Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit, accusing the company of violating user privacy due to recording conversations after accidentally activating Siri.Siri was the target of a privacy-based lawsuitThe preliminary settlement, filed in an Oakland, California federal court on Tuesday, sees Apple proposing a payment of $95 million to the class to end the 2019 lawsuit.The class consists of customers who used Siri-enabled Apple products from September 17, 2014 to December 31, 2024. With tens of millions of potential class members, each may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Though she faced many challengesincluding the loss of her left eyethe gray wolf named 907F persevered and lived to be more than 11 years old. National Park Service / Jeremy SunderRajOne of Yellowstone National Parks most famous gray wolves, an 11-year-old matriarch who was blind in one eye, has died after a fight with a rival pack.Nicknamed the queen of the wolves, 907F lived much longer than most grey wolves (Canis lupus) at Yellowstone, which have an average lifespan of four to five years. She was the alpha female of the Junction Butte pack, which prowls the parks northern range.On December 22, 907F and several of her pups were eating a bison carcass on the north side of the Yellowstone River, reports Cowboy State Dailys Mark Heinz. For unknown reasons, members of the rival Rescue Creek pack crossed the river and launched an attack.After the fight, Taylor Rabe, a wildlife technician with the Yellowstone Wolf, Cougar and Elk Project, kept tabs on the signals coming from 907Fs radio collar. For the first two days, the collar indicated 907F was still alive.But, three days after the conflict, on Christmas Day, 907F succumbed to her injuries. Her collar later signaled mortality, which occurs when the wolf wearing it hasnt moved in 12 hours. Rabe recovered and froze 907Fs body, which will undergo a full necropsy.Its sad. But we always like to see a wolf die naturally, rather than at the hands of a human, Rabe tells Cowboy State Daily. It gives us peace to know that she went in a natural manner. Wolf 907F wore a radio collar that ultimately sent biologists the "mortality" signal. Taylor RabeOver the years, 907F had become a bit of a celebritymuch like 399, a female grizzly bear that lived in nearby Grand Teton National Park. But while 907F died of natural causes, 399 was struck and killed by a vehicle on October 22 at the age of 28. Grizzly 399 left behind a cub, and some conservationists have argued that her death was preventable.Many wildlife enthusiasts noted the sharp contrast between how the two charismatic creatures died.[907F] lived a wild life, says Deby Dixon, a professional wildlife photographer, to KTVQs Isabel Spartz. She wasnt killed by a hunter. She wasnt killed by a car. She never got into any trouble. She got to live and die as a wild wolf, and 399 didnt get that chance.Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, another wildlife photographer, echoed that sentiment.Although [907Fs death] would have been violent, its more comforting to know she died a natural death rather than suffering 399s fate, he tells Cowboy State Daily.To make it to age 11or 11.8, to be exact907F had to overcome her fair share of challenges. As Sheena Goodyear wrote for CBC Radioin June, 907F was a shrewd survivor, a wise elder, a prolific motherand an absolute boss.Born in the spring of 2013, 907F contracted mangean itchy, contagious skin condition caused by mitesearly in life, which led to the loss of half the fur on her tail, per the Billings Gazettes Brett French. She lost her left eye around the age of 4, though biologists dont know what happenedpossibly an infection or injury.Later in life, the wolf walked with a limp, but that didnt stop her from mating and raising pups. Last May, she gave birth to her tenth litter.Just six total Yellowstone wolves, including 907F, have lived to be 11 since the predators were reintroduced to the 2.2-million-acre park in 1995. The oldest known wolf at Yellowstone, a female named 478F, lived to be 12.5 years old.Though she was ultimately killed by a rival pack, 907Fs advanced age likely contributed to the overall success of her Junction Butte pack in battle over the years.Packs that have elderly wolves are much more successful in those pack-versus-pack conflicts because of the accumulated knowledge and the experience that they bring to that really stressful situation, Kira Cassidy, a researcher with the Yellowstone Wolf Project, told Live Sciences Patrick Pester in June.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Animals, Death, Mammals, National Parks, wildlife, Wolves, Yellowstone National Park

Ever since Microsoft first introduced its Arm-based Copilot Plus laptops in June, Ive been wondering when we might see Copilot Plus features appear on desktop PCs. Six months on, its clear were about to see mini PCs that deliver the AI performance required for features like Recall, Click To Do, and AI-powered image generation and editing in Windows 11. These mini PCs might even help Microsoft compete with Apples latest Mac Mini.Asus became the first PC manufacturer to announce a mini PC thats Copilot Plus capable in September. It then revealed the full specs of its upcoming NUC 14 Pro AI last month, ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that kicks off next week. Asus mini PC even has a Copilot button on the front and is almost identical to the size of Apples latest Mac Mini.The timing of Asus spec drop came on the same day that Taiwanese company Geekom revealed three new mini PCs that it will showcase at CES. Geekom is releasing a mini PC with AMDs Strix Point CPUs inside and one with Qualcomms Snapdragon X Elite processor, meaning both will be Copilot Plus compatible. The third model is powered by Intels unannounced Arrow Lake-H laptop processors, which are unlikely to have an NPU sufficient enough to be Copilot Plus compatible.Im going to be paying close attention to CES next week to see if there are any other Windows OEMs that are ready to launch Copilot Plus mini PCs. CES is usually a launch point for Microsofts latest laptop or tablet initiatives, and last year the company convinced OEMs to put a Copilot key on their laptop keyboards. Asus wouldnt be adding a Copilot button on the front of its own mini PC without Microsofts involvement, so I wonder how many other PC makers Microsoft has been working with to add dedicated Copilot buttons.Geekoms mention of Qualcomm chips inside its mini PC means well start to see Qualcomms latest chips venture beyond laptops for the first time. Qualcomm was supposed to ship its mini PC Snapdragon Dev Kit in June alongside Copilot Plus laptops, but it ended up canceling it months later after issues with manufacturing the device. Qualcomm has also teased that its Snapdragon X Elite chips could appear in mini PCs or even all-in-one PCs, so perhaps well see some Copilot Plus all-in-one PCs next week, too.Im still waiting to see when we might get Copilot Plus features on traditional powerful desktop PCs. Intels latest Core Ultra desktop CPU arrived in October with an NPU inside, but it wasnt capable enough to hit the 40 TOPS requirement that Microsoft mandates for Copilot Plus features. Were going to have to wait until next-gen desktop CPUs from Intel and AMD arrive to see if more capable NPUs are a priority for chipmakers. Until then, mini PCs and all-in-one PCs that use laptop processors are going to be the only way to get Copilot Plus features in a desktop PC form factor.While Copilot Plus features remain limited to Windows PCs, that doesnt mean that we wont see the main Copilot assistant appear on more devices. Ive heard from multiple sources familiar with Microsofts plans that the company is keen to get Copilot on devices beyond just PCs, phones, and tablets.We might well see Copilot appear on some unexpected hardware at CES next week, just as Microsoft has also been hinting about its ambitions for dedicated AI hardware in recent months. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri admitted in an October Notepad interview that the power of modern AI models will free up the ability to innovate in hardware and come out with purpose-built hardware.Davuluri stopped short of detailing what dedicated AI hardware would look like for Microsoft, but weeks later Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft, dropped some additional hints in an underreported interview with YouTuber Austin Evans.These devices that see the world, that you wear on your body, on your person, I think that those combined with AI will be very valuable, said Mehdi in late October. It can do image recognition, it can talk to you about whats going on. I think thats a fascinating place that well go.Later in the interview Mehdi also describes wearable health-related devices as exciting and a big opportunity for the future. Microsoft then confirmed last month that Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has hired multiple former colleagues to help run a new AI health unit. Its hard to imagine Microsoft venturing into fitness wearables again after the Microsoft Band was scrapped in 2016, but I could definitely see the company wanting to partner with device manufacturers and offer up AI-powered health services for these types of devices.Either way, 2025 wont see Microsoft slow down with its ambition to get Copilot on all the screens we look at every day.The pad:2024 was a big year for Windows on Arm. While Microsoft has been pushing the year of the AI PC throughout 2024, I think it was a bigger moment for Windows on Arm. Copilot Plus PCs ushered in some really solid improvements in performance, compatibility, and battery life for Windows on Arm this year. I still cant quite believe Im using an Arm-powered Windows laptop every day.A weird Windows 11 bug wont let some people install any security updates. Another month and another weird Windows bug. Microsoft is now warning Windows 11 users that if youve manually installed the OS recently, theres an odd bug where you might not get future security updates. It largely impacts USB installers that were created using the October and November release patches, so businesses will be impacted the most. The workaround requires a full rebuild right now, though, and Microsoft says its working on a permanent fix.Lenovo has a special gaming handheld event next week with Valve and Microsoft. Leaks have suggested Lenovo is about to announce its first SteamOS handheld gaming PC. Now Lenovo has revealed a future of gaming handhelds event at CES next week that will include Valve as well as Microsofts VP of next generation, Jason Ronald. It looks like Microsoft and Valve might be about to go head to head over the future of handheld gaming something I wrote about in a previous Notepad issue. Ronalds attendance is particularly interesting given he was previously the vice president of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem. I understand Ronald has been involved in Microsofts next-gen Xbox plans for quite some time now, but its curious that Microsoft picked this particular event to confirm Ronalds new title. Im sure Ill have a lot more to say about this mysterious Lenovo event in next weeks Notepad.Microsoft is testing live translation on Intel and AMD Copilot Plus PCs. Microsoft has started previewing its live translation feature for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. Live translation was initially limited to Qualcomm-powered Copilot Plus PCs, but Microsoft is starting to bring more of these Windows AI features to AMD- and Intel-powered Copilot Plus PCs.Microsoft and OpenAIs partnership hinges on the AGI question. A new report from The Information claims that Microsoft and OpenAIs wrangling over the terms of their partnership could involve the definition of artificial general intelligence (AGI) as a moment when $100 billion is returned in profits. AGI has always been the point at which Microsofts deal with OpenAI would end, so a high-profit milestone will certainly complicate OpenAIs efforts to declare AGI and end its contract with Microsoft given its still struggling with profits. Separately, Microsoft thinks core pieces are still missing from AGI, so the debate over when its likely to be declared will continue for quite some time.Microsoft kills off Skype credits and phone numbers in favor of subscriptions. Skype has been struggling to keep up with the popularity of WhatsApp, Messenger, Zoom, and many other VoIP services in recent years. Now, Microsoft has quietly ended the sale of new Skype credits and the phone number features for Skype in favor of subscriptions instead. Skype Credit was a way to use a pay-as-you-go plan for making calls with Skype, but youll now need a subscription to use this functionality.Microsoft warns Phone Link wont show sensitive Android 15 notifications. A new Android 15 privacy feature that categorizes notifications like 2FA codes as sensitive is causing some issues for Microsofts Phone Link feature in Windows. You can turn off the enhanced notifications in Android 15 to work around the issue, but Windows should still show sensitive notifications on Android devices where Phone Link was preinstalled on the device.The Xbox Sebile controller is still on the way. During the FTC v. Microsoft case in 2023 a huge amount of unannounced Xbox hardware was leaked, including a new Xbox controller codenamed Sebile. While the controller was supposed to originally debut in 2024, Microsoft appears to now be holding it back for its next-gen console instead. Windows Central reports that a new patent details Sebiles new haptic motors that are spread throughout the controller. Sebile will also support direct Wi-Fi connectivity to Xbox Cloud Gaming, much like Googles Stadia controller.GitHub now has a free tier for Copilot in VS Code. Microsoft-owned GitHub was the first to start using the Copilot branding for a paid AI coding assistant in 2021. GitHub is now offering a free version of GitHub Copilot in VS Code. It includes 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month, and is available for the 150 million developers using GitHub. It also includes the choice between using Anthropics Claude 3.5 Sonnet or OpenAIs GPT-4o model to ask coding questions, explain code, or let the AI models find bugs in your code.Microsoft is working on adding non-OpenAI models to its Microsoft 365 Copilot. Microsoft is reportedly working on adding third-party AI models to its Microsoft 365 Copilot soon. Reuters reports that Microsoft is looking at other models to reduce costs of the AI assistant in Office apps and lessen its dependence on OpenAI. I wouldnt be surprised if this involved Microsofts own AI models, but the company could also follow GitHubs move to support models from Anthropic and Google.Thanks for subscribing and reading to the very end. Ill be reflecting on Microsofts 50-year history in Notepad later this year, so if theres a particular period of time youre interested in hearing more about,please get in touch: notepad@theverge.com.If youve heard about any of Microsofts other secret projects, you can also reach me via email at notepad@theverge.com or speak to me confidentially on the Signal messaging app, where Im tomwarren.01. Im also tomwarren on Telegram, if youd prefer to chat there.

If you have a New Years resolution to enhance your smart home, buying a smart display isnt a bad way to kick things off. The Echo Show 5 is one of the most cost-effective ways to add a visual interface to control your devices, especially since its receiving a 50 percent discount that brings it down to $44.99 ($45 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. Thats only $5 more than its all-time low. You can also get the larger Echo Show 8 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $84.99 ($65 off), which is also $5 more than its lowest price to date.RelatedThe Show 5 makes for a meaningful upgrade if you already own a dedicated Echo speaker. Although it only has a 5.5-inch screen, the Alexa-enabled smart display can still function as your primary smart home hub. You can use it to monitor and manage smart home devices, play and control music, make video calls with its 2-megapixel camera (with integrated privacy shutter), and even stream shows and movies. The small size makes it ideal as a bedside alarm clock or smart photo frame if you later upgrade to a bigger device.Speaking of which, the Show 8 is what you want if you plan to make the display the centerpiece of your smart home. Not only does the bigger screen allow you to use up to four widgets concurrently, but it also supports Matter and Thread, and doubles as a Zigbee hub. These widely standardized protocols allow compatible smart home devices to work well with the smart display as if they were natively built to do so. Plus, the Show 8 has a more powerful speaker with a satisfying sound for impromptu jam sessions.Read our Amazon Echo Show 8 review.Amazon Echo Show 5 (third-gen) $45$9050% off$45$45$9050% offThe new Echo Show 5 is just as small as its predecessor but features updated mics and a speaker system that delivers double the bass and clearer sound quality.Amazon Echo Show 8 (third-gen)$85$15043% off$85$85$15043% offAmazons Echo Show 8 features spatial audio and room adaptation software for improved audio quality. It also displays a different homescreen on its 8-inch display based on whether youre standing near it or farther away.A few more deals to start the new yearYou dont need the holidays to justify a decorative lighting up. You can create fun scenes all year round with Govees LED Strip Light M1 Matter, which is on sale at Amazon in either a 6.56-foot strand for $35.99 ($24 off) or a 16.4-foot strand for $59.99 ($40 off), both with an on-page coupon. You can splice multiple of the smaller strips up to 16.4 feet, but the bigger strip offers greater versatility as you can cut it in segments of 6.56 feet or connect two for up to 32.8 feet of lighting. Once set up using your smart home platform of choice (Alexa, Google Home, etc.), you can create custom scenes and colors with 17 different effects, including one that responds to music playback.Today only, you can get Hotos 35-in-1 Rotary Tool Kit for $46.99 ($53 off) at Best Buy. It has a wide variety of attachments for carving, polishing, sanding, grinding, etching, and more. The small stature makes it suitable for small-scale building projects or creating and refining custom products and gifts. It can get up to 25,000 RPM across five selectable speeds, and theres a handy LED ring embedded in the head of the tool to help with visibility. Battery life lasts up to 50 minutes before it needs to be dropped on the included charging base.Ankers three-port 735 Charger (Nano II 65W) is available for its all-time low of $29.99 ($26 off) at Amazon and Anker (with promo code WS7DV21DBLJG). The two 65W USB-C Power Delivery ports on the travel-friendly charger can supply power for smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other devices at speeds that wont make you rage. It has a third USB-A port for gadgets that still use the older connector, too, though it maxes out at just 22.5W.

Samsung is bringing the Galaxy Fit 3 to the US. The budget-friendly fitness tracker will cost $59.99 when it launches on January 9th, 2025.Samsung first released the Galaxy Fit 3 in several countries outside the US last February. The device comes equipped with a 1.6-inch display surrounded by an aluminum body and lasts up to 13 days on a single charge.The Galaxy Fit 3 has some of the same fitness-tracking features as the pricier Galaxy Watch 7, including the ability to monitor your sleep patterns, detect snoring, check blood oxygen levels, and measure your heart rate. It can also track over 100 types of workouts, with a case coming in gray, silver, or pink gold.The Galaxy A16 5G has a 6.7-inch OLED display with an up to 90Hz refresh rate. Image: SamsungAlongside the Galaxy Fit 3, Samsung is releasing the more affordable Galaxy A16 5G phone in the US on January 9th for $199.99. The device comes with a 6.7-inch FHD Plus OLED display with an up to 90Hz refresh rate. It also has an Exynos 1330 processor with a 50MP main camera sensor, 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The Galaxy A16 5G is available in gray, silver, and pink gold colors.

Over the holidays Passive Star released the Godot Minimal Theme 2.0. I have used the Godot Minimal Theme since it was released back in April 2024 and I still believe that it makes Godot look about as good as possible (obviously this is a matter of opinion). The 2.0 release brings several new features to the fold:Several weeks agoYuri Sizovreached out to me and suggested using a built-in script on the theme resource itself to combine the regular and HiDPI theme resources into one. Originally he suggested to embed two (or more) theme chunks into a single resource and merge them together usingTheme.merge_with()depending on selected editor settings.After some discussion we decided that instead of merging two resources it makes more sense to just generate the whole thing entirely from code just like its done in the built-in theme. This gives the most control with the least amount of lines.This made the theme shrink by1.3K LOC (~150%), even though it does much more now:This is due to the fact that the high dpi file is not needed anymore because the theme can read editor scale from editor settings to calculate the correct margins.BtwYurialso wrote an in-depth article about this idea, you cancheck it out here!The idea is simple whatever goes into the_init()method of the resource script gets executed when the theme is loaded, so we can make calls toset_constant(),set_stylebox(),set_color(), etc to generate the theme from the theme itself. Of course since its GDScript we can also read editor settings from it just like from any other tool script.And it gets better the_init()runs every time any of the theme-related settings are changed in the editor settings. So when you change the base color or the spacing values godot will regenerate the custom theme automatically using those values.It took several hours to convert the theme from a resource to a script. But it took much longer than that to eliminate all of redundancy, make sure all of the relevant editor settings are supported and test everything.Key LinksGodot Minimal Theme 2.0 GithubPassiveStar Blog about the themeYuris Article on Dynamic Themes in GodotYou can learn more about the Godot Minimal Theme 2.0, see several versions of Godot going back to 1.1 and see the new theme in action in the video below.

Ubisofts PC woes have continued into 2025, with the generally much-loved Assassins Creed Origins suffering a review-bomb campaign on Steam after a Windows PC update rendered it unplayable for some.In November, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 version 24H2 accidentally killed Ubisoft games such as Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and more. The issue was so bad that Microsoft updated its support website to reveal it has placed a temporary block on Windows 11 for users with those games installed."After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, you might encounter issues with some Ubisoft games," Microsoft said at the time. "These games might become unresponsive while starting, loading or during active gameplay."In some cases, users might receive a black screen. The affected games are Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora."To safeguard your Windows update experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on devices with these games installed. These devices will not be offered to install Windows 11, version 24H2 via the Windows Update release channel."Ubisoft released an update to fix the problem in Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, but Microsoft and Ubisoft are both still working to sort out the Assassin's Creed games, and frustration has finally spilled over into Steam user reviews.Negative reviews for Assassins Creed Origins ramped up mid-December before hitting a peak as we crossed into 2025, with the games recent user review rating dropping to Mixed. Overall reviews for the game remain Very Positive.Pretty much all the recent negative reviews complain about the Windows update making Assassins Creed Origins unplayable. Until a resolution is found, Ubisoft told customers not to manually update to version 24H2 using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the media creation tool. If the game stops responding, youll need to use Task Manager to close the application.Ubisofts Windows problems have hit the company at a particularly troubling time. The company is reportedly in buyout talks with Chinese megacorp Tencent after a torrid 2024 in which it closed studios, shut down games, and made mass layoffs. The companys next big game, Assassins Creed Shadows, was delayed into 2025 and Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations.Ubisofts shares fell to their lowest level in the last decade in September after it made a series of dramatic announcements around the performance of its games. As well as delaying Assassins Creed Shadows, Ubisoft announced a return to Steam after a period of PC launch exclusivity on the Epic Games Store, with Star Wars Outlaws recently releasing on Valves platform.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

James Gunn has discussed the DC Universes take on Batman after the superheros heavily silhouetted cameo during a recent episode of animated series Creature Commandos.Warning! Spoilers for Episode 6 of Creature Commandos follow.Episode 6 of DCU kickstarter Creature Commandos shows Batman standing on a rooftop looking down at crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. The image shows a mega-stacked Caped Crusader in his iconic costume, but theres little else that can be discerned about Gunns take on the superhero.Based on comments Gunn issued to Rotten Tomatoes TV following the release of Episode 6, its easy to see why this brief look at Batman is so generic. Gunn said he asked for "more silhouette" after the original Batman on show was more detailed than he was ready to commit to at this stage.When they first gave it to me we saw a lot more Batman and I was saying, I am not ready to commit to that, I'm not ready to commit to that, I'm not ready to commit to that! " Gunn said. "So I was just like, More silhouette! More silhouette! More silhouette! Batman in Creature Commandos. Image credit: Max.What this look at Batman does provide fans with, Gunn explained, is a clear indication that Batman not only already exists within the DCU during the events were seeing in Creature Commandos and this years Superman movie, but that he is well-known within the universe. I think it's a great way to show that Batman does exist, Gunn said. He already exists in this universe just like when we come to the Superman movie we see that Superman already exists. He's already known by the people in Metropolis. We don't need to hear the origin story again.So yeah, that's just a way to introduce that Batman is a part of this universe, he's an important part of this universe, and he has an impact on it, including defeating pretty dangerous, scary, people like Phosphorus, who's pretty tough.Gunn then made an interesting comment that suggests the DCU Batman will team up with Superman at some point.This is the DCU Batman, he said. Listen I gotta tell you, I just love Batman. I love him. I've loved him since I was a little kid. He's one of my favorite characters. I've gone on the record in the past when I was at Marvel saying my favorite character is Batman. I love him and we're going to do great things with him. He's the most popular superhero in the world and I can't wait for people to see more of him, along with Superman, and together.Confirmed DCU ProjectsThe question is, at what point will we see the DCU Batman properly revealed? Will fans have to wait for the Batman: The Brave and the Bold movie, which doesnt have a release window, or could Batman make a surprise appearance in another project before then? It could be some time before we find out, given the DCUs Batman still remains uncast.Its worth noting that the DCU Batman is not the same Batman we see in Matt Reeves' 2022 The Batman, played by Robert Pattinson. Sequel The Batman 2 was recently delayed by a year and will now release in theaters on October 1, 2027 as part of the separate Batman Epic Crime Saga.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Your home is one of the biggest investments youll ever make, so its smart to ensure you can repair or rebuild it after a disaster. But do you really know whats covered under your home insurance policy? While most basic homeowner's policies provide coverage for the dwelling, contents, and other structures on your property, they dont routinely cover every type of loss. Many homeowners are not aware that they dont have some types of coverage until after a disaster, says Andrew N. Mais, commissioner of the Connecticut Insurance Department and president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. For example, homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, which many people are not aware of until its too late.In fact, many types of losses that you probably assume are covered are not unless youve specifically added coverage and paid an additional premium. Many types of coverage require a rider or endorsement added to your basic homeowners policy, says Mais. Every policy is different, but these riders also may have a separate deductible and limits that apply. Costs for adding coverage vary depending on the type, but they range from a flat fee to a percentage of an item's value. For example, a sewage backup endorsement may run $30 to $160 per year, while jewelry insurance typically costs one to two percent of the value of the jewelry. Heres what to do to ensure you have the appropriate coverage to protect your home, family, and valuable assets.Related StoriesRead Your PolicyWhile it's not exactly thrilling to read, its essential to know your specific coverage and limits. Reading an insurance policy is boring but necessary, says Mais. Its much better to do it now than when its too late. Ask questions so you understand exactly what is covered or not. Do an Annual Review Just like your annual physical, its a good idea to review your insurance regularly. With the increasing costs of homes, you should be checking your coverage every year, says Mais. Its not only about what is covered, but do you have enough coverage? In fact, according to United Policyholders, a nonprofit consumer insurance resource, more than half of homeowners are underinsured, meaning they dont have adequate coverage to replace or rebuild their homes after a loss. Your agent can help you navigate your coverage choices.Keep Thorough RecordsImages By Tang Ming Tung//Getty ImagesIf you experience a total loss during a fire or natural disaster, chances are you wont remember every single thing you own. Make a home inventory, going through each room and writing down items, or use a free app to keep track, says Mais. Take photos and videos, too, and keep receipts for big-ticket items. Store the inventory online or in a safe deposit box. This record-keeping will make filing a claim, if need be, more efficient. Related StoryUnderstand the Different Types of Riders and Endorsements The following types of coverage typically are not included as part of a basic homeowners policy and require separate riders or policies, says Mais.Full Replacement CoverageYou can insure your home and its contents at full replacement cost or actual cash value. Full replacement coverage is more expensive but does what it implies: It covers the cost to rebuild your home or repair damages completely. Actual cost value takes into account depreciation and thus only pays based on the age and wear and tear of your homemeaning it generally wont pay enough to fully repair damage or replace your home. Flood CoverageHomeowners policies do not cover flood damage; depending on where you live, you may qualify for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. If your home is in a flood plain, your mortgage lender may require you to buy flood insurance. But even if your bank doesnt require it, you may wish to explore your options, says Mais. Earthquake CoverageDamage caused by earthquakes is not covered under a basic policy. Many insurance companies sell it as a separate policy or endorsement for your policy. Windstorm and Hail CoveragePolicies in coastal areas often exclude this coverage, so youll need to buy a separate policy.Related StorySump Pump Overflow or Sewer Backup CoverageMany homeowners dont realize if a sump pump overflows or sewage backs up, its not covered. Its a low-frequency event, but damages can be high, says Mais. Jewelry CoverageA scheduled personal property endorsement (or personal articles floater) covers jewelry, such as an engagement ring, and other items, such as fine art, which have a value greater than the normal limits in your homeowner's policy. With this coverage, scheduled items generally also are covered if lost or stolen, says Mais.Electronics CoverageElectronics, such as your computer and TV, may not fall under your homeowners policy. A separate rider may allow you to increase policy limits if you have a lot of electronics. Additional Coverages for High-Value ItemsIf you have other items of high value, such as collectibles, antiques, or musical instruments, read your policy or talk to your agent about whether or not it is covered and how to add coverage. Everyones situation is different and not all policies are the same. But its worth understanding your risk and coverages in order to protect your home and family, says Mais. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Benjamin and Chance kick off the new year with a catch-up on Apple missing its deadline for next-gen CarPlay to be released in an actual vehicle, and assess the response to picking the Vision Pro as 9to5Macs Product of the Year. Theres also rumors of an Apple-branded smart doorbell to discuss, and TV+ tries a new marketing gimmick with a free weekend promotion.And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo make some fun predictions about Apple-related news headlines that could happen sometime this year.Sponsored by HelloFresh: Americas #1 meal kit! Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm. HostsChance Miller Benjamin MayoSubscribe, Rate, and Review9to5Mac Happy Hour PlusSubscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:Ad-free versions of every episodePre- and post-show contentBonus episodesJoin for $5 per month or $50 a year at9to5mac.com/join.Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or ThreadsEmail us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com LinksAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel