Dune: Prophecy is a very complicated show. Sure, part of that is the fact that it has so many characters, plots, and counterplots commingling in each scene. But more straightforwardly, its just very difficult to explain to people whether or not I like this show. Put simply: Watching it feels like a chore, the line-to-line writing isnt particularly fun, interesting, or engaging and yet, for every thudding character or dull line, the show has also introduced a brief strand of plot or Dune universe-building that I cant help but be fascinated with.But the show cant keep running on the fumes of these ideas forever, and with the season 1 finale approaching, it seems to me that there are two paths forward for Dune: Prophecy. And in fitting franchise fashion, only a narrow and complicated path will let it come out the other side clean.[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Dune: Prophecy season 1 episode 5.]The shows future or at least our indications of what it might be all hinge on Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel). The first option, and the one I fear the show is moving toward, is the simple option that Desmond Hart is the proto-Kwisatz Haderach; the first glimpse the Bene Gesserit have of a male with supernatural abilities and the direct, stated inspiration for them to work toward a similarly powerful man that they can control instead.This version of the show would be simple and clean, and way too pat for a world like Dune. If thats all Desmond Hart really is, it would be incredibly easy to see how the rest of the show might fall into place. The war on Arrakis that episode 5 teases would see the Fremen claim victories thanks to the Bene Gesserit, and Mikaela (Shalom Brune-Franklin) would look on sadly as her people are fed a lie about Lisan al Gaib. The Sisterhood would learn to harness the Voice and be perfectly recognizable to fans of the Denis Villeneuve movies by the end of the show. In other words, Dune: Prophecy would be the Solo: A Star Wars Story of the Dune universe, a brief adventure that somehow completely explains the backstory of everyone involved, shrinking the universe and robbing it of its mystery in the process.The other version of Desmond, and the show as a whole, is more messy. Well call it the midi-chlorians path. For this one, the show would need to stop connecting the dots. Let the reveal of Desmonds shared Harkonnen and Atreides blood be a reveal purely for Tula and the audience, rather than something more significant to the universe. Sure, those two bloodlines have a role to play in the Bene Gesserit plan to create the Kwisatz Haderach, but that doesnt have to be part of this shows plot.This would offer the chance for Dune: Prophecys season 1 finale to open the door to the larger, stranger parts of the Dune universe. It could show us the Spacing Guild and its bizarre Guild Navigators; it could open up the idea of a complex, massive war on Arrakis, and little hints of the kind of struggles that would force the Bene Gesserit to evolve into the clandestine organization we know them as when the series begins in earnest. Like The Phantom Menaces one-off mention of midi-chlorians, what Dune: Prophecy needs now is world-building by unanswered and unanswerable questions, rather than by too-simple facts. If this season is all table setting for a weirder universe, then its clunkiness could be easy to forgive.Obviously, midi-chlorians have a bit of a negative connotation for sci-fi fans as a betrayal of the elegant world-building of Star Wars original trilogy; Dune: Prophecy was never going to be that. What Im saying is that at this point what we can really hope for is the ambition of Star Wars prequels, which constantly expanded its galaxy in ways both good and bad, instead of the tight corporate squeeze of Disneys time with the series so far that has simply made it smaller and more tightly wound with every entry.But to step away from all the Star Wars analogies: Dune is a series thats always been at its best when its at its strangest and most ambitious. The original book is a masterpiece with one of the best and most interesting sci-fi worlds ever created. It isnt well made because of how carefully connected all of its threads are, but rather because of the messiness that Frank Herbert left at its edges, little threads to be pulled at later whenever the fancy struck him.And Dune: Prophecy, for all the boring scenes and too-important lines its had so far, is still in a place to create those wonderfully frayed edges in its first season. But to do that, the finale will have to be big and messy and ambitious in ways the show has only gestured at so far.

I have a confession: Im a rampant roguelike uninstaller.Almost invariably, I reach a point with games like Balatro, Dead Cells, or Hades when, watching my playtime balloon, I feel the need to remove the temptation to play the game. Roguelikes, almost by definition, pursue an addictive structure that reviewers often describe as the one more run feeling, wherein the player feels compelled to begin the loop again (and again, and you get it). Another common phrase youll hear tossed around is the idea that you lost time to a game, as though the game has tricked you into giving it more of your life than you were consciously willing to give. For me, this kind of compulsive play leads to something Ive started to think of as roguelike dread, or the feeling that I really need to move on from a potentially infinite game lest it completely take over my life. Usually, that is when I delete it.Now, clearly this is a me problem. There are undoubtedly people with better impulse control, and there are doubtless people for whom this feeling of losing time to a game is experienced not as dread but as joy. (Infinite gameplay for 20-30 bucks? Thats a steal.) Still, a cursory Googling suggests that Im not alone in my experience of roguelike dread, of feeling like these games are so engaging as to be all-consuming. So, to my fellow roguelike uninstallers, I am here to say to you:Download Windblown its so good.Windblown, the newest game from Dead Cells developer Motion Twin, was released in early access in late October. Trading the sidescrolling, pixel art vibe of Dead Cells for a top-down, cel-shaded romp through skybound islands, Windblown succeeds at feeling both distinct from Motion Twins last effort and close enough in spirit that its easy to sink into its loop. True to form, the game is plenty challenging and, even in early access, already offers substantial meta-progression unlocks to keep each run feeling fresh. Combat is the star here, with a new emphasis on chaining different attacks for maximum damage. The soundtrack is also catchy as hell, equal parts synth and rock, with a vocal track that never fails to get me hype when it comes in. Even in what feels like a very early build, design-wise, Windblown clearly has what it takes to keep you playing for days, months, and years on end.Time for another admission, though: I dont like playing roguelikes in early access. The reason is probably obvious, given all that Ive already written. I know myself, and I know that I burn out on these types of games, so Im loath to put time into something that is unfinished, fearful of the idea that I wont want to come back to it when it reaches 1.0. I put down Hades 2 earlier this year for this exact reason. Everything in me wanted to keep pressing forward, but whenever I saw placeholder art or read the game balance changelog, I felt this nagging feeling that I should save my stamina for when the game is complete. Roguelike dread is inevitable for me, and so Ive found it best to wait out a game until at least 1.0, if not later.Or so I thought.Windblown can be a great single-player experience, but as the games marketing will readily tell you, that is definitely not the point of Windblown. The point is two-to-three-player co-op. The point is tackling the games sky-high challenge with a friend or two. The point is to lose time together. So once more to my fellow roguelike uninstallers, I am here to say to you:No, seriously Windblown, get on it, its great.Heres the thing: Windblown is not the first multiplayer roguelike. Not by a long shot. Somewhere out there, a Risk of Rain 2 player is pulling their hair out reading this, which, if you are, please stop. I see you, and I honor you. Even The Binding of Isaac, after all these years, just added online co-op. Im not here to claim that Windblown is the first, nor even the best, multiplayer roguelike. What I am here to claim is that it was my first multiplayer roguelike, and because of that, it came with a revelation: The answer to roguelike dread is other people.Usually, playing a roguelike, I begin asking myself questions like Has this become a waste of my time? or Are there other games Id rather be playing right now? More generally, I might start to feel that creeping sensation that Im spending too much time on a single thing. Indeed, I do get a bit of that feeling when playing Windblown as a single-player game. Its a roguelike, after all, and Ive already laid out my personal mental hurdles when it comes to the genre. Any loop, no matter how pleasant, eventually gives way to the feeling that I want out of it. Unless, it turns out, Im not the only one in the loop.I wont extol the joys of multiplayer gaming to an audience well versed in such things, but I will say this: It was comical to me how quickly and how completely my worrying over losing time or feeling addicted to a roguelike dissipated when it was something I was sharing with a close friend. Instantly, I no longer cared whether this early build would feel incomplete compared to 1.0. All I cared about was chatting about our workdays and strategizing over who picked up what item when. Suddenly the time I spent on the game felt less like a personal indulgence and more like an interpersonal investment. What did we care if the game changed tomorrow? The time spent together would be worthwhile no matter how many digits came after the pre-release version number. The game was a social vehicle as much as it was a random number generator, and it was all the richer for it.For me, playing Windblown was a good reminder to me to open up my gaming experiences to other people. The world can sometimes feel lonely and punishing, and so can roguelikes. But when you travel the path with other people, success feels more within reach. Or if not success, then at least a valiant effort that you can laugh about together. Even failure feels better when someone else is there to pick you back up again.Even as a rampant roguelike uninstaller, I have not yet deleted Windblown. In fact, I dont feel compelled to in the least. Instead, Im looking forward to the next update and checking it out with a friend, seeing what new obstacles we might overcome together. Absent in my experience is dread, replaced with a sense of shared possibility. Windblown was released Oct. 24 in early access on Windows PC. The game was played using a download code purchased by the author. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can findadditional information about Polygons ethics policy here.

Weekly curated resources for designersthinkers andmakers.Since Spotify Wrapped dropped almost a decade ago, theres been a growing demand for data-driven year-in-review features. These summaries have evolved into cultural touchstones, offering more than just statisticsthey provide moments of self-reflection and shareable pride.While Spotify celebrates music, other platforms have embraced the concept for their niches, and Duolingos Year in Review is no exception. By turning language learning into a gamified, sharable experience, Duolingo has created its own version of Wrapped thats fun, whilst highlighting the joy of progress and the power of celebrating educational milestones.Has Duolingos Year in Review outshone Spotify Wrapped? By SophiaOmarjiMake user research a core driver of organizational success [Sponsored] Written by UX leaders for UX leaders, Mazes new playbook explores key shifts in user research and how to elevate the practice from a support function to a strategic partner. Learn how to lead your team through change and unlock new opportunities.Editor picksWhy do people criticize Jaguars rebranding? Cultural convergence and the shift to minimalism.By ElvisHsiaoThe next era of design is intent-driven How adaptive UIs are transforming design.By VamsiBatchuAnother year, another Figma pricing update Figma is changing its pricing strategy again.By AlliePaschalThe UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and helps designers think more critically about theirwork.State of UX in 2025: a love letter about changeMake methinkThe most surprising tech champions of 2024 Lesser-known tech companies were rewarded by changing headwinds outside the West this year. Indias homegrown EV industry, a Chinese video game that became a soft power success, and a U.S.-based walkie-talkie app that proved unexpectedly popular in Kenya are some of Rest of Worlds most surprising winners in global tech in2024.Power of metaphors in human-AI interaction Digital companions are currently the dominant metaphor for understanding AI systems. However, as the field of generative AI continues to evolve, its crucial to examine how we frame and comprehend these technologies. This isnt merely an academic exerciseit will influence how we develop, interact with, and regulateAI.A linkless internet We are at a moment in the history of the web in which the link itselfthe countless connections made by website creators, the endless tapestry of ideas woven together throughout the webis in danger of going extinct. So its pertinent to ask: how did links come to represent information in the first place? And whats at stake in the movement away from links toward AI chat interfaces?Little gems thisweekGoodbye, immortal design By Rita Kind-EnvyThe phone to save us from our phones By TomSeipleYes, I would buy a Jaguar Type 00 By NeelDozomeTools and resourcesHow Ladder onboards and keeps users engaged Quick onboarding, progressive disclosure, and more.By Daniel deMelloHow to explore a product like Sherlock? A diamond in the crown of all testing techniques: exploratory testing.By JuliaKocbekUnderstanding priority Or the next step to go from UX to Product Design.By KaiWongSupport the newsletterIf you find our content helpful, heres how you can supportus:Check out this weeks sponsor to support their worktooForward this email to a friend and invite them to subscribeSponsor aneditionDuolingo wrapped, intent-driven UX, Figma pricing update was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

And why you shouldnt trust themblindlySource: Anthropics Claude 3.5 Sonnet blogpostDisclaimer: The opinions stated here are my own, not necessarily those of my employer.Every once in a while, theres an announcement about a new model. Its always better than its predecessor and its also better than all of the other frontier models in the market. The announcement comes with a table that looks likethis:The high-level message delivered here is we are better than everyone else at almost everything.But how exactly is this claim made? What do these numbers mean? Can you take them at face value? Lets break itdown.Why BenchmarksImagine youre selling a car and you want to claim that its the best car on the market. However, potential buyers look for different featuressome want the safest car, while others want the fastest. To convince the broadest audience to choose your car, you compare it against competitors using universally understood data: Safety rating, Fuel efficiency, 0-to-60 time,etc.LLM Benchmarks serve a similar purpose. They are standardized tests and datasets designed to evaluate the performance of models across various tasks. They provide metrics and criteria to compare different models, ensuring consistency and objectivity in assessments.How Benchmarks WorkEach Benchmark evaluates a capability that the LLM might be used for. HumanEval, for example, tests the models ability to write code. It consists of a set of 164 programming challenges (ex: finding a substring within a large string) and uses unit tests to check the functional correctness of generated code.Another example is Reasoning, which can be defined in different ways. For the purposes of benchmarking, its defined as the ability to answer hard, complex questions that require step-by-step deduction and analyzing data. Heres an example: Two quantum states with energies E1 and E2 have a lifetime of 10^-9 sec and 10^-8 sec, respectively. We want to clearly distinguish these two energy levels. Which one of the following options could be their energy difference so that they be clearly resolved? This question will sound hard unless youre a physicist (or if you enjoy devouring books about quantum mechanics for some reason). It was from the GPQA benchmark, which has 448 such questions across different fields. Models receive a score based on how many questions they answer correctly.Other tests include Language understanding (MMLU) and Math problem solving (MATH). They are similar tests with other types of questions. But within each test, its the same set of questions that every model is evaluated against. This is how consistency is maintained (not unlike the idea of humans taking standardized tests).CoT &Few-shotZooming into the same ClaudetableFew-shot (like 3-shot) refers to the amount of examples that were given to the model to better understand the task. 0-shot means no examples were given. CoT refers to Chain-of-Thought, where the model is asked to explain its reasoning process. CoT and examples can help improve response quality for certain tasks, which is why they are separately highlighted in benchmark results. Heres an example I got from ChatGPT to explainCoT:The problem with these BenchmarksLack of transparencyWe dont know how a model was trained. We dont know how the benchmark tests were run. Then how can we say for sure that the model was not trained on the testing data? This issue is called contamination, which is a common problem in Machine Learning.The sheer amount of data that LLMs are trained on has made it impossibly hard to detect or avoid this problem. Its the human equivalent of finding out all the questions before the day of theexam.Do these exams really measure ability or intelligence?Its likely that a significant portion of benchmark results can be explained by the ability of LLMs to memorize vast amounts of data. Then, are they really more capable than humans just because they got a better score? Heres another exampleThere was news last year of ChatGPT acing the LSAT. Its a pretty impressive feat, except when you think about (a) The fact that the LSAT usually contains questions from previous years and (b) How LSAT questions from previous years are freely available all over the internet. If ChatGPT aced the LSAT after seeing the questions before the test, would you still replace your lawyer withit?How to choose foryourselfIf youre a developer or a team trying to use AI in your product, you need to construct your own evaluation. This evaluation needs to be focused on the use cases that matter to you. The dataset needs to be customized based on your requirements.An exampleIf you want to automate customer service for your business, build a dataset of questions that your customers might ask. Then, build a system to prompt any LLM with these questions and score the answers they give you. Run this activity between the models you are considering and then make yourchoice.If youre an individual user looking to decide if you need to switch between Claude and ChatGPT, you can build a set of your most commonly used prompts (write a cover letter, generate an image of, etc) and compare the different responses before making your decision. Even if the results arent statistically significant (unless you ask a lot of questions and repeat this process multiple times), its a controllable system that can explain your decision making. IMO, its much better than opaque benchmarking processes run by companies that are selling models toyou.Further reading on running evaluations can be found here. Better writing on the problems with benchmarks can be found here andhere.Disclaimer: The opinions stated here are my own, not necessarily those of my employer.Please consider subscribing to my substack if you liked this article. Thankyou!How to read LLM benchmarks was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Earlier this year, Google announced a big change for the Timeline feature in Google Maps, which happens to be one of its best features. While it can currently be accessed via Google Maps on the web as well as through the mobile apps, soon it will be locked to individual phones and tablets (and unless you transfer it over, all your existing data will be wiped).The deadline for the switch seems to vary between users. Google told TechRadar that people would have "approximately six months" from when they were first notified about the changeover to get their data transferred, but 9to5Google reports many Timeline users are seeing a new deadline of June 9, 2025. If you're affected, your best option is just to open up Google Maps on your phone and see what it says.While I'm glad the Timeline feature is sticking around in some form, and I understand the privacy and security benefits of this data being stored on devices rather than in the Google cloud, I'm sad to see the web interface going away. Taking a trip with Google Timeline The web interface gives you overviews of months and years. Credit: Lifehacker If you're new to Timeline, here's how it works: The feature basically logs everywhere you go, automatically, using location information from devices linked to your Google Account. Previously you could later access this travel history via the web using your Google account. I get why that's a privacy concern for peopleperhaps the reason Google is going to lock this data locally to specific devicesbut I'm prepared to trust Google to keep my comings and goings safely hidden from anyone else, because of how useful and interesting I find the feature.I often use it to retrace the steps of past vacations, recalling the places we stopped at and the sights we saw. I also use it to look up bars, restaurants, and coffee shops I've liked in the past. Sometimes I'll take a random dip into history, to see what I was doing this day last year, or this day five years ago. Everything is mapped out: Not just places, but also journeys by plane, train, or automobile (or foot).In some ways it works like a journal I don't need to remember to update, making entries multiple times each day. I can look back on when I last saw friends in particular places, or last visited certain countries. What's more, Timeline keeps track of the cities I've seen and the miles I've covered, almost like fitness stats but for travel.Timeline will continue to offer this on phones and tablets, but there will be no syncing across multiple devices. I won't be able to load up my maps and my travels on a big screenwhen it comes to viewing the map, looking up individual places, editing information, and scrolling through dates, it's all much easier with a trackpad and keyboard.The web interface is currently also the only way to see an overview of an entire month, or an entire yearthe Google Maps app only shows data for one specific day at a time. I'll no longer be able to see the red dots of the three-week long coast-to-coast drive my brother and I did across the United States, or see how 2018 travel compared to 2019 travel, or see how much ground I covered in January. Timeline will be less fun, and less interesting.Going mobile with Timeline There's plenty to explore in the mobile app too. Credit: Lifehacker While I'm disappointed the Timeline web interface is going awayas I'm sure are many people who use it for revisiting past trips, planning future trips, figuring out travel expenses, and whatever else the consolation is that Timeline will continue on mobile, in much the same way as it does currently.There are even a few nice bonuses in the app version that aren't available on the webor at least not in the same convenient form. You can see all of the places you've stopped at while Timeline has been active, sorted by category and by place: So you can dig into all the hotels you've stayed at or all the attractions you've seen, or get a list of every place you've seen in one particular city.Then you've got an Insights tab that gives you a breakdown of your travel activities: How much walking, driving, and flying you've done, for example, and how much time in total you've spent outside the home and the office. This is broken down by month, and you get a little highlights summary as well.The Day tab doesn't give the comprehensive map overview that you get on the web, but at least it's something: Load it up and you can see the places you went, how you got there, and extra information such as the amount of time you spent walking and driving. As on the web, you can add in places that were missed, as well as delete or edit entries.If you've never tried Timeline, or you're getting messages asking if you want to continue using it on your phone, I'd recommend giving it a goit's just about my favorite Google Maps feature. As with other types of data in your Google Account, you can delete your Timeline history whenever you want, or have it automatically wiped after a certain time (once it's more than three months old, for example).

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max took home PCMags Editors Choice and Best of the Year 2023 awards in the iOS phone category. And if you don't mind getting a pre-owned device, you can snag its renewed premium model (meaning it has been inspected, tested, and certified to look and perform like new) for under $900 right now. At $863.97, this deal feels like a steal for one of the years most talked-about phones. And yes, its unlocked, so youre not tied to any specific carrier. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB, Natural Titanium - Unlocked (Renewed Premium) $863.47 at Amazon $1,007.00 Save $143.53 Get Deal Get Deal $863.47 at Amazon $1,007.00 Save $143.53 The 15 Pro Max has a titanium build, a durable material that makes the phone not just elegant but lighter than its predecessors. Weighing 7.8 ounces, its also noticeably easier to hold despite its 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display. That screen, by the way, boasts crisp ProMotion technology (which allows it to adjust its refresh rate) for smooth scrolling and a peak brightness of 2000 nits, making it perfect for everything from watching HDR movies to snapping stunning photos outdoors. Speaking of photos, the camera system is a powerhouse. The 48MP main sensor delivers incredible detail, while the 5x telephoto zoomexclusive to the Pro Max modeltakes close-ups to the next level. Whether youre capturing sprawling landscapes or zooming in on your cats whiskers, the iPhone 15 Pro Maxs photography game is solid.Its powered by the A17 Pro chip, which Apple claims is not just faster but also capable of providing console-quality gaming on this phone (for anyone who is into mobile gaming or multitasking across demanding apps). The 256GB of storage is another win, giving you plenty of space for all those 48MP photos, 4K videos, and apps without worrying about running out. Its battery life is hard to beat, too (according to this PCMag review that gave it an Editors Choice award), comfortably lasting 20 hours even with heavy use.

Making a good digital picture frame should be easy. All you need is a good screen and an uncomplicated way to get your favorite photos onto the device. Combine that with an inoffensive, frame-like design and you're good to go.Despite that, I can tell you that many digital photo frames are awful. Amazon is positively littered with scads of digital frames and it's basically the 2020s version of what we saw with knock-off iPods back in the 2000s. There are loads of options that draw you in with a low price but deliver a totally subpar experience that will prompt you to shove the thing in a drawer and forget about it.The good news is that you only need to find one smart photo frame that works. From there, you can have a pretty delightful experience. If you're anything like me, you have thousands of photos on your phone of friends, family photos, pets, vacation spots, perhaps some lattes or plates of pasta and much more. Too often, those photos stay siloed on our phones, not shared with others or enjoyed on a larger scale. And sure, I can look at my photos on my laptop or an iPad, but there's something enjoyable about having a dedicated place for these things. After all, there's a reason photo frames exist in the first place, right? A great frame can help you send photos to loved ones and share cherished memories with friends and family effortlessly. I tested out seven smart photo frames to weed through the junk and find the top picks for the best digital frames worth buying. What to look for in digital picture frames While a digital photo frame feels like a simple piece of tech, there are a number of things I considered when trying to find one worth displaying in my home. First and foremost was screen resolution and size. I was surprised to learn that most digital photo frames have a resolution around 1,200 x 800, which feels positively pixelated. (That's for frames with screen sizes in the nine- to ten-inch range, which is primarily what I considered for this guide.) But after trying a bunch of frames, I realized that screen resolution is not the most important factor; my favorite photos looked best on frames that excelled in reflectivity, brightness, viewing angles and color temperature. A lot of these digital photo frames were lacking in one or more of these factors; they often didn't deal with reflections well or had poor viewing angles. A lot of frames I tested felt cheap and looked ugly as well, which isnt something you want in a smart device that sits openly in your home. That includes lousy stands, overly glossy plastic parts and design decisions I can only describe as strange, particularly for items that are meant to just blend into your home. The best digital photo frames don't call attention to themselves and look like an actual dumb frame, so much so that those that arent so tech-savvy might mistake them for one. Perhaps the most important thing outside of the display, though, is the software. Let me be blunt: a number of frames I tested had absolutely atrocious companion apps and software experiences that I would not wish on anyone. One that I tried did not have a touchscreen, but did have an IR remote (yes, like the one you controlled your TV with 30 years ago). Trying to use that with a Wi-Fi connection was painful, and when I tried instead to use a QR code, I was linked to a Google search for random numbers instead of an actual app or website. I gave up on that frame, the $140 PixStar, on the spot. Other things were more forgivable. A lot of the frames out there are basically Android tablets with a bit of custom software slapped on the top, which worked fine but wasn't terribly elegant. And having to interact with the photo frame via touch wasn't great because you end up with fingerprints all over the display. The best frames I tried were smart about what features you could control on the frame itself vs. through an app, the latter of which is my preferred method. Another important software note: many frames I tried require subscriptions for features that absolutely should be included out of the box. For example, one frame would only let me upload 10 photos at a time without a subscription. Others would let you link a Google Photos account, but you could only sync a single album without paying up. Yet another option didn't let you create albums to organize the photos that were on the frame it was just a giant scroll of photos with no way to give them order. While some premium frames offer perks like unlimited photos or cloud storage, they often come at a cost. I can understand why certain things might go under a subscription, like if you're getting a large amount of cloud storage, for example. But these subscriptions feel like ways for companies to make recurring revenue from a product made so cheaply they can't make any money on the frame itself. I'd urge you to make sure your chosen frame doesn't require a subscription (neither of the frames I recommend in this guide need a subscription for any of their features), especially if you plan on giving this device as a gift to loved ones. How much should you spend on a digital picture frame For a frame with a nine- or ten-inch display, expect to spend at least $100. Our budget recommendation is $99, and all of the options I tried that were cheaper were not nearly good enough to recommend. Spending $150 to $180 will get you a significantly nicer experience in all facets, from functionality to design to screen quality. Best digital picture frames for 2025 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-digital-frame-120046051.html?src=rss

Hackers behind a cyberattack that targeted Rhode Islands public benefits system were able to get the sensitive data including Social Security numbers and some banking information of hundreds of thousands of people, and they have threatened to release it as soon as this week if they arent paid a ransom, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee said in a press conference on Saturday night. The Rhode Island government opened a toll-free hotline on Sunday (833-918-6603) to provide information on the breach and how residents can protect themselves, but you wont be able to find out for sure if your data was stolen by calling in. People who may have been affected will be notified by mail.The attack targeted the RIBridges system, maintained by Deloitte, which is used to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), HealthSource RI healthcare coverage and other public benefits available to Rhode Islanders. A press release from McKees office notes that any individual who has received or applied for health coverage and/or health and human services programs or benefits could be impacted by this leak.Its thought the hackers were able to get information including names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and certain banking information. Deloitte first detected the breach and notified state officials on December 5, and determined on the 11th that there was a high probability that the implicated folders contain personal identifiable data from RIBridges. It confirmed the presence of malicious code on December 13 and subsequently shut the system down, before officials announced the attack to the public the same day.The system is now offline while Deloitte works to secure it, which means that anyone who needs to apply for one of the affected programs will have to do so by mail, and people who are currently enrolled wont be able to access the online portal or app. The state said it so far hasnt detected any identity theft or fraud relating to the attack, but it will be offering free credit monitoring to anyone affected by the breach.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/hackers-may-have-accessed-hundreds-of-thousands-of-rhode-islanders-sensitive-info-in-ribridges-cyberattack-194621262.html?src=rss

The first trailer for 2025's Superman movie will reportedly take flight this week, and I can't contain my excitement ahead of its arrival.

Your fridge isnt just a place to keep your cucumbers cool and your fruit salads fresh. It can be your foodie friend too