By Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show Published November 25, 2024 6:02pm EST close Fox News Flash top headlines for November 25 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Im going to Europe soon, and planning my trip was a breeze. Yes, really! AI did a big chunk of the work for me and it can help you plan your next getaway, too.Im giving away aniPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence. No purchase necessary; enter now!Here are a few ways to turn AI into your travel agent. Theres a whole industry of paid sites and apps popping up, but I havent found any that are useful enough to pay for. For this, lets stick with using the big bots:ChatGPT: My preferred AI chatbot; gives the best results based on my testing.Gemini: Googles chatbot is integrated into Google Flights and Google Hotels. I dont think its as thorough as ChatGPT, and it often throws in weird opinions.1. Describe your likes and wantsYour AI travel buddy can do so much more than suggest tourist traps it can help you create a truly tailored adventure. Remember, the more info you put in about who you are and what you like, the more "you" the suggestions will be.3 TECH MUSTS BEFORE YOUR NEXT TRIPBy interestsAI can curate a list of spots that match your hobbies or those of the group youre traveling with:"Find me the best food tours in Paris that include wine tastings.""What are some scenic hiking trails within 30 miles of Denver?""Suggest must-see art galleries in NYC for modern art lovers."By weatherAI can suggest destinations based on your preferred climate at any time of year. So much easier than looking up weather charts!"Find me a warm destination in the U.S. for January with average temps above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.""What are the best ski resorts in Wyoming for late December?""Where can I play golf in May with mild, spring-like weather?" AI can make travel suggestions based on weather, interest, occasion and more. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)By occasion or vibeNot sure where you want to go? Let AI find the perfect match for your mood. If youre not sure how to word the vibe youre looking for, tell AI how you want to feel on your trip."What are some romantic destinations in Italy?""Suggest family-friendly vacation spots with amusement parks and beaches.""Where can I go to feel relaxed and refreshed in March without spending a ton of money?"The best part? AI doesnt just offer generic lists; it crafts your dream trip based on what you love, need or just want to experience.THE $40K SCAM THAT ALMOST GOT ME + 3 MORE SPREADING NOW2. Simplify bookings and reservationsAI does more than just answer questions. It simplifies the whole planning process so you can focus on the fun part of travel.Flights and transportationAI can assist in finding the best flight times, routes and transportation options based on your budget and preferences."Whats the most direct route from [origin] to [destination] with a layover under 2 hours?""Find me affordable train options from [city] to [city] with scenic views.""Which airlines offer the best in-flight perks for long haul flights?" AI can assist you in finding flight times, routes, and transportation options that best suit your travel itinerary. (iStock)Hotels and accommodationsGet specific with your accommodation needs, and AI will help you sort through the options. It can do the hard work of sorting through reviews, amenities and location for you. So sweet."Whats a family-friendly hotel in [destination] with a pool and free breakfast?""Suggest eco-friendly accommodations near hiking trails in [region].""Find a cozy boutique hotel in [city] within walking distance of top-rated restaurants."CHARGING AND TRAVEL: 5 MALWARE MISTAKES MOST PEOPLE MAKE3. Ask the right questionsThis one hit the jackpot for me: "What are unique experiences in Berlin and Vienna during the first week of January?" The results? Festive Christmas markets, snowy countryside escapes and a hot springs spa. Not bad, right?For every city on my trip, I got creative with prompts:"Help me plan a route between Paris and Vienna. My family loves unique experiences, scenic drives and amazing food.""Im visiting Berlin. What are the tourist things I shouldnt miss?""Whats a day-by-day itinerary for Paris that includes local food, hidden gems and cultural must-sees?"Dont stop at the basics! Dig deeper, and youll have your travel buddies asking, "Howd you know about this?""Whats an underrated restaurant where locals eat in [destination]?""Which festivals or seasonal events are happening in [destination] on [dates]?""Whats the easiest way to save on tickets and/or skip the lines for [popular attraction]?" With the right questions and prompts, you can use AI to plan your next trip down to the letter. (iStock)4. Time to pack like a proWeve all forgotten our phone chargers or overpacked like were moving abroad for a weekend trip.Pack perfectly: "What should I pack for a [length of trip] to [destination] in [month]?"Weatherproof your wardrobe: "Whats the weather typically like in [destination] in [month]?"Stay document-ready: "What documents do I need for [destination]?" This way, youre prepared for customs if youre leaving the country. (By the way, you can nowrenew your passport online.)Share this with your favorite travel buddy and start planning for your next getaway. Bon voyage!CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPGet tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 509,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

A Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed after repeatedly accessing sensitive files related to the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard while off-duty, prompting concern that legal requirements around police data access which are due to be removed by the governments data reforms are not being followed.Following the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, a dedicated taskforce of investigators from the Directorate of Professional Standards carried out an audit of those who had accessed files relating to her disappearance and the subsequent investigation, looking specifically at whether those who had accessed these files did so with a proper policing purpose.The Met said a total of 104 officers and staff (68 officers and 36 staff) were initially identified as potentially accessing files relating to the investigation without a legitimate policing purpose, which resulted in seven officers being served with gross misconduct notices and appearing in front of a hearing.While this led to one officer a member of the Mets Roads and Transport unit who accessed the information off-duty to be formally dismissed, others have received a mixture of written warnings and further training. In total, two-thirds of the cases required further action.However, campaigners and privacy experts said these situations would be made more likely if the governments Data Use and Access Bill (DUAB) passes, as its set to remove the police logging procedure that requires forces to keep records detailing how information is accessed and used.This includes recording a justification for why an individual officer has accessed a particular piece of information, although according to the DUABs explanatory notes, officers and staff will still be legally expected to log the time, date and, as far as possible, their identity when accessing information.The Met investigated over 100 staff over the inappropriate accessing of information in relation to Sarah Everard, said Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group. This shows the police can and do act to access information inappropriately. This is likely the tip of the iceberg. There may be less prominent cases, where police abuse their power by accessing information without worry for the consequences.Against this, the government needs to explain why it wants to actively remove accountability measures for accessing public data while at the same time removing other safeguards and protections.We need more, not less, transparency and accountability over how, why and when the police access, process and share data about the public, he said. Reducing restrictions risks worsening existing tensions between police and the communities they claim to serve.Owen Sayers, an independent security consultant and advisor on police data protection compliance with more than 25 years of experience in delivering secure solutions to policing, added that the incident raises the question of who else is having their data accessed by off-duty officers.How do we know that access is controlled only to those who need to see our data? he said. Or is police data management literally the pile-on free-for-all it looks like from this case?While three of the seven officers were found to have accessed the information with a legitimate policing purpose, three others were not, leading to a dismissal for one of the officers (who accessed the data off-duty), and a final warning to last three years for another. The third would have been dismissed had they not already resigned.The seventh serving officer will face a separate gross misconduct hearing on a date to be set. The Met added that another member of police staff previously faced a private gross misconduct hearing and was dismissed.Our officers and staff are regularly reminded that police systems and specific files must only be accessed where there is a legitimate policing purpose to do so, said deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy. This includes reminder screens and warning pages when logging on to our software systems, as well as mandatory training on information management which must be completed by everyone within the organisation.It is clear the panel has carefully considered the circumstances of each individual case before coming to their conclusion that three officers had no acceptable reason for looking at this information.Cundy added that the majority of the 104 officers and staff who had inappropriately accessed information admitted they had done so out of curiosity.In terms of those other cases, 10 officers and staff were issued written warnings, 16 were referred for reflective practice, and four received no further action following misconduct hearings, while a further 38 were referred for reflective practice without a hearing. No further action was taken against the remaining 28 officers and staff, with no requirement for them to attend a misconduct hearing.When spoken to, they were remorseful, apologised, admitted poor judgement and were keen to engage in training, said Cundy. All of this was taken into account when determining the most appropriate outcome for each individual. We know that honest mistakes can be made and the most serious outcomes relate to those who were deliberately evasive or tried to avoid accountability. Those actions are not compatible with the values of the Met.In response to Computer Weeklys questions about the incident including whether justifications were recorded by the officers and what these justifications were if so a Met spokesperson said the specifics of the hearing outcomes will be available on its website once it has been reviewed.Asked about whether the incident was referred to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), the spokesperson added: We assessed the risks posed and determined that the matter did not meet the criteria for a mandatory referral. However, we did inform them of the circumstances.On wider access the Met has the ability to restrict files, but to deliver operational policing it is an important principle that police information can be appropriately accessed and used by police officers as part of their roles. Our policy is clear that if an employee does not have a lawful or genuine policing purpose to view data, then they should not view it.Read more about police technologyMPs hold first ever debate on live facial recognition: MPs have held an open debate on police use of live facial recognition technology for the first time since it was initially deployed by the Met Police in August 2016.Tech and digital skills key to improving police productivity: The Policing Productivity Review sees data and technology as a way of improving productivity and outcomes, as well as a potential means of restoring diminishing legitimacy, but warns there needs to be a revamp in digital skills, investment and coordination to harness the full range of benefits.Police accessed phone records of trouble-making journalists: The Police Service of Northern Ireland ran a rolling programme to monitor phone records of journalists to identify the source of police leaks, it was claimed today.Computer Weekly also contacted the Home Office about the removal of logging requirements under the DUAB, and whether it would reconsider this approach given the number of officers and staff that accessed the files, even when there are rules in place.The Data Use and Access Bill aims to remove the ineffective requirement for police officers to record a justification for accessing or disclosing personal data, said a Home Office spokesperson. Officers that access or disclose data will still need to have a legitimate law enforcement reason to do so.The DUAB explanatory notes added the requirement to record a justification is being removed because it is unlikely that a person accessing records inappropriately would record an honest justification.Responding to questions about the incident, a spokesperson for the ICO said: We are pleased that the section 62 logging requirement is being retained as we recognise the value and importance of being able to determine the date, time and identity of those accessing information when monitoring potential misconduct or abuse.The decision to remove the justification requirement on the basis that there is little evidence of its effectiveness is ultimately a matter for government, and we welcome parliamentary scrutiny of this proposal. Well continue to work with law enforcement organisations to help them understand the changes to the Data Protection Act 2018 through the reforms.Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones previously told Computer Weekly that the removal of police logging requirements was egregious, and it represents a potential divergence from the European Unions Law Enforcement Directive (LED) that could prevent the UK from renewing its LED data adequacy decision.The LED said: The logs of consultation and disclosure shall make it possible to establish the justification, date and time of such operations and, as far as possible, the identification of the person who consulted or disclosed personal data, and the identity of the recipients of such personal data.

Microsoft president Brad Smith has called on United States president-elect Donald Trump not to break step with his predecessors work on cyber security, saying that threat actors working on behalf of China, Iran and Russia present an ever greater threat to American and global security.Speaking to the Financial Times, Smith praised president Joe Bidens outgoing administration for its work on cyber security over the past four years, but said more steps could be taken in dissuading and deterring cyber attacks.He accused Moscow of tolerating attacks on US and other western organisations by financially motivated ransomware gangs, and in some cases even quietly facilitating them.I hope that the Trump administration will push harder against nation-state cyber attacks, especially from Russia, China and Iran. We should not tolerate the level of attacks that we are seeing today, said Smith during the interview.The cyber battleground continues to expand, and there is an increasing global concern, particularly towards government agencies. Weve seen an uptick in almost all forms of malicious attacks on government[s], said SonicWalls executive vice-president of EMEA, Spencer Starkey.In a divisive landscape, were seeing a continued geo-migration of threats, and governments are under constant cyber threat. These cyber attacks raise concerns about a countrys own national security, critical national infrastructure as well as the safety of sensitive information.Protecting government networks relies on constant communication and cooperation, working together with the private sector and imposing strict punishments, to deter future attacks, said Starkey.Since the 5 November election, the US cyber security community has been discussing the future of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) during Trumps second term.Since its establishment, CISA has led on many impactful operations and disclosures, frequently collaborating with partner agencies such as the UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), conducted extensive work on misinformation, and grown the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) database into a well-used and trusted global resource.Under its current leader Jen Easterley, who is stepping down in January 2025, it has also become a leading advocate for diversity in the sector.However, despite its strong track record, the agencys future remains unclear. Although established in 2018 under the first Trump administration, CISAs first director Chris Krebs was ousted after the 2020 election when he rejected the presidents claims of election interference, and this historical clash is among several factors that are influencing the debate.Other unknown quantities may include the proposed new head of the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) within which CISA sits. This is current South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, who previously criticised CISA over federal grants made to individual US states, although she has also advocated for the security sector in South Dakota and signed state-level cyber legislation into law this year. Her path forward, if she is confirmed in the role, is unclear.Similarly, the controversial Project 2025 blueprint for the second Trump administration, which outlines significant changes to many longstanding US policies, similarly proposes a significant reduction in CISAs funding and argues for transferring some of its functions relating to critical national infrastructure (CNI) to the Department of Transportation (DoT).Whatever the future may hold for CISA, ESET chief security evangelist Tony Anscombe told Computer Weekly that on some core cyber policy issues such as whether or not to ban the payment of ransomware demands he did not expect much to change under Trump. The US has historically resisted calls for such bans.Banning any such payment would be complex. For example, the option to pay in scenarios that are potentially life-threatening in industries such as healthcare are a good example, and a ban could just push payments being made in secret, he said.In other areas, he said Trumps proposals to use more tariffs and sanctions to protect US companies might lead to increased use of these levers on cyber issues too.If the cyber issue is deemed significant enough I can envisage sanctions going beyond adding known cyber criminals to the Office of Foreign Asset Control [OFAC], potentially holding the countries that harbour them responsible for their actions and adding sanctions against the countries, said Anscombe.As it stands today, the OFAC sanctions list against known cyber crime groups, individuals or crypto-wallets appears to be ineffective, as does naming and shaming, as payments continue to be made, and to my knowledge, no one has been held accountable for a breach of sanctions if anyone has breached them.Read more about Trumps tech policiesPresident-elect Donald Trump will likely repeal President Joe Bidens AI executive order and introduce new tariffs that could create problems for companies and consumers.Donald Trump might not want to break up Google, but history suggests he wont slow antitrust enforcement efforts against bad actors.Big political and bureaucratic obstacles await Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will lead the department with the goal of slashing spending and stripping regulations.Changes to the Biden administrations application guidelines for the Chips Act, some of which Republicans fought against, are likely.

If you have a gamer on your gift list whose main platform is the PlayStation 5, it's the perfect time to get them the latest games, accessories, and consoles bundled with digital downloads of popular titles.Black Fridaykicks off later this week. The event and Cyber Monday are two of the year's biggest shopping days. You can find great PS5 discounts at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. You can even find steep discounts on digital downloads of full games, DLC, in-game cosmetics, and currency from the PlayStation Store. To help you check everything off your shopping list without breaking the bank, I've compiled a list of the best deals I could find on PS5 consoles, games, and accessories like controllers and headsets.Best Black Friday 2024 PlayStation 5 dealsPlayStation 5 Pro console: $700 at Amazon: Lock in your pre-order price on the PlayStation 5 Pro console with 120Hz refresh rate support, enhanced ray tracing, and 2TB of storage.Samsung 990 Pro 4TB SSD: $330 (save $150 at Best Buy): Instantly add 4TB of internal storage to your PS5 to back up your digital game library, transfer save files, and store media like music and photos.Sony InZone H9 wireless headset: $198 (save $102 at Amazon): The official companion headset for the PS5 has active noise cancellation technology so you can focus on your game as well as custom EQ settings for personal audio profiles.Razer Kaira Pro: $75 (save $125 at Amazon): A high-end wireless gaming headset with dual Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity, detachable mic, and RGB lighting.PS5 Slim (disc version): $424 (save $76 at Amazon): The redesigned disc version of the PS5 has a thinner body, 1TB of storage, and includes a controller and Astro's Playroom pre-installed.PS5 Digital Edition with NBA 2K25: $375 (save $125 at PlayStation): This bundle includes the digital-only version of the PS5 console, a controller, and a download code for NBA 2K25.PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle: $350 (save $250 at Best Buy): This bundle includes the PSVR2 headset, two controllers, and a download code for Horizon Forbidden West: Call of the Mountain.Astro Bot: $50 (save $10 at Amazon): Game of the Year nominee Astro Bot places players as a cute robot, traversing a galaxy and meeting characters inspired by famed PlayStation games.Metaphor: ReFantazio: $50 (save $20 by Amazon): RPG fans will love Metaphor: ReFantazio which sees a young prince fight for his claim to the kingdom's throne after the king was assassinated. Sony/PlayStation/ZDNET Current price: $700Amazon has opened orders for the PlayStation 5 Pro. The console has 2TB of internal storage and supports 120Hz native refresh rates. It also supports PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance in-game resolution to output "astonishing detail". Certain games can enjoy further enhancement, allowing them to look much better on the Pro model. A list of these titles can be found on Sony's website. View now at Amazon Samsung/ZDNET Current price: $330Original price: $480The Samsung 990 Pro lets you instantly add 4TB of storage to your PS5, giving you plenty of space for large game downloads, transferring save files, organizing your media library, and backing up your favorite games. View now at Best Buy Sony/PlayStation/Amazon Current price: $198Regular price: $300This high-end wireless headset is the official companion for the PS5 console, featuring 360-degree spatial sound, noise cancellation, and both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity. View now at Amazon Razer/ZDNET Current price: $100Regular price: $200The Razer Kaira Pro is a high-end wireless gaming headset, built with 50mm audio drivers, a detachable microphone, and dual Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity. It even supports haptic feedback for a more immersive experience. View now at Amazon Black Friday 2024 PlayStation 5 deals at Amazon SonyLogitech G29 racing wheel and pedals: $200 (save $100): Hardcore racing sim enthusiasts and professional players will appreciate the lifelike driving experience the Logitech G29 provides with on-wheel shifter paddles, a leather steering wheel, and pressure-sensitive floor pedals.Sonic X Shadow Generations: $30 (save $20): Sonic Generations has been remastered and introduces a new campaign featuring Shadow the Hedgehog.Stellar Blade: $50 (save $20): Enjoy fast-paced, acrobatic action in an immersive and futuristic world in this PS5 exclusive.System Shock standard edition: $20 (save $20): A remake of the classic survival horror game with streamlined controls for modern audiences.Persona 3 Reload standard edition: $25 (save $45): A complete remake of the PS2 classic from Atlus, featuring modern visuals and gameplay.Hogwarts Legacy: $21 (save $49): Enter into the world of Harry Potter as a student, where you make friends and fight evil as you decide the fate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.Persona 5 Tactica: $20 (save $40): A spin-off game in the popular Persona franchise, following the Phantom Thieves in a new storyline that runs parallel to P5.Silent Hill 2 remake: $50 (save $20): The highly-anticipated SH2 remake brings players back to the iconic town as James Sunderland searches for answers.Hori PS5 fighting stick Alpha Street Fighter 6 edition: $197 (save $33): A pro-grade fight stick for hardcore FGC enthusiasts and tournament players.Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed: $150 (save $100): A pro-grade wireless gaming headset with DTS:X audio support, 7.1CH surround sound, and support for Bluetooth, USB, and 3.5mm AUX connections.Final Fantasy XVI: $25 (save $25): Follow Clive Rosfield on his sworn quest to protect his brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix.Assassin's Creed Mirage Launch Edition: $20 (save $30): A return to form for the AC franchise, with players exploring 9th century Baghdad as Basim, a thief turned assassin plagued by nightmares and visions of the Hidden Ones.Returnal: $30 (save $40): In Returnal, players explore a procedurally generated, alien landscape as they try to escape a time loop.Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: $20 (save $10): A refresh of the classic Tomb Raider trilogy with updated visuals and streamlined gameplay.Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition: $50 (save $30): This version includes the base game, both Night Springs and Lake House DLC expansions, and in-game cosmetic items.Elden Ring Shadow of Erdtree Edition: $51 (save $28): This version includes the base game and the highly-anticipated Shadow of Erdtree expansion.PlayStation DualSense wireless controller in Midnight Black: $54 (save $21): An official PS5 DualSense controller in a basic black colorway.PlayStation Pulse Elite: $129 (save $21): A premium, officially licensed wireless headset with a 30-hour battery life, low-latency audio, and support for multiple device connections at once.Black Friday 2024 PlayStation 5 deals at Best BuySony InZone H3: $50 (save $50): An entry-level version of the official headset for the PS5 with spatial audio, a Discord-certified microphone, and both 3.5mm and USB-C connectivity.Seagate FireCuda 530R 2TB SSD: $140 (save $105): This M.2 SSD lets you instantly add 2TB of storage to your PS5 for large game downloads, transferring save files, and organizing your media library.WD Black D10 8TB external HDD: $170 (save $100): A rugged external hard drive with 8TB of storage, making it perfect for storing legacy digital collections, very large game downloads, and videos.A Plague Tale: Requiem: $31 (save $29): The follow-up to A Plague Tale, follow Amicia and Hugo as they travel south to new regions and cities to help control Hugo's powers and hide from powerful enemies.Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition: $88 (save $22): Make a name for yourself as a galactic outlaw, smuggling contraband, taking lucrative contracts, and navigating the criminal underworld.Seagate Game Drive 2TB SSD: $160 (save $100): Instantly add 2TB of storage to your PS5 to download large game files, transfer saves, and back up your digital game library.The Nioh Collection for $20 (save $50): This collection combines Nioh and Nioh 2 in one package, offering remastered HD visuals and streamlined gameplay.Sony Pulse Explore wireless earbuds: $170 (save $30): These officially licensed wireless earbuds for the PS5 have dual device connectivity, a 15-hour battery life, and integrated noise-canceling microphones.Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut: $30 (save $40): This version includes the base game, Iki Island expansion, added minigames, new enemy types, an online co-op mode, digital art book, and director's commentary.Black Friday 2024 PlayStation 5 deals at WalmartThe Last of Us Part I: $30 (save $40): A remaster of the hit PS4 title and inspiration for the TV show for the PS5.Tekken 8 standard edition: $30 (save $20): Tekken is back with a roster of 32 new and returning characters and 16 battle stages to challenge friends and online players.Demon's Souls: $37 (save $33): A remake of the cult classic from the developers of Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring.Star Wars Jedi Survivor: $30 (save $40): The follow-up to the critically acclaimed Jedi: Fallen Order, Cal Kestis is now a full Jedi Knight, crossing the galaxy to gather allies in his fight against the Empire.Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales Ultimate Edition for $30 (save $39): The Gold Edition gives you the base game, available DLC, and a voucher for a digital download of Spider-Man Remastered.Gran Turismo 7: $30 (save $40): The popular, realistic racing sim is back with an updated roster of cars to unlock and customize as well as new tracks and online challenges.Black Friday 2024 PlayStation Store dealsFinal Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth Twin Pack: $60 (save $40): Get two lauded games for the price of one. This bundle packages together the first and second entries of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogyResident Evil Remake Trilogy: $49 (save $40): For $50, you'll receive the three critically acclaimed Resident Evil remake with stunning visual quality, in-game costumes, and two separate game modes.Dragon's Dogma 2 Deluxe Edition: $50 (save $30): This single-player RPG gives you ultimate control over how you experience the game's story, from your party members and abilities to your appearance and personality. The Deluxe Edition includes a plethora of useful in-game itemsWWE 2K24: $20 (save $40): WWE 2K24 features a star-studded cast filled with legends and current stars like John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and Code Rhoades.Far Cry 5 Gold Edition: $13 (save $76): Explore Hope County, Montana, as you gather allies and supplies to take down a violent and dangerous cult. The Gold Edition includes a Digital Deluxe Pack filled with in-game resources.FAQsWhen is Black Friday 2024?Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. This year, it will fall on Nov. 29, 2024. And while day-of is when most of the best deals and discounts will go live, you can still find great sales at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart to get a jump on your holiday gift shopping.Are PlayStation 5 consoles, games, and accessories really cheaper on Black Friday?They can be! The holiday shopping season is usually when you'll see the most sales and biggest discounts on games, consoles, and accessories to take advantage of the large volume of shoppers. You may be able to even snag a console bundled with a free game, extra controller, or both if you keep a sharp eye out at your favorite retailers.How did we choose these Black Friday 2024 deals?We're all aware that scalpers and resellers can be a pain at any time during the year when you're trying to buy a new console or popular game. And it's doubly true during the holiday shopping season. I've done my best to vet each deal to ensure the products are sold and shipped by reputable retailers and authorized resellers. I've also kept tabs on retail and sale pricing in the weeks leading up to Black Friday 2024 in order to find actual deals and not false discounts where games and consoles are marked up and then "reduced" to their original retail price to fool consumers.Do I need a PlayStation Plus subscription to buy games from the PlayStation Store?Nope! The PS Store is free to access for anyone as long as you have a PlayStation console and online account. The PS Store has monthly rotating deals, a category for games under $20, fan-favorite titles, and even a select back catalog of classic PS1/2/3 games. But suppose you want access to even better discounts and exclusive free games every month, along with online multiplayer. In that case, it's worth at least investing in the PlayStation Plus Essential membership, which is the basic package. The PlayStation Plus Extra tier gives you access to the entire PS4 catalogue, and the Premium membership gives you access to the entire Classics Catalogue as well as exclusive demos and discounts.Right now, you can save 30% on a PS Plus Premium membership when billed annually, bringing the yearly subscription price to just $112, then $160 per year after that. You can also save 25% on the PS Plus Extra tier (again, when billed yearly), which brings the price to $101, then $135 annually after that.What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals?ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:And more Black Friday deals:Top holiday deals

Not only is the Nintendo Switch one of the most popular modern gaming consoles, but it is also one of the most popular consoles ever. For whatever reason, Nintendo is strangely reluctant to offer regular discounts on its consoles and games. So, the holiday shopping season is the best time to upgrade your Switch setup with a new OLED console, snag a few new games for your library, or replace Joy-Con controllers.Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart have started rolling out early holiday deals on everything Nintendo Switch ahead of Black Friday, which kicks off later this week. To help you find the best discounts, we've compiled a list of games, accessories, and console bundles to check every gamer off your shopping list.Shop deals at AmazonThe best early Black Friday 2024 Nintendo Switch dealsNintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 and Mario Accessories bundle: $450 (save $50 at QVC): This bundle includes a standard LED Switch with a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a Mario Kart-themed carrying case, and a controller.Nintendo Switch in Neon with Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom: $450 (save $50 at QVC): If you're into racing at high speeds, QVC offers another bundle packaged with a copy of Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom plus several accessories.Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe: $48 (save $11 at Walmart): This is a remake of the original New Super Mario Bros. U introducing new features and game modes.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: $50 (save $20 at the Nintendo E-Shop): Embark on another journey to save Hyrule from evil. Both the physical and digital copies of Tears of the Kingdom are on sale.Nintendo Switch Joy-Con pair in Neon Purple and Neon Orange: $69 (save $11 at Walmart): A backup or replacement pair of Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers in a vibrant Neon Purple and Neon OrangeSanDisk 1TB microSDXC card: $90 (save $45): Instantly add more storage space to your Nintendo Switch with this microSD card with 256GB of storage for large game downloads and transferring save files. And it comes adorned with the popular Pokemon, Snorlax.Super Mario Bros. Wonder: $53 (save $7 at Walmart): Mario's latest adventure takes him to the Flower Kingdom, where he and his friends have new, unique abilities to defeat Bowser. Red Dead Redemption Standard Edition: $35 (save $15 at Best Buy): Experience the epic western on the Switch which sees John Marston trek across the American West and Mexico to settle his past for good.Nintendo Switch Lite with Mario & Luigi Brothership: $330 (save $50 at QVC): Nintendo has bundled a Switch Lite console with a free game. Mario & Luigi Brotherships sees the titular duo go on a new adventure to reconnect a fractured world.Super Mario Maker 2: $30 (save $30 at Walmart): Super Mario Maker 2 allows players to create their very own Super Mario Bros. levels. The sequel introduced a story mode, over 100 built-in courses, and new characters.Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: $48 (save $12 at Walmart): Fun and easy to play, this game is great for kids. The title sees Donkey Kong and his friends attempting to save their island home from a horde of cold-hearted fiends.Super Mario Party + Red and Blue Joy-Con Bundle: $90 (save $10 at Walmart): This Walmart bundle packages a pair of Joy-Con controllers inspired by the portly plumber and a download code for Super Mario Party on the Switch.PowerA Wireless Nintendo Switch Controller - Legend of Zelda Sworn Protector: $25 (save $20 at Amazon): Inspired by the Legend of Zelda, PowerA's Wireless Switch Controller is more ergonomic than the Joy-Cons, and many may find it more comfortable to hold.PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock: $15 (save $8 at Amazon): PowerA has also discounted its charging dock, which can hold up to four Joy-Con controllers simultaneously. Nintendo/ZDNET Current price: $450Original price: $500This Nintendo Switch bundle is an almost perfect gift for any gamer or Nintendo fan. It comes with a standard LED Switch model, a download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (which includes every race track from the original game plus the DLC), a carrying case featuring Mario Kart 8 artwork, and a wireless controller sporting Mario himself. View now at QVC Nintendo/ZDNET Current price: $40Original price: $60Super Mario 3D World offers a fun co-op mode where you and a friend can work together to reach every stage's goal. Or you can compete with them along the way by earning the highest score and winning the crown. In this game, you can play as either Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad, with each character having a distinct playstyle. The title also includes Bowser's Fury which sees you team up with Bowser Jr to take down the tyrant turtle king. Nintendo/ZDNET Current price: $40Original price: $70Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom expands on the original by offering new modes of gameplay. There are extra areas to explore in the sky and underground. Link now has the ability to create weapons and vehicles to aid him in his journey to save Hyrule from evil. Everything that the previous entry popular returns, including vast areas to explore and monsters to fight. Nintendo/ZDNET Current price: $69Original price: $80Grab a replacement or backup pair of Joy-Con controllers for your Nintendo Switch so you always have a controller charged and ready for marathon gaming or party games with friends. These devices come in Neon Purple and Neon Orange. View now at Walmart Nintendo/ZDNET Current price: $90Original price: $135This SanDisk microSDXC card expands the Nintendo Switch's minuscule storage space. It offers 1TB of storage, perfect for large games and transferring files to other consoles. Officially licensed by Nintendo, the card features a design inspired by the Pokemon Snorlax, fitting given its large size in the Pokemon series. Early Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals at Amazon Nintendo/ZDNETPowerA Enhance Nintendo Switch Controller Wireless Pikachu Retro: $40 (save $20): PowerA also has a Pro controller that supports Bluetooth 5.0, a 30-hour battery, and two programmable buttons. There are many color options, but our favorite is Pikachu Retro.Ori: The Collection: $30 (save $20): This bundle includes both Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps for Nintendo Switch.Star Wars Heritage Pack: $40 (save $20): This game bundle includes 7 classic Star Wars game titles, including Republic Commando and Knights of the Old Republic.Sonic Frontiers: $25 (save $15): The game sees Sonic go on a journey to save himself and his friends from a cybernetic world. It introduces a new combat system never seen before in the series.Cuphead: $25 (save $14): The award-winning, hand-animated shooter/platformer features challenging run-and-gun gameplay and the Delicious Last Course expansion.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: $18 (save $32): Beloved by critics and players, this side-scroller puts you in the role of a warrior harnessing the power of time to save a kingdom.Early Black Friday 2024 Nintendo Switch deals at Best BuySuper Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Launch Edition: $20 (save $30): AiAi and the rest of the Super Monkey Ball crew are back with online and local multiplayer as well as all new puzzles and challenges.Persona 5 Royal standard edition: $48 (save $12): This version of Persona 5 includes the base game and all previously released DLC in a single convenient package.Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered: $8 (save $32): Hot Pursuit Remastered brings the classic racing title to a new generation. Play as either the police or the outlaw as you try outspeed and outmaneuver the competition.Cult of the Lamb: $20 (save $10): A deceptively cute rogue-lite game about balancing your cult's needs with your god's demands.The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD: $45 (save $15): An HD remaster of the Wii title with updated graphics and streamlined gameplay for modern players.Rocketfish TV dock for Nintendo Switch: $40 (save $10): A third-party replacement TV dock for your Nintendo Switch.Early Black Friday 2024 Nintendo Switch deals at WalmartNintendo Switch Pro Controller Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Edition: $43 (save $49): A pro-grade gamepad for the Nintendo Switch with a Xenoblade Chronicles 2-themed faceplate and colored grips.Nintendo Switch - OLED Model: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle: $399 (save $50): This version of the Switch sports a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen. The bundle includes a download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a 12-month membership to Nintendo Switch Online.Sonic Mania + Team Sonic Racing Double Pack: $30 (save $10): Two games for the price of one. The double-pack bundles the 2D platformer Sonic Mania with the fast-paced Team Sonic Racing.Joy-Con controllers in Pastel Pink and Yellow: $60 (save $20): A replacement pair of Joy-Con controllers in pastel pink and yellow.Batman Arkham Trilogy: $20 (save $43): This collection includes three games: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight and all related DLC.Super Mario RPG: $39 (save $9): An HD remake of the classic SNES title with updated graphics and streamlined gameplay for modern audiences.Hogwarts Legacy: $30 (save $30): Hogwarts awaits you as you strive to become a witch or wizard. Learn how to cast spells, brew potions, and create charms on your journey.Early Black Friday Nintendo eShop dealsLego The Incredibles: $9 (save $51: Play through the story of Pixar's The Incredibles with signature Lego humor, platforming, and puzzles.Ace Attorney Anthology: $36 (save $24): This bundle includes both the Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice trilogies.Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak Deluxe: $25 (save $45): This bundle includes the digital deluxe editions of both Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak.Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective: $15 (save $15): Play as a ghost that only has one night to solve your own murder.Resident Evil 4: $10 (save $10): The iconic GameCube title is now on the Switch with enhanced visuals and streamlined gameplay.Dark Souls Remastered: $20 (save $20): FromSoftware's seminal title is now on the switch with online multiplayer and updated visuals.When is Black Friday 2024?Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. This year, it will fall on Nov. 29, 2024. And while you may have to wait until the day of for the very best deals and sales to go live, you can still find great early Holiday discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.Are Nintendo Switch consoles, games, and accessories really cheaper on Black Friday?They can be! The holiday shopping season is traditionally when you'll see the best and most frequent discounts on gaming-related things, especially Nintendo Switch consoles and games. And if you keep a sharp eye out, you might be able to snag a retailer-specific console bundle with a digital game download or free trial for online memberships.How did we choose these Black Friday 2024 deals?Nintendo consoles, games, and accessories are favorites of scalpers and resellers. Especially during the holiday shopping season. Each game, accessory, and console bundle featured on this list has been vetted as being sold by a reputable retailer with a robust return/exchange policy. We've also focused on the biggest discounts for games and accessories, since consoles and bundles are harder to come by.What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals?ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far by category:And more Black Friday deals:Top holiday deals

A cryostat from a quantum computer stands during a press tour of a quantum computing center. (Photo ... [+] by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)dpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesThis past week Microsoft announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing: 24 logical qubits that can detect and correct errors. In an era when a single chip architecture in your iPhone might have 20 billion transistors, that doesnt sound like too much of a big deal. But Microsoft says the worlds largest logical entangled state on record.What does that mean? Where is quantum computing today? And will it ever be something that you might use day-to-day, or access via the cloud on a regular basis?Recently at Web Summit in Lisbon I had the opportunity to share a dinner with three CEOs of quantum computing companies: Horizon Quantum out of Singapore and Ireland, Oxford Ionics out of England, and IQM Quantum Computers with multiple locations across Europe. My key question at the meal: when quantum computing would stop being a gee-whiz technology that doesnt actually do any real work, and start revolutionizing everything as the hype machine has taught us to expect.Theres some good news on that front: two of the three CEOs gave very near-term answers to functional, shipping quantum computers.The Microsoft news is extremely relevant to answer that question too, because error detection is critical in quantum computing.Quantum computing which is beset by a logical conundrum rooted in the very physics of the universe: the classical mechanics and physics that we understand in our everyday world and the quantum mechanics that Einstein mused about in his famous God does not play dice with the universe quote do not mix very well.Heres how Thau Peronnin, CEO of Alice & Bob (yet another quantum computing company) put when I hosted him on the TechFirst podcast some months ago:MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDBuilding a quantum computer in itself is a paradox, he said. On one hand, you want your machine to behave quantum mechanically. And you, myself, we do not teleport. Were not at several places at once. We live in a classical and noisy world.That classical noise impacts quantum states, polluting quantum computations. Solving this decoherence is a core challenge to making truly useful quantum computers. Fortunately, there are multiple possible solutions that different quantum computing companies are testing.The five questions I asked the quantum computing CEOs:What's the biggest challenge in quantum computing right now?What are three problems we can't solve well today but will be able to with a quantum computer?What's the timeline to achieve that?Why should we care about quantum computing now when aren't seeing very much real work being done?Can we be confident that a functioning high-capacity quantum computer is a complete gamechanger for computing ... and maybe more?Here are their answers, lightly edited for spelling.What's the biggest challenge in quantum computing right now?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Dr Joe Fitzsimons, CEO of Horizon Quantum Computing, with a Novera quantum processor from Rigetti ... [+] ComputingHorizon QuantumThe biggest hurdle quantum computing faces is that quantum computers are not yet useful for doing real work. A major milestone that the industry has been working towards is a first demonstration of a quantum computer solving a real world problem, one that people care about and that has economic value, significantly faster than could have been done with conventional computers.The main barrier to achieving this goal is the high error rate in current generation quantum processors, which likely needs to be overcome through error correction before a real advantage can be seen. The systems also need to be scaled up to larger qubit counts. To go from a narrow advantage on a single problem to a much broader quantum advantage, we also need to create the software infrastructure for developing more sophisticated quantum programs, and that is where we focus as a company.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:The biggest challenge facing quantum computing today is integration. Within the industry, youll often find that companies can demonstrate the individual building blocks required to make powerful quantum computers. But when combined into the large, integrated systems that are needed to make commercially- valuable quantum computers, they fall short either in performance or scalability.The key to unlocking useful quantum computers lies in integrating all of these individual pieces into a reproducible and reliable system that can be manufactured at scale. This isnt a science problem - its an engineering problem. At Oxford Ionics, weve tackled this by creating ultra high-performing qubits on a quantum chip that can be manufactured via standard semiconductor fabs. This means we can leverage the might of the existing semiconductor industry to scale our products.Ultimately, its not enough to have a powerful quantum computer that only works on its very best day when the lab conditions are perfect or when the team of PhDs operating it are on top form. It needs to work on its worst days too, in the real world, used by real organisations. Building fully integrated, robust, and scalable systems is how we get there.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:The quantum computing industry has made considerable progress over the past few years, with several key milestones that are bringing us closer to reaching quantum advantage. However, as for many other emerging technologies, more investments will be needed to bolster quantum capabilities. Ensuring enough capital for the quantum computing industry will remain a key challenge. While qubit quality and gate fidelity has improved recently, scaling quantum computers to a level sufficient for solving large complex problems will take time and capital. At IQM, we are on steady progress to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2030 as shown in our recent roadmap release.What are three problems we can't solve well today but will be able to with a quantum computer?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford IonicsChris BalanceI think most people in the industry would say simulating chemistry, optimisation and machine learning. These are overwhelmingly favoured in industry reports.However, from my own perspective, I believe there is a much broader use for quantum computing in accelerating hard computational problems. In particular, I would expect to see quantum computers used to tackle other hard problems, such as simulating turbulent fluid flow. There is a potential to take a lot of work that currently requires lab experiments, whether in the chemistry lab, the wind tunnel or elsewhere, and do it entirely in simulation. This would open the door to much faster development cycles.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:We know that quantum computers promise to deliver extraordinary solutions to previously impossible-to-solve challenges. This can include a range of things across a variety of sectors ... one of the use cases we anticipate is in financial portfolio optimization so financial institutions turning to quantum computing to help inform better and faster lending decisions, analyze investment portfolios, or make real- time market decisions. Even a 5% improvement in optimization through useful quantum computing could yield millions of dollars in profit for these institutions.Manufacturing companies may also turn to quantum computing to help optimize their supply chain for example, identifying the most effective ways of distributing goods. These types of problems are called combinatorial explosion problems, where adding in just a few more inputs can massively increase the compute time. Quantum computing can help reduce this burden. Finally, one of the most exciting applications is in materials science. While classical computers are limited in their ability to model materials properties, quantum computers will redefine our ability to do so. With this new capability, well be empowered to design better batteries or improve pharmaceutical modelling to help identify the next-generation drug.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:In line with our development roadmap, were focusing on three key areas: quantum simulations, optimization, and quantum machine learning to achieve quantum advantage.A good example for quantum simulations is the recent work we did with Volkswagen on battery simulation. Regarding optimization, we are for example working with EDF on optimizing the schedules for power plant maintenance. Regarding quantum machine learning, we have a project with Siemens that focuses on reinforcement learning for production processes.What's the timeline to achieve that?Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum ComputersIQM Quantum ComputersJoe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Different applications have different timescales. Chemistry is perhaps the best hope for acceleration using todays error-prone quantum processors. This is because chemistry is naturally quantum mechanical, a natural candidate for quantum computation, and chemical reactions occur in open systems, where the environment is somewhat random. As a result, there is some chance that the random errors in todays quantum computers can be made to look like the random environment in a chemical reaction, reducing the need for error correction.Machine learning applications will take longer to mature, since the most convincing speedups are from algorithms that require a quantum version of random access memory, which is not yet available.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:We expect early commercial applications to be unlocked with quantum computers that have over 200 high-fidelity qubits. At Oxford Ionics, we plan to have these systems in the hands of our customers within the next two years but this is really the end of the beginning. Were building technology that can not only reach this, but can also continue to scale out to hundreds of thousands of qubits.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:We are focusing on quantum simulations, optimization, and quantum machine learning to achieve quantum advantage from 2027.Why should we care about quantum computing now when aren't seeing very much real work being done?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:The fundamental reason to care about quantum computing is that it may be computing all over again. Conventional computers have had an enormous impact on the world over the last eighty years, and in some sense quantum computers are the first real step change in what computation means since digital computers replaced rooms filled with people working with log tables.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:Its important to remember that with all frontier technologies, theres a fine line between it does nothing and it does everything. And while the difference between these two states represents years of research and development, we are fast approaching the inflection point that will see the value of quantum computing suddenly switch on.Businesses are already paying attention to the progress being made towards this takeoff point. In 2024 alone, weve seen some incredible milestones achieved in quantum computing performance, scale, and reliability. And while the industry has definitely gone through a few hype cycles, these achievements signal that were the closest weve ever been to unlocking commercial value through quantum computing and the market is getting very excited as a result!Were seeing business leaders already planning their quantum strategies today to ensure they arent left behind when the value switches on. These organisations are working with smaller-scale quantum computers in order to conduct the necessary research and application development, ensuring they stay ahead of the curve in the fast-approaching quantum era.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:As shown in the various development roadmaps of quanutm companies out there, it is becoming clear that it's only a matter of time to see the impact of quantum computing in the world. This means it is important for industry to get ready and for academia to educate the large amount of quantum engineers needed in the future. Similar as in AI, the quantum advantage moment will come and it is important to be prepared not to miss the train.Can we be confident that a functioning high-capacity quantum computer is a complete gamechanger for computing ... and maybe more?Joe Fitzsimons, founder & CEO, Horizon Quantum:Without question, the answer is yes. Even if we focus in on just one application, code breaking, it becomes very clear that a functioning low-noise quantum computer would significantly change the world. We have known since the mid-90s that the most widely adopted public-key cryptosystems are all vulnerable to quantum attack. Using Shors algorithm, a quantum computer with only thousands of error- corrected qubits would be able to not just decode encrypted messages, but would be able to compromise important digital infrastructure such as DNS and Windows Update. As a result, there is an ongoing effort to develop and deploy cryptography that may be more resistant to quantum attack.Dr Chris Ballance, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics:If we think back to the 1950s, some very clever people were able to write down the mathematical equations required to solve incredibly complex problems but at the time, we lacked the hardware and power required to run those computations. Fast forward to today, supercomputers have been able to solve some of those problems while others remain completely unsolved even over 70 years later. Powerful quantum computers are the answer to this challenge.Quantum computing will represent a paradigm shift in the type of computing power we have at our disposal. Not only will quantum computing be able to solve certain types of problems faster, more efficiently, and with less power it will revolutionise our ability to solve challenges that would otherwise be completely impossible to solve using even the most powerful supercomputer on the market today. We wont be able to find innovative answers to these problems through marginal increases in power or more data centres we need to fundamentally revolutionise the compute arsenal. Quantum computing is the match that will ignite that flame.Jan Goetz, CEO & co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers:Yes. However, we see this as a journey. Similar to Moores law in Semiconductor industries, we will see decades of advancements in quantum computing ahead of us. Every year there will be a new technology node which is more powerful than the previous on. Hence, it is not that black and white in a sense that quantum computers will suddenly work. They will get more and more powerful over time unlocking one use-case after each other. Similar to GPUs, which originally designed for gaming applications until people realized that they are also very powerful in high-performance computing, crypto mining, or AI.Summing up: a lot of work to doClearly, theres a lot of work yet to be done in quantum computing. However, from the two CEOs who gave actual timelines, we should have usable commercial systems starting in late 2026 or 2027.Thats not too far away.Which, if true, means that we have only a couple of years to prepare for the massive changes that are coming in cryptography, finance, manufacturing, materials science, and large-scale engineering.But the quantum computer of the near-term future is unlikely to be one that we hold in our hands like a smartphone, or place on our desks like a laptop. Its still likely to be something very rare, very high-end, and very challenging to manufacture.

Is there water beneath the thick, bluish, hydrogen-and-helium atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune? gettyAsk anyone what their favorite planet in the solar system is besides Earth, and very few will say Uranus or Neptune. The ice giants in the outer solar system are rather dull-looking. Earlier this year, the revelation that their surfaces are a similar shade of greenish blue hasn't done much to move them up the pecking order.However, a new theory about whats inside the seventh and eighth planets from the sun threatens to make it a little more interesting, not least because it involves water and a lot of it.Since gas giants like Uranus and Neptune are the most commonly found planets in the broader Milky Way, the discovery could have massive relevance for the search for life.Deep OceanPublished this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a new study relying on computer simulations proposes that inside Uranus and Neptune far below their thick, bluish, hydrogen-and-helium atmospheres are layers of material that, like oil and water, don't mix.Over the years, planetary scientists have suggested that the ice giants contain diamond rain within them. The new theory suggests that instead, a deep ocean of water lies just below layers of clouds in the hydrogen-helium atmosphere. Below the water, goes the theory, is a layer of hydrocarbons a highly compressed fluid of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. The layers are about 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) thick.MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDLittle MixingAccording to computer simulations, the two layers exist separately because the temperatures and pressures of the planets' interiors squeeze hydrogen out of the methane and ammonia. This implies that there is little mixing of particles in a thick layer of the planet's deep interiors, as there is on Earth, so no global dipolar magnetic field exists. Earth's dipole field is created by its liquid outer iron core.It's a critical theory because it may explain why the ice giants have disorganized and distinctly un-Earth-like magnetic fields. This is a key finding of NASA's Voyager 2 probe when it conducted flybys of Uranus and Neptune in 1986 and 1989, respectively. No spacecraft has visited since.Machine LearningWe now have, I would say, a good theory why Uranus and Neptune have different fields, and it's very different from Earth, Jupiter and Saturn, said Burkhard Militzer, a professor of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. "We didn't know this before. It's like oil and water, except the oil goes below because hydrogen is lost.Militzer developed the new theory thanks to advances in machine learning that allowed him to run a computer model that simulates the behavior of 540 atoms as they are heated and compressed. One day, I looked at the model, and the water had separated from the carbon and nitrogen. What I couldn't do 10 years ago was now happening, he said.Crucially, the gravity fields produced by his model matched those measured by Voyager 2 nearly 40 years ago.NASA Mission?A NASA mission to Uranus, proposed in a paper published in 2021, could confirm the new theory. The flagship mission would send a Uranus orbiter to study the planet. However, a Doppler imager onboard would be needed to measure the planet's vibrations because a layered planet would vibrate at different frequencies, according to Militzere.Another reason for NASA to visit Uranus is to explore the five most significant of its 27 moons, which may be ocean worlds. A study published earlier this month that reevaluated images from Voyager 2 suggested that its moon, Miranda, may have an ocean below its icy crust. If that's true, Miranda has the potential for life alongside other ocean worlds in the solar system, such as Europa at Jupiter and Enceladus at Saturn.However, any mission to Uranus must leave Earth by 2034 to take advantage of a rare planetary alignment of Neptune, Uranus and Jupiter. A gravity-assist slingshot around Jupiter would shorten the journey to Uranus to just 11 years.Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

In context: After barely weathering the pandemic in 2020, Fujikura is now enjoying a period of unprecedented growth in the Japanese stock market, driven by demand in AI and data center operations. The Tokyo-based company specializes in manufacturing electrical equipment, including power and telecommunication systems, optical fiber devices, and more. Fujikura Ltd., founded by Zenpachi Fujikura in 1885, continues to thrive, fueled by the rapid growth of AI products and research initiatives. Originally focused on producing silk and cotton-insulated wires, the company has evolved to specialize in advanced cable systems for the modern tech industry.According to a recent Bloomberg report, Fujikura has become the best-performing stock on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, with its share price surging over 400 percent in 2024. The company is also set to join the widely followed MSCI global stock market index.One of Fujikura's most in-demand products is its ultra-thin fiber optic cables, which boast some of the smallest diameters in the industry. These cables can be deployed in tight spaces without requiring additional tunneling, according to CFO Kazuhito Iijima. Notably, Apple is one of Fujikura's largest customers.Iijima noted that demand for data center products began surging significantly around 2022, leaving company executives puzzled at first. Now, it's clear that AI is the primary driver behind the booming business. Fujikura is projected to achieve 104 billion ($674 million) in operating income during the current fiscal year, marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase.A substantial 70 percent of Fujikura's revenue comes from outside Japan, with 38 percent originating from the United States. In 2020, the company faced its first loss in a decade, attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The return of the Trump administration could reignite these challenges, but Fujikura has been preparing for such scenarios. // Related StoriesTo mitigate risks, Iijima confirmed that the company has established a US-based production facility dedicated to manufacturing high-density optical fiber cables. The plant is designed to comply with the Build America Buy America Act, ensuring resilience "even if new issues arise that are disadvantageous to imported materials," Iijima stated.Looking ahead, Fujikura is preparing for emerging opportunities as global data center capacity is projected to grow by 33 percent annually through 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. The company is also exploring future markets, with nuclear fusion reactors a potential clean energy breakthrough seen as a promising avenue that will likely require extensive cabling solutions.

Facepalm: Microsoft introduced the Windows Insider testing program as a way to improve the platform by collecting distributed feedback. Since 2014, millions of Insiders have been "testing" new Windows features. Yet, despite their input, every major upgrade still brings fresh headaches and compatibility issues to the operating system. Microsoft has acknowledged yet another issue in Windows 11, version 24H2. According to the company's official dashboard for known issues, some Ubisoft games are experiencing significant problems after users install the latest Windows update. The affected titles may become unresponsive or even display a "black screen" before crashing.The impacted games include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Ubisoft has released a temporary fix for Star Wars Outlaws, but the patch may introduce additional performance issues. Microsoft has yet to explain why so many Ubisoft games are encountering these problems.To prevent further disruption, Microsoft has blocked the installation of Windows 11 24H2 on systems with the affected games. The company is advising users to avoid manually upgrading their systems until the issue is resolved. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Ubisoft are collaborating to develop a permanent fix. Frustrated users have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with both Ubisoft and the "very, very broken" 24H2 release of Windows 11.Gamers have been grappling with these issues for weeks, attempting to troubleshoot on their own by checking the Uplay launcher, updating GPU drivers, installing Visual C++ Redistributable packages, and trying various other fixes. Despite the efforts, nothing has worked. Understandably, users who recently purchased brand-new gaming systems or hardware components are particularly frustrated.For now, Microsoft has only suggested a few "workarounds" for unresponsive games, such as forcibly closing the application through task manager. Another (unofficial) option is downgrading the operating system to version 23H2, though some users report experiencing game crashes on that version as well. // Related StoriesBeyond gaming-related problems, Windows 11 24H2 is displaying broader instability and incompatibility issues with various hardware and software. Shortly after the upgrade began rolling out last month, owners of WD SSDs reported bugs and BSOD crashes caused by poorly managed I/O caching operations. The Windows Insider program, which aims to transform "technically able" users into effective OS beta testers, appears to be struggling to meet its goals at this point.

PhilipsTable of ContentsTable of ContentsCreate a temporary smart lock passwordUse Quick Replies on your video doorbellCreate a cozy home with smart lightsEntertain your guests with a smart displayKeep everyone comfortable with a smart thermostatThanksgiving is just around the corner, and if youre worried about hosting a great party this year, know that your smart home is here to help. Weve pulled together some simple ways your smart home can be optimized to help you host a flawless Thanksgiving. From building a cozy atmosphere with smart lights to setting Quick Replies on your video doorbell, heres a look at how your smart home can help throw a stress-free Thanksgiving.YaleMany smart locks allow you to program temporary passcodes and this is an incredibly useful feature when youre hosting. Instead of telling all your guests your permanent passcode, you can create a temporary code thatll only work on Thanksgiving. This ensures your friends and family can let themselves inside your home if youre busy without giving them free rein to barge in other times of the year. Weve put together a comprehensive guide on how to create temporary codes on the Yale Assure Lock 2, but youll find a similar process available for most other smart locks.Recommended VideosRingMake your doorbell more inviting with Quick Replies. Once enabled, these give your guests a quick message after ringing your doorbell. For example, you can select a Quick Reply telling them youll be right at the door or another one asking them to leave a message because youre unavailable. Ring just launched a set of Grinch-related Quick Replies, so if youre excited about the holidays, consider checking out the new collection.RelatedLutronSmart lights are an integral part of any Thanksgiving party. Whether you want to build a cozy atmosphere for dinner, dim the lights before watching football, or turn them as bright as possible to find all the scraps of food that fell on the floor, smart lights are shockingly useful. Along with light bulbs and string lights, under-cabinet smart lights are another fun option. GE Lighting recently launched the Cync Smart Undercabinet Fixtures, which are a great way to show off all the delicious food in your kitchen. Best of all, they can be hardwired or plugged in directly to an outlet, making them suitable for most homes.AmazonNeed a way to keep guests entertained while away from your home theater? A smart display can be a fun distraction, as these let you stream TV shows and play a handful of video games. The Echo Show lineup is particularly notable, and as long as youre running FireOS 5 or higher, you should be able to stream games via Amazon Luna. Be sure to spend a few minutes checking out what entertainment options are available on your smart display and make them easily accessible to guests.EcobeeDepending on where you live, the weather can be wildly unpredictable this time of year. Warm days might give way to cool nights, doors might be left open as guests filter inside, and all the cooking could easily heat up your house. Whatever the case may be, a smart thermostat lets you quickly (and remotely) control your homes temperature. Instead of leaving a group conversation or stepping away from the kitchen, you can easily adjust a smart thermostat with your smartphone. So whether you notice people wearing their coats in the house or shedding layers to stay cool, you can adjust your settings on the fly without much effort.Editors Recommendations