Back in the day, PCs were big, looming units. They had to be big to hold all the components needed. As gaming PCs became a thing, these were even bigger because the high-end components generated a lot of heat, heat that had to be dissipated with ample airflow. Thanks to Moore's law, components have become smaller and more efficient, to the point where even a gaming PC can fit into a compact case.Also:The best portable power stations you can buy: Expert testedSmaller components have led the way for smaller PC cases, and Mini-ITX PC cases have gained popularity in the computing world due to their compact size, allowing a PC to be powerful yet not occupy much space or compromise on features.What is the best Mini ITX PC case right now?There are a lot of PC cases out there, from cheap, poor-quality sludge to high-quality units packed with features and stylish exteriors. I've tested a lot of PC cases over the close to three decades that I've been building PCs, and one manufacturer has always delivered the goods, which is why I give the top spot to the Thermaltake Tower 200 Mini-ITX case.Whether you're building a general, all-purpose PC or a high-performance gaming system, you can't go wrong with this case. Read on to discover all of my recommendations for the best Mini ITX PC cases available on the market today. Sort by All The best Mini ITX PC cases of 2025 Show less View now at B&H Photo-Video Thermaltake is one of my top full-sized PC cases and cooler makers, and as such, it's no surprise that the company also makes a high-quality Mini-ITX gaming case.This case has it all well built, fantastic airflow, quality fans packed with LEDs, and room for some of the biggest coolers, power supplies, and graphics cards. All the edges are smoothed and rounded, so there's nothing to slice your hand open on, which is a welcomed touch.You can also pick up an optional for the case that displays real-time information, time, weather, and much more--handy albeit rather pricey addition.Thermaltake Tower 200features:Great airflow | Plenty of space to accommodate large graphics card and cooling radiator| Glass panel construction| Optional display Pros Spacious with excellent cooling Built in cable management Optional LCD panel is a great touch Cons Glass cases get dirty easy Some people really detest cases with LEDs Case won't accommodate some motherboard Wi-Fi antennas Thermaltake is one of my top full-sized PC cases and cooler makers, and as such, it's no surprise that the company also makes a high-quality Mini-ITX gaming case.This case has it all well built, fantastic airflow, quality fans packed with LEDs, and room for some of the biggest coolers, power supplies, and graphics cards. All the edges are smoothed and rounded, so there's nothing to slice your hand open on, which is a welcomed touch.You can also pick up an optional for the case that displays real-time information, time, weather, and much more--handy albeit rather pricey addition.Thermaltake Tower 200features:Great airflow | Plenty of space to accommodate large graphics card and cooling radiator| Glass panel construction| Optional display Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at B&H Photo-Video The Fractal Design Mood Light Gray PC Case's design centers on style. This mini-tower seamlessly compliments modern interiors and provides efficient cooling for hard-core gaming PCs. It features a sleek fabric exterior and a compact footprint and is entirely compatible with Mini-ITX motherboards.But don't let the compact size fool you this case can accommodate graphics cards up to 325mm in length, CPU air coolers up to 114 mm in height, and radiators up to 280 mm.The case also includes a 180mm top fan for optimal airflow and easy access for building and upgrades, making it an attractive choice for gamers looking for both aesthetics and functionality.Fractal Design Mood LightfeaturesFabric outer | Small footprint | Built-in cooling fan | Front-facing ports Pros Very stylish Super quiet Runs cool Cons Will only accept SFF (Small Form Factor) graphics cards Fabric cases catch a lot of dust Expensive The Fractal Design Mood Light Gray PC Case's design centers on style. This mini-tower seamlessly compliments modern interiors and provides efficient cooling for hard-core gaming PCs. It features a sleek fabric exterior and a compact footprint and is entirely compatible with Mini-ITX motherboards.But don't let the compact size fool you this case can accommodate graphics cards up to 325mm in length, CPU air coolers up to 114 mm in height, and radiators up to 280 mm.The case also includes a 180mm top fan for optimal airflow and easy access for building and upgrades, making it an attractive choice for gamers looking for both aesthetics and functionality.Fractal Design Mood LightfeaturesFabric outer | Small footprint | Built-in cooling fan | Front-facing ports Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon I'm old enough to remember the bad old days of PC cases poorly made, full of sharp edges, and requiring a toolbox to assemble. One of the standout features of the JONSBO C6-ITX Handled Mesh PC Case is its tool-free assembly, which simplifies the building process for both novice and experienced users.This is a compact and versatile case that supports both ITX and Mini-DTX motherboards, making it suitable for a variety of builds. It features a sleek mesh design that allows for excellent airflow, keeping the components running cool even under heavy loads. In addition, if you need to transport your PC, this case features a carry handle.JONSBO C6-ITXfeatures:Metal mesh panels| Tool-free design| Built-in air inlet filters | Built-in velcro carry handle Pros Excellent value for money Great airflow Tool-free design Cons Interior is rather cramped Replacing fans fr slimline fans increases available space I'm old enough to remember the bad old days of PC cases poorly made, full of sharp edges, and requiring a toolbox to assemble. One of the standout features of the JONSBO C6-ITX Handled Mesh PC Case is its tool-free assembly, which simplifies the building process for both novice and experienced users.This is a compact and versatile case that supports both ITX and Mini-DTX motherboards, making it suitable for a variety of builds. It features a sleek mesh design that allows for excellent airflow, keeping the components running cool even under heavy loads. In addition, if you need to transport your PC, this case features a carry handle.JONSBO C6-ITXfeatures:Metal mesh panels| Tool-free design| Built-in air inlet filters | Built-in velcro carry handle Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon Need a Mini-ITX case that can house some of the biggest graphic cards? The BitFenix Prodigy M 2022 can hold the Nvidia RTX 3090 or AMD RX6900XT. Mesh panels and ample fans allow for generous airflow, while a good helping of LED lighting adds visual entertainment.With airflow comes the inevitable accumulation of airborne detritus, so this case is equipped with filters to prevent dirt, dust, and hair from getting into the system.The case also features dual handles on the top and bottom, which also serve as convenient feet for the case.BitFenix Prodigy M 2022features:Stylish, space-age look | Room for large graphics cards, radiators, and coolers| RGB fans | Plastic construction Pros Great airflow Stylish Lots of room Cons Side panels plastic not glass Inside is cramped, making building the PC tricky Some sharp edges, so take care Need a Mini-ITX case that can house some of the biggest graphic cards? The BitFenix Prodigy M 2022 can hold the Nvidia RTX 3090 or AMD RX6900XT. Mesh panels and ample fans allow for generous airflow, while a good helping of LED lighting adds visual entertainment.With airflow comes the inevitable accumulation of airborne detritus, so this case is equipped with filters to prevent dirt, dust, and hair from getting into the system.The case also features dual handles on the top and bottom, which also serve as convenient feet for the case.BitFenix Prodigy M 2022features:Stylish, space-age look | Room for large graphics cards, radiators, and coolers| RGB fans | Plastic construction Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best Mini ITX PC case? I've been a big Thermaltake fan for several decades now, and the Thermaltake Tower 200 definitely doesn't disappoint. It's a perfect, all-purpose Mini ITX case and is my top choice.Mini ITX PC CasePriceFull-size GPU supportWater cooling supportOuterRGB supportThermaltake Tower 200$80YesYesMetal mesh/glassYesFractal Design Mood$150YesYesFabric meshNoJONSBO C6-ITX$60NoYesMetal meshNoBitFenix Prodigy M 2022$90YesYesPlastic/fabric meshYes Show more Which is the right Mini ITX PC case for you? Choose this Mini ITX caseIf you wantThermaltake Tower 200The best option overall.Fractal Design MoodThis is for those who crave style. This is less a PC case and more a feature or statement!JONSBO C6-ITXA cheap and cheerful case. This is a fantastic case for the price.BitFenix Prodigy M 2022A modern space-age look. Perfect for LAN parties! Show more How did I choose these Mini ITX PC cases? There are a lot of Mini ITX PC cases on the market from a variety of different vendors, and I've tested and used several from some of the vendors listed here (specifically Thermaltake and Fractal Design), and so I've based my selections both on my experience using these brands, as well as user reviews.Product specs and price also come into play, but being able to draw on dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other people's views allows me to get a broad sense of how well-received a selected PC case is. I've paid particular attention to reports of quality, ease of use, how quiet or noisy the case is, cooling and airflow, and weeded out many that seemed to be poor quality. Show more FAQs on Mini ITX PC cases What is Mini ITX? Mini-ITX is a compact motherboard form factor. It measures 170 mm x 170 mm, and it has become a popular choice in recent years by those looking to build compact PCs without sacrificing performance. Show more How do you deal with the dust in a Mini ITX PC case? Dust is more of a problem here, as there's less room for airflow, and even small accumulations can cause hot spots to form.Dealing with it is the same as dealing with any other PC case. Wipe the panels with a dry microfiber cloth, dust any mesh fabric panels, clean the air filters in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and use compressed air to remove dust buildup inside the PC. Show more What are the advantages of a Mini ITX PC? People often choose to invest in a mini PC for these reasons:Space-saving:The top benefit of going for a mini PC is that it takes up significantly less space than traditional desktop PCs.Portable:Mini PCs are lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for users who need computing power on the go.Energy efficiency:Most mini PCs consume significantly less power than a similarly-specced desktop system, which can lead to cost savings on electricity.Quiet:These systems are built with quiet fans and good airflow, so they are far quieter than traditional systems. Show more Other Mini ITX PC cases worth considering Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra is tipped to receive a free Gemini AI Advanced subscription not provided ... [+] with the Galaxy S24 Ultra (pictured)gettyGalaxy S25-series customers look likely to receive a valuable free offer previously made available only to Google Pixel owners.Jan 02 Update below: Ive added more details about Googles existing Gemini Advanced free trial offers and what it might mean for Samsung Galaxy S25 series customersAccording to a new Android Authority report from the teardown specialist Assemble Debug, Samsungs soon-to-be-released Galaxy S25 handsets could come bundled with a free Google Gemini Advanced AI subscription of up to one year worth up to $239.88 (see below).While neither Samsung nor Google has officially announced the offer, code strings within the latest Google app beta version suggest that Samsung Galaxy S25-series smartphones will also receive a Gemini Advanced subscription of between three months and a year, depending on the specific smartphone model.Free Gemini Advanced For Up To One YearThe text strings read as follows:"assistant_zero_state_google_one_samsung_eft_upsell_body_nine_months";Your device gives you access to a {nine}-month subscription to Gemini Advanced, with access to our most capable AI models, at no cost"assistant_zero_state_google_one_samsung_eft_upsell_body_one_year";Your device gives you access to a {one} year subscription to Gemini Advanced, with access to our most capable AI models, at no cost"assistant_zero_state_google_one_samsung_eft_upsell_body_six_months";Your device gives you access to a {six}-month subscription to Gemini Advanced, with access to our most capable AI models, at no cost"assistant_zero_state_google_one_samsung_eft_upsell_body_three_months";Your device gives you access to a {three}-month subscription to Gemini Advanced, with access to our most capable AI models, at no costWhat is Gemini Advanced?Gemini Advanced is Googles subscriber-only AI chatbot service, which provides access to Googles latest and most powerful models. The standard version is free to use, but Gemini Advanced requires a pricey ongoing subscription. A bundled Gemini Advanced subscription would, therefore, add significant value to any smartphone purchase.More Than Just Gemini AdvancedAny offer of Gemini Advanced will likely include much more than access to Googles best AI models because Gemini Advanced is currently available only as part of Googles $19.99 per month AI Premium Google One plan, which is worth $239.88 for the year.Read More: New Samsung Leak Confirms Disappointing Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera UpgradeThis subscription tier comes with 2TB of Google One storage, deep AI integration within Googles apps such as Gmail and Docs, premium Google Workspace features and 10% back in the Google Store.The information available so far doesnt state that Galaxy S25 owners will receive a full Google One AI Premium subscription, but thats the deal Pixel 9 customers received, so it would be reasonable to expect Google to provide the same for Samsung customers, especially as theres currently no way to subscribe to Gemini Advanced other than with Google One AI Premium.Jan 02 Update: There are some important details to note regarding Googles existing Gemini Advanced trials and how they might affect Samsung Galaxy S25-series customers.If Samsungs Gemini Advanced Free trial offer mirrors the one offered to Google Pixel 9 Pro customers, then there are a few crucial points to keep in mind. Not everyone will be eligible for the offer, and you cant simply order a Galaxy S25 Ultra and return it to bag a years subscription to Google One AI Premium.Googles official terms and conditions for the Gemini Advanced subscription bundled with the Pixel 9 Pro offer include the following essential details:Users must be 18 years or older.Your Google One account cannot be billed via a third party (such as Apple or your network operator).The offer does not apply to Pixel Pass or Google One family plan members.The offer does not apply to Google One members on a 5 TB plan or above.Unless canceled earlier, the offer will automatically convert into a paid subscription at the end of the trial period.Return of purchased device may result in the cancelation of the subscription.You can read more about how Googles free Gemini Advanced trial operates for Google Pixel 9-series owners here. I would expect something very similar to be made available to Galaxy S25-series customers, although we wont know for sure until Samsung officially announces the deal.Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.

2024 BusinessgettyPerhaps the new year is a good time to look back on the old year, and see where weve come within the annual cycle.There will never be another year like 2024 again for artificial intelligence.Throughout the year, obscure product demos became household names. People started to really zero in on using non-human sentient agents for problems like climate change. We also saw radical changes in the infrastructure behind these models.I was looking at some of the round ups that are out there as we launch into the new year. This one is fairly detailed, and has several dozen points, many of which Ive covered on this blog. But here are some of the big ones that stand out to me as I look back through the last 365 days.AGI is CloserOne of the overarching ideas that comes back, time and time again, is that were closer to AGI than we thought we were at the beginning of last year.Heres a survey that I did with a variety of people close to the industry in January. You can see those different time frame predictions, balanced against each other.MORE FOR YOUNow, though, much of the cognoscenti is thinking that were on the cusp of AGI itself right now. So a good number of those forecasts are going to be revised a lot.AI Can Solve LanguageToward the end of the year, we also found out that we actually have the power right now to build real-time translation into our consumer products.That mainly came about through the demos of Metas AI Ray-Ban glasses just weeks ago. When Mark Zuckerberg interviews people with the AI engine that transforms his question to other languages in real time, we see this technology at work.Language is important, too.I was looking at this interview with Lex Fridman from last February, where he was talking about the importance of applying AI to different world languages. We cant take for granted, he explained, that people speak English.Anything where there's interaction going on with a product, all of that should be captured, all that should be converted into data, he said at the time. And that's going to be the advantage - the algorithms don't matter you have to be able to fine-tune it to each individual person, and do that, not across a single day or single interaction, but across a lifetime, where you share memories, the low, the highs, and the lows, with your large language model.Ive consistently brought the analogy of the tower of Bible story to the process of figuring out how to use AI to communicate. Its a reverse tower of Babel in which various language speakers come together to celebrate their new ability to understand one another without the use of a human translator.So thats something else that was brand new in 2024.The Transformer is the Engine, but Its Also ReplaceableAs 2024 wore on, I covered the use of transformers in new language model systems.Experts talk about the transformer as an attention mechanism that allows the program to focus on things that matter more, to it, and to the human user.But 2024 also brought glimmers of brand-new concepts to replace the transformer, ideas that move toward the realm of quantum computing and super powerful processing of information thats not gated by a traditional logic structure.Which brings me to my next point, which is extra-important.Revolutionizing Neural Network CapacityAnother thing we saw grow in prominence is liquid neural networks.Now is the time to add the usual disclaimer that I have consulted on liquid neural network projects tackled by the MIT CSAIL lab group under director Daniela Rus. So I have some personal affiliation with this trend.Liquid neural networks change the essential structure of the digital organism, in order to allow for much more powerful AI cognition on fewer resources.Thats, to a large extent, the type of thing thats been useful in allowing people to put powerful LLMs on edge devices like smartphones. Its probably the deciding factor in the ability of Google to roll out Gemini on personal devices late this year. So now were able to talk to our pockets quite literally, and thats a big difference. Part of the acceptance of AI itself is going to be in its ubiquity where we encounter it, and how it impacts our lives.AI is Winning at MultimediaHeres one more big overarching premise of the work that people have done with AI in 2024. It has to do with media.I looked back, and it turns out I covered an early notice on OpenAIs Sora in February. And sure enough, late last year we saw an early version roll out. I used it personally to create some interesting and whimsical little film clips, all without any casting or shooting or production at all. It was pretty amazing.Thats not to mention the groundbreaking text-to-podcast model where you can actually plug in a PDF or some resource info sheet, and have two non-human people gabbing about your chosen topic, sounding exactly like a couple of traditional disc jockeys. (Also: check out the brand-new blizzard of stories about Scarlett Johansen protesting the use of a Scarlett-esque voice for the now-pulled Sky assistant.)This is another example of personal use of AI to bring home the point that were in a new era now. As you listen to these people talk, or even interact with them in conversation, you have to ask yourself: are these people real? And how do I know that? Theyre responding to me personally in real time how do they do that if they dont exist?You could call this a deep Turing test, and its clear that the systems are passing with flying colors.Anyway, thats our roundup for 2024. Theres a lot more, of course, from genomics to publishing, and everything in between, but now that were past the auld lang syne, people are asking themselves whats to come in 2025? Well see, pretty soon.

In a nutshell: The average American spent $42.38 per month on streaming-based subscriptions in 2024. That works out to just over $500 per year - or around $30,000 over a lifetime - but is actually less than the previous year by a significant margin. According to Review's annual State of Consumer Media Spending Report, the average American spent 23 percent less on streaming subscriptions in 2024 than in 2023.Streaming services are a way of life for millions seeking their entertainment fix. The sheer number of services available to choose from makes it easy to keep up with current shows or rewatch your favorites on your own time, but too much of a good thing can sometimes backfire as some are finding out.Of those surveyed, 27.8 percent said they are experiencing streaming fatigue - or the feeling of being overwhelmed by the growing number of streaming apps on the market. And with the cost of goods and services at an all-time high, it's hitting folks in the wallet as well.The report additionally found that the average American has two streaming subscriptions, and watches three hours and 49 minutes of content each day. More than a quarter of subscribers - 26.5 percent - share subscriptions with others to save on cost although with recent crackdowns on password sharing, that might not be an option for much longer.As such, Reviews recommends downsizing the number of subscriptions you pay for each month or spending more time using free services if you're looking to cut down on costs in the New Year. For example, you could stagger subscriptions by signing up for a service temporarily to watch a specific show or movie and canceling when you are finished. It's also wise to keep an eye out for free trials, discounts, and limited-time streaming deals like those occasionally offered from Internet and mobile providers. // Related StoriesI'm planning on cutting my live TV service in the next few weeks once college football wraps up and look forward to the extra savings each month.

In brief: Lawson, the Japanese convenience store chain, has come up with a novel approach to address the country's chronic labor shortage: hiring remote workers from overseas. At first glance, this might not seem like a groundbreaking idea, but the twist lies in how these employees contribute. Despite being based abroad, they can virtually assist in stores by operating lifelike avatar clerks. Interactions through the new system function similarly to a video call for customers, except they interact with cartoon avatars rather than seeing the actual clerk. The remote operator's movements are replicated using cameras, allowing for a more dynamic experience. While this approach might feel a bit impersonal, the avatar system could help ensure these essential stores remain operational and accessible around the clock.A survey by Nikkei revealed that last year, an astounding 62.5 percent of franchise owners struggled to find enough part-time staff to keep their stores open 24/7. Lawson's innovative solution aims to address this challenge head-on.The company launched its first overseas cashier this month, operated by a Japanese national living in Sweden. Leveraging the eight-hour time difference, this remote worker can virtually "man" the graveyard shift in Japan while working during regular business hours in Sweden. Their avatar is projected onto screens at Lawson locations in Tokyo and Osaka, assisting customers with self-checkout as needed.Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu has announced plans to expand the remote avatar workforce to other time zones, including regions like Brazil and New York. The goal is to boost productivity by tapping into underutilized labor pools in areas with significant time differences from Japan.The avatar technology, developed by Tokyo-based startup Avita, was introduced in collaboration with Lawson in 2022. By late 2024, the system had been implemented at 28 stores across major Japanese cities, with approximately 70 employees trained to operate the virtual clerks. Early results have been encouraging Lawson projects the avatars will save over 90 minutes of staffing time per store per day on average. // Related StoriesNotably, this marks the first instance of Lawson hiring a remote worker based overseas.Lawson's move highlights a broader issue: Japan's deepening labor crisis. With a declining population, the shortage of part-time and low-wage workers has become a serious problem. Despite innovations like avatar clerks, 37.5 percent of store operators still foresee staffing challenges in the fiscal year ending in March.Image credit: Keiichiro Sato

HBOTable of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Regime sticks to a binary versus structure that makes it a pain to watchA problematic portrayalNo direction homeIm not a professional critic, but Ive been designated Digital Trends Hater of the Year, something I wear with great pride. (And just a touch of fear.) While I was more than eager to complain about Trap, a movie that makes me viscerally angry to even think about, the TV show I hated most didnt immediately come to mind.In desperation, I scanned the Emmy nominations for inspiration and, sure enough, I found a winner or, rather, loser: The Regime. I had literally forgotten about because I gave up back in April after watching the first miserable episode.The Regime | Official Teaser | MaxFor your entertainment, I spent a few days of my life this week watching the entire putrid season. I wont spend nearly as many words on this tripe as I did on Trap because the problemsThe Regime arent quite as specific. In large part, they can be summed up with one word: paradox.Recommended VideosHBOThe Regime seems intentional with its use of paradox to expose political hypocrisies and emphasize the cyclical nature of political history, especially those committed by the United States in foreign diplomacy.RelatedDrama versus comedy, past versus present, Capitalism versus Marxism, fantasy versus. reality, domination versus conciliation The Regime navigates conflicts between all of these ideas, but ultimately bites off far more than it can chew, resulting in strange pacing, poor character development, and a plot that is patently unbelievable, especially when you consider the historicity that its clearly based on.Kate Winslet Welcomes You to The Regime | The Regime | MaxLets be clear: The Regime is a postmodern retelling of Grigori Rasputins infiltration of Czar Nicholas IIs court, right down to Chancellor Elena Vernhams (Kate Winslet) husband consort being named Nicholas. This fact is so obvious that the choice to set this unnamed country with a Marxist history in Central Europe and make it completely oblivious to Russian history is consistently infuriating.This context would, unsurprisingly, be incredibly valuable to Vernham, a once-powerful autocrat who is losing her grip on both her power and her reality. Believing the air around her is constantly poisoned by mold, she enlists a particularly vicious army corporal who killed 12 miners in the unseen moments before the show to be her personal moisture reader. Why him? She wanted one of the soldiers responsible for this global embarrassment.HBOVernham, you might think from this decision, is a ruthless dictator who completely dominates all in her sphere.The Regime very quickly ventures to prove the exact opposite, to the point that Vernham might be one of the most misogynistic characters Ive seen on television. Within roughly 45 minutes, shes characterized with basically every stereotype youve ever heard about women in power: Shes impulsive, shes irrational, shes emotional, shes overwhelmingly influenced by others. But most importantly, she has such a debilitating need to be loved that she regularly converses with her dead father, whom she keeps entombed like Vladimir Lenin, to make herself feel good.Not only is she feckless but in a world dominated by men in which she, supposedly, was at one time the puppet master, she becomes the complete puppet of Zubak in one episode. Its impossible to believe that this talentless, guileless, easily manipulated, and violently narcissistic woman was ever elected to power in the first place. Being mean is not a leadership trait, and its the one she falls back on repeatedly throughout the series.When Vernham does finally begin to regain her agency, its only because she had the sternest talking-to yet by Lenin her dead dad, who basically tells her to be the absolute worst leader possible. Her entire identity is tied to the control of less-powerful men.HBOMoreover, Vernham, like the plot ofThe Regime, appears to have no direction. Theres no clear motivation. She regularly talks about her dream, but its never really clear what that is. Initially, she seems to want to create an isolationist autocracy that retains complete control of its natural resources. But she, or representatives of her government, also say they want a true democracy, admission to NATO, and regional war to bait America. In the opening scene, we hear her military killed 12 protesting miners. By episode 3, Zubak has Vernham declaring the return of all private property to the people despite her spiderweb of corrupt personal holdings and invades a neighboring country in exact parallel to Putins actions in Ukraine. By episode 4, shes become a Chinese puppet.The plot and motives are all over the place, the characters are unforgivably stupid and ill-defined, and you cant help but feel whiplash between episodes. Its not tension its a lack of conviction.The Regime seems to want to satirize Russian history, criticize U.S. and Chinese imperialism, and celebrate self-determinism. It succeeds only at being almost completely impossible to follow which is perhaps its greatest tribute to Russian history.The Regime is streaming on Max.Editors Recommendations

A new phone from OnePlus is on the horizon, and it should attract lots of attention thanks to its purported battery capacity. The OnePlus Ace 5V is expected to join the OnePlus Ace 5 and Ace 5 Pro in the Chinese market. It may also be launched internationally as the OnePlus Nord 5, according to GSMArena.The OnePlus Ace 5V is anticipated to feature a substantial 7,000mAh battery capacity. In comparison, the forthcoming OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R will likely have battery capacities of 6,000mAh. By contrast, two of the bestselling phones on the market, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra, offer battery capacities of 4,685mAh and 5,000mAh, respectively.Recommended VideosWhat should we expect from a phone with a 7,000mAh battery? Expect this to be at leasta two-day phone per charge if not one that can last for three days on a single charge.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe OnePlus Ace 5V is also expected to be powered by the yet-to-be-announced MediaTek Dimensity 9350. This new chip is anticipated to compete with Qualcomms upcoming Snapdragon 8s Elite, which will succeed the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. The Dimensity 9350 is rumored to provide slight performance enhancements over the 9300 and improved power efficiency. Rumors also suggest the new phone will have a 1.5K resolution flat screen.RelatedThe OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R are expected to be announced on Tuesday, January 7. However, the OnePlus Ace 5V/OnePlus Nord 5 will not be released simultaneously. When it does arrive, it will not be officially available in the U.S. The current OnePlus Nord 4 is marketed in India and select regions in Europe and Asia, while in North America, it is only available through third-party retailers.Editors Recommendations

Happy New Year! AT&T is starting 2025 by increasing the bills for some of its customers.According to Android Authority, AT&T FirstNet customers will soon see a monthly price increase of $3 per line. This change has been confirmed in a posting on the AT&T website.Recommended VideosAT&T FirstNet is a dedicated wireless broadband network specifically designed for first responders and public safety personnel in the U.S. It was developed through a partnership between the federal government and AT&T.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe company states that the price increase will help it continue to deliver the great wireless service you expect.RelatedFor AT&T FirstNet customers who activated their service after April 15, the price change will not take effect until they have completed nine months of service. During this period, these customers will receive a $3 monthly credit to offset the upcoming increase.AT&T FirstNet customers have enjoyed some of the lowest bills in the industry. With a recent change, their monthly charges will increase from $45 to $48, reflecting an approximate 7% hike.The price hike applies to FirstNet unlimited smartphone and data-only plans.Created by X's GrokNo doubt, this wont be the only price hike implemented by AT&T, the second-largest U.S. carrier, in the next 12 months. In 2024, we counted at least three price hikes, including a $10 increase per line for those on some older unlimited plans that was announced in June.Verizon, the nations No. 1 carrier, also raised prices last year, as did T-Mobile, the third-largest carrier.FirstNet is available to many public safety agencies and personnel, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS), health care professionals, and more.Editors Recommendations

Doing well by doing good Final Reminder: Donate today to win swag in our annual Charity Drive sweepstakes You have until the end of the day Thursday to enter and add to our charity haul. Kyle Orland Jan 2, 2025 11:22 am | 0 Just some of the prizes you can win in this years Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes Credit: Kyle Orland Just some of the prizes you can win in this years Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes Credit: Kyle Orland Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIf you've been too busy reading about giant old TVs to take part in this year's Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes, don't worry. You still have a little bit of time to donate to a good cause and get a chance to win your share of over $4,000 worth of swag (no purchase necessary to win).In the first weeks of the drive, hundreds of readers contributed tens of thousands of dollars to either the Electronic Frontier Foundation or Child's Play as part of the charity drive. But we're now in the final day of our attempt to best 2020's record haul of over $58,000.Entries have to be received by the end of the day today (Thursday, January 2) to be considered for the sweepstakes, so if you've been putting off a donation/entry, now is the time to pull the trigger. Do yourself and the charities involved a favor and give now while you're thinking about it.See below for instructions on how to enter and check out the Charity Drive kickoff post for a complete list of available prizes.How it worksDonating is easy. Simply donate to Child's Play using a credit card or PayPal or donate to the EFF using PayPal, credit card, or cryptocurrency. You can also support Child's Play directly by using this Ars Technica campaign page or by picking an item from the Amazon wish list of a specific hospital on its donation page. Donate as much or as little as you feel comfortable withevery bit helps.Once that's done, it's time to register your entry in our sweepstakes. Just grab a digital copy of your receipt (a forwarded email, a screenshot, or simply a cut-and-paste of the text) and send it to ArsCharityDrive@gmail.com with your name, postal address, daytime telephone number, and email address by 11:59 pm ET Wednesday, January 2, 2025.One entry per person, and each person can only win up to one prize. US residents only. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See the official rules for more information, including how to enter without making a donation. Also, refer to the Ars Technica privacy policy (https://www.condenast.com/privacy-policy).We'll then contact the winners and have them choose their prize by January 31, 2025 (choosing takes place in the order the winners are drawn). Good luck!Kyle OrlandSenior Gaming EditorKyle OrlandSenior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 0 Comments

Blocked Almost the entire US South is now being blocked by Pornhub Supreme Court ruling could end Pornhub blackout across US South. Ashley Belanger Jan 2, 2025 11:16 am | 12 Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt's getting harder to access popular adult sites in the US South.On Wednesday, Pornhub's owner, Aylo, kicked off the new year by blocking three more states that implemented age verification laws requiring ID to access porn. According to 404 Media, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee are now among 17 states where Aylo sites, including Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn, cannot be accessed.The other blocked states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Mapping it out, 404 Media noted that the Aylo blackout spans nearly the entire US South, with Georgia's age verification law set to take effect in July and likely to trigger another block that would almost complete the blackout.When users in any of the blocked states attempt to access sites like Pornhub, they see a message from adult performer Cherie Deville informing them that access is blocked for their own safety.Aylo has long argued that age verification laws intended to protect kids from accessing adult content are flawed. Rather than keeping kids away from adult materials, these laws actually serve to restrict adult activity online, Aylo argues.Aylo also says that requiring ID simply drives adult users to riskier adult sites that won't comply with laws or moderate content wrongfully uploaded without performers' consent, as Pornhub and other Aylo sites claim to do. And requiring adult sites to store personal information about each user also poses privacy risks, Aylo warned in a statement to 404 Media."First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults," Aylo said. "Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide, including Florida, have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws."Perhaps the easiest way to evade state age verification laws is by using a VPN to mask a user's location. According to a report from VPNMentor's cybersecurity and research lab, VPN use in Florida jumped by as much as 1,150 percent within hours of the age verification law coming into force on January 1. That's even higher than the 967 percent spike in VPN use that VPNMentor saw in Utah in 2023 and substantially higher than a Texas spike of 234 percentperhaps indicating that users are getting savvier at quickly securing VPN workarounds.Some First Amendment advocates, including the Free Speech Coalition, have joined Aylo's fight and are pushing the Supreme Court to block Texas' law. Many digital rights advocates and First Amendment scholars have filed briefs in support of the Free Speech Coalition, which has urged the Supreme Court to agree that Texas' law is not narrowly tailored and "burdens vast quantities of speech protected for everyone." If advocates win, the Supreme Court may order an injunction that could impact all states that passed essentially copycat legislation, potentially ending Aylo's long war against "haphazard" age-verification laws in the US.In its most recent filing, Texas argued that only intermediate scrutiny should be applied, pushing SCOTUS to agree that Texas has no other remedy to protect kids online. Texas claims that if Pornhub can verify the ages of content providers, it should have no problem verifying the ages of viewers.Oral arguments in that case begin on January 15.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 12 Comments