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Imagine this: a whisper-quiet Rivian EV Amazon delivery truck pulls up to your front door, and before the driver even has a chance to step out, the back of the van briskly rolls up and out jumps a robot carrying a package to your doorstep.It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but that reality may be closer than we think, according to a new report from The Information, which says Amazon is already running tests.Instead of humanoid robots taking the Amazon delivery crew's jobs, the humanoid robots would work in tandem with the human drivers. The robots would sit silently in the back, and when it's time for package delivery, they'd find the box, open the door, and carefully make their way to your home.Amazon EV Delivery Truck: what if there was a robot in the back? (Image credit: Amazon)Amazon is reportedly running test drives and deliveries in a specially created 'Humanoid Park', which we assume would help recreate some of the obstacles the humanoid robot might encounter, like cars, people, dogs, small wild animals, lawn sprinklers, porch lamps, porch swings... you get the idea.The Information also reports that Amazon might be using large language models (LLMs) to help the humanoid robots deal with what is likely to be a hard-to-predict environment. Houses are not all cookie-cutter, after all. The doors, steps, lawns, and even distances to the front doors are all different. It's unlikely Amazon can program these robots to anticipate every unexpected obstacle, but LLMs can train them to handle a much wider variety without knowing in advance the specifics of each one.There's no mention of the robots talking to Amazon customers, but with Amazon's investment in Anthropic's Claude AI, a chatty Amazon humanoid delivery bot seems possible.Choose your botAs for which robots Amazon might be using, it's already been testing Agility Robotics' Digit in a factory setting. I think it's unlikely, though, that Amazon uses that robot to complete home deliveries. Its odd appearance, which includes bird-like or backwards legs, might be somewhat off-putting for the average Amazon customer.There's a larger issue with this kind of robot. I saw Digit in action at CES 2025 and, while impressive, it was painfully slow at most tasks. If you've ever seen your Amazon delivery person hop out of the truck, jump into the back, dash out with your package, and run to your front steps before capturing a photo for proof of delivery and then racing off to the next house, you know that an Amazon humanoid delivery robot better be fast.Boston Dynamics all electric Altas can do a cartwheel, but could it deliver a package? (Image credit: Boston Dynamics)There are other humanoid robot options out there from companies like Boston Dynamics and its all-electric Atlas. It's got speed and cartwheeling skills (see above), but there's no timeline for commercial adoption. Unitree G1 can do karate, but it's likely too small to carry larger Amazon packages.According to the Information Report, there's a sense that the hardware may be the easy part, as, once they have the training in place, they can easily transfer it from one version of the Amazon delivery robot to another, ostensibly better one, all while improving that delivery algorithm.I've asked Amazon for comment and will update this story if and when the company responds.Amazon does have some robot delivery experience. It's been using drones (essentially flying robots) to deliver packages since 2022. Those mostly fly smaller packages and then carefully lower them to your backyard before flying off. It's not a service that Amazon offers everywhere.None of this means Amazon's humanoid robots will be delivering packages anytime soon. Testing and development could take years, but if you add in the possibility of future driverless Rivian EVs, the combination of a self-driving car in the front and a ready-to-deliver robot in the back is a potentially cost-efficient combination for Amazon. How delivery personnel and customers might feel about it is another matter.You might also likeThe best steak I've ever had was made by an AI robot grillSorry, Figure AI, but your robot won't be cool until it can ...Robot abuse is still the path to the future – even if I hate it

Now's a great time to save on Sony gaming gear thanks to the most recent Days of Play sale. PlayStation 5 consoles, accessories, games and even PS Plus subscriptions have been discounted, and one of the standout deals is on the PS5 DualSense Edge controller. You can pick one up for $169, which is 15 percent off its usual price. The deal is available on Amazon and from Sony directly.

The layout apes that of the regular DualSense controller, but there's a lot more going on with the Edge. For instance, there are function buttons below each thumbstick that allow you to swap between button configurations (which you can customize at any time in the PS5 settings). On the rear, there are switches that enable you to change the pull length of the shoulder triggers. There are also rear paddles, and you can choose between a set of levers or shorter half-domes.

It's possible to swap out the thumbsticks as well and, because they attach to the controller magnetically, it's a cinch to do so. Other than the standard nubs, you can choose between short-stemmed convex and long-stemmed convex options. There's also a cable lock that prevents you from accidentally removing the USB-C charging cable by accident.

You might want to keep that cable plugged in. One of the major downsides of the DualSense Edge is its battery life. In our testing, we got around five to six hours of use on a single charge, less than the six or seven we get with the standard DualSense.

Last but not least, the DualSense Edge comes with a hardshell carrying case. There's even a passthrough flap through which you can thread a USB-C cable to charge the controller while it's cocooned in the case.

There are, of course, lots of other intriguing discounts in the Days of Play sale, including one on the standard PS5 DualSense controller. That has dropped to $55, which is $20 off the list price.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/playstations-dualsense-edge-wireless-controller-is-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-143629684.html?src=rss

Artificial intelligence has been growing by leaps and bounds, fueled by excitement around AI’s current capabilities and potential to drive further efficiencies, improvements and innovation.McKinsey last year reported that 65% of organizations regularly use GenAI, nearly double from 10 months prior, and a new 2025 McKinsey report indicates that three times more employees are using GenAI for a third or more of their work than their leaders imagine. Meanwhile, a new KPMG survey suggests that 68% of business executives expect to spend $50 million to $250 million on GenAI over the next 12 months – that’s up 45% from the first quarter of 2024.But despite that growth, if AI were a person, it would still just be a child approaching puberty.In AI’s next stage of life, it will learn more about what to do and not do, making it more understandable and predictable. AI is not yet completely reliable and trustworthy; according to a recent report, only one-third of U.S. businesses said the majority of the outputs of their AI models are accurate. As a result, businesses are still unsure if they should use AI to make key decisions and act independently, which means they must provide the proper care and feeding to ensure their AI is enterprise-ready.Companies are also getting more pragmatic about AI. After investing big on AI experimentation, they now expect to drive real business results with artificial intelligence, so ROI is becoming very important. The recent excitement about China’s DeepSeek, which reportedly has capabilities on par with U.S. models but works at a fraction of the cost and requires far less energy, illustrates how important cost and sustainability considerations around AI have recently become.At the same time, enterprises are keenly aware they must continue to innovate to remain competitive, and 2025 will usher in exciting new technologies to help enable that. All of that means now is the time to force AI to grow up faster so that it is production-ready for the enterprise while balancing that “enterpriseness” with innovation and business value.Here’s a crib sheet on how to grow your AI into a trusted and enterprising young adult.Go back to basics to make AI enterprise-readyGovernance, reporting and security are critical in enterprise environments. But these important considerations, and all they entail, are often overlooked or undervalued when it comes to AI.As businesses make the leap from experimental to more production-level AI deployments, it is crucial for enterprises to address governance, reporting and security to meet compliance requirements, protect their own and their customer data, and built trust.Given the level of complexity involved, that can be daunting. But it is essential to accelerate the maturity and adoption of enterprise-ready versions of AI. Understand that you don’t have to go it alone. Collaborate with a partner with deep expertise in technology and your sector, turnkey solutions, products with baked-in scalability and sustainability, and a methodical approach. Together, you can advance the “enterpriseness” of your AI efforts and drive real business value.Create a solid data foundation for innovationData is critical to AI success. The more context AI has, the better results it can deliver. To get quality AI outputs, you need high-quality data. Otherwise, it’s garbage-in, garbage-out.That’s pretty well understood at this point. But data quality is just part of the AI challenge. The fact that data exists in silos across your far-flung enterprise, and that the bulk of that data is now unstructured, can also interfere with data quality and your company’s ability to use data effectively. Inconsistencies in data collection and stewardship create further complications.Embrace real-time data processing capabilities and enforce data governance frameworks to ensure your systems meet quality expectations. Employ AI-powered data cleaning tools that sift through massive amounts of data because doing that manually is simply impossible.Use data catalogs and lineage tracking systems to make it faster and easier to access and understand your data. High-quality data will help ensure the explainability of AI outcomes, which is critical to meeting internal and external regulatory compliance requirements and instilling user trust.“Trust starts with exposure and evolves with use,” as LinkedIn co-founder and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman writes in “Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future.” “Once you learn what something is and how it functions, you begin to trust it. Trust equals consistency over time. In the context of AI, we first must develop trust in the technologies themselves – no easy feat when the technologies are somewhat unpredictable and capable of error.”You don’t necessarily have to resolve all of your data challenges immediately. However, having at least a basic understanding of your data estate and adopting these approaches and capabilities where and when you need goes a long way in building trust and enabling success.Be ready for what’s next: Agentic AITo date, businesses have relied on AI primarily to analyze data to uncover trends and make predictions as well as to automate routine tasks (chatbots in customer service, for example). Much of this work has been highly reactive and typically involves some human supervision.But now we’re starting to hear more and more about this exciting – and potentially disruptive – evolution of artificial intelligence called agentic AI. As you’re probably already aware, agentic AI systems will be able to make decisions and act autonomously with minimal human intervention.Agentic AI is a big leap forward and represents most people’s vision for AI. It works independently, takes initiative and self-optimizes. Agentic AI will drive increasing adoption of small language models (SLMs) and often involve the collaboration of smaller AI experts that focus on particular tasks based on their specialized training.Yet, while agentic AI creates great opportunity, it comes with undeniable risks. That makes it even more critical to prioritize accountability, explainability and responsibility by building robust frameworks to govern these systems and reduce the potential for unintended consequences.Guiding a human from childhood through their teen years to become a responsible adult who works hard to contribute to society requires ample time and attention. The same is true with AI.With great power comes great responsibility – and the future is bright.We've featured the best Larger Language Models (LLMs).This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Play Ransomware has hit 900 companies so far, new FBI advisory claimsThe group is calling victims on the phone to try and force them to pay the ransom demandIt also added new vulnerabilities to its arsenalPlay Ransomware’s “body count” is almost hitting four digits, a new warning from top legal enforcement has revealed, urging businesses to stay on guard against attacks.In an updated security advisory, published by the FBI, CISA, and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC), it was said that Play and its affiliates exploited “approximately 900 entities”.Play Ransomware, also known as Playcrypt, is an infamous ransomware operator. It is known for using the atypical triple-extortion method in which, besides encrypting and exfiltrating files, it also calls its victims on the phone to convince them to pay up.SimpleHelp flaws targetedThe security agencies’ security advisory has been updated to reflect changes Play and its affiliates made in recent times. For example, it was said that the victims get a unique @gmx.de, or @web.de email address, through which they’re invited to communicate with the attackers.Furthermore, the group seems to have added new vulnerabilities to the ones they were already targeting. Besides FortiOS (CVE-2018-13379, and CVE-2020-12812) and Microsoft Exchange (ProxyNotShell CVE-2022-41040 and CVE-2022-41082) bugs, they are now exploiting CVE-2024-57727 in remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool SimpleHelp, which they’re using for remote code execution (RCE) capabilities.This vulnerability was first spotted in mid-January 2025, and has been exploited since.To make things even worse, the agencies are saying that the Play ransomware binary is recompiled for every attack, which means it gets a new, unique hash, for each deployment. This complicates anti-malware and antivirus program detection.Play was first spotted around 2020, and in the past, was known for targeting Windows-powered devices, but in late July 2024, security researchers saw a Linux variant targeting VMWare ESXi environments.In a technical breakdown, Trend Micro’s Threat Hunting team said at the time that it was the first time Play was seen targeting ESXi environments, and it could be that the criminals are broadening their attacks across the Linux platform.Via The RegisterYou might also likeThis dangerous new Linux malware is going after VMware systems with multiple extortion attemptsTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

Adolescence has officially become Netflix’s second-biggest English language TV seriesThe number one slot is still taken by Wednesday, which returns for season 2 this yearThis news comes after Adolescence won Breakthrough Limited Series at the Gotham TV awardsNetflix's limited series Adolescence has become the second-biggest English-language TV series in the streaming giant's history.It's performed so well that it's beaten Stranger Things season 4, one of our best Netflix shows. It'll be interesting to see if those placings change after the release of the highly anticipated Stranger Things season 5, which is the final installment and is set to be released in three parts.Despite Adolescence's success, the number one slot is still held by Wednesday, which will return for season 2 in August. Meanwhile, the highest-ranked non-English-language show is the first season of Squid Game, which returns for season 3 in June.What have audiences and critics said about Adolescence? Stephen Graham delivers a powerful performance in Adolescence (Image credit: Netflix)Adolescence was developed by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, and tells the story of a teenage boy who's charged with murdering a classmate, and the devastating toll the case takes on his family. The series has become a sensation, receiving a 99% Rotten Tomatoes critics score.Recently, the limited series enjoyed success at the Gotham TV awards, where it won Breakthrough Limited Series and two acting awards for leading stars Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper.A second season has been discussed, but nothing has been confirmed yet. When asked about the possibility, Graham told Variety: “Possibly, let’s see how the figures are. But yeah, there’s the possibility of developing another story.”The series received widespread acclaim, with TechRadar's John-Anthony Disotto hailing it as "the TV show of the year". He praised the acting and the camera work in particular, saying, "It's an incredibly impressive filming technique that highlights the outstanding acting from the ensemble cast as well as inducing anxiety due to the sheer pace of the show."You might also likeNetflix's #1 show Adolescence is one of the best crime dramas I've seen – here are 3 more with over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes‘A grimy, gothic treat’: Netflix has a new crime procedural show with 81% on Rotten TomatoesStranger Things season 5 release dates have been revealed, and Netflix has turned my 2025 festive season plans upside down

The Bear season 4: key information- Set to be released in late June- Will air on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)- All 10 episodes will drop on the same day- First trailer released in mid-May- Key cast members expected to return- Story synopsis unveiled- One of its stars hopes for five more seasonsThe Bear season 4's release date is fast approaching. The critically-acclaimed restaurant-based comedy-drama series will return to our screens on June 25, so there's not much time left to wait for its next course to be served.So, what do we know about The Bear's fourth season? Aside from the fact that it'll air on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally), a lot, actually. Indeed, you'll learn more about its first trailer, confirmed cast, story brief, and the show's future from this point on.Full spoilers follow for The Bear's first three seasons. Potential spoilers for The Bear season 4 are also discussed.The Bear season 4 release dateA post shared by The Bear (@thebearfx)A photo posted by on The Bear season 4's release date was announced in mid-May – and, as I mentioned in this guide's intro, it'll launch worldwide on June 25, 2025.Really, its arrival almost exactly one year to the day since season 3 was released is no great surprise. New installments have arrived annually since the show's debut season. And, with The Bear's fourth season being back on the menu and being shot back-to-back with its forebear, there was no reason to suspect season 4 wouldn't air sometime in 2025.Like seasons 2 and 3, one of the best Hulu shows and best Disney+ shows' next entry will comprise 10 episodes. They'll all arrive on launch day, too.The Bear season 4 trailerThe Bear season 4's first trailer arrived one week after its official launch date was announced. And, while it gave off the air that this could be the hit series' last installment, it also suggested it'll be a far more upbeat season than its predecessors were. Yes, chef!Before that teaser dropped, the first footage from The Bear season 4 was revealed in November 2024. However, it was part of a wider Disney+ sizzle reel trailer, so there wasn't much, if anything, we could glean about its plot.The Bear season 4 confirmed castSydney and Tina will return in the culinary drama's fourth season (Image credit: FX)Full spoilers follow for The Bear season 3.Based on an FX press release and The Bear season 4's trailer, here's who you'll see in its next chapter:Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' BerzattoAyo Edebiri as Sydney AdamuEbon Moss-Bachrach as Richard 'Richie' JerimovichAbby Elliott as Natalie 'Sugar' BerzattoLionel Boyce as Marcus BrooksLiza Colón-Zayas as Tina MarreroMatty Matheson as Neil FakOliver Platt as Uncle Jimmy 'Cicero' KalinowskiMolly Gordon as ClaireRicky Staffieri as Ted FakEdwin Lee Gibson as EbraheimChris Witaske as PeteJamie Lee Curtis' Donna will have a supporting role to play in season 4 (Image credit: FX)There’s also the question of guest stars. The Bear has famously welcomed big A-list names each season and we’d be surprised if season 4 didn't treat us to more of the same on the returning and new guest star front.For starters, Jamie Lee Curtis is confirmed to reprise her role as the Berzatto family's troubled matriarch – indeed, Donna can be seen in the season 4 teaser. Jon Bernthal, who's played Carmy and Natalie's deceased older sibling Michael during flashback sequences/episodes, should appear at some point, too.There were plenty – and we mean plenty – of actors who had cameo and supporting roles in season 3 as well, including John Cena, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney, and Sarah Paulson. Don't be surprised if they and many others reserve a table to appear in season 4.The Bear season 4 story synopsis and speculationRichie and company need an answer to that season 3 cliff-hanger ASAP (Image credit: FX)Full spoilers follow for The Bear seasons 2 and 3.Here's the official plot synopsis for this installment: "Season 4 of The Bear finds Carmy, Sydney, and Richie pushing forward, determined not only to survive, but also to take The Bear to the next level."With new challenges around every corner, the team must adapt, adjust and overcome. This season, the pursuit of excellence isn’t just about getting better – it’s about deciding what’s worth holding on to."If that story brief sounds a bit more optimistic than past seasons, it's intentional. Speaking to Brazilian outlet Omelete.br, co-showrunner and executive producer Joanna Calo teased: "Unlike the others, this one will be more joyful – not as down as the others, you know?", which implies things will look brighter for Carmy and company moving forward.Will Carmy get the glowing review he's hoping for? (Image credit: FX)Before a rosier picture is painted for the titular restaurant and those involved in the business, though, there's the small matter of last season's cliff-hanger ending to sort out.In the season 3 finale's last scene, Carmy looks wildly at his phone as The Chicago Tribune's review of The Bear finally went live. Everyone had spent the latter part of last season worrying about said review after the paper secretly dined at the culinary establishment.However, Carmy's attentions were drawn elsewhere for much of season 3 episode 10. Indeed, not only did he attend Chef Terry's retirement party, but he also bumped into David Fields, aka the chef responsible for emotionally and mentally traumatized Carmy years earlier. It isn't until Carmy, when walking home alone from Terry's retirement do, sees numerous missed calls and texts from Cicerco and Nick 'Computer' Marshall, aka the latter's numbers-cruncher, that he remembers.We know this review will decide the very fate of the restaurant, with Cicero telling Carmy if there's a single bad review, he'll pull the restaurant's funding and lead to its permanent shuttering. Unfortunately, while were painstakingly close to an answer, we don't know what the review said, so season 4's opening episode will need to address this ASAP.The Bear season 4 sounds like it'll be a more optimistic entry than its forebears (Image credit: FX)If The Bear scores well and stays open, Carmy still has other problems to deal with. Adam Shapiro, who is starting his own place after Chef Terry's restaurant Ever (where he worked) closed, wants Sydney to join his next endeavor as its head chef.It's an offer Sydney surely can’t refuse, but she’s yet to tell Carmy about it. Whether she'll accept the offer is unclear but, given how Carmy has (perhaps unintentionally) treated her over the past two seasons, she might jump ship and work for a firm that could rival The Bear on the Chicago food scene. This season's first trailer implies Sydney will stick it out with The Bear but, if she doesn't, it could set up a fascinating culinary conflict between Carmy and his protégé-turned-equal.There’s a lot of other unresolved trauma, both in the kitchen and outside, for Carmy and company to deal with. Carmy and Richie's constantly strained relationship, Richie's ex-wife set to marry Frank (and Richie's role in their new-look family), Carmy still not apologizing to Claire from what he said in the season 2 finale, Sydney's panic attacks, Tina's struggles to find new places to source the restaurant's expensive ingredients from, and Natalie becoming a new mom (and who'll take over her position as chief financial officer) are just the tip of the iceberg.The Bear has also taken time to offer insights into other character’s lives, such as the season 2 episode centered on Marcus and season 3 episode 6, titled 'Napkins', that focused on Tina.Viewers learnt how the latter met Mikey and ended up working at The Original Beef of Chicagoland, as well as about her home and family life outside of the kitchen. So, there's the potential for this upcoming season to do a similar thing with other characters who haven't had much light shone upon them.Where to watch The BearWill Sydney stay with The Bear crew or head elsewhere? (Image credit: FX)Every episode of The Bear is available on FX via Hulu (US) and Disney+ Star (internationally).You'll need to sign up for a subscription for either service, though, to watch them, so find out how much Hulu costs and/or the price of a Disney+ membership while you're here.Will The Bear get a fifth season?Will we get more seasons of The Bear? The jury is still out on that (Image credit: Hulu)While The Bear seasons 3 and 4 are said to have filmed back-to-back, there’s no word of whether a fifth installment will be made. But, there's always conversation to be hand, especially with the show's stars, around whether they want to return for more outings.Liza Colón-Zayas, for one, spoke to RadioTimes.com and expressed her interest more seasons, saying: "I would love to see the show potentially continue for at least another five years, but only if that’s… there’s that line that Richie had in the beginning, like, ‘It is a delicate ecosystem’. And I think that as long as that is inspired and nurtured then we’ll have the magic that we have. So, that’s more important. Five more seasons, please!"That said, there's a sense of finality to The Bear season 4's trailer that indicates it could bring the story to a close.Speaking to Variety in mid-2024, FX chief John Landgraf couldn't provide a definitive answer, either, saying: “We really don’t know [if it'll end after four seasons]. These decisions are really creative decisions, And so it’s really [co-showrunner] Chris [Storer’s] decision."It’s about, how much more story does he have to tell? I mean, obviously, I’m hoping he has more than one more season of story to tell. But, not to the extent that if there was one great season or three mediocre ones, I’d rather have one great one. You just have to follow the creative". We'll find out if a fifth season is a possibility when The Bear's fourth season arrives in full very soon.For more Hulu/Disney+ coverage, read our guides on Alien: Earth, Only Murders in the Building season 5, Shogun season 2, and Daredevil: Born Again season 2.

Apple has confirmed that its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) will take place from June 9 through June 13. The annual symposium of all things Apple software should give us our very first look at Apple’s latest software for the best Apple Watches in 2025, watchOS 12. At the time of writing, it's just a few days away, but we can only make educated guesses about watchOS 12. Leaks have been light this year.Apple has provided annual updates to its wearable software alongside iOS and macOS since the inaugural debut of the Apple Watch in 2015. Many of the features on the Apple Watch that we take for granted in 2025 were only added after the earliest models launched, including small features like Activity Sharing and even the App Store.With WWDC 2025 on the horizon, watchOS 12 is almost certainly very close at hand. Rumors are scant as to what Apple might add to the software this year, with the biggest Apple Watch headlines for 2025 currently encompassing hardware upgrades to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 rather than software tweaks to the whole lineup.But that doesn’t mean we can’t make some educated guesses and start to piece together what we know so far. Inevitably, watchOS 12 (or, as rumors suggest, watchOS 26) will get a few more leaks in the coming days, but here’s what we know so far.watchOS 12: Cut to the chaseWhat is it? Apple's next wearable software for Apple WatchWhen is it out? Expect betas from June, with an official release in September 2025Who will get it? Likely users of the Apple Watch Series 7 and later, plus Ultra users, and maybe Apple Watch SE 2 and Series 6 ownerswatchOS 12: Potential release and unveiling date(Image credit: Future)Unless Apple breaks 10 years of watchOS release schedules, the company should unveil watchOS 12 at the WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9. Apple always showcases its latest and greatest software at the opening address on the morning of the first day, so we should see watchOS 12 alongside iOS 19, macOS 16, and iPadOS 19.So, we have a good idea of when the new software will be unveiled. But what about the release date?The Apple watchOS 12 beta should go through a series of staggered releases, if Apple continues form with its software rollouts.Usually, it’ll release a developer beta immediately following WWDC 2025, often on the same day as the keynote announcement. This means we could see it in the wild as early as June 9. For the last two years, Apple has made the developer beta available to all of its customers, so you won't need to be a paying account member to sign up.Then, a public beta will follow, usually one month later. As the name suggests, this beta is also available to everyone. It tracks about a month behind the developer betas, so it doesn’t quite have as many new features but tends to be more stable as a result.Finally, after months of testing over the summer, Apple will launch the software publicly for everyone to download. In 2024, this happened on September 16 alongside the launch of iOS 18, right between the pre-order date for the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 on September 13 and the official launch on September 20. As such, I’d expect the full release of watchOS 12 to coincide with the launch of the new Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3, as well as the iPhone 17.Apple needs to push the software live before launching the new best Apple Watch models, and it also needs iOS 19 to go live at the same time, because you can’t have an Apple Watch without an iPhone. Generally, then, you can expect watchOS 12 to debut in mid-September.watchOS 12 expected compatibility: Which Apple Watch models will get the new software?(Image credit: Future)While we won't know about compatibility for certain until Apple unveils watchOS 12, we can make a very educated guess on which Apple Watch models will get the new software.That's because Apple's chip progression and features usually move in lockstep. Let me explain: Each year, Apple adds more features to its watchOS software. More advanced features require more power and put more strain on battery life, which means that, inevitably, Apple drops support for a model or two each year. Last year, Apple watchOS 11 ended support for the Series 4, Series 5, and first-generation SE.You can expect guaranteed support for watchOS 12 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and original Ultra, as well as the existing Series 10, Series 9, Series 8, and probably Series 7. The Series 6 might be on the chopping block, owing to its older S6 chip.The SE 2 has an S8 chip and is currently still on sale, so I'd expect support for that to persist for a year or two more.Finally, and most obviously, we can expect watchOS 12 to be compatible with all three new Apple Watch models expected for 2025. Namely, the Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE 3.If Apple does drop support for a model this year with watchOS 12, the Series 6 seems like the most obvious candidate because of its age.watchOS 12: Rumored design, new features, and what we want to see(Image credit: Future)While we've heard that iOS 19 is set to usher in a major redesign and there are big plans for macOS and iPad OS, too, rumors about any new features or design changes for watchOS 12 are scant so far.If Apple is planning a major overhaul for its other software platforms, that could indicate one of two things. Either, Apple will overhaul watchOS 12 to reflect the revised look and design of its other software, or watchOS 12 will be a very muted update because it's spending so much time on its other software.Obviously, we'd prefer if the former was the case, but there are a couple of other bits and pieces we'd like to see, as well as some potential updates we can guess at.Blood pressureApple is expected to add high blood pressure monitoring to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 in September. There's no clear information to confirm whether this will be a hardware change or a software tweak. If it's the latter, blood pressure monitoring could show up at WWDC in advance of its launch in September, also paving the way for support on other models.If it's exclusive to the new models, a mention is unlikely at WWDC, as Apple will reserve the announcement for the September iPhone event instead.Apple AI health coach(Image credit: Future)Apple has reportedly been working on an Apple AI Health Coach app for at least two years. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported the company will revamp its health app, including a new AI-based coaching service. Gurman reported in January that Apple is "increasing its ambitions in the health realm" and that work continues on the app.Any upgrade in this department is likely to include a significant Apple Watch component, so a reveal of this progress at WWDC 2025 for watchOS 12 isn't out of the question.Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence remains a glaring absence in watchOS. For better or worse, Apple has intentionally left its AI features out of its wearables lineup, reserving them for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.There's some sense to this. Apple Intelligence is generally power-hungry, and would impact Apple Watch battery life and possibly performance. However, I think there are a few obvious integrations that we could see in the next watchOS iteration:Genmoji - Genmoji lets you create custom emojis on iPhone that you can send to your friends and family, and it could be a fun way to improve communication on Apple Watch.Notification Summaries - An Apple Watch that could give you AI-powered summaries of important notifications could be an excellent upgrade, especially on a device with a small screen designed to be glanced at quickly throughout the day.Priority notifications - Apple Watch notifications can be overwhelming; using Apple's priority notifications could significantly improve how many notifications get pushed to your Apple Watch.Smart Reply - Apple Intelligence can write replies to messages. With the Apple Watch's tiny screen and fiddly keyboard, this one could be a lifesaver.Siri upgrade - Either through ChatGPT or Apple's own AI improvements, Siri needs a desperate upgrade, and it would be great to get the ChatGPT integration in Siri on Apple Watch while we wait for the 2026 upgrade. A redesign of Siri is looking likely, according to 9to5Mac.SolariumwatchOS 12 is tipped to get a bit more of a visual revamp this time around, along with Apple TV's TVOS. It's designed to bring all the products in line with each other, as iOS and MacOS will be getting a similar, lighter update designed to imitate natural light. Apple reportedly is referring to this design language as 'Solarium'.Speaking of bringing it all together, some rumors indicate that watchOS 12 will be getting a name change to watchOS 26, along with iOS 26, MacOS 26, and so forth. I can see why – we're on iOS 18, watchOS 12... all of Apple's different softwares are on different iterations. Renaming it all on an annual basis would ensure consistency across the brand.watchOS: 2024's most significant updatesThere's a good chance that watchOS 12 includes some tweaks and iterations of existing features, as well as new ones. Headline features from last year's release include the new Vitals app, which gives you health metrics measured during your sleep.There was also the new Training Load feature, customization in the Activity Rings and Fitness app, the new Smart Stack, improved pregnancy support, and new safety tools, including Check In. All of these newer features are prime candidates for further upgrades and changes, and my prediction is that we'll get an upgrade for the Vitals app.You may also likePlease, Apple, don't add a camera to the Apple Watch – it's not the change we're hoping forThe Apple Watch is getting a sleep alarm upgrade it probably should have had 10 years agoThe Apple Watch SE 3 is apparently in 'serious jeopardy', and the news isn't much better for the Ultra 3 or Series 11

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally a thing you can buy in the US — or at least, a thing you can try to buy. The $450 console officially went up for sale at midnight ET on June 5, with several retailers offering the device both online and in-store. Predictably, online stock appears to have dried up fairly quickly and remains spotty as of Thursday morning. But if you haven’t managed to secure an order yet, the hunt continues. To help you out, we’ve rounded up all the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch and any restocks that may pop up.

Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2

Walmart opened up purchases online at midnight, but both the standard console and the Mario Kart World bundle are out of stock as of our latest update. Naturally, the world's largest retailer is selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations as well. The company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location, but it's worth checking if any store near you still has devices available.

GameStop held launch events starting on Wednesday and is advertising in-store availability, though again this will vary by location. Anecdotally, Engadget's Cherlynn Low was able to acquire the console at a GameStop store in New York City on Thursday morning and was told by a staffer that each location had "about 50 units of inventory."

As we write this, the device is unavailable on GameStop's website. A $625 bundle that includes a microSD Express card and a few other accessories was available for a bit longer than the standard SKUs, though it's since gone out of stock (and it's kind of scummy anyway).

Target began selling the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and may still have stock available this morning, so it's worth looking into the locations closest to you. The retailer says it'll restock online inventory in the early morning on June 6, while supplies last.

Best Buy held midnight launch events as well and said it'd have limited stock at its retail locations. It is not selling the console online during launch week, however.

You may have more luck at certain membership-based retailers, if restocks this morning are any indication. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online membership has gone in and out of stock, while Sam's Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub available as well. You'll need a membership to check on either of those, though. We've also seen online stock at BJ's, but those listings are unavailable as of our most recent update.

Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available earlier on Thursday, but that appears to have dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order.

As of now, Amazon is the only major retailer that doesn't have some form of a Nintendo Switch 2 listing on its website. The company also did not take any pre-orders for the Switch 2, so it's unclear if and when it will sell the device.

Newegg has a Switch 2 listing for several weeks now, but it hasn't started sales just yet.

With all of these stores, note that we've generally seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. Considering that's the Switch 2's biggest launch game and that it retails for $80 on its own, though, that may not be the worst thing.

Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle:

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Costco (membership required)

Sam's Club (membership required)

BJ's (membership required)

Verizon (service required)

Amazon

Where to buy Switch 2:

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

BJ's (membership required)

Verizon (service required)

Amazon

Where to buy Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories

Naturally, Nintendo is selling a bunch of new first-party accessories for the Switch 2, most of which became available on June 5 along with the console. Same thing goes for games such as Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Another big Switch 2 title, Donkey Kong Bananza, won't be available until mid-July. Still, you can currently pre-order games that are not out right now, so that you'll get them when they actually become available.

As of Thursday morning, most Nintendo Switch 2 games remain widely available. Stock for the accessories is a little patchier, but most devices are generally in stock at certain retailers. Also note that, for Nintendo's own accessory listings, you'll need to have received an invite to purchase each item.

Mario Kart World ($80)

Nintendo

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Donkey Kong Bananza ($70)

Nintendo

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Costco (membership required)

Additional Switch 2 games

Nintendo

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Costco (membership required)

Switch 2 Camera ($55)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60)

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40)

Nintendo (invite required)

Walmart

GameStop

Best Buy

Target

Amazon

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/how-to-buy-the-nintendo-switch-2-current-in-stock-availability-on-consoles-and-games-120039522.html?src=rss