News

Social Security: A Guide to Applying for Retirement Benefits - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 19:40

Here's how to apply for Social Security Benefits, and what you need to have ready when you do.

9 Wickedly Creative Lego Sets Debuting at Comic-Con 2025 - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 20:30

New Stranger Things, Batman and Wicked bricks are rolling out, along with a Game Boy pack.

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, July 24 - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 22:09

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 24.

This devious RFQ scam is letting hackers steal real-life goods - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 12:10

Proofpoint observed hackers using stolen files to spoof businesses
The threat actors would send RFQ emails and ask for Net 45 financing terms
The goods would end up sold in African countries

Cybercriminals have found a way to leverage stolen company files to obtain actual physical goods, and it revolves around a business practice called Request for Quote (RFQ).

An Request for Quote is when one business asks another how much it would cost to purchase certain products, and is used when buying in bulk, wanting to compare prices, or looking for volume-based discounts.

But according to security researchers at Proofpoint, scammers are using files stolen in other cyberattacks to spoof the businesses and create convincing RFQ emails.

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Shipping to Ghana

In the emails, they would ask for all kinds of equipment, from networking gear, to CCTV cameras, healthcare hardware, and similar.

After receiving a quote, they would then ask for Net 15/30/45 financing terms - payment terms that give the buyer 15, 30, or 45 days to pay the full invoice amount, with interest, *after* receiving the goods - which is common practice in B2B transactions.

If the victim business agrees, the scammers would share a shipping address. Sometimes, these are residential addresses, and other times, they lead to rented warehouses across the US. From there, the crooks would hire shipping forwarding services that specialize in sending goods to West African countries like Nigeria and Ghana, where the gear ends up (likely to be sold).

The victim, on the other hand, never gets their money as the scammers just disappear.

Proofpoint also stated the shipping forwarding services most likely don’t even know they’re transporting stolen goods, and that people living in houses listed as the shipping address can be scammers, or former scam victims themselves looking to pay off a debt.

The researchers also said they were tracking and blocking emails associated with RFQ scam groups, and partnered with the company’s Takedown Team to successfully take down 19 domains associated with these scams.

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Wednesday season 3 is confirmed by Netflix and I’m thrilled this Tim Burton series isn’t dead in the ground - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 12:11

Wednesday has been renewed for season 3
This news comes ahead of the season 2 premier on August 6
The creators have teased they "want to continue digging deeper into characters while expanding the world of Nevermore"

Wednesday season 3 is officially happening, with Netflix confirming the news ahead of the upcoming Wednesday season 2 premier on August 6.

The news was confirmed on Wednesday (of course), July 23, when Netflix shared a new poster featuring the iconic disembodied hand, aka Thing, holding a crystal ball with the number 3 on it.

A post shared by Wednesday Netflix (@wednesdaynetflix)

A photo posted by on

The tagline reads "bad things come in threes", focusing on the Addams Family's tendency to focus on the macabre and thankfully not the quality of the series. It's one of our best Netflix shows for a reason after all.

Speaking about the renewal, co-creator and co-showrunner Alfred Gough said in a press release: “Our goal for season 3 is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can. We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday.”

What's coming up on Netflix's Wednesday?

The wider Addams Family will be explored in Wednesday season 2. (Image credit: Netflix)

Right now it feels like the world is Wednesday's oyster, as Wednesday season 2 is shaping up to be bigger and better than the first installment. I enjoyed the first season immensely and can't wait to see the new one.

Season 2 will focus on the wider family, much to Wednesday's horror, with creator Tim Burton teasing to Tudum: "This year, we bring the family to Nevermore. Your family at school is the worst thing possible, isn’t it?”

We should expect to see an expansion of the lore focusing on both Nevermore Academy, the school for outcasts which Wednesday attends, as well as meeting some more members of the morbid family.

Following Gwendoline Christie's departure in season 1, legendary actor Steve Buscemi steps into the role of Nevermore's principal, while British icon Joanna Lumley plays Wednesday's grandmother. So there's an expansion of the already brilliant cast this season, as seen in this sneak peek which teases bucketloads of Addams Family lore.

As for season 3, we'll have to wait and see where the story goes but I'm confident it'll keep going from strength to strength. With plenty of dark and comical Addams Family lore to dive into, I could quite happily watch many more seasons of this.

The new season is split into two parts this time, mirroring popular shows like Stranger Things season 5. The second part of Wednesday season 2 releases on September 3, so there's not too much of a wait.

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Dangerous new malware exploits Windows accessibility tools to hijack banking accounts - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 13:03

Banking trojan Coyote now abuses Microsoft’s UI Automation framework
The framework allows it to spot when a person opens a banking site
It can cross-reference the data in the browser with a hardcoded list of banking and crypto apps

Coyote, a known banking trojan malware capable of attacking dozens of crypto and banking apps, has been upgraded to identify crypto exchanges and bank accounts opened in the web browser, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers Akamai, who have been warning about Coyote since December 2024, noted how in previous iterations, Coyote would either log keys or present phishing overlays, in order to exfiltrate login information for 75 banking and cryptocurrency exchange apps. However, if a user would open these accounts in the browser, Coyote wouldn’t be triggered.

However this new variant abuses Microsoft’s UI Automation framework to identify which banking and crypto exchange sites the victim opened in their browser, too.

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Brazilians in the crosshairs

Microsoft's UI Automation (UIA) framework is an accessibility system that helps software interact with Windows apps.

It’s especially useful for things like screen readers and automated testing, as it lets programs “see” buttons, menus, and other parts of an app, and even click or read them.

According to Akamai, Coyote can now use UIA to read the web address found in the browser’s tabs or address bar, and then compare the results with a hardcoded list of 75 targeted services. If it finds a match, it will use UIA to parse through the UI child elements, trying to find which tabs or address bars there are.

"The content of these UI elements will then be cross-referenced with the same list of addresses from the first comparison,” they explained.

Akamai says that Coyote primarily targets Brazilian users. The banks it usually goes after are Banco do Brasil, CaixaBank, Banco Bradesco, Santander, Original bank, Sicredi, Banco do Nordeste, Expanse apps, and different crypto exchanges (Binance, Electrum, Bitcoin, Foxbit, and more).

The researchers first warned about UIA being abused in credential theft late last year, and now their predictions seem to have come true, since Coyote is apparently the first one to use this tactic in the wild.

Via BleepingComputer

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The DCU's most unlikely TV show is reportedly moving forward at HBO Max as Booster Gold finds its showrunner - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 13:15

Booster Gold is said to be moving ahead on HBO Max
The DC Universe TV show has reportedly had its pilot episode greenlit
Our Flag Means Death's showrunner is apparently on board to helm it

It's been two and a half years since James Gunn announced the original line-up for Chapter One of the new-look DC Universe (DCU) – and, finally, one of its most unexpected projects appears to be moving forward.

According to Deadline, Booster Gold, a TV series we've heard nothing about since Gunn confirmed it was part of his and Peter Safran's DCU Chapter One plans, has had its pilot episode greenlit by HBO Max.

The series has also seemingly found its creator. David Jenkins, who's best known for his work on Our Flag Means Death, aka one of the best HBO Max shows that was unceremoniously canceled after two seasons last January, is believed to have signed on to helm its first entry.

If HBO executives like what they see, Deadline's sources have indicated it'll order a whole series, with Jenkins in line to be installed as its showrunner.

A post shared by Deadline (@deadline)

A photo posted by on

If true, Booster Gold will be the second DCU project that's received a development, well, boost in recent days.

On July 21, Gunn confirmed the lead writer for the DCU's Wonder Woman movie. Meanwhile, Clayface, one of two DC comic book films set for release in 2026 alongside Supergirl, may have found its lead actress in Star Wars alumna Naomi Ackie, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, published yesterday, July 22, 2025.

But back to Booster Gold. There's only one way we'll know if Jenkins is involved and whether the show's pilot has been approved, and that's by hearing from Gunn.

At the time of publication, the DC Studios co-chief hadn't taken to social media to confirm or deny Deadline's report. I'll update this article if he does and/or if I hear back from HBO, whom I've reached out to about the forthcoming TV project.

Who is Booster Gold?

Created by Dan Jurgens, Booster Gold – real name Michael Jon 'Booster' Carter – is a US footballer-turned-superhero who actually hails from the future. In DC literature, he wasn't born until the 25th century, but like Batman, he calls Gotham City his home.

Or, he used to. You see, Carter was a rising football star for Gotham University. However, after his deadbeat father re-entered his life and convinced him to deliberately lose games for gambling reasons, it wasn't long until Carter was exposed for his crimes and expelled from studying at the prestigious institution.

Carter's days of breaking the law weren't over, though. After taking a job as a nightwatchman at the Metropolis Space Museum, he learned all about the 20th century's most famous heroes via the superpowered artifacts on display.

Long story short: with the aid of his robot sidekick Skeets, Carter steals some of the aforementioned tech, travels back in time to the 20th century, and uses his newly-acquired gadgets to remodel himself as Booster Gold, a showboating metahuman who can fly, create energy blasts, gains the usual superhuman abilities via his power-suit and, of course, time travel.

Despite making his debut in 'Booster Gold' #1 in February 1986 and being a member of popular DC superteam The Justice League, Carter hasn't gone on to achieve the level of fame in the real world that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have. If anyone can breathe new life into this C-list superhero and turn him into a household name, though, it's Gunn – with more than a little help from Jenkins, of course.

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Dell will have a laptop with 256GB RAM later this year thanks to CAMM2 - Pro Max 18 Plus eschews AMD Ryzen and I can't quite understand why - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 13:27

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus workstation already supports up to 128GB of CAMM2 RAM
256GB configuration is expected soon for data-heavy or AI-driven work
Oddly no AMD support despite clear AI and performance-focused design goals

Dell is planning to offer a high-end workstation laptop with a massive 256GB memory option later this year.

The Dell Pro Max 18 Plus is already available to buy now and sits at the top of Dell’s mobile workstation lineup, as we predicted it would last year.

It’s powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, paired with up to an Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU, and supports up to 4TB of SSD storage, making it one of the best business laptops around.

But no AMD option?

Memory configurations start with a single 16GB 6400MTs DDR5 CSoDIMM and users can upgrade to 32GB or 64GB using dual modules.

There’s also the option for 128GB of 6400MTs CAMM2 dual channel memory, although you’ll pay a premium for it – an additional $1,895 to the total price in fact.

And if 128GB still isn’t enough, Dell plans to offer a 256GB CAMM2 RAM option later in the year.

While 256GB will be well beyond what most users need, it could appeal to engineers, researchers, and developers who regularly work with demanding datasets and compute-heavy workloads.

Dell has made thermal improvements to the Pro Max 18 Plus to keep performance consistent under load. It claims up to a 44 percent increase in graphics performance compared to the previous 18-inch model.

The system also features better serviceability, with a modular USB-C port and an easy-access upgrade panel.

Combined with Dell’s manageability tools and security features, it is clearly built for enterprise environments.

One noticeable omission is AMD support. Dell’s Pro Max 14 includes Ryzen AI processors and is part of the Copilot+ lineup, which makes it all the more unusual that the 18 Plus, positioned as the most capable model, doesn’t offer AMD options.

With Ryzen processors widely praised for their NPU performance and strong efficiency, their absence may be something of a deal breaker for users looking for AI-focused alternatives.

We can only hope that Dell sees the error of its ways and brings AMD options to future Pro Max models.

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Everything new on Disney+ in August 2025: stream 26 new TV shows and 4 new movies, including Eyes of Wakanda and more - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 14:00

At the moment, there's a lot going on over at Disney+, who's gearing up to release a slate of new titles in August. Indeed, when it comes to its next monthly schedule, it's TV shows galore.

New Marvel animated miniseries Eyes of Wakanda lands on Disney+ August 27, marking the 15th television installment in the MCU and the first series in Phase Six. As well as the new Marvel show, there are plenty of documentary and reality shows to choose from, including new episodes of Limitless: Live Better Now with Chris Hemsworth and Project Runway – which has reached an impressive 21 seasons.

While it's exciting to see fresh shows come to one of the best streaming services, it's best to note that the availability of the following Disney+ titles are subject to change and will vary by region – so it's best to keep this in mind when looking for your next TV obsession.

August 1

King & Prince: What We Got (Japanese Version)
Outdoor Adventure Stream

August 3

Naming the Dead season 1 episodes 1-6

August 6

Christmas Wars season 1, episodes 1-2
Christmas Wars season 2, episodes 1-4
Low Life season 1, episodes 1-2
Rachael Ray’s Holidays season 1, episodes 1-4
Raising Asia season 1, episodes 1-13
Wild Vietnam season 2, episodes 1-2
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder season 3

August 7

Ancient Aliens: Origins season 1, episodes 1-12
Project Runway season 21, episode 3

August 8

Christmas Hotel (movie)
A Christmas in Tennessee (movie)
The Christmas Pact (movie)
Radio Christmas (movie)
SuperKitties: Su-Purr Adventures: Shorts season 2, episodes 1-10

August 10

Traveling with Snow Man episode 2

August 12

Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends season 1, episodes 1-6

August 13

Chibiverse season 2, episodes 1-3
Chibiverse season 3, episodes 1-12
Low Life season 1, episodes 1-2

August 14

Project Runway season 21, episode 4

August 15

Limitless: Live Better Now episodes 1-3
Stand Up to Cancer 2025

August 17

Disney Jr. Ariel - The Little Mermaid: Songs from the Crystal Cavern Shorts season1, episodes 1-10

August 20

Ice Road Rescue season 7, episodes 1-8
Ice Road Rescue season 8, episodes 1-8
Ice Road Rescue season 9, episodes 1-9
Reminder season 1, episodes 1-8

August 21

Me & Winnie the Pooh season 2, episodes 1-6
Project Runway season 21, episode 5

August 22

Disney Jr.’s Ariel season 1, episodes 1-8

August 25

The Last Rhinos: A New Hope (documentary)
LEGO Disney Princess: Villains Unite
Princess Stream

August 27

Chibi Tiny Tales: Shorts season 6, episodes 1-6
Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends season 4, episodes 1-3
Eyes of Wakanda episodes 1-4
Shipwreck Hunters Australia season 2, episodes 1-6

August 28

Project Runway season 21, episode 6

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Everything new on Netflix in August 2025: stream 49 movies and 31 TV shows, including Wednesday season 2 and more - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 15:00

Netflix never fails to let us down with its monthly additions of new movies and shows, and it's August schedule is no different. But there's one new show in particular that makes this month a rather exciting one.

After it shot to the top of the Netflix charts in 2022, comedy drama series Wednesday returns after a long three-year wait for a second season, with part one arriving August 6 and part two September 3. With the return of one of the nest Netflix shows just around the corner, we can't wait to see where Wednesday's journey will go next – but also Lady Gaga's cameo, which is what I'm most looking forward to.

As it is with every Netflix schedule, the first day of the month is packed with its usual slew of new movies. So, whether you're a big fan of crude comedies such as American Pie (1999) or sci-fi epics like Jurassic Park (1993), you're bound to find something new and exciting to add to your watchlist.

Everything new on Netflix in August 2025

Arriving on August 1

American Pie (movie)
American Pie 2 (movie)
Anaconda (movie)
Clueless (movie)
Dazed and Confused (movie)
The Departed (movie)
Despicable Me (movie)
Despicable Me 2 (movie)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (movie)
Fire Country season 2 (TV show)
Groundhog Day (movie)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (movie)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (movie)
Jurassic Park (movie)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (movie)
Jurassic Park III (movie)
Megamind (movie)
Minions (movie)
My Oxford Year (Netflix original movie)
Pawn Stars season 16 (TV show)
Perfect Match season 3 (Netflix original series)
Rush Hour (movie)
Rush Hour 2 (movie)
Rush Hour 3 (movie)
Thirteen (movie)
Weird Science (movie)
Wet Hot American Summer (movie)
Wyatt Earp (movie)

Arriving on August 2

Beyond the Bar (Netflix original series)

Arriving on August 5

Love Life seasons 1-2 (TV show)
SEC Football: Any Given Saturday (Netflix original series)
Titans: The Rise of Hollywood season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 6

Wednesday season 2 part 1 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on August 8

Stolen: Heist of the Century (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on August 10

Marry Me (movie)

Arriving on August 11

Outlander season 7 part 1 (TV show)
Sullivan's Crossing season 3 (TV show)

Arriving on August 12

Final Draft (Netflix original series)
Jim Jefferies: Two Limb Policy (Netflix original comedy)

Arriving on August 13

Love Is Blind: UK season 2 (Netflix original series)
Fixed (Netflix original movie)
Saare Jahan Se Accha: The Silent Guardians (Netflix original series)
Songs From the Hole (Netflix original documentary)
Young Millionaires (Netflix original series)

Arriving on August 14

In the Mud (Netflix original series)
Miss Governor season 1 part 2 (Netflix original series)
Mononoke The Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (Netflix original movie)
Quantum Leap seasons 1-2 (TV show)

Arriving on August 15

The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea’s Tragedies (Netflix original documentary)
Fatal Seduction season 2 (Netflix original series)
Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser (Netflix original documentary)
Night Always Comes (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on August 16

The Fast and the Furious (movie)
2 Fast 2 Furious (movie)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (movie)
Fast Five (movie)
Fast & Furious 6 (movie)
Furious 7 (movie)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (movie)

Arriving on August 18

CoComelon Lane season 5 (Netflix original series)
Extant seasons 1-2 (TV show)

Arriving on August 19

America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys (Netflix original series)
Titans: The Rise of Wall Street season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 20

Fisk season 3 (TV show)
Rivers of Fate (Netflix original series)

Arriving on August 21

The 355 (movie)
Death Inc. season 3 (Netflix original series)
Fall for Me (Netflix original movie)
Gold Rush Gang (Netflix original movie)
Hostage (Netflix original series)
One Hit Wonder (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on August 22

Abandoned Man (Netflix original movie)
Long Story Short (Netflix original series)
The Truth About Jussie Smollett (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on August 27

Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives (Netflix original movie)
Her Mother's Killer season 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on August 28

Barbie Mysteries: Beach Detectives (Netflix original series)
My Life With the Walter Boys season 2 (Netflix original series)
The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on August 29

Two Graves (Netflix original series)
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Netflix original documentary)

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This nifty iPhone case gives your old model a USB-C upgrade to free you from dongle headaches - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 15:00

A new iPhone case gives older Lightning models a USB-C port
It supports fast charging ,and there are versions for most older iPhones
The iPh0n3 case is available now and costs around $55 / £40 / AU£85

If you have an older iPhone that frustrates you with its dated Lightning port, an engineer has just come up with a nifty solution – a phone case that gives it a USB port instead.

The Swiss engineer Ken Pillonel, who runs the YouTube channel Exploring the Simulation, previously achieved internet fame in 2021 for making the first ever USB-C iPhone. While that iPhone X mod was more a proof-of-concept, his new 'iPh0n3' USB-C case is available to buy right now at the Obsoless store.

The case, made from Nylon 12 plastic, is available for most pre-iPhone 15 models, dating back to the iPhone XS and XR (and older models). It supports wireless and MagSafe charging, as well as fast charging and CarPlay.

The only drawback is that accessories that need power from the phone, like external storage or displays, unfortunately won't work with the USB-C port, as they're locked down to only work with Apple adapters.

But otherwise, the case can help bring your older iPhone into the dongle-free world of USB-C charging and accessories. The 'iPh0n3' case starts from 43.90 CHF (around $55 / £40 / AU£85) – and while quite a few models are already sold out, many are due back in stock by the end of August.

How it was built

While the USB-C iPhone case doesn't functionally do much more than put a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter inside a case, the engineering process (explained in the video above) was more complex than you might think.

In Ken Pillonel's attempts to solve the fast charging conundrum, he discovered that many existing Lightning adapters employ simple tricks that prevent them from working correctly with all USB-C cables.

Instead, his case uses various techniques, including parasitic powering, to help it detect which way your cable is plugged in, so it always supports 9V fast charging. Whether you're looking to buy the case or not, the video is an interesting watch.

The ultimate aim of the project is to lure you away from an unnecessary iPhone upgrade by giving your older model USB-C connectivity. Naturally, it can't lengthen the amount of time Apple will support your iPhone for (typically 7-8 years in terms of security updates), but it looks like a neat accessory that some will appreciate if they want to move to a Lightning-free life without upgrading their phone.

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Finally! Asus' 6K rival to Pro Display XDR will debut within weeks and will cost a fraction of its Apple rival - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 15:33

Asus ProArt PA32QCV offers 6K clarity and HDR600 without the eye-watering XDR price
Factory-calibrated color accuracy claims sound good on paper, but longevity remains an open question
HDR10 support and 10-bit color make this panel interesting for high-contrast workflows

Asus has announced the ProArt Display PA32QCV, a 6K-resolution business monitor aimed at creative professionals who require accurate color and sharp detail.

Priced at $1,299, it undercuts Apple’s $4,999 Pro Display XDR while targeting similar use cases in media production.

The PA32QCV delivers 6K visuals at 6016x3384 resolution, producing a pixel density of 218 pixels per inch, more than three times that of a standard 1080p monitor.

ProArt PA32QCV brings impressive specs that remain to be tested

This device also supports HDR10 and meets the VESA DisplayHDR 600 standard, which allows for brighter highlights, deeper contrast, and are particularly useful when working with high-dynamic-range content. The extra detail helps with crisper text, sharper lines, and more precise visuals.

In terms of color accuracy, Asus promises factory-calibrated Delta E<2 performance, backed by Calman Verification. The display covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color space, and it also offers 100% sRGB support and 10-bit depth, delivering over a billion colors.

This makes it a strong option for video editing and other color-critical tasks, although how long the factory calibration remains accurate is unclear.

The monitor includes dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, supporting data transfer, charging, and video passthrough through a single cable.

Other connectivity options include HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A, and additional USB-C ports.

Auto KVM support adds flexibility, letting users control two connected computers with a single keyboard and mouse.

These features suggest it could serve well not only as a display for photo editing but also as a capable all-purpose business monitor.

Asus also emphasizes Mac compatibility. macOS users can adjust settings using the DisplayWidget Center app.

A new M Model-P3 preset aligns the display’s output with macOS devices.

Users can change brightness, contrast, and color temperature with a mouse, and MacBook brightness keys can control the monitor directly.

This may appeal to Mac-focused creatives, although such software tools often lack long-term support.

Asus is promoting a Creative Cloud giveaway with the display in some markets, but the value of bundled software depends on the user’s needs.

The bigger question is whether this 6K screen, despite its impressive specs, will meet the demands of professionals over time.

Via Techpowerup

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New noise-cancelling earbuds with Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, and now a sub-$25 price? The audio world's gone loopy… - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 16:00

If I were to ask you to guess the price of a pair of noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds with hi-res audio streaming, incredibly long battery life and a six-mic setup for active noise cancellation, I suspect you'd start with a three-digit number. And yet Baseus's Bass BP1 Pro earbuds are less than twenty-five bucks on Amazon right now.

This is a triple-discounted price: the BP1 Pro earbuds are down from $39.99 to just $23.78. First of all, Amazon has dropped the price down to $27.99, and then it's added a second 15% off voucher that takes another $4.20 off the total price.

And you can get a free charging cable included that's ostensibly worth $18.99 included in that price, which has a screen on the cable that's supposed to show how charged your device is, handily.

Features like this are pretty rare in mid-tier earbuds, let alone in super-budget ones. I sure hope someone isn't getting fired for this blunder deal.

Don't forget to click the Redeem button next to the voucher details: this is a double discount but the second part isn't added until you click that button. And when you do it drops the price of these adaptive ANC, LDAC-streaming, 55-hour earbuds down to a frankly ridiculous $23.78 and gives you the option of a second pair for free. The deal applies to all three colors in the range: space black, ocean blue and moon white. And once you've done that, be sure to also click on the "How to claim" link next to the "Get 1 free item when you buy 1 select item(s)" offer, and follow the instructions for your free cable.View Deal

Baseus Bass BP1 Pro: lots of features for very little cash

At under $25, these buds are duking it out with the kind of headphones I'd go out of my way not to listen to. And yet the spec is very impressive, with support for LDAC hi-res audio, while active noise cancellation claims to reduce noise by up to 50dB. There are five different ANC modes, and a bass boost for music.

Battery life is decent, with up to 12 hours from the buds and a total 55 hours via the case, all with ANC off. With ANC on, you're still getting 7 hours from the buds and 36 hours from the case, which is pretty impressive and above average overall.

The buds also support rapid charging that'll give you 2.5 hours of music from 10 minutes on charge.

Bluetooth is 6.0 – 6.0! – and there are six mics for calling, and the buds are IP55 rated for dust and water. That makes them a pretty good option for the gym that I don't go to and the rainy walks my dog makes me go on. It's actually not that common for earbuds to be this well-waterproofed (it's often IPX4 at most), so it's another impressive box ticked here.

What do they sound like? I've no idea, but at this price I don't think I'd mind too much if they fall a bit short of the AirPods Max I paid nearly 20 times more for: they could sound like I'd been thrown into a metal waste bin that's being hit with baseball bats and I'd still consider getting them for the ANC alone, for times when I really need it from a pair of buds I can throw into any bag to take anywhere with me.

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This cheap eGPU docking station uses TB5, but you will need an external power supply to get it working - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 16:26

Peladn Link S-3 exposes your GPU completely with no case, no fan, just airflow
Exposed graphics cards make cool airflows easier, but leave components vulnerable to everything else
Don’t expect global availability just yet; it’s only shipping in China for now

Peladn has announced the Link S-3, a compact eGPU dock that introduces Thunderbolt 5 connectivity at a relatively low price.

Priced at CNY 1,599 (around $223), the dock is set to begin shipping in China on July 26, although international release details remain unknown.

Designed to support desktop GPUs externally, the Link S-3 is aimed at users looking to boost graphics performance on devices like video editing laptops or compact desktops without internal expansion options.

Unusual design prioritizes form and airflow over protection

Unlike traditional GPU enclosures with bulky cases, the Link S-3 features a flat, open-air design, which helps reduce both size and cost, relying on ambient airflow to cool the graphics card.

While the design looks sleek, it may feel risky to leave the most expensive part of your setup fully exposed to the environment.

The Peladn Link S-3 does not include a built-in power supply but supports standard ATX or SFX units, with up to 140W power delivery through its Thunderbolt 5 port, meaning users will need to connect an external PSU to power the setup.

Connectivity is a key feature of the Link S-3. It includes two Thunderbolt 5 ports offering up to 80Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth.

However, GPU data transfer is limited to 64Gbps due to the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.

While Thunderbolt 5 offers more bandwidth than previous standards, the real-world performance advantage over OCuLink may be marginal for most workloads.

Still, Thunderbolt brings added features that many OCuLink-based docks lack.

The dock also includes a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port powered by Realtek's RTL8156B controller, a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, an SD card reader, and a PCIe 3.0 x1 M.2 slot for SSD storage.

These additions could make it especially appealing for content creators using a video editing PC or mobile workstation, where fast access to external drives and networks is essential.

Via Techpowerup

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Ancient way of coding helps boost popular video encoder by 100x — but is it too good to be true? - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 17:33

FFmpeg’s biggest speedup yet affects only one function few people will have heard of
Handwritten Assembly makes a comeback in a niche filter that most users will never even touch
AVX512 gives FFmpeg an absurd 100x gain - but only if your CPU supports it

The FFmpeg project, known for powering some of the most widely used video editing software and media tools, is making headlines again.

Developers claim to have achieved what they call “the biggest speedup so far,” delivering a 100x performance gain in a recent update.

The catch? It only applies to a single, obscure function, and the means of achieving it is raising eyebrows - handwritten Assembly code, a technique largely seen as outdated by most of today’s developers.

Assembly coding sparks both nostalgia and skepticism

Assembly language, once essential for getting the most out of limited hardware in the 1980s and 1990s, has become a niche practice.

Yet FFmpeg developers continue to rely on it for extreme optimization, calling themselves “assembly evangelists.”

In their latest patch, they rewrote a filter called rangedetect8_avx512 using AVX512 instructions, part of a modern SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) toolkit that helps CPUs perform multiple tasks in parallel.

On systems without AVX512 support, the AVX2 variant still delivers a 65.63% improvement.

As the team points out, “It’s a single function that’s now 100x faster, not the whole of FFmpeg.”

This news follows a similar boost reported in November 2024, where another patch brought certain operations up to 94x faster.

In that case, part of the earlier performance gap stemmed from mismatched filter complexity: the generic C version used an 8-tap convolution, while the SIMD version used a simpler 6-tap approach.

Even compiling the C version in release mode with a better compiler like Clang could close over 50% of the gap, suggesting that some of the claimed speed gains may have been exaggerated by comparing worst-case with best-case conditions.

“Register allocator sucks on compilers,” the devs quipped on social media, highlighting compiler inefficiencies.

Despite the caveats, this renewed focus on low-level coding has sparked fresh conversations around performance optimization.

FFmpeg powers everything from VLC Media Player to countless YouTube downloader tools, so even small improvements in isolated filters can ripple through widely used software.

However, it’s worth noting that such results are often difficult to replicate and apply across broader parts of the codebase.

While these kinds of deep optimizations are impressive, they may not reflect real-world improvements for everyday users editing footage with video editing software.

Unless other core functions receive similar treatment, the promise of a faster FFmpeg might remain limited to technical benchmarks.

Via TomsHardware

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Exclusive: Lego’s Batman Arkham Asylum set is official – with stunning details and 16 Minifigures - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 20:00

Lego’s next DC Batman set is official: Arkham Asylum
The 2,953 piece set was unveiled at San Diego Comic Con
It’s a three-level set and comes with 16 Minifigures

Yes, it’s the eve of San Diego Comic Con 2025, and Lego is wasting no time ushering in new sets – and TechRadar is exclusively showing off one of the most exciting additions to the Lego Batman theme in recent memory.

The Lego DC Batmobile has long been impressive, but the brand new Lego DC Batman Arkham Asylum set is a towering build with heaps of Minifigures – 16 to be exact.

The set is built from 2,953 pieces, and is designed as a display piece that stands 12.5 inches high and nearly 10 inches deep. It will come together as a two-story building plus a roof, and the Asylum can be split apart to customize the look. I have a feeling collectors and fans alike who opt for this set will do plenty of that to arrange the Minifigures inside.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

There are plenty of cells to house the likes of Harley Quinn, Bane, or The Joker, but there’s also the outer shell of the building, complete with red brick and plenty of details. In fact, the designers at Lego are shipping this set with 65 stickers – that’s a lot of custom options. There’s even the cement sign out front and other details pulled straight from the Batman universe, and wider DC brand.

Of course, Arkham Asylum wouldn’t be complete without a delivery van for inmate transport, so that's included too, along with various accessories for the Minifigures.

Let’s break down the Minifigures here as well. There are 16 in total, including Batman, Batwoman, Batwing, Robin, Mr Freeze, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, Bane, The Joker, The Penguin, Killer Croc, and two security guards.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Furthermore, and somewhat of a rarity for Lego sets, you’ll get transparent elements to help pose characters, including the ability to have Batman coming down off the roof or perched up top.

You can see a full gallery of shots of Lego’s DC Batman Arkham Asylum set below, and it will launch ahead of the holiday season on September 12 for $299.99 / £269.99 (Australian price TBC). If you’re a member of Lego Insiders – the brand's free-to-join rewards program – you can order the set early on September 9.

Considering it’s built from nearly 3,000 pieces and is launching before the holidays, Lego is also suggesting this could be used as a Batman advent calendar of sorts. How? Well, you’d build a part of each day for 24 days, as it comes with that number of bags to make up the building instruction booklet.

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(Image credit: Jacob Kro/Future)

If you're just after a new Lego set, here are a few of my favorites on sale at Amazon right now.

Today's best Lego deals

If you simply want an easy and fun Lego build, this Sunflowers set is for you. And it's a massive 47% off at just $7.94. Using 191 pieces, you can create two lovely Lego sunflowers.View Deal

R2-D2 is the most iconic droid around, and right now you can build your own version out of 1,050 bricks for just $79.99. That's a 20% discount from the $99.99 MSRP, and Prime members get free fast shipping. This set is themed to the 25th anniversary of Lego Star Wars, and comes with a mini R2-D2, a display plate, and a Darth Malak minifigure.View Deal

@tomsguide

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Lego just dropped 9 new sets at Comic-Con 2025 — including a stunning brick-built Game Boy I checked out - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 20:30

Lego’s recreated some iconic pieces of tech over the years in brick-built form, but this surprise debut at San Diego Comic Con might just take the cake. You might have heard rumblings, but the Lego Game Boy is real, and I’ve held it.

It’s nearly a 1:1 replica of the iconic gaming handheld that you’ll assemble out of 421 pieces. You’ll not just build the console, though, as you’ll also build Game Paks for two legendary titles: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Super Mario Land. While these aren’t exactly playable, you can swap out the ‘screen’ for the console's loading system or moments from the games.

The best news here, beyond the rest of the details which I’ll get too, might just be the price. While this is a collaboration with Nintendo, Lego’s kept the price on the more affordable side at $59.99 / £54.99 / AU$99.99 – yes, a lot for an only slightly above 400-piece set, but it’s a unique collaboration.

The Lego Game Boy goes up for preorder right now and will start shipping on October 1, 2025. I suspect this will be a highly popular gift as we enter the holiday season, and it’s for the attention to detail that Lego has done here. As a 1:1 replica, you’ll build dial controls for contrast and volume as well as all the main buttons: SELECT, START, +Control Pad, A, and B Buttons.

The Lego Game Boy was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 alongside the Lego Batman Arkham Asylum – which you can see TechRadar’s reveal of here – inside a booth that contained a shrunk-down, but still quite large, made-out-of-Lego replica of the convention center.

You can see a gallery of that below, plus a look at the eight other sets that premiered at the show. Those include Stranger Things BrickHeadz and several new sets themed to Wicked, ahead of Wicked for Good arriving later in 2025.

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(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)Lego's San Diego Comic Con 2025 Reveals

If you're already sold on Lego Game Boy, you don't need to wait to preorder it ... and hopefully lock in a launch delivery date. As a reminder, you'll build the iconic gaming handheld out of over 400 pieces. Although it won't actually function, you can swap in and out two screens and two Game Paks on the back. It's up for preorder now at $59.99 in the United States, and it lands on October 1, 2025.

We're all counting down the days for Season 5 of Stranger Things, and Lego's latest BrickHeadz treatment pays homage to some of the show's iconic characters. Courtesy of 542 bricks, you'll build Will, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. Best of all, this one is up for order right now at Lego.com.

You can get a deep dive on everything you need to know about Lego's latest Batman set here, but here's the TLDR. The Lego DC Batman Arkham Asylum is filled with intricate details and includes 16 Minifigures. You'll build the Arkham Asylum out of nearly 3,000 bricks, and it contains over 60 stickers. It's up for preorder in September.

If you thought the Spider-Man or Sunflowers wall art from Lego was incredible, this one themed after Wicked might just top it. Meet the Wicked Emerald City Wall Art, which features all the essential colors – pink, green, and yellow – as well as four Minifigures that are hidden in a compartment. Of course, Glinda’s bubble is here as well. This Lego set is now available for preorder at $159.99 and is scheduled to ship from September 1, 2025.

This new Lego Wicked set is less display and more imaginative play. After a few minutes with it, the Glinda & Elphaba Visit Munchkinland set certainly meets the mark. It's up for preorder now at $69.99 from Lego.View Deal

@techradar

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Sora 2 is coming, but it will have to dazzle viewers to beat Google's Veo 3 model - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 21:30

OpenAI is expected to release the Sora 2 AI video model soon
Sora 2 will face stiff competition from Google’s Veo 3 model
Veo 3 already offers features that Sora does not, and OpenAI will need to enhance both what Sora can do and how easy it is to use to entice possible customers

OpenAI appears to be finalizing plans to release Sora 2, the next iteration of its text-to-video model, based on references spotted in OpenAI's servers.

Nothing has been officially confirmed, but there are signs that Sora 2 will be a major upgrade aimed squarely at Google’s Veo 3 AI video model. It’s not just a race to generate prettier pixels; it's about sound and the experience of producing what the user is imagining when writing a prompt.

OpenAI’s Sora impressed many when it debuted with its high-quality images. They were silent films, however. But, when Veo 3 debuted this year, it showcased short clips with speech and environmental audio baked in and synced up. Not only could you watch a man pour coffee in slow motion, but you could also hear the gentle splash of liquid, the clink of ceramic, and even the hum of a diner around the digital character.

To make Sora 2 stand out as more than just a lesser option to Veo 3, OpenAI will need to figure out how to stitch believable voices, sound effects, and ambient noise into even better versions of its visuals. Getting audio right, particularly lip-sync, is tricky. Most AI video models can show you a face saying words. The magic trick is making it look like those words actually came from that face.

It's not that Veo 3 is perfect at matching sound to picture, but there are examples of videos with surprisingly tight audio-to-mouth coordination, background music that matches the mood, and effects that fit the intent of the video.

Granted, a maximum of eight seconds per video limits the scope for success or failure, but fidelity to the scene is necessary before considering duration. And it's hard to deny that it can make videos that both look and sound like real cats jumping off high dives into a pool. Though if Sora 2 can extend to 30 seconds or more with a steady quality, it's easy to see it attracting users looking for more room for creating AI videos.

Sora 2's movie mission

OpenAI’s Sora can stretch up to 20 seconds or more of high-quality video. And as it's embedded into ChatGPT, you can make it part of a larger project. This flexibility is significant for helping Sora stand out, but the audio absence is notable. To compete directly with Veo 3, Sora 2 will have to find its voice. Not only find it, but weave it smoothly into the videos it produces. Sora 2 might have great audio, but if it can't outmatch the seamless way Veo 3's audio connects with its visuals, it might not matter.

At the same time, making Sora 2 too good might cause its own issues. With every new generation of AI video model, there's more concern about blurring the line with reality. Sora and Veo 3 both don't allow prompts involving real people, violence, or copyrighted content. But adding audio offers a whole new dimension of scrutiny over the origin and use of realistic voices.

The other big question is pricing. Google has Veo 3 behind the Gemini Advanced paywall, and you really need to subscribe to the $250 a month AI Ultra tier if you want to use Veo 3 all the time. OpenAI might bundle access to Sora 2 into the ChatGPT Plus and Pro tiers in a similar manner, but if it can offer more to the cheaper tier, it's likely to quickly expand its userbase.

For the average person, the AI video tool they turn to will hinge on that price, as well as ease of use, as much as the features and quality of video. There's a lot OpenAI needs to do if Sora 2 is going to be more than a silent blip in the AI race, but it looks like we will find out how well it can compete soon.

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If you felt like Amazon could eavesdrop on you before, get ready to meet its AI wearable - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - 23:30

Amazon is looking to make AI part of your daily life and has turned to the world of wearables to help. The tech giant has just acquired Bee AI, the maker of the eponymous device for your wrist or lapel that listens to everything happening around you.

Bee’s microphones and built-in AI transcribe it all in real time and make personalized summaries of your day and your stated upcoming tasks, and then make recommendations to improve your life based not only on what it hears, but the emails, calendar, contacts, photos, locations, and other data you allow it to access.

People already make jokes about how they will be discussing a product with someone else in person and, seemingly by magic, it will appear in their recommended products on Amazon. That can usually be chalked up to coincidence and forgetting previous searches, along with being unaware of your app permissions.

However, this may become part of Amazon's business model, prompting people to wear microphones to listen all day and pay $50, plus a $19 monthly subscription, for the privilege.

Bee listening

Naturally, Amazon saw potential in Bee. Alexa has mostly been stuck inside the house despite attempts at smart glasses and other wearables. Bee is a chance for Amazon to make its AI a real-world concern, part of your actual conversations and routines, not just what you yell across the kitchen. That might be helpful, but it's impossible not to think about what it might mean in terms of privacy and trust.

To be fair, Bee has a mute button you can hold down to pause recording when you need a moment of peace. But that assumes you realize you’re about to say something you might not want permanently archived by Amazon. Bee listens and turns your life into searchable text. Although the company claims it doesn’t retain the raw audio, the transcripts remain unless you delete them.

I don't know if I want everything I mutter under my breath to be a searchable note. Not to mention whatever it might overhear from when I watch TV or movies at home.

I get the appeal of a little AI that remembers everything so you don’t have to. Remembering every chore and birthday would be great. But the line between deliberate memory aid and surveillance feels blurry with it. Especially when Amazon already has so much information.

Although Amazon has promised to work with Bee, allowing users to have control over their data, the actual shape of that control remains unclear for now. And control is too often translated into a complex settings menu and paragraph of boilerplate text in the terms and conditions.

I know plenty of people who would at least try out Bee, especially when it becomes an Amazon device with all the special sales and integration with the e-commerce site that implies. Perfect recall is a tempting commodity, but it has its price. If you're willing to pay it, then I say go for it. Not every microphone is the gateway to Skynet. But skepticism and caution are essential if you want something to sit on your wrist and transform the events of your life into data points that might help sell you products.

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