Australians are back buying new smartphones, with the new iPhone facing stiffer competition from AI-enabled Android rivals. Read...

TL;DR: Get hands-on with AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and GPT-4, and more with these courses on sale for $24.97 through October 27. AI is taking over the world — but don’t worry, you can still be in charge. With this ChatGPT and Gemini AI course bundle for $25, you’ll learn to harness the power of AI. This course dives into the generative AI fundamentals, giving you the skills to use tools like ChatGPT, Gemini AI, GPT-4, and even DALL-E 2 for text, image, video, and audio creation. Why waste time on manual tasks when you can automate them? Learn how to leverage AI for productivity gains by automating everything from inbox management to content production. What sets this online instruction apart is the practical projects — they’re designed to make sure you’re not just learning theory, but actually putting AI to work in real-world scenarios. Whether you want to streamline your daily grind or just impress your coworkers with next-level tech skills, this course has you covered. Don’t let them replace you with AI — instead, learn to use it to your advantage with lifetime access to these ChatGPT and Gemini AI online courses on sale for $24.97.   The 2024 Complete ChatGPT & Gemini AI Advanced E-Degree – $24.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

App swears there`s no way for law enforcement to track users` identities. Read...

Your PC is capable of running not one, but two Windows apps designed to protect you and your system against online threats: Windows Security and Microsoft Defender. Telling them apart can be tricky, though. Thanks to a few name changes, what’s old sounds new and what’s new sounds old. If you haven’t kept up with the updates, it may not be clear which one you want — or if you actually prefer to run both.  To help you decide, I’ve broken down what each app does. Let’s dig in. What is Windows Security? PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld Previously known as Windows Defender, Windows Security is the most current name for the app that ties Microsoft’s basic antivirus and network protections together. Similar to third-party antivirus software, you get a unified interface to make changes to the app and access manual scans. Separate tabs break out various settings: Virus & threat protection: From this tab, you can run manual scans (Quick, Full, Custom, or Offline), change how your system screens for threats, and set up more stringent ransomware defenses. Account protection: Guard the Microsoft account tied to your PC, as well as strengthen Windows’ login process. Firewall & network protection: Refine your settings in order to tailor screening of incoming and outgoing traffic. App & browser control: Adjust how Windows screens apps for suspicious behavior, and if Edge runs in an isolated, sandboxed environment. Device security: Get information about your PC’s deeper security protections in Windows — core virtualization, security processor (TPM), and secure boot. Device performance & health: See a quick overview of the general “health” of your PC with regard to software issues or storage drive issues. Family options: Filter viewable content for users on the PC, as well as see breakdowns of device usage. You can manage your family group through the web portal. Click on the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) to see each tab in the Windows Security app. What is Microsoft Defender? PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld Confusingly, the Microsoft Defender app shares its name with the antivirus engine powering Windows Security’s malware protection — but they’re not directly tied. Instead, the Defender app offers additional defenses against online threats for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers. It works equally with either Windows Security (including the Microsoft Defender Antivirus engine) or third-party antivirus software. Privacy protection: You can funnel your online traffic through Microsoft’s encrypted VPN service whenever you’re on a network connection, like public Wi-Fi you don’t trust. You get up to 50GB of data per month. Microsoft Defender also can now detect unsecure Wi-Fi connections, and not just alert you to them, but automatically turn on the VPN too. Privacy Protection is available on all supported platforms, including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Identity theft monitoring: Through a partnership with Experian, Microsoft Defender will alert you to data breaches and any fraudulent activity on your credit reports. The service also provides up to $1 million in restoration costs and $100,000 in lost funds if you are a victim of identity theft. Device protection: You can watch to see if your devices (up to four) or those linked through your Microsoft Family Group have any suspicious activity occurring and be notified through this app. Notifications will be sent through Windows’ notification system, and you can also view them through the Defender app. Click on the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) to see the different sections of the Microsoft Defender app. Windows Security vs. Microsoft Defender Windows Security and Microsoft Defender are complimentary apps, rather than competing.  Windows Security defends against online threats, including ransomware, and it’s included for free with a Windows license. (Heads-up: If you ever see a popup notification telling you to call a phone number or pay to renew, you’ve either visited a compromised website or your PC has been directly compromised — time to run an antivirus scan ASAP.) Microsoft Defender then rounds out those protections by letting you shield your online activity from other users on the same network, keeping you informed of data leaks and credit fraud, and monitoring your devices for vulnerabilities.  Should you use Microsoft Defender? Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions. Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions.Alaina Yee / Foundry Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions.Alaina Yee / Foundry Alaina Yee / Foundry If you’re already a Microsoft 365 subscriber, having both Windows Security and Microsoft Defender set up and active is comparable to a very simple third-party antivirus suite subscription — and you don’t have to pay extra. However, if you’re not yet a paid Microsoft 365 user, want additional integrated features (like a password manager), or prefer a different interface, independent antivirus software will be a better fit for your needs. You can check out our top recommendations in our best antivirus software roundup, which covers all types of plans. Read...

TL;DR: Never miss out on incredible flight deals again — get lifetime access to Matt’s Flights Premium Plan and stay ahead of the airfare game for $79.97 until October 27. We all know that feeling — you find out about a cheap flight right after it’s gone, and suddenly you’ve got a case of serious FOMO. With Matt’s Flights Premium Plan, those days are over. For a one-time payment of $79.97, you’ll get lifetime access to the best flight deals without ever having to search for them. Think of it as your personal flight deal curator. Matt’s Flights sends you hand-picked, ridiculously cheap fares straight to your inbox, so you’re always in the loop when deals drop. Whether you’re planning your next vacation or just keeping an eye out for spontaneous getaways, this subscription makes sure you’re never left wishing you’d booked sooner. And the best part? You only pay once and get access to these deals forever. No more worrying about FOMO — just pack your bags and get ready to travel the world on a budget with this lifetime subscription to a Matt’s Flights Premium Plan for $79.97 through October 27.   Matt’s Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) – Save up to 90% on Domestic & International flights – $79.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

More than 200,000 students went through Grok Academy’s classes last year, and nine women have accused its CEO of misconduct. Read...

New side-by-side document and code-editing feature catches up with Anthropic`s Artifacts. Read...

A future where realistic video fakes are easy and plentiful seems inevitable. Read...

Whether you want to get into better shape or just want accurate health reports without having to wear a smartwatch, then getting an Oura Ring might be just the thing you need. And now’s a great time to snag one because this Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon is on sale for $300 on Amazon, which is $50 off its MSRP. That may not seem like a discount to blow you away, but Oura Rings rarely go on sale — and when they do, they rarely drop this much. The Oura Ring is a tiny little device that’s packed with sensors to track your biometrics. And because it’s worn on your finger, it’s more accurate and personalized than, say, a smartwatch. How are your stress levels? Are you sleeping well? What’s your heart rate like across the day? Is your blood oxygen level in a good range? It tells you all of that and more. The Oura Ring is compatible with over 40 apps, including Google Health Connect, Strava, Flo, and others. It’s also waterproof, so you don’t have to take it off before you shower, swim, or wash your hands. Keep in mind that before you purchase one of these, you should measure your finger to get the right size. The Oura Ring Gen3 Sizing Kit is only $10, and that becomes a $10 credit towards your Oura Ring. If you want to track your health and activity, you’re going to like the Oura Ring. Get one at a $50 discount on Amazon and step into the future! Oura Ring sales are rare. Snag this deal while you canBuy now on Amazon Read...

Amazon apparently wants to milk Prime Video even further by showing more ads than ever before. According to Ars Technica, Amazon will test how much advertising it can get away with before Prime Video viewers revolt (or even cancel their subscriptions altogether). Kelly Day, Amazon’s Vice President of Prime Video International, told the Financial Times in this paywalled article that Amazon will offer more Prime Video ad slots to advertisers in 2025. Currently, it seems that Prime Video users see an average of 2 to 3.5 minutes of advertising per hour. Day told FT that standard Prime Video currently doesn’t show any ads in the middle of content. That could change come next year. In a statement to Ars Technica, an Amazon spokesperson tried to gloss over the threat of “more” ads for Prime Video customers: “We have not changed our plans to have significantly fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers and to evaluate ad volume to ensure we deliver a great customer experience.” The Financial Times also confirmed that Amazon would be adding “shoppable ads” to Prime Video in 2025, including carousel ads, intermission ads, and brand quiz ads. All of this ad space is meant to target a TV and cinema audience that’s becoming increasingly difficult to reach using traditional advertising methods. Related: What else do I get with Amazon Prime? Ads are invading Amazon Prime Video Amazon increased the number of ads on Prime Video back in February 2024, with movies and TV shows getting two main types of ads: ones for Amazon’s own streaming content in the form of trailers, and one paid for by advertising partners (similar to regular TV commercials). To add insult to injury, some features were silently removed from the standard Prime Video plan and locked behind a paid upgrade that reduces the number of ads for an extra $2.99 per month. Amazon told Ars Technica that Prime Video has 200 million monthly viewers and that the number of subscribers has not fallen dramatically since the company added advertising. In May 2024, less than a tenth of Prime subscribers paid the extra charge for an ad-free subscription. Given that, it’s no surprise that Amazon executives feel bold enough to push more ads on viewers. Not to mention the apparent success of Netflix’s ad-supported plan, showing that we haven’t yet reached the point where enough is enough. How much more can we afford and how many more ads can we stomach? We’ll have to wait and see. Further reading: Oof, when did streaming get so expensive? Read...