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Evidence mounts that Garmin will launch a screenless wearable on an armbandIt's said to be called the Garmin Index Sleep MonitorDetails are sketchy, but it looks likely to (as the name suggests) eschew fitness tracking to focus on sleepGarmin's latest wearable will not, in fact, be an entry into our best Garmin watches list. Instead, it's more likely to rank alongside our best sleep trackers.After reporting that a Whoop-style screenless band was en route from Garmin, we've now got more detail on the tracker. According to leak site Fitness Tracker Test based on "additional information" it has received, the tracker is called the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, a similar naming convention to the Garmin Index smart scale, and it's designed to be worn on the upper arm.Although it's a screenless band using LED optical technology to measure heart rate, apparently there are more differences than similarities between this tracker and Whoop. Fitness Tracker Test reports this band is designed to be worn on the upper arm, while Whoop can be worn on the wrist, arm, or even chest.While Whoop combines sleep with detailed activity tracking, this band will reportedly be focused on sleep only, with features such as heart rate, sleep stages, Body Battery, women's health tracking and a smart-wake alarm. No basic step tracking, according to Fitness Tracker Test, making its use an activity tracker limited.If true, it will leave the fitness tracking to Garmin watches, acting as an add-on rather than a comprehensive all-in-one tracker in its own right.The5kRunner expects a release in the next couple of months, while Florian of Fitness Tracker Test expects a price point of around €170 (around $195 / £145 / AU$300).An expensive add-onThis is largely conjecture and hearsay, but the evidence is mounting that Garmin will launch the Index Sleep Monitor soon.If all the information above is true, and Garmin is looking to make a sleep tracker only, I would say that $200 would be a steep price for a wearable that would rely on an already-expensive Garmin watch to get a full picture of your health and activity levels.However, at this point, we need to take all rumors with a hefty pinch of salt. We'll know more if, or when, Garmin does release the Index Sleep Monitor soon.You might also like...watchOS 12: 3 things I expect to see Tim Cook announce at this year's WWDCGarmin may be about to bring users back to nature with new swimming and walking workoutsCoros Heart Rate Monitor review: An armband optical monitor that automates tracking

The FDA has launched the generative AI tool, Elsa, agency-wide to help its employees with everything from clinical reviews to investigations. Sure, we're living in a time of widespread disinformation and pushbacks against science, but why not rush things through with AI?

Elsa — yes, weirdly like the snow queen from Frozen — completed a "very successful pilot program with FDA’s scientific reviewers." According to the FDA, the AI tool can help with reading, writing and summarizing everything from adverse events to assessments. Elsa can also do label comparisons and generate code. It's already being used to speed up clinical protocol reviews and scientific evaluations, along with finding "high-priority inspection targets."

Elsa should be a secure platform, the FDA states. It's not clear how exactly the agency trained Elsa, but the FDA claims it's not through "data submitted by regulated industry." The information exists in Amazon Web Services' GovCloud that, again, should keep all information internal.

The FDA calls Elsa the first step in its AI journey. "Today marks the dawn of the AI era at the FDA with the release of Elsa, AI is no longer a distant promise but a dynamic force enhancing and optimizing the performance and potential of every employee," said FDA Chief AI Officer Jeremy Walsh. "As we learn how employees are using the tool, our development team will be able to add capabilities and grow with the needs of employees and the agency."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-fda-rolls-out-its-own-ai-to-speed-up-clinical-reviews-and-scientific-evaluations-120052323.html?src=rss

This guide was originally a simple list of products I’ve bought over the years that were good enough to warrant recommending to others. But over time, I wanted to expand things to include tools and gadgets that help solve life’s little challenges. After all, there’s nothing like the feeling of suddenly finding yourself in a jam only to realize the solution is already in your pocket or bag. Or at the very least, if they’re not solving problems, these gadgets will help you pass time more enjoyably. So if you’re looking for a gift for Father’s day, graduation or any other occasion where the recipient will appreciate a finely crafted tool, here’s a list of some of my favorite everyday carry products available today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/everyday-carry-gear-for-dads-133033554.html?src=rss

Black Voices in Gaming will be at Summer Game Fest 2025, with its showcase taking place on June 9 at 12PM Eastern time. You'll be able to stream it live online on The Game Awards YouTube channel. The non-profit organization focuses on putting a spotlight on titles created by Black game developers and on curating culturally relevant games centered on the lived experiences of Black, Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC). On X, the team said you can expect "world premieres, dope interviews, and bold voices pushing the culture forward" during the event. It didn't list out the games it's going to feature, but you can peek at the kind of titles the organization champions on its website.

Guess who's back? Back again! It’s almost that time! The Black Voices in Gaming Showcase returns June 9th at 9AM PT, streaming during @summergamefest weekend!Get ready for world premieres, dope interviews, and bold voices pushing the culture forward. Don’t miss it!#BViG… pic.twitter.com/p84nLSt4Cl— Black Voices in Gaming (@BVIGaming) June 2, 2025

Summer Game Fest kicks off on June 6 with its opening livestream, followed by the indie-focused showcase Day of the Devs. On June 7, you can watch a showcase for time-sucking cozy games called Wholesome Direct, as well as the Women-led Games Showcase that will feature 39 titles from women-led and majority women development teams. That will be followed by the Latin American Games Showcase for titles created by Latin American developers and the Green Games Showcase for games that make direct contributions to green initiatives. On June 8, there will be showcase dedicated to Xbox games, featuring reveals and updates from across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. In addition, Death Stranding 2 will premiere at the event on the evening of June 8.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-black-voices-in-gaming-at-summer-game-fest-2025-125906747.html?src=rss

Nintendo is reportedly sending some US retailers "Out of Stock" signs ahead of the Switch 2 launchA redditor shared a photo of the sign in-store, suggesting that Nintendo is preparing retailers for when the console goes out of stockThe signs would presumably stop people from having to ask if the stores have any extra stockNintendo Switch 2 stock might be limited at certain retailers as some stores are reportedly receiving "Out of Stock" signs ahead of the console's release.As reported by VGC, redditor 'Alternative_Basket19' shared a post alongside a photo of a Nintendo Switch 2 sign that reads "Out of Stock", suggesting that Nintendo is already preparing US retailers for when the handheld goes out of stock.Some users in the comments have speculated that the signs would stop buyers from having to go in-store to ask employees if the retailer has any extra stock. The Switch 2 is an in-demand console, so this is sure to be the case around the world."Average person walking into the store might not even know the Switch 2 is out… but they then see signs saying it is, and it’s already sold out," one user said.Got these signs in from Nintendo, they got jokes 🤣 from r/NintendoSwitch2The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, just two days from now, and it's sure to be a busy launch week. If you're in the UK and were able to get your hands on a pre-order from Game, you may want to check your emails, as the retailer has reportedly canceled an unspecified number of orders.If you're still hoping to secure a pre-order in the coming days, GameStop and Best Buy have confirmed that they will be restocking Switch 2 units in-store and online during the console's launch.You might also like...Nintendo Switch 2 launch games: The games you'll be able to buy and play on June 5Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: UK stock is live at multiple retailers, plus all the best US retailers to checkUpcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives - release schedule for confirmed games including The Duskbloods and Mario Kart World

Knowing how antivirus software works can help protect your computer from malicious actors and threats online. Antivirus software has played a key role in identifying and removing viruses, malware, and other malicious programs and scripts for decades.Thanks to modernized approaches coupled with real-time scanning, antivirus software keeps a vigilant eye on your device, ensuring that any suspicious activity is addressed.But what actually happens under the hood, and how do antivirus programs know which files to block? We will explore that and much more in this article, so read on.How does antivirus software detect viruses?There are numerous styles of viruses and attacks; therefore, for an antivirus to be effective, it must rely on a database of currently known threats or vulnerabilities. Protecting against unknown or novel viruses is a challenge, but some basic detection paradigms rely on the following:Size - Viruses like to add malicious code to a file, which is easy to detect for an antivirus scanner, since such activity usually changes the file size. Basically, the software compares the previous and current file size, and if a user did not edit the file, it treats the activity as malicious.Injection detection - Memory blocks that are allocated to files are sometimes not utilized fully, giving attackers a space to inject malicious code. This type of attack uses the initial startup code to jump to the malicious code and then go back, making it seem as if nothing had happened. Such an attack usually does not increase the size of the file. An antivirus software scans for these strange code “jumps” and code that seems out of place.Hashing - While an older form of protection technology, it’s still present in some antivirus programs. It scans files byte for byte, computing the SHA-1 hash of items.Pattern matching - Viruses often use approaches that can represent a pattern (a series of commands, overwriting code, etc.). Such tell-tale signs are logged and stored in a database that antivirus software uses for scanning your PC and tracking activity on it.This list is by no means exhaustive, instead, it gives you a short overview of the basic mechanics behind detection and a general idea of how an antivirus works.How it actually worksAntivirus software usually works in the background, scanning for viruses and malware. This is done through the real-time threat detection included in nearly all modern antivirus solutions.These scans check directories and individual files against the aforementioned database of exploits and signatures, as well as any unusual patterns and behavior of files and programs. Any malicious software that is detected is automatically removed, and often placed in a “quarantine”, with some antivirus software sending helpful notifications about the process.Users can schedule scans so that they run automatically or start ones manually. In addition, for the software to run properly, privileged access to the entire system needs to be granted to the antivirus software.Another approach of antivirus software is to use sandbox environments to test files for malicious code far away from the real system. Basically, the files are inspected in a test environment and once confirmed safe, the software can be executed on the real system.False positivesThe term false positive is often related to antivirus software, and it is important to mention it. The goal of an antivirus software is to keep unwanted users and programs out of the system, which is why sometimes it can mislabel a file or program.This is what is referred to as a false positive - when an antivirus flags something to be malware/virus, when in reality it's a secure file/program. Such behavior can potentially be rectified by updating your antivirus, but there is also a different solution.Most antivirus software comes with an option to exclude or whitelist files or programs, meaning you can manually add the files or programs you trust to the whitelist and avoid any false positives in the future.Types of antivirus softwareThere are various types of antivirus software, each with its specific offer and level of protection. Recently, there has been a trend of packaging antivirus software with a lot of additional “goodies”, but some of the most common types are:Standalone - basic antivirus program, no additions, that provides protection for your deviceInternet suites - more comprehensive packages, usually bundled with a firewall, password managers, and much moreCloud-based - rely on cloud-based technology for analysis, reducing the workload on user machinesAI - machine learning antivirus is gaining in popularity, relying on AI to identify new threats and remove themAdvanced featuresBesides scanning your PC for threats, one of the advanced features that modern antivirus solutions offer, and which we would recommend, is website blocking.Namely, antivirus software can access a database that contains a list of harmful websites. Trying to access one of those sites will prompt a warning that you’re attempting to visit a website that can harm your computer. This is a great prevention method which will help shore up your device against viruses and reduce the need for frequent malware scanning.Another solid advanced feature that comes bundled with modern antivirus solutions is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). One of the goals of a VPN is to secure your device by encrypting your internet connection and remove you from the “live target” pool.Essentially, a VPN is a tunnel that hides your real IP address and gives you an IP address of a country or server of your choosing. Besides protection, this can also be used to circumvent geo restrictions that some streaming services enforce for users connecting outside of the US or EU, for example.What it doesn’t doWhen talking about how an antivirus works and what it does, it is also equally important to know what an antivirus does not do. It does not provide complete protection, since it focuses on known threats.As new threats that exploit new vulnerabilities aren't included on antivirus signature databases, these “zero-day” attacks can easily bypass the security mechanisms of an antivirus and infect your device. Furthermore, an antivirus may not protect against all forms of malware and unwanted programs (bloatware). In some instances, antivirus software can cause conflicts with other software on your device and even slow down your computer significantly, especially while conducting full system scans.Social engineering and phishing attacks are types of malicious activities against which an antivirus can provide no protection. If you’re tricked into sharing your personal information or clicking on a malicious link, there isn't much an antivirus can do to help.Antivirus is a very helpful tool in the defense against online threats, but you also need to rely on good security practices, such as not clicking on random links and avoiding posting your private information online or handing it over to dodgy websites.Do you need an antivirus in 2025?Modern operating systems often come with built-in protection, which provides ample cover if you have good security practices. Of course, some attacks compromise even well-guarded, legitimate download servers, which can leave even the more experienced users vulnerable. Therefore, running a robust antivirus alongside built-in OS protection mechanisms can ensure that some of the threats are stopped.In addition, you will have the peace of mind that your system has an additional layer of security. We don’t advocate that you immediately spend money on an AV since there are many free antivirus solutions, but if you’re set on browsing the less reputable side of the internet, we would recommend you opt for a paid variant.Which to choose?Choosing the right software for your needs will depend on you as the user. There are antiviruses that focus on real-time protection, and others that have a strong malware component. Some services will offer a comprehensive package that can include a password manager, dark web monitoring, and even identity theft protection.The decision will also depend on which OS you’re running and your level of security knowledge. If you’re a complete novice to the online world, having an antivirus installed is certainly a good idea.ConclusionKnowing how antivirus software works, what it does, and what it cannot do will ensure you make smarter decisions about your digital security. While it’s not a silver bullet, it still plays a key role in protecting you against known threats. Combine an antivirus with reasonable browsing habits and OS level defenses, and you will dramatically reduce the risk modern viruses pose to users.

Sonos is selling a bunch of its speakers at a discount via Amazon. This includes the well-regarded Era 300 smart speaker, which is down to just $359. That's 20 percent off and notable because this particular speaker rarely goes on sale. It's a Sonos miracle!

The deal applies to both the black and white colorways. The Era 300 is a highly capable device that we praised in our official review, saying that it "sounds excellent." We went on to say that it offers a premium experience that far surpasses other products in the company's lineup, like the Era 100. This is also true when compared to rival speakers like Apple's HomePod.

It's simple to set up and offers the company's proprietary Trueplay tuning system. This feature optimizes the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of a room by leveraging an internal microphone. It measures how sound reflects off surfaces and adjusts the EQ to match. It's pretty nifty.

As for connectivity, it can pair with another Era 300 speaker for a true stereo experience. It also includes a Bluetooth receiver and line-in options. Of course, the speaker integrates with just about every streaming music service. The built-in mic also allows for voice assistant control, but only with Siri and Alexa. Google Assistant is left out of the party.

This speaker goes all-in on spatial audio, and the results are mixed. Sometimes it's sublime and sometimes it's kind of eh. This is more of a dig on the technology itself. It has serious potential but is still experiencing growing pains. The only real downside of this speaker is the exorbitant asking price, which has been slightly alleviated by this sale.

As previously mentioned, other Sonos products are available at a discount. This includes the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, which is 26 percent off at $369. These deals are available via Sonos itself. There's also an ongoing sale on portable speakers that includes the Move 2 and the Roam 2.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-the-sonos-era-300-for-20-percent-off-in-this-home-speaker-sale-150857514.html?src=rss

WWDC is my favorite Apple event of the year. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been excited to see what the future of iPhone, iPad, and Mac looks like, often opting for buggy developer betas as soon as the test software becomes available.As I grow older, WWDC gets more and more intriguing, offering a glimpse into Apple’s software design and how the company looks to shape the future of its devices over the next 12 months.Last year, WWDC 2024 was quite possibly the most exciting keynote we had ever seen, showcasing an AI-fueled future with promises that not only made me excited for artificial intelligence but would ultimately lead me to take a leap of faith and join TechRadar to write about AI.12 months on, and we’ve all had front row seats to the Apple Intelligence launch mess, awaiting WWDC 2025 for Apple to rectify its mistakes and showcase exactly what AI on iPhone, iPad, and Mac is capable of.Unfortunately, new reports this week suggest that those hoping for Apple to catch up in the AI race and showcase all of Apple Intelligence’s new bells and whistles in the newly renamed iOS 26 will ultimately be disappointed.There's hope(Image credit: Apple)At first, I was also pretty deflated. I’ve been critical about Apple’s AI rollout, but I’ve also remained hopeful, championing the company’s ability to be last to market, but often be best. I thought a year was the right amount of time to get everything working behind the scenes so that Apple CEO Tim Cook and co could blow everyone’s expectations out of the water at WWDC 2025.But that’s not going to happen, at least unless Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, whose track record is almost impeccable, has got Apple’s AI WWDC plans completely wrong. With deep trust in Gurman’s reporting, I’ve had to rewire my expectations, and now I’ve got a different perspective: Not only have I not lost hope on Apple’s AI success, but I don’t think a lack of headline AI features would hinder iOS 26 at all.Why’s that, you ask? Apple’s mediocre AI features are embarrassing compared to the competition. Well, it’s pretty obvious that as AI models evolve at a rapid pace, that while Apple wants to have its own headline LLM at some point, codenamed Knowledge internally, for now it has to accept that OpenAI, Google, and even Microsoft are doing AI better than anything Tim Cook and co can come up with.Acceptance is key here, AI and specifically the day-to-day consumer AI that we’re starting to completely welcome into our lives, is all about the vessel and how you interact with it. Earlier this year, I wrote about Apple letting me down, and I highlighted Gemini’s Gmail integration on Android as an example of getting AI right.After using flagship Android smartphones like the Samsung S25 and the Oppo Find N5, I’ve come to terms with the fact that the AI experience, regardless of operating system, is very similar; it’s all about the tools you choose to invest your energy in.It's all about the vessel(Image credit: Google)Take Gemini Live, for example, my go-to AI voice assistant. Since its full free release on iOS following Google I/O, it can not only be launched via my iPhone 16 Pro’s Action button, but I can also use screen sharing and live camera, just like the best Android smartphones.And if you prefer ChatGPT, well, the experience is almost identical on Android compared to iOS, granting you access to the best AI chatbot currently on the market, and without the need for a premium subscription.The true pioneers in the world of consumer AI right now aren’t the smartphone makers, they are the software developers creating cross-platform experiences that don’t discriminate between Android and iOS.The gap between smartphones has never been smaller, the experience purely comes down to whichever ecosystem you’ve invested your life into. As an iPhone owner, I opt for Apple’s flagship product because I own a Mac, love Universal Clipboard, and have dedicated nearly 20 years of my life to being enveloped in all things Apple.But truthfully, after switching to Android expecting to have my delusion towards Apple’s lack of innovation increase tenfold, I instead returned to iOS with a newfound appreciation for third-party applications and an understanding that AI excellence on iPhone doesn’t require Apple Intelligence.Look past Apple Intelligence(Image credit: Apple)Apple’s capacity to innovate in the AI space will, naturally, determine the company's ability to keep pace with the competition. With Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s looming AI device, however, we could be heading in a completely different direction of mobile computing, one that sees smartphones left in the past. I’m not sold on that idea.I think AI’s vessel will remain the iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxys of the world for the foreseeable future. And because of that, I’m content with AI on iPhone, because it's a similar experience to everything else out there.Apple’s AI success isn’t limited to Apple Intelligence, it’s limited to the company's ability to understand that this AI renaissance is far bigger than the confines of Apple’s walled garden.I believe Apple's ability to keep up with the newly evolving technology will ultimately fall on its hardware and openness to allow users to experience whatever AI they choose to do so.Maybe Apple Intelligence was never the solution after all? Maybe the only thing that matters is making the best smartphone on the market, so users experience AI through an iPhone, rather than whatever else is on offer.You may also likeI’m an iOS loyalist – here’s why Android has never tempted me to switch5 new features to look forward to in iOS 19iPhone 17 tipped to get a larger screen thanks to smaller bezels – and that could be its biggest upgrade