News
- Amazon says emissions rose 16% in 2025, purchased electricity emissions up 34%
- Projects are using renewable energy matching and lower-carbon materials
- Data center PUE continues to improve, but Google does it better
In its 2025 Sustainability Report, Amazon revealed its absolute emissions increased 16% to 80.9 million tonnes, meaning that one single company now generates as many emissions as an entire country – New Zealand (77.8 million tonnes in 2024).
The company blamed AI for creating unprecedented energy demand, causing emissions to rise significantly in 2025, but it argues long-term investments in renewable energy and data center efficiency keep it on track for its 2040 net zero goal.
However, this is Amazon's largest annual emissions increase since it launched its net zero Climate Pledge, and its data center expansion plans continue to develop.
Amazon's emissions continue to grow – 2040 net zero goal remains realisticAlthough AWS revenue grew 20% in 2025, Amazon noted the amount of CO2 per dollar of revenue actually grew 3% year-over-year – though this figure, known as carbon intensity, is still 38% lower than 2019 before aggressive AI-fuelled data center expansions.
But while data centers have certainly caused energy consumption and carbon emissions to rise, the company's biggest contributor is actually its supply chain. Around three-quarters (76%) of its total emissions now come from its supply chain, up 20% year-over-year.
Despite the 34% increase in emissions from purchased electricity, those emissions only account for around one-twentieth (5%) of Amazon's entire carbon footprint.
Amazon also noted that 80 new renewable and carbon-free energy projects in 2025 brought its overall capacity to 42GW across 712 projects, with 61 of its construction projects last year using lower-carbon materials.
But with a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) score of 1.14, its data centers fall short of Google's 2024 figure of 1.09.
The BosGame VTI-490 angled top panel, bright orange power button and the slightly cyberpunk styling suggest a machine aimed primarily at gamers, and for the first few days of testing, I kept that in mind as I started the application installs and connection to the network. By the end of a month, it had become one of the most impressive mini PCs I’ve tested, and while the integrated graphics will impress gamers, creative professionals should also take note.
What sets this machine apart is the new Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, built on Intel's 18A process. This is the company's first 2nm-class node, and the performance reflects what was promised by this new technology and release.
Using all standard applications in Windows 11 Pro is fluid; applications open quickly, and the full Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and a browser full of tabs run without any issues. This was effectively reflected in the Windows Experience score of 8.9, which is among the highest I’ve seen in a Mini PC of this size.
As part of the new CPU, there's the integrated Intel Arc B390 GPU, and checking out the benchmarks, the results were impressive with Fire Strike Graphics at 17,443, Time Spy at 7,717, and Wild Life at 43,790, which, to put it into context, is well above the usual Radeon 890M integrated GPU scores I’m used to seeing.
Before starting some serious work, I tested running Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy. Both ran smoothly at medium-to-high settings at 1080p, and at lower settings, 4K is also possible.
If you’re looking for a compact mini PC for creative use, for example to run Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Lightroom the machine was able to handle 4K footage from the Canon EOS R5 C and Sony a7 IV without issue, no dropped frames during productions lasting up to and beyond 15 minutes, although an external storage solution was needed as the 1TB internal drive is lacking on capacity.
This is where the most impressive feature came into play, the 10GbE LAN port on the rear. Connecting directly to a Ugreen DXP4800 GT NAS at 10Gbps delivered network transfer speeds approaching 800 MB/s, the equivalent of working from a directly attached drive while accessing multi-terabyte NAS capacity.
For video and photo professionals who run a high-speed NAS, this entirely eliminates the need for a separate 10GbE switch or adapter, enabling a neat, tidy workspace with plenty of upgrade potential if needed. Whether or not it's the best mini PC out there will depend entirely on whether you need that level of functionality and power.
BosGame VTI-490: Price and availability(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)- How much does it cost? $1699
- When is it out? Now
- Where can you get it? Directly from BosGame
The Bosgame VTI-490 is available direct from Bosgame's website priced at $1,699 / £1,284.
The review unit that I’ve tested here shipped with Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and 64GB LPDDR5X RAM.
- Value: 4/5
CPU: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 16C/16T, up to 4.8GHz
GPU: Intel Arc B390
NPU: Intel NPU 5
AI performance: 180 TOPS combined
RAM: 64GB LPDDR5X 9600 MT/s, soldered, dual-channel
Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (Plus one M.2 slot available for upgrade)
Front ports: 3.5mm jack, 2 × USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps), 1 × USB 2.0, 1 × Thunderbolt 4 (8K 60Hz), power button
Rear ports: HDMI 2.1 (8K 60Hz), DisplayPort 1.4 (8K 60Hz), Thunderbolt 4 (8K 60Hz), 1 × 2.5GbE LAN, 1 × 10GbE LAN, 2 × USB 2.0, OCuLink
Wireless: Wi-Fi (Intel AX201, Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth
OS: Windows 11 Pro
Dimensions: 5.98 x 5.98 x 2.05in (152 x 152 x 52mm) (including rubber feet)
Weight: 1.62lb (736g)
The VTI-490's design is slightly different from the understated boxes that dominate the mini PC market. Firstly, there’s the angled top section, made from sheet metal with plenty of venting slots, complemented by quality plastic for the remainder of the chassis. The cyberpunk aesthetic, essentially angular lines, is minimalistic, and the bright orange power button sets off the front nicely. I personally like that it’s easy to find, which isn’t always the case.
While I say it has a slight cyberpunk style, it could equally be a piece of broadcast equipment, looking like a little smaller hardware encoder box. Either way, it sits neatly on the desk, taking up far less space than a workstation with comparable power.
At 5.98 x 5.98 x 2.05in (152 x 152 x 52mm) and 1.62lb (736g), it’s compact and light by mini PC standards, especially with this specification. It’s also worth noting that, unlike most mini PCs at this price, the VTI-490 does not include a VESA mount. It’s designed to sit on a desk rather than be mounted behind a monitor. If you rely on VESA mounting to keep the workspace clear, or to fix it to the inside of a van or cabinet, then this is something to think about.
I’m not a great fan of the design. However, the port layout is well thought through, and the front panel offers a good selection of ports. These ports are set off by the bright orange power button, which is easy to find, and it sounds minor, but it matters in a busy studio environment. This power button is joined by two USB 3.2 Gen2 10 Gbps ports, one USB 2.0 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port capable of 8K output at 60Hz, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The rear panel offers an HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, both supporting 8K at 60Hz, alongside a second Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB 2.0 ports and the OCuLink port for future eGPU expansion.
The standout rear feature for creative professionals is the dual LAN: one 2.5GbE port for standard network connection and a dedicated 10GbE port, something no competing mini PC at this price that I’ve tested currently offers. This high-speed port enables direct NAS connection without additional switching hardware, which, for 10GbE, can be expensive.
The Core Ultra X7 358H and Arc B390 draw significant power for a mini PC, and the thermal design works well, though not silently.
- Design: 4 / 5
At the heart of the machine is an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H with integrated Arc B390 GPU. In the test, this GPU delivered impressive performance, as was seen in the benchmark scores across the board. These controlled tests and the high scores that resulted were reflected in the real-world tests.
Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve handled 4K video editing with files from the Canon EOS R5 C more like a desktop machine than a mini PC. I was personally impressed that I could edit productions up to 15 minutes long and beyond without the performance drop-off that usually limits these small PCs. AI-accelerated features in Photoshop, such as generative fill and timeline expansion in Premiere Pro, all worked well.
As is now standard, the CPU and GPU are joined by a dedicated NPU, in this case the Intel NPU 5, which offers 50 TOPS of AI processing, and sits alongside the CPU and GPU rather than sharing resources with either. Using older Mini PCs without the NPU acceleration, it’s obvious the benefit you get, especially when using Copilot+ features, and then there’s the ability to run your own local language models via LM Studio.
During the test, LM Studio was used to set up a local AI agent capable of organising files within the home network, a workflow that picks up on a project that I had started with a high-speed NAS. Connecting the VTI-490 to the UGREEN iDX6011 Pro NAS creates a powerful local AI hub. It’s an ongoing project, and the potential is growing.
Looking at the more traditional hardware, 64GB of LPDDR5X at 9600 MT/s runs in a dual-channel configuration across all eight soldered memory chips, providing the bandwidth creative applications need.
Checking out Adobe Bridge, and it was able to render thumbnail catalogues from Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5 C shoots. Lightroom Classic batch editing, Photoshop file handling and Premiere Pro timeline management and rendering are all boosted by the higher RAM.
Checking out the stability of the machine by keeping everything open, including all of Microsoft Office, the full Creative Suite (including InDesign), and a well-loaded browser, didn’t noticeably affect the speed or stability.
During the test, the one feature that really stood out to me was the 10GbE LAN port, especially since I’ve been looking at the Ugreen DXP4800 GT NAS, and this compact partner proved to be a great solution for creative applications.
Connecting the mini PC and 16TB NAS directly via the 10GbE network ports enabled transfer speeds of around 800 MB/s, comparable to a directly attached storage device of this capacity.
What was good about this partnership was that I could make the connection without needing a separate 10GbE switch or a USB4-to-10GbE adapter. For videographers and photographers working from a NAS, this changes the economics of a simple desktop setup; a 10GbE switch will set you back around £250 and an adapter £80+. The second 2.5GbE port handles the standard network connection, leaving the 10GbE port free for the NAS direct link.
On arrival, the machine has Windows 11 Pro installed, and, as ever, the final steps of the installation are required: complete the Windows setup, register accounts, and the machine is ready to use.
On the back, you also have the OCuLink port; unfortunately, I don’t at present have an OCuLink eGPU to test this part of the machine.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)- Features: 4.5 / 5
The machine arrived almost set to go with the final stages of the Windows 11 setup process needing to be completed before the tests could begin.
After running updates and ensuring all settings had been switched to performance, I started out with the main benchmark tests. Here, the machine instantly started to show its potential with a PCMark 10 score of 9,378, which is high. I then double checked this by running the Windows Experience Index, which, with a score of 8.9, is amongst the highest I have recorded for a mini PC.
This performance essentially reflected my experience with the day-to-day use. Microsoft Office applications open swiftly, and working across Word, Excel and PowerPoint with copy-paste between all three produces no notable lag. That new Intel CPU delivers plenty of speed for Windows 11.
I’m always interested in the disk speed as this is essential for video editing, although speeds are now reaching a point where, for the moment at least, they’re fast enough. Sure enough, CrystalDiskMark results of 6,052 MB/s read and 5,271 MB/s write showed that the PCIe 4.0 SSD is performing well.
Benchmark resultsCrystalDiskMark Read: 6,052.4 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 5,271.62 MB/s
Geekbench 6 CPU Multi-Core: 15,615
Geekbench 6 CPU Single-Core: 2,869
Geekbench 6 GPU: 56,442
PCMark 10 Overall: 9,378
Cinebench CPU Multi: 4,297
Cinebench CPU Single: 511
3DMark Fire Strike Overall: 14,593
3DMark Fire Strike Graphics: 17,443
3DMark Fire Strike Physics: 28,356
3DMark Fire Strike Combined: 4,941
3DMark Time Spy Overall: 7,717
3DMark Time Spy Graphics: 7,163
3DMark Time Spy CPU: 13,742
3DMark Wild Life Overall: 43,790
3DMark Steel Nomad Overall: 1,645
Windows Experience Index: 8.9
In practice, Premiere Pro cache operations, Lightroom catalogue loading and project file access all benefit from this speed. The limitation, however, is capacity.
1TB isn’t a great deal and fills quickly with 4K footage from the Canon EOS R5 C, for this test and due to that high-demand workflow, an external SSD or, more aptly, connecting to the NAS via the 10GbE port and editing directly from network storage would be the solution. There are, however, two M.2 slots in the chassis, which makes a 4TB upgrade straightforward when needed.
The Arc B390 is a GPU that I haven’t tested before, and the performance was exceptional. The first real example of this was the Fire Strike Graphics score at 17,443, then Time Spy Graphics at 7,163 and Wild Life at 43,790. This is a significant boost for integrated graphics.
What this meant was that in Premiere Pro, the GPU handles 4K Canon EOS R5 C footage through colour grading and effects without the slowdown that I’m used to seeing with productions over five minutes. Productions up to 15 minutes and beyond were handled well.
Loading up DaVinci Resolve for the colour grading, and this was equally impressive. For anything beyond 15 minutes at professional-quality settings, an OCuLink eGPU would provide that welcome additional boost in power.
For RAW image editing, the combination of 64GB LPDDR5X and the Arc B390 makes Lightroom Classic and Adobe Bridge work extremely well, and for the most part, both applications were surprisingly stable.
As I went through the images from a museum brochure shoot, the Adobe Bridge selection, Lightroom Classic batch edit, and Photoshop output all worked without having to wait for thumbnails to render. Photoshop generative fill and AI-enhanced adjustments also appeared to benefit from both the Arc B390's hardware acceleration and the NPU 5.
Of course, while the creative applications are good to push the system, I was also interested in the gaming performance, especially with the Arc B390 and the new ARC GPUT.
Starting with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and then Hogwarts Legacy, I found that both ran at medium-to-high settings at 1080p with smooth frame rates. Pushing to 4K at lower-to-mid settings remained playable, with image breakup appearing at the higher end of the 4K quality options.
While I was unable to test it, I liked the fact that there’s the OCuLink port to upgrade if you need to edit higher-resolution video or play games that would otherwise require a full desktop.
Through the test, the feature that impressed me the most was the 10GbE LAN port that was able to deliver network editing speeds of up to 800 MB/s when connected directly to a DXP4800 GT NAS using the 10 Gbps port.
In Premiere Pro, editing 4K footage directly from the NAS over this connection was effectively the same as editing from a locally attached SSD, with little if any difference. If you are a photographer or videographer running a high-speed NAS, this feature alone makes it a great choice.
The final feature that I looked at was the Intel NPU 5 with 50 TOPS of dedicated AI processing. This enabled far faster use of Copilot+ and enabled me to set up a local LLM inference via LM Studio. Running a local language model to assist with file organisation within a home network showed the machine's potential as a local AI node, particularly when paired with a NAS system.
- Performance: 4.5 / 5
The Bosgame VTI-490 is a machine that really did surprise me, first with its aesthetics, which suggest a gaming focus, and then with the performance and features it actually delivers. After a month, the fact that it had some mild cyberpunk styling was forgotten, and what remained was a mini PC that handled every creative and productivity task thrown at it with ease and far exceeded expectations.
The Arc B390 is impressive and far outpaces other integrated GPUs. It’s fast and works well with all apps and games tested. The benchmark scores essentially translate directly to real-world performance that easily competes with entry-level discrete GPU workstations, just at a fraction of the size and cost.
What impressed me most about the machine was the 10GbE LAN, and this is a feature that will appeal to video and photo professionals. A direct 10 Gbps NAS connection, without a switch or adapter, that’s capable of delivering network speeds suitable for video editing is not a common feature on mini PCs or desktops, so it’s impressive to see here.
There are a few areas where I would have expected a little more, and for starters, the 1TB SSD is just too small, and the fact that there’s no VESA mount is annoying. Then there’s the fan noise under load, which isn’t bad but is notable, will annoy some, but most should be able to live with it.
It’s also worth considering that there are plenty of upgrade options; an additional SSD can be added, and the OCuLink port on the back enables even more power.
While there is a definite gamer theme to the aesthetics, in reality, this is equally suited to the creative sector.
Should I buy the BosGame VTI-490?(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Value
It's expensive, but Arc B390, 10GbE LAN, dual Thunderbolt 4 and OCuLink potential justify the cost.
4/5
Design
The design is balanced, and the cyberpunk aesthetics may be of an acquired taste, however, decent port layout.
4/5
Features
10GbE LAN, dual Thunderbolt 4, OCuLink, Intel NPU 5, clean Windows 11 Pro, this is alot in a small case.
4.5/5
Performance
4K video editing and gaming performance exceeds anything previously seen in a mini PC at this size
4.5/5
Overall
This is essentially a mini PC workstation, and impressive not only for it’s size but price.
4.5/5
Buy it if...You edit video or process RAW in a NAS workflow.
The 10GbE LAN enables direct NAS connection at 800MB/s with the Arc B390 handles 4K editing in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve without the performance issues of typical mini PCs.
You want a compact workstation you can grow with
The OCuLink port, dual M.2 slots and 10GbE LAN give the VTI-490 plenty of upgrade options. Start with the base specification, add storage when needed, add an eGPU when projects demand it and money allows.
Don't buy it if...You need to VESA mount
No VESA mount is included or supported. The VTI-490 is designed for desktop positioning. If monitor mounting is important for your setup, most other mini PCs at this price include a VESA plate.
You need large internal storage
The 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD fills quickly with 4K video. An external drive, NAS connection or M.2 upgrade is an easy additional purchase.
For more productivity machines, we've tested the best business computers.
If you've been hunting around for an affordable alternative to the MacBook Air with exceptional battery life, I've found a great deal for you at Amazon.
The HP OmniBook 3 is now $550 (was $970) at Amazon, a huge 43% saving. If you're looking for an ultra-portable with all-day batter life for business trips or studying, you'll definitely want to check this out.
Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor, the 14-inch HP OmniBook 3 is built for everyday productivity while delivering the impressive battery life that Snapdragon-powered PCs have become known for. HP rates it for up to 32 hours and 15 minutes of use, helping you work, study, or travel without constantly reaching for a charger.
Today's top HP OmniBook 3 laptop dealThis 14-inch laptop combines a Snapdragon X processor, a sharp 2K IPS display, 16GB of LPDDR5x memory, and a fast 512GB SSD, delivering AI-powered productivity and up to 32 hours of battery life.View Deal
The 14-inch OmniBook 3 has an IPS display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, giving you more vertical workspace than a traditional Full HD panel.
Combined with an anti-glare finish and 300 nits of brightness, it's well suited to working indoors or on the move.
Performance is backed by 16GB of LPDDR5x memory and a fast 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, providing plenty of speed for multitasking, office work, web browsing, streaming, and everyday creative projects.
Qualcomm Adreno graphics also help deliver responsive visuals while delivering excellent power efficiency.
The OmniBook 3 includes AI-powered features to help streamline everyday tasks and HP also bundles Otter.ai, which can automatically record meetings, generate transcripts, capture presentation slides, and create summaries.
The laptop also offers two USB-C ports with Power Delivery and DisplayPort support, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack.
An FHD webcam with HDR auto-switch helps improve video calls by automatically balancing brightness and color in challenging lighting conditions.
Fast charging adds even more convenience, restoring the battery from empty to 50% in around 45 minutes when you need a quick boost before heading out.
A Snapdragon X processor, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD, a 2K display, and battery life measured in days rather than hours make this one of the best laptop deals I've seen recently. With 43% off, it's an excellent option for anyone looking to upgrade without spending close to $1,000.
For other choices, take a look at our round up of the best laptops for working from home, as well as our picks for the best business laptops.
The Shark ChillPill is on sale for the first time since its launch in March, and it couldn't have come at a better time with heatwaves popping up around the country. Right now, you can get the Shark ChillPill at Amazon for $129.99 (was $149.99).
The Shark ChillPill markets itself as the only 3-in-1 Personal Cooling System that acts as a fan, mister, and cooling plate. It does this with the included attachments, which you can swap around depending on how you want to use it.
Maybe more dupes will pop up as its popularity rises, but for now, this is the premium option when it comes to handheld fans.
Today's best handheld fan dealThe Shark ChillPill is a unique product that acts as a fan, mister, and cooling plate in one. It achieves this through multiple attachments that each do their part well, with multiple settings to help you cool off. It can last up to 11 hours at its lowest setting and still holds around eight hours at a middle level. This is the first sale we've seen on the ChillPill since its launch in March, and it's worth getting to beat the heat this summer.View Deal
Our reviewer calls the Shark ChillPill the "most versatile product in this space" for a reason. Its multiple cooling options, all-day battery life, and sturdy build are just a few reasons we gave it 4.5 out of five stars in our Shark ChillPill review.
During testing, our reviewer found that the fan lasted eight hours and 10 minutes at speed five. (For context, there are 10 speed settings for the fan.) Shark claims it can last up to 11 hours on low power, but using its maximum power can drain the battery in just 1.5 hours. It has a display screen that shows how much battery is left, along with other information like current settings, and can charge via USB-C.
As for the other attachments, the mister has constant and interval modes depending on how often you want the mist to spray out. The cooling plate can drop your skin temperature by 16 degrees F in just a few seconds when you touch it against your skin.
The cooling plate is meant to be used sparingly in moments when you want to cool down quickly. Our reviewer found that running it continuously drains the battery in 1 hour and 40 minutes (as advertised), but the cooling is so intense that most people probably wouldn't want to use it for that long.
For something less complicated, you can take a look at our best fans for your home or on-the-go. We also have recommendations from one of our former fan testers.
- Meta Compute could see the company sell off its excess compute
- The company expects to spend $125-145 billion on AI and data centers this year
- SpaceX recently struck up two very lucrative deals to sell compute to Anthropic, Google Cloud
Meta is reportedly looking at selling the compute capacity it has created during its AI-induced data center expansions, and it could launch a business to rival AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
A report from Bloomberg claims the new businesses, reportedly internally named Meta Compute, would see the company rent out excess compute capacity.
Though Meta hasn't officially confirmed such plans, a cloud computing business could allow customers to rent GPUs for AI training and inference, access Meta's models or host their own models on Meta's infrastructure.
Is Meta going to launch its own cloud computing business?Meta anticipates spending $125-145 billion on AI and data centers in 2026, and a cloud business could help offset some of the AI infrastructure costs it's faced up to this point. It would also provide extra revenue when the company's GPUs are sitting idle between workloads.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself even refused to write off the possibility. "It's definitely on the table," he told investors on an earnings call.
If Zuckerberg okays the business, it wouldn't be the first of its kind. SpaceX also recently struck up deals with Anthropic and Google Cloud to sell its excess capacity. It would likely see instant success as well, because even industry giants like Microsoft are struggling to meet their own demands.
GitHub recently had to turn to AWS for extra capacity, with Azure failing to meet demands in the short term.
Meta has been struggle with share prices for several months, and while this recent news didn't trigger a full recovery, share prices did rise around 9-10% following reports indicating that shareholders are feeling more confident in the company's massive AI-related spending habits.
- Warner Bros will adapt Trevor Henderson's Siren Head for the big screen
- Weapons director Zach Cregger and Whalefall's Brian Duffield are working on the script
- This news comes after A24's Backrooms became the second highest grossing horror movie of 2026
We're seeing a trend of Creepypasta adaptations coming back, and Siren Head is the next internet horror phenomenon to be adapted for the big screen.
Creepypasta-based movies have varied in quality over the years, whether it's the terrible Slender Man or the critically acclaimed Backrooms, and it seems we're about to get even more new horror movies based on these terrifying online tales.
When it comes to Siren Head, it already has a strong team behind it. Trevor Henderson's original creation has been picked up by Warner Bros., with Weapons' Zach Cregger and Whalefall's Brian Duffield working on the script, according to reports from Deadline.
Siren Head has all the ingredients to be a successful horror movie, but it's, of course, too early to say if it will ever reach the heights of Backrooms, which became the second highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 with box office takings of $331 million.
The question is, will a Siren Head movie work as a feature length? At the moment, I'm not entirely convinced.
Siren Head's short film was good, but I'm not sure a feature length movie is necessarySometimes, less is more. That's how I feel about Siren Head, as the creepy cryptid is well suited to short-form entertainment like YouTube videos and quick horror games. Will it have the same impact with a longer runtime?
Creepypasta stories are often quite simple, and Siren Head is no exception. The creature is known for camouflaging with its surroundings before attacking anyone in its vicinity, with the Siren Head wiki page explaining it is responsible for "a large number of disappearances across suburbia and rural environments".
Scary as it is, I'm worried there's not enough substance to make this work, and we may get bored with Siren Head's modus operandi of chasing and killing anyone in its path, seemingly for no reason, before doing it all over again.
Backrooms, on the other hand, is more of a slow burn and requires deep exploration to uncover the true horror, which is why I think it has done exceptionally well theatrically. There are lots of areas, lore, and monsters to explore, and the Backrooms fandom is full of fan-created levels featuring new threats and ideas.
Like the Backrooms, the storytelling possibilities seem infinite. It is a vast, terrifying space with weird set design and that signature dark ambient sound design to keep us on edge. Any character can set foot in it, often no-clipping out of reality unexpectedly. It's ripe for multiple adaptations and interpretations, whereas Siren Head may not live up to that.
But, as I said, there is a strong team behind it. We may well be headed into a new era of very effective Creepypasta adaptations, and I'm excited if that's true.
I'll be following Siren Head closely, and I hope it'll be a thrilling feature-length adaptation after all.
Porkbun is an American-based domain registrar that’s been around since 2015. Underneath its quirky pig-based exterior, it promises to be one of the cheapest options around. It sells most domains at cost price of wholesale pricing, plus ICANN fees, and credit card fees, without making a chunky sum out of hidden fees. Besides domains, it also offers web hosting, and email hosting, but I’m focusing on its domain services here.
I’ve been buying domain names for the past 25 years and have been reviewing services for over a decade. This Porkbun review is based on my hands-on testing, consulting official documentation and support, as well as checking verified user reviews for additional feedback.
For more options, why not look through our list of the best domain registration services.
Porkbun: My experience(Image credit: Porkbun)Signing up to a domain via Porkbun only took moments. On the main page, I entered the domain name I was interested in purchasing and was quickly presented with a list of all the domain suffixes available right now. Once choosing to purchase one, there’s an option to add hosting and also to ‘upsell me’. Click the latter button and Porkbun suggests some relevant domain names you might also want to add on.
A minute later and you’re all set. Again, there’s a bit more upselling with the option of adding a site builder or WordPress hosting, but it’s not too intrusive. The domain management page is right there and it's simple to browse through your domains. As with most domain registrations, it takes a minute or two to be registered and it was pretty quick with Porkbun. The simple management page has everything you need and I liked the process. Just make sure to toggle auto-renew off unless it’s essential for you.
Porkbun: Features(Image credit: Porkbun)Porkbun keeps things simple so when it comes to features, there’s no filler here. Buying a domain name also brings the offer of web hosting but that’s about as complicated as it gets.
On the domain registration page, you’re given WHOIS privacy as standard. You can toggle the domain lock on or off, and there’s an auto-renew toggle as well. If you’re planning on selling your domain name at some point, you can also quickly add to the marketplace to auction it off to someone. CSV file downloads of all your domain name details, including auth codes, can be quickly obtained from the management page too.
Wrapping things up well, it’s easy to configure your DNS records for many popular services with a couple of clicks of a button. These include Google Workspace, Squarespace, Shopify, and Bluesky, amongst other services.
Porkbun: User experiencePorkbun is very simple to use even if it isn’t exactly attractive to look at. There’s no conventional onboarding process like you’d get with one of the more user-friendly (and more expensive) services, but its domain management page is reasonably straightforward to figure out, even if you’re not a particularly advanced user.
Crucially, a series of tooltips and one line explainers go a long way to ensuring that you won’t break anything. A few toggles are also available and clearly laid out. What it lacks in looks, it makes up for with easily accessible settings.
Porkbun: Customer supportPorkbun offers a good range of support options. It has a knowledge base which should solve most simple queries. There’s also an AI chat bot which answers a lot of questions before transferring you to a person if needed. Refreshingly, you can also click a button to go straight to talking to a real person if you’d prefer.
There’s also phone support although that isn’t 24/7. It’s available between 9am and 5pm PST. Otherwise, email support is 24/7 and human chat support is a somewhat vague ‘hours vary’ although I found I always got a response.
Porkbun: PricingDomain
Price from
.xyz
$1
.com
$11.08
.eu
$5.46
.net
$12.52
.org
$7.98
There’s seemingly a domain name suffix for every occasion here. Porkbun’s cheapest are its .xyz domains which cost $1 to register for the first year. .com domains are available from $11.08 while .net starts at $12.52.
As with any domain service, your mileage will vary depending on the domain name you have in mind, but those are good starting prices. Type in the name you have in mind and you’re given a vast list of available options along with a renewal price for the future.
Porkbun: SpecsSpec
Details
Lowest price from
$1 (.xyz)
Highest price from
$2.575 (.sexy)
Search tools
Standard search, AI, bulk, marketplace, auction
Other services
Web hosting, WordPress hosting, email hosting
Porkbun: Should I buy?Attribute
Notes
Score
Features
Porkbun has all the essentials you need.
4.5/5
User experience
A little simplistic and basic, but still mostly easy to figure out.
4/5
Value
Excellent value with some very cheap domains.
4.5/5
Buy it if...- You want a no-frills domain service. Porkbun skips fancy visuals and focuses on providing domain names very cheaply and clutter-free.
- You want the best value. Some kind of domain name for $1? Porkbun makes it very tempting to bulk buy in the best way.
- You want quick access to many domains. Porkbun dishes out a huge list of available domain names making it oh so easy to click on multiple domains to buy.
- You need hand holding. If you want guidance through setting up a domain, Porkbun isn’t the service for you. It’s not complicated but the onboarding could be a little more welcoming.
- You want web hosting from the same place. Porkbun’s web hosting isn’t bad but there are better options if you want an all-in-one service.
- You want a stylish experience. Porkbun is very basic looking and that can be a little off-putting compared to some competitors.
- Namecheap: For cheap domain names, Namecheap lives up to its name. Its dashboard is a little more appealing than Porkbun but renewals can be pricier.
- GoDaddy: Want good hosting as well as a domain? GoDaddy is the place to go. Just be aware of its upselling tactics.
- Dynadot: Dynadot has fairly cheap domains, limited upselling, and a good approach to domain registration. It misses a few TLDs out but for most people, it’s great.
- Set up an account and bought two domain names
- Tested the domain management features
- Evaluated the price of domains compared to competitors
I set up an account with Porkbun before searching for new domain names then buying two. I went through the sign up process to purchase the domain, before going into the domain management tools to make adjustments. This included looking at nameservers, how to change DNS records, and how to turn off auto renew and other features.
- Apple Hide My Email can reveal a user's authentic email address
- The bug puts users at risk of identification, experts warned
- It has been unpatched for over a year
A bug in Apple’s ‘Hide My Email’ feature allows for those with knowledge of the vulnerability to identify the real email address hidden behind the anonymous email address.
The bug was discovered by EasyOptOuts co-founder, Tyler Murphy, who shared the exploit with 404 Media after notifying Apple multiple times that the feature could be actively exploited.
“We reported the issue and replication instructions to Apple over a year ago. We don't know why it hasn't been fixed, but we don't feel comfortable waiting any longer,” Murphy said.
Hide My Email can be actively exploitedAs the bug still hasn’t been patched, the details of how the exploit works have not been shared.
Apple’s Hide My Email feature was designed to anonymize email addresses, helping to prevent a user’s real email address from being leaked in a data breach, or to prevent a user’s email address from being linked to them personally in a way that could reveal their identity.
There lies the crux of the issue. By being able to identify the real email address by exploiting the bug, a malicious actor could uncover the real identity of the anonymized email.
“Free, publicly accessible people-search sites make it easy to link an email address to other personal details, so people relying on Hide My Email for safety may be at risk,” Murphy said. “We don't know the full scope of the issue, but in our limited tests with volunteers, 100% of Hide My Email addresses were exploitable.”
Users concerned about being identified via people-search sites can use a data removal service to have their data scrubbed from these sites, but the process can take a few days.
The issue was first reported to Apply by Murphy in June 2025, with Apple replying a month later that it was looking into the cause of the issue. Earlier this year, in March, Apple said that it had “addressed the reported issue in a recent system change,” but Murphy found that the bug could still be exploited.
Again, Murphy notified Apple, who replied in May 2026, stating, “We are still investigating this issue. To avoid placing our customers at risk, we would appreciate you not disclosing this information until our investigation is complete. We appreciate your assistance in helping us to maintain and improve the security of our products."
Later in the same month, Apply said a fix was “expected in the coming weeks."
Regulated industries are entering a turning point that many enterprise leaders have yet to fully grasp.
Agentic AI tools capable of executing multi-step tasks with minimal human intervention, are now commonly embedded in audit and finance operations, automating testing, documentation, risk assessment, and reporting.
But many organizations are still behind updating the governance infrastructure required to make those gains sustainable.
Most organizations ask what AI can do, but neglect to evaluate whether they have operating models, governance frameworks, and human oversight capacity in place to control what AI does.
In regulated environments, that gap is where exposure compounds quickly.
Three Gaps Compounding at OnceValidating AI output requires a different skill set than producing it. Traditional audit training doesn’t develop that capability, and most firms have yet to redesign programs to account for that lack of knowledge.
Junior staff are nominally in charge of reviewing AI-generated work they don’t fully understand. In regulated environments, this creates easy-to-miss opportunities for exposure.
Audit workflows were designed around human pacing and judgment. Agentic AI moves sequentially and at speed, silently resolving ambiguity rather than surfacing it.
Layering AI tools onto processes built for human practitioners means unclear handoffs, undefined escalation paths, and audit trails that fail to document decision rationale in ways that satisfy regulators.
When stewardship is a title rather than a function, organizations produce governance documentation that exists on paper, not in practice.
Premature AI deployment can still look like a success even long after the foundation started to erode. Adoption metrics show usage. Cycle times improve.
These ostensibly positive outcomes don’t reveal whether employees can meaningfully evaluate what the system produces, whether workflows have been redesigned for how AI operates, or whether governance is anywhere close to complete.
For enterprise leaders in regulated industries, the critical question is not whether the AI is working, but whether it surfaces issues early enough for teams to intervene effectively.
In many organizations, AI implementation is also outpacing operational alignment. Risk, compliance, finance, and technology teams often operate with different assumptions about how agentic systems are being used and where accountability resides.
Without shared oversight across those functions, governance gaps become harder to identify before they create operational or regulatory consequences.
What Closing the Gap Actually Looks LikeThe organizations seeing sustainable results share a key characteristic: they build governance infrastructure before scaling use cases. In practice, that means establishing a centralized governance function with both business and technical representation.
Successful AI governance in regulated environments requires joining stakeholders who understand operational stakes and regulatory requirements at the same table, with the authority to act on what they find.
Domain stewards need real authority, with clear accountability for model performance, explicit escalation paths, and organizational backing to act accordingly. Defined rules of engagement are what separates a stewardship role from a title implying nominal ownership on an org chart. This structure must be built before deployment, not retrofitted after an incident.
Starting narrow is the right instinct. Financial close, reconciliations, and anomaly detection are good initial use cases due to clean inputs, measurable outputs, and the presence of a human reviewer that evaluates what the system produced.
Data flows need to be integrated across systems before models go into production. Scaling AI into fragmented processes doesn’t fix fragmentation—it accelerates it. Selecting a technology capable of bringing data integrity to the forefront is key for establishing sustained governance practices.
Workforce readiness belongs on the governance roadmap alongside technical deployment. Junior staff need structured development in how to evaluate AI output including when to trust it, when to push back, and when to escalate. That capability doesn’t emerge simply from exposure to AI tools. The firms getting this right are treating this part of the process as risk control.
Another challenge is that many governance models remain reactive rather than adaptive. Regulatory expectations surrounding AI are evolving faster than most enterprise oversight structures, leaving organizations vulnerable to compliance gaps that may not become visible until after deployment.
Companies that treat governance as an ongoing operational discipline, rather than a one-time implementation exercise, will be better positioned as both technology capabilities and regulatory scrutiny continue to advance.
Governance Is the FoundationAgentic AI will continue expanding into audit and finance regardless of whether governance infrastructure is in place. The competitive pressure is too strong, and the case for efficiency is too compelling for adoption to slow.
The question for enterprise leaders isn’t whether to deploy AI—it's whether they’re building the operational foundation to deploy it responsibly.
Accountability in regulated industries does not transfer to the algorithm. It stays with the humans who chose to deploy it, and with the organizations that decided they were ready when the evidence said otherwise.
The leaders who are prepared have already answered this question: if something goes wrong, do we know exactly where judgment ended and automation began?
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- Microsoft posted an ad promoting Copilot on social media
- It said that Copilot is the "button you can press to fix everything"
- This has elicited quite the outpouring of rage from some folks, and it's not a wise promo given the prevailing climate around AI and Windows 11
Microsoft is catching some flak once again over the topic of AI in Windows 11, following what might be regarded as an overzealous piece of marketing.
Windows Latest noticed that Microsoft's marketing department posted an image across its social media (Facebook, Instagram, and X) which promoted the dedicated Copilot button and the AI assistant it summons.
The text featured in the pic was: "Them: There's no button you can press to fix everything," followed by a reply as if in a conversation that read: "Me: Wanna bet?"
Predictably this has stirred up some controversy, with responses to Microsoft's little ad that range from accusing Copilot of being "AI slop" (or "Microslop") through to comments along the lines of "no one wants this" and similar negativity.
(Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft)Undermining the fix Windows 11 effortThis is a particularly poorly timed piece of PR, given that, as Windows Latest observes, Microsoft is finally bringing in the ability to change the Copilot key back to function as Right Control. This is the key that the Copilot button replaced on 'AI PCs' (laptops), but as some people have said, Right Control is crucial to their workflow (and has accessibility ramifications for one-handed keyboard use).
With that change coming to Windows 11 later this year — an effective softening of Microsoft's initial stance that you should have the Copilot key and like it — this marketing snippet feels even more badly judged.
What's worse here for me is the exaggeration of the usefulness of the Copilot key. The AI can "fix everything" can it? It's a frankly ridiculous statement to make, and yes, I know that's not exactly uncommon in advertising, but you've got to bear in mind your target audience here and the context.
AI in Windows 11 has triggered a lot of bad feeling in the user base since last year, and indeed Microsoft's blinkered focus on pushing AI was one of the reasons that people were up in arms about fixing the OS rather than adding Copilot trimmings. Or in other words, the big fix Windows 11 campaign — which is the focus of this entire year for Microsoft — was partly the result of all the anti-AI feeling.
So, erm, let's market around the Copilot key being this amazing solve-all feature, shall we? Sounds like a great plan, everyone. Full steam ahead! Let's talk about how great it would be to add more AI into Notepad while we're at it, yeah? (Apologies, I remapped my Copilot key to be a 'Sarcasm' key and it appears to be jammed down right now).
Microsoft also says the Copilot key is a button with "main character energy" in this advert, the problem being that if AI in Windows 11 was a movie, it's been a box office turkey for the software giant so far. Microsoft's hope is that AI agents in Windows 11 will turn things around, but it remains to be seen how that'll pan out.
Meantime, while Microsoft is trying to generate positivity and good vibes around Windows 11 with all its (very commendable) work to fix the OS, it'd be better for the software engineers and designers in the thick of it not to have those efforts undermined by the marketing crew wheeling out unintentional ragebait like this Copilot button nonsense.
Now, I'm not saying that Microsoft's PR team can never mention AI, of course, but this particular snippet on social media is a perfect example of how not to do it in the current Windows 11 climate.