Monday, June 22

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The TP-Link Archer BE230 Wi-Fi 7 Router Is 25% Off Right Now
Life Style

The TP-Link Archer BE230 Wi-Fi 7 Router Is 25% Off Right Now

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you're in the market for a wifi upgrade but don’t want to overspend, the TP-Link Archer BE230 (also known as the BE3600) is worth a look. It’s currently down to $89 on Amazon—$30 off its usual price. That’s a pretty good deal for a Wi-Fi 7 router, even if it’s a more entry-level option. You’re not getting every fancy new feature under the sun, but for most households, this router still covers the basics well. And if you're okay with not having the latest, you might want to check out this guide to the best Wi-Fi 6 routers.The BE230 doesn’t have a 6GHz band or support for the widest (320MHz) channels, which are two of the more prem...
The Default iPhone Ringtone Has a New Sound in iOS 26
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The Default iPhone Ringtone Has a New Sound in iOS 26

Despite a lengthy WWDC keynote, Apple didn't have time to advertise each and every new feature shipping with iOS 26. As such, we continue to learn about new features and smaller changes as beta testers explore the new OS. These testers have sniffed out one new addition that is small, but fun: Your iPhone is getting a new ringtone. Technically, it's getting a different version of an existing ringtone. At least, that's how Apple apparently sees things: Following the release of iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has, for the first time, added an alternate version of one of its signature ringtones—specifically, "Reflection," the default iOS ringtone that Apple originally introduced with the iPhone X. Provided Apple doesn't change things between now and the release of the final version of iOS 26, once you've...
This Massive Data Breach Shows Why We Need to Kill the Password Once and for All
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This Massive Data Breach Shows Why We Need to Kill the Password Once and for All

Passwords are a staple of both the internet and computing at large. Even as new authentication protocols have emerged—from passkeys to biometrics—most of us use passwords to log into our daily accounts and websites using a code made up of letters, numbers, and symbols.The problem is, the password was really a product of its time, and doesn't really belong in the modern digital age. Cybersecurity threats have evolved so far beyond the capability of a password to protect from them that they have actually become a liability—even when you follow best practices for creating them and keeping them secure. Case in point: News of the latest data breach, one of the largest ever, in which researchers discovered not millions, but billions of passwords floating around on the web. Sixteen billion passwo...
‘Godfather’ Malware Is Now Hijacking Banking Apps on Android
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‘Godfather’ Malware Is Now Hijacking Banking Apps on Android

As malware evolves to be more sophisticated, seeing should not always equal believing. A new iteration of the "Godfather" malware found on Android is hijacking legitimate banking apps, making it increasingly difficult for users (and on-device protections) to detect. An early version of Godfather utilized screen overlay attacks, which placed fraudulent HTML login screens on top of legitimate banking and crypto exchange apps, tricking users into entering credentials for their financial accounts. It was first detected on Android in 2021 and was estimated to target several hundred apps across more than a dozen countries. The new threat, uncovered by security firm Zimperium, is Godfather's virtualization, which allows the malware to create a complete virtual environment on your device rather t...
The Government Has a New Vaccine Advisory Panel, and I’m Concerned About What They Might Do Next Week
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The Government Has a New Vaccine Advisory Panel, and I’m Concerned About What They Might Do Next Week

The Centers for Disease Control used to have a vaccine advisory panel made of well-respected experts. This panel, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (or ACIP), would meet to vote on which vaccines should be recommended by the government. An affirmative vote from ACIP means insurance companies have to cover that vaccine. But members of the panel were all abruptly dismissed earlier this month, and now their replacements are set to meet June 25, with votes planned for RSV, flu shots, and somewhat perplexingly, thimerosal. I’ll break down what this all means, why it’s likely very bad news, and what to watch for when the panel meets next week. And by the way, if you've been meaning to get any vaccines, I’d recommend scheduling those sooner rather than later, while we know they’re...
Oakley’s New Meta AI-Powered Smart Glasses Look Slick
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Oakley’s New Meta AI-Powered Smart Glasses Look Slick

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Today, Meta announced a collaboration with Oakley to release limited-edition Oakley HSTN smart glasses, along with AI integration in other Oakley models. The special edition Oakley HSTN (pronounced "HOW-stun") glasses feature gold accents and Oakley gold-tinted PRIZM lenses and will retail for $499. They will be available for preorder on July 11. Other Oakley models with Meta’s AI tech will be available starting at $399 this summer as well. Like the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses originally released in 2023, Oakley spectacles will feature a front-facing camera, open-ear speakers, a microphone, and built-in Meta AI capability that allows for visual descriptions, general questions, and real-time translation...
How to Use Gemini's New 'Scheduled Actions' (and a Few I Recommend)
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How to Use Gemini's New 'Scheduled Actions' (and a Few I Recommend)

We got a glimpse at a lot of new features coming to Gemini at Google IO and one of the most interesting is rolling out right now. The new Scheduled Actions feature lets you tell Gemini to run prompts at certain times in the future, and even recur on a regular basis. It sounds small, but it opens quite a few new possibilities.This scheduling feature is designed to work seamlessly with ordinary Gemini prompts. Ask the chatbot to perform or repeat a task in the future and it will automatically schedule the tasks. You can even convert an existing chat into a scheduled action. Here's how it works, and a few ideas of what you can do with it.How Scheduled Actions work in GeminiWhile the scheduling feature should just work, in theory, there are a couple of nuances in practice. In my testing, Gemin...
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The Three Fitness Apps I Use Every Day

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I use apps for everything from obtaining free stuff to making extra income. I also use them for some extra help on the health and fitness journey I've been undertaking for the last year and a half. I was always active—I teach spin classes, consistently ride my Peloton, and have always frequented the gym—but something really took hold of me at the end of 2023 and made me want to get, like, super active. Naturally, I downloaded all the apps I thought could help me as I set out to keep track of my protein intake, devise the perfect schedule of workout splits, and monitor all my biodata. Here are the ones that actually helped me. For cardio: The Peloton app You don't need a Peloton Bike, Tread, or Row to enjoy the benefits...
Four Things I Do to Make My Google Nest Devices More Useful
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Four Things I Do to Make My Google Nest Devices More Useful

I've been using Google Nest speakers since they were still called Google Home, back when the company was handing them out like candy. Over the years, I've mostly stuck to the basics of using the smart speakers to set timers, control lights, and get quick answers to random questions, but even carrying out those simple tasks is not without frustration. Part of the challenge of these devices is how particular they are about how you speak to them, but I've learned a few tricks that make it easier.Smart speakers in general are in a bit of an awkward phase right now. Most are still stuck with software that can only understand a handful of very specific phrases, and can get stuck if you don't phrase a question or request just so. Meanwhile, LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are somehow able t...
All the New CarPlay Features in iOS 26
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All the New CarPlay Features in iOS 26

Apple didn't end up building its own car, but it did give us CarPlay. With iOS 26, CarPlay is getting a few neat enhancements, which includes improved design, an option for bigger font sizes, and useful accessibility features too. Here's everything new coming to CarPlay with Apple's upcoming update: Credit: Apple With iOS 26, Live Activities come to CarPlay. These pop-ups allow you to keep a tab on important updates without fiddling with your phone or the head unit. Live Activities on your iPhone is useful to track deliveries, flight statuses, and much more, and while not all iOS use cases will be relevant here, some of these will also be availa...