News

Squid Game season 3 has a chilling new teaserIt confirms the final season will be released on June 27Fans are all talking about one particular upsetting detail

Squid Game season 3 has a first-look teaser and everyone's talking about its big reveal at the end.The teaser suggests that one of the best Netflix shows will take an even darker turn when it returns on June 27. That's not surprising considering the K-Drama hit is a masterclass in distressing its viewers.All good things must come to an end, though, and Squid Game season 3 is set to be the third and final installment. It's been a wild ride and now we're all braced to see where the story goes next on one of the best streaming services.Check out Squid Game season 3's first teaser below.

What do we know about Squid Game season 3?

Gi-hun was devastated by Jung-bae's death in Squid Game season 2. (Image credit: Netflix)

Spoilers for Squid Game season 2 ahead! Turn back now if you haven't already seen it.

While I'm not sure any of us are over that game of marbles, the inclusion of a crying baby at the end of the Squid Game season 3 teaser trailer has got me feeling on edge yet again – and I'm not alone looking at fans' reactions on social media.

MyungGi and Junhee!!! [And their baby!!😭] Watch the #SquidGame3 Official Teaser! #YimSiwan #임시완 #JoYuri #ImSiwan #SquidGame3 #오징어게임3 #Netflix pic.twitter.com/rH09mSXBoUMay 5, 2025

Of course, we already knew that Jun-hee (Player 222) is pregnant during the events of Squid Game season 2, but the thought of a baby somehow being involved in these sadistic games is a horrifying detail.And after the season 2 finale, we know that the new season will pick up in the aftermath of a failed rebellion against the games. Gi-hun returns determined to end them once and for all, but he's haunted by the heartbreaking death of his ally, Jung-bae.Whether or not we'll see a happy ending or not is unknown, but I'm definitely praying they can put a stop to the twisted games for good! Gi-hun is tenacious having gone through them three times, and hopefully it pays off.

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Today’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) are equipped with a suite of new tech tools which are helping founders navigate the digital landscape. Yet, meeting customer demands has never been more challenging for business leaders due to rising expectations, omnichannel complexity, workforce constraints, and data overload.Customers expect instant, personalized support, requiring businesses to balance automation with the human touch while ensuring seamless experiences across multiple platforms.Beyond increasing customer demand, SMBs also grapple with mounting competition and an uncertain economic climate, further complicating their path to success. So how can SMB leaders choose the right tools to thrive in 2025?

The AI-powered SMBs

One powerful tool at their disposal is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Research shows that a quarter of SMBs in the UK (25%) are already incorporating AI tools into their operations, with readily accessible virtual assistants like ChatGPT being the most frequently mentioned technologies.AI is now a technology that is practical and easily accessible, even for small businesses. This is largely due to advancements in hardware innovations, cloud computing, and open-source platforms. For one, the hardware that’s capable of handling AI functionalities is cheaper and more accessible than ever before.It’s also important to note that flexible payment models offered by cloud solutions make it easier and more affordable for SMBs to break past the cost barrier. Additionally, AI tools aren’t as expensive to make as they used to be, with techniques like transfer learning - in which AI models draw knowledge from pre-trained models - contributing to lowering the overall cost of AI solutions.For SMBs, AI tools can deliver in various important ways, from chatbots that can assist with customer service to generative AI tools which can contribute to the brainstorming process. For micro businesses such as electricians or yoga teachers, such tools can provide an invaluable ‘sounding board’ for everything, from devising a business strategy to creating a social media content calendar.Document summarization tools powered by generative AI, can help time-pressed small business leaders keep on top of their email inbox, while automated meeting notes mean that leaders can keep track of action items and coordinate their teams.

Enhanced collaboration

As the demand for an inclusive and flexible work environment grows - where remote and in-office employees have equal access to seamless communication - SMBs are increasingly investing in advanced collaboration technologies. According to the latest reports, the global collaboration software market is projected to grow from $5.8 billion to $19.86 billion between 2022 and 2032.This growth is driven by factors such as the increasing popularity of remote work, the rising adoption of cloud-based collaboration solutions, and the growing need for real-time communication and collaboration tools.By streamlining communication, AI-enhanced collaboration tools can help to reduce digital noise, integrate file-sharing, messaging and project management into simple platforms, which helps teams to keep track of activity and drive business success.Even in businesses such as retail and hospitality, which rely on in-person interactions, unified communication software means that teams can work together more effectively, offering a central place where managers and employers can access contacts, notes, documents and action points from meetings.For small businesses, this offers key advantages such as being able to schedule intro calls with prospective customers easily and easily create webinars to build their brand. For both managers and employees, AI-powered collaboration software helps to unlock other significant benefits - allowing employees to personalize their work processes, automate repetitive tasks and focus on higher-value activities.This leads to higher productivity, improved job satisfaction and better engagement. Over time, this improves customer service and drives results for the whole business.

Smart future

Technology tools have already helped many leaders to streamline their business, liberate founders from having a physical workspace, improve communication with customers and better internal support services - proving to be an effective choice.The rise of AI and smart collaboration tools has enabled a new generation of tech-enabled SMBs to thrive despite economic turbulence and ever-more demanding customers. Over the long haul, we can anticipate AI to offer tailored recommendations to small business leaders as they work, with personalized advice enhancing work efficiency by advising on strategies and tools. Embracing such tools, and new and developing technologies, will help small businesses thrive this decade.

We've featured the best productivity tool.

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

Suno 4.5 is available for Pro and Premium subscribersV4.5 has enhanced vocals and genre supportA new prompt tool helps you create better songs

Suno has just released version 4.5 of its popular AI music creation tool, and it's full of improvements across all areas.The genre options have been significantly expanded in v4.5, and Suno now works better when you combine genres; so if you want to find out what midwest emo with a touch of neosoul, or reggae, sounds like, Suno can now create more cohesive results.Vocals have been significantly enhanced in v4.5, too, and Suno can now understand and translate your descriptions on a whole new level, capturing even more nuance in the details.Perhaps the best new feature, however, is a prompt-enhancement helper, which will help write prompts for you in a more descriptive and evocative way, resulting in better-sounding songs.The previous maximum song length of four minutes has been expanded to eight minutes in v4.5. Visit the official Suno blog for the full details of all the new features.

Listen to v4.5 songs now

You need to be a Suno subscriber – plans start at $8 (about £6 or AU$12) a month for the Pro plan – to use the new v4.5 model; however, you can listen to music created in Suno 4.5 right now using the Suno app.Just open the Suno app on your mobile device and look for the 'Best of v4.5' heading to listen to tracks created in Suno 4.5. One thing that stands out for me is how good the AI-created vocals sound in the new v4.5 models.While free users of Suno can't create songs using the v4.5 model, they can create up to 20 songs using the v4.0 model to try it out, and 10 songs a day using the older Suno 3.5.

(Image credit: Apple/Suno)

A proper ending

Reaction to the v4.5 models so far has been positive, with Reddit user Its-Mee-Lousci saying “I decide to do my test with 4.5 and I was blown away right from the start. It unquestionably nailed the sound I'd been searching for this entire time! I can't lie – I cried.”Tirekicker4Life writes “I've done a couple of songs now with 4.5 and there is definite overall improvement. While not completely gone, degradation past the previous two min mark, has improved. Further, the degradation issue is improved after remastering."While overall the Suno update has been positively received there are still some criticisms – you still can’t specify a song length when composing music, and tracks can still just cut out instead of having a proper ending.

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Wix announced teaming up with ActiveCampaignThe integrated solution is designed to streamline the website and marketing technology stackIt is now available for users with an ActiveCampaign account

Wix, one of the best website builders around, has announced a new partnership with the marketing automation platform ActiveCampaign.In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro recently, the company said that the partnership resulted in an “integrated solution” for businesses of varying sizes, designed to streamline the website and marketing technology stack, simplify operations, and enhance customer engagement.The integrated solution allows users to oversee customer journeys from front-end website interactions to back-office operations, the company explained. Since the data is synchronized between Wix websites and ActiveCampaign accounts, customer interactions will be more streamlined, and so will marketing campaigns and automations, or analytics.Besides streamlined data integration, the two companies promise scalable marketing automation that leverages customer insight such as form submissions, product purchases, and other behaviors to launch targeted, data-driven marketing initiatives. Furthermore, customers can expect comprehensive centralized reporting providing a holistic view of performance across the network, as well as enhanced multi-location management.

Nurturing leads and growing the business

David Schwartz, VP of Product at Wix, believes the partnership will help businesses with lead nurturing, marketing personalization and ultimately - growth: “With this partnership, businesses can qualify and nurture leads seamlessly, personalize sales and marketing efforts using engagement metrics, and enhance operational efficiency by automating repetitive tasks,” he said in the press release. “This solution will ultimately empower businesses of all sizes to manage their brand holistically—driving growth, profitability, and customer loyalty.”ActiveCampaign’s Chief Strategy Officer, Shay Howe, added that nowadays, businesses are in need of streamlined solutions that allow for scaling without added complexities. “By combining Wix’s powerful website platform with ActiveCampaign’s marketing automation, we’re giving businesses of all sizes - especially franchises and multi-location brands - the tools they need to personalize customer experiences, automate engagement, and drive measurable growth,” Howe concluded.The company said the integration is available for all Wix users with an ActiveCampaign account.

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Amazon

Who needs cable TV anymore? Thanks to the wealth of streaming apps, you have more on-demand viewing options than ever before. And those streaming apps like Disney+, Netflix and Max are available on a wide range of hardware, too. Roku, Apple TV and Google TV (aka Chromecast) let you view thousands of movies and TV shows at the touch of a button, though we'd argue that seeing all your favorites on a big-screen TV is way better than watching it on a smaller laptop or smartphone screen.

But there's at least one big reason to go with Amazon's Fire TV instead. Unlike archrival Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV system offers VPN apps straight through its built-in app store. That's important if you want to watch a show or movie that's otherwise unavailable in your country. Fire up a VPN, set your virtual location and you'll likely get a different set of viewing options on many streaming services — or the ability to access ones to which you otherwise didn't have access. We’ll explain the details and tell you how it works.

Choose the right VPN for your Fire TV

For starters, we’re going to assume you have a Fire TV device. If you don’t, we have good news: If your TV doesn’t already have Fire TV streaming built-in, the add-on devices are frequently on sale at Amazon for as little as $25 or less. Grab the Fire Stick 4K Max if you want a good balance of price versus performance — just make sure it’s on sale for $40 or less. (See how the Fire TV streamers compare to rivals from Roku, Google, Apple and more by checking out our list of best streaming devices.)

Once you have your Fire TV hardware set up, it’s time to choose a VPN — and that’s where the Fire TV operating system shines. A long list of VPNs, including all of our current top picks for the best VPNs, are available on the platform and they’re as easy to download and install as any of the video apps.

The Engadget-approved VPNs currently available on Fire TV include:

ProtonVPN

Windscribe

ExpressVPN

CyberGhost

Surfshark

We’ll leave it to you to research which VPN offers the best combination of features and value for you, but a word of warning: With the exception of the first two listed above, we don’t recommend using a free VPN, as they’re notorious for collecting and selling your data to advertising networks to fund shoddily-protected servers. Note you can install as many VPNs as you’d like on Fire TV, if you’d like to cross-test them at your leisure.

Installing the VPN

Installing it is easy once you know which Fire TV VPN you want to use. Head to Find > on the main menu and simply search the name of your preferred VPN – just type “VPN” if you’d like to scroll through all of the options available. There, you can find the service you want (or are already subscribed to) and start installing. The process shouldn’t take too long. Once it’s completed, you’re ready to start using it.

Using your Fire TV VPN

Once you’ve downloaded the app, navigate to it on your Fire TV dashboard. You’ll have to enter your username and password or sign up to create an account. Some VPNs might require you to create an account on your smartphone or computer beforehand.

Once logged in, you can either click the “Connect” button on your VPN or browse the server list to choose which country you want to tunnel to. Once connected, return to the Fire TV home screen and reload your streaming platform of choice to verify if the content is different. If it is, your VPN is working and you’re ready to stream.

VPN options for other streaming platforms

Don't have a Fire TV? Good news: Robust VPN options (or alternatives) exist for the other major streaming platforms, too.

How to use a VPN on your Apple TV

How to stream via a VPN on Roku

How to use a VPN on Google TV or Chromecast

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-add-a-vpn-on-fire-tv-101822833.html?src=rss

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, May 6 (game #1198).

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 #1199) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* 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 #1199) - 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 1.

Quordle today (game #1199) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

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

Quordle today (game #1199) - 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 #1199) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• Q• T• B• N

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

Quordle today (game #1199) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1199, are…

QUOTHTRUNKBESETNAIVE

I’m really pleased that I got four correct guesses today, although I must admit that I was completely stumped after my first word.Despite having four letters, I couldn’t make any words from U, O, T, and H with the letters I had remaining. QUOTH sounded like a past tense of quote so I went with that, but it was a shot in the dark.The final three were a case of first-thought-best-thought, although with BESET I started typing in RESET before remembering I’d already used the R.Happy days.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1198) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1199, are…

FOLIOBEZELTRUTHINBOX

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCHQuordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUEQuordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNYQuordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDOQuordle #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, COURT

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, May 6 (game #695).

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 #696) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

CHORALCUPSKNITSAVERECOVERPURLBUTQUARTSSWORDSBESIDESMENDPENTACLESOPELHEALWANDSEXCEPT

NYT Connections today (game #696) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: WithoutGREEN: Improving after accidentBLUE: In magic pack of of cardsPURPLE: Sounds precious

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 #696) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: NOT INCLUDING GREEN: GET BETTER, AS A BROKEN BONE BLUE: TAROT MINOR ARCANA SUITS PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF GEMSTONES

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

NYT Connections today (game #696) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #696, are…

YELLOW: NOT INCLUDING BESIDES, BUT, EXCEPT, SAVEGREEN: GET BETTER, AS A BROKEN BONE HEAL, KNIT, MEND, RECOVERBLUE: TAROT MINOR ARCANA SUITS CUPS, PENTACLES, SWORDS, WANDSPURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF GEMSTONES CHORAL, OPEL, PURL, QUARTS

My rating: HardMy score: Fail

Today’s round of Connections was incredibly hard, so congratulations to anyone who got it.The only group I managed to find was the easiest yellow one. Even with this I had uncertainty over including SAVE, which didn’t quite seem to match the other three words.However, I completely floundered with the other three groups. I suspected that PENTACLES had something to do with witchcraft so I tried to conjure up some group with WANDS and assorted others.Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of tarot cards at all, let alone the members of the MINOR ARCANA SUITS. This feels quite niche knowledge for a blue group.My other blind alley was thinking that CUPS and QUARTS were in a measurements foursome and that there were some knitting terms beyond KNIT and PERL.An all-round disaster. Hope you did better.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, May 6, game #695)

YELLOW: SILENCE CALM, HUSH, PEACE, STILLGREEN: TENNIS COMPETITION UNITS GAME, MATCH, SET, TOURNAMENTBLUE: COMPARATIVELY SMALL BABY, COMPACT, MINUTE, TOYPURPLE: STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "TEASE" KIDNEY, MOCKINGBIRD, RAZZMATAZZ, RIBBON

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, May 6 (game #429).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Training day

NYT Strands today (game #430) - hint #2 - clue words

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

DEARHOPEFLATPOSEBLEDBLASE

NYT Strands today (game #430) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #430) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 8th rowLast side: right, 7th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #430) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #430, are…

ENGINEBOXCARHOPPERCABOOSEFLATBEDGONDOLASPANGRAM: ALL ABOARD

My rating: HardMy score: 2 hints

I don’t think I’ve ever got to the end of an edition of Strands and still not known what it was all about, but that was absolutely the case today with this collection of different types of rail car.I googled it of course, but the Train-ing day theme really should have tipped me off.The BOXCAR is the most well known of these rail cars, mainly because of its common use in movies, where we’ve learned that they are incredibly easy to jump on and off and usually contain some straw or stolen loot.They also feature heavily in hobo mythology – both real (Boxcar Willie) and imagined. Indeed, there are several people nicknamed Boxcar in John Hodgman’s magnificent list of invented hobo names (look it up if you have a spare moment) including Boxcar Ted, Boxcar Mick, Dr. Bill Stain-Chin, the Boxcar Medic, and Boxcar Jones, the Boxcar Benjamin Disraeli.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, May 6, game #429)

STUDCUFFHOOPCHANDELIERPLUGCLIPONTEARDROPSPANGRAM: EARRINGS

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.

In recent years, we have seen Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the enterprise evolve from having the potential to be transformational to becoming an increasingly central component of core business processes. McKinsey found that the number of companies using AI has risen from 55% to 72% between 2023 and 2024.To prepare for AI transformation, many businesses have doubled down on improving their data practices. However, being data-savvy is not enough to deploy AI at scale. Businesses would, therefore, be unwise to see being “data ready” as the endgame in their preparations for AI adoption. Data readiness is just one phase in the AI journey and needs to be viewed as such.AI, like every other technology, has strengths, shortfalls and optimum operating environments. Understanding this is the difference between being data-savvy and being truly ready to realize the full potential of AI. I call this ‘AI-savviness’. Strong data management is important, but becoming AI-savvy requires organizational leaders to think bigger.Fostering a culture that encourages continuous learning, experimentation and a fundamental understanding of when AI is and is not the solution are all steps that must be taken to capitalize on AI’s transformative potential.

Becoming data-savvy

An organization can have strong data practices and not be AI-ready. But it can’t be AI-ready without strong data practices.The necessity to establish this foundation is made clear by Gartner’s finding that a lack of AI-ready data blocks 63% of organizations undergoing AI projects. Businesses need to ensure they have frameworks with strong governance principles and accurate and high-quality data in place before pursuing AI transformation projects.There is a growing demand among organizations for AI applications that function in real-time and, in the near future, all applications will have a live element, especially as models become more sophisticated. Leveraging hybrid pipelines results in outputs that are more accurate due to models learning, unlearning and thinking in real-time, but businesses need to future-proof and design data frameworks with this in mind now to avoid being forced to re-platform later.

Knowing when AI isn’t the solution

The AI hype and resulting explosion in demand and solutions is far outpacing that of any other recent technological breakthrough. While this is reflective of its potential within business, it encourages an AI arms race that has left many organizations feeling they have to adopt AI at any cost or risk falling to the wayside. This pressure often leads to poorly considered, ineffective investments.Research suggests that global enterprise AI spending is set to rise by 5.7% in 2025 despite overall IT budgets only increasing by 2%, but blindly spending large amounts of money on new AI-powered applications is not enough to prime a business’s estate for AI.When businesses fall into this trap, they enter the “trough of disillusionment" as their high expectations go unmet. This is made worse by the chasm that currently exists in many organizations between what leaders want AI to be able to do and what it can actually do. Understanding that the most cutting-edge technology is not always the best solution is a sign of an AI-savvy business.In a similar vein, once it is ascertained that AI is the answer, leaders must decide whether to buy or build. Building AI applications in-house gives organizations a higher level of control and more tailored outputs, but training and maintenance are complex and come with a high price tag. AI-savvy organizations fundamentally understand when custom-built capabilities are worth the extra expenditure and when more value can be extracted from buying a more generic off-the-shelf product.

Fostering a culture of experimentation

Beyond implementing an effective technology stack, leaders need to influence AI collaboration and innovation throughout their workforce, as this allows innovation and overall adoption to thrive. AI experimentation needs to be widely encouraged and reinforced as a central element of day-to-day work – and this has to come from the top.Leaders should also practice what they preach with forward-thinking decisions that drive forward their company’s AI strategy. In the past, the fear of making incorrect decisions has guided executives. But in a business world where innovation is so closely aligned to competitive advantage, delaying AI decisions presents an even higher risk.Employee buy-in is another essential feature of an AI-savvy business. Without it, even the most advanced and efficient AI tools become obsolete. To achieve and maintain buy-in, consistent use and ultimate return on investment, leaders need to build trust in the tools among the workforce.The starting point for this is ensuring that the systems employees interact with consistently deliver accurate outputs. Otherwise, they will become frustrated with technology that doesn’t work as it should and become disillusioned and disengaged.

Instilling AI confidence in employees

Blind investment and faith in AI is not a comprehensive strategy, and no matter how advanced the tools, the workforce needs to know how to use them for maximum impact. Continuous training and education, therefore, need to be part of the package for AI tools to succeed.When employees feel confident in their ability to use AI tools and applications, they will be more confident in experimenting with what AI-savviness means to them in their role and share discoveries and new use cases with their team, feeding into the culture of collaboration and creativity that defines an AI-savvy business.

Reaching AI savviness

At its core, being AI-savvy means avoiding the lure of the next big technology and instead nurturing a culture that emphasizes AI education, thoughtful procurement and decisive implementation practices. It also means remaining dynamic and adapting to changes as the AI wave continues to crest. Prioritizing proactive strategic thinking, strong data foundations and an open environment that fosters creativity and innovation creates a fertile environment for exciting and effective AI use as the technology develops.

We've featured the best AI phone.

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

It's so annoying when publishers release a trailer for a game that's ages away. What's even the point of getting folks excited for something that won't come out for over a year? I'm sure no one's going to be interested in a fresh look at Grand Theft Auto 6, indisputably the most anticipated game on the planet. No one at all. [/s]

Just a few days after Rockstar Games said it was delaying the blockbuster from this fall to next May, it has surprised everyone by dropping the second trailer for GTA 6. It's our first proper peek at the game in nearly 18 months. This one is more story focused than the first trailer. It highlights the relationship between the dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, and (of course) some of their law-flouting escapades.

GTA 6 marks a return to an old favorite location, but you've never seen Vice City quite like this. The visuals here are quite stunning, even if they all appear to be from cutscenes. Rockstar says the footage was captured on a PlayStation 5 too, not a PS5 Pro. The game will also debut on Xbox Series X/S when it arrives on May 26, 2026. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/second-gta-6-trailer-sheds-more-light-on-the-story-140452729.html?src=rss

Google has released a video poking fun at the rumored iPhone 17 redesignAs well as highlighting its similarities to the Pixel line, the video also highlights other Android features the iPhone has borrowedBut Google has also been known to seemingly take inspiration from Apple

The biggest and most prevalent iPhone 17 series rumor we’ve heard so far is that these upcoming phones will sport a new, more Pixel-like design, and in a new video, Google has teased Apple about this potential design shake-up.Posted by Google's Made by Google account on YouTube, the video comes as part of the company’s '#BestPhonesForever' series, which features a talking iPhone and a talking Pixel.In the new clip, the two phones talk about the iPhone 17's big design rumor, as well as how the iPhone’s Night Mode landed a year after Pixel’s Night Sight, and how Clean Up on iPhone launched three years after Pixel’s similar Magic Eraser tool. The video also highlights widgets, which had been present on Android for many years before they first appeared on iOS. Check it out below:

It’s a funny video, but as the talking phones themselves say, this iPhone 17 redesign is just a rumor for now, so it may not happen.

Copying can be good

CAD mock-ups of the iPhone 17 series (Image credit: Majin Bu )

It seems likely that Apple's design shake-up will happen, though, given how many times it's been rumored. But even then, the rumored iPhone 17 series design isn’t that similar to the Pixel 9 Pro's.Sure, it includes a horizontal camera bar running across the back (just like on a Pixel), but it’s positioned higher on the iPhone, and in the case of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, it’s also a lot bigger than on any Pixel 9 model.And as for the other things the video highlighted as being copied from Pixel, well, they’re all just good ideas, so it benefits everyone if versions of them are available on a wider selection of phones.Let’s not forget, too, that Google has also arguably copied Apple at times. For example, just last month, Android got an auto-reboot feature that we’d already seen on iPhones. But again, a good idea is a good idea, so tempting as it can be to poke fun, we don’t really have an issue with any of the above.

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Stop whatever you are doing right now, a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has literally just arrived.Developed by Rockstar Games, GTA 6 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of all time. The studio confirmed last week that the game will launch on May 26, 2026 - a delay on its previously announced 2025 release window."Grand Theft Auto 6 is now set to release on May 26, 2026," a statement released by the company read. "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 provided a reason for the decision, 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."This latest trailer came out of the blue, and is presumably an attempt to help maintain all that hype now that we know the game is some time away.You can watch it for yourself below, plus follow along for all the latest updates and my own analysis as it comes in.

Watch GTA 6 trailer 2

A new trailer is here!

(Image credit: Rockstar)

This is not a drill - the latest trailer for GTA 6 has arrived. It gives us an extended look at the upcoming open world game with loads of stunning in-engine footage.Join me as I provide you with a steady stream of the latest updates surrounding this trailer drop, plus throw in some of my own analysis to explain some of the most interesting things that it shows.

GlobalX airline used for deportation has website defacedAnonymous takes credit, saying it was "enforcing the judge's orders"US courts ordered the Trump administration to return some of the deported people back

The website of American airline company GlobalX was recently defaced, with the threat actors behind the attack claiming to have also stolen sensitive files.The breach was reported by 404 Media after it spotted a message on the website’s homepage, apparently left by hackers calling themselves Anonymous.“Anonymous has decided to enforce the Judge’s order since you and your sycophant staff ignore lawful orders that go against your fascist plans,” the message reads.

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GlobalX Air is one of the main airlines used by the Trump administration for this purpose, and during the attack, Anonymous allegedly stole flight records and passenger manifests for all customers, illegal immigrants included.The group shared the information with some members of the media on their own initiative, 404 Media added, also saying that the info could be used to provide “granular insight into who exactly has been deported on GlobalX flights, when, and to where.”When Anonymous said it was “enforcing the Judge’s order”, it was referring to multiple court rulings which confirmed that some of the people should not have been deported to El Salvador, and which ordered the Trump administration to bring those people back.At press time, the website was no longer defaced and was showing the usual landing page.Anonymous is not an organized hacking collective in the same sense as Conti, or Cl0p, for example. It is an informal group of hackers and hacktivists, who often plan their raids on anonymous forums (such as 4chan, for example) and target governments, corporations, and institutions they consider corrupt or oppressive.Considering the message left on GlobalX, it seems the airline was targeted because of its involvement in the deportation of illegal aliens from the US into Venezuela and other countries. One of the agendas of the Trump administration is the deportation of people who illegally entered the US, especially those connected with gangs or who otherwise have criminal records.Via 404 Media

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YouTube has launched an experimental Premium plan that would let you and another person in your household share one discounted subscription. First reported by Moneycontrol, the online video platform is currently piloting the test option in India, Taiwan, Hong Kong and France. To be able to opt for the subscription tier, you and your companion have to be 13-years-old and above and have Google accounts that are part of one Google family group.

The plan's pricing will, of course, cost you less than if you're paying for two Premium accounts. In India, the two-person plan costs Rs 219 per month ($2.60), which is less than the Rs 298 ($3.53) you'd pay for two individual plans and the Rs 299 ($3.54) you'd pay for a 5-person Family subscription. YouTube has been pushing for the adoption of its paid Premium plans in recent years by offering perks like enhanced 1080p for full-priced subscriptions and launching a cheaper Premium Lite option with reduced ads. The full-priced, ad-free Premium plan costs at least $14 a month in the US.

To prevent viewers from being able to watch videos ad-free without paying, and to urge them to sign up for Premium subscriptions, YouTube even launched "a global effort" to crack down on ad blockers back in 2023. This experimental plan puts Premium subscriptions within reach for a lot more people, especially those in two-person households who've been hesitating to sign up due to pricing concerns. Obviously, though, it'll be a lot more expensive in the US than in India if it does get a wide release.

"We’re experimenting with new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers, including offering a two-person Premium plan option, allowing two people to share a subscription at a reduced cost," a spokesperson told Moneycontrol and Android Authority.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-is-testing-out-a-premium-plan-you-can-share-with-one-household-member-143038942.html?src=rss

Nintendo has updated the Switch eShop's discoverability to filter out cheap, "shovelware" gamesThe eShop charts have been reworked to show how sales are calculated, ranking games based on revenue from sales in the past 72 hours insteadThe Best Sellers tab now shows games "with the highest sales for the past three days"

Nintendo has quietly updated the Nintendo Switch eShop and how charts work by filtering out cheap games and "slop".This change comes from the most recent Switch system update in preparation for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch next month, but was overlooked due to the patch's other significant features.As spotted by VGC, the eShop charts have been reworked to show how sales are calculated. Before the update, the digital storefront counted the number of games sold over the past 48 hours and ranked them in the charts, but now it ranks games based on revenue from sales in the past 72 hours instead.In addition, before the update, the Best Sellers tab showed software titles "with the most downloads for the past two weeks", but it now shows games "with the highest sales for the past three days" (via GVG).Nintendo has essentially altered how discoverability works on the eShop, including in the Current Offers tab, bringing its best-selling software to the forefront and filtering out "shovelware" games that were clogging up the store.This change also means that cheap games that get churned out won't automatically make it to the top of the charts due to their low prices, prioritizing bigger, more popular titles.However, it does seem that finding new indie games will be a little more difficult. The store's Discover tab primarily offers first-party Nintendo titles, while other tabs have been curated to what is popular, like full-priced AAA games, and what is selling the most.In case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle.UK pre-orders and US pre-orders are now live.

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Rockstar has dropped a new Grand Theft Auto 6 trailerThe cinematic trailer is captured on PS5 and offers a new look at Vice City and the game's main characters, Jason and LuciaThe first plot details have also been revealed, centering Jason and Lucia "in the middle of a conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida

Rockstar Games has released the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, offering a new look at Vice City and details about the game's dual protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.The new cinematic trailer arrives just after the game's recent delay and 17 months since the game was first announced. Captured on the PlayStation 5, the trailer opens up with Jason making his way through various sunny spots in Vice City before eventually picking up Lucia from prison.In typical GTA fashion, things quickly get out of control as the pair find themselves caught up in a life of crime, accompanied by a host of colorful side characters.We finally have a plot description, as well. It reads: "Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."

The official GTA 6 website has also been updated with a ton of new images and artwork, as well as more insight into Jason and Lucia.Jason is described as wanting an easy life and ended up working for local drug runners after some time in the army."Meeting Lucia could be the best or worst thing to ever happen to him," his character bio reads. "Jason knows how he'd like it to turn out but right now, it's hard to tell."As for Lucia, she was taught by her father to fight from a young age, and landed herself in the Leonida Penitentiary after "fighting for her family"."Sheer luck got her out. Lucia’s learned her lesson - only smart moves from here. More than anything, Lucia wants the good life her mom has dreamed of since their days in Liberty City - but instead of half-baked fantasies, Lucia is prepared to take matters into her own hands."Fresh out of prison and ready to change the odds in her favor, Lucia’s committed to her plan — no matter what it takes."Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

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Prime Video boasts a robust library of highly rated films from documentaries to action-thrillers, including the best Prime Video movies you can stream right now. However, not all of them are there to stay.Amazon's streaming service doesn't have a convenient filter for which films are leaving soon, so we've done the work for you by pinpointing the best films on their way out. These are three of the most highly rated films leaving this week, all with over 81% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Food, Inc (2009)

RT score: 95%Directors: Robert KennerAge Rating: PGLength: 1 hr 33 minLeaving on: May 10

Food, Inc is an influential documentary about the problems with the food industry in the United States, including how our meat is produced and the modern methods they use to grow crops. Not to mention the huge corporations that try to hide the facts and bypass laws to maximize profit and the expense of our health.Anyone who wants to learn more about how to make healthier, more sustainable, and more ethical choices should watch it before it leaves Prime Video. If you like it, you can even watch the 2024 sequel, Food, Inc 2.

Goon (2012)

RT score: 81%Directors: Michael DowseAge Rating: RLength: 1 hr 31 minLeaving on: May 10

Goon is supposed to be a feel-good comedy film, but there's some tough love thrown in the mix too. Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) works as a bouncer at a bar, but he feels bad about it because his dad and brother are super-smart doctors. He ends up being scouted to join a minor league hockey team and later hired to protect a former star player recovering from a traumatic injury.It's a story about a misfit's rise to the top with the friends he makes along the way, finding himself as he does it. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants an entertaining film with an emotionally compelling story.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

RT score: 94%Directors: Christopher McQuarrieAge Rating: PG-13Length: 2 hr 6 minLeaving on: May 12

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is the fifth Mission: Impossible movie and the sequel to Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. It introduces a completely new story following agent IMF Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) and his team working together to shut down organization of international rouges called the Syndicate.That said, you don't need to know anything about the past Mission Impossible movies to enjoy this one. Returning characters act like they know each other and make references to past missions, but nothing that will throw off a new viewer. If you really want to dig into it, you can watch the rest of the Mission Impossible series on Prime Video. (They don't seem to be leaving soon, but some of them have limited-time labels.)

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Samsung’s “Tap to Transfer” payment feature will come to the US this month, following a preview of the feature in January when it launched the Galaxy S25 series. This will allow you to make payments to friends and family via the Samsung Wallet app on Galaxy smartphones by tapping your devices together, bypassing the need to manually transfer funds from your online banking app. Samsung says payments will land in the bank account of the recipient within minutes.

Samsung’s partnership with Visa and Mastercard means that as long as you have a debit card stored in your Samsung Wallet, you can use Tap to Transfer without needing to download a separate app. Like when you make payments in a store, Samsung Wallet uses NFC to connect the respective debit card chips of the users making or receiving a payment, and if one party would rather use a physical debit card to make the transfer, it works just the same provided the card itself has tap-to-pay functionality.

You can also make payments Venmo-style between Samsung Wallets by searching for the recipient’s phone number and making the transfer remotely, but this obviously isn’t as fast as the person-to-person phone bump method. Apple has its own version of this, called Tap to Cash, but it requires you to use its Apple Cash service and, as you’d expect, only works with compatible Apple devices. As reported by Android Central, the new feature was first spotted in a beta version of the app last month, along with Samsung’s version of the many emerging buy now, pay later services such as Affirm.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-tap-to-transfer-cash-feature-is-coming-to-the-wallet-app-this-month-144100575.html?src=rss

Mother's Day is this Sunday and the window to get presents delivered is dangerously close to shutting. But there are plenty of great subscription gifts to buy your mom, including a year of MasterClass. Even better, the learning site is currently running a Mother's Day sale — though you can also use it to pick up a subscription for yourself.

If you're not familiar, MasterClass offers video lessons by more than 200 experts everything from cooking to music. For Mother's Day, you can gift a 12 month Standard MasterClass subscription for $60, down from $120. This tier allows your mom to use MasterClass on one device, but doesn't include offline mode.

There are two other tiers — also half off (or there about) during the sale. The Plus tier is down to $96 from $180 and offers two devices with the ability to watch videos while offline. Then there's the Premium level, which is available for $120, down from $240. It allows for six devices and offline mode. There's no clear end date for the sale, with the offer simply saying "ends soon."

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-masterclass-mothers-day-sale-takes-half-off-annual-subscriptions-144422002.html?src=rss

An early product listing suggests the Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU could arrive soonMeanwhile, AI has been firing flak at any modern GPU with 8GB of video RAM (which the RTX 5060 has)The suggestion is that 8GB of VRAM is like “bringing a butter knife to a gunfight”, and that reflects a broader sentiment online

A fresh clue suggests that, as the rumor mill already believes, Nvidia’s RTX 5060 graphics card packing 8GB of video RAM (VRAM), is close to launch now – but the feeling around modern GPUs with 8GB of VRAM has been underlined by a scathing AI summary on the subject.I’ll return to that later; but first up, the hint that the RTX 5060 is about to emerge is the fact that US retailer Best Buy has listed a PNY variant of this graphics card on its site (as noticed by @momomo_us on X, via VideoCardz).There’s no ‘buy’ button, of course, as the RTX 5060 isn’t released yet; you can only click to be notified when stock comes in. But the fact that the PNY board is there at all (and the listing is still live, at the time of writing) suggests that Best Buy is starting to get its house in order for this Nvidia GPU.The PNY offering is priced at $299, by the way, the base list price, and the rumored release date for the RTX 5060 is May 19. It might seem a little early for retailer prep work based on that date, perhaps, but work goes on behind the scenes for a while before launch, and presumably that’s what has happened here – with an accidental airing of this particular listing. (There’s only the one RTX 5060 board listed, in case you were wondering).Now onto the comment from AI, the agent in question being Grok (again on X). As Tom’s Hardware reported, denizen of X, PunmasterSTP, asked: “Hey Grok, how do you feel about 8 GB of VRAM in 2025?”The reply came in no uncertain terms: “8GB of VRAM in 2025? Honestly, it’s like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight.” Check out the full exchange below, and note that the whole thing stemmed from an article about how the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB doesn’t perform up to scratch.

Hey @PunmasterStp, 8GB of VRAM in 2025? Honestly, it’s like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight. Modern AAA games are chomping through VRAM faster than a kid with a bag of candy—especially at 1440p or 4K with all those juicy high-res textures and ray tracing bells and whistles.…May 3, 2025

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot)

Analysis: we should listen to Grok, and here’s why

The RTX 5060 Ti 8GB being weak sauce compared to the 16GB version of this graphics card has been a hot topic since these GPUs were launched by Nvidia. It’s clear enough going by various independent test runs that the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB is indeed underpowered in some respects – and so the worry is that the RTX 5060, which comes packing that same amount of VRAM, is going to suffer in the same way.It’s a justified concern, especially given that Nvidia appears to have quietly pushed the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB into the background, while whistling nonchalantly. All the online sentiment railing against the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB appears to be approaching a critical mass, and that’s clearly shown by Grok’s ‘butter knife’ comment on X.You may, of course, take the attitude of who cares what an AI thinks? Well, we should all care, because an AI doesn’t actually think, of course – not in a truly intelligent way. These aren’t independent virtual ‘thoughts’ but rather a huge swathe of opinions scraped off the web (from X, Reddit, and various other avenues) and then condensed into a reply.So, what Grok’s saying reflects the broad opinions being aired across all those social forums (and wherever else the AI may have extended its data extracting tentacles), meaning this is a barometer of the overall feeling about 8GB of video RAM on a contemporary graphics card. In short, it just isn’t good enough anymore.The potential saving grace for the RTX 5060 and its 8GB of memory modules is that it’s more temptingly priced than the RTX 5060 Ti with the same VRAM loadout. However, $300 (or the equivalent in your region) is still not a budget outlay, and if the memory on-board is a problem with certain games (and with particular graphics settings) already, what about next year, or further into the life of this GPU, when PC games become a good deal more demanding still?I expect some level of future-proofing with a graphics card purchase, and doubtless so do you – and this is a definite worry, even for a more ‘affordable’ GPU. (I use the air quotes because let’s face it, $300 is still far from cheap, and as we know, third-party graphics cards inevitably end up selling for more than the list price with many models, anyway).As Grok says later in its reply: “If you’re planning to game for the next few years without constantly tweaking settings down to potato mode, 8GB just ain’t gonna cut it.”Obviously talking about ‘potato’ mode (a reference to the potato PC, slang for a horribly outdated and underpowered rig) is going a bit far, but it’s difficult to argue with the sentiment – and again, this is the broad feeling that Grok is summarizing from across the web.Meanwhile, we’re left to wonder if AMD will also be launching an 8GB version of the rumored RX 9060 XT, another mid-range GPU expected to be revealed very soon. There have been suggestions that an 8GB flavor is coming, and equally that it isn’t.The most recent gossip is that AMD does indeed have this inbound, but it might try to effectively sideline the 9060 XT 8GB graphics card, just like Nvidia has with the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB.It feels like it’s possible that mid-range efforts with an 8GB loadout could be well and truly swept under the GPU rug as 2025 progresses, but we shall see.

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If you've been looking to grab a new set of AirPods, good news: The AirPods 4 are on sale via Amazon for $99. That's $30 off Apple's list price, and it ties the largest discount we've seen for the entry-level earbuds. This particular deal is also available at Walmart, Target and Best Buy (though it technically costs $1 more at the last two).

We highlight this base model as a nice value in our guide to the best AirPods. The sound quality has been improved over the previous generation, for one, with richer bass and better separation. The big selling point to me, however, is the refined design. The AirPods 4 feature a legitimately comfortable fit, which is pretty rare in the earbud space. They don’t even fall out when moving around, which is something we noted in our official review.

This model features the H2 chip that was originally introduced with the AirPods Pro. The chip allows for some advanced features, like Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The earbuds also offer Adaptive EQ and 48kHz audio for video calls. Apple has even included the newly-developed Voice Isolation feature that removes ambient noise when talking on the phone. Generally speaking, if you hate the feeling of earphones that jut into your ear canal, this is a fine choice.

That said, this version of the AirPods 4 lacks onboard volume controls and any option for wireless charging. It also doesn’t include active noise cancellation. If you need that, the ANC-equipped version is still on sale for $149, which isn't an all-time low but takes 17 percent off Apple's MSRP. The higher-end AirPods Pro 2, meanwhile, are also on sale right now for $169. Again, we saw that pair go for $15 less over the holidays, but this is still a 32 percent discount compared to buying from Apple direct.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-4-drop-back-to-a-record-low-of-99-152310767.html?src=rss

Amazon has finally streamlined the process by which folks can buy books via the iOS version of the Kindle app. The iPhone and iPad apps now include a "Get Book" button with each listed title. Hitting this button will bring up the corresponding Amazon page, along with the option for a 1-Click purchase. Once finalized, it directs users back to the Kindle app for some reading.

This isn’t as seamless as a simple in-app purchase, but it’s miles better than the old method. This would require Kindle users to buy titles on their own via a web browser. There was no portal within the Kindle app or anything like that. Basically, you’d have to jot down the name of the book and head to the web version of Amazon to look it up and make a purchase.

Kindle app now provides “Get Book” button (Link) https://t.co/ylQqSnjavb— Six Colors (@bleedsixcolors) May 6, 2025

This move is, of course, thanks to a recent court ruling that banned Apple from collecting fees for digital items bought outside of the official App Store. This forced the company to update the App Store to allow for external payment options. As such, companies like Amazon can now experiment with new purchasing methods without forking over 27 percent to Apple.

It’s worth noting that the Kindle "Get Book" button still relies on a web version of Amazon. There’s no current way to buy an e-book on the actual Amazon app. Still, this is a definite step in the right direction.

Amazon isn’t the only company making adjustments based on the recent court ruling. Spotify now lets users subscribe on iOS devices via an external link, thus evading App Store fees. Epic Games is not only bringing Fortnite back to the iOS platform, but also announced its creating standalone webshops to support out-of-app purchases.

Apple isn’t exactly thrilled with this mad dash to avoid those lucrative App Store fees. It recently appealed the aforementioned legal ruling but the grounds for this appeal are unknown. It’s going to be an uphill battle for the iPhone maker, as the judge who issued the ruling called the App Store practices "anticompetitive" and a "gross miscalculation."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/kindles-ios-app-now-has-a-button-to-make-it-easier-to-buy-books-154505235.html?src=rss

Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky just demoed an early Core 2 Duo watch on his new podcastThe watch runs Pebble OS, although it's very obviously a prototype and is currently missing key featuresIt's on track to ship in July, but Migicovsky warned that US customers will be impacted by tariffs

Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky just unveiled his latest smartwatch, the Core 2 Duo, on the first episode of his new podcast.At the moment it's still an in-development prototype, and Migicovsky showcased some of its functionality, as well as providing an update on its development, and sharing some disappointing news for US smartwatch fans regarding pricing.You can see Migicovsky demonstrate the smartwatch prototype, currently being held together with tape at the back, in the video below.Its low-power e-paper screen and use of buttons to move through menus is reminiscent of some of the best Garmin watches, like the solar Garmin Instinct 3 with a similar black-and-white, memory-in-pixel display reminiscent of old Game Boys.The use of such a low-power screen reportedly allows the smartwatch to last much longer than its rivals, up to 30 days, which is impressive compared to even the best Apple Watch models' paltry 36 hours.

Watch the podcast here:

While features such as the real-time clock haven't yet been enabled, Pebble OS seems to work well, as Migicovsky uses the four-button system to navigate the device. He also shows off different community-made watch faces, many of them from Pebble's glory days."I have a watch face on right now which is just ridiculous, it's an octopus holding an ice cream, " he says. "Whenever I look down at my wrist, I just smile, that's something I really enjoy. I love having a device in my life that makes me feel happy."Migicovsky also shows how Pebble OS works on-camera, guiding the viewer through how to access features like the smart alarm.As well as software, he shows off or mentions hardware elements including the silicon strap, which seems very basic, and the charger, which is the same as the old Pebble chargers, except this version is a dongle adapter attached to a keychain, rather than a cable.

Pebble's tariff woes

(Image credit: Core Devices)

In the video, Migicovsky also goes into detail about shipping, stating that despite the watch's part-finished state, his company Core Devices is on track to ship in July.However, there will be a squeeze for US customers, as the devices will be made (like most consumer tech goods) in China, meaning Donald Trump's tariffs will impact the final price. Fortunately, Migicovsky has a plan."For all non-US orders... we're going to ship directly from Asia, so your shipment won't be subject to the US tariffs."The US tariffs on China-made smartwatches are 27.5%. Our plan is for Core Devices to bulk-import all the shipments going to the US so we pay a tariff only on the cost to our factory. This means the additional cost for each shipment will be between $10-$25 more."

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Around 600 threat actors are using Darcula, experts warnThey have managed to steal more than 800,000 credit card details in less than a yearMobile devices are prime targets for phishing nowadays

Darcula, an infamous Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) kit, has helped hundreds of its users steal almost a million credit cards in roughly half a year’s time, cybersecurity researchers have said.Analysts from NRK, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Le Monde, and Norwegian security firm Mnemonic have been drilling deep into Darcula, which in just seven months between 2023 and 2024 served some 600 operators.The hackers were able to generate 13 million clicks on malicious links sent via text messages to targets worldwide - and as a result, were able to steal 884,000 credit cards.

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

Generative AI threats

Apparently, Darcula is focused on mobile platforms - Android and iOS, and uses 20,000 domains and can easily spoof well-known brands.It stands out from other similar platforms by using RCS and iMessage instead of the usual SMS, making its attacks more effective.To make matters worse, Darcula allows its users to auto-generate phishing kits for almost any conceivable brand, convert credit cards to virtual cards, and with the help of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), they can create phishing messages in almost any language and on almost any topic.Darcula’s operators seem to be Chinese in origin, since most communication is done in closed Telegram groups and in Chinese language. The researchers also observed SIM farms and hardware setups which allow the operators to offer mass text messages and credit card processing through terminals.A September 2024 report from security researchers Zimperium argued four in five (82%) of all phishing sites today target mobile devices, since they are generally weaker and more often unmanaged compared to desktop and laptop computers.Defending against phishing, however, hasn't changed much. It still revolves around common sense, being skeptical of all incoming messages, especially those with a sense of urgency, or unexpected attachments.Clicking on links in emails and SMS messages, particularly those hidden behind a placeholder or a URL shortener, is also risky.Via BleepingComputer

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I've been lucky enough to travel a lot in 2025, and on every journey I have had one constant companion: my AR glasses.These aren't the interactive AR specs Snap, Meta, and Google are promising – the likes of Meta Orion. No, these are AR glasses which connect to a compatible phone, laptop or handheld to virtually suspend your screen in space in front of you.They transport you into a personal movie theater of sorts, with a giant virtual screen only you can see, and are perfect whether you’re flying away on vacation or catching a train for your morning commute.Which should you buy? Well, here’s my personal recommendation…

Keeping it Xreal

My current glasses of choice are the Xreal One specs, which I combine with the Xreal Beam Pro, and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

This is what the screen looks like through the Xreal glasses (Image credit: Xreal)

You can read more in my dedicated Xreal One review, but long story short the glasses offer top-notch visuals while the Beam Pro is a handy Android-powered smartphone-like you can connect the glasses to.The Beam Pro is the star of the show, thanks to its ability to access a plethora of popular streaming services that I can download content from ahead of time. Plus, it acts as a handy alternative to my smartphone, but one which I don't mind completely draining the charge from.And when it does run low on juice it has a second USB-C port dedicated to recharging the device even while it's being used for XR experiences.I also love how small these AR glasses are.Even when I'm travelling light, with just a single carry-on, I can always find space for the slim glasses’ carry-case and Beam Pro – even if I have to rely on my trouser and jacket pockets as a last resort.Lastly, these specs feel especially handy for flights, as they allow you to cut yourself off a little more from the aircraft.

The in-flight screen is fine, but can't compete (Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector)

You can still spot flight attendants as they walk past, thanks to the translucent outer lenses, but they make it a little easier to forget you’re flying compared to using the screen on the back of the seat in front of you.Ideal for more nervous fliers.

Different realities

Of course VR headsets offer many of these benefits too.For relaxation and entertainment they’re arguably even better, given the higher-resolution displays offered by many of the best VR headsets. However, the overall package of a VR headset is undeniably more inconvenient, thanks to their bulk and the fact that they’re more power hungry (which can add insult to injury if it not only takes up significant space in your bag, but also runs out of charge before you land).That's why these entertainment-focused 3-degrees-of-freedom (3DoF) AR glasses are such a winner. They offer many of the same benefits and fewer disadvantages.You don't need to pick up a pair of Xreal glasses either, if cost is a concern. The RayNeo Air 3S specs, which also feature on our best smart glasses list, are a superb and affordable option.

The RayNeo Air 3S glasses are a solid alternative (Image credit: Future)

So if you want an in-flight entertainment system that boasts a private home cinema-like experience, gives you more freedom over the shows and films you can relax with, is compact and easy to carry with you, and will help you forget you’re on an aircraft you need a pair of AR specs.I'm never flying again without mine, and you won't want to either.

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Finding the right gift for a new graduate in your life can be tough. Default ideas like a fancy watch or a monogrammed bag can be pricey and, let’s face it, boring. Tech can be a good option, and no, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a solid gadget that they’d like.While expensive stuff like iPhones, smartwatches and game consoles may come to mind immediately, they aren’t the only options out there. And sometimes all it takes is a practical gadget like a power bank to make someone’s life a little easier — that’s especially applicable to new grads who are focusing all of their attention on snagging that new job or applying for further education. Here’s Engadget’s list of the best gifts under $50 for new graduates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-gifts-for-grads-under-50-114506320.html?src=rss

NVIDIA's RTX 5060 finally has a release date. When the company announced the budget 50-series graphics cards last month, it gave the higher-end Ti model a firm April 19 launch but limited the base 5060 model to a vague "May" window. On Tuesday, we learned that the card with a $299 MSRP arrives on May 19.

The RTX 5060 has 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 19 TFLOPS Blackwell shader cores, 5th-gen tensor cores with 614 AI TOPS performance and 4th-gen RT (ray tracing) cores that can reach 58 TFLOPS. It also has 3,840 CUDA Cores.

According to NVIDIA's benchmarks, the RTX 5060 reaches 234 fps in Hogwarts Legacy, 148 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, 220 fps in Avowed and 330 fps in Marvel Rivals. Those numbers are all set for 1080p with maxed-out graphics and 4x frame generation.

NVIDIA

Based on today's prices, those are impressive numbers for a $299 card. But if you can snag one at all, you'll likely be hard-pressed to find one at that price. For that, you can thank Donald Trump. The Verge notes that retailers jacked up graphics card prices even before his tariffs kicked in. In addition, the US president recently killed the de minimis exemption, which spared goods under $800 from extra taxes. (Remember when he said he would make America affordable again?) So, consider yourself one of the lucky few if you find one on launch day for anything close to $299.

The GeForce RTX 5060 will go on sale on May 19 at noon ET from NVIDIA's retail partners. In addition to the standalone desktop card, the laptops with the mobile version of the RTX 5060 will launch at the same time, starting at $1,099.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/nvidias-geforce-rtx-5060-gpu-arrives-on-may-19-160939549.html?src=rss

Trying to figure out the best vacuum for your needs? There are a few different kinds of cleaner on the market, each with their pros and cons.The most common and popular type these days is the stick vacuum. These vacuums are lightweight, nimble and versatile. However, more traditional upright or cylinder vacuums are typically more robust and pack more cleaning power.For small cleaning tasks you can't beat a handheld vacuum, while tech-forward shoppers might find themselves considering a robot vacuum that does all the hard work for them. For deep cleaning hard floors, you can also pick up wet-and-dry vacuums, although they're more limited when it comes to dust-busting on carpet.This article runs though all the main types of vacuums, covering the benefits and drawbacks of each type, so you can pick the right option for your needs.

Stick vacuums

Perhaps the most popular vacuum type right now is the stick vacuum. The motor, dust cup, handle and controls form part of a single unit, onto which a wand and floorhead are attached. Almost all stick vacs are modular, so the floorhead could be swapped for a detail tool, or the wand could be removed and a cleaner head attached directly to the motor unit to turn it into a handheld. Most stick vacuums are cordless.Today's best cordless stick vacuums are versatile, lightweight and easy to maneuver. However, the suction power is typically less than that of a corded upright, and the build quality less robust too (here's more on how long a vacuum cleaner should last).While overall a stick vacuum will be lighter than either an upright or a canister vacuum, the weight is concentrated near the handle, so there's still a fair amount of effort and control required from the user.

(Image credit: Future)

Pros

✅ Lightweight ✅ Easy to maneuver✅ Versatile in use

Cons

❌ Weight focused near handle❌ Perhaps less suction❌ Less robust build

Upright vacuum cleaners

An upright is a more traditional style of vacuum. It tends to be able to stand upright on its own, with a larger floorhead and a large dust cup mounted lower down on the machine. Although rather bulky and heavy, the fact the weight is focused towards the bottom of the vacuum means they're nice and stable.You won't be able to lift an upright vacuum up like you would a stick vac, so most have a flexible tube onto which detail tools can be attached for cleaning areas above the ground, or tackling areas like stairs. Most upright vacuums are corded, and tend to pack more power than stick vacuums.While today's best upright vacuums aren't as flexible or nimble as a stick vacuum, they're robust, efficient and great for deep cleaning.

(Image credit: Future)

Here are the some general pros and cons for upright vacuums – do note that specifics will vary by model.

Pros

✅ Powerful suction✅ Robust build✅ Large dust cup

Cons

❌ Bulky and heavy❌ Less easy to maneuver

Canister vacuum cleaner

Canister vacuums – sometimes called cylinder vacuums – consist of a unit that houses the mechanical components and dust cup, and a flexible hose with a cleaning wand attached to it. The base unit has wheels, and you pull it along the floor behind you as you clean. You have plenty of freedom when cleaning each area because the wand and floorhead are nice and light, but moving to a new area is a little more unwieldy because you'll have to tow the base unit across the floor. You will also need to be careful not to whack the canister part against door frames or walls.Most canister vacuums are corded, and sometimes the cord can be retracted for neat storage inside the canister unit. They also generally have a bag for dust (here's more on bagged vs bagless vacuums, and the pros and cons involved there).

(Image credit: Future)

Here are the some general pros and cons for canister / cylinder vacuums – do note that specifics will vary by model.

Pros

✅ Wand light in the hand✅ Robust in build

Cons

❌ Towing canister is unwieldy❌ Can easily hit walls

Robot vacuum cleaners

Robot vacuums are a more modern type of vacuum, and one that's becoming increasingly popular. They use sensors and cameras to navigate around your home, cleaning as they go, with next-to-no input required from you. Most of today's best robot vacuums can mop as well as vacuuming, too. Depending on the model you go for, the dock might take care of other maintenance tasks for you, from emptying the small onboard dustbin to cleaning its mop pads.On the down-side, robovacs can't clean anything except the floor, so you'll still need a manual vacuum for your stairs, for instance. If your home is over multiple floors, you'll need to either buy extra bots or carry one up and down the stairs as required. The suction can't match that of most manual vacuums either – these are really for light, regular cleaning rather than deep cleans.

(Image credit: Future)

Here's a quick run-down of the general pros and cons of robot vacuums. If you decide you do want a robovac, here's more on how to choose a robot vacuum.

Pros

✅ Hands-off option✅ Can be operated remotely✅ Some also mop

Cons

❌ Can only clean floors❌ Can't climb stairs❌ Less suction

Handheld vacuums

Handheld vacuums are compact, light vacuums for when you need to quickly clean up a small mess, or for awkward cleaning tasks where a full-sized vacuum will be too bulky – for example, the interior of your car. They tend to have short battery life, relatively low suction and a small suction path, and a tiny dust cup. As such, they're not for large cleaning tasks and won't replace your main vacuum cleaner.For our top recommendations in this area, check out our guides to the best handheld vacuum cleaners and the best car vacuums.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Pros

✅ Can get into awkward nooks✅ Easy to store✅ Great for small cleanups

Cons

❌ Short battery life❌ Small dust cup❌ Low suction

Wet and dry vacuums

Wet and dry vacuums are hybrid vacuuming and mopping machines for all kinds of spillages. While some can used in vacuum-only mode, most are designed for deeper cleaning on hard floor (and sometimes also on carpet).This category is quite broad – it includes things like the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, which is just a stick vacuum with an optional mopping head that can be swapped on, but also the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro, which is an all-in-one wet cleaner. Our guide to the best wet and dry vacuums has more recommendations.

(Image credit: Future)

Pros

✅ For wet and dry spills✅ Intensive cleaning

Cons

❌ Limited use on carpet❌ Can be messy and smelly

Meta is facing its biggest existential threat in its history. Years after the Federal Trade Commission first sued the social network in an attempt to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, the trial that will shape its future is finally underway. FTC v. Meta began last month when CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand, and is expected to last for several weeks.

The FTC is hoping to prove to US District judge James Boasberg that Meta’s acquisitions of its one-time rivals were anticompetitive and hurt US consumers. Meta, meanwhile, has argued that Instagram and WhatsApp were only able to grow to the billion-user services they are because of its investment into them over the last decade or more.

While the case is unlikely to be fully settled anytime soon, the trial has successfully uncovered tons of new details about the inner workings of Meta and its approach to potential competitors. And testimony from former execs like Instagram cofounder Kevin Systrom and longtime COO Sheryl Sandberg have shed new light on the company’s past.

Instagram’s former CEO speaks

Facebook’s 2012 acquisition of Instagram is a central part of the FTC’s case against Meta. The government has argued that Mark Zuckerberg bought Instagram in order to neutralize it as a competitor and is trying to force Meta to divest it. So it was more than a little eyebrow raising when Instagram’s cofounder and former CEO Kevin Systrom took the stand and didn’t exactly come to Meta’s defense.

While Zuckerberg had testified that Meta had helped Instagram grow, Systrom testified that Zuckerberg saw Instagram as a “threat” to Facebook’s growth and intentionally withheld company resources as a result. “As the founder of Facebook, he felt a lot of emotion around which one was better, meaning Instagram or Facebook," Systrom said.

Sheryl Sandberg thought Zuckerberg overpaid for Instagram

Facebook’s decision to pay $1 billion for Instagram — an app that had no revenue and just a handful of employees — seemed like an incredible sum to many onlookers at the time. Among them, though, was Zuckerberg’s former top lieutenant. The trial unearthed an exchange between the two from 2012 in which Zuckerberg asked if $1 billion was too much to pay. She replied that “yes, of course it’s way too much.”

On the stand, however, Sandberg said that she had been wrong. “I don’t think anyone today would say we paid too much for Instagram,” she said, in testimony reported by Bloomberg.

Zuckerberg knew the company could face a breakup

In one notable email exchange, Zuckerberg speculated that the company could one day face antitrust action that would force the company to divest Instagram. "I'm beginning to wonder whether spinning Instagram out is the only structure that will accomplish a number of important goals," Zuckerberg mused in a 2018 email. "As calls to break up the big tech companies grow, there is a non-trivial chance that we will be forced to spin out Instagram and perhaps WhatsApp in the next 5-10 years anyway."

Zuckerberg considered nuking friend lists to boost engagement

In 2022, facing rising competition from TikTok, Zuckerberg apparently was growing concerned that Facebook’s “cultural relevance is decreasing quickly.” To address this, he suggested deleting users’ friends lists as often as once a year in an effort to get people to “start again.” Bizarrely, he referred to this plan as “double down on friending,” as Business Insider noted.

Zuckerberg, apparently aware that the plan was somewhat risky, even suggested that Facebook could test out the idea in a “smaller country” first in order to gauge the effect it might have on users. However, Tom Alison, who oversees the Facebook app for Meta, quickly shot him down, according to The Verge, telling Zuckerberg the plan was not “viable.”

When asked about it directly on the stand, Zuckerberg simply stated that “we never did that.” Still, the fact that he even considered such a drastic move is telling. Zuckerberg floated the idea in 2022, at a time when TikTok’s popularity among US teens was surging and Meta was becoming increasingly alarmed at TikTok’s dominance. In the same email, Zuckerberg also questioned Alison about whether Facebook could move to a “follow model.”

Just how threatened they were by TikTok

Zuckerberg has previously talked about how Meta was “slow” to recognize the threat posed by TikTok. But the FTC trial has unearthed new details about Meta’s response to the app’s rise. In her testimony, Sandberg said that Meta was already feeling pressure from TikTok in 2018. By 2020, the company had invested more than $500 million into building its competitor, Reels, according to an internal email noted by The New York Times. That effort saw the company hire more than 1,000 new employees to bolster the company’s video efforts.

Zuckerberg also touched on TikTok, saying that the app quickly became a “highly urgent” threat to Meta. “We observed that our growth slowed down dramatically,” Zuckerberg said, referring to TikTok’s rise. That may sound surprisingly candid for Zuckerberg, but his remarks were also strategic for Meta’s defense. The company has argued that TikTok is an even bigger threat to its business than Instagram or WhatsApp ever was, and has slammed the government for claiming that TikTok isn’t a direct rival.

Europeans aren’t buying Meta’s ad-free subscriptions

As the European Union has adopted stricter tech regulations over the last few years, the new laws have forced tech giants to change their products in sometimes meaningful ways. For Meta, one such change has been the addition of ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram that are only available via subscription in the EU. The company began offering it in 2023 and has slashed the price of it more recently following legal scrutiny.

But even with a price cut, it seems ad-free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram are unpopular. On the stand, Meta’s Chief Revenue Officer John Hegeman testified that there has been “very little interest” in the plan with only “about .007 percent” of users opting in, according to testimony reported by The Verge.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/what-weve-learned-from-ftc-v-meta-antitrust-trial-162048138.html?src=rss