An anonymous reader quotes a report from VentureBeat: Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has quietly released a new large language model that’s already sending ripples through the artificial intelligence industry — not just for its capabilities, but for how it’s being deployed. The 641-gigabyte model, dubbed DeepSeek-V3-0324, appeared on AI repository Hugging Face today with virtually no announcement (just an empty README file), continuing the company’s pattern of low-key but impactful releases. What makes this launch particularly notable is the model’s MIT license — making it freely available for commercial use — and early reports that it can run directly on consumer-grade hardware, specifically Apple’s Mac Studio with M3 Ultra chip.

“The new DeepSeek-V3-0324 in 4-bit runs at > 20 tokens/second on a 512GB M3 Ultra with mlx-lm!” wrote AI researcher Awni Hannun on social media. While the $9,499 Mac Studio might stretch the definition of “consumer hardware,” the ability to run such a massive model locally is a major departure from the data center requirements typically associated with state-of-the-art AI. […] Simon Willison, a developer tools creator, noted in a blog post that a 4-bit quantized version reduces the storage footprint to 352GB, making it feasible to run on high-end consumer hardware like the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra chip. This represents a potentially significant shift in AI deployment. While traditional AI infrastructure typically relies on multiple Nvidia GPUs consuming several kilowatts of power, the Mac Studio draws less than 200 watts during inference. This efficiency gap suggests the AI industry may need to rethink assumptions about infrastructure requirements for top-tier model performance. “The implications of an advanced open-source reasoning model cannot be overstated,” reports VentureBeat. “Current reasoning models like OpenAI’s o1 and DeepSeek’s R1 represent the cutting edge of AI capabilities, demonstrating unprecedented problem-solving abilities in domains from mathematics to coding. Making this technology freely available would democratize access to AI systems currently limited to those with substantial budgets.”

“If DeepSeek-R2 follows the trajectory set by R1, it could present a direct challenge to GPT-5, OpenAI’s next flagship model rumored for release in coming months. The contrast between OpenAI’s closed, heavily-funded approach and DeepSeek’s open, resource-efficient strategy represents two competing visions for AI’s future.”

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Whether you’re after long-term support, phenomenal cameras, or just an all-around great phone, the Google Pixel 9 lineup has a lot to offer. And with the Amazon Spring Sale on, you can snag any of the three phones in that lineup at a considerable discount. Whether it’s the top-of-the-line Pixel 9 Pro XL or the more modest Pixel 9, you’ll get well over $100 off. Here are the three devices you can choose from:

• Google Pixel 9: $640 (was $799) at Amazon

• Google Pixel 9 Pro: $799 (was $999) at Amazon

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: $899 (was $1099) at Amazon

The Pixel 9 sets a strong baseline for the Pixel lineup. It has a simple but elegant design that’s compact and budget-friendly. The display is excellent, offering a sharp resolution, incredible brightness, and smooth visuals. Around back it features a pair of high-resolution cameras offering wide and ultra-wide focal lengths. And Google tops it off with a modest chipset that powers some impressive AI features and that will get long-term software support for even more value.

The Pixel 9 Pro takes everything the Pixel 9 sets up and raises it a notch. It gets an even sharper and brighter display. And its camera system steps it up with an upgraded selfie shooter and a 5x telephoto sensor on that back that makes a huge difference when you want to zoom in on a subject or get some nice bokeh blur. And for those of you who don’t love the industry’s shift toward increasingly large phones, you’ll love to hear that the Pixel 9 Pro is the same size as the Pixel 9. 

For those who love extra screen space, the Pixel 9 Pro XL brings it. You get all the upgrades of the Pixel 9 Pro but tucked into a bigger phone. This model sports a 6.8-inch display and bumps up to a 5,060mAh battery to help out with longevity. 

All three models come with some future-ready tech including Wi-Fi 7, eSIM support, and satellite communication. They’re also built nice and sturdy with aluminum frames, tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and IP68-rated protection against dust and dunk in water.

Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:

• The Best Over-Ear Headphones

• The Best Wireless Earbuds

• The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets

• The Best Projectors

More heavy blows are landing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to reports Tuesday that reveal a wave of high-level departures from the country’s beleaguered health agency. The agency is also losing $11.4 billion in funding for responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was largely doled out to chronically underfunded state health departments.

This afternoon, the Associated Press reported that five high-level leaders are departing the agency, which was announced today during a senior staff meeting. The departures, which were described as retirements, follow three other high-level departures in recent weeks. Given that the CDC has two dozen centers and offices, the recent departures reflect a loss of about a third of the agency’s top management.

The departures announced today include: Leslie Ann Dauphin, who oversees the Public Health Infrastructure Center, “which serves as the connection point between the agency and state, local, and territorial jurisdictions, tribes. and CDC’s public health partners,” according to the CDC. Karen Remley, who heads the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, is also departing, as is Sam Posner, who heads the Office of Science, which provides scientific expertise across the agency and publishes the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Debra Lubar, who is the CDC’s Chief Operating Officer and runs the Office of Policy, Performance and Evaluation, and Leandris Liburd, head of the Office of Health Equity, are also leaving.

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“In a conversation with Tony Yu from Asus China, AMD CEO Lisa Su shared that the Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards have quickly become a huge hit, breaking records as AMD’s top-selling GPUs within just a week of release,” writes Slashdot reader jjslash. TechSpot reports: AMD CEO Lisa Su has confirmed that the company’s new Radeon RX 9000 graphics cards have been a massive success, selling 10 times more units than their predecessors in just one week on the market. Su also stated that more RDNA 4 cards are on the way, but did not confirm whether the lineup will include the rumored Radeon RX 9060. When asked about the limited availability of the new cards, Su said that AMD is ramping up production to ensure greater supply at retailers worldwide. She also expressed hope that increased availability would help stabilize pricing by discouraging scalping and price gouging.

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Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is on now, a mini version of Prime Day that has inspired competing sales at Target and Walmart. Plenty of fitness trackers and smartwatches are among the discounted items. Here are my picks for the best deals, including watches from Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, and Samsung.

Apple Watches

The Apple Watch SE, the most budget version of this smartwatch, is available starting at $169 today. (As with all Apple Watches, the price goes up if you want a larger size or if you buy the version with cellular connectivity.) That’s 32% off the original price of $249.

The Apple Watch Series 10, the one we crowned the best Apple Watch for most people, is available for $299 and up today, down from $399 regular price. Again, that’s the smaller, non-cellular version, with upgrades adding a bit—but all sizes and types are on sale.

Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 42mm] with Jet Black Aluminium Case with Ink Sport Loop. Fitness Tracker, ECG App, Always-On Retina Display, Carbon Neutral

$299.00
at Amazon

$399.00
Save $100.00

$299.00
at Amazon

$399.00
Save $100.00

Garmin fitness watches

Garmin’s Forerunner 55 is still on that sale from a few days ago, when our Lifehacker’s deals writer Daniel Oropeza flagged it as his favorite deal of the day. It’s $149, a great price for a running watch that does all the basics. It will track your pace, location, heart rate, sleep, and more. It has a retro feel, with its MIP screen and button navigation instead of a touchscreen. But you really can’t beat the price. 

Two other older-generation Forerunner watches are also on sale today, and since they both end in -55, you know they have that same MIP screen, which is reflective in sunlight and needs a backlight in the dark to light them up. (Many runners prefer MIP to the more smartwatch-style AMOLED screens, so who am I to judge?) 

Aside from the screen, the Forerunner 255, a steal at $229 today, and it is almost identical to my favorite running watch, the Forerunner 265. (The only other major feature it’s missing? Music storage, but you can get a Forerunner 255 Music for just $20 more.) That said, the Forerunner 265 is also on sale today, for $399, which is $50 off its usual price. 

Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch (Gray)

$227.97
at Walmart

$349.99
Save $122.02

$227.97
at Walmart

$349.99
Save $122.02

Garmin’s Forerunner 955 is the big brother to the 255, with onboard maps that make it great for hiking and trail running. It’s just $349, down from an original price of $499 when it was released in 2022. And if you’d like to go for the solar version, to top up your battery when you’re out in the sun, the Forerunner 955 Solar is $399 today.

If you want something a little less sport-specific, Garmin’s Vivoactive 5 is $217 today, down from a regular price of $299. This is the lifestyle smartwatch that beat out the Pixel Watch 3 in my head-to-head comparison. If you’re looking for a fresh alternative to Fitbit smartwatches, the Vivoactive 5 would be my pick. If you want an actual Fitbit, though, those are on sale as well. 

Fitbit trackers and smartwatches

All of Fitbit’s major models are on sale today, including the iconic bracelet-styled Charge 6 for $119, originally $159. Opinions vary, but if you want mine: The Charge 6 is the best Fitbit. (If you want a smartwatch, go for a Garmin.) 

If you’re more of a minimalist, though, the Inspire 3 is worth a look. Normally retailing for $99, it’s just $69 today. The Inspire 3 doesn’t have its own GPS chipset, instead relying on your phone for location. It’s also just a more pared-down experience in other ways, with fewer exercise types and fewer apps. 

Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black)

$69.95
at Walmart

$89.95
Save $20.00

$69.95
at Walmart

$89.95
Save $20.00

Samsung watches

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra is on sale today for just $409, down from $649. It comes in a 47mm size with LTE cellular connectivity, and is basically Samsung’s answer to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We have more details on its features here. 

Software developer Xe Iaso reached a breaking point earlier this year when aggressive AI crawler traffic from Amazon overwhelmed their Git repository service, repeatedly causing instability and downtime. Despite configuring standard defensive measures—adjusting robots.txt, blocking known crawler user-agents, and filtering suspicious traffic—Iaso found that AI crawlers continued evading all attempts to stop them, spoofing user-agents and cycling through residential IP addresses as proxies.

Desperate for a solution, Iaso eventually resorted to moving their server behind a VPN and creating “Anubis,” a custom-built proof-of-work challenge system that forces web browsers to solve computational puzzles before accessing the site. “It’s futile to block AI crawler bots because they lie, change their user agent, use residential IP addresses as proxies, and more,” Iaso wrote in a blog post titled “a desperate cry for help.” “I don’t want to have to close off my Gitea server to the public, but I will if I have to.”

Iaso’s story highlights a broader crisis rapidly spreading across the open source community, as what appear to be aggressive AI crawlers increasingly overload community-maintained infrastructure, causing what amounts to persistent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on vital public resources. According to a comprehensive recent report from LibreNews, some open source projects now see as much as 97 percent of their traffic originating from AI companies’ bots, dramatically increasing bandwidth costs, service instability, and burdening already stretched-thin maintainers.

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World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by Donald Trump and his family, has launched a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin called USD1. The token is backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents and will soon go live on the Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain networks. CNBC reports: The development comes as the market cap for dollar-backed stablecoins — cryptocurrencies that promise a fixed value peg to another asset — has been climbing to new all-time-highs this year and has grown more than 46% in the past year, according to CryptoQuant. The market has long been dominated by Tether (USDT) and, more recently, Circle’s USDC. “USD1 provides what algorithmic and anonymous crypto projects cannot — access to the power of DeFi underpinned by the credibility and safeguards of the most respected names in traditional finance,” said World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff. “We’re offering a digital dollar stablecoin that sovereign investors and major institutions can confidently integrate into their strategies for seamless, secure cross-border transactions.”

Alex Thorn is head of firmwide research at Galaxy Digital, said at the Digital Asset Summit: “Stablecoins are seen as more politically easy to do in Congress but actually will be dramatically more impactful to the United States and the world than market structure [legislation]. Who regulates who is important … if you’re one of the people that’s going to be regulated, but the stablecoin bill could solidify dollar dominance for 100 years.”

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Cyber Monday is long gone, but with spring sales popping up this week in response to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale event, there’s still plenty of good tech to be found for cheap.

Across Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more, gadgets from laptops to TVs are seeing deep discounts. Shopping these sales can be a bit difficult unless you know how to track an item’s price history, but fortunately, I’ve already done all of the work for you. Keep checking in here throughout the week for the best deals on laptops, TVs, tablets, video games, and more. Prices are accurate as of time of writing, but you can expect them to fluctuate and inventory to sell out, so you may not want to hesitate if you see a sale that grabs you.

The best deals on laptops

Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch with M4 Chip

$949.00
at Amazon

$999.00
Save $50.00

$949.00
at Amazon

$999.00
Save $50.00

Sales events are a great time to buy laptops, as they’re one of the most frequent items to go on sale during these periods. Here are some of my favorite picks for the best laptop deals available now.

• Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 Chip: $949 at Amazon (was $999). Released earlier this month, Apple’s M4 MacBook Air is already on sale. At time of writing, the discount only applies to the 13-inch model with 16GB of RAM, but that’s still enough for plenty of users.

• Apple MacBook Pro with M4 Chip: $1,399 at Amazon (was $1,599). For a more powerful Apple computer, the MacBook Pro is the obvious choice. As time of writing, sales are present across all chip options (the M4 has multiple upgrades available), as well as across multiple RAM and storage loadouts, but you will need to stick to a 14-inch screen.

• Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: $1,475 at Amazon (was $1,699). A Windows-based alternative to the MacBook Air, although with power potentially rivaling the Pro at points, this lightweight laptop is a touch more expensive, but comes with a higher resolution OLED screen with a higher refresh rate, plus the ability to convert into a tablet.

• Microsoft Surface Laptop: $980 at Amazon (was $1,400). A cheaper alternative to the MacBook Air, the Microsoft Surface Laptop offers a familiar form factor and, thanks to its Qualcomm chip, higher battery life and greater AI compatibility, although at the cost of some performance.

• Lenovo IdeaPad 1i: $420 at Best Buy (was $600). This is a more basic, “get the job done” kind of laptop, but with a respectable mid-range chip, surprisingly generous storage for the price, and a touchscreen, there’s quite a bit of value to be had here.

• HP Victus 16 Gaming Laptop: $900 at Best Buy (was $1,500). The HP Victus 16 is a tremendous deal below $1,000, getting you a respectable chip, 16GB of RAM, and enough storage to get by, but also the RTX 4070 GPU, which is typically reserved for much more expensive machines.

The best deals on tablets

Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro with M4 Chip

$899.00
at Amazon

$999.00
Save $100.00

$899.00
at Amazon

$999.00
Save $100.00

Good tablets are a bit rarer to find deals on during sales events, since iPads so overwhelmingly dominate the space, and Apple can be a little more stringent with supply. Still, there are good opportunities to be found if you’re willing to look.

• Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro with M4 Chip: $899 at Amazon (was $999). Apple’s first iPad with an OLED screen, the M4 Pro is now available for less than four figures, with deals available for all storage configurations.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+: $700 at Amazon (was $1,000). A premium Android tablet from Samsung, this rectangle boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 12GB of memory, 256GB of storage, a 12-inch 2,800 x 1,752 AMOLED screen, and comes with a stylus.

• Microsoft Surface Pro 13-Inch: $999 at Best Buy (was $1,200). This pick blurs the line between a tablet and a laptop, coming equipped with Windows 11, which gives it a full desktop ecosystem of apps to explore. Plus, this particular model also has a few Copilot+ goodies thrown in. Storage is 512GB and RAM is 16GB.

The best deals on phones

Google Pixel 9 (Unlocked)

$629.99
at Amazon

$799.00
Save $169.01

$629.99
at Amazon

$799.00
Save $169.01

Similar to tablets, the current phone deals are a bit held back by Apple, as iPhone sales tend to be a bit hit-or-miss, often relying on third-party sellers with refurbished devices. However, if you’re on Android, you have a wealth of options.

• Google Pixel 9 (Unlocked): $640 at Amazon (was $799). Google’s latest non-pro phone has the Tensor G4 chip, a lot of exclusive Gemini-powered goodies, and a 6.3-inch OLED “Actua” display.

• Google Pixel 9 Pro (Unlocked): $849 at Amazon (was $1,099). An upgrade to the base Pixel 9, the Pro model has improved cameras, more storage options, and a higher resolution display.

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked): $899 at Amazon (was $1,099). Priced similarly to the standard Pixel 9 Pro, the XL offers identical power, but a larger, 6.8-inch display.

• Samsung Galaxy S25 (Unlocked): $700 at Amazon (was $800). Samsung’s Galaxy phones are a favorite alternative to Google’s Pixels, with a more traditional camera setup and more powerful chips. You lose out on Google’s exclusive Pixel software features, but if you can get used to Samsung’s own ecosystem, there’s also some convenience to be gained with its spin on Android.

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked): $1,195 at Amazon (was $1,420). An upgrade to the base Samsung Galaxy S25, the Ultra has more storage options, a larger, 6.9-inch screen, better cameras, and a slightly bigger battery.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Unlocked): $1,068 at Amazon (was $1,220). Flip phones are still an expensive proposition, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a bit more affordable with the sale. This phone has many of the same specs as the S25, albeit with the camera’s performance being traded out a bit in favor of the foldable screen.

• Motorola Razr+ (Unlocked): $700 at Amazon (was $1,000). This nostalgic flip phone is a slightly cheaper alternative to the Z Flip series, with a slightly weaker chipset but also a slightly larger size.

The best deals on TVs

Amazon Fire TV 55″

$769.99
at Amazon

$899.99
Save $130.00

$769.99
at Amazon

$899.99
Save $130.00

Like laptops, TVs almost always go on sale at every opportunity, and waiting until these discounts drop is a great way to get a display that punches above its weight class.

• LG 77-inch B3 OLED TV: $1,497 at Amazon (was $2,297). OLED is still my favorite display tech out there, and if I can get on my soapbox for a moment, it’s the only one that really compares to CRTs. LG makes some of the best OLED TVs around, and this big-screen model has a 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. There are four HDMI 2.1 inputs.

• Amazon 55-inch Fire TV Omni Series: $770 at Amazon (was $900). Amazon’s Fire TVs are a great way to get a lot of screen on a budget. This 4K Mini-LED smart display has a 144Hz refresh rate, supports hands-free Alexa control, comes with up to an 85-inch screen, and has various HDR options.

• Roku 55-inch Plus Series QLED 4K Smart TV: $430 at Best Buy (was $500). Roku is one of Amazon’s biggest rivals in the budget TV category. Available in up to 75 inches, this TV is 4K, supports Dolby Vision at a lower price point than Amazon’s option, has a 60Hz refresh rate, and comes with Roku’s snappy operating system built in.

• TCL 55-inch Class Q6-Series 4K Smart Google TV: $300 at Best Buy (was $320). If you’re not big on Amazon’s or Roku’s operating systems, then a TCL TV is a good bet. This model comes in up to 98 inches, has a 4K QLED panel, supports Dolby Vision, and has a 60Hz native refresh rate.

The best sales on video game tech

Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller

$45.00
at Walmart

$59.99
Save $14.99

$45.00
at Walmart

$59.99
Save $14.99

Video game sales tend to be more often relegated to summer and fall, but there are still a few sales to be found right now, especially on accessories.

• Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition: $435 at Amazon (was $450). Console deals are few and far between during this sales event, but you can snag the current most powerful Xbox for a slight discount right now, but you’ll need to get the version without a disc drive.

• Amazon Fire TV 4K Max with Xbox Core Wireless Controller and 1 Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $105 at Amazon (was $145). This bundle will snag you Amazon’s best streaming stick plus an Xbox controller and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, turning it into a full-on cloud gaming console.

• Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller: $45 at Amazon (was $60). Almost no video game accessory is as versatile as the basic Xbox controller, which can work across a slew of devices and has a standard layout that most games recognize immediately.

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller: $48 at Amazon (was $60). This is a reliable third-party alternative to the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, with both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, plus motion controls, back paddles, extra trigger buttons, macro compatibility, and durable TMR sticks. Note that you have to be an Amazon Prime member to get this deal.

Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:

• The Best Over-Ear Headphones

• The Best Wireless Earbuds

• The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets

• The Best Projectors

Gaming journalism stalwart Game Informer has risen from the ashes. More than thirty years after its debut issue back in August 1991, the media outlet was officially shut down by parent company GameStop in August 2024. Since then, the rights to Game Informer were acquired by Gunzilla Games and, in an all-to-rare win for today’s media world, the entire team that worked for Game Informer at the time of its closure will return to their jobs.

Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller posted the details about how the outlet was saved from the brink and noted that Gunzilla Games will be a hands-off boss. “The new owners insisted on the idea of Game Informer remaining an independent editorial outlet,” he wrote. “They felt just as strongly as our team did that the only path forward was with an editorial group that made 100 percent of the decisions around what we cover and how we do so, without any influence from them or anyone else.”

“We are proud to welcome the talented voices behind Game Informer in the Gunzilla Games family, and join their fight to preserve the heart of video game journalism in what has been a tumultuous time for the industry,” Gunzilla CEO and Co-Founder Vlad Korolov said.

The website and its back catalog of content have been republished online. Game Informer‘s staff have also published reviews of more than two dozen games that came out during the site’s hiatus and belatedly compiled their requisite best games of 2024 list. The print magazine is also expected to resume activity, and Miller said more details will be forthcoming about subscription and membership options.

Gunzilla Games, which counts Hollywood director Neill Blomkamp among its leadership, made a battle royale shooter called Off the Grid and also developed the GUNZ blockchain platform.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/game-informer-is-back-and-so-is-its-entire-team-210748358.html?src=rss

According to Convergence Research, an estimated 46% of Canadian households didn’t have a TV subscription with a cable, satellite, or telecom-based provider in 2024. MobileSyrup reports: In its latest annual “Couch Potato” report (PDF) on the streaming market, the firm notes that this was a four per cent increase from 2023 and that the number is expected to continue to rise to 54 per cent by 2027. Convergence notes that this marks a greater shift towards subscription video on demand services (SVOD) like Netflix and Disney+. To that point, the firm found that Canadian streaming subscription revenue grew 15 per cent year-over-year to $4.2 billion in 2024. At the same time, linear TV subscription revenue dropped five per cent to around $6.5 billion.

Some other interesting findings from the report:

– The 10 leading streaming providers raised prices in Canada by an average of six percent last year

– Ad-enabled memberships are cost 39 percent less on average compared to ad-free options

– Canadians subscribe to an average of 2.6 streaming platforms per household

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Because miniatures make everything better, this is a video of Nerdforge’s Martina and Hansi constructing a coffee table with a miniature library inside, complete with bookshelves, a desk, and little lights. The finished project is stunning — way nicer than my coffee table. “That looks like a keg with a closet door on top.” Nothing gets past you!

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A good kitchen appliance should last you years. And like any long-term relationship, you want to make sure it’s the right fit before you invest your time or money into it. Right now, with Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, you have an opportunity to start a relationship with a kitchen appliance you’ve been flirting with, and at prices that feel less risky. Here are some of my favorite discounts popping up this week.

Vitamix Ascent X3 Blender, Professional-Grade, 3 Preset Blending Programs, 48-ounce Container, Self-Cleaning, Shadow Black

$549.95
at Amazon

$649.95
Save $100.00

$549.95
at Amazon

$649.95
Save $100.00

Cuisinart Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven, 8-1 Oven with Bake, Grill, Broil & Warm Options, Stainless Steel, TOA-70

$139.95
at Amazon

$229.95
Save $90.00

$139.95
at Amazon

$229.95
Save $90.00

Instant Vortex 5.7-Quart 4-in-1 Air Fryer (Black)

$83.99
at Amazon

$139.99
Save $56.00

$83.99
at Amazon

$139.99
Save $56.00

Instant Pot 6.5 Quart Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid with WIFI, 13-in-1 Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker Combo, Sauté, Slow Cook, Bake, Steam, Warm, Roast, Dehydrate, Sous Vide, & More, Includes App with Recipes

$159.99
at Amazon

$229.95
Save $69.96

$159.99
at Amazon

$229.95
Save $69.96

Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14 Cup Food Processor

$199.95
at Amazon

$249.95
Save $50.00

$199.95
at Amazon

$249.95
Save $50.00

Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14 Cup Food Processor

$199.95
at Amazon

$249.95
Save $50.00

$199.95
at Amazon

$249.95
Save $50.00

Vitamix Ascent X3

Whenever big sales like these roll around, it’s completely normal to ask yourself if today is the day to finally splurge on a Vitamix blender. I don’t know your budget, but after testing the Vitamix Ascent X5 (read here for the deets), I can tell you that it is the most mighty blender I’ve used to date. Sad news: The X5 isn’t on sale. Great news: The Vitamix X3 is on sale. The X3 model has the three most common presets that you’ll use on any Vitamix anyway (smoothie, frozen dessert, soup) and you can always use the regular Start, Stop, and Pulse buttons to take care of dips and nut butters as you wish. The power and craftsmanship is still the caliber you’d expect from the Vitamix brand. With the relatively compact dimensions of 9.75″D x 7.75″W x 17″H, this model can easily be stored in a low cabinet or pantry closet.

Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven

My top pick for best overall air fryer is nearly 40% off right now. The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a large oven-style air fryer with a wide viewing window and analog turning dials for time, temperature, and fan speed settings. The thing that sets this air fryer apart from all the other mini convection ovens out there is the super quiet convection fan. Read here for my full review of this powerful and discreet appliance. 

Instant Vortex

Let it never be said that I left the basket-style air-fryer lovers behind. My favorite basket-style air fryer, the Instant Vortex is 40% off right now for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. This appliance is a true workhorse. It’s continuously produced even browning and crisping, the basket style is extremely easy to clean, and it’s lightweight enough to lift, move, and store if you don’t have much counter space. Currently at $83.99, down from its usual $139.99, this air fryer is a bargain right now.

KRUPS Waffle Maker

Every functional kitchen needs a waffle maker. This might surprise you, but it’s not just for making waffles. A waffle maker is a versatile appliance with a special indented pattern that, when pressed into ingredients, increases surface area and can make foods even more crispy and delicious with increased browning and caramelization. You can waffle burger patties, cheese, rice, shrimp, or even entire sandwiches. This waffle maker from KRUPS is 25% off right now and has removable plates, which I highly recommend to simplify your cleanup. 

Instant Pot Duo

The Instant Pot has lost some of its social vigor—fine—but that doesn’t mean it’s not an incredible kitchen appliance. In fact, losing its novelty makes it kind of the best time to buy. Observe: This Instant Pot 6.5 Quart Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid with Wifi is currently 30% off, and it’s a full-on multicooker that is wifi enabled and has apparently over two thousand recipes accessible via the Instant app.

This is the largest discount that this air fryer has experienced yet so it’s worth checking out if you’ve been in the market. It’s important to note that this is part of the Instant Duo line, which means it has air-frying capabilities as well. That’s a pretty big deal for something that made its name via steam pressure. 

Food processor

A food processor can be a huge help in the kitchen, especially for big batches and prep work that requires a lot of chopping, slicing, or shredding. This highly rated food processor from Cuisinart is 20% off right now. This Cuisinart food processor has a 14-cup container, so it’s on the larger side of the spectrum, and has a simple two-button operating system. It comes with a standard S-blade, a slicing and shredding attachment, and a dough-kneading attachment. If you’ve been looking for a professional-quality food processor, this is the one to grab.

As it turns out, including a reporter in your national security leader group chat about military strikes isn’t the only way to compromise sensitive information on Signal. NPR reported on Tuesday that, days after the Trump administration’s preposterous and dangerous national security fumble, the Pentagon issued a warning against using the messaging app due to a phishing vulnerability.

“A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application,” a department-wide email obtained by NPR reads. “Russian professional hacking groups are employing [Signal’s] ‘linked devices’ features to spy on encrypted conversations.” The publication says the memo states that Russian hacking groups are “targeting Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest.”

A Signal spokesperson told NPR that the memo wasn’t about Signal’s security but about phishing attacks on the platform. So, if you’re using the app, be especially mindful of attempts to trick you into linking devices to your account. Or simply communicate through different channels.

The Pentagon directive follows a scandal that, at least in previous eras, would have ended the careers of a long list of high-profile officials. (In this one… who knows?) The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported on Monday that a group of Trump administration national security officials inadvertently included him in a Signal group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.

Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

The conversation included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, among others. They — with Goldberg essentially CC’d — discussed the timing, targets and weapons involved in bombing Houthi sites in Yemen.

A 2023 Department of Defense memo prohibited using mobile apps for even “controlled unclassified information.” NPR notes that military planning is many degrees more sensitive than that. And that doesn’t even cover accidentally including a journalist in the conversation.

The entire Atlantic article is worth a read, but a few gems from the chat include Hegseth’s writing, “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.” And, “Nobody knows who the Houthis are — which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.”

Adding to the “It would be hilarious if it weren’t so dangerous” nature of the fiasco, Hegseth went on camera to deny the chat’s authenticity after the White House confirmed it.

Although the fallout is still taking shape, here’s an early taste. Watch below as retired US Navy captain and current US Senator Mark Kelly grills Gabbard and Ratcliffe on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/the-pentagon-warns-government-officials-that-signal-is-being-targeted-by-russian-hackers-203436757.html?src=rss

Severance has just wrapped up its second season. I sat down with fellow Ars staffers Aaron Zimmerman and Lee Hutchinson to talk through what we had just seen, covering everything from those goats to the show’s pacing. Warning: Huge spoilers for seasons 1 and 2 follow!

Nate: Severance season 1 was a smaller-scale, almost claustrophobic show about a crazy office, its “waffle parties,” and the personal life of Mark Scout, mourning his dead wife and “severing” his consciousness to avoid that pain. It followed a compact group of characters, centered around the four “refiners” who worked on Lumon’s severed floor. But season 2 blew up that cozy/creepy world and started following more characters—including far more “outies”—to far more places. Did the show manage to maintain its unique vibe while making significant changes to pacing, character count, and location?

Lee: I think so, but as you say, things were different this time around. One element that I’m glad carried through was the show’s consistent use of a very specific visual language. (I am an absolute sucker for visual storytelling. My favorite Kubrick film is Barry Lyndon. I’ll forgive a lot of plot holes if they’re beautifully shot.) Season 2, especially in the back half, treats us to an absolute smorgasbord of incredible visuals—bifurcated shots symbolizing severance and duality, stark whites and long hallways, and my personal favorite: Chris Walken in a black turtleneck seated in front of a fireplace, like Satan holding court in Hell. The storytelling might be a bit less focused, but it looks great.

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If you’re sick of a huge television dominating your living room, Nebula’s Capsule Air TV projector will let you ditch the set while still streaming as much content as you want. The Nebula Capsule Air supports over 30,000 Google Play apps, including Netflix. It’s easy to set up, features 720p resolution, and it’s on sale during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale for $279.99— that’s 30% off the list price of $399.99.

Anker Nebula Capsule Air

$279.99
at Amazon

$399.99
Save $120.00

$279.99
at Amazon

$399.99
Save $120.00

Best of all, this device is fully portable—the size of a soda can—so you can bring it anywhere, and you don’t even have to plug it in. The built-in battery runs for up to two hours, letting you watch a feature-length movie while you’re camping or otherwise away from power outlets.

Our sister site PC Mag took a more in-depth look, and the Capsule Air was awarded their coveted Editors’ Choice award for lightweight mini projectors.

Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:

• The Best Over-Ear Headphones

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The Garmin Forerunner 955 is currently on sale during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, dropping from its original price of $499.99 to $349. This is the lowest price the watch has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. Garmin’s Forerunner line includes some of the best running watches on the market right now. The price drop could bring professional-grade fitness tracker within reach of both more recreational runners who have been looking for high-performance tracking.

The Garmin Forerunner 955 came out in 2022 as one of Garmin’s flagship fitness watches. The 1.3-inch transflective touchscreen display is easily visible outdoors in sunlight (the trade-off is it won’t look as good indoors). Plus, the gorilla glass means the screen is scratch-resistant (but not scratch-proof). The touch controls also make it great for swimming or rainy activities.

Garmin Forerunner 955

$346.99
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $153.00

$346.99
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $153.00

While Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki is partial to the 265, she says the 955 still beloved by runners. She includes an important note on choosing your watch screens: All the 55 models all use MIP displays (memory-in-pixel). These displays reflect light, much like old-school LCD watches, so they are highly visible in sunlight but require a backlight to be seen in the dark. They can display color, but only a limited range of colors, and they are not as vibrant or as high-resolution as AMOLED screens. You can read more about which screen is right for you in Beth’s guide here.

You’ll get about two weeks of battery life with the Forerunner 955. If you live in a sunny environment, you should consider the solar battery one, especially since it’s nearly 40% off at $245.97 right now.

Some other key Garmin watch features to consider:

• Advanced GPS tracking: Provides precise location and performance metrics

• Solar charging option: Extends battery life through innovative solar technology

• Comprehensive training insights: Offers detailed performance data and recovery recommendations

• Multi-sport functionality: Supports various activities beyond running

• Intelligent training guidance: Includes features like Training Status and Training Load Focus

If you’re not an Apple user, Garmin fitness watches are the no-brainer smartwatches to go for if you’re looking for the most trusted brands. In fact, I think some Apple users might still want to consider switching to some Garmins, depending on their sport.

Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:

• The Best Over-Ear Headphones

• The Best Wireless Earbuds

• The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets

• The Best Projectors