Google has updated its affiliate ads policy for Chrome extensions after creators accused PayPals popular Honey browser extension of being a scam.Honey was accused of taking affiliate revenue from the same influencers it paid for promotion by using its Chrome extension to swap in its own affiliate link before you checked out. According to the updated Google policy posted today, this isnt allowed in most cases:Affiliate links, codes, or cookies must only be included when the extension provides a direct and transparent user benefit related to the extensions core functionality. It is not permitted to inject affiliate links without related user action and without providing a tangible benefit to users. Some common violations include:Inserting affiliate links when no discount, cashback, or donation is provided.An extension that continuously injects affiliate links in the background without related user action.Google and PayPal didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.Last month, YouTuber MegaLag, whose video highlighting Honeys practices has more than 17 million views, said that a Part 2 to his video was meant to come out weeks ago and that theres a lot going on behind the scenes, most of which I cannot disclose right now.In January, YouTuber Legal Eagle sued PayPal over Honeys alleged affiliate practices.

People have been speculating about Apples entry into the world of virtual and augmented reality headsets for the better part of a decade. At WWDC 2023, it finally revealed the Vision Pro, which will launch as the first visionOS device on February 2nd.The Vision Pro starts at $3,499 with 256GB of internal storage, while optional prescription lenses from Zeiss are available for $149.In our review, we said the Vision Pros display is a technical marvel, with hand and eye tracking thats a leap forward beyond what previously existed, however, those controls can be inconsistent, and in our experience, Apples Personas virtual avatars could be uncanny and somewhat terrifying.The new headset uses two Apple Silicon chips (M2 Ultra and R1) and can be used for up to two hours with a tethered battery pack or for as long as you want if its plugged in. It also uses natural control with hand and eye tracking as well as voice commands. Users can switch between AR and VR using a digital crown-style dial, and depending on what theyre viewing, it displays their eyes on the front so that others know the person wearing it can see them.Read on for all our coverage so far on Apples Vision Pro headset.HighlightsAn hour agoRichard LawlerApples next Immersive concert experience for Vision Pro features Metallica.If The Weeknd wasnt enough to convince you to pick up Apples $3,499 headset (or at least stop by an Apple Store to try one out), now the company will offer a 25-minute virtual trip to the Mexico City finale of Metallicas M72 World Tour, which will also be available as an EP on Apple Music.Filmed on 14 cameras in ultra-high-resolution 180-degree video and Spatial Audio to give viewers unprecedented access to James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, it will be available as an extended preview in Apple Store demos beginning Friday.Feb 21Wes DavisThe Vision Pro is getting easier to share with guests, and adding a new iPhone appThe Vision Pro app for iOS will let you find new content and queue up downloads for the headset. Images: AppleOne of the big problems with a VR headset is that anything you want to do, you have to do inside it. Apple is looking to tackle that and other Vision Pro pain points with visionOS 2.4, which will offer improvements to the guest user experience and two new apps for finding new things to do and watch, whether youre wearing the headset or not. The visionOS 2.4 update rolling out in beta to developers starting today also adds Apple Intelligence features to the headset.Read Article >Dec 16, 2024Wes DavisBlackmagics Vision Pro immersive camera can be yours for only $29,995Blackmagic has announced that its URSA Cine Immersive commercial camera for shooting high-quality 3D immersive video is now available to preorder direct from Blackmagic Design Offices, with the first deliveries going out in early 2025. The camera, which could enable more immersive content for the Vision Pro, costs $29,995 or a mere 8.6 Vision Pros.First revealed in June, the Cine Immersive will let cinematographers shoot 90fps video in stereoscopic 3D at 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye or more than twice the estimated per-eye resolution of the Vision Pros screens. Theyll be able to edit the footage using the proprietary Apple Immersive Video format in DaVinci Resolve Studio, which Blackmagic plans to add support for early next year.Read Article >Dec 11, 2024Wes DavisThe Vision Pros ultrawide Mac display is very close to being a killer appMy favorite dynamic wallpaper floating in the desert. Screenshot: Mac Virtual DisplaySince its release, Ive mostly used Apples Vision Pro like a movie theater. The VR headset is an amazing way to watch Dune but beyond that, it hasnt really lived up to its potential as a general-purpose computing device.Today, thats finally starting to change. With the update to visionOS 2.2, Apple is seriously upgrading the headsets ability to work with a Mac. Its probably the closest thing the Vision Pro has to a killer app.Read Article >Dec 8, 2024Wes DavisApple and Sony are working on Vision Pro support for PSVR 2 controllersSonys PSVR2 controller support may be coming to the Vision Pro through a special partnership. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeThe Vision Pro could gain support for Sony PSVR 2 controllers soon, according to Mark Gurman in todays Power On newsletter for Bloomberg. Apple and Sony apparently planned to announce support for the controllers weeks ago but have pushed back the rollout. Under this rumored partnership, Apple would begin selling Sonys controllers, which arent currently available on their own.Sony has apparently been working on adding the support for months, while Apple has asked third-party developers if they would take advantage of Sonys VR controllers. Thats potentially great news for Vision Pro owners who wish the headset had more gaming chops. (There are precious few good, native visionOS games Thrasher, a mesmerizing game where you fling a giant worm / dragon thing around a psychadelic space using just hand movements, comes to mind.)Read Article >Nov 13, 2024Wes DavisBelkins Vision Pro strap should just come with the headsetPhoto: Wes Davis / The VergeThe Vision Pro VR headset is such an Apple product meticulously designed and packed with incredible tech, but designed to be used Apples way, whether you like it or not. For many, that means the headset is aggressively uncomfortable to wear due to its weight distribution. For the last several days, though, Ive been testing a solution Apple now sells thats so simple, so obvious, that Im actually miffed at Apple for not including something like it from the very beginning: the Belkin Head Strap.Belkins strap works in tandem with Apples Solo Knit Band. The Solo Knit Band wraps around your head with an elastic cushion, clamping the headset to your face but putting a lot of strain on your neck. Belkins strap gives you more support by distributing some of the Vision Pros weight to the top of your head.Read Article >Nov 4, 2024Wes DavisApples latest visionOS beta update wraps you in macOS.The company just released the developer beta for visionOS 2.2, which brings with it wide and ultrawide curved virtual display options for the Vision Pro, 9to5Mac reports.Beta users will also finally be able to output their Macs audio on the headset while using the virtual display with this update. (Before, the audio would only come from the Macs speakers.)visionOS 2.2 adds new Wide and Ultrawide settings for Mac Virtual Display, more[9to5Mac]Nov 3, 2024Wes DavisApple is preparing to sell a Belkin-made Vision Pro head strap.The strap, which is listed on Apples store for $49.95 but not yet available, combines with the Solo Knit Band, giving wearers over-the-head support that looks nicer than fiddling with the Vision Pros included Dual Loop Band.As 9to5Mac notes, its similar to an accessory that appeared in materials when Apple announced the headset, but was never something you could buy.How it should have been all along. Image: AppleOct 25, 2024Jay PetersAnother tiny new reason to use your Vision Pro.Safari will support spatial photos and videos starting later this year, PetaPixel reports. That means youll be able to see photos and videos with depth if youre browsing a website that builds support for the feature though, of course, youll need to be using a Vision Pro, which may not be selling very well.Apple is Adding Spatial Photo and Video Support to Safari[PetaPixel]Oct 23, 2024Richard LawlerApples reportedly slowing down Vision Pro production, for nowPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeA new report from The Information cites multiple people involved in making parts for Apples Vision Pro headset to say that production plans have been scaled back in recent months. This follows a Tim Cook interview published this weekend by WSJ. Magazine, where he said, Obviously Id like to sell more, but acknowledged that At $3,500, its not a mass-market product.That aligns with The Informations previous report from this summer, saying Apple has shifted its strategy to focus on making a cheaper headset, which could ship as soon as next year.Read Article >Oct 7, 2024Wes DavisWatch this one-minute preview of Apples first scripted Vision Pro shortApple just released the trailer for Submerged, the first scripted immersive video for the Vision Pro. The short, written and directed by Edward Berger, is set inside a WWII submarine as its crew deals with a harrowing torpedo attack.The trailer for Submerged consists of behind-the-scenes shots and fisheye-looking clips from the short, along with a voiceover from Berger, who claims that the immersive format will change the future of filmmaking.Read Article >Sep 18, 2024Wes DavisWith visionOS 2, Apples Vision Pro comes into focusPhoto: Nilay PatelApple rolled out updates to all of its major operating systems this week, and the Vision Pro was no exception. With visionOS 2, the company has a chance to show the relative few who bought its spendy headset and those who might yet that its still committed to the new platform.After a few months of using it in beta, visionOS 2 isnt a dramatic change its more like a smoothed-out version of the software the headset launched with. The addition of things like new gestures, better device support, and a couple of splashy features has removed a lot of the friction of using the Vision Pro and should give people who own it a reason to dust it off and take it for another spin.Read Article >Aug 5, 2024Wes DavisDisney Plus now takes you to Iceland.In the Apple Vision Pro, that is. Disney Plus has rolled out a National Geographic edition virtual environment for its visionOS app that lets you watch movies in a snowy corridor in Icelands Thingvellir National Park.The environment uses 3D models captured on-site using photogrammetry, according to Disneys announcement. When you watch a movie, it turns dark and shows you the Northern Lights!Sadly, it only works in the Disney Plus app. GIF: Disney PlusJul 18, 2024Emma RothLadies and gentlemen, The Weeknd (on Apple Vision Pro)Image: AppleApple is launching new immersive video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including one from The Weeknd, a close-up view of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and the first scripted short film captured in Apple Immersive Video. The new series and film will come exclusively to the Vision Pro, allowing wearers to watch 3D video with a 180-degree field of view.The immersive performance from The Weeknd will arrive on the Vision Pro later this year, while you can expect a short film featuring events from the NBA All-Star Game this fall, such as the Rising Stars Challenge, the slam dunk contest, and the All-Star Game.Read Article >Jul 2, 2024David PierceApples Vision Pro: five months laterImage: Alex Parkin / The VergeThe Apple Vision Pro is many things. But for us, and for many other users, its one thing in particular: a really, really, really big screen. Since Apple started shipping its spatial computing headset five months ago today, weve tested the device as a TV, a computer monitor, a game console, a mega-chill way to relax on the beach, and much more.On this episode of The Vergecast, we talk about the past, present, and future of the Vision Pro. We chat with The Verges Wes Davis and Victoria Song about their experiences with the device, along with what theyve liked and what theyd like to change. It seems pretty clear that the first version of the device wasnt a groundbreaking, market-moving hit, so what next? Apple is reportedly working on a cheaper model with significantly lower-res displays, but does that dim the appeal of that really big screen? We have some thoughts and some ideas for Apple.Read Article >Jun 30, 2024Wes DavisThe Vision Pro will get Apple Intelligence and Go Deeper in-store demosPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeFor all its impressive technical chops, Apples all-singing, all-dancing Vision Pro hasnt set the world on fire. But its early yet, and the company continues to throw some weight behind the headset, and reportedly has plans to add AI features to visionOS and is readying an updated approach to in-store demos.Apple is working through the challenge of incorporating Apple Intelligence into the augmented reality interface of the headset, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported today. That could be a relief for Vision Pro owners who were disappointed that the company didnt mention it during the AI portion of its WWDC 2024 keynote presentation.Read Article >Jun 29, 2024Wes DavisThe Vision Pro follow-up may get lower-res displays.In its quest to build a cheaper headset, Apple has asked manufacturers for technical details needed to develop 2-inch or 2.1-inch displays with a pixel density of 1,700ppi (or about half the Vision Pros 3,386ppi), according to an Elec report cited by UploadVR yesterday.Assuming the same aspect ratio, the outlet pegs the resolution somewhere around 2600 x 2300, or just over two-thirds that of the current headset.Apple Asks LG & Samsung To Supply Micro-OLED For Vision Headset[UploadVR]Jun 23, 2024Richard LawlerApples rumored AR glasses are still a long way from reality.Mark Gurmans Power On newsletter looks at difficult trade-offs Apple has to make as it prioritizes a cheaper headset (including maybe relying on a tethered iPhone or Mac) and continues work on a second-gen Vision Pro.He also described details of Apples renewed efforts on the wear-all-day lightweight AR spectacles dream that Meta and Google are also chasing:Though a launch date around 2027 has been bandied about, no one Ive spoken to within Apple believes the glasses will be ready in a few years.Apple Vision Plans: Cheaper Model in Late 2025, Vision Pro 2 in 2026, AR Glasses[Bloomberg]Jun 18, 2024Jay PetersApples Vision Pro team is reportedly focused on building a cheaper headsetPhoto by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeApple may no longer be working on a new high-end Vision headset amid slowing sales of the Vision Pro, according to a new report from The Information. Instead, Apple has apparently been finding ways to reduce the cost of components for the first model and is working on a cheaper Vision headset that it aims to ship by the end of 2025.The first Vision Pro came out earlier this year, and while its a very good VR headset, it has a lot of flaws inherent to many other VR headsets. Its also quite expensive, starting at $3,499, and what I noticed most when I tried the Vision Pro at an Apple Store pretty heavy.Read Article >Jun 16, 2024Wes DavisThe visionOS 2 beta enables web-based VR.Previously an experimental feature, WebXR support is on by default for Vision Pro beta testers, RoadtoVR wrote last week. The open standard allows for VR and AR experiences on the web, such as those listed on this GitHub page.However, the outlet writes that AR experiences do not seem to work quite yet, limiting it to fully-VR ones for now.With visionOS 2, Apple Vision Pro Supports WebXR By Default[UploadVR]Jun 11, 2024Wes DavisApple skipped over the best visionOS 2 updatesSome of the best features just got hints in the feature breakdown at the end. Image: AppleApple mentioned a few new features coming to the Vision Pro during its WWDC 2024 keynote presentation on Monday, such as the ability to turn your 2D photos into 3D ones and support for using the headset on trains. But the company glossed right over some of the most sorely needed features that its adding to visionOS and those quieter changes make for a much more exciting update.After the update arrives this fall, youll be able to see a Magic Keyboard while youre working in a virtual environment, use any Bluetooth mouse you want, and rearrange your homescreen icons including putting iPad and iPhone apps where you want. These are all features that probably should have been there from the beginning, and theyll improve the day-to-day experience of using the Vision Pro in meaningful ways.Read Article >Jun 10, 2024Antonio G. Di BenedettoApple is finally launching the Vision Pro outside the USPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeMuch more of the world will soon have the chance to buy Apples mixed reality headset. Apple announced today that its $3,499 Vision Pro will be sold internationally with a rollout kicking off on June 28th.The first countries outside the US to get the Vision Pro are China, Japan, and Singapore on June 28th, followed by Germany, France, Australia, the UK, and Canada on July 12th. The announcement comes after Bloomberg reported in May that Apple has been training its international employees on selling the high-end headset.Read Article >May 22, 2024Wes DavisMarvels What If...? Vision Pro mixed reality story will debut on May 30th.Marvel says What If...? An Immersive Story will have viewers (players?) casting spells, fighting battles with Marvel characters, and using the infinity stones. Judging from the trailer, that means making Doctor Stranges magic sparks with your hands.This edition of What If...? will be free for a limited time when the app is available on May 30th.May 15, 2024Sheena VasaniThe Apple Vision Pro is approved to go on sale in ChinaAn Apple wearable computer made by the Vision Pros manufacturer received the necessary quality and safety accreditation for it go on sale, according to the website of the Chinese product standards body that granted its approval.The report aligns with recent rumors suggesting the Pro will roll out internationally after WWDC on June 10th, though an exact date is still unknown.Vision Pro international rollout beckons as China approves release[9to5Mac]May 13, 2024Jess WeatherbedApple is almost ready to sell the Vision Pro outside the USThe Vision Pro could be available in some international regions shortly after Apples WWDC event next month. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeApple is reportedly preparing to launch its $3,499 Vision Pro outside of the US for the first time, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, with the mixed reality headsets international rollout expected to start shortly after the companys Worldwide Developers Conference early next month. On Monday, Gurman reported that Apple has flown hundreds of employees from its international stores over to its offices in Cupertino, California, to show them how to demonstrate the device. Training sessions reportedly started last week, with courses taking up to four days to complete according to Gurmans sources.Read Article >More Stories

I Built an AI Money Coach in Python Heres How You Can Too (Step-by-Step Guide!) 0 like March 11, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Mukundan Sankar Originally published on Towards AI. Want to manage your money better? Learn how to build an AI-powered financial coach in just a few steps.This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Image generated using ChatGPT by the AuthorManaging personal finances can be overwhelming tracking expenses, budgeting, saving, and investing all require effort. Many people struggle with understanding where their money goes and how to optimize their spending to achieve their financial goals.I decided to build an AI-powered financial assistant to help me make smarter money decisions by providing real-time financial advice, analyzing income and expenses, and suggesting improvements to budgeting and saving strategies.This AI Money Coach serves as a friend and coach not a legal or financial advisor helping me analyze my financial situation to provide practical budgeting and savings strategies that align with my goals.The great thing about this project is that anyone can build their own AI-powered financial assistant. Students in school can enhance this project and build an even more powerful tool, while experienced programmers can integrate it with external APIs to make it a real-time, data-driven financial assistant.If you want to build your own AI Money Coach, heres how you can do it step by step.A few months ago, I had a hard time keeping track of my money. I tried writing things Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Just a few months after the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D graced us with its presence, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D brings its 3D V-Cache technology to a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor thats absolutely overkill for most people, but will have no problem keeping up with powerful graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090 or whatever comes next. However, all of those cores come with a high $699 asking price and a 170W power budget, making this processor hard to recommend to anyone who isnt already building an incredibly powerful (and expensive) gaming PC. For anyone else, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D just makes more sense. Purchasing GuideThe AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is available March 12, starting at $699. This is a suggested price, and AMD's processors have been known to fluctuate in value depending on demand. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D PhotosSpecs and FeaturesThe AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D essentially takes the same Zen 5 cores behind the regular 9950X and pairs them with the new 2nd-generation 3D V-Cache found in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. That means you still get excellent multi-core performance, but paired with better gaming performance thanks to a more capacious cache. Unlike the Ryzen 9 7950X3D that preceded it, though, the 3D V-Cache is now physically located below the actual CPU cores, rather than above them. This seems like a minor change, to be sure, but it ends up making a major difference in thermal performance. Because the CCD, or Core Complex Die, is what produces most of the CPUs heat, having it closer to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), means its able to dissipate heat more easily. And with AMDs performance algorithm taking thermal headroom into account, those lower temperatures mean the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is able to run faster, longer. The physical location of the cache is about more than just temperatures, though. Because its directly under the CPU cores, there is less distance for the data to travel, which cuts down on latency. Plus, because the cache gets more space, AMD was able to shove in a ton of it, with the 9950X3D having 144MB of combined L2 and L3 cache. Thats the same amount as in the last-generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D, but its still much more than youre going to find in any non-X3D processor. Both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and 9950X3D have the same 170W TDP, though the original 9950X has a higher potential PPT. Though, in my testing, I found that both processors ended up peaking at 200W. Though, the 9950X3D did have a lower peak temperature, only reaching 79C during the test suite though it was tested on a different cooler than the original 9950X. Luckily, because the 9950X3D isnt using a new chipset, it's compatible with any AM5 AMD motherboard. AMD has come out and said it would support this socket until at least 2027, so you wont have to worry about getting locked into a dead platform. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D BenchmarksPerformanceBefore I dive into performance results, I have to note that all CPUs were tested on the same hardware, with one exception: the Ryzen 9 9950X. That was tested on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard with a Corsair H170i 360mm AIO cooler. This difference in hardware will have an impact on performance, but its not likely to be a major difference, especially since everything is tested at stock settings. AMD Test benchGPU Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090MotherboardAsus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero; Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero (9800X3D)RAM32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo @ 6,000MHzSSD1TB PNY CS3140 Gen4x4 NVMe SSDCPU CoolerAsus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB ExtremeThis happened largely because one of the mounting screws for the Asus ROG Ryujin III 360mm cooler I was using snapped when swapping to the 9950X. I will retest the processors in the coming weeks, and if anything is significantly different Ill be sure to update this section. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a 16-core, 32-thread gaming processor with an absolutely ridiculous 144MB of cache, so it shouldnt be too surprising that its incredibly powerful. Even in creative benchmarks, where the 9800X3D fell behind, the 9950X3D has no problem keeping up with the most powerful chips on the market. Intel Test BenchGPUNvidia GeForce RTX 4090Motherboard Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Hero (200S); Asus Prime Z790-A (14th-Gen)RAM32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 @ 6,000MHzSSDPNY CS3140 1TB Gen 4 x 4 NVMe SSDCPU CoolerAsus ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB ExtremeWhats surprising is how well the 9950X3D holds up against 9800X3D in single-core workloads. For example, in Cinebench 1T, the 9950X3D gets 2,254 points, compared to 2,033 points, making for a 10% improvement. Then, in the 3DMark CPU Profile test, the 9950X3D scores 1,280 points, which comes in striking distance to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285Ks 1,351 points. Of course, in multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is really able to stretch its legs, scoring 40,747 points in Cinebenchs multi-core test. Just like the 9800X3D, the 9950X3D does lose some top-end performance in multi-threaded applications, falling short of the 41,123 points from the 9950X and 42,245 points from the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, but it's worth it for the boost in gaming performance. In Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p with Ultra settings, the 9950X3D is able to get 274 fps when paired with the RTX 4090. Compared to 254 fps from the 9800X3D and 255 from the Core Ultra 9 285K, the 9950X3D easily takes the crown here. However, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with the Ultra preset and ray tracing disabled, the 9950X3D delivers 229 fps, down from 240 fps from the 9800X3D. Thats a disappointing result, but its still way faster than the 165 fps from the competing Intel processor. Overkill?The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D might be the most powerful gaming processor on the market right now, but that doesnt mean it has a de facto lead on every other chip on the market. Most people will have no problem getting by with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which just so happens to be much much more affordable at $479. Instead, the 9950X3D is geared towards gamers that both play games and use creative apps like Photoshop and Premiere, the latter of which sees a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D. For a pure gaming PC build, though, youre probably better off saving that extra $220 for a better graphics card. Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

As part of its Spring Sale, SteelSeries is taking 40% off both PS5 and Xbox editions of its SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Destiny 2: The Final Shape Edition wireless gaming headsets. The Destiny Edition comes with a Booster Pack that includes Destiny themed speaker plates and headband, as well as exclusive Desinty 2 in-game items.SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gaming Headset Destiny EditionPS5, PCSteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gaming Headset Destiny 2: The Final Shape EditionXbox, PCSteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless Gaming Headset Destiny 2: The Final Shape EditionThe SteelSeries Nova 7 is the latest successor to the highly rated Arctis 7 series of headsets. It's every bit as good as its predecessor but with some welcome upgrades like a USB Type-C charging port, a longer battery life (38 hours vs. 30 hours), simultaneous wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, and multi-platform compatibility. PC gamers also have access to the SteelSeries GG app, which opens up a whole suite of customization for your audio. If that's too much for you, there are presets for specific games that are actually tailormade by the game developers. For PS5 gamers, the Nova 7 is also compatible with the PlayStation 5's Tempest 3D Audio.The Arctis Nova 7 is one of the best headsets you can get for PS5 and PC. In his Nova 7 review, Matthew Adler wrote that "SteelSeries continues to push the boundaries of what a headset is capable of. With the addition of simultaneous Bluetooth audio, you can enjoy music, podcasts, or just chat with your friends without losing your game audio all with a single pair of headphones. The Arctis Nova 7s new design is sleek, lightweight, and still remains one of the most comfortable headsets Ive ever used." I own a pair of these myself and highly recommend it.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Mac gamers are probably familiar with CrossOver, a platform that lets users run Windows software on macOS and Linux as if it were native software. CodeWeavers, the company behind the app, has now released CrossOver 25 with a series of enhancements including support for more games like Red Dead Redemption 2.Whats new with CrossOver 25According to the developers, CrossOver 25 comes with more than 5,000 changes that improve support for a variety of apps and games on macOS and Linux. The new version of CrossOver is based on Wine 10.0, which includes better HiDPI support for Retina displays and updated Vulkan drivers.For Mac users, CrossOver now includes a new configuration system that will make it easier to play games out of the box without additional mods or the need to use game-specific CrossTies. With the update, games such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, and Fallout 4 now work without the need for patches. It also enables multiplayer support in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.But perhaps one of the main highlights of CrossOver 25 is support for Rockstars Red Dead Redemption 2, which now finally runs on the Mac. Other games now supported by CrossOver 25 are Street Fighter 6, Need for Speed Heat, Nioh 2 The Complete Edition, Teardown, Age of Wonders 4, Dragons Dogma 2, and The Last of Us Part 1.The new version of CrossOver also enables DXMT, which is a Metal-based implementation of Direct3D 11. DXMT will be available alongside wined3d, DXVK, and D3DMetal, so users can choose which works best for them. The developers note that DXMT offers better performance on Macs with lower specs.Last year, with CrossOver 24, CodeWeavers improved support for running 32-bit apps and games on macOS.CrossOver for Mac costs $64,but you can try it for free here.Gadgets I recommendAdd 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

Severance has become the most popular show on Apple TV+, and its no surprise. Each episode has details that make the show unique and believe it or not, that includes the cars we see in it. In an interview with The Drive, Severance creative consultants Catherine Miller and Peter Dancy detailed the difficult task of choosing the cars for the show.As detailed in the report, everything in Severance is designed to be disorienting as the show has no clear timeline and everything from the sets and costumes is chosen to help make its temporal setting more ambiguous. And although Severance isnt a show about cars, its hard to avoid them, so the team needed people to cast specific vehicles.Cars are so integral to a character, a story, they immediately identify time and place [and] world, Miller toldThe Drive. According to her, showrunner Ben Stiller and production designer Jeremy Hindle wanted the cars in the show to have a timeless feel and that they shouldnt be super modern.Although the cast drive real cars, theyre all modified to have any marks and labels removed. Some brands just are very defining and defined place and time, said Miller. This also applies to other objects in the show, such as household appliances or even drinks and food. We created those brandings and labels all ourselves. We wanted to have that ability to be out of a time and a place, slightly alternate reality.When it comes to casting vehicles, Dancy explains that he had to put his mind to choosing the car that best suits each actor. Dancy had to come up with five different car options for each character. Then the production had to acquire each one and bring them to the stage so that Stiller and the crew could choose the best cars.Eddy Cue and Ben Stiller interview each other about Severance on SXSW stageFinding the right cars for SeveranceOf course, since the cars seen in Severance are all from decades ago, theyre hard to find. Dancy says that some of the cars were found on the Facebook marketplace, while in other cases he left a business card on the windshield wiper of cars on the street to negotiate with the owner. Staying up all night scouring the the Internet, said Dancy.But thats not all, as the cars had to be repaired and even had their engines replaced so that they wouldnt make too much noise during filming.In the interview, Miller detailed how he went about choosing the vehicles for each character. For Mark, the choice was a 90s Volvo. Since Mark lost his wife in a car accident, it seemed obvious that he would want to drive a safe car. Dylan, a family man, drives an original Dodge Caravan, while Milchick has a Royal Enfield because he has so many quick outings.As for Harmony Cobel, she drives a Mk1 Volkswagen Rabbit, which was one of the hardest to find.When everybody saw the VW Rabbit for Patricia Arquette as Cobel, and it was white, the one we happened to bring was white, and everyone was just like that, that is it, said Miller. And then also, you know, its endowed with the metaphor of a rabbit and a white rabbit.The full interview gives even more interesting details about the show, and its well worth a read. Severance is available on Apple TV+, and there are only two episodes left to the end of the second season.Gadgets I recommendAdd 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

Since general AI agent Manus was launched last week, it has spread online like wildfire. And not just in China either, where it was developed by Wuhan-based startup Butterfly Effect. Its made its way into the global conversation, with influential voices in tech, including Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Hugging Face product lead Victor Mustar, praising its performance. Some have even dubbed it the second DeepSeek, drawing comparisons to the earlier AI model that took the industry by surpriseboth for its unexpected capabilities and its origin. Manus claims to be the world's first general AI agentleveraging multiple AI models (such as Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet and fine-tuned versions of Alibaba's open-source Qwen), and various independently operating agents to act autonomously on a wide range of tasks. (This is different from AI chatbots, including DeepSeek, that are based on a single large language model family and are primarily designed for conversational interactions.) Despite all the hype, very few people have had a chance to use it. Currently, under 1% of the users on the waitlist have received an invite code. (Its unclear how many people are on this waitlist, but for a sense of how much interest there is, Manuss Discord channel has more than 186,000 members.) MIT Technology Review was able to obtain access to Manus, and when I gave it a test drive, I found that using it feels like collaborating with a highly intelligent and efficient intern: While it occasionally lacks understanding of what its being asked to do, makes incorrect assumptions, or cuts corners to expedite tasks, it explains its reasoning clearly, is remarkably adaptable, and can improve substantially when provided with detailed instructions or feedback. Ultimately, its promising but not perfect. Just like its parent companys previous product, an AI assistant called Monica that was released in 2023, Manus is intended for a global audience. English is set as the default language, and its design is clean and minimalist. To get in, a user has to enter a valid invite code. Then the system directs users to a landing page that closely resembles those of ChatGPT or DeepSeek, with historical sessions displayed in a left-hand column and a chat input box in the center. The landing page also features sample tasks curated by the companyranging from business strategy development to interactive learning to customized audio meditation sessions. Like other reasoning-based agentic AI tools, such as ChatGPT DeepResearch, Manus is capable of breaking tasks down into steps and autonomously navigating the web to get the information it needs to complete tasks. What sets it apart is the Manus's Computer window, which allows users not only to observe what the agent is doing, but also intervene at any point. To put it to the test, I tasked Manus with three assignments: (1) compile a list of notable reporters covering China tech, (2) search for two-bedroom property listings in New York City, and (3) nominate potential candidates for Innovators Under 35, a list created by MIT Technology Review every year. Heres how it did: Task 1: The first list of reporters that Manus gave me contained only five names, with five honorable mentions below them. I noticed that it listed some journalists notable work while not others. I asked Manus why it did this. The reason it offered was hilariously simple: It got lazy. It was partly due to time constraints as I tried to expedite the research process, the agent told me. When I insisted on consistency and thoroughness, Manus responded with a comprehensive list of 30 journalists, noting their current outlet and listing notable work. (I was glad to see I made the cut, along with many of my beloved peers.) I was impressed that I was able to make top-level suggestions for changes, much as someone would with a real-life intern or assistant, and that it responded in kind. And while it initially overlooked some journalists employer status changes, when I asked it to revisit some results, it quickly corrected them. Another nice feature: the output was downloadable as a Word or Excel file, making it easy to edit or share with others. Manus hit a snag, though, when accessing journalists news articles behind paywalls; it frequently encountered CAPTCHA blocks. Since I was able to follow along step by step, I could easily take over to complete these, though many media sites still blocked the tool due to suspicious activity. I see potential for major improvements hereand it would be useful if a future version of Manus could proactively ask for help when it encounters these sorts of restrictions. Task 2: For the apartment search, I gave Manus a complex set of criteria, including a budget, and parameters for a spacious kitchen, outdoor space, access to downtown Manhattan, and a major train station within a seven-minute walk. Manus initially interpreted vague requirements like some kind of outdoor access too literally, completely excluding properties without a private terrace or balcony access. However, after more guidance and clarification, it was able to compile a broader and more helpful list, giving recommendations in tiers and neat bullet points. The final output felt straight from Wirecutter, containing subtitles like best overall, best value, and luxury option. This task (including the back and forth) took less than half an houra lot faster than compiling the list of journalists (which took a little over an hour), likely because property listings are more openly available and well-structured online. Task 3: This was the largest in scope: I asked Manus to nominate 50 people for this years Innovators Under 35 list. Producing this list is an enormous undertaking and we typically get hundreds of nominations every year. So I was curious to see how well Manus could do. It broke the task into steps, including reviewing past lists to understand selection criteria, creating a search strategy for identifying candidates, compiling names, and ensuring a diverse selection of candidates from all over the world. Developing a search strategy was the most time-consuming part for Manus. While it didnt explicitly outline its approach, the Manuss Computer window revealed the agent rapidly scrolling through websites of prestigious research universities, announcements of tech awards, and news articles. However, it again encountered obstacles when trying to access academic papers and paywalled media content. After three hours of scouring the internetduring which Manus (understandably) asked me multiple times whether I could narrow the searchit was only able to give me three candidates with full background profiles. When I pressed it again to provide a complete list of 50 names, it eventually generated one, but certain academic institutions and fields were heavily overrepresented, reflecting an incomplete research process. After I pointed out the issue and asked it to find five candidates from China, it managed to compile a solid five-name list, though the results skewed toward Chinese media darlings. Ultimately, I had to give up after the system warned that Manuss performance might decline if I kept inputting too much text. My assessment: Overall, Still, its not all smooth sailing. Manus can suffer from frequent crashes and system instability, and can struggle when asked to process large chunks of text. The message Due to the current high service load, tasks cannot be created. Please try again in a few minutes flashed on my screen a few times when starting new requests, and occasionally Manuss Computer froze on a certain page for a long period of time. It has a higher failure rate than ChatGPT DeepResearcha problem the team is addressing, according to Manuss chief scientist Peak Ji. That said, Chinese media outlet 36Kr reports that Manuss per-task cost is about $2, which is just one-tenth of DeepResearchs cost. If the Manus team strengthens its server infrastructure, I can see the tool becoming a preferred choice for individual users, particularly white-collar professionals, independent developers, and small teams. Finally, I think its really valuable that Manuss working process feels more transparent and collaborative. It actively asks questions along the way and retains key instructions as knowledge in its memory for future use, allowing for an easily customizable agentic experience. Its also really nice that each session is replayable and shareable. I expect I will keep using Manus for all sorts of tasks, both in my personal and professional lives. While I'm not sure the comparisons to DeepSeek are quite right, it serves as further evidence that Chinese AI companies are not just following in the footsteps of their Western counterparts. They are not just innovating on base models, but actively shaping the adoption of autonomous AI agents in their own way.

It's the end of a (free) era: Southwest Airlines will begin charging for checked bags at the end of May.Amid sinking profits, the budget airline announced in a press releaseTuesday that it's ending its long-standing policy of allowing passengers to check two bags for free, restricting the perk to its elite members starting May 28. The carrier also announced it's introducing a basic economy fare, which doesn't include many of the perks Southwest customers have enjoyed until now: 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.Customers who purchase Basic fares on or after May 28 won't be able to pick their seat or request extra legroom. The carrier announced last year that it would end itsopen seating policy andinstead offer premium seating options with more legroom.Customers now earn fewer Rapid Rewards points on the cheaper Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares.Flight credits issued for Basic fare tickets purchased on or after May 28 will expire after six months. Flight credits for pricier fares will expire after a year.However, you can now buy Southwest tickets on Expedia, which started offering the airline's fares last month.While travelers had mixed opinions about assigned seating, the checked bag charges are likely to be met with frustration across the board as fliers clamor for cheaper airline tickets.Why is Southwest changing its policy?In a word: profitability.The airline's profits dropped by 46% in early 2024, although it touted record revenue by the end of the year. According to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, the airline is rolling out its new policy as it continues to rebuild. "We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don't compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect," Jordan said in Tuesday's press release.Charging for checked bags offers an additional revenue stream for the airline. It follows the playbook of bigger airlines, which typically offer cheaper tickets to customers willing to forgo any perks or amenities.What can you do to avoid checked bag fees?If you don't want to pay to check a bag the next time you fly, you still have some options.Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers who book Business Select fares can still check two bags for free. A-List Members and other "select" customers will enjoy one free checked bag. Rapids Rewards Credit Card members will receive a statement credit for one checked bag. If you aren't loyal to Southwest, other airline credit cards may also reward cardholders with perks like free checked bags. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, for example, offers cardholders their first checked bag free on Delta flights.Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.And if all else fails, consider packing lighter to fit your travel wardrobe in a carry-on."Use compression cubes and vacuum bags to save space," said Mariana Mendoza of Vibe Adventures travel agency. "Choose a suitcase with compression straps and expandable compartments to help you fit more into your carry-on." Related stories

Sony appears to be developing AI technology that could enable its PlayStation game characters to interact even more directly with players.As The Verge uncovered Monday, a video narrated by Sony Interactive Entertainment's director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, features an AI-enabled version of the character Aloy from the company's Horizon game franchise.Read more: How to Use AI to Troubleshoot Tech IssuesIn the video, which has been removed from YouTube, the character could hold conversations with a player using technologies including OpenAI's GPT-4 and Llama 3, as well as some of Sony's own speech and facial-animation technology.Read more: Best Handheld Game Consoles of 2025The Verge says it got wind of the video from an anonymous tipster. After its story was published, a copyright claim from Muso -- a content-protection firm that works with Sony -- made the video unavailable.Read more: I Won't Use AI Smart Health Features for My Own Sake. Here's WhyWhile the original video has been taken down, parts of it continue to appear online.According to The Verge, the video demonstrated the prototype-stage technology on PC, but it could be adapted for Sony's PlayStation 5 console.Like many other tech companies, Sony has been developing different types of AI agents and technologies.On a Sony AI website, the company says it's "revolutionizing human interactions in games and virtual worlds with cutting-edge AI agents that unlock new possibilities and deeper connections for game developers and players."Read more: The 17 Best PS5 Games Right NowSony did not immediately respond to a message from CNET about the leaked video report.While companies from Nvidia, Apple, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Meta are in a race to develop new AI models and technologies, Sony's efforts appear to be geared toward enhancing gameplay and giving players of its games ways to interact with characters or get guidance on navigating their experiences.Previous reports, mainly based on Sony patent filings, have suggested that the company has been developing AI assistants that would provide guidance or help for game players. These efforts seem similar to those of Nvidia and Microsoftwith Inworld AI.AI-driven characters could bring challengesNic Young, CEO and co-founder of Oh, a platform that works in AI infrastructure for avatars and other identity-based content, said Sony's move could increase the playability of its games, particularly open-world ones."We've likely all played Skyrim's main storyline half a dozen times, and while there's always new quirks and discoveries, eventually the repetitive character dialogue chips away at the novelty," Young told CNET. "Imagine instead if those characters could deliver fresh dialogue every time, fully aware of and reacting to the player's specific actions and storyline -- it would make the unpredictability and excitement infinite."Young said AI-powered characters could make some games feel more personalized and break the mold of scripted dialogue trees, making storylines more unique."AI is inherently unpredictable -- its creativity and novelty stem directly from its non-deterministic nature, which makes it challenging to control," he said. "Striking the right balance between boring, but controllable, and creative, but unpredictable is especially critical for major companies like Sony."He said the challenges would be in putting guardrails around that unpredictability to make it safe for players and drawing enough computing resources to make the AI compelling.Done right, though, AI could change the nature of these types of games."Magic in gaming comes from players having truly unique, immersive, personalized experiences," Young said. "Transitioning from pre-scripted NPCs to genuinely intelligent characters is like the leap from reading a book to exploring an open-world game, all over again."