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The harsh reality of modern software development and delivery is that many organizations compromise on software quality to prioritize speed.We’ve witnessed the disastrous consequences of poor quality assurance time after time. Last year’s $5.5bn CrowdStrike outage demonstrated just how crippling the effect that failing to prioritize testing can have. And with the European Union preparing to enforce its updated Product Liability Directive (PLD) in late 2026, there are many new rules and responsibilities that software makers need to be aware of in order to minimize any associated liability risks.The PLD update introduces major changes for software producers that emphasize safety and accountability in the face of complex software systems. Designed to protect consumers in a world increasingly dependent on software, it means that software makers will automatically be responsible if their product has safety issues.They will be on the hook for problems and defects that show up post-release, as well as issues caused by third-party add-ons and even changes made by AI that make the software unsafe. There is no need to prove negligence; the fact that the software caused harm is enough to hold them liable. In this new world, testing will play an even more critical role in identifying safety threats and taking preventative measures.

A broader liability net

Under the new directive, software producers will be held liable for safety defects leading to personal injury, property damage, or material loss, regardless of negligence or intent. This applies whether the software is embedded in hardware, provided as a cloud service, or installed on a device. Injured parties will have to demonstrate harm and a causal link to a defect but are not required to prove misconduct by the producer.Liability isn’t just limited to software production, either. Post-release updates introduce an added layer of accountability, with defects emerging from authorized software updates, evolving AI behavior, or the failure to provide necessary security patches all representing areas of responsibility. An everyday example could be a GPS navigation app providing incorrect and potentially unsafe directions due to a faulty update. This type of error highlights how seemingly minor software updates, if left unchecked, can pose safety risks, reinforcing the need for rigorous testing and quality control in software development and maintenance.Software providers are also responsible if third-party components have safety issues, so due diligence must be given to the integration of external elements. For example, if third-party software integrated by a medical device manufacturer for a heart rate monitor has a bug that causes inaccurate readings, patients could be misdiagnosed or not receive critical medical attention. Even though the defect originated in an external component, the heart rate monitor manufacturer could still be held accountable under the updated PLD. Thorough supplier oversight and integration testing are, therefore, key.One further key inclusion to the update is liability for digital manufacturing files - software that provides instructions for automated production. If a faulty design file causes the production of unsafe physical products, the software provider could face legal consequences. These provisions emphasize the need for meticulous oversight in software deployment, updates, and integrations.

Steps to help minimize liability risks

With compliance taking full effect in December 2026, organizations have a critical window to align their processes and products with the new PLD requirements to minimize potential liability exposure. Software producers must prioritize safety at every stage of development and maintenance, acknowledging that an effective product is not necessarily a safe product.They must go beyond functional testing to evaluate safety risks comprehensively. While testing for every foreseeable use and misuse scenario may not be feasible, they can continuously reassess and reprioritize risks based on current knowledge and emerging threats as their products evolve.Implementing continuous safety-focused risk assessments and testing throughout the product lifecycle will be crucial in detecting and addressing potential hazards before they escalate. Designing software to perform safely even when users act negligently is essential, and incorporating diverse perspectives in development teams can help identify overlooked risks.Conducting safety-related regression testing and benchmarking will help detect the introduction of unsafe behavior over time, while interactive, problem-seeking exploratory testing will be essential in uncovering previously unknown safety issues. Frequent safety assessments are also necessary to ensure that evolving software remains within safety parameters, particularly as AI-driven adaptations and post-release updates introduce new variables.AI tools and machine learning systems must be continuously tested and monitored to detect and prevent unsafe behaviors evolving from learning processes. Safeguards and benchmarks should be in place to detect and correct these risks before they pose harm, with rapid response protocols developed to restore systems if safety is compromised.Managing third-party components is another key consideration. Thorough integration testing and robust oversight of external software elements can reduce liability exposure. Establishing clear contractual agreements with third-party providers will help define safety responsibilities.Ensuring effective updates and cybersecurity measures is also critical. Regular patches should enhance safety without introducing new vulnerabilities, and cybersecurity strategies must proactively counter emerging threats. Users should also be educated on the importance of updates to maintain security and compliance.Last but not least, companies need to be prepared for regulatory scrutiny. Comprehensive documentation of safety measures and testing will be required to demonstrate compliance while balancing transparency with intellectual property protection.

Planning ahead

The EU’s updated Product Liability Directive signals a new era of accountability for software producers. The heightened focus on consumer protection demands proactive safety measures, thorough risk assessment, and continuous monitoring.Software producers can mitigate liability risks and build trust in an increasingly software-driven world by prioritizing safety, reinforcing cybersecurity, and adopting rigorous testing methodologies. The evolving regulatory landscape underscores that software safety and accountability are no longer optional but an obligation that must be integrated into every stage of software development and deployment.

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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

CTOs are facing a paradox of unprecedented technological opportunity and macroeconomic volatility. And those in retail and commerce are feeling it the most.Consumers expect personalized experiences, seamless buying journeys and interactions across all channels—both online and in-store. Meanwhile, the geopolitical crises and ongoing price increases are making it harder for CTOs to successfully marry budget management with innovation.In short, it means the ‘traditional’ way of working for CTOs in commerce doesn’t work anymore. Just keeping the lights on is not good enough.The emerging breed of CTOs are thinking differently. They are no longer just engineers and tech experts. They’re strategic decision-makers, team shapers and transformation catalysts.And while every business is different, the most innovative ones have one thing in common: they are disruptive.

The innovation mindset

There’s no single way to be innovative—but there are powerful frameworks that can shape how to approach problems and opportunities. Here are five that we see consistently driving impact for commerce CTOs.

1. First Principles Thinking

Instead of starting with existing processes or looking at what competitors are doing, first principles thinking means going back to the fundamentals. It’s about stripping problems down to their core truths—then rebuilding with clarity.This approach pushes teams to avoid following hype or assuming the status quo is the best path forward. Instead of asking, “How do we make this work with our current tech?”, the better question becomes: “If we were building this from scratch, what’s the best way to solve it?”It’s a mindset that leads to more focused investments, smarter tech choices and long-term, high-impact solutions.

2. The Dialectical Method

Too often, tech decisions are framed as binary choices. Build or buy? Monolith or microservices? Headless or full-stack? The dialectal method takes a different approach, embracing nuance to create the best of both.Innovation-first CTOs move past those either/or debates. They look at both sides of the equation and ask: how can we take the best of each and build something better?This kind of thinking leads to more flexible, extensible architectures—ones that blend speed and control, scale and simplicity. It’s not about finding a perfect model. It’s about finding the right model for the business, and building with the confidence that it can evolve over time.

3. Creative Destruction

Austrian political economist Joseph Schumpeter formulated the concept of creative destruction to describe how innovation fuels economic growth and development. He saw the key drivers of this process as entrepreneurs—those who were willing to disrupt the status quo and forward radical ideas.In the realm of commerce, that can be the CTO.This means actively rethinking legacy systems, experimenting with new experiences, and challenging internal norms. Whether it’s using AI tools to rethink customer support, shifting from monolithic systems to modular platforms, or redesigning checkout flows to match real-world behavior—the best ideas often come when questioning what has been accepted as standard.Creative destruction doesn’t mean breaking things for the sake of it. It means asking: “What’s no longer serving us?” and having the confidence to change it before being forced to by internal and external forces.

4. Greedy Algorithms

Not every decision needs a five-year roadmap. Sometimes, the smartest move is the next right one.Greedy algorithm thinking is about identifying the highest-impact next step—quickly—and acting on it. It’s how high-performing tech teams avoid getting stuck in endless planning cycles. They move, test, learn and iterate.This approach is especially powerful in transformation programs, where complexity can become a blocker. Instead of aiming for a perfect rollout, teams focus on momentum—launching one product, replatforming one category, optimizing one part of the customer journey. Small wins compound fast.

5. Metcalfe’s Law

Originally formulated by Robert Metcalfe, the co-inventor of Ethernet, Metcalfe’s law says the value of a network increases exponentially as it grows. In commerce, that translates to this: the right ecosystem makes everything better.Innovation-first CTOs prioritize open platforms, extensible architectures, and communities that allow teams to plug in new capabilities as they need them. Rather than building every tool from scratch or assembling dozens of disconnected point solutions, they invest in systems designed to scale value with every new integration.The smartest platforms don’t just offer tools—they provide leverage.

Building Innovation into the Culture

Adopting these ways of thinking isn’t just for those in leadership positions, it requires root and branch cultural change. It means creating environments where experimentation is normal, where assumptions are challenged, and where teams are encouraged to think beyond “what’s worked before.”For many organizations, that’s a big shift. But it’s one worth making. It does mean adjusting project and business performance measures though.Instead of chasing exhaustive requirements lists or polished perfection, more teams need to work with defined minimum viable products, testing fast, and letting real data shape next steps. It means aligning around impact, not just output.

A Different Kind of CTO for a Different Kind of Future

The commerce leaders winning right now do not just deliver digital experiences. They design the operating models, teams and platforms that will define the next decade of growth and more.That takes courage. It takes clarity. And most of all, it takes a mindset built for change.Whether navigating a replatforming effort, exploring AI, or simply trying to move faster—you need to start with the right mindset to unlock better outcomes.This is a moment of massive opportunity. The future belongs to the CTOs willing to shape it.

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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

Owning a Playdate comes with the perk of already having access to 24 games at no additional cost from the bundled-in Season One — and some pretty good ones to boot. But there are a ton of great games outside the Season One offerings too, for when you’ve finished the whole batch or, for newer players, while you’re waiting for new games between the weekly drops. Here, I’ll highlight some of the best games I’ve played so far from the Playdate Catalog. It’ll mainly be split two ways: games that use the crank and games that don’t. There are also a couple of titles that aren’t quite games, but are worth checking out all the same.

Games that use the crank

Games that don’t use the crank

Comics, visual novels and more

Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.html?src=rss

iOS 19 could make it easier to connect multiple devices to public Wi-FiAhead of that, we're expecting iOS 18.5 to land in the next few daysiOS 18.5 is a smaller update, but with some new features and tweaks

iOS 19 is likely to be a major update for Apple’s smartphone operating system. We’ve already heard for example that it could include an overhauled interface and support for new AI integrations such as Google Gemini, but now we’re hearing about a smaller but potentially very useful feature that could also be added.According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman, writing in his Bloomberg newsletter (via 9to5Mac), iOS 19 will take some of the pain out of joining public Wi-Fi networks.If you’ve ever connected to public Wi-Fi, you’ll know this often involves filling out a web form, which is a minor inconvenience. But if you want to connect multiple devices, then you have to fill out that form on all of them, adding to the level of inconvenience. With iOS 19 though, you might only have to fill it out once.According to Gurman, once you fill out the form on one device, that registration will sync to all your other Apple devices, making it a bit faster to get them online.Of course, as with any unannounced feature we’d take this with a pinch of salt, but Gurman has a superb track record for Apple information. We may find out for sure whether this feature is set for inclusion in June, as that’s when iOS 19 will probably be announced – though the finished version of iOS 19 probably won’t roll out until September.

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

iOS 19 isn't the next update

You don’t have to wait that long for new software though, as iOS 18.5 is expected to launch imminently.There’s no confirmed date yet, but the iOS 18.5 RC (Release Candidate) was rolled out to beta users on May 6, which based on past form means we could well see the finished version in the next day or two.This isn’t going to be a massive overhaul of iOS, but it does contain a few new features, including a new Screen Time feature, which alerts parents if the Screen Time passcode has been successfully entered on a child’s device. Since Screen Time contains various parental controls, this alert ensure parents will know if the restrictions have somehow been bypassed.iOS 18.5 also includes tweaks to the Mail app and the Settings screen, among other things, and of course it’s sure to contain various bug fixes. So it’s definitely worth downloading when it lands.

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The Samsung Galaxy Buds Core have leaked againIt looks as though a battery life upgrade is incomingWe might see the earbuds appear in the coming months

Our best wireless earbuds list never stays unchanged for long, and the next pair of earbuds to make a claim for inclusion could well come from Samsung – with a new leak suggesting a key battery life upgrade will be included along the way.This comes from a regulatory filing spotted by 91mobiles, supposedly for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Core. The indications are that the Galaxy Buds Core is the new name for the next-gen earbuds previously known as the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.The Galaxy Buds FE have a battery capacity of 60mAh for each earbud and 479mAh for the case, whereas this new filing suggests their successors are going to have a capacity of 100mAh for each earbud, and 500mAh for the case.Add in some chipset efficiency improvements, and we should see a substantial boost in battery life. The Galaxy Buds FE launched in October 2023, and last around six hours between charges with active noise cancellation turned on.

Coming soon

The Galaxy Buds FE charging case (Image credit: Future)

This isn't the first time these earbuds have been sighted: earlier regulatory filings that emerged last month also pointed towards the Galaxy Buds Core name, and the same battery boost suggested in the most recent link.There have also been rumors that these earbuds could come with direct Wi-Fi support, matching buds like the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi – though that feature would most probably bump up the price of these low-cost earbuds.The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE came with a launch price of $99 / £99 / AU$149, and we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy Buds Core to cost around the same, although the upgrades we've mentioned could bump that price up.As for a launch date, it shouldn't be too long before these earbuds are officially unveiled. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 are due to show up sometime in July, and the Galaxy Buds Core may well appear at the same event.

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Enhanced Meeting Protection will block you from taking unwarranted screenshotsIt'll turn the screen black if you dare to attempt to take a capture of the screenMost platforms are supported, but some may have to join audio-only

Microsoft has alluded to an upcoming feature for Teams designed to prevent users from taking unwarranted screenshots during calls in a bid to protect sensitive company information.A new addition to Redmond's roadmap adds Enhanced Meeting Protection to Teams, which Microsoft says will prevent screen capture. Added last week, it's on track to roll out from July 2025.The feature will become available across desktop client versions on Windows and Mac, as well as iOS and Android apps, making it virtually impossible for users to take snippets of potentially sensitive information.

Microsoft Teams will let you block screenshots soon

"To address the issue of unauthorized screen captures during meetings, the Prevent Screen Capture feature ensures that if a user attempts to take a screen capture, the meeting window will turn black, thereby protecting sensitive information," Microsoft explained.Although most common platforms are supported, users joining a Teams call with Enhanced Meeting Protection enabled will be restricted to audio-only to prevent content exposure.Because the roadmap entry only shares basic details about the upcoming feature, it's unclear whether it will be enabled by default or toggled on via admin controls.In the hope that enhanced protections will give companies access to more secure video conferencing, the company will also be rolling out its new Migration Tool for Teams in July."Customers will now be able to move content seamlessly from public and private channels in a third-party solution to Teams standard channels," the roadmap entry reads.Enhanced Meeting Protection is currently in the 'in development' stage – the first of three, preceding 'launched' and 'rolling out'. Microsoft doesn't share details about how far along the development journey it is, and whether it's on track for the intended July release.However, while the feature might be welcomed by many, it still leaves a considerable gap and, in many cases, does nothing to protect sensitive data on screens at all – there's no system in place to prevent users from taking photos of their screens with their smartphones, and such a tool would be almost impossible to implement.

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A new listing on a Swiss retailer shows Acer's Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB GPU at $566 based on currency conversionsAMD is expected to unveil the Radeon RX 9060 series at Computex alongside partner cardsThe price may be a placeholder, but GPU price inflation may see the price become a reality

The current GPU market is filled with inflated prices for both Nvidia and AMD cards, which may spell bad news for the potential success of upcoming 8GB GPUs — and it looks like that might soon be the case for Team Red.As reported by Wccftech, the Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB GPU has been listed on a Swiss retailer at $566 (around £430 / AU$880), converted from Swiss Franc. This comes alongside the 16GB model listed at $620, and both GPUs are expected to be unveiled at Computex 2025, which starts on May 20.It's important to highlight the strong possibility that these prices are placeholders; this previously happened with the launch of the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which revealed a $699 launch price via Micro Center. Fortunately, that was indeed a placeholder, as it launched at $599, but that didn't last very long due to retailers raising prices significantly.However, if the $566 price for the 8GB model is legitimate (or at least close to this figure), AMD and its partners could be in for an uphill struggle to convince consumers that this is a GPU that’s worth buying in 2025. These days, 8GB GPUs are simply not powerful enough to tackle demanding triple-A games, and PC gamers have voiced those frustrations with Nvidia's recent RTX 5060 Ti 8GB variant.It's worth noting that Wccftech highlights that these prices are most likely placeholders, since they also include listings for RX 9070 XT GPUs above the retail price. Regardless, the current state of the GPU market will likely push prices up to absurd levels, and Best Buy’s GPU listings are a prime example of this.

(Image credit: Acer)

If the retail price for the 8GB GPU is anywhere close to $500, it will be dead on arrival

I don't need to stress how underpowered 8GB GPUs are in 2025, as the negative consensus surrounding Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti makes that clear. These GPUs don't pack enough VRAM to handle the heavy load that comes from games today, and I don't think anyone will be willing to overpay for a GPU that underperforms.I'm confident that the $566 purported price (based on price conversions) is a placeholder, but that doesn't make me feel much more confident - that's because the trend of partner cards and their prices indicates that it may possibly cost much more after launch.This happened with the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which you’ll now struggle to find at its $599 retail price. While nobody should be paying over $599 for a GPU that's supposed to be mid-range, the RX 9070 XT is at least a worthwhile GPU. Potentially, the same may not be said about the RX 9060 XT 8GB GPU, but I’m hoping it performs well.This should be a warning for AMD and its partners; do not price any upcoming 8GB GPUs anywhere close to these prices, because I can almost guarantee that they will be dead on arrival...

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It's official: Peacemaker season 2 will be streaming on Max from Thursday, August 21 at 9.00pm ET/PT. John Cena will be back as the titular hero, and many villains' butts will be kicked.The official synopsis says: "The new season follows Christopher 'Chris' Smith, aka Peacemaker, the vigilante Super Hero as he struggles to reconcile his past with his newfound sense of purpose while continuing to kick righteous evil-doer butt in his misguided quest for peace at any cost."Season 1 stars John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee and Robert Patrick are all back, and this time around they're joined by a new cast that includes by Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows.As you'll see from the trailer below, the second season looks set to deliver one of the best Max show's trademark mix of whip-cracking action and whip-smart wisecracking. Here's what you need to know.

1. It's solved the DC Universe problem

One of the problems facing Season 2 is that it's in a different universe to season 1: James Gunn set Peacemaker season 1 in the DC Extended Universe, which is now gone, so season 2 takes place in the DCU. That raises lots of questions, which we've explained in our in-depth hub (linked above).It looks like at least part of the answer is at the end of the trailer, which shows not only Peacemaker but also... Peacemaker. If they aren't the DCU Peacemaker and the DCEU Peacemaker then we'll be amazed.

2. The Justice League are much more fun

In the trailer we see Peacemaker auditioning very uncomfortably for Maxwell Lord's Justice League, while Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl look on. Presumably this was filmed during production of Superman, which means we shouldn't expect them to play a huge part in season 2.But it's interesting because this Justice League is much more fun than the DCEU one, especially in its portrayal of Hawkgirl.

Rick Flagg is the bad guy

It looks like Flagg Sr. is going to be a key character in season 2 after his starring role in the Creature Commandos animated series, and he's got very good reasons to go after Peacemaker: in The Suicide Squad (spoiler alert!), Peacemaker killed his son. That makes him more nuanced than the usual superhero show villain: he's not a monster; he's a grieving parent.Going by this new trailer there's lots to be excited about, so August can't come soon enough. Season 2 of Peacemaker will be streaming on Max from August 21 and will see Rick Flag Sr "on a mission" for justice.

The first season of Peacemaker is streaming on Max in the US and Now in the UK.

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The Bluetooth 6.1 update has just been announcedIt should improve device privacy and battery lifeIt might come to iPhones and Android devices as soon as this year

Your next phone could come with a new Bluetooth feature that could make it harder to track you and boost your battery life at the same time, in a double win for any of the best phones that incorporate it. And while we don’t know its exact release date, there’s a chance we could even see it this year.The feature in question from the new Bluetooth 6.1 protocol is called Randomized RPA Updates, and it’s just been announced as part of the Bluetooth upgrade. In this instance, RPA stands for resolvable private address, and it’s this part that will have an impact on your privacy.That’s because under Bluetooth 6.0, devices will change their identifier addresses on a set timer, and this predictable process makes them easier to track. With Bluetooth 6.1’s Randomized RPA Updates feature, those address changes will happen randomly, with an interval of between eight and 15 minutes (although this can be customized anywhere from every second to every hour). That eliminates the update pattern, making your device far harder to track and exploit.This change also affects battery life, as the process can be handled by your phone’s Bluetooth chip rather than its CPU. Lower load on your device’s processor should translate to better efficiency, which in turn means slower battery drain.

When will we see these changes?

(Image credit: Brett Jordan / Pexels)

Bluetooth 6.1 has only just been revealed as part of the protocol's new bi-annual release schedule, but there’s a chance we might see it in new devices as soon as this year.Apple, for example, has a decent record for adopting new technologies in its products, so there’s a possibility we could see Bluetooth 6.0 – or perhaps even Bluetooth 6.1 – in its iPhone 17 range.Still, 2026 feels like a more likely date for Bluetooth 6.1 to debut in phones, both of the Apple and Android variety. Usually with new Bluetooth tech, it’s better not to expect it too soon.When it does arrive, though, it should bring benefits to both your privacy and your phone’s battery life – and that’s a double bonus for us to look forward to.

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Nintendo has updated its user agreement in both the US and the UKIn the US, it now states Nintendo could brick your console due to unauthorised useIn the UK, your digital software could be disabled

Nintendo has updated its user agreement, toughening its stance on those who pirate games, attempt to emulate titles, or otherwise modify their consoles.The changes were announced in an email distributed to users in the US and applies to all existing and new Nintendo accounts. Game File reports that the agreement received a little over 100 edits.Some of the most interesting edits include a massive expansion of a portion that used to state that players "are not allowed to lease, rent, sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble all or any portion of the Nintendo Account Services without Nintendo's written consent, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law."Now, it says that: "Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; (c) obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services; or (d) exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorization, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law."Nintendo is effectively now spelling exactly what you're not allowed to do. Being forbidden to "bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper" with parts of the system completely rules out activities like installing your own homebrew apps. The fact that you are not able to "obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services" also more strongly emphasizes that any kind of software piracy is not allowed.As for what could happen if you break these rules, the agreement now states that: "You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."This outlines Nintendo's ability to brick your device (render it "permanently unusable in whole") if you don't adhere to the agreement. The company could also potentially disable certain functions (render it unusable "in part") which might, for example, mean preventing cheaters from being able to access online services in games.The agreement has also been updated in the UK, though the new wording is less drastic. Players in the region now accept that: "Any Digital Products registered to your Nintendo Account and any updates of such Digital Products are licensed only for personal and non-commercial use on a User Device.""Digital Products must not be used for any other purpose. In particular, without NOE's written consent, you must neither lease nor rent Digital Products nor sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any portion of Digital Products other than as expressly permitted by applicable law," it continues. "Such unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable."These agreements currently apply to the Nintendo Switch, but, unless changed ahead of launch, would also presumably govern your use of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. With this in mind, it would be wise to read the new terms carefully and ensure that you don't end up

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Suits LA, the West Coast-set spin-off from the hugely successful show Suits, won't be getting a second season. That makes it the second Suits spin-off to be canceled given that Pearson was canceled last year.The original Suits was a huge success and introduced us to Meghan Markle, becoming the must-watched show of 2023 when it moved from broadcast TV to Netflix. It was the number one streaming show for 12 consecutive weeks. But Netflix chose not to buy this spin-off, so it wasn't exposed to the same huge potential audience as the original show.

Why Suits' spin-offs don't last

While The Hollywood Reporter shared the news of Suits LA's cancellation, it didn't go into the reasons why. But like its fellow spin-off Pearson, the reason is almost certainly poor viewing figures.As TVLine reported last year, Pearson only averaged 513,000 viewers – half the viewership of Suits Season 9, and lower than all but one USA Network drama at the time (the exception was the final season of Mr Robot, which had 360,000 viewers on average). While 1.07 million people watched the pilot, the finale was watched by 490,000 people – just over half the audience for the Suits finale.Pearson struggled to find viewers even though it got decent reviews. I suspect Suits LA struggled even more, because its reviews have often been terrible.The show is currently sitting with just 39% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and just 54% from the audience. As the AV Club put it: "There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Suits LA is a disaster. In every conceivable way, this offshoot fails to capture the original’s breezy allure."

The first and only season of Suits LA is currently streaming on Peacock in the US. While it's not currently streaming in the UK, those in Australia can catch it on 7plus.

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Windows 11 is getting more Copilot functionalityAn ‘Ask Copilot’ option is arriving for the right-click menu on the desktopCopilot is also being deployed in the Microsoft Store to provide buying advice (in testing)

If you’re expecting to see more AI in Windows 11, well, you’d be bang on the money there, as it seems Copilot is creeping into another couple of places in Microsoft’s desktop OS.Neowin noticed that the latest version of the Copilot app (1.25044.93.0) has planted a new choice to invoke Copilot when working with certain files on your Windows 11 desktop.So, if you right-click on a compatible file, it’ll offer an ‘Ask Copilot’ option in the context menu (which contains common actions you might like to pursue with any given file).If you select that Copilot choice, it’ll fire up the app for the AI assistant with relevant options available (for example, if it’s a document, you’ll get the ability to summarize it there and then).You may have seen that Microsoft recently revealed it’s set to introduce AI actions to File Explorer (the app which displays the contents of the folders on your PC). So, this move appears to be happening now.Elsewhere, Microsoft is also planning to bring Copilot into the Microsoft Store to advise those browsing through its various wares.The move – which is still in testing, according to Windows Latest – consists of adding a Copilot button to product pages in the store.Clicking on that button pops up a small dialog box allowing you to ‘Ask Copilot about this product’ with suggested questions you might want to use, and a ‘compare’ button that allows you to see how the app (or game) stacks up to a rival piece of software.However, the catch is that this integration in the Microsoft Store is hardly seamless, as all the store does is just throw your query to the Copilot app.

Analysis: Clever or clutter?

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

With the latter change, the idea is to help spur sales in the Microsoft Store with Copilot, although the integration being so basic isn’t going to help there.It doesn’t feel very advanced to ask for a comparison of two apps, and to then be simply presented with a query of the differences between them in the Copilot app. Yes, it’s still a convenience, but it feels clunkier than the way it works now – but perhaps Microsoft is thinking of improving it down the line. Remember, this is still in testing for now.Furthermore, not that many folks ever tread the virtual aisles of the Microsoft Store anyway, and the bigger move here is the wider deployment of Copilot as a right-click, context-sensitive option in Windows 11.With that concept – which wasn’t unexpected, given Microsoft previously announced that this is the course it’s taking – the problem is it’s going to be a love or hate thing.Those people who use Copilot will appreciate the convenience of added ways in which to easily access the AI direct from files on the desktop. However, those who don’t care about Copilot aren’t going to want an extra line of space taken up in their right-click menu, and will just regard this as additional clutter.That said, those haters have choices. Neowin points out that you can perform a Registry edit to remove this new functionality from the right-click menu, but I really wouldn’t recommend that. Not unless you’re tech-savvy, and you want to keep the Copilot app, but not this extra option. (And even then, I should warn that messing with the Registry could cause trouble with your system if not immediately, then potentially down the line).Rather, if you’re getting fed up with the various tendrils of Copilot extending too far into the interface of Windows 11, just uninstall the Copilot app completely. That’ll remove the AI from your context-sensitive menus (and taskbar, and everywhere else). Just find the app in the Start menu, right click it and choose the uninstall option to banish Copilot. Of course, you won’t be able to use the app at all then, so that’s not a good road to travel for those who might want to occasionally fire up the AI.Not everything is bad about AI in Windows 11 by any means, and I should note that there’s a smart ability inbound, namely additional powers to be able to find and change settings in the OS (something that was promised from the outset by Microsoft, but never delivered until now). I say delivered now, but this hasn’t gone into testing just yet, and it’s only for Copilot+ PCs sadly (as is the case for another really useful AI-related tweak, better Windows search).So, that’s another rather unfortunate theme for some folks, as well as AI spreading across more of Windows 11 – all of the best functionality is reserved for Copilot+ PCs. This is because some features require the NPU they have on-board for processing AI workloads on the actual device, rather than via the cloud.

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AllTrails has debuted a new premium subscription tier, PeakPeak comes with a raft of AI tools including Community Heatmaps, Trail Conditions and Outdoor lensIt costs $79.99 / £79.99 (around AU$125) per year

Another day, another premium AI-powered subscription tier added to one of the best fitness apps. Following hot on the heels of Garmin, Strava, Polar, and Whoop, AllTrails has announced its latest subscription tier, Peak, which comes with a bunch of cool-looking AI tools.AllTrails Peak, the new, most expensive membership tier at $79.99 / £79.99 (around AU$125 for Australian readers), includes everything from AllTrails Plus and the app's free tier Base, and adds a series of AI tools:

Community Heatmap offers insights into AllTrails users' activity, allowing you to filter routes by recent popularity. It shares some similarities with Strava's recent Night Heatmap feature, but it's for hiking routes to identify which routes other hikers are using.Trail Conditions is likened to "an app all of its own" by Chief Product Officer Ivan Selin, aggregating 15 different weather factors every hour across the entirety of the trail. Selin says the feature will tell you "not just to expect snow, but how deep and where the snowpack will be," as well as other factors such as ground conditions and even mosquito activity.Custom Routes is a machine learning-assisted program designed to allow AllTrails users to create their own trails from scratch.Outdoor Lens uses your phone's camera, AllTrails' bank of photographs, and AI to identify landmarks, plants, mushrooms, and even insects. Outdoor Lens is not available at Peak's launch, and will be coming "a little later this summer".

AllTrails Peak's AI-powered features seem very comprehensive. However, the price hike (no pun intended) is significant, as AllTrails Plus costs just $35.99 / £35.99 per year (around AU$56). In our AllTrails review, we said the premium tier was worth it only for regular hikers, so the increase is likely to only be truly worthwhile for power users.Base subscribers get access to a new Points of Interest feature to help users explore along the trail, and Plus subscribers also get Offline Areas, a feature allowing users to download a map of a large area and access all the trails within that map.

Analysis: A costly, powerful set of tools

(Image credit: AlLTrails)

Once heralded as Apple's iPhone app of the year, AllTrails' most premium tier is expensive enough that only very frequent recreational hikers and those who spend a lot of time outdoors will be tempted. A $45 / £45 price hike is not a small increase, especially when you're paying annually in a single lump sum.However, dividing that price over 12 months leaves you with $6.66 / £6.66 a month, which isn't a dissimilar price point to Garmin Connect+ ($6.99 / £6.99) or Strava Premium ($11.99 / £8.99). For that price, you're getting (what seems to be) a very comprehensive set of AI-powered tools, ones that go far beyond those services' paragraphs of advice created by generative AI. Garmin, in particular, has been lambasted for the apparent design laziness in the AI features on its paid tier.As an AllTrails user, I'm particularly excited to try the Trail Conditions and Outdoor Lens features, although I'd be unlikely to spring for the full subscription. As someone who's excited by (and largely clueless about) different plants and trees, it would be nice to have a tool I can use on the trail that will help me identify certain species.Besides, as someone who lives in the UK, where the threat of rain is never far away, the Trail Conditions would allow me to time my hikes to ensure a minimal chance of downpours. Plus, it would improve my chances of packing the right shoes!

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It’s been almost a year since Microsoft and Qualcomm changed the game in the laptop market with the launch of the Snapdragon X Elite chip at Computex 2024, taking the leap into a bright new world of ‘AI PCs’, followed swiftly by rivals Intel and AMD with their own shiny new laptop processors equipped with dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs). And in that year… well, nothing’s really changed, has it?Intel recently confirmed this, reporting in an earnings call that demand for laptops with new AI-capable chips has been low, with the company in fact now facing a shortage of older chips due to unexpectedly high demand for laptops with 12th- to 14th-gen Intel Core i-series processors.There are a lot of factors here, of course. Older laptops are cheaper, and in a time of such economic uncertainty (thanks for that, Trump tariffs) it’s no wonder that people would opt for a more affordable device, especially if they just need something functional for work or school. You certainly won’t find any laptops sporting Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen AI Max chips in our best cheap laptops list.There’s also the branding issue, which is a problem specific to Intel - and, quite frankly, a problem of Intel’s own making. It was revealed way back in 2023 that Team Blue would be dropping its iconic ‘i’ branding in favor of the new ‘Core Ultra’ processor nomenclature, a marketing move so wildly idiotic that it still baffles me to this day. Companies dream of building a brand as rock-solid as ‘Intel Core i7’, and you ruined it! In the words of Charlton Heston at the end of Planet of the Apes: You maniacs! You blew it up!

Some have claimed that Intel's new CEO Lip-Bu Tan has been made captain of a sinking ship, but he's powering ahead regardless. (Image credit: Intel)

The AI Mystery

Ahem. Anyway. There are a few other issues surrounding the slow adoption of Intel’s AI PCs (and, one would assume, similar NPU-boosted laptops powered by chips from AMD and Qualcomm), but there’s one particular area I’d like to focus on. It’s a simple problem, but one with no clear solution: what exactly do these fancy new AI PCs do?For the uninitiated, the main draw behind the AI PC ‘revolution’ is the presence of an integrated NPU: a dedicated processing unit for handling AI workloads. These NPUs were supposed to be the game-changer that catapulted on-device artificial intelligence - chiefly Microsoft’s AI helper for Windows, Copilot - but it’s clear to see that consumer interest in such things is still low.Now, I’ve sat through more keynotes and briefings about the merits of Copilot and on-device AI than I can count (seriously, they’re all the bloody same), so I get the benefits. Running AI workloads - especially ones you might be giving personal information to - on your own device brings with it the advantages of better security, faster performance, and offline functionality. These are all good things.But there’s no killer app; Copilot still isn’t very popular (hell, Microsoft is still struggling to get people to upgrade to Windows 11) and other common on-device AI programs - like photo and video editing software and tools for producing your own AI models, like LM Studio - are better suited to a system with a dedicated Nvidia GPU. Serious AI users are aware of this, too; Nvidia’s recent focus on AI hardware for both consumer and business use is clear evidence of this.

Plus Ultra!

It’s a bit frustrating, because these are good laptops. The new Dell XPS 13 with Intel Core Ultra is quite simply one of the best laptops I’ve reviewed in years - but not because of the AI features. Yes, Copilot works. It’s fine. The XPS 13’s real selling points are the premium design, fast overall performance, and phenomenal battery life. The ‘Copilot+ PC’ nonsense is an added bonus most people will ignore, nothing more.

No, you don't actually need an 'AI PC' to use AI companion services like the somewhat infamous Replika. (Image credit: Replika, Luka)

In fact, the most popular AI tools don’t benefit from having an NPU in your computer at all; stuff like ChatGPT and Google Gemini run entirely in the cloud, with zero need for local processing. I imagine there are some poor souls out there who rushed to buy an ‘AI PC’ only to find that their Character.ai ‘girlfriend’ doesn’t reply to their attempts at flirting any faster.Sure, part of this whole debacle simply comes down to marketing: consumers just aren’t really clear on the benefits of having an NPU, or what Copilot is good for, or whether Copilot is meant for personal or corporate users, or… the list goes on. Marrying some of Copilot’s functionality to the ever-despised Bing was another bum note from Microsoft.With all of this in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that shoppers are feeling more keen on slightly older Intel laptops without any special AI powers. Intel’s earnings call discussion seemed to suggest that Team Blue might be reconsidering its efforts to remain on the cutting edge of processor tech, and given the extremely rough time Intel has been having lately, perhaps a new approach - one that champions simpler, more affordable tech - is the way to go?

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Researchers spotted a new phishing campaign, abusing Dynamics 365 Customer VoiceMicrosoft's tool has more than 500,000 usersMany of the users are Fortune 500 companies

Researchers from Check Point have discovered a new phishing campaign, abusing a legitimate Microsoft product in an attempt to steal people’s login credentials.In a new blog post, published earlier this May, the researchers said that the unnamed attackers would send phishing emails from previously compromised accounts, and would include fake Dynamics 365 Customer Voice links.Dynamics 365 Customer Voice is a tool designed to help businesses collect, analyze, and act on customer feedback in real time. It includes things like voice recordings, customer reviews monitoring, surveys, and similar. According to Check Point, the threat landscape is vast and quite potent, since it is used by at least 500,000 Organizations, including 97% of Fortune 500 companies.

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Thousands of targets

The topics of the emails are financially focused, the researchers added. Subject lines usually revolve around settlement statements, ALTA, EFT payment info, or closing disclosures. In one example, the researchers would add a link leading to the malicious landing page, right next to a legitimate link. The malicious link first takes the victims to a CAPTCHA page, after which they are redirected to a credential harvesting page.Check Point also said that the attackers are able to capture MFA codes as well, although they didn’t explain exactly how it is being done.So far, the attackers managed to send more than 3,000 emails, targeting at least a million different inboxes. These belong to more than 350 organizations, the researcher said, hinting that this has already turned into a large, dangerous campaign.Victims are mostly “well-established community betterment groups, colleges and universities, news outlets, a prominent health information group, and organizations that promote arts and culture.”Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell how many login credentials the miscreants managed to obtain so far. Apparently, Microsoft blocked some of the phishing pages already.

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Following negotiations in Geneva, the United States and China have agreed to lower tariffs substantially for the next 90 days, the White House announced. The aim is to de-escalate the current trade war and allow both parties time negotiate to achieve a "sustainable, long-term and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship," they said in a joint statement.

The US will temporarily lower its tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 to 30 percent (10 percent plus a 20 percent fentanyl-related levy). China, meanwhile, will cut its tariff on American imports from 125 percent to 10 percent. It's not clear exactly how that will affect prices of electronics goods coming into America from China like smartphones, computers, cameras and drones.

The news caused an after-hours stock rally with S&P 500 futures rising 2.8 percent and the dollar up 0.7 percent against other currencies. "We want more balanced trade and I think both sides are committed to achieving that," said US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent. "Neither side wants a decoupling."

The effect of US tariffs on the price of consumer goods was brought home recently with the news that DJI had increased the price of its popular Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera from $520 to $800 over the past few months. Given the rhetoric between the nations and the sky-high tariffs imposed, such a substantial reduction comes as a surprise. "This is better than I expected. I thought tariffs would be cut to somewhere around 50 percent and this is much lower," economist Zhiwei Zhang told Reuters. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/us-and-china-agree-to-slash-tariffs-for-90-days-120050454.html?src=rss

Just about everyone can remember a good teacher who made a difference in their lives. If a teacher has helped you or your kids this year and you want to say thanks, we’ve got some ideas. All year, the Engadget team tests and reviews the best gadgets we can get our hands on — and we think some of them will make welcome gifts for educators. We’ve included our favorite ereader, a few clever coffee accessories, a handy portable battery, some worthwhile subscription gifts and more. No matter what they’re into, you should be able to find something they’ll appreciate here. Of course, a small gift card and a heartfelt thank you note are worthwhile teacher gifts, too — especially if you spell all the words right.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-gifts-for-teachers-130002962.html?src=rss

There are a lot of rumors flying around about a big iOS and macOS redesign coming this year, perhaps as a distraction to the continued issues around Apple Intelligence. And while I’m game for a fresh coat of paint across the software I use every single day, I have one plea while Apple’s at it: Please, for the love of god, make the Notes app render the letter “a” properly.

Let me back up a bit. Apple first introduced the San Francisco typeface with the first Apple Watch in 2015; a few years later it became the default on basically every device Apple sells. The text you see in Messages, Apple Music, Maps and many other system apps are all different San Francisco fonts, and for the most part the multiple variations all feel consistent and cohesive.

But, at some point in the last seven or eight years I noticed something odd in the Apple Notes app. The font appears the same as the other San Francisco fonts, but something just felt “off.” It took forever before I put my finger on it: the lowercase “a” renders differently in the Notes app than it does anywhere else across the entire system.

You see, the Notes app uses a “single storey a,” the sort of “a” that most people use when writing by hand. That’s the only first-party app, as far as I can tell, where you’ll find a single-storey a. The rest of the time, it uses the double-storey a (just as you’ll see on this website and almost everywhere else a lowercase a is used these days outside of handwriting).

To be clear, this does not matter even a little bit. In fact, the completely inconsequential and random nature of this situation is probably why it irks me so. Part of me is glad I figured out exactly what was throwing me off, because for years Notes just looked wrong in a way that I found impossible to describe. Now at least I know what my brain was reacting to.

One day recently we were having a lively discussion about fonts in the Engadget Slack, which triggered me to bring up this mystery. My colleagues both agreed that this was bizarre and also thought I was a bit of a lunatic for spending this much time thinking about a single character in a single app. This, of course, drove me to download and dig through all of Apple’s system fonts and their variations to find the dreaded “Latin small letter Alpha,” or α, that our resident Greek Cypriot Aaron Souppouris suggested I search for. Indeed, that’s what pops up in Notes instead of the usual “a.” It’s not even one of the font variants, as far as I can tell. [Ed. note: Nathan did no other work during this time.]

Even though this is a ridiculous thing to think about, I want to know what’s going on here! How did this happen? Who made this decision, and for what reason? Maybe it’s because the Notes app originally used a skeuomorphic “Marker Felt” sort of text that emulated handwriting — using the single storey “a” is perhaps a nod to how most people actually handwrite the letter. Or, perhaps, it’s just something that slipped through the cracks years ago and hasn’t been worth changing because most people probably haven’t consciously noticed the difference (you’re welcome).

Whatever the reason, I sure would love it if Apple unified things with the iOS 19 (and corresponding macOS) redesign. I generally find the default Apple font to be just fine, though people certainly have their own very strongly held opinions about typography. But if I’m being honest, I’d also probably miss that oddball α — it’s always fun to have an unsolved mystery to ponder over, no matter how inconsequential.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-only-thing-i-want-from-apples-big-2025-redesign-is-a-120023531.html?src=rss

This Marvel Rivals tier list ranks every Hero, from Vanguards like Groot and Magneto, to Strategists like Luna Snow and Rocket Raccoon. Having now played a lot of Season 2, I've decided on who I think are the best characters to use, with several new Heroes making the jump up to S-tier status in the last few weeks.I've been playing Marvel Rivals since launch, achieving Lord status with Venom, and currently gaining Mr. Fantastic in the hope of reaching Diamond Rank in Season 2. I've also covered new season launches and have been busy following the emerging meta since the major balancing changes introduced in the latest patch. Marvel Rivals certainly keeps me on my toes, but it's the constant tweaks and new content that keeps me coming back, and keeps the game firmly on my list of the best free games to play in 2025.This tier list ranks all 38 Heroes, focusing on more general-ranked play, rather than the top three Competitive Mode tiers. My reasoning here is that Bronze up to Diamond is where the majority of players will be this season, and matches are very different at these standard ranks when compared to the complexities of One Above All gameplay. Regardless, the S-tier Marvel Rivals Heroes are great picks for all levels of play, with ways to exploit enemy weaknesses and put your team in the best position to win each game.Here's my Marvel Rivals tier list, up to date as of the May 8, 2025 patch, which fixed bugs related to Jeff the Land Shark and Hulk, while tweaking the emote system. As new Heroes are added to the game and as the meta changes, this page will be updated.

Marvel Rivals tier list for Season 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

Above, you'll see my Marvel Rivals tier list, based on my experience playing Season 2 so far. You'll also find it written out in the list below, before I go into more detail explaining my choices.

S-tier: Groot, Magneto, Emma Frost, Mr Fantastic, Luna Snow, Rocket Raccoon, Loki, Hela, Hawkeye, Invisible WomanA-tier: Wolverine, Winter Soldier, The Thing, Star-Lord, Spider-Man, Psylocke, Namor, Iron Fist, Human Torch, Cloak & DaggerB-tier: Venom, Storm, Squirrel Girl, Scarlet Witch, The Punisher, Moon Knight, Magik, Hulk, Captain America, Adam WarlockC-tier: Thor, Jeff the Land Shark, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, MantisD-tier: Peni Parker, Black Widow, Black Panther

Marvel Rivals tier list explained

(Image credit: NetEase)

Let's dig into my reasoning behind where each Hero sits on the tier list. Broadly speaking, the Strategist class has been nerfed for Season 2, with dive characters like Iron Fist and Spider-Man making life extremely difficult on teams that aren't closely watching their backline. Emma Frost's addition has added a new Vanguard anchor, buffing Magneto and Psylocke in a combo that's really difficult to counter.Luna Snow, Invisible Woman, and Loki are still ranked highly, but thanks to recent buffs to Rocket's Ultimate, he's now an essential pick for many. Strategists like Adam Warlock, Jeff, and Mantis have been overshadowed somewhat this season, but are extremely effective as DPS-leaning Heroes in the third Strategist slot composition. For my money, Groot is the best Hero in Marvel Rivals, especially at higher ranks. Hela and Hawkeye continue to dominate, especially Hawkeye, after receiving changes to his Hypersonic Arrow ability that add even more damage.Perhaps Season 2's biggest surprises are Mr Fantastic and Human Torch. Reed Richards is now absolutely devastating in the right hands, and given his waning popularity over the last season, a lot of players simply don't know how to counter him. Human Torch was easily the weakest of the new Heroes added in Season 1 & 1.5, but after Season 2 buffs, he's one of the best DPS characters in the game, usurping Storm, who was a meta character for a while post-launch.Of course, your impressions of who the best Heroes are in Marvel Rivals might be different. I'd like to reiterate that these are my thoughts, having played the game at a medium rank (Platinum for Season 1), and will be different for those looking to pour more time getting up to Grandmaster ranks. Personally, I'd recommend experimenting with as many Heroes as you can in Quick Play before deciding on a main. Venom, who I have ranked here at B-tier, is still the character I'm best at playing, so it comes to personal preference and how your specific ability translates to each Heroe's unique play style.

Marvel Rivals best Vanguards

(Image credit: NetEase)

Let's take a look at who the best Vanguards are in Marvel Rivals. Groot, Magneto, and Emma Frost each feature as S-tier in my overall tier list, and for good reason. A good Groot player is devastating, especially when his Ultimate is used in combination with others. It'll grab and hold enemies in place, perfect for a Namor, Moon Knight, or Scarlet Witch Ultimate to completely delete them. Factor in his wall blocking abilities, which can easily isolate tanks from healers, and it's easy to see why he's a top pick for expert players in Season 2.Magneto is the next best, though he works best in partnership with Emma Frost. Having them both in your team composition allows for extra abilities for Magneto to make use of. He can bubble another player and himself by using the Magnetic Resonance skill. In general, Magneto is a rock-solid pick, able to shield others from harm, and with an Ultimate that counters loads of other ones. Pop his Ultimate to absorb Iron Man's, to delete backline Strategists, and to make use of The Punisher's huge damage output. He's versatile, easy to learn, and very effective against dive-heavy teams.

(Image credit: NetEase)

Emma Frost is the newest Hero added to Marvel Rivals and has already really made her mark. She's an effective brawler, dealing additional damage to enemies she has kicked against walls. Her Diamond Form choke slam can shut down aggressive characters like Black Panther, and even interrupt some Ultimates, like Scarlet Witch's. Her shield is underrated, too, able to tank some very devastating attacks. Currently, Emma Frost's Ultimate, when used effectively, can completely disable a team's healing, forcing enemies to stop and walk towards her. When used at the right time, it can pull an entire team off of a point.

Marvel Rivals best Duelists

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now, onto perhaps the most controversial class ranking of the three, the DPS Heroes. There's, well, a lot of them. Twenty to be exact, and aside from a few exceptions, they're all very viable in the current season. The best duelists are still Hela and Hawkeye.Hela has been a mainstay since Season 0, with huge damage output for those who are able to master her hitscan aiming. Her secondary abilities are less important than her primary fire, which is able to absolutely shred health away when headshots are hit. After receiving a few nerfs and buffs over the last season, she's still pretty much in the same place she's always been. A difficult character to get the most out of, but completely unmatched in the right hands.After receiving a damage buff as part of Season 2, Hawkeye is even better than he already was. His slow effect when drawing the bow has been pared down too, and you can now fire off arrows extremely quickly. Aim for the head of an enemy, and you can one-shot certain characters, and chip a decent chunk off of Vanguards. He's mobile, his Ultimate is basically a guaranteed kill, and there are plenty of players who just don't know how to shut Hawkeye down. A top pick for sure.

(Image credit: NetEase)

Next up is Mr Fantastic, who has received a significant buff for Season 2. Now, his primary does more damage, his Ultimate adds a slow effect, and his base health has been increased. If you can get into the habit of hitting the right combos, you'll constantly be gaining bonus health as Mr Fantastic, allowing you to tank a ton of damage while swinging your arms to hit multiple enemies at once.He's something of a duelist/vanguard hybrid, best played on off angles and used to counter high DPS abilities with his Reflexive Rubber ability. Don't sleep on his Distended Grip, which can pull enemies out of position, and even off of ledges. Unlike other meta DPS characters, Mr Fantastic has only really been a good pick for a few weeks now, meaning you'll regularly encounter teams that have absolutely no idea how to deal with him. Fantastic indeed.

Marvel Rivals best Strategists

(Image credit: Netease Games / Marvel)

Now, for the Strategists, the class that the meta continues to revolve around in Marvel Rivals, for better or worse. Sure, Season 2 is definitely less support-heavy when compared to the last, but given the effectiveness of Ultimates like Luna Snow's, Sue Storm's, Cloak & Dagger's, and now Rocket's, it's easy to see why I've landed on including four Strategists in the S-tier.First up is Luna Snow, who is still one of the very best Heroes in the game. Her Ultimate is simply unmatched, giving your team a large window of invulnerability in most cases. It is possible to kill Luna Snow in her Ult, though most teams don't know how and lack the coordination to pull it off.Her healing effects are strong, her ice attack shuts down dives, and she can completely turn the tide of a Domination match by triggering her Ultimate and holding the point. As part of the most recent balancing patch, the damage fall off for Light & Dark Ice has been decreased, making her even more deadly at a distance.

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now, for Rocket Raccoon, a character that's really risen through the ranks this season. This is primarily due to the buff to his Ultimate ability that arrived at the start of Season 2. Now, linked teammates receive bonus health, a huge change which, when coupled with a damage boost, can completely shift the tide of a fight. Because of how quickly Rocket is able to charge this Ultimate, he's now a crucial strategic player at higher ranks. Try him out for yourself, and you'll see exactly what we mean, as you'll be able to get unusually high healing stats at the end of each match when compared to other Strategists.Loki continues to be an S-tier character in Season 2, though he's much more effective at ranks lower than Diamond. Generally, he's extremely difficult to counter, given that a lot of teams simply won't bother killing his clones or the green crystals that spawn as part of the Regeneration Domain. He's one of the trickiest Heroes to learn in Marvel Rivals, but has huge versatility. His Ultimate can copy those of other players, meaning you could have two Luna Snow Ultimates to use per push instead of one.

(Image credit: NetEase)

Finally, Invisible Woman is still one of the best Strategists to use in Marvel Rivals. She's great for beginners with an easy-to-use primary healing system, and an Ultimate that simply needs to be placed. Dive deeper into her kit, however, and there's a lot that sets her apart from the other Heroes. For one, she can push and pull enemies, displacing them and singling them out for damage. We've all seen Sue knocking enemies off of ledges, but there are also opportunities to pull down flying characters, pull Vanguards away from healers, and shut down pushes from characters like Wolverine.The main draw for adding an Invisible Woman to your roster is her Ultimate, which heals everyone within its range over time. It also makes everyone inside invisible to those outside of it, very lethal when paired with an Ultimate like Scarlet Witch's. Making the most out of her involves lining up as many allies and enemies in a line, and shooting your primary fire. This will heal allies, and damage enemies, and because it's a projectile that comes back to you, you'll hit everything twice. This is the way to charge your Ultimate as fast as possible, making the biggest impact on the match.

How we made our Marvel Rivals tier list

I've played hundreds of hours of Marvel Rivals at this point, having jumped on at the start of Season 0. Since then, I've tried out every character, bringing Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists into both Quick Play and Competitive Mode. So far, I've gained Iron Fist and Mantis in Season 0, Venom and Luna Snow in Season 1, and Mr Fantastic in Season 2. When putting together this tier list, I've tried to offer a ranking that best represents the majority of the game's player base. This means I've aimed my findings at those in Bronze, all the way up to Diamond, and into the low levels of Grand Master.

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals tier list FAQ

Who's the best in Marvel Rivals?The best overall Hero in Marvel Rivals is Emma Frost, as she offers a wide variety of play styles that work across a range of team compositions and match scenarios. She can deal a ton of damage with hand-to-hand attacks, charge a beam attack that, at full charge, will melt enemies, and can even be played by those who don't have the best aim. In addition, she's a Vanguard, so she can tank damage extremely well, especially in diamond form. Through her use of a shield, she can offer Strategic support to teammates as well, and her Team Up with Magneto and Psylocke is one of the strongest in the game.Of course, the overall best Hero doesn't necessarily fit all categories of play. Marvel Rivals' Heroes are divided into three classes, so it's much better to consider the best Hero of each individual class, rather than an overall best, who will still falter under certain circumstances. In terms of versatile Heroes, however, Emma Frost really can't be beaten.

Who is the easiest Marvel Rivals character to playThe easiest Marvel Rivals character to play is Jeff the Land Shark. This is primarily due to his simple healing output, which requires players to hit teammates with a wide-arcing beam, and his ability to dive into the ground to heal himself and get away from enemies. He's very hard to kill, and after a few games, it's easy for even beginner players to achieve a good healing number at the end of matches just by focusing on holding down the primary fire. Scarlet Witch is a good pick as the easiest Marvel Rivals character, too, as her Primary Fire doesn't really need to be aimed, and does a ton of damage.

Who is the hardest character in Marvel Rivals?Loki is the hardest character in Marvel Rivals, given that he's a complex Strategist with a deep set of abilities, and a lot of components to manage during a match. For one, choosing where to place clones is important, as is making sure enemies can't immediately pick you out as the real Loki. Triggering healing abilities also relies on clone placement, and you'll need to aim at teammates to heal them with the primary fire. Loki's main traversal ability involves switching places with a clone, once again meaning you'll need to be constantly aware of where you've placed them. Managing all of this, while deciding which of the available Ultimates to copy from another player, can be very difficult to do on the fly.

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If you own an iPhone, you likely use it for plenty of online tasks that used to be handled exclusively on a desktop or laptop computer. Everything from checking email to streaming your favorite shows to shopping online happens on our mobile devices, but that flexibility can come at the expense of privacy and overall security — yes, your ISP and mobile carrier can see all the sites you're visiting by default.

By installing a VPN on your iPhone, you can defend your privacy by anonymizing everything you do online, making it much more difficult for data brokers and ISPs to build a profile on you. You can also use the VPN to stream international offerings from Netflix and other video providers. Here’s everything you need to know about using a VPN on your iPhone.

Choosing the right VPN

Let's get one misconception out of the way: The iPhone does not include a built-in VPN. Yes, iCloud Private Relay includes some VPN-like features, it's not a full-service virtual private network. And switching to the incognito mode of your given browser doesn't shield you from spying from your internet service provider, either. We recommend choosing a dedicated commercial VPN, rather than using a service built into any device you use — and the same goes for Apple.

With a small handful of exceptions, avoid most free VPNs, as they’re notorious for collecting your personal data and selling it to advertising networks — the very antithesis of what VPNs should stand for. So while you’ll have to shell out some money for a good service, many of the top providers offer a free trial period to start.

I suggest you check out our article on the best VPNs, where we recommend a few options and explain what makes each service attractive. Each one supports iOS, and you can find them easily on the App Store. Do your own research and choose one you feel fits your needs and budget.

Some of the best VPNs also provide a limited amount of free usage, so you can test their servers and functionality before investing in a subscription. For example, Proton VPN gives you unlimited data for free, though you're restricted to five server locations.

John P. Falcone for Engadget

Installing a VPN

Once you’ve decided which VPN to install, head to the App Store on your iPhone and search for it. Go through the download and installation process as you would with any other app.

If you haven’t already purchased a VPN subscription, you can generally do so once you install the app. You'll probably find it easier than going through the VPN's website, as the best iOS VPNs have built startup flows specifically for the mobile user. Your Apple ID or biometric verification is all you need to complete the purchase.

Using a VPN on your iPhone

Now that you have the VPN installed on your iPhone and purchased the subscription, you’re ready to start using it. Although each app has a different layout, the basic functionality of every iPhone VPN is the same.

There will be a list of all the available servers where you can choose the country (or city) you want to connect to. After that, just click the server's name to connect, or press the "connect" button on the home screen.

If you’re tech-savvy, you can tweak a few other settings, such as enabling a kill switch, choosing which protocol to use and turning on auto-connect. Otherwise, simply start using the internet as you normally would.

Making sure your iPhone VPN works

This screenshot was not taken from London.whatismyipaddress.com

You'll know your VPN is active when a rectangle with "VPN" appears by the network icons at the top-right of your home screen. If you want additional confirmation that your VPN is working, there are two tests you can run.

To start, check your IP address at whatismyipaddress.com — first with the VPN off, then with it on. If the number (and the location on the map) doesn't change, that means your VPN is not properly engaged.

Another method is to set your VPN for another country and open your streaming platform of choice. If you notice that the content library differs from what you usually see, your VPN is correctly place-shifting your location. For instance, you'll no longer find Friends on US Netflix, but (as of the time of this writing) it's available for streaming when you set your location to the UK.

What about corporate or school VPNs?

It's possible you're part of an organization like a school or a company that has its own VPN infrastructure. In those cases, you may be given instructions on how to enable the VPN through the iPhone without the need for downloading a standalone app. Usually, the method invovles entering the Settings app on your iPhone, going to VPN & Device Management section under General, and clicking "Add VPN Configuration." You'll need details like the server address and remote ID, as well as your username and password, of course.

TL;DR

Installing a VPN on your iPhone is extremely simple. If you already have a VPN subscription, installing it on your phone gives you an additional level of privacy and geographic flexibility. For those new to VPNs, read our best VPNs article, purchase a subscription, install it, and start using a VPN on your iPhone.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-use-a-vpn-on-an-iphone-124543872.html?src=rss

Those waiting for a good deal on Apple's latest M4 MacBook Air should check out Amazon now. The online retailer has the new MacBook Air for $150 off, down to $849 from $999, which is the best discount we've seen. At the moment, the discount is only available on the midnight color option.

Note that this price applies to the entry-level model with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. If you're willing to pay extra for more storage space, a version with a 512GB SSD is also $150 off at $1,049. If you want more memory, a variant with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is similarly discounted at $1,249. Both of those deals represent all-time lows as well.

Apple only released the MacBook Air M4 in mid-March and we've since named it 2025's best MacBook overall. We gave it in a 92 in our review, as it still packs an accurate (albeit 60Hz) display and excellent keyboard in a slim, sturdy build that weighs 2.7 pounds and measures 0.44 inches thick. But it's the M4 chip that really gives the Air a boost; the 13-inch model has a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, all of which are more than fast enough for most everyday tasks. Battery life is another plus: The notebook lasted over 18 hours while playing HD video in our testing.

If you're looking for something a little bigger, then it might be worth getting the 15-inch MacBook Air M4. That one is also $150 off in several configurations, starting at $1,049 for 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD and moving up to $1,449 for 24GB of RAM and double the storage. Again, each of these deals mark new lows. Apart from its larger display, the 15-inch MacBook Air has a larger trackpad and better speakers than its 13-inch counterpart but is largely identical otherwise.

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-m4-macbook-air-is-back-on-sale-for-150-off-144625994.html?src=rss