For $7 per month, Apple’s game subscription service provides full access to a couple hundred titles for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers — and its catalog has been a bit of a roller coaster for the last few years, making it tough for Apple users to determine whether it’s a good deal or not. Unfortunately, I don’t have a straight answer on that for you, because Apple Arcade’s repertoire tends to go all in on niches that do well, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. I’ll highlight my favorites here — those that I think give a good sampling of what you can expect from an Apple Arcade sub — but this story won’t cover any of the “+” games. Apple Arcade offers ad- and microtransaction-free versions of games like Stardew Valley, Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Return to Monkey Island, Dicey Dungeons, Tomb of the Mask, Turmoil, Very Little Nightmares, and more, all denoted with a + sign after the title. There are tons of worthwhile + games, but it’s rarely a good value proposition for a rotating pool of games that could leave Apple Arcade at any time, and that are inexpensive to just buy for yourself — not to mention that many of these games are free to play on Apple’s regular App Store with the inclusion of ads and/or microtransactions. Here’s my short but varied list of great Apple Arcade games that just might be worth a month or two of subscribing. How we picked the best games on Apple Arcade I spent a period of time paying for my own Apple Arcade sub simply because I wanted one. (Now, I’m using a code provided to me by Apple for editorial review.) I regularly browse the most recent additions and, when something interesting and novel is added — which happens a handful of times a year — I play during train rides and couch rot sessions until I get sick of it. Most of the games listed here have come back into my rotation time and time again, and a few are new but exciting additions recommended by colleagues and friends. Katamari Damacy Rolling Live The first Katamari Damacy installment in nearly a decade, Katamari Damacy Rolling Live is a silly redo of the same general concept, but this time your ultimate goal is to make great videos for social media. It isn’t necessarily a banger, but it faithfully revives the iconic rolling gameplay mechanic. For fans of the long-running franchise, it’s a must-play. Outlanders 2 Currently exclusive to Apple Arcade, the Outlanders sequel makes for an excellent mobile game that can be played in portrait or landscape mode. The aesthetic looks wonderful on Apple’s bright screens, and the gameplay is filled with genuinely tough challenges as well as compelling stories. It’s a very fleshed-out city builder, which is typically tough to accomplish on mobile without cramming the screen full of text. Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom doesn’t necessarily do anything to iterate on the cozy life sim genre, but it doesn’t quite matter, because the art style is adorable. It feels like a sister to Hello Kitty Island Adventure in aesthetics and gameplay, though I’d recommend using a controller, an Apple Pencil, or a larger screen for this one, since there’s a lot going on. Skate City: New York Skate City: New York is one of my favorite skating games I’ve played on mobile, maybe because it’s a side-scroller rather than a third-person point of view. The controls are just as challenging as they should be, but they’re not at all frustrating to learn — plus, the modern and simple interface works well even on a small screen. Skate away from the cops, race to beat your personal record, or learn to master multi-step skills in this Tech Deck-like. Japanese Rural Life Adventure Another life sim — one of the genres Apple Arcade’s game editors seem to really lean into — Japanese Rural Life Adventure is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s a cozy journey towards fixing up a decrepit cabin in a mountain town (what else is new?) that just might teach you a few things about life in the Japanese countryside. This game has gotten several big updates since its release on Apple Arcade, so don’t be afraid to invest time into it — it doesn’t seem like it’ll be leaving the service anytime soon. What the Car? What the Car? kicked off a string of beloved physics-based games that ask nonsensical questions in their titles, like the upcoming What the Clash?, which will also be on Apple Arcade. It’s a silly, wacky, speedy platformer where you, a car that can do many things including walking on your two legs, must make it through a smattering of obstacles to get to the end of a level. And, you can create your own levels once you get the hang of things. NFL Retro Bowl ’25 NFL Retro Bowl ’25 has to be one of the best NFL-licensed games you can play on your iPhone — and it’s cute! Real NFL teams are depicted in 16-bit, and it’s your job as coach to set up a successful team and play through the season. It’s a joy to look at, but it’s also quick and tough, like the other existing Retro Bowl games. It’s bound to offer tens of hours of gameplay if you need something to play on your commute.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.I love Kindle e-readers, and have been using them since the first Kindle Paperwhite came out in 2012, but until recently, my dream of reading color comics on a Kindle was just that. But then last November, Amazon finally released the Kindle Colorsoft, It finally came out in November with the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, and it's now on sale for $224.99 (originally $279.99), the lowest price it has reached since its release, according to price-tracking tools. In fact, it's only $25 more to upgrade from the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition to the color version.You can also get it with three months of free Kindle Unlimited (it'll auto-renew unless you cancel it), and if you're a Prime Member, you can fill it up with some free e-books. Here's what you can expect from the Colorsoft. Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB) Storage: 32 GB, Features: auto-adjusting front light and wireless charging. $224.99 at Amazon $279.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal Get Deal $224.99 at Amazon $279.99 Save $55.00 The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is exactly what it sounds like: It's a Kindle e-reader with color. It's essentially the same hardware and design as the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, with the same dimensions, weight, and 32GB of storage. It also has the same features, like the automatically adjusting front light, the IPX8 rating waterproof rating, wireless charging, and an ad-free lock screen that either shows the cover for the book you're reading, or a generic wallpaper. The battery life is shorter than the Paperwhite's, with Amazon suggesting it can last up to eight weeks compared to 12 for the Paperwhite, but that's still plenty for most people.The seven-inch Kaleido 3 display offers the industry standard 300 pixels per inch (ppi) for black-and-white content and 150ppi for color, but it employs a unique, Amazon-developed stack that improves the color quality. If you love reading comics, this is where the Colorsoft Signature Edition shines: As Lifehacker tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt's review notes, colors look like printed newspaper quality, and there's a feature that provides a close-up of each comic panel so you can enjoy the art without having to manually zoom in to each panel.Color e-ink is still a developing tech, but the Kindle Colorsoft makes it look better than ever—and for not much more money, at least right now.

Add Microsoft's Surface lineup to the list of gear that now costs more. XDA first spotted price hikes of around 20 percent for most existing models. The damage applies to the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro lines, as well as power bricks. The starting prices of the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop and 13-inch Surface Pro increased from $1,000 to $1,200. Of course, the new devices Microsoft launched on Tuesday stand pat. (And their curiously high prices now make more sense.) Only the 15-inch Surface Laptop was spared, sticking to its original $1,300. Even accessories like power supplies are part of the fun. The 65W Surface power supply shot up from $90 to $120, and the 127W variant went from $125 to $175. PCMag notes that retail partners like Best Buy and Amazon still show the original prices. So, if you were considering a new Surface, that's a good place to start. The move follows last week's Xbox price increases. The Xbox Series X is now $80 more expensive, while an Xbox Series X costs an extra $100. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft hasn't explicitly tied the price hikes to President Trump's tariffs. When XDA's Rich Woods asked the company about the surprisingly expensive entry-level Surface models introduced this week, it neither confirmed nor denied the connection.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/microsoft-raises-base-surface-prices-by-20-percent-210427490.html?src=rss

Three new features coming to the Galaxy Watch with One UI 8 Watch have leaked.

David Bailey, CEO of BTC Inc. and a Trump crypto advisor, has raised $300 million to launch a publicly traded bitcoin investment company.

BROOKWOOD, Ala.—The Trump administration has announced it will aim to fast-track the permitting and environmental review of a major coal mine expansion in central Alabama as part of a larger effort to accelerate the construction of what the government has labeled “critical mineral” infrastructure.  While administration officials said the change is aimed at “significantly reduc[ing] our reliance on foreign nations,” coal produced as part of Warrior Met’s expansion in Alabama is almost entirely exported overseas to support foreign steelmaking markets, according to the company.  Warrior Met’s Blue Creek mine expansion, set to be one of the largest coal build-outs in Alabama history, is one of 20 planned developments deemed “transparency projects” by the administration over the last two months. The mine expansion will be placed on the federal government’s permitting dashboard as it moves its way through the regulatory and permitting process.  The projects’ inclusion on the dashboard authorized under the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) will, according to the Trump administration, “make the environmental review and authorizations schedule for these vital mineral production projects publicly available and allow all of these projects to benefit from increased transparency. “The public nature of the dashboard ensures that all stakeholders, from project sponsors and community members to federal agency leaders, have up-to-date accounting of where each project stands in the review process,” the administration said in its announcement. “This transparency leads to greater accountability, ensuring a more efficient process.” During the Biden administration, the so-called FAST-41 dashboard was used to fast-track projects aimed at benefiting tribal nations, as well as various projects advancing renewable energy, coastal restoration, broadband, and electricity transmission sectors. The program was created as a means “to enhance transparency and increase the efficiency of the permitting process,” the Biden administration said at the time. With a new president, though, the programs designated to participate—and the policy priorities they represent—have now changed.  The Trump administration has already signaled its support of the Alabama project. In April, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited an existing Warrior Met mine outside Tuscaloosa and took a windshield tour of the Blue Creek facility currently under construction.  During that visit, Burgum emphasized the administration’s stated commitment to fossil fuel production and said that its actions would “unleash American energy.” He did not acknowledge Warrior Met’s checkered safety and environmental record or that nearly all of its product—metallurgical coal—is shipped overseas for foreign steelmaking operations, not used in the U.S.  “We sell substantially all of our steelmaking coal production to steel producers outside of the United States,” a recent Warrior Met corporate filing said. “For the three months ended March 31, 2025, our geographic customer mix was 37% in Europe, 43% in Asia, and 20% in South America.” The planned expansion of Blue Creek involves a major build-out of Warrior Met’s ability to mine for underground coal using the longwall method, a particularly destructive form of mining in which large machines shear walls of coal, leaving vast, empty expanses in their wake. Land above those empty caverns sinks, causing what is often permanent damage to the surface and structures there.  Longwall mining has devastated communities in Alabama and beyond. In March 2024, an Alabama home exploded above a longwall mine with a different owner after methane—a gas released during mining—seeped into the residence and ignited. The resulting blast killed an Alabama grandfather and seriously injured his grandson. Since then, the community above the Oak Grove mine in western Jefferson County has continued to crumble, with homes’ foundations cracking as the longwall mine expands below. Earlier this year, just as President Donald Trump was announcing efforts to promote “clean, beautiful coal,” a West Virginia woman was hospitalized after a methane explosion in her home atop a longwall mine left her seriously injured. Workers from the mine beneath her home had stood behind Trump during his White House announcement.  Once completed, Warrior Met’s Blue Creek expansion will increase the company’s coal production by 60%, providing additional supply for overseas steelmaking markets hungry for metallurgical coal that can meet production needs. Taxpayer-funded support for the facility may top $400 million. The company has also asked the federal government to allow it to mine publicly owned coal as part of the Blue Creek project. The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced last year that it would conduct an environmental assessment related to Warrior Met’s Blue Creek project and, specifically, its proposal to mine 14,040 acres of federal minerals underlying privately owned land in Tuscaloosa County. Warrior Met’s applications to lease the coal rights propose the extraction of approximately 57.5 million tons of recoverable public coal reserves. Initial government scoping documents indicated that any environmental assessment of the Blue Creek project would include an analysis of its impact on climate change, both direct and indirect. Since those initial documents were released, however, federal guidance on the inclusion of climate change considerations in government decision-making has been in flux.  A day-one executive order by Trump, for example, disbanded the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, which was established pursuant to a Biden executive order. The order said “any guidance, instruction, recommendation, or document issued by the IWG is withdrawn as no longer representative of governmental policy.”  That guidance had emphasized the importance of government analysis of the social cost of carbon, a way of putting a dollar figure on the economic damage that comes from emitting a ton of carbon dioxide. The Trump White House has said without evidence that the concept “is marked by logical deficiencies, a poor basis in empirical science, politicization, and the absence of a foundation in legislation.” Public comments on the project already submitted to BLM included concerns around greenhouse gas emissions and Warrior Met’s contribution to the climate crisis.  “Please do not approve any new or expanded coal mining,” one commenter wrote. “The climate crisis is already deadly and rapidly getting worse. There is an overwhelming international consensus on the severity of this crisis and the urgent need to phase out the use of harmful fossil fuels.” The draft environmental impact statement for the Blue Creek project, originally set to be released sometime in the fall, is now scheduled to be published on May 30, according to BLM.  — Lee Hedgepeth, Inside Climate News This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News. It is republished with permission. 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Powerful doesn’t begin to describe Lenovo’s latest gaming powerhouse. The new Lenovo Legion 9i (18″, 10) represents a significant evolution in portable computing, designed not just for playing games but for creating them too. Unveiled at Lenovo’s Tech World Shanghai 2025, this extraordinary machine aims to revolutionize how developers and gamers interact with their digital worlds. Designer: Lenovo What immediately strikes you about the Legion 9i is its distinctive top cover. Each unit features a unique handcrafted lid made from eight layers of aviation-grade carbon fiber, forged together to create a one-of-a-kind pattern. This forged carbon construction isn’t just for show; it’s lighter and stronger than aluminum, embodying the perfect marriage of form and function that defines truly exceptional design. The Legion 9i’s 18-inch PureSight display is nothing short of remarkable. It offers up to 4K resolution in standard 2D mode, but the optional 2K 3D support is where things get interesting. Using a combination of eye-tracking and lenticular lens array technology, the system delivers immersive 3D visuals without requiring special glasses. This feature is particularly valuable for game developers and 3D artists who can now visualize their creations in three dimensions without additional hardware. For those working in 3D, the included Lenovo 3D Studio software supports a wide range of video, image, and streaming formats in both side-by-side and top-bottom arrangements. The software even supports 3D display for 30 games and numerous creation applications, making it a versatile tool for both work and play. The display offers incredible flexibility with its Dual Mode functionality. Users can switch between a 240Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution or crank it up to a blistering 440Hz at FHD resolution when ultra-smooth graphics are essential. With razor-thin bezels providing a 93% screen-to-body ratio, the immersive visual experience is maximized to its fullest potential. Performance That Breaks Barriers Under the hood, the Legion 9i is an absolute beast. It’s powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, delivering a combined total of up to 280W of processing power. This ensures peak performance whether you’re playing the latest AAA titles or rendering complex 3D environments. Memory and storage options are equally impressive. The system features four RAM slots supporting up to 192GB of dual-channel DDR5 memory, providing ample headroom for memory-intensive tasks like rendering and rasterizing. Storage is equally generous with four SSD slots (one being PCIe Gen 5), allowing for up to 8TB of storage space to keep both games and creative assets in one location. Battery life hasn’t been overlooked either. The 99.99 Whr battery makes the Legion 9i surprisingly portable for its class, allowing developers to take their work to meetings, pitches, or anywhere inspiration strikes. All this power generates heat, but Lenovo has implemented a sophisticated cooling solution. The Legion Coldfront: Vapor thermal system includes a vapor chamber, hyper chamber, and quad fan setup with dedicated fans for both the Wi-Fi card and the SSD/RAM components. This keeps the system cool under heavy workloads while maintaining noise levels below 48dB even at 280W in Performance Mode. Connectivity is comprehensive with HDMI and DC-in ports at the rear and numerous ports on both sides, including a pair of Thunderbolt 5 ports on the left for high-speed devices, storage, and displays. AI-Enhanced Workflows The Legion 9i embraces artificial intelligence to enhance both gaming and development workflows. The system features the Lenovo AI Core chip and Lenovo AI Engine+, which work together to dynamically adjust settings based on usage scenarios, optimizing performance whether you’re gaming or rendering complex scenes. One particularly clever implementation is the Lenovo Legion Space feature, which uses AI to synchronize the device’s RGB lighting with in-game audio and on-screen content. This creates a more immersive experience by extending the visual atmosphere beyond the screen and into your physical environment, complemented by the laptop’s new six-speaker sound system. AI is enhancing the user experience and revolutionizing game development. As noted in the press release, AI has dramatically shortened development cycles from years to potentially just months. The Legion 9i is positioned to take advantage of this shift, providing the hardware and software tools needed for AI-assisted game creation. Software and Services for Gamers Lenovo hasn’t forgotten that many users will be primarily interested in the Legion 9i as a gaming machine. The laptop comes with three complimentary months of PC Game Pass, providing access to hundreds of games right out of the box. For those seeking additional support, Legion Ultimate Support offers 24/7 access to gaming-focused experts. These specialists can provide technical support, gaming tips, performance optimization advice, and comprehensive coverage for parts and labor with next-day onsite repairs. Sustainability hasn’t been overlooked either. The Legion 9i is eligible for Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Services, allowing users to help offset the estimated carbon emissions associated with their device over its lifecycle through carbon credits that support climate action projects verified by independent organizations. The Perfect Companion To complement the Legion 9i, Lenovo has also introduced the Legion 18″ Armored Backpack II. This carrying solution combines durability, convenience, and style with a rock-solid EVA molded front shield and double-layered protection in the PC compartment. Quick-access pockets for headsets, keyboards, and mice make it practical for on-the-go gaming or development work. The padded, ventilated back and adjustable shoulder straps ensure comfort even when carrying this powerful system and its accessories. Final Thoughts The Lenovo Legion 9i represents a significant step forward in portable computing for both gamers and game developers. By bridging these two worlds with powerful hardware, innovative display technology, and AI-enhanced software, Lenovo has created a machine that could genuinely change how games are both played and created. North American gamers and developers will need to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this impressive system, as it will be available initially in China before arriving in North America in fall 2025. Pricing details will be announced closer to the North American launch. With its unique design, cutting-edge features, and focus on both gaming and creation, the Legion 9i isn’t just another gaming laptop. It’s a glimpse into the future of portable computing where the lines between player and creator continue to blur, and where technology enables new forms of digital creativity.The post Lenovo Legion 9i: The Ultimate Machine Bridging Gaming and Game Development first appeared on Yanko Design.

OFFF 2025 kicks off with a bang on its 25th anniversary.

The Choose Europe for Science program will invest more than half a billion dollars between 2025 and 2027 to recruit researchers and scientists—especially from the United States.

Macworld The modern macOS makes it simple to add encryption to any mounted volume. The password you set when you encrypt a volume has to be entered each time it’s mounted, including after restarting your Mac. You can opt to store the password when you enter it by checking Remember in Keychain. You can quickly add encryption to an external volume. What if you change your mind? You can remove the password, but you have to dig for it. Here’s how to find and remove it: Launch Keychain Access. This app is stored in /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/, which you can reach in the Finder by choosing Go > Go To Folder and pasting that path in. After launching, Keychain Access prompts you about whether you intended to launch the Passwords app. Click Open Keychain Access. Authenticate with Touch ID or your password. With the login keychain selected in the left-hand sidebar, click in the Search field at the upper right, and enter the name of the drive or type in encrypted volume password. Select the entry and choose Edit > Delete or press the Delete key. In my testing, deleting doesn’t always cause the entry to disappear right away. You may need to perform a fresh search to check. Restart your Mac to check that the password is no longer automatically provided. Take heed, though! If you delete the stored password and don’t remember it or have it stored elsewhere, your drive could be rendered unavailable forever! Keychain Access lets you search for stored encrypted volume passwords and delete them. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Denis. Frequent Mac 911 questions We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered.