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Showing posts from June, 2026

US bans Polestar but not Volvo in baffling EV ruling — data security fears force exit for premium brand, while its sister company gets a green light

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Connected Car ruling will come into effect in 2027 Anything with a link to China or Russia is in the spotlight Volvo has managed to avoid the same fate North American fans of beautifully minimal Scandinavian design will no longer be able to purchase one of Polestar’s innovative and stylish EVs as of next year, as a new Connected Vehicle Rule can prohibit the sale of items with a “sufficient nexus” to China or Russia in the US. The final decision falls to the Bureau of Industry and Security, part of the US Department of Commerce, which declined to grant Polestar authorization to sell vehicles in the US from model year 2027, according to Electrek . The rule, which was instituted during the final days of the Biden administration but kept under the Trump administration, centers around national security concerns, particularly with those brands controlled by, or subject to, the jurisdiction or directio...

The first Fitbit Air update could fix a major frustration — but Google has shut off a workaround for avoiding the new Google Health app

The Fitbit Air is getting its first software update It should fix problems with automatic workout detection An old Fitbit app workaround is going away The first software update for the Fitbit Air is rolling out now, and the hope is that it's going to fix one particular bugbear for users — but there's also bad news for those who are still using the older Fitbit app rather than the Google Health replacement. First up, the update is rolling out now, as reported by 9to5Google , though you might not see it right away: look for a notification inside the Google Health app that an update is ready. As per Google, it contains "bug fixes and general improvements". There's a bit more detail in a post on the Google Health support forum from last month, suggesting that there are fixes to exercise tracking, split runs, exercise exports, multiple device support, and how the device deals w...

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, June 29 (game #848)

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Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, June 28 (game #847) . Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. NYT Strands today (game #848) ...

Quote of the day by filmmaker Tim Burton: 'It's like a robot taking your humanity, your soul' — a scathing slapdown on AI cloning artistic styles

Generative AI is capable of some astonishing feats, with image and video generators, in particular, capable of creating stunning visual scenes based on text-based instructions. Plenty of the images you can generate, however, steal the distinctive styles of iconic artists – and many of these artists aren't best pleased. Imitation is the best form of flattery Filmmaker Tim Burton, who created heavily stylistic films like Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas , was among several artists whose iconic styles were showcased in AI-generated images. Quote of the day This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here . BuzzFeed used AI to show us what iconic Disney movies would look like if they were directed by vari...

Megapod is the modular AI data center kit that Elon Musk's Tesla wants to sell — but there's a tiny problem (actually, three)

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Despite Tesla trademark application, the Megapod concept already exists Megapod's trademark is owned by someone else Nvidia and others already dominate this market Tesla has filed a trademark application for ‘Megapod’ as the company begins to expand beyond electric cars, batteries and solar energy. Already with fingers in the autonomous transportation and humanoid robotics pies with Robotaxi and Optimus, the company is now looking to build modular AI data center infrastructure. Though the filing is based on an intent-to-use application, meaning that no commercial product is available yet, it describes a self-contained AI computing platform that includes servers, AI hardware, networking equipment, power distribution units, cooling and software. However, the project and associated trademark application has already hit three big walls – the concept already exists, the ‘Megapod’ trademark is alre...

I spent a week watching and playing these 3 intriguing horror titles — here's my verdict on which ones are worth your time

I've got quite the varied selection for our first instalment of Scream or Skip, which features a mix of new releases and an indie horror movie I had never heard of until a few days ago. Scream or Skip Scream or Skip, that is the question. With so much horror out there to watch and play, our senior entertainment writer, Lucy Buglass, is here to help you decide what's worth your time (or worth a Scream) and what's not (and so worth a Skip). Her goal is to help you beat the endless scrolling and spend more time enjoying some great TV shows, movies, and games. Read the full series here. Thanks to my social media algorithms being full of horror content, it's never hard for me to discover new things. This month, we have a bit of a water-based theme going on, as two out of my three picks are set there, and the third comes from nautical beginnings. But they couldn't be more different,...

Is your World Cup stream buffering or dropping out? Use your VPN’s IP rotation tool to jump servers without breaking your connection

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VPNs offer features and tools to boost your video streaming performance, and some of those are particularly handy for the World Cup. Anyone using a VPN to get around local broadcast restrictions might still encounter problems if the free World Cup streaming service they're trying to use is blocking access from the IP address that their VPN server has issued. That can happen before you try to stream or even part way through the match itself. Either way, that's a pain and, with some VPNs, that means disconnecting from the server and then trying out a bunch of others until you identify one that works, but some VPN providers can save you the hassle. We particularly like the technology that Norton VPN has introduced in time for the 2026 World Cup. It's called Manual IP Rotation and it allows you to ‘rotate’ your VPN’s IP address to another location within the same country, without int...

I’ve tested more than 20 chargers that can juice up your phone and laptop, and these are the 4 I still choose to use in my real life, including a portable power bank and a wireless charger

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I've tested more than 20 chargers here at TechRadar, including everything from small-sized power banks through to gigantic 500W towers, and while many have impressed me greatly with their strong performance and ingenious designs, some have been...less easy to recommend. There are a lot of underwhelming models out there that won't give you fast charging, have a poor line-up of ports, or break much faster than you'd hope. And so, I want to make sure you can get yourself a charger that's speedy, reliable, well-made — and most importantly, great value for money. Of all the chargers I've tested, there are 4 that I've come to rely on above all others. I've collected them all together and placed them into this list, so you can copy my charging loadout and wave goodbye to poor performance. Spoiler alert: these are all Anker and UGreen models, which will be of little surprise t...

I’ve used these headphones every single day for 11 months because of their stunningly detailed sound — and this Prime Day they’ve been slashed to their lowest ever price

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Given that I review audio gadgets for a living, I tend to hoard headphones the way most people collect loose change. But there's only one pair I rely on literally every day: the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, which is why I was pleased to see they've gotten an awesome discount this Prime Day. You can currently buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 for £255 (was £399) at Amazon UK . Not only does it make them much more affordable, but it actually brings them down to their lowest price ever. And don't feel left out if you're based in the US — you can still get a decent discount on them where you are, for $409.99 (was $479.99) at Amazon . As reviews editor at TechRadar, I've used a ludicrous number of headphones over the years, from the absurdly premium Focal Clear MG to budget bangers like the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 . But there's only one pair that I come back to again ...

EcoFlow literally just dropped the price of this portable power station for Prime Day — our 5-star Delta 3 Plus is the perfect summer companion

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Finally! EcoFlow has dropped the Prime Day price on our top-rated portable power station. It's not often that I refresh a page watch the price change before my eyes. But that's what just happened with the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus, now $570 (was $899) at Amazon . Seconds before then, it was sitting at a not unreasonable $700. One refresh later, and it's dropped even further in the Amazon sale. It's also discounted in the UK, where the Delta 3 Plus is now £549 (was £699) . The Delta 3 Plus is a 1024Wh power station that scored the full 5 stars in our review , where we praised it as offering "a balanced combination of power, portability, and versatility." Top Prime Day portable power station deal 1024Wh | 1800W ➡️ UK price: now £549 (was £699) Earning top marks in our tests, we awarded this portable power station an Editor's Choice badge thanks to its compact design, versat...

I've always owned physical books, but Amazon's standard Kindle takes away the inconvenience of traveling with multiple novels — and it's a great way to pass the time while soaking in the sun

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They say you need to own at least 1,000 to constitute a home library, and while I love a compelling novel as much as the next bookworm, finding the space is tricky — but that's why we have the Amazon Kindle , a budget-friendly e-reader that just got even cheaper this Amazon Prime Day . • Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale I've always enjoyed physical books, simply because nothing quite beats the feeling of achievement you feel at the close of the final page. I have a summer getaway coming up, and reading by the poolside or at the beach is one of the best forms of relaxation. However, squeezing multiple novels into my luggage isn't realistic, so with that in mind, this could be the year I decide to go digital — for a reasonable price that is. Right now, Amazon's most recent standard version Kindle is now down to $84.99 in the US (was $109.99) , and it's even cheaper in the U...

This free tool is helping drivers avoid automatic license plate readers —as fears grow around 'intrusive' new devices that could track your phone, AirPod and smartwatch data

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ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) camera tech is getting smarter A new company is bridging the gap between cameras and connected tech Tools to avoid ALPR cameras are rapidly gaining popularity More than 5,000 law enforcement departments across the US use Flock Safety cameras to track billions of license plates every month, according to a report from NBC news , helping them build an enormous database of the movements of everyday people. But Flock is just one company working on such tech, with hundreds of new automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and devices springing up daily. More recently, 404Media has highlighted a new tech firm that aims to add phone, AirPod and Smartwatch location data to license plate readers in order to build a clearer picture about who was driving what… and when. Understandably, rebellious drivers are now fighting back thanks to a new website called DeF...

I wanted to recommend this Hori gamepad as a cheap Steam Controller alternative, but it's just not worth your money

The Horipad for Steam controller has its highlights, but it's let down massively by a cheap feel and underwhelming performance. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/CQdtAmb

Popular free VPN, streaming apps bombard business networks with 'laundered' traffic used by criminals to 'blend into normal consumer noise' — here's how to keep safe

Residential proxies are both a boon for threat actors and a detriment for their victims, and many of them exist due to a lack of awareness from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/CIBbwn6

Samsung beats Prime Day to the punch with a massive TV sale — up to $1,500 off best-selling 4K, QLED and OLED TVs

Just ahead of Prime Day, Samsung has launched a massive TV sale, and I'm rounding up today's 18 best deals, which include record-low prices on 4K, QLED, and OLED TVs. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/M9raGPj

Already watched the Sugar season 2 premiere? Here are 3 more gritty Apple TV crime shows to satisfy your inner sleuth

Sugar season 2 is now streaming and there's more great crime shows where that came from. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/iG8w6oI

Chinese scientists ran an AI program on a virtual light-based computer system inside its real 'digital twin' PC — you can't get more meta than that (thanks Inception)

Chinese researchers created a digital twin optical computing framework allowing AI training, optimization, and validation before deployment on hardware. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/oFz8yIx

The upcoming Star Fox 64 remake is too conservative, but wouldn’t you overcorrect after a disaster like Star Fox Zero?

We return to the wondrous world of Star Fox Zero on the Wii U ahead of the launch of the next Star Fox 64 remake. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/XAHQLsP

‘Workers need to be involved in these conversations’: Amazon engineers to be investigated after criticising company’s AI data center buildout – Amazon “may or may not take action based on what we find.”

A group of Amazon employees spoke out at a council meeting, and now some of them are being investigated. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/mu5ctIa

Can’t buy the DJI Pocket 4P? This 'remarkably similar' dual-lens camera will rescue US creators soon

Xtra has just dropped a teaser reel confirming its Muse 2 Pro camera — with a spec sheet that will read very familiarly to anyone following the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P. And unlike DJI's dual-lens vlogging camera, it's heading to the US. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/syAB3K6

DJI Pocket 4P revealed in full — now we know exactly how the dual-lens vlogging camera compares to the Pocket 4 and Insta360 Luna Ultra, and DJI might be going hard on pricing

DJI has fully revealed its first dual-lens compact vlogging camera, the Osmo Pocket 4P. Here's how it compares to the Pocket 4 and a new rival, the Insta360 Luna Ultra from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/dSDNKhi

Meet Kali365 — the 'Amazon of cybercrime' where hackers use AI to completely circumvent multi-factor authentication

Kali365 abuses the current OAuth device code flow on Microsoft accounts in a sophisticated attempt to dupe users into signing into their accounts from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/Fm1MXrL

Maine takes down its data breach notification portal after it is flooded by fake claims

Someone has been posting fake data breach notifications, forcing the Maine Attorney General's Office to act. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/XEzVFdf

What is the release date for Sugar season 2 on Apple TV?

John Sugar is back in Apple TV's hit neo-noir show, and there are eight new episodes to savor. Here's when they're dropping. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/y6wGfq5

The Breville Barista Express falls to a record-low price ahead of Prime Day, so it might finally be the time I upgrade my home coffee maker

I've been looking for an upgrade to my home coffee machine for a while, and now that the Breville Barista Express is back to its lowest-ever price ahead of Prime Day, I think I might have found what I'm looking for. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/meYLO7M

'Our research suggests that there are real risks associated with these sites': Experts say some job-search platforms are stealing personal data from job seekers

Many sites may be selling their users' data to third parties without them knowing. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/7aLXrog

Creative Assembly had ideas about an Alien: Isolation sequel before it finished developing the first game — 'Take what we love, what people love, and evolve with it'

Alien: Isolation 2 creative director has revealed that he and Creative Assembly had ideas about making a sequel before finishing the first game. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/3dr5Nms

With the second-gen Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus, the head-to-toe doorbell finally goes 2K

The latest version of Ring's wireless video doorbell is a big step up rather than a minor refresh, and a great pick if you're not put off by the subscription fee. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/0j6vKCP

UFC White House live stream: how to watch Topuria vs Gaethje, start time, preview, full card

Freedom 250 event features two titles up for grabs – follow our guide to live stream UFC White House online and watch Topuria vs Gaethje and Pereira vs Gane. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/IC8gRGK

Creative Assembly is developing its own custom technology for Alien: Isolation 2 'to really fine tune the experience and create exactly the best Alien experience'

Creative Assembly has confirmed that Alien: Isolation 2 will be built with Unreal Engine 5, but the team is also developing custom technology. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/RJmP2s1

Security firm signs up Conan O'Brien for corporate training videos — will celebrity firepower be enough to keep us focused on safety?

Adaptive Security recruited Conan O'Brien for cybersecurity training videos aimed at helping employees recognize phishing deepfakes and AI-enabled fraud. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/F0HYW2l

How to watch USA vs Paraguay: Free Streams & TV Channels online from anywhere as the co-hosts begin their World Cup adventure

Here's how to watch USA vs Paraguay for free online and from anywhere as the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts begin their Group D campaign. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/h10rGAB

One of the most useful Apple Wallet features arriving with iOS 27 is headed to Disney World later this year

Apple teased several big updates coming to Wallet with iOS 27, and this fall Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, will adopt the new enhanced keys upgrades to improve the current MagicMobile experience. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/lT2hzYP

A major KPMG report on AI was found to be chock-full of...AI hallucinations

GPTZero has been prompted to issue its second report revealing how a major report is full of fake, AI-generated citations. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/3sDIndN

Norton VPN dropped its price just in time for the World Cup — secure your stream for less than $4 a month

Score big with Norton VPN's World Cup price drop from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/wClE3tu

OpenClaw AI agent tricked into phishing attacks, with user data compromised

Varonis has a suggestion on how to make AI agents more careful. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/7lxZUjt

Stop buying 8GB laptops for your sanity: The best $500 picks with 16GB RAM

To use Windows 11 on just 8GB of RAM in 2026 is the surest way to go berserk. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/l1KODhn

Spatial Reframing in iOS 27 might finally turn me into a photo pro — here’s how it works, and why it could be your iPhone’s secret storage weapon

iOS 27 users will get a Spatial Reframing AI tool to change their photos’ perspectives. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/zJF4CPg

North Korean hackers are at it again — phishing scheme targets hundreds of workers to try and steal crypto and more

Lazarus is getting company as UNK_DeadDrop starts luring devs with fake jobs, too. from Latest from TechRadar https://ift.tt/68fSGMe