England's Oxford may be the next UK city to get an Apple Store, with local reports saying the company is looking to take over a prime shopping center spot.Inside Westgate Shopping Center, Oxford image credit: Westgate Shopping CenterFollowing the news that Apple is relocating its Apple Trafford Center to larger premises in the same Manchester mall, a new rumor says the company is looking at opening its first store in Oxford. If true, the store would be located in the city's Westgate Shopping Center, while at present the nearest Apple Store is 25 miles away.According to local newspaper The Oxford Clarion, Apple is said to be considering a prominent spot in the center. The unit has been empty since May 2024 when it was vacated by clothing company Superdry. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Famed Apple designer Sir Jony Ive has told the BBC about working with Steve Jobs, creating the iMac, and his decision to leave the company to create his own firm.Ive and Jobs had a close working relationship upon Jobs' return to Apple.Sir Jony Ive has appeared on BBC Radio's "Desert Island Discs" show in the UK, where a celebrity recounts their life alongside the music that matters most to them. Six years after leaving Apple, he spoke to presenter Lauren Laverne about his time there and why he created his own firm called LoveFrom.Ive explained that linking both companies was how he saw design and also designers. "Every single made object, to me, I see is an ambassador of the people who made it," he said. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Ubisoft is on track to release Assassins Creed Shadows next month, but some players seemingly got their hands on the game early. A Reddit user posted an image of PS5 copies being sold and warned of potential spoilers in the coming days.If that wasnt enough, YouTuber The Hidden Ones reports knowing of someone who is playing through a digital version on PS5 due to the PlayStation Store mistakenly releasing a build. He also allegedly saw gameplay confirming the return of a particular mechanic from Assassins Creed Valhalla.There are multiple spoilers in the video below, including for Valhallas story, so be prepared before jumping in.The player apparently encountered Animus Anomalies, which manifested as platforming sections in Valhalla. The pop-up, Animus systems breached. Stabilize anomalies and gain data fragments to advance your active strand, appeared and even allegedly instructed opening the Animus with the touchpad.Take all of this with a grain of salt, but it wouldnt be the first time a major Ubisoft title leaked before launch. However, if true, Assassins Creed Shadows may be the most egregious since its out in almost a month.Stay tuned for more details and updates before its release on March 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Reviews allegedly go live on March 18th.

Years where we dont get any newResident Evilreleases whatsoever tend to be fairly rare, and periods of consecutive years of the sort rarer still. The latter is, of course, what we find ourselves in now, with the entirety of 2024 having passed without a newResident Evilrelease, and 2025 threatening to do the same, especially with Monster Hunter Wildsbilled as Capcoms big new game for the year. But thankfully, series fans continue to have plenty to look forward to nonetheless.Thats not just because the inevitableResident Evil 9is obviously in the works with Capcom also having confirmed that the project is being led by Koshi Nakanishi, the director ofResident Evil 7 but because thats seemingly far from the extent of it. Prominent Capcom leaker Dusk Golem claimed close to a year ago that there were as many as five newResident Eviltitles that were simultaneously in development at the time, later going on to claim that that also included two more remakes in the form ofResident Evil ZeroandCode Veronica. Capcom itself has also confirmed that moreResident Evilremakes are indeed on the way, which should come as no surprise to anyone who has paid an iota of attention to how successfulREremakes have been for the company by pretty much every metric- even if RE ZeroandCode Veronicamight not be everyones most expected remake picks.Even so, we can speak at length about why those two picks for remakes make a lot of sense, and why series fans have reason to be excited about them. And we have, in fact. But particularly where Resident Evil Zerois concerned, that excitement is perhaps somewhat tempered by caution. The originalRE Zeroremains to this day one ofResident Evilsblack sheep, so to speak, which, combined with factors related to the alleged remakes development, do give rise to some interesting questions.What factors, exactly? Well, allegedly, theResident Evil Zeroisnt an internal production. As per the aforementioned Dusk Golem, the project is being led by external teams K2 and M-Two, both of whom have had plenty of experience with theREfranchise. The two provided development support for 2023sResident Evil 4remake, in addition to leading development on itsSeparate WaysDLC, and also leading development on 2020sResident Evil 3remake. And that last bit might be what might raise some eyebrows.TheResident Evil 3remake is obviously not without its redeeming qualities, and viewed on its own merits, it does have its fair share of strengths, standing as a well-crafted, polished action horror game. Arguments about its inability to properly capture the heights of the originalRE3and reimagine it as successfully as otherResident Evilremakes have done with their own source material are not without merit either though, and for those who want all of theirResident Evilremakes to be at the level of quality of something likeResident Evil 2orResident Evil 4might be concerned about whether theZeroremake is going to be able to do that.Unlike the originalRE3,the originalResident Evil Zerois also a much more flawed game. From its narrative choices to the way it handled inventory management (what with the complete lack of item boxes), there was a lot that dragged that experience down, which means any remake is going to have to step around and even improve some notable deficiencies. That M2 and K-Two can lead a project that noticeably diverges from its source material isnt in doubt, thanks to theRE3,but the ability of the two teams to do so in satisfactory fashion is what some might call into question.As far asCode Veronicais concerned, with the internal Capcom dev team that worked on theResident Evil 2and4remakes allegedly leading development on the project, confidence will be high that the game will be able to hit a similar level of quality- and given the original games status as a mainline numbered entry in all but name, its easy to understand why it is receiving that kind of attention. But really, theResident Evil Zeroremake should ideally be targeting a similar level of quality. And no, thats not just because all games should be masterpieces, duh.No, theResident Evil Zeroremake presents an exciting opportunity for Capcom to uplift and enhance a game that was never able to live up to its potential in its original form. A remake of a top-notch game being equally excellent is all well and good, and obviously expected- but many will argue that its the more flawed games that are better served with high quality remakes so that theyre allowed to flourish live bever before, rather than merely flourishingagain. AndResident Evil Zerois definitely one such game.In fact, assuming that M2 and K-Two are actually leading the project the way it has been claimed, their propensity to deviate from the source material, the way they did with Resident Evil 3, might be exactly what this particular project needs. From the characterization of Billy Coen to how it handled item boxes to how the partner system and character swapping worked and more, theres a lot about the original Resident Evil Zero that sounds intriguing on paper, but just wasnt executed in that original vision for the game well enough by any stretch. With enough changes and proper execution, those are ideas that can add to a game in meaningful ways (one would hope), and a remake presents the perfect opportunity to do just that.The originalResident Evilremake stands to this day as a blueprint for video game reimaginings, while subsequent series outings have also managed to touch those same heights, with Resident Evil 2andResident Evil 4both also having won over millions of fans. And though our hope is that withResident Evil Zero,the development team will be taking an approach similar to that of theRE3remake one that is open to making significant changes to the gameplay and story as and when needed, in service of a better overall experience as far as the end results are concerned, were obviously hoping for results thatll be closer to the other three times that Capcom has released remade versions ofResident Eviltitles.ThatZerowas even chosen is obviously quite encouraging for plenty of fans as it is. Capcom could have easily picked the more action-packedResident Evil 5,or even the way more popular RE1for a second remake, but in choosing Zero, the company decided to pick something that would be more horror-driven, even if it is decidedly less popular than most mainline entries among series fans. Clearly then, its not afraid to make bold choices. Whether itll be able to back those bold choices with the right level of quality if, of course, the big question on everyones mind now.Resident Evilspast track record with remakes would suggest that fans have every reason to be excited about what a reimaginedResident Evil Zerowill look like. Were keeping our fingers crossed that the game will be able to shine much brighter on its second time in the spotlight.Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Last July, citizens of South Korea started a petition asking Apple to enable Find My support in the region. It was assumed that Find My was unavailable due to government restrictions, but that wasnt actually the case according to the petition. Apple later agreed to launch Find My support for the region in spring 2025, and that integration is finally starting to roll out.Highlighted by Aaron Perris on X, the Find My network is now available in South Korea, as of iOS 18.4 beta 1. This means that South Korean citizens will be able to track their lost devices. Itll also help deter thieves, since the activation lock functionality relies on Find My something that the petitioners had highlighted.Were currently expecting iOS 18.4 to launch to the public in April. It has a number of nice upgrades for users, including Priority Notifications, a new Food section in the Apple News app, and more. You can learn more about whats new in iOS 18.4 beta in our dedicated guide.If you live in South Korea and are willing to install the iOS 18.4 beta, youll now finally be able to access a long-absent feature on your iPhone.My favorite iPhone accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 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

Apple Watch users could have money coming their way. Following a class-action lawsuit, Apple has agreed to pay out a $20 million settlement. If your device qualifies, you'll need to file your claim before the deadline to receive your share.The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that the batteries in first-generation, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 models could expand within their tight compartments, causing malfunctions. Apple has denied any wrongdoing, but nevertheless chose to settle the case.Read more:Apple Launches New iPhone 16E for the Pocket-Sized MarketIn a statement sent to CNET, Apple pushed back on the claims, stating the Apple Watch is "designed to be safe and reliable." The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is shown, displaying the Maritime text face. Apple"This settlement applies to purchasers of Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3, which are no longer available for purchase," the company said in a statement. "While we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we agreed to settle to avoid further litigation."Do you qualify for the Apple Watch payout?To qualify for compensation, users must have owned an affected Apple Watch model in the US and reported issues related to battery swelling, such as filing a complaint with customer service, between April 24, 2015, and Feb. 6, 2024.How much money could you get?Users will find that they receive differing amounts according to a variety of factors. Compensation will range from $20 to $50, depending on the number of claims submitted. Some eligible users will receive a notice via email or postcard informing them of their eligibility for a class payment, according toWatchSettlement.com. The Apple Watch Series 3 is one of the models included in the settlement. Sarah Tew/CNETHow can you file a claim?Users seeking a payout must submit their request by April 10, 2025, through the settlement website.After visiting the settlement website, users must find the QR code and scan it with an app or built-in camera option. Users can then elect how they'd prefer to receive their payment: physical check, electronic check, ACH transfer or virtual prepaid Visa or MasterCard.For users who did not receive a notice but still believe they're eligible, a claim may be filed via email.By accepting the settlement payment, Apple customers waive their rights to pursue further legal action against Apple regarding the battery issue.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.Today's NYTStrandspuzzle is kind of funny. I didn't find it difficult, but if you need hints and answers, read on.I dive deep into therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:Step to itIf that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Amble is another one.Clue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:PUSH, SORT, MOSE, SOME, POSE, TRUE, WADE, WADES, STED, HUFF, STIR, ROLL, TROLL, TROLLS, TOES.Answers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:SKIP, MOSEY, STRUT, SHUFFLE, STROLL, TIPTOE, WADDLE.Today's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram is GETMOVING. To find it, start with the G that's five letters down on the farthest row to the right, and wind back across. The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Feb. 24, 2025, #358. NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Follow us today... A Cybertruck owner says he recently took his truck in for service because of a noise complaint.However, he adds that Tesla turned him back and stated that the only way to lower the loud noise was to apply tape over the body panels.The surprised Cybertruck owner shared his experience on the Cybertruck Owners Only group on Facebook.Here is what he wroteIs it just my Cybertruck?! Tesla said there is nothing they can do about the noise. Is that normal? I hear the loud noise only from the driver's side.Below his post, the Cybertruck owner shared a screenshot of what his Tesla service tech noted after examining his truck.The Tesla service tech wrote down the complaint as told by the Cybertruck owner.Here is what he wroteConcern: Customer states: Wind Noise - I already took this issue to Tesla service and was told this is standard. However, after driving a loaner Cybertruck you provided, I found that the noise in my Cybertruck is much stronger than in others.One good thing here is that the Tesla tech has taken down the Cybertruck owners complaint properly.Unfortunately, after examining the vehicle, the Tesla technician says there is no fix for the loud noise other than applying tape to cover the panel gaps.He writesRepair Notes: Verified the customers concern. Drove and compared with two other trucks of similar VIN range and found the turbulence noise was consistent in all trucks, some even louder than this vehicle.I found that taping off the panel gap between the driver's front fender and the frunk reduced the noise; however, no adjustment to those panels is possible due to body fitment specifications.The noise heard is normal air turbulence that is expected with a higher speed. No further action is required at this time.Finally, the Tesla tech concluded the repair note by writing that the issue was covered under a basic limited vehicle warranty.Being told the only way to reduce the loud noise on your $100,000 car is to put tape over the panel gaps is far from ideal.However, looking at the comments, some Cybertruck owners suggested that the noise issue was due to the Cybertruck being an older build.In response, the Cybertruck owner says he took delivery of his truck less than 2 months ago, at the end of December.Another interesting point is that several other Cybertruck owners expressed their frustration with loud wind noise on their Cybertrucks.One Cybertruck owner, Mike Brucker, even shared a bizarre experience he had with a Tesla service tech.The Tesla technician wore a winter hat over his ears during a test drive meant to identify the wind noise.Mike describes his experience writingI brought my Cybertruck into service for wind noise this week. During our test drive, the technician was wearing a winter hat, and I suggested that it might be easier to hear it if his ears werent covered.He said no, he was fine, and he could hear it. Then, he noted on the service ticket that he didnt hear any wind noise.I also have a speaker that clearly is making a terrible rattle like its blown, and the tech noted that I was streaming music, playing louder than 75%, with no issues found at 75% volume.This is, again, not an ideal situation, and it appears that several Cybertruck owners have similarly unanswered loud noise complaints.Overall, this is frustrating, but now Cybertruck owners at least know they can put tape over the body panels to reduce the wind noise.Please let me know what you think in the comments. Share your ideas by clicking the Add new comment button below. Also, visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.TeslaTesla CybertruckAdd new commentFollow us today...

In BriefPosted:2:33 PM PST February 23, 2025Image Credits:GoogleGoogles new AI video model Veo 2 will cost 50 cents per secondGoogle has quietly revealed the pricing of Veo 2, the video-generating AI model that it unveiled in December.According to the companys pricing page, using Veo 2 will cost 50 cents per second of video, which adds up to $30 per minute or $1,800 per hour. Google DeepMind researcher Jon Barron contrasted this pricing with the blockbuster Marvel movie Avengers: Endgame, which had a reported production budget of $356 million or around $32,000 per second.Of course, customers arent necessarily going to use every second of Veo-generated video that they pay for, nor is Veo 2 likely generate three-hour Avengers epics anytime soon (Googles announcement highlighted Veo 2s ability to create clips that are two minutes or more).Another price to compare: OpenAI recently made its Sora video generation model available to subscribers paying $200 a month for a ChatGPT Pro subscription.Topics

Lucky me, I thought as I navigated the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 into the last spot of a Tesla Supercharging station in Palm Springs.The EV didnt really need any juice. But this refreshed compact all-electric SUV comes equipped with Teslas North American Charging Standard port; it was time to test out how well Hyundai would match up with the Tesla Supercharging network.The experience exposed a gap in the literal sense. And while Hyundai shouldnt shoulder all the blame, it did illustrate how a seemingly good idea doesnt always translate in the real world.For example, I reversed into the parking spot, opened the charge port on the passenger-rear quarter panel, and grabbed the charging cord, nestled in the cabinet sitting all the way over on the drivers side of the car.Uh, Hyundai, we have a problem. It didnt reach.I could wait for another Tesla to vacate its space and use that charging cable, essentially taking up two spaces, or I could use the in-car navigation to find a CCS-equipped charging station and use the adapter that comes with the car.I chose to toddle on with my day as I had plenty of battery, but others might not be so lucky.Image Credits:hyundaiCCS, or Combined Charging System, was the standard in North America and used by every automaker except for Tesla, which developed its own port and charging station called the North American Charging Standard, or NACS.Automakers began to shift to NACS in May 2023 after Ford reached an agreement that would give owners of its EV access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada. GM followed and within six months nearly every automaker had struck a similar deal with Tesla. Access would initially be accomplished with a Tesla adapter, but most of these automakers Hyundai and Kia included also agreed to integrate the NACS charging tech into their future EVs.The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of these.Of course, not all of this is Hyundais fault. The Ioniq 5 has always had its charging port on the rear passenger side, and moving it would be a spendy proposition. And Tesla says the problem should be solved with the rollout of its V4 charging stations with longer cables, although its website says, we encourage all vehicle manufacturers to standardize charge port locations to the rear driver side or front passenger side.Buyers of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 will have better luck finding a CCS station and using the adapter. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 can go from 10% to 80% of charge in about 20 minutes at a CCS charger. The same fill-up will cost you up to 30 minutes at an NACS charger.Hyundai makes it a bit easier with your choice of a $400 charging credit or a free ChargePoint home charger with the purchase of an Ioniq 5 and those with an older Hyundai EV with a native CCS port can get a free NACS adapter through the MyHyundai owner portal starting in March.Hyundai owners will also have access to the planned Ionna charging network. The Ionna network, which is expected to have 30,000 NACS and CCS charging points by 2030, is a collaboration between BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Stellantis, and Toyota.2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5: Bigger batteries, more range, new trimThe 2025 Ioniq 5, which will come in SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited trims in rear- or all-wheel drive,may look like its previous model years. But there are some key differences, starting with the battery size.The standard range battery ratchets up 5 kWh to 63 kWh, while the extended range sits at 84 kWh, an increase of 6.6 kWh. Depending on the combination of drivetrain, battery, and trim, expect to see 245 miles of range on the low end and up to 318 miles of range for a rear-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 with the larger battery.Power output varies, too, starting with 168 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, growing to 225 ponies in the extended range battery. The most powerful setup settles in at 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque for all-wheel-drive cars with the bigger battery.Tech upgradesImage Credits:hyundaiThe 2025 Ioniq 5 has some new parlor tricks too.The digital key function now works with your phone inside a pocket or purse, a nice upgrade for when youre juggling kids, groceries, and a drink.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now wireless and all models have over-the-air updates.Additionally, Hyundai Pay allows owners to add their credit card to the infotainment system to pay for reserved off-street parking automatically. Drivers also get updated blind-spot collision avoidance and parking assistance.Lets get dirtyImage Credits:HyundaiFor those wanting a bit more adventure with their electric SUV, the Ioniq 5 now comes in the XRT trim.This model is designed for venturing off the path just a bit thanks to a one-inch lift and 29-inch Continental CrossContact ATR tires for better performance in the dirt and over gravel. This model also gets a Terrain button on the steering wheel that offers up modes for Snow, Mud, and Sand.Hyundai let me loose on a fun dirt loop and I found that the car has enough playfulness in it to induce a grin. Sand mode doesnt turn the traction control all the way off you have to manually push the traction control button to do that. It does adjust the brake regen properties so the vehicle doesnt automatically start to slow down when you lift. It also splits the torque 50/50 for optimal traction.Its fun to toss it into corners and get a little slidey, but the ABS system while great on pavement can interfere with traction and off-road stopping distances by not allowing any dirt to build up in front of the tire.Image Credits:Emme HallIt would be great if the drive modes also tweaked this system. Still, the instant electric torque means its easy to get on the throttle and power out of a turn and scream toward the next one, slinging dirt rooster tails in the process.The XRT is not some kind of rock crawler. The total ground clearance is only seven inches thats two inches less than a Subaru Forester Wilderness. The off-road geometry, while better than the Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition, is meant more for small obstacles and undulations.I found the limit of the 19.8-degree approach angle on my drive and returned with part of the XRT-exclusive front fascia tworked just a bit. There isnt any special underbody protection for the battery in the XRT, but the departure angle is a healthy 30 degrees and the car comes equipped with two front tow hooks.Where the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 shinesImage Credits:HyundaiOn the pavement, the Ioniq 5 is just as enjoyable as it ever was, with zippy acceleration, well-balanced handling, and a comfortable ride.Part of my first drive took me to higher elevations where the all-season tires were put to the slushy snow test. The car never lost grip, inspiring confidence in this desert dweller.The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at $43,975, including the destination fee for a base SE model in rear-wheel drive with the standard battery. The off-roady XRT can be had for $56,875 while a top Limited trim in all-wheel drive will set you back $59,575.You can get a Ford Mustang Mach-E at a lower starting price and comparable range, and all Mach-E cars are standard equipped with the hands-free/eyes-up BlueCruise highway driving assist. Youll pay a subscription fee to use the technology, but Hyundai doesnt offer anything like it.If youre into futuristic looks, the Kia EV6 is a worthy competitor, especially if youre looking for performance. The GT AWD trim nets 576 ponies and 545 pound-feet of torque. Yowza.Its tough to find fault with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5. This refreshed Ioniq 5 maintains its pavement poise and adds a bit of adventure thrills with the new XRT trim. But owners may find themselves avoiding Tesla Superchargers despite that integrated NACS port.