In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Stephen King adaptations developed a reputation for being (with important exceptions) mostly dreadful. But more recent years have blessed us with a far better hit ratio of movies and TV series. With Mr Mercedes, 1922, Gerald’s Game, The Outsider, Castle Rock, 11.22.63, just television adaptations…
Because there’s nothing you can’t build with LEGO besides a comfortable sleeping partner, this is a video of Youtuber Dr. Engine constructing and demonstrating a rolling mill made from LEGO. The mini-factory can flatten, stamp, and cut shapes out of modeling clay. How about that! Full disclosure: when I started writing this article before watching the video I read rolling machine and assumed it rolled joints. This is neat too though.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been in the wild for nearly a week and is selling like hotcakes, but some users have been complaining about an issue with their console’s battery indicator. A number of Switch 2 consoles appear to be displaying less remaining battery life than is accurate.
Battery life definitely is a mark against the Switch 2, with Engadget’s Sam Rutherford noting in his review that the console’s longevity is on the lower end of Nintendo’s estimates when playing more graphically demanding games such as Mario Kart World. But in some cases the issue might appear worse than it actually is. Nintendo has now offered a fix for when the amount of battery being displayed and actual remaining battery don’t match. Thankfully, the solution isn’t anything too dramatic, but it does involve putting the console into Recovery Mode.
According to Nintendo, these are the steps you need to take if you think your Switch 2 is affected. You’ll need the console, the correct AC adapter and internet access.
1. Confirm your console has the latest system update installed.
2. Power off the console.
3. Press and hold down the volume up (+) and volume down (-) buttons, then press the POWER button once, while continuing to hold the volume buttons until the Recovery Mode menu appears. This should reset the battery level meter.
4. Power off the console again by holding the POWER button until it turns off.
5. Power the console back on, and monitor the situation.
Nintendo says following these steps should correct the problem, but if you’re still having the same issues you may need to send your console in to be serviced. You can initiate a repair request by heading to Nintendo’s official Customer Support page.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/how-to-fix-the-switch-2-battery-indicator-144809855.html?src=rss
WhatsApp has applied to submit evidence in Apple’s legal battle against the UK Home Office over government demands for access to encrypted user data. The messaging platform’s boss Will Cathcart told the BBC the case “could set a dangerous precedent” by “emboldening other nations” to seek to break encryption protections.
The confrontation began when Apple received a secret Technical Capability Notice from the Home Office earlier this year demanding the right to access data from its global customers for national security purposes. Apple responded by first pulling its Advanced Data Protection system from the UK, then taking the government to court to overturn the request.
Cathcart said WhatsApp “would challenge any law or government request that seeks to weaken the encryption of our services.” US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has called the UK’s demands an “egregious violation” of American citizens’ privacy rights.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Once upon a time, Nintendo had a near monopoly on the handheld gaming market. Now, with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, not so much. In the time since the original Nintendo Switch released, there have been several other major handheld releases like the Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go S. The common thread? All of these—including the Switch 2—are on the bigger end, at least compared to prior handhelds like the 3DS or PSP. If you’re like me, and ergonomics and portability matter for your handhelds, that can be a problem.
That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of snapping some photos of the Switch 2 alongside its biggest (both literally and figuratively) competitors, including the original Switch, so you can get a better idea of how it’ll actually feel once it’s in your hands.
First, to set a baseline, let’s compare the Switch 2 against the original Switch. Unfortunately, I don’t have a Switch OLED on hand, so for this comparison, we’re going to have to go with the launch model.
That’s not such a bad thing, though, as it’s where you’ll get the most noticeable differences. First, let’s look at dimensions and weight. The Switch 2 looks like it could eat the original Switch. If you like a big screen, that’s great, but know that it’ll be a little less portable, and maybe a little less friendly to players with tiny hands. Numbers-wise, the original Switch is 4.02 x 9.41 x 0.51 inches and 0.88 pounds (or 0.65 pounds with the controllers detached), while the Switch 2 is 4.5 x 10.7 x 0.55 inches and 1.18 pounds (or 0.88 pounds with the controllers detached). That doesn’t sound like the Switch 2 has beefed up that much on paper, but in person, it feels like night and day. On the plus side, though, it’s still plenty thin, and lightweight and comfortable enough in my adult hands. It might even be more comfortable, which I’ll touch on shortly.
The Switch 2 presents a noticeable upgrade to the screen on the original Switch, coming in at 7.9 inches over the 6.2 inches of its predecessor. It’s also now 1080p (as opposed to 720p on the original) and can display content in HDR and up to 120 fps (as opposed to no HDR and 60 fps on the original). This screen is definitely a big reason why the new console is bigger, and while I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Switch 2 Lite come out down the line, it does feel worth it once you actually start playing.
Let’s take a look at the dock and the controllers. The Switch 2 dock is a little taller and wider than the original Switch dock, to accommodate the bigger console and the added fan, but it shouldn’t take up too much more space in your entertainment center. The bigger deal is the new joy-con 2 controllers, which I absolutely love. At 4.57 x 0.56 x 1.2 inches vs. the 4.02 x 0.55 x 1.41 inches on the original joy-cons, they give your hand a little bit more to grab onto. I always felt like the original joy-cons were too cramped, always opting to use either a pro controller or third-party joy-con while playing instead, but the new joy-con are pretty comfortable out of the box, especially with their slightly larger buttons and sticks. You’d probably be fine not bothering to upgrade to a new controller at all now, unless you absolutely want a more traditional D-Pad.
Overall, the Switch 2 feels more adult and a little less toyetic. That’s great news for people like me, although kids might need to take some time to adjust to it.
Probably the Nintendo Switch 2’s most prominent competition at the moment, the Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC from Valve that launched in 2022 and later got an OLED upgrade with the same dimensions and weight, but a slightly larger screen. Again, I have the original model, but both use pretty much the same overall build.
If the Switch 2 looked like it could eat the original Switch, then the Steam Deck looks like it could eat the Switch 2. At 11.73 x 4.60 x 1.93 inches, it is significantly thicker and wider than the Switch 2, if not especially taller. It’s also heavier at 1.41 pounds.
Personally, I think it’s a bit weighty (although my husband doesn’t mind as much), but part of the extra height and depth comes from a purposeful choice to make it more comfortable and usable overall. The Steam Deck comes with built-in grips that make it easier to hold than the Switch 2, at least for me, even taking into account the improved ergonomics on the new joy-con 2 controllers. And with the extra space those grips need, Valve has also taken the liberty of adding in large touchpads on either side of the device, as well as back buttons on the grips themselves. These open up new ways to play that aren’t possible on the Switch 2, and are extra convenient when navigating the Steam Deck’s desktop mode. However, they do make the Steam Deck a bit less portable, as they add some bulkiness to the device around its edges. That’s why the device sounds thicker on paper than it appears in some photos.
As for that desktop mode, it really points to the kicker here: The Steam Deck is, essentially, a shrunken gaming PC, while the Switch 2 is more akin to an overgrown PSP. The devices are kind of aiming for separate goals, and taking that into account, each achieves them pretty well. Sure, the Steam Deck is thicker, but when compared to even the smallest of standard gaming PCs, it’s an impressive form factor for the price.
What’s less impressive next to the Switch 2, unfortunately, is the screen. It’s only 7 inches on the base model and 7.4 inches on the OLED model, both of which are smaller than the Switch 2’s display. It also tops out at 800p and 60 fps, both of which are lower than on the Switch 2.
Finally, I want to compare the Switch 2 against another device I’m reviewing right now: the Lenovo Legion Go S. This device from Lenovo is the latest in third-party Steam Deck alternatives, and it’s especially interesting as it’s the first to run Valve’s SteamOS. There are plenty of other competing handheld gaming PCs at the moment, but for my money, this is the one to pay attention to.
At 11.77 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches, it is a little taller and wider than even the Steam Deck, though not by much. And at 1.61 pounds, it’s heavier, although the grips are slightly more bulbous, so I actually think it’s slightly more comfortable to hold.
The key improvement here—aside from internals—is the screen, which is eight inches, 1200p, and supports 120 fps. That’s an improvement on even the Switch 2. However, you also do get only one touchpad here (which is much smaller) and only two grip buttons. On the plus side, the triggers have a switch that lets you adjust their travel, so you can turn them into twitchier hair triggers if you’d like.
Overall, this is a pretty different market segment than the Switch 2, so I doubt they’ll hamper each other much. It’s chonkier, but—like the Steam Deck—for good reason. Handheld PCs need to be bigger overall, since their components aren’t always made with such small form factors in mind. But on the plus side, since these devices are already bigger, they usually add in some extra ergonomics and controls to compensate.
I suspect Nintendo will keep following this sleeker, Apple-esque design trend, while handheld gaming PCs will feel a bit more comfortable stretching their legs, at least until a potential Steam Deck 2 and even wider market adoption. There’s room for both, but if you’re wondering which would better fit in your bag, now you know. As for the smaller, more toyetic consoles of the past, well, even if the Switch 2 is smaller than the competition, it’s still bigger than what I played with growing up. For fun, here’s a Switch 2 next to a 3DS XL.
Unlike previous
Apple executives defended the company’s AI strategy this week after acknowledging that major Siri features announced at last year’s Worldwide Developers Conference remain undelivered and were quietly pulled from development plans. Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, told the Wall Street Journal that the company is rebuilding Siri from the ground up, admitting that while Apple had working software for the promised features, “it didn’t converge in the way quality-wise that we needed it to.”
The missing capabilities included Siri’s ability to search through apps and respond to on-screen activities, features that were demonstrated a year ago but never shipped to users. In the upcoming iOS 26, Apple has instead incorporated more OpenAI technology, allowing users to interact with ChatGPT through camera and screenshots and generate images using OpenAI’s tools. Federighi defended the strategy by comparing Apple’s position to the early internet era, when the company focused on making other services accessible rather than building competing platforms.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Your local garden center can be full of inspiration with its aisles and aisles of abundant, flowering plants in the prime of their lives. It certainly makes sense that when purchasing a plant, you’d gravitate toward one full of blooms and, possibly, fruit. However, bare root plants are actually a better way to go.
Plenty of plants can either be cut back each year and still grow, or die back naturally. The roots, however, are where all the energy for the plant are stored. Bare root plants lack much in the way of branches—instead, they tend to be just the root ball out of soil. In the case of bare root trees, they are usually quite young and are little more than a stick with some roots attached. Rosebushes, for example, are commonly sold in their bare root state in late winter through spring and are little more than the crown, with the roots attached and the rose branches cut down to a few inches height.
Once you’ve planted the rosebushes, they quickly sprout new green branches and leaves and can become big quite quickly. Bare root trees can produce fruit within the first season, and bare root flowers like dahlias can produce flowers in the first year.
So long as you take care to plant them correctly, bare root plants can be a fantastic way to fill out a large space inexpensively. Because bare root plants are lighter and smaller (there’s no soil or moisture to account for), they’re also easier to ship, and are, therefore, less expensive. Bare root trees can be bought in bulk for a small fraction of what you pay per tree in a nursery: Bare root chestnut trees, bought in bulk, can be had for a few dollars, whereas in a nursery, a potted and leafed out chestnut would start at $29, depending on size.
Bare root roses can usually be had for $4 to $10 a piece, while a potted rose would cost three or four times as much. This is true of bare root flowers and shrubs, as well. In fact, most nurseries receive their stock as bare root, and plant them on site—that’s how they make their markup.
The common approach when planting almost anything is that you want a hole three times the depth and width of your root ball. When you take a plant out of a pot from a nursery, that “root ball” includes all the soil, so it’s bigger, even though the roots aren’t any larger. Planting bare root, for that reason, usually means a smaller hole, which is less work.
Planting a bare root plant doesn’t require more care, either. It’s wise to saturate the roots before planting, and you should add fertilizer to the water you drench the roots in. However, once it’s time to plant, you simply dig a big enough hole, plant to the appropriate depth, cover to the appropriate level, and walk away.
Bare root plants also acclimate better to their environment, and the roots are therefore stronger. When you transplant, the plant undergoes stress, and every branch, leaf, flower, and fruit is another resource-draining dependent. By planting bare root, you’re allowing the plant to focus on root health and grow out when it has the resources to do so.
Bare root plants are easy to examine when they arrive, so rotten, moldy, or desiccated roots can easily be cut away, and any infestations are easy to catch. It’s a way of ensuring only the healthiest plants go in the ground.
The first place you should look for bare root trees is your state nursery, and every state has one. Your state nursery likely has saplings or bare root trees native to your state at a low cost. Other good sources include Fedco Seeds and Stark Bro’s, which have deep catalogs to choose from.
Foundation, Apple TV+’s lavish adaptation (or re-mix, if you prefer) of Isaac Asimov’s seminal sci-fi series, returns for its third season next month, and the streaming platform has dropped an official trailer to give us a taste of what’s in store.
As previously reported, the first season ended with a major time jump of 138 years, and S2 focused on the Second Crisis: imminent war between Empire and the Foundation, along with an enemy seeking to destroy Empire from within. The Foundation, meanwhile, adopted the propaganda tactics of religion to recruit new acolytes to the cause. We also met a colony of “Mentalics” with psionic abilities. We’re getting another mega time jump for the Third Crisis.
Per the official premise:
Cybercriminals are now leveraging AI-generated content on TikTok to spread malware and deceive users at scale. According to a recent report by GBHackers, attackers are using highly convincing deepfake-style videos—many of them created with generative AI—to promote fake apps, phishing links, and malicious downloads. The campaign is part of a growing trend where social media is weaponized to deliver advanced threats that traditional security tools often fail to detect.
This strategy is especially dangerous when combined with recent vulnerabilities in core systems. Just days ago, new Linux vulnerabilities capable of leaking password hashes and memory data were disclosed. Meanwhile, a critical zero-day in the Linux SMB module has made servers even more vulnerable to remote exploits. Even though the Linux-libre 6.15 kernel attempts to harden the platform by removing binary blobs, attackers are diversifying their methods. In fact, this isn’t the first time TikTok has been used as an attack vector—check out our earlier coverage of ClickFix-based malware spreading through TikTok videos.
The post Hackers Are Using AI-Generated Videos on TikTok to Spread Malware appeared first on Linux Today.
The governing body for world motorsport met in Macau yesterday. Among the jobs for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile was to sign off on various calendars for next season, which is why there’s now a clash between the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also between the Indy 500 and F1’s annual visit to Canada. The Formula E calendar was also announced, although with a pair of blank TBCs in the middle, I’ll hold off calling it finalized.
The US round will now take place in late January, and it’s moving venues yet again. No longer will you need to drive an hour south of Miami; instead, the northern outskirts of the city will suffice. The infield at Homestead is no more, and the sport has negotiated a race at the Hard Rock Stadium, albeit on a different layout than the one used by F1. It seems that Formula E’s recent “Evo Sessions” race between influencers, which was held at the stadium, proved convincing.
The really interesting Formula E news from Macau won’t take effect until the 2026–2027 season, and that’s the arrival of the Gen4 car.
A recently disclosed set of Linux kernel vulnerabilities has put system administrators and Linux users on high alert. As reported by The Hacker News, these flaws allow attackers to potentially leak sensitive data from kernel memory, including password hashes and encryption keys. This development follows closely after major updates in the Linux world—like the release of AlmaLinux OS 10—and comes amid rising concerns around other critical threats, such as the ongoing Chrome zero-day affecting Windows and Linux.
The post New Linux Vulnerabilities Could Leak Password Hashes and Sensitive Data appeared first on Linux Today.
Summer is objectively the worst time to have to go without air conditioning—even if only for a few days—but alas, approximately 1.7 million consumers may have to do exactly that.
Midea is recalling its popular U and U+ window units due to a draining problem (specifically, pooling water) that can allow mold to grow, increasing the risk of respiratory issues and other symptoms of mold exposure. The U series is beloved by consumers and reviewers alike for its energy efficiency, smart features, and unique design that allows you to open and close your window around the unit.
The affected units were sold by Midea as well as under other brand names. If you have a window A/C, here’s what you need to know.
According to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recalled U and U+ window air conditioners were made by Midea and sold under the brand names Midea, Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire, and Sea Breeze. The consumer alert includes specific model numbers, which, along with the brand names, can be found on the units (look for a label on the front right side). They came in three sizes—8,000 BTU, 10,000 BTU, and 12,000 BTU—and measured about 22 inches wide and 14 inches high.
The affected units were available between March 2020 and May 2025 and could be purchased at Costco, Menards, Home Depot, and Best Buy, among other retailers, as well as via Midea.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com, Menards.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Walmart.com, BJs.com, and BestBuy.com. Retail prices ranged from $280 to $500.
Midea sold about 1.7 million of the recalled air conditioners in the United States and an additional 45,900 in Canada.
Midea is offering consumers the option to request a repair or a prorated refund. To get started, go to the Midea recall website, select your model number, and enter the 22-digit serial number located on your unit. You do not need your product receipt or proof of purchase to participate.
Alternatively, you can contact Midea by calling 888-345-0256 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or via email at midea4028[at]midea[dot]com.
If you request a refund, you’ll need to either send the recalled unit back to Midea using a provided shipping label or submit a picture proving you’ve cut the (unplugged) power cord. Refunds will be prorated based on the date of purchase and will take 3–4 weeks to process.
If you opt for a repair, Midea will arrange for someone to come out and install a new drain plug or send you a repair kit (depending on which model you have). DIY kits will be delivered in two to three weeks, while Midea will contact you within five days to schedule an in-home repair.
In the meantime, you should follow Midea’s inspection guidelines to check for mold before using your A/C any further. Midea has received 152 reports of mold, with 17 consumers reporting exposure effects ranging from respiratory infections and allergic reactions to sneezing and sore throats.
Donald Trump has said the US and China’s deal to restore their trade war truce is “done” after two days of marathon negotiations in London.
In a post on his Truth Social network on Wednesday the US President hailed a breakthrough reached in bilateral talks in London late the night before.
The deal revived a trade truce agreed in Geneva last month that subsequently faltered because of differences over Chinese rare earth exports and US export controls.
It’s official: ex Pokémon no longer rule unchallenged Pokémon TCG Pocket. While these powerful cards are still prevalent in the competitive landscape, the rise of ex-specific counters have made many of these monsters risky to bring. It’s never been more vital to find strong Pokémon that are unburdened by the ex label,…
The Midnight Walk, MoonHood’s dark fantasy VR claymation adventure, is being adapted for film and TV.
Announced in partnership with Story Kitchen, a production company who formerly worked on adaptations for Sonic the Hedgehog and Tomb Raider, MoonHood Studios confirmed The Midnight Walk is up next. The game sees you portray The Burnt One, who works together with a dormant lantern creature called Potboy to bring them back to life across five different tales.
Founders Klaus Lyngeled and Olov Redmalm specifically mention both film and television plans in a prepared statement, and the project is currently in early development as the producers are “currently meeting with writers.” No further details are presently known about this upcoming adaptation.
We had significant praise for The Midnight Walk during our recent 4/5 stars review. Though we believed it could benefit from more in-depth puzzles, we considered it a “memorable adventure” and praised its unique aesthetic. An upcoming PlayStation VR2 patch aims to address resolution concerns, which follows a recent update for the Steam release.
The Midnight Walk offers a memorable adventure that’s enchanting and bleak in equal measure, one that feels like wandering into a twisted fairytale. It’s a gripping tale with beautifully crafted claymation visuals, held back only by some minor frustrations and not especially in-depth puzzles. MoonHood have delivered a great example of hybrid design between flatscreen games and VR.
It’s not the only VR game receiving a film adaptation, either. Last week also saw Kinetic Games announce that a movie based on the co-op horror game Phasmophobia is in development with Blumhouse, whose previous work includes M3GAN and the Five Nights at Freddy’s film. Much like The Midnight Walk, a release window for the upcoming movie also remains unconfirmed.
The Midnight Walk is available now on PlayStation VR2 and Steam.
UploadVRHenry Stockdale