Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIts ready for the takingPlenty of precedent out thereApple has the stack readyApples ambitions in the immersive world of augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) are off to a rough start. The $3,500 Vision Pro failed to kick off a market storm. Then came reports of Apple cancelling its AR smart glasses project.The company, however, is not done yet. As per Bloomberg, Apple is bringing its suite of AI tools called Apple Intelligence to the visionOS platform. That means AI tricks such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground are coming to the headset.Recommended VideosThose arent really exciting upgrades for the Vision Pro, especially considering its steep price tag and the kind of advanced tech stack it has to offer. You arent buying a $3,500 AR/VR headset to fix grammar, or whip up AI generated stickers, after all. What Apple should instead focus on, is the healthcare and the medical science segment. Thats a niche where it can find more serious takers for a device like the Vision Pro, than an average buyer interested in AR or VR headset for recreational tasks like gaming or watching immersive videos.NAKAMIRThe domain of medical science is no stranger to AR and VR advancements, and specifically, their great potential in a scientist or healthcare professionals day to day activities. This is what experts at Stanford University have to say about the potential of AR/V tech:In future, VR and AR displays may be worn by patients during part of telehealth visits to measure vital signs and other health metrics for the physician, then add data automatically to the electronic health record with the patients permission.They also mention how emergency medical technicians (EMT) can assess a medical situation and get apt instructions, when they see and relay the patients condition directly to an expert physician via a headset or smart glasses.For example, The NARA (Nakamir Augmented Reality Assistant) combines AI and AR on a Microsoft HoloLens 2 for assisting workers across different fields, including healthcare. In another proven scenario, a mixed reality headset or AR glasses can be used to guide a person about emergency life-saving steps.HeruExperts also propose that such hardware should be included in the Automatic external defibrillators (AED) kits, so that instructions on usage and other such protocols can be provided in a more immersive fashion during emergency situations.The folks over at Heru are using headsets to offer optometry services, such as conducting at home vision tests. The test is taken at home and the relevant data is transmitted to the healthcare experts, who can subsequently lay out the plans for further assistance based on the results.In the realm of mental health and wellness, VR gear can also help with mindfulness for stress reduction in PTSD, focusing attention for ADHD, reinforcing skills taught in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or memory and cognitive training for neurodegenerative diseases.VA ImmersiveA pilot study conducted by the Strategic Initiatives Lab at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that VR-driven experiences can help with alleviating loneliness, ease anxiety, and assist with pain and stress, among other related mental health issues in veterans. The government agency also offers a detailed Introductory Guide to Immersive Technology material (PDF) to assist with providing the right XR-driven care to veterans.Professors Kim Bullock and Jeremy Bailenson at Stanford recently detailed how Virtual reality-assisted physical therapy and mirror visual feedback (MVF) can help children living with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that seriously hinders body motion and posture.Their findings have been published in the American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. A company named XRHealth offers a wide range of pain management, cognitive training, neuro rehabilitation, and mindfulness care to patients, delivered via VR headsets and FDA-registered therapeutic apps.The folks over at NYU Langone Health are deploying AR and VR tech to create immersive 3D anatomy modules that provide a photorealistic experience to medical students, allowing them to learn anatomical structures in detail.NYU Langone HealthResearchers at the Miami Miller School of Medicine recently tested how VR headsets can Alleviate the significant stress experienced during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.The possibilities of deploying the Vision Pro in healthcare are endless, as the field continues to expand and research picks up pace. Experts suggest that sensors, such as those capable of measuring electroencephalography (EEG) can be integrated in XR hardware to help provide care to Alzheimers patients.Apple already makes a wide range of devices that are equipped with biosensors that can record a wide set of biomarkers. They can prove to be of great help to doctors at assessing a patients health history, such as heart rate activity and sleep patterns. For example, the Apple Watch can measure oxygen saturation levels, detect irregular heart rate rhythm, sense temperature deviations, and a lot more.The Beats PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds can measure heart rate. All this biosensing data is tied to the Apple Health platform, which is available across a wide range of devices. Pushing the Vision Pro into that ecosystem more deeply wont be an issue for Apple.Christine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsThe many possibilities for using VR headsets and AR glasses in health care at home provide strong reasons for designing HMDs to measure bio-signals, offer secure telemedicine video streaming, and deliver immersive therapies, writes Angela McIntyre, Executive Director of the Stanford Wearable Electronics (eWEAR) Initiative at Stanford University.Yes, there are cybersecurity and privacy risks. But if there is one company that has done an acceptable job of safeguarding user privacy in the domain of tech, it is Apple. Moreover, the company wont exactly be walking into an uncharted territory if it pushed the Vision Pro as a health-centric product.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already granted De Novo request or Premarket Approval via a 510(k) clearance to a wide range of AR/VR gear in the field of medicine. As of September 2024, the agency had authorized 69 medical devices that rely on AR and VR tech for diagnostic, treatment, telemedicine, virtual care, and therapeutic purposes.Christine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsOn the other end of the equation, Apple already works with a wide pool of scientific experts and educational institutions. For its latest Health Study, the company tapped experts at the Harvard Medical School to assess how data gathered from iPhones and wearable devices can further scientific research.The Vision Pro has all the computing power at its disposal, and one of the most advanced AR/VR display tech the industry has to offer. All it needs is to make a solid push into a domain where the benefits of AR and VR have a proven track record, alongside plenty of uptake by experts.It would make sense for a $3,500 headset to find such medical utility, rather than Apple selling a flashy dream of virtual computing that can already be performed just fine with a Mac and pair of less-bulky XR glasses on a much lower budget.Editors Recommendations

Don Pettits been snapping away in orbit again. This time, the NASA astronaut has captured a stunning image of the Milky Way from the International Space Station (ISS) . It also features Earth and city lights some 250 miles below the orbital outpost.Starry starry night from an orbital palette pic.twitter.com/YpFVIEMzO9 Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) February 15, 2025Sharing it on social media on Sunday, the epic image quickly picked up a lot of likes and positive comments.Recommended VideosOne contributor wrote: If I saw this in person Id never want to return to Earth. Simply stunning, while another described it as cosmic strokes on a celestial canvas.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe image follows a similarly striking shot (below) posted by Pettit last week, captured from inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule currently docked at the space station.Star field from @Space_Station. Taken from the SpaceX Crew 9 Dragon vehicle showing the Southern Cross region using my homemade star tracker. Big thanks to @BabakTafreshi for doing the image processing I cant do on orbit. pic.twitter.com/Tx4SmHXUXk Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) February 12, 2025The star tracker that Pettit refers to is a device that he co-designed and built to capture long-exposure, blur-free photographs of stars. The device works by rotating the camera at the same rate as the stations orbit once every 90 minutes compensating for the stations motion to enable sharp photos of distant stars.Since arriving at the ISS in September last year, Pettit has been showing off his photography skills by posting a slew of impressive images of Earth and beyond.One of his most stunning efforts is of rivers in the Amazon Basin, which he described as looking like flowing silver snakes. He also captured the recent maiden launch of Blue Origins New Glenn rocket in a somewhat surreal image, and photographed a Crew Dragon capsule as it returned to Earth at high speed at the end of the historic Polaris Dawn mission.Pettit recently took part in a Q&A session from the ISS in which he talked about what its like to take photos of Earth from inside the space-based facility, while he has also performed the coolest camera lens swap youll ever see thanks to microgravity.Editors Recommendations

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has flown straight into the record books after launching and landing a record 26 times.Booster 1067 launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Saturday, delivering 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit. About eight minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX shared footage of the booster completing the record-setting 26th flight.Recommended VideosFalcon 9 lands on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, completing the first 26th launch and landing of an orbital class rocket pic.twitter.com/x18IxIGtNk SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 15, 2025Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe booster previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, O3B mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Marah Putih 2, Galileo L13, Koreasat-6A, and now 15 Starlink missions. Having landed safely on the droneship, the booster can now be refurbished and flown again.SpaceX has been consistently pushing the boundaries of rocket reusability, with multiple Falcon 9 boosters now having completed more than 10 flights. The system, refined by SpaceX over the last decade, drastically cuts the cost of spaceflight as it eliminates the need to build a new booster for each mission.In a more ambitious move, SpaceX is now developing the mighty Starship rocket with a view to reusing both the upper-stage Starship spacecraft and the first-stage Super Heavy booster.To date, SpaceX has performed seven test flights of the Starship, which is the most powerful rocket ever to fly. Taking what its learned from the Falcon 9 system, engineers have designed a similar descent technique to bring home the Super Heavy soon after its deployed the Starship to orbit. But whereas the Falcon 9 touches down on a droneship or on the ground, the Super Heavy is secured by two mechanical arms on the launch tower before it touches the ground. Its a spectacular feat that has to be seen to be believed.The Starship spacecraft is also designed to land after flight, whether back on Earth or on another celestial body, with SpaceX aiming to test the procedure in an upcoming flight.NASA and SpaceX are planning to use the Starship for crew and cargo missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond, with a modified version of the spacecraft set to transport two NASA astronauts to the lunar surface in the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for 2027.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsWhy cases are a problem?ESR has a solution on a budgetOh, there is moreCamera Control was the standout hardware innovation on the iPhone 16 Pro. Adding a two-stage shutter button that lets users control everything from exposure and depth to switching lenses and photographic styles was a fantastic convenience.I consider it a clever extra feature on the iPhone 16 that Ill enjoy using when the time is right, Digital Trends veteran Andy Boxall wrote in a fantastic explainer for the Camera Control. It does a lot more than just mimic the two-stage shutter on a DSLR, eclipsing them with a clever amalgamation of smartphone software.Recommended VideosHowever, a protective case quickly buries a chunk of its appeal. And trust me. You dont want to carry your iPhone 16 Pro without a protective case. I used to live the no-case life, but the phone is not as resilient as you think, and I can say that after scuffing and roughing up my iPhone 15 Pro into a pretty bad shape despite never dropping it.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThankfully, ESR makes a fantastic case that not only protects the iPhone 16 Pro, but also offers a clever solution to Camera Control concerns and adds a dash of kickstand versatility, as well. The best part? It costs only $25.RelatedYou see, the Camera Control is a tap and swipe-sensitive surface with a force sensor underneath and a capacitive layer, as well. The overall system responds to tap, press, hold, and swipe gestures. To get the best out of that, your shutter-happy index finger ideally needs to rest comfortably on the buttons sapphire crystal surface for it to comfortably register the user input.The recessed cutout for the Camera Control on a Spigen case. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe moment you put on a case, three problems raise their head. The ergonomics of comfortably using the Camera Control button take a cumbersome dip. The button is left exposed to the forces of nature. The cutout left for the button makes the cases look ugly.The thicker the case, the more difficult it becomes to operate the Camera Control. I recently bought myself one of those hulking, metallic cases to protect a phone that cost me roughly $1,700 from my legendarily clumsy hands and forgetful manners. Well, the deep cutout on the metallic sides turned using the Camera Control into a frustrating chore.You can tap on the button, but swipe gestures are impossible to execute across the capacitive surface. I have smaller-than-average hands and thin fingers, so I could at least get my fingertip to rest fully on the buttons surface. For folks with thicker fingers, its not easy. And as the thickness of a case increases, it becomes even more difficult to interact.Some cases offer a sloping cutout on either end of the Camera Control button, which makes it a tad easier to execute swipe gestures. However, on protective cases with a straight cutout, or those that surround the button fully, you are in for some functional irritations.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsStill think you can go commando? Heres one unfortunate users account on Reddit, whose iPhone 16 Pro took a single drop and ended up with a shattered Camera Control button despite using a case with a button guard.There are two kinds of smartphone buyers out there. The first class intends to hold on to their phone for at least a few years and spends well on a rough case without thinking twice about how it looks. The other category seeks a solution that doesnt condemn their phones sleek looks to hell. And if it doesnt cost a bomb, even better.If you are looking for a case that doesnt leave the Camera Control button unprotected, the price you pay is going to be high. Apple will have you spend a minimum of $50 for that convenience, and so will partner brands such as Otterbox and Beats hawking their ware on the Apple Store. Options from the likes of Spigen cost even more.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsEnter ESR with its HaloLock Classic Hybrid case. This case offers it all, at half the asking price of what Apple asks, even lower compared to a few other brands out there. What you get with this clear case is a design that is ahem similar to Apples own, but with a crucial distinction.Now, if you havent come across ESRs gear before, well, they balance quality and affordability pretty well. Ive been using their iPad keyboard cases and multi-device wireless chargers for a while now, and really love their solid build as well as longevity. This iPhone 16 series case is no different.The real gem, however, is the dedicated Camera Control button that sits almost flush with the case surface. I think they have used virtually the same stack and the looks of every other third-party brand that is making cases with a white camera control button.1 of 3Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Competitive inspiration aside, what matters here is the experience. And on this crucial parameter, ESR doesnt disappoint. Single and double-tap gestures work just fine, and so do the long presses. I was a tad skeptical about the swipe gestures, but they worked flawlessly, as well.In roughly a weeks worth of testing, I had no issues launching the camera from the Lock Screen and digging into the Camera Control shenanigans. It doesnt feel flimsy, and theres no undue sideways movement to it. Everything feels well put together, and so does the rest of the package.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsESR says the Camera Control cover has a triple-layer design. Theres an impact-resistant 9H tempered glass layer on the top, which is claimed to handle up to 66 lb point pressure and 256 lb surface pressure.Underneath is a polycarbonate frame that blocks dust. Then we have a PCB core that binds a six-element capacitive layer block to register the finger gestures. The sum total is a smooth experience of interacting with the Camera Control button without having to worry about functional reliability or protecting the real thing underneath.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThere are a few additional niceties that the ESR HaloLock Classic Hybrid case offers, which are an absolute necessity for any iPhone user. First, there is MagSafe support. The magnetic ring underneath is said to offer 1,500 g of holding force.In my experience, I didnt run into any troubles with perching my iPhone 16 Pro atop wireless charging stands or Apples MagSafe puck. Power transfer is unobstructed, and I didnt run into any undue heating.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsBut a case is nothing without its resilience charms. This one doesnt disappoint. There are reinforced shock-absorbing Air Guard corners that can withstand drops from up to a height of 11 feet, while the overall fit is also reassuringly snug. ESR is claiming MIL-STD-810 military-grade protection for this case.I couldnt independently verify the height testing, but an unexpected drop from my jeans pocket a few days ago didnt leave any scars on my pricey as heck phone. A close call with a marble floor, but, phew!Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsI have used ESRs protective cases on a variety of devices, and it has been a mainstay for my tenth-gen iPad. So far, I havent had any long-term complaints about their durability, and I expect the iPhone 16 Pro case to deliver a similar output.I have also grown quite fond of the ingenious camera island protection ring, which also doubles as. nifty kickstand. Made out of zinc alloy material, this stand can prop the iPhone 16 Pro in portrait as well as landscape orientation.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsWhile that is convenient in itself, it also keeps the camera lenses from surface contact, avoiding scratches as well as impact-related damage. However, the metallic surface gets scuffed, so theres that aesthetic caveat. I would, however, take damage to a $25 case rather than spending hundreds of dollars to fix a cracked lens.Overall, the ESR HaloLock Classic Hybrid Case for the iPhone 16 Pro (and its Max sibling) is an easy recommendation. It delivers practical benefits with a standout functional perk, all tied to a $25 sticker price. Go, get it!The ESR HaloLock Classic Hybrid Case is now available, with a 10% discount for Digital Trends readers using the code ESRIP16NEW on Amazon.Editors Recommendations

Ever since the 27-inch iMac was discontinued back in 2022, Apple hasnt said anything about plans to revive it, or launch a successor. Similar is the fate of the iMac Pro, which got the discontinuation treatment in 2022, and has since remained a mystery.But it seems plans for a large-screen all-in-one (AIO) desktop arent dead at Apple. In the latest edition of his PowerOn newsletter, Bloombergs Mark Gurman says the company might eventually turn its attention to delivering a super-sized desktop.Recommended VideosThe company remains interested in the professional market, though, and its planning new Mac Pro and Mac Studio models. Apple also will probably eventually get around to offering a larger-screen iMac, says the report. When Apple first overhauled the iMac design language with the arrival of its M1 refresh, there were hopes that a variant with larger panel might eventually be launched to complement the 24-inch version. Unfortunately, those hopes and industry murmurs never took shape.Caleb Denison / Digital TrendsSo, when can we expect a return to the 27inch iMac? Or something even more grandiose in terms of screen real estate? Not anytime soon, it seems. The company is reportedly busy with a long-overdue refresh for the Mac Studio Display, which might hit the shelves next year.As far as plans for a higher-end display go, the company is reportedly in no rush to launch a successorto the ProDisplay XDR. Priced at $5,000, that product was never expected to become a mainstream hit, so a refresh isnt imminent, even though it has been on the market since 2019.But when it comes to a larger iMac making a potential return, that remains an enigma. Back in 2023, TFI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, claimed that Apple was prepping a 32-inch iMac upgrade for release at some point in 2024 or 2025. That has yet to happen.The updated model was supposed to get a mini-LED display upgrade, similar to the current-gen MacBook Pro laptops. Will Apple deliver a 27-inch or 32-inch iMac this year? So far, the chatter around such a machine has been rather modest, or vague.Apples upcoming slate of computing hardware includes an imminent refresh of the MacBook Air, powered by the M4 silicon. Later this year, the transition to M5 silicon will begin, starting with the MacBook Pro. The company is expected to launch updated Mac Pro Mac Studio models, as well, followed by an M5-powered iPad Pro next year.Editors Recommendations

Lets face it: streaming services are getting expensive. While you may still subscribe to many of them since the combined cost remains cheaper than a linear subscription, the rising prices might have led you to pare down the selection a bit. There are some great free streaming services, like Tubi, to augment your offerings. Tubi is a free ad-supported streaming (FAST) service that provides completely free access to content. Youll have to watch ads, however, and the selection of movies is constantly changing.Thats where we come in. Here, we round up the best movies on Tubi right now each month so you can always stay on top of not only whats available but also whats actually worth watching. This month, for example, youll find some recent and classic blockbusters, including DuneandDirty Dancing, along with some hidden gems, like Mike MyersSo I Married an Axe Murderer.Recommended VideosNeed more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.RelatedEditors Recommendations

In 2022, Mark Gurman warned that Apple was considering putting advertisements in Apple Maps (and in other areas of the iPhone), but that ultimately didnt happen. Now it looks like Apple is revisiting the idea, according to Gurmans most recent Power On! newsletter.Apple already shows ads in the Apple News and Stocks app, and Gurman says Apple is giving this notion more thought. The company said its exploring potential monetization avenues, but there are no concrete plans or a timeline yet.Recommended VideosIn theory, businesses could pay to appear higher in search results or to make their icons appear larger on the map itself. It also opens the door for Apple to offer ad-free services for an additional fee, or perhaps roll that benefit into its existing Apple One subscription.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsPlacing specific businesses higher in Apple Maps raises the question of how this decision would benefit users. The system would likely work similar to the way Googles ad results. The business would likely show a tag marking it as a sponsored advertisement, with the more relevant search results lower on the page. However, if Apple chooses to use a more traditional ad system, it risks alienating users who have enjoyed an ad-free experience until now.Please enable Javascript to view this contentIn a situation like this, ad blockers wouldnt work. Tools like uBlock and others restrict outside content from being shown on the page, but an ad setup like the one Apple proposes would deliver ads from the same source as its normal content. This is the same way ads work for certain streaming services, and it makes it difficult for an ad blocker to do its job.If Apple does implement this plan, it wont be for some time yet. Gurman says no active engineering work is being done, so it would likely be several months, if not a year, before the ads come to fruition.Editors Recommendations

In a political landscape that is fully intent on otherizing the Black experience, its more important than ever to listen to Black voices and experience Black stories. Netflixs Black Stories collection makes celebrating Black cinema a bit easier. However, like most of the platforms categories, its a crowded collection, and you only have so much time to watch a movie. We curate this list every month to help you find the best Black movies on Netflix.This month is a very small update, with just the cult hitQueen & Slim joining the list, but there are plenty more good existing options. Read onfor the full list of the best Black movies on Netflix right now.Recommended VideosNeed more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.Recently added to NetflixQueen & Slimr2019Related

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsChoose the best picture modeBrightness and black levelsContrastTint and saturationImage modes are a nuisanceAnd what about sound?So youve grabbed yourself a brand new TV (be it a sweet OLED, QLED or the best-of-both QD-OLED)in preparation for March Madness, but you want to make sure its all set and ready for some hot hoops action.Whether youre screaming at the top of your lungs for Duke, UNC, Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, South Carolina, or any of the dozens of other schools battling it out on the hardwood mens or womens NCAA basketball is one of the most watched sporting events in the world (and the 2024 womens championship game was the most-watched womens college basketball game ever!).Recommended VideosIf youre watching the madness unfold on your TV, it probably isnt optimized for sports if most of your watching is of the movie or TV show variety. But dont sweat it, a few quick tweaks can transform your viewing experience, making every buzzer-beater look its best. To that end, we have a few must-have tweaks to get you there.RelatedChoose the best picture modeLG / LGMost TVs have presets you can choose out of the box, with names like Vivid, Cinema, Movie, and, of course, Sports. Our first note of advice is to avoid the Sports mode, which we find puts too much emphasis on increasing brightness, contrast, and color saturation, often resulting in a blown-out image especially those brilliant school colors! Vivid and Dynamic modes are just as guilty.Instead, we suggest using your TVs Cinema, Movie, or Natural picture modes as they tend to offer the most natural-looking picture that will be great for your NCAA action. If your TV has a Filmmaker mode, give that a whirl, too.You want to be able to see everything, even when the picture is ultra bright or dark and shadowy. To set your TV up to deliver the best of both ends of the spectrum, we recommend using a scene from a movie or show that is really dark, like a scene from a Batman movie or a horror film, and hit pause.Now, access your TVs brightness settings and increase it until you can see everything lurking in the shadows expose that Caped Crusader or serial killer hiding in the closet. Then, slowly bring the brightness back down until the blacks are rich dark, while maintaining those subtle details. The moment they start to disappear, stop. Youve nailed it. Its a balance, and you may have your own preferences, but thatd what this is all about dialling it in for you.Also known as white levels, contrast is what controls the difference between the darks and brights. And similar to what you did with the brightness, scan your favorite movies and shows, and find a scene with lots of white the bright arena lights, a players white jersey, even the refs crisp white shirt and pause it.Lower the contrast until you can see the details clearly the glare off the court, the texture of the jerseys, the wrinkles on the refs face. Then, increase it as high as you can without losing those details. If they disappear, back it off a bit and thats your sweet spot.Most TVs have a pretty good balance of tint and color saturation, so first have a look at yours and you might just find that theyre OK as they are for watching basketball. In our experience, though, its well worth playing around a little, and hey, if you get too deep and you dont like it, just reset it to the default no travelling, no foul.If you are going to play around, find a close-up of a players face, pause it, and adjust the tint until the skin tones look natural. Whether its a mens or womens game, the principle is the same. Do the same with saturation youre looking for natural-looking skin tones.Finally, ditch those extra image modes. Motion smoothing, noise reduction, image enhancement they all sound good, but theyre usually terrible. Blurry details, weird artifacts, the dreaded soap opera effect (aka motion smoothing) theyll ruin your picture. Just turn them all off.Zeke Jones / Digital TrendsLets be honest, your TV speakers arent exactly courtside seats and you should probably just not use them unless you have to. A soundbar is a fantastic upgrade, and if you already have a proper audio setup with an AV receiver and a great pair of speakers, we suggest play around with the presets.For example, maybe the sports mode on your receiver is actually good for sports, and most modern AV receivers have a long list of additional presets like Movie, Concert, and more that might surprise you. What youre looking for in the end is clarity: you dont just want to hear the roar of the crowd drowning out the commentators or the players on the court. But the only way to dial this in to what you prefer is trial and error. The next time you put a game on (and it doesnt specifically have to be basketball any sport with a crowd will do), flip through the audio modes and find what works. Maybe throw on a rerun of last years thrilling NCAA womens final to really put your setup to the test with a loud crowd.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of Contents25. Rome (2005-2007)24. Carnivle (2003-2005)23. Big Little Lies (2017-Present)22. Mare of Easttown (2021)21. Silicon Valley (2014-2019)20. Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996)19. True Detective (2014-Present)18. Oz (1997-2003)17. Westworld (2016-2022)16. The Leftovers (2014-2017)15. Chernobyl (2019)14. Sex and the City (1998-2004)13. Six Feet Under (2001-2005)12. Veep (2012-2019)11. The Last of Us (2023-Present)10. Watchmen (2019)9. Succession (2018-2023)8. The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)7. Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)6. Band of Brothers (2001)5. Deadwood (2004-2006)4. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)3. The Wire (2002-2008)2. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)1. The Sopranos (1999-2007)Long before Max came along and diluted the quality of what it meant to be an HBO original series, this premium cable network set the gold standard for television shows. Its not TV, its HBO was both a tagline and a mark of quality. Its not an exaggeration to say that HBO has had some of the greatest TV shows ever made, many of which helped transform the medium as we know it.To celebrate over four decades of HBO originals, were taking an extended look at the 25 best HBO shows ever while counting down to No. 1 on the list. But longtime HBO subscribers should have a pretty good idea about which series got the top spot.Recommended VideosHBORome was a historical drama that felt like a precursor for HBOs Game of Thrones. The series was set late in the life of Julius Caesar (Ciarn Hinds), and the show primarily followed two of the soldiers under his command: Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson).RelatedVorenus and Pullo dont always like each other, but theyre bound by the bonds of brotherhood through their shared experiences. The series unfolds from their perspective as they witness the beginning and ending of Caesars reign, and the civil war that follows. Despite its relatively short two-season run, Rome still has a satisfying ending.Watch Rome on Max.HBOHBO didnt venture into much fantasy or horror during the early part of the 21st century, but Carnivle was an exception. The series was set in 1934 during the Great Depression, as a young man with healing powers named Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) joined a traveling carnival of freaks and oddities. Meanwhile, a Methodist preacher, Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown), was haunted by dark visions.While the individuals in the carnival were interesting characters, the show was ultimately about the struggle between Ben and Brother Justin, both of whom were avatars for greater powers of light and darkness, respectively. Brother Justin was incredibly compelling as a man who desperately didnt want to become the storys villain. And yet a showdown between Ben and Justin was inevitable, even though it took the show a full two seasons to get there.Carnivleended prematurely just as the overall story was beginning to take shape. Yet for the two seasons it ran, it was among the best shows on TV.Watch Carnivle on Max.HBOLike several other HBO originals, Big Little Lies is loaded with a cast that could put most movies to shame. That powerhouse lineup includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zo Kravitz, Laura Dern, Adam Scott, and Alexander Skarsgrd.There is a murder at the heart of this series, but Big Little Lies makes the audience wait before revealing both the victim and the killer. But nobody has a bigger motive than Celeste Wright (Kidman), a woman who is viciously abused by her husband, Perry (Skarsgrd). Thats something that Celeste tries to hide from her friends, and its not the only secret lurking beneath the surface of this town.Watch Big Little Lies on Max.HBOKate Winslet gives a commanding and Emmy-winning performance in Mare of Easttown as Detective Sergeant Marianne Mare Sheehan. And when the miniseries starts, Mares life is in shambles. Her marriage is over, her son has committed suicide, and even Mare is questioning her skills as a detective after being unable to solve a missing persons case for over a year.The murder of a teenage mother, Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny), gives Mare a renewed urgency to solve the crime. It also gives her a new partner, Detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters). Regardless of her past mistakes, Mare still has a chance to finish this case.Watch Mare of Easttown on Max.HBOOffice Spaces Mike Judge took on tech startup companies in his HBO comedy series, Silicon Valley, and its become a modern classic comedy. Thomas Middleditch stars as Richard Hendricks, a programmer who launches his own company, Pied Piper, with Bertram Gilfoyle (Martin Starr), Dinesh Chugtai (Kumail Nanjiani), and others in a bid to get independence.The lesson that Richard learns the hard way is that even his small company needs a continuous flow of money. Thats why Richard has to go to Erlich Bachman (T.J. Miller) for funding, a decision that the former comes to regret. Theres more than one way to the top in Silicon Valley, but Richard and his friends are almost always on the verge of losing everything theyve worked for.Watch Silicon Valley on Max.Tales from the Crypt HoldingsIn the early 1990s, the Cryptkeeper ruled on HBO, and Tales from the Crypt was the networks most prominent original series. The show was based on an EC Comics horror title from the 50s, and each episode of this anthology series was introduced by the Cryptkeeper, as voiced by John Kassir.Tales from the Crypt was like The Twilight Zone without the morality tales, and it frequently attracted big-name guest stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brad Pitt, Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, Michael J. Fox, Tom Hanks, and more. This show hasnt been on HBO for a long time, but its legacy deserves to be remembered.Tales from the Crypt is not available to stream.HBOThe first season of True Detectivewas so masterfully executed that it could have landed on this list by itself. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson gave powerhouse performances as Detectives Rustin Rust Cohle and Martin Marty Hart, respectively. Nic Pizzolattos thrilling story skirted on the edge of an occult mystery, while director Cary Joji Fukunaga gave the show cinematic visuals.Then Pizzolatto had to start again from scratch in season 2 without his stars or Fukunaga, and it just wasnt the same show. True Detective has rebounded a bit with seasons 3 and 4, both of which featured all-new casts and storylines. Its still worthy of a place on this list; its just not going to get much higher.Watch True Detective on Max.HBOIf you were expecting Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road, youve come to the wrong Oz. This version of Oz is no fantasy, and it was HBOs breakout drama before The Sopranos. This series probably didnt cross over to become a larger mainstream hit because of its ruthlessness within the prison.The only connection between the fantasy land of Oz and Oswald State Correctional Facility is the Emerald City wing, which is an ongoing experiment run by Warden Leo Glynn (Ernie Hudson) thats meant to rehabilitate its prisoners. Its not a spoiler to say that the Warden will be disappointed. But with a supporting cast that includes Harold Perrineau, J. K. Simmons, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Oz has secured its place on this list. Its just not for the faint of heart.Watch Oz on Max.HBO / HBOFallouts Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy completely reinvented Michael Crichtons Westworld for HBO, and the results were so promising in season 1 that it seemed like this series would be the next Game of Thrones. In the near future, Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) created android hosts who were so convincingly human that its almost impossible to tell that theyre machines.Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) and Maeve Millay (Thandiwe Newton) dont initially realize that theyre hosts, but their rival rebellions against the humans send Westworld and its affiliated parks into chaos. Meanwhile, the Man in Black (Ed Harris) searches Westworld for clues to solve a larger puzzle. Viewership started to fall off after the answers were revealed in season 1, and the series ended short of an actual conclusion in season 4.It has to be said that Westworlds removal from Max for tax purposes is shameful. And now, Westworld isnt even available to stream on any FAST services. For a show that ranks among HBOs best, thats an unforgivable corporate sin by Warner Bros. Discovery.Rent or buy Westworld on Prime Video.HBODamon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta were upfront about their intent to never definitively answer why 2% of the worlds population simply vanished in The Leftovers. They kept their word, and the show wasnt really about those who had left. Instead, it was about the broken people they left behind, none more so than Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and Nora Durst (Carrie Coon).Everyones sanity was affected by the Sudden Departure, but Kevin saw visions of the dead, and he apparently survived dying on more than one occasion while going on a metaphysical journey through the afterlife to understand what he really wanted. Nora lost her family to the departure, and her self-destructive tendencies almost cost her the bond she made with Kevin as well. One of the most satisfying things about this show is the way that these two broken people complete each other. Who needs answers when you have that human connection?Watch The Leftovers on Max.HBOChernobyl is a dramatization of the 1986 nuclear power plant accident in Ukraine, which doubles as a horror story. The miniseries depicts the stories of the people who were the first responders on the scene as they tried to mitigate the effects of the accident, as well as those who had the thankless task of trying to clean up after the accident.Theres heroism and heartbreak in these tales. And some of the physical effects that the radiation leaves behind are truly difficult to look at. Theres no happy ending to be found in this series, but its one of the most haunting stories that HBO has ever produced.Watch Chernobyl on Max.HBOAt the turn of the century, Sex and the City was one of the most prominent HBO original series. Sarah Jessica Parker stars as sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw, a woman in her 30s who is still close friends with Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon).The women confide just about everything with each other, and the series was so popular that a heavily edited version actually began airing in syndication. But theres only one true version of Sex and the City. And even the follow-up series, And Just Like That, hasnt been able to recapture the cultural moment that was embodied in this show.Watch Sex and the City on Max.HBOHow we react to death is just as important as how we react to life. And for the Fisher family in Six Feet Under, death is a way of life. Alan Balls first HBO series follows the family-run funeral parlor after Nate (Peter Krause) and David Krause (Michael C. Hall) take over for their late father. Their younger sister, Claire (Lauren Ambrose), and their mother, Ruth Fisher (Frances Conroy), also remain deeply involved in their lives.Death comes for everyone, and each episode opens with the demise of someone who will pass through the funeral parlor and affect the Fishers in some way. Its not as morbid as it sounds, as the family sometimes manages to work through their issues with each other and their business. But its their constant struggle that makes this show so interesting.Watch Six Feet Under on Max.HBOThere was no Seinfeld curse for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won six Emmy Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy for Veep, to go along with the two Emmys she previously won for Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine. The series cast Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the Vice President and later, the President of the United States. Shes also largely inept at her job.Veep had a fantastic supporting cast, including Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Sufe Bradshaw, Kevin Dunn, and Gary Cole. As great as Louis-Dreyfus was in the role, her fellow cast members helped solidify Veep as one of HBOs best comedies.Watch Veep on Max.HBO / HBOHollywoods video game adaptations havent always been very good. But The Last of Usis on another level, thanks in large part to its fidelity to the games story and characters, as well as a strong creative team led by Chernobyls Craig Mazin and Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann.The Mandalorians Pedro Pascal plays Joel Miller, the man hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of a quarantine zone and bring her across the country because she may be the only person alive who is immune to the Cordyceps infection that has ravaged the world. This post-apocalypse makes The Walking Deadlook like a cakewalk, and the character development on this show is second to none. This is HBOs next great genre franchise, assuming the second season can live up to the first.Watch The Last of Us on Max.HBOWatchmens greatest contribution to our culture might be the fact that it brought the 1921 Black Wall Street massacre in Tulsa to the public forefront after it had been largely overlooked or buried for decades. Damon Lindelof and his team treated that event as if it were the destruction of Krypton for Will Reeves (Jovan Adepo), a man who ushers in the era of costumed heroes.The original Watchmen comic by Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons is considered one of the greatest superhero stories ever told. This series not only lived up to the original, but it surpassed the hype with an engaging story set in an alternate present. Regina King led the cast as Angela Abar, a woman who discovers that her link to Will has greater implications for the past, present, and future than shes ready for. Angela is also hiding a pretty big secret about one of the main characters from the comicWatch Watchmen on Max.HBOWere not privy to the inner workings of the Murdoch family that controls Fox, but we wouldnt be too shocked if they were like the Roy family from Succession. Series creator definitely seems to have had Rupert Murdoch in mind when he created Logan Roy (Brian Cox), an aging billionaire who needs to decide which of his children will take over his entertainment empire, Waystar RoyCo.Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) would do almost anything to each other to ensure that they inherit their fathers throne. Their actions are darkly funny at times, but the stakes are high enough that the show never loses sight of the drama as well.Watch Succession on Max.HBOThe late Garry Shandling was once a regular guest and guest host on The Tonight Show. But rather than making a permanent move to late night, Shandling came to HBO to star in his own sitcom about a late-night talk show host. Thats the origin story of The Larry Sanders Show, which just missed HBOs golden age of original programming by a year.Shandling co-created the series and starred as Larry Sanders. The show had a ridiculously talented supporting cast including Rip Torn, Jeffrey Tambor, Janeane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Bob Odenkirk, and more as Larrys staff. Many celebrities also appeared as themselves, both as guests on his show and in Larrys life behind the scenes.Watch The Larry Sanders Show on Max.HBOThe Sopranos veteran Terence Winter found a second act with his Prohibition-era drama, Boardwalk Empire. Winter even convinced director Martin Scorsese to helm the pilot episode and executive produce the series with him. Steve Buscemi took the lead as Enoch Nucky Thompson, the treasurer of Atlantic County whose criminal connections made him a very rich man.Boardwalk Empire featured an assortment of actual people from that time period, including Al Capone (Stephen Graham). But some of the most compelling characters on the series were the original characters, including Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon), a Prohibition agent whose fall from grace was so swift that he found himself working for Capone.Watch Boardwalk Empire on Max.HBOFollowing their collaboration on Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg co-created Band of Brothers, based on Stephen E. Ambroses novel of the same name. The story of the miniseries is taken from the real-life accounts of Easy Company, a regiment who were chosen for the book and the miniseries because they saw action at some of the biggest moments in the war, including the invasions of Normandy and Germany, as well as the liberation of concentration camps.The series also took the time to flesh out the personalities of the soldiers going to war, which only added to the impact when many of them perished in battle. Its an unforgettable World War II story that still ranks among the greatest HBO projects ever made.Watch Band of Brothers on Max.HBOThe Old West has rarely felt more alive than it was on Deadwood, a series that blurred the lines between history and fiction. John Wicks Ian McShane swore up a storm as Al Swearengen, a man whose profanity-laden spiels were almost Shakespearean in scope. Al owned The Gem Saloon and acted as one of the real powers holding Deadwood together. Naturally, he butted heads with Sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) over a variety of issues.Perhaps the most amazing part of Deadwood is how much of an impact it had with only a three-season run. The show ended very prematurely, which left fans without proper closure. Fortunately, HBO and series creator David Milch eventually rectified that mistake with Deadwood: The Movie by givingthe show a definitive ending.Watch Deadwood on Max.HBOIf youve ever heard of a Larry David moment, it came from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Davids follow-up to Seinfeld put him in the lead, playing a slightly fictional version of Larry David, who absolutely excelled at placing himself in awkward situations. Larry also had a knack for alienating some of his closest friends, including Ted Danson and Richard Lewis, both of whom played themselves.For the first few seasons, Larry was married to Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), but even her tolerance for Larrys self-centered nature had its limits. The only ones who could stand to be around Larry for any length of time were his friends, Jeff Green (Jeff Garlin), and Leon (J. B. Smoove), a roommate who just never left. Through 12 seasons, Larry found new and inventive ways of angering the people around him. And were really going to miss him now that the show is over.Watch Curb Your Enthusiasm on Max.HBOTelevision is littered with crime dramas, but The Wirestill stands out as one of the best shows ever made. David Simons seminal series examined both sides of the law and ensured that the series didnt fall into cop show clichs. The police werent always the heroes, and sometimes the criminals were able to escape justice and outmaneuver the law.One of the shows most memorable characters was Stringer Bell, a role that helped make Idris Elba a breakout star. Bell was a drug kingpin whose ambitions went far beyond simple crimes. Bell wanted to transition towards more legitimate business enterprises, but he couldnt escape the pull of the drug trade or partners who didnt share his vision. He was just as amoral as the other criminals, but it was hard not to root for Bell to succeed. Its a rare show that can pull off that feat.Watch The Wire on Max.HBOThere are still Game of Thrones fans who are furious about the way that the show wrapped up its storylines in its abbreviated final seasons. And it certainly didnt deliver the happy ending that many viewers wanted to see. Regardless of anyones feelings about the shows conclusion, theres no denying that this series was incredibly impactful for both HBO and the greater TV landscape. No other fantasy series has even come close to matching the gravitas of this adaptation of George R. R. Martins novels. Even the majority of fantasy movies fall short of Game of Thrones when the series was at its best.The show followed the Stark family, including Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams), Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) during a tumultuous period in the seven kingdoms of Westeros, which were ruled by House Lannister, including King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) and his successors. Half a world away, the daughter of a previous king, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), slowly rose to power as one of the few who could make a legitimate claim on the Iron Throne. And Daenerys had dragons.Game of Thrones characters were just as interesting and compelling as those of any great drama. This show set the bar so high that even its follow-up prequel series, House of the Dragon, hasnt yet been able to come close to its mark.Watch Game of Thrones on Max.HBOWhen it comes to the No. 1 HBO show of all time, theres really only one choice: The Sopranos. There were HBO original dramas before The Sopranos premiered in 1999, but this series rewrote the entire television landscape, elevated HBO to another level, and paved the way for the age of the antihero. Shows like The Shield, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saulwouldnt have existed without The Sopranos.David Chase created an all-time great character in Tony Soprano, who was unforgettably portrayed by the late James Gandolfini. Tony was a mobster spread so thin by his responsibilities to his crime family and his actual family that it led to panic attacks in the first episode, forcing him to go into therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). That pilot episode set the tone for the rest of the series, which became a rich blend of drama, comedy, and tragedy.Tony wasnt the only fleshed-out character on the series, which also focused on his wife, Carmela (Edie Falco), and their children Anthony Jr. (Robert Iler) and Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), as well as Tonys other family, including Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli), Silvio Dante (Steven Van Zandt), Paulie Gualtieri (Tony Sirico), and more. Through six seasons, Tony tried his best to serve both of his families. He also left a lot of death and destroyed lives in his wake. The ambiguous ending of the show is still polarizing among fans of the series, but only The Sopranos could pull off that move and remain on top of everything that came before and after it.Watch The Sopranos on Max.Editors Recommendations

Vince Gilligan is responsible for creating one of the signature antiheroes in all of TV history with Breaking Bad, but now, even he thinks that Hollywood spends too much time focused on bad people. In a speech accepting the Writers Guild Awards top writing honor, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, Gilligan said that Hollywood should spend more of its energy telling stories about good people.Walter White is one of the all-time great bad guys, Gilligan said. But all things being equal, I think we Id rather be celebrated for creating someone a bit more inspiring. In 2025 its time to say that out loud because we are living in an era where bad guys, the real life kind, are running amok. Bad guys who make their own rules, bad guys who, no matter what they tell you, are really out for themselves. Who am I talking about? Well, this is Hollywood, so guess.Recommended VideosGilligan said that stories about bad guys have now become too appealing and that many of them send the wrong message to their audience.Please enable Javascript to view this contentI really think that, when we create characters as indelible as Michael Corleone or Hannibal Lecter or Darth Vader or Tony Soprano, viewers everywhere, all around the world, they pay attention, he said. They say, Man, those dudes are badass. I want to be that cool. When that happens, fictional bad guys stop being the cautionary player that they were created to be. God help us, theyve become aspirational. So maybe what the world needs now are some good, old-fashioned, Greatest Generation types who give more than they take. Who think that kindness, tolerance and sacrifice arent strictly for chumps.One of the longest-running critiques of Breaking Badwas that, even though Walter White was obviously a bad dude in the world of the show, far too many people saw him as aspirational. Now, it seems Gilligan is taking those critiques to heart, and trying to tell a different kind of story.Editors RecommendationsThe 10 best performances in the Breaking Bad universe

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe craziest travel schedule Ive ever undertakenVery different feelings with swollen fingersTracking my sleep or severe lack of itVery different battery life and chargingThis is the smart ring that Id pickHave you ever wondered how traveling affects your body? In particular, not just the symptoms and effects that you can immediately feel, but rather, the nuances that technology can help you understand. When was the last time you took a flight, didnt sleep enough, and ended up feeling extremely tired for days on end?To answer these questions, I took the skies, quite literally. My travel schedule over the past six weeks has been hectic. After attending CES 2025, I flew to London, fell ill, and then had to fly back to the US to see the launch of the Galaxy S25 series. The only problem? I needed to be in Dubai for a family vacation two days after Galaxy Unpacked, and the only way to do it was four flights in two days.Recommended VideosA crazy journey meant an opportunity to explore the impact of travel on health, and in particular, an opportunity to compare three of the best smart rings. Is the Oura Ring 4 the best, or is it the second-generation RingConn smart ring? How does the Galaxy Ring Samsungs first generation smart ring compare? Heres what happened.RelatedNirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsMy travels took me from San Jose to London and Norway, followed by a nights rest if you can call three hours of sleep that and a day trip to Dubai via Doha. Four flights, five cities, far too many timezones, and the craziest travel schedule Ive ever completed.I fly a lot, and when I booked these tickets at different times, I didnt understand just how stressful and tiring this trip would end up being. More than a week later, I still have residual jet lag effects, compounded by the fact that Ive taken yet more flights and have now made it to India for the first time.Throughout all of this travel, one thing has proven clear: flying, jet lag, and air pressure changes can manifest in several ways. In particular, Ive noticed that my fingers swell considerably, and when they do, each of these rings has a different impact.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsIt was the day after my last flight to Dubai that I began to notice a throbbing pain in my fingers. A little sleuthing later, I realized that they had begun to swell, a common occurrence in people with heart disease or diabetes. Interestingly however, the pain wasnt caused by the swelling in the fingers, at least not directly, rather the swelling meant that some rings were pushing against the swollen parts of my fingers.Ive previously celebrated the Galaxy Ring as it was supremely comfortable with swollen fingers, and far more so than the previous generation Oura Ring. However, the updated Oura Ring 4 utilizes integrated sensors, whereas the Galaxy Ring still has small ridges that house the sensors. While the concave design means that its still more comfortable than the Oura Ring 3, this was the first trip where I found the Galaxy Ring to be uncomfortable.The Oura Ring 4 proved that a sensorless design is the way forward. While the ring itself feels a tad thicker a necessity given the integrated sensors and the desire to build as many pathways for data tracking the lack of sensor bumps means it remains more comfortable than Samsungs smart ring, even with swollen fingers. This is the biggest improvement over the Oura Ring 3, and its the first time Ive been able to notice this with the latest from Oura.Oura Ring 4 (left) and the RingConn Gen 2 Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsHowever, the biggest surprise was the RingConn Gen 2. Its 2mm thin at its thinnest and this makes a big difference when you have swollen fingers. The Oura Ring 4 is 2.7mm thick, while the Galaxy Ring is 2.6mm thick, and the 0.6mm difference to the RingConn Gen 2 makes the latter far more comfortable when your fingers are a little swollen. Similarly, its slightly narrower at 6.8mm versus 7mm or more and this also helps when your fingers are swelling.Throughout the past four weeks of travel, its the only one of these three that has remained comfortable with every change in my finger, through lack of sleep and in general use. My Oura Ring 4 has some scratches that leave me very concerned about its durability potential, but the shiny exterior on the RingConn Gen 2 still has no blemishes or scratches.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsIve always wondered; when I travel, how do I sleep? This trip and these smart rings represented a huge opportunity to understand this, and the results were interesting.First, let me dig deeper into the travel schedule I booked. I first had a ~10-hour flight from San Francisco to London, departing at 5:30 pm and arriving at noon. I then had a 3.5-hour stopover in London before a two-hour flight to Oslo. A nights rest should have followed, and then an 8 am flight to Doha, a two-hour stopover, and a one-hour flight to Dubai arriving at 9 pm.The biggest challenge with a schedule like this is not the flying time, but the time difference. My flight to London landed at 4 am San Francisco time and I eventually landed in Dubai at 9 am the following day. Unsurprisingly, this flight schedule was not conducive to getting proper sleep, and the result was needing to nap on each flight.Heres how each Smart Ring reported my sleep during the first night:RingConn Gen 2Galaxy RingOura Ring 4Time Asleep2 hours 10 minutes1 hour 37 minutes1 hour 47 minutesTime in Bed2 hours 58 minutes2 hours 6 minutes3 hours 1 minuteEfficiency73%59%Sleep Score2330Awake:13.4%29 minutes (23%)1 hour 14 minutesREM:10%10 minutes (7%)10%Light Sleep:3.3%1 hours 27 mins (70%)50%Deep Sleep:73.3%40%First, its very clear that I didnt sleep anywhere near enough, but how does the reporting on each smart ring stand up to how I felt? I think the Oura Ring 4 had the best accuracy as I was a mess once I landed in London. Curiously, Samsung didnt track any deep sleep, so take from that what you will, whereas RingConn recorded a solid set of metrics but didnt report a sleep score.How about the following day, which included a forced nap in Heathrow airport and during the flight to Oslo, but also resulted in very little sleep that night in Oslo?1. RingConn Gen 22. Samsung Galaxy Ring3. Oura Ring 4 The frustrating thing about all three smart rings is that none report all of your sleep in one easy-to-understand view but rather, they all separate your sleep into individual blocks. The Oura Ring 4 was the only one to report three sets of sleep, with the first two being my in-flight sleep that was broken up by food service.The last takeaway from this test is also that the Oura Ring 4 didnt recognize any of my naps as naps, but rather as full sleep. Ive no idea why that is or how it determines between the two, but its worth keeping in mind nonetheless.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe last takeaway from this test helped shape my decision about the best overall: battery life. I started this test with the Oura Ring 4 at half battery life and I had to search for my charger once I had landed in Dubai as it was too low to track another nights sleep. For the Oura Ring 5, this is my chief complaint that I hope the company fixes.The Galaxy Ring fared much better as it lasted for another two days before dying (having started at around 60%), while the RingConn Gen 2 lasted a further day and a half before also succumbing to a dead battery.1. Oura Ring 42. Galaxy Ring3. RingConn Gen 2Crucially, both of these also outperform the Oura Ring 4 when it comes to storage, transportation, and charging. Each comes with a charging case that makes it easy to transport as well as charge your Ring while in your bag, whereas the Oura Ring 4 requires a square charging puck that is improved over last year, but is a big missed opportunity.Oura Ring 4 (left) and the RingConn Gen 2 Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsI went into this test expecting that I would opt for the Oura Ring 4, followed by the Galaxy Ring, and then the RingConn Gen 2. It turns out that I was wrong: the RingConn Gen 2 is the best smart ringof these three mainly for the comfort it offers me when I have swollen fingers.This isnt to say that its the best overall, as the sheer number of metrics on the Oura Ring 4, or the integration between the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring, will appeal to many users. For most people, however, the RingConn Gen 2 offers everything you could want from a smart ring and does so for both iPhone and Android users.RingConn rightly received many plaudits for its first smart ring, which was widely recognized as the best affordable smart ring. The second generation stepped it up significantly, and the feature set, battery life, and charging case now make this a no-brainer. On that note, wheres my Oura Ring 4 charger?Editors Recommendations

Elden Ring: Nightreign, the hotly-anticipated multiplayer title, might have DLC that features additional playable characters and bosses. The information comes from a single, now-removed line of text on the Steam page. Given the speed with which FromSoftware deleted the sentence, its likely the information wasnt meant to go public yet.Recommended VideosAccording to PCGamer, at the bottom of the description was the line, Additional DLC Additional playable characters and bosses. We already expected bosses from previous Souls titles to make an appearance, and this line hints at even more surprises to come.Please enable Javascript to view this contentUnlike Elden Ring, Nightreign will see players using pre-made characters rather than creating their own. We may have the option to play as the Chosen Undead, the Curse Bearer, or even the Ashen One, perhaps in the form of each characters respective concept art. The multiplayer-focused game is a great opportunity for FromSoftware to drop Easter eggs and other treats for long-time fans of the series.Bandai NamcoNightreign will take a different approach than previous games. Ditching the epic scale of Elden Ring, Nightreign will have more in common with a roguelike. Players can go it alone or team up with two more players to fight their way across a constantly-shrinking map until they reach the final boss fight. A full run is expected to take less than an hour, and players choose between eight different classes.Elden Ring: Nightreign is set to release on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series, and PC on May 30. FromSoftware just held a network test, but thousands of players could not log in and play, so the studio has said that another test is not out of the question. If you want a chance to see what Nightreign has to offer, the network test is your best option.Editors Recommendations

After the season 1 finale of Prime Videos Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the show apparently needs two fresh leading performers. For a while, it looked like musician Billie Eilish would be the new Jane Smith. But with Eilish unavailable due to her touring commitments, Yellowjackets Sophie Thatcher is reportedly in talks to become the shows latest co-lead.Deadline was the first to report the news, while noting that Thatcher will star opposite Mark Eydelshteyns John Smith if she closes her deal with Amazon. In addition to her breakout role on Yellowjackets, Thatcher has appeared in The Book of Boba Fett and Foxs Exorcist TV series as a young Regan MacNeil, who was the victim of possession as seen in The Exorcist. The actress has also established herself as a scream queen through leading roles in horror movies including The Boogeyman, Heretic, and most recently, Companion.Recommended VideosDonald Glover and Francesca Sloane created Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and they took their inspiration from the 2005 film starring a former real-life couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. While the movie initially depicted the Smiths as unaware of their respective double lives as assassins, the show featured John (Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) as strangers who accepted an undercover operation from their secretive employers. Thus they had to pretend to be married for their cover story, and slowly grew to have real feelings for each other.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe fate of John and Jane in the season 1 finale was intentionally left ambiguous, and its possible one or both could return to the show at some point. Glover remains an executive producer on the series alongside Slone, who will once again be the showrunner for season 2. There are also rumors that the show will adopt an anthology format, with a different couple at the heart of each season.Amazon Prime Video hasnt set a premiere date for Mr. & Mrs. Smith season 2 yet.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsRelease datePlatformsTrailersGameplayPreorderThe team at Supermassive Games made a name for themselves with one of the best horror games Until Dawn.Since then, the team has produced new narrative horror games almost every year, with their next upcoming video game revealed to be Directive 8020.BetweenIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and Saros, there are a lot of upcoming PS5 games set in space to look forward to. However, none promise to blend horror with a narrative driven by player choice like this. Supermassive Games havent approached sci-fi horror in their games yet, so lets make all the right choices to learn everything about Directive 8020 and hopefully survive.A ton of games have been announced this year, so keep up to date with our lists of upcoming Xbox Series X games, upcoming Switch games, and upcoming PC games.Recommended VideosSupermassiveDespite just being revealed this year, Directive 8020 will launch on October 2, 2025. Supermassive Games usually tries to line its games up with the Halloween season, so this should be a great game to pick up at that time of year.Please enable Javascript to view this contentSupermassiveDirective 8020 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. There is a chance it could come to the Switch 2, but no other Supermassive Games titles have hit that platform so we wouldnt bet on it.Directive 8020 - Story Reveal Trailer | PS5 GamesThe story trailer for Directive 8020 debuted during the February State of Play event. This was the first look at the game, but also gave us the release date.The game will take place on a ship called the Cassiopeia on a mission to survey and scout a new planet before the Earth becomes uninhabitable. The craft is meant to serve as a colony but only staffed with essential crew for this test mission. Of course, this test doesnt go smoothly. Our cast of characters will wake up four years into the journey when a hull breach is detected. Thats only the start of the trouble, as a murder and unexpected crash landing throws everything into chaos. Despite all that, the trailer also teases an alien threat that, much like The Thing,has the ability to appear and act like any member of the crew.The only named characters we know of is Brianna Young and Commander Staford who are played by Lashana Lynch and Danny Sapani respectively.SupermassiveThe gameplay in Directive 8020 isnt wildly different from previous Supermassive Games. It is still a third-person narrative adventure game where you will control several characters, in this case 5, and explore environments, talk to others, and make critical decisions that can have dire consequences. Making decisions has always been the meat of these games, and this entry promises to have some of the most difficult yet.Beyond walking around and interacting with things, Directive 8020 will include some new mechanics. Characters will be equipped with a utility strap that controls a flashlight that is great for exploring the dark but also exposes your position. Stealth will be a bigger focus here, which is helped by a new scanner that you can use to remotely interact with various electronics to use as distractions or communicate with other crew members.The last new tool we know of is called a wedge tool which mainly lets you pry open doors, but can also be used to attack the alien. It can only stun it, however, so dont expect to kill it with brute force. At best, it will give you a chance to escape.SupermassiveIn a strange twist, Directive 8020 is not available to preorder yet, despite having a set release date. As soon as we get more information on when and how you can preorder, we will update this article.Editors Recommendations

AMDs upcoming Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are officially set to hit the market on March 6, according to certain retail listings. The new GPUs, based on AMDs RDNA 4 architecture, will launch just a few weeks after Nvidias RTX 5070 Ti and possibly before the RTX 5070, setting the stage for a heated mid-range GPU battle.As per Toms Hardware, screenshots of RX 9070 and 9070 XT models from XFX listed on Amazon were shared by hardware leaker momomo_us having a price range from $649 to $849. One of these listing notably mentions, This item will be released on March 6, 2025.Recommended VideosThese cards are expected to deliver performance improvements over their predecessors, with the RX 9070 XT reportedly featuring 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, positioning it as a high-capacity alternative to Nvidias offerings. While official specifications remain unconfirmed, leaks suggest that AMD is focusing on efficiency and raw VRAM capacity rather than competing directly with Nvidias AI-accelerated features like DLSS 3 and ray tracing advancements.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Ahead of the launch, AMD has announced a special event on February 28, where the company is expected to provide official details on the RX 9070 series and possibly other upcoming GPUs. This announcement comes as Nvidia gears up to launch the RTX 5070 Ti, making AMDs timing a direct challenge to its competitor. The event is likely to include final specs, performance comparisons, and AMDs marketing push against Nvidias latest offerings.The wait is almost over. Join us on February 28 at 8 AM EST for the reveal of the next-gen @AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series. Get ready to make it yours when it hits shelves in early March. RSVP by subscribing to the AMD YouTube channel: https://t.co/4rkVxeoDIa David McAfee (@McAfeeDavid_AMD) February 13, 2025With the launch of the RX 9070 series, AMD aims to strengthen its presence in the high-end 1440p and entry-level 4K gaming markets. The company is expected to leverage its historically strong price-to-performance ratio to appeal to gamers looking for an alternative to Nvidias 50-series lineup. While Nvidias RTX 5070-series is anticipated to dominate in AI-driven applications, AMDs bet on high VRAM capacity could appeal to content creators and users who prioritize memory over proprietary upscaling technologies.This launch also follows AMDs strategic shift in its GPU lineup, as the company has reportedly scaled back on high-end RDNA 4 models in favor of focusing on the mid-to-upper segment of the market. As the February 28 event approaches, more details on the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XTs performance and feature set are expected to emerge, giving buyers a clearer picture of how they stack up against Nvidias latest offerings.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIs Captain America: Brave New World streaming?When will Captain America: Brave New World be available to stream?Prior to this weekend, the last time a Captain America movie was in theaters was 2016s Captain America: Civil War. And that was practically an Avengers movie. Captain America: Brave New World essentially resets the franchise with Anthony Mackies Sam Wilson firmly in place as the new Captain America. While the stakes are high, the former Falcon doesnt have an all-star cast of heroes to back him up this time.Regardless, the box-office projections for Brave New World are promising, with estimates suggesting that the film could bring in $90 million or more across the long Presidents Day weekend. But as for the question that brought you here, its time to let you in on the answer.Recommended VideosMarvel Studios / Marvel StudiosNo. There was only one Marvel Studios movie that opened day-and-date with its Disney+ debut, and that was a debacle. Disney tried that experiment with Black Widow in 2021, just as the country was starting to emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Black Widows opening weekend, Disney execs may have thought the simultaneous streaming/theatrical model was a success since it had $80.4 million in North America on top of the premium upcharge Disney+ subscribers paid to watch it at home.RelatedUnfortunately, the second weekend told a different story as Black Widows North American theatrical numbers crashed 67% to $25.8 million. It was widely seen as being hurt by the simultaneous release and Scarlett Johansson actually sued Disney while alleging that the studio prevented her from getting large bonuses that would have been paid out if Black Widow had hit certain box office benchmarks. The suit was eventually settled out of court and Johansson was rumored to have gotten $40 million out of that.All of that is exactly why no other Marvel Studios film including Brave New World has ever gone day-and-date with streaming again. Even when Marvel movies fail at the box office, like The Marvels, its still more lucrative to give the films an exclusive run in theaters.Marvel Studios / Marvel StudiosDisney has moved away from its attempts to dramatically shorten the window of time before a film can jump to steaming after a theatrical release. However, theres no set time for a movie to make the leap to Disney+. The most-recent MCU film prior to Brave New World was Deadpool & Wolverine, which took just under three and-a-half months to go to Disney+.That said, Deadpool & Wolverines box-office success may have played a part in slowing down its streaming premiere. If Brave New World is also a hit, then its theatrical life will likely be extended to a similar length as Deadpool & Wolverine. The numbers out of week No. 1 are solid, but this films real test begins in week 2 when we see how much business it will shed.Captain America: Brave New World is now playing in theaters.Editors Recommendations

Google Pixel phones come with an emergency SOS feature that calls for emergency response services, and also shares the alert with friends or family members. The whole system also has an optional video feature that records your surroundings and shares the clip with all your emergency contacts.If you have enabled this feature hopefully after reading Googles warning about doing so carefully on your phone pray that it never gets triggered accidentally. One unfortunate soul learned it the hard way, when the feature was mistakenly activated and sent their naked whereabouts to a dozen friends.Recommended VideosThe hilarious incident was shared on Reddit, and the victim even posted a picture evidence and the video recording broadcasted by their Pixel phone, showing them in their birthday suit.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe phone starts ringing and texts start coming in. Friends are concernedbut not so much about my safety but rather that MY PIXEL SENT EVERYBODY PHOTO/VIDEO OF ME NAKED, says the post.Please enable Javascript to view this contentApparently, the emergency SOS feature was activated when the user tried to silence their early morning alarm, but pressed the power button repeatedly. On Pixel phones, if you press the power button five times or more in a row, it activates the emergency feature.Once it is triggered, an automatic countdown starts to call 911 emergency services. Meanwhile, if you have also enabled emergency sharing, a notification is also sent to all the contacts you have set up for reaching out in such situations.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsNotably, in the Personal Safety app on Pixel phones, there is also an option for video sharing. This feature records a video while you are talking to emergency responders and sharing your location, or even when youre using another app.These emergency recordings can be up to 45 minutes in length, and once they are uploaded, a download link is shared with all emergency contacts. You can choose to disable the link at any given time, and if it is being shared excessively (over 120 visits, per Google) the link automatically expires by protocol.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsEmergency video sharing works only when you have set up Emergency Contacts and enabled it from within the Personal Safety app. It is a lifesaver, especially for people who live with medical conditions, travel frequently, or more such scenarios where they might need to share details of their surroundings to get help.In this case, it worked in a rather NSFW fashion. My embarrassment gave everyone a jolly start to their day or a fun 1am booty call, depending on time zone, adds the Reddit post, which attracted a few similar anecdotes in the comments section.Apparently, emergency alerts have caught more than a few people off guard in rather intimate situations.My ex did it when this SOS feature came out years ago. For whatever reason she decided to test it while using the bathroom and ended up sending me some awkward photos from both cams. Luckily shed only added me as emergency contact and we had a good laugh about it, wrote another Reddit user.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsYou are not alone. My friend did this too! Her husband and I received a nude photo of her, claimed a similar comment in the same chain. But it seems accidentally calling emergency helpline numbers is a recurring theme in the Apple ecosystem, covering the iPhone as well as the Apple Watch.In one case, an Apple Watch triggered an emergency alert when two people were engaged in an intimate moment. One user shared how their dog, while playing with their hand, triggered the 911 call via the Apple Watch on their wrist.An Apple Watch user claims to have unknowingly called for emergency assistance 43 times. Emergency responders have been aware of this problem for years, and they recommend picking up the call and telling them it was an accident instead of disconnecting their calls to check up on the callers well-being.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow to watch Michigan St. vs. UCLAWatch Michigan St. vs. UCLA on Sling TVHow to watch Michigan St. vs. UCLA from abroad with a VPNThe UCLA Bruins (23-1) are undefeated no more. The Bruins lost their first game of the year on Thursday night to their crosstown rival No. 6 USC (22-2). UCLA simply could not stop that phenom, JuJu Watkins. The stellar sophomore scored 38 points with 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight blocks. With that sensational performance, Watkins might have vaulted herself past UCLAs Lauren Betts for College Player of the Year.UCLA cannot dwell on the loss, as they have a quick turnaround against the No. 22 Michigan State Spartans (19-5). Michigan St. started the season strong with a 17-3 record. However, Sparty is only 2-2 in their last four games, with losses to Oregon and Michigan. Michigan St.s Grace Vanslooten is coming off a terrific 22-point performance in the Spartans 91-71 win over the Wisconsin Badgers.Recommended VideosWhile Michigan St. and UCLA will only play once in the regular season, they could face each other again at the Big Ten championship next month. Heres how to watch the game between Michigan St. and UCLA, including the start time, channel, and streaming information. Read our NCAA womens basketball March to the Madness guide for more coverage.RelatedB1G slate ahead!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/ZEdX4nOBXy Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) February 14, 2025The game between Michigan St. and UCLA tips off at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 16, 2025. UCLA will host the game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Fans can watch the game on the Big Ten Network or stream it on FoxSports.com or the Fox Sports app. Log in with your TV provider for accessWatch Big Ten NetworkSling TVThe rising cost of cable TV can burn a hole in your wallet. Thats why live streaming television services, like , are great alternatives. Sling TV provides customers with countless hours of live sports, news, and entertainment without a cable box. There are no long-term contracts, and consumers can customize their channel lineups.What plans does Sling TV offer? The two plans available for purchase are Orange at $46 per month and Blue at $51 per month. Combine the two plans at $66 per month. Take those prices and slash them in half for the first month thanks to Slings 50% discount. To watch Michigan St. versus UCLA, youll need the Big Ten Network available on Sling TV via the Sports Extras add-on.Phil Nickinson / Digital TrendsWith a VPN (virtual private network), you can hide your IP address and connect to a digital server in the country of your choosing. For most of you, that will be the United States. This means that VPNs will bypass broadcast restrictions, making it easier to stream as if you were at your home. One of the fastest and safest VPNs is NordVPN. Try NordVPN risk-free thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow to watch UConn vs. South CarolinaWatch UConn vs. South Carolina on Sling TVHow to watch UConn vs. South Carolina from abroad with a VPNIn womens college basketball, UConn and South Carolina are two of the blue bloods in the sport. These two titans will square off on Sunday afternoon in what should be an epic showdown. On one side, you have Geno Auriemma and the No. 7 UConn Huskies (23-3). No coach has more national championships in womens college basketball than Auriemmas 11. However, Auriemmas team has not won the title since the 2015-2016 season. If UConn wins it all this year, it will be on the back of Paige Bueckers, the future No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft.While UConn has been in a championship drought, South Carolina is one of the powerhouses of the last five years. Dawn Staley and No. 4 South Carolina (23-2) have won the national title in two of the last three seasons, including last years championship over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Since the 2021 season began, the Gamecocks are a staggering 131-5.Recommended VideosUConn is 9-5 all-time against South Carolina. However, the Gamecocks have won the last four. Can UConn end the drought, or will South Carolina continue their dominance? Read on for information on how to watch the game between UConn and South Carolina, including the start time, TV channel, and streaming options. Read our NCAA womens basketball March to the Madness guide for more coverage.RelatedOne more sleep, FAMS!https://t.co/U7q6A4KmhN pic.twitter.com/Z0eVsqsKLt South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) February 15, 2025Tip-off between UConn and South Carolina is slated for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The game will be played at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Tune into ABC for live coverage of the game. Fans can stream the game on WatchESPN or ABC.com. Make sure to log in with a TV provider.For those without cable, and will stream the game. Instead of paying for both services, the Disney Bundle trio includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ starting at $17 per month.SlingFor cord-cutters looking for more TV options, consider signing up for . With Sling TV, customers can have the benefits of cable without the high prices. Enjoy customizable channel lineups that give you sports, news, and entertainment.Customers can choose between the Orange plan at $46 per month and the Blue plan at $51 per month. If you cant decide, then combine both Sling plans for $66 per month. Honestly, combining both plans might be the best offer, especially for sports fans who want as many channels as possible.Derek Malcolm / Digital TrendsIn todays digital media age, security and privacy are of the utmost importance. No need to risk using a foreign connection while traveling. DownloadNordVPN, which is a virtual private network. NordVPN ensures a safer streaming experience, adding an extra layer of protection to your connection. This will help combat malware scams and phishing attacks. If you dont enjoy NordVPN, then request a money-back guarantee within the first 30 days.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsFind My is here. And it works!Is it a good stylus, though?A few other nicetiesWorth it? Heck yeah!I have been a part of the iPad Pro ecosystem for a while now. For the most part, it comes out of professional obligations, rather than personal necessities. Its a rather expensive situation to be in, to be fair.The worst part? Finding a competitive, budget-friendly alternative is like going on a blind, trust-first-regret-later purchase spree. The stylus situation is no exception. There is always some caveat, if you put your trust in virtually any other label.Recommended VideosThis year, ESR came to CES 2025 with a rather bold product. A pencil with Find My support. It looks like an Apple Pencil, attaches magnetically, and even supports niceties like tilt recognition.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAll that under $30 a fraction of what Apple currently asks for its cheapest stylus. Thats not all. ESRs stylus even leapfrogs Apple with a facility that even the worlds most valuable company hasnt attempted so far.RelatedI recently lost my Apple Pencil Pro. It costs $129 in the US, while my nearest Apple Store sells it for $137. I bought it predominantly because I forget stuff faster than my cat disregards the fact that it just had its supper and lunges at my snacks.Support for Apples Find My location tracking system was the biggest draw of Apple Pencil Pro for me, but I still couldnt locate the misplaced stylus. It soon ran out of battery, and that was the end of the story for me.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsI never bought a replacement. I dont have the heart for it, even though I miss it terribly. The only reason is the high ask, especially for a stylus. ESR gave me the perfect solution for that FOMO.The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is the worlds first non-Apple stylus that offers support for the companys expansive Find My network. The only other stylus that serves this facility is the Apple Pencil Pro. Even the price-matched second-gen Apple Pencil lacks the perk.Any person who has ever lost their Apple gear, and managed to recover it, knows just how useful it can be. There is no dearth of cases where people have tracked and found their belongings using AirTags, which rely on the Find My network to do their job.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsFor the same reason, you may have come across Find My compatibility baked at the heart of backpacks, wallets, and even remote controllers that are fitted with an AirTag. Naturally, getting the perk on a $30 stylus is nothing short of a pleasant surprise.On the ESR Geo Digital Stylus, the whole system works flawlessly. The Bluetooth pairing process is straightforward, and a quick trip to the pre-installed Find My app on the iPad did the job in less than a minute.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAll you have to do is pick a name for the stylus, add an emoji during the setup process (for reasons only known to the mysterious overlords in Cupertino), and youre good to go.And here is the nicer part. The ESR stylus comes with its own speaker assembly onboard. While tracking the stylus using the Find My network, you can choose to play a beep so that you can find it using audio cues.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsI had some concerns. Is Find My support merely a namesake marketing ploy with watered-down functionality, given the fractional price you pay for the ESR stylus compared to Apples option? I was wrong.You get the full Find My foundation here. And in my tests, it worked just fine. I am hopeful that I dont lose this one, but if it is misplaced, I would at least hold on to the sliver of hope that is Find My, instead of giving up entirely on yet another financial hit.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsSo, what do you miss compared to the second-gen Apple Pencil, which costs $129? Pressure sensitivity, magnetic charging, and double tap for changing the drawing tool. None of those are a make-or-break aspect for me. I have used the Apple Pencil USB-C, and it offers none of those conveniences, either.Moreover, for my basic needs, the ESR option covers it all. With a $30 stylus, thats a lot more value than what you would get paying for an older Apple stylus, or even the latest model with a USB-C port.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThe ESR stylus follows the same design language as Apple. But unlike Apples all-white approach, ESR also has pink and black shades on the table.The weight distribution seems well-balanced, and the magnetic attachment is secure. While moving with an iPad mini, and an iPad Pro, the pencil securely latched to the magnetic connector and didnt fall off even while walking with the Apple slate.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAs far as input goes, I dont have any complaints. There is no discernible lag and tilt sensitivity works just fine. I handed over the ESR stylus to a friend who does Arabic and Persian calligraphy.After using the stylus on my 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, he was pleasantly surprised with the fluidity and near-zero latency.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThis is very nice for the price. Just make sure you put a matte screen protector on your iPad, and the sketching experience will rise a notch, he told me. He was right.I tried sketching on my sisters M1 iPad Pro, which has a paper-like screen protector, and I loved the experience. The added surface-level grip really makes a difference, compared to the naked glass surface.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsTilt recognition was also mostly on point while using a variety of brush strokes and pen styles. Overall, if youre eyeing a budget-friendly stylus that is responsive and accurate, the ESR Geo Digital Stylus wont leave you with a case of the capitalist regret malady.The ESR stylus only attaches magnetically to the iPad, but doesnt transfer power, like the second-gen Apple Pencil or its Pro variant. Thats not much of a hassle.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsSupport for fast wired charging ensures that the ESR Geo Digital Pencil can be fully topped up in approximately 30 minutes, roughly matching the pace of Apples stylus portfolio.ESR promises a mileage of around 12 hours per charge. Realistically though, you wont have to worry about those numbers. I havent charged the stylus so far, despite taking notes worth over 40 pages during interviews.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThats because I often plugged it into the spare USB-C cable on my desk, every time I took a break. For college students who use an iPad as their primary note-taking device for lectures like my own sister this stylus should easily last 3-4 days on average.Another handy design element which is again missing from the Apple Pencil is the halo ring at the top. A still blue light means the stylus is powered on and connected. When plugged in, the light blinks, while red is an indicator of a low battery.I love these neat little features.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsThere is one more surprise. The round button at the top is not merely a power key. Instead, its a multifunction button for a couple of UI shortcuts on iPadOS.A single tap takes you to the Home Screen, while a quick double tap launches the application multi-task view. Thats a facility you dont even get on the iPad.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsIdeally, this button should have been customizable for more stylus controls, like brush change or undo gesture. I believe Apple is keeping the necessary stylus software stack or the secret API sauce limited to its own ecosystem. Sigh!The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is a lovely peripheral. If you are looking for a stylus that wont deal a blow to your wallet (read: Apple Pencil), this is the one to pick.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsHeck, I would recommend it solely for the Find My facility alone. Surprisingly, the core sketching and note-taking experience is also fantastic. Likewise, the multi-function physical button and magnetic attachment facility are just the cherry on top.In a nutshell, if your budget is just $30, this is the only stylus I would recommend. Even a comparative analysis with pricier stylii will land you at ESRs doorsteps.The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is now up for grabs from Amazon.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow to watch Tottenham vs. Manchester UnitedWatch Tottenham vs. Manchester United on FuboHow to watch Tottenham vs. Manchester United from abroad with a VPNOn Sunday afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United square off in Premier League action. To say these teams are disappointed in their respective seasons is an understatement. Tottenham is 15th in the Premier League standings with 27 points entering Sundays contest. With 13 defeats, the Spurs have clinched their seventh consecutive season of 10+ losses. With 14 games left, Tottenham could have their worst season since 2003-04, when they lost 19 times.Manchester United has not been much better than Tottenham. United is 14th in the Premier League standings with 29 points. On the positive side, the Red Devils notched a 2-1 victory over Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round. These two teams last met in December, with Tottenham winning 4-3 in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal.Recommended VideosEven with little to play for, Tottenham and Manchester United are looking for some momentum the rest of the way. A win on Sunday could help alleviate their issues. Find out how to watch the game between Tottenham and Manchester United, including the start time, channel, and streaming information. For coverage of Februarys must-see matches, visit Digital Trends Premier League guide.RelatedPreviously against Man United in the @premierleague Watch the full analysis from Inside Spurs on SPURSPLAY as we build up to tomorrows match Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 15, 2025The match between Tottenham and Manchester United will start at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The game will air on . The match will be available on demand shortly after the Peacock broadcast ends.If youre new to Peacock, there are two plans. Premium costs $8 per month, and Premium Plus costs $14 per month. Right now, Peacock is offering a special deal for new customers, where Premium only costs $30 for the first year. With Peacock, sports fans can also watch college basketball, WWE, golf, and more.Remember to adjust your TV settings for a better streaming experience.Check out our guide on how to set up your TV to watch the Premier League.Phil Nickinson / Digital TrendsSundays game might be on Peacock, but it will not be on Fubo. Peacock has exclusive streaming rights to certain Premier League games, and Tottenham versus Manchester United falls under that agreement. However, Fubo is a good investment for soccer fans without cable who want to watch the Premier League.Phil Nickinson / Digital TrendsIf you are watching this game while traveling abroad, dont risk your computer getting attacked by a phishing scam or malware virus. Download a VPN to ensure you have an extra layer of security. Plus, VPNs will work around the broadcast restrictions in the area. Its like youll be streaming from your home. One of the bestVPNs on the market is NordVPN. Dont believe us? Sign up for NordVPN, and if you disagree, request a 30-day money-back guarantee.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsA dreadful life-saverIt has raised hellA bitter choice, because others suckIn September last year, Google announced a new feature that would let users sync their grouped tabs across mobile and desktop. It seems the company quietly started rolling it out in a phased manner.I noticed the new synced tab group featureon my OnePlus 13 earlier today, after the Chrome v133 update was installed on February 12, as per the Google Play logs.Recommended VideosBut according to Reddit posts, this feature had started appearing to users as far back as four months ago. Another post from two months ago mentions the arrival of this feature with a beautiful question for the Google team:Whose dumb idea is this?RelatedNadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsWhen you open Chrome on mobile and launch the tab switcher, theres now a new 22 icon at the top. When you tap on it, a list of grouped tabs appear, with the same color code that you picked while creating them on mobile or desktop.Notbaly, the ability to create tab groups landed on the iOS version, as well. As per the log notes (for v133.0.6943.33) that was released two weeks ago, the iPhone version of Chrome finally enabled tab grouping, complete with sync support for mobile-desktop workflow.I usually start my work on mobile. For news gathering via a curated feed, social media accounts, and official forums, its easier to get a quick look on a phone while sipping coffee with an ungodly concentration of caffeine.I quite like this two-column approach for synced tab groups. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAs I come across newsworthy stuff, I neatly slot them across dated groups such as science, AI, computing, space, and more. Once the teams come online, I simply open the right tab group and share the material.I do this for my recreational interests, as well. Saving up articles for reading later, videos, memes, and more such stuff. With the cross-device sync, it has become much easier to access, and manage, those tabs directly on a larger screen.Its a fantastic way for getting some work, or work planning, done on the go. But not without its fair share of quirks. When I first enabled it using a Chrome flag on my iPad Pro and relaunched the browser, all my synced tabs automatically opened in the same windows.All 82 of them in an ungrouped fashion.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsOf course, it was overwhelming, and its not something that should ideally happen. I initially grouped them all to get the look you see above, but eventually closed all those tabs because it was taking too many resources in the background.Synced tab groups sound like a productivity dream, but its not all sunshine and rainbows, it seems. The biggest conundrum is keeping the mobile (aka fun and casual) part of browsing separate from the work-related stuff on your desktop.If youre someone whose work depends on Chrome tabs, the list of synced tabs pulled from mobile and desktop quickly gets a little much. This is how one user described it:dumbes (sic) thing I saw from GoogleIts really annoying, wrote another frustrated Chrome users.When was the last time you handled a feature via Chrome flags? Exactly! Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsAnd heres the worst part. The underlying functionality appears to be broken. Multiple reports mention lost tab groups if one decides to disable the tab syncing system. On the official Google Chrome Help forum, multiple users have also detailed how synced tabs groups just randomly disappeared.Another frustrated user writes how tabs automatically land on a blank page after every restart. One report mentions how the tabs go back to the previous page after each fresh launch. Then we have reports of duplicate tab groups. There are a healthy few users struggling to disable tab group syncing, and for valid reasons. Heres an account from another community forum member:Now I have to go and spend lots of time recreating all my tab groups and again and have probably lost some of my links because the history feature only saves so many tab groupings. Abismal!!!!!App Store says this feature is ready for my iPad. It was hidden not in Chrome, but elsewhere. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsOne report mentions that despite customizing the sync behavior to keep the mobile and desktop tabs from appearing under a unified dashboard, they still see the synced tab groups across all their devices. It seems the respite comes not from in-app settings, but by disabling a Chrome flag, a route that is not directly available in the Settings section.I dont know many people around me who are familiar with the concept of using Chrome flags to enable or disable certain features. For them, it would simply be a futile attempt desperately digging through the apps Settings page, and eventually ending up frustrated.Oh, and did I mention synced tabs are an absolute resource hog? And when theyre not, they are simply a blank mess. This is the current status of my synced tabs on the iPad Pro. I can see the color code and subject, but have no idea about anything else.Look at this sheer chaos from synced tab groups on my iPad Pro. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsHere is another downright stupid part. The iPhone version of Chrome is ready for tab groups and has it enabled as soon as the updated version is installed. On the iPad Pro, I had to check a Chrome flag to get it working. Both are running v133 stable build, by the way.Thanks, Google!Alright, let me tell you an anecdote from merely two days ago. While testing a Dell laptop with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, I noticed that Chrome suddenly decided to give me hell. Random crashes, blank screen, and frozen UI? You know, the whole shebang.I switched to Edge, and had a less-frustrating time, though not entirely fuss-free. As usual, I opened a few dozen tabs across two windows, and slotted them across with beautiful color-coded groups.Out of nowhere, my laptop charger decided to stop working and I had to shift to my iPad Pro to continue my work. I launched Edge on my tablet, only to realize I can merely sync tabs across mobile and desktop, but not tab groups.Collections act somewhat like groups, but Edge has a separate tab groups feature, too. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsRacing to meet deadlines (you know how it is in a newsroom), I frantically searched the Microsoft community forum and Reddit, and realized that Edge doesnt allow you to sync tab groups between mobile and desktop by default. The only option left for me was to open the synced tab history from my laptop and then restore the requisite tabs on my iPad Pro.But thanks to my career in tech reporting, I know that Edge is based on the Chromium engine, which is why I could find an analogous flag for tab group syncing in Edge, just the way it is served in Chrome. My hunch was right. After a quick search, I found the Enable Tab Groups on iPad flag for Edge.Not many smartphone users are aware of using flags to enable or disable certain features. Plus, its an experimental system, which means inexplicable bugs and performance issues are commonplace. For most Edge users in my place, they would be otherwise left with a frustrating back-and-forth journey of checking out the synced tabs, finding the right one after scrolling a long list, and opening them one by one.Its a chore to recover tabs from a collection in Edge. Image used with permission by copyright holderI later realized you can create Collections in Edge, and that they sync on mobile. It was a relief. But thanks in no part to Apples WebKit mandate that ruins every mobile browser and the terrible cursor-response system in iPadOS, my relief with Edge was barely a stop-gap solution.I had to manually add each tab on my laptop to a new collection and wait for them to sync, before I could carry my work over to the iPad Pro. It was a hard-earned victory, but I returned to work with an added dose of rage directed at Apple and Microsoft.At the end of the day, I am left with Chrome, with all its polish and vices.Editors Recommendations

Although Amazon is set to unveil its AI upgrades to Alexa at an event on February 26, the Washington Post reports the actual update might not arrive for at least a month after. An anonymous Amazon employee shared the information with the Washington Post, stating that the new version of Alexa wouldnt arrive until March 31.The publication further confirmed that Amazon had originally planned to launch the new version of its smart assistant this month, but delayed the launch to address repeated incorrect answers given to test questions.Recommended VideosThe delay has raised questions among investors. The huge amount of capital needed for AI technology makes it a risky investment, and it can be difficult for a company to turn a profit on AI technology. However, Amazon hopes an improved version of Alexa would drive more sales of Echo devices and other smart gadgets that utilize the assistant. The idea is that most Alexa functions would remain free to use, but the advanced version would only be accessible to subscribers.Nick Mokey / Digital TrendsThe more advanced version of Alexa could have the potential to develop a personality of its own and recall previous conversations. It could also perform advanced tasks, like order takeout for you (perfect for those who hate making phone calls) or order a taxi. These obstacles arent wholly unexpected; other companies have also struggled with AI providing incorrect answers, with Apples Notification Summaries drawing a lot of attention after numerous users received disturbing interpretations of text messages and news reports.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAn upgraded, more powerful version of Alexa would be helpful in the smart home space, but these delays show that there is still a long way to go before the technology can be freely implemented.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsRelease datePlatformsTrailersGameplayPreorderGamers have gotten used to waiting for upcoming video games for years, with games likeElder Scrolls 6 andPerfect Dark having been announced half a decade or more ago at this point. However, there is one upcoming PS5 game that has been in the works for over 10 years now but is finally ready to release this year. Lost Soul Aside is the passion project of just one person that looks like one of the most stylish action games of the year. A lot as changed in the decade since its initial reveal, and some might even have thought the game was canceled, but well set you straight and go over all the information you need to know about Lost Soul Aside.UltizeroAfter over 10 years of development,Lost Soul Asidefinally has a firm release date. The game will launch on May 30, 2025.Recommended VideosUltizeroLost Soul Aside is coming to PS5 and PC. Because it is being published by PlayStation, dont expect to see this as an upcoming Xbox Series X game.Please enable Javascript to view this contentLost Soul Aside - TrailerHDThe first trailer for Lost Soul Aside was posted 8 years ago now and is interesting to look at, but is certainly not fully representative of the game well be playing in May. Check it out if you want to see just how far things have come.[Audio Fix] Lost Soul Aside - 18 Minutes of New Gameplay (2021)The next major trailer was in 2021 with an 18 minute gameplay trailer. This is much closer to what the game is now and is still the most thorough look at the game in action we have.Lost Soul Aside - Pre-Order Trailer | PS5 & PC GamesAppearing one more time at the February State of Play, the preorder trailer finally gave us a firm release date for Lost Soul Aside.Lost Soul Aside will star Kazer on a quest for redemption after forming a mysterious connection to another race called Arena. This bond allows him to communicate with the Arena, as well as summon weapons and perform all the feats we see in gameplay. Beyond the world itself being in a state of war, thats about all we know of the plot.UltizeroTaking cues from character action games, Lost Soul Aside features smooth, fast-paced, and stylish action. The developer admits to being inspired by Final Fantasy XV,though it looks much more similar toFinal Fantasy XVInow. This is most evident in the main characters design, which looks strikingly similar to Noctis.Kazer can summon a variety of weapons to attack, swapping them to create varied combos on the fly. Each weapon has a different function but can all be chained together. Action is meant to be fast, heavy on dodges, juggles, and full of particles. The closest comparisons would be the aforementioned FF16 or Devil May Cry 5.The game appears focused mainly on big spectacle boss battles, but there are instances of more traditional mob fights as well.Arena can also help with traversal. We see Kazer run along walls, call a floating platform, and even summon wings to glide with across environments. Levels are linear, so theres no open world to explore but is said to still have secrets to discover.The player will be able to customize loadouts, presumably with different weapon combinations but possibly gear as well, unlock new skills, and more.UltizeroPreorders for Lost Soul Aside will be available starting February 19 and offer two versions. Heres what bonuses you get with each:Standard Edition $60Preorder bonuses:Kasers original outfit from the games earliest reveal, giving players a nostalgic look back at how it all began.A starter pack of in-game currency to help you kick off your adventure.A bundle of healing potions, perfect for those challenging early game battles.Digital Deluxe Edition $70Everything in the Standard EditionArenas exclusive golden outfit,Three unique weapon fragment skinsTwo in-game accessoriesDigital soundtrack and artbookEditors Recommendations

One of the simple tips and tricks RPGs rely on to show how powerful you are is to display your damage in numbers. Avowed does this for every attack and ability you use, meaning you will see a ton of numbers pop up during your adventure. While they can be helpful at times, enemies also have health bars to see how much damage you're doing so having those numbers pop up can be more distracting than anything else, especially in third-person. Thankfully the game lets you turn these off to get a slightly more grounded experience. Here's how to quickly toggle this setting off.Recommended VideosDifficultyEasyDuration5 minutesObsidianDamage numbers are always on by default and will pop up whenever an enemy takes damage. That can be from an attack, skill, or status effect like burning. If you're stick of seeing all these numbers, follow these steps to disable them.Step 1: Pause the game and go into Settings.Step 2: Go into the UI tab.RelatedStep 3: Scroll down to the HUD Setting section and find Damage Numbers.Step 4: Change it from On to Off.You are always free to turn damage numbers back on from this menu, but you won't be missing out on anything if you prefer to have them off.Editors Recommendations

Summer has always been the season of announcements for the latest and greatest in gaming, but Sony might skip its normal showcase in favor of a smaller State of Play. This would make it the second year in a row Sony has decided against a major show, as 2024 also saw a smaller conference than normal. The news comes from Jeff Grubb of Giant Bomb fame, who says that a decision has not yet been made.Internally it sounds like theyre debating, and flopping between, maybe making this summer a full showcase versus another State of Play. But they are considering a showcase, Grubb said. And if they have a showcase, that means theyll have a lot of stuff to talk about. And at that point, you would definitely expect to see Wolverine and a lot of other games that could come out next year.State of Play | February 12, 2025 [English Subtitles]Considering that Sony just held a State of Play this previous week, it would make more sense for the company to hold a normal direct and give attention to its first-party titles especially since the State of Play focused almost entirely on third-party games. Sony also announced that the PlayStation 5 has sold more than 75 million units in total, illustrating the ever-rising popularity of the console.Recommended VideosA summer showcase would be an ideal time for Sony to give more information on upcoming titles like Ghost of Yoteior maybe even Bloodborne. As it stands, the biggest announcement from the State of Play was Housemarques upcomingSaros, so theres plenty of news waiting in the wings for fans. No decision has been made yet, but well keep you up to date on what to expect going forward.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsRelease datePlatformsTrailersGameplayPreorderA game doesnt have to look real to be considered as having the best graphics. We are looking forward toGhost of Yotei just as much asSouth of Midnight despite them both having distinctly different art styles. The Midnight Walk is an upcoming video game that falls into the more creative side by presenting a world fully realized in claymation. While the visuals will get your attention, the world, characters, and atmosphere are more than enough to fully draw you in. If youre a fan of unique horror games, this upcoming PS5 game and upcoming PC game deserves your attention. Heres everything you need to know about it.MoonHoodThe Midnight Walk will release on May 8, 2025.Recommended VideosMoonHoodUnfortunately for Xbox and Nintendo fans, The Midnight Walk is going to be a PS5 and PC exclusive. However, it also supports VR headsets to play the game completely in virtual reality.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe Midnight Walk was revealed with just a quick trailer that showed off the games dream-like style built entirely in claymation. The game has you play as a character named the Burnt One who emerges from their grave and meets a lantern called Potboy who has the ability to create fire. The two of them will team up to navigate and survive in a world that seeks to control that fire. The game will apparently be broken up into five tales of fire and darkness, though it isnt clear how that functions in terms of the story.Thats all we know about the plot itself except that we can expect to encounter many terrifying and offbeat characters and monsters along the way.The Midnight Walk | Release Date Announcement TrailerYou will play The Midnight Walk entirely in first-person, which is where the VR support comes in, as you explore the hand-crafted world. All assets of the game were modeled in clay before being scanned into the game, giving each environment, character, and monster a sense of groundedness despite the nightmarish designs.From what weve seen, gameplay looks to be divided between exploration and interacting with NPCs, and then stealth and chase sequences with aggressive creatures. There is one instance where we see the use of some kind of firearm, but it only seems to annoy the monster rather than damage or defeat it.There may also be elements of an escort quest if the goal is to protect Potboy, but it is hard to tell from what has been shown thus far.MoonHoodWith a release date of May 8, you can grab your The Midnight Walk preorder right now on the PlayStation Store page. There is only one edition, but PlayStation Plus subscribers do get it at a 10% discount.PC players cant preorder it right now, but it is still available to wishlist on Steam.Editors Recommendations

In older RPGs, you would have to sacrifice that armor set you love the look of for the newer one that had better stats. In Avowed, it isn't exactly a secret tip or trick that wearing the more powerful gear is important, but that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice fashion. If you're playing in third-person especially, you want to make sure your character looks cool while exploring and using your flashy skills. Transmog has become more common lately, and thankfully is present in Avowed so you can wear the most powerful armor while still appearing like your old favorite. Or, you can hide all your armor completely if you want. Here's how to do both.Recommended VideosDifficultyEasyDuration5 minutesObsidianGear in Avowed only consists of your main armor and your gloves, but you can hide or transmog both of them to be as fashionable as you want. Hiding your armor can be done no matter what, but you need to have at least two sets of gear to transmog.Step 1: Pause the game and go into your Inventory.Step 2: In the armor section, equip the armor you want the stats from and highlight the other armor you want to appear wearing.RelatedStep 3: Press RT on controller or left click on PC to apply the appearance of that armor to your character.Step 4: To hide your armor, press RT or left click while highlighting the armor you are currently wearing.You can transmog your main armor, boots, and gloves individually for more variety, but you do need to own whatever armor you want to transmog so don't sell or break down any gear you like the look of.Editors Recommendations

For years, it looked like the third season of EuphoriaVariety.Although Fike wasnt a part of the official cast announcement for the upcoming season, his character will be returning for the third season. Fikes Elliot was a drug-addicted, guitar-slinging teen who formed a bond with Zendayas Rue and Hunter Schafers Jules over the course of the second season, and ultimately drove a wedge between them. Varietyis reporting that Fike will shoot a couple of scenes for the show next week, which may suggest that his role will be more limited in the second season.In addition to Fike, most of the main cast from the first two seasons is returning, including Zendaya, Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow. Both Martha Kelly and Chloe Cherry have been upgraded to series regulars, and Colman Domingo is also set to return as a guest star.Recommended VideosIn addition to the returning cast, Marshawn Lynch, Rosalia, and Kadeem Hardison have all joined the cast for the new season, as have Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Toby Wallace, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Priscilla Delgado, Anna Van Patten and James Landry Hbert.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe shows third season is currently filming more than three years after season 2 aired. In the years since that season, many of the shows stars, including Zendaya, Sweeney, and Elordi have gone on to become major movie stars, so the news that they would all be returning for season 3 feels a little bit miraculous.Editors Recommendations