Like the first few months of the year, April is a relatively quiet month for sky watching, but it does bring one of the oldest meteor showers and a micromoon. April 13: Pink MoonApril's full moon is known as the Pink Moon, so named for the color of ground phlox, a wildflower that blooms during the monththough the moon itself doesn't actually appear pink in the sky. The Pink Moon is also a micromoon, meaning it occurs at that furthest point from Earth. The opposite of a supermoon, it will look about 5% smaller in diameter than usual. April 21: Lyrid meteor shower peakThe main event in April is the Lyrid meteor shower. It starts mid-month (around April 17) and will peak late on the evening of April 21 and into the early morning hours of April 22. The Lyrids are the result of debris from the Comet Thatcher, which was first observed in 1861. Typically, viewers can expect to see around 18 meteors per hour, though the shower can bring up to 100, according to NASA. This year, the moon will be about 40% full, which may interfere with visibility. The Lyrids are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere after the moon sets but before dawnand as always, areas with minimal light pollution are best for viewing. Planetary events in AprilMars, Jupiter, and Uranus will be visible in the evening sky in April; Saturn, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune will appear in the morning. The timing and placement varies slightly between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The best Mercury viewing of the year will be possible on April 21, according to Starwalk, especially for those in the Southern hemisphere. And on April 25, the crescent moon will align with Venus and Saturn just before sunrise to create a triangle that looks like a smile.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Garmin unveiled a subscription tier for its app last week featuring an AI that promises to provide insights on your training. I liked the companys policies around training and privacy, but hadnt seen much of the actual AI output when I wrote about it. Now, Ive spent a week with the feature, which Garmin says is still in beta. Here are my impressions.The AI insights are just one of the features that rolled out with the new $6.99/month Garmin Connect+ subscription. Some of the other add-ons look a lot more useful, like the Live Activities feature. I have a full rundown here on what you get if you pay for the upgrade. The subscription only covers new featuresnot existing app features, and not specific features that come with the watch you buy. AI insights only appear in one limited part of the appIve been poking everywhere in the Garmin Connect app, and I can only find AI insights in one place. That would be the home screen, where I get a little active intelligence paragraph right at the top, above my usual workout and health metric cards.If you dont check your Garmin Connect app frequently, youll miss out on most of the insights. They dont pop up on your watch or in notifications on your phone. Theres no chat interface like with Whoop or Oura, where you can ask questions about your data.I expected the AI to be more like Stravas, where a little description/motivational message appears on each activity you do. Stravas AI is notorious for restating the data from the run description, with added errors, though, so perhaps its best they didnt try to mimic that. Credit: Beth Skwarecki The AI "insights" arent very insightfulMy first few insights were pretty basicjust comparing my intensity minutes to a goal that I didnt realize I hadbut I figured more interesting analysis was yet to come.After a week, though, I havent seen it. The most exciting moment was when I caught the AI in a flagrant math error. You logged two activities today: running and indoor cycling for a total of one hour and twenty-seven minutes, it said. My activities were noted in their usual place, immediately below this insight, and the run was 40:10 while the bike ride was a quick test of this gadget that took less than three minutes. Thats 43 minutes, silly robot.(I'm not the only one who has encountered some bad math: Two scuba divers posted on Reddit that the AI told them they spent more than a month underwater in a single day.)The AIs obsession with intensity minutes may be to blame in my case. I cant make the math work out for this example, but in some other cases, the AI seemed to be adding up intensity minutes and not always including the word intensity. (One minute of vigorous exercise counts for two intensity minutes, an idea that comes from public health exercise guidelines.)Otherwise, the messages were just basic summaries of data that was already viewable elsewhere in the app. I did my best to screenshot every insight I saw, and heres the tally of topics:5 messages about intensity minutes, either comparing them to my goal or weekly or daily averages3 messages about my stress level or sleep stress, a metric Id never heard of and still cant figure out what it means2 messages about my Body Battery (a number that goes up with sleep and down with exercise or stress)2 messages about steps2 messages about run activities (with my mileage, pace, and/or time)2 messages about bike activities (with my time, heart rate, cadence, and/or power)1 message about my training status being in recoveryAfter a sentence or two with the metrics its describing, there would be a sentence generically encouraging me to keep up the good work. I could give feedback as to whether the insight was interesting or not, but there was no way to ask questions or get more information. I still dont know what sleep stress is, or how to get a quick overview of my intensity minutes if I did want to keep track of them.It doesnt seem like anyone is enjoying the AI featureIm always the wet blanket on AI hype, so I checked Reddit and Garmin forums to see if anybody is having a better time with it than I am. I couldnt find anyone who admitted to liking Active Intelligence or gleaning any useful insights from it.There is so much that could be done with AI and training software, but all Garmin does is using AI to simply rephrase existing data, a Garmin forum user said. Seems like 'Active Intelligence' is basically just the most basic summary of your workouts possible, said a redditor, adding, I was really hoping that it would be an actual chatbot that you could discuss training with etc to create plans.Other redditors wondered why the AI doesnt create or adjust training plans, possibly even analyzing users data to find which workouts tend to correlate with fitness increases. Garmin hasnt publicly said what future plans they have for AI, just that the feature is currently in beta.I received messages from AI throughout the day and I can say that they have no practical or informational benefit for me, one redditor said. Im afraid I have to agree.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Imagine, if you will, a time of wild economic inequality, global conflict, and Donald Trump every freakin' time you turn on your TV. But all of that in neon, and with a way cooler soundtrack. Im talking, of course, about the 80s: the decade that gave us Spike Lee, Hayao Miyazaki, Tim Burton, John Hughes, and Cher (but, you know, the serious actress). Arnold blew up a whole bunch of stuff; Michael J. Fox went back in time to avoid sleeping with his mom; Eddie Murphy made cops seem fun and approachable; and people went around asking Wheres the beef? for reasons that remain unclear even to historians. It was quite a time.It was also an era when beloved blockbusters could come in all shapes and sizes, and there were nearly 100% fewer Marvel movies. The massive hits of the decade include action movies, but also romantic comedies, horror movies, and family dramas. It doesnt have the reputation of the 1970s as a cinematic golden age, but theres something to be said for the sheer volume of enduring classics that the decades filmmakers produced. Here are some of the very best, and where to find them.Steel Magnolias (1989) Mention this movie in the right crowd and watch the tears start to well up in eyesbut its also very funny, thoroughly quotable, and full of great performances from the all-star team of Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, and Daryl Hannah. You can stream Steel Magnolias on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Steel Magnolias (1989) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Moonstruck (1987) Cher won an Academy Award for her performance as an Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini, deciding whether to settle into comfortable middle age with the man her parents want for heror` go wild with his brother, played by Nicolas Cage. You can stream Moonstruck on Prime Video, The Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV. Moonstruck (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Do the Right Thing (1989) Director Spike Lee had his greatest triumph with this funny, quotable, and ultimately explosive film about the racial tensions percolating in a Brooklyn neighborhood on a hot summer day. You can stream Do the Right Thing on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Do the Right Thing (1989) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Beverly Hills Cop (1984) Eddie Murphy was never hotter than in the first film of this action comedy that rocketed him from comic genius to international superstar. If you grew up in the 1980s, try listening to anything on the soundtrack without being transported. You can rent Beverly Hills Cop from Prime Video. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) Rosanna Arquette stars in director Susan Seidelman's cult classic as a bored New Jersey housewife who sets out in pursuit of a free-spirited punk chick (Madonna) who's she's become enthralled by, eventually taking on her persona to find fulfillment. Madonna was on the cusp of megastardom, but the film also provided breakout roles for Laurie Metcalf, Aidan Quinn, John Turturro, and Giancarlo Esposito. You can stream Desperately Seeking Susan on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Terminator (1984) James Cameron broke into the big time with this smart, satisfying sci-fi action movie about a robot assassin from the future (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to murder a waitress before she can give birth to humanity's savior. (As if you didn't know all of that.) Arnold is the marquee name, but Linda Hamilton's beleaguered Sarah Conner steals the franchise. You can stream The Terminator on MGM+ and The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Terminator (1984) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Beetlejuice (1988) Tim Burton was at his weirdest and wildest in this tribute to the afterlife, in which the ghosts Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin team up with Michael Keatons raunchy poltergeist to scare a living family out of their home. You can rent Beetlejuice from Prime Video. Beetlejuice (1988) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Top Gun (1986) Tom Cruise feels the need for speed in this fast-paced movie about sweaty jock pilots who are definitely into girls. Definitely. You can stream Top Gun on Paramount+ and Prime Video. Top Gun (1986) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ My Neighbor Totoro (1988) This gorgeously animated Hayao Miyazaki favorite follows sisters Satsuke and Mei as they move to an old country house with their father to await their mothers hoped-for recovery from an illness. What they find in the house are playful spirits who lead them on an adventure. You can stream My Neighbor Totoro on Max or rent it from Prime Video. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Desert Hearts (1985) An about-to-be-divorced professor, Vivian (Helen Shaver) goes to stay on a cattle ranch where she meets Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), the ranch owners daughter who helps to bring Vivian out of her shell. A charming romance, its also, refreshingly, one of the few LGBTQ+ movies from the era that doesnt lean to tragedy. You can stream Desert Hearts on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Desert Hearts (1985) Learn More Learn More Back to the Future (1985) Great Scott! Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd are brilliantly paired in this time-travel comedy that sees Marty McFly visiting the 50s and exploring the lives of his parents when they were in high school. And finding that his mom has a crush on him. Heavy. You can rent Back to the Future from Prime Video. Back to the Future (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Child's Play (1988) The progenitor of one of our most enduring slasher franchises (seven movies and a TV series, all written and/or directed by Chucky creator Don Mancini), Child's Play works in large part because it knows how ridiculous the premise is. Brad Dourif voices killer Charles Lee Ray, who performs a spell to transfer his soul into a doll before he dies. It's got solid thrills and a self-aware sense of humor that would serve the series well over the decades, even as it got much weirder. You can stream Child's Play on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Child's Play (1988) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) In a sea of teen slacker comedies that were popular in the early 1980s, Fast Times is something different: Director Amy Heckerling and writer Cameron Crowes capture the dumb minutiae of high-school life. Theres plenty of raunchy humor, but, at its heart, its a coming-of-age movie about the awkwardness of budding sexuality. You can rent Fast Times at Ridgemont High from Prime Video. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) at Prime Video Get Deal Get Deal at Prime Video Dirty Dancing (1987) Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze are on fire here in what is, without a doubt, the sexiest movie ever to be set at a family vacation resort in the Catskills. But also still heartwarming, somehow? You can rent Dirty Dancing from Prime Video. Dirty Dancing (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Im sure nobody way back at the beginning of the 1980s thought that wed still be going to Indiana Jones moviesbut Raiders of the Lost Ark is just that good. Sequels might have diluted its power a bit, but this one is pure adventure. You can stream Raiders of the Lost Ark on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Lean on Me (1989) Morgan Freeman plays the real-life Joe Louis Clark, principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. The true story might have been a bit more complicated, but Freemans Clark is electric: a tough, no-nonsense educator willing to do whatever it takes to bring his students to the movies rousing finale. You can rent Lean on Me from Prime Video. Lean on Me (1989) Learn More Learn More Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Star Trek had a broader pop culture moment in the 1980s, capped by this heartfelt and genuinely funny time-travel adventure in which the crew has to travel back in time to save the whales. The result feels both like a time capsule of the era and a timelessly charming fishes-out-of-water story, filled with colorful metaphors and nuclear wessels. You can stream Star Trek IV on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) at Paramount+ Get Deal Get Deal at Paramount+ Batman (1989) Travel back with me to an era when we weren't all sick to fucking death of superheroes. Tim Burton's weird and stylish take on the comic book crimefighter is weird, funny, and sexy in ways that would scare the hell out of today's branded blockbusters. You can stream Batman on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Batman (1989) Learn More Learn More My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Omar (Gordon Warnecke) are a thoroughly mismatched couple: Johnny's a former right-wing skinhead, while Omar's a Pakistani-British man from a well-off family. Despite the trials of being a gay interracial couple in Thatcher's Britain, romance blossoms when the two set about fixing up a run-down laundrette. You can stream My Beautiful Laundrette on Prime Video and Pluto TV. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Return of the Living Dead (1985) This horror comedy with punk style is both a knowing parody of zombie movies while also managing to be an impressively gory thriller in its own right that moves the whole genre forward. Plus, its got a great death-rock soundtrack. You can stream Return of the Living Dead on MGM+, Tubi, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Return of the Living Dead (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Im Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) Prior to creating the iconic In Living Color in the 1990s, Keenan Ivory Wayans directed this deeply goofy, but frequently hilarious, spoof of blaxploitation films of the previous generation. The cast includes not only up-and-coming (at the time) actors like Chris Rock and Dawn Lewis, but many of the stars of the movies that it parodies (Bernie Casey, Isaac Hayes, etc.) You can stream I'm Gonna Git You Sucka on Pluto TV and The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Im Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Body Heat (1981) Kathleen Turner stars in Lawrence Kasdan's essential neo-noir as one of cinema's ultimate femmes fatale, playing a very dangerous (and very frequently naked) game with William Hurt. A super steamy erotic thriller classic. You can rent Body Heat from Prime Video. Body Heart (1981) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Color Purple (1985) Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the Alice Walker novel is both a deeply intimate story and an epic. The life of the poor, abused, abandoned Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) plays out like a hero's journey, as compelling as any in cinematic mythology, set agains the backdrop of the larger crisis of slavery and prejudice in the young United States. The recent musical adaptation is great, but there's still plenty of room for this quieter adaptation. You can rent The Color Purple from Prime Video. The Color Purple (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Hollywood Shuffle (1987) Robert Townsend directs himself as Bobby Taylor, a satire about the perils of navigating the Hollywood system for an actor simultaneously too black and not black enough for the tastes of studio bosses. Through elaborate fantasy sequences and parodies of popular movies, Townsend creates a sharp and often extremely funny sendup thats sadly still relevant. You can stream Hollywood Shuffle on Prime Video, Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV. Hollywood Shuffle (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stand By Me (1986) One of the best Stephen King adaptations doesnt qualify as horror at all, instead being a coming-of-age drama set in the 1950s about four best friends setting out on a quest to see a dead body. The movie captures both the real and imagined trials of growing up. You can stream Stand By Me on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Stand By Me (1986) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Purple Rain (1984) The plot is thin, sure...but not really the point. Prince plays The Kid, who fled an abusive home to make his mark in the music world, and faces off against a rival trying to steal the spotlight and his girl. Part narrative, part concert film, and part music video, Purple Rain was conceived as a showcase for Prince's talents, and it absolutely captures him at the height of his purple powers. You can rent Purple Rain from Prime Video. Purple Rain (1984) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Field of Dreams (1989) One of the most beloved sports films ever is also a dreamy fantasy about a farmer (Kevin Costner) building a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield in order to attract a bunch of ghosts who might want to play a few games therebut who really just wants to play catch with his dad one last time. A silly premise? Maybe, but it plays out like a fairy tale, and generates real emotion. You can stream Field of Dreams on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Field of Dreams (1989) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Karate Kid (1984) The movie that kicked off not only a mania for karate in the 1980s, but also a franchise thats had a surprisingly long life, this one has everything you need in a rousing underdog sports movie: Nerdy loser Daniel (Ralph Macchio) comes to a new town where hes the immediate target of bullies (including William Zabkas Johnny)until he meets up with mentor Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). It all builds to a cheer-worthy finale with some rousing 80s tunes. You can stream The Karate Kid on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. The Karate Kid (1984) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The second Star Wars movie remains the best of the entire series. Building on the Flash Gordon-inspired original, Empire goes deeper and darker, finding real emotional resonance among its core characters while also putting truly kick-ass space action front and center. This is a high the franchise (and perhaps all of blockbuster filmmaking) has been chasing for decades. You can stream The Empire Strikes Back on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Spaceballs (1987) Maybe you're getting a little bored with Star Wars-style outer space action? No better antidote than the Mel Brooks classic that effectively skewers not just the sci-fi tropes on which that series leans, but the vast merchandising empire to which it gave birth ("Spaceballs: The Flamethrower!"). Even George Lucas loved it. You can stream Spaceballs on Prime Video. Spaceballs (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cinema Paradiso (1988) In a war-torn Sicilian town, young Salvatore escapes from, his alternately mundane and terrifying everyday and life into the movies, befriending an old projectionist who later encourages him to pursue his love of filmmaking. It's a lovely ode to the power of cinema, packed with memorable, colorful characters and with an all-time great ending. You can rent Cinema Paradiso from Prime Video. Cinema Paradiso (1988) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Ferris Buellers Day Off (1986) One of John Hughes funniest (andbonusleast problematic) movies is a joyous tribute to the power of blowing off whatever youre supposed to be doing in favor of much cooler stuff. Theres no way that the movies core trio (Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck) would have learned nearly as much if theyd gone to school. You can stream Ferris Bueller on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Ferris Buellers Day Off (1986) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988) The beloved horror host stepped onto the big screen for the first time with this gloriously silly movie involving Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) traveling to the small, conservative town of Fallwell, Massachusetts, where her revealing clothes and sassy attitude quickly turn most of the town against her. Its like Footloose with black magic and boobs. You can stream Elvira on Tubi, Pluto TV, AMC+, The Roku Channel, and Prime Video. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Dark Crystal (1982) Jim Henson and company followed up The Muppet Show with this rich, dark fantasy following a couple of gelflings on a quest to restore balance to their world. The endlessly covetous Skeksis are the stuff of nightmares, but they also feel like a warning about the dangers of unchecked greed that we should have taken seriously. Henson wasn't afraid to challenge viewers of any age with a complex moral message. You can stream The Dark Crystal on Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV. The Dark Crystal (1982) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) A technical triumph from director Robert Zemeckis, Roger Rabbit is also a fun tribute to Hollywood of yore, and to the hard-boiled detective movies that were once a ubiquitous genre unto themselves. Bob Hoskins plays Eddie Valiant, a boozy and embittered gumshoe hired to investigate allegations that the wife of cartoon star Roger is having an affair. Cartoon luminaries from Bugs Bunny to Betty Boop pop in for cameos. You can stream Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Police Story (1985) The plot is nothing new: Jackie Chan plays a cop who singlehandedly puts away a major Hong Kong drug dealer, but then has to protect the man's secretary with some help from his own girlfriend (Maggie Cheung). No matter: The action comedy includes several of the most breathtaking sequences of Chan's career (which is really saying something), including a legendary sequence during which the actor falls several stories through a series of exploding light bulbs and fixtures. You can stream Police Story on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Apple TV. Police Story (1985) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max My Dinner with Andre (1981) A casual dinner conversation between Andr Gregory and Wallace Shawn gets wildly existential in director Louis Malle's endlessly fascinating classic. "Boring" in the best way. You can stream My Dinner with Andre on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. My Dinner with Andre (1981) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Highlander (1986) Immortal beings wander the earth, forced to fight each other to the death with swordsbecause there can be only one. Or something. The goofy premise is played with absolute seriousness by Christopher Lambert as the titles highlander. As a result, the film works both as a sci-fi action epic as well as pure camp, ably assisted by Sean Connerys Ramirez, an Egyptian immortal from Spain who, for some reason, sounds entirely Scottish. The Queen theme song, Princes of the Universe, kicks ass. You can stream Highlander on Tubi, Peacock, Prime Video, and Pluto TV. Highlander (1986) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Untouchables (1987) Brian De Palmas very loose history lesson on Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) as he forms the titles team (with help from Sean Connery) to bring down Al Capone (Robert de Niro). Its a crowd-pleasing crime thriller that also offers up some brilliant performances and artful, smart direction. You can stream The Untouchables on Peacock and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Untouchables (1987) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Harlem Nights (1989) Eddie Murphy directed and stars in this period piece set in a Prohibition-era speakeasy full of gangsters and gamblers. It doesnt entirely work, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime cast that includes Murphy, Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, Della Reese, Jasmine Guy, Arsenio Hall, etc., and its a lot of fun to see them all share the screen together. You can stream Harlem Nights on Tubi, Paramount+, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Harlem Nights (1989) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Ghostbusters (1984) There was a craft to 80s comedies that Im not sure still exists: Take something like Ghostbusters, or Back to the Future, sci-fi comedies that dont feel excessively bombastic, and with jokes that land at least as often as they dont. Theres a reason why were still watching them. You can stream Ghostbusters on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Ghostbusters (1984) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Little Mermaid (1989) As much as there is to love about the recent live-action remake, its unlikely to entirely replace the original, gorgeously animated Disney classic. With its subtly subversive themes and massive box office, its also the movie that almost singlehandedly revived a then-flagging Disney and made it the company it is today (with all the good and bad that implies). You can stream The Little Mermaid on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Little Mermaid (1989) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Blue Velvet (1986) David Lynchs neo-noir starts with a college student finding a severed human ear in a field and leads to a world of weird sex and violence. It introduces several of the directors major themes, particularly the idea of a small town that seems completely normal until you pull back the curtain, at which point it looks like, well, a David Lynch movie. Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, and Dean Stockwell lead the impressive cast. You can stream Blue Velvet on Max or rent it from Apple TV. Blue Velvet (1986) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Akira (1988) Set in a dystopian 2019, this beautiful cyberpunk classic finds biker Kaneda forced to face down his friend Tetsuo after he gains telekinetic abilities in an accident. The wildly kinetic movie and its highly detailed world set a new standard for animewere still living in the animation world that Akira gave birth to. You can stream Akira on Crunchyroll. Akira (1988) at Crunchyroll Learn More Learn More at Crunchyroll They Live (1988) The metaphor isnt particularly subtle in this John Carpenter classic, but thats all for the better. Roddy Piper plays a nameless drifter who comes to understand that there are secret subliminal messages everywhere: telling us to shop more, to stick to the status quoin other words, never question American-style capitalism. It all comes under threat when our lead gets a pair of glasses that allow him to see the truth all around him. You can rent They Live from Prime Video. They Live (1988) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Clue (1985) An all-star comedy murder mystery? Clue was doing the Knives Out thing before that movie was even a glimmer in Rian Johnsons eye, and its delightfully silly. It wasnt terribly popular upon its initial release, but its become a cult classic in the years since. You can stream Clue on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Clue (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Running Man (1987) Its the future as visualized in the 1980s and, well, its not all that far off, actually. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a framed criminal forced to compete in a competition program, the movie foresaw our reality-driven television culture, the use of AI and other technologies to alter perceived reality, as well as our ever-increasing willingness to let entertainment distract us from whats really going on around us. This fun little action movie feels almost prophetic. You can stream The Running Man on Paramount+ and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Running Man (1987) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ The Princess Bride (1987) A flawlessly entertaining fantasy, The Princess Bride works on almost every level: as a quotable comedy, a soaring romance, and a Robin Hood-style action movie that has fun with the tropes of those kinds of movies. Just a delight. You can stream The Princess Bride on Disney+ and Hulu or buy it from Prime Video. The Princess Bride (1987) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Raising Arizona (1987) Its not always the first movie that comes to mind when we talk about the Coen brothers, but this deliriously over-the-top crime comedy about a kidnapping (by Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter) is, as deranged as it is, ultimately, pretty sweet. You can rent Raising Arizona from Prime Video. Raising Arizona (1987) Learn More Learn More Die Hard (1988) Its the Christmas movie that came along and kicked Its a Wonderful Life right off the 35th floor of Nakatomi Plaza tower. A brilliantly entertaining action classic. You can stream Die Hard on Prime Video and Hulu. Die Hard (1988) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu

Paint is the cheapest, easiest renovation you can do: it makes everything fresh and new, it covers defects, and its something almost anyone can do to a reasonable level of quality.If you just read that last part and started shaking your head because your paint projects always turn out terriblypatchy, or with visible sheen or brush strokes, or a final color that doesnt seem to match what you chose in the store at allthe cause probably isnt your work ethic, or an evil spirit inhabiting your house. The problem probably lies in your prep work. If all youre doing before you start slapping paint on the walls is applying some painters tape and covering the furniture, the chances that the final paint job will look terrible are actually pretty high. Here are all the things you should take into account before you dip that brush.Consider temperature and humidityThe weather can affect the quality of your paint job. Extreme temperature or humidity can have an adverse impact on the drying time. At colder temperatures, paint can thicken, extending its drying time. At hotter temperatures, it can dry too quickly, affecting adhesion. High humidity that leaves moisture on the walls will also result in a sub-par paint job.Your home is probably climate controlled, so painting inside even during extreme weather is certainly possiblejust make sure the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees and the humidity levels are between 40 and 60%.Prep the wallsIts usually a good idea to wash your walls before painting them to ensure there is no dust or dirt that could adversely affect adhesion. While youre at it, look for cracks, dents, peeling tape, or other defects and patch everything up (including crayon or grease stains that will probably show through your paint unless theyre scrubbed off). A small flaw that isnt noticeable now might become a glaring problem when a fresh coat of paint brings it to the forefront.Cleaning walls with a dry microfiber cloth followed by warm water and a sponge is usually sufficient, unless your walls are really dirty. If youre worried about it, add a small amount of dish washing liquid or trisodium phosphate (if your walls are greasy and very dirty)but avoid colored soaps that might leave a tint behind.Choose the right rollersOne big reason paint jobs look like crap? The nap on your roller cover. The nap of your roller describes the thickness of the fibers. Generally speaking, the smoother your wall surface is, the smaller the nap of your roller cover should be. Painting kitchen cabinets? Go with a 1/4-inch nap. Painting a brick wall? An inch or even a 1 1/4-inch nap is best. Smaller fibers pick up less paint, while thicker fibers hold more painta too-short nap can result in a patchy finish on rough surfaces, while a too-long nap can add unwanted texture to smooth surfaces. Most interior paint jobs will call for a nap between 3/8 inch (very smooth walls) and 3/4 inch (textured walls, like stucco).Apply a separate primer coatThese days you can buy paint and primer together, which is a terrific time saver. But if your walls arent in great shape, even after cleaning and patching, you will usually get a much better result with a separate primer coat. This step might not be 100% necessary on your walls, but taking the extra time to prime properly will guarantee the best possible outcome.Identify the paint's undertonesAlmost all paint has an undertone (its base color )and a masstone (its overall hue). The undertone can be subtle and difficult to suss out, which is why its so important to paint a few samples on the wall before you commit. The paints undertone will interact with everything else in the room in ways that arent always obvious in the store. You brought home a beige paint, for example, but it has a green undertone, and suddenly it looks all wrong on your walls because your wood floors have yellow undertones.You can ask about the paints undertone at the store where youre buying it. You can also use a color wheel to compare it to primary colors to get a sense of the undertones involved.Combine multiple buckets of paintIf youre painting a small room and using just one can of paint, youre good to go. If your project is larger and youll be using multiple cans of the same color, you should combine all your paint into a larger bucket and mix it upa process called boxing. This is a good idea because even if you bought your paint from the same store at the same time, there can be subtle variations between cans. Maybe the pigments dispersed incorrectly, or the mixing process was slightly off. Whatever the reason, even the tiniest variation between cans will be incredibly obvious when you switch to the new can. Boxing it eliminates the danger.Check out your window tintYour windows can throw a wrench into your paint colors. This is because many windows have a very subtle green tint due to the presence of iron oxide in the glass. This isnt noticeable in any way to the naked eye, as a rule, but it can cast a greenish tint on your paint thats just strong enough to make it look inexplicably wrong in the daylight. Putting samples on the wall to judge the color is a great ideabut make sure you paint those samples in a spot where the light from your windows will hit them. Samples that look perfect in a more shadowed area may suddenly look weird when light hits it through the window.Figure out the color temperature of your lightsAnother lighting issue is your light bulbs. All the bulbs youre using in your light fixtures have a color temperature, and that can affect how your paint looks. Generally speaking, bulbs with higher color temperatures will brighten darker paint and mute lighter colors and vice versa. This means that a paint color that looks terrific in daylight can suddenly look grim or faded at night when the lights come on. Its best to check your samples in all kinds of light to make sure youve chosen wiselyand change your bulbs to support your paint if necessary.You should also check the color rendering index (CRI) of your bulbs. This is a rating between 50 and 100 that indicates how accurate the color rendering of the bulb will be. A CRI of 90 to 100 will show your paint as accurately as possible, reducing the chances that it will look worse when the sun goes down.Load your roller upFinally, when actually painting, dont be shy with your roller. When initially loading paint onto a dry cover, take your time and work paint deep into the nap. This can take a few minutes, so dont rushyou want a nice, wet roller when you hit the wall. When painting, dont roll until the roller is exhaustedreload frequently and keep the nap damp. Exhausting your roller will just leave streaks and faint spots that may or may not get covered by a second coatand may or may not haunt you for years afterward.

It's not difficult to delete an app off your iPhone. In fact, it only takes a few taps at most. If you're so inclined, you can even remove purchases from your Apple Account entirely. So it might come as a bit of a surprise if you see that app randomly reappear. As it happens, some users are seeing just that.MacRumors spotted multiple threads across both Reddit and Apple's Community Support site, all featuring the same complaint: users noticing apps they did not choose to download appearing on their iPhones. Some of these affected users had previously deleted these apps months or years ago, and didn't understand why they were back. Others, however, had no memory of ever downloading the app in question in the first place. The account Someandroiduser started a Community Support thread, claiming a previously deleted app "Last War Survival" ended up on their iPhone again. Redditor dURDENN7 posted the same, without naming the app in question. It's worth noting some of the commenters on that thread said their iPhones had downloaded "Last War Survival" as well, including one who said they had never downloaded the app before. Reddit user illyyas posted that they had discovered the game "Ingress" installed on their iPhone, despite the fact they don't play games at all on their phone. Another commenter said their iPhone downloaded "Cooking Mama" to their Home screen, even though the App Store still showed the option to "Get" the appimplying the user had never actually installed the app before. Another user shared a similar story with the game "Bit City."Is iOS 18.4 responsible?While it isn't totally clear what is behind these app downloads, one through line does appear to be iOS 18.4. The update officially dropped on Monday, adding new features and security patches for compatible iPhones. Unfortunately, Apple might've missed a bug in beta testing, since many of these user complaints note these apps mysteriously appeared after installing the latest iOS update. MacRumors notes that Automatic Downloadsthe feature that installs previously downloaded apps on other connected Apple devicesdoesn't seem to be at fault here, since many of the affected users only have iPhones. In addition, the outlet identified that these devices were not jailbroken and were not using a third-party app marketplace. To Apple's credit, this hasn't been my experience with the newest update. I installed iOS 18.4 on my iPhone, and, as far as I can tell, no new or previously downloaded apps found their way into my App Library. However, it is a problem: You shouldn't expect to see apps you previously deleted reappear on your device, and you definitely shouldn't see apps you never downloaded to begin with.Apple has not made a public statement about this issue, nor is there really much you can do to prevent it. If you happen to notice an app you previously deletedor never actually downloaded in the first placeyour best bet is to simple delete it, and hope it doesn't show up again.

Around November of last year, when readers were certainly not paying attention to anything else, Nintendo briefly shared that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be backwards compatible with games for the original Nintendo Switch. Fast forward to this year, and it turns out thats not so clear cut. According to Nintendo, the Switch 2 can play the vast majority of Nintendo Switch 1 games, but there are some caveats to keep in mind.The Switch 2 uses emulation to play Switch 1 gamesAs Nintendo posted to its site yesterday and confirmed in a developer roundtable I attended, the Switch 2 does not have any Switch 1 hardware inside. This means that, unlike the Nintendo DS did with the Game Boy Advance, it cant play Switch games natively, meaning its not able to run them exactly as they might work on original hardware. Instead, it uses what Nintendo said is a mix of hardware compatibility and software emulation to essentially trick these games into thinking theyre running on the original Switch.This comes with both downsides and upsides. The good is that, because the Switch 2 has more powerful architecture than the original Switch, you might see some slight benefits from simply running your game on the new console, like faster loading times. The issues start to pop up when looking at game compatibility. Credit: Nintendo Not every game, it turns out, plays nice with this translation to the new device. According to Nintendo, the vast majority of Switch 1 games should work without issue, with some select games getting free patches to help bring them up to snuff, but the company has encountered problems with over 120 titles, some of which wont even start up. These include popular games like Doom: Eternal and Rocket League, so if you depend on your Switch to play these, dont expect the new console to be able to replace your old one right away. Itll likely take some time for Nintendo to work out all the kinks here.Nintendo Switch 2 Edition gamesSo how is Nintendo getting around these problems? Well, aside from painstakingly checking each Nintendo Switch game (more than 10,000) one-by-one, its also releasing new versions of certain Switch 1 games that are built to run on the Nintendo Switch 2 from the ground up.These Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will essentially be enhanced ports of certain Switch 1 titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom; Kirby and the Forgotten Land; Super Mario Party Jamboree; and even as-yet-unreleased games like Pokmon Legenda: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.Switch 2 Edition games will come with improved graphics, higher resolutions, and much smoother framerates, as well as new content in the case of Kirby and Mario Party. Youll also get new control modes when applicable, as Metroid Prime 4 will be able to use the Switch 2s mouse controls.The catch: you have to pay for these upgrades. While your Switch 2 should be able to play the above games just fine if you pop your Switch 1 cartridge into it, you wont get any of the enhancements that let you use its extra power unless you pony up, and will instead be playing via the same emulation as every other Switch 1 game.Luckily, if you already own the Switch 1 version of a game, you can get an upgrade pack (sold either at select retailers or via the Nintendo eShop) to get the Switch 2 Edition at a discount, as opposed to buying the Switch 2 Edition for full price (which, of course, is also an option). Even betterNintendo has confirmed that your upgraded game will still be playable on Switch 1, just without the enhancements that come with the Switch 2 Edition. Plus, subscribers to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack will at least get both Zelda upgrades included with their plan.Official pricing for these Switch 2 Editions or their upgrade packs has yet to be revealed, but keep in mind that when youre shopping for a Switch 2, you shouldnt necessarily bank on the system being able to play your Switch 1 games, but better.How to play a Switch 1 game on Switch 2Now that Ive broken down the ins-and-outs of backwards compatibility on the Switch, lets talk about how to actually play your Switch 1 games on the Switch 2.The first method is pretty simple. If you own a compatible physical Switch 1 game cartridge, you can just put it into your Switch 2 to start playing it just like on the original console.Alternatively, if you want to move all of your game saves, wifi details, parental control settings, and digital games over to the Switch 2, you can use a System Transfer to do just that. Specific steps for the transfer system havent been published yet, but youll be able to use it to conveniently move pretty much everything from your Switch 1 to your Switch 2 all in one fell swoop. Credit: Nintendo Finally, for a more piecemeal approach, theres Virtual Game Cards. This is a new way of categorizing digital games thats set for release in April. Essentially, itll add a new icon to the Switchs home screen, where youll be able to see your digital games as a series of virtual game cards. Youll then be able to load these cards then and there to play them on the system youre currently using, or click Load on Another System to move them over to another console linked to your Nintendo Account. With that, you can move your Switch 1 games over to Switch 2 on a more case-by-case basis.

As someone who's planning to buy the Nintendo Switch 2, I've had my eye on the accessories I'd need to get with the console. Since Super Mario Party Jamboree, which is getting some new mini-games in its Switch 2 port, is one of the games I'm very interested in, the Switch 2 Camera accessory caught my eye. After all, who doesn't want to make dramatic faces while playing with their friends? You can even use it for chat, too. However, I'm not sure I can justify spending $50 on an accessory that'll probably gather dust after I'm done with Mario Party. Fortunately, it looks like the Switch 2 Camera is not the only way to play camera-based games or video chat with your friends on the Nintendo Switch 2.How to check if the Nintendo Switch 2 supports your USB-C camera Credit: Nintendo A quick look at Nintendo's Switch 2 Camera webpage reveals that you can use third-party USB-C cameras with the console, even ones that aren't made with it in mind. Like me, if you already have a USB-C camera lying around, you can plug it into the Switch 2 and the console will tell you if it's compatible. Whenever you end up getting the Switch 2, just go to the console's settings and navigate to the Controllers & Accessories section. Once the camera is connected to the Switch 2, select Test USB Camera and the console will let you know if the camera is compatible with the system.Why you might want to consider an alternative USB cameraI don't want to discourage people from buying Nintendo's Switch 2 Camera right away, since I haven't tried it yet. But I won't be buying it immediately, because it's too expensive for me. Yes, you get guaranteed compatibility and a useful stand that lets you place it on any flat surface, but that doesn't necessarily justify its price. At the time of writing, you can buy good USB-C webcams for as little as $20 each. These cameras ship with a privacy cover and adjustable stands that can be mounted on top of a TV or placed on a flat surface, and there's a good chance you already own one. If you can use one for the Switch 2 instead, it might be worth opting for that instead of spending extra cash.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Anytime you're looking for a good smartwatch, Garmin's name is bound to come up. The Garmin Instinct 3 came out very recently, and that means the Garmin Instinct 2 has dropped in priceand even though that model is now a generation old, it's still an incredible fitness and outdoor smartwatch. With this latest price drop, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is now $229.99 (originally $399.99), the lowest price it has reached, according to price tracking tools. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Features: Recovery Time; MTB Dynamics; Wrist-Based Heart Rate; Stress Tracking; Sleep Score, etc. $229.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Get Deal $229.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $170.00 The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is a serious smartwatch, visually represented by its no-nonsense, black-and-white display. It puts all of its chips on functionality over other aspects a health smartwatch might offer. As the name implies, it's a solar-powered watch. Three hours of being in the sun gives you about 24 hours of juice or one hour of GPS battery life. Even without sun, a full charge gives you 28 days of juice. The GPS and the heart rate feature are very accurate, so if that's what you care about, the Instinct 2 Solar will not disappoint.The Instinct 2 Solar has a lot of different sport profiles you can choose to track, making it great for triathlon athletes or people who like to practice many different sports. It also has Connect IQ app support, which opens the doors to many third-party apps for extra features, face watches, and widgets. And if you need some motivation or guidance with your fitness goals Training Status can suggest workouts for running and cycling. The watch also includes helpful tools like a built-in compass, altimeter, and barometer, making it great for hardcore hikers. Finally, since the Instinct 2 Solar has Connect IQ, you can configure your watch with the app instead of painstakingly doing it on the watch.

Google is planning a new update for its upcoming Pixel 9a which includes a new feature dedicated to protecting and prolonging the phone's battery. While the goal is longevity, this new battery management feature will actually end up reducing the battery capacity of the Pixel 9a over time. It won't just be the Pixel 9a, as other Pixel series phones will eventually receive the feature too. The kicker, though, is Pixel 9a users can't turn this feature off.Why do Lithium-ion batteries need management?All lithium-ion batteries degrade over time. As you use your smartphone, and as you continue to charge it, the total battery capacity goes down. Eventually, charging your phone to 100% doesn't last as long as it used to: maybe 100% battery today really gets you 80% of the battery capacity of the battery when it was new.Manufacturers have introduced workarounds that help prolong the inevitable, by limiting how much you actually charge the battery. Apple has an iPhone feature that lets users limit the battery charging between 80% and 95%. There are apps that do this for the Mac as well. These measures do go a long way in prolonging the battery of a device. In the short term, you might not notice any difference, but these changes can lead to batteries lasting for months or years longer than they used to. Now that Google is supporting Pixel devices with seven years of software updates, it's in the company's interest to ensure its devices' batteries are performing at a level that can support the new software and features that will be added in the years to come. How Google's Battery Health Assistance worksAs first reported by 9to5Google, Google is adding a new "Battery Health Assistance" feature to Pixel phones, starting with the Pixel 9a. Google is taking quite a different path than Apple here: Instead of providing an option to limit battery charging overnight, or to a particular percentage, Google will start to reduce the battery's maximum voltage after the Pixel 9a crosses 200 charge cycles.A charging cycle doesn't mean a single charging session. It means charging your phone from zero to 100%, even if that happens in breaks, over multiple days. If your phone drops from 100% to 60%, then you charge it to 100% again, that's 40% of a full charge cycle. If you then let it fall to 40%, and charge it back up to 100%, that's 60% of cyclecombined, that's one full cycle. So, once the system clocks 200 of those cycles, Battery Health Assistance kicks in. Google will do this automatically and in the background, hopefully without being too intrusive. Google says that users may notice small decreases in the battery's runtime as the battery ages, andwill continue to reduce voltage for up to 1,000 charging cycles. Once this feature rolls out to existing Pixel devices, you will be able to turn it off if you preferwith one exception.Mandatory Battery Health AssistanceAs I mentioned above, the Pixel 9a is currently the only Google smartphone that won't have an off switch for Battery Health Assistance. While this is a good feature, and it will prolong the battery life of the smartphone, not having the option to turn it off, and thus having no choice in whether to use the full charging capacity of the phone, is a bummer. Since the Pixel 9a has the biggest battery ever in a Pixel phone (5,100 mAh), your phone's battery should be in good shape for a while. But the fact that Google is forcing this feature onto its users, and not presenting it as a choice, will likely rub Pixel 9a users the wrong wayespecially since other Pixel users will have a choice in the matter. At the time of writing I don't know how this feature will work, how it will be turned off, but I suspect that will go hand in hand with the upcoming Android 16's new Battery Health section that lets users limit charging capacity to 80%, shows battery cycle count, among other battery related data.This, along with the fact that the Pixel 9a will miss out on the top-tier AI features, differentiates it from the Pixel 9 (which can be found as low as $600 on sale). Perhaps the latter is the phone to go with for users who want as much control over their device as possible.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.There have been many earbuds with great active noise canceling (ANC) over the years, but none have reached the standard set in 2023 by the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. They are still the best ANC earbuds you can get in 2025. Right now, you can get the Moonstone Blue for $219.99 (originally $299) on Amazon, matching the lowest price they've been, according to price-tracking tools. You can also get the Diamond 60th Anniversary Edition for $229. Brand: Bose, Color: Moonstone Blue, Ear Placement: In Ear, Noise Control: Active Noise Cancellation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Earbuds $219.99 at Amazon $299.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Get Deal $219.99 at Amazon $299.00 Save $79.01 Brand: Bose, Color: Diamond, Ear Placement: In Ear, Noise Control: Active Noise Cancellation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds $229.00 at Amazon $299.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $229.00 at Amazon $299.00 Save $70.00 SEE -1 MORE Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds $219.99 at Amazon $299.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Get Deal $219.99 at Amazon $299.00 Save $79.01 The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth earbuds received an "outstanding" review from PCMag, not just for their best-in-class ANC, but also for their great audio, Active Aware feature, Spatial audio support, and diverse codec Bluetooth support with AAC and AptX, which makes them great for Android and Apple users alike. However, they're not perfect. They lack multipoint connectivity, which other high-end earbuds at this price point offer, and there is no wireless charging for the case (if you care about that).The features are what sets these earbuds apart. They have a CustomTune feature that measures your ear's canal's shape to tune the sound and establishes your best ANC profile. You can adapt changes in the companion app as well. Bose calls its spatial audio feature "Immersive Audio," which is a feature that mimics hearing your surroundings similarly to what it would feel to wear open-ear headphones. You can also mess around with the settings to mix and match outside noise and ANC within the Immersive Audio setting on the app.You'll get about four to six hours of battery life and another 12 to 18 with the battery case. The earbuds aren't waterproof, but they are water resistant with an IPX4 rating, so you can wear them in the gym.

The vernal equinox, marking the first day of spring, occurs in late March every year. Sometime around then, most planting zones encounter what is known as the last frost date, which is the experts' best guess, based on averages, of when your last hard freeze will be. The cherry, plum, and peach blossoms are exploding on trees all around us and tulips are popping up from the ground. There are all kinds of markers that gardening season has arrived, but the most prominent one is the return of people to working on their front yards on sunny days, which should be happening now with some regularity. It is finally full steam ahead for this year, and there are tons of things you can be doing outside. Cherry blossoms Credit: Amanda Blum Document the spring bloomThere's an order to the way plants bloom in early spring: the crocus, the daffodils, then the tulips, the irises, and the peonies. Each year I try to take pictures every few days from the same angles in the yard so I can document where I might need more bulbs. You'll forget by the time fall rolls around and it's time to plant more. This pictorial documentation can help you visualize any bulb losses you have year to year, as well. Tulips in bloom Credit: Amanda Blum Get your trellises clean and readyBased on the plans I made for the garden over the winter, I now know where I'll need plant supports for my tomatoes, peppers, beans, and cucumbers. I begin getting those trellises I have out of storage and sterilizing them, and I make plans to build or order any new trellises I'll need. Weed and dress with compost With the nighttime temperatures starting to remain over 40 degrees, its time to clean out your beds and get them ready for planting. This means doing a thorough weeding, as best you can, and then top with compost. Clean away debris in the paths and beds, because that is slug food and an invitation for disease and pests. Check in on your own compost bins; they could probably use a good turn. Check in on your flower perennials Irises that need dividing Credit: Amanda Blum First, take an inventory of the perennials you have, and see if any need dividing. Plants grow into the space around them, but if theyve run out of space, you can break them up, and either relocate these new plants or trade them for others. Irises and daylilies are an excellent example; hostas are another. This is also how youll take inventory of what did not survive this year. With the weather becoming more extreme year to year, even perennials can succumb to weather events. Perennials have started to come out of hibernation in the greenhouses at your local nursery, so you can begin to replace any that will need it. Buying now, when plants are still small, will help save money. Grab some early flowering annualsIts still early for most varieties of flowers, but pansies love the cold. At this point, begin checking the nurseries for snapdragons, sweet peas, petunias, and other early flowering plants. Its a good time to get your hanging baskets and window boxes filled, too, so theyll be in full bloom come May. In fact, many groceries and nurseries will help you fill your planters if you bring them in; some even plan events around doing so.Don't forget edibles Peas coming up from seed Credit: Amanda Blum If you've not yet planted peas, it's go time. They can be direct sown outside and need to be grown against some support. This time of year, I grow shelling pea and sugar snaps on tall vines that climb arches in my yard. I also take stock of my strawberry plants, thinning them so they're spaced at least six inches apart. Give away extras, or ask your neighbors for their extras if you need them. I look for my perennial edibles to make sure they've survived the winter. The horseradish has been staking it's claim, poking up leaves from its usual plot. I've already replaced a few artichokes that didn't make it through the last ice storm. The first tiny stalks of asparagus made an appearance this week, which means in a few weeks we'll be drowning in spears. Now is the time to plant more asparagus crowns, too. I try to add a few crowns each yearthey're usually a dollar or two at the nursery, and in this way, you can establish them in more places. I've been waiting with bated breath to see if all the rhubarb I planted last year will return, since last year I lost my fifteen-year-old specimen, but I saw the first leaves begin to poke out of the ground this week. If you need to replace yours, you'll find rhubarb at your nursery. Fiddleheads and ramps (which, as a reminder, you can grow at home) should be emerging. It's also the time to plant your summer potatoes: Your nursery has potato starts, but if you've got grocery store potatoes that have sprouted at home, those can go right into the ground. carrots, radishes, beets and lettuce planted two weeks ago Credit: Amanda Blum I've already planted a few rounds of radishes, beets, carrots, and lettuce in the garden, and will continue doing so every few weeks through summer. The spring rain is excellent for helping these seeds I direct sow to germinate. You can continue to plant spring edibles like spinach, kale, chard, and mustard greens, but if you dont get broccoli and cauliflower early in the month, youll miss your window. These are short crops, but you want them to finish and harvest before you need the room for summer crops like tomatoes. You also want to get three long crops in now, starting with parsnips, which need 180 days to grow. Plant them from seed now, and you'll have enough of this root vegetable to cook all fall. Brussels sprouts also need that long summer to grow if they're going to be ready for Thanksgiving. Finally, your nursery will have all your onion sets to get into the ground. Keeper onions and leeks need the season to be ready for harvest in late summer or early fall. Inspect your systems Check your water systems Credit: Amanda Blum Its also time to turn the irrigation and sprinkler systems back on for the year, so schedule any inspections like backflow testing. Once the water is on, test your controller and look for signs of any leaks in the lines. You can safely reconnect hoses, and put out manual timers if you use them. Be sure to give all your tools a good spray down with vinegar or bleach to sterilize them, and remember to keep a spray bottle with the same on hand for your pruning shears as you move about the garden. Spray them between plants so you are not transferring disease.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youve ever wanted to wear earbuds that dont actually go in your ears, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds might be the oddball pick youve been looking for. These open-style earbuds clip on and hook around your ear instead of sitting inside it, letting ambient noise in by design. That makes them great for runs, walks, or commutingbasically, situations where you want to hear your music but also that car barreling around the corner. And for the next six days or until it sells out, Woots offering refurbished models of these earbuds, in black, moonstone blue, and white smoke for $179much cheaper than Amazons current $261.99 price. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $179.00 at Woot $299.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $179.00 at Woot $299.00 Save $120.00 Since these are refurbished, they might show a bit of wear, but theyve been tested and cleared to function properly. You also get a 90-day Woot limited warranty, which is shorter than Boses standard, but fair for the price cut, and if youre an Amazon Prime member, shipping is free (otherwise its $6). Just a heads-up: Woot ships only within the 48 contiguous states.Bose doesnt skimp on audio quality here: Despite the open design, they deliver solid sound with real punch and clarity. The bass wont rumble like in-ear buds, but you still get that signature Bose balance. They also have Immersive Audio support, which adds spatial depththough it's a little inconsistent depending on what youre listening to and can feel gimmicky, according to this PCMag review. They also support Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive and work especially well with podcasts and mellow playlists. That said, the biggest downside is that they dont have any noise cancellation, which, again, is kind of the point, but still worth noting if youre used to ANC earbuds. Battery life clocks in around 7.5 hours on a single charge (with Immersive Audio off), and the charging case gives you almost two full charges, which is decent enough. If youre someone who prioritizes awareness and comfort over total sound isolationand doesnt mind a pre-loved gadgetthis deal makes a pretty compelling case. If youre more of a noise-canceling, zone-out-on-the-plane kind of listener, these probably won't cut it for you.

Yesterday, Nintendo finally announced its successor to the Nintendo Switch, fittingly named the Switch 2. I already wrote about my general experiences with the console, where I talked about how its mostly boring, but probably the right move on Nintendos part. Still, I wanted to take a moment to call out one part of the console that definitely isnt boring: the mouse controls.When you take one of the Switch 2s controllers, the Joy-Con 2, off the console and put it on its side, it becomes a mousesimple as that. If youre playing a compatible game, youll instantly see a cursor pop up on screen, and right away, youll be playing as if you were on PC. Rotate the controller to be upright again, and youll be back to a more traditional setup.This is akin to a magic trick. Despite consoles generally being easier to set up than PCs, and more often played from more comfortable positions like the living room, certain genres have eluded them for a while. These include shooters, strategy games, and other titles that benefit from quick and precise pointer movement. There have been attempts to fix that before, like with motion controls, but having gone hands-on with the Switch 2s mouse mode, its easily my favorite so far.Suddenly, the comfort of consoles and precision control of PCs dont need to be at odds anymore. There are a few drawbacks, which Ill get into in a moment, but I was surprised how well it worked overall.Take Metroid Prime 4. This series started off on the GameCube, with shooting almost entirely relegated to an archaic lock-on system. Then, it re-released on the Wii and later the original Switch with improved motion controls, but those could get tiring after a bit. Now, with Metroid Prime 4, it plays just like any other shooter (OK, the lock-on is still there if you want it, but you get my point).Thats huge. Granted, an exploration-based series like Metroid doesnt necessarily need to cross that threshold, but it worked nearly perfectly in my time with it, and represents so many possibilities for the Switch 2. Now, the Nintendo port of Call of Duty or similar titles might not be some compromised alternative when you dont have any other systems; it could be the best way to play, barring the PC. And this goes double for genres like strategy games, which often skip consoles altogether. Civilization VIII on the Switch 2 felt exactly like controlling it at my desk.But even if those more traditional use cases elude you, the mouse controls are the one place in the Switch 2s design where you can see Nintendos classic playfulness at work. About a month after the consoles launch, the company is set to re-release its latest Mario Party game with an enhanced port for the Switch 2, and as I saw first-hand, it took the opportunity to go all-in on the mouse.In a pre-release hands-on with the Switch 2 version of the game, I got to use mouse controls to play a convincing substitute for air hockey, a classic mouse avoider game, plus two mini-games that actually do things you cant do on a normal mouse.The first had me spray painting objects with the Joy-Con, then quickly shaking it to refill my paint canister. It wasnt the most robust experience, but it did show off one benefit to just tossing mouse functionality on an existing controlleryou can use the controllers other functions, like motion controls, in tandem with it.This was more noticeable in a stacking mini-game I played, where I had to use the mouse pointer in combination with the Joy-Cons gyro to make a taller block tower than my competitors without knocking it over. Throw in some oddball shapes, like a Yoshi stuffed animal, and it was great fun. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt But perhaps the most noticeable example of Nintendo doing something new with the mouse was in Drag X Drive, a basketball game that sees you controlling a player in a wheelchair. With its crude graphics and mocap-feeling animation, it definitely had tech-demo vibes, and Ill leave it to others more versed in the topic than me to talk to the representation of disabled athletes. But I will say that it might be the only game Ive seen played with two mice at once.In the game, you place both Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode, then use your left hand to control your left wheel, and your right hand to control your right wheel. Honestly, it got tiring pretty fast, but it did feel shockingly accurate to the few experiences where Ive been in a wheelchair (although, again, Ill leave the real judgment there to experts).Its also another good example of the mouse controls combining with another Joy-Con feature, in this case vibration. The controllers did a great job of simulating my wheels drag on the ground as I turned them, which helped me know what needed moving where, and made controlling my character fluid enough that, yes, I was able to dunk.All this said, this playfulness has me equal parts excited and worried. As much as Im excited to see that new play experiences arent entirely dead on the Switch 2, mouse controls will only thrive as long as developers use them. Given Nintendos past history with accessories like the Wii MotionPlus, I worry that theyll quickly fall by the wayside following a few of its own first party releases.Theres also some physical discomfort to acknowledge here. The Joy-Con 2 technically have capabilities normal mice dont, yes, but they also lose out on ergonomics. Theyre much thinner, so I have to grip them with a very tight claw style thats not natural to me, and pressing the face buttons on them while using them as mice can be a bit of a challenge at first. Id love to see the ability to map the right stick to face buttons instead, but we shall see.Still, this is one feature I cant be mad aboutif only because Im still holding out hope that it may eventually lead to Nintendo DS and Wii U emulation in Switch Online. Playing games made for these consoles on other devices has always been a bit difficult because of their unique touch controls, even on mobile. But with a big screen TV and a mouse pointer taking the place of a stylus, we may finally have the perfect answer to this longstanding problem. Im beaming, as Im sure the dozen other The World Ends With You fans are.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the first Nintendo console to be a direct successor to a predecessor, number and all. Sure, everyone knew what Super Nintendo meant, but now more than ever, Nintendo is looking to competitors like Sony for cues, aiming for a simpler and more straightforward next-gen upgrade this time around. It makes sensethe Switch was its most successful home console yet, and when Nintendo tried to follow up the Wii with the more out-of-left-field Wii U, it flopped. So why mess with success? But that strategy does leave the Switch 2 in a precarious position, especially given its hefty $450 price point. Is there really enough new here to justify an upgrade? After going hands-on, Id say yes, but with a disappointing caveat.The Switch 2 is a lot like the Switch 1 The Nintendo Switch 2 console and a few selected accessories. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Unlike how the Wii or Nintendo DS changed how we played games, if you already have a Nintendo Switch, then you are mostly already familiar with the core experience of using the Switch 2.Its still, essentially, a tablet with removable controllers that can optionally hook up to your TV to display on the big screen. There are a few new bells and whistles, but Nintendo hasnt strayed far from that vision here.Its a good vision, but sticking to it means that listing the improvements here involves relying more on specs than the new experiences Im used to with Nintendo products, and the results dont exactly work out in Nintendos favor.Once again, the company is using old hardware. Nintendo hasnt been upfront about the chip the Switch 2 uses (although there are rumors that its already five years old), but to cut it short, theres nothing here you havent already seen in competitors like the Steam Deck or, more charitably, the Lenovo Legion Go.Starting with the good: The screen is now 1080p instead of 720p, and a roomy 7.9-inchesan increase from both the 6.2-inches on the original model and 7-inches on the OLED model. It can also support up to 120 fps, and when plugged into a dock, is theoretically capable of playing 4K games at 60 fps or lower-resolution games at 120 fps (this will vary based on the title, which Ill get to later). Theres even ray-tracing, according to a roundtable I attended with the hardware designers, although I wasnt able to confirm whether I saw it in action while I played. The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts an improved kickstand. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Theres an extra USB-C port up top, too, which is convenient, plus a built-in microphone for the GameChat feature (which I didnt get to demo, just like the GameShare feature). The kickstand has also been redesigned to be sturdier and allow more angles, and the dock has a fan that cools your console to help keep performance stable over long sessions. (I wasnt able to hear it in person, which is good, but the event where I got to play the Switch was pretty loud.)Perhaps the best improvements, though, are to the Joy-Cons. They now connect magnetically and feature larger thumbsticks and trigger buttons, plus more prominent SL and SR buttons, all of which makes them far more comfortable to use. I considered the original Switch Joy-Cons pretty much unusable, but with these, I actually wouldnt feel much pressure to buy a Pro controller. Plus, they have a couple of new secrets, which Ill discuss a little bit later. The Nintendo Switch 2 has magnetic controllers. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt As for the negatives, the Switch 2 is a little bigger and a little heavier than the Switch 1, although I wouldnt have really noticed without putting the spec sheets side by side. The screen is also an LCD, which means owners of the Switch OLED might actually notice a bit of a downgrade here. Its a tradeoff for cost and the increased size and frame rate, but its worth keeping in mind. Honestly, as much as I love OLED, I dont actually mind this too much. The screens still plenty bright and colorful, and its small enough that Im willing to accept the balancing act Nintendo is playing here. The company will almost certainly release an OLED version down the line, anyway.Really, the device itself is plenty sleek, but it definitely reads as more Switch rather than new Switch. Just looking at the improvements on paper, Im not sure theres much reason to upgrade just for the new tech alone, which is concerning given that its the only real change that doesnt rely on future developer support. Even if youre a hardware nerd, the differences here arent as stark as they were between, say, the PS4 and the PS5. Rather, they more so just bring Nintendo in line with the competition, although perhaps still remaining a few years behind.That means that, more than ever, its up to the games to sell the Switch 2.But first, mouse controls! You can play the Nintendo Switch 2 while using the Joy-Con 2 like a mouse. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt But before I talk about those games, I do have to address the one big new feature here. While its not as flashy as motion controls on the Wii or the gamepad on the Wii U, the Switch 2 does have one new standout feature that other consoles dontmouse controls.In theory, I love these. By simply turning a Joy-Con 2 on its side, you can suddenly slide it around and use it like a mouse. A cursor will show up in your game if its compatible, and suddenly, it'll be like playing on a PC.There are a few tradeoffs. The grip needed here is a bit more claw-like than Im used to, and pressing the face buttons while the Joy-Con 2 is on its side can be pretty uncomfortable. But when I tested mouse controls in Civilization VII and, yes, Metroid Prime 4, they immediately felt like the natural way to play. I simply cant go back.This gives the Switch 2 a lot of potential, but its really up to developers to capitalize on it. It could become the de facto way to release shooters, RTS, or MOBA games on console going forward, which is a bit funny as those games tend to be more associated with older gamers and the Xbox. But it could also easily fall by the wayside as a tech demo, like in Drag X Drive, a game I tried that has you using both Joy-Con 2 as mice simultaneously to control a wheelchair. Ill leave it to people who actually use wheelchairs to comment on the accuracy here, but it certainly was noveland very tiring after just about five minutes.The potential here has me excited, perhaps more than anything about this system. Competitive shooter players could potentially play out of their living room here. Heck, you could easily use this to enable more accurate DS or Wii U backwards compatibility. But with actually implementing these being left up to individual developers, I am still a bit skeptical for now. How many games actually used Wii MotionPlus, anyway?Metroid Prime 4 makes the case for Switch 2 Metroid Prime 4 is improved for the Nintendo Switch 2 Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Easily, the game that sold me most on the Switch 2 was Metroid Prime 4, and Im not even much of a Metroid Prime person. (I liked the first game well enough, but generally prefer the 2D titles.)The game, however, was gorgeous, and played like a dream. Sitting down with it was one of the few moments where I thought this wasnt possible on Switch 1. Funny, because the game is technically cross-gen.Still, Nintendo made a point of saying that Metroid Prime 4 runs at 1080p/120 fps on the Switch 2, and while thats fairly modest compared to what Ive gotten used to on the consoles contemporaries, dang if it didnt feel great to see that level of technical polish and fidelity combined with Nintendos trademark show, dont tell design. And the fidelity actually serves a gameplay purpose here, too, as the increased frame rate makes keeping up with the action much easier.And thats without getting to the controls, which are certainly not possible on any other console. Ive played prior Metroid Prime games with just a controller, and with the motion controls in their rereleases, but mouse controls are easily the best way to move Samus in 3D. Aiming for weak points on bosses is immediate and snappy, and being able to quickly jerk your mouse to a vantage point makes taking in the scenery, whether for scanning or just eye candy, a breeze.All this does come with a bit of a risk, as a less skilled developer could easily lean too far into these improvements, and turn Metroid into what is essentially a Halo clone. But even in the brief demo I played, I noticed the same thoughtful level and encounter design Id come to expect from the rest of the series (not to diss Master Chief too much).If the Switch 2 needs a lawyer, Metroid Prime 4 should be it, because it makes a convincing case for the console, even if its still representing its older sibling too.Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza feel like more of the same Gliding is back in Mario Kart World Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt If Metroid Prime 4 feels like a game that needs the Switch 2, then the consoles other big first-party titles, or at least the ones Ive played so far, land in more dangerous waters.Put simply, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza feel like games that could have released for the Switch 1. Theyre both pretty, dont get me wrong, but theres nothing so novel about the gameplay here that requires a new console to power it. They use art styles that are pleasant, but so similar to what youd find on the Switch 1 that Im not sure the average person could pick them out from Mario Kart 8 or Super Mario Odyssey if you put them in a lineup.Of these two games, Mario Kart World suffers more from this. Playing it was just like playing Mario Kart 8, for better and worse. The good: Mario Kart 8 is a good game! The bad: Mario Kart 8 is a good game.Frankly, it feels like Mario Kart World has little reason to exist, and little reason to be exclusive to the Switch 2, except to sell the console. Its few new additions, being grinding, wall jumping, and a battle royale style multiplayer mode, are all things that could have been achieved without forcing players to spend at least $500 to get them, and are pretty easy to not even notice during play. Again, its Mario Kart 8, but more, and players would be just fine not swapping over to it.Granted, theres one elephant in the room with all of this, in that I didnt get to try out the Forza Horizon style free roam mode much. This, I could have seen struggling on the original Switch. But Im also skeptical how necessary it is. This could either be a full-blown map worthy of sinking hours into so you can find every detail, or a glorified lobby to drive around in while waiting for online matchmaking. But as for the core Mario Kart experience, its still strong but not a system seller, and not an appreciable improvement over what came before beyond some only very slightly better visuals. Is it me, or does this Donkey Kong design look more like he did in the movie? Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, is the big 3D platformer holding up the Switch 2s launch window (itll be available about a month after the console itself). Again, a lot of what I said about Mario Kart World holds true here. It looks good, but doesnt exactly stand out from a good looking Switch 1 game. Mechanically, its also mostly something that doesnt require the upgrade, so it could have been a Switch 1 game if Nintendo really wanted.That is, except for the destructible environments. Donkey Kong is recast as a bit of a miner in this game, and you can pretty much tear the whole map apart, polygon by polygon, with debris flying everywhere. Im convinced that if you made enough compromises to the visuals, this could have worked on Switch 1, but still, it is noteworthy that Bananza is both very pretty and never chugged while I was playing.Still, and this hurts to say as a fan of Donkey Kong, Bananza is kind of a chore to play. Maybe itll get better further into the game, but Donkey Kongs first 3D platformer since the Nintendo 64 weirdly falls into the same trap that game did: too many collectibles.Because you can tear the whole map apart polygon by polygon, and because almost every one of those polygons reveals a reward, it makes maintaining the same kind of flow state that Super Mario Odyssey, a game the Bananza is taking clear influence from, so heavily encouraged near impossible. Rather than focusing on fluid movement through an obstacle course, youre instead incentivized to smash and destroy nearly every part of the map, making worlds a bit of a slog to actually get through as you slowly pick them apart.Or you could accept that you dont have to get absolutely everything, if you dont suffer from the same kind of optimization sickness I do. It is fun to simply play as Donkey Kong, but even in that case, I feel the game could be better designed to support this, since the courses here do seem to be laid out more for Mario than DK. A less linear design might support the penchant to go ape more, but to be fair, I only saw the first world.Third party games are a mixed bagNintendo has a few more first party Switch 2 games announced for later on, although I didnt get to play tantalizing titles like Kirby Air Riders yet. Instead my pre-release experience with the Switch 2 was rounded out by third-party developers.The games I tried were, sadly, the biggest reason I remain skeptical of the Switch 2. From Cyberpunk 2077 to Street Fighter 6, it was a grab bag of quality. Given how old most of these games are, and that they all run well on devices like the Steam Deck, that really shouldnt be the case.Case in point: Cyberpunk is just flat out ugly on the Switch 2. Its pixelated, the frame rate dips constantly, and I found myself frequently disoriented in combat. Its clearly an example of the Switch 2 reaching above it means, which goes to show that while the system is prettier than its predecessor, its not the fix for the typical Nintendo performance issues some were hoping for.To be fair to Cyberpunk, the build I played was only seven weeks old, and I didnt seem able to swap out of quality mode and into performance mode despite trying, but it puts a pretty clear cap on this systems performance at about the PS4 level. That is impressive for a handheld, but its also something we previously saw with the cheaper and older Steam Deck. If the Switch 2 sticks around for as long as the Switch 1 did, it could also start to feel long-in-the-tooth pretty quick, as other companies are already on the verge of leaving that era behind.Civilization VII also chugged a little bit, although this was less of an issue given its turn-based nature.But on the plus side, Street Fighter 6 and Yakuza 0 Directors Cut ran without hiccups and at high-enough resolutions. The latter should be expected given that games age, but as for the former, its nice to know that Capcom knows how to work with Nintendos hardware. Even so, Street Fighter was still noticeably pixelated at times, so its not like the Switch 2 is the best way to play Street Fighter 6. It's the best way to play it without compromises if you dont own any other modern gaming machines.That's an improvement on the Switch 1, and might be enough for now. But given Cyberpunks performance, even knowing how demanding that game famously was at launch, I do worry that it wont be long until the Switch 2 falls into the same trap as its predecessor: Third party developers will either skip the console entirely (I was hoping Monster Hunter Wilds would be here, given that series history with Nintendo platforms, but its MIA for now), or their games will be more and more compromised here as time moves on.The best games on the Switch 2 are Switch 1 (and GameCube) games Breath of the Wild's Switch 2 Edition is buttery smooth Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt Which brings me to maybe my saddest realization of my time with the Switch 2. The games I enjoyed playing most on Nintendos new console are all games for the Switch 1.Breath of the Wild. Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Metroid Prime 4. Even Mario Party Jamboree. All of these run flawlessly on the Switch 2, at high resolutions and even higher frame rates. It's really such a breath of fresh air, especially given that some of Nintendos more ambitious Switch 1 games didnt always perform the best on that system. (I didnt get to play Tears of the Kingdom, but it is planned for a Switch 2 upgrade, and it sorely needs it.)In a vacuum, this is eye-opening. One of Nintendos strongest game libraries, now with no technical chains around its ankles. But it also comes with three of the Switch 2s strongest downsides.The first, and most obvious, is that a Switch 1 game does not make for a good Switch 2 killer app. Even Metroid Prime 4, the game I praised as being the best reason to get a Switch 2, will still technically be playable on the Switch 1. And that means that thrifty gamers are plenty likely to just live with not having mouse controls, or with occasional frame drops, since they can still get the same core experience without spending hundreds of dollars for it.The second, and most obnoxious, is that you have to pay to get these improvements. Even if you already own Kirby and the Forgotten Land for Switch, and you buy a Switch 2 for $450, youll need to pay once again for the Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition version of the game to play it using the power the Switch 2 already has. Otherwise, youre going to get a similar experience as you would on the Switch 1, barring some potential slight improvements like marginally faster loading times. To Nintendos credit, you can upgrade your existing Switch 1 library for a smaller fee than youd have buying the new version outright, but its still a hard pill to swallow. It plays your existing Switch games, but better would have been a reason to buy here, especially if the launch lineup doesn't do anything for you, but alas.Third, it's not guaranteed that the Switch 2 will play your existing Switch games at all. According to Nintendos hardware developers, the new console does not contain any Switch 1 components in it, which means that it plays the non-enhanced versions of Switch 1 games using emulation. This isnt an immediate killing blow, and Microsoft is in fact fairly well respected for how it handles a similar approach on the Xbox. But it does mean that Nintendo has found issues with running over 120 games on the Switch 2, some of which have difficulty even starting up. Out the gate, the Switch 2 is going to take some time to be an appropriate Switch 1 replacement, as Nintendo goes through all 10,000+ Switch titles one by one to ensure they work on the new console. Dont throw away your old Switch quite yet. The GameCube controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt There is one bright spot to Switch 2 emulation, though: GameCube support. Starting with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soul Calibur II, Nintendo is going to start adding GameCube games to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack plan, exclusively playable on Switch 2 (and compatible with an optional GameCube style controller, sold separately exclusive to Switch Online members). Wind Waker was flawless for me in my hands-on, and suspending and resuming was instant. $50 a year is a lot to pay for such a small selection of titles, especially when there are, ahem, other ways to get them, but it is convenient. And hey, as a bonus, the Expansion Pack membership does at least include the Switch 2 Edition upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.The Switch 2 is boring, and thats OKSo where does all this leave the Switch 2? Well, truthfully, its not as grim as Ive made it sound.At its core, the Switch 2 is a polished piece of hardware with a good deal of quality-of-life improvements and one new control gimmick (one I really like, but am unsure of whether itll catch on). It doesnt push the hardware envelope, and like the GameCube or Wii U (eventually), it relies on its games to sell it. And before I learned that it was $450 (why didnt we say that during the Direct, Nintendo?), this article was originally much kinder to it. But with that price point, which is $150 higher than the original Switchs price at launch, higher than a Steam Deck, and on par with Sonys entry-level PS5, I have no choice but to get a bit choosier. It isnt necessarily a problem, but it means I have to give this the same boring advice I would give almost any console launch, rather than the advice I would have normally given for a prior Nintendo launch.Unless your banana hoard is overflowing, or if you absolutely need the new Mario Kart on day one, or if you cant accept any compromise when you don Samus Arans helmet, you should wait to buy the Nintendo Switch 2. There simply arent enough compelling reasons to upgrade right now, and given that Switch 1 support is either paid or prone to glitching, I doubt there will be for a good while.Wait for a sale (or at least until the exclusive FromSoft game comes out).Thats fine. Thats what Ill probably say for the PS6, and it was probably the right move for Nintendo. The Wii U famously failed for throwing aside the strengths of its predecessor, so it makes sense for the Switch 2 to aim for Switch but more, and the only way to do that while staying anywhere in a family consoles budget in the age of tariffs is to do roughly the same thing again, but with some slight improvements.But it is still a slight disappointment. For something like the original Switch, I actually would have been fine recommending buying it at launch. It was novel and it was affordable, so you didnt lose out on much by going for it right away. Now, though, it seems even the Nintendo cant avoid the homogenization stomping all over the rest of the tech industry. Every phone is a candy bar now, and increasingly, every gaming console is just a featureless black box.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Every year around this time, I prepare to move my living room lemon tree outside for the season. In the fall, when temperatures drop below 40 degrees overnight, Daisy (yes, she has a name) gets rolled into my living room, where she winters under a grow light, and then as soon as the overnight temperatures stabilize in spring, back out she goes to live on the patio. Since I live in the Pacific Northwest, this is the only way to keep a lemon tree; they simply arent built to withstand a real winter outside. But, even if you are unwilling or unable to host your trees inside your home or greenhouse over the winter, you may still be able to turn your patio into a mini orchard.Generally, when you buy trees or shrubs, you plant them in the ground, and the expectation is that these plants will grow to get quite large. But if you dont have the room to plant a large tree or shrub, you can consider getting a tree or shrub small enough to remain in a pot. Smaller and smaller dwarf type trees and shrubs are being cultivated all the time, and regardless of what kind of fruit you like, it is almost guaranteed that there will be a variety that is small or micro enough to remain in a pot. My potted lemon tree is not expected to get much larger than this, so I roll the pot into my living room each winter. Credit: Amanda Blum These potted plants, which should remain under six feet, can live on your patio, so long as they get enough sunlight, water and heat in the summer. In fact, your patio can provide the opportunity to better control the environment for your potted plant. You can provide shelter from storms, control the moisture level to help prevent disease, and move it around if the original location doesnt suit it.At least for spring and summer, you and your micro trees should be very happy on your patio. The problem comes in winter. When you purchase plants you should always pay attention to their winter hardiness rating. For instance, cacti cant survive a cold winter outside, but a pine tree has no issue. Plants generally go dormant over the winter, which means they focus on root growth, and not leafing, fruiting, or flowering. These small trees and shrubs are particularly vulnerable, since their roots are not in the ground, but a pot, so they lack the insulation the ground can offer.The first way to ameliorate the winter hardiness issue is to bring your plants into a greenhouse during winterthats what nurseries do. Of course, most people (including me) lack a greenhouse. The second best option is a spot in your home where the plant will be able to get enough light, water, and heat to survive the winter. Since your home is inevitably heated enough for the temperatures to remain above forty degrees at night, your tree is fine. Remaining situated near a window or under a grow light is sufficient for these plants. A third location might be the garage, or another unheated building, because even though temperatures will drop below forty degrees, if they consistently stay between 20 and 40, the plant will remain dormant, isnt exposed to wind or freeze, and should be able to survive. Just because the plant is dormant doesnt mean it wont require care; youll need to check moisture levels every few weeks. You cant allow the soil in the pot to get too dry. My lemon tree stays warm inside all winter under a grow light and some natural sunlight from a nearby window. Credit: Amanda Blum If you cant bring your plants inside, youll need to find ways to insulate them outside, and you have a few options. Remember, the walls of your home provide some shield from the wind, and give off some heat, so relocating the plant next to the wall is a good start. You can create a cage around the plant using chicken wire and fill the cage with straw. The straw provides the insulation, while allowing for air flow, and the straw is unlikely to transmit disease or virus to the plant. You can also mound up compost or wood chips around the pot itself; this will recreate the insulation the ground offers to protect the roots. You can even purchase tree blankets, which provide a layer of breathable insulation. The thing to remember is that, like a blanket, this insulation only helps temper the winter conditions, not ameliorate them. For some trees, like citrus, this simply may not be enough warmth. For that reason, choose your patio fruit carefully, depending on what growing zone you live in and whether you have the ability to make these plants your roommates over winter. There are very winter-hardy citrus now, but you might be better suited to a patio blueberry or apple.If your plants are going to live outdoors, youll want to choose a heavy ceramic or concrete planterone that provides some insulation from the cold. But if your plant is moving indoors with you all winter, you may be impressed by how good-looking plastic planters have become. Modern, self-watering, andmost importantlylight, they can make moving your patio tree indoors and out a lot easier.To find the right variety tree or shrub for your yard, you should start with a local nursery. However, dont be afraid to buy a plant that will be shipped to you; Im constantly surfing through the One Green World catalog, because they carry varieties of cold hardy trees my local nursery doesnt.

If you ask me, graphic design peaked in 2001 with Windows XP's bright blue taskbar and green start button. Every UI design choice since was made by cowards.OK, you might not share my passion for the Windows XP taskbar, which is fine (I guess). But maybe you miss the simple grey aesthetic of Windows 2000, or the comforting orb of Vista. Whatever your taskbar preference, you can bring it back with RetroBar, a free, open source application that replaces the taskbar in Windows 11 with something better. (It will also work if you're running an older version, including Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10.)To get started, download the application from Github. There's an installer and a portable applicationuse whichever you prefer. Note that Windows may prevent you from running the application because of an unknown publisher, which is a commonsense safeguard, but you can click the Run anyway button should you choose to use the software regardless. Once you do, you will immediately see the classic grey taskbar of yore. Credit: Justin Pot You can right-click an empty area in the taskbar and then click Properties to bring up the options menu, which allows you to choose from a wide variety of taskbars. (The one you're probably looking for is named "Windows XP Blue.") Credit: Justin Pot Obvious aesthetic benefits aside, the Windows XP taskbar does work differently from the Windows 11 taskbar in a few ways I find helpful: Every window is represented on the taskbar, not just each application. The launcher icons, to the left, are kept seperate from the currently open windows. You can also change the size of the taskbar to make more room, just like you could back in the day. You can customize what happens when you click the clockI prefer seeing the calendar.If you decide you want the Windows 11 taskbar back after all, you can right-click an empty space on the taskbar and choose Exit Retrobar. You can always launch the application again, the next time you decide to reject modernity and embrace tradition.

Nintendo just wrapped up its long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, and the experience was almost surreal. The company has avoided talking about the console for so many years, and even after it shared an early preview a few months ago, it's still odd to see Nintendo walk us through the console in such depth. Mind games aside, it's finally official-official, and we now know a lot about Nintendo's upcoming console. The Direct didn't answer every question about its capabilities, but if you're interested in the hardware specs, here's everything there is to know right now.How powerful is the Switch 2?From games to accessories, there's a lot to get excited about with any new console launch, but the biggest unknown for the Switch 2 has always been the hardware capabilities, or lack thereof: The Switch 1 was arguably already underpowered when it launched in 2017, though that didn't stop Nintendo from running with it for eight years to great success. If you were hoping the Switch 2 would take a different tack and offer a more powerful, modern gaming experience, you're probably going to be disappointed, though we don't actually know anything about the hardware itself just yet. Rumors suggest the Switch 2 is running a chip based on Nvidia' GeForce RTX 30 series, which dates from 2020, but we likely won't know for sure until someone tears the console down. The new design Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube We now know the Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch display0.9 inches larger than the Switch OLED, and 1.7 inches larger than the standard Switch screen. That display is 1080p, as opposed to 720p on the OG Switch, but like the latter, the Switch 2 sports an LCD screen. Though that's what the rumors suggested, I'm personally a bit bummed about it, since I've been enjoying the OLED display on my current Switch. That said, I might get over it once I actually see the display in action with my own eyesthe Switch 2 supports HDR, something the first Switch did not, as well as refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The console has a redesigned kickstand, which we knew about already; It supports a greater variety of angles, which should offer more flexibility when playing in tabletop mode. Speaking of which, you can finally charge the Switch in tabletop mode, as that second USB-C port on the top of the console is indeed a charging port as well. You can also use it to connect to the new Switch 2 Camera. (Oh yes, Nintendo will now sell you a camera for your Switch 2.) There's also a microphone, which you can use for GameChat, built into the console itself (more on that later). It's noise cancelling, which should help when using it in loud environments. Switch 2 supports "3D Audio," which promises to make it seem like sounds are coming from where they would be in the game world. (If a monster roars behind you, you'll hear it "behind" you.) Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, with options for expansion via microSD Express cards. These are different than the microSD cards supported on Switch 1, so you won't be able to use your existing Switch cards on the new console. Bummer. Dock mode mow supports 4KThe OG Switch runs at 720p in handheld mode, but when docked, can boost up to 1080p. The Switch 2 also will look better on a bigger screen: The console runs at 1080p up to 120fps in handheld mode, but can run at 4K and 60fps when docked. The dock also has a built-in fan to keep the console cool when outputting at the higher resolution. Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube The Joy-Cons can do more Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube The Switch 2's Joy-Cons are pretty different from the OG controllers. These things are larger and more rounded, which I imagine will make gameplay more comfortable. They also look different: The updated Joy-Cons are almost entirely black, save for some colorful accents.We finally know what that new C button is for: a new feature called GameChat, which lets you chat with friends directly through the Switch 2. When you press the button, you pull up the GameChat menu, which lets you control the chat experience, including turning on or muting your mic, and turning your camera on or off. Unlike the original Switch, you don't connect these Joy-Cons to Switch 2 by sliding them into the rails. Instead, their pair magnetically. Nintendo says the magnets are strong enough to not break off with force. To release them, you need to press in a button on the Joy-Cons first, similar to how you need to push the button on the existing Joy-Cons before you can slide them out of the rails. Perhaps the biggest change to the Switch 2's controllers is that they support mouse mode. That was a rumored feature that some might have dismissed at first glance, but it's true: Both the left and right Joy-Cons can be used on a table top to enable mouse controls in compatible games. There are mini games in the new Switch 2 expansion of Super Mario Party Jamboree, for example, that utilize these movement controls. New Pro Controller and GameCube controllers are on the way Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube While not a component of the Switch 2 itself, a new Pro Controller is coming, optimized for the Switch 2. It looks similar to the Switch 1 Pro Controller, but you'll notice the new C button at the bottom, white buttons at the top, an audio jack, and new GR and GL buttons on the rear handles, for remapping controls. Similarly, Nintendo is releasing a GameCube controller for Switch 2, as the new console supports GameCube games as part of its retro online library. This controller looks nearly identical to the original GameCube controller, save for some small features, including the new C button at the top, a tiny ZL button on the left, a screenshot button, a pairing button, a Home button, and a USB port on top. You'll also notice a player number indicator along the top of the controller. Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube The Switch 2 still uses game cards Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube The Switch 2 game cards are similar to the OG Switch's, with some small differences. While they're the same size and shape, the new carts are red, not black. They also read faster. Exciting!When does Nintendo Switch 2 launch?The new console launches June 5 of this year. You can buy it as-is, or in a bundle with a digital copy of Mario Kart Worldthe newest game in the Mario Kart lineup. We don't know what this thing costs yet, but we will update this piece once Nintendo officially reveals that information.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youve been eyeing a Nintendo Switch OLED but havent wanted to pay full price, you might want to check out this refurbished model (with white Joy-Cons) going for $249.99 on Wootthats a solid chunk cheaper than Amazons $289 sale-price tag. However, this price is only live for four days or until it sells out, whichever comes first. This is a refurbished unit (tested and certified to work like new), so it may show light cosmetic wear, but performance-wise, youre getting the same console that PCMag called the Best Gaming Console of the Year in 2021. Nintendo Switch OLED Model $249.99 at Woot $339.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal Get Deal $249.99 at Woot $339.99 Save $90.00 Its seven-inch OLED screen is brighter, crisper, and more vibrant than the originals LCD. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Super Mario Odyssey just pop in handheld modethis is especially noticeable when youre gaming outdoors or in a room with lots of natural light. Theres also a wider kickstand that actually supports the console now (so tabletop play isnt a balancing act anymore), and a slight bump in storage (64GB instead of 32GB), though youll still probably need a microSD card eventually, notes this PCMag review. And while the Joy-Cons are the same in terms of function, the dock has been tweaked with a wired LAN port if you want a more stable internet connection. Its not a performance boost under the hoodsame processor, same RAMbut it feels like an upgrade if youre using it mostly as a handheld or tabletop device.That said, this deal has a few fine-print caveats. It only ships to the 48 contiguous U.S. states (so if youre in Alaska, Hawaii, or elsewhere, no dice), and unless youre an Amazon Prime member, youre tacking on $6 for shipping. The 90-day Woot limited warranty is decent enough, too. If youve been debating whether the OLED version is worth the extra money over the base Switch, this refurbished deal narrows the price gap enough to make it more appealing.

Producing video content is a particular challenge for generative AI models, which have no real concept of space or physics, and are essentially dreaming up clips frame by frame. It can lead to obvious errors and inconsistencies, as we wrote about in December with OpenAI's Sora, after it served up a video with a disappearing taxi.It's these specific problems that AI video company Runway says it's made some progress in fixing with its new Gen-4 models. The new models offer "a new generation of consistent and controllable media" according to Runway, with characters, objects, and scenes now much more likely to look the same over an entire project. If you've experimented with AI video, you'll know that many clips are brief and show slow movement, and don't feature elements that go out of the frame and come back inusually because the AI will render them in a different way. People merge into buildings, limbs transform into animals, and entire scenes mutate as the seconds pass.This is because, as you might have gathered by now, these AIs are essentially probability machines. They know, more or less, what a futuristic cityscape should look like, based on scraping lots of futuristic cityscapesbut they don't understand the building blocks of the real world, and can't keep a fixed idea of a world in their memories. Instead, they keep reimagining it. Runway is aiming to fix this with reference images that it can keep going back to while it invents everything else in the frame: People should look the same from frame to frame, and there should be fewer issues with principal characters walking through furniture and transforming into walls.The new Gen-4 models can also "understand the world" and "simulate real-world physics" better than ever before, Runway says. The benefit of going out into the world with an actual video camera is that you can shoot a bridge from one side, then cross over and shoot the same bridge from the other side. With AI, you tend to get a different approximation of a bridge each timesomething Runway wants to tackle.Have a look at the demo videos put together by Runway and you'll see they do a pretty good job in terms of consistency (though, of course, these are hand-picked from a wide pool). The characters in this clip look more or less the same from shot to shot, albeit with some variations in facial hair, clothing, and apparent age. There's also The Lonely Little Flame (above), whichlike all Runway videoshas reportedly been synthesized from the hard work of actual animators and filmmakers. It looks impressively professional, but you'll see the shape and the markings on the skunk change from scene to scene, as does the shape of the rock character in the second half of the story. Even with these latest models, there's still some way to go.While Gen-4 models are now available for image-to-video generations for paying Runway users, the scene-to-scene consistency features haven't rolled out yet, so I can't test them personally. I have experimented with creating some short clips on Sora, and consistency and real-world physics remains an issue there, with objects appearing out of (and disappearing into) thin air, and characters moving through walls and furniture. See below for one of my creations: It is possible to create some polished-looking clips, as you can see from the official Sora showcase page, and the technology is now of a high-enough standard that it is starting to be used in a limited way in professional productions. However, the problems with vanishing and morphing taxis that we wrote about last year haven't gone away.Of course, you only have to look at where AI video technology was a year ago to know that these models are going to get better and better, but generating video is not the same as generating text, or a static image: It requires a lot more computing power and a lot more "thought," as well as a grasp of real-world physics that will be difficult for AI to learn.

For decades, the only way to buy a car was to physically go to a dealership. If that idea gives you an anxiety attack, youre not alone, so its a relief to know that the industry is finally embracing online shoppingeven Amazon has gotten in on the act, and about half the buyers in one survey shopped for their car online.But just like anything else on the internet, buying a car online comes with the risk of fraud. Scammers are setting up entire fake online dealerships and ripping people off to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. You might think youre too savvy to get fleeces like that (who buys a $50,000 car sight unseen anyway?), but the risk is real. These fake online car dealership scams are fairly sophisticated and can be difficult to spotits gotten so bad that some states, like Wisconsin, have issued official warnings about it.How online car dealership scams workAt its core, the scam is pretty simple: A scammer sets up a fake dealership website. Sometimes its an entirely fictional dealer, and sometimes the scammers hijack a real dealership's name and set up a fake site for it, often scraping the dealerships legitimate website for graphics, text, and photos to make everything look legit. Sometimes they claim to sell classic cars, but just as often they pose as regular dealers.Step two is to adjust all the pricing on the vehicles so theyre incredibly attractive to potential buyers. In the current economic environment, where carsused and neware majorly expensive, folks who stumble on an amazing deal are more likely to get sucked into the scammers sales funnel. The "dealer" will be very responsive to messages from marks, and will provide everything you would expect a legitimate car dealership to provideincluding photos and documentation. It can be extremely difficult to tell that youre not interacting with an actual car dealership.The scam really kicks into gear when it comes time to make a down payment or negotiate a sale. Scam dealerships will usually require payment in unusual waystypically via wire transferand then cease responding once they've got your money. A man in North Carolina lost $40,000 last year when he tried to buy a truck from a site claiming to sell repossessed vehicles at extremely low prices, while a California resident lost $24,000 to a fake online dealer when he thought he was buying a classic car. And this guy on Reddit apparently lost $55,000 to a sophisticated fake online dealer.What to look forThe scam works for a few reasons: People are increasingly comfortable making large purchases online, the in-person car buying experience is kind of terrible, and its relatively easy to set up a website that looks exactly like a real car dealership. If youre thinking about buying a car online, there are a couple of things you should look for when considering an online dealership:Check with your states Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Transportation to see if it maintains a list of authorized car dealers in the state, and if the dealership youre considering is on the list.If its a local dealership, look up the phone number independently and contact them to ensure the website is legitimate.Be wary of unusually low prices, an inability to physically inspect and test-drive the car, and an unusual payment process.Buying a car online is convenient and less obnoxious than doing it in personbut its also a little more dangerous. A little extra due diligence can save you a lot of trouble.

Zelle has been around as a convenient digital payment platform since 2017, but has now closed down payments inside its standalone apps for Android and iOS, as it promised it would last Octoberthough the move is a sign of Zelle's success rather than its failure, and most Zelle users aren't going to need to change anything.If you're one of the 150 million or so people who make use of Zelle, you're no longer going to be able to use the Zelle app to send money to friends, family, and businesses. However, Zelle lives on as a platform: It's now integrated into the operations of more than 2,200 financial institutions, so you'll still be able to use it through your banking app.The Zelle apps are no more because Zelle has expanded its integrations so successfully. The peer-to-peer payment system says less than two percent of transactions were being made through these apps by the end of last year, so it didn't make sense to keep them going.Nothing is changing in terms of the links to banks and credit unionsif this is how you already do your Zelle business, you might not even have noticed the standalone app has been pulled. Zelle users shifted $1 trillion in payments over the course of 2024, so as a platform it's not going anywhere anytime soon.Another reason for the switch is security. As Zelle's YouTube page is testament to, users of the app were frequently targeted by scammersvia dating apps, ticketing platforms, rental listings, online marketplaces, job boards, and so on. Having Zelle work through banking systems makes it more secure as well.How to switch Zelle is popular for peer-to-peer payments. Credit: Zelle Given that two-percent figure mentioned above, chances are that you've already set Zelle up through your bank. If not, you'll need to register a Zelle account with your bank, or switch to a financial institution that offers Zelle: You can search through this comprehensive list. Until you set up Zelle somewhere else, you won't be able to make and receive payments.The specifics will of course depend on your bank and its app, but if you click through from the list then you'll be taken to the relevant sign-up pagehere's the one for Wells Fargo, for example. You need to provide your registered email address or mobile number, and the bank will do the rest (you can use the existing details already registered with Zelle).If you know your bank or credit union supports Zelle, you can also dig through the options in the official app or the official website, and you should be able to register that way too: Most of the time it'll only be a couple of steps to get Zelle set up, and you can then register the people and businesses you want to enable transactions with.Unfortunately, your payment history isn't going to move along with you, though it will be available in the Zelle app until August 11, 2025. Although payments are now blocked, the app isn't going to stop working entirely, so you've got a few months to note any records you want to keep.There are plenty of other payment platforms you can turn to, if you do want to stay out of your banking app, including Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, Google Wallet, and Apple Paythough they don't have quite the same tight bank-account integration that you get with Zelle, and which Zelle is now focused on.

Nintendo Switch 2 is officially coming to stores on June 5. In just over two months, you might have the opportunity to own Nintendo's newest (and most expensive) console and play the latest Switch 2 exclusives (Mario Kart World looks ridiculously fun), assuming you can snag one of them.Because if you want to boot up a Switch 2 on launch day, you'll almost certainly need to preorder it. Unless you're lucky enough to find a store that has extra consoles in stock, or there turns out to be exceptionally low demand (unlikely given eight years of building anticipation among the Nintendo faithful), these things are going to be a rare commodity. One option, of course, is to preorder a system directly through Nintendobut the company's requirements to do so are anything but orthodox. How to "register your interest" for a Switch 2Nintendo doesn't consider theirs a "preorder" program, per se. Instead, the company invites you to "register your interest" in buying a Switch 2. Assuming you're at least 18 years old, you'll need to head to Nintendo's official interest registration site, then sign into your Nintendo Account. Once Nintendo has confirmed your eligibility, it will send an invitation to the email address registered with your Nintendo Account. This invitation gives you the option to buy one Switch 2 consoleeither the standalone unit or the bundle with a digital copy of Mario Kart World. This invite will be good for 72 hours. Easy enough, right?It's not that simple.Only experienced gamers need applyThis is a first come, first served program, so the sooner you are able to register, the better your chance of being selected. On top of that, this...let's call it a "purchasing opportunity" is only open to registrants who have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription with at least 12 months of paid service. But the requirement that seems most out of left field to me is this: You also need to have at least 50 hours of gameplay associated with the Nintendo Account you use to register, as of April 2, 2025. If you don't meet any of these criteria, you'll be put on an overflow list. Nintendo will only start sending invites to members of this waitlist once the registrants who meet the requirements have all been invited. Fifty hours of gameplay is a bizarre requirement (can't I just give you money, Nintendo?) but you can see the company's reasoning. As a mega-hyped piece of hardware, the Switch 2 is a prime target for scalpers. By setting strict requirements for who can register for an invitation to purchase one (and by limiting each registration to one console purchase) Nintendo is trying to ensure that only true Nintendo fans get first crack. Scalpers won't even be able to make multiple Nintendo Accounts in order to get around these limits, as the aforementioned 50 hours of gameplay had to be logged before today, April 2. Unless scalpers knew the rules well ahead of time, any dummy accounts they make leading up to the Switch 2 launch will be useless. Even as someone with well over 50 hours of gameplay on my Nintendo Account, this all feels a bit weird. Perhaps its the data privacy geek in me, but it doesn't sit well with me that I need to share my gameplay with Nintendo in order to prove that I am, indeed, worthy of buying a Switch 2. Tie the purchase to my Nintendo Account, fine, but I'm not sure I like the precedent here. Because even if you have those 50 hours, you might not be eligible, since you also need to have opted in to share that data with Nintendo. Nintendo's language isn't totally clear here, so it's not obvious to me if it counts to if you opt in today, or if you had to have already opted in before the program was announced. If you want to maximize your chances of being selected to buy through Nintendo, it's time to check your Nintendo Account privacy settings and ensure that you are sharing your usage information with Nintendo under Data Usage Opt-Out Preferences. When do invitations to buy a Switch 2 go out?Strange privacy implications aside, here's what happens after you register: Nintendo says the first round of invites will go out May 8, 2025, with subsequent rounds sending off "periodically" until purchases areavailable for all. The email will come from no-reply@noa.nintendo.com, so consider adding that to your email whitelist if you have an overzealous spam filter.If selected, you'll be able to buy your chosen Switch 2 console or bundle (the standalone system is $449, while the Mario Kart World bundle is $499) as well as a "variety of additional items." My guess is that will include the new Pro Controller, the retro GameCube controller, and perhaps additional Joy-Cons, as well as any other types of accessories Nintendo dreams up. As with the system itself, you'll only be able to purchase one of each of these additional items. Nintendo accepts Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, and Apple Paybut not Nintendo eShop gift cards. The company will also only ship products directly to customers, and will not make orders available at its two retail locations. Of course, Nintendo isn't the only company you can order a Switch 2 from. You can sign up for similar alerts from other retailers, including Best Buy and GameStop, and I imagine more retailers will add their own opportunities soon enough.

Zelle, the digital payment platform that allows you to send money directly to friends and family, has shuttered its standalone app. But while the Zelle app is no longer, you can likely still send and receive money with Zelle through your bank or credit unionZelle is already integrated into over 2,200 bank apps, and you can use this search tool to find out if yours is one of them. Otherwise, you'll have to send money using another tool. Here are four of the best Zelle alternatives for peer-to-peer payments.VenmoVenmo allows you to request money or pay other users and send up to $60,000 a week once you've verified your identity within the app. You can transfer funds in your Venmo account to your bank account for free if you're willing to wait 13 days, or instantly for a 1.75% fee. Funds sent from from your Venmo balance or linked bank account/debit card are fee-free, while money sent using your credit card incur a 3% charge. Note that you should update the default privacy settings on Venmo to ensure your transactions and account information aren't publicly viewable. Venmo is available for iOS, Android, and on the web. PayPalPayPal is a well-established digital payment service that is useful for sending and receiving money from friends and contacts as well as making purchases online. There's no fee to send money via the "Friends and Family" function from a linked bank account or using your PayPal balance, and standard withdrawals are also free (like Venmo, instant transfers incur a 1.75% fee). There are fees for international transactions and currency conversions, as well as personal transactions made with credit cards. PayPal is available for iOS, Android, and on the web. Cash AppCash App is a peer-to-peer platform similar to Venmo. You can send money from a linked bank account or debit card to other Cash App usersif the recipient's phone number or email isn't linked to an account, they'll be prompted to create one to claim the fundsfor free. Standard transfers are also free, and instant transfers from Cash App to your bank incur a 0.5%1.75% fee. Cash App can also be used to send and receive bitcoin. It's available for iOS, Android, and on the web. Apple CashApple Cash is a built-in payment function for sending money to other iPhone users via Messages, Wallet, or Tap to Cash. Apple Cash is a digital card held in your Apple Wallet, and you can transfer funds out to your linked bank account (standard timing and free) or debit card (instant for a 1.5% fee). Apple Cash allows you to send or receive a maximum of $10,000 per message, with the same limit in a 7-day period. If you have an iPhone, you can pay someone using Apple Cash from within other apps, including Messages.Apple Cash is integrated into iOS and available on the web. How to protect your privacy with digital paymentsThe apps we've listed here have various privacy and security protections, like encryption and secure authentication, but peer-to-peer payment platforms are still targets for scammers. Make sure you only send funds to trusted contacts, and enable settings that keep your money safe, like identity verification and limiting who can see your account and request funds from you.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you've never considered the Kindle Kids e-reader because of the label, you've been missing out on some sweet perks. The 16 GB Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids is $139.99 (originally $179.99), the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. Here's why this is a great deal for everyonenot just kids. (16 GB) larger 7" glare-free display Cyber Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 Save $40.00 (16 GB) larger 7" glare-free display Starfish Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 Save $40.00 (16 GB) Larger 7" glare-free display Diary of a Wimpy Kid Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids $144.99 at Amazon $189.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Get Deal $144.99 at Amazon $189.99 Save $45.00 SEE 0 MORE The kids' Kindle version includes a free case (about a $30 value), an ad-free experience ($20 value), six months of Amazon Kindle Kids + subscription ($36 value), and a two-year warranty (as opposed to the one-year warranty on the standard version). All that value for $20 less than the adult version is a no-brainer.The cases for these models are obviously tailored for kids, but it's hard to argue with free. The Amazon Kindle Kids + subscription will charge you automatically after the first six months, but you can cancel it beforehand. On these Kindle models, the kids mode feature is turned on by default. You can easily turn it off in the settings, but this will bring the ads back to the lock screenthe Kindle Kids also has some cool features even adults will appreciate, like the awards feature, as this video explains.With the six months of Amazon Kindle Kids + subscription, you can get unlimited access to thousands of kids' books, including all of the Harry Potter series. The Paperwhite Kindle hardware is the same as the adults, including that it's waterproof, has adjustable warm light, a 12-week battery, and Audible access through Bluetooth. You can read the full review of the 2024 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids from PCMag here. If you still don't know which Kindle is best for you, check out our complete breakdown.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Ive always preferred to wear my Oura ring on my ring finger. The company says that for optimal performance and accuracy, its best to wear it on your index finger, but that any finger can work. And if you ask longtime Oura users, youll get a variety of opinions. Does it really matter which finger you use? I realized I have the perfect way to test thisI have two gen 3 rings that fit my index and my ring fingers. I wore both for nearly two weeks to compare their readings and answer the question once and for all. Oura Ring 4 $349.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $349.00 at Amazon How I set up my experimentAs I explained in my four-year retrospective, Ive worn quite a few Oura rings over the years. My current unit is a gen 3 ring (the slightly older model) that I wear on my ring finger. I also had a gen 3 that fit my index finger, so I could wear both to bed for a few days and compare their readings.I actually wore three rings, but left one of them off my results because it turned out to be redundant. This one was a duplicate of the one I had on my ring finger, so I wore it on the other hands ring finger. It was a nearly-dead one that I had replaced when its battery wore out. It still had just enough juice to make it through each nights sleep so long as I charged it the next day. The readings were pretty much the same as my other ring finger, though, so I left this data off my results chart for claritys sake.For this experiment, I needed to pair each ring to a different account on a different phone. The things I do for you, dear readers. Since the accounts were all working from different (or nonexistent) baseline data, I avoided any scores that the app calculates based on your personal history. I stuck with readings like resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and sleep time. The one score I kept was sleep efficiency, since that combines multiple measurements from the same night.My results Credit: Beth Skwarecki Ive always felt like my ring finger readings are as good as my index finger readings, but now I have data to prove it. Look at these charts! The readings are often identical, and always close.There was one day where the two readings differedit's the very last day, with different respiratory rates and sleep efficiency. On that day, my second ring-finger ring (data not shown) matched the other ring-finger ring, suggesting that it's the index finger that was the outlier. Overall, the different fingers give readings that are much closer to each other than the different devices from this comparison (for that experiment, I wore Oura, Garmin, Whoop, Apple, and Fitbit devices at the same time).Any of the three placements I used would be perfectly good for daily wear. So why does Oura say your index finger is best? I reached out to the company for more information.What Oura saysThe gen 3 and 4 Oura rings work on any finger, an Oura spokesperson told me by email, so long as the ring fits tightly and securely around the base of the finger. So why the preference for the index finger? It turns out thats the finger where most people have the easiest time getting a good fit.Specifically: We suggest avoiding fingers with large knuckles where the base is significantly narrower, which can affect fit and sensor contact. This is why we generally recommend the index finger. If thats not comfortable or preferred, the middle or ring finger are also good alternatives. All three fingers have larger blood vessels, which help optimize PPG pulse monitoring. (PPG refers to photoplethysmography, the optical sensor system that picks up your pulse from your finger.)So if your ring finger has a big bony knuckle, youll need a larger size ring to get over the knuckle, and that ring wont be able to sit snugly against the base of your finger. I have no problem getting a secure fit on my ring finger, but I can see that my thumb has a large enough knuckle it probably wouldnt work well with the ring.Another issue with sizing is that the Oura ring doesnt come in half sizes, so you may not be able to find the perfect size for your preferred finger. That said, the gen 3 rings feel about a half-size smaller than the gen 4 rings at the same numbered size, so playing around with both sizing kits may help you to find the perfect fit if youre not picky about which version of the ring you end up with.

Although home burglaries are trending downward overall, there are still more than 800,000 break-ins every year. Aside from the potential damage to your property and the loss of your belongings, there also the concern for your familys safetyno one wants criminals wandering around your house.The obvious solution is to go with technologyalarm systems and security cameras. While these kinds of systems can definitely help defend against unwanted guests on your property (and give you peace of mind), theres more you can do to keep your home secure. Your landscaping is a surprisingly key element of your homes securityor it can be, if you plan it thoughtfully. Here are a few simple ways your homes exterior design can help defend it against intruders.Keep your home's entrances visibleThe first thing to consider when it comes to security and landscaping is visibility. A lot of tall, lush plants can give you a feeling of cozy privacybut it also offers a lot of places for people to conceal themselves. Trimming hedges, shrubs, and other plantings down to about 2 to 3 feet in height will ensure you have a good field of vision around your property, and can help eliminate those hiding spots and make it easier to actually use those security cameras you paid for.Having a lot of plants around windows and doors can give you a lot of privacy and shade, but it also means someone can get up close to your house to work on your door and window locks without being seen from the street. Your neighbors cant help you if they cant see whats happening. And dense landscaping around your front door means someone can conceal themselves in order to wait for you to come home or open the door.To make your windows and entryway more secure, keep them clear. If youre using defensive plants, keep them trimmed low and set them back from windows and doors. You should be able to see the area immediately around your apertures easily from a variety of angles.You can also increase visibility by avoiding opaque features like walls or fences, and instead going with see-through choices like picket or chain-link fences or lattices.Choose thorny plantsOne way to weaponize your landscaping against trespassers is to place defensive plants around access areas like first-floor windows. Thorny, prickly plants placed thickly around these areas create a natural barrier to anyone trying to creep around your house. It might not have the same visceral excitement as releasing a bunch of hounds, but it will definitely make a trespasser think twice as they nurse their wounds.Some examples of good defensive plants include cacti (including some mild-weather species like Prickly Pear), thorny rose bushes, Whales Tongue agave, or spiky plants like Barberry. Whatever climate or design youre working with, theres a plant that will make life uncomfortable for anyone trying to get close to your house.Trim back your treesIf youve got trees as part of your landscaping, you should keep them away from your house (about 8 to 20 feet, depending on the size of the tree) for a lot of very good reasons (root issues with your foundation or roof damage, for example). But if your trees are closer than that, or if theyre mature and their branches have crept closer to the house, you should hire an arborist to cut them back. Trim both horizontally (so no one can shimmy their way to a window or to get on your roof) and vertically (so there are no branches lower than seven feet or so off the ground) to prevent someone from climbing up. Untrimmed trees can provide hiding places or act as ladders for thieves and other intruders, so trimming them regularly is a very good idea.Skip the trellisYou might like the visual of a climbing plant snaking its way up your homes walls, but if that includes a trellis or lattice you should reconsider. A trellis or lattice attached to an exterior wall (or leaned up against it) is essentially a ladder that someone can use to climb, gaining access to an upper floor window.Use gravel for ground coverOne way your landscaping can increase your homes security is by making it more challenging for intruders to sneak around. Rough gravel used as a ground cover around access points like windows will be noisy when walked on, making it a lot more difficult for someone to get close without being noticed. Its not going to be as effective as an alarm system, of course, but in the dead of night an unusual noise might alert youor your dogto the presence of an unwanted guest outside.Add lightingOne of the more obvious ways your landscaping plan can improve your homes security is by adding a lot of lighting, especially motion-activated lights. Being able to see your outdoor spaces clearly makes it less likely someone can gain access to your property undetected, and a sudden flood of light will deter trespassers hoping for the cover of darkness. When planning your landscaping, make sure to include robust lighting to make it as safe and secure as possible.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.You can get thousands of free e-books over the course of 2025 if you know whereand whento look. All year long, Amazon is offering free Kindle e-books to readers, with new opportunities popping up every month. In April, Prime members canget two free Kindle e-booksfrom Amazon's First Reads program.What is Amazon's First Reads?Amazon First Reads is a program aimed at Prime members that offers early access to new e-books across many genres, as curated by First Reads editors (one of your many Prime Member benefits). Prime members can choose to download one free e-book every month from a rotating listthough some months that number is bumped up to two, usually with a free short noveland non-members get them for a discounted price. These e-books can be read on any compatible Kindle device or via the free Kindle app. Amazon Kindle (16 GB) Display size: 6 glare-free, Resolution: 300 ppi, Storage: 16 GB, Battery life: Up to 6 weeks. $109.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $109.99 at Amazon How to get your free Amazon Kindle e-books in AprilGo to the First Reads landing page to see the full list of e-books available this month. Once you find a book that seems interesting, click the "Shop Now" button from the First Reads landing page. Make sure youre not being redirected to the Kindle or Amazon mobile application, because you won't see the free book option there; instead, use your internet browser on your phone or computer. Make sure youre not clicking the Pre-order for... button, as that will direct you to pay; instead, click the Read for Free or the "Buy Now with 1-Click" button under the "First Reads" banner on the book's Amazon page (don't worry, you won't be charged). This will send the e-book directly to the Kindle linked to your Amazon account. You can see what it should look like from the screenshot below. Credit: Daniel Oropeza Youll know you did it right when you see a Thanks, [your name]! order summary indicating the e-book is being auto-delivered to the Kindle Cloud Reader.Free Amazon Kindle e-books available in April 2025This month, you can choose one from eight new Kindle e-books plus a free short story, The One That Got Away. Amazon notes the genre for each of the books above the title, offering a quick way to narrow down your options. (If you hover over the "See Editor Notes" under the "Shop Now" button, you'll be able to read a short description from the First Reads editor who picked the book.)Here are your options for April 2025. You can choose one of these e-books, plus the short story The One That Got Away: Short Story by Mike Gayle. The One That Got Away: A Short Story $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Thriller by Diego Boneta. The Undoing of Alejandro Velasco: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Coming of Age by Melissa de la Cruz (Author), Mindy Kaling (Introduction). When Stars Align: A Novel $5.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $5.99 at Amazon Thriller by Robert Bailey. The Boomerang: A Thriller $5.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $5.99 at Amazon Historical Fiction by Nicola Kraus. The Best We Could Hope For: A Novel $5.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $5.99 at Amazon Women's Fiction by Wendy Francis. Betting on Good: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Psychological by Hannah Beckerman. Three Mothers $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Romance by Beth Merlin and Danielle Modafferi. Life Derailed: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon Gothic Fiction by Paulette Kennedy. The Artist of Blackberry Grange: A Novel $4.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $4.99 at Amazon SEE 6 MORE

On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for compatible devices. But Apple Watch owners might have noticed watchOS 11.4 curiously missing from the list. Apple pulled the update at the last minute, something of a rarity from the company that likes to release all software updates together.But now, the new watchOS update is finally available to everyone, and the slight delay was worth it. This update enables a feature that many Apple Watch users have wanted for a long time: the ability to break through Silent mode when an alarm goes off. The iPhone already does this really well. You're in Silent mode, or you have Do Not Disturb enabled, but your morning alarm still sounds. Apple Watch, on the other hand, had no such option. So if you like using a Silent mode to protect yourself from notifications and other dings, you had to make do with the vibration alarm. Starting with watchOS 11.4, you can keep your notifications at bay, while relying on an audio alarm to sound alongside the gentle vibrations. Which Apple Watches are supported?The feature is available only for users who have watchOS 11.4 or newer. That means it's only available for Apple Watch Series 6 and above, Apple Watch Ultra and above, and the Apple Watch SE 2. If you're rocking the original Apple Watch SE, or the older Series 5 Apple Watch, you're left out in the cold here. Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you have one of the supported Apple Watches, first update your iPhone to iOS 18.4, and then head over to the Watch app. In the My Watch tab, go to General > Software Update. Here, download and install the latest watchOS 11.4 update.How to enable Break Through Silent Mode for any alarm Credit: Khamosh Pathak The feature isn't necessarily ideal, since you need to enable it for every alarm that you set. The news is good if you rely on the same repeating alarm each day, since those settings are preserved, but if you frequently set new alarms, make sure this setting is enabled each time. Hopefully, Apple will create a system-wide toggle for this, or even make this a default option down the line.Go to the Alarms app on your Apple Watch, and choose the alarm that you want to customize. Here, in the Edit Alarm menu, scroll down and enable Break Through Silent Mode.How to enable Break Through Silent Mode for Sleep Mode Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you wear your Apple Watch in bed, chances are you use Sleep mode, and the alarm associated with your sleep schedule. If you want to break through Silent mode here, you'll need to enable the feature separately.On your watch, open the Sleep app and scroll all the way down to your alarm schedule. You'll see two alarms hereone for setting your Bedtime, and one for Wake Up. Choose one of the alarms, and in the Edit Schedule view, scroll down and choose Sound & Haptics. Here, enable Break Through Silent Mode.

Nintendo has never been known for high-performance hardware, but that certainly hasn't hurt its bottom lineespecially in the Switch age. The company's decision to use more basic components for the Switch back in 2017 helped keep the console cheaper than any of its competitors. It's tough to get too hung up on the lack of 4K 60fps support when you can play the latest Zelda on a handheld that can cost less than $200.But lo, a new Switch is here, and with it, a new price. The Switch 2 is, indeed, a more powerful version of the Switch, and comes with a number of advantages: a larger 1080p HDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dock equipped with a fan to support 4K 60fps gameplay, magnetic Joy-Cons with a "mouse mode" for tabletop controls, among other neat perks. Of course, Nintendo isn't giving those perks away for free, nor is it offering the Switch 2 at the same price as the Switch 1. If you want to order Nintendo's latest console, you're going to have to pay morefor everything.How much does the Switch 2 cost? The Switch 2 retails for $449.99. If you want the bundle that comes with a digital copy of Mario Kart World, that costs $499.99. That isn't cheap, especially when you can pick up a Switch OLED right now for $250. The original Switch retailed for $299.99 too, though that's roughly equal to $390 when adjusting for inflation, so the difference isn't quite so dramatic. We'll likely never know exactly what went into the pricing decision for the new Switch, but it's certainly possible tariffs played a big role. The Switch 2 sold in Japan, for example, costs 49,980 yen, which is just over $333 today. The Mario Kart bundle is 53,980 yen, or roughly $360still cheaper than the original Switch's MSRP in today's money. Ouch. How much are Switch 2 games?There's a $50 difference between the standalone Switch 2 and the Mario Kart World bundle, so you might imagine that's what the game costs. Unfortunately, no: Mario Kart World is actually $80. Not all games may cost this much, however. According to Geoff Keighley, Donkey Kong Bananza retails for $70. These are the only two games with retail prices, so we'll have to see how Nintendo handles MSRPs with future games. (While we don't know the exact prices, we do know a lot of the games launching for Switch 2.)However, physical games might actually cost more. Reports show that Nintendo's European versions of Mario Kart World cost 79.99 for a digital copy, but 89.99 for the physical cart. $90 for a physical game card seems astronomical. We'll need to wait and see if Nintendo rolls out any other pricing information. Switch 2 accessoriesNintendo's official Switch 2 accessories page is live, which means we can see all the MSRPs for the console's newly-announced add-ons. Here's what you can expect to pay for each:Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99Left and Right Joy-Con 2 controllers: $89.99Joy-Con 2 charging grip: $34.99Joy-Con 2 strap: $12.99Joy-Con 2 wheel (two-pack): $19.99Switch 2 camera: $49.99Switch 2 dock: $109.99 Switch 2 carrying case (with screen protector): $34.99Switch 2 all-in-one case: $79.99Switch 2 AC adapter: $29.99

The Nintendo Switch 2 is quite a bit different than the OG Switch: The Joy-Cons are beefier and connect via magnets; when docked, the console supports 4K 60fps output; and you can finally charge the console when playing in tabletop mode. But at the end of the day, what matters most about a new console like the Switch 2 is the games: If there's nothing new to play, what's the point?Of course, Nintendo shared a number of Switch 2 exclusives during its big Direct on Wednesday. This isn't a repeat of the Nintendo 3DS launch: There are games to play if you buy a Switch 2 on day one. But there are also a number of interesting titles coming soon and later this year. (There's even a new From Soft title coming in 2026!)Games launching the same day as Nintendo Switch 2 Whoa. Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5. While many of the games announced today do not launch alongside the console, there are also many that doincluding Mario Kart World.True to its name, this game offers an open-world Mario Kart experience. You can drive around the world, with friends, as you travel to different races. Not that every game needs to be open-world, but this one's kind of a no brainer. It just seems like fun to drive around a giant Mario Kart map. You don't even need to drive anywhere in particular: Nintendo encourages you to drive around leisurely, taking selfies as you do. Of course, the core gameplay is still the same: Race other drivers around a track. But now, you can compete in races with up to 24 people at a time, and part of the competition is driving to the next race. There's even a new "Knockout Tour," where you race non-stop from one side of the map to the other. If you pass through a checkpoint in too low a position, you're eliminated. Plus, you can bounce off walls like Mario in a platformer, grind on rails, and play as a cow, for some reason.Here are the rest of the games that you can play on launch day:Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome TourStreet Fighter 6 Split FictionHogwarts LegacyHitman World of AssassinationBrave & Default Flying Fair (HD Remaster) Yakuza 0 Director's CutThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo Switch Online)Soulcalibur II (Nintendo Switch Online)F-Zero GX (Nintendo Switch Online)Deltarune 1 + 2 + 3 + 4Civilizations VII Survival KidsCyberpunk 2077 Ultimate EditionFortniteArcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Puyo Puyo Tetris 2SNobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete EditionFast FusionUpcoming Nintendo titlesThere are a number of first-party games and upgrades Nintendo announced during its presentation that won't be ready for launch on June 5. Drag X Drive (Summer 2025) Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube This is an entirely new game for Nintendo. Drag X Drive is wheelchair basketball that uses the new mouse controls on the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. You can push both controllers forward, as your character pushes both wheels forward on their wheelchair. You can also swing the Joy-Con to throw a basket, similar to the experience with Wii Sports.Donkey Kong Bananza (TBA) Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube After a number of remasters, Donkey Kong is finally getting a new game. This was the last announcement of the Direct, and was worth the wait: Bananza looks like Donkey Kong's version of Super Mario Odyssey3D platforming in an open environment (though I'm not sure if it's "open world.") The biggest difference? You smash your way through just about anything you can see in the world. Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment (Winter 2025) Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube This is the third entry in the Hyrule Warriors series, and takes place prior to the events of Tears of the Kingdom. I won't go into spoiler territory here, but you will get to play out the events of the Imprisoning War, and even get to play as Zelda.Kirby Air Riders (2025) Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube It looks like we're finally getting a sequel to 2003's Kirby Air Ride. We don't have a lot of details yet, other than seeing stars, bikes, and space ships as rideable vehicles. But Kirby Air Riders is directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of both Kirby and Super Smash Bros., which bodes well. Nintendo Switch 2 EditionsLike other consoles, Nintendo is now offering Switch 2 users upgraded versions of certain Switch 1 titles. These can include better visuals, faster performance, or new features that take advantage of the Switch 2's controllers. These upgrades include: Super Mario Part Jamboree + Jamboree TV (July 24, 2025)The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (TBA)The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TBA)Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World (TBA)Metroid Prime 4 Beyond (TBA)Pokmon Legends ZA (TBA)GameCube gamesNintendo Switch Online is finally adding support for GameCube gamesbut only for Nintendo Switch 2. (Why my 2017 Nintendo Switch is incompatible with games that ran on a system from 2001 is beyond me, but I digress.) In addition to the three aforementioned GameCube titles that will be available at launch, here's what's coming down the line, none of which have release dates yet:Super Mario SunshineFire Emblem: Path of RadiancePokmon XD: Gale of DarknessSuper Mario StrikesChibi-RoboLuigi's MansionPokmon ColosseumThird-party titles Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube Nintendo ran through a number of third-party titles that are making their way to Switch 2. They include:Elden Ring Tarnished Edition (2025)Hades II (TBA)Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion (Sept. 5, 2025)Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Summer 2025)Project 007 (TBA)Borderlands 4 (2025)WWE 2K (TBA)NBA 2K (TBA)Enter the Gungeon 2 (TBA)Starseeker Astoneer Expeditions (2026)Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (TBA)Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the GoddessHollow Knight: Silkson (2025)Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Aug. 27, 2025)Goodnight Universe (2025)Silksong (2025)Two Point Museum (2025)Wild Hearts S (July 25, 2025)Witchbrook (Holiday 2025)Marvel Comic Invasion (Holiday 2025)Star Wars Outlaws (2025)Shadow Labyrinth (July 18, 2025)RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army (June 19, 2025)No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES (July 25, 2025)REANIMAL (2025)Professor Layton and The New World of Steam (2025)Tamagotchi Plaza (June 27, 2025)Human Fall Flat 2 (TBA) The Duskbloods (2026)