Nintendo says your Switch 2 isn’t really yours even if you paid for it
The new Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here. Next month, eager fans will finally be able to get their hands on the highly anticipated follow-up to the wildly popular hybrid console. But before you line up (or frantically refresh your browser for a preorder), you might want to read the fine print, because Nintendo might be able to kill your console.
Yes, really. That’s not just speculation, folks. According to its newly updated user agreement, Nintendo has granted itself the right to make your Switch 2 “permanently unusable” if you break certain rules. Yes, the company might literally brick your device.
TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G comes to Verizon and Total Wireless for just $99
TCL is back again with yet another affordable Android device, and this one will make your eyes thank you. The 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G is now officially available through Verizon and Total Wireless, giving more people access to what TCL is calling its most eye-comfortable smartphone yet. If the name sounds familiar, it technically launched already -- on Boost Mobile back in April.
This isn’t your typical budget phone. TCL has loaded it with a 6.8-inch FHD+ NXTPAPER 3.0 screen that cuts down on glare and blocks up to 61 percent of harmful blue light. What makes it stand out, though, is that it still keeps the colors punchy and the screen crisp. For folks who binge videos or spend hours reading, this phone aims to be easier on the eyes without going full e-ink.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-forty-six in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Windows 11, version 24H2 is now officially available for everyone, according to Microsoft. Some devices may still be blocked from installing the upgrade, as known issues may prevent the installation still.
Cybersecurity readiness stays low as AI attacks increase
Only four percent of organizations worldwide have achieved the 'mature' level of readiness required to effectively withstand today's cybersecurity threats, even as hyperconnectivity and AI introduce new complexities for security practitioners.
The latest Cybersecurity Readiness Index from Cisco shows 86 percent of organizations faced AI-related security incidents last year. However, only 49 percent of respondents are confident their employees fully understand AI related threats, and 48 percent believe their teams fully grasp how malicious actors are using AI to execute sophisticated attacks.
From cloud rush to cloud strategy: The next wave of migrations
Over the past decade, enterprises have raced to adopt the cloud, often through "lift-and-shift" strategies built for speed rather than optimization. Cloud-first mandates swept across industries, especially in finance, retail, and healthcare, as organizations scrambled to modernize.
These early migrations often preserved legacy inefficiencies, resulting in bloated spend and limited performance gains.
Why using AI as a replacement for junior developer talent is a mistake [Q&A]
By 2026 it's estimated the IT skills shortage will affect nine out of 10 organizations, an issue that will only be exacerbated by the growing 'silver tsunami' of seasoned professionals retiring from the industry.
This shortage presents a challenge to almost every organization, especially as IT professionals are being asked to usher their company into the digital age and incorporate new technology into existing workflows.
Microsoft is giving Windows 11 users the option to install apps directly from the Start menu
Having already started to redesign the Windows 11 Start menu, Microsoft has revealed that there are even more changes afoot. As part of an upgrade to Windows Search, it will soon be possible to find and install apps from the Start menu.
What is happening is that the Microsoft Store is being integrated into the Start menu -- thanks to the fact that it is going to be integrated into Windows Search. The idea is that it reduces friction and makes it quicker and easier to get hold of apps that have not yet been installed.
Google is using machine learning to help Android users avoid unwanted and dangerous notifications
Notifications are part and parcel of life, being both useful and interesting. But they can also be problematic. Google is aware that the notifications generated by websites can be “spammy or even deceptive”.
The worst offenders can attempt to trick people into sharing personal information or downloading dangerous software. Google is using machine learning to fight back, launching warnings about warnings of unwanted notifications.
Meta expands its advertising options across its social platforms, including video ads on Threads
For all of the talk about establishing and maintaining connections, for the companies behind them social media platforms are about making money. Advertising plays a massive role in this, and Meta is looking for new ways to grab users’ attention.
The company has announced it is testing video ads on Threads as it explores expanding its portfolio of ad formats. There are also new ad options for creators and brands on Facebook and Instagram, as well as the slightly unusual sounding “trending ads” feature.
Spoiler alert! Meta has some great new features for Threads
Meta has announced some interesting new features for its Threads social platform, and there are other unannounced ones that have been spotted as well.
In the name of transparency, Account Status is starting to roll out so users can find out more about violations they have been committed and if any posts have been demoted.
ADATA launches TRUSTA brand to shake up the enterprise SSD market with fast storage for AI and servers
ADATA is moving beyond its usual consumer gear and entering the enterprise solid state drive market. The company today announced a new brand called TRUSTA -- this is ADATA going all-in on enterprise SSDs built for real-world AI, data center, and server demands.
The new TRUSTA lineup arrives with two series of SSDs: the high-performance T7 and the more efficiency-focused T5. These drives are built to handle heavy workloads like AI training, vector databases, virtualization, and server booting. That’s a pretty wide range, and ADATA’s clearly betting that TRUSTA can fill in the gaps for businesses trying to keep up with rising storage demands.
Linux Mint 22.2 and LMDE 7 codenames revealed
The Linux Mint team has just announced the official codenames for its next two operating system releases. The upcoming version of Linux Mint based on Ubuntu will be called “Zara,” while the new Debian-based LMDE release will go by the name “Gigi.”
Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” will build off the recently released Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, bringing with it updated packages, a polished Cinnamon desktop, and the familiar focus on usability. LMDE 7 “Gigi,” on the other hand, stays rooted in Debian and gives users an alternative that skips the Ubuntu base entirely.
Forget CCleaner -- BleachBit 5.0 is here to remove junk, broken files and bloat from Windows 10/11 and Linux
Open-source system-cleaning tool BleachBit 5.0 has been released for Windows and Linux users. The tool, which is used to clean up drive space and shred sensitive data, provides a way for users to remove unwanted and unused data from their machines.
Version 5.0 comes with the promise of new and improved cleaners alongside numerous other updates and security fixes.
Enterprises rush to adopt AI but struggle to measure its value
New research shows that enterprises are going beyond AI experimentation and into large-scale production but that return on investment is taking a back seat in the process.
The report from Domino Data Lab shows that while 88 percent of organizations report improved ability to move AI from experimentation to production, nearly 60 percent expect less than 50 percent ROI in the rapidly changing areas of machine learning (60 percent) or Gen AI (57 percent).
New edge appliances allow organizations to deploy AI securely
Enterprises and governments share a common interest in safeguarding private information, but often the rollout of AI systems can unwittingly put sensitive data at risk.
Trusted AI specialist Seekr is announcing a new all-in-one AI system -- built for government agencies -- to ensure that AI can be deployed in air-gapped environments, standalone data centers, and contested environments.
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