Computex 2025 is drawing to a close today, putting a period on a fairly sleepy convention—at least, compared to previous years. But while the big hardware announcements may have left PC building enthusiasts craving more, fun components still could be found around the show. Like PC cases. I haven’t been on the show floor, but I’m still pumped for the news that I’ve been devouring while at home. I wasn’t exactly planning a makeover for my rig just yet, but I’m now awfully tempted by what’s coming down the pipeline. Especially by one case in particular. (It’s not the one all my colleagues want.) Interested in all the best hardware out of Computex? Check out our staff’s picks! InWin ChronoMancy InWin For its 40th anniversary, InWin pulled out all the stops. At Computex, the company unveiled the ChronoMancy, a jaw-dropping piece of spectacle that stands over 3 feet tall (!). This E-ATX case looks like a bit of wizardry with cyberpunk overtones—transparent blue plastic set against a sleek, dark gray aluminum body. When lit in a full build, the shimmering effect of RGB lighting makes the whole array look like a device meant to bring the dead to life. Personally, I dig how the rounded panels curve around to reveal the components inside, which stack like the spine of a mechanical beast. Also, the fact you can open this chassis with the wave of a wand. (You can also press a button, but that’s way more boring.) Sinking money into this likely super-expensive case seems like a good idea. Right? Right. Hyte X50 Air Hyte Call me a curmudgeon, but it feels like every case is a sharp-edged box these days. Don’t get me wrong—when the O11D first appeared on the scene, its clean lines provided a needed break from “gaming” cases that had aggressive ridges, fins, and slanted front panels. I never wanted the whole industry to lean so hard into that single look, though.  Thankfully, Hyte is swimming upstream with delightfully (and literally) bubbly, colorful cases. Its X50 Air has me seriously considering putting cash down to rehome my current desktop build. I adore red PC cases, and they don’t often appear in the wild. But the X50 also sports pink, lime green, and periwinkle options in addition to standard white and black, too. Heck, as hard as I fell for the red color, even the white case could be fun for a project—maybe a “skittles” build? Use the white as a base for color accents from across the rainbow (custom cables, perhaps). Just peeks of color through the mesh panels could be cute, given the rounded, curved shape of the case edges. (Rather than incongruous on a sharp box.) An X50 variant with a glass panel exists as well, but nah. I love the meshy, huggable vibe of the X50 Air. Not for you? Just think of how you could tempt the kids in your life away from their consoles. SilverStone FLP-02 Willis Lai / Foundry I have to be honest—I love to hate this case. Just as with the neon vomit everyone associates with the 1980s, I also want to leave beige cases firmly in the 1990s. Not my coworkers, though. SilverStone made a beige throwback case as a joke awhile back, and the tech media took off with spreading word of it. And now we’re here with the SilverStone FLP-02. In the year of our lord 2025, did I expect a chassis with 5.25-inch bays, a front panel with grills dead center and along its edges, and even a turbo button? And also a lock? Nope. Are we getting one? Yep. Pretty sure my boss is going to be first in line for this ATX case, which he calls a piece of junk debris memorabilia out of a time machine. But one that is fully modern inside, despite its looks. I will grudgingly admit though—you could definitely use this as a sleeper build. Shove a RTX 5090 in it and never worry about it being stolen. You know, like those fake cans of soup you were supposed to hide your money and spare keys in, as seen in ’90s commercials. Yes, I remember. Phanteks Evolv2 Matrix GearSeekers / Phanteks Who really wants gigantic LCD screens inside their PC? Me, actually, but Phanteks showed off a case at Computex that has me potentially reconsidering. Perhaps I should be aiming for something a little more practical (aka visible)–but no less cool. The Evolv X2 Matrix has a fun extra at the bottom of its chassis—a display that shows text in a pixel font. Text that can scroll, to boot, wrapping from front panel to side without a hitch. The look perfectly blends retro vibes with enough modern style to turn my head. Somehow, seeing the sample temperature bars for your CPU and GPU rendered in blocky lines is just so charming. For a closer look, hit up this video from our friends over at GearSeekers. In Nick’s own words? “Huh, that’s pretty cool, I haven’t really seen that before.” Me either, dude—it’s slick. Even more fun? It apparently comes part of a line of Matrix cases.  Also I realized plenty of room still exists for an AIO with a screen, so I’m now asking my future self: ¿Por qué no los dos? Cooler Master MasterFrame 360 Panoramic OC3D TV / Cooler Master Some people have expert-level cable management skills. (I do not.) But we can still aspire to such lofty heights—particularly when you have a good purchase to motivate you to improve. For me, that challenge buy would be the Cooler Master MasterFrame 360 Panoramic, which wraps glass around three sides of the case for a full view of the build. You can’t hide your frustrated attempts to quit cable management early with this chassis. Softening the harsh demand to git gud are the lovely curves on the front panel of the 360 Panoramic—I find the gentler aesthetic less intimidating. Sure, I don’t do custom water cooling (another solid skill to make the most of this look), but you know what? Do I really need to, when there are AIOs with gigantic screens I could feature inside? You may think seeing one fish tank style case means you’ve seen them all, but not anymore. You’ll understand when you take a closer look at the case, courtesy of OC3D TV.

Game Dev Digest Issue #283 - Retro, Graphics Tricks, Multiplayer, and more posted in GameDevDigest Newsletter Published May 23, 2025 Advertisement This article was originally published on GameDevDigest.comEnjoy!“ZLinq”, a Zero-Allocation LINQ Library for .NET - I’ve released ZLinq v1 last month! By building on structs and generics, it achieves zero allocations. It includes extensions like LINQ to Span, LINQ to SIMD, LINQ to Tree (FileSystem, JSON, GameObject, etc.), a drop-in replacement Source Generator for arbitrary types, and support for multiple platforms including .NET Standard 2.0, Unity, and Godot.neuecc.medium.comPathfinding - I've recently been working on the pathfinding for NPCs in my game, which is something I've been looking forward to for a while now since it's a nice chunky problem to solve. I thought I'd write up this post about how I went about it all.juhrjuhr.itch.ioMy Work at Unity - I worked as a developer at Unity Technologies from 2009 to 2020. When I started, there were around 20 employees worldwide and Unity was still largely unknown. When I left, there were over 3000 employees and Unity had become the most widely used game engine in the industry.runevision.comIndie Game Marketing Examples: Campaigns We Loved - From Crabs to Chess: Creative marketing lessons from indie game campaigns that really worked!impress.gamesMaking Video Games in 2025 (without an engine) - I genuinely believe making games without a big "do everything" engine can be easier, more fun, and often less overhead. I am not making a "do everything" game and I do not need 90% of the features these engines provide. I am very particular about how my games feel and look, and how I interact with my tools.noelberry.caWelcome to Unity Design Patterns - Examples of programming design patterns in Unity C#NaphierPalette lighting tricks on the Nintendo 64 - Below I have some notes on the directional ambient and normal mapping techniques I developed. They are both pretty simple in the end but I haven’t seen them used elsewhere.30fps.netCan Itch.io Success Translate To Steam Success? - In my previous blog I looked at the stats for an itch.io game and what an over performing game looked like. Today I want to deep dive on a couple games that took their early itch.io success and parlayed it onto Steam with varied results.howtomarketagame.comWork with strings efficiently, keep the GC alive - This tip is not meant for everyone. If your code is simple, and not CPU-heavy, this tip might be overkill for your code, as it's about extremely heavy operations, where performance is crucial.old.reddit.comIndie Survival Guide - ProductsThe Indie Survival Guide is your ongoing archive of real talk and hard-won insights from the devs and industry experts making games happen—often against the odds. Whatever tools you’re using, this growing library of Q&As, livestreams, and VODs is here to help. There’s no magic formula, but we believe shared experience—across design, business, and survival—can give you the best shot.Unity VideosMultiplayer Systems in 10 Minutes/1 Hour/1 Day | Clocked and Loaded - Unity Developer Advocate Esteban Maldonado shows us how he scales multiplayer systems based on time constraints and how his approach differs depending on the circumstances.UnityFrom States to Trees: How Behavior Trees Revolutionized Game AI - In this final video of our NPC evolution series, we explore how Behavior Trees transformed game AI. Moving beyond the limitations of Finite State Machines, Behavior Trees introduced hierarchical decision-making that allowed NPCs to evaluate complex situations, prioritize actions, and respond intelligently to player choices.Mindplay with AaronInside Doom: The Dark Ages - Creating id Tech 8 - Interview With id Software - Want to know more about Doom: The Dark Ages and the technical make-up of the new id Tech 8? John Linneman has this extensive interview with id Software's Director of Engine Technology, Billy Khan. Every key aspect of the new technology is discussed here, along with answers to key questions like why The Dark Ages simply isn't possible without hardware accelerated ray tracing.Digital FoundryLet's Fix Unity's Animator - Let's fix the missing animation preview in Unity's Animator!Warped ImaginationWhy Did Older Games Feel So Much Bigger? - The evolution of game design has taken an interesting turn, where modern level design often feels more constrained despite technological advances. While retro games created vast worlds with limited resources, today's AAA games sometimes sacrifice that sense of wonder for visual fidelity.Devin ChaseMind-blowing graphical tricks in classic games - Your questions answered! | White_Pointer Gaming - It's time to answer even more viewer questions about how classic games achieved their graphical tricks! This video includes not just Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo games, but Neo Geo as well. Plus the big one that you might have been waiting for - Final Fantasy VI / Final Fantasy III! What mindblowing tricks will be unveiled this time?White_Pointer GamingJetBrains AI Assistant Just Got a Lot More Useful (and FREE) - JetBrains AI Assistant, improved in version 2025.1 with enhanced context awareness and deeper IDE integration, brings intelligent code generation, inline prompts, and web-enhanced context directly into our workflow. Together, we’ll explore how it uses these upgrades to incorporate external knowledge into its suggestions as we refactor a simple C# class into a clean and reusable programming pattern—then save that refactoring as a custom prompt for future use.git-amend AssetsLevel Up: 5K World Building Assets Bundle - Build the game of your dreams in any setting or scenario with our Level Up: 5K World Building Assets Bundle.__The Supreme Unreal & Unity Game Dev Bundle - Dive into an asset collection that offers the widest range of stylized towns, buildings, and more with The Supreme Unreal & Unity Game Dev Bundle! Save time and money by accessing this library of 50+ asset sets, ranging from medieval Viking villages to deserted military outposts—specific standouts include Whispering Grove Environment and Asian Dynasty Environment. Get the assets you need to help bring your game to life, and help support the charity of your choice with your purchase!Humble Bundle AffiliatePoiyomiToonShader - A feature rich toon shader for unity and VR Chatpoiyomi Open SourceAPFrameworkUI - A Text Mesh Pro based text only UI system for Unitydklassic Open SourceUnityProcgen - Library of procedural generation code for use in Unitycoryleach Open SourceGeneLit - GeneLit is an alternative to standard shader for Unity built-in pipeline.momoma-null Open Sourcebarelymusician - a real-time music engine.anokta Open SourceColliderMeshTool - Generate custom mesh colliders in Unity with hulls or hand-drawn outlines.SinlessDevil Open SourceGraphlit - Custom node shader editor for Unityz3y Open SourceEasy Peasy First Person Controller (FREE) - Easy Peasy First Person Controller is a user-friendly, ready-to-use first-person controller for Unity. It provides a wide range of customizable features for seamless integration into your game.assetstore.unity.com AffiliateUnityInGameConsole - A powerful Command Line Processor and log viewer for Unity. It can be run in the editor or in a built out player for any platform, allowing you to see your log and callstacks in you final product, without having to search for unity log files.ArtOfSettling Open SourceDescant - An enhanced and user-friendly Unity dialogue system pluginOwmacohe Open Sourceposition-visualizer - Unity editor tool to visualize positions in the scene.mminer Open SourceLua-CSharp - High performance Lua interpreter implemented in C# for .NET and Unitynuskey8 Open SourceUnityNativeFilePicker - A native Unity plugin to import/export files from/to various document providers on Android & iOSyasirkula Open Sourceusyrup - A runtime dependency injection framework for the Unity Game Engine!Jeffan207 Open SourceUnityIngameDebugConsole - A uGUI based console to see debug messages and execute commands during gameplay in Unityyasirkula Open SourceContentManagementSystem - CMS based on XK's realization for unitymegurte Open SourceIsoMesh - IsoMesh is a group of related tools for Unity for converting meshes into signed distance field data, raymarching signed distance fields, and extracting signed distance field data back to meshes via surface nets or dual contouring.EmmetOT Open SourceNavigathena - Scene management framework for Unity. Provides a new generation of scene management.mackysoft Open SourceUI Cursors - UI for Mouse Cursors is a great start for the development journey you are looking for either testing or a finished game it offers a great variety. Animatable and make the game look alive!verzatiledev.itch.io25% Off Unity Asset Store - Get 25% off your next purchase—even on discounted assets! Use code TWXJ982ND at checkout and keep building something amazing. Limited to 5 redemptions.Unity AffiliateShop up to 50% off Kyeoms - Publisher Sale - I'm an individual game VFX artist. I'm interested in Cartoon style and Stylized VFX. PLUS, get New Stylized Explosion Package for FREE with code KYEOMS2025Unity AffiliateUltimate World Building Asset Bundle - Imagine it—build it—love it Elevate your next project with elite 3D assets, textures, references, and more from the Ultimate World Building Asset Bundle by ScansMatter—featuring 300 free commercial credits on ScansMatter.com, Rooftop Asset Kit, Office Environment Kit, and much more. This limited-time partnership with ScansMatter gives Humble Bundle members a unique opportunity to access countless professional-quality assets at a fraction of the price. Get the assets you need to bring your next visual project to life—and help support the World Wildlife Fund with your purchase!Humble Bundle AffiliateUnlock Pro 3D Modeling Skills With Blender - Software Bundle - Unlock awesome 3D tools for Blender__ SpotlightBrine - An upcoming boomer shooter from Studio Whalefall, a 3rd year university team from Falmouth's Games Academy.Slippery fishy enemies are attacking your quaint Cornish town, and it's up to one disgruntled fisherman to save the day. Fight your way through waves of local seafood and paint the town with red.[Get the demo on Itch.io]Studio WhalefalMy game, Call Of Dookie. Demo available on SteamYou can subscribe to the free weekly newsletter on GameDevDigest.comThis post includes affiliate links; I may receive compensation if you purchase products or services from the different links provided in this article. Comments Nobody has left a comment. You can be the first! You must log in to join the conversation. 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Macworld Apple’s AirPods 2025 plans: In summary New AirPods Pro could launch featuring heart‑rate and temperature tracking and better ANC sound Some AirPods to get live translation feature via software update  AirPods Max could gain H2 chip, Adaptive Audio, Conversation awareness, Voice Isolation, Bluetooth 5.3 and more In September 2024, Apple introduced the AirPods 4. At the same time the company announced that hearing aid features would be coming to the 2nd generation AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max got a minor update (Lightning switched for USB-C and a color refresh). Those hoping that the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods Max 2 would launch were disappointed. It is now almost three years since the AirPods Pro 2 were introduced in September 2022, and more than four years since the AirPods Max introduction in December 2020. Updates are long overdue. In this article we are tracking all the rumors about the launch date, new features and specs and any other changes coming to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Read on for the latest news about the 2025 AirPods. We’ll look first at the rumours and leaks relating to the AirPods Pro 3 before moving on to the AirPods Max 2 below (click here to jump to the AirPods Max section).  AirPods Pro 3 release date: When will the AirPods Pro 3 be released? In summary September 2025 launch of AirPods Pro 3 likely… …But launch could be delayed until 2026 Production delays indicated It would be typical to expect a September launch for AirPods Pro, alongside iPhone 17. The original AirPods Pro were introduced in October 2019, the AirPods 2nd-gen launched in September 2022, and those were updated with USB-C in September 2023. In a February 2025, Bloomberg report Mark Gurman suggested that the AirPods Pro 3 were “Still many months away”. That could still line up with a September (or October) launch though. Also in February an unverified leaker claimed in a tweet that there would be an AirPods Pro launch in May or June. Twitter However, in May 2025 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that we might not see an update to the AirPods until 2026. This could relate to production delays due to a new infra-red camera Apple is said to be equipping the AirPods with (more on that below). Twitter AirPods Pro 3 price: How much will the AirPods Pro 3 cost? In summary Price hike not expected… …But prices may rise due to economic factors We don’t expect the price to change, although it may increase in certain parts of the world and remain the same in others.  For example, when Apple launched the AirPods Pro in the U.K. the price was £249, that price was later reduced to £229, so it might go back up to £249. The price in the U.S. hasn’t changed since launch. Other factors may affect pricing. Pricing for the AirPods range starts at $129/£129 for the AirPods 4, and rises to $499/£549 for the AirPods Max:  Apple Earbuds: $19/£19 AirPods 4: $129/£129 AirPoids 4 with ANC: $179/£179 AirPods Pro 2nd-gen $249/£229 AirPods Max $549/£499 Ignoring the $300 premium for the AirPods Max, that’s an extra $70 between the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Pro. It would be feasible for Apple to increase the price of the AirPods Pro if the new features made the upgrade worthwhile.  We have a round-up of the Best wireless earbuds for iPhones and the best wired headphones if you’d like to consider alternatives to AirPods. Also read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models compare. AirPods Pro 3 features: What specs and features will the AirPods Pro 3 have? In summary Heart rate monitoring Temperature monitoring Translation Better active noise cancellation It’s fairly easy to make predictions about the new features coming to AirPods Pro 3 just by looking at the AirPods 4 and the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (Beats is an Apple-owned subsidiary). For example, Powerbeats Pro 2, which launched in February 2025, includes heart rate monitoring. Read our review of the Powerbeats Pro 2 and our AirPods 4 review. As for the features rumored to be coming to the AirPods Pro 3, here’s what we’ve heard: Heart Rate monitoring: In December 2024, Gurman said Apple is working on in-ear heart rate monitoring. This will enable users to track heart rate while exercising without having to wear an Apple Watch.  The inclusion of heart rate monitoring in the Powerbeats Pro 2 certainly indicates that the same feature will be available on the AirPods Pro 3, but you can expect it to be superior. One issue with the Powerbeats Pro 2 is that they can’t steam music and capture heart data simultaneously. Another issue is with the interplay between the heart rate monitoring on the Apple Watch and the Powerbeats.  Temperature monitoring: Mark Gurman has also said Apple was researching in-ear temperature sensors, https://www.macworld.com/article/1978329/new-airpods-details-major-leak.html and Apple has a patent on such technology. In-ear temperature sensing could also be faster and more reliable than those via the Apple Watch. https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/01/apple-reveals-an-all-new-temperature-sensor-that-could-be-used-with-apple-watch-airpods-and-more.html#:~:text=Apple Reveals an all-new,Electronic Devices With Temperature Sensors Translation: As part of the iOS 19 update Apple is said to be adding a live translation feature to AirPods. It’s unknown which AirPods will be compatible, but the AirPods Pro 3 are sure to be. https://www.macworld.com/article/2636989/airpods-to-get-live-translation-feature-as-part-of-ios-19-update.html We expect to hear more at WWDC. https://www.macworld.com/article/678333/wwdc-ios-macos-watchos-hardware-keynote.html Better active noise cancellation: According to Mark Gurman (in October 2023) the AirPods Pro 3 will feature a new H3 chip, which could lead to better active noise cancellation. Crash detection: An Apple patent describes a way that motion sensors inside AirPods could aid Crash Detection. AirPods Pro 3 design: Will Apple update the AirPods Pro design? In summary Changes to the charging case possible Slimmer design suggested Touch controls may work with gloves Mahmoud Itani / Foundry As mentioned above, we can look to the AirPods 4 for some clues about changes that may come to the AirPods Pro. One such change related to the charging case. The AirPod 4 charging case lacks a physical setup button, instead featuring a sensor under the status light on the front that lights up when active. There may be more changes coming. According to Mark Gurman (back in October 2023) the AirPods Pro will get a new design. We don’t expect new colors, but the buds may slim down further. The changes may be less visible, more tactile: A number of Apple patents indicate that Apple is looking to improve the way that the touch controls work on the earbuds work when the user is wearing gloves. For example in February 2025 a patent was granted to Apple that could enable this. AirPods Max 2 release date: When will the AirPods Max be updated? In summary Update long overdue Could be waiting until 2027 Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote of the AirPods Max in a December 2023 newsletter, saying that “The cans don’t sell well enough for the company to invest in entirely new hardware or software features”. However, it’s now more than four years since the AirPods Max were introduced and with such a premium price Apple owes it to customers to bring the AirPods Max into line with their competition and other AirPods Apple sells.  In 2024 Mark Gurman predicted that the AirPods Max would get an updated at the iPhone event. Sadly, the update included only a color change and a switch from Lightning for USB-C connectivity.  I expect Apple to launch new AirPods Max headphones tomorrow with better noise cancellation, adaptive audio & USB-C. They’ll launch with the low-end AirPods 4. This is line with my reporting for months but runs counter to lack of low inventory in stores. https://t.co/KIJQEwywcp— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 9, 2024 Even worse, the change meant that the AirPods Max could no longer be used as wired headphones (a feature of the Lightning-based model). This was the case until a software update in March 2025 added this ability along with lossless and ultra low latency audio. As a result of that software update, users are now able to play lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio through a wired connection. Lossless audio is a key feature for audio producers, while ultra‑low latency audio is key for gaming and live streams. Both very important features for the AirPods Mac. Despite these ‘updates’ the over four year old headphones are lagging behind the competition and an update is long over due. The bad news is that, if analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, we could be waiting until 2027 for the second generation of AirPods Max. Twitter AirPods Max 2 price: How much will the AirPods Max 2 cost? In summary Price unlikely to change… …Although Apple could unify the U.S. and U.K. prices At $549/£499 the AirPods Max are an expensive purchase. The fact that they are now more than four years old makes that price look incredibly inflated. It’s no wonder they are frequently discounted at Amazon and elsewhere. When the new models launch we don’t expect a price change though. These are designed to fit at the premium headphones end of the market, and their competition has solar prices. That said, the price in the U.S. and U.K. may come in to line, with Apple choosing to ‘match’ the price as it usually does (many Apple products share an, e.g. $499/£499 price point) which Apple calculated based on exchange rates and local taxes. AirPods Max 2 specs: What specs and features will the AirPods Max 2 have In summary Necessary updates to bring into line with rest of the AirPods lineup New chip  Removal of ‘audio howl’ There is so much lacking from he AirPods Max compared to the AirPods Pro that it is easy to assume that the following will be included:  H1 chip upgraded to H2 (or H3)  Adaptive Audio (which combines transparency mode and ANC) Conversation Awareness  Conversation Boost Voice Isolation  Personalized Volume Option to activate with ‘Siri’ voice command (not just ‘Hey Siri’) Custom high dynamic range amplifier Bluetooth 5.3 (up from Bluetooth 5.0)  Find My  Also expect better battery life.  One patent identified in 2022 indicates Apple is looking at detecting “audio howl”, which is described as distracting audio feedback. AirPods Max 2 design: Will Apple update the AirPods Max design? In summary More protective carry case Removable ear cushions  Waterproofing  Jason Cross/IDG Improvements to gesture controls which are currently via the Digital Crown. Could Apple forgo the Digital Crown in favor of touch controls on the ear cups?  We could see changes to the carry case. Ideally it should cover the whole product and be more protective. A patent from 2022 suggested that Apple was developing a better case with magnetic clasps. The Audio Howl patent mentioned above also refers to removable ear cushions which could be reattached using magnets.  We’d also like to see a foldable design and better waterproofing. If you’re keen to hear the latest rumors about Apple’s plans, the best place to start is our roundup of New Apple products. Those interested in the current range should take a look at our roundup of the best AirPods deals for the latest bargains.

Nintendo Switch 2's GameChat will require a phone number when setting up the feature.Nintendo's video calling software comes baked into all Nintendo Switch 2 consoles and is being promoted as a key feature of the new system.But it's worth being aware that anyone wanting to set up GameChat will need to verify their identity first by providing Nintendo with a phone number (or if you've already linked it, the number already associated with your Nintendo Account).Nintendo will then send that number a text message, tying your GameChat activity to that phone number. So behave!PlayIf you're under the age of 16, GameChat will be blocked until a parent or guardian using the Parental Controls smart device app allows the use of the feature. They will then be required to add their own phone number for text message verification.Nintendo's website, upon which Eurogamer spotted the above information, appears to suggest that every user with a Nintendo Account will need to do this when playing on a Switch 2, even if the device is shared. IGN has contacted Nintendo for confirmation of this.GameChat can be accessed at any point while playing Switch 2 by pressing the console's new 'C' button found on its various controllers. This will then allow up to four people to video chat together, or 24 to join a group audio call. Within a video call, players can broadcast themselves using a camera peripheral (sold separately), as well as stream whatever they're currently playing. It's the first time the family-friendly Nintendo has offered this kind of service, after previously lagging behind other console makers with online services in the past. Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories GalleryLast week, the tech experts at Digital Foundry revealed the final specs for Nintendo Switch 2, and with it claimed that the GameChat feature has a "significant impact" on system resources to the point where developers are said to be concerned.Digital Foundry said Nintendo provides developers with a GameChat testing tool that simulates API latency and L3 cache misses that the real world GameChat system incurs on the system. This means developers can test this without needing active GameChat sessions running.DF was left wondering whether game performance for the end user is impacted by having GameChat on or off. If GameChat resources are within the system allocation, it shouldn't make any difference. However, given Nintendo provides GameChat emulation tools, the suggestion is there is a hit of some description that developers need to test for.As Digital Foundry put it: "We'll be interested to see how GameChat may (or may not) impact game performance as this does seem to be an area of developer concern." We won’t know for sure until Switch 2 comes out on June 5.As (another) reminder, GameChat will be free to use for the Switch 2's first 10 months' on sale. After March 31, 2026, GameChat will then require a Nintendo Switch Online membership.Earlier this week, we got our first proper look at a Switch 2 game cartridge, and also heard word that Samsung was reportedly keen to provide OLED screens for a Switch 2 upgrade.Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Macworld Let’s be honest: WWDC 2025 is unlikely to go down in history as one Apple’s greatest ever events, as I’ve warned in a separate article. The company shouldn’t really be forging ahead with new plans until it finishes mopping up the undelivered ones from last year, and the ongoing and unaddressed failures of Siri and Apple Intelligence will hang over the proceedings like a bad smell. But even the dullest Apple event can generally be relied upon to deliver a few gems… and after all, it’s WWDC, the second most important keynote of the year. Here are the seven things I can’t wait to see at WWDC 2025: 1. An iPhone AI feature I’ll actually use With apologies to Mac and Apple Watch owners, iOS is the main event at WWDC. This year’s update promises some major changes, including important accessibility features and an interface redesign, which is already inspiring both positive and negative feelings. But a far more important change will happen under the hood. Reports indicate iOS 19 will feature a new AI-powered battery preservation mode, which will analyze usage patterns to lower power draw at times or in applications where it won’t impact your experience, and thereby extend battery life at minimal cost. Plus, the Lock Screen will finally show how much time is left until your phone is fully charged. Forget Genmoji: this is how AI can actually make a difference in users’ lives. 2. Apple Intelligence where it belongs I’m a little tired of hearing about Apple Intelligence: its supposed triumphs (from Apple) and its many flaws (from everyone else). Sadly this year’s WWDC is sure to feature more of the same, and we’ll need to prepare ourselves for that. But there’s one aspect of Apple Intelligence I am excited to know more about, and that is its belated debut on the Apple Watch. Pundits predict that the watchOS 12 update will see Apple’s AI platform land on the Apple Watch, which I’ve long said is its natural home. The watch’s small screen means next-gen messaging and voice control would be transformative, rather than a nice option, while its position on the wrist makes it perfectly placed to be a virtual assistant. So far, the main barrier to the Apple Watch joining the AI party has been it comparative lack of processing power, and the new models coming in the fall are unlikely to change that. But according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, watchOS 12 will see the Apple Watch outsource the AI work to a nearby iPhone, which is a smart stopgap solution until the hardware catches up. 3. The Babel fish becomes a reality The tech industry has long been fascinated by the Babel fish, a fictional creature which, in the Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide novels, sits in a person’s ear and enables them to understand any language. If only the Babel fish were real. Well, it is—sort of—thanks to wireless earbuds with live translation software. Google has been offering this combination for years: the Pixel Buds (or indeed other earbuds paired with the Google Translate app) were capable of it back in 2017, albeit with plenty of drawbacks. But we’re excited to see Apple’s attempt, which is expected to launch later this year as part of iOS 19 and an AirPods firmware update. Whether this feature will be available in the first versions of iOS 19 is unclear, but we’d be very surprised if Apple doesn’t spill some of the details at WWDC this June. Foundry 4. The most powerful Mac ever made WWDC is known as a software event. But when Apple does decide to launch some hardware in June, it doesn’t mess around. It rolls out the big guns. The Mac Pro, the premium deluxe offering in Apple’s Mac line-up, was last updated two years ago: that was the M2 Ultra model, announced at WWDC 2023. It’s slower than the Mac Studio and not all that faster than the maxxed-out MacBook Pro, so the next model should feature an M4 Ultra chip or something higher we haven’t seen before, outclassing even the M4 Max MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models that currently sit at the top of the range. The Mac Pro is the model to deliver unrivalled power for the creative professional users whom Apple has occasionally neglected, so saving it for a grand WWDC entrance makes sense. The Mac Pro doesn’t get updated as often as other Apple products, and it’s possible we’ll have to wait until later in 2025. But if the M4 Ultra Mac Pro does turn up at WWDC, it’ll instantly be the star of the show. 5. The Mac’s new Vision Speaking of the Mac… Apple is certain to announce macOS 16 at WWDC 2025, and like iOS 19, it’s expected to feature a thoroughly redesigned interface. Sources suggest macOS will take its visual cues from Vision Pro, Apple’s groundbreaking mixed-reality headset, as the company looks to achieve more of a consistent UI across platforms. It will be fascinating to see how this fusion between Apple’s oldest and youngest product lines shakes out. Apple 6. News about new Siri Arguably the weakest element in Apple’s ecosystem, and certainly its highest-profile failure, is the lamentably inaccurate voice assistant Siri. An astonishing 14 years after it launched with the iPhone 4s, Siri shows no sign of getting any better, and sometimes seems to be getting worse. At last year’s WWDC, Apple promised to fix Siri by deploying the magic of Apple Intelligence. But the arrival of the new AI-powered Siri keeps getting delayed; it didn’t appear in March’s iOS 18.4 update as expected, or even in May’s iOS 18.5. Hopefully, Apple will have some news for us in June, because Siri really needs to get better at its job. And while we’re on the sore topic of Siri, we’d appreciate some (preferably realistic) announcements about the version of Siri after the new one: the “true modernized, conversational version” which is also known as LLM Siri. New Siri was supposed to be part of iOS 18, and LLM Siri part of iOS 19, but delays compound on delays and the whole thing keeps getting pushed back. I’m excited to see these improvements, Apple, but please let us know what’s going on. 7. Honesty And that leads me to the single thing I want most from WWDC25: pure, unfiltered honesty about the state of play at Cupertino. What’s been going wrong since last year? Why have so many projects been delayed? And is Apple Intelligence really as far behind other AI platforms as it seems to be? This might seem like a desperate long shot. The truth at a marketing event, what a fanciful notion! But Apple has some form here. When Apple Maps suffered disastrous teething pains, Apple admitted this and apologized. When creative pros were neglected, as I mentioned earlier, Apple admitted this and apologized. There is a chance, albeit a slim one, that we’ll get some sort of mea culpa at WWDC. Every company makes mistakes. Announcing Apple Intelligence long before it was ready, and then selling iPhone 16 handsets off the back of features that won’t have launched by the time the iPhone 17 comes out, was a big one, but it doesn’t have to ruin Apple’s reputation. The cure is honesty. Explain what went wrong and why. Then be completely transparent about the features that will actually be ready in time for the iPhone 17. Confidence will return–but not if the spin and bluster continue. That’s my wish list for WWDC 2025. Join us on June 9 to see how much Apple delivers, and to read our coverage of all the announcements.

Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardcore hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. In it, we dig into the hottest topics from our YouTube show, plus hot tidbits seen across the web. This week, we crack open local Taiwanese beers while chatting about Computex—grab a cold one of your own (or maybe some Kuai Kuai chips?) as you join us on this fine Friday! Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website! In this episode of The Full Nerd… In this episode of The Full Nerd, it’s all things Computex! Live from Taiwan, Adam Patrick Murray joins up with Jeff of CraftComputing, Paul of Paul’s Hardware, and Nick of GearSeekers to chat about the highs and lows of their week. With Computex 2025 being a pretty sleepy show, the guys have a more casual two-hour discussion, with more than one tangent about an enthusiast hot topic near and dear to the individual’s heart. AI and enterprise servers benefitting us consumers? Nvidia’s hijinks for RTX 5060 review timing? Worst of Computex? Best of Computex? Yep, those are all covered. And a lot more, too. Finishing out Computex strong.Willis Lai / Foundry I literally did a double-take when Paul described this Computex’s vibe as the “enterprise sector being all sexy.” What? And yet, somehow, the tech industry’s latest favorite buzzword could mean good things for consumers. As Jeff explains that AI’s effect on enterprise servers could have benefits for us at home—like if the bubble bursts and suddenly all that hardware makes it our way. Or as Adam shares from a talk with SilverStone, we could see more powerful cooling solutions get adapted over, like thick radiators. There’s a muscle build waiting to happen. Is it a resistance? Or is a reprisal? PC reviewers are upset about Nvidia’s review practices—namely, its decisions for its release of its new RTX 5060 graphics card. Sure, reviewers got samples in hand before the launch, but not a pre-release driver—and the launch happened during Computex. In other words? The inability to run numbers in a timely fashion, meaning potential buyers couldn’t make informed decisions when considering this new 50-series GPU. Should reviewers complain about not having functional free cards before launch? It’s not that simple, says Nick. He points out a review sample isn’t free, since so much work goes into running numbers and presenting the data. Readers and viewers expect to have information to guide them, and when reviewers can’t provide it, it’s problematic. Aesthetics vs performance—an age-old question, and one that bubbles up as Adam kicks off the Computex disappointments by naming the Hyte X50 & X50 Air. (He’s very wrong. The X50 in red is going to look so good on my desk.) Jeff pushes back, willing to sacrifice a few percent for the joy of looking at something he likes. More disappointing to him? Corsair Air 5400D, the company’s first triple-chamber case that has no panel on one side. And blocks the installation of additional PCI-e add-in cards. But that’s not the only thing that baffled the guys—Paul and Nick have their own nits to pick, too. (You’ll have to watch the episode for that pun’s context!) I’m fully on-board with Paul’s pick for best in show. In fact, I may have decided on my own top pick for PCWorld’s Best of Computex roundup after watching his report from G.Skill’s booth. Memory DIMMs may not sound racy, but a set in neon yellow and neon orange can make you reconsider. (I prefer the sparkly silver concept finish. Speaking of, go tell G.Skill you like it too, so it becomes a thing.) But no one can rival Adam’s enthusiasm for his top pick. In fact, he waxes so poetic about scented thermal paste that I’m slightly reconsidering my stance against it. Still don’t think I’d build with it, but okay, I guess I could at least see it in person. Not sure about that baby-diaper smelling one, though. But these topics aren’t the whole of the conversation. Strap in for chatter about AMD’s Radeon strategy, the level of consumer interest in power efficiency (it’s the U.S. vs the rest of the world), fab capacity, and more. Bummed you missed the live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real-time!  And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds. This week’s best nerd news Some things should be left in the past. Or at least made with aluminum and a shiny clear coat.Foundry Hardware, software, we love all the cool stuff meant for nerdy brains. This week is chock full of Computex reveals—which are especially exciting because unlike CES, you can mostly count on seeing these products arrive on retail shelves. The only wrinkle? Pricing may not be certain for U.S. residents, due to ongoing fluctuations with tariffs. Get an AMD RX 9060 XT, not Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti? AMD claims its upcoming Radeon graphics card costs less and performs better than the Nvidia RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti. If reviews agree, this $350 card will be a boon for mid-range gamers upon its June 5 release. Microsoft dropped a PC into coolant designed by AI: I have my doubts about AI’s usefulness, but this experiment at Microsoft Build was pretty dang cool. There was even a demo of Forza Motorsport played on the submersed hardware! SilverStone made a throwback beige PC case: I’m going to catch heat from the internet (and my coworkers) for this, but I hated the beige boxes of the 1990s and still do. However, this retro-style case does come with a lock. And a Turbo button. Hmm. Cooler Master’s all-metal case fan is metal as heck: Its Masterfan XT Pro can hit such a high RPM (4,000) that the product has to ship with a fin grill for safety. But only on the front. Watch your fingers. Noctua brings brown town to AIO coolers: A special kind of person loves Noctua’s signature color scheme (truly, one of our Discord server members is like this and he’s a gem). Now you’ll no longer need to choose between love for water cooling and for so much brown and tan. A split mechanical gaming keyboard for the masses!: An ergonomic keyboard that doesn’t feel gross when typing? And also a gaming keyboard? Sign me up. Y’all, this thing can be tented. (Vertical pitch makes this kind of design way more comfy.) I want Hyte’s X50 case very badly: I mentioned how much I want one in red, right? Adam’s so wrong about the bubbly edges. It’s so refreshing among a sea of sharp-edged boxy cases. AMD is dropping a 96-core Threadripper CPU: For when you crave workstation performance but not workstation prices. Ninety-six cores and 128 threads. That’s all for this week—for all my fellow U.S. residents, enjoy the long holiday weekend! -Alaina This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Want The Full Nerd newsletter to come directly to your inbox every Friday morning? Sign up on our website!

Macworld Your iPhone is ruining your life. Or at least, it’s distracting you from it–as often as possible. Every app wants to send you notifications, and it wants to ping you with some sort of alert multiple times a day in the hopes that you’ll open up and use the app. Grabbing your attention is how apps get you to use them, and the success of apps is measured by how much they are used. It’s an attention economy where those who manage to get you to pay attention get rewarded. But this isn’t good for you. It’s distracting you from your life and making you focus on things that aren’t important. Or worse: your lock screen is full of so many notifications that you miss what’s important in all the noise. Apple has tried to fix this with features such as scheduled notification summaries, focus modes, and, more recently, AI-powered notification prioritization and summaries. But that’s just putting the flood of iPhone notifications into more boxes. That’s never going to give you your life back. What you need to do is turn them off. It’s a three-step process that takes five or 10 minutes and will make an enormous difference in your daily quality of life. Step one: Turn it all off! The first part of this process is to literally turn off all your notifications. Don’t worry, we’ll turn some important ones back on in a second, it’s not going to stay this way. But if you’re like most people, when you start using a new app you just tap Next… Yes… Agree… to all the popups and just try to get to actually using the app. Most people have notifications fully enabled on dozens of apps. So open Settings, then tap on Notifications, and scroll down to the list of apps. You have to tap to open each app and then disable the Allow Notifications switch at the very top, but it’s an imperative step. Just fly through your big list of apps, turning them all off one by one. It’s tedious, but it doesn’t really take that long. Flip this switch off on EVERY app to start.Foundry Step two: Enable notifications for urgent apps The next step is to re-enable notifications only on those apps that you want to take action on right away. Phone, FaceTime, Messages, maybe WhatsApp or your preferred texting app, your alarm system or security cameras, the app for your car if it’s the kind of connected model that sends you notifications about alarms or doors left open. Try to resist the urge to enable notifications on apps that you like and use every day just because you like them. This is especially true of social media apps and streaming services like YouTube or Netflix. Nothing that these apps notify you about has to be dealt with the moment the notification comes in, so they’re all going to stay off until the next step. Consider this: If you open an app frequently, what value is a notification adding? You’ll see whatever it is when you open up the app. If you don’t, do you really need to see an alert? The notification is just another flashing, noisy distraction trying to exploit a compulsive addiction to getting a quick dopamine hit. Most people should have no more than a handful of apps that fit into this “immediate action required” category. Apple keeps adding ways to show notifications differently, but that doesn’t address the core problem.Foundry Step three: Quiet notifications for a few other apps Notifications aren’t completely useless as a way to get a sort of summary of what’s going on in apps, but you don’t need to let them beg so hard for your attention. Now that you have just a few urgent-action apps that can notify you and all the rest are turned off, it’s time to enable quiet, unobtrusive notifications on a few other apps. The goal here is to have notifications that don’t grab your attention, but still provide a useful digest of what’s going on in your apps when you want it. Many apps, arguably most of them, should still have notifications turned off entirely. But for some that provide actual useful notifications that help you decide if you need to jump into an app or not, consider the following settings: In Settings > Notifications, tap on the app in question. Re-enable notifications, but turn OFF alerts on the Lock Screen and Banners, leaving only alerts in the Notification Center. Turn off Sounds and Badges, too. You don’t need pings and red dots–those are designed to grab your attention, and you want these notifications to be there only when you look for them. On the apps where you allow notifications, most of them should have settings like this so they can’t grab your attention.Foundry The idea is to allow notifications to come “in the background” without using any visuals or sounds to pull your attention. When you want to see your notifications, you can swipe down from the top of the screen to open Notification Center and look through them on your own time. You can also opt to add them to the Scheduled Summaries that appear at 8am and 6pm. If all goes well, you’ve spent about 10 minutes messing around with your notification settings. Most of them will be disabled, and of those that are enabled only a handful of truly “must act now” apps will be able to get your attention with sounds or banners. It will seem dramatic at first, but give it a week and you’ll wonder why you ever let all these apps be in control of your time and attention.

The Belkin division responsible for developing the excellent Phyn Plus smart water shut-off valve has been acquired by an investor group led by contractor and TV personality Jonathan Scott (HGTV’s Property Brothers). The announcement is the latest sign that Belkin, which brought the Phyn Plus to market back in 2018, is rapidly losing interest in developing new smart home products following its own acquisition by Foxconn. Belkin has already discontinued many of its Wemo-brand smart home products, and it “paused” its efforts to develop Matter-compatible products in early 2023. We’ve praised both the first- and second-generation Phyn Plus devices for their ability to not only warn homeowners of leaky or burst pipes, but to automatically take action to shut off a home’s main water supply to prevent the catastrophic damage that can result. In an exclusive telephone interview with Scott and Phyn CEO Ryan Kim late last week, Scott described himself as a “technology nut” and expressed his admiration for the Phyn Plus, which he said he’d previously installed in his own home as well as in a guest house and in his parents’ home. Celebrity contractor and TV personality Jonathan Scott is leading a group of investors buying Phyn from Foxconn’s Belkin.Scott Brothers Global “One of the benefits of being on the air for as long as we have is that when something feels ‘off’ to me, I have to dig in. My brother [Drew Scott] once spent $3,000 to put in a water leak-detection system in his own home, but if it detected a leak and shut off your water, you had to be there to turn it back on. There was nothing like Phyn at the time.” Asked why more consumers haven’t already installed products like the Phyn Plus, Scott replied “Sometimes you can tell people all the benefits in the world that a product has to offer, but they still don’t see the value.” Scott continued: “People hate to spend money on what they don’t see, but eliminating the risk of a flood [caused by a pinhole leak or a burst pipe] is so worth it. [My family has] already recouped 10 times the value of the Phyn devices we’ve installed just based on the kids leaving the tap on or a toilet handle getting stuck. The Phyn Plus is one of the greatest kept secrets that no one knows about.” The Phyn Plus leak detection and smart water shut-off valve also tracks household water consumption patterns.Michael Brown/Foundry Phyn CEO Ryan Kim said the acquisition “will unlock not only massive awareness in the consumer space but also increased adoption by the insurance industry.” Given the average cost of a water damage claim stemming from a leaking or burst pipe is around $12,500, many insurance companies already offer policy discounts to homeowners who install water leak detections systems with smart shut-off valves, such as the Phyn Plus and Moen Flo. Scott believes the insurance industry will eventually move beyond just offering homeowners incentives to install such products. “I think in a matter of years,” he said, “all insurance companies will require this type of leak detection and smart water shut-off [as a condition of coverage].” Phyn has revenue streams beyond selling its hardware, according to Kim. “Phyn is not just a hardware company.” he said “It’s also a data company. There’s value in the data we’ve collected from the 2.5 billion [water-related] events we’ve collected. The data is anonymized—we don’t track individual homes—but we can see trends on a regional basis, which can help insurance companies and utilities understand trends to offer better services. It’s exciting for me that this powerhouse group came together.” In addition to Scott, the investor group acquiring Phyn includes Intuit founder and Quicken developer Tom Proulx, who will serve as an advisor and board member; Silicon Valley venture capitalist and Microsoft board member David F. Marquardt; and Allen Sands, founder of Icon Builders, a construction company focused on renovating affordable housing. A source has told us the deal is worth “up to $24.9 million U.S. dollars.”

Everywhere you look within the Google universe these days, it’s Gemini, Gemini, Gemini. Just this past week, El Googleton devoted essentially its entire Google I/O conference keynote to — yep, you guessed it — Gemini. We heard about all sorts of futuristic-sounding ways the generative AI assistant will, like, totally revolutionize our lives, with endlessly technical explanations of how the latest and greatest Gemini models will move into more and more Google services and take over more and more of our day-to-day doings. That’s all fine and dandy — in theory. In reality, of course, these genAI engines are far less capable, consistent, and reliable than they’re made out to be, and most of those more advanced functions (including anything involving any manner of info seeking, answer providing, or text processing) are generally more of a liability than an asset. But while it’s best to take most of the breathless hype with a hefty grain of salt, Gemini does have some genuinely useful capabilities. They just tend to be much more basic and narrowly focused than the overly ambitious ideas Google’s goin’ gaga for (and, as far as I can tell, most normal people have no idea what to do with in the real world). Fittingly enough, this week, I accidentally stumbled onto a perfect example. It’s a simple-as-can-be Gemini feature that handles one basic task and handles it extraordinarily well. It won’t upend the world, revolutionize your life, or give you a glimpse of our allegedly inevitable AI-laden future. Honestly, it’s debatable as to whether it actually even qualifies as AI at all. But it’s incredibly useful, in a way that’ll instantly fit into your workflow and make your days easier. And, if you ask me, that’s a much more meaningful measure of success than what any complex AI-assessing metric can measure. [Want even more actually practical Android knowledge? Check out my free Android Shortcut Supercourse to learn tons of time-saving tricks.] Gemini as your on-demand memo machine This Gemini gem is so simple, in fact, that it’s actually something our beloved old Google Assistant also used to be able to handle. But I had no idea it had carried over into Gemini in an updated form until I randomly happened to try it whilst playing around with something unrelated. So here it is: With a simple spoken — or, if you prefer, typed out — command, Gemini can remember anything you tell it. And then, at any point down the road, it can recall that info for you and bring it back to your attention with a quick ‘n’ easy ask. It’s essentially your own on-demand memo machine, in other words. And it’s already right there in your pocket, waiting to be called into action. Here’s all you’ve gotta do to tap into its tucked-away powers: Summon Gemini on whatever Android phone or tablet is in front of you. Depending on the device and its settings, you might be able to do this by saying Hey Google, by pressing and holding your power button, or by tapping a shortcut on your home screen — or, no matter what device you’re using or how it’s configured, you can always ​download the standalone Gemini app and open it up that way, too. Type or say remember that [something] is [something] — filling in your own description and item to be remembered in those two spots. So, for instance, you might say remember that the door code is 77773, remember that my boss’s husband is named Hubert, remember that my rental car license plate is PORKY292, or remember that lot 3 is the best place to park. In the blink of an eye, you should see a confirmation that Gemini has remembered what you asked. Once you’ve asked it to remember something, Gemini will confirm that it’s made a (metaphorical) mental note.JR Raphael, Foundry Now, ready for the cool part? Total Gemini recall The next time you need to recall whatever info you told Gemini, you can simply summon the service once more — exactly as you did a moment ago — and ask it for whatever you provided.  To follow our same examples from earlier, then, you might ask things like: What’s the door code? What’s my boss’s husband named? What’s my rental car license plate? Where is the best place to park? And, shazam: So long as your inquiry is reasonably close to the description you used when you saved the info, Gemini will cough it back up for you anytime, anywhere. One quick command will recall anything you’ve asked Gemini to remember.JR Raphael, Foundry You can even access the same info via Gemini on any device where you’re signed into the same Google account — phone, tablet, or any kind of computer, too. It works the same exact way, no matter what specific setup you’re using. And one extra little tip: If you ever want to see and optionally also edit the entire list of everything you’ve ever asked Gemini to remember, you can do so by pulling up this page in any browser where you’re signed in. All of your saved info in a single spot — available on any device, anytime.JR Raphael, Foundry As you may notice, this feature is officially meant for telling Gemini things that’ll affect how it interacts with you — like, for instance, that you prefer short and concise responses or that you’d like it to include a translation to Spanish with every answer it serves up. But within that ambitious architecture exists a delightfully simple memo-making superpower. And sometimes, it’s the simplest stuff that’s the most useful of all. Get six full days of advanced Android knowledge with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. Tons of time-saving tricks await!

Weapon of choice? Musk’s DOGE used Meta’s Llama 2—not Grok—for gov’t slashing, report says Grok apparently wasn't an option. Ashley Belanger – May 22, 2025 5:12 pm | 19 Credit: Anadolu / Contributor | Anadolu Credit: Anadolu / Contributor | Anadolu Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more An outdated Meta AI model was apparently at the center of the Department of Government Efficiency's initial ploy to purge parts of the federal government. Wired reviewed materials showing that affiliates of Elon Musk's DOGE working in the Office of Personnel Management "tested and used Meta’s Llama 2 model to review and classify responses from federal workers to the infamous 'Fork in the Road' email that was sent across the government in late January." The "Fork in the Road" memo seemed to copy a memo that Musk sent to Twitter employees, giving federal workers the choice to be "loyal"—and accept the government's return-to-office policy—or else resign. At the time, it was rumored that DOGE was feeding government employee data into AI, and Wired confirmed that records indicate Llama 2 was used to sort through responses and see how many employees had resigned. Llama 2 is perhaps best known for being part of another scandal. In November, Chinese researchers used Llama 2 as the foundation for an AI model used by the Chinese military, Reuters reported. Responding to the backlash, Meta told Reuters that the researchers' reliance on a “single" and "outdated" was "unauthorized," then promptly reversed policies banning military uses and opened up its AI models for US national security applications, TechCrunch reported. "We are pleased to confirm that we’re making Llama available to US government agencies, including those that are working on defense and national security applications, and private sector partners supporting their work," a Meta blog said. "We’re partnering with companies including Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Anduril, Booz Allen, Databricks, Deloitte, IBM, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Oracle, Palantir, Scale AI, and Snowflake to bring Llama to government agencies." Because Meta's models are open-source, they "can easily be used by the government to support Musk’s goals without the company’s explicit consent," Wired suggested. It's hard to track where Meta's models may have been deployed in government so far, and it's unclear why DOGE relied on Llama 2 when Meta has made advancements with Llama 3 and 4. Not much is known about DOGE's use of Llama 2. Wired's review of records showed that DOGE deployed the model locally, "meaning it’s unlikely to have sent data over the Internet," which was a privacy concern that many government workers expressed. In an April letter sent to Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, more than 40 lawmakers demanded a probe into DOGE's AI use, which, they warned—alongside "serious security risks"—could "have the potential to undermine successful and appropriate AI adoption." That letter called out a DOGE staffer and former SpaceX employee who supposedly used Musk’s xAI Grok-2 model to create an "AI assistant," as well as the use of a chatbot named "GSAi"—"based on Anthropic and Meta models"—to analyze contract and procurement data. DOGE has also been linked to a software called AutoRIF that supercharges mass firings across the government. In particular, the letter emphasized the "major concerns about security" swirling DOGE's use of "AI systems to analyze emails from a large portion of the two million person federal workforce describing their previous week’s accomplishments," which they said lacked transparency. Those emails came weeks after the "Fork in the Road" emails, Wired noted, asking workers to outline weekly accomplishments in five bullet points. Workers fretted over responses, worried that DOGE might be asking for sensitive information without security clearances, Wired reported. Wired could not confirm if Llama 2 was also used to parse these email responses, but federal workers told Wired that if DOGE was "smart," then they'd likely "reuse their code" from the "Fork in the Road" email experiment. Why didn’t DOGE use Grok? It seems that Grok, Musk's AI model, wasn't available for DOGE's task because it was only available as a proprietary model in January. Moving forward, DOGE may rely more frequently on Grok, Wired reported, as Microsoft announced it would start hosting xAI’s Grok 3 models in its Azure AI Foundry this week, The Verge reported, which opens the models up for more uses. In their letter, lawmakers urged Vought to investigate Musk's conflicts of interest, while warning of potential data breaches and declaring that AI, as DOGE had used it, was not ready for government. "Without proper protections, feeding sensitive data into an AI system puts it into the possession of a system’s operator—a massive breach of public and employee trust and an increase in cybersecurity risks surrounding that data," lawmakers argued. "Generative AI models also frequently make errors and show significant biases—the technology simply is not ready for use in high-risk decision-making without proper vetting, transparency, oversight, and guardrails in place." Although Wired's report seems to confirm that DOGE did not send sensitive data from the "Fork in the Road" emails to an external source, lawmakers want much more vetting of AI systems to deter "the risk of sharing personally identifiable or otherwise sensitive information with the AI model deployers." A seeming fear is that Musk may start using his own models more, benefiting from government data his competitors cannot access, while potentially putting that data at risk of a breach. They're hoping that DOGE will be forced to unplug all its AI systems, but Vought seems more aligned with DOGE, writing in his AI guidance for federal use that "agencies must remove barriers to innovation and provide the best value for the taxpayer." "While we support the federal government integrating new, approved AI technologies that can improve efficiency or efficacy, we cannot sacrifice security, privacy, and appropriate use standards when interacting with federal data," their letter said. "We also cannot condone use of AI systems, often known for hallucinations and bias, in decisions regarding termination of federal employment or federal funding without sufficient transparency and oversight of those models—the risk of losing talent and critical research because of flawed technology or flawed uses of such technology is simply too high." Ashley Belanger Senior Policy Reporter Ashley Belanger Senior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 19 Comments