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The NotebookLM mobile app listings are now liveThe research app is coming very soon to Android and iOSExpect to hear more news at Google I/O 2025 on May 20

Having hinted at the imminent arrival of a NotebookLM app last month, Google has now put the AI research app live on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for mobile devices. You can't download it yet, but you can pre-order it – and it gives us a good early glimpse of what the promising app looks like.'Pre-ordering' the app means it will automatically download to your phone when it's launched in full, which according to the Apple App Store listing (via 9to5Google) is May 20 – the same day as Google I/O 2025 starts, where we'll no doubt hear more about this app.

(Image credit: Google)

If you've never come across NotebookLM before, it's an AI-powered resource tool that can collate information across documents, webpages, and more – you can get smart summaries, ask questions about the data, and even produce fake podcasts (which you can interrupt, if you want to).It looks as though the app is going to include the podcast (or "audio overview") creator, based on the screenshots in these listings. We can also see screens for adding sources, and for the conversation panel where you can chat about the sources with the AI.

An alternative to Gemini

NotebookLM can produce audio podcasts for you (Image credit: Google/Apple)

Google will no doubt give us the full story about this app in a few weeks, but almost all of the web app features seem to have been carried over – including the ability to add notebooks and browse through the notebooks you've created on the web.NotebookLM is a helpful alternative to Google Gemini for those times when you need AI's help with a specific set of material you've collected – perhaps a science research project or reports on a current industry trend.Based on my experience with the tool, it's usually more straight-faced and serious than Gemini, and includes citations with all its responses – so you can check if it's made any mistakes. You get higher usage limits and more customization options in NotebookLM if you're subscribed to a Google One AI Premium plan.It looks as though there's going to be a wealth of AI news coming out of Google I/O 2025 from May 20 – including, perhaps, an update on the AI Mode for search – and we will of course bring you all the announcements as they're made.

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Microsoft is dramatically increasing the price of the Xbox Series X and Series S as well as new games and accessories. The Series S will start at $380, up from $300, while the Series X will begin at $550, a $100 increase on its previous price. The company is also increasing the prices of pretty much all its first-party products and peripherals. A basic controller will now cost $65. Microsoft is also increasing pricing in Europe, UK, Australia and many other countries.

Microsoft, however, isn’t pointing the finger at tariffs: “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development,” the company said. It’s unusual for a mid-generation console to increase in price — typically, companies launch a slightly more expensive, better-specced iteration instead.

Also this week, Samsung’s chief financial officer Soon-cheol Park told reporters “The ongoing uncertainty surrounding US tariff policies continues to pose a potential risk of demand slowdown.” Park said US tariff policies and stronger export controls against artificial intelligence products are expected to have an impact on demand. In addition to a downward trend on sales, the company also expects tariffs to raise prices for the components it uses on its mobile phones — so expect more expensive smartphones down the line.

The recent addition to upward pricing is DJI’s popular Ozmo Pocket 3 vlogging camera. Up from a launch price of $520, it’s gone way up to $799. (DJI had already bumped the price up last month to $620.) The base camera is now more expensive than the Creator Kit available at launch.

— Mat Smith

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The BBC used AI (and an actor) to bring Agatha Christie back to life

With approval from her estate.

BBC

BBC Maestro offers classes and courses similar to Masterclass, but with a British twist. Its latest tutor, however, died in 1976. Agatha Christie has been digitally revived to teach us all how to write murder mysteries with no reference to smartphones and the internet.

A blend of licensed images, limited footage and past audio recordings converged to create Christie’s likeness. This was fused with recorded footage of actor Vivien Keene, who ‘performs’ the words of Christie on video.

I got to briefly watch some of the lessons. There’s still a glint of uncanny valley, of course, (I think it’s something to do with the eyes?), but even BBC Maestro CEO Michael Levine noted that since the project’s inception a few years ago, the technology had evolved so quickly that the team was able to do even more than it first thought possible.

Continue reading.

Canon Powershot V1 camera review

A powerful compact capable of capturing incredible video.

Engadget

Canon’s PowerShot V1 is a versatile hybrid camera with excellent video and image quality thanks to the unusually large sensor. It goes up against Sony’s ZV-1 II and beats it in multiple ways, including a built-in fan to minimize overheating. It’s also capable of 10-bit log 4K video for those willing to dig into higher-quality footage. The PowerShot V1 is bound to be a hit because it delivers both on video and photo quality.

Continue reading.

Sam Altman's eyeball-scanning ID technology debuts in the US

World is opening six locations across the country.

A startup co-founded by Sam Altman has launched its World eyeball-scanning identity verification system in the US. During an event in San Francisco, Altman reportedly said World’s technology provides “a way to make sure humans remained central and special in a world where the internet had a lot of AI-driven content.” Altman is also one of the founders and is currently the CEO of OpenAI, of Chat-GPT fame. (Or infamy.)

The project uses basketball-sized spherical objects called Orbs to scan the user’s irises, which it turns into their unique IrisCode. It then uses that information to create a World ID for the user, which they can use to log into integrated platforms, including Minecraft and Reddit.

Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111538265.html?src=rss

This week Meta held its first-ever AI dev conference, LlamaCon, focused on the development of its Llama generative AI model. But while there was plenty of hype, not much happened, besides the launch of the Meta AI app and a new Llama API. In this episode, Engadget Senior Reporter Karissa Bell joins us to talk about her thoughts on LlamaCon after attending in person. After just announcing its latest Llama models a few weeks ago, it was as if Meta didn't have much else to say.

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Meta’s Muted LlamaCon: who was the AI dev conference really for? – 1:31

Court orders Apple to stop collecting app fees outside of the iTunes store – 21:44

Microsoft announces Xbox series X and S prices are going up – 25:22

NPR report: DOGE employees may have access to U.S. nuclear secrets – 26:44

New EV startup Slate to offer a barebones pickup for $20k (after tax breaks) – 30:47

Swiss academics use AI to influence public opinion on Reddit – 35:08

Duolingo to replace contract workers with AI – 40:19

Working on – 47:50

Pop culture picks – 50:56

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Karissa BellProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-metas-first-llamacon-was-kind-of-a-bust-113008156.html?src=rss

3 Body Problem season 2: key information- Renewed for season 2 and 3 in May 2024- Filming yet to commence, but set to begin later this year- Season 2 and 3 will be shot back-to-back- Predict the main cast members will return- No trailer to share just yet- No official plot details released, but follows Liu's trilogy- Season 1 finale lays out potential story threads- Season 3 will be the show's conclusion

3 Body Problem season 2 is on the way (and so is season 3). After storming onto Netflix, one of the best streaming services, viewers are eager for more intense sci-fi adventure. And who can blame them? Fortunately, having been adapted from Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, the show will follow suit with three seasons already confirmed.Season 1 was a vast exploration of humanity, an impending alien invasion and a twisted alternate reality. For season 2, following the events of book two 'The Dark Forest', there's a whole lot more where that came from. As we await the return of one of the best Netflix shows, there's plenty to talk about from 3 Body Problem season 2 release date, cast, plot, rumors, news and more.Full spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 2.

3 Body Problem season 2 release date prediction

3 Body Problem has been renewed! Netflix will bring this epic story through its mind-blowing conclusion! pic.twitter.com/zw6txhOqGhMay 15, 2024

Yes, the San Ti may be 400 years away, but you won’t have to wait that long for 3 Body Problem season 2. In fact, in May 2024, 3 Body Problem was officially renewed. And not just for season 2. 3 Body Problem is set to be a trilogy, and during the official Television Academy panel in LA, showrunners and writers David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo, revealed that they’d be returning for season 2 and 3, culminating in the show’s conclusion. As reported by Netflix Tudum, Weiss said: “We included a lot of what we loved from the [novels by Cixin Liu] in season 1, but the vast majority of reasons we wanted to make this show are in season 2. We always wanted to get to the final page of the third book, and it’s really, really thrilling for us that we will get to do just that.”When it comes to a 3 Body Problem season 2 release date then, one of the show's stars Eiza González revealed during an interview with ScreenRant in March that production it set to begin: "Very, very soon. This year."And, as per Collider, filming for seasons 2 and 3 will happen back-to-back. That news is thanks to a report filed with the Hungarian National Film Office confirming two things. One, that unlike season 1 which was shot in the UK, the final two seasons will be shot in Hungary. And two, that the production appears to be scheduled for July 8, 2025 to August 2, 2027.So, as 3 Body Problem hasn’t commenced filming yet, we’d predict that we won’t see season 2 until at least 2026 and season 3 potentially in 2028.

3 Body Problem season 2 rumored cast

Members of the Oxford Five, Auggie and Jin, are sure to return (Image credit: Netflix)

Major spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1.

There’s no official cast confirmation, yet, but from how 3 Body Problem season 1 ended, we’d predict the following cast members to return:

Jovan Adepo as Saul DurandJohn Bradley as Jack RooneyLiam Cunningham as Thomas WadeEiza González as Auggie SalazarJess Hong as Jin ChengMarlo Kelly as Tatiana HaasSea Shimooka as SophonZine Tseng as Young Ye WenjieSaamer Usmani as Raj VarmaBenedict Wong as Da ShiJonathan Pryce as Mike Evans

As both space and time were impacted by the threat of the San-Ti’s arrival, there were a fair few deaths that fell mercy to it in 3 Body Problem season 1.The two most poignant being Will Downing (Alex Sharp) and Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao & Zine Tseng). While viewers didn’t witness the deaths, they did both meet their demise.So, unless they return in flashbacks, which the show has a penchant for especially when visiting the origins in China of the San-Ti’s first contact, then these two characters won’t be returning.

3 Body Problem season 2 story speculation

Saul Durand becomes a Wallfacer, but he's yet to uncover why (Image credit: Netflix)

Full story spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1.

As devotees to Liu’s trilogy, the creators are seemingly following the books as closely as they can. While there’s adaptations in terms of settings and revolving around the English language, as well as the inclusion of the Oxford Five, the plot is still in keeping with the books.In conversation with Collider, Benioff said: “The first season roughly follows the arc of the first book. The second season would probably roughly follow the second book. The third book is massive. It’s twice as long, I think, as the other two books."So maybe that’s one season, maybe it’s two. But, you know, I think we’d need at least three, maybe four seasons to tell the whole story. And it’s a beautiful ending. I think all three of us thought that the last page of Liu Cixin's epic was maybe the best final image we’d encountered in a sci-fi saga like this. It’s just incredibly moving and mind-blowing.”

As the San-Ti approach, Earth must find a way to defend itself (Image credit: Netflix)

The second book in Liu’s trilogy, which will follow season 2, is The Dark Forest and the official synopsis is: "Imagine the universe as a forest, patrolled by numberless and nameless predators. In this forest, stealth is survival - any civilisation that reveals its location is prey. Earth has. Now the predators are coming."Crossing light years, the Trisolarians (known as the San-Ti in the show) will reach Earth in four centuries' time. But the sophons, their extra-dimensional agents and saboteurs, are already here. Only the individual human mind remains immune to their influence."This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a last-ditch defence that grants four individuals almost absolute power to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from human and alien alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown."And speaking to Collider, Weiss has plans to make season 2 even more "bonkers". Teasing: "This kind of eases you into the world of the story, but the story gets really wild in the best possible way. With something that's that wild, there are a lot of choices to be made and lot of things to be figured out."

We're hoping for more of the VR alternate world and its guest stars (Image credit: Netflix)

We know that Project Staircase failed and that humanity has to continue to prepare for an alien invasion. We also watched in season 1 as Saul Durand was named as one of the three Wallfacers of the show with no idea why. So, the storyline has been set up to continue their plan against the San-Ti and that all hope is not lost.When it comes to the length of 3 Body Problem season 1, Weiss told Vulture: “Eight episodes always felt right to us, at least for this season. It’s not a superfast burn. It takes some time for people to understand, for all the threads to come together, the video game and the countdown and the suicide-slash-murder investigations. Taking 10 or 20 episodes to answer that question didn’t feel viable for the kind of show we were making.” Perhaps season 2 will follow suit.

3 Body Problem season 2 trailer: is there one?

Considering the cast and crew have yet to begin filming 3 Body Problem season 2, there’s no trailer to share. As soon as there is, we’ll be sure to update here.

Where to watch 3 Body Problem season 1

If you're yet to catch up, now's the time (Image credit: Netflix)

All eight episodes of 3 Body Problem season 1 are available to stream on Netflix, one of the world’s best streaming services, right now. As Netflix are responsible for the renewal of season 2 and 3 and the creation of season 1, we’d fully expect the platform to remain the exclusive home for the epic sci-fi drama.

Will 3 Body Problem get a third season on Netflix?

You know Netflix are invested when they execute a double season renewal (Image credit: Netflix)

Yes, it absolutely will. As already mentioned, 3 Body Problem was renewed for season 3 alongside season 2. But, during the announcement, Weiss, Benioff, and Woo revealed that season 3 would be the show’s conclusion.While there’s previously been conversation around wanting to run a season 4, it doesn't seem to be the case. Though as reported by Forbes, the show’s creators refer to the remainder of the show in years, rather than seasons. Benioff said: “By the time we finish with the show, it will be seven years we’ve devoted to it.”He added: “We’re now at a place where we get to tell the rest of the story, and, yes, we have enough time to tell the rest of the story the way we want to and that’s immensely gratifying.” Either way, the creators say they’ll reach the final page of the trilogy and for any fans of the books or fans of the show, it’ll be an epic ride.

For more Netflix TV show-based coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, One Piece season 2, and Squid Game season 3.

The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayedBut we do finally have a release dateIt will launch on May 26, 2026

Developer Rockstar Games has finally given us an official release date for Grand Theft Auto 6, though simultaneously revealed that the game has been delayed.As confirmed by a recent press release, the highly anticipated open-world crime game will now release on "May 26, 2026" - a year after its previously confirmed 2025 release window."Hi everyone," the press release begins. "Grand Theft Auto 6 is now set to release on May 26, 2026."It goes on to apologize for the delay: "We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game."It also provides a reason for the delay, stating that "With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto 6 is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."It concludes by saying that more information will be shared "soon".

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There’s every chance that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be the best foldable phone of the year, as leaks suggest this successor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be a serious upgrade.So, if you’re serious about foldables – and have a serious stack of cash to spend on one – then you might want to consider this model. It’s not out yet, but it could be coming soon – and we have a good idea of when.Below then, you’ll find our predictions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 announcement date, pre-order date, and shipping date. These predictions are based on a mix of leaks, rumors, and Samsung’s typical timings.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 announcement date predictions

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

Our best guess for when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be announced is either July 2 or July 9.Why those days? Well, the last couple of models were announced in July, so that’s the most likely month. On top of which, South Korean site The JoongAng has said to expect the phone in early July, which likely means in the first couple of weeks.Add to that the fact that Samsung typically unveils new Z Fold models on a Wednesday, and that leaves us with just July 2 or July 9.Of course, The JoongAng could be wrong, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 was unveiled on July 10 last year, and Samsung has been shifting the announcement dates slightly forward each of the last few years, so if that trend continues then we’d again probably be looking at early July.We still can’t completely rule out a date later in the month, or a launch on something other than a Wednesday, but all signs are pointing in this direction so far, and at the very least, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 reportedly entering mass production in May, it should be ready to land in or around July.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-order date predictions

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

We can also take a good guess at when Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-orders will open, with our best guess for now once again being either July 2 or July 9.The reason for that is simply that Samsung usually opens pre-orders on the day it announces new devices. It did this for example with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Samsung Galaxy S25.So, while it’s possible Samsung will break from its usual patterns here, we doubt it. If we’re wrong about the pre-order dates it will more likely be because we’re wrong about when the phone is announced, as whenever it’s announced, we’re almost certain you’ll be able to pre-order it that same day.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 shipping date predictions

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

Shipping dates are what we’re least sure of, as not only do they depend on our announcement date predictions being right, but Samsung isn’t quite as consistent with when phones ship as when they go up for pre-order.There is still a rough pattern though, with the last few Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models and many other Samsung handsets shipping approximately two weeks after they’re announced. The exact gap does vary though, typically coming in at between 12 and 16 days.So, if the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is announced on July 2, then two weeks later would be July 16, so we could see it ship then – or a day or two either side of that. If it’s unveiled on July 9 then it might instead ship on or around July 23.

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Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie has stormed into theaters worldwide, and, whether or not you plan on seeing it on a big screen near you, I suspect you'll want to know when it'll come to Disney+.Well, the short answer is that the second Marvel film of 2025 doesn't have a streaming release date yet. That won't stop me speculating on when it might land on Disney's primary streaming platform, though, which I'll do shortly.That's not all. Below, I'll also provide more information on what you need to know about Thunderbolts*, including its runtime and end-credits scenes. Before you proceed, though, make sure you read my Thunderbolts* review to see if it's worth watching in your local cinema and/or at home.

Does Thunderbolts* have a Disney+ release date yet?

Staring into the *ahem* void while you wait for Thunderbolts* to land on Disney+ like... (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

No. As I mentioned, Thunderbolts* doesn't have a confirmed Disney+ launch date yet, and it'll be a while before the Marvel Phase 5 movie makes its debut on one of the world's best streaming services.On average, it takes three months for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films to be added to the Disney+ movie library. Indeed, at the time of publication, the most recent MCU flick – Captain America: Brave New World, which flew into theaters on February 14 – still isn't out on the service.With Thunderbolts* only launching in multiplexes and local theaters globally in early May, it'll probably be August before the Florence Pugh-fronted team-up film lands on Disney+. For now, your only option is to watch it on the big screen.As for my prediction of when it'll be available to enjoy in the comfort of your own home, I think Thunderbolts* will make its Disney+ bow on Wednesday, August 6.That's a whole week after Ironheart, the final MCU Phase 5 project, will have ended. And, with new Disney+ movies usually releasing on the platform midweek, the aforementioned date seems like a solid guess to me.

What is the runtime of Thunderbolts*?

Thunderbolts* will take around two hours to watch (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Thunderbolts* has a runtime of two hours and six minutes.That includes its end credits crawl, which you should definitely sit through to fully appreciate the sheer amount of people who worked on one of the best Marvel movies of the Phase 5 era.

Does Thunderbolts* have a mid- and/or post-credits scene?

Metaphorically speaking, we're always tied to our seats until every Marvel movie's end-credits sequence has ended (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Yes! Thunderbolts* has a mid-credits scene and a post-credits stinger. Where the MCU's future is concerned, the latter is far more important than the former but, in my view, they're both worth watching for different reasons.Want more details on what is shown? My Thunderbolts* ending explained piece is packed with more information about those scenes, as well as plenty of speculation about what the film's end-credits scene means for the next two MCU movies – those being The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday.

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

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to get grilling. Before you give your existing setup a thorough cleaning or start researching to buy a new one, take a look at my list of the best grills and grill accessories currently available to improve your outdoor culinary experience. My slate of reviews includes a variety of smart grills and other cooking gadgets, so you can trust that I’ve put these picks through their paces. There are recommendations for very necessary non-grilling items too, like options to keep your bevvies cold and the best choice for a pizza oven.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/best-grilling-gear-143011296.html?src=rss

In 2023, I tested my first OLED gaming monitor for Engadget, the LG 27GR95QE. Coming from an IPS LCD, the LG screen was transformational. Its WOLED (White OLED) panel produced inky blacks that made every game look incredible, and it allowed me to experience HDR gaming on a PC for the first time. But as amazing as that monitor was, it was a first generation product and it had a couple of problems.

It produced text fringing that made it distracting to use for productivity tasks, and it would flicker whenever I enabled NVIDIA's G-Sync smoothing. I ended up recommending the LG 27GR95QE with a few caveats in my first gaming monitor guide, but anytime in the last two years that I've considered buying an OLED for myself I've held off. The panels have gotten better, but if I'm going to spend $800 or more on a new monitor, it better be perfect or at least close to it.

I think I've finally found the OLED monitor I would recommend without reservation, and I'd even buy it for myself. As long as you own a GPU that can drive it, Alienware's new AW2725Q is an exceptional gaming display. With a 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, it's fast, sharp and delivers nearly flawless image quality across both SDR and HDR applications. Oh, and did I mention it's substantially cheaper than the competition? If you're in the market for a high-end gaming monitor, this is the one to buy.

Design

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

The AW2725Q marks the debut of Dell's new AW30 design language for Alienware products. It's been a while since I've seen one of the company's devices in person, and I was worried the monitor would look gaudy on my desk. Thankfully, the AW2725Q is not that; in fact, it has one of the more understated designs I've come across. Dell offers the AW2725Q in a single color: Interstellar Indigo. It’s a subtle hue that's more interesting than the usual black you see on so many competitors. The monitor also has minimal Alienware branding. On the back of the display, there's the company's trademark alien logo, while on the front you'll find its badge. The logo lights up. You can change the color of the LED or turn it off from the on-screen display (OSD) menu.

Like most Dell monitors, the AW2725Q offers plenty of ports. To start, it comes with two HDMI 2.1 connections. One of them supports eARC, so you can connect the monitor to a soundbar and a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. It also has three USB-A ports and a single USB-C connection capable of 15W power delivery. The AW2725Q has the same flat Samsung-made QD-OLED panel as the $1,200 ASUS PG27UCDM and the $1,100 MSI 272URX.

Dell cut a few features to get its monitor to $900. First, it's missing a DisplayPort 2.1 output, meaning it's limited to the older 1.4 standard. As a result, the AW2725Q needs to rely on Display Stream Compression (DSC) to output a 4K signal at 240Hz. On paper and in practice, that's not much of a reason to skip over Alienware's monitor. As the name suggests, DSC is a compression algorithm. It's not technically lossless, but it is "visually lossless," and unless you pixel peep, it's difficult to notice a difference between a DSC signal and an uncompressed one over DisplayPort 2.1. Besides, you'll need one of NVIDIA or AMD’s latest GPUs to take advantage of the new standard anyway.

The AW2725Q's other compromises are more notable. The MSI and ASUS models offer faster 98W and 90W power delivery over their USB-C ports, making them better for charging a laptop quickly. The ASUS monitor also comes with a KVM switch, in case you want to use a single keyboard and mouse to control more than one computer. Those are all nice to have, but not features I would pay an extra $200 or $300 to get on a new monitor, especially one I plan to use primarily for gaming.

Display

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Although I've seen more than a few OLED monitors in the past, the AW2725Q was immediately impressive. As I mentioned earlier, it features a QD-OLED panel made by Samsung, and this specific model marks the first time that company has offered a 4K resolution on a 27-inch panel. That might seem like overkill, and in a way it is.

That said, there's one major benefit to the AW2725Q's 166ppi pixel density. This is the first OLED monitor I've used that doesn't sacrifice text clarity. With earlier generations of OLED panels from both Samsung and LG, I found the text fringing really distracting, making them impractical for most productivity tasks. With the AW2725Q, that problem is almost entirely solved, making it not just a great gaming monitor, but a great monitor period.

The AW2725Q offers 99 percent DCI-P3 coverage. Out of the box, my unit needed some calibration, as the green diodes were slightly overpowering everything else. Once I ran the monitor through DisplayCal, the AW2725Q looked nearly perfect. Colors were vibrant without being overbaked. If you want to use the AW2725Q for design work, Dell includes an option to clamp down the display to sRGB in the OSD. Speaking of the OSD, it's well laid out and easy to navigate thanks to a joystick that's just big enough not to feel fiddly.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

The AW2725Q has a glossy coating that accentuates the panel's ability to produce deep blacks and vibrant colors. In a dimly lit room, the Alienware monitor outputs an image that's almost three-dimensional. When I went to revisit older games, even ones that were mastered in SDR, I felt like I was seeing artistic details I hadn't noticed before. Of course, the tradeoff with a glossy coating is that reflections are far more pronounced. Additionally, one of the quirks of QD-OLED panels is that their black pixels can look gray in rooms with bright ambient light. At first I found this frustrating, but once I got better about using my blinds to manage the light coming through the window, the tradeoff was more than worth it. In that way, the AW2725Q is like any OLED screen: it needs proper lighting to look its best.

Once I had the screen dialed in, the AW2725Q was equally great for both immersive and competitive gaming, thanks in part to its 240Hz refresh rate. Coming from a 165Hz monitor, I didn't think the faster refresh rate would make games feel noticeably smoother, but I was wrong. Even when my NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU wasn't able to saturate the display fully, in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Space Marine 2 for example, I didn't see any blur or smearing. Much of that is thanks to the 0.03ms pixel response time. One of the nice things about OLED monitors, especially if you're running a less powerful GPU like I am, is that you don't need to worry about overdrive modes. I saw VRR flicker when I had G-SYNC enabled, but it seemed less pronounced than what I've seen on older OLED monitors like the LG 27GR95QE.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Everything I mentioned so far applies to SDR gaming, but the AW2725Q really comes into its own when you enable HDR. It's a VESA True Black 400-certified display. In dark, atmospheric games like Dead Space and Alan Wake, the AW2725Q's ability to produce true blacks and a near-infinite contrast ratio is transformational. The screen greatly enhances the ambience those games strive to achieve, thanks to dark scenes that aren't washed out by the glow you get on IPS displays.

Unfortunately, I don't have the equipment needed to measure peak brightness and panel uniformity. The reviewers at Rtings and Monitors Unboxed do rate the AW2725Q highly, though. They found the monitor can peak at 220 nits in its SDR mode, and sustain around 260 nits of peak brightness across a full screen during HDR operation. If you're coming from an LCD display, I imagine the AW2725Q won't disappoint, even if it doesn't get as bright as some other OLEDs on the market.

Burn-in protection

A few weeks is not long enough to stress the AW2725Q for burn-in, but from what I've seen so far, with decent care, the panel should last for years. First of all, the monitor comes with a suite of maintenance features. One of those will refresh all the pixels on the panel so they don't get stuck. You can start the process manually through the OSD. The AW2725Q will also initiate the process on its own after you turn off your computer or it goes to sleep. The entire procedure takes about five minutes. There are also self-diagnostic tools for the panel and fan at the back of the display.

In the US, Dell offers a three-year warranty on the AW2725Q, with burn-in protection included in the coverage. Not every manufacturer does this with their OLED monitors, so the fact Dell does is nice and makes the AW2725Q a smarter long-term purchase.

Wrap-up

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Normally, when I review a product, I can't wait to get back to the device I was using before. I try to be thoughtful about my buying habits, and only purchase things I know will serve me well for years to come. So the best thing I can say about the Alienware AW2725Q is that I'm not looking forward to sending it back. It is an amazing display that has made one of my favorite hobbies more enjoyable. The fact it costs $900 is icing on the cake.

Yes, it's still more expensive than your average IPS gaming monitor, but it's cheaper than the competition without sacrificing visual quality. If you're in the market for a 4K OLED, I would only skip the AW2725Q if you have the desk space to accommodate a 32-inch screen and you prefer that size.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/alienware-aw2725q-review-an-exceptional-oled-gaming-display-120046049.html?src=rss

In this article we're going to explore the difference between a fan and an air circulator, and help you figure out which is the best choice for your needs. Both types appear in our best fan roundup, and both have their pros and cons, depending on what you want to achieve.As you can see from the image above, the two types of fan can look extremely similar at a glance, but they operate in different ways.An air circulator is designed to circulate air around larger spaces. This type of fan really shines when combined with a cold air source, because it'll ensure the cooler air is distributed quickly and efficiently around the whole space.In contrast, regular fans use a directed flow of air to enhance the evaporation of sweat, helping you feel cooler. They're great for personal cooling, but they will only have an effect if the air is pointed right at you.Want to know more? Read on for a closer look at air circulators vs fans.

Air circulator vs fan: what is an air circulator?

What is an air circulator?An air circulator is a type of fan that is designed to circulate air around a whole room, rather than just blowing it in a specific direction. For this reason, air circulators are especially effective when combined with a cool air source like an air con unit (here's more on air con vs fans). In this setup, an air circulator amplifies the work of the air con unit, helping drop the overall temperature in the room far more efficiently and ensuring the cooling air is evenly distributed. If you don't have air con, they can still be useful, for example by circulating the breeze from an open window. Say your bedroom has heated up during a sunny day – if you pop an air circulator next to an open window when night starts to fall and the temperature outside drops, it'll help distribute that cool air around your room in double-quick time, for a cooler sleep. They're also good for improving room ventilation.

Air circulators like the MeacoFan 1056P shift air around large spaces (Image credit: Future)

How do air circulators work?Often air circulators look like pedestal fans or desktop fans, with a fan head sitting atop a pole or on a base. They work by sucking air in through the back of the fan head, and pushing it out though a tight spiral grill and out into the room, where it bounces off the walls and ceiling. Eventually, the air will be bounced back towards the air circulator unit, and the whole process will start again. The fan head doesn't necessarily need to move around to circulate air effectively. However, sometimes the fan head will rotate – and not just side-to-side like a regular fan, but up-and-down, too.

Air circulator vs fan: what is a fan?

What is a fan?'Fan' is the umbrella term; an air circulator is a type of fan. However, if we're talking about traditional fans (including tower and pedestal fans), they're typically designed to direct a flow of air to a specific area. This is great if you want to cool just one or – if the fan has oscillating capabilities – a few people at a time. As a general rule, traditional fans aren't designed to circulate air around a whole room. However, fans with wide oscillating properties will help shift air around a fair bit. Some Dyson fans can oscillate a full 360 degrees, for example.

Whether its a tower – like this Dreo 519S – or a pedestal, regular fans offer a directed flow of air (Image credit: Future)

How do fans work?Fans don't actually cool the air; it's the movement of air on your skin that helps you feel cooler by boosting the evaporation of sweat. That means you'll only feel the benefits when you're sitting directly in the airflow path.

Buy an air circulator if...

1. You have an air con unit

Air circulators can be hugely effective at amplifying a source of cool air – for example from an air con unit – and ensuring it reaches the whole room. As a side note, this can help save energy and potentially lower your utility bills by helping your AC work more efficiently.For example, in our Dreo TurboPoly 508S review, our tester found this air circulator fan was incredibly efficient at lowering temperatures in her home when paired with her usually ineffective AC unit.

Air circulators like the Dreo 508S help amplify the effects of AC (Image credit: Future)

2. You need to cool a large area

Traditional fans will only cool one or two people at once, whereas an air circulator is designed to create a flow of air around a whole room. That has the added benefit of meaning you could pop your air circulator out of the way, in the corner of a room, and it'll still do its job – whereas a fan would need to be positioned so you're directly in its airflow range. Don't expect powerful individual cooling from an air circulator unless you're adding a source of cool air, though.

3. You want something for year-round use

While a fan is only really helpful in the hot weather, air circulators can also be used alongside a heater in the colder months. While hot air will naturally rise, adding an air circulator will help evenly warm a room. They can also help with room ventilation if you have areas that tend to feel stuffy.

Buy a fan if...

1. You want something for personal cooling

Non-air circulator fans direct a flow of air at an individual, helping them feel cooler by enhancing the evaporation of sweat from their skin. You don't need a source of cold air for this type of fan to help cool you down.

2. You want something to use outside

The effects of an air circulator are going to get lost outside, whereas a fan can help generate a cooling breeze. Misting fans like the Shark FlexBreeze or FlexBreeze HydroGo can be especially effective for outdoor use.

A misting fan like the FlexBreeze HydroGo is a great choice for outdoor use (Image credit: Future)

3. You don't have air con

Air circulators are designed to amplify an existing source of cool air – usually from an air con unit. While an air circulator can still be useful without AC, traditional fans tend to be more efficient at cooling when used on their own.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes around a third of the company's code is now AI-writtenMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes half of its code will come from AI in a yearProductivity benefits come at the cost of potential vulnerabilities and job losses

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has revealed nearly one-third of the company's code is now written by AI.Speaking to fellow tech titan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, at the company's first-ever "AI innovation" conference, LlamaCon, Nadella added the figure is trending upward, possibly reaching as far as 40%, noting AI is most effective at writing new code rather than modifying old code.The news comes just months after Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai revealed similar figures, claiming more than quarter of Google's code is now AI-generated.

Microsoft is using more and more AI-generated code

"I'd say maybe 20-30% of the code that is inside of our repos today and some of our projects are probably all written by software," Nadella confirmed.Despite posing the question, when that same question was asked to Zuckerberg, he claimed not to "have that number off the top of [his] head."However, Meta's leader did offer an outlook for the company's use of AI: "Our bet is sort of that in the next year... maybe half the development is going to be done by AI as opposed to people, and that will kind of increase from there."Neither Nadella nor Zuckerberg discussed potential job losses due to AI coding, but there was a brief discussion around evolving roles."I tend to think that... every engineer if effectively going to end up being more of a like tech lead in the future that has their own little army of AI agents that they work with," Meta's CEO explained.Responding to the discussion on the Proton Mail X account, privacy-focused Swiss office software company Proton said: "This is not the flex you think it is, Microsoft."It's unclear whether that was a dig at potential vulnerabilities that could be introduced through AI-written code, the effects it may have on the workforce, or something else.TechRadar Pro has sought clarification on this.Watch the full discussion between the two leaders on Meta's YouTube channel.

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You can expect to see a lot of "We got xxx before GTA VI" memes in the coming days, because Rockstar Games has announced that it's pushing back the long-anticipated game's release. In a statement, the developer said that Grand Theft Auto VI is now set for release on May 26, 2026. Last year, the company said that the game will be available sometime this year, but it will now be fully missing the 2025 release window. Rockstar didn't explain why it was pushing back the game's availability. It just said that its goal for every game has "always been to try and exceed [its players'] expectations" and that Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. "We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve," it added.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/grand-theft-auto-vi-is-delayed-to-may-2026-120405517.html?src=rss

Microsoft has teased a new Surface Copilot+ PC set to be revealed on May 6th, the company announced on X. "Something new is coming… find out next week," the post states. The new model(s) will be revealed nearly two weeks before the company's Build 2025 developer conference. That appears to be a change from last year when the company kicked off its Build 2024 event by launching two new Surface Copilot+ PCs the day before.

The rumor mill has it that Microsoft is working on a smaller 11- or 12-inch Surface Pro to directly compete with Apple's 11-inch iPad Pro. It may also be working on a Surface laptop with a Snapdragon X processor. Earlier this year, the company unveiled the new Intel-equipped Surface Pro (11th Edition) and Surface Laptop (7th Edition) for Business.

It's not clear whether Microsoft will hold an event to announce the new machines or just issue a press release. It also begs the question as to what hardware (if any) the company will announce at Build 2025. That conference kicks off on May 19 and is expected to be heavily focused on AI. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/microsoft-surface-team-has-something-new-coming-next-week-121507230.html?src=rss

Apple has updated its App Store guidelines to comply with the orders of a California court, which required the company to immediately stop collecting commissions on purchases that weren't paid through the App Store. As noticed by 9to5Mac, the most prominent change in the guidelines states that there are now no prohibitions on "buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase," as long as it's for an app on the US storefront. Further, developers don't have to request for an entitlement from Apple to be able to offer external link purchases on apps for the United States storefront anymore.

In the section stating that certain applications, such as reader apps and apps that sell goods and services, cannot encourage users to opt for third-party purchasing methods in-app, Apple added that the prohibition doesn't apply to apps on the US store. "The App Review Guidelines have been updated for compliance with a United States court decision regarding buttons, external links, and other calls to action in apps," Apple said in a statement.

These changes come as a result of a recent ruling by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who found that Apple violated her 2021 ruling for Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple. Back then, she ordered Apple to allow developers to direct users to other payment systems that would let them avoid paying the company a 30 percent cut.

However, Apple still took a 27 percent cut from external purchases, prompting Epic Games to accuse the company of non-compliance in a new legal filing last year. Apple also showed users a "scare screen" when they try to make external purchases, discouraging them from using third-party payment systems. In addition to ordering Apple to stop collecting fees from purchases made outside the App Store, Gonzalez Rogers also prohibited Apple from creating rules that would prevent developers from presenting customers with buttons and links for external payments

In response, Epic chief Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite will be coming back to iOS next week. He also said that the video game company will bring back Fortnite on iOS for everyone and will drop all litigation regarding the issue if Apple adopts the no-commission policy worldwide, but that doesn't seem to be the case for now. Other companies are now also looking to roll out updates that would allow them to bypass Apple's commission for external payments. One of them is Spotify, which announced that it had already submitted an update that would allow customers in the US to pay outside the App Store. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-updates-its-app-store-guidelines-to-allow-external-payment-options-123039994.html?src=rss

Despelote is a living memory. Julián Cordero, the game's co-creator, invites players to spend a few hours in the city of Quito, Ecuador, in the early 2000s, and experience a nationwide soccer fever from the perspective of his own childhood. Wrapped in layers of static and shadow, Despelote follows an 8-year-old Cordero as he interacts with his family, attends school and kicks a ball around with friends. Pivotal national events, revealed in news reports and overheard conversations, color the game's runtime. But its focus remains squarely on Cordero's experience — a charmingly self-centered child viewing the world from hip height.

In Despelote, it’s the summer of 2001 and Ecuador is on the verge of qualifying for its first-ever World Cup, which has created a soccer frenzy across the country. Soccer is a storytelling mechanic in Despelote, as Cordero runs around Quito kicking a ball, playing a FIFA-style video game, watching World Cup matches on TV and generally annoying his neighbors.

Using actual recordings from Quito, Despelote captures intimate conversations, inside jokes and everyday chatter among Cordero’s friends and family members (in Spanish, obviously, with translations provided in speech bubbles). The game’s environments are built out of photographs of Quito that have been stylized to mimic the way memories feel — single-color, fuzzy backgrounds with people and important objects outlined in crisp black and white. Actual footage of the Ecuador team making its World Cup run plays out on in-game TVs, and you’re able to sit and watch an entire match on a small, staticky screen, if you wish. These true-to-life elements ground the game in reality, while visual flourishes make everything seem like a daydream, and the combination of styles is hypnotic.

Transitions come in the form of nearly imperceptible camera zooms and slowly blurring environments, and at every turn, there’s space to luxuriate in the simple activity of being a kid. The game’s mechanics are intuitive — flick the right stick to kick the ball; hold any trigger to run; press any button to interact; look down to check your watch so you can get home on time — and this simplicity helps Quito come alive. Poignant moments of magical surrealism cut through the flow like memories inside of memories, providing glimpses into Cordero’s future as a teenager and Ecuador’s evolution as a country. These scenes appear just enough to provide a sense of tension and context without breaking the immersion of the childhood memories.

Panic

There isn’t much in terms of a moment-to-moment storyline here, but Despelote effortlessly builds a sense of place and self with each new vignette. It’s night and Cordero is sitting in the back of the family van, idly listening to his parents’ conversation and drawing shapes in the window fog. His mom stands in front of the television and tries to pull his attention away from the video game he’s playing, exasperated. His younger sister asks him to draw a frog. A grumpy neighbor steals the ball that Cordero and his friends are playing with, so they start kicking around an empty bottle instead. These are the building blocks of Cordero’s childhood, and while they’re deeply specific, they’re also highly relatable. Despelote is a study in the beauty of mundanity.

I haven’t played many games like Despelote. I’m tempted to say I’ve never played anything like it, that this is the first true memoir in video game form, but of course that’s not entirely accurate. Games like That Dragon, Cancer and Dys4ia offer similar glimpses into their creators’ lives, and they’re similarly vulnerable and grounded. They’re also examinations of moments of acute pain — and while stories about trauma compose a substantial and valuable portion of the memoir market, there’s room for Despelote's slower, lighter reflection in this genre. Despelote is a stellar addition in the category of memoir video games, proving that a thoughtful rumination on one person’s childhood can translate into a powerful interactive experience. The key, as always, is authenticity.

Panic

Cordero breaks the fourth wall at the end of Despelote in a way that feels completely natural. The style of the game changes in an instant and Cordero narrates the scene, talking about how he and co-creator Sebastián Valbuena traveled to Quito to collect Despelote’s audio and location data. He discusses the fickle nature of memory and clarifies some of the game’s timelines. He says he really just wanted to get it right. He wanted players to understand the magic of this moment in Ecuador’s history, when soccer was everything, and he was just a kid.

I believe he succeeded.

Despelote is available now on Steam, PlayStation 4, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, published by Panic.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/despelote-review-a-poignant-memoir-masquerading-as-a-soccer-game-124526276.html?src=rss

In an earnings call for the quarter ending in March, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company expects to pay around $900 million for US tariffs for the months of April to June. Apple saw limited impacts from tariffs for the months January through March, which doesn't come as a surprise since most of the government's new import taxes didn't exist before April. The company was also able to optimize its supply chain and inventory before then. Cook admitted that Apple can't give a precise estimate of the impact tariffs will have on the company in the coming months because the Trump administration's rules could still change the future.

"For the June quarter, currently, we are not able to precisely estimate the impact of tariffs as we are uncertain of potential future actions prior to the end of the quarter," the CEO explained. The $900 million figure came from the company's estimates, assuming "current global tariff rates, policies and applications do not change for the balance of the quarter and no new tariffs are added." Investors seemed relieved that Apple is only slated to spend $900 million to pay the new taxes, which is a drop in the bucket for a company valued at over $3 trillion. When an inventor asked what tariffs would look like for Apple after June, though, Cook said: "I don’t want to predict the future, because I’m not sure what will happen with the tariffs."

"For our part, we will manage the company the way we always have, with thoughtful and deliberate decisions, with a focus on investing for the long term, and with dedication to innovation and the possibilities it creates," Cook assured investors. Apple posted a quarterly revenue of $95.4 billion, up 5 percent year over year, for January to March 2025. Apple told CNBC that it's manufacturing half the iPhones meant for the US in India instead of China, which would mean lower tariff rates for the company. It will also manufacture most of its other products for the US in Vietnam. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-could-spend-900-million-on-tariffs-over-the-next-quarter-123037323.html?src=rss

Concerns have been raised around the default drive encryption applied with Windows 11 24H2This is put in place when setting up new PCs, or with fresh installs of Windows 11 24H2 on existing devicesThe encryption recovery key is tied to a Microsoft account, and if that account is subsequently deleted or otherwise inaccessible, this can mean you lose all your data – and Microsoft doesn’t make this nearly clear enough

Some criticism has been levelled at Microsoft for not making it clear enough that Device Encryption – the lightweight spin on BitLocker for Windows 11 Home – is enabled automatically during setting up Windows 11 24H2 with a Microsoft account. (Albeit there are caveats here, which I’ll return to).Neowin flagged up the post on Reddit which boldly carries the statement ‘BitLocker is now the biggest threat to user data on Windows 11’ in its title.How does that work exactly? Given that BitLocker is, of course, a security feature which provides encryption for the host drive to protect the data on it (which is definitely a good thing if your PC is stolen, or you lose it).Well, as the Redditor points out, there’s a broader perspective on security here, which encompasses the availability of data, rather than just its confidentiality (encryption).The post by a Redditor called MorCJul observes: “In cybersecurity, we talk about the CIA Triad: Confidentiality (keeping data secret), Integrity (keeping data accurate and unaltered), and Availability (making sure data is accessible when needed).“I’d argue that for the average user, availability of their data matters far more than confidentiality. Losing access to family photos and documents because of unavailability is far more painful than any confidentiality concerns.“Without mandatory, redundant key backups, BitLocker [Device Encryption] isn’t securing anything – it’s just silently setting users up for catastrophic failure. I’ve seen this happen too often now.”Essentially, the Redditor is pointing out that if you lose your Microsoft account, that’s your data gone with it – irretrievably. How come? That requires a more in-depth explanation.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Analysis: The origin of this issue – and what you can do to protect yourself

Let’s rewind a bit here and unpick this. The origin of this controversy is a move made by Microsoft some time ago, with the release of the 24H2 update for Windows 11. With 24H2 the company relaxed the requirements for the hardware needed to facilitate automatic drive encryption, broadening its reach.What Microsoft did was make it so that when you first set up a new PC that has Windows 11 Home using a Microsoft account, Device Encryption is turned on by default (for the system drive only, I should note – full BitLocker is needed to encrypt other drives on the computer). And the same is true for a clean install of Windows 11 24H2 on an existing PC – although crucially, not with an upgrade.So, the default enabling of this encryption feature doesn’t apply if you perform an in-place upgrade to Windows 11 24H2, or if you use a local account to install the OS.The reason the feature is only for users setting up Windows 11 with their Microsoft account is because there’s a recovery key – to undo the encryption – and this is attached to the user’s Microsoft account.(As a side-note, you may be aware that a Microsoft account is necessary for the Windows 11 installation process anyway, so it isn’t easy to avoid that. There are still workarounds to install the OS with a local account, but Microsoft appears to be busy stamping all these out).Anyway, the potential disaster scenario runs like this: the user installs Windows 11 24H2 – with a Microsoft account, as the process demands – and goes through setup without realizing that Device Encryption is switched on.In the future, the user subsequently deletes that Microsoft account (maybe switching to a local account later, or a different Microsoft account). If a problem then occurs which demands the recovery key to access the encrypted data on the system drive, guess what? That recovery key has been thrown in the bin along with the deleted Microsoft account.Granted, this is a somewhat niche scenario, but the result – the data on the drive is irretrievably lost, family photos and all, as noted above – is a nightmarish prospect.What the Redditor is arguing is that this potential ‘data time bomb’ is more of a danger than not having your drive encrypted, with the latter only really being an issue in case of theft (which is also a pretty niche scenario, particularly for a desktop PC which never goes anywhere, except maybe a LAN party).

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What’s the solution? Well, don’t delete your Microsoft account springs to mind. The problem is that you can happily do so – oblivious that you’re trashing what could be a critical key contained within that account – and only find out the heavy cost of your actions later.As the Redditor points out, there should be much more flagging regarding the drive encryption feature applied by default with 24H2. In Windows 11 Home setup, it should be made perfectly clear what’s happening, and the risks-rewards on both sides of the equation with Device Encryption on or off. And a clear warning should be given about the key being tied to the Microsoft account.Furthermore, when deleting a Microsoft account, if a Device Encryption recovery key is attached, the user should be made very aware of that, and what the results might be if they punt the account off into the abyss, never to be seen again. Currently, no such warning is given upon account deletion, and the Redditor notes they checked when making their post that this is still the case.Having read, this, though, you’re armed with the knowledge that deleting a Microsoft account is something you should be careful around. And if you want to check whether your Windows 11 Home (24H2) device is running with encryption, you can find out by going to Privacy & security > Device Encryption in the Settings app. At the top of the screen, there’s a slider for the encryption feature, which is either on or off.Note that you can turn off Device Encryption post-installation of Windows 11 24H2, at any time, simply by using that slider.To throw in some extra paranoia here, in the past, BitLocker (of which Device Encryption is a ‘lite’ flavor, as mentioned at the outset) has been found to slow down SSDs by an alarming amount. Full BitLocker is only used with Windows 11 Pro (or enterprise versions), and as mentioned, Device Encryption is a slimmed-down take purely for the system drive on Windows 11 Home machines. We've contacted Microsoft for a comment.

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If you're concerned about how new US tariffs might affect future electronics purchases, look no further than DJI. The company has raised the price of its popular Osmo Pocket 3 camera to $799, or $280 (54 percent) more than it cost at launch. The Pocket 3 Creator Combo that includes a wireless Mic 2 and other accessories also went up from $700 to $950. Recent tariffs levied by President Trump on Chinese products were "certainly among the key considerations" for the hefty price bumps, the company told The Verge.

The Osmo Pocket 3 was a success from the get go, thanks to the built-in gimbal, motorized subject tracking and large 1-inch sensor that delivers excellent video quality, even in low light. It's widely beloved by content creators for those reasons and is a recommended option in several of Engadget's camera buying guides — in fact we bought some for our own reporters.

It's fair to say that the new tariffs are 100 percent behind the price increase, despite DJI's diplomatic wording. The price is the same as at launch in Europe and in Canada, suggesting that there are no other technical reasons to raise it. DJI quietly boosted the US price from $520 to $620 a couple of months ago, around the time that Trump first announced potential tariffs on Chinese products. Other DJI products like drones have yet to rise in price, however.

DJI said that the Osmo Pocket 3 is one of the best selling products in the history of the company and that it's popularity "continues to exceed expectations." However, much of that popular was likely due to the original $520 price (on top of the camera's strong feature set), that was a bargain next to standard compact cameras like Canon's new $899 PowerShot V1. At $799, the Pocket 3 loses some of its competitive advantage.

It's difficult to find the Pocket 3 in the US (and elsewhere) at any price at the moment, though DJI says it's striving to keep up with demand. On top of all that, the company is facing a full ban of its drone products in the US in 2026 unless it obtains an exemption from regulators. That will affect the company as well as consumers, as its drones are widely used in production, emergency services and elsewhere — and it's far ahead of rivals in terms of technology. DJI sent a formal letter to five national security agencies (DHS, DoD, FBI, NSA, and ODNI) in March requesting that any or all of the agencies begin evaluating its products "right away."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/djis-osmo-pocket-3-camera-now-starts-at-799-following-trumps-tariffs-131536721.html?src=rss

Microsoft Edge slipped slightly to 13.29% according to Statcounter’s latest figures for the browser market in April 2025Edge has been stuck around the 13% mark for over a year nowTo make progress, Microsoft needs to rethink its strategy, and stop overzealously promoting Edge in Windows 11

Microsoft’s Edge browser appears to be facing a distinctly uphill battle in the browser wars, with its market share having clearly stalled over the past year.Granted, that percentage share of the browser market has been bobbling up and down a bit as time has passed, going by analytics firm Statcounter’s global figures. But the upshot is Edge doesn’t seem to be making any real headway against Google’s Chrome browser.As Neowin noticed, with April’s browser stats, Edge is on 13.29% which is a slight loss of 0.08% on March 2025. If we rewind a year, it’s actually up a little bit, but the increase is marginal with a 0.32% gain.Essentially, Edge has been stuck around the 13% mark for over a year now, and has been unable to break free of the shackles of that particular number.At the start of 2024, it crept over 13%, then hit 13.8% in August 2024, seeming to make some decent progress – except it dropped back down under 13% towards the end of last year.Then it rose like a phoenix (ahem) to reach 13.9% in February 2025, again a solid uptick, before dropping back down (like a phoenix somebody turned a fire hose on) to 13.29% this past month.In short, whenever there’s an increase that makes it look like Edge could get over 14%, the browser appears to shed users again. And given how far away Microsoft’s app is from Chrome – which is way in the lead on 65% – it’s not looking good for the overall campaign to dethrone Google here.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / monticello)

Analysis: Drop the promos, Microsoft – or, erm, just buy Chrome

Actually, looking at the entire browser market in recent history, nothing is really doing much – it’s a very static overall picture. All the major browsers have pretty much flatlined, and are maintaining a strict balance of power, with only minor fluctuations from month-to-month.Chrome holds most of that power, as noted, and Edge is a very distant second, ahead of Safari and Firefox which are a good way behind it (relatively speaking at the low-end). Opera is the other minor player bringing up the rear, but whichever graph you look at, it’s pretty much a straight line through the months for all these browsers, with very slight bobbles.What is Microsoft getting wrong? Well, I know it’s a well-beaten drum, but I’m convinced part of the problem is the overzealous promotion of Edge in Windows 11 (and 10). These kind of exercises – which have been numerous in recent history – only smack of desperation, and will likely turn off people, rather than persuade them to give Edge a chance.I know that repeated prompts to make Edge my default browser have annoyed me quite a number of times, cropping up here and there, and I’m sure I am not alone (a quick rifle through some online posts on typical forums like Reddit underlines this).The crying shame is that Edge is actually a good product. Indeed, it’s rated as the top pick in our roundup of the best web browsers, so it deserves to be a meaningful rival to Chrome, even if it’s not perfect. And Microsoft is working to iron out some of those imperfections, like bloat, slowly but surely.What does Microsoft need to do to stand a chance of breaking through the 15% barrier, then? Well, keep on the path of streamlining by all means, but just shut up about Edge in Windows 11 (or elsewhere), and try to get a turnaround in the public perception of the browser being overly promoted. Because that only leads to suspicion that Edge needs to be promoted because it’s not all that great – which isn’t true.Microsoft positioning itself to gain favor and more goodwill from the computing public in this way could stand Edge in good stead, given that the top dog browser is currently navigating some unsteady waters, with Google currently under fire regarding selling off Chrome.Or there’s an idea: just buy Chrome, Microsoft. Of course, that remote prospect would be highly unlikely to fly with regulators as it’s rather an ‘out of the fire and into the frying pan’ solution.

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Is this the Droid you’ve been looking for? Well, if you’ve been after a pint-sized cargo-carrying droid that you can follow around, Lucasfilm’s latest collaboration with Piaggio Fast Forward just might be the one you’ve been looking for.Meet G1T4-M1N1, a special edition of Piaggio’s gitamini robot that sticks with the off-the-shelf bright yellow – maybe a lime green – hull of a droid and tosses in custom decals that give it the look of an astromech. You’ll find long arms like those of R2-D2 on the left and right, various gray shapes giving it a shell, and sensors galore all around.Plus, via the built-in speaker, Piaggio worked with Lucasfilm to design custom Droid sounds, so yes, various beeps and boops, as well as a custom lighting package, round out the Star Wars edition.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Aside from that, it is indeed the classic Gita Mini with a front sensor stack with two cameras that work as a pair and a secondary color CMOS camera. These all work in conjunction with AI models on a device to help the G1T4-M1N1 recognize and lock onto you, so that it can follow you and avoid obstacles.

This article is in celebration of Star Wars Day. For more tech stories about a galaxy far far away, check out all of our Star Wars coverage for all the latest, including where to stream the iconic movies and TV shows. May the force be with you all!

It also has two main wheels, and the actual hull of the robot balances between them as it glides so effortlessly. I tested it in TechRadar’s office in New York City, which was mostly smooth. How well would it perform on the sandy surface of Tatooine or the icy surface of Hoth? Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling the G1T4-M1N1 would ask that you never tell it the odds.Piaggio says it tops out at 6 MPH, though. When coworkers spotted it gliding around the office, one might have thought it had punched into hyperspace. Seriously, though, G1T4-M1N1 does pack a punch, and it's pretty compact, measuring just under 19 inches in height.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

This robot is not just about good droid looks. It has a purpose. I tucked away Sabine Wren’s lightsaber in the cargo bin, which opens pretty easily from the top. It also locks via the app, so that precious cargo can be stored securely. It can hold up to a 20-pound payload, so it could hold quite a bit of beskar, which is a win.It’s a cute robot, the result of a collaboration between Piaggio and Lucasfilm that came about quite naturally. Speaking to TechRadar exclusively, Greg Lynn, CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward, told us, “When we first met with Disney on campus and were walking in with a Gita Mini and a Gita Plus robot, it was also one of the best experiences, with people running out of the office building saying, ' They’re here!'”

Feeling the Force

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

It was evident that Piaggio Fast Forward team were Star Wars fans, and the team at Lucas Film and Star Wars were, as you’d expect, fans of real-life robots and droids. Lynn shared that it was a great partnership working together on ‘developing all kinds of customizations and features” to make a special robot, which came to form as the G1T4-M1N1.Lynn and the team from Piaggio got to look through the archives at Lucasfilm in search of some early Astro-Mech droids. The Gita Mini already had sensors, and so did the astro-mechs, so it was a pretty perfect pair. You’ll experience custom sounds at various points when using the G1T4-M1N1, including when you start walking and abruptly stop, or change your speed quickly.Lynn shared his excitement for this launch, and if you’re already sold, the G1T4-M1N1 is available for order now from the Disney Store for $2,875. You’ll also get the Star Wars edition of the droid and special packaging. It’s not a limited edition either, so you should be able to find one of these for a good bit.

The droid you're looking for

The launch also comes ahead of May 4, 2025, also known as Star Wars Day, and this is one of the coolest, albeit more expensive, products to debut. And if you’re after some other items – maybe a new Lego set or a piece of the epic, frosty, Hoth collection – you can carry it in the G1T4-M1N1.Now, if you want to see the G1T4-M1N1 in action, before purchasing or just want to try it, the Disney Store in Times Square, New York City, will have several of these out and about this weekend – certainly a fun way to celebrate Star Wars Day.

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It's time to settle down after a long week of work (or school/college/university studies) and enjoy one of the many new movies and TV shows that have been released recently.I'm going to be heading to my local IMAX cinema to watch Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie again (read my Thunderbolts* review if you want to know what I thought of Marvel's latest big-screen offering). But, if you fancy a quiet night in, there's plenty more to watch at home on the world's best streaming services.So, without further ado, here's what you'll want to sit down to stream over the next few days. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Four Seasons (Netflix)

If you're like me and love a TV show that makes you feel like you're on holiday, then this new Netflix comedy-romance series sounds like it'll be just the ticket. Like HBO's The White Lotus, the eight-episode series, which is a remake of its movie namesake, centers around a group of friends going on vacation, which is why many have made the comparison between the two series.Created, written, and produced by Tina Fey, the show sees the actor team up with Date Night co-star Steve Carell again for a romantic holiday. However, not everything is as rosy as it seems when one of the three couples on vacation split up. This has the making to be one of the best Netflix shows but, as always, the proof will be in the pudding. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

Watch The Four Seasons on Netflix

Another Simple Favor (Prime Video)

I'm a huge fan of the A Simple Favor, so I'm intrigued to see where its Prime Video sequel goes. Judging by the trailer, it's going to be just as stylish and mysterious as the first, and it's bringing all the sunshine and glamor of an Italian wedding too.Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick are back, of course, and I'm so excited to see what happens in the Amazon Movie Original, especially since Kendrick's character agrees to be maid of honor for Lively's character. It's a scenario that reminds me a lot of one of my favorite Black Mirror episodes, aka 'Nosedive', and I have a feeling this wedding will be just as chaotic.It's also got Severance season 2 composer Theodore Shapiro's music, so you know it's going to sound great, but will it popular enough to earn a spot on our best Prime Video movies guide? – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

Watch Another Simple Favor on Prime Video

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (Disney+)

It's almost time to celebrate the existence of Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away. Indeed, this Sunday (May 4) marks the annually observed tradition of Star Wars Day, which takes place every year on the same date (you know, May the Fourth Be With You and all that!).What better way to honor the legendary sci-fi universe, then, than with the release of a new Disney+ show? Tales of the Underworld is the third animated miniseries to shine a light on two franchise characters who deserve a bit more screentime. So, who'll star in this four-part installment? Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress, the former being a bounty hunter and the latter a Nightsister-turned-assassin.Will one of 2025's new Star Wars TV shows be received as well as 2022's Tales of the Jedi and deserve a spot on our best Disney+ shows? Or will it fall victim to the Dark Side are earn less stellar reviews like Tales of the Empire? Time will tell! – TP

Watch Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld on Disney+

Careme (Apple TV+)

Cuisine is at the heart of any good streaming platform. Now, Apple TV+ is shining a spotlight on the world's first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême.We're no stranger to celebrity chefs in the modern era – I'm someone who spends half my life watching Kitchen Nightmares – but this is a very different story.Set in Napoleon's Europe, Carême's talent attracts the attention of politicians who use him as a spy for France, so you can expect intrigue as a side order to your usual culinary delights. I'm already hooked by this Apple TV Original's premise and I suspect it'll soon find its way onto our best Apple TV+ shows list. – LB

Watch Careme on Apple TV+

A Complete Unknown (Disney+)

Those streaming services they are a-changing, so make sure to check in on one of May's new Disney+ movies because it's finally adding the Bob Dylan biographical drama, aka A Complete Unknown, just over a month after it made its Hulu debut stateside.In this fictionalized take on the protest singer-songwriter’s life, director James Mangold (Ford vs Ferrari; Walk The Line) takes us back to a fresh-faced Dylan arriving at Greenwich Village in the early 60s, guiding us through a new reimagining of his rise to fame.Don't let its Oscar snub dissuade you from streaming this one and getting to hear the original soundtrack from Timothée Chalamet. Indeed, it's one of the best Disney+ movies you'll watch this month. – AS

Watch A Complete Unknown on Disney+

The Eternaut (Netflix)

Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres, so I'm very excited that the genre is growing over on Netflix with the addition of The Eternaut.In this intriguing series, which is based on an Argentinian graphic novel, we follow a group of survivors following a deadly snowfall. If that wasn't stressful enough, the incident was powered by an alien invasion.With six hour-long episodes to dive into, it sounds like it'll a great weekend binge watch. Based on its largely positive Rotten Tomatoes critical and audiences scores, this is one series you'll want to get snowed in for so you can stream it ASAP. – LB

Watch The Eternaut on Netflix

100 Foot Wave season 3 (Max)

Garrett McNamara returns to Max in a brand new season of the two time Emmy-winning 100 Foot Wave docuseries.The first season chronicled McNamara's journey to becoming the world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed in Nazaré, Portugal, and has since expanded to follow the highs and lows of other renowned big wave surfers. Season 3 will see the athlete travel to stunning new locations, including O’ahu, Hawaii for the rarely held Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.The five-part third season is set to be another heart-pounding, awe-inspiring watch filled with even more stunning big wave footage of these deaths-dying surfers. One to add to our best Max shows? Maybe! – AS

Watch 100 Foot Wave season 3 on Max

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on best Hulu movies, best Prime Video shows, best Paramount+ movies, and best Max movies.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, May 2 (game #1194).

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 #1195) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1195) - 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 2.

Quordle today (game #1195) - 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 #1195) - 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 #1195) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• P• V• W• C

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

Quordle today (game #1195) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1195, are…

PLUSHVERGEWROTECONDO

A tricky one for me today. My start words did deliver me a word with three letters in the correct place and another letter in the wrong position, but I still managed to get it wrong, guessing TROVE instead of WROTE. Fortunately, this error – and using the letter V with my incorrect guess – helped me find the tricky VERGE.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1195) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1195, are…

GLOOMATTICABOVESPOIL

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELTQuordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPEQuordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWNQuordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSEQuordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNTQuordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDEQuordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICKQuordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPHQuordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRNQuordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFTQuordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEEQuordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACHQuordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUEQuordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULTQuordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTOQuordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURTQuordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUTQuordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAYQuordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCEQuordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 2 (game #691).

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 #692) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

SMOKESHELLFIREMILKCREAMCOMPHELLLITSICKLICKPASTENETIORGOILLWELLDOPE

NYT Connections today (game #692) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: AmazingGREEN: Well beaten BLUE: Drop the last two letters for linkPURPLE: Drop the last letter for link

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 #692) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: AWESOME GREEN: DEFEAT SOUNDLY BLUE: "WILL" CONTRACTIONS WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHEPURPLE: URL ENDINGS PLUS A LETTER

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

NYT Connections today (game #692) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #692, are…

YELLOW: AWESOME DOPE, FIRE, LIT, SICKGREEN: DEFEAT SOUNDLY CREAM, LICK, PASTE, SMOKEBLUE: "WILL" CONTRACTIONS WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHEHELL, ILL, SHELL, WELLPURPLE: URL ENDINGS PLUS A LETTER COMP, MILK, NETI, ORGO

My rating: HardMy score: 3 mistakes

My mistakes today came in thinking that there was a cooking group. I was trying to think of some kind of food preparation that involved SHELLing, CREAMing, turning into a PASTE. To make some sauces you make a WELL in flour, so I included that. I had MILK for another guess and FIRE in another.Fortunately, I saw sense and more importantly the various slang words for AWESOME and DEFEAT SOUNDLY.I see the “WILL CONTRACTIONS WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHE" (He’ll, I’ll, She’ll, We’ll) now, but in truth I put them together because they all ended LL.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 2, game #691)

YELLOW: KINDS OF CARVINGS BUST, RELIEF, STATUE, TORSOGREEN: PILLAR BRACE, POST, PROP, SUPPORTBLUE: BBQ OFFERING DOG, LINK, RIB, WINGPURPLE: __NECK BOTTLE, BREAK, GOOSE, TURTLE

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, May 2 (game #425).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Say "ah"

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #2 - clue words

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

SOOTYROPESSTINGRINGSEEPROOST

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #3 - spangram letters

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

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 3rd columnLast side: bottom, 5th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #426) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #426, are…

GAUZETAPESYRINGESTETHOSCOPETHERMOMETERSPANGRAM: DOCTORS KIT

My rating: HardMy score: 2 hints

After a run of easy editions today’s Strands presented a challenge – well, it did for me at least.I had to resort to a couple of hints to complete the puzzle and was presented with two piles of letters that ended up being STETHOSCOPE and THERMOMETER. They should have gone all the way and included a sphygmomanometer.Today’s theme did, of course, trigger memories of pretending to be badly injured so that my daughters could rush me to their cardboard ER and perform a variety of experimental surgical procedures on me with their plastic DOCTOR’S KIT. Fortunately, I survived without too many scars.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, May 2, game #425)

WARBLERLARKSPARROWWRENCARDINALCHICKADEESPANGRAM: SONGBIRDS

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.

Since 2017, the Vespa-maker Piaggio's Fast Forward division has been exploring a unique way to cut down on car trips: Building robots that can follow you around and carry your stuff. We called its original Gita (pronounced "jee-tah," Italian for "trip") robot an attractive rolling porter, but its size and initial $3,250 price made it more of a robo-curio than something you'd actually want to buy. The company followed that up with the Gitamini, a smaller and slightly cheaper $1,850 model, but even that remains niche.

Most people just don't have thousands of dollars to spend on a cute follow bot — but the calculation may be different for Star Wars fans. Squint a bit, and Piaggio's devices don't look that different from BB-8, R2-D2 and the multitude of other droids. So it's not a huge surprise to see Piaggio Fast Forward debut a special Star Wars edition robot: the G1T4-M1N1. It's basically just a $2,875 version of the Gitamini (which now sells for $2,475) with Star Wars decals and sound effects.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

G1T4-M1N1 boasts all of the same specs as the Gitamini: It can carry up to 20 pounds in its top compartment; it lasts for 7 hours, or 24 miles; and its speed tops out at a jaunty 6 MPH. But like a true Star Wars droid, it's more talkative than its older sibling. Lucasfilm offered up some of its unique sound effects for the bot, so you might hear it sound extra flustered as it's rushing to catch up to you, or turning quickly around a corner. It's a big leap beyond the Sphero-powered BB8 toy from 2015.

I had a chance to spend a weekend with G1T4-M1N1 at my home, but unfortunately I couldn't take it outside or use it in public, where it's really meant to shine. Instead, it was stuck puttering around my home and deck. While that delighted my kids — who both jumped in the air the moment G1T4-M1N1 awoke with a loud boot-up sound — they were still frustrated they could't pile their toys into its compartment and walk it to the neighborhood park.

From my brief time with it, I can confirm G1T4-M1N1 followed me around like an eager droid, ready to carry whatever I needed. But it also had some trouble navigating around my cluttered floors — if it hit any major obstacle or corner, it would go to standby mode until I tapped the capacitive button on its noggin. Unlike my Roomba vacuums, it doesn't back up and try again. I also had to be extremely careful with the G1T4-M1N1 around my deck stairs, since it continually tried to fall to its death like a robotic lemming.

According to Piaggio Fast Forward CEO and co-founder Greg Lynn, the company expects bot owners to watch out for major "cliff" drops like stairs. Gitamini and Gita have the ability to pause before jumping over large curb drops, he says, but I couldn't see that in action.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

Between its trouble with stairs and obstacle avoidance, I couldn't imagine ever using any Gita robot indoors without headaches. But I could see it being useful if I still lived in Brooklyn, where it could accompany my kids and I to the park while lugging their gear. (My aching back sure would appreciate that, anyway.) I could also see parking it outside a local grocery store and having it follow me home afterwards.

Even in that dream scenario, though, I'd worry about someone trying to steal the G1T4-M1N1. While you can lock it down from an app, which closes the storage compartment and turns off any following capability, you still have to remember to do that manually. According to Lynn, he's seen curious strangers accidentally enable the Gita bots' following feature more than he's encountered stories of potential theft. Still, the worry is there, especially since the G1T4-M1N1 and Gitamini weigh 28 pounds. It's not hard to imagine some intrepid thief driving up to a parked G1T4-M1N1 and throwing it in their car. (Unfortunately, there's no way to physically chain it like a bike, either.)

I'm not making any final judgements on the G1T4-M1N1, or its siblings, since I couldn't test it properly. But it's clearly not something meant for everyone — not at that price, and not with the navigation problems I encountered. But I could see a future where assistive robots like these could be helpful. We currently have robots delivering food on the streets of some cities, and I've seen them helping waiters move food around local restaurants. At some point, we'll see cheaper and more useful home bots beyond the Roomba and its ilk. And whatever comes next will likely owe a debt to the ground being tread by Gita's large wheels.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/piaggio-turned-its-cute-follow-robot-into-a-star-wars-droid-140019416.html?src=rss

It’s been two years since OpenAI shook the world with ChatGPT. Since then, businesses have been racing to monetize AI and seamlessly integrate it into daily operations. Now, in 2025, those ambitions are materializing, giving the world a clearer vision of what an AI-powered business landscape looks like.In this piece, we’ll explore how AI has moved from niche to normal, examine the key forces reshaping the world of work and try to get a sense of where we’re headed.

What does AI look like in 2025?

In 2025, AI is no longer an experiment. Companies have moved beyond testing and are deploying AI at scale. Agentic AI chatbots can now recommend products and complete transactions autonomously, while AI-powered fraud prevention help detect and prevent scams. AI isn’t just emerging—it’s here.According to McKinsey, five forces are defining AI in the workplace in 2025: improved intelligence and reasoning, agentic AI enabling autonomous robot workers, multimodality that integrates text, audio, and video, and increased transparency through better reasoning and clearer explanations of its processes.Workers are using AI to be more creative. A report by Deloitte found that 70% of workers are open to offloading tasks to AI to free up time and boost creativity, yet 28% worry about technology threatening their jobs. AI is both a blessing and a curse—while it reduces mundane work, it also raises concerns about job security.And better reasoning is giving businesses more confidence in AI models. Looking back on AI’s early days, many remember its tendency toward bias and its ability to confidently present falsehoods. To address this, large language models are increasingly including explanations of their reasoning or cite sources. A notable example is China’s DeepSeek model, which impressed with its whitepaper outlining the importance of reasoning in large language models.Then there’s the rise of AI-powered tools in Enterprise Content management Systems (ECM), making document management smarter and more intuitive. People are so accustomed to AI in their daily lives—whether it’s Google Maps or Alexa—that they expect similar automation at work. These systems don’t just organize and secure business data; they also streamline tedious processes like onboarding and contract management. By automating routine paperwork, AI is freeing employees to focus on more creative, high-value tasks.Like all technological change, there’s a lot happening, and this is just scratching the surface, but those who can harness AI stand to gain a lot. According to McKinsey, the long-term opportunity that AI presents in added productivity growth from corporate use cases is around $4.4 trillion.

Supercharged cyber risk

But it’s not all good news. While AI has boosted businesses, it has also made malicious cyber activity more prolific and dangerous. Threat actors are using AI to automate attacks, develop advanced phishing and social engineering tactics, and are leveraging deepfakes and generative AI tech to deceive employees and exploit vulnerabilities more efficiently. In response, businesses in 2025 are locking down their data and investing more heavily in information governance.This is part of the reason businesses are assessing their records management practices and ECMs. Because cyber attackers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to exploit data, businesses are locking down the attack surface by securing their data and documents, and ensuring the proper access controls and audit trails are in place. ECMs help organizations centralize digital sensitive documents, providing version control and enhanced security.Another factor driving businesses toward ECM is data integrity. AI is only as powerful as the data it’s trained on, yet 67% of organizations admit they don’t fully trust their own data for decision-making. Proper data indexing not only improves AI performance today but also lays the foundation for future scalability. These systems allow for automated document management, ensuring data remains structured and accessible.

Human-centered tech is the future

AI in 2025 is a lot like hybrid work: by balancing automation with human oversight, businesses and workers can reap the benefits of efficiency while reducing mundane tasks.Certainly, there are some risks. While AI is freeing employees from routine tasks and enabling more strategic work, some roles are shifting toward refinement and review of AI output—raising concerns that critical thinking skills could erode in the process. At the same time, some businesses that have made big bets on AI aren’t yet seeing the expected returns. This is because we’re only just exiting the pilot phase. Almost 90% of business leaders anticipate that AI will drive revenue growth in the next three years.Businesses that automate their business processes using tools like ECMs — which can support the quick rollout of automated solutions with drag-and-drop tools or prebuilt templates — have more time to train their staff. According to a report by IBM, 62% of organizations are already using AI to personalize learning content for employees, leading to a more engaging and effective training experience, keeps their critical thinking skills sharp and ensuring they’re ready for further digital transformation.McKinsey’s report highlights the immense potential of AI, but businesses must be agile to truly capitalize on it. The technology is advancing so quickly that the best opportunities could emerge from various areas—talent, new business models, or competitive products. Organizations must also invest in workers who can drive this transition.Interestingly, Millennials—the largest generational cohort in the workforce—are among AI’s most vocal champions. As they take on more leadership roles, they are becoming natural overseers of AI adoption. But regardless of generation, businesses that prioritize employee training and equip their teams with the skills to leverage AI effectively will come out ahead. And that’s already proving true in 2025.

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For the past year, a new technology has emerged on the horizon: AI agents. These newcomers promise much more than their chatbot predecessors, with more sophisticated conversation capabilities, the ability to perform more complex tasks, and the potential to learn and adapt, improving over time to understand the nuances of the business they are operating in.It’s not surprising 2025 has already seen the launch of several high profile AI agents, including Manus AI, Oracle AI Agent Studio, and OpenAI Operator. Demand for these new agentic AI solutions is coming from both businesses and consumers.For businesses, AI agents promise to improve tasks like recruiting employees, contacting potential sales leads, creating marketing content, and managing IT systems - as well as improving customer service and communication, which will in turn benefit customers. 70% of consumers are noticing that AI is improving self-service support, and 60% agree AI has made interactions with brands more efficient.Many businesses are now looking to AI agents to deliver the return on investment they’ve been hoping to achieve with AI. How can they make this a reality?

Generic agents lead to underwhelming results

Organizations should be wary of blindly throwing AI at whatever issue their teams are facing. This includes implementing generic AI agents that are currently too unreliable and inflexible to be used as a blanket CX solution. The best AI agent for your organization will always be one that’s been designed to operate in your specific industry, and trained to do the specific job you want it to do.For instance, a specialized ecommerce AI agent can be trained to understand the nuances of sizing charts so they can provide guidance to customers who are unsure about what size or item to choose. Or in the travel industry, a specialized AI agent can understand the complexities of booking policies or cancellation terms.Generic AI agents will struggle with industry-specific terminology, processes, and regulations. Non-specialized AI agents might even provide incorrect information or send inappropriate responses to a customer. These mistakes massively threaten customer trust and have the opposite effect they are intended for, creating additional work for employees who are left to correct the AI agent’s missteps.

Trust is the ultimate differentiator

Gartner predicts that by 2028, 25% of enterprise breaches will be tied to AI agent abuses. In a world where AI agents are now being entrusted with personal and sensitive information about customers, clients, and patients, it’s essential for organizations to put in place transparent accountability protocols and regular audits.Trustworthy and reliable industry-specific solutions are particularly crucial in areas like healthcare or financial services, where the stakes are high and agents are tasked with handling medical records, processing financial transactions, and providing recommendations that have a serious impact on users’ health, safety and economic wellbeing.Organizations that prioritize trust - rather than taking a ‘move fast and break things’ approach - will set themselves apart. This means adopting ethical AI principles, securing robust data privacy measures, and fostering transparency.

Assistants, not free agents

A recent survey found 28% of employees are worried about their roles being replaced by AI. While this is a common concern, it’s far from the truth. AI agents are nowhere near capable of operating autonomously and without human engagement or supervision.In their current form, AI agents serve best as collaborators or assistants, rather than standalone project managers. By taking routine tasks off employees’ to-do lists, AI agents free up human agents to focus on complex, specialist tasks, or come up with new ideas.Again on the customer service side, when it comes to handling a new situation they haven’t experienced before - like a complex or emotional customer enquiry - this is also where human-AI teamwork is key. An AI agent doesn’t have the empathy required to handle an interaction like this alone, but it can act as an assistant to a human agent, for example automatically bringing up the customer’s history with the organization, any previous interactions, and any other information to enable the agent to provide the best possible customer support.

Slow and steady wins the AI race

Organizations' AI budgets aren’t likely to decrease any time soon: it’s predicted that by 2028, enterprises will spend $202.2 billion on AI and generative AI solutions worldwide.Agentic AI offers a huge amount of potential to businesses that are prepared to implement them in the right way. Rather than diving into the deep end and spending lots of resources on the latest, shiniest solution, organizations should remember slow and steady wins the race.This means getting the basics right first, building a tailored, specialized AI agent that will work for your organization's needs. It also involves testing, refining, and integrating new AI agent solutions into specific workflows, rather than blindly applying them across the whole business.By combining a custom-built, ethical, and collaborative approach with thorough training across teams, organizations can unlock the benefits of AI agent technology, rather than being swept up by the hype.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro