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New York City's mayor has embraced a more conservative, less immigrant friendly stance. What does that mean for a city that's built it's identity on immigration?

(Image credit: Marco Postigo Storel)

After 75,000 attempts over five years, Summoning Salt is hanging up the virtual gloves.

Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

There’s never a good time to find yourself with no mobile reception. Whether you want to look up directions on Google Maps, send someone a WhatsApp message, or just want to post a beautiful view on Instagram: zero bars on your smartphone won’t get you very far. That's where satellite services like Starlink come in – and this week T-Mobile started offering it for free (ahead of a paid rollout) in the US on compatible smartphones.

The network operator has teamed up with SpaceX to launch the “first and only space-based mobile network” in the US, bringing cell phone service to remote areas via satellite. Powered by Starlink, it’s set to change the game for mobile users in rural locations. Those users won’t have to wait long to access it, either: the beta trial is already underway and a full rollout is scheduled for July this year.

What’s more, access isn’t limited to T-Mobile customers. The carrier has made its new service available to both AT&T and Verizon users as well, provided that their phone supports an eSIM. Want to upgrade your coverage with the groundbreaking satellite-to-cell service? We’ve broken down everything you need to know about T-Mobile Starlink, including how you can get it and how much it costs.

What is Starlink and how does it work?

• Starlink is a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX
• It operates a constellation of small internet satellites
• Direct-to-cell satellites work like cell towers in space

Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, the space exploration company owned by Elon Musk. Starlink owns and operates a constellation of thousands of small satellites. It has been launching these compact satellites into space since 2019. They are used primarily to serve high-speed internet to Starlink customers with a compatible antenna on the ground.

Unlike traditional satellite internet services, Starlink’s satellites circle the planet in a low-Earth orbit. This closer proximity to the Earth’s surface helps to reduce the lag – or latency – experienced as data is relayed between a user’s antenna and the orbiting satellite. Because of the high number of Starlink satellites, the system is also able to offer global coverage, reaching areas beyond the scope of standard broadband or fibre optic connectivity. This makes it a particularly useful service in rural locations.

Early last year, SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities. These satellites have modems on-board which function the same as cellphone towers. No special antenna or other hardware is required to connect to them: they are seen by your smartphone as standard cell towers, albeit up in space.

This means active users can access Starlink coverage wherever they can see the sky. If a phone supports LTE, it can connect to Starlink’s satellite-based network the same as if it’s a normal terrestrial provider.

Starlink on phones: how does T-Mobile’s new mobile service work?

• T-Mobile’s Starlink service is powered by SpaceX satellites
• Free public beta testing launched in February
• Paid subscriptions available from July for T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon users

T-Mobile’s new service is powered by Starlink satellites which are equipped for direct-to-cell connectivity. According to T-Mobile, 451 of these satellites have been launched so far. As above, these work like cell towers in space. Wherever you can see the sky, compatible smartphones can connect to T-Mobile Starlink as if it’s a normal mobile network. No additional hardware or antenna is needed.

That means whenever you’re in an area without cell service, your smartphone will connect automatically to Starlink satellites. T-Mobile reckons that more than 500,000 square miles of the US is currently beyond the reach of any carrier’s standard cell towers. Its new service should eliminate those mobile dead zones, allowing users to stay connected wherever they are in the US.

T-Mobile launched the free public beta test of its Starlink service during the Super Bowl on February 9 2025. It’s open for anyone on any US carrier to sign up, including customers of both Verizon and AT&T. Registered users will be given access on a rolling basis, to provide feedback before the full rollout in summer.

In July, T-Mobile Starlink will switch to a paid version. It will be included free for anyone on T-Mobile’s Go5G Next plan. Other T-Mobile customers can access it as a paid add-on for $15 a month. Anyone who registers for the beta in February will also be offered an Early Adopter Discount, bringing the price down to $10 a month.

Verizon and AT&T customers will also be able to continue using the T-Mobile Starlink service once it switches to a paid version, as will users of any wireless network with an unlocked eSIM phone. This will cost $20 a month and users will need to activate a second eSIM in their phone to access the network.

At launch, the service only supports text messaging when connected to the satellite network. T-Mobile states that voice and data will be added soon, although this will require government approval for SpaceX to use the full bandwidth capacity of its satellite constellation.

Starlink on iPhone: how do you get it?

• T-Mobile Starlink works on most modern smartphones
• Apple iPhone 14 models and later are supported
• iPhones need to be running iOS 18.3 to access Starlink

The only way to get Starlink on an iPhone at present is to sign up to the T-Mobile beta test. To do that, you’ll need to have an iPhone 14, iPhone 15 or iPhone 16. That includes the Plus, Pro & Pro Max variants. You’ll also need to be running iOS version 18.3.

Contrary to TikTok rumors, iOS 18.3 does not secretly install Starlink tech on your iPhone. What it does is make the network settings changes necessary to allow your phone to connect to T-Mobile 1900Mhz spectrum.

You’ll then need to register for the T-Mobile beta. Once you’re approved to participate and you head somewhere outside of standard cellular range, your phone should automatically access network coverage via the Starlink satellite constellation. When it does, you’ll see “SAT” instead of the standard bars in the top right corner of your iPhone.

It’s not just Apple iPhone users who can access the public beta. According to T-Mobile, Starlink “works on most smartphones from the last four years.” While no additional hardware or accessory is required to connect to the Starlink network, T-Mobile does state that smartphones need to be “satellite optimized” for users to have the best experience.

T-Mobile says it has worked with both Apple and Google to “ensure that this experience is integrated directly into their OS.” Whatever phone you have, T-Mobile states that it “needs to be on the latest software to use T-Mobile Starlink.”

The official list of supported handsets is as follows:

• Apple iPhone 14 and later (including Plus, Pro & Pro Max)
• Google Pixel 9 (including Pro, Pro Fold, & Pro XL)
• Motorola 2024 and later (including razr, razr+, edge and g series)
• Samsung Galaxy A14, A15, A16, A35, A53, A54
• Samsung Galaxy S21 and later (including Plus, Ultra and Fan Edition)
• Samsung Galaxy X Cover6 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and later
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and later
• REVVL 7 (including Pro)

This list is expected to grow as public beta testing continues, with more handsets likely to be supported by the time that the T-Mobile Starlink service rolls out for general usage in July. Whether older Apple smartphones, such as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, will be included isn’t clear.

Starlink Mini: what is Starlink’s backpack-friendly version?

• Starlink Mini is a compact antenna kit that connects to SpaceX satellites
• The kit costs $499 / £399 / AU$599 up-front
• It’s different from T-Mobile’s Starlink service

Starlink Mini is a different way to access the internet via SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation. It’s a portable antenna kit with a built-in Wi-Fi router. It allows you connect to high-speed, low-latency satellite internet almost anywhere in the world with a clear view of the sky.

It’s different from T-Mobile’s Starlink service. With T-Mobile, users connect to Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellites using their smartphone. The satellites work like standard cell towers. With Starlink Mini, the antenna kit receives signal from SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites. It then creates a Wi-Fi network at ground level using a built-in router, which other devices can connect to.

This setup makes it more versatile than the T-Mobile service, as you can connect to the Starlink Mini’s Wi-Fi network on a range of devices, not just your smartphone. What’s more, Starlink Mini supports peak download speeds in excess of 100Mbps.

(Image credit: Starlink)

Designed to be used on the move, the backpack-friendly Starlink Mini measures 430 x 334 x 79mm and weighs 6.73kg. It ships with a kickstand and power supply, as well as a pipe adapter for pole mounting. Setup is as simple as plugging it in and pointing it at the sky. You can use the Starlink app to find optimal installation locations.

The Starlink Mini kit costs $499 / £399 / AU$599 up-front. In addition to the one-off cost of the kit itself, you’ll need take out a Starlink subscription to access roaming internet. There’s a 50GB Roam package for $50 / £50 / AU$80 per month.

Alternatively, you can get the Roam Unlimited package with unlimited data for a monthly cost of $165 / £96 / AU$195. Subscriptions can be paused at any time. Coverage isn’t yet global, but it is offered in more than 100 markets.

• Read our in-depth Starlink review

Subaru Starlink: what is it?

• Subaru Starlink is a suite of connected in-car services
• It is completely separate form SpaceX’s Starlink system
• It relies on standard cellular connectivity, not satellites

Despite its name, Subaru Starlink has nothing to do with SpaceX satellites. Subaru Starlink is a package of connected in-car services available on most new Subaru vehicles. It includes a suite of safety, security and remote access features, such as automatic collision notifications, enhanced roadside assistance and remote ignition.

In-car connectivity is via standard cellular networks, rather than satellites. If you’re outside of cell tower range, your vehicle won’t be able to access Subaru Starlink services.

Most supported Subaru vehicles come with a complimentary three-year trial of the system, after which it’s available for an additional fee. There’s no longer a standalone Starlink app, as the features have been rolled into the MySubaru app. The features available vary from model to model.

(Image credit: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Starlink price: what’s the monthly cost for Starlink?

• T-Mobile’s Starlink service starts at $15 per month for T-Mobile customers
• Users of other carriers will be able to use T-Mobile Starlink for $20 a month
• A Starlink Mini Roam subscription starts at $50 / £50 / AU$80 per month

The cost of Starlink depends on how you access it. Once T-Mobile Starlink rolls out to the general public in the US in July, it will be available to T-Mobile customers as an add-on for $15 a month. Users who take out a subscription during the public beta will be entitled to an Early Adopter Discount, bringing the price down to $10 a month.

Customers of other wireless carriers will be able to access T-Mobile’s direct-to-cell service for $20 a month. There is no up-front cost, but they will need an unlocked smartphone with a spare eSIM slot.

Alternatively, you can access satellite internet with a direct subscription to Starlink. Rather than using a smartphone, you will need to purchase a Starlink antenna kit, then take out a monthly data subscription.

The cheapest kit is the portable Starlink Mini (see above) which costs $499 / £399 / AU$599 up-front. The 50GB Roam package costs $50 / £50 / AU$80 per month, while Roam Unlimited is priced at $165 / £96 / AU$19 per month.

If you want a more permanent solution, the Starlink Standard kit costs $249 / £299 / AU$549. Residential service costs at $120 / £75 / AU$139 per month for unlimited data.

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• Everything you need to know about SpaceX's Starlink and 'space internet'
• SpaceX launches first Starlink satellites for direct-to-cell coverage
• Starlink's new cellular service lets you stay connected even off the grid

The injury-hit Gunners travel to the King Power Stadium to face the relegation-threatened Foxes.

In a ceremony surrounded by masked Palestinian militants and rubble from the Gaza war, Hamas released three Israeli hostages holding U.S., Russian and Argentinian citizenships on Saturday.

(Image credit: Bashar Taleb)

• Chromium browsers can turn a PDF into a working Linux environment under emulation
• Chrome's disabled JIT compiler hampers performance
• High school-aged developer has form for impressive PDF projects, such as running Doom inside one

A high-school student has achieved another coding feat, getting a lightweight Linux distribution to run inside a PDF document.

Ading2210 developed LinuxPDF for Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers by leveraging a version of TinyEMU, a RISC-V emulator, that has been modified to run inside a PDF.

Unlike traditional virtual machines, this emulator operates entirely within Chrome’s PDF viewer by utilizing an older version of Emscripten that compiles to asm.js instead of WebAssembly.

How LinuxPDF works

When a user opens the file and agrees to "Start Emulator," the embedded code loads, launching a minimal Linux environment. The interface consists of a text-based Linux viewport with a soft keyboard made of interactive PDF buttons. Users with a physical keyboard can enter commands in a designated input field.

Despite its ingenuity, LinuxPDF is far from practical for regular use. According to Ading2210, boots takes between 30 and 60 seconds.

This sluggish performance is thanks to Chrome’s disabled Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler, a move which bolsters security but prevents optimizations that could speed up code execution. As a result, LinuxPDF remains more of a technical experiment than a functional operating system.

Those interested in testing LinuxPDF can open it in a Chromium-based browser like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Developers can also explore or modify the source code which is freely available on GitHub.

Via TomsHardware

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• Intel slams Nvidia and AMD, claims chip giants have huge numbers of security flaws

In case you’ve missed it, we’re here with our catch-up of the week’s biggest tech news so you can get up to speed in a flash.

This week we saw a major PlayStation Network (PSN) outage, tried the world’s thinnest foldable, and were treated to a new Apple product teaser – with the launch set for Wednesday next week. All that and more are explained below.

Once you’ve caught up on the news of the week check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream and more this weekend (February 14) – and the latest episode of the TechRadar podcast which is all about gaming.

1. We got ready to meet the newest member of the Apple family

(Image credit: Apple / Future)

Tim Cook has teased a brand new Apple device with a post telling us to “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family” on February 19.

There’s no indication what this new device will be – our best bet is it’s the much-rumored iPhone SE fourth-generation, but it could also be a new Mac, a second-generation AirTag, a new iPad or something entirely different.

The only other clue is the image we shared above, which shows the Apple logo in front of some kind of circle – though it’s not given us much help in terms of guessing what’s being launched, so we’ll just have to tune in on Wednesday to see what Apple showcases.

• Read more: Tim Cook says we'll meet the newest member of the Apple family on February 19

2. PlayStation Network crashed

(Image credit: Sony)

If you tried to access PSN last weekend then you likely had some trouble, as from around 6pm ET on Friday (February 7) until 6:58pm ET on Saturday (February 8) the service was completely down.

Gamers were locked out from accessing online features for their games – including many Monster Hunter Wilds beta players who were unable to even download the client if they hadn’t installed it already. If your game of choice was an online-only title it was completely inaccessible.

By way of an apology, Sony has said all PlayStation Plus members will automatically receive an additional 5 days of service and blamed the outage on "an operational issue." Regardless, many PS5 gamers are still disappointed. For more detail here's our full report on the 5-day PS Plus extension and the reaction to it.

• Read more: Sony finally explains massive PSN outage and details compensation

3. State of Play gave us a reason to love PlayStation again

(Image credit: Sony)

The latest State of Play was broadcast on February 12, blasting us with a veritable barrage of upcoming PlayStation 5 releases. One of the biggest highlights was the reveal of Tides of Annihilation, a frantic hack and slash game set in a beautiful post-apocalyptic London ravaged by fantasy creatures inspired by Arthurian legend. We also finally got release dates for the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Borderlands 4, which are arriving on August 28 and September 23 respectively.

On top of this we got confirmation of a new Stellar Blade DLC, which will add a selection of rather skimpy outfits for protagonist Eve inspired by the Goddess of Victory: Nikke mobile game. This was on top of loads of cool looking smaller titles, like the frantic shooter Metal Eden - which we had the chance to try ahead of the stream.

Easily the most controversial news, however, was the announcement of Days Gone Remastered. This PS5 port of the 2019 PS4 zombie game, which is already fully playable on Sony’s latest console thanks to backwards compatibility, upgrades its visuals and adds some new modes. Fans are divided on whether it is worthwhile, with some wishing that the resources of developer Bend Studio were directed towards new titles, rather than upgraded versions of things that we’ve already played.

• Read more: Everything announced at Sony’s State of Play

4. The Powerbeats Pro 2 landed, and they’re great

(Image credit: Beats)

This week Apple finally unveiled the new hotly-anticipated Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones from Beats, and we've been hands-on in the gym to find out how they stack up as workout headphones.

The new model brings an excellent new design that's more secure and comfortable than ever before. The audio is solid, as is the noise-cancelling, and the battery life is better than ever with up to 10 hours of playtime.

In our hands-on, we really enjoyed using them for working out, but can't quite wrap our heads around the new heart rate monitoring feature. It's very cool and impressive technology, but Apple has confirmed to us that for both iPhone and Android users, a smartwatch with heart rate data will take priority. As such, there's not really any appeal here for people who already own a smartwatch.

They're still excellent workout headphones, and we're excited to see the HRM feature on AirPods later this year, but the way the feature works right now is a bit of a head-scratcher.

• Read more: The Powerbeats Pro 2 are my new favorite workout headphones

5. We tried the world’s thinnest foldable

(Image credit: Future)

Oppo has officially revealed the Find N5, the world’s new thinnest book-style folding phone. Though most details are still under wraps, Oppo has shared that the phone is just 8.93mm when folded – barely thicker than an iPhone 16 Pro Max – and weighs in at 229g, which is actually five grams lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. We’re expecting further details of this futuristic foldable when it launches in global markets on February 20.

At a recent hands-on event, TechRadar’s Mobile Computing Staff Writer Jamie Richards got to grips with the Oppo Find N5, finding it to be a clear winner over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in terms of ergonomics. The latest rumors point to a folded thickness of 4.2mm, which would make the phone slimmer than any folding device bar the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT. We’ll have the latest details as they arrive, so be sure to keep up with our phones coverage.

• Read more: The world’s thinnest foldable makes the Galaxy Z Fold 6 look massive

6. Garmin Tactix 8 just launched

(Image credit: Garmin)

We've been treated to a few new Garmins in recent weeks but none is more eye-catching than the all-new Garmin tactix 8.

Designed with military application in mind, the tactix 8 is a formidable, rugged watch with a 47mm or 51mm AMOLED display. There are also solar options, and onboard you get an Applied Ballistics solver to help you with long-range rifle shooting. Its essentially a golf watch for gun users.

You also get Garmin's usual suite of industry-leading health tracking features, including support for rucking, a trendy new fitness craze that involves walking around with a weighted backpack on.

Prices start at $1,299/£1,189/AU$$2,299. With military-grade durability, advanced GPS, a kill switch, and night vision compatibility, this is not a Garmin to help you tackle your next Park Run.

• Read more: This might be the most formidable Garmin ever

7. Captain America 4 was too afraid to take off

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The first Marvel movie of 2025 is here – but, truth be told, it’s not very good. Captain America: Brave New World has spread its wings and flown into theaters, but Sam Wilson’s first big-screen outing as the titular hero isn’t as great as we’d hoped. You can learn more about why that’s the case in senior entertainment reporter Tom Power’s Captain America: Brave New World review. Rather than spend your money on a ticket to see it at your local theater, then, you might want to wait for Captain America 4 to make its yet-to-be-announced streaming debut on Disney Plus instead.

• Read more: The first Marvel movie of 2025 is the titular hero’s worst solo film so far

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 15.

The limited selection of high-speed broadband in Boise can make picking the best option tough. CNET's experts help you cut through the noise.

During Valentine's Day weekend, northern parts of America, including Maine, may have a chance of seeing an aurora. But space weather scientists warn that the chances of this happening are slim.

(Image credit: Michael Seamans)

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has frozen efforts to aid states in securing elections, according to an internal memo viewed by WIRED.

There are some unbelievably great, if abbreviated, films to watch on YouTube Shorts. A lot of them may soon be more literally unbelievable thanks to Google's AI video creation model Veo 2. YouTube has released Veo 2 to the Shorts platform, augmenting YouTube's Dream Screen AI tool and letting you produce AI-fueled flicks based on a text prompt.

Dream Screen has been using the original version of Veo to produce video backgrounds out of text prompts for Shorts since last year. Veo 2 ups the ante significantly by also making the characters and objects for the video along with the background. The upgrade also makes Dream Screen faster, better at understanding text prompts, and able to produce much more realistic results. The videos mimic real-world physics, and the characters move as realistically (or cartoonishly) as you might want.

You can try out the enhanced Dream Screen by opening the Shorts camera, selecting Green Screen, and typing in what you want to see. You can even add an AI-generated clip to an existing Short by tapping "Add," then "Create," then typing up the prompt. Veo 2 takes over, and within seconds, your giant Pomeranian ballerina is ready to perform.

AI visions

The upgrade to Dream Screen raises many questions and possible concerns. Will AI-generated content flood YouTube Shorts, making it harder to tell what’s real and what’s not? What will creativity look like when the barriers to high-quality visuals disappear? Will we simply get stuck in a loop of AI-generated influencers making AI-generated content for an audience of AI-powered recommendation algorithms?

Google does seem to get that hyper-realistic AI videos made in a few seconds might have some potential pitfalls. That's why YouTube is attaching a SynthID watermark and a label indicating the AI origins of any Dream Screen-produced video. How well these transparency and tracking attempts perform remains to be seen, but at least there's something.

The new feature is only coming to the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for now, but others are in the pipeline, with more countries on the way. If you’re a YouTube content creator, this may be a huge boon, especially if the only thing standing between your video and viral fame is a slightly more perfect shot, better stock footage, or something truly outlandish. If you don't have an idea, you can always toss around ideas with YouTube's Brainstorm with Gemini tool.

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The ruling from a federal court in Washington, D.C., is a reprieve for CFPB staff who had been bracing for mass layoffs as early as Friday.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb)

The National Nuclear Security Administration is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the U.S. stockpile of thousands of nuclear weapons. Officials were given hours to fire hundreds of employees.

In the theater, home, headphones and now cars, Dolby Atmos is everywhere. Here's how it works in the Rivian R1S.

As federal layoffs mount, sources say the Trump administration plans a 50% staffing cut at the federal housing agency. The moves come amid an affordable housing shortage and record high homelessness.

(Image credit: Alastair Pike)

• Talon is a debloating tool designed for those who aren’t tech-savvy
• It does everything for you in running a fully automated debloat of Windows
• Bear in mind that third-party apps are used at your own risk, though the developer of Talon seems commendably transparent

Fed up with Windows 11’s bits of additional bloat, meaning all those unwanted bits of software and other elements that you’ll never use, clogging up the system?

You might not know where to start to do anything about fixing this, which is where a new utility comes in, allowing for a very easy method of debloating Windows 11 with a minimum of fuss required.

As TweakTown flagged up, this is Talon, a software tool developed by Raven with the aim of being an automated full debloat of Microsoft’s operating system that’s suitable for even novice computer users.

The promise is just two clicks – to choose the type of debloat you want and a dialog box to accept the changes being made to your PC – and you’re done. Well, you have to wait some time for the actual process to happen, but it’s all performed automatically, there’s no brain-ache or puzzling over options involved.

A barebones debloat is what many folks will run – just a straightforward stripping out of all the crud from Windows 11 – but other options can then add some (hopefully) useful apps back for you. For example, choosing ‘Gaming’ as the use of your PC will run the debloat and then install the likes of Discord and Steam.

You can find out more about Talon by watching the YouTube video below, and you can download the utility here (but have a quick read of my analysis underneath the video clip before you do so).

Analysis: An easy way to banish the bloat – but is it a sensible one?

I’ve got to say, I really like the philosophy of Talon, which is to take all the hassle out of debloating.

As Raven points out in the above video, a typical debloating tool will be a maze of check boxes and submenus, and it might even involve entering PowerShell commands. Tasks that less tech-savvy Windows 11 users will doubtless find difficult or even arcane.

So, taking all the pain out of that is a commendable goal. What Talon is really doing is bundling a bunch of these trickier utilities in a user-friendly, automated package. (For the curious, the tools drafted in under the bonnet of Talon include ChrisTitusTech’s WinUtil and Raphi’s Win11Debloat, which are the main engines of what’s happening here).

However, with any third-party app, you must be cautious. Ultimately, whether you want to install any piece of software is a decision that you must take yourself, especially when it comes to lesser-known developers.

However, Talon appears to be laudably transparent in the interview given to TweakTown, and one definite positive is that the code for the tool is open source and can be viewed and checked by anyone. (So, if there are flaws or anything amiss, hopefully they’ll be shouted about).

The developer Raven freely admits that as Talon relies on some third-party software, as mentioned, any vulnerabilities in those would also apply to the app itself (obviously).

I’ll leave the final words to the developer, as quoted from the TweakTown interview: “While it is possible for a supply chain attack to occur, where one of these [third-party] utilities gets compromised then Talon is inherently compromised as a result, they are very popular utilities with lots of eyes on their code, and with extremely talented and trusted maintainers."

“The rest of Talon is done through homemade scripts that we maintain. At the end of the day, the possibility of malware injection, a supply chain attack, or whatever else, is there for any software, no matter the size of the team or the popularity of a project. We will do our best to ensure that this day never comes, though, and if it does we will address it as fast as possible to ensure minimal impact.”

For those who aren’t convinced or would rather DIY the task of streamlining their operating system, make sure you check out TechRadar’s guide on how to find and remove bloatware from your Windows 11 PC.

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I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who uses to-do lists, but I often find that even if I make one, I'll forget to check up on it. Online calendars and other tools help, but that still requires me to write all of them down. If I want to pursue a more complicated or long-term project, then I need to break it down into smaller bits and come up with a schedule that will carry me to that goal. Things would inevitably slip through the cracks. One moment, I’d be confidently running errands, and the next, I’d realize I forgot the one ingredient, or I'd realize I'd left my toothbrush on the other side of the country.

So, I was intrigued when OpenAI debuted the Tasks feature for ChatGPT. Tasks are designed to help you build and manage those to-do lists by automating their creation and maintenance. What sets Tasks apart is that the feature can break down big projects into manageable steps while keeping everything in one organized system. Unlike my usual method of jotting down random reminders and hoping I remember to check them, Tasks ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

ChatGPT Tasks will remind you about upcoming deadlines, suggest next steps based on ongoing projects, and even learn from your planning habits to refine future recommendations. Instead of writing a static checklist, Tasks makes ChatGPT more of a proactive assistant. I've been using it a lot of late, and, to my surprise, I've been far more on top of what I have to do than ever before.

If you want to use the Tasks feature, subscribe to ChatGPT Plus or a higher tier of access, as it's still in beta. If you are subscribed, you'll find "GPT-4o with scheduled tasks" among the model options. You can then tell ChatGPT to set up a Task for whatever you want, including setting up an alert time and day. You can have it be a one-off or a recurring reminder, and you'll see it pop up on the mobile app or on a desktop or web client if you have ChatGPT open.

You also don't need to be too concrete. The AI is flexible enough that you can describe a broad goal or achievement you want to pursue and ask ChatGPT to set up appropriate Tasks and reminder schedules. The AI will do its best to break down the plan into smaller segments. You can see all of the Tasks and edit them, delete them, or pause the automated alert at any time on the ChatGPT Tasks page.

Music maestro

(Image credit: Screenshots of ChatGPT)

I’ve had a guitar for many years and I can 'play' as long as the song only needs about six chords and isn't too fast. I always tell myself I’ll buckle down and really get good at it, but distractions and vague practice plans have made the guitar case a long-time source of guilt.

But when I asked ChatGPT to use its Tasks feature to help me come up with a plan to get good at guitar over the next year, it more than delivered. ChatGPT set up recurring reminders for daily practice, breaking them down into different types of practice, and really laid out an achievable schedule of skill-building and song practice. I didn’t have to think about what to work on each day when Tasks already mapped it out for me.

Plus, it used context to come up with ideas I hadn't considered, such as finger-strengthening exercises and making recordings to show me how I've improved. I'm not Eric Clapton yet, and there are still days I haven’t felt like practicing, but the reminders keep nudging me forward. It even started recommending new songs that matched my skill level, keeping me engaged.

Party planning

(Image credit: Screenshots of ChatGPT)

I love the idea of hosting dinner parties, but I'm honest enough to admit they would be chaotic and possibly require takeout were it not for my wife's skills. But, if I want to show I can handle anything approaching her level of sophisticated hospitality, I can't have any last-minute realizations that I forgot to turn on the oven or added almonds to a dish about to be eaten by a guest who's allergic. I asked ChatGPT to use Tasks to help me and gave it a two-month lead time.

The image above only shows about half of the list it made for me in a helpful timeline. Everything is in much more manageable chunks, from sending invitations, planning the menu, shopping, prepping ingredients, and setting up decorations. The automated reminders have been a boon and they connect to the next Task in a way that I find very helpful.

ChatGPT took the initiative on plenty of the list, too, prompting me to double-check food allergies, which, as I said, I might have completely overlooked. The Tasks even threw in a reminder to test my Bluetooth speakers beforehand, ensuring I didn't have to deal with connection issues while guests were arriving.

Baby's day out

(Image credit: Screenshots of ChatGPT)

I love my son to pieces, but stepping out the door with him is an adventure, especially when it's just the two of us, and he has discovered how to unbuckle his stroller seatbelt. He's pretty laid back, but I still want to make sure he has plenty to eat and isn't kept from napping when he wants. And his messes wait for no man.

Using Tasks, I asked ChatGPT to give me a Mary Poppins plan, or at least suggestions on organizing a day out, and that's just what it did. Ahead of our day out for this experiment, the AI would remind me to make sure I did things like pack his diaper bag. The packing checklist wasn't just generic; the AI customized it based on a few details about my son. On the day itself, it helped me structure the meals, the rest times, and how to work them around our plans for a long walk in the woods.

Tasks couldn’t prevent my son from throwing his sippy cup onto the forest floor a million times or keep him from being upset about having to go home, but it did make sure I was as prepared as possible without having to run through everything in my own mind over and over. I felt like I had things under control, as much as that means anything with a one-year-old.

Taskmaster

ChatGPT is not radically remaking my entire life, Tasks or not, it isn't magically turning me into Emily Post at a party, George Harrison on guitar, or Bluey's dad Bandit on my day out with my child. That said, it makes pursuing all those goals feel less haphazard and teetering on failure. Instead of juggling sticky notes and reminder alarms on my phone, I have a clear, structured system that helps me stay ahead without feeling overwhelmed.

The flexibility of the Tasks feature is the most remarkable aspect. What really makes Tasks stand out is how adaptive it is. Spotting what you've missed and suggesting where to go next in your plans is a real boon when you've got a lot on your plate. It's not going to solve all of my problems, and there are times when you just have to wing it, and Tasks would be no help. Luckily, I asked it to lay out a plan for me to be better at thinking on my feet, and in six months, I'll be ready to be successfully spontaneous.

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