Google has officially launched its Drive app for Arm-compatible Windows PCs. It first rolled out the Arm64 app in beta last year, but now its generally available, according to an update posted Monday.Like the existing Google Drive app, the Arm64 version lets Windows PCs running Qualcomms Snapdragon processors store, sync, and access files. The app is only available on devices with Windows 11 and Microsoft WebView 2, which Google says is typically included with Windows 11.If you already downloaded the beta, Google will prompt you to upgrade to the latest version. You can also download Google Drive for Arm64 from the companys website.With last years launch of Qualcomm-equipped Copilot Plus PCs, many more apps have added support for Arm64, including Google Chrome, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN. Microsoft is also working on an update that will allow more software and games to run using its Prism emulator.

We reported earlier this month that, due to changes Google is making to how apps access Google Photo libraries, digital photo frames from companies like Aura and Cozyla would no longer be able to auto-sync with those albums. But Aura has now confirmed to The Verge that its frames will continue to work with Google Photos.We are working with Google to maintain auto-add for Google Photos on Aura, company spokesperson Jenisse Curry said. While we previously announced that this feature will be removed, it will now continue.Curry added that syncing will continue as usual for now and that owners of its frames wont need to take any additional action, but that the company will share additional information when ready.Auras cloud-connected frames allow you and others to view shared photos. As with Googles Nest displays, for example, you could gift an Aura photo frame to a grandparent and then automatically sync Google Photo albums of your kids so that your parents can always see fresh pictures of their grandchildren.Sync was initially set to end on March 17th. While Aura would continue to show photos that had already been sent to the frame, auto-sync would turn off and users would have to send new pictures from the Google Photos app manually.The Google Photos API change was announced in September and will prevent apps from accessing your entire photo library. Its still set to go into effect on March 31st, which suggests that Aura will have instructions on how to continue auto-sync around that time.Were always looking for ways to update our APIs to improve user privacy, and we have APIs specifically designed for digital photo frames and a program to help our partners update their products, Google spokesperson Colin Smith told The Verge earlier this month.A Cozyla spokesperson wasnt immediately available to comment on whether the company will also continue to support auto-sync.See More:

Theres something about being in a comic book movie that really makes many of its actors turn into blabbermouths probably how insanely cool it is to be immortalized as an iconic superhero, no doubt. But Jason Momoa is the latest to almost spoil something major for the DCU, this time his highly anticipated Lobo costume in the forthcoming film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and DCU boss James Gunn certainly had a laugh about the whole thing. In a recent interview with Cinemablend to discuss his starring role in A Minecraft Movie, Momoa's role as Lobo came up because its the characters first appearance in the DCU, and Momoa's first appearance in the new DCU. Naturally, fans are curious about what his look will be and how it might differ from the characters comic appearances, which have him head-to-toe in white makeup. Momoa revealed that he is covered in the film, but then also revealed to the outlet that he had a photo of the costume on his phone.However, the Aquaman stars publicist shouted Jason, dont do it! from behind the camera just before Momoa could get a chance to show the journalist the image. You were that close to the scoop, bro, the actor then joked with the reporter, as it wouldve been the first look at the character had Momoas publicist not chimed in. Jason Mamoa is set to become Lobo in the DCU.Considering how much of a thing it is for superhero actors to spoil things, its no surprise Gunn who is set to produce the upcoming Supergirl film chimed in about the incident on social media. I just want to profoundly thank Jasons publicist, the filmmaker wrote on Threads alongside a crying-laughing emoji. A fan then replied, He definitely showed Jack Black anyway, alluding to the fact that Black and Momoa are co-starring in A Minecraft Movie. Gunn responded, I can live with that. As long as its not spoilers on a massive scale, you know, then we're good!Momoa has been dropping small hints about the character recently, insisting he will look a lot like Lobo in the comics. "This is the role I've always wanted to play," he told ScreenRant. "That's the comic I loved, so I'm really nervous about it. Its kind of a no-brainer to play this character. It's pretty big. I don't want to give away too much, but I mean, we look pretty dead on, exactly like the character."Confirmed DCU ProjectsFans of the character can probably see why Momoa was cast, as Lobo is portrayed as a buff, mostly-shirtless biker. However, unlike Momoa, the mercenary is also typically depicted with white skin, red eyes, a handlebar moustache, and long black hair so it will be interesting to see the actor step into something even more over-the-top than usual. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be directed by Craig Gillesipe, written by Ana Nogueira, and star Milly Alcock in the title role. As of now, its set to release in theaters on June 26, 2026, as part of the new DCUs chapter one, titled Gods and Monsters. Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

A new Alien: Earth trailer has emerged online, offering fans their best look yet at the upcoming TV series.The trailer, revealed on the @CineGeekNews X/Twitter account, below, was first shown at Disney's 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. It shows the desperate survivors of a space ship devastated by a Xenomorph, and on a course for Earth.The trailer shows off the new Xenomorph design, but is perhaps most striking for revealing just how close Alien: Earths aesthetic matches that of Ridley Scotts iconic 1979 horror original. The scene is set inside a MU/TH/UR control room that looks nearly identical to the one in the Nostromo. It was there, of course, that Ripley discovered the true horror of the crews situation.In the Alien: Earth trailer, a desperate crew member pleads for help, banging on the sealed door as the Xenomorph gets to work. Morrow, played by Babou Ceesay, seems uninterested in her plight, reporting that the specimens are loose, declaring the crew dead, and setting the ships impact point as Earth. We then see six soldiers make their way towards something, presumably the crashed ship. I imagine things do not go well for them.The trailer sparks plenty of questions. Does Morrow survive? What was his (its?) motivation? Did any other crew members survive? Was anyone left impregnated by the Xenomorph? And how exactly are those soldiers inevitably killed?This all sets up the premise of Alien: Earth, which sees a mysterious space vessel (the one we see in the trailer) crash-land on Earth, with a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and the aforementioned ragtag group of tactical soldiers making a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planets greatest threat.PlayFXs Alien series is set in 2120, well after Prometheus and just two years before Alien and the unfortunate events that befell the crew of the Nostromo. Because of this setting within the Alien timeline, fans have speculated that Alien: Earth may depict the Nostromo leaving Earth, or reveal how evil megacorp Weyland-Yutani found out about the Xenomorphs. As a reference point, the recently released interquel Alien: Romulus takes place between Alien and Aliens.In January last year, showrunner Noah Hawley explained why he is not using the backstory provided in Prometheus for Alien: Earth, saying he likes the "retro-futurism" of the original films. Hawley said he spoke to Alien chief Ridley Scott about "many, many elements" of the Alien series, including its ties to the prequels, but ultimately decided to cut loose and move away from the bioweapon backstory because he preferred the lore of the original films.FX's Alien: Earth hits Hulu in summer 2025. Alien: Romulus 2 is also in the works.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Fujimi Kaido makes its long-awaited return to Forza Motorsport this May in celebration of our 20-year anniversary.Where Dreams Are DrivenIts almost 20 years since the release of the first Forza Motorsport game. This moment was the beginning of a multi-decade journey to turn car lovers into gamers, and gamers into car lovers, one that would eventually lead us to the vibrant community we have today a community driven by car passion, racing skills, competition and creativity. Over the years that followed our debut game in 2005, we continued exploring our vision of creating innovative and immersive automotive experiences with the release of Forza Motorsport 2, 3, and 4 on Xbox 360; Forza Motorsport 5, 6, and 7 on Xbox One, and most recently, Forza Motorsport on Xbox Series X|S and PC. With less than two months until the 20th anniversary, today we are excited to share with you a preview of the content that will be available in Forza Motorsport as part of our May update, which includes the eagerly awaited return of a track considered truly legendary in the Forza community.Since the release of Forza Motorsport in October 2023, our team has been fully recreating Fujimi Kaido to modern standards in our biggest track project ever! Race and drift on the Full Circuit or Full Circuit Reverse that stretches 10.24 miles in length featuring 144 extreme turns and a 2,711-foot summit. Our goal is to recapture the magic of drifting with your friends on the massive stretches of serpentine Japanese mountain roads at Fujimi Kaido, and we cant wait for you to slide sideways once again as we now work to refine and polish this Forza original track for integration into the game this May. Fujimi Kaido is only the start of our upcoming anniversary content in Forza Motorsport. There are also some highly requested cars coming to the game, in addition to unlockable driver suits, special events in both Career and Featured Multiplayer, new themed Rivals challenges, and more. We will have more to share about the Forza Motorsport 20th anniversary as we approach the release of the update in May. Stay tuned to our @ForzaMotorsport social channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, and X (formerly Twitter) for those details, where you can also let us know your favorite Forza Motorsport memories by using #ForzaMotorsport20. Plus, subscribe to the Forza Newsletter to be informed about everything thats happening both in the game and our community you will also receive the bonus Otherworld Driver Suit in Forza Motorsport just for signing up. It's been an incredible 20 years of racing and drifting. We look forward to sharing this anniversary with you, our players lets celebrate this milestone together on the track in Forza Motorsport.

Saint Laurent is reviving four rare furniture designs by French architect and designer Charlotte Perriand for an exhibition titled Saint Laurent Charlotte Perriand, due to take place at the Padiglione Visconti from April 8 to 13 during Salone del Mobile in Milan. The pieces, dating from 1943 to 1967, had only existed as prototypes or sketches, including several items Perriand created for her own homes around the world. Under the creative direction of Anthony Vaccarello, the designs have been scrupulously reproduced and will be available in a limited edition and made to order, WWD reported. Courtesy of Saint LaurentSaint Laurents revival of the Indochina guest armchair, designed by Charlotte Perriand. Perriand's early beginnings working alongside Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret are evident in each piece. The collection includes the Rio de Janeiro bookshelf, which Perriand designed for her husband in 1962 who was living in Brazil at the time. It was made of solid rosewood, and designed to display works of art alongside books, with sliding doors made of woven cane. The original is part of a private collection that has only been exhibited three times over the last 25 years. Courtesy of Saint LaurentSaint Laurents revival of Charlotte Perriands Rio de Janeiro bookshelf.The Mille-feuilles table, designed in 1963, is made from 10 layers of wood in two varieties, light and dark, then recessed in the center to form concentric circles. Due to its complex layered wood construction that was too difficult to be manufactured, it existed only as a reduced-scale model. The Indochina guest armchair, meanwhile, was created in 1943 for the couples home in Vietnam. The original piece was lost, so Saint Laurent recreated the piece from a drawing. Courtesy of Saint LaurentSaint Laurents revival of Charlotte Perriands Mille-feuilles table. The final design was a sofa made for the Japanese ambassadors residence in Paris in 1967. A year prior, Toru Haguiwara, then Japans ambassador to France, commissioned Junz Sakakura to design his residence in the French capital. Parriand was in charge of the interiors, designing this minimalist 23-foot-long sofa for the main reception room. During Milan Design Week, a kiosk outside the French fashion houses store on Piazza San Babila will carry a book of Perriands photographs alongside a catalog of the new furniture collection. A selection of her photos will also be on view at the brands bookshop and record store on Rue de Babylone in Paris, from April 9 to May 4, and its Rive Droite flagship on Rue Saint-Honor, from April 8 to May 7.Rachel SilvaAssociate Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

Todays new Apple deals are now sitting along hundreds in savings on the latest M4 Pro MacBook Pro and solid $100 price drops on the iPad mini 7. But we are now ready to kick the week off with solid price drops on the latest AirPods AirPods 4 are now starting back down at $100 lows while the AirPods Pro 2 are back at $170 from the usual $249 list price. From there we move over to the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup that has now returned to all-time low pricing with just about every configuration seeing solid $100 price drops and deals from $299. Those offers sit alongside $200 in savings on the most affordable 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, the now live Eve HomeKit/Matter smart home spring sale from $30, and the launch of Walmarts giant Super Savings Week Spring sale.All of that and more awaits below in todays 9to5Toys Lunch Break.AirPods Pro 2 back to one of the best prices this year at $170, AirPods 4 just returned to $100 Amazon low (Reg. up to $249)One of the best prices of the year is back on Apples flagship AirPods Pro 2. Regularly $249, Amazon has now dropped the price on the latest AirPods Pro 2 back down to the $169.99 shipped we tracked late last month to deliver $79 in savings and the lowest straight up cash deal we can find. Head below for more details and the return of Amazon all-time low pricing on AirPods 4 as well.Apple AirPods Pro 2 fell to a quite wild $154 for Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year that deal was short-lived and the best we have ever tracked. But it is also now long gone and in the grand scheme of things todays is otherwise very close to the best we have seen otherwise and still a notable price to pick a set up at it comes within $1 of the 2025 all-time low.The new AirPods 4 have now also returned to their Amazon all-time low at $99.99 shipped. A notable price on the newer and regularly $129 re-designed Apple buds with the more compact charging case, but the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are still up at the $168.99 we have been seeing on Amazon for months outside of a couple brief drops to $149 Target Circle members can actually land a discounted price right now at $149.99 shipped though.The base model AirPods 4 are now matching the lowest price we have tracked on Amazon to date there have been some YMMV and special targeted offers for select users at Target for less, as well as some extremely fleeting deals at some less than desirable retailers for under $100, but the Amazon price we have here today is indeed the best otherwise.For many folks, the re-designed AirPods 4 are about as welcomed an addition to the lineup as they are far inferior to the AirPods Pro 2. For others, the lowest price point and refreshed Apple design are more than compelling enough to save the extra cash. And for me, they are a tough sell right now when the AirPods 4 with ANC are just $20 less than the flagship AirPods Pro 2 if you dont care about the ANC, the base AirPods 4 are well below the price we might ever see on the Pro 2.Still undecided, scope out our AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro feature piece.Amazon has now brought back the straight up, no-strings attached $100 price drops across the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup to give folks another shot at the best cash deals we have tracked to date. Landing on par with the lowest prices we have tracked on the latest model Apple wearables, just about all configurations are now $100 off with deals starting from $299 shipped.While we had tracked a number of opportunities to score the new 42mm and 46mm Series 10 watches with a notable $70 in savings over Black Friday and the holidays last year, we are just starting to see the $100 price drops hit this year and today Amazon is giving you another chance at the best prices yet.The Series 10 landed last fall joined by the new iPhone 16 models and the AirPods 4 (also on sale today back at the $100 low) as Apple latest wearables alongside the all-black Ultra 2. Heres our complete Apple Watch Series 10 hands-on review for a more detailed look at the specs and user experience.The deals include the standard Wi-Fi models as well as the Wi-Fi + Cell variants, but most of the higher-end titanium models are yet to see the $100 discounts at the time of writing:42mm Apple Watch Series 10 $299 (Reg. $399)46mm Apple Watch Series 10 $329 (Reg. $429)42mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+Cell $399 (Reg. $499)46mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+Cell $429 (Reg. $529)While we are still tracking some solid price drops on Apples more affordable iPad experiences, including iPad mini 7 configurations are $100 off as well as the first cash deals on the brand new iPad (A16) and the new M3 iPad Air, this morning we are turning our attention over to the pro-grade setup. Apples latest M4-equipped iPad certainly isnt the most affordable, but you can now score the least pricey 13-inch configuration with a solid $200 price drop, among others youll find below.Amazon is now once again offering both the Space Black and silver model 13-inch M4 iPad Pro with the 256GB of storage down at $1,099 shipped. Regularly $1,299, this is $200 of the going rate, matching our previous mention, and on par with the 2024 Black Friday pricing.The base tier 256GB of storage might be all too underwhelming for some folks, and understandably so, as I have said in the past I tend to favor the lower storage tiers when it comes to iPad, iPhone, and MacBook models personally Id rather save the cash and rely on external portable SSDs if needs be. You really better need the extra storage space spend the cash on a regular $1,499 512GB model, but it is currently on sale for $1,299 if you do.Either way, youre once again looking at the best prices we have tracked this year on the 256GB and 512GB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro alongside some notable deals across the rest of the lineup we will leave you with down below. Some particular stand outs to watch for include the return of all-time low pricing on the 11-inch 512GB model at $150 off and the straight up $300 price drop now live on the high-end 13-inch 2TB model as well:Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 256GB $900 (Reg. $999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 512GB $1,049 (Reg. $1,199)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 1TB $1,449 (Reg. $1,599)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 2TB $1,850 (Reg. $1,999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 256GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,299)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 512GB $1,299 (Reg. $1,499)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 1TB $1,649 (Reg. $1,899)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 2TB $1,999 (Reg. $2,299)Amazon just knocked a big-time $308 off the 48GB 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro, more from $1,399Eve spring smart home sale now live: HomeKit and Matter plugs, switches, cams, more from $30 (Up to 34% off)Walmarts giant Super Savings Week Spring sale now live! $100 off Apple Watch, AirPods, LEGO from $14, Ninja gear, and moreTodays accessories and charging deals:The new iPad (A16) is now out in the wild (and is now marked down at Amazon) alongside the upgraded M3 iPad Air (still seeing its first cash deals right here), but Amazon also just brought back the $100 price drops on Apples latest, greatest, and miniest iPad. Youll now find just about every iPad mini 7 configuration on sale via Amazon at $100 off the going rates with prices kicking off from $399 shipped. Head below for a closer look.Amazon has the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models down at $399, $499, and $699 shipped, respectively. Thats a straight up $100 off the regular listings, matching our previous mention, and on par with the lowest prices we have tracked to date.Apples latest iPad mini 7, or more officially the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the most affordable model in the lineup that can run Apple Intelligence. The aforementioned iPad (A16) is, of course, the least pricey model in the lineup overall it currently starts down at $329 on Amazon but it is not compatible with Apple Intelligence.iPad mini A17 Pro 128GB $399 (Reg. $499)iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $499 (Reg. $599) iPad mini A17 Pro 256GB $699 (Reg. $799) The iPad mini 7 landed on store shelves in late 2024 with the same compact 8.3-inch display as the previous model alongside a 30% jump in CPU power, 25% better graphics performance, and upgraded storage capacity Apple finally rid the 64GB models from the lineup. Our iPad mini 7 vs 6 comparison feature piece provides a detailed rundown of everything new this time around.Here are our favorite iPad mini 7 cases and sleeves from $8.50.New M3 iPad Air hits new all-time low, most affordable models now start from $549Official Apple charging accessory sale: Woven USB-C cables from $8.50, 30/140W wall chargers 50% off, moreVery first price drop hits Nomads new magnetic 240W ChargeKey USB-C cable accessoryExclusive for 9to5 readers: Up to 48% off Nomads Apple gear accessories, plus extra 10% off sitewide for new customersNew Sony XM6 headphones have leaked, but we just spotted the beloved XM5 set at a new $250 Amazon low (Reg. $400)Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Countdown [T-10 Days]: Pre-order dates, times, and moreAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The podcast market is increasingly becoming dominated by YouTube and Spotify, but beyond running Apple Podcasts, Apple has also recently started launching its own original podcast series under the Apple TV+ branding. Today, the latest such podcastBig Timehas debuted as a true-crime series with Steve Buscemi as host.Big Time is the latest podcast produced by Apple TV+Apple TV+, somewhat confusingly, produces original podcasts in addition to TV shows and movies.Those podcasts are available to all users via Apple Podcasts or their podcast app of choice, but Apple TV+ subscribers get advance access to future episodes.The latest such debut is Big Time, a true-crime show. Heres the pitch:Hosted by legendary actor and filmmaker Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, Miracle Workers), the 14-episode series explores audacious crimes fake kidnappings, elaborate robberies, even stolen sharks with Buscemi introducing a new true story each week about a larger-than-life scam or scheme that almost worked. Big Time is produced by Lee Eisenbergs Piece of Work Entertainment and Campside Media, in association with Buscemi and Wren Arthurs Olive Productions.The first episode is available now, with new episodes being released weekly.If youre an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can access next weeks episode immediately via Apple Podcasts, so youll always be a week ahead of the general population.9to5Macs TakeApple has sometimes produced original podcasts that serve as companions to its TV+ shows, but with Big Time and several other recent releases, these are wholly original with no direct TV ties.Im still not certain what Apples strategy is with these original podcasts. The TV+ branding is confusing to me, and Im not sure how much success the company is finding with listeners. Perhaps the hope, however, is that successful podcasts could lead to future TV shows on Apple TV+? Ill be interested to see if that happens in the future.Do you plan to listen to the Big Time podcast? Have you heard of Apples other original podcasts? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In what could turn out to be a major setback for the company, Tesla is pausing its free, limited-time trial of its misleadingly-named Full Self-Driving driver software in China.As Reuters reports, the Elon Musk-led carmaker is still planning on releasing the feature pending regulatory approval which appears to be more difficult to secure than Tesla anticipated.For one, China's tight grip on training data for the AI that controls Tesla's FSD system is making it more difficult to refine, especially compared to the United States, where such data is readily available."All parties are actively advancing the relevant process and we will push it to you as soon as it is ready," Tesla's customer support account wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo, as translated by Reuters. "We are also looking forward to it, please wait patiently."It's possible that the pause has to do with its poor performance so far.Tesla drivers who had been testing the software before it was paused on Chinese streets had been racking up fines for driving in bike lanes, making illegal turns, and running red lights, as Electrek reported last month.It's a significant roadblock for the company. Musk has bet much of the company's future on the fulfillment of his decade-long promise of realizing self-driving vehicles but given the many collisions and even deaths related to the software, the company still has a lot of work to do.The company is also anticipating releasing a "Cybercab" autonomous taxi, whose fate will depend on the software's successful rollout.Tesla may be learning the difficulty of complying with China's strict data laws. For instance, China's industry ministry now requires that any over-the-air software updates related to autonomous driving will have to pass regulatory approval first.If Tesla were to roll out such an update which it has done numerous times in the US and elsewhere it would have to first "immediately stop the manufacture and sales of defective automobile products" until it receives approval from regulators, according to the mandate, which was announced last month.The story couldn't be more different in the US. Musk has amassed a tremendous amount of influence in the White House, raising concerns over massive conflicts of interest. The Trump administration is expected to roll back autonomous car crash report data requirements, alleviating regulatory pressure on the EV maker.Trump himself has even personally advertised Tesla's offerings in front of the White House, in a baffling and desperate attempt to prop up for a company that's facing a cataclysmic financial year.However, Chinese regulators aren't bending over backward. Tesla's competition has surged there, with BYD leapfrogging Tesla on revenue by passing the $100 billion mark in sales last year. Tesla's China-made EV sales fell a considerable 11.5 percent in January, year over year.It's still possible Tesla is on track for releasing a full version of its FSD software sometime this year. But given the fact that it's already encountering regulatory hurdles, there could be even more trouble ahead for the feature.Share This Article

Despite a challenging road, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is far from giving up on the company's gigantic, fully reusable Starship spacecraft.SpaceX has some extremely ambitious plans for the vehicle, from returning the first astronauts to the lunar surface to establishing the first permanent presence on Mars.And as SpaceX inches closer to successfully launching and landing a full-scale prototype, it's worth having a look back at all of the spectacular tests and failures that brought us here.We've got years of total carnage to look back on. So without further ado, here's an homage to all the test vehicles that have given their lives in pursuit of the interplanetary launch platform of Musk's dreams.2019: StarPopperThe first dramatic failure took place in late 2019, when a pressurization test, dubbed "StarPopper," ended in the massive tank imploding, crumpling like a tin can.The prototype was meant to fly to an altitude of 12.4 miles, but ended up popping her bulkhead instead, releasing a massive cloud of depressurizing gas.May 2020: First FireballSpaceX's fourth prototype, dubbed SN4, erupted in a gigantic fireball during its fifth static firing test in mid-2020. Videos of the violent event show the massive structure violently exploding, releasing a giant smoke cloud of combustible gases.The massive explosion can be heard echoing across the space company's testing facilities near Boca Chica, Texas.October 2020: Belly Flop BombThe company's eighth prototype, dubbed SN8, was meant to be SpaceX's first, full-scale and fully-fledged test launch of the rocket's upper stage.The prototype used all three of its rocket engines to lift off, reaching an apogee of 7.7 miles. It even flipped itself upright using a "belly flop" maneuver, which is meant to use the Earth's atmosphere as a way to slow itself down, not unlike a space plane.Its landing, however, proved to be fatal. SN8 blew up in yet another massive fireball after making a harder-than-expected touchdown.SN8's low "fuel header thank pressure" caused "touchdown velocity to be high," resulting in a "rapid unscheduled disassembly," as Musk explained in a tweet at the time.February 2021: TopspinThe next prototype, dubbed SN9, reached a height of 6.2 miles and successfully spun itself upright.The launch, however, turned out to be another setback, ending in yet another massive fireball.March 2021: Delayed ReactionThe company's next iteration didn't fare much better. After an eerie minutes-long delay, SN10 exploded spectacularly on the pad after landing. The explosion was so violent, the entire spacecraft was lurched back into the air."RIP SN10, honorable discharge,"Musk tweetedat the time.March 2021: Fogged UpJust weeks later, SpaceX's SN11 prototype reached an altitude of over six miles, becoming the third to do so.The spacecraft launched inside a thick cloud of fog, obscuring the view. However, despite pulling off another belly-flop maneuver, it didn't stick the landing, causing the fog to glow a bright orange.It was a violent explosion, sending giant pieces of metal and debris raining from the sky.April 2023: First Full StackAfter a lengthy delay of well over a year, SpaceX finally returned to the launch pad to kick off the first test of its Starship, including its Super Heavy booster, a stack that stands over 400 feet tall.The upper stage reached an apogee of more than 24 miles, but "the vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble," according to the company.The spacecraft and its booster self-destructed using its flight termination system, causing a gigantic mid-air explosion.The violent test flight tore a massive hole in the launch pad and sent pieces of debris raining down on protected wildlife.November 2023: Self DestructFollowing a lengthy investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, SpaceX finally followed up its first fully integrated test flight on November 18, 2023.The spacecraft blasted well past the edge of space, reaching an altitude of 90 miles.But minutes into the flight, an automated flight termination command was triggered, causing it to explode.SpaceX claimed the test was a successful demonstration of stage separation.October 2024: Ocean ExplosionJust under four months later, the next Starship-Super Heavy booster stack roared into space, reaching an apogee of 145 miles.The upper stage glided through space, resulting in gorgeous, live-streamed footage. But the vehicle made a hard landing in the ocean.A follow-up test, the fourth full test flight, resulted in the prototype heating up as it dropped through the atmosphere in June. Footage shows the two spacecraft's aerodynamic fins beingshredded to pieces as the plasma started heating up.The fifth orbital test in October resulted in the upper stage blowing up in a massive explosion after crashing into the ocean.However, SpaceX celebrated the first successful catch of a Super Heavy booster using its "Mechazilla" tower, which features two "chopsticks" arms a feat in itself.January 2025: Sky StreaksSpaceX's sixth flight in November saw the upper stage splash down in the Indian Ocean without incurring any significant damage. The booster, however, had to be diverted to also splash down in the ocean instead of being caught by the Mechazilla tower.In mid-January, Starship's seventh test flight resulted in the upper stage dramatically exploding over the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos. Footage shows massive streaks of heated-up rocket pieces.The event was dangerous enough for the FAA to divert all flights in the area to avoid a mid-air collision.March 2025: One Step Forward, Two Steps BackThe company's eighth test flight followed a strikingly similar trajectory. Thanks to premature shutdowns of its engines, the spacecraft set off yet another fireworks display over the Caribbean."It was an upper stage / ship failure tbh,"Musk admitted at the time. "But we learned a good amount in building the new ship design and the flight."It's a major snag, indicating that the latest version of the spacecraft, dubbed Block 2, is somehow performing worse than its predecessor.Where the last two botched flights leave the fate of the world's largest rocket ever built remains to be seen.NASA is still hoping to tap Starship to deliver its astronauts to the lunar surface in a matter of two years. It's a highly ambitious timeline that's looking increasingly unlikely, given the most recent setbacks.But Musk has taken the latest failure in strides."Today was a minor setback," he tweeted earlier this month. "Progress is measured by time. The next ship will be ready in 4 to 6 weeks."Share This Article