Amazon's Big Spring Sale is finally here and with it, you can find excellent deals on iPhones, MacBooks, Watches, and more. Here are our favorites.

When is Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025?The second-annual Spring Sale runs from Tuesday, March 25, through Monday, March 31. Unlike Prime Day sales events, it's open to everyone, not just Prime members.Are deals really better during Amazon sales?For some big-name brands, Amazon sale events are the only time specific devices go on sale throughout the year. This is especially true for Amazon devices like Kindles, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Amazon Echo devices, etc. According toone study, the average Amazon Prime Day discount is 16.2%, a fairly good discount for most products--and while this isn't Prime Day, it's still an Amazon-exclusive sales event, so we're expecting the same discount numbers.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.

Beware this Counter Strike 2 hack attack.gettyIs nothing sacred anymore? Hackers are targeting gamers, specifically players of first-person shooters, in a newly discovered campaign that uses a browser-in-browser attack to compromise Steam accounts that can then be sold on the black market. Depending on the number of games and, importantly, DLCs in that account, it can be a very profitable exercise with the most valuable being offered for as much as $30,000.Counter-Strike 2 Gamers In The Hack Attack CrosshairsThe thoughts of most gamers will turn to cheating players when the word hack is mentioned, and with good reason considering the number of charts out there. Those hackers are a mere annoyance, malicious criminal hackers need to be taken way more seriously in the scheme of things. Whether it is COD and Fortnite players facing attacks from YouTube hackers, Nvidia GPU vulnerabilities that could open the door to threat actors, or even warnings concerning the increased use of the Windows 11 platform by the gaming community, the threats are constantly evolving. And so it is with this latest campaign that uses browser-in-browser tactics to target Counter-Strike 2 players.Security researchers at Silent Push have uncovered a new threat campaign targeting Counter-Strike 2 players with a complex browser-in-browser attack tactic in order to compromise their Steam accounts. These attacks involve fake but realistic-looking browser pop-up windows, the researchers have warned, that serve as convincing lures to get victims to log into their scams.The hackers have been found to be using brand impersonation, particularly that of the professional eSports team Navi. The campaign offers what appear to be free skins, with a pop-up window seemingly from the Counter-Strike 2 team that promises to help gamers Play Like Navi.In the attack, Silent Push said, the URL of the real site (in this case, Steam) is prominently displayed, leading someone to believe its a real pop-up window for logging in. These browser-in-browser attacks create a fake window that displays a real site in order to develop a sense of trust, as well as offer gamers something for nothing. Once the potential victim tries to log into the fake Steam portal, the researchers continued, the threat actor steals the credentials and likely attempts to take over the account for later resale.Play Puzzles & Games on ForbesWhat First-Person Shooter Gamers Need To Do NowSilent Push warned that the browser-in-browser attack used to target Counter-Strike 2 gamers was likely aimed at desktop users rather than mobile, as the pop-ups were developed to be most convincing at a larger resolution. Fake pop-ups, such as the login windows in the BitB phishing scheme, the researchers said by way of advice, cannot be maximized, minimized, or moved outside the browser window even though victims can interact with the URL bar of the fake pop-up. Thats one clue that all gamers need to be on the lookout for. If you see a window with a URL bar, always try and drag it outside of the browser. This is the best way to easily confirm that the pop-up is real, the Silent Push researchers concluded, and therefore, the URL bar would correctly display the URL of the pop-up.

Will the Switch 2 launch with a lack of compelling games?Jason EvangelhoA new report emerging from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week carries a pretty scary suggestion: Nintendos Switch 2 may launch this summer with a serious lack of third-party games to support it.The information comes from Insider Gamings Tom Henderson, who spoke to multiple sources at GDC and pieced together a three-phase launch strategy for the Switch 2 game library.Phase one: Nintendo launches the Switch 2 with mainly first-party exclusives, such as Mario Kart 9 and a new entry or remake in the Legend of Zelda series (which was briefly leaked by a major online retailer).Phase two: third-party developers unleash their first wave of Switch 2 games in October and November, just ahead of the holiday 2025 period. Why? Because Nintendo is allegedly not shipping dev kits to these studios until June, which I believe would be just after the Switch 2 hits store shelves.There isnt much meat to the phase three portion of the strategy, with the report simply claiming there will be games in the holiday period.Play Puzzles & Games on ForbesSwitch 2 Launch Games: 3DS In Reverse?This scenario sounds like the opposite of what we experienced with Day One launch games on the 3DS. Nintendo came to the table with a lackluster first-party lineup (essentially just Pilotwings Resort and Steel Diver), while major third-party developers like Capcom, Ubisoft, and EA offered up a more robust selection. Im not saying it was a quality selection, but at least there was a good variety to choose from.Obviously, a launch strategy that finds the Switch 2 with only a handful of satisfying first-party games from Nintendos heavy-hitters would be way more favorable. Especially since there is a massive library of existing Switch titles to enjoy on the new console.To make this phased game rollout more tolerable, we could see Nintendo and other developers filling the gaps by offering Switch 2 Enhanced updates to existing Switch games.But this strategy doesnt make sense to me, especially since Nintendo has spent more than 15 years building trust with third-party developers. Closing the door to these studios during the extreme hype of a consoles launch window would be a slap to the face.Another reason this report falls flat is the information around dev kits. Platform holders typically seed dev kits to game developers well ahead of a consoles launch and the first ones to receive them are major studios (Ubisoft, Capcom, and now probably Microsoft) with strong relationships. And most importantly, with Nintendos trust attached.The idea that most third-party studios wouldnt receive a Switch 2 dev kit until very close to the systems release window is preposterous, and certainly wouldnt help Nintendo sell consoles. Content is king, and the Switch 2 will need a healthy variety of content out of the gate to appeal to a wide range of consumers.Rest assured, Switch 2 dev kits are already in the hands of many popular developers and game publishers, because they need several months to come to grips with the new systems architecture and features, among other things.Ultimately, Im going to suggest theres a shade of truth to this report. We may not see an avalanche of games launching until holiday 2025, but the suggestion that the Switch 2 launch window will be devoid of attractive third-party games and that dev kits arent out in the wild right now doesnt ring true for me.

What just happened? The US has added dozens of Chinese tech companies to an export blacklist as it looks to slow down its rival's development of AI chips, as well as high-performance, exascale, and quantum computing for military use. China said the sanctions will not stop the country's development and progress, adding that the move reflects US anxiety over its rapid development of these technologies. The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has added 80 organizations to the entity list, including more than 70 from China. There are also entities from the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Iran, and Taiwan.American companies wishing to do business with those on the list must first secure a license, which is almost always denied. Donald Trump famously placed Huawei on the list in 2019, during his first term in office.Among those added to the list are six subsidiaries of cloud computing provider Inspur Group, which itself was added to the list in 2023. The subsidiaries were added for acquiring or attempting to acquire US-origin items in support of supercomputer projects for the Chinese government and/or military. They are also accused of developing large AI models and advanced chips for military use.The agency added that it is working toward impeding China's development of its hypersonic weapons program, and to impair the development of unsafeguarded nuclear activities and ballistic missile program.Also added to the list were Chinese server manufacturer Nettrix Information Industry Co, Suma Technology Co, and Suma-USI Electronics. Non-profit AI research institute Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence is another new addition. // Related Stories27 Chinese entities were added for acquiring or attempting to acquire US-origin items in support of China's military modernization, and seven were added for advancing the CCP's quantum technology capabilities. There were also two Chinese entities added for selling products to parties on the entity list, including Huawei and HiSilicon."We will not allow adversaries to exploit American technology to bolster their own militaries and threaten American lives," said US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.Bao Jianyun, director of the Center for International Political Economy Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that the move marks an escalation of the US' long-running effort to contain China's technological rise. He said it reflects the US' anxiety over China's rapid development of large language models, quantum computing, and other technologies.China's foreign ministry said it strongly condemns the export restrictions while urging the US to "stop generalizing national security," Reuters reports.

A hot potato: TSMC has repeatedly said that funding a new chip-making venture outside Taiwan is very expensive for numerous reasons. However, a new analysis tries to debunk the company's alleged financial issues with building new plants in other parts of the world. How much does it cost TSMC to start up its new chip-manufacturing plants on US soil? According to a new study by TechInsights, the total amount is nowhere near the financial requirements stated by the Taiwanese corporation. Furthermore, processing silicon wafers in the US is just slightly more expensive than in Asia, according to the study.TSMC recently confirmed that it will invest hundreds of billions of dollars into its new US venture, with a particular focus on Arizona. The company stated that building new semiconductor plants in the US will take twice as long and cost twice as much as accomplishing the same goal in its homeland. TSMC was also accused by Chinese authorities of "selling off" its business to Washington to try and win Trump's backing over the geopolitical issues in the area.TechInsights crunched some numbers about TSMC through its Semiconductor Manufacturing Economics' Strategic Cost and Price Model, which is detailed enough to consider individual tools and process steps. The model confirmed that TSMC needs to spend just 10 percent more to process a 300mm chip wafer in Arizona than in Taiwan.Direct and indirect labor expenses don't make much of a difference either. Employees do cost 200 percent more in the US, TI said, but a modern, fully automated chip manufacturing plant doesn't need many people to begin with. Labor cost is just 2 percent of the whole business expenses, the analysts said.The single most important factor in setting a new plant up comes from the actual equipment required to "etch" microchips with complex light and chemical processes. Chipmaking machines sold by Europe's ASML, Tokyo Electron, and a few other corporations would account for over two-thirds of wafer cost, but they do tend to have the same sale price both in the US and Taiwan. // Related StoriesTSMC knows more about its internal costs than anyone else, and making apples-to-apples comparisons is difficult when dealing with indirect information. Despite these issues, TI said its model can provide a "definitive" answer to how much the Taiwanese foundry will have to spend on chips "made in the USA." The company is seemingly planning to charge a 30 percent premium on these chips, anyway.

iPad (2025)MSRP$349.00 Score DetailsThe new iPads best trait is an unchanged asking price, despite doubling the storage and serving a faster chip. Its a polished package that doesnt disappoint.ProsClean design and premium buildSharp display for the pricePlenty of A16 silicon firepower128GB storage for the same priceBattery life doesnt disappointConsAccessories are a little too priceyNo Apple Intelligence or Stage ManagerStylus support is outdatedNon-laminated display, againSlow chargingTable of ContentsTable of ContentsApple iPad (2025): SpecsiPad (2025) design: Refined familiarityiPad (2025) display: Gets the job doneiPad (2025) performance: A smooth-sailing journeyiPad (2025) battery: A reliable companioniPad (2025) software: iPadOS is fine, yet frustratingiPad (2025) verdict: An easy pickI am one of those hopeless iPad-as-a-computer faithful who keep buying more into the hypothetical promise than the on-ground reality. Ever since Apple put the desktop-class M1 silicon inside the iPad Pro, I have overwhelmingly shifted my workflow to Apples tablet.Recommended VideosIn between the generational upgrades extending all the way to the beefy M4 iPad Pro and the M3 iPad Air, I have also spent months using the tenth-gen iPad as my primary computing machine. I survived the experience, without losing my job, but with iPadOS scars that continue to linger.RelatedWith the 11th generation iPad, Apple is not changing the fundamental formula. The price remains identical, and so does the accessory ecosystem. Theres a new processor this time around, and more internal storage on the base model all at the same $349 asking price.Its a confusing slate, based on what it can technically accomplish, and what it shouldnt be purchased to handle. What follows is a breakdown of what the 11th-gen iPad brings to the table, and how far it can go beyond the Apples most affordable tablet appeal.Size179.5 x 246.6 x 7.0 mmWeight477 grams (1.05 pound)Screen and resolution11-inch LCD2360 x 1640 pixels264 PPI pixel densityTrueTone500 nits brightnessFingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatingOperating systemiPadOS 18Storagea128GB, 256GB, 512GBProcessorApple A165-core CPU4-core GPU16-core Neural EngineCamerasRear cameras:12MP Wide camera, f/1.8 apertureDigital zoom up to 5xFive-element lensAutofocus with FocusPixelsPanorama (up to 63MP)Smart HDR 4Photo geotaggingAuto image stabilisationBurst modeImage formats captured: HEIF and JPEGFront camera: Landscape 12MP Center Stage cameraf/2.4 apertureSmart HDR 41080p HD video recording at 25fps, 30fps or 60fpsTimelapse video with stabilisationExtended dynamic range for video up to 30fpsCinematic video stabilisation (1080p and 720p)Lens correctionRetina FlashAuto image stabilisationBurst modeBattery and chargingBuiltin 28.93watthour rechargeable lithiumpolymer batteryUp to 10 hours of surfing the web on WiFi or watching video20W wired chargingColorsSilver, Blue, Pink, and YellowPriceStarting at $329Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe iPads hardware is one of its core strengths, especially at its base asking price. Once again, you get an all-metal 100% recycled aluminum chassis that comes in four colors.The overall footprint remains unchanged, despite the screen size going from 10.9 to 11 inches. I love Apples understated design on the iPad, even more so than the iPad Pro, which has a sizeable camera hump at the back.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsIt almost feels like a bargain that this tablet costs just over $300, but serves a premium all-metal build. Tipping the scales at just a pound, the iPad is comfortable to hold, and the balanced weight distribution only adds to a secure in-hand feel.That matters a lot, especially for a tablet that is pushed primarily as a media consumption and occasional workhorse.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsSlumping on a sofa while watching Netflix or using it for extended spells during presentations, the iPads heft and portable size is a big win. The surface coating is also not slippery, which is a desirable trait.Plus, it does a fairly decent job of keeping smudges at bay. I have sweaty palms, but it didnt take too much effort to wipe the prints with a few dry swipes. I, however, strongly recommend a case or skin for the iPad.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe metal casing is pretty vulnerable on the corners, and even against slight bumps, it tends to get flattened. Ive never had this happen to any of my tablets, except the iPads. Moreover, its nigh impossible to hide scratch marks on the polished metallic surface, so theres that incentive.The physical volume and power buttons offer satisfying clicky feedback. For authentication, Apple has once again integrated the Touch ID sensor within the power button. Its quick, reliable, and easy to reach.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsTo avoid any awkward in-hand adjustments, I set up fingerprint recognition for my index finger and thumb across both hands. That way, it becomes easier to unlock the iPad, irrespective of the orientation or which hand youre holding it in.Just like the chassis, the display on the iPad remains unchanged. You get an 11-inch LCD panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and resolution figures of 2360 x 1640 pixels, translating to a pixel density of 264 ppi. The peak brightness also remains constant at 500 nits, and theres a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on the top, as well.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsFor the price, its a good-quality screen. You can binge-watch your favorite shows and engage in marathon gaming sessions, without seeing any color-related issues. The colors look well-saturated, the contrast is fine, and the viewing angles arent too bad either.Of course, compared to an OLED, the blacks arent as deep, but there is no unsightly light bleeding alongside the edges, which is often the case with budget-centric devices.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsI did a healthy bit of image editing and tweaked a few short clips, too, without running into color disparity snags. The brightness figures are adequate unless youre trying to read directly under the screen.The panel is quite reflective, so youd want to keep the brightness figures cranked up. The competition isnt doing any better than Apple in this price segment.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsFor its intended target audience, the 11th-gen iPad delivers a perfectly serviceable display. It isnt, however, without its own share of undesirable oddities. For example, it supports only the first-gen Apple Pencil and the recent model with a USB-C cap.The second-gen Apple Pencil, and the Pro model, arent compatible, which means you miss out on features such as hover detection, pressure sensitivity, and barrel roll. Then theres the display assembly itself.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsIts a non-laminated panel, which means theres a gap between the top glass layer and the underlying display unit. As such, you can feel the hollow sound underneath when tapping with the stylus tip, and sketching doesnt feel nearly as seamless, especially if youve put a glass-based screen guard on top.A non-laminated screen is not a total dealbreaker, or outright discernible. You can go ahead with note-taking and sketching just fine. My sister has used a tenth-gen iPad extensively for labeling dental scans for a machine learning project and has never faced any glaring issues.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsBut if youre used to stylus input on a laminated screen, the difference is easy to spot. What I would recommend though, is putting a screen guard on the iPads screen. Pronto, that is. Apples screens, even those with the ceramic guard, are notoriously prone to getting scratched.The iPad is no exception. Id recommend going with one of those thin, paper-like screen guards, or a matte protector. Overall, this display doesnt disappoint for what youre paying for it.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsApple has armed the iPad with the A16 processor, which offers a 5-core CPU, a 4-core GPU, and a 16-core neural engine. Its the same processor that we last saw on the iPhone 14 series. Based on my experience with the iPhone 14 Pro, this silicon should ideally fly on the iPad.Well, it does so, but in somewhat weird ways.For day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, social media surfing, streaming videos, and media editing, the tablet feels like a breeze. Editing in the Photos app is smooth, and my experience with Photoshop Express and Filmora wasnt too bad either.The moment you attach the Magic Keyboard and try to push it as a computer, the jitters become apparent. Apps dont crash straight away, thankfully, but with split-screen multitasking and running a healthy few apps in the background, the signature fluidity of an Apple device is somewhat missing.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsI could feel the brief stutters with switching between apps and the animals also didnt feel as smooth, especially when compared to the fluidity of using an iPad Pro. It didnt feel nearly as snappy as the iPad mini, which comes with the more powerful A17 Pro processor.The background resource management seems pretty aggressive, and I noticed numerous instances where apps reloaded. Id like to point out, however, that I was running resource hogs such as Teams, Slack, Asana, and Trello in the background, alongside a dozen browser tabs and Apple Music streaming via Bluetooth.Thats not the kind of workload the iPad is made to handle with its limited amount of RAM, but it still got the job done. Can it manage the work that I am used to with my iPad Pro? It can, but with less fluidity and sacrificing a whole bunch of features, such as Stage Manager and Apple Intelligence.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAfter a brief set of edits (half a dozen transitions, text animations, and external audio overlay) on a short vertical video, the iPad took 1 minute, and 54 seconds to export the clip. The iPad Pro with the M4 silicon pulled it off in barely over 40 seconds.Thats the kind of functional performance gap you get, but its not too bad, given the asking price. If you edit short clips occasionally, the iPad can handle them. Just dont expect it to blaze through workflows in DaVinci Resolve. My first such daring attempt in LumaFusion ended up with an export crash.Where the iPad exceeded my expectations was gaming performance. In Diablo Immortal, I had a fun time completing quests with the frame rate set to 60fps, and image resolution on High. These are not even the best graphics preset, but even with moderately high graphics settings, the device load reaches its peak value.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAs far as the visual experience goes, I didnt run into any jarring frame drops or persistent visual woes. Next, I moved to Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat, which is another graphically intensive title. I set the resolution, texture, and shadow settings to High while cranking up the frame limit to 60FPS and image quality to HD.Once again, the game paced ahead smoothly, and even during intense melee combat segments, things were fluid. There was no worrisome heating even after sessions lasting 15-20 minutes each. The situation with Call of Duty: Mobile was not unsurprisingly smooth, as well.The biggest surprise for me was Warframe, arguably one of the most demanding non-Metal AAA games out there. Even with the graphics settings set within the high range, the gameplay experience was deliciously trouble-free.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThere was some occasional gyroscope-related detail loss, but otherwise, the space-based RPG game delivered an engaging experience on the iPad. In a nutshell, you can have an enjoyable gaming experience on the iPad, but dont expect it to run titles like Resident Evil Village at peak graphics settings.Coming to the benchmark figures, the eleventh-gen iPad Is roughly 48% faster at single-core and 38% faster at multi-core workflows on Geekbench. On the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Stress test, the new iPad is approximately 10% mightier than its predecessor.What surprised me the most, was the impressive stability of 87.7% on the stress test, which runs a simulated graphics workflow for 20 loops. Theres only a throttling worth 9% after the first test run, and the performance remains roughly on the same line for the next 19 consecutive runs.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsFor comparison, Qualcomms latest and greatest, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, scored twice as much on the same stress test, but delivered a stability score of just 46.9%, while showing a sustained performance drop after each cycle.The Apple tablet also runs a lot cooler than expected, especially compared to Qualcomm and MediaTek processors under sustained load. That also explains why it was able to run demanding games at respectable graphics settings with ease.Overall, the tenth-gen iPad is a fairly reliable performer, and thanks to the native iPadOS optimizations, it runs cool and smooth. Its just not the tablet you reach for when perks like ray-traced graphics and high visual fidelity are the prime criteria.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsApple claims a 10-hour battery life on the iPad. In my tests, it didnt fare any different. On days that I was not pushing it as my computing device for work, my engagement was mostly restricted to reading comics, watching videos, or reading research papers.With that kind of recreational usage, I didnt have to charge the iPad for two to three days in a row. The idle battery uptake on the iPad is fantastic. Moreover, enabling low-power mode doesnt take any meaningful hit on the low-stakes usage, so you have that added incentive for battery endurance.While working full-steam with a connected Magic Keyboard, the best per-charge mileage I got was around 6-7 hours. I had at least three chat platforms running in the background, an equal number of task management apps, an email client, music, and two browser windows.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe screen brightness usually was set around the 70% mark, with TrueTone disabled. For a device that remains fluid at that kind of workflow and costs as much, Id say the iPad fares well in the battery department.Its not the fastest charging device out there, though. It takes well over two hours to fully juice up an empty tank. And to last a full day of work sitting in a cafe, I had to carry a 10,000mAh power bank on me. As far as gaming goes, it would squarely depend on the kind of titles you indulge in.Playing Warframe at the best graphics settings possible sucked up nearly 20% battery juice in roughly half an hour. With casual games, such as Altos Odyssey or Donut County, you can play them on a stretch for around four to five hours, and still have some power left in the tank.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThis is where the situation gets tricky. The flavor of iPad running on the 11th Gen iPad is the vanilla experience. Its a nicer way of saying it lacks the most advanced tricks that Apples tablet OS has to offer, for better or worse.If you need an iPad primarily for entertainment, digital learning, or basic web-based work, the iPadOS 18 experience will suffice. There are, however still some chinks in the armor. For example, Android now allows a fantastic window resizing experience, while iPads are infuriatingly rigid.Stage Manager, which gives iPadOS a makeover similar to macOS, is also missing. That perk is restricted to tablets with the M-series silicon with at least 8GB of RAM. However, that doesnt excuse Apples shoddy work here. OxygenOS, for example, offers a fantastic multi-app multitask view called Open Canvas.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsSamsungs DeX mode also does a fantastic job. If youre someone who is eyeing split-view work in landscape mode, get ready to hit the cmd+tab shortcut on the keyboard for app switching. A lot. Ive never liked the hidden slide-away approach for the third-app window, but it might just suit your taste.The big miss is Apple Intelligence, which again mandates a minimum of 8GB RAM and sets a performance baseline for the A17 Pro processor. The AI stack is significantly lagging behind the competition, and a healthy few features are a hit or miss.A case can be made, however, for a few of those generative AI tricks such as Writing Tools. For a device that is often found in the backpacks of school kids, the note-taking experience could use a lift with tools like proofreading, stylistic variation, summarization, and format conversion.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsIts just funny that the gap left by Apples misfiring AI efforts has been quickly lapped up by Googles Gemini, and in quite some eager fashion. Just take a look at the sheer number of control center tools tied to Gemini, which you can also put on the Lock Screen, by the way.Its just a cherry on top that they work reliably and deliver a much better experience than Siri, or the whole Apple Intelligence stack, in general. I can easily recommend using Gemini as the default assistant on the iPad, at least in the current shape of iPadOS.On the positive side, iPadOS has a fantastic app ecosystem. Its safer and more well-optimized than its Android counterparts. But at the same time, you cant help but feel the software experience losing its innovative steam, all in the name of familiarity and reliability.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe 11th Gen iPad is familiar, yet objectively better than the 10th Gen model. For the same price, you are now getting twice the onboard storage at 128GB and a faster processor. It has a lovely build quality, offers a sharp display, and happens to be a reliable performer.The 12MP CenterStage front camera offers a fantastic video-calling experience. For $349, the 11th Gen iPad is a lot of tablet goodness, and overwhelmingly the best tablet deal out there. The whole hardware-software camaraderie on display here is simply unbeatable.Where it stings is the peripheral tax. For the low-stakes computing requirement with this entry-level tablet, I can easily recommend skipping Apples gear and switching to options such as the excellent ESR Geo Digital Stylus and third-party keyboard case from the likes of Logitech.Overall, you cant go wrong with the baseline iPad in 2025, especially if getting the most value out of an investment is your primary concern.Editors Recommendations

If you have tried to install Google Chrome only to be met with an error, heres the good news: its not just you. The problem first popped up yesterday with widespread reports on Reddit and other social media platforms, and it appears to stem from a bug on Googles end. Essentially, users are getting the wrong version of Chrome when they try to download it. Its an irritating problem, but one thats relatively easily repaired.Computers that use Intel and AMD chips are the most affected, as theyre receiving a version of Chrome designed to be used with Snapdragon chips. However, some intrepid users have already found a workaround that will help you get your favorite browser installed until Google issues a correction.Recommended VideosSome users found that Chrome could be installed through this link. However, others discovered the most effective way is to use an offline installer. To do this, visit the Chrome website (or click the above link), scroll down toChrome Family, and then clickOther Platforms. This will open a list of potential downloads. In this case, youll likely want to choose Windows 11/10 64-bit or Windows 10 32-bit. Just download that file and then install it. Others have suggested moving an existing installation file onto a new machine with a flash drive, but we havent been able to test that method to verify whether it works or not.deepanker70 / PixabaySo far, Google hasnt issued an official statement on the bug. Hopefully the issue will be fixed sooner rather than later, since the workaround could be slightly confusing for folks who arent as tech-savvy. That said, if you just follow the instructions above, you can get Chrome downloaded onto a new machine without issue.That said, this problem only affects new installs. If Chrome is already installed on your computer, you shouldnt run into any difficulty getting it to start up.Editors Recommendations

Anthropic and Databricks struck a five year, $100 million pact to sell artificial intelligence tools to businesses, targeting those seeking to build their own AI agents.

underrepresentation problem Lawsuits targeting diversity efforts in science are multiplying A recent lawsuit highlights the vulnerability of programs intended to promote DEI. Claudia Lpez Lloreda, Undark Magazine Mar 26, 2025 9:58 am | 10 Credit: Cavan Images via Getty Credit: Cavan Images via Getty Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOn March 5, Do No Harm, an organization that advocates against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in medicine, among other issues, sued the American Chemical Society for its Scholars Program, which provides financial support to chemistry students from underrepresented backgrounds. The complaint argues the program is illegal because it is not open to white and Asian students. Around two weeks later, Do No Harm also sued the University of Pennsylvania for its partnership with a database called the Black Doctors Directory, which allows patients to find Black physicians.The lawsuits join a recent uptick in legal action against universities, departments, and professional societies that host programs intended to increase diversity across academia, including in the sciences. In May 2024, for example, White students at the University of Oklahoma sued their school, alleging the university discriminated against them by factoring in race when determining financial aid. In August, a conservative activist group sued the Department of Education over the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, which provides mentoring and research support to underrepresented students pursuing doctoral degrees. Those cases followed the Supreme Courts 2023 decision against factoring in race when considering college admissions, effectively striking down affirmative action.What's happened here is the organizations bringing these lawsuits, they're capitalizing on the fact that the US Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions, said Vinay Harpalani, a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law and an expert on affirmative action policies.Now with President Donald Trumps administration in the White House and a conservative Supreme Court, more organizations may feel inclined to bring these types of lawsuits, he said. They're really trying to expand this doctrine, the scope of this idea the Supreme Court has that we shouldn't use individual race at all in making any of these types of decisions. (Do No Harm did not reply to a list of questions or repeated requests for an interview.)Many legal scholars and scientists say that such cases will hurt the scientific community. I just think that we're going backwards, said Daniel Mindiola, a chemistry researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who is an alumnus of the ACS program. I feel like we're revisiting history again, and we're reliving or dissolving what so far has been accomplished with diversity.Conflicting languageDo No Harm brought the lawsuit against ACS on behalf of a student who, they say, met all the qualifications for the program except the racial requirement. The unnamed student, a high school senior with a 4.35 GPA who plans to major in chemistry, wanted to apply for one of the scholarships of up to $5,000 per year. But the student, whom the complaint describes as half-white and half-South Asian, was ineligible. Do No Harms lawsuit states that was because the Scholars program is only open to applicants who are Black or of African descent, Hispanic or Latino, or Indigenous.On its website, the ACS frames the program as an important way to help increase diversity in the sciences, noting that people from underrepresented groups make up one-third of college-age US citizens, but earn about 18 percent of chemical science bachelors degrees and little more than 10 percent of chemistry doctorates. More than 450 of the programs alumni have earned a doctorate.Do No Harm describes the program in different language. The American Chemical Society is blatantly discriminating against aspiring chemists simply based on their skin color, Do No Harm wrote on its website. In doing so, the organization alleges, ACS violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs that receive federal financial assistance, and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which says that all individuals have equal rights to make and enforce contracts.You can't decide who to contract with and not and who not to contract with based on race, said Dan Morenoff, an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think-tank, and the executive director at the American Civil Rights Project.Do No Harms press release also says that the ACS is in violation of a recent executive order on DEI initiatives in the federal government. In its complaint, the organization states the ACS constitutes as a federal program because of the assistance it receives in the form of tax deductions for charitable contributions.Do No Harm was launched in 2022 with the goal of protecting patients and physicians from woke healthcare. Its founder, Stanley Goldfarb, is the former associate dean at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Goldfarb has a long history of opposing what he considers discriminatory racial diversity programs, as well as gender-affirming care for children. According to tax filings, the Do No Harm initiative was jumpstarted by a $1 million donation from the family foundation of Joseph Edelman, a hedge fund manager.Since 2022, the organization has used litigation as a way to target diversity programs, including initiatives at Pfizer, the University of Colorado, the University of Washington School of Medicine, and the American Association of University Women. They have also sought to influence legislation against pediatric gender-affirming care.Most recently, they sued the University of Pennsylvania and others for a directory that allows patients to look for Black doctors, saying that the directory is illegal under Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964.The lawsuit against Pfizer seems to have achieved Do No Harms goal. In 2023, the company opened a diversity fellowship to applicants of all races.Firsthand experiencesThe loss of scholarships like the ACS Scholars Program would harm the scientific community, and in particular people who historically have lacked access and resources to pursue careers in the sciences, said Mindiola. He has experienced this firsthand: The scholarship allowed Mindiola, who is originally from Venezuela, to focus on his lab research without having to take an outside job to sustain himself. It just helped me move forward, he said. These programs, he added, are not discriminating. They're trying to give those races that have a historically low rate of participation a chance.The Scholars Program has provided funding for around 3,500 students to support their studies in scientific fields. With these lawsuits, there are students who are currently enrolled, students who will be enrolled, who see themselves being attacked, said Matt Hartings, an associate professor of chemistry at American University.The potential loss of these programs, Harpalani added, could have a detrimental effect on scientific research: If underrepresented scientists no longer have the resources to continue in their careers, the field might lose important role models and new ways of thinking. Mindiola shared a similar sentiment. I think what makes science move forward is to have a different perspective, because you come from a different background, he said.Harpalani also pointed out that physicians of color are more likely to provide medical service in underserved areas. And some recent research has suggested that racial concordance, in which a patient and a physician are the same race and the driving force behind the Black Doctors Directory, helps patients get better care and have more trust in the health care system. Other research has found that the evidence for this is more mixed, however, and the lawsuit that Do No Harm filed against University of Pennsylvania describes the notion of racial concordance as thoroughly debunked.The American Chemical Society, meanwhile, is already changing language related to diversity, editing a headline on its website from Advancing ACS' Core Value of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect to Advancing ACS' Core Value of Inclusion and Belonging. The recent round of applications for the Scholars Program just closed on March 1, though it remains unclear whether the program will continue. Mindiola said he normally gets asked to be on the selection committee for high school and college applicants, but did not receive an inquiry this year. The ACS did not respond to a request for comment because they do not comment on active litigation.Morenoff, at the Manhattan Institute, thinks Do No Harm's lawsuit has a good shot at success: I would bet pretty strongly that if this gets fought out, Do No Harm is going to win.But Hartings suggested that even short of a court victory, the mere threat of lawsuits is likely to push many organizations to cancel or scale back their diversity programming, Even that's a win for them," he said.This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.Claudia Lpez Lloreda, Undark MagazineClaudia Lpez Lloreda, Undark Magazine 10 Comments