The Samsung S90F matches premium OLED TVs in picture quality, for much less money.

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OLED TVs are not for everyone. They are dimmer than LEDs, can suffer from burn-in, and they are much more expensive. The upside comes in the contrast and colors, which are exponentially better, resulting in just about the best picture quality you can get with the current generation of TVs.

If you're looking for an OLED that offers the best value for your money in 2026, consider the 55-inch Samsung S90F OLED. It's always been a great value option, but right now it's going for $1,044.99 ($553 off the list price of $1,597.99). This is the lowest price this TV has ever reached, according to price-tracking tools. Other sizes are also discounted.

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65" Samsung OLED S90F 4K Smart TV (2025 Model)

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77" Samsung OLED S90F 4K Smart TV (2025 Model)

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The S90F is the lowest-priced OLED TV from Samsung's 2025 lineup, and a step below the more premium S95F. For around half the price, the S90F cuts out some features that might not be essential for you anyway: It has lower brightness (though it's still pretty good—see below), no anti-reflective coating, and no connection box (that is, an external input/output hub with HDMI, power, and USB for reducing cable clutter). If you don't plan on putting this TV in a well-lit space or do most of your watching in the evening, and you don't care for the connection box, this model offers an incredible value for the money. For $1,044.99, you'll be getting an OLED with premium specs for a budget price.

This TV has been one of the best-value OLEDs you can buy since its 2025 release. It offers a dynamic picture and excellent gaming brightness that you won't find in other TVs at this price point. According to CNET's review, the brightness in game mode is especially great when compared to its main competitor, the LG OLED C5, which is currently $1,198.99.

If you want to watch a premium-quality picture on TV while getting the most for your money in 2026, the S90F is your best option, especially for gamers who need a brightness boost for sessions during the day.

When we started Discourse in 2013, our server requirements were high:

• 1GB RAM
• modern, fast dual core CPU
• speedy solid state drive with 20+ GB

I’m not talking about a cheapo shared cpanel server, either, I mean a dedicated virtual private server with those specifications.

We

When we started Discourse in 2013, our server requirements were high:

• 1GB RAM
• modern, fast dual core CPU
• speedy solid state drive with 20+ GB

I’m not talking about a cheapo shared cpanel server, either, I mean a dedicated virtual private server with those specifications.

We were OK with that, because we were building in Ruby for the next decade of the Internet. I predicted early on that the cost of renting a suitable VPS would drop to $5 per month, and courtesy of Digital Ocean that indeed happened in January 2018.

The cloud got cheaper, and faster. Not really a surprise, since the price of hardware trends to zero over time. But it’s still the cloud, and that means it isn’t exactly cheap. It is, after all, someone else’s computer that you pay for the privilege of renting.

But wait… what if you could put your own computer “in the cloud”?

Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds? Reliable connectivity, plus a nice low monthly price for extremely fast hardware? If this sounds crazy, it shouldn’t – Mac users have been doing this for years now.

I suppose it’s understandable that Mac users would be on the cutting edge here since Apple barely makes server hardware, whereas the PC world has always been the literal de-facto standard for server hardware.

Given the prevalence and maturity of cloud providers, it’s even a little controversial these days to colocate actual servers. We’ve also experimented with colocating mini-pcs in various hosting roles. I’m still curious why there isn’t more of a cottage industry for colocating mini PCs. Because… I think there should be.

I originally wrote about the scooter computers we added to our Discourse infrastructure in 2016, plus my own colocation experiment that ran concurrently. Over the last three years of both experiments, I’ve concluded that these little boxes are plenty reliable, with one role specific caveat that I’ll explain in the comments. I remain an unabashed fan of mini-PC colocation. I like it so much I put together a new 2019 iteration:

This year’s scooter computer offers 3× the cores, 2× the memory, and 3× faster drive. It is, as the kids say… an absolute unit. 😱

It also has a rather elegant dual-sided internal layout. There is a slot for an old-school 2.5″ drive, plus built in wi-fi, but you won’t see it in my pictures because I physically removed both.

I vetted each box via my recommended burn in and stability testing and they all passed with flying colors, though I did have to RMA one set of dodgy RAM sticks in the process. The benchmarks tell the story, as compared to the average Digital Ocean droplet:

Per-core performance
sysbench cpu --cpu-max-prime=20000 run

Multi-core performance
sysbench cpu --cpu-max-prime=40000 --num-threads=8 run

Disk performance
dd bs=1M count=512 if=/dev/zero of=test conv=fdatasync
hdparm -Tt /dev/sda

Discourse rebuild
time ./launcher rebuild app

Power consumption could be a concern, as the 2017 version had a much lower 15 watt TDP, compared to the 45 watts of this version. That 3× increase in core count ain’t free! So I tested that, too, with a combination of i7z, stress, and my handy dandy watt meter.

I’d expect around 10 - 20 watts doing typical low-load stuff that isn’t super CPU intensive. Note that running current-ish versions of mprime jacks power consumption up to 75w 🔥 and the overall clock scales down to 3.1 Ghz… let me tell you, I’ve learned to be very, very afraid of AVX2 extensions.

(If you’re worried about noise, don’t be. This active cooling solution is clearly overkill for a 65w load, because it barely spun up at all even under full core load. It was extremely quiet.)

So we’re happy that this machine is a slammin’ deal for $820, it’s super fast, and plenty reliable. But how about colocation costs? My colocation provider is EndOffice out of Boston, and they offer very competitive rates to colocate a Mini-PC: $29/month.

I personally colocate three Mini-PCs for redundancy and just-in-case; there are discounts for colocating more than one. Here they are racked up and in action. Of course I labelled the front and rear before shipping because that’s how I roll.

Let’s break this down and see what the actual costs of colocating a Mini-PC are versus the cloud. Given the plateauing of CPU speeds, I think five years of useful life for these boxes is realistic, but let’s assume a conservative three year lifespan to be safe.

• $880 mini-pc 32GB RAM, 6 CPUs, 500GB SSD
• $120 taxes / shipping / misc
• $29 × 12 × 3 = $1,044

That’s $2,044 for three years of hosting. How can we do on Digital Ocean? Per their current pricing page:

• 32GB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 640GB SSD
• $160/month
• $160 × 12 × 3 = $5,760

This isn’t quite apples to apples, as we are getting an extra 140GB of disk and 2 bonus CPUs, but those CPUs are both slower and partially consumed by multi-tenancy compared to our brand new dedicated, isolated CPUs. (I was curious about this, so I just spun up a new $160/month DO instance for a quick test. The sysbench results are 4086 and 11760 respectively, considerably below the 2019 Mini-PC results, above.) As you can see, you pay almost three times as much for a cloud server. 🤑

I’m not saying this is for everyone. If you just need to spin up a quick server or two for testing and experimentation, there’s absolutely no way you need to go to the trouble and up-front cost of building and then racking colocated mini-pcs. There’s no denying that spinning servers up in the cloud offers unparalleled flexibility and redundancy. But if you do have need for dedicated computing resources over a period of years, then building your own small personal cloud, with machines you actually own, is not only one third the cost but also… kinda cool?

If you’d also like to embark upon this project, you can get the same Partaker B18 box I did for $490 from Amazon, or $460 direct from China via AliExpress. Add memory and drive to taste, build it up, then check out endoffice.com who I can enthusiastically recommend for colocation, or the colocation provider of your choice.

Get something cool hosted out there; let’s do our part to keep the internet fun and weird!

There's no single "best" diet, but here are some simple steps that will get you eating healthier than you are now.

Eating healthy is good for you, no matter who you are or what your goals. You don't have to be trying to lose weight to eat healthier, for one thing. But it can be tricky to know where to start, so here are your basic guidelines for healthy eating. Fruits, veggies, and protein are some of the easiest places to start, and they'll have the biggest impacts.

There’s no perfect diet

Before we start, an important ground rule: There isn’t one true perfect way to eat. No matter what your keto friend says, or your mom who has this diet plan you just have to try, or even those ranked lists of the "best" diets. When weight-loss diets have been tested against each other, they all work about the same. And if you’re just eating healthy for, you know, your health (what an idea!) there are still plenty of ways to do it. So let’s talk about the things that nearly all healthy eating approaches have in common.

Even though I'll list several good starting points below, you don't have to do all of them—pick one for now. Just as with exercise, it takes time to get used to a habit. Eating healthier may involve many different habits, like learning new recipes or buying different groceries than what you’re used to, so give yourself some time to learn and get used to it.

Eat more fruits and vegetables

If you only change one thing, make it this. Most of us don’t eat enough vegetables, or we eat the same few over and over. Eat more vegetables, and more types of vegetables. Same with fruits, especially fresh fruits. (Apple pie is technically a fruit, but that’s not quite what I mean.) Fruits and vegetables contain fiber, which most of us don't get enough of, including soluble, insoluble, and prebiotic types. They also contain vitamins and minerals that most of us could use more of, like vitamin A and potassium. And they contain plenty of phytonutrients, which are natural chemical compounds that don't qualify as vitamins but that are still likely good for us. For example, beta-carotene is a form of vitamin A, but there are at least 40 other carotenes that we can get in our diets. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and you'll cover a lot of bases.

How to do it: Try to add a fruit or vegetable to at least one meal a day. (When you've got the hang of that, build on that and add another.) Feel free to make this convenient: frozen veggies are just as nutritious as fresh (sometimes more so). You can throw frozen cooked spinach into just about any sauce or soup, or roast a bunch of veggies—fresh, frozen, whatever—on a sheet pan for an easy side dish or meal. Everything tastes good seasoned and roasted.

Get enough protein

It’s not hard to get enough protein on a normal diet, but as you’re overhauling what you eat, make sure that you’re making room for it. Lean proteins like fish, chicken and tofu are an excellent base for your diet. Whether to include fattier ones like red meat depends on your goals for your diet (including whether your doctor has advised you to limit these foods for health reasons).

If you’re trying to lose weight, you need more protein than the average person. The less food you eat, the more of it needs to be protein. Remember, protein is a nutrient found in many foods; it’s not just the meats and tofu themselves. Get used to reading labels (or looking up the protein content of your foods) to make sure you get plenty. If you work out a lot, you’ll also need more protein than the average person.

And don't worry about the fearmongering messages you may have heard about how we already get "too much" protein. This is a myth, borne out of some misunderstandings about how the RDA for protein is calculated. When you check the numbers, it turns out that the average person eats just barely enough protein, and many of us are in groups that should get more than the minimum. If you're an older adult, for example, you probably need significantly more than you're already getting.

Have less sugar and processed food

It’s not realistic to cut sugar and processed foods completely out of your diet. Processing is relative, anyway; cooking is a form of processing. But if you find yourself eating a lot of these foods, it can be helpful to ask yourself: What could I be eating instead?

In place of a boxed breakfast cereal, for example, you could make your own oatmeal or overnight oats. If you drink a lot of soda, maybe you’d be fine with swapping out some of those drinks for water or seltzer. And if you snack a lot on candy or chips, maybe you could make your meals a bit larger (more protein? More veggies?) so you’re less likely to get a snacky craving later in the day.

Make it easy to eat healthy

Intending to eat healthy is the easy part. It’s actually grabbing the right meal or snack when you’re busy or exhausted that trips people up. So think ahead about what you want to eat, and set things up to make it easy.

Put fresh fruit in a convenient spot, and shove the candy into the back of a cabinet. Chop some veggies on the weekend and cook some brown rice so they’re ready to throw together when it’s time for a meal. If you like cooking dinner but tend to be lost at lunchtime, go ahead and pack yourself a lunch in the evening (even if you work at home) so that you’ll just have to open your lunchbox when it’s time to eat.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean cooking from scratch, by the way. I love getting bags of frozen veggies or veggie/grain mixes from Trader Joe’s and pairing them with whatever protein I have on hand (often also bought and defrosted from Trader Joe’s, sorry, I’m predictable). It’s not cheating to make things easy on yourself. If you think that preparing your meals ahead of time might help, check out my guide to getting into the meal prep habit without getting overwhelmed with the cooking or bored with the meals.

Only track calories if you really want or need to

If you’re trying to gain or lose weight, what needs to happen is that your total calorie intake will need to change relative to the number of calories you burn. And if your weight has been changing but you don’t want it to, you’ll need your calorie intake and calorie burn to be equal. Tracking your food and counting calories can help you keep tabs on whether the numbers are going the way you want them to.

That said, don’t track calories just because you feel like you “should.” If you don’t have a specific goal, or if you’re flexible about the timeline, you don’t have to download MyFitnessPal just because that’s what all your dieting friends are doing. (Cronometer is the better app for meal tracking anyway, and you can get a better handle on your weight gain or loss with Macrofactor (paid) or a free DIY solution.)

If you do end up counting calories, a word of warning: don’t aim for a shockingly low number, even if you have the willpower to make it work. 1,200 calories is starvation rations. Extreme calorie deficits can make you lose muscle, not just fat, which may leave you, ironically, less fit than when you started. Gradual changes are more sustainable anyway.

Världen är ogästvänlig, karg och mänskligheten lever fortfarande isolerade från varandra. Rädslan att dö och bli motsvarigheten till ett kärnvapen skapar svårigheter för alla som överlevt katastrofen vi såg i det första spelet i serien. Denna gång befinner vi oss i Mexiko i ett försök att fly all politik och ansvar. Trots kratrar av städer och att mänskligheten i princip tvingas bo i bunkrar finns det folk som är ute och utför stordåd. En av dessa stordåd är transporten av viktiga varor mellan bosättningar, bunkrar och mindre städer. Det är också detta som du kommer att spendera den mesta av tiden med att göra.

Death Stranding 2 är som bekant nästan ett år gammalt vid tidpunkten för denna recension. Turen har kommit till oss som spelar på PC att åter få stifta bekantskap med Norman Reedus som ger röst och utseende till protagonisten Sam Porter. I den briljanta föregångaren räddade vi världen genom att koppla upp resterna av USA till ett gemensamt nätverk. Och precis som i föregångaren är det transporten av föremål och att koppla upp en hel kontinent som är kärnan av upplevelsen. Ditt mål är att transportera saker både säkert och ofta snabbt till en destination. Till din hjälp har du mer utrustning, nya kamrater och kontinenten Australien att utforska.

Jag har inte riktigt bestämt mig om jag tycker att det rappare tempot, större fokus på vapen är ett plus. Ettan hade sina svagheter såsom dryga robotfiender. Det går ganska rappt i tvåan att gå in i läger, besegra alla fiender med automatvapen, granatkastare, hagelgevär och annat. Det är en stor kontrast mot ettan som introducerade vapen i ett långsammare tempo. Även om jag inte är helt såld på tempoökningen i tvåan är jag däremot nöjd med portningen. Det tekniska är verkligen makalöst bra. Portningen av tvåan är minst lika bra som portningen av ettan. Spelet laddar sömlöst in och ut, det flyter på oavsett inställning och att bevittna spelet på en stor skärm är ett måste. Det är också grafiskt kompetent och ser ursnyggt ut.

<bild>Även om Mexiko är lite mindre än Australien tyckte jag att terrängen var mer utmanande på sina håll.</bild>
<bild>Berättelsen om Lou fortsätter även i denna titel.</bild>

Borta är de gröna och bergiga miljöerna från ettan och nu ersatta med Australiens varierande biomer. Du har öken, berg, snö, tropisk djungel och mycket annat i en och samma värld. Jag kan tycka att Australien är lite platt i detta spel och utmaningen är förhållandevis låg. Det beror på att du ganska omgående kommer åt fordon, bygga motorvägar och liknande. Jag kan också respektera att Kojima försökt att hantera kritiken ettan fick där fienderna kunde pinga dig och hitta dig direkt om du bar på värdesaker. Även om tvåan är lite lättare är det ändå ett riktigt bra spel. Jag gillar alla nya karaktärer och att få träffa återkommande sådana från ettan. Kojima är duktig på att skapa intressanta, knasiga och spännande personligheter till dessa i ganska häftiga spelvärldar. Det känns verkligen som en värld där folk försöker överleva trots alla konstigheter vi möts av.

Du är inte ensam i denna värld, jag har inte haft några problem med att ta hjälp av andra spelare. Precis som i ettan kan du lägga ut skyltar på marken, få hjälp att leverera varor och mycket annat utan att du stöter på spelarna. Det är även kul att hjälpa andra spelare, bygga vägar och transportera föremål. Jag tycker också att det är en bättre spridning på belöningarna och de flesta är ändå någorlunda kraftfulla. På flera sätt är detta en ren och skär uppgradering av ettans spelmässiga system. Jag kan dock känna ibland att det saknar det där mystiska och oväntade som ettan bjöd på. Det är såklart en konsekvens att vi redan gjort en resa med Sam en gång förut. Precis som med den första resan är detta bäst att upplevas för första gången utan att veta så mycket om titeln.

<bild>Precis som i föregångaren pratar karaktärerna med dig via hologram.</bild>
<bild>VR-läget är ett kul inslag och den nya svårighetsgraden är verkligen svår.</bild>

PC-utgåvan är snudd på identisk med den originalet på konsol. Skillnaden är ett antal nya scener i berättelsen som ursprungligen var bortklippta. Det finns också en myriad av nya tekniska inställningar för grafik och ljudbilden låter bättre. Jag har testat lite olika uppskalningsteknologier och testat olika konfigurationer på min ultrabreda skärm. Det har fungerat toppenbra. Det visuella ser också betydligt bättre ut texturmässigt och på avstånd än i konsolutgåvan. Bara en sådan enkel sak som att kunna öka bildrutorna per sekund gör mycket för en mjukare och visuellt bättre bild. Det är styrkan med dator-utgåvan. Speciellt om du redan äger konsolutgåvan, rent allmänt tycker jag att detta den bästa versionen av spelet.

De nya scenerna i berättelsen går också att beskåda i konsolversionen och de tillför för det mesta till berättelsen. Den bästa förbättringen i tvåan är dock ett högre tempo i Sams personliga rum. Även om jag gillar möjligheten att skräddarsy min karaktär var det både begränsat och lite för långsamt i ettan. I tvåan kan jag testa vapen, prata med karaktärer och utföra testuppdrag förutom återkommande inslag som att dricka energidryck. Mycket av det jag tyckte tog onödigt lång tid i ettan har snabbats upp utan att tappa bort seriens identitet. Det är en snyggare, välspelande uppföljare som polerar det mindre bra med ettan och försöker utveckla det bästa av föregångaren i tvåan. Jag kan inget annat än att argumentera för att Kojima och hans team lyckats med det.

<bild>Chiral fortsätter att vara en viktig resurs även denna gång. Du kommer därför att behöva samla denna resurs under din resa.</bild>
<bild>Samurajer och farliga fiender väntar utöver banditer och de odöda.</bild>

Även om jag överlag anser att spelet är riktigt bra är jag inte helt såld på att fokuset nu vilar på vapen. Det finns ingen anledning att smyga om du busenkelt kan skjuta ned fiender på löpande band i "slow motion". Det slutade med att jag behövde sluta plocka med avancerade vapen så att jag fick lite utmaning i det spelmässiga. Det är även ett tips till dig att göra. Att enbart förlita sig på ett rep och möjligtvis en Bola Gun. Jag anser att just biten med vapnen är ett misstag för serien och förtar känslan av att vara en budbärare. Visst du kan ställa in spelet på den nya svårighetsgraden To the Wilder. Problemet du får då istället är tankiga fiender och utrustning som går sönder betydligt snabbare av smällar och regn. Det löser dock inte grundproblemet jag har med vapnen även om det gör spelet brutalt svårt på sina håll. I övrigt är jag nöjd med vad Death Stranding 2 erbjuder. Det har även varit ett sant nöje att fotografera i spelet med det inbyggda kameraläget och bara slå på lite musik och vandra runt i världen. Det är märkligt hur snabbt spelet kan byta stämningsfullt lugn mot skräck, panik och stress.

Om du testade ettan på datorn och var nöjd med portningen kommer du även vara det med denna version. Jag har testat lite på olika grafiska inställningar och tycker att detta är suveränt optimerat för olika hårdvarukonfigurationer. Så länge du möter kraven kommer du enkelt att kunna skräddarsy inställningar efter behov. I tvåan kan du göra det innan du startar upp spelet i helskärm i en mindre meny. Nixxes har gjort ett strålande jobb att få detta att fungera på dator. Även möjligheterna att skräddarsy knappar och annat är både utförligt och genomtänkt. Det är också en eloge till Guerrilla Games som skapat Decima, spelmotorn Death Stranding 2 är utvecklad med hjälp utav. Det är därav ingen överraskning att Horizon Zero Dawn och dess uppföljare Forbidden West fungerar toppenbra på dator. Jag tror att Kojima tänkte rätt när de valde att utveckla sina titlar på denna spelmotor.

<bild>Du kan också ta foton med olika filter om du vill.</bild>
<bild>Kontrasterna kan vara stor. Vissa ytor är täckta av blodigt regn och andra är karga och ogästvänliga.</bild>

Även om jag har problem med fokuset på skjutvapen är detta en strålande uppföljare med genuint bra berättande och karaktärer. Det spelmässiga är både spännande och nervkittlande. Jag gillar hur världen är lite mer levande tack vare djur och även små fiender. Det är en strålande portning av ett strålande spel och jag är mer än nöjd med min resa genom Mexiko och Australien. Även om Kojima är mest omtyckt för Metal Gear går Death Stranding från klarhet till klarhet. Både Norman Reedus och Troy Baker är strålande som sina respektive karaktärer. Även Léa Seydoux gör en strålande insats även denna gång och det finns ganska lite att klaga på vad berör karaktärerna, världen eller upplägget.

Om du vill spela något annorlunda, gripande och engagerande på dator bör du införskaffa detta. Gillade du ettan bör du också skaffa detta. Däremot om du redan äger Death Stranding 2: On the Beach på konsol klarar du dig ganska bra med din version av spelet, som också får nytt innehåll både sett till det berättarmässiga, funktionsmässiga och grafiska. Det du missar är stöd för Ray Tracing och vissa grafiska inställningar en kraftfullare PC kan dra nytta av. Du kommer också att missa möjligheten att modda titeln. Jag kan inget annat än att längta efter att få spela Death Stranding 3, det finns verkligen inget annat som liknar detta ute på spelmarknaden. Förhoppningsvis kommer Sony inte skrota planerna på att överföra uppföljarna till dator, då jag tycker att spelen är som allra bäst på detta format.

<bild>Att se till så att alla har detta universums motsvarighet av Internet är fortfarande din viktigaste uppgift.</bild>
<bild>Fordon är tillbaka och är viktiga hjälpmedel. Ditt nya fartyg du kan snabbfärdas med hjälp av och söka skydd i kommer också till användning.</bild>
<bild>Menyerna är fullt dugliga och användarvänliga.</bild>
<bild>Grafiken går att pressa högre än konsolförlagan och modifikationer möjliggör ännu mer anpassning och förändringar av titeln.</bild>

Apple Watch is now eleven generations in, and packed with useful features that are easy to miss at first glance. To help you get more out of your new device, we've rounded up 15 practical tips you might not have discovered yet, including a few that long-time users often overlook.

Bounce Between Two Apps

Switch App Views

Rearrange Apps

Ping Your iPhone

Skip the Countdown

Customize Vibration Strength

Perform Precision Timing

Jump to the Top

Remove Apps

Customize Control Center

Speak the Time Out Loud

Customize Smart Replies

Pause Activity Rings

Create a Note

Mute and Dismiss Alerts

These earbuds are specifically designed to help you get a good night's sleep, and I absolutely love them.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

I've used earbuds to help me sleep for a while now, but I never expected a company to actually make earbuds specifically for sleeping. Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 are exactly that: earbuds designed to block out excess noise without pressing uncomfortably against your ear. I've been using them for over a year and can't recommend them enough.

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The Sleep A20 are not active noise-cancelling earbuds, which is how they're able to have such a small, unobtrusive form factor. Instead, they use the in-ear seal to create a natural noise blocker, which, in my opinion, works well enough to block out sounds. They fit very comfortably and don't press against your ear when you sleep on your side. Rarely do I wake up with one of them lost in the covers after falling off during the night, but it does happen occasionally.

The battery life is 14 hours on sleep mode, which includes sounds from the Soundcore app (think like white noise or relaxing sounds). If you have it in Bluetooth mode, where you can listen to Spotify or whatever you want, it's eight hours, but the charging case gives it a total life of up to 80 hours between plug-ins.

The companion app is great, with many useful features for sleeping. You can turn your earbuds off after a set amount of time, have a sleep tracker that records your sleep data, a smart volume feature that increases or decreases in volume depending on the sound in your room, full EQ, and other features.

Introduction Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Limited (BCIL) is an established agrochemical manufacturer known for its strong R&D focus and diverse portfolio of crop protection products. As the company continued to grow its product capabilities and industry presence, it required a digital platform that could clearly communicate its offerings while supporting multiple stakeholder needs. BCIL partnered…

The post Website Redesign for Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Limited appeared first on Pixel Studios.

Introduction

Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Limited (BCIL) is an established agrochemical manufacturer known for its strong R&D focus and diverse portfolio of crop protection products. As the company continued to grow its product capabilities and industry presence, it required a digital platform that could clearly communicate its offerings while supporting multiple stakeholder needs.

BCIL partnered with Pixel Studios to redesign and rebuild its website on a modern WordPress framework. The objective was to create a structured and scalable digital platform that would enable users to explore products efficiently, access important corporate documents, and engage with the company through a seamless online experience.

The redesigned website was envisioned as more than just a corporate presence. It needed to function as a reliable information hub for buyers, partners, investors, and other stakeholders who rely on accurate product and corporate information.

The Challenge

Operating in the agrochemical industry means communicating highly technical information in a way that remains accessible and easy to navigate.

BCIL’s website needed to support several important user journeys simultaneously.

One of the primary requirements was presenting a diversified product portfolio in a clear and structured format. Buyers exploring agrochemical products often evaluate them based on specifications, applications, and technical details. The website therefore needed a product structure that would allow users to quickly navigate categories and access detailed product information.

Another key requirement involved managing a large collection of corporate and investor documents. These resources needed to remain easily accessible while ensuring the website interface remained clean and organized.

Additionally, modern users expect websites to offer fast navigation, responsive design, and simple communication pathways. The digital experience needed to align with these expectations while maintaining a professional and credible brand presence.

Objectives

The project was designed around several strategic objectives.

Creating a Scalable Website Platform

Pixel Studios rebuilt the website on WordPress, providing BCIL with a flexible content management system that supports long-term scalability and easy updates.

Modernizing the User Interface

The design was refreshed with a modern visual approach that improves clarity and enhances the browsing experience across the entire website.

Improving Product Discoverability

The product architecture was redesigned to help users quickly locate relevant products and access the information required for evaluation.

Enhancing Document Accessibility

Investor information and corporate documents were organized in a structured manner, making it easier for stakeholders to browse and download reports.

Strengthening Engagement Opportunities

Strategically placed calls to action and direct communication options were introduced to support enquiries and faster interaction with the company.

Our Approach

Pixel Studios approached the project with a structured methodology focused on clarity, usability, and scalability.

Information Architecture Built Around User Intent

The website navigation was redesigned to help visitors move easily between the company’s key sections, including:

• About
• Products
• Investors
• Sustainability
• Media
• Careers
• Contact

This structured layout ensures that users can quickly locate the information they are looking for while maintaining a smooth browsing experience.

Product Structure Designed for Evaluation

For many visitors, product information is the most important part of the website. To support this need, the product section was reorganized into clear categories such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and specialty intermediates.

Each product page was structured to present key information in a consistent format, including:

• Product applications
• Technical specifications
• Chemical details
• Structured specification tables

This approach helps users evaluate products more efficiently while maintaining consistency across the product catalogue.

Intent-Driven Content Presentation

Rather than simply listing products, the website content was designed to address the information users typically search for when researching agrochemical solutions.

Each product page provides clear context about where the product is used, its application areas, and its technical characteristics. This helps visitors gain a deeper understanding of the product while improving overall content clarity.

Document and Investor Section Enhancement

BCIL maintains a large library of corporate and investor documents, including annual reports and other key resources.

To improve accessibility, the investor section was redesigned with a structured layout that allows visitors to easily explore and download reports. Features such as organized listings and archive access help ensure that stakeholders can locate relevant documents without difficulty.

This structured approach ensures that important corporate information remains transparent and easy to access.

Improving Communication Pathways

To make it easier for visitors to connect with BCIL, several engagement elements were integrated throughout the website.

Strategic calls to action guide users toward enquiry points, while direct communication options such as WhatsApp integration allow visitors to reach out quickly for product or company information.

These enhancements help convert user interest into meaningful engagement.

Responsive Design for Modern Browsing

The website was designed with a mobile-first approach, ensuring seamless usability across smartphones, tablets, and desktop devices.

A responsive layout ensures that visitors can explore product information, browse documents, and interact with the website without any disruption regardless of the device they use.

Key Deliverables

The project included several key deliverables that strengthened the overall digital platform.

Website Platform and Design

• WordPress-based website development
• Modern UI redesign with improved visual hierarchy
• Structured navigation for better usability

Product Content System

• Organized product categories for easy browsing
• Dedicated product pages with technical specifications
• Consistent content templates across the catalogue

Investor and Document Management

• Structured investor section
• Organized annual report access
• Integration of a large document library for easy downloads

Communication and Engagement

• Calls to action across key pages
• WhatsApp integration for direct communication
• Popup functionality for announcements and updates

Outcome

The redesigned website provides BCIL with a structured digital platform that effectively supports both product exploration and corporate communication.

Visitors can now navigate the product catalogue with greater clarity, access important corporate documents with ease, and connect with the company through streamlined enquiry pathways.

The WordPress platform also enables BCIL’s internal teams to manage content efficiently while supporting future updates and expansion.

Conclusion

The website redesign for Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Limited reflects how a well-structured digital platform can enhance product communication and stakeholder engagement in a technical industry.

By focusing on intuitive navigation, structured product information, accessible documentation, and responsive design, the new website strengthens BCIL’s online presence while supporting the needs of buyers, partners, and investors alike.

Through this transformation, Pixel Studios helped create a scalable digital platform that aligns with BCIL’s innovation-driven approach and evolving industry presence.

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The post Website Redesign for Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Limited appeared first on Pixel Studios.

{Minecraft} - det svenska undret. Spelet alla utvecklare önskade att de hade skapat och spelet som fortfarande, trots dess ålder och daterade grafik (men särpräglade stil) lever med mängder och åter mängder av spelare. Det är givet - självklart på ett sätt som är helt utan tvivel - att utvecklare och utgivare vill ta del av den svenska prinsesstårtan som Minecraft är. Men det har visat sig vara en svår nöt att knäcka.

{Everwind} är det senaste försöket i raden av spel som vill emulera receptet på ovan nämnda tårta och jag har gett det ett försök jag med. Men slevade jag i mig bit efter bit och gick därifrån belåten eller räckte det med några skedar innan jag började må illa? Nja, det är ett mellanting vi hamnar i.

Everwind är inte släppt i 1.0-versionen än. Early Access är releaseformen som spelet släppts i och därför kan man inte vänta sig ett fullskaligt mästerverk än (även om det händer - titta bara på {Slay the Spire 2}) och det kommer att fyllas på med innehåll och uppdateringar tills det når sin slutgiltiga form. Med det sagt finns det faktiskt gott om innehåll att mumsa i sig och man kan tydligt se att det finns ett spel med en egen idé och identitet - men det har en bit kvar att vandra om det ska kunna överleva och locka en egen publik.

Spelet börjar med att en unik värld genereras och droppar dig längst upp i ett torn. Tornet fungerar som en tutorial där varje våning förklarar hur du använder olika spelmekaniker. Det är ett smart grepp som gör att det känns som att själva inlärningen är en del av äventyret. Det känns naturligt helt enkelt. Du får i varje fall lära dig hur striderna funkar, hur man craftar sina redskap och hur man lagar sin mat. Fullt rimliga saker i ett survival-spel, såklart.
<bild>Utrustad med svärd och sköld är jag redo att slåss mot lite capybaror.</bild>
Väl ute ur tornet väntar det verkliga äventyret. "Bygg ditt luftskepp" lyder uppdraget och för att göra det ska jag först skanna ett trasigt skepp som kraschat och rostat sönder på ön jag befinner mig på. Del för del skannas med en märklig mackapär man är utrustad med och efter det slår jag sönder delarna för att själv kunna tillverka egna - fräscha - motorer, generatorer och luftballonger till mitt alldeles egna skepp. Det innebär en hel del resurssamlande och det är inga större överraskningar på det planet. Hugga ner träd, samla stenar, rafsa åt sig gräs och se till att man hittar lite koppar som man kan smälta ned i en smältugn.

Detta kompliceras lite av det fåtal fiender som finns på ön - ruskiga skelett som inte utgör något större hot. Striderna är dock underhållande och välgjorda med både parry-möjlighet och fler funktioner som finns låsta bakom ett klassiskt RPG-träd fullt med diverse uppgraderingar. Fiende-AI:n är dock inget att hänga upp i granen - det funkar men bjuder inte på några överraskningar. Det är dock inte bara skelett som utgör öns population; Everwind-utvecklarna verkar hålla Capybaror varmt om hjärtat och särskilt sådana med små hattar på sig. Capybaror ja, 2020-talets små gullegrisar. Tydligen. Vildsvin och fasaner springer runt och bjuder på möjligheten att jaga till sig lite kött och fjädrar också.
<bild>Här är ett av mina första skepp som jag byggde en liten ramp på för att jag inte visste att man kunde teleportera tillbaka sig till skeppet.</bild>
Efter att ha dödat ett gäng ruskprickar, samlat på sig resurser och byggt de saker som krävs för att kunna flyga runt bland molnen i ett alldeles eget luftskepp så boendet av - ut till havs. Med hjälp av en liten eka ror jag ut till ett skepp som finns markerat på kartan, placerar det jag byggt på det och matar in ved i generatorn. Men för att det ska fungera måste jag sätta ihop allt med hjälp av rör som förflyttar energi mellan de olika motordelarna. Sagt och gjort - världen väntar och luften är min lekplats. Och det är en rejäl värld som står till förfogande och jag undrar om det finns något slut där ute... jag hittade det inte i alla fall.

Världen i Everwind är inte bara horisontell med flera öar att utforska. Det finns också öar uppe i himlen och dit tänker jag (självklart) att bege mig först. Men tji fick jag. För att kunna flyga högre måste jag uppgradera mitt skepp. Så jag styr skutan mot en ö som jag haft ögonen på sen jag startade spelet. På denna ö finns en märklig byggnad som påminner om en metallgiraff och det är självklart något som man måste titta närmre på. Efter en kort flygtur parkerar jag skeppet på taket av den konstiga byggnaden. Jag ser snart att jag inte är ensam där utan jag har sällskap av spindlar som skjuter gift och zombier som sprängs när de kommer för nära. Jag upptäcker dessutom att jag är alldeles för lågt levlad och har inte mycket att sätta emot. Tydligen så kommer man inte så långt med en rustning och ett svärd tillverkat av trä.

Så jag dör - ett par gånger. Först får jag panik för att jag inte vet hur jag ska ta mig därifrån men jag upptäcker att den där mojängen som man kan skanna med också kan teleportera mig till skeppet och till tryggheten. Med det i åtanke kutar jag först - som en illbatting - och tar mina saker där jag dött. När man dör i Everwind förlorar man inte allt utan bara en del av det man samlat på sig. Detta i form av en "orb" man måste plocka upp inom tio minuter för att inte förlora potentiella godsaker.
<bild>Mackapärer och mojänger finns det gott om när Mulle... Jolle bygger båt.</bild>
Några lärdomar rikare valde jag en lite mindre uppseendeväckande ö nästa vända. Men det är också här jag börjar fundera på vad mitt mål är - vart är jag egentligen på väg? Finns det någon slutdestination? Jag antar att Enjoy Studio vill att du formar ditt eget äventyr - precis på samma sätt som Mojang gjort med Minecraft. Inga tydliga pekpinnar eller uppdrag, utan en hel värld till ditt förfogande där du själv får agera både regissör och skådespelare. Det är både bra och dåligt.

Everwind är ett mer utpräglat RPG och jag förväntar mig att få ta del av en story på något plan. Varför vaknar jag plötsligt upp i ett torn? Vad har hänt med alla luftskepp? Vilka är monstrena? Jag känner att jag saknar en förklaring där och skulle gärna se att den delen fick ett större djup. Tills dess får jag helt enkelt ägna mig åt att uppgradera både mig själv och skeppet. Det går att bygga skeppet större och proppa det fullt med allt man kan tänka sig behöva. Särskilt snyggt blir det inte - men flyger det så flyger det.

Everwind är inte särskilt snyggt, men eftersom det är uppbyggt på samma sätt som Minecraft (med kuber i kvadrat) så har väl heller inte det varit målet. Det bjuder dock på lite mer effekter än dess inspirationskälla i form av reflektioner på vattnet, partikeleffekter och annat som i det stora hela bara bidrar till att det laggar. För laggar gör det, till och med påtagligt, när man färdas och nya öar genereras. Men som sagt - det är Early Access och med det följer en del tekniska hickups. Inget konstigt.
<bild>Det stora blå bjuder på ditt alldeles egna äventyr. Om du är redo att skapa det.</bild>
Designvalen man tagit är däremot inte lika självklara. Det är väldigt brunt och estetiskt sett både tråkigt och till och med fult. Min karaktär ser ut som en blandning av Minecraft-Steve och Shaggy från Scooby Doo och fienderna som struttar omkring runtom i Everwinds världar ser varken skrämmande eller roliga ut. Jag misstänker att det kan vara utmanande att hitta ett eget formspråk och en design som funkar i en värld uppbyggd av block - och det funkar inte riktigt här.

Det är absolut värt att hålla ett öga öppet och ta sig en titt på hur Everwind-utvecklingen fortskrider. Jag skulle till och med säga att det är roligt som det är redan nu - men priset på 250 ungefärliga kronor känns lite väl högt i dagsläget. Men när Enjoy Studio byggt färdigt och spelet släpps "på riktigt" kan det mycket väl bli ett spel som kan samsas med Minecraft då det faktiskt bjuder på något tillräckligt unikt.

Anthropic recently announced Project Glasswing, an initiative that enables tech companies like Apple to use its new frontier AI model Claude Mythos Preview to find security vulnerabilities across operating systems and web browsers.


The Wall Street Journal today reported that researchers at cybersecurity firm Calif used Claude Mythos Preview to uncover a new macOS security vulnerability last month. Specifically, they used the model to write code that links together two macOS bugs in a way that resulted in what is known as a privilege escalation exploit.

The security researchers said the exploit would not have been possible with Mythos alone, as it still required their human expertise on top, but it nevertheless proves that AI can assist with discovering software vulnerabilities.

Apple said it was reviewing Calif's report to validate the findings.

"Security is our top priority, and we take reports of potential vulnerabilities very seriously," an Apple spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal.

It is unclear if Apple has already patched the exploit. Apple's security notes for the macOS 26.5 update released this week mention a fix for a kernel-level vulnerability, and it credits Calif and Anthropic for discovering it. Yet, the report said that Calif only met with Apple this week and suggested that a fix was still coming.

We have reached out to Apple for comment.

In today’s hyper-connected, risk-laden digital landscape, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) plays an indispensable role in protecting an organization’s most valuable resource: its data. This dynamic leadership role requires a unique blend of technical acumen, strategic insight, and leadership, positioning the CISO as the foundational guard of the enterprise’s digital defense. As threats growContinue reading "The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): The Digital Sentinel of Modern Enterprises "

In today’s hyper-connected, risk-laden digital landscape, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) plays an indispensable role in protecting an organization’s most valuable resource: its data. This dynamic leadership role requires a unique blend of technical acumen, strategic insight, and leadership, positioning the CISO as the foundational guard of the enterprise’s digital defense. As threats grow more sophisticated and data’s value soars, the CISO’s role has expanded, integrating cybersecurity into the very heart of business strategy and resilience.

This article delves into the critical responsibilities of the CISO, the skills that define exceptional candidates, and why modern enterprises cannot afford to overlook this crucial leadership position.

Why CISOs Are Vital in the Digital Age: Managing the Expanding Threat Landscape

The march of digitization has transformed business operations, enabling unprecedented connectivity, data insights, and operational efficiencies. Yet this interconnection introduces complex cybersecurity threats, with increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals seeking vulnerabilities that could compromise data and disrupt business. Amid these challenges, the CISO assumes multiple roles to safeguard the organization’s digital assets:

1. Architecting a Comprehensive Security Framework

A CISO’s primary responsibility is to develop and implement a holistic information security program. This program functions as a strategic roadmap, detailing everything from risk assessments to vulnerability management and enforcing robust security controls. By prioritizing risk management, the CISO ensures that security measures align with the organization’s objectives, safeguarding data while allowing the business to operate without disruption.

2. Leading Incident Response and Cyber Resilience

A well-prepared organization is one that anticipates attacks and has effective response protocols. The CISO is tasked with establishing a detailed incident response plan that outlines how to identify, contain, and mitigate security breaches. Additionally, they foster a security-conscious culture within the workforce, empowering employees with the knowledge to detect and report potential threats.

3. Navigating Complex Regulatory Landscapes

As data privacy regulations proliferate worldwide, organizations face mounting pressures to stay compliant with stringent cybersecurity laws. CISOs take on the responsibility of ensuring the organization adheres to relevant legal standards—such as GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA—to minimize legal and reputational risks. This compliance is more than legal due diligence; it protects the organization’s brand and builds trust with customers and stakeholders.

4. Promoting Secure Innovation

CISOs balance innovation and security, enabling businesses to adopt new technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and IoT without compromising data protection. As custodians of digital safety, CISOs act as advisors, guiding secure adoption of transformative technologies while proactively identifying and mitigating risks associated with each.

5. Building and Leading a Cyber-Resilient Team

A skilled team of cybersecurity specialists forms the backbone of the CISO’s efforts. Beyond hiring, the CISO is responsible for fostering a team environment that encourages proactive security practices, continuous learning, and adaptability. This collaborative culture helps the organization identify vulnerabilities and improve its cybersecurity posture over time.

Essential Qualities of a World-Class CISO

Becoming a CISO requires an intricate blend of technical skills and leadership qualities, often honed through years of experience and continuous learning. The following traits define an outstanding CISO:

1. Deep Technical Knowledge

A CISO must possess a strong understanding of core cybersecurity principles, including cryptography, network security, and application security. This expertise enables them to establish comprehensive strategies that protect the organization’s digital infrastructure.

2. Strategic Business Alignment

Exceptional CISOs bridge the gap between technical measures and business objectives, aligning cybersecurity strategies with organizational goals. This ability to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into actionable business strategies is essential for achieving executive buy-in and maintaining security as a strategic business advantage.

3. Leadership and Communication Skills

In their role, CISOs often need to explain cybersecurity risks and initiatives to diverse audiences, from technical teams to executives and board members. Strong communication skills, coupled with an adaptable approach, are key to effectively conveying the importance of cybersecurity across the organization.

4. Financial Acumen

An effective CISO understands the financial implications of security decisions. They balance robust protections with responsible budget management, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to the organization’s most pressing security needs while maximizing return on security investments.

5. Adaptability and Problem-Solving Skills

The digital landscape is constantly shifting, and so are cybersecurity threats. A successful CISO can navigate these changes with agility, employing creative problem-solving skills to address emerging threats and leverage new technologies to the organization’s advantage.

In addition to these skills, certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) validate a CISO’s expertise and commitment to the field.

The Value of a CISO: Why Every Organization Needs a Cybersecurity Champion

As the digital ecosystem continues to evolve, the need for a dedicated cybersecurity leader is more apparent than ever. Here are several compelling reasons why investing in a CISO is a strategic imperative:

1. Fortifying the Organization’s Digital Fortress

A proactive CISO ensures the protection of an organization’s data, intellectual property, and customer information. Their security strategies minimize the risk of data breaches, which can cause severe reputational and financial damage.

2. Navigating Regulatory Compliance Confidently

By staying ahead of regulatory requirements, CISOs ensure the organization meets data protection mandates, reducing the risk of fines and reputational fallout from non-compliance. This foresight fosters customer trust and positions the organization as a responsible steward of sensitive information.

3. Building a Security-Conscious Culture

Through training and awareness programs, CISOs instill a culture of vigilance, equipping employees to recognize and respond to cybersecurity threats. This security-conscious culture serves as the organization’s first line of defense, reducing vulnerability to human-centered attacks like phishing.

4. Optimizing Cybersecurity Investments

CISOs are skilled at managing the cybersecurity budget, ensuring that funds are strategically allocated to the areas of highest risk. Their insights help organizations achieve robust security within budget constraints, maximizing the return on investment for cybersecurity efforts.

5. Championing Secure Innovation

By establishing strong security frameworks, CISOs empower the organization to adopt emerging technologies safely. This proactive approach allows the organization to capitalize on opportunities, such as digital transformation and cloud adoption, without sacrificing security.

6. Ensuring Resilience in Times of Crisis

In the event of a cyberattack, the CISO’s leadership is crucial for coordinating the organization’s response, mitigating disruption, and ensuring swift recovery. This role is instrumental in maintaining business continuity and minimizing operational downtime during security incidents.

Beyond Today: Building Tomorrow’s Cybersecurity Leaders

The role of the CISO is ever-evolving, and the demands of cybersecurity leadership require continuous education, collaboration, and adaptability. Aspiring and current CISOs benefit from several resources and practices:

1. Lifelong Learning

Cybersecurity is a fast-evolving field. CISOs can stay current on emerging threats and trends through industry certifications, conferences, and continuous education programs. Regularly updating skills is essential to maintaining a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity.

2. Engaging in Industry Collaboration

Cybersecurity is most effective when tackled collectively. By joining industry associations such as the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) or (ISC)², CISOs can connect with peers, share threat intelligence, and participate in collaborative efforts to anticipate and counteract cyber threats.

3. Fostering a Collaborative Security Ecosystem

Building strong alliances within the organization and across the industry enables CISOs to gather diverse perspectives, improving the effectiveness of security initiatives. Collaborating with cross-functional teams encourages a unified, resilient approach to cybersecurity challenges.

The Future of the CISO Role in a Rapidly Digitalizing World

The role of the CISO continues to expand in scope and significance as cyber threats intensify and digital transformation accelerates. For organizations of all sizes, investing in a skilled, forward-looking CISO is essential to building resilience, protecting data, and fostering an innovation-ready environment. The CISO’s work extends far beyond technical cybersecurity skills; it’s a strategic role that supports business continuity, customer trust, and sustainable growth.

In conclusion, the CISO of today is more than a cybersecurity guardian; they are the enterprise’s trusted partner in navigating the complexities of the digital age. Organizations that prioritize and empower their CISOs position themselves to thrive, not just survive, in an increasingly interconnected world. As businesses continue to embrace the possibilities of the digital era, the CISO will remain at the forefront, guiding the enterprise’s journey with resilience, insight, and an unwavering commitment to security.

As usual, the truth is more mundane than the conspiracy theory.

This story seems straight out of a Hollywood thriller: Up to a dozen scientists working on some of the U.S.’s most advanced and sensitive aerospace and nuclear programs have disappeared or died in mysterious ways over the last five years. The FBI is working with the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and local law enforcement to find answers. The House Oversight Committee launched its own investigation. Congressman Eric Burlison said the mystery has “all the hallmarks of a foreign operation.” The president called it “pretty serious stuff."

Congressman James Comer suggested someone is targeting the nation’s nuclear program. Rep. Tim Burchett alleged a cover-up of UAP activity. Some say it’s aimed at people with knowledge of American security secrets.  Or maybe it’s to cover up evidence of time travel.  So what’s really going on here?

Literally nothing. This is a cobbled-together collection of unrelated deaths and disappearances. As a conspiracy theory, it is, as Daniel Engber pointed out in The Atlantic, "unbelievably dumb."

Scientists are dying, but so is everyone else

There are around two million scientists in the U.S., and, as science writer and debunker Mick West pointed out, over 700,000 people hold top-secret clearances in the U.S. aerospace and nuclear sectors. If 10 or so of this group had died or disappeared in inexplicable ways over five years, it wouldn’t be statistically meaningful, but this theory is even more stupid than that. Many people on the list didn’t seem to have top-secret clearances, and many weren’t scientists. The list includes a construction foreman who once worked at Los Alamos National Lab, a former custodian at the Kansas City National Security Campus, and an administrative assistant. And there are concrete explanations for almost all of these deaths and disappearances. The list includes physicist Ning Li who died at 78 of Alzheimers and Carl Grillmair who was killed in a home invasion by a man with a violent history who had a prior disagreement with Grillmair that had nothing to do with science. 

The missing scientist conspiracy theories have all the hallmarks of apophenia (people perceiving meaningful connections in random data) and cherry-picking, and even if we give a lot of credit to the most “mysterious” entries on the list, the theory gets muddy very quickly. 

The strange life and death of Amy Eskridge

The death that arguably supports the “mysterious assassinations” theory most strongly is that of Amy Eskridge. A fringe scientist who founded the Institute for Exotic Science in Huntsville, Alabama to study anti-gravity technology, Eskridge died at 34 of a (supposedly) self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2022, after telling friends she was being stalked and targeted by unknown forces. 

The conspiracy theorists’ line about Eskridge is that she was a brilliant scientist who made a breakthrough discovery in anti-gravity research and was taken out by mysterious pro-gravity forces before she could go public. It’s a compelling narrative on the surface, but when you unwind it, you find the kind of half-truths and exaggerations you always find when you look into conspiracy theories. 

What actually is a scientist? 

Whether Eskridge belongs in a list of scientists in the first place is debatable. Some online have categorized her as an important researcher with a background in physics, but her highest degree was a bachelors in biochemistry, and she doesn't seem to have published any research in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Eskridge didn’t have the kind of professional background that suggests access to top-secret government programs, either. 

Maybe Eskridge’s gravity research was too esoteric to be accepted by the "mainstream science," but even that is questionable. Judging from this public presentation (and accompanying slides) that Eskridge gave not long before she died, she didn’t seem close to any kind of breakthrough. Her speech points out that you can’t build an anti-gravity machine without first developing a theoretical framework for how one could actually work, and that that theory doesn’t exist right now. This is exactly what the scientific establishment would say. 

Eskridge’s presentation wasn’t a revelation of ground-breaking new technology. It was a catalog of past attempts to conquer gravity. ending with a stab at finding a patron to fund basic, step-one theoretical research. Despite the posts from conspiracy theorists, there’s no indication that Eskridge, or anyone else, got beyond the whole “based on everything we know about how the physical world works, anti-gravity isn’t possible” thing. 

Eskridge's death is (somewhat) mysterious

Eskridge’s death does raise questions. According to police and the medical examiner, it was a suicide, but according to conspiracy theorists it was a murder, and they have receipts.

On May 13, 2022, one month before she died, Eskridge reportedly sent a message to business partner Samuel Reed that read: "If you see any report that I killed myself, I most definitely did not. If you see any report that I overdosed, I most definitely did not…If anything happens to me—suicide or an accident—it wasn't, it's suspicious, treat it as such.”

She also reported repeated death threats and other harassment, and posted a video of supposed burns on her hands to prove a directed energy weapon was being used against her. 

On the other hand, members of Eskridge’s family publicly stated that she had suffered from chronic pain, and reported no suspicion about how she died. Eskridge didn’t post recordings of harassing phone calls or dark messages she received, nor did she provide any other evidence that she was being targeted. 

That isn't proof she wasn’t murdered, though. The case of Eskridge and the rest of these scientists runs across a common problem of debunking conspiracy theories: We don’t know enough to say for sure, and we can’t prove a negative. That leaves us with asking which explanation is more probable: a shadowy, unnamed cabal of assassins targeting a woman who was interested in anti-gravity, or a woman who was paranoid about a non-existent cabal and took her own life.

From what we know for sure, Eskridge was interested in developing an anti-gravity hypothesis. Some claim she was about to break the field wide open by publishing her findings, but she didn’t actually publish anything. Even if we accept that her theory existed, the argument is still “assassins targeted someone for thinking about anti-gravity,” which is still an extraordinary claim that requires extraordinary evidence. And there isn’t any. 

Eskridge's death, heartbreaking as it is, would not have attracted attention if she hadn't spent her final months making predictions that later appeared, to some, to come true, but that’s not enough to prove anything. We only have Eskridge’s word that harassment took place, and it all could have been the product of paranoid delusions on her part. 

While plenty of intelligent, mentally healthy people hold unconventional views about physics and government secrecy, Eskridge believed that she, specifically, was being hunted for her research. Psychiatrists call this "persecutory ideation," and it's associated with serious mental illnesses and correlates to suicide.

We don’t have evidence to prove Eskridge was suffering from a mental illness, just as we can’t prove that she was murdered, but mental illness is, in general, a more common cause of death than shadowy cabals of assassins targeting people over scientific theories. Roughly 800 to 900 Americans aged 34 die by suicide every year. As Eskridge’s father, a retired NASA employee, told NewsNation, “Scientists die also, just like other people.”

The families just want theorists to stop

Eskridge’s father isn’t the only family member of someone on the list to have spoken out. Carl Grillmair's widow Louise told BBC that she has been fielding calls from conspiracy theorists, despite the fact that her husband’s alleged killer has been charged with murder. Relatives of others on the list have publicly called the conspiracy theories "terrible" and “disgusting.” And not a single family member has publicly suggested there's anything suspicious about any of these deaths or disappearances.

It’s fun (and sometimes politically useful) for conspiracy theorists to dream up connections between unrelated events, just like it is fun for people like me to shoot holes in their theories, but these were real people with families, friends, and in many cases genuine scientific legacies. They deserve better than a walk-on role in a conspiracy theory.

Report to your sofa at once and commence bingeing.

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A lot about 2026 has been depressing, infuriating, or worse, but at least the TV has been pretty good—there are future classics streaming across the genre spectrum, from the medical realism of The Pitt, to the endless mystery of FROM, to the over-the-top comedy of Big Mistakes. Below are the ten most-streamed series across all streaming services for April, and there's almost definitely something here you'll dig.

The Pitt

The Pitt continues to dominate the streaming charts. HBO's gritty, hyper-realistic medical drama has earned acclaim from critics and audiences for its relentless pace, as each episode follows one slice of a single 15-hour shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Starring Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael Robinavitch, The Pitt ditches the "disease of the week" format of many medical shows in favor of a study of the toll the modern medical system places on everyone involved. Season one earned five Emmy awards, and now that it has wrapped up, it looks like season two might win more. Stream The Pitt on Max.

The Pitt

at HBO Max

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Get Deal

at HBO Max

FROM

The residents of the unnamed town at the center of FROM just cannot catch a break. If it's not worms crawling around under their skin, it's the mysterious Man in Yellow stealing people's souls. Season four of this mystery-heavy show from the creator of Lost sees the survivors pushed to their limits as the veil between the strange town and the real world gets thinner. Stream FROM on MGM+.

FROM

at MGM+

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Get Deal

at MGM+

Paradise

The "Paradise" of the show's title is a high-end, experimental community inside an underground Colorado bunker. The Earth's surface may be an irradiated hellscape, but in Paradise, everything seems perfect, until an outsider enters. Sterling K. Brown plays Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent investigating the murder of the U.S. President in Paradise, where everything starts weird and only gets weirder. Stream Paradise on Hulu.

Paradise

at Hulu

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Get Deal

at Hulu

The Boys

This satirical take on the superhero genre examines what happens when "supes"—people with godlike powers—are owned by a multi-billion dollar corporation. As Season 5 begins, Vought International is poised for a total political takeover, and Billy Butcher, leader of "The Boys," is ready to go full scorched earth to end the superhero menace once and for all. Stream The Boys on Prime Video.

The Boys

at Prime Video

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Get Deal

at Prime Video

Margo's Got Money Troubles

If you like quirky, of-the-moment comedy with heart, Margo's Got Money Troubles is the show for you. It tells the story of Margo Millet, played by Elle Fanning, a 20-year-old junior college dropout and daughter of a Hooters waitress. Left a single mother by her English professor, Margot starts an OnlyFans to survive, only to become a massive success. Margo's cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer as Shyanne Millet, Margo's sassy mother, Nick Offerman as Jinx Millet, Margo's father, a retired professional wrestler, and Nicole Kidman as Lace, a former wrestler turned legal mediator. Stream Margot's Got Money Problems on Apple TV+.

Margo's Got Money Problems

at Apple TV+

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Get Deal

at Apple TV+

Euphoria

When it premiered in 2019, Euphoria turned heads for its stylish, nothing-held-back look into the lives of modern teenagers. Now in its third season, the show has undergone a major time jump to follow the characters into adulthood. Zendaya's Rue is still the heart of the show, and original cast members Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Hunter Schafer (Jules), Alexa Demie (Maddy), and Maude Apatow (Lexi) are all back. Sharon Stone has been added to the cast as an imposing TV showrunner, adding a meta layer to this always provocative show. Stream Euphoria on HBO Max.

Euphoria

at HBO Max

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at HBO Max

Big Mistakes

From the creators of Schitt's Creek comes Big Mistakes, another dark, dysfunctional family comedy. The Boudreaux family are not organized crime types, but they nonetheless find themselves blackmailed into the criminal underworld, where they must navigate a series of cascading misfortunes and dangerous alliances to survive. But in a funny way. Stream Big Mistakes on Netflix.

Big Mistakes

at Netflix

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Get Deal

at Netflix

Your Friends and Neighbors

The great Jon Hamm returns for a second season of Your Friends and Neighbors, a dark drama about the secrets lurking beneath the surface of an upscale neighborhood. Hamm plays Coop, a recently divorced and recently fired hedge fund manager. To keep up with his family's expensive lifestyle, he turns to robbing the wealthy residents of his own tony neighborhood. It's a perfect plan, until everything unravels in a spectacularly entertaining way. Stream Your Friends and Neighbors on Apple TV+.

Your Friends and Neighbors

at Apple TV+

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Get Deal

at Apple TV+

Beef

Season two of Beef features a new cast, a new story, and a new beef. Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny play Ben and Toby, a struggling young couple who work at a country club. When they catch a disturbing fight between their boss and his wife (Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan) on video, their thoughts turn to blackmail, leading to an ever-escalating game of high-stakes, class-conscious psychological warfare between the two couples. Watch Beef on Netflix.

Beef

at Netflix

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Get Deal

at Netflix

Rooster

Rooster follows Greg Russo (Steve Carell), a successful author of trashy novels who takes a job as the writer-in-residence at Ludlow College, where his daughter is a professor. Series creator Bill Lawrence's previous shows include Shrinking and Scrubs, so if you like a mixture of cringe comedy and real emotional weight, Rooster belongs on your must-watch list. Watch Rooster on HBO Max.

Rooster

at HBO Max

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Get Deal

at HBO Max

Det finns som bekant en lång rad spel där musiken står i centrum - utan att det rör sig om rent rytmbaserade spel som {Guitar Hero} och liknande. Exempel på detta är {Unbeatable}, {The Artful Escape}, {No Straight Roads}, {Stray Gods} och förstås de riktigt briljanta {Hi-Fi Rush} och {Sayonara Wildhearts}.

<bild>Los Angeles-baserade Iridium Studios bjuder på ett annorlunda rollspel.</bild>

Nu är ett nytt spel på väg, nämligen {People of Note}, som blandar olika musikgenrer med ett lättsamt turbaserat rollspel - nästan ett "rollspel light". Om man kan acceptera de enkla rollspelsmekanismerna fungerar det här faktiskt ganska bra.

Man axlar rollen som den unga kvinnan Cadence, som drömmer om att vinna en stor musiktävling i sin hemstad, men efter att ha framfört sin egen poplåt vid en öppen audition blir hon hemskickad - hon är helt enkelt inte tillräckligt bra, anser en av domarna. Det visar sig dock att denna domare också är manager för Smolder, den mest populära pojkgruppen någonsin, som står i begrepp att vinna samma musiktävling för åttonde gången i rad, så det kan vara fråga om fusk här.

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<bild>Musik möter rollspel och resultatet är inte alls tokigt.</bild>

Cadence bestämmer sig dock för att det inte får vara så. Hon ger sig nu ut för att sätta ihop ett band som kan ge henne en bredare musikalisk räckvidd, och det sker i olika små världar, inspirerade av just olika musikgenrer, bland annat Durandis (rock, punk, grunge och metal) och Lumina (elektronisk musik). Men som alltid händer oväntade saker, bland annat dyker fyra magiska "Keys of Note"-statyetter upp mitt i allt och allt slutar naturligtvis med att bli mer komplicerat än vad Cadence hade hoppats på.

Man ger sig alltså ut på upptäcktsfärd i dessa små semilinjära och halvöppna temavärldar, där man stöter på olika (ganska bra) pussel som ska lösas, kistor som ska plundras och naturligtvis massor av turbaserade strider mot olika musikaliska fiender. I grund och botten fungerar striderna precis som vi känner till från genren, där man kan utföra olika typer av attacker, använda olika förmågor samt hela och boosta sina partymedlemmar när det är ens tur. När man attackerar måste man, precis som i {Clair Obscur: Expedition 33}, trycka på en rad knappar vid rätt tillfälle för att få ut så mycket som möjligt av sin attack.

<bild>Ett musikspel är ju såklart beroende av sitt soundtrack, som dock lyckligtvis levererar.</bild>

Helt i linje med spelets musikaliska tema har striderna också flera musikaliska vändningar längs vägen. Bland annat har varje gruppmedlem sin egen musikgenre, och när musiken som spelas under striderna övergår till en av de genrer som en gruppmedlem har, får den personen sina statistikvärden boostade så länge musiken spelas i den genren. En annan sak är att alla medlemmar i ens party har en "mashup-mätare" och när denna har fyllts upp kan man utföra en "mashup-attack" genom att kombinera de olika musikgenrerna till en mycket kraftfull musikalisk attack.

Det är också värt att nämna att man under spelets gång kan stöta på så kallade "pusselstrider", där man med en rad fördefinierade egenskaper och vapen måste besegra fienderna på specifika sätt och inom ett visst antal omgångar. Det finns inte särskilt många av dem, men de är ganska intressanta och bidrar till att man lär känna sina vapen och egenskaper riktigt väl på detta sätt.

<bild>Striderna kan med tiden bli lite enformiga.</bild>

Som jag sa i början skulle jag kategorisera People of Note som ett "rollspel light". I det här fallet betyder det egentligen bara att det fungerar som ett större rollspel, men det är inte alls lika djupt och det finns inte särskilt många statistikvärden, attacker eller uppdateringar av förmågor och liknande att hålla reda på - men de som finns fungerar riktigt bra. Det är dock konstigt att det nästan inte finns några defensiva möjligheter i stridssystemet, så man får helt enkelt bita ihop när det blir fiendens tur och de bestämmer sig för att slå dig i huvudet med en gitarr.

Handlingen drivs framåt genom en massa dialoger mellan Cadence och dem hon möter längs vägen, och röstskådespeleriet är ganska bra - särskilt den gamle rockmusikern Fret är verkligen välcastad. Utöver dessa dialoger berättas historien emellanåt också genom några ganska välkoreograferade musiknummer/musikuppträdanden, och de ger faktiskt spelet en nästan musikalkänsla ibland och de är riktigt bra. Du kan se ett exempel på ett av dessa precis här nedan.

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Det leder oss vidare till soundtracket, som tillsammans med stridssystemet utgör själva kärnan i spelet. People of Note har ett riktigt lyckat soundtrack, och till skillnad från andra liknande spel där musiken också står i centrum finns det här många olika genrer representerade. Musiken håller en riktigt hög nivå, oavsett om det är pop, rock, elektronisk musik, rap eller country och western. Delar av soundtracket är för övrigt redan tillgängliga på Spotify i skrivande stund.

Slutligen har vi den visuella sidan, som är färgstark och riktigt snygg, och allt är utformat med en "musikalisk vinkel". Ett bra exempel är att det utanför en hiss finns ett stort skjutreglage som på ett mixerbord, som rör sig upp och ner tillsammans med hissen. Detta är bara ett enkelt exempel på att den visuella delen är riktigt genomtänkt, och detsamma kan sägas om de snygga menyerna.

<bild></bild>
<bild>Visuellt är det en fröjd, inklusive melodierna.</bild>

People of Note är ett välfungerande litet rollspel. Ja, det kan verka ytligt och det måste man vara beredd på, men det musikaliska temat, som inte bara är en förpackning, smälter in i stridssystemet och det gör People of Note intressant. Medan de vanliga striderna kan bli lite enformiga med tiden, är bossstriderna både utmanande och spännande, eftersom varje boss har olika musikaliska förmågor.

Även om man inte är en inbiten rollspelsfantast kan People of Note vara ett trevligt, lättillgängligt och mysigt litet rollspel som försöker göra saker lite annorlunda genom att tillföra musikaliska förmågor till ett traditionellt rollspel - och om man köper in sig på den lite enkla premissen så fungerar det faktiskt.

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Google recently agreed to pay $135 million to settle a class action lawsuit.

If you're an Android user or you've had an Android phone over the past nine years or so, listen up: Google just agreed to a $135 million lawsuit that you're likely a class member of. While the final payout is still up in the air, you could be entitled to up to $100.

What is the lawsuit about?

The lawsuit, Taylor V. Google LLC, alleges that Google was complicit in allowing Android devices to send a host of user data to Google without the permission of the users. Not only does the suit highlight the privacy implications, it also hammers Google for using up the users' cellular data. According to the details of the lawsuit, Google denies any wrongdoing in this case, but has agreed to settle for $135 million. As part of that settlement, Google will have to update the Play Store Terms of Service, as well as Android's setup screens, to disclose the data collection and offer users a choice whether or not to opt into it. The company will also disable a related setting on Android devices, though it's not clear what that setting exactly is.

Like many of these class action lawsuits, the breadth of impacted users is quite large here. You are a class member if you reside in the United States and used an Android mobile device with a cellular plan any time from Nov. 12, 2017 to the date the settlement receives final approval. The only other stipulation is you cannot be a class member in Csupo v. Google LLC, which is a similar suit concerning Android users who reside in California.

The lawsuit estimates that there will be approximately 100 million class members here. You might think that'd entitle everyone to $135, but the terms of the settlement cap the payouts to $100 maximum. While that may be the final number, the settlement will first need to pay administrative costs, taxes, lawyer fees, and other expenses, so it could be lower depending on what's left.

How can I get paid in the Google lawsuit?

If you are indeed a class member in this case, you should have received a notice via email or mail. This message will contain both a Notice ID as well as a Confirmation Code. You'll need these to confirm your payment method here. This is an important step: While class members are automatically enrolled in the case, if you don't fill out the payment election form, you might not get paid. If you never received a notice, but believe you are a class member, you can call 1-844-655-4255, send an email to Info@FederalCellularClassAction.com, or send a letter to the following address:

• Federal Cellular Class Action
  c/o Settlement Administrator
  1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
  Philadelphia, PA 19103

You do have the right to exclude yourself from this lawsuit instead. While you will forfeit the money, you will retain your right to sue Google over this issue. If you don't formally exclude yourself by May 29, you waive that right—hence the payout.

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Ända sedan jag först fick upp ögonen för {Mouse: P.I. For Hire} har jag följt spelet och dess utveckling med stor nyfikenhet. Det beror inte på någon koppling till utvecklaren Fumi Games eller någon särskild fixering vid titeln i sig, utan snarare på att projektet utstrålar en känsla för karaktär och personlighet som man ofta saknar när man konsumerar mycket media och hoppar mellan olika spel så ofta som en recensent gör. Dess trailers, de återkommande glimtarna och möjligheten att själv prova spelet övertygade mig om att det här är en titel med en tydlig kreativ och konstnärlig dragningskraft. Men håller det hela vägen genom berättelsen?

Det räcker med att kort uppleva den svartvita noir-estetiken i 1930-talets rubber hose-animation, tillsammans med det jazziga vinylsoundtracket, för att inse att Fumi Games verkligen träffat rätt rent audiovisuellt. Mouse: P.I. For Hire är en genuin kreativ upplevelse, ett slående och minnesvärt konstverk som i sig är tillräckligt starkt för att vara skäl nog att plocka upp spelet. Det är inte bara snyggt - det är fyllt av personlighet och karisma, och världen känns verkligen som hämtad ur en gammaldags tecknad film. Det är förtjusande och utgör en oväntat stabil grund för en actionfylld {Doom}-inspirerad shooter.

<bild>Designen är rakt igenom förstklassig.</bild>

Mouse: P.I. For Hire är linjärt uppbyggt, vilket innebär att du följer en mystisk berättelse om försvunna möss som snart utvecklas till en storskalig korruptionshärva, lika tokig som en tecknad film även om den hämtar inspiration från verkligheten. Jag hade gärna sett lite mer handlingsfrihet i spelets detektivinslag, där man själv får pussla ihop ledtrådar för att upptäcka viktiga samband och information, men som det är nu fungerar berättelsen och förblir tillräckligt intressant för att vilja följa den. Samtidigt är sanningen att berättelsen inte riktigt är spelets främsta säljargument. I likhet med {Cuphead} finns det en historia som driver dig framåt, men spelets verkliga kärna ligger i dess actionupplägg.

Här handlar det återigen om en Doom-liknande upplevelse där du rör dig mellan olika arenor och bekämpar attackerande gnagare (eller krokodiler...) med ett bisarrt urval av vapen och verktyg. Du kan springa runt i hög hastighet i alla riktningar, använda förmågor för att svinga dig fram och springa längs väggar, samtidigt som du öser kulor över inkommande fiender. När striderna väl lagt sig kan du antingen utforska gömda vrår efter hemligheter eller gå vidare till nästa arena. Upplevelsen är ganska linjär, återigen mycket lik Doom, vilket inte är kritik utan snarare något att vara medveten om för dig som hoppats på mer öppna banor.

<bild>Det jazziga vinyl-soundtracket regerar.</bild>

När det gäller bandesignen visar Fumi Games upp sin kreativitet genom en stor variation av miljöer som tar dig runt i Mouseburg och genom en rad unika områden. Inga två banor känns eller ser likadana ut, och vägen till målet varierar hela tiden. Trots den noir-färgade paletten känns varje plats fräsch och levande, särskilt när striderna drar igång och jazzen skruvas upp till max.

Det som däremot förtjänar kritik är fienderna. Utbudet är begränsat och de flesta beter sig på liknande sätt. Närstridsfiender rusar tanklöst mot dig, medan distansfiender håller avstånd och skjuter. Det finns inga särskilt utmärkande mekaniker att ta hänsyn till, utan det är mest konstant spring-och-skjut. Det hade varit mer givande med mer komplexa fiender, likt de många olika demonerna i Doom med sina unika egenskaper. Som det är nu lämnar fienderna i Mouse inte något större intryck, eftersom de sällan bjuder på motstånd. Detsamma gäller bossarna - de har visserligen vissa unika inslag, men i grunden handlar det mest om att undvika deras attacker och skjuta tillbaka.

<bild>Röstskådespeleriet är på högsta nivå.</bild>

Efter många timmars spelande märkte jag också andra designval som inte riktigt fungerade för mig. Spelet lägger stor vikt vid att samla pengar i banorna och använda dem för att köpa basebollkort till ett minispel. Det fungerar, men att ständigt leta efter småmynt känns inte särskilt givande, särskilt när valutasystemet inte riktigt påverkar progressionen. Även hemligheterna är något ojämnt utformade - ibland hittar du något som känns speciellt, bara för att belönas med lite pengar eller en samlarartikel i form av en tidning. Till slut försvinner känslan av upptäckarglädje när belöningarna sällan känns värda mödan.

Allt detta gör att Mouse: P.I. For Hire framstår som en speciell titel, men också en som inte riktigt når hela sin potential. Rent konstnärligt och kreativt hör det till toppskiktet, med en imponerande visuell och ljudmässig helhet och dessutom utmärkt röstskådespeleri. Allt detta förtjänar beröm. Men sett till spelmekaniken finns det sprickor i fasaden, med designval som ibland gör upplevelsen något tom och endimensionell.

<bild>Med lite mer ambition har det varit en pinne upp i betyg direkt.</bild>

Det finns till exempel inslag av metroidvania-inspirerad förflyttning, men det är inget som utnyttjas särskilt mycket. Plattformandet och utforskandet känns mer som tillägg än som centrala designval. Det här är områden där Mouse: P.I. For Hire hade kunnat utvecklas ytterligare för att skapa en mer balanserad helhet.

Men låt inte kritiken avskräcka dig från att prova Mouse: P.I. For Hire. I slutändan är Fumi Games en indieutvecklare och detta är deras debutprojekt, och med det i åtanke är det svårt att inte imponeras av vad de åstadkommit. Spelet sprudlar av karisma och är svårt att ogilla, och både tempot och skjutmekaniken är tillräckligt starka för att underhålla även när du inte hänförs av den fantastiska grafiken och animationerna. Det är inte perfekt, men det är en imponerande insats från en studio som visar ambitioner på AA-nivå eller högre, trots att de är ett indie-team.

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Bara en omgång till, sen måste jag verkligen krypa till kojs och sova. Famous last words minst sagt, och plötsligt inser man att klockan är halv tre på natten. Ögonen svider, insidan av ens skalle har förvandlats till någon form av digital pixel-slushy och man vet att man måste jobba om bara en handfull timmar. Panik.

Det där är en känsla som många av oss gamers är farligt välbekanta med, men som också på äldre dar blivit allt mer sällsynt. Nog för att man älskar spelandet av hela sitt ruttna hjärta, men någonstans inom en påminns man ständigt om att "vara vuxen och ansvarsfull". Så lik förbannat släpar man sig till sängs, även om man inte vill annat än superlimma sig fast i soffan, svetsa igen ytterdörren och förlora sig i det digitala vansinnet.

Vampire Survivors har länge varit ett av "de där" spelen för mig. Det var fullständig katastrof när spelet först släpptes, och det är ett rent under att jag faktiskt aldrig sjukade mig trots många på tok för sena kvällar. Ja, jag är vuxen.. jag lovar. Digitalt knark i sin renaste form med en direkt hypnotisk gameplay-loop fylld av växande siffror, allt mer färgglada effekter och sådär löjligt tillfredsställande ljudeffekter. Att värja sig mot vansinnet var nära nog hopplöst.

Så vad är då resultatet när någon bestämmer sig för att ta samma koncept, ställa det på sin kant, peppra med lite deckbuilding och salta med en nypa roguelite? Fullständig härdsmälta på bästa möjliga vis. That's what. Så vad exakt är då Vampire Crawlers? Häng med så dyker vi ner bland pixlarna och Windows 98 screensaver-perspektivet.

<bild>Det börjar lite segt och simpelt..</bild>
<bild>Men unlocks kommer snart att krydda till din tillvaro och göra livet amaze!</bild>

Först och främst. Låt mig tydliggöra en sak. Vampire Crawlers försöker aldrig trumfa sin föregångare på egen planhalva. Detta är något nytt, men också lömskt välbekant. Man är smart här och istället för att dansa runt ruskprickar medan dina automatiska attacker gör grovjobbet så får du själv mer kontroll här. Du navigerar runt för egen maskin. Ruta för ruta, steg för steg, och styr själv vilka strider du vill ge dig i kast med.

Du pushar på. Varje kort du spelar, varje combo du försöker bygga. Allt är ständigt en balansgång som emellanåt snabbt kan leda till nederlag på grund av någon oväntad fiende som dyker upp, eller en oturligt dragen serie av händer som ger dig helt fel kort, i helt fel ordning. Du svär, accepterar liemannen och hoppar tillbaka in. Bara en gång till.. sen är det raka vägen till sängs.

För även om Vampire Crawlers på pappret är ett annorlunda spel än föregångaren, så lyckas det fånga exakt samma puls, nerv och beroendeframkallande gameplay. Du väljer bana utifrån en overworld map, allt med namn och områden du garanterat känner igen från Vampire Survivors, och bygger din kortlek i realtid. Det mest uppenbara och påtagliga skiftet är så klart spelets tempo. Här är det konstant action eller nagelbitande stress som premieras. Nej, här stirrar du istället på din hand, planerar för combos, manakostnad och maximal effekt.

Det förstnämnda är dessutom vad man skulle kunna kalla för ryggraden i Vampire Crawlers, där du spelar kort i stigande manakostnad för att bygga multipliers som ganska snabbt kan urarta till vansinnes-matematik som hade fått självaste Gottfried Wilhelm Leibni att svettas. Och när den där nästan perfekta sekvensen väl landar, konstruerad av lika delar långsiktigt planerande likväl som en gnutta tur. Mamma Mia. Skärmen exploderar i färger, effekter, och behagliga ljud av monster som dukar under för ditt övervåld. Det är så där saligt tillfredsställande så man blir kollrig.

<bild>Liemannan kommer att hemsöka dig..om och om igen.</bild>
<bild>Världen är din att crawla igenom!</bild>

Kortsystemet i sig är också förvånansvärt lätt att läsa, trots att det snabbt blir överlastat. Där röda kort representerar attacker, blåa är försvar, gula är buffar, lila ger dig mana och så vidare. Det gör din hand överskådlig, även när den expanderat och växt till en oheligt sprudlande verktygslåda ämnad för monsterslakt.

Mer ofta än sällan kommer Crawlers dessutom att kasta en curveball eller två mot dig, för spelet genuint älskar att strössla med knasigheter - ofta också långt mer än du rimligen kan hantera. Det finaste av allt? Det går alltid att göra något med dem, även hur befängt och dumt det än kan verka vara. För om det är något du aldrig ska vara rädd för här, så är det att experimentera. Synergierna kan uppstå från de mest oväntade ting, och Crawlers belönar kreativitet och nyfikenhet snarare än passiv försiktighet. En designfilosofi jag innerligt innerligt önskade att fler roguelites vågade anamma.

Vampire Crawlers vågar nämligen släppa tömmarna och låta dig galoppera iväg mot horisonten. Fullt medveten om att du förr eller senare kommer att växa dig övermäktig. Det är ett spel som låter dig bli en gud, om än bara i pixelerad form, vilket också är exakt vad som gör spelet så förbannat charmigt. Varje runda blir ett galet experiment, varje misslyckande en lärdom och i förlängningen en ursäkt att skippa ännu en timme sömn.

Meta-progressionen hjälper också till att hålla elden vid liv. För mellan varje "run" har du möjlighet att finjustera och pilla i staden. Där kan man manipulera allt från vilka gems som dyker upp i spelet, vilka i sin tur ger passiva effekter på dina kort, till hur starka dina bonusförmågor ska vara eller vilken karaktär du vill spela. Precis som i originalet finns det nämligen en uppsjö av ansikten att låsa upp, alla med sina unika quirks och förmågor vilka uppmuntrar till ännu mer experimenterande.

<bild>Massa mumier att mörda!</bild>
<bild>Miljöerna känns igen och likaså karaktärerna.</bild>

Systemet gör att Crawlers hela tiden känns som att det rör sig framåt, där finns alltid någon litet framsteg att göra, även när du fått stryk och den där kära liemannen för femtio-elfte gången kommer för att håna dig och gnugga nederlaget i ditt ansikte. Bara en runda till...

Audiovisuellt håller så är Vampire Crawlers ungefär vad du kan förvänta dig, och rör sig inte direkt långt ifrån sitt ursprung med överdrivet pixliga representationer av allt från monster till karaktärer. Men också med en tydligare struktur som passar det nya gameplayet och krispiga effekter som förhöjer upplevelsen. På sätt och vis känns det som att någon tog 3D Maze Screensaver från Windows 95 och stoppade i mixern tillsammans med Castlevania. Resultatet är också väldigt färgglatt och charmigt, där du garanterat kommer att dra på smilbanden både en och två gånger under dina många äventyr.

Visst, det finns små skavanker. Första timmen är rätt seg och det tar helt klart en stund för maskineriet att verkligen komma igång. Jag ska ärligt säga att jag krafsade mig lite fundersamt i pannan själv inledningsvis. Se på det som ett lokomotiv som långsamt bygger upp ånga i pannan. En snöboll som rullas från toppen på ett berg men sakta växer till en lavin. För när det väl är igång, då jädrar.

Vidare så kan även spelet bli en aning kaotiskt, med ett emellanåt lite lurigt gränssnitt. Små piss-detaljer så klart, och antagligen något du på din höjd kommer att muttra över i några sekunder innan du lika snabbt glömmer det och istället återigen förlorar dig i Vampire Crawlers absurda briljans - och du återigen klickar på "continue". Bara en runda till..

<bild>Statistik är kul!</bild>
<bild>Precis som tidigare är evolves tillbaka, och så mycket, mycket mer!</bild>

För det är också det som är grejen. Vampire Crawlers vägrar att släppa taget om dig. Det biter fast i nacken och smaskar på. För även om mycket är sig likt och igenkänningsfaktorn från Survivors är påtaglig så arbetar Crawlers med helt nya verktyg. Glöm reflexer och pixelperfekt navigering mellan anstormande horder av monster. Här är det hjärna, tajming och lätt sadistisk kärlek till att pressa system tills de går sönder som gäller.

Timmarna försvinner, dygnet blir till dimma och siffrorna växer i takt med dina combo-kedjor. Allt till tonerna av den där lömskt gungiga musiken och ett fyrverkeri av sprakande pixlar och effekter. Herregud Poncle vad har ni gjort..

För ja. Vampire Crawlers är nära nog enastående och dess möjligheter svindlande. Spela på egen risk, för detta är om möjligt ännu bättre och mer slipat än dess föregångare.

Är det något motorcykelspelen har är det valmöjligheter. Till skillnad mot andra sportspel, där det är ett spel som dominerar och det inte finns någon konkurrens, finns det i denna genre flera spel att välja mellan. De flesta är det dock Milestone som ligger bakom. Det finns Ride, MXGP (där det senaste dock kom 2024), Monster Energy Supercross om du föredrar den typen av hoj, Speedway Challenge, och andra äldre men fortfarande populära spel som MX Bikes (från 2019, men med 3886 samtidiga spelare på Steam när denna recension skrivs). Och så har vi det officiella spelet för MotoGP.

<bild>På väg mot årets lansering.</bild>

Ska jag vara ärlig flyter de senaste årgångarna ihop en del när det gäller den här serien och det gäller även årets version. Hade du startat MotoGP 26 och sagt att det var MotoGP 25 hade jag inte argumenterat en enda sekund. Den största anledningen till detta är givetvis att detta är ett spel med en officiell licens, vilket gör att det inte går att ta ut svängarna lika mycket som det gör i Ride. Milestone brukar dock skruva och hamra lite på innehållet varje år och bjuda på några mindre uppdateringar.

<bild>Karriärläget är djupt.</bild>

De behöver inte skruva speciellt mycket på själva motorcykelåkandet då det är ett av de bästa i genren och den enda riktiga skillnaden i år jämfört med förra året är att "Pro"-upplevelsen har ändrats för att fokusera mer på åkaren. "Rider-Based Handling", som de beskriver det på engelska. Precis som namnet skvallrar om är fysiken nu gjord för att låta spelaren kontrollera åkaren direkt i stället för motorcykeln. Som i verkliga livet alltså, där det ju är du som lutar dig och motorcykeln följer efter. Motorcykeln börjar ju inte luta sig själv åt sidan för att svänga. Detta ska tydligen ha gjort det nödvändigt att uppdatera vissa animeringar för åkarna. Efter att ha testat båda versionerna; denna åkarbaserade fysik och det som kallas "Arcade" kan jag säga att det är en stor skillnad. Pro ska enligt utvecklarna "göra det enklare att lära sig åka". Jag tycker precis tvärtom, att det är svårare än att styra motorcykeln i Arcade-inställningen. Men det är ju så klart tycke och smak. Den andra nyheten är att Moto3 and Moto2-cyklarna fått uppdaterat ljud.

<bild>Det går att åka olika typer av motorcyklar om du nu känner för det.</bild>

Så, på banan har det inte hänt överdrivet mycket, men det kanske det gjort på andra ställen i stället? Karriärläget, där jag tror att de flesta spelarna kommer att spendera mest tid, är sig rätt likt. Du får återigen välja att starta i Moto3, Moto2, eller rakt in i finrummet i MotoGP och därefter jobba dig upp till titeln. Därefter kommer en inledande presskonferens där du får välja vad årets målsättning är. Kanske skapa en rivalitet, åka tillräckligt bra för att få ett kontrakt från ett bättre stall eller åka för prestige. En sak jag gillar är att det går att utveckla din motorcykel för att kunna tävla med de bästa. Alla motorcyklar kan nå maximal prestanda om du lägger ner tillräckligt mycket tid på att utveckla den under testdagar och debriefings. Så Ducati och Aprilia kan behöva se upp. Karriären är sedan upplagt i ett veckovist upplägg med officiella tävlingsschema (om du så önskar). Vecka kan bestå av träningssession, kval, sprint, och race. Vecka två likadant på en annan bana. Vecka tre kan sedan vara en så kallad Race Off. Där får du chansen att köra lite mer oseriöst med andra typer av motorcyklar, som minibikes, och motards. En ny plats, Canterbury Park, har lagts till vilket tar totalsiffran upp till tre, med tidigare Mont Lagard och Borgo Caselle. Nu är jag ingen expert i hur proffsåkare tillbringar sin fritid, men detta ska tydligen ge oss en "insikt i riktiga åkares träningsrutiner".

<bild>MotoGP 26 har tyvärr dragit i bromsen lite väl mycket när det kommer till nytt innehåll.</bild>

Är du istället någon som föredrar multiplayer går det att spela split screen lokalt med två spelare eller i onlinerace för upp till 22 spelare med full crossplay mellan Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, och Xbox Series X/S. Soloupplevelsen har det du kan förvänta dig utöver karriären. Det finns Grand Prix, mästerskap, solorace, och time trials.

MotoGP 26 är fortsatt ett mycket starkt spel i en serie som gör verklighetens MotoGP rättvisa och spelmässigt är det underhållande, men tyvärr känns det som att serien börjar sakta ner lite för mycket. Det finns helt enkelt inte tillräckligt mycket nytt eller känns tillräckligt annorlunda från förra årets titel.

För de flesta är Mega Man synonymt med den ordinarie serien som startade till NES, och får ett nytt spel nästa år i form av {Mega Man: Dual Override}, alternativt möjligen {Mega Man X}. Men i Japan är Mega Man mycket större än så och det dräller av obskyra spel som i många fall inte ens letat sig till väst, eller åtminstone inte gjort mycket väsen av sig.

<video>

Bland de större och mer lyckade hittar vi Nintendo DS-serien Mega Man Star Force, en sort andlig uppföljare till {Mega Man Battle Network} (som även den släpptes i väst, främst till Game Boy Advance). Star Force bjöd på tre äventyr fördelade på totalt sju olika versioner, vilka kan jämföras med upplägget i Pokémon-spelen, det vill säga att du valde version för att få små skillnader till ditt äventyr. Något stort utbyteselement saknas dock, så jag skulle vilja påstå at det främst handlade om ett sätt att få sälja flera versioner till samma spelare. Spelen som ingår är:

• Mega Man Star Force Leo


• Mega Man Star Force Dragon


• Mega Man Star Force Pegasus


• Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Ninja


• Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Saurian


• Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace


• Mega Man Star Force 3 Red Joker

Att pussellösning och taktik går hand i hand är inget nytt under solen, men när man adderar Tetris fallande klossar till strategiska strider så blir resultatet ändock förvånansvärt beroendeframkallande. I det nya indiespelet Drop Duchy handlar det nämligen om att forma sitt eget kungadöme med hjälp pusselbitar, och här fokuserar man dessutom mer på att forma landet man livnär sig på framför att direkt flytta och manövrera sina militära styrkor. Det må låta lite märkligt till en början, men tämligen snabbt lär man sig att det finns en medryckande enkelhet till upplägget samtidigt som det göms ett spelmekaniskt djup bland skogar och fält.
<bild>Tetris - fast med en knorr!</bild>
Det finns ingen story i Drop Duchy att ta del av utan du får, efter en kortare introduktion, kasta dig in i en kampanj i tre akter där målet är att besegra dina fiender och stå som segrare efter ett par intensiva bosstrider. Upplägget är förövrigt av roguelike-typen där man gör så kallade "runs" för att successivt bli bättre från omgång till omgång. Gillar man den här specifika genren så finns det mycket innehåll att ta del av (att spela som olika armeér bland annat), men det går även att uppskatta bataljer med en mer avslappnad framförhållning om man vill undvika en alltför stor tidsmässig investering.

Varje "run" är sedan som sagt uppdelad i olika akter och varje akt erbjuder i sin tur en rad olika utmaningar. I början kan man pussla i lugn och ro (utan några fiender) och det är här som man kan tjäna in olika resurser. För när man får ihop fulla rader med sina klossar så kan man skörda olika tillgångar, och adderar man olika hus och fabriker till de horisontella linjerna så kan resultatet dessutom förbättras avsevärt. Det finns förövrigt ingen tidspress att ta i beaktande, men du måste däremot klura på vart du ska placera dina klossar då skogar genererar ved och virke medans öppna fält och åkrar erbjuder mat etc.
<bild>Du kan ofta välja om du vill möta fiender på en gång eller ta en mer lättsam väg framåt - att avvakta med bataljerna gör dock bossarna starkare.</bild>
Svårighetsgraden ökar sedan när fienderna gör entre, men det är med en intressant knorr som Drop Duchy behandlar sina strider. Du är nämligen ständigt i full kontroll, detta då du är den som både placerar ut dina trupper likväl som din motståndarens styrkor. Varje enhet har dock olika attribut att ta hänsyn till och de kan bli starkare eller svagare beroende på var de lokaliserar sig på slagfältet. Vissa grupper blir exempelvis starkare av att vara nära skogar medan andra föredrar berg eller andra bebyggelser, och det är genom att maximera sina klossars förmågor som man både kan stärka sin egen armé samtidigt som man gör sin fiende sårbar.
<bild>Striderna sker alltid efter att klossarna är på plats, och du kan bestämma i vilken ordning slagen ska äga rum.</bild>
<bild>Du låser upp nya kort på resans gång, och dessa kan du sedan använda som klossar för att bygga ett bättre kungadöme.</bild>
Det finns förövrigt en annan aspekt att ha i bakhuvudet när det kommer till spelets strider, och det är i slutet av varje batalj där man återigen får bestämma i vilken ordning saker ska ske. Drop Duchy använder sig nämligen av en "sten sax påse-regel" där olika grupper har en styrka och tillika en svaghet. Du kan sedan manipulera detta till din fördel där du först kan låta dina pilbågsskyttar anfalla ett gäng yxmän (vilket de har en fördel emot) innan de ansluter till sina egna yxkrigare och tar sig an soldater med svärd (som ovannämnda yxor ofta trumfar över). Det må som sagt låta lite invecklat i skrift, men det är ett intressant system som gör att varje kloss har betydelse för hur resultatet blir i slutändan.

För när krutröken har lagt sig och klossarna fallit på plats så erbjuder Drop Duchy ett gemytligt äventyr där gullig grafik blandas med intressant och medryckande spelbarhet. Det må inte vara en banbrytande tolkning av pusselgenren på det stora hela, men det är likväl ett spännande koncept med väldigt många finurliga inslag. Gillar man taktisk tänkande och rogivande pussellösning så är detta ett självklart inköp, och är man villig att sätta sig in i alla komplexa valmöjligheter så väntar därtill ett spel man kan tillbringa otaligt många timmar tillsammans med under de kommande sommarmånaderna.
<bild>Det är inte lätt när det är svårt.</bild>

Will customers actually get their hands on the first Trump phone?

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The Trump Mobile T1 phone might actually be shipping this week. That's according to USA Today, which says they received an exclusive email from Trump Mobile confirming the shipment. If true, customers who preordered this golden phone may actually be getting their units imminently.

According to USA Today, Trump Mobile CEO Pat O'Brien confirmed that the company will start shipping pre-ordered T1 phones this week. Take that with a grain of salt, however. This news follows several rounds of delays, as the company originally advertised an August release for the T1. O'Brien says those delays "were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product." The Trump Mobile CEO also tells USA Today that the phones are indeed assembled in the United States, and use parts that are "primarily manufactured in America." That's part of the "proudly American" promise of the phone, as Trump Mobile's website says the T1 is "designed with American values in mind."

What is the Trump Mobile T1 Phone?

Trump Mobile's first phone seems to be like any other midrange Android device in most regards. It comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate; three rear cameras, with a 50MP main lens, a 8MP wide angle lens, and a 50MP 2x tele lens; a 50MP selfie camera; a 5,000 mAh battery with support for up to 30W of quick charging; a fingerprint sensor and "AI Face" unlock; and a Snapdragon SoC, though the company hasn't specified which chip is actually running in this device.

There are two elements here that make the Trump Mobile T1 stand out from other phones on the market: One is the Trump branding. If you don't slap a case on this thing, everyone is going to know your stance on things, since the bottom of the phone features a large American flag with TRUMP MOBILE embossed along the base. If that wasn't enough, there's even a TRUMP MOBILE stamp along the cameras, as well. The back of the phone, as well as the thin bezel around the display, is gold (of course), and, according to renders, there's a TRUMP MOBILE home screen wallpaper, should you feel you aren't displaying the phone's OEM enough already.

The other unique element, of course, is that this phone is supposedly made mostly in the States. It's true that it's pretty difficult to find a smartphone that meets that description, since most devices are manufactured in large part outside the country. That said, it's definitely not 100% American-made: Snapdragon chips are manufactured by TSMC, which is based in Taiwan. Samsung makes AMOLED displays in Korea, as well. Perhaps the phones are assembled in the U.S., and use many other American-sourced parts, but, as it stands, the phone isn't entirely made in this country.

The Trump T1 Phone starts at $499, and the company is offering a $100 rebate if you pre-order it. Perhaps it really will launch, and you'll be able to have your very own Trump-branded phone within the coming weeks. But in case you'd rather consider another midrange Android device for any number of reasons, CNET has a great list of options here.

Google Pixel 10a 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian)

$482.99 at Amazon

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$482.99 at Amazon

Pope Leo XIV denounced how investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were leading the world into a "spiral of annihilation," as he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Pope Leo XIV denounced how investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were leading the world into a "spiral of annihilation," as he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine.

(Image credit: Gregorio Borgia)

According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out.

Processor and Performance

Display

Chassis Design

Release Date

Pricing

Earlier this week, we began tracking a new all-time low price on the 32GB/1TB M5 MacBook Pro, and now the 16GB/1TB model has joined in on the deals. You can get this 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro for $1,499.99 on Amazon, down from $1,699.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

At $199 off, this is a match of the lowest price we've ever tracked on this model, and it's available in Space Black and Silver. This is the model that launched in the fall of 2025 as part of a refresh of the MacBook Pro lineup, featuring a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU.

PCMag called it one of the best Android phones available right now.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Google’s Pixel phones have spent the last few years becoming the default recommendation for people who want a straightforward Android experience without dealing with heavy software skins or overloaded features. The Google Pixel 10 Pro continues that approach, though its original $1,219 price made it harder to justify against competing flagship phones. Now, Amazon has dropped the unlocked 512GB model to $969 (its lowest price yet, according to online price trackers), and that makes it easier to appreciate what Google actually does well here.

Google Pixel 10 Pro (Obsidian)

512GB nlocked Android smartphone

$969.00 at Amazon

$1,219.00 Save $250.00

Get Deal

Get Deal

$969.00 at Amazon

$1,219.00 Save $250.00

The hardware itself is familiar in a good way—the flat display makes it easier to grip and use one-handed, the matte glass back does a better job resisting fingerprints than many glossy competitors, and the overall build feels solid without becoming bulky. Google also continues to offer one of the better long-term Android support policies, so you aren't buying something that will feel outdated in two years. Performance is solid for day-to-day use, though the Tensor G5 chip still trails behind Snapdragon-powered competitors in heavier gaming and more demanding apps, notes this PCMag review. That said, the biggest reason to buy this phone is still the camera system. Google continues to deliver photos that look natural without over-sharpening faces or cranking up colors, and its triple-camera setup handles low-light shots especially well.

The 6.7-inch OLED display of the Pixel 10 Pro also gets brighter than last year’s model, making it easier to use outdoors, and Qi2 charging plus Google’s new PixelSnap magnetic system make wireless charging less annoying in daily use—snapping the phone onto a desk stand or car mount feels simple in the same way Apple’s MagSafe accessories do, says our writer in her review of the product. Battery life is good enough for a full day with regular use, but frequent video recording, navigation, or extended camera sessions can drain it faster. Also, one thing to keep in mind is the switch to eSIM-only support. For people who travel often or frequently change carriers, losing the option for a physical SIM card may feel limiting.

I’ve never thought of myself as a “car person.” The last new car I bought (and in fact, now that I think about it, the first new car I ever bought) was the quirky 1998 Ford Contour SVT. Since then, we bought a

I’ve never thought of myself as a “car person.” The last new car I bought (and in fact, now that I think about it, the first new car I ever bought) was the quirky 1998 Ford Contour SVT. Since then, we bought a VW station wagon in 2011 and a Honda minivan in 2012 for family transportation duties. That’s it. Not exactly the stuff The Stig’s dreams are made of.

The station wagon made sense for a family of three, but became something of a disappointment because it was purchased before — surprise! — we had twins. As Mark Twain once said:

Sufficient unto the day is one baby. As long as you are in your right mind don’t you ever pray for twins. Twins amount to a permanent riot. And there ain’t any real difference between triplets and an insurrection.

I’m here to tell you that a station wagon doesn’t quite cut it as a permanent riot abatement tool. For that you need a full sized minivan.

I’m with Philip Greenspun. Like black socks and sandals, minivans are actually… kind of awesome? Don’t believe all the SUV propaganda. Minivans are flat out superior vehicle command centers. Swagger wagons, really.

The A-Team drove a van, not a freakin’ SUV. I rest my case.

After 7 years, the station wagon had to go. We initially looked at hybrids because, well, isn’t that required in California at this point? But if you know me at all, you know I’m a boil the sea kinda guy at heart. I figure if you’re going to flirt with partially electric cars, why not put aside these half measures and go all the way?

Do you remember that rapturous 2014 Oatmeal comic about the Tesla model S? Even for a person who has basically zero interest in automobiles, it did sound really cool.

It’s been 5 years, but from time to time I’d see some electric vehicle on the road and I’d think about that Intergalactic SpaceBoat of Light and Wonder. Maybe it’s time for our family to jump on the electric car trend, too, and just late enough that we can avoid the bleeding edge and end up merely on the… leading edge?

That’s why we’re now the proud owners of a fully electric 2019 Kia Niro.

I’ve somehow gone from being a person who basically doesn’t care about cars at all… to being one of those insufferable electric car people who won’t shut up about them. I apologize in advance. If you suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to close this browser tab, I don’t blame you.

I was expecting another car, like the three we bought before. What I got, instead, was a transformation:

• Yes, yes, electric cars are clean, but it’s a revelation how clean everything is in an electric. You take for granted how dirty and noisy gas based cars are in daily operation – the engine noise, the exhaust fumes, the brake dust on the rims, the oily residues and thin black film that descends on everything, the way you have to wash your hands every time you use the gas station pumps. You don’t fully appreciate how oppressive those little dirty details were until they’re gone.
• Electric cars are (almost) completely silent. I guess technically in 2019 electric cars require artificial soundmakers at low speed for safety, and this car has one. But The Oatmeal was right. Electric cars feel like spacecraft because they move so effortlessly. There’s virtually no delay from action to reaction, near immediate acceleration and deceleration… with almost no sound or vibration at all, like you’re in freakin’ space! It’s so immensely satisfying!
• Electric cars aren’t just electric, they’re utterly digital to their very core. Gas cars always felt like the classic 1950s Pixar Cars world of grease monkeys and machine shop guys, maybe with a few digital bobbins added here and there as an afterthought. This electric car, on the other hand, is squarely in the post-iPhone world of everyday digital gadgets. It feels more like a giant smartphone than a car. I am a programmer, I’m a digital guy, I love digital stuff. And electric cars are part of my world, rather than the other way around. It feels good.
• Electric cars are mechanically much simpler than gasoline cars, which means they are inherently more reliable and cheaper to maintain. An internal combustion engine has hundreds of moving parts, many of which require regular maintenance, fluids, filters, and tune ups. It also has a complex transmission to translate the narrow power band of a gas powered engine. None of this is necessary on an electric vehicle, whose electric motor is basically one moving part with simple 100% direct drive from the motor to the wheels. This newfound simplicity is deeply appealing to a guy who always saw cars as incredibly complicated (but computers, not so much).
• Being able to charge at home overnight is perhaps the most radical transformation of all. Your house is now a “gas station.” Our Kia Niro has a range of about 250 miles on a full battery. With any modern electric car, provided you drive less than 200 miles a day round trip (who even drives this much?), it’s very unlikely you’ll ever need to “fill the tank” anywhere but at home. Ever. It’s so strange to think that in 50 years, gas stations may eventually be as odd to see in public as public telephone booths now are. Our charger is, conveniently enough, right next to the driveway since that’s where the power breaker box was. With the level 2 charger installed, it literally looks like a gas pump on the side of the house, except this one “pumps”… electrons.

This electric car is such a great experience. It’s so much better than our gas powered station wagon that I swear, if there was a fully electric minivan (there isn’t) I would literally sell our Honda minivan tomorrow and switch over. Without question. And believe me, I had no plans to sell that vehicle two months ago. The electric car is that much better.

I was expecting “yet another car,” but what I got instead was a new, radical worldview. Driving a car powered by barely controlled liquid fuel detonations used to be normal. But in an world of more and more viable electric vehicles this status quo increasingly starts to feel… deeply unnatural. Electric is so much better of an overall experience that you begin to wonder: why did we ever do it that way?

Gas cars seem, for lack of a better word, obsolete.

How did this transformation happen, from my perspective, so suddenly? When exactly did electric cars go from “expensive, experimental thing for crazy people” to “By God, I’ll never buy another old fashioned gasoline based car if I can help it”?

I was vaguely aware of the early electric cars. I even remember one coworker circa 2001 who owned a bright neon green Honda Insight. I ignored it all because, like I said, I’m not a car guy. I needed to do the research to understand the history, and I started with the often recommended documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?

This is mostly about the original highly experimental General Motors EV1 from 1996 to 1999. It’s so early the first models had lead-acid batteries! 😱 There’s a number of conspiracy theories floated in the video, but I think the simple answer to the implied question in the title is straight up price. The battery tech was nowhere near ready, and per the Wikipedia article the estimated actual cost of the car was somewhere between $100,000 and $250,000 though I suspect it was much closer to the latter. It is interesting to note how much the owners (well, leasers) loved their EV1s. Having gone through that same conversion myself, I empathize!

I then watched the sequel, Revenge of the Electric Car. This one is essential, because it covers the dawn of the modern electric car we have today.

This chronicles the creation of three very influential early electric cars – the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt, and of course the Tesla Roadster from 2005 - 2008. The precise moment that Lithium-Ion batteries were in play – that’s when electric cars started to become viable. Every one of these three electric cars was well conceived and made it to market in volume, though not without significant challenges, both internal and external. None of them were perfect electric vehicles by any means: the Roadster was $100k, the Leaf had limited range, and the Volt was still technically a hybrid, albeit only using the gasoline engine to charge the battery.

Ten years later, Tesla has the model 3 at $38,000 and we bought our Kia Niro for about the same price. After national and state tax incentives and rebates, that puts the price at around $30,000. It’s not as cheap as it needs to be… yet. But it’s getting there. And it’s already competitive with gasoline vehicles in 2019.

It’s still early, but the trend lines are clear. And I’m here to tell you that right now, today, I’d buy any modern electric car over a gasoline powered car.

If you too are intrigued by the idea of owning an electric car, you should be. It’s freaking awesome! Bring your skepticism, as always; I highly recommend the above Matt Ferrell explainer video on electric vehicle myths.

As for me, I have seen the future, and it is absolutely, inexorably, and unavoidably… electric.⚡

The Trump administration announced $1.8 billion in funding for the U.N.'s global humanitarian relief efforts.

The Trump administration announced $1.8 billion in funding for the U.N.'s global humanitarian relief efforts.

This small update brings ads to Apple Maps, as well as end-to-end encryption for RCS.

After keeping things low-key with iOS 26.3, Apple rolled out a sizable update for iOS 26.4—especially for Apple Music users. That app's UI now matches the art of the album you're checking out; you can use AI to generate new playlists, and find upcoming concerts by the artists you're listening to directly in the app. Combined with other new changes, like eight new emojis and the new "Urgent" section in Reminders, iOS 26.4 was actually quite a feature-filled update. iOS 26.5, on the other hand, is arguably another quiet one.

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Don't expect any massive new features or changes here (despite some rumors to the contrary, Apple really does appear to be saving its AI Siri for the launch of iOS 27), but there are some interesting updates to call out. In my view, two features define this update: one good, one frustrating.

Apple Maps gets ads in iOS 26.5

It's official: Apple Maps is getting ads. It's part of Apple's push to introduce ads into more of its apps and services in order to boost its revenue. (What's a $4 trillion company to do?) These ads will appear when you search in Apple Maps, based on relevance, as well as at the top of a "Suggested Places" screen that is also new to iOS 26.5.

You should easily be able to distinguish between ads and suggested locations: Apple says it's placing a blue "Ad" icon on any paid location that appears in search or Suggested Places. It's possible these ads could even be useful, if they really are relevant: If you're looking for a specific type of food in a particular city, perhaps the top ad really is the way to go. On the other hand, the fact that it was paid to be up there could be a red flag.

The addition of ads isn't a shock: We first heard rumblings of this news last year, and Apple confirmed it last week. Because this is Apple, the company is assuring users that its ad placements take privacy into account, as the app "doesn’t know which stores, neighborhoods, or clinics you visit." When you interact with an ad, that data is tied to a "random identifier" that changes multiple times an hour, so theoretically, no one should be able to tie your ad interactions to you personally.

RCS end-to-end encryption is finally here

After months of testing, Apple officially rolled out end-to-end encryption for RCS—one of the last big limitations the protocol has on iOS. iPhone users should now be able to text their Android friends directly without leaving their messages out in the open in plain text. That's assuming, of course, their Android friends are also using a messaging app that supports encrypted RCS. At the moment, that largely means the most recent versions of Google Messages.

When Apple finally rolled out RCS support for iPhone, it was a true game-changer. Green bubble texts no longer need to be something to fear; now, group chats can function correctly, photos and videos can be sent in high resolution, and you can use read receipts outside of iMessage. But end-to-end encryption was missing, which made the experience just as insecure as SMS. Going forward, we can all message with a little more peace of mind.

You can quickly pair Magic Accessories to your iPhone

If you have one of Apple's "Magic" accessories, like a Magic Keyboard, you can quickly pair it to your iPhone in iOS 26.5. You can plug your iPhone into the accessory via USB-C to pair, as you do on macOS, rather than fiddling with Bluetooth settings. Once you do that, the accessory can quickly pair to your iPhone via Bluetooth, which should make switching devices easier.

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There's a new "Pride Luminance" wallpaper in iOS 26.5

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As part of the company's latest Pride collection, there's now a "Pride Luminance" wallpaper that refracts light and color. Apple says the design is two-fold: The radial design features rays of color that align with the hour, while a vertical design divies up the colors into sections.

You can now pay for annual subscriptions month-by-month (not available in the U.S.)

iOS 26.5's final new feature makes it a bit easier to stomach paying for an annual subscription—assuming you don't live in Singapore or the U.S. With this new update, you can now pay for annual subscriptions month-by-month. Instead of dropping $120 on an annual plan all at once, you could instead pay $10 per month. You're still locked in for the year, so you'll need to commit to 12 months of payments, but at least it feels like a monthly subscription to your wallet. However, despite being home to Apple HQ, the U.S. can't take advantage of this change yet. Hopefully, that'll come with iOS 26.6, or maybe iOS 27.

You can (and should) use Gmail keyboard shortcuts in Outlook.

Outlook is among the best Gmail alternatives for most people. Microsoft's email service is free and has a bunch of features that Gmail does not. At the same time, there are some shared features you'll likely want to use if you're coming from Gmail—they're just not enabled by default. I've been using Outlook's email service for over a decade, and these are the best hacks I've discovered while sorting through my inbox.

Disable image downloads to prevent email tracking by shady companies

Companies and organizations often use pixel tracking to see if you've opened their emails. Every one of these emails includes a hidden tracking pixel, which sends read receipts to the sender when opened. Outlook's default settings protect you from the worst of it, but you should take a few additional steps to safeguard your account. Go to Outlook.com and log in to your account. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open settings. Now, go to Mail > Junk email. Under "Security options," select Block attachments, pictures, and links from anyone not in my Safe senders and domains list.

Note that this might not be for everyone, as it requires you to manually vet people who send emails to you. From a security standpoint, however, it's your best tool against email tracking, phishing, and scam attempts. You can also go to Outlook settings > Mail > Layout, and choose Don't show sender images to add an extra layer of privacy protection. On a similar note, you can go to the Message handling tab in the same settings page, and uncheck For shopping-related messages show a sender logo and relevant links in the message header.

Use "Safe senders" to stop Outlook from sending good emails to spam

Outlook's "Safe senders" list lets you add people to a trusted contacts list. Emails from these people won't be sent to spam, and won't be subject to restrictions such as blocked links or attachments—perfect for anyone who uses the hack above. You can use this feature to ensure that important emails, such as account statements from your bank, or paystubs from your employer, are never sent to spam. To get started, go to Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email > Add safe sender. You can also select the Safe mailing lists tab to add mailing lists to the Safe senders list. This is great for newsletters from your favorite publications, or safety-related emails from your companies.

Run an automated inbox sweep to delete emails every 24 hours

Credit: Pranay Parab

One of Outlook's best features is Sweep. It automatically checks your inbox for emails from certain senders, and follows your instructions to manage the clutter. For example, my bank sends me an email for every transaction on my credit card. At one point, I was looking at 150+ unread emails that I had no use for. So, I used Sweep to keep transaction emails from the past 10 days, and archive the rest. To set it up, select any email in your inbox, then choose the Home tab at the top of the page in Outlook's desktop or web apps. Select Sweep, and you'll see a pop-up asking what to do with emails from that sender. There are four options here:

• Move all messages from the Inbox folder

• Move all messages from the Inbox folder and any future messages

• Always keep the latest message and move the rest from the Inbox folder

• Always move messages older than 10 days from the Inbox folder

You also have a drop-down menu to select where you want to move these messages. I usually select one of the last two options above, and move the rest of the messages to the Archive folder, or Deleted Items. I've used this feature for a couple years now, and it works flawlessly in the background. If you ever want to change or delete Sweep rules, go to Outlook settings > Mail > Sweep.

Configure gestures to delete emails in one swipe

Outlook's mobile apps support gestures to quickly triage emails without opening each manually. You can swipe left or right to archive, delete, or report emails. However, you can customize these gestures to suit your needs. Go to Outlook settings in the mobile apps, and navigate to Email > Swipe Options. On this page, select what happens when you swipe right or left. Some useful options include delete, archive, flag/unflag, mark read/unread, snooze, and read and archive.

In Outlook's desktop and web apps, go to Outlook settings > Mail > Customize actions. This will let you configure swipe gestures (for laptops with a touchscreen), and quick actions, which are the buttons that appear on each email in your inbox. I used this to replace the Pin button with Archive as I never pin emails in my inbox. You can select a maximum of four actions for each email.

Turn off Copilot AI and disable Microsoft's data collection

Credit: Pranay Parab

In Outlook's mobile, desktop, and web apps, go to Settings > Copilot, and disable Turn on Copilot. This will turn off almost all AI features in the apps. You should also go to Outlook settings > Mail > Smart suggestions, and turn off Show suggested replies.

Microsoft also collects a bunch of data and enables AI services in your Outlook account. If you want to disable this, head to Outlook settings > Mail > Privacy and data > Privacy settings. Turn off all options on this page to disable optional diagnostic data collection, prevent Microsoft from analyzing your emails for "connected experiences," and disable online content linked to emails in your inbox. You can also select Delete history to clear your search history from Outlook. While you're at it, go to Mail > Compose and reply, and disable Microsoft Edge Autofill. With this feature enabled, Microsoft Edge will pull from your Outlook inbox to autofill information, namely flight info. This feature may be useful for those who use Edge a lot, but it's not of much use to those who don't.

Try this hidden menu to bulk unsubscribe from junk mail lists

While working on this article, I discovered Outlook's hidden bulk unsubscribe feature. This feature lists all the subscriptions in your inbox and lets you unsubscribe from all of them without opening a single email. To try it out, go to Outlook settings > Mail > Subscriptions. Click the Unsubscribe button next to any of the lists, and Outlook will handle the rest for you.

Switch to Gmail's keyboard shortcuts to speed up email actions

I've never liked Outlook's keyboard shortcuts much. As an example, "Ctrl-N" opens a new email in Outlook. In Gmail, it's "C." While Ctrl-N is the more familiar shortcut, it's not as fast as using a single keystroke. The good news is you can use Gmail's keyboard shortcuts in Outlook and save a lot of time. I love this hack because most people have Gmail as their primary email account, and now you don't have to remember two sets of shortcuts for email. To set this up, go to Outlook settings > General > Accessibility > Keyboard shortcuts. Select Gmail, and you're all set. Google has all of Gmail's keyboard shortcuts listed here, if you need a refresher.

Use "Quick steps" to mark emails read and archive in one click

Credit: Pranay Parab

I find myself marking emails read and archiving quite a bit, and I've set up a single-click workflow using Outlook's "Quick steps." You can do that too by going to Outlook settings > Mail > Quick steps. Give your Quick step a name, choose an action such as Mark as read, and click the Add another action button. You can now select Move to, followed by Archive. On the same page, you can add a keyboard shortcut for this action, and click Save. This is a basic example of what you can do with Quick steps. You can set up any multi-step workflow to suit your needs, which could include categorizing emails, turning emails into tasks, or muting an email conversation, among many others.

Set up undo send to prevent accidentally sending incomplete emails

If you're ever regretted sending an email right after hitting the Send button, you're not alone. In Gmail, the undo send feature is enabled, but that's not true for Outlook. You'll need to enable it manually from Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply > Undo send. Use the slider to set a timer between 0 and 30 seconds, which is how long you have to stop sending an email where you've misspelled your own name. (Been there, done that.)

Configure Outlook's email filters to highlight messages sent directly to you

You can use Outlook's rules feature to filter out messages where you're marked in the cc or bcc fields of an email. This way, you can focus on emails directly addressed to you, and move the rest to a different folder. To set this up, go to Outlook settings > Mail > Rules, and select Add new rule. Give this rule a name, select I'm not on the To line as the condition. In the actions field, select Move to, and pick a folder. Select Stop processing more rules to avoid further rule conflicts, and click Save. Now, all emails where you're in cc or bcc will go to the new folder, keeping your inbox exclusive to direct messages.

Sleep animals, badges, direct messages, forums, and more are disappearing.

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With Google’s announcement of the screenless Fitbit Air, the company is also preparing for a big shift in how the app works and what device features it supports. That means we’re losing sleep animals and a bunch of other features that you may miss. Here’s what’s on the chopping block. 

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Fitbit accounts are going away (for real this time)

Fitbit used to be its own company, but after Google bought Fitbit, it started gently encouraging users to use Google accounts rather than using their old Fitbit accounts. The encouragement has gotten less gentle over time, with Google saying louder over the past year or so that you need to switch your old Fitbit account to a Google one, for real, we mean it. 

The deadline to switch kept getting pushed back, but it looks like Google really does mean it this time. Social features in the Fitbit app will be locked on May 12, 2026 for people who use a Fitbit account. After May 19, 2026, your Fitbit account will stop working. Google will begin deleting your Fitbit data on July 15, 2026. We have instructions here for migrating your Fitbit account to a Google account. 

The old Fitbit forums are going away (along with your post history and profile data)

If you use the Fitbit forums (which have been around since 2013), you’ll lose data there, too. Buried in a chipper announcement about a forum overhaul (“We can’t wait for you to see the updated community!”), Google says you’ll lose your post history and all profile data from the forum. Fitbit users often looked to these posts for information on older devices that aren’t currently supported. It’s not clear from the announcement whether past posts will still exist in an archive.

No more badges or sleep animals

You can no longer earn badges. No new badges will be created, and all old badges will be deleted. Google says “If you have Google Health Coach, your coach will help to celebrate your progress and accomplishments.” Sleep animals are going away, as well—more about that below. (For what it’s worth, Samsung still does sleep animals, as I noticed when I reviewed the Galaxy Ring.) 

Lots of social features are going away

Besides forums, there are also social features in the Fitbit app. These are changing, too: 

• Social profiles will include your name, email, and profile picture from your Google account. The first time you log in with the Google account, you’ll get a prompt asking you to approve sharing this information. You can’t have a custom name or picture except by changing it on your Google account.

• Privacy settings for social profiles aren't available anymore, since social profiles will no longer include your sex, height, weight, location, or friends list.

• Groups and Community feed are going away.

• Direct messages will no longer be available in the Fitbit app.

• Kid accounts cannot have friends.

These health features are disappearing or changing

When the old Fitbit app is replaced with Google Health, several of the old features won’t make the jump. If you’ve been using the Public Preview, you may have noticed these features aren’t there. While Google Health will add some missing features, here’s a list of the changes Google plans to make. I’ll include what, if anything, is meant to substitute for each missing or changed feature.

• Cardio fitness will no longer be estimated based on your height and weight. This feature is now called VO2max and requires GPS data from outdoor runs. (One nice perk: it can use data from other devices, not just Fitbits.)

• Sleep profiles are going away, including sleep animals. In its place, you can ask Google Health Coach what kind of sleeper you are.

• Estimated Oxygen Variation (EOV) is going away, but you can still check your blood oxygen (SpO2) in the Health tab.

• Snore detection is going away. This was a feature on the original Sense and on the Versa 3. 

• Graphs of stress checks will no longer be available. You can still do a scan on the Charge 5, Charge 6, and Sense to see the individual result.

• Minute-by-minute skin temperature is no longer available. You can still get daily and weekly skin temperature.

• Blood glucose tracking won’t allow you to add symptoms or get reminders to check your levels, but you can connect Apple Health (iOS) or Health Connect (Android) to get blood glucose data that way.

• Food plans are no longer supported with calorie targets, but you can still set calorie targets and macronutrient targets in the Nutrition section of the Health tab.

• Recipes are no longer available. This was a premium feature.

• Lifescan devices no longer have a supported connection to the Fitbit app. You can still log your blood glucose manually. 

In many cases, the missing features are being replaced by a suggestion that you can ask Google Health Coach about that area of your health. Since Google Health Coach is a premium feature, that means you’ll need to pay for that answer and you’ll get it in a less structured format that may be tainted with hallucinations. This doesn’t feel like an upgrade to me! But Google seems to hope that the added features of the new app will more than make up for what’s missing.

Rumors suggest Apple plans to expand Apple-designed modems to the entire iPhone 18 lineup, ending support for Qualcomm modems. The transition will bring speed and efficiency improvements, along with a little-known privacy benefit.


In iOS 26.3, Apple added a Limit Precise Location setting that cuts down on the amount of location data that's available to mobile networks, improving user privacy.

Mobile networks determine your location using information from cellular towers that a device connects to, but with Limit Precise Location enabled, some of the data typically provided to mobile networks is restricted. Instead of seeing location down to a street address, carriers may be limited to the neighborhood where a device is located.

The problem is that this feature is currently only available on devices with an Apple-designed C1 or C1X modem, which includes the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, and M5 iPad Pro. Devices with Qualcomm modems like the iPhone 17 Pro models do not have the Limit Precise Location setting.

With the iPhone 18 Pro models and the iPhone Fold expected to use Apple modem technology, this is likely a privacy option that is set to expand to the full iPhone lineup.

Reducing location precision does not impact signal quality or user experience, nor does it affect the precision of location data provided to emergency responders during an emergency call. It is only meant to limit the location data given to cellular carriers, and it is distinct from location data shared with apps through Location Services.

While Apple's next set of iPhones will all likely have the new privacy feature, carriers do have to implement support. So far there are a limited number of carriers that have added the feature, but if it expands to the entire iPhone lineup and there is customer demand, it could see more widespread adoption.

In the United States, only Boost Mobile supports limiting precise location data, but EE, BT, and Sky all support it in the UK. Carriers in Austria, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Thailand have also adopted support, with a list available on Apple's website.

The C2 modem that Apple is rumored to be working on is more capable than the C1 or C1X, and it will offer similar performance to Qualcomm's newest modems. It is expected to support mmWave 5G, which is not a feature of the C1 or C1X.

Find out if you're a based chad who has aura or a delulu chud in danger of being mogged.

If constantly being mogged by sigmas has you feeling like a fuhuhluhtoogan, and you have no idea what any of that means, you've come to the right place. This glossary aims to define and explain popular slang words and phrases of Generation Z (usually defined as people born between 1997 and 2012) and Generation A (anyone born between 2012 and now) so you'll know what the hell people are talking about.

A word of warning: If you aren't of those generations, and/or you need an online list to know what slang words mean, you should not say them aloud, unless you're trying to be embarrassing.

New entries

7x7=49: Often refers to a man who is attractive in a self-evident way. Based on the belief that the equation 7X7=49 makes intuitive sense in a way other equations do not.

ASAP (or A$AP): When a rapper has ASAP or A$AP in front of their name, it indicates affiliation with the ASAP Mob, a New York hip-hop collective.

Catch a fade: To have a fight. (See "fade.")

Fade: A fight. (See "catch a fade.")

🪫 (low battery emoji): The low battery emoji means "I am experiencing emotional depletion, heartbreak, or a general feeling of 'I can't anymore.'"

Lowkenuinely: This mash-up of "low key" and "genuinely" expresses sincerity but in a way that says "let's not make a big deal about it."

Scientology speedrun: Young people running into a Scientology building and acting foolish until they are ejected.

That's AI: "I don't believe you" or "I doubt it," even when not connected to artificial intelligence.

You the birthday: A phrase that means "you're awesome" or "you're great" in the way a birthday is great: fun, exciting, extra, etc.

304: Hoe. (Type "304" on a calculator and turn it upside down.)

4+4: Ate. Four plus four is eight, or "ate." (See "ate.")

6-7 (or 67): This piece of Generation Alpha brainrot slang doesn't mean anything. It's just funny to some people to say "6-7," especially in answer to any question involving numbers. Ex: "Q: What time is it? A: six-seveeen."

6-7 Weekend: A weekend in which Saturday falls on the 6th day of the month and Sunday on the 7th.

80/20 Rule: An axiom in online incel spaces, the 80/20 is the idea that 80% of women only date the "top" 20% of men.

Algo speak: Coded language used to bypass online content moderation. Examples: "regarded" used instead of "retarded" and "unalive" instead of "kill."

Alpha male: Taken from animal ethology, an alpha male is the dominant member of a group of males, or just a male who is in charge. (See "beta male" and "sigma male.")

Alpine divorce: An alpine divorce is when a man takes his wife or girlfriend on a hike, usually in the mountains, and then just leaves her there to fend for herself.

Ate/eat: Done very well, often regarding clothing. e.g.: "You ate that outfit." See also: "serving."

Aura: Someone who is mysterious and cool is said to "have aura."

Aura farming: Depending on the context, “aura farming” can refer to a person who does something cool without trying or someone who is trying too hard to appear cool.

Baby Boo Syndrome: A joking reference to people who are very into the Baby Boo memes popular on TikTok.

Baddie: A bad/wild girl. Meant as a compliment.

Baka: Japanese word meaning “crazy" or “foolish.” Used mainly in the anime community.

Based: Independent in a cool way.

Bed-rotting: Staying in bed all day. You may know it as “lazing around.” (See "Hurkle-durkle.")

Beez: Popularized in Nicki Minaj's 2012 track "Beez in the Trap," beez means something like "I am always." So "beez in the trap" means "I am always in the trap." (See "Trap.")

Beta male: A beta male, or just "beta," is a weaker, subservient male. (See "alpha male" and "sigma male.")

Boombayah: A euphemism for having sex. It’s used mostly online, often to defeat censorship algorithms.

Bop: A girl who sleeps around. Also: a great song.

Boy aquarium: TikTok slang that describes hockey games.

Boy kibble: The male response to "girl dinner," boy kibble is food boys eat. It usually consists of rice and ground beef, often served without spices or vegetables.

Boysober: Someone who has sworn off sex, relationships, and/or dating.

Brain-rot: A description of the overuse of stupid slang. See also: “Skibidi.” Also used to describe the effects of being overly online.

Brat: The contemporary meaning of "brat" is an adjective describing a person who is edgy, imperfect, and confident. It was coined by pop star Charli XCX who defined it as "that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown."

Bruzz: Bros. Part of the -uzz family of slang words. See "Huzz" and "-uzz."

Bubba truck: A lifted or otherwise modified pick-up truck.

Bussin': Very good or excellent.

Cap: A lie. Often used to say "no cap."

Cake: Butt, especially a nice butt.

Chad: An attractive man; an “alpha male.” See "Giga-Chad."

Chat: A reference to streamers addressing their chat windows aloud. Saying “chat” in real life is an ironic joke. 

Chopped: Ugly. Chopped is often applied to someone's face or outfit, but anything that isn't aesthetically pleasing could be called "chopped," as could anything that is generally not good, like an awkward situation.

Choppelganger: A portmanteau of "chopped" and "doppelgänger," a choppelganger is someone who looks like another person, but worse. (See "chopped.")

Chud: A physically unappealing person. Sometimes used for a man who holds right-wing views.

Clanker: A slur aimed at robots and AI agents pretending to be human.

Clock that: "I understand and agree." Not to be confused with older slang, where "clock" meant to see, or even older slang where "clock" meant "to hit or punch."

Coomer: A man who masturbates too often.

Corn: “Corn” is algo-speak that means “porn.” Used in online spaces where the word might cause your account to be flagged or banned. 

Coworker-core: A catch-all description for things that are unfunny or uninteresting in a way that appeals to older people.

Cracked: This slang term has two meanings: to have sex, as in "I got cracked last night," and to be really good at something, like "he’s cracked at Fortnite."

Crash out: To have an intense emotional outburst, usually accompanied by impulsive behavior. Crashing out is often due to being overwhelmed or overly frustrated.

Dead: Past tense of having died laughing. If someone responds to a joke with "dead" or a skull emoji, they find it funny.

Deadass: Seriously. Used like, "I am deadass not lying."

Delulu: Delusional.

Deriod: A combination of "dick" and "period," deriod refers to men seeming to experience the mood swings commonly associated with women's menstrual cycles.

Dih: Algo speak for “dick.” (See "Algo speak.")

Doi doi doi: This piece of brain-rot slang doesn't mean anything. It's correctly pronounced by putting your hand up to your mouth and saying "doi doi doi" in a way that sounds funny.

Doomer: A person who is overly negative and/or cynical.

Drip: A fashionable or stylish look.

Dwerking: A male-centric variation of twerking. A sexually suggestive dancing characterized by rapid, repeated hip thrusts and shaking of the dick. Other variants include "pwerking" and "bwerking" where the "p" and "b" stand for pussy and boobs.

Edgar: A variation of the Caesar haircut worn especially among Hispanic males. Also refers to the kind of person who wears the haircut. 

Fambushing: A combination of "family" and "ambushing," fambushing refers to young people checking where their parents are on location-sharing apps so they can get free food—if you see mom at Chipotle, you ask for a burrito.

Fanum tax: The theft of food between friends. Named for streamer Fanum, known for “taxing” his friends by taking bites of their meals or stealing fries. 

Fax, no printer: Telling the truth. Since "fax" and "facts" are pronounced the same, this is a colorful way of saying "facts, no cap."

Fent-fold: A description of the bent-over posture of people nodding on heavy drugs.

Fit: Short for "outfit."

Fuhuhluhtoogan: Supposedly from Baltimore slang, this is a nonsense word used so people will ask what it means but never receive an answer. Often paired with "Jittleyang."

Fujoshing: The verb form of the Japanese slang term "fujoshi," fujoshing describes women/girls enjoying media that depicts romantic relationships between men. This word is used almost exclusively in online fandom communities.

Gamer dent: The temporary indentation left on someone’s hair or skin after wearing headphones for too long.

Geeker: Someone who uses a lot of drugs.

Giga-Chad: A Chad among Chads.

Glaze: To overly praise someone, often insincerely, or with the hope of getting something in return.

Gleek: An older slang term that is gaining prominence lately, gleeking describes squirting saliva from under the tongue.

Glizzy: Hot dog. "Glizzy" was originally slang for Glock or gun, but came to mean hot dog based on the hot dog shape of a Glock's magazine.

Green fn: An interjection one might used when someone does something cool or impressive. Often used ironically. 

Goonbait: (See "gooning") Goonbait is, essentially, media that exists to inspiring gooning.

Gooner: A man who goons. (See "gooning.")

Goonette: A woman who goons. (See "gooning.")

Gooning: Extended masturbation without orgasm done for the purpose of entering an altered state of consciousness. (See "gooner," "goonette.")

Gyatt or Gyat: Once an interjection used when seeing someone sexy, like “god-DAMN,” “gyatt” has come to mean “attractive booty.”

Heavy soda: Pop with extra syrup. Some gas station soda machines have settings that control the ratio of syrup to carbonated water. A heavy soda is a soda with the syrup level set very high.

Hewwo: An overly cute way of saying "hello." Usually used online, and often ironically.

HGS: Abbreviation for "home girls" used in comment sections.

Hozier yell: Named for singer/songwriter Andrew Hozier, a "Hozier yell" refers to the sound one makes when experiencing a peak, climactic, and/or awe-inspiring moment.

HTN: This acronym comes from the online incel community, where fairly good-looking men are described as "high-tier normies" or "HTN." (See "normie.")

Hurkle-durkle: Based on an archaic Scottish word, “hurkle-durkle” means to lounge in bed after it is time to get up. See also: “bed-rotting."

Huzz: -uzz slang for "hoes." See "bruzz" and "-uzz."

"It's giving": Used to convey that something has a specific vibe. Example: "That dude texts you every 10 minutes; it's giving desperate."

"It's so over": The situation is hopeless. The opposite of "we're so back." See also: "Doomer."

IWEL: This comment-section acronym is short for "I wouldn't even lie." Sometimes written as "IWL."

Jelqing: The use of stretching or weights in an attempt to increase penis size.

Jit: A kid. Used ironically online.

Jittleyang: Supposedly from Baltimore slang, this is a nonsense word used so people will ask what it means but never receive an answer. See also: "Fuhuhluhtoogan."

JOMO: A play on FOMO (fear of missing out) JOMO is an acronym that stands for “joy of missing out.”

Jugg: To grab quickly or to steal.

"Learn Chinese": Sports slang directed at failing players. They are in danger of being sent to play in China, so they should "learn Chinese."

Loaded water: Water enhanced with something—a flavor boost, fruit juice, electrolytes, carbonation, and even vitamins or prebiotics. The idea is to increase hydration by making water more palatable.

Looksmaxxing: Maximizing one’s physical attractiveness through personal grooming, working out, and dressing stylishly. See also: “-maxxing.”

Mason (or Mason 6-7 kid): A "Mason 6-7 Kid" or "Mason" is a stereotypical male member of Generation Alpha. Mason kids are known for their love of baseball-inspired fashion (caps and shorts), their "ice cream" haircut, and for repeating brainrot slang like "6-7."

-maxxing: A suffix used with any word to indicate trying to improve. Seeing your friends could be called "friendmaxxing," working out could be called "gymmaxxing," making jokes could be called "jestermaxxing," etc.

Mid: Average, bland, expected.

Mewing: A facial exercise meant to strengthen the jawline.

Mirror sex: Using a mirror to watch yourself have sex.

Mog: To be more attractive than someone, usually in an intentional or aggressive way. Example: "I was rizzing up this girl, but he walked in and totally mogged me."

"My 90 in a 30": A song played while driving that inspires speeding.

"My steak is too juicy": The phrase "my steak is too juicy" and other variants like "my lobster is too buttery," are online insults that suggest someone is complaining about something they should be grateful for.

Neurospicy: A different way of saying “neuro-divergent.”

Normie: A person who is considered normal or average. It's sometimes an insult suggesting someone is boring and witless. (see also, "mid.")

NPC: Non-player character. Originally describing video game characters, NPC is now used on the internet to mean people who don't think for themselves.

Opp: Short for "opposition." Someone who is out to get you. An enemy.

Performative male: An insult for young men whose tastes, hobbies, and lifestyle are seen as a performance aimed at obtaining societal approval, especially the approval of young women.

Phonk: The word phonk can refer to one of two musical sub-genres. It originally referred to throwback '90s hip-hop categorized by slow-tempo "chopped and screwed" production and vintage Memphis rap vocals. It now more commonly describes the heavily distorted, up-tempo EDM used in brainrot videos.

Pink cocaine: Also known as "pink snow," pink cocaine is slang for a powdered drug mixture that usually contains some combination of ketamine, MDMA, meth, opioids, and other substances.

Pole: A gun. See "up pole."

"Press F for respect:" In 2014 video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfighter, the player attends a funeral and a prompt is given that reads "Press F to pay respects." Now, a singular "F" in a chat window indicates respect. It's usually ironic.

Rawdogging boredom: Rawdogging is "doing something with no safeguards or support," so "rawdogging boredom" is consciously doing nothing.

Regarded: “Regarded” is algo-speak for “retarded."

RegencyCore: A fashion and design aesthetic that springs from the popularity of the fantasy-regency era look of the Netflix show Bridgerton, RegencyCore combines the opulent style of the British Regency era of the early 1800s with fantasy elements like pastel colors and gold accents.

"Reheating your own nachos:" This slang phrase comes from cultural critics in online fandom communities. It refers to performers and/or artists whose new works are seen as trying to recapture what was good about their previous artistic output. It's not always negative; it's possible to successfully reheat your own nachos.

Rizz: As a noun, "rizz" means charisma. As a verb, "rizz" or "rizz up" means attracting someone with your charisma.

Scorigami: A slang term among football fans for when the final score of an NFL game has never happened before in the league's history. The most recent scorigami was on September 28, 2025, when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys tied 40 to 40.

SDIYBT: An acronym for "start digging in your butt, twin," this brainrot phrase doesn't mean anything. Some people just think it's funny to say.

Sendy and “Let’s get sendy": Sendy is an adjective based on the older rock-climbing and extreme sports slang phrase "send it." A shortened version of "ascend it," "send it" is said right before one is about to do something challenging. "Sendy" describes a person who is prone to doing bold things. "Let's get sendy" means something like "Let's get wild." It's been adopted by brainrot fans, so it's often repeated with no meaning meant to be attached.

Serve: Wearing a particularly stylish outfit. See also: "ate."

Serve cunt: To act in a powerfully and unapologetically feminine way; to slay.

Sharking: Looking for people to hook up with.

Sigma male: An internet-created male classification, a "sigma male" is as dominant as an alpha male, but is outside the male hierarchy, i.e.: a lone wolf. Originally used seriously, the concept was so widely derided it's now almost always used ironically. (See "Alpha male" and "Beta male.")

Skibidi: Named after “Skibidi Toilet,” a popular series of YouTube videos, “skibidi” itself has no specific meaning, beyond ridiculing the overuse of slang itself. See “brain-rot.”

Skrt: Onomatopoetic word for the sound of tires squealing upon acceleration.

Slopcore: This term describes the countless 100s of millions of cheesy-looking, unsettling, AI-generated images, videos, and songs that have hit the internet since AI was given to the masses a couple of years ago.

Slopper: Insult directed at people who use AI programs too much, people who takes conversations with LLMs too seriously, and people who have basically offloaded their thinking to an algorithm.

Snatched: Very attractive and/or flawlessly styled. 

Spawn point: Mother. Based on the spot you start in a video game.

Spoopy: Spooky.

Striker: Stolen/no-title car.

Surf Dracula: A hyper-specific phrase that describes "prestige" television series. The joke is that if there were an older TV show called "Surf Dracula," Dracula would be surfing in every episode, but modern shows would make the whole first season about how Dracula got his surfboard.

Sweat: A person who tries too hard, usually used in reference to video games. The adjective form is "sweaty."

SYBAU: An online acronym that stands for “shut your bitch ass up.”

Tradwife: Believer in traditional married gender roles.

Trap: Once used to refer to a house where drugs are sold, trap has come to describe both a form of music and any place where one works or hustles.

Treatler (and Treatlerite): "Treatler" and "Treatlerite" are online insults that combine "treat" and "Hitler" to refer to entitled users of services like Doordash or Uber Eats who regard luxury delivery services as a human right, and don't consider the hardships of the people who do the work that makes "private taxis for burritos" possible.

TS: TS originally was AAVE shorthand for "this shit," but it is often used to just mean "this."

Turnt: Excited or intoxicated, or excitedly intoxicated.

Twelve: Police.

Twin: Best friend.

Unc: Short for "uncle," used to describe slightly older people. Example: "The class of 2024 are unc-status to the class of 2028." See "yunc."

-uzz: -uzz slang words use "uzz" at the end of any word, so "bros" becomes "bruzz," "hoes" becomes "huzz," "granny" becomes "gruzz," etc.

Up pole: To raise a gun.

"We're so back": Opposite of "it's so over."

Venus tummy: When a woman's belly is a little fat, but not too fat, she is said to have a Venus tummy. Named for ancient Greek statues of Venus and Aphrodite who were a little fleshy.

Wojack: The name of a style of internet drawings used to quickly stereotype someone. See this post for a full explanation of the Wojak universe.

Yapping: Describes a presentational style often seen on online streams of talking a lot and/or quickly while not saying anything worthwhile.

Yeet: To quickly and/or forcibly eject.

Young ho: "Young ho" is both a reclamation of the word "ho" and an expression of youth-based solidarity. Young women are posting videos of themselves defining what makes them "young hos," noting things like "Getting up at 7:50 to be at work at 8," and air-frying chicken nuggets.

Yunc: Yunc is a variation of "unc." In AAVE, a "yn" is a "young n-word." So "yunc" means something like "young uncle," or a person who may be young but has uncle vibes or unc status.

Zoomer Perm: A curly on top, short on the sides haircut popular among young people. 

It's not just you: Spotify is down.

If you tried to launch Spotify today to listen to a song or a podcast, only to find the player endlessly loading, you're not alone: Spotify is down. The company confirmed the issue on X via its "Spotify Support" page, posting "We’re aware of some issues right now with the app and are checking them out!"

You didn't need to see this X announcement to learn about the outage, however. Anyone trying to access the service right now will run into a roadblock. I can make it to my library, but when I try to stream a song, I just see the playbar loading over and over again. Downdetector, owned by Lifehacker parent company Ziff Davis, currently displays tens of thousands of user reports confirming the same.

Service outages are a dime a dozen these days. Most platforms and services experience downtime at one point or another, and, in most cases, the connection is restored relatively quickly. It doesn't seem to be an issue with a cloud service provider like AWS or Cloudflare, either, since Downdetector isn't showing many other apps and platforms with service issues at this time. We don't know exactly what's causing this Spotify outage, but, barring some unique event, the company's software development team will soon isolate the issue, and release a patch to fix it. Before long, I imagine Spotify users will be streaming again.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials including Raúl Castro's grandson during a high-level visit to the island Thursday, Cuban and U.S. officials said.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials including Raúl Castro's grandson during a high-level visit to the island Thursday, Cuban and U.S. officials said.

(Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

It's a cheaper alternative to Samsung's "The Frame," and the art is free.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you're like most people, your TV is the centerpiece of your living room decor. That means when it's off, all your furniture is pointed at a black rectangle. If this bothers you, the "art TV" trend that started with Samsung's The Frame could be the answer. These sets are made to look like a piece of art and display an image of your choosing when not in use. The Frame is a pricey option, but other brands have their own offerings—including Hisense and its CanvasTV, which I've been using and loving for the past six months.

Already a more affordable alternative to The Frame, you can currently get the massive 85-inch Hisense CanvasTV for $1,697.99 (down from $1,889.99). This is the lowest price ever, according to price-tracking tools.

144Hz, Art Mode, Anti-Glare Panel, Hi-Matte Display, UltraSlim Wall Mount & Frame Included

Hisense 85-Inch Class QLED

$1,697.99 at Amazon

$1,886.96 Save $188.97

Get Deal

Get Deal

$1,697.99 at Amazon

$1,886.96 Save $188.97

SEE -2 MORE

The primary attraction of the CanvasTV over Samsung's The Frame is the price: You'll pay $200 to $1,700 less for the same-sized TV (depending on which size you choose). Not to mention, if you choose The Frame, you have to buy the actual frames that go around the set, and pay for most artwork separately, while Hisense includes all of that in the selling price. Like The Frame, the CanvasTV also comes with a flush TV mount that will allow you to hang it so it looks like an actual art piece.

I also like that CanvasTVs come with the Google OS, which is my favorite smart TV operating system, as it lets you cast seamlessly from your phone (Android or iPhone). The CanvasTV is a QLED TV with Quantum Dot technology and 4K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate in Game Mode Pro, according to CNET's review. What gives it the art look is the low reflection Hi-Matte display, which combats glare. You can swap out the teak frames with different colors, including white and walnut frames.

Considering Hisense's take on The Frame is cheaper and includes less upfront costs, it's a great option for anyone looking to save money on a TV that won't dominate their decor—especially at the current discount.

Introduction In today’s admission journey, parents do not begin with a campus visit. They begin with a search. When a parent types “best CBSE school near me” or “top schools with good infrastructure,” they are not just browsing. They are evaluating trust, safety, academic quality, and future outcomes for their child. In that moment, your…

The post Why Your School Website Is Not Generating Admission Enquiries appeared first on Pixel Studios.

The post Why Your School Website Is Not Generating Admission Enquiries appeared first on Pixel Studios.

Bysantiska riket eller mer korrekt det östromerska riket är något som fascinerat mig i alla år. En av kvarlevorna av den gamla antika världen. Vi vet att detta rike gick under och dess sista städer blev erövrade på 1400-talet. Det är denna statsbildning som jag fått nöjet att testa i Europa Universalis V nedladdningsbara paketet Fate of the Phoenix. Låt mig informera dig om att detta förändrar framförallt en nation som redan går att spela som. Du kommer inte se svepande förbättringar för många av de andra imperierna i basspelet. Utgångspunkten för denna recension är i vilka förbättringar som har tillkommit och de berör det bysantiska riket på gott och ont.



Jag har inte vågat spela en hel kampanj som denna nation i basspelet på grund av hur skoningslöst svårt det brukar vara. I fyran tog det mig ganska länge innan jag knäckte nöten och klarade mig till slutet. I det spelet förhöjdes upplevelsen markant med sitt motsvarande nedladdningsbara paket. I femman är det en helt annan upplevelse. Basspelet är ganska annorlunda än fyrans spelmässiga inslag och någorlunda mer komplext. Det är utifrån den grunden detta nedladdningsbara paket bygger vidare på olika funktioner. Som bekant gillade jag basspelet så pass att jag gav det en nia i min recension. Det är ett betyg jag fortfarande står fast vid. Därför har jag längtat efter lite mer innehåll och detta är ett för serien typiskt sådant tidigt extra innehåll.

<bild>Jag älskar kartlager och det finns så många i detta spel att kan bläddra mellan dessa som i en bok.</bild>

Fate of the Phoenix är det första nya innehållet som utvecklar det östromerska riket med nya händelser, förbättrat religiöst system, nya sätt att förändra riket på och tematiska förändringar. Den tydligaste dikotomin som uppstår när du spelar handlar om konflikten mellan nya idéer och gamla. Vill du att ditt rike ska förbli mer romerskt med grekiska influenser eller bli mer förenligt med de västra värderingarna och den katolska grenen av kristendomen. Du får hela tiden val om reformer, förändringar eller att bevara och det där är intressant ur ett historiskt perspektiv. Flera av dina val har också en markör som visar vad den historiska motsvarigheten valde att göra. Du kan dock om du vill ignorera det och göra dina egna val. Vi vet ju så här i efterhand att de inte alltid gjorde rätt val.



Det svåraste och kanske mest belönande är att försöka överleva i mer än hundra år. Du placeras i en rejäl rävsax inledningsvis med dålig legitimitet, stora skulder, naturkatastrofer som drabbat delar av riket och olika gods som inte vill betala skatt på grund av byråkratiska regler tidigare ledare instiftat. Vill du ta bort dessa måste du betala enorma summor pengar och det är något du inte har mycket av i början av spelet. Mycket av de inledande timmarna handlar om att göra dåliga val istället för ännu värre alternativ och försöka vända den nedåtgående spiralen. Det är nämligen nästan ingenting som fungerar bra förutom att du har en relativt starka arméer och flottiljer inledningsvis. Du har också stor potential att bygga ännu kraftfullare styrkor så att du kan återta ditt fallna rike.

<bild>Spelet är riktigt snyggt och förmodligen det snyggaste i sin genre.</bild>

Jag valde tidigt att försöka bygga upp legitimitet, stabilitet och kontroll. Jag försökte också annektera Epirus och hantera de växande hoten runtom i världen. Ganska snabbt kidnappar en rival en tronarvinge och försöker göra Epirus självständigt igen. Detta resulterar i en konflikt jag till slut vinner, kort därpå får jag en ganska mäktig koalition med osmanska riket i spetsen mot mig och jag förlorar ganska snabbt. Freden som blir kastar mig ned i en ohållbar spiral av skulder och mer krig. Det tog mig ett par försök innan jag hittade en strategi där jag lyckades växa en aning. Det i sin tur gjorde att jag kunde börja göra saker som att skapa konflikter jag ville ha och kräva pengar, betala skulder och börja ta bort bedrövliga privilegier godsen har. Jag försöker också ändra statsreligionen i riket och byta ut den ortodoxa tron mot de äldre gudarna. De är dock inte lika utvecklat i denna expansion som konflikten mellan katolicismen och den ortodoxa kyrkan, du kan bokstavligt talat lösa schismen och förena de olika grenarna av kristendomen om du är skicklig. Jag tycker dock polyteism är mer intressant än monoteism. Jag har dock testat flera religioner.


Paradox har ganska väl vävt in både val, truppslag, kosmetiska, kulturella och religiösa inslag på ett sätt som låter dig bestämma vad du vill göra. Jag vill dock betona att detta är svårt, har du inte grunderna i spelet tycker jag inte ens att du ska försöka med bysantiska riket och detta paket om du inte ofta spelar som kristna ortodoxa stater. Däremot om har spelat ett tag och du klarar dig rätt bra med andra länder är detta värt din tid. Jag tycker att bysantinerna har en spännande startposition och ett fantastiskt geografiskt läge. Du kan kontrollera handel, bekämpa pirater och expandera sakta i olika riktningar. Efter ett tag kommer svarta döden, kolonialismen och mycket annat att påverka dig. Du kommer säkert också vilja hantera frågan om du ska handla med Kina då handel är livsviktigt.

<bild>Det nya systemet för den ortodoxa kyrkan är riktigt välgjort. Det finns även ett system för den äldre romerska religionen.</bild>

En av mina favoritberättelser från det bysantiska riket handlar om hur två ortodoxa munkar ska ha smugglat ut silkesmaskägg och hjälpt till att starta produktionen av silke hemma i sitt hemland. Denna berättelse är förmodligen inte sann och det finns spekulationer om att munkarna snarare befann sig i Indien. Det är sådant här som är spännande då du kan avgöra vad du handlar med och vad du satsar på för resurser. Någonstans kommer du att behöva prioritera och välja. Riket är på väg att gå under, var spenderar du dyrbara pengar och resurser. Handel och eller diplomati kan vara en väg, krig en annan. Du kan dock inte göra allt samtidigt och det blev extremt tydligt för mig då jag testade just detta. Du behöver en genomtänkt strategi. På många sätt påminner det mig lite om Total War: Attila-kampanjen som det västromerska riket. Precis som i den kampanjen behövde du förstöra, riva, omgruppera och strukturera om ditt rike om du skulle ha en chans att överleva. Du slipper dock Attila och hans hunner i Europa Universalis V och du får istället hantera resterna av de mongoliska väldet om de attackerar dig.



Jag ska inte avslöja för mycket i denna recension men jag tycker att händelserna är intressanta, ger dig val och kan hjälpa dig att formge nationen du spelar som. De vävs också in snyggt med beslut du kan bestämma över om du vill bygga en modern stadsbildning eller om du vill bevara det gamla. Den balansgången är en lika stor utmaning som allt annat i spelet. Klarar du av att överleva de inledande hundra åren väntar ganska kraftfulla bonusar via vissa händelser. Jag har dock använt mer av verktygslådan när jag spelade bysantinerna än många andra länder. Du behöver se över vilka ekonomiska möjligheter du har, vilka diplomatiska som kan vara fördelaktiga och hur du ska återskaffa ditt förlorade rike. Det blir en betydligt enklare kampanj när du betalat skulderna, vänt på de ekonomiska förlusterna och har styrkor som kan mota bort fiender i alla riktningar. Rent militärt blir denna nation extremt mäktig med teknologier och unika truppslag.

<bild>Händelser och händelser om karaktärer är vanligt förekommande och ger lite mer berättande till upplevelsen.</bild>

Sett till det tekniska är detta inte värre än basspelet och jag har haft en förhållandevis bra tid med spelet. Det finns mikrolagg när man klickar på provinser och när mycket sker samtidigt. Jag har även sett enstaka visuella buggar och någon enstaka spelmässig bugg med textförklaringar. Det har inte stört mig märkbart men kanske kan påverka svagare datorsystem mer än mitt. Den nya musiken är ganska bra och jag har alltid älskat musiken i just den här spelserien. De är svepande och välgjorda låtar som blandas med allt annat. I femman finns det en händig spelare direkt i användargränssnittet så du kan välja vad som ska spelas och inte. Kan du förlåta lite tekniska problem finns det en bra expansion av ett av spelets fraktioner i detta nedladdningsbara paket.

Det mest belönande med detta nedladdningsbara paket var att överleva längre än sin historiska förlaga och lösa historiska skeenden vi lever med än idag, exempelvis schismen mellan den ortodoxa och katolska kyrkan. Jag har haft ganska roligt med detta paket då jag gillar utmaningen det innebär att spela som detta rike. Jag tycker inte Paradox ska göra upplevelsen enklare. Länder i spelet behöver få vara unika med egna utmaningar och svårighetsgrad beroende på sin startposition under 1300-talet. Även om det tekniska inte förändrats så är det fortfarande ett starkt spel i grunden som med detta nedladdningsbara paket gör ett rike ännu roligare att spela som. Det är en av de svårare om inte den svåraste av de större nationerna i spelet och det kräver tålamod, en plan och att våga förlora om du ska ha roligt med detta nya innehåll. Om du inte känner dig säker med det spelmässiga grunderna bör du skippa detta tills dess att du känner dig säkrare. Om du letar efter en utmaning eller enbart vill spela som det östromerska riket är detta ett toppenbra paket för just det ändamålet jag varmt kan rekommendera.


<bild>Att hantera allt som går fel är ett heltidsjobb.</bild>
<bild>Det tar ett tag innan du vänder ekonomin men när du gör det känns allt bättre.</bild>
<bild>Naturkatastrofer kan drabba dig och en jag råkade ut för tidigt innebar ett skadat landmärke. Jag kunde betala flera hundra mynt eller välja att vänta. Vid denna tidpunkt var jag så skuldsatt att jag var tvungen att vänta. Ofta finns det en liten bok i svarsalternativet som visar vad detta fallna imperiums historiska val var.</bild>

The showrunner for the DC Studios series reveals more story details about the superhero tale starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler.The showrunner for the DC Studios series reveals more story details about the superhero tale starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler.

Apple's iPad that's just an ‌iPad‌ with no Air or Pro attached is its most appealing tablet because of the affordable starting $349 price tag, but if you've been thinking about buying one, you should wait.


Apple refreshed the ‌iPad‌ in March 2025, so it's over a year old. That's reason enough not to buy when there's a new model on the horizon, but this year, there's even more to lose by purchasing now.

The 2025 ‌iPad‌ has an A16 chip inside that does not support Apple Intelligence. It does not have features like Writing Tools, Image Playground, Clean Up, Live Translation, notification summaries, Smart Reply, Priority Messages in Mail, Visual Intelligence, and multiple other AI-related tools.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ is still new so it might not sound like a big deal to miss out on those capabilities, but not having access to it is going to become more of a problem as Apple continues implementing new AI features.

Rumors suggest there are big changes coming in iOS 27. Siri is going to get smarter and turn into a full chatbot, the Camera app is going to get ‌Visual Intelligence‌ integration, the Photos app will have AI image editing tools, Shortcuts may be more automated, and there are probably features coming that haven't even been rumored yet.

The A16 ‌iPad‌ will likely feel outdated in the next year or two because of the feature set it won't have access to.

The next ‌iPad‌ is likely to get the A18 chip, and the A18 does support ‌Apple Intelligence‌. It will have faster performance, more RAM, and most importantly, future-proofing and access to the AI features that Apple is investing in.

Holding out for the next ‌iPad‌ will take some patience, because right now, we don't know when it's coming. Updating the ‌iPad‌ alongside the low-cost iPhone 17e would have made sense, but that didn't happen. A new entry-level ‌iPad‌ isn't coming in the first half of 2026, so we're likely going to be waiting until September or October.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in March that an updated low-cost iPad is "ready to go" and "still coming this year." Even though the wait may be several months, we think it's worth holding out for the next ‌iPad‌ instead of buying now because of the upgrade that comes with ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support.

You needn't spend $300 to get great noise-cancelling earbuds.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Tech brands love to tout their active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds, but none have reached the standard set by the Bose QuietComfort series. For my money, Bose makes the best ANC gear, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are the best ANC earbuds you can buy right now. The downside of Bose buds is that they're pretty pricey, but you no longer need to spend $300 to get great ANC. The fantastic first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are going for $179 (originally $299) on Amazon, the lowest price they've ever reached, according to price-tracking tools.

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Though they're an older model, the first-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth earbuds are still excellent earbuds in 2026. They received an "outstanding" review from PCMag, not just for their best-in-class ANC, but for their great audio quality in general, Spatial audio support, and diverse codec Bluetooth support with AAC and AptX, which makes them great for Android and Apple users alike. However, they're not perfect: They lack multipoint connectivity, which other high-end earbuds at this price point offer, and there is no wireless charging for the case (if you care about that).

The features are what really set these earbuds apart. They have a CustomTune feature that measures your ear canal's shape to tune the sound and establish your best ANC profile. (You can make your own tweaks in the companion app as well.) Bose's "Aware Mode" feature allows you to hear your surroundings similarly to how you would when wearing open-ear headphones. You can also mess around with the settings to mix and match outside noise and ANC within the Aware Mode setting on the app.

You'll get about four to six hours of battery life from the buds and another 12 to 18 with the charging case. The earbuds aren't waterproof, but they are water resistant with an IPX4 rating, so you can wear them to the gym without worrying about how much you'll sweat.

Lord of Hatred borde börja med detta citat av Optimus Prime i Michael Bays Transformers: "Before time began, there was the Cube." I denna expansion kommer du att bli bekant med både kuben från Diablo II och berättelsen om Diablo-världens ursprung. Jag gillade Diablo IV när det dök upp 2023 och jag uppskattade även dess första expansion Vessel of Hatred. Det fanns tillräckligt för att uppmuntra fler genomspelningar och både basspelet och dess expansion bjöd på relativt höga produktionsvärden. Denna gång är det Mephisto och slutstriden mot honom som vankas. För att göra det behöver vi besöka platsen där allt började i detta universum.

<bild>Skovos är förmodligen en av de vackraste platserna i något Diablo-spel.</bild>

Syftet med expansionen är att knyta ihop berättelsen om Lilith, Rathma, Inarion och Mephisto och din karaktär. Jag kan redan nu säga att jag tycker att denna expansion gör just det. Vi bjuds på svepande musik, vackra miljöer inspirerade av grekisk och italienska övärlden. Du kommer även att kunna spela som två nya klasser varav den ena är helt ny för serien och den andre en klassiker jag tror att du kommer att gilla om du spelade Diablo II. Båda dessa klasser fungerar olika där Warlock är en aggressiv magiker med möjlighet att använda demoner i sin tjänst. Motsatsen till detta är Paladin som är din klassiska goda riddare som använder sin tro och sina vapen för att besegra fienden. Jag ska vara helt ärlig och säga att jag tyckte att båda är suveräna i Diablo IV. Det finns ett riv i båda klasserna som saknar motstycke. I slutet av min kampanj red min Warlock i formen av en brinnande demon på en demonisk hund svept i lågor med kedjor inte helt olik självaste Hell Rider.

Jag började med att spela som Warlock i Vessel of Hatred. Det är en ny klass som fokuserar på demoniska krafter. Även om jag hade testat den i tvåan ville jag se vad den kunde göra i fyran. Med rätt spelstil är det en attackerande orkan av eld, magi och demoner. Med rätt val av förmågor kan du konstant svepa skärmen på fiender i enklare svårighetsgrader. Bossarna smälter som smör, dock vill jag trots detta hävda att den kräver en spelare med lite erfarenhet. Så fort du höjer svårighetsgraden blir klassen sårbar tack vare låg hälsa och fienders ökande resistans mot din skada. Om du önskar spela klassen på högre nivåer, tänk igenom hur du bygger klassen då det kan bespara dig en hel del huvudvärk. Den bjuder också på seriens bäst implementerade karaktärsuppdrag för att låsa upp dess specialitet att framkalla en av flera kraftfulla demoner. Det påminner lite om hur Necromancer låser upp sin Golem, fast i detta fall måste du binda demoner till din karaktär.

<bild>Du bjuds på alla möjliga biomer med miljöfaror och fiender.</bild>

Jag vill dock påpeka att jag inte är mycket av en "end game"-spelare. Jag kör gärna kampanjen, uppdragen på lite olika svårighetsgrader, men jag är tyvärr inte särskilt intresserad av resten i Diablo-titlarna. I Diablo IV har jag dock tagit mig an en del annat vid sidan av varje månad och jag underhålls av det simpla upplägget. Trots det finns det mycket att göra för båda typerna av spelare. Kampanjen kan du spela igenom på under 12 timmar. Om du ska klara av alla befästningar, grottor och sidouppdrag kommer det att ta dig närmare 20-25 timmar. Utöver detta har du ett slutspel i formen av en krigskarta där du väljer uppdrag och uppgifter. Du kan förändra modifierare på fiender och hur de beter sig och det känns som att du nu har mer kontroll över vad du gör efter kampanjen. Det påverkar såklart också din loot och dina belöningar. För många är detta vad de eftersöker. Jag gillar systemet och tror att många kommer att uppskatta både valfriheten och möjligheten att skräddarsy striderna.

När du börjar kampanjen färdas du till Skovos som är en ögrupp där Lilith och Inarius en gång i tiden skapade Sancturary. Det är lika mycket av en berättelse om begynnelsen för Nephalem (Mänskligheten) som det är en berättelse som också avslutar berättelsen vi startade i fyran. Jag gillar verkligen hur vi lär känna karaktärerna ännu mer än tidigare. Både Rathma, Inarius, Lilith och Mephisto är med på ett eller annat sätt i berättelsen i olika former. Även Lorath och Neyrelle får sina berättelser avslutade på ett vettigt sätt. Just detta gillar jag med Lord of Hatred, det känns som att Diablo IV är komplett och avslutad när jag ser eftertexterna. Samtidigt vet jag att det går att skapa mer innehåll bortom detta då kriget mellan himlen och helvetet är oändligt. Även om stjärnan är Mephisto har vi sett andra viktiga demoner som Duriel, Andariel, Azmodan och Belial. Vi har dock ingen koll på vad Mephistos bröder gör vid denna tidpunkt även om vi sett tecken på Baal.

<bild>Det går utmärkt att rida runt i världen. På grund av att världen är mindre än i basspelet är skiftet mellan miljöerna tydligare.</bild>

Att färdas genom Skovos påminner mig lite om Titan Quest II, det är olivträdgårdar, tempel, byggnader dränkta av vatten och fiender med ett likartat tema. Oavsett om du slåss mot gamla klassiska fiender som Gargantuan Beast vi såg i tvåan till helt nya pirater finns det relativt god variation här. Succesivt blandas basspelets fiender också in med nya varianter. Världen ser till en början härlig och trivsam ut men förvandlas över kampanjens gång till ett slagfält. Detta är Amazonernas domän och trots att denna karaktär inte är spelbar i Diablo IV ännu får vi lära oss mer om deras traditioner, kultur och städer. Jag kan tänka mig att många som älskade klassen i Diablo II kommer att uppskatta expansionen.

Upplevelsen påminner mig lite om Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, det finns liknande teman och världen är i krig. Istället för barbarerna som slåss för världens överlevnad ser vi amazonerna i samma roll. Just att omgivningen är befolkad av krigande fraktioner, miljöer som hela tiden kastar saker på dig gör att upplevelsen känns mer reaktiv. Vissa områden på i världen är så pass händelsefyllda att min dator började hacka. Förutom att det kan komma enorma mängder fiender och allierade på skärmen samtidigt är det inte alltid bara du och fiender, utan också miljöfaror. Har du en klen dator kan detta påverka din upplevelse en aning. Biomerna är också betydligt mer varierade än i föregående expansion. Det är något jag uppskattar, du har allt från olivträdgårdar, aktiva vulkaner och tempelruiner.

<bild>Kuben är simpel och oproblematisk att använda. Den kan hjälpa dig att finjustera din utrustning efter att kampanjen är över.</bild>

Förutom detta är Horadric Cube en återkommande bekantskap. Den låser du upp i slutet av berättelsen och jag kan inte påstå att den är särskilt intressant. Det är inte ett föremål du bär med dig som i tvåan med otaliga mängder recept utan du får en lista över vad du vill göra och lägger sedan in föremålen. Jag köper att de vill förenkla och förbättra upplevelsen för dig som nöter i efterspelet, men för mig som älskar kampanjen hade jag velat låsa upp den i basspelet och få klura ut hemliga recept och kombinationer precis som i tvåan. För mig var konceptet lite av en besvikelse, men funktionaliteten och behovet av dess förmågor är relevanta för dig som vill fortsätta efter kampanjen.

Andra nya spelmässigt system är talismanerna och fiskande. Du har en ny meny med sex positioner att sätta olika talismaner inuti. Dessa ger dig förbättringar, motståndskraftighet och mycket annat. De sällsynta har speciella namn och om du kombinerar tre med samma gruppnamn låser du upp ännu kraftfullare bonusar. Det är ett bra system för att kunna skräddarsy din karaktär ännu mer. Det är dock mer relevant efter kampanjen än under dess gång. Fiskandet däremot är jag lite oklar över vilket syfte den spelar. Det är ett minispel och du kan fiska över hela världen om du har tillgång till vatten. Det är enkelt till skillnad från Crimson Desert och känns lite malplacerat. Du kan dock fånga ganska coola fiskar och få häftiga föremål om du gillar detta.

<bild>Fiendefloran är varierad och utmanande.</bild>

Utöver detta finns det även en ny händelse som är extremt sällsynt. De kallas för Echoing Hatred, efter kampanjen kan du om du ha tur hitta ett föremål. Detta föremål är extremt sällsynt och det var inget jag hittade när jag spelade. Av beskrivningen jag fått av utvecklarna handlar det om en utmaning där oändliga vågor av fiender spawnas. Ju längre du överlever desto svårare blir det. Desto längre du är vid liv desto bättre blir belöningarna. Det låter lite som ett horde-läge vi ser i andra spel. Tyvärr har jag inte testat detta men det ingår i upplevelsen om du kan hitta Trace of Echoes-föremålet.

Oavsett om du besegrar hundratals fiender på löpande band i någon av Skovos grottsystem eller utforskar världen kommer du att lägga märke till musiken. Det är ganska vacker vacker musik som bjuds och den sätter tonen på äventyret sömlöst. Även om det finns lite risk för repetition är den både svepande och stämningsfull. Det grafiska ser fortsatt bra ut och Diablo IV kan fortfarande bjuda på vackra miljöer. Det tekniska är dock lite av blandad kvalitet i vissa områden. Det finns risk för mikrolagg när mycket sker och du är fortfarande i behov av att vara uppkopplad konstant. Jag hade svårigheter i en timme att spela men efter det var det inga problem under resten av tiden jag spenderat med äventyret. Det fanns enstaka små problem med visuella artefakter, men ingenting jag reagerade märkbart på.

<bild>Det finns lite Lovecraftian och Cthulhu över vissa förmågor, fiender och platser denna gång.</bild>

Detta är en riktigt bra avslutning på berättelsen vi startade i Diablo IV. Jag som verkligen gillar Mephisto av de tre har trots allt fått ett spel och två expansioner med denna skurk i fokus. Det gör att jag är mer än nöjd även om jag kan förstå de som vill se Baal och Diablo igen. Skovos är toppen med varierade miljöer och är något större än Nahantu. Fienderna är även lite mer utmanande denna gång. Det är inte en expansion som kommer att förvandla din upplevelse på samma sätt som Blizzards tidigare expansioner. Det är inte riktigt i samma klass som Diablo II: Lord of Destruction eller Starcraft: Brood War. Det du däremot får är ett avslut, mer bakgrundsinformation och en spännande berättelse.

Vad nästa steg för Diablo är känns lite oklart, dock är kontinenten för de två första spelen i serien synlig. Den östra kontinenten går bara att se via kartan och om det är det vi har att vänta är jag fortsatt med på resan. Detta är dock positivt, jag tycker att denna expansion avslutar berättelsen utan att lämna oss med en cliffhanger. Om det betyder att vi i framtiden kanske får återbesöka Tristram är lite oklart. Jag kan dock säga utan tvekan att om du fortfarande spelar Diablo IV bör du skaffa dig Lord of Hatred. Det är visuellt och audiovisuellt fantastiskt och Diablo fortsätter att bjuda på genrens mest polerade strider.

Det låter och känns nästintill perfekt att slakta demoner och varken Path of Exile 2 eller Titan Quest II är riktigt där ännu, även om de spelen har sina egna förträffligheter. Spelet är också konstant uppdaterat med nytt innehåll vilket gör att live service-konceptet för en gångs skull fungerar. Äger du inte Diablo IV har jag dock svårt att se att denna kampanj kommer att övertyga dig, däremot tycker jag inte att du ska missa detta om du gillar titeln och aktivt spelar fortfarande. Diablo IV med alla sina expansioner är idag ett riktigt bra actionrollspel för den ensamma spelaren och för dig som har vänner att spela med.

<bild>Warlock är en ruskigt spännande klass. Den bjuder på ett koncept som ingen annan klass erbjuder i dagsläget. Du är en extremt aggresiv magiker och summoner i ett enda kraftpaket.</bild>
<bild>Det nya systemet för talismaner är enkelt och erbjuder fler möjligheter att skruva din karaktärs bonusar färdigheter. Fler saker att samla gillas alltid i Diablo.</bild>
<bild>Om du trodde att Sorcerer kunde få hela skärmen att fyllas av effekter är det rena barnleken mot Warlock. När du trycker av alla förmågor samtidigt går det knappt att se vad som händer. Jag gillar framförallt alla eldattacker. Du kan även kombinera din demonform och din demoniska hund genom att rida på den inte helt olik Hellrider med kedjor.</bild>
<bild>Vyerna är fantastiska, Blizzard leker med det stora och det lilla. Den första staden du besöker på Skovos liknar Minas Tirith från Sagan om Ringen.</bild>

Ända sedan jag spelade det allra första Subnautica visste jag att Unknown Worlds Entertainment hade kokat ihop något speciellt. Känslan av att se hav i alla riktningar, veta att du behöver överleva helt strandsatt på en främmande planet och vara helt ensam är gripande. Med hjälp av ett genomtänkt resurshanteringssystem behövde du hitta mineraler, metaller och annat och bygga nya verktyg. Allt detta skedde i vackra undervattensmiljöer. Samtidigt hade spelet en mörkare sida, alla varelser du stötte på var inte alltid små och ofarliga. I haven fanns det också gigantiska rovdjur i stil med sådant vi hade på jorden för miljontals år sedan. Du var inte längre i toppen av näringskedjan utan betydligt lägre ned.

Förväntningarna på Subnautica 2 var gigantiska som en följd av briljansen med ettan och det underhållande äventyret Below Zero. Jag gillade båda föregående titlar men jag förstår också att den fristående spinoff-titeln inte var en regelrätt uppföljare och lite mindre i storlek. Denna gång är storleken tillbaka i stil med ettan och tvåan väntas växa till sig under sin Early Access-period. Jag upplevde ganska omgående att Uknown Worlds leker med biomer där havet helt omslukar dig och du varken kan se botten eller ytan. Det är precis i dessa situationer det blir extra otäckt att utforska. Du vet inte var alla konstiga ljud kommer ifrån och skuggorna som omslukar dig kan vara en illusion och inte ett gigantiskt monster.

<bild>Karaktärsskaparen är simpel men låter dig välja vem du är, färger och utseende.</bild>

Du börjar precis som i ettan med en typ av krasch. Din livboj skickar dig till ytan efter en träningssektion och du kan snabbt börja med resurssamlandet och utforskandet. Precis som i ettan är din första bas en halvt fungerande flyktkapsel från moderskeppet. Det mesta är sig likt du uppgraderar din utrustning, skaffar grundläggande verktyg och tar dig djupare ut i havet. Denna gång behöver du inte oroa dig över en reaktor-explosion vid horisonten. Du kommer dock att hitta resterna av ditt rymdskepp utspridda på havsbotten. Du kan dock inte bygga allt i din livboj utan behöver bygga en bas där du kan tillverka fler resurser, verktyg, byggnader och annat. Det ska sägas direkt att basbyggandet är mer sammanfogat med upplevelsen denna gång. Det är inte lika fristående som i ettan.

Jag har dock inga problem med ett större fokus på basbyggandet då jag gillar att bygga byggnader och skapa mina egna boplatser. Material och annat är också ganska enkelt att skaffa på grund av att byggnaderna är billiga vilket gör att du snabbt kan få upp en fungerande bas. Förbättringarna till byggverktyget gör det mindre bökigt att expandera, rotera och fixa till basen precis som du vill ha den. Det är också byggandet som krävs för att du ska kunna skapa en typ av hangar och tillverka ditt första fordon. Den jag testade heter tadpole och påminner en del om Seamoth. Den är dock betydligt mer anpassningsbar och du kan även skräddarsy chassit. Att installera komponenter fungerar snarlikt ettan. Det resulterar i en ganska bekväm spelloop där mycket är bekant.

<bild>Du låser upp superstarka förmågor tack vare att du blandar DNA från organiskt liv på planeten med ditt eget.</bild>
<bild>Det här spelet blir mörkt på riktigt, du ser ingenting på nätterna och jag gillar detta skarpt. Växer och djur självlyser och miljöerna är fantastiska att beskåda. Du behöver dock tänka lite på ficklampan då djurlivet reagerar på det.</bild>

Jag vill dock slå ett slag för både grafiken och atmosfären. Det är ett vackert spel med en ruskigt fin himmel. Soluppgången måste ha varit direkt inspirerad av Star Wars: A New Hope med sina dubbla solar och det är svårt att inte häpnas över det visuella. Det här är ett tekniskt kompetent spel med fina produktionsvärden. Musiken är precis som i ettan elektronisk med en härlig retrokänsla. Jag minns när jag hoppade ned i vattnet för första gången i Subnautica och blev hänförd, jag kommer att minnas det även med tvåan. Det är en så pass unik upplevelse i spelmediet att det är svårt att inte känna lite lycklig när man försöker fånga, göra vattenflaskor och grillspett av undervattenslivet på planeten.

När du inledningsvis kämpar mot mörkret, skannar varelser försöker förstå varför saker sker på denna nya planet är spelet som bäst. Du har all tid i världen att utforska och göra vad du vill däremot finns det en berättelse. Du har en AI som heter NOA och hjälper dig att peka ut uppdrag och annat att hitta. Den buggade ur lite för mig och jag får inga fler sådana uppdrag. Det kan också bero på att jag kommit för långt. Denna AI är inte riktigt vad den utger sig att vara och samtidigt sprids en mystisk sjukdom på planeten. Du kommer att se havsdjur och hela biomer täckta av detta virus och parasiter kopplade till detta. Den största markören för detta är ett gigantiskt träd mot horisonten helt täckt av dessa gråa sporer och ett grått slem. Det har ersatt ettans kraschade rymdskepp som ett gigantiskt landmärke.

<bild>Om du gillade ettan kommer du att trivas som fisken i havet.</bild>
<bild>Det är bra att skanna och lära dig mer om faunan och resurser i spelet. Allt samlas i en databank du enkelt kan hitta i menyerna.</bild>

Du kan dock inte resa vart du vill i denna Early Access finns det tydligt markerade punkter du inte kan utforska. Du får en varning och eventuellt så dör du. Tack och lov så är döden inte slutet. Din kropp kopieras igen och du kan fritt hitta din kapsel och dina föremål inte helt olikt systemet i ettan. Det är upp till dig att undersöka varför ni kraschade vilken roll din AI spelade och eventuellt att bota sjukdomen som härjar i havet. Du kommer säkerligen på sikt också att få fly. Så långt har jag inte kommit och så pass mycket innehåll finns inte i denna Early Access-version. Det som finns däremot är väldigt bra och beroendeframkallande. Vill du inte ha hunger och törst finns det alternativa lägen utan detta och enklare basbygge.

Jag gillar också hur kvarlämnade inspelningar hänvisar till platser du besökt. Ett favoritställe var en gigantisk snäcka som om du störde den slår igen och du kan bli fångad i den. Att sedan hitta en logg och höra andra överlevare och deras försök att ta sig ut var minst sagt roande. Ett annat ställe jag gillade var en helt förstörd omgivning som omringades av ganska stora och farliga fiskar. Kungen just nu av biomer är ändå startområdet. Det är sådär trivsamt, ljust, vackert och ofarligt precis som i ettan. Samtidigt vet du att bortom dessa områden finns faror olik allt du sett hitills. En av de farligaste platserna jag besökte var ett område fyllt av lava och vulkanisk aktivitet. Du kommer inte alltid att kunna komma åt överallt. Däremot finns det inledningsvis mycket hjälp tack vare syreskapande växter. Du behöver inte nödvändigtvis ha ditt fordon i början av spelet. Jag klarade mig ganska fint i över 5-timmar utan att använda mig av sådana hjälpmedel.

<bild>Dubbla solar som reser sig vid horisonten är inget nytt i media men det är lika snyggt varje gång.</bild>
<bild>Om du vill skapa tackor av ett ämne och annat behöver du numera en bas med specifika byggnader.</bild>

Hittills har jag resonerat om saker du är bekant med men det finns också nyheter. En nyhet till konceptet är genetik, du kan bygga upp din karaktär med förmågor som du får via speciella växter och databanker. Det görs i spelet genom att blanda DNA, mer konkret fungerar det på det sättet att du har två typer av dessa bonusar. Den första är förmågor din karaktär får och den andra är passiva bonusar. Du kommer att ha ett stort utbud att välja på. Exempelvis kan du i början välja mellan att lämna spår efter dig så att du kan hitta ut ur grottor enklare eller om du simmar på botten rör du dig snabbare. Utöver det finns det även ett mer berättelsedrivet sätt att få nya förmågor. De är dessa du får av växter du botar från viruset. Dessa ger dig ganska starka förmågor som att du klarar hetta bättre. Det öppnar upp för att utforska tidigare nämnda område med lava och vulkaner. Jag hoppas att mängden av dessa är fler än antalet platser, det kan innebära att du som spelare får göra lite val.

Rent tekniskt är upplevelsen mer polerad än ettan men det finns buggar. Uppdrag som slutar dyka upp, fiskar som åker genom marken och lite annat. Det är dock sällan så pass störande att jag tänker på det. Den enda som påverkat mig är den berättelsedrivna buggen där jag inte får mer vägledning vart jag ska. Min misstanke är att antingen finns det inga fler ställen eller så har denna version av titeln buggat. Audiovisuellt är det hela toppen både musik och alla häftiga läten är suveräna. Jag gillar det jag ser och hör för det mesta trots några skavanker. Flerspelarläget har jag dock inte fått att fungera i den version av spelet jag har. Det är co-op med upp till fyra spelare du kan samarbeta med, det är något jag kommer att testa efter den officiella lanseringen av denna förhandsversion.

<bild>Det är en fantastisk känsla att simma runt på nätterna och se alla självlysande växter och djurliv i havet.</bild>
<bild>Platåerna är alltid luriga. Vad möter jag om jag simmar över kanten och dyker ned till 250 meter eller djupare?</bild>

Summan av min tid med Early Access-versionen av Subnautica 2 är att det är värt att spelas och förmodligen kommer att bli ett fantastiskt spel. Precis som i ettans förhandsversion vet vi inte hur lång tid det kommer att ta och vilka uppgraderingar vi kommer att se framöver. Av det jag testat i nuläget känner jag mig både nöjd och förväntansfull över vad som komma skall. Det är både vackert, låter bra och uppmanar till utforskande. Resurssamlandet och basbyggandet är både enkelt och intuitivt. I nuläget påverkas din bas mest av om den har ström eller blir anfallen. Jag kan tänka mig att framtida uppdateringar kan expandera på detta. Det är en aspekt förutom begränsad utforskning som visar upp att detta är ett projekt som ska byggas upp samtidigt som du spelar. Jag hoppas att utvecklarna bygger in mycket vädertyper i spelet, jag vill ha en god variation av regn, åska, sol, dimma och mycket annat. Jag ser gärna också att temperatur kan skifta i vissa av biomerna vilket kräver förändringar ibland i ditt val av DNA.

I nuläget är Subnautica 2 en begränsad version som innehåller minst 6-12-timmar speltid. Med flerspelarläget inräknat kan du säkerligen få ut betydligt fler timmar. Över tid ska utvecklaren bygga in resterande fordon, verktyg, resurser, biomer och berättande. Det är mycket som saknas och du behöver fundera på om du vill dyka i nu eller vänta till mer innehåll är på plats. Jag var ganska nöjd med min tid men det märks att detta inte är färdigt på långa vägar och det kan dröja innan vi ser 1.0. Jag är dock glad över att det som finns är i ett betydligt bättre skick än i ettan och erbjuder mer innehåll. Av den anledningen kan jag lite försiktigt rekommendera dig detta då du får det till ett lägre pris än när det anländer i sin 1.0-version. Haven är läskiga och jag tycker inte att Subnautica 2 har förlorat det som gjorde sina föregångare unika och bra. Du bör dock veta med dig att du får ganska lite av berättelsen och mer av en förrätt än huvudrätten och efterrätten. Det är detta begränsade innehåll och tekniska problem som gör att jag inte kan motivera ett högre betyg. Jag är dock extremt optimistisk över detta projekt och hoppas kunna återbesöka spelet när det väl lanseras i sin fullständiga version.

<bild>Dessa handskar skjuter ut strålar av vatten och fungerar lite som Seaglide i ettan. Det är ett verktyg tidigt som tar dig runt snabbare i miljöerna men dränerar batterier snabbt.</bild>
<bild>Jag gillar att basbyggandet står mer i centrum denna gång. Det kändes konstigt att tillverka så pass mycket i räddningskapseln i ettan.</bild>
<bild>Att bygga baser med vyer är lika roande i tvåan. Det är dock lite enklare då verktyget är mer intitutivt.</bild>
<bild>Djurlivet är mångfaceterat och det finns både fridfulla varelser och livsfarliga motsvarigheter i vattnet.</bild>
<bild>Ditt första fordon är en liten udda sak. Jag gillar den dock och den är både justerbar och uppgraderingsbar. Det ska bli spännande att utforska hur mycket den kommer att gå att anpassa i framtiden.</bild>
<bild>En av mina favoritsaker i tvåan är inte enbart haven utan också rymden. Det är rätt häftiga vyer vi kan beskåda.</bild>

Det finns något väldigt uppfriskande med att en uppföljare som man inte riktigt hade på sin radar plötsligt dyker upp. För även om jag uppskattade föregångaren från 2020 vid namn Call of the Sea så har jag liksom inte gått och tänkt på spelet efter att jag klarade det. Eller funderat kring att vi skulle få en fortsättning. Där man har stenkoll på vissa favorit-spelserier och går och längtar efter nästa del - så dök Call of the Gods plötsligt bara upp.

Denna uppföljare tar plats under 1950-talet. Det har gått dryga 20 år sedan det första spelet i serien. Ena huvudpersonen som vi spelar med är Evangeline Drayton som är dotter till Frank som var en av karaktärerna som åkte på expeditionen i det första spelet. Det finns alltså en ganska stor poäng här att ha spelat föregångaren eftersom det är mycket referenser till vad som skedde i det. Spelets berättarröst är också Norah som man då spelade med i Call of the Sea - och den andra spelbara karaktären är hennes man Harry Everhart som Norah sökte efter i föregångaren.

Är man nykomling kan det låta väldigt rörigt. Men berättelsen i Call of the Elder Gods står också hyfsat bra på egna ben. Förmodligen för att de som plockar upp serien här - ska kunna ha roligt med det. Vår huvudkaraktär Evangeline har märkliga drömmar och söker upp Harry för att få svar på de otal frågor hon har. Detta leder dem bägge ut på ett äventyr som allra främst är betydligt mer varierande än sin föregångare. Där den tog plats på ö så är detta ett äventyr som tar en till olika platser. Varje kapitel för berättelsen framåt men bjuder också givetvis på en mängd olika pussel att lösa för att komma vidare.

<bild>Spelets första kapitel tillhör det mest atmosfäriska.</bild>

Det startar väldigt, väldigt bra med en herrgård och dessa magnifika trädgård. Början känns väldigt klassisk men jag jag gillade också att stämningen i de ståtliga rummen, men främst i den fina trädgården, var mystisk, tät och spännande. Upplägget är ganska enkelt; du traskar omkring och finner ledtrådar. Dessa skrivs ner i en händig journal som du enkelt kan ta fram och kika på. Med hjälp av dessa och ditt egna intellekt så löser du pussel efter pussel för att komma till nästa del.

Jag gillar hur utforskandet ger dig tillräckligt med ledtrådar för hur du sedan ska klura ut pusslet. Det gäller att kika på allting om det så är utspridda dokument, tavlor eller annat för att journalen ska skissa ner det som hjälper en med lösningen. Det finns väldigt mycket annat som ligger utspritt - men man vet vad som är ledtrådar av att det då dyker upp i ens bok.

<bild>Det visuella är ofta riktigt tjusigt.</bild>

Tankenötterna har en ganska varierande svårighetsgrad. Ibland känns de rätt simpla, och ledtrådarna som samlats in hjälper en bra, medan andra är betydligt mer komplexa. Skulle man köra helt fast kan man få hjälp i menyn genom att helt enkelt läsa lösningen. Detta system tycker jag dock inte är särskilt roligt. I många andra pusselspel får man liksom lite hjälp snarare än ett "såhär gör du". Kör jag fast vill jag liksom få en extra ledtråd snarare än en bruksanvisning kring exakt vilka knappar och i vilken ordning som jag ska trycka på.

Nu är inte spelets pussel omöjliga. Visst - vissa är rejält kluriga. Speciellt de som handlar om symboler och siffror. Det finns en liten avvikelse mellan en del klurigheter där det också handlar om att en del helt enkelt inte är lika bra utformade. Detta är en av några anledningar till att Call of the Elder Gods inte riktigt rör sig i samma liga som storheterna inom genren, i mitt tycke. Men jag uppskattade verkligen många partier och en hel del pussel som det bjuder på. I vissa stunder växlar vi också mellan de två karaktärerna och detta är ett system jag tycker man kunde utnyttjat lite mer.

<bild>Till skillnad från föregångaren så tar äventyret oss till flertalet olika varierande platser.</bild>

Visuellt gillar jag framförallt spelets färgglada design. Jag har kört äventyret på Switch 2 och den tecknade visuella stilen bjuder på väldigt tjusiga miljöer. Jag kan tänka mig att helhetsintrycket är ännu skarpare på mer kraftfulla konsoler men det fungerar väldigt fint på Nintendos hybrid. Framförallt så är det just stilen i sig som fungerar bra - rent tekniskt så är det kanske inte särskilt "snyggt" så, men miljöerna och detaljerna är väldigt fina i all sin tecknade enkelhet. De bidrar bra till den mystik som vilar över spelet i sin helhet.

För det är just en viss mystik som är kärnan här. Som nämnt tar äventyret våra huvudkaraktärer till flertalet olika platser. Det finns en spänning i alltifrån att utforska ett antal grottor till att resa till ett snöigt Norge. Även om inget riktigt når den höjdpunkt jag tycker spelets första kapitel har.

Men atmosfären och variationen gör det heller aldrig tråkigt. Berättelsen i sig är kanske inte jättespännande - dock. Lite onödigt komplicerad mest för sakens skull och den spretar lite åt alla håll. Den presenteras också delvis med kanske spelets allra svagaste punkt - trista mellansekvenser som är som tecknade stillbilder. De känns livlösa och gör ingenting för att addera till spänningen. Dessutom är det väldigt mycket that om allt och ingenting - speciellt då när det finns en berättarröst som i tid och otid ska komma med lite överflödig exponering.

<bild>Spelets mellansekvenser är tyvärr, tillsammans med berättelsen, ingen direkt höjdare.</bild>

Trots dessa minus så hade jag väldigt skoj med Call of the Elder Gods. Pusselspel är ju en genre jag gillar väldigt, väldigt mycket. Jag skulle nog påstå att det är näst efter rollspel är min favorit. Ser man bort från dess minus och lägger fokus på dess pussel så finns det en hel del klurigheter här som är riktigt bra. Den där känslan av att lösa ett fantastiskt pussel och få känna sig riktigt smart är precis lika tillfredsställande här som i vilket bra pusselspel som helst.

I slutändan är det främst ett gäng småsaker som hindrar Call of the Elder Gods att nå de högsta höjderna. Jag önskar exempelvis att spelet hade stanna kvar lite längre på vissa platser. Början med herrgården och trädgården är exempelvis fenomenal medan utforskandet i en del grottor är av det betydligt svagare slaget. En hel del fantastiska pussel till trots så är även ledtrådar och mekaniker lite ljumma - speciellt då gällande avsaknaden av att få en liten bättre knuff i rätt riktning på vägen till lösningen.

Allt i allt så rekommenderar jag ändå Call of the Elder Gods om du är sugen på att lösa pussel. För när fokus ligger på att klura ut just ett sådant så visar detta äventyr, tillsammans med de tjusiga miljöerna som äventyret tar en genom, sin främsta styrka.

Det är något nästan tragikomiskt över hur vi gamers vägrar ge upp hoppet. Du vet exakt hur det går: alla varningslampor blinkar rött, preview-klippen luktar budget och halvdana idéer - och ändå sitter man där, knäpper händerna och tänker "kanske... kanske är det här ändå nästa dolda pärla". Precis så var det med Samson. Ett gäng lovande trailers, några intervjuer som hintade om fokus och återhållsamhet, och ett utvecklarteam från Liquid Swords med Avalanche-DNA i ryggen. Det kändes... rimligt. Kontrollerat. Som att de visste sina begränsningar.

Första intrycket av Samson: A Tyndalston Story är faktiskt ganska träffsäkert sammanfattat som "GTA - fast utan skjutvapen". Här kör du runt i en öppen stad, plockar upp uppdrag, bockar av aktiviteter och försöker hålla huvudet ovanför vattenytan. Skillnaden? Du slåss med nävarna istället för att plocka fram en raketkastare ur bakfickan. Och visst, det finns något nästan befriande i det - tills man inser att det är ungefär där nytänket tar slut. Resten är ett lapptäcke av välbekanta system som känns lånade, ibland nästan kopierade, från både Grand Theft Auto och Sleeping Dogs.

<bild></bild>

Du kliver in i rollen som Samson McCray - en man med mer skulder än charm, som återvänder till sin hemstad med en prislapp på 100 000 dollar hängande över huvudet. För att göra saken lite extra spicy har hans syster kidnappats som säkerhet. Motivation? Absolut. Engagemang? Nja. Storyn gör sitt jobb i den mest grundläggande bemärkelsen: den ger dig en anledning att springa från punkt A till punkt B och slå folk på käften. Men det finns inget här som får dig att bry dig på riktigt. Samson är platt, hans bekanta är vandrande stereotyper och hela berättelsen känns som en déjà vu-loop från bättre spel. Det försöker vara lite självironiskt, lite edgy - men utan karaktärsdjup blir det mest tomt poserande.

Pengarna tjänar du genom ett urval av klassiska open-world-sysslor: tävlingar med bil, leveranser från punkt A till B och så klart genom att prygla upp allsköns folk. Det låter bekant eftersom det är bekant. Den enda tydliga avvikelsen är avsaknaden av skjutvapen - men det räcker inte för att bära ett helt spel. Istället lutar Samson tungt på ett Action Points-system som begränsar hur mycket du kan göra per dag, samtidigt som du konstant måste betala av på din skuld. Misslyckas du? Boom - nästan alla dina pengar ryker. Och ja, du kan senare låsa upp färdigheter som mildrar smällen... från totalt haveri till "bara" 90% förlust. Generöst, eller hur?

<bild></bild>

Problemet är inte idén i sig - tyngden från skulden som hänger över en är faktiskt en rätt intressant mekanik - utan hur brutalt och obalanserat den implementeras. Det känns inte som ett smart designval, utan som ett ständigt straff. Spelet vill att du ska spela perfekt, varje gång. Och när det inte händer (för det gör det aldrig) sitter du där och tittar på hur dina surt förvärvade pengar försvinner.

Uppdragen då? De kan grovt delas in i två kategorier - och ingen av dem räddar helhetsintrycket.

Först och främst har vi de som avhandlas bakom ratten på en bil. Och där bjussas det på lite street racing, lite biljakter och lite demolition derby-light. Men glansen falnar snabbt. Din bil är ungefär lika hållbar som ett gammal östtysk trabbi, och när den går sönder måste du laga den - eller hitta en ny. Och här kommer ett av spelets mest förbryllande designval: du kan inte sno bilar. Så när din egen kärra tackar för sig? Då är det bara att snöra på sig joggingskorna och börja springa. I ett spel som bygger på tempo och press. Lysande.

Och som grädde på moset tickar pengarna på ditt konto ner samtidigt, vilket gör att varje misstag känns som ett personligt hån från utvecklarna. Det slutar med att du inte längre spelar för att ha kul - du spelar för att undvika att bli bestraffad. Det är en ganska stor skillnad.

<bild></bild>

Till fots blir det tyvärr ännu värre. Här rasar illusionen helt. Kontrollerna känns svampiga, nästan som att din karaktär rör sig genom sirap, och tekniska problem dyker upp i en så stadig ström att man börjar undra om det är en feature. Fastnar i miljöer? Check. Karaktären som plötsligt börjar sväva runt som en trasig ragdoll? Check. Och så klart - en autosave som verkar leva sitt eget liv och inte går att förlita sig på för fem öre. Vilket är en direkt deal breaker.

Stridssystemet är inte heller någon räddning. Det handlar mindre om skicklighet och mer om att hoppas att spelet inte bestämmer sig för att jobba emot dig. Fiender kan stun-locka dig tills du ligger utslagen, och ibland spawnar de bokstavligen bakom ryggen på dig som någon form av billig jumpscare - fast utan skräcken, bara irritationen. Det är den typen av design som inte utmanar spelaren, utan snarare testar tålamodet.

<bild></bild>

Det finns dock glimtar av något bättre. En antydan om hopp. Tyndalston som stad har en skitig, rå charm som faktiskt fungerar. De ständigt blanka vägarna ger ifrån sig lite noir-känsla med lite lätt dystopisk kryddning, fast utan neon och regn. Det är lite konstigt, lite inkonsekvent - men också en av få saker som ger spelet en egen identitet. Tyvärr räcker det inte. För varje snygg vy finns det tre repetitiva ljudklipp som loopar sönder dina öron. För varje bra idé finns det två som aldrig riktigt lyckas landa. Samson känns som ett projekt som haft ambitioner större än sin verklighet - och som snubblat flera gånger på vägen fram till målsnöret.

Så, ska du spela det? Nej. Inte nu. Kanske inte sen heller, om jag ska vara ärlig. För det här är inte bara ett spel som behöver putsas - det är ett spel som behöver tänka om. Rejält.

User-generated doesn't necessarily mean "expert."

Google's AI search is getting a handful of updates designed to highlight first-hand information sourced from discussion boards and social media posts along with your trusted news sources and subscriptions. Notably, AI responses will now show "expert advice" pulled from online forums like Reddit, highlighting specific quotes and linking to discussions related to your search queries. With this "preview of perspectives," you'll also see additional context for the discussion, including the creator's name, handle, or community name.

It should go without saying, but even when the results are billed as "expert advice" sourced from forums you'd typically go to for answers, you shouldn't blindly take them as fact. As TechCrunch notes, AI isn't great at detecting sarcasm and humor, and Google's AI Overviews have often recycled jokes made on Reddit as serious advice. In general, generative AI is also known to hallucinate, simply making things up and presenting everything from fake news summaries to non-existent legal advice with confidence. While AI Overview may be accurate around 90% of the time, according to a New York Times analysis, that means at least one in 10 responses will still contain errors.

In some ways, Google is facilitating fact-checking with other AI search updates: Source links will appear within AI responses next to the relevant text or bullet points, and you can hover over inline links to see a preview of the website before clicking through. AI Mode and AI Overviews will also highlight content from your news subscriptions first, so you know information is coming from sources you trust.

However, you should still do the extra legwork to ensure the information AI provides is legitimate. At the very least, click through to the source material cited to ensure it actually says what the AI claims it does, and assess whether the source itself is trustworthy. (Remember that "user-generated" doesn't necessarily mean "expert.") And use lateral reading strategies to find reputable sources supporting or refuting AI's claims.

X has promised to review suspected illegal hate and terror content within 24 hours.

LONDON — Elon Musk’s X will introduce new measures to protect U.K. users from illegal hate and terror content, the online safety regulator Ofcom announced Friday.

“Following intensive engagement carried out by Ofcom’s online safety team, X have committed to implementing stronger protections for U.K. users, which we will now monitor closely,” Ofcom’s Online Safety Group Director Oliver Griffiths said.

The commitments include reviewing U.K. suspected illegal hate and terror content flagged via a dedicated reporting tool within 24 hours and blocking accounts operated by or on behalf of proscribed organizations.

“We have evidence that terrorist content and illegal hate speech is persisting on some of the largest social media sites. We are challenging them to tackle the problem and expect them to take firm action. This is of particular importance in the U.K. following a number of recent hate motivated crimes suffered by the country’s Jewish community,” Griffiths added.

After the attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester last October, researchers at nonprofit the Center for Countering Digital Hate identified a range of antisemitic abuse on X, including posts openly calling for further violence against British Jews.

The CCDH’s CEO Imran Ahmed told POLITICO: “We welcome Ofcom’s announcement that X has committed to introducing new protections against illegal hate and terror content, following sustained campaigning by CCDH in the wake of last year’s attack on Heaton Park Synagogue.”

“Online abuse does not exist in isolation. It has real-world consequences for people who are being intimidated and endangered simply because of their faith. Ofcom now has an opportunity to prove that the Online Safety Act can deliver meaningful accountability. We will be watching closely to ensure this results in meaningful action, not just words,” Ahmed added.

X did not immediately respond when contacted for comment.

President Trump returns to the U.S. after wrapping up his whirlwind trip to China.

President Trump returns to the U.S. after wrapping up his whirlwind trip to China.

In manufacturing, credibility is not built in a single interaction. It develops through consistency, precision, and the ability to communicate capability with clarity. Today, that journey often begins online, when procurement teams, brand owners, or sourcing managers explore potential partners long before initiating a conversation. For Varna Packaging, a company with more than six decades of manufacturing expertise,…

The post Shaping a Digital Experience That Reflects Manufacturing Excellence  appeared first on Pixel Studios.

In manufacturing, credibility is not built in a single interaction. It develops through consistency, precision, and the ability to communicate capability with clarity. Today, that journey often begins online, when procurement teams, brand owners, or sourcing managers explore potential partners long before initiating a conversation.

For Varna Packaging, a company with more than six decades of manufacturing expertise, this shift presented an opportunity. Their reputation in the industry was strong, supported by years of quality-driven delivery. The next step was to ensure their digital presence reflected the same depth, structure, and professionalism that defined their operations. 

Pixel Studios partnered with Varna Packaging to evolve their website into a platform that could better support modern B2B discovery, evaluation, and engagement. 

Understanding the Opportunity

As buyer behaviour changes, manufacturing websites are no longer just informational brochures. They serve as decision-support tools. 

During our discovery phase, we observed that:

• Visitors needed clearer pathways to explore diverse product offerings
• Industry applications could be articulated more strategically
• Navigation could better mirror how B2B users evaluate suppliers
• The brand story and technical capabilities deserved stronger visual expression
• A structured SEO foundation would support long-term digital visibility

The goal was not to reinvent the brand, but to translate its legacy into a more accessible and future-ready digital experience. 

Our Approach: Aligning Digital Structure with Buyer Intent

At Pixel Studios, we approached the project with a simple belief: 

A manufacturing website should function like a well-organised facility. 
Everything should be easy to locate, purposeful, and built for performance. 

This philosophy guided every stage of the transformation. 

Phase 1: Building a Clear Information Architecture

Manufacturing buyers typically search with intent. They look for:

• Specific packaging formats
• Industry relevance
• Technical reassurance
• Production credibility

To support this behaviour, we restructured the website’s architecture into clearly defined sections that allow users to move seamlessly between products, applications, and company strengths. 

This created a logical exploration journey rather than a fragmented browsing experience. 

Phase 2: Developing Dedicated Product Experiences

Varna Packaging offers an extensive portfolio, and each solution needed its own space to communicate value effectively. 

We created 14+ dedicated product category pages, covering formats such as: 

• Stand-up and flat-bottom pouches
• Three-side seal and pillow pouches
• Quad seal and gusset bags
• Rollstock films and vacuum packaging
• Retort solutions, shrink sleeves, and specialty laminates

Each page was designed to: 

• Explain applications clearly
• Support technical understanding
• Help buyers quickly assess suitability

This structure allows decision-makers to find relevant solutions without unnecessary complexity. 

Phase 3: Showcasing Industry-Specific Expertise

Manufacturing partnerships are often built on domain familiarity. To reflect Varna Packaging’s versatility, we developed 8+ market segment pages tailored to industries such as: 

• Food and bakery products
• Beverages
• Pharmaceuticals
• Personal care and cosmetics
• Pet food and agriculture
• Industrial and export applications

These sections connect solutions directly to real-world use cases, helping visitors visualize alignment with their business needs. 

Phase 4: Elevating User Experience Through Thoughtful Design

The visual and interactive experience was refined to communicate professionalism without distraction. 

Key UX enhancements included: 

• Clean layouts that prioritize readability
• Consistent visual hierarchy across pages
• Intuitive navigation designed for B2B research behaviour
• Mobile-first responsiveness for accessibility across devices

The result is an interface that feels structured, calm, and dependable. Exactly what manufacturing buyers expect. 

Phase 5: Strengthening the Technical Foundation

Behind the design, we implemented a robust technical framework to support long-term digital performance. 

This included:

• SEO-ready architecture for improved discoverability
• Optimized page performance and responsiveness
• Structured content implementation for scalability
• Conversion-focused CTA placements integrated naturally into user journeys

These elements ensure the website is not only visually refined but also built to grow alongside the business. 

The Outcome: A Website That Works Like a Business Tool

The transformed website now functions as more than a digital presence. It acts as a structured communication platform between Varna Packaging and potential partners. 

It enables: 

• Easier discovery of solutions and capabilities
• Clearer articulation of industry expertise
• Stronger alignment between offline credibility and online experience
• A scalable foundation for future marketing and SEO initiatives

Most importantly, it supports informed decision-making for B2B audiences. 

What Made This Transformation Successful

Several principles guided the project: 

• Respecting legacy while modernizing presentation
• Designing for how manufacturing buyers actually research
• Creating depth without overwhelming the user
• Integrating UX, content, and SEO from the ground up
• Building a scalable platform rather than a static website

The Client Impact

Today, Varna Packaging’s digital presence reflects the same qualities that define its manufacturing operations: 

• Structured and precise
• Built for clarity and usability
• Ready to support long-term growth
• Aligned with evolving buyer expectations

The website now serves as a confident first touchpoint for new business relationships. 

Conclusion

Digital transformation in manufacturing is not about change for the sake of change. It is about ensuring that decades of expertise are communicated in ways that modern buyers can easily access, understand, and trust. 

Varna Packaging’s website evolution demonstrates how thoughtful UX, structured content, and strong technical foundations can translate industrial excellence into a meaningful digital experience. 

At Pixel Studios, we don’t just design websites. We build digital platforms that help businesses communicate their strengths with clarity, confidence, and purpose. 

Lets discuss ideas to propel your brand online

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The post Shaping a Digital Experience That Reflects Manufacturing Excellence  appeared first on Pixel Studios.

AirDrop support is coming to even more Android phones.

When Google announced AirDrop support for Pixel devices last year, it was a bit of a bombshell. For years, file sharing was just one of those things that didn't mix well between iPhone and Android. Email, texting, agreeing on a third-party app; none of the options were convenient, especially when each platform had its own easy-to-use solution: AirDrop or Quick Share. But opening up AirDrop support for Android phones bridges the gap in a meaningful way: Now, you can send a friend with an iPhone a picture, video, or file from your Pixel, and vice versa—as quickly and efficiently as if you both had the same type of smartphone.

Unfortunately, in the six months since Google's original announcement, the rollout has been quite slow. At launch, only the Pixel 10 line supported AirDrop. Since then, Google opened up AirDrop support for the Pixel 9 series as well as the Pixel 8a. Then, in March, Samsung announced support for the Galaxy S26 series. Oppo also launched compatibility for the Find X9 series and Find N6, while Vivo rolled out support for the Vivo X300 Ultra. If you have a different Android phone than what's listed here, however, it sadly doesn't support AirDrop—at least, not yet.

AirDrop support is on the way for these devices

During The Android Show: I/O Edition on Tuesday, Google announced that more Android devices would soon have AirDrop support, democratizing file sharing for more users. At this time, the following devices are on track to receive support later this year:

• Samsung Galaxy S25 series

• Samsung Galaxy S24 series

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

• Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold

• Oppo Find X8 series

• OnePlus 15

• Honor Magic V6

• Honor Magic8 Pro

Google is also expanding support for certain Xiaomi phones this year, but it's not yet clear which devices will receive support. In addition, it's not clear whether the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S24 FE also fall into the above list.

Your Android phone can still support easy file sharing without AirDrop

If you have an Android phone that isn't listed here, you aren't entirely cut out of the AirDrop equation. In fact, Google is rolling out a feature for Android devices that let them tap into easy file sharing, but via a QR code. It's a new option you'll find in the Quick Share menu: By using a QR code, your file moves to the cloud—from here, have your iPhone friends scan the QR code to retrieve the file. There's not a ton of info about this functionality just yet, but I'd imagine there are some privacy implications here. AirDrop and Quick Share send files directly from one device to another: Getting the cloud involved opens up the risk for other parties (Google included) to access your data. But, at the same time, at least there's another option on the way for users to share files without having to resort to email.

New features protect your data from scams and theft.

Google announced many new Android features and upgrades during The Android Show: I/O Edition. Among these are a handful of security and privacy tools Google hopes will protect users (and their data) from scams and theft. Android already has a suite of safeguards—in-call scam alerts, anti-theft settings, and a lockdown mode called Advanced Protection, to name a few—which the new features largely build on and strengthen. Here's what's new.

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Android will automatically end calls that spoof financial institutions

Google rolled out a feature last year to protect against bank impersonators who might attempt to steal your login credentials or convince you to transfer money. In-call pop-ups warn you if you try to open a financial app while on the phone with unknown numbers to prevent you from sharing your screen with fraudsters. Now, Android will also attempt to verify calls purportedly from financial institutions and hang up if it detects that the call is a scam. If you have a participating bank's app installed on your device and are logged in, Android will use the app to confirm legitimacy. Initially, this feature will be available to users on Android 11 and higher who bank with Revolut, Itaú, and Nubank—meaning this won't apply to U.S. customers yet—but Google is expecting to expand to more institutions later this year.

Live Threat Detection is expanding how it spots malicious apps

Live Threat Detection is an AI-powered, on-device security feature that continuously scans apps' activity patterns to identify anything suspicious and potentially malicious. At launch, it focused on stalkerware, but it has since become more robust in detecting malware. Live Threat Detection will now check for SMS forwarding (if an app forwards a message to another number) and accessibility overlays, which use an accessibility permission to display content over your screen.

Later this year, Android 17 devices will also get dynamic signal monitoring, which identifies suspicious patterns in real time. You'll be warned if apps take actions like abusing accessibility permissions, or changing or hiding their icons and launching in the background.

Anti-theft upgrades will make it harder for bad actors to steal your data

Google announced a handful of upgrades to combat the consequences of device theft. First, "Mark as lost" on Android 17 will work with biometric authentication, so thieves won't be able to get into your phone if they learn your device passcode or PIN. When Mark as lost is enabled, it'll hide Quick Settings and block new wifi and Bluetooth connections. On supported devices, bad actors will have fewer attempts to guess your passcode or PIN and longer wait times between failed tries.

Existing Android theft protections—like Remote Lock and Theft Detection Lock—will now be enabled by default on new devices shipping with Android 17, as well as those that are reset or upgraded to the latest OS. These features will also be available down to Android 10 in select markets, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the UK.

Finally, on Android 12 and higher, your phone's IMEI can be accessed on the lock screen to quickly verify device ownership. (You can also disable this in your settings.)

Location sharing is getting a privacy upgrade

Android already has the option to disable precise location sharing in favor of approximate location. Going forward, devices running Android 17 will be able to temporarily tap into precise location while a specific app is open without needing to update the settings or engage with repeated permission prompts. Temporary location access turns off when you close the app, so once you're done finding a nearby coffee shop, your precise location will no longer be visible. Users will also see a location indicator at the top of the screen and can tap to see which apps have recently used their location.

Another privacy upgrade: Instead of having full, broad access to all of the data in your address book, apps can now request specific contacts and even specific fields, so you don't have to share everything.

Advanced Protection will get stronger

Android Advanced Protection is more than most people need on a day-to-day basis, but it provides strong security for users at high risk of being targeted for fraud, scams, and theft. Pixel devices running Android 16 and higher will now have USB protection, and all devices with Android 16's December update and newer are getting intrusion logging. (This is currently rolling out.) Upgrades for Android 17 include removing accessibility services from apps that are not accessibility tools, disabling device-to-device unlocking, and integrating scam detection for chat notifications.

Google is also rolling out Android OS verification to ensure your device is running a legitimate build, and will hide OTP codes from most apps for three hours to prevent theft.

This strong ANC alternative to AirPods just dropped to a record-low price.

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While other workout earbuds have launched since the Beats Fit Pro first came out in 2021, they’re still among the strongest ANC earbuds for fitness fanatics and anyone who wants to block out noise in their everyday listening. They’re especially adept at keeping up with workouts for folks who struggle to find earbuds that stay put, and are also a smart choice for Apple users seeking features similar to AirPods. Right now, the Beats Fit Pro in coral are available for just $119.99 (originally $199.95), marking their lowest price ever and a 40% discount off the list price.

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If you want AirPods features like easy pairing, Spatial Audio, Find My support, Hands-free Siri, and seamless device switching but are looking for a sportier and more secure design, the Beats Fit Pro is a smart alternative. They use Apple’s H1 chip, enabling all of the above, and have what PCMag calls “powerful audio with robust bass and bright highs” and “solid noise cancellation,” which becomes even more impressive at an under-$125 price point.  The built-in earfins make for a more secure fit, and the earbuds have on-ear control buttons that are easy to navigate with single and double taps.

Keep in mind that they only come with an IPX4 rating, compared to some fitness earbuds with an IPX7 rating that make them fully waterproof, but they’re still water-resistant enough to handle some moisture. They also lack adjustable EQ, and unlike the AirPods Pro, they don't support wireless charging. Battery life is around 6 to 7 hours, and the charging case provides an additional 21 to 23 hours, but results vary depending on the mode and volume levels. 

Compared to more premium earbuds, the ANC is above average, performing well against low-frequency noise. That makes the true wireless Beats Fit Pro earbuds a popular option for bass lovers looking to block out background noise, enjoy a secure fit, and get many of the same features as the AirPods Pro, with a couple of added perks, all made even more attractive at an $80 discount.

These include active noise cancellation, improved battery life, and the same Tensor A1 chip found in the Pixel Buds Pro 2.

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Google’s Pixel Buds line has long appealed to Android users who want the convenience of AirPods without paying flagship-earbud prices, and the new Google Pixel Buds 2a continue that approach with several meaningful upgrades over the older Pixel Buds A-Series. Right now, they are down to $109 from $129 on Amazon, their lowest price so far according to price trackers. That discount makes them much easier to recommend for anyone looking for everyday earbuds with “almost pro-level specs but for much less,” as our writer put it in her review.

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Part of the reason the Pixel Buds 2a stand out is that Google did not treat them like stripped-down budget earbuds. PCMag even called them the best earphones for Android users, and the hardware helps explain why. Google added active noise cancellation to the A lineup for the first time, improved the battery life, and redesigned the fit so the earbuds sit deeper in the ear canal and twist into place more securely, much like the more expensive Pixel Buds Pro 2. They also use the same Tensor A1 chip found in the Pro model, which means features like Gemini voice access, adaptive audio processing, and the customizable five-band EQ are just as good.

Sound-wise, the 11mm drivers deliver balanced sound that works especially well for podcasts, pop, hip-hop, and casual streaming, even if these are not earbuds aimed at audiophiles chasing the most detailed sound possible. Comfort is another strong point, especially since Google includes four silicone tip sizes, and getting the seal right noticeably improves both fit and noise cancellation. Speaking of, the ANC handles airplane engines, subway rumble, and traffic noise fairly well, although voices still come through more clearly than they do on premium earbuds from Sony or Bose. As for battery life, it’s respectable at up to seven hours with ANC enabled and around 20 total hours with the charging case.

There are still a few compromises, including the lack of wireless charging and the absence of a charging cable in the box. You also lose some extra sensors and a microphone compared to the Pro model, so call quality and fitness tracking are slightly less advanced.

A much easier upgrade to justify for Google Home users.

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Google’s second-generation wired Nest Doorbell is down to $97.99 on Woot, a steep drop from its usual $179.99 price. That undercuts Amazon’s current price for a new unit by more than $80, and even beats Amazon’s refurbished listing by a couple of dollars, making this its lowest price ever, according to price trackers. Woot says the deal will last for two days or until stock runs out, and Prime members get free shipping while everyone else pays an extra $6. For anyone already using Google Home devices, this is one of the more approachable smart home upgrades in this price range, because the installation process and app setup are both fairly straightforward.

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This model needs to connect to your existing doorbell wiring, so you can’t mount it wherever you want, like the battery-powered version—but that also means you won’t have to worry about recharging it every few months like you would with the battery-powered version. Video quality is sharp at 1280x960 with HDR, and the night vision performs better than many cheaper doorbells, which turn dark footage into a blurry mess. During the day, it captures clear detail across a porch, sidewalk, and driveway area, while nighttime footage still makes people and packages easy to identify. Audio quality is also surprisingly solid. Conversations through the two-way speaker sound clear on both ends, and background noise from traffic or wind doesn’t completely overpower voices.

Google also includes some genuinely useful smart detection features without immediately forcing a subscription. The doorbell can recognize people, packages, vehicles, animals, or general motion, and the alerts are more selective than you might expect. It can usually tell the difference between someone approaching your door and someone simply walking down the sidewalk across the street. That said, the biggest downside is Google’s free cloud storage window—event recordings stay available for three hours unless you pay for a Google Home subscription, which starts at $10 per month. Also, its field of view is narrower than some competing doorbells, especially if your existing wiring places the camera too close to the wall or door frame, notes this CNET review.

You won't have to wait long for Mario, Luigi, Peach, and the crew to take over your family room again.You won't have to wait long for Mario, Luigi, Peach, and the crew to take over your family room again.

Digital discovery is no longer limited to a list of blue links. Today, decision-makers are asking questions directly to AI-powered platforms and expecting clear, trusted answers. Whether someone is evaluating a supplier, shortlisting a healthcare partner, or comparing technology providers, AI tools are synthesizing information and recommending brands based on authority, credibility, and relevance. This…

The post 7 Ways to Improve Brand Mentions and Citations in AI Search for Your Business  appeared first on Pixel Studios.

Digital discovery is no longer limited to a list of blue links. Today, decision-makers are asking questions directly to AI-powered platforms and expecting clear, trusted answers. Whether someone is evaluating a supplier, shortlisting a healthcare partner, or comparing technology providers, AI tools are synthesizing information and recommending brands based on authority, credibility, and relevance.

This shift does not replace search optimization. It expands it. Traditional SEO builds discoverability, while Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) ensures your brand is referenced, trusted, and cited when AI generates answers.

For businesses that want to influence high-intent buyers, the goal is no longer just ranking. The goal is becoming the source AI relies on.

Here are seven strategic ways to strengthen your brand mentions and citations across AI-driven search environments.

1. Build Authority-Led Content, Not Just Keyword-Led Content

AI models prioritize expertise-driven material over pages written purely for ranking signals. If content exists only to target keywords, it is less likely to be referenced in AI-generated responses.

What works better is:

• Insight-led articles that explain industry challenges and solutions
• Educational resources that demonstrate subject-matter expertise
• Data-backed perspectives that help decision-makers evaluate options
• Clear explanations of processes, technologies, or methodologies

When content answers real business questions, AI platforms treat it as a credible reference point.

2. Structure Content for Machine Readability

AI systems interpret information differently from traditional crawlers. They rely heavily on clarity, structure, and contextual relationships between topics.

To improve citation potential:

• Use clear headings that reflect real user questions
• Include concise summaries before deep explanations
• Break down complex topics into logical sections
• Use lists, tables, and definitions to simplify interpretation

Well-structured information is easier for AI to extract, understand, and reference when generating responses.

3. Strengthen Topical Depth Instead of Publishing High Volumes

Publishing large volumes of surface-level content does not improve AI visibility. Authority comes from depth, not frequency.

Businesses should develop topic ecosystems rather than isolated posts. For example:

• A pillar page explaining a core solution
• Supporting content addressing use cases, implementation, and outcomes
• FAQs answering real buyer concerns
• Case studies demonstrating applied expertise

This interconnected knowledge signals credibility and increases the likelihood of being cited across multiple query types.

4. Align SEO and GEO Instead of Treating Them Separately

SEO continues to play a foundational role. Technical optimization, crawlability, and relevance still determine whether your content is discoverable in the first place.

GEO builds on this by ensuring that what is discovered is authoritative enough to be referenced. 

An integrated approach includes:

• Optimized site architecture that supports both indexing and contextual understanding
• Content designed for both search visibility and answer relevance
• Metadata and schema that clarify meaning, not just keywords
• Pages that address intent, not just traffic generation

When SEO creates access and GEO builds trust, brands gain both rankings and AI citations. 

5. Develop Citation-Worthy Assets

AI platforms tend to reference materials that resemble research or knowledge resources rather than promotional pages.

High-performing formats include:

• Industry guides that explain evolving trends
• Technical explainers that clarify complex solutions
• Original insights derived from implementation experience
• Long-form educational resources addressing evaluation criteria

These assets function as reference material, which naturally increases brand mentions when AI synthesizes answers.

6. Maintain Consistent Brand Signals Across Digital Touchpoints

AI models interpret brand authority through consistency. Disconnected messaging across platforms weakens recognition. 

To strengthen entity-level trust:

• Ensure messaging aligns across website pages, articles, and profiles
• Maintain clarity around services, expertise areas, and industries served
• Reinforce positioning through thought leadership rather than promotional claims
• Build a coherent narrative about what your organization solves and for whom

Consistency allows AI systems to confidently associate your brand with specific domains of expertise.

7. Design User Experience That Supports Information Confidence

Experience-led design is becoming a credibility factor. AI increasingly evaluates how well users can navigate, understand, and validate information.

Websites that encourage citations typically:

• Present information clearly without friction
• Offer logical pathways between related topics
• Provide contextual validation such as case examples or process explanations
• Load quickly and function seamlessly across devices

When users trust the experience, AI models interpret those signals as indicators of reliability.

Why This Matters for High-Intent Buyers

In B2B environments, buyers conduct deeper independent research before engaging with vendors. AI-assisted discovery accelerates this process by filtering information and presenting trusted sources upfront.

If your brand is not part of those synthesized answers:

• You may never enter the consideration set
• Competitors with stronger authority signals may shape the narrative
• Decision-makers may rely on AI-generated recommendations before visiting your site

Improving mentions and citations ensures your expertise is visible during the earliest stages of evaluation, where influence is highest.

The Shift from Visibility to Validation

Traditional digital strategies focused on being found. AI-driven discovery focuses on being validated.

That validation comes from three factors:

• Demonstrated expertise through meaningful content
• Structured knowledge that machines can interpret
• Consistent authority signals across the digital ecosystem

Businesses that adapt to this model position themselves not just as searchable, but as trustworthy sources of insight.

Integrating This Approach Into a Modern Digital Strategy

Organizations seeing the strongest results are not replacing their existing marketing frameworks. They are evolving them. 

A unified model brings together:

• Search optimization that ensures discoverability
• Content ecosystems that demonstrate expertise
• GEO strategies that influence AI-generated recommendations
• Experience design that builds confidence in information
• Performance insights that refine visibility across both search and AI environments

This convergence allows brands to move from competing for clicks to shaping conversations.

The Competitive Advantage of Acting Early

AI-led discovery is still developing. That creates a window of opportunity.

Brands investing now can:

• Establish authority before their markets become saturated
• Influence how AI systems associate expertise within their industries
• Build durable visibility that compounds over time
• Reduce long-term dependence on paid acquisition channels

Those who delay may find themselves trying to displace competitors who have already become the referenced sources.

Conclusion

Digital discovery is entering a phase where search engines and AI-driven answer platforms work together, shaping how buyers research, evaluate, and choose partners. Businesses that recognize this shift are not abandoning SEO. They are evolving it, combining strong search foundations with Generative Engine Optimization to ensure their expertise is surfaced, trusted, and cited in AI-led conversations.

This is where a strategic, integrated approach becomes critical. By aligning technical SEO, authoritative content, structured knowledge, and experience-led design, brands can move from simply being visible to becoming the source decision-makers rely on.

At Pixel Studios, this convergence of SEO and GEO is approached as a continuous growth framework, helping organizations strengthen digital authority, improve AI visibility, and build lasting credibility across both traditional search and emerging answer ecosystems.

The brands that adapt today will not just compete for rankings tomorrow. They will shape how their industries are understood, recommended, and chosen in an AI-first world.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between SEO and Generative Engine Optimization?

SEO focuses on improving visibility in search engine results pages, while Generative Engine Optimization ensures your brand is referenced in AI-generated answers. Together, they help businesses get discovered and trusted across both search and AI platforms.

2. Why are AI platforms important for B2B decision-making?

Many decision-makers now begin research using AI tools to get summarized insights, comparisons, and recommendations. If your brand appears in those answers, you influence buyers earlier in their evaluation journey.

3. How can my business increase the chances of being cited by AI tools?

Creating authoritative, well-structured, and insight-driven content improves citation likelihood. AI platforms prioritize expertise, clarity, and credibility over promotional messaging.

4. Do I still need SEO if AI search is growing?

Yes. SEO remains the foundation for discoverability. GEO builds on SEO by ensuring that the content being discovered is authoritative enough to be referenced by AI systems.

5. What type of content performs best in AI-driven search environments?

Educational guides, industry insights, technical explainers, and problem-solving resources perform better than purely sales-driven pages because they provide contextual value AI systems can reference.

6. How long does it take to see results from a GEO strategy?

GEO is a cumulative process. As authority signals strengthen and content ecosystems expand, brands typically see gradual improvements in mentions, citations, and qualified traffic over time.

7. Can GEO help generate higher-quality leads compared to traditional traffic?

Yes. Traffic influenced by AI recommendations often comes from users already researching solutions, making them more informed and closer to decision-making stages.

8. Is GEO only relevant for technology companies?

No. Industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, retail, and SaaS can all benefit, as AI-driven discovery is reshaping how buyers across sectors gather information.

Lets discuss ideas to propel your brand online

Reach us at 080 6919 3462

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The post 7 Ways to Improve Brand Mentions and Citations in AI Search for Your Business  appeared first on Pixel Studios.

io9 spoke with both Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette about the new film, now in theaters.io9 spoke with both Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette about the new film, now in theaters.

They work hard for the money.

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Just renewed for a second season, Margo's Got Money Troubles stars Elle Fanning as the title's Margo, an 20-year-old aspiring writer who becomes pregnant following a brief an affair with her married English professor. Her mom, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), is supportive but pretty negative about Margo's future prospects, while her estranged father, Jinx (Nick Offerman), is willing to pitch in and help out now that he's out of rehab. Still, she needs money if she's going to manage it all, and so takes to OnlyFans (and, at this point, who amongst us hasn't?). Stream Margo's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV, and then check out these other shows following women who make bold choices in the face of upheaval.

Sex Education (2019 – 2023)

There’s a fair bit of sex on TV (having migrated from the now largely sexless big screen), but that’s not the same thing as sex positivity. In this British comedy-drama, Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson star as an insecure, shy teenager named Otis and his mother, Jean, a frank and sometimes painfully honest sex therapist. When a school bully needs some sex advice, Otis dispenses some of the wisdom he’s picked up from mom, eventually making a name for himself around school by selling his knowledge as expertise. It’s a funny and charmingly raunchy show, treating sex with humor and positivity, and it features a great will-they-or-won't they couple in awkward Otis and the more fearless Maeve (Emma Mackey). The tone is similar to that of Margo, as is the sense that sex is simultaneously funny and fine. Stream Sex Education on Netflix.

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Single Drunk Female (2022 – 2023)

Samantha Fink (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is a 28-year-old alcoholic who hits absolute rock bottom in the form of an embarrassing public meltdown. Committing to sobriety, she moves back to Boston with her strict and controlling mother (Ally Sheedy) and reconnects with her best friend, Brit (Sasha Compère). Of course, for all of that sounding like a good idea, it also puts her right back in the environment that contributed to her drinking in the first place. Funny and humane, this is another show about a messy, complicated young woman trying to get a fresh start following a life-changing event. Stream Single Drunk Female on Tubi.

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Weeds (2005 – 2012)

A classic of the crime-in-the-suburbs genre, Weeds finds a single mom making herself a success in a business that the broader society might frown upon. Mary-Louise Parker stars as Nancy Botwin, a recently widowed mom who's desperate to maintain the upper-middle-class lifestyle once provided by her husband. She can't really handle the idea of giving up the conspicuous consumption to which she's become accustomed, so she decides to make some bank for herself. And what better way to do that, particularly in the LA 'burbs, than by selling weed? (Obviously, the show was made and is set before the drug was legalized for recreational use in 2016.) Like Jon Hamm's Coop, Nancy is just not ready for her family to give up on nice things. Stream Weeds on Prime Video.

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Fleabag (2016 – 2019)

This critical favorite stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the title character (she's only ever referred to as "Fleabag") in a comedy-drama about a free-spirited, deeply angry single young woman living in London and sharing her romantic ups and downs via confessional asides to us, the audience. She falls, rather reluctantly, for "The Priest" (Andrew Scott)—she's a confirmed atheist and he's, obviously, not, so the relationship is appropriately messy. Like Margo, Fleabag definitely has money troubles, going from art theft to running a struggling (you won't be surprised to learn) Guinea pig-themed café. Waller-Bridge won separate Emmys as the star, creator, and writer of the series. Stream Fleabag on Prime Video.

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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017 – 2023)

Mrs. Maisel was one of Prime’s first and buzziest original series, a comedy-drama from Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) about the title’s Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a New York housewife of the late 1950s who discovers a talent for stand-up comedy. Inspired by the real-life careers of comedians like Totie Fields and Joan Rivers, the show is both warm and funny, with great performances and dialogue; it also achieves something rare in being a show about comedy that’s actually funny. Mrs. Maisel and her milieu are obviously far different from that of Margo, but there are similar themes involving funny, complicated women saying "fuck it" to life and career expectations. Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video.

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A Virtuous Business (2024)

This charming South Korean comedy-drama show takes us to a rural village in the impossibly long-ago 1990s, where four women from different backgrounds decide to make a go of selling sex toys and other adult-type products door-to-door. None of the women is in a particularly desperate situation, which, here, makes things even more interesting: They're all engaged in an entirely taboo (certainly at the time) industry to make a few extra dollars, or for a bit of fun on the side—a solid reminder that sex-adjacent work isn't only for those in dire straits. Stream A Virtuous Business on Netflix.

A Virtuous Business (2024)

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P-Valley (2020 – )

A soap opera in southern-gothic style set at a strip club in a Mississippi backwater? In terms of tone, this drama is leagues away from Margo. And yet, there's connective tissue in the stories of women who have strayed well outside the confines of polite society, and don't much care if you like it or not. P-Valley follows the lives (and dramas) of the people working at the titular strip club in the Mississippi Delta, the secret ingredient being creator and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, who very deftly blends juicy soap opera elements with an appreciation for the talents of these dancers, as well as deft commentary on the struggles of poor and Black Americans in the South. A long-awaited third season is coming later this year. Stream P-Valley on Prime Video and Starz.

P-Valley (2020 – )

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Vida (2018 – 2020)

Two very different Mexican-American sisters move back to their childhood home in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles following the death of their mother (the "Vida" of the title)—who they soon discover had been married to a woman. Mom left the daughters controlling shares of the bar she owned, but also a big chunk to her wife, forcing Lyn and Emma (Melissa Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada) to make nice with a woman they didn't know existed. The comedy-drama explores the intersections of queer and Latinx identities from the perspective of women, with a not-disproportionate emphasis on the importance of sexuality (the show is as horny as it is smart). Stream Vida on Hulu and Prime Video.

Vida (2018 – 2020)

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I May Destroy You (2020)

Series creator/writer/co-director and star Michaela Cole plays a social media influencer turned novelist struggling to reclaim and rebuild her life after she is raped. It’s a meaningful, but frequently very funny comedy-drama about the darkness that threatens to overwhelm a woman’s life, and the long road back. Stream I May Destroy You on HBO Max.

I May Destroy You (2020)

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Casual (2015 – 2018)

Valerie Meyers (Michaela Watkins) is recently divorced, so she takes her daughter and moves in with her single brother, Alex (Tommy Dewey). Reconnecting with family is always fun so, ya know...definitely uncomplicated. He's the founder of a dating site, and helps her get back into the dating scene while she helps him find some meaning in his relatively untethered life. Like Margo, Valerie is picking up her life after a significant upheaval and figuring out what she wants from life. Stream Casual on Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and Tubi.

Casual (2015 – 2018)

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The rugged JBL Flip 7 upgrades the beloved Flip 6 with bigger sound, longer battery life, and better durability.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

JBL's portable speakers are known for their long-term durability, superb sound quality, and solid bang for the buck in terms of features. One crowd favorite is the JBL Flip 7, released in 2025. Right now, a new JBL Flip 7 is 43% off and down to $84.95 on Woot (originally $149.95).

JBL Flip 7

$84.95 at Woot

$149.95 Save $65.00

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Get Deal

$84.95 at Woot

$149.95 Save $65.00

The Flip 7 has more power than the Flip 6, with 35W output compared to 30W, and an AI Sound Boost feature that reduces distortion at higher volumes. It lasts up to 14 hours (or 16 with Playtime Boost), which is about 4 hours longer than its predecessor. It’s also more durable, with an upgraded IP68 rating that makes it waterproof, dustproof, and drop-resistant up to a meter, thanks to a rubber bumper system. Unlike the Flip 6, the newer model supports lossless audio over USB-C. It has punchy sound and customizable EQ so you can further tweak the audio, as well as a carabiner clip system that boosts its portability. 

While there are a few upgrades in durability, battery life, and AI-enhanced features, it still doesn’t have a built-in mic or speakerphone and may not pair with older JBL speakers despite supporting Auracast. It’s also slightly larger (approximately the size of a 16-ounce soda can, according to this PCMag review). That said, with what the outlet calls “thumping mid-bass,” a compact build, and a rugged design, the JBL Flip 7 is still a strong contender among portable Bluetooth speakers. And at $84.95 on Woot, it’s more affordable than ever.

If you haven’t been able to keep up with my blistering pace of one blog post per year, I don’t blame you. There’s a lot going on right now. It’s a busy time. But let’s pause and take a moment

If you haven’t been able to keep up with my blistering pace of one blog post per year, I don’t blame you. There’s a lot going on right now. It’s a busy time. But let’s pause and take a moment to celebrate that Elon Musk destroyed Twitter. I can’t possibly say it better than Paul Ford, so I’ll just refer you there:

Every five or six minutes, someone in the social sciences publishes a PDF with a title like “Humans 95 Percent Happier in Small Towns, Waving at Neighbors and Eating Sandwiches.” When we gather in groups of more than, say, eight, it’s a disaster. Yet there is something fundamental in our nature that desperately wants to get everyone together in one big room, to “solve it.” Our smarter, richer betters (in Babel times, the king’s name was Nimrod) often preach the idea of a town square, a marketplace of ideas, a centralized hub of discourse and entertainment – and we listen. But when I go back and read Genesis, I hear God saying: “My children, I designed your brains to scale to 150 stable relationships. Anything beyond that is overclocking. You should all try Mastodon.”

It’s been clear for quite some time that the early social media strategery of “jam a million people in a colosseum and let them fight it out with free speech” isn’t panning out, but never has it been more clear than now, under the Elon Musk regime, that being beholden to the whims of a billionaire going through a midlife crisis isn’t exactly healthy for society. Or you. Or me. Or anyone, really.

I tried to be fair; I gave the post-Elon Twitter era a week, thinking “how bad could it possibly be?” and good lord, it was so much worse than I could have possibly ever imagined. It’s like Elon read the Dilbert pointy-haired-manager book on management and bonked his head on every rung of the ladder going down, generating an ever-growing laundry list of terrible things no manager should ever do. And he kept going!

It’s undeniably sad. I really liked Twitter, warts and all, from 2007 onward. In fact, it was the only “social network” I liked at all. Even when it became clear in the Trump era that Twitter was unhealthy for human minds, I soldiered on, gleaning what I could. I’m not alone in that; Clay Shirky’s moribund signoff at the end of 2022 reflected how I felt:

Indeed, Twitter was murdered at the whims of a billionaire high on Ketamine while it was (mostly) healthy, because of the “trans woke virus”.

I urge you, all of you, to disavow Twitter and never look at it again. No one who cares about their mental health should be on Twitter at this point, or linking to Twitter and feeding it the attention it thrives on. We should entomb Twitter deep in concrete with this public warning on its capstone:

In the end, I begrudgingly realized, as did Paul Ford, that Elon unwittingly did us a favor by killing Twitter. He demonstrated the very real dangers of any platform run by a king, a dictator, a tyrant, a despot, an autocrat. You can have all your content rug-pulled out from under you at any time, or watch in horror as your favorite bar... slowly transforms into a Nazi bar.

I’ve been saying for a long time that decentralization is the way to go. We can and should have sane centralized services, of course, but it’s imperative that we also build decentralized services which empower users and give them control, rather than treating them like digital sharecroppers. That’s what our Discourse project is all about. I propose collective ownership of the content and the communities we build online. Yeah, it’s more work, it’s not “free” (sorry not sorry), but I have some uncomfortable news for you: those so-called “free” services aren’t really free.

Which, again, is not to say that “free” services don’t have a place in the world, they do, but please don’t harbor any illusions about what you are sacrificing in the name of “free.” Grow up.

I take a rather Tron-like view of the world when it comes to this stuff; in the software industry, our goal should be to empower users (with strong moderation tools), not exploit them.

So I encourage you to explore alternatives to Twitter, ideally open source, federated alternatives. Is it messy? Hell yes it’s messy. But so is democracy; it’s worth the work, because it’s the only survivable long term path forward. Anything worth doing is never easy.

I’m currently on Mastodon, an open source, federated Twitter alternative at https://infosec.exchange/@codinghorror – I urge you to join me on the Mastodon server of your choice, or quite literally any other platform besides Twitter. Really, whatever works for you. Pick what you like. Help make it better for everyone.

To inspire that leap of faith, I am currently auctioning off, with all funds to benefit The Trevor Project which offers assistance to LGBTQ youth, these 10 museum quality brass plaques of what I consider to be the best tweet of all time, hands down:

(Blissfully, @horse_ebooks is also on Mastodon. As they should be. As should you. Because everything happens so much.)

If you’d like to bid on the 10 brass plaques, follow these links to eBay, and please remember, it’s for a great cause, and will piss Elon off, which makes it even sweeter:

(Apologies, I had to cancel the old auctions because I forgot to allow international shipping – I’ve also made shipping free, worldwide.)

1. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903779136
2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903780761
3. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903784597
4. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903785269
5. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903785648
6. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903786591
7. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903787053
8. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903788754
9. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903789412
10. https://www.ebay.com/itm/225903789881

I will sign the back of every plaque, because each one comes with my personal guarantee that it will easily outlive what’s left of Twitter.

Warsaw insists that all is fine despite the unexpected American decision — but fears are growing.

WARSAW — Poland, one of the closest U.S. allies in Europe, was blindsided by this week’s surprise decision from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to cancel the planned deployment of 4,000 American troops to the country.  

The government is now scrambling to respond while insisting that the move doesn’t undermine the country’s security.

“The assurance we have received is that the Americans do not plan to systematically reduce the U.S. presence in Poland,” Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told the TVN24 news channel Thursday evening.

But there was no disguising that the U.S. move left Poland flat-footed.

It wasn’t clear why Hegseth canceled the deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division — a decision made after the unit had begun preparations to depart for Europe. Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez said the move was “not an unexpected, last-minute decision.”

Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed anger and frustration with European allies for their failure to help with the Iran war, however, Hegseth has previously labeled Poland a “model ally” for its defense spending, which is the highest in NATO.

Although Poland is deeply divided politically between the pro-EU government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and nationalist and MAGA-aligned President Karol Nawrocki, there is a broad consensus that the presence of American troops is crucial to Poland’s defense against Russia.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he called both Tusk and Nawrocki after the news about the deployment broke. He also held a Thursday evening call with U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S. forces in Europe as well as NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe.

“We are in constant contact with the U.S. side,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said in the Polish parliament Thursday. “Poland is a steadfast ally that fulfills all its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty. We spend nearly 5 percent of our GDP on defense.”

Polish officials insisted that the canceled deployment doesn’t undermine the broader U.S. commitment to European defense.

“I have no doubts about the U.S. guarantees to Poland,” Tomasz Siemoniak, a former defense minister now in charge of Poland’s intelligence agencies, told Polish television Friday.

But U.S. actions are confusing Europe.

The Pentagon earlier this month confirmed the U.S. will withdraw 5,000 troops from military bases in Germany, following through on a threat Trump made after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war. Trump has since gone on to warn that the Pentagon would be “cutting a lot further than 5,000.”

Poland, along with Romania and the Baltic countries, is hoping to get some of the troops being withdrawn from Germany, although it is still unclear if they’ll stay in Europe or go home.

Trump last week said  he “might” move U.S. troops to Poland. “I have a great relationship with the president,” he said, “so that’s possible.”

However, Trump has also questioned the U.S. commitment to NATO’s Article 5 common defense pact and threatened to annex Greenland, a territory of alliance member Denmark.

Oana Lungescu, a former NATO spokesperson and senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said that while it’s still uncertain whether the Polish deployment decision is linked to the German troop pullout, what she called “haphazard and uncoordinated decisions by the Trump administration” risk alienating European allies and encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It makes no sense for the U.S. to punish Poland, which is a poster-child for defense investment and largely supportive of American policies,” she said.

Poland has about 500 U.S. troops stationed permanently in the country at the naval support facility in Redzikowo, which supports an American naval anti-ballistic missile system; at the headquarters of the 5th U.S. Army Corps in Poznań, which coordinates U.S. ground forces deployed around Europe; and at an armed forces garrison, which provides infrastructure support.

In addition, as many as 10,000 U.S. soldiers rotate regularly through the country.

The majority of Poles favor having a U.S. military base on their territory, according to recent polling, making it an outlier among other European nations.

Polish governments have pushed for years to increase the number of U.S. troops in the country — making Hegseth’s decision such a surprise to Warsaw.

Krzysztof Bosak, leader of the far-right opposition Confederation party, condemned what he called “internal chaos and a loss of credibility on the part of our most important ally,” telling Polish radio that the unexpected decision “doesn’t build credibility.”

Despite those doubts, the government maintains that there is no crisis.

“I would like to reassure everyone who is concerned. The number of U.S. troops in Poland is not decreasing. We are working to increase both the size and the operational capabilities of the U.S. forces stationed in Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

This article has been updated.

"A burned out, blown up country with no future, a decimated military, a horrible economy, and death all around them."

President Donald Trump issued blistering remarks in response to Iran’s Supreme Leader claiming victory over Israel and, by extension, the U.S. In a loaded public message, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had also threatened to attack more U.S. Military bases, further splintering the Middle Eastern country’s relationship with the U.S.

“Look, you’re a man of great faith. A man who’s highly respected in his country. You have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell,” Trump said as he addressed the Iranian Supreme Leader during a White House press conference on Friday. Trump was asked by a reporter if the U.S. would consider bombing Iran again, if intelligence reports were to conclude that Iran could enrich uranium to a level that concerns him. “Sure, without question, absolutely,” he replied.

Trump issued an even stronger response on his social media platform, Truth Social, later in the day, and doubled down on his stance once more when he reposted his message early Saturday morning.

In the lengthy post, Trump accused Khamenei of publicly sharing a “lie” by claiming Iran achieved a victory over Israel. He reaffirmed his much debated viewpoint that the U.S. strikes “obliterated” the three key nuclear facilities it targeted on Saturday, June 21. Trump also seemingly made reference to previous reports that stated the White House turned down a plan by Israel to try and kill Khamenei.

“His country was decimated, his three evil nuclear sites were obliterated, and I knew exactly where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces… terminate his life. I saved him from a very ugly and ignominious death,” Trump said, lamenting that Khamenei would not “thank” him for this. “During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery. The sanctions are biting! But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief.”

According to Congress, the U.S. sanctions on Iran “are arguably the most extensive and comprehensive set of sanctions that the United States maintains on any country.” They block Iranian government assets in the U.S., ban nearly all U.S. trade with Iran, and prohibit foreign assistance and arms sales.

Read More: How U.S. Strikes May Have Inadvertently Helped the Iranian Regime

Trump concluded his charged social media message by saying “Iran has to get back into the world order flow” or else things “will only get worse for them.”

“They are always so angry, hostile, and unhappy, and look at what it has gotten them. A burned out, blown up country with no future, a decimated military, a horrible economy, and death all around them. They have no hope, and it will only get worse! I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with honey than you do with vinegar. Peace!”

Khamenei broke his silence on Thursday, publicly speaking out—via a pre-recorded televised address and various social media comments— for the first time since Trump announced the (admittedly fragile) cease-fire between Israel and Iran.

Read More: Shaky Israel-Iran Cease-Fire Appears to Hold After Trump Publicly Rebukes Both Countries

In his televised message, Khamenei threatened to attack more U.S. military bases should any further aggression from the U.S. side occur.

“The Islamic Republic slapped America in the face. It attacked one of the important American bases in the region,” Khamenei said, referring to his country’s air assault on Al Udeid Air Base, a U.S. airbase in Qatar. The strikes were intercepted by the U.S. (except for one that was allowed to proceed as there was no risk of contact), and no casualties were reported. The military action was retaliatory, a direct response to the U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities. 

Khamenei claimed “total victory” over Israel. But Israel, the U.S., and Iran have all claimed to have won the war that started on June 13, when Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, amid growing concern over Iran’s nuclear capabilities. When the U.S. actively joined the conflict on June 21, striking three key Iranian nuclear facilities, world leaders urged de-escalation and a return to negotiations, amid fears of a far-reaching war erupting.

Read More: ‘Gravely Alarmed’ World Leaders React After U.S. Strikes Iran

Though Trump continues to say that Iran’s nuclear sites were “totally obliterated,” others have cast doubts on how effective the U.S. strikes were in setting back Iran’s nuclear program. Leaked U.S. intelligence suggested that the damage to Iran’s nuclear program may not be as severe as Trump has stated. CIA director John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that the sites had been “severely damaged” by the U.S. strikes, and that it would take years to be rebuilt. Amid the debate, the White House has put out statements arguing Trump’s stance that the facilities were “obliterated,” labelling reports to the contrary as “fake news.”

But some Democrats left a classified meeting with lingering questions over the effectiveness of the strikes.

“There’s no doubt there was damage done to the program, but the allegations that we have obliterated their program just don’t seem to stand up to reason,” said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut on Thursday. “To me, it still appears that we have only set back the Iranian nuclear program by a handful of months.”

When asked about concerns of Iran having “secret nuclear sites” at Friday’s press conference, Trump said he was “not worried about it at all.”

“They’re exhausted. The last thing they’re thinking about right now is nuclear,” he told reporters. “You know what they’re thinking of? They’re thinking about tomorrow, trying to live in such a mess. The place was bombed to hell.”

Read More: Key Takeaways From the 2025 NATO Summit

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Trump needs to retire his “disrespectful” tone towards Khamenei if he wants a deal to be struck between the U.S. and Iran.

“If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers,” he said. “The great and powerful Iranian people, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had no choice but to run to ‘Daddy’ to avoid being flattened by our missiles, do not take kindly to threats and insults.”

Araghchi was referencing remarks made by NATO chief Mark Rutte who, during the NATO Summit on Wednesday, referred to Trump as the “daddy” who had to intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Amid the back-and-forth between Trump and Iran, on Saturday, thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran for the funerals of top Iranian military commanders and scientists that were killed in the Israeli strikes. According to reports, crowds chanted “death to” Israel and America.

Araghchi paid tribute to those who had been killed, and went on to tell Iranians on Saturday that the “pride of a nation is paramount,” pledging that Iran would return to “new glory and greater strength.”

As the funerals took place, Khamenei spoke out via a post on his Farsi-language social media account, sharing a message that translated to: “The Iranian nation should know that the reason for the opposition to America is that they want Iran to surrender, and this is a great insult to the Iranian nation by the Americans, and such a thing will never happen.”

<video>
Det har snart gått tre veckor sedan {Marathon} lanserades, och i skrivande stund har Bungie ännu inte släppt den planerade "endgame-kartan" Cryo Archive, trots att denna framstår som en ganska avgörande del av spelets övergripande innehåll. Det verkar vara på gång, men det har ännu inte skett. Detta trots att Bungie i samband med lanseringen bad media att vänta med slutgiltiga recensioner av spelet, just för att det, även om det officiellt har lanserats till fullt pris, anses vara ofullständigt i sin nuvarande form.

Det är två något paradoxala uttalanden, för att uttrycka det milt; varför sälja det om ni är några veckor från att lägga till det innehåll som fullbordar spelet? Det är inte säkert att Bungie har några cyniska motiv bakom sin begäran till media, men det har i stort sett fungerat, för än så länge finns det fortfarande få recensioner ute, trots att spelet funnits till försäljning i tre veckor.

<bild>Det är läckert designat rakt igenom.</bild>

Så låt oss istället hitta den gyllene medelvägen här, för jag känner mig tvungen att sätta ramarna för min kritiska inställning till Marathon, även om Cryo Archive just nu ännu inte har öppnats. Det innebär att jag kommer att gå tillbaka och uppdatera denna recension av spelet, om det innehållet visar sig vara lika omvälvande som jag hoppas, men jag är också öppen för möjligheten att Marathon, som det är just nu, är som det är.

Och jag tycker faktiskt att Marathon, i stora drag, är en gedigen extraction shooter, byggd på den solida grund som Bungie har lagt och förstärkt genom {Destiny} i över tolv år, även om det finns flera problem att ta itu med, varav vissa kan åtgärdas relativt enkelt, medan andra kommer att plåga spelet antingen under lång tid, eller kanske för alltid.

Okej, så vad är egentligen Marathon? Jo, det är en extraction shooter - helt enkelt. Det innebär att du har en uppsättning menyer som låter dig anpassa din specifika karaktärsklass, eller "Shell", ta på dig nya kontrakt och organisera ditt förråd av grejer, och när du är klar laddas du in på en av tre kartor (snart fyra med Cryo Archive), där du springer runt mellan specifika landmärken och topografiska höjdpunkter för att hitta loot, antingen slumpmässigt eller från andra lag du möter, för att sedan ta dig ut igen - eller inte. Det är i princip essensen, och Marathon gör inte mycket mer än vad den något förenklade beskrivningen föreskriver och erbjuder. Marathon är, på det sättet, också en ganska enkel extraction-shooter, utan mångsidiga "world events", utan stora, tunga bossar som vandrar rastlöst runt på kartan, och utan händelser som drastiskt förändrar den strategiska approachen för varje lag. När du laddar in letar du efter loot, skjuter på andra lag och smiter iväg.

<bild>Optimeringen visar att Bungie fortfarande har stenkoll.</bild>

Naturligtvis är detta en något förenklad sammanfattning av spelets gameplay-loop, men Marathon trivs också i denna mer färdighetsbaserade, enkla uppsättning, eftersom den tillåter spelaren att fokusera så direkt på det bästa spelet har att erbjuda. Du förstår, Marathon är oklanderligt konstruerat i sina allra mest grundläggande beståndsdelar. Vapenfysik, omladdningsanimationer, rörelser, klassdesign, ja, till och med den riktigt korta TTK (time-to-kill) - Marathon är toppfinjusterat, och efter 35 timmars speltid är jag redo att säga att Bungies expertis som ledare inom detta område bara cementeras på nytt. Oavsett om det handlar om att sätta en headshot med ett BR33 Volley Rifle eller att delta i en intensiv eldstrid med ett V66 Lookout - Marathon har några av de bästa ögonblicken genren kan erbjuda, det råder det ingen tvekan om.

Därtill kommer spelets absolut slående grafiska design, som Bungie själva tydligen kallar "grafisk realism". Det låter inte särskilt träffande, men vad vi än ska kalla denna webbaserade färgexplosion så älskar jag allt. Det ser bra ut hela vägen igenom, i alla tre kartorna, i menyerna - överallt. Och tack vare Son Lux minst sagt fantastiska soundtrack låter Marathon också bra - alltid. Vi har redan berättat om och bedömt Marathons grafiska och auditiva uttryck i våra Server Slam-intryck, men det intrycket har inte bleknat med tiden - tvärtom.

Det är med detta i åtanke som jag återigen slår fast att Marathons "skelett", dess tekniska och mekaniska fundament, är så solidt att du här, med tiden, kan bygga en inget mindre än fabulös extraction shooter, om spelarna är villiga att hålla fast, för det jag berömmer här är det viktiga. I stora drag. Men det betyder inte att Marathon inte har djupt rotade utmaningar framför sig, som kommer att dyka upp oavsett hur transformativt Cryo Archive är, eller inte.

<bild>Det känns hela tiden som att det saknas något som får mig att vilja fortsätta.</bild>

Marathons vapen är utmärkta, men sättet på vilket dessa, och loot i allmänhet, placeras, positioneras och signaleras är rent ut sagt uselt. I Marathon är all spännande loot i första hand i stort sett frikopplad från sin omgivning - en fantastisk sköld, avgörande ammunition, ett nytt vapen, de finns alla i dessa anonyma behållare, och dessa behållare är både svåra att se och ännu svårare att avgöra värdet av på avstånd. Dessutom verkar dessa behållare bara delvis ha något att göra med den plats på spelets karta där de befinner sig. Det finns många vapenlådor på en plats som kanske alltid erbjuder ett vapen, men spelets arkitektoniska presentation ger dig inte riktigt några uppenbara eller subtila ledtrådar om var det finns vad, och därför var du ska leta.

Därför blir jakten på loot i Marathon oftast en lätt förvirrande röra, och även om man skulle kunna hävda att spelets mer puritanska inställning till genren innebär att man ju "bara" kan jaga andra spelare och ta deras grejer, så borde Bungie verkligen jobba på att göra loot-jakten mer intressant. Det finns en lång rad sätt att göra det på, men just nu är det, för det mesta, inte särskilt underhållande att hoppa in för att leta efter något specifikt.

Men detta kan alltså fixas relativt enkelt genom små justeringar av behållarnas synlighet, en omplacering av deras placering och eventuellt korrigeringar av vilka slags saker man kan hitta var, men det leder oss lättare naturligt till spelets allra största problem, och det är dessa kartor. Det finns, som sagt, tre av dem, och även om alla tre bjuder på denna oerhört vackra "grafiska realism", som jag ännu inte tröttnat på, så har de helt strukturella och topografiska problem - alla tre. För även om dessa kartor är vackra och erbjuder slående art direction och visuell sammanhållning, har Bungie uppenbarligen inte lyckats göra dem till intressanta "spelutrymmen". Med det menar jag att det i Marathons tre kartor inte finns ett enda spännande landmärke som du kan se på avstånd och som naturligt drar dig till sig, det finns inga höjder eller förändringar i topografin som gör att ett lag har "high ground". Det finns inga positioner som är lätta att försvara eller motsvarande svåra att attackera. Det är alltid forskningslaboratorier, lagerlokaler och kontor. Siktbarheten är ibland löjligt låg, vilket gör det svårare att observera andra lag som skjuter på varandra, eller de annars ganska underhållande AI-fienderna, och allt är, i stort sett alltid, platt. Riktigt platt.

<bild>Det viktiga loot-systemet håller tyvärr inte måttet.</bild>

Det är inte för att dessa kartor inte tillåter roliga, underhållande och intensiva utbyten mellan lag, och dessa AI-fiender fungerar ganska bra som utmanande fiender, och ibland också bara som "ljudfällor", men att underlätta och förstärka är två mycket olika saker, och jag kände aldrig att dessa kartor gjorde dessa dueller bättre genom intressanta layouter.

Ett högt torn vid horisonten, en djup vallgrav med spännande loot, en farlig forskningsanläggning i utkanten av kartan som syns på långt håll, ett svävande rymdskepp som man kan teleportera sig upp till efter en viss tid har gått - Bungie behöver jobba mer med höjderna här, och resultatet blir att man ganska snabbt slutar engagera sig strukturellt i kartan, utan bara letar efter den kortaste vägen till ett slumpmässigt valt mål, ofta utvalt av det uppdrag man har aktivt. Det här går inte att fixa direkt, det kräver att Bungie omprövar sin strategi, och det tror jag inte att de kan göra så här på en gång - men jag märker det redan nu. Dessa kartor är helt enkelt inte tillräckligt roliga. Dessutom är dessa uppdrag också lite "hit or miss" i många avseenden, för de interaktioner du har med dessa Faction AI-karaktärer är faktiskt spännande och ett bra sätt att ge spelet lite narrativ krydda, men dessa mål är nästan löjliga i sin tvetydighet, och eftersom spelet bara ger dig namnet på den del av kartan där ditt mål finns, slutar du snabbt med att springa huvudlöst runt efter en mycket specifik dataterminal i en stor lagerhall - det är för övrigt inte roligt.

Som sagt; Marathons grundstruktur är solid, stark och välfungerande, och även om spelet kanske saknar en hook, eller bara kartor som bygger vidare på denna solida grund, så känner jag mig tillräckligt övertygad, även utan Cryo Archive, för att rekommendera Marathon enbart på grund av denna ganska fantastiska loop. Det betyder inte att Marathon i sig är något fantastiskt spel, men det skulle mycket väl kunna bli det, och det är alltså mer positivt än för riktigt, riktigt många andra live-service-spel. Jag kommer, som sagt, att uppdatera denna recension med intryck av denna sista karta oavsett om detta har en drastisk inverkan på mitt samlade helhetsintryck.

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With a 13 billion year head start on evolution, why haven’t any other forms of life in the universe contacted us by now?

(Arrival is a fantastic movie. Watch it, but don’t stop there – read the Story of Your Life novella it was based on

With a 13 billion year head start on evolution, why haven’t any other forms of life in the universe contacted us by now?

(Arrival is a fantastic movie. Watch it, but don’t stop there – read the Story of Your Life novella it was based on for so much additional nuance.)

This is called the Fermi paradox:

The Fermi Paradox is a contradiction between high estimates of the probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, such as in the Drake equation, and lack of any evidence for such civilizations.

• There are billions of stars in the galaxy that are similar to the Sun, including many billions of years older than Earth.
• With high probability, some of these stars will have Earth-like planets, and if the Earth is typical, some might develop intelligent life.
• Some of these civilizations might develop interstellar travel, a step the Earth is investigating now.
• Even at the slow pace of currently envisioned interstellar travel, the Milky Way galaxy could be completely traversed in about a million years.

According to this line of thinking, the Earth should have already been visited by extraterrestrial aliens. In an informal conversation, Fermi noted no convincing evidence of this, nor any signs of alien intelligence anywhere in the observable universe, leading him to ask, “Where is everybody?”

To me, this is a compelling argument, in the same way that the lack of evidence of any time travellers is:

Many have argued that the absence of time travelers from the future demonstrates that such technology will never be developed, suggesting that it is impossible. This is analogous to the Fermi paradox related to the absence of evidence of extraterrestrial life. As the absence of extraterrestrial visitors does not categorically prove they do not exist, so the absence of time travelers fails to prove time travel is physically impossible; it might be that time travel is physically possible but is never developed or is cautiously used. Carl Sagan once suggested the possibility that time travelers could be here but are disguising their existence or are not recognized as time travelers.

It seems, to me at least, clear evidence that time travel is not possible, given the enormous amount of time behind us. Something, somewhere, would certainly have invented it by now... right?

So if not, what happened? The Great Filter maybe?

The Great Filter theory says that at some point from pre-life to Type III intelligence, there’s a wall that all or nearly all attempts at life hit. There’s some stage in that long evolutionary process that is extremely unlikely or impossible for life to get beyond. That stage is The Great Filter.

I liked Wait But Why’s take on this a lot, which covers three main filter possibilities:

1. Life is extraordinarily rare, almost impossible

2. We are not a rare form of life, but near the first to evolve

3. Almost no life makes it to this point

Those are three Great Filter possibilities, but the question remains: why are we so alone in the observable universe? I grant you that what we can observe is appallingly tiny given the unimaginable scale of the universe, so “what we can observe” may not be enough by many orders of magnitude.

I encourage you to read the entire article, it’s full of great ideas explained well, including many other Great Filter possibilities. Mostly I wanted to share my personal theory of why we haven’t encountered alien life by now. Like computers themselves, things don’t get larger. They get smaller. And faster. And so does intelligent life.

Why build planet-size anything when the real action is in the small things? Small spaces, small units of time, everything gets smaller.

Large is inefficient and unnecessary. Look at the history of computers: from giant to tiny and tinier. From slow to fast and faster. Personally, I have a feeling really advanced life eventually does away with all physical stuff that slows you down as soon as they can, and enters the infinite spaces between:

This is, of course, a variant on the Fermi paradox: We don’t see clues to widespread, large-scale engineering, and consequently we must conclude that we’re alone. But the possibly flawed assumption here is when we say that highly visible construction projects are an inevitable outcome of intelligence. It could be that it’s the engineering of the small, rather than the large, that is inevitable. This follows from the laws of inertia (smaller machines are faster, and require less energy to function) as well as the speed of light (small computers have faster internal communication). It may be – and this is, of course, speculation – that advanced societies are building small technology and have little incentive or need to rearrange the stars in their neighborhoods, for instance. They may prefer to build nanobots instead.

– Seth Shostak

Seth delivers an excellent TED talk on this topic as well:

If we can barely see far in the universe as is, there’s no way we could possibly see into the infinite space and time between.

That is of course just my opinion, but we’ll see... eventually.

A new behind-the-scenes clip highlights the stunts and fan response to 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'A new behind-the-scenes clip highlights the stunts and fan response to 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'

Apple's smartphone sales increased 1.3 percent year-over-year in the United States during the first quarter of 2026, according to data shared by Counterpoint Research. Apple saw a sales increase while the broader U.S. smartphone market experienced a 5.7 percent decline during the same time period.


Android device sales declined 14.4 percent, while Apple's market share grew 4 percent year-over-year. iPhone 17 performance is part of the reason Apple outperformed the market, but Counterpoint says the company was also helped by a later launch of Samsung's Galaxy S26 series in March.

Apple's market share increased at all three major U.S. carriers, while Android saw a decline. The iPhone made up 75 percent of sales at Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, while Android devices made up 25 percent.

Counterpoint expects Apple to continue to draw users to iOS because it maintained pricing with the iPhone 17e and even increased storage, while smartphone makers with slimmer hardware margins have had to raise prices.

If Apple can avoid significant price increases and continue to outpace its peers in promotional dollars, it will be tough for Android OEMs to keep up in the year ahead.

The Beats Pill offers incredible value with long battery life, a speakerphone, and a waterproof and dustproof build.

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Modern Bluetooth speakers have features that make them much better than they were just a few years ago, from USB-C for universal fast charging, to hi-res audio playback, to serving as a battery backup for other devices. The Beats Pill speaker has all these features and more, making it a great upgrade choice, and it has dropped in price to $99.95 (down from $149.95), matching the lowest price it has reached since its release, according to price-tracking tools. For less than a hundred dollars, this speaker is a steal.

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Beats Pill - Bluetooth Speaker and Portable Wireless Charger via USB-C - Up to 24 Hours Battery Life, IP67 Water Resistant, Apple & Android Compatible, Built-in Microphone – Campagne Gold

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I've been trying out the Beats Pill speaker since it came out in summer 2024, and it has everything I could want in a portable speaker: stereo sound when connected to another compatible speaker, multi-room mode to play the same music on multiple speakers, the Find My Device feature in case you misplace it during a rager, and Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range.

Apple users will get the most out of the Pill, with seamless iOS compatibility for a smoother experience. You can read about it in more detail on PCMag's "excellent" review, but this Beats speaker is not just for Apple users. Android users can also connect to it with a Bluetooth 5.3 connection, but it only supports AAC and SBC codecs, so there are no Android-friendly codec options that will make the audio really pop.

When it comes to battery life, you can expect around 24 hours per charge, depending on your use, which is comparable to other speakers of its size. It has that classic, bright Beats sound signature, balanced yet bass-heavy. It is rated IP67 dust-proof and waterproof, so it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. The biggest downside is that there is no adjustable EQ within the app, but that's less important when it sounds so great out of the box.

Dark Horse’s prequel to the smash‑hit Netflix anime turns Rebecca and Pilar’s early days into a sharp, funny, and promisingly rich expansion of Night City that deepens everything that made 'Edgerunners' Anime of the Year at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.Dark Horse’s prequel to the smash‑hit Netflix anime turns Rebecca and Pilar’s early days into a sharp, funny, and promisingly rich expansion of Night City that deepens everything that made 'Edgerunners' Anime of the Year at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

The charging case doubles as a phone stand for watching videos hands-free.

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Active noise cancellation, Bluetooth multipoint, app-based sound customization, and decent battery life often cost well over $50. That is why the Anker Soundcore P30i stand out at its current $24.99 sale price on Amazon, down from $49.99 and currently at its lowest price ever according to price trackers. These are built for people who want more than just basic wireless audio without spending much money, and they manage to cover most of the essentials surprisingly well.

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They are compact and lightweight, and they come with three ear tip sizes to help create a proper seal—getting the fit right can take a little adjusting because the earbuds need to sit fairly snug in the ear canal for the noise cancellation to work properly, but once secured, they stay in place comfortably during commutes, workouts, or long listening sessions. The active noise cancellation also performs better than expected at this price range, especially with low-frequency sounds like subway rumble, airplane engines, and traffic noise. Higher-pitched sounds and nearby conversations still come through more than they would on premium earbuds, but the reduction is still noticeable enough that you do not need to raise the volume aggressively in louder environments. Battery life is another strong point. You get up to 10 hours on a single charge in standard mode, or about seven hours with ANC enabled, while the charging case extends the total runtime to roughly 45 hours.

You can customize tap controls, adjust EQ settings, and switch between sound profiles like Podcast, Acoustic, or Classical, depending on what you are listening to, via the companion app. Even with those presets, the sound signature stays fairly bass-heavy—making pop, hip-hop, EDM, and casual streaming sound energetic—but listeners looking for more balanced or detailed audio may find the low-end overpowering. Also, while these earbuds support Bluetooth multipoint pairing, the overall build does not feel especially premium, and there is no wireless charging. But for less than $25, the P30i offer a level of convenience and feature depth that is still rare in budget earbuds.

It packs bass-heavy sound, RGB lighting, and waterproof durability into a travel-friendly speaker.

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If you’re in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker that still doesn’t skimp on the bass, the Tribit StormBox Mini+ speaker is a rugged option built for outdoor use. It’s earned a PCMag Editor’s Choice Award for being a lightweight yet powerful and long-lasting speaker (with a fun lighting feature…more on that below), and right now it’s 24% off and $31.99 (originally $41.99 on Amazon).

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Despite hovering at a $32 price point, the Tribit StormBox Mini+ packs in a lot of features. Available at this price in blue and green, it provides immersive stereo sound with a pair of 48mm drivers facing outward on the left and right sides, delivering a total of 12W of stereo sound. Combined with a passive radiator, it provides a frequency response of 80Hz to 20kHz. It can be made even more immersive by pairing with another StormBox Mini+ in True Wireless Stereo Mode. 

At just 4.68 by 3.58 inches and just 1.22 pounds, its size is comparable to a softball or water bottle, and is made even more portable with the addition of a small lanyard. PCMag calls the stereo sound “punchy and rich,” despite its compact size, and customizable EQ on the Tribit app lets you tweak it further. It has an IPX7 rating, making it fully waterproof. While it does have a mic for calls and your phone’s smart assistant, it can sound faint and distant at times, even with the volume on high. Battery life lasts up to 12 hours at 50% volume and recharges in 2.5 hours.

Another unusual feature is its RGB lighting effects with modes that let the lights spin or flicker (also controlled on the app), allowing you to set the vibe on your adventures. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a tiny but bass-heavy budget speaker that you can easily throw in your bag—and one rugged enough to withstand splashes and rain, with the unexpected party perk of lighting—the Tribit StormBox Mini+ will give you solid sound and portability for a low price point. 

Do you want a watch that gets the job done, or one that makes you feel elite?

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Last weekend I strapped two different Garmin running watches to my wrists and raced a 10K. On one arm, I wore the Forerunner 970, Garmin's top-of-the-line, $750 running watch. On the other, I wore the Forerunner 165 Music, which is far more budget-friendly at $300. I wanted to see if having a fancy running watch really makes a difference during a race. The answer is complicated.

Consider this: The weekend before my race, the winners of the London Marathon competed wearing the Forerunner 55 and the Forerunner 255—two watches that are, by tech standards, practically ancient. This fact was certainly in the back of mind as I raced (at a fraction of those runners’ pace, and for a much shorter distance): Two of the most elite runners in the world right now wear solid, no-frills Garmins. Why would I need something better? What difference can a wearable really make during a competitive run?

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Both Garmins have accurate heart rate and GPS

Before race day, I did a controlled interval run wearing both watches and a chest strap to test for heart rate accuracy. Compared side by side, both watches performed well: They captured the highs and the lows without clipping at either end of the range (which is more than you can say for a lot of wrist-based optical sensors). The 970, with its more advanced sensor, tracked cleanly throughout, though the 165 was solid too, even if it occasionally lagged a beat behind, reading slightly low in the moments following a hard interval effort. The difference wasn't dramatic, but it was noticeable when I looked for it. For a serious racer obsessing over every BPM, that matters. For the rest of us, either watch would be more than adequate.

The black line is the chest strap; purple is the 165; orange is the 970. Credit: Meredith Dietz

As far as GPS goes, both watches locked onto a signal quickly and held it throughout the run. For a standard 10K in an open environment, you'd be hard-pressed to feel the difference. Again, the 970 edges ahead in precision, which is particularly useful if you're running tight track intervals or navigating complex urban routes. But for most runners logging miles in the real world, the 165 will still give you a GPS record you can trust.

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Only the Forerunner 970 has my favorite Garmin watch features

The 970 has an undeniable edge when it comes to advanced features. The major selling point of this watch is that it offers a deeper dive into performance data: more advanced running dynamics, detailed training load analysis, and race-specific features. One standout example is Auto Lap by Timing Gates: During an official race, the 970 can automatically detect chip timing mats and split your laps accordingly, which is a true game-changer for runners like me who endlessly sweat over every little detail on race day.

The 165 keeps it simpler. You get your reliable core metrics—pace, distance, heart rate, cadence—but that's about it. For a runner who wants the essentials without drowning in data, I’d argue this sort of simplicity is a perk, not a limitation. 

The 970 really does have a more premium vibe to it. Credit: Meredith Dietz

Is it worth it to upgrade your running watch?

Running with both of these watches simultaneously gave me a greater appreciation for the ease of using a touchscreen like the one on the Forerunner 970. Swiping through data screens mid-run, navigating menus with a tap instead of fumbling for buttons—it does deliver a certain “elite” feeling. It's responsive, intuitive, and polished in a way that a button interface simply isn't.

But here’s the thing: Feeling elite doesn’t actually make you a better runner. A fancier watch is no doubt a quality-of-life upgrade, but I can’t honestly say that it made me run a different race. Whether a quality-of-life upgrade is worth $400 is ultimately up to you.

As my colleague Beth Skwarecki put it, everything outside of your time and your pace is icing on the cake. If you're a competitive athlete who races frequently, obsesses over training data, and values having the most accurate sensor on your wrist, the 970 delivers. If you're training for your first race, chasing a personal best, or just want a reliable watch to track your morning runs, the 165 Music will serve you well at a fraction of the cost. And if you're comparing it to true budget options, the 165 is still far from "basic."

Remember, those London Marathon winners crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else while wearing the most barebones of running watches. Elite performance doesn't live in the hardware, but in your body. But hey, if the 970's touchscreen gets you excited to lace up every morning, then it's worth the premium price.

With app and voice control, it’s a low-maintenance option for everyday floor cleaning.

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The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop is built for hands-off use, and this refurbished unit is on sale for $134.99 at StackSocial right now. As for its refurbished status, while it might have little to no cosmetic wear, it will look close to new and be fully functional.

Since this is a hybrid cleaner, you can send it out while you’re working or stepping out, and it’ll handle both vacuuming and light mopping in one run. For navigation, it uses 360-degree LiDAR to map your home and move in a grid, rather than bouncing around randomly. In practice, that leads to more consistent coverage, especially in larger rooms. And for when things get dirtier, like near your front door, there’s Matrix Clean mode that goes over the same area a few extra times to pick up what a single pass might miss. Edge cleaning is handled with short bursts of air that push debris into its path, so it doesn’t leave that familiar line of dust along walls.

Maintenance is where it earns its keep—with the base holding up to two months’ worth of dust (so you’re not emptying it after every run), and the sealed HEPA system helps keep fine particles from escaping back into the air. It runs for about 110 minutes before heading back to recharge, then resumes where it left off. You can manage everything through the SharkClean app, including setting no-go zones, or use Alexa or Google Assistant if that’s already part of your setup. The only real compromise is the 90-day third-party warranty instead of full manufacturer coverage. Still, at this price, it offers a lot of automation for someone who wants to spend less time thinking about floors.

Impress your boss. Annoy your friends. Deceive your bartender.

I am obsessed with the "Conversate" app in my Even Realities G2 smart glasses. Overall, the glasses are sci-fi cool—they project a small, monochrome HUD in front of your eyes but look like normal glasses—but Conversate is essential. The AI-driven productivity tool is designed for work meetings but it's fun in social settings too, and you can use it to scam free drinks from bartenders.

Use Conversate and never take notes in a meeting again

If you've ever left a work meeting thinking, "wait, am I supposed to file the TPS reports, or is it Gary's week?" consider Conversate. I don't multi-task well, so listening while taking notes can be difficult. Conversate solves that problem.

Here's how it works: You hit the start button on the app, and the AI listens and transcribes everything anyone says in real time. The text is just out of your eyesight unless you glance up at it, so it isn't distracting but if someone asks a factual question, you'll get a silent answer in a pop-up window in your glasses. If you share this fact, it can make you look very smart. Or like a know-it-all, so use wisely. If someone says a person's or a company's name, you get a pop-up that tells you who/what they are too. Usually this is useless (I already know what Google is and who Jesus Christ is), but occasionally, it gives needed context.

Credit: Stephen Johnson

When the meeting is over, you can check out a summary of what was discussed, and Conversate will highlight anything that looks like a task for you. You can then take those tasks and migrate them to your glasses' to-do list with a click, so you have a checkable list of action items floating before your eyes whenever you want it.

I realize that all of these functions could be done with a number of smart phone apps, but with Conversate, you keep your phone in your pocket—much more unobtrusive.

How to use Conversate to win bar bets and fake being smart

I used the last generation of Even Realities smart glasses to win a drink from a bartender, and Conversate makes this kind of skullduggery even easier. It's constantly listening for questions and feeding you answers, so if you're a dishonest person, you can totally rule at trivia night, impress your friends with your human calculator skills, or tell everyone the day of the week they were born. An added trickery bonus: G2s don't look like smart glasses, and if you pair them with the ring controller, no one will ever know that you are cheating your way through life.

How to have fun at parties with Conversate

This last use really depends on who you hang out with, but in the right crowd, Conversate becomes a hilarious party game. It's funny to read the AI's stilted definitions for common terms back to people, a beat behind the conversation. It's fun when your friends start saying obscure names to see whether your spectacles will tell you who they are. It's fun for people to invent "action items" that you will supposedly have to do later too. Everyone at the party will call you a nerd, but they will still want to try out your glasses. Are they secretly jealous of your cutting-edge techness? Probably not, to be honest. Anyway, when you are finished hanging out with your friends, Conversate will translate the party's banter and small talk into "corporate-speak" summaries, which I find delightful.

Later in your life, you can remember the barbecue you went to like this:

Meeting Summary: : Retrospective on Social Logistics and Lifecycle Events

1. Resource Management & Historical Social Models

• Context: Discussion regarding the evolution of "barbecue social gatherings."

• Key Point: Participants compared current hospitality standards to a legacy "Bring Your Own Meat" (BYOM) model.

• Outcome: The BYOM framework was noted for its ability to facilitate social gatherings with zero capital expenditure from the host.

2. Asset Utility: Off-Road Platforms

• Context: Review of 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) Jeep performance.

• Key Point: The group discussed the long-term viability and "fun" ROI of Jeep vehicles.

• Outcome: High consensus that the mobility benefits of 4WD systems outweigh the mechanical maintenance requirements.

PCMag gave the Insta360 Go Ultra an “excellent” rating.

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At $484.99, the Insta360 Go Ultra Vlogger Bundle has dropped from its usual $574 price, and according to price trackers, this is the lowest it has been so far. The whole idea behind the Go Ultra is convenience. The camera itself is tiny enough to wear on a shirt, as a magnetic pendant, or as a hat clip without constantly reminding you it’s there. Then, when you want something that feels more like a traditional action camera, it docks into the included Action Pod, which has a larger screen and an extra battery, notes this PCMag review.

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The camera shoots stabilized 4K video at 60fps, and the larger 1/1.28-inch sensor helps noticeably indoors or during evening shoots, where smaller action cameras often turn footage muddy fast. Stabilization is also one of the better parts of the experience. Walking footage stays smooth without requiring much effort, so it works well for bike rides, city walks, festivals, or travel clips where carrying a gimbal would feel excessive. And if framing starts becoming a problem, you can just dock it into the Action Pod and use its 2.5-inch flip-up touchscreen, which makes it much easier to see yourself while recording.

Video tops out at eight-bit color, so creators who spend a lot of time color-grading footage may find it more limiting than larger action cameras from DJI or GoPro. There’s also no built-in storage, meaning you’ll need to pick up a microSD card separately before you can start shooting. Battery life changes quite a bit depending on how you use the system, too—the standalone camera lasts roughly 30 to 36 minutes at 4K60 before heat starts becoming a factor, while the Action Pod pushes total usage much closer to two hours. And as for its audio quality, it's decent for casual clips and quick vlogs, but wind noise and distance can still affect recordings, unless you rely on the included mic transmitter or external audio gear.

Still, the bundle is generous—along with the camera and Action Pod, you get a magnetic pendant, quick-release mounts, a mini tripod remote kit, a magnetic clip, and a Mic Air transmitter for better audio options. For creators who constantly move between casual recording and more deliberate filming, the setup feels more versatile than most compact action cameras.

It offers 3.1-channel audio, Bluetooth streaming, and easy HDMI eARC setup.

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A like-new unit of the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is down to $99.99 (originally $249.99) on Woot. For comparison, a brand-new unit is currently listed at $174.99 on Amazon, and most past discounts haven’t gone much lower than $149.99, according to price trackers. Shipping is free if you have Prime; otherwise, expect to pay about $6. It is also worth noting that shipping is limited to the contiguous U.S.

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus

$99.99 at Woot

$249.99 Save $150.00

Shop Now

Shop Now

$99.99 at Woot

$249.99 Save $150.00

This is a 3.1-channel soundbar with an integrated center channel, designed to make dialogue clearer and give movies a fuller sound than standard TV speakers. It is a straightforward setup that connects over HDMI eARC or optical, so it works with most TVs without extra configuration. There’s also Bluetooth if you want to stream music from your phone. Despite the name, it does not run Fire TV software. You control everything with a basic remote that lets you switch inputs, tweak bass and treble, and cycle through modes like Movie or Night. There is no on-screen interface, so you rely on voice prompts and small LED indicators to confirm changes.

Sound-wise, it’s a noticeable improvement over built-in TV speakers, notes this PCMag review. Dialogue is easier to follow, and overall audio has more presence. The limitation shows up in the low end. The built-in bass is present but not strong, so action scenes and music can feel a bit flat. Amazon sells bundles with a separate subwoofer or rear speakers, and those add noticeable depth, but they also cost significantly more. This bar also supports Dolby Atmos in a basic way, though it lacks height channels, so you will not get the full overhead effect. But for $100, this works as a straightforward upgrade for smaller rooms or casual viewing.

The work goes on, but the U.S. is no longer at the center of the climate universe.

Greetings from London. A week of interviews, events, and meetings—both on the record and behind closed-doors—at the city’s Climate Action Week has left me with many reflections, but one stands out: the climate work goes on, but the U.S. is no longer at the center of the universe.

That reality is evident almost just from the scale. The organizers tout 700 events and 45,000 participants spread across the sprawling London metropolis. This was the biggest London climate week yet, and the first time for many (myself included). 

But it was also evident in the meat of the conversations. Investors talked about opportunities outside the U.S., particularly in Asia and Europe. Climate focused executives waffled about how much of a presence they wanted to have at this year’s iteration of New York Climate Week, usually an important moment on the climate calendar each September. And British officials emphasized their ability to serve as a global hub for sustainable finance. “As investors look around the world and they look for places to put capital, I think we sit in a very good position because of what’s happening geopolitically,” says Chris Hayward, policy chairman of City of London, the historic center of London, now best known as a financial hub.

Read more: How Soon Should Companies Prepare for a 2°C World?

To get from event to event in London required dashing around the city in the quickest fashion: typically the tube subway system, consistently overheated given the unseasonably hot London temperatures. But the geographic center of the week was undeniably the City of London, the one square mile that hosts the country’s premier banking and financial institutions. There’s a reason for that: organizers in London see an economic opportunity in supporting the energy transition. 

And that’s at the core of the global shift visible here in London. The companies that gathered this week have, for the most part, doubled down on efforts to make or save money with climate and sustainability initiatives—whether that’s an industrial company cutting bills with energy efficiency or a financial firm creating new products to allow companies to invest in renewable power. 

The reality of this profit-oriented approach means the U.S. will fall behind given the policy uncertainty. The observation was underscored by data released throughout the week. A survey of business executives globally, released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Bain & Company to coincide with the event, found that large global companies are continuing to invest in green solutions—but are shifting those investments away from the U.S. toward Europe and Asia. Three quarters of surveyed companies said they were increasingly interested in focusing on those regions.

Even still, that’s not to say that climate work in the U.S. is dead. The report from WBCSD found that 50% of companies now have less interest in investing in climate work in the U.S. That’s a striking figure when contrasted with the global picture. At the same time, it means a significant fraction of global companies continue to see potential.

Read more: Brazil’s Finance Chief Sees Climate Change as an Economic Opportunity

In background chats I had, many American business and financial sector leaders were quick to share that they continue to find opportunities to cut emissions in a way that saves them money—though several expressed fear that talking about it publicly could prompt scrutiny from the administration. “Businesses are not giving up on the decarbonization journey,” says Peter Bakker, president and CEO of WBCSD, “depending on where businesses are stationed, they are more or less willing to talk about it.”

And I was surprised by the response to my informal, totally anecdotal poll about this year’s New York Climate Week. In conversations, I asked sustainability executives how they planned to approach the gathering this year. While many said they had considered pulling out, the vast majority said that they have ultimately decided they still plan to show up—perhaps with a smaller footprint than in years past.

The calibration of the message in New York this fall will be interesting, to say the least. In more than a decade on this beat, I have never felt more of a reluctance from business leaders to speak on the record. Many long standing sources preferred to talk without attribution, wary of the political consequences of speaking truthfully even while they eagerly highlighted their work to me.  

While that makes it more challenging to clearly tell the full story of what’s happening, I suppose it’s somewhat good news if your biggest concern is whether companies are still focused on capping emissions.

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It's been one of those months, and by that, I mean one of the 663 months since I was born. This won't be a long post, because I only have two things to say. First, I'm really glad we re-ordered the GMI (Guaranteed Minimum

It's been one of those months, and by that, I mean one of the 663 months since I was born. This won't be a long post, because I only have two things to say. First, I'm really glad we re-ordered the GMI (Guaranteed Minimum Income) rural study counties so Mercer County, WV, my Dad's county, went first in October 2025. I knew dad was close to the end, and sure enough, that was the last time I ever saw him.

You can kinda sorta meet my dad on this page, if you want to.

Why Pledge to Share the American Dream? • RGMII

Why we pledged to Share the American Dream: RGMII’s $50M plan funds rural guaranteed minimum income studies to expand opportunity and strengthen democracy.

Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income Initiative • RGMIIJeff Atwood