BY2K Membero Americo The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 5,044 Québec, Canada Ask the Developer Vol. 18: Mario Kart World — Part 1 - News - Nintendo Official Site This article has been translated from the original Japanese content. This interview was conducted before the game was released. In this 18th volume of Ask the Developer, an interview series in which developers convey in their own words Nintendo's th… www.nintendo.com - World's development started in late 2017 after ARMS was complete. - Started as a Switch 1 game before being moved to Switch 2 in 2020 after work on the Booster Course Pass for 8 Deluxe started to not compromise on the game's ambitions. - Would have been called Mario Kart 9 if the game was simply a follow-up to 8 Deluxe with new tracks. - Soundtrack uses more live instruments this time around. - The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". - One day cycle is 24 minutes of in-game time. - Rail and Wall Riding was added to make driving between tracks less boring. - 100 tracks in the game if you count all the variable path between tracks. - Karts can be customized with stickers you find in Free Roam.   Last edited: Today at 9:57 AM Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX I guess the MK9 part was before Tour became a finalized thing. Still, makes sense that such an ambitious game took so long. Also, EPD 9 specified Late 2017 for the start of development (after ARMS's DLC was finished). EDIT: Or not, Tour was released in 2018.  Last edited: Today at 9:57 AM mrmickfran The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 33,200 Gongaga The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". Click to expand... Click to shrink... Music to my ears (literally)  Finiri6143 Member Mar 16, 2022 3,251 Neoxon said: I guess the MK9 part was before Tour became a finalized thing. Still, makes sense that such an ambitious game took so long. Click to expand... Click to shrink... You think it would have been call MK10 in the current climate otherwise if they stuck to the traditional game formula? I don't think so.   Bear Member Oct 25, 2017 12,305 Would not have guessed that this has been in the oven longer than GTA6 lol.   Kevers The Fallen Oct 29, 2017 15,882 Syracuse, NY 8 Years in Dev? Goddamn.   Shoichi Member Jan 10, 2018 12,476 Hopefully they allow players to change what music is selected in the jukebox, guessing it's just an automatic selection So, what did you do with the music for modes like Free Roam, where the route isn't fixed? For other modes like Free Roam, we prepared lots of music in addition to course themes and made it so the game would automatically select the right track depending on the situation. During development, we called this the "jukebox." For this, we created lots of arrangements of music composed for past Asahi:Super Mario™ and Mario Kart games. You're not only rearranging the music but also revamping the mechanism for how the music is selected and played, right? You said you created a lot of musical tracks, but how many pieces did you end up with? Altogether, over 200 for the "jukebox." These are all brand-new arrangements, and we also did live recordings. We prepared pieces from quite a wide variety of musical genres. I believe those who are well-versed in video game music, as well as those who aren't, will enjoy listening to them. Asahi: Click to expand... Click to shrink...   Bucca Banned Oct 25, 2017 5,529 Started in 2017? Christ alive they've been simmering this for a while   ned_ballad One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 50,558 Rochester, New York lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character   NINTENDOTHEGOAT Member Mar 3, 2025 7 Can't wait easily my most anticipated game this year along with Donkey kong bananza.   Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX Bucca said: Started in 2017? Christ alive they've been simmering this for a while Click to expand... Click to shrink... They seem to have gotten straight to work after Dr. Coyle released for ARMS.   cw_sasuke Member Oct 27, 2017 29,988 Damn, they been cooking for a while.   DNAbro Member Oct 25, 2017 30,050 Here are the full quotes So, the various courses are interconnected. Could you tell us how development for this game got started?: We were thinking about what to do for the next YabukiMario Kart game even during the development of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and we began prototyping in March 2017. It was at the end of that year when we officially started work on it as a project. I felt that in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, we were able to perfect the formula that we'd been following in the series up to that point, where players race on individual courses. That's why, this time, we wanted the gameplay to involve players driving around a large world, and we began creating a world map like this. When did you decide to move development of this game to Nintendo Switch 2? Yabuki-san first brought it up around 2020. Back then, we already had an idea of the next system's expected specs, but it wasn't until a bit later that we actually received working development units. Until then, we just had to proceed with development based on provisional estimates. Sato: This game has been in development for over 8 years which is insane. If people are wondering why we didn't get an original Mario Kart for Switch 1, we now know they tried.  ResidentDoom Member Sep 13, 2024 147 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver  finally Member Jul 22, 2019 1,537 $10 for each year in development   Finiri6143 Member Mar 16, 2022 3,251 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... The chances of it not delivering is extremely low to be honest.   Mr. Lemming Member Oct 25, 2017 643 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... "Ishikawa: Cow is actually a pivotal character in the Mario Kart series. "  mavericktopgun Member Oct 27, 2017 5,447 Can't wait to play this damn game!!!!   Aleh Member Oct 27, 2017 20,093 Thank FUCK they didn't do another MK on Switch.   RailWays One Winged Slayer Avenger Oct 25, 2017 18,327 BY2K said: - Soundtrack uses more live instruments this time around. - The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". Click to expand... Click to shrink... I know this OST is about to be peak   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 124,059 2017? Goddamn   Jaded Alyx Editor-in-chief at SpecialCancel.com Verified Oct 25, 2017 40,219 The Duskbloods also started dev for the Switch   JoJo'sDentCo Unshakable Resolve Member Oct 25, 2017 9,277 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... lol it will   Stairouais One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 3,047 France mrmickfran said: Music to my ears (literally) Click to expand... Click to shrink... Can't wait to have 15 of them on Nintendo music app  Zonic Member Oct 25, 2017 37,022 TWO HUNDRED SONGS?! If this is on par with the quality of MK8/D's soundtrack, this is gonna be OST of the year easily.  Truno Member Jan 16, 2020 5,735 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues  Zebesian-X Member Dec 3, 2018 25,336 8 years of development, $80. That's how that works right? Super excited, it's crazy how long they had us on MK8  Bucca Banned Oct 25, 2017 5,529 Mr. Lemming said: "Ishikawa: Cow is actually a pivotal character in the Mario Kart series. " Click to expand... Click to shrink... They've been there when we needed them the most. Chilling in Moo Moo Meadows.   Hollywood Duo Member Oct 25, 2017 55,009 Well considering 8 was a Wii U game they've been holding this back for fucking ever   luminosity "This guy are sick" Member Oct 30, 2017 1,673 No wonder they want to recoup the money.   Finiri6143 Member Mar 16, 2022 3,251 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... No it doesn't.   Jahranimo Community Resettler Member Oct 25, 2017 10,267 I can believe it, that world looks incredibly expansive and different from anything the MK Team has done before.   BaconHat One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 6,577 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... Well, that's a new profile pic right here!   NotLiquid One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 37,874 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nintendo is pretty noted for having very long project incubation and ideation phases. Another recent example of that was Mario Wonder where they said they worked with a no deadlines approach. Obviously the EPD group worked on other stuff during that time like as well like Tour and the Booster Course expansions so it's unlikely it was an all-hands-on-deck type development schedule when they say they started in 2017.  ZeoVGM Member Oct 25, 2017 84,753 Providence, RI Neoxon said: I guess the MK9 part was before Tour became a finalized thing. Still, makes sense that such an ambitious game took so long. Click to expand... Click to shrink... lol no, it would have been called MK9 because it is MK9. Tour was announced in January 2018. This quote should actually put an end to that silly MK9 debate.  Geg Member Oct 25, 2017 6,606 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... Not only that, it's what also gave them the idea to add all the other weird creatures as drivers. Truly a pivotal moment in development lol   Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX ZeoVGM said: lol no, it would have been called MK9 because it is MK9. Tour was announced in January 2018. This quote should actually put an end to that silly MK9 debate. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Then yeah, that answers it.   Lee Morris Member Oct 28, 2017 3,894 I doubt they have been seriously developing on it for the last few years. I imagine the bulk of the team have moved onto the next game. I was only thinking about the music this morning. 200 tracks means it shouldn't feel too repetitive. Can't wait  Lukar Unshakable Resolve - Prophet of Truth Member Oct 27, 2017 28,242 BY2K said: - Soundtrack uses more live instruments this time around. - The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nintendo Music App please come in clutch in two weeks 🙏   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,562 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... It doesn't. They were prototyping in 2017 and tried to make the game work on the first Switch, but it didn't so they moved to the successor.   RPG_Fanatic Member Oct 25, 2017 4,805 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... Now I want this picture to be plastered on a random billboard in Mario kart World.   Lightsong Member Nov 11, 2022 9,416 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... The issue was the Switch being too weak, lol. They pushed it to Switch 2. It's in the article. No need for concern trolling.   RandomlyRandom67 Member Jul 7, 2023 2,660 $80 price tag makes sense now!   PucePikmin Member Apr 26, 2018 5,355 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... Don't know about that. They had to re-focus and re-scope the game for Switch 2 midway through, which would have added more work. Then, once it was clear MKW was going to be the big Switch 2 launch game, its release got pushed back as the release of Switch 2 also got pushed back. They probably could have released some version of their original vision on the Switch 1 in a lot less than 8 years.  AuthenticM Son Altesse Sérénissime The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 35,157 Hopefully they have since learned that the next Mario Kart should be a launch title for the next system.   poptire Avatar Wrecking Crew The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 15,505 I am so happy you can customize the karts with stickers I don't know why   Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah, & they very clearly stated what it was: The Switch 1's hardware limitations   cw_sasuke Member Oct 27, 2017 29,988 Open World Mario Kart on Switch 1 would probably have had a hard time looking as good and perform as well as MK8D, so they just developed it for Switch 2. It makes sense. Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... Or no/less crunch while being more experimental and having much more content Day 1 than past titles.   Shoichi Member Jan 10, 2018 12,476 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... They pushed development to the Switch 2, so it then became a result of when the systems release date was going to be instead   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 124,059 Geg said: Not only that, it's what also gave them the idea to add all the other weird creatures as drivers. Truly a pivotal moment in development lol Click to expand... Click to shrink... I love that the Cow wasn't just a meme everyone glomped on, but that even the devs singled it out 

In February 2021, Morgan Wallen's future as country music's golden goose was hanging in the balance.First, there were the reports of drunken disorderly conduct during a night out in Nashville. Then, a video of Wallen flouting COVID protocols at a party in 2020 resulted in the postponement of his "Saturday Night Live" debut. But his then-latest incident, in which he was caught using a racial slur on camera, threatened to torpedo his career.As quickly as the industry had lifted him up as the genre's next global star, Wallen was disinvited from awards shows, criticized by peers, blocked from radio play, and suspended by his record label. Country music cable network CMT announced it would scrub his appearances from its platforms, saying Wallen's words and actions were "in direct opposition to our core values that celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion."Then, something happened: People kept listening anyway.Four years later, Wallen, now 32, is bigger than ever. His 2023 album "One Thing at a Time" spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the longest reign ever for a country album. He went back on "Saturday Night Live," where his latest viral controversy, in which he walked offstage while the cameras were still rolling, garnered him enough defenders to launch a cheeky merch line. (It's now sold out.) His new album, "I'm the Problem," only needed one day to become Spotify's most-streamed country album of 2025.These days, it pays to be the problem.The making and marketing of a modern antihero Morgan Wallen released his fourth album, "I'm the Problem," on May 16, 2025. Spidey Smith Sonically, there's nothing particularly special about Wallen's brand of stadium country music. His signature Tennessee twang is pleasant enough, but it pales in comparison to the richness of Shaboozey's, for example, or the expressive texture of Chris Stapleton's. The melodies aren't any catchier than the average single by Luke Combs or Florida Georgia Line, and his lyrics are teeming with tropes: the word "whiskey" is sung no fewer than 18 times on "I'm the Problem." In a genre historically obsessed with first-person storytelling and narrative cohesion, Wallen also isn't distinguished by his songwriting: he's not listed as the sole songwriter on any "I'm the Problem" tracks, and on 15 out of 37, he's not credited at all. (Forty-nine other songwriters are credited throughout.)However, a closer look at the album's title track and opener offers insight into a core element of Wallen's appeal. On the taunting kiss-off, addressed to an ex who's equally flawed but can't bear to share the blame, Wallen is equal parts self-loathing and vindictive: "You hate that when you look at me, you halfway see yourself / And it got me thinkin' / If I'm the problem / You might be the reason." These themes are woven into the fabric of Wallen's songs, many of which double as sly implications. He often sings about drunken screw-ups and toxic relationships that paint his friends, lovers, and listeners as co-conspirators, or even instigators. "Don't Think Jesus," his first solo release after returning to the spotlight in 2022, makes this theme explicit: "World likes to rear back and throw a few stones / So boy wants to throw a few stones of his own." In his big hit from last year, the Post Malone duet "I Had Some Help," Wallen reasons, "It ain't like I can make this kinda mess all by myself."John Malanga, a 21-year-old rising senior at James Madison University, said he likes Wallen more than other country stars because he sees him as authentic: the themes of his music align with his unpolished, unapologetic public persona."He recognizes his flaws and yeah, he's kind of like this young guy who's a little bit of a douchebag sometimes, but that's his character," Malanga said. "It seems like he's really not afraid of that."Devin Selvala, a Boston-based 27-year-old who said she's been in Wallen's top 1% of Spotify listeners for at least three years, agreed."Nowadays in the music industry, it's easy to be consumed by the machine," Selvala said. "He isn't one that's willing to be shape-shifted and evolved based on how the industry or how 'big music' wants him to be. I think he's very, 'Take me as I am or leave me.'"Still, not everybody has accepted Wallen's career rebound. When Tate McRae was announced as a feature on "I'm the Problem," some of her fans objected based on Wallen's reputation and presumed political views, describing their team-up online as tone-deaf and meme-ing McRae as a MAGA Republican.The Wallen fans I spoke to were well aware of the singer's slur scandal and didn't let it slide, either, calling his language "repulsive" and inexcusable. (Wallen, for his part, said much of the same at the time, instructing his supporters to stop defending him in a video shared online.) But none said the incident ultimately deterred them from enjoying and supporting Wallen's music, especially following his public apology."I know I've never called anybody the N-word, but I've called people other things and done really crappy things. I think everybody has," Laragh Thooft, a 32-year-old from Iowa, told me. "I would never stop listening to music that I like, or stop watching a movie that I like, because it's somebody doing really dumb and potentially hateful things if they're not seeming to me to be a dumb and hateful person.""If we start doing that," she added, "then we're just gonna have to listen to only AI music."Wallen doesn't innovate — he resonates Morgan Wallen performs during the "Dangerous" tour in Los Angeles. Getty/John Shearer Wallen's relatability is also bolstered by streaming-optimized savvy.His music is extremely popular on TikTok, a platform that rewards broad appeal and repetition to serve users content that echoes what they already know and love. To this end, Wallen and his collaborators are masters at integrating other sounds and genres into his well-worn country formula. His songs bear tones of '70s rock, radio-friendly pop, electronic, and hip-hop, and his duet partners are carefully selected to help legitimize those unions: Hardy ("Come Back as a Redneck"), Tate McRae ("What I Want"), Diplo ("Heartless"), Lil Durk ("Broadway Girls"). Wallen's most high-profile collaborator in recent years, Post Malone, has achieved similar success hopping between rap, pop, and country trends.Wallen also releases a lot of music. Like, a lot. "One Thing at a Time" had 36 songs on its tracklist, just one fewer than "I'm the Problem." Its predecessor, 2021's "Dangerous," was a double album with 32 songs total, including bonus tracks.Wallen is the ideal avatar for an attractive idea — a feeling of freedom, of open roads and judgment-free zones.Much has been written about the "more is more" strategy that excels in the streaming era, and Wallen is far from the only artist to take advantage of it. But he arguably does it better than anyone else. The proof is in the pudding, which is to say, his chart performances. As of Wednesday, tracks from "I'm the Problem" dominated nearly half of Spotify's Top 50 in the US, with four of the top five slots. "We see that the demand is there and we are happy to meet that demand," Wallen said in a press release for the album.In the process, Wallen avoids disappointing any fans who prefer specific flavors in his sound. It's a familiar failsafe — something for everyone — and it suits Wallen's creative process, which he has characterized as relatively directionless. "We just went with our gut. That's what we do a lot of times, we don't necessarily have a plan," he told Rolling Stone of his debut album, "If I Know Me," in 2018. "Hopefully it sounds good." Wallen may not be leading the writing or production of his songs, but there is something to be said for his sonic pliability. Paired with his everyman ease and nonconformist attitude, Wallen is the ideal avatar for an attractive idea — a feeling of freedom, of open roads and judgment-free zones.After all, Wallen was right: He had some help. His record label resumed promoting his music a few months after he apologized for the slur incident in 2021. Last year, he was nominated for male video of the year at the CMT Music Awards and won entertainer of the year at the CMAs. He's hitched a ride on a powerful pendulum, one that's swinging away from DEI initiatives and toward self-styled free thinkers and rebels against social etiquette.Consider "Working Man's Song," a track from Wallen's new album, which echoes recent anti-establishment, anti-elite hits like Oliver Anthony's "Rich Men North of Richmond" and Jason Aldean's "Try That In a Small Town": "I punch the clock, wanna punch a ticket to New York and punch the boss," Wallen sings. Never mind that Wallen's 2023 tour grossed over $300 million, making it the highest-grossing country tour of all time. When he moans about the indignity of 9-to-5 jobs and "underpaid checks," it strikes a nerve.For a lot of Wallen's fans, Selvala theorized, "It's not just the music. It's the embodiment, the aesthetic of everything.""When I think of country music, I think of long drives, being with my friends, feet in the grass, sunny and 75, beers in the cooler," she said. "A lot of amazing memories I have over the years, just like being with people I love, have Morgan playing in the background.""I'm the Problem" concludes as it begins, with a double-edged confession. In the chorus of "I'm A Little Crazy," Wallen casts himself as a "coyote in a field of wolves" — scrappy, perhaps, and proud to stand out, yet no more wild than anyone else."Yeah, the only thing keeping these tracks on the train," Wallen sings, "Knowing I'm a little crazy, but the world's insane."

Imagine a chatbot using your PC for you. That’s one of many visions Microsoft showed off at its developer-focused Build 2025 conference on Monday. And the vision, it would seem, is already almost here. Microsoft’s concept revolves around the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which was created by Anthropic (the company behind the Claude chatbot) last year. That’s an open-source protocol that AI apps can use to talk to other apps and web services. Soon, Microsoft says, you’ll be able to let a chatbot — or “AI agent” — connect to apps running on your PC and manipulate them on your behalf. That’s not all for the future of Windows, either: Microsoft also announced it’s getting serious about local AI apps on Windows. They’re not just being used to push Copilot+ PCs anymore. Want more Windows PC knowledge? Sign up for my free Windows Intelligence newsletter. I’ll send you in-depth Windows Field Guides as an instant welcome bonus! The Windows chatbot basics So what might Microsoft’s bot-centric Windows vision actually look like? While using an AI chatbot like Copilot, ChatGPT, or Perplexity, you could say commands like “Open Photoshop and [perform whatever actions] for me,” “Generate a playlist and put it together for me on Spotify,” “Get information from [a particular app],” or “Search my PC for [a certain type of file].” The chatbot would request permission to connect to the app on your PC, and it could then connect and perform those actions for you. At least, it could — if the associated applications support it. I’m speculating about what would be possible in the future if, say, Adobe and Spotify actually chose to support this system in their respective Windows apps. If this all sounds extreme, keep these qualifying points from Microsoft’s demo in mind: The Settings app will have a page where you can turn the feature on and off for each app on your system. Your chatbot of choice will always request access to apps, even when they’ve made themselves available to AI experiences. You have to give permission. This will all only work with apps where the developer has actively chosen to support it. And none of this would happen automatically in the background — only when you explicitly ask a chatbot for something. Also worth noting is that this week’s demo was mostly aimed at developers. In Microsoft’s examples, they showed off using Copilot to install the Fedora Linux distribution in the Windows Subsystem for Linux and then install software inside it. In other words, here’s the pitch: AI can discover the right commands to run to install and configure a Linux system, and it can do that work for you. You don’t have to copy-paste the commands. Diving deeper into Microsoft’s AI agent approach Compared to what Microsoft is proposing, past “agentic” AI solutions that promised to use your computer for you aren’t quite as compelling. They’ve relied on looking at your computer’s screen and using that input to determine what to click and type. This new setup, in contrast, is neat — if it works as promised — because it lets an AI chatbot interact directly with any old traditional Windows PC app. But the Model Context Protocol solution is even more advanced and streamlined than that. Rather than a chatbot having to put together a Spotify playlist by dragging and dropping songs in the old-fashioned way, it would give the AI the ability to give instructions to the Spotify app in a more simplified form. On a more technical level, Microsoft will let application developers make their applications function as MCP servers — a fancy way of saying they’d act like a bridge between the AI models and the tasks they perform. There will be an MCP registry for Windows that apps like Copilot, ChatGPT, and Perplexity could use to discover available MCP servers running on your PC, then connect to them (with your permission) and run actions within them. MCP is already in use on the web, but Microsoft’s idea to open Windows applications up to this same sort of use case is a whole new kind of thinking. The AI-PC security factor It’s all well and good if an AI agent has to get permission before using apps on your PCs, but what happens after you give it that permission and it’s working on a particular request? Currently, if an agent responds by recommending you run commands or perform specific tasks, you’re still the one typing them. If the AI is doing the work, how can you tell it isn’t doing anything dangerous — or making any mistakes? Microsoft’s answer comes in a detailed blog post about MCP security, taking a wide variety of security threats into account. For example, the AI has to be clear about what it did so you can audit it. That’s great, but it still requires you let the AI agent take actions on its own and then look back on those actions after the fact. A new permissions page will let you control which applications expose themselves as an options to AI apps.Microsoft While it’s good to know Microsoft is taking security into account, it’s tough to imagine what the security and data threats could be in the real world. Microsoft is providing an early preview of the software only to developers, so the company appears to be moving slowly rather than dropping a feature imminently. That’s a big change from last year: At Microsoft Build 2024, Microsoft announced the Windows Recall feature to much controversy, with numerous security experts excoriating it for data privacy and security risks. While Microsoft made lots of changes, the feature was delayed and didn’t make it onto Copilot+ PCs until nearly a year after its announcement. AI features beyond the NPU Last week at PCWorld, I called for Microsoft to stop limiting local Windows AI features to lightweight laptops with neural processing units (NPUs), noting that the company’s “Copilot+ PC” approach and the associated Copilot Runtime prevented Windows from taking advantage of powerful GPU hardware — and also CPUs, encouraging developers to ignore these AI features that only a handful of new laptops could run. At Build 2025, Microsoft did just that. I’m not taking credit: Restricting AI features to NPUs was obviously unsustainable if Microsoft wanted developers to build AI apps that could take advantage of a variety of hardware types. Microsoft made the smart move. Specifically, Microsoft announced Windows ML — a runtime designed to run AI software on a wide range of Windows PCs, whether that’s on a low-power NPU, a high-performance GPU, or a standard CPU. It’s a single framework developers can target so they don’t have to write to a wide variety of different hardware types from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm separately — as is the case today. In other words, Windows will provide better ways for application developers to build AI features that run on your computer rather than in the cloud. That’s a win for privacy. Microsoft also announced the Windows AI Foundry, calling it “An evolution of the Windows Copilot Runtime.” And while Microsoft didn’t trumpet it by saying it directly during the keynote, it sounds like AI features designed for Copilot+ PCs may come to a wider variety of Windows PCs in the future. Windows will soon run AI applications on any hardware — not just an NPU on a new laptop. Microsoft So that’s the future of Windows Microsoft is selling right now: deep integration for AI agents to use apps on your PC, if you want, and more ways for app developers to create AI features that use your PC’s hardware rather than cloud servers. Now all that’s left is to see how it all shapes up in reality. Want to stay on top of Windows? Sign up for my free Windows Intelligence newsletter. I’ll send you three new things to know and try each Friday.

No stage, no problem. The All-American Rejects bring the mosh pit to the front lawn. Credit: TikTok composite: @ChicagoBucketList, @marissamccall, @STLGUIDE314 In a live music landscape often dominated by inflated ticket prices and impersonal stadium shows, The All-American Rejects are flipping the script. The band recently kicked off a "house party" tour, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Instead of arenas or overpriced amphitheaters, the band is offering fans a chance to host a literal house party with a live, pop-up performance from the band themselves. So far, they've played a backyard in Chicago, a bowling alley in Minneapolis, on someone's lawn in Columbia, Missouri for a bunch of college grads, and on the quad at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Fans can even apply through the link in the band’s Instagram bio to bring the show to their city.The "house party" concept leans heavily into nostalgia, which is a smart play for a band whose early 2000s singles "Dirty Little Secret" and "Move Along" helped define an era of pop-punk adolescence for millennials. But it’s not just about revisiting the past. This tour taps into something deeper: the intimate, communal energy of early DIY shows that forged lasting connections between bands and their fans. And it has landed the band on FYPs across the country. You May Also Like SEE ALSO: For fans, Ticketmaster is misery business Perhaps partly because of its online popularity, it’s not just longtime listeners showing up. These intimate shows, often held on college campuses or in public spaces, are introducing The All-American Rejects to a new generation of fans who weren’t around when the band ruled TRL, but who instantly get the appeal of a sing-along anthem in a backyard with no wristbands required.Even more remarkable? These shows are mostly free to attend. In a time when Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing has made big concert experiences unattainable for many, this feels less like a gimmick and more like a rebellion. The All-American Rejects are bringing live music directly to fans — no dynamic pricing, no service charges, no $25 parking. Mashable Trend Report: Coming Soon! Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! At a recent stop in Minneapolis, the All-American Rejects frontman Tyson Ritter delivered a fiery, heartfelt speech that quickly went viral — a clip of the moment, posted by @marissamccall, has racked up over one million views on TikTok. Speaking to a packed crowd, Ritter captured the spirit of the house party tour with blunt honesty: "I want to thank you for coming out and giving a shit about a rock’n’roll band that supports the common man. We’re not trying to sell you finance tickets to Coachella, we’re not trying to sell you Ticketmaster fucking penalty fees, we’re not trying to sell you $25 parking. We’re just trying to sell you some songs you might have grown up with, and let you fucking let go with us in this non-denominational church of rock'n'roll." The message — part middle finger to concert bloat, part love letter to fans — struck a nerve. Online, fans praised the band for keeping things grounded, authentic, and centered on the music. In an industry increasingly ruled by algorithms, corporate markups, and VIP upgrades, Ritter’s words felt like both a rebellion and a revival.As one commenter on TikTok put it, "The HARDEST recession indicator. we are SO back." In an interview with KBIA in Missouri, Ritter explained how the idea for the tour came about: "The whole thing about this has been sort of like this weird synchronistic happenstance of reactivity. We played this random house party [in Los Angeles], and it was like, of all the shows we played in the last 10 years, it was, like, this big wake-up call to the reality of, 'Oh, this is why we started doing this.' We played in house shows. We played backyards, VFWs, and I just told my manager, 'That worked. Let’s do that.'" And they are. One lawn, quad, and bowling alley at a time. Topics Music TikTok Crystal Bell Digital Culture Editor Crystal Bell is the Culture Editor at Mashable. She oversees the site's coverage of the creator economy, digital spaces, and internet trends, focusing on how young people engage with others and themselves online. She is particularly interested in how social media platforms shape our online and offline identities. She was formerly the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped the brand expand its coverage of extremely online fan culture and K-pop across its platforms. You can find her work in Teen Vogue, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet. She's exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.

When Apple TV+ launched back in 2019, one of the most common complaints was its lack of a back catalog. And to some extent, the criticism made sense, especially given that some expected Apple to (at least partially) bundle in its vast iTunes movie library. Now, more than five years later, Apple has quietly built up a surprisingly solid library of original films and series. If you’re a relatively new subscriber, there’s a good chance you missed out on a few of these great early releases: Defending Jacob Based on William Landay’s 2012 best-selling novel of the same name, this limited crime drama series stars Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, The Gentlemen) and Chris Evans (The Avengers, Knives Out), as well as Jaeden Martell (Knives Out, It) in the titular role of Jacob. Evans’ character is tasked with the defense of his own son in a murder trial, and the story explores the tectonic shifts caused by such an event in the life of a family. If you’ve watched Netflix’s recent Adolescence limited series, you know to expect this won’t be a light, dinner time, binge-worthy show, but it is definitely worth a watch. Watch Defending Jacob on Apple TV+ The Velvet Underground Being a Velvet Underground fan, I am partial to this one. But this excellently produced documentary explores how one of the most influential bands in history came together, and turned the rock scene upside down. As one IMDB reviewer put it, the documentary is “pieced together almost as strangely as the band itself”, which is possibly the highest praise director and writer Todd Haines (I’m Not There, Carol) could possibly expect. Even if you are not a Velvet Underground fan, this documentary might surprise you. Watch The Velvet Underground on Apple TV+ CODA For the standards of a three-time Academy Award winner, this remake of 2014’s La Famille Bélier flies surprisingly under the radar. CODA stars Marlee Matlin (The West Wing), Troy Kotsur (The Number 23), and Emilia Jones (Brimstone) as members of a deaf family whose hearing daughter, played by Jones, serves as their connection to the hearing world. Until her musical ambitions begin to pull her in a different direction. CODA became the first movie produced by a streaming service to win Best Picture, and it also scored Apple the Academy Awards for Best Adapted, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role thanks to Kotsur’s portrayal of character Frank Rossi. Watch CODA on Apple TV+ WeCrashed Alongside the Theranos case, the WeWork saga is possibly one of the craziest, most interesting and unbelievable stories that only reality could provide. The show features Jared Leto (Requiem For a Dream, Suicide Squad) as Adam Neumann, and Anne Hathaway (Interstellar, Les Misérables) as Rebekah Neumann. It explores the couple’s trajectory as they, well, manifested WeWork’s $47 billion valuation. Based on a homonymous podcast, this eight-part series is a must-watch for any tech enthusiast. Just by writing about it, I feel like watching it again. Watch WeCrashed on Apple TV+ Black Bird This is yet another inspired-by-true-events limited series that made a bit of a splash when it came out, but was soon unfairly forgotten. Taron Egerton (Tetris, Rocketman) plays a playboy turned convict who accepts a plea deal involving a fellow convict, played by the fantastic Paul Walter Hauser (BlacKkKlansman, Richard Jewel). Black Bird also marks Ray Lotta’s final performance, and earned Apple quite a few awards due to Hauser’s terrifyingly good portrayal of… well, you’ll see. Watch Black Bird on Apple TV+ Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry I had never been a big Billie Eilish fan. I did know one or two of her songs, but that was it. Still, I gave Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry a try, and I’m glad I did. The documentary takes you along (in sometimes uncomfortable ways) on the ride all the way up to the top, and the loneliness that might come with it. The documentary highlights Eilish’s creative partnership with her brother Finneas O’Connell and her fiercely protective mother, who is set on not letting her daughter become another cautionary tale for early stardom. Watch Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry on Apple TV+ Do you have a favorite forgotten Apple TV+ gem? Any recent favorites you can’t recommend enough? Let us know in the comments. Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

What will be the song of the summer for 2025? Who else got 'em obsessed "like JENNIE?" Spotify has some ideas.The audio streamer has made some big calls annually about which songs will rule the hot season, and on Tuesday, Spotify announced its predictions for the 30 songs of the summer. SEE ALSO: Spotify’s AI DJ now takes requests Listed not by ranking but alphabetically by artist first name, the 2025 "global songs of summer predictions" include WizTheMc, bees & honey, and Tyla's summery smash "Show Me Love," Charli xcx's TikTok favourite "party 4 u," Bad Bunny's superb "NUEVAYoL," Lady Gaga's Swift-like "How Bad Do U Want Me," and Ravyn Lenae's situationship ode “Love Me Not," among many more. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! You May Also Like Here's the list:Spotify's 2025 songs of the summer predictions“Ordinary” – Alex Warren“NUEVAYoL” – Bad Bunny“Super” by Bb trickz “Mystical Magical” – Benson Boone“All The Way” – BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman“party 4 u” – Charli xcx “My Darling” – Chella“With You” – Davido and Omah Lay“NOKIA” – Drake“YA BABA” – DYSTINCT and French Montana“Running Around” – Ely Oaks“Summer Sweat” – Hannah Cohen“like JENNIE” – JENNIE“Blue Strips” – Jessie Murph“Gnarly” – KATSEYE“How Bad Do U Want Me” – Lady Gaga“MUTT” – Leon Thomas“Dark Thoughts” – Lil Tecca“What Was That” – Lorde“Shake It To The Max (FLY) – Remix” – MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, and Shenseea “Say My Name – Remix” – Morgan Seatree and Florence + The Machine“What I Want” – Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae “You’ll Be in My Heart – Spotify Singles” – NIKI “Love Me Not” – Ravyn Lenae“Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” – ROLE MODEL“back to friends” – sombr“No One Noticed” – The Marías“Brunette” – Tucker Wetmore“La Plena – W Sound 05” – W Sound, Beéle, and Ovy On The Drums“Show Me Love (with Tyla)” – WizTheMc, bees & honey and Tyla Of course, Spotify has a playlist of all 30 summer predictions ready to go: Related Stories What do you think? Is your own personal song of the summer on Spotify's predictions list? FWIW, my personal songs of the summer to be are Obongjayar's "Not in Surrender" and TOKiMONSTA, Anderson .Paak, Rae Khali's "On Sum," but it's not my list is it? Topics Music

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Jaws, the film that almost single-handedly rewrote the rules of summer movies. Over the next half century, summer became known as the home of cinematic spectacle, the time for films made on the largest scale possible, released into thousands of theaters all at once.A lot has changed since 1975, in the world at large and in the world of movies. But every summer, cinephiles still look forward to escaping the heat and the general awfulness of the world for two hours at the theater. And no matter how much things change, the movies playing in theaters during the summer still tend to be the big blockbusters; the sequels, the comic-book movies, the major star vehicles loaded with special effects.2025 is no exception. Below you’ll find 15 of ScreenCrush’s most-anticipated films this summer. Most are playing exclusively in theaters to start, although we did sneak in one notable streaming title too. We also threw a couple smaller titles from notable directors into the mix as well; sometimes you want a little intermezzo to cleanse the palate between bigger courses.Or if you just want to revisit Jaws for its 50th anniversary, keep your eyes out at your local theater, as Universal is holding special screenings this summer as well. (And let’s be honest, if any of these movies is even half as good as Jaws, that will be great news.)2025 Summer Movie PreviewHere are 15 can’t-miss summer movies for 2025.READ MORE: Great Songs You Forgot Were Originally Written For MoviesGet our free mobile app25 Big Blockbuster Movies You Forgot ExistedRemember these movies? They made a lot of money at the box office!

Not every client has a firm grasp on their priorities when starting a project, but the marching orders from one Central Texas couple were abundantly clear: They wanted to convert a classic car garage on their estate into a dance hall and speakeasy, creating their own social sanctuary. After enlisting designer Sarah Stacey to bring their vision to life, that “simple” project quickly catapulted into a four-year, all-encompassing design journey when the pair added the renovation of their 4,900-square-foot primary home into the scope. It was during this time that Stacey, an avid auction enthusiast, shared her passion and expertise with her clients. “Walking through auction previews is thrilling—you wonder who owned the items and how they were used. You can feel the history,” she explains. “New homes need stories; we can design an entire room around a piece. Plus, you can save a lot of money at these events.”But before the bidding wars came planning. Stacey reimagined the space that once housed the former owner’s car collection as a moody billiards club, replete with plenty of lounge seating, a full bar salvaged from a Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and vintage collectibles, including an original Jimi Hendrix guitar. To separate the dance hall from the speakeasy, she cleverly utilized an iconic British telephone booth as the secret entrance from one area to the other. A simple push of the back wall gets you in—if you know there’s a door, that is. This is a dopamine interior.... It’s immersive and just makes you happy.For the main house, the objective was to embrace the home’s original Mediterranean style, but amplify it with a series of thoughtful selections. Stacey meticulously evaluated “every single Sherwin-Williams white” to find the ideal buttery color for the main living areas (Casa Blanca, Sherwin-Williams), incorporated 200-year-old salvaged wood beams, and designed the laundry room in the spirit of a French garden, complete with an undercounter striped sink skirt worthy of a Parisian café.She then set out to blend old-world charm—like the lavishly draped canopy bed in the primary suite—with contemporary pieces, such as large-scale pendants and multitiered chandeliers. The overall design is enhanced by colorful carpets, including a striking snake pattern in the living room and a hand-tufted graphic rug in the dining area. Auction house wins, antique treasures, and Parisian flea-market finds complete this unexpected and unconventional Texas haven.FAST FACTSDesigner: Sarah Stacey Interior DesignLocation: Central TexasThe Space: A garage-turned-speakeasy with a dance hall and a 4,900 sq ft main house with 3 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a dressing room, sauna, and wet bar. SPEAKEASYThe former garage transformed into a go-to party hub.Stephen KarlischWallpaper: Phillip Jeffries. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Bar Stools: Nior. Armchairs: Hickory Chair. Coffee table: Sunpan. Drink Tables: Robert James. The bar is from a Ruth’s Chris restaurant and has become the heart of the space. It’s where friends and family naturally gather, often ending the night belting out karaoke songs, tipsy and totally in the moment.Stephen KarlischStephen KarlischThe husband won the six Orgy lithographs by Picasso at an online auction and Stacey hired artist Elisa Gomez to paint the frames. One of the standout features above the bar table is an original Jimi Hendrix guitar—a striking tribute to the rock 'n' roll legend. A custom tufted banquette in Schumacher fabric sits alongside Robert James café tables and under Hinkley pendants for the ultimate lounge experience.Stephen KarlischSeating: Hickory Chair. Coffee table: vintage. Rug: vintage, EtsyA cozy corner of the room is designed for dance breaks, providing plentiful options where guests can sit and take five. A framed archival photograph of Jimi Hendrix features a guitar that the couple purchased for their own collection. Stephen KarlischA British telephone booth gets recast as the secret entrance between the speakeasy and dance hall. See Stacey's go-to formula for a memorable entrance below. Create your own one-of-a-kind entrance like designer Sarah StaceyFind something that resonates with you. Stacey’s clients considered a Coca-Cola machine but fell in love with this phone booth.In this case, the designer brought on a contractor to remove the back of the booth and then cleverly recreate it as a hidden door.Keep it simple with a wall panel that pushes open, or go elaborate with an engineer-approved coded release—just type in the numbers and voilà!Always make sure there’s a manual way in and out!LIVING ROOMA warm white by Sherwin-Williams complements the original stone floors.Stephen KarlischSofas: custom, in Vervain fabric. Seating: Alfonso Marina, in Pierre Frey (chairs) and Fox Linton (bench) fabrics.Vivid and bold, the living room design comes alive through a colorful carpet, highlighted by a striking snake-patterned centerpiece designed by a tattoo artist. The Picasso to the right of the fireplace went missing, but was thankfully found and now has a place of prominence.KITCHENClever storage solutions are packed in this European-inspired kitchen.Stephen KarlischRange: La Cornue. Backsplash and Countertops: Aria Stone Gallery. Runner: vintage, Black Sheep Unique. Island Pendants: Urban Electric. Island: DeVOL.  Stephen KarlischLight fixture: Vintage. Dining table: Vintage. Dining chairs: Gregorius Pineo with Pierre Frey fabric.  A prep island by Devol provides easy access to dinnerware stored behind glass doors. It’s finished with an aged copper countertop that sets off the beveled white oak herringbone floor. New herringbone wood floors add a built-in patina to this newly created kitchen. The breakfast room chairs are upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric that Stacey treated with a wipeable vinyl coating. Pendants: The Urban Electric Co.WET BARA convenient bar for entertaining in the main living space. Stephen KarlischSconces: Allied Maker. Stools: Paul Ferrante, in Kelly Wearstler fabric. Table Lamp: Sunday Shop. Wanting an option to entertain in the main house, the homeowners asked Stacey for a bar with seating and room for their collection of cocktail glasses. A mirrored backdrop adds shine and glamour while bouncing light around the room. DINING ROOMContemporary and vintage pieces make this dining room memorable.Stephen Karlisch Dining chairs: Gregorius Pineo, in Moore & Giles leather. Chandelier: custom, Apparatus Studio. Rug: Christopher Farr.In the dining room, an eclectic mix of furniture and accessories meld into a one-of-a-kind entertaining scene. The mismatched Venetian mirrors were won at an auction, the bust of David originally sat outside in the flower beds, and the painting was found online. OWNER'S SUITEA bedroom bathed in rich green sets the scene for a luxurious, serene escape.Stephen KarlischPaint color: Chimichurri by Benjamin Moore. Wallcovering: Porter Teleo. Bedframe and fabric: Alfonso Marina.Stephen KarlischLight fixture: Fortuny. Sofa: Vintage, recovered in House of Hackney fabric. Trunk: Vintage, Louis Vuitton. Inspired by kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with metallic lacquer, the Porter Teleo wallcovering sets the palette for this room. Yards of Fortuny fabric give the Alfonso Marina bed a regal air. The vintage sofa is reupholstered in a luxurious House of Hackney textile, featuring a bold, substantial trim detail.BATHROOMLavish stone and custom flooring create a one-of-a-kind en-suite.Stephen KarlischStone: Aria Stone Gallery. Vanity: Custom. Fixtures: Watermark. Sconces: Apparatus Studio.A custom terrazzo floor by Marble Buro grounds this space. Its unique coloration and less organic structure allow the marble backsplash and elaborate custom wood-carved mirrors, meant to mimic Black Forest-style design, to take center stage.Stephen KarlischStacey originally wanted the marble book-matched, but when her fabricator said the slabs weren’t symmetrical, they decided to rotate each one 180°, creating a consistently random design with even veining. Bench: custom.LAUNDRY ROOMThis utilitarian space is full of natural light. Stephen KarlischPaint: Stone Blue, Farrow & Ball. Wallpaper: Botanica Claustra by Papier Francais. Backsplash: Zia Tile. Curtain fabric: Clarence House.Papier Français partnered with Bibliothèque Nationale de France to bring back more than 60 archival prints, including this Bon factory flowering-trellis wallpaper, which turns this utilitarian space into a year-round spring jewel box. THE DRESSING ROOM The "closet" was quickly expanded to feel more like a boutique retail space.Stephen KarlischCeiling wallpaper: Gracie. Light fixture: Visual Comfort. Sofas: Mr. Brown in De la Cuona fabric and Samuel & Sons trim. Carpet: Nourison. Pillows: Dedar. Library ladder: Alaco. Hardware: Armac Martin.Stephen KarlischPaint color: Brinjal by Farrow & Ball. Hardware: Armac Martin.The entire main house and garage renovation began with a closet redesign. Stacey came to assess the closet, cataloging everything from long- and short-hang sections to shoes and bags, and it quickly became clear the space was too small. This discovery sparked the decision to expand and elevate the closet...and set the stage for a full home transformation.SAUNAThe ultimate in-home spa experience. Stephen KarlischA discreet sauna is the preferred spot to recover after a night of dancing. About the DesignerSarah Stacey is known for her artful approach to layering, creating spaces that balance timeless elegance with a fresh, eclectic edge. Raised in Louisiana and influenced by antique auctions, Southern cities, and global travel, her style embraces bold contrasts and personal storytelling. With a background in studio art and interior design from LSU, she brings a vibrant, collected sensibility to both residential and commercial projects. Now based in Texas with her musician husband and their son, Sarah’s work is infused with the same energy and joy that defines her life.SHOP THE SPACEFarrow & Ball Stone Blue Paint Color$143 at Farrow & BallItalian Venetian Murano Blue Glass Chandelier$8,250 at 1stDibsLa Cornue Cornu Fé 110 Range Matte Black$13,275 at Williams SonomaCredit: Williams SonomaPablo Picasso LithographNow 20% Off$3,000 $2,400 at 1stDibs

Macworld Throughout its history, Apple has introduced many industry-changing technologies, some of which are still present in today’s devices, like MagSafe on MacBooks. However, some of the technologies introduced by Apple have been discontinued over time for different reasons. While most of these decisions are understandable, some technologies were ahead of their time, and I really miss them today. Let’s look back at some of Apple’s best ideas that were discontinued but ahead of their time and deserve to come back. 3D Touch Although 3D Touch was first introduced with the original Apple Watch as “Force Touch,” Apple later added it to the iPhone. I remember seeing the iPhone 6s introduction video in 2015 with Jony Ive explaining how 3D Touch worked, and it sounded impressive. Indeed, it was. Essentially, Apple put pressure sensors under the iPhone’s screen so that it could distinguish a soft press from a hard press with extreme precision. 3D Touch could be used in many ways, such as pressing harder on an icon to reveal more options or gently pressing a link on a webpage to see a preview of it. Game developers could also adopt 3D Touch for custom controls. You can still perform the 3D Touch action on today’s iPhones, but the result is different.Filipe Esposito The technology blew my mind, and I loved how precise it was. Not only that, but 3D Touch worked very well with the iPhone’s haptic feedback. It was so satisfying. But in practice, only a few apps added support for 3D Touch, and it was a very complex and expensive technology to build. Apple ended up discontinuing 3D Touch, starting with the iPhone XR, and replaced some of the actions with a simple long press on the screen. I still dream of future iPhones having 3D Touch back. Luckily, the trackpads on MacBooks still have Force Touch, so that’s something. AirPort AirPort was Apple’s lineup of wireless routers. First introduced in 1999, AirPort devices always had a futuristic design and made it easy for users to plug in an internet cable and have a Wi-Fi connection at home. While the first version looked like a spaceship, one of the most interesting versions of the AirPort was the model that looked like a giant MacBook charger that had an ethernet port on it. There was also the sleek and modern AirPort Extreme, which was essentially a mini-tower made of polished white plastic. That thing was beautiful. The AirPort line once had a tower form factor (left) and a design that was like a MacBook power adapter (left).Apple Apple’s AirPorts gained many cool features over time. For example, you could plug a USB stick, printer, or external hard drive into it, and all your Apple devices would have wireless access to it. It could also turn wired sound systems into AirPlay speakers. AirPort also resulted in another product called Time Capsule, which had an internal hard drive to wirelessly back up your Mac. Apple stopped selling AirPorts in 2018, and while rumors suggest that Apple has no plans to introduce another Wi-Fi router anytime soon, the company has reportedly been exploring the idea of making Apple TVs and HomePods work as Wi-Fi signal extenders. I really hope that’s true. iPod A lot has changed since Apple introduced the first iPod in 2001. iPod wasn’t just a good product, it also made anyone using it look cool. I remember upgrading from a Discman to an iPod, and I felt like I was in the future. “A thousand songs in your pocket,” as Apple’s slogan went. The third-generation iPod nano. Filipe Esposito There have been many different versions of the iPod over the years, including the iPod touch, but the most iconic ones will always be the iPods with a Click Wheel. There was a unique and satisfying feeling in turning your finger on that wheel to navigate the interface. It was unlike anything else at the time. And although the product was once a hit, it ended up losing the battle to smartphones. Apple knew this, which is why the company has always promoted the iPhone as “the best iPod ever.” Suddenly, our phones could also work as great iPods, so having a dedicated music player no longer made sense for most people. Apple stopped selling the iPod shuffle and iPod nano in 2017, while the iPod touch remained in the lineup until 2022. The company said at the time that the iPod still lives on in its other products, and that’s true. Thanks to the iPod, we now have the iPhone, AirPods, and the HomePod. While some people are nostalgic about the iPod and want it back, I really believe that it served its purpose and that there are better alternatives now, like using an Apple Watch with AirPods if you want to listen to music without having your phone nearby. Cover Flow How could I forget Cover Flow? The cool iPod interface that lets users explore their music library by its art covers? Interestingly, Cover Flow was created by a third-party developer, and the idea was so good that Apple acquired it to implement it in iTunes. The feature was eventually added to the iPod, iPhone, and even Finder on the Mac to browse files with large previews. I remember using the original iPod touch for the first time, rotating the screen with the Music app open, and seeing the Cover Flow interface. That was probably the moment I fell in love with that product. Cover Flow on an iPod touch.Filipe Esposito Cover Flow went away with iOS 7, when Apple completely redesigned the iPhone’s operating system in favor of a flat-design interface with less skeuomorphism. But Apple should bring Cover Flow back. It would be a good feature to reintroduce with iOS 19, as the company is rumored to be changing the user interface all over again. Front Row Similar to Cover Flow, Front Row was an interface that Apple created to use the Mac as a multimedia center. The app made it easier to navigate between the user’s music, videos, and photos. The experience of using Front Row was really cool, especially when the Mac was connected to a big monitor or TV. With Front Row, it was easy to imagine what a multimedia device (like a DVD player) from Apple would look like. Apple never launched a DVD player, but it did announce the first Apple TV in 2007–it had the same interface as Front Row, but now in a standalone device. Front Row was later removed from the Mac, probably because Apple wants you to buy an Apple TV instead. Still, I miss Front Row, especially now with Apple Music and Apple TV+. Front Row provided an easy-to-use interface for using your Mac as an entertainment center.Apple iSight camera Pretty much every Apple device today has a built-in front-facing camera, but there was a time when that wasn’t a thing, and Apple had to create its own webcam for the Mac. Called iSight, Apple’s webcam had a beautiful design for its time (which still looks modern). It was definitely something you’d look at and think, “that’s an Apple product.” The iSight had decent specs for a 2003 webcam, with a three-element lens with autofocus and 480p resolution at 30fps. It also had built-in microphones with noise cancellation and a cool way to cover the lens for better privacy. We now have 1080p and even 4K webcams built into our devices, but there’s still a market for external webcams with larger sensors and better microphones for those who videoconference every day. Although this would be very niche, I would like to see Apple reintroduce iSight with a large 4K sensor for vloggers. Unfortunately, this seems quite unlikely to happen since Apple itself has released a feature that lets users turn their iPhone into a webcam for their Mac or Apple TV. The iSight webcam design would look great in today’s Apple lineup.Christopher Phin Back to the future Apple is known for not reviving things from the past very often, even when it’s something its users really love. Still, we can dream of some of these things coming back in the future–just look at MagSafe, which was removed from MacBooks and then added back years later. And even though some of these technologies may not seem relevant these days, they certainly contributed to improving the Apple ecosystem at the time.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazon's Memorial Day sale is in full swing, and you can find more than just the usual appliances and tools on sale. There are discounts on many tech products for audiophiles as well, from Beats headphones, to the Sonos Arc Soundbar, and the beloved Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, which have dropped in price after the release of the WH-1000XM6. If you're looking for bargains on budget headphones and earbuds, I've rounded up the best ones that you can find under $100, whether you're looking for earbuds, bone conduction headsets, or open-ear, in-ear, or over-the-ear headphones. Here are the best deals I found. Bluetooth 5.3 Open-Ear, Mic, MP3 Mode Built-in 32GB, 10Hrs Playtime, IP68 Waterproof. FEICO Bone Conduction Headphones $49.99 at Amazon $83.92 Save $33.93 Get Deal Get Deal $49.99 at Amazon $83.92 Save $33.93 40H Play Bluetooth 5.4 Headphones with Smart Digital Display Design Fit Sports Running, Workout TOZO OpenEarRing Open Ear Headphones $29.99 at Amazon $59.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $29.99 at Amazon $59.99 Save $30.00 45H Playtime, Wireless Charging Case, IPX8 Waterproof Stereo Headphones in Ear Built in Mic Headset TOZO T10 Earbuds $18.98 at Amazon $38.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal Get Deal $18.98 at Amazon $38.99 Save $20.01 48hrs Play Back Sport Earphones with LED Display Over-Ear Buds with Earhooks Built-in Mic Headset fo bmanl Wireless Earbuds $25.48 at Amazon $49.99 Save $24.51 Get Deal Get Deal $25.48 at Amazon $49.99 Save $24.51 253H Battery, ENC Mic, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C Charging Case, IPX5 Waterproof, Noise Isolating TREBLAB X4 Earbuds $39.99 at Amazon $59.97 Save $19.98 Get Deal Get Deal $39.99 at Amazon $59.97 Save $19.98 Adjustable Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, Reduce Noise by Up to 98%, 50H Playtime, Hi-Res Soundcore by Anker Space A40 $44.98 at Amazon $79.99 Save $35.01 Get Deal Get Deal $44.98 at Amazon $79.99 Save $35.01 JBL Pure Bass Sound, Up to 30 hours of battery life, IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof, Ambient Aware & JBL Endurance Race TWS $49.95 at Amazon $79.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $49.95 at Amazon $79.95 Save $30.00 145H Battery, Waterproof & Sweatproof Bluetooth Earbuds, Mics for Calls TREBLAB X3 Pro $59.97 at Amazon $99.97 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $59.97 at Amazon $99.97 Save $40.00 60H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio Custom EQ via App Deep Bass Comfort Fit Ear Cups TOZO HT2 Headphones $33.99 at Amazon $59.99 Save $26.00 Get Deal Get Deal $33.99 at Amazon $59.99 Save $26.00 Signature-HD Sound, Deep Bass, 35H Battery, Comfortable, Foldable Over Ear. TREBLAB Z2 Headphones $89.92 at Amazon $129.97 Save $40.05 Get Deal Get Deal $89.92 at Amazon $129.97 Save $40.05 SEE 7 MORE Try bone conduction and open ear headphones at up to 50% offNot everyone can afford Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones. If you're curious to see how bone conduction headphones feel before committing to a premium model, try the Feico Bone Conduction Headphones, which are $49.99 right now, down from $83.92. A fun feature: You can save MP3 songs directly to the headphones so you can listen to music underwater (Bluetooth signals can't penetrate water).Open-ear headphones are great for hearing your surroundings while your out and about. The Tozo OpenEarRing are now just $29.99 (originally $59.99), offering a lightweight option with 40 hours of battery.A range of earbuds at up to 51% off, including a pair with unheard of battery lifeIf you're looking to spend the least possible on a decent set of earbuds, consider the Tozo T10s, which are $18.98 (originally $38.99). Impressively at this price point, they include an IPX8 waterproof rating, stereo sound, and EQ presets in their companion app.Earhook earbuds are good if you prioritize a secure fit. The Bmanl Wireless Earbuds are $25.49 (originally $49.99) are comfortable to wear and can go 8 hours on a single charge (and up to 48 hours with the charging case).Speaking of battery life, if that's important to you, you will love the Trelab X4 earbuds, currently going for $39.99 (originally $59.97). I've never heard of any earbuds getting even close to 253 hours of juice, but somehow these IPX5 waterproof earbuds with noise isolation for calls pull that off, going for 11 hours between charges, plus another 242 hours from the charging case. Dang! I can vouch for the Soundcore by Anker Space A40, which I've used for a year—they have the best ANC I've experienced among all of the budget earbuds I've tested. You can get them for $44.98 (originally $79.99).JBL is a well-known brand for earbuds. Its sporty earbuds, the JBL Endurance Race TWS, are $49.95 (originally $79.95) and offer an IP67 waterproof rating, 30 hours of battery life, and an ambient aware feature so you can better hear your surroundings.The Trelab X3 Pro offer a good balance of great battery life (totaling 145 hours, including the charging case), a sporty design with earhooks and a waterproof rating, and good microphones for calls. You can get them for $59.97 (originally $99.97).These over-ear headphones are up to 43% offIt's not every day you can get over-ear headphones with ANC, 60 hours of battery, high-resolution audio, and a companion app with EQ presets for $33.99 (originally $59.99). You can get exactly that with the Tozo HT2 Headphones.If you want headphones from a more established brand, get the Trelab Z2 for $89.95 (originally $129.97). They're ANC, have 35 hours of battery, are foldable and come with a case, and include a bass-boosting mode.