Another delay could be hitting S24 ownersFuture Publishing via Getty ImagesRepublished on January 23 with a new report suggesting an all-at-once upgrade for Galaxy S24 owners, as Android 15 is released.Owners of Samsung flagships should be rightly excited about the imminent(ish) arrival of Android 15 on their phones, bringing a raft of security and privacy enhancements. But theres some last minute disappointment that looks like being confirmed this week. And for those who have dropped $1500 on an S24 Ultra in the last few months, this will not play well.Samsung has just confirmed that One UI 7 for the Galaxy S series will be released in the first quarter, and will be applied sequentially to existing Galaxy devices. All except the new S25 of course, which will launch with One UI 7 AKA Android 15 right out of the box. Perhaps this ensures a period of OS exclusivity to encourage more users to churn.Picking up on the latest leaks, Android Headlines suggests owners of Samsungs previous-gen flagship phones might receive it between late February and early March, while SammyFans suggests that a second January OS update for S24s signals that Samsung is still polishing the major firmware, which isnt ready yet for deployment on a public scale. Leaker Tarun Vats, posting on X, has foretold this kind of wait for some time, that current pre-S25 devices are likely to be updated at the end of February or some time in March. Galaxy S24 owners have hoped to see an update much sooner after this weeks S25 launch. That it seems is not to be. It could mean an update some four months after Googles Pixel.Putting tantalizing software updates to one side, this matters because Android 15 is a security and privacy upgrade more than anything else, and does a good job of narrowing the gap to iPhone when it comes to safeguarding users, their devices and their data. And while Google has done a sterling job with this latest OS, Samsung has gone even further, blocking the sideloading of risky apps for all but the most stubborn users and gong some way toward an iPhone-like phone lockdown.MORE FOR YOUGoogles advances include live threat detection to flag malware early if it detects risky on-device app behavior, the expansion of Play Protect to stop users from being tricked into installing unofficial versions of their apps, and network defense to block insecure connections. Samsung will also allow 2G to be blocked across its devices for the first time.It is unclear whats included with this second January Galaxy S24 update. Samsung released its own fixes and the Android-wide ones from Google early in the month. Even so, it is as always imperative for users to update as soon as they can. Thats the other difference between S25 and S24 (and older) devices. The new phone is likely to bring seamless updates to a Samsung flagship for the first time. It seems other devices will miss out.Samsungs deployment of Android 15 is the nearest we've had yet to an iPhone-matching Android device, albeit theres still a gap in some key areas. If security and privacy is important, then the device itself and Samsungs expanded Knox architecture which better mirrors Apples walled device garden makes for a compelling upgrade.We may know more on the release date for these security and privacy upgrades as regards S24s and older devices. Samsung as ever hasnt confirmed any of this newly leaked information. But there is maybe some better news courtesy of a forum moderator, at least as regards the efficiency of the release when it comes.As picked up by SammyFans, Samsung [has] confirmed through [a] community moderator that the One UI 7 will be released for all Galaxy S24 users at once. The company is set to launch the official version with the Galaxy S25 series today and theres a massive hype for the One UI 7 While the release date remains unknown, Samsung moderators confirmation is a positive news for Galaxy fans. General users of the Galaxy S24 series wont have to wait once the incremental build drops for the Beta participants.There may need to be some clarification on this though. The question asked in the forum was how will we get the original update if we have the beta? To which the answer that came from the moderator was [the] official version will be rolled out to public users once the update is available (Both the Beta participants & public users).The official information is still a release before the end of the first quarter, which aligns with the leaked end of February into March. Which means watching from afar as new Galaxy S25s tout new capabilities and features.Meanwhile, Samsung is targeting iPhone users with 25 reasons to switch to a Samsung mobile device, including its security upgrades. If youre an iPhone user who may be due for an upgrade, heres a list of 25 reasons to make the switch to Samsung this time around. Those 25 reasons include new AI offerings, but also privacy protection and the Knox ecosystem. The gap may be narrowing, but I dont think were yet at a place where security and privacy offerings really push that switch.Mobile devices have become such an important part of our work and social lives, Samsung says, that theres understandably some reluctance to change brands due to the perception that transitioning all those apps, subscriptions, contacts, files and photos might cause havoc. Switching your phone brand of choice isnt as difficult as you might think or as time-consuming as it used to be.

What just happened? Canon has announced a 410-megapixel CMOS image sensor, setting a new record for the most number of pixels on a 35mm full-frame sensor. Before getting too excited, you should know that the sensor is destined for applications like surveillance, industrial imaging, and medicine that demand extreme resolution rather can consumer-grade cameras. The 410-megapixel (24,592 x 16,704 pixels) sensor boasts a resolution that is 198 times greater than Full HD, and 12 times higher than 8K. With it, users should be able to crop any part of an image without a significant drop in quality.Canon said the new sensor utilizes a back-illuminated stacked formation in which the signal processing element and pixel segment are interlayered. The imaging specialist also had to redesign the circuitry pattern, which enabled a super fast readout speed of 3,280 megapixels per second.Super-high pixel count sensors already exist in medium- or larger formats, but fitting this level of resolution into a 35mm sensor is unprecedented and will help contribute to the miniaturization of shooting equipment, Canon said.Full-color and monochrome versions of the sensor will be available. The latter will additionally feature a four-pixel binning function that effectively treats four pixels as one a trick we've seen smartphone image sensors use to boost performance, especially in low light situations. Canon said that when this feature is in use, the sensor can capture 100-megapixel video at 24 frames per second. Otherwise, video is limited to eight frames per second.Canon has been pushing the bounds of what's possible with imaging tech for a while now. Late last year, the company showed off a 250-megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor intended for industrial inspection applications. On the consumer side, we got a new EOS R series camera aimed at entry-level photographers wanting to step up from a smartphone. // Related StoriesCanon will showcase its new sensor at the SPIE Photonics West conference for optics and photonics. The show starts on January 28 and runs through the 30th in San Francisco.

What just happened? Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science have introduced a breakthrough technology that could transform the way wearable devices are powered. Called "Power-Over-Skin," this innovation allows electricity to travel through the human body, potentially eliminating the need for traditional batteries in a wide range of wearable tech. The technology addresses a longstanding challenge in the wearable device industry. From continuous glucose monitors for diabetes management to pacemakers and fitness trackers, these devices rely on batteries that require regular charging and maintenance.Andy Kong, a leading member of the research team, explains that Power-Over-Skin aims to remove this obstacle by enabling devices to operate seamlessly and discreetly an essential factor for effective health monitoring.Still in its early stages, the technology employs a single battery-powered transmitter worn on the body to deliver power to various receivers. During testing, the researchers successfully powered small objects, including LED lights, a Bluetooth joystick embedded in a ring, and a light-up earring. They found that the power received by these devices was directly proportional to their distance from the transmitter, with closer devices receiving more power.Kong compares the process to how a radio uses air as a medium to transmit signals between a broadcasting station and a car stereo, with the key difference being that Power-Over-Skin uses body tissue as the transmitting medium. The researchers focused on maximizing power transmission efficiency through the body, discovering that square waves delivered significantly more power than the sine waves used in earlier experiments.The technology operates through capacitive coupling at 40 MHz RF energy, enabling safe and efficient power transfer through the skin. This approach allows continuous power delivery directly from a source on the body to multiple wearable devices. // Related StoriesWhile the current demonstrations focus on low-power electronics, the researchers envision future applications powering more energy-intensive devices like smart glasses and advanced wearables. To achieve this, the team is working to increase the power output by a factor of 10, with the ultimate goal of powering devices such as earbuds.

A great gaming laptop has a lot on its shoulders to contend with, especially when you look at how demanding some of the most demanding online games of 2025 are slated to be. Fortunately, brands like Asus know a thing or two about developing hardware that covers your gaming needs, both in the present day and in the future. And, as luck would have it, one of the brands top gaming PCs is on sale today:Right now, when you purchase the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 Gaming Laptop at Best Buy, youll only pay $1,100. The full MSRP on this model is $1,600.When it comes to power and performance, this Asus G16 configuration doesnt disappoint in any way. Running a 10-core Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, you can expect fast, reliable multitasking from the G16. Its a solid choice for a Windows 11 workplace laptop and a great pick for graphic designers and video editors, too. But were betting most folks are going to grab this bad boy for gaming, which is precisely what its engineered to handle most effectively!RelatedWith its 1920 x 1080p resolution and 165Hz native refresh rate, the Asus G16 is also 100% DCI-P3 certified and delivers up to 3m response times. Rich colors, excellent contrast levels, and top-notch motion handling can be yours, along with ROG Intelligent Cooling, a customizable RGB keyboard, and HDMI 2.1 connectivity, should you be interested in one of the best monitor deals we found this week.Its hard to say how long this discount is going to stick around, so today might be the last day to save big on this incredible gaming laptop. Take $500 off the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 Gaming Laptop when you purchase at Best Buy. We also suggest taking a look at our roundups of the best Asus laptop deals, Best Buy deals, and best laptop deals.Editors Recommendations

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are getting the band back together.Per Deadline, DiCaprio and Scorsese are eyeing a reunion for the film adaptation of The Devil in the White City. 20th Century Studios has boarded the project, with DiCaprio in talks to star and Scorsese in talks to direct. The movie is based on Erik Larsons bestselling non-fiction book The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America.Recommended VideosThere is no script attached to the project. DiCaprio and Scorsese would produce alongside Stacey Sher, Rick Yorn, and Jennifer Davisson.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe Devil in the White City explores the Worlds Columbian Exposition in 1893 Chicago. The two central characters are Daniel Burnham, a Worlds Fair architect, and H.H. Holmes, a con man considered the first serial killer in the U.S.DiCaprio first purchased rights to Larsons book in 2010. Since then, the project has been in development hell, with several setbacks and delays. DiCaprio was eyeing the role of Holmes with Scorsese attached to direct.Apple TV+In 2019, Hulu began developing the book as a TV series, with Keanu Reeves attached as the star and Todd Field on board to direct the first two episodes. DiCaprio and Scorsese were producers. However, Hulu moved on from the project in 2023.DiCaprio and Scorseses partnership dates back. DiCaprio has appeared in six Scorsese films, including Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon. DiCaprio also starred in Scorseses 2015 short film The Audition.DiCaprio can next be seen in Paul Thomas Andersons untitled film, which is rumored to be The Battle of Baktan Cross, in theaters on August 8, 2025.Editors Recommendations

Bruce David Klein directs a warm documentary tribute to the flamboyantly fabulous actress and singer.

Lucy Liu stars in the directors clever haunted-house mystery that adopts the perspective of the specter.

The more things change... Doom: The Dark Ages wants to be more like the original Doom Preview: A more grounded game than Doom Eternal in more ways than one. Kyle Orland Jan 23, 2025 2:00 pm | 29 Who's ready top rip and tear? Credit: Bethesda Softworks Who's ready top rip and tear? Credit: Bethesda Softworks Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe modern Doom games have been a master class in reviving a beloved retro gaming series. Both 2016's Doom and 2020's Doom Eternal paid homage to both the look and feel of the original Doom titles without being slavishly devoted to older gameplay conventions that can feel dated decades later.Yet by the end of Doom Eternal, you could feel the modernized gameplay system threatening to burst at the seams a bit. Managing your limited ammo, health, and armor resources in Eternal meant expertly juggling a bewildering array of chainsaws, flamethrowers, grenades, and melee-based staggers into powerful, pre-animated "glory kills." That was all on top of the frequent weapon-switching needed to take advantage of the weaknesses of the varied enemies surrounding you and the double-jump-and-dash movement system that required expert use of all three dimensions.Something had to give. So for Doom: The Dark Ages, the team at id Software has committed to a more streamlined, back-to-basics system that limits complexity while maintaining the same overall difficulty level. That means a "fewer strings on the guitar" approach to controls that narrows almost every action down to just three context-sensitive buttons, as the developers discussed in a hands-off virtual preview session attended by Ars Technica.Simpler, not easierIn figuring out how to re-simplify the modern Doom formula, id Software Creative Designer Hugo Martin said he found himself going back to the '90s Doom games for inspiration more than any others. "The original Doom, and why it has stood the test of timeis it's one of the most accessible FPS single-player campaigns ever made," he said. "When it comes to combat, it's really incredibly streamlined, and that's why it's fun to this day."Flattening the controls was key to that return to old-school Doom accessibility, the developers said. In The Dark Ages, that starts with the standard weapon trigger and melee buttons, though now you can pre-select which of three different melee weapons will be activated by that single input. That shieldsaw in your left hand can do a lot with just a single button press. Credit: Bethesda Softworks That shieldsaw in your left hand can do a lot with just a single button press. Credit: Bethesda Softworks Then there's the shieldsaw, a round buckler with a revved-up chainsaw edge that's ever-present on your left forearm. The shieldsaw is controlled with a single context-sensitive button that changes functions depending on your specific situation. That means pressing the same button will block and parry melee attacks, deflect enemy projectiles (stunning them in the process), throw the saw for a ranged attack, activate a "shield bash" for a grappling-hook style lunge towards the thrown shield, and more.The idea, Martin said, is for the controls to feel intuitive enough that "when we pressure the player, they're not reaching for buttons they're not familiar with." But making the controls simpler doesn't make the game easier overall, he said. On the contrary, Martin argued that "when you streamline your control scheme, you can actually make things harder.""Some people said Doom Eternal was too hard," Martin continued. "I think it was too complex. The complexity of the control scheme led to unnecessary difficulties. You want to be fighting the demons, not the controls."The developers said they want The Dark Ages to recapture the feeling from the original Doom of being "an easy game to get into, harder to master... really accessible but very challenging." Narrowing the control options helps lead to a game that "feels more like classic Doom than any game we've made up to this point," Martin said. Demons come in many sizes. Credit: Bethesda Softworks Demons come in many sizes. Credit: Bethesda Softworks And when it comes to managing that difficulty, The Dark Ages also promises an array of sliders for more precise and flexible tuning of specific elements like enemy speed, weapon damage, and the timing window for parries. These can be adjusted down for players who are new to shooters or cranked way up for an experience that goes beyond the usual "Ultra Nightmare" ceiling.This kind of difficulty tuning was previously limited to arcane console commands, id Studio Director Marty Stratton told us, but is now being given to all players for the first time. "When you can dial up game speed and then dial up difficulty for the parry windows, change the damage done to you... you can create a very challenging experience," he said.Feet on the groundAnother big part of recapturing that OG Doom simplicity is returning to "a more grounded slayer" compared to the aerial focus of Eternal. "There weren't a lot of places to go after Eternal," Stratton said, referring to the high-flying gameplay focus in the last Doom game. "We couldn't go more vertical. [It was] about as intense as you could get... [and] we don't want to repeat ourselves."In place of Doom Eternal's "jump and shoot" gameplay loop, The Dark Ages focuses on more of a "stand and fight" mentality, the developers said. If Doom Eternal was like flying a fighter jet, then The Dark Ages is more like controlling a tank, they added by way of analogy. Less fighter jet, more tank Credit: Bethesda Softworks Less fighter jet, more tank Credit: Bethesda Softworks That means a "flatter" game space, where the old-fashioned "strafe-to-aim" strategies work more effectively than in recent Doom games, with less need to be constantly floating through the air. The developers say they're returning to the slower projectile speeds of the original Doom games, too, allowing players to more easily weave between them in a sort of first-person take on a shmup pattern. At the same time, your own projectile weapons tend toward the medium to short range, the developers said, encouraging you to take the fight close to the enemies.While staggering enemies to set up instant Glory Kills is still a core part of The Dark Ages, the developers said the system has been redesigned to avoid taking control away from the player for extended, repetitive canned animations. The new Glory Kill system allows for instant, physics-based attacks that can be activated from any angle without interrupting the gameplay flow.The more things changeThe Dark Ages developers also promised a more open design, where the usual more linear corridors are interspersed with larger playspaces that let you decide which direction to go and which objective to pursue in what order. And the standard shooting action will be broken up into specific sections where you control a 30-story mech or fly a powerful dragon. *Fleetwood Mac voice* You can go your own way... Credit: Bethesda Softworks *Fleetwood Mac voice* You can go your own way... Credit: Bethesda Softworks But the core game will still include the requisite raft of secret areas and hidden nooks to discover, the developers promised. This time around, though, those secrets are more directly tied to your power progression rather than just being collectible in-game trinkets, the developers said.It's all in service of pushing toward a game that feels "new but familiar," Martin said. The Dark Ages is still about the same sense of exploration and power that all good Doom games capture. But Martin said the development team is comfortable experimenting with what that specific sense of power is, "especially if the change you make brings it closer to classic Doom."But "I want to play a Doom game," he added. "We don't [want to] change so much that it's not a Doom game.Doom: The Dark Ages is scheduled to hit Windows, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 15.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. 29 Comments

Thousands of Capital One customers recently experienced the fallout of a multi-day outage. Customers could not access online banking services and faced delays in receiving direct-deposited paychecks, The New York Times reported.Capital One attributed the outage to a technical issue with a third-party vendor, according to a Jan. 16 post on X.The third-party vendor in question? Fidelity Information Services (FIS), a financial technology company. On Jan. 19, Capital One posted that all customer account functionality was restored.Capital One was one of several banks impacted by the FIS system outage.Whether via malicious actors executing ransomware attacks or unintentional mistakes, third-party outages can have widespread ripple effects. We can see that here with the FIS outage and thousands of banking customers. Last year, we saw impact on a global scale with the CrowdStrike and Microsoft outage.In a time when most companies rely on third parties to operate, this kind of risk isnt going anywhere. What can enterprise leaders learn from the Capital One outage as they assess the ongoing third-party risk their organizations face?The OutageFIS attributed the outage to a local area power loss and a hardware failure, according to a company statement.Related:The company did not share more details regarding the nature of the outage, but it does raise questions about the testing and backups it has in place.There should be testing done. There should be the right tools in place with backups, Randolph Barr, CISO at Cequence Security, an API security company, tells InformationWeek. Surprising that there was a power outage that caused a disruption in their customers environments.When an outage like this happens, who gets the blame depends on who you ask. FIS attributes the outage to power loss and hardware failure. Its customers are likely to place blame on FIS. For consumers, their relationship is with their bank.A Capital One consumer they don't know who FIS is and they don't care, says Jason Rebholz, vice president, cyber risk officer at insurance company Travelers. At the end of the day, your customers are going to hold you accountable. They don't care about the details.Regardless of the ultimate cause of the outage, the impacted companies -- FIS, Capital One, and other impacted banks -- must manage the fallout.Evaluating Third-Party Relationships and Managing RiskThe interconnected nature of business and the supply chain is unlikely to change anytime soon. If anything, it will continue to grow more complex as companies look for partners in AI and machine learning. That means the possibility of outages and breaches, related to third parties isnt going anywhere either. Most organizations (98%) have a third party that has been breached in their supply chains, according to SecurityScorecard.Related:How can enterprise leaders evaluate their relationships with third-party vendors to better understand and manage that risk?Review contracts. A major outage is always a reminder for enterprise leaders to consider their third-party contracts. What kind of service level agreements (SLAs) are in place? What uptime guarantee does a vendor offer?The larger the company, typically, the more power it possesses to negotiate on these terms. If I were to look at small-, medium-sized companies, they don't have that much flexibility working with larger organizations. But when you're a large fintech company or banking company -- Capital One being a large one -- they have a lot more influence over the contracts and working closely with their vendors, says Barr.Conduct regular assessments. A businesss security is only as good as its vendors security and business continuity plans. What steps does a third party take to protect its operations, and by extension its customers operations?Related:Start off with classifying your vendors based on the criticality [to] your business, says Rebholz. The bigger impact a vendor outage would have on your business, the more critical it is.Regularly conduct assessments of that vendors security and business continuity practices.Evaluate vendor scale. As companies grow, leaders need to consider their third-party vendors ability to keep up. As [businesses] grow , they have to reevaluate every single one of [their third parties] to make sure that they can scale right along with them, says Barr.Businesses can manage those third-party relationships and diversify their supply chains to create more fail-safes, but that doesnt mean that outages or breaches wont happen.There are always these edge cases that pop up no reasonable person [who] would assume that all of these things are going to happen together, says Rebholz.When the perfect storm hits, whether its a power outage and hardware failure or something else, enterprise leaders need to be ready.You still have a lot of work that you should be doing on your side to make sure you plan for the inevitable failure or security incident at your critical vendors, Rebholz points out.Insurance can play an important role in that business continuity planning process. What kind of coverage does an enterprise have, and is it enough?The cyber insurance business is going strong; annual premiums are expected to hit approximately $23 billion by the end of 2026, according to S&P Global. But enterprise leaders need to examine the details of any policy they have or are thinking about buying.A lot of cyber insurance policies are very much geared towards malicious events, cyberattacks that type of stuff, and don't cover the accidental, Scott Kannry, CEO and cofounder of cybersecurity company Axio, points out.Risk quantification can help enterprise leaders determine the type of insurance coverage they need and the amount. What is the risk of a third-party vendor outage? How big is the potential financial loss? Does my policy cover third-party outages, accidental and caused by cyberattack?The FIS outage and its impact on Capital One and other customers is not the last incident of this nature the market willsee.We need to learn from a lot of these incidents, and we need to remind ourselves on a regular basis that this can happen to anybody, says Barr. Therefore, we need to make sure we step up our game in assessing these vendors.

South American megafauna, from giant sloths to camel-like creatures, survived thousands of years longer than we thought, challenging the idea that they were hunted to extinction by humans