Apple Is Giving the iPhone Its Own ‘Emoji Kitchen’

Emojis are a fun evolution from the emoticons of old—but there are only so many to choose from. While a handful of new ones are added each year, for the most part, what you see is what you get, which is why Android’s “Emoji Kitchen” is so great.

The feature lets you combine two emojis to create a brand new one, right on your device. If you want to send a winky face, but with the robot emoji, you can. You can make the skull emoji cry with laughter, or turn a piece of pizza into a rocket ship. The feature multiplies a limited yet sizable pool of emoji choices into a staggering number of varieties.

While Emoji Kitchen is now automaticly included on Pixel devices, it doesn’t even exist on iPhone, at least as of the latest official software version, iOS 18.5. With iOS 26, currently in beta testing, however, Apple has built an Emoji Kitchen-like feature that uses Apple Intelligence to mix multiple emoji or Genmoji together to make a new icon.

The feature didn’t get as much attention as some others during the WWDC keynote introducing iOS 26, but it seems like a fun use of Apple’s AI.

How to mix emoji and Genmoji on iOS 26

combination of the sloth and lightbulb emojis

Credit: Apple/YouTube

In order to try this out, you’ll need to be running iOS 26 on an iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence (i.e. an iPhone 15 Pro or newer), though as the beta is still in its earliest stages, I don’t recommend you try it out at this time.

Once you’re running iOS 26, open the emoji keyboard, then tap “Genmoji.” Here, you’ll now see a new “Suggestions” section, which offers a row of emojis you can choose from. If you don’t like these suggestions, you can choose “Show More” to see different categories of emojis, including “Themes,” “Expressions,” “Costumes,” “Accessories,” and “Places.” As Emojipedia highlights, these categories feature icons that aren’t standard emojis, like a race car helmet and flower crown.

If you’re looking to mix specific emojis together, however, just tap the gray “smiley +” icon. This button will open the emoji keyboard, so you can choose whatever options you like, in addition to any text-based prompts you’d like to add. You can add up to six “concepts” (emojis and prompts) per generation, so you can really mix things up—though you might find that using fewer prompts returns results closer to your intended design.

From here, Genmoji will start generating new emojis from your selection, and you can scroll through the different options it presents. While the app hides the emojis and prompts here, you can tap the image to see which concepts it was generated from. If you like a generation, tap the checkmark, and Genmoji will automatically enter it into the text field for you to share.

Coming to Apple OSes: A seamless, secure way to import and export passkeys

Apple this week provided a glimpse into a feature that solves one of the biggest drawbacks of passkeys, the industry-wide standard for website and app authentication that isn’t susceptible to credential phishing and other attacks targeting passwords.

The import/export feature, which Apple demonstrated at this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, will be available in the next major releases of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. It aims to solve one of the biggest shortcomings of passkeys as they have existed to date. Passkeys created on one operating system or credential manager are largely bound to those environments. A passkey created on a Mac, for instance, can sync easily enough with other Apple devices connected to the same iCloud account. Transferring them to a Windows device or even a dedicated credential manager installed on the same Apple device has been impossible.

Growing pains

That limitation has led to criticisms that passkeys are a power play by large companies to lock users into specific product ecosystems. Users have also rightly worried that the lack of transferability increases the risk of getting locked out of important accounts if a device storing passkeys is lost, stolen, or destroyed.

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Google services are experiencing a partial outage

Google reported disruptions to several of its services today. According to the company’s app status page, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Chat, Google Cloud Search, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Meet, Google Tasks and Google Voice are all being impacted by the problem, which began around 11AM PT/2 PM ET. “Our engineers are currently investigating the issue,” the update states.

The tech giant isn’t the only platform reporting issues. Spotify, Discord, Amazon Web Services and Snapchat are currently topping the charts on DownDetector. Even the Pokemon Trading Card Game is having problems.

DownDetector outages June 12, 2025 2:27pm Central

This story is developing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-services-are-experiencing-a-partial-outage-193156690.html?src=rss

Apple will at long last let you customize snooze times on alarms in iOS 26

We’ve been covering all the news Apple announced at WWDC 2025, but possibly the most exciting element coming to iOS 26 wasn’t discussed on stage. The next update to the operating system will let people set custom snooze times. MacRumors reported that iOS 26 will offer anywhere from one to 15 minute snoozes that users can select when setting the alarm.

For years, Apple has kept the snooze timing locked at nine minutes. If you wanted to doze at a different interval, you’d need to set separate alarms or use a different app than the iPhone’s built-in Clock. It was an odd choice for Apple to not allow personal preferences on this aspect of its smartphones, so anyone who’s been frustrated by the nine-minute restriction will have a little extra treat to look forward to in the mornings when iOS 26 becomes publicly available this fall. And since there’s been some recent research showing that snoozing may not be a terrible thing, we can take full advantage with zero guilt. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-will-at-long-last-let-you-customize-snooze-times-on-alarms-in-ios-26-190001600.html?src=rss

Google, AWS, Cloudflare Among Popular Services Hit By Widespread Outage

Multiple popular services — including Google, Google Cloud, AWS, Spotify, Discord, Cloudflare, Google Nest, Azure, Box and Shopify — are experiencing at least a partial outage globally that began around 2:25pm ET Friday, according to user complaints with reports flooding in across social media and outage tracking sites. Cloudflare has confirmed ongoing issues that started within the past hour. It remains unclear what prompted the outage.

More details to follow.


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Garmin Just Announced Its Answer to the Apple Watch Ultra

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Garmin dropped a new watch today, a square-bodied Venu X1 that retails for $799.99 and will be available to order starting June 18. Garmin told me by email that it is “not a successor to Venu 3/3S,” which to me hints that there may still be a Venu 4 coming soon.

The Venu line, if you’re not familiar, contains Garmin’s most smartwatch-y watches. The Venu 3 and its smaller version (the 3S) can do voice calls and use a phone assistant like Siri, and it can take ECG readings. Unlike the cheaper Vivoactive 6, it has a built-in altimeter to measure how many flights of steps you climb in a day. It also boasts the most advanced version of Garmin’s heart rate sensor, making it potentially more accurate than lower-end models. The Venu 3 and 3S originally went for $449.99 each, although they’re currently both on sale for $349.99. 

What’s new in the Venu X1? 

The square shape is new—although an older Venu, the 2 Sq, also had that square shape. But the Venu 2 Sq was a lower-end watch, and the X1 is clearly on the higher end, with its price and shape positioning it as a competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. (The Ultra 2 starts at $799.99.)

The Venu X1 has some sweet new features for that price, including: 

  • An LED flashlight, just like the new Forerunner 970 (and the Fenix 8, and some Instinct models). People love their LED flashlights, saying that once you have one, you can’t go back. 

  • A 41 x 46 millimeter screen, which Garmin emphasizes is its biggest screen.

  • Sapphire instead of Gorilla glass, for extra scratch resistance.

  • Maps, full vector style, including trail maps and cycling maps, and thousands of pre-loaded golf courses.

  • Battery life is estimated at eight days—less than the Venu 3 (or most other Garmin watches) but significantly more than any Apple Watch. 

  • Training readiness and training status, previously only on running-focused watches like Forerunner and Fenix models.

  • Garmin coach training plans for running, cycling, and strength.

Unlike the Apple Watch, there’s no version of the Venu X1 that has cellular connectivity, so you need your phone with you if you want to make calls or talk to Siri. And it’s much lighter than the Apple Watch Ultra 2—just 34 grams for the X1 versus around 60 for the Ultra 2.

No ECG, though

There’s one major thing the Venu X1 is missing that the Venu 3 and 3S have: an ECG app, to take electrocardiogram readings (that’s the thing that tells you whether your heartbeats are in “Afib” versus “normal sinus rhythm”). You can see a full breakdown of the differences between the Venu 3 and the Venu X1 here. 

Engineer creates first custom motherboard for 1990s PlayStation console

Last week, electronics engineer Lorentio Brodesco announced the completion of a mock-up for nsOne, reportedly the first custom PlayStation 1 motherboard created outside of Sony in the console’s 30-year history. The fully functional board accepts original PlayStation 1 chips and fits directly into the original console case, marking a milestone in reverse-engineering for the classic console released in 1994.

Brodesco’s motherboard isn’t an emulator or FPGA-based re-creation—it’s a genuine circuit board designed to work with authentic PlayStation 1 components, including the CPU, GPU, SPU, RAM, oscillators, and voltage regulators. The board represents over a year of reverse-engineering work that began in March 2024 when Brodesco discovered incomplete documentation while repairing a PlayStation 1.

“This isn’t an emulator. It’s not an FPGA. It’s not a modern replica,” Brodesco wrote in a Reddit post about the project. “It’s a real motherboard, compatible with the original PS1 chips.”

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The Nothing Phone 3 will be available in the US via Amazon

The Nothing Phone 3 is getting an official release for US customers. The handset will be available to purchase from Amazon or directly from the company, according to a report by TechCrunch. Nothing CEO Carl Pei has been teasing this news since April, but now it’s official.

Canadians will also be able to get in on the retail action, as Nothing has inked a deal with Best Buy to sell the new handset in the region. The phone goes on sale next month.

The company has produced eight handsets since forming back in 2020, but only the Phone 2 has made it to general sale in the US. For the other models, users would have to buy a unit via a beta program and there was no after-sale support. So this is good news for North Americans who are tired of Samsung and Apple. 

Phone (3). It’s a magic number.

Coming July 2025. pic.twitter.com/WEQ7Vcf72H

— Nothing (@nothing) May 20, 2025

“The smartphone market in the US is dominated by two players, but a lot of people are hungry for something different,” Pei told TechCrunch. “This is the right product, and the right moment, to start scaling in North America.”

The downside here? The phone will only be available from Amazon and Nothing, so there will be no option to purchase from a carrier for a discount. However, it’ll support 4G and 5G with AT&T and T-Mobile. There’s no explicit support for Verizon, but the Phone 2 worked well with its network and the same thing will likely be true here.

There’s no official US price yet. Pei recently said that it would cost £800 in England at launch, which would translate to around $1,080 in US dollars. This is far and away the most expensive handset the company has ever released, as it has primarily been known for mid-tier offerings. Pei says the higher cost accounts for “premium materials, major performance upgrades and software that really levels things up.”

We don’t have actual specs yet, but a recent leak certainly points to the kind of leveled up experience Pei was talking about. A reliable leaker suggested that it’ll include a “flagship Snapdragon chipset” from Qualcomm and a new camera system with a triple-lens module on the rear. The battery is also reportedly on the larger side, with indications it’ll likely exceed the 5,000 mAh mark. The Nothing Phone 2 shipped with a 4,700 mAh battery.

That’s not the only product the company is bringing stateside. It’s making some over-ear headphones that will be available to purchase for US and Canadian residents.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-nothing-phone-3-will-be-available-in-the-us-via-amazon-184534970.html?src=rss

Here’s How to Use Each Head on Your Massage Gun Most Effectively

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If you have a massage gun, you probably have a favorite attachment. I know that when I have the option for the heat therapy head, I’m hard-pressed to swap it out for one of the ball, bullet, or fork heads instead. But this means I’m not making the most of the tools available to me: Each massage gun head serves a specific purpose, and understanding them is crucial for safe and effective use.

While more and more versatility is a big selling point , there are four primary attachments you’ll find with most massage guns, each designed for different muscle groups and treatment goals. Here’s how you can use them to maximize your massage gun’s potential while avoiding common mistakes that could lead to injury.

First, some massage gun basics

When I’m marathon training, I use a massage gun before and after my runs. In the photos below, you can see all the attachments that come with two of my massage guns, the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini and the HeyChy D5 Pro. Here’s what I’ve learned using them over the years.

HeyChy D5 Pro
Attachments available for the HeyChy D5 Pro.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

The Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini
Attachments available for the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini.
Credit: Meredith Dietz

How hard to press when using a massage gun

One of the most common mistakes with massage gun use is applying too much pressure. “Remember to let the gun do the work,” advises Amanda Grimm, a sports and remedial massage therapist and physical therapist. “Don’t press hard, move it slowly across the targeted area and limit its use to 1-2 minutes per muscle group.”

Use soft heads on sensitive tissues, and heavier heads on deeper muscles. It’s the device’s percussive action that provides the therapeutic benefit, not the pressure you apply. If you find yourself pressing hard to “feel” the effect, you’re likely using too much force and risking injury or excessive soreness.

How often to use a massage gun

While it’s tempting to use the massage gun daily, giving muscles time to recover between sessions is important. Use it as part of your warm-up routine before exercise or for recovery afterward, but avoid daily intensive treatment of the same areas.

National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified trainer Baltazar Villanueva recommends pairing massage gun therapy with active movement to maximize benefits. This approach helps reinforce the increased range of motion and flexibility gained from the percussive therapy. Try to move the treated area through its range of motion immediately after massage gun therapy. This helps your body “remember” the improved mobility and can make the benefits more persistent than using the massage gun alone.

However, when you encounter a specific knot or trigger point, the approach changes slightly. Use the bullet head attachment and apply gentle, sustained pressure for 10-15 seconds before slowly moving away. Remember, more intensity doesn’t necessarily mean better results.

Now, let’s get into the specifics of which attachments help which parts of your body.

The ball head: Your go-to for large muscle groups

The ball head attachment is the workhorse of massage gun therapy. Its rounded, cushioned surface makes it ideal for treating expansive muscle areas without causing discomfort. As Grimm explains, the ball head excels because it distributes force more evenly across the treatment area, making it perfect for general recovery on large muscle groups like the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings.

The ball head’s design allows for comfortable pressure distribution, making it perfect for post-workout recovery sessions on your major muscle groups according to Villanueva. Its versatility also makes it suitable for treating broad areas of muscle tension, though care should be taken to avoid bony areas like the kneecap.

The flat head: Has your back

The flat head attachment features a wider, level surface that’s specifically engineered for broader muscle areas. As Grimm explains, this makes it exceptional for back muscles, where its design can cover more territory with each pass. The flat head works particularly well on the upper back and shoulder blade area, where muscle tension often spreads across wide zones.

The flat head is particularly effective for denser muscle tissue and is an excellent choice for people who are more sensitive to vibration, as its broader surface area distributes the percussive force more gently than other attachments.

When using the flat head on your back, focus on the muscle tissue rather than the spine itself. The attachment’s broad surface helps ensure you’re treating muscle rather than risking contact with bony structures.

The bullet head: Precision targeting for problem areas

The bullet head is your precision instrument, designed with a smaller, more focused contact point. This attachment provides concentrated pressure that makes it particularly effective for targeting trigger points and specific problem areas. However, as Grimm cautions, the bullet head should be used with extra care, especially around bony areas, due to its concentrated force delivery.

This focused pressure makes the bullet head ideal for working on specific tension spots in smaller muscle groups like the calves, but it requires more careful handling than broader attachments. Use lighter pressure and shorter duration to avoid overstimulation of sensitive tissues, and always be mindful of underlying bone structures.

The fork head: Spine-safe muscle relief

The fork head features a unique design with two prongs that create a channel down the middle. This shape allows you to work on muscles alongside the spine without making direct contact with the vertebrae. Villanueva notes that the fork head is excellent for treating areas around the spine, such as the trapezius muscles, and can even be used effectively on the Achilles tendon area, as its design specifically avoids direct contact with bone.

This attachment addresses a common problem: how to treat back muscles without risking spine injury. The fork head’s design ensures you can provide effective treatment to paraspinal muscles while maintaining safe distance from the spine itself, making it an essential tool for addressing upper back tension and other areas where bone proximity is a concern.

Start slow

Understanding the specific purpose of each massage gun attachment will help you gain maximum benefit while minimizing risk. Always prioritize safety over intensity. If you’re new to massage gun therapy, start conservatively. Begin with the lowest intensity setting and use the ball head attachment on large, less sensitive muscle groups like the quadriceps or glutes. Try gentle pressure and slow movements, paying attention to how your body responds.

As you become more comfortable with the device and understand your body’s response, you can gradually explore other attachments and muscle groups. Always listen to your body, and if something doesn’t feel right, stop immediately.

Finally, massage guns work best as part of a more comprehensive recovery routine. Combine their use with proper hydration, adequate sleep, stretching, and movement correction. The gun addresses symptoms, but underlying issues like poor posture or movement patterns need separate attention.

AMD Supercharges AI Data Centers With Powerful MI350 GPU At Advancing AI 2025

AMD Supercharges AI Data Centers With Powerful MI350 GPU At Advancing AI 2025
At the Advancing AI event, currently underway in San Jose, California, CEO Dr. Lisa Su, along with an array of company execs and partners, disclosed AMD’s latest integrated AI platform vision and unveiled new rack-scale AI systems, in additional to details regarding its forthcoming Instinct MI350 series AI accelerators, Pensando Pollara…

AI Overviews hallucinates that Airbus, not Boeing, involved in fatal Air India crash

When major events occur, most people rush to Google to find information. Increasingly, the first thing they see is an AI Overview, a feature that already has a reputation for making glaring mistakes. In the wake of a tragic plane crash in India, Google’s AI search results are spreading misinformation claiming the incident involved an Airbus plane—it was actually a Boeing 787.

Travelers are more attuned to the airliner models these days after a spate of crashes involving Boeing’s 737 lineup several years ago. Searches for airline disasters are sure to skyrocket in the coming days, with reports that more than 200 passengers and crew lost their lives in the Air India Flight 171 crash. The way generative AI operates means some people searching for details may get the wrong impression from Google’s results page.

Not all searches get AI answers, but Google has been steadily expanding this feature since it debuted last year. One searcher on Reddit spotted a troubling confabulation when searching for crashes involving Airbus planes. AI Overviews, apparently overwhelmed with results reporting on the Air India crash, stated confidently (and incorrectly) that it was an Airbus A330 that fell out of the sky shortly after takeoff. We’ve run a few similar searches—some of the AI results say Boeing, some say Airbus, and some include a strange mashup blaming both Airbus and Boeing. It’s a mess.

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Barbie Goes AI As Mattel Teams With OpenAI To Reinvent Playtime

BrianFagioli writes: Barbie is getting a brain upgrade. Mattel has officially partnered with OpenAI in a move that brings artificial intelligence to the toy aisle. Yes, you read that right, folks. Barbie might soon be chatting with your kids in full sentences, powered by ChatGPT.

This collaboration brings OpenAI’s advanced tools into Mattel’s ecosystem of toys and entertainment brands. The goal? To launch AI-powered experiences that are fun, safe, and age-appropriate. Mattel says it wants to keep things magical while also respecting privacy and security. Basically, Barbie won’t be data-mining your kids… yet.


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I Like iOS 26’s New Back Gesture Better Than Android’s (When It Works)

Unlike Android, the iPhone has never had a physical back button. You need some way to go back to the previous page in various apps, and rather than a button, Apple found a decent solution in the back gesture. It requires you to swipe from the left edge of the iPhone’s screen towards the right, and while it doesn’t work in all apps, most have adopted it. As good as this gesture is, it can be hard to reach for right-handed people (especially on large iPhones) since it requires you to extend your thumb all the way to the left. iOS 26 makes this a lot easier.

Once you start using iOS 26, you’ll notice that the back gesture has changed. You can swipe right from pretty much anywhere on the screen to go back. This feels much more intuitive than swiping from the left edge. I tried this in a bunch of Apple’s own apps, including Mail, Podcasts, and Settings, and it works quite well in all cases. One notable holdout is Safari, which retains the old back gesture. That’s understandable: Safari lets you go back a page if you swipe right from the left edge, and it also lets you go forward a page by swiping towards the left from the right edge of the screen.

Back gestures on iOS 26 vs. Android

In some ways, iOS 26’s back gesture is better than Android’s back gesture. While Android OS lets you swipe from either edge of your phone’s screen to go back—assuming gesture-based navigation is enabled on your phone—the iOS 26 back gesture is easier to remember: swipe right to go back, no matter which part of the screen you’re on. This gesture has already become a part of my daily routine on my iPhone 12 Pro Max, where reaching the opposite edge of the screen is a task and a half. 

That said, I do get frustrated with the current implementation of this gesture because it doesn’t always work. When I open a chat in Messages, I still have to swipe right from the left edge. In other apps, sometimes you may encounter a conflicting gesture that may stop you from going back. For example, in Mail, you need to swipe over an empty part of the screen to go back. If you swipe over any of your emails, then you trigger Mail’s default right-swipe gesture, and it shows you the option to mark a mail read or to snooze the email.

It might be a matter of adapting to the various quirks of iOS, but it’s also worth keeping in mind that iOS 26 is still in its first developer beta, so some rough edges are to be expected. I’m quite excited to see how it gets polished through the beta cycle, and most importantly, how well third-party apps use the gesture to their advantage.

“Two years of work in two months”: States cope with Trump broadband overhaul

The Trump administration has upended plans that state governments made to distribute $42 billion in federal broadband funding, forcing state officials to scrap much of the preparation work they did over the previous couple of years.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick essentially put the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program on hold earlier this year and last week announced details of a rules overhaul that requires states to change how they distribute money to Internet service providers. To find out how this affects states, we spoke with Andrew Butcher, president of the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA).

“We had been in position to be making awards this month, but for [the Trump administration’s] deliberations and program changes, so it’s pretty unfortunate,” Butcher told Ars. Established by a 2021 state law, the MCA is a quasi-governmental agency that oversees Maine’s BEAD planning and other programs that increase broadband access.

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Google DeepMind is sharing its AI forecasts with the National Weather Service

Here’s an AI-government collaboration of a less… unsettling variety than some. Google DeepMind is teaming up with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for tropical cyclone season. The AI research lab claims it can predict hurricane paths and intensities with at least the same accuracy as traditional methods.

NHC forecasters have already begun using DeepMind’s AI model. Google says they’re designed to support, not replace, human NHC forecasters. (Although President Trump‘s National Weather Service cuts have already reduced its headcount.) The company is also careful to repeatedly describe its models as “experimental.”

Google claims that its models offer fewer trade-offs than physics-based predictions. The more accurate those methods are at forecasting a hurricane’s path, the worse they are at predicting its intensity. (And vice versa.) The company says its experimental system offers “state-of-the-art” accuracy for both.

DeepMind backs that up with data from real-life storms over the last two years. On average, its five-day hurricane track prediction gets 87 miles closer to the storm’s actual path than ENS, a widely used traditional model. Google’s was comparable to a 3.5-day prediction model. In other words, it’s like gaining an extra 1.5 days of warning with the same level of confidence. The company says such an improvement typically takes over a decade to achieve.

Sample scren from Google DeepMind's hurricane tracking website. Map showing hurricane paths.
Google

Alongside the NHC collab, Google is launching a new website that you can try. Now in a public preview, Weather Lab lets you see the AI storm predictions. It lets you view both live and historical predictions. You can even compare them to physics-based models to see how the AI version measures up.

It’s important not to treat Weather Lab’s experimental forecasts as official. But the website could come in handy if you live in Hurricane Alley. You can check it out now.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-deepmind-is-sharing-its-ai-forecasts-with-the-national-weather-service-173506456.html?src=rss

More Than a Dozen VPN Apps Have Undisclosed Ties To China

More than a dozen private browsing apps on Apple and Google’s app stores have undisclosed ties to Chinese companies, leaving user data at risk of exposure to the Chinese government, according to a new report from the Tech Transparency Project. From a report: Thirteen virtual private network (VPN) apps on Apple’s App Store and 11 apps on Google’s Play Store have ties to Chinese companies, the tech watchdog group said in the report released Thursday.

Chinese law requires Chinese companies to share data with the government upon request, creating privacy and security risks for American users. Several of the apps, including two on both app stores and two others on Google Play Store, have ties to Chinese cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. government, according to the report. The Tech Transparency Project previously identified more than 20 VPN apps on Appleâ(TM)s App Store with Chinese ties in an April report. The iPhone maker has since removed three apps linked to Qihoo 360.


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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will end with a truncated fifth season

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will only visit around 26 strange new worlds before shuttling into that cancellation sunset. The show will end with a truncated fifth season of six episodes, according to reporting by Deadline.

This news is relatively surprising, given that Strange New Worlds seems like the most popular and successful show of the modern era. However, not a single newer Trek series has made it past five seasons, so maybe that’s just the way things go now. It’s worth remembering that Captain Kirk’s narration in the original 1960s Star Trek spoke of a five-year mission.

“We’re deeply grateful to Paramount+ for the chance to complete our five-season mission, just as we envisioned it, alongside our extraordinary cast and crew. And to the passionate fans who’ve boldly joined us on this journey,” executive producers Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, and Alex Kurtzman said in a joint statement provided via press release.

This is a bummer, as Strange New Worlds is a fantastic watch, but it’s not the end of the world. The show is about to premiere its third season on July 17. A full fourth season is already in production, and the shortened fifth season will ramp up sometime in the next year. So there are still 26 episodes left to watch. That’s a good amount of Trek.

It’s also not the end of live-action Star Trek on television screens. The upcoming Starfleet Academy has already been renewed for a second season, though that’s the only new show on our radar. There have been rumblings of movies, but we aren’t sure what’s actually being made. A film chronicling the formation of Starfleet was announced around 18 months ago, but there hasn’t been any news since then. Patrick Stewart has been openly campaigning for a Captain Picard movie, but, well, he’s 84 as of this writing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-will-end-with-a-truncated-fifth-season-171054923.html?src=rss

Razer’s new Kishi V3 controllers can fit up to a 13-inch iPad

Razer has announced its latest lineup of Kishi mobile gaming controllers, capable of housing your phone, small tablet and, in the most comically extreme case, a full-size iPad.

The Kishi V3 Pro XL is seemingly designed for people who like to play games on the largest possible mobile canvas, but don’t want to rely on touch controls or just pair a wireless pad. The two sides of the controller stretch out so wide that the V3 Pro XL is able to accommodate a 13-inch iPad Air or Pro, or compatible Android slate of similar proportions, morphing the tablet into a handheld console that makes the Switch 2 look decidedly miniature in comparison.

Take away the “XL” bit and the supersized controller offers the same functionality as the standard Kishi V3 Pro, which is built for USB-C phones and tablets up to 8 inches. Both controllers feature precise anti-drift TMR thumbsticks with swappable caps, dual mouse click-back buttons and claw grip bumpers, as well as Razer’s Sensa HD haptics (not currently supported on iOS). Wired and remote play is possible on PC via the Razer Nexus launcher, and you get USB-C passthrough charging built in. There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack too if you prefer wired audio.

Razer Kishi V3
Razer

Rounding out the refreshed lineup is the Kishi V3, which is designed for iPhone and Android handsets. Many of the Pro features trickle down to the streamlined option, including the full-size TMR sticks (without the swappable caps) and back buttons. The USB-C “island” design of the controller makes it widely compatible with cases, so you don’t need to yank yours off every time you want to play a game.

Whatever model you pick up, Razer will give you up to six free months of Apple Arcade, normally priced at $7 per month. Will that soften the blow of the prices for these controllers? Not really. The Kishi V3 costs $100, the V3 Pro is $150, and the V3 Pro XL comes in at a whopping $200, which seems extremely high for a controller add-on for your massive tablet. But if you’ve been looking for a controller for that very specific use case, Razer has you covered.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/razers-new-kishi-v3-controllers-can-fit-up-to-a-13-inch-ipad-170317228.html?src=rss

Instagram Will Soon Let You Edit Your Grid

For many Instagram users, the grid is sacred. Every post you make ends up in the grid in reverse chronological order, so, to many users, each post needs to be carefully thought through. You don’t want a new post to throw your grid out of whack, especially if you’ve meticulously designed a specific theme. Aside from pinning posts or adjusting the preview, you can’t just edit this grid after the fact.

As it happens, that’s now changing. Instagram announced on Thursday that soon, users will be able to rearrange and edit their profile grids, without having to delete those posts to do it. In addition, the company is testing the ability to post directly to the grid, rather than to the main Instagram feed. That way, if you want a post to appear on your profile, but not in anyone’s face, you can. I imagine that’ll be useful for curating each and every picture in your grid, though you’ll need to be okay with the quiet posts having much lower engagement compared to the photos and videos that post to everyone’s feeds.

How to rearrange your Instagram grid

This feature isn’t live as of this article, but Instagram says it’s rolling out soon. When it’s live, you’ll be able to long-press on a photo in your grid as you can now to reveal a pop-up menu. But new to this menu is the option to “Edit grid.”

Tap that, and a new screen appears, featuring all of the images in your grid as they are currently arranged. You can then drag each to any spot in the grid you wish. This will likely make it much easier to curate designs within your grid, or float older posts to the top of the grid, without having to rely on the pinning feature to do so.