Aeris and Verizon link IoT platforms to speed US localisation, promising unified eSIM-based management and faster roll-outs for global fleets. Read...

It’s time to ditch your aging headphones and level up with a pair that sounds great and wears comfortably. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are on sale for 35% off on Amazon, which means you can score them for just $278.99 right now. That’s almost as cheap as its all-time lowest price, and the only catch is the color: limited-edition Deep Plum. If you don’t mind the color—which is gorgeous, if I do say so myself—then these QuietComfort Ultra headphones will give you everything you need. They’re built with fantastic noise cancellation tech in three different modes: Quiet Mode for full active cancellation, Aware Mode for passthrough audio so you can still hear what’s happening around you, and Immersion Mode as a blend of the two. One of the best things about these headphones is that they have a massive 24-hour battery life, so you can listen to them for days before needing to recharge. Recharging itself is quick and convenient using a simple USB-C cable—15 minutes of plug-in time gets you an extra 2.5 hours of playback. Combine that with CustomTune for personalized audio settings, comfy over-ear cans, and touch controls on each earcup, and you have a top-tier listening experience. What are you waiting for? Treat yourself to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra noise-canceling headphones in one of the most gorgeous shades I’ve ever seen. Normally $429, it’s a steal for just $278.99! Save 35% on these lovely Bose noise-canceling headphonesBuy now at Amazon Read...

Valve is a darling among PC gamers. Steam as a platform is beloved, the Steam Deck created the handheld gaming PC boom. But there’s a darker side of the company, especially when it comes to game monetization. The state of New York says that the way Valve sells loot boxes in games like Counter-Strike is illegal gambling. And the state wants to prove it in court. Attorney General Letitia James brought the suit (PDF link) against the PC gaming giant yesterday, alleging that Valve has created a market for randomized virtual items that operates as an illegal casino, including secondary markets that give those items tangible, real value, and that they pose an especially potent threat to children. The 47-page filing lays out the company’s history of digital distribution, its network of digital item sales and how they can be traded and even converted into real currency, and how it allegedly designed the process of opening loot boxes to operate “similar to the spin of a slot machine.” New York claims that 96 percent of Counter-Strike digital items are effectively worth less than the keys purchased to randomly unlock them, making the entire process a digital casino. To demonstrate, it offers up “case openings” on YouTube, where the real-world value of items is displayed as streamers scream in glee. One linked from the filing has 1.5 million views, and a sponsor link to an affiliate site where loot boxes can be bought and sold with regular digital payments. In laying out how the virtual video game items have real-world, tangible value, the suit says that “Valve designed and built its games and the Steam platform to enable users to sell the virtual items they have won.” Players can trade items through Steam directly via the community market or on third-party sites that organize player-to-player trades, often facilitating cash transfers. Built-in Steam tools, like the Trade URL, allow for easy integration on third-party services. “Unlike the Steam Community Market, which caps transaction amounts,” New York argues, “third-party sites enable users to sell rare virtual items from Counter-Strike, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2 for tens of thousands of dollars.” This is manifestly true, as high-value Counter-Strike skin sales frequently make headlines. The market for Counter-Strike skins alone is estimated to be worth multiple billions of dollars, even though selling virtual items for real cash is a violation of the Steam user agreement. New York alleges that Valve has selectively enforced these rules, prosecuting the most blatant “skin casinos” while allowing cash sales to go unchallenged. The lawsuit includes this screenshot from a streamer unlocking a Counter-Strike skin with a real-world value on screen. State of New York Steam itself does not allow for transfers of actual cash…but Steam Wallet credit, which can be purchased with real money and used to buy games or hardware like the Steam Deck, is pretty darn close. As the suit says, “These funds have the equivalent purchasing power on the Steam platform as cash.” New York argues that since players can use this credit to buy games, which do have set values, Steam store credit operates the same as actual currency for the purposes of gambling. It even gives an example of an investigator who sold a Counter-Strike knife skin, bought a Steam Deck handheld with the store credit, and then sold the Steam Deck in a store (presumably a pawn shop or game store) to buy other electronics. New York argues that through ready availability and deliberate gambling mechanics, Valve’s games offer the same risks and perceived rewards as casino gambling, facilitating gambling addiction in the same way. This is especially true for children and teens, the suit says, and “teenagers and children compromise a significant segment of Valve’s users.” The state hopes to “permanently enjoin” Valve from violating New York law, make restitution to consumers, and “disgorge all monies resulting from the illegal practices,” and pay a fine of three times the amount it earned from the allegedly illegal practices. Equating loot box and gacha game design with gambling has been a hot-button issue for years, though actual prosecution has been rare. Because the items won are virtual and, at least technically, have no direct monetary value, most games get away with it. Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium have especially harsh laws and interpretations of existing laws that view loot boxes and similar mechanics and gambling, while some countries restrict them from being sold to minors. Various state bills and one national bill in the United States intended to ban or otherwise regulate loot box sales, but none have actually been passed. The suit makes a strong and convincing opening statement. But even in a relatively liberal state, the New York Attorney General has her work cut out for her. Attempted civil and criminal prosecutions of video game monetization have generally been very difficult, and Steam (and, indeed, Counter-Strike skins) basically prints money for Valve. An army of spawn-camping lawyers could spend years finding ways to define just about anything Valve does as, if not totally legal, then probably not explicitly illegal. Read...

That guest network you set up for your neighbors may not be as secure as you think. Read...

Microsoft is introducing a new policy in Microsoft 365 that allows organizations to watermark content that’s created or edited using AI tools such as Copilot, reports Windows Central. Initially, the policy applies to audio content created or edited using AI within Microsoft 365. Support for video is expected to be launched in March 2026. The feature is not enabled by default and must be manually activated by administrators. The watermark can’t be customized—the text and placement are predetermined by Microsoft. Even if an organization chooses not to use visible or audible watermarks, AI content will still be marked with metadata. This information can show which AI model was used, which app created the content, and when it was generated, among other details. AI-generated images are handled separately through a different user-level policy. Read...

Ericsson and NTT DATA strike global deal to deliver managed private 5G and edge AI for large enterprises across multiple industries. Read...

Are you ready to upgrade your home office? But don’t want to spend a boatloat of money on a laptop or desktop PC that’s overkill for your needs? Not to worry! All you need is a good budget-friendly mini PC like the Bosgame E5, which happens to be on sale for just $259.98, down from its original $398.99. That’s a whopping $139 limited-time discount (35% off) on Amazon right now! This mini PC is a little overpriced at full asking, but it’s a super-solid deal with this big price cut. The Bosgame E5 packs an AMD Ryzen 3 5300U CPU and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is a pretty good entry-level and budget-friendly configuration that’ll serve well as a daily driver for web browsing, office tasks, watching Netflix and YouTube, etc. And with the 1TB SSD it comes with, this mini PC could also serve well as a home media server for streaming on your living room TV. If you ever need more space, you can upgrade the internal SSD up to 4TB and you can attach fast external drives via the two USB-A 3.2 ports (plus another two USB-A 2.0 ports in back for keyboard and mouse). But if you instead use it as a workstation PC, it’ll support up to triple 4K/60Hz monitors for full productivity via HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video ports. For network connectivity, you have double Gigabit LAN ports as well as Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. (Yeah, the network options are a little old, but it’s still plenty good for casual home use.) It’ll be hard to find a better PC in this price range, especially with the current RAM and SSD shortage ravaging PC hardware prices. Score it now for $259.98 while you can! But if you miss it, don’t fret—you might be able to find another in our roundup of best mini PC deals. Save 35% on the Bosgame E5 mini PC for your home officeBuy now at Amazon Read...

A lot’s changed since I first wrote about sharing your streaming passwords more than a decade ago. While Netflix once lauded password sharing as a growth mechanism, lately it’s been pushing more password sharers to pay up as it focuses on growing revenue. Disney and HBO Max followed Netflix’s lead over the past few years, gradually introducing more roadblocks for account sharers. But that doesn’t mean password sharing is dead. Technically, it’s still possible for all but a handful of streaming services, even if some terms of service technically forbid it. And even with services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, the level of enforcement can vary, leaving some leeway to bend the rules. Just so you know what you’re getting into, though, here’s how each streaming service is handling password sharing in 2026: Streaming services that try to block password sharing Netflix Netflix was the first major streaming service to severely limit password sharing. For each account, Netflix establishes a “Netflix Household” based on factors like IP addresses and device IDs, and it limits access from outside that location. Changing locations: You can change a Household location through Netflix’s TV apps, using a code sent to the account holder’s email address. Bending the rules: Netflix has no documented limitations on how often you can switch, though you may eventually have to update the home location every time you log in. What about travel? Netflix will temporarily let you watch while away from home, though you may need to enter a verification code sent to your email address. You can avoid this extra step by using Netflix’s mobile app on your home Wi-Fi network at least once a month. Extra members: Netflix’s Standard plans can add one extra member, while Premium plans can add two. Each extra member costs $7 per month with ads or $9 per month without. Disney+ and Hulu on-demand Disney began limiting passwords for its streaming services in 2024. Similar to Netflix, both Disney+ and Hulu establish a “Household” location and restrict out-of-home viewing. Changing locations: You can establish a new Household location through the Disney+ and Hulu TV apps, using a code sent to the account holder’s email address. Bending the rules: Disney says there “may be a limit” to how many times you can update a Household location or say you’re away, but doesn’t disclose what that limit is. What about travel? Both Disney+ and Hulu offer “I’m away from home” options while traveling, though you may have to enter a verification code first. Extra members: You can add an extra person to Disney+ or Hulu for $7 per month with ads or $10 per month without. It’s $1 per month extra for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle. Extra members aren’t allowed for Disney’s bundles with HBO or ESPN. Note that Hulu + Live TV has different restrictions. More on that shortly. HBO Max HBO Max’s password sharing crackdown began in earnest last year, with a similar approach to Netflix and Disney. The service will automatically establish a “household” location and may limit access from outside the home. Changing locations: You can manually update your home location through the HBO Max app on a TV, using a code sent to the account holder’s email. Bending the rules: HBO Max says it may limit how many times you can switch home locations or claim to be traveling, at which point you’ll have to contact customer service. It doesn’t disclose what the limit is. What about travel? There’s an “I’m Traveling” option for temporary out-of-home access, which may require a verification code via email. HBO Max suggests using the app on your phone at home at least once every 90 days to avoid interruptions. Extra members: Adding a member costs $8 per month and provides the same benefits (for instance, ad-free or 4K video) as the main plan. You can’t add a member to the HBO bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. Streaming services with inherently impractical password sharing Apple TV Apple TV supports up to six simultaneous streams with no out-of-home viewing restrictions, but sharing your Apple ID and password with others is a bad idea. Anyone who can access your Apple account for streaming can also access things like your iMessage history and iCloud Photos. An Apple Family Sharing group does let up to six people access the same subscriptions, including Apple TV, but you can only belong to one Family Sharing group and can’t switch groups more than once per year. This mostly makes sense for folks who are actually part of the same family, but at least living together isn’t a requirement. Amazon Prime Video Amazon allows three simultaneous streams per account, two streams while watching the same content, or one stream for pay-per-view events. Just one problem: Anyone with access to your Amazon account can also make purchases, view your Amazon Photos, and interact with Alexa on your behalf. Adding someone to an Amazon Family limits that access, but you can only add one other adult per account. YouTube Premium YouTube Premium only lets you stream on a single device at a time, but since YouTube and Google accounts are the same, you probably don’t want to share your password with anyone. The alternative is to get a YouTube Premium Family plan at $23, as this can be shared with five other people in a Google family group. Streaming services that haven’t blocked password sharing (yet) Peacock Peacock lets you watch on up to three devices at a time, with no restrictions on out-of-home access from inside the United States. Password sharing is still technically against the rules, though, as Peacock’s terms of service say that “you may not share your subscription outside of your household,” and warns that it could “limit, suspend or terminate access” for violating those terms. Paramount+ Paramount+ supports three simultaneous streams from anywhere inside the United States. Like Peacock, its terms of service forbid sharing an account “with anyone other than members of your household,” though it’s not widely enforcing those rules for now. Fox One Fox hasn’t specified how many simultaneous streams it supports for Fox One, though StreamTV Insider reports that the limit is “around three” for out-of-home viewing. As for restrictions on password sharing, Fox One hasn’t announced any, though its terms of service discourage it. The company says it may impose simultaneous stream limits or device limits to prevent account sharing with people outside your home. ESPN Unlimited A help page on ESPN’s site says you “may not share your subscription outside of your household.” But unlike Disney+ and Hulu, ESPN doesn’t provide any information on how to update your Household or access the service while traveling. Since ESPN Unlimited only launched last year, enforcement may still lag behind Disney’s other services. Password sharing rules for live TV streaming services YouTube TV YouTube’s live TV streaming service can be shared with up to five other members of a Google family group and allows up to three simultaneous streams. But there’s a catch: Each member needs to access YouTube TV at the home of the account holder at least once every three months (or once per month for MLB programming), and local channels will only be available from the member’s current location. You can only change a YouTube TV account’s home location twice per year. Hulu + Live TV Hulu’s live TV service is a mostly a non-starter for password sharing. While you can watch on up to three mobile devices at a time while traveling, you can’t watch on TV devices from outside the home at all. Fubo Fubo lets up to three devices stream from outside the home at the same time, but you can only watch on a TV from one location at a time. If someone’s already watching on TV at home, anyone else who tries to watch on TV from elsewhere will get an error message. Also, local channels will come from the current location, wherever you are. DirecTV Of all the major live TV streaming services, DirecTV’s password sharing policies are the loosest. The service supports streaming on up to three devices from outside the home, two of which can be TV devices such as smart TVs and streaming players. While DirecTV hasn’t laid out any enforcement measures against password sharing, its terms of service do say to keep your password confidential and to “not to share it with anyone else.” Philo Philo supports up to three simultaneous streams, and its terms of service don’t mention password sharing. Frndly TV Roku’s rerun-centric live TV service allows either one, two, or four simultaneous streams depending on plan. While Frndly doesn’t disclose any enforcement measures against password sharing, its terms of use say you can only share credentials “with household members residing together at the same physical address and sharing a common living space.” Could you get banned? So far, I’ve not heard of a single streaming service that’s banned a paying customer outright for sharing their password, because that would be counterproductive. Instead of eliminating legitimate customers, companies like Netflix and Disney are more interested in adding inconveniences for password sharers who aren’t already paying. All of which is to say there’s little harm in testing the rules. But if you’re on the receiving end of someone else’s login, don’t be surprised if you’re eventually shut out. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

Is your laptop getting toasty hot? It could just be overheating. Then again, it could be that your laptop cooling fan is malfunctioning. If you suspect it’s the latter, but aren’t sure, I’ve got you covered. Here’s how to tell if you have a problem with your cooling fan. Check for dust and debris Regularly checking your laptop’s cooling fan for dust and debris should be a habit. Accumulated dust and debris can hinder the airflow, causing the fan to work inefficiently or stop working altogether. To inspect the fan, power off your PC and unplug it from its power source.  Next, locate the fan vent on the bottom side of the laptop. Using a can of compressed air, gently blow out any physical dust or debris from the fan vent. If the dust and debris is excessive, you may need to open the laptop to clean the fan more thoroughly. In this case use a small brush or cotton swab to remove any dirt. Once the fan is clean, reassemble the laptop and power it back on to check if the fan is working properly. Get compressed air on Amazon Verify the power supply To verify the power supply to the cooling fan in your laptop start by checking the connection between the fan and the power source. If the fan is connected properly and still not getting power, examine the power adapter or cable for any signs of damage such as fraying or bending. Use an alternate cable if available. You can also try testing the power supply with another device to confirm whether the issue lies with the laptop or the fan’s power source. Examine the connections It’s important to examine the fan connections to see if everything is in order. Start by powering down the laptop and removing the battery to ensure safety during the inspection. Next, locate the fan connections by referencing the laptop’s service manual. The fan may be directly connected to the motherboard or have a separate connection. Once the connections are located, carefully inspect them for any signs of physical damage like corrosion. Again, you can use a can of compressed air to remove any dust or debris from the connectors. You should also check the fan header on the motherboard for any bent or damaged pins that may be impeding the connection. If everything is intact, reassemble the laptop and power it on to see if the fan starts working again. If the issue persists you may need to seek professional help or consider replacing the cooling fan or associated components. Pexels: IT Services EU Update the device drivers Updating the device drivers can often resolve issues with a laptop cooling fan not working properly. The drivers are the software that enables communication between the operating system and the hardware. Outdated or corrupted drivers can lead to malfunctions. To update the drivers, start by accessing the Device Manager in the Control Panel. Locate the section for the cooling fan, right-click on the device, and select “update driver” from the drop-down menu. You can choose to update the drivers automatically or manually and install the latest driver version from the manufacturer’s website. Monitor your CPU temperature If you suspect that your fan isn’t working properly you should confirm it by monitoring your CPU temperature. There are a bunch of applications that can help you do this, apps like Core Temp and HWMonitor for example. These apps will help you monitor stats like core temperature, CPU temperature, and maximum and minimum recorded temperatures. By checking these apps you can determine if your laptop is overheating and take steps to do something about it. When using monitoring software it’s important to create a baseline for normal operating temperatures under typical usage conditions to help you establish when readings are abnormal. If you’ve tried the above troubleshooting steps and you still have a problem with your laptop fan, ideally, you’ll want to seek professional advice and help to replace or repair the fan. Related content How healthy is your PC? Check with these 8 free apps Deep clean your Windows PC: 10 professional tricks and tools I made one small tweak to my gaming PC. The payoff has been huge Read...

Adrienne Murray visits the Esrange Spaceport in the far north of Sweden. Read...