Monthly Archives: June 2025

Garmin’s Sleep Band Is Real After All

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When I wrote yesterday about three different Whoop-like bands rumored to be coming soon, I didn’t know how close we were to one of them actually launching. Today, Garmin’s Index sleep monitor is officially listed on their website, retailing for $169.99 and shipping in five to eight weeks.

What kind of device is the Index?

The Index is an armband, meant to be worn around the bicep while you sleep. It can track your heart rate like a smartwatch does, but it has no screen. The most prominent photo on the product page is of a woman sleeping peacefully while her phone and watch lie unused on her nightstand. 

The armband is 2.5 inches wide—considerably wider than a Whoop band or a typical watch band—and Garmin says it’s made of a lightweight, breathable fabric. From the photos, it looks soft and comfortable. The band appears to have a velcro type closure. The band is machine washable, but you need to remove the device before washing, which is a small pod that measures 1.6″ x 1.5″ x 0.3″. 

The band length is given as 12.8 inches for the small/medium band, and 17.8 inches for the large/XL band. You have to choose a band size when you buy the device; it doesn’t ship with both. You can buy extra bands, but they cost $49.99 each. 

What does the Index do? 

The Index has an optical heart rate sensor, the same idea as the green light on the back of a smartwatch. This includes a blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor, and from the appearance of the sensor in photos, the heart rate sensor seems to be the latest Elevate version—the same one Garmin put in the Forerunner 570 and 970, and the Venu 3. (I found this sensor to be even more accurate than the previous generation.) 

It also has accelerometers to detect motion while you sleep, and it can measure skin temperature. The battery is listed as lasting seven nights with the SpO2 sensor on, assuming you sleep eight hours per night. 

From this data, you get the same information a Garmin watch would give you about your sleep. This includes: 

  • Sleep length, stages, and sleep score (although I never trust sleep stages from a wearable) 

  • Resting heart rate

  • Respiration rate

  • “Body battery” (a Garmin-calculated number that is ideally near 100 when you wake up and drains throughout the day, depending on your activity and stress) 

  • Ovulation estimates and cycle tracking

  • Breathing variations throughout the night

The Index sends this information to your phone’s Garmin Connect app, and from there it’s also visible on your compatible Garmin watch. 

The Index also has a smart wake alarm, a feature we first saw on the Vivoactive 6. Unfortunately, the smart wake alarm never worked for me, as I detailed in my review. I’m seeing other users say it didn’t work for them, either—here’s one Redditor asking if it’s just them, and a YouTuber who had the same experience. The smart wake alarm asks you to set a 30-minute window during which the device will look for light sleep stages during which to wake you up. In all three of our experiences, the Vivoactive only ever woke us up at the last possible moment of the window, suggesting it wasn’t that “smart” after all.

This may be an armband, but it sure isn’t a Whoop killer

The Index is pretty much exactly what I expected from the rumors, but I have to say I’m disappointed in how limited it is. Since the Index has (really, is) a heart rate monitor, you would think it’s a no-brainer to provide a band that can be worn during exercise. Polar and Coros have popular armband heartrate monitors, which many users find more accurate than a watch and more comfortable than a chest strap. Garmin’s new Index costs nearly as much as both of those combined and still can’t measure your heart rate during workouts. 

Also, this goes without saying for those familiar with Whoop, but the strength of Whoop is in its app. You can read here what it was like for me to fully buy into the Whoop way of doing things, tagging my habits and using the chatbot coach to decide on workouts for the day. An armband like the Index may physically look like a Whoop band, but it doesn’t provide the experience that Whoop actually provides. That may be a pro or a con for you personally—not everybody wants the Whoop experience or the ongoing subscription, and I can respect that. 

Does the cost make sense?

A one-time price of $169.99 sure beats an ongoing subscription of $239/year like Whoop offers, which is probably how Garmin hopes you will think of this. But you can’t wear the Index for workouts, so the cost is in addition to buying a Garmin watch. (Whoop users often wear a sports watch as well, but the Whoop can still track workouts without one.) 

And since the Index doesn’t provide any metrics that your Garmin wasn’t already offering (except the smart wake alarm, which was previously only on the new Vivoactive 6), you’re really paying $169.99 to wear a device on your arm rather than your wrist while you sleep. 

One Redditor comments: “Now the question is: Can we retrofit this into a smaller band and get metrics all day long? Since no one was asking for a sleep monitor band but rather an all day band to wear with a normie watch.” (It’s not clear how long the battery would last with 24/7 wear.)

If Garmin is smart, they’ll release a sport band for this thing and offer the ability to start and stop workouts from your phone. Currently, the only way to get workout data on your phone during the workout is with a Connect+ subscription, which costs $6.99/month. Curiously, a $169.99 device plus an annual subscription at $69.99 works out to almost exactly the same cost as a $239/year Whoop Peak subscription. Just saying. 

I could definitely see this as a future direction, but I feel like it doesn’t fit with the vibe of naming this product the Index (the same name Garmin uses for its smart scale) and wouldn’t let them call the band subscription-free. Overall, I’m underwhelmed by what the Index offers, but I have to wonder if there might be a future product or upgrade on the way to make it more Whoop-like. 

Carbonating Tuna Fish

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Presumably to give Gatorade a run for its money with Tunade (“Replenishes vital Omega-3’s after heavy thinking!”), culinary adventurer and Youtuber Ordinary Sausage decided to attempt carbonating tuna fish with a Philips soda maker. Yum! He says it tastes like sour tuna fish, which I believe. It also turned out incredibly watery due to the amount of liquid required. He still gave it 4/5 sausages though, leading me to believe this man is out of his mind or onto something. Do peanut butter and jelly next!

Orange Pi 5 Ultra and Max Single Board Computers Running Linux: Introduction

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This is the first article in a new series looking at both the Orange Pi 5 Ultra and Orange Pi 5 Max single board computers (SBCs) running Linux. These two SBCs are identical in almost all respects with the exception of their HDMI ports.

The post Orange Pi 5 Ultra and Max Single Board Computers Running Linux: Introduction appeared first on Linux Today.

British Watchdog Cracks Down on Data Collection by Smart TVs, Speakers And Air Fryers

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The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has issued its first guidance demanding manufacturers of air fryers, smart speakers, fertility trackers, and smart TVs respect users’ privacy rights after reports of excessive data collection in homes.

The regulator requires companies to ensure data security, provide transparency to consumers, and regularly delete collected information. Stephen Almond, the ICO’s executive director for regulatory risk, said smart products know who users live with, their music preferences, and medication details. The guidance addresses “internet of things” devices, including fertility trackers that record menstrual dates and body temperature before sending data to manufacturer servers.

Additionally, smart speakers that monitor family members and visitors must allow users to configure settings that minimize personal information collection. The ICO warned manufacturers it stands ready to take enforcement action in the event of noncompliance.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Google’s AI-powered Search Live feature is here to further cannibalize the internet

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Google’s Search Live feature with voice input is now available on its app for iOS and Android in the US. You’ll have to opt in to AI Mode in Labs to be able to access it, but after you do, you’ll be able to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with Search. To use the feature, open the Google app and tap on the new Live icon to verbally ask a question. Google will respond with AI-generated audio, as well, and you’ll be able to ask follow-up questions naturally. Under the hood, the feature is powered by a custom version of Gemini with advanced voice capabilities. 

The company says it’s the perfect feature for when you’re on the go or multitasking, like packing a bag. In the example Google used, the user asked Search how to prevent linen dresses from wrinkling in a suitcase and Gemini responded verbally. The user then asked a couple of follow-up questions without having to exit the Search Live screen or having to tap the Live icon again. You can continue your chat even if you open another app, and you can also see a transcript of Google’s responses and then type in more questions if you want to shift to written conversation. 

While the feature has the potential to be a convenient tool, the sources Google takes its information from might not see any traffic from the interaction. Google does show links from across the web on the Search Live screen, but they’re displayed in tiny cards and can completely be ignored if the user is indeed doing something else while talking to Gemini.

In the coming months, the company is expanding Search Live with the capability to show and ask Search about what you’re seeing in real time. Google announced that particular ability at I/O this year. As an example, Google said you can show Search a difficult math problem and ask it to help you solve it or to explain a concept you’re having difficulty grasping.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-ai-powered-search-live-feature-is-here-to-further-cannibalize-the-internet-160018513.html?src=rss

Alliance Peacefighter Aims For The Stars With Frantic Space Action And Great Controls

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Alliance Peacefighter has finally launched onto Steam, having been pulled from its original June 4 release at the eleventh hour and given two extra weeks in development space dock.

The reason given was a simple one: persistent issues with Valve Index controllers. Fair enough you might think, but another developer might well have proceeded with the non-VR version and deployed a fix a few days later. The fact that Alliance Peacefighter didn’t tells us something, I think; that the game’s VR mode is not merely an afterthought. Indeed, that may be what sets it apart.

The Facts

What is it?: Fast-paced space dogfighter that should distract Elite Dangerous fans from their Community Goals for a while.
Platforms: PC VR (played on Steam via Quest 3)
Release Date: Out now
Developer: Urban Logic Games
Price: $23.99

Inspired by 90s genre classics Wing Commander and X-Wing, Alliance Peacefighter has you climbing aboard the titular vessel to blast a path through a series of missions, so the galaxy might once again enjoy the kind of peace that currently eludes our corner of it. Dogfighting is the order of the day, with you and your alien wing buddies taking on dozens of fighters, bombers, and the odd capital ship in single player with your trusty space lasers and missiles.

Superficially it all looks very simple and for the most part, it is. However, it’s also smooth and fast like few VR dogfighters are, with enemies that are more likely to overwhelm you by sheer weight of numbers rather than displaying any great intelligence – which is no bad thing in this case.

Elite Dangerous is the premier VR space game and Alliance Peacefighter is unlikely to pose any threat to its decade-long dominance, but it does things just a little differently. As well as managing power levels between shields, engines, and weapons – which Elite simplifies with its “pip” system – you have to manage four shield facings, where Elite only has the one. Given the numbers of ships zipping about the screen, there’s a lot to keep an eye on.

What you don’t get, of course, is the entire Milky Way to play about in, or the myriad game systems to interact with it. That said, if you just want to skim asteroids and space stations and blast anything that gets in the way of you completing your mission, Alliance Peacefighter reliably has your six.

A quick word about the controls: You can opt for your standard-issue VR controllers, where you grab the virtual stick and throttle and pretend to be holding the real things. It works well enough, but if you have one of those fancy HOTAS set-ups beloved by flight sim fans, be assured that Alliance Peacefighter supports it. I found it very handy to set up the joystick and throttle as separate controllers, although it would’ve been useful to know if a function was already mapped to one while setting up the other.

I also had to do it outside of VR due to a slight conflict with my Quest 3 controllers, but I’m assured that’s not an issue with the version of the game that’s just gone on sale. In short, setting up HOTAS binds is relatively painless and works well once you have everything to your liking. I didn’t try dual joysticks, but given how close the control options are to the aforementioned Elite, even down to lateral and horizontal thrust axes, I suspect flight assist-off snobs will be content with their options. Not least because Alliance Peacefighter has its own drift mechanic.

I implied earlier that Alliance Peacefighter was a better game in VR than on a regular screen. That’s not perhaps as glowing an endorsement as it might seem, as I’m inclined to say the same about pretty much any VR game that can be played sans HMD. But what illustrates the point best is the cockpit.

In screenshots, it looks a little flat and spartan. Boring, even. In VR however, it’s perfect for what the game demands of you, with everything you need superimposed on the glass and only a cursory look down at the monitors necessary in rare quieter moments. What you only really notice in VR is that the cockpit is more cramped than a WWII fighter (which, for the record, I have never occupied), which only increases the urgency and manic manoeuvrability of the action wheeling about you.

Alliance Peacefighter doesn’t do anything innovative, but its simple aesthetic belies the fact that there is some depth beneath the surface with the controls, fast-paced combat, and flight model. The sound is perhaps the most underwhelming feature – your ship’s lasers sounding more like a malfunctioning garden sprinkler than a source of searing heat death. More ship variety and ways to meaningfully outfit them would’ve been welcome. Still, the dogfighting is so approachable and frantic that you can almost feel the wind tugging at your sheepskin lapels as you wheel around for another strafing run.

Shimano updates XT Di2 drivetrain for the first time in 9 years, with bonus options for eMTBs

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Shimano has updated its Deore XT Di2 drivetrain for the first time since 2016, adopting much of the tech seen on its flagship XTR groupset released earlier this month.

The Deore XT Di2 M8200 range features a new derailleur, shifter, cassette and crankset, as well as updated brakes and a new alloy wheelset. Also hot off the press is the more affordable Deore Di2 M6200 groupset, which completes Shimano’s trio of wireless mountain bike drivetrains. 

Shimano’s XT offering has been a firm favourite among keen mountain bikers since its debut in the early 1980s, delivering much the same performance as the flagship XTR range at a more attainable price point.

The M8200 iteration is no different; it features the same technology as XTR Di2, with a few cost-saving differences. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Deore XT range. 

Shimano XT derailleur – key details

The rear derailleur is available in two options. Shimano

The heart of Shimano’s new wireless tech lies in its derailleurs. Just like its XTR stablemate (and unlike its direct competitor, SRAM’s Eagle AXS Transmission), the new XT derailleur connects to the frame traditionally, via a derailleur hanger.

It also features low and high adjustments and a B-tension screw to set the distance between the top jockey wheel and the cassette. 

This marks a big difference compared to SRAM’s latest wireless drivetrains, which mount directly to the frame and can thereby forgo derailleur hangers and adjustment screws.

Drawing on the design introduced with the XTR M9250 rear derailleur, the Deore XT derailleur features a streamlined build that’s designed to avoid obstacles in the trail.

Its integrated skid plate and lack of harsh edges should help it glance off any obstacles it does encounter, rather than getting hung up on them.

In the event of a substantial knock, the derailleur can move out of the way before returning to its normal position, thanks to Shimano’s Automatic Impact Recovery mechanism. 

The derailleur is set to cost £429.99, plus £39.99 for the battery and £29.99 for the charger.

Shimano XT derailleur options

The derailleur is available in ebike and non-assisted bike options. Shimano

Just like its XTR range, Shimano is offering two families of Deore XT – one for mountain bikes and one for electric mountain bikes. The mountain bike version has its own onboard battery, while the eMTB incarnation is powered by the bike’s main battery.

Each family will have two options – long and mid cages for the standard derailleur, and 11- and 12-speed versions for eMTBs.

The long SGS derailleur is built for the new 10-51t cassette. The mid SG derailleur is built for the new 9-45t cassette.

In an update to the current Di2 MTB and eMTB-specific derailleurs, both Free Shift and Auto Shift will be available on the 12-speed setup. These features were previously reserved for 11-speed Linkglide drivetrains.

The presence of Free Shift means you can change gears without pedalling, by independently rotating the chainring via the Shimano EP8 motor. This enables you to pre-select a gear for an upcoming trail feature. 

Auto Shift uses speed and torque sensors to shift gears automatically, without rider inputs at the shifter, to keep the pedal cadence within an optimal range.

All Deore XT derailleurs use an alloy cage construction, which is less expensive than the carbon cage used on XTR. 

Shimano XT shifter

The shifter layout is similar to a mechanical shifter. Shimano

Shimano’s latest wireless shifter has been designed to replicate the feel and layout of its mechanical counterparts. The button positioning will feel instantly familiar to existing users, and Shimano says the tactile response remains reassuringly similar, with a defined click for each shift. 

Tucked neatly beneath the handlebar, the shifter is offered in two mounting formats. Riders can choose between a bar clamp mount or the I-SPEC EV system, which integrates directly with compatible Shimano brake levers. 

Riders can tweak both the shift paddles and button positions to suit their preferences. The system supports multiple shift modes too, such as multi-shift via a press-and-hold function or a two-step click-through shift. 

There’s also a third, programmable button that expands functionality. Shimano suggests this could enable integration with devices such as Garmin head units or other third-party accessories.

Shimano Deore XT cassette and crankset

Shimano Deore XT Di2 M8200 crankset
Unlike Deore, XT gets a new crankset, too. Shimano

Completing the revamped XT drivetrain is a new cassette and crankset. The M8200 12-speed cassette uses the tried-and-tested Hyperglide+ tooth profiling found on current-generation cassettes and features a 10-51t range. 

There’s also a new 9-45t option, aimed at riders looking to shave some weight, or increase ground clearance by running the shorter mid-cage derailleur. 

Both cassettes feature a hybrid steel/alloy construction, with the largest two cogs made from aluminium and the smallest 10 cogs forged from steel.

The new XT crankset is offered in one configuration, claimed to suit trail, enduro and cross-country riders alike. The cranks feature a 176mm Q-factor with a 55mm chain line, and are available in 160, 165, 170 and 175mm lengths. 

The cranks use Shimano’s Hollowtech II construction and are compatible with 28-36T direct-mount chainrings.

Shimano XT brakes

The XT-level brakes also get a refresh. Shimano

Just like the new XTR groupset, there will be two versions of the new XT brakes, aimed at trail and XC riders, respectively.

Both new brakes are claimed to address the issue of wandering bite points, which Shimano claims was due to the inconsistent nature of its mineral oil brake fluid.

As with the XTR brakes, the new XT stoppers use a new type of mineral oil that’s claimed to be less viscous and should therefore flow consistently through the system in a wider temperature range.

The new XT brake lever sits closer to the handlebar and uses a larger fluid reservoir, with the brake fluid now being pulled through the system, rather than pushed, by the master piston.

Shimano has also subtly changed the brake lever ergonomics. 

The lever blade pivot has been moved closer to the bar, which is claimed to give a more natural-feeling pull, while the lever is tilted 5 degrees upwards from the pivot, to better match your finger’s position when in use. 

Shimano hasn’t released much information on the new XT calipers; however, if the new XTR calipers are anything to go by, we can assume the cross-country stoppers haven’t changed a whole lot, apart from getting updated seals designed to work with Shimano’s new low-viscosity mineral fluid.

The trail/enduro calipers look to have had more of an overhaul, with a larger brake pad to increase surface contact with the rotor.

Shimano XT wheels

Shimano has also released new XT wheels. Shimano
  • Price: £219.99 (front), £279.99 (rear)

Completing the XT overhaul is a new alloy wheelset, available in 27.5 and 29in sizes. 

Designed for both XC and trail/enduro riding, it features a 30mm-wide rim (internal diameter), laced to Shimano’s Microspline hub by 28 stainless steel J-bend spokes.

The hub features a 3.5-degree engagement angle and uses Centerlock rotor mounts. 

Shimano finally goes Di2 with Deore – but what’s happened to mechanical?

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Shimano’s new range of wireless mountain bike drivetrains is now complete, with the release of the new Deore M6200 groupset bringing wireless shifting to the affordable workhorse drivetrain.

The new Deore range features much of the same tech seen on XTR Di2 M9200 and XT Di2 M8200 groupsets – the latter also launching today – with a few cost-saving differences.

The drivetrain comprises the rear derailleur, shifter and new rear brakes. As far as we can ascertain, the crankset has been carried over from the outgoing Deore M6100 groupset.

This is the first time an electronic drivetrain has been brought down to the brand’s third-tier mountain bike components. Shimano made a similar move in 2022 with 105 Di2. Less clear is what the launch means for mechanical Deore.

The launch comes only two weeks after the long-awaited launch of the fully wireless XTR Di2. 

Here’s everything we know so far about Shimano’s most affordable wireless Di2 drivetrain to date.

Shimano Deore Di2 derailleur – key details

Shimano Deore M6250 Di2 mountain bike drivetrain pictures – rear derailleur
The rear derailleur shares much with the XT and XTR rear derailleurs. Shimano

The new Deore derailleur features much of the same tech seen on Shimano’s more expensive XT and XTR options.

It mounts to your frame via a derailleur hanger (unlike SRAM’s Eagle AXS Transmission) and, just like its XT and XTR stablemates, it features low and high adjustments and a b-tension screw. 

The derailleur adopts the streamlined Shadow ES profile, as seen on XTR. It’s designed to dodge roots, rocks and trail debris, while its integrated skid plate and lack of harsh edges should shrug off impacts when they do happen. 

Bigger knocks are dealt with by the automatic impact-recovery function, which enables the derailleur to move rather than snap, before resetting into its original position without any input from the rider. 

Shimano’s Shadow ES clutch forgoes an on/off switch – a controversial move that divided opinion with the arrival of XTR – but is claimed to deliver more chain tension on the trail. 

The derailleur is set to cost £374.99, plus £39.99 for the battery and £29.99 for the charger.

Shimano Deore Di2 derailleur options

The rear derailleur is available in wired and wireless options. Shimano

Shimano is offering two versions of its Deore derailleur – one for mountain bikes and one for electric mountain bikes, with the former utilising an onboard battery and the latter drawing power from the eMTB’s main battery.

Both eMTB and ‘standard’ versions come with a long cage, making them suitable for Shimano’s 10-51t cassettes. As well as the standard 12-speed, there’s also an 11-speed version of the eMTB derailleur.

In an update to Shimano’s current Di2 eMTB-specific derailleurs, both Free Shift and Auto Shift will be available on the 12-speed setup. These features were previously reserved for 11-speed drivetrains.

Free Shift enables gears to be changed while you’re not pedalling, by independently rotating the chainring via the Shimano EP8 motor, while Auto Shift uses speed and torque sensors to shift gears automatically, without rider inputs at the shifter, to keep the pedal cadence within an optimal range.

All Deore derailleurs use a steel cage construction, which is more affordable than the alloy and carbon cages used on XT and XTR. 

There’s no word on compatibility with Shimano’s Q’Auto hub system.

Shimano Deore shifter

The shifter is similar in layout to its mechanical counterparts. Shimano

Shimano’s new wireless shifter closely mimics the ergonomics and feel of its ‘traditional’ cable shifters, using a familiar layout for its shift buttons, which offer a similar ‘click’ when changing gears. 

The sleek new shifter sits closely under the bar and is available in two mounting options. The I-SPEC EV option mounts directly to compatible brake levers, and there’s also a standard clamp band option. 

The shift buttons and paddles themselves are fully adjustable and also offer multiple shift modes, including hold-down multi-shift and click-through double shift.

A programmable third button adds customisation potential, with Shimano hinting at compatibility with Garmin bike computers and other third-party brands.

Whether or not there is much difference between the Deore shifter and the more premium XT and XTR shifters remains to be seen, but we’d hazard a guess that, like the rest of the drivetrain, the action and tech will be very similar, with the only differences to be found in some of the construction materials. 

The shifter is set to cost £124.99.

Shimano Deore brakes – no details at present

Also included in the announcement is news of new Deore brakes, promising a “refined power application with consistent performance and modulation in a wider temperature range”.

Details remain scarce, and no images were supplied with the press release, so whether or not the new Deore stoppers have been treated to a complete overhaul or just an internal spruce-up (like the XT and XTR two-pot brakes) remains to be seen.

What does this mean for mechanical Deore?

Merida One-Sixty FR 600 full suspension mountain bike
M6100 is commonly specced on budget mountain bikes. Andy Lloyd / Our Media

What does this mean for the future of Shimano’s budget-friendly mechanical Deore groupset – a stalwart of the entry-level mountain bike market?

When Shimano released 105 Di2, a mechanical option was notably absent from the range. However, a mechanical groupset followed some months later.

It would be reasonable to expect similar from Deore, although the arrival of Cues – an all-encompassing budget-focused groupset that’s increasingly seen on entry-level mountain bikes – complicates matters.

Could mechanical Cues be the death of Deore, or will a mechanical groupset follow later?

We put this question to the brand, which supplied a generic response: “Mechanical groupsets still occupy an important position within the Shimano mountain bike line-up, as we are constantly in development of new products. However we do not comment on products and whether they are in development or not.”

Owasp Nettacker: Open-source Scanner for Recon and Vulnerability Assessment

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OWASP Nettacker is a free, open-source tool designed for network scanning, information gathering, and basic vulnerability assessment. Built and maintained by the OWASP community, Nettacker helps security pros automate common tasks like port scanning, service detection, and brute-force attacks. It offers a controlled and extensible framework for running these tests.

The post Owasp Nettacker: Open-source Scanner for Recon and Vulnerability Assessment appeared first on Linux Today.

Google is adding the Veo 3 video generator to YouTube to slopify Shorts

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Google will integrate the Veo 3 video generation tool into YouTube Shorts later this summer. This was revealed by YouTube CEO Neal Mohan at a keynote during the Cannes Lions film festival that was transcribed by The Hollywood Reporter.

This means that creators will be able to whip up endless clips via prompts, as Mohan said “the possibilities with AI are limitless.” He went on to opine that “anyone with a story to share can turn their dream into a career” and “anyone with a voice can bring people together and change the world,” thanks to “cutting-edge AI technology.” Those are some high-falutin words for something that’ll likely mostly be used to create clips of dogs playing piano or whatever.

To that end, there’s the AI slop of it all. I use YouTube Shorts primarily to watch quick tutorials or clips of comedians. I don’t want AI-generated tutorials because I think they’ll probably offer incorrect information. I don’t want AI-generated comedians because they aren’t funny. So this isn’t for me. If the platform becomes too stuffed with AI I’ll just move onto TikTok or, gasp, Instagram Reels.

It’s worth noting that YouTube already uses an older version of Veo for its Dream Screen background generation tool. However, Veo 3 is a fairly massive upgrade. It can generate full clips, with both video and sound, from prompts. It’ll be able to crank out YouTube Shorts that look mostly real but maybe sort of a bit off if you squint.

There’s an elephant in this AI-generated room. Veo 3 could easily be used to deepfake celebrities and pre-existing creators. The company is trying to get ahead of this by partnering with the talent agency CAA and creators to develop a tool that gives celebrities and other high-profile people control over their likeness on the platform.

Veo 3 has digested the mother lode of ASMR content on YouTube making it an AI ASMR machine.

This one got 3.1M likes and 12k comments in 3 days.

Every popular YouTube format is about to get its impossible AI remix. pic.twitter.com/XVqky2KI4U

— Bilawal Sidhu (@bilawalsidhu) June 17, 2025

Here’s another lingering question. Will current successful creators that actually make stuff want to share the wealth with people who spit a few words into a chat field? More than 25 percent of people enrolled in YouTube’s Partner Program make money from Shorts. This could scare some of them to rival services. We’ll keep an eye on how this Veo 3 integration impacts traffic metrics of the various short-form video platforms.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/google-is-adding-the-veo-3-video-generator-to-youtube-to-slopify-shorts-155339183.html?src=rss

Pro cyclist Tom Pidcock hits 95kph in breathtaking descent video 

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Tom Pidcock recorded speeds of up to 95kph descending down the Rossfeld Panorama mountain pass on the Austria-Germany border.

In a new video shared by Red Bull, which sponsors the double Olympic mountain bike champion, Pidcock is followed on the 6km road by Matthias Walker, a Dakar Rally champion, who films from a motorbike.

Pidcock adopts the supertuck position with his body onto the top tube of his bike to gain an aero advantage. In 2021, the UCI banned the position in races, but it can still be used outside of competition.

But the 25-year-old Brit still pushed on the pedals during his ride. Riding out of the saddle, he produced over 800 watts. 

More on Tom Pidock

At the end of the descent, Walkner claps the Pidcock’s descent before towing the Q.365 rider back up the mountain road. 

Pidcock is famous for his descending ability. During his Tour de France debut in 2022, when he won a stage on Alpe D’Huez, Pidcock descended down the Col du Galibier and Col de la Croix de Fer , hitting over 100kph.

In 2023, Pidcock also appeared in a video by Safa Brian, descending Tuna Canyon in Los Angeles. The viral video has now clocked up over 2.7 million views. 

Reddit’s AI-Powered Ads To Highlight Positive Community Comments

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Reddit's AI-Powered Ads To Highlight Positive Community Comments
Aiming to transform user-generated content into actionable marketing ads, Reddit unveiled its “Community Intelligence” suite this week at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This AI-powered platform promises to redefine how advertisers connect with their audiences by leveraging the vast and real (and only positive) conversations

Update Asus’ Armoury Crate Now to Patch a Major Vulnerability

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Gamers with Asus devices need to update their systems ASAP: A recently disclosed vulnerability in Armoury Crate allows hackers to gain low-level system privileges, potentially compromising your OS.

How the Armoury Crate bug works

Armoury Crate is an Asus utility—often preinstalled—that manages Asus and ROG software and peripherals. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-3464, allows threat actors to skirt authentication requirements and obtain SYSTEM privileges on Windows machines. As Tech Radar reports, the flaw in the Armoury Crate kernel-mode driver verifies calls using a hardcoded SHA-256 hash of AsusCertServices.exe and a PID allowlist rather than OS-level access checks.

If exploited, the bug would permit driver access, which could result in full OS takeover. That said, attackers must already be on your system—the result of malware, phishing, or stolen credentials—to take advantage.

CVE-2025-3464 was reported by a researcher at Cisco Talos and is considered high severity (with a score of 8.4 out of 10).

This isn’t the first security issue Asus has faced in recent months. The company patched a remote code execution vulnerability in DriverHub in May and has also been a target for threat actors spreading malware. A campaign known as CoffeeLoader—identified earlier this year—impersonated Armoury Crate to deliver infostealers to user systems.

Update Armoury Crate to the latest version

While Asus says there’s no indication that the vulnerability has been exploited in the wild, users should still update to the latest version of Armoury Crate. The flaw affects all versions between 5.9.9.0 and 6.1.18.0.

To download and install updates, open the Armoury Crate app and navigate to Settings > Update Center > Check for Updates > Update.

Trump suggests he needs China to sign off on TikTok sale, delays deal again

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The White House confirmed that Donald Trump has extended the deadline for a TikTok sale for a third time, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Now, China-based ByteDance has 90 days to divest its US assets or potentially be forced to shut down US operations. Trump’s announcement came one day before the June 19 deadline he established through his last extension. That extension was necessary after Vice President JD Vance failed to make a “high-level” deal expected in April, which Politico branded a “make or break moment” where Vance could have secured a big win.

Yesterday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that China was holding up the sale, suggesting that China may have an upper hand in TikTok negotiations, and perhaps TikTok is losing its sheen as a US bargaining chip in Trump’s bigger trade war.

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Nature Journal Mandates Public Peer Review For All New Research Papers

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Nature will automatically publish peer review reports and author responses alongside all newly submitted research papers starting this week. The flagship scientific journal previously offered transparent peer review as an optional service since 2020, while Nature Communications has required it since 2016.

All exchanges between authors and anonymous reviewers will become publicly accessible (reviewer identities remain confidential unless they choose disclosure). Nature aims to open what it calls the “black box” of science by revealing the months-long conversations that shape research papers before publication.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Meta Teases AI Generation Of Entire Horizon Worlds Coming “Very Soon”

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Meta’s Horizon Worlds Desktop Editor is getting AI Environment Generation “very soon”, teased to let creators generate entire worlds from a text prompt.

Meta launched the Worlds Desktop Editor for Windows in early access in February, alongside deprecating the in-VR creation tools of Horizon Worlds. Worlds Desktop Editor offers the ability to import 3D assets, images, and sound files, place them in a 3D landscape, and implement game logic and other functionality using TypeScript, a popular offshoot of JavaScript.

Since that early access launch, creators in the US were able to AI-generate sound effects and ambient audio, as well as AI-generate TypeScript to add functionality. In April Meta significantly expanded Horizon’s AI generation capabilities, letting creators in the US, UK, and Canada generate 3D meshes, textures, and skyboxes too.

Meta Horizon Desktop Editor Can Now AI-Generate 3D Assets
Meta Horizon Desktop Editor can now AI-generate 3D models, textures, and skyboxes, adding to its existing audio and TypeScript AI generation features.
UploadVRDavid Heaney

Now, Meta has launched Worlds Desktop Editor as a standalone download, no longer requiring Meta Quest Link, and made improvements to its AI generation capabilities.

AI generation capabilities are now available in Australia and New Zealand, and Meta says they’re coming to the European Union “soon”.

TypeScript generation has also been upgraded to use Meta’s latest Llama 4 model, and the sound effects and ambient audio generation model has been upgraded to “generate output even faster and with higher sound quality”.

Meta also says it’s “introducing” the ability to “create voice-only AI-enabled NPCs” as it announced at Connect 2024, but I couldn’t find this in the current publicly available build of Worlds Desktop Editor, and the documentation suggests it’s currently only available for second party developers, meaning those directly contracted by Meta.

Meta Horizon Worlds Is Getting AI NPCs You Can Talk To
Horizon Worlds creators will be able to add AI NPCs to their worlds next year, and you’ll be able to talk to them with your voice.
UploadVRDavid Heaney

As Meta teased in May, Worlds Desktop Editor will also get the ability to AI-generate entire worlds.

Called Environment Generation, Meta now says it will launch “very soon”, and let creators “build an environment based on several different themes”.

The company says it will work using “simple prompts or using granular controls for different parameters”.

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Meta also shared a 30-second clip teasing the capability, which you can see above. If the shipping tech lives up to Meta’s promises, it could bring the barrier to entry for creating interactive social VR worlds lower than ever, and reduce the minimum time needed from hours to minutes.