Many players are giving The First Berserker: Khazan their seal of approval as a solid Soulslike with some unique ideas. With a random loot system similar to Nioh and a stylized anime art style, the game comfortably occupies its own niche while containing many recognizable systems from other action RPGs.

By NAOMI GOLDMANAll photos by Moloshok Photography.Writer-director Michael Dougherty presents Takashi Yamazaki with the VES Visionary Award.Takashi Yamazaki with the VES Visionary Award.Yamazaki and Hiroyuki Sanada, recipient of the VES Award for Creative Excellence.Takashi Yamazaki is a renowned talent in Japanese cinema who accomplished a significant feat when he became only the second director to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Godzilla Minus One and in the process reinvigorated a legendary kaiju franchise. As a filmmaker and visual effects supervisor, he is regarded as one of Japans leading film directors. Yamazaki is set to make his Hollywood debut with Grandgear for Bad Robot and Sony Pictures, and recently announced that he is working on the screenplay and storyboards for the much-anticipated next Godzilla movie.For his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound ability to use visual effects to bring his unique visions to life, the Society honored Takashi Yamazaki with the VES Visionary Award at the 23rd Annual VES Awards. Takashi has been at the forefront in using visual effects to tell remarkable stories that transfix audiences and create unforgettable cinematic experiences, said VES Chair Kim Davidson. As a creative force who has made an indelible mark in the world of filmed entertainment, we are honored to award him with the prestigious VES Visionary Award.Michael Dougherty, director of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, gave this tribute in presenting the award to his colleague in the kaiju genre: Takashi is a filmmaker whose work is both humbling and inspiring. He was so moved by Star Wars and Close Encounters that he started his career building miniatures and working tirelessly asa visual effects supervisor before directing his own films. Takashis work pushes the boundaries of visual effects, blending technical innovation and compelling storytelling to create immersiveand iconic films. Godzilla Minus One resurrected the king of the monsters. Yes, Godzilla has a soul, and Takashi captured it in such a way that moved the world, earning Japan its first Academy Award for Visual Effects.In accepting his award, Yamazaki remarked, Im truly surprised and overjoyed to receive such a wonderful award. I started this career with a dream of working with people around the world like a pioneer in visual effects; however, in Japan, there were hardly any opportunities for this type of work. I kept telling myself that as long as I was born in Japan, bringing spaceships, robots and kaiju to the screen was already a dream come true. But then Godzilla brought me to this incredible place. Thank you, Godzilla! And I believe many of you can relate when I say I want to praise my young self for choosing to pursue this career. Thank you for this great honor.VES Chair Kim Davidson, VES Executive Director Nancy Ward, Michael Dougherty and Takashi Yamazaki.

By NAOMI GOLDMANAll photos by Moloshok Photography.Paul Debevec, VES, Chief Research Officer of Eyeline Studios, presents Dr. Jacquelyn Ford Morie with the Georges Mlis Award.Dr. Jacquelyn Ford Morie is a luminary in the realm of virtual reality and a defining voice of immersive technology. Standing at the intersection of art, science and technology, she has been shaping the future of virtual experiences worldwide since the 1980s, and remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation of VR innovators while forging ahead with new paradigms in immersive media.For her immense contributions to the computer animation and visual effects industries, by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work, the Society honored Dr. Morie with the Georges Mlis Award at the 23rd Annual VES Awards. Dr. Jacki Morie redefined the possibilities of immersive media, infusing them with profound emotional and educational resonance, said VES Chair Kim Davidson. Her visionary leadership has shaped pivotal projects across health, space exploration, art and education, underscoring her as a transformative innovator and thought leader.Chief Research Officer of Eyeline Studios Paul Debevec, VES gave this heartfelt introduction to his longtime friend: I had the privilege of working with Jacki for over a decade at USCs Institute for Creative Technologies. We were two of the first research leaders hired in 2000, and I was lucky to have a colleague who helped set the tone that this institute would not just be about developing technology, but also about exploring its creative possibilities.Jacki has developed computer animation training programs that have educated a generation of digital artists. But perhaps her most impactful contributions have been pioneering work in VR experiences, creating new forms of multisensory feedback, likehelping NASA astronauts combat isolation on long-duration space missions by keeping them emotionally connected to Earth. It is a theme of Jackis work to develop technology and experiences to make life better for others.In accepting her award, Morie remarked, To say I am honored to receive this award is hardly representative of what I am feeling. It is not everyone who gets to be at the birth of a new medium, and yet here tonight we celebrate both film and computer graphics and effects. I have spent my entire career trying to make thisnew medium of VR more meaningful, more emotional, more purposeful. Id like to think that my work also honors those who are trying to follow the desire lines of where we want to take this medium. I am glad to have started this journey and look forward to many more artists taking it up and making it truly something spectacular! My sincere thanks to the VES for recognizing me and the birth of this new art form.Dr. Morie with the Georges Mlis Award.Dr. Morie and Rob Smith.Paul Debevec, VES, Dr. Morie, VES Executive Director Nancy Ward and VES Chair Kim Davidson.

The Twisted Tree is a quest in Assassins Creed Shadows that youll pick up in Yamashiro. Its technically part of the lead-up to The Fool on the Shinbakufu Objectives board, but it gets its own assassination tracker once you start it.Youll meet a man named Ujimasa who can help you infiltrate Yamazaki Castle. First, though, youll have to deal with the Takahashi clan, a family of ronin causing problems around Kyoto.Our Assassins Creed Shadows guide will tell you how to find all members of The Twisted Tree for The Twisted Tree and tell you the rewards you get for each.How to start The Twisted Tree in Assassins Creed ShadowsTo start The Twisted Tree, you actually have to start a different quest first. Under The Fool on the Shinbakufu Objectives board, one of the quests is called, Inside Help. Thats your starting point.Inside Help will send you to Kiyomizudera Temple to the southwest of the Hills of Meeting (and southeast of Kyoto) in central Yamashiro to find a man named Ujimasa.Youll find him at the southern entrance to the temple, pretending to be a tour guide. Choose whichever of the waters you would like to drink (the choice isnt important) and hell tell you about the Takahashi clan, a family of rogue samurai harassing people in and around Kyoto. Hell also tell you where to start hunting them.Each member of The Twisted Tree has their own quest find them and another to assassinate them. Two of the Takahashi clan can be spared. Well walk you through all the quests and point out who you can spare below.How to find Takahashi clans locationsTheres a bit of work (and five side quests) to do so you can find the exact locations of the seven Takahashi members. Well get into more detail about each quest below, but at a glance, the quests are listed below, with corresponding locations on the map above:Help NeededGuard AssignmentsFamily DramaDropped IntelGuard DutyYoull start with Help Needed, a quest under Takahashi Taro. Youll find the merchant you need to talk to in central Kyoto, west of Nijo Palace and near an umbrella cart.Hes about a block west of the Nijo Palace viewpoint and is standing, as promised, next to some colorful umbrellas. Speak to Yamana Kihei and hell tell you about the Takahashi clan and its twisted (family) tree. This will also fill out your Objectives board, but the locations of each target will still be vague. Hell point you to the Takahashi family guard.Your next stop is part of Guard Assignments under Takahashi Jiro. Youre heading to eastern Kyoto, east of Honnoji Temple (and west of Honpoji Temple), and looking for someone near a sake crate cart.Youll find the guard along the main road just a little southeast of the Jesuit Residences. He doesnt talk much, but youll pick up the Family Guard Note from his corpse. The note mentions that the two youngest wont be interested in avenging their fathers death. Thatll come in handy later.Before we get to the stabbing, theres one more side quest to take on. This one is under Takahashi The Oni Shiro and is named Family Drama. Youre heading to north(east)ern Kyoto, at the north entrance to the Imperial Palace.Youll spot the guards just outside the gate. One will mention an incident near Nijo Palace and that he dropped a note containing a new patrol path (Takahanshi Jiros location) near the baths on the west side of town. Another side quest!The next side quest we need for preparations is also under Takahashi Shiro, this one aptly named, Dropped Intel. Youre heading to cental Kyoto, along the southwest corner of Nijo Palaces moat, and youre looking for a broken fan cart.As you ride along the moat, youll spot the smashed cart, a merchant crying nearby, and a guard standing there not doing anything helpful (quelle surprise!). You can ignore them, though, and just pick up the Outburst Area Note from behind the woman.The last (we promise) side quest is Guard Duty under Takahashi Jiro. This time, youre heading for the Furo of Kyoto (the bath) north of the Kano Painting School in central Kyoto. Its about two blocks to the northwest of where you are now.Youll find the New Patrol Route Note in the back room. Now, on to the stabbing part!Who should you spare in The Twisted Tree?If you check the Objectives board now that its completely filled in, youll find notes that Goro and Ichi-Hime will be free if their father dies, while the others will all avenge their fathers death. Thats your answer for who to spare dont kill the ones who wont want to kill you. Spare Goro and Ichi-Hime.Sparing them is as simple as just talking to them instead of stabbing them. If you do happen to kill them (you can just bump into some of them on the street before you pick up the quest), thats fine. The rewards are the same and it doesnt change the outcome of the quest.All Twisted Tree locations and rewardsOnce you complete all of the various side quests and information gathering, youll have the locations of all seven members of The Twisted Tree on your map. The locations wont be exact, so youll still have to look with the left trigger and watch for the blue dots.Takahashi Saburo and Taro location and reward Youll find Taro and Saburo just a couple blocks to the north of the Furo of Kyoto where you found the last note. Its pretty hard to take them out stealthily, so it could be a good time to play as Yasuke. Just try to get Taro first since he can call in reinforcements.Saburo will drop the Letter from Saburos Body, the Saburos Deference katana, and the Tools on Kill engraving.Taro drops the Letter from Taros Body, the Burden of Legacy long katana and the Critical Damage with Melee engraving.Takahashi Ichi-Hime location and rewardYoull find Ichi-Hime a bit to the south. Shes in the Umenomiya Taisha Shrine on (just outside of) the west side of town. (There are also a lot of cats there if youre looking to liven up your Hideout.) If you want to keep her alive, approach her and then hold the left trigger to look at her. Youll get a prompt to spare or kill her. Youll get the same rewards either way.Ichi-Hime drops the Ichi-Himes Letter quest item, the Daydreamers Grip bow, and the Adrenaline on Afflicted Enemies engraving.Inoshichi is the next to the south, but hes the clan patriarch. Since there are still two Takahashi out there who will swear vengence, its better to skip him for now.Takahashi Jiro location and rewardInstead, head to the Southern Kyoto Kakurega, and youll find Jiro just to the northeast, basically right outside the door.Jiro drops the Letter from Jiros Body, the Final Word of the Guardian teppo, and the Armor Damage on Multiple Enemies and Improved Assassinate engravings.Takahashi Shiro location and rewardUp in the north half of Kyoto, youll find Shiro in Nijo Palace. Hell be right in front of the tall building with the viewpoint on top. If you come in from the sides, theres a pole where you can get (the start of) an air assassination.Shiro drops the standard Letter from Shiros Body, the The Untamable One katana, and the Armor Piercing on Consecutive Kills engraving.Takahashi Goro location and rewardWhile youre in the north of Kyoto, head up to the Shokokuji Temple just a couple blocks northeast of the Northern Kyoto Kakurega. Youre looking for another of the Takahashi clan that you can save, Goro, there. Youll find him in the northwest corner of the ruins. When you spot him, hold the look trigger again to spare him (or kill him if thats more your speed).Goro gets you the Raijins Refusal teppo and the Damage after Headshot engraving. (His letter is a little to the south, just outside of the temple ruins walls.)Takahashi Inoshichi location and rewardWith the rest of the family handled, you can go take out Takahashi Inoshichi on the west side of town. Hes inside of an unnamed guarded area. Goros note (if you find it) mentions that theres a secret entrance to his fathers house a trapdoor accessible from the garden. Inoshici is pretty hearty, so a single assassination stab probably wont kill him. Try to take out all of his guards before you take him on so he doesnt get any backup.Killing Inoshichi gets you the Letter from Inoshicis Body, the Kitsunes Trickery amulet, and the Health for Samurai Mastery engraving.How to finish the Inside Help questWith all of that finally done, you can return to Ujimasa in Kiyomizudera Temple (to the east) to complete the quest you started way back at the beginning of all of this. Hell agree to help you take out The Fool and give you Yamazaki Castle Gate Key.For more Assassins Creed Shadows guides, see our running lists of Lost Pages, Kuji-kiri, and armor locations. Or see our full Assassins Creed Shadows walkthrough, and our guides on how to get all companions and romance options.

Every once in a while Games Workshop, the multi-billion-dollar monolith dubbed by at least one competitor as the most disruptive of all tabletop companies, does something surprisingly introspective. Sometimes its a comic book partnership that exposes the intrinsic frailty of its main characters. Other times its a surprisingly clear and firm stance against racism. This past weekend it was about putting characters on the table that should have been there from the beginning. For its troubles the British company was rewarded with a sell-out set online.The set in question is Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team Blood and Zeal, a collection of 19 new miniatures and some reprinted terrain. Designed for the skirmish miniatures game Kill Team, its an expansion set for existing players. But its also the rare instance of Games Workshop pulling back the curtain on its own universe and filling in some blanks.Human society in the world of 40K isnt just the product of a hyper-militarized totalitarian state, and that means its not all Space Marines and Martian cyborgs. Its also home to a powerful theocracy that venerates the Emperor of Mankind as a literal god. That means about half of the plastic folks inside the Blood and Zeal box are furious zealots, utterly corrupted by their belief in a false god, and who carry on their shoulders the fate and well-being of huge swathes of the civilian population in the 41st millennia. The other miniatures follow Chaos.The Ecclesiarchy, as the theocratic arm of the Empire has come to be known, is perhaps the single most insidious feature in the world of 40K. It worships a man who said explicitly please do not worship me to multiple people, many, many times. And yet the fiction is clear in detailing how some people in this world realized that there was power to be gained by creating the Cult of the Emperor a cult that is quite valuable as a tool of control, a bludgeon to beat the common folk into submission with. The Ecclesiarchy isnt the source of humanitys worst impulses, including but not limited to xenophobia, vigilante violence, and mob action. But its absolutely not working against it either. The violence and the fear that imbues every corner of the Imperium isnt a bug, its a feature. And now we have some miniatures to put a face to that fact.These are literally the most servile, most brain-rotted fanatics in the universe. Fitting, then, that they be bundled in a box with the forces of Chaos. Reading through the fiction that comes inside that box, its clear that there are billions more members of the Ecclesiarchy than there are Space Marines. There may actually be more religious extremists in this particular sector of the far-future galaxy than there are Imperial Guardsmen. And they all suck.At the same time, they are characterized as the social glue that literally holds the Imperium of Mankind together. Without their blood and zeal, without their devotion and their hatred, humanity would literally collapse in on itself and fall victim to the depredations of Chaos or the Tyranids, or the Orks, or any number of other factions that are dead set on deleting humankind from the map of the galaxy. So its important, in a way, that we finally have some faces to go with the names.And yet while Blood and Zeal fills a practical niche by fleshing out the universes storytelling and adding content for Kill Team, it also fills out a niche in the larger hobby as well. These are figures that should be visible in every aspect of tabletop 40K Kill Team, of course, but also Necromunda, the full-fat wargame Warhammer 40,000, and also tabletop role-playing games like Imperium Maledictum.I hate them. And Im also glad that they exist as physical objects. I recommend picking them up, if only so you can finally look them all in their beady little eyes.Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team Blood and Zeal is sold out online, but you can expect to find it available at your local game store beginning April 5. The product was reviewed using retail product provided by Games Workshop. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships, but not with Games Workshop. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygons ethics policy here.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazon's Big Spring Sale is over, but a few deals still very much alive.Below, you'll find the tech items I've found that received the steepest discounts during the sale, and even though it ended on March 31, the prices for these items have yet to go back up. Here are the 50% off deals from the Big Spring Sale that are still liveand some items worth grabbing for under $50. IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof with 25 Hour-Battery and Retractable Handle Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series Speaker $142.95 at Amazon $349.99 Save $207.04 Get Deal Get Deal $142.95 at Amazon $349.99 Save $207.04 1800W (Peak 2400W) Solar Generator, Full Charge in 58 Min, 1056wh LiFePO4 Battery for Home Backup. Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station $799.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $799.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $200.00 dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum with Removable & Liftable Mop, Extendable & Liftable SideBrush, 11,000Pa Suction, 149 Mop & Washboard Self Cleaning, Auto-Empty, Auto Refill, Voice Control $499.99 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $1,000.00 Get Deal Get Deal $499.99 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $1,000.00 dreame L20 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop with Mop-Extend, Auto Mop Removal & Raising, Washing and Drying, 7000Pa Suction, Self-Emptying, Self-Refilling, AI Obstacle Avoidance $599.99 at Amazon $1,399.99 Save $800.00 Get Deal Get Deal $599.99 at Amazon $1,399.99 Save $800.00 Soundcore by Anker P20i $24.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Get Deal $24.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $15.00 Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series $142.95 at Amazon $349.99 Save $207.04 Get Deal Get Deal $142.95 at Amazon $349.99 Save $207.04 DREAME L20 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop $599.99 at Amazon $1,399.99 Save $800.00 Get Deal Get Deal $599.99 at Amazon $1,399.99 Save $800.00 iRobot Roomba Combo j5 Robot $249.00 at Amazon $529.99 Save $280.99 Get Deal Get Deal $249.00 at Amazon $529.99 Save $280.99 Anker Portable Charger $16.09 at Amazon $25.99 Save $9.90 Get Deal Get Deal $16.09 at Amazon $25.99 Save $9.90 Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station $799.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $799.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $200.00 SEE 7 MORE Earphones and speakers still 50% off or more Soundcore by Anker P20i $19.99 (originally $39.99). 30-hour long battery life, water resistant, and the same great companion app as all the other higher-end Soundcore earphones for less than $20? That's a steal.Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series Speaker $137.95 (originally $349.99). The SRS-XG300 is a solid portable speaker with loud and heavy bass, and like any outdoor speaker, it can handle the elements well.Other deals to considerAnker Space A40 Earbuds $59.99 (originally $99.99) after the 40% on-page coupon. The A40 have a companion app that makes the experience better with EQ and other features. They are a great value for budget ANC earbuds that you can read more about here.Beats Studio Buds + $99.95 (originally $169.95). This is a recent record-low price and makes these noise-cancelling earbuds a great deal. Chargers and generators still 50% off or more Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station $495.38 (originally $999) after the 38% on-page discount. It's hard to predict when you'll need a portable power generatorand when you need one, you usually really need one. This model is from a trusted brand and has a solar generator to make it fully off-grid. At 55% off, it's a great deal.Anker Portable Charger $11.99 (originally $25.99) when using 0UH6DMMH code at checkout. Anker also has a 10,000mAh portable charger that can charge most iPhones up to 50% in less than half an hour. For less than $13, it's a steal.Other Big Spring Sale deals to considerAnker 525 Charging Station $39.99 (originally $65.99). If you don't want a MagGo for wireless charging an iPhone, then consider the Anker 525 with the same other ports for almost half the price.Robot vacuums still 50% off or more Roomba Combo j5 Robot $249 (originally $529.99). I'm not a fan of Roombas, but people seem to love them. But if you're going to get one, get a mop combo that maps your home for over 50% off.Dreame L20 Ultra Robot Vacuum $599.99 (originally $1,399.99). Dreame makes impressive high-end robot vacuums, and this one in particular has an incredible discount. Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum $699.99 (originally $1,499.99). If you have a larger budget, for $100 more, you can up the suction to 11,000Pa with a mop feature that heats up to 149 degrees. Other Big Spring Sale deals to considerRoborock Q5 Pro+ Robot Vacuum and Mop $359.99 (originally $699.99) after using the $120 on-page coupon. Roborock has a lot of deals on robot vacuums right now, but if you're looking for a good one with must-have features at a decent price, the Q5 Pro+ is it.More Big Spring Sale tech deals Arlo Video Doorbell 2K $59.99 (originally $129.99). If you want to upgrade from a Ring camera or are looking for a decent first video camera, this Arlo camera is an incredible value at just $60.Eufy Security SoloCam S220 $69.99 (originally $129.99). I love Eufy cameras because they're subscription-free. The SoloCam S220 also has a solar panel to make it self-sustainable, meaning you can easily install it somewhere with direct sunlight and let it do its thing.Anker Space A40 Earbuds $59.99 (originally $99.99) after the 40% on-page coupon. The A40 have a companion app that makes the experience better with EQ and other features. They are a great value for budget ANC earbuds that you can read more about here.Beats Studio Buds + $99.95 (originally $169.95). This is a recent record-low price and makes these noise-cancelling earbuds a great deal. Big Spring Sale tech deals under $50 you can still getSwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card: $13.99 (originally $24.99) after 30% on-page coupon. Switchbot's Bluetooth tracker is shaped like a credit card and works with iOS using Apple Find My network (sorry Android users).Tribit MaxSound Plus Speaker $48.99 (originally $79.99). Tritbit makes quality portable budget speakers, and the MaxSound Plus sits somewhere in the middle in price and size.Roku Express $17.99 (originally $29.99). I love Roku TV, and if you're looking for the cheapest option to get your foot in the door, this is it. It's also 40% off.INIU Portable Charger $15.99 (originally $24.99). I've been using the same INUI portable chargers for four years and have dropped it too many times. It's reliable and does its job well. For $16, you could do much worse.Kasa Matter Smart Dimmer Switch (3-pack) 43.99 (originally $74.99). This smart light switch turns your light into a smart light with access to integrated smart home tech. You can also dim the lights, use voice controls, or manage it remotely.Govee Smart Light Bulbs $23.99 (originally $34.99). I've been using Govee smart lights for a couple of months and have really liked their app. If you want a reliable companion app and budget smart lights you can control remotely, look no further.Anker 525 Charging Station $39.99 (originally $65.99). If you don't want a MagGo for wireless charging an iPhone, then consider the Anker 525 with the same other ports for almost half the price.Eufy Digital Bathroom Scale P2 Pro $39.98 (originally $79.99). You can buy digital smart scales that read your body fat percentage from any no-brand company for cheap, but why not get it from a trusted brand also for cheap?Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter,Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:The Best Over-Ear HeadphonesThe Best Wireless EarbudsThe Best Adjustable Dumbbell SetsThe Best Projectors

Apple just released iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4 for the iPhone and Mac, respectively. Once you complete the update, you'll see a prompt informing you that, as part of the update, the company has enabled automatic updates on your device, even if you had previously switched them off. This means that, unless you do something, Apple will start downloading and installing future software updates to your devices on its own.To test this out, I disabled automatic updates on my iPhone and on my Mac, and then began updating to iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4. Sure enough, once the updates were complete, Apple duly informed me that it had gone ahead and enabled automatic updates on my devices. Now, I generally don't mind having the OS download updates automatically in the background while I go about my day, but enabling automatic installation without explicit consent is the kind of overreach that I absolutely don't want to see.On macOS, once an update is downloaded, you'll see a notification that says the Mac will restart within 60 seconds to complete the update. If you're away from your computer for a bit and miss this, you risk losing unsaved data. On my main work machine, I cannot have that happen. To Apple's credit, you can select Only Download Automatically on the update notification to stop automatic installation (the update's data will download to your machine but won't install), but the button can be a bit hard to notice, and you need to go into your settings to disable getting any future updates altogether.How to disable automatic updates (if you absolutely don't want it)I generally don't recommend disabling automatic downloads for new operating system software, since these updates can also close vulnerabilities, but it's the only option for people who wish to retain total control over their update schedule. This may be useful for those who rely on these devices for critical work, such as app developers, designers, or anyone who doesn't have enough free space on their phone or laptop.To disable automatic updates on your iPhone and Mac, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. On your iPhone, disable all three checkboxes on this page (or pick and choose for a more granular experience). On macOS, disable Download new updates when available and Install macOS updates (or, again, pick and choose).

This years Amazon Spring Sale has ended, but there are still some deals floating around that you can take advantage of. While this shopping event focused the discounts on household, outdoor and fashion gear, a number of our favorite gadgets made it into the sale. In line with the "spring" theme, we found great discounts on cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, air purifiers and other smart home tech, along with solid deals on headphones, streaming devices, mesh Wi-Fi systems and more. Here, we've collected the best Amazon Spring Sale deals you can still get today even after the event has ended. Best Amazon Spring Sale deals you can still get Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $20 ($15 off): Our top pick for the best budget streaming device can play content at 1080p/60fps and now its remote can also control your TV's power and volume. There's also Alexa support built into the remote, so you can use voice commands to search for content. Sonos Ray for $179 ($100 off): This is our favorite midrange soundbar thanks to its compact, attractive design and easy setup. It's best for those who have a smaller living room or den they want to outfit with better TV sound. Also available at Sonos in their March Madness sale. Bose QuietComfort headphones for $249 ($100 off): These Bose over-ear headphones provide excellent noise cancellation, a comfortable fit and up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge. A quick-charge feature will net you 2.5 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging, so you'll rarely have to go without them, too. Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $329 ($100 off): These hold the top spot in our best wireless headphones guide for excellent noise cancellation. These cans will give you a step up in ANC, blocking out most noise and chatter of those around you. General audio quality has been improved as well, and they have a comfy fit. Beats Fit Pro for $169 (15 percent off): These are the best wireless earbuds for working out thanks to their comfortable, secure fit, good sound quality with thumping bass and handful of convenient features provided by Apple's H1 chipset. It provides quick-pairing and switching between Apple devices (and quick pairing with Android phones), Find My compatibility and hands-free Siri. Dyson AM09 heater and fan for $408 (13 percent off): The AM09 has been around for ages, and for good reason. It's an excellent heater during cold months and fan during warm months, so you can use it all year round. Jet Focus control lets you choose from Focused or Diffused for personal or whole-room heating or cooling, and the handy sleep timer lets you set when the device turns off in intervals from 15 minutes up to nine hours. Levoit Core 400S air purifier for $187 ($33 off): Our top pick for the best air purifier for most people, the Core 400S has easy-to-use onboard controls, powerful filtering technology that isn't too loud and relatively affordable replacement filters. It reliably improved air quality in our testing, and even though its mobile app is a little overstuffed, it gives you another way to control and monitor the device. Chipolo One for $20 ($5 off): The Chipolo One is the top overall pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers. While Apples AirTag can tap into a substantially larger crowd-sourcing network, weve found the One to send separation alerts faster when youve left an item behind and ring louder when youre back in its vicinity. Audible (three months) for $3 ($42 off): This deal gives you access to Audible Premium Plus, which includes one credit each month that you can spend on any book you'd like, along with listening access to thousands of other books, podcasts and Audible Originals. You also get to take part in Audible's exclusive member sales. Only US customers who are not already subscribed to Audible can take advantage of this deal. Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off): Apples flagship wearable is the best smartwatch you can buy, period. While the Series 10 was an iterative update, thats not necessarily a bad thing. It sports a slightly longer battery life, a slimmer design and wide-angle OLED screen for better viewing angles. It tracks workouts accurately and delivers alerts to your wrist efficiently. Apple Watch SE for $199 (20 percent off): Those on tighter budgets can opt for the Apple Watch SE and know theyre getting the core Apple wearable experience with few compromises. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for newbies. iPad Air M3 for $549 ($50 off): The latest version of the iPad Air now runs on the M3 chipset, and it continues to hold the top spot in our best iPads guide. It has the best combination of power, design and extra features, so you can use it primarily as a media consumption device if you wish, or you can add iPad accessories like an Apple Pencil or a Magic Keyboard to turn it into a true workhorse. iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $149 ($126 off): This "essential" Roomba is relatively no-frills, but it has the added benefit of being a mopping robot in addition to a vacuum. It includes a washable mopping pad and a water reservoir so you can clean hard floors, and it will autonomously vacuum just like all of iRobot's other basic robovacs. Eufy 3-in-1 E20 robot vacuum for $400 ($200 off): If you cant decide between a robot vacuum or a lightweight stick vac, you dont have to. The new Eufy E20 combines a robo vac, cordless upright and handheld vacuum in one machine. Plus the automatically emptying base holds a lot of debris for its size. While we found the robot performance to be better than the stick vac suction, its still impressive and convenient for an all-in-one model. Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer for $90 ($30 off): One of our favorites in our best air fryers guide, this Cosori model has nine preset cooking modes and a spacious cooking basket that can handle more food at once than you might expect. It's not too large, so it can sit on your countertop all the time, and the basket has a safety release button that prevents accidental pulls. TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro mesh Wi-Fi system for $280 (30 percent off): Our current pick for the best mesh Wi-Fi system you can get, this TP-Link bundle may be no-frills, but it gets the job done nicely. It's easy to set up and provides excellent Wi-Fi 6E performance, plus the three included nodes can cover up to 7,200 square feet. Samsung Evo Select microSD card (512GB) for $35 ($5 off): A value pick in our best microSD cards guide, this Evo Select card provides respectable read and write speeds, and it comes with a full-sized adapter. Samsung T7 portable SSD (2TB) for $140 (48 percent off): We're on the T9 series now, but if you're looking to save a bit of cash, the T7 remains a great option for on-the-go storage. It supports read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s and sports a pocket-friendly design.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-the-best-sales-you-can-still-get-from-apple-bose-irobot-dyson-and-others-130607704.html?src=rss

SpaceX has successfully launched the Fram2 private crewed mission on March 31 at 9:46 PM Eastern time on top of a Falcon 9 rocket. Fram2 is the first human spaceflight to explore the Earth's polar regions, which are not visible to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The crew will observe the Earth's poles through a panoramic cupola attachment from an altitude of 430 km (267 miles). SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule can fly from the North to the South Pole in around 46 minutes and Fram2 is a three-to-five day mission, so it's expected to provide scientists with a healthy amount of footage capturing the polar regions. In fact, SpaceX has already released the mission's first views of the Earth's poles from space.First views of Earth's polar regions from Dragon pic.twitter.com/3taP34zCeN SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 1, 2025 The crew will observe unusual light emissions resembling auroras in the regions, including STEVEs, which appear as purple and green light ribbons in the night sky. They will also conduct 22 experiments designed to better understand human health in space for the sake of long-duration missions in the future. The crew will capture the first human X-rays in space, study exercises meant to preserve muscle and bone mass, explore sleep and stress patterns using wearable tech, monitor their glucose and observe the female crew members' hormonal health. They also won't get the typical medical and mobility assistance upon landing to see how they re-acclimate to gravity on their own, and they will get an MRI immediately after they arrive. NASA called Fram2's launch a "significant step" in humanity's understanding of how our bodies will fare in outer space.pic.twitter.com/SYngaLWghI NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2025 Chun Wang, a Chinese-born cryptocurrency investor who now lives in Norway, paid for the trip and is one of the astronauts currently on board. Jannicke Mikkelsen, a filmmaker working on technology for movies shot in remote and hazardous environments, serves as the mission's vehicle commander. Rabea Rogge, a robotics researcher from Norway, is the pilot. Finally, Eric Philips, a professional polar adventurer and guide, is the mission's medical officer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacex-launches-fram2-the-first-crewed-spaceflight-to-explore-earths-polar-regions-130006166.html?src=rss

The US isn't ready for a cyber war with China, but some want to hit back in revenge against Salt Typhoon.