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Epic has filed a "second motion to enforce injunction," asking the US District Court for the Northern District of California to force Apple to do a timely review of its Fortnite app and to approve its submission if it's compliant. The company recently accused Apple of blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store in both the US and the EU. Epic submitted the app for approval after winning its case against the iPhone-maker. Specifically, after the court ordered Apple to stop collecting commissions on purchases that weren't paid through the App Store and to allow external payment links in-app.

After Epic said that Apple was blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store, the tech giant wrote a letter addressed to the video game developer. In it, Apple said it will not take action on Epic's submission "until after the Ninth Circuit rules on [its] pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction." It told Epic to resubmit the app to the EU storefront separately from its US submission. Apple, of course, filed an appeal against the court's order to stop charging commissions for payments made outside the App Store. It also filed an emergency motion to put a pause on the order prohibiting it from charging commissions, telling the court that it will cost the company "substantial sums annually."

In a post on X, Epic said that Apple's suggestion to submit two different versions of Fortnite for review is in violation of its own guideline that prohibits developers from submitting multiple versions of the same app. "That’s not the standard Apple holds other developers to and it’s blocking us from releasing our update in the EU and US," it wrote. Epic also asserted that its submission didn't break any rules this time. Apple's denial, the video game developer claimed in its filing, is a "blatant retaliation against Epic for challenging Apple’s anticompetitive behavior and exposing its lies to the Court, culminating in the Injunction and the Contempt Order."

Yesterday afternoon, Apple broke its week-long silence on the status of our app review with a letter saying they will not act on the Fortnite app submission until the Ninth Circuit Court rules on the partial stay. We believe this violates the Court’s Injunction and we have filed…— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) May 17, 2025

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-wants-the-court-to-compel-apple-to-approve-fortnites-return-to-the-us-app-store-123054703.html?src=rss

Ironheart: key information- Will make its Disney+ debut in late June with a three-episode premiere- First trailer unveiled in mid-May- Dominique Thorne returns as Riri Williams/Ironheart- Numerous supporting cast members confirmed- Story synopsis revealed- No word on whether a second season will be made

Ironheart is finally ready to see the light of day. Over four years after it was first announced by Marvel President Kevin Feige, the Dominique Thorne-fronted TV series will land on Disney+ on June 24.With the live-action show's first trailer being released on May 14 and its actual release being only a month away, there's no better time than now to learn more about Ironheart. With that in mind, I've compiled this handy guide to bring you more information (and the odd rumor) on the small screen project.Below, you'll learn more about its confirmed cast, story specifics, and wider ties to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), among other notable tidbits. Spoilers follow for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the Marvel film in which the titular character made her debut.

Ironheart release date

Marvel Television's all-new series #Ironheart launches with a 3-episode premiere June 24 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/ZGRhMf33fFMay 14, 2025

As I mentioned, Ironheart will take flight on Tuesday, June 24 in the US, and Wednesday, June 25 in the UK and Australia (NB: it'll launch in other world regions on these dates). It'll launch with a three-episode premiere, too.Ironheart's release has been a long time coming. Initially conceived as a movie, the Marvel Phase 5 project was reworked into a TV show in December 2020 – a developmental shift that came almost two years after its original announcement.Despite making her debut in Wakanda Forever in late 2022, Ironheart's standalone MCU adventure has been trapped in development hell ever since. There's little to no public information on why it's taken so long for this project to get off the ground. But, with Disney confirming Ironheart would be among its 2025 TV line-up last October, the countdown is on to its long-awaited debut.

Ironheart trailer

Ironheart's official trailer made its worldwide debut on May 14. And, while it looks and sounds like a fun ride, Ironheart's rumored episodic release format has got me worried about how good it'll actually be.Fans had expected it to be released a day earlier during Disney's Upfront 2025 presentation. Instead, Marvel opted to build excitement for the trailer's arrival by releasing a behind-the-scenes (BTS) featurette containing lots of new footage for viewers to pore over.

Before the trailer's long-overdue unveiling and the BTS featurette's release, Marvel revealed Ironheart's first official footage as part of a Disney+ sizzle reel teaser celebrating its 85th birthday last August. The brief clips showed Williams flying through the streets of Chicago in her new super-suit, but that's all we were treated to until this wave of new footage hit the internet one month before the show's debut.

Ironheart confirmed cast

Who's joining Dominique Thorne (pictured) in Ironheart? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Possible spoilers follow for Ironheart.

Here are the actors you'll see, plus the characters they'll play, in Ironheart:

Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/IronheartAnthony Ramos as Parker Robbins/The HoodLyric Ross as Natalie WashingtonAlden Ehrenreich as Joe McGillicuddyRegan Aliyah as Ronnie WilliamsManny Montana as Cousin JohnMatthew Elam as Vaxier WashingtonJon Rash as the Dean of MITAnji White as TBC

Thorne, who portrayed Williams in Wakanda Forever, returns to play the same character in her standalone program. For those who need a refresher: Williams is an MIT student with a genius intellect who builds a super-suit not unlike the one Tony Stark invented.In Wakanda Forever, Williams' first attempt to build said suit is still in early development. And, while she's gifted a souped-up version of her design by Shuri in that film's final act, Williams is told to leave it in Wakanda at Shuri's request. In short, she'll need to continue working on her own suit in her self-titled show.Meanwhile, Ramos (In the Heights, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) will portray Ironheart's Big Bad in The Hood. In Marvel literature, he's a Chicago-based individual who wears a mystical hood that grants him the ability to use dark magic. In the MCU, he's initially billed as an ally of Thorne's Williams, with Robbins' street gang-turned-activists – the Young Lords – offering to help Williams create her suit of armor. Based on the trailer, though, the pair will be at odds with each other soon enough.

Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, is expected to be the series' main antagonist (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

That leading duo is joined by other familiar faces and newcomers.Ross (This is Us) is attached to play Natalie Washington, Riri's MIT roommate, while Star Wars alumnus Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) is set to play Joe McGilllicuddy, who's reportedly another of Riri's friends and, according to some rumors circulating online, the son of Iron Man villain Obadiah Stane.Rounding out the confirmed cast are White (Fargo, Chicago PD) is as Riri's mom, Montana (Good Girls) as Cousin John, Elam (The Many Saints of Newark) as Xavier Washington, Rash (Harley Quinn, Captain America: Civil War) as the Dean of MIT, and Aliyah (XO, Kitty) in an undisclosed role.Additionally, Sacha Baron Cohen has reportedly been cast as the Marvel demon lord called Mephisto. Given The Hood will dabble in the dark side of the Mystic Arts, this isn't as big a stretch as it sounds.If true, it'll mean Ironheart will include a previously rumored WandaVision villain. Indeed, MCU fans were convinced that Mephisto was the primary villain of that Elizabeth Olsen-starring TV show for much of its run. Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness was eventually revealed to be WandaVision's antagonist.

Ironheart plot synopsis and rumors

Will Ironheart prove to be a truck-flipping good time? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Potential spoilers follow for Ironheart.

Here's Ironheart's official plot brief: "Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams – a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world – returns to her hometown of Chicago."Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins, aka The Hood."This kind of synopsis is par for the course for Marvel projects, but Ironheart's cast and crew have given us some other hints about the character's standalone MCU story.

Williams will be hard at work trying to build her own technologically advanced armor at MIT (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

One of the most pertinent things to bear in mind is that Ironheart isn't replacing Tony Stark as the MCU's new Iron Man-esque hero. Long-time Marvel fans will know that the pair had a mentor-mentee relationship in the comics, which is something executive producer Ryan Coogler touches on in the BTS featurette that you can watch in this article's trailer section.However, discussing the series in the same video, Marvel's Head of Television Brad Winderbaum said of the MCU's take on Williams/Ironheart: "The story of Ironheart is not one about the mantle of Iron Man getting passed. If anything, it's the opposite.""It's about her proving herself and shaping her own legacy," Zoie Nagelhout, another of the show's executive producers, added. In short, this is a tale about Williams and finding her own path without outside intervention.

Williams has been inspired by Tony Stark to invent her own super-powered suit (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Well, from Stark (or, rather, his posthumous hologram because, well, he died in Avengers: Endgame) anyway.At first, The Hood and his gang of misfits seemingly want to help Williams achieve her ambitions of creating a suit that can rival Iron Man's. However, while the trailer and BTS featurette confirm Williams will succeed in this endeavor, it's unclear how much of a role The Hood and company will play in its development.What is clear is how much time has passed since Wakanda Forever's ending and the start of this program. Per Ironheart's BTS video, head writer Chinaka Hodge revealed it takes place "in the days after" Black Panther 2. So, while many other Marvel films and TV shows are set in the MCU's "present" (i.e. around 2026/2027), this series is apparently taking a step back into the MCU's past and is actually set in mid-2025.

Thorne's Williams made her MCU debut in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

But I digress. If you haven't picked up on it by now, Ironheart's story will be as much of a battle between two very different forms of creation: science (or, to be more specific, technology) and magic.That's a given when you consider Williams and The Hood occupy the roles of each field's creator-in-chief in this series. However, as Kevin Feige pointed out at D23 Expo 2022 (per The Direct), this is the first time that these opposing forces will clash in an MCU production."[The Hood], from the comics, he deals in the dark arts," Feige said. "He deals in magic. Riri is a technologist. We've had technological heroes and villains. We've had supernatural people dealing with magic. We've never had the two at the same time, so seeing Riri go up against [The Hood] in a way that is very unique is what I think I'm most excited for."Here's hoping there's more than an air of creativity when these characters collide physically, then, and we're not treated (if that's the right word to use) to more bland, VFX-infused battles where the hero's skillset mirrors that of the villain's.

What Marvel movies and shows do I need to watch before Ironheart?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the only Marvel production you need to stream before Ironheart (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There's only one Marvel production you need to watch on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, before Ironheart is released. If you've read through this guide so far, you'll know that Black Panther 2, i.e. one of the best Marvel movies of recent years, is all you need to stream to catch up on Williams' story.She's also appeared in season 3 of the animated MCU TV show What If...? but because it has no bearing on Ironheart's journey in the MCU, it isn't necessary to watch the episode she appears in.Not signed up to Disney+ yet, but want to know how much it costs? Read our Disney+ price guide.

How will Ironheart impact the MCU?

Will Dominique Thorne join Robert Downey Jr (pictured) on the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday? (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The short answer is: I don't know. Ironheart could've become a fundamental part of the MCU if her solo series had released sooner – in fact, given her comparisons to a certain Tony Stark and his superhero alter-ego in Iron Man, Thorne's Williams could've been his natural MCU successor.With Disney shaking things up at Marvel Studios since Ironheart was greenlit and the latter failing to capitalize on her potential popularity post-Wakanda Forever, though, the character's MCU fate is yet to be determined.If Ironheart is a hit, it's possible that she'll be a late addition to the cast of Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars. However, should the series struggle to leave an impression, Williams could find herself relegated to the side lines.Land somewhere in-between the two and, given her relative age, she may join the ranks of the MCU's long-rumored Young Avengers (or Champions, whatever they'll be called...) production. Until her show ends, then, we're none the wiser about what impact Ironheart will have on Marvel's cinematic juggernaut.

For more MCU-based coverage, read my guides on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Daredevil: Born Again season 2.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, May 17 (game #1209).

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 #1210) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1210) - 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 0.

Quordle today (game #1210) - 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 #1210 - 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 #1210) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• Q• R• P• D

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

Quordle today (game #1210) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1210, are…

QUACKROACHPURGEDOWNY

I was anticipating a third animal plural today after the word GEESE appeared yesterday and SHEEP the day before, but instead we got an animal sound.QUACK, of course, has several meanings – so we could be thinking about someone falsely claiming to have medical skills, rather than a duck.Despite the rare letter, getting QUACK was quite straightforward if you had already solved ROACH with its AC combination, and even easier if you’d also correctly guessed PURGE.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1210) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1210, are…

SHINYTRAMPBLISSKEBAB

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESEQuordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAKQuordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKEQuordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKERQuordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARNQuordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READYQuordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUEQuordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATINQuordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAINQuordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITEQuordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVEQuordle #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, BURNT

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, May 17 (game #706).

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 #707) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

ALMOSTATHLETICOPENCLOSEWARMFLEXIBLEEXCELLENTEXERCISEAREADRILLONEGAMEEASYASSIGNMENTNOT QUITELESSON

NYT Connections today (game #707) - hint #1 - group hints

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

YELLOW: Testing times GREEN:Hide and seekBLUE: Relaxed and not easily upsetPURPLE: First letter of the alphabet

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 #707) - hint #2 - group answers

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

YELLOW: TASKS FOR A STUDENT GREEN: ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME BLUE: UP FOR ANYTHING PURPLE: WHAT "A" MIGHT MEAN

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

NYT Connections today (game #707) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #707, are…

YELLOW: TASKS FOR A STUDENT ASSIGNMENT, DRILL, EXERCISE, LESSONGREEN: ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME ALMOST, CLOSE, NOT QUITE, WARMBLUE: UP FOR ANYTHING EASY, FLEXIBLE, GAME, OPENPURPLE: WHAT "A" MIGHT MEAN AREA, ATHLETIC, EXCELLENT, ONE

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

A rare day for me without mysteries, getting things right by getting them wrong (as in, right words no idea why) or nit picking over annoyingly named categories.My only doubt was with TASKS FOR A STUDENT, which I momentarily thought were about physical training and included GAME instead of ASSIGNMENT. Meanwhile, I would have guessed ALMOST, CLOSE, NOT QUITE and WARM were describing being near to something, rather than ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME, having forgotten all about the childhood games to which they applied.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 17, game #706)

YELLOW: MEMBER OF A KINGDOM IN TAXONOMY ANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANTGREEN: GRADUATED INSTRUMENTS BEAKER, PROTRACTOR, RULER, SYRINGEBLUE: KINDS OF PENGUINS CHINSTRAP, EMPEROR, KING, MACARONIPURPLE: "E" THINGS COMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, May 17 (game #440).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Riding the wind

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #2 - clue words

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

STINGHAILDUETMILETALLBLOG

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #441) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 4th rowLast side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #441) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #441, are…

HELMMASTRIGGINGKEELTILLERHULLRUDDERSTERNSPANGRAM: SAILBOAT

My rating: EasyMy score: 1 hint

Top marks, NYT, for giving us a Strands spangram that looks like a bright yellow SAILBOAT against a clear blue sky. Well, it does if you squint a bit.Although today’s edition was, indeed, plain sailing, once I’d gotten going, it took me a while to find my sea legs.I’d found six unrelated words without a clue what today’s theme meant, so I opted for a hint word. HELM left me in little doubt, so I went about exhausting every boaty word I could think of.Sailing is another one of those hobbies I like the sound of, but the reality is very different. For starters, it’s way above my pay grade – and then there’s my chronic motion sickness, which probably wouldn’t go down well with the salty sea dogs down at the boatyard. I’ll stick to laptops and word searches.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 17, game #441)

LYNXWINGSSTORMLIBERTYDREAMFEVERMERCURYSPANGRAM: BASKETBALL

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.

Back in April, De'Longhi launched a new smart bean-to-cup espresso machine that can learn your drink preferences throughout the day: the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic . I've been using it for about a week now, and it basically feels like a super-attentive barista who remembers your order every day and whips it up with a smile – and who happens to live in your kitchen.At first glance, the Primadonna Aromatic looks very similar to the excellent De'Longhi Eletta Explore. The most obvious difference is the extra-large touchscreen, which lets you flick through a vast menu of hot and cold drinks and provides super-simple instructions to help you set up your new machine and make your first espresso.In fact, the screen is so crisp and clear that De'Longhi has been able to replace the usual dry step-by-step lessons with a slick little video that demonstrates how easy it is to select and make your chosen drink. And that's just the start…

User profiles are a central part of the experience, not just an add-on, and the machine will address you by name throughout (Image credit: Future)

The whole package is very beginner-friendly, and doesn't assume any prior knowledge of coffee-making terminology. Things as simple as referring to the hopper as a 'bean container' are a thoughtful touch, and the tone of the interface is refreshingly conversational.For example, rather than just displaying the word 'heating' when switched on (or rumbling away without telling you what's happening at all), the Primadonna Aromatic cheerily tells you “I’ll use some hot water to heat everything up” (it communicates via on-screen text; sadly one of the few things this machine can't do is talk). Instead of telling you to attach the milk container before making a cappuccino, it asks you nicely.De'Longhi's handy Bean Adapt system, which adjusts brew settings to suit your chosen beans, is present and accessible with a quick button tap, but using it is entirely optional, and the machine doesn't risk overwhelming new users by introducing it first thing. If you just want to get on with making an espresso as quickly as possible, just flick through the menu, choose a drink, and away you go.

Morning! The usual?

This virtual barista even knows your name. Most of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines let you make user profiles, and store favorites for each person in your household, but it's usually a rather impersonal process, and is sometimes buried in a list of menus.Not so with the Primadonna Aromatic. During setup the machine will ask how many people will be using it, then create profiles for each one automatically. You can pick an avatar for each one and enter a name, but there's nothing more complicated than that.What's particularly nice is that the profile information you enter isn't just used to differentiate between user profiles. The machine will also refer to you by name. There's something nice about turning on the Primadonna Aromatic to see a friendly 'Hello Cat' in the morning. The only thing it won't do is write it on your cup.

Even before I delved into De'Longhi's Bean Adapt settings, the Primadonna Aromatic produced nicely balanced, well-extracted espresso (Image credit: Future)

I've yet to test all of the machine's settings (the menu has over 30 hot and cold options) but my first impressions of the coffee are very positive too. Even without delving into the Bean Adapt settings, the default brewing options produced a well-balanced espresso that poured in around 35 seconds (ideal for a double shot).I've been impressed by both the hot and cold foamed milk, too. There are two carafes (understandable since cold foam doesn't use steam), which you can keep in the fridge until you need them. Each one has three texture settings, and the machine will tell you which to select when you pick a drink from the menu.

The Primadonna Aromatic can foam hot and cold milk, with three different textures for each (Image credit: Future)

The thick foam setting creates froth ideal for a cappuccino or cortado, while the middle option makes a creamier texture for lattes and macchiatos (my personal favorite).You can use any type of milk for hot drinks, but De'Longhi recommends that you only use skimmed dairy or plant milk for cold foam. I've made several iced drinks using oat milk, and the results have been excellent; the froth is creamy and sits nicely on top of the drink without dissolving.The only drawback I can see so far is the price. At £1,549.99 (about $2,000 / AU$3,200) this is pricier than most of the machines in our roundup of the best coffee makers, but so far it's working hard to justify the expense.I'll continue to test the Primadonna Aromatic for a few more weeks, and I'll bring you a full review very soon.

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Microsoft has introduced the successor to PowerToys Run, its quick launcher for power users, called the Command Palette. As The Verge notes, it now functions pretty much like Mac's Spotlight and will now let you search for apps, whole folders and single files, let you perform calculations just by typing on the search bar and let you do web searches without having to open a search engine. You can launch websites straight from the results it gives you, and it also lets you run system commands. The company has rolled out the new launcher ahead of this year's Build developer conference.

In addition, Microsoft will let you add commands and features for your favorite apps to Command Palette, thanks to its support for extensions. XDA Developers recently took the launcher for a spin and said that you can search for extensions for it from WinGet and the Microsoft Store through its own search function. There's even an option to create a project for a new extension that you're building yourself.

You can access the Command Palette on Windows by pressing Win + Alt + Space. From within the Command Palette window that pops up, you can see the various actions you can do within the launcher. It's also where you can access its Settings, which allow you to set the keyboard shortcut to show or hide the Palette, program the Backspace key to take you back to the previous page and set list items to activate on a single click, among other things.

Microsoft

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/microsoft-gets-its-own-spotlight-like-feature-with-the-command-palette-launcher-150006977.html?src=rss

A new Nothing Phone 3 leak has emergedIt points to a well-specced flagship phoneThe handset could launch in July

We're expecting the Nothing Phone 3 to break cover sometime in the next couple of months, and now some major specs have just leaked, giving us a better idea of what to expect from the handset's chipset, camera setup, and battery.According to Smartprix, the phone is going to come with a "flagship Snapdragon chipset" from Qualcomm, though it doesn't say which specific chipset. It could be the Snapdragon 8 Elite, or the more recently announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.As for the camera system, it sounds like we're getting a "significantly reworked camera system" with a triple-lens module around the back of the phone. It'll have a "large primary sensor" and a periscope telephoto lens that's potentially even bigger.Lastly, the battery capacity will "possibly" exceed the 5,000 mAh mark according to Smartprix's sources. The Nothing Phone 2, which made its debut back in July 2023, came with a 4,700 mAh-capacity battery packed inside.

A "premium" handset

We've already seen the Nothing Phone 3a this year (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

Only a few days ago, we got an official video from Nothing CEO Carl Pei, telling us that the upcoming flagship phone would have "premium materials, major performance upgrades, and software that really levels things up".Remember that the phone was delayed from 2024 so that Nothing could get the software right. We're expecting a lot of AI assistance to be involved, and it looks set to rival offerings such as Galaxy AI and Apple Intelligence from its competitors.We haven't heard too much in the way of leaks, rumors, or official announcements around the Nothing Phone 3 yet, other than it's on the way. Given the specs mentioned in this leak, it looks likely to be one of the best Android phones of the year.Nothing has already launched two phones this year of course, the Nothing Phone 3a and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro mid-rangers. As soon as the next handset from the company is made official, we'll let you know.

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Forget the joystick and forgo the D-pad. 8BitDo introduced an all-button arcade controller with an ultra-slim profile that's built for competitive fighting games. The company is known for its wide range of affordable handheld controllers, but it's been venturing more into fight pads following its Arcade Stick release. Now, the latest Arcade Controller comes in two versions: a blacked-out variation that's officially licensed by Xbox and a retro-styled counterpart that's compatible with PC and Nintendo Switch.

For fighting game fans, the Arcade Controller offers a ton of features to provide a more competitive edge. 8BitDo's newest fight pad has 20 hours of wireless battery life, but also supports a wired mode for better latency performance. For quick adjustments mid-game, the Arcade Controller has a control panel at the top-left that lets you turn up the volume, switch between PC and Switch modes on the standard version, and even activate a tournament lock that prevents accidental misclicks that could distract or disqualify you during high-stakes matches.

8BitDo added four programmable kidney-shaped buttons and lets you hot-swap each button's mechanical switches for extra customization. If you prefer RGB lighting, 8BitDo only included it on the Xbox version. All of these elements are jammed into a controller that's 1.6 cm thick, which is just thicker than a MacBook Pro that measures 1.55 cm.

The standard version is up for pre-order on Amazon for $89.99, while the Xbox version is also available for $99.99. 8BitDo said that the first Arcade Controllers will ship across North America starting July 15, while European customers will get theirs starting August 15. It's worth noting that 8BitDo's website previously said that it would halt orders to U.S. customers coming from its warehouse in China, but has since resumed shipping to the U.S., only adding that "shipping fees may vary due to tariffs."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/8bitdos-all-button-arcade-controller-is-almost-as-thin-as-a-macbook-pro-161712267.html?src=rss

When the world needed him most, he got delayed once again. Paramount Pictures announced the second delay for The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, the upcoming movie that follows the journey of Aang and Team Avatar after the events of the beloved animated series that was released in 2005. Instead of January 30, 2026, the new film will make its way to movie theaters on October 9, 2026, as first reported by Variety.

Paramount Pictures didn't provide a reason for the delay, but this setback follows a previous postponing that bumped it from its original release date on October 10, 2025. However, there are no changes to the already-announced cast and crew, which includes Dave Bautista, Steven Yuen and Eric Nam, with Lauren Montgomery and William Mata as co-directors.

This delay could be good news, though. Paramount Pictures also revealed that it's pushing back the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2 sequel from its October 9, 2026 opening date to September 17, 2027. This move frees up the slot for The Legend of Aang to make a fall release, which could attract more attention than being premiered in January.

To keep us from breaking out the pitchforks, the film studio at least revealed the new logo for the film on its Instagram. If you're itching for Avatar content, Netflix renewed its live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender for two more seasons, the next of which is expected to release in early 2026. If you're only interested in new material, the next avatar is expected to make her debut in 2027 in a series titled Avatar: Seven Havens.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-legend-of-aang-the-last-airbender-gets-hit-with-its-second-delay-175913128.html?src=rss

Access to Amazon's new AI-enhanced voice assistant, Alexa+, is expanding. The company has started notifying users who signed up for the Early Access program that they can now activate Alexa+. It's been a few months since Amazon first demoed the smarter version of Alexa, saying at the time that it would begin rolling out to the first batch of users in March before coming to more people in waves over the subsequent months, prioritizing Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 owners.

According to an Amazon spokesperson, "hundreds of thousands" of customers have tried out Alexa+ so far. For those who got Alexa+ in the initial Early Access phase, though, the assistant arrived without many of the features the company touted during its February announcement. The Washington Post, citing internal company documents, reported that this is because those tools didn't "yet meet Amazon’s standards for public release." In a footnote on its Early Access signup page, Amazon notes that some of the features shown are still in development.

Per Amazon's email on Friday to the latest wave of users, you'll only need to activate and set up Alexa + on one device. From there, any other compatible devices you own will automatically be upgraded. Alexa+ is said to be more conversational and capable of handling more complex tasks than the original assistant.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-rolls-out-alexa-to-more-early-access-users-183017242.html?src=rss

Spoilers for “The Interstellar Song Contest.”

No, really, spoilers from here on out.

Much like Eurovision itself, that was a lot, wasn’t it?

And much like every other episode this season, “The Interstellar Song Contest” was overstuffed, excessive and brutally short. It was also a lot of fun, even if the sheer volume of plot that I wish we’d had more time to explore remains frustrating. Unfortunately, it looks like the great qualities of this episode will be overshadowed by all of the dramatic lore reveals. As usual, head to Mrs. Flood Corner for the analysis, but let’s talk about the rest first.

Eurovision?

James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf

If you’re in the US, you may not be familiar with the Eurovision Song Contest, even if Netflix did make a movie about it. It’s an annual music competition that began in the post-war years that saw the major nations of Europe select an act and a song to compete. Judges from each nation would then rank each performance, with the winning act’s nation going on to host the event the next year. Despite the name, participation isn’t limited to Europe, with entries from Oceania, Africa and the Middle East. And the event, to use a technical term, is Extremely Gay, playing up its camp excesses and offering a space for queer performers.

“Did you just fly through space on a glitter cannon?”

Lara Cornell/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf

The Doctor and Belinda arrive in a VIP box in the Harmony Arena, a large open-air (given it’s in space, should that be an open-space?) venue. They’re just in time to see the start of the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest, presented by (actual British TV presenter) Rylan Clark, who has just emerged from a cryogenic chamber. The Doctor takes the Vindicator reading, and has enough data to force the TARDIS back to Earth on May 24, 2025 — but the pair decide to stay and enjoy the show. Watching from afar, Mrs. Flood delights that the Vindicator is now primed and ready, but will stay around to watch the show as well.

It’s a popular event, with three trillion viewers from around the universe watching the show, as it’s broadcast much like a TV show. Unfortunately, the production gallery is stormed by Kid, a terrorist who has hijacked the arena’s security drones with help from Wynn, someone from the production crew. Kid and Wynn are both Hellions, a race of beings with prominent devil horns that are reviled across the galaxy for how they look. People assume they are evil, engage in cannibalism and witchcraft, and it’s hard for them to get jobs. The show’s director even says that they were advised against hiring Wynn because she’s a Hellion.

Kid switches the broadcast to the rehearsal feed, which didn’t feature Rylan, which piques the Doctor’s interest as there’s a TV in their VIP box. He pulls out his sonic screwdriver and starts fiddling with the equipment, but as he’s doing so, Kid opens the air bubble separating the arena from the void. And instantly, almost 100,000 people in the audience are blown into space, including the Doctor and the TARDIS, while Belinda is saved by the canopy’s roof closing. Wynn closes the canopies to protect the life of Cora, the odds-on favorite to win and the show’s star act. The director notices that the people may be frozen, but they’re trapped within the station’s mavity bubble and could therefore be rescued.

The Doctor, knocked out and frozen, floating in the void of space, is awoken with a vision of Susan (!) in the TARDIS telling him to “find me.” He opens his eyes, spots a glitter cannon floating nearby, and propels himself toward the station’s airlock, Wall-E style. It’s there he meets Mike and Gary, the couple whose VIP box he inadvertently stole. They were thankfully safe in the corridor outside when the roof was opened. The Doctor, aided by his new friends, starts working out what the next part of Kid’s plan is — to push a delta wave via the broadcast to all three trillion of its viewers. The wave was powerful enough to knock the Doctor to the floor and give them a nosebleed, and will likely kill every single viewer.

Kid and Wynn are doing this because their home planet, Hellia, was bought by the corporation that sponsors the song contest. It was the home of a poppy that could make honey flavoring, and when the corporation bought the planet, it took the poppy and burned the rest, including its people. The Hellions were scattered, victims of a genocide, looked down upon by the rest of so-called respectable society. Wiping out both the audience and the viewers at home at an event sponsored by the corporation will, Kid hopes, balance the books.

James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf

Belinda winds up with Cora, the show’s star act (and her partner). The trio hack the system to work out what is going on. Belinda, believing the Doctor is dead, is full of remorse at having never told him how wonderful she thinks he is. Thankfully, they’re able to access the station’s video calling software to see the Doctor and Kid meet via an intra-station call, where the Doctor is giving Kid a glimpse of how furious the Time Lord can get, much to Belinda’s surprise. Cora has skin in the game here, too, revealing after the call that she is also a Hellion, but cut her horns off in order to fit in with the rest of polite society, becoming a star in the process.

The Doctor is able to use the station’s holographic technology to project himself into the production gallery. Kid shoots the hologram, giving the real Doctor enough time to walk in, casually destroying Kid's gun and the delta wave box. The Doctor then starts channeling the station’s power through his hologram body to shock Kid. The Doctor said that Kid had put “ice in his heart,” and now he would pay back the attempted murder of three trillion people by giving him three trillion shocks. Beinda walks in, to see the Doctor essentially torturing Kid, and even the Doctor himself is plagued by visions of Susan telling him to stop.

With Kid and Wynn locked away, the Doctor works out another way to use the holograms — as a tractor beam. We see a montage of people being pulled in from the void and reactivated, first using Rylan’s cryogenic chamber, then on a larger scale in a VIP booth. It’s not long before the whole crowd is returned, and with it, Cora takes to the stage. She tells them her story and sings a song from Hellia, and while the audience is initially hostile, she wins them over by the end. To the applause, the Doctor and Belinda head back to the TARDIS, but not before a holographic Graham Norton — talk show host and the BBC’s face of Eurovision — tells them the Earth was destroyed in mysterious circumstances on May 24th, 2025.

The Doctor and Belinda sprint back, determined to push the TARDIS to that date and solve whatever issue is coming. But even with the Vindicator plugged in, the TARDIS refuses to co-operate, ringing the Cloister Bell and switching to the all red lighting scheme. There's a sinister noise from outside the doors that the Doctor identifies as the "sound of May 24th," before the TARDIS doors explode. And the credits roll...

... only to be interrupted after the first crew card to cut back to Mike and Gary on Harmony Arena as they revive the last person blown into space. It's Mrs Flood, who reveals her double brainstem froze while out in space, "lethal for a Time Lady, but I've got my own knack for survival." Breaking the fourth wall, she says "let battle begin," and then bi-generates, splitting herself into Mrs. Flood and The Rani (Archie Panjabi), with Mrs. Flood becoming the subordinate to her newer self. As the pair walk off, the Rani says she will bring "absolute terror" to the Doctor, telling Mrs. Flood to shut up when she points out she's already done that.

“I’ll do anything for you, Doctor”

James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf

Honestly, Doctor Who can sometimes be a bit like a teddy bear with a razor blade hidden under its palm. Sure, it may look lightweight and cuddly, disarming you with its charm, but then it’ll cut you so deep you won’t even realize. “The Interstellar Song Contest” is, without a doubt, one of the most affecting episodes in the run. This episode comes less than a decade after the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people and injured more than a thousand. The visual of the 100,000 people being blown into space was staggering in its brutality. Juno Dawson’s already written for Doctor Who’s wider world, but her debut script for the TV series goes hard.

But even if it’s a harrowing watch at times, it’s also filled with enough moments of levity. The Doctor’s flirting with married couple Mike and Gary at various points in the episode is delightful as they’re both increasingly smitten with him. The music is delightful, and Cora’s final song was designed to melt people’s hearts, plus there’s a few background gags for the more novelty act songs that appear every year.

Once again, I’m compelled to say the 45-minute format does nothing for Doctor Who when it’s treading this high a wire. The themes of this episode include indifference to evil, pinkwashing, passing privilege, cultural identity, commodification, the inhumanity of replacing customer service with computers, the perpetuation of abuse and the value of revenge. Given Eurovision presents itself as an explicitly queer event, I’m sure better-qualified writers can speak more authoritatively on the episode’s deeper subtext and political themes. And possibly explain in better detail where its sympathies lie.

Every episode this season feels like it had enough material to fill three half-hour episodes of late ‘80s Who. Much like last week reminded me of 1989’s “Ghost Light,” this episode put me in mind of 1988’s “The Happiness Patrol.” That episode is, on its surface, about a planet where you’ll be killed on the spot if you show any signs of visible unhappiness. Of course, it’s really about the UK under Margaret Thatcher, Operation Condor and the gay rights movement. If you’re curious, read Elizabeth Sandifer’s essay on the episode.

Hopefully, too, you’ll notice the thematic parallels that are running through many of these episodes. Conrad in “Lucky Day,” The Barber in “The Story and the Engine” and Kid here are all presented as characters looking for revenge. But while the middle member of that trio has been ostensibly redeemed, the other two crossed the Doctor and made him angry. If his speech to Conrad was full of vitriol, then Kid is the first time we’ve seen Gatwa’s Doctor in full vindictive mode. This has been a recurring theme for most of the post-2005 series, that the Doctor needs to hold themselves back from unleashing their full power and fury.

Mrs. Flood Corner

Dan Fearon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf

Doctor Who was born before the home media age, where episodes were broadcast on a more or less one-and-done basis. If you were a fan looking to revisit an old episode, you had to read the novelizations that started coming out when the show became a hit. But Doctor Who wasn’t originally built to support a six decades-long global multimedia franchise, and that’s an issue. When it started, the Doctor was joined on his adventures by his granddaughter, Susan (Carole Ann Ford), and two of her teachers who followed her home one night. Long before any talk of Time Lords or Gallifrey, Susan was just the kid who needed to be rescued every third or fourth week.

Carole Ann Ford wasn’t happy with how poorly served her character was, and so opted to leave in 1964, a year after the show started. During “The Dalek Invasion of Earth,” the Doctor exiles his own granddaughter to 22nd century Earth because she wants to kiss a boy. He doesn’t even grant her a real goodbye, locking the doors of the TARDIS and giving a speech that only shorn of its context sounds noble. But Susan’s mistreatment isn’t just about the casual way she was dumped off the show, but how her existence does (or does not) fit with the show’s lore. If she is a Time Lord, a quasi-immortal shape shifter, then dumping her in one time and place because she fancies a boy is quite the outrageous act.

Susan’s existence also raises questions about the Doctor’s other familial relationships that have never been directly addressed on screen. The show’s unspoken modus operandi was summed up by producer John Nathan-Turner as “No hanky-panky in the TARDIS.” But if he has a granddaughter, does that mean the Doctor also has a partner/s or children waiting for them to return to Gallifrey for thousands of years? As much as the character, especially in recent years, has implied they’re happy to screw around the cosmos, they’re not looking to settle down. And aside from one small appearance in a 1983 anniversary special, and a picture in the Doctor’s study in “The Pilot,” Susan’s existence has more or less been swept under the rug.

That was, until an actress called Susan Twist was cast in “Wild Blue Yonder” and then again in “The Church on Ruby Road.” Twist would go on to appear in every episode of Ncuti Gatwa’s first season in a series of cameos that the characters became increasingly aware of. “The Devil’s Chord” even ends on a fourth-wall breaking musical number called "There's Always a Twist at the End.” The show was very loudly hinting Twist was playing a regenerated version of Susan, who was explicitly discussed at the start of that same episode. By last season’s finale, however, Twist’s inclusion was a double bluff — part of Sutekh’s plan to trap the Doctor.

Now, it appears that showrunner Russell T. Davies has been playing the longest of long games with the fans. The season-long and highly-visible fakeout means I was actually surprised when Carole Ann Ford’s face appeared on screen. She appears twice, the first time when the Doctor is at death’s door, with her urging him to “find me” (harkening back to what Reginald Pye’s ghost wife told him before he blew up the film canisters in “Lux.”) The second time, she admonishes him for torturing Kid for his would-be genocide.

Who is Mrs. Flood?

In many ways, Susan’s appearance completely overshadows the reveal that Mrs. Flood is none other than the Rani. That’s the (classic) series’ far less well-known Time Lord foe, who appeared in only two official stories during its original run. But the Rani gained an outsize reputation among fans as she was played by Kate O’Mara (perhaps best known in the US for her role in Dynasty) who imbued the character with high camp excess. Which maybe blunted the idea that she was a sort of Time Lord Mengele, carelessly using people as fodder for her grisly experiments. Unfortunately, the Rani was created so late in the original series run that she only returned once in an episode most people would prefer to forget.

It appears that Russell T. Davies’ hidden mission for the streaming era was to rehabilitate some of the concepts that didn’t work back in the ‘80s. After bringing Mel back as a UNIT employee last year, now he’s doing the same for the Rani. Interestingly, both of those were created by Pip and Jane Baker — writers who are as emblematic of the series’ wider decline before its dramatic revival under Andrew Cartmel. It’s also notable, perhaps, that the name Rani is a Sanskrit word that broadly translates to “Queen,” but Panjabi is the first actress of South Asian descent to play the character.

I’ll be honest, if nothing else, I’m relieved that Mrs. Flood has turned out to be the Rani if only to stop people going on about that character. It’s not that she’s a bad character per-se, but when the series already has the Master, a renegade Time Lord who concocts elaborate traps for the Doctor, it’s hard to see the Rani as anything other than a “will this do?” alternative. Hopefully the finale can establish a real distinction between the Rani of the classic series and the new one beyond breaking the fourth wall.

... and the rest

Now, I have to apologize last week for not clocking the child Belinda saw in the alleyway was Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) from “Space Babies.” Obviously, some fan theories have suggested it was a sign that the stories from “The Story and the Engine” were leaking out of the pocket dimension. But at Comic Con Cardiff at the end of last year, Anita Dobson (Mrs. Flood) said that the second season would tie into “Space Babies,” which was another episode with a similarly fairytale premise.

If that is the case, and everything that has unfolded in the last two years is all part of some grand plan then it must have started at “Wild Blue Yonder.” It’s the second of the three 60th anniversary specials, and the episode that saw David Tennant’s Doctor disrupt Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity. It’s been a running joke ever since that the force is known as “Mavity,” and that episode is also the one that allowed the pantheon of gods to enter this universe. Given Susan Twist was playing Isaac Newton’s maid, perhaps the series shifted into the Twistverse at that point. Or, you know, the prevailing fan theory that this era takes place in the Land of Fiction, a pocket fantasy universe depicted in 1968’s “The Mind Robber.”

One subtle running thread this season has been the Doctor’s almost insistent urging that Belinda enjoys their travels. He’s made more than a few references to Belinda getting the hang of traveling with him in the TARDIS and starting to loosen up and enjoy things. If the only reason he met her in the first place was because of Conrad, then perhaps he’s unwittingly building his own bootstrap paradox. Which would be, you know, a bad thing.

Finally, it does appear that every episode of this season is going to share thematic parallels with its equivalent from last year. “Dot and Bubble” and “The Story and the Engine” both explicitly engage with ideas around how the Doctor’s changed racial identity affects his life. “Rogue” and “The Interstellar Song Contest” both deal with queer themes through the lens of a pop culture phenomenon. If true, then “Wish World” will likely be an episode where the story gets picked apart and the tension rises to another grand cliffhanger, followed by “The Reality War,” which can’t possibly hope to live up to the promise of its first half. You know, just like last year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/doctor-who-the-interstellar-song-contest-review-camp-190032125.html?src=rss

Vietnam sets Guinness world record with 10,518 drones in stunning synchronized displayChinese firm DAMODA supplied the tech for Vietnam Liberation Day celebrationApril 28 rehearsal certified as record despite later event cancellations

Vietnam has set a new Guinness World Record with a drone light show involving 10,518 synchronized drones.The display, which took place in Ho Chi Minh City on April 28, 2025, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.The certified record, officially recognized by Guinness as the “largest drone light show by number of drones flying simultaneously.” appears to have come from a rehearsal ahead of an official public event planned for April 30, which was later cancelled.

Celebrating Vietnam’s history

AV Magazine reports Reddit users speculated that the cancellation followed public criticism over advertising placements by digital payments firm VNPay during a national holiday.According to reports, removing the ads may have caused issues with the drone choreography, resulting in collisions and the eventual cancellation of another scheduled show on May 1.espite the setback, the April 28 rehearsal included detailed formations celebrating Vietnam’s history and development. The drones formed a number of images such as national emblems, historical scenes, and city skylines.The drone performance was powered by DAMODA - a Chinese company that has become known globally for its large-scale aerial displays - and designed in close conjunction with the show's Vietnamese organizers.This isn't DAMODA's first Guinness World Record. It previously set a 10,000-drone record at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 2024 and has supplied drone systems for a number of other major events, including Expo 2020 Dubai.DAMODA said its drones performed reliably during the performance, despite heat and signal interference, and the company claims over 10,000 performances to date with no accidents and a 99.999% reliability rate.You can watch highlights from the drone light show below.

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These are some recently released titles we think are worth adding to your reading list. This week, we read Apocalypse: How Catastrophe Transformed Our World and Can Forge New Futures, a compelling new history book by science journalist Lizzie Wade, and Behemoth, a riveting mini-series for Dark Horse that explores the classic idea of a kaiju attack from a horrifying... inside perspective.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-a-brief-history-of-humankinds-many-apocalypses-203451036.html?src=rss

You'll soon be able to get into your favorite games even faster with the updated Xbox home screen. According to Microsoft, Xbox Insiders are due to get three new customization options later this week that will make their dashboard feel a little more personal. As detailed in Xbox Wire, certain Xbox players will have options to reduce clutter and allow them to pull their favorite games to the front of the list.

The first major change lets you pin up to three of your favorite games or apps to the recently-played list. Pinning these means that they'll stay near the front of your list even when you launch other apps occasionally. Beyond that, your Xbox will get the option to "Hide System Apps" which should reduce the clutter and tuck those less important shortcuts away. To further streamline your home screen, Xbox will introduce the "Reduce Tile Count" feature that lets you set how many visible tiles are in the recently opened games and apps list. With more control thanks to these new features, Xbox players should get a cleaner homepage that lets their dynamic backgrounds shine more.

"We’ve heard from many of you that Home should feel more like your space," Eden Marie, principal software engineering lead of Xbox Experiences, wrote on Xbox's blog. "Whether it’s surfacing your favorite games, hiding what you don’t use, or simply making Home feel less crowded, this update is a direct response to that feedback."

According to Microsoft, these features will arrive on Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha users' consoles first. However, the company is still tweaking the Reduce Tile Count feature, adding that it "will be coming soon." Now, if only there were a way to hide those ads on the homescreen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-will-let-you-pin-up-to-three-favorite-games-to-your-homescreen-200051956.html?src=rss