Apple has essentially discontinued Clips, its video editing app designed to let users combine video clips, images and photos with voice-based titles, music, filters and graphics to create enhanced videos that can be shared on social media sites.
Existing users who already have the app installed can continue to use it for now, and it can be re-downloaded through their Apple account from the App Store, but new users are now unable to get the app.
Apple’s support document also describes how users can save Clips videos and individual clips to their Photos library or other locations.
Clips was released in 2017 and updated several times in its early years with features like Memoji and Animoji support, LiDAR Scanner support for generating immersive AR spaces, various filter and graphics options, and more, but in recent years it hasn’t received much more than an occasional bug-fix update.
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Another big comic convention means another series of announcements from major comic book publishers. For New York Comic Con, Marvel released big news for big franchises like X-Men and Spider-Man in recent days and continued to state that no, really, the Ultimate Universe will end next year. Let’s take them one at a time, shall we?
First, the larger Marvel universe. During Saturday’s “Next Big Thing” panel, the publisher revealed what’s to come after Doctor Doom’s reign on the planet ends in November. We already know that some characters will fight for the title of Sorcerer Supreme, and the new miniseries Dungeons of Doom by Philip Kennedy Johnson, Ben Percy, Charlemagne, Robert Gill, Justin Mason and Georges Jeanty will explore what happens when various factions attempt to ransack the now-vacant Castle Doom for its power and technology. This doesn’t go as planned, and they all end up in a labyrinth of dungeons where they now have to survive. Expect that in January.
In that same panel, a new Iron Man solo book was revealed. The title comes from DC writer Joshua Willamson and artist Carmen Carnero, and sees Tony Stark face off against a team of geniuses forced by Madame Masque to recreate his initial success in making an armored suit.
For Spider-Man heads, the big thing to know is that Peter Parker will be returning to Earth soon, after which he’ll be in Death Spiral Joe Kelly event (Amazing Spider-Man), Al Ewing (Poison), Charles Soule (Eddie Brock: Carnage) and Jesús Saiz (Eddie). The story sees Spider-Man teaming up with his two slimy friends to deal with a serial killer who comes after superheroes and with a specific ax to attack the webhead in particular. It will be released in February, and that summer there will be the Queen in Black event based on Knull’s recent return to the Venom region and the villain’s upcoming comic book.
Next, the X-Men are currently going through the Age ofRevelation event set in the near future where Doug Ramsey (formerly Cypher, now Revelation) created a mutant utopia that doomed the rest of the world. Once this ends in late 2025, regular X-books like X-Men, weird and exceptional X-Men, and Wolverine will continue again under the new Shadows of Tomorrow banner, which is also bringing some new books.
Solo, Ciclope and Vampira will receive limited miniseries by Alex Paknadel and Roge Antonio and Erica Schultz and Luigi Zagaria, respectively. Plot details for Cyke’s book are under wraps, but Rogue will see her confront her past as a villain when it comes to “slam.” [her] right in your face,” and Destiny and Mystique will play a role in the story. Rogue #1 will be released in January and Cyclops #1 in February. For Magik fans, writer Ashley Allen and artist German Peralta are returning for a new story starring Illyana Rasputin and her brother Colossus in the five-issue series. Magic and Colossus miniseries also released in February. The team’s big new book is January’s Force X Ingloria by Tim Seeley and Michael Sta. Maria, starring Cable, Hellverine, Boom-Boom and Archangel.
The Deadpool, Storm, and Laura “Wolverine” Kinney books will continue, just with some creative teams and slightly new titles. Wade Wilson: Deadpool by Ben Percy and Geoff Shaw, Wade acquires new clients and a “worrying path”; Storm: Earth’s most powerful mutant from writer Murewa Ayodele and new artist Federica Mancin, we see Storm continue to protect the planet, unaware that the “most dangerous war there is” is looming on the horizon. Finally, Jody Houser and Jacopo Camagni Generation X-23 reunites Laura and Gabby as they meet their “long-lost friend” and “a new generation of X-subjects” who have followed Laura’s deadly side. All three will arrive in February.
Finally, Marvel has revealed new covers for the Ultimate books as they wrap up. End game end throw it away. The event’s comic history and the titles from which it originates—Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, etc. – it will all end in April 2026. Marvel EiC CB Cebulski recently declared that this is the definitive end for the universe, although some of its elements live on Earth-616, but it is not known exactly what this means. We will find out how this spirit will endure and to what extent this truly represents an ending in the coming months.
Want more news about io9? Check out when to expect the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars and Star Trek, what’s next in the DC Universe in film and TV and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Good Wi-Fi is essential, but most people feel like they can’t control their spotty network.
The best long-term solution is better hardware.
In this guide, I explain what to look for in Wi-Fi devices and recommend devices for specific needs.
Like many people, I rely on Wi-Fi for almost everything: paying bills, shopping online, and most importantly, working. So when that connection drops, my entire routine comes to a screeching halt. While it’s possible to fix Wi-Fi issues, upgrading your hardware is the best long-term solution.
Also: Slow or spotty Wi-Fi at home? Try my 10 solutions to optimize your internet – fast
In this guide, I’ll explain what to look for in Wi-Fi accessories and give specific product recommendations based on the types of problems you’re experiencing.
Whether it’s eliminating dead zones, providing a faster connection, or supporting all your devices, there’s good technology out there designed to upgrade your Wi-Fi to a network you can count on 24/7, 365 days a year.
How can I fix my Wi-Fi?
Eero
You must first identify the type of problem you are facing and then consider products designed to solve those problems. I recommend 1) buying a new router 2) creating a mesh system or 3) adding Wi-Fi extenders.
If you don’t know where to start, consider the first option. A solid $300 router can cover a wide area without any adjustments, especially considering the quality of the new models.
Also: Wi-Fi router vs. mesh system: I compared the two – and here’s what I would choose
If you’re dealing more with spotty Wi-Fi in certain areas, you might want to invest in a mesh network. These systems consist of a few different “nodes” that act like miniature routers, covering areas of the home that would not otherwise receive a strong signal.
If your Wi-Fi signal strength seems to decrease evenly at a certain point, you can use extenders. A Wi-Fi extender captures this signal and, as the name suggests, extends it to areas around the home that the router wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. They are good for guesthouses or larger properties.
What should I consider when purchasing products?
When shopping, it’s helpful to ask a few important questions.
How big is the area you need to cover? A multi-story house requires a different solution than a one-bedroom apartment. Larger homes generally benefit more from a mesh system, while smaller spaces may only need a router and an extender in the bedroom.
How many devices will be connected? Phones, laptops, smart TVs, and other connected devices share your router’s bandwidth. The more you have, the more pressure will be placed on the network. If you expect to connect a lot of devices, invest in something built to handle heavy loads.
What is your budget? Mesh systems provide the most reliable coverage, but are often the most expensive option. Extenders are more affordable, but may struggle to cover large areas.
Now let’s go to the product list. By no means are these the only good options available, they are just products we have tested for ZDNET and can vouch for or actually use at home.
What Wi-Fi devices do you recommend?
For my home, I use the TP-Link Deco BE3600 Full Mesh Wi-Fi 7 Systemwhich was actually recommended to me by my ISP’s field technician. I tried it at his suggestion and fell in love.
At its core, it’s a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system that delivers next-generation wireless speeds. According to the Fast.com speed test, I got wireless speeds up to 840 Mbps. That’s enough bandwidth to make slowdowns and stuttering a work of fiction, even with multiple devices running.
Also: The Fastest Wi-Fi 7 Internet Providers in the US, Ranked
Someone at home could be streaming a football match while I’m immersed in Monster Hunter Wilds, and we both never noticed any performance issues. The system itself can go beyond that, supporting speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps.
It helps that the Deco system supports dual-band Wi-Fi, split between 5GHz and 2.4GHz channels, so if one channel gets too crowded, it will automatically move extra devices. Other notable features include support for over 150 simultaneous devices and HomeShield for malware protection. I bought the three-pack, which costs $250. It’s pricey, but it’s worth the cost.
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If you just want a standalone router and live in a small place, I recommend the Asus RT-BE86U. It’s a router I reviewed in 2024, so while it’s not the newest router on the market, it works well. Signal coverage extends up to 2,750 square feet, which is more than enough for most apartments and homes.
Within this range, the Asus router offers extremely fast connection speeds of over 500 Mbps with virtually no latency. It can easily handle streaming, gaming, and large file downloads without any sign of slowdown. The icing on the cake is that the device supports Wi-Fi 7.
Review: Asus RT-BE86U
The design of this router is also worth highlighting. On the back, you’ll find multiple high-speed Ethernet connections, including a 10G WAN/LAN port, as well as multiple 2.5G LAN ports. There’s even a dedicated gaming port that prioritizes gaming devices during peak hours for smoother gaming.
At the time of this writing, the Asus RT-BE86U It’s on sale for $220.
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The Eero Pro 7 is very similar to the Deco mesh system in that it is also a Wi-Fi 7 router that offers top-notch performance. Each individual node covers up to 2,500 square feet and supports wireless speeds of up to 3.8 Gbps. What really stands out is the feature that makes it better for congested homes.
First, the Eero Pro 7 uses a tri-band system made up of 2 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz channels. This configuration provides greater bandwidth for simultaneous connections. It also comes with TrueMesh, a software feature that automatically redirects devices to the best available bandwidth. For example, if one node in a system goes offline, TrueMesh quickly redirects traffic to another, ensuring your connection remains uninterrupted.
The Eero Pro 7 triple pack retails for $700. If you want the best wireless speeds of up to 4.3 Gbps and coverage of up to 7,500 square feet, check out the Eero Max 7.
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As the name suggests, the Eero Outdoor 7 is a Wi-Fi 7 router designed for outdoor use. If your main router or mesh system doesn’t reach far enough, backyards are often prime locations for dead zones.
Outdoor 7 solves this problem by increasing coverage by up to 15,000 square feet, extending your home network beyond the wall. ZDNET’s Maria Diaz tested the device and found that it provided a stable connection for your security cameras, smart speakers, smart lights, and even your finicky Google Nest Cam. Plus, it’s omnidirectional, so you don’t have to worry about where to place other nodes or receiving devices.
Review: Eero Outdoor 7
Built to withstand the elements, the Eero Outdoor 7 has a water and dust resistance rating of IP66, ensuring internal components are protected. It even withstands extreme temperatures, ranging from -40° F to 131° F.
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For budget-conscious buyers, I recommend the TP-Link AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender. It doesn’t offer the same top-tier speeds or range as higher-end units, but it’s a reliable choice for people living in apartments or small homes who want broad coverage. The AX3000 offers speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps on the 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, covering a total area of about 2,400 square feet.
Plus: TP-Link’s new Wi-Fi 7 router is a travel-friendly option that doesn’t break the bank.
At the top are a pair of high-gain antennas paired with beamforming technology to help focus the router’s Wi-Fi signal directly onto receiving devices, ensuring stronger connections. Additionally, there is a gigabit Ethernet port for wired setups. Another useful feature is EasyMesh support, which allows owners to connect the AX3000 extender to other compatible accessories and create their own low-cost mesh network.
This range extender is also the only pick on this list that doesn’t support Wi-Fi 7, opting instead for Wi-Fi 6. While it doesn’t have the super-fast speeds of the newer standard, Wi-Fi 6 is still plenty fast and stable for everyday use. The TP-Link AX3000 is currently on sale for $100.
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I’ve been writing about software and consumer electronics for nearly 10 years, and in that time I’ve come to rely on strong, stable Wi-Fi networks as much as any other tool in my career. Whether I was working in an office or someone’s backyard, a stable connection meant the difference between smooth productivity and complete interruption.
This experience has made me picky about the accessories I connect to my router. I know what to look for and how to ensure my network is functioning at its best. I also take professional recommendations seriously, so I’m grateful for my ISP technician’s suggestion. The list and advice I’ve given are not hard-and-fast rules. Instead, they’re a foundation to help you understand what to look for in Wi-Fi equipment. The right solution depends on your lifestyle, devices, and budget.
We get it: Watching live sports can be a hassle because games are broadcast on streaming services, cable networks, and local stations. Now this NFL season it’s here, YouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket It may be on your mind to broadcast football. I know, it’s still a little expensive. Whether you pay in installments, receive as one perks through Verizon or use a student discount, you will still be spending your money. But football fans, there is a way to enjoy Sunday Ticket without the subscription cost. The only downside? You will have to leave.
DirecTV Sports Bar Finder The app helps you discover bars and restaurants across the country that offer NFL Sunday Ticket and more than a dozen other sports TV packages. You can access the app through a web browser and it works by using your location or by entering a zip code.
If the idea of paying $276 for a new Sunday ticket plan or even $480 as a repeat customer this season seems impossible, this could be an ideal workaround. I tried Sports Bar Finder (and called a few establishments to confirm they would carry the package this season) and explained how it works.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab-based analysis. Add CNET as Google’s preferred font.
How to Use Sports Bar Finder for NFL Sunday Tickets
The Sports Bar Finder app used to be available for Android and iOS devices, but now it can only be accessed through a web browser.
Navigate to Sports Bar Finderwhere you’ll be asked to enter the name of a bar, share your location, or enter a zip code.
The list will be populated with restaurants and bars in the area, giving you the option to filter the results by sports package. Select NFL Sunday Ticket from the list. You can also skip this step and just look for the Sunday Ticket badge in each establishment’s information.
Select the NFL Sunday Ticket package to narrow your search.
Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET
You can choose from the main list of bars shown in the results or click Featured to see the app’s highlighted locations.
Click View additional bar details. Each bar and restaurant provides the address, hours and sports TV packages available at that location. However, whether you are in your own neighborhood or visiting from out of town, we suggest you call ahead to check if the games will be broadcast.
Tapping the heart icon will save a location to your Favorites section, so you can easily track down some of your favorite places to watch Sunday Ticket or other sports offerings like Big Ten, Friday Night Baseball, or Thursday Night Football.
To further customize your results, you can filter by amenities (e.g. Wi-Fi or good for groups) or rating. The app gets ratings from Yelp reviews.
Want more NFL and sports coverage? Check out CNET’s articles on streaming services like ESPN or Fox One, information on how to watch on game day, and NBA news.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle isn’t too difficult as long as you don’t overthink it.
Connections is one of the most popular New York Times word games This caught the public’s attention. The aim of the game is to find the “common threads between words”. And just like Word, Connections It resets after midnight and each new set of words gets more and more complicated – so we’ve got you covered with some tips and suggestions to get you over the hump.
If you just want to know today’s puzzle, you can skip to the end of this article to see today’s puzzle. Connections solution. But if you prefer to resolve it yourself, read on for some hints, tips, and strategies to help you.
SEE ALSO:Free Mahjong, Sudoku, Crosswords and More: Play on Mashable
What are connections?
THE NYTThe latest daily word game has become a hit on social media. THE Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu for helping create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ games section. Connections can be played on web browsers and mobile devices and requires players to group four words together that have something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each word grouping is divided into four categories. These sets can include anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even if several words seem to fit together, there is only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words will be removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as one mistake – players make up to four mistakes before the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make it easier to find connections. Additionally, each group is color-coded, with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. As Word, You can share the results with your friends on social media.
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SEE ALSO:NYT Pips Tips, Answers for October 12, 2025
Here’s a tip for today’s hookup categories
Want a tip about the categories without knowing the categories? So try:
Featured video for you
Connections: how to play and how to win
Here are today’s hookup categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Forever
Green: Establish
Blue: Birds
Purple: Happy ____
Looking for Wordle today? Here is the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to go back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drum roll, please!
The solution for today Connections #854 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
Forever: ETERNAL, ETERNAL, FOREVER, PERMANENT
Establishes: BEGIN, INSTITUTE, LAUNCH, PIONEER
Birds: KITE, ROBIN, SWALLOW, SWIFT
Happy ____: DAYS, FINAL, RETURNS, TRACKS
Don’t feel bad if you couldn’t guess this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain tomorrow, and we’ll be back to guide you with more useful tips.
SEE ALSO:NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Tips and Answers for October 12, 2025
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands tips you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable now has games! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords and more.
Not the day you’re looking for? Here is the solution for yesterday’s connections.
In the increasingly crowded field of humanoid robotics, one thing that sets Foundation and its Phantom robot apart is the company’s embrace of the defense industry. That includes perhaps someday weaponizing this technology.
With many questions to ask, I visited the Foundation in San Francisco for a hands-on demonstration and the opportunity to teleoperate the robot. I also interviewed the company’s founder, Sankaet Pathak, who envisions this robot going everywhere, from the battlefield to Mars – one step at a time.
To witness this potential future robot warrior punch, walk, fall and do the robot (courtesy of my teleoperation), check out the video in this article.
Teleoperation involves using a VR headset with hand tracking to control the robot and have it mirror your movements.
Esta semana, a OpenAI anunciou que os aplicativos agora podem ser executados diretamente no ChatGPT, permitindo aos usuários reservar viagens, criar listas de reprodução e editar designs sem alternar entre aplicativos diferentes. Alguns imediatamente declarado é a plataforma de aplicativos do futuro – prevendo um mundo movido pelo ChatGPT onde a App Store da Apple se tornará obsoleta.
Uma pergunta aberta foi respondida hoje – “qual será o canal de distribuição nativo de IA?”
Parece que ChatGPT será aquele canal com 800 milhões de usuários ativos + o Apps SDK.
Isso é provavelmente tão importante quanto Steve Jobs anunciar a loja de aplicativos em março de 2008… pic.twitter.com/6RCbIi0foq
Mas embora a plataforma de aplicativos OpenAI represente uma ameaça emergente, a visão da Apple de uma Siri melhorada – embora ainda seriamente atrasada – ainda pode jogar a seu favor.
Afinal, a Apple já controla o hardware, o sistema operacional, e tem aproximadamente 1,5 bilhão de usuários de iPhone em todo o mundo, em comparação com os 800 milhões de usuários ativos semanais do ChatGPT. Se a aposta da Apple valer a pena, poderá posicionar a fabricante do iPhone de uma forma que não só manterá o seu domínio na indústria de aplicações, mas também modernizará a forma como utilizamos as aplicações na era da IA.
O plano da Apple é eliminar o ícone do aplicativo sem eliminar o próprio aplicativo. Sua visão para a computação alimentada por IA – apresentada em sua conferência de desenvolvedores no ano passado – veria os usuários do iPhone interagirem com uma versão revisada do Siri e um sistema renovado que mudaria a maneira como você usa aplicativos em seu telefone. (Imagine menos batidas e mais conversas.)
Os aplicativos estão fora de moda, viva os aplicativos?
É uma ideia cuja hora chegou.
Organizar pequenos ícones tocáveis na tela inicial do seu iPhone para tornar as informações online mais acessíveis é uma metáfora ultrapassada para a computação. Projetados para se assemelhar a uma versão reduzida da área de trabalho de um computador, os aplicativos estão se tornando uma forma menos comum de os usuários interagirem com muitos de seus serviços online preferidos.
Hoje em dia, os consumidores estão tão propensos a pedir uma recomendação ou insight a um assistente de IA quanto a fazer uma pesquisa no Google ou lançar um aplicativo dedicado e de propósito único, como o Yelp. Eles vão falar em voz alta com seus inteligentes alto-falantes ou conectado por Bluetooth AirPods para tocar suas músicas favoritas; eles pedirão a um chatbot informações comerciais ou um resumo das resenhas de um novo filme ou programa.
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A IA, um grande modelo de linguagem treinado em dados extraídos da web e muito mais, determina o que o usuário deseja saber e emite uma resposta.
Isso é sem dúvida mais fácil do que vasculhar os resultados de pesquisa do Google em busca do link certo com a resposta. (Isso é algo que o próprio Google percebeu há mais de uma década, quando começou a colocar respostas às perguntas dos usuários diretamente na página de resultados de pesquisa.)
A IA também costuma ser mais fácil do que encontrar o aplicativo certo em seu iPhone agora superlotado, iniciá-lo e interagir com sua interface de usuário – que varia de aplicativo para aplicativo – para realizar sua tarefa ou obter uma resposta à sua pergunta.
No entanto, o sistema de aplicativos do ChatGPT, embora aparentemente melhore esse modelo, permanece bloqueado na experiência do usuário do ChatGPT. Exige que os consumidores utilizem uma interface estilo chatbot para usar seus aplicativos, o que pode exigir educação do usuário. Para acessar um aplicativo, você deve nomeá-lo como a primeira palavra do seu prompt ou mencionar o aplicativo pelo nome para obter um botão que solicita “usar o aplicativo para obter a resposta”. Então, você deve digitar uma consulta precisa. (Se você bagunçar tudo, primeiros testes da Bloomberg indicam que você pode ficar preso em uma tela de carregamento sem resultados!)
Temos que nos perguntar: será este o futuro dos aplicativos ou apenas o futuro enquanto não houver outra concorrência? Quando outra solução estiver disponível – nada menos que integrada ao seu iPhone – os consumidores continuarão usando o ChatGPT ou ainda estarão dispostos a dar outra chance ao Siri? Não sabemos, mas não descartaríamos a Apple ainda, embora a Siri tenha bastante um ruimreputação para salvar neste momento.
A Siri pode ser uma vergonha do jeito que está hoje, mas o ecossistema geral da Apple tem vantagens. Para começar, os consumidores já tem os aplicativos que desejam usar em seus telefones ou sabem como encontrá-los na App Store, caso contrário. Eles usam muitos desses aplicativos há anos. A memória muscular percorre um longo caminho!
Enquanto isso, existem alguns obstáculos para começar a usar a plataforma de aplicativos do ChatGPT.
Você precisa instalar o aplicativo em questão, é claro; então você deve conectar o aplicativo ao ChatGPT passando por uma tela de permissão cheia de avisos. Este processo requer que você se autentique no aplicativo usando seu nome de usuário e senha existentes e insira o código de autenticação de dois fatores, se aplicável.
Após essa configuração única, as coisas devem ser mais fáceis. Por exemplo, depois de gerar uma lista de reprodução do Spotify com IA, ela pode ser iniciada no aplicativo Spotify com um toque.
No entanto, esta experiência não será muito diferente dos planos da Apple se a Apple conseguir fazer as coisas funcionarem conforme prometido. A Apple diz que você poderá falar ou enviar mensagens de texto para a Siri para controlar seus aplicativos.
Existem outras desvantagens no modelo de aplicativo OpenAI. Você só pode interagir com um aplicativo por vez, em vez de alternar entre aplicativos – algo que pode ser útil ao comparar preços ou ao tentar decidir entre um quarto de hotel e um Airbnb.
O uso de aplicativos no ChatGPT também elimina a marca, o design e a identidade que os consumidores associam aos seus aplicativos favoritos. (Para aqueles que odeiam como desordenado O aplicativo do Spotify se tornou, talvez isso seja uma coisa boa. Outros, entretanto, discordarão.) E, em alguns casos, usar a versão do aplicativo móvel para atingir seus objetivos ainda pode ser mais fácil do que usar a versão do aplicativo ChatGPT devido à flexibilidade que a primeira oferece.
Por fim, convencer os usuários a mudar de plataforma de aplicativos pode ser difícil quando não há uma vantagem óbvia em usar aplicativos no ChatGPT – exceto pelo fato de que é legal que você possa fazer isso.
A Apple pode salvar a reputação da Siri com recursos de IA?
Em sua demonstração WWDC 2024 – que a Apple jura não ser “demoware” – a empresa mostrou como os aplicativos funcionariam sob este novo sistema e como poderiam usar outros recursos de IA, como revisão.
Mais importante ainda, a Apple disse aos desenvolvedores que eles poderão aproveitar algumas de suas capacidades de IA sem ter que fazer trabalho adicional – como um aplicativo de anotações usando ferramentas de revisão ou reescrita. Além disso, os desenvolvedores que já integraram Siri Kit em seus aplicativos poderão fazer mais em termos de ação dos usuários em seus aplicativos. (SiriKit, um kit de ferramentas para tornar aplicativos interoperáveis com Siri e atalhos da Apple, é algo que os desenvolvedores usam desde o iOS 10.)
Esses desenvolvedores verão melhorias imediatas quando o novo Siri for lançado.
Créditos da imagem:Maçã
A Apple disse que se concentrará em categorias como Notas, Mídia, Mensagens, Pagamentos, Reservas em Restaurantes, Chamadas VoIP e Exercícios, para começar.
Os aplicativos nessas categorias poderão permitir que seus usuários realizem ações por meio do Siri. Na prática, isso significa que o Siri poderá invocar qualquer item dos menus de um aplicativo. Por exemplo, você pode pedir ao Siri para ver as anotações do apresentador em uma apresentação de slides e seu aplicativo de produtividade responderá de acordo.
Os aplicativos também seriam capazes de acessar qualquer texto exibido na página usando os sistemas de texto padrão da Apple. Isso poderia fazer com que as interações do aplicativo parecessem mais naturais, sem que o usuário tivesse que fornecer instruções ou comandos especificamente formulados. Por exemplo, se você tivesse um lembrete para desejar feliz aniversário ao seu avô, você poderia dizer “FaceTime com ele” para realizar essa ação.
Créditos da imagem:Maçã
existente da Apple Estrutura de intenções também está sendo atualizado para obter acesso ao Apple Intelligence, abrangendo ainda mais aplicativos em categorias como Livros, Navegadores, Câmeras, Leitores de Documentos, Gerenciamento de Arquivos, Diários, Correio, Fotos, Apresentações, Planilhas, Quadros Brancos e Processadores de Texto. Aqui, a Apple está criando novas “Intents” que são pré-definidas, treinadas e testadas, e as disponibilizando aos desenvolvedores.
Isso significa que você pode dizer ao aplicativo de edição de fotos Darkroom para aplicar um filtro cinematográfico a uma imagem via Siri. Além disso, a Siri poderá sugerir ações de um aplicativo, ajudando os usuários do iPhone a descobrir o que seus aplicativos podem fazer e a realizar essas ações.
Os desenvolvedores têm adotado a estrutura App Intents, introduzida no iOS 16, porque ela oferece outras funcionalidades para integrar as ações e o conteúdo de seus aplicativos com outros recursos da plataforma, incluindo Spotlight, Siri, o botão Action do iPhone, widgets, controles e recursos de pesquisa visual – não apenas Apple Intelligence.
Créditos da imagem:Maçã
Além disso, ao contrário do ChatGPT, a Apple executa seu próprio sistema operacional em seu próprio hardware e oferece a App Store como um mecanismo de descoberta, a infraestrutura de aplicativos e ferramentas de desenvolvedor, APIs e estruturas – não apenas a interface alimentada por IA que o ajudará a usar seus aplicativos.
Embora a Apple possa ter que emprestar alguma tecnologia de IA de terceiros para fazer essa última parte, ela possui os dados para personalizar as recomendações de seus aplicativos e, para os preocupados com a privacidade, os controles que permitem limitar a quantidade de informações que os próprios aplicativos podem coletar. (Onde está a opção “Do Not Track” para o sistema de aplicativos do ChatGPT, nos perguntamos?)
O sistema OpenAI não funciona imediatamente com todos os seus aplicativos no lançamento. Requer a adoção do desenvolvedor e depende do Model Context Protocol (MCP), uma tecnologia mais recente para conectar assistentes de IA a outros sistemas. É por isso que o ChatGPT atualmente funciona apenas com alguns aplicativos, como Booking.com, Expedia, Spotify, Figma, Coursera, Zillow e Canva. A adoção do MCP está crescendo, mas o atraso em sua adoção generalizada pode dar à Apple o tempo extra necessário para se atualizar.
Além do mais, dizem que o sistema de IA da Apple está quase pronto. A empresa já está testando isso internamente, permitindo que os usuários realizem ações em aplicativos usando comandos de voz Siri. A Bloomberg informou que esta versão mais inteligente do Siri funciona imediatamente com muitos aplicativos, incluindo aqueles de grandes players como Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook e WhatsApp. E ainda está no caminho certo para navio no próximo anoa Apple confirmou ao TechCrunch.
A Apple tem um iPhone, a OpenAI tem Jony Ive
O status do iPhone como plataforma de aplicativos também será difícil de ser interrompido, mesmo por uma empresa tão grande e poderosa como a OpenAI.
O fabricante do ChatGPT também entende isso, e é por isso que a OpenAI está explorando seu próprio dispositivo com o ex-chefe de design da Apple, Jony Ive. Ela deseja que sua IA se torne mais parte da vida e dos hábitos cotidianos dos consumidores, o que poderia exigir um dispositivo de hardware.
Mas, até agora, a empresa tem lutado para conceber um paradigma de computação melhor do que o smartphone, indicam os relatórios. Ao mesmo tempo, o público em geral demonstrou uma aversão a dispositivos de IA sempre ligadosque esbarram nas normas sociais existentes e ameaçam a privacidade.
A reação da IA cobriu o fabricante de dispositivos de IA Cartazes de um amigo no metrô de Nova Yorklevou os fãs de Taylor Swift a atacar seu ídolo por se envolver com IA e ameaçou a reputação de marcas de consumo populares e negócios empresariais parecido. Isso deixa em questão o sucesso futuro de um dispositivo OpenAI.
Por enquanto, isso significa que o modelo de aplicativo da OpenAI se resume essencialmente ao uso de seu aplicativo para controlar outros aplicativos.
Se a Apple acertar na atualização do Siri, esse intermediário pode não ser necessário.
If you’re shopping for a laptop, you probably have an idea of how much you want to spend. But some context might help put things in perspective. The cheapest laptops cost around $200, but they can range up to $5,000. Meanwhile, the average amount people spend, according to the best data we have, is around $750. That lands decidedly in the midrange, spitting between the more expensive devices that are over $1,000 and the budget-tier machines you find below $700.
When we talk about pricing, it’s often the “starting” price of the laptop, meaning the lowest-priced configuration. This is really important to consider, as you want to compare devices apples-to-apples as much as possible. For example, a cheaper laptop might start at $750 with 256 GB of storage, while a more premium laptop might start at this same price but come with 512 GB or even 1 TB of storage. Increasingly, you can find some really decent laptops around this price, some of which we’ve listed below.
If your budget needs to be under $750, though, there are still good options. Laptops below this price tend to compromise in one area or another. Most commonly, it’s the quality of the display and touchpad that suffers, as these are things you can’t see from a spec sheet or reference photo. Chromebooks often give you the best bang for your buck, especially if you’re trying to spend $500 or less.
So, why spend more? Well, there are two primary reasons. First, you might want a more premium design, perhaps one that has a more daring aesthetic or high-end components. Take the MacBook Pro, for example. It starts at $600 more than the MacBook Air but comes with a brighter Mini-LED display, significantly better speakers, and more ports. The second primary reason to spend more than $750 or so is to get more performance. Whether for gaming or for content creation, laptops with discrete GPUs are more expensive, which is why it’s hard to find a worthwhile gaming laptop under $1,000. If you’re buying a gaming laptop, plan to spend at least $1,500.
What Are the Best Laptop Brands?
Unlike the smartphone world, the biggest laptop brands have been around in the tech industry for over 40 years by now. Taking Apple out of the picture, four laptop brands stand above the rest, following the latest trends and technology, while backing that up with reliable support and services.
Lenovo is the biggest PC brand in the world, at least in terms of global shipments. It’s perhaps most well-known for its familiar sub-brands like ThinkPad and Yoga, but it also isn’t afraid to take risks with more experimental designs and advanced technology. Lenovo has also made a name for itself in the gaming space too with its Legion laptops, known for balancing performance and features at the most competitive prices.
Asus has quickly become a favorite, notable for its sheer number of laptops available in the consumer market. The company takes a similar approach to Lenovo, and that’s led Asus to quickly innovate on new technology and designs, while also launching premium clamshell laptops at more affordable prices than its competitors. Gaming laptops in particular are a space that Asus has come to dominate in, with the ROG Zephyrus, Strix, and TUF brands leading the way.
Dell and HP are a bit more conservative, though they aren’t without their notable designs as well. Interestingly, the companies have both gone through a significant laptop rebrand in the past year. HP has introduced “Omnibook” as a replacement to the Spectre and Envy sub-brands in 2024, while Dell started 2025 by removing its well-known sub-brands entirely, including Inspiron and XPS.
Other laptop makers in the mix include Microsoft Surface, Samsung, Acer, LG, and MSI, though none of them have as big a footprint globally as the top four.
How Do I Choose the Right Laptop?
If none of these laptops quite rings your bell, that’s OK! There are far more laptops than we have time to test. To help you make smart choices, we put together a complete laptop buying guide. We also have the details about all the CPUs and GPUs you need to know about for 2025. We recommend sticking to these guidelines:
RAM: In most cases, make sure you get 16 GB of RAM. That’s become the new standard, in even more affordable laptops. Upgrading to 32 GB is even better and means you never have to worry about running out of memory, especially if you’re a gamer or video editor.
CPU: In the world of Windows laptops, you have three CPU brands to choose from: Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm. Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 launched in late 2024, providing a huge increase in battery life. It also has the best integrated graphics of the three. AMD chips are primarily reserved for gaming laptops, as they’ve struggled to take much ground from Intel. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips, however, have challenged Intel in a serious way over the past year with its ARM-based chips, offering some of the best battery life we’ve ever seen on Windows machines.
Discrete graphics: Want to play AAA PC games or edit video on your laptop? You’ll likely want a standalone graphics processor, and at this point, Nvidia is the primary option. The RTX 5090 launched this year as the most powerful new GPU available, but the 40-series still remains a good option. Integrated graphics have improved significantly over the years though too, especially with Apple’s M4 line.
Screen: The display depends on the size of the laptop. A 1200-pixel resolution (HD+) screen on a 13- or 14-inch laptop looks sharp enough, but you’ll want more pixels on larger displays. While IPS screens will be good enough for most people, OLED or Mini-LED are becoming more common, which provide better color accuracy, contrast, and even decent HDR performance.
Connectivity: Ports are important, though everyone needs something different. For most people, though, we suggest at least two USB-C ports and at least one USB-A and HDMI for those legacy devices. (Remember that nearly all laptops today use one of those USB-C ports for the power adapter.) Thankfully, most laptops still have headphone jacks, but always check, because a few daring machines have dropped it. Lastly, make sure there’s Wi-Fi 6E support or newer. Even if you don’t have a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router yet, it’s a good bet you will in the future (see our Best Routers or Best Mesh Systems guides if you need a new one).
Battery life: Battery life is extremely competitive these days, with Apple, Qualcomm, and Intel all making highly ambitious battery life claims. Most laptops with the latest chips (and without discrete graphics) will get you over 10 hours of battery life, or many more if your workload is lighter.
Intel vs. AMD vs. Qualcomm
In the world of Windows laptops, there are three primary options for CPUs: Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. All three companies have good options but it really depends on the type of laptop. For premium laptops, you’ll want something like the Intel Core Ultra 258V or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. Meanwhile, for budget laptops, Snapdragon X is the best option. And for gaming laptops, I’d recommend something from AMD like the Ryzen AI 9 365.
Intel and AMD are the eternal rivals in the game, while Qualcomm is the new competitor in the ring. Qualcomm made a huge entrance in 2024 with its Snapdragon X chips. These Arm-based chips, like Apple’s M-series chips, emphasize efficiency, which drastically improves battery life. This has been a game-changer for Windows laptops across a wide range of price points. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite is the highest end option in terms of performance, but the Snapdragon X Plus and base Snapdragon X still equally strong battery life, despite showing up in much cheaper laptops. (Qualcomm recently unveiled the Snapdragon X2 platform.)
But Intel and AMD haven’t been sitting on their hands either. Despite all of Intel’s financial woes, the company put out a surprisingly strong release with its Core Ultra Series 2. The V-series chips, also known as Lunar Lake, came out in late 2024 and provided comparably good battery life to Qualcomm and Apple. They also have the most powerful integrated graphics you’ll find on basic consumer Windows laptops. Unfortunately, Intel’s lineup of chips is convoluted and an horribly confusing, with three different generations of CPU architecture released in the past year. In addition to Lunar Lake, we also have Arrow Lake Core Ultra H chips and 14th-gen Raptor Lake Refresh for its highest-powered Core Ultra HX chips. Those HX chips even still use the old “Core i7” nomenclature, to make things even more confusing. (Intel recently announced its next-gen Panther Lake chips.)
Over on Team Red, AMD has grown into a competitive player in the gaming laptop space in particular. Its latest gaming chips are the most powerful gaming hardware you’ll find on a laptop, including the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D. Unfortunately, it’s still hard to find many laptops supporting these killer chips. The company also has its Ryzen AI 300 H and HX chips, which are bit more commonly found across gaming laptops. AMD does have its mainstream chips as well, as part of the Ryzen AI 300 Series, but they haven’t made their way into as many laptops at this point and don’t have as long of battery life as Intel and Qualcomm’s latest options.
I have been reviewing laptops for a decade, and WIRED contributor Chris Null has been testing these machines for 25 years. We test each laptop we review in a variety of situations, including both synthetic benchmark tests, real-world use cases, and comparisons against similar equipment. We don’t consider hardware in a vacuum: Our reviews aim to match laptops with the users that will benefit from them the most, taking performance, usability, portability, and price all into account.
We put every laptop through a gauntlet of tests before writing a review and assigning them a rating.
Hands-on use: Here’s we evaluate the exterior of the device. We compare how thin and light it is against other laptops. We repeatedly open and close the lid to test the quality and ease of use of the hinge. We push on weak points like the keyboard and lid to test build quality. We furiously type on the keyboard and swipe around on the touchpad to ensure it’s comfortable and precise. These are all things you can’t see just by looking at a device’s landing page on Amazon. We use the laptop itself for many days (and sometimes weeks) to report on any quirks that might pop up, such as oddly placed ports, a surfeit of preloaded shovelware, or unexpected problems that make using the laptop difficult.
Sights and sounds: Once we boot up a device itself, it’s all about the sights and sounds of the laptop. The screen is paramount, as its the world through which you experience the entirety of the device. There’s a lot you can tell about the brightness, colors, and contrast of a display just by looking at it. Beyond just subjective testing, we also use a Spyder colorimeter to measure the brightness, contrast, color space, and color accuracy of a display. If it’s an HDR-capable screen, we also test the peak brightness of the display in HDR content. We also test the webcam and speakers of a laptop to see if they are worthy of your video calls and music streaming sessions.
Performance testing: Finally, we test performance. There’s a lot of ways to go about this, but we always evaluate a laptop’s performance based on what it’s intended for. We don’t expect a $500 budget laptop to performance like a powerhouse gaming laptop, nor we expect a gaming laptop to get 18 hours of battery life. Our testbed includes more than 20 synthetic benchmarks, though this is constantly evolving and is dependent on the unit’s CPU and operating system, as macOS and Snapdragon-based laptops have fewer benchmarks available. Those benchmarks include various tests within the latest versions of Geekbench, PCMark, 3DMark, Procyon, GFXBench, Pugetbench, Superposition, Cinebench, and various gaming-related tests such as 3DMark and Cyberpunk 2077. Note that WIRED does not, in general, report raw benchmark scores. We don’t only pay attention to the scores these benchmarks produce, but also the volume and speed of the fans, the surface temperature of the laptop, and the affect it has on battery life.
It’s a lot, I know. But we’re thorough because we want to stand by our recommendations, and ensure that the laptops we rate highly are worth the money.
Compare Top 15 Laptops
Other Good Laptops We’ve Tested
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable for $3,299: Don’t you dare write this one off as a gimmick. Yes, it’s fun as just a pure spectacle, but Lenovo took this far more seriously than I thought it would. In case you haven’t heard, it’s a laptop that can extend its screen vertically from 14 inches to 16.7 inches at the press of a key, giving you quick access to more screen whenever you need it. As it turns out, it’s also a great ergonomic solution, too. The only problem with the ThinkBook Plus Rollable (7/10, WIRED Recommends)? It’s been sold out for the past month, so you can’t buy it yet. Hopefully, it’ll be back in stock soon.
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 for $1,950: If you’re looking for a proper Windows alternative to the powerful MacBook Pro, this is the best one I’ve tested so far. The Yoga Pro 9i 16 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has two important features: a discrete RTX 5050 or 5060 GPU and a killer OLED display. Combine that with an excellent keyboard and touchpad, and even great speakers, and you have the whole package. I wish the battery life were better, but that’s an area where it’ll never quite compete with the MacBook Pro.
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Dell 14 Premium for $1,250: It might be one of the prettiest laptops ever made, but it’s also one of the most controversial designs in recent years. The Dell 14 Premium (6/10, WIRED Review) is the renamed successor to the Dell XPS 14, sporting the same divisive function row keys, invisible haptic trackpad, and limited ports. I’d have been happy to overlook those design elements (as they make for an ultra-modern aesthetic) if only Dell had been able to upgrade this from the RTX 4050 to the RTX 5050 series graphics cards. Without that GPU performance upgrade, my excitement has dulled for what this could be.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2-in-1 for $698: As I’ve said multiple times in this guide, Windows laptops at around $650 to $700 are really hard to pull off. There will almost always be some compromises. There’s no getting around that. The IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 just barely walks the tightrope without tipping over. Like many of these devices, it has a crummy screen, a tiresome keyboard, and an imprecise-feeling touchpad. The battery life was decent, however, and I liked that the display is touchscreen and glossy. For the price, the specs aren’t half bad. If you like larger laptop displays, this is the cheapest one you should buy.
Surface Pro 12
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Microsoft Surface Pro 12 for $900: While it’s a tablet, the Surface Pro 12 (6/10, WIRED Review) is designed to be a true laptop replacement as well, which is why it’s on this list. Its price would be excellent for a fanless machine running on the Snapdragon X chip, but it doesn’t come bundled with a keyboard. Once you add that in, this becomes more of a premium laptop. Still, for the right person, it’s a killer travel device for taking your work on the road with you.
ROG Flow Z13
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Asus ROG Flow Z13 for $2,100: It’s too expensive for most people to take a chance on, but I found a lot to like about the ROG Flow Z13 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). This gaming 2-in-1, a design no one asked for, works surprisingly well. The performance isn’t full throttle, but the Z13’s use of surprisingly powerful AMD integrated graphics makes it far more powerful than you might assume, all while keeping the heat away from your hands.
Asus Zenbook A14 for $580: This is one of the lightest laptops we’ve ever tested, thanks to Asus’ Ceraluminum material. The Zenbook A14 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is also the first A-series laptop from the company, and it employs Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X chipset, which is the weakest and supposedly the most affordable of the Snapdragon X series. While this laptop excels in build quality, portability, and sports excellent battery life, the chipset is lackluster, only suitable for average web browsing tasks. This one occasionally drops in price by a couple of hundred bucks, so try to avoid the $1,000 MSRP if you can.
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus for $482: This was one of the first “Chromebook Plus” devices we tested, and it’s still among the best. While the newer Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is a higher-quality device, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes in a couple of hundred dollars cheaper, which makes it attractive, especially for a Chromebook. You’ll still get 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, too.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition (Copilot+ PC) for $1,300: The first Intel-based Copilot+ PC we tested, the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition (7/10, WIRED Review) is a winner on all fronts, boasting outstanding AI and graphics performance and some of the best battery life we’ve ever seen on Intel hardware. With its slightly oddball 15.3-inch screen, it hits its high points without breaking the bank, though the fan is loud and the system may weigh you down more than you’d like.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 for $365: This 15-inch Chromebook Plus 515 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has the same internal components as the Lenovo we recommend above. The battery life for this one is a solid 8.5 hours of full-screen video playback time. The Acer offers an HDMI 1.4 output jack in place of the Lenovo’s microSD card slot, making this one a better choice if you frequently need to give presentations or otherwise use the HDMI port. There’s also the smaller Chromebook Plus 514 that’s equally great.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Copilot+ PC for $1,300: Lenovo’s svelte Slim 7x (7/10, WIRED Review) isn’t exciting, but it offers the best price-to-performance ratio of the many Copilot+ PCs we’ve tested. Battery life and performance are standouts, though the fan does tend to run loud.
What Kinds of Laptops to Avoid
Amazon is filled with laptops you shouldn’t buy. Just type in “best laptop” into the Amazon search box, and you’ll find plenty of cheap laptops that no one should buy. That includes most of the Windows laptops under $500, which all use CPUs from three or four generations ago.
It gets worse when you search for “gaming laptops” on Amazon, which presents some cheap laptops that don’t even have discrete graphics. Regardless of what companies or retailers try to say, you shouldn’t expect a laptop without a discrete GPU to be able to play modern games. Some of these include laptops from knockoff brands you’ve never heard of, like this one. There’s just no reason to buy something from an unknown brand.
When it comes to gaming laptops in general, I wouldn’t recommend buying anything RTX 30-series or older in terms of graphics. You should still be able to find some decent RTX 40-series laptops that are a better bang-for-your-buck than the new RTX 50-series laptops.
Lastly, there’s the topic of refurbished laptops. Online retailers are full of older laptops that are marked as refurbished or “renewed.” These can be good options, especially if they come heavily discounted, such as this M1 MacBook Air. But there’s always some risk with buying refurbished. Make sure you read the retailer’s return policy. With models that are only a year or two older, however, pay careful attention to the specs, especially when it comes to RAM capacity. For example, some older M3 MacBook Air models will show up with only 8 GB of RAM, not reflecting the increased base memory in the price.
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Caught in the political crossfire and facing potential death, there are few options for relocating the remaining 30 belugas at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The now-closed theme park and zoo said in a statement last week that the whales face possible euthanasia after Ottawa denied their requests to export them to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China.
Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson expressed concern that approving the export request could prepare the whales to be used for entertainment purposes. She said Wednesday that she is “completely open to reviewing” other export requests and that she has reached out to a provincial counterpart about possible solutions.
While any requests to export whales fall under the purview of the federal government, animal welfare is legally the responsibility of the province.
But Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he wants Thompson to reconsider his decision and help get the whales out of the country.
“Either they issue a license and we end up finding them a home, or they don’t issue a license and they can find a solution…,” Ford said Tuesday.
Expert says whales face certain death in the wild
As for what those solutions could be, it’s complicated.
Releasing belugas into the wild would amount to a death sentence, said Andrew Trites, director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia.
If they are placed in an environment to which they have never adapted, they may be rejected by other animals and “face a life of hunger and loneliness”.
Another idea promoted by some animal rights groups is to establish a seaside sanctuary where belugas can live in a fenced-in area in the ocean.
But such a reserve is not established anywhere in North America.
However, in Iceland’s Klettsvik Bay there is a sanctuary run by the British charity SEA LIFE Trust. According to its website, the Beluga Whale Sanctuary was created “with the goal of providing beluga whales with a safe and more natural home” and has space for up to 10 belugas.
The sanctuary welcomed female Little Gray and Little White from an aquarium in Shanghai, China, in 2020.
WATCH | Drone footage shows belugas swimming for the first time in an Icelandic seaside sanctuary:
Drone footage shows belugas swimming for the first time in Icelandic seaside sanctuary
In 2020, female belugas Little Gray and Little White were released into a seaside sanctuary in Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, after arriving from an aquarium in China. The whales spent more than 90% of their time in a nearby indoor pool.
But since their arrival, the two whales have spent more than 90 percent of their time in a nearby indoor pool, said Javier Almunia, a marine biologist and professor at the University of La Laguna in Spain and co-author of a 2025 study. published article in the sanctuary.
In an interview with CBC, Almunia said there have been major challenges, including an oil spill in 2022 that contaminated the bay and belugas showing signs of stress from living in an open water environment.
“Everything is different. The weather conditions are changing. The temperature is changing.”
Is a sanctuary better for captive whales?
The U.S.-based Whale Sanctuary Project, a proposal for a site in Port Hilford Bay, NS, has been seen by some as a possible Canadian option for Marineland’s belugas.
Charles Vinick, executive director of the project, said the cove could house eight to 10 belugas, at an operating cost of $1.5 million to $2 million a year.
The project is currently funded by grants, has an initial cost of $15 million and could be up and running by next summer, he told CBC.
“The costs we are talking about are much lower than what would be spent to build another tank on land, even for some cetaceans.”
But the project stopped due to lack of consent from adjacent landowners and has not yet received federal or provincial approval.
The site for a proposed whale sanctuary is seen in an area south of Port Hilford, NS, in this undated photo. (Whale Sanctuary Project)
Vinick said not everyone agrees with the project, but the situation at Marineland “underscores the need not just in Nova Scotia, but globally, for sanctuaries to be able to respond to the needs of marine park closures.”
Almunia disagrees. He said current research and technology is not where it needs to be to ensure animals have a better life in a seaside sanctuary, and that it could “be an option for animals in 10 or 20 years. It will not be an option for animals tomorrow.”
In the Marineland case, Almunia believes the best solution is to send them to a conventional aquarium where they can enjoy the human care they are accustomed to.
“They are used to management – the bond with the trainer, with the caregivers.”
WATCH | Could a proposed whale sanctuary off the coast of NS be an option for Marineland’s belugas:
Plan to send Marineland whales to proposed NS sanctuary faces challenges
One solution to finding homes for 30 Marineland belugas is to send them to a proposed whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia, but development has been stalled since plans for its construction were revealed in 2020.
Advocates cite moral obligation to save whales
Caring for the 30 belugas costs about $2 million a month, Ford previously said.
Another Canadian facility that has held whales in captivity is the Vancouver Aquarium. The last remaining dolphin died in 2017, and a year later it said it would stop keeping whales and dolphins.
As for whether it could accommodate Marineland’s belugas, the Vancouver Aquarium told CBC News it is “unable to accommodate these animals due to legal, regulatory and operational restrictions” and simply does not have space for them.
A letter from the international charity World Animal Protection, addressed to Ford on Monday, said that all whales that cannot be rehomed in Canada, in seaside sanctuaries or otherwise, should go to accredited facilities in the US or Europe where their welfare can be independently verified.
About that, animal defenders They strongly believe that governments have a moral obligation to save Marineland’s belugas from euthanasia.
“The province can confiscate the whales…” said Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, adding that “the federal government can decide on the permits and together they can work to prepare a seaside sanctuary or some other appropriate facility for the whales.”
In recent years, data breaches targeting schools, healthcare providers and childcare services have been in the headlines, exposing sensitive personal information and leaving families vulnerable. Now, a new breach has emerged that targets a daycare chain. Kido, which operates in the US, UK, China and India, reportedly had confidential data stolen from thousands of children. Names, photos, addresses, dates of birth, parents’ details and even security notes and medical records were allegedly accessed by a hacking group called Radiant.
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The incident highlights how stolen data threatens not only privacy but also long-term child safety. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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According to reports, the Radiant hacker group claims to have stolen data related to around 8,000 children. To prove possession, they posted samples, including photos and profiles of ten children, on a darknet website. They then issued a ransom demand, threatening to release more sensitive information unless Kido paid. In addition to directly attacking the daycare chain, Radiant allegedly called some of the children’s parents, pressuring them to pressure Kido into paying the ransom.
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When questioned about their actions, the group defended their tactics as a form of “penetration testing” for which they supposedly deserved compensation. This defense is misleading, as such testing requires explicit permission from the targeted organization or participation in an official bug bounty program. Without that consent, these actions are illegal and deeply unethical.
Hackers exploited children’s data in the Kido breach, exposing families to serious risk. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why is this attack so disturbing?
The Kido breach is alarming for several reasons. First, it involves children’s data, which is particularly sensitive and legally protected in most countries. Second, the attackers combined traditional data theft with intimidation tactics by contacting parents directly. History suggests that once criminals gain access to this information, attacks could increase.
Breaches like this highlight how personal and digital security are intertwined. The potential misuse of data goes beyond simple identity theft. It can affect children’s safety, family privacy and long-term well-being. With attackers leveraging stolen data and psychological pressure on parents, the threat is particularly potent and long-lasting.
Parents reported being contacted directly by bullies, showing how intimidation increases harm. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
7 steps parents can take to protect their children’s data
While the investigation into the Kido breach is ongoing, parents and schools can take immediate steps to protect children’s data and reduce the risk of further exploitation. Here is a detailed guide:
1) Monitor your child’s online accounts regularly
Log in to the email, school portals, and cloud storage accounts linked to your child. Look for unusual activity such as unrecognized logins, password changes, or new connected devices. Set up notifications for account activity whenever possible to be instantly alerted if something suspicious happens.
2) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts
Adding 2FA creates an extra layer of security. Even if a hacker has a password, he will not be able to access the account without the second verification step. Most email providers, school portals, and messaging platforms support this, and it’s a simple step that dramatically improves security.
3) Consider a personal data removal service
Data brokerage sites often collect names, addresses and other personal data that hackers can use. Services that remove your child’s information from these databases can make it harder for attackers to find and exploit sensitive data.
Although no service can guarantee complete removal of your data from the Internet, a data removal service is indeed a smart choice. They are not cheap and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you, actively monitoring and systematically deleting your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to delete your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing breach data with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free check to find out if your personal information is already on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com/Delete
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4) Use identity theft protection services
These services can continually check your child’s personal information online and alert you if their data appears on suspicious websites or the dark web. This early warning allows you to take action before criminals try to exploit you.
Identity theft companies can monitor personal information such as your social security number (SSN), phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or used to open an account. They can also help you freeze your bank and credit card accounts to prevent unauthorized use by criminals.
See my tips and top picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at CyberGuy.com/IdentityTheft
5) Install antivirus software on all devices
A strong antivirus program protects devices against malware, phishing scams, and suspicious scripts. It is particularly important on devices that children use to access school portals or personal accounts. This ensures that if a hacker tries to use malware to gain deeper access, they will be blocked.
The best way to protect yourself against malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for 2025’s best antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech
6) Use a secure email provider for confidential communications
For communications with schools, healthcare providers, or any service that handles sensitive information about children, consider using an email service that offers strong encryption and built-in spoofing protection. This makes it more difficult for attackers to impersonate a school or parent.
For recommendations on private, secure email providers that offer alias addresses, visit CyberGuy.com/Mail
7) Educate your children about online safety
Teach children not to share personal information online, including photos, addresses or school details. Encourage them to report anything suspicious and explain why it’s important to keep their login information private.
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Kurt’s main lesson
Data breaches targeting children are particularly concerning because they can have lasting consequences. The Kido incident is a stark reminder of the importance of proactive digital security measures for families. While organizations are responsible for protecting sensitive data, parents can take meaningful steps to monitor, protect and respond to potential threats.
Have you reviewed what personal information about your child is online? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com/Contact
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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning technology journalist who has a deep love for technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions to Fox News and FOX Business starting mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Have a technical question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment on CyberGuy. with.
