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How to Watch Real Madrid vs. Juventus From Anywhere for Free: Stream FIFA Club World Cup Soccer

CNET News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 13:00
European giants battle it out in Florida for a place in the quarterfinals.
Categories: Technology

The White House took down the nation's top climate report. You can still find it here

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:53

The National Climate Assessment is the most influential source of information about climate change in the United States.

(Image credit: Ethan Swope)

Categories: News

Waffle House drops egg surcharge as prices fall back to Earth

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:48

Waffle House has dropped its 50 cent surcharge on eggs as supplies rebound. The chain added the temporary charge in February, when avian flu sent egg prices to record highs.

(Image credit: Brandon Bell)

Categories: News

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dies at age 90

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:47

Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most well-known televangelists of the 1980s, has died, according to a social media post from his ministry.

(Image credit: Mark Avery)

Categories: News

A 12-inch MacBook is the only affordable Mac I want from Apple

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:44

Rumors that Apple might make an affordable, multi-colored MacBook based on the A18 Pro chip sparked considerable excitement and ignited a hope in me and others that it could mark the return of the 12-inch MacBook.

Unveiled a decade ago, the gold-finished 2-lb, full-sized keyboard-sporting MacBook was, for its time, an engineering marvel. Apple arguably rewrote its laptop playbook to create the system.

Shortly after launch, I spoke to the marketing head Phil Schiller and Apple's Mac and iPad lead (and now Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering) John Ternus about all Apple did to make the portable wonder.

The pair spread out before me things like a multi-tiered battery and something called the "speaktenna", which was basically a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas and a speaker system.

"We ended up with a group of antenna engineers who know more about speakers than any other antenna engineers and a group of speaker engineers who knew more about antenna design than just about anyone else in the world," Ternus told me.

There was a passion around the product that rivaled that of the Apple Watch, which launched alongside it.

The 12-inch MacBook was also a bit of an odd duck. It was lighter than a MacBook Air, but it was not an Air. It didn't have the same number of ports. In fact, there was just one USB-C port running at USB 3.1 speeds (pokey compared to the Thunderbolt 4 ones you find on today's MacBook airs). Oh, and did I mention that the port handled charging duties, too?

Encrusted with components on both sides, the 12-inch MacBook's motherboard was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. Everything about the MacBook's components was built in support of its enviable proportions.

At its thickest part, it was, at 0.35cm, thinner than the current MacBook Air. I love the current 13-inch MacBook Air (M4), but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't enjoy carrying around an even lighter, thinner, and smaller cousin.

It's fair, though, to ask why the market needs such a system now.

First, let's imagine what the MacBook 12-inch 2026 might be. It would have:

  • An A18 Pro CPU
  • 13-inch LED-backlit Retina display
  • 16 GB of memory to support Apple Intelligence
  • 128 GB of on-board storage
  • 30GB of free iCloud storage
  • A fanless design
  • A MagSafe Charge port
  • A USB-C style Thunderbolt 3 port
  • Recycled aluminum enclosure
  • A full-sized magic keyboard including Touch ID
  • A 4-inch Force Touch Trackpad

Design-wise, the 12-inch MacBook A18 Pro would align closely with the MacBook Air line. No more wedge, instead two flat panels squeezed together into a 0.35cm-thick slab.

Granted that everything above is guesswork, but I believe that configuration would fit neatly into a $599 package (maybe even a $499 one).

Nothing here is new, and the A18 Pro is plenty powerful and efficient to run such a system.

The benefit, obviously, is an affordable, yet nearly full-sized portable that is a complete system. I am well aware you can buy an M4 Mac Mini for $599, but you still need to buy a mouse, keyboard, and screen. This, by contrast, would be the full Apple MacBook package at, finally, an affordable price.

You might have also noticed the rather paltry base storage. That's to help keep costs down. It's buttressed, though, by something Apple desperately needs to do: offer more versatile and forgiving iCloud storage options.

The usual 5GB of free storage is not enough, and I think the extra 30GB will offset the limited local storage, moving those who are on the fence about the 12-inch MacBook into the must-buy territory.

Give them what they want

If Apple balks at reintroducing the confusing "MacBook" name, especially when it's smaller and lighter than the MacBook Air, they could call it the MacBook Air LT (for light) or MacBook Air A (for its A-series chip).

One need only look at Walmart for evidence that consumers want such a system. It's been selling the old-school design MacBook Air M1 for $699 and now $649 for years. People are desperate for a truly affordable Mac, but they are probably tired of the growing performance compromises tied to the aging M1 chip.

The A18 Pro will sing in a tiny 12-inch laptop, and the system's incredibly small proportions will make it a hit with those who thought they might go for a lightweight iPad with a Magic Keyboard Folio, mainly because they thought it wouldn't weigh down their backpack.

Apple has learned, thanks to Apple Silicon, so much about building lightweight and performant systems that it makes sense to extend the MacBook idea in new and maybe unexpected directions.

A revived 12-inch MacBook would sell like hotcakes and pave the way for more fresh ideas, like a 12-inch MacBook Air running an M3 chip. That one could sell for $699.

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Categories: Technology

I went hands-on with the Nothing Phone 3, and it might just be the most interesting phone of the year – here's why

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:42

Are modern smartphone designs boring? We polled 1,500 readers for their thoughts on that very question earlier this year, and a whopping 78% of respondents answered in the affirmative.

The smartphone industry was once awash with weird and wonderful devices (remember the LG Wing?), but these days, manufacturers are – quite literally – much more straight-edged in their approach to design.

The exception to the rule is Nothing, which has stuck by its mission to “make tech fun again” since being founded by former OnePlus chief Carl Pei in 2021. Nothing phones are designed to stand out from the crowd, and the company’s latest handset, the long-awaited Nothing Phone 3, fulfils that brief and then some.

Nothing’s “first true flagship” is a truly weird-looking thing. Imagine if a kindergartner took an old-school sliding block puzzle game, dipped it in PVA glue, and accessorized it with three black sewing buttons. That’s the Nothing Phone 3. It’s an outlandish creation with specs to rival some of the best phones – and I think it could be the most interesting flagship launch of the year.

So, what’s new versus the well-received (but decidedly un-flagship) Nothing Phone 2? For starters, linear Glyph lights are out, and a new Glyph Matrix interface is in.

This interactive screen sits in the top-right corner of the Phone 3’s 6.67-inch rear panel and is capable of displaying several different types of content – from person-specific notifications to ‘Glyph Toys’ (read: party games) like Spin the Bottle and Rock, Paper, Scissors. Heck, Glyph Matrix can even double as a pixelated viewfinder for selfies, which is a nice retro touch for those who miss the Game Boy Camera.

Image 1 of 3

The new Glyph Matrix interface on the Nothing Phone 3 (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

The Magic 8 Ball Glyph Toy (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

The Magic 8 Ball Glyph Toy (Image credit: Future)

As for other big design changes, the Phone 3 still has that classic modular Nothing look. But its camera lenses sit independently of a physical module, rather than being positioned in a circular or pill-shaped casing, as on the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, respectively.

I can see this new lens arrangement being the most controversial aspect of the Phone 3’s design, but I’m personally a big fan of the abstract, asymmetrical vibe it brings to the device as a whole. Previous Nothing phones looked unique, sure, but not to this extent.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of cameras, there’s a brand new one. The Phone 3 gets a 50-megapixel main lens, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and an all-new 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Of course, we can’t yet say how good these cameras are without having tested them properly (stay tuned for our full review), but on paper, at least, they’re flagship-level snappers.

You’ll also get a 50MP selfie camera on the front, which marks a step up from the 32MP equivalent on the Nothing Phone 2. Oh, and the little red dot on the back of the Phone 3? That’ll light up when you’re recording with any one of its three rear cameras.

The Nothing Phone 3 running Nothing OS 3.5 atop Android 15 (Image credit: Future)

Under the hood, the Phone 3 is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. I’ve already written about why I don’t think the lack of a Snapdragon 8 Elite is a big deal in a separate piece, but we won’t know for sure until we’ve benchmarked the Phone 3 against similarly priced rivals.

Nothing, for its part, is confident in the performance credentials of its “first true flagship,” and having had a quick play with the Phone 3 at its London launch event, I’m convinced that the 8s Gen 4 will be speedy enough to support the software demands of Nothing OS 3.5 (and, eventually, Nothing OS 4.0).

The Phone 3’s chipset is paired with a 5,150mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is a technology you still won’t find in many of the best Android phones. You’ll get 65W fast charging, too – another notable upgrade over the Phone 2’s 45W charging speed cap.

Other features of Nothing’s newest flagship include an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, Corning Gorilla Glass protection, and a new Essential Search function to go alongside the physical Essential Key, which was introduced on the Phone 3a Pro.

Again, I only handled the phone for a few minutes at Nothing’s launch event, so I haven’t yet taken these new tools for a proper spin. But the bottom line is this: the Phone 3 is unlike any other device on the market right now, and I sincerely hope that its performance lives up to Nothing’s “flagship” billing. If the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 can compete with Google’s Tensor G5, at the very least, then the Phone 3 could well be the most interesting phone of the year.

The device starts at $799 / £799 for the model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with that price rising to $899 / £899 for 16GB and 512GB, respectively. Those figures put the Phone 3 in league with the iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S25, and Google Pixel 9, so stay tuned for our verdict on whether Nothing’s latest phone can compete with such big-name rivals.

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Categories: Technology

This popular Windows software used by millions has a serious security vulnerability - here's what you need to know

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:33
  • WinRAR flaw let crafted archives drop files outside target folder, including into Windows Startup
  • New version 7.12 addresses critical path and HTML vulnerabilities
  • Windows users urged to update WinRAR for improved file safety

Iconic file archiving tool WinRAR has received a security update addressing a serious flaw that could let attackers run arbitrary code on affected systems.

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-6218, was identified in the way WinRAR handles file paths within archives.

It was discovered by a researcher known as whs3-detonator, working with Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative.

Patch now

The issue exists in Windows versions of WinRAR, where a specially crafted archive can exploit path traversal during file extraction.

If a user opens such a file or visits a malicious site, the exploit can allow files to be placed in unintended directories, including sensitive ones like the Windows Startup folder.

This could cause malicious software to run automatically when the system boots.

RARLAB, the developer of WinRAR, has released version 7.12 to address this flaw.

The vulnerability does not affect versions of RAR or UnRAR for Unix or Android. Users are urged to update as soon as possible to reduce the risk of exploitation.

To stay protected from threats like this, it’s important to use the best antivirus software, reliable malware removal tools, and strong endpoint protection. Even well-known tools can have flaws, so running trusted security software and keeping all apps current helps reduce the risk of malware slipping through unnoticed.

The new WinRAR update also fixes an unrelated issue involving the “Generate Report” feature. In older versions, file names in generated HTML reports weren’t sanitized properly, which allowed basic HTML injection. That has now been corrected.

In addition to the security fixes, WinRAR 7.12 now tests recovery volumes during archive testing, giving users better confirmation that backup files are intact. It also preserves precise nanosecond timestamps when modifying Unix files on Windows.

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Categories: Technology

I Love the Look of the Nothing Phone 3

CNET News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:30
Now I've had the Nothing Phone 3 in my hands, I quite like its unusual design.
Categories: Technology

I Finally Tried the Nothing Phone 3 and There's a Lot I Like

CNET News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:30
From the quirky design to the more affordable price tag, the Nothing Phone 3 has plenty to be excited about.
Categories: Technology

Nothing Headphone (1) Review: An Eye-Catching Design Backed by Strong Performance

CNET News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:30
While I have a few quibbles with Nothing's first over-ear noise-canceling headphones, I was more impressed with them than I expected to be.
Categories: Technology

Nothing Just Killed Its Phone's Flashy Glyph Interface. I Think the Replacement Is Better

CNET News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:30
The Nothing Phone 3 is here, and with it, the Glyph Matrix. Here's why Nothing's reinvention of its most bold design feature is a winner.
Categories: Technology

Nothing's first noise-cancelling headphones are official, they're crammed with features, and they look wild

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:30
  • Nothing Headphone (1) have noise cancellation, Transparency and Spatial Audio
  • Hi-Res Audio, LDAC and USB-C lossless audio, with tuning by KEF
  • Priced at $299 / £299, launching on July 15th

It's official: the striking Nothing Headphone (1) have launched, and they look like no other headphones thanks to a very unusual and somewhat retro-futuristic design.

There's substance to match the style. Developed in association with audio legend KEF, the Headphone (1) are the most premium headphones Nothing has made so far, by a long way. Nothing promises great sound, and a huge range of smart features.

We've already spent a few weeks testing the headphones, and you can read our full Nothing Headphone (1) review – but if you just want to find out more, here's what you need to know.

@techradar

♬ shine on - choppy.wav Nothing Headphone (1): pricing and availability

Headphone (1) will be available in black and white for £299 / $299 / €299 (about AU$625). Global pre-orders begin 4 July 2025 at nothing.tech and select partners, with widespread availability starting from 15 July 2025.

They're available in 'black' and 'white' colors, which are really 'dark gray' and 'silver'.

(Image credit: Nothing)Nothing Headphone (1): design

"We wanted to create something radically different," Nothing CEO Carl Pei said at a lauch event in London. He showed a series of images of competitor headphones, and said that Nothing specifically wanted Nothing Headphone (1) to stand right out, and that's definitely true.

There are some bold choices here, as you can see from the images. But it's not just in the headphones' looks: Nothing has deliberately moved away from touch controls to good old-fashioned tactile buttons and a roller for a more precise way to navigate media, adjust the volume and switch ANC modes.

The key control in the app is the Button, a customizable control that can activate Nothing's Channel Hop feature. This cycles between recent audio apps, or playlists, or favorite functions without having to dig through menus and screens.

It can also be configured to trigger voice commands, launch News Reporter, or open the Essential Space, which is an AI-powered place to store voice notes, reminders and "fleeting thoughts". Or you can just set it to trigger other functions of the headphones, if you prefer.

The earpads are made with leather ear cushions designed to mould naturally to the shape of your head, reducing pressure and providing a comfortable fit for all-day wear.

(Image credit: Nothing)Nothing Headphone (1): key features

The drivers are 40mm custom dynamic drivers promising deep bass, detailed mids and crisp treble, and the headphones come with hybrid ANC, a Transparency mode, and spatial audio with head tracking.

There's a 3.5mm jack for wired listening as well as USB-C for lossless hi-res, and the headphones also support LDAC for high quality wireless audio.

The active noise cancellation system has dual feed-forward and feedback microphones, and there's a four-mic system supported by AI and trained on more than 28 million noise scenarioes to deliver clear voice calls.

Listening time is promised as being up to 35 hours with ANC on, and a five-minute fast charge will deliver 2.4 hours of ANC-enabled playback. Bluetooth is 5.3 with dual device connection, Fast Pair and low latency mode.

The app provides an eight-band customizable EQ, a separate Bass Enhancer feature, the ability to choose how much noice cancellation you want, control of the spatial audio, and the ability to turn on the multi-point Bluetooth support and wear detection, so they'll pause when you take them off, and resume when you put them back on.

Will they challenge the best noise-cancelling headphones? Well, if you already took a look at our Nothing Headphone (1) review, you'll know the answer – take a full read to see if they're a good fit for you.

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Categories: Technology

I Helped 4 Local Businesses Use Adobe Express' AI Features

CNET News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:14
Commentary: I'm a tech creator and wanted to practice explaining the new tools. Here were some of the results.
Categories: Technology

This window-cleaning robot is a miracle-worker, and if it's on sale for Prime Day you should grab one ASAP

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 12:00

Amazon Prime Day is fast approaching, with deals starting July 8 and ending July 11. Here at TechRadar, we'll be rounding up all the best offers on laptops, TVs, cameras, and more. However, personally, there's only one product I'm really hoping will receive a price cut: the Ecovacs WinBot W2 Pro Omni robot window cleaner.

I've been lucky enough to test some seriously cool gadgets during my 15 years as a tech journalist, but the Winbot stands out as the one that's impressed me the most, and one I'd recommend to anyone who wants to take some of the sweat out of one of life's most tedious chores.

I had my doubts at first. Would it attach firmly enough? Could it really remove dirt, or would it just move it around? Would using it be a chore in itself? Thankfully, the Winbot proved me wrong on all counts.

The Winbot attaches to your window using suction from a powerful fan and roams around the surface using a pair of treads. It can be used on windows with frames or frameless glass panels. Once it's in place, it works by spraying the glass with cleaner (stored in a small reservoir on the machine), then scooting over your window to wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth.

The windows in my apartment were embarrassingly dirty (a result of nearby construction work and my own laziness), and presented the little bot with a genuine challenge. Incredibly, though, its 'thorough' cleaning program effectively removed every trace of grime without leaving streaks.

I think the image below speaks for itself. All I had to do was hold the bot against the glass and press a button, leave the machine to do its work, then hold the same button to detach it once it was done.

The view isn't spectacular, but you can't argue with the results (Image credit: Future)

It's very effective, and never showed any signs of losing suction – even when I tried it on my mirrors and shower doors. If it was flat and made of glass, I tried it, and it never failed.

This particular model comes with a cooler-sized case containing a high-capacity rechargeable battery, which means you can carry the bot around your home, inside and out, without needing to keep it plugged in. In the unlikely event that it does lose its grip, the cable attaching the bot to the case is reinforced and serves as a tether to prevent it falling from a height. You can also attach the base station to something sturdy using a carabiner clip for added peace of mind.

(Image credit: Future)

Maintenance is minimal, too; The only tasks that need to be done regularly are washing the removable cloth (which is why you get two) and cleaning the spherical sensor at each corner of the bot, which lets it detect if it's reached the edge of a frameless pane of glass.

You can use the Winbot by itself straight out of the box, or install the Ecovacs app, which lets you access a menu of different cleaning options, including spot cleaning, light cleaning, and thorough cleaning. There's even a manual mode so you can 'drive' the bot around the glass yourself.

The only real negative is the price. It's an excellent device, and can genuinely replace a regular window-cleaning service, but at $699.99 / AU$999 (about £500) it's a significant investment. With the right Prime Day discount, however, I think it'll be one of the smartest purchases you can make.

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Categories: Technology

New Hulu movies: the biggest films to stream in July 2025

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:58

A fresh batch of new Hulu movies is heading to the streaming platform this July, and we’ve listed everything that’s coming and when to expect it below. There’s a great selection of movies landing on Hulu in the coming weeks, from jump scares and edge-of-your-seat action to sprawling sci-fi and laugh-out-loud comedy.

Hulu is consistently one of the best streaming services to consider for movie lovers because there’s always a lot to choose from. But there’s plenty more to discover, so if you’d also like to see what's coming to Hulu this month, including TV shows and documentaries, then don’t miss our everything new on Hulu in July 2025 guide. But if it’s only the newest movies you want, you’ll find the full list below.

New Hulu movies: July 1
  • Adam (2019)
  • Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
  • Bride Wars (2009)
  • Bridesmaids (2011)
  • The Bounty Hunter (2010)
  • The Call (2013)
  • Catch and Release (2006)
  • The Comedian (2016)
  • Country Strong (2010)
  • Daddy Day Camp (2007)
  • The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  • Dear White People (2014)
  • Demolition (2015)
  • Dirty Dancing (1987)
  • Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
  • Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
  • Easy A (2010)
  • The Equalizer 3 (2023)
  • Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
  • Ford v Ferrari (2019)
  • Friends with Benefits (2011)
  • Fruitvale Station (2013)
  • Garden State (2004)
  • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
  • Home Alone (1990)
  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
  • Home Alone 3 (1997)
  • Honest Thief (2020)
  • The Internship (2013)
  • I Love You, Man (2009)
  • I Origins (2014)
  • I, Robot (2004)
  • I Saw the Light (2015)
  • King Arthur (2004)
  • Kingdom Come (2001)
  • Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
  • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
  • The Longest Yard (2005)
  • The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)
  • Mission to Mars (2000)
  • Pixels (2015)
  • The Pledge (2001)
  • Prometheus (2012)
  • Puss in Boots (2011)
  • Real Steel (2011)
  • Ruby Sparks (2012)
  • The Sandlot (1993)
  • Shanghai Knights (2003)
  • Shanghai Noon (2000)
  • Sisters (2015)
  • Sugar (2008)
  • Sunshine (2007)
  • Tammy (2014)
  • Taxi (2004)
  • Ted (2012)
  • Ted 2 (2015)
  • The Way Way Back (2013)
  • Wrath of Man (2021)
New Hulu movies: July 4
  • Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
  • The Abyss (1989)
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
  • In the Lost Lands (2023)
New Hulu movies: July 8
  • Marked Men (2023)
New Hulu movies: July 10
  • Parkland (2013)
  • Buffaloed (2019)
New Hulu movies: July 11
  • Big Momma’s House (2000)
  • Big Momma’s House 2 (2006)
  • The Hot Chick (2002)
  • Marmaduke (2010)
  • MR-9: Do or Die (2023)
  • Riff Raff (1991)
New Hulu movies: July 12
  • A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
New Hulu movies: July 13
  • Dumb Money (2023)
New Hulu movies: July 15
  • Get Away (2013)
  • SAS: Red Notice (2021)
New Hulu movies: July 17
  • The Amateur (2024)
  • Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)
New Hulu movies: July 18
  • High Rollers (2016)
New Hulu movies: July 19
  • The Assessment (2024)
New Hulu movies: July 20
  • Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017)
New Hulu movies: July 28
  • Operation Fortune (2023)
New Hulu movies: July 29
  • Memoir of a Snail (2022)

For more Hulu coverage, read our guides on the best Hulu shows, best Hulu movies, Shogun season 2, and The Bear season 4.

Categories: Technology

The Trump admin is withholding over $6 billion in education grants for schools

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:42

The federal grant funding traditionally goes out by July 1. It includes support for migrant education, after-school programs and English language learners.

(Image credit: J. David Ake)

Categories: News

Constantly dismissing notifications on your Apple Watch? You’re going to love Apple’s watchOS 26 latest gesture

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:39

Sure, watchOS 26 is bringing Apple’s Liquid Glass looks to your wrist, a ‘Workout Buddy’ to give you a vote of confidence or a nudge to hit a personal best during a workout, and a bunch of new Messages features. All that is cool, but it's one of the more basic updates has me the most jazzed, and I’ve had a chance to try it out already.

If you’re anything like me, when a barrage of Slack alerts comes through, or really any notifications that aren't super urgent, I’ll feel the buzz on my wrist and ignore it or place my other hand’s palm over the Apple Watch to dismiss them. So far that’s worked well, but Apple’s latest gesture is taking things to the next level.

‘Wrist Flick’ is precisely what it sounds like – when a notification comes through, you’ll just flick your wrist backwards to dismiss it. You can also use it to go one step back anywhere within the Apple Watch’s interface, or to close out or silence incoming calls, whether they’re cellular or FaceTime ones.

So, say you’re checking the Weather app for the forecast but need to go back, just flick your wrist twice. Once takes you back to the launcher, and another brings you back to your watch face.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

It’ll join the likes of Double Tap when it arrives with watchOS 26, which is set to arrive this fall (likely in September or October). Although it’s available in developer beta now, it'll ship with the public beta, expected this month, July 2025.

To be clear, the developer beta is very much what the name implies – it's an early version of the software and is not recommended for installation on your primary device, as you can expect bugs, slowdowns, speedups, and instability. Simply, it's not final software, but rather an early look.

In my quick demo at Apple Park in a briefing after the WWDC keynote, I quickly got the hang of using ‘Wrist Flick’, and I suspect once it arrives on your wrist, it’ll become a daily habit. It’s simply pairing something you’d expect with a gesture, making it easier to navigate the Apple Watch without needing to touch the screen or dismiss a notification or two.

You will need a relatively new Apple Watch to see ‘Wrist Flick' appear with the watchOS 26 update: it will work on the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Interestingly, there is no support for either the Apple Watch SE or the original Apple Watch Ultra, as the feature requires the S9 or S10 chip inside. For some, that could be a reason to upgrade to a newer Apple Watch.

Further features

I'm excited about 'Wrist Flick', but in Apple's eyes it's probably not one of the flagship additions for watchOS 26. There’s also ‘Workout Buddy’, which I got to see in action – this upgrade only requires the Apple Watch to be paired with an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone.

In a demo, I saw the AI-powered trainer speak in a style similar to some of the best Fitness+ Trainers (shout out to Jessica Skye), who were used to train the model. They interject at key moments during the workout: at the beginning to set the stage, in the middle at various milestones, and at the end.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The feature is there to provide a nudge at times, but more so a dose of encouragement. The trainer I heard was very peppy; she knew the day and time, noting we were going for a Monday evening workout, and at the end told me I brought it all the way home. It's a nice upgrade, which, for me, I think will get me working out more.

There’s also the Liquid Glass interface and smart hints – subtle icons that’ll appear on the bottom of your watch face or at the top of the interface, suggesting actions. So if you’re using the camera app on your iPhone, a notification on your wrist might remind you that you can control the shutter that way.

It all comes together for a pretty compelling software upgrade for Apple’s chief wearable, but I think you’ll find Wrist Flick to be a standout. And if you’re keen to have an Apple Watch capable of this feature, thanks to Amazon Prime Day 2025 on the horizon, there’s a deal to be had: the Apple Watch Series 10 is back down to the lowest price we’ve seen.

The top-selling Apple Watch Series 10 is currently down to a record-low price of $299. This smartwatch features upgrades such as Apple's new S10 chipset, sleep apnea detection, a depth gauge, and a new design with the most advanced display. View Deal

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Categories: Technology

The Running Man trailer puts Glen Powell in Arnie's shoes as Stephen King's dystopian thriller gets high-octane remake from Edgar Wright

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:33

What if reality TV made a show that combined Squid Game with The Hunger Games to bloodthirsty effect? That's the premise of The Running Man, which is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name and focuses on America's most popular and most deadly TV show.

If that sounds like a certain Korean drama, The Running Man got there decades earlier – the book was published in 1982 and the first movie version, starring a spandex-clad Arnold Schwarzenegger, came five years later – and appears to be much more violent. And as you'll see from the trailer below, it's a lot grittier-looking too.

"Everybody runs": what is The Running Man about?

The Running Man is the name of America's most-watched TV show, and in that show the contestants – called Runners – must stay alive for thirty days while the cameras follow their every movement. Oh, and they've got a pack of professional assassins on their tails, and they're not pretend assassins either. Think American Gladiators tooled up with assault rifles and hand grenades.

Glen Powell plays blue-collar hero Ben Richards, who needs to win the prize money in order to save his sick daughter. And as Paramount Pictures explains, producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) may regret persuading him to take part: "Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite – and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall."

The mid-80s Running Man was more of a straight-up action hero movie (Image credit: YouTube)

As fun as the Arnie version was, it dropped a lot of the more serious parts of the book to focus on making a typical 80s action movie. But the novel was pretty bleak and some would say, prescient: it takes place in an authoritarian US where the economy has collapsed, an elite few hoard all the wealth, resources are scarce and the government uses propaganda, draconian censorship and reality TV to keep the populace quiet.

This is really dark stuff, and it'll be interesting to see how much of it features in the actual movie. I've got high hopes: Edgar Wright has said he liked the original movie but wished the book had been given a better adaptation. And this version has a much wider scope than the original: where that was set in a single city, the 2025 version is a cross-country flight.

The Running Man will be released in theaters on November 7, 2025.

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I tested LG, Samsung and Sony's elite 2025 OLED TVs side-by-side – here's the one I'd buy with my own money

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:22

LG, Samsung and Sony have dominated the OLED TV market for years, with LG and Samsung offering the best overall bang for your buck and Sony delivering a premium picture and superior sound, but at an inflated price.

Cut to 2025, and the battle for the title of best OLED TV has never been more competitive. We’ve reviewed the flagship OLED TV for each brand, the LG G5, Samsung S95F and Sony Bravia 8 II, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Both the G5 and S95F earned five out of five stars in their reviews, and the Bravia 8 II earned four-and-a-half out of five stars in its review.

I’ve already compared the Sony and Samsung QD-OLED TVs side-by-side and the LG and Samsung TVs side-by-side, but recently got to put all three next to one another, with each one displaying the same content, so I could determine which TV I would pick if I had the money to buy one.

A quick note regarding photos: the Sony Bravia 8 II and especially the Samsung S95F may appear to have a red tint across the screen. This is a result of their anti-reflection screen tech, as it reacts with cameras. In real life, this doesn't look as pronounced.

Screen reflections Image 1 of 3

Samsung S95F with overhead lights reduced to haze on screen (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

The Sony Bravia 8 II's screen makes overhead lights appear mirror-like, but still reduced compared to other OLED screens (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

The LG G5's glossy screen has the worst mirror-like reflections of the three, but it's still an improvement over previous screens (Image credit: Future)

One of the things I appreciated about the S95F’s predecessor, the Samsung S95D, was its OLED Glare Free screen, which eliminated mirror-like reflections. Black levels, however, weren't as rich as I’d hoped. The S95F with its OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen mostly solves that problem by still eliminating reflections while also maintaining rich black levels.

The S95F’s screen means darker movies such as The Batman, Nosferatu and Alien: Romulus look good even in brighter viewing conditions. I knew going into this comparison that the LG G5 and Sony Bravia 8 II wouldn’t fare as well as the S95F in bright room lighting conditions, but I was surprised by the results.

Of the three TVs, the LG G5 with its traditional glossy screen was the worst for reflections. The Bravia 8 II’s anti-reflection screen, in contrast, did a surprisingly good job at limiting reflections.

Above are three images of the TVs in our testing lab with overhead lights turned on. The S95F is the clear winner, with the Bravia 8 II second and the G5 third, in terms of reflection handling.

BrightnessImage 1 of 2

The Sony Bravia 8 II (center) with its Dynamic Tone Mapping set to Gradation Preferred appears dimmer next to the LG G5 (left) and Samsung S95F (right) (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Changing the Bravia 8 II's (center) Dynamic Tone Mapping to Brightness Preferred gives it a big brightness boost, bringing it more in-line with the G5 (left) and S95F (right) (Image credit: Future)

One thing that was immediately obvious in my comparison is that the Bravia 8 II doesn’t have the same brightness as the G5 or S95F, and in fact looks dim in comparison. When we measured HDR peak brightness on the LG G5 and Samsung S95F in Filmmaker Mode, they hit 2,268 nits and 2,132 nits, respectively. The Bravia 8 II, on the other hand, measured a substantially lower 1,439 nits HDR peak brightness in its Cinema mode.

Fullscreen brightness was a similar story. The G5 hit 331 nits and the S95F 390 nits, both in Filmmaker Mode. The Bravia 8 II, on the other hand, only managed 183 nits in its Cinema mode, which seems low for a QD-OLED model. That result is actually lower than the mid-range LG C5 OLED, which hit 199 nits on the same test!

This was with the TVs in their default out-of-the-box settings. The Bravia 8 II has a picture setting called Dynamic Tone Mapping, with two options: Gradation Preferred and Brightness Preferred. If you change from the default Gradation to Brightness, the Bravia 8 II gets a nice brightness boost, as you can see in the same image from The Batman above, where Batman’s face suddenly appears much clearer in the second image, compared to the first image. Using the Brightness Preferred setting, black levels and contrast suffer a little, however, so it’ll come down to your personal taste.

Colors, black levels and contrast

All three TVs demonstrate superb colors, but it's the G5 (left) that has the most natural and vibrant look (Image credit: Future)

Firing up a 4K Blu-ray of Wicked, it was clear that all three TVs demonstrated excellent color reproduction. The pink flowers, Elphaba’s green skin, and blue details on the beige walls all looked vivid on each TV, though it was clear that the Bravia 8 II’s lower brightness took away some of the shine.

It was a tough call between the G5 and S95F. While the S95F exhibited more dynamic colors thanks to its higher peak brightness, with all TVs set to Movie/Cinema mode, the G5’s stronger contrast and deeper black levels helped generate better color depth. In the end, I found my eye drawn to the G5 the most.

For HDR color gamut coverage, all three TVs hit over 99% of the DCI-P3 color space, so it’s no wonder all three had spectacular color reproduction.

All three TVs showcase great black levels and contrast, but the LG G5 (left) stands out for black levels, while the S95F's (right) high brightness helps with contrast (Image credit: Future)

For black levels, there was once again a clear winner: the LG G5. Watching The Batman, particularly the opening subway fight scene and crime scene in the mayor’s home, black levels were strong on all three TVs, but the G5’s were the richest and deepest. Next to the G5, the Bravia 8 II and especially the S95F’s black levels looked raised by comparison, although still deeper than what you’ll find on the best mini-LED TVs.

Contrast was exceptional on all three TVs. Watching 4K discs with especially dark scenes such as The Batman, Nosferatu, and Alien: Romulus, all three sets showcased an excellent balance between light and dark tones. But once again, the G5 and the S95F’s higher brightness resulted in a more impactful picture with stronger contrast compared to the Bravia 8 II.

Sony’s sound

The Sony Bravia 8 II (middle) has the best built-in sound system, and it's perfect for action-packed movie scenes like the Batmobile chase from The Batman (pictured) (Image credit: Future)

Reading this, it may seem like I’m underwhelmed by the Sony Bravia 8 II compared to the other TVs. But while the Bravia 8 II doesn’t have the same overall visual impact as the G5 and S95F, it’s still a fantastic TV, and it beats the other two in some key areas.

When watching black and white scenes, such as those in Oppenheimer, the S95F and G5’s higher brightness led to a picture with stronger contrast, but I found the Bravia 8 II’s cooler color balance suited black and white scenes better.

The Bravia 8 II also has superior built-in sound. Sony’s TVs often rank among the best TVs for sound, and the Bravia 8 II is no different. Using the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene from The Batman, the Bravia 8 II demonstrated the punchiest bass, clearest speech and most accurate mapping of sound effects, such as screeching tyres and spraying bullets.

While the S95F delivered impactful bass and clear speech, its soundstage felt narrow compared to the Bravia 8 II, with the sound more contained to the screen. The G5’s bass wasn’t as hefty as the other TVs, but it did deliver a wider soundstage than the S95F. Neither could match up to the Bravia 8 II’s sheer power and accuracy, however.

Final thoughts

(Image credit: Future)

All three of these TVs can be ranked among the best TVs of 2025. They deliver a list of gaming features up there with the best gaming TVs, and have exceptional picture quality and solid built-in sound. Each has its strengths – black levels and picture accuracy on the G5, brightness and Glare Free tech on the S95F, and powerful built-in sound on the Bravia 8 II – but the one TV I would spend my own money on is the LG G5.

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Steam's new performance overlay feature will help you monitor how your games are running

TechRadar News - Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:17
  • The latest Steam update adds a new performance monitoring feature
  • The overlay can display FPS values, monitor CPU and GPU usage, and more
  • Valve says the overlay is designed to help players understand how their PC is performing and how it impacts their game's performance

Valve has released a new Steam Client update that lets players easily monitor the performance of their games.

As explained in a new blog post, this update adds a performance monitoring overlay and is "designed to help you understand how your PC is performing and how it is impacting your game's performance."

Unlike the previous frames per second (FPS) counter that can be toggled to appear in the corner of a game, this new feature will monitor frame rate values, but also break out generated frames from Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) or FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) vs in-game FPS.

There are four levels of monitoring with this overlay, including Single FPS Value, FPS Details, FPS Details, CPU & GPU Utilization, and FPS, CPU, GPU, and RAM.

"It can show you min/max single frame values and a graph of frame rate over time," Valve explained. "Additionally, it will show you CPU performance information, GPU performance information, and system memory usage information. These pieces of data can be useful to understand the causes of bad game performance whether that be a slow CPU, GPU, or too high graphics settings that are over subscribing your video or system ram."

When enabled, the overlay will appear at the bottom of the screen, but players can keep the display small with a single FPS value, or expand it to show the full details when debugging a performance issue.

Players can freely adjust details live in-game, change color saturation, text size, and background opacity to their liking, show a graph of FPS over time, and a graph of CPU utilization per-core.

To enable the new performance overlay, users need to go to Settings > In Game and scroll down to the new Performance Overlay section. There, they can change the position of the overlay, make a hotkey for easier access, and more.

Valve also said it has plans to add additional pieces of data to the performance overlay, "to detect certain common bad hardware performance scenarios, and to show a larger summary of your game's performance in the overlay itself when you hit shift-tab."

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