During an earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed that the company's plan for a more affordable electric vehicle is actually a stripped-down version of the popular Model Y. This budget-friendly Model Y is currently in development and is expected to enter volume production in the second half of 2025. The goal is to attract customers who desire a Tesla but find current models out of their price range.
Apple developer account holders have had early access to the iOS 26 beta, but the public beta is now available for everyone to explore the new iOS features. The installation of the public beta is simpler compared to the developer beta and is free of charge. This guide also applies to iPadOS 26, as the setup process is identical. Users should note that not all features will be available immediately, and early access to beta features may come with some risks. For more details, visit The Verge.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 has arrived, the original Nintendo Switch remains beloved by millions, and finding the best controllers can significantly improve your gaming sessions. The default Joy-Cons, though wireless and convenient for two players, tend to lack comfort for extended play and can suffer from drift issues. This guide spotlights wireless controllers known for comfort, reliability, and unique features tailored to diverse play styles, excluding wired controllers mostly similar to each other. Third-party wireless controllers may lack some features like HD rumble, motion controls, and NFC, but notable exceptions exist. For docked play, the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller stands out with comprehensive features and comfort. Alternatives like the GuliKit KingKong 3 Pro and Max offer extensive customization, the Hori Split Pad Compact enhances handheld mode comfort, and the 8BitDo controllers provide great options for PC and Steam Deck compatibility.
President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for allegedly promoting 'woke' hiring practices and injecting partisan bias, including critical race theory, into AI models. To counter this, he signed an executive order titled 'Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government,' aiming to remove what he considers to be ideological bias from AI technologies used by the government.
Finding a quality budget smartphone is easier than ever if you focus on what matters most. Budget phones, typically priced around $500 or less, offer solid performance without all the high-end features, helping save money for other priorities. Key trade-offs include slower processors, less storage, and modest camera capabilities compared to flagship models.
The iPhone 16E is the best cheap iPhone option, delivering reliable performance for $599, though it lacks features like MagSafe and an ultrawide camera. The Google Pixel 9A stands out as the best Android phone under $500, with a bright 6.3-inch OLED screen, strong battery, IP68 water resistance, and seven years of software updates.
For those wanting a larger display, the OnePlus 13R offers a 6.78-inch vibrant OLED screen and excellent battery life starting at around $499 on sale, though it lacks wireless charging and full water resistance. The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is the best choice under $400 with a bright OLED display, IP67 dust and water resistance, and solid update support, but has a mediocre camera and average performance.
Other notable budget options include the Motorola Moto G Power 2025, Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy A56, and TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G, each with unique strengths like durability, camera features, or eye-friendly displays. Choosing the right budget smartphone means balancing price, features, and personal needs in 2025.
Google has rolled out a new AI-driven search feature called Web Guide, currently available for opt-in testing via Google Search Labs. Powered by a customized version of Google's Gemini AI model, Web Guide reorganizes search output by grouping links and related questions into categorized sections. This approach moves away from the traditional '10 blue links' format, providing users with an AI-generated summary and relevant links sorted under intuitive categories. Users can access Web Guide within the existing 'Web' tab on Google Search and can toggle the feature on or off. The tool uses a 'query fanout technique' to break down search questions and fetch multiple related results simultaneously. For instance, a query about mango tree care produces categorized links to educational content, videos, and discussion threads, supplemented with concise AI-generated explanations. While the summaries offer guidance, some descriptions can be redundant. Web Guide also supports detailed and multipart questions, aiming to provide comprehensive responses. Google plans to integrate this feature into the broader 'All' tab in the future, enhancing overall search experience.
VTuber agency VShojo is closing its doors following a mass departure of talents triggered by claims of unpaid funds, including a $500,000 charity donation. Top star Ironmouse left the agency over these unresolved financial issues. CEO Justin Ignacio admitted the company mismanaged $11 million raised to support a creator-first business model and acknowledged that some funds meant for charity were spent by the company. Despite efforts to raise more capital, VShojo failed to secure further investment and will shut down, with Ignacio taking full responsibility.
Intel announced significant layoffs and operational scale-backs as part of a strategic restructuring in 2025. The company will reduce its core workforce by around 24,000 employees, shrinking by about one-quarter from 99,500 core employees at the end of 2024. Intel is halting mega-fab projects in Germany and Poland, cancelling assembly and test operations in Costa Rica, and slowing construction in Ohio to align spending with market demand. These changes come under CEO Lip-Bu Tan's leadership, who aims to streamline operations, align production with customer demand, and improve profitability amid challenges including a competitive AI market. Despite restructuring costs leading to a quarterly loss, Intel projects $17 billion in expense reductions for the year and remains focused on advancing key chip development like the Panther Lake and Nova Lake processors.
Since approximately 3:30 PM ET on Thursday, users worldwide have experienced an outage with SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service. The official Starlink website acknowledged the disruption with a banner stating that the service is down and the team is investigating the issue. At 4:05 PM ET, Starlink updated on X (formerly Twitter) that they are actively working on a solution during the network outage and appreciate users' patience. This is the first major outage of 2025 and has affected users across the US, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, with error messages like 'no healthy upstream' appearing. The Kyiv Independent reported that Ukrainian troops relying on Starlink terminals are also impacted, with the military confirming a full network outage at the front. Connectivity trackers like NetBlocks indicate global connectivity has dropped to 16% of normal levels. Meanwhile, T-Mobile recently launched its Starlink-powered T-Satellite messaging service but no updates on its status amidst the outage have been shared yet. An update on July 24th included additional information from the Ukrainian military and NetBlocks.
A recent story from 'NYC Journals' claiming that Instagram suspended New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's account for being 'too socialist' is false. The article alleged the account was down for three hours and referenced a fake leaked memo from Instagram stating Mamdani's content conflicted with US national interests. Despite the story spreading on platforms like Bluesky, Reddit, Mastodon, and X, Meta's spokesperson Ryan Daniels confirmed no such suspension or memo exists. Mamdani's campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec also denied the claims and stated the article and related statements were fabricated. The dubious outlet, NYC Journals, lacks credible backing and contact information, and the story has been replicated by other transient websites. This misinformation follows other false claims about Mamdani, who has received national attention during his mayoral bid.