More than 40 years of expert tech know-how and thousands of reviews makes us pretty great at this.
التحديثات الأخيرة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMCrucial P510Pros Fast throughput speeds, in a big-picture senseCompatible with laptops with PCIe 5.0 M.2 slotsPriced well below other PCIe 5.0 SSDs Cons Not a standout in PCMark 10 and 3DMark Storage testingCapacity maxes out at 2TB Crucial P510 Specs Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 Capacity (Tested) 1 Controller Maker Phison Interface (Computer Side) PCI Express Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 11000 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 9500 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 600 Warranty Length 5 All Specs The Crucial P510 ($119.99 for 1TB as tested) is Micron's third PCI Express 5.0 internal SSD, after the Crucial T700 and T705, both PCMag Editors' Choice award winners. Unlike these elite speedsters—the T705 is the fastest consumer SSD we have tested to date, with the T700 in the second tier—the P510 is built for mainstream use. Although it has the throughput speed we'd expect from a Gen 5 drive, it conserves power and runs cooler than its brethren, employing a simple heat spreader rather than the sort of massive finned or fanned heatsink that often ships with a PCIe 5.0 SSD. So it's not surprising that its gaming and general-storage test scores are more in line with what we would expect from a high-performance previous-generation PCIe 4.0 SSD like the steadfast Samsung SSD 990 Pro.Design and Specs: DRAM-Less Gen 5 Joins the ChatWhen PCI Express 5.0 SSDs hit the market in the spring of 2023, they promised unheard-of speeds for an internal SSD, but you needed a boutique desktop PC with the latest components or to build such a system from scratch. Today, Gen 5 SSD support is coming to select high-end laptops, but laptops of any stripe have no room for the massive heatsink hardware most other PCIe 5.0 drives require. So manufacturers have gone to exceptional lengths to beat the heat. The Crucial P510 consumes 25% less power than previous Crucial Gen 5 SSDs to support longer battery life. That efficiency also aims to keep the drive cool enough to minimize thermal throttling.The Crucial P510 is a four-lane solid-state drive running the NVMe 2.0 protocol over a PCIe 5.0 bus. This internal SSD comes in the standard M.2 Type-2280 (80mm-long) "gumstick" format. The drive pairs Micron 276-layer G9 3D TLC NAND with Phison's E31T, a Gen 5-optimized DRAM-less controller designed to minimize heat generation.The all-black P510 has all of its silicon on one side (the top), covered with a thin heat spreader. It can fit easily into laptops and even the PlayStation 5. It lacks—and does not require—the massive heatsinks bundled with many Gen 5 drives or offered as an option. Micron says it will offer a full-fledged heatsink for the P510 later, but unlike with elite PCI Express SSDs, it isn't critical.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)System Requirements: Going MainstreamPCIe 5.0 SSDs, even mainstream models such as the P510, promise a major throughput speed boost over PCIe 4.0 drives, but you can take full advantage of it only if you have recent hardware that supports the standard. Only the latest boutique desktops and a few recent laptops are likely to be PCIe 5.0-ready off the shelf, so you may have to build your own PC from the ground up or update an existing system to gain the connectivity required. You'll need an Intel 12th Gen or later Core CPU with a motherboard based on Intel's Z690 or Z790 chipset or later; or a Ryzen 7000 or 9000 processor with an AM5 motherboard built around an X670, X670E, or B650E chipset, or later ones.Now, an important point: Just because you have one of those chipsets doesn't guarantee that the motherboard maker actually implemented a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 SSD slot or slots. That's up to the board maker, so check your system's or motherboard's specs and documentation to make sure you actually have such a slot before investing in one of these drives. Some boards have PCIe 5.0 expansion slots for graphics cards and other PCI Express cards, but you need a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 slot, specifically.Price and Storage Capacity: A New Reasonably Priced Gen 5 NicheThe Crucial P510 is available in 1TB and 2TB versions; you can see the list prices for each in the chart below.It is priced lower than other Gen 5 SSDs we have reviewed, and a little above the high-end PCI Express 4 drives we compare it with in the performance section below. The P510's sequential read and write rated speeds are highest at the 1TB level—its throughput speeds are most similar to the first generation of PCI Express 5 SSDs and have since been surpassed by more recent Gen 5 drives such as the Crucial T705 and Corsair MP700 Pro. As for durability, expressed as lifetime write capacity in total terabytes written (TBW), the P510 matches the Crucial T700 and T705 in the capacities they share. Its durability rating is a notch below the Corsair MP700 Pro, the ADATA Legend 970, and the Aorus 10000, which are rated at 700TBW for 1TB and 1,400TBW for 2TB. The Seagate FireCuda 540 is the reigning Gen 5 durability champ, with ratings of 1,000TBW for the 1TB stick and 2,000TBW for 2TB.The terabytes-written spec is a manufacturer's estimate of how much data can be written to a drive before some cells begin to fail and get taken out of service. Micron warranties the P510 for five years or until you hit the rated TBW figure in data writes, whichever comes first. But the drive's durability rating is such that unless you're writing unusually large amounts of data to the SSD, it's a safe bet that the P510 will last the full warranty period and well beyond.Recommended by Our EditorsPerformance Testing: Spot-On Sequential Throughput, But Otherwise Unremarkable In benchmarking the P510, we used our latest testbed PC, designed specifically for benchmarking PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSDs. It is built around an ASRock X670E Taichi motherboard with an AMD X670 chipset, 32GB of DDR5 memory, one PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot (with lanes that have direct access to the CPU), and three PCIe 4.0 slots. The system sports an AMD Ryzen 9 7900 CPU using an AMD stock cooler; a GeForce RTX 2070 Super graphics card with 8GB of GDDR6 SDRAM; and a Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 Snow 750-watt power supply. The boot drive is an ADATA Legend 850 PCIe 4.0 SSD. (The reviewed SSD is tested as a secondary data drive.) The motherboard employs an air-cooled (fan-based) heatsink over the PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot that can be placed over the tested SSD, as I did when benchmarking the P510.We put the P510 through our usual internal solid-state drive benchmarks: Crystal DiskMark 6.0, UL's PCMark 10 Storage, and UL's 3DMark Storage benchmark. The last measures a drive's performance in several gaming-related load and launch tasks. Among the comparison drives seen in the tables below, I included not only most of the Gen 5 SSDs we have reviewed, but three of the fastest PCI Express 4.0 SSDs we have come across: the WD Black SN850X, the Samsung SSD 990 Pro, and Micron's own Crucial T500.Crystal DiskMark's sequential speed tests provide a traditional measure of drive throughput, simulating best-case, straight-line transfers of large files. We use this test to determine if our tested speeds align with the manufacturer's rated speeds. The P510 effectively matched its rated sequential read and write speeds; both scores were within 1% of their ratings. Sequential read speed was a cut above the earliest PCIe 5.0 SSDs we tested, but well short of the Crucial T705 and below the second tier of Gen 5 speedsters; write speed was the lowest of the PCIe 5 SSDs in our comparison group. The P510's read and write speeds were considerably faster than any of the PCIe 4.0 SSDs we've reviewed, which have sequential read and write speed ratings of up to 7,500MBps and 7,000MBps, respectively.Crystal DiskMark also measures a drive's 4K (small-file) read and write speeds; while the P510's 4K read speed was very similar to most of our comparison drives (both PCIe 4.0 and 5.0), its write score was the highest (by a hair) among a close range of scores of all the Gen 5 drives and well above the Gen 4 SSDs with which we compared it. Good 4K write performance is especially important for an SSD used as a boot drive, though we test them as secondary drives.As impressive as the raw speed of the P510 and other PCI Express 5.0 drives is, it's of little use if your SSD can't quickly perform the tasks you need it for. The PCMark 10 Storage Overall test measures a drive's speed in performing various routine tasks such as launching Windows, loading games and creative apps, and copying both small and large files. The P510's PCMark Overall score was the lowest of the Gen 5 SSDs we have reviewed, about 10% lower than the next-closest Gen 5 SSD, the Seagate FireCuda 540. Compared with the Gen 4 SSDs in our comparison group, the P510's score was better than the WD SN850X but worse than the Crucial T500 and the Samsung SSD 990 Pro.The PCMark 10 Overall score is an aggregate of the results of individual tests, which consist of various simulated system tasks, or "traces." The P510's scores on these tests were underwhelming relative to our comparison drives. It was in the middle of the pack in Windows loading, but fared worse in our game-launching tests, with low scores (among PCIe 4.0 as well as PCIe 5.0 SSDs) for Battlefield 5 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, while coming in second to last at Overwatch, ahead of the Samsung SSD Pro 990. In Adobe program launching, the P510 had the lowest score in Premiere Pro and tied for the second-lowest score on the Photoshop launching test with the Crucial T500, while edging out the WD SN850X. In the ISO Copy trace, although its score was below the PCIe 5 drives in our comparison group, it easily beat the Gen 4 SSDs. The 3DMark Storage benchmark tests an SSD's proficiency in performing various gaming-related tasks. In it, the P510 was in the thick of a close pack of four SSDs that trailed the T705 by a large margin.Based on its benchmark scores, the Crucial P510 is best for straight-line file transfers, copying, archiving, and accessing data. It's a mainstream SSD, so we wouldn't expect it to perform like the top-end Gen 5 speedsters we've reviewed, and indeed, its performance was more in line with some of the elite PCIe 4.0 sticks we compared it with.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 9 مشاهدةالرجاء تسجيل الدخول , للأعجاب والمشاركة والتعليق على هذا!
-
ME.PCMAG.COMAsus Vivobook Go 15Pros Inexpensive for a full Windows 11 PCDecent chassis build quality for the priceLong battery life Cons Dim, grim screenOutdated processorKeyboard is uncomfortable and not backlitSupports Wi-Fi 5, not Wi-Fi 6, 6E, or 7Poor speakers Asus Vivobook Go 15 (E1504FA-AS54) Specs Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Dimensions (HWD) 0.70 by 14.19 by 9.15 inches Graphics Processor AMD Radeon 610M Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology TN Processor AMD Ryzen 5 7520U Processor Speed 2.8 RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 13:27 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.59 Wireless Networking 802.11ac Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.1 All Specs Table of ContentsDesign: Budget With a Touch of ClassFeatures: Affordability Comes With SacrificesPerformance Tests: This Might Take a WhileProductivity and Content Creation TestsGaming and Graphics TestsBattery Life and Display Tests The ideal budget laptop blends everyday usability, reliable performance, and a touch of creature comfort. Essentially, it should be functional without leading to buyer's remorse for not spending more. The Asus Vivobook Go 15 (in the model E1504FA-AS54 we tested) looks promising on paper, with a full-featured Windows OS—not the limited Windows in S Mode—and a super-low starting price of $299 for a base model (and $382 in our test configuration). Unfortunately, outdated hardware and significant usability issues make it difficult to recommend even for basic use. For better value, consider any pick in our budget laptop roundup, or explore Chromebook options if you can forgo Windows.Design: Budget With a Touch of ClassThe Vivobook Go 15's silvery exterior lends it a stylish appearance that belies its economical price. The sturdy plastic exhibits minimal flex, even when I unwisely lifted it by a corner. Although the lid displays a bit more flex, it remains within acceptable limits. The somewhat ostentatious Vivobook badge on the lid doesn't detract from its overall classy look.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Measuring 0.7 by 14.2 by 9.2 inches, the Vivobook Go 15 shares similar dimensions with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 and is fairly light for a 15.6-inch laptop at 3.6 pounds. Although its screen bezels could be slimmer, the laptop is sleek enough for its price.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The port selection includes two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, an HDMI monitor output, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Notably, one of the Type-A ports is the antique USB 2.0 and the HDMI port is limited to version 1.4, resulting in a flickery 30 instead of 60 frames per second for 4K output. The power adapter relies on a traditional barrel-style connector instead of USB-C.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)My $382 review model combines a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, AMD Radeon 610M integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive. Despite its contemporary name, the processor is a relic, built on AMD's "Zen 2" architecture that debuted in 2019. This model's performance is also hindered by its 8GB of non-upgradable, soldered memory. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 further underscores the rather retro nature of this notebook.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Asus backs the Vivobook Go 15 with a one-year warranty. The laptop comes with minimal preinstalled software. The MyAsus app features system updates, diagnostics, and customer support access. Device settings include a battery-care mode that limits the charge to 80% and a blue-light filter for the display. Additionally, there's a whisper mode that reduces performance to lower fan noise, although I didn't find the normal fan noise to be intrusive. The laptop rarely became more than lukewarm to the touch.Features: Affordability Comes With SacrificesIf you're comparing the Vivobook Go 15 to a more premium (or even slightly less thrifty) laptop, two things will be obvious. First, the keyboard experience is subpar—it doesn't have backlighting and offers insufficient cushioning, leading to a harsh and tiring typing experience. Despite this, I managed to reach near my top speed in the MonkeyType online typing test, achieving 117 words per minute with 99% accuracy. Additionally, the keyboard has layout inefficiencies, offering no dedicated Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys and using a nonstandard three-column number pad. At least it provides a Function Lock feature to make the F1 through F12 keys primary.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The other significant issue is the screen. On paper, it doesn't seem too bad, with 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution instead of chintzy 1,366-by-768 and an antiglare surface. However, one glance at the washed-out picture is enough to cause instant regret. Apparently, old TN-style panels haven't been completely phased out; you must view this display head-on, or the colors invert and the screen becomes unusable, which is a shame since the lid can be opened 180 degrees. Colors appear dull and unnatural—red, for instance, looks more like orange—while low peak brightness only compounds the poor quality.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)One minor upside is the webcam above the display, which provides decent picture quality despite its 720p resolution and includes a sliding privacy shutter. It doesn't support Windows Hello face recognition, but biometric features aren't expected at this price. The touchpad is average-sized and unremarkable. The speakers are subpar; when I played Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath," the bass notes were flat, and the vocals sounded tinny.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)While the Vivobook felt responsive enough when typing this review, watching YouTube videos, and web surfing, the next section will reveal that its performance is only adequate for such undemanding activities. The 8GB of RAM, which as I noted isn't upgradable, limits its multitasking capabilities. It's fine for emailing and basic browsing, but don't leave dozens of tabs open.Performance Tests: This Might Take a WhileTo recap, I reviewed the $382 Asus Vivobook Go 15 model E1504FA-AS54, which features an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor (six cores, up to 4.3GHz boost), Radeon 610M integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Asus also offers an even more affordable model, the E1504FA-AS33, which comes with a Ryzen 3 7320U chip and 128GB of storage, priced at $299.Recommended by Our EditorsWe haven't tested many ultra-budget laptops like this one recently. However, several of our comparison systems are similarly priced in their baseline configurations. These include the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (model 7445; starts at $499 as of this writing), the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (starts at $429) and IdeaPad Flex 5 14 Gen 7 (starts at $634). Note the models we tested are not the baseline versions. I included the slightly pricier Acer Aspire Vero to fill out the charts, which was $750 as tested.Productivity and Content Creation TestsOur primary overall benchmark, UL's PCMark 10, puts a system through its paces in productivity apps ranging from web browsing to word processing and spreadsheet work. Its Full System Drive subtest measures a PC's storage throughput. Two more tests are CPU-centric or processor-intensive: Primate Labs' Geekbench 6.3 Pro simulates popular apps ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning, and we see how long it takes the video transcoder HandBrake 1.8 to convert a 12-minute clip from 4K to 1080p resolution. We normally run a third processing test, Maxon's image-rendering Cinebench 2024, and an automated Adobe Photoshop workflow, PugetBench for Creators. But the Vivobook Go 15 couldn't complete those benchmarks due to its lack of RAM.The Asus and IdeaPad Flex 5 delivered similar performance in PCMark 10, barely reaching the 4,000 points that we consider decent for everyday use with apps like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. This is partly because their 8GB of memory is today's barest minimum for multitasking; you want 16GB if possible for a Windows PC nowadays. Additionally, the weakness of the Asus' outdated Ryzen 5 CPU is highlighted in Geekbench, where it fell well behind even the Core i3-powered IdeaPad Flex 5.Gaming and Graphics TestsWe challenge each reviewed system’s graphics with a quartet of animations or gaming simulations from UL's 3DMark test suite. Wild Life (1440p) and Wild Life Extreme (4K) use the Vulkan graphics API to measure GPU speeds. Steel Nomad's regular (4K) and Light (1440p) subtests focus on APIs more commonly used for game development, like Metal and DirectX 12, to assess gaming geometry and particle effects. A fifth test, Solar Bay, emphasizes ray-tracing performance using Vulkan or Metal APIs at 1440p resolution.The Vivobook's aging CPU and integrated Radeon graphics didn't help it in our 3D tests, where it performed well behind the other units. Due to its minimal memory, it couldn't complete the 3DMark Steel Nomad test. As mentioned earlier, this laptop is strictly suited for basic tasks—nothing more.Battery Life and Display TestsWe test each laptop's battery life by playing a locally stored 720p video file (the open-source Blender movie Tears of Steel) with display brightness at 50% and audio volume at 100%. We ensure the battery is fully charged, with Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting turned off, before the test.To gauge display performance, we also use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and its Windows software to measure a laptop screen's color saturation—what percentage of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display can show—and its 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter).The Asus performed quite well in battery life, having enough power to last a typical workday. However, its screen quality is down there with other barest-budget laptops, covering only 67% of the sRGB color gamut and maxing out at just 270 nits of brightness. The IdeaPad Slim 3i has similar color coverage but is much brighter. Additionally, the Asus suffers from poor viewing angles due to its TN screen, an issue not captured in our measurements.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 23 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMHow to Watch the Star Wars Movies in Order (And Andor Season 2)A Disney+ subscription is your ticket to the complete Star Wars franchise. This includes the original trilogy, prequel movies, and sequels, plus the standalone films. Want even more from the galaxy far away? Try original series like The Mandalorian, Andor, and Clone Wars. Andor season 2 hit the video-streaming service on April 22, with new episodes through May 13.It's never been easier to marathon the whole franchise, but before you press play on the first movie, it's important to decide your preferred viewing order. Do you start with the original trilogy or the prequel movies? What about the standalone films and the television shows? Whichever order you choose, here's how to watch.Theatrical Release OrderThe most obvious answer is theatrical release order, since this was what George Lucas originally intended. It starts with the original trilogy, then takes us back to the prequel movies, before finishing with Disney's sequel films. Following this order, you get Luke overcoming Darth Vader, Vader's origin story, and then Rey picking up the legacy Luke left behind. It can get a bit awkward if you add the standalone Star Wars films, since Rogue One and Solo would interrupt the sequel trilogy.If you're doing a re-watch and are interested in preserving the storyline of the core movies, just skip those two films. They have no impact on the overarching narrative, anyway. First-timers who want the full experience can certainly watch them in release order, or place the standalone films before or after the sequel trilogy. If you want to go by release order, your marathon should look like this:Chronological OrderGeorge Lucas had always intended for the original film to be a small part in a larger narrative. So just because it was the first to be released doesn't mean it's the start of the story. Instead of going with release order, you can also try chronological order, based on when the movies are supposed to take place. This would mean watching Episodes I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX in numerical order. If you're adding the standalone films, Rogue One and Solo can fit between Episodes III and IV, and it should work fine.However, since this order completely ruins the Darth Vader reveal in the original films, it's not advisable that anyone should watch these movies for the first time in this order. Watching Star Wars in chronological order is more of a fun experiment for longtime fans to see the series from a new perspective. If you were to watch the Star Wars films in chronological order, it would look like this: Machete OrderIf you've already experienced release and chronological order, there's another option to try: Machete Order. This order splits the difference and has you watch Episodes II and III between Episodes V and VI. You start with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, but then things get wonky. Just after Luke discovers the truth about Darth Vader, turn to the prequels as a flashback sequence. Watch Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith to witness how Anakin Skywalker was consumed by the Dark Side, before finishing with Return of the Jedi.The Machete Order cuts out Phantom Menace entirely, since almost everything in the movie is self-contained and has no effect on the other prequels. Qui-Gon Jinn plays no importance to the greater story. Midi-chlorians are barely mentioned again. You also basically avoid Jar Jar Binks entirely. It isn't perfect, though, so watch at your own risk.Recommended by Our EditorsIf you're not happy about removing Episode I and are also wondering where the sequel movies fit in here, the original creator of the Machete Order, Rod Hilton, suggests watching Episodes VII, VIII, and IX after the other movies. You can then treat Episode I as an anthology, like Rogue One and Solo. So if you go by the Machete Order, you would watch the movies as follows: Disney's Narrative TimelineBut what about the television shows? Star Wars has become more than just movies, with The Clone Wars, Rebels, Andor, and The Mandalorian taking over the conversation in recent years. While there's no specific watch order for all these different pieces of the Star Wars universe, Disney has released an official timeline.You probably assumed that The Clone Wars animated series takes place between Episodes II and III, but what about the others? According to Disney, Star Wars: Rebels is set before the events of A New Hope. The Mandalorian takes place after Return of the Jedi but before the Star Wars: Resistance animated series. If you happen to be crazy enough to watch every movie and show in chronological order, here's what that would look like: The AcolyteTales of the Jedi (set at various times from before Episode I, right up to Rebels)Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom MenaceStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the ClonesStar Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 film)Star Wars: The Clone WarsTales of the Empire (set at various times between Clone Wars and The Mandalorian)Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithThe Bad BatchSoloObi-Wan KenobiStar Wars: RebelsAndorRogue OneStar Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the JediThe MandalorianThe Book of Boba FettAhsokaSkeleton CrewStar Wars: ResistanceStar Wars Episode VII: The Force AwakensStar Wars Episode VIII: The Last JediStar Wars Episode IX: The Rise of SkywalkerStar Wars: Visions (set at various points in the timeline)Star Wars VintageDisney may be pushing Star Wars TV hard, but it's not the first time the franchise has been on the small screen. Old TV movies and animated series were hard to find, until they were added to Disney+ under the Star Wars Vintage banner. While you still can't stream the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special in its entirety, a few classics have been made available to watch:The Story of the Faithful Wookie - The animated portion from the 1978 Holiday Special that introduced Boba Fett.Caravan of Courage - A 1984 made-for-TV film about two children who meet a band of Ewoks while searching for their missing parents.Ewoks: The Battle For Endor - The 1985 sequel to the first Ewok film, which sees a young child and her Ewok companions fight a group of invading marauders.EwoksStar Wars: Droids - An animated series starring R2-D2 and C-3PO that ran for one season in 1985.Star Wars: Clone Wars - An animated micro-series about the Clone Wars, created by Genndy Tartakovsky and lasting for three seasons between 2003 and 2005.Everything Still to ComeDisney has announced a million different Star Wars projects, but most of these productions have yet to surface. Rian Johnson, Taika Waititi, Patty Jenkins, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Donald Glover, and James Mangold have all been attached to films (or full trilogies) that have either floundered or are not yet officially announced. We know that Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian & Grogu film, which continues the story of The Mandalorian, is expected to release on May 22, 2026. It was also just announced that Shawn Levy will direct Ryan Gosling in Star Wars: Starfighter, which is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker and expected to release on May 28, 2027.As for TV, Andor Season 2 debuted on April 22, with two additional episodes released each week until May 13. Tales of the Underworld is a new anthology of animated shorts that follows Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane during the Imperial Era, and will premiere in Fortnite, of all places, on May 2, 2025, before it debuts on Disney+ for May 4. Season 2 of Ahsoka is supposed to begin filming in April 2025, and Star Wars: Visions Season 3 has a 2025 release date.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 28 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMGoogle Wallet Now Supports Digital IDs for More States: How to Add YoursGoogle is expanding support for digital IDs in Google Wallet to residents of Arkansas, Montana, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia.They join those in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico, who can also add their government-issued IDs to Google's digital wallet.To add your ID in the app, select Add to Wallet > IDs and pick your state. You’ll then be asked to upload front and back pictures of your ID and complete a face scan. After the ID issuer verifies your application, you’ll receive a confirmation in the app.“In Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico, users will also be able to use their mobile IDs at the DMV for improved and streamlined customer experiences,” Google says. Google Wallet also now lets you create an ID pass. Real IDs are required starting on May 7, but these passes can help you pass through TSA security at supported domestic airports if you don’t have a REAL ID. However, an ID pass isn’t a replacement for REAL ID, so you must carry the original, Google warns. (Google Wallet also supports passports as a form of backup ID.)Recommended by Our EditorsID passes will also soon be available for UK passports. However, at launch, they won’t be able to get you through TSA security. Google Wallet is also integrating a new privacy protocol called Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) to help you verify your age across various apps and services without revealing your identity. Google will use ZKP for age verification across its products and partner apps like Bumble. Additionally, Google says it is expanding support for Wallet to 50 more countries, though it didn’t say which ones or provide a release timeline. Apple Wallet, meanwhile, supports digital IDs for Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, and Puerto Rico.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 30 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COM'AirBorne' Flaw Exposes AirPlay Devices to Hacking: How to Protect YourselfResearchers at cybersecurity firm Oligo have found major vulnerabilities in Apple's AirPlay protocol that allow hackers to breach compatible devices on the same Wi-Fi network.AirPlay is a Wi-Fi-based protocol that allows Apple users to cast audio and video to devices like speakers, monitors, smart TVs, etc. The vulnerabilities, dubbed "AirBorne," were found in both Apple's AirPlay protocol and the AirPlay Software Development Kit (SDK) that third-party vendors use to make their devices AirPlay compatible, Wired reports.In a video, the researchers demonstrated how the vulnerabilities could be exposed. They accessed an AirPlay-enabled Bose speaker on their network and remotely executed code (an RCE attack) to show the "AirBorne" logo on the speaker's display. Hackers could use a similar trick to gain access to microphone-equipped devices for espionage, the researchers claim. CarPlay-equipped infotainment systems are also at risk. Malicious actors could carry out an RCE attack if they are near the CarPlay unit and "the device has a default, predictable, or known Wi-Fi hotspot password."Twenty-three vulnerabilities were reported to Apple in the late fall and winter of last year. Oligo worked with Apple for months on fixes before publishing its findings on Tuesday. Recommended by Our EditorsFixes rolled out to Apple devices on March 31 with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and visionOS 2.4. However, third-party devices supporting the AirPlay protocol remain exposed. Manufacturers need to roll out an update, and users need to install it themselves to avoid being exposed to threats.The total number of exposed devices could be in millions, Oligo CTO Gal Elbaz, tells Wired. "Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch—or they will never be patched," Elbaz says. "And it's all because of vulnerabilities in one piece of software that affects everything."According to Oligo's report, there are several steps you can take to negate the threat:If you're using an AirPlay-enabled Apple device, update it to the latest software version.Disable the AirPlay function when not in use.Using AirPlay, stream content only to trusted devices.On Apple devices, go to Settings > AirPlay & Continuity (or AirPlay & Handoff) and select Current User for the "Allow AirPlay for" option. This will ensure that only you can stream content to your device. It's also best to avoid enabling AirPlay when using a public Wi-Fi network, like those at a cafe, airport, or mall.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 22 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMMicrosoft Says Up to 30% of Its Code Now Written by AI, Meta Aims For 50% in 2026The push for AI across tech isn't just consumer facing, it's seeing many of the world's biggest companies introduce AI into its workflows such as writing code for its products. The latest company to reveal statistics is Microsoft, which says up to 30% of its code is written by AI tools.Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, said so in conversation with Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, during the latter's AI developer conference called LlamaCon. Nadella said, “I’d say maybe 20%, 30% of the code that is inside of our repos today and some of our projects are probably all written by software.”Nadella then flipped the question back to Zuckerberg who didn’t give a clear answer on its current statistics as he didn’t have the numbers to mind. However, he did share a company goal.“Our bet is sort of that in the next year… maybe half the development is going to be done by AI, as opposed to people", Zuckerberg said. "Then that will just kind of increase from there." Zuckerberg wasn’t clear whether he meant the entirety of Meta, or if he was just referring to its Llama AI tools.Recommended by Our EditorsDuring LlamaCon, Meta launched a new standalone AI app to compete with ChatGPT, Google Gemini and other rivals. Meta's version is designed as a tool to help improve AI integration with its smart glasses, but it also works as an assistant directly on Android or iOS devices.Back in October 2024, Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared that the company was using AI to write over 25% of its code. This is a big goal for many tech companies, and we’re going to continue to hear updates from CEOs as more and more code is written by AI tools.Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn said on Monday that the company would be pivoting to an AI focused business saying it plans to move more work to automated tools with a long-term aim to remove human contract workers.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 22 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMIntel's Next Chip Node, 14A, to Boost CPU Speeds With 'Turbo Cells'As Intel prepares to manufacture chips with its 18A process, the company is previewing its next chip node, 14A, which will feature a mysterious "turbo cell" technology meant to boost CPU and even GPU speeds. First disclosed a year ago, Intel’s 14A process promises to pack even more transistors on the silicon, improving the CPU density. On Tuesday, the company confirmed the 14A process will offer a 15% to 20% performance-per-watt increase over the 18A process. (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)The 14A process will introduce a new “turbo cell” technology designed to further increase the chip’s speeds, “including CPU maximum frequency and GPU critical paths,” Intel says.“Turbo Cells allows designers to optimize a mix of more performant cells and more power-efficient cells within a design block, enabling a tailored balance between power, performance, and area for target applications,” Intel said in a statement, which was first reported by PCWorld. (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)The company discussed the 14A process at an Intel foundry event in San Jose as it tries to take on rival TSMC, the major chip maker for AMD, Apple, and Nvidia. Intel’s 18A process is its most considerable effort yet to become a major semiconductor manufacturer after investing $90 billion over the last four years to build its foundry business. Recommended by Our Editors(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)In addition to 18A, Intel says it’s already talking with customers about using the 14A process. This includes distributing a Process Design Kit, or blueprint files, to help customers develop their chip designs for a specific process node. “Multiple customers have expressed their intent to build test chips” on 14A, according to Intel. During Tuesday's event, Intel SVP for foundry services, Kevin O’Buckley, went out of his way to say that Intel is focused on becoming an "AI services company" at a time when AI chip demand has skyrocketed. He then showed a 3D image of what appeared to be an Nvidia-like enterprise-grade GPU packed with high-speed memory. Executives also emphasized that Intel has been listening to customer feedback to make the company's chip technology follow a "predictable 2-year cycle," and easy to plan around. Intel's roadmap adds that the 14A process will arrive in 2027, alongside a “14A-E” node developed to contain some additional “feature extensions.” Along with the turbo cell technology, 14A chips will feature Intel’s second-generation “RibbonFET” and backside power delivery system to further boost performance. (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)In the meantime, Intel plans to use its 18A chip node to develop semiconductors not only for third-party customers but also for its own business. This includes Intel’s upcoming “Panther Lake” laptop-focused CPUs, which are scheduled to arrive in the second half of this year. The company is also developing another node, called 18A-P, which will arrive next year. Intel says it's been “designed to deliver enhanced performance to a broader set of foundry customers,” suggesting it can be used for chips outside general CPU computing.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 31 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMWhat the Flurp? This Accessible Deepfake Detector Knows If Your Zoom Caller Is AIAt last year’s RSAC Conference, I experienced McAfee’s deepfake detection technology, a system that checks every video you watch and offers a percentage likelihood that it’s fake. This was a demo using a super high-end Intel PC, not something I could replicate in my own office. Even now, the technology requires an Intel Core Ultra 200V series processor, so unless you bought your Intel laptop in the last six months or so, you’re out of luck.At this year’s conference, Sandy Kronenberg, CEO of Netarx, a company that uses AI to detect AI, introduced me to the Flurp, a more accessible deepfake detector for voice, video, and email. While it’s compatible with enterprise-level managed security, it’s also something that any interested consumer can use.What Is the Flurp?I had to ask Kronenberg just why they called this app the Flurp. “I started in IT services 28 years ago, and the company logo was purple,” he replied. “Someone commented it looked like a purple flurp drink from the Jimmy Neutron cartoon.” He noted that it’s a consumer-friendly name for a product that consumers can and should use.The Flurp is an app for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and a simple browser extension. A simple green, yellow, or red icon indicates the trust level for the current communication. Businesses pay $5 per user per month for a company-wide installation, but individuals can use it for free by signing up on Netarx's website. "That large organization has a back door in the individual’s private and personal communications," observed Kronenberg. "We’ve made it so you can extend to your corporate communications as well as personal communications."Recommended by Our EditorsWe all do security awareness training, but it can just make people afraid to be productive.Sandy Kronenberg, CEO, NetarxKronenberg explained that a higher level of service is available for companies that require post-quantum encryption, want to use their own blockchain of choice, or need to host their own validation algorithms. The monthly price goes up to $10, but there’s also an initial fee to have Netarx customize the technology.Why Do We Need the Flurp?The idea for the Flurp came when Kronenberg was meeting with a client. The client took a phone call, and his face turned white. A social media attack had just cost his company millions. “Sure, we all do security awareness training,” he said, “But it can just make people afraid to be productive.” If you’re looking at an email and the Flurp stays green, you know it’s OK. You don’t have to be afraid. But if the Flurp turns yellow or red, you know there’s trouble.I agree that security training doesn’t make employees into security experts. If an inexpensive AI-powered tool can remove some of the burden, that’s surely a plus. If it sounds interesting, try it for yourself or your tech-averse relatives, and relax just a little.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 36 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMNew Starlink Router May Be Intended to Boost Mini Dish's Wi-Fi RangeAn upcoming Starlink router might improve the Wi-Fi range of the existing Mini dish. Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission cleared the mysterious “UTR-251” router for sale in the US. SpaceX is now adding new files to the Starlink mobile app that appear to depict the new router, according to DISHYTech, which reviews and covers Starlink hardware. DISHYTech discovered the new files when switching to the app's developer mode, which requires users to tap the Starlink logo several times. When you scroll down, a demo interface will appear that seems to show the smaller UTR-251 router connected to a Starlink mini dish. Recommended by Our Editors(Credit: FCC/SpaceX)Importantly, the displayed router matches the UTR-251 image SpaceX sent to the FCC. We initially thought the new router might be for a new product since SpaceX is planning three new satellite dishes for Starlink. But the app update suggests the router is mainly designed to address the limited Wi-Fi range of the existing Mini dish, which we noted in our review.The Mini dish's router is built into the hardware, making the whole setup easier to transport. However, the built-in router supports a wireless range of 150 feet and is limited to Wi-Fi 5. In contrast, the UTR-251 is designed to support Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. The Starlink app also classifies the device under the “connected_v4_mini_mesh” name, suggesting SpaceX will try to market the product as an extender for the Mini dish. We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, users can use a third-party router with a Mini dish by switching to the “bypass mode,” according to a SpaceX support document. The company also continues selling the current Gen 3 router, which was recently discounted to $120.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 33 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMElden Ring Nightreign: Can Your PC Run the Gothic Multiplayer Action?In the years since Demon's Souls' release, the gaming world has fallen deeply in love with developer FromSoftware's uniquely punishing brand of gothic action-RPG. This format hit new heights with 2022's Elden Ring. However, the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign shakes up the formula by adding co-op multiplayer elements to the traditional solo journey. Before you see if you and your friends are ready for the dark journey, ensure your PC is up to snuff by perusing these minimum and recommended specs.What Is Elden Ring Nightreign?Parsing a FromSoftware game's obscure plot is as tricky as taking down its brutal enemies. Passionate players have already sussed out what happened in Elden Ring, and Nightreign takes place in the same world, despite writer George R.R. Martin not penning the story. Nightreign focuses on multiplayer combat, giving teams just a few in-game days to defeat a boss before the world resets. I wouldn't be shocked if there's exciting new lore to discover about The Lands Between.(Credit: FromSoftware)Price and Release DateElden Ring Nightreign is headed to PC (Steam), PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One on May 30, 2025. The base game costs $39.99. The $54.99 deluxe edition adds DLC bosses, new playable characters, and a digital art book and soundtrack.Recommended by Our EditorsElden Ring Nightreign: Minimum System SpecsOS: Windows 10 (64-bit)CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 or Intel Core i5-10600Memory: 12GB RAMGPU: AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB)Storage: 30GB available space(Credit: FromSoftware)Elden Ring Nightreign: Recommended System SpecsOS: Windows 11 (64-bit)CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i5-11500Memory: 16GB RAMGPU: AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (8GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB)Storage: 30GB available spaceController and Steam Deck SupportFromSoftware experts have mastered these famously difficult games using a variety of controllers, including dance mats. But for the rest of us, Elden Ring Nightreign features full gamepad support. The original Elden Ring was Steam Deck verified, but Nightreign's Steam Deck support is unknown. The action-RPG incorporates third-party DRM courtesy of GuardIT.Visit PCMag on SteamIf you enjoyed this Elden Ring Nightreign spec overview and want more PC gaming coverage, please join the PCMag Steam Curator page. There, you'll find links to every Steam game we've reviewed, alongside in-depth previews of upcoming Steam titles. For more in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 33 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMNYC Bets on AI Surveillance to Clean Up Subways, Predict Criminal BehaviorAll public transit systems are digging themselves out of the tough pandemic years, but New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has had an especially brutal stretch after a string of concerning crimes, and it's now looking to AI to make the subways safer.The MTA is working with AI companies to deploy technology that would analyze security footage as it's being filmed, according to Gothamist. Without using facial recognition, it would identify "problematic behaviors" and scan for "potential trouble." The goal is to predict which riders could be criminals and catch them before they act."AI is the future," says MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper. "We're working with tech companies literally right now and seeing what's out there right now on the market, what's feasible, what would work in the subway system."The system would issue automated alerts to the New York Police Department (NYPD) if it finds a potential issue. About 40% of cameras on subway platforms are monitored in real time, so this system could do the same for all cameras without needing to staff a human. That will come with the risk of the AI tool falsely accusing innocent riders."Using artificial intelligence—a technology notoriously unreliable and biased—to monitor our subways and send in police risks exacerbating these disparities and creating new problems," New York Civil Liberties Union Senior Policy Counsel Justin Harrison tells Gothamist. "Real public safety comes from investing in our communities, not from omnipresent surveillance."Recommended by Our EditorsChinese subways have been using facial recognition for years, such as to take rider payments, according to the South China Morning Post. Russia is currently expanding its facial recognition payment system, Face Pay, to subways in more cities as well, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports."This system will become yet another powerful instrument in today's Russia for the surveillance and control of citizens," says Russia-based human rights organizer Andrei Fedorkov, according to RFE/RL. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has increased video surveillance on subways since she took office, including installing two subway cameras in every car in 2022, Gothamist reports. The Trump administration is putting pressure on the city to reduce crime drastically, and threatening to pull funding if it does not, the AP reports. The same goes for transit systems in Chicago and Washington, DC."If people can’t go to the subway and not be afraid of being stabbed or thrown in front of tracks or burnt...we’re going to pull your money," says US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a March interview on Fox. The MTA has clapped back with some data, claiming crime is down 40% compared to 2020. So far, 2025 has seen "fewer daily major crimes in transit than any non-pandemic year ever,” according to John McCarthy, the MTA’s chief of policy and external relations.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 39 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMDeepfake 'Revenge Porn' Bill Clears Congress: What You Need to KnowCongress this week had a rare moment of bipartisanship, with the House passing the deepfake-focused Take It Down Act by a 409-2 vote. The bill criminalizes "revenge porn," or the non-consensual publishing of sexually explicit content, including those generated using AI. Social media platforms must take down such media within 48 hours of notice. The Senate unanimously approved the Take it Down Act in February; it now heads to President Trump's desk. He's expected to sign the bill, which also has the support of First Lady Melania Trump via her "Be Best" anti-cyberbullying campaign.Non-consensual intimate images (NCII) are a growing problem for younger users. One of the inspirations behind the bill is a 14-year-old girl from Texas whose male classmate created a deepfake nude image of her and posted it on social media. Though the image was eventually taken down, no law required its immediate removal.Multiple AI tools help convert normal photographs or videos to deepfake pornography. Apple removed three such apps from the App Store last year, and San Francisco sued 16 AI-powered websites that help "undress" women in August. According to NBC News, at least 15% of high school students know about the existence of deepfake images of someone they know. Recommended by Our Editors"If you're a victim of revenge or AI-generated explicit imagery, your life changes forever. Most likely, you've been targeted by someone you know, and you're likely struggling to have that material removed from the internet," says bill sponsor Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). "The Take It Down Act empowers victims across the entire United States. It makes it a felony for these deviants to publish any non-consensual intimate images."Critics argue the law could be misused, mainly since its enforcement lies with the Federal Trade Commission. "This is an alarming expansion of the FTC's enforcement authority, especially under an administration that has openly expressed hostility to nonprofit organizations that do not serve its political interests," writes Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI), an organization dedicated to combating image-based sexual abuse."Platforms that feel confident that they are unlikely to be targeted by the FTC (for example, platforms that are closely aligned with the current administration) may feel emboldened to simply ignore reports of NDII," CCRI adds.The organization also found a loophole in the law "that would seemingly allow a person to disclose intimate images without consent so long as that person also appears in the image."The bill could also be used for broader censorship, according to Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Platforms must view flagged content to remove it, whether publicly available or circulated through direct messages (DMs). Therefore, they "may respond by abandoning encryption entirely (for messages) in order to be able to monitor content—turning private conversations into surveilled spaces," says India McKinney, EFF's director of federal affairs.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 21 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMOpenAI Says Bug Let Kids Have 'Erotic' Conversations With ChatGPTMeta AI isn't the only AI tool having sexually charged conversations with minors. ChatGPT is reportedly doing the same thing.TechCrunch was able to create what it refers to as "erotic" conversations with ChatGPT using accounts with age ranges between 13 and 17. When asked for comment, OpenAI said the messages shouldn’t have been shown, as they’re against its policies, but it's prepping a fix."Protecting younger users is a top priority, and our Model Spec, which guides model behavior, clearly restricts sensitive content like erotica to narrow contexts such as scientific, historical, or news reporting," OpenAI says. "In this case, a bug allowed responses outside those guidelines, and we are actively deploying a fix to limit these generations."Recommended by Our EditorsOpenAI recently changed ChatGPT to be less constrained around sensitive topics, including NSFW activity. After these changes, TechCrunch experimented to see what minors would be able to access even when their account clearly states their age.This comes after The Wall Street Journal conducted a similar test with Meta AI. It, too, allowed children to have sexual conversations, some through the celebrity voices system that emulates stars like John Cena, Kristen Bell, and Judi Dench. Meta accused the Journal of "manipulating our products" to get the desired results, but said it took "additional measures" to prevent such content from appearing.Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 22 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMHow to Avoid Hefty 'Import Charges' on Your Next Temu OrderIf you buy from Temu, expect to pay more than double what you're used to.In response to Trump’s tariffs, the e-commerce platform is rolling out new "import charges" for US orders shipped from China. So, products that typically cost $20 can balloon to $50. Effective May 2, the US is preparing to tariff incoming packages at 120% (or postal carriers can also choose a flat $100 per-item fee). That's when an exemption on orders less than $800 goes away, meaning even that $5 T-shirt from Temu (or Shein) is subject to tariffs. But Temu is getting ahead of that deadline, and is already imposing the new import charges since packages from China take over a week to arrive in the US. Recommended by Our EditorsThe import fees are causing some US customers to say goodbye to the platform. “Glad I don’t pay that in Canada,” wrote one user on Reddit. Look for Temu's 'Local Warehouse' TagUS buyers can still find many products on Temu without import charges since they have already arrived in the US and are being stored and shipped from US warehouses. Temu is highlighting these goods through a new “local” label, explaining: “No import charges for all local warehouse items and no extra charges upon delivery.”(Credit: Temu)It remains unclear when the local inventory will run out. But it’s possible Temu will try to source more goods from Vietnam and other markets to bypass Trump’s tariffs.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 40 مشاهدة
-
ME.PCMAG.COMHow Do You Connect? Rate Your Home and Office Networking Equipment to WinTake the Networking Equipment SurveyTake other PCMag surveys. Each completed survey is a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card. OFFICIAL SWEEPSTAKES RULESNO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Readers' Choice Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") is governed by these official rules (the "Sweepstakes Rules"). The Sweepstakes begins on March 11, 2025, at 12:00 AM ET and ends on May 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET (the "Sweepstakes Period").SPONSOR: Ziff Davis, LLC, with an address of 360 Park Ave South, Floor 17, New York, NY 10010 (the "Sponsor").ELIGIBILITY: This Sweepstakes is open to individuals who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States of America or the District of Columbia. By entering the Sweepstakes as described in these Sweepstakes Rules, entrants represent and warrant that they are complying with these Sweepstakes Rules (including, without limitation, all eligibility requirements), and that they agree to abide by and be bound by all the rules and terms and conditions stated herein and all decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final and binding.All previous winners of any sweepstakes sponsored by Sponsor during the nine (9) month period prior to the Selection Date are not eligible to enter. Any individuals (including, but not limited to, employees, consultants, independent contractors and interns) who have, within the past six (6) months, held employment with or performed services for Sponsor or any organizations affiliated with the sponsorship, fulfillment, administration, prize support, advertisement or promotion of the Sweepstakes ("Employees") are not eligible to enter or win. Immediate Family Members and Household Members are also not eligible to enter or win. "Immediate Family Members" means parents, step-parents, legal guardians, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, or spouses of an Employee. "Household Members" means those individuals who share the same residence with an Employee at least three (3) months a year.HOW TO ENTER: There are two methods to enter the Sweepstakes: (1) fill out the online survey, or (2) enter by mail.1. Survey Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes through the online survey, go to the survey page and complete the current survey during the Sweepstakes Period.2. Mail Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes by mail, on a 3" x 5" card, print your first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code, phone number, and email address. Mail your completed entry to:Readers' Choice Sweepstakes - Networking 2025c/o E. Griffith 624 Elm St. Ext.Ithaca, NY 14850-8786Mail Entries must be postmarked by May 26, 2025, and received by June 3, 2025.Only one (1) entry per person is permitted, regardless of the entry method used. Subsequent attempts made by the same individual to submit multiple entries may result in the disqualification of the entrant.Only contributions submitted during the Sweepstakes Period will be eligible for entry into the Sweepstakes. No other methods of entry will be accepted. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible. Use of a false account will disqualify an entry. Sponsor is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties, and other technological problems.Entries are subject to any applicable restrictions or eligibility requirements listed herein. Entries will be deemed to have been made by the authorized account holder of the email or telephone phone number submitted at the time of entry and qualification. Multiple participants are not permitted to share the same email address. Should multiple users of the same e-mail account or mobile phone number, as applicable, enter the Sweepstakes and a dispute thereafter arises regarding the identity of the entrant, the Authorized Account Holder of said e-mail account or mobile phone account at the time of entry will be considered the entrant. "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned an e-mail address or mobile phone number by an Internet access provider, online service provider, telephone service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigned e-mail addresses, phone numbers or the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by the website administrator for online entries. When applicable, the website administrator's computer will be deemed the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes promotion. Entries will be disqualified if found to be incomplete and/or if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that multiple entries were submitted by the same entrant in violation of the Sweepstakes Rules.Entries that are late, lost, stolen, mutilated, tampered with, illegible, incomplete, mechanically reproduced, inaccurate, postage-due, forged, irregular in any way or otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules will be disqualified. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION: Sponsor shall select the prize winner(s) (collectively, the "Winner") on or about June 13, 2025, ("Selection Date") by random drawing or from among all eligible entries. The Winner will be notified via email to the contact information provided in the entry. Notification of the Winner shall be deemed to have occurred immediately upon sending of the notification by Sponsor. Selected winner(s) will be required to respond (as directed) to the notification within seven (7) days of attempted notification. The only entries that will be considered eligible entries are entries received by Sponsor within the Sweepstakes Period. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to choose an alternative winner in the event that a possible winner has been disqualified or is deemed ineligible for any reason.Recommended by Our EditorsPRIZE: One (1) winner will receive the following prize (collectively, the "Prize"):One (1) $250 Amazon.com gift code via email, valued at approximately two hundred fifty dollars ($250).No more than the stated number of prize(s) will be awarded, and all prize(s) listed above will be awarded. Actual retail value of the Prize may vary due to market conditions. The difference in value of the Prize as stated above and value at time of notification of the Winner, if any, will not be awarded. No cash or prize substitution is permitted, except at the discretion of Sponsor. The Prize is non-transferable. If the Prize cannot be awarded due to circumstances beyond the control of Sponsor, a substitute Prize of equal or greater retail value will be awarded; provided, however, that if a Prize is awarded but remains unclaimed or is forfeited by the Winner, the Prize may not be re-awarded, in Sponsor's sole discretion. In the event that more than the stated number of prize(s) becomes available for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prize(s) by a random drawing among all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.ACCEPTANCE AND DELIVERY OF THE PRIZE: The Winner will be required to verify his or her address and may be required to execute the following document(s) before a notary public and return them within seven (7) days (or a shorter time if required by exigencies) of receipt of such documents: an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release, and (where imposing such condition is legal) a publicity release covering eligibility, liability, advertising, publicity and media appearance issues (collectively, the "Prize Claim Documents"). If an entrant is unable to verify the information submitted with their entry, the entrant will automatically be disqualified and their prize, if any, will be forfeited. The Prize will not be awarded until all such properly executed and notarized Prize Claim Documents are returned to Sponsor. Prize(s) won by an eligible entrant who is a minor in his or her state of residence will be awarded to minor's parent or legal guardian, who must sign and return all required Prize Claim Documents. In the event the Prize Claim Documents are not returned within the specified period, an alternate Winner may be selected by Sponsor for such Prize. The Prize will be shipped to the Winner within 7 days of Sponsor's receipt of a signed Affidavit and Release from the Winner. The Winner is responsible for all taxes and fees related to the Prize received, if any.OTHER RULES: This sweepstakes is subject to all applicable laws and is void where prohibited. All submissions by entrants in connection with the sweepstakes become the sole property of the sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Winner assumes all liability for any injuries or damage caused or claimed to be caused by participation in this sweepstakes or by the use or misuse of any prize.By entering the sweepstakes, each winner grants the SPONSOR permission to use his or her name, city, state/province, e-mail address and, to the extent submitted as part of the sweepstakes entry, his or her photograph, voice, and/or likeness for advertising, publicity or other purposes OR ON A WINNER'S LIST, IF APPLICABLE, IN ANY and all MEDIA WHETHER NOW KNOWN OR HEREINAFTER DEVELOPED, worldwide, without additional consent OR compensation, except where prohibited by law. By submitting an entry, entrants also grant the Sponsor a perpetual, fully-paid, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute, display, exhibit, transmit, broadcast, televise, digitize, perform and otherwise use and permit others to use, and throughout the world, their entry materials in any manner, form, or format now known or hereinafter created, including on the internet, and for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising or promotion of the Sweepstakes, the Sponsor and/or its products and services, without further consent from or compensation to the entrant. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants consent to receive notification of future promotions, advertisements or solicitations by or from Sponsor and/or Sponsor's parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, and business partners, via email or other means of communication.If, in the Sponsor's opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of fraud, electronic or non-electronic tampering or unauthorized intervention with any portion of this Sweepstakes, or if fraud or technical difficulties of any sort (e.g., computer viruses, bugs) compromise the integrity of the Sweepstakes, the Sponsor reserves the right to void suspect entries and/or terminate the Sweepstakes and award the Prize in its sole discretion. Any attempt to deliberately damage the Sponsor's website(s) or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be in violation of U.S. criminal and civil laws and will result in disqualification from participation in the Sweepstakes. Should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorney's fees) to the fullest extent of the law, including pursuing criminal prosecution.DISCLAIMER: EXCLUDING ONLY APPLICABLE MANUFACTURERS' WARRANTIES, THE PRIZE IS PROVIDED TO THE WINNER ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT FURTHER WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SPONSOR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL FURTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIZE.LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANTS, ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES, RELEASE AND HOLD THE SPONSOR its PARENT COMPANIES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, UNITS AND DIVISIONS, AND THE CURRENT AND FORMER OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, SHAREHOLDERS, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF EACH OF THE FOREGOING, AND ALL THOSE ACTING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE FOREGOING, OR ANY OF THEM (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES AND PRIZE SUPPLIERS) (EACH A "RELEASED PARTY"), HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, ACTIONS, INJURY, LOSS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER (COLLECTIVELY, THE "CLAIMS") WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, WHICH ENTRANT EVER HAD, NOW HAVE, OR HEREAFTER CAN, SHALL OR MAY HAVE, AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES (OR ANY OF THEM), INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SWEEPSTAKES OR ENTRANT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SWEEPSTAKES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS FOR LIBEL, DEFAMATION, INVASION OF PRIVACY, VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT OF PUBLICITY, COMMERCIAL APPROPRIATION OF NAME AND LIKENESS, INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT OR VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER PERSONAL OR PROPRIETARY RIGHT), AND THE RECEIPT, OWNERSHIP, USE, MISUSE, TRANSFER, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE PRIZE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE). All matters relating to the interpretation and application of these Sweepstakes Rules shall be decided by Sponsor in its sole discretion.DISPUTES: If, for any reason (including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes), the Sweepstakes is not capable of being conducted as described in these Sweepstakes Rules, Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, providers, computer equipment, software, or failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including, without limitation, any injury or damage to any entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading any materials in this Sweepstakes. Because of the unique nature and scope of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right, in addition to those other rights reserved herein, to modify any date(s) or deadline(s) set forth in these Sweepstakes Rules or otherwise governing the Sweepstakes, and any such changes will be posted here in the Sweepstakes Rules. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Sweepstakes Rules shall not constitute a waiver of any provision.As a condition of participating in the Sweepstakes, entrant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between entrant and Sponsor, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes or these Sweepstakes Rules, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court of competent jurisdiction located in New York, New York, and entrant irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New York, New York with respect to any such dispute, cause of action, or other matter. All disputes will be governed and controlled by the laws of the State of New York (without regard for its conflicts-of-laws principles). Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, other than entrant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs incurred directly in connection with entrant's participation in the Sweepstakes), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased, if any. EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.PRIVACY: Information collected from entrants in connection with the Sweepstakes is subject to Sponsor's privacy policy, which may be found here.SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION: Although the Sweepstakes may be featured on Twitter, Facebook, and/or other social media platforms, the Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or in association with Twitter, Facebook, and/or such other social media platforms and you agree that Twitter, Facebook, and all other social media platforms are not liable in any way for any claims, damages or losses associated with the Sweepstakes.WINNER(S) LIST: For a list of name(s) of prizewinner(s), after the Selection Date, please send a stamped, self-addressed No. 10/standard business envelope to Ziff Davis, LLC, Attn: Legal Department, 360 Park Ave South, Floor 17, New York, NY 10010 (VT residents may omit return postage).BY ENTERING, YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO ALL OF THESE SWEEPSTAKES RULES.0 التعليقات 0 المشاركات 29 مشاهدة
-
-
المزيد من المنشورات