Are you tired of missing important lines of dialogue in your favorite TV shows and movies? Unfortunately, most TV speakers dont have what it takes to deliver the kind of crystal-clear sound we all wish for. Fortunately, soundbars are a quick and easy fix, and top TV brands like Samsung are behind a number of these incredible audio accessories.As it turns out, theres a fantastic sale on a particular Samsung bar today. For a limited time, the Samsung HW-S50B 3.0ch Soundbar is marked down to $180. Purchase at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo-Video to take advantage of this Amazon Big Spring Sale event markdown.The Samsung S50B is a great soundbar for small to medium-sized TV rooms. With its integrated woofers, tweets, and passive radiators, the S50B delivers solid stereo performance and can even virtualize a larger surround sound configuration. Youll also be treated to a dedicated center speaker for enhanced dialogue and vocals, as well as Samsungs Adaptive Sound Lite feature for additional dialogue optimization.RelatedHDMI ARC and digital optical are the two wired connections youll have access to, but the S50B also has a Bluetooth input that supports up to two device connections simultaneously!Soundbar deals like this one are a bit rare. Normally, were highlighting soundbar-subwoofer combos, and the Samsung S50B doesnt come with a dedicated sub. Still, this soundbar delivers a huge upgrade over traditional TV speakers, and its $73 less for the foreseeable future.We also suggest taking a look at our lists of the best Bluetooth speaker deals and best TV deals for even more discounts on top AV devices.Editors Recommendations

Whether youve ordered an iPhone 16e and are waiting for it to arrive, got one from the beginning and still dont have a case, or are planning to get an iPhone 16e soon, the story is the same: You need one of the best iPhone 16e cases to keep it protected. One of our favorites, the CASEKOO Crystal Clear Case is, well, a very clear case for the iPhone 16e. And right now you can get it for $17 instead of $23. Thats a 26% discount and a savings of $6 on a case that will keep your new iPhone 16e protected while also showing the phones natural brilliance. Tap the button below to get the case now (cases really arent too complex to understand) or keep reading to see why we like it and why over 500 people have bought this case on Amazon over the past month.You should buy this case because it is $17 (at least while this deal lasts) and will keep your $599 iPhone 16e safe for years. Even if you rotate phones every year and a half, this deal is still less than a dollar of case per month.But if you arent case skeptical, you probably already knew the value of a case. Instead, you need to know why to buythis case. The CASEKOO Crystal Clear Case is, indeed, very clear and does not add much bulk or weight to the phone (it weighs a mere 3.2 ounces), gives your phone 12 foot drop protection, and is made from never-yellowing materials. This case will look and feel good for the long term. It even comes with a phone stand so you can prop your phone up on a table and not have to hold it.RelatedGet your CASEKOO Crystal Clear Case and keep your iPhone 16e safe for just $17 today by tapping the button below. This is a special price that is 26% less than the usual $23, a discount of $6. This is nothing worth procrastinating about you could drop your phone any second.Editors Recommendations

Wiim will soon update its Alexa-capable voice remote and the new model looks like a clone of the Siri voice remote that ships with every Apple TV 4K streaming device.Wiim calls it the Voice Remote 2, and I caught a glimpse of it while attending a Wiim product briefing in Markham, Ontario. Officially, it doesnt launch until April 8, which is when well know the price and details like battery life. On that day, youll be able to find it on Wiims website (and likely on Amazon too). For now, however, these photos will have to suffice.Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsWiim has already proven that it has a major crush on Apples industrial design. The Wiim Amp, Amp Pro, Ultra, and newly launched Vibelink Amp all feature rounded-corner, aluminum enclosures that strongly evoke the Apple Mac Mini. In some cases, these products are available in Apples two favorite aluminum colors: silver and space grey.Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsBut these products feel like a tribute to Apples pioneering design work, as opposed to the new Voice Remote 2, which crosses over into unadulterated copy-cat territory.Recommended VideosThe material, the proportions, the size, shape, and layout of the buttons theyre all virtually identical. So too is the size and position of the voice button, which even sports the same microphone icon. Even the dark plastic window that sits on the front edge has been copied an especially strange choice given that this is where Apple has placed its IR emitter. If the Voice Remote 2 matches the features of the original Wiim voice remote, it doesnt use IR at all.RelatedAnd though the Voice Remote 2s power button sits on the opposite corner to Apples remote, the USB-C charging port area is another element that seems as though it came straight from Cupertino.Here are some pics I took with a Siri Remote so you can see the similarities.It will be interesting to see if theres an official reaction (legal or otherwise) from Apple.If youre a Wiim fan, 2025 is going to be a helluva year. I cant share any details yet, but my briefing left me stunned by what Wiims got planned. I promise theres going to be a lot to talk about.Editors Recommendations

Even though Amazons Big Spring Sale ended yesterday, that doesnt mean you wont find great discounts on top TVs at other retailers. In fact, we came across this fantastic offer on a big LG TV not too long ago:For a limited time, when you purchase the LG 70-inch UQ7070 Series 4K LED at Walmart, youll only pay $500. Usually, this TV sells for $650.Why you should buy the LG UQ7070 SeriesWhile it may not be one of the more exciting TV deals weve dug up this week, its an excellent buy for anyone looking to score the biggest screen size they can get without spending an arm and a leg. Its also a solid TV for watching movies and shows and even for playing video games. LGs a5 Gen 5 AI Processor does a nice job at enhancing and upscaling all sources, so even older content looks bright, colorful, and polished.RelatedThe UQ7070 only has a native 60Hz refresh rate, but LGs built-in Game Optimizer makes it easy to adjust crucial gameplay settings in a pinch, making the UQ7070 a reliable console and PC gaming display. This LG TV also features LGs webOS 22 for access to streaming apps and casting capabilities.This isnt the most advanced TV on the market, but if youre looking to score a great deal on a 65-inch set or larger, its hard to go wrong with any LG TV.Save $150 when you purchase the LG 70-inch UQ7070 Series 4K LED, and be sure to take a look at our lists of the best LG TV deals and best Walmart dealsfor even more discounts on popular LG sets!Editors Recommendations

Google may be upgrading Google Messages with the ability for users to mention other people in group chats and send links and QR codes.According to a report from 9to5Google, a recent APK teardown for the latest beta for the Android messaging app, version 20250331_02_RC00, suggests its planning to implement support for the aforementioned features that not everyone noticed was missing from their group chats before. Youll be able to mention someone in the group chat to get their attention when you need to directly ask or tell them something related to a topic being discussed, and enable notifications for when someone mentions you. You will also have the option to snooze notifications in increments of one, eight and 24 hours, as well as Always. However, you may not be able to snooze notifications for certain group chats.Recommended VideosThe links and QR codes within the group chats will automatically expire after a few days, but the breakdown doesnt give an exact number of days it takes for them to become inactive. The URL can be reset at any time, but theres no mention of a timeframe between when the links are sent and when they expire.RelatedIts unknown when Google will update Google Messages with support for user mentions, links and QR codes. However, the teardown comes nearly two weeks after the company allowed YouTube videos to be played inside chats again following a year of that feature being rolled back quietly. It also comes nearly two months after the app received an update that allows users to unsend texts in RCS chats if they determine that such texts were either too awkward or otherwise regrettable after the fact. That comes with a delete for everyone functionality that allows you to spare everyone in the group chat the embarrassment of the messages content.Editors Recommendations

Fortnite fans are buzzing with excitement as Epic Games continues to release new content in 2025, keeping players engaged with a continuous stream of missions and event-themed challenges. The battle royale giant has long been praised for its innovative updates, which combine seasonal events, crossovers, and limited-time objectives to keep its community thriving.From battling iconic characters to exploring new map landmarks, these adventures provided players with unique opportunities to earn XP and unlock rare rewards. As spring arrives, the current v34.21 patch adds even more action, including a high-profile Mortal Kombat collab with Scorpion as an island boss.Recommended VideosBut the actual buzz today, April 1, 2025, is around a unique twist: the arrival of Fortnites April Fools Day quests. Known for their unique, playful tone, these limited-time challenges guarantee a dose of mischief in addition to the normal grind. Heres how to complete all of them.RelatedEpic GamesFortnites April Fools quests are newly added challenges to the usual stack of quests that you can access via the Quests Tab in-game. These quests are off beat challenges which require you to perform unusual actions during your Battle Royale gameplay. You can complete these quests in Zero Build or Battle Royale lobbies for the current Chapter 6 Season 2 and completing all of them grant 46,000 XP.Here are all the April Fools quests and its rewards:Place anything but first (1): 2,000 XP Build a structure as soon as you land on the islandBreak open chests instead of searching them (3): 2,000 XP Pickaxe and break 3 chestsTouch Grass (60): 2,000 XP Stay on grass terrain for 60 secondsDrive safely on the road for 100 meters (100): 2,000 XP Drive without a collision for 100 meters straightLand over here and over there (2): 2,000 XP Land on the island and then redeploy glider and land once again on the island. Use a launch pad to do soFind the coolest player on the island (1): 2,000 XP Find a bathroom and stand in front of a mirror facing itCollect non-fish from fishing (1): 2,000 XP Fish in a fishing spot and catch anything else but fishSurvive seconds before collecting any weapons in a match (120): 2,000 XP Survive for two minutes on the island without a weapon in your inventoryThese quests are only live until tomorrow April 2, 2025 at 6 am EST, so make sure to complete it as soon as you can to grab the free XP and level up faster.Editors Recommendations

Google has announced it is updating Help me create on Google Docs to support seven additional languages.The company announced in a blog post on Monday that its expanding the little-known AI-powered tool to make it more accessible to Google Docs users for whom English is not their native language. Help me create now supports the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French and German.Recommended VideosIf youre not sure what Help me create is, Google introduced the tool in December 2024 that employs Gemini to help you overcome writers block by writing the first draft of whatever documents you need to write up when you give it a prompt, provided your document is blank. It gives you stylized templates for each document format Google Drive gives you access to, whether its a business proposal, a product launch plan, product road map, newsletter, or even a party-planning list, and you can tweak them accordingly. Below is a demonstration of the tool giving templates for a newsletter, product launch plan, and product roadmap from Spanish-speaking users to choose from.GoogleFor users who are excited about Help me create supporting the aforementioned languages, its important to keep in mind that the tool should only be used to help you brainstorm what you are going to write in your document, not for you to take every word it writes immediately and pass it off as your own. Even though it doesnt incorporate Google search results, its still in its experimental stages, which means it can get certain things wrong. The Help me create language update is only available for Google Workspace users who have a Business, Enterprise, Google One AI Premium, Gemini Education, Gemini Business, or Gemini Enterprise account. Its still rolling out, so it may not reach every Google Workspace subscriber right away.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsLand of leaksA string of strategic leaksIn the hands of influencersTalking watches in a tech-forward wayAs a journalist who covers mobile technology, the release of a new Rolex watch wouldnt normally be something Id write about, unless the brand suddenly made an unexpected push into smartwatches. While the Rolex Land Dweller is not a connected watch, the situation leading up to its announcement and the way it has been presented to the public afterwards, is right out of Apple and Samsungs playbook, which makes it fascinating. Let me take you through how luxury watches and mobile tech have crossed over in a most unusual way.Roger Federer spotted wearing the Rolex Land Dweller Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsBrand new products leaking ahead of announcement is part of the mobile tech landscape. Whether its Apple or ZTE, information ranging from benchmark tests to dummy devices, and even the actual device itself being spotted before its official is both normal and expected. This information comes our way through well-connected individuals, sources inside the supply chain, and some more unconventional methods, such as sneaky spy shots.Recommended VideosOver the past weeks the new Rolex Land Dweller was gradually leaked prior to its official announcement. The leaks followed what we would consider a fairly standard pattern, starting with blurry photos with hints about what was to come almost obscured in the pixelation, and ending with accidental leaks on the official Rolex website and social channels, complete with spy shots of Rolex ambassador and tennis superstar Roger Federer being photographed wearing the unreleased watch. Like Apple, Rolex has a reputation of being secretive, and rarely shares much officially about its future products.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThis helped make the unofficial images and video very exciting for watch lovers and industry observers, adding to the fact it depicted a model different to other Rolex watches currently available, plus it was expected to wear a new name too. The leaks made way for official teasers, helpfully confirming what was unofficially seen before. However, early on the leaks were treated with far more suspicion than we regularly see in the mobile industry, where were so accustomed to leaks happening, its far to easy to fall into the trap of believing everything we see because more often than not, theyre accurate.RelatedRolex Leak or April Fools?Rolexs April 1 launch date for the Land Dweller didnt help instill confidence. For example, industry commenter Adrian Barker made videos titled I call BS, and Rolex Leak or April Fools? reacting to the rumors, and explaining why they are unusual. However, as the quality of the leaks improved, so did peoples trust in them. On Reddit, the most upvoted comment on a post sharing Rolexs final accidental Instagram leak said, Im just going to assume that the leaks about the Land Dweller are true.Whats also interesting is that as someone who has covered mobile technology for more than 15 years is, practically all the leaks seemed to fall into the less common, but most intriguing strategic leak category, meaning it was likely Rolex itself sharing the details through trusted channels, rather than it being discovered in a less official way, or accidentally (but fortuitously) stumbled upon by a lucky fan. These are not unheard of in the mobile and tech industry.It makes sense this way too. The Land Dweller is a brand new Rolex, an ocassion that doesnt happen very often, and both the name and the design are unusual. To me, Rolex was working to soften the blow of, and at the same time gauging the early reaction to, the Land Dweller. It needed its new model to be the star of the Watches and Wonders 2025 show think of it as the CES of luxury watches, held in Geneva, Switzerland which begins April 1, but it didnt want knee-jerk reactions clouding the coverage. Best to get all that out of the way early using leaks.Hands-On With The Rolex Land-DwellerLeaks are part and parcel of every industry, and this is far from the first new luxury watch to leak ahead of its announcement. However, because its Rolex, and because it was pretty comprehensively leaked ahead of April 1, it reached a lot more people than usual. In the same way Apple is many peoples go-to brand name for tech, Rolex is the go-to name for luxury watches. Even people who dont really follow the watch industry may have heard about a new Rolex watch over the last weeks. Only a few brands are capable of generating that level of hype using blurry photos and a few short video clips, and Rolex leveraged its potential perfectly.Now the Land Dweller is official, the comparison to how were introduced to new mobile tech continues. All major watch publications have written about the watch, along with mainstream media including Bloomberg and The Financial Times, but whats happening on YouTube is really fascinating. By far the most watched video at the time of writing about the Land Dweller outside of Rolexs own is a hands on from industry expert Teddy Baldassarre, who has 1.22 million subscribers. He mentions in the video that its an exclusive, and shares some stunning video of the watch and its inner workings, which well come to in a moment. Nico Leonard, a polarizing figure on watch YouTube with 1.86 million subscribers has not posted a video on the Land Dweller for what we assume is an April 1 embargo, highlighting the gravity of Baldassarres scoop.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsRolex has clearly recognized Baldassarres influence and considers him a good fit for its strategy and brand, then rewarded him with great access. Following Apples Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in 2024, Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for a relaxed interview with MKBHD, probably the best known tech influencer on YouTube. Apple saw the value in speaking to Marques Brownlee, and with the Land Dweller, Rolex also saw value in strategically presenting an ambitious new model with one of the most respected and knowledgeable industry influencers. In this situation, Baldassarre has suddenly become the MKBHD of luxury watches.Rolex Land Dweller RolexThen theres the Land Dweller itself. Were not going to go into much detail as this isnt our area of expertise, but even as a somewhat casual observer I can see the Land Dwellers sporty integrated bracelet is the brand entering an established trend in watchmaking for the first time. But, just as we see from Apple and its iPhone, Rolex has adopted the trend in its own unique way, setting a new standard, and ignoring the competition all at the same time.Its making a big deal of the 7135 caliber movement inside too, going into detail about how its different and why it matters, and even using a very Apple-like name the Dynapulse for the escapement, and claiming its 30% more efficient than the old way of doing things. This is the way Qualcomm and MediaTek talk about advancements made between processor series, as percentages sound really impressive, even if the performance jump isnt that huge in reality. I realize there are only so many ways to talk about things, but the parallels are too strong to ignore.RolexLove it or hate it, Apples iPhone is an aspirational piece of mobile tech, and a Rolex is arguably the most aspirational luxury watch brand out there. It makes sense the two should present, hype, and market their products in very similar ways. But from beginning to end, Rolexs approach to the Land Dwellers launch was far more familiar to me, professionally, than almost any Ive seen before. Its something mobile tech fans should think about as were slowly introduced to unusual new devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the Apple iPhone 17 Air over the coming weeks and months.The Rolex Land Dweller will undoubtably be harder to buy than either of these phones though, and its recommended retail price starts at $14,900.Editors Recommendations

The Beatles are coming to theaters in three years.During Sonys CinemaCon presentation, Sam Mendes announced that his four Beatles movies will be released in theaters in April 2028. Officially titled The Beatles A Four-Film Cinematic Event, Mendes revealed the cast: Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.Mendes then invited the four actors onstage to speak about the movies.Recommended VideosThe official logline reads: Each man has his own story, but together they are legendary. Each of the four movies will tell the Beatles story from the perspective of one of their members.The rollout forThe Beatles A Four-Film Cinematic Eventis unknown. Its unclear if the movies will release on the same day or one per week throughout April. The four movies are being described as the first bingeable moment in cinema.Theyre four very different human beings, Mendes said about the Beatles via BBC. Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply. But together, all four films will tell the story of the greatest band in history.The Beatles A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes.Harris Dickinson (John Lennon)Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney)Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr)Joseph Quinn (George Harrison)In theatres April 2028. #TheBeatlesFourFilmCinematicEvent pic.twitter.com/mREL0nPcfC Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) April 1, 2025On why he decided to make four movies instead of one, Mendes explained, I just felt the story of the band was too huge to fit into a single movie, and that turning it into a TV mini-series just somehow didnt feel right.Mendes will direct all four Beatles movies and produce through his Neal Street Productions banner with Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor. Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the biopics. Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted full rights to the bands music and life stories.Mendes mentioned during the presentation that it will take over a year to shoot all four movies.Editors RecommendationsThis Fantastic Four star is the top choice to play George Harrison in The Beatles movies

RuneScape is one of the oldest MMOs around (especially among the older games that still have players), and now its getting a brand-new game. RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a coop survival game for up to four players set in the long-forgotten continent of Ashenfall. Its not yet available, but will soon release into Early Access where players can take an active role in identifying bugs and helping mold its development. Were committed to making RuneScape: Dragonwilds a community-driven game that players want to come back to again and again. The best way to make a game we know fans will love, is to make it with them! Were bringing players along for the journey, the developers say. RuneScape games have always been better for community voice being at its heart, and were taking that same mindset in listening to the community from day one. Were very excited to see where our community collaboration can take us in the coming months and years with RuneScape: Dragonwilds! Recommended VideosThe game takes a gorgeous step forward with graphics, upgrading from the charming old-school look of the original RuneScape to a more modern look. That said, it still doesnt lose its pleasing game-like appearance. Players will get the common elements of a survival game gathering resources, crafting, etc. but with a magical twist. Youll be able to cut down multiple trees at once through the use of spells and a whole lot more. Image used with permission by copyright holderOf course, Jagex says the game is still RuneScape at its heart, with the ultimate goal of the game being to bring down dragons. The initial release version will contain the first few regions, survival systems, RuneScape Skills as well as magic survival spells, gear to craft, and more, including the first dragon in the game. RelatedThe current estimate is for the game to leave early access in 2026, but the team says they are willing to spend as much time as necessary to make sure players get a satisfying experience that brings them back time and time again. RuneScape: Dragonwilds will be priced lower during early access, but post-release DLC might be paid. Theres no set release date yet for RuneScape: Dragonwilds, but you can wishlist it on Steam now to be notified when it drops. Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsRelease windowPlatformsTrailersGameplayPreorderOne of the pioneers in free MMORPGs, RuneScape has enjoyed decades of success. From its humble beginnings as a browser game to where it stands today, both as RuneScape 3andOld School RuneScape,almost everyone has at least dabbled in this world at least once. While the MMOs are still going strong, Jagex has been hard at work on a secret new upcoming video game called RuneScape: Dragonwilds. LikeNinja Gaiden 4 and Okami 2, this is yet another old franchise that is still seeing new entries. Set in the same universe as the MMO, this game plays almost nothing like its siblings. Theres a whole new world to discover, so equip your best gear as we explore everything we know about RuneScape: Dragonwilds.RuneScape: Dragonwilds is just one of many upcoming PC games to look forward to, and thats not even mentioning all the upcoming PS5 games, upcoming Xbox Series X games, and upcoming Switch games.Recommended VideosJagexSo far, RuneScape: Dragonwilds does not have a release date or even a window. However, Jagex has stated that the game will go into early access sometime in Spring 2025, which should be within the next month or two.RelatedWe expect to learn the early access date at the next gameplay livestream coming on April 15.JagexRuneScape: Dragonwilds is only confirmed for PC as of now. While the MMOs have stuck to the PC exclusivly, because of how different this game plays, it wouldnt be impossible to see it come to consoles. Until Jagex comments one way or another on the subject, assume this will also be a PC exclusive.The first of two small trailers for RuneScape: Dragonwilds released is the World Teaser. This trailer doesnt give us any idea about what Dragonwilds, but just focuses on the new continent called Ashenfall. There are pletny of diverse biomes, and each looks visually impressive while still having that classic style.The second trailer is even shorter but starts to explain what Dragonwilds is going to be. The trailer shows off some third-person combat with swords, bows, and magic, base building, and a giant battle with a dragon.For those who are invested in the lore of the series, we know that Dragonwilds is set in the new continent of Ashenfall, that is called a land hidden since time immemorial. Beyond that, and the appearance of what looks like The Wise Old Man, it is hard to say how much story connection there will be between the two titles.What we know for the plot of Dragonwilds is that an evil dragon queen and her spawn are posing a threat to Gielinor. You play as one of the few survivors of a group sent to deal with the threat and wake up in this unknown land.Right off the bat, Dragonwilds is not an MMORPG. This is a co-op focused open-world survival game where you will be exploring a world, collecting resources, building a settlement, crafting gear, and more. We see a hint of how deep the building tools are, but not much of the other mechanics. We do know that it is playable either alone or with up to three friends.Even from that brief teaser, we also see that Dragonwilds takes a third-person perspective and is much more action-oriented. However, leveling up skills and taking on quests are still the core of the experience.A Q&A with Mod Dutch revealed that the game will include plenty of classic skills, spells, monsters, NPCs, and more familiar elements.Image used with permission by copyright holderWhile we wait for Dragonwildsto come to early access, we at least know that it wont follow the same pricing model as the MMOs. This game will be a one-time purchase, though the price hasnt been revealed yet. For now, you can show your interest and keep up with the latest news by wishlisting the game on Steam.Editors Recommendations

AMD is responsible for some of the best processors for gamers right now, but for a handful of unlucky users, these CPUs seem to be running into issues lately. Reports from Reddit indicate failures big and small, but they all seem to have two things in common: High-end Ryzen 9000 CPUs and ASRock motherboards.Todays CPU failure report is especially bleak one unlucky user had their AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D completely destroyed due to bulging and heat damage. As a result, their PC will no longer boot up. The user described their story and shared some images on the r/pcmasterrace community on Reddit.Recommended VideosUnsurprisingly, their PC was newly built after all, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a very new CPU. In this setup, it was paired with AMDs best graphics card, the RX 9070 XT, as well as an all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler, which is a necessity for the 9950X3D. Upon building the rig, the user went on to update the BIOS, and everything was fine just as long as the PC wasnt under heavy load. Things went south when the Redditor got a new monitor, though. Upgrading to a 4K OLED 32-inch monitor and several hours of gaming did the CPU in. The user mentions playing League (which could mean Rocket League, but my bet is on League of Legends either way, both easy to handle for a rig of this caliber). They then took a break to make some dinner and found the PC completely dead upon their return, with nothing else on except the M.2 light on the motherboard. Various attempts at troubleshooting didnt help the situation. Opening up the case revealed the CPU in a bad condition. Image used with permission by copyright holderWhen I checked the CPU, I found that there was bubbling in one area (which I think pushed the contact pads into the pins, causing indentation on the pads) and some discoloration suggesting scorch marks [] on another area of the CPU. There is discoloration on the socket of the motherboard, but no bent pins, said i_fliu on Reddit.Seeing as the user didnt overclock or underclock the CPU and wasnt using PMO, this shouldnt have happened. It could be a case of faulty hardware or a poorly installed CPU, but the fact that there have been other cases of this happening on ASRock motherboards makes me pause and think.Weve seen over a hundred Ryzen 7 9800X3D processors suffering from similar issues, and these also largely concern the combination of Ryzen CPU and ASRock motherboard. Now, the 9950X3D joins the list, and as mentioned by VideoCardz, this isnt the first case of problems for the 9950X3D on an ASRock motherboard.This could be a case of BIOS settings, and thatd probably be the best-case scenario, as thats an easier fix. If the motherboard delivers too much power to the CPU, this kind of thing can definitely happen. However, until either AMD or ASRock addresses these issues, it remains unclear whether theres any problem with either hardware or software well have to wait and see.Editors Recommendations

Despite all the tomfoolery that surrounds April Fools Day, heres one nugget of truth: Rick and Morty has announced its season eight premiere date for May 25, 2025. The notoriously irreverent show broke the news at the end of its April Fools Day special in a reenactment of key moments from the series in a live-action format. If you didnt catch it live, dont be surprised. The broadcast was in the middle of the night last night or more specifically, right after midnight the morning of April 1. This wasnt a new episode, exactly, but rather Adult Swims take on live-action theater. It was 22 minutes of some of the best moments from Rick and Morty, including the famous Pickle Rick costume. Recommended VideosWe hope you enjoyed our theater interpretations of Rick and Morty, especially if you are well-off/impulsive and now want to back a Broadway version of the show, Adult Swim said in a press release. For the rest of you, were glad you now know when Season Eight is starting so you have time to stretch and get loose because the team has yet again made a totally great season of television.Unfortunately for fans, the team is playing it close to the vest with this new season. There are few details about what the new season will include, and anyone claiming to know otherwise probably shouldnt be trusted, at least not today. That said, we can make a few guesses.RelatedSeason eight is likely to be more of the same shenanigans as the previous seasons, and that isnt a bad thing. Between its clever writing, irreverent jokes, and seemingly endless ability to take a topic and flip it on its head, youre sure to be entertained. Tune in at 11 PM ET on May 25 to catch the new season as soon as it premieres. Editors Recommendations

Spider-Man 4 has been slowly lurching forward since 2021, when Marvel and Sonys Spider-Man: No Way Home reset the board for Tom Hollands title character. That fits into the newly revealed name of the upcoming Spidey sequel, as revealed by Holland during CinemaCon.Via Deadline, Holland wasnt available to appear in person at CinemaCon, due to his commitments to Christopher Nolans The Odyssey. However, Holland did share a video message for theater owners thanking them for their support before revealing that Spider-Man 4 will be called Spider-Man: Brand New Day.Recommended VideosIn Marvels comic book universe, Brand New Day was the name for Spideys light reboot after Peter Parkers marriage with Mary Jane was retconned away alongside any knowledge of his secret identity. Hollands Peter underwent a similar fate at the end of No Way Home, and not even MJ (Zendaya) remembers him now.RelatedThus far, the only cast member confirmed other than Holland is Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink. The rumors about who Sink will play have ranged from the X-Mens Jean Grey to another version of Mary Jane. Regardless, Sink is far more likely to play another love interest from Peters long romantic history in the comics. Zendaya is also expected to return for Brand New Day, but has yet to be officially announced.Shang-Chi Destin Daniel Cretton appeared in person at CinemaCon for the Brand New Day presentation. Cretton will direct the film for Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures. He promised attendees that he is exploring the next stage of this amazing character with a team of incredible artists of the world. How to swing, how to create an emotional story and a ride we havent seen before.Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31, 2026.Editors Recommendations

Code snippets within the Google app have revealed that the company is working on a version of its Gemini AI model for kids. It looks like this model would help kids with their homework and generate stories.Android Authority found this code during an APK teardown, and the following strings make it pretty clear whats going on:assistant_scrappy_welcome_screen_title_for_kid_usersassistant_welcome_screen_description_for_kid_usersCreate stories, ask questions, get homework help, and more.assistant_welcome_screen_footer_for_kid_usersassistant_welcome_screen_title_for_kid_usersRecommended VideosGoogle hasnt announced anything about this publicly, so we have no idea how far along the development is or how likely it is to get launched. The strings also include a data usage disclaimer written in simple language, clearly aimed at younger readers: Google will process your data as described in the Google Privacy Policy and the Gemini Apps Privacy Notice. Gemini isn't human and can make mistakes, including about people, so double check it.Since the strings dont allude to any new abilities Gemini can already help with homework and generate stories the main feature of this new model will likely be parental controls. It would also make sense if the model was pre-trained on special prompt and response pairs aimed at children. This would help it respond better to childlike language and make sure its own responses are written in a child-friendly way.It might also have different rules compared to other Gemini models, dictating what kinds of topics it should avoid and what kinds of prompts it should refuse. Gemini already has some guardrails in place for teen users, detailed on its safety page, but younger children will likely require even more safeguards. We dont know yet if this version of Gemini will be packaged as its own product, but one of the strings mentions Assistant Scrappy could this be some kind of persona or name for the model? Or does it just mean something technical that Im not aware of? We dont have any answers yet, but Google has been launching new features for Gemini at break-neck speed lately, so maybe well find out soon. Editors Recommendations

OpenAI is set to be the next open-source AI brand as CEO Sam Altman confirmed on X on Monday that the company will soon release an open-weight model that users will be able to run independently.We are excited to release a powerful new open-weight language model with reasoning in the coming months, Altman said on a post on X.Sam Altmam/XThe company is making this move to keep in step with the Chinese company DeepSeek, which took the AI industry by storm in January with its R1 reasoning model. Similarly, Metas Llama models have garnered attention among developer communities, Wired noted.Recommended VideosAltmans announcement also follows a Reddit AMA in February where he stated that OpenAI was on the wrong side of history and that the company needed to reconfigure its open-source strategy. He further detailed in his X post that the open-weight model has been a long thought-out project for OpenAI, and now it feels important to do.Additionally, during the prior AMA session, OpenAIs chief product officer, Kevin Weil said there was potential for the company to make its older, less cutting-edge models open-source. He didnt have any specifics about which models could be used for an open source project. There is also the potential that OpenAI created a unique model to show its ability to train AI quickly and cheaply, similar to DeepSeek, Wired noted.Altman also shared a link for developers to sign up and gain early access to the model, noting that those who sign up will have opportunities to attend events hosted by OpenAI and to get other early prototypes of the new model.As we learn more about many AI models, it has become more evident that they are not 100% open source. While the code may be available on repositories, various training data and company details are concealed.This evokes the title open-weight for the AI models, instead of open-source, which is being used by DeepSeek, Meta, and now OpenAI. Editors Recommendations

Asus has hinted at a collaboration with Xbox, leading to speculation about a potential new handheld gaming device. A teaser posted by Asus suggests that its ROG Ally lineup may be expanding with Xbox integration, fueling rumors of an official Xbox handheld.The teaser video, posted on the Republic of Gamers Twitter account, features the ROG robot mascot tinkering with some software and entering a machine, where an ROG Ally X console and an ROG Raikiri Pro Xbox controller accidentally slip in before the machine closes. This seemingly merges the two devices, and while the final product isnt fully revealed, it appears to be an Asus ROG Ally-style handheld with diagonally positioned LED-lit analog sticks. Recommended VideosNotably, the official Xbox Twitter account responded to Asus teaser with the awkward look monkey puppet meme. Since Xbox reacted rather quickly after Asus tweet, it is safe to believe the exchange was a coordinated effort, hinting at a planned collaboration.The ROG Ally, Asus handheld gaming console, runs Windows and supports Xbox Game Pass, allowing users to play Xbox titles on the go. A deeper integration with Xbox could mean better software optimization, exclusive features, or even a dedicated Xbox handheld built with Asus hardware. Given Microsofts recent push for cloud gaming and Game Pass expansion, a handheld device designed for Xbox gaming could be a logical next step. Rumors of an Xbox handheld have circulated for years, but Microsoft has yet to release a dedicated portable console. Instead, it has focused on cloud gaming and expanding Xbox services across multiple platforms. A partnership with Asus could allow Microsoft to enter the handheld market without developing its own hardware from scratch.Some speculate that this collaboration may lead to an updated ROG Ally with Xbox-specific features, such as a custom UI, pre-installed Xbox services, or enhanced compatibility with Microsofts ecosystem. Others believe it could be an entirely new device aimed at cloud gaming or local Xbox game streaming.Neither Asus nor Microsoft have revealed concrete details about the partnership, but with the teaser already generating buzz, an official announcement may be on the horizon. Whether its a software-focused collaboration or a full-fledged Xbox handheld remains to be seen, but the prospect of a portable Xbox gaming experience is sure to interest gamers looking for more ways to play on the go.Editors Recommendations

SpaceXs cupola is in orbit again. The company first used the dome-shaped window on its Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Inspiration4 mission in 2021. And now a cupola-equipped Crew Dragon has just launched from the Kennedy Space Center, carrying four private astronauts to a polar orbit on the Fram2 mission.The glass dome at 2,000 square inches the largest single window ever to have flown to space offers Crew Dragon passengers panoramic views of Earth and beyond. However, as the window replaces the docking port, the cupola-equipped Crew Dragon can only be used for missions that dont involve rendezvousing with the International Space Station (ISS).Recommended VideosShortly after the Fram2 mission launched on Monday, SpaceX shared a short video telling us more about the cupola. You can watch it below:RelatedIn the video, SpaceX engineer Ben Kolodner said, When we started thinking about the cupola, its more than just another window in space its an extension of the Dragon spacecraft. So it has to have the same feel and aura as the actual Dragon spacecraft.The cupola is made from acrylic and polycarbonate, and also includes a special coating that helps to regulate interior temperatures. SpaceX engineer Samantha Hilton noted that the cupola comprises three different layers, with the outer one offering protection against debris like micrometeorites, the middle one acting as the pressure pane, and the inner layer offering protection against actions by the crew.The Earth all around you, the stars, sunrise, sunset getting up in there and looking out is a one-of-a-kind experience, Kolodner said.Besides the Fram2 and Inspiration4 missions, the cupola has flown one other time, on last years Polaris Dawn mission. The cupola even opened up, allowing Polaris Dawn mission commander Jared Isaacman to emerge from the Crew Dragon to conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk.Editors Recommendations

If you bought into the promise of a new AI-charged Copilot+ PC with the latest-gen Intel or AMD processor, and found a few tricks missing, the long wait is over. A handful of those Copilot+ features are finally expanding beyond machines with a Snapdragon X series processor inside.Its roughly been a year since Microsoft introduced the Copilot+ PC label, a new breed of computing machines that put AI performance at the forefront. For months, Qualcomm was the sole silicon supplier for such machines.Recommended VideosLate in 2024, rival chipmakers finally got their piece of the Copilot pie with the launch of AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors. That, however, wasnt enough, as a healthy bunch of those features werent accessible on Intel and AMD machines. That finally changes starting today. Microsoft says Copilot tools such as Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator are expanding across Copilot+ hardware with an Intel and AMD processor inside.Image used with permission by copyright holderStarting with Live Caption, this feature enables captions for videos, audio, and real-time interactions such as meetings in English. It can also translate text from more than 40 languages into English, and 27 languages in Chinese.Down the road, a new feature called Voice Access will allow users to control their PC using natural language commands. It is now rolling out to Copilot+ devices with a Qualcomm chip, but support for AMD and Intel hardware is on the horizon, too.On the creative side of things, the AI-enabled Cocreator feature is now accessible in Paint irrespective of the silicon inside your PC. Microsoft says it can be used to make artistic creation and image refinement more intuitive and approachable. Users can combine text-based editing with hand-drawn input, which is a neat flexibility.Image used with permission by copyright holderIn the Photos app, Intel and AMD machines also get access to the Restyle Image and Image Creator tools. The latter allows you to create images based on text prompts, just the way you engage with ChatGPT to make Ghibli-inspired art. The Restyle tool, on the other hand, takes a preset-like approach for adding artistic effect to images.All the aforementioned AI experiences are reaching AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs with the March 2025 Windows update. Its rather interesting why these features werent available on Intel and AMD machines in the first place, despite meeting the minimum AI performance quota.The poor streak isnt ending anytime soon, though. A few days ago, Microsoft announced an upgrade to the Windows Search experience that will make it a lot more convenient to find files, photos, and settings tools. Unfortunately, it will be restricted to Snapdragon-based Copilot+ machines. Editors Recommendations

We have slowly grown accustomed to staring at screens in our bed, despite being well aware of the physical and mental harms. A study published earlier this month detailed a 33% higher prevalence of poor sleep quality for people who use electronic devices at bedtime.Now, another research notes that by viewing a screen in bed, the risks of insomnia go up by a stunning 59% in young people and adolescents. Moreover, it also eats up into our sleep time by 24 minutes. While that is worrying in itself, each hourly increase in screen activity raises the insomnia risks even further.Recommended VideosThe results showed that increased screen time in bed correlates with a higher likelihood of reporting symptoms of insomnia and shorter sleep duration, whereby each additional hour of screen time was linked to a 63% increase in insomnia risk and 24 minutes less sleep, says the research paper published in the Frontiers Psychiatry journal. RelatedThe research focused on over 45,000 students in Norway, studying how their screen usage in bed affected their sleep activities. Aside from sleep and wake-up times, participants also shared details about how long it typically took them to fall asleep, sleep difficulties, daytime sleepiness, and the persistence of their sleep issues.SHVETS production / PexelsAll these details were used to create an insomnia profile. Insomnia is medically defined as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or regularly waking up. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12% of US residents suffer from chronic insomnia, while nearly a third of the population shows brief symptoms.Social media often gets the flak for keeping us hooked to screens, serving us an endless barrage of algorithmically-tuned content, and deservedly so. The result is a cycle of doom-scrolling that often eats up hours without us even realizing the wasted time. Then theres the health of social media content itself, especially its worrying impact on children.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAccording to the experts, there is no direct relationship between social media and how it affects our sleep. As per the data evaluated by the experts, social media is no more worse than any other screen-based activity, which could be gaming, streaming, web browsing, or any other digital recreation, for that matter.Irrespective of screen time, those only using social media had the lowest proportion reporting symptoms of insomnia and the longest sleep duration, while those who only engaged in other screen activities had the worst sleep, says the research paper.It is, however, a reality that social media apps are also responsible for the highest number of alerts on smartphones. While they may not directly pull you into spending a few hours watching an endless stream of content, the notifications definitely disturb your sleep or serve as a mental distraction.Editors Recommendations

SpaceX has just launched its first private crew to orbit since the Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024.A Falcon 9 rocket launched the Fram2 crew from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:46 p.m. ET on Monday, March 31.Recommended VideosSpaceX shared a clip of the rocket leaving the launchpad:Minutes after launch, the first stage of the booster, flying for the sixth time, landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.Aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft is Chun Wang, an entrepreneur and adventurer from Malta who funded the Fram2 mission. Alongside him is Norwegian cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen, Australian polar explorer Eric Philips, and German robotics engineer Rabea Rogge. All four crew members are traveling to orbit for the first time.RelatedFram2 is named after the ship that helped explorers first reach Earths Arctic and Antarctic regions about 100 years ago. Scheduled to last up to five days, the mission will explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over Earths polar regions for the first time.The crew will also carry out 22 research studies designed to help advance humanitys capabilities for long-duration space exploration and to gain a greater understanding of human health in space.Throughout Fram2s time on-orbit, the crew are planning to take the first X-ray in space, perform exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass, and grow mushrooms in microgravity, SpaceX said. Additionally, after safely returning to Earth, the crew plans to exit from the Dragon spacecraft without additional medical and operational assistance, helping researchers characterize the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short and long durations in space.The Crew Dragon last flew on the Polaris Dawn mission, which took four private crew members well beyond the altitude of the International Space Station. The spacecraft includes a glass dome that offers passengers incredible views of Earth and beyond.For the latest updates on the Fram2 mission, be sure to check SpaceXs social media feed.Editors Recommendations

Amazon introduced a new AI-charged version of Alexa a few weeks ago, and as promised, has finally started rolling out early access to it. Alexa+, as the company likes to call it, is currently limited to a handful of devices. But it seems the preview phase will also skip on some of its most advanced features.According to a report from The Washington Post, which cites internal documents, the ability to identify family members via voice ID and accordingly assign them tasks set by guardians is currently missing.Recommended VideosMoreover, Alexa+ is also currently not in adequate shape to order food from Grubhub based on conversations with users. A handful of other features such as using AI to write stories for kids, and pondering over gift ideas for friends and family are also absent from the early public tests.AmazonOne of the biggest upgrades to Alexa+ is the advanced conversation capability, which allows it to hold a free-flowing conversation similar to other AI chatbots such as Gemini or ChatGPT. However, the ability to hold conversations with Alexa+ on the web is nowhere to be seen during the preview release.RelatedSome of the new features Amazon previewed at the February event wont become available for two months after Mondays launch, and some will take even longer, says the report. Interestingly, Amazon is also running into a technical issue that prevents the deletion of files uploaded for analysis.It already sounds like a privacy risk, though, especially when dealing with sensitive documents. Just like Googles Gemini, users can also upload files and Alexa+ will summarize or provide answers based on those attachments. Amazon is reportedly hoping to patch the functional flaw in the coming weeks.AmazonAlexa+ will be available for free to Amazon Prime customers, but non-subscribers can also opt-in by paying a fee worth $20 per month. As far as the early access goes, priority will be given to customers who own an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 smart display.Aside from its usual smart home control duties, Alexa+ can also take a peek at your calendar, offer a daily briefing of schedules, handle emails, order groceries, and naturally learn from user experiences over time. Agentic capabilities built atop the Nova Act tool, such as ordering food or simply taking over the web browsing task, are also inherently part of the Alexa+ package.If you have one of the aforementioned devices, Alexa+ support will automatically be extended to other Echo devices in your home. Down the road, it will reach a majority of Echo hardware, except the really old ones such as the first-gen Echo Dot/Plus/Show/Spot, Amazon Tap, and the Echo Show 2nd Gen.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsA flagship processorMuch better battery lifeUnique and interesting colorsA compelling camera without a bumpOutstanding value for moneyGoogle has consistently ranked among the best smartphones for its affordable devices over the past six years, particularly with its Pixel A series. The Pixel 3a set the trend for major phone manufacturers to provide a compelling experience at half the price of flagship models, intensifying competition in this segment.In the last three months, weve seen Samsung introduce the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, which deliver features from the Galaxy S25 series at a significantly lower price point. Then theres Apple, which entered the market with the iPhone 16e, priced considerably higher than its rivals. Additionally, Nothing offers the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, arguably the best phones available at $379 and $459, respectively.Recommended VideosEach phone aims to replace the Pixel 8a as the best mid-range phone. Googles response? The Pixel 9a. The launch was delayed due to a component issue, but the Pixel 9a is finally set for its long-awaited debut. Here are four reasons why Im excited about Googles new mid-range flagship.RelatedGemini Live on Pixel 9a. GoogleThe Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4, the same flagship chipset used in the Google Pixel 9 series. It solves many problems with previous Pixel phones, and while improving the performance over previous chipsets, it is also significantly more efficient.A flagship processor at this price is noteworthy, especially as it should offer considerably more performance than the processors used in the competition. The competition all use processors built on the same 4nm process as the Tensor G4, but unlike Googles processor, they are never used in phones that rival the best flagships.GoogleThe Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone 3a is a year old and a step down from the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Meanwhile, the Exynos processor in the Galaxy A56 isnt used in any of Samsungs flagship devices, which exclusively use the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy worldwide.The closest competition is the iPhone 16e, which uses the same A18 processor as the iPhone 16, although our testing found that its considerably less performant. It remains to be seen how the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9a compares to other Pixel phones, but paired with 8GB of RAM, it should offer a flagship-like performance.GoogleIf theres one area that Google phones have traditionally struggled with, its battery life. The Pixel 9a looks to rectify this with the biggest battery in a Pixel and improvements from the flagship processor inside.The 5,100 mAh battery is the biggest ever in a Pixel phone and also bigger than most phones, including Samsungs Galaxy S25 Ultra, which costs $1300. By comparison, the Pixel 8a had a 4,492 mAh battery, so the Pixel 9a battery is 14% larger, while the Nothing Phone 3a and Galaxy A56 both feature 5,000 mAh batteries. The iPhone 16e, meanwhile, has a 4,005 mAh battery, but its one of the largest on an iPhone and offers outstanding battery life, so itll be interesting to see how it compares to the Pixel 9a.Pixel 9a vs Pixel 8a Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital TrendsThe Pixel 9a also offers improved wired charging, up to 23W from 18W in the Pixel 8a. However, this pales in comparison to the competition, with the iPhone 16e (29W), Galaxy A56 (45W), and Nothing Phone 3a series (50W) all offering considerably faster charging.For the first time, the Pixel A series includes 7.5W wireless charging. Its not super fast, but its unique to the Pixel 9a at this price point. Even the iPhone 16e, which is priced higher, lacks any form of wireless charging.GooglePhones are boring; well, most of them are. There are some unique colors and designs at flagship prices, and the best folding phones never cease to amaze, but the best affordable phones can lack a bit of vibrancy.The Nothing 3a and Nothing 3a Pro feature distinct designs that stand out but may not appeal to everyone. The iPhone 16e shares the same design as the rest of the iPhone 16 series but lacks color options beyond black or white. The Galaxy A56 design only stands out if you choose the right color; while it does resemble the best Samsung phones, the pink and olive hues differ from the usual selections.Nothing Phone 3a Pro Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsHowever, the Pixel 9a outshines the competition with two fairly unique colors. Its available in the standard black (Obsidian) and white (Porcelain) colorways, but it also comes in pink (Peony) and lavender (Iris). The latter two are striking and ensure the Pixel 9a stands out, especially as it has lost a key design feature.Google / Digital TrendsIf youve bought a recent Pixel phone, youll be used to Googles iconic camera bar. If you buy the Pixel 9a, youll be shocked that Google has done away with it. Instead of a black camera bar with a sizeable bump, the Pixel 9a has a dual camera array inside a pill shape and virtually no camera bump.The lack of a camera bump is a new trend in affordable phones, and the Pixel 9a follows the iPhone 16e in shaving the bump to almost nothing. An added benefit is that this design allows the Pixel 9a to lay flat on a table without wobbling, a common problem on most phones with any form of camera bump.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsDespite lacking a camera bump, the Pixel 9a has a fairly compelling camera. The new 48MP main camera has an f/1.7 aperture, dual pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and OIS, and it is paired with the same 13MP ultrawide found on the Pixel 8a. Like most phones, the 48MP camera also offers 2x optical zoom by cropping the sensor.The Pixel 9as camera is well-positioned against the competition. It beats the single camera on the iPhone 16e but doesnt have the triple camera setup of the Galaxy A56 and Nothing 3a series. Having reviewed the iPhone 16e, the Pixel 9a also solves my chief complaint with that phone thanks to the ultrawide camera.GoogleUndoubtedly, the main reason to buy the Pixel 9a is its exceptional value for money. Starting at $499 in the US (or 499 in the UK), its priced at exactly half the Pixel 9 Pro and features the same display as the Google Pixel 9.The Pixel 9a offers compelling features at a price far more accessible than the rest of the Pixel 9 series. The battery is substantial, performance will likely be fantastic, and the display is as good as the entry-level Pixel 9.Yes, the plastic build wont be as nice as the finish on the rest of the series, and the lack of a camera bar also means its much more generic, but its a compelling smartphone at an excellent price. Im far more excited about the Pixel 9a than I initially expected.Editors Recommendations

We were always coming back, and I think people need to know that. So said NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore as he and fellow astronaut Suni Williams took questions for the first time since returning from their longer-than-expected stay in orbit.Wilmore and Williams flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2023 in the first crewed flight of Boeings Starliner spacecraft. The test mission was only supposed to last eight days, but technical issues with the spacecraft prompted NASA to bring the vehicle home empty, leaving Wilmore and Williams waiting for a ride home.Recommended VideosNASA decided to stick with its usual crew rotation system, which meant sending up Crew-9 in September with two fewer astronauts than originally planned, leaving two seats for Wilmore and Williams when the Crew-9 mission ended on March 18, nine months after they left Earth.RelatedMany news reports over that time described how the pair were stranded or stuck in space, but NASA were safely managing the situation and the pair were never in any danger.Speaking to reporters at a NASA news conference on Monday, Williams said she and Wilmore knew very well that the outward journey was a test flight, but when it didnt turn out as planned, their years of training and orbital experience kicked in and they just got on with the job.We are International Space Station crew members, and were doing what all of our other friends in the astronaut office do go and work and train and and do amazing science experiments up on the International Space Station, Williams said.When asked about who was responsible for the missions unexpected outcome, Wilmore responded: Ill start with me. There were questions that I, as the commander of the spacecraft, that I should have asked and I did not. At the time, I didnt know I needed to, and maybe you could call that hindsight but Ill start and point the finger and Ill blame me.But Wilmore also added that besides himself, NASA and Boeing all own this were not going to look back were going to look forward and say, what are we going to use, our lessons learned, from this whole process and make sure we are successful in the future.Asked about the politicization of the mission, with President Trump and SpaceX boss Elon Musk accusing the Biden administration of blocking efforts to bringing the astronauts home early, Crew-9 astronaut Nick Hague, also at the news conference, said: When were up there operating in space, you dont feel the politics, you dont feel any of that. Its focus strictly on mission. The politics, they dont make it up there.Notably, both astronauts described Boeings Starliner spacecraft as very capable, with Wilmore adding that he would ride it again if the opportunity ever arises.Were going to rectify all the issues that we encountered, Wilmore said. Were going to fix it, were going to make it work. Boeings completely committed. NASA is completely committed. And with that, Id get on in a heartbeat.Many reporters were also curious about the first things the two astronauts did when they got home. Hugging loved ones was top of the list, with Williams also embracing her dogs before enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich.According to Williams, it was only when they got back to terra firma that they fully realized the extent of interest in the mission.When we came home, it was like, Wow, there are a lot of people who are interested, Williams said, adding that she was very thankful, very amazed that we could hopefully be one positive element to bring people together.Editors Recommendations

Newegg is making a name for itself as an excellent source of deals for PC gamers with offers like this $150 discount for the Acer Predator X27U OLED gaming monitor. From its original price of $600, the display will be yours for a more affordable $450, but only if you hurry. With just several hours left on this bargain, theres no time to waste. Proceed with your purchase of this gaming monitor as soon as you can, because once its price goes back to normal, were not sure when youll get another chance at the savings.You wont be able to fully maximize the capabilities of your gaming PC with an outdated screen youre going to need a display like the Acer Predator X27U OLED gaming monitor. It offers WQHD resolution on its 27-inch screen for sharp details while playing the best PC games, while QD-OLED technology delivers stunning contrast, intense brightness, and perfect black levels. If you want a screen that will help you better appreciate the graphics of modern video games, you cant go wrong with this gaming monitor.Our computer monitor buying guide explains refresh rate as how often the images on the screen are updated, and response time as how quickly the monitor shows image transitions. The Acer Predator X27U OLED gaming monitor exceeds our recommendations with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time, which makes it perfect for enjoying fast-paced gameplay. It also comes with AMDs FreeSync Premium Pro, which improves the immersive experience by eliminating screen tearing and stuttering.RelatedIf youre looking for monitor deals, have you tried taking a look at the available offers from Newegg? Heres one that you may find interesting: the Acer Predator X27U OLED gaming monitor at $150 off, which slashes its price from $600 to just $450. Thats an excellent price for this screen, but youll need to act fast because not much time remains before the bargain ends. Complete your transaction for the Acer Predator X27U OLED gaming monitor immediately it would be a shame to miss out on the savings.Editors Recommendations

The TikTok ban may still be on the horizon this week, and social media companies are scrambling to provide their userbase with the same video content experience they have on the app if the ban goes through. Substack, the self-publishing platform for independent creators, is preparing for the ban by incorporating a TikTok-style feed onto the app.The company updated the Substack app on Monday, per a report from TechCrunch, allowing users and creators to scroll through the video feed from the Media tab. According to Fast Company, Substack is taking pages out of TikToks playbook by allowing its creators to upload their videos that run for up to 10 minutes and making videos available for both subscribers and non-subscribers. Product manager Zach Taylor told the same outlet that the updated Media tabs makes it easier for people to discover content from their favorite creators and those they havent heard of yet.Recommended VideosSubstack isnt built around any one mediumits built around creators. Were committed to giving them the tools to share their work, connect with subscribers, and contribute to a thriving network of independent voices, Taylor said. As we expand publishing capabilities across formats, the updated media tab makes it easier to discover standout video content from across the networkwhether its a sharp take, a compelling story, or a powerful clip that sparks connection.RelatedSubstacks Media tab being updated into a TikTok-style video feed comes just one month after the company began allowing creators to monetize their video content on the platform, giving them the ability to publish their videos directly from the app and grow their income from diversifying their content. This move came after TikTok got banned the first time on January 19, only for ByteDance to bring it back online 12 hours later with the help of President Donald Trump, who extended the deadline on the ban for 75 more days to give ByteDance more time to sell it to a U.S.-based company.As for when videos started getting posted to Substack, the company introduced native video in 2022, giving creators a choice to keep it behind a paywall like its newsletters. Two years later, it launched the Media tab on the app, though it wasnt as popular as its going to be now.Editors Recommendations

Production on House of the Dragon season 3 has begun.Emma DArcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, announced the news in a video posted onHouse of the Dragonssocial media channels. The fight for the Throne is far from over, the caption reads.Recommended VideosDArcy is one of the many returning cast members for season 3. House of the Dragon stars DArcy, Matt Smith, Emma DArcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHBO also announced the addition of two new cast members: Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin and Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly. The duo joins James Norton as Ormund Hightower as the third seasons additions.The fight for the Throne is far from over. S3 of #HOTD is now in production. pic.twitter.com/NUe4POwIJM House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) March 31, 2025One of the major events that will kick off season 3 is the Battle of the Gullet, a massive naval clash that will result in many casualties. While speaking with EW, House of the Dragonco-creator Ryan Condal said this battle has been on the minds of production for about three years. It will be a massive undertaking that could result in one of the shows most memorable moments.Its a stunning thing, Condal said. I would like to think that this is probably the most complex sequence thats ever been done for television, not necessarily the most expensive or the longest shoot or anything like that, but just based on the number of moving pieces, the amount of different disciplines, media that have to be blended together to achieve success because youre talking about sea and ships and dragons and action.Condal created the show alongside author George R.R. Martin, who penned the shows source material, Fire & Blood. Season 3s directors are Clare Kilner, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Andrij Parekh, and Loni Peristere. Executive producers include Condal, Martin, Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock, and Philippa Goslett.House of the Dragonis expected to premiere in 2026.Editors Recommendations

Are you sick of the lackluster audio coming out of your TV speakers? Well, spring has sprung, dear readers, which means its time to start looking at soundbar deals for your home theater! Fortunately, brands like Bose are at the forefront of plug-and-play audio technology, giving us products like the incredible Bose Smart Dolby Atmos Soundbar.Speaking of which, its also on sale this week for $400 ($500 MSRP) at Amazon, Crutchfield, B&H Photo-Video, and a few other sites and stores.Why you should buy the Bose Smart Dolby Atmos SoundbarThe first thing you might be thinking when you look at the Bose Smart Soundbar is, Where are the other speakers? Thanks to some genius engineering, Bose was able to include five main drivers and two side-firing speakers on this soundbar, allowing the system to virtualize surround and height effects when needed. Boses TrueSpace technology seals the deal by upmixing 5.1 and stereo signals to make everything sound a little more like a three-dimensional Atmos setup.RelatedYour ears will thank you for the incredible sound quality the Bose Smart delivers, and thank you again for Boses AI Dialogue Mode, which hones in on vocals and dialogue. (No more missing critical plot points!) The Bose Smart can be connected to Wi-Fi, too, which gives you access to Alexa and Google Cast capabilities. Theres even a Bluetooth input if you dont feel like connecting the bar to the Internet.Were always excited to see Bose deals like this one, but were not sure how long this markdown is going to stick around. So, today might be the last day to save $100 on this phenomenal Bose soundbar.We also suggest looking through our lists of the best Bose headphone deals, best soundbar deals, and best Bluetooth speaker deals.Editors Recommendations

Apple has just released its latest visionOS 2.4 update and with it comes some AI super powers, compliments of Apple Intelligence.The latest update for the Apple Vision Pro headset can now be installed to take advantage of the very first set of Apple Intelligence tools to reach the augmented reality headset.Recommended VideosApple says the new AI smarts will mean people can be helped to communicate, write and express themselves. This should also help people find new content and apps more easily while also enhancing privacy in AI. And it lands alongside the new Spatial Gallery app for curated collections of art, culture, nature, sports and more.The main addition that Apple Intelligence brings to the Vision Pro is a new writing tool. This break down into Rewrite, Proofread and Summarize.Rewrite allows you to take a chunk of text and have the AI adjust tone perhaps making it more chatty, professional or concise. You can also describe a specific change and have the AI go and make that happen for you.Proofread does as youd expect by checking grammar, sentence structure, word choices and of course suggesting edits.Summarize will let you select a body of text and then have that recapped in various formats.There is also a fourth tool, called Compose, which uses ChatGPT to let you generate content from the systemwide Writing Tools.System wide language is helpful but you also have area specific options like Smart Reply. This allows you to reply in Messages or Mail with quick responses. Plus you can search your Photos using natural language to find what you want.Image Playground also arrives on Vision Pro, allowing you to generate images from scratch using descriptions or photos of people you know, to save and share as you need. You can also create Genmoji with the AI to have even more fun ways to interact, using images to express yourself.Apple points out that, at time of publishing, this is only available to those people with their Siri language set to U.S. English.Editors Recommendations

Thanks to newly discovered code, Googles plans to add Gemini to Chromes sidebar are now more concrete, as spotted by Windows Latest. The feature mirrors Microsoft Edges Copilot.We previously reported that Google was testing the feature in the latest Chrome Canary build. Now, a Chromium post mentioning its codename Glic confirms the integration.If everything goes as planned, users could resize and detach Gemini from Chrome, turning it into a standalone sidebar. Google Chrome engineer Keren Zhu referred to the Gemini sidebar as a widget, maybe because it floats when you click Chromes menu button.Recommended VideosIts still unclear whether the translucent widgets will be within or outside Chromes bounds. Still, there is a good chance they are inside the browser since Google says thats a requirement for the adjustable window, and the corners may be rounded in Windows 11. Google notes, This change lifts the restriction that disallows making WS_POPUP window resizable (WS_POPUP is used by glic window). The bypass is temporarily limited to glic to prevent regression in other widgets. This historically has caused visual artifacts in bookmark editor, but it does not seem to happen anymore.Currently, three caveats are low priorities: a window does not have a shadow if it is not resizable, client area bounds change when toggling between resizable and non-resizable, and the top border of the Glic windows lacks a resizable handle. To make things even easier, you can use a keyboard shortcut to customize directly from the browsers settings. We dont know when itll become available to all Chrome users, but hopefully, it wont be long.Editors Recommendations