News

Hosted by Jane Pauley. In our cover story, Robert Costa talks with former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was recently fired by President Trump. Also: Mo Rocca looks at the continuing fascination with the works of William Shakespeare; Jim Axelrod visits with the Doobie Brothers; Tracy Smith sits down with actress Jean Smart, now starring on Broadway in a one-woman show, “Call Me Izzy”; David Pogue checks out the success of the crowdfunding site Patreon; Martha Teichner explores the illuminating shows of puppetry created by Lightwire Theater; and Faith Salie finds some of the theater world exhibiting their less-used talents on the softball field, as part of the Broadway Show League.

How quickly five years goes by – I can scarcely believe it, but it’s been almost half a decade since I picked up my 11-inch iPad Pro and second-generation Apple Pencil.The approach of WWDC 2025 has brought an onslaught of rumors about Apple’s upcoming operating system updates, and given the timing of the above I’ve been drawn to the latest tip-offs and suggestions about iPadOS 19.Speaking personally, I’m pretty excited by the prospect of an iPad operating system that’s tipped to be the most Mac-like iPadOS update ever – check out our recent roundup of iPadOS 19 features we want to see for a detailed breakdown.But on the other hand, as a user of both Apple and Android devices, I’ll believe it when I see it. Android has surpassed Apple in terms of tablet multitasking and computer compatibility so successfully that I’d almost stopped hoping for any proper competition from Apple; in thes arena at least, as iPads arguably have the suprios hardware and tablet-optimized app ecosystem.To be fair, in the last five years I’ve put my iPad Pro to good use. It carried me through the first two years of my degree, and has been a fabulous companion for streaming video, controlling Spotify playback, and doodling on ProCreate. I’ve edited audio and video, taken photos, made spreadsheets and diagrams, and scrolled through plenty of social media posts.But since picking up a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro just over a year ago, I’ve noticed my iPad usage falling steadily – to the point where its A12Z processor and still-lovely 120Hz LCD display have mostly been relegated to the status of YouTube machine.The 2021 Macbook Pro 16-inch has largely supplanted the iPad's role in my life (Image credit: Future)As anyone who’s owned an iPad knows, that’s pretty much death’s door for an Apple tablet, no matter the model. In the latter years of my older iPad Air (the original model released in 2013), I was using the tablet for the exact same thing, despite not having a Mac at the time, and the iPad Pro's greater power and multitasking capabilities.Given five years is somewhat aged for my iPad Pro, especially as its successors moved to the powerful and efficient M-series Apple chips, I’ve been eyeing up some of the best iPads as a possible successor to the Pro, and to give me a tablet that I'll use for a lot more than streaming.To be honest, though, the spark I felt with my previous two Apple tablets just isn’t there this time.The crux of this is I don't feel there's enough 'pro' features to justify and upgrade to the latest iPad Pro, and see it become my primary device for work and play over my MacBook. Unless you absolutely need the touchscreen or Apple Pencil, I think it’s quicker to get things done on the more flexible, more powerful macOS-based machine.That’s because iPadOS just isn't powerful enough without proper desktop-style features – its multitasking is usable, but awkward, the files app convenient, but nerfed, the ecosystem smooth, but much more closed off than a traditional desktop. Essentially, I feel in its current guise iPadOS means the iPad Pro is essentially a powered-up iPad Air rather than a MacBook replacement that would pique my interest.The iPad Pro M4 sports desktop-class hardware, but is held back by software (Image credit: Future)I’m not the first to say that the iPad’s remarkable hardware is held back by iPadOS. I'm not even the first TechRadar journalist to say so - Managing Editor, Core Tech Matt Hanson said he found that "the power of the M4 chip largely went to waste with the iPad Pro" earlier this year.I think the hardware jump from my current 11-inch iPad Pro to one of the gorgeous 2024 models, with their slim build, Tandem OLED displays, and ludicrously powerful M4 chipsets, would feel even greater than the jump from the original iPad Air to my current 2020 iPad Pro, which makes the limitations of iPadOS even more frustrating. Why invest in all that power if the software can't take advantage of it?So, without being too dramatic, I think this coming WWDC is Apple’s last chance to show me it really knows what it’s doing with the iPad.(Image credit: Future)Why invest in all that power if the software can't take advantage of it?While I’d settle for new features that offer a more purposeful tablet experience while remaining entirely separate from the Mac, what I really want to see is Apple pushing the iPad towards a bolder, more capable role, leaving its ‘YouTube machine’ moniker firmly in the past.One could even suggest having a separate fork to iPadOS, such as iPadOS Pro, that focuses on pro-grade multitasking, a better mouse-centric interface when using an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard, and file management and transfer that's suitable for people doing professional work such as video editing.There's always been the perceived concern that Apple wouldn't do this due to cannibalising MacBook users, but there's scope that by making iPadOS more macOS-like for iPad Pros you could get an more capable and flexible tablet that could augment one Apple product collection than dilute it; for example photographers and video editors could use an iPad Pro with a more pro-centric iPadOS to do on the fly edits or tap into powerful Apple Intelligence features, while out in the field, then move over to a MacBook Pro when back at their desk or in a more laptop-friendly environment.So my hope is we see something special from Apple at WWDC that supercharges iPadOS, if not with an eye on professionals then in a fashion that really harnesses the M-series chip power to make iPadOS more distinct, and less of what's arguably a modified take on iOS 18.WWDC 2025 kicks off on June 9 – be sure to bookmark our how to watch WWDC 2025 guide and keep an eye on our phones coverage and tablets coverage for the latest updates. Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments below.You might also likeGot an older iPad? Download this new security update now for models that can't run iPadOS 18Will your iPhone get iOS 26? This is the rumored support list for the rebranded iOS 19A flood of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 leaks have arrived – including a potential launch date

"I don't care if it becomes the Terminator," I heard from somewhere behind me at the deli counter. While I'm not in the habit of eavesdropping, this guy was speaking full volume and, as I quickly ascertained, talking about AI. That wasn't what caught my ear, though.Young and fit, the man was regaling his buddy, who worked behind the counter, with tales of his dating life, which currently involved "a few girls".They were laughing about his amorous adventures. Having been out of the dating scene for decades, I was intrigued. I knew that people my adult children's ages tended to rely on Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and other assorted dating apps, but the man standing just a few feet away from me was animatedly talking about making the love connection and how he uses ChatGPT to open and smooth the road.I proceeded to place my order while keeping one ear tuned into "Love in the AI Age.""I don't have words," he said. I silently agreed.Then he explained that he'd started using ChatGPT to craft texts to send to his potential paramours. From the sounds of things, it'd been helping him close the deal on dates.AI love connectionI'd heard whispers about this elsewhere and was not all that surprised. We are, after all, increasingly turning to AI chatbots like Gemini, Claude AI, Copilot, and, especially, ChatGPT for everything from job interviews (have ChatGPT running alongside the Zoom window listening so it can craft responses you can say out loud) and emotional support. These LLMs' abilities to engage in natural conversation have connected deeply with average consumers who would normally wait years before welcoming cutting-edge technology into their lives.More alarmingly, some in the Gen Z set appear ready to skip the whole human dating thing and marry an AI, instead. At least this guy was not that far gone.Without stereotyping him, this gentleman did not look or strike me as a technologist. His insistence on dropping articles from his sentences was my first clue.Our dater in question, though, apparently discovered a ChatGPT relationship superpower: Instead of ghosting women, he was using ChatGPT as "the closer" to text "the letdown.""I was dating this girl, and I want to send a breakup text," he explained to his friend.This is when he noted that "words" were not his specialty.Instead of ghosting the woman or sending an incomprehensible text, he said he creates a prompt in ChatGPT with his "feelings" and the "issues", and I assume the need to say "this over."He especially liked that ChatGPT would ask him how he wanted the text to come across: "Want it to be warmer?" Naturally, the guy said yes and got the perfect breakup text."I send it and done!"Better than ghosting?The deli guy behind the counter didn't say much. I'm not sure if he was astounded at his friend's AI savvy or concerned."Thank god they don’t know me," the guy said, chuckling at his cleverness, "I don’t use half of these words."With his AI-powered digital breakup revealed, the guy grabbed his sandwich and left. I stared at my sliced cold cuts and pondered the state of the world.On the one hand, there is some comfort in the fact that he didn't break someone's heart with silence. Back when I was dating in the 1980s, I did the equivalent of a ghost by not calling up a woman I'd been dating for a few weeks. I knew I was being a coward, but could not figure out how to say on the phone or to her face that I wasn't feeling it (I'm pretty sure she wasn't either). A couple of weeks later, she called me and yelled...a lot.Perhaps this is better. Ghosting someone creates a vacuum that you can't easily fill with feelings of resignation, understanding, anger, or confusion. So perhaps you fill it with all of them.This guy, while clearly lazy and as cowardly as I once was, at least had the decency to turn to something that could take his jumbled and grammatically imperfect thoughts and put them into something readable.Love promptsPerhaps the woman on the receiving end at least felt a sense of closure. I do wonder, though, what would happen if they ever saw each other again. What if she were to reference the "considerate" breakup text? He didn't write it, would he even remember what "he said"?If I write something, I remember it. But this guy just copied and pasted ChatGPT's breakup text suggestion. He might stare at her and mumble, "Uh, yeah. Sure thing." Oh, the gallantry.The first word in AI is "artificial". It refers to the state of algorithmic intelligence, but when AI is used in this fashion, it might as well be talking about the artificiality of feelings. Even if this guy didn't "have words", the words he texted would have been his own. That's surely worth something.As it is, I hope the woman he broke up with didn't feel too disappointed. She probably dodged an arrow (through the heart, of course).You might also likeCan ChatGPT really replace a therapist? We spoke to mental health experts to find outHow does ChatGPT know so much about everything? Here's where AI gets its knowledge fromWould you marry an AI? A recent survey says most Gen Z-ers would - here's why that's a ridiculous idea

Whether you're a devout Xbox fan or just want to see the reveals of some of the most exciting games on the horizon, the Xbox Games Showcase this June is well worth watching.This month's show is part of Summer Game Fest 2025 and follows yesterday's main show. At that event, we saw the exciting reveal of Resident Evil Requiem, the next entry in the long-running survival horror seriesToday, the latest rumors suggest that we're going to see a Persona 4 remake revealed, plus some potential Xbox hardware in the form of a licensed PC handheld and new controller. Whether this is the case is yet to be seen, but you can bet that I'll be here giving you a steady stream of news and my live reactions as the event begins.Xbox Games Showcase live streamThe Xbox Games Showcase live stream is up right now! Catch it on the official The Game Awards YouTube channel or in the embed below.Xbox Games Showcase start timeThere's not long to go until the Xbox Games Showcase.It takes place on June 8 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT / 6PM BST / 7PM CEST.Xbox Games Showcase length and scheduleWhile there is no exact schedule, the Xbox Games Showcase will be followed immediately by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct - a deep dive presentation on the upcoming Xbox RPG.There's also no official word on length right now, though I would expect the Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct to last around two hours in total, though this is just a prediction.Hello everybody and welcome to the very, very beginning of my Xbox Games Showcase 2025 coverage!If you're reading this, it means you're on the of the very first people to join me as I cover the upcoming Xbox event.Stay tuned, as I'm just about to hit you with some of my biggest hopes and predictions...

Summer Game Fest 2025 is well underway, and if there's one event from the weekend that everyone's sure to be talking about, it's the Xbox Games Showcase. The livestream is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 at 1:00PM ET (10:00AM PT), and you can tune into it on the Xbox YouTube channel or Twitch, where ASL interpretation will be provided. Immediately after the Xbox showcase, there will be a separate presentation dedicated entirely to The Outer Worlds 2. You can watch both the Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct using the embedded stream below when it goes live. Our reporters on the ground, Jessica Conditt and Mat Smith, will be giving live updates in our liveblog below.

Last year's showcase brought us news about the upcoming Fable reboot (since delayed until 2026), the next entry in the Gears of War series, Gears of War: E-Day, the recently released Doom: The Dark Ages and much more. We may hear some fresh updates about those first two titles on Sunday, and possibly more about others like Everwild, State of Decay 3, Hideo Kojima's OD and Contraband. And of course, some new titles are likely to make their debut too.

You can catch up here on everything we've seen at Summer Game Fest 2025, and follow along when the event begins for our on-the-ground coverage.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/live-updates-from-the-xbox-games-showcase-at-summer-game-fest-2025-200036748.html?src=rss

As the Senate is examining President Trump's "one big, beautiful bill," White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that "when the budget process ends, if they don't raise the budget caps, there's going to be reductions across in the board." While Hassett said he has seen "massive amounts of waste, fraud, abuse in Medicaid," he "not been briefed on Medicare waste fraud and abuse" but if the Senate finds something, then "we would look at it."

After trying Nespresso's Pistachio Vanilla capsules, which produce a highly-flavored shot of espresso that's ideal for making lattes and iced americanos, I was keen to try out another of the company's other flavors designed for enjoying over ice. The limited edition Coconut Vanilla Over Ice pods looked particularly appealing, so I picked up a pack of 10 with my last order and waited with some impatience for them to arrive.Unlike the Pistachio Vanilla pods, which make the equivalent of a double espresso shot, the Nespresso Coconut Vanilla capsules produce a long drink that's equivalent to a full mug.The coffee has a base of arabica beans, roasted medium-dark. I usually opt for a lighter roast when I'm choosing beans for brewing at home, but the darker roast helps the coffee stand up to the added natural vanilla and coconut flavours.(Image credit: Future)Iced coffee is a hot commodity right now. There's been a flood of machines that claim to recreate the rounded, mellow taste of cold-infused coffee in minutes rather than hours, including the Jura J10, Ninja Luxe Cafe, and De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic to name just a few.They all produce impressive results, with the Jura being a particular favorite of mine thanks to its ability to infuse hot or cold milk with flavored syrup, but they have one major disadvantage: they're usually very expensive. That's where these Nespresso Over Ice pods come in, offering a kind of cold-brew experience without the price tag.Even the best Nespresso machines brew hot, so you'll need to use plenty of ice to bring the temperature of your drink down. You might also want to leave your brewed coffee to cool, then chill it in the fridge for a little while. Make sure you allow the coffee to reach room temperature before refrigerating it, to avoid raising the temperature inside your fridge unnecessarily.(Image credit: Future)I enjoy cold brew with plenty of milk, so I was able to use one Vanilla Coconut capsule to make two drinks by dispensing the coffee from my Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine into a heatproof glass jug with lots of ice, allowing it to chill, and then mixing it with milk. The overall flavor profile leans towards caramel, which pairs well with either dairy or plant-based alternatives.Adding the coffee, ice, and milk to a personal blender (I used the Ninja Blast Max) worked even better, and although I haven't tried it yet, I imagine a shot of rum might be good with the coconut and vanilla flavors too.It's a drink that's ripe for experimentation, and Nespresso offers some of its own recipe ideas if you want some inspiration. Its iced coconut vanilla mint coffee is easy to make and only takes three minutes.You might also like...The De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic is one of the best bean-to-cup coffee makers I've ever used – and one of the most expensiveThe Sage Barista Impress is so satisfying to use, I just want to make lattes all dayNinja's best coffee maker just got a makeover, and it looks so good it's selling out already

Apple's next big UI overhaul, reportedly called "Liquid Glass," is ready for its big reveal. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the upcoming interface redesign will feature "sheen and see-through visuals of a glassy surface." More specifically, Apple's new design language will have "transparency and shine effects" in its toolbars, in-app interfaces and controls.

It may sound like a superficial makeover, but it's rare that Apple makes such a major change to its UI. The last big change for iPhones came from iOS 7 when Apple ditched its iconic skeumorphism design in favor of a more simplified design we have today.

However, Gurman reported that Apple could be getting Liquid Glass ready for the eventual 20th anniversary of the iPhone next year. According to Gurman, the upcoming 20th anniversary release of the iPhone will have "curved glass sides around the entire phone, even at the edges." On top of that, this special iPhone will have "extraordinarily slim bezels and no cutout section in the screen" to better match the upcoming redesign.

It's not the first time we're hearing about Apple's rumored redesign, which was expected to draw inspiration from the Apple Vision Pro. With this Liquid Glass design, Apple could unify the look of its interfaces across all of its devices and make it less of a dramatic visual shift when switching between your Vision Pro and iPhone. This big visual change is expected to align across the board with iOS 26, macOS, watchOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. We're expecting to see Apple's Liquid Glass debut during WWDC 2025 which will kick off on June 9, 1PM ET/10AM PT.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-will-reportedly-demo-its-liquid-glass-interface-redesign-with-see-through-visuals-at-wwdc-165823089.html?src=rss

Obsidian Entertainment has announced that The Outer Worlds 2 will launch on October 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.The studio unveiled the release date as the first major announcement of the Xbox Games Showcase, and offered a new glimpse at the sequel with a gameplay trailer.This won't be the last we hear about the first-person shooter tonight. Immediately after the Xbox Games Showcase, The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will begin, which will presumably offer an in-depth look at the game.This story is developing...You might also like...Best Xbox Series X games 2025: smash hits for Microsoft's top consoleBest RPGs 2024 - top role-playing games for PC and consolesNintendo Switch 2: review in progress

We're been hearing rumors for what feels like an eternity about Microsoft working with ROG on a gaming handheld device and we got confirmation during the Xbox Games Showcase at Summer Game Fest. There are two variants of the handheld: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Microsoft didn't reveal pricing, but the handhelds are coming this holiday.

Xbox head Sarah Bond says that every game included in the showcase will be playable on the Xbox Ally, but didn't make clear whether those would all run natively on the devices. The reveal trailer also included a notable pause on Hollow Knight: Silksong, for what it's worth.

This story is developing, refresh for updates...This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/rog-xbox-ally-handheld-gaming-devices-are-real-and-coming-this-holiday-171550555.html?src=rss