The update also addresses multiple issues reported in previous builds.

New Screen Tint Accessibility Setting in Windows 11 Build 26300.8497

A new Screen Tint setting adds a color overlay across the entire display to help reduce screen brightness. Microsoft describes it as a tool for users who experience eye strain or light sensitivity during long periods of use.

The setting can be found in Settings under Accessibility in the Vision section. Users can select from six preset colors or customize their own, and adjust the tint strength from a gentle wash to full intensity.

Screen Tint works independently of Night Light. While Night Light reduces blue light to support sleep cycles, Screen Tint decreases overall screen brightness to lessen eye fatigue during the day. Both features can be used at the same time.

It is important to note that Screen Tint cannot be enabled at the same time as Color Filters. Turning on one will automatically disable the other. Users who depend on Color Filters should keep Screen Tint turned off.

Plug-and-Play Braille Display Support in Narrator

Narrator now supports refreshable braille displays that use the HID open industry standard. HID-compatible displays connected via USB work immediately as plug-and-play devices, without the need for extra drivers or setup.

Bluetooth pairing is supported through Settings, Bluetooth and devices. Compatible models include the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.

HID braille displays can now also be used during the initial Windows setup process over USB. This update enables users who are deaf-blind to set up a new Windows 11 PC independently from the first screen. Braille input and output preferences can be adjusted in Settings, Accessibility, Narrator, Braille.

Bug Fixes in This Build and Availability

The build addresses several issues from earlier versions. It fixes a recurring crash in explorer.exe that caused the screen or taskbar to refresh repeatedly:

• The Energy Saver quick setting no longer appears twice. Both
• Win + X and right-clicking on the Start button in the taskbar now function as intended.
• An issue that caused audio to be muted unexpectedly on some devices has been resolved. The update also improves the reliability of Simple Service Discovery Protocol notifications and enhances the stability of the command dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth.

Build 26300.8497 is now rolling out to the Windows 11 Insider Experimental channel. Microsoft has not announced when the new accessibility features will be available to broader Windows 11 users outside the Insider Program.

The full release notes, including known issues, are available through Microsoft's Insider documentation.

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This update brings Firefox closer to feature parity with Chromium-based browsers, which have supported Web Serial for several years. Mozilla views this change as mainly useful for developers, makers, educators, and embedded device communities rather than the general user base.

What the Web Serial API Enables in Firefox 151

Web Serial enables web pages to connect and communicate with hardware devices over a serial connection. Common uses include programming microcontrollers directly from a browser, configuring development boards through web-based tools, reading sensor data into a web app, and updating firmware on embedded devices.

Previously, many of these tasks required users to use Chrome or Chromium-based browsers, as Web Serial was not available in Gecko. However, with Firefox 151, these workflows are now possible in Firefox without additional setup for many projects.

Adafruit Collaboration Brings Browser-Based Hardware Workflows to Firefox

Mozilla is launching the feature alongside a collaboration with Adafruit, the open-source hardware community known for CircuitPython, programmable microcontrollers, and education-focused electronics kits. Adafruit's browser-based hardware workflows, including its WebSerial ESPTool, now work directly in Firefox.

Users can experiment with projects involving CircuitPython programming, board flashing, sensor input, and microcontroller communication without leaving the browser or installing dedicated client software.

Mozilla has published a detailed engineering post on Hacks.mozilla.org for developers interested in the implementation details behind Web Serial support in Gecko.

Availability of Web Serial in Firefox 151

Web Serial support is now available in Firefox 151 on desktop. Mozilla has not announced if the API will be added to Firefox on Android or iOS, where browser engine restrictions on iOS limit how Web Serial could be implemented even if Mozilla decided to include it.

The update also includes other features in Firefox 151, such as VPN location selection, expanded language support for Shake to Summarize, and a one-click private browsing reset button.

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The change was first reported by WABetaInfo. Meta has not provided an official announcement regarding regional availability or a timeline for when the feature will be rolled out to all WhatsApp users.

How WhatsApp Status Lists Work

A list is a custom group of contacts created manually by the user. When posting a status update, the user can choose which list should see it, enabling different audiences to receive different content. For instance, family members might see one type of update, while colleagues see another.

WhatsApp automatically generates a default list called Close Friends. Users can add their most personal contacts to this list for quick sharing of private updates without needing to select individuals each time. The list can be edited at any moment by adding or removing contacts.

WhatsApp does not inform others when a list is changed. Updates to list membership are kept private, similar to how blocking and muting functions work on the platform.

What Changes for Users and When Status Lists Will Be Available

The feature simplifies choosing status audiences by providing a quick shortcut. Users no longer need to go into privacy settings before each post to adjust who can see it. Instead, they can select a pre-made list directly from the status sharing interface.

For those who typically post the same status to all contacts but occasionally want a more private audience, this offers a faster way to manage that workflow. For users already using the manual "Only share with" controls, the update replaces a multi-step process with a single selection.

The feature is being gradually rolled out on both iOS and Android devices. Meta has not yet specified which regions will see it first or when it will be available more broadly. Users should check the status sharing interface for the new option as the rollout reaches their account.

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The trailer featured in-engine Rocket League gameplay with enhanced vehicle detail and cinematic camera work, followed by the Unreal Engine 6 logo. Epic described the announcement as marking "a new era" and introducing "a new engine" for the vehicular soccer game.

Why Rocket League Is the First Unreal Engine 6 Title and What It Means for the Industry

Rocket League currently runs on Unreal Engine 3, the same generation of engine that powered many Xbox 360 games. Most major Epic games have already been updated to newer engines, but Rocket League has continued to use its original tech. Moving Rocket League from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 6 would be one of the largest engine upgrades for any live service game.

Fortnite, Epic's flagship live service, transitioned from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 without disrupting its in-game economy or ongoing operations. A similar upgrade process is expected for Rocket League, though Epic has not provided a timeline.

Unreal Engine is among the most widely used game engines in the industry. Some studios, such as CD Projekt, which previously built proprietary engines, have shifted to Unreal in recent years. The engine is also used in film and visual effects, with Disney among the studios utilizing it for CGI production.

Unreal Engine 5 launched in 2021 with a real-time Matrix demo that attracted attention for its visual quality. It has been used in titles like Star Wars Jedi Survivor and Avowed, but has also faced criticism over performance and optimization issues. Whether these issues originate from the engine itself or how developers implement it is debated, but they have influenced the public perception of Unreal Engine 5.

Comments on the potential Unreal Engine 6 release include calls for Epic to address Unreal Engine 5 performance problems before progressing further.

What Unreal Engine 6 Reveals About Epic’s Strategy

The Unreal Engine 6 reveal trailer showcased Rocket League alongside other Epic-owned games such as Fortnite and Lego Fortnite. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has previously described Fortnite as a model for a broader platform vision, where independent developers and multiple interoperable games can coexist within a single ecosystem. Unreal Engine 6 is positioned as a foundation for expanding this model beyond Fortnite itself.

Compared to the Unreal Engine 5 reveal in 2021, which included a free open-world demo of Matrix Awakens for consoles, the announcement of Unreal Engine 6 is a more modest teaser. Epic has not yet released a public technical demo, performance benchmarks, or a list of supported platforms for the new engine.

The timeline for Unreal Engine 6’s release, including when developers will be able to start using it and when Rocket League will transition to the new engine, has not been announced.

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The issue appears to have been fixed, although Trump Mobile has not publicly confirmed the vulnerability or responded to media inquiries.

The Register reported on the claim. Louis described himself as "just a nerd between jobs with too much time on my hands" and declined to be called a security researcher.

What Data Was Exposed and How the Trump Mobile Flaw Worked

Louis claims to have accessed data that includes first and last names, primary and secondary addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, customer and account numbers, and enrollment IDs such as pre-order numbers.

The data also indicates whether the order was placed by phone or online. Based on his description, the data did not appear to include payment card numbers or other directly financial credentials.

Louis explained that the issue was not due to a SQL injection or a more sophisticated attack. He said that by sending a simple HTTP POST request to the website's API endpoint from a browser console, he was able to retrieve customer records directly.

The endpoint returned ten records at a time, with each record containing a customer number that could be used to access additional records. Louis estimated that his script collected roughly 5,000 customer records in about an hour. He confirmed that the issue was valid and subsequently deleted the data collected by his script.

Disclosure Attempts, Trump Mobile’s Silence, and the T1 Phone Launch

Louis tried to disclose the findings to Trump Mobile and other parties who could take action but received no response. The vulnerability seems to have been fixed despite the lack of communication.

When he was unable to reach Trump Mobile through standard channels, he shared his findings with two YouTube creators known to have ordered the Trump T1 phone: Stephen "Coffeezilla" Findeisen and Charles "penguinz0" White Jr.

Their videos about these findings have collectively garnered millions of views. The Register also said it contacted Trump Mobile and did not get a response.

The disclosure comes as the Trump T1 smartphone begins reaching pre-order customers this week, after initially being scheduled for release in August 2025. The device is priced at $499 as part of a promotional offer.

Although the brand promoted the device as "Made in America" when it was announced in June 2025, customers who have received it confirm that it is a reskinned HTC U-24 Pro. This mid-range Android phone was originally released by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC in June 2024. The "Made in America" label has since been removed from Trump Mobile's marketing.

The phone features an American flag embossed on the back, but it has only 11 stripes instead of the usual 13. The T1 comes with 512GB of storage, a 120Hz display, a Snapdragon 7 chip, and has Truth Social pre-installed.

What Affected Trump Mobile Customers Should Do Now

Customers who pre-ordered through Trump Mobile should stay alert for potential phishing attempts using the leaked information. Email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses from this data set are often exploited in targeted scam campaigns.

Users might also consider setting up identity monitoring through their bank or credit card provider, and should be cautious of any unexpected calls or messages referencing Trump Mobile orders. Trump Mobile has not issued a public notice to affected customers nor confirmed the extent of the data exposure.

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Around 1.7 million of the sales were from players who purchased the Premium Edition for $120 to access early on May 15, three days before the public release.

Forza Horizon 6’s First-Week Sales Breakdown

Steam sold around 2.8 million copies, while the Xbox storefront accounted for 2.1 million copies, representing 42% of the total sales. Elliott noted that the Xbox-side performance was notably strong for a 2026 release, especially considering the broader trend of Xbox games selling better on Steam than on Microsoft's own platform.

Although Steam sold more copies overall, Xbox generated 51% of the total revenue compared to Steam's 49%. This difference reflects Xbox's mostly Western user base paying higher regional prices than Steam users in regions where prices tend to be lower.

How Xbox Game Pass Added 3 Million Players

In addition to the 4.9 million paid copies, more than 3 million players accessed Forza Horizon 6 through Xbox Game Pass on launch day. Elliott argues that this access cannibalized direct sales on both Steam and Xbox, with both versions of the game expected to have sold better without day-one Game Pass inclusion.

The counterargument Elliott raises is about subscription lifetime value. The 3 million players who started or renewed Game Pass subscriptions for Forza Horizon 6 generate ongoing revenue through their subscription payments, which could offset lost direct sales over time. This reasoning has supported Microsoft's day-and-date Game Pass strategy for more than five years.

Elliott contends that, despite the lifetime value calculation, this approach is no longer accurate given current subscription growth conditions, which he describes as stagnating.

What Forza Horizon 6’s Launch Means for Xbox’s New Strategy

The recent strong sales align with new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's efforts to reposition the platform. Recent changes include renaming Microsoft Gaming back to Xbox, reducing the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $30 to $23 per month, and removing Call of Duty from the list of games available on launch day. The early performance of Forza Horizon 6 is seen as a positive sign during a transitional period for Microsoft's gaming division.

Forza Horizon 6 is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PC through Microsoft Store and Steam, and via Xbox Game Pass. A version for PlayStation 5 is expected later this year, though no specific release date has been announced.

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The new features expand on Live Updates for flight tracking that Google introduced to Wallet last month, which now display flight status information directly on the lockscreen or always-on display.

Frequent Flyer Programs Directly From a Google Wallet

Google Wallet now allows users to sign up for airline frequent flyer programs directly from a boarding pass. The option appears within the boarding pass interface, so there's no need to find and install an airline's app or visit a separate website.

Google describes the change as a way to make enrollment easier when travelers are most interested, at the time of boarding rather than long after a flight.

Auto Linked Passes Expand to Boarding Passes, Baggage Tags, and Travel Offers

Auto Linked Passes is being updated to automatically add related travel passes to a user's Google Wallet. Brazil's Azul Airlines is already using the feature to push boarding passes to customer Wallets after check-in completes on mobile, web, or at the airport.

The expanded Auto Linked Passes also support sending baggage tags directly to the Wallet and surfacing offers linked to a boarding pass or loyalty card.

Google has not announced which additional airlines are integrating Auto Linked Passes beyond Azul or when broader airline support will be rolled out globally.

Availability and Airline Support

The new features for Google Wallet were announced at Google I/O 2026. Google has not provided specific availability dates for the frequent flyer sign-up feature or the expanded Auto Linked Passes capabilities beyond the existing Azul Airlines integration.

These features will become available as airlines adopt the updated Google Wallet APIs that support these functions.

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Meta has not made any formal announcement about the launch and describes it as part of its usual process of testing new products publicly to see what works.

To use Forum, you need a Facebook account, and your existing Groups membership, profile, and activity are seamlessly transferred from Facebook into the new app.

What Does Forum Differ From Facebook Groups

Forum removes most of the Facebook feed and mainly focuses on conversations within Groups. The main feed is centered around Group discussions, rather than mixing posts from friends, Pages, and algorithmic suggestions.

The app uses anonymized usernames similar to Reddit. Group admins can see a user's real identity, but other members only see the username they chose during interactions.

New users are asked to select topics they’re interested in, so Forum will show content from Groups they’re not yet part of. Anything shared through Forum still appears in the relevant Facebook Group, and posts made directly on Facebook are also visible inside Forum.

AI Features Built In, Context, and Meta’s Previous Groups App Attempt

The forum features two AI tools. One, called Ask, combines responses from multiple groups to deliver answers without users needing to search each community individually. The other is an AI assistant for group administrators, aimed at helping with moderation and community management.

Meta has not provided details about the underlying model or clarified whether content from groups is used for training the AI.

Meta launched a standalone Facebook Groups app in 2014 but shut it down in 2017, saying it would focus on integrating Groups into the main Facebook app. Recent signals suggest that Meta has reversed that decision, now viewing Groups as a distinct product that merits its own dedicated space again.

The move positions Groups against Reddit, highlighting its value as a place for user-driven recommendations, advice, and niche knowledge. Many users often add "Reddit" to Google searches for such content. Meta already manages millions of Groups covering similar topics, and the new Forum app aims to offer a more discussion-oriented experience of that content.

Forum App Availability on iOS and What Comes Next

The forum app is currently available on the iOS App Store in the United States. Meta has not announced when it will be released on Android or in other regions. The company describes the app as one of many products it tests publicly to gauge user interest, suggesting that its launch may still be at an experimental stage.

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Custom scenes and seat assignments will also be removed when Together mode is phased out. Organizations that previously used these features for branded virtual environments will need to adopt branded backgrounds, which are still supported.

Why Is Microsoft Removing Together Mode?

Together mode was introduced in 2020 during the early stages of widespread remote work, aiming to make video calls feel more natural by placing participants in a shared virtual space instead of separate video tiles.

Microsoft notes that the meeting landscape has evolved since then, with many companies returning to in-person work and Teams introducing new features such as an expanded gallery view.

According to a Microsoft blog post, the company is retiring Together mode to simplify the meeting experience and allow engineering resources to focus on improvements that benefit all Teams meetings.

Microsoft explains that the variety of meeting view options has increased cognitive load for users and caused experience fragmentation across devices. The company expects this change to result in fewer clicks, smoother meetings, and faster development of new features.

Recommended Alternatives and What They Mean in Practice?

Microsoft recommends several existing Teams features for users who want to maintain some of the social cues that Together mode provided. These include pinning speakers to keep specific attendees visible, spotlighting presenters to emphasize the active speaker, using multiple displays to keep gallery views and content side by side, and applying branded backgrounds for a consistent visual environment across meetings.

Anyone currently using Together mode for recurring meetings should plan to switch to the gallery view or one of the recommended alternatives before June 30. Custom scenes created or licensed by some organizations will no longer work after that date, and any scheduling templates set to default to Together mode should be updated.

Microsoft has not stated whether elements of Together mode might return in a different form. The retirement appears to be part of an ongoing effort to streamline the Teams meeting interface, rather than a temporary change.

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Ask YouTube is currently available to YouTube Premium members aged 18 and over in the United States through youtube.com/new. Broader availability to all users is planned for the future.

The remixing feature with Omni is being rolled out today at no cost in YouTube Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app, with an upcoming release on AI Playground.

How Ask YouTube’s Conversational Search Works

YouTube now supports natural-language search queries that go beyond simple keyword matching. Users can ask questions like how to teach a child to ride a bike or request reviews of cozy games to play before bed. The system allows follow-up questions to refine results during a search session.

This feature pulls relevant videos from across YouTube's entire catalog, including long-form videos and Shorts. Instead of showing a typical list of search results, it presents an interactive, structured response.

Gemini Omni Brings AI Remixing, Watermarking, and Creator Controls to Shorts

Gemini Omni is a new tool designed for AI-assisted remixing of eligible YouTube Shorts. Users can add their own prompts and images to an existing Short to create a new version, such as giving a scene a 1990s look or placing themselves alongside a creator, all while preserving the original video's context.

Google explains that Gemini Omni handles complex video and audio adjustments automatically, reducing the technical skills needed to produce a polished remix. The model is also said to better understand user intent and maintain story coherence compared to previous remixing tools on the platform.

All Shorts remixed through Gemini Omni include digital watermarks and identifying metadata, which link back to the original video. The watermarks are created using Google's SynthID system designed for AI-generated content.

Creators maintain control over their work and can choose to opt out of visual remixing in Shorts at any time. These new remixing tools are being rolled out alongside YouTube's expansion of its Likeness Detection tool to all creators aged 18 and over, announced earlier this week.

This tool allows creators to identify and request the removal of unauthorized AI-generated videos that feature their face.

Where Ask YouTube, Gemini Omni, and Likeness Detection Are Available

Ask YouTube: Premium members aged 18 and over in the US can now access a new feature through youtube.com/new, with a broader rollout planned.

Gemini Omni is being remixed into Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app, which are rolling out today at no cost. An

AI Playground integration with Omni is expected soon.

Likeness Detection is expanding to all creators aged 18 and older.

Google has not provided a specific timeline for the global rollout of Ask YouTube or for expanding it beyond Premium subscribers.

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The game will be available in early access for those who pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe Edition on May 26, 2026, with a wider release scheduled for May 27, 2026.

The game will launch simultaneously on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, while a Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for a later date.

Global Launch Times for 007 First Light

Launch times are scheduled at the same hour of the day for both the early access and public release dates. Both versions go live at the designated times in each region on May 26 and May 27, respectively:

• Los Angeles (PDT): 7:00 AM
• Dallas (CDT): 9:00 AM
• New York (EDT): 10:00 AM
• São Paulo (BST): 11:00 AM
• London (BST): 3:00 PM
• Paris (CEST): 4:00 PM
• Berlin (CEST): 4:00 PM
• Istanbul (TRT): 5:00 PM
• Beijing (CST): 10:00 PM on May 26 and 11:00 PM on May 27
• Seoul (KST): 11:00 PM
• Sydney (AEST): 12:00 AM on May 27 and 12:00 AM on May 28
• Auckland (NZST): 2:00 AM on May 27

Times for early access follow the same schedule as the public release but are shifted forward by one calendar day.

What 007 First Light Is and When You Can Play It

007 First Light is being developed by IO Interactive, the studio best known for the Hitman series. The game is positioned as an origin story for James Bond rather than an adaptation of any existing film, exploring how the character became MI6's most recognized agent. Pre-orders for the Digital Deluxe Edition unlock access on May 26, three days before the standard launch on May 27.

A Nintendo Switch 2 version has been confirmed but does not yet have a release date. IO Interactive has not announced post-launch content plans, additional editions, or pricing differences between platforms.

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While Microsoft has not set a specific date for the transition, it is introducing a redesigned authentication process that encourages users to set up a passkey during sign-in.

Why Microsoft Is Phasing Out SMS Codes for Personal Accounts And What It Recommends Instead

Microsoft considers SMS-based authentication a security risk. The company points out that attackers can exploit plaintext mobile messages for fraud, phishing, and SIM swapping. Additionally, SMS authentication faces reliability issues, with codes sometimes not arriving or arriving late.

This change puts Microsoft in line with a broader industry trend away from SMS two-factor authentication, which security organizations like NIST have recommended deprecating for several years.

When users sign into a Microsoft account, they will notice a new option called "sign in faster" that creates a passkey on the device. Passkeys are cryptographic credentials that authenticate the user without needing a password or SMS code. They are linked to a specific device and can be unlocked using biometrics or a device PIN.

Microsoft's guidance explains several ways to store passkeys. Users can save the passkey in a password manager, store it on a smartphone for cross-device authentication, or use Windows Hello biometric hardware for local access.

Account recovery is changing to rely on verified secondary email addresses. Microsoft states these are more resilient than SMS for users who change phone numbers or lose access to their original device.

Potential Friction for Existing Users and How to Set Up a Passkey

The phase-out could disrupt users who currently rely on SMS verification for their Microsoft accounts. Those without a passkey or verified secondary email will need to set one up before SMS support is fully discontinued. Users on older devices that don't support passkey storage may have to use a password manager that supports passkeys or switch to a verified email recovery method.

Microsoft has not set a deadline for when users must move away from SMS authentication, but the company has emphasized its goal of improving security standards through secure-by-default experiences.

To prepare for the eventual removal of SMS, users can set up a passkey for their Microsoft account by following Microsoft's official instructions. This process supports creating passkeys on Windows 11, Android, iOS, and macOS devices, with the passkey synchronized through the user's preferred storage method.

Additionally, verified secondary email addresses can be added via account security settings as a backup recovery option.

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Google announced Continue On in the developer documentation rather than during the I/O 2026 keynote. The feature is set to launch alongside Android 17. Initially, it will support mobile-to-tablet handoff, with broader device support expected to follow.

How Android 17’s New Continue On Feature Works

When a user is working in a supported app on one Android device, picking up another nearby device that also supports the feature will show a suggestion in the taskbar to open the same app. Choosing this suggestion opens the app and picks up right where the user left off on the first device.

Handoff works both ways. Google says there is no primary device hierarchy. Any Android device with Continue On enabled can send and receive activity from any other Continue On-capable device.

Google’s developer documentation includes examples such as:

• A Google Doc open on a phone resumes in the same tab when the user picks up a tablet.
• A Gmail thread open on a phone opens on Gmail’s web interface on a tablet.

App-to-Web Fallback and Where Continue On Will Be Available

Continue On allows users to transfer from an app to the web version of a service. Whether an app uses a web fallback is up to the developer, but this mechanism also acts as a backup if the device does not have the relevant app installed. This means handoff can still work if the user has the app on their phone but not on their tablet, with the web version opening instead.

Continue On will be introduced as part of Android 17. Initially, support is limited to transitions between mobile devices and tablets. Google has not announced when support will expand to other device pairings or a final release date for Android 17.

The operating system is currently in beta, with QPR1 Beta 1 already available to Pixel users. Developer documentation for Continue On is now accessible for app developers preparing to implement support ahead of the Android 17 launch.

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Unlike many recent browser releases, this version does not introduce new AI features, such as AI search, summaries, or chatbots.

What Vivaldi’s New Unified Design Changes

In earlier versions of Vivaldi, tabs, toolbars, and side panels appeared as separate visual blocks surrounding the web content. With Vivaldi 8.0, these boundaries have been removed, creating a unified interface where all core elements form a single seamless surface. This change is purely visual and structural, with no impact on functionality.

Users who prefer the previous layout can switch back at any time. Vivaldi continues to support its longstanding approach of making interface options optional rather than mandatory.

The update also introduces a new set of default themes to highlight the unified design. These themes range from minimalist options to designs inspired by Norwegian heritage. If users do not find a suitable default, they can create their own themes or choose from more than 7,000 community-submitted options available in the Vivaldi theme gallery.

Navigation Options And No New AI Features in Vivaldi 8.0

Vivaldi 8.0 allows users to navigate using gestures, keyboard shortcuts, or command-line commands. It also includes integrated tools like email, calendar, feeds, and notes, which can be accessed directly from the browser without needing to switch between tabs or apps.

The release does not introduce AI-driven search, summarization, chatbot integration, or AI-assisted writing tools. This is in contrast to recent updates from other browser developers.

Google added AI Mode and AI Overviews in Search, Microsoft expanded Copilot integration in Edge, and Mozilla has been including AI features in Firefox while providing users the option to disable them.

Vivaldi's approach remains consistent with its long-standing privacy-first philosophy. The browser has historically avoided telemetry, third-party tracking, and bundled services, and the 8.0 release continues to follow this stance without incorporating AI features.

Vivaldi 8.0 Availability on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Vivaldi 8.0 is now available for download from the official Vivaldi website. Existing users will find the update delivered through the browser's standard update process.

This release is limited to desktop platforms; updates for Vivaldi's mobile apps on Android and iOS will be released separately.

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The main cause appears to be limited free space in the EFI System Partition. Devices with 10MB or less available space are most likely to experience this issue.

What Windows 11 KB5089549 Installation Failures Look Like

In addition to the rollback message, affected systems might display related entries in C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log that point to insufficient free space on the EFI System Partition. Examples of these log entries include:

• SpaceCheck: Insufficient free space
• ServicingBootFiles failed. Error = 0x70
• SpaceCheck: used by third-party or OEM files outside of Microsoft's boot directories

These messages indicate that the issue is related to space rather than a broader problem with the installation process.

Microsoft’s Known Issue Rollback Mitigation And Workaround for Persistent Errors

e has implemented a mitigation using Known Issue Rollback (KIR) for consumer and unmanaged business devices. In many cases, simply restarting the computer and checking for updates again will allow the update to install normally without any additional steps.

For devices managed by an organization, network administrators need to manually deploy a Group Policy workaround to apply the mitigation.

For systems that continue to experience issues after applying the KIR mitigation, Microsoft has provided a registry workaround. This reduces the reserved padding that Windows uses inside the EFI partition during servicing.

Editing the registry can be risky and may cause damage to the system if done incorrectly. It is advisable to back up the entire system before making any changes.

To implement the workaround, open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt, right-click on the top result, and select Run as administrator.

1. Type the given command and press Enter. After that, restart the computer.
2. Next, open Settings and navigate to Windows Update.
3. Click on Check for updates. The update

KB5089549 should now download and install successfully after the registry change has been applied.

Permanent Fix in Development and Other 2026 Windows 11 Update Issues

Microsoft has announced it is working on a permanent fix for the issue, which will be included in a future Windows update. No specific timeline has been given for when the fix will be released.

This problem is the latest in a series of issues affecting Windows 11 updates in 2026. The April update caused third-party backup software to break due to a vulnerable driver block, and in the same month, Windows Server 2025 systems experienced BitLocker recovery prompts and failures during update installations.

Devices with older hardware or upgraded system configurations tend to be more affected by these partition and servicing issues.

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The case focuses on Counter-Strike 2's weapon cases, which players receive periodically. Each case contains a random skin from a specific collection, and opening a case requires purchasing a key for $2.49. Players also have the option to receive other rewards that do not require keys.

Valve’s Core Legal Arguments Against New York’s Loot Box Lawsuit

Valve's filing presents three main arguments against labeling their activity as gambling:

First, Valve claims that there is no real "stake" or "risk" involved, since "every player always receives exactly what he paid for, one skin per mystery box." The filing notes that although users may value skins subjectively, they are not considered money, property, tokens exchangeable for money or property, credits, or promises under New York gambling law.

Second, Valve compares these cases to popular collectibles such as baseball cards, Labubus, comic book grab bags, cereal box toys, and Happy Meal prizes. The filing states, "People enjoy surprises. Part of the appeal of many collectibles, from baseball cards to cereal boxes, is the chance of opening a sealed package and getting a rare item. No legislature or court has ever deemed that act illegal gambling."

Third, Valve argues that a ruling in favor of New York could lead to broad consequences. The filing asks whether parents could buy packs of baseball cards for their children, or families go to Chuck E. Cheese to play games of chance and exchange tickets for prizes.

It raises the concern that such actions, like a child reaching into a cereal box and grabbing a surprise toy, could become chargeable crimes under the state attorney general's interpretation of gambling.

Why Valve Compares Counter-Strike Loot Boxes to Baseball Cards, and What New York Wants

New York's case argues that Counter-Strike skins have monetary value because players can resell them through Steam and third-party trading sites, with some weapon skins reportedly trading for very large sums. Valve's response applies the same reasoning to collectibles.

The record sale for a baseball card is a 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor Aaron Judge rookie card, which was sold privately for $5.2 million. The filing notes that the existence of a secondary market does not transform an item into gambling currency.

The state's lawsuit seeks damages equal to three times Valve's profits from loot boxes and requests a court ruling that Valve cannot sell loot boxes in New York in the future. Valve is asking the court to dismiss the case with prejudice, which would prevent it from being brought again.

Existing Counter-Strike 2 Loot Box Changes

Valve has made changes to the Counter-Strike 2 loot box system over the past few years. Players now have the option to receive weekly rewards and can avoid opening randomized item boxes if they prefer.

Some of these changes were driven by regulators rather than being voluntary. In Germany, Valve was required to include an item that shows the contents of a case before opening it to comply with German gambling laws. This requirement does not currently apply in the United States or other markets.

A decision on Valve's request to dismiss the case has not yet been scheduled. Meanwhile, a separate class-action lawsuit over loot boxes against Valve is ongoing in another court.

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VPN Location Selection in Firefox’s Free Built-In VPN

(Source: Blog-Mozilla)

The built-in VPN in Firefox now allows users to select their location in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Canada. People in these countries can route their browsing through any of these supported locations. By default, Firefox recommends the closest location, but users can change it at any time.

Mozilla has said that more locations are planned for future updates. Browsing will still be subject to the local laws and content restrictions of the region chosen.

Mozilla also reports that over one million users have signed up for the free Firefox VPN since its launch about two months ago.

Expanded Mobile AI Controls on Firefox for iOS and Android

After launching AI controls on Firefox desktop earlier this year, Mozilla has now expanded their availability to iOS and Android devices. The options available vary depending on the device and region, and include features like translations, voice search, and Shake to Summarize. Users can update their preferences at any time through Firefox’s settings.

Shake to Summarize, which provides a brief summary of a webpage when the device is shaken, is now available on Android in English. More languages for Android will be introduced later. On iOS, the feature is accessible in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese.

One-Click Private Browsing Reset and What’s Coming in Firefox Nightly

A new flame-shaped button for private sessions now appears to the right of the address bar in Private Browsing windows. Clicking it instantly clears the current private session, including cookies, browsing history, logins, and other session data, and then starts a new session without the need to close and reopen the browser.

Firefox is testing a redesigned settings page in Nightly with better navigation, clearer organization, and updated labels. Your existing preferences won’t change, and a new search feature helps you find settings that might be listed in different sections. The new settings page will be enabled by default for Nightly users later this week before a wider rollout.

Firefox 151 is now available through the regular update channel or as a direct download from Mozilla.

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The introduction of the new $100 tier causes some overlap in naming, as Google now offers two plans both called Ultra at different price points.

What the New $100 Google AI Ultra Plan Includes and How It Changes at $200

The AI Ultra plan offers up to five times the usage limits of the Pro plan. It also includes

• 20 terabytes of Google storage, which is four times more than what is included with AI Pro.
• Subscribers receive a YouTube Premium Individual subscription
• $40 in monthly Google Cloud credits. Additionally, users get 10,000 Flow Credits for use across Google's AI-powered creative tools.
• Access to Gemini Spark will be available later this year when it launches.

Google is maintaining its previous top-tier Ultra plan but has reduced the monthly price from $250 to $200. The plan offers 20 times the usage limits of AI Pro, which is double the multiplier of the new $100 tier.

The price adjustments align with Google's strategy to compete with similar offerings at comparable price points. ChatGPT Pro costs $100 per month, while Claude Max is priced at $200 per month, both providing high-volume usage options for power users and developers.

AI Pro Now Bundles YouTube Premium Lite

Google's $20 per month AI Pro plan now includes YouTube Premium Lite at no extra cost. Normally, YouTube Premium Lite costs $8.99 a month and offers a mostly ad-free YouTube experience, excluding music videos and Shorts. Users who don’t use YouTube Music can find added value in the bundle.

This change follows recent upgrades to the AI Pro tier, which now includes an increase in storage from 2TB to 5TB.

The new pricing and plan details are effective immediately. Google has not announced a specific launch date for Gemini Spark beyond mentioning it will arrive later this year.

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They are also beginning to remove client code that supported unencrypted fallback. The platform currently has around 690 million registered users and over 200 million monthly active users.

What Discord Now Encrypts End-to-End by Default

End-to-end encryption is used for direct messages, including voice and video calls, group direct messages, voice channels, and Go Live streams.

Stage channels are the only exception, as they are meant for large public broadcasts rather than private conversations. Encryption is automatically enabled on all supported platforms, such as desktop, mobile, web browsers, PlayStation, Xbox, and Discord SDKs, without requiring any opt-in.

How Discord’s DAVE Protocol Powers End-to-End Encryption

The encryption in Discord is based on DAVE, an open-source protocol that was first introduced in September 2024. DAVE was developed with help from security firm Trail of Bits, which also conducted audits. The protocol uses WebRTC encoded transforms, Messaging Layer Security for scalable group key exchanges, and ephemeral identity keys. Its design aims to improve privacy while reducing latency and call disruptions when participants join or leave a session.

Discord engineers note that extending DAVE to all supported platforms without causing noticeable latency is a technical challenge. One example they mentioned is a compatibility issue with Firefox, which was addressed through direct collaboration with Mozilla rather than by dropping support for Firefox.

Why Discord’s Text Messages Still Aren’t Encrypted End-to-End

Discord has confirmed that DAVE will not be expanding to include text-based communications for now. The company explains that their text features were originally developed with the assumption that messages are not encrypted. As a result, adding end-to-end encryption to text would require significant engineering efforts.

This means that direct messages, group chats, and channel texts remain accessible to Discord on their servers, while only voice and video calls are now protected with end-to-end encryption. The encryption feature is currently available for all users.

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All Six Forza Horizon 6 Loyalty Reward Cars

The system rewards save data from several Forza games:

• Forza Horizon 1 (2012) grants a 2013 Dodge SRT Viper GTS,
• Forza Horizon 2 (2014) offers a 2014 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4,
• Forza Horizon 3 (2016) provides a 2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4, and
• Forza Horizon 4 (2018) gives a 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan, replacing the original McLaren Senna cover car, likely due to licensing issues.
• Forza Horizon 5 (2021) rewards a 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONE, and
• Forza Motorsport (2023) offers a 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.

How to Unlock Your Forza Horizon 6 Loyalty Rewards

The unlocks happen automatically. Players should sign in to the same Xbox Gamertag used for previous Forza games, complete the introductory race in Tokyo with Mei, and progress through the prologue until the first house and garage are unlocked. It’s also helpful to check the Cars tab in the pause menu to verify that loyalty cars are in the garage.

The system checks for save data on each qualifying title. You don't need to complete campaigns or specific milestones; simply launching the game and finishing the opening race is enough to register save data.

Limitations for New Players and How Loyalty Cars Work in Forza Horizon 6

Most previous Forza games are no longer available for download in 2026. The games from Forza Horizon 1 through 4 have been delisted from the Xbox Store due to the expiration of music and brand licensing. Additionally, all Forza Motorsport titles released before 2023 have been removed.

Currently, only two of the eligible games are accessible: Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Motorsport (2023). Both are included in Xbox Game Pass. Players wishing to unlock the Mercedes-AMG ONE or the Corvette E-Ray need to launch each game and complete the opening race to generate save data prior to starting Forza Horizon 6 for the first time.

Loyalty cars can be used in free roam and open-world events such as Danger Signs and Drift Zones right from the start. Race events are locked behind Wristband tiers, with faster car classes only available in later campaign stages. Until those tiers are unlocked, the loyalty cars are best suited for exploration and skill point farming.

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As a result, Microsoft's remaining claims were dismissed as a matter of law following the jury's decision on the OpenAI claims. The jury reached its verdict in around two hours after a three-week trial that featured testimony from Musk, Altman, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and other figures from the tech industry.

What Elon Musk’s Lawsuit Actually Claimed

Musk claimed that Altman violated the original non-profit agreement of OpenAI by shifting the ChatGPT developer toward a for-profit structure after Musk donated $38 million in the company's early days.

He argued that this change was deceptive because OpenAI's initial goal was to create AI for the benefit of humanity, not for profit. However, the jury decided that the statute of limitations had expired, so it was not necessary to assess the validity of either claim.

How Musk, OpenAI, and Microsoft Responded to the Verdict

Musk responded on X shortly after the verdict, saying that the decision amounted to "a free license to loot charities if you can keep the looting quiet for a few years." He also criticized the judge, calling him a "terrible activist" who was using the jury "as a fig leaf."

That post was later deleted. In a follow-up message, Musk said he plans to appeal, claiming the jury did not decide "on the merits of the case" and that the outcome was based on a "calendar technicality."

OpenAI spokesperson Sam Singer described the verdict as "a tremendous victory" and suggested that the lawsuit was "an effort by Mr Musk to slow down a competitor." William Savitt, OpenAI's lawyer, added that the jury found Musk lied during his testimony about the company's origins.

Microsoft, which was also named in claims related to aiding and abetting OpenAI's transition, said: "The facts and the timeline in this case have long been clear," and reaffirmed its commitment to working with OpenAI.

Appeal Prospects and the Origins of OpenAI

Legal experts cited in the reporting expressed skepticism about Musk's chances on appeal. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, noted that the jury's decision was very fact-based and pointed out that appellate courts rarely overturn jury verdicts like this.

Raffi Melkonian, an appellate lawyer, added that winning an appeal of a jury verdict is generally very difficult. Musk's lawyer, Marc Toberoff, told reporters outside court, "This war is not over, and I would sum it up in one word: appeal."

OpenAI was established in 2015 by Musk, Altman, and others as a non-profit research organization. Musk stepped down from the board in 2018 after his co-founders rejected his attempt to gain control of the company. Altman testified that Musk supported the move to a for-profit model but wanted control over the new entity, reportedly suggesting at one point that control might pass to his children after his death.

The verdict concludes one of the highest-profile legal disputes in the AI industry so far, though the planned appeal means the case could drag on further.

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In the United States, a one-month Essential subscription will go up from $9.99 to $10.99, while in Europe, the price will increase from €9.99 to €10.99. In the UK, it will rise from £7.99 to £8.99. These changes represent about a 10 percent increase.

The three-month subscription price will also go up from $24.99 to $27.99 in the US, from €27.99 to €30.99 in Europe, and from £21.99 to £24.99 in the UK. This amount reflects roughly a 12 percent increase.

What About the 12-Month PlayStation Plus Essential Plan?

Sony's announcement doesn't explicitly say that the 12-month Essential subscription is changing. The current price of $79.99 per year remains the best value among the three available durations. Subscription providers often aim to keep users locked into longer-term plans at stable prices, and the wording implies the annual plan isn't affected for now.

What PS Plus Essential Actually Includes

PlayStation Plus Essential offers subscribers online multiplayer access, exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store, Share Play, cloud save storage, and a selection of free games each month. The larger, more static PS Plus Game Catalog is not included in the Essential tier and is available only with the Extra and Premium plans.

The price increases reflect a broader trend of rising costs in gaming. Nintendo recently raised the Switch 2 price by $50 in multiple regions starting September 1. Sony has also increased PS5 console prices. Last week, Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki stated that another PS5 hardware price hike is not currently planned, though he did not guarantee that prices won't change in the future.

Sony has not specified when market conditions might allow for prices to stabilize or go down. Meanwhile, existing PS Plus subscribers will keep their current pricing until they decide to change or cancel their subscriptions.

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In a support document, Microsoft acknowledged the problem, noting that "customers who depend on the Right Ctrl key or Context menu key for keyboard shortcuts or assistive technologies, such as screen readers, faced challenges in their workflows when using these devices."

How Windows 11’s New Copilot Key Remapping Will Work

Once the update is released, users will be able to remap the Copilot key through Settings, Bluetooth and devices, Keyboard. The dropdown menu will allow users to select between Copilot, Right Ctrl, Context menu, or other supported options.

This new feature will work across all Windows 11 PCs equipped with a Copilot key, regardless of the manufacturer. Some PC makers already provide remapping options through their own software, but the upcoming change introduces native, OEM-independent control directly within Windows.

Existing Copilot Key Options and Why the New Update Matters for Accessibility

Microsoft previously introduced an option to remap the Copilot key to open Windows Search or another app installed on the system. However, currently, no third-party apps support launching via the Copilot key natively, which limits the usefulness of that feature for users who prefer not to launch Copilot directly.

Screen readers and other assistive technologies on Windows often use the Right Ctrl key for navigation and commands. Replacing that key with the dedicated Copilot key disrupted workflows for users relying on these tools. The upcoming update restores compatibility while still allowing users to use the Copilot key if they prefer.

Microsoft is making several changes to Windows 11 in response to user feedback. Recent updates include restoring a movable Taskbar, adding expanded pause controls for Windows Update, removing Copilot branding from Notepad, and canceling plans to integrate Copilot into Windows 11 Settings and File Explorer.

The company has not announced a specific release date for the Copilot key remapping update, only confirming that it will arrive later this year.

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The update was announced on the YouTube community by Google, which described likeness detection as a first of its kind in YouTube Studio. It’s designed to help creators see and manage how AI is used to depict them on the platform.

What YouTube’s Likeness Detection Tool Actually Does

After a creator enrolls, YouTube's systems work to identify videos on the platform that may include altered or synthetic uses of the creator's facial likeness. Creators can then see where their likeness appears in AI-generated or modified videos and request the removal of unauthorized content that violates YouTube's privacy guidelines directly through YouTube Studio. This helps reduce the chance of viewers being misled by videos that seem to feature them.

The system uses facial scans and government-issued ID verification to confirm the creator's identity before enabling detection.

How Creators Can Enroll in Likeness Detection

The feature will be gradually rolled out to creators aged 18 and over. Once available, enrollment can be completed through YouTube Studio on a desktop: Open the left menu, select content detection, likeness, and click start now.

Grant YouTube permission to use likeness detection technology. Then, complete a one-time verification process that takes a few minutes.

After setup, creators may not see any flagged videos immediately. YouTube explains that the feature works in the background, and a lack of detected videos simply means no unauthorized AI uses of the creator's likeness have been found so far.

Likeness detection addresses concerns over AI-generated deepfake content. The tool provides creators with a way to monitor and respond to misuse of their image, rather than relying only on YouTube's content moderation or takedown requests.

Google has stated that the tool will continue to improve during the rollout. The company has not yet announced a date for full availability or expansion beyond the United States.

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Access is provided through the Meta Wearables Device Access Toolkit, which includes native SDKs for both Android and iOS. Web apps can be hosted via standard URLs without the need for a dedicated app store.

This dual approach gives developers the option to choose between native app integration and web-based deployment.

What Developers Can Build With the Ray-Ban Display Toolkit

The toolkit supports user interface elements such as text, images, buttons, and video on the in-lens display. Early use cases include guides, streaming tools, and minigames. Apps can also integrate with the Neural Band gesture control system that comes with Ray-Ban Display.

Meta has not specified any restrictions on the types of apps that can be submitted or whether a review process is in place for third-party submissions. The preview status indicates that the developer access program is likely to develop further before becoming available to a wider audience.

New Features Rolling Out to All Ray-Ban Display Owners

Alongside the developer preview, Meta is introducing four new features for existing Ray-Ban Display users. These include:

• Neural Handwriting, which enables gesture-based text input using the Neural Band;
• Display recording that captures what appears on the in-lens screen
• Expanded turn-by-turn navigation coverage in the United States and major European cities
• And broader live caption support. Additionally,

Muse Spark, Meta's first proprietary AI model developed by Superintelligence Labs, will be available on Ray-Ban Displays this summer. This update is expected to bring improved conversational abilities, shopping tools, and support for multi-agent tasks, similar to features being introduced across Meta's other smart glasses.

Why Meta Is Opening Ray-Ban Display to Third-Party Apps Now

The Ray-Ban Display was launched in September 2025 and has received several updates since then, including new widgets, media controls, and messaging tools. The move to open the platform to third-party developers comes ahead of upcoming smart glasses launches from Google, Samsung, and other partners using Google's Android XR platform.

Meta has not announced when the developer preview will leave its testing phase or when third-party apps will be available to all Ray-Ban Display users.

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With this feature, ChatGPT can access balances, transactions, investments, and liabilities through linked accounts. However, it cannot see full account numbers or make changes to the accounts. Connections are established via Plaid, with support from Intuit expected soon. At launch, more than 12,000 financial institutions are supported.

How to Connect Your Financial Accounts Inside ChatGPT

To start using the feature, users can either open the Finances tab from the ChatGPT sidebar and click Get started or type "@Finances, connect my accounts" in any conversation.

ChatGPT then guides users through linking their accounts via Plaid. Once authenticated, the synced and categorized data appears in a dashboard that provides an overview of portfolio performance, spending categories, subscriptions, and upcoming payments. The initial sync process may take a few minutes.

Users also have the option to add Financial memories, which save context such as a savings goal, a mortgage, an outstanding loan, or a planned major purchase. ChatGPT uses these memories to improve the relevance of future finance-related conversations.

What ChatGPT’s Personal Finance Dashboard Can Do With Your Data

The feature defaults to GPT-5.5 Thinking for finance conversations, while GPT-5.5 Pro is available to ChatGPT Pro users for more accurate responses. OpenAI's internal benchmark scores GPT-5.5 Pro at 82.5 out of 100 on a personal finance test, with GPT-5.5 Thinking scoring 79. Outdated models scored lower, with GPT-5.4 Thinking at 76.6 and GPT-5.5 Instant at 65.1.

The benchmark was developed in collaboration with over 50 finance professionals to assess response quality across complex personal finance tasks. OpenAI emphasizes that the experience is meant to inform and not replace professional financial advice.

Privacy Controls and Action-Oriented Features Through Ecosystem Partners

Conversations with connected accounts follow the user's training settings, which can be adjusted via Settings and Data controls.

Users have the option to disconnect financial accounts at any time through Settings, Apps, Finances, or directly from the Finances page. Any synced data is removed from OpenAI’s systems within 30 days. Users can also delete individual financial memories at any time from the Finances page. Temporary chats are available that do not access connected financial account data and do not appear in conversation history.

OpenAI recommends enabling multi-factor authentication on the ChatGPT account to provide extra protection.

OpenAI is expanding the capabilities of its finance feature beyond simple Q&A. Through partnerships with companies like Intuit, the company is developing use cases such as providing a credit card recommendation followed by an estimate of approval odds and an application process, or helping with tax estimates and scheduling a session with a local tax expert directly within ChatGPT.

The personal finance feature is now available to ChatGPT Pro users in the United States on web and iOS. OpenAI plans to roll it out to Plus subscribers next, with the ultimate goal of making it widely available. No specific timeline has been announced for a broader rollout or for availability outside the United States.

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"The ongoing flood of AI reports has made the security list nearly unmanageable, with a lot of duplication because different people are finding the same problems with the same tools," Torvalds explained.

He added that maintainers are spending most of their time just forwarding reports to the right people or pointing out that an issue was already fixed weeks or months earlier, often referencing the public discussion.

Why Torvalds Says the Private Security List Is the Wrong Place for AI Bug Reports

Torvalds pointed out that bugs identified by AI are not suitable for discussion on the project's private security mailing list because the same tools used to detect them are available to everyone. He explained that AI-detected bugs are generally not secret, and discussing them privately would be a waste of time for everyone involved.

He also noted that keeping this process private can make the problem of duplicate reports worse, since reviewers cannot see each other's submissions.

How Torvalds Wants Developers to Use AI for Kernel Security

Torvalds clarified that he does not want AI tools to be excluded from kernel development. Instead, he encourages researchers to use these tools more effectively. "If you find a bug using AI tools, chances are someone else has already found it," he wrote. "To add real value, read the documentation, create a patch, and build on what the AI has provided.

Avoid simply submitting a report without understanding the issue." He also directed contributors to the project's security documentation, which outlines the expectations for reports.

Maintainers Clash Over the Value of AI-Generated Reports

Torvalds' comments differ from recent remarks by fellow kernel maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman. In March, Kroah-Hartman told The Register that AI bug reports had shifted from low-quality submissions to genuinely useful contributions.

This disagreement highlights ongoing questions within open-source projects about how to incorporate AI-assisted security research without overwhelming maintainers.

The issue is further underscored by a separate proposal from Nvidia engineer Sasha Levin. Levin suggested a Linux kernel killswitch mechanism to allow administrators to disable vulnerable functions temporarily while waiting for patches. Both points reflect increasing pressure on the kernel security workflow as AI tools become more widely used by external researchers.

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The first batch of controllers began arriving this week. Valve launched the reservation system on May 8, after the controller sold out in less than 30 minutes at its May 4 debut.

How to Claim Your Steam Controller Reservation

Everyone with a reservation should check their email and spam folder. Reports from the r/SteamController subreddit indicate that Valve is not sending reminder messages. Missing the purchase window means losing the reservation entirely.

The purchase window is currently 72 hours from the time the email is received. Once confirmed and paid, fulfillment is expected to begin in the United States and Canada first, followed by the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia over the coming weeks.

The reservation system operates in a generally chronological manner but isn’t strictly ordered. For example, one Reddit user reserved at 9:59 AM PST on May 8 and received an email, while another user who reserved at the same time has yet to get one.

A third user reportedly reserved 40 seconds before the official window opened and is still waiting. Valve has not publicly explained how the emails are being sent. The Steam Deck reservation rollout in 2022 experienced similar inconsistencies, which were attributed to server batching, regional processing, and the way email queues are managed.

What the Reservation System Means for Late Buyers

Reservations don’t expire if a user is not in the current wave. Anyone still waiting remains in line for future batches. Valve has not announced when subsequent batches will be sent out or how long it will take to clear the full reservation queue.

Resale prices on eBay remain high, with Steam Controller listings well above the retail price of $99. The anti-scalper requirements introduced alongside the reservation system, such as needing a Steam account in good standing with a purchase before April 27, 2026, are limiting secondary market activity but not preventing it.

The Steam Controller was launched on May 4 at a retail price of $99. It features TMR magnetic thumbsticks, dual trackpads, gyro support, four rear grip buttons, and a Puck accessory that functions as both a charger and a 2.4GHz wireless receiver.

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The Digital Markets Act mandates that gatekeepers like Apple and Google display alternative browser options to users on new devices through dedicated selection screens, rather than exclusively promoting their own browsers.

Where Firefox’s New Users Are Coming From

Firefox has experienced a 113% rise in users within Apple's ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. In contrast, the increase among Android users has been only 12%. Mozilla explains the difference by how each operating system handles browser selection.

When iPhone and iPad users open Safari for the first time, they see the browser choice screen, making the selection part of their usual experience. On Android devices, the selection screen appears only during initial setup or after a factory reset, which means fewer users encounter it during regular use.

How Browser Choice Screens Are Shaking Up Competition

DuckDuckGo has reported a 40% increase in browser usage on Android since the introduction of the choice screens. Opera, Vivaldi, and Aloha have also seen growth, although specific numbers have not been disclosed.

The browser choice screens are currently available only in the European Union. Mozilla and DuckDuckGo are advocating for similar requirements to be introduced in the United Kingdom. Both organizations see this regulatory approach as essential for challenging the dominance of preinstalled defaults on mobile devices.

Why Mobile Browser Gains Matter on Desktop

Mobile devices now make up more than half of internet traffic. The increased use of independent browsers on phones and tablets helps ensure that these browsers remain relevant on desktops as well, thanks to brand recognition, user accounts, and bookmarks syncing across devices. Mobile usage also influences desktop browsing patterns, even for users who initially discovered browsers through the phone.

Firefox currently has roughly 3% of the global browser market. The additional 6 million users are a notable rise from a low baseline but do not significantly alter the competitive landscape, which is still dominated by Chrome worldwide.

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This announcement comes a week after Meta removed end-to-end encryption from regular Instagram DMs on May 8, which sparked criticism over user privacy. Incognito Chat differs from traditional messaging by applying a different model specifically to AI interactions rather than person-to-person conversations.

How Meta’s Incognito Chat Uses Private Processing to Protect AI Conversations

Incognito Chat offers a private, temporary conversation between the user and Meta AI. Messages are processed in a secure environment that Meta claims it cannot access. Conversations are not stored, and messages automatically disappear after the chat ends.

Meta notes that this is different from incognito modes in other AI apps, which often still allow the provider to see incoming questions and outgoing responses. According to Meta, Incognito Chat is designed so that even Meta itself cannot read the messages.

Meta has announced an upcoming Side Chat feature for WhatsApp, which will also be protected by Private Processing. Side Chat is intended to offer private AI assistance within an ongoing WhatsApp conversation without interrupting the chat or exposing its content to the AI in an insecure way.

Both Incognito Chat and Side Chat will be gradually rolled out on WhatsApp and the Meta AI app. Meta has published a technical whitepaper explaining how Private Processing manages AI conversations, available through its AI documentation.

The company has not specified whether Incognito Chat will be launched globally or in select regions first, or if the same Private Processing method will be applied to other Meta platforms.

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The ability to move the Taskbar was a frequently requested feature since Windows 11 removed the Taskbar positioning options in 2021.

This change was part of the Windows K2 initiative, Microsoft's effort to address long-standing complaints about Windows 11.

Movable Taskbar and New Smaller Mode

The Taskbar can now be moved to different positions through Settings, Personalization, Taskbar, Taskbar behaviors. You can choose to place it at the bottom, top, left, or right of the screen.

Tooltips, flyouts, and animations still originate from the Taskbar in each position. Most customization options, including the small Taskbar setting and the option to never combine icons, work across all locations.

However, some features are not yet available in the alternative positions. Touch gestures, the Search box, and Ask Copilot are still being developed. Auto-hidden and touch-optimized Taskbar modes are not supported when the Taskbar is moved.

A new option to show smaller taskbar buttons is now available in Settings under Personalization, Taskbar, Taskbar behaviors. When enabled, it reduces both the size of icons and the overall height of the Taskbar. Start, Search, and the system tray scale together to keep everything aligned.

The default Taskbar appearance remains unchanged for users who do not enable this setting. Microsoft has indicated that further adjustments to Taskbar resizing are currently in development.

Widget Updates and Smarter Windows Search

The color of widget badging now matches the Windows accent color instead of always appearing red. Microsoft says this change helps reduce the sense of urgency for non-critical updates.

The company is also testing a feature where users with low widget engagement will automatically experience a quieter widget experience, which includes turning off taskbar badging.

Microsoft has started rearranging Search Box results so that files and apps appear before web suggestions when the user's query matches them more closely.

Fluid Dictation Upgrades and New System Spinners

Fluid Dictation now supports Spanish and French for Windows Insiders. The feature automatically corrects grammar, punctuation, and filler words during voice dictation. It runs on small on-device language models and can be used through Windows voice access or Voice typing with Win + H.

Microsoft has replaced the old loading visuals with uniform solid donut spinners across the Boot, Logon, Restart, Shutdown, and Update screens. Each scenario now includes status text alongside the spinner, displaying messages like "Restarting," "Working on updates," and "Welcome."

Reliability Improvements and Performance Fixes

The build introduces the first in a series of ongoing logon performance optimizations that Microsoft plans to release over the next few months.

It also brings several other improvements, including enhanced reliability when switching between multiple desktops, more consistent notifications from the Simple Service Discovery Protocol, and greater stability of the dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command.

Additionally, there are fixes for issues such as a PC not staying asleep after updates and problems where the Properties window was not opening correctly for the Recycle Bin and some other scenarios. The refreshed Run dialog now navigates through history with arrow keys on first launch.

Build 26300.8493 is currently being rolled out to the Experimental channel. Microsoft has not announced when these changes will be available to broader Windows 11 users.

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These Steam figures only reflect players on that platform. The game is also available on Xbox Series X|S and via the Microsoft Store on Windows, with Xbox Game Pass offering day-one access starting May 19 when the full public launch takes place.

Forza Horizon 6 Early Access Player Surge and Launch Details

Forza Horizon 6 entered early access on May 14 for players with the Premium Upgrade or Premium Edition. The full release for the public is scheduled for May 19 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC through the Microsoft Store and Steam, as well as through Xbox Game Pass.

During the early access period, owners of the premium edition can play for three days before the standard editions and Game Pass subscribers gain access.

Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan and marks the first major release in the series since Forza Horizon 5 came out in 2021. Developer Playground Games has confirmed the PC system requirements ahead of launch, which are divided into four tiers. The highest tier supports 4K gameplay with ray tracing enabled.

The early access period has seen a much higher number of concurrent players than Forza Horizon 5 reached even before the game officially becomes available through Xbox Game Pass.

Microsoft does not disclose combined player numbers from Xbox consoles, Microsoft Store on Windows, and Steam. However, Steam's numbers alone suggest that Forza Horizon 6 is experiencing one of the strongest opening performances for an Xbox Game Studios title.

The game is scheduled for a full launch on May 19 across all platforms.

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Forza Horizon 6 PC System Requirements Across All Performance Tiers

The requirements are divided into four categories: Minimum, Recommended, Extreme, and Extreme Ray Tracing. A PS5 version is planned for later this year, but a release date has not yet been confirmed. All tiers require Windows 10 or Windows 11 version 22H2 or newer, along with an SSD for storage.

Minimum (Low Preset, 1080p at 60 FPS)

• CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, or Intel Arc A389
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: SSD

Recommended (High Preset, 1440p at 60+ FPS)

• CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, or Intel Arc A580
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: SSD

Extreme (Extreme Preset, 4K at 60+ FPS)

• CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
• RAM: 24GB
• Storage: NVMe SSD

Extreme Ray Tracing (Ray Tracing Enabled, 4K Upscaled at 60+ FPS)

• CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
• RAM: 32GB
• Storage: NVMe SSD

The PC version of Forza Horizon 6 supports Nvidia DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3 and 4, and Intel XeSS 2.1 upscaling technologies. It features uncapped framerates, ultrawide monitor compatibility, ray-traced reflections, and global illumination. The game also offers controller and racing wheel support, and has been verified to work with Steam Deck and Xbox ROG Ally handheld devices.

Forza Horizon 6 is scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, with the game available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. The setting for this installment is Japan.

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The mode has been available for several years and can be enabled by adding the URL parameter &udm=14 to a search query. Manually adding the parameter to each search is cumbersome. However, Chrome users can set the Web mode as their default search engine, which applies it automatically to every search.

How Set Web Mode as Default in Chrome on Desktop

1. Paste chrome://settings/searchEngines into the address bar.
2. Click Add next to Site Search.
3. In the dialog box, enter the following:
   • Name: Google Web Mode,
   • Shortcut: @web,
   • URL with %s in place of query: {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14.
4. Locate Google Web Mode in the search engines list, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Make default.

Google Search will now run all queries through Web mode by default.

How To Do It for Android

1. Open TenBlueLinks.org in Chrome for Android.
2. Open a new tab and perform any Google search.
3. In the search results, tap the three-dot menu and go to Settings.
4. Under Search engine, Google Web should now appear at the bottom.
5. Select it to set it as the default search engine.

TenBlueLinks.org uses an XML configuration that registers the Web mode search engine with the &udm=14 parameter. The site does not see search queries or participate in the search process. The same approach works in Chrome for iOS.

What Google Search Web Mode Changes and What It Doesn’t

Web mode does not enhance search quality, ranking, or freshness. It simply filters out the extra Google-built content that appears above or alongside organic results.

Users searching for things like hotels, flights, or product comparisons will see standard websites in the results instead of Google's integrated tools.

The udm=14 parameter is among several URL parameters that affect how Google Search displays results. While documentation for the others exists, the Web mode parameter offers the most noticeable difference for users who prefer a results page without AI summaries or feature panels.

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In mid-March, Google quietly updated its wording around the included storage, replacing the previous unconditional statement of 15GB with a "up to" 15GB.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to How-To Geek that the company is testing this new storage policy for new accounts in some regions. Google did not specify which regions are currently affected.

Why Google Is Tying 15GB of Free Storage to Phone Number Verification

Google says the phone number requirement exists to ensure that the 15GB of free storage is added once per person. The policy aims to stop a long-standing pattern of users creating multiple accounts to combine free storage and avoid paying for Google One subscriptions.

The company states that this change will help continue to provide a high-quality storage service and encourage users to improve their account security and data recovery methods.

AI tools and automation have made it easier to scale multi-account abuse, including potential use by malware operators who could store stolen data across free accounts without paying.

This change also assists Google in managing storage infrastructure costs, especially at a time when DRAM and NAND prices have risen significantly due to demand from AI applications.

What New Google Users Need to Know About the Storage Change

For new account registration in the affected regions, users have two choices: they can link a phone number during setup to receive the full 15GB of free storage, or skip the phone link and accept a 5GB storage limit.

Existing Google accounts created before the policy change are not affected, based on current reports.

Google has not clarified whether the policy will be rolled out to additional regions or if existing accounts might eventually face similar requirements.

Privacy and Practical Concerns Around Google’s New Storage Policy

The change impacts users who prefer not to share their phone numbers with major platforms. While Google offers phone-number-free two-factor authentication through authenticator apps, its storage policy specifically requires a number for full access.

Small business owners creating separate accounts for work-related storage might also encounter difficulties, especially if they want to keep their personal phone numbers separate from their professional accounts.

Google One subscriptions start at $20 per year for 100GB, offering an alternative for users who prefer not to share a number or need more than 5GB of storage.

Google has not provided a timeline for when the policy might expand beyond the current test regions or if the 5GB cap for unlinked accounts will be changed.

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The removal of Copilot Mode does not mean less AI integration in Edge; instead, it distributes it more evenly across the browsing experience.

Copilot Features Move Into Edge on Desktop and Mobile

The desktop version of Edge introduces several new AI-powered features that were previously part of Copilot Mode. These include a Study and Learn mode, a writing assistant, Copilot quizzes, and a feature that converts open tabs into a podcast for listening. All of these features are now integrated directly into the default Edge interface, eliminating the need for users to switch to a dedicated mode.

The mobile versions of Edge for iOS and Android have been updated to bring them closer to the features available on the desktop browser:

• Copilot can now analyze open tabs to answer questions and collect information from multiple sources.
• Journeys, which organizes browsing history by topic and suggests next steps, is now available on mobile devices. Support for
• Vision and Voice have been added, allowing users to interact with Copilot through voice commands while the assistant analyzes on-screen content.

Additionally, the new tab page design from the desktop version of Edge has been rolled out to mobile.

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This mechanism aims to fill a gap in the current driver recovery process. When a driver distributed via Windows Update is found to have quality issues, fixing the problem currently relies on hardware partners submitting an updated driver or users manually uninstalling the problematic one. This can leave devices running on low-quality drivers for an extended period.

How Microsoft’s Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery Works

Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery is started by Microsoft from the Hardware Dev Center Driver Shiproom when a driver update request is rejected during shiproom review for quality reasons.

This recovery process replaces the problematic driver on devices via the Windows Update system, restoring the previous driver version or the next best available one from Windows Update.

The system operates through the existing Windows Update infrastructure, requiring no additional client software, partner tools, or user actions. Devices that cannot find a driver approved by the Driver Shiproom will not attempt Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery.

What Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery Affects and What It Doesn’t

This feature is only relevant for drivers identified as having quality issues during the shiproom evaluation. Drivers that are published and functioning properly will not be impacted. Recovery efforts are limited to devices and hardware targets associated with the specific driver shipping label and do not extend to unrelated hardware configurations or other drivers.

Hardware partners are not required to take any action. Microsoft manages the recovery process entirely. Partners will be informed through existing shiproom communication channels whenever a recovery action is taken on one of their submissions.

After a recovery, partners can submit an updated driver via the usual Hardware Dev Center publishing process. Once the updated driver passes shiproom evaluation, it will be published to Windows Update as always.

Why Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery Matters for Windows Users

End users will now benefit from automatic recovery if they encounter problematic driver releases, eliminating the need to identify the faulty driver or manually undo updates.

This change addresses a common source of post-update instability, where a single defective driver could cause crashes, hardware issues, or system failures for days or even weeks before a fix is released.

Microsoft has not announced a specific rollout date in September or clarified whether the update will be available for all Windows versions at once or in stages.

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Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the bug or provided an official fix. Restarting the PC often resolves the problem, but there is a faster workaround that takes about 30 seconds.

How to Restore the Missing Emoji Picker Search Box in Windows 11

The issue seems to be related to UI rendering in Windows Explorer. Restarting the Explorer process usually refreshes the affected interface elements and restores the search box functionality.

To do this, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Locate Windows Explorer in the list of processes. Right-click on it and choose Restart.

The taskbar will disappear briefly and then reload as Windows Explorer restarts. Once it reappears, open the emoji picker with Win + . (period) should display the search box correctly.

How Widespread the Windows 11 Emoji Picker Bug Appears to Be

The bug has been reported by Windows Central writers testing Insider Beta channel builds. It is still unclear whether the issue is limited to Insider builds or if it also appears in stable Windows 11 releases. The frequency of the bug varies from one machine to another, with some users experiencing it repeatedly and others not seeing it at all.

Microsoft has not provided a fix or a timeline for when a solution might be available. Until a permanent fix is released, restarting Windows Explorer remains the quickest workaround.

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The following Doom titles are on sale through May 15:

• Doom (2016) for $2, a 90% discount
• Doom and Doom 2 together for $4, a 60% discount
• Doom 3 for $4, a 60% discount
• Doom 64 for $2, a 60% discount
• Doom Eternal for $10, a 75% discount
• Doom: The Dark Ages for $23.09, a 67% discount

The 2016 reboot is the lowest-priced game in the sale, even though it is also one of the most well-received entries in the series. It features fast-paced melee finishers, glory kills, and a soundtrack that has influenced the FPS genre since its release.

The sale ends on May 15. Prices in other regions are available on the Steam store pages for each title.

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Home Screen Widgets and Gemini Integration in Android Auto

The new home screen now supports widgets that display important information without needing to leave the main screen. Currently available widgets include shortcuts to favorite contacts, a one-tap garage door opener, and weather summaries.

Native Gemini integration will be available in Android Auto later this year. Users with Gemini set up on their phones will be able to access it through Android Auto for sports scores, weather updates, and live traffic information. A partnership with DoorDash also enables food ordering directly within Android Auto.

Vehicles with Google built in will see more extensive Gemini features that go beyond standard Android Auto capabilities. In these vehicles, Gemini can try to diagnose dashboard warning lights, measure physical objects to check if they will fit in the trunk, and use the front-facing camera to advise drivers on when to change lanes.

Adaptive Google Maps for More Screen Types

The Google Maps interface in Android Auto has been redesigned to span edge-to-edge on any type of infotainment display, including rectangular, ultra-wide, and circular screens.

The update introduces 3D rendering of buildings and overpasses, along with detailed elements such as lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs to improve navigation accuracy.

Full HD Video Streaming and Dolby Atmos Support in Android Auto

Android Auto now supports Full HD video streaming at 60 frames per second with Dolby Atmos spatial audio. For safety, video playback is only available when the vehicle is parked. When the vehicle begins to move, the system automatically switches to audio-only playback.

This Full HD video feature is expected to arrive later this year in vehicles from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata, and Volvo.

Dolby Atmos support will first be available in cars, trucks, and SUVs from select brands before being expanded to more vehicles.

Android Auto Update Rollout and Availability

Google has not announced a specific release date for the update. Most of the new features are expected to arrive in vehicles later this year, with availability depending on the manufacturer and model.

The Material You-inspired design refresh and home screen widgets should be rolled out broadly through standard Android Auto updates.

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