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Apple TV+ has a ton of popular originals like Ted Lasso, Severance, Slow Horses, For All Mankind, Foundation and Silo. If you've been meaning to check them out, you can do so for less right now. Apple TV+ is on sale right now for $3 per month for the first three months, bringing the total cost to just $9 for the entire period. That saves you a total of $21 off the standard $10 monthly cost of the subscription that we consider to be one of our favorite streaming services. But the deal expires on April 24, so you only have a bit more time to grab it.

Apple's shows won 10 Emmy Awards in 2024, including a Slow Horses victory for outstanding writing in a drama series. Although its films weren't up for anything at this year's Oscars, it received 13 nominations in 2024, including Best Picture nods for Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon.

Both new and qualified returning subscribers (those who haven't been subscribed for the past 30 days) are eligible for this deal. You also must sign up via Apple directly and not through a third-party provider or your mobile wireless provider. If you don't want to pay full price after three months, just remember to cancel before the renewal date.

Check out our coverage of the best streaming deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-apple-tv-deal-ends-soon-get-three-months-of-access-for-only-9-193009579.html?src=rss

Amazon has sold Kindle ereaders for almost two decades but it wasn't until last year that it went beyond black and white. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition came out in October and — despite a previous screen issue that seems fixed — it's a great product overall. Our biggest quip is the price, $280 for the 32GB edition, compared to $200 for the 32GB Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, for example.

Now, a new sale is easing the strain on our wallets, dropping the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition to $225 — a 20 percent discount and record-low price. The deal is the same whether or not you opt for three months free of Kindle Unlimited. The seven-inch display touts "paper-like color," up to eight weeks of use in one charge and has an an IPX8 waterproof rating. Plus, it's especially nice for graphic novel readers who want to get the full effect.

Amazon is also running two types of book sales. If you have one of their ereaders, then you can get three times the amount of points every time you buy a Kindle book between today and Friday, April 25. If ereaders aren't your thing then you can check out Amazon's Book Sale, on through Monday, April 28.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-kindle-colorsoft-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-125807447.html?src=rss

AWS believed to be pausing future colocation lease negotiationsMicrosoft has also shelved a $1 billion Ohio projectAWS VP said GenAI demand is still strong

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is reportedly reassessing some colocation lease negotiations, especially internationally, amid ongoing cost concerns.Although the company looks to be pausing some future discussions, it appears that Amazon will not be backing out of any signed agreements, with confirmed projects set to continue.However, it’s certainly a sign of the times, with Microsoft also recently confirming that it would be pausing a $1 billion project for a data center campus in Ohio.

AWS is also pausing some data center plans

Kevin Miller, AWS VP for Global Data Centers, confirmed in a LinkedIn post that the change was not indicative of reduced interest in artificial intelligence, but rather a shift in focus amid rising costs.“First and foremost, we continue to see strong demand for both Generative AI and foundational workloads on AWS,” Miller explained. “This is routine capacity management, and there haven’t been any recent fundamental changes in our expansion plans.”Billions have been knocked out of the stock market in recent weeks, with Trump’s tariffs playing a hefty role in economic fluctuations.Companies like Amazon and Microsoft have had to reassess their strategies, particularly abroad where currency conversions may no longer be as favorable, but it looks like plans are just being put on hold until economies become more stable rather than being scrapped altogether.In the case of AWS, changes to its colocation strategy don’t reflect the full story, because the company might also be shifting more compute in-house – more of a shift than an overall reduction, then.Reiterating the company’s commitment to expanding its data center operations globally, Miller’s LinkedIn feed is full of shared announcements, icnlduing an $8.3 billion commitment in Maharashtra, India; the launch of a new AWS Region in Asia Pacific (Thailand); an $11 billion investment into Georgia and $10 billion in funding for infrastructure in Ohio.Via The Register

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Google will not make any to changes to how third-party cookies work on the Chrome browser at all. Anthony Chavez, Google VP for Privacy Sandbox, has announced that the company has "made the decision to maintain [its] current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome." It will also "not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies" that would have allowed users to opt out of being tracked by advertisers. Google has made the announced a few days after a federal judge ruled that it has an illegal monopoly on online advertising.

The company originally announced that it was going to phase out third-party tracking cookies in 2022 as part of its Privacy Sandbox initiative, which aims to make the web more secure and private to use. But due to a series of delays and regulatory hurdles — the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the US Department of Justice both looked into Google's initiative out of concerns that it could harm smaller advertisers — the planned deprecation got delayed to 2024 and then again to 2025.

Last year, Google ultimately decided that it wasn't going to kill third-party cookies and will instead introduce "a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing." That new experience isn't coming. In his new announcement, Chavez said that a lot has changed since the Privacy Sandbox initiative debuted, and Google has taken new developments in privacy-enhancing technologies that secure people's browsing into consideration when it made its decision.

Despite killing all its plans to remove third-party cookies from Chrome, Google will keep the Privacy Sandbox initiative alive. Chavez said it will continue enhancing tracking protections in Chrome's incognito mode, such as launching IP Protection later this year, and will continue working on features like Safe Browsing, Safety Check and built-in password protections.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-will-keep-third-party-tracking-cookies-on-chrome-as-they-are-130026362.html?src=rss

What's the next big Xbox game?(Image credit: id software/Bethesda)The next big Xbox game is Doom: The Dark Ages, which arrives May 15, 2025. It's a new shooter that arms the Doom Slayer with a chainsaw shield and even a rideable dragon. Then, GTA 6 will arrive to steal the show at some point in Fall, though a specific release date has yet to be revealed.

Fable 4, also currently just known as Fable, is a reboot of a beloved trilogy of fantasy action role-playing games (RPGs) originally developed by Lionhead Studios. However, the series is in the process of being revived under its new stewards Playground Games.The Fable series is renowned for two things: enabling the player to craft exactly the kind of character they want and side-splitting dark humor. For some, the original trilogy stands among the best RPGs ever made, offering an emphasis on player agency that rivals some of the best single-player games.Fortunately, if Fable 4's most recent trailer is anything to go by, it looks as though we can expect the series' trademark sense of humor in spades. While we've not seen any reveals as to the upcoming game's mechanics, the trailer did show off some stellar writing, as well as a hilarious performance from British actor Matt King.That said, we do know that Fable 4 will be an RPG. It also seems likely that it will follow the mold of its predecessors, offering real-time action with plenty of quests to complete and places to explore. Whether we'll see the return of Fable's iconic morality system remains to be seen, but we can't be alone in wanting to play a fantasy protagonist with a great big pair of devil horns like you could in the original trilogy, right? Read on to find out everything we know about Fable.

Fable 4: cut to the chase

What is it? The fourth installment in the mainline Fable franchiseWhen is it coming out? 2026What can I play it on? TBC, but it's an Xbox exclusiveWho is making it? Playground Games

Fable 4 release year and platforms

(Image credit: Playground Games)

Fable 4 will be released for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC sometime in 2026, where it will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. It's unknown if it'll arrive on Xbox One consoles, but it seems unlikely.This Xbox exclusivity makes it exceedingly unlikely that Fable 4 will arrive on a PlayStation console. We'll have to wait until the game is shown again, as currently, we have no information on when it's expected to come out. It's worth noting that recently, some Xbox-exclusive games like Sea of Thieves have and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have come to PS5, so it's certainly possible that Fable will do the same.

Fable 4 trailers

The most recent trailer for Fable came alongside the news of a delay to 2026. It features some new gameplay, check it out below:

A trailer for Fable was released at the Xbox Games Showcase event that aired on June 9, 2024. It was another cinematic trailer, showing Peep Show actor Matt King playing a retired hero. It was a fun trailer but once again offered a distinct lack of concrete information about the wider plot or game mechanics. It did reveal that Fable will be arriving at some point in 2025 (later delayed to 2026). You can check it out below:

Right now, only three Fable trailers have been released: the latest one, the world premiere announcement trailer, and the one shown off at Xbox Games Showcase 2023. While we wait for more, you can head to the official Xbox YouTube account to keep an eye out for new info.

Fable 4 gameplay

While we've yet to receive any concrete details about Fable's game mechanics, there were some glimpses of what we might be able to expect in the second trailer. Sword combat was shown, with a warrior depicted in battle with a bandit before performing a sort of finishing move, throwing them to the ground.Another shot of gameplay showed the main character throwing a fire bomb at a group of enemies, suggesting that these sorts of items might also be making a return. Unfortunately, this is all we've seen so far, alongside some in-engine cinematics.That said, Aaron Greenberg, general manager of Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft, did make it clear after the reveal that "it's obviously going to be a role-playing game" (via GamesRadar). Though this gives us little to go on in terms of specifics, it confirms that Fable 4 will likely place an emphasis on storytelling, character customization, and player agency, much like its predecessors.

Fable 4 main character

(Image credit: Xbox)

We don't yet know much about the Fable 4 main character, but there are a few details we can glean from the teasers we've seen so far. First, it seems likely that the main character will be a 'hero' of some kind. This could potentially spell a connection to The Guild of Heroes - a powerful organization of do-gooders who feature in the original Fable (2004).It also seems likely that our hero will have to do battle with Richard Ayoade's giant at some point. The Fable franchise is no stranger to including celebrated actors and comedians. Fable 3 famously included Monty Python veteran John Cleese, comedian Stephen Fry, and actor Simon Pegg. The inclusion of Ayoade in Fable 4 beyond just a cameo in the trailer seems likely, given this tradition.While it hasn't been confirmed, it also seems probable that our main character will also be highly customizable. The Fable games have always been big on letting you tweak your character physically and cosmetically and it would be odd for Fable 4 to not continue the trend. We might also see the return of appearance changes based on character morality, too. In the original trilogy, evil choices would net you devil horns and sinister-looking eyes while good choices would get you a halo and angel wings. We imagine Fable 4 will iterate on these systems in some way, though we're not sure quite what's in store at this stage.

Fable 4 FAQ

Who's developing Fable 4?

The new Fable game is being worked on by the fine folks over at Playground Games. This team previously worked on the Forza Horizon series, so this is quite a switch up. Regardless, this is an excellent studio with a real knack for creating amazing environments with gorgeous atmospheric effects. There's no doubt that Fable 4 could be a very beautiful looking game indeed when it launches in 2026.

Will Fable 4 be on Game Pass?

The new Fable game will launch on Game Pass, available for subscribers at no extra cost. This has been confirmed since the game was first shown off, so expect it to drop onto your games lineup some time this year.

Will Fable come to PS5?

Currently, there are no announced plans to bring Fable to PS5, though that doesn't mean it won't happen. Recently, Xbox games have started to be ported over to PlayStation, including Sea of Thieves. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 also have PS5 versions, so it's possible that Fable could follow a similar release pattern.

Fable 4 news

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Xbox confirms Fable has been delayed to 2026, shares new pre-alpha gameplay footage offering a brand new look at the game"We are actually going to give Fable more time. It's going to ship in 2026 now. While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want is to assure people that it's definitely worth the wait." - full story here.Xbox re-reveals FableFable was finally re-revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 event. Not much was shown, but it's clear that the game now has a strong tonal direction and comedic vibe to it. Hopefully, the next time we see the game, we'll get a look at the game mechanics as well as what to expect from the story.

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The Witcher 4 has now been officially revealed, with a new trailer confirming that the game will focus on Ciri as the main protagonist. This latest look does give us an idea as to the overall darker vibe of this new game, though it doesn't contain any hints on a possible release window.Ever since developer CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 4 and referred to the game with its codename of 'Polaris', fans have been studying the teaser image shared alongside the upcoming game's announcement. It depicts a Lynx medallion, and could point to a new Witcher school that'll feature in what is set to be the first in a new trilogy.While we wait for further news on The Witcher 4, here's everything that's been revealed about the game so far. As more details are shared by the developer, you'll find this page updated - we're as excited as you are so can't wait to get more details.

The Witcher 4: cut to the chase

What is it? The next mainline game in The Witcher seriesWhen can I play it? TBCWhat can I play it on? TBCWho is making it? CD Projekt Red

The Witcher 4 - what we know so far

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

There are few details available about The Witcher 4. The announcement official blog post only confirms it's in development and that it's being built in Unreal Engine 5. We do now have a trailer, which confirms Ciri as the protagonist. Even so, aside from an admittedly gorgeous cinematic sequence, the trailer holds few concrete details related to the story.Unfortunately, you're probably not playing The Witcher 4 until 2027 at the earliest, according to CD Projekt's latest financial update. Hopefully it'll be well worth the wait.Over the years, CD Projekt Red has said plenty about what a future Witcher game would involve:"The first three 'Witchers' were by definition a trilogy, so we simply could not name the next game 'The Witcher 4'," Kiciński said in an interview. "This does not mean, of course, that we will leave the world of The Witcher."It would appear that the team has since had a change of heart in this regard, with the game having been officially revealed as The Witcher 4. It's possible that this could be a placeholder name, but seeing as we're following an older Ciri, it does seem to follow The Witcher 3.At the end of The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, monster hunter Geralt was alive and well. Well, he was alive, at least. But his story arc had ended, the Wild Hunt was over. That doesn't mean he won't return in this new Witcher game, though we do now know that he won't be the main character.The developer said as much back in 2013: "We are not killing the world and walking away from it, but we will definitely want to make this game the finale in a big way," executive producer John Mamais told Polygon. "We might even include Geralt in later games potentially. We just need to talk about it and figure out what we're going to do next."In 2015, speaking to IGN, Senior Writer Jakub Szamałek confirmed that the studio felt that The Witcher 3 was a natural endpoint for Geralt: "[he] has had such an amazing adventure, and his saga is already so long and complex that this seemed like a good point to think about an appropriate finale for the story.”The confirmation that the medallion shown in the game's announcement picture is a lynx certainly suggests that the game will take things in a new direction. Potentially, that introduces an entirely new Witcher school.The author of the Witcher books, Andrzej Sapkowski, signed a new deal with the company to "further solidify their relationship". So. the studio is free to pull from any one of his short stories or novels. (If you want to get caught up, here's how to read The Witcher books in order.)

The Witcher 4 trailer

The Witcher 4 was fully revealed during The Game Awards 2024. The cinematic trailer, which can be viewed above, shows a young girl being prepared for sacrifice to a monster. Ciri intervenes, following the young girl and facing off against the creature. It's clear that Ciri is early on in her Witcher journey, but manages to best the monster in combat, making use of some new abilities.So far, we've only had one trailer for The Witcher 4. Keep an eye on the official The Witcher YouTube channel for new trailers, or find them in this section once they are released.

The Witcher 4 engine

(Image credit: Unreal Engine)

This is a relatively massive factor that's confirmed for The Witcher 4, and one we're certainly excited about. Back in the Spring of 2023, the development team confirmed that The Witcher 4 would be built on Unreal Engine 5 - instead of the studio's own engine, REDengine.The latter was used on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 so has its merits, but, in brief, moving to Unreal Engine 5 means the studio has more access to wider features, solutions, and tools that can make environments more detailed, more realistic, and have a great sense of overall visual fidelity than ever before.As a note, this does mark the beginning of a partnership with Epic but does not mean the game will be an Epic Game Store exclusive.

The Witcher 4 FAQ

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

Who will be the main character in The Witcher 4?Ciri will be the main character in The Witcher 4. This was confirmed following the official reveal trailer that aired at the end of The Game Awards 2024.

Will The Witcher 4 be on PS5?CD Projekt RED is yet to confirm The Witcher 4 platforms. Given that there's no release window, it's possible that we could be waiting until next-gen for it to launch. The Witcher 3 originally launched for PS4, Xbox One and PC, so we're expecting The Witcher 4 to be multi-platform as well, at least until the developers reveal otherwise.

Will Geralt be in The Witcher 4?

While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions rounded off Geralt's trilogy incredibly well, there has been a constant desire from fans to know whether Geralt will be in The Witcher 4.Thanks to recent comments from Geralt's voice actor, it does seem that the character will feature in The Witcher 4, but won't be the protagonist. Spotted by VGC, Geralt's voice actor, Doug Cockle, spoke as a guest on a YouTube channel known as Fall Damage. During the spot, he revealed some rather interesting tidbits about the upcoming game."What we know is that Geralt will be part of the game, we just don't know how much," Cockle said during the interview. "The game won't focus on Geralt - it's not about him this time. We don't know who it's about, I'm excited to find out, I wanna know!"Of course, we now know that The Witcher 4 will focus on Ciri, though hopefully we'll see Geralt in some form or another.

Has Ciri been recast for The Witcher 4?

Eagle-eared fans were quick to notice that Ciri sounds very different in the recent The Witcher 4 cinematic trailer, which debuted at The Game Awards 2024 last week. This led many to speculate online that the character has been recast.Now we know that this is definitely the case as, in a new statement given to gaming blog The Gamer, developer CD Projekt Red confirmed that Irish actor “Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri for The Witcher 4 Cinematic Reveal Trailer.”

The Witcher 4 news

(Image credit: CD Projekt RED)

Geralt voice actor says CD Projekt Red's decision to make Ciri the star of The Witcher 4 is 'really exciting'Doug Cockle, the voice behind Geralt in the first three The Witcher games, has shared his enthusiasm for the switch to Ciri, saying there are "all kinds of reasons" that make the choice exciting, mainly for how her role in the books is portrayed.The Witcher 4 officially announced at The Game Awards 2024In a surprise turn of events, CD Projekt Red has unveiled the first official look at The Witcher 4 at The Game Awards 2024, and yes, Ciri is the playable protagonist.CD Projekt Red announces The Witcher 4 has now entered "full-scale production"CD Projekt Red has provided an update on the development of The Witcher 4, stating that the upcoming game is now in "full production".The Witcher 4 will have a focus on freedomSebastien Kalemba, game director at CDPR, was speaking at the very end of 2023 about creating new takes on RPG gameplay and features for The Witcher 4. The intent is to push the boundaries of RPG games and there's a desire to "tell something more intense, with also more intense gameplay."A huge chunk of CD Projekt Red's workforce is now working on The Witcher 4At the end of November 2023, CDPR revealed via an earnings report that the production team working on The Witcher 4 had grown to around 330 people actively working on the game. This number is set to grow to over 400 by mid-2024 as production gathers real steam. As first reported at the time of this news, 330 represents just under half of CDPR's development staff.CDPR is already running internal demos of The Witcher 4 on consolesLearning its lesson from Cyberpunk 2077, the devs at CDPR are already going to great lengths to test their next project - and do so from the early stages. As reported by our sister site GamesRadar+, in an interview with Inven Global, CD Projeckt Red engineering director Colin Walder has confirmed that, learning from Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch on consoles in 2020, "For our next project, Polaris, we're already running our demos and internal reviews on the console from the very beginning." This means that The Witcher 4 is already being tested on consoles to ensure that when the day comes, it'll have a better chance at sticking its landing.The Witcher 4 has its Game DirectorSebastian Kalemba, the former Lead Animator on The Witcher 3, has been announced as the Game Director for The Witcher 4. They announced this on Twitter, stating that they aim to 'raise the bar.'Polaris, and a brand new trilogyIn early October 2022, CD Projekt RED announced a bunch of new titles via Twitter, including a new The Witcher trilogy. Polaris (what we've been calling The Witcher 4) will kick off the new saga, which will then play out over 6 years from the first release. This is obviously a huge undertaking, so we'll have to wait and see whether it pays off.The Witcher 4 teaser image sparks many theoriesWhen The Witcher 4 was first announced it used the image we have as our header here - that of a partially snow-covered Witcher medallion - and it sparked much debate about which school it was, and whether that gave anything away. As reported by our brethren at GamesRadar+ at the time, the medallion was initially thought to be of the School of the Cat - which would imply a connection to Ciri as she came into possession of one after seizing it from Leo Bonhart. However, this was then debunked on Twitter when community director Marcin Momot reacted positively to a fan asking whether it was actually the medallion from the School of the Lynx.

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Sony launches the PS5 Pro(Image credit: PlayStation)Sony has now released the PS5 Pro, adding another all-digital console into the mix. It boasts a larger GPU, AI-driven upscaling as well as improved Raytracing, though it comes at a premium price. If you want to pick up the PS5 Pro, it'll cost you $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,999.95. To see our verdict, check out this PS5 Pro review.

Marvel's Wolverine may not have a release date or even a release window yet, but there are still plenty of juicy details floating around about the upcoming action-adventure game.Developer Insomniac Games is known for Marvel's Spider-Man, as well as its sequels, Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. These games are all fantastic, gripping, and faithful realizations of the Spider-Man fantasy, and show that the studio has plenty of experience when it comes to crafting thoughtful adaptations of comic book greats. This suggests that Wolverine is in good hands and could turn out to join our lists of the best single-player games and the best story games when it eventually releases.Like Marvel's Spider-Man, we're expecting Marvel's Wolverine to be an action-oriented, story-driven game with plenty of satisfying punch-ups and engrossing cutscenes. However, as creative director Brian Horton put it, Wolverine is set to have a more "mature tone." Given that James 'Logan' Howlett, the titular Wolverine, is known for his gritty adventures and dark demeanor, it makes sense that Insomniac would be aiming in this direction. Read on for more details as well as an in-depth analysis of the teaser trailer.

Marvel's Wolverine: cut to the chase

What is it? A Wolverine game from the makers of Marvel's Spider-ManWhen does it come out? TBCWhat can I play it on? PS5Who is making it? Insomniac Games

Marvel's Wolverine - what we know so far

(Image credit: Insomniac Games)

We don't have a release date or even a release window for Marvel's Wolverine so far. However, it's clear that the game will be a PlayStation exclusive, in much the same vein as the Marvel's Spider-Man games. While it's been confirmed that Wolverine will be coming to the PS5, there's yet no indication that there will be a release for PS4 - a prospect that seems increasingly unlikely as the years roll by.It's not impossible, however, that the game might eventually be released on PC; after all, Sony exclusives have a track record of eventually arriving on the platform. Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales are both available on PC, with Marvel's Spider-Man 2 having followed earlier this year. This suggests that Wolverine could wind up on PC sometime, too, but likely a little while after its initial launch on PS5.

Marvel's Wolverine trailer

Marvel's Wolverine was announced during Sony's PlayStation Showcase in September 2021, with a brief teaser trailer giving us our first look at Insomniac's take on Logan.The teaser trailer shows a ruined dive bar, with injured men lying on the floor, before cutting to a back view of a man in a cowboy hat and checkered shirt drinking - his knuckles and surrounding area covered in blood. In the background, we see one of the injured men getting up and pulling out a knife. Sensing the assailant, the man at the bar - our hero - clenches his fist, revealing the iconic metallic claws.The trailer may not give us a look at when it comes to combat or at Logan himself, but it does set the tone of Marvel's Wolverine. At first glance, it appears to be a more bloody, mature alternative to Insomniac Games' Spider-Man series. You can check out the trailer below:

So far, the reveal trailer is the only preview we currently have access to. In the meantime, we recommend keeping your eyes on PlayStation's official YouTube channel for any future updates.

Marvel's Wolverine story and setting predictions

(Image credit: Sony)

Though we don't yet have any concrete details as to what to expect from Marvel's Wolverine, the reveal trailer does offer several Easter eggs which provide some interesting hints.Firstly, the trailer's setting seems to drop a big clue about when and where Marvel's Wolverine is set. Logan is drinking in the Princess Bar, located in Madripoor (which you may recognize from Marvel TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), which we can see from the bar sign and the Madripoor tourist poster.In Marvel Comics Presents Volume 1 #1 (1988), Wolverine visits the Princess Bar while hunting down a crime lord called Roche. After wiping the bar floor with Roche's enforcers - who are trying to get protection money off the bar's owner O'Donnell - Wolverine becomes a regular of the bar, under the name "Patch", and even co-owned it for a time. The bar was essentially Logan's home away from home during a period when the X-Men were inactive. Is Insomniac Games hinting that this is the time when Marvel's Wolverine is set to take place? Will we see Logan taking on the criminal underworld? Both seem like distinct possibilities.Another possible Easter egg is the Radio Lowtown 104.8 poster. Lowtown is a district in Madipoor, so Madipoor as a setting seems pretty likely. It's also possible that the number 104.8 could be a reference to Marvel Earth-1048, the universe in which Marvel’s Spider-Man is set. This seems to suggest that Insomniac's Spider-Man games and Wolverine take place in the same universe, meaning we could see potential crossovers in the future. This could be huge, allowing Insomniac to build an answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that isn't bogged down in endless sequels and story bloat.The radio station isn't the only number that appears to reference a specific comic book. The license plate on the bar reads "HLK 181", which seems to reference The Incredible Hulk #18 - in which Wolverine makes an appearance. Does that mean we could see Hulk in Marvel's Wolverine? Again, we certainly hope so.

Marvel's Wolverine - what we'd like to see

(Image credit: Insomniac)

Embracing Wolverine's dark sideWhile Marvel's Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are critically acclaimed, they're all pretty family-friendly affairs. This isn't a criticism - after all, Spider-Man himself is, famously, a 'friendly neighborhood Spidey', known for his youthful antics and cheeky quips. A more light-hearted tone suits the character. However, Wolverine isn't all sunshine and rainbows. His backstory and characterization are, comparatively speaking, pretty dark. Wolverine stories are full of angst, betrayal, and, more often than not, bloody violence.We're hoping that Insomniac explores this side of Logan in the Wolverine game, offering a more mature experience than Spider-Man did. We're not asking for gratuitous violence, but we do think a different tone is necessary. If you want to dig into Wolverine's backstory (depending on when this game is set), you can't shy away from the darker moments of Logan's past. Also, our hero would hardly be able to slash up enemies with his iconic claws without spilling at least a bit of blood. Without a bit of darkness, you'll only scratch the surface of his story - pun intended.The appearance of other Marvel heroes...We don't want them hogging the spotlight, but it would be nice to see Insomniac's take on some other Marvel heroes popping up in Wolverine as side characters. The specifics would really depend on the story Insomniac wants to tell, but we're hoping to see some of the X-Men make cameos, including Jean Grey, Professor X, or maybe even Rogue....and infamous villainsWe currently don't know who will serve as the main adversary in Marvel's Wolverine, but there are plenty of infamous villains to choose from - and we imagine some could appear as smaller roles. We're hoping we could see Logan battling Sabertooth, Lady Deathstrike, or even Silver Samurai. Or, perhaps, we'll see him battling to bring down the Weapon X program that saw him subjected to the painful experiments that gave him his famous adamantium skeleton in the first place.A Marvel Game UniverseInsomniac has done a great job of creating standalone products which have allowed us to meet all sorts of heroes and villains from across Marvel comics. However, now that the studio is stepping away from Spider-Man, it has a chance to flesh out a shared continuity that could offer many of the perks that the Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts, without the bloat. It's a tempting idea, and we'd love to see what the skilled storytellers at Insomniac would come up with if they decided to go down this route.

Marvel's Wolverine news

(Image credit: Sony)

Insomniac still can't confirm if Marvel's Wolverine will launch in 2025Nearly four years after its initial announcement, we still have no idea when Marvel's Wolverine is launching, and Insomniac Games still can't confirm if it will be released in 2025.A "full-size" game with a "mature tone"According to Marvel's Wolverine's creative director, Brian Horton, James 'Logan' Howlett's standalone adventure on PS5 will be a full-size game with a "mature tone". Horton confirmed this in response to a fan on Twitter asking whether Wolverine on PS5 will be "big or a [smaller] 'Miles Morales' size game".Directed by Spider-Man: Miles Morales creative leadsIn a PlayStation Blog post, Insomniac Games revealed that Marvel's Wolverine is being directed by Brian Horton (creative director) and Cameron Christian (game director), who led the creative efforts on Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.Respecting the DNA with a fresh takeInsomniac Games has said that, while it intends to honor the "DNA" of what makes Wolverine popular, the studio will be putting a fresh spin on Logan."In the vein of our Spider-Man games, our goal here is to not only respect the DNA of what makes the character so popular, but also look for opportunities to make it feel fresh and truly reflect the Insomniac spirit," Insomniac Games wrote in a PlayStation blog post. According to the developer, despite being in early development, Marvel's Wolverine boasts an "emotional narrative and cutting-edge gameplay". We hope the pun was intended.

Marvel's Wolverine FAQ

Is Marvel's Wolverine set in the Spider-Man universe?

Yes, Marvel's Wolverine is indeed in the Spider-Man universe. Marvel's Spider-Man 2's creative director Bryan Intihar confirmed this during an interview with Kinda Funny Games. When asked whether the two series share the same universe, he responded:"They're all 1048."This is a reference to Earth 1048, the universe that the Marvel Spider-Man games take place in. Here's hoping for a Spider-Man cameo in the upcoming Wolverine game then!

Is Marvel's Wolverine coming to Xbox?

Marvel's Wolverine is not planned for release on Xbox. Currently, only PS5 is listed, but like other Sony projects, we could see it come to PC later down the line. Unless Sony's first-party strategy changes drastically over the next few years, we'll never see Marvel's Wolverine release on Xbox platforms.

Will Marvel's Wolverine be PS5 Pro enhanced?

Marvel's Wolverine is yet to be confirmed as a PS5 Pro-enhanced title, but we're betting it'll join the list of PS5 Pro games when it launches. This is largely down do it being a first party title, which appear to be getting upgraded modes thanks to Sony's new console.

When was Marvel's Wolverine announced?Marvel's Wolverine was announced during a PlayStation Showcase in September 2021. Interestingly, this was the same show that featured the reveal of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which ended up launching in October 2023.

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Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 23 (game #1185).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 3.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• C• C• F• C

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1186) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1186, are…

CHOKECOLORFRAMECAIRN

I am really glad I had a word beginning with C among my start words. Without it I wouldn’t have unlocked the magnificent headstart of getting the first letter of three words.CHOKE was my only gamble and that came from a memory of it being used in Quordle before, while FRAME was the only option I had with the letters available.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1186) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1186, are…

SHEEPRAVENWISERCLANK

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFTQuordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEEQuordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACHQuordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUEQuordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULTQuordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTOQuordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURTQuordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUTQuordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAYQuordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCEQuordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOPQuordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THINGQuordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLYQuordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSEQuordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCHQuordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOKQuordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABINQuordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICKQuordle #1167, Saturday 5 April: GUSTY, VAULT, WHINE, BEGATQuordle #1166, Friday 4 April: OAKEN, LOOPY, CURIO, BUTTE

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 23 (game #682).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #683) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

CORNFIELDICEBERGBUTTERMILKBABY POWDERSCARECROWPITCHERSPOLAR BEARPENGUINLEAFMUSICIANSBANEWALLSSNOWJOKERROMAINE

NYT Connections today (game #683) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: A color in common GREEN: Eat your greensBLUE: Enemies of the Caped CrusaderPURPLE: What you hear with

Need more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #683) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: THINGS THAT ARE WHITE GREEN: KINDS OF LETTUCEBLUE: "BATMAN" VILLAINSPURPLE: THEY HAVE LITERAL/ IDIOMATIC EARS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #683) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #683, are…

YELLOW: THINGS THAT ARE WHITE BABY POWDER, MILK, POLAR BEAR, SNOWGREEN: KINDS OF LETTUCE BUTTER, ICEBERG, LEAF, ROMAINEBLUE: "BATMAN" VILLAINS BANE, JOKER, PENGUIN, SCARECROWPURPLE: THEY HAVE LITERAL/ IDIOMATIC EARS CORNFIELD, MUSICIANS, PITCHERS, WALLS

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

After a brief dalliance trying to create a group with a cold climate as the common thread, I went for ICEBERG lettuce rather than the iceberg that has fallen off a glacier.BUTTER and ROMAINE I was familiar with, but I gambled that LEAF was a variety. There are so many lettuce types to choose from. And let's face it none of them are particularly interesting.There are also lots of THINGS THAT ARE WHITE to choose from – plenty of WALLS are white, including ones that have ears. Sorry, I’ll rephrase that – even walls that have "idiomatic ears".I originally paired SCARECROW with CORNFIELD before seeing the other more famous “BATMAN” VILLAINS.This is another group with a huge cast to pick from. Bruce Wayne surely has more enemies than any other fictional character – the WIkipedia page “List of batman family enemies” contains well over 200.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, April 23, game #682)

YELLOW: PARTS OF A TREE BRANCH, LEAF, ROOT, TRUNKGREEN: CANINE/FELINE FEATURES FUR, MUZZLE, PAW, TAILBLUE: COMEDIC ROUTINE ACT, BIT, GAG, SKETCHPURPLE: ____ POLE BEAN, FLAG, MAY, TAD

What is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 23 (game #416).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Coarse material

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

SNAPCOOLSLOTHNESTSOAKFOOL

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 3rd columnLast side: bottom, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #417) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #417, are…

SANDPAPERROPEPUMICEBARKLOOFAHSACKCLOTHSPANGRAM: ROUGH STUFF

My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect

Today's theme had me immediately searching for SANDPAPER and that was indeed the first word I found.Several peculiar bathtime items made it into our search for ROUGH STUFF – LOOFAH and PUMICE. Both items that few under the age of 50 own, but with natural exfoliating abilities that have stood the test of time.I used to think that loofahs were the remains of a seaplant, like sponges, but they are actually a dried gourd, a sort of long pumpkin primarily used for scrubbing backs. The pumice comes from a similar old-school place, a porous piece of volcanic rock that’s good for cleaning and polishing.The bizarre wonder of the pumice was celebrated in song by elderly English songwriter John Shuttleworth recently, who marvelled at its otherworldly wonder and crooned “I loved it so, it worked a treat, in removing hard skin from my feet”. Every home should have one.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, April 23, game #416)

PEACHCATERPILLARCHENILLEDUCKLINGSLIPPERSSPANGRAM: GET FUZZY

What is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

A database stolen in a 2024 ransomware attack is being offered for freeIt was grabbed from the French retail company Boulanger Electroménager & Multimédia.It affects at least a million people

Sensitive customer information stolen from a French electronics shop in 2024 has now surfaced online and is being offered for free, according to cybersecurity researchers Safety Detectives, who analyzed a sample of the data, confirmed its authenticity, and traced its source.The researchers said that they recently discovered a forum thread, on the clearweb, offering a database allegedly belonging to Boulanger Electroménager & Multimédia, a French retail company founded in 1954 specializing in household appliances and multimedia products, offering a wide range of items through its extensive network of stores and online platform.The post contained two links, one to an unparsed, and one to a clear dataset. The former contained a 16GB .JSON file with more than 27 million records, while the latter contained a 500MB .CSV file with five million records.

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A million rows

Safety Detectives reviewed the data and found that the clean dataset contains just over a million rows, with one customer taking up one row.“While that’s still a considerable number of customers, it’s far smaller than the 5 million claimed by the author of the post,” they said.The archive contains plenty of sensitive information that can be used in highly convincing phishing attacks, identity theft, wire fraud, and more. It includes people’s full names, postal addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.Further analysis confirmed that the data was stolen in 2024, when the company suffered a ransomware attack, together with a number of other retailers:“Back in September 2024, Boulanger was one of the targets of a ransomware attack that also affected other retailers, such as Truffaut and Cultura,” Safety Detectives explained.“A threat author with the nickname “horrormar44” claimed responsibility for the breach.” The data was initially being sold online for €2,000, but it’s unclear if anyone bought it or not.

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Prior to 1920, it was more common to buy well-made items and repair them. Over time, however, contemporary societies have come to thrive on the cost and availability advantages of the 'take-make-dispose' linear economy. As a result, successive generations have grown accustomed to expendability, with infrastructure geared towards supplying products that, in many cases, are designed for obsolescence. It is time to return to the traditional values of a circular economy. Our current linear approach is proving to be unsustainable—both environmentally and economically.The circular economy is a model built on the principle of reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling to extend the lifecycle of products and raw materials. Take modern supply chains, for example, where linear thinking typically translates into systems optimized for throughput rather than sustainability. As every consumer has experienced, overproduction is commonplace as manufacturers and retailers prioritize forecasted demand. This often leads to unsold inventory, markdowns and waste.Logistics and warehousing processes are similarly one-directional. Many are still designed to move products from source to shelf but not to process returns or products for recycling or reuse. Visibility is another key challenge, especially where supply chains lack full transparency into where materials come from, how products are used or what happens to them after disposal. As a result, companies routinely miss opportunities for recovery and resource optimization.

New rules are focusing minds

In this environment, waste becomes a by-product of operational efficiency to be managed reactively, rather than designed out from the start. Granted, global supply chains are built for scale, not sustainability, but today, it’s increasingly at odds with regulatory, environmental and commercial priorities.Indeed, support for the underlying principles of the circular economy is no longer voluntary, with regulators increasingly active in pursuing sustainability objectives. In the EU, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is already in force, requiring manufacturers to improve product durability, recyclability and traceability and banning the destruction of unsold clothing and footwear starting in 2026.The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) adds further pressure by mandating consistent, auditable ESG disclosures from a wide range of companies. In the US, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are expanding, with new rules in California targeting textile and apparel waste.Looking ahead, additional EU measures coming into effect by 2027 will restrict vague green claims and require clear information on product repairability and lifespan. Taken together, these developments reflect a broader regulatory shift: businesses must now redesign products and processes for sustainability, with full supply chain accountability.

Tech-led opportunities

These are important steps in the right direction, but at the same time, businesses must also be given the tools they need to adapt. Technology in general, and AI in particular, is playing a critical role in enabling circular supply chains. For example, tech-enabled insight and management tools can now provide end-to-end visibility, allowing companies to monitor and manage the environmental impact of their processes and supply chain partners. In practical terms, AI is also being used to help address overproduction and improve asset utilization, among other priorities, all of which help cut emissions and avoid unnecessary resource use.But what does this look like? In the fashion and retail industry, brands are reducing overproduction with inventory planning tools that factor in seasonality, trends and localized demand patterns. In the grocery sector, retailers are using AI to forecast demand more accurately and apply dynamic pricing, helping to reduce food waste and improve shelf availability.Elsewhere, reverse logistics systems are being used to recover returned goods for refurbishment or resale, while digital returns platforms are helping to eliminate packaging waste and streamline the return process. These examples demonstrate that circularity isn’t a future goal; it’s already being delivered by companies using the right mix of data, AI and operational strategy.It goes without saying that there is still a very long road ahead. Scaling the circular economy across global supply chains needs more generalized support and increased investment. Businesses also need to embed circular thinking into core operations, backed by deeper collaboration with suppliers, particularly as regulations now demand much greater transparency across the full value chain.At the same time, many organizations still lack the infrastructure to collect, analyze and report on sustainability data at scale. Building the digital foundations for these processes, including platforms that can aggregate supplier data and model environmental impacts, will be critical.This is especially important as regulatory focus shifts toward Scope 3 emissions, which are the indirect environmental impacts that occur across the supply chain. Measuring and reporting on these emissions remains a challenge for many businesses, but it is fast becoming a requirement, particularly in the EU.Looking ahead, however, there are grounds for optimism. The challenge now is less about awareness and more about implementation, and technology will be central to bridging that gap.

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On Wednesday, Roku revealed two new streaming devices at an event in New York. The company says its Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus are the most compact on the market, measuring 35 percent smaller than other brands' models. However, Roku says there's no compromise on performance despite the small size.

The entry-level Streaming Stick is $30 and it knocks the Roku Express out of the company's lineup. It has many of the features you'd expect from Roku, such as personalized recommendations, access to thousands of streaming channels, a voice remote and Backdrops — a way to display art and photos on your TV when you're not streaming anything.

The $40 Streaming Stick Plus, meanwhile, replaces the Roku Express 4K+. Naturally, this has all of the features of the Streaming Stick as well as support for 4K and HDR streaming. Roku notes the small size of both sticks makes it easy to bring either with you when you travel, so you can plug one into a TV at your hotel or vacation rental and keep watching your shows.

The Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus is coming to the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. US pre-orders are open today and the sticks will become available from Roku directly and major retailers on May 6.

Roku

Elsewhere, the company previewed new TVs with "unique hardware innovations" and "under-the-hood enhancements." Roku is promising richer and more vivid visuals, along with improved audio quality and faster app launches in its 2025 lineup. The company pledged to deliver custom factory calibration for the new Roku Pro Series models.

Plus Series TVs are getting a feature called Roku Smart Picture Max, which automatically adjusts picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis to help you avoid fiddling in menus more than you need to. The Plus Series will now have mini-LED backlighting with the aim of improving picture quality without increasing prices. Those models will also have the built-in remote finder button and integrated cable management that were introduced on Pro Series units. Going forward, all Roku TVs will have a Bluetooth headphone option too.

Roku also announced software updates, which it claims will make streaming on Roku OS "smoother and more personalized." Meanwhile, revamped content discovery features include personalized sports highlights and a "Coming soon to theaters" row for movies. (Hey, cinemas need all the help they can get.) On top of that, the Backdrops feature is coming to all Roku TVs and streaming devices in Canada starting today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/roku-says-its-streaming-stick-and-streaming-stick-plus-are-35-percent-smaller-than-the-competition-140021984.html?src=rss

Despite an eight year anticipatory wait, Nintendo is still "surprised" at just how many people want the Switch 2. The company has announced that about 2.2 million people have entered a pre-order lottery in Japan alone, far more than the number of consoles it can deliver on June 5, aka launch day.

Nintendo will announce the winners tomorrow, April 24, and anyone not chosen will be entered into a second drawing. However, that still won't provide enough spots for every entrant. "In response to this demand, we are currently working on further strengthening our production system," the company wrote on X in a post translated from Japanese. "We plan to continue producing and shipping a considerable number of Nintendo Switch 2 units in the future. We apologize for the delay in our ability to meet your expectations." The company further notes that other retailers should begin pre-orders on the 24th.

Nintendo has faced a few hurdles around pre-orders for the Switch 2. It delayed them in the US following President Trump's extreme tariffs and uncertainty about price. Now, the company has confirmed pre-orders in the US and Canada will also begin on April 24 and the Switch 2 will maintain its $450 price tag. Though, this might result in a loss for Nintendo.

A lack of supply and heavy demand could also bring exploitative resellers. Such was the case with other big ticket consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. They were both listed on sites like eBay and Amazon for up to $1,700. Nintendo's SNES Mini and NES Mini were for sale on eBay for more than double their sticker price. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-somehow-underestimates-demand-for-the-switch-2-141030518.html?src=rss

Ghost of Yōtei will launch on October 2, 2025Pre-orders are set to begin next weekA newly released trailer also outlines the basic story

Developer Sucker Punch Productions has finally revealed the release date for Ghost of Yōtei and released a brand new trailer for the game.Set in Ezo (now Hokkaido in the modern day) during the Edo period, the game follows protagonist Atsu as she hunts down a band of outlaws that murdered her family sixteen years ago.Having narrowly escaped their attack, she learned how to hunt and kill, before returning with a list of mysterious names to hunt down one by one: The Snake, The Oni, The Kitsune, The Spider, The Dragon, and Lord Saito.

Despite focusing on revenge, Atsu will encounter a range of unlikely allies throughout her journey and forge long-lasting connections.The new trailer introduces the premise of the story and also showcases some stunning action scenes and a little more of the beautiful world.A standalone sequel to the popular Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei evolves that game's open-world formula with even more freedom. You can choose which of your six foes to pursue, in addition to completing bounties for other dangerous targets.We now also know that the game is set to launch exclusively for PlayStation 5 on October 2, 2025. Pre-orders for the game will begin next week on May, with multiple editions to choose from.This includes the $69.99 / £69.99 standard edition, which is available both digitally or physically, and a digital-only Ghost of Yōtei Digital Deluxe Edition which costs $79.99 / £79.99. This unlocks some additional digital content, including an armor dye, sword kit, horse and saddle, and charm.

Image 1 of 3(Image credit: PlayStation)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: PlayStation)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: PlayStation)

Finally, there's the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition which packs in a range of physical and digital items including a physical Ghost Mask to display. There is no word on a price for this version quite yet, though I can't imagine that it will be cheap.Those who pre-order any edition of the game will receive a unique in-game mask, plus seven PSN avatars to use.

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Smartphones have become an essential part of our lives. As of 2024, around 4.88 billion people worldwide now own smartphones. But have you ever considered what happens to your phone when you upgrade to a new one? On average, a smartphone lasts just 2 to 3 years before it’s either tucked away in a drawer or tossed into a landfill. There, it can leak toxic chemicals and contribute to the growing issue of electronic waste.But what if smartphones—and other tech products—were designed differently? Imagine modular devices with parts that can be easily repaired, replaced, refurbished, or recycled. Not only would this cut down on environmental damage, but it would also help manufacturers manage rising raw material costs. This is just an example of shifting away from a linear model of consumption, to what is known as circular transformation.As businesses face mounting economic pressure, the circular economy offers a smarter, more resilient path forward—one that reduces waste, strengthens supply chains, and opens up new revenue streams. By embedding circular principles into their operations, companies can improve profitability while supporting long-term sustainability.Yet, the latest Circularity Gap Report reveals a troubling reality: only 8.6% of the global economy is circular. This means that of all the minerals, fossil fuels, metals and biomass that enter the economy each year, just 8.6% are cycled back. The rest doesn’t just harm the environment, it’s a huge burden on industries and economies.To reverse this trend, businesses, policymakers, and industry leaders must work together to scale sustainable and circular solutions.

What does circularity look like?

According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, “The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated.” Essentially, it’s a departure from the linear take-make-waste model, to a more regenerative, sustainable, and resilient one.To turn this into action, businesses should incorporate the Ecodesign principles “use better, use longer, and use again” into their product and service offerings, operations, and customer engagement. It might not be an immediate transformation, but an incremental one.

Circularity as a competitive advantage

The perception that circular business models are less profitable is outdated. In fact, companies that integrate sustainability into their core strategies can gain a significant competitive edge. Circularity enables businesses to manufacture products more efficiently, with less —an advantage at a time when material costs remain high and businesses look to cut costs.By adopting circular design principles, companies can ensure greater repairability, reduce waste, and optimize resource use. With over 80% of a product’s environmental impact determined at the design stage, it's crucial for repairability, reusability, and modularity to be considered right from the start. Additionally, circularity can help mitigate risks associated with geopolitical instability, as businesses become less reliant on volatile supply chains for raw materials.The key to widespread adoption lies in demonstrating value. Customers must see the tangible benefits of circular models, including cost savings, improved product longevity, and environmental impact reductions. With regulation like the EUs Circular Economy Action Plan, it is becoming increasingly important for compliance.Investing in education, awareness, and market readiness will be essential in fostering a circular mindset across industries. Larger companies should be working with suppliers and partners to educate them and help implement circular actions.

Scaling circular solutions through industry partnerships

Collaboration is at the core of a successful circular economy. Industry partnerships can accelerate the adoption of circularity by creating shared ecosystems where waste is minimized, and resources are maximized.Businesses should also look to established ‘recycler’ partners with proven reverse logistics capabilities. At our MasterTech site, MasterPact circuit breakers are collected, disassembled, upgraded, and reintroduced into the market, meeting the same stringent quality standards as new products. This initiative has led to a 45% reduction in emissions per unit, equating to savings of approximately 755kg of CO2 per MasterPact.

Overcoming barriers to circularity: A collaborative effort

Despite its benefits, circularity presents challenges, particularly in reverse logistics, which can be up to 11 times more expensive than traditional supply chains. Costs associated with returns, transportation, and refurbishment can be prohibitive. However, strategic partnerships can help alleviate these pressures by distributing costs and leveraging shared expertise.Industrial symbiosis—where one company’s waste becomes another’s resource—further enhances efficiency and reduces costs. Moreover, designing products with modularity, upgradability, and ease of repair in mind will make circular business models more viable.

A circular future: The path to economic and environmental resilience

In today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, embracing circularity is not just an environmental imperative but an economic one. Businesses that integrate sustainable models will be better equipped to withstand supply chain disruptions, manage costs, and achieve long-term profitability.Achieving a circular future requires a fundamental shift in how we design, produce, and consume. From sustainable product packaging—such as using 100% recycled materials—to developing upgradable, repairable products, every step counts toward creating a more resilient global economy.For industries worldwide, sustainability is no longer a secondary consideration; it is central to future success. By fostering strategic partnerships and embedding circularity at every level, businesses can drive innovation, strengthen resilience, and pave the way for a net-zero world. The future is circular, and the time to act is now.

We've featured the best green web hosting.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Andor season 2's wedding dance number was extraordinary and chaoticThat's according to Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma in the Star Wars TV showThe sequence was a huge celebration for everyone involved in the series' production

Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 3.

Andor actor Genevieve O'Reilly has shared why filming the third episode of the Star Wars show's second season was "one of my favorite days on [the] set".Speaking to TechRadar before Andor season 2 made its Disney+ bow, O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma in the highly-rated show, beamed as she spoke about shooting the series' wild wedding dance number, whose significance wasn't lost on O'Reilly for two major reasons.The party-style event, which closes out a three-day wedding extravaganza that takes place across this season's first three episodes, sees Mon Mothma completely let loose after being trapped in a high-pressure situation on her home world of Chandrila.Indeed, not only has her daughter tied the knot with the son of shady businessman Davo Sculdun – via an arranged marriage to keep the peace, no less – but Mon has also had to deal with numerous other issues.That includes Luthen Rael's unexpected attendance, revelations about her siphoning off funds to, well, fund the nascent Rebel Alliance, and the off-screen death of her long-time friend Tay, who's whisked away from the wedding by Cinta Kaz, one of Luthen's most devote acolytes, in episode 3's final moments to be disposed of.

Learn the behind-the-scenes secrets of building Yavin 4, Chandrila, Mina-Rau, and more locations from Andor Season 2: https://t.co/XuaShFS8Z5 pic.twitter.com/IR2n2ct0O2April 23, 2025

To say Mon Mothma is put through the emotional and psychological wringer in season 2's opening chapter, then, is an understatement. With the weight of the issues becoming too great to handle, it's perhaps unsurprising that she gives in to her inhibitions, downs multiple shots, and throws herself into the middle of the wedding's dance floor.Freeing as it was to liberate a "character who's [usually] so rigid", though, O'Reilly says that reason wasn't the only one that made episode 3's dance number feel like "a huge celebration" individually as well as collectively with the crew and cast of Andor season 2.Indeed, with the multi-day shoot taking place after the months-long 2023 Hollywood strikes finally came to an end, there was an unmistakable party atmosphere on the set for many of those involved in the TV series' development.When I asked O'Reilly if the dance sequence was choreographed or if everyone had the autonomy to do their own thing, she replied: "Well, first of all, we went on a hike together in Montserrat, which was physical in its own way! After that, we're all at this wedding, which is very complicated wedding for not only Mon, but Vel [Sartha, played by Faye Marsay] as well.

Wow Andor season 2 is really not playing. Some really dark stuff in episode 3 and already the first casualty of what I’m sure is many in this final season 😭 and Mon Mothma trying to escape her reality with some shots and dancing is so real #AndorSeason2 #AndorS2 pic.twitter.com/mEKzytTNHKApril 23, 2025

"It was extraordinary for Tony [Gilroy, Andor's showrunner] to delve into that, because then you really understand how brave these women actually are," O'Reilly continued."But, to set those first three episodes within that family culture, with all of the complications for Mon with her daughter and the brutality of that [decision to wed her off to Davo's son], and then having Luther – who's so wily and crafty – and an Imperial presence there, you feel the exterior pressure on Mon, the interior family turmoil, and the dangers associated with being part of the rebellion and having the empire on top of them.

It felt like this huge celebrationGenevieve O'Reilly, Andor season 2 actor

"That upends everything and eventually sees Mon tacitly agree to something that results in her kind of having blood on her hands with what happens to Tay. So, the opportunity to have her drink and enter full-release mode by throwing herself into that dance, which is the only way to deal with the chaos in her head, was so brilliant as an actor, particularly for this character who's so rigid."It was one of my favorite days ever on any set and, because it was filmed after the strikes, it felt like this huge celebration, not just for everyone who worked on the show, but for everything we've tried to achieve with Andor."For more coverage of one of the best Disney+ shows' second season, read my spoiler-free review of Andor season 2. Alternatively, read more from my exclusive chats with the cast of one of 2025's new Star Wars TV shows in the section below.

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Roku is wading deeper into the smart home space with two new security cameras, which can run on batteries. As such, you'll be able to place the Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus pretty much anywhere.

The former is said to run for up to six months on a single charge, while the Roku Battery Camera Plus might operate for a couple of years before you need to juice it up. There's an optional solar panel attachment so you might never have to manually recharge the batteries.

These cameras are designed for simplicity. A step-by-step guide on your phone walks you through how to set them up. They provide 1080p full-color visuals and there's a color night vision mode. Other features include motion detection and notifications. You can create schedules for the cameras too.

Of course, you can monitor what the cameras see via the Roku Smart Home app or the web, as well as Roku TVs and streaming devices. Through the Roku Cameras app on your TV, you can view a carousel of camera feeds that cycle either periodically or based on motion events. There's a picture-in-picture option in case you want to watch TV and keep and eye on what's happening in and around your home too.

Roku hasn't announced pricing for the cameras as yet. They'll be available in the coming months and will join the likes of the Indoor Security Camera in Roku's lineup. The company also unveiled its latest streaming sticks and announced new TVs and feature updates at an event on Wednesday.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/roku-unveils-two-new-battery-powered-security-cameras-144554234.html?src=rss

A malicious actor used a compromised Ripple dev account to publish commits to NPMThe commits would grant access to people's crypto walletsThey were downloaded around 450 times before being pulled down

A JavaScript library recommended by a major cryptocurrency company has been hijacked, with users now being at risk of losing access to their crypto wallets, as well as the funds stored inside.Researchers warned omeone managed to break into a NPM account belonging to a developer associated with Ripple.After breaking into the account, the threat actor modified the NPM JavaScript library named ‘xrpl.js”. Versions 2.14.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, and 4.2.4 of the xrpl NPM package were modified and then published to NPM. The xrpl.js library is used to interact with the XRP Ledger (XRPL) from JavaScript applications, enabling developers to send transactions, check balances, and manage accounts on the network. It is maintained by the XRP Ledger Foundation and is Ripple’s recommended library for interacting with the XPR blockchain via JavaScript.

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GitHub not affected

Ripple is a cryptocurrency company that built XRP, currently the fourth biggest cryptocurrency. It is designed for cross-border payments and currency transfers, primarily for financial institutions. At press time, XRP has a market capitalization of $132.34 billion, and a daily transaction volume of $5 billion.Before being pulled down, the malicious updates amassed 452 downloads. The latest version showing now is 4.2.5 and this one is clean. Users are advised to upgrade immediately. Usually, the library has more than 100,000 downloads a week.The malicious commits are not found in the GitHub repository, which should mean the attack occurred during the NPM publishing process.In the meantime, the XRP Ledger Foundation took to X to clarify that the XRP Ledger codebase and GitHub repository were not affected:“To clarify: This vulnerability is in xrpl.js, a JavaScript library for interacting with the XRP Ledger. It does NOT affect the XRP Ledger codebase or Github repository itself. Projects using xrpl.js should upgrade to v4.2.5 immediately,” it said.Xaman Wallet, XRPScan, First Ledger, and Gen3 Games projects were not affected.Via BleepingComputer

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WhatsApp is introducing a new feature called Advanced Chat Privacy that can block participants from sharing the contents of a conversation. This is an opt-in tool that’s available for both traditional chats and groups.

Once selected, the toolset will prevent anyone in the chat from sharing anything outside of the app. This means it’ll block all chat exports, but that’s just the beginning. The software also prevents a smartphone from auto-downloading media and will stop integration with AI assistants. Basically, what happens on WhatsApp stays on WhatsApp. However, it's unclear if it prevents screenshotting. We've reached out to Meta and will update this post when we hear back.

The platform says this is "best used when talking with groups where you may not know everyone closely but are nevertheless sensitive in nature." It gives examples like a support group about health challenges and a chat about community organizing.

WhatsApp says this is just the first version of the tool and that it’ll be adding "more protections" in the future. It’s rolling out right now across the globe, though it could take a month or two to reach everyone.

The platform is already known for being privacy-focused, as it uses end-to-end encryption. It also leverages related software tools like disappearing messages and chats that require device authentication.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-introduces-a-feature-that-blocks-chat-participants-from-sharing-content-150042001.html?src=rss

PureVPN has received third-party accreditation confirming its commitment to security, privacy, transparency, and ethical practicesPureVPN believes the accreditation "reinforces its position as a leader in the VPN industry."The VPN Trust Seal was launched by the Internet Infrastructure Coalition's VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) in 2023

PureVPN has yet again earned third-party accreditation, which confirms its commitment to security, privacy, transparency, and ethical practices.The VPN Trust Seal accreditation program was launched by the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition)'s VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) in 2023. The VTI is a group of some of the best VPN providers to promote consumer safety and privacy online by strengthening companies' business practices.By earning the VPN Trust Seal, PureVPN aims to provide independent assurance that its software and business meet the highest standards. A VTI member itself, the provider also seeks to reaffirm its commitment to build engineering‑led safeguards in user privacy, device security, and identity and access management (IAM).

VPN Trust Seal

The VPN Trust Seal program evaluates VPN providers based on five principles: security, advertising practices, privacy, transparency, and social responsibility.This means that features like strong encryption and authentication protocols cannot be overlooked, so that a strict no-log VPN policy that guarantees the software will keep as little data as it deems necessary to provide the service.VPN firms should also refrain from making misleading claims about their services, while informing the public about their actions and procedures in the clearest way possible.To gain the VPN Trust Seal accreditation, providers must also actively promote the VPN technology to support access to the global Internet and freedom of expression."By meeting these stringent criteria, PureVPN not only reinforces its position as a leader in the VPN industry but also provides users with the assurance that their online activities are protected by a service that prioritizes ethical practices and user rights," commented the provider in a blog post.

Trust isn’t given. It’s earned.PureVPN has once again earned the VPN Trust Seal – a mark of transparency, privacy, and security excellence. 🛡️Because in a world full of tracking, your peace of mind shouldn't be a promise. It should be proven.Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/peec69uxQlApril 21, 2025

Once a tool only for businesses and IT nerds, more people are using virtual private network (VPN) services.Reliable IP-spoofing capabilities have turned VPNs into the go-to service to bypass government-imposed internet blocks and other online restrictions. Throughout 2024, for example, VPN usage soars across 119 countries during times of political crisis, as per data collected by Proton VPN.Better online privacy remains the main use case, though. According to KPMG research, 86% of US adults see data privacy as a growing concern.Globally, 68% of consumers are worried about how companies use their personal information. Yet, only 29% of consumers said they can easily understand how well a company protects their data.Hence, the need for privacy solutions that not only meet regulatory demands but also user trust requirements.PureVPN said: "PureVPN’s 2025 VPN Trust Seal accreditation is more than a recognition – it’s your guarantee of data protection excellence in a complex digital landscape."For more information, head to the provider's website at the PureVPN Trust Center page.

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More people worldwide will be seeing ads on Threads in the future. Back in January, Meta launched a small test of ads visible to a subset of users in the US and Japan, which included a handful of brands. Threads was completely ad-free since it became available a year-and-a-half before that, though Meta had been planning to put ads on the service months before the test began. Now, Meta is rolling out ads on Threads to over 30 countries globally. That means the advertisements will reach a bigger percentage of its 300 million users, though it will be interesting to see if their rollout will have any impact on the service's steady growth.

Meta didn't list out those 30 countries, and it also didn't say how often ads will show up in people's feeds. Like in the initial test period though, the advertisements will appear in between organic content or posts from people and friends users follow. Meta is opening up ads on Threads to all its eligible advertisers around the world, as well, so users will be seeing placements from more companies, including ones local to their countries. The company told us that it's adopting a phased approach to its rollout, so advertisements might appear more and more frequently on the service as time goes on.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-expands-ads-to-threads-users-in-over-30-countries-150535654.html?src=rss

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for the second season of Jenna Ortega’s goth comedy Wednesday.The latest outing looks to be as creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky as the show’s debut season, but promises to add even more piranhas to the pool, with creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar teasing: “Wednesday’s journey is darker and more complex as she navigates family, friends, new mysteries, and old adversaries, propelling her headlong into another year at Nevermore.”There’s also set to be further exploration of the history of Wednesday’s strange and deranged family, with Wednesday season 2 “exploring more Addams Family lore, and (introducing) an eclectic lineup of incredible new characters”.And judging by the trailer below, it looks like a case of new school year, same Wednesday Addams, with the likes of killer bees, buried bodies and very creepy dolls – complete with real human hair – on the cards.

Season 1 of the show, which saw Wednesday shipped off to Nevermore Academy after taking rather severe revenge on the bullies of her brother Pugsley, may have arrived way back in 2022, but it's still one of the best Netflix shows and its cultural impact is going strong.Not only did it kick off a viral dance trend that still pops up on the timeline occasionally, but it propelled Jenna Ortega to mega stardom, especially among horror fans. Ortega very much steered in to the ‘goth queen’ title, staring in two Scream movies, Ti West slasher X, and recent horror comedy Death of a Unicorn as well as reuniting with Wednesday director Tim Burton on legacy sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.It’s hard to believe that it took this long for Burton to finally turn his hand to an Addams Family project, with the franchise’s gothic sensibilities very much in step with the director’s brand of filmmaking, but the wait certainly proved worth it with the directors visual style pairing perfectly with the show’s dark murder mystery vibes. In a meta twist, the auteur even brought along long-time collaborator Christina Ricci, who played the titular character in Barry Sonnenfeld’s 90s Addams Family movies.

What can we expect from Wednesday season 2?

(Image credit: Netflix)

Burton returns this season, once again helming four of the eight episodes, with the core cast of Emma Myers (Enid Sinclair), Joy Sunday (Bianca Barclay), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), and Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams) also set for another term at Nevermore.There’s also been news on a release schedule for the new season, and while the show arrived just in time to reinvigorate the Halloween spirit first time round, the new batch of episodes are set to darken your summer with part one arriving on August 6 and part two dropping September 3. We’d speculate the change may be to accommodate the rumored November release of Season 5 of Netflix’ other huge teen show Stranger Things, but there’s no firm details just yet.Either way, fans of twisted teen horror have a lot to look forward to on one of the best streaming services this year and if this first glimpse of season 2 is anything to go by, Wednesday’s fans won’t be full of woe.

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Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, has said Telegram would rather exit a market than undermine encryption with backdoorsThis comes as France and other governments push for a legal backdoor for police access to private and encrypted messagesPavel Durov was arrested in August 2024 in France for, among other things, providing encrypted services to criminals

Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, has said Telegram would rather exit a market than "undermine encryption with backdoors," reaffirming the company's commitment to users' privacy and security."Unlike some of our competitors, we don’t trade privacy for market share. In its 12-year history, Telegram has never disclosed a single byte of private messages," wrote Durov in his public Telegram channel on April 21, 2025.Telegram's pledge comes as a reaction to the widespread push for a legal means for law enforcement to access private and encrypted messages by French lawmakers and other European governments. It echoes a similar position previously shared by secure messaging app Signal and other providers.

(Image credit: Future)

As Durov explains in his post, France recently rejected a controversial encryption backdoor provision that "would have made France the first in the world to strip its citizens of their right to privacy."The bill would have required all encrypted messaging apps and secure email services to decrypt user data upon an authority's request, de facto creating a backdoor for law enforcement into the software's encryption.Cryptographers and other experts, however, have long argued that such a backdoor cannot be implemented without weakening the security infrastructure that encrypted services rely on."Why? Because it’s technically impossible to guarantee that only the police can access a backdoor. Once introduced, a backdoor can be exploited by other parties – from foreign agents to hackers," wrote Durov.Durov also pointed out how weakening the encryption for every user to fight crime may be ineffective. That's because criminals could keep using the best VPN services and smaller encrypted apps to cover their traces online.French authorities arrested Pavel Durov back in August 2024, accusing him, among other things, of providing encrypted services to criminals. An investigation is currently ongoing.

"The battle is far from over"

Despite last month's victory in France, "The battle is far from over," said Durov.This isn't only because, as Durov mentioned, the Paris Police Prefect advocated for an encryption backdoor again last week. More countries in Europe are considering a similar proposal.

Do you know?(Image credit: Shutterstock / Michele Ursi)While services like Signal and even WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted by default – meaning that all the messages you exchange on their platform are completely private between you and your receiver – only Telegram's secret chats are end-to-end encrypted. This means that you need to actively select this feature to benefit from this extra level of privacy.

Finding a way for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement is indeed the main goal of the EU Commission's new strategy, ProtectEU. Encrypted data is the main target.Sweden is also considering enforcing a similar requirement for the likes of Signal, WhatsApp, and iMessage. If successful, the new rules could come into force as early as March 2026.In February, Apple was forced to kill its iCloud's end-to-end encryption feature in the UK following a government order to create an encryption backdoor to allow law enforcement access to users' data.Once thought to be a paradise for online privacy, an amendment to Swiss surveillance law could also put at risk secure encryption and internet anonymity in the country.Outside Europe, Florida seeks to force all social media platforms that allow accounts for minors to provide an encryption backdoor for law enforcement.

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Amazon’s Project Kuiper is reportedly way behind schedule, according to an investigation by Bloomberg. This is the company’s satellite internet service, which intends to rival SpaceX and Starlink. The issue seems to be one of scale, as the company has had trouble increasing production of the actual satellites.

The reporting indicates that the Kuiper team has only managed to manufacture a few dozen of these satellites. As a comparison, there are currently over 7,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. The initial production of the Kuiper satellites was delayed until the tail-end of last year, so Amazon hasn’t had too much time to ramp things up.

Beta testing didn’t start until earlier this year. Amazon had planned for an initial launch on April 8 for 27 satellites, but that got delayed until April 28.

Project Kuiper hopes to eventually provide broadband connectivity to at least 400 million households, in addition to providing service in remote areas. However, it needs to launch over 3,000 satellites to reach that goal. Additionally, it secured a government contract with a deadline to put 1,600 satellites in orbit by next summer. Insiders suggest that it will probably have to seek an extension from the FCC.

"We’ve designed some of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, and our primary objective is to build and launch enough of them to begin delivering service to customers later this year," an Amazon spokesperson told Seeking Alpha. "Our manufacturing schedule is on track to support this target, and we’ll continue to increase our production and launch rates as we begin a full-scale deployment of our network."

It did manage to launch a pair of prototype satellites into space in late 2023. This was followed by successful tests of an optical mesh network that linked the two satellites in low Earth orbit.

The company is scheduled to conduct a number of launches throughout the year, with help from Arianespace, Blue Origin and SpaceX. United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, will handle the April 28 launch. Amazon hasn’t indicated why satellite production has hit this hiccup. We reached out to the company and will update this post when we learn more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/amazons-starlink-rival-project-kuiper-is-reportedly-way-behind-schedule-153514471.html?src=rss

Ever since I first saw Back to the Future as a kid, I've wanted to go back in time. Whether that was to relive the 90s as an adult instead of a child, or get a glimpse into the roaring 20s, I've always been fascinated with the past.As a huge movie lover, up until now, I would relive previous decades through the eyes of some of the world's best directors. Whether it's heading back to the summer of 1922 with The Great Gatsby or reliving 1980's Manhattan with When Harry Met Sally, there's a movie for almost any time in history.Now, thanks to ChatGPT and AI image generation, there's another way to get a snapshot of the past, and while it's very superficial, the trend is picking up steam on social media.I decided to give the AI time machine a go and head back to 1955, just like my good pal Marty McFly. Here's what I learned.

The Booming 50s

To get ChatGPT to generate old imagery, you'll need to pick a decade or year and ask, "Can you show me an image of what it was like to live in X?" For this example, I chose 1955, just like the first Back to the Future movie.Initially, ChatGPT generated an image of a stereotypical white family with two children, one girl and one boy. There was a black and white TV in the background, which is historically accurate, but it's hardly an intriguing image.The best way to get the most out of ChatGPT's time machine is to start a conversation, opting for an initial period in history and then asking follow-up prompts.

(Image credit: ChatGPT)

I followed up my initial prompt with "I love going to the cinema, what would that experience have looked like?" ChatGPT knew I was still talking about 1955 and offered me an image of the outside of a cinema showing The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.I was unfamiliar with The Quiet Man, so I did a quick search to learn that the film had its first screening in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1955. Spot on, ChatGPT.I continued my conversation, wanting to know what fast food in the 50s looked like. I knew McDonald's was invented prior to 1950, but I had no idea what its restaurants looked like."What did a fast food burger restaurant look like?" I asked, to which ChatGPT gave me a shockingly accurate image of a 1950s McDonald's, including the half golden arch that was used back then.

(Image credit: ChatGPT)

Impressed by the accuracy, I followed up with, "What about a shopping mall?", ChatGPT imagined an indoor shopping area with a store called Penneys.I had never heard of Penneys, but again, after some quick research, it turns out it's an Irish store in Dublin that is called Primark in the UK, and JCPenney in the United States.Thinking back to the cinema, I realized, for whatever reason, ChatGPT was pulling information from Ireland and Northern Ireland. I decided to call it out.

(Image credit: ChatGPT)

"Why do you keep imagining life in Ireland?" I asked, to which AI replied, "Great catch — it does seem like some of those imagined details (like 'Penneys' instead of 'JCPenney') lean more Irish than American, which is a fun little mix-up on my part."I decided my prompts were too vague, and I should give ChatGPT a little more help when it comes to imagining the 1955 I was dreaming about.

New York, New York

(Image credit: ChatGPT)

I love New York City, specifically any kind of movie set in the Big Apple. I decided to tell ChatGPT that I wanted to see "what it was like to live in 1955 in New York City." AI obliged.The bustling New York streets looked pretty retro, although I'm not quite sure how I feel about the eerie faces on the New Yorkers caught in frame.I followed up by asking for a glimpse at Katz's Diner, the iconic NYC diner famous for its incredible pastrami sandwiches and that famous scene where Meg Ryan, you know... Makes a lot of noise.

Image 1 of 2(Image credit: ChatGPT)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: ChatGPT)

I had been to Katz's last year, and the image ChatGPT generated was pretty much how I expected it would've looked in the 50s. Funnily enough, even today it feels like you're stepping a foot into the past, so I wouldn't call AI's ability to recreate the decor impressive.After my pastrami, I walked up Fifth Avenue, past the Plaza Hotel, and finished my 1950s trip to New York City in Central Park. All of the images generated by ChatGPT, while clearly produced by AI, were realistic enough to fulfill the purpose of giving me a snapshot into 1950s American life.This AI trend is one that I definitely see the appeal of, although I think I prefer to relive the past through cinema, instead of static, procedurally generated imagery.

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Roku has announced the new Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick PlusThey replace the Express and Express 4K+You get a voice remote in the box, plus a compact design, but the Streaming Stick 4K is also sticking around

Roku has introduced two new streaming sticks that slim down the overall build even further, and aim to stretch the value by including one of the brand’s most popular accessories.The Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus are the smallest sticks from Roku yet, and represent the new entry points to the brand’s lineup, replacing the Express and Express 4K+.Both aim to offer most of the features you’d want to see in any streaming device – stick or box – and are priced competitively at $29.99 / £29.99 for the Stick and $39.99 / £ 39.99 for the Plus(we're waiting on Australian pricing to be confirmed). Preorders are open now, and the official shipment start date is May 6.These are the smallest and most compact devices from the brand so far – they're super-slim sticks that are only slightly thicker than an HDMI port.That slim design should make it easy to plug the Stick into the HDMI slot on the back of your TV, and Roku says the design won’t block your other ports. That’s a pretty nice upgrade, and the brand says these sticks are over 35% smaller than other brands, though it stops short of naming the others.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/Future)

The overall design of the Stick and Stick Plus is pretty simple: there's a physical power button and a USB-C port, although Roku doesn’t want you to plug either stick into a wall socket; rather, it says you can just plug the USB cable right into the back of your TV, as these don’t need a huge amount of power to run.The other appeal is portability, something Roku thinks is becoming a bigger trend. If you’re heading on vacation to a hotel or an Airbnb, given how small the Stick or Stick Plus are you could grab the stick and cable to bring it with you to access your favorite streaming services away from home. That’s pretty nice.As the names suggests, the Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Stick Plus give you full access to the Roku platform, so you’ll get easy access to all of the best streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Max. That classic experience with the promise of future updates is all still here.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/Future)

The biggest change is that Roku is including a voice remote in the box with the Stick or Stick Plus. This way, you can simply use your voice to ask for your favorite shows and pull up other content. This also levels the playing field with the Amazon Fire Stick lineup, as the entry-level Fire Stick HD (priced at $34.99 / £39.99 / AU$69) does ship with an Alexa voice remote as well.Roku’s Streaming Stick supports up to an HD experience (up to 1080p resolution), while the Streaming Stick Plus delivers up to a 4K experience with support for HLG, HDR 10, and HDR 10+, depending on the TV you plug the stick into. If you’re looking for support for Dolby Vision you’ll need to opt for the Streaming Stick 4K, a pre-existing model that retails for $49.99 / £49.99.If you’re already sold – maybe you’ve been after a more affordable streaming stick from Roku and don’t need support for Dolby Vision – the Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus are up for preorder now directly from Roku priced at $29.99 / £29.99 and $39.99 / £39.99.We’ll be going hands-on and testing both of Roku’s new sticks as soon as we can.

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Researchers found a huge ad fraud scheme called ScallywayThe scheme monetizes pirated sites through a series of redirectsAt its peak, there were 1.4 billion daily requests

Cybersecurity researchers from HUMAN have spotted a major ad fraud operation that leverages people’s interest in pirated content to generate ad revenue from otherwise non monetizable content.In an in-depth report, HUMAN explained pirated websites don’t host ads because they would “run afoul of most advertisers’ policies”. Instead, they are partnering with hundreds of website owners (scammers, basically) who deploy a set of four WordPress plugins on their assets.These plugins are collectively named Scallywag, and they are designed to do a couple of things, but mostly to load as many ads as possible, and make sure people stick around until they fully render. There are a couple of tactics to slow visitors down, from the “please wait” button that turns to “download now”, to fake CAPTCHAs and other methods. The plugins are called Soralink (released in 2016), Yu Idea (2017), WPSafeLink (2020), and Droplink (2022).

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Choking the operation

After rendering the ad, visitors are again redirected and allowed to download the pirated content they were looking for.By the time HUMAN discovered the operation, it counted 407 domains and 1.4 billion fraudulent ad requests - per day. It seems the strength is in numbers, since the fraudsters even made YouTube video tutorials, coaching other people on how to join:"These extensions lower the barrier to entry for a would-be threat actor who wants to monetize content that wouldn't generally be monetizable with advertising; indeed, several threat actors have published videos to coach others on setting up their own schemes," HUMAN said.The researchers moved in to report and block Scallywag traffic, and claim to have largely succeeded. The traffic allegedly shrunk by 95%, although the operation is not entirely dead since threat actors rotated domains and moved to other monetization models.Via BleepingComputer

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Andor season 2 is laying the foundations for an incredibly harrowing moment in Star Wars historyThe event was set in motion by the meeting held by Orson Krennic in episode 1It's related to the planet Ghorman, which will make its live-action debut later this season

Andor season 2 has finally made its Disney+ debut – and, amid the numerous online discussions that its first three episodes have spawned, there's one above all others that's really got Star Wars fans talking.Indeed, following the release of this season's first three episodes, it's all but confirmed that Andor's final installment will cover one of the most tragic moments in the near 50-year history of Lucasfilm's iconic sci-fi franchise.Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 3. Turn back now if you haven't watched them all yet.

Andor has arrived.See episodes 1-3 of the final season of Andor now streaming, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/Ut8QfdW1qTApril 23, 2025

So, what emotionally devastating event is season 2 building towards? The Ghorman Massacre, which is not only a hugely pivotal moment for many characters involved in the Rebel Alliance, but one whose canonicity has sparked a fierce debate among Star Wars fans for many years.But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. First, let's explore how the final season of one of the best Disney+ shows is laying the foundations to depict this grave moment in such soul-destroying fashion.In season 2's opening episode, Ben Mendelsohn's Orson Krennic, aka the Galactic Empire commander who's overseeing the creation of the Death Star, invites a number of high-ranking Imperial officers to a secret meeting at The Maltheen Divide.There, Krennic informs the assembled guests that nobody outside of this room – Emperor Palpatine and a couple of high-ranking officers notwithstanding – is to know about what's discussed at the gathering. Indeed, no notes are to be taken, officers' personal droids will have their hard-drives wiped once the meeting ends, said meeting shouldn't have been put in their calendars, etc.With that housekeeping out of the way, Krennic plays an infomercial-style video to his fellow Galactic Empire employees about the planet Ghorman. This world is famous for the spiders that weave the best silk in the galaxy, which is used to make the finest twill for the priciest clothes, which are sold across the cosmos.

Cassian will make his way to Ghorman at some point in the show's final season (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

It's a strange mini-documentary to show to the assembled guests, including Imperial Security Bureau commander Major Lio Partagaz and Dedra Meero. But, hey, Krennic is nothing if not eccentric (he's also terrifying, but we knew that already).Anyway, there's a reason why Krennic played this video, and it's got nothing to do with the spiders that inhabit Ghorman. The planet is also home to a particularly important material – Deep Substrate Foliated Kalkite (DSFK) – which is apparently important to the Emperor's Energy Initiative.The public line is that DSFK will allow the Galactic Empire to create "stable, unlimited power" (Krennic's words, not mine) that can be used throughout the galaxy, but that's merely a front for the tyrannical regime's true intentions. Indeed, DFSK is actually going to be used to coat the Death Star's reactor lenses. This will allow the Death Star's crew to concentrate its planet-destroying beam to apply enough force to, well, destroy any planets and their inhabitants who oppose the Empire.

Learn the behind-the-scenes secrets of building Yavin 4, Chandrila, Mina-Rau, and more locations from Andor Season 2: https://t.co/XuaShFS8Z5 pic.twitter.com/IR2n2ct0O2April 23, 2025

The Empire's problem is two-fold. For starters, excavating DSFK is an incredibly invasive procedure, so much so that it would destabilize the planet's core and effectively destroy it. If the Empire fails to find a suitable alternative to DSFK – it has three years to locate a substitute, according to Krennic – it'll have no choice but to begin "gouge mining" Ghorman for DSFK.The other issue is the Empire has little to no presence on Ghorman, so its sudden appearance would raise eyebrows and potentially lead to a rebellion from its 800,000-plus inhabitants. But the Empire has a plan. By building an armory in Palmo, Ghorman's capital, the autocratic regime plans to distract Ghorman's citizens by using it as a front to secretly ferry in the machines necessary to start digging for DSFK under their noses.Alright, so what does this have to do with The Ghorman Massacre? Without spoiling too much, Ghorman's populace isn't naïve enough to simply take the Empire's 'we're building an armory, honest!' line at face value. With rebellions springing up across the galaxy as the embryonic Rebel Alliance starts to fight back against the dictatorial Empire, it's only a matter of time before Ghorman's own underground resistance is established.

The Ghorman Massacre will be shown in all of its soul-destroying glory this season (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

What'll be most interesting to Star Wars fans is which version of events, neither of which has been covered in a big- or small-screen Star Wars project before, is depicted in season 2.That's because there are two incidents that bear 'The Ghorman Massacre' name in Star Wars literature. The most well-known one takes place two years before the Battle of Yavin (2 BBY), aka the battle depicted in Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. The other, outlined in the now non-canonical Star Wars: Legends timeline, occurs in 3 BBY.For those unfamiliar with The Ghorman Massacre, I won't spoil what happens during either event. But, with season 2 episodes 4 to 6 set to play out in 3 BBY, and episodes 7 to 9 in 2 BBY, fans won't have long to wait to find out which version is made canon in one of 2025's new Star Wars TV shows.For more coverage of Andor's return on one of the world's best streaming services, read my spoiler-free review of Andor season 2. Alternatively, read articles from my exclusive chats with the Andor season 2 cast in the section below.

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Black Mirror season 7 is sitting right at the top of Netflix's streaming TV chart. With 10.6 million views in the past week, it's even more popular than Ransom Canyon, which is clocking in at 7.2 million views so far.It's clear that when it comes to viewing numbers, Black Mirror is pretty much review-proof: it's racking up big numbers, despite some critics suggesting that one of the best Netflix series feels like it's running out of ideas. Those critics include us: in our Black Mirror season 7 review we said that perhaps Charlie Brooker and co should quit while they're still ahead.That said, the series does still deliver some great episodes: we really liked Common People and Hotel Reverie in our Black Mirror season 7 episode ranking. Both episodes stick to Black Mirror's most resonant theme: that technology can really mess with your head.Sometimes, of course, you actually want technology to mess with your head. It's why some of the most enjoyable shows are also some of the weirdest – and why I'm recommending these highly rated sci-fi and supernatural shows for you to stream.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things isn't so much a show as a phenomenon, and the world owes it a big thanks for introducing a new generation to Kate Bush's sublime Running Up That Hill. Oh, and for making some utterly compelling television too.Stranger Things is set in a sleepy midwestern town in the 1980s where weird things are going on. It's smart, it's scary and it often feels like a love letter to a much-maligned decade. As someone who was a teen back then, I'm well aware that growing up then was as much about expecting World War III as it was big pop songs and highly flammable clothes. And ST absolutely nails that.It's "a fascinating stew that juggles numerous genres and influences," Keith & The Movies says. "Yet it all comes together to form an enthralling eight-episode television season that plays like one well-paced and impressively conceived movie.""It's scary when it means to be scary," Rogues Portal says. "It's endearing when it's meant to be endearing. And overall, it's a delight to watch." And the LA Times raved: "Stranger Things honors its source material in the best way possible: By telling a sweet 'n' scary story in which monsters are real but so are the transformative powers of love and fealty."The first season achieved 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and while later seasons haven't quite reached that high point they're still great, gripping TV.

Dark

"Having Stranger Things withdrawals?" asks CNET. "Tune in to the eerie supernatural German Netflix show that will make you think twice about stepping into caves."Stranger Things comparisons are common for this, well, Dark drama. Here's the Sydney Morning Herald: "If Stranger Things is a big bowl of macaroni and cheese made with that lurid orange cheddar you can only get in America, Dark is a gamy Old World stew ladled out from a pot that has been bubbling away for centuries."Dark has consistently scored highly on the Tomatometer, with the second season hitting the full 100% and season 3 getting a still exceptional 97%. It's an extremely twisty drama that centers on the disappearance of two children in a small German town – a disappearance that unearths the town's sinful past and something supernatural.Dark is the first German original series made for Netflix and has been described as being rather like Lost, without just being another Lost. "Dark’s creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese’s have crafted a remarkable, labyrinthian series of interconnected characters, events, and consequences," says Loud and Clear Reviews, while CNET said "For my money, it's the best show on Netflix."

Russian Doll

Natasha Lyonne is Nadia, a young woman who finds herself out of time: en route to a fancy New York party, she gets trapped in a mysterious time loop that has her attending the same event again and again and again.Season 1 and 2 both racked up a 97% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and clearly delighted many reviewers: "The show is perfect," said LatinaMedia.co, while Consequence said that "It offers philosophy, humor, a strong cast, and sci-fi-esque twists and turns that feel intentional rather than hokey."Lyonne is remarkable, ScreenCrush says: "Natasha Lyonne gives a terrifically layered performance that ranges from hilariously funny in the early episodes to brutally emotional." And Collider loved it. "A brilliant tale of morality and mortality that finds an expert balance between sincerity, cutting comedy, and wild genre flourish."

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Intel is reportedly preparing to further reduce its headcount, this time by laying off more than 20 percent of its employees. It could announce a plan to do so as soon as this week. The struggling company had 108,900 employees at the end of last year, so it may be set to cut tens of thousands of jobs. According to a Bloomberg source, the aim of the downsizing is to streamline management operations and refocus Intel with an engineering-driven culture.

Last August, Intel said it would cut more than 15,000 jobs to reduce costs. In fact, the company, which has been slow to embrace the industry's shift toward artificial intelligence, has been significantly reducing its headcount since 2022 amid declining sales.

These latest purported layoffs would mark one of the first major restructuring measures since Lip-Bu Tan became CEO in March after the sudden departure of Pat Gelsinger. The company is set to report its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. Companies that are restructuring often announce layoffs around the time they release earnings reports.

Tan has also pledged to sell off assets that aren't core to Intel's goals as he tries to turn the business around. Last week, it emerged that Intel is selling off a majority stake in chipmaker Altera for $4.46 billion. That deal is expected to close later this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/intel-may-be-preparing-to-lay-off-20-percent-of-its-staff-161557058.html?src=rss

Roku's Pro and Plus Series TV models are getting some upgradesCustom factory calibration is arriving on the Roku Pro SeriesThe Plus Series is getting mini-LED backlighting and a host of software improvements

Today, streaming stick and smart TV maker Roku announced a range of enhancements for its current Roku Pro and Roku Plus Series models, as well as a new 85-inch screen size option for its entry-level Select Series TVs.The Roku Pro series, the budget choice in our best TVs guide, will now get custom factory calibration, a process designed to ensure that “every TV delivers a stunning picture right out of the box.”The most significant announced changes are for the mid-range Roku Plus Series TVs, which now feature mini-LED backlighting. Combined with the TV’s QLED display panel, this should bring the brightness and color benefits of the Pro Series to a much cheaper price point. Plus Series TVs will also get Roku Smart Picture Max, a feature that performs picture adjustments on a scene-by-scene basis, so you don’t have to fuss with picture settings.Roku's Plus Series TVs will additionally get a remote finder button, first introduced in the Pro Series. This feature lets you easily locate a remote control buried between couch cushions or left in a different room.Additionally, the Pro Series’ integrated cable management, a design highlight we appreciated in our Roku Pro Series TV review, is also migrating to the Plus Series.Finally, the full Roku TV lineup will now feature a Bluetooth Headphone Mode, allowing for an easy wireless connection from the TV for private viewing.

A new best budget TV?

Roku's new Pro Series TVs will now be getting a custom factory calibration prior to shipment (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Roku’s Pro Series has been among our regular go-to recommendations for viewers looking to upgrade their TV to one with a mini-LED backlight without having to take on excess credit card debt.At under $1,000 for a 65-inch screen size, the Pro Series is an exceptional value, offering additional benefits such as 4K 120Hz support for gaming, a sleek design, and, of course, Roku’s excellent smart TV interface.With mini-LED backlighting now on the Plus Series, along with Smart Picture Max, remote finder, and integrated cable management, we may now have a new best budget TV option.Roku’s announcement indicated that the upgraded Plus Series TVs would be available at the “same affordable price.” With the current 65-inch Plus Series model priced at $649 (and now selling for $499), the new Plus series should be a compelling value, competing head-to-head with other high-value mini-LED TVs such as the Hisense U6N.We look forward to getting our hands on the new Roku TVs to conduct a full review. In the meantime, check out our coverage of the new Roku streaming sticks introduced at today’s event.

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For those of us who've been on the internet for decades, today is a big milestone: the 20th anniversary of the first video uploaded to YouTube. That happened way back on April 23, 2005, only about a year and a half before Google made the shrewd move of purchasing the site. That first video is the all-time classic 19-second clip "Me at the zoo," the kind of video that came to define early YouTube. It's grainy, short and has no production values to speak of. Fast forward a few decades and Youtube has no peer in terms of its sheer volume of audiovisual content —the company says that a mind-boggling 20 trillion videos have been uploaded in the last 20 years, and 20 million are updated daily.

With all that in mind, Engadget's staff put their heads together to pick out the videos that have meant the most to them over the years. Not surprisingly, there's some weird stuff here, a lot of it from the early days of the platform. Apparently the stuff that really resonates with us isn't polish or production, but the raw, oddball stuff that couldn't have existed anywhere else.

Ambient Renders

I test a whole bunch of portable batteries for Engadget. A power bank can refill a dead smartphone in one to two hours, but thanks to annoying technology “advancements” it takes around 20 hours to drain a phone again. I’m constantly playing YouTube videos on my tester handsets with the screen brightness cranked all the way up to make them die faster (these poor phones). My favorite videos to use are from Ambient Renders. Each one is eight or so hours of painstakingly rendered, mostly nighttime views from the windows of fancy lofts in modern-day big cities, cozy bedrooms of the distant past and sci-fi futurescapes. The soundtracks are soft rain, lonesome wind, crackling fires, distant thunder and the rumble of passing transport pods.

I often return to a Warm Cozy Cabin With a Relaxing Fire and Gentle Wind — a candle-lit bedroom with huge windows overlooking snow-covered pines, with a couple of mugs steaming in the corner. The subtle movements and details really come to life when you play them on a TV. There are a ton of these types of videos on YouTube and, lately, the creator has taken to adding “not made with AI” disclaimers to the video descriptions. It’s plain to see these are made with love and skill. The intricacy is stunning and even the sci-fi views are anchored in realism. — Amy Skorheim, senior reporter

Canadian, Please | gunnarolla & Julia Bentley

I was trying to remember the first YouTube video I was obsessed with and honestly couldn't tell you. Between communitychannel, Jake and Amir, Michelle Phan, Wong Fu Productions and many more, I have too many likes and faves to count. But I can tell you that I've been jamming to Gunnorolla's "Canadian, Please" since before it became cool to want to be Canadian. This certified bop was something I replayed over and over; I've memorized the lyrics and the song haunts me in my dreams, too. My more modern favorites change every month, but I currently adore CinemaSins, Scary Interesting, Wilko Rehashed, Psychology in Seattle and The School of Life. Oh and also, don't go looking for my channel from when I was a regular vlogger in the 2000s. Don't. — Cherlynn Low, managing editor

Carl Lewis National Anthem Fail

YouTube isn’t just for watching new videos of celebrities embarrassing themselves. You can also revisit humiliations from way before the video site’s inception!

Take this spectacular(ly bad) national anthem performance by Olympic sprinter Carl Lewis. Ahead of a 1993 regular-season NBA matchup between the Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets, the gold medalist stepped on the court to demonstrate the vocal talent we were deprived of as he wasted his prime years racing.

This video only includes snippets of Lewis’ belting (as in whipping listeners with a belt) rendition. But you still get his overly embellished opening note, self-aware “Uh oh!” after making a sound you’d expect from an animal being stepped on and an (ultimately unfulfilled) promise to make up for it.

As a bonus, this version includes SportsCenter anchor Charlie Steiner’s inability to keep his composure after the clip rolls. That’s followed by his Dad Joke-worthy commentary that Francis Scott Off-Key wrote Lewis’ rendition. — Will Shanklin, contributing reporter

Dog of Wisdom

It's almost 10 years later and I still reference this video every couple weeks. I can't offer higher praise than that. — Anna Washenko, contributing reporter

Food Wishes

One of the great things about YouTube, to this day, is the massive number of tutorial videos. I’ve used it to learn how to tie a tie, record music, put together furniture and where to dispose of that furniture when it’s given up the ghost. It also taught me how to cook. This is primarily thanks to one man. He goes by Chef John, but his channel is called Food Wishes.

I’m fairly sure he’s the very first cook to capitalize on the platform, as he’s been making recipe videos pretty much since the beginning. This spaghetti with clam sauce tutorial is over 18 years old. I chose this particular video because I remember a trio of occasions in my life where I whipped out this recipe to amaze friends, family and (gasp) would-be romantic partners. His simple, charming and no-nonsense approach to cooking has always clicked with me, and I’m not alone. He has over four million followers on the platform and still cranks out videos to this day. His channel is a great reminder of how useful YouTube can actually be. — Lawrence Bonk, contributing reporter

John Frusciante - 09 - New Dawn Fades

My favorite YouTube video, the one I return to year after year, is a bootleg of the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s John Frusciante playing Joy Division’s “New Dawn Fades” at a solo show in Amsterdam at the start of the century. Say what you will about his main band, but John Frusciante is easily one of the greatest living guitarists, and this video — shot in 2001 and uploaded to YouTube less than a year after the platform went online in 2005 — is the perfect showcase of his many talents as a musician.

The footage is grainy, like so many videos from the era, but what counts is you can hear nearly every nuance of his performance. With his beloved Martin 00-15 acoustic guitar, Frusciante plays two melodies at the same time in his trademark syncopated style, all the while singing Ian Curtis’ lyrics with so much emotion.

As a teenager, Frusciante’s performance inspired me to no end. I spent countless summer hours trying to learn and emulate his playing style. In 2006, I even bought an issue of Guitar World magazine because it came with a DVD that included an interview with Frusciante and a lesson from the man himself on how to play "Under the Bridge". I probably should have known someone would upload that video to YouTube. It would have saved me a few bucks.

Looking back at my favorite video all these years later, it captures what’s best about YouTube. You can find nearly every performance in music recording history. Frusciante’s performance of "New Dawn Fades" could have easily disappeared with the passage of time. Instead, it will now exist as long as YouTube does, waiting to inspire someone else. — Igor Bonifacic, senior reporter

Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away (lyrics)

YouTube is home to an endless stream of poignant art, thought-provoking video essays and open windows to other people’s lives. More than that, though, it’s home to a lot of really dumb shit. Most of that shit is bad, as forgettable as it is lazy. But when someone puts in the work to make their dumb idea as dumb as possible, when they are enlightened by just how dumb their idea could be... that’s when the magic happens.

This Lenny Kravitz “remix” by all-around web artist Neil Cicierega — which turns the funk rock hit into an ode to dragonflies and having sex with candy bars, all while aping a “my first Windows XP slideshow” aesthetic — is a prime example of the “good dumb” I’m talking about. It is completely of the internet, something that could only result from one weirdo out there with a silly idea and some video editing software. It is so stupid, but also inspired, so it always works for me. — Jeff Dunn, senior reporter

Rancid Stool - Low Music video

Damn, who is that handsome young man having the worst day of his life in glorious 280p? Oh wait, that would be me.

Way back in the day, my buds and I made a music video for a Foo Fighters song for a contest. Needless to say, we didn't win, but we had an absolute blast all the same. Making something silly with your friends is really fun. Who could have imagined?

Some [mumbles] years later, the video is still one of my favorite things I've ever done. Yes, the editing stinks (my bad), it doesn't make a whole lot of sense narratively and the name of our would-be production company is very regrettable.

Still, I'm really proud of what we put together. Every time I watch it, I get the urge to start making fun videos again. Maybe I’ll actually do that someday.

P.S. Screw you and your magnificent mustache forever, Chad Sexington. —Kris Holt, contributing reporter

Shining Movie Trailer Parody

In the age of AI, fake movie trailers have become something of a spam epidemic on YouTube. But as someone who distinctly remembers swapping video files to friends and coworkers via email with Quicktime or AVI files attached — yes, it was exactly the bandwidth and security nightmare it sounds like — I still rank this hand-edited Shining remix near the top of my YouTube Mount Rushmore. The romcom take on Kubrick's horror classic dates back to at least 2005, but it seems to get rediscovered by new fans every few years, and rightly so — it's a gem. — John Falcone, executive editor

Star Trek: Tik Tok

Lots of people have made music videos out of unexpected crossovers like this, but Star Trek: Tik Tok still stands out to me as the best. Every clip from the original 1960s series is paired to perfection with the lyrics, and Captain Kirk is a weirdly fitting analogue for Kesha's late 2000s party girl.

When I watch it now, I think this video captures the scrappy ethos of what it meant to go viral during the early days of YouTube. It was about creativity, not content creators. People were making weird and funny shit just for the heck of it. Every now and then you'd stumble on a video that resonated and it lived in your head rent-free for years. And what can I say, I still think this track is a banger. — A.W.

We Like The Moon

The first YouTube video I saw that left me totally agog at what the human mind is capable of was "We Like the Moon." I didn’t have a TV at the time so had no idea Quiznos had used the concept in their commercials. When I saw it on my friend's computer in 2006 or so, I was coming at it fresh. I remember a giddiness rising in my soul and a goofy smile plastering my face. It felt like we were living in a world of limitless creativity and possibility where fun was a guiding principle and “good” didn’t mean access to funding, expensive equipment, technical prowess, or even a decent voice. My partner and I sang it, and still sing it, whenever the moon, marmots, chopsticks or zeppelins are mentioned. Now, I realize strangely proportioned, animal-like monstrosities raving off-key about nonsense is old hat at this point. But I will never forget when this was first played for me. — A.S.

Where the Hell is Matt? 2008

This is the third of Matt Harding's videos of himself dancing badly in various scenic locations around the world, and the first in which he encouraged bystanders to dance with him — equally badly, with some exceptions. I have no defenses against large groups of people doing the same thing simultaneously in multiple locations.

Oddly specific, I know, but in a society obsessed with dividing and categorizing, it reminds me of our common humanity. This video never fails to bring a tear to my eye, from the subtle political statements (Tel Aviv and East Jerusalem were not placed right next to each other by accident) to the sheer obvious joy of everybody involved. I even like the music. — Sam Rutherford, senior reporterThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/engadgets-favorite-videos-from-20-years-of-youtube-162004518.html?src=rss