The US Has Already Caused $10 Trillion in Climate Damages—and the Math Gets Worse

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

Individual climate actions have tangible monetary consequences, researchers say. But that goes both ways.

Sony’s upcoming Bravia 3 II is a mid-range LED TV available in sizes up to 100 inches

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

Sony just revealed the upcoming Bravia 3 II mid-range LED TV. It’ll be available in sizes all the way up to 100 inches, for those in need of a home theater centerpiece. It’s considered a mid-range device, but is still outfitted with plenty of tech typically reserved for the company’s high-end displays.

First of all, these TVs ship with Sony’s XR processor. This grants access to the company’s proprietary Clear Image algorithm, auto HDR tone mapping and more. It’s nice to see these features expand beyond flagship products.

The 4K LED display supports Dolby Vision, Atmos and DTS:X, with refresh rates up to 120Hz. It also features four HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can hook up a Switch 2, a PS5 and an Xbox Series X all at the same time with a port to spare.

The software here is integrated with Google Gemini, allowing for all kinds of voice commands. Finally, the TVs ship with Sony’s new Inclusive Remote Control, which has been designed for accessibility.

The Bravia 3 II line will start showing up at retailers this spring. Prices start at $600 for a 43-inch model and go all the way up to $3,100 for that 100-inch monstrosity.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/sonys-upcoming-bravia-3-ii-is-a-mid-range-led-tv-available-in-sizes-up-to-100-inches-160002697.html?src=rss

The Best Kindles Have the Deepest Discounts During Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Invariably, the best time to buy one of Amazon’s devices, from Blink video doorbells to Echo smart speakers, is during one of the mega-retailer’s semi-annual sale events, and the ongoing Big Spring Sale is no exception. That means, of course, that it’s a great time to be in the market for a Kindle e-reader. While these aren’t the lowest prices these devices are likely to hit in 2026, this is your best chance at scoring a decent discount without waiting for Prime Day this summer or Black Friday in the fall.

While most Kindles are seeing discounts of at least 15% (including the Kindle Paperwhite with ads and the Kindle Kids), this year Amazon is offering the biggest discounts on its more premium models. For an extra $25 over the cost of the standard Paperwhite, you can splurge on the Signature Edition and get double the storage, an auto-adjusting front light, and wireless charging—or spend an extra $10 and get the Kindle Colorsoft, the better to enjoy your comics, cookbooks, and other image-heavy texts.

Here are the best deals on Kindle devices during the Big Spring Sale.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Kindle Colorsoft 16GB

Kindle Scribe 16GB (2024)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

Kindle Kids 16GB Bundle

The 16GB entry level Kindle is 14% off

The entry-level, ad-supported Kindle is still a great e-reader, with a crisp 300 ppi screen and a front light so you can read anywhere. It’s $95 right now, down from the usual $110.

The Kindle Kids bundle is 15% off

If you’ve got little ones—or even if you don’t—the Kindle Kids bundle is a good option. It’s the same device as the entry-level Kindle, minus ads, and it comes with a cute cover and a promise from Amazon to replace it if it breaks. It’s $110 right now, down $20 from the usual price.

The Kindle Paperwhite is 16% off

This ad-supported Kindle Paperwhite offers 16GB of storage, a temperature adjustable front light, and up to 12 weeks of battery life. It’s $135, down from the $160 you’d normally pay.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 20% off

Upgrade to the Paperwhite Signature Edition and you’ll get 32GB of storage, wireless charging, a sensor that can automatically adjust the lighting for you, and, oh yeah, no lock screen ads. You can choose from black, pink, or green for $160, down from the usual $200.

The Kindle Colorsoft is only $10 more

If you read a lot of comics or books with photos, or even if you just like seeing your covers in color, the Kindle Colorsoft has the best color e-ink screen you can buy. Right now, it’s only $10 more than the Signature Edition, offering 16GB of storage, temperature adjustable lighting, and no ads for $170.

The previous generation Kindle Scribe is $150 off

If you are looking for a serviceable digital notebook to take notes or write in your books, the Kindle Scribe is a decent pick, especially if you’re all-in on the Amazon ecosystem. Right now, the 2024 edition with the upgraded Premium Pen and 16GB of storage is $250, 38% off the usual $400 asking price.

AI Economy Is a ‘Ponzi Scheme,’ Says AI Doc Director

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Vanity Fair: Focus Features is releasing The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist in theaters on March 27. If you’re even slightly interested in what’s going on with AI, it’s required viewing: The film touches on all aspects of the technology, from how it’s currently being used to how it will be used in the near future, when we potentially reach the age of artificial general intelligence, or AGI. AGI is a theoretical form of AI that supposedly would be able to perform complex tasks without each step being prompted by a human user — the point at which machines become autonomous, like Skynet in the Terminator franchise. […]

[Director Daniel Roher] interviews nearly all the major players in the AI space: Sam Altman of OpenAI; the Amodei siblings of Anthropic; Demis Hassabis of DeepMind (Google’s AI arm); theorists and reporters covering the subject. Notably absent are Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. “Have you seen that guy speak? He’s like a lizard man,” Roher says regarding Zuckerberg. “Musk said yes initially, but it was right when he was doing all the stuff with Trump, and we just got ghosted after a while,” adds [codirector Charlie Tyrell]. Altman, arguably AI’s greatest mascot, is prominently featured in the documentary. But Roher wasn’t buying it. “That guy doesn’t know what genuine means,” he says. “Every single thing he says and does is calculated. He is a machine. He’s like AI, and it’s in the service of growth, growth, growth. You can be disingenuous and media savvy.” […]

How, exactly, is Roher an apocaloptimist? “We are preaching a worldview,” he says, “in a world that’s asking you to either see this as the apocalypse or embrace it with this unbridled optimism.” He and his film are taking a stance that rests between those two poles. “It’s both at the same time. We have to try and embrace a middle ground so this technology doesn’t consume us, so we can stay in the driver’s seat,” says Roher — meaning, it’s up to all of us to chart the course. “You have to speak up,” says Tyrell. “Things like AI should disclose themselves. If your doctor’s office is using an AI bot, you have to say, I don’t like that.” The driving message behind the film is that resistance starts with the people. That position is shared by The AI Doc producer Daniel Kwan, who won an Oscar for directing Everything Everywhere All at Once and has been at the forefront of discussions about AI in the entertainment industry. […]

Roher and Tyrell both use AI in their everyday lives and openly admit to it being a helpful tool. They also agree that this technology can make daily tasks easier for the average consumer. But at the end of our conversation, we get into the economics of AI and how Wall Street is propping up the industry through huge evaluations of these companies — and Roher gets going yet again. “This is all smoke and mirrors. The entire economy of AI is being propped up by a Ponzi scheme. The hype of this technology is unlike any hype we’ve seen,” he says. “I feel like I could announce in a press release that Academy Award winner Daniel Roher is starting an AI film company, and I could sell it the next day for $20 million. It’s fucking crazy.” […] “These people are prospectors, and they are going up to the Yukon because it’s the gold rush.”

Sony adds the Bravia Theater Bar 5 and Bar 7 to its soundbar lineup

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

Sony already has a robust collection of soundbars in its Bravia Theater lineup. Today, the company is adding two more, as well as new rear speakers and three new subwoofers. The Bar 7 will sit in Sony’s premium tier, alongside the existing (and larger) Bar 8 and Bar 9 models, while the Bar 5 will offer a more compact and more affordable solution just below the current Bar 6.

The Bravia Theater Bar 7 utilizes nine total drivers to produce Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced sound. More specifically, that arrangement includes three woofers, two tweeters, two up-firing units and two side-firing drivers, in addition to four passive radiators. Compare that to the Bar 8 and Bar 9 which house 11 speakers and 13 speakers respectively. Sony says the Bar 7 has new two-way front speakers and the center, up-firing and side-firing drivers all have the company’s oval-shaped X-Balanced design. In terms of features, you get Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and Sound Field Optimization for more immersive audio performance.

The Bar 7 will come bundled with Sony’s new Bravia Theater Sub 7 for $870, but you can also purchase it without the subwoofer (pricing TBA). For a more robust system, the Bar 7 can be paired with the company’s Bravia Theater Rear speakers.

Speaking of subwoofers, Sony debuted three new models today. The aforementioned Sub 7 is the smallest, employing a 5.1-inch driver for the low-end tone. Move up to the new Sub 8 and you get a 7.9-inch driver for “enhanced atmosphere, clearer bass,” according to the company. The largest of the new options is the Sub 9 which has two opposing 7.9-inch drivers for “powerful, clean bass.” Unfortunately, these add-ons don’t come cheap: the Sub 7 is $330, the Sub 8 is $500 and the Sub 9 is $900.

Sony also touts dual subwoofer connectivity as part of the refreshed Bravia Theater lineup. All three of the new subs can be used as a pair, so long as you have a Theater Bar 7, Theater Bar 8 or Theater Bar 9. You can also use two subwoofers with some of Sony’s receivers (STR-AZ7000ES, STR-AZ5000ES, STR-AZ3000ES, STR-AZ1000ES and STR-AN1000). The company explains that opting for two subs provides “stronger, more balanced bass,” obviously, that fills the room for a more “cinematic effect.” Sony also says two subwoofers enable “richer, fuller bass” at lower volumes.

Rear speakers are something you’ll need if you truly want immersive audio, and the new Theater Rear 9 units are a big upgrade over the current Rear 8s. Most notably, you get an up-firing driver for enhanced overhead sounds along with two passive radiators, in addition to a tweeter and a woofer. The drivers all have aluminum diaphragms instead of paper, and the Rear 9s come with a swivel wall mounts that enable 60-degree movement. A pair of Theater Rear 9 speakers will set you back $750.

If all of that sounds too expensive for your living room, Sony has something more affordable in the midrange area. The Bravia Theater Bar 5 is just $350 and still offers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio. It doesn’t have up-firing drivers, it’s a 3.1-channel setup, so any overhead effects will be simulated. Still, that’s probably okay if you have a smaller space or live in an apartment as the upmixing tech (S-Force Pro Front Surround and Vertical Sound Engine) should provide ample immersion. The Bar 5 does come with a subwoofer though, and you can employ Sony’s Voice Zoom 3 feature for enhanced dialogue.

The Bravia Theater Bar 7, all three of the new subwoofers and the Rear 9 will be available for pre-order later this spring. The Bar 5 is up for pre-order starting today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sony-adds-the-bravia-theater-bar-5-and-bar-7-to-its-soundbar-lineup-160000680.html?src=rss

This 70-Inch 4K TV With Roku Built-In Is Just $299, Good Luck Finding One For Less

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

I’m continually amazed by how comparatively big and cheap today’s TVs have become versus the early days. Heck, I remember 55 inches being on the bigger side for a flat screen, and expensive to boot. My, how times have changed! The latest evidence of this can be seen in Best Buy’s deal of the day, a 70-inch smart TV for a penny shy of three

Google bumps up Q Day deadline to 2029, far sooner than previously thought

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

Google is dramatically shortening its deadline readiness for the arrival of Q Day, the point at which existing quantum computers can break public-key cryptography algorithms that secure decades’ worth of secrets belonging to militaries, banks, governments, and nearly every individual on earth.

In a post published on Wednesday, Google said it is giving itself until 2029 to prepare for this event. The post went on to warn that the rest of the world needs to follow suit by adopting PQC—short for post-quantum cryptography—algorithms to augment or replace elliptic curves and RSA, both of which will be broken.

The end is nigh

“As a pioneer in both quantum and PQC, it’s our responsibility to lead by example and share an ambitious timeline,” wrote Heather Adkins, Google’s VP of security engineering, and Sophie Schmieg, a senior cryptography engineer. “By doing this, we hope to provide the clarity and urgency needed to accelerate digital transitions not only for Google, but also across the industry.”

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ShellGPT: Turn Your Words into Terminal Commands

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

ShellGPT makes the terminal user-friendly, saving time by generating commands, automating scripts, and guiding me through tasks.

Scientists Turn Bourbon Waste Into Supercapacitors With A 25x Energy Boost

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

Scientists at the University of Kentucky have found a way to turn the soggy, grain-filled leftovers of bourbon production, a.k.a. stillage, into high-performance electrodes for supercapacitors, potentially turning Kentucky’s 95% share of the world’s bourbon market into a major player in the green energy grid.

No doubt then that one of Kentucky’s

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 Is Nearly $200 Off for the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you’re looking for an Apple Watch for extreme sports, or you just want the one with the biggest display and battery life, you should focus your sights on the Ultra. Apple packs as many features and perks into this watch as it can, and, as such, it’s the best option for people who need to push their wearables to the max. But those advantages come at a cost: The latest Apple Watch Ultra 3 costs $799, making it one of the most expensive watch options the company sells.

But you don’t need to spend as much on an Apple Watch Ultra as an iPhone 17 in order to get many of these perks. If you’re willing to move one generation early, and lose a few new features, you can save some serious money, especially during discounts and sales. As it happens, this “Premium Renewed” Apple Watch Ultra 2 is currently $399.49 on Amazon during its Big Spring Sale. That’s its cheapest price on the site in at least the past three months, according to Keepa.

The features list of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are quite long. Off the bat, you get a 49mm display that can reach a whopping 3,000 nits of brightness. The heart rate monitor can look out for signs of hypertension, alert you when your heart rate is too high or too low, and let you know when you have an irregular heart rhythm. You can also use the Blood Oxygen app to monitor your SpO2 levels.

Like all Apple Watches, the Ultra 2 can track your sleep, including giving you a sleep score each night, but it can also let you know if you show signs of sleep apnea. It’ll track your vitals, body temperature, cycles (if applicable), and can connect to cellular if you pay for a plan. This watch comes with Apple’s S9 chip, the same as you’ll find in the Series 9 line, and supports Apple’s double-tap gesture, as well as Precision Finding, in case your watch goes missing.

But since this is the Ultra 2, there are some nontraditional features here, like water resistance up to 100 meters, and support for snorkeling, scubaing, and high-speed water sports. There’s a depth gauge up to 40m if you do any diving, and the watch even comes with a siren in case you need others to know where you are. This isn’t an exhaustive list of features, so check out the listing for the full rundown.

The caveat for this particular sale, however, is that this is a “Premium Renewed” product. According to Amazon, all “Renewed” products are fully functional, and come with original or generic accessories. To be “Premium,” the renewed product must not have any cosmetic damage visible from 12 inches away, no scratches on the screen, and a battery capacity 90% or higher. I wouldn’t be surprised if these Apple Watch Ultra 2 models were simply open box, rather than previously used, but before you invest, know that there is a chance someone else used this watch.

If you’re curious about the latest model, the Ultra 3, here’s what you get if you spring for the extra cost: a slightly larger, higher-quality OLED display with LTPO3 (versus LTPO2 on the Ultra 2); Emergency SOS via satellite; 5G connectivity (if you spring for the cellular plan); the S10 chip; battery life that lasts 42 hours, versus 36 hours on the Ultra 2; and 12 hours of use with 15 minutes of charging. Both the Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 support fast charging up to 80%, but the Ultra 3 can do it in 45 minutes, while the Ultra 2 takes about an hour. Those advantages might be worth the added cost, depending on your needs.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds

—
$199.00

(List Price $249.00)

Apple iPad 11″ 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025)

—
$299.00

(List Price $349.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

—
$398.00

(List Price $459.99)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band)

—
$299.00

(List Price $399.00)

Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core

—
$35.99

(List Price $69.99)

Ring Indoor Cam Plus 2K Wired Security Camera (White)

—
$39.99

(List Price $59.99)

Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote

—
$34.99

(List Price $59.99)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft 16GB 7″ eReader (Black)

—
$169.99

(List Price $249.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Spotted: unreleased aero-optimised Canyon Endurace CFR breaks cover – and Mathieu van der Poel will ride it at Paris-Roubaix

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

An unreleased, aero-optimised Canyon Endurace CFR has broken cover at the Tour of Bruges, in Belgium.

Spotted by Daniel Benson, the bike is being ridden by Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Florian Sénéchal and several of his teammates.

The new endurance bike appears to take heavy inspiration from the German brand’s aero road bike, the Aeroad CFR, with truncated aerofoil tubing, dropped seatstays and an integrated cockpit.

Compared to the existing Endurance CFR, this new bike is therefore far more race-optimised, with fewer obvious concessions to comfort.

According to Benson, team staff confirmed this is the bike that star rider Mathieu van der Poel will race at this year’s Paris-Roubaix.

Daniel Benson is a pro-cycling veteran, having covered 14 editions of the Tour de France as editor-in-chief of Cyclingnews and Velo, and now runs his own Substack newsletter.

The Endurace goes aero

Unreleased Canyon Endurace CFR 2026 — Mathieu van der Poel will race this new bike at Paris-Roubaix, according to team staff at the Tour of Bruges. Daniel Benson

While Canyon has long had two road-racing bikes, the Ultimate and Aeroad, the Endurace has always been a more comfort-oriented platform.

That all looks set to change, however, because this bike appears to be effectively an Aeroad CFR with souped-up tyre clearance.

Although we’ve not seen any numbers yet, a short head tube and a pro-worthy amount of saddle-to-bar drop would indicate Canyon will also be making the geometry racy.

Just like on the Aeroad, the new Endurace looks to be made from carbon fibre and gets a full suite of truncated aerofoil tubes.

A deep-bladed fork sits up front, while the seatstays are heavily dropped below the seat tube and top tube junction. It also appears that the deep-section aero seatpost from the Aeroad has been ported over to this new bike.

One area where the new bike diverges from the current Aeroad is at the seat tube, with a cut-out area beneath the seatstays. On the Aeroad, this area of the bike hugs the rear wheel more closely, for improved aerodynamic performance.

We’d guess this change on the new Endurace is designed to improve rear-end comfort, because a thinner tube should flex more over rough roads.

The down tube on this new bike also flares out to shield the water bottle cages from the wind.

The extra room around the bike’s 30c Pirelli P Zero TLR RS tyres (which are wrapped around the unreleased Dura-Ace R9300 wheels we spotted at Omloop het Nieuwsblad last month) also suggests tyre clearance has been upped compared to the Aeroad.

The current Endurace features 35mm of tyre clearance, compared to 32mm on the Aeroad, so it will be interesting to see if this new, racier bike lands in this regard.

Given we’ve seen a rash of new extra-large road bike tyres from major manufacturers such as Pirelli and Continental in recent years, this could be a sign that road-race bikes are finally catching up to this trend.

Pirelli, for example, offers the P Zero Race TLR RS in up to a size 35c, so we could now see van der Poel or his teammates running those at this year’s Roubaix.

A new cockpit

One of the most striking features of this new bike is the integrated cockpit.

It looks to have the same stem design as the Aeroad CFR’s integrated cockpit, but sees the handlebar tops sweep forward dramatically, rather than straight out at a 90-degree angle.

The flattened tops look to be aero-profiled, for further drag reductions, but the bar ends are notably straight.

Canyon moved to offering two distinct drop shapes for its Aeroad CFR in 2024 – straight and flared.

If this new bar uses the same interchangeable drops, then perhaps flared drops will be an option here too.

As for why the bar sweeps forward, it could provide a little more compliance compared to more traditionally shaped handlebars, or it could simply be to increase knee clearance when putting out the kind of watts riders such as van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen do in a sprint.

Either way, given the 2026 Paris–Roubaix is a little less than two weeks away, we may not have to wait long to find out more about this new bike.

Peloton’s Cross-Training Bikes Are on Sale for Their Lowest Prices Ever

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Xordac Prime

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Peloton equipment is discounted for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which means we’re seeing some of the lowest-ever prices for the new “Cross-Training” line of equipment. The regular Bike is $400 off, the Bike+ is $600 off, and the Tread is also $600 off.

Peloton Cross Training Bike+

$2,095.00
at Amazon

$2,695.00
Save $600.00

Peloton Exercise Cross Training Bike+, Indoor Stationary Spin Bike+ for Home Workouts, Space-Friendly Exercise Equipment for Cardio and strength Workout & Indoor Cycling

$2,095.00
at Amazon

$2,695.00
Save $600.00

The new Cross-Training line launched in the fall of 2025, so it’s still pretty new. We have a breakdown here showing where the Cross-Training equipment improves upon the older models, and where it’s the same. A few differences worth nothing:

The Cross-Training Bike has the same size of screen and the same main features as the original Bike, but adds a swivel mount to the screen, a more comfortable seat, and upgraded internals: better quality audio, a faster processor, and better wifi and Bluetooth connections. It’s normally $1,695 and is now $1,295.
The Cross-Training Bike+ has similarly upgraded internals compared to the regular Bike+. It adds a movement-tracking camera for AI-based form coaching in strength workouts, and can take voice commands. It also has a fan and a phone tray. (It has a swivel mount, too, but that’s not new for the Bike+.) It’s normally $2,695 and is now $2,095.
The Cross-Training Tread, like the Cross-Training Bike, adds a swivel mount and upgraded internals. It’s normally $3,295 and is now $2,695.

The older models are no longer available new, although they are available from Peloton as refurbished and rental models. There’s also a robust market for used Pelotons, although you’d have to pay a $95 activation fee to set up the used Bike you buy. All of the devices I’ve mentioned require a $49.99/month subscription. This gets you the streaming content, but also most of the software features of the device, such as syncing rides to your Peloton account.