Feed aggregator

• Roku's upping its ecosystem integration with new smart home features
• Select TVs and streaming players will now offer a picture-in-picture mode
• Smart home notifications will also appear on the big screen, thanks to this update

Roku has been on a streak of adding additional features. After updating its iconic “City” screensaver, it’s unveiling a slew of smart home features that will arrive on its streaming players and TVs.

Suffice it to say that the leading feature has been coming for a long time and will be a big win for anyone with single or multiple security cameras. Roku is bringing ‘picture-in-picture’ to its smart TV interface, meaning that if motion is detected, it won’t take over your whole screen but instead will appear in the corner of the TV.

Furthermore, if it’s an area you want to keep an eye on, you can pin that live feed to a corner of your TV. This allows you to take in whatever content you’re watching while keeping an eye on the security feed. Super handy, especially if you have a baby monitor or a dog camera. This matches the smart home picture-in-picture functionality we’ve seen on other smart TVs like Samsung’s Tizen or Google TV.

(Image credit: Roku)

As you might expect, the picture-in-picture functionality will be rolling out to select Roku TVs and streaming players, and it works with the brand's indoor and outdoor wired cameras.

While this picture-in-picture feature is the leading new attraction, Roku's update also introduces several other features, including a “Camera Carousel,” an innovative fix for scrolling through cameras. This feature cycles through your Roku cameras and automatically switches to one if motion is detected.

We're also pleased to see smart home notifications for Roku devices finally appearing on Roku TVs. This way, you’ll get notified if motion is detected and you can easily jump into the live feed.

If you ever want to view your Roku cameras outside of the proprietary app or on the big screen, they’ve also created a website – cameras.roku.com – where you can authenticate and access a live feed.

These latest updates for Roku TVs and streaming players – like the new Ultra – strengthen the brand's ecosystem and give you deeper integration between all the devices. It’s a win if you already have a Roku TV and a camera, and it might make you invest further into Roku’s product lineup.

You might also like

• 'It's a lot of data, processed around 50 times per second' – Sony's Beyond Sports on how 'The Simpsons' Funday Football came to be
• Your Roku device is getting a free, high-definition upgrade for the holidays
• ChatGPT brings its conversational search engine to everyone

The Cumulus Machine is a great gift for that person in your life who's obsessed with cold brew coffee.

Surging demand and struggling utilities are combining to make your power bill more expensive.

A Wisconsin school shooting left multiple people dead and several injured. Here's the latest. And, a milestone pig kidney transplant provides doctors with hope for the future of transplant surgeries.

(Image credit: Andy Manis)

• Spain, Italy, Finland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Germany and Greece get the green light
• European Union will fund half of the projects together with nation-state funding
• More applications are being welcomed until February 2025

The European Union has announced €750 million in investment to establish AI supercomputers across seven sites on the continent.

The initiative forms part of a broader €1.5 billion joint project, with the other half of the funding set to come from EU member states, as part of an effort to take on US tech giants and become what EVP for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, envisions as an ‘AI continent.’

As part of the announcement, we now know the seven chosen locations for AI supercomputers in Europe - Barcelona, Spain; Bologna, Italy; Kajaani, Finland; Bissen, Luxembourg; Linköping, Sweden; Stuttgart, Germany and Athens, Greece.

Seven EU AI supercomputers confirmed

The supercomputers in Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Sweden will be deployed as “brand-new world-class AI-optimised supercomputers,” with the Spanish and Greek sites getting upgrades to raise their status.

By deploying the seven new supercomputers, the Commission hopes to more than double its EuroHPC computing capacity, with rollout scheduled for 2025-2026.

“Today we are one step closer to setting up AI Factories. Using European supercomputers, we will enable AI start-ups to innovate and scale up," Virkkunen added.

“Now we are ready to lead with the right infrastructure in our ambition for the EU to become the AI continent. We are on track to make the AI factories initiative a reality in the first 100 days of the new European Commission.”

The AI Factories are part of a broader strategy in the European Union to encourage AI development and deployment across sectors where it can really make a difference, like healthcare, finance and manufacturing. Other member states have also been invited to submit proposals by February 2025.

You might also like

• We’ve listed the best AI writers
• Check out our roundup of the best cloud computing services
• First legally binding international treaty on AI to be signed by US, Britain and Brussels

Are you experiencing internet trouble? Here's how I revived my slow gigabit speeds at home by following a CNET colleague's simple tips.

Ready to lift weights? Here’s a foolproof way to become your strongest self.

Commentary: Your next $1,000-plus phone shouldn't be stuck at 45 watts and take an hour to recharge.

• Millions of dollars worth of crypto is being stolen from wallets
• The victims are being linked to the 2022 LastPass hack
• The hack saw both encrypted and unecrypted data stolen from the password manager provider

The hacker responsible for the huge LastPass breach in 2022 has continued their rampage by using stolen data to take $5.36 million from 40 crypto wallets.

The August 2022 hack saw the attacker gain access to information that allowed them to later successfully breach a cloud-based storage environment which stored customer keys, API tokens, multi-factor authentication (MFA) seeds, and encrypted password vaults.

While the password vaults were encrypted, the master password used to open them could still be brute forced if it was weak, reused, or previously leaked, which may be the reason for a string of crypto thefts against LastPass users since 2022.

The fallout continues

The latest theft is being linked to the LastPass breach by a blockchain expert known as ZachXBT (via The Block). ZachXBT claims in a Telegram post this is just the latest in a long line of crypto thefts affecting victims of the LastPass breach, with $4.4 million being stolen in October 2023, and a further theft of $6.2 in February 2024.

“Stolen funds were swapped for ETH and transferred to various instant exchanges from Ethereum to Bitcoin,” ZachXBT wrote in their Telegram message. “Cannot stress this enough, if you believe you may have ever stored your seed phrase or keys in LastPass migrate your crypto assets immediately.”

The Verge previously reported between the time of the breach in August and December of 2022, over $35 million was stolen from 150 apparent victims of the LastPass breach.

These subsequent breaches of crypto wallets highlight the importance of using unique passwords for every single account, and ensuring that each password adheres to recommended password security standards by using one of the best password generators.

Even if you have changed your password manager provider since the LastPass breach, any compromised passwords that are still being reused are at risk, as evidenced by these crypto thefts. It is also recommended to use a strong authenticator app that uses biometric verification to secure your accounts even if an attacker knows your username and password.

You might also like

• These are the best free password managers on offer today
• Cl0p ransomware group says it was behind Cleo attacks
• Take a look at our guide to the best business password managers

• Netflix has renewed A Man on the Inside for season 2
• Created by Michael Schur, the series became Netflix's no. 1 TV show when it was released
• A Man on the Inside follows a retired professor who goes undercover in a retirement home to find a stolen family heirloom

I wasn't expecting to cry at a comedy series, but the hit Netflix show A Man on the Inside did just that – and I can't wait to experience the emotional rollercoaster all over again as the show has been renewed for season 2.

Debuting with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics, the sitcom quickly became Netflix's number one most-watched show and has remained in the 'Top 10' for the past three weeks. It's no surprise though since A Man on the Inside was created by comedy connoisseur Michael Schur, the mastermind behind hugely successful series like The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation, and The Office.

Series creator Schur told Tudum: “We are thrilled to make another season of A Man on the Inside, starring young up-and-comer Ted Danson. From our partners at Netflix and Universal TV to the writers, cast, and crew, it’s a truly exceptional team of talented and lovely people, with one notable exception (young up-and-comer Ted Danson, who’s kind of a nightmare).”

A MAN ON THE INSIDE. SEASON 2.The heartwarming comedy series from Mike Schur and starring Ted Danson is set to return in 2025! pic.twitter.com/fUFsbuZHhWDecember 16, 2024

What can we expect in A Man on the Inside season 2?

At the moment, there are no details regarding the plot for A Man on the Inside season 2, but we can expect that Ted Danson will go on another undercover adventure after his comedic escapades in an assisted-living facility. The first season of the best Netflix show has even earned a Golden Globe nomination for Danson's performance.

Based on Maite Alberdi's 2020 documentary The Mole Agent, Danson plays Charles, a retired professor still grieving his wife's death. However, he's given a new lease of life when he goes undercover at a retirement home to help a private detective solve the mystery of some stolen jewelry.

Although, keeping a low-profile proves to be harder than expected as the lovable Charles quickly connects with his fellow residents. Being a "man on the inside" helps Charles realize that there's a lot more to life and allows him to reconnect with his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) in the process.

As one of three new Netflix shows I've watched in December and would highly recommend, A Man on the Inside sensitively handles issues that me and many other people can connect to with plenty of heartwarming humor. If you haven't already, your mission is to watch A Man on the Inside before the second series arrives on the best streaming service in 2025.

You might also like

• Squid Game season 2: release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and everything else we know about the popular Netflix show's return
• I’m a Sabrina Carpenter fan – here are 5 scenes from her Netflix Christmas special that'll surprise you
• Subservience is #2 on Netflix but it's disappointing — here are 3 better sci-fi movies with 80% or more on Rotten Tomatoes

When your VPN goes down, your online activity can become exposed to snoops. A kill switch for your VPN solves that.

Xfinity is the best internet option in Kent, but depending on your needs, there are several other providers worth considering.

The show couldn't decide on just one.

If you've got too many tabs to close individually, you can get rid of them all with a few taps.

Only PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can access these games.

Optimum offers straightforward terms of service and, in select areas, fiber internet. Just watch out for those yearly price increases and low customer satisfaction.

Experts say the catchall term for online fraud furthers harm against victims and could dissuade people from reporting attempts to bilk them out of their money.

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

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport and it's also popular with older athletes. All Things Considered went to the Florida Senior Games to find out why.

(Image credit: Zack Wittman for NPR)

Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch is an affordable digital photo frame that uses the third-party Frameo app to enable you to easily share your snaps via the frame. Right out of the gate, the first thing you’re likely to notice is that price; while its $149.99 / £169.99 retail price isn’t anything to write home about, during sales season we've been seeing prices around $89.99 / £89.99 – that’s a seriously low price for such a sizeable digital photo frame.

Connecting with the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame is nice and easy. Once you’ve powered it up and connected it to your Wi-Fi, you can scan an on-screen QR code to download the Frameo app. Now, simply press the "Add a Friend" button on the Arzopa’s screen, punch in the code that appears into the Frameo app, and you’re ready to start sharing pics. Even better, you can repeat this step to set up friends and family so they too can share their snaps with your frame.

Not everyone wants to share their photos with the cloud, particularly if they’re security conscious or have young children. If this is you, then the Arzopa’s offline storage will be music to your ears. The frame includes 32GB of internal storage and, should you fill this up, you can easily expand its storage capacity up to 128GB via its SD card port. This does fall short of what some of the best digital photo frames offer, but it still isn't bad, all things considered.

All digital photo frames built on the Frameo app work in the same way and, generally speaking, I’d say this is a positive. The app is easy to use: you can browse your device’s whole image library or just specific albums, adding individual photos or uploading up to 10 at a time. Unfortunately, if you want to upload more than this in one go, you’ll need to upgrade to Frameo+. The cost of this isn't exorbitant at $1.99 / £0.99 a month or $16.99 / £7.99 a year, but you'll need to bear this in mind when calculating if this frame is the right price for you.

As I mentioned in my Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review, I’m not entirely keen on the way the Frameo app handles cropping images for digital photo frame’s auto-rotate feature. When uploading each image, you’ll set a circular focal area that the frame will ensure remains in frame in either orientation. However, this can still leave some images oddly centered or cropping out details you hadn’t anticipated. I’d rather just have the option to manually set the crop for each image.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Once your shots are on the Arzopa, its 15.6-inch display definitely delivers your snaps with impact; the frame feels generously sized compared to many of the other affordable frames out there. Since its 1920 x 1080 resolution is shared over that larger screen estate, pixel density does fall somewhat next to rivals such as the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame at 212ppi. However, images still look pretty crisp; rendering my macro shot of a bumblebee, the Arzopa frame shows off every grain of pollen and every hair of her fuzzy coat in decent detail.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Josh Russell)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Josh Russell)

Unfortunately, where things start to come undone is with color. On my iPhone 16 Pro’s screen, a photo I took of a fireworks display reveals a shower of magenta and violet stars in a glowing pink nebula. But when I uploaded it to the Arzopa, the red and pink hues looked washed out, completely robbing the image of any punch. Similarly, floral shots completely underwhelmed, the lack of vibrancy going far beyond slight variations in color profile to looking actively anemic and poorly shot.

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch does fare better when it comes to black-and-white photography at least. Thanks to its deep blacks and bright highlights, its display is sufficiently contrasty to deliver monochrome landscape and architectural shots with impressive details. The Arzopa frame definitely shows off HDR photography to a high standard.

However, even this bold contrast was slightly undermined by its screen. Perhaps even more than its muted hues, the lack of a matte finish really damages the Arzopa’s performance in bright light. Without any treatment to diffuse incoming light, my photos were always obscured by hard-edged, geometric reflections of the panel lighting in the TechRadar offices; it was almost impossible to ignore since it made it difficult to make out details in the images. Worse, this reflectiveness means the frame is almost certainly unusable in direct sunlight, further restriction its position in your home.

This tendency toward glossiness extends to other elements of the frame’s design. The Arzopa’s frame feels a little cheap and plasticky, but thanks to its black color, this doesn’t feel so in your face. However, the frame’s bezels are much harder to ignore – despite the fact their beveled edges are designed to make them look more like mounting, the white plastic is so cheap-looking and reflective that it does detract from the overall quality of the frame.

Plus, there are other unusual design choices: the frame’s stand is literally just a plastic stick that screws into one corner of the frame. While it seems to do an okay job of supporting the frame in either horizontal or vertical orientation, I’m not convinced it’s sturdy enough to withstand becoming damaged over time.

Buy it on sale, however, and the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch is available for an astoundingly good price – and it’s almost certainly better quality than some of the bargain-basement frames you’ll find on Amazon. In terms of crispness of picture, contrast and ease of use, it’s great value for money. However, its muted hues, overly reflective screen and the cheapness of its finish do make my recommendation here equivocal – if you can only find it at a higher price, some of the similarly priced best digital photo frames might make a better choice.

(Image credit: Future) Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: price & release date

• MSRP of $149.99 / £169.99 but currently reduced to $89.99 / £89.99
• Available now in both the US and UK
• Frameo app free or $1.99 / £0.99 a month for Frameo+

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch is available now in both the US and UK.

Its price varies to quite a degree, which has a huge impact on the value you’re getting. At its full price of $149.99 at Amazon US or £169.99, at Amazon UK, it effectively costs as much as the $159.99 / £149.99 Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame, which I'd argue is a much higher-quality frame, thanks to its anti-glare screen and delivery of bold colors. However, some of the sale prices we’ve seen bring the Arzopa frame down to around $89.99 / £89.99, which makes it a far more appealing option, especially if you can’t stretch to the more expensive Pexar.

One other important consideration here in terms of price is the Frameo app. While the base tier is free, to upload more than 10 photographs at a time or videos longer than 15 seconds, you’ll need to upgrade to Frameo+, which costs $1.99 / £0.99 a month or $16.99 / £7.99 a year. That will allow you to upload 100 images at a time, send two-minute video clips, and manage the content on your Arzopa remotely via the app.

(Image credit: Future) Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: specs

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell) Should I buy the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch? Buy it if…

You want a big, crisp screen
At 15.6-inches, the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi delivers a lot of screen estate on which to display your snaps. And while pixel density is lower than the 212ppi of the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame, photos still look crisp and clear.

You can get it on sale
Whether the Arzopa frame delivers good value very much depends on the price you pay for it. Pick it up for the sale price of around $89.99 / £89.99 and you’re getting a very good deal, but you don’t have to spend much more than its MSRP of $149.99 / £169.99 to get a superior product.

Don’t buy it if…

You want your colorful snaps to pop
Vibrant hues aren't the Arzopa frame’s forte – colorful subjects such as flowers and fauna can look muted at best, and downright drab at their worst. Fans of black-and-white photography needn’t worry – but if you want your walls to be a riot of color, other frames might prove a wiser investment.

You want to use it in bright rooms
The Arzopa’s glossy screen means it's entirely unforgiving when it comes to reflections – whether using it during the day or at night, I found natural and artificial sources of light completely overwhelmed the brightness of the screen. Fundamentally, if it's to sit opposite windows or under harsh lighting, you’d be better off looking for a frame with a matte screen.

Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: also consider

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
The Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame scarcely costs any more than the Arzopa at full price, at $159.99 / £149.99; however, performance is superior. It offers a 2000 x 1200 resolution across its smaller 11-inch screen, delivering higher pixel density, while colors are far more vibrant. Plus, its matte, anti-glare screen keeps reflected light to a minimum. Read our full Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review.

Aeezo Portrait 01
If you’re unable to stretch to the Arzopa – or can’t find it at a reduced price – the Aeezo Portrait 01 is a bargain alternative that also includes internal storage and costs just $69.99 / £55.99. You’ll get bolder albeit sometimes slightly unnatural, colors; but the sacrifice is resolution at only 1280 x 800, rather than the Arzopa’s 1080p. Read our full Aeezo Portrait 01 review.

How I tested the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch

I tested the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch over several weeks. I uploaded a range of photos to it using the Frameo app and connected multiple other people to enable them to share images with the frame, too.

To test the performance of the frame, I uploaded a wide array of portrait and landscape images and included everything from brightly colored shots of flowers and animals to monochrome architectural shots. Additionally, I positioned the frame in multiple places around my home and the TechRadar office and changed its orientation between portrait and landscape.

I have many years of experience taking photos, both on my Canon DSLR and my iPhone 16 Pro and, over the past 15 years, I’ve taken over 40,000 photos. I’ve also spent many years working in print publishing, doing post-production on photos and preparing images for print. This means I have a lot of experience in making images look as close to their source as possible.

• First reviewed November 2024
• Read more about how we test