Technology

The marketing of illegal drugs on open platforms is “gaining prominence,” authorities note, while the number of drug transactions on the darkweb has decreased in recent years.

Across the US, sheriffs say they’re willing to do whatever they can to help Donald Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, expel millions of immigrants. Legally, that isn’t much.

• Windows 11 (Build 26120.2702) is currently being tested
• One new feature is support for multiple apps accessing the webcam at once
• More webcam settings are coming

Microsoft continues to tinker with Windows 11, but this time it looks like it’s added a feature many of us had been asking for (rather than shoving yet more ads into the Start menu): support for multiple apps to access the webcam at once.

As Windows Central reports, an early version of Windows 11 (Build 26120.2702) is currently being tested by people signed up to the Windows Insider program, and it includes a new multi-app camera feature.

At the moment, you can only use one camera app at a time in Windows 11, so if you’re on a video call using Google Meet, for example, and also want to stream on Twitch at the same time, you won’t be able to – you need to pick which app has access to the camera.

New advanced camera configuration: “Allows multiple applications to access the camera stream simultaneously” https://t.co/N4KJvg1nHnDecember 13, 2024

This new feature will mean you don’t have to pick one app at a time to access your webcam – multiple apps will be able to access it at the same time. I’m not sure if there’s a limit to the amount of apps you can run at once with access to the webcam, but using a lot could have a big impact on your PC’s performance.

A welcome accessibility addition

While there are plenty of scenarios where you would want two or more apps to access your webcam at the same time, Microsoft highlighted the accessibility benefits of this new feature, especially with the hard-of-hearing community.

Since the pandemic, more people than ever rely on webcams to keep in touch with friends, family and coworkers, so any additional features like this could prove popular. Windows Central also claims that Microsoft is working on further webcam settings that will allow you to control the resolution, frame rate and media type of your footage as well.

It’s certainly a welcome addition, and a nice change from Microsoft forcing features into Windows 11 that no one wants. More updates like this, and fewer of the kind that tries to add more adverts or force us to use AI features, would do wonders for Windows 11’s reputation.

Hopefully the feature proves successful during testing and will be included in an official Windows 11 update soon.

You might also like...

• Windows 11’s new webcam settings will make adjusting resolution a breeze - no extra software needed
• Does covering your webcam work?
• How to use your GoPro as a webcam

A couple of important mortgage rates declined. Lower mortgage rates could bring positive news to the housing market in 2024.

Several key refinance rates have declined. Refinancing makes sense if you can get a lower interest rate on your home loan.

• 120 hours of battery life
• Wireless, wired and Bluetooth modes
• £137

One of the frustrating things about even the best wireless headphones is that Bluetooth connections are often prone to significant latency – which means there's a slight delay between the signal being sent and it reaching your ears. That's not an issue for listening to music, but it's a problem for making it: if you're a DJ matching beats or a musician recording takes, even a little bit of latency can really ruin your day.

The new Studio Max 1 headphones from OneOdio have a clever solution to that: an ultra-low latency wireless connection, wired connectivity and Bluetooth too. So when you're on the bus you can stream your tunes over Bluetooth; when you're mixing, mastering or monitoring you can use the lower latency connections instead.

And there's another boon for music makers: a claimed 120 hours of battery life.

OneOdio Studio Max 1: key features and pricing

The frequency range is 20Hz to 40kHz and the headphone are Hi-Res Audio certified with support for LDAC streaming.

The included wireless transmitter operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range and the Bluetooth version is 5.3. Playing time is up to 120 hours and you can recharge fully from flat in about two hours.

If you're using the wireless transmitter, OneOdio says you can expect 10 to 15 days of use if you're averaging 4 hours of daily streaming. Fast charging gives you 2.5 hours of transmission time in about 5 minutes.

There are four modes: DJ Wireless Mode, which uses the wireless transmitter; Wired Monitoring mode, which uses the 3.5mm interface; DJ Wired Mode, which uses the 6.5mm connector for studio and DJ kit; and Portable Bluetooth Mode.

They'll hot shelves officially in February next year, priced $169.99 / £137 (which is around AU$275, where sold) but for now, you can find out more about the Studio Max 1 on the OneOdio website.

You might also like

• The best wireless headphones
• The best over-ear headphones as tested by us
• Don't like over-ears? Pop in a pair of the best earbuds instead

• The Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 updates the ZS80 / TZ80 with USB-C charging
• It features a massive 30x optical zoom, and shoots 20MP photos and 4K video
• Panasonic also announced the Lumix G97 mirrorless camera, designed to replace the cheap Lumix G95

One thing I didn't have on my 2024 bingo card was a new Lumix point-and-shoot camera, even though it's a trending market. But Panasonic just surprised us by announcing the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 (it's called the former in the US and the latter elsewhere), which will be available from February 2025.

The Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 packs a Leica lens with a whopping 30x optical zoom – a 24-720mm range that's way more versatile than your smartphone, and which can be doubled digitally to 60x using Panasonic's iZoom feature.

It's a pocketable snapper that weighs just 11.35oz / 322g and features a 1.84m-dot tilt touchscreen, plus a new quick-send image button for smartphone uploads via Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth v5.0.

You can shoot 20.3MP photos, 4K video up to 30fps, and HD video 120fps, plus there's a new vertical video mode, all supported by Panasonic's 5-axis Hybrid Optical image stabilization, which should ensure crisp detail even when you're zoomed right in.

However, we've seen virtually all of this tech before in the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 / TZ80, the 2016 model that the new ZS99 / TZ99 essentially replaces. So why are we getting a new Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 all these years later? Well, crucially the new camera supports USB-C charging, thus adhering to the EU's Common Charger Directive that comes into force in 2025. We saw a similar move by Panasonic earlier in the year when it revived one of its bridge cameras.

Panasonic also launched the Lumix G97, a new mirrorless camera with 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds sensor. It updates the cheap Lumix G95 with USB-C charging (again in order to keep it on the shelves in 2025 and beyond) plus a couple of new buttons, but it's otherwise the same camera. Sales start in mid-February 2025, and it will cost $849.99 / £799 (Australia pricing TBC) with the 12-60mm lens. (Image credit: Panasonic) Panasonic keeps point-and-shoot alive, just

The USB-C charging port is the only significant update in the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 that I can see over the Lumix ZS80 / TZ80 model it replaces. That predecessor is now almost 10 years old, although, as is the case with other Lumix point-and-shoots, you'll struggle to find one new to buy, especially since they will all eventually be pulled from the shelves.

Panasonic has even downgraded the newer model by removing the predecessor's electronic viewfinder, presumably in order to squeeze in the new USB-C port and buttons. That's a real shame, and it hardly fills me with excitement for the new model.

While I would have preferred meaningful updates and certainly no downgrade, it's good to see Panasonic keeping the Lumix point-and-shoot line alive. The Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 on-sale date is set for mid-February 2025, and it'll cost $499 / £469 (Australia pricing TBC).

Might we see a properly upgraded point-and-shoot in the future? I hope so. For now, though, I can recommend the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 for those looking for a decent cheap compact camera.

You might also like

• I used my vintage point-and-shoot for the first time in years – here’s how it compares to my Pixel phone
• Best point-and-shoot camera 2024: top picks for simple shooting
• Compact cameras are making a comeback as demand for Nikon Coolpix soars by over 8,000% – and it's little to do with cameras

Google has announced its new AI video generation model, Veo 2, and you can join the waitlist to start creating videos of your own, today.

The new AI video generator looks set to take on OpenAI's newly launched Sora in the battle for AI video supremacy in 2025, and if Veo 2 is as good as Google says it is, then the ChatGPT creator is under real pressure.

In a blog post, Goggle says, "Veo 2 creates incredibly high-quality videos in a wide range of subjects and styles." The announcement also highlighted Veo 2's ability to capture "an improved understanding of real-world physics and the nuances of human movement and expression, which helps improve its detail and realism overall."

Meanwhile, OpenAI's Sora launched in the US last week, and one of the biggest criticisms so far is that the AI video generator can't capture movement in a way that looks truly natural to the eye. The Veo 2 press release hints that Google thinks its own video generator can outshine Sora in this department.

Another major improvement in Veo 2 compared to OpenAI's Sora is the ability for Google's offering to output in resolutions up to 4K, a stark contrast to Sora Turbo's (the premium tier of Sora for ChatGPT Plus subscribers) 1080p max output.

Veo 2 launches today in the US, although there is a waitlist, and Google plans to expand the video generation tool to YouTube Shorts and "other products" next year.

Better than Sora in benchmarks?

(Image credit: Google)

Google also claims that in testing, Veo 2 outperformed rivals in human testing where participants viewed over 1,000 prompts and respective videos on MovieGenBench, a benchmark dataset. In those results, Veo 2 was preferred to Sora Turbo on 58.8% of occasions compared to 14.5% who were neutral, and 26.7% who preferred Sora Turbo. While one benchmark isn't enough to clearly indicate which AI video generator is better, it's a good sign for Google that Veo 2 passes the eye test.

We won't know how Veo 2 compares to Sora until we get our hands on the video creation tool. That said, Google's emphasis on cinematographic understanding could lead to Veo 2 being deemed the best AI video generator. Like any AI product, the proof is in the pudding and we looking forward to putting the new model through its paces ourselves.

How to get early access to Veo 2

(Image credit: Google)

To gain access to Veo 2, you'll need to be over 18 and reside in the US. If you meet those requirements, follow the steps below.

• Head to the Google Labs website
• Sign into your Google account and select "Join the waitlist"
• Fill out the early access form
• Google will inform you once you've gained access to Veo 2

You might also like...

• OpenAI’s "12 days of OpenAI" live blog
• I just used OpenAI Sora for the first time and it blew my mind
• Coca-Cola’s iconic 'Holidays Are Coming' ad is now a soulless and creepy dystopian nightmare made by AI

The next round of Social Security Disability Insurance checks for the month of December will soon be on its way to recipients. Here's when you'll get yours.

If TikTok is indeed banned in 2025, you'll want all your videos downloaded to your device, or else they might be gone forever.

New tax breaks and changes could boost paychecks and lower tax bills for many. Other tax credits could disappear.

• A brand new look at the Nintendo Switch 2 has seemingly leaked
• The leak comes from a third-party accessory company Dbrand and features a 3D render of the console
• Dbrand's CEO says the model is based on a "3D scan of the real hardware"

A new leak may have given us our first proper look at the Nintendo Switch 2.

Dbrand, the third-party game accessory manufacturer, has just announced its new Killswitch 2 case for the upcoming Nintendo Switch successor alongside a 3D render with what appears to be the Switch 2 inside.

The web page for the accessory is still live at the time of writing, showcasing a looping 360-degree animation. It provides us with perhaps our best look at Nintendo's unannounced console.

According to Dbrand's CEO Adam Ijaz, who spoke to The Verge following the Killswitch 2 reveal, these are the "actual dimensions" of the Nintendo Switch 2, not a guesstimate, and are based on a "3D scan of the real hardware".

With Dbrand's measurements, the Switch 2 is larger and taller than the original Switch model and the Switch OLED - which aligns with previous reports - but has roughly the same thickness.

Ijaz claims that the console will measure 270mm wide, 116mm tall, and 14mm thick, compared to the Switch's measurements of 242mm x 102mm x 13.9mm.

The featured kickstand should also measure around 55mm and the CEO said it's his "understanding" that the device's Joy-Cons are "magnetically attached" with an ejection button on the back of the Joy-Cons to release them.

There's also a new square-shaped button with the letter "C" featured under the Home button, but Ijaz doesn't know its purpose.

Just last week, another third-party accessory company, Satisfye, also leaked what appeared to be the design of the Switch 2 alongside its new ZenGrip 2 attachment for the console.

The reveal trailer provided a blurry glimpse of the device which gained online attention before the video was deleted.

You might also like...

• The best Nintendo Switch games to play in 2024
• Nintendo Switch 2 accessories have reportedly appeared for sale online, but I've seen Bigfoot photos that are more believable
• The Witcher 4 officially revealed at The Game Awards 2024 with brutal trailer and confirms that Ciri will star as the titular Witcher

We spoke with multiple experts to learn more about why mobility is important, no matter what age you are.

For most states, Tax Day is April 15, 2025. But you might have a bit longer to submit your tax return in certain regions.

Our picks of the best weighted blankets will help calm your anxiety and improve your sleep.

Don't wait until the new year to score an APY over 4%. A rate cut this week could mean lower earnings.

The protective proteins in our bodies aren’t just great for fending off infection—they could also fight the effects of getting older.

For a limited time, score up to 50% off smart appliances when you shop this holiday season at Govee.

Come Spring 2025, your regular driver's license or ID will no longer get you through TSA checkpoints. Here's how you can get your Real ID ASAP.

• CXL 3.2 provides a range of key improvements
• Security updates are a major focus for 3.2
• CXL has become increasingly vital in the age of AI

CXL Consortium has announced the release of its new Compute Express Link (CXL) 3.2 specifications, bringing a raft of optimized funcationalities to the technology.

In its announcement, the consortium revealed the upgraded specification will improve CXL Memory Device monitoring and management capabilities, and enhance the functionality of CXL Memory Devices for both operating systems and applications.

Security improvements are also a key talking point with the introduction of the Trusted Security Protocol (TSP).

What to expect from CXL 3.2

CXL plays a crucial role in how GPUs and CPUs interact with memory, helping to standardize cross-device communication and reduce delays. All told, this helps make systems faster and more efficient when handling large volumes of data.

With the advent of generative AI, CXL has become increasingly important given the rapid data processing requirements of applications, and this latest update will further improve upon previous specifications, particularly in terms of CXL Memory Device monitoring and management.

The new specification will include a new CXL hot page monitoring unit (CHMU) aimed specifically at streamlining memory tiering.

Similarly, the consortium unveiled compatibility with PCIe management message pass through (MMPT) alongside improvements to CXL online firmware.

Security improvements are a key focus in this latest update through TSP, the consortium noted, including new meta-bits storage features, the expansion of IDE protection, and enhanced compliance tests for interoperability.

Full backwards compatibility with previous CXL specifications was also assured by the consortium.

“We are excited to announce the release of the CXL 3.2 Specification to advance the CXL ecosystem by providing enhancements to security, compliance, and functionality of CXL Memory Devices,” said Larrie Carr, president of CXL Consortium.

“The Consortium continues to develop an open, coherent interconnect and enable an interoperable ecosystem for heterogeneous memory and computing solutions.”

You might also like

• Even a laptop can run RAM externally thanks to a little-known tech called CXL
• We've rounded up the best DDR5 RAM around right now
• And these are the best SD cards on offer today