Planets outside our solar system can be wild, weird places. Astronomers have discovered exoplanets shaped like a rugby ball, or where it rains gems, or which have one hemisphere covered in lava. And now theres a new oddity to add to the catalog: a planet with winds that are faster than the speed of sound.WASP-127b is a huge, puffy sphere which is one of the least dense planets ever discovered. It is larger than Jupiter, but has less than a fifth of Jupiters mass, making it unlike anything in our solar system. And its oddity has made it a favorite target for study, with astronomers observing clouds there in 2022, making it one of the few detections of clouds on a planet outside our solar system.Recommended VideosNow, astronomers have gone back to study the planet again using the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope (ESOs VLT), and they observed winds reaching incredible speeds of up to 20,000 mph. For reference, the fastest winds ever observed in our solar system are on Neptune, and had a speed of 1,120 mph nowhere even close to these speeds.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe astronomers were able to identify these extreme winds by looking at the movement of the planets atmosphere. Part of the atmosphere of this planet is moving towards us at a high velocity while another part is moving away from us at the same speed, explained lead researcher Lisa Nortmann of the University of Gttingen, Germany. This signal shows us that there is a very fast, supersonic, jet wind around the planets equator.The winds move far faster than the planet is rotating, at six times the speed, which has not been seen before and which creates a jetstream whipping around the planet. The extreme nature of the weather on this planet may be because researchers think that it is tidally locked, meaning one side of the planet always faces its star, while the other side always faces out into space. One side of the planet therefore gets hotter than the other, and the temperature difference between these two hemispheres may contribute to the very high winds which flow around the planet.However, the researchers also discovered another noteworthy feature about the planet it has poles which are cooler than the rest of the planet. This shows that the planet has complex weather patterns just like Earth and other planets of our own System, said fellow researcher Fei Yan of the University of Science and Technology of China.In the future, the researchers want to use instruments like the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope to study the planets weather in even greater detail. This means that we can likely resolve even finer details of the wind patterns and expand this research to smaller, rocky planets, said Nortmann.The research is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsWearing the bandNomads coolest glow yetWorth buying?Since my Apple Watch Series 10 arrived Ive worn it with Apples Milanese Loop band, which is easily one of the best you can buy, but when Nomad announced a new glow-in-the-dark Sport Band, I thought it was time for a change. Turns out, getting it to glow was a bit of a challenge, and while it looks as outrageous as youd expect, I found I like it for a different reason.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIll come to the glow in the dark bit next, but for me to even think about wearing Nomads Sport Band it had to come at least close to the Milanese Loops comfort. Im very pleased to say it does, and its an interesting alternative to Apples own Sport Band. The fluoroelastemer rubber material is surprisingly thick and therefore feels very durable. I could wear it for any sport or activity and not worry about it.Recommended VideosIts secured on your wrist using a metal pin-and-hole system, and cleverly the holes travel the entire length of both ends of the band, ensuring theres masses of air flow and plenty of adjustability. You have to tuck the end of the strap underneath the other, but Ive found it easy to get the right degree of tightness. Ive certainly never noticed it getting hot or sweaty, and while its a bit chunkier than I personally prefer to wear overnight, I doubt it would cause any discomfort. Best of all, it fulfilled my top priority for any watch band to be almost unnoticeable on my wrist during the day.1 of 3Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends This is what has appealed to me more about Nomads Sport Band than the color or its glow in the dark feature. Apples own Sport Band is similarly excellent, and I also really like Casetifys Impact Band too, which matches it for comfort and is really lightweight. Where does Nomads Sport Band fit in? It appears to be tougher and feels a little more durable than both of them, and is more rugged in appearance, giving it a style of its own. All of this applies to any Nomad Sport Band which is available in a variety of colors, but Ive been wearing the one that glows in the dark, so whats it like?RelatedAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsThis is the third glow in the dark Apple Watch band Nomad has released, and its in a fantastic Icy Blue color. When its not glowing, the band takes on an almost off-white color with just a hint of cool minty blue, and its very special indeed. Its not in-your-face blue, even when glowing, and it goes with most outfits because of it. The Nomad Sport Band isnt dressy like the Milanese Loop, and is more rugged looking than Apples or Casetifys alternative, making it the most casual of these three excellent bands.The glow in the dark part is really fun, but it has taken some effort and patience for it to work for me. The band needs to see enough light to charge the photoluminescence up. Its winter in the U.K., where I live, at the moment and sunlight isnt very common. Because its cold, my wrists are almost always covered in several layers of clothing, meaning my Apple Watch gets hidden away most of the time.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsTo give the Nomad Sport Band a fighting chance I left if on the windowsill all day, and I finally got to see it glow after night fell. It looks excellent. Not too bright, but bright enough that everyone would notice it on your wrist. Its a uniform glow, with no hotspots or dull patches, and the Icy Blue tone gives it a sci-fi, Tron-like appearance that I adore. The previous lime green version wasnt to my taste, but this one is perfect. Its not a band for someone who doesnt want attention though, as people will notice it.It took a while, and some effort, to give the Nomad Sport Band enough sunlight to charge it up, but once the Watch was back on my wrist and hidden away, the glow sadly soon faded. Admittedly its not getting a full days sunlight at the moment (not even close) and it is still very new, so the length of time it glows for may change accordingly when conditions alter. Oh, the joy of winter time in the U.K., but the glow in the dark Nomad Sport Band really managed to brighten things up.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsAt the time of writing some versions of the limited edition Icy Blue glow in the dark Sport Band are still available on Nomads website, and given how the previous limited versions have entirely sold out, Id say if you want one itd be best to get one soon. Its well worth it too. Its more than just a fun glowing watch band due to Nomads attention to detail from ensuring the glow is consistent across the entire band, to not letting any additional treatments necessary affect the bands usual high level of comfort.Nomads not charging any more for the limited edition glow in the dark Apple Watch band either, and its yours for $60. Sadly the smaller 41mm/42mm version have sold out at Nomad, but you can still buy the 46mm/49mm version which fits bigger Apple Watch models and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Nomads glowing Icy Blue Sport Band isgoing to enter my regular rotation of Apple Watch bands, but I think Ill save it for the summer months when both it and I have a better chance of seeing some sun.Editors Recommendations

NG-1 Launch RecapBlue Origin has just released a video recap (above) of last weeks successful maiden launch of its heavy-lift rocket, the New Glenn.Recommended VideosThe footage shows some dramatic close-ups of the 98-meter-tall rocket leaving the launchpad, with its seven BE-4 engines creating nearly 4 million pounds of thrust as it headed toward orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida last Thursday.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe New Glenns upper stage successfully completed two burns of its BE-3U engines to carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload into orbit while remaining attached to the upper stage. The Blue Ring Pathfinder tested key technologies for the upcoming Blue Ring spacecraft and included a communications array, power system, and flight computer.While the main goal of reaching orbit was accomplished, an attempt to land the reusable first stage on a floating platform stationed off the coast of Florida proved unsuccessful. Blue Origins New Glenn rocket is designed to be partially reusable, with the Jeff Bezos-led company aiming to launch, land, and reuse each booster up to 25 times.Blue Origins mission was significant as it marked its entry into the orbital launch market, positioning it to compete with established players such as Elon Musks SpaceX spaceflight company.Following the New Glenns launch, Bezos posted a message on X saying: So much heart, sweat, persistence. Huge congrats and kudos team Blue!Jarrett Jones, senior vice president of New Glenn, said the mission ushered in a new era for Blue Origin and for commercial space, adding that his team is now focused on ramping up its launch cadence and rocket-building rate.The next New Glenn flight is scheduled for the spring and will build on the lessons learned from the first mission. A key objective for the upcoming mission will be to successfully land the returning first-stage booster, allowing it to be used for multiple flights.Editors Recommendations

Netflix is ringing in the new year with two big pieces of news. First, in the fourth quarter of 2024, subscriber count crossed the 300 million mark and revenue growth wildly exceeded expectations. Second, despite this apparent success, the wildly popular streaming video service is looking for even more money and will be bumping up prices across all of its subscription tiers, including its first-ever price hike on its ad-supported plan. These increases, which will affect the U.S., Canada, Portugal, and Argentina, according to The Verge, run anywhere from an additional $1 to $2.50 per month go into effect during your next billing cycle.You can expect to pay $2.50 more for the standard, ad-free tier, which goes from $15.50 to $18 per month. The premium tier sees a slightly smaller hike from $23 to to $25 per month. And even the ad-supported tier, which had so far been spared from any increases, is going up from 12.5% from $7 to $8 per month.Recommended VideosIn its letter to investors, the company didnt even try to explain the increases with the usual rationale of increasing costs, simply saying, As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix. To that end, we are adjusting prices today across most plans in the US, Canada, Portugal and Argentina.Please enable Javascript to view this contentNetflix has few real competitors when it comes to breadth of content and the amount of original programming youll find on the service. Nonetheless, you may want to check out how it compares to Amazon Prime Video or to Hulu, two of the most popular alternatives.Should one of these services prove more enticing now that Netflix costs more, heres a handy guide to canceling your Netflix subscription.Editors Recommendations

Image used with permission by copyright holderTable of ContentsTable of ContentsTax Act All-Inclusive Bundle $138 $23040% offTurboTax Premier $83 $11528% offH&R Block Deluxe $45 $6025% offLiberty Tax Basic $48 $5817% offJackson Hewitt (Federal + State) $25Worried about where all of your information goes? This deal will keep it protected.Update 1/13/25: Weve updated this article for the 2024/2025 tax year. Below, well help you find the best discount for your personal tax needs.Like it or not, it is time to look at the best tax software again. If youre proactive, though, you can get a good deal and find tax software at a bargain price. Here, we look at the best tax software deals in 2025. Remember that these are deals for the 2024 tax year, even though youll be buying them in 2025. The following tax software all have discounts; well lay out the discount for you as well as give a brief overview of what that software does. Also, note that most of the highlighted deals are for a combination of federal and state taxes, but it should be very simple for you to change to a federal-only version of the software on the checkout page.$23040% offTax ActTax Acts All-Inclusive Bundle handles federal taxes, one state return, and your refund transfer all pretty standard stuff. What makes this bundle stand out is that it alsoincludes audit defense up front. This gives you an extra bit of peace of mind, which is especially helpful if youre a freelancer or have income outside of traditional W2 filings.RelatedNote: Depending on your screen size and resolution, you may need to scroll down past the traditional offers to find this bundle deal.$11528% offIntuitRecommended for anyone who has sold stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, sold employee stock, owns rental property, or is a trust beneficiary, TurboTax Premier 2024 is ideal for more advanced tax filing. It includes five federal e-files and one state. Its possible to search over 375 deductions and credits, while theres also guidance for how to report sales of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Right now, you can get this complete software for just $83.$6025% offH&R BlockH&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2024 offers five free federal e-files for your personal return, along with unlimited federal preparation and printing. Theres step-by-step Q&A and guidance on credits and deductions to help you figure out what to do. Its simple to quickly import your W-2, 1099, 1098, and last years personal tax return, even if youve used other software in the past. Its a good deal at just $45.$5817% offLiberty TaxLiberty Tax is a bare-bones tax software program that gets you what you need without the pomp and circumstance that you might find elsewhere. Its Basic plan is just $48 while on sale, and it handles forms 1040 and 8853 alongside schedules A and B. Other plans, which are equally accessible when you tap the button below, also have their forms and schedules laid out for you clearly before you begin filing. Its this sort of up-front approach to tax filing costs that makes Liberty Tax one of our favorites.Jackson HewittThis one isnt so much of a deal, per se, but more of a promise. If you file online by yourself, you file for $25. Should you end up needing help, you can also get it easily, as there are in-person places to file, including your local Walmart. At just $25, this is a great place to start. If you need more help, theres also no shame in trying one of the other offers on the list.When you input your tax info online, you include your address, marital status, income, financial information, job title, company, SSN, and whether or not youve purchased a home or even car in the past year. It really is a lot of information! Where does it all go?With free services, we all know how the saying goes, If the product is free, youre the product. Even legitimate products will sell your data or have massive data leaks, with your personal info hitting data sites one way or another.Personal responsibility, double-checking each site we sign up for, and keeping abreast of the latest tech news are all ways we can protect ourselves. But, we can also use Incogni a service thatremoves your personal info from data brokers and people search sites to help us on our path to having more control over the data that makes us, us.Incogni works on your behalf to seek out sources of your data, from people search sites to data banks that include everything from your personal interests to your job history, and remove them. From handling requests to following up and, eventually, sending that second notice outjust in case your information has trickled back into the system, Incogni makes getting to the bottom of the problem easy. And the best part? Right now you can get Incognis annual plan for 55% less than use. Just tap the button below and use codeDIGITALDEAL upon checkout to get started.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsPrice and release datePerformance and featuresM5 Pro, M5 Max and M5 UltraWith a new MacBook Air just around the corner, Apple is still in the process of rolling out its range of M4 chips. But that hasnt stopped speculation mounting about the upcoming M5 chip which is due to arrive later this year along with all of the benefits it might bring.Wondering what that might entail? Youre in the right place, as weve put together everything we know about Apples M5 chip, from the Macs itll come to and the performance you can expect to whats rumored for the high-end chips in the M5 roster. Read on to get the lowdown.Recommended VideosGetty Images / Getty ImagesThere are a lot of Apple products that the M5 chip might find its way into, including both Macs and iPads. Given the M5 will be Apples entry-level chip when it launches, it makes sense that its likely to appear in most of Apples entry-level Macs, alongside a few iPads as well.RelatedThe first product expected to get the M5 is the MacBook Pro, which will probably launch in fall 2025. Apple tends to update its pro-focused MacBook in October or November, so expect the same again this year.We can expect the iPad Pro to also get the M5 around this time, or perhaps a little later. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman believes the M5 iPad Pro will make an appearance in late 2025 or early 2026, so theres a chance it will come just after the MacBook Pro. The iPad Air is another candidate for the M5, although there has also been talk that Apple might instead opt for the last-generation M3 chip.Next on the list is the MacBook Air. Apple is expected to outfit this with the M5 in spring 2026, about 12 months after its upcoming M4 version launches this year. And we might also see an M5 iMac in 2025 this computer has been following a roughly two-year release cycle recently, with versions launching in April 2021 and October 2023. If that continues, a new version is likely in 2025, although we cant be certain when in the year that might happen.Then theres the Mac mini. This was tweaked in both 2023 and 2024, suggesting that a 2025 version might be in the cards. But at the same time, Apple skipped the M3 chip in the Mac mini, instead giving it the M2 and then the M4. That means its not certain whether Apple will opt to launch an M5 version or not well have to wait for more information over the coming weeks and months.As for the price of the M5 chip, that depends on the device it comes with. Were hoping that Apple will keep the prices of its M5 products the same as their last-generation predecessors Apple often does this, although its by no means guaranteed.Luke Larsen / Digital TrendsSince were still a long way out from the M5s release, specifics about its expected performance and features are hard to come by. Still, there are a few details that have been doing the rounds.For one thing, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the M5 will be made using manufacturing firm TSMCs third-generation N3P process. That should translate to performance and efficiency improvements over the M4. Still, its a 3nm process rather than the more advanced 2nm alternative that some sources had been predicting, with the reason being that the 2nm option is apparently still too expensive for Apples taste.TSMCs process for the M5 will reportedly involve the companys System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology, which enables chip components to be stacked on top of each other in a three-dimensional layout. Thats expected to improve temperatures and reduce electrical leakage. Theres also talk that the chip will include thermoplastic carbon fiber composite molding technology, although its not immediately clear what exactly that will mean for consumers.AppleThe base-level M5 is not the only chip well see in the next generation of Apple silicon Apple will also be working on mid-range and high-end chips for its more advanced Macs.According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the M5 Pro and M5 Max should be released in 2025, with the M5 Ultra following in 2026. Based on previous patterns, well probably see the M5 Pro in the MacBook Pro and Mac mini, the M5 Max in the MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, and the M5 Ultra in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro.An interesting implication of the M5 Ultra is that it could mean the Mac Studio and Mac Pro get annual upgrades, as the M4 Ultra is expected this year. Thats something that neither Mac has ever had.While its too early to know what sort of core counts, performance and features these chips will come with, Kuo believes that all of these mid-range and high-end M5 chips will use server-grade 2.5D packaging to improve yields and thermal performance.As well as that, Kuo says these chips will come with separate CPU and GPU designs, which could bring a performance boost compared to the current design. Finally, these chips will be better suited to artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing, according to Kuo.Editors Recommendations

It seems Apple is finally ready for a design refresh after recycling the same aesthetics that it introduced with the iPhone 11 series. Interestingly, it wont be a flagship phone that sets the ball rolling, but a highly-anticipated mid-tier phone that could kickstart a whole new design language for Apple smartphones.Leakster MajinBu, who has had a mixed track record with Apple leaks, has shared what appears to be the unibody chassis for the iPhone 17 series Air. The standout element is the large pill-shaped camera bar at the top, which looks suspiciously similar to the Pixel 9 series phones.Recommended VideosNow, the iPhone 17 Air has delivered more conflicting rumors than any Apple device in the past few years, so process this latest leak with the proverbial pinch of skepticism. However, this design has appeared in alleged schematics in the past few months, as well, so there might be some substance to it.The leaked image shows a single large cutout for the camera lens, which falls in line with rumors claiming that the iPhone 17 Air will only offer one camera at the back, owing to the space constraints in its chassis.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAccording to leaks, the phone could be as thin as 5.5 millimeters across, making it the slimmest device Apple has ever attempted to far. However, Bloomberg recently reported that Apple is testing a phone that is nearly 2 millimeters thinner than its current flagships, which puts the iPhone 17 Airs cross-section profile in roughly the same league as the iPhone 6 and Samsungs upcoming Galaxy S25 Slim.The iPhone 17 Air is expected to replace the Plus model in Apples line-up this year, making it the second time that Apples experiment with a fourth variant has met an early end, following the short-lived mini series.New iPhone 17 Pro details, via @theinformation Most significant redesign in years Aluminum frame on all models Rectangular aluminum camera bump Partly glass back for wireless charging pic.twitter.com/JjImhsb1zY AppleTrack (@appltrack) November 26, 2024Its hard to digest the design approach for a few reasons. First, it seems to have been brazenly lifted from the Pixel 9 series, which finally gave Googles smartphones a unique identity of their own without making any compromises on the build quality.I love my Pixel 9, and would pick it any day over any member of the iPhone 16 series. Googles approach is fresh, standout, and extremely well-executed. The iPhones are a solid peice of hardware, too, but I cant imagine Apples design flying this close to an arch-rival.Apple has been known to innovate wait out on others innovation, only to serve the same material with a refined approach years later in a rather calculated fashion. But when it comes to design, the company is usually a step ahead, and stands out prominently from the crowd.That historical focus on aesthetic supremacy is what makes the latest iPhone 17 Air leak seem rather sketchy. It doesnt look bad, far from it actually, but I would wait until the Fall season this year to find out rather than hold my breath or engage in a social media shouting match about Apple losing its edge.Editors Recommendations

Newly-leaked images from tipster Evan Blass suggest the iPhone SE 4 might come with the Dynamic Island after all. Blass also shared code snippets that indicate several more yet-to-be-released Apple products, including the 11-inch iPad Air with M3, the 13-inch iPad Air with M3, the iPad 11th generation, and the iPhone SE 4th generation. Blass followed up his initial post with supposed visual assets for the devices, and notably enough, the iPhone SE 4 shows a Dynamic Island.The Dynamic Island is faint. If you want to get a better look at it, we suggest making the image full-screen. Blass said he had color-corrected the image to make it more visible. However, Blass specifically stated that he had edited the image to make it more visible, so its confirmed that, in this image at least, the phone has the island.Evan BlassThe iPhone SE 4 and the iPhone 16 look eerily similar to one another, with both devices sporting the A18 chip, 8GB of RAM, Apple Intelligence, and much more. The iPhone SE has traditionally been a more budget-friendly model, but a price hike isnt out of the question especially when you take all of these other factors into consideration.Recommended VideosIn fact, there are enough similarities between the two that 9to5Mac actually suggested the phone might be called the iPhone 16E, rather than the iPhone SE 4.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThis news contradicts earlier leaks that insisted the iPhone SE 4 would only have a notch, versus the Dynamic Island. While its inclusion is a welcome surprise, it also makes sense. As our own Jesse Hollington pointed out, the notch will be virtually obsolete later this year when the iPhone 14 stops being sold, so why would Apple want to give it another bump on a new phone?The iPhone SE 4 is still quite a ways off from release, so take these early details with a grain of sand. Details are likely to change before the device is fully completed.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSniper Elite: Resistance January 30Citizen Sleeper 2 January 31Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders January 21Flock January 22Gigantic: Rampage Edition January 22Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess January 22Magical Delicacy January 22Tchia January 22The Case of the Golden Idol January 22Starbound January 22Eternal Strands January 28Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap January 28Shady Part of Me January 29BothSniper Elite: Resistance andCitizen Sleeper 2 are making their way to Game Pass before the end of the month, along with a slew of other must-play titles. Although games come and go from the service, Game Pass rarely adds as many notable games at once as it has this month. January is host to several day-one releases, as well as several updates and DLC that promise to change up your most-played games.RebellionFew games can compare themselves to the Sniper Elite franchise in terms of gameplay. Combining stealth and tactical combat, Sniper Elite: Resistanceisnt just a sniping sim. Youll have to think carefully about your targets and find the right way to line up your shot without being targeted.Recommended VideosThe original Citizen Sleeper was one heck of an RPG, andCitizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector builds on that formula with an amnesiac android with a busted body. Find a ship, find a crew, keep flying. Its like cyborgFirefly,kind of and thats incredibly exciting.Please enable Javascript to view this contentLonely Mountain: Snow Riders is a follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a Trials-like experience that has you master the mountain trails on skis, racing against other players in online multiplayer or trying to set the best time possible. Lonely Mountain: Snow Ridersis available today on Game Pass.Annapurna InteractiveFlock is what happens when you give sheep the ability to fly. Okay, theyre not technically sheep, but this multiplayer co-op title is about wrangling adorable flying critters. Its low-stakes and cozy, a great way to pass time with friends that isnt overly competitive.No, this isnt the Rampage youre thinking of.Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a 5v5 MOBA shooter that tasks you with taking down the other teams Guardian at the same time they seek to obliterate yours.Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess puts you in the shoes of Soh, a warrior asked to protect the Shrine Maiden Yoshiro from hordes of enemies. It combines tower-defense style gameplay with hordes of enemies that you have to carve through to meet your objective, with permanent upgrades available outside of combat.A cute game about exploration and cooking, Magical Delicacy is a cozy platformer that has you explore your village and surrounding landscape in search of ingredients. Villagers will request specific dishes, and its up to you to find them. Be warned:Magical Delicacy might be cozy, but it poses quite a bit of challenge.Tchia January 22Kepler InteractiveA more traditional open-world romp, Tchia is an open-world game where you must rescue your father from an evil tyrant. The gorgeous art style and physics-driven gameplay make exploration a treat. The game itself is inspired by the Pacific island of New Caledonia, so it has a fair helping of cultural influence, too.With a unique and unsettling art style,The Case of the Golden Idol is a murder mystery where the player has to hunt for clues and make their own conclusions about what exactly happened to the victims.If youre a fan ofTerraria,thenStarbound is the game for you. It has a greater focus on exploration instead of combat, but the gameplay is quite similar. In many ways,Starbound is something of a spiritual successor.Eternal Strands is a new fantasy title from studio Yellow Brick Games, founded by veterans of critically-acclaimed franchises like Mass Effect, Dragon Age,andAssassins Creed. This is a day one release where you fight massive creatures to keep the world from crumbling.Robot EntertainmentAnother day one release,Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is much like the other entries in the franchise tower defense meets third-person shooter. It will test your skills as waves of enemies try to overrun your location, but you have a huge array of weapons at your disposal.Shady Part of Me January 29This narrative-driven title isnt a long experience, but its one that will stick with you. A young girl and her shadow go on a poetic journey in dreamscape environments with plenty of twists and turns along the way.Editors Recommendations

When it comes to top laptop brands, a manufacturer we can always stand behind is Asus. For years, these talented folks have been dropping some of the fastest and most powerful Windows laptops money can buy, and today, the world of Asus just got even better!While looking for laptop deals, we found this awesome Asus sale at B&H Photo & Video for the Asus Vivobook 16X. For a limited time, youll be able to grab the Intel Core i9 / RTX 4060 / 32GB (RAM) / 1TB (storage) configuration of this laptop for only $930.The Asus Vivobook is the perfect portable PC for those looking to make the most out of a full laptop battery. Delivering up to 16 hours of performance in our tests, the Vivobook blew us away with how long it lasted. We tested the OLED version, but this one on sale today is a standard LED display. It has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and 12Hz refresh rate.RelatedThanks to the RTX 4060 GPU, movies, shows, and video games are rendered bright and colorful quickly, making the Vivobook 16X a solid laptop choice for gamers (check out our list of the best gaming laptop deals!) and a solid photo- and video-editing workstation. The Vivobook also has an HDMI 2.1 port, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, two USB-A, and an SD card reader.Were not sure how long this markdown is going to stick around, so today might be the best (and final) day to score this discount. Take $370 off this configuration of the Asus Vivobook 16X when you purchase through B&H Photo & Video today. We also suggest taking a look at our lists of the best Asus laptop deals for January for additional savings on other top items.Editors Recommendations

Amid a flurry of repeals and rollbacks to his predecessors executive orders during his first day back in office, Donald Trump has announced that hes reversed an executive order from former-President Biden once deemed critical by Microsoft. The order sought to protect workers, consumers and national security interests from potential harms caused by emerging AI technologies.The previous administration released the order in October 2023, dubbed the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. The order concedes that generative AI systems offer both promise and peril to America and could potentially, exacerbate societal harms such as fraud, discrimination, [and] bias. Links to the newly-cancelled executive orders now return 404 error pages on the White House website.Recommended VideosIn his order, Biden directed the Commerce Departments National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide guidance to companies to help identify and correct instances of bias in their large language models. The order also sought to prioritize American workers by ensuring jobs would not be lost due to AI, promoted personal information protections, and advocated for open and equitable AI marketplaces. This move comes amidst Trumps busy first day back in power, wherein he rescinded some 75 executive orders from the previous president. In Tuesdays announcement, the Trump administration also argued that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have corrupted U.S. institutions by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy.Trumps actions are not unexpected, however, as he had campaigned heavily on the promise to roll back consumer AI protections throughout the 2024 election cycle. He stated that he would support AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing but, as with his similar claims about replacing the Affordable Care Act during his previous term, Trump has not provided any details on what that alternative would actually look like. Whether Bidens AI protections are gone for good remains to be seen as Trump himself has previously claimed that generative AI technologies are a superpower that offer alarming potential.Editors Recommendations

Marketing materials for the Galaxy S25 Ultra have leaked that confirm quite a few features, along with other leaks that hint about the phones eventual price. Known tipster Evan Blass released a slew of S25 Ultra marketing materials that highlight several interesting features. The materials focus heavily on the camera quality, citing a feature called the ProScaler as a way to take high-resolution photos. The materials also talk about the cameras Night Video with Audio Eraser ability, which helps you take more clear nighttime videos. After youve finished recording, you can use the onboard AI to cut out unwanted voices, noise, wind sounds, bird chirps, the hum of a crowd, and even music.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsOne feature that hasnt been talked about much is the Smart Switch tool, which makes it easy to move your content from one device to another. Gone are the days when transferring assets to a new phone required professional intervention; you can now do it yourself with just a few clicks. It comes as no surprise thatAI is one of the biggest features, but it is concerning that the fine print lists only one year of free AI features. The Galaxy S24 is promised two years of free features, so its curious that Samsung isnt extending the trial period for the same length of time.Recommended VideosHow much will the new Galaxy S25 cost? The initial price for the Galaxy S25 series will remain the same as the S24 series, at least in South Korea. FNNews reports that it is [Samsungs] policy to bear the cost burden for domestic consumers, despite various unfavorable conditions such as rising component prices and exchange rates. The 512GB model will be more expensive than the previous generation, according to the report.Please enable Javascript to view this contentUnfortunately, we dont have pricing estimates for the U.S. market. In Europe, the base models might have a similar freeze as in South Korea, but Indian prices look to be higher. Well officially find out all the details tomorrow at the Galaxy Unpackedevent.Editors Recommendations

Foldable phones are great, but one crucial aspect where they leave buyers second-guessing whether they should spend so much on a new device is their weak resilience against the elements. Take the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is stuck at IP48, good enough for basic immersion in water only. Moreover, it is not dust-tight, either.Oppos imminent foldable phone and OnePlus too, by that extension will be sturdy enough to take it in the bath, the shower, or the occasional underwater video capture session, as well. The next from Oppo, dubbed the Find N5, has officially been confirmed to offer IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 full-grade waterproofing.Oppo / WeiboAs per the ingress protection system established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Level 9 protection for liquid ingress means the device is protected against high-pressure temperature and water jets. Thats the best weve seen on a foldable phone, or even a regular slab phone, so far.Recommended VideosIn a series of posts shared on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, an Oppo executive confirmed that the upcoming foldable phone will not only be the worlds thinnest foldable phone but also one that can handle exposure to fast-moving water with ease.Please enable Javascript to view this contentIn addition to upgrading the ingress protection of its upcoming foldable phone, Oppo is finally fixing another sore mistake support for wireless charging, and in quite an emphatic fashion too.Oppo / WeiboThe Oppo Find N5 will offer support for 50W wireless charging, matching the OnePlus 13, and far surpassing what Apple or Samsung have to offer on their flagship phones. The phones chassis is made out of titanium, matching the approach Apple introduced with the iPhone 15 Profor the metals superior strength and heat dissipation virtues.Oppo will launch the Find N5 next month, and based on the brands historically close ties with its sister brand, the upcoming OnePlus Open 2 will most likely be a rebadged version of the former. As far as the design language goes, Oppo is once again chasing a square-ish format for the inner foldable panel, while the outer cover display retains its pocketable format, as well.Oppo / WeiboNotably, it was not just the fantastic hardware that made the Oppo and OnePlus devices some of the best foldables out there. The two companies also did a fantastic job with optimizing the software for a large-screen Android experience.The Open Canvas system, in particular, is still one of the best split-screen app multi-tasking implementations out there, even better than what Apple has to offer with iPadOS on its pricey tablets. With the kind of improvements we have already seen on OxygenOS 15, the Oppo Find N5 is shaping up to be one of the best foldable phones of the year.Editors Recommendations

Some thought that AMDs upcoming best graphics cards would be launching in a matter of days, but we now know thats not going to happen. According to David McAfee, vice president and general manager of AMDs Ryzen CPU and Radeon graphics division, the GPUs are doing great and will be widely available but not until March.This delay is an interesting choice, given that some retailers were ready to open preorders on January 22. Multiple listings of the card from all over the world have been leaked at this point, and although we havent seen almost any of its specifications, those listings implied that the cards were ready to go, or at least would soon be available.Recommended VideosRadeon 9000 series hardware and software are looking great and we are planning to have a wide assortment of cards available globally. Cant wait for gamers to get their hands on the cards when they go on sale in March! David McAfee (@McAfeeDavid_AMD) January 20, 2025Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming The manner of the announcement was pretty odd, too. After the cards were a complete no-show at CES 2025, AMD implied that the GPUs deserved their own event outside of the 45-minute keynote that also omitted its next-gen Z2 chips. Now, McAfee took to X (Twitter) to quietly reveal that AMDs plans arent so set in stone, and it all comes down to an ambiguous release date sometimes in March.At this point, with Nvidias full RTX 50-series range right around the corner, many AMD enthusiasts expected more. The reaction to McAfees announcement in Twitter replies was lukewarm at best, with many fans wondering where this delay is coming from. AMD and Nvidia are locked in a perpetual battle in the GPU market, and its hard not to give Nvidia the upper hand here, as we know the release date of the first two GPUs, but also the entire spec sheet for all four. Meanwhile, all we know about the RX 9000 series is that itll have 16GB VRAM, but even that comes from leaks.AMD didnt show off the cards during the event, but its partners had them on display during CES 2025, so we know the hardware seems ready to go. AMDs Frank Azor also told the press that the cards were set to launch in a matter of weeks, which still checks out even if its at the end of March, but just barely. Nvidias RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti should both be out by then, with a tentative February release date.Its possible that one of my least favorite leaks may have turned out to be true. A Chiphell forum leaker recently shared that AMD pulled back on the late January release date for the RX 9000 series, citing waiting for Nvidia as one of the reasons. Its hard to say what AMD might be waiting for at this point, but one way or another, we now know for a fact that the RX 9000 series wont be here until March.Editors Recommendations

The ethos of the streaming era is watch what you want, when you want, and that means DVR. Traditionally, with Slings streaming service, that meant getting 50 hours of cloud DVR alongside your base subscription. That meant you would be able to catch up on what you were watching at your leisure and skip through commercials. If you wanted more, you could pay $5 for 200 hours if you used the service a lot.But now the whole thing is getting a lot better. For starters, unlimited cloud storage is coming for just $5 per month, replacing the old 200 hours plan. Plus, you can still get 50 hours of free DVR alongside an additional 10 hours of Sling Freestream DVR storage for free. Tap the button below to check out Sling and pick your plan, or keep reading to see how both the new Sling unlimited DVR works and the free Sling DVR works.The first thing to point out is that DVR storage coming with your Sling subscription isnt going away. Youll still get 50 hours of DVR free, storing your goodies for up to nine months on Slings cloud servers. Sling will give you a nice warning at the one month mark that your programs storage life is about to expire, as well as clearly tell you how much storage you have. When something you have stored is about to go, you wont be able to miss it. In addition to this youll also get an additional 10 hours of Freestream DVR with a 30 day expiration, allowing you to check up on live programming at a time more convenient for you.And while this is all very generous, the big upgrade is getting Unlimited DVR. This service removes the 50 hour cap (and the former 200 hour cap for the paid service) for cloud DVR. Youll still need to watch saved programming within nine months, but youre free to let your backlog get as long as you like. If you decide later to not watch something you saved, its a no harm, no foul situation.At just $5 per month for the service, the hard decision for Sling users will still be choosing between Sling Blue and Sling Orange. So go ahead and tap the button below to get started with Sling today, enjoying free DVR and (should you so choose) possibly unlimited DVR for just $5 a month.

In an odd development, Asus may be taking some naming inspiration from Samsung for an unexpected upcoming release. A phone named the ROG Phone 9 FE has been spotted in benchmarking tests, combining the familiar Asus ROG Phone 9 name with Samsungs FE suffix, which stands for Fan Edition.Asus only recently released the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro, and there was no mention of a third model at the time. While we may have expected an Ultimate version to arrive at some point, given how the company approached the ROG Phone 7 series, the FE model may be a step down in spec from the ROG Phone 9.Recommended VideosSamsung uses the FE name on slightly updated older flagship phones it later releases to sit alongside its latest models, like the Galaxy S24 FE, giving buyers the choice to get a recent high-end phone for a sensible price. The FE name has an unfortunate history, having been first used by Samsung to get rid of its old Galaxy Note 7 phones. You know, the ones that didnt explode.Please enable Javascript to view this contentDespite this, Asus seems to have latched onto the name, at least in the benchmarking test results. The phone has the model number AI2401 N, which has also been seen as an entry in the GSM Associations (GSMA) database of devices, which indicates the benchmarking test information is more likely to be accurate. No specification details have been leaked, but links are being made between it and the ROG Phone 8, which had the model number AI2501 C.Asus may also be imitating Samsungs FE model strategy by taking the ROG Phone 8s shell and specification and repackaging it as an ROG Phone 9 model, and then using the FE name to differentiate it in the range. Its an odd decision, seeing as the FE moniker means nothing outside of Samsungs camp, and inside it is associated with a problematic time in the brands history.No release details are known at this time, but you can go and buy the ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Pro today, and if youre a very keen mobile gamer its very much worth your time and money.Editors Recommendations

Don Pettit has been at it again. Not content with dazzling earthlings with incredible photos captured from his current home aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the NASA astronaut has now taken us behind the camera to show you the coolest lens change youve ever seen.Back on terra firma where gravity lives, changing a lens can sometimes be a cumbersome affair that leaves you wishing you had two pairs of hands instead of one.Recommended VideosBut up in orbit, master photographer Pettit has found a way to make the most of the space stations microgravity conditions when it comes to swapping camera lenses. In a video (below) shared on X, we see the NASA astronaut with a floating camera that has a lens attached, alongside a second lens, which is also floating.Please enable Javascript to view this contentFirst, Pettit removes the lens from the camera, and then leaves the lens floating in position in the microgravity environment. He then removes the rear lens cap from the other lens before attaching it to the camera body, which he then leaves floating in front of him. Finally, Pettit grabs the first lens and puts the rear lens cap on, and then returns it to its floating position. Job done!How to change a camera lens pic.twitter.com/JUujYAYSiI Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 18, 2025Besides carrying out work on various experiments during his six-month stay aboard the ISS, Pettit has also been sharing some superb imagesand footage of Earth and beyond.His most recent effort offered an unusual view of Blue Origins recent launch of the New Glenn rocket as it blasted to space for the first time.In another post (below) that he shared on Monday, Pettit revealed how he set up several cameras inside the stations Cupola, a seven-window module that offers panoramic views of Earth and beyond.To photograph New Glenn, I set up three cameras with wide angle lens in the Cupola, figuring one would catch its exo-atmospheric trajectory, Pettit said in the post.Editors Recommendations

With his new buddy Donald Trump now back in the White House, SpaceX boss Elon Musk has renewed hope of getting the first humans to Mars before the end of this decade.During his inauguration speech on Monday, President Trump said that his administration will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.Recommended VideosAt a speech delivered by Musk soon after, Musk, never one to shy away from grandiose proclamations, told his audience, Its thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHe went on: Can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time? How inspiring would that be?The SpaceX boss said last year that the immediate plan was to launch the first Starship missions to Mars in 2026. These uncrewed flights would test the reliability of the spacecrafts landing system, as well as its ability to lift off again to bring the astronauts home.If that goes to plan, Musk said the first crewed flight could take place in four years, in other words, before the end of Trumps presidency in January 2029.Of course, there are a lot of ifs in there, some of them as large as the enormous Starship rocket that will embark on the ambitious Mars mission.The 120-meter-tall rocket, which comprises the first-stage Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship, has only flown seven times to date, and while much progress has been made since the first test flight in 2023 when the entire vehicle blew up in midair, the most recent flight, which took place last month, saw the spacecraft disintegrate over the Caribbean.But with Trump apparently backing the Mars endeavor, Musk is anticipating potential regulatory relief that could accelerate Starship test launches, which he has previously claimed were hindered by excessive regulations.Indeed, as Trumps new efficiency czar, Musk himself is now tasked with slashing excess regulations, as well as dismantling government bureaucracy, cutting wasteful expenditure, and restructuring federal agencies. Some critics have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest, though Musk looks set to take up what is essentially an advisory role from this week.While some may question how Musks task of reducing government spending tallies with his hope of getting humans to Mars hardly a low-cost project its worth noting that the partnership between NASA and SpaceX has already demonstrated cost savings compared to traditional government-led space programs.By leveraging SpaceXs innovative approach and reusable technology, the overall cost of a human Mars exploration should work out lower than if NASA were to develop all of the necessary systems independently.The public-private partnership model also aligns with NASAs goal of fostering the U.S. private space industry, potentially leading to more efficient use of government resources in the long term.Editors Recommendations

A24One of the contenders at the 2025 Oscars now faces a major controversy. The Brutalist, one of the most championed movies of 2024, is facing backlash for its use of AI.Over the weekend, Red Shark News published an interview with editor Dvid Jancs, who revealed The Brutalist used AI tools from the Ukrainian special Respeecher to make small tweaks to the Hungarian dialogue spoken by Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. Jancs also mentioned how AI was used to make the architectural designs and buildings in The Brutalists closing sequence.Recommended VideosThe AI news has sparked outrage within the film community, with some suggestingThe Brutalistshould be disqualified from awards contention. Director Brady Corbet released a statement to clarify the AI use, stating the actors portrayals are completely their own and that the AI preserved the authenticity of said performances.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAdrien and Felicitys performances are completely their own, Corbet said in a statement via Deadline. They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy. No English language was changed. This was a manual process, done by our sound team and Respeecher in post-production. The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicitys performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft.In the issue over the films final sequence involving architectural blueprints, Corbet said, Judy Becker and her team did not use AI to create or render any of the buildings. All images were hand-drawn by artists. To clarify, in the memorial video featured in the background of a shot, our editorial team created pictures intentionally designed to look like poor digital renderings circa 1980.Corbet finished with this statement: The Brutalist is a film about human complexity, and every aspect of its creation was driven by human effort, creativity, and collaboration. We are incredibly proud of our team and what theyve accomplished here.The Brutalistis now in theaters.Editors Recommendations

I can wear Sonys flagship WH-1000XM5 wireless noise canceling headphones for up to three hours before I need a rest, but some folks find that after as few as 20 minutes, the headband creates a painful pressure point. If thats been your experience and now youre wondering if youll need to sell your $400 cans at a loss so you can buy a different model, I have a potential fix that could cost you less than two Starbucks Frappuccinos.This clever hack was discovered by my neighbor, Garner. Garners the kind of guy that firmly believes theres a fix out there for every problem, so he decided to do some Googling when his own set of XM5 started to bother him. He quickly found a Reddit thread that gave him exactly the solution he was looking for.Reddit user CantPrintMe, who suffers from the same pain, created a 3D design for a set of small adapters that snap onto the XM5s tubular headband sliders. The adapters have rectangular slots that are sized to accommodate a replacement headband for the SteelSeries Arctis 7 headphones a $9 purchase on Amazon.Recommended VideosOnce installed, you can alter the length of the Arctis headband to taste, but the trick is to make it smaller than the size of the XM5s headband. That way, the Arctis headband works the same way as it would on an Arctis headset distributing the weight of the headphones over the width of the new fabric, instead of the narrower ridge of factory memory foam.Garner found he was even able to stow the XM5 in its travel case without needing to remove the adapters a slight twist on their orientation let the case close just fine.Please enable Javascript to view this contentCantPrintMe published their 3D model on makerworld under the username TinkerF with a creative commons license, which means its free to download as long as you arent using the files to print and sell the parts.If you dont own a printer, dont despair. There are several online services that will 3D-print a file for you and ship the finished parts. Garner used one called xometry and spent about $18 CAD (about $13) total. That was in November 2024, so he cant offer much feedback on how well the printed parts will hold up over time, but hes thrilled with the result so far.Have you found an affordable and easy fix for your own headphone or earbuds issues youd like to share? Email me at scohen (at) digitaltrends.com.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsActivating Apple Intelligence and GeminiGemini vs Apple Intelligence: how theyre similarKey differences between Gemini and Apple IntelligenceUnderneath: Gemini Advanced vs ChatGPTOne more thing: where Apple Intelligence gets it so rightWhich do I prefer: Gemini or Apple Intelligence?If youre looking for the best AI experience on a phone, chances are two different AI makers come to mind. For the iPhone 16, Apple Intelligence is the answer, while for Pixel 9 series and the best Android phones its Googles Gemini. Of course, you can also download Gemini as a standalone app on the iPhone, but Apple Intelligence is the default AI option.Both companies offer a range of nearly identical features, at least in what they promise to offer, but there are also nuanced differences. Google Gemini is mostly focused on using AI to help you create, edit, and generate content. In contrast, Apple Intelligence focuses more on personal use cases and integration across a range of apps.Recommended VideosIve been using both Gemini and Apple Intelligence for months and both AI services have their pros and cons. After testing both for months, heres what Ive found.RelatedGemini Advanced on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsActivating either AI platform is fairly intuitive, especially if youve used an Android phone or an iPhone before. Gemini replaces Google Assistant as the default assistant on your phone, although you can disable this which you may want to do, especially if you rely on Google Assistant for your smart home. Gemini can be activated most commonly with a swipe from the bottom corner of the screen, although its also available via the Hey Google hot word.Similarly, Apple Intelligence is baked into the revamped Siri which can be activated using the Hey Siri codeword or by double pressing the power button. When you activate the new Siri, youll get a rainbow-style lighting effect around the edge of the entire display, instead of Siri taking over the entire display as it did in the previous generation.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsBoth are simple to activate and use, so this ones a tie. I do think that Gemini is simpler to use and activate, especially as there are multiple ways to activate it, but conversely, the activation method can change between different Android phones.Using Gemini AI on the Google Pixel 9. Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsBoth platforms focus on using AI for three specific purposes: generative features such as creating and editing images or text as well as productivity features and a voice assistant. The former is the key focus for most AI makers but Ive often found that generative AI features can be somewhat of a gimmick. Yes, theyll create great memes, but they likely wont change your life.Both platforms allow you to edit images youve already captured to remove unwanted objects. Google has had this built into Magic Editor in Google Photos for several years, while iOS 18 natively brings this feature to the iPhone for the first time in the redesigned Apple Photos app.Take this image a friend took of me the morning after an intense night out. I asked both phones to remove the menu on the table and the results are fairly interesting.1. Original2. Apple Intelligence3. Google GeminiFirst, its immediately obvious that Apple Intelligence isnt as good as Gemini, as you can see the wood grain in the tabletop is angled in the same direction as the menu. That aside, Apple Intelligence does a great job at filling in the grains and ensuring that theres continuity in the before and after of the same photo.What about Google Gemini? Heres where Googles longer history comes into effect: its better by a considerable amount. First, it generates four different images for you to choose from. Second, it has more precision in allowing you to refine your selection before making an edit. However, at the same time, it takes more taps to get to the Magic Editor, and unless theyve used Google Photos in the past, an average person will probably find Apple Photos more intuitive.An iPhone showing an Apple Intelligence rendering of Steve Jobs in the Image Playground app. Jesse Hollington / Digital TrendsGoogles focus with Gemini is mostly on generative features, as well as making it a replacement for Google Assistant. It achieves the former extremely well, whilst it still needs some work as a true replacement for Google Assistant, especially if you need it for smart home controls.Gemini comes with a range of features that I enjoy using, especially Circle to Search, which debuted last year on the Galaxy S24 series and makes it effortless to search related to something on your display. Want to know where to buy shoes that you just saw on Instagram? Circle to search can look that up in seconds.Circle to Search with Save to Screenshots option on Google Pixel 9 Pro. Christine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsMeanwhile, Apple Intelligence takes a different approach. It features many of the same generative features except for a true Circle to Search replacement but it is also made to be your assistant. Whichever app youre using, Apple Intelligence can edit, rewrite, or summarize text for you, which makes it particularly poignant when you use a variety of apps.There is also one other key difference between them: the models that they use.An iPhone prompting the user for ChatGPT approval. AppleIf you used Siri before the rollout of Apple Intelligence, youll know that it was not as good as Google Assistant; it wasnt even close. With that in mind, it almost always felt inevitable that Apple would turn to another provider for the underlying models that power Apple Intelligence.Google already pays Apple to be the default search engine on the iPhone something to the tune of almost $20 billion per year so its somewhat surprising that Apple turned to ChatGPT to provide the underlying models for Apple Intelligence.Using Gemini AI on the Google Pixel 9. Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThis integration goes much further, and where the new Siri is unable to help, Apple has integrated ChatGPT as the default backup. This means there are some duplicate features you can generate images using Image Playground or ChatGPT and the same applies to some of the Writing Tools but it also means you have a vast array of information and data to work from. If you have a ChatGPT free or paid account, you can access even more features directly within Apple Intelligence.Comparatively, Google opts for a self-contained approach. The underlying model behind Gemini is Gemini Advanced, with Gemini 1.5 Pro in particular the current non-beta model. If you access Gemini via the web, you can also select the next-generation Gemini 2.0 model.Visual Intelligence on iPhones relies on the camera to make sense of the world around you. Christine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsOne of the key differences between these two models is that Gemini 1.5 has a larger context window, while ChatGPT tends to be better at generating human-like text. Both apps allow you to build custom chatbots, but ChatGPT also offers more advanced features, and Plus or Enterprise users can create unlimited chatbots.One somewhat irritating thing about Apple Intelligence is that it doesnt use the latest GPT-4 model, which is far more advanced and capable. Its unclear whether Apple will roll this out at a later date, or itll be built into the next version of Apple Intelligence, but this is something Id like to see Apple integrate into Apple Intelligence. GPT-4 has a much fresher set of data to work with, which poses a challenge for the knowledge base that Apple Intelligence is working with.For example, I asked Apple Intelligence and Gemini who won the U.S. elections, and it generated an answer related to the 2020 election. After clarifying I meant the 2024 election, it gave me Google Search results. In this case, it was actually better than Gemini which wont discuss elections but this is an edge case and Gemini is regularly more accurate at recalling information than Apple Intelligence.Notification Summaries in Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 series Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsFor everything that Gemini is great for, theres one feature that Apple Intelligence gets right. In deciding how to make a useful AI, Apple focused on its ability to affect and improve your personal life, and Apple Intelligence is far better than Gemini at this.Ive already written that Notification Summaries are my favorite use of AI right now, but Apple Intelligence extends beyond that. Being able to call up Writing Tools to compose, refine, or edit text in any app is far better than Gemini which acts like an overlay to that app. Similarly, youll soon be able to recall information from any app, which should make the new Siri a far better personal assistant.iPhone 16 Pro (left) and Pixel 9 Pro Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsIve been using both platforms for months and answering this question is harder than I first expected. On the one hand, Google Gemini is a far better generative AI solution and has access to a much broader knowledge base than Apple Intelligence. On the other hand, Apple Intelligence is a much better personal assistant and has better integration with Apple devices.Then theres the long-term potential for each of these platforms. Google Gemini is the default AI provider underpinning the AI suite on most Android devices, while Apple Intelligence is focused solely on Apple devices but benefits from improvements made by ChatGPT (at least once its running the latest models).All things considered, Ive found that while Gemini is far more advanced than Apple Intelligence, its the latters focus on personal features that ensures I use it more often. When I want to search for something or edit a photo, I turn to Gemini, but for daily use, I find Apple Intelligence and in particular the Notification Summaries to be far more beneficial for daily life. That said, Gemini is undoubtedly the better AI platform, at least for now.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of Contents10. This City is Ours9. Lockerbie8. Death Valley7. Towards Zero6. Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue5. Dope Girls4. The War Between the Land and the Sea3. Doctor Who2. Lord of the Flies1. King & ConquerorFor decades, American viewers who wanted to experience the top-notch dramas and comedies of the BBC had to turn to PBS. And while the Public Broadcast System is still home to several British dramas, BBC has expanded its own reach in the streaming era including partnerships with Netflix, Disney+, and even CBS. The BBC also has its own streaming service, BritBox, which provides a home for original shows that might not otherwise make it to these shores.Since the new year has arrived, its time to take a look ahead at whats coming to the British Broadcasting Corporation in our list of the 10 most anticipated BBC shows of 2025. Almost everything you see below either has a streaming service lined up, or will very likely have one settled later this year.Recommended VideosRelease date: N/ARelated10 most anticipated Netflix shows of 2024Game of Thrones Sean Bean is set to headline This City is Ours, an eight-part crime drama created by Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom). Bean will play Ronnie Phelan, the leader of a drug-running gang in Liverpool, while James Nelson-Joyce co-headlines as one of Ronnies most-trusted associates, Michael Kavanagh. Michael is starting to rethink his future after falling in love with Diana (Hannah Onslow).Unfortunately for Michael, his place in the organization comes under attack when a drug shipment goes missing, and Ronnies son, Jamie Phelan (Jack McMullen), decides to speed up his inheritance by claiming his fathers criminal empire and leaving Michael out in the cold.UCPRelease date: N/ALockerbie is a separate project from Peacocks recently premiered Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, although some of the subject matter does overlap. Suits Patrick J. Adams is one of the primary cast members alongside Connor Swindells, Phyllis Logan, Merritt Wever, Peter Mullan, Eddie Marsan, and Lauren Lyle.The miniseries will follow the two concurrent investigations by the American and British governments into the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie in Scotland and killed 11 people on the ground as well as 259 on the plane itself. This story will also explore the impact this attack had on family members in both countries, as well as the ongoing search for answers that reaches as far as 2022.BBCRelease date: N/ABritish television has so many murder mystery drama shows that they get to have mystery comedies too. Death Valley falls into the latter category. Timothy Spall stars as John Chapel, a retired actor who is a legend for starring in his own detective TV series, Caesar. When Johns neighbor is murdered, he inserts himself into the investigation, much to the surprise of Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth).Once John gets a taste of being a real detective, he doesnt want to slip back to retirement. So hell be helping Janie solve other mysteries in the Welsh countryside, whether she wants his to or not.BBCRelease date: N/AIt just wouldnt be the BBC without a fresh Agatha Christie adaptation. Towards Zero is based on the late mystery novelists 1944 book, and it takes place in England during the 1930s. Anjelica Huston plays Lady Camilla Tressilian, an elderly and bedridden woman who invites her friends and extended family to a holiday with her.Among the attendees is Lady Camillas former ward turned professional tennis player, Neville Strange (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Neville already introduced discord for the event by inviting both his ex-wife, Audrey Strange (Ella Lily Hyland), and his new wife, Kay Elliott-Strange (Mimi Keene). But when two of the party members are murdered, Neville finds himself among the chief suspects, even though hes far from the only one with motive.Release date: N/ANine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue essentially starts at the end of the story with exactly what the title promises. Over the course of the series, viewers will learn that the nine bodies in question belong to the only survivors of a plane crash in the Mexican jungle.Kevin (Eric McCormack), Zack (David Ajala), Sonja (Lydia Wilson), Carlos (Peter Gadiot), Lisa (Siobhn McSweeney), Revueltas (Oscar Foronda), Travis (lafur Darri lafsson), Dan (Adam Long), and Amy (Jan Le) may be strangers to each other, but theyve experienced a miracle. Unfortunately, that miracle seems dubious since the survivors are being murdered one-by-one as they struggle to find rescue or a way out of the jungle. Is a killer among them, or is there someone else with them in the jungle? And will anyone live to tell the tale?BBCRelease date: N/ADope Girls takes place in the aftermath of World War I in Soho, and the women who thrived during the war dont want to be thrust back into their old subservient roles. An older single mother named Kate Galloway (Julianne Nicholson) definitely doesnt want to go back, because shes established herself as the owner of the hottest underground nightclub where the drinks and drugs flow like water.Billie Cassidy (Umi Myers) is one of the dancers in Kates club, and it becomes a life-changing experience for her. Meanwhile, the police have trained Violet Davie (Eliza Scanlen) to be one of the first female officers on the force, and its her job to infiltrate the nightclub and retrieve evidence of Kates crimes.BBCRelease date: N/ADespite its unwieldy name, The War Between the Land and the Sea is actually a spinoff from Doctor Who that brings back several actors from the Whoniverse, including Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce; whom he previously portrayed in another spinoff called Torchwood. Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw both appeared in Doctor Who as well, but they will be playing new characters in this series.In this series, the Doctors old enemies, the Sea Devils, return and launch a war against the surface world. And with no help from the Doctor in sight, Kate and her team will have to find a way to end the war before humanity pays the ultimate price.Doctor Who Season 2 | Teaser Trailer ? - BBCRelease date: N/ASpeaking of Doctor Who, the new season presents an unusual mystery for the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa). His unlikely companion is a young woman named Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) who desperately wants to get back to her home on Earth. But no matter what the Doctor tries, his TARDIS cant seem to make the trip through time and space to put Belinda where she belongs.Who or what could be powerful enough to prevent the Doctor from coming back to his favorite planet in the universe? Before we get that answer, it looks like Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and UNIT have their own problems to deal with back on Earth.BBCRelease date: N/AHis Dark Materials Jack Thorne is adapting a new version of William Goldings Lord of the Flieswith a largely unknown cast. The story follows a group of boys who survive a plane crash on a remote tropical island. At first, the boys attempt to be civilized and hope for rescue. But over time, some of the kids give into their most savage instincts and become far more dangerous to themselves than the island or anything that lives there.Legendary movie music composer Hans Zimmer is writing the theme for this series, and co-writing the rest of the music with Kara Talve.BBCRelease date: N/ANikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) is going from the fictional kingdom of Westeros to the very real struggle for the throne of England in the 11th century in the upcoming drama series King & Conqueror. CBS and BBC co-produced this historical epic, which means its likely to be one of the few British original series to be broadcast on American network television.Coster-Waldau plays William, the Duke of Normandy, and initially an ally of Harold Godwinson (James Norton), the Earl of Wessex. Although neither William nor Harold had designs on the throne, the latter is named king when his predecessor, King Edward (Eddie Marsan), dies. William believes his claim on the throne is stronger and he declares war on Harold to take it. By the time this show comes to an end, youll see why Coster-Waldaus character was known as William the Conqueror.Editors Recommendations10 most anticipated new and returning TV shows of 2025, ranked

Your ultimate reward for overcoming all the challenges and tribulations of a game is the final cutscene. The best games of all-time all have amazing endings that leave you with a strong impression one way or another, or perhaps set itself up for an eventual sequel. But for almost as long as games have had actual endings, there have been secret endings. From the best NES games to the best PS5 games, more and more titles have hidden away extra content that players could unlock if they put in a little extra effort. Typically, this means meeting specific requirements like collecting every item, doing every task, or a combination of the two. Theyre not usually easy, but some games take that to a ridiculous level. These games have hidden endings so hard to get, youre better off just watching them on YouTube.Recommended VideosRelatedEditors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsAtari 2600NES controllerN64 controllerSixaxisXbox Duke controllerGameCube controllerDualShockXbox 360 controllerDualSense EdgeXbox Elite controllerIt doesnt matter if youre playing the best game of all-time or one of the worst if youre holding a terrible controller. These are our gateway into the world of gaming, and depending on how they are designed can completely change how we look at a console. The best NES games wouldnt have taken off if it werent for its controller, and weve only been iterating on them since then. Graphics are important, but the best consoles of all-time wouldnt have succeeded without a great controller. Lets go back through the ages and pick out the best controllers weve ever held.Giovanni Colantonio / Digital TrendsWe have to hand it to Atari for keeping it simple but functional early on. A lot of competing consoles around now tried to get crazy with controllers, adding things like number pads and spinning dials. This joystick and button is about as limited as you can get for a controller but is more than enough for the type of games that were coming out at the time. It served as a great starting point to build off of.Recommended VideosNintendoNintendo basically set the standard for all consoles going forward up until the 3D era with the NES controller. Its D-pad was a revolution that we still use to this day, and the simplicity of the two-button layout was natural without getting too complicated. The form factor is a bit small, and its edges are a little sharp, but is otherwise about as close to perfect as you can get for 2D games.RelatedNintendoWhat is left to say about the three-pronged N64 controller? It worked well enough holding the center and right handles, but that D-pad and left bumper were effectively useless based on the design. The Z button was the first trigger button wed seen, and that alone gives it major points, but this isnt a controller were eager to pick up again.SonyThe PS3 generation was easily the biggest stumble Sony ever had, and the launch controller was only part of its woes. Rather than deliver the DualShock 3 like everyone expected, PlayStation shook things up byremoving rumble. The Sixaxis sacrificed any haptics in exchange for clunky and hardly-used motion controls, convex sticks, and mushy trigger buttons that felt terrible for shooters.XboxWe have no idea what Xbox was thinking launching its first console with a controller as big as the Duke. That size is the controllers only fatal flaw because its dual thumbstick, triggers, and buttons are all fantastic. The black and white buttons were an odd choice to try and differentiate itself, but it got enough right that it was able to compete with Nintendo and Sony.NintendoThis is what the N64 controller should have looked like from the start. The sticks make sense, there are ample buttons, and the triggers thick and satisfying to pull. It just has a few odd quirks, like the C-stick being a nub and there only being one bumper button, but it holds up well enough that people still use them to this day.SonyThe original DualShock might as well be the blueprint for every modern controller. We have two sticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, two triggers, and two bumpers. With the exception of back buttons, theres not much innovation to be had from here that made any meaningful impact on gaming.XboxThe 360 edges out the DualShock purely based on refinement. Some people prefer the offset sticks, but theres no denying that the curved triggers were a clear improvement and the slightly rounded buttons felt great to press. The only flaw is that the D-pad is mushy and imprecise.SonyThe latest and best PS5 controller is the high-end DualSense Edge. It has all the functionality of the launch DualSense, such as haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and motion controls, plus programable back paddles and easily swappable parts. It looks and feels like a high-end product, but sadly has a battery life that leaves a lot to be desired.MicrosoftAfter the Duke, Microsoft has only made better and better Xbox controllers, and the pinnacle of them all is the Elite series. Much like the Edge, you can tailor almost every part of this controller to your liking, plus even design its color scheme however you want via the design lab to make it completely personalized. It is comfortable, has all the buttons and paddles you want, and is about as close to perfect as a controller can get within the modern design. It will cost you extra, but it is more than worth the price if youre a serious gamer.Editors Recommendations

Spin the wheel and get great prizes. It sounds too good to be true, or something out of a gameshow, but it is a reality for those watching content on Sling. The wheel, accessible after watching just 30 minutes of Sling per day, is available now and the rewards couldnt be more exciting. If youre not a Sling member yet, go ahead and tap the button below to get started.Youll want to decide between Sling Orange and Sling Blue, with the former being geared more to sports fans and the latter being for entertainment and news junkies, but you can get either for $23 in the first month, going up to just $46 after that. We find that Sling is more affordable than the competition, but this chance to win big rewards during that introductory $23 month makes it all the more enticing. Keep reading to see why.Spin & Win on Sling is part of Rewards, a program on Sling that gives you fun rewards just for showing up and using the service. Getting the ability to spin is incredibly simple, you just have to watch 30 minutes of programming on Sling each day to earn your entry. Then to the Sling app you go. When you spin, you could earn anything from a few dollars to a free month or even free year of Sling. Were also seeing a chance to win excellent Vizio products. Again, all you have to do to earn the reward is watch Sling (which we consider to be one of the best TV streaming services) for 30 minutes on a given day. You were probably going to do that anyways, so you might as well earn a reward while doing so.RelatedGetting started with Sling, watching your first 30 minutes, and getting your first reward spin is easy. Just tap the button below and choose your package to sign up. If youre looking for a new streaming service, trying it out for $23 and seeing what you get isnt a bad idea at all, especially since Sling focuses on delivering channels youll really watch for a cheap price instead of overloading you with just because channels that make navigating a service difficult. Good luck and happy spinning!Editors Recommendations

DJI Flip | The Skies Are Calling | CinematicDJI has shared a new video (above) showing off the kind of impressive cinematic imagery that its possible to obtain with its recently released Flip drone.Recommended VideosSoar over sweeping desert dunes with the DJI Flip, a foldable drone that turns every flight into cinematic magic, the company says in a message accompanying the video.Please enable Javascript to view this contentDJI adds: Weighing under 249g, with a bright f1.7 aperture, dual native ISO, and advanced LIDAR tracking, this compact drone captures breathtaking 4K footage thats as smooth as the sands below.The footage certainly looks breathtaking, though according to DJI, youll have to tweak it in post-production to get similarly dramatic results. The quadcopters 10-bit D-Log M color mode supports recording up to one billion colors and helps retain more highlight and shadow details for increased flexibility when editing, DJI says, adding that even in high-contrast scenarios, like sunrises and sunsets, it delivers natural color gradations with delicate details for a full-spectrum visual experience.Unveiled last week, DJIs Flip quadcopter could prove popular with vloggers and content creators looking for something compact and reasonably priced it starts at $439 to record their adventures, though its relatively simple flight controls mean that folks coming to drones for the first time might also take a close look.DJIs latest drone is more advanced than the more affordable Neo, which launched last year, but sits below the Mini 4 Pro in terms of features and capabilities. The Flip has a maximum flight time of up to 31 minutes on a single charge, a control range of up to 8.1 miles (13 kilometers), and can operate at altitudes of up to 9,840 feet (3,000 meters). Importantly, its able to stay steady in wind speeds of up to 10.7 meters per second (for comparison, the Neo can handle speeds of up to 8 meters per second), ensuring that those cinematic shots arent ruined by distracting wobbles.Considering that it wasnt so long ago that you needed a helicopter and a huge budget to get aerial shots as beautiful as this, it really is quite astonishing how drone technology has utterly changed the game when it comes to filming from the sky.Editors Recommendations

Mobile has become a serious gaming platform alongside the best consoles and PCs. In fact, a lot of games are cross-platform between Android and those other systems so you can play most of the best PS5 games on the go. That also means that, depending on the game, you can also battle with or against other players in fierce online matches. Whether you enjoy a competitive round of PvP or co-op experiences, weve checked out all thebest games on Android and picked out the top multiplayer games currently available for you to scratch your gaming itch no matter where you are.While this list is only for currently released games, there are plenty of upcoming mobile games that also feature multiplayer you should be on the lookout for.Recommended VideosRelatedEditors Recommendations

Blue Origin launched its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for the first time last week, and news sites and social media feeds were quick to sharedramatic images of the 98-meter-tall rocket heading toward the heavens.At the same time, NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured the launch in a long exposure from the International Space Station (ISS) some 250 miles above Earth. The result is a rocket-launch photo unlike any youve seen before:Blue Origins New Glenn rocket visible as a faint streak of light from bottom right to top left. Don Pettit / NASASharing the image in a post on X, Pettit, who arrived at the orbital outpost in September, explained that it was captured over a period of four minutes, which explains the star trails that dominate the picture. With Earth at the bottom, the New Glenn rocket is visible as a faint streak crossing the image from the bottom right to the upper left.Recommended VideosThis was not an easy photograph to take, Pettit wrote, adding that the space station was over Oklahoma at the beginning of the exposure and over central Gulf of Mexico at the end.Please enable Javascript to view this contentPettit has earned a reputation for his impressive photography work during four missions to orbit over the last couple of decades. The experienced astronaut is particularly fond of shots filled with star trails, but this appears to be the first time that hes been lucky enough to include a rocket launch in one.Other notable images from Pettits current ISS mission include one showing a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft hurtling back to Earth, and another showing the bright glow of an aurora above Earth.Always on the lookout for a stunning scene, he also captured this stunning image of waterways, which he described as flowing silver snakes.Pettit recently took time out to talk about his photography work in an interview from the space station.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of Contents7. Black Bag (March 14, 2025)6. Companion (January 31, 2025)5. The Amateur (April 11, 2025)4. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (June 6, 2025)3. Havoc (TBD 2025)2. Sinners (April 18, 2025)1. Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson film (August 8, 2025)One of the common themes in Hollywood last year was Survive to 25. Due to the strikes and the economic hardships of COVID-19, many studios pushed high-profile projects to 2025. Its now 2025, and the years slate is loaded. From SupermanThe Fantastic Fourto Mission: Impossible The Final ReckoningandJurassic World Rebirth, 2025 should surpass 2024s cumulative box office.This year is stacked with thrillers in action, horror, and suspense. Steven Soderbergh, Gareth Evans, Ryan Coogler, and Paul Thomas Anderson all have thrillers coming out in 2025. Those four find themselves on our most anticipated list. Check out the rest of our rankings.Recommended VideosBLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, and Soderbergh team up for Black Bag, a spy thriller from Jurassic Parkscribe David Koepp. By the looks of the trailer, Black Bagwill not be as funny and lively asMr. and Mrs. Smith, which might work out in its favor. Kathryn (Blanchett) and George Woodhouse (Fassbender) are a married couple who both happen to work as intelligence agents.When Kathryn is accused of treason, George must investigate the matter, complicating his relationship. The more George digs, the worse it seems to get. When its time to deliver a verdict, will George be willing to cross his wife if he finds her guilty? With Soderbergh behind the camera, expect a slick thriller from a stylistic filmmaker.This is how the latest trailer for CompanionBarbarian should.From writer-director Drew Hancock comesCompanion, a new horror thriller that already looks like it will entice spirited conversations. Iris is a robot programmed to be the perfect girlfriend of Josh (Jack Quaid). However, a calm weekend with friends becomes a nightmare, and all hell breaks loose. Why is Iris covered in blood in the trailer? Did she kill someone? Barbarianhad one of the best twists of 2022.Companionshould follow suit.The Amateur | Official TrailerRami Maleks career is fascinating to study. Malek won an Emmy for playing Elliot Alderson inMr. Robot and received an Oscar for portraying Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. With that much prestige and awards recognition, you would think Malek would be a butts-in-seats star. It hasnt worked out that way, though. Malek hasnt been the lead in a movie since Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018.In 2025, Malek will test the waters of being the headliner in The Amateur. In this espionage thriller, Malek plays Charlie Heller, an underestimated CIA decoder working in the basement at Langley. After his wife dies in a terrorist attack, Charlie goes on the offensive, embarking on a treacherous journey to make those responsible pay for their sins. If The Amateurworks, more projects built around Malek could materialize.From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025) 'CCXP Extended Look' - Ana de Armas, Norman ReedusCan a John Wick movie work without the titular character as the star? This theory will be tested in Ballerina, the first John Wick movie spinoff directed by Len Wiseman. Ana de Armas plays Eve Macarro, the titular ballerina who studies to be an assassin with the Ruska Roma criminal syndicate. Driven by revenge, Eve hunts down those responsible for murdering her parents.After poor test screenings, Lionsgate delayed Ballerinaand conducted reshoots withJohn Wickdirector Chad Stahelski, who reportedly reshot most of the film. Considering Stahelskis proven track record in this franchise, the reshoots should be viewed in a positive light. Plus, it wouldnt be a John Wick film without an appearance by Reeves, who shows up at the end of the trailer.NetflixEvans sits in the elite class for action filmmakers. Evans is the mind behind The Raid,The Raid 2, and Gangs of London. The Raid movies, in particular, are always mentioned when discussing the best action thrillers of the 21st century. Evans is back in 2025, and hes bringing Tom Hardy with him for this latest directorial effort, Havoc.Per Netflix, Havocfollows a bruised detective who must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politicians estranged son after a drug deal gone wrong. Hardy as a detective navigating the criminal underworld? Sign us up. With Evans behind the camera, expect some crazy action sequences that will make you say, How did he do that?Sinners | Official TrailerIts been 10 years since Coogler directed a non-Black Panthermovie. That film in 2015 wasCreed, the excellent Rocky spinoff starring Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creeds son. Coogler is teaming up with Jordan again for Sinners, an original horror for Warner Bros. Jordan is pulling double duty in Sinners, playing twin brothers who return to their hometown for a new start.Unfortunately for the brothers, their hometown reunion is short-lived, as sinister creatures now rule the area. Though not specifically stated, the creatures appear to be vampiric. Leaving the steadiness of the MCU to direct a $90 million genre movie is the type of risk more filmmakers with Cooglers reputation should take.1. Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson film (August 8, 2025)Leonardo DiCaprio Slaps Teyana Taylor's Booty On The Set Of 'BC Project' In Sacramento, CAAnderson is known for his dramas about complicated characters who explore their feelings about family, regret, and loneliness. Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love,There Will Be Blood, The Master, etc. In his next film, Anderson will enter new territory with a crime thriller described as his most mainstream film to date.The rumored titleis The Battle of Baktan Cross, reportedly inspired by Thomas Pynchons 1990 novel Vineland.The budget is rumored to be around $140 million, the largest of Andersons career. The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Benicio del Toro, and Shayna McHayle. Action thrillers are a change of pace for PTA, adding more to the anticipation.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsPicking the right phonesSnapdragon 8 Elite vs. Dimensity 9400: PerformanceSnapdragon 8 Elite vs. Dimensity 9400: BatteryDo the differences truly matter in the real world?Snapdragon 8 Elite vs. Dimensity 9400: Which is better?If youre planning on buying an Android flagship smartphone over the next year or so, itll almost certainly be powered by one of two new processors. For many years, it was almost certain to be the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and while thats still the case for many phones, theres a large and growing contingent of phone makers that have opted for the chief competitor, made by MediaTek.MediaTek unveiled its latest chipset a few months ago, and the first phone to be powered by it the Oppo Find X8 Pro which I reviewed was released shortly after. The first smartphone running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite the Realme GT7 Pro was also released almost straight away, but how do these two chipsets compare?Recommended VideosMost phone makers will pick one or the other, but some may offer one variant powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, with another variant whether better, worse, or separate powered by MediaTek. With this in mind, which one should you pick? Ive used phones running both processors over the past few months, and heres what Ive found.RelatedOppo Find X8 Pro, powered by the Dimensity 9400 Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIts worth mentioning that theres more to a smartphone than just its processor. Each phone maker runs a suite of software that directly affects the performance and optimization of each device, and the specific choices around battery technology, RAM and storage amount, and even the display drivers can all have a marked impact on the overall performance.With that in mind, how can we fairly compare these two devices? At first, I started testing with the Realme GT7 Pro and the Oppo Find X8 Pro, but last month, a new opportunity presented itself for a much fairer comparison. In particular, Oppos sister company, OnePlus, seeded the OnePlus 13 ahead of its global launch this week which has nearly identical specs to the Find X8 Pro. Theres just one key difference in the internals: its running the Snapdragon 8 Elite.With that in mind, lets get stuck into this comparison. First, heres how the specs of the Find X8 Pro and OnePlus 13 compare. While there are other variants, these are the specs of the models we tested.OnePlus 13Oppo Find X8 ProDisplay6.82-inch, LTPO AMOLED120Hz, Dolby Vision800 nits (typ), 1600 nits (high brightness), 4,500 nits (peak)6.78-inch, LTPO AMOLED120Hz, Dolby Vision800 nits (typ), 1600 nits (high brightness), 4,500 nits (peak)ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite16GB RAM, 512GB ROMMediaTek Dimensity 940016GB RAM, 512GB ROMCamera50MP (wide), f/1.6, OIS50MP (ultrawide), f/2.0, OIS50MP (telephoto), f/2.6, OIS, 3x optical zoom50MP (wide), f/1.6, OIS50MP (ultrawide), f/2.0, OIS50MP (telephoto), f/2.6, OIS, 3x optical zoom50MP (telephoto), f/4.3, OIS, 6x optical zoomBattery6,000mAhSilicon/Carbide5,910mAhSilicon/CarbideMax Charging100W wired50W wireless100W wired50W wirelessDimensions162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5-8.9 mm162.3 x 76.7 x 8.2 mmWeight210-213 grams215 gramsBoth feature similar battery sizes and the same battery technology as well as the same amount of RAM (in the models I tested), the same connectivity standards, very similar software experiences, and even the same top-line charging speeds. All of this serves to prove that neither of these processors prevents companies from offering the best charging speeds, the highest RAM, or a streamlined user experience.To fairly test this, Ive split this into three parts: CPU and GPU graphics benchmarks, a battery benchmark, and my own real-world experiences with both phones. Many companies are known for their willingness to optimize for known benchmark apps, so the latter in particular will help pair the benchmarks with my experiences using both phones.The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIve picked two well-known benchmarks for this comparison: 3DMark, and GeekBench as these are the benchmarks we use for all performance testing at Digital Trends. Both are well-known and respected and test different aspects of each device.Where possible, Ive also included additional results on devices running both the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the Dimensity 9400, as tested by myself and my colleagues. Its worth noting that most of these phones also have similar specs, but have differences in the rest of the specs package. Theyre included for reference, but Im primarily basing my comparison on the OnePlus 13 and Find X8 Pro.For GeekBench, I ran the CPU and GPU tests, resulting in three scores in total for each device.TestCPU SingleCPU MultiGPUOnePlus 13 (Snapdragon 8 Elite)3107921318065Oppo Find X8 Pro (Dimensity 9400)2753810220522Realme GT7 Pro(Snapdragon 8 Elite)3112942519065ROG Phone 9 Pro(Snapdragon 8 Elite)3073985519403Oppo Find X8(Dimensity 9400)2839799120349When I ran these tests on the Find X8 Pro, the results surprised me for one reason: the GPU test. In particular, the GPU has traditionally been the weakest part of the MediaTek experience, but this year, the GPU performance is consistently better than the Snapdragon 8 Elite.In the Geekbench 6 test, the Immortalis-G925 GPU outperforms the Adreno 830 in the Snapdragon 8 Elite. However, this is just one test; does this also continue into our next test, on 3D Mark? This test is split into two parts: we tested the GPU in each device on the Solar Bay test but also ran the Solar Bay Stress Test to test the battery life under heavy performance needs.TestSolar BayOnePlus 13 (Snapdragon 8 Elite)11714Oppo Find X8 Pro (Dimensity 9400)11560Realme GT7 Pro(Snapdragon 8 Elite)11200Here the differences between the two devices are far less, and its clear that they offer virtually identical graphical performance. Factors like heat and background tasks also make a difference and can generate different results with each test, but for the most part, the graphical performance seems to be at least equal.Gaming on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsAlongside graphical performance, battery life is equally important. If youre a gamer, how long can you game without needing to recharge? If you are going away for the weekend, how long will your phone last?Some devices running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 last year the predecessor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite suffered from poorer battery life than expected, so does the Snapdragon 8 Elite deliver? Yes, this is a highly subjective question, but we do have some interesting data points that we can turn to.Our battery test uses the Solar Bay Stress Test, which runs a longer version of the Solar Bay test for twenty minutes and is designed to show how a device will perform over extended periods of ray-traced gaming. Alongside the score produced, we also log the battery drain to understand the overall impact of 20 minutes of resource-intensive gaming on your battery life.TestSolar Bay Stress TestBattery DrainOnePlus 13 (Snapdragon 8 Elite)1177417%Oppo Find X8 Pro (Dimensity 9400)110519%ROG Phone 9 Pro(Snapdragon 8 Elite)1000913%Galaxy S24 Ultra(Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)830810%This test provides some interesting results, many of which Ive experienced in the real world as well. First, the delta in the Snapdragon 8 Elite testing results suggests big differences in gaming performance between phone makers. Second, it also proves both of these processors are nearly identical in overall graphics performance.Third, the results from last years Galaxy S24 Ultra which runs the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also show a major improvement in the graphics performance year-over-year, but also an increase in the battery needed. This, in particular, is troubling, especially considering the Dimensity 9400 has similar gaming performance, but significantly less battery drain, but well have to see whether this continues as more devices are launched with both chipsets.Of course, it would be easy to claim that this is due to the phone maker and their optimizations, but the chasm between the battery drain on the OnePlus 13 and the Oppo Find X8 Pro the latter having a 90mAh smaller battery as well suggests that this is related to the power requirements of the chipset. This makes sense, especially considering that the Snapdragon 8 Elite uses the same Oryon CPU found in the Snapdragon X Elite, which powers many of my favorite Windows PCs.The OnePlus 13, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsSo far, Ive found that CPU and GPU performance is mostly equal on both devices, but hardware-based ray-tracing when gaming has more battery drain on the Snapdragon 8 Elite than the Dimensity 9400, but do these differences matter in day-to-day usage?The answer is that they dont, for the most part. However, my own experiences back up these findings, while also providing additional data points that are worth mentioning.First, the performance differences are nominal between both processors. Both are rapid and have presented no signs of slowdown and while Ive had a few performance glitches with both devices, these have been one-offs. When using comparative specs and hardware, these are virtually identical.Gaming on the OnePlus 13 Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsSecond, when gaming, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is slightly smoother than the Dimensity 9400, but at the cost of extra battery drain. Playing PUBG Mobile for 30 minutes on both devices resulted in a 23% drain on the OnePlus 13, while the Oppo Find X8 Pro drained just 13%. Its not quite half, but the performance-to-battery drain ratio is significantly better on the Dimensity 9400.Lastly, in day-to-day usage, Ive found that the Dimensity 9400 offers slightly better battery life than the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The OnePlus 13 has a 90mAh larger battery, but the Oppo Find X8 Pro has a slightly smaller display (6.78 inches vs 6.82). Anecdotally, during my regular day-to-day usage, the Find X8 Pro lasts roughly 30 minutes longer than the OnePlus 13.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsMy big takeaway from this test is just how similar both processors are. For many years, a device running the latest MediaTek processor would sometimes be considered inferior to a device running the latest Snapdragon processor, but this year is different. The MediaTek Dimensity 9400 is equal to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, especially in CPU and GPU performance.Of course, theres more to processors than just CPU and GPU performance, and while this test has only considered those tests, theres also AI, camera, and more. Weve already broken down the differences between the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400 including those sections, and I have more comparisons planned to focus on these areas as well.For now, theres little difference between these two processors. If I had to pick one processor, I would lean towards the Dimensity 9400, simply because I value battery life over most other factors. However, it remains to be seen whether the other parts of the processor are equally as impressive as the Dimensity 9400s CPU and GPU performance.Editors Recommendations