Author name: Mike M.

stranger-things-s5-trailer-teases-vol.-2

Stranger Things S5 trailer teases Vol. 2

culture, netflix, stranger things, streaming television, Trailers, TV trailers / /

We’re 10 days away from the next installment of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, and Netflix has released a new trailer for what it’s calling Volume 2. This will cover episodes five through seven, with the final episode comprising Vol. 3.

(Spoilers for Season 5, Vol. 1 below.)

Season 4 ended with Vecna—the Big Bad behind it all—opening the gate that allowed the Upside Down to leak into Hawkins. We got a time jump for S5, Vol. 1, but in a way, we came full circle, since those events coincided with the third anniversary of Will’s original disappearance in S1.

In Vol. 1, we found Hawkins under military occupation and Vecna targeting a new group of young children in his human form under the pseudonym “Mr. Whatsit” (a nod to A Wrinkle in Time). He kidnapped Holly Wheeler and took her to the Upside Down, where she found an ally in Max, still in a coma, but her consciousness is hiding in one of Vecna’s old memories. Dustin was struggling to process his grief over losing Eddie Munson in S4, causing a rift with Steve. The rest of the gang was devoted to stockpiling supplies and helping Eleven and Hopper track down Vecna in the Upside Down. They found  Kali/Eight, Eleven’s psychic “sister” instead, being held captive in a military laboratory.

Things came to a head at the military base when Vecna’s demagorgons attacked to take 11 more children, wiping out most of the soldiers in record time. The big reveal was that, as a result of being kidnapped by Vecna in S1, Will has his own supernatural powers. He can tap into Vecna’s hive mind and manipulate those powers for his own purposes. He used his newfound powers to save his friends from the demagorgons.

Stranger Things S5 trailer teases Vol. 2 Read More »

microsoft-will-finally-kill-obsolete-cipher-that-has-wreaked-decades-of-havoc

Microsoft will finally kill obsolete cipher that has wreaked decades of havoc

Biz & IT, Encryption, rc4, Security, Windows Server / /

Microsoft said it has steadily worked over the past decade to deprecate RC4, but that the task wasn’t easy.

No salt, no iteration? Really?

“The problem though is that it’s hard to kill off a cryptographic algorithm that is present in every OS that’s shipped for the last 25 years and was the default algorithm for so long, Steve Syfuhs, who runs Microsoft’s Windows Authentication team, wrote on Bluesky. “See,” he continued, “the problem is not that the algorithm exists. The problem is how the algorithm is chosen, and the rules governing that spanned 20 years of code changes.”

Over those two decades, developers discovered a raft of critical RC4 vulnerabilities that required “surgical” fixes. Microsoft considered deprecating RC4 by this year, but ultimately “punted” after discovering vulnerabilities that required still more fixes. During that time Microsoft introduced some “minor improvements” that favored the use of AES, and as a result, usage dropped by “orders of magnitude.”

“Within a year we had observed RC4 usage drop to basically nil. This is not a bad thing and in fact gave us a lot more flexibility to kill it outright because we knew it genuinely wasn’t going to break folks, because folks weren’t using it.”

Syfuhs went on to document additional challenges Microsoft encountered and the approach it took to solving them.

While RC4 has known cipher weaknesses that make it insecure, Kerberoasting exploits a separate weakness. As implemented in Active Directory authentication, it uses no cryptographic salt and a single round of the MD4 hashing function. Salt is a technique that adds random input to each password before it is hashed. That requires hackers to invest considerable time and resources into cracking the hash. MD4, meanwhile, is a fast algorithm that requires modest resources. Microsoft’s implementation of AES-SHA1 is much slower and iterates the hash to further slow down cracking efforts. Taken together, AES-Sha1-hashed passwords require about 1,000 times the time and resources to be cracked.

Windows admins would do well to audit their networks for any usage of RC4. Given its wide adoption and continued use industry-wide, it may still be active, much to the surprise and chagrin of those charged with defending against hackers.

Microsoft will finally kill obsolete cipher that has wreaked decades of havoc Read More »

ford-ends-f-150-lightning-production,-starts-battery-storage-business

Ford ends F-150 Lightning production, starts battery storage business

Cars, electric F-150, EV adoption, F-150, F-150 Lightning / /

We learned then that Ford would keep the Kentucky plant and SK On gets the one in Tennessee, which would focus on the energy storage business instead. Now, we know that something similar will happen at the Kentucky plant—Ford says it’s spending $2 billion to convert the factory to make prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells.

Those aren’t destined for EVs, but they are the preferred cell format for data centers, Ford says. The company says that it will bring the factory online in the next 18 months, reaching an annual output of 20 GWh.

Other Ford plants are also being repurposed. With no full-size BEV pickup in the product plans, the assembly plant in Tennessee that was to produce it—the one near the battery factory that SK On is keeping—will instead build new gas-powered trucks, although not for another four years. Around that same time, its Ohio assembly plant will begin building new commercial vehicles.

All of this will impact Ford’s bottom line, to the tune of $19.5 billion over the next few years, $5.5 billion of which will be in cash. Most of that will hit in the final quarter of 2025, but will extend until 2027, Ford said.

Ford ends F-150 Lightning production, starts battery storage business Read More »

google-will-end-dark-web-reports-that-alerted-users-to-leaked-data

Google will end dark web reports that alerted users to leaked data

dark web, data leaks, Google, privacy, Security, Tech / /

As Google admits in the email alert, its dark web scans didn’t offer much help. “Feedback showed that it did not provide helpful next steps,” Google said of the service. Here’s the full text of the email.

Google dark web email

Credit: Google

With other types of personal data alerts provided by the company, it has the power to do something. For example, you can have Google remove pages from search that list your personal data. Google doesn’t run anything on the dark web, though, so all it can do is remind you that your data is being passed around in one of the shadier corners of the Internet.

The shutdown begins on January 15, when Google will stop conducting new scans for user data on the dark web. Past data will no longer be available as of February 16, 2026. Google says it will delete all past reports at that time. However, users can remove their monitoring profile earlier in the account settings. This change does not impact any of Google’s other privacy reports.

The good news is that the best ways to protect your personal data from being shuffled around the dark web are the same ones that keep you safe on the open web. Google suggests always using two-step verification, and tools like Passkeys and Google’s password checkup can ensure you don’t accidentally reuse a compromised password. Stay safe out there.

Google will end dark web reports that alerted users to leaked data Read More »

sharks-and-rays-gain-landmark-protections-as-nations-move-to-curb-international-trade

Sharks and rays gain landmark protections as nations move to curb international trade

inside climate news, rays, Science, sharks, syndication / /

Gov’ts agree to ban or restrict international trade in shark meat, fins, and other products.

For the first time, global governments have agreed to widespread international trade bans and restrictions for sharks and rays being driven to extinction.

Last week, more than 70 shark and ray species, including oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, and manta rays, received new safeguards under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The convention, known as CITES, is a United Nations treaty that requires countries to regulate or prohibit international trade in species whose survival is threatened.

Sharks and rays are closely related species that play similar roles as apex predators in the ocean, helping to maintain healthy marine ecosystems. They have been caught and traded for decades, contributing to a global market worth nearly $1 billion annually, according to Luke Warwick, director of shark and ray conservation at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), an international nonprofit dedicated to preserving animals and their habitats.

The sweeping conservation measures were adopted as the treaty’s 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20) concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, signaling a landmark global commitment to stop or regulate the demand for shark meat, fins, and other products derived from the animals.

“These new protections are a powerful step toward ensuring these species have a real chance at recovery,” said Diego Cardeñosa, an assistant professor at Florida International University and lead scientist at the school’s Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab, which is developing new technologies to combat the illegal trade of sharks.

More than a third of shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction. Pelagic shark populations that live in the open ocean have declined by more than 70 percent over the last 50 years. Reef sharks have all but vanished from one in five coral reefs worldwide. “We’re in the middle of an extinction crisis for the species and it’s kind of a silent crisis,” said Warwick. “It’s only in the last decade or so we’ve really, really started to notice that this is happening, and the major driver of it is actually overfishing.”

Unlike tuna and other commercially valuable fish that have been tightly regulated for decades, sharks have long lacked comparable controls on their trade and have often been treated as if they were another fast-reproducing seafood commodity.

“People treat sharks and rays, or have done over the last 50 years, as if they’re like other fish,” Warwick said. But unlike many fish that produce millions of eggs a year, sharks and rays take much longer to mature and produce significantly fewer young. Manta rays, for instance, may only give birth to seven live pups in their lifetime. “But we’ve been catching and killing them, just like other fish, and that, sadly, has led to these catastrophic declines.”

Manta rays are targeted primarily for their large gill plates, which are used in some traditional medicines in Asia aimed at detoxifying the body and boosting immunity, though there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. Their meat is sometimes turned into animal feed or consumed locally.

Shark fins remain a delicacy in luxury Chinese cuisine, prized in expensive dishes like shark fin soup. Shark meat is increasingly sold as a low-cost source of protein. It’s also a common ingredient in cat and dog food.

The livers of deep-water species like gulper sharks are also harvested for their oil, which is used to produce squalene, a staple component of topical skincare products and makeup. Years of unregulated trade of the species have driven population declines of more than 80 percent in some regions.

“The cosmetic industry, really, in a way, is driving the trade of the sharks,” said Gabriel Vianna, a shark researcher from the Charles Darwin Foundation, an international nonprofit dedicated to conserving the Galapagos Islands. In recent years, squalene has also been increasingly used in pharmaceuticals and even COVID-19 vaccines. “We should be using synthetic options and not exploiting these species,” Vianna said.

But until last week, there were no international controls in place to regulate trade in these species despite growing demand for their livers.

That has now changed through the latest decisions adopted at CITES, which Warwick said mark a turning point in marine conservation.

For much of its 50-year history, the convention focused on protecting iconic land species like elephants, rhinos, primates, and parrots, or charismatic marine species like sea turtles, Warwick said. By 1981, CITES had imposed an international ban on all international trade of sea turtles, which Warwick credited for helping some species make remarkable comebacks in the last few decades. Only in the last 10 years, Warwick said, has the convention slowly begun recognizing sharks and rays with similar urgency.

This year at COP20, all proposed protections for sharks and rays were adopted, largely with unanimous support from CITES’ 185 member countries and the European Union, which Warwick said had never happened before.

The European Union is one of the top suppliers of shark meat to Southeast and East Asian markets, with its imports and exports adding up to more than 20 percent of global shark meat trade, according to the World Wildlife Fund. 

Gulper sharks, targeted for their livers, as well as smoothhound and tope sharks, which are primarily fished for their meat, were listed under CITES’ Appendix II. Each listing covers multiple species—20 species of gulper sharks and 30 species of smoothhounds—grouped together because their products cannot be reliably distinguished in trade.

The listing requires all CITES parties to strictly regulate international trade of the species and demonstrate if it is traceable and biologically sustainable. Some species, including wedgefish and giant guitarfish—large shark-like rays targeted for their highly valuable fins—are now protected by a temporary suspension of trade.

Others, such as oceanic whitetips, whale sharks, manta, and devil rays, can no longer be traded internationally at all. Under the new protections, CITES now lists them as Appendix I species, meaning they face a real extinction risk due to trade and are afforded the treaty’s highest level of protection.

“If you find an oceanic whitetip fin being traded, 90 days from here onwards, that’s an illegal product,” he said.

For many shark advocates, the new listings are bittersweet.

“We are very happy but we are very sad at the same time,” said Vianna. “We shouldn’t be happy about this species being listed. We should actually be really worried that there’s such a problem with them.” Meaningful implementation of the new protections will be critical to the survival of many of these species, he said.

Research published in November by Cardeñosa and Warwick found that fins from several shark and ray species, such as oceanic white tip sharks, which were previously listed under Appendix II, were frequently found in Hong Kong—the world’s largest shark fin market—between 2015 and 2021. Appendix II allows for regulated trade, but little to no legal trade in species like the oceanic white tip has been reported since CITES began regulating it in 2014, revealing a significant gap in the amount of sharks being traded and what is being legally documented. For example, genetic analysis of shark fins in Hong Kong detected more than 70 times the number of oceanic whitetip shark fins reported in official CITES records, indicating that more than 90 percent of the trade is illegal.

“This tells us that enforcement gaps remain, especially in large, complex supply chains,” Cardeñosa said in an email.

Now that the oceanic whitetip shark has been uplisted to Appendix I, which prohibits any international trade, Cardeñosa hopes loopholes that previously allowed the protected species and others to slip through will be closed.

“The new listings will not eliminate illegal trade overnight, but they will significantly strengthen the ability of countries to inspect, detect, and prosecute illegal shipments,” Cardeñosa said. “Parties must invest in identification tools, capacity building, and routine monitoring if these protections are to translate into real reductions in illegal trade.”

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Photo of Inside Climate News

Sharks and rays gain landmark protections as nations move to curb international trade Read More »

how-to-break-free-from-smart-tv-ads-and-tracking

How to break free from smart TV ads and tracking

ads, Features, streaming, Tech, TVs / /

The Ars guide to “dumb” TVs

Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options.

Credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images

Credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images

Smart TVs can feel like a dumb choice if you’re looking for privacy, reliability, and simplicity.

Today’s TVs and streaming sticks are usually loaded up with advertisements and user tracking, making offline TVs seem very attractive. But ever since smart TV operating systems began making money, “dumb” TVs have been hard to find.

In response, we created this non-smart TV guide that includes much more than dumb TVs. Since non-smart TVs are so rare, this guide also breaks down additional ways to watch TV and movies online and locally without dealing with smart TVs’ evolution toward software-centric features and snooping. We’ll discuss a range of options suitable for various budgets, different experience levels, and different rooms in your home.

Table of Contents

Our best recommendation

This is a dumb TV guide, but first, let’s briefly highlight the best recommendation for most people: Take your TV offline and plug in an Apple TV box.

The Apple TV 4K and Siri Remote.

Your best option.

Credit: Jeff Dunn

Your best option. Credit: Jeff Dunn

An Apple TV lets you replace smart TV software with Apple’s cleaner tvOS, and it’s more intuitive than using most smart TVs and other streaming devices. Apple’s tvOS usually runs faster and more reliably, and it isn’t riddled with distracting ads or recommendations. And there’s virtually no learning curve for family members or visitors, something that can’t always be said for DIY alternatives.

Critically, Apple TV boxes are also an easy recommendation on the privacy front. The setup process makes it simple for anyone to ensure that the device is using relatively minimal user tracking. You’re likely to use an Apple TV box with the Apple TV app or with an Apple account, which means sending some data to Apple. But Apple has a better reputation for keeping user information in-house, and Apple TV boxes don’t have automatic content recognition (ACR).

For more information, read my previous article on why Apple TVs are privacy advocates’ go-to streaming device.

Differing from other smart TV alternatives in this guide (such as a laptop), you don’t have to worry about various streaming services’ requirements for streaming in 4K or HDR with an Apple TV. But you still have to make sure your display and HDMI cable are HDCP 2.2-compliant and that you’re using HDMI 2.0 or better if you want to watch 4K or HDR content. You could even connect network-attached storage (NAS) to your Apple TV box so you can stream files from the storage device.

Plus, using a smart TV offline means you’ll have access to the latest and greatest display technologies, which is generally not the case for dumb TVs.

Things to keep in mind

One common concern about using smart TVs offline is the fear that the TV will repeatedly nag you to connect to the Internet. I’ve seen some reports of this happening over the years, but generally speaking, this doesn’t seem to be expected behavior. If you can’t find a way to disable TV notifications, try contacting support.

You may want your offline TV to keep LAN access so you can still use some smart TV features, like phone mirroring or streaming from a NAS. In this case, you can use your router (if supported) to block your TV’s IP address from connecting to the Internet.

And Google TV users should remember to set their TV to “basic TV” mode, which lets you use the TV without connecting to the Internet.

Dumb TVs are endangered

Buying a TV that doesn’t connect to the Internet is an obvious solution to avoiding smart TV tracking and ads, but that’s much easier said than done.

Smart TV OSes help TV-makers stay afloat in an industry with thin margins on hardware. Not only do they provide ad space, but they also give OS operators and their partners information on how people use their TVs—data that is extremely valuable to advertisers. Additionally, mainstream acceptance of the Internet of Things has led many people to expect their TVs to have integrated Wi-Fi. These factors have all made finding a dumb TV difficult, especially in the US.

Dumb TVs sold today have serious image and sound quality tradeoffs, simply because companies don’t make dumb versions of their high-end models. On the image side, you can expect lower resolutions, sizes, and brightness levels and poorer viewing angles. You also won’t find premium panel technologies like OLED. If you want premium image quality or sound, you’re better off using a smart TV offline. Dumb TVs also usually have shorter (one-year) warranties.

Any display or system you end up using needs HDCP 2.2 compliance to play 4K or HDR content via a streaming service or any other DRM-protected 4K or HDR media, like a Blu-ray disc.

Best ways to find a dumb TV

Below are the brands I’ve identified as most likely to have dumb TVs available for purchase online as of this writing.

Emerson

I was able to find the greatest number of non-smart TVs from Emerson. Emerson is a Parsippany, New Jersey, electronics company that was founded in 1948.

As of this writing, Emerson’s dumb TV options range from 7-inch portable models to 50-inch 4K TVs. Its TVs are relatively easy to get since they’re sold directly and through various online retailers, including Amazon, Home Depot, Best Buy, and, for some reason, Shein.

Westinghouse



Another company still pushing non-smart TVs is Westinghouse, a Pittsburgh-headquartered company founded in 1886. In addition to other types of electronics and home goods, Westinghouse also has an industrial business that includes nuclear fuel.

Westinghouse’s dumb TVs max out at 32 inches and 720p resolution, but some of them also have a built-in DVD player. You can find Westinghouse’s dumb TVs on Amazon. However, Westinghouse seems to have the most dubious reputation of these brands based on online chatter.

Sceptre

Sceptre, a Walmart brand, still has a handful of dumb TVs available. I’ve noticed inventory dwindle in recent months, but Walmart usually has at least one Sceptre dumb TV available.

Amazon search

Outside the above brands, your best bet for finding a non-smart TV is Amazon. I’ve had success searching for “dumb TVs” and have found additional results by searching for a “non-smart TV.”

Projectors

For now, it’s not hard to find a projector that doesn’t connect to the Internet or track user activity. And there are options that are HDCP 2.2-compliant so you can project in 4K and HDR.

Things to keep in mind

Projectors aren’t for everyone. They still require dim rooms and a decent amount of physical space to produce the best image. (To see how much space you need for a projector, I recommend RTINGS’ handy throw calculator.)

The smart-tech bug has come for projectors, too, though, and we’ve started seeing more smart projectors released over the past two years.

Computer monitors

If you want a dumb display for watching TV, it’s cheaper to buy a smart TV and keep it offline than it is to get a similarly specced computer monitor. But there are benefits to using a monitor instead of a dumb TV or an offline smart TV. (Of course, this logic doesn’t carry over to “smart monitors.”)

When it comes to smaller screens, you’ll have more options if you look at monitors instead of TVs. This is especially true if you want premium features, like high refresh rates or quality speakers, which are hard to find among TVs that are under 42 inches.

Monitor vendors are typically more forthcoming about product specs than TV makers are. It’s hard to find manufacturer claims about a TV’s color gamut, color accuracy, or typical brightness, but a computer monitor’s product page usually has all this information. It’s also easier to find a monitor with professional-grade color accuracy than a TV with the same, and some monitors have integrated calibration tools.

Things to keep in mind

Newer and advanced types of display technologies are rarer in monitors. This includes OLED, Mini LED, and Micro RGB. And if you buy a new monitor, you’ll probably need to supply your own speakers.

A computer monitor isn’t a TV, so there’s no TV tuner or way to use an antenna. If you really wanted to, you could get a cable box to work with a monitor with the right ports or adapters. People are streaming more than they’re watching broadcast and cable channels, though, so you may not mind the lack of traditional TV capabilities.

Digital signage

Digital signage displays are purpose-built for displaying corporate messages, often for all or most hours of the day. They typically have features that people don’t need for TV watching, such as content management software. And due to their durability and warranty needs, digital signage displays are often more expensive than similarly specced computer monitors.

Again, it’s important to ensure that the digital signage is HDCP 2.2-compliant if you plan to watch 4K or HDR.

Things to keep in mind

But if you happen to come across a digital signage display that’s the right size and the right price, is there any real reason why you shouldn’t use it as a TV? I asked Panasonic, which makes digital signage. A spokesperson from Panasonic Connect North America told me that digital signage displays are made to be on for 16 to 24 hours per day and with high brightness levels to accommodate “retail and public environments.”

The spokesperson added:

Their rugged construction and heat management systems make them ideal for demanding commercial use, but these same features can result in higher energy consumption, louder operation, and limited compatibility with home entertainment systems.

Panasonic’s representative also pointed out that real TVs offer consumer-friendly features for watching TV, like “home-optimized picture tuning, simplified audio integration, and user-friendly menu interfaces.”

If you’re fine with these caveats, though, and digital signage is your easiest option, there isn’t anything stopping you from using one to avoid smart TVs.

What to connect to your dumb TV

After you’ve settled on an offline display, you’ll need something to give it life. Below is a breakdown of the best things to plug into your dumb TV (or dumb display) so you can watch TV without your TV watching you.

Things to keep in mind

If you’re considering using an older device for TV, like a used laptop, make sure it’s HDCP 2.2-compliant if you want to watch 4K or HDR.

And although old systems and displays and single-board computers can make great dumb TV alternatives, remember that these devices need HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 or newer to support 4K at 60 Hz.

What to connect: a Phone

Before we get into more complex options for powering your dumb TV, let’s start with devices you may already own.

It’s possible to connect your phone to a dumb display, but doing so is harder than connecting a PC. You’d need an adapter, such as a USB-C (or Lightning) Digital AV Adapter.

You can use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to control the phone from afar. By activating Assistive Touch, I’ve even been able to use my iPhone with a mouse that claims not to support iOS. With an extra-long cable, you could potentially control the phone from your lap. That’s not the cleanest setup, though, and it would look odd in a family room.

Things to keep in mind

If your phone is outputting to your display, you can’t use it to check your email, read articles, or doomscroll while you watch TV. You can fix this by using a secondary phone as your streaming device.

If you’re using a phone to watch a streaming service, there’s a good chance you won’t be watching in 4K, even if your streaming subscription supports it. Netflix, for example, limits resolution to 1080p or less (depending on the model) for iPhones. HDR is supported across iPhone models but not with Android devices.

Screen mirroring doesn’t always work well with streaming services and phones. Netflix, for instance, doesn’t support AirPlay or Android phone casting. Disney+ supports Chromecast and AirPlay, but AirPlay won’t work if you subscribe to Disney+ with ads (due to “technical reasons”).

What to connect: A laptop

A laptop is an excellent smart TV alternative that’s highly customizable yet simple to deploy.

Most mainstream streaming providers that have dedicated smart TV apps, like Netflix and HBO Max, have PC versions of their apps. And most of those services are also available via web browsers, which work much better on computers than they do on smart TVs. You can also access local files—all via a user interface that you and anyone else watching TV is probably familiar with already.

With a tethered laptop, you can quickly set up a multi-picture view for watching two games or shows simultaneously. Multi-view support on streaming apps is extremely limited right now, with only Peacock and dedicated sports apps like ESPN and MLB TV offering it.

A laptop also lets you use your dumb TV for common PC tasks, like PC gaming or using productivity software (sometimes you just want to see that spreadsheet on a bigger screen).

Things to keep in mind

Streaming in 4K or HDR sometimes comes with specific requirements that are easy to overlook. Some streaming services, for example, won’t stream in 4K on certain web browsers—or with any web browser at all.

Streaming services sometimes have GPU requirements for 4K and HDR streaming. For example, to stream Netflix in 4K or HDR from a browser, you need Microsoft Edge and an Intel 7th Generation Core or AMD Ryzen CPU or better, plus the latest graphics drivers. Disney+ doesn’t allow 4K HDR streaming from any web browsers. Streaming 4K content in a web browser might also require you to acquire the HEVC/H.265 codec, depending on your system.

If 4K or HDR streaming is critical to you, it’s important to check your streaming providers’ 4K and HDR limits; it may be best to rely on a dedicated app.

If you want to be able to comfortably control your computer from a couch, you’ll also need to invest in some hardware or software. You can get away with a basic Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Air mice are another popular solution.

The WeChip W1 air mouse.

The WeChip W1 air mouse.

Credit: WeChip/Amazon

The WeChip W1 air mouse. Credit: WeChip/Amazon

If you don’t want extra gadgets taking up space, software like the popular Unified Remote (for iOS and Android) can turn your phone into a remote control for your computer. It also supports Wake-On-LAN.

You may encounter hiccups with streaming availability. Most streaming services available on smart TVs are also accessible via computers, but some aren’t. Many FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) services and channels, such as the Samsung TV Plus service and Filmrise FAST app and channel, are only available via smart TVs. And many streaming services’ apps, including Netflix and Disney+, aren’t available on macOS. If you’re using a very old computer, you might run into compatibility issues with streaming services. Netflix’s PC app, for example, requires Windows 10 or newer, and if you stream Netflix via a browser on a system running an older OS, you’re limited to SD resolution.

And while a laptop and dumb display setup can keep snooping TVs out of your home, there are obviously lots of user tracking and privacy concerns with web browsers, too. You can alleviate some concerns by researching the browsers you want to use for watching TV.

What to connect: A home theater PC

For a more permanent setup, consider a dedicated home theater PC (HTPC). They don’t require beefy, expensive specs and are more flexible than smart TV platforms in terms of software support and customization.

You can pick a system that fits on your living room console table, like a mini PC, or match your home’s aesthetics with a custom build. Raspberry Pis are a diminutive solution that you can dress up in a case and use for various additional tasks, like streaming games from your gaming PC to your TV or creating an AirPlay music server for streaming Spotify and other online music and local music to AirPlay-compatible speakers.

The right accessories can take an HTPC to the next level. You can use an app like TeamViewer or the more TV-remote-like Unified Remote to control your PC with your phone. But investing in dedicated hardware is worthwhile for long-term and multi-person use. Bluetooth keyboards and mice last a long time without needing a charge and can even be combined into one device.

K400 Plus Wireless Touch Keyboard

Logitech’s wireless K400 combines a keyboard with a touchpad.

Credit: Logitech

Logitech’s wireless K400 combines a keyboard with a touchpad. Credit: Logitech

Other popular options for HTPC control are air remotes and the Flirc USB, which plugs into a computer’s USB-A port to enable IR remote control. Speaking of USB ports, you could use them to connect a Blu-ray/DVD player or gaming controller to your HTPC. If you want to add support for live TV, you can still find PCIe over-the-air (OTA) tuner cards.

Pepper Jobs W10 GYRO Smart Remote

The Pepper Jobs W10 GYRO Smart Remote is a popular air remote for controlling Windows 10 PCs.

Credit: Pepper Jobs

The Pepper Jobs W10 GYRO Smart Remote is a popular air remote for controlling Windows 10 PCs. Credit: Pepper Jobs

Helpful software for home theater PCs

With the right software, an HTPC can be more useful to a household than a smart TV. You probably already have some apps in mind for your ideal HTPC. That makes this a fitting time to discuss some solid software that you may not have initially considered or that would be helpful to recommend to other cord cutters.

If you have a lot of media files you’d like to easily navigate through on your HTPC, media server software, such as Plex Media Server, is a lifesaver. Plex specifically has an app streamlined for HTPC use. The company has taken some criticism recently due to changes like new remote access rules, higher prices, and a foray into movie rentals. Although Plex is probably the most common and simplest media server software, alternatives like Jellyfin have been gaining popularity lately and are worth checking out.

Whichever media server software you use, consider pairing it with a dedicated NAS. NAS media servers are especially helpful if you want to let people, including those outside of your household, watch stuff from your media library at any time and without having to keep a high-power system turned on 24/7.

You can stream files from your NAS to a dumb TV by setting up a streaming system—such as a Raspberry Pi, Nvidia Shield, or Apple TV box—that connects to the dumb display. That device can then stream video from the NAS by using Network File System or the Infuse app, for example. 

What to connect: An antenna

Nowadays, you can watch traditional, live TV channels over the Internet through over-the-top streaming services like YouTube TV and Sling TV. But don’t underestimate the power of TV antennas, which have improved in recent years and let you watch stuff for free.

This year, Horowitz Research surveyed 2,200 US adults and found that 19 percent of respondents were still using a TV antenna.

If you haven’t checked them out in a while, you might be surprised by how sleek bunny ears look now. Many of the best TV antennas now have flat, square shapes and can be mounted to your wall or windowsill.

Mohu's Leaf antenna.

Mohu’s Leaf antenna. Bye, bye, bunny ears.

Mohu’s Leaf antenna. Bye, bye, bunny ears. Credit: Mohu

The best part is that companies can’t track what you watch with an antenna. As Nielsen said in a January 2024 blog post:

Big data sources alone can’t provide insight into the viewing behaviors of the millions of viewers who watch TV using a digital antenna.

Antennas have also gotten more versatile. For example, in addition to local stations, an antenna can provide access to dozens of digital subchannels. They’re similar to the free ad-supported television channels gaining popularity with smart TVs users today, in that they often show niche programming or a steady stream of old shows and movies with commercial breaks. You can find a list of channels you’re likely to get with an antenna via this website from the Federal Communications Commission.

TV and movies watched through an antenna are likely to be less compressed than what you get with cable, which means you can get excellent image quality with the right setup.

You can also add DVR capabilities, like record and pause, to live broadcasts through hardware, such as a Tablo OTA DVR device or Plex DVR, a subscription service that lets antenna users add broadcast TV recordings to their Plex media servers.

A diagram of the 4th Gen Tablo's ports.

A diagram of the 4th Gen Tablo’s ports.

A diagram of the 4th Gen Tablo’s ports. Credit: Tablo

Things to keep in mind

You’re unlikely to get 4K or HDR broadcasts with an antenna. ATSC 3.0, also known as Next Gen TV, enables stations to broadcast in 4K HDR but has been rolling out slowly. Legislation recently proposed by the FCC could further slow things.

In order to watch a 4K or HDR broadcast, you’ll also need an ATSC 3.0 tuner or an ATSC 3.0-equipped TV. The latter is rare. LG, for example, dropped support in 2023 over a patent dispute. You can find a list of ATSC 3.0-certified TVs and converters here.

Realistically, an antenna doesn’t have enough channels to provide sufficient entertainment for many modern households. Sixty percent of antenna owners also subscribe to some sort of streaming service, according to Nielsen.

Further, obstructions like tall buildings and power lines could hurt an antenna’s performance. Another challenge is getting support for multiple TVs in your home. If you want OTA TV in multiple rooms, you either need to buy multiple antennas or set up a way to split the signal (such as by using an old coaxial cable and splitter, running a new coaxial cable, or using an OTA DVR, such as a Tablo or SiliconDust’s HDHomeRun).

Photo of Scharon Harding

Scharon is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer gadgets and services. She’s been reporting on technology for over 10 years, with bylines at Tom’s Hardware, Channelnomics, and CRN UK.

How to break free from smart TV ads and tracking Read More »

star-wars:-fate-of-the-old-republic-announced-as-a-kotor-spiritual-successor

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic announced as a KOTOR spiritual successor

Bioware, casey hudson, gaming, KOTOR, old republic, star wars / /

Over two decades after the release of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, a new project described as a “spiritual successor” to that seminal RPG series was announced at The Game Awards Thursday night. Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic will be a collaboration between Lucasfilm Games and Arcanaut Studios, a new development house being launched by original KOTOR director Casey Hudson.

Hudson, who will serve as director on the new game, said in an interview with StarWars.com that he has remained in contact with Lucasfilm since the KOTOR days, in the hopes of being able to collaborate in the Star Wars universe again. “It took the right conditions to get everything to line up,” he told the site.

Calling KOTOR “one of the defining experiences of my career,” Hudson said he wants to “explore a contemporary vision” of the Star Wars universe and “deliver on the combination of player agency and immersion in Star Wars” that defined the original games. As director on the upcoming game, Hudson said he sees his role as “to gather and shape a cohesive vision that the entire team contributes to. Ensuring that everyone shares that vision and understands their part in creating it is critical to the success of a project.”

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic announced as a KOTOR spiritual successor Read More »

google-translate-expands-live-translation-to-all-earbuds-on-android

Google Translate expands live translation to all earbuds on Android

AI, Apps, Artificial Intelligence, Gemini, Google / /

Gemini text translation

Translate can now use Gemini to interpret the meaning of a phrase rather than simply translating each word.

Credit: Google

Translate can now use Gemini to interpret the meaning of a phrase rather than simply translating each word. Credit: Google

Regardless of whether you’re using live translate or just checking a single phrase, Google claims the Gemini-powered upgrade will serve you well. Google Translate is now apparently better at understanding the nuance of languages, with an awareness of idioms and local slang. Google uses the example of “stealing my thunder,” which wouldn’t make a lick of sense when translated literally into other languages. The new translation model, which is also available in the search-based translation interface, supports over 70 languages.

Google also debuted language-learning features earlier this year, borrowing a page from educational apps like Duolingo. You can tell the app your skill level with a language, as well as whether you need help with travel-oriented conversations or more everyday interactions. The app uses this to create tailored listening and speaking exercises.

AI Translate learning

The Translate app’s learning tools are getting better.

Credit: Google

The Translate app’s learning tools are getting better. Credit: Google

With this big update, Translate will be more of a stickler about your pronunciation. Google promises more feedback and tips based on your spoken replies in the learning modules. The app will also now keep track of how often you complete language practice, showing your daily streak in the app.

If “number go up” will help you learn more, then this update is for you. Practice mode is also launching in almost 20 new countries, including Germany, India, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Google Translate expands live translation to all earbuds on Android Read More »

a-study-in-contrasts:-the-cinematography-of-wake-up-dead-man

A study in contrasts: The cinematography of Wake Up Dead Man

cinematography, culture, Entertainment, netflix, Wake Up Dead Man / /

Rian Johnson has another Benoit Blanc hit on his hands with Wake Up Dead Man, in which Blanc tackles the strange death of a fire-and-brimstone parish priest, Monseigneur Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). It’s a classic locked-room mystery in a spookily Gothic small-town setting, and Johnson turned to cinematographer Steve Yedlin (Looper, The Last Jedi) to help realize his artistic vision.

(Minor spoilers below but no major reveals.)

Yedlin worked on the previous two Knives Out installments. He’s known Johnson since the two were in their teens, and that longstanding friendship ensures that they are on the same page, aesthetically, from the start when they work on projects.

“We don’t have to test each other,” Yedlin told Ars. “There isn’t that figuring out period. We get to use the prep time in a way that’s really efficient and makes the movie better because we’re [in agreement] from the very first moment of whatever time we have crafting and honing and sculpting this movie. We don’t waste time talking abstractions or making sure we have the same taste. We can just dive right into the details of each individual scene and shot.”

This time, given the distinctive Gothic sensibility of Wake Up Dead Man, Yedlin played up the interplay between light and dark. For instance, Johnson’s script called for the occasional dramatic lighting changes, sometimes within the same scene. Case in point: the dramatic light changes in an exchange between the young priest (and prime suspect) Jud Duplenticy (Josh O-Connor) and Blanc. As Blanc starts speaking the clouds cover the sun; the sun re-emerges as Duplenticy’s speech swells. Blanc gets a second moment in the sun, so to speak, with his “road to Damascus” moment just before the final reveal.

“In the church, we have day, night, dawn, dusk,” said Yedlin. “We have early morning rays slashing in. As Wick’s speech swells up, the sun bursts out from behind the clouds and flares the lens. We had custom light control software so they can both control and tweak all the nuances of the lighting and also do the cues themselves where it’s changing during the shot, where it’s very flexible and we can be creative in the moment. It’s very repeatable and dependable and you can just push a button and it happens on the same line over the same length of time, every time.”

A study in contrasts: The cinematography of Wake Up Dead Man Read More »

openai-releases-gpt-5.2-after-“code-red”-google-threat-alert

OpenAI releases GPT-5.2 after “code red” Google threat alert

agentic AI, AI, AI assistants, AI benchmarks, AI coding, Biz & IT, chatgpt, Gemini 3, Google, Google Gemini, GPT-5, GPT-5.2, large language models, machine learning, openai, sam altman / /

On Thursday, OpenAI released GPT-5.2, its newest family of AI models for ChatGPT, in three versions called Instant, Thinking, and Pro. The release follows CEO Sam Altman’s internal “code red” memo earlier this month, which directed company resources toward improving ChatGPT in response to competitive pressure from Google’s Gemini 3 AI model.

“We designed 5.2 to unlock even more economic value for people,” Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s chief product officer, said during a press briefing with journalists on Thursday. “It’s better at creating spreadsheets, building presentations, writing code, perceiving images, understanding long context, using tools and then linking complex, multi-step projects.”

As with previous versions of GPT-5, the three model tiers serve different purposes: Instant handles faster tasks like writing and translation; Thinking spits out simulated reasoning “thinking” text in an attempt to tackle more complex work like coding and math; and Pro spits out even more simulated reasoning text with the goal of delivering the highest-accuracy performance for difficult problems.

A chart of GPT-5.2 benchmark results taken from OpenAI's website.

A chart of GPT-5.2 Thinking benchmark results comparing it to its predecessor, taken from OpenAI’s website. Credit: OpenAI

GPT-5.2 features a 400,000-token context window, allowing it to process hundreds of documents at once, and a knowledge cutoff date of August 31, 2025.

GPT-5.2 is rolling out to paid ChatGPT subscribers starting Thursday, with API access available to developers. Pricing in the API runs $1.75 per million input tokens for the standard model, a 40 percent increase over GPT-5.1. OpenAI says the older GPT-5.1 will remain available in ChatGPT for paid users for three months under a legacy models dropdown.

Playing catch-up with Google

The release follows a tricky month for OpenAI. In early December, Altman issued an internal “code red” directive after Google’s Gemini 3 model topped multiple AI benchmarks and gained market share. The memo called for delaying other initiatives, including advertising plans for ChatGPT, to focus on improving the chatbot’s core experience.

The stakes for OpenAI are substantial. The company has made commitments totaling $1.4 trillion for AI infrastructure buildouts over the next several years, bets it made when it had a more obvious technology lead among AI companies. Google’s Gemini app now has more than 650 million monthly active users, while OpenAI reports 800 million weekly active users for ChatGPT.

OpenAI releases GPT-5.2 after “code red” Google threat alert Read More »

fewer-evs-need-fewer-batteries:-ford-and-sk-on-end-their-joint-venture

Fewer EVs need fewer batteries: Ford and SK On end their joint venture

battery factory, Cars, EV adoption, Ford, SK innovation / /

Cast your mind back to 2021. Electric vehicles were hot stuff, buoyed by Tesla’s increasingly stratospheric valuation and a general optimism fueled by what would turn out to be the most significant climate-focused spending package in US history. For some time, automakers had been promising an all-electric future, and they started laying the groundwork to make that happen, partnering with battery suppliers and the like.

Take Ford—that year, it announced a joint venture with SK to build a pair of battery factories, one in Kentucky, the other in Tennessee. BlueOvalSK represented an $11.4 billion investment that would create 11,000 jobs, we were told, and an annual output of 60 GWh from both plants.

Four years later, things look very different. EV subsidies are dead, as is any inclination by the current government to hold automakers accountable for selling too many gas guzzlers. EV-heavy product plans have been thrown out, and designs for new combustion-powered cars are being dusted off and spiffed up. Fewer EVs means a lower need for batteries, and today we saw that in evidence when it emerged that Ford and SK On are ending their battery factory joint venture.

The news has not exactly shocked industry-watchers. Ford started to throttle back on the EV hype in 2024, throwing out not one but two EV strategies by that August. Disappointing F-150 Lightning sales saw Ford postpone a fully electric replacement (which is supposed to be built in Tennessee) in favor of a smaller midsize electric truck—supposedly much cheaper to build—due in 2027.

Divorce

As for the two plants, a Ford subsidiary will assume full ownership of Blue Oval City in Kentucky, with SK On taking full ownership of the plant in Tennessee. According to Reuters, SK On decided to end the partnership due to the declining prospects of EV sales in the US. Instead, it intends to focus the Tennessee plant’s output on the energy storage market.

Fewer EVs need fewer batteries: Ford and SK On end their joint venture Read More »

disney-invests-$1-billion-in-openai,-licenses-200-characters-for-ai-video-app-sora

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI, licenses 200 characters for AI video app Sora

AI, AI law, Ai video, Ai video generator, Biz & IT, Bob Iger, copyright, Disney, generative ai, Hollywood, image synthesis, intellectual property, licensing, machine learning, Marvel, openai, pixar, sam altman, Sora, star wars, video synthesis / /

An AI-generated version of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, seen in a still capture from a video generated by Sora 2.

An AI-generated version of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seen in a still capture from a video generated by Sora 2. Credit: OpenAI

Under the new agreement with Disney, Sora users will be able to generate short videos using characters such as Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader, Iron Man, Simba, and characters from franchises including Frozen, Inside Out, Toy Story, and The Mandalorian, along with costumes, props, vehicles, and environments.

The ChatGPT image generator will also gain official access to the same intellectual property, although that information was trained into these AI models long ago. What’s changing is that OpenAI will allow Disney-related content generated by its AI models to officially pass through its content moderation filters and reach the user, sanctioned by Disney.

On Disney’s end of the deal, the company plans to deploy ChatGPT for its employees and use OpenAI’s technology to build new features for Disney+. A curated selection of fan-made Sora videos will stream on the Disney+ platform starting in early 2026.

The agreement does not include any talent likenesses or voices. Disney and OpenAI said they have committed to “maintaining robust controls to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content” and to “respect the rights of individuals to appropriately control the use of their voice and likeness.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the deal a model for collaboration between AI companies and studios. “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and help works reach vast new audiences,” Altman said.

From adversary to partner

Money opens all kinds of doors, and the new partnership represents a dramatic reversal in Disney’s approach to OpenAI from just a few months ago. At that time, Disney and other major studios refused to participate in Sora 2 following its launch on September 30.

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI, licenses 200 characters for AI video app Sora Read More »