The Alien franchise has been decidedly hit and miss since the near-universally beloved first two movies, but it’s in a very good place at the moment. 2024’s Alien: Romulus was a magnificent return to form, and this year that good run of form continued in the series’ first TV show, Alien: Earth, which has been renewed for a second season.

The first season wrapped up in September and ended on a pretty dramatic cliffhanger, so while it seemed pretty obvious that more episodes would be coming, it’s good to have it confirmed. Noah Hawley is once again heading up the project, and according to The Hollywood Reporter the Fargo creator has signed a multi-year deal with Disney that will see him work on the ever-expanding entertainment empire’s other channels and services, including ABC and Hulu Originals, as well as continuing to produce shows for FX.

Variety reports that season two of Alien: Earth will start production in London in 2026, a pretty significant change from the debut season, which was shot in Thailand. Presumably that means we’ll be heading to some new locations in the show too, but we’ll have to wait for a trailer to find that out.

Set two years before the original Alien, Alien: Earth sees a retro-futuristic shipping vessel carrying some ominously familiar-looking extra-terrestrial cargo crash-land on Earth, where we meet a terminally ill girl who becomes the first human-synthetic hybrid. The season one cast includes Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille, and Moe Bar-El.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/alien-earth-has-been-renewed-for-a-second-season-144124743.html?src=rss

Following a teaser in September that confirmed the movie’s title, Nintendo and animation studio Illumination unleashed the first proper trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in a dedicated Nintendo Direct. The sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the highest-grossing movie based on video games, will hit theaters in the US on April 3.

The trailer opens with Bowser engaging in a little art therapy, which, honestly, could be really great for him. Mario can’t help put put down Bowser’s artwork, though. What a jerk. From there, the action riffs on Super Mario Galaxy as Peach and Toad use launch stars to travel to a different planet. I don’t want to give away everything that happens, so just watch the trailer. The visuals, as you’d expect from Illumination, look terrific.

The trailer also confirms the addition of two fan-favorite characters this time around: Rosalina (who takes out a giant robot with her abilities) and Bowser Jr, who is taking his father’s place as the sequel’s villain. Rosalina is played by Brie Larson, while Benny Safdie voice Bowser Jr.

An extra clip after the trailer shows Rosalina reading a story about Princess Peach to a group of Lumas. Another features Bowser Jr. promising that “the Bowser name shall be feared once more.” Ominous!

However, the Direct didn’t include any indication of Yoshi appearing in the film. An Easter egg at the end of the first movie showed Yoshi’s egg cracking. Plus, a Pillsbury cookie box — of all things — all but confirmed Yoshi would be in the movie, while hinting at the inclusion of Princess Rosalina and Bowser Jr. We’ll perhaps have to wait until the next trailer to get a glimpse of Mario’s dino pal, who’ll probably be green even though everyone knows in their heart blue Yoshi is the best Yoshi.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-trailer-confirms-rosalina-and-bowser-jr-are-in-the-sequel-142815627.html?src=rss

Google has filed a lawsuit against a group of Chinese hackers running a platform called “Lighthouse” that sells phishing services for a monthly fee. The group offers clients its services to launch massive phishing and smishing (SMS phishing) campaigns. Google says the bad actors typically send out emails or text messages that link to fake websites pretending to be legitimate pages of established brands like USPS and E-Z Pass, in order to trick people into keying in their log-ins and other sensitive details. The company found at least 107 sign-in screen templates with Google branding, designed to steal people’s log-in information.

In its announcement, Google said that one million people from 121 countries have fallen victim to the online scams that used Lighthouse and that the bad actors have already stolen $1 billion. In the US alone, they’ve gotten their hands on between 12.7 million and 115 million credit card numbers. The most popular scheme involves pretending to be the USPS and telling victims that they’d have to pay for the redelivery of a package stuck at the post office.

As The Financial Times reports, Google cited data from cybersecurity company Silent Push in its lawsuit as an example, stating that Chinese criminal group “Smishing Triad” used Lighthouse earlier this year to create 200,000 fake websites. Those websites apparently received 50,000 visits a day and compromised millions of US credit cards within a 20-day period. The company is bringing claims under the US Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the Lanham Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. If the company wins, it would allow Google to work with carriers and website hosts to take down the operation’s domain and servers.

In addition to filing the lawsuit, Google is also backing bipartisan bills in Congress that take aim at foreign cybercriminals. One bill would enable state and local law enforcement to use federal grant funding to investigate financial fraud targeting retirees. Another aims to establish a task force to block foreign robocalls in the US. The last one targets scam compounds, or centers that serve as bases for scam operations, and intends to provide support to the survivors who were trafficked and forced to work for those centers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-sues-group-running-massive-sms-scam-operation-133000168.html?src=rss

Ninite has long been a godsend for anyone setting up a new computer. With it, you can install a number of applications in just a couple of clicks, as opposed to downloading a bunch of individual installers. Ninite is well known for simplicity, too. There’s no package manager to learn or commands to type; just visit the website and pick the apps you want to install, then download and run the installer. Installations all run in the background, with no prompts. It’s magical, and I’ve long wondered why Microsoft hasn’t built anything similar—something powerful, yet easy to use.

Well, it seems like someone at the company finally got around to it. A new Microsoft site called App Pack is exactly this. It allows you to visit a page on the Microsoft Store website, check from a selection of applications, and then install those applications by downloading and running a single installer. That’s exactly how Ninite works, though there are a few differences between these two options.

Credit: Justin Pot

The main difference is that Microsoft’s App Pack uses the Microsoft Store to install the applications, and the installer you download instructs the store to make the downloads. This means updates will also be handled by the store, which is a real benefit, but it also means the supported applications are limited to those offered in the store. That’s part of why Ninite offers a lot more software. App Pack offers 32 applications in four categories; Ninite offers over 90 distinct applications in all sorts of categories.

But there’s also the Microsoft of it all. You cannot use App Pack to install Chrome, which isn’t in the Microsoft Store. But you also can’t use it to install Firefox, which is. Given that one of the first things many Windows users do is replace Edge, that’s a real shortcoming; given that Microsoft seems to really want Windows users not to replace Edge, it’s not surprising. Meanwhile, Ninite lets you install Chrome and Firefox, as well as other browsers like Opera, Brave, and, ironically, Edge.

But it’s not as though App Pack only offers Microsoft software. Zoom is offered, as are several apps from Apple (iCloud, Music, and TV). There are desktop apps for all the big social media networks (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and LinkedIn). And there are a few customization tools, including TranslucentTB for customizing the taskbar and F.lux for adjusting the color temperature of your display. There are also multiple apps for working in media, including Photoshop, Audacity, and OBS Studio. It’s just that Ninite offers more, including power user staples like VLC, WinDirStat, 7-Zip, and Handbrake.

If you don’t need these additional apps, however, App Pack is a diverse set of tools, and I could imagine the one-click install saving a lot of time for many Windows users. You can find it here or by clicking the “Multi-app install” button in the top-right corner of the web version of the Microsoft Store.

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This Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q Mini PC (2021) is on sale for $455.99 on StackSocial right now, offering business-grade performance in a compact form factor small enough to hide behind a monitor. Inside its 7-inch frame sits a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with six cores, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. That’s enough muscle for multitasking, large spreadsheets, or running several browser tabs at once without slowdown. It’s not built for heavy graphics work or gaming, but for office productivity or remote setups, it’s more than capable of keeping up. And with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled, it’s ready for modern workflows right out of the box.

Where this PC really stands out is in its flexibility. You can mount it behind a screen, tuck it under a desk, or leave it visible as a minimal addition to your setup. The design is simple—matte black, compact, and focused entirely on function. It supports up to three monitors via HDMI and DisplayPort, making it a good fit for anyone managing multiple windows or dashboards. The front-facing USB-C port is convenient for fast charging and quick file transfers, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 ensure a seamless connection without the need for a tangle of cables. It also includes thoughtful business features, such as Smart Power On and expansion slots for upgrades, which are useful if you want to add storage later.

The M90q Mini also features TPM 2.0 encryption, BIOS-level protection, password controls, and a chassis intrusion switch that alerts you if someone attempts to open the case. It’s also built to military-grade durability standards (MIL-STD-810H), ensuring it can withstand years of use without issue. There’s no included warranty, which might give some buyers pause, but for those looking for a compact, strong performer for work or as a small home office machine, this sale is a great option.

In a new teaser trailer for Toy Story 5, Buzz, Woody and the rest of the gang face what may be their ultimate enemy in the war for a child’s play time: electronics.

With INXS’s Never Tear Us Apart playing in the background, we see the delivery of a parcel to Bonnie Anderson, Andy’s younger sister, who inherited his toys back in Toy Story 3. Our heroes including Rex, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, Woody, Buzz and Jessie, look on in horror as she opens the package to reveal a frog-themed tablet named Lilypad. “Let’s Play!” it proposes. Bonnie seems ready to do so, and possibly forget about her other pals in short order. “Is the age of toys over?” the tagline asks. 

Tablets have long succeeded classic toys, of course, but it’s still a fun plot idea and likely very relatable to parents who’ve grown up with these films. The sequel brings back the franchise’s regular cast including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack, while welcoming newcomers Conan O’Brien, Ernie Hudson and Greta Lee as Lilypad’s voice. It’s set to hit theaters in June 2026. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/watch-pixars-new-teaser-for-toy-story-5-130011156.html?src=rss

Google is suing to stop phishing attacks that target millions globally, including campaigns that fake toll notices, offer bogus e-commerce deals, and impersonate financial institutions.

In a complaint filed Wednesday, the tech giant accused “a cybercriminal group in China” of selling “phishing for dummies” kits. The kits help unsavvy fraudsters easily “execute a large-scale phishing campaign,” tricking hordes of unsuspecting people into “disclosing sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or banking information, often by impersonating well-known brands, government agencies, or even people the victim knows.”

These branded “Lighthouse” kits offer two versions of software, depending on whether bad actors want to launch SMS and e-commerce scams. “Members may subscribe to weekly, monthly, seasonal, annual, or permanent licenses,” Google alleged. Kits include “hundreds of templates for fake websites, domain set-up tools for those fake websites, and other features designed to dupe victims into believing they are entering sensitive information on a legitimate website.”

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Sony and Polyphony Digital are rolling out a huge update for Gran Turismo 7 on December 4 in the form of a paid add-on. The Power Pack DLC for the PlayStation 5 will unlock 50 new races across 20 theme categories, including 24-hour endurance events that Le Mans fans could sink their teeth into. In previous games, the endurance events really took 24 hours to finish, though you could pause and, eventually, save mid-race, allowing you to pick up where you left off. You can also experience full-race seasons, from practicing for them to qualifying for the main events.

The DLC includes access to Gran Turismo Sophy 3.0, as well, which Sony says will provide “realistic AI behavior” and enable “intense, tail-to-nose battles that push your limits.” Sophy 2.0 was launched as an update back in 2023, offering you “a stimulating opponent that can accelerate and elevate [your] techniques and creativity to the next level.” Finally, the DLC will give you 5 million in in-game Credits. The companies have yet to reveal how much the Power Pack DLC will cost, but it will be available for download from the PlayStation Store.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/gran-turismo-7s-power-pack-dlc-unlocks-24-hour-racing-on-december-4-045454411.html?src=rss

Google has unveiled Private AI Compute, a cloud platform designed to deliver advanced AI capabilities while preserving user privacy. As The Verge notes, the feature is “virtually identical to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute.” From the report: Many Google products run AI features like translation, audio summaries, and chatbot assistants, on-device, meaning data doesn’t leave your phone, Chromebook, or whatever it is you’re using. This isn’t sustainable, Google says, as advancing AI tools need more reasoning and computational power than devices can supply. The compromise is to ship more difficult AI requests to a cloud platform, called Private AI Compute, which it describes as a “secure, fortified space” offering the same degree of security you’d expect from on-device processing. Sensitive data is available “only to you and no one else, not even Google.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

PokéPark Kanto, the first permanent Pokémon theme park, will open its doors on February 5, 2026. Previous Pokémon parks and attractions existed in the past, but they were only open for a limited time. PokéPark Kanto will be located inside the Yomiuriland amusement park in Tokyo, Japan and will require an add-on pass to enter. Visitors will have to go through a “Pokémon Research Lab” building, which serves as the gateway to the park’s two sections: Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town

The Pokémon Forest is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a stretch of land with hills, paths with tall grass, rocky trails and tunnels where visitors will see Pokémon in their natural habitats. The Pokémon statues are posed to show that they’re engaging in various activities, such as battling or playing with friends.

Meanwhile, Sedge Town is the town center where visitors will find the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart, which sounds like a place where they can buy some refreshments. In addition to the main attractions, PokéPark Kanto will feature Pika Pika Paradise, a ride featuring over 30 electric-type Pokémon. There’s also Vee Vee Voyage, a carousel featuring carriages pulled by Ponyta and Rapidash, as well as balloons where visitors can ride with Eevee.

We’ve yet to see actual photos of the park, but the trailer below will give you a glimpse of what you can expect.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-first-permanent-pokemon-theme-park-opens-in-february-2026-012228856.html?src=rss

Disney is losing an estimated $4.3 million per day (about $30 million per week) from the ongoing YouTube TV blackout of ESPN, ABC, and other networks amid a contract dispute over carriage fees. Of course, YouTube is also feeling financial pressure from users who have already canceled or intend to cancel their service. Variety reports: Disney is losing an estimated $30 million per week from its networks being pulled off YouTube TV, which works out to nearly $4.3 million per day, according to Morgan Stanley analysts. The figure came in a research note from Morgan Stanley equity analysts Benjamin Swinburne and Thomas Yeh, who said in their financial forecast for Disney’s year-end 2025 quarter, they are “layering in 14 days of impact from the ongoing YouTube TV blackout, which we estimate is a $60mm revenue headwind.”

Nov. 11 marks the 12th day of the Disney blackout on YouTube TV. The Morgan Stanley analysts wrote that they expect the Disney-YouTube TV dispute to be resolved later this week, but estimated that each week its networks are dark on YouTube TV will lower Disney’s adjusted earnings per share by 2 cents.

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Elden Ring Nightreign, the co-op survival take on FromSoftware’s massively successful open-world single-player game, is getting a DLC at the end of this year. The Forsaken Hollows launches on December 4, 2025. This DLC is the first big content update for the spinoff, although Nightreign did receive previous updates to add improved tuning for the two-player and solo-player experiences, as well introducing an even-more-punishing Deep of Night mode. 

The trailer shows exactly the grim, macabre setting and inventive-looking boss designs that we’ve come to expect from FromSoft. The Forsaken Hollows will add two more character classes for players to choose from. The book-wielding Scholar is an arcane magic user who “gains incredible advantages through battlefield observation.” This seems like a good choice for the tactically-minded players, while the new Undertaker class favors faith and strength builds. There will also be a new region to explore and two new bosses.

We learned yesterday that DLC was in the works for Nightreign thanks to a mention during the earnings report from parent company Kadokawa, but it seemed the new content might not be ready until early 2026. Hopefully today’s announcement will calm the players who have been review-bombing the game on Steam due to the lack of information about updates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/elden-ring-nightreigns-dlc-is-the-forsaken-hollows-out-december-3-233113937.html?src=rss

Dave Knott writes: Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2026, the first major version of their flagship compiler in almost four years. Release notes are available here. The compiler has also been updated, including improved (but not yet 100%) C++23 core language and standard library implementations.

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The 2021 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Touch isn’t new, but it still has a few good years of life in it, especially if you need a solid secondary laptop for home, travel, or light work—and it’s on sale for $599.99 on StackSocial right now. It’s powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 chip that can reach up to 4.7GHz, paired with 12GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That combination is fast enough for multitasking, web browsing, and even moderate creative work. The touchscreen is a bonus, making it easy to scroll, tap, and zoom without relying on a trackpad. This model also runs Windows 11 Home, so despite being from 2021, it feels current in terms of interface and usability. It’s a brand-new unit, although it doesn’t come with a manufacturer’s warranty. However, third-party coverage is optional for $59.99.

Design-wise, the soft-touch finish of this device feels premium and resists fingerprints better than glossy surfaces. The 15.6-inch full HD display offers good brightness and color clarity for streaming, editing, or everyday tasks, while the slim bezels make the screen feel larger than it is. It weighs just under four pounds, which is manageable for commuting or moving between rooms. Lenovo also added a fingerprint reader built into the power button for quick sign-ins, as well as a physical webcam shutter for privacy, a feature not often seen in older laptops at this price point. The Dolby Audio-tuned speakers aren’t groundbreaking but do a decent job for music and calls.

The IdeaPad 5 isn’t a powerhouse by today’s standards, but it holds its own as a practical all-rounder. If you’re editing videos or gaming, newer models will make more sense. But if you’re looking for something fast, comfortable, and modern enough for writing, streaming, or working from a café, this still fits the bill. The battery lasts up to 11 hours, and the USB-C port supports fast charging and external displays, keeping it versatile even a few years later.

Sony had some new hardware to reveal during its State of Play Japan showcase on Tuesday. Along with a refreshed Japanese-only PS5 Digital Edition, the company unveiled an official PlayStation monitor that you can also hook your PC up to. It’s a 27-inch QHD display with a 240Hz refresh rate and support for HDR and variable refresh rate. However, the refresh rate is limited to 120Hz when you’re playing PS5 games.

What’s more, the monitor has a charging hook. It folds down from the rear of the display and you can place your DualSense controller on it, so you’re ready to play whenever the mood strikes. The monitor will be available in the US and Japan sometime next year. Sony hasn’t revealed how much it will cost.

The monitor follows the Pulse Elevate portable desktop speakers that Sony announced back in September. These will work with PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation Portal and are set to arrive in 2026 as well.

The new hardware seems to be part of the company’s push to become more of a player in PC gaming. For instance, the company recently made it possible to pair a DualSense controller with more than one device at a time, making it easier to switch the connection from a PS5 to a PC and vice-versa.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-made-an-official-240hz-playstation-monitor-with-a-built-in-dualsense-charging-hook-230659339.html?src=rss

Sony reported that PlayStation 5 sales have reached 84.2 million units, officially surpassing every Xbox console ever released. IGN reports: The PlayStation 5 is now up to 84.2 million copies sold after shifting an additional 3.9 million units during the three-month period ending September 30, Sony has announced. That’s a slight increase on the 3.8 million PS5 units Sony sold during the same quarter last year, but it’s an impressive result given the price of the console has actually gone up over the course of this generation, rather than come down. […]

As an aside, unlike Sony, Microsoft does not make Xbox Series X and S sales figures public, but analysts have suggested the combined Xbox Series effort is being outsold by the PS5 by at least a factor of 2:1. The more appropriate comparison for the PS5 then, is with its predecessor, the PlayStation 4. Five years into the current console generation, the PS5 is slightly behind the PS4 (the PS4 sold-in to retailers more than 86.1 million units after five years on sale). But Sony has said this console generation is its most financially successful ever, with sales surpassing those made during the reign of all previous Sony consoles.

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Inspired by a Kickstarter for a laser razor that never materialized, Youtuber Allen Pan decided to attempt making one himself. The results? Less than impressive. The 5W laser manages to burn through a single hair in several seconds, making it incredibly impractical for anybody with more than 2-4 hairs to shave. Homer Simpson it could work for. I think the problem here is not using nearly a powerful enough laser. 5W? How about 500W? Shave once and you’d never have to shave again! Or be able to.