The Honor UI Agentpowered by Google's Gemini 2 modelgives a glimpse of artificial intelligence agents on Android.

New iPad deals are in effect for March, with Apple's latest iPad mini 7 back down to its lowest $399 price as Amazon and Best Buy engage in a price war.Save $100 on Apple's iPad mini 7 - Image credit: AppleNearly every iPad mini 7 is $100 off at Amazon and Best Buy, with iPad mini 7 prices starting at $399 after the discounts.Buy from $399 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apocalyptic fantasy action RPG The Relic: First Guardian has received a new trailer focusing on combat. Alongside the variety of weapons that the player wields, it highlights the enemies encountered, from nimble dual-wielding foes to summoners. Check it out below.Developed by Project Cloud Games and published by Perp Games, The Relic: First Guardian involves the realm of Arsiltus, or rather, whats left of it. Thanks to the emergence of a void, its been warped horribly. Your job is to find the pieces of the great relic whose shattering caused this calamity and set things right, traversing a semi-open world.There are five weapon types, each possessing different skills. While the combat resembles other 3D Souls-likes, there is no leveling, with the player relying on crafting, items, and runes to become stronger. Dungeons and bosses also await, and while they can help grow your character to the greatest potential, the exact details are fuzzy.Announced in 2021, The Relic: First Guardian launches in 2025 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Stay tuned for a release date in the coming months.

Hazelight Studios latest co-op adventure, Split Fiction, is out later this week, with players controlling writers Mio and Zoe as they attempt to escape a simulation. Theyll visit fantasy and science fiction worlds, relying on each other to overcome their imaginations.Its a lengthy quest, with director Josef Fares confirming a playtime of 12 to 14 hours, though the side content could push that even further. Interestingly, he also told MinnMax that the budget is almost double of It Takes Two, the studios previous title. When jokingly asked where all the money went, Fares replied, Look at the game, man. Are you kidding me? Look at the game!Regardless, Split Fictions scope is arguably more ambitious, encompassing multiple scenarios from transforming into pigs to a spacewalk with many more gameplay mechanics. The visual fidelity is also arguably higher with heavier requirements on PC (check them out here).Split Fiction launches on March 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Head here for everything you need to know before buying.

An FAA Air Traffic Control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey. | Photo: Angus Mordant / Bloomberg via Getty Images<br>Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday ordered staff to begin finding tens of millions of dollars for a Starlink deal to upgrade air traffic control communications, anonymous sources have told Rolling Stone. The story follows reports that Starlink may be taking the job from Verizon, which already has a multibillion-dollar contract with the government to improve the system.According to Rolling Stone, the talks have mostly, if not entirely, been delivered verbally, something its sources say is unusual for a matter like this. One person the outlet spoke with suggested that it looked like someone does not want a paper trail. Rolling Stone says its not clear whether the Verizon contract has ended yet, nor if any Starlink deal is official. Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, which DOGE head Elon Musk owns.Referring to previous reporting in a statement issued yesterday, House Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and James Clyburn (D-SC) called the reported deal a glaring conflict of interest in light of Musks government role at the head of DOGE, which has been directing massive, chaotic changes to federal bureaucracy. The two said the deals changes would represent dangerous actions that put Elon Musks personal wealth over the American peoples lives. Musk insisted last week that Verizons system was breaking down very rapidly and putting flyers at risk. He later corrected himself, noting the Verizon system is not yet operational and that the one he was criticizing was made L3 Harris. He also claimed Starlink is providing terminals for free to restore air traffic control connectivity.

Its that time of year. Whether youve logged every nominee on Letterboxd or are just tuning in for the performances, The Oscars have arrived. A celebration of 2024 in cinema, Emilia Prez leads the charge with the most nominations, though predictions cite Anora, The Brutalist, and Conclave as top contenders. And yes, I do believe Challengers got snubbed, but this is The Academy, so we've seen worse. This years Oscars come with a couple of firsts. It's Conan OBrien's first time hosting, but it's also the first year the Oscars will be available to watch live on a streaming service. If youre hoping to tune in, heres everything we know about how to watch the 2025 Oscars online. The Oscars 2025: Date and Start TimeThe 97th Oscars ceremony is being hosted on Sunday, March 2. The Oscars officially start at 7pm EST/4pm PST, while the pre-ceremony red carpet show starts half an hour beforehand. The ceremony is always blocked out for three hours, though the full run-time can vary. Where to Stream The Oscars Online7 Days FreeHulu Free TrialSee it at HuluThe Oscars are airing live on ABC and streaming on Hulu. This is the first year Hulu will simulcast the Oscars on its regular subscription tiers instead of just Hulu + Live TV. All Hulu subscriptions offer a 7-day free trial and are notably part of one of the more popular streaming bundles with Disney+ and Max. Otherwise, ABC channels are available through several live subscriptions, including YouTubeTV and fuboTV. If youre outside the US, the Oscars will be broadcast in more than 200 territories worldwide. You can check your international local listings by heading to this link.What About the Red Carpet?Half of The Oscars is all the hullabaloo beforehand. Hulu will be airing the "Official Red Carpet Pre-Show," but plenty of local news stations will have their own "pre-shows" starting earlier in the afternoon. If you want to join in on the predictions and gossip, you can stream ABC News Live pre-shows for free through SlingTV's "Freestream" service. Whos Hosting The Oscars This Year? Talk show host and comedian Conan OBrien is hosting the Oscars this year, taking the mantle from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the two previous ceremonies. OBrien is best known for his self-titled late night talk shows, though his most recent work is on the travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go. Whos Presenting?The Academy has progressively revealed who will present at this years ceremony. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the full list includes Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Zoe Saldaa, Rachel Zegler, Dave Bautista, Joe Alwyn, Halle Berry, Sterling K. Brown, Penlope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Cillian Murphy, Connie Nielsen, Amy Poehler, DaVine Joy Randolph, June Squibb, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone, Oprah Winfrey and Bowen Yang.Whos Performing?Several performances have been confirmed ahead of The Oscars. Variety reports that the ceremony will feature Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo performing live music from the soundtrack of 'Wicked.' Lisa, Raye, and Doja Cat, who recently released their joint single "Born Again," are also confirmed performers. And Here Are Your 2025 Oscar Nominees:Best PictureAnora (Available on Prime Video)The Brutalist (Available on Prime Video)A Complete Unknown (Available on Prime Video)Conclave (Streaming on Peacock, Available on Prime Video)Dune: Part Two (Streaming on Max, Available on Prime Video)Emilia Prez (Streaming on Netflix)I'm Still Here (Available to preorder on Prime Video) Nickel Boys (Streaming on MGM+, Available on Prime Video) The Substance (Streaming on MUBI, Available on Prime Video) Wicked (Available on Prime Video) DirectingSean Baker - Anora Brady Corbet - The BrutalistJames Mangold - A Complete Unknown Jacques Audiard - Emilia Prez Coralie Fargeat - The SubstanceActor in a Leading RoleAdrien Brody The Brutalist as Lszl TthRalph Fiennes Conclave as Cardinal Thomas LawrenceSebastian Stan The Apprentice as Donald TrumpTimothe Chalamet A Complete Unknown as Bob DylanColman Domingo Sing Sing as John "Divine G" WhitfieldActress in a Leading RoleCynthia Erivo Wicked as Elphaba ThroppDemi Moore The Substance as Elisabeth SparkleFernanda Torres I'm Still Here as Eunice PaivaKarla Sofa Gascn Emilia Prez as Emilia Prez / Juan "Manitas" Del MonteMikey Madison Anora as Anora "Ani" MikheevaActor in a Supporting RoleYura Borisov Anora as IgorGuy Pearce The Brutalist as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.Jeremy Strong The Apprentice as Roy CohnKieran Culkin A Real Pain as Benji KaplanEdward Norton A Complete Unknown as Pete SeegerActress in a Supporting RoleMonica Barbaro A Complete Unknown as Joan BaezIsabella Rossellini Conclave as Sister AgnesZoe Saldaa Emilia Prez as Rita Mora CastroAriana Grande Wicked as Galinda "Glinda" UplandFelicity Jones The Brutalist as Erzsbet TthWriting (Adapted Screenplay)A Complete Unknown James Mangold and Jay CocksNickel Boys RaMell Ross and Joslyn BarnesSing Sing Screenplay by Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley; story by Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" WhitfieldConclave Peter StraughanEmilia Prez Jacques Audiard; in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, La Mysius, and Nicolas LivecchiWriting (Original Screenplay)Anora September 5 The Substance The Brutalist A Real Pain Jesse EisenbergAnimated Feature FilmFlowInside Out 2Memoir of a Snail Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild RobotAnimated Short FilmBeautiful MenIn the Shadow of CypressMagic CandiesWander to WonderYuck!Documentary FeatureBlack Box DiariesNo Other Land Porcelain WarSoundtrack to a Coup D'EtatSugarcaneDocumentary Short FilmDeath by NumbersI Am Ready, WardenIncidentInstruments of a Beating HeartThe Only Girl in the OrchestraInternational Feature FilmEmilia PerezFlowThe Girl with the NeedleI'm Still Here The Seed of the Sacred FigLive-Action Short FilmA LienAnujaI'm Not a RobotThe Last RangerThe Man Who Could Not Remain SilentCinematographyThe Brutalist Lol CrawleyMaria Edward LachmanNosferatu Jarin BlaschkeDune: Part Two Greig FraserEmilia Prez Paul GuilhaumeMusic (Original Score)The Brutalist Daniel BlumbergWicked John Powell and Stephen SchwartzThe Wild Robot Kris BowersConclave Volker BertelmannEmilia Prez Clment Ducol and CamilleMusic (Original Song)"El Mal" - Emilia Prez "Mi Camino" - Emilia Prez"Never Too Late" - Elton John: Never Too Late"The Journey" - The Six Triple Eight"Like a Bird" - Sing Sing Production DesignThe Brutalist Judy Becker and Patricia CucciaNosferatu Craig Lathrop and Beatrice BrentnerovWicked Nathan Crowley and Lee SandalesConclave - Suzie Davies and Cynthia SleiterDune: Part Two Patrice Vermette and Shane VieauFilm EditingAnora Emilia Prez Juliette WelflingWicked The Brutalist Dvid JancsConclave Nick EmersonMakeup and HairstylingA Different Man Mike Marino, David Presto, and Crystal JuradoThe Substance Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stphanie Guillon, and Marilyne ScarselliWicked Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah NuthEmilia Prez Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe SpadacciniNosferatu David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-MuntonVisual EffectsAlien: Romulus Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane MahanKingdom of the Planet of the Apes Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney BurkeWicked Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk, and Paul CorbouldBetter Man Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter StubbsDune: Part Two Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd NefzerCostume DesignA Complete Unknown Arianne PhillipsNosferatu Linda MuirWicked Paul TazewellConclave Lisy ChristlGladiator II Janty Yates and Dave CrossmanSoundA Complete Unknown Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David GiammarcoWicked Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John MarquisThe Wild Robot Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff LeffertsDune: Part Two Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug HemphillEmilia Prez Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldre, Maxence Dussre, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta

Uncannily preserved in the sands of New Mexico, archaeologists have discovered the oldest evidence yet of a vehicle used by humans: drag marks, along with footprints, left in the ground that have been dated to 22,000 years ago.As detailed in a study published in the journal Quaternary Science Advances, these marks were left behind by a type of sledge known as a travois. Think of it as a wheelbarrow without the wheels.Typically comprising two wooden poles held in each hand at the front, and intersecting at the back in a V or X-shape, a travois would have been pulled across the ground, carrying meat, game or other supplies. Their usage is well-known to scientists but this is by far the oldest example, predating the invention of the wheeled vehicle in Mesopotamia by some 17,000 years, according to researchers."There's nothing this old," study author Matthew Bennett at the University of Bournemouth .The ancient runnels,as the authors describe them, were discovered in the dried mud of a bygone lake in White Sands National Park in New Mexico, hidden by sediment for untold ages, and finally exhumed by a chance mix of natural erosion and careful excavation by researchers."The drag-marks extend for dozens of meters before disappearing beneath overlying sediment," explained Bennet in a writeup for The Conversation. "They clip barefoot human tracks along their length, suggesting the user dragged the travois over their own footprints as they went along."Rarely were they found in isolation, with the researchers discovering other tracks of footprints nearby all heading in the same direction. In many cases, based on their size, the prints were left behind by children."We believe the footprints and drag-marks tell a story of the movement of resources at the edge of this former wetland," Bennett wrote in The Conversation. "Adults pulled the simple, probably improvised travois, while a group of children tagged along to the side and behind."To New Scientist, Bennet added that while travois were often pulled by animals like horses in other cultures, the White Sands discovery only indicated human usage. It's possible some of the marks were left by dragging firewood, "but this does not fit all the cases we found," Bennett wrote in his Conversation essay.But perhaps the discovery's most staggering implication is that humans may have crossed into the Americas much earlier than commonly believed, with dominant theories which are being increasingly challenged holding that nobody made the trek until around 15,000 years ago."The peopling of the Americas debate is a very controversial one, but we're fairly confident about the dates," Bennett told New Scientist. "The traditional story is that the ice sheets parted and they came, but you can come through before the door closes, too."More on ancient humans: Scientists Say Skeletons Show Ancient Humans With Huge HeadsShare This Article

New research suggests that most Americans don't typically use artificial intelligence at work yet many of our country's highly educated people do.According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, involving a demographically representative sample of more than 5,200 US workers, 63 percent of American workers said they don't use AI much or at all in their jobs. Only one-in-six workers reported using the tech for at least some of their work. The rest hadn't even heard of AI being used in the workplace.Those who used AI tended to be overall more educated than those who didn't, with a higher percentage having at least a bachelor's degree. Just over half of respondents who said they used AI had a bachelor's degree, while 22 percent had a postgraduate degree. That's compared to 39 percent of those who said they don't use AI having at least a bachelor's degree.The survey also highlights that AI users tended to be significantly younger and more likely to work in jobs that involved data processing.While it seems a bit counterintuitive for highly educated people to use AI despite its well-known propensity for making stuff up, and failing at solving coding problems, the breakdown of reasons why those workers use chatbots for work is pretty telling.Of the survey respondents who said they use AI tools for work, 57 percent told Pew they employ AI to research or find more information about specific topics, 52 percent said they utilize it to edit written content, and 47 percent use it to help them with writing drafts.Forty percent of regular users said they employ chatbots to summarize information or meetings while 35 percent said they use it for brainstorming. 21 percent said they use AI image and video generators.Just over a quarter (27 percent) of respondents also said they use chatbots to help them analyze data or write code another use case that's becoming increasingly fraught. Recently, OpenAI admitted that even the most advanced AI models were "unable to solve the majority" of software engineering issues they were tasked with, suggesting plenty of glaring shortcomings with the tech remain.It's an especially worrying development, considering young coders are starting to rely heavily on the tools, which could greatly undermine their understanding of how programs actually work.While we don't have a breakdown of what careers those respondents have or what chatbots they use, the widespread use of AI for writing and coding seems troubling.And workers have some seriously mixed feelings about using AI for their jobs themselves. Over half of the employed workers detailed in the Pew survey said they were more worried than hopeful about future AI use in the workplace, highlighting significant disillusionment with the tech. Less than a third said they were "excited" about using the tech for their work.Besides, tech leaders have long warned that AI could soon be coming after their jobs so who could blame them for being concerned?More on AI at work: Young Coders Are Using AI for Everything, Giving "Blank Stares" When Asked How Programs Actually WorkShare This Article

If your bank account balance dips into the negative, an overdraft fee can make things even worse. You could be hit with a penalty of up to $30 (or even more) when your account goes into the red. And if you don't bring your balance back up promptly, you could face multiple fees for additional overdrafts.However, there are plenty of banks that have done away with overdraft fees. Bank with one of these institutions and you'll never have to worry about these charges again. TAX SOFTWARE DEALS OF THE WEEK H&R Block Free Simple Tax Returns eFile: $0 (save $0) TurboTax Deluxe 2024 (Federal and State, PC/Mac Download): $56 (save $24) TurboTax Premier 2024 (Federal and State, PC/Mac Download): $83 (save $32) TaxSlayer Classic Plan: $28 (save $10) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.Read more: How to Get Your Overdraft Fees Refunded Citigroup Citibank Big banks may be known for fees, but you won't find overdraft charges at Citibank. And if you've struggled in the past to monitor your account balances, Citi allows you to link a savings account for automatic transfers to cover a potential overdraft. Some customers can also apply for the ability to transfer funds from a line of credit to cover the charges. Capital One Capital One Capital One's 360 Checking account makes our list of the best checking accounts for several reasons, one of which is its lack of overdraft fees. In some cases, the bank will even cover the payment with a service called No-Fee Overdraft Protection. You must immediately deposit money to pay for the transaction, however. If you don't, the bank may not approve additional transactions, and your account may be closed Discover Discover You won't pay any overdraft fees with Discover's checking account. You can also score some rewards with the bank's cash-back debit program, which pays 1% back on up to $3,000 of purchases each month.If you're worried about overdrawing your account, consider opening a money market or savings account at the bank too, both of which pay competitive savings rates and can be linked to cover charges if your checking account balance drops to zero. Chime Chime Chime isn't actually a bank; it's a financial technology company, and its bank accounts are FDIC-insured via a partner program. No matter what you want to call the company, you won't ever have to comb through your account statement to look for any overdraft fees. You can enroll in a service called SpotMe for limited overdraft coverage without any charges, provided you receive at least $200 of direct deposits per month.Note: On May 7, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an order against Chime Financial for failing to refund consumers' remaining balances within 14 days after they closed their checking and/or savings accounts. Chime was ordered to pay a $3.25 million civil money penalty and at least $1.3 million to consumers in redress. Ally There's a lot to love about Ally Bank, which is why it's on our list of the best online banks. It doesn't charge overdraft fees, and you can opt for transfer protection by linking a savings or money market account to your checking account to replenish the balance if it dips below zero.You may also be able to qualify for CoverDraft, which provides up to $250 in temporary relief for a transaction that overdraws your account. You'll get 14 days to bring your balance out of the red, with your next deposit automatically applying to the negative balance. Aspiration Aspiration Like Chime, Aspiration is an online-only financial firm, not a chartered bank, but it offers FDIC coverage via a partnership program. In addition to not charging overdraft fees, the key point of differentiation about this company is a focus on protecting the planet. Each time you swipe your debit card, you'll get the option to fund planting a tree. Truist Truist Truist Bank's Truist One Banking offers two checking accounts without overdraft fees. These accounts allow you to overdraw up to $99 without incurring a fee. If you reach a negative $100 balance, additional transactions will be declined.This overdraft feature is available to Truist customers who have made a deposit of $100 or more for two consecutive months. Be mindful of other fees, though. You'll pay a $12 monthly fee if you fail to meet direct deposit or balance requirements. Alliant Credit Union Alliant Credit Union Alliant Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the country, and its members don't have to worry about any overdraft fees or nonsufficient funds fees. Alliant also pays impressive rates and offers valuable membership benefits that help distinguish it as one of the best credit unions in the country. How to avoid overdraft feesOverdraft fees are avoidable. Here are four simple ways to make sure you're never stuck paying extra for letting your balance dip below zero.1. Opt out.Talk to your credit union or bank about opting out of overdraft fees. Once you opt out, transactions that exceed your available balance will be declined. You'll want to make sure that you aren't subject to nonsufficient funds fees too.2. Link your savings account.When you link accounts, any amount not covered by your checking account will automatically be covered by your savings account. Assuming you have money in savings, this is a far less costly option. In fact, some banks and credit unions offer this service for free.3. Sign up for account alerts.Many banks offer low-balance alerts via email or text message. These alerts will notify you when your balance falls below a certain threshold, which can give you a heads-up before you overdraw.4. Switch banks.As more banks and credit unions stop charging overdraft fees, it's getting easier to find a bank without them. So, shop around.Overdraft FAQs How much do overdraft fees cost? According to Bankrate research, the average overdraft fee in 2024 was $27.08. In some cases, a bank might charge that fee multiple times in one day.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently finalized a rule capping big banks' overdraft fees at $5 or an amount covering the banks' losses due to the overdraft. This rule is set to take effect on Oct. 1, although this could change under the new Trump administration. Can you get overdraft fees waived? It depends. Some banks offer 24-hour grace periods to give you extra time to make a deposit and avoid the fee. If you incur an overdraft fee, it's always worth your while to request a refund. If it's not a regular occurrence, some banks may excuse your mistake. How long can your account be negative before you're charged an overdraft fee? It varies from bank to bank. Some banks give you a grace period -- typically a specific time on the next business day -- to deposit enough money to cover an overdraft before you incur a fee. Check your bank's terms and conditions to see its policy on overdraft charges. More on overdraft fees

Phone maker Honor will now offer seven years of Android OS and security updates for its flagship phone series, up from five, the company told CNET ahead of its MWC keynote in Barcelona on Sunday. It's a commitment that puts Honor in the same software league as Samsung and Google, which are the only two companies to offer this level of support.Two extra years of Android support will extend the lifecycle of Honor phones, starting with the Honor Magic 7 Pro, allowing people to keep their expensive flagship devices for longer, or pass them on to others. Crucially, they'll be able to do this safe in the knowledge that they're secure, while still offering superior performance and the latest features."This commitment addresses a core demand of today's consumers -- devices that are not only powerful but also reliable, secure and durable," said Fei Fang, Honor's president of products. "Updates allow devices to evolve alongside user needs."In Europe, where the commitment will first go into effect, an EU Ecodesign Directive comes into effect this summer that will require phone makers to provide at least five years of OS updates to devices in a bid to reduce electronic waste. Honor's pledge to provide seven years of support not only goes far beyond what's required, but also shows a commitment to providing phone owners with value.There are many challenges that go into guaranteeing seven years of Android updates, Fang said. Older hardware isn't necessarily built to support the latest systems and features and sometimes struggles to maintain its smooth performance after updates. The solution, she added, is "collaborative coordination with chip manufacturers and ecosystem partners like Google, requiring deep partnerships that extend beyond traditional support cycles."You might assume that the rapid proliferation of demanding AI features on phones might only make these updates harder to guarantee, but Fang said that's not the case. "Google's continuous rollout of AI feature updates is primarily application-based rather than OS-level," she said. "The complexity of AI features presents not a challenge or difficulty, but a touchstone for Honor's vision of building a leading global AI device ecosystem."It's a "big step" for Honor that puts it on a par with market leaders Samsung and Google, said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight. "It is no small undertaking given the costs and engineering resources associated with extensive multi-year support," he added. "It will be interesting if the other Chinese smartphone makers feel compelled to follow."