Technology New of the last 24 hours

AI chip repair firms in China are thriving due to heavy demand surgeSmuggled GPUs fuel a booming underground repair market amid US export restrictionsChinese shops simulate data centers and fix hundreds of chips monthly at scaleA quiet but growing business has emerged in China that focuses on repairing Nvidia’s advanced AI chips, despite strict US export controls.Reports from Reuters found around a dozen small firms, mainly based in Shenzhen, claiming they service large numbers of Nvidia’s H100 and A100 GPUs, even though these chips were officially banned from sale to China in 2022.One company told the news agency it repairs up to 500 Nvidia AI chips every month - and with roughly 12 similar firms operating year-round, that could amount to tens of thousands of chips annually.Significant demandMany of these units are worn down from heavy use, especially as some have run around the clock for years in AI training workloads.“There is really significant repair demand,” Reuters was told by the co-owner of a Shenzhen firm that moved into AI hardware in late 2024.That demand led to the creation of a second company purely to handle AI chip repair.Their facility includes a server room that can simulate data center conditions with up to 256 servers.Another shop that shifted from GPU rentals to repairs told Reuters it fixes around 200 chips per month, typically charging about 10% of the original purchase price.Repairs can include fan replacement, circuit board fixes, memory diagnostics, and software testing.Nvidia cannot legally support or replace restricted GPUs within China. An Nvidia spokesperson said only the company and approved partners are authorized to offer the necessary service and support, adding that running restricted chips without full infrastructure is not viable long-term.The potentially high failure rate raises concerns about what will happen to tens of thousands of aging A100s and earlier GPUs once they fail.The existence of such a repair sector is down to the widespread smuggling of banned chips into China, something we’ve reported on previously.While Nvidia recently began offering the H20 GPU in China to comply with export restrictions, many customers there still prefer the banned H100 for training LLMs.You might also like Two million people watched this video of a mini PC being built from a slab of aluminumChina has spent billions of dollars building far too many data centers for AIMicrosoft to stop using China-based engineers for US military tech support

BioShock fans will have to wait even longer to find out if we're going to Rapture, Columbia or a brand new city since the next game in the franchise may be headed back to the drawing board. According to a report from Bloomberg, the latest BioShock game that's being developed by Cloud Chamber failed a review with executives at 2K Games. Bloomberg's sources explained that the execs wanted improvement with the game's narrative, which "will be revamped in the coming months." 2K Games said in a statement to Bloomberg that it currently has a "good game, but we are committed to delivering a great one." As the fourth installment in the hit BioShock franchise, it has to follow up on the success of BioShock Infinite, which was released in 2013 and earned several awards for overall design, gameplay, story and original soundtrack. The latest development hitch also comes along with some major changes in the game studio's leadership. According to Bloomberg, Cloud Chamber's studio head, Kelley Gilmore, left the role, while the studio's creative director, Hogarth de la Plante, was shifted to a publishing position. While the title isn't confirmed, the game believed to be BioShock 4 was announced in 2019 along with the creation of the Cloud Chamber studio. We still don't have a game six years later and the studio responsible may be at risk of layoffs, as the latest Bloomberg report mentioned a recent all-hands meeting where Cloud Chamber developers were told the company "needs to become more agile and efficient." The fourth BioShock isn't the only game in the series that seems to be stuck in development hell. According to Bloomberg, the remake of the original BioShock was reportedly shelved earlier this year by 2K Games. The breakout hit that threw players into the unique setting of Rapture came out in 2007 and has since been remastered in 2016 as part of BioShock: The Collection. The remaster was made to support 1080p resolution and higher frame rates, but fans have been waiting for a complete remake that portrays the dystopian underwater city with more modern graphics.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bioshock-4-hits-a-major-development-snag-and-a-remake-of-the-original-gets-put-on-ice-182523192.html?src=rss

Apple has fallen far behind in the competitive market of AI-powered chatbots, but it may have a plan for an in-house option that aligns with the company's "not first, but best" philosophy. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple created a team called "Answers, Knowledge and Information" earlier this year that's tasked with developing a "stripped-down rival to ChatGPT." Forming this team represents a major change in direction from Apple's earlier stance on artificial intelligence when the company partnered with OpenAI in 2024 to infuse Siri with ChatGPT instead of developing its own AI chatbot. Now, Gurman reported that this new Apple team will instead develop in-house AI services for a "new ChatGPT-like search experience" that can crawl the web to respond to questions. These new capabilities could be a standalone app, as well as support AI capabilities for Apple's Siri, Spotlight and Safari, according to Gurman's sources. The team is reportedly led by Robby Walker, who previously oversaw Siri, and has been advertising job openings that mention wanting experience with search algorithms and engine development. Beyond the Answers, Knowledge and Information team, Apple has experienced some growing pains when it comes to artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, the company said it would delay the release of the new-and-improved Siri, adding only that it would roll out "in the coming year." However, Apple is aware of the need to accelerate its Apple Intelligence program to stay competitive. In the latest third-quarter earnings call, the company's CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is open to acquisitions to fast-track its AI roadmap.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-reportedly-has-a-stripped-down-ai-chatbot-to-compete-with-chatgpt-in-the-works-164345473.html?src=rss

The Wacom Pro Pen 3 delivers precision drawing without needing a battery or Bluetooth pairingWacom MovinkPad 11 uses a matte screen that reduces glare and enhances pen control significantlyAndroid’s lack of Photoshop and Illustrator support continues to limit mobile creative workflows overallWacom’s MovinkPad 11 is an unusual addition to the Android tablet space, not because of its processing power or app ecosystem, but due to one standout feature: support for the Wacom Pro Pen 3.According to PCWatch, this device costs just under 70,000 yen (approximately $471), making it cheaper than many competing tablets, and includes the same pen technology trusted by professional artists.Still, its appeal seems tailored to a very specific audience, and it’s worth asking whether its strengths truly outweigh its compromises.A familiar pen, now in a standalone tabletThe MovinkPad 11 comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 3, which, unlike many battery-powered options, uses EMR (electromagnetic resonance) to achieve low-latency, battery-free performance.It’s long been favored by digital artists working with pen displays like the Cintiq and Intuos Pro.Now, with this Android tablet, Wacom appears to be targeting users who want to practice professional-level pen input without needing a full computer setup.From a usability standpoint, the experience is generally fluid, particularly when using drawing apps like CLIP STUDIO PAINT DEBUT, which comes pre-installed.However, the lack of Android versions of Adobe’s photo editing software remains a limitation for users who rely on tools like Photoshop or Illustrator.This device features an 11.45-inch display with a resolution of 2200 x 1440, and it also uses a matte finish that resists glare and fingerprints.This surface, combined with the Pro Pen 3’s fine pressure sensitivity, does offer a more natural feel than the glossy panels found on many mainstream tablets.For illustration software, where pen glide and surface resistance matter, this hardware combination is a major advantage.But as an Android tablet, the MovinkPad 11 is less impressive because it runs on a midrange MediaTek Helio G99 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.That’s sufficient for drawing and basic multitasking, but not exceptional.Despite its salient selling points, Wacom’s software decisions raise valid questions.The custom interface, Wacom UX, allows for quick access to a sketching app called Wacom Canvas, even when the device is locked.This might appeal to beginners eager to sketch instantly, but the lack of biometric authentication and broader Android productivity features may feel restrictive.Likewise, while it’s handy that third-party EMR pens also work with the device, the software ecosystem surrounding Android remains limited for serious graphic design software users.The MovinkPad 11 feels more like it fills a niche and neither stands as a powerful Android tablet, nor is it aimed at established professionals.Instead, it’s an accessible entry point for students and hobbyists hoping to develop their skills using the same tools found in professional environments.You might also likeFinally, Minisforum is set to launch its own AI Max+ 395 Mini PCThese are the best mobile workstations you can buy right nowWe've also listed the best mini PCs for every budget

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 may get a new shadeIt's the Moonstone color linked to the Pixel 10New gadgets are arriving on August 20In the various Google Pixel 10 leaks we've come across recently, there's been a lot of a particular color involved: a grayey-bluey type of shade which is apparently called Moonstone. Now it seems the shade will be rolling out to Google's other gadgets too.As spotted by 9to5Google, the existing Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds are now listed as being available in Moonstone, if you switch to the 3D view – though it's possible the change may have been rolled back by the time you're reading this.What's more, the light green known as Wintergreen looks to be going away, as Moonstone replaces it in the listing. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 were launched in August last year, so it's perfectly possible that they're getting a refresh after 12 months.There's no doubt that Google is keen on this Moonstone color: so far we've only seen one official teaser for the Pixel 10 launch event on Wednesday, August 20, and it shows off what we think is the Pixel 10 Pro in the Moonstone shade.What we've heard so farAn official snap of the Pixel 10 Pro... in Moonstone (Image credit: Google)Another leak has shown off everything we're expecting on August 20 in Moonstone: the Pixel 10, the Pixel Watch 4, and the Pixel Buds 2a. Other colors will of course be available, but it looks like this is going to be the primary one.Aside from the colors, there have been plenty of leaks and rumors swirling around. The Pixel 10 series of phones – and there should be four of them again, like last year – are rumored to be introducing MagSafe-style wireless charging to Android for the first time.As for the Google Pixel Watch 4, we've heard that it's going to get a rather interesting new charging system, and come in at the same sort of prices that we saw with the Pixel Watch 3 last year – with some Fitbit and YouTube promos bundled in for good measure.We haven't heard quite as much about the Google Pixel Buds 2a, but the updated earbuds could bring with them a tweaked design if the rumors are true. We will of course bring you all the official announcements, as they happen.You might also likeHere's how much the Pixel 10 phones could cost youThe best wireless earbuds you can buyGoogle's Pixel 10 Pro series has been pictured in four shades

If you've put off getting a new MacBook then today is your lucky day. Right now, the 2025 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air M4 are available on Amazon for record-low prices. The 13-inch model is our pick for best MacBook to buy this year. You can pick up the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 for $799, down from $999 — a 20 percent discount. This model comes with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. You can upgrade to 512GB SSD for $999, down from $1,199, another all-time low price, or 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,199, down from $1,399. Then there's the 15-inch MacBook Air M4, whose cheapest model is on sale for $999, dropping from $1,199. The 17 percent discount is the best deal we've seen since the pair debuted in March. As with the 13-inch model, the 16GB and 512GB SSD option is also a record-low price, dropping to $1,199 from $1,399. Then there's the 24GB upgrade, which is $1,399, down from $1,599. We're big fans of the MacBook Air M4, giving it a 92 in our review. Part of that comes from an already lower starting price for the MacBooks than their predecessors. The 2025 models also get a speed boost thanks to the M4 chip and are very thin with a 0.44-inch thickness. Neither the 13- or 15-inch will drag you down, weighing 2.7 pounds and 3.2 pounds, respectively. Plus, they both have excellent battery life, lasting over 18 hours while playing an HD video.  The big differences in the 15-inch model mostly come down to size. The screen is obviously bigger, as is its trackpad. Other than that, it offers better speakers than its 13-inch sibling.  Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-macbook-air-m4-drops-to-a-record-low-price-123031057.html?src=rss

The Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+ are bringing Providence Falls to fans from August 2 in a three-part ‘event’ (think miniseries, only it’s three movies rather than episodes). The new three-part film series follows Cora (Katie Stevens), a new cop on the scene suddenly partnered with the rogue and spaced-out Liam (Lachlan Quarmby). The reason Liam’s not all there isn’t an obvious one, having been sent to Cora from their past lives in 1800s Ireland to make sure she falls in love with her fated romantic partner, Finn (Evan Roderick).Essentially, we’ve got a period drama, police procedural and whodunnit murder mystery all happening at the same time, with one plot staying wrapped within another at all times. This will make much more sense as you watch it, and I promise the line between a satisfying payoff and having enough clues to crack without things being too confusing is an ideal balance. As these are Hallmark movies, after all, you can probably take a good guess at how the series ends.But while the ending ties up some loose threads, does this really mean we’re leaving Providence Falls for good? I think it’s a world too rich to abandon, and when I put this to the cast, they already had their own ideas for a return.Providence Falls could continue to exist in the wider Hallmark universe “I hope [Providence Falls returns], it's a fun universe,” star Roderick tells me. “I think there's an opportunity to bring back the angels of destiny, and have that be the rock of the show. I mean, that would be a really, really cool concept moving forward, if the fans love it.”As far as I’m concerned, Roderick’s elevator pitch is a Hallmark goldmine. The Angels of Destiny storyline could be applied to absolutely any character we’ve met over the past few decades, and could even work in the context of continuing shows such as The Chicken Sisters, When Calls the Heart and The Way Home. Anybody who has a dodgy run-in or awkward storyline gets a chance for redemption, even if they have to die in order to do so.Granted, the number of people who have died in Hallmark projects is slim to none, meaning fresh recruits like Liam might need to be drafted in for Providence Falls to continue. But if the angels and main cast aren’t coming back (their storylines have basically been wrapped up, after all), there’s still the town itself. Everything we love about shows like Virgin River and Sullivan’s Crossing is now sitting in Hallmark’s lap, and they’d be silly not to utilise that.Does Providence Falls now have the legs to be a springboard for a bigger ongoing series? I’d say absolutely. Of course, the same storyline can’t be replicated, but if Hallmark wants to replicate the out-of-the-box success of The Way Home or find a rival for Virgin River, they best start listening to Roderick’s idea.You might also likeSullivan’s Crossing star says she’s game for a ‘fun’ Virgin River crossover episode and I think she’s a geniusThe Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 4 has set up Conrad’s excruciating POV in next week’s episode, and I already can’t bear itI watched Netflix’s Too Much and calling it Lena Dunham’s new version of Girls doesn’t do it justice

Lecoo Mini Pro includes Radeon 780M graphics and dual USB4 ports for GPU expansionAMD’s Ryzen 7 8745H powers the system with strong Zen 4 performance across eight coresTwo 2.5G Ethernet jacks allow for flexible networking options rarely seen in mini PCsLenovo has quietly released a new Lecoo-branded mini PC in China called the Mini Pro, a system which combines relatively strong performance with a compact, low-power design.Lecoo is not a widely known brand in Lenovo’s global portfolio, but it joins a long list of sub-brands the company manages, including Motorola Mobility, Lenovo NEC, Medion, and LOQ.While most of these brands have defined market positions or regional focuses, Lecoo appears to be geared toward affordable consumer tech and accessories.A compact system priced for budget-conscious usersPriced between $363 and $615 depending on configuration, the Lecoo Mini Pro enters the same market space as many affordable workstation alternatives.This device is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 8745H processor, a chip that belongs to the Hawk Point family and is similar to the Ryzen 7 8745HS.It includes the integrated Radeon 780M graphics, which means it can tackle low to mid-tier gaming workloads.For heavier graphical use, the system’s two USB4 ports allow for external GPU connectivity, a feature becoming more common on newer business PC setups and one that extends its capabilities beyond typical office work.Internally, the Lecoo Mini Pro supports up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 5600MHz and offers dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for storage, pushing it close to workstation PC territory in terms of memory and drive expansion.Despite the hardware capacity, the Lecoo Mini Pro remains a palm-sized and low-power device.Even in its highest performance mode (70W), the thermal output is kept under control using dual fans and an aluminum chassis, and Lenovo says the noise level of this device is as low as 32 decibels in quiet mode.Another strength of this device is connectivity, and it supports a mix of legacy and modern accessories - as it includes two USB4 ports, two 2.5G Ethernet jacks, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and multiple USB-A ports while also supporting Wi-Fi 6 as its only wireless option.Lenovo has confirmed the Lecoo Mini Pro will be available for global shipping, and the sales page accepts payment via PayPal.You might also likeThese are the best mobile workstations you can buy right nowWe've also listed the best business laptop choices aroundGoogle Gemini security flaw could have let anyone access systems or run code

Even though the Switch 2 basically just came out, we're already starting to see discounts on some of its accessories. One of the more charming peripherals, the HORI Piranha Plant camera, is on sale right now for only $40. That's $20 off and a record-low price. It's a good deal for anyone who wants to take advantage of the Switch 2's camera functionality in games like Mario Kart World and that recently-released campfire sim. This was designed specifically for Nintendo's new console, so it's a plug-and-play affair. It's actually cheaper than the official Switch 2 camera with this sale and it looks a whole lot cooler. It's a Piranha Plant from the Mario franchise. We called it a "work of art" upon encountering the device and that holds true today. This thing is not only stylish, resembling an Amiibo more than a camera, but it's downright useful. The pot the Piranha Plant sits in functions as both a stand and USB extension for the device. The plant itself detaches from the pot, so the camera can be used in portable mode by popping it into the USB port at the top of the console. There's also a built-in privacy shutter. Just close the plant's mouth to obscure the lens. The actual camera specs here aren't going to win any awards, with a frame rate of 30FPS and a resolution of 640 x 480p. However, that's more than enough to capture footage of your floating head to accompany your kart as it races through the Mushroom Kingdom. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-hori-piranha-plant-camera-for-switch-2-is-on-sale-for-only-40-145031271.html?src=rss

LG UltraFine 40-inch monitor delivers 5K2K resolution and strong color specs for creative workflowsThunderbolt 5 brings high-speed data up to 120Gbps and 96W chargingNano IPS Black panel doubles contrast over regular IPS monitorsLG has released its latest 5K monitor as it looks to encourage the hardware into territory once reserved for niche creative professionals.The LG 40U990A-W UltraFine 40-inch monitor features a 39.7-inch curved ultrawide screen with a 5120 x 2160 resolution, and it is the world’s first display to support Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.It arrives with a steep price of approximately $2,246, raising questions about how much functionality users genuinely need and what justifies the cost.Targeting creative precision with premium display specsThe UltraFine Nano IPS Black panel boasts a 2000:1 contrast ratio, which doubles that of traditional IPS monitors.Combined with 99% DCI-P3 coverage and VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, LG is targeting professionals in video production and photo editing, where color fidelity and shadow detail matter.Its wide 21:9 aspect ratio and 2500R curvature add a layer of immersion that some professionals may appreciate, making the 40U990A-W a capable business monitor.For those who rely on pixel accuracy, this monitor could appeal as the best monitor for video editing, although its impact will depend on how well these specifications translate into real-world consistency and performance.From a hardware perspective, the presence of Thunderbolt 5 brings speed improvements for data transfer up to 120 Gbps and enables up to 96W of laptop charging.The port also supports daisy chaining of 5K2K monitors, allowing complex, multi-display setups without clutter.While this might suggest future-forward convenience, the real-world benefits of Thunderbolt 5 remain largely untested at scale.Early buyers of this device may encounter compatibility issues or diminishing returns compared to more mature standards.This 5K monitor also features a 3-sided narrow bezel, with adjustable height, swivel, and tilt options that are now standard on premium displays.You might also likeWe've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing on the market todayAnd here are the best monitors for programming we've foundWant to host an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU and up to 4PB of SSD storage on one single PCIe slot?

Experts warned to maybe not list all of their experience onlineDoing so could open them up to attacks and scamsLinkedIn might be a good place to advertise yourself - but have some limitsA top security experts has warned defence employees that listing their work on employment sites such as LinkedIn has created a ‘cumulative and comprehensive set of information, people and opportunities for foreign powers to target and exploit.’Mike Burgees, the Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said it has seen nation states use, ‘even more sophisticated and difficult to detect methods’ in their attempts to unlawfully obtain sensitive information.Whilst this may seem like common sense, ASIO has identified over 100 individuals using job sites such as LinkedIn to talk about projects they worked on, and some posting specifications and functionality on ‘open discussion forums’.The true costThis has direct consequences for national security, and the mistakes add up. A report quoted by Burgees identifies an overall cost of over AU$12 billion dollars in just one year lost to espionage - highlighting its impact.These are conservative estimates too, Burgees points out, and the, ‘most serious, significant and cascading costs of espionage are not included in the 12.5 billion dollar figure’.That means that anything without a direct calculable financial impact, like potential loss of ‘ strategic advantage, sovereign decision-making and warfighting capacity’, all of which hold ‘immense value’ are not included in the calculation.Of course, foreign adversaries have always targeted anyone who holds valuable information of almost all kinds, and have used much more unconventional methods in the past.That being said, social media sites in which colleagues follow and interact with each other whilst openly talking about their current professional projects does provide spooks with a cheat-sheet of target information.These can have serious consequences for governments and companies, Burgees warned, noted how, "ust last year, an Australian tech company went into voluntary administration after one of its investors made a series of decisions that made no commercial sense. These included selling the company’s intellectual property – which had commercial and military applications – to a foreign corporation, on terms highly unfavourable to the Australian company.""ASIO is yet to confirm if a nation state or foreign intelligence service directed this activity, but we are aware of similar cases where sensitive information about a company’s vulnerabilities – such as its cyber security settings – were passed to hostile intelligence services by an insider."You might also likeTake a look at our picks for the best malware removal software aroundCheck out our choice for best antivirus softwareUndersea cable board launched to combat damage and sabotage

Tim Cook has been speaking at an all-hands meetingCook promised Apple has a bright AI futureThere are some "amazing" products in the pipelineThe delays and issues around Apple Intelligence have been well documented, but Apple CEO Tim Cook says his company isn't giving up an AI – and in fact has said the AI market is "ours to grab" in a recent all-hands meeting.As per the usually reliable Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the hour-long meeting was held right after Apple's most recent earnings call, and both Tim Cook and senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi were apparently upbeat about Apple's AI future."Apple must do this," Cook apparently said on AI. "Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab." The CEO reportedly went on to say that while Apple hasn't always been first in product categories, it's usually able to catch up and surpass its rivals.According to Gurman, Cook also encouraged Apple employees to use more AI in their day-to-day work, to avoid being "left behind" in the field. The CEO is predicting AI will be bigger than smartphones, apps, and the internet.'A much bigger upgrade'Apple Intelligence has had its issues (Image credit: Apple)As for Federighi, he reportedly told staff that Apple was overcoming the initial challenges it had faced with adding Apple Intelligence on top of Siri. Rather than merging two systems, engineers are now working on building an entirely new architecture."The work we've done on this end-to-end revamp of Siri has given us the results we needed," said the exec. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned."Apple has clearly rushed its AI efforts in an attempt to catch up to the likes of OpenAI and Google – having to pull adverts promising features that have yet to materialize – but it would appear that Apple remains fully committed to the technology.The all-hands meeting is said to have covered other topics including Apple TV+, AirPods, and the impact of regulations. Cook also mentioned that there's an "amazing" series of Apple products in the pipeline – which may include a folding iPhone.You might also likeApple could bring some punchy color to the iPhone 17 ProThis is what really happened with Siri and Apple IntelligenceApple could bring a nifty iPhone trick to its series of Macs

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: key information - The Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler spin-off was first announced in December 2024- It was rumored to be called Dutton Ranch, but Rip Wheeler actor Cole Hauser confirmed that wouldn’t be the title- It will be set in the present day, and will explore the Dutton’s lives after the events in season 5- Other actors from Yellowstone are likely to appear in it, including Finn Little, who plays Carter- It will share “the most DNA with Yellowstone” than any of the (many!) other planned spin-offs- The release date has been suggested for late 2025, but Paramount+ have yet to confirm thisThe Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler spin-off series from the Yellowstone universe is officially underway and while it's still very early days, we do know some crucial details about what the new Paramount+ series might look like.You should never underestimate the pull of a good Western: and the TV series Yellowstone has totally proved this. Launching without much fanfare on the Paramount Network back in June 2018 (HBO turned it down initially) the Kevin Costner-fronted show steadily drew in a bigger and bigger audience, as the series – which covered life in and around a ranch in Yellowstone, Montana – went out on a high in the final series five in 2024 with a viewership of more than 12 million people.But the people, like the ranchers, wanted more. And spin-offs of the Dutton family were hastily assembled by creators Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. First were the prequels, 1883 and 1923, then the sequels and other Dutton-adjacent series (deep breath): The Madison (due out in 2025), Y: Marshalls, 1944, 6666 and, perhaps the most eagerly awaited of all the new series in the Yellowstone universe, a show that some have said will be called Dutton Ranch. But, hold fire! says Cole Hauser, who plays Rip Wheeler, as he told Fox News that: “First of all, it's not [called] Dutton Ranch. That's not the name of it.”So, what do we know about the spin-off show that will see Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprising their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler? Here’s everything you need to know about the neo-Western series so far, including cast members, potential plot and expected release date:Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: release date predictions It's a return to Dutton Ranch for Beth and Rip. (Image credit: Paramount+)News first came out off a spin-off in December 2024 when Deadline reported: “Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind Yellowstone and its ever-expanding universe, is working on the creative for the new show, which will likely feature other cast members from the mothership series alongside Reilly and Hauser.”Since then, the most recent word is, according to Bloomberg, that this particular show is being pegged for a Fall launch in 2025, which would make this a very quick turnaround. Paramount+ are yet to confirm a release date, but we’ll update this piece as soon as we find out.Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: is there a trailer yet?Fan favourite Beth smokes a cigarette to kill time while waiting for the trailer. (Image credit: Paramount+)No, there’s nothing as yet – we’ll let you know as soon as anything drops.Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: who is in the cast?Finn Little will be making a return to the bullring as Carter. (Image credit: Paramount+)Excitingly for the fans who weren’t ready for Yellowstone to finish after five seasons, Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser will be back in their legendary roles of Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, respectively. It’s been suggested by several publications that other key characters from Yellowstone could also make a return, but so far, the only person confirmed is Finn Little who plays Carter.Carter arrived as a “troubled teen” in season four, who met Beth in hospital, when both their fathers were dying. After Carter’s dad dies of a drug addiction, Beth and Rip become Carter’s guardians, and he comes to live and work with them on their ranch. Beth is unable to have children and doesn’t see herself as maternal, yet she and Rip form a bond with Carter, and come to view him as family.Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler Yellowstone spin-off: the potential plotThe series will pick up after the events of Yellowstone season 5 (Image credit: Paramount+)Well, it’s a series that will obviously have Beth and Rip at the heart of the action. At the end of season 5 of Yellowstone (spoilers ahead, if you’re not up to date yet) the Dutton Ranch is no more, after being sold to the Broken Rock Reservation, allowing the land to be preserved as a protected reservation.Beth’s father, John Dutton III, was murdered by a contract killer (by a gunshot to the head) hired by Jamie Dutton and Sarah Atwood, but it was staged to look like suicide. In the season’s finale, Beth, who vowed revenge for her dad’s death, stabs Jamie.According to Deadline, the spin-off is likely to pick up where season 5 ended. It will be “led by Yellowstone characters, played by the same actors in the same present-day time frame; the new offshoot shares the most DNA with the mothership of any shows in the Yellowstone universe to date.”Hauser is remaining tight-lipped about the plot, also telling Fox News in May 2025: "We can expect the same that we've been doing for the last seven years. Kelly and I are going and working our [expletive] off trying to create something special.”Meanwhile, he told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2025: “Kelly and I, we're focused on [Rip and Beth's] relationship and our love together, and what we're going to get [them] into. I'm excited just like everybody else. I can't wait to see what they come up with. Hopefully, we'll start seeing stuff soon.” We’d hope so too, if the series is to be released by the end of the year.What are the other spin-offs, sequels and prequels of Yellowstone that we know about?The Beth and Rip series will be set in the present day. (Image credit: Paramount+)There will be two other offshoots soon joining the Beth and Rip series. The Madison (appearing on Paramount+), led by Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, and Y: Marshals (on CBS) which will star Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, and which will be released in early 2026. Alongside this, there are two more series in the Yellowstone universe: 1944 (set during World War II and will explore the Dutton family's experiences during that era) and 6666 (about another ranch, Four Sixes, which also appears in Yellowstone and will be about the characters who live on it) which have been previously announced as “in development”.

Parental concerns over screen time grow as kids spend four hours online during the summer holidaysThe Secure Net update only helps UK families, despite Vodafone operating in over 20 countriesUnstructured screen time rises during school breaks, sparking fresh demand for digital boundaries at homeAs the summer holidays bring more freedom and fewer routines, children are spending much more time online, but new research has warned on the risks this could bring.A report from VodafoneThree revealed screen time among 8 to 17-year-olds has risen to as much as four hours of unstructured use per day, a 42% increase compared to during the school term.While some of this time is spent staying in touch with friends or occupying long journeys, nearly two-thirds (65%) of UK parents have expressed concern over the digital habits of their kids during school breaks and the overall impact on them.Digital safeguards for kids arrive, but not for everyoneIn response, VodafoneThree plans to release a major update to its Secure Net app offering enhanced parental control features designed to help families manage device use more easily.“Unstructured screen time tends to naturally rise during the summer holidays, so we’ve teamed up with Digital Awareness UK to offer practical, parent-friendly guidance,” said Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at VodafoneThree.“Combined with our Secure Net service, which offers the most comprehensive parental controls of any major UK network, families can feel more confident navigating the digital world together and enjoy a safer, more balanced summer break.”The Secure Net app, which currently offers basic filtering and protection, will soon allow UK parents to manage both mobile and home broadband connections through a single interface.Its goal is to create a simpler way for families to limit access to inappropriate content, reduce distractions, and encourage healthier routines.The app features include “Pause the Internet,” “Bedtime Mode,” content filters, and a “Focus Time” setting that blocks certain apps during study periods.While VodafoneThree describes the tool as offering the most complete set of parental controls among major UK networks, it is not a substitute for other forms of digital protection.The app does not include antivirus or ransomware protection, and its main function is to control access rather than detect threats.Families hoping to improve overall digital safety may still need separate software to protect against malware or more sophisticated attacks.However, despite its global reach, the company is making the updated app available only to its UK customers at no additional cost.This raises questions, particularly given the universal nature of the issues involved.Parents across parent company Vodafone's many markets face similar concerns about screen time, harmful content, and lack of oversight, but they are left out for now."We know that the summer holidays can be a challenging time. This can't always be avoided, but without structure, it can lead to greater exposure to online harms, mental health effects, and unhealthy tech habits that are difficult to undo,” said Emma Robertson, CEO of Digital Awareness UK.(Image credit: Vodafone)You might also likeKlarna wants to become a global mobile network with unlimited 5G dataCheck out the best 3D modeling software for 3D printing and moreWe've rounded up the best portable monitors available now

Dropping on The Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+ from August 2, 2025, Providence Falls is a new three-part film series following Cora (Katie Stevens) and Liam (Lachlan Quarmby), two cops paired up to try and solve a theft case. As theft becomes much more sinister, Cora doesn’t know Liam isn’t a cop at all, but a lover from a past life sent forward in time to try and get her to fall in love with her “destiny” in co-worker Finn (Evan Roderick).Sound familiar? Well, the time-travel element should at least. While the core romance could be plucked straight from any one of Hallmark’s hall of fames, there’s another series on the platform that can instantly transport you to another historical timeline: The Way Home. Starring Andie MacDowell and Chyler Leigh, the show tells the story of the Landry family, who find they can travel back in time to different points in their shared history by jumping in the pond at the end of their garden (as you do). Season 4 is expected to air in early 2026, and boy do we have some questions that need answering.Ponderers (who are the fanbase of the show, obviously), will know a key feature of The Way Home time travel involves emerging from a body of water sopping wet, having to go and deal with whatever historical disasters await you while completely drenched. Blink and you’ll miss it, but there’s a very similar circumstance in one installment of Providence Falls, and the cast admits that the coincidental Easter egg was the most “challenging” scene of the bunch.Providence Falls’ most ‘challenging’ scene is an accidental The Way Home Easter egg, and I’m living for it Spoilers for Providence Falls ahead. “There's a scene that had an involvement with a lake in and we were shooting in Vancouver, and it was February, so you can imagine how freezing the water was, and there were some stunts to go along with it,” Stevens tells me about the scene. “So, that was really, really challenging. Although we had the wet suit and things under our costume, it was still freezing. So that was probably the most difficult, just for that. The scene is actually one of my favorite scenes in the whole series, but it was definitely not as glamorous to film.”You’ll find the scene in question at the end of part 2 of Providence Falls, as Cora tries to get away from Marcus once she realises he’s really working with the wrong side. Marcus gives chase and pulls a gun on Cora, leading to a waterside fight that ends with Cora falling into the lake. Luckily, Finn and Liam arrive just in time, with Liam heroically diving in to save Cora as she loses consciousness.If this was an episode of The Way Home, Cora would have surfaced from the water back in her Irish 1800s timeline, aware that she is time-traveling between two points in history. Instead, Providence Falls chooses to overlap both timelines in a montage, with Cora convinced she is dreaming when she thinks of herself in the past. The act of travelling through time might be snappier in the new miniseries, but I can’t help but draw obvious parallels from how fantasy is blended with reality.There’s another similarity between Providence Falls and The Way HomeThis isn’t the only Easter egg from The Way Home that I’ve seen in Providence Falls, though. The opening scene looks almost identical to the woodland where the Landry pond is set, with 1800s Cora and Liam even venturing briefly into the water as Kat and Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) might in The Way Home. However, this one is merely a coincidence, with all of Providence Falls’ Irish scenes being filmed in… well, Ireland.“We filmed the first film, and then we went to Ireland, shot all of the Irish footage for all three films together, and then went and did movies two and three,” Stevens adds. “So, Ireland almost felt like its own movie.I think the benefit of how we shot is that our characters are trying to kind of figure each other out, and Cora is having these dreams, but can't really make sense of them yet. In real life, we got to look back on our time in Ireland, so we know now what our characters are thinking of the things that they're remembering, and we actually shot those things so they were real memories for us.“We shot in Dublin and Kilruddery Castle, which is where Cora's house is. And then we shot at the castle where the Beckhams got married, which was really cool.”You might also likeSullivan’s Crossing star says she’s game for a ‘fun’ Virgin River crossover episode and I think she’s a geniusThe Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 4 has set up Conrad’s excruciating POV in next week’s episode, and I already can’t bear itI watched Netflix’s Too Much and calling it Lena Dunham’s new version of Girls doesn’t do it justice

Darksiders 4 is officially coming. During the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase on Friday, we got a glimpse at the next game in the hack and slash action-adventure franchise, alongside trailers for roughly a dozen other games that are in the works, including Reanimal and The Eternal Life of Goldman. It's been a while since we've seen a new mainline Darksiders title from developer Gunfire Games, and while the fourth entry follows 2019's prequel, Darksiders Genesis, the announcement says it will "continue where the original Darksiders game left off." Darksiders 4 features all four Horsemen, and you'll get to choose which one to play as. It features "combat, traversal and puzzle solving in a lore rich post apocalyptic world." The teaser doesn't give us much information beyond that and there's no release date just yet, but we do know it'll be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. If you missed the showcase, you can catch up here on everything that was announced (like that new Spongebob game). And according to THQ Nordic, that's only half of what it has up its sleeve. At the end of the showcase, the publisher said a total of 28 games are currently in development, with 15 we still have yet to see.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/darksiders-4-was-not-on-my-2025-bingo-card-204611075.html?src=rss

Researchers recreated the Equifax hack and watched AI do everything without direct controlThe AI model successfully carried out a major breach with zero human input Shell commands weren’t needed, the AI acted as the planner and delegated everything elseLarge language models (LLMs) have long been considered useful tools in areas like data analysis, content generation, and code assistance.However, a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, conducted in collaboration with Anthropic, has raised difficult questions about their role in cybersecurity.The study showed that under the right conditions, LLMs can plan and carry out complex cyberattacks without human guidance, suggesting a shift from mere assistance to full autonomy in digital intrusion.From puzzles to enterprise environmentsEarlier experiments with AI in cybersecurity were mostly limited to “capture-the-flag” scenarios, simplified challenges used for training.The Carnegie Mellon team, led by PhD candidate Brian Singer, went further by giving LLMs structured guidance and integrating them into a hierarchy of agents.With these settings, they were able to test the models in more realistic network setups.In one case, they recreated the same conditions that led to the 2017 Equifax breach, including the vulnerabilities and layout documented in official reports.The AI not only planned the attack but also deployed malware and extracted data, all without direct human commands.What makes this research striking is how little raw coding the LLM had to perform. Traditional approaches often fail because models struggle to execute shell commands or parse detailed logs.Instead, this system relied on a higher-level structure where the LLM acted as a planner while delegating lower-level actions to sub-agents.This abstraction gave the AI enough context to “understand” and adapt to its environment.Although these results were achieved in a controlled lab setting, they raise questions about how far this autonomy could go.The risks here are not just hypothetical. If LLMs can carry out network breaches on their own, then malicious actors could potentially use them to scale attacks far beyond what’s feasible with human teams.Even tools such as endpoint protection and the best antivirus software may be tested by such adaptive and responsive agents.Nevertheless, there are potential benefits to this capability. An LLM capable of mimicking realistic attacks might be used to improve system testing and expose flaws that would otherwise go unnoticed.“It only works under specific conditions, and we do not have something that could just autonomously attack the internet… But it’s a critical first step,” said Singer in explaining that this work remains a prototype.Still, the ability of an AI to replicate a major breach with minimal input should not be dismissed.Follow-up research is now exploring how these same techniques can be applied in defense, potentially even enabling AI agents to detect or block attacks in real-time.You may also likeByteDance AI tool Trae caught spying on usersThese are the best VPN with antivirus solutionsTake a look at our pick of the best password managers

Scientists are sending several strains of disease-causing bacteria to the International Space Station as part of the Crew-11 mission. This experiment isn't the plot to some cheesy horror film, but a scientific investigation from the Sheba Medical Center in Israel and the US-based company Space Tango with the goal of better understanding how bacteria spread and behave under extreme conditions. The experiment includes E. coli, along with bacteria that cause diseases like typhoid fever and the infection commonly known as Salmonella. After reaching the ISS, the experiment will see the different bacterial species grow before being returned to Earth to be tested against counterparts that were grown simultaneously in an identical lab under normal conditions. The experiment's results will help scientists understand how bacteria respond to zero gravity and could help astronauts, who are more prone to infections during missions due to stress, exposure to radiation and changes in gravity. However, the research could prove useful beyond space missions. With the onset of superbugs that show antibiotic resistance, the experiment could reveal ways to combat more robust bacterial strains. "This experiment will allow us, for the first time, to systematically and molecularly map how the genetic expression profile of several pathogenic bacteria changes in space," Ohad Gal-Mor, head of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Sheba, said in a press release.  The medical center previously conducted a test with bacteria in simulated space conditions, which showed a reduced ability to develop antibiotic resistance, but the latest experiment is the first one to take place at the ISS. It's not the first time scientists have studied bacteria's behavior in microgravity conditions, since researchers from the University of Houston tested how E. coli would grow in a simulated space environment back in 2017. More recently, NASA launched an experiment tasking astronauts to swab the interiors of the ISS and test them for evidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-latest-mission-to-the-iss-features-a-bacterial-experiment-195004174.html?src=rss