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• Blackview Active 12 Pro rugged tablet has a built-in projector and 108MP camera
• Tablet includes detachable kickstand, plus 400 lumen LED camping light on rear
• Tablet’s huge 30,000mAh battery supports extended use in the field

Blackview has launched the Active 12 Pro, a rugged Android tablet which combines an 11-inch screen with unusual extras, including a built-in projector, camping light, and a 108-megapixel camera sensor.

PCWatch reviewed the device, and called it one of the boldest tablets Blackview has ever produced.

The Active 12 Pro runs Android 15 on a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Big battery

We’ve seen a good number of rugged tablets with integrated projectors in recent years, including the 8849 TANK Pad, and the one in this tablet is capable of displaying a full HD image up to 120 inches.

With 200 lumens of brightness, autofocus, and keystone correction, it’s designed for entertainment and small presentations.

The tablet has a huge 30,000mAh battery, which in PCWatch’s testing supported extended video playback without rapid drain. Unlike many portable projectors, the image remained bright and usable in a dimly lit room.

The rugged tablet is IP68 and IP69K rated for water and dust resistance and meets MIL-STD-810H standards for durability.

At over 1.5kg it is far heavier than most 11-inch devices, but the tradeoff is a chassis that can withstand drops, pressure, and temperature extremes.

A detachable kickstand and optional straps give it flexibility for outdoor or field use.

The display itself is a 1920x1200 IPS panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. Alongside the 108-megapixel Samsung rear camera, a 50-megapixel front camera is included for video calls and photography.

The rear is also home to a large LED camping light with up to 400 lumens of brightness, further adding to the Active 12 Pro’s outdoor credentials.

In PCWatch’s performance benchmarks, the tablet handled demanding mobile games at medium settings without slowdown, aided by advanced cooling with heat pipes and a built-in fan.

Despite its slightly unusual design, the device delivered a credible mix of performance and versatility.

Pricing for the Active 12 Pro starts at around $768 for the 12GB/256GB model or $826 for the 16GB/1TB version on AliExpress, with discounts available.

While it is perhaps not aimed at casual users, the Active 12 Pro shows how rugged tablets are evolving into multi-purpose devices.

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The Fed chair will speak Friday at an annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The speech comes as the central bank is under mounting pressure from the White House to lower interest rates.

(Image credit: Kent Nishimura)

• Pixel 10 will not have physical SIM cards slots, Google confirms
• Buyers can transfer eSIMs from Apple to Android and vice-versa
• However eSIM adoption is uneven and can pose a risk for unprepared travelers

Google has confirmed eSIMs will replace physical SIM card slots in its new Pixel 10 smartphone range.

Reports from Android Authority claim Google's implementation may also support bi-directional transfers, meaning users can transfer an eSIM from an Apple device to an Android device or vice versa.

For now, this change appears to apply only to US models, but come after Apple made a similar move with iPhone 14, and now Google is following suit, further indicating eSIMs are revolutionizing the industry in a significant way.

What does this mean for travelers?

eSIMs for international travel have already become the go-to solution for many and now Google's latest move suggests the beginning of a new era.

If major firms like Apple and Google are committing to eSIM-only devices and other tech giants like NordVPN and IPVanish are entering the eSIM market, then it is safe to say that eSIMs have become the norm.

On iPhones, the process could be handled through the “Transfer to Android” option in settings, while Pixel 10 devices may rely on the Android Switch app, either by scanning a QR code or initiating a manual connection session.

Android Authority also reports that the feature may only be supported in iOS 26, expected to launch alongside the iPhone 17 in September 2025. However, these details remain speculative for now, and we will have to wait for the official rollout to see what holds true.

“Going eSIM-only makes it faster and easier to connect to a network. You can download a plan in minutes without fiddling with a tiny SIM card, which is a huge win for convenience", says Sarah McGarr CEO of Sim Local.

For travelers, this shift means getting comfortable with digital connectivity is no longer optional. As physical SIM slots disappear, checking for compatability, understanding how to activate, transfer, and manage eSIMs will be essential for staying connected seamlessly across borders.

"Check the best local eSIM plans, pick the best deal, and be online in minutes. Google’s eSIM move will only make more people expect this kind of convenience, and it’s up to the industry to make sure travelers can always find easy and affordable ways to stay connected", adds McGarr.

However, the biggest challenge to this revolution is that adoption is uneven. The ability to use an eSIM doesn’t just depend on owning a compatible device, it also hinges on whether local carriers support the technology and what plans they offer.

Travelers need to be prepared and do their research on carrier compatibility before flying and keep a global eSIM app as backup.

"The ability to use an eSIM is not so much country-dependent as it is device-dependent and network-dependent. That means a traveler could land somewhere only to find that their mobile network doesn’t yet support eSIM, or that their plan options are limited. In those cases, people may end up paying more in roaming fees or have fewer choices than they expected", concludes McGarr.

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• King of Meat launches on October 7, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC
• The four-player co-op platformer will have a Standard and Deluxe Edition, which are now available for pre-order
• A King of Meat Technical Test will also be available to play this weekend

Amazon Games and Glowmade have announced that King of Meat will officially launch on October 7, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC via Steam.

King of Meat is a four-player co-op party platformer featuring hack-and-slash mechanics and over 100 dungeons filled with puzzles, challenges, and hordes of monsters to defeat.

The online game, which also got a brand new gameplay trailer, was announced last year, but pre-orders for the Standard and Deluxe Editions are now available.

The King of Meat: Standard Edition will cost £23.95 (around $32.24) while the Deluxe Edition will cost £39.95 ($53.78), and both will include the Venerable Defender Legendary Costume, a samurai-style outfit with matching sword, shield, and stickers, as well as five days of early access to King of Meat from October 2.

The King of Meat: Deluxe Edition also features the Tapeboard Betsy and Emerson Shard Character Sets, "for players to enter the dungeons at launch with style and flair."

Ahead of release, Glowmade has also announced that a King of Meat Technical Test will be available to play this weekend, on August 23 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST until August 24 at 10 AM PT / 6PM BST.

The test will be playable for free on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, giving players an early look at the game and an opportunity to provide feedback to the developers.

Fans can also tune in to a partnered Twitch channel for 30 minutes during the Technical Test to claim their Beta Rewards Top, which will carry over into the live game.

King of Meat is also expected to come to Nintendo Switch, although there is no release date for that version at this time.

Glowmade has also confirmed earlier this year that King of Meat will offer both quality and performance options across PC and consoles, including PS5 Pro, that players can customize.

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• Security researchers found that a popular free Chrome VPN extension has been stealthily taking screenshots of every website its users visit
• FreeVPN.One boasts over 100,000 downloads and Google's "Verified" and "Featured" badges
• Once limited to VPN functionality, the extension's later updates were designed not for privacy, but to evade detection

A popular Chrome VPN extension has been found to spy on its over 100,000 users.

Koi Security published an extensive report, warning users that instead of protecting their data as the best VPN apps should do, FreeVPN.One takes screenshots of every single website they visit.

FreeVPN.One is a free VPN extension that managed to obtain two badges from the Google Chrome Store, supposedly to further assure users of its security. Unfortunately, those badges might have been mistakenly awarded.

A trustworthy VPN extension turned into a privacy nightmare

(Image credit: Google)

FreeVPN.One looks legitimate at a glance. With over 100,000 downloads and Google's endorsement, it seems like a secure alternative to paid VPN services. However, according to Koi Security, there's a sinister reality hiding just underneath the surface.

The extension was marketed as a free, unlimited VPN service, and according to researchers, for a while, it did just that. However, future updates introduced a worrying development.

Koi Security reports that just seconds after any page loads, a background trigger grabs a screenshot of it. This means that every website you visit with the extension enabled is captured, including private photos, banking sites, medical records, and all kinds of other sensitive information.

The screenshots are then sent to an external source, with scripts running to ensure the quality of data capture.

Even private pictures were sent to FreeVPN.One’s backend, as per Koi Security findings (Image credit: Koi Security)

Another feature in FreeVPN.One, called "AI Threat Detection," also takes screenshots and uploads them for server-side analysis, but at least this one discloses that it does that, whereas the rest of the app does not.

A few of the most recent updates to FreeVPN.One appears to have made things worse for user privacy. The spyware, screenshots, and location tracking allegedly started in July of this year. Later that same month, Koi Security reported, the developer upped the security to evade detection, all the while the screenshots continued being collected.

Koi Security reached out to the developer, who claims that screenshots are only taken if the domain appears suspicious. However, even websites like Google Photos are recorded, which doesn't line up with that claim. The dev also says that the screenshots are not stored anywhere, but this is a difficult claim to verify. They eventually allegedly stopped responding to Koi Security's requests for comment.

How to stay safe?

This situation outlines a larger problem with certain free VPNs, as well as the ease with which certain developers can upload malicious apps into web stores and gain user trust. Just recently, a VexTrio Viper, a group of cybercriminals, successfully shared a long list of malicious apps through popular app stores. This included a free VPN, ad blocker, and even an online dating service.

FreeVPN.One scored Google Play Store's "Verified" badge, which should have meant it was definitely secure, but it sounds rather like "it's best avoided."

If you used the FreeVPN.One extension, we recommend that you uninstall it immediately. Consider downloading one of the best antivirus programs to give your PC a thorough scan, too.

Next, it's time to change your passwords to just about every website you may have accessed while using the extension. Better to be safe than sorry.

This highlights just how important it is not to take chances when using a VPN service, which, by default, often has pretty hefty permissions when it comes to monitoring what you do. If you aren't willing to get a premium service, turn to some of the best free VPN services to ensure they have been thoroughly tested in order to protect your data.

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Trump, in a social media post, claimed "total victory" after the ruling, which spares him from a potential half-billion-dollar fine for decades of exaggerating his wealth.

(Image credit: Seth Wenig)