The first two episodes of Solo Leveling season 2 are now streaming on Crunchyroll.Much like the video games it emulates, the anime series Solo Leveling often forces its protagonist to tediously grind away in order to gain experience and level up a gift unique to Sung Jinwoo in this universe of invading monsters and the magical hunters who keep them at bay. But when that repetition is followed by a big, hyper-intense, and awesome fight, it justifies the whole thing. This is a show thats practically criticism-proof: Just when it seems like Solo Leveling is wasting the audience's time with a subplot that goes nowhere or with side characters that threaten to steal our attention away from Jinwoo's feats of strength, it throws a dozen visually stunning, jaw-dropping things at the screen. Theres not much substance to Solo Leveling beyond its thrilling fights, but the beginning of season 2 is still an exhilarating, fist-pump-worthy good time.Thanks to the flashyThese two episodes see Jinwoo continue his journey toward antiheroism (and at times full-on villainy). They even raise some interesting questions about the corrupting nature of Jinwoo's powers and make some hints that hes becoming more like the monsters he fights in the dungeons. Yet all that is quickly brushed aside in favor of developments like the arrival of vicious killer Hwang Dung-soo, whos looking for Jinwoo in order to avenge the death of his brother. Hed be an intimidating presence if Solo Leveling had any sense of stakes, but we all know theres zero chance of this guy actually posing a threat to Jinwoo.We also get more of the White Tiger Guild leader's interest in Jinwoo and whether or not he has reawakened, an interesting mystery with some potentially huge consequences for the larger world of Solo Leveling. But that storyline is moving at a snail's pace and its kind of hard to remember that people discovering Jinwoos stupidly huge increase in power is meant to be important. And, of course, there's the mystery of the program that allows Jinwoo to level up, the most compelling story of the show, but thats another pot that seems to be simmering in the background. What we said about Solo Leveling Season 1"The first season of Solo Leveling brings gaming mechanics to animation, with a thrilling power fantasy that understands the tediousness of experience farming, the fun of gaining a new level and skill points, and the thrills of facing down a boss. Thanks to dazzling visuals, a killer soundtrack, and interesting world-building that explores how the emergence of magic and monsters would reshape our modern world, this is the start of a great anime." Rafael MotamayorScore: 8Read the complete Solo Leveling Season 1 Review.So there is more to Solo Leveling than the action, but in the early stages of season 2, the show seems uninterested in paying attention to anything other than Jinwoo's accomplishments in combat. Once these storylines move along, perhaps the anime will gain some actual substance. But for now, it doesn't matter. Everything is secondary to the intensity of the fight scenes and the tremendous number of "hell yeahs" they elicit.And you know what? It works. This is not a show I watch for complex characterizations, nuanced discussions of morality, intricate world-building, or even memorable characters. I keep up with Solo Leveling for the same reason I watch gamers pull incredible acts of badassery in Elden Ring or play a game using every cheat code and mod available. That's where Solo Leveling becomes a distinctively thrilling viewing experience.Solo Leveling Season 2 Premiere Gallery

If you've been considering a phone upgrade and are after a solid Android phone then a Google Pixel smartphone is well worth the investment. While the Google Pixel 7 Pro isn't the newest model in the Google Pixel lineup, it's a still a fabulous phone and right now, it's having a massive price cut. It first retailed for well over $1,000 when it was the latest and greatest, and the 512GB model is currently down to $400 at Woot. Available in three different colors -- hazel, obsidian and snow -- that's a huge $700, 64% discount. Plus, because Woot is an Amazon subsidiary, Amazon Prime members get free standard shipping. See at WootThe Pixel 7 Pro is a great option for Android fans shopping on a budget or seeking a cheaper phone for a young family member. This 5G phone has a 6.7-inch OLED screen and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It also runs on a powerful Google Tensor G2 chip, which still delivers top-notch performance.Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.As for photos and videos, there's have a lot to work with -- the Pixel 7 Pro has a 50-megapixel wide camera, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a 10.8-megapixel front-facing camera. Plus, there are plenty of features for editing, including Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone and more.Why this deal matters Though no longer the flagship Google Pixel phone, this phone won the CNET Editors' Choice Award in the year of its release. At a massive $700 discount, it's a great option for a phone with a lot of bells and whistles at a much more affordable price of $400. If you're interested in seeing what discounts you can score on other popular phone brands, be sure to check out our roundup of the best phone deals currently available. More shopping deals from CNET CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on theCNET Deals page, and sign up for theCNET Deals Textto get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the freeCNET Shopping extensionto your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse ourgift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. See at CNET

I'm sitting at a restaurant with a few pals, enjoying dim sum, when a friend asks whether he should upgrade to the iPhone 16. I ask him which iPhone he has. My friend ponders aloud, "The iPhone 14? Or is it the 13? I don't know; they all look the same." He then pulls out his phone, an iPhone 12, and hands it to me to verify, as if I were one of the guys on the show Pawn Stars.My friend brilliantly and unintentionally makes a valid point. Recent iPhone models look conspicuously similar. It's a sentiment I've heard from family members, friends and Apple enthusiasts, and seen opined across the tech journalism sphere with headlines calling the iPhone boring, or saying the new iPhone looks just like the old one.Of course, boring is in the eye of the beholder, and such criticism might not be apropos in 2025 as rumors indicate that Apple will launch a new, thinner-style phone, nicknamed the iPhone 17 Slim. The phone's primary appeal would be its svelte design, forgoing the camera-dominant allure of current Pro and Pro Max models.But I have to wonder whether an iPhone that looked like it took Ozempic would actually excite Apple enthusiasts, who yearn for a truly major update. Current iterations of the iPhone already have a bounty of features and services that are both vital to our daily lives and nifty but often overlooked. Therefore, a slimmer phone would be unlikely to shake things up, especially at a time when Apple emphasizes the iPhone's utility-centric design, which makes the device as impressive as it is mundane."You can't go more minimal than minimal." Paul Snyder, College of Creative Studies in Detroit When Apple released its earnings report last month, it showed signs of growth and stagnation. iPhone sales rose 6% for the fourth quarter of 2024 but were nearly flat for the fiscal year and showed just a 3% increase over the fourth quarter of 2023. Most companies would love to have those financials. But Apple is held to a different standard, and some observers see less than record-breaking results as a weakness.It's difficult to know how much those numbers were impacted by customers who've grown indifferent to Apple's design aesthetic and held off on getting a new phone, or others who've jumped brands for a foldable phone, like the Motorola Razr Plus. Clearly, there's pressure on Apple to innovate (look at the launch of Apple Intelligence this year) and there will always be a burden on the company to be a consumer product leader for enthusiasts and shareholders alike. Since phones are still the biggest product Apple sells, a majority of that pressure falls on pushing forward the iPhone's design and development while artfully pleasing its massive and diverse user base. That can be a bit of balancing act. Take it from tech writer John Gruber, who publishes the site Daring Fireball. He says: If you ask "the mainstream people, the people who make up most of the billion people on the planet using Apple devices, 'Do you want a radically new iPhone that you have to learn again?' ... the answer is, 'Are you out of your mind?'"The iPhone X defined what a modern phone should be The iPhone X marked a turning point in smartphone design. Sarah Tew/CNETBut how did we get here? The iPhone's current design is the result of 17 years of refinements. Over its first nine years, the iPhone went through a lot of changes, some quite revolutionary: It got taller, bigger and then thinner. It lost the headphone jack but gained an extra rear camera. The back went from aluminum to plastic to glass to aluminum again, and then returned to glass with the iPhone X, remaining that way ever since.It's as if Apple had been tailoring mock-ups of the ideal phone for nearly a decade, only to lock everything down with the release of the iPhone X."Apple being Apple kind of got to this basic form factor with the iPhone X," said Gruber. "At that point, it's like, 'Yeah, here's the way they should be.'""We've settled into this era now where phones are a utility. They're a commodity. They are about as sexy to buy as a new microwave oven." Michael Fisher of the MrMobile YouTube channel The iPhone's design has certainly changed in small ways since the iPhone X debuted in 2017. The iPhone X, XS, XR and 11/11 Pro had curved sides. The iPhone 12 and newer models have flat edges. The camera bump seems to grow in size every year and, since the iPhone 11 Pro's arrival, houses three different lenses on the Pro models. But in terms of the iPhone X, the soul of its design became an archetype for what a modern smartphone should be and is today: a metal chassis to house the phone's internals, sandwiched between two pieces of glass, one for the display and the other with a camera bump.It's not just Apple. Samsung, Google, OnePlus and others have all gotten to a similar minimalistic glass-sandwich design with rounded corners for their smartphones. A lazy criticism would be to say that they're copying Apple, which is not really the case. But much in the same way that laptops now all have a similar fundamental aesthetic (compared with the wild early years of notebook computers with trackballs, in the '90s and early 2000s), it feels like phones are starting to settle into a universal look. And this ubiquity, as humdrum as some might find it, proves that the iPhone, and smartphones in general, have finally become a mature consumer product, in the same way laptops or automobiles have over decades. Samsung's Galaxy S24 stands to the left of an iPhone 15. Yep, the camera arrays are different but not much else. James Martin/CNETApple's earnings clearly prove that the company is doing just fine with its current approach and doesn't need to disrupt a good thing for the sake of change. And much in the same way that a breakthrough in touchscreen technology was fundamental to launching the original iPhone, it would likely take another innovation to truly transform things."Whether or not [Apple's] up for a radical shift in design is anybody's guess," said Paul Snyder, chair of transportation design for undergraduate studies at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit. "You can't go more minimal than minimal."Also check out: A Billion Pixels a Second: An Inside Look at Apple's iPhone 16 Camera LabsBelieve it or not, iPhones used to be quite fun With a 3.5-inch display and that flat glass sandwich design, the iPhone 4 was as much a tiny jewel as it was a phone. Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesIf the iPhone's current design is considered boring, you have to wonder when the device was exciting. In 2010, when Steve Jobs launched the iPhone 4, he described the design as "glass on the front and the rear, and stainless steel running around. And the precision of which this is made is beyond any consumer product we've seen. It's closest kin is like a beautiful, old Leica camera."The previous two models, the iPhone 3G and 3GS, had plastic backs that were contoured to fit in your palm. So it was profound to see Apple make the jump to the iPhone 4's flat glass sandwich design. And for many people, including myself, the iPhone 4, and the nearly identical iPhone 4S, are the pinnacle of Apple design. The stainless steel band made the phone look and feel premium, especially with the band encircling that back of glossy black glass."You had Steve Jobs on stage geeking out about how the industrial design of the iPhone 4 was evocative of a Leica camera," said Michael Fisher, a tech reviewer who helms the MrMobile channel on YouTube. "It was just so gorgeous, and it was such a lovingly crafted phone that I had left iOS behind in favor of the Palm Pre and wanted to jump back." This is the iPhone 5S, which launched in 2013 and looks nearly identical to the iPhone 5. Notice the chamfered edges. Sarah Tew/CNETAfter the iPhone 4 and 4S, Apple launched the iPhone 5, which had a taller, 4-inch screen, compared with the 3.5-inch one on previous models (it's wild how small either of those displays seems today). Apple replaced the glass back on the 4 series with an aluminum one for the launch of the iPhone 5, which made the phone even thinner.Then the iPhone 6 arrived. It was slim and had a large (at the time) 4.7-inch screen, curved edges and an aluminum back that wrapped around the sides and sported antenna lines. Apple released a second version, called the iPhone 6 Plus, with a bigger, 5.5-inch screen. But let's put it this way: No one compared the iPhone 6 to a Leica. If the iPhone 4 exemplified the heights Apple design could reach, the iPhone 6 showed how the company could turn a product into a daily utility that everyone needed cue the record years of iPhone sales. A pile o' iPhones. From the top down: the iPhone 5S, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Sarah Tew/CNETIf you were to mash up the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 6, you'd start to see where something like the iPhone X and the current iPhone 16 series came from."We've settled into this era now where phones are a utility. They're a commodity," said Fisher. "They are about as sexy to buy as a new microwave oven."Laptops, phones and automobiles Here's a display window in Prague with several Apple PowerBook 100 models. Getty ImagesIn 1992, my father, who was an architect, brought home one of the strangest things I'd ever seen. It was the PowerBook 100 that Apple launched in 1991, and it had a 9-inch black-and-white screen, a lead battery, and a trackball (where today you might find a trackpad). It weighed more than 5 pounds and cost $2,500 (the equivalent of $5,800 today). Thankfully, my dad's firm bought it for him to run the program AutoCAD.The PowerBook though it bears some squint-your-eyes resemblance to the MacBook Pro I'm writing this story on looks ridiculous. There was a very obvious gap when it was closed, to accommodate the trackball, and it was chunky: 1.8 inches thick when it was closed. But 17 years after that first Apple laptop launched, we got the very first MacBook Air, which, much like the iPhone X, cemented what a contemporary laptop should be."When we talk about the Razr Plus, we're seeing that 25% of consumers are actually coming from iPhone devices." Majo Martin, North America marketing director at Motorola Laptops, like cars, have had their design refined over decades. And smartphones are approaching that two-decade mark."It's an unsatisfying answer to say that boring year-over-year revisions for years, between major updates, are really the way to go," said Gruber. "But it's the truth, and it's the way everything goes. Cars had decades of innovation, and then reached a point where can you really tell a 10-year-old car on the road?"Of course, automobiles, especially in the US, are heavily regulated, which in turn is reflected in a car's design. No matter the manufacturer, if you're trying to make a vehicle, you have to take into consideration multiple factors, like the aerodynamics for fuel efficiency, and safety features for a crash, and you're going to end up in the same general area as other companies in terms of design."I think what the customer sees is like the silhouette. You look at a midsized CUV, for example, and the silhouettes are very similar," said Snyder. Check Out the iPhone 16 Pro Max's Cameras, Display and Colors See all photos And even though phones aren't regulated to the extreme that vehicles are, both smartphones and cars have become devices that house our various ecosystems and software. Apple's revenue from its services grew by 12% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and that's from things like the App Store, Apple Music and iCloud."It's not a phone anymore, right? It's actually a horrible phone, because I have to take five steps to actually make a call," said Greg Darby, who, like Snyder, is at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, as chair and associate professor for product design. "That's what's happening within an automotive interior. It's the fact that it's more than just, 'I just want to sit in a car and drive someplace.' Although I think people are starting to become too saturated with technology."iPhone Fold, Slim or hello, Moto? Former CNET writer Stephen Shankland tries out Adobe Lightroom on the Apple Vision Pro. Stephen Shankland/CNETWhen you look at the scale and size of Apple's customer base and you factor in the iPhone's ubiquity, it raises the question of what can Apple do, if anything, with new iPhone models beyond refinements. And the answer might be to look at the innovative interfaces that yielded other significant Apple products. The original Macintosh was a breakthrough primarily because of its mouse and graphical user interface. The iPod took off because of the scroll wheel, which is sadly no more. And the iPhone was defined by its touchscreen and software."We've already seen the next interface, and indeed, we have rejected it," said Horace Dediu, an Apple analyst and tech commentator. "It is, of course, the Apple Vision Pro."Dediu, who's a fan of Apple's headset, is right about the Vision Pro. But we've only seen the first version. Just because a new interface can be innovative and compelling doesn't mean it'll quickly achieve wide adoption. It took years for the iPhone to really take off with consumers. Though I think a greater number of people at this point would be more thrilled by an iPhone Slim than a Vision Pro. Here's a mock-up of what iOS might look like on a foldable iPhone modeled on Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip. Mock-up by Justin Reynoso/CNETWhat if there was another option, though? Over the last five years, Apple's competitors have been experimenting with a new phone design that seems like it came straight from an episode of Westworld: foldable phones."In order to get any kind of fun these days from a phone, in terms of a hardware perspective, you really have to look at foldables," said Fisher.Foldable phones arrived in 2019 and improved on some of their initial wonkiness, particularly durability issues and software, only over the last couple of years. They typically come in two forms. The first is a flip style, where the phone folds in half to become smaller, much like the clamshell flip phones of the late-'90s and early-2000s, but with a foldable screen. And then there's the fold-style option that opens out into a mini-tablet-size screen.In recent years, the foldable phone space has seen rapid growth. A March report fromIDC estimated that there'd be 37.6% more foldables shipped in 2024 compared with 2023. The same report projects that companies will ship 45.7 million foldable phones in 2028. Keep in mind, that's still a relatively small number, when you consider that the same firm estimated in November that there'd be 1.24 billion smartphones shipped in 2024. Now that we're into 2025, it'll be interesting to see how those estimates pan out. The Motorola Razr Plus (2024) is positioned half open, with its 4-inch exterior screen lit up. James Martin/CNETBut as some Apple enthusiasts hope for a possible foldable iPhone or even an iPhone Slim, other companies, like Motorola, are seizing the moment to convert iPhone owners into first-time buyers of a foldable phone."When we talk about the Razr Plus, we're seeing that 25% of consumers are actually coming from iPhone devices," said Majo Martin, Motorola's North America marketing director.By comparison, Martin told me that 20% of new Motorola Razr owners in 2023 switched over from an iPhone. She said that growth is driven by emotional response. When I reviewed the Motorola Razr Plus (2024), I had trouble remembering the last time I'd used a phone that was as fun as the Razr. Motorola prioritized the experience of using the Razr Plus over pretty much everything else, and there's a lot of value in that for people who want to have their phone be another way to express themselves and their personality.Will Apple ever release a foldable? And will it be popular? I mean, the names "iPhone Flip" and "iPhone Fold" do have a nice ring."The foldable thing is a future possibility that Apple would go do and that would go mainstream," said Gruber. "And if and when it happens, it will inevitably be the exact same story that we have covered so many times, where Apple waited and waited and waited and waited, and now they have a foldable. And they're not going to to say, 'This is the first foldable phone,' but they're going to present it like, 'This is the first good foldable phone.'" Apple's iPhone 16, 16 Plus Show Off Bolder Colors and Buttons See all photos

Surfshark: $2 a month for 28 months Billed $56 upfront See at Surfshark ExpressVPN: $5 a month for 28 months Billed $140 upfront See at ExpressVPN NordVPN: $3 a month for 27 months Billed $81 upfront See at NordVPN Norton VPN: $4 a month for 12 months Billed $50 upfront See at Norton PIA VPN: $2 a month for 28 months Billed $57 upfront See at PIA IPVanish: $2 a month for 24 months Billed $53 upfront See at IPVanish ProtonVPN: $3 a month for 24 months Billed $72 upfront See at ProtonVPN PureVPN: $2 a month for 60 months Billed $120 upfront See at PureVPN Staying safe on the internet is easy enough, but a good VPN service adds an extra layer of protection that will give you peace of mind. After all, being connected to so many people and businesses vying for your attention and clicks can get overwhelming. Right now there are plenty of VPN service deals that can save you money, protect your information and even help you enjoy more from your favorite streaming services during travels. Amber Guetebier and other members of CNET's dedicated deals team have analyzed and rounded up the top deals currently offered by the best VPN services below, and they start at $2 per month. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you decide which service is right for you:Some of these offers have countdown clocks claiming the VPN deals end today. These are usually marketing gimmicks that have no relationship to the deal's actual end date.We'll update sale prices when we notice a change, so check back often.The VPN industry has undergone significant changes in the past few years, withall three of our top VPN choices announcing major shiftsin corporate ownership. In 2021,ExpressVPN announced that it had joined Kape Technologies, a company that already owns several other VPNs and hasraised privacy concerns in the past. In February 2022,NordVPN and Surfshark announced they were merging, although they continue to operate autonomously. We've givenExpressVPN,NordVPNand Surfshark fresh reviews in light of these changes, and continue to evaluate other VPN services as well. Our rankings are subject to change, as they reflect our latest findings.Most of the offers below are for two-year or longer subscriptions, which is a long time to tie yourself to a service that could change ownership or terms of service, or even have a security incident. Although most services have a 30-day free cancellation policy, check the terms of service before signing up for a long-term commitment. What is the best VPN deal right now?If you're on a budget, Surfshark is offering the best VPN deal right now. Starting at just $2 a month, it's the most affordable of our top three VPN services (which also includes ExpressVPN and NordVPN), and there's no limit on the number of devices you can use. It also includes a few other services, such as an ad blocker and a masked email generator. Hey, did you know?CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.Best VPN dealsThe VPNs in this first group have been tested and reviewed by CNET's team of experts. We can broadly recommend them, with the caveats noted above. The fast-changing ownership landscape in the VPN market may continue to shake things up, but we'll continue to update this list as we uncover more. Surfshark Devices: UnlimitedRefund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysA relative newcomer to the VPN market, Surfshark has quickly become known for its speed, which is why it's one of our VPN experts' top picks. Surfshark also supports unlimited devices, which is great for large households. Currently, all of the plans are discounted by up to 87%. If you commit to 24 months of Surfshark Starter VPN right now, you'll get four free months thrown in. That means you'll be billed $56 upfront for 28 months, averaging out to only $2 a month. If you want a few more perks, you can try Surfshark One, which sets you back just over $2 a month or an upfront payment of $70. This gives you some added features like a private search engine and 24/7 virus protection. In a similar deal, you can get Surfshark One Plus for $4 a month, with four months free for a 28-month subscription, billed at $112 upfront. You'll get everything the other two packages offer, plus data removal from companies' databases and people-search websites.Note that Surfsharkmerged with rival NordVPNin 2022, although the companies have continued to operate independently. See at Surfshark ExpressVPN 2024 Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands Devices: Up to eightRefund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysExpressVPNstill tops our list of thebest VPNs, and you can save on a subscription by going for its 24-month plan, which gets you four months free for just $5 a month or $140 upfront. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security and price. Express isn't the cheapest, but it's among the fastest and the most secure so far, even after its acquisition by Kape Technologies. 82% off with 24mo plan (+6 free months) See at ExpressVPN NordVPN Devices: Up to 10Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysAn industry heavyweight and still one of CNET'stop picks, NordVPN has some substantial savings going on right now, with up to 74% off its plans supporting up to 10 devices.You can grab the basic plan for $81 for two years (and get three free months), which works out to just $3 a month. If you want the upgraded Plus plan, with its added malware, ad-blocking and password management tools, you can get a two-year subscription for just $105 plus three free months, which works out to less than $4 a month. Similar promos apply to the Complete plan, which is just under $5 per month. The top-tier Prime plan is available for just under $8 per month for 27 months. The Prime plan includes 1TB of cloud storage and cyber protection benefits for users in the US, among other bonuses, plus all of the aforementioned benefits.(Again, we note that NordVPN and Surfshark have mergedbut have continued to operate autonomously so far.) See at NordVPN Norton Norton might be a company better known for its antivirus software, but Norton Secure VPN is a solid option for those who want a way to keep their data private while browsing the internet. Right now, you can save 54% on its annual plan, which scores you 12 months of service for $50, or just over $4 per month. See at Norton Private Internet Access Devices:UnlimitedRefund policy:Fully refundable for 30 daysPrivate Internet Access earned a spot on our list of thebest VPN services of 2024as one of our favorite budget options. Right now you can use this VPN for even less. You can get the two-year plan with four extra months included for just $57 upfront, which works out to just over $2 per month.Despite its affordable price, PIA's VPN tested fairly well. It offers AES 256-bit encryption as well as a kill switch function, and it boasts a respectable speed loss of just 24%. You also get 500GB of cloud storage with this deal. It's worth noting that PIA does fall underUS jurisdiction, which might be a concern if you're a security-focused user, although the company appears to be doing everything in its power to alleviate those concerns, including making its source code openly available. See at PIA Devices: UnlimitedRefund policy: Fully refundable for 30 days(Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)With one of the best user interfaces in the field, according to our reviewer, IPVanish is good for those who want to customize settings and for those who are new to a VPN. If this is your first time at the rodeo and you want to know more about the technology, IPVanish is a reliable service with a gentle learning curve. Normally, IPVanish goes for about $156 a year, but this deal gets you two years of service for about $53 (just over $2 a month). If you want to save without a multiyear commitment, there's a discount on the yearly plan that scores you 12 months for about $40 (a little over $3a month). Note that IPVanish is also based in the US, which may be a concern if you're focused on security. See at IPVanish Proton VPN Devices: Up to 10Refund policy: Fully refundable for 30 daysProtonVPN is the only free VPN we recommend, but if you need more functionality, you can upgrade to ProtonVPN Plus for $3 a month for 24 months. Keep in mind that this deal is billed as $72 upfront. ProtonVPN Plus has no data caps or server-switching limits. Its ease of use, Tor support and ad-blocking feature make ProtonVPN a favorite with many users. See at ProtonVPN Additional VPN dealsWe haven't fully tested the following VPN. Because of that, we can only recommend it for casual use, such as bypassing geographic restrictions while streaming media. PureVPN Devices: Up to 10Refund policy: Fully refundable for 31 daysPureVPN presents another affordable option if you're in the market for a simple VPN without a big price tag. With a solid server fleet numbering over 6,500 in 78 countries, PureVPN promises reliable service, although we haven't had the chance to verify that. Another disclaimer: PureVPN was reported by our sister site ZDNetas having provided timestamp-only logs to the FBI in a cyberstalking case in 2018. PureVPN has since stopped the timestamp logging practice and undergone a third-party audit to ensure that it keeps to its no-log policy.It currently has a special offer on a five-year Standard plan, knocking it down to $120 -- or just $2 a month. That's a super cheap plan for the long term if you're certain PureVPN is the service for you. If you're looker for a shorter commitment, two-year plans start at just $2 a month. Different service tiers are offering additional features like password management and up to 10 logins. See at PureVPN How we evaluated these VPN dealsThis list is almost exclusively focused on VPN services that have been tested and reviewed by our team of experts, as you don't want to risk having your personal information leaked just to save a few bucks. Fortunately, almost all of our top-rated VPNs are offering some excellent deals right now. We've analyzed the discounts, subscription length, refund policy, internet speed loss, maximum number of devices allowed and what each service is best suited for to bring you the best offers available right now. VPN deals FAQs Do I need a VPN? With online crime rates on the rise, just about anyone can benefit from using a VPN. By creating an encrypted connection between your device and the internet, a VPN prevents your browsing data from being collected by your internet service provider and helps shield your passwords, bank information and other private information. Are VPNs legal? Outside of a handful of countries -- such as China, Iran, Oman, Russia, Turkmenistan, UAE and Belarus -- VPNs are perfectly safe and legal to use, so you don't have to worry about ending up in hot water. It's important to note VPNs are not a "get out of jail free" card, and engaging in illegal activity online is still illegal regardless of whether you're using a VPN. What about free VPNs? With the exception of Proton VPN's free tier, we strongly advise against using a free VPN service. For the most part, they're playing that same game of scooping up and selling your data, which could put you at even greater risk than just browsing unprotected. Considering that you can get access to a top-rated VPN for as little as $2 per month, it's certainly not worth the risk.

The UK More Than Halved Carbon Emissions From Electricity This Last DecadeGas power stations remain the top producer, but this might change next year.Sunset over one of the UK's offshore wind farms.Image credit: Nuttawut Uttamaharad/Shutterstock.comIt is undeniable that 2024 was a tough year in the fight against climate change, but it is not all doom and gloom. Good news, for example, comes from the United Kingdom where, in terms of energy production, renewable energy is going from strength to strength. The amount of electricity produced using fossil fuels in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is now the lowest it has ever been.As reported in an analysis by Carbon Brief, 2024 saw the UK increase the production of electricity from renewable sources by 122 percent compared to 2014. The amount of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour was 124 grams compared to 419 grams a decade ago. Thats a 70 percent drop!AdvertisementGas-fired power stations were still the largest producer of electricity in the country, accounting for 28 percent of the production. Wind produced 26 percent of the total. Thanks to new wind-powered plants coming online in the coming months, and given that last year was less windy than average, it is believed that wind will come out on top in 2025.In 2014, energy production was the largest emitter of carbon in 2014. It is now fifth, after transportation, buildings, industry, and agriculture. Crucial to this massive reduction in carbon emissions is the phasing out of coal power plants, with the last one closing just a few months ago. The UK government plans to have clean power produce 95 percent of all electricity by 2030 a big task, but the last decade shows that drastic changes are possible.In the US, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) for 2024 and 2025 that there was an increase in renewable energy but no major changes in the amount of fossil fuel used in energy production. Coal consumption has been practically unchanged in the US over the last few years, but there is hope for a more pronounced reduction in 2025.It is expected that coal-fired plants responsible for 11 gigawatts will be retired, and 9 gigawatts of wind generation and 25 gigawatts of solar generation will be added to the grid. Still, since 2019, coal power has been in decline, which is in general good news.AdvertisementThe top 10 hottest years on record have all happened during the last decade, with 2024 being "effectively certain to be the hottest year on record.ARTICLE POSTED IN

In BriefPosted:11:54 AM PST January 4, 2025Image Credits:Saul Loeb / Getty ImagesTenable CEO Amit Yoran diesLongtime entrepreneur and cybersecurity executive Amit Yoran passed away Friday after a battle with cancer.Cybersecurity company Tenable, where Yoran was CEO and chairman, announced his death in a press release. Before becoming Tenables CEO in 2016, he held a number of roles including president of RSA, founding CEO of NetWitness, and CEO of In-Q-Tel.In a statement, Tenables lead independent director Art Coviello described Yoran as an extraordinary leader, colleague, and friend.His passion for cybersecurity, his strategic vision, and his ability to inspire those around him have shaped Tenables culture and mission, Coviello said. His legacy will continue to guide us as we move forward.Tenable said Yoran took a medical leave of absence starting on December 5, with CFO Steve Vintz and COO Mark Thurmond appointed as co-CEOs in his place. They will continue in those roles while the company conducts a search for a permanent CEO.Topics

The 2009 eruption of Sarychev Peak Volcano, Kuril Islands, viewed from the International Space ... [+] Station. A similar eruption 200 years had global impact on climate and severe consequences for human populations.Getty ImagesThe mystery location of a giant volcanic eruption that occurred almost 200 years ago has finally been solved thanks to ash traces preserved in ice cores.In 1831, famous German composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote about the catastrophic weather during his summer journey through the Alps, remarking that "it is as cold as in winter, there is already deep snow on the nearest hills." For the next two years the weather remained rainy and cold, leading to widespread crop failures, famine in Asia and the first great cholera epidemic in Europe.Scientists long suspected that this cold snap was caused by a massive volcanic eruption spewing sulfurous gas and ash into the atmosphere. This volcanic cloud layer reflected the sunlight, causing global cooling of approximately 1 degree Celsius.While scientists knew it was a major event, the identity of the volcano responsible remained unknown and fiercely debated, until now.By analyzing traces of ash preserved in ice cores recovered from Greenland, the research team produced a chemical fingerprint of the lava, matching it to a volcano on a remote island on the other side of the world."Only in recent years have we developed the ability to extract microscopic ash shards from polar ice cores and conduct detailed chemical analyses on them. These shards are incredibly minute, roughly one-tenth the diameter of a human hair," explains first author Dr. Will Hutchison from the School of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of St Andrews in the U.K.MORE FOR YOUDr. Hutchison and his team were able to accurately date and match the ice core deposits to Zavaritskii volcano on the remote, uninhabited island of Simushir, part of the Kuril Islands. The islands are today a disputed territory between Russia and Japan."We analyzed the chemistry of the ice at a very high temporal resolution. This allowed us to pinpoint the precise timing of the eruption to spring-summer 1831, confirm that it was highly explosive, and then extract the tiny shards of ash. Finding the match took a long time and required extensive collaboration with colleagues from Japan and Russia, who sent us samples collected from these remote volcanoes decades ago.""The moment in the lab when we analyzed the two ashes together, one from the volcano and one from the ice core, was a genuine eureka moment. I couldn't believe the numbers were identical. After this, I spent a lot of time delving into the age and size of the eruption in Kuril records to truly convince myself that the match was real."The volcano responsible for the 1831 eruption was very remote, yet it had a significant global impact on the climate and severe consequences for people.Identifying the sites of past volcanic eruptions is crucial, as it allows scientists to map and monitor the regions on Earth most likely to produce climate-altering volcanic events."There are so many volcanoes like this, which highlights how difficult it will be to predict when or where the next large-magnitude eruption might occur," concludes Hutchison.The study, "The 1831 CE mystery eruption identified as Zavaritskii caldera, Simushir Island (Kurils)," was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and can be found online here.Additional material and interviews provided by University of Andrews.

In the fall of 1918, hundreds of U.S. infantrymen found themselves surrounded by German forces in ... [+] northern Frances Argonne Forest. Heres the incredible story of how they managed to survive.gettyWorld War I was a time of great military advancement. New to the battlefield were impressive inventions such as armored tanks, machine guns, airplanes, submarines and field telephones.But the armies of WWI werent entirely modernizedthey still found utility in the old way of doing things. Perhaps the clearest example of this comes from the story of Cher Ami, the legendary messenger pigeon that changed the fortunes of an entire American battalion by delivering the famous message:We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens sake stop it.How Cher Ami Saved The Lost BattalionCher Ami was a male homing pigeon born in the spring of 1918 in Norfolk, England. He was one of 600 English-bred messenger pigeons donated to Americas Signal Pigeon Corpsa unit of the U.S Army charged with training and deploying homing pigeons for communication and reconnaissance purposes.In September of 1918, Cher Ami was among 60 pigeons assigned to support communication efforts of the U.S. 77th Infantry Division who were fighting the Germans in the Argonne Forest of northeastern France.Fate was not kind to the Divisionin October, 1918, more than 550 men found themselves trapped behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. The Divisions leader, Major Charles Whittlesey, attempted to send runners to alert allied forces of their desperate position, but they were consistently intercepted by the surrounding Germans. Because allies were unaware of their position behind enemy lines, the Division faced attacks from the Germans as well as an increasing onslaught of friendly fire.MORE FOR YOUWhittlesey also attempted to alert allies of their position via homing pigeons. One pigeon, carrying the message Many wounded. We cannot evacuate. was shot down by the Germans. Other pigeons were stymied in their attempt to sound the alarm.Cher Ami, however, managed to make it throughthough not without taking his licks (the pigeon was shot in the chest and the leg, and lost an eye). One hundred and ninety-four infantrymen were saved due to the instinctual acts of Cher Ami.A replica of Cher Ami, the US Signal Corps pigeon that was awarded the "Croix de Guerre" by the ... [+] French government in WWI for heroic service after flying over France wounded 25 miles in 25 minutes.AFP via Getty ImagesCher Ami was treated as a hero and Army medics worked to save his life. Unfortunately, his wounds were too grave and he died less than a year later in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. His stuffed body is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.DNA Analysis Of Historys Most Famous PigeonA hundred years later, in 2021, researchers at the National Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian National Zoo used modern DNA analysis to learn more about the famous war pigeon.Taking tissue samples from the stub of Cher Amis right leg (which had been amputated due to German fire) and the underside of Cher Amis left rear toe pad, the researchers were able to determine that the bird was indeed a male, as had been theorized.Honoring Cher AmiCher Ami received the Croix de Guerre Medal for his bravery in carrying crucial messages during his time in service. In 1931, he was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame and, in November 2019, he was posthumously honored with the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery at a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., becoming one of its first recipients.In 1921, Washington D.C-based poet Margaret Shanks produced the following poem honoring Cher Ami:Twas only a homing pigeon, but he did his duty well. Flashing back and forth the message through a fire of shot and shell. Maimed and torn, he carried onward. For a glorious cause must win. And it needed brave Cher Ami, flying straight through thick and thin.Gently lay him neath the banner of the land he died to save. Comrades may our Heart-strings quicken oer a patriot pigeons grave.Are you an animal lover who owns a petperhaps even a bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.

Forward-looking: Samsung and Google have teamed up to challenge one of the biggest names in immersive audio Dolby. The two companies have announced Eclipsa Audio, a new open-source spatial audio format designed to bring 3D sound to YouTube and Samsung's latest TVs and soundbars later this year. For years, Dolby Atmos has been the dominant force in 3D audio, known for its immersive surround sound that makes it feel as though sounds are coming from all around you. It's become a household name, with nearly every major TV manufacturer today paying the "Dolby tax" to license Atmos for their premium sets and speaker systems.However, Samsung and Google are looking to disrupt the status quo with Eclipsa Audio, a royalty-free alternative. Samsung claims that Eclipsa Audio functions similarly to Atmos by adjusting audio data such as location, intensity, and spatial reflections to create 3D sound. The key difference is that it's an open standard, meaning hardware makers won't have to pay licensing fees.In addition, the two companies are establishing a certification program with the Telecommunications Technology Association to ensure consistent quality across devices using the technology.Samsung and Google first teased their spatial audio collaboration in 2023 under the name Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF). At the time, Samsung described the initiative as aiming to provide "a complete open-source framework for 3D audio, from creation to delivery and playback."So why are the two companies putting in all this effort? For Samsung, the primary motivation likely revolves around avoiding licensing costs. With TV profit margins tighter than ever, cutting expenses wherever possible is crucial. Google's motivations are less clear, but it seems the company wants to give YouTube creators a platform to experiment with immersive 3D audio experiences. // Related Stories"We believe that Eclipsa Audio has the potential to change the way we experience sound," said Jim Bankoski, VP of Engineering at Google Chrome. "We are excited to see how the creator community uses it to create new and innovative audio experiences."The big question, of course, is whether Samsung and Google's new venture can truly rival Dolby's well-established technology. Dolby has had years to refine Atmos, which has become the industry standard recognized by casual viewers.Whatever the outcome, we'll get our first real glimpse of how Eclipsa stacks up at CES 2025 next week, where Samsung is expected to provide live demonstrations.

Something to look forward to: Since AMD introduced its Ryzen 9000 series and Strix Point Ryzen AI processors, users have been eagerly anticipating other members of the Zen 5 family, such as Ryzen AI Max and Fire Range. Now, ECS has become the first manufacturer to confirm plans to unveil a product featuring AMD's mainstream-focused Krackan Point chips at CES 2025. ECS is set to showcase the first laptop featuring AMD's upcoming Krackan Point APUs at CES 2025. AMD has already confirmed that Krackan Point is designed to offer a low-cost entry point into Microsoft's Copilot+ PC standard, positioning it to compete with Intel's Lunar Lake Core Ultra 200V series.The processor powering the ECS UP42KP laptop is likely the Ryzen AI 7 350. The manufacturer's description matches the rumored specifications of this chip, which include four Zen 5 cores, four Zen 5c cores, an integrated GPU with eight RDNA 3.5 compute units, and an XDNA 2 NPU capable of 40 TOPs meeting the threshold required for Copilot.With a TDP ranging from 15W to 54W, the 14-inch 1080p laptop supports DDR5-5600 RAM, 16 PCIe lanes, Wi-Fi 6, HDMI 2.1, and USB 4. It also supports Windows Hello via an IR camera with a privacy shutter. While the release date and pricing details remain unclear, AMD aims for Krackan Point devices to retail for under $800.The Ryzen AI 7 350 is the most powerful Krackan Point APU announced so far, but a lower-tier version the AI 5 340 was spotted on Geekbench last November. This cheaper variant will maintain the AI 7 350's NPU performance but feature three Zen 5 cores, three Zen 5c cores, and a Radeon 840M iGPU with four RDNA 3.5 CUs.Krackan Point sits just below Strix Point in AMD's Zen 5 lineup. Since its debut late last year, Strix Point APUs, such as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, have started appearing in the latest handheld gaming PCs. Lenovo is expected to unveil a device featuring the Z2 Extreme variant at CES. // Related StoriesRyzen AI Max, featuring up to 16 Zen 5 cores and 40 RDNA 3.5 CUs, is the next step up. A benchmark of an engineering sample was recently spotted running on an upcoming high-end 2-in-1 notebook from Asus.Users are also eagerly awaiting the launch of AMD's Fire Range, the company's most powerful Zen 5 laptop processors. A recent Geekbench AI test suggests they will debut in Asus' 2025 ROG Strix G-series laptops.In the desktop sector, AMD is also set to unveil new Ryzen 9000 X3D CPUs this month. TechSpot recently named last year's 9800X3D the best gaming CPU, and it has outpaced all of its non-X3D counterparts in sales at Mindfactory.The new ECS Krackan Point laptop will be accompanied by a new Snapdragon X Plus notebook, a mini PC, and new Intel motherboards.