News

Andor season 2: key information- Arriving in late April- Will receive a three-episode premiere, with other episodes releasing in three batches every week- Trailers released in February and March- Main cast set to return- New cast additions revealed in late 2024- Spans four years of the Star Wars timeline- Leads directly into 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story movie- There won't be a third season

Andor season 2 isn't almost here, ladies and gents. The highly-rated Star Wars show's second and final chapter arrives on April 22 – and, to further whet our appetite for its arrival, a brand-new trailer was released in late March. You can check that out further down this page.There's more to read about Andor's final hurrah on Disney+ below, too. I've enlisted the help of some Bothan spies to round up the latest intel on the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story prequel show's next installment, including its confirmed cast, plot details, and more.Full spoilers for Andor season 1 follow (NB: read my spoiler-free Andor season 1 review first if you haven't see it yet) so proceed at your own risk.

Andor season 2 release date

The critically acclaimed series returns for its final season.Don’t miss the three-episode premiere of Andor, streaming April 22 only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/lfT2Y7cCmKMarch 24, 2025

Andor season 2 will arrive on April 22 (US) and April 23 (UK and Australia). In my view, its release date is a missed opportunity for the best Star Wars show, but it is what it is.Before Disney revealed its official launch date, the House of Mouse had only revealed Andor season 2 wouldn't be part of Disney Plus' 2024 line-up. A 2025 launch was always on the cards, then.

What time will Andor season 2 episode 1 be released on Disney Plus?

Cassian's journey continues. The second season of #Andor streams April 22, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/lrUJDwlCG3February 24, 2025

Andor season 2 is set to follow Disney+'s recent release time format. That means US viewers will be able to stream its first episode at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET on April 22. Meanwhile, UK audiences can catch it at 2 AM GMT and Australian fans at 12 PM AEST on April 23.You'll be able to watch more than one episode on launch day, too. Per StarWars.com, this season's 12 episodes will be released in four weekly chapters of three episodes apiece. So, you'll be able to watch season 2 episodes 1 to 3 on April 22 or April 23, episodes 4 to 6 on April 29 and April 30, and so on.For a full breakdown of season 2's full launch schedule, read on:

Andor season 2 episode 1 – April 22 (US); April 23 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 2 – April 22 (US); April 23 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 3– April 22 (US); April 23 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 4 – April 29 (US); April 30 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 5 – April 29 (US); April 30 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 6 – April 29 (US); April 30 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 7 – May 6 (US); May 7 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 8 – May 6 (US); May 7 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 9 – May 6 (US); May 7 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 10 – May 13 (US); May 14 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 11 – May 13 (US); May 14 (UK and Australia)Andor season 2 episode 12 – May 13 (US); May 14 (UK and Australia)

Andor season 2 trailer

You wait months for an Andor season 2 trailer, and two arrive within a month of each other. Indeed, just weeks after Andor season 2's first teaser arrived in February (watch it below), this season's official trailer was released and had Star Wars fans asking the same question.

Want to pore over even more footage? Check out season 2's special look teaser, which was released between its two proper trailers:

Andor season 2 cast: confirmed and rumored

Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael are part of the season 2 cast (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Full spoilers follow for Andor season 1 and Rogue One.

Here's the confirmed cast for Andor season 2 so far:

Diego Luna as Cassian AndorGenevieve O’Reilly as Mon MothmaStellan Skarsgård as Luthen RaelDenise Gough as Dedra MeeroKyle Soller as Syril KarnAdria Arjona as Bix CaleenFaye Marsay as Vel SarthaVarada Sethu as Cinta KazElizabeth Dulau as Kleya MarkiForrest Whittaker as Saw GerreraJoplin Sibtain as BrassoAlan Tudyk as K-2SOBen Mendelsohn as Orson KrennicThéo Costa Marini as DilanAlaïs Lawson as Enza Rylanz

The first 11 actors were part of season 1's cast. After reports emerged that Rogue One villain Orson Krennic would appear in Andor season 2, confirmation that Mendelsohn will reprise his role as Krennic, aka the Galactic Empire's Director of Advanced Weapons Research from Rogue One, came via season 2's first teaser. K-2SO – the Imperial security droid who's Cassian’s mechanical BFF in Rogue One – was similarly confirmed to return prior to this season's launch.Season 2 newcomers include Marini and Lawson as Dilan and Enza who, based on the image below, will aid Cassian at some point this season.

New characters Dilan and Enza will aid the titular rebel in season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

There are plenty of returning faces – from season 1 and Rogue One – who may be part of proceedings, incluiding Anton Lesser's Major Partagaz. Meanwhile, speaking to Empire, Andy Serkis didn't deny that Kino Loy will live to fight another day. Chatting to SlashFilm, showrunner Tony Gilroy also teased "we didn't see him die", so Kino may still be alive.Where Rogue One returnees are concerned, we know Duncan Pow's Ruescott Melshi is back, with Gilroy confirming as much to Deadline. Imperial bigwig Wullf Yularen (Malcolm Sinclair), who dates all the way back to Episode IV: A New Hope, also featured in season 1, so I also expect him to return.

Orson Krennic will show up at some point in season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Lastly, I wouldn’t be surprised if other familiar faces from Rogue One, such as Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed), an Empire pilot who defects to the Rebellion, and Tivik (Daniel Mays), the Rebel spy Cassian kills early on in Rogue One, make appearances. Gilroy (via SlashFilm) and Luna (per The Pop Verse and Rotten Tomatoes) have teased that other characters seen in Rogue One may pop up as well.

Star Wars: Andor season 2 plot synopsis and rumors

What'll become of Bix and Cassian relationship-wise in the series' final chapter? (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Major spoilers follow for Andor season 1.

Here's Andor season 2 plot synopsis: "Season 2 carries [on] the story of Cassian Andor and the emerging rebel alliance over the climactic four years that lead to the discovery of The Death Star and the events of Rogue One. Season 2 will see relationships intensify as the horizon of galactic war draws near. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound."As I mentioned earlier, season 2 is broken up into four parts – comprising three episodes apiece – that'll depict a 12-month period covering a pivotal few days of the Star Wars timeline (check out our guide to how to watch the Star Wars movies in order for more on where it'll be set)."In the first year, it's a story set across, like, a Friday, Saturday, and a Sunday," Gilroy told TechRadar of Andor season 2's time jumps. "Then, we jump a year and we set that story around seven days. Then, we jump another year and I think that's told across two weeks. The last block will tell a story set in the five days before Rogue One, so it's very cool. From a storytelling point of view, it's very sexy."

Luthen Rael will continue to play a key role in the nascent Rebel Alliance throughout season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

So, we know the beginning and end of Andor season 2, but everything in between remains a mystery. Nevertheless, we have some ideas of what to expect, based on what Gilroy and the show's cast have said."The beauty of this show is that even though sometimes you know what's going to happen, it hits you as though you’re learning it for the first time," Diego Luna further told Entertainment Weekly (EW). "You are witnessing this from the inside, from the personal perspective. You get to live it with the characters, or through the characters. Therefore, it hits you differently. It’s not about the events, necessarily, but about the choices made and the risks these characters are taking. It’s because you know them that you care like you didn’t care before.""One of the great thrills of making Andor is the scale of the story and the number of characters we’re able to meet — ordinary people, Imperial overlords, passionate revolutionaries," Gilroy told StarWars.com. "They are real people making epic decisions, all of them staring down questions with terrifying consequences. Cassian’s journey is the soul and spine of our story, but it’s the choir that makes the show. I’m so excited for audiences to see where we go in season 2."

The road to rebellion.Andor Season 2 is streaming April 22, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/3UrRiyV5cMMarch 5, 2025

So, what did the season 1 finale set up for its successor? The titular character briefly returned to his home planet Ferrix for the funeral of his adoptive mother Maarva. After she posthumously incited an anti-Imperial riot (via a recorded hologram), he rescued ex-girlfriend Bix Caleen from Imperial torture and convinced morally flexible Rebel Alliance kingpin Luthen Rael not to kill him. Now that the previously ambivalent Cassian has a reason to take the fight to the Empire, he’ll be a fully fledged member of the Alliance next time we see him."Cassian’s commitment to the cause is not in doubt," Gilroy explained to Polygon. "If it was about him becoming a revolutionary, then the second half is about him becoming a leader."Although her name isn’t in the title, Andor is as much about Mon Mothma as its eponymous thief-turned-spy. In season 2, she has to evolve from a respected senator helping fund the Rebels on the sly, to the leader we see making pivotal decisions on Yavin IV in Rogue One. So, you can expect her character to evolve further, such as her turning a blind eye to the activities of the Rebel Alliance's operatives (like the aforementioned Rael) who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty."If your business is based on paranoia and secrecy and death, how do you expand your business?" Gilroy asked in EW. "How do you go public? How do you go wide? What happens to all the original gangsters and the hardcore people who built that road? What happens to them, and how do they integrate with [a legitimate Rebel Alliance]?"

Syril and Dedra will continue to hunt down Cassian in season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Speaking of Yavin IV, Gilroy let slip to Collider that we'll be paying a visit to the Rebel base's headquarters soon. That's just one of "five different planets" we'll visit, too, Luna confirmed in conversation with Rotten Tomatoes.In conversation with Gizmodo, Gilroy also revealed season 2 will depict the much-discussed Ghorman Massacre, a hugely significant and canonical event that transpires at this point on the Star Wars timeline. The same is true of Mon Mothma officially leaving the Senate, too, which is teased in both trailers and by Gilroy (via EW).Elsewhere, Cassian will also be doing his best to stay ahead of Dedra Meero, the ambitious Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) agent who became obsessed with catching him. However, matters may be a bit more complicated now that she owes a debt to disgraced police officer Syril Karn, who saved her from rioters on Ferrix in season 1's finale.After their surprisingly close encounter in a broom cupboard, Karn – the series' most intriguing, multi-layered character – surely has a big part to play in the pursuit of Andor, the man who effectively ruined his career. Expect Meero and Karn to team up to try and track down Andor and his fellow revolutionaries.

Mon Mothma's importance to the Rebel Alliance will only grow from here on out (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Given Andor season 2 directly leads into Rogue One (and, by proxy, Star Wars Episode IV), we'll eventually see the Rebel Alliance learn about the Death Star and the Empire's plan to use it. In the post-credits scene of season 1's final episode, we learned that Cassian, Kino, and other Narkina 5 prisoners had been building components for the Death Star's lazer array, meaning they had a hand in its creation."It [the Death Star's construction] will still be the looming threat," Gilroy told THR. "Rogue One is all about discovering what it is. [Season 2 is] about who picks up the final breadcrumbs that lead to the beginning of Rogue One. In Rogue One, Cassian goes to the Ring of Kafrene to meet Tivik, who is from Saw’s group, and he says 'Oh my God, it’s a planet killer'. Cassian knows some shit, but he’s looking for answers. So, we’ll [cover] the breadcrumbs that lead up to that, but we have a situation where Cassian will never know that what he was building is actually the machine that’s going to kill him."

Report to Dedra Meero if you're looking for more top-tier Star Wars shows to stream (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Amid all the intergalactic and political warfare, one seemingly forgotten plot thread continues to dangle in the background: has Cassian given up on finding his sister, which is what set Andor's events in motion in its premiere?Luna teased (via) Collider that viewers shouldn't expect an answer to that question. But, hey, we live in hope all the same!

Where can I watch season 1 of Andor?

All 12 episodes of Andor, aka one of the best Disney+ shows, is available on Disney's primary streaming platform and its sibling service Hulu (NB: it's only available on the latter until April 22). You can find out how to sign for a subscription and how much each tier costs in our Disney+ price guide.Unsure if you want to pay for the service right now? You're in luck. You can watch the first three episodes of Andor on YouTube now to see if it's the kind of show you'll enjoy.You'll need to sign up to Disney+ to watch the rest, though, if you like it as much as I do. Or, if you don't have time to watch a bunch of 38-minutes to near-one-hour-long episodes before season 2's launch, this 14-minute season 1 recap will catch you up on the basics.

Will there be an Andor season 3?

Andor won't return for another entry after season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

No – and it won't do, either. Andor season 2 will directly lead into the events of Rogue One, so there won't be a third and final chapter to stream on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.If you want, you can just consider Rogue One to be Andor season 3 in all but name. But, once season 2 is released, there won't be another one after it. Sad faces all around.

For more Star Wars coverage, read our guide on all of the new Star Wars movies and TV shows that are in the works. Alternatively, get the lowdown on The Mandalorian season 4, or find out why Star Wars should learn from Andor and stop making Disney Plus shows that are so obsessed with the Jedi.

Black Mirror season 7 looks very promising so far, and I'm excited to dive back into one of the best Netflix shows when it returns on April 10. Like all anthologies, there have been some duds along the way, but personally, I've enjoyed most of the twisted tales.Charlie Brooker's dystopian series has changed a lot since its Channel 4 days, achieving global success on Netflix, one of the best streaming services. Huge things are coming in season 7, too, like the anthology's first-ever sequel episode.Take a look at the announcement teaser below for a proper look at season 7.

What will each episode in Black Mirror season 7 be about?

Will Poulter and Asim Chaudhry return for Black Mirror season 7. (Image credit: Netflix)

First off, we have six new episode titles giving us little clues of what to expect. These are 'Common People', 'Bête Noire', 'Hotel Reverie', 'Plaything', 'Eulogy', and 'USS Callister: Into Infinity'.We do have brief synopses for each too, if you're keen to learn more. For 'Common People', which stars Sunny's Rashida Jones, Netflix teases: "When a medical emergency leaves schoolteacher Amanda fighting for her life, desperate husband Mike signs her up for Rivermind, a high-tech system that will keep her alive – but at a cost…"Then there's 'Bête Noire', which reads: "Maria is a high-flying development executive at a chocolate company. Everything is going well for her until someone she hasn’t seen since school – a woman named Verity – shows up for a focus group tasting session."It could be the chance for a heartfelt reunion – except there’s something very odd about Verity, and Maria seems to be the only person to notice."Emma Corrin, Issa Rae, Awkwafina, and Harriet Walter star in 'Hotel Reverie', a black and white one, much like how they filmed season 4's 'Metalhead'. The synopsis reads: "Hollywood A-list actress Brandy Friday is thrown into an unusually immersive high-tech remake of a vintage romantic movie, and must stick to the script if she ever wants to make it home…"Episode 4, 'Plaything', stars Peter Capaldi alongside Will Poulter and Asim Chaudhry, who are reprising their roles from the interactive movie Bandersnatch, something that came as a shock to me in my Black Mirror season 7 trailer reaction.The synopsis is: "An eccentric loner named Cameron who harbours an intense obsession with a mysterious '90s video game is arrested in connection with a grisly cold case – and his interrogation soon goes to places the police weren’t expecting."'Eulogy' is the fifth episode, and its synopsis is: "An innovative system that enables users to literally step into photographic memories of the past leads a lonely man to re-examine a heartbreaking period from his past."Finally, the anticipated 'USS Callister' sequel sees the old crew reprising their roles and reads: "Robert Daly is dead, but the crew of the USS Callister – led by Captain Nanette Cole – find their problems are just beginning."

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AMD's CEO Lisa Su hints at more Ryzen AI Max APUs coming to desktop PCsSome of the APUs have been used in Framework DesktopsIt could be the start of discrete GPUs being subsided

While Nvidia and AMD's new GPU lineups are at the forefront of PC gaming news, Team Red's processors are on the verge of taking the spotlight: the Ryzen AI Max APUs have mostly been reserved for laptops, providing enough power to run demanding triple-A games, but that could change very soon.In an interview with DeepSeek Exploded on Bilibili, AMD's CEO Lisa Su hinted at more Ryzen AI Max processors making their way to the desktop space. We've seen the top-end processor (Ryzen AI 395+) in some mini-PCs and laptops, which provide exceptional performance results in games - and we could see the same results for even more desktop PCs.Thanks to the Ryzen AI Max+ 395's Radeon 8060S iGPU with 40 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores and 16 CPU cores with 32 threads, gaming works great above 1080p. It's evident in ETA Prime's Framework Desktop PC tests on YouTube: a prime example is Cyberpunk 2077, with its frame rate hovering between 55 and 60fps with ultra graphics settings at 1440p.It's also worth noting that FSR 4 could be making its way to RDNA 3 - it's currently reserved for RDNA 4 - and this could be incredibly beneficial to systems powered by the APUs.The important thing is that all of this is possible without a discrete GPU, and with a desktop PC, this could work wonders for efficiency. While it won't match high-end desktop GPUs, it still packs a punch and could be the start of something new - or perhaps, the beginning of the end for discrete GPUs.

(Image credit: AMD)

If we can get stronger APUs sooner, it may be time up for some discrete GPUs

For a long time, discrete GPUs for both laptops and desktop PCs have been the one-way ticket to great gaming experiences. Now, that's gradually beginning to change with APUs becoming more powerful: it's evident with handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and the recent MSI Claw 8 AI+ using Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor.While the high-end Ryzen AI Max chips haven't been used in handheld gaming PCs yet, they're the ideal chips for mini-PC setups. Discrete GPUs (specifically desktop ones) provide fantastic performance across the board but use plenty of power - however, that won't be the case with an AI Max+ 395.Tech is moving faster than ever, and APUs are the perfect example. If we manage to get more powerful APUs in the foreseeable future, we might just see a slow fade away of mid-range discrete GPUs - and perhaps a strong rival to current consoles (if the prices for the PCs are reasonable, anyway).

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A Hyundai Ioniq 5 has driven over 500,000km on its original batteryBattery health degradation is considerably lower than many predictedModels from Nissan, Tesla and Chevrolet can be found with high mileage

News has surfaced this week of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner in South Korea who clocked up a staggering 360,000 miles (579,363 km) on their EV's original battery.Rewind the clock to 2011 and the introduction of the first-generation Nissan Leaf and industry experts were worried that EV batteries wouldn’t last five years before they need replacing… at a huge cost.However, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner, who regularly posts on a Facebook Group called “Mileage Impossible”, claims he covers around 10,000 miles, reaching 360,000 miles before Hyundai offered to replace the battery for free, despite it being well beyond its warranty period.Perhaps most amazing of all is that the original battery pack was still showing 87% of its original health, despite the owner reportedly only using DC fast charging to top up the battery packs, according to Electrek. This was likely so Hyundai could run tests on the battery pack for its own data records.Still going strong, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has now hit 666,255km (413,991 miles) and counting, although it hasn’t been completely free of issues. The owner reported that the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) broke, meaning it can’t be charged on Level 1 and Level 2 low-powered AC outlets, while standard maintenance and general wear and tear will have likely thrown up some bills.But the high-mileage Hyundai is a shining example of how robust and reliable a modern EV can be if it is taken care of properly. And it isn't alone...

Electric vehicles keep rolling

(Image credit: GearBrain)

For data nerds, the high-mileage Hyundai example is an anomaly and it is much better to look at numbers sourced from the wider EV industry to get a more reliable picture on battery and electric motor health after vehicles reach very high mileage.That said, the news isn’t awash with reports of EV batteries failing after just a few years (you know it would be if that was the case). And there are numerous reports of owners maxing out their mileage in a number of electric vehicles with very little issue.Here are just a handful of examples...

1. Tesla Model S 70D

(Image credit: Tesla)

Inside EVs ran a story about how one Tesla owner, who used the vehicle as a taxi service, covered a mammoth 70,000 miles (112,650km) a year. At the last count, the car showed a staggering 424,000-miles on the clock (682,361km).According to the report, the battery pack was replaced under warranty at 250,000 miles (402,335 km), as well as a new front motor 380,000 miles (611,550 km).Amazingly, it still uses its original rear motor unit but, like any combustion engine counterpart, it has also received a number of new parts to keep it roadworthy.Rear axles, suspension components and the AC compressor all required replacing, which is understandable on a vehicle that has gone that sort of distance. We bet this isn't the only example of a Model S managing to out-last combustion engine counterparts.

2. Tesla Model 3

(Image credit: Tesla)

Although it lacks the video evidence of the previously mentioned Model S, one Model 3 owner took to Twitter in 2022 to post an image of their Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor hitting 500,000km (or 310,685).According to the owner, it was still using the original battery pack, motors and even brakes, which is slightly concerning. Although the owner admitted that they drove 90% of the time at highway speeds.The only maintenance, aside from tires and other commonly replaced parts, was a new drivetrain oil pump at 286,000 miles (460,000 km), which reportedly cost just 250 Canadian Dollars ($194).

3. BMW i3

(Image credit: BMW)

BMW put out a press release in 2019 to celebrate Shaun Maidment's achievements, an i3 owner in South Africa who had clocked up 200,000km in a first generation 60Ah model in just three years of ownership.According to an update in 2022, the vehicle had amassed 187,000 miles (301,998 km). However, it is worth noting that Shaun’s i3 was the range extender variant, so the smaller battery pack is capable of 126 miles on electricity alone, with petrol used to power the range extending system to around 200 miles.Regardless, it's another great example of a car that wasn't designed to hit such lofty mileage proving the naysayers wrong.

4. Chevrolet Bolt

(Image credit: Chevrolet)

The Chevy Bolt forums are awash with members trying to outdo each other on mileage, but one video surfaced that showed an owner managing a staggering 138,000 miles (222,089km) on its original battery, with the second still going strong at a further 122,000 miles (196,339km).The vehicle is still cruising happily at 300,000 miles and counting, with the content owner documenting the life of his 2019 model in various videos on YouTube.

5. Nissan Leaf

(Image credit: Nissan)

A driver in Washington managed to rack up 150,000 miles in his first-generation Nissan Leaf, with the original battery pack managing to go the distance, despite the owner reporting that the battery fade has been considerable.But considering the battery technology is now 16 years old, it is amazing that the packs still offer 60% capacity, which is good for around 35 miles of range in warm weather.Owner Steve Marsh told Inside EVs that he now has a newer 2014 Leaf for everyday use, with the the last few clicks to hit 150,000 miles on his original model more a "proof of capability" than a conscious decision to use the car.

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The Looney Tunes film Coyote vs. Acme won’t be rotting away in David Zaslav’s basement for the next 50 years. Warner Bros. Discovery has sold the rights to the movie to Ketchup Entertainment, the same company that just released The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.

Ketchup ponied up around $50 million for the film and it’ll hit theaters in 2026, according to reporting by Deadline. Warner Bros. funded the creation of the movie but then shelved it for a tax write-off. You know the drill. It’s pretty much the same thing it did with the Batgirl movie and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. Nobody loves scrapping finished projects more than WB.

This one, at least, has a happy ending. Coyote vs. Acme always seemed like a pretty nifty concept. It stars Will Forte and John Cena and follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues notorious manufacturer Acme after he repeatedly fails to catch his arch-nemesis, the roadrunner. Directing duties fell to Dave Green, who made Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. It was produced by Chris deFaria and James Gunn, with a screenplay by May December scribe Samy Burch.

This hasn’t stopped Warner Bros. Discovery from feverishly hitting the “delete” key. It just pulled all of the original Looney Tunes shorts from the streaming platform Max. This happened just as The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie was hitting theaters. To be fair, that film didn’t exactly blow up the box office.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/warner-bros-has-officially-sold-the-looney-tunes-film-coyote-vs-acme-170346994.html?src=rss

A pair of cult classics from Sony's PlayStation Portable library are heading to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC. As part of the Nintendo Direct showcase this March, Bandai Namco announced Patapon 1 + 2 Replay, a package that brings together brand new remasters of 2007's Patapon and 2008's Patapon 2. Originally developed by Pyramid and Sony Japan Studio, which shuttered in 2021, the two games combine elements from strategy and rhythm games.

As the player, you must guide a tribe of anthropomorphic eyeballs to victory over their foes through a combination of drum beats. Patapon and Patapon 2 were well-received on release and went on to define the PSP's library of quirky but fun games. In addition to HD graphics, Patapon 1 + 2 Replay includes quality of life changes that should hopefully make this the best way to play these two gems.

Update, March 31, 1:15PM ET: Bandai Namco confirmed that Patapon 1 + 2 Replay is coming to PS5 and PC as well as Switch, and this information has been included in the article.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/patapon-1--2-replay-brings-two-psp-classics-to-pc-ps5-and-switch-on-july-11-143627055.html?src=rss

Microsoft has reportedly canceled data center leases amid shifting infrastructure priorities TD Cowen analysts suggest lease deferrals reflect oversupply vs demandMicrosoft doesn't deny the report but says it's investing $80 billion in infrastructure

We recently reported Microsoft had cancelled leases with at least two private data center operators in the US, totaling “a couple hundred megawatts,” and how the company was also not converting “so-called statements of qualifications into leases,” according to claims from TD Cowen analysts.Shortly after that news broke, Microsoft pulled out of a $12 billion deal with CoreWeave (the "WeWork of AI"), passing on buying more data center capacity from the AI hyperscaler. That option was snapped up by OpenAI, but as it counts Microsoft as its biggest backer, it was essentially paying CoreWeave with Microsoft money!Microsoft appears to be taking a more tactical approach to AI spending, a move that is echoed in a new Bloomberg report quoting TD Cowen analysts saying Microsoft has walked away from additional data center projects in the US and Europe.

On track to spend $80 billion

Bloomberg writes, “Microsoft’s retrenchment in the last six months included lease cancellations and deferrals, the TD Cowen analysts said in their latest research note. Alphabet Inc.’s Google had stepped in to grab some leases Microsoft abandoned in Europe, the analysts wrote, while Meta Platforms Inc. had scooped up some of the freed capacity in Europe.”Responding to the article, Microsoft pointed out that it was still on track to spend about $80 billion investing in growing infrastructure projects.“Thanks to the significant investments we have made up to this point, we are well positioned to meet our current and increasing customer demand,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement.“While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions. This allows us to invest and allocate resources to growth areas for our future.”Bloomberg adds TD Cowen analysts Michael Elias, Cooper Belanger, and Gregory Williams said, “We continue to believe the lease cancellations and deferrals of capacity points to data center oversupply relative to its current demand forecast.”

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Black Mirror season 7: key information- Launching on Netflix on April 10, 2025- Will be six episodes- An official trailer is available- New and returning cast confirmed- First ever sequel episode based on season 4’s USS Callister- Episode titles and synopses have been confirmed- Brooker “in it for the long haul” for future seasons

Black Mirror season 7, the highly-praised and darkly satirical anthology Netflix series, will return in 2025.In this guide to the upcoming show, we have gathered intel about season 7 that’ll be sure to excite. It's one of the best Netflix shows, offering a wealth of sci-fi scenarios spanning dystopias and tackling themes of surveillance, AI, and societal issues, to name but a few.For season 7, the show looks set to return with more chaotic and thought-provoking tales on the best streaming service. Plus, there's an all-star cast already confirmed, which features returning characters in an unprecedented move for Black Mirror with the first-ever sequel.With a show like this, you're never quite sure what to expect, but we've scoured high and low for everything you need to know about Black Mirror season 7 from release date, to confirmed cast, to confirmed plot synopses, and more news.

Black Mirror season 7: is there a release date?

Yes, Black Mirror season 7 arrives on Netflix on Thursday, April 10. The news was confirmed in a Tudum press release alongside episode titles and synopses.

Black Mirror season 7: has a trailer been released?

Yes, an official trailer is out, which also confirms the titles of the six new episodes. These are as follows:

"Common People""Bête Noire","Hotel Reverie""Plaything""Eulogy""USS Callister: Into Infinity".

Black Mirror season 7: confirmed cast

The biggest Black Mirror season 7 news so far - the return of USS Callister (Image credit: Netflix)

Potential spoilers follow for Black Mirror season 7.

Black Mirror is renowned for its stellar cast list, which changes in every episode, thanks to its anthology style. And, during Geeked Week 2024, the Black Mirror season 7 lead cast was revealed and Brooker calls it: “embarrassingly stacked”:

Milanka Brooks as Elena TulaskaWaleed Hammad as PoOsy Ikhile as Nate PackerJimmi Simpson as WaltonPaul G. Raymond as Kabir DudaniCristin Milioti as Nanette ColeEdward Pishiyski Chlerich as Walton CloneBilly Magnussen as ValdackSiena Kelly as MariaRosy McEwen as VerityJames Nelson-Joyce as KanoAwkwafina as KimmyWill Poulter as Colin Ritman Asim Chaudhry as Mohan ThakurPeter Capaldi as CameronLewis Gribben as young Cameron WalkerEmma Corrin as DorothyPatsy Ferran as The GuidePaul Giamatti as PhillipRashida Jones as AmandaChris O’Dowd as MikeIssa Rae as BrandyTracee Ellis Ross as GaynorHarriet Walter as Judith Keyworth

Thanks to What’s On Netflix, we know a little more about some of the roles listed above, but the rest it seems we’ll have to wait to see. The report reveals that two of the characters, Verity (Rosy McEwen) and Maria (Siena Kelly), will play old schoolmates.These schoolmates, however, weren’t really mates at all. They work together at the same company – an international snack company called SavoritaWe also know that Milanka Brooks, Billy Magnussen, Paul G. Raymond, Cristin Milioti, Osy Ikhile, and Jimmi Simpson are all cast members from season 4’s USS Callister episode. And why are their names here again? Well, we’ll delve into that exciting plot news below.

Black Mirror season 7: confirmed story synopses

The crew of the USS Callister - minus two - star in Black Mirror season 7 (Image credit: Netflix)

We now know what each episode of Black Mirror season 7 will be about, so no need to speculate any longer!Here are all six episodes and what to expect."Common People”Synopsis: When a medical emergency leaves schoolteacher Amanda fighting for her life, desperate husband Mike signs her up for Rivermind, a high-tech system that will keep her alive — but at a cost.“Bête Noire”Synopsis: Maria is a high-flying development executive at a chocolate company. Everything is going well for her until someone she hasn’t seen since school — a woman named Verity — shows up for a focus group tasting session. It could be the chance for a heartfelt reunion, except there’s something very odd about Verity, and Maria seems to be the only person who notices.“Plaything”Synopsis: An eccentric loner named Cameron, who harbors an obsession with a mysterious 1990s video game, is arrested in connection with a grisly cold case — and his interrogation soon goes to places the police weren’t expecting. “Eulogy”Synopsis: An innovative system that enables users to literally step into photographic memories of the past leads a lonely man to re-examine a heartbreaking period in his past.“USS Callister: Into Infinity” Synopsis: Robert Daly is dead, but the crew of the USS Callister — led by Captain Nanette Cole — find that their problems are just beginning.

Will there be more seasons of Black Mirror?

We'd love to see more Black Mirror, and so would Charlie Brooker (Image credit: Netflix)

With six seasons under his belt and a seventh on the way, the question emerges as to how much more there is to come from Brooker, but thankfully The Hollywood Reporter posed this very question to the man himself.With an anthology series, the possibilities are seemingly endless, though he said: “I’m sure I’ll find out when we’re not doing any more seasons! It will be made apparent to me at some point, I’m sure. But I’m in it for the long haul. I’m not going anywhere.”After taking over Black Mirror from Channel 4 in 2015, the fate of the show now belongs to Netflix – though there’s been no official news from them yet as to whether a season eight is coming.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides on 3 Body Problem season 2, Stranger Things season 5, Arcane season 2, and One Piece season 2.

Apple has released iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4 and visionOS 2.4, bringing a grab bag of new features to the companies devices and expanding Apple Intelligence to new countries and languages.

As previously announced by Apple iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4 include a new Apple News+ Food section in the News app that collects recipes and food-oriented articles, including exclusive recipes for Apple News+ subscribers. The updates also introduce new emoji, AI-sorted Priority Notifications in Notification Center, new ways to filter photos in the Photos app and lossless audio on the AirPods Max. That's on top of a random assortment of other quality-of-life features like:

AI-generated summaries of App Store reviews

An Ambient Music tool in Control Center

The ability to add and control Matter-compatible robot vacuums to the Home app

New widgets for the Podcasts app

A new "Sketch" style for images in Image Playground

Apple

The update to visionOS 2.4 will add Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Image Playground to the Vision Pro for the first time, on top of a streamlined process for sharing your headset with another person, a new Apple Vision Pro app for the iPhone to download apps and experiences to your Vision Pro remotely, and a Spatial Gallery app for the headset itself that features a rotating collection of spatial videos and photos curated by Apple.

After a bit of a delay, Apple says Apple Intelligence will be available in the European Union for the first time on iPhone and iPad. The suite of AI features will now also work in several new languages "including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) — as well as localized English for Singapore and India," Apple says.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ios-184-is-available-now-with-new-emoji-apple-news-food-and-priority-notifications-175358845.html?src=rss

Yesterday morning, I logged into Facebook and saw an image of the Colosseum turned into a water park. On LinkedIn, everyone was busy transforming their headshots into Studio Ghibli characters, courtesy of ChatGPT’s latest update. Threads showed me a video reimagining the cast of Severance crawling around Lumon as babies. And X kindly served up a Grok-generated image of Elon Musk and Donald Trump in a pose I wish I could unsee.It’s not just me, right? Social media has become a swirling mess of synthetic content. We’ve written about the rise of AI slop before – part cringe-inducing art gallery, part uncanny valley fever dream. And sure, the algorithm is feeding me stuff it thinks I care about – Severance babies, travel inspo, a healthy dose of Musk mockery. That checks out.But I keep thinking: has AI officially ruined social media? And is this just harmless chaos or is it quietly rewiring how we see truth, trust, and reality?

The four horsemen of the AI slopocalypse

One of the biggest problems with AI content is the sheer volume – and it’s coming from all sides. AI evangelists. Your coworkers. Your friends. Your gran (who probably doesn’t even realize what she’s reposting). And brands that absolutely should know better.To make sense of the mess, I spoke to Joe Goulcher, a creative director and social media expert. He works with brands on this stuff daily and has a front-row seat to the AI slop flood. According to Joe, AI content tends to fall into four distinct “strains” – “like a virus,” he tells me.

Functional AI slop“Crudely, badly made stuff that is basically stock imagery used to fill a hole where an image should be,” Goulcher explains. “It's bottom of the barrel, and barely any conscious thought has gone into why or what it is.” This is the lowest-effort tier. Bland visuals slapped onto posts just to have something there. Placeholder content that somehow became the content.Clickbait slop“Stuff that makes us stop scrolling and think ‘god this is disgusting and bad,’ but it’s by design to generate conversation,” Goulcher says. This one’s the most insidious. It’s not trying to be good, it’s trying to be just bad enough to go viral.The ‘look what I made!’ post“This is where people use AI to create something that looks like LOTR, Star Wars or another behemoth IP because it’s trained on it,” Goulcher tells me. “They say things like ‘look what I did in ten mins!! this is going to change the industry and you should be scared and using it now instead of spending thousands with artists.’ It usually goes down like a sack of bricks.” This is the hype-fuelled, tech-bro theatre of generative content. The tone is always breathless, and the results are always underwhelming.The genuinely good stuff“There are actually good AI campaigns, with purpose, permission, and laced with incredible VFX, handcrafted where AI couldn't do the job,” Goulcher says. Yes, some brands are doing it well, with thought, care, and actual artistry. But it’s rare. And usually buried under a steaming pile of junk.

Breaking it down like this might feel bleak – like we’ve gone full epidemiology on the most cursed content – but it’s actually useful. Categorizing the chaos helps explain why AI content feels inescapable, and why it hits so many different shades of dystopian.

AI for the sake of AI

We’re in an era of AI content being made simply because it can be. People, brands, entire businesses are churning it out. Not necessarily because they have something to say, and not because it’s better than the alternatives, but because the tools exist, they're easy to use, and the pressure to use them is enormous.This speaks to a deeper issue in tech. Just look at Apple’s recent AI missteps. Despite all the hype, AI isn’t delivering the magic it was sold on. It’s being shoved into products not because users need it, but because shareholders want to hear “AI” on earnings calls.And right now? It’s not revolutionizing much of anything. In fact, in most applications, it’s starting to look like a very expensive gimmick.“It reminds me of the early days of torrenting or music streaming – a bit of a Wild West,” Goulcher explains. “Even though brands whacked a logo on them, it didn't make it ethically good in any way. They were just trying to ride the waves of legality and dosh until legislation kicked in far too late.”Like crypto or NFTs, we see there’s innovation, hype, overuse, and then fatigue. “I think we can apply the same tech hype graph to AI content,” Goulcher says. “There's always something in my gut that’s like, ‘this bubble will burst.’ And I still think that will happen. When AI data sets start eating themselves, and the innovative wow factor wears off – what’s left?”And he’s asking the question more of us probably should be: “How are any of these billion-dollar tools actually making our lives better? Because the novelty is wearing off, the ethics (or lack of them) are becoming clearer, and the shock value is beginning to wane.”

AI hasn’t just broken social media, it’s broken the truth

It’s not like social media was perfect before this. AI didn’t start the rot, things were already slipping. But this latest wave of generative content has pushed it straight into uncanny, derivative, brain-melting chaos.And if AI is flooding our feeds with pointless slop, it’s also doing something more dangerous: weaponizing it. It’s easy to laugh at AI-generated celeb babies or cringe at a brand ad that crawled out of the uncanny valley. But that reaction misses the bigger, scarier picture.Because AI can fuel misinformation at scale. For example, across Europe, far-right groups are using AI-generated images to provoke outrage, spread conspiracy theories, and stoke division. And these aren’t just fringe trolls – they’re coordinated campaigns, designed to manipulate public opinion.That’s just one example. Election misinformation. Deepfake porn. Fake war footage. Yes, it's the kind of content that has always existed online. Only now, the rules have changed. You don’t need skills. You don’t need a team. You don’t even need a budget. Just a narrative and a willingness to abandon reality. And on social media, the rest takes care of itself.That’s the real horror story. Not just that we’re drowning in junk, or that brands think we want AI-generated ads, but that we’re slipping into a world where what’s fake moves faster than what’s true. And the algorithm doesn’t care if it’s real – just that it’s getting your clicks, your likes, your attention.

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If there’s one thing you can count on with AI tools is that they’ll launch without most of the promised features. It happened with Apple Intelligence. It happened with Galaxy AI. Now, it’s happening with Alexa+, Amazon’s AI-heavy upgrade to its virtual assistant. The tool is officially available but it doesn’t do a whole lot, according to reporting by The Washington Post.

The paper reviewed a number of internal company documents that noted the delay of many features. These documents suggest that a bunch of tools won’t be available for two months or longer. Alexa+ users won’t be able to use the platform to order takeout on Grubhub or identify family members via camera to remind them to do chores.

The same goes for that neat-sounding tool that the company says will auto-generate a story to entertain kids. Also, Alexa+ cannot be used to brainstorm gift ideas or order groceries. Finally, there isn’t a browser-based version available. The company says these delays are because the features do not “meet Amazon’s standards for public release.”

So what can Alexa+ do right now? I haven’t gotten a chance to fool around with it, but the early access page suggests customers can use it to order an Uber, identify objects and draft emails. That’s something, I guess.

Alexa+ is included with Amazon Prime but non-members have to pony up $20 per month. It may not be accessible to everyone just yet, as availability is expanding over the coming weeks and months. Also, it only works on devices with screens. These include the Echo Show 8, 10, 15 and 21.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/alexa-is-out-but-missing-a-lot-of-features-amazon-demoed-last-month-180741504.html?src=rss

Remember that time TikTok shut down and disappeared from app stores? It wasn't that long ago. For roughly 12 hours on January 19, TikTok was stripped away from roughly 175M US users only to be saved by a Presidential executive order decree that extended the ban deadline by 75 days. Don't worry; the White House promised we'll have a sale in place by then.Guess what? While TikTok has multiple suitors, no US company, and certainly not the White House, has purchased any portion of ByteDance's popular social media content-sharing platform.Throughout this process, ByteDance – a Chinese company – has yet to comment directly on the potential of a sale to a US firm. TikTok's US leadership and its CEO, Shou Zi Chew, have publicly praised President Donald Trump for his intervention but have been mostly silent since then.In the meantime, TikTok has spent millions on televised ads and infomercial segments touting TikTok's positive impact on people and US businesses, specifically small businesses. The company currently says it has roughly 7.5M businesses on the platform. In a recent economic impact report, TikTok claims small businesses drove $15B in revenue in 2023.There's no question that TikTok has had a significant impact on US business and, especially, culture (remember the pivotal role it played during COVID?). However, the US climate and appetite for a last-minute save of the social media platform may have shifted since January.After all, that was the literal dawn of President Trump's second term. Since then, there have been dozens of Executive Orders touching almost every part of American life (including technology; see this AI-related order), and there's a chance consumers may have bigger fish to fry.Even so, the fate of one of the world's most popular social media platforms does hang in the balance. Here's what we know about what comes next:I did reach out to the White House, Apple, Google, and TikTok about the current state of negotiations and what might happen if the ban does not get another extension. As of this writing, only Google responded, but it had nothing new to share.While there have been no public indications of any real progress or movement in the TikTok sale negotiation process, we do know that multiple suitors include:

Mr BeastPerplexity AIOracleA consortium that includes Shark Tank's Kevin O'LearyThe White House

Oracle is already managing TikTok's US data, so it might be the leading prospective buyer.The White House has often been mentioned as acquiring a partial stake in the US-owned version of the company. here are already legal hurdles involved with a sitting President also running a private or non-public-sector business.Perplexity AI is the most interesting suitor. In a lengthy blog post, the AI search company made an impassioned case for "Rebuilding TikTok in America."While ByteDance and the White House remain mum on deal details or progress, multiple US senators are still urging the White House to extend the ban postponement to October of this year.The White House stated this week that a deal would be done before the April 5 deadline but has yet to offer any further details beyond reiterating that there are "lots of potential buyers" and they have "tremendous interest."

What's next?

(Image credit: Future)

If the deal does not happen by then, TikTok could face a new ban, and that might mean the removal not only of TikTok but all of ByteDance's US apps, including Lemon8 and the popular video-editing app CapCut.Apple and Google removed the apps, and even after the US president extended the ban, they remained unavailable on the app stores for weeks.Apple did not respond to my request for comment. As I noted above, Google told me it had nothing new to share at this time.So, the current state of play is that while there's a lot of sale chatter from some major US business players and investors, there is nothing solid. There are not even leaks of a deal being close. All we have is Trump's promises and mostly silence from TikTok and ByteDance.What this boils down to is that you can't buy something that isn't for sale. ByteDance has never publicly stated that it is open to a sale. TikTok in the US, which has publicly appreciated the extension, may not have control of the situation without a sale agreement from its parent company. TikTok might be out of options.With five days left, anything could happen, but realistically, it's been almost a year since Former President Joe Biden signed the bill that triggered the ban countdown.Nothing material has changed, and time is running out.

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Google's latest feature drop might be a big win for summer travelAs with flights, you can now track prices and set alerts for hotelsGoogle Maps can also now pull potential places to visit from screenshots

If you’re a fan of Google Flights, especially for the price tracking data and how the current prices you’re seeing rank against other days, you’re in for a treat. As part of a drop of features fit for upcoming summer travel, Google aims to do for hotels what it’s done for flights.And yes, it’s as good as it sounds. Now, when you search for hotels on Google, you’ll have the option to ask the search giant to track prices. Essentially, you turn on the feature and then get an alert if there is a price drop.Similar to flights, you can be a bit descriptive, setting a price range or a 'don’t bother me if it doesn’t fall' here. It will even factor in a star rating if you have one selected and the general area where you were searching for a hotel.

(Image credit: Google)

Google is rolling out this new hotel price tracking feature globally on desktop and mobile. Once it’s available, you’ll find it right in search, complementing the historical knowledge of hotel pricing history.This hotel-focused feature is launching alongside some other new functionality from Google, all billed under getting ready for summer travel. The ability to set up price alerts for hotels is undoubtedly the most user-friendly feature and could have the most significant impact. It could potentially help you save on a stay.Another new feature that could help you better prepare for a trip is screenshot support within Google Maps. If you enable it, Google Maps will look through photos and deliver a list of places you've screenshotted.So, if you've been screenshotting TikToks about the best places to eat in New York City or maybe a list of the best ice cream spots in Boston, you won't need to dig through all of them to find every place mentioned.Instead, with some AI help, Google Maps will look through your screenshots, find those spots, and list them well in a handy list for you. It'll live in the app in a list titled "Screenshots," and this feature is entirely optional.

(Image credit: Google)

This feature could prove helpful, but considering that screenshots aren’t just used for travel or remembering specific spots, this could also be a bit of a privacy concern.It is opt-in only and not on by default, but it is rolling out now to mobile devices with U.S. English on iOS first, with Android following shortly.

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Storyblok says website issues cost businesses up to $101,000 in lost revenueHigh marketing budgets fail to prevent costly website inefficienciesDespite issues, 96% of businesses claim their website meets expectations

A new survey has revealed nearly half of businesses worldwide are dissatisfied with their websites, even after substantial financial investments.Despite these significant investments, 36% of ecommerce businesses admitted that their website had caused embarrassment in front of customers or stakeholders.This highlights a growing gap between spending and satisfaction, suggesting that even with the best website builder or the best web hosting for small businesses, many businesses struggle to maintain a site that meets their expectations.

The growing impact of website inefficiencies

Storyblok surveyed 300 senior business leaders across the US and Europe, finding companies spent an average of $550,688 on marketing technology over five years, with 18% exceeding $1 million.96% of those surveyed still claimed their website met all or most of their expectations, suggesting that while companies acknowledge website shortcomings, they may underestimate their impact on customer experience and revenue.Losses due to poor website performance have risen from $72,000 in 2023 to $94,500 per year, demonstrating the financial consequences of neglecting site optimization.“When we conducted this research two years ago, we were surprised to find so many businesses were embarrassed by their website and believed it was losing them vast sums of money. What made it more puzzling is that the majority of businesses said they received good ROI on their marketing technology,” said Dominik Angerer, Storyblok's CEO and co-founder.“Fast forward to today, and we are genuinely shocked to find the situation has become worse. Businesses are losing a lot more money, maintenance times are increasing, and costs are soaring. Yet, satisfaction with marketing solutions has increased.”European businesses are seeing the largest losses, with an average estimated impact of $101,000 annually, compared to $80,500 for US companies.Despite investing in the best web hosting solutions, many businesses continue to face website inefficiencies that contribute to these losses.With cybersecurity threats and accessibility needs rising, maintaining a high-performing website is becoming increasingly complex.However, Storyblok believes that “a new generation of composable architecture and solutions provides a much more cost and time-effective solution than inefficient legacy tech stacks that are increasingly unfit for their purpose.”

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The only real way to increase the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a specialized expansion card. Luckily, a really good one is heavily discounted right now. The WD 1TB C40 storage card is down to $110 as part of the Amazon Spring Sale. This is a discount of 30 percent, as the regular price is around $158.

This is an officially-licensed product, so it’ll be a plug-and-play experience. It also delivers roughly the same performance as the internal drive. It’s important to note that this allows for both the storage and playing of games. Most external drives can only store, and not play, titles on an Xbox Series X/S.

Most modern AAA games require at least 50GB of available space. In other words, this drive will accommodate around 20 of these titles. Indie games tend to be much smaller, so the drive could conceivably house hundreds of smaller releases. The 2TB model is also on sale, for $200 instead of $260. The 512GB version is still at the original $80 asking price.

This is a handy drive that gets the job done. The only drawback is the price. Most 1TB external drives are cheaper than $110. It sucks that Microsoft went this weird route with storage, but that’s certainly not WD’s fault. On the positive side, this is a small and light card that won’t add any real weight to the already bulky Xbox consoles.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/wds-1tb-c50-xbox-storage-card-is-30-percent-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-184918803.html?src=rss

Substack is taking one more step towards becoming an all-in-one social media / creator platform by adding a vertical video feed to its app. Technically, the new TikTok-style feed is a redesign of the existing Media tab that the company added to the app in 2024, but either way Substack's intentions are clear: It wants a piece of the short-video pie currently being shared by Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

The feed features scrollable videos from creators you're subscribed to and others that have been algorithmically suggested. Multiple forms of short-form content can be included, like videos posted through Substack Notes, the company's Twitter-esque microblogging feature, clips from longer video posts and eventually previews of podcasts.

Adding multimedia features like podcasts and videos has been a boon to creators, according to Substack. The company says that "82% of Substack’s top-earning writers are using multimedia, up from just over 50% last April." Supporting short-form videos is an attempt to push things even further.

Substack added support for native video in 2022, expanded those features in 2023 and more recently, gave creators the ability to host live video streams in 2024. The company has been pretty upfront that it views Substack as a home for more than just newsletters, and it's been trying to court TikTok creators specifically since at least 2024.

Redesigning the Substack app gives subscribers a new way to find creators to follow, and makes the platform a better home for a whole new type of creator. The timing of Substack's change is purposeful. The extra breathing room President Trump gave TikTok by not enforcing the app's ban is supposed to end in April, meaning there could be room for alternative vertical video apps.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/substack-updated-its-app-to-make-it-even-more-like-tiktok-193415204.html?src=rss

Plugable USBC-7400H4 adapter supports four HDMI outputs and 90W power deliveryMulti-display support for Windows, macOS, and Apple M4 laptopsQuad 4K at 60Hz plus virtual 8K monitor via USB-C

Plugable, an American brand known for USB flash devices, has introduced the USBC-7400H4, a new graphics adapter which connects up to four 4K displays at 60Hz from a single USB-C port.This is the first adapter to feature the DisplayLink DL-7400 chipset, providing extensive screen space for demanding workloads, making it one of the best docking stations in the market.It works with both Windows and macOS, including base models of M1, M2, M3, and M4 MacBooks. It can also be paired with the best monitor for MacBook Pro or the best monitor for Mac Mini.

High-resolution output with integrated power delivery

The adapter also introduces a virtual 8K monitor powered through a single USB Type-C connection, allowing even Apple M4 laptops, which have limited built-in multi-display support, to create an extended workspace.Unlike many competing adapters that are limited to 1080p resolution or fewer displays, this device supports multiple high-resolution screens via four HDMI outputs, enabling users to expand their display setup beyond what most business laptops natively support.With 100W pass-through Power Delivery, the adapter allows users to charge their laptops while expanding their display setup, delivering 90W to the host. If external power isn’t needed, it can operate in a bus-powered mode, drawing power directly from the host computer.The USBC-7400H4 is available from Plugable and Amazon for $124.95, with a 10% launch discount, and is also offered for bulk and business purchases through affiliate partners

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OpenAI has been doubling its audience for ChatGPT at a rapid rate, and the addition of its latest image generation feature has increased the AI assistant's popularity. Today, CEO Sam Altman posted to X that the service "added one million users in the last hour," calling it a "biblical demand" for the image generation.

the chatgpt launch 26 months ago was one of the craziest viral moments i'd ever seen, and we added one million users in five days.we added one million users in the last hour.— Sam Altman (@sama) March 31, 2025

When the company announced the rollout of image generation in ChatGPT last week, the tool was meant to be available to all user tiers. However, the high degree of interest meant that access for free users was walked back. Now, the company is reporting "issues with new signups," which has been its status for more than a day.

While ChatGPT's ability to create original images has been a delight (and occasional horror show) for users, the AI platform continues to draw the ire of artists and creatives. Many of these people have their work taken, either as training material for the large-language model scraped from the internet or improperly taken and modified by ChatGPT users, without any credit or compensation. One of the more visible examples have been the many memes image inspired by the animation style of Studio Ghibli. Altman is currently using one such image as his X profile photo, but other users have used ChatGPT to apply the look of the studio's films to violent or triggering content, raising a fresh round of questions about how creators can protect their work from misuse. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chatgpt-gained-one-million-new-users-in-an-hour-today-201314746.html?src=rss