Online can be a dangerous place for kids. Explicit content, predators, and harassment and bullying are just some of the dangers that kids can be exposed to. But with a bit of know-how, the internet can be safe, fun, and educational for kids. Here are some quick things you can do to help keep your kids out of harm’s way. 1. Download parental control apps There is a plethora of apps to keep kids safe online. Two commonly used ones are Qustodio and Bark. Qustodio is often cited as being one of the best because it offers features like web filtering, app blocking, screen time limits, and detailed activity reports. Bark excels in monitoring social media and online interactions. It uses AI to scan for signs of cyberbullying, online predators and other dangerous content, sending real-time alerts to parents. For that reason, it’s considered an excellent parental control app for teens. 2. Set up Microsoft Family Safety Microsoft Family Safety gets a special mention being the parental control that a lot of users of Microsoft 365 will turn to. It allows you to set screen time limits and apply content filters. The content filters block inappropriate apps and games and limit browsing to kid-friendly websites using Microsoft Edge. It also allows you to view activity reports and to track the location of family members. 3. Have a discussion about online safety Parental controls are helpful but they’re not a first line of defense against online dangers, that’s your child! Be sure that your child knows the dangers of making friends online, including sharing information about themselves and any images, so that they are well versed in how to protect themselves against online predators. Pexels: Fernando Arcos 4. Have a supervised device-time rule If you’re worried about what your kids are doing when you can’t see them, try mandating a compulsory supervision rule for when kids are using their devices, which essentially means they can only do so in common family areas of the home like the living room. That way you can look over their shoulders and ensure they’re not accessing inappropriate content, and you can quiz them about anyone they’re communicating with online. 5. Download the YouTube Kids app Chances are your kids are going to be spending a lot of time on YouTube. YouTube Kids is a free app built to provide safe video content for kids under 12. Parents can decide what content to make available to their children. They can either take full control and approve content themselves, or they can choose from categories that contain content suitable for specific age groups. Dominic Bayley / Foundry 6. Have reliable antivirus software running Hackers are indiscriminate and will infect a PC with malware no matter who the user is. To prevent your child from unknowingly visiting websites with malware or downloading malicious files, you should always have antivirus software running in the background. We review antivirus software at PCWorld, so be sure to check out our current top recommendations. 7. Instigate a device curfew This is an easy way to limit your kids’ online time and to stop them using devices when they’re unsupervised. The curfew should be a strict hour of the evening, say every night at 8pm, so your kids know what’s expected of them. A good way to uphold a curfew is to ask for devices to be handed in for charging, so that they can’t be used from that time onwards until the next day. Pexels: Karolina Grabowska 8. Turn on your browser’s safe browsing mode If your browser has a safe browser mode built-in, you should use it. If you’ve subscribed to an antivirus program like Norton 360 Deluxe, you will probably have access to another safe browser built by the antivirus company, so you should ensure this is switched on to prevent kids accessing inappropriate or malicious websites. Further reading: The best antivirus for 2025: Windows, Android and iPhone The 15 most dangerous places on the Internet 10 must-know PC security tips that keep you safe online Read...

Prime Day is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to those wishlist items you’ve been eyeing, and the deals this year are sizzling. Case in point: the massive 34-inch LG UltraGear OLED curved monitor, now a whopping 51% off. You can snag it for $691.42, down from its usual $1,400 price tag. While $691 might seem quite a bit of money, it’s actually a rare find because this monitor is rarely below $800. The LG UltraGear 34GX90SA features a gorgeous 3440×1440 resolution, an ultra-smooth 240Hz refresh rate, and a super-fast 1ms response time. This all means it’s a fantastic choice for gamers, video and photo editing, streaming content, and just everyday activities. Its 800R curvature is a bit more pronounced than most monitors in this category, but it will definitely deliver an immersive experience for gamers who want to be enveloped in their virtual worlds. If this particular monitor is a bit too much for you, here are a few other OLED monitor deals you may love: Samsung Odyssey OLED G6, 27-inch, 2560×1440, 240Hz, 0.03ms — $530 (34% off, was $800) Asus ROG Strix, 27-inch, 2560×1440, 240Hz, 0.03ms — $599 (14% off, was $699) Dell Plus, 31.6-inch, 3840×2160, 120Hz, 0.03ms — $680 (20% off, was $850) Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, 49-inch, 5120×1440, 240Hz, 0.03ms — $900 (44% off, was $1,600) Don’t wait too long because Prime Day deals like this one won’t stick around forever! Go ahead and grab the LG UltraGear 34-inch curved monitor for $691 before October Prime Day ends. And while you’re at it, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best October Prime Day tech deals for even more savings and the best monitor deals we’ve found. Don`t miss out on this 51% Prime Day discountBuy now at Amazon Read...

Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days 2025 sales event is here and there are tons of great deals on desktop PCs available. This year’s event runs October 7-8 and includes solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional mainstream desktop computers. You’ll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of Amazon’s steep discounts. If you aren’t a member already, check out our guide for how to get Amazon Prime for free. I’ve been tracking and writing about the best computer deals year-round for a long time now, and at PCWorld I’ve used this knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals across the internet specifically for this October Prime Day. Other retailers have jumped in on the action, and some of the best desktop PC deals can even be found outside of Amazon, so I’ve included those deals too. Best October Prime Day deals on gaming desktop computers Skytech Storm, Ryzen 7 5700/RTX 5060 Ti/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $949.99 (16% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 7 265F/RTX 5070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,549.99 (24% off on Amazon) LXZ Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 8700F/RX 7650 GRE/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.99 (10% off on Amazon) Skytech Azure, Ryzen 7 5700/RTX 5060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 (12% off on Amazon) MSI Aegis, Core Ultra 9 285/RTX 5070 Ti/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,399.99 (17% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 9 285K/RTX 5080/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,699.99 (16% off on Dell) Omen 35L, Ryzen 5 8500G/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,064.99 (21% off on HP) My top picks: The Skytech Storm for $180 off on Amazon is the budget deal of the week so far. With a Ryzen 7 5700 CPU and RTX 5060 Ti it’ll deliver solid frame rates at 1080p for modern games and the inclusion of 1TB of onboard storage means you’ll have plenty of space to load it up with your game library. Another killer deal right now is the Alienware Aurora for $295 off on Amazon. Not only does it come with the latest gen Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, but also sports an RTX 5070. For this price it’s hard to go wrong and those in the market for a strong midrange gaming PC should look no further. Best October Prime Day deals on mini-PCs GMKtec M7, Ryzen 7 6850H/32GB RAM/512GB SSD, $369.99 (24% off on Amazon) Apple Mac Mini 2024, M4/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.00 (17% off on Amazon) AceMagician K1 Mini PC, Ryzen 7 5700U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $279.00 (30% off on Amazon) AceMagic Vista Mini N1, Alder Lake-N N97/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $169.00 (35% off on Amazon) Beelink EQR5, Ryzen 5 5650U/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $279.00 (28% off on Amazon) Beelink SER5 MAX, Ryzen 7 6800H/32GB RAM/500GB SSD, $319.00 (20% off on Amazon) My top picks: Amazon is offering the GMKtec M7 mini-PC for $120 off. This mini-PC not only rocks a Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H CPU and a whopping 32GB of RAM, but comes with excellent connectivity features to boot. It’s a great mini-PC and at this discount the value can’t be beat. If you’re more of a Mac fan, then this rare deal on the latest M4 Mac Mini for $100 off on Amazon is for you. The latest 2024 Mac Mini is a seriously good option for those looking to get great mini-PC performance for the price. The M4 chip has outstanding processing power and this model also comes with a good amount of RAM and onboard storage. Note: If you’re looking for even more great deals on mini-PCs be sure to check out our full roundup spotlighting the very best Prime Day mini-PC deals. Best October Prime Day deals on all-in-one & mainstream computers All-in-one desktop computers combine a PC’s hardware with a modern display to make a desktop computer that has both form and function. Since everything is built together, you can save precious desktop space with an all-in-one. They make capable work computers and they can also be excellent home computers with the wide range of features appealing to the whole family. Lenovo 24 AiO, Intel N100/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $559.99 (30% off on Amazon) HP OmniStudio X AiO, Core Ultra 5 226V/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/31.5-inch 4K display, $1,179.99 (28% off on HP) Dell 27 AiO, Core 5 120U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/27-inch 1080p display, $879.99 (13% off on Dell) iMac M4, M4/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,522.36 (10% off on Amazon) My top picks: Amazon is offering a great deal of $240 off on the Lenovo 24 AiO. This budget-friendly all-in-one has way more RAM and onboard storage than most other models at this price. It’s a killer value for a trustworthy and dependable Lenovo PC. Alternatively, the HP OmniStudio X AiO for $470 off on HP’s website is a worthy splurge. Rocking a stunning 4K display and good performance features, this flagship all-in-one from HP will upgrade any desk space—you just might want to invest in some external storage as this only comes with 256GB. Other great October Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with more killer tech sales, hit the links below for the more of the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day Best monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more Best October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks Best October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks FAQ 1. What type of desktop computer should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, mainstream PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a mainstream PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should prioritize getting the best GPU possible. 2. How much processing power will I need in a desktop computer? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. Intel processors are available in the newer Core Ultra 3, 5, 7, or 9, and the older Core i3, i5, i7, and i9. AMD processors are available in the Ryzen 5000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 versions. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU for both manufacturers. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core Ultra 5 or Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core Ultra 3 or Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. A Core Ultra 7 or Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Also, if gaming is your main concern, you may want to consider opting for the older Core i-processors as the newer Core Ultra processors are optimized for AI performance rather than gaming. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 5000 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7000 or 8000 chips are well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video or want peak gaming performance, spring for a Ryzen 9000. 3. What GPU should I get for a desktop computer? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 or RTX 5060 (or the equivalent Radeon RX 9060) as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. For 1440p gaming you’ll typically want to aim for an RTX 4070/5070 (or Radeon RX 9070/XT), and for 4K gaming you’ll need to shell out for at least an RTX 4080/5080 or upgrade to the RTX 4090/5090 Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have dropped significantly in price in pre-built systems so opt for those if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. How much memory do I need in a desktop computer? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB may suffice but you’ll likely notice a performance drop if you tend to have multiple applications or browser tabs open. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for at least 32GB or go for 64GB for 4K editing. 5. What is a good amount of storage for a desktop computer? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. 6. Is now a good time to buy a desktop computer? While the prospect of tariff-induced price increases may seem daunting to consumers, right now is actually a pretty good time to buy a new PC. Component prices have generally stabilized in the face of tariffs—with the exception of high-end GPU models—and CPU prices overall generally remain affordable. If you’re waiting for upcoming releases, you shouldn’t hold your breath. Don’t get caught in the cycle of waiting for the next new thing as something new is always around the corner. Waiting for a new product launch is only beneficial if it’s imminent and there are no good deals available right now. Fortunately, events such as October Prime Day offer buyers an excellent time to buy the latest components and PC builds at a discount. Read...

This year’s October Prime Day event starts today, October 7th, and will end at midnight Pacific, October 8th — a two-day event rather than a four-day sale like we had in July. Still, we’re already seeing some killer deals on everything tech, including flash drives. After all, everyone needs a great USB flash drive, and October Prime Day is an excellent time to grab one for cheap. Why listen to my recommendations? I’ve been a journalist for 19 years, with 13 of those years focused on consumer technology. I love sifting through deals and spend every day hunting down the very best sales on the very best tech. With October Prime Day, I’m exercising those muscles to help you find the best USB thumb drives worth your money. These hand-curated recommendations take price, reviews, and brand reputation into consideration. Best October Prime Day deals on 64GB to 256GB flash drives Kindston Ironkey Vault Privacy 50, 256GB, USB 3.2, Encrypted — $90 (42% off, was $155) SanDisk Ultra Luxe, 256GB, USB 3.2 — $21 (12% off, was $24) Lexar JumpDrive Dual, 128GB, USB 3.2 — $13.88 (37% off, was $22) The best deal of the lot is for the Kingston Ironkey Vault Privacy 50, where you can get 256GB of storage space for 42% off. The thing that makes this flash drive stand out is the fact that it can secure your data like no other. Plus, it comes with a rugged metal casing. Best October Prime Day deals on 512GB to 2TB flash drives PNY Pro Elite V3, 512GB, USB 3.2 — $45 (17% off, was $61) SanDisk Extreme Pro Dual, 512GB, USB 3.2 — $58 (28% off, was $80) A superb pick from this list is the Ultra Flair from SanDisk. This is a flash drive with a USB-A connector, 128-bit AES encryption, and up to 150MB/s transfer speeds for a quick job on moving files around. Other great October Prime Day deals These aren’t the only October Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more Best October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks Best October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks Best October Prime Day PC computer deals USB flash drive deals FAQs 1. What capacity do I need in a USB flash drive? This is a question that you need to answer yourself because it really depends on what you plan to use it for. If you’re only moving work documents around, a small capacity like 64GB will be fine. If you want to use a flash drive for backing up photos, videos, games, and other big files, then you might want to go 512GB or larger. 2. What features should I prioritize when choosing a USB flash drive? First of all, our recommendation is to look at the flash drive’s transfer speeds. To ensure you get fast read/write speeds, you should get a USB 3.0 or above. USB 2.x drives are sorely outdated. Then, you have to make sure the flash drive can survive living in your pocket, getting crushed by your laptop, falling through your fingers, and so on. Aluminum casings will offer better protection in such cases. If the flash drive offers 128-bit AES encryption or better, your data will also have some extra protection in case you lose it, as the drive will be inaccessible and block out others from reading your data. 3. How did we find the best USB flash drive October Prime Day deals? Finding great deals can be difficult because not all discounts are worth covering. When looking for good October Prime Day deals, we compare the prices on Amazon with the regular retail price and check pricing history to see if there have been any changes lately and that the price drops are truly noteworthy. We also check product reviews to see if they’re reliable in the long run and live up to their promises. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Palm vein scanner works especially well Robust multi-user support Reasonably priced Cons Still has some kinks to work out Troubleshooting notifications required multiple days of tech support and factory resets Our Verdict This simpler and less expensive version of Lockin’s flagship smart lock drops the integrated camera—mostly for the best. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock Retailer Price $159.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Lockin was a pioneer with the palm vein scanning feature on its Veno Pro Palm Vein Recognition Video Smart Lock, and it didn’t stop there, throwing in a massive collection of additional features on top of that, including an integrated camera and a video doorbell. While rough around the edges, the kitchen-sink approach was at least an interesting concept and a nice starting point—albeit an expensive one. If you like the general direction Lockin is going with its smart locks, but don’t need the video camera features in the Veno Pro—which weren’t all that great anyway—Lockin has an alternative for you: the Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock (yes, it’s the very same product name, less the “Pro” moniker). A sensor embedded in the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock works with a custom strike plate to detect whether the door is open or closed. Specifications This more basic model removes the camera from the Veno Pro but keeps virtually all its other features. Apart from the missing camera lens, it even looks identical. But its $160 street price–$190 cheaper than Lockin’s flagship product–renders it much more competitively priced. The palm vein scanner on the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock is amazingly accurate, but a fingerprint reader, a numeric keypad, and the Lockin app are also available as backup.Lockin The overall specs remain the same: IP65 weatherproofing, ANSI grade 2 certification, and an array of unlocking options that allow for operation via physical key, mobile app, numeric touchpad (with 6- to 10-digit PINs), or fingerprint reader, in addition to the palm vein scanning feature. There’s still a doorbell button covering the keyhole, and pressing it rings a chime on the device, although the button is not backlit, making it virtually invisible in the dark. Power comes courtesy of the same size and shape rechargeable battery (5,000 mAh) as the Pro, which can be charged via USB-C when disconnected or via an optional 5.5-watt solar panel ($70) that attaches to the emergency USB port on the underside of the external escutcheon for real-time trickle charging. Lockin says the lock should last for about 7 months on a charge, significantly better than the 3 months on the Pro (likely due to the absence of the camera). Installation and setup The installation process is identical to that of the Pro. An interior frame bolts with two screws through the door to the exterior escutcheon, and the interior escutcheon connects via three bolts to the frame. As with the Pro, the deadbolt is unique, with an embedded sensor that works with a custom strike plate to detect whether the door is open or not, a handy feature that spares you the eyesore of having an external magnetic sensor attached to the door. The Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock has more than the usual number of cables to deal with during installation.Christopher Null/Foundry As with the Pro, there’s a lot of wiring to contend with among the various components. There’s one cable leading to the deadbolt, which must be attached to the motor housing on the interior escutcheon, and two additional cables trailing out from the exterior escutcheon. It makes for a crowded bunch of wire connections; fortunately, getting them all seated properly was the only difficult part of physical setup this time around. (Needle-nose pliers help a lot.) Unlike when I reviewed the Pro, I didn’t have any trouble with the bolts getting jammed, and the lock otherwise came together smoothly. The unit offers native 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, and it also supports Matter—although you’ll need to use the Lockin Smart app to accomplish nearly anything with the lock. A quick Bluetooth connection gets the lock bridged to your Wi-Fi network, and a wizard-based setup now makes the rest of the process more convenient, prompting you to configure your admin user credentials, add additional users, calibrate the door’s open/closed status, and even set auto-locking settings (configurable from immediate to 180 seconds). With many other smart locks, all this work must be done after the fact, piecemeal. Using the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock I did encounter trouble when attempting to update the lock’s firmware, as the process repeatedly stalled out. But oddly (and fortunately), when I left the lock to its own devices overnight, I found that the firmware had automatically updated on its own by the next day. Nothing has changed from the Pro when it comes to access management, and Lockin provides an intuitive system for keeping users organized. Each user can have multiple PINs, fingerprints, and palm scans. You can have 50 of each access type stored at any given time; though again, any user created in this manner invariably gets 24/7 access—there is no provision for restricting them to particular days and/or times. I see the absence of an integrated camera as a money-saver more than a missing feature.Christopher Null/Foundry All temporary users must be managed via a separate menu that only supports PIN-based access. One-time passwords that expire within one hour can also be created via the Temporary Password menu. These passwords can now be set to go into effect at a later time rather than immediately, up to a day in the future. Note also that the geofencing feature of the Veno Pro has been removed from this lock. While Lockin has made some upgrades and fixed some of the aggravations I cited in my previous coverage of the Pro, some kinks still need working out. For example, locking the door from the outside still requires you to hold down the lock button on the numeric keypad—but this button is not illuminated (although the numerals are). The button is effectively invisible without a backlight, so you’ll need to remember where it is to press it. Robust logging keeps tabs on all operations, but push notifications did not initially work in our testing.Christopher Null/Foundry The fingerprint reader on this unit also often took more than one attempt to properly read my print. I had better luck with the palm vein scanner, which woke up on approach more easily than it did on the Pro and never had any significant trouble quickly scanning my hand. My biggest issue with the lock was that none of its notification features worked during my testing; this despite all settings in the Lockin Smart app and on my iPhone being set to allow them. After two full days of tech-support troubleshooting, I finally got notifications to work, via a process that required deleting and reinstalling the app and factory-resetting the lock multiple times, which erased all its credentials. This was a huge hassle, but in the end, it did at least get notifications operating normally. Should you buy the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock? While its  MSRP is a hefty $249, the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock’s $160 street price is much more reasonable and competitive, even with other palm vein scanning locks, although the TCL D1 Pro (which doesn’t have a fingerprint reader or a doorbell) costs a bit less. I’ve really come to appreciate palm vein scanning on door locks, as it’s very reliable and means you can open the lock completely without needing to touch it. That’s a great add. After all, who knows where that thing has been? This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

In the near future, according to a recent news release, Meta wants to systematically save and analyze its users’ conversations with the company’s own AI chatbot on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The initiative will begin starting December 16th, 2025, initially outside the EU and UK where stricter data protection laws will force a later introduction. The data will be used to further personalize advertising and content, and it won’t be possible to opt out. Meta wants to study your AI chats According to Meta, all user inputs to the AI chatbot in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook will be stored and analyzed. The company wants to use this data to personalize advertising and content. Anyone who talks to the AI about topics such as cycling or cooking, for example, could start receiving targeted ads for bicycles or kitchen appliances. Users might also start getting suggestions and recommendations for relevant groups and posts. Meta emphasizes that sensitive information—such as health, religion, or political views—won’t be used for advertising purposes. Nevertheless, that kind of data is still technically collected and processed in order to provide the AI functions. No way to opt out of data collection There won’t be a way to keep using the AI chatbot while also opting out of data collection and analysis. If you don’t want Meta to read and study your conversations for advertising purposes, your only option is to stop conversing with the AI chatbot altogether. WhatsApp offers an option for blocking the automatic integration of AI. To do this, open the relevant chat, go to the settings, and activate the “Advanced chat privacy” option. This must be done for each chat. Note that Meta plans to compile the AI chat data collected across platforms. Anyone who has linked their accounts in the “Accounts Center” must be aware that AI interactions on one platform can also influence the display of advertising on another. Meta says it won’t analyze private end-to-end encrypted messages between real contacts. Only AI conversations. Launch in Europe still up in the air While the new policy is due to come into force in most regions worldwide starting December, the launch date for the EU and UK remains unclear. Meta is still examining how the changes can be reconciled with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws. According to the company, over one billion people already use Meta’s AI services, including the chatbot and the “Imagine me” image function. What does this mean for users? In the future, anyone who chats with Meta AI will have their full conversations stored and examined by Meta. As the data analysis can’t be deactivated after its introduction, the only protective measure you can take is to not use any Meta AI features. (In WhatsApp only, you can activate chat data protection on a per-chat basis.) For more information, check Meta’s privacy policy. Read...

Amazon served up a slew of flashy Echo speakers and displays during its big fall hardware event in New York City last week, but its most practical and affordable Alexa announcement didn’t get any stage time.  Slated to ship on October 30, the $20 Amazon Basics Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote is just that—a palm-sized remote that lets you control your Alexa-connected smart devices as well as trigger Alexa routines.  Spotted on Amazon’s website by Engadget, the Amazon Basics Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote looks to be a handy replacement for Echo Buttons, the jumbo-sized Alexa-enabled remotes that were discontinued several years ago.  The new remote is also a rival to the Flic Button, a compact push button that supports a variety of smart home platforms, including Alexa.  Amazon’s new coin cell-powered remote bears a strong resemblance to the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch, with the four-button switch component designed to magnetically snap into its matching wall plate. You can mount the wall plate using the included adhesive tape, while mounting holes allow you to screw the plate to the wall. You could also lay the remote on a bedside table or affix it to a metallic surface, like the base of a lamp.  The Amazon Basics Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote will magnetically attach to its matching wall place, or you can simply place it on a flat surface, such as a bedside table.Amazon The top button features an LED indicator, while the other buttons are marked with (respectively) two, three, and four raised dots. The LED will blink different colors depending on whether the remote is in setup mode, registered and working with Alexa, encountered an error, or is running low on battery life.  Getting started with the Amazon Basics Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote seems fairly straightforward. Just pull out the plastic battery tab, ensure you have a nearby Echo device powered on (all but the earliest Echo smart speakers and displays are supported), press a button on the remote, and fire up the Alexa app. The app should automatically detect the remote and step you through the setup process.  Once that’s done, you can set up the remote to control just about any Alexa-connected smart devices, ranging from smart lights and blinds to smart locks and thermostats. You can also use the switch to trigger Alexa routines; for example, you could configure a button on the remote to trigger a routine that dims your smart lights and turns on your Amazon Fire TV.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lights. Read...

Most days, finding a top-tier gaming laptop at a decent price can be an absolute chore. Not today, though! The Gigabyte Aero X16 is $450 off at Best Buy right now, which means you can get it for just $1,199.99 instead of its original $1,649.99. Now that’s an insane deal! This powerhouse laptop is ready to handle everything you need from it, from standard Word and Excel tasks to AI-enhanced gaming to fast video editing. Under the hood, you’ll find heavy-hitting specs: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, plus 32GB of DDR5 memory, plus a spacious 1TB SSD, plus an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card. That’s right! Get DLSS 4 and all the other great Nvidia tech to boost your gaming experience on this laptop’s lovely 16-inch IPS screen with its crisp 2560×1600 resolution and gamer-standard 165Hz refresh rate. Other niceties include both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, a cutting-edge USB4 port, three USB-A, and 3.5mm audio. It weighs 4.19 pounds and lasts up to 16 hours on a charge, so it’s pretty portable. And that CPU qualifies this as a Copilot+ PC, so you get access to all the AI features in Windows 11 (existing and still to come). The Gigabyte Aero X16 is a fantastic deal for power gamers now that it’s only $1,199.99. This is a Best Buy deal you won’t want to skip, so grab it while you still can! Otherwise, if you want something different, check out some of our other favorite gaming laptops worth getting. Save $450 on this spectacular RTX 5070 laptop for power gamersBuy now from Best Buy Read...

Perplexity just opened up its Comet browser to users beyond its paid subscription service, albeit with a lot of paywalled features. But every longstanding browser (with one notable exception) seems to be cramming “AI” into itself, and Opera never likes to be left behind. The company’s new Neon “AI” browser is now available for free. No, wait, that’s wrong. It’s available for $19.90/month. What? Yes, Opera seems to think its users will shell out just shy of twenty bones a month to let an agentic AI program control their browsing. Some users are getting a generous offer to pay $59.90 for 9 months of access to the new build for Windows and Mac, after which it’ll cost $19.90 per month. This is an early adopter package for “Founder” access, and presumably Opera will open up access more widely later (like Perplexity has). The pricing was shared on Twitter/X and spotted by BleepingComputer. Opera Neon claims it can organize your tabs with AI, perform tasks on your behalf on a “cloud hosted virtual computer,” generate text, images, and video, and offer chatbots that invade your tabs via OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. A lot of that stuff isn’t free, even if Opera is working as a middleman to provide these services. Paying extra also gets you a “direct line” to the developers for discussions and feature requests and possibly some invite codes. The tab management and virtual computer stuff are the only things you can’t accomplish yourself (possibly for free) with existing tools, AI, and otherwise. So even if I were a fan of Opera—I’m not, please stop asking me to write about your blinged-out gaming browser—I don’t think I’d be enticed enough to pony up for this. In fact, seeing Opera hop into the AI brawl only makes me appreciate my browser bestie Vivaldi all the more. The small team’s Chromium-based browser is blessedly, refreshingly free of “AI,” as its developers have made it clear that they think users want to interact with these tools on the web and on their terms. “We don’t see AI as something that our users are asking for,” said Vivaldi’s executive Stephenson von Tetzchner on the launch of Vivaldi version 7. “I think a lot of people are reacting to force-fed AI.” So, if you’re up for some force-feeding, sign up for the Opera Neon waitlist here. Read...

With a streaming stick, you can instantly equip your TV with a wide selection of streaming apps and services just by plugging in a tiny little device. Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks are among the best-selling models, as they’re easy to use and bundle numerous streaming services. The newest Fire TV Stick 4K model is currently on sale for $24.99 on Amazon. That’s a huge 50% discount on the original $49.99 MSRP, and this deal is “selling fast” according to the product page. More than 10,000 units have been sold in the past month alone! Why the Fire TV Stick 4K is great The Fire TV Stick 4K supports 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos for a high-quality home cinema experience (provided your TV and sound system support these standards). Its Wi-Fi 6 tech ensures more stable connections, even when several devices are active on the network at the same time. (Again, given yours is a Wi-Fi 6 router. Don’t have that? No worries. It’ll work with older routers, too.) One special feature is the Xbox app integration: with a Game Pass Ultimate membership, you can stream Xbox games such as Starfield or Forza Motorsport directly via the stick without an Xbox console. For casual gamers, this is an inexpensive way to play the latest titles. With the included Alexa voice remote, you can easily navigate through the menu/apps using buttons and/or voice commands. This allows you to audibly search for genres or launch a TV series, for example. Similarly, you can integrate the stick into your smart home, using Alexa to control compatible devices such as lights, cameras, and thermostats. Why this deal is worth it For just $24.99, the Fire TV Stick 4K is one of the cheapest ways to significantly upgrade any existing TV setup. It combines great picture and sound quality with Wi-Fi 6 support, voice control, and a large selection of apps and services. Although some features require compatible devices or subscriptions, the device’s overall performance and ease of use are impressive. The Fire TV Stick 4K has a 4.7 rating on Amazon with over 87,000 reviews. The easy installation, smooth operation, user-friendliness, and price-performance are particularly praised. There’s some criticism of the remote control, which isn’t fully appreciated by all users. But overall, the positive reviews clearly outweigh the negative ones. Get the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for a whopping 50% offBuy now on Amazon Alternative: Fire TV Stick HD If you don’t have a 4K television, you can save a few bucks with the cheaper Fire TV Stick HD, now on sale for $17.99 with this 49% discount, dropping it down from its original $34.99. Don`t have 4K? Get the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for 49% offBuy now on Amazon Read...