Fees for any new insurance products are likely to be more expensive than current travel insurance, experts say. Read...

Kitty Ling hasn’t flown for over a decade since an experience 12 years ago made her realise that air travel made her son feel “unsettled”. Read...

Ancient technologies like Windows XP, Commodore 64, and legacy COBOL programs are still being used for all kinds of critical functions, and here’s another example to add to the list. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) still relies on Windows 95 and floppy disks for air travel, though hopefully not for too much longer. NPR reports that the FAA wants to finally bring the United States’ aviation control system up to 21st century standards—and that means getting rid of floppy disks. The legacy storage format is still used in many air traffic control towers, in computers that still run on Windows 95. In some cases, paper flight strips are still used. The 1990s control air traffic in the USA The lives of millions of passengers and crew members depend on software and hardware from the 1990s. Back then, Bill Clinton was still President and Bill Gates was still head of Microsoft. According to the FAA, this antiquated technology is used on about one-third of all flight control systems, and some of these systems are now starting to fail. A recent example is the radar and communication failures that led to significant delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. On top of this, maintaining such old IT equipment requires a lot of money and arcane knowledge. The US Secretary of Transportation now wants a brand new air traffic control system (PDF). So far, there’s been no official word on costs, but it could surpass tens of billions of dollars. The switch to a modern air traffic control system (PDF) could be completed in four years if all goes well, but it does sound like a very ambitious plan. Further reading: Yes, you can still use floppy disks with Windows 11! Read...

RTX 50-series laptops aren’t so easy to come by, with short supply and stock sold out all over the place. But right now, if you act fast, you can get the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i for $2,400 at B&H. That’s a hefty $450 discount on a top-tier gaming laptop with a next-gen discrete graphics card: an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. Throw in the other hardware bits and you might find that this portable rocket is worth the price. The Legion Pro 7i comes with a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and a chunky 32GB of DDR5 RAM. That memory is user-upgradeable, too, allowing you to hit up to 96GB across two slots. Between the GPU, CPU, and RAM, you have a powerful gaming machine that’ll handle everything you throw at it and more. And it’ll look good, too, thanks to the 16-inch OLED display with 2560×1600 resolution, 240Hz of refresh, and 500 nits of brightness. Push those frames and experience some of the best gaming you can get on a laptop. Not to mention the 99.9 watt-hour battery that’ll last several hours untethered, but it isn’t exactly travel-friendly with its 6-pound weight and chassis dimensions that are on the larger side. Other niceties include a 2TB SSD storage across two slots, a backlit chiclet-style keyboard, a Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C port, another USB-C with video output, three high-speed USB-A ports, a full-sized HDMI, a LAN port, and 3.5mm headset jack. It also has cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. Save $450 on this Lenovo Legion Pro 7i while this hot deal is still around! It may be a while before you find another RTX 50-series laptop with guts like this at a price like this. Save $450 on this powerful laptop with an RTX 5070 Ti GPUBuy now from B&H Read...

Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will both face a travel ban, the UK says. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Good build quality for the price Integrated kickstand minimizes thickness Bright display with respectable image quality 144Hz refresh rate provides good motion clarity Cons HDMI port is not full-sized HDR input is technically supported, but it’s not great Doesn’t support Adaptive Sync Our Verdict The Arzopa Z1FC is billed as a “portable gaming monitor,” but it’s actually a solid choice for anyone who needs an affordable portable display. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Arzopa Z1FC Retailer Price $169.99 View Deal $189.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Arzopa Z1FC is positioned as a budget portable gaming monitor, and it’s certainly decent in that role. But contrary to how it’s marketed, the monitor is arguably even better when tapped for general use and day-to-day productivity. Though not perfect, the Arzopa Z1FC is a versatile and competitively priced portable monitor with a bright, high-refresh display. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Arzopa Z1FC specs and features The Arzopa Z1FC is sold as a portable gaming monitor, but its specifications are a decent fit for a wide variety of tasks. It has an IPS LCD with 1080p resolution that includes multiple USB-C inputs, and supports HDR. One feature the monitor notably lacks is Adaptive Sync. Arguably, that means it’s best used as an office and productivity monitor, as Adaptive Sync is essential to smooth gameplay in many situations. Display size: 16.1-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 1920×1080 Panel type: IPS LCD Refresh rate: 144Hz Adaptive Sync: No HDR: Yes, HDR enabled Ports: 2x USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, 1x mini-HDMI 1.4 Audio: 2x 1-watt speakers Added features: Two-pocket carrying case Warranty: 1-year warranty Price: $199.99 MSRP, $169.99 on sale The Arzopa Z1FC’s price can range from mediocre (at $199.99 MSRP) to rather affordable (at its lowest sale price of $169.99). When on sale, the Z1FC’s pricing is competitive with the alternatives, though a few may be sold for less depending on the day. Shoppers should also know there are two versions of the Z1FC. I reviewed the version that has a carrying case (described below). It can also be purchased without the carrying case. The version without a carrying case seems like a better deal, as it can be purchased for as little as $96.99 and appears identical in images. I haven’t tested it, though, so the image quality results here only apply to the version with the case. Arzopa Z1FC design Given the price, you might expect design and build weaknesses from the Arzopa Z1FC, but that’s not true. The portable monitor has an aluminum rear panel attached to plastic bezels. Though it’s not remarkable, the overall aesthetic is attractive and similar to competitive portable monitors at higher price points. The monitor has a thin aluminum kickstand that does its job well, keeping the monitor stable on your desk. You can tip the monitor if you bump a corner, but it’s stable enough that it won’t fall over unless given a moderate push. Portrait orientation was similarly stable. The kickstand folds completely flush with the monitor’s back when not in use, which helps with portability. Matthew Smith / Foundry Speaking of which, the Z1FC’s portability is outstanding. The monitor weighs just 1.7 pounds and measures only three-tenths of an inch thick. It’s unlikely you’ll even notice the extra weight if you’re using a backpack meant for a 14- or 15-inch laptop and have the laptop stowed. As a bonus, Arzopa includes the best carrying case I’ve encountered with any portable monitor. It’s made from an attractive ribbed material and features two interior pockets, providing enough space for both the monitor and a laptop. The padding is too thin for long-distance travel, but fine if you need to carry the portable monitor to a meeting with a client or to your company’s office. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not going to challenge a high-quality bag from a recognized brand. But for a throw-in sold with a portable monitor, it’s great. Matthew Smith / Foundry Arzopa includes the best carrying case I’ve encountered with any portable monitor. Arzopa Z1FC connectivity A pair of USB-C ports with Power Delivery and DisplayPort serve as the primary video and power inputs for the Arzopa Z1FC. The monitor doesn’t ship with a USB-C power brick, so you’ll need to rely on power provided by the device that it’s connected to or bring your own. The Z1FC had no problem receiving adequate power and video from my Apple Mac Mini M4 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch, so the lack of brick shouldn’t be an issue unless you plan to use HDMI. HDMI can be a headache, though, as the Z1FC has a mini-HDMI port instead of a full-sized HDMI port. An HDMI to mini-HDMI cable is included, which is nice, but you might be in trouble if you lose or forget the cable while traveling. This type of HDMI input is much less common than a full-sized HDMI. All the Z1FC’s ports are found on the monitor’s left flank, which can be inconvenient if you plan to sit the monitor to the left of your display, as your cables will need to snake around the monitor. Arzopa Z1FC menus and features The Arzopa Z1FC’s menu system is basic but better than average for the category. It includes a dedicated button for opening the menu and selecting menu options. As basic as it sounds, it’s not found on some budget alternative monitors I’ve reviewed. When it’s omitted, users often need to long-press buttons to activate the on-screen menu. There’s more. The Z1FC includes settings for brightness, contrast, sharpness, color temperature, and RGB color adjustment. It also supports 4:3 video input. These, too, are basic features not always found on budget portable monitors. A pair of 1-watt speakers provide audio, but they’re as weak as their power output suggests. They’re okay for listening to a podcast in a pinch but otherwise serve no practical purpose. Arzopa Z1FC image quality The Arzopa Z1FC’s low price kept my expectations for its image quality in check. That turned out to be a good call, as the portable monitor’s SDR image quality is mediocre. However, the overall image quality is serviceable and remains competitive with more expensive portable monitors. Matthew Smith / Foundry Brightness is a highlight for the Arzopa Z1FC. While its brightness of 337 nits is technically mid-pack among the competitors referenced in the graph, I think that pushing past the 300 nits point is an important advantage. Monitors with less than 300 nits at maximum brightness can look dim in moderately lit to brightly lit rooms. That’s doubly important for a portable monitor, as you’re more likely to use it in areas where you don’t have control over the lighting. The monitor has an anti-glare finish, as well, which is effective at reducing glare from larger light sources, such as windows. Smaller light sources, such as lamps and overhead lights, can still be an issue.   Matthew Smith / Foundry Anti-glare finishes tend to reduce contrast, and the Arzopa is no exception. It produced a contrast ratio of 1170:1 at 50 percent of brightness (and similar figures at other brightness levels). That’s not awful but, as the graph shows, it’s a bit behind the pack. The lower contrast ratio isn’t obvious when using the Arzopa Z1FC in a bright room. In darker rooms, however, the dreaded “IPS glow” appears as a hazy gray sheen over dark scenes.  It’s caused by the backlight shining through the display even when it should appear black. All portable monitors without an OLED display panel suffer this problem, but with the Z1FC it’s more noticeable than most. The Innocn 15K1F is the only monitor on the graph with an OLED panel, which is why its contrast ratio runs away from the competition. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Arzopa Z1FC’s color performance is either mediocre or good, depending on your perspective. It doesn’t defeat most alternatives, and its coverage of the DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB are inadequate for serious content creation. On the other hand, it delivers color performance similar to more expensive competitors at a budget price. The Dell Pro 14 Plus, for example, is three times more expensive yet has no significant advantage in color gamut. Matthew Smith / Foundry It’s a similar story in color accuracy. The Arzopa Z1FC’s color accuracy is not that impressive, but it’s not bad, and it’s in line with the competition. Since it’s the least expensive option here, it’s easy to call that a win. In addition, this level of color accuracy is more than enough for casual gaming and office productivity, which is what the Z1FC is most likely to be used for. Sharpness isn’t bad, either. The monitor has a 16.1-inch panel with 1920×1080 resolution. That works out to be about 137 pixels per inch. For comparison, that’s better than a 27-inch 1440p monitor (about 110 ppi) and less than a 27-inch 4K monitor (about 160 ppi). Pixelation is sometimes visible around very small fonts and UI elements, but the display looks reasonably sharp when displaying videos, games, and Microsoft Word. Arzopa Z1FC HDR image quality The Arzopa Z1FC technically supports HDR but, like most portable monitors, it’s rather bad at it. Switching to HDR increased maximum brightness to about 360 nits, but the monitor’s contrast ratio didn’t improve. The color gamut is also an issue, as HDR content targets a wider color gamut than what this monitor can deliver. If great HDR is your priority, the Z1FC isn’t going to do the job. The same is true for all price-competitive portable monitors, however. Arzopa Z1FC motion performance Gamers will enjoy the Arzopa Z1FC’s improved refresh rate, though with a few caveats. Motion clarity is good, for the price. The monitor’s 144Hz refresh is noticeably crisper than a 60Hz portable monitor when viewing fast-moving objects or turning the camera in a 3D game. Blur is still obvious, though, and can make small objects or moving text difficult to read. Your opinion on the motion clarity will likely hinge on what you’ve tried before. Those coming from a 60Hz display will be impressed. If you’ve witnessed a 240Hz OLED (or better), however, you’ll be disappointed.The Z1FC unfortunately lacks Adaptive Sync, which is a serious mark against its gaming credentials. Its absence means you must accept distracting screen tearing (which is ugly) or cap game frame rates using in-game V-Sync settings (which may reduce motion clarity and smoothness, depending on the game’s frame rate). The Z1FC doesn’t support any form of Adaptive Sync used by current game consoles, either. Most price-competitive monitors also lack Adaptive Sync, but there are a few that provide it. Examples include the Aopen 16OG7QT and UPerfect 16. I’ve not tested those models, however, so I can’t say how their image quality compares to the Arzopa.   Despite the lack of Adaptive Sync, I think the Arzopa’s motion clarity is good for the price. Honestly, it’s a bit strange to me that many more expensive portable monitors, like the Viewsonic TD-1656 and Dell Pro 14 Plus, remain stuck on 60Hz. The Arzopa’s motion is clearly better than either of them. Should you buy the Arzopa Z1FC? The Arzopa Z1FC is a solid option if you want an inexpensive portable monitor that covers the basics and then some. It delivers a bright, attractive image and decent motion clarity alongside an attractive exterior design. The Z1FC is a particularly sensible buy when it’s on sale for $170 or less, as its image quality can rival alternatives priced north of $300. Read...

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TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Babbel gives you access to 14 languages with on-demand lessons—grab it for $129.99 with code LEARN40 with this limited-time offer from StackSocial. The pressure of traditional language classes can be overwhelming for those who dislike speaking English in public. Babbel offers the solution for isolationists with its lifetime subscription, allowing you to learn 14 languages on your terms—no need to show off until you’re ready. Steven Haines Babbel’s lessons are designed for real-life conversations, teaching phrases you’ll actually use. It won’t throw you into the deep end but will challenge your brain to learn. The platform’s speech-recognition technology helps you improve your pronunciation privately to perfect your skills without the anxiety of live practice. Plus, personalized lessons adapt to your progress. Another perk: you can download lessons for offline use, so when you travel, you’ll be prepared to practice before you even get there. No recurring fees—this lesson plan fits your life without worrying about subscriptions. Whether you’re tackling Spanish, German, or Italian, Babbel’s 14 language options are available whenever you’re ready to dive in. Don’t miss out—this exclusive StackSocial deal is available for $129.99 with code LEARN40, but only through June 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

If you’re still using the wall plugs (also known as power blocks, power adapters, and charger blocks) that came with your devices, you probably need to upgrade. Those things tend to be slow, and you’ll be surprised by how much faster you can charge—or in the case of this Ugreen wall plug, how much faster you can charge four devices. It’s only $26 on Amazon right now, which is 40% off and the lowest it’s ever been. This Ugreen Nexode 65W model can charge your smartphone in a blink and can take your MacBook Air to 50% in about half an hour. You can also use it with a ton of other gadgets, including your Nintendo Switch, tablet, wireless earbuds, and more. There are four USB ports on this thing: three USB-C and one USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports can deliver 65W max each, while the third USB-C caps out at 30W and the USB-A port reaches up to 22.5W. (That’s when each port is used on its own, though. When multiple ports are used at once, the total charging power gets split between them.) Even so, it’s faster than most phone charger blocks, which cap out around 5W to 20W. Not only is this Ugreen power adapter suitable for simultaneously recharging all your gear, but it’s a GaN model. We love GaN chargers because they’re smaller, faster, and don’t produce as much heat. Between the small size and the foldable prongs, you can take this with you anywhere. It’s great for both home and travel use. Start fast-charging all your devices with this Ugreen Nexode 65W 4-port wall plug for $26! This limited-time deal won’t last forever, and this is the best price it’s ever been so now’s the time to jump on it. Save 40% on this speedy 4-device USB wall plugBuy now at Amazon Read...

After President Donald Trump banned travel to the US from 12 countries, BBC Sport assesses what the impact on sporting events could be. Read...