News

The New York Times and Amazon have entered into a multi-year licensing agreement that will allow Amazon access to much of the publication’s editorial content for AI-related uses. In a press release announcing the deal, The New York Times shared that this agreement will bring new features for customers like accessing summaries or excerpts of Times content using Alexa. It will also allow Amazon to train its AI models on The New York Times content.

In announcing the deal, The New York Times shared, "The collaboration will make The New York Times’ original content more accessible to customers across Amazon products and services including direct links to Times products and underscores the companies’ shared commitment to serving customers with global news and perspectives within Amazon’s AI products." Access to content from NYT Cooking and The Athletic is also included in the deal.

AI models require training on vast amounts of data, and many of the companies building them are likely running afoul of copyright laws by training on protected materials. OpenAI and Google went so far as to ask for a government exemption to copyright laws for their models to train freely. The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for training their models on the company’s content without permission back in 2023, though the case is still ongoing.

Licensing agreements can offer additional revenue streams for companies willing to hand over user data or allow AI models to train on content created by their employees. The Washington Post is one of several major publications that have signed deals with OpenAI earlier this year. The specific contents of today’s deal, such as how much Amazon is paying, have not been disclosed. Amazon has been on a tear releasing AI-powered tools for shopping, book recaps and product explanations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-and-the-new-york-times-enter-ai-related-licensing-agreement-155019578.html?src=rss

The 2025 edition of Netflix Tudum, aka the now-annual fan event that celebrates everything about the world's best streaming service, is almost upon us.This year's installment will take place on Saturday, May 31 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET – non-US readers can work out when it'll begin using the aforementioned times – and there'll be plenty of announcements made on the night.We already know that TV hits including Stranger Things, Wednesday, and Squid Game will be featured at Netflix Tudum 2025. However, Netflix has stayed tight-lipped on what it'll actually reveal during its live event, which you can watch on Netflix if you didn't manage to secure a ticket to the in-person event.That won't stop me from speculating on what'll be shown, mind you. With that in mind, here are four things I predict we'll see at Tudum 2025.1. Stranger Things season 5 release date and format, plus a teaser trailerMe and who as we sit around our computers hoping for some Stranger Things 5 news on Saturday? (Image credit: Netflix)As far as many people are concerned, these are the biggest reveals that Netflix could make at Tudum 2025.We already know that the hugely popular show's final season is set to be released sometime in 2025. Indeed, filming wrapped on Stranger Things 5 in December 2024 but, while a big Stranger Things season 5 leak seemingly suggested it'll air in late 2025, we still don't know when it'll make its actual debut.Nevertheless, Tudum 2025 is the perfect time for Netflix to finally confirm when Stranger Things season 5 will be released. I predict that the streaming giant will also tell us whether it'll launch in full, or be released in two parts like Stranger Things season 4 was.Lastly, I'd be surprised if a teaser trailer isn't unveiled to further generate hype for one of the best Netflix shows' final hurrah. We've had to live on behind-the-scenes morsels for years at this point, so some actual footage of season 5 would go down a storm.2. An official trailer for Squid Game season 3 Unchain Squid Game season 3's official trailer, you cowards! (Image credit: Netflix)It's hard to believe that another incredibly successful Netflix TV Original – Squid Game – will end this year, too.The Korean-language survival drama is set to end when Squid Game season 3 arrives on June 27. But, despite the fact that we were treated to an exciting Squid Game 3 teaser in early May, an official trailer still hasn't been released online. Tudum 2025 is the ideal time to drop a much longer trailer that'll make me and millions of other Netflix users even more stoked for the series' last chapter.3. More footage of Wednesday season 2This is the exact same pose and facial expression I'll have if we don't see more of Wednesday season 2 (Image credit: Netflix)Unlike the aforementioned pair, Netflix hasn't been shy about disclosing information about Wednesday season 2.In the last few weeks alone, we've received word about Wednesday 2's dual release dates and first-look at its new cast members, and been treated to a finger-clickingly good behind-the-scenes featurette of the show's sophomore outing.I'm hungry for even more, though, so I'd like to see another first-look clip or two for Wednesday's second chapter. I don't really care what's shown, either. Indeed, I'll take an extended sequence of Jenna Ortega's eponymous character interacting with Joanna Lumley's Grandmama, a tension-filled reunion with Hunter Dooham's Tyler/Hyde, or something more kooky. Just give me something, please Netflix.4. Release date reveals for Netflix's 2025 movie line-up"No Knives Out 3 release date yet? It makes no goddamn sense! Compels me, though..." (Image credit: https://x.com/rianjohnson)It's not all about the biggest shows that Netflix has to offer. There are numerous new Netflix movies that'll launch on the platform before the end of 2025, but lots of them still only have placeholder launch windows.There's no better moment to announce some proper release dates for some of Netflix's most anticipated new movies of the year, then, than at Tudum 2025. I'm hoping for official launch dates for Wake Up, Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, The RIP, and The Twits, but I won't turn my nose up at any other major reveals that are made.What are you hoping to hear more about at Netflix Tudum 2025? Will you be tuning in to watch it live, or do you plan on catching up on the biggest news once it's wrapped up? Let me know in the comments!You might also likeThese are the best Netflix movies to stream today'Is this for real?': Lilo and Stitch fans are furious about the live-action remake's ending, so they're watching the original movie on Disney+ insteadAvengers: Doomsday could spell the end for another original Avenger as Marvel actor's thank you video sparks MCU exit rumors

The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of built-in storage, eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED. But the new console’s improved performance means that some games will hog a ton of that space: Cyberpunk 2077 is a 60GB download, for one, while Split Fiction checks in at 73GB. Other titles aren’t nearly as big, but chances are you’ll eventually want to add more room to the device.

When you do, you’ll need a microSD Express card. These are not the same as the standard microSD cards you may have bought for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds — they’re newer, faster and significantly more expensive. But if you want more space, they’re your only choice. If you’re looking to grab one today, we’ve laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy.

The best microSD cards for the Switch 2 (and why you might want to wait to buy)

The SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro.Jeff Dunn for Engadget

The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there aren’t many options available to buy just yet. To make things easy, here’s a list of every microSD Express card we’ve seen at retailers at the time of writing:

128GB

SanDisk microSD Express Card ($56 MSRP)

PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP)

256GB

Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)

SanDisk microSD Express Card ($75 MSRP)

Lexar Play Pro ($50 MSRP)

PNY microSD Express Card ($59 MSRP)

GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)

Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP)

512GB

Lexar Play Pro ($100 MSRP)

GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($100 MSRP)

Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP)

1TB

Lexar Play Pro ($200 MSRP)

GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($190 MSRP)

Remember: You’re looking for microSD Express, not “Extreme,” a la the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards. A microSD Express card will have a big “EX” logo printed on it — if you see that, you should be good to go.

Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards with a capacity up to 2TB, but we haven’t seen any microSD Express model go beyond 1TB just yet. It’s also worth noting that GameStop and Onn (Walmart’s in-house electronics brand) aren’t manufacturers, so it’s unclear who exactly is making their cards.

Currently, stock for each of these cards has been extremely spotty. SanDisk’s microSD Express Card has also increased in price since it first went up for sale in February; originally, it cost $45 for 128GB and $60 for 256GB. Either way, all of these cards are far pricier than traditional microSD options. The Samsung Pro Plus, for example, costs $17 for 128GB, $25 for 256GB, $43 for 512GB and $90 for 1TB as of this writing.

All microSD Express cards will have this "EX" logo printed on them.Nintendo/Engadget

We’ve already tested SanDisk’s Express card and the Lexar Play Pro for our broader guide to the best microSD cards. Between the two, SanDisk’s card has much faster sequential read speeds — up to 899 MB/s vs. 712 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark, to name one benchmark — which theoretically makes it better equipped to reduce load times.

The Play Pro is quicker for sequential writes (up to 720 MB/s vs. 650 MB/s), available in more sizes and should be cheaper at 256GB whenever it’s in stock. (SanDisk says the 128GB version of its card has slower sequential writes than the 256GB model, too.) Random performance is about equal, so the two should be similarly adept at keeping large games like Mario Kart World running smoothly.

We mainly tested those cards on a Windows PC and Mac, though. How they perform on the actual Switch 2 remains to be seen. We’ll test as many options as we can once we have our hands on the console, but for now we can’t say if it’ll render all microSD Express cards to similar speeds. That was largely the case with the first Switch: Once a (regular) microSD card hit a certain threshold of performance, there wasn’t that much practical difference between it and other alternatives. The Switch 2 is working with a different standard, but if something similar were to happen again, the “best” microSD Express card would simply be the most affordable one from a reputable brand in the capacity you want.

That brings us to our main piece of advice: If you can hold off on buying one of these things early on, that’s probably a good idea. It’s not just about the lack of testing — truthfully, we’d be surprised if any of the cards above were truly “bad.” It comes down to value: Barring more tariff shenanigans, all of these cards are as expensive today as they’re ever likely to get. The Switch 2 is already popular and will continue to be, thus more microSD Express cards will need to be made and prices will (eventually) come down. Try to use all 256 of the gigabytes baked into the Switch 2 first, even if it means having to delete a game or two. But if you’re absolutely sure you want more space right away, the cards above should be good enough.

What are microSD Express cards?

A microSD Express card like the one on the right has a second row of pins on the back.Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), of which there are three versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. The vast majority of cards you may have bought in the past utilize UHS-I. These have one row of pins in the back and a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/s). (Though many cards are able to surpass that limit with proprietary tech and card readers.) The original Switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as do most other gaming handhelds like Valve’s Steam Deck.

UHS-II cards add a second row of pins and can reach up to 312 MB/s. These are pricier and much less common than cards based on UHS-I, but they’re supported by some cameras and higher-power handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X. UHS-III, meanwhile, is twice as fast as UHS-II in theory (624 MB/s), but no microSD cards have actually used it.

UHS-I cards have held on over the years because they’re cheap, widely supported and fast enough for the things most people need them to do: record 4K video, stash photos and so on. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo needs more. The new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run demanding games that may have originally been built for stronger hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PCs. The device also uses UFS 3.1 storage internally, which is much speedier than the eMMC storage used by the original Switch. (A custom file decompression engine should help improve load times as well.) So if the Switch 2 is going to accept microSD cards, it needs ones that won’t bring a serious drop-off in performance and can hold up with modern games.

The Nintendo Switch 2.Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Hence, SD Express. This standard has technically been around since 2018 but mostly went nowhere until the Switch 2 came along. It also uses a second row of pins, but it lets microSD cards take advantage of the PCI Express (PCIe)/NVMe interface, which is the same underlying tech used by modern SSDs. As a result, it can produce considerably faster read and write speeds, with a current theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s.

As noted above, real-world performance won’t be quite that fast. Even if it was, the best microSD Express cards would still be much slower than the NVMe SSDs used by the PS5 and Xbox. (Sony recommends SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And they’ll fall well below their peak speeds under sustained loads: SanDisk, for instance, says sustained write speeds for its 128GB Express card can drop as low as 100 MB/s.

But they’re still a marked improvement over old UHS-I cards, and in theory, they should be quicker than some older SATA-based SSDs when it comes loading game levels, asset streaming, retrieving saves or copying games to external storage. Whereas SanDisk’s microSD Express card can produce sequential read speeds around 900 MB/s, Lexar’s Professional Silver Plus — the top UHS-I pick in our general microSD card guide — topped out just over 200 MB/s, and that’s with a proprietary reader. (On the first Switch, it’d be closer to 100 MB/s.) Sequential writes and random speeds were three to four times better as well, and sometimes even more depending on the benchmark we used.

It remains to be seen how well these Express cards will hold up with extended use, and there’s no way to know exactly when their sky-high prices will drop. Non-Switch 2 devices that support microSD Express are still exceedingly rare, and the standard itself isn’t backwards compatible with UHS-II, so you’ll be limited to UHS-I speeds if you want to use your card with another device (unless you buy a pricey external reader). Still, while the increased costs and limited selection are annoying, the tech itself seems worthy of a next-gen Switch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-best-microsd-cards-for-the-nintendo-switch-2-160052535.html?src=rss

Apple's big 2025 software reveal is nearly upon us. On June 9, the Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC) keynote will showcase the changes coming with its 2025 software. That includes — deep breath — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.

Leaks suggest this year will be a biggie. In addition to the requisite Craig Federighi gags, expect a significant visual overhaul — one of Apple's biggest ever — and (shocker) new Apple Intelligence features.

Visual redesign

The company is reportedly set to unveil a platform-wide visual overhaul. The revamp is said to be a dramatic change, drawing inspiration from Apple's mixed reality headset.

Apple

According to Front Page Tech's Jon Prosser, that may even include (nearly) round icons on the home screen and in Control Center. He also noted subtler changes, like a redesigned tab view within apps and the search box in Messages being moved to the bottom of the screen.

One of Apple's core goals with the new software is to unify the design language of its operating systems. The idea is to make it less visually jarring to hop between devices. If executed well, jumping from iPhone to iPad to Mac (and so on) will feel like touring different flavors of the same OS.

Apple's last big macOS makeover was with 2020's Big Sur. For the iPhone's software, you have to go all the way back to 2013. That's when iOS 7 kicked skeuomorphic design to the curb, replacing it with a flat, minimalistic look. Minus some iterative changes, it's still the UI you see today.

A new naming scheme

Along with the big visual refresh, Apple is also rumored to be changing how it names its operating systems. Instead of having random version numbers at the end, the company is apparently planning to unify the names by year — so iOS 19 would become iOS 26, as it'll be Apple's platform for the coming year. The same goes for all of Apple's other software, so we're looking at iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and so forth. Of course, it goes without saying that macOS should still get a California-themed name; hopefully Apple won't be throwing that tradition in the bin just yet.

The iPad goes to work

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Could 2025 be the year the iPad Pro starts to feel… Pro? The high-end versions of Apple's tablet have been more than capable on a hardware level for generations. (Especially when they switched to M-series chips.) But the software has held it back. That's presumably because the company doesn't want to cannibalize Mac sales. After all, if the iPad Pro can truly replace a laptop, then fewer people would buy both.

The bad news for those wanting a full-on Mac experience: The iPad won't switch to macOS. The good news: iPadOS may get much more Mac-like. This year's update will reportedly focus on productivity, featuring improved multitasking and app window management.

It's not that Apple hasn't inched the iPad's software in that direction. It incrementally did so with Stage Manager in iPadOS 16. The year before, it added the multitasking menu at the top of app windows. But for many, those tweaks fell far short of the full-on productivity overhaul they craved. Will it be enough this time? Bloomberg's Mark Gurman thinks it will "likely go far enough" for most power users. (Is that a "Hallelujah!" I hear?)

Apple Intelligence

Apple

Even if leaks hadn't already suggested as much, this one would be a no-brainer. After all, AI has been every tech company's obsession since ChatGPT took the world by storm over two years ago. Expect a healthy portion of the keynote to be devoted to Apple's AI advances. These will reportedly include improvements to existing features and a few new ones.

Siri

Remember when Apple promised a more personalized Siri at last year's conference? The one that many wished would come ahead of the visual overhaul? Well, we're still waiting on that. The last official update we heard was in March, when the company told Daring Fireball, "It's going to take us longer than we thought." (Oops!) Apple expects the new Siri features to arrive "in the coming year," a clear-as-mud description if ever there was one.

A report from The Information last month hinted that the upgraded Siri was nowhere near ready. The 2024 demo, where Siri condensed minutes of multi-app planning into mere seconds, reportedly came as a surprise to team members working on Siri. (Never an encouraging sign.)

Apple

Separate reporting this month from Bloomberg sheds a bit more light, adding that we probably won't hear much about those Siri upgrades at WWDC 2025. The publication described those updates as being months away from shipping. The company is also reportedly separating its Apple Intelligence and Siri marketing. The logic behind this is that users are so fed up with Apple's assistant that it's hurting Apple's AI push.

The company's 2024 presentation was undoubtedly impressive. It showed a more context-sensitive Siri that better understands what you're doing. It pulled info from various apps and spliced them together in a seamless flow. It recorded a specific type of video in a third-party app. It shared a meeting summary via email with a teammate. And it found missing information the user remembered reading... somewhere. It even controlled system settings and explained them when needed.

The bottom line: If or when Apple pulls off what it promised last year, that's big news for Siri. But don't hold your breath for it to show up at WWDC 2025.

According to Bloomberg, the Siri updates we do see will be much subtler. These would include adding the option to use Gemini instead of ChatGPT with the assistant.

AI battery management

Apple

Another iOS 19 scoop points to an Apple Intelligence feature that's easy to get behind. A new AI-powered battery management mode will reportedly analyze how you use your phone. It can then use that to make power-saving adjustments on the fly. If it works well, that could be pretty nifty.

It may also be a key ingredient to a new device: the "iPhone Air." Whatever Apple calls it, the rumored ultra-slim handset is expected to join Apple's lineup this year. Without this feature, the phone's smaller battery might struggle to make it through a typical day. (According to Gurman, it would last several hours less than Apple's other iPhones.) But with the AI battery feature activated, the svelte iPhone could become more practical.

Will we see this slim-jim iPhone at WWDC? Well, let's say you have as good a chance of Valve randomly showing up to announce Half Life 3 at Apple's conference. First, the svelte handset is expected to be part of the iPhone 17 lineup, which typically arrives around September. Second, Apple hasn't unveiled a new iPhone at WWDC since Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone 4 in 2010. So, in short, nope.

Virtual health coach

Apple

Apple is reportedly working on a virtual health coach. Allegedly codenamed Project Mulberry, the AI feature would pair a refreshed Health app with an AI-powered coach. Bloomberg says the feature would, to some degree, give you advice you'd usually seek from a doctor.

The virtual coach would collect data from your Apple devices and use AI to provide personalized health advice, chatbot-style. Apple is reportedly training the AI agent with data from company physicians. Meanwhile, outside experts would shoot educational videos.

In March, Bloomberg's Gurman said the virtual coach could arrive as early as iOS 19.4, which wouldn't likely come until early to mid-2026. But a quick aside in a report this month from Gurman and Drake Bennett mentioned that it could be a point of focus at WWDC.

A new gaming app

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is predicting that Apple will introduce a centralized, pre-installed app for gaming on the Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. It'll include some of the features in the long-neglected Game Center service like leaderboards and matchmaking and pair them with a dedicated game launcher and editorial content including recommendations —including a push towards the Apple Arcade service.

Hair Force One

Apple

It wouldn't be an Apple keynote without some wacky Craig Federighi hijinks. Last year, Apple's software lead strapped on a hair-shaped helmet and skydived into Apple Park. At previous events, he showed off his parkour skills, summoned an iPad like he's a Jedi and jammed out on a three-necked guitar.

Say what you will about "Hair Force One." Federighi knows how to sell a sight gag. (With maybe just a teensy bit of help from Apple's visual effects artists.)

Betas and release dates

Following Apple's typical schedule, you can expect the first developer betas to arrive after the conference ends. (Likely the same day!) Public betas would follow early this summer. And you can expect the final versions of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16 and so on to arrive alongside new iPhones this fall.

What not to expect at WWDC

While Apple's developer conference will be jam-packed if they serve up even a fraction of the expectations above, there are a few things we can pretty confidently take off the board, too.

With the possible exception of the Mac Pro, nearly all of Apple's hardware lines have either just finished an upgrade cycle (consumer Macs, most iPads) or are going to get updated in the fall as usual (iPhone, Apple Watch). As such, we're not expecting any major hardware announcements. Apple has talked about the Mac Pro at past WWDC events, but that computer is updated so infrequently that it's hard to say with any confidence that we'll see any changes. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/wwdc-2025-what-we-expect-apple-to-reveal-including-new-ios-macos-apple-intelligence-and-more-210051103.html?src=rss

Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 have been hit by a bug that can leave a PC unable to bootMicrosoft is investigating this recovery error glitch in the May updateWindows 11 Home users are unlikely to be affected, we’re told, but that doesn’t mean they can’t run into this showstopping affairThose who haven’t yet installed the latest cumulative update for Windows 11 in May – by which I mean the upgrade released the week before last, not the most recent optional update – should be aware of a nasty bug that some users are encountering.Microsoft has said that it’s investigating whether the May update can cause a showstopping error, which means your PC won’t boot. However, this warning is delivered with a welcome caveat that it isn’t likely to affect Windows 11 Home users. Still, that possibility isn’t ruled out, and given the gravity of the bug, it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re about to pull the trigger on this cumulative update.Bleeping Computer reports that Microsoft has updated its release health dashboard with information on the bug, and how the upgrade might fall over with a ‘recovery error 0xc0000098 in ACPI.sys’ message.This is no simple error or installation failure, though, because it leaves Windows 11 unable to boot and requires a repair to be run on the system. And whether that repair will be successful is anyone’s guess, as sometimes, these are the kind of situations that are tricky to recover from – and the OS won’t necessarily pull itself out of the hole that’s been dug.The good news is that affected devices running Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 – note that 24H2 is not affected here – are few in number. Primarily, this problem pertains to virtual machines, not physical Windows 11 PCs.Microsoft explains: “Home users of Windows using Home or Pro editions are unlikely to face this issue, as virtual machines are mostly used in IT environments.”However, being ‘unlikely’ does not equate to being impossible, and so there must have been some reports of Windows 11 PCs (as opposed to virtual machines) being affected by this unfortunate issue.I did find one such recent report on Reddit, although it isn’t explicitly linked to the latest update being installed, so take that with a grain of salt. The error message was slightly different as well, but in its warning, Microsoft acknowledges that a file name other than ACPI.sys might appear in the error.Analysis: A cautious approach may be wise here(Image credit: MAYA LAB / Shutterstock)Microsoft wouldn’t announce such an investigation lightly, so if you haven’t yet installed the May update, I think that it’s worth considering delaying the installation of that upgrade for a little longer. Mainly to allow for Microsoft to complete its investigation here, after all, you’ve waited a couple of weeks (for whatever reason) now, so what’s another week, or perhaps a bit longer?It is possible to pause OS updates for over a month, even on Windows 11 Home, though you’ll be forced to apply any given patch after 35 days of deferring it.In this additional time, you can wait for Microsoft to complete its deeper dive into what’s going on here, and hopefully that’ll lead to a fix being implemented soon, too.Granted, you’d probably be very unlucky to encounter this recovery error, but even a small chance is off-putting, given that it could be a potentially thorny problem to extricate yourself from. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and if you’ve already installed the May update without encountering any such error, I should make it clear that you've got nothing to worry about.Microsoft isn’t having a great time of things lately when it comes to bugs of a seriously unpleasant nature, as there was a real sting in the tail for some Windows 10 users with the May update, too.You might also like...Hate Copilot? You might change your mind if this hint that it’ll extend your laptop’s battery life is trueCan’t upgrade to Windows 11? This Linux project wants to save your old PC from the scrapheap when Windows 10 support endsBeen hiding from Windows 11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? There’s nowhere to run now as Microsoft’s made the update compulsory

Garmin is apparently working on a screenless, Whoop-style recovery trackerThe band is set to launch 'within two months' according to leak site The5KRunnerDetails include vibration alarms, LED battery life indicators and tap gestures – just like WhoopYes, it's been rumored before, but it sounds as though we could be seeing a very different style of fitness tracker from Garmin in a couple of months.Garmin has consistently been known for its smartwatches – it's why we have a dedicated best Garmin watches list, after all – but the company is reportedly set to debut a Whoop-style screenless tracker "within two months", according to leak site The5kRunner.Having apparently seen a confidential source document, The5KRunner refers to it as a "sleep band" stated to provide comfort during use. This is a nice option to have, as Garmin's chunky watches often aren't ideal for use during sleep. A buckle mechanism and overlapping adjustable strap makes it sound similar to Whoop.The comparisons don't stop there. Features listed include vibration alarm that wakes the wearer, tap gestures to turn off or snooze the alarm, and an LED battery indicator – all emblematic of Whoop.Sleep tracking is a given, considering the device is said to pack a smart-wake alarm. Smart-wake alarms, a feature recently introduced in the Garmin Vivoactive 6, only work if the wearable is actively tracking sleep stages via heart rate and other metrics.Whoop's got some competitionA long time ago, based on my colleague Lance Ulanoff's findings during CES 2023, I predicted that screenless smartwatches would be the future of fitness.While that hasn't strictly proven true until now, 2025 has seen new screenless optical heart rate monitoring fitness tech from Whoop, Coros, and now (apparently) Garmin, not to mention the advent of the best smart rings.Fitness tracking is going discreet, focusing on the holistic overall benefits of an active lifestyle rather than specifically tracking workouts.While the best running watches will always have a place, I think an optical armband-based Whoop competitor from a company like Garmin, with an enormous built-in infrastructure for sleep, health and workout tracking, could be a real winner.You might also like...I used the Garmin Instinct 3, Whoop MG, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and AllTrails all at once on a hike – here's how they compareSamsung Galaxy Watch 8 and 8 Classic reportedly certified – but no mention of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2Users of the new Whoop MG fitness band are reporting widespread failures

Retro compact has no rear LCD and film-style digital filtersIt offers instant one-button Wi-Fi transfer to cloud or mobile appKickstarter campaign launching "mid-June" according to websiteThe upcoming Echolens is a digital camera that stands out from the pack. Designed to recreate the experience of shooting on analog film, it has no rear screen and built-in film-style filters to create warm, vintage photographs. And the X100VI look-a-like is also going to be really, really affordable.We’ve seen cameras like the Echolens before. We don’t mean compact, fixed-lens and pricey cameras like the imperious Fujifilm X100VI, the stunning Leica Q3 43 or even the recent fun-oriented Fujifilm X, although there’s definitely a bit of all three in the Echolens’ eye-catching retro styling. We mean in pared-back, cheap point-and-shoots like the Camp Snap, which also has no screen and a refreshingly simple approach to shooting.While details on its lens, sensor and other specs are yet to be revealed, the Echolens appears to be a little more advanced than the Camp Snap. For one thing, it has an LCD indicator on its top plate to keep count of your shots.After 54 snaps have been captured, you’ll have to offload them to your smartphone or the cloud via the camera’s built-in Wi-Fi – a feature that’s supposed to 'echo' the act of changing the roll of film in your analog camera. This offloading apparently takes just one button press and no time at all.The bottom plate features a shot count indicator and image transfer button. (Image credit: Echolens)Stripped-back shootingThe Echolens website promises a minimalist approach to photography, stripping away much of the tinkering that can get in between the photographer and their subject.That means simplified controls (there’s a shutter button, an image transfer button and a dial to switch the flash on and off, and that seems to be it), a viewfinder for composition and nothing in the way of AI image enhancement or over-sharpening. Instead, the user can pick from a range of digital ‘film’ styles designed to replicate the color profiles of classic 35mm stocks.A USB-C port is also present for recharging, and Echolens’ makers claim the battery will last for several days on a full charge.The Echolens' top plate has a shutter button and a flash control – nothing else. (Image credit: Echolens)While we really need more detail before we can get too excited about this camera – and all the usual crowdfunding caveats still apply – we hopefully won’t have to wait long. Echolens is slated for a launch on Kickstarter in mid-June 2025, with a full release to follow at an unspecified later date.What we do know, roughly at least, is the price: the Echolens site’s FAQ says the camera will be around $150 (or around £110 / AU$230), but early bird backers on Kickstarter will be able to secure a pre-order for under $100 (about £75 / AU$155). Which seems like a brilliantly affordable price tag if this thing lives up to its billing.Of course, backers sometimes have a lengthy wait for the finished product after a Kickstarter campaign closes, so we’ve reached out to Echolens to try and find out more about their camera and campaign. We’ll update this story when we have further info.The flash dial simply toggles between on and off, apparently. (Image credit: Echolens)You might also likeFujifilm’s X half is a tiny retro compact that’s big on wacky film photography features, and I love itPentax 17 review: a modern analog charmerFujifilm’s affordable Instax Mini 41 impressed me with its elegant design and simple operation

LexisNexis has suffered a data breach after a cyberattackPersonal information was taken affecting around 360,000 usersNot everyone is happy with the response timeline from the organizationData analytics and risk management firm LexisNexis has disclosed a cyberattack that resulted in data theft affecting 364,333 individuals.In a notification letter sent to those affected, the company claims an “unauthorized party” gained access to a third-party software development platform and stole the data.According to the firm, no sensitive personal information was accessed, nor was financial or credit card information, and the organisation’s infrastructure, systems, and products also remain uncompromised.Save up to 68% on identity theft protection for TechRadar readers! TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View DealInformation affected“Our Information Security team, in consultation with a forensic firm, immediately began investigating and confirmed that some data which was held in GitHub... was acquired by an unknown third party. Specifically, we have determined that some software artifacts as well as some personal information was accessed” LexisNexis told The Register.The leaked information includes names, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, SSNs, and driver’s license details - enough to spark concern for anyone affected. Take a look at the best identity theft monitoring services if you are concerned.Not everyone is impressed with LexisNexus’ response timeline, though. Dr Ilia Kolochenko, CEO at ImmuniWeb explains;“The timeline of the incident detection and disclosure is a bit surprising for a company offering legal and other comparatively sensitive services: the incident reportedly happened in December 2024, was detected in April 2025 after receiving information from the attackers, while disclosed only in May. Given that a lot of personal data was reportedly compromised, the incident detection and response timeline is pretty far from being perfect, to put it mildly.”“The legal consequences of this incident may cost a lot of dollars to the breach company – being composed of regulatory penalties, legal fees and a likely settlement agreement with the victims. Sadly, as practice demonstrates, the victims will likely get paltry two- or three-digit compensation for the incident in the best-case scenario.”LexisNexis is far from the first company to be affected by a breach like this, with firms like Co-op and Marks and Spencers offering apologies for the effects of cyberattacks that hit the retailers in May 2025.You might also likeTake a look at our picks for the best malware removal software aroundCheck out our choice for best antivirus softwarePowerSchool hit by cyberattack which saw student and teacher data stolen

As if early June wasn't already going to be a wild enough time in the gaming world with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, that's also when a whole host of showcases takes place as part of Summer Game Fest. Along with the two blockbuster events — Summer Game Fest Live and the Xbox Games Showcase — there are a bunch of other ones in store, including the always-delightful Day of the Devs.

There could be even more on the docket. There's always a chance that Nintendo and Sony will run a Direct or State of Play, respectively, over the next few weeks. Ubisoft hasn't yet announced a Forward event for this year either — perhaps because it has delayed a bunch of big games and isn't ready to talk about them. We haven't yet heard about a Devolver Direct either (c'monnnn, we need Baby Steps and Skate Story release dates already!).

As things stand, SGF is slated to run from June 6 until June 8. With E3 officially dead (organizer Entertainment Software Association is planning an industry-focused event for next April instead), SGF is now the de facto replacement and the biggest event for announcements and updates this side of Gamescom in August.

We'll update this preview as more details about the showcases emerge, including additional events in the SGF nebula. We'll embed videos for each stream as they become available as well.

Engadget will be on the ground in Los Angeles for the in-person side of SGF, which is for media and creators. We'll be bringing you hands-on impressions of many of the games that are featured during SGF Live.

Most folks will be keeping up with everything from home, though. To that end, here's a breakdown of how to watch Summer Game Fest 2025 and what to expect from the extravaganza (we're bound to get a Hollow Knight: Silksong release date this time, right?!?!).

Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule

Summer Game Fest Live — June 6, 5PM ET

Day of the Devs — June 6, 7PM ET

Wholesome Direct — June 7, 12PM ET

Women-led Games Showcase — June 7, 1PM ET

Latin American Games Showcase — June 7, 2PM ET

Green Games Showcase — June 7, 4PM ET

Xbox Games Showcase — June 8, 1PM ET

How to watch Summer Game Fest Live — June 6, 5PM ET

Watch on YouTube or Twitch

Putting aside our annoyance at the timing of this showcase — late on a Friday evening in the UK and right when many folks on the East Coast are clocking out for the weekend — Summer Game Fest Live is one of the bigger events in early June. It starts at 5PM ET and will run for two hours.

Organizers are promising "spectacular new video game announcements, surprises and reveals." That's pretty compelling, especially since host Geoff Keighley (rightfully) downplayed expectations ahead of last year's show.

We do know about a few games that will appear. SGF Live will include a fresh look at Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, a Soulslike action RPG from Leenzee, a studio based in China. That game will arrive in July. Open-world MMORPG Chrono Odyssey will make an appearance as well.

Oh, and Hideo Kojima will be there, of course. SGF Live takes place just a couple of weeks before Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On the Beach arrives, so we'll likely get another peek at that game. Perhaps some of the other projects Kojima's working on will get some time in the limelight too.

We’re proud to welcome a record-setting 60+ partners for #SummerGameFest 2025, a global celebration of video games in Los Angeles this June. pic.twitter.com/1TZkEbKlHt— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) May 28, 2025

Keighley has also released an initial list of partners for SGF. It includes big names such as PlayStation, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox, Steam, 2K, Epic Games and Square Enix. On the list is IO Interactive, so perhaps we'll get more information about the James Bond game that the Hitman studio has been working on for several years. Embark Studios is there as well, and given that there's a lot of hype around its upcoming extraction shooter, Arc Raiders, there'll be high hopes for a release date for that one. On top of that, it might be a little too early for another peek at The Witcher 4 after the reveal trailer at The Game Awards in December. But CD Projekt Red will be at SGF, so you never know...

You can watch SGF Live on more than 20 platforms, including YouTube (that stream will be available in 4K at 60 fps), Twitch, X, TikTok, Steam and international services. The event will stream live from the YouTube Theater, and you can attend in person, if you like.

In any case, we'll be bringing you all the major news from Summer Game Fest Live. We just can't promise we won't have an adult beverage with an umbrella next to us while we're covering the event.

How to watch Day of the Devs — June 6, 7PM ET

Watch on YouTube (the same stream as SGF Live above) or Twitch

Immediately after SGF Live ends, the YouTube and Twitch streams will segue into the summer 2025 Day of the Devs stream. This indie-focused showcase invariably has a fantastic lineup of games worth keeping an eye on.

Among the games making appearances are Possessor(s) from Heart Machine and "nightmarish RPG" Neverway from Coldblood and co-publisher Outersloth. We'll also see something from House House (Untitled Goose Game) — presumably the co-op "walker-talker" Big Walk that was revealed in 2023. In all, this edition of Day of the Devs will feature 20 games.

Last year's show included 2024 game(s) of the year contender UFO 50, the very intriguing platformer Screenbound, survival climbing game Cairn, the delightfully kooky-looking Building Relationships and sci-fi mystery Phoenix Springs. My Steam wishlist somehow expands quite significantly after each Day of the Devs showcase. Weird how that always happens.

How to watch Wholesome Direct — June 7, 12PM ET

Watch on YouTube or Twitch

Definitely don't overlook the smaller events that take place during SGF, as you can always find plenty of treats among them. One such event is the Wholesome Direct, which will feature around 60 cozy games. It will include world premieres, demo announcements and updates from publishers and developers including Playstack, btf Games, ustwo games and Wētā Workshop (whose Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game arrives in July).

How to watch Women-led Games Showcase — June 7, 1PM ET

Watch on YouTube

This one does what it says on the tin. It's a showcase featuring games from women-led and majority-women studios. Women-led Games will feature 39 titles, including world premieres and release dates.

How to watch Latin American Games Showcase — June 7, 2PM ET

Watch on YouTube

The Latin American Games Showcase will feature more than 50 games, all of which are from Latin American developers, oddly enough. Expect world premieres, game update news and more from this one.

How to watch Green Games Showcase — June 7, 4PM ET

Watch on YouTube

The Green Games Showcase is a new addition to the lineup for 2025. This will focus on the game's industry's "growing commitment to the environment." It will feature games that make direct contributions to green initiatives. Other titles in the showcase center around sustainability, and some are designed to raise awareness or drive action regarding environmental causes.

Amazon Games, Skybound Games and Team17 are among those taking part. The stream will include a Q&A about how games can inspire meaningful action on climate change. There will also be a fundraising drive to help plant 50,000 trees.

How to watch Xbox Games Showcase — June 8, 1PM ET

Watch on YouTube or Twitch (there's a separate ASL stream on Twitch too)

What's the over/under on the number of times the phrase "day one with Game Pass" will appear on this stream? That's one phrase you can definitely expect to hear, but Microsoft will have plenty to share here. It's the biggest Xbox showcase of the year. There will be reveals and updates from across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.

Games that the company has in the pipeline include Fable (2026), Perfect Dark, Gears of War: E-Day, Everwild, State of Decay 3, Clockwork Revolution, Hideo Kojima's OD and Contraband. It feels a little early for an update on The Elder Scrolls 6 since that game is still years away. But we may find out more about those other games and some we don't yet know about, such as whatever Double Fine and Toys for Bob are working on.

I have my fingers crossed for more info on the Blade game that Arkane Studios is working on. It's a reasonably safe bet that we'll see something about the next Call of Duty here as well. There's always going to be space for offerings from Microsoft's partner studios and publishers too. Plus, you never know, we might get a peek at what Halo Studios has been cooking up.

One game we'll definitely hear more about on June 8 is The Outer Worlds 2. That's getting its own time in the spotlight, with a dedicated event that will start as soon as the main Xbox Games Showcase ends.

Meanwhile, several publishers and other organizations are hosting their own shows around SGF. Here's when those will take place:

Access-Ability Summer Showcase (featuring games made by disabled developers and the accessibility options in each title) — June 6, 11AM ET, YouTube and Twitch

IGN Live — throughout June 7 and 8

Southeast Asian Games Showcase — June 7, 3PM ET

Future Games Show — June 7, 4PM ET (featuring more than 40 games)

PC Gamer's PC Gaming Show — June 8, 3PM ET (with 50-plus games)

Phew. Get ready, gamers. Details on many, many new games are coming your way very soon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/summer-game-fest-2025-what-new-game-announcements-to-expect-and-how-to-watch-162140617.html?src=rss

EA has canceled Cliffhanger Games' Black Panther game and shuttered the studioEA Entertainment president Laura Miele told staff that the decision was made to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities"Going forward, EA will focus on franchises like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends, while also supporting games like Motive's Iron Man, the third Star Wars: Jedi game, and Mass Effect 5Electronic Arts has canceled Cliffhanger Games' Black Panther game and closed down the studio.In an email sent to staff (as seen and reported by IGN), EA Entertainment president Laura Miele shared the announcement and said the decision to cancel the game and close the studio was to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities."The number of employees affected by the decision hasn't been confirmed at this time, but IGN understands that the total number of layoffs is less than the 300 roles that were cut last month across Respawn and several other studios.It's also understood that EA has laid off some individuals from its mobile and central teams."These decisions are hard," Miele wrote in the email. "They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them - including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles."Miele's email also mentioned that EA will now focus on a small handful of franchises going forward, like Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends.The president also said that EA will continue to invest in Motive's Iron Man game and Respawn's third Star Wars: Jedi game, the Mass Effect 5, while also maintaining its mobile businessCliffhanger's Black Panther project was announced in 2023 and was being worked on by developers who previously led the Shadow of Mordor series.Platforms weren't confirmed at the time, and there was no trailer to accompany the game's reveal, but we did know that it was an "original, third-person, single-player Black Panther game".At the time, project lead Kevin Stephens said the game was going to be a "definitive and authentic Black Panther experience"."Wakanda is a rich superhero sandbox, and our mission is to develop an epic world for players who love Black Panther and want to explore the world of Wakanda as much as we do," Stephens said.You might also like...Best PS5 games 2025 - top PlayStation 5 titles to play right nowSony's Days of Play sale kicks off tomorrow and will bring price cuts to the PS5 Pro, DualSense Edge, the PS5 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 bundle, and a host of price cuts on accessories and gamesGhost of Yotei pre-orders live: Collector's Edition up in the US, Standard Edition retailers, and where to buy in the UK