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Deciding what to get your dad for Father's Day is tricky. There are the standbys like tools for the grill or a new history book, but there are also plenty of unique options out there. That includes digital options like a Nintendo Switch Online membership or a subscription to MasterClass.

A MasterClass subscription is one of our favorite gifts for teachers, but it's also an especially good option right now as the site is running a Father's Day sale. Currently, you can gift dad a one-year membership for up to 50 percent off. Take the MasterClass Plus subscription, which is down to $96 from $180 annually. It offers unlimited classes and access on two devices.

Then there's the Premium tier, which allows unlimited access across six devices. The sale brings this option down to $120 from $240 for the year. The cheapest option is the Standard subscription, which is also discounted, and it offers one class every three months on one device.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-up-to-50-percent-off-masterclass-subscriptions-for-fathers-day-140300335.html?src=rss

An Nvidia events page has been hijacked with AI generated spamNPR, Stanford, and some US government sites were also taken overThe spam seems to be explicit but non-maliciousSeveral Nvidia-owned web domains were hijacked to show explicit and AI-generated content in a spam campaign that also targeted NPR, Stanford, and US Government sites.The Nvidia page, events.nsv.nvidia[,]com has now been taken down, but was seemingly an events site. The page was taken over and more than 62,000 AI-generated articles were posted, primarily containing incorrect or incomplete information about popular search topics like video game round-ups or restaurant recommendations.Elsewhere, a domain belonging to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) advising on vaccines was also targeted, being defaced in a similar fashion.WowLazy spam campaignIt’s not clear who hijacked the site or the purpose behind it, since the AI slop doesn’t seem to have a consistent theme or angle. The links in the pages direct to a “nonsense SEO spam page” stocks.wowlazy[.]com.Much of the content appears to have been apparently explicit, but much was also “entirely mundane” - the spam campaign was discovered thanks to a technologist who was searching for ‘best Portland cat cafes’ on DuckDuckGo and was directed to the events.nsv.nvidia[,]com site and a spam page about cat cafes.This isn’t the first time that cybercriminals have hijacked websites in order to post their own content, but usually this contains some type of malware of infostealer to gain profit from the spam campaigns - but as far as we can see, that wasn’t the case on this occasion.SEO seems to be a tool that cybercriminals are taking advantage of in order to deliver malware (or not) to a wider audience. To mitigate the risk from this type of attack, users should disable push notifications from sites they don’t know/trust, and be very cautious with unfamiliar links.TechRadar Pro did reach out to the CDC, NPR, Stanford, and Nvidia for comment but haven’t yet received a response.Via 404mediaYou might also likeTake a look at our picks for the best malware removal software aroundCheck out our choice for AI toolsCybercriminals are using SEO to get popular fake AI tools loaded with malware to rank high on Google

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 launch this summer for $299Improved noise-cancelling algorithms, wireless charging now standardSix hour battery life and wireless charging for the caseThe best noise cancelling earbuds you can buy right now are by Bose, and right now I'm going to suggest maybe not buying them. That's because there's a newer version incoming, and Bose promises that these ones are even better.The Bose' QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen will launch later this summer with a price tag of $299; pricing and availability for the rest of the world hasn't been announced just yet.In addition to the new earbuds, there are also two new SoundLink speakers. One of them is coming this month and the other shortly afterwards.(Image credit: Bose)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): what's newWe're pretty unanimous when it comes to rating ANC earbuds: Bose are the best. That's been the case for quite a while, ever since we found the Sony WF-1000XM5 to be a bit of a let-down in the ANC department.If I'm travelling any distance I'm more likely to take my OG first-gen QuietComfort Earbuds than my AirPods Pro 2. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are better still, and the second generation promise to improve the ANC experience yet again.Bose says it's got new and improved AI algorithms for better filtering of sudden noise spikes via its ActiveSense system, so less outside sound will break through. Bose promises improved voice pickup and call quality too, which is good, because that was a weak spot f the Ultra compared to the competition.Battery life is six hours with ANC, or four with immersive spatial audio turned on too, and the case can be charged wirelessly – weirdly, the first-gen Ultra Earbuds required a sleeve for the case to add wireless charging, but it's here by default now.There's also a new embedded ear wax guard to prevent buildup, and avoid any audio blocking from it.There are three color options: black, white smoke and deep plum.Two new SoundLink speakersThere's a lot of citrus yellow in this photo of the SoundLink Plus Portable (Image credit: Bose)Bose has also announced two new SoundLink portable speakers: the SoundLink Plus Portable, which sits between the SoundLink Flex and the Max, and a second-generation SoundLink Micro.The SoundLink Plus Portable is IP67 rated, floats in water, delivers 20 hours of playback and features one subwoofer, a tweeter and four passive radiators, so it should be pretty big in the bass department.It'll be $269 and comes in a choice of black, blue dusk or a new citrus yellow. Pre-orders start today, 12 June, except for the citrus yellow: those orders open on 18 June. All three models will be on sale from 26 June.(Image credit: Bose)The second-generation SoundLink Micro speaker gets USB-C charging, 12 hours of battery life and Bose app compatibility for adjusting the EQ, customizing the buttons and other tweaks.There's a new removable fabric strap that makes it easy to attach it to things, and Bose says the new model delivers clearer highs without sacrificing any of the lows.The SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) will go on sale later this summer with a US price of $129 and two color choices: black and blue dusk.You might also likeThe best noise-cancelling earbuds 2025, for all budgetsThe best noise cancelling headphones for all budgetsThe best Bluetooth speakers for all budgets, all tested by us

The Chinese Room has announced the Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest expansionThe expansion will launch on June 18 for PC and consoleSiren's Deep will take place over a decade after the events of the original storyDeveloper The Chinese Room has announced Siren's Rest, a brand new story expansion for its 2024 horror game Still Wakes the Deep.Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest is set to release on June 18 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass, and is set over a decade after the events of the original game.In this expansion, written by Helldivers 2's deputy game director Sagar Beroshi, players will sink below the waves of the North Sea as Mhairi to explore what’s left of the Beira D, an offshore oil drilling platform."1986. The Beira D is now a groaning steel catacomb interred in the inky depths of the North Sea," the expansion blurb reads. "What really happened that December day in 1975, when communications to the mainland were severed and the rig sank without a trace? What answers can be given to families who still grieve, ten years on?"You are Mhairi. And you will find those answers. As the leader of a saturation dive to the wreck of the Beira D, you descend, a fragile light in the crushing dark. Your mission: uncover the fate of the crew and recover what remains of their passing."Players will need to swim through the underwater wreckage armed with a cutting torch, crowbar, and camera, piece together the mystery of the lost crew, all while avoiding danger that lurks in the depths.Siren's Rest will also introduce a new voice cast directed by Kate Saxon, including Doctor Who's Lois Chimimba, who will star as Mhairi, Bridgerton's Lorn Macdonald, and David Menkin, known for Final Fantasy 16 and Alan Wake 2.In TechRadar Gaming's four-star Still Wakes the Deep review, Rob Dwiar said the game is "an incredibly atmospheric, tense, and gripping first-person horror game.""With a tremendous sense of place, superb voice acting, and creepy horror elements, it’s a small but punchy experience that we fully recommend despite some hand-holding, simple puzzles, and the story being a little too short," he wrote.You might also like...Best horror games: the scariest titles to play in 2025Xbox Games Showcase 2025: everything revealed from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Persona 4 remake to a new handheldAfter seeing Resident Evil Requiem in action, I'm convinced it'll be another groundbreaking entry in the horror series

Amazon has provided an update on The Rings of Power season 3Filming is underway on the Prime Video show's next installmentThe Lord of the Rings prequel series has also added three new actors to its castAmazon has announced the latest cast additions to The Rings of Power as principal photography finally gets underway on the hit show's third season.In a press release, the tech and e-commerce giant's entertainment division confirmed filming had recently begun on The Rings of Power season 3 at Shepperton Studios in the UK. That's the same location that The Lord of the Rings prequel series' second season was shot and produced at.Three new cast members were also revealed as part of the high fantasy Prime Video show's next chapter.A post shared by Amazon MGM Studios (@amazonmgmstudios)A photo posted by on Andrew Richardson, who some viewers might recognize from Apple TV+ sci-fi miniseries Extrapolations, will feature as a season 3 regular. Zubin Varla, who portrayed Xanwan in Andor's first season on Disney+, and Adam Young, who appeared in two episodes of Apple TV Original Masters of the Air, are also on board in recurring roles.The trio join fellow season 3 newcomers Jamie-Campbell Bower and Eddie Marsan on the cast roster, with the Stranger Things and Heartstopper stars signing on in late February. That pair's hiring came two weeks after Amazon MGM Studios officially renewed The Rings of Power for a third season.Which characters will Richardson, Varla, and Young play in The Rings of Power season 3?Could one of these season 3 newcomers play the individual who becomes The Witch King? (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)We don't know. Amazon hasn't revealed who they'll portray in one of the best Prime Video shows' third installment, but that won't stop me from speculating on who they might play.Per its official plot brief, The Rings of Power season 3 will "jump forward several years" to the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron. This near-decade long conflict should form the basis of next season's plot alongside Sauron's creation of the One Ring. It's possible, then, that Richardson, Varla, and Young could simply be new characters who are commanders, lieutenants, or ordinary soldiers for each army.However, it's also a possibility that one or more of them could assume the role of established characters who popular Middle-earth in J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works.I previously suggested that Marsan could play Durin IV's brother, who might vie with his sibling for Khazad-dûm's throne next season. Could someone like Varla, though, play him instead?Then there's the prospect that one of next season's subplots will center on Sauron gifting the final nine Rings of Power to the Kings of Men.Canonically, Middle-earth's Dark Lord does so before he fashions the One Ring to Rule Them All. The Rings of Power has been pretty liberal in its depiction of how and when events play out in the Second Age, but it wouldn't make sense if Sauron creates his own ring before presenting the remaining rings to the individuals who'll become his most trusted lieutenants, aka the Ringwraiths. After all, he can't use the Kings of Men's rings to bend them to his will without the One Ring.So, if and when the Kings of Men are presented with this nonuplet, it's plausible that Richardson, Varla, and/or Young might play some of these individuals. That includes the monarch who goes on to become The Witch-King of Angmar and Khamul the Easterling, the latter of whom also becomes one of the nine Ringwraiths.Season 3 doesn't have a release date yet, so we'll be waiting a while to find out who these actors will play. For now, get further insights into what next season's story might entail by checking out my ending explainer on The Rings of Power season 2, or checking out some of my exclusive season 2 finale coverage below.You might also like'A very astute observation': The Rings of Power's Elrond and Gil-Galad actors drop a big hint about the elves' new safe haven in the season 2 finale'I'm still pretty shocked': The Rings of Power's Daniel Weyman hasn't come to terms with who he's really playing after The Stranger's 'exciting' name reveal'There's an order of events to come': The Rings of Power's Cynthia Addai-Robinson teases 'exciting' but 'tragic' season 3 arc for Míriel

On Thursday, Bose unveiled its next-gen premium wireless earbuds. The latest QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have enhanced adaptive noise cancellation, thanks to AI. Among their other upgrades over the originals are boosted call quality and wireless charging.

Since AI is the tech world's obsession, it's no surprise that Bose is jumping on that bandwagon. Here, the company uses it to improve adaptive noise cancellation. AI algorithms in the new model can smooth out sudden spikes in background noise while using aware mode. (That's the feature that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to music.) So, for example, the ANC should respond more quickly to a suddenly passing train or siren. In theory, that means fewer distractions from your music.

AI is also behind improved call quality in the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Bose claims that its noise suppression system improves voice pickup and overall quality.

Bose

The new model supports wireless charging natively. The first-gen QC Ultra Earbuds only offered it in a roundabout way. You had to buy a $50 silicone cover for the case, which wasn't the most elegant solution.

The rest of the 2025 model's upgrades are subtler. Their ear tips now include a built-in earwax filter. That should make it easier to clean them and avoid sound degradation over time. You can also turn off the earbuds' capacitive touch controls in the app. The inability to do that was a common complaint about the 2023 originals. (They'll receive an update later this year that adds the same functionality.)

The second-gen Bose QC Ultra Earbuds retail for the same $299 as their predecessors. They'll be available in black, white smoke and deep plum. Later this summer, the company will start pre-orders and provide a release date.

SoundLink PlusBose

Alongside the earbuds, Bose announced two new Bluetooth speakers. The SoundLink Plus is a mid-range one, sitting between the SoundLink Flex and Max. The company's tagline for the speaker sums up the niche it wants to fill: "big enough to bring the bass but portable enough to take on the go."

The SoundLink Plus has one subwoofer, a tweeter and four passive radiators. It also includes an automatic tuning system called Active EQ. Bose says it adjusts its frequency response to match an optimal sound curve. It weighs 3.29 lbs. It supports Bluetooth Core 5.4.

The speaker supports up to 20 hours of playback. In a nice touch, you can use its USB-C port to charge your phone and other devices.

The SoundLink Plus costs $269. If you're looking to grab one, you won't have to wait long. Pre-orders open today, ahead of a June 26 launch. It will be available in black, blue dusk and citrus yellow. (The latter won't be available to pre-order until June 18.)

SoundLink Micro (second-gen)Bose

Finally, Bose is rolling out a second-gen version of the SoundLink Micro. The speaker is still small — just slightly less so than the first model. (The second-gen Micro measures 4.06 x 4.06 x 1.54 inches.) But in exchange, you get much longer battery life. Bose says the new speaker lasts up to 12 hours, an increase from six hours in its predecessor.

The SoundLink Micro also includes some modernizations. First, it now works with the Bose app. The speaker also ditches the micro-USB charging from its predecessor in favor of USB-C.

Elsewhere, it adds the same Active EQ and Bluetooth Core 5.4 support in its mid-range sibling. The company claims that the speaker plays back sounds more clearly at higher frequencies. (And it does so without muddying bass.) It also has a removable nylon strap. This should be handy for attaching the speaker to bags, bikes, shower heads and the like.

The Bose SoundLink Micro will be available in black and blue dusk. It costs $129. The company will provide specific launch info later this summer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/boses-second-gen-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-have-ai-enhanced-adaptive-anc-130057912.html?src=rss

Match’s Singles in America report shows AI use in dating has surged 333% in just one year.Nearly half of Gen Z singles now use AI to help with profiles, messages, or match filtering.AI may help polish dating experiences, but its long-term utility is questionable.Finding a date online or with an app went from an embarrassing secret to a universal experience over the course of a few years. But, while it arguably peaked a few years ago, it's still a hugely popular way to meet someone.In 2025, a new wingman in the form of artificial intelligence has exploded in popularity. Match, the company behind Tinder, Hinge, and more than a dozen other digital dating services, found an enormous 333% increase in AI usage among singles in just one year. The rise was reported as part of the 14th annual Singles in America study, the largest of its kind, conducted with the Kinsey Institute. So, roughly one in four American singles now enlist AI to shape their profiles, come up with opening lines, or check up on potential matches.The Singles in America survey is from 75,000 people. The AI usage isn't spread evenly among single people, with nearly half of Gen Z singles saying they’ve used AI in some aspect of their dating life. But, 44% of all singles said they’d like AI to help them filter potential partners, and 40% want help crafting the perfect dating profile. That means if you’ve been on a dating app recently, there’s a good chance you weren’t flirting with a person; you were flirting with an AI's suggestion of how they should flirt.As odd as it sounds at first, it makes sense when you consider how so many people I know have become burnt out on them after dealing with confusing etiquette rules and more ghosts than a haunted house. Why not let a chatbot help you finesse your opening line or rewrite your bio?"AI isn't replacing intimacy, it's giving singles an edge," Match Director of Sex and Relationship Science Dr. Amanda Gesselman said in a statement. "For a generation overwhelmed by options, tools that bring clarity and efficiency are more than welcome."Apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble have already started rolling out AI tools that suggest better photos, screen messages for tone, or recommend bios that perform well. Grindr’s testing an AI wingman to write icebreakers and date ideas.AI romanceI used dating apps a lot in my single days. Crafting a fun, friendly hello, usually with a joke or little pun, was a key part of it, since if they didn't like my sense of humor, it would probably be a bad date. Sure, it could be frustrating if it didn't pan out, but the idea of letting an AI choose my photos, write my bio, message my matches, and schedule a date would not have been something I would have been interested in doing.It was bad enough when my taken friends insisted on swiping and messaging on my behalf. Plus, when you finally meet in person after both using AI for the whole initial interaction, who exactly are you going on a date with?I get the appeal of using AI to smooth over awkwardness. But AI should be a tool for taking over the tedious, boring bits of life. Using it for the fun parts of flirting and meeting someone seems like the opposite of how we should engage with AI. I’m not trying to be a Luddite or cranky old man about AI with dating.If you're anxious or just very awkward when starting a conversation, an AI prompt or suggestion can be a lifeline. Or if English isn’t your first language, these tools can help you express yourself more clearly. But going beyond little assists could cross a line and lead away from actual relationships.The Match study also found a stunning number of Gen Z singles, around a third, have already had a romantic interaction with AI, as in, they skipped from AI helping find a date to AI being the date. It might sound hyperbolic, but enough people building relationships with AI will reshape what they expect from human relationships in unpredictable ways.You might also like...Bumble is giving you new AI tools to find loveTinder's new AI will pick out your best photos for your dating profileCan Grindr's AI Cupid help you find love?