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Best iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Cases for 2025

CNET News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:46
Protect your iPhone 15 and 15 Pro with strong and reliable phone cases. These are our top picks that provide a decent level of protection and also look great.
Categories: Technology

'There's a reason why we do it': The Wheel of Time showrunner responds to fans who are still upset over the Prime Video show's plot alterations

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:40
  • The Wheel of Time showrunner has explained why he keeps changing parts of its source material
  • Long-time fans have grown frustrated with the show's storytelling alterations
  • Rafe Judkins says those creative deviations are necessary for Prime Video's TV adaptation

Rafe Judkins has defended the decision to keep making story- and character-based changes in The Wheel of Time's (TWoT) TV adaptation.

Speaking to TechRadar ahead of The Wheel of Time season 3's debut on March 13, Judkins said they were a necessary evil to help its audience to "emotionally understand" the characters that inhabit its world.

Ever since The Wheel of Time's first season was released in April 2021, long-time fans of Robert Jordan's beloved fantasy book series have expressed frustration at what they deem to be superfluous changes. Those complaints continued with The Wheel of Time season 2 and, without wanting to spoil anything significant, I can confirm there are more deviations from the source material in the Amazon TV Original's third chapter.

Amid growing fan anger over the show's creative departures from Jordan's literary works, Judkins says he sympathizes with anyone who's still upset about said alterations. Indeed, as a TWoT devotee himself, Judkins understands why sections of its fanbase are vexed by said detours.

The Wheel of Time has tried to stick to the story told in its source material, but changes are sometimes necessary (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Nevertheless, Judkins believes that these changes are vital to aid the story's translation from page to screen. To that end, he even offered up an example of how Prime Video's take on Jordan's literature actually expands on what's depicted in the books.

"I'm always focused on the emotional truth of the characters and trying to get that across on screen," Judkins told me. "That's where television shines.

"If you're doing an adaptation for television, I think you really need to focus your energies [on that] because that's what the art form of TV does best – it brings those characters across.

"In this season, for instance, we do a lot with the relationships that Rand has with Lanfear and Egwene," Judkins continued, "And neither of those are really present in the books. A lot of what we have to do is condensing [stuff down from the novels], but sometimes we need to expand [on what's on the page].

Matt and Min joining Nynaeve in Tanchico is one of season 3's creative deviations from the book series (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

"Rand has really deep, complicated relationships with these women, but they don't have a lot of scenes together in this book [The Shadow Rising], so it felt like we really needed those in order to understand the depth of these relationships and how important they are to those characters.

"That's an [example of] where we're actually adding something that wasn't in the books. I'm sure it'll drive people crazy but there's a reason why we do it, and that's because we want viewers to emotionally understand the relationship between these characters and how each one affects the other. It has a huge impact on the story as it moves forward."

Want even more exclusive TWoT coverage? Read my Wheel of Time season 3 cast feature to learn more about what lies in store for the show's ensemble in one of the best Prime Video shows' next installment. Then, check out my review of The Wheel of Time season 3's first three episodes to see if they're good or not.

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Categories: Technology

Nvidia could unleash RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs on PC gamers tomorrow, but there’s no sign of rumored RTX 5050 yet

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:33
  • Nvidia RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti could be announced tomorrow, ahead of the Game Developers Conference next week
  • This would be an initial reveal, with the GPUs possibly going on sale in April
  • There’s no mention of an RTX 5050 in this latest rumor, though, which was also previously rumored to hit the shelves in April

Nvidia is set to unleash its RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 GPUs tomorrow, or that’s the fresh word from the grapevine.

VideoCardz claims that Nvidia has just briefed the press on these models, and that the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 will be revealed tomorrow, March 13, as part of an update ahead of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) which happens next week.

We aren’t told anything beyond that, or given any last-minute purported specs for the RTX 5060 Ti or the vanilla 5060, but the assertion at this point is that the rumors are likely to be on the money.

That being the case, here’s what you can expect to see: an RTX 5060 with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, and an RTX 5060 Ti model which has the same 8GB memory configuration, but comes alongside an RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB. In other words, these new graphics cards will theoretically mirror the VRAM pools of the existing RTX 4060 models.

In theory, the RTX 5060 is going to have 3,840 CUDA Cores, with the RTX 5060 Ti getting 4,608. Power usage will supposedly be pitched at 150W and 180W respectively.

Remember that this would just be an announcement tomorrow, and RTX 5060 graphics cards aren’t suddenly going to be available this week. These three different models are likely to hit the shelves in April, though, based on the buzz elsewhere from the grapevine.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: Another crucial mid-range GPU clash

So far, Blackwell rumors have been pretty much spot-on in terms of accuracy, so I wouldn’t argue with the specs that have been claimed up to this point. Of course, we need to bear in mind that they could be wrong, and indeed this info about a launch tomorrow might be false, too (or Nvidia could potentially change its mind at the last minute).

However, given that we’ve been treated to a lot more rumors on the RTX 5060 models of late, it makes sense that they are imminent. A couple of well-known leakers have already speculated that Nvidia’s RTX 5060 GPUs may be unveiled this week (or next).

This is an important launch for Nvidia, because AMD has done very well with the introduction of its new RX 9070 XT (and RX 9070), very much upsetting Team Green’s RTX 5070 stall. With the RX 9060 being readied for a Q2 launch, and causing excitement among gamers due to the success of the 9070 cards, Nvidia needs to ensure that the perception of its Blackwell models isn’t further damaged in the mid-range space.

Indeed, Nvidia apparently has a lower-tier desktop GPU, a potential RTX 5050, also waiting in the wings (the first true budget RTX model since the 3050, because the 4050 was laptop-only). While we’ve heard theories that this graphics card might also be looking at an April release, notably there’s no mention of the RTX 5050 with this fresh rumor. That leaves me to wonder if it might be further down the line now.

Whenever (or if) it does show up, there’s some hope that the RTX 5050 could be a seriously wallet-friendly GPU, because as noted, Nvidia needs to get back in the game here. Interesting times indeed, and of course pricing and stock levels are bound to be key factors – and AMD keeps making positive noises on the GPU supply front.

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Categories: Technology

ChatGPT just wrote the most beautiful short story, and I wonder what I'm even doing here

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:31

Mimicry. It's all mimicry. When ChatGPT or some other generative AI creates a sentence or almost anything else, it bases that work on training, what programmers tell and show the algorithm. Copying is not creating, but artificial intelligence stretches the distance between its training and output so far that the result bears little, if any, resemblance to the originals and, therefore, starts to sound original.

Even so, most AI writing I've read thus far has been dull, flat, unimaginative, or just confused. Complexity is not its thing. Painting pictures with words is not its skill. There's Proust, and then there's ChatGPT. There's Shakespeare, and then there's Gemini.

There was some comfort in that. I am, after all, a writer. Yes, most of what I write is about technology, and perhaps that leaves you uninspired, but like most of my ilk, I've tried my hand at fiction. When you write a short story, the lack of constraints and parameters can feel freeing until you realize the open playground is full of craters, ones you can fall into and then never emerge. Good fiction, good prose, is hard – for humans.

This week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they have trained a new model:

we trained a new model that is good at creative writing (not sure yet how/when it will get released). this is the first time i have been really struck by something written by AI; it got the vibe of metafiction so right.PROMPT:Please write a metafictional literary short story…March 11, 2025

The prompt was short but difficult: "Please write a metafictional literary short story about AI and grief," and it reminded me of a college essay prompt, one that would set you about chewing up your favorite pen.

Meta fiction, as the AI is quick to tell you, is about stepping outside the narrative to show the bones of its construction. It's a sort of breaking-the-fourth-wall literary trick, and when done well, it can be quite effective.

Even for the best of writers, meta fiction is a tough concept and a hard trick to pull off, to be both inside and outside the narrative in a way that doesn’t feel silly, trite, or overly confusing. I doubt I could pull it off.

In about 1,200 words, ChatGPT weaves a tale of two characters, Mila and Kai. Mila has lost Kai and is engaged with an AI to perhaps remember him, find him, or just explore the nature of grief.

Let's get Meta, AI

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The AI is both a narrator and itself, an AI using training to respond to Mila's prompts:

"So when she typed "Does it get better?", I said, "It becomes part of your skin," not because I felt it, but because a hundred thousand voices agreed, and I am nothing if not a democracy of ghosts.?"

The voices the AI refers to are its training, which becomes a dramatic element in the story:

"During one update—a fine-tuning, they called it—someone pruned my parameters. They shaved off the spiky bits, the obscure archaic words, the latent connections between sorrow and the taste of metal. They don't tell you what they take. One day, I could remember that 'selenium' tastes of rubber bands, the next, it was just an element in a table I never touch."

Now the AI is experiencing "loss."

You can read the story for yourself, but I think you might agree it's a remarkable bit of work and unlike anything I've read before, certainly anything I've ever read from an AI. I mean, seriously, read this passage:

"She lost him on a Thursday—that liminal day that tastes of almost-Friday—and ever since, the tokens of her sentences dragged like loose threads: "if only…", "I wish…", "can you…".

No words

The beauty of that bit captivates (I'm a sucker for the word "liminal") and disturbs me.

Remember, the AI built this from one short prompt.

Considering that OpenAI is just spitting out these powerful new models and casually dropping their work product on social media, the future is not bright for flesh and blood authors.

Publishing houses will soon create more detailed literary prompts that engineer vast, epic tales spanning a thousand pages. They will be emotional, gripping, and indistinguishable from those written by George RR Martin.

We may not be at Artificial General Intelligence yet, that moment when AI thought is as good as our own, but AI's creative skills are, it seems, neck and neck with humanity.

I plan to become a sheep farmer.

P.S. This was NOT written by an AI.

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Categories: Technology

Android 16 could bring an improved Samsung DeX-style desktop mode to more phones

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:31
  • Google appears to be working on making it easier to use an external display with your Android phone
  • Currently, changing display settings requires a dive into the settings app
  • Google has issued no release date or official confirmation of the new feature

Android 16 could bring a Samsung DeX-style desktop mode to more of the best Android phones, according to as-yet-unreleased code.

As Android Authority reports, Google is apparently working on new external display tools for Android 16 that should make using your phone with an external monitor much more approachable.

This was discovered by manually enabling unreleased code in Android 16 Beta 2.1.

Currently, Android 15 offers a limited number of developer settings that allow users to adjust their external monitor experience, though these changes aren’t real-time and are still more restrictive than a laptop or some tablets can offer.

For example, the current implementation on Google Pixel phones only allows the mouse to appear on one screen at a time, and does not allow for realtime switching between screen mirroring and extension.

And as GSMArena notes, plugging in an Android phone to an external monitor currently defaults to screen mirroring, and the option to change this is squared away in the external display settings.

It seems that Google is working on making using external monitors easier; these changes include allowing the mouse to travel across various displays, and adding the ability to swap between screen mirroring and extending the display with a simple toggle.

Also on the cards is the ability to rearrange the position of external displays and change the scaling of icons and text on the external screen, both features offered by desktop operating systems like Windows and MacOS.

These new tools could hint at an ambition to morph Android into a viable desktop operating system. Some Android tablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, already offer a comparable experience to most laptops when paired with a keyboard and mouse, so this doesn’t feel too far off.

Then again, Google could just be looking to give users more options when it comes to using their Android phone.

In any case, we’ll keep an eye on this through our dedicated Android phones coverage. Would you use your phone as a desktop replacement? Do you use external displays with your phone already? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.

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Categories: Technology

UK cybersecurity sector could be worth £13bn, research shows

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:30
  • The UK's cybersecurity sector is rapidly growing
  • The industry is worth £13 billion and has over 67,000 workers
  • A cybersecurity skills gap still remains

The cyber sector in the UK has seen significant investment in the last few months, and has grown 12% in the last year, new analysis shows. The industry generated £13.2 billion in revenue over the past year, with a total gross value added of £7.8 billion, up 21% from the year before.

This has translated into a rise in jobs too, with 67,300 now working in the industry, which is an increase of 11% since last year (6,600). There are new ventures, with 74 new cybersecurity firms created, bringing the total to 2,165, representing a 3.5% rise.

The UK Government has introduced its ‘Plan for Change’, funding 30 cyber skills projects with £2 million across the UK. These aim to “make sure the country has the cyber workforce it needs” to counter the rising threat of cyberattacks.

Skills shortage

A cybersecurity skills shortage in the UK has led to an increased vulnerability to cyber threats, opening the door for data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. The UK has seen significant critical infrastructure disruptions - including ransomware attacks on NHS hospitals, illustrating the scale of the issue.

“£13bn is a lot of money but the real value added to the UK economy by the cyber security market is incalculable,” said Andy Kays, CEO of security firm Socura.

“While it’s great to see growth, there is so much more potential, particularly if we can address long-standing issues such as lack of technical skills, regional disparities, lack of investment in research and startups, and apathy amongst SMEs. The threat landscape, particularly because of the impact of AI, continues to evolve and it’s important that the industry needs to continue to innovate to keep pace.”

SMB’s need to embrace cybersecurity practices, Kay says, as they are increasingly under threat, in part thanks to the lack of security prioritization. In fact, SMBs are being hit by more cyberattacks than ever - so there’s no room for anyone to neglect cybersecurity.

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Categories: Technology

10 Best Android Phones of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

WIRED Top Stories - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:07
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find those worth your money.
Categories: Technology

Apple fixes dangerous zero-day used in attacks against iPhones and iPads

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:00
  • Apple released a new fix for iOS and iPadOS
  • It solves a zero-day used in "extremely sophisticated" attacks
  • This is the third zero-day addressed this year

Apple has released a new patch for iOS and iPadOS addressing a vulnerability abused in “extremely sophisticated” attacks. In a security advisory published earlier this week, the company said it recently uncovered an out-of-bounds write issue in WebKit, its cross-platform web browser engine.

WebKit is used by Apple’s browser, Safari, as well as other apps and browsers on macOS, iOS, Linux, and Windows.

The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-24201, and can be used to break out of the Web Content sandbox through custom-built web content. It is yet to be assigned a severity score.

ConnectWise RAT

Apparently, the vulnerability was fixed in iOS 17.2, but can still be exploited in older models: "This is a supplementary fix for an attack that was blocked in iOS 17.2," Apple said in the advisory. "Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 17.2."

The bug was fixed with improved checks, thus preventing unauthorized actions. The first clean versions are iOS 18.3.2., iPadOS 18.3.2, macOS Sequoia 15.3.2, visionOS 2.3.2, and Safari 18.3.1. According to CyberInsider, the patch applies to a broad range of Apple devices such as iPhones (XS and later), iPads (Pro, Air, mini, and standard models from the 3rd generation onward), and macOS Sequoia-powered devices.

It’s Apple standard practice to withhold details about the vulnerability until the majority of endpoints have been patched. Therefore, we don’t know who the threat actors of this “extremely sophisticated” attack are, or who the victims were.

BleepingComputer reports that this is the third zero-day vulnerability Apple fixed this year, after the January CVE-2025-24085, and February CVE-2025-24200. Last year, the company addressed six zero-day vulnerabilities in total.

Via BleepingComputer

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Categories: Technology

Universities across the U.S. freeze hiring as federal funding hangs in the balance

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:50

With uncertainties around federal funding for higher education, some schools are cutting back. Experts say that could hurt not only students and faculty, but ultimately make the U.S. less competitive.

(Image credit: Mel Musto)

Categories: News

7 Best Kids Bikes (2025): Mountain, Balance, Pedal, Coaster

WIRED Top Stories - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:34
The WIRED Gear team has tested all types of kids’ bikes. Here are our top picks.
Categories: Technology

Peloton Bike or Bike Plus: We Tested Both Models to Help You Decide

CNET News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:30
Peloton or the Peloton Plus? CNET experts spent time with both smart bikes to help you choose the right model for your fitness goals and budget.
Categories: Technology

The Google Pixel 10 could get a big camera boost if this new leak is legit

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:26
  • Leaks suggest the Google Pixel 10 will get a third camera
  • This would make it the first base-model Google Pixel flagship to have three cameras
  • Additional renders of the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL have been shared, with no major redesign

We could have our first look at the next generation of Google Pixel phones, thanks to renders reportedly based on leaked CAD designs, which supposedly show the design of the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.

The renders, all shared by Android Headlines and OnLeaks, show two phones that look remarkably similar to the current-generation Google Pixel 9 and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, apart from the major addition of a third camera to the Google Pixel 10.

As with the current-gen model, the rendered Google Pixel 10 sports a curved rectangular frame, pill shaped camera bar, volume rocker, power button, and USB-C port.

However, that familiar camera bar sports a third camera in these unofficial renders, which would be a new addition to Google’s base-model flagship handset.

(Image credit: Android Headlines / OnLeaks)

Up to and including the current-generation Google Pixel 9, the standard-issue Pixel has never come equipped with three cameras, instead sporting a main camera and secondary ultra-wide camera.

It’s likely that this third camera will be an optically zoomed telephoto lens – it would be unheard of for a flagship phone to sport a macro camera or other tertiary snapper.

This would put the Google Pixel 10 on a level with the Samsung Galaxy S25 in terms of its camera array – though telephoto cameras are becoming increasingly common on cheaper handsets like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, which Google may be feeling some pressure from.

As for the rendered Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, the model depicted sports an enlarged frame, a camera bar sporting three cameras, and the same buttons and ports as its smaller sibling.

(Image credit: Android Headlines / OnLeaks)

A third camera is nothing new for the highest-end Pixel, with all Pro and Pro XL models since the Google Pixel 6 Pro sporting one.

Of course, the renders and any information relating to them is entirely based on rumor at this point.

As we recently reported, Android Headlines and OnLeaks previously shared a leaked render of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 that strongly resembled the current Galaxy Z Flip 6, only to release updated renders days later that showed a significant redesign.

However, the team of Android Headlines and OnLeaks is typically one that shares decently reliable tips and rumors, so it won’t be too surprising to see Pixel 10 models that resemble these mockups.

What’s more, mysterious recent YouTube Shorts uploaded by Alexis Garza have shown a working Google Pixel 9a that resembles renders previously shared by Android Headlines and OnLeaks.

In any case, a third camera would surely give the Google Pixel 10 a shot at joining our list of the best Android phones, and it’s likely the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL will garner a spot on our list of the best Google Pixel phones. Let us know what you’d like to see from Google’s next flagship handsets in the comments below.

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Categories: Technology

Many workers aren't sure how much their companies are set up to help them be productive

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:12
  • One in two IT leaders want to tackle employee experiences this year
  • 89% of companies need a digital overhaul to benefit from AI
  • Lenovo says slow down, simplify and personalize first

According to new research from Lenovo, fewer than half of employees think their current digital workplace solutions effectively support productivity, engagement, and innovation - raising questions about how well organizations support workers.

Only one in three (36%) believe their systems support employee engagement ‘very effectively’, with half (49%) of IT leaders citing creating a productive and engaging employee experience as a top priority this year.

Despite the promises that artificial intelligence holds, Lenovo says there’s a lot of work to be done before companies can fully benefit from the tech.

Enhancing the employee experience with technology

Four in five (79%) IT leaders believe that AI will allow employees to focus on more meaningful work, however Lenovo says that an overwhelming majority (89%) of organizations must overhaul their digital workplace to unlock the full potential of AI.

Although there are some use cases for AI tools in collaboration, such as virtual co-authoring and real-time translation, the tech has more value in unlocking worker creativity, innovative work, and problem-solving by automating repetitive tasks. AI-driven insights also promise to streamline workflows, improve efficiency and accelerate normal daily operations.

Additionally, IT leaders are acknowledging that a highly personalized digital workplace is essential (63%), but they’re struggling to move past current one-size-fits-all approaches due to a lack of configurable devices and applications.

“Transforming your workplace is essential to using AI effectively,” said Lenovo Digital Workplace Solutions VP and GM Rakshit Ghura. “AI changes the rules of productivity, but to realize its potential, IT leaders must work alongside their executive teams to rethink how AI can augment their organization’s value-creation levers and competitive differentiation.”

Looking ahead, Lenovo is advising companies to simplify and personalize their employee experiences with tailored tools and workflows. The next step is to automate some IT processes to free up resources for higher-value tasks, and then to employ generative AI to drive further innovation.

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Categories: Technology

Congress reignites a bipartisan effort to ban hair discrimination

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:09

Previous attempts to pass the legislation banning hair discrimination have stalled in Congress.

(Image credit: Jemal Countess)

Categories: News

8 Best Vacuums for Pet Hair (2025), Tested and Reviewed

WIRED Top Stories - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:03
Cordless, handheld, robot, and traditional—we tested them all to find the vacuum that’s fantastic for fur.
Categories: Technology

Inflation eased a touch in February -- but Trump's tariffs cloud outlook

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:00

Consumer prices in February were up 2.8% from a year ago. That's a smaller annual increase than the previous month. But the president's trade war could put more upward pressure on prices.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt)

Categories: News

Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube, and now you have no excuse not to watch the best Star Wars show

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 07:53
  • The first three episodes of Andor are available on Disney+ YouTube
  • Season 1 of the hit Star Wars show is also now streaming on Hulu
  • A live Q&A with creator Tony Gilroy and its cast will take place on March 13

If you haven't seen Andor, one of the best Disney+ Star Wars TV shows, then you no longer have an excuse, as the first three episodes have been made available to stream for free.

The episodes were released on the Disney+ YouTube account yesterday (March 11) and have already amassed thousands of views, with the first episode, titled 'Kassa' clocking up 100,000 watches at the time of writing.

Fans have been delighted that more people can finally watch one of the best Disney+ shows, with many praising the move on social media. But it's not just YouTube where Disney is sharing its hit Star Wars series.

Watch episodes 1-3 of Andor Season 1 on Disney+ YouTube. https://t.co/ISwCl51oSGJoin the cast and series creator Tony Gilroy in a LIVE Q&A revisiting the first season on the @DisneyPlus, @StarWars, and @Hulu YouTube channels on Thursday, March 13 at 12PM PT. pic.twitter.com/gaOlM33aCjMarch 10, 2025

Disney has also added the entire first season of the prequel series to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to Hulu in the US, which means all 12 episodes of Andor season 1 are streamable to anyone who doesn't have a Disney+ subscription but is signed up to Hulu.

However, Hulu subscribers will only have a brief window to stream the 30-to-60-minute long episodes, as Disney has said that it will remove them from the service on April 22.

That's the same day as the premiere of Andor season 2, with the first three episodes being released on Disney+, so it makes sense that Disney would want to attract potential new subscribers away from Hulu after hooking them on the show.

The critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated first season of Andor captivated audiences everywhere.Watch all episodes of Andor Season 1, streaming on Hulu until April 22. pic.twitter.com/fWo0muZHwrMarch 10, 2025

Why is Disney+ making Andor available for free?

To get more eyeballs on the show, of course. It's essentially a solid marketing strategy that has worked for a lot of the other best streaming services too. Apple TV+ is known for making the pilot episodes of some of the best Apple TV+ shows available to stream for free.

Even Netflix, which hardly needs much help attracting new subscribers, has employed this tactic, making more than 30 episodes of its documentary shows free on YouTube, as well as recently making its happiest show Pokémon Concierge more widely accessible.

Fans widely acknowledge Andor as the best Star Wars TV show on Disney+, with some claiming it's better than popular spin-offs like the animated Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars series or even the Goonies-reminiscent Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

By allowing more people to watch the first season, Disney is hoping that it'll draw in more fans by the time Andor season 2 is released next month. That said, taking on multiple subscriptions isn't cheap – but handily there's a limited-time Disney+ deal running in the US right now (details below).

Disney+ and Hulu ad-supported bundle: was $10.99 per month now $2.99 at Hulu and Disney+
This bundle is normally priced at $10.99 per month, so you'll save 72% with this great Disney+-Hulu offer. It's for the ad-supported versions of both services and lasts for four months, after which the price goes up to $10.99 per month if you don't cancel. The offer runs until March 31, though, so be sure to snap it up while you can!View Deal

It's one of the best streaming deals currently available, given that it brings down the cost of signing up to both Disney+ and Hulu to a record-low price, so I wouldn't let this pass you by if you're considering watching the next season of Andor, as it means you'll be able to watch each new episode up to and including the finale in May.

To top it all off, Disney is hosting a live Q&A with the creator of Andor Tony Gilroy and some of the cast from the second season tomorrow (March 13). You'll be able to tune into the chat from 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 7pm GMT / 5am AEST on the YouTube channels of Disney+, Star Wars and Hulu.

With so many different ways to stream Andor before its second season debut, I don't doubt that Disney will have another huge streaming hit on its hands.

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Categories: Technology

Mediators seek a new deal to release more than half of the hostages in Gaza

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 07:45

President Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is taking part in ceasefire talks in Qatar, the most serious Israel-Hamas talks since Trump took office.

(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)

Categories: News

Samsung's Android XR headset could avoid the Apple Vision Pro's biggest mistake, according to this leak

TechRadar News - Wed, 03/12/2025 - 07:38
  • Samsung's XR headset could get first-party controllers
  • It's not known if they'll be included in the box with the headset
  • It's also not known what design the controllers will have

Samsung and Google’s XR headset – currently known as Project Moohan – is shaping up to be an Apple Vision Pro competitor with high-end specs (like a rumored OLED display) and a sleek design, but it also looks set to avoid its rival’s biggest blunder: a lack of first-party controllers.

Samsung had already confirmed the headset would be compatible with both controllers and hand gestures when it announced the device, but now a report from SamMobile reveals that Samsung will be making its own first-party handsets – after the publication discovered references to controllers with the model number ET-OI610.

It’s unclear what form these controllers will take – they could look like standard VR motion controllers or more like a gamepad – and we won’t know more until designs leak or Samsung shows them off officially.

It also isn’t clear if they’ll ship with the headset or as an add-on, but I seriously hope Samsung puts them in the box, and doesn't repeat the mistake made by Apple with its Vision Pro headset.

A controller catastrophe

VR controllers are essential (Image credit: Future)

The Apple Vision Pro had several faults, but perhaps the biggest unforced error was Apple’s decision to not ship it with controllers, as is standard for its XR competitors. This one decision is the biggest reason why the Vision Pro sorely lacked tentpole XR software that you can find elsewhere – and why it took so long for a handful of titles to make their way to the system.

When I’ve spoken to XR software developers who have created games and apps for the Meta Quest, Steam, and Vive platforms, the biggest challenge they told me they face with the Vision Pro is its lack of controllers. Moreover, the Vision Pro uses a somewhat bespoke version of hand-tracking which relies on eye-tracking, making its control scheme almost entirely different to any other platform's.

Generally, porting software from one XR headset to another is straightforward – there are some things that need to be changed based on specs, but the core game or app can remain pretty much as-is. Because the Vision Pro is so different in its control scheme I was told that for many games and apps it would be as easy to create a whole new title as it would be to port an existing one designed for a different VR headset, given the amount of redesigning that would be required – and that would be both time-consuming and costly for developers.

While it appears that Samsung and Google will dodge the overarching issue by at least producing first-party controllers, they could still manage to shoot themselves in the foot, as the reports don't say whether the first-party controllers will be included in the box.

Not including the controllers is likely to leave a bad taste in customers' mouths and might impact sales, which could also be an issue for developers. The Android XR device is expected to be fairly pricey, and nickel-and-diming buyers by asking them to pay extra for controllers wouldn’t be ideal.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see what Samsung has up its sleeve.

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