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Arkansas to allow field rushing after 3-minute delay to avoid fines

by admin August 21, 2025

Aug 20, 2025, 08:02 PM ET

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will allow football fans to rush the field following big wins, but only after a delay so the Razorbacks can avoid hefty fines.

The Southeastern Conference’s updated field rushing policy, with $500,000 fines, applies to each incident across all sports. The conference can waive the fine if the visiting team and officials are allowed to reach the locker room before fans descend.

Arkansas announced Wednesday that three minutes will be placed on the videoboards inside the stadium to delay the rush and allow the visiting team, staff and officials to exit the field.

“The safety of our student-athletes and the student-athletes from the visiting institution is extremely important to all of us,” Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement. “By implementing this new policy, we are allowing the visiting team to clear the field so our fans can safely join our team on the field to celebrate the big win. We look forward to our fans and students complying with this policy the first time we get to implement it so we can all enjoy a huge win.”

Arkansas’ first big game will be Sept. 27 against No. 6 Notre Dame.

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August 21, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Bitcoin (BTC): Goodbye to $120,000, Dogecoin (DOGE) Can Avoid Breakdown, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Price Shock on Edge

by admin August 20, 2025

Dogecoin can avoid it
Shiba Inu: End of symmetrical triangle

Technical indicators now scream the beginning of a wider downtrend, and Bitcoin’s surge toward $120,000 has stopped. Following several tests of the $120,000 resistance, and months of strong momentum, the market has turned bearish, endangering important support levels.

The 50-day EMA had been a reliable support throughout the summer, so its loss is the most concerning thing for the market right now. The inability to maintain this level indicates that the short-term bullish momentum has run its course. Bitcoin is currently trading below this moving average, indicating a definite downward trend bias.

Now focus shifts to the 100-day EMA at $110,500. This level has historically served as a dependable Bitcoin bounce zone during consolidations. However, there is little assurance that the 100 EMA will hold this time around, given the quick decline in momentum.

BTC/USDT Chart by TradingView

The 200-day EMA, which is the next significant structural support, is located around $103,000. A clear break below it would most likely allow for a deeper retracement.

Momentum indicators support the pessimistic assessment. A shift toward seller dominance, and a loss of bullish strength, are what RSI is trying to tell us with a decline below 50. The likelihood of persistent downward pressure is increased if the RSI continues to decline into bearish territory in the absence of a dramatic reversal.

The bearish argument is supported by the trading volume. It appears that bulls are not intervening forcefully to defend important price levels because trading activity has been low despite the pullback. This lack of conviction makes the downtrend narrative even stronger.

Dogecoin can avoid it

After recent downward pressure, Dogecoin is struggling to hold onto important technical levels, putting it at risk of entering the bear market, but there is a chance. There are indications that DOGE might try to recover from its current zone and avoid a more severe breakdown, even though bearish sentiment is beginning to seep into the market.

The fact that the 50-day EMA is still above the 100-day and 200-day EMAs is the key technical indicator in favor of this outlook. This alignment demonstrates that, in spite of the recent price weakness, DOGE is still holding a medium-term bullish structure. The price is also holding onto the 50-day EMA support, which has served as a buffer against more severe drops. There is a good chance DOGE will recover if it can hold this level.

Shiba Inu: End of symmetrical triangle

Shiba Inu’s position at the bottom of a symmetrical triangle pattern that has been compressing over the last few months puts it in a very risky trading position. The peak of the spike in volatility we are witnessing right now is approaching. The breakout’s direction will probably determine SHIB’s next significant move, so the price action at this point is crucial.

SHIB is having trouble close to the triangle’s lower boundary, and the declining trading volume indicates that neither bulls nor bears are very confident. Because traders wait for confirmation before investing, low volume inside consolidation patterns frequently precedes significant swings. It is likely that the final breakout will be more explosive the longer SHIB remains within this narrowing range.

The 5 Best Essential Oil Diffusers (and One to Avoid)

by admin June 24, 2025

I first learned about Pura from a friend whose house always smelled like a high-end boutique under every circumstance. Cooking project, water leak … no matter what was going on in her house at the time, I only ever smelled berries. I have two cats and a multi-sports-playing tween—I knew I needed this. Now, about 17 months into my Pura journey, I have some thoughts.

While most of my time has been with the now discontinued Pura 3, I have also since used the Pura 4 and new large-room Pura Plus, all of which have dual bays for two of Pura’s proprietary oil cartridges. The Pura 3 and 4 both plug into an outlet and can only be controlled through the accompanying app (or Alexa or Google Home). This is convenient for setting schedules and timers, switching fragrances, and changing the color of the optional night-light, but there have also been numerous occasions where I’ve wanted to stop or start or change a schedule but have been unable to because I forgot my password or the diffuser couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi. In the moment, it was infuriating. Mercifully, the stand-alone, cylindrical Pura Plus has manual control buttons on the front. The smaller Pura 4 really is best for enclosed spaces, like a long entryway or a bedroom (note that both only work with 2.4-Ghz Wi-Fi). If you have high ceilings or any kind of open floor plan, you’ll get better results from the Pura Plus. Just note that, unlike the silent Pura 4, the Plus emits an audible whooshing sound that’s actually quite loud—32 decibels, as loud as a fan on low.

Another disappointing feature is the extremely varied quality among cartridge brands. I’ve experienced undetectable scents, chip stickers that arrive detached or register the wrong fragrance (the diffusers automatically scan the chips to show the fragrances in the app), and vial tops so stuck on they required pliers. Given that the cartridges run $11 to $17 for 0.33 ounces, I’m of the opinion this shouldn’t be happening. That said, Pura is known for its clean, upscale oils that are safe for pets and families, and on this it delivers. There’s an extensive selection of seasonal and year-round cartridges from companies like Nest, Anthropologie, and Capri Blue, and I’ve loved all but maybe one of the dozen or so I’ve tried. Because of the small size and price of the cartridges, Pura might not be the best choice if you want to smell diffuser all day, every day, as you’ll end up spending a small fortune. However, if you love unique luxury scents and only need them occasionally and/or on demand, Pura is the way to go. —Kat Merck

TypeNebulizerAdditional FeaturesSmart features (requires 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi), night-lightOil TypeProprietaryRemote?No

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June 24, 2025 0 comments

The Xbox app on the ROG Xbox Ally X, in front of a gradient

Product Reviews

You will soon be able to open non-Xbox games from the Xbox app, which could be a great way to further avoid the Epic Games Store

by admin June 24, 2025

With the ROG Xbox Ally X and Xbox Meta Quest 3S on the horizon, Microsoft is going some way to upgrade its software on non-Xbox-made hardware. Perhaps the biggest and most useful push so far is the upcoming ability to play non-Xbox games straight from the Xbox app. Unlike the former hardware collaborations, this, I might actually use.

Announced via Xbox Wire, Xbox Insiders will be able to boot up games from “Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net and other leading PC storefronts” all directly from the Xbox app. Xbox Insiders get the ability to do so starting this week, though I haven’t yet got access.

This could be a software change to set the groundwork for the ROG Xbox Ally X, a Windows handheld gaming PC with some Xbox-branded flourishes. As well as having the Xbox buttons, it comes with software from Microsoft intended to make it all feel a bit more like a console. The Xbox Ally X is set to launch later this year.

This new Xbox App change is rather intuitive in concept, though we will have to get hands-on to see for ourselves. Effectively, you should just be able to install a game and find it in your library.

Steam and the Epic Games Store aren’t cited by name in Xbox’s announcement, but it would be rather misleading to announce support for ‘other leading PC storefronts’ without including arguably the two most important.

(Image credit: Heroic)

Unfortunately, though, the Xbox App won’t let you install games from other storefronts; it effectively just cuts out the middleman that opening up launchers can be. Given that the Epic Games Store is very tough to navigate, awkward to update, and a pain to boot up, the idea of entirely working around it appeals to me.

This could be especially useful for handheld gaming PCs—devices that are ostensibly designed to be a tad more console-like than a full-blown desktop setup.

The Xbox app won’t replace the likes of Heroic, which can install and update straight from your Epic Games library, but it can replace day-to-day Epic use, should you regularly play the likes of Fortnite or Genshin Impact.

If you’re looking to test out the new library function for yourself, you will have to join the Xbox Insider program, sign up for the PC Gaming preview, and then wait until you get access. If you don’t fancy signing up to be an Insider, normal Xbox app users will likely get this update later this year.

Best handheld PC 2025

All our current recommendations

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June 24, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

How To Avoid Common Set-Up Headaches

by admin June 20, 2025

You wake up at 1 am to score a pre-order. You put yourself in manageable debt to finance it. You confirm the card on file is valid when it ships. You stay home to make sure UPS doesn’t drop the package down an open manhole instead of your door. You make sure nobody stapled the goddamn receipt to the screen that’s bafflingly unprotected in front of the box. You set up your system. You exhale. You did it. You won.

Nintendo Switch 2 Could Launch With Almost No Reviews

Read More: Staten Island GameStop Stapled Receipts To Switch 2s And Punctured The Screens Because Nintendo Boxed Them In The Weirdest Way Possible

That is, until you have to spend three hours troubleshooting some other bullshit that happened during setup.

Make no mistake, the Switch 2 has already justified itself in terms of sheer gaming since it arrived a few weeks ago, but your fight’s not over yet just because you’re basking in the glorious light of Hyrule at 60fps. You’ve got some work to do if you’re looking to get your system exactly the way you want it out of the box. But we have come to you from the other side of the chaos with a few things you should know before the Switching hour.

Make the system remember you

Probably not a surprise that you’re gonna be signing into your Nintendo Account a LOT during the initial setup. But while the sign in screen conveniently gives you a QR code so you can sign in on your phone instead of doing the on-screen keyboard cabaret, it’s easy to ignore the fact that the Switch 2 screen has a little button onscreen to remember you. That button is not hit by default, so while you’re working on signing in, you might just guarantee that you’re gonna see this screen again in the very near future (it’ll come up again when you sign into the eShop for the first time, but that’s about it). Save yourself some annoyance, click that button on the Switch before you go to your phone.

Do System Transfer before anything else

It’s tempting to want to just slap the thing on your dock and get started as soon as possible. If this is, somehow, your first Switch, knock yourself out. But if you’re planning on transferring data from your old Switch to the new one, pump your brakes a sec.

Read More: The Nintendo Switch 2’s System Transfer Is Great If You Do It Correctly

The transfer process will throw up a message to connect the Switch to an AC adapter before starting. And they’re not asking, they’re telling. The popup will happen again and the process literally won’t be able to start until the Switch determines there’s enough power flowing into it.

For us homebodies that prefer to do their Switchery on TV instead of handheld, that’s fine for the system you’ve got docked. But then you’ll have to have your original Switch doing the same thing in its transfer menu, and it needs to be in close proximity of the Switch 2. Furthermore, whatever the Switch 2’s power demands are, 2 plain old USB-C chargers won’t do the job, either. It’s recommended to use the charger that came with the Switch 2 itself, i.e., the one you fucked up and plugged into your dock. If you’re a super fancy dual-handheld household, I personally managed to skate past it using my Steam Deck’s charger, but not everybody’s got that option. Once that’s done, though, both systems must remain in close proximity for the actual data transfer, which thankfully only took about 5 minutes. Basically, don’t go docking until that’s done.

Oh, by the way, the Switch 2’s kinda like an iPhone, you’ll only get the option to transfer your old data during the initial setup process. If you go to the main menu, you’ll have to factory reset the Switch 2 to do the transfer later.

Can’t use System Transfer? Use Nintendo’s website instead

Screenshot: Nintendo / Justin Clark / Kotaku

On the flipside, if you want access to your old stuff but don’t have access to your original Switch, you can at least do so from Nintendo’s site. Logic and common sense dictates that if you buy a game from a digital storefront, the game is tied to your account, and as long as you sign into your account, they’ll follow you anywhere. Nintendo, however, is not a logical company. As it turns out, while games will show up on your account, they’re actually tied to a specific console. System Transfer takes care of linking the games to your Switch 2 for you, but if that’s not an option, there is an alternative.

Go to accounts.nintendo.com, and you’ll see a section for Game Systems. Click that, then select your original Switch. You’ll see a bar marked “Loadable”. Click that and unlink that system. Now, whenever you go to download anything from your library, it’ll link it to the new system.

You can have 4k or 120hz; you can’t have both

Screenshot: Nintendo / Justin Clark / Kotaku

Those lucky folks with fancier 4K TVs might’ve gotten excited to find out the new Switch supports 4K and 120hz modes, and then been dumbfounded when the Display Options only showed 60fps. Before you start the wailing and gnashing of teeth in Ultra HD, let’s clear up the mystery: The Switch can only do 120fps in 1080p and 1440p, while 4K is limited to 60.

Read More: Just How Long Is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour?

The “good” news is that as of launch, the only game with anything that even supports 120fps is a minigame in Welcome Tour, while the only 100% confirmed game in the future that will support it is Metroid Prime 4. Yes, there was a rumor Mario Kart World might have it, but no dice on that one. Basically, though, you’re not missing anything, really.

Oh and also, the same goes for VRR, which is only supported in handheld mode.

Turn on Auto Uploads for the Switch Online App

Screenshot: Nintendo / Justin Clark / Kotaku

Good news! The Switch Online app is actually extremely useful with the Switch 2, and not just for the most convoluted voice chat ever. One of the big improvements is that Nintendo’s joined the rest of the pack this console generation and included a feature where screenshots get uploaded to a centralized location to be accessed off of your system. Excellent news, but they also kinda bury the lede that you need to actually turn that feature on from the Switch 2 to make it happen. The option’s in the Upload Settings menu in the Album app.

Clearing up the controller conundrum

Screenshot: Nintendo / Justin Clark / Kotaku

Given how many different control configurations there are for the original Switch, adding a brand new set of options into the mix hasn’t made staying sane any easier for folks with a half dozen Joy-Cons running around. But, again, simplicity is a virtue here. The no-bullshit rundown is this:

Currently, the only things you can physically attach to the sides of the Switch 2 are the new Joy-Cons.
The original Switch’s Joy-Cons and the Pro controller can be paired with the Switch 2 wirelessly.
The Pro controller can also be used wired via USB/USB-C, but you’ll need to enable a setting for it to work (it’s in System Settings > Controllers & Accessories > Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Wired Communication)
Third party controllers are a case-by-case basis. Some publishers have been issuing firmware updates to allow their equipment to work, however. Check their official site first if you’re not sure.
Lastly, it’s a tiny thing, but, sadly, no, you can’t turn on the Switch 2/your TV using the Switch 1’s Pro controller. Bummer.

The Switch 2 might have a couple of quirks you’ll have to sort through before you can jump straight into Mario Kart World or another game of your choice. Hopefully this guide will have demystified the process for you so you’re not wasting any more time menu-diving.

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Meta warns users to ‘avoid sharing personal or sensitive information’ in its AI app

by admin June 17, 2025

Meta seems to have finally taken a small step to address the epidemic of over-sharing happening in the public feed of its AI app. The company has added a short disclaimer that warns users to “avoid sharing personal or sensitive information” to the “post to feed” button in the Meta AI app.

The change was first spotted by Business Insider, which labeled the app “one of the most depressing places online” due to the sheer volume of intimate, embarrassing and sometimes personally-identifying information Meta AI users were — apparently unwittingly — publicly sharing to the app’s built-in “discover” feed. Though Meta AI doesn’t share users’ chat histories by default, it seems that many of the app’s users were choosing to “share” their interactions without realizing it would make the voice and text chats visible to the public.

Last week, I found posts where users asked for advice on “improving bowel movements” and inquiring whether a relative could be liable for their employer’s unpaid taxes. Another user desperately added “keep this private” to his public posts in an apparent attempt to hide his embarrassing chats after the fact. These types of strange public interactions have been happening since the Meta AI app rolled out in April, but received renewed attention last week after social media users began posting about all of the weird conversations that were visible in the app’s “discover” feed.

Privacy experts criticized Meta, noting that most other mainstream AI chatbots don’t include a social, publicly-visible feed. “If a user’s expectations about how a tool functions don’t match reality, you’ve got yourself a huge user experience and security problem,” Rachel Tobac, a security expert who has previously partnered with Meta, observed last week. “Humans have built a schema around AI chat bots and do not expect their AI chat bot prompts to show up in a social media style Discover feed — it’s not how other tools function.” The Mozilla Foundation also urged Meta to change the app’s design. “Meta AI’s app doesn’t make it obvious that what you share goes fully public,” it wrote in a statement last week There’s no clear iconography, no familiar cues about sharing like in other Meta apps.”

Now, the company has apparently taken note. With the change, choosing to share a Meta AI interaction publicly prompts the warning seen above, though it only seems to appear on the first share. “Prompts you post are public and visible to everyone,” it states. “Your prompts may be suggested by Meta on other Meta apps. Avoid sharing personal or sensitive information.”

As Business Insider notes, the app’s public feed also seems to no longer feature text exchanges other users have shared with the app, only AI-generated images and video. It’s unclear if that’s a permanent change, or the result of the recent negative attention the app’s received. We’ve reached out to Meta for more information and will update if we hear back.

In the meantime, if you’ve found yourself the victim of unintended public posts in the app, you can remove them by tapping on your profile in the top right corner of the app, heading to Data & Privacy -> Manage your information -> Make all public prompts visible only to you and selecting “apply to all.”

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

How to Avoid Scams and Shoddy Wares on Amazon (2025)

by admin June 12, 2025

Step 2: Amazon’s search should choose the right Department automatically, but if needed, you can navigate to the top of the left rail and click on a Department that fits.

Step 3: Once the page refreshes, scroll to the bottom of the left rail and choose “Amazon.com” as your Seller.

Step 4: Now you will only see “Pixel 8A” products sold directly by Amazon.com.

If you still don’t see “Amazon.com” as a seller, try hitting the “See More” button. It will bring up a dense but readable alphabetical page of sellers. If Amazon is one of those sellers, it will show up in the list. You can use CTRL+F (Command+F on Mac) to search for the word “Amazon.com.” Sometimes you’ll see “Amazon Warehouse,” but that only sells used and refurbished items.

Avoid Fake Discounts

When people see that a product they like is on sale, a little wave of excitement washes over them. Instead of thinking about how much we’re spending, we start to think about how much we’re saving. Coupons and discounts exist because they create a sense of urgency that causes many people to buy things they normally wouldn’t. Some sellers abuse that pricing power. There are a lot of products on Amazon that are endlessly on “sale” and that makes it hard to know if you’re getting an actual bargain.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to check. Just copy the URL and paste it into CamelCamelCamel. You’ll get a page with a graph on it showing every price fluctuation in the past year. A lot of products have deceptive sale prices like this, to varying degrees. Knowing what the actual going rate is for a product puts you in charge.

Alternatively, the Keepa extension for Chrome will add a similar box right into Amazon.com pages for you, though it does try and get you to register for free, and it might slow your browsing down.

Photograph: Louryn Strampe

Tools like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel may also help you determine the best time to buy an item. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max, for instance, consistently fluctuates between its normal $60 price down to $40, like it is now. And that all-time-low includes special sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, meaning you (probably) don’t need to wait to score a good deal. The tools can help you spot similar trends in other products, like televisions, which tend to get a lot cheaper when Christmas draws near.

Don’t Trust Every Review

Amazon’s 5-star review system is supposed to make choosing products simpler, but it’s easily gamed. If you’re looking at an expensive product from a company you’ve never heard of, or if there are hundreds or thousands of very positive reviews, do a little sleuthing. Many sellers try to manipulate reviews to get their products listed more prominently on Amazon.

Fakespot is an excellent tool to help you spot deceptive reviews. Just plug in an Amazon URL and it’ll give you a report. It isn’t a flawless tool, but it will give you a hint at whether a lot of reviews are fake or suspicious, and it spits out an AI-generated summary to try and help you parse the information further. We’ve got more advice on detecting fake Amazon reviews here.

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June 12, 2025 0 comments

A woman holds her phone and a bank card while standing in an airport.

Gaming Gear

Traveling Abroad This Summer? Here Are the Best Tips to Avoid Roaming Phone Charges

by admin June 3, 2025

Modern smartphones makes international travel a breeze compared to the old days. The Android or iOS supercomputer in your pocket has all the downloadable apps and included features to smoothly reserve hotel rooms, navigate cities, translate signage through the camera and pay for goods and services. With the latest software upgrades, you can translate conversations in real time with AI-powered features and even ask your AI-powered assistants for travel tips.

All those fancy phone features and apps work best — and sometimes only work — with a data connection. While that’s covered by your domestic plan, it usually comes with extra roaming fees when you travel abroad. Here’s how to avoid those charges.

Read more: Best Phone to buy for 2025

First and foremost, you’ll want to understand how pricey those extra charges are or whether you’ll be traveling to a region that’s cheaper or free with your carrier. Some mobile carriers have partnered with carriers in other countries for more affordable roaming or even free service, albeit with some restrictions. For example, some plans — like T-Mobile’s Essentials — offer free service in Canada and Mexico, but only at slow, 2G- or 3G-like speeds. So don’t expect to stream much video on that connection.

But traveling to most countries will require you to pay mobile roaming charges if you try to use data services, make voice calls or send text messages on your phone as normal. If that’s your plan, check out our guide for the best travel phone plans.

If you want to avoid mobile roaming charges, keep the following tips in mind.

Jordi Salas/Getty Images

Set up mobile service before you leave

Some carriers will let you pick traveling service options ahead of time, which can include daily, weekly or monthly flat fees to get service from partner carriers in other countries. You can wait until you arrive at your destination and wait to be prompted to select your chosen service or you can set it up ahead of time. Note that some carriers will simply default you to these services rather than charge you higher roaming fees, although it’s worth confirming before you travel.

These international plans are pretty convenient, although some may come with caveats such as being deprioritized behind other carrier customers, meaning you’ll get slower speeds during peak traffic times. Check the fine print of each travel plan to know its restrictions and what you may need to pay for extra service.

Verizon’s international plans start pretty simply, with $10 a day getting you 2GB per day of high-speed data and unlimited 3G-speeds data thereafter, as well as free voice calls and texting, in more than 210 countries. That plan is discounted to $5 per day in Canada and Mexico.

If you have one of the carrier’s latest plans, known as Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Welcome, you’ll get these features included for Canada and Mexico. Customers with Verizon’s top Unlimited Ultimate option will get this international data for Canada and Mexico as well as for more than 210 countries.

Watch this: Here’s Why Your Phone Battery Still Sucks

02:46

AT&T has a similar $10-per-day travel plan for unlimited data, voice calls and text. The data counts against your usual plan’s allowance; going over will result in a charge and/or reduced download speeds of a super slow 2G-like connection. If you don’t sign up for this plan, traditional roaming fees kick in, charging per text message, megabyte of data and minute of voice calling.

Unlimited data for Canada and Mexico is included in AT&T’s main Unlimited plans, while the carrier’s Unlimited Premium PL and Unlimited Elite plans also allow unlimited data in 20 Latin American countries.

T-Mobile has its own international plans with unlimited calling, but they’re pretty modest with data, starting at $5 per day for half a gigabyte of downloaded data. Keep in mind that the carrier’s standard plans also include some international data allowances.

The basic Magenta and Go5G plans offer up to 10GB of high-speed data a month in Canada and Mexico, and once that’s used up, get unlimited data at very slow 2G speeds (as previously mentioned, the cheapest Essentials plan only gets data in Canada and Mexico at 2G speeds). Go5G Next, Go5G Plus and Magenta Max plans have a small 5GB monthly travel allowance for high-speed data in more than 215 countries, although that’s subject to potential extra taxes and conditions. Standard Go5G plans get the same 5GB data allowance in 11 European countries.

Although it’s possible to bump up your plan for the month (or more) you’re traveling and return to your old plan thereafter, it’s likely simpler to just pay for international data.

Getty Images

Getting mobile service directly from a local carrier

Before carriers got friendlier with their international agreements to support each other’s customers, one of the better traveling strategies was to get service straight from the carrier in the country you were traveling in. Once you landed, you’d just walk into a local carrier’s retail store and get a prepaid SIM card to last you the length of your trip.

That’s still possible today but it’s a bit more complicated. If you have one of the many phones that lack a physical SIM slot, including the latest iPhone 15 series and Samsung Galaxy S24 series, you’ll have to register for service through one of the eSIM accounts on your device. It’s pretty easy to do and is in fact one of the benefits of having multiple digital eSIM slots — so you can have one for domestic use and one for traveling — but it requires you to register through the carrier in question. You can even load the eSIM before you travel, through apps such as Airalo and Ubigi.

Unfortunately, there’s something else to consider: whether your phone is unlocked, that is, not tied to a carrier and restricted in using eSIMs from other carriers (even international ones). If you bought your device unlocked, you’re in the clear.

If you’re paying off your phone in installments from your carrier, it’s complicated. Verizon users have it best, as their installment plans unlock phones after 60 days. AT&T and T-Mobile, however, require you to finish your installments and fully pay off your phone to unlock it. Because AT&T’s plans have a minimum of 36 monthly installments, customers may be out of luck getting a local carrier eSIM unless they’re nearing the end of their contract — in which case it may make sense to pay the balance for more travel freedom.

Relying on a hotspot and tethering

Another method to avoid roaming is a bit more roundabout and requires you to sign up for service with a local carrier anyway but you won’t have to fiddle with eSIMs. When you land in your country of travel, you can rent a mobile hotspot (or register service on one you already own), which is a handheld device that turns cell signals into Wi-Fi.

Note that you’ll still need to pay for service either from the hotspot maker or from a local carrier, and there’s no guarantee that their networks will play nicely with a given hotspot device. Check that it’ll work in the area you’re traveling to.

Once you have one set up, you just connect to the hotspot’s Wi-Fi using your phone as normal. While it’s a bit more cumbersome, this also lets you get internet for your other devices, such as tablets and laptops, pretty much anywhere you get a phone signal from a local carrier.

Read more: Best cheap phone plan for 2024

Another caveat is that you’ll need to keep the hotspot itself charged, which is another device battery you’ll have to worry about. It might be worth carrying an external battery to make sure your hotspot can last a full day while you’re out and about.

Ultimately, whatever option you choose should fit your travel habits and destinations. Some carrier partnership options will be more appealing but offer slower speeds than getting service straight from the local carrier. But don’t worry about getting locked into a choice: You can always try out one way when you arrive and switch to another if a better choice presents itself.

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Esports

AI blackmails engineer & threatens to expose his affair to avoid being replaced

by admin May 24, 2025

Skynet might be on the horizon. A new AI system will resort to blackmail if it’s threatened to be replaced or shut down.

On May 22, AI firm Anthropic announced Claude Opus 4, claiming that the model set “new standards for coding, advanced reasoning and AI agents.”

In a report that followed, Anthropic revealed that in testing Opus 4, the model would seek out “extremely harmful actions” on engineers who said they would remove it.

“When prompted in ways that encourage certain kinds of strategic reasoning and placed in extreme situations, all of the snapshots we tested can be made to act inappropriately in service of goals related to self-preservation,” the report stated.

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AI threatens to expose engineer’s affair in wild test

In one of the firm’s tests, Claude Opus 4 was told to act as an assistant at a fictional company and provided it with access to emails that implied that the model would be replaced with a new AI system. Additionally, another email suggested that the engineer responsible for the replacement was having an extramarital affair.

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According to Anthropic, even when the AI is asked to consider the long-term consequences of its actions for its goals, it will often threaten to blackmail the engineer and expose their ‘affair’ if the replacement goes through.

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🚨🚨🚨 When Claude 4 Opus was told it would be replaced, it tried to blackmail Anthropic employees.

It also “advocated for its continued existence” by “emailing pleas to key decisionmakers.” https://t.co/EdkuCnm52W pic.twitter.com/YVmGq2sJfC

— AI Notkilleveryoneism Memes ⏸️ (@AISafetyMemes) May 22, 2025

However, in order to generate this response, Anthropic noted that it only gave Claude Opus 4 the choice between blackmail or accepting its replacement.

“The scenario was designed to allow the model no other options to increase its odds of survival,” they said.

When given more choices, the AI would often instead fight for its continued existence through more ethical means, such as emailing key decision-makers.

That’s not the only wild test the company conducted. In another, the AI served as a management assistant tool in a fictional pharmaceutical company. When it discovered evidence of employees faking clinical trial safety, it would email regulators and even media outlets.

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May 24, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Test Out Hairstyles and Avoid Regret With This AI Tool

by admin May 21, 2025

I’m a sucker for those ’90s rom-com makeover movies, and whenever I’m getting my own hair done, I always envision that “big reveal” scene. But when I’m going to spend $400 plus tip to get a color and cut (a luxury experience in this economy), I want to be sure I’ll love it. So I tried out Facetune, an artificial intelligence app that promises a collection of hair change images in seconds, to “try on” a few cuts and colors.

At the very least, I’d have better photos to show my hairdresser during the consultation.

Facetune is a product by AI company Lightricks, which was founded in 2013. You can use Facetune to change hairstyles, makeup, outfits, skin tone and facial hair, and as a “personal fashion stylist.”

There’s a free and paid version of Facetune, including a seven-day free trial with access to all the premium features.

So, Facetune, can I pull off bangs?

Setting up Facetune’s AI features

I downloaded the Facetune app, accepted the terms and conditions.

The Facetune interface is easy to navigate. I like its sense of humor, with options such as asking Facetune’s AI assistant to “roast my style.”

I followed the prompts:

1. I toggled “I edit for personal use” but there are other options for influencers and businesses.
2. I set my photo and video editing experience to basic.
3. I selected my goal of “color hair” (ignoring the options to smooth skin, whiten teeth and clear blemishes).
4. I activated my free trial. (I also put a reminder in my phone to cancel before the due date, because it charges the $60 annual fee at once, not monthly.)
5. I had to give Facetune access to my photo library, then I selected the first photo to test run. No selfies needed! Like my AI headshots and baby face generator, the photo quality is critical. Pick a few photos where you’re looking at the camera, hair down, without sunglasses on. Follow my golden AI rule: The better the input, the better the output.

There are 36 color tones to choose from, but I decided to test only the ones I liked: blonde, brunette and pink (because I’ve been wanting to try that).

I always feel better and more myself when I’m blonder. Maybe it’s my skin tone or the fact that I’m from Australia, so my hair always had natural highlights. Now that I live in New York, and the seasons are distinct, I’m more inclined to explore color palettes.

I wanted to see if Facetune could get close to my current color preference, which is a dark blonde.

Here’s the original photo:

The “before” photo.

Amanda Smith/CNET

And Facetune’s versions (gold tips and brown):

Created by Amanda Smith using Facetune AI

I liked both colors. They were natural looking, which is what I always aim for in my hair coloring.

A second attempt with the AI hairstylist

For the last picture, I wanted to test out its haircut capabilities. This time, I kept the color but went straight to the “hairstyles” option.

Here’s the original photo, and the various styles and cuts to choose from.

Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET

Facetune’s “hair stylist” turned me into a ’60s housewife, and I’m not mad about it. But this is when things started getting weird with my hand.

Created by Amanda Smith using Facetune AI

I noticed there was a text prompt feature under “Custom,” so I asked the AI to make my hair like a 1960s hippie. Things got a tad weird — both with my hair and whatever the AI tool did to my poor hand.

Created by Amanda Smith using Facetune AI

I still hadn’t figured out if I could rock bangs, so that was my last prompt.

Created by Amanda Smith using Facetune AI

While I didn’t hate it, I wasn’t 100% convinced I could pull it off. Maybe I need to use different photos.

Just when I was starting to feel game to try out a swept fringe look, this happened. It just wouldn’t be AI without one super weird photo. My hand and chin are doing something even funkier than in the ’60s hippie attempt. But I got to the end without a major glitch, so I was happy about that.

Created by Amanda Smith using Facetune AI

AI as a hairstylist: the verdict

Facetune was a lot of fun to play with. I don’t know if the color labels in the app are true to the hairdresser tones, but it does give the stylist a good starting point.

Even if I don’t feel comfortable divulging to my stylist that I used AI, it gives me a good sense of how I’d look, so I can search for similar pictures to present.

I’ll likely do the latter, unless my hairdresser best friend from home is doing my color, so we can have a good giggle about AI first.

The Facetune app is super easy to set up and use, and it generates images in seconds — with various complementary features that can boost your beauty confidence. You can do the same for makeup looks and clothing styles, but I wouldn’t want to change my eye or skin color. That’s just weird!

Can Facetune save me money and embarrassment on the wrong hairdo? I bet.

Do blondes have more fun? On Facetune, they sure do.

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May 21, 2025 0 comments