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Disney has unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming sequel to a legacy sequel, Tron: Ares.Some 15 years since we last ventured inside the Grid, the new film "follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with AI beings". And judging by the trailer, which can be viewed below, it’s going to be a wild ride, with all the Light Cycle action fans could want after a decade and a half of waiting.

The history of the Tron franchise has been a case of enduring IP, little content. The first film arrived in 1982, riding the wave of the then-new video game and arcade craze with a story that saw a fresh faced Jeff Bridges play Kevin Flynn, a game developer transported inside a computer world. Using pioneering CGI, the film introduced the iconic Light Cycles, presenting a wholly original fantasy world.While sequels were mooted straight away, it took until 2010 for Tron: Legacy to finally hit screens, focusing on Kevin’s son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) and his investigation into his father’s disappearance, ultimately leading him into another, altogether more modern digital world.While the film saw Jeff Bridges reprise his role and used state of the art 3D effects, a sequel failed to materialize, and it’s best remembered for the iconic soundtrack by Daft Punk.An Animated TV series, Tron: Uprising – which you won't see ranking among the best Disney+ series – set between the two movies, aired on Disney XD in 2012, but failed to gather momentum and was cancelled after one season. Disney has kept the franchise alive via their parks however, with Tron Light Cycle Power Run serving as a flagship roller coaster attraction in both their Shanghai and Orlando resorts.

What can we expect from Tron: Ares?

Tron: Ares looks to be a big swing from Disney to keep the franchise relevant, and judging by this first trailer, could be one of the best Disney+ movies of the year.While much of the plot is being kept under wraps for now, we do know that Jared Leto plays Ares, a sophisticated, sentient program which makes its way from the digital world to our own. The trailer’s glimpse of a neon red Light Cycle slicing a police cruiser in two while speeding down a packed highway has us very excited for what’s in store, especially if Nine Inch Nails’ full score (Daft who?) is half as thumping as the snippet we hear in the trailer.Coming from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales director Joachim Rønning, the third installment in the saga also appears to be very much a soft reboot of the franchise, with none of the threads left hanging after Legacy’s conclusion seemingly picked up, and although we hear Jeff Bridges gravely voiceover, his role could well be cameo stuff. The new sneak peak also gives us our first glimpse of Greta Lee as Eve, Evan Peters as Julian and Gillian Anderson.With a topical spin pitting the human race against ever-learning AI and eye-popping visuals, Tron: Ares looks like it will be well worth the wait for content starved franchise fans. We can't wait to plug back into the Grid when the threequel arrives on October 10.

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While the Nintendo Switch 2 had its splashy debut last week, including details about the hardware and launch games, there's still lots about the console that Nintendo has yet to clear up. For instance, the company hasn't gone into specifics about the CPU and GPU that are powering the Switch 2, other than to touch on the performance enhancements that they offer over the Switch (NVIDIA separately confirmed that the Switch 2 uses its Deep Learning Super Sampling tech).

However, since last Wednesday's blockbuster Direct, Nintendo has touched on some new Switch 2 details in interviews with the press. For one thing, Nate Bihldorff, Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing at Nintendo of America, told Nintendo Life that the console's Joy-Con 2 controllers do not use Hall effect tech. "The Joy-Con 2's controllers have been designed from the ground up," Bihldorff said. "They're not Hall effect sticks, but they feel really good."

Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto separately said that the Joy-Con 2 joysticks "are quieter and don’t make noise, even when they’re moved quickly to the edge." The company is referring to them as "smooth-gliding sticks."

Engadget has asked Nintendo why the company opted not to use Hall effect tech in the Joy-Con 2. We've also asked whether the Switch 2 Pro Controller foregoes Hall effect sensors as well.

This technology is becoming increasingly common in the thumbsticks of third-party gamepads, but Nintendo has yet to implement it in its own joysticks (nor have Sony or Microsoft, for that matter). The idea behind Hall effect sensors is that they reduce the likelihood of stick drift. This problem was so pervasive on the original Switch's Joy-Cons that Nintendo offered free, unlimited repairs for stick drift in Europe. So it's not clear why Nintendo would opt out of having Hall effect sensors in the Joy-Con 2 to help mitigate such problems.

Meanwhile, Nintendo has confirmed US pricing for a few Switch 2 experiences. The company told IGN that the upgrades for two The Legend of Zelda games — Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom — cost $10 each for those who already own either game. However, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers get access to the upgrades at no extra cost.

The Switch 2 upgrades include visual fidelity and framerate enhancements, along with the inclusion of HDR support and faster loading times. You'll also be able to use the Switch mobile app as a Sheikah Slate of sorts, helping you to find hidden items with voiced directions.

In addition, Nintendo has revealed that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which seems like a tech demo that will take you through all the features of the console, will cost $10. As for why Nintendo is charging 10 bucks for this as opposed to offering it for free (like Valve did with the fun Steam Deck tech demo, Aperture Desk Job, or Sony did with Astro's Playroom on PS5), Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience Bill Trinen had this to say to IGN:

For some people, I think there are people who are particularly interested in the tech and the specs of the system and things like that, for them I think it's going to be a great product. It's really for people that want more information about the system rather than necessarily a quick intro to everything it does. And for that reason and just the amount of care and work that the team put into it, I think it was decided that, 'Yeah, this feels like $9.99 is not an exorbitant price. It feels like a good value for what you're getting out of the product.'This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-says-the-switch-2-joy-con-controllers-dont-have-hall-effect-thumbsticks-145541771.html?src=rss

Researchers found three malicious PyPI packages, two targeting bitcoin developers, and one WooCommerce storesTwo are designed to steal data, and the third to test for valid credit cardsAll three have since been removed from the repository

Multiple open source software packages on the Python Package Index (PyPI) repository were found to be malicious, likely compromising thousands of devices, experts have warned.Cybersecurity researchers at ReversingLabs found two malicious packages, “bitcoinlibdbfix” and “bitcoinlib-dev”, which cumulatively have around 2,000 downloads.They claim to be a fix for a legitimate Python module named “bitcoinlib”, which contains features for creating and managing cryptocurrency wallets.

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WooCommerce stores also under attack

Recently, the community discussed an issue related to how the package generates error messages.The crooks saw this as an opportunity, created the two malicious packages and jumped into the conversation in an attempt to distribute them. It doesn’t seem to have worked: “The malicious content of that library was detected by the package contributors and the comments were deleted,” ReversingLabs said.Both libraries attempted a similar attack, the researchers further explained. The idea was to overwrite the legitimate ‘clw cli’ command with malicious code, exfiltrating sensitive database files.At the same time, researchers from Socket found a third package, which doesn’t target bitcoin developers, but rather WooCommerce stores. Furthermore, this package doesn’t even try to hide its true intentions, and instead is “openly malicious”. Despite being obvious malware, it still managed to rake in 37,217 downloads.The malware is called “disgrasya” and works as a fully automated carding script. "The malicious payload was introduced in version 7.36.9, and all subsequent versions carried the same embedded attack logic," Socket said.Carding is a type of cybercrime where stolen credit card information is used to make unauthorized purchases or test if the card is still active. Since criminals often buy these card details from the dark web, whoever built and distributed disgrasya could have profited greatly from it.Via The Hacker News

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Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphones just got a free major AI upgradeS25 users will gain access to Visual AI in Gemini Live, via an update that's rolling out nowVisual AI allows users to ask questions about what they see in real time on screen or via camera access

Samsung just announced that all Galaxy S25 users will get a brand-new Visual AI experience on their smartphones, and it's starting to roll out today – April 7, 2025 – as an update.The upgrade, powered by Google Gemini, allows S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphone owners to have 'real-time visual and conversational interactions' with Gemini Live.In the press release published on Samsung's website, the company gives multiple examples of how Visual AI can help users get even more from Gemini, which is built into the best Galaxy smartphones.With Visual AI, you can grant Gemini Live access to your camera and screen sharing, and the AI voice assistant will be able to tell you what you're looking at.Samsung says the new upgrade to Gemini Live means the AI can 'have a real-time conversation with users about what it sees – making everyday tasks easier.'If you own a Samsung S25 device, the free update is starting to roll out today. So, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for an update to take full advantage of this new Visual AI feature.

(Image credit: Samsung)

Google and Samsung continue their strong partnership

“Together with Google, we are marking a bold step toward the future of mobile AI, delivering smarter interactions that are deeply in sync with how we live, work and communicate,” said Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.The partnership between the two companies is stronger than ever, with Galaxy AI deeply intertwined with Google Gemini on S25 devices.Kim added, "With this new visual capability, Galaxy S25 series brings next-generation AI experiences to life, setting new standards for how users engage with the world through their devices.”I'm excited to try Visual AI, as I absolutely love the ability to ask Gemini questions about what's on my screen via text on Android.Adding that functionality to Gemini Live will make S25 devices feel even more alive, taking a huge leap towards a future where we all have an AI voice assistant in our pockets capable of managing the mundane elements of life.

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Later than expected, Google has begun rolling a pair of new Gemini Live features to Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 devices. The company first previewed Gemini live video and screensharing during Mobile World Congress in March. As you might have guessed from their names, the two features allow you to take advantage of Gemini's multi-modal capabilities to ask Google's chatbot questions about what you see in front of your or on your phone's screen.

📣 It’s here: ask Gemini about anything you see. Share your screen or camera in Gemini Live to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and more.Rolling out to Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 devices today and available for all Advanced users on @Android in the Gemini app:… pic.twitter.com/fjTD4qhvjz— Google Gemini App (@GeminiApp) April 7, 2025

If you don't own a Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25, Google says you can still access the new features through the Gemini app on Android. However, you'll need a Google One AI Premium plan, which costs $20 per month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-live-video-and-screensharing-starts-rolling-out-to-pixel-9-and-galaxy-s25-phones-151032356.html?src=rss

Marvel has released one final trailer for its Thunderbolts* movieThe new teaser puts the focus squarely on Lewis Pullman's SentryIt reconfirms the superhero's dark alter-ego will be the film's Big Bad

Well, Marvel isn't hiding it anymore. As it ramps up its marketing campaign for Thunderbolts*, the comic book titan is no longer being coy about the movie's Big Bad.Admittedly, it wasn't anyway. Anyone who's kept tabs on the final Marvel Phase 5 film's development since January 2024 will know who its main villain was likely to be. With each new round of footage, it's become more and more obvious who it'll be, too.While Thunderbolts' official trailer heavily implied that its primary antagonist would be someone you expected to be a good guy, though, its latest teaser, which you can view below, just comes out and says it.

Who is the villain in Marvel's Thunderbolts movie?

The film's latest trailer confirms the titular band of misfits and disgraced heroes will face off against The Void, aka the nefarious alter-ego of Lewis Pullman's Bob Reynolds/Sentry. Heck, Pullman's mentally unstable superpowered being even says "I am The Void" in the teaser, which is as good a confirmation as any.It sounds like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, and company have got their work cut out, too. Pullman's Reynolds informs them "there's no use fighting" him, before CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine calls him "invincible, all-powerful [and] stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one."

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If planet Earth had a supremely powerful human at its disposal, it begs the question: why wasn't he called upon to help the Avengers to try and stop Thanos from wiping out half of all life in the universe in Infinity War?Based on how terrifying The Void appears to be, it wouldn't have been worth the risk. That's made clear when he menacingly says "you have no idea what I'm capable of... maybe I should show you". Anyone else gets shives down their spine?

This seemingly timid guy – Bob Reynolds – is a potentially world-ending threat (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Anyway, Reynolds/Sentry/The Void will be sticking around in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for longer than many Marvel villains. Indeed, he was announced as part of the initial 27-strong cast that was announced for Avengers: Doomsday in late March. So, while we don't know how the eponymous ragtag group will actually 'defeat' Sentry/The Void, he will make it out of this film alive and play an active role in that Marvel Phase 6 flick.Do you want to spoil anything else before Thunderbolts crashes into theaters on May 1 (UK) and May 2 (everywhere else), Marvel? I hope not. While we wait for the Disney subsidiary's next big-screen project to arrive, get the latest on it via my dedicated hub on Marvel's Thunderbolts movie.

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Movies based on video games have become a pretty big deal in recent years. Just look at those box office returns for A Minecraft Movie for proof of that. This means that more films are coming down the pike, including a motion picture based on Hideo Kojima’s delivery simulator Death Stranding. We first learned this was coming back in 2022, but now there’s a writer and director attached to the project.

The production company A24, which is helping to finance the film, just announced that it will be written and directed by Michael Sarnoski. He isn’t a household name, but he did co-write and direct A Quiet Place: Day One. He also co-wrote and directed that delightfully weird Nicolas Cage romp Pig.

A24 says that the movie will explore the "catastrophic series of events that blurred the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead," thus creating the fragmented society of the game. There’s no casting information yet, but one would hope that Norman Reedus would be involved in some capacity. A cameo from Conan O'Brien also wouldn’t hurt.

Kojima Productions is involved with the movie. There’s no release date yet, as filming hasn’t even started.

This wasn’t the only Death Stranding news to drop recently. The video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will be released on June 26, which will be accompanied by a world-wide concert tour and, inexplicably, a luxury watch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-death-stranding-movie-now-has-a-writer-and-director-153029985.html?src=rss

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders(Image credit: Nintendo)1. UK pre-orders2. US pre-orders (DELAYED)3. Live updates

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have had quite an interesting start to life after the console was fully revealed last week at the Switch 2 Direct presentation.The headline news is that Switch 2 pre-orders are appearing at some non-Nintendo UK retailers - though stock and availability have been fluctuating at best - and the even bigger news is that US Switch 2 pre-orders are delayed indefinitely due to tariff uncertainty.As we head toward the My Nintendo Store in the UK starting its own pre-orders from tomorrow (April 8), we're going to be building up to that moment, and provide live coverage geared toward our UK readers on the latest listings, stock, and pre-order options.US readers can still find the best and most up-to-date links and information below, but, once again, our coverage is going to be more concerned with the UK – given the US situation.As a quick reminder, the Switch 2 price starts at £395.99 in the UK, $449.99 in the US, and AU$699.95 in Australia – and it releases on June 5, 2025.We've seen our fair share of hardware launches, stock shortages, and special edition wildness in our time and have covered them for years. That makes us well-placed to help you find the best Switch 2 pre-orders as well as stay on top of the developing options and retailer pages we see.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - UK Quick Links

Currys: pre-order in-storeMy Nintendo Store: pre-orders by invitation go live on April 8Amazon: taking pre-order invitation requestsArgos: pre-orders live but out of stockVery: console pre-orders out of stock but accessories liveEE Store: register your interest todayJohn Lewis: console out of stock but accessory pre-orders liveShopTo: pre-orders currently sold outThe Game Collection: consoles out of stock but games and accessories liveGame: accessory pre-orders live but no consoles right now

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - US Quick Links (DELAYED)

NOTE: All US Switch 2 pre-orders are delayed. Keep checking back here for updates, news, and new pre-order links when they go live.

Amazon: pre-orders delayedWalmart: pre-order delayed, 'coming soon'Target: pre-orders 'coming soon'GameStop: delayed, sign up to be notifiedMy Nintendo Store: delayed, register for an invite to preorderBest Buy: delayed, but sign up for notificationsNewegg: no announcements yetAntonline: no announcements yet

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - UK complete pre-order listings

The official My Nintendo Store should go live with its invite-only pre-orders on April 8, so it's worth registering right now to be in with a chance and keep checking those inboxes!View Deal

Currys is currently taking in-store pre-orders so you can click through here to find your closest store in order to do so. There's no sign of online pre-orders starting so if that's your preferred option then you'll want to keep this link bookmark instead and check regularly.View Deal

Amazon was taking invitation requests for both the console on its own and the Mario Kart World bundle, but now, sadly, it seems as though it no longer is, instead displaying a 'Currently unavailable' stock level. Always worth bookmarking and checking though.View Deal

Argos was one of the UK retailers that did go live properly on the day of the Switch 2 Direct, but it swiftly sold out. As a result, we'd keep this one within reach and refresh range.View Deal

Very also went live with Switch 2 pre-order stock on the day of the Direct but, predictably, also sold out. There were reports of stock coming back up at points though, so we'd recommend keeping Very close by too.View Deal

EE hasn't gone live with its pre-order stock yet but when it does, we definitely recommend checking it out to get your unit.View Deal

John Lewis has all its listing pages up for Switch 2 consoles and accessories but you can't currently place an order yet - one to keep an eye on.View Deal

ShopTo went early with its offer to take registrations of interest in the Switch 2, and it remains a viable retailer option when its stock returns properly. You'll even save 4p!View Deal

The Game Collection was another retailer that went live early with its pre-order stock, though it didn't last long. Absolutely worth its place on this list, however, and could be a vital alternative to the 'bigger' retailers.View Deal

Game's pre-order pages are up for just about every Switch 2 accessory right now via this link - but not the consoles. When they pop up, though, this is where they'll be.View Deal

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - US complete pre-order listings

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is important for US readers to remember that Switch 2 pre-orders have been delayed in the region, currently indefinitely. I'm keeping the US retailer links and info below just in case you'd like to check or bookmark them, but we are not expecting anything to go live in the US for the foreseeable future until Nintendo provides an update on the matter.

Amazon hasn't broken cover on pre-orders at all yet, so there's no listing page to speak of or anything. Its US pre-orders will of course be delayed though so we don't know when pre-orders will go live.View Deal

Walmart's messaging is that pre-orders are "coming soon", and has kept its listing pages up for the console and the Mario Kart World bundle so we'd definitely bookmark them.View Deal

Target has both its listing pages up for the console and console bundle but the 'Add to cart' button is grayed out and the messaging says "Coming soon" with no other details provided.View Deal

GameStop also says that pre-orders are "Coming soon" but you can sign up for notifications when it becomes available too.View Deal

If the official store UK is anything to go by then it's worth registering at the US My Nintendo store now so as to hopefully receive an invitation to buy when pre-orders do go live.View Deal

Best Buy has a nice landing page up but you can only sign up for notifications for news as "pre-orders begin soon."View Deal

We haven't seen anything from Newegg yet, but even though it's a PC-first gaming retailer, we have seen more and more console gear available there so it's worth a try when things kick off.View Deal

Antonline is a rank outsider right now for Switch 2 pre-orders, but the retailer usually gets in on the action at some point, so might be one to keep in the maybe pile. It usually goes big on bundles too so that could be an attractive element if it wraps up some of the accessories too.View Deal

Hello!

Hello and welcome to our live rolling coverage of the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order situation!The team and I will be doing our darndest to provide you with all the latest updates on stock in the UK - where pre-orders are open but inventory is hard to come by - as well as any news on the delayed US pre-orders.Let's get stuck in!

Google is bringing AI Mode to more people in the US. The company announced on Monday it would make the new search tool, first launched at the start of last month, to millions of more Labs users across the country.

For uninitiated, AI Mode is a new dedicated tab within Search. It's essentially Google's answer to ChatGPT Search. It allows you to ask more complicated questions of Google, with a custom version of Gemini 2.0 doing the legwork to deliver a nuanced AI-generated response. Labs, meanwhile, is a beta program you can enroll your Google account in to gain access to new Search features before the company rolls them out to the public.

In addition to bringing AI Mode to more people, Google is unlocking the tool's multimodal capabilities. Starting today, you can snap and upload images to AI Mode, allowing you to ask questions about what you see. The feature brings together AI Mode with Google's Lens technology.

"With Gemini's multimodal capabilities, AI Mode can understand the entire scene in an image, including the context of how objects relate to one another and their unique materials, colors, shapes and arrangements," Google explains. "Using our query fan-out technique, AI Mode then issues multiple queries about the image as a whole and the objects within the image, accessing more breadth and depth of information than a traditional search on Google."

AI Mode's new Lens integration is available through the Google app on Android and iOS.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-ai-mode-rolls-out-to-more-testers-with-new-image-search-feature-160054334.html?src=rss

HBO’s The Last of Us took a riveting action game bolstered by intimate human moments and made a richly human drama supported by terrifying action. In returning for season two, and now using the sequel game as source material, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had quite a bit more work cut out for them. The first season greatly expanded the emotional depth and breadth of Joel and Ellie’s cross-country journey while also fleshing out the stories of many others they meet along the way, and the cast (led by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey) was outstanding.

That was over two years ago, and now it’s encore time. Season two premieres on HBO this Sunday, April 13, and I am once again happy to report that the show does a faithful job of capturing the first part of a complex story while also fixing a few of the minor complaints I had about the first season.

[Editor's note: this story discusses season two broadly but avoids specific plot details and spoilers. There are spoilers for season one.]

The show picks up exactly where season one (and the first game) concluded. Joel and Ellie return to the settlement of Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel’s brother Tommy is part of a peaceful, well-fortified commune — a rare oasis of relative safety in a destroyed world. This comes about a year after the Fireflies — a militia group searching for a cure for the zombie infection — tasked Joel with smuggling Ellie across the country. Over the ensuing journey, Joel bonds with Ellie and comes to treat her as a surrogate daughter, replacing the one he lost at the beginning of the outbreak 20 years prior.

Ellie’s immunity to the infection gave the Fireflies hopes she holds the key to finding a cure — but when Joel learns it would kill her, he wipes out a whole platoon of soldiers and the doctor who was trying to carry out the procedure, before fleeing with Ellie back to Jackson. As far as she knows, there was no way to make a cure and Joel rescued her when raiders descended on the Firefly complex.

Kaitlyn Dever in HBO's The Last of Us season twoPhotograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

We immediately learn that Joel’s rampage against the Fireflies is going to have major repercussions right from the jump, as we meet Abby (played with furious intensity by Kaitlyn Dever) and her small crew of young Fireflies in Salt Lake City in the days following the massacre. Things then jump forward five years; Ellie and Joel are well-integrated into the Jackson community and living a relatively normal life — though Joel’s therapy sessions with Gail (the wonderful Catherine O’Hara) show that he and Ellie have had some degree of falling out. Whether it’s just her being a 19-year-old or something deeper remains to be seen.

Without spoiling anything, the sequel game, The Last of Us Part II, is a far less linear affair than its predecessor. Events are shown out of order through multiple flashbacks. Perspectives shift. The playable character changes at various points. I’ve spent much of the last year wondering exactly how Mazin and Druckmann would translate that structure to TV — what events would be shown in what order, and what things might get cut or expanded on?

But surprisingly, the show closely mirrors the game’s chronology. The core of the season remains Joel and Ellie, the fallout from season one and how it affects everyone around them. A handful of events, including an infamous town festival in Jackson and the reveal of Abby’s motivations throughout the season, are moved up sooner in the series to give viewers more context for why things are happening. It’s a change the creators said was made to compensate for the change between the interactivity of playing characters like Abby and Ellie versus watching them.

Pedro Pascal and Catherine O'Hara in HBO's The Last of Us season twoPhotograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

The season’s structure worked — the multi-pronged plot didn’t ever feel hard to stick with, and I think the show did a better job this season at balancing out action and drama. As the cast and creators have alluded to, Ramsey and Pascal don’t get as much time together as they did in season one, which is a shame given their absolutely fantastic chemistry. But both actors make the most of Joel and Ellie’s fracturing relationship, and they also do wonderful work with other scene partners. Both Joel and Ellie spend significant time with Dina (Isabela Merced), who ends up being something of another daughter to Joel and a best friend / love interest for Ellie. She brings a completely different attitude to these scenes — like anyone in the world of The Last of Us, you know she’s seen her fair share of horrible things, but she combines a cool confidence with vulnerability in a way that keeps Ellie delightfully off balance.

One of the key new events in the show that didn’t take place in the game is a massive siege of Infected attacking the town of Jackson (something you see in the show’s various trailers). At first, it felt like an on-the-nose response to complaints that the Infected didn’t feel like much of a threat in season one, but the way the large-scale battle is juxtaposed with a much more intimate threat in the same episode plays out perfectly. That episode was followed by one that was far more peaceful and character-driven, a cadence I appreciated after the siege’s intensity. Naturally, things ramp up as the season draws to a close, but the balance feels measured and thoughtful.

Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey in HBO's The Last of Us season twoPhotograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

Overall, the Infected are more present in this season than the last, and they’re as deadly and terrifying as ever. In the game, the player might think nothing of taking on five or six in one go, but in the show even a one-on-one encounter feels fraught with danger. Of course, as in season one, the humans are the more unpredictable and threatening part of the world.

Other new characters and events, like the fate of Gail and her husband Eugene (played by Joe Pantoliano), once again serve to enrich and enhance the world of The Last of Us. And beyond individual characters, the show also delves deeply into bigger warring factions, similar to the Kansas City “liberators” in season one. We get multiple views of how groups band together and try to survive against the Infected, and each other, and the show does a good job of not portraying any one way as right or wrong.

Ellie makes her own judgments as the story progresses, and she starts to lose herself in a cycle that she can’t seem to get out of, even as her friends distance herself from her actions. Ramsey plays this extremely well — though they have a slight and small frame, they play Ellie’s ferocity in a way that’s convincing and frightening. That side of her is flipped on its head in more vulnerable moments when the weight of Elle’s choices start piling up, and it’s fascinating and disturbing to watch. Mazin said that the reasoning behind Ellie’s quiet fascination with violence and being protected would play out in season two, and a lot of small moments definitely start paying off here.

Pedro Pascal in HBO's The Last of Us season twoPhotograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

Unlike season one, which is a self-contained affair, season two leaves much up in the air. Again, that’s something the creators have told us already; Mazin said that telling the story of the second game would take at least two seasons. There’s a lot of story still to be told here, and thus things end on a very different vibe than season one. I’m hoping that Mazin, Druckmann and the cast can get back to doing season three a little quicker than last time, as another two-plus years will feel like an exceedingly long wait for some resolution.

With only seven episodes, season two has a shorter run time than season one, which already felt a bit rushed to me. The finale in particular blew through some of its script in rapid-fire fashion that felt almost sloppy. It could have easily done with an extra 10 minutes without losing any momentum. And given that Mazin has already said the next season will be “significantly larger,” my hopes for a quick turn-around are probably not realistic.

Bella Ramsey in HBO's The Last of Us season twoPhotograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO

In the end, that might not be a bad thing for most viewers. The Last of Us can be a grueling and emotional watch, season two even more so than the first. There are some moments of extreme violence that are hard to watch. The show does strike a thoughtful balance between implied and graphic violence,, but it can still be harrowing, and a few moments made me feel almost ill (an appropriate emotion, but not the most pleasant one).

It’s a little hard to evaluate season two in a vacuum, given it’s only the first half of some fairly messy, non-linear source material. That’s not a major knock; plenty of shows don’t wrap everything up every year in a tidy package. And given the quality infused in every episode of this show, from the acting to the script to the set design and VFX, I’m confident in saying that anyone who enjoyed season one should get on board for what’s to come here, even if it takes a long time to get any resolution. Just as with the game that it’s based on, the journey of The Last of Us season two is intense and asks a lot from viewers, but it’s still a journey worth taking.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-season-two-review-amplified-action-and-crushing-drama-160007751.html?src=rss

Security researchers uncover new flaw in WinRARThe flaw allowed threat actors to bypass Mark of the Web and deploy malware to Windows devices without warningWinRAR released a new version to fix the bug, so update now

Experts have uncovered a flaw in WinRAR which could allow threat actors to bypass the Mark of the Web (MotW) and deploy malware on people’s computers.The vulnerability was discovered by Japanese researcher Shimamine Taihei from the Mitsui Bussan Secure Directions, and is now tracked as CVE-2025-31334, and was given a severity score of 6.8/10 (medium).MotW is a security mechanism that displays a warning when an executable file is downloaded from the internet. It is built into Windows and serves as an additional layer of security, warning people that files downloaded from the internet might be dangerous - however, there is a way to work around the warning when a file is shared in an archived format.

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Symlink

“If symlink pointing at an executable was started from WinRAR shell, the executable Mark of the Web data was ignored,” WinRAR explained the vulnerability.A symlink (short for symbolic link) is a shortcut or alias to a file or folder. Instead of copying a file, a symlink just points to it. Therefore, a hacker could create a symlink pointing to an executable with MotW, and if a victim runs it, the MotW wouldn’t show.The vulnerability was found in all older versions of WinRAR, and it was addressed in version 7.11, which is now available for download.Ever since Mark of the Web was introduced, cybercriminals have been looking for different ways to bypass it and deliver malware without warning.In late January 2025, 7-Zip patched a major flaw that enabled just that. It is tracked as CVE-2025-0411 and was given a high severity score, 7/10. Earlier still, in 2022, researchers found a password-protected .ZIP file with an .ISO file inside that was able to bypass MotW.To mitigate the risk, users should always keep their archivers up to date, and be vigilant when downloading files from the internet.Via BleepingComputer

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The Nintendo Switch 2 retail price has proven controversialSome have speculated that the cost was in part due to potential US tariffsNintendo of America Doug Bowser has now said that this is not the case

There's been a lot of discussion about the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 and now the Nintendo of America president has chimed in.Some, including several notable industry analysts, have speculated that the $429.99 / £395.99 starting price was decided with potential US tariffs in mind.Speaking in a new interview with The Verge, Doug Bowser has clarified that this is not the case. "Any previous tariffs were not factored into the price itself," he said plainly.This would help explain why Nintendo has made the unprecedented decision to delay Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US. In a statement provided to TechRadar, Nintendo stated that this was due to "the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions."Bowser added that "the new [of the tariffs] is fresh, and like many companies right now, [Nintendo] are actively assessing what the impact may be."He went on to try and explain the reasons behind the price tag, citing its improved specs and new features. He also said that "you want to consider pricing relative to Switch since we still have that in distribution but, really, the consideration was driven more by what is a part of this particular gaming experience versus what it is relative to the Switch."The varied prices of games, for example the $79.99 / £74.99 Mario Kart World, has also been controversial. Bowser said that "each game, we believe, is a unique experience, and therefore can command a distinct price tag.

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Apple has released its iOS 18.4 software update, which includes 8 new emojisThe new emojis come at the same time as iOS 18.4's Ambient Music feature and new Photos tool Since being released, users have taken to the new additions well, especially Apple's new smiley emoji

It’s been a week since Apple released its latest iOS 18.4 update, and despite its rather rocky rollout of Apple Intelligence, the new software update packs some redeeming features - one of them being the addition of eight new emojis.Apple’s library of emojis is extensive to say the very least, offering small visual elements that iPhone users including myself rely on to bring a text message or group chat to life.Although the company has introduced only eight new ones, each is unique, and there’s one in particular that’s far too relatable. It’s easily the best one of the bunch.Yes, new emojis are the most basic feature iOS 18.4 introduces – it also brings a new Photos tool and Ambient Music feature – but that doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to be excited about them.I’ve had a real hard look at the eight new additions to Apple’s range of emojis and already I know which ones I’ll be using the most, and the ones I could do without - here’s my verdict.

8. Root vegetable

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

Is it a turnip? Is it a radish? I don’t know. But what I do know is that this is the emoji I will be using the least. There are enough food emojis out there already, so what impact is this one having?

7. Bare tree

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

I use Apple's nature emojis quite often, especially when captioning a photo with a picturesque natural landscape or quirky plant. The new bare tree emoji just looks a little sad, though.The only instance where I would maybe use this is during autumn or even Halloween, but it’s not one I’m itching to use right now.

6. Spade/ shovel

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

Let’s call a spade a spade. This one is on the more boring side of Apple’s iOS 18.4 emojis. If you have a particular attachment to spades or shovels, then perhaps you’ll find yourself visiting this emoji over and over. For me, not so much.

5. Flag of Sark

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

Like most flag emojis, you’d only use them in very specific contexts or if you’re expressing national pride (I use the Welsh flag emoji constantly). That aside, it’s a pretty neat-looking flag, and it's nice to see Apple bring more national flags to its library.

4. Splatter

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

From its design, the purple splatter emoji is another one that I would’ve thought was always part of the emoji gallery. But alas, it’s shiny and new.This is another one that looks good, but the only thing that lets it down is the lack of different color options, which would entice me to use it more.Perhaps the next iOS update will fix this?

3. Fingerprint

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

The fingerprint emoji is just cool to look at. Is it as exciting as the new smiley emoji? I wouldn’t say so, but design-wise, it still packs a punch and is a solid addition to the emoji library.

2. Harp

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

It’s strange that a harp emoji is one of the new additions to iOS 18.4 because I would’ve assumed that this was always there. That shows how often I use musical instrument emojis.Though this is a very specific emoji, it’s very summery. With all the summer photo dumps I have planned for the coming months, I could definitely see myself using this in an Instagram caption somewhere.

1. Undereye bags face

(Image credit: Unicode / Emojipedia)

Okay, so Apple does have a sense of humor after all. The new emoji face with undereye bags wins by a landslide, not because it’s particularly inventive or creative, but because it’s the most relatable.Since iOS 18.4 was released, this emoji has received a lot of praise from Apple users for the reason above alone. This shows that relatability is everything when it comes to emojis, and there’s no doubt this one will be a hit with users.

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The Hugo Awards began honoring video games for the first time back in 2021. This week, the organization revealed the list of six finalists for the 2025 awards ceremony. It’s a cornucopia of critically-acclaimed titles from the past year or so.

Let’s go over the nominations. Two AAA titles are up for the award. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Echoes of Wisdom changes up the franchise formula, casting players as the titular Zelda. The gameplay involves summoning monsters and items to solve puzzles and do battle. It’s pretty awesome.

We especially loved Dragon Age: The Veilguard, calling it "BioWare at its best." The graphics are fantastic and the gameplay is more action-oriented than previous entries in the franchise. It continues the story of the decade-old Dragon Age Inquisition.

The Hugos are also honoring a spate of smaller titles. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes got a nom, and this was one of our favorite games of 2024. It’s a near-perfect puzzle game that subverts the genre at every turn. We said it was the perfect game "for fans of puzzles, narrative twists and David Lynch."

Caves of Qud is an incredibly deep and lore-heavy roguelike set in a fantasy realm. It was actually in early access for a full 15 years before getting an official release last year. 1000xRESIST is a sci-fi adventure game that was praised primarily for its engaging story. Finally, Tactical Breach Wizards is a turn-based RPG starring, you guessed it, wizards. Some reviews have called it the best strategy game since XCOM 2.

The final winner will be announced at the 83rd World Science Fiction Convention in Seattle on August 16. Previous winners include Hades and Baldur’s Gate 3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/2025-hugo-award-game-finalists-include-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-and-dragon-age-the-veilguard-171135638.html?src=rss

Bloomberg reports Microsoft won't go ahead with multiple data center projects worldwide It's the third report claiming Microsoft's more cautious approach to its data center projects There are indications that we're on the verge of seeing a global capacity glut when it comes to data centers

Global stock markets are in turmoil right now as President Donald Trump’s tariffs begin to come into effect - but that’s not the only problem facing the big tech firms.Microsoft is now the focus of a third Bloomberg report detailing pullbacks on its AI data center plans, raising fresh questions about how committed the American tech giant remains to its current level of investment in AI infrastructure.While Microsoft maintains it will spend around $80 billion on data centers in this fiscal year, it has acknowledged that growth will slow after that. Future focus will shift from new construction to outfitting existing infrastructure with servers and AI equipment.

Still on track to spend $80 billion

Bloomberg claims Microsoft has exited or paused data center projects in multiple regions.In the UK, it stepped away from a potential lease near Cambridge that was marketed for hosting advanced Nvidia chips.In Indonesia, parts of a data center campus an hour outside Jakarta have been put on hold.In North Dakota, talks dragged on so long with a potential tenant that Microsoft lost exclusivity, and expansion has also slowed in Wisconsin, where the company had already spent $262 million on construction, including nearly $40 million on concrete.Microsoft also recently pulled out of a plan to lease an additional $12 billion of data center capacity from CoreWeave. OpenAI stepped in to plug that gap, but since Microsoft is OpenAI’s biggest funder, it likely used Microsoft’s own money to do it.Some of the caution may come from signs that AI workloads are becoming less compute-intensive than expected, thanks in no small part to the “DeepSeek effect,” where the Chinese AI startup demonstrated performance comparable to OpenAI with far fewer resources. This has led some investors to question whether the current rate of buildout can be justified.Meanwhile, a separate report from MIT Technology Review shows the scale of overcapacity in China.The government there fast-tracked more than 500 data center construction projects, with at least 150 completed by the end of 2024, but an estimated 80% of these new AI data center resources are unused.Together, these developments suggest that big tech's data center ambitions may be outpacing the current demand for AI services, at least for now, which is starting to prompt caution among investors and industry insiders.

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Raise your hand if you have accidentally sent personal or sensitive information to the wrong person. I see you out there, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and, if I'm being honest, I'm raising my hand right along with you.By now, we all know the embarrassing tale of military action plans accidentally sent to an Atlantic editor who was somehow added to a secure Signal chat. It was embarrassing, but now it sounds like it might have been a shockingly relatable mistake and one we can all learn from – including me.Essentially, a new report claims that Atlantic EIC Jeffry Goldberg's phone number was listed as an alternate contact number for a National Security spokesperson. That's possibly how Goldberg ended up in the incredibly sensitive chat. Waltz selected his spokesperson to add, but the number chosen was Goldberg's.When I read this I had a shudder of recognition. Our contact systems are smart, fluid, and maybe a bit too fleet-footed at times. Allow me to unburden myself.

What did I just do?

A few weeks back, I was working on some personal and rather sensitive documents that I then wanted to send to my wife. I quickly compiled what I needed, opened Gmail, typed in the recipient, attached the documents, and hit send. I didn't think much of it until my wife quizzed me about the whereabouts of said documents.I knew I sent them, but I wondered if they'd gotten stuck in the outbox – a rare occurrence that would usually indicate a network issue. Nope, the email showed up in Sent – and then I noticed something horrifying. I had not sent the documents to my wife. Instead, they went to a random business contact whose name and email address also started with "L."Gmail had autocompleted the address with the first matching email address, and I never looked twice. It was a whopper of a mistake – not national security level, but still big in my world. It was too late to recall the message, so I sent a follow-up to the contact, begging them not to open the doc and delete the email.It was not my best moment, and I again had a twinge of empathy for Waltz.

Slow down, dude

The reality is that our social media, communications, and email systems are not there to ensure that you use the right phone numbers, handles, and email addresses.Instead, they go for speed and, in email, autocompleted addresses, which can help you find long or forgotten ones, can be quite useful. But they're also a little dangerous.Unless you're a salesperson with a customer relationship management (CRM) system, you probably don't spend much time managing the details of any contact.You might only have an email address. Maybe only a first name. Your contacts may have duplicates with different and old email addresses and phone numbers (the startup Sunshine Contacts is supposed to address some of this).You might get a new number for a contact and add that. On my iPhone, when I add or update a contact's info, there is a moment of trepidation as I try to figure out if this is a new contact or details for one I already have on my iPhone.We don't spend enough time, I think, making sure our contact databases on our iPhones and mail systems are up to date, and perhaps we're not being careful enough about our contacts across all our systems.

Caught in a random loop

Think about how many times a random number pops up on your phone with a text or call. Usually, it has no name attached, and your phone is of little use in helping you ferret out if this is a known or unknown person.For instance, my iPhone sometimes indicates that something is potential SPAM, but it does not do this often enough.Perhaps because I talk to so many people through Slack or text, I barely know anyone's phone number by heart (I'm even worse with email addresses). It's no wonder I don't know the difference between known and unknown numbers.I also have way too many email addresses in my system and need a smarter way of cleaning and managing them. I cannot afford to (again 🤦🏼‍♂️) accidentally send sensitive info to the wrong place.

AI to the rescue?

Here's a place where AI can help. If Google Gemini knows I'm sending personal documents, it'll also know not to randomly slide in a business contact's email address. Instead, the list of potential recipients would be narrowed to just my personal contacts and maybe only those identified as family members.I could always add in others I need, but I do it without Gmail helpfully autocompleting them. And if Siri and Apple Intelligence ever get as smart as promised, it might be able to know that the Signal or Whatsapp chat you're about to start is too sensitive to include "Jeffrey" from the Atlantic.The lesson, if there is one, is that we all need to verify every number and email address we include in a thread or group chat. Compile the list, double-check it against your contact database, and then check it again.You think it can't happen to you until you create that WhatsApp chat group to trash-talk your job and realize that someone accidentally added the boss. Or you send a private email to someone who should never receive it.Take it from me: don't assume it can't happen to you, and do all you can to make sure it never does.

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OpenAI Sora's video generation is still unavailable for new accountsThe restrictions follow a week of regular outages affecting all ChatGPT usersOpenAI says it's currently "experiencing heavy traffic"

ChatGPT is having both a great and terrible start to the month, depending on who you ask. While OpenAI is excited about the popularity of new features like its new native image generation, ChatGPT Plus subscribers are growing increasingly frustrated with the restrictions and patchy performance caused by the chatbot's new wave of popularity – and I'm among them.Last week, ChatGPT had one its worst periods for outages. While they were mostly short-lived issues, the consistent problems (usually starting at 9am ET / 2pm BST) led to some understandable grumbling from subscribers who saw the gates to ChatGPT's new native image generation flung open to hordes of free users.As I type, OpenAI's status page again says the company is "experiencing issues" and Downdetector is showing small spikes in reports – though nothing on the scale of last week, fortunately.The sheer scale of last week's surge was revealed by OpenAI's COO Brad Lightcap on X (formerly Twitter), who said that "over 130m users have generated 700m+ (!) images since last Tuesday".He added that "we appreciate your patience as we try to serve everyone", which was a slightly more sympathetic take compared to CEO Sam Altman's more matter-of-fact statement that "you should expect new releases from OpenAI to be delayed, stuff to break, and for service to sometimes be slow as we deal with capacity challenges". In other words, deal with it because we're putting our foot on the gas.

very crazy first week for images in chatgpt - over 130M users have generated 700M+ (!) images since last tuesdayIndia is now our fastest growing chatgpt market 💪🇮🇳the range of visual creativity has been extremely inspiringwe appreciate your patience as we try to serve…April 3, 2025

But while minor outages are understandable, the less obvious impacts of OpenAI's rapid scaling this month are causing more frustration. Something that hasn't been made very clear, other than in help articles, is that OpenAI Sora video generation still isn't available for new accounts over a week from when it was "temporarily disabled".A number of people have signed up for ChatGPT Plus, some even for its $200 a month Pro tier, unaware that the feature isn't available. It doesn't just affect new subscribers either – if (like me) you're an existing subscriber who hasn't yet used Sora, you can't use it for videos right now either (only images, like the one above).OpenAI's explanation on its help pages is that it's currently "experiencing heavy traffic" and that Sora video generation is only "temporarily" unavailable. But it's unfortunate that key Sora pages, like its one for pricing, don't mention these limitations. I've asked OpenAI for an update on when this restriction might be lifted and will update this story if I hear back.

The ChatGPT balancing act

just went through the list of what we are planning to launch in the next few months.so much incredible stuff!April 5, 2025

While these ChatGPT issues are still relatively minor in the grand scheme of what it can still do, the frustration of paying users isn't soothed by the noises coming from OpenAI's top brass – who are consistently crowing about how many users are melting its GPUs, and the new features that'll presumably worsen its capacity issues soon.Over the weekend, Sam Altman excitedly posted about "the list of what we are planning to launch in the next few months". Well, ChatGPT subscribers will be hoping that list is topped by new GPU and server capacity that can more reliably handle its influx of new users – and also deliver its full set of advertised features.At the risk of sounding like a spoiled airline passenger complaining about the lack of free peanuts during the miracle of transatlantic flight, OpenAI does need to keep one eye on its paying subscribers, even as it keeps the other on growing its global user base.After all, the AI competition is hot, and Google Gemini is pulling ahead in some areas while DeepSeek and Manus AI are offering increasingly tempting alternatives for some tasks. That explains why OpenAI has thrown off the shackles and recently tweaked its rulebook to broaden its appeal. But ChatGPT subscribers will be hoping this expansion doesn't come at the expense of the quality of the experience that made them sign up in the first place.

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Watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 online

Celebrity Big Brother is back, with another set of familiar faces looking to stick out the UK version of television's original social experiment to its end. UK viewers can catch daily episodes live and on demand on the free-to-air ITV and ITVX services, and if you're away, you can watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 online from anywhere with a VPN.

AJ Odudu and Will Best are back on hosting duties for the 24th edition of the celebrity-based shenanigans. And while the line-up will only be officially confirmed as they enter the house on today's live show (9pm BST / 4pm ET), it's one of the worst kept secrets in TV land – you can see the leaked list of 13 contestants at the bottom of this article.One of the most intriguing things about CBB is how those contestants whose star extends only to the borders of the British Isles intermingle with international heavyweights. This year's main attraction is Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke; it remains to be seen what he'll make of RuPaul's Drag Race UK's Danny Beard or bouffant-haired former MP Michael Fabricant.Joining them are the likes of one-hit-wonder Chesney Hawkes, Eastenders legend Patsy Palmer and double Olympic champion Daley Thompson.Below we’ve got all the information on where to watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 online and stream every episode from wherever you are.

Can I watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 for FREE?Viewers in the UK can watch series 24 of Celebrity Big Brother completely FREE on ITV1 on TV and its ITVX streaming service online.Use a VPN to access you usual streaming services from abroad. Full details on how follow...

How to watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 from outside your country

If you’re traveling abroad when Celebrity Big Brother 2025 airs, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.Downloading a VPN (Virtual Private Network) will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.Use a VPN to watch Celebrity Big Brother from anywhere.

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How to watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 online in the UK

Since returning to screens last year, Brits can now watch Celebrity Big Brother 2025 episodes every night of the week at 9pm BST on ITV1. After an extended 90-minute episode on Monday, April 7 to kick the series off, episodes will be an hour each.It will also be available to stream for FREE both live and on demand on the ITVX streaming platform.Its sister show – Celebrity Big Brother: Late & Live – goes out immediately after each daily episode on ITV2 and will also be available to stream online in the same way on ITVX.Away from the UK right now? Just use a VPN to alter your IP address so you can stream your favorite TV shows and films online just like you would at home. More details above.

Can I watch Celebrity Big Brother UK online in the US, Canada or Australia?

The British version of Celebrity Big Brother only airs in the UK, so you won't find it in your TV listings or on streaming services if you're overseas.That means that the only way that Brits abroad can watch episodes is by using a VPN. We've explained above how to do that and what service we recommend – for us, the best is NordVPN.

Celebrity Big Brother 2025 cast (to be confirmed)

Danny Beard – drag queenAngellica Bell – TV presenterMichael Fabricant – politicianTrisha Goddard – TV presenterChesney Hawkes – singerChris Hughes – Love Island contestantPatsy Palmer – EastEnders actressDonna Preston – actressMickey Rourke – Hollywood actorJack P. Shepherd – Coronation Street actorJoJo Siwa – TV personalityDaley Thompson – former Olympic athleteElla Wise – The Only Way Is Essex cast member

When the AirPods Max arrived in late 2020, there wasn’t much spatial audio content for Apple’s high-end headphones. What’s more, there wasn’t any support at all for lossless audio. The company hadn’t added Dolby Atmos and lossless tunes to Apple Music yet, but even when those arrived, Apple still hadn’t solved my biggest problem with the $549 headphones. With iOS 18.4 and a firmware update for the AirPods Max with USB-C, Apple has finally put the finishing touches on its only headphones with lossless audio.

Let’s back up a few months. Last September, Apple gave the AirPods Max its only significant update since the original launch: it swapped the Lightning jack for a USB-C port. The headphones are still running on the aging H1 chip when the rest of the current AirPods lineup has moved on to the more recent and more capable H2. I wasn’t upset that the company didn’t take the opportunity to update the AirPods Max design, but the failure to upgrade that chip was a head scratcher.

Now that lossless audio is here on the lightly refreshed AirPods Max, the headphones feel more complete. But that took over four years to finally happen, and if you bought the 2020 model you won’t be able to use this newly added capability. You’ll need the USB-C version of the AirPods Max that arrived last year and either iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS Sequoia 15.4 to unlock lossless and ultra-low latency audio.

How to get lossless audio on AirPods Max with USB-C

Billy Steele for Engadget

Once you’ve updated one of your Apple devices to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS Sequoia 15.4, connect your AirPods Max to it via Bluetooth. You’ll then want to plug the headphones into a power outlet or USB-C port with the included cable. If you keep the two gadgets in close proximity for about 30 minutes, the AirPods Max firmware update should download. To check, hop into the AirPods Max settings and scroll down to the About section. Here, you’ll want to see version 7E101 to confirm you’ve got the goods.

You’ll want to keep that cable handy. Lossless audio on the AirPods Max is only available for wired use. You will still need to establish a Bluetooth connection for all of the smart features like hands-free Siri. Apple also sells a new $39 USB-C-to-3.5mm cord if you want to go that route, but either way, you’ll need a cable due to the limitations of high-res audio over Bluetooth.

Why isn’t lossless audio available on the original AirPods Max?

If you bought Apple’s $549 headphones in 2020, I can understand your frustration that you aren’t privy to this update. However, I wouldn’t assume Apple made this decision just to drive sales. There are hardware limitations with the Lightning port that hinders lossless audio, specifically a data throughput constraint on the previous version. Apple made some changes to the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) inside the AirPods Max to make lossless happen, which wasn’t possible on the older model either.

Does lossless audio make a difference?

I’ve heard some people say they can’t tell the difference between normal songs and lossless tunes. I’d argue it depends on what you’re listening to. If it’s a recent pop tune from Dua Lipa or Sabrina Carpenter, you’re better off with the Dolby Atmos mix and likely won’t pick up any more detail for high-resolution streaming. For bass heavy, chaotic genres like metal, I notice a better balance to the mix. Vocals on Spiritbox’s Tsunami Sea rise above the booming drums and thrashing guitar, and the bass is a little more subdued. Same for Underoath’s The Place After This One, where all the instruments seem to have more separation from the vocals. And overall, the bombastic tracks on this album feel bigger and more immersive.

Lossless audio on the AirPods Max particularly elevates acoustic genres like bluegrass and folk, in addition to other mellow styles like jazz. I might as well have been inside the acoustic guitar on Julien Baker & TORRES’ “Sugar in the Tank” as I felt like I could hear every percussive detail on every string. I can’t imagine the sound would’ve been much better on Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow if I was actually in the room at Electric Lady Studios during the recording. That 1940 Martin 0-17, the only instrument on the album, is so pure and true. Jump to Miles Davis’ Birth of the Blue where the horns, piano, bass and drums all seem a little livelier and a little more energetic, with Davis’ trumpet belting out its verse-like cadence throughout.

Do you have to use Apple Music?

Apple

First, let’s talk about what’s available on Apple Music. Since June 2021, the service has offered lossless audio to subscribers at no additional cost. This starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz, and goes up to 24 bit at 48 kHz. That latter rate is the maximum that AirPods Max can now support via the USB-C connection, and Apple says there are now 100 million songs available on its service in lossless quality. There is also a collection of Hi-Resolution Lossless content on Apple Music, which goes up to 24 bit at 192 kHz. You’ll need extra gear like a USB DAC in order to listen at that level, though.

You aren’t limited to just Apple Music. Anywhere you can stream lossless audio up to 24 bit at 48 kHz you can do so with these headphones. There are other services that offer this (like Tidal), or you can play locally stored files. The only requirement is a USB-C cable; your source isn't limited to Apple.

Wrap-up

It’s always nice when a company directly addresses one of your complaints. It’s not great when it takes over four years to do so. Now that lossless audio is here for the AirPods Max, I can no longer argue that the headphones feel incomplete, which is a big improvement from where they were at launch.

I keep going back and forth over whether or not this update is enough, though. It’s the first time Apple has expanded the capabilities of the AirPods Max in over four years, and it could only do so for the minimally updated 2024 version. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a solid track record with Apple product scoops, reported in November that the company had “no real plan to meaningfully update AirPods Max.” He said the headphones don’t sell well enough to justify much R&D, but they’re not a big enough failure to be permanently shelved.

With that in mind, this update, which adds ultra-low latency for gamers in addition to lossless audio, is actually a lot bigger than it ordinarily would be. But to continue to demand $549 for what’s essentially 2020 hardware, Apple needs to trot out these types of updates regularly. While you can find these headphones on sale for as low as $449, that's still a steep investment. Even then, the AirPods Max would be tough to recommend to anyone other than iPhone and Mac die-hards with deep pockets.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-use-lossless-audio-on-the-airpods-max-180026218.html?src=rss

With the last Mission: Impossible film, Dead Reckoning, the long-running franchise officially entered science fiction territory by making intelligent AI its villain. We've seen Tom Cruise's Ethan hunt jump off of buildings and hang from the side of planes, but how can he fight a computer program? The latest trailer for the series' next film, and potentially the last to feature Hunt, doesn't answer that question, but clearly it will involve even more death-defying stunts (like hanging on to a flipping bi-plane!), geeky gadgets and Tom Cruise running inhumanly fast.

As I wrote in my review of Deck Reckoning: "As much as I love other action film franchises – like John Wick’s increasingly elaborate choreography, or the sheer ridiculousness of the Fast and the Furious – Mission: Impossible remains uniquely enjoyable. It’s committed to delivering astonishing practical stunt work. It’s self-aware just enough to poke fun at itself. And a part of me hopes that somehow, a team of geeks can also fight back against the excesses of AI."

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning hits theaters on May 23.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/tom-cruise-gears-up-to-save-us-from-ai-in-the-latest-mission-impossible---the-final-reckoning-trailer-181032815.html?src=rss

Port of Seattle sent out notification letters to people affected in the August 2024 ransomware attackThe letter was sent out to roughly 90,000 peopleThe attack was conducted by the Rhysida ransomware group

​Port of Seattle, the US government agency overseeing the city's seaport and airport, has begun sent out data breach notification letters to people affected by the August 2024 ransomware attack, revealing around 90,000 were affected.“The Port of Seattle today announced that notification letters have been mailed to individuals whose data was impacted in the August 2024 cyberattack,” the company said on its website.“This website notice is intended to provide the same information included in the notification letters to individuals for whom the Port has insufficient or out-of-date contact information.”

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Rhysida blamed

In the letter, Port of Seattle said that it suffered a cyberattack on August 24, 2024. After analyzing the attack, it discovered that the attackers “accessed and downloaded some personal information from Port systems,” including legacy systems used for employee, contractor, and parking data.“The Port holds very little information about airport or maritime passengers, and systems processing payments were not affected,” it further explained.The data that was taken, belonging mostly to current and former Port and other employees and contractors, included full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers (or last four digits), driver’s license or other government ID card numbers, and medical information.The agency notified some 90,000 individuals of the incident, most of which (around 71,000) are from Washington state.The letter also confirms the Rhysida ransomware group was behind the attack. Even though the criminals demanded payment in exchange for releasing the systems and deleting the stolen data, the Port decided not to pay."We have refused to pay the ransom demanded, and as a result, the actor may respond by posting data they claim to have stolen on their darkweb site," the Port of Seattle said at the time.Rhysida is one of the bigger ransomware operators, having assumed responsibility for the attacks on the British Library, the Chilean Army, Insomniac Games, and many others.Via BleepingComputer

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Jackbox has been making fun party games for well over a decade at this point, but it just held its first-ever direct livestream event. The company had plenty of news to share, including the pending release of both a new minigame collection and a standalone trivia title.

The Jackbox Party Pack 11 includes "five brand-new game concepts to bring the party game experience to the next level." These include an audio-based game in which players compete to make the best sound effects. There’s also a fantasy-themed trivia title and a head-to-head joke-writing game.

The pack is rounded out by a social deduction game that’s centered around a court trial and a "cozy drawing game." That last one tasks players to create designs based on "bizarre prompts." If it’s anything like Drawful, which is a fantastic drawing-based game by Jackbox, we will be extremely pleased. The Jackbox Party Pack 11 will be available this fall for just about every platform.

If you feel like you haven't heard from Jackbox Games in a while, that’s because it didn’t release a party pack last year. The company said it took a year off to "innovate and deliver some long-requested products for fans."

The showcase concluded with the reveal of Trivia Murder Party 3, the next entry in the franchise. This one brings online matchmaking into the mix, though folks can still play locally via the classic Jackbox room code. This installment is set in a summer camp with a serial killer on the loose. Only answering trivia questions can stop the murderous rampage. It will be available as an early access title on Steam later in the year, with a general release date set for 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/jackbox-is-back-with-new-party-games-including-one-based-on-sound-effects-184524066.html?src=rss

Manus, the much-hyped Chinese AI, seen by some as the ‘next DeepSeek’ has opened up public access, giving you 1,000 credits to try it out for free.Manus is the latest Chinese AI, capable of deep research and agentic usage, so it can perform whatever tasks you set while you’re free to go off and do something else. Initial users reported problems with signing up, and for most people access had been restricted.I’d been on the waitlist since Manus was announced, and got access last Friday, but it also looks like public access is now available to anybody who downloads the iOS or Android app or signs up at its website.Many people have described Manus as the best experience of AI they’ve had so far, and I can see why - the reports it produces are incredibly detailed and feel like they’re well-researched.

Not enough credits

Manus is not offering anything particularly new that you can’t get ChatGPT to do, but it does feel like its research is really thorough, and the range of things it can do is impressive, from making games out of current news scenarios to data analysis and education applications.The bad news is that 1,000 credits don’t last very long, and you’ll need to sign up for a paid-for account if you want more credits.By the time I’d got Manus to answer two queries I’d used up about 500 credits. The first question I asked (“What does the future look like for Tesla?”) was far from trivial and required a lot of research, but to its credit, Manus did all the necessary research, telling me what it was doing at every step, and produced four different reports for me.Since DeepSeek was noted for refusing to answer questions relating to events that the Chinese government is sensitive about, I took advantage of the free access to Manus to ask it to compile a report into what happened in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.DeepSeek simply refuses to acknowledge the protests, but Manus appears to have no censorship issues at all. It produced a full report into the protests from several different sources who disagree with the official verdict on things like the death toll, including the Red Cross.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/ DIA TV)

Paid-for options

So, it looks like you can get about four queries out of Manus for free with your 1,000 credits, until you have to sign up for a paid plan to use it any further.Manus Starter costs $39 a month (about £30 / AU$65) and gives you 3,900 credits, the ability to run two tasks concurrently, while Manus Pro costs $199 a month (about £156 / AU$334) and gives you 19,000 credits a month and the ability to run five tasks simultaneously.

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Lexar Play Pro microSDXC Express card enables faster downloads and game load timesBackward-compatible with UHS devices but limited to slower speedsNintendo Switch 2 supports microSD Express, boosting industry-wide adoption hopes

Arriving just in time for the imminent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, Lexar has introduced the world’s first 1TB microSD Express card, one of the largest and fastest microSD cards currently on the market.The Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express offers read speeds of up to 900MB/s and write speeds of up to 600MB/s, making it well-suited for demanding tasks such as accelerated downloads, high-speed data transfers, and faster game loading times.The card uses a combination of PCI Express 3.0 and NVMe 1.3 interfaces - similar to those found in the best SSDs. This significantly reduces latency and boosts data transfer speeds, delivering up to 10 times the performance of standard microSD cards.However, microSD Express cards are currently only compatible with a limited number of devices, which has so far restricted wider adoption. With the recently-announced Switch 2 reportedly using this standard exclusively, the industry is optimistic that microSD Express will become more widely supported in future portable devices.

Can I use this card on regular microSD slots?

The Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express card is backward-compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II host devices, meaning it can still be used in older hardware. However, in such cases, performance will be capped at UHS-I speeds - which is typically around 100MB/s read speed.The new card comes with a limited lifetime warranty, as well as the Lexar Recovery Tool, which allows users to restore formatted or accidentally deleted files.“The new microSD Express standard offers us a way to deliver a memory card with incomparable performance in that form factor,” said Joey Lopez, Director of Brand Marketing at Lexar.“We're excited to create a card for our customers that leverages the benefits of this new standard and prepares gamers for the next generation of handheld gaming."The Lexar microSD Express card is priced at $199.99 for the 1TB version, $99.99 for the 512GB model, and $49.99 for the 256GB variant.Via TechPowerUp

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Aoostar WTR Max supports triple 4K 240Hz displays for enhanced productivity and visualsDual-channel DDR5-5600 RAM with ECC ensures fast and reliable performanceWith 11 drives supporting SSDs and HDDs, users have a wide array of choices

The Aoostar WTR Max mini PC is a compact NAS drive powered by the AMD R7 Pro 8845HSv Enterprise processor, which runs at speeds ranging from 3.8GHz and 5.1GHz.The system supports up to 11 storage drives, including five M.2 2280 NVMe slots - three at PCIe 4.0 x2 and two at PCIe 4.0 x1 - and six 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA slots, for up to 500TB of storage capacity.While the Aoostar WTR Max is primarily designed as a NAS, it offers the potential to serve as a powerful workstation with support for dual-channel DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM RAM, expandable up to 128GB with ECC support.

Real-time monitoring

The WTR Max offers a wide range of connectivity options, including dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, a USB4 port, and an OCuLink (PCIe 4.0 x4) that can be used to boost graphics performance with an external GPU or expand storage further through a hard drive enclosure.Networking features include dual 2.5G LAN ports and two Intel X710 10Gb LAN (SFP+) ports. For multimedia or multitasking needs, the HDMI 2.1 and Type-C ports support triple 4K 240Hz display output.Thermal management is handled by Aoostar’s Glacier Pro 1.0 cooling system, which combines a large vapor chamber heat spreader for the APU and dual rear fans for regulating drive temperatures.For real-time monitoring, Aoostar includes a built-in display paired with its proprietary NAS control software, providing handy system stats like CPU, GPU, and RAM usage.The Aoostar WTR Max is now available for pre-order, with the barebone version priced at $699.00. Shipping is expected to begin in May 2025.

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Players are gearing up for the arrival of the Switch 2 this summer, and we've been piecing together details about how game ownership and sharing will work. The picture is coming together, and in true Nintendo fashion, it's a bit odd.

Developers who release projects on the Switch 2 will have the option to sell their work as a "Game-Key card," which looks like a traditional physical game cartridge, but has no game data stored on it. Instead, when slotted into a Switch 2, game-key cards will automatically present instructions on how to download the title in question. The hardware will need an Internet connection and enough space for the game files on its system memory or microSD Express card. Once the download is complete, that Switch 2 can run the game whenever the game-key card is inserted into the system. The Switch no longer needs an Internet connection once the title has been downloaded, unless the game separately requires you to be online to play. We've now learned via GameSpot that game-key cards won't be automatically connected to a single console or to a user's Nintendo account.

It's an unusual hybrid approach, and with many hybrid concepts, you get the best and worst of both worlds. For instance, storage is going to be at a premium in the Switch 2 and game-key card downloads will eat into that limited space. And unfortunately, game-key cards don't future-proof customers against the day when Nintendo might decide to shut down the servers for the Switch 2, as it did with other sunsetted hardware like the Wii U and 3DS in 2024. If and when that happens, the game-key cards will be essentially useless.

But there are some upsides, particularly when it comes to sharing or reselling games. We already knew that Nintendo would have an option called GameShare that supports local multiplayer with only a single purchased copy of the title, while Virtual Game Cards offer digital sharing (if in a convoluted way). The addition of game-key cards that aren't tied to a single person's Nintendo account makes it easier to pass a game off to a friend once you've finished with it, or to resell it and recoup some of the $80 price tag of major releases.

And in case you were wondering: yes, the game cartridges will still taste terrible.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/switch-2-game-key-cards-wont-be-tied-to-your-nintendo-account-204735286.html?src=rss

After an internal investigation, The White House has come up with a likely explanation for how Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was included in a Signal chat filled with Trump officials planning to bomb the Houthis. The Guardian reports that the issue came down to National Security Advisor Mike Waltz not understanding how his iPhone works.

Apparently, after Goldberg attempted to contact the Trump campaign about a separate issue in 2024, Brian Hughes, a Trump spokesperson, shared Goldberg's contact information and email signature with Waltz. It only took a few wrong taps after that to lay the groundwork for "Signalgate," The Guardian writes:

Waltz did not ultimately call Goldberg, the people said, but in an extraordinary twist, inadvertently ended up saving Goldberg’s number in his iPhone – under the contact card for Hughes, now the spokesperson for the national security council.

So Waltz didn't realize his iPhone was updating a contact rather than creating a new one, and meant to add Hughes to the group chat rather than Goldberg. This explanation doesn't change the fact that the kind of planning happening in the "Houthi PC small group" probably shouldn't have taken place on an encrypted messaging app — and especially without Congress weighing in. But this discovery does add a new flavor of grim stupidity to the whole affair.

Not long after Signalgate, the Pentagon warned against using Signal because it's vulnerable to Russian phishing attacks, but clearly the Trump administration likes the app's security and the instantaneous communication it allows. Having a more secure option reportedly hasn't stopped Waltz from using Gmail, though.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/the-white-house-has-reportedly-settled-on-an-explanation-for-how-signalgate-happened-212107380.html?src=rss

Midjourney has released a new AI model for producing images, Midjourney V7The model features improved image quality, prompt understanding, and personalizationThe new Draft Mode generates lower-quality images far faster and cheaper to allow testing

Midjourney has a new model to show off to fans of the AI image generator. Midjourney V7 is the company's first new AI image model in nearly a year, and it comes with some significant upgrades and additional features.The company claims the new model is much smarter at turning your words into the images you envision, with higher-quality results that evade many of the telltale signs of artificial origins. The new model is also very focused on adapting to your personal taste.So much so that you can't even use it before you first-rate about 200 images to teach the model your aesthetic unless, of course, you've already done so.

We're now beginning the alpha-test phase of our new V7 image Model. It's our smartest, most beautiful, most coherent model yet. Give it a shot and expect updates every week or two for the next two months. pic.twitter.com/Ogqt0fgiY7April 4, 2025

Once you've navigated through your own uncanny valley, the images Midjourney V7 serves up should appeal to you without as much massaging of your prompts.This is the first Midjourney model to have this feature on by default, as well."[Midjourney V7 is] much smarter with text prompts, image prompts look fantastic, image quality is noticeably higher with beautiful textures, and bodies, hands and objects of all kinds have significantly better coherence on all details," Midjourney founder David Holz wrote on Discord. "We think personalization raises the bar for how well we can interpret what you want and what you find beautiful."

Draft the future

The new Draft Mode is Midjourney’s version of rough sketches on a napkin. The feature promises results fast, cheap, and just good enough to get your idea down without burning through your credits.It works like this: You type a prompt, and Midjourney will have an image for you in seconds. The image might be a bit lower-res or slightly less polished, but you can enhance it later with one click. It’s AI for impatient people.Notably, Draft Mode positions Midjourney as a viable tool for professionals who need speed and the option to iterate on their ideas. This kind of flexibility could make Midjourney appealing well beyond its Discord silo.V7’s boost in prompt understanding, improved anatomy, and Draft Mode all suggest that Midjourney plans to increase its efforts to compete with other AI image generators as well.It won't be as fast as Draft Mode image creation, though. OpenAI’s DALL·E has deep integrations with ChatGPT and Microsoft tools, as Google's Gemini does with its ecosystem.Even so, Midjourney has always had a certain cult appeal that could mesh with its speedier model to entice many more users. If Midjourney can keep improving its speed, clarity, and output quality while keeping its signature flair, it might go mainstream without losing its indie cred.The new model has two main versions: Turbo and Relax. Turbo costs more but delivers results much faster. Relax mode, meanwhile, takes its time but is cheaper.Some features haven’t made the jump to V7 just yet. There’s no upscaling, inpainting, or retexturing. Holz says those will return soon, maybe within a couple of months.

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Consumer electronics brand Framework announced today on X that it will temporarily suspend US sales of select laptop models as a result of the global tariffs enacted for the country last week. The company said it will remove the Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U versions of its Laptop 13 systems from its website. At the time of publish, that Ultra 5 Intel model is not listed, but the Ryzen 5 one with the AMD chip appears to still be available for purchase.

In a follow-up post, the company said that it originally priced its laptops based on a 0 percent tariff for goods from Taiwan. With the current 10 percent tariff, the products would be sold at a loss. "Other consumer goods makers have performed the same calculations and taken the same actions, though most have not been open about it," Framework said.

Given the language of the initial post, this doesn't seem to be the end of US customers' chances to buy Laptop 13 models. But the sweeping tariffs on imports enacted by President Donald Trump last week have already sparked other industries to rethink their US sales and pricing. UK-based Jaguar Land Rover also paused shipments to the US as a result of the tariffs, while Japan's Nintendo has delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2 gaming console, although the launch date appears unchanged.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-pauses-some-us-laptop-sales-due-to-tariffs-221115971.html?src=rss

Rumors circulated today that robotaxi company Waymo might use data from vehicles' interior cameras to train AI and sell targeted ads to riders. However, the company has tried to quell concerns, insisting that it won't be targeting ads to passengers.

The situation arose after researcher and engineer Jane Manchun Wong discovered an unreleased version of Waymo's privacy policy that suggested the robotaxi company could start using data from its vehicles to train generative AI. The draft policy has language allowing customers to opt out of Waymo "using your personal information (including interior camera data associated with your identity) for training GAI." Wong's discovery also suggested that Waymo could use that camera footage to sell personalized ads to riders.

Later in the day, The Verge obtained comments on this unreleased privacy policy from Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina. "Waymo's [machine learning] systems are not designed to use this data to identify individual people, and there are no plans to use this data for targeted ads," she said. Ilina said the version found by Wong featured "placeholder text that doesn’t accurately reflect the feature’s purpose" and noted that the feature was still in development. It "will not introduce any changes to Waymo’s Privacy Policy, but rather will offer riders an opportunity to opt out of data collection for ML training purposes."

Hopefully Waymo holds to those statements. Privacy and security are huge concerns as AI companies try to feed their models as much information as possible. Waymo is owned by Alphabet and Google is developing its own AI assistant, Gemini, as well as other AI projects with its DeepMind division.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-has-no-plans-to-sell-ads-to-riders-based-on-camera-data-225340265.html?src=rss

Google’s AI Mode now lets users upload images and photos to go with text queriesThe feature combines Google Gemini and LensAI Mode can understand entire scenes, not just objects

Google is adding a new dimension to its experimental AI Mode by connecting Google Lens's visual abilities with Gemini.AI Mode is a part of Google Search that can break down complex topics, compare options, and suggest follow-ups. Now, that search includes uploaded images and photos taken on your smartphone.The result is a way to search through images the way you would text but with much more complex and detailed answers than just putting a picture into reverse image search.You can literally snap a photo of a weird-looking kitchen tool and ask, “What is this, and how do I use it?” and get a helpful answer, complete with shopping links and YouTube demos.

AI Eyes

If you take a picture of a bookshelf, a plate of food, or the chaotic interior of your junk drawer, the AI won’t just recognize individual objects; it will also explain their relationship to each other.You might get a suggestion of other dishes you can make with the same ingredients, whether your old phone charger is in the drawer or what order you should read those books on the shelf. You can see how it works above.Essenitally, the feature fires off multiple related questions in the background about the entire scene and each individual object. So when you upload a picture of your living room and ask how to redecorate it, you’re not just getting one generic answer. You’re getting a group of responses from mini AI agents asking about everything in the room.Google isn't unique in this pursuit. ChatGPT includes image recognition, for instance. However, Google’s advantage is decades of search data, visual indexing, and other data storage and organization.If you're a Google One AI Premium subscriber or are approved to test it through Search Labs, you can test out the feature on the Google mobile app.

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Quiet PC’s configurator allows complete customization of the UltraNUC Pro 14Choose between SSDs or HDDs for tailored storage options and speedDual-monitor support maximizes productivity with versatile display connectivity options

There are a number of silent mini PCs on the market, and the Quiet PC UltraNUC Pro 14 Fanless is the very latest.The device looks to break away from the typical, generic design of fanless mini PCs thanks to its premium Akasa Turing RC Pro chassis, which doesn't only eliminate noise, but also makes the workstation look more like a high-end Hi-Fi unit than a traditional mini PC.The UltraNUC Pro 14 Fanless is powered by Intel’s 14th gen mobile processors, and users can configure the system with options including Core 3 100U, Ultra 5 125H or Ultra 7 155H, all of which offer Turbo Frequency to boost performance.

SSDs and HDDs

You can buy the mini PC without storage, or select options including SSDs from brands like Kingston, Corsair, and Samsung, as well as 2.5-inch drives from Seagate and Samsung.This device supports up to 64GB (2x 32GB) of dual-channel DDR5 SO-DIMM RAM, with speeds up to 5600MT/s for Ultra 5 and 7 models and 5200MT/s for Core 3, and users can pick from up to 16TB of storage in total (8TB SSD and 8TB HDD).The SSDs offer silent operation and rapid boot times, so are ideal for users who prioritize speed and quiet, while the HDDs are better suited for users needing larger storage capacities.The Ultra 7 and 5 NUCs feature Intel’s latest Iris Arc Graphics, which provides a notable boost in graphics performance, while the Core 3 version comes with the standard Intel Graphics.In terms of connectivity, this device has one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port (20Gbps), three USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, two HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) ports, and two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, so users can connect two additional monitors or external devices. There's also one RJ45 LAN port, DC-in, and a Kensington Lock.Quiet PC has a handy configurator system that allows customers to customize the UltraNUC Pro 14 Fanless as required. The default configuration costs £955, but the price can range from £787.40 to £3,834.04 depending on your preference.

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Headline-making mass outages—think 2024’s CrowdStrike event and 2023’s Google Cloud services disruptions—can bring multinational corporations and small businesses to their knees. But smaller technical events are far more common and can shut down business functions with equally devastating effects.Cybersecurity attacks like Change Healthcare and Snowflake data breaches that impacted millions wreak even greater havoc, especially for small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that rarely have strong protections in place to fend off potentially business-ending attacks.Security and cybersecurity threats are inevitable in today’s high-risk security environment, and they don’t discriminate by company size, industry, or geographic footprint. This is why every business needs to plan to evaluate its network and security status to identify and address areas of weakness.For SMBs, this may seem like a financially and technically infeasible expectation. It doesn’t have to be. Properly focused self-audits can reveal vulnerabilities, many of which can be corrected without blowing up the IT budget.

Today’s High-Risk Landscape

The 2024 Observability Forecast from New Relic found that the median number of annual outages among respondents was 232, with more than half experiencing weekly low-impact disruptions. IT teams spend 30% of their time, equivalent to 12 hours per 40-hour workweek, addressing interruptions ranging from network failures and third-party service issues to human error. For high-impact outages like Crowdstrike, the median annual downtime is 77 hours and carries an hourly cost of up to $1.9 million.Cyberattacks are also surging, with SMBs an increasingly favorite target. According to The State of SMB Cybersecurity in 2024, 94% of SMBs reported suffering from at least one cyberattack, and 89% are concerned they will be targeted within six months. Moreover, The State of IT Security in SMBs in 2023-2024 found that the average monetary cost of a cyberattack can range from $120,000 to $1.24 million per strike—a cost from which many don’t recover as 60% of SMBs fail just six months after an incident.While 90% indicated that cybersecurity is very important or critical to their business, more than three-quarters of Observability Forecast respondents (76%) also agree that their organization lacks the in-house skills to deal with an attack properly. Further, just 8% of SMBs with fewer than 50 employees have a dedicated cybersecurity budget. Most typically spend less than $500 annually on cybersecurity, and 72% lack necessary insurance coverage, leaving them highly vulnerable.These numbers tell the story of a high-risk environment where no SMB is safe from outages and attacks. As such, the lack of investment in protection is an oversight that can have business-ending repercussions.

Taking Proactive Measures

There are steps SMBs can take to mitigate their risk, starting with a self-assessment to determine areas of vulnerability. No IT expertise is required. Just responses to a handful of questions in the following five areas:Staff training: is your team trained in cybersecurity best practices, including recognizing phishing attempts and the need for strong passwords, and is this training updated regularly?Security safeguards: Are security measures in place that minimize human errors (e.g., email filters, browsing restrictions, multi-factor authentication, etc.), particularly around personally identifiable information (PII) access? Are they kept current?Software patches and updates: Are procedures in place for patch management to apply the latest updates to software and systems, to protect against emerging threats and harden existing vulnerabilities? Are they followed?Vendor security profiles: Do vendors, partners, and any other entity that may access the company’s systems have proper cybersecurity and security protocols to prevent a breach on their end from impacting your operations?Business continuity: Is a business recovery and continuity plan in place to get operations back up and running after a breach? Is it regularly reviewed and updated? Are staff aware of the plan and trained in its deployment?This information will help determine if broader protections are required and if engaging an IT service provider is warranted. If it is, look for a provider with security and cybersecurity experience that offers, at minimum, proactive monitoring, regular security assessments, and staff training.Prospective partners should also deeply understand industry-specific compliance requirements and offer comprehensive services to ensure any issue can be addressed—a feature made more critical by the rapid pace at which threats evolve. They should also have advanced technological expertise and the willingness and ability to leverage cutting-edge tools and processes capable of outperforming older or less adaptive technology.SMBs should also look for an IT partner that offers personalized customer support, emphasizes long-term relationships, and provides flexibility and scale in its service approach. Transparent price structures, clear and fair service terms, and simple contracts are also helpful.Finally, during the evaluation process, ask prospects about their response times and disaster recovery capabilities and obtain and check references.

An Investment in Longevity

Determining security and cybersecurity gaps and establishing protocols to close them need not break the bank but must be a budget priority. Much of the work can be done via an internal audit, even with limited technical know-how.In cases where audits reveal deeper issues than can be handled internally, customer-forward IT partners can apply experience, skills, and flexibility to resolve problems and harden systems within the organization’s budget to lower its risk profile and help ensure longevity.

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