good use of limited counter space with its taller design. The round cooking basket doesn’t feel as roomy as square ones but it does have a dehydrate option that other cookers don’t come with.

KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Blender for $100 ($30 off): The big selling point here is the removable battery that you can use for other KitchenAid Go appliances. In our testing, it had enough power to turn a roasted butternut squash into a smooth, creamy soup. The blender has hit this price a few times over the past few months and the deal isn’t as good as the $77 it sold for at the end of last year.

Instant Pot Pro Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker for $133 ($67 off): We also suggest this fancier Pro Plus model in our guide to kitchen tech. It’s a Wi-Fi connected unit with a canning function and you can even release the steam remotely using the companion app — which has over 800 recipes. This isn't an all-time low — it was $125 earlier this week and dipped as low as $99 for Black Friday last year.

Fellow Stagg EKG Pro electric kettle for $165 ($30 off): This exquisitely designed kettle has an LCD panel built into the base so you can choose a specific temperature down to the degree. And the hold feature keeps water hot for up to an hour. This is the pro model of the version we recommend in our tea guide.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide 3.0 for $129 ($70 off): We named this the best overall sous vide machine after testing a number of models for our buyer’s guide. This is about $30 more than the low it hit for the holidays last year, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen in 2025. We appreciate the easy digital controls and found that the high flow rate maintains water temperature better than other machines. Plus, if you’re at a loss for what to cook, you can check out the companion app which is replete with recipes.

Expired deals

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano for $100 ($50 off): This is the machine that led our editor to dub these machines the “Millennial crockpot.” She uses this one a few times a week to make unfussy meals that keep her alive. The Nano model is a slightly smaller and less expensive version of the top pick in our buyer’s guide. This is about $10 more than the all-time low, but is the cheapest we’ve seen Amazon sell it for over the past couple of months.

Instant Vortex 2QT Mini Air Fryer for $50 ($10 off): The budget pick in our guide doesn’t go on sale often — it’s already pretty cheap at its $60 list price. It’s sold for as little as $48 for Prime Day in July, but this is the cheapest we’ve seen since then. Its two-quart capacity is probably best for small kitchens and can crisp up food for one or two people.

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker for $90 ($40 off): We like this Instant Pot model because it's simple to use and has several quick-cooking modes including beans, cake, sous vide and more. It went as low as $70 earlier this year, but this is still a 30 percent discount off the list price.

KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer for $380 ($80 off): Small wonder that the home cook’s gold standard of mixers made its way onto our kitchen tech guide. Its ton of available attachments can be used to make pasta, grind food, strain or spiralize fruits and veggies and more. This is no unitasker. This is a solid $80 discount off of the MSRP, but we’ll note that Amazon sold it for as low as $330 at the end of last year and for $350 last month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-amazon-spring-sale-deals-on-kitchen-gear-from-ninja-breville-kitchenaid-and-others-092909893.html?src=rss

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly robot vacuum that can handle both vacuuming and mopping, iRobot’s Roomba Combo Essential just hit its lowest price ever. Thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale, it’s down to $149 from $275, matching the lowest price we’ve seen. It previously dipped to $149 during the holiday season and earlier this year, but it’s unclear how long this deal will stick around this time.

As you can see in our roundup of the best budget robot vacuums, we’ve consistently rated iRobot’s machines highly for their reliability and ease of use. The Roomba Combo Essential is a simple, no-frills option that both vacuums and mops, making it a solid pick for small apartments, dorm rooms or anyone who wants a cleaner floor without spending a fortune.

The vacuum uses special multi-surface brushes to pick up dirt, dust and pet hair from hard floors and carpets. Unlike some budget models that struggle with transitions, this one automatically adjusts to different surfaces, so you won’t have to worry about it getting stuck. When it’s time to mop, the built-in mopping pad wipes down hard floors, tackling light spills and everyday messes. It’s not as advanced as iRobot’s higher-end models with precision scrubbing, but it’s a convenient way to keep your floors looking fresh with minimal effort.

One of iRobot Roomba Combo Essential's most convenient features is its auto-adjusting cleaning power — the robot increases suction when it detects extra debris, so it’s more effective on high-traffic areas like entryways or around pet bowls. It also has cliff sensors to prevent it from tumbling down stairs and a low-profile design that helps it slip under some couches and other furniture for a more thorough clean.

Despite it being an entry-level robot vacuum, the iRobot Roomba Combo Essential comes with app control and voice assistant support, so you can set cleaning schedules and initiate cleaning whether you’re at home lounging on the couch or away on vacation. For $150, this is a solid deal for an iRobot machine that can vacuum and mop, especially considering its usual $275 price tag. If you’ve been thinking about automating some of your floor cleaning, this is one of the most affordable ways to do it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-vacuum-deals-this-irobot-2-in-1-vacuum-and-mop-is-still-on-sale-for-149-123058025.html?src=rss

Surfshark is looking to improve the privacy of current end-to-end encryption with a new patentThe plan is currently based on distributed trust-based communication frameworksDespite this, Surfshark says its approach differs from the likes of NymVPN and ObscuraVPN

Surfshark has just registered a new patent looking to improve the privacy of current end-to-end encryption (E2E) systems.Based on a distributed trust-based communication infrastructure, Surfshark's proposed method seeks to reduce the amount of visible metadata – meaning all the data that isn't the content – by splitting the encryption process between two separate VPN providers.

Better metadata privacy

Encryption refers to the scrambling of data into an unreadable form and is the technical solution born to protect these online activities.End-to-end encryption (E2E) is the tech used by virtual private networks (VPNs), some secure email services, and messaging platforms to ensure the content of the message remains private between the sender and the receiver.

A lot of metadata is still visible to the providerKarolis Kaciulis, Surfshark

Yet, Surfshark's Lead System Engineer, Karolis Kaciulis believes that it's time to go beyond E2E.He told TechRadar: "After the emergence of E2E encryption, we feel that the topic of user anonymity and security while using various messaging systems and technologies has stagnated. We believe there is still room for improvement."The main issue with today's encrypted messages, Kaciulis explains, is that while these messages cannot be accessed by unwanted third parties, "a lot of metadata is still visible to the provider."Metadata includes details such as who sent a message to whom, when the message was sent, the size of the message, and many others.

At the time of writing, Surfshark reroute your internet traffic via its own servers only. The provider is now looking if this new tech could fit in its product design roadmap. (Image credit: Surfshark)

This is where Surfshark's new patent comes in. Based on a distributed trust-based communication framework, it seeks to introduce a new way for VPN providers to handle encryption and de-centralize the ownership of the message.Such a framework would involve two different VPN companies handling the encryption process so that no single entity has all the information in its entirety."The patented method would ensure that the information is split," said the patent inventor. "Thus, the metadata seen by the provider companies (as well as governments where they reside) is reduced."

Don't call it decentralized VPN

It's worth mentioning that some providers already offer decentralized VPN solutions that split users' information between several entities without having a single point of governance.For example, the newly launched NymVPN is built on a decentralized server network run by anonymous users across the world. Obscura VPN employs a two-party VPN structure, using Mullvad's WireGuard VPN as an exit hop.Kaciulis, however, thinks that Surfshark's patent goes beyond what a decentralized VPN stands for."Personally, I believe that today 'decentralized VPN' is a little bit of a buzzword used to convince users that it’s a better solution than the status quo. The Internet is built on trust and authority, and losing said authority only makes it less safe," Kaciulis told TechRadar.Therefore, this solution comes as a way to emphasise the importance of having even more authority. "It’s just that the authority is shared between multiple actors instead of one."

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A Google Photos redesign could be on the wayA survey shows a new design with a focus on search featuresIt also makes Memories larger and rounds the edges of your snaps

According to a leak from a recent survey, Google Photos could be about to get a design overhaul, which could make managing your library of snaps a little easier.Details of a supposed Google survey were shared with Android Authority by a user on Telegram called @Arfus_UwU, who sent a screenshot of two Google Photos layouts. One is the current layout, and the other a redesign, which the user is asked to judge based on how modern or outdated it feels out of 50.At first glance, the designs seem very similar, with only a couple of minor changes, such as making image borders more round and making the Google Photos Memories action buttons a little larger – the latter of which you’ll either appreciate or hate based on how frequently you use Memories.However, a few subtler changes could make a world of difference to the Google Photos experience.

Big changes coming?

The current Google Photos design, which could soon be changed (Image credit: Future)

Firstly, we can see that the Today heading no longer has a checkmark next to it and instead shows what appears to be a filter icon. This means instead of being able to quickly select every photo you took that day you’d be able to trim down the snaps you see based on criteria like where they were taken and who’s in the shot.At the bottom, we can also see that the Photos Collections and Search tabs have been replaced by a floating search bar and an icon that looks like it leads to your collections pages.All of these changes look to streamline the process of finding a specific photo in as few taps and swipes as possible.Whether you love or hate the supposed redesign, remember to take this leak with a pinch of salt. Even if Google is conducting surveys, there’s a chance it won’t copy the survey’s design exactly in its eventual rollout – it’s probably testing for a bunch of different factors when asking for opinions.Even so, we, for one, love the new look. Memories could be smaller but the easy access search bar and filter options look super useful, especially as Google’s AI gets better at smart search so it can locate the precise picture you’re describing but can’t spot in your camera roll no matter how much you scroll.

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Sony consoles have a VRR problemTests have revealed it's not an issue with a specifc game or monitorThere's no fix yet, but hopefully Sony will release one soon

If you’ve been experiencing stuttering while playing games on your PS5 or PS5 Pro then you aren’t alone. And finally we might know what’s causing it, but on that front there’s good and bad news.Many players have noticed that when playing games that support 120Hz VRR (variable refersh rate) there’s an occasional stutter. It usually takes about 20 minutes to begin stuttering, but once it does happen, the stutter recurs about every 8 seconds – and naturally, this regular cadence adds to the distraction it causes.Digital Foundry decided to investigate and has found that the issues appear to be with the console itself rather than any specific game or other hardware.As detailed in its very in-depth YouTube explanation (and shared in written form via Eurogamer) Digital Foundry discovered this visual hiccup occurs on several different titles – including The Last of Us Part 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.

It also found the stuttering occurred across different displays including LG OLED TVs, a Samsung mini-LED display, and an Eve Spectrum monitor. Digital Foundry even tested the same games across both Xbox and Sony consoles and found only the Sony hardware had issues.However, while Sony’s tech has been pinned as the source of the issue, what hasn’t yet been discovered is why the games are stuttering.We do know that the stutter itself is because games will be running within a smooth frame rate window (say 60 to 70 fps) then every 8 seconds or so, spike momentarily to 120Hz. It’s why this spike happens which we don’t know.With all signs pointing Sony’s tech being the issue it should hopefully be fixable with a simple software update in the near future. For now, your best immediate solution would be to disable VRR in your system’s settings and play with a fixed refresh rate.It’s not ideal, but it should tide you over until Sony can put out a patch.

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Regular YouTube users have likely noticed an abundance of AI-generated fake movie trailers this past year or so. This annoying AI slop is all over the platform. As it turns out, major movie studios have actually been making money from the videos, according to reporting by Deadline.

The scheme worked sort of like a mob shakedown. Hollywood studios would not enforce copyright on these videos. Instead, they struck a deal with YouTube to ensure they got the ad revenue instead of the people that typed in a couple of prompts and did some light editing.

One of the most famous of these videos is a bogus trailer for the upcoming Superman reboot. This one actually tricked French national television, leading director James Gunn to post three puking emojis on X. He likely didn’t know that Warner Bros. Discovery was one of the companies racking up cash for these pale imitations.

🤮🤮🤮 https://t.co/O17n3VuSx0— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 20, 2024

There’s a question here as to why major film studios would allow their brands to be diluted by AI-generated nonsense. After all, these fake trailers exist right next to the actual teasers and it’s been proven that they can confuse people. We don’t have any actual monetary figures, but the videos have racked up billions of views. Maybe that’s enough for short-sighted companies. The actors union SAG-AFTRA has called the whole thing a "race to the bottom."

In any event, the gravy train has run out of steam. YouTube has turned off ad revenue for these kinds of videos, which was likely done because of Deadline’s reporting. Popular channels that distribute this content, like Screen Culture, have been removed from the partner program. Now nobody will make money from a slightly-off Leonardo DiCaprio making his way through a season of Squid Game.

The channels can appeal YouTube’s decision. The founder of a channel called KH Studio, which has amassed hundreds of millions of views, has said that they never intended to mislead viewers. They just wanted to create "what if" scenarios.

"I’ve been running KH Studio full-time for over three years now, putting everything into it. It’s tough to see it grouped under 'misleading content' in the demonetization decision, when my goal has always been to explore creative possibilities – not to misrepresent real releases," they added.

We contacted Screen Culture for comment and will update this post if we hear back. That channel has over 1.4 million subscribers and has posted a whopping 1,800 videos. If something exists, Screen Culture has likely made a fake trailer for it. For instance, the channel has posted over 20 AI-generated trailers for the upcoming Marvel film Fantastic Four: First Steps.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/movie-studios-have-been-making-serious-money-from-ai-slop-on-youtube-160434252.html?src=rss

There may come a point where you want to break ties with Amazon — maybe you’re cutting down on impulse buys, trying to escape the subscription rabbit hole or just rethinking where your money goes. Whatever the reason, Amazon gives you two main options: you can cancel your Prime membership to stop the monthly (or yearly) payments, or you can go all in and delete your entire Amazon account including your order history, personal data and access to services like Kindle and Prime Video. This guide will walk you through both processes step by step so you can take control of your Amazon presence.

How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership

Canceling Amazon Prime is a lot easier than you might think — especially if you’re looking to save money or you’re not using the perks much anymore. Prime comes with benefits like free shipping, access to Prime Video, Prime Reading and more, but if you’re not using those, you may want to let it go.

Go to Amazon’s “End Your Amazon Prime Membership” help page, or sign into your Amazon account and select Account & Lists then Prime Membership.

Select “End Membership.”

Amazon may prompt you with offers to stay (like reminders of what you'll lose or a discounted rate). If you're sure, keep clicking “Continue to Cancel.”

Confirm your cancellation.

Once canceled, your membership will run until the end of your current billing period. If you cancel during a free trial, your Prime benefits will end immediately and you won’t be charged.

How to delete your Amazon account entirely

If you want to take things a step further and permanently delete your Amazon account — along with all your personal data, order history and any associated services — you can request full account closure. While this will irreversibly delete account details like your order history, you can always sign up again from scratch if you change your mind. Once your account is gone, you won’t be able to access anything tied to it again. This includes your:

Order history and invoices

Access to digital content (like Kindle books, Prime Video purchases or Amazon Music)

Saved payment methods and shipping addresses

Amazon Photos, Amazon Drive and Alexa voice history

Any remaining Amazon gift card balances or promotional credit

So, before you go through with it, make sure you download anything you want to keep, spend any remaining credit and cancel open orders or subscriptions.

Head to the Close Your Amazon Account help page, or sign into your Amazon account and select Account & Lists then Account, and navigate to the Manage your data section then Close Your Amazon Account.

Review the list of services associated with your account. This helps you see what you'll lose access to, such as Audible, Alexa devices, Kindle purchases or Amazon-owned services in other countries.

If you're sure you want to continue, select a reason for leaving from the drop-down menu.

Check the box confirming: “Yes, I want to permanently close my Amazon account and delete my data.”

Click Close My Account.

Georgie Peru for Engadget

After submitting the request, Amazon will send a confirmation message to your email or phone number. You’ll need to reply within five days to verify the deletion request. If you don’t, the request expires and your account stays active.

If you have multiple Amazon accounts, you’ll need to go through this process for each one individually. Once your account is deleted, you can’t get it back. If you want to use Amazon again in the future, you’ll have to create a brand-new account. Also, your account will be deleted across all Amazon sites globally — so if you also use amazon.co.uk, amazon.de or amazon.co.jp with the same login, those will be gone too.

FAQs

Can you get a refund on your Prime membership?

Yes, in some cases. If you haven’t used any Prime benefits during the current period — for example, if you haven’t placed an order with free Prime shipping or streamed anything on Prime Video — Amazon will typically give you a full refund. It usually takes three to five business days to process.

What happens to your Prime add-ons?

If you’ve signed up for Prime Video Channels like Paramount+ or Showtime, those will also end when you cancel your Prime membership. These subscriptions won’t renew once Prime is canceled.

Also, if you subscribed to Prime through Google Play on an Android device, you'll need to cancel through Google Subscriptions instead. Similarly, if your Prime came bundled with a third-party service like Metro by T-Mobile, you’ll need to contact that provider directly to cancel.

For more general tips on managing and canceling subscriptions you’re no longer using, check out our guide to finding and canceling unused subscriptions.

What if you can’t log in to your account?

If you’re having trouble accessing the account you want to close, Amazon has a help page that walks you through password recovery, identity verification and other troubleshooting steps.

And if you're helping someone else delete their account — for example, if you're an authorized agent — Amazon recommends contacting it via email with legal proof of authorization under your state's privacy laws.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/how-to-cancel-your-amazon-account-160046999.html?src=rss