Google Assistant will stick around a bit longer than expected for some Android users
Engadget / now
Google wanted to remove Assistant from most Android phones by the end of 2025 and replace it with Gemini. But now the company has announced that it needs a bit more time to make its AI assistant the new default digital helper for most of its users. Google said that it's adjusting its previously announced timeline to "make sure [it delivers] a seamless transition" and that updates to convert Assis
AI Image Generators Default to the Same 12 Photo Styles, Study Finds
Gizmodo / now
Anything your imagination desires, as long as it's one of just a few options.
How Europe’s new carbon tax on imported goods will change global trade
Ars Technica - All content / 6min
For people living in the European Union, the price of their next car, home renovation, and even local produce may soon reflect a climate policy that many have never even heard of. This new regulation, which comes fully into force on New Year’s Day, does not just target heavy industry—it affects everyday goods which now face an added carbon cost when they enter Europe. The carbon border adjustment
I reviewed the MSI Pro MP165 E6 - and this lightweight budget portable monitor is perfect for business travel
Latest from TechRadar / 17min
The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is designed for a professional with a lot of different gear, who could benefit from a bit more screen real estate. This could be for a tablet, a gaming console, a computer, a camera, or more, all while staying within a budget.
Meze's walnut-cupped wired headphones impress with a bassy sound, but their headband dings my noggin
Latest from TechRadar / 24min
The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen wired headphones remain homely, walnut-earcupped beauties – but how have they improved from the original?
Rome Will Charge Tourists $2.30 To Step Up To The Trevi Fountain — Starting February 1 [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 28min
Rome will begin charging tourists €2 (about $2.30) starting February 1 to step up onto the stone steps at the Trevi Fountain, while the surrounding square remains free and residents won’t pay. Also in today’s roundup: an empty Excalibur check-in even with rock-bottom rates, a United first-class “fresh silverware” photo that’s anything but, the first A321XLR inaugural trip report, and Sean Duffy’s
Acura refreshes their compact sedan and doesn't ditch its best feature
How-To Geek / 33min
Compact sedans are evolving quickly, but not always in ways enthusiasts appreciate. For 2026, one premium Japanese brand has updated its compact sedan with fresh styling, improved tech, and subtle refinements aimed at keeping it competitive in a shrinking segment. While many rivals use refreshes as an excuse to simplify lineups or remove enthusiast-focused elements, this update takes a more thoug
Is it worth buying Marshall’s soundbar and sub together? I tested them against this pre-packed Samsung combo to find out
Latest from TechRadar / 53min
I tested Marshall’s new soundbar and sub together – is it really worth buying them together?
How to watch 1872 Cup: Live stream Glasgow vs Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship 2025/26, Game 1 preview
Latest from TechRadar / 53min
All the ways to watch the 1872 Cup live streams online from anywhere, as Glasgow take on Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship 2025/26.
Trump’s Agriculture Bailout Is Alienating His MAHA Base
Wired / 58min
The administration’s pro-industry tilt—across three executive agencies—is feeding the MAHA movement’s growing discontent.
5 open-source projects I’ll happily open my wallet for
How-To Geek / 1h
Much of the world runs on open-source software that is free to deploy, adapt, and incorporate into other projects. Even though this software is offered at no charge (or has a significant free option), that doesn’t mean that the projects don’t have costs associated with them.
NASA Says It’s Just Gonna Stare Into Cosmic Voids for a While
Futurism / 1h
With NASA’s operations under existential threat from the Trump administration, maybe it’s not surprising that the agency will be taking a much needed moment to zone out and gaze into a void or two — albeit in a billion-light-year stare that’ll plumb the mysteries of the abyss. On Monday, the agency described how a survey will use its upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to inspect puzzling
Hackers Stole Millions of PornHub Users’ Data for Extortion
2 TTPs•
Wired / 1h
Plus: Cisco discloses a zero-day with no available patch, Venezuela accuses the US of a cyberattack, and more.
25 Amazon Super Saturday Deals on Last-Minute Gifts We've Tested (2025)
Wired / 1h
Procrastinators, rejoice. Super Saturday is here with last-minute deals on WIRED-tested gear.
Size does matter — I think the iPhone 17 has the perfect dimensions
Latest from TechRadar / 1h
6.3 inches is perfect
Walmart's Black Friday-beating gaming laptop deals feature up to $650 off the latest RTX 5000 series machines
Latest from TechRadar / 1h
Walmart's Black Friday-beating gaming laptop deals are still live today - but for how long?
The hidden costs of whole-column references in Excel: Learn 3 alternatives to optimize your workbook's performance
How-To Geek / 1h
Whole-column references in Excel are silent performance killers, often forcing the program to manage a range of over a million rows. As a result, they can significantly slow your workbook's performance. So, stop using A:A references and, instead, create dynamic ranges.
Germany Building Clever System to Heat 40,000 Homes Using Device Powered by River Water
Futurism / 1h
The Rhine is the second-longest river in Western Europe, discharging about 100,000 cubic feet of water a second into the North Sea. It snakes through the Swiss Alps and makes up large sections of Germany’s western border with France, spreading out across a major delta in the Netherlands before emptying into the ocean. It’s also an enormous, largely untapped resource for clean power. As the BBC re
Gear News of the Week: LG Debuts an RGB LED TV, and Google Brings Find Hub to Wear OS
Wired / 1h
Plus: Samsung also announces new Micro RGB TVs, and a looming global memory crunch might make Nvidia reduce its supply of graphics cards.
7 Useful Tips for Anyone Connecting to Public Wi-Fi
Wired / 1h
Our public spaces are now awash with wireless internet. Make sure you’re getting the most out of every connection.
Double Cosmic Explosion Gives Birth to Unprecedented ‘Superkilonova’
Gizmodo / 1h
In a strange turn of events, a supernova birthed twin baby neutron stars that merged to make a powerful kilonova.
Five post-incident improvements that actually strengthen resilience
Latest from TechRadar / 1h
When a major incident hits, the focus naturally turns to restoration. Yet the real test comes afterwards. What can be learned from past failings?
I'm a recording musician, and the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones are the audio Christmas gift I've bought for myself
Latest from TechRadar / 1h
Beyerdynamic's DT990 Pro are great studio headphones with exceptional comfort and an open-back design
Corsair Sabre v2 Pro gaming mouse review: How is it this light?
How-To Geek / 2h
When it comes to ultralight gaming mice, aesthetics and feel are normally left in the dust in favor of cutting that extra half a gram. Somehow, with the Sabre v2 Pro , Corsair managed to create what is essentially a near-perfect ultralight gaming mouse that’s the lightest I’ve ever used—and it even has a full shell.
AI slop is killing the internet
Mashable / 2h
It’s not just you (and Rian Johnson ): Social media these days feels like a big trough of AI slop. It’s just…everywhere. Swipe through your FYP, your Reels , your timeline, and you’ll see slop on slop. Mashable associate editor Tim Marcin explains how we got here.
Kids arent learning to spell anymore
Mashable / 2h
Jodi Carreon began worrying about her older child's spelling ability a few years ago, when the child was in second grade. In Carreon’s southern California school district, students had returned to the classroom following pandemic restrictions. Each child had a laptop, a feature of distance learning Carreon thought would be phased out as schooling returned to normal. But that didn't happen. Her ch
NASAs Hubble saw fledgling planets colliding around a nearby star
Mashable / 2h
NASA 's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted fresh clues around a nearby star that strengthen the case that an object previously seen there was not a planet but an enormous space crash. A team of astronomers observed a new, faint point of light near the inner edge of a broad ring of dust circling Fomalhaut in 2023. The object closely resembles an earlier detection in the mid-2000s, which gradually
Why your kid cant rely on tech tools to spell
Mashable / 2h
If you know where to look online, you'll find concerned whispers about the ability of America's schoolchildren to spell . One teacher-creator on TikTok who goes by the handle @oopsdaaliya recently posted about her first-grade students' alarming spelling test results. On a 10-item quiz of high-frequency words (think the , with , has ), most of her students struggled. Sometimes they wrote only a si
How to watch James Madison vs. Oregon online for free
Mashable / 2h
Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Best for afforda
How to watch Tulane vs. Ole Miss online for free
Mashable / 2h
Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Best for afforda
How to watch Miami FL vs. Texas A&M online for free
Mashable / 2h
Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Best for afforda
Smarter wallets choose this — Windows 11 Pro just $10
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 (reg. $199) for a limited time — the smartest way to modernize your PC with a clean UI, better multitasking, and improved security. Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97 $199 Save $189.03 Some upgrades are just too good to pass up — and this is one of them. Give your PC a much-needed boost with Windows 11 Pro for only $9.97. Thi
Stop losing your stuff in the new year — this slim tracker card is just $24
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: MagTag is a super-slim, rechargeable, Apple Find My–compatible tracker card that slips into any wallet or bag — on sale for only $23.99. Opens in a new window Credit: MagTag MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card $23.99 $59.99 Save $36 Some of us make it a habit of losing important things. If one of your goals for the new year is to stop losing your wallet, keys, or anything else you swear you “ju
Best theater of 2025, and how you can see these shows
Mashable / 2h
Welcome to Mashable's first annual Best Theater Experiences of the Year list. While our entertainment team's main focus has long been on films and television, we've many theater lovers in our ranks. And this year, with all the incredible shows we've seen on stage, it seemed downright wrong not to expand our Best of 2025 lists to include our favorites. Now, there's a slight caveat here in that we
James Webb Spots First Ever Supermassive Black Hole to Be Yeeted Out of Its Home Galaxy
Futurism / 2h
Supermassive black holes have been found at the center of almost every galaxy, sucking up anything unlucky to fall into its maw — including light itself — through unfathomable gravitational forces. Even at the center of our own galaxy, astronomers have spotted such a black hole, dubbed Sagittarius A*. Despite their frequent appearance in observations, the mysterious astronomical objects largely r
Last minute holiday shopping this weekend? Here’s how to stay safe from scams
Latest from TechRadar / 2h
Stay safe this Christmas - be on the lookout for these scams.
Diane Kruger asked me to create The Seduction season 2 — here's my pitch to HBO Max
Latest from TechRadar / 2h
I've been waiting for my TV screenplay calling, and luckily for me, Diane Kruger wants me to pitch HBO Max The Seduction season 2.
How to watch Newcastle vs Chelsea: live stream Premier League 2025/26 game, TV channels, team news
Latest from TechRadar / 2h
Here's how to watch Newcastle vs Chelsea in the 2025-26 Premier League live from anywhere in the world.
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Texas accusing your TV of spying on you to iRobot finding a buyer
Latest from TechRadar / 2h
Here's the week's biggest tech news stories from iRobot, Samsung, OnePlus, and more for December 20, 2025.
U.S. and Venezuela Jam Caribbean GPS Signals to Thwart Attacks, Raising Flight Hazard
NYT > Technology / 2h
Military brinkmanship between President Trump and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela has led to an increase in electronic warfare in the region.
What’s The Minimum Drinking Age On Flights? It Ranges From 16 To 21…
59One Mile at a Time / 3h
While I yearn for the days where I was young enough for this to be relevant to me, I figure it’s still a topic worth addressing, for any younger OMAAT readers. What’s the minimum age to drink onboard a flight? Well, it’s not always that straightforward… The legal minimum drinking age on planes Let me start with the legal answer, which is actually not that relevant. The legal minimum drinking age
Giving Feedback When Checking Out Of Hotels: When Is It Worth Doing?
21One Mile at a Time / 3h
I’ve written about how to complain to hotels to get the best outcome , in situations where things go wrong. However, in this post I’d like to address a topic that’s along similar lines, but a little different — under what circumstances is it worth providing feedback when you check-out of a hotel (well, assuming you actually check out )? If you’re asked how your stay was, is it always worth being
From shadow IT to data sprawl: managing the explosion of ungoverned information
Latest from TechRadar / 3h
Flexibility drives productivity, yet shadow IT creates sprawling, fragmented data landscapes.
JBL Flip 7 vs JBL Grip: I tested these Bluetooth speakers side-by-side to see which is worth buying
Latest from TechRadar / 3h
The JBL Flip 7 and JBL Grip both punch well above their weight, but only one can come out on top in this head-to-head battle.
I used the thinnest noise-cancelling sleep earbuds for two weeks and it had one fascinating statistic
Latest from TechRadar / 4h
Meet the Fitnexa SomniPods 3. They have some problems but look beyond them, and you'll find smartly-framed buds with a few interesting twists.
I tested the UPerfect UColor O Lite - and this 13-inch 4K portable monitor is going to make a lot of tech and business professionals happy
Latest from TechRadar / 5h
The UPerfect UColor O Lite is a powerful 13-inch portable monitor with a great display, hyper-portability and some easy modifications to make this a secret weapon in your tech stack.
I tested the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 - a sleek power station hamstrung by its software
Latest from TechRadar / 5h
The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a solid power station with a great, sleek design, a mediocre app experience, fantastic ports, and an optional cart for easy transport.
What's the best vacuum for deep carpet? I tested a bunch of options side by side – this one was the clear winner
Latest from TechRadar / 5h
Deep carpet requires a special kind of vacuum cleaner – and this model has what it takes.
Loop Earplugs Discount Codes and Deals: Save on Ear Buds and Gift Sets
Wired / 5h
Save on Loop Earplugs, including Quiet 2 and popular gift sets for improved sleep, focus, and comfort.
Hurdle hints and answers for December 20, 2025
Mashable / 7h
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle , then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give
Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on December 20
Mashable / 7h
Tonight, the Moon is still very thin, marking the start of the waxing crescent phase in the U.S. However, in some parts of the world (depending on the time zone) the New Moon is officially occurring tonight. What is today’s moon phase? As of Saturday, Dec. 20, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent (if you're in the U.S). There is little to be seen tonight, with NASA's Daily Moon Observation stating 0
Synology's BeeStation is still the easiest Google Photos replacement
How-To Geek / 8h
Cloud storage services like Google Photos and Dropbox force you to overpay for storage. And can you really trust these corporations to respect your privacy? For those who want to escape from cloud storage, Synology's BeeStation is the easiest, most user-friendly solution.
‘It’s a major flaw’: AirPods 3 Pro owners are still waiting for Apple to fix its annoying static problems — and users are getting impatient
Latest from TechRadar / 8h
Angry Reddit users are impatiently waiting for Apple to fix the AirPods Pro 3's static problems, but the company has been silent.
Apple Watch users in Australia can soon start taking advantage of hypertension notifications
Latest from TechRadar / 9h
Apple Watches from Series 9 onwards now have approval from Australia's medical devices regulator to monitor blood pressure, and it could prove to be another life-saving feature.
NYT Pips hints, answers for December 20, 2025
Mashable / 9h
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue. Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit. Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 20, 2025
Mashable / 9h
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know tactics. As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original Connections , the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of wo
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 20, 2025
Mashable / 9h
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a rock music fan. Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some
NYT Strands hints, answers for December 20, 2025
Mashable / 9h
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're in the holiday spirit. Strands , the New York Times ' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an a
Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 20, 2025
Mashable / 9h
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't like bright colors. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Con
I tried the new Claude in Chrome extension, and it delivered convenience with a side of digital paranoia
Latest from TechRadar / 10h
Claude’s Chrome extension is a powerful productivity tool that handles browser-based tasks for you, but it comes at the cost of significant access to your digital life.
Sequoia partner spreads debunked Brown shooting theory, testing new leadership
TechCrunch / 10h
The newest episode raises questions about whether Sequoia's new leadership -- managing partners Alfred Lin and Pat Grady, who took over last month -- can or will rein in Maguire's social media activity.
Ex-Splunk execs’ startup Resolve AI hits $1 billion valuation with Series A
28TechCrunch / 11h
The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to people familiar with the deal.
Here’s What’s in the DOJ’s Epstein File Release—and What’s Missing
47Wired / 12h
From photos of former president Bill Clinton to images of strange scrapbooks, the Justice Department’s release is curious but far from revelatory.
This Tool Can Tell You If Your Home Network Has Been Compromised
Lifehacker / 12h
There are warning signs that your home network may have been compromised, such as unusual traffic patterns and slowdowns in system performance, but now there's a simple tool to help determine if your router or connected devices are being used to conduct
