Opinion: Theatrical testing scenarios explain why AI models produce alarming outputs—and why we fall for it. Read...

I recently described how a recent flurry of smart home failures made me turn to Home Assistant, the increasingly polished DIY smart home platform that you can host yourself without relying on the cloud. Starting today, Home Assistant users have an awesome new toy to play with.  The Home Assistant Connect ZQA-2 ($69) is a new smart home adapter with a very tall antenna. And before you ask, it’s not for Matter, the latest and hottest new thing in smart home. Instead, the Connect ZQA-2 is all about Z-Wave, an older but widely used smart home technology that’s getting renewed attention thanks to its new “Long Range” capability, which allows for connectivity with Z-Wave LR (Long Range) client devices up to a mile—yes, a mile—away.  Home Assistant has long supported Z-Wave, in addition to Zigbee (the smart home standard favored by Phillips Hue) and the aforementioned Matter. (I just added the Matter integration to my own Home Assistant instance.)   But the Connect ZQA-2, which is based on the latest Z-Wave 800-series chipset, is the first Z-Wave adapter built by and for the Home Assistant platform, with the group behind Home Assistant noting that the hardware has been “precisely tuned to Z-Wave’s ideal wavelength.”  For those not familiar with Z-Wave, it’s a radio technology that operates in the sub-1GHz frequency band. This low frequency is ideal for penetrating solid barriers, such as walls, but it also avoids interference from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee devices that all operate in the 2.4GHz frequency spectrum. More than 4,500 smart devices from the likes of Ring, Leviton, Shelly, Yale, and Vivint offer Z-Wave devices, making Z-Wave a key ingredient in any Home Assistant installation.  Earlier generations of Z-Wave devices utilize a mesh network protocol that can support a maximum of 232 nodes. The newer Z-Wave 800-powered components are backward-compatible, but they can also use the Z-Wave Long Range protocol to operate on a star network that can support up to 4,000 (!) nodes. Nabu Casa, the commercial arm of the Open Home Foundation under which Home Assistant operates, offered me a sample Connect ZQA-2 for evaluation. While I haven’t had time to give it a formal review (I’ve been playing with the unit for a little less than a week), I can attest that it was easy to install and has—thus far, anyway—worked like a charm.  The Connect ZQA-2 comes in two parts: a 5 x 5-inch plastic base, and a 12-inch antenna with a 1.5-inch LED segment at the top that serves as a status indicator. Assembly is easy: Screw the antenna into the base, use the provided USB-C cable to connect the base to your Home Assistant server (a Raspberry Pi 5 in my case), and that’s pretty much it.  Assembling the Home Assistant Connect ZQA-2 is a simple matter of screwing the foot-long antenna into the 5-by-5-inch base.Ben Patterson/Foundry Deciding where to locate the Connect ZQA-2 is a potential issue. Home Assistant advises keeping it away from objects that could cause interference, such as thick brick walls, bodies of water (like fish tanks), other wireless transmitters, and wire mesh or metal fixtures (such as server racks).   I admit, I broke the rule and place the ZQA-2 on top of the wire mesh cabinet that houses my collection of Raspberry Pi boards, but a quick diagnostics check showed that the radio’s performance wasn’t unduly hampered. The antenna’s LED tip will blink yellow to warn you of a “sub-optimal” connection.  The Home Assistant folks also packed in a few Z-Wave devices for me to connect to the ZQA-2, all of which support both the standard Z-Wave protocol as well as Z-Wave LR: a smart plug, a water leak detector, and a smart water valve actuator, all built by Z-Wave device manufacturer Zooz.  Being that I’m an apartment dweller, I wasn’t able to install the smart water valve device, but I did try the smart plug and the water leak detector, which I configured via the Z-Wave JS control panel. (I run Home Assistant in a Docker container, so as a new Z-Wave user, I first had to spin up the Z-Wave integration in a separate container, a process that took all of 20 minutes.)  I didn’t perform formal testing on the connectivity between the two Zooz devices and the ZQA-2, but they worked flawlessly on an anecdotal level. I first connected the water leak sensor via Z-Wave LR and the smart plug with standard Z-Wave, and then swapped the protocols.    Ideally, I’d have done some true long-range testing with the new antenna—a great example might be placing the water leak sensor in a detached shed that’s, say, 100 yards away from the main building. The Z-Wave Long Range protocol supports a theoretical range of one mile, line of sight, so one could certainly dream up some inventive use cases.  The Home Assistant Connect ZQA-2 is available now on the Home Assistant website. I’ll update my findings as I continue testing. Read...

Huckleberry, an AI voice platform, revolutionises workplace feedback by enabling quick, accessible 360-degree reviews without HR involvement. Read...

Nobody really expects Windows on Arm PCs to keep up with their cousins running games locally on AMD or Intel CPUs — but until now, they had trouble simply being allowed to do so. Now, Microsoft is testing a way to enable local gaming via the Xbox app on Windows on Arm PCs. You’ve always been able to game on a PC running with Windows on Arm, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor inside. But if you loaded up the Xbox app on a Windows PC, the only way to do so was via cloud gaming, not locally. That changes with Microsoft’s new test build. Microsoft now has a new update (version 2508.1001.27.0 and higher) for those who are both Windows Insiders and Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview on their Arm-based Windows 11 PCs, via the Xbox Insider Hub. (That’s probably not a lot of users.) If you and your PC meet those requirements, you should be able to download an updated version of the Xbox app allowing you to try out games via the Windows Store and Xbox Game Pass for PC. The latter is what makes this update important. Game Pass allows those who pay a monthly fee to take advantage of an ever-changing pantheon of games, both top-tier and independent offerings. To date, Windows on Arm “gamers” have had to use Valve’s Steam instead. The problem is that the Adreno GPU inside the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite just doesn’t have the horsepower to run top-tier titles. Qualcomm showed off games like Control running at about 40fps on Low settings, and that’s fine. Our deep dive into Snapdragon X Elite gaming, however, showed most games still chugging away at single-digit frame rates, or at levels that simply weren’t playable. Qualcomm has also been hamstrung by the lack of support for anti-cheat systems that has improved over time. It’s less of an issue with older games or those that use older or even 2D graphics, as our tests showed DOTA 2 ran at an average of 52.8 frames per second on Low settings — but would dip down as low as 9.8fps when taxed to the limit. Still, the Xbox app is now a pretty convenient way to download games via Microsoft’s Game Pass, so the addition is good news. We’ll simply have to wait for what we expect to be a next-gen Snapdragon to be launched at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Technology Summit at the end of September for even better gaming on Windows on Arm. Read...

Google Gemini continues to push the limits of what it knows about you. On Wednesday, Google’s big initiative was a way to stop Gemini from learning more about you, while notifying users that content you share with it may be used as a foundation for chats with other users. “In the coming weeks, your ‘Gemini Apps Activity‘ setting will be renamed ‘Keep Activity,`” Google said in a blog post. “When this setting is on, a sample of your future uploads will be used to help improve Google services for everyone.” Today, Google is allowing Gemini to remember what it knows about you, and this behavior is on by default. “When this setting is on, Gemini remembers key details and preferences you’ve shared, leading to more natural and relevant conversations, as if you’re collaborating with a partner who’s already up to speed,” Google said. The idea is all about context: The more Google knows about you, the better Gemini can be in making recommendations. Google — and frankly, most internet services — have used this argument for years, as a way of pulling more data from you and the services you use, and building an online profile that can be used to serve ads. In an example, Google said Gemini could be used to brainstorm ideas for a YouTube channel based on Japanese culture, suggesting new ideas based on what it knows about your preferences and what you’ve previously asked Google about. For now, this “personal context” will only be available in the “2.5 Pro” model, with it being added to the default “2.5 Flash” model in the coming weeks, Google said. Incognito Mode for Gemini = ‘Temporary Chats’ So what happens if you don’t want Gemini to store your weird fondness for Labubus? You can turn off this feature by going to Settings in the Gemini app and selecting “Personal context,” then ”Your past chats with Gemini,” and turning the feature off. Google If you want Google to be able to “know” you, however — but have an embarassing or otherwise personal conversation you’d rather Gemini forget about — Google has also launched what’s known as “Temporary Chat.” It’s pretty easy to equate a “Temporary Chat” with the current Incognito Mode in Google Chrome. The chat won’t appear in your list of recent chats or Google Apps activity, and won’t be used to “personalize your Gemini experience or train Google’s AI models.” Google does retain a “temporary chat,” but only for 72 hours so that you can exhaust all of your questions. Your uploads may be mined to help Google Google’s declaration that it will use your uploads to improve Google services for other users is more concerning. Specifically, files and photos uploaded to Gemini will be used to help improve Google services, and it’s not clear what this means. Again, the setting is on by default, meaning that you’ll have to turn the setting off by going to the “Settings & help” gear icon, then Activity, and then either turning off the feature or turning it off and deleting it. Google doesn’t have any problem taking photos and files you upload to enhance Google services, but won’t use any audio (speech) that you provide to do so. That setting is off by default. But Google is also rolling out an update that will save Gemini Live recordings, plus video and/or screenshots, in your history. Google now calls this “Gemini Apps Activity,” but it’s renaming it to “Keep Activity” instead. (This has nothing to do with Google Keep, presumably.) Google may see this transparency as a way to assist consumers who want to manage this privacy, but the renaming and default behavior isn’t exactly straightforward. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is the simplest: The easiest way not to risk Google inadvertently sharing or learning things about you — your insurance plan, your retirement options, your will — is not to share it with Gemini in the first place. Google may have founded its business on the slogan “Don’t be evil,” but Gemini is getting a little sinister, regardless. Read...

I don’t recommend anything under 16GB of RAM if you want a laptop that runs Windows 11, but it’s often hard to find that at a budget price. Today, an eBay seller is offering an MSI laptop with double that (32GB) and a screaming Intel processor for just $519. It’s a refurb model, but still an absolutely incredible value—it’s almost half off the retail price! The MSI Modern 15 H AI is a general-purpose design with a 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen. Though it uses an Arc integrated graphics card, so this thing won’t be blazing through the latest AAA games. But with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor—a 16-core Meteor Lake design—it can handle pretty much anything else you might throw at it, including some AI tasks thanks to the built-in NPU. You also get a 1TB SSD. At 0.78 inches thick with a 3-cell battery, the Modern 15 H AI is neither slinky nor long-lasting, so you might look elsewhere if you’re constantly working on the go. But those specs are damn near impossible to find at this price, and the touchscreen and full-sized keyboard might be particularly appealing to students. It also offers an impressive array of ports, including full-sized HDMI and microSD, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C. You won’t be needing a dongle anytime soon. Again, this is a refurbished laptop, which might give you pause. The eBay seller claims that it’s refurbished by the manufacturer, and it comes with a two-year Allstate warranty, which might help alleviate any hesitation. If you’re convinced, grab it at this price while you can. If not, check out PCWorld’s picks for the best laptops on the market. Get this MSI laptop with Core Ultra 9 CPU and 32GB RAM for $519Buy now via eBay Read...

It looks like we’ve got a genuine arms race going on between Samsung and LG, the most prolific producers of panels of the OLED persuasion. Just last week LG showed off a new OLED panel that could hit 720Hz, but had to make do with 27 inches and 1080p. Samsung’s new Odyssey OLED G6 can do 500Hz on the more popular 1440p resolution. The OLED G6 still uses a 27-inch form factor, but that’s pretty popular with PC gamers, especially the sweaty multiplayer fans who’ll be most interested in a refresh rate that’s more than double the typical spec these days. Samsung also boasts that the new design can hit 1,000 nits of peak brightness (though the “typical” rating is 300), with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility as well. There’s no USB-C support, which is a bit of a bummer, but also no smart TV-style software, which might be a pro for some gamers. You do get a pair of USB-A ports and double HDMI and a DisplayPort for good measure. This monitor isn ‘t cheap at $1,000 (shipping today from Samsung’s online store) but we’ve seen plenty of sales on Samsung OLEDs not too far removed from their launch dates. But speaking of prices, there’s a new option that’s bigger and cheaper than the newest OLED G6, albeit not as zippy in refresh. The Odyssey G7 now comes in 37-inch and 40-inch flavors, $900 for the smaller and $1,200 for the larger. Unlike most monitors in this size range, the smaller one is 4K instead of ultrawide. The 40-inch model does stretch things out with 5120×2160 resolution, essentially 4K at the more cinematic 21:9 size. Unlike the flat G6, both G7 models have a gentle 1000R curve. Samsung The 37-inch monitor gets “just” 165Hz of refresh while the bigger 40-inch model bumps it up a bit to 180Hz. Not amazing, but probably fine if you’re not looking to compete and just want a gorgeous OLED panel with high resolution. Both of them use FreeSync, not G-Sync, and have the same connection options. That 40-inch model is particularly interesting to me—I wouldn’t be surprised to see it dip a lot lower on sale. Read...

Data suggests leading adult site Pornhub lost more than one million visitors in two weeks. Read...

Yesterday was Patch Tuesday for Microsoft, which means tons of security updates across the company’s products and services. Specifically, 107 new security vulnerabilities have been patched. Microsoft classifies several of the vulnerabilities in Windows and Office as critical, but also says that none of the vulnerabilities are currently being exploited in the wild. Keep reading for an overview of fixed security flaws and how they might affect you. The next Patch Tuesday will be September 9th, 2025. Security updates for Windows A large number of the vulnerabilities—67 this time—are spread across the various Windows versions for which Microsoft still offers security updates, namely Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. Users on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 haven’t been getting security updates for quite some time, so will remain vulnerable. If that’s you and your system requirements allow it, you should upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 to continue receiving security updates. Critical Windows vulnerabilities Microsoft has identified CVE-2025-53766, a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the Graphics Device Interface API for graphical applications, as well as CVE-2025-50165, another RCE vulnerability but in the Windows Graphics Component, as critical. A visit to a specially prepared website is sufficient to inject and execute arbitrary code without user interaction. With the latter vulnerability, an attacker simply needs to craft an image to be embedded in a web page. Microsoft has categorized three vulnerabilities in Hyper-V as critical. CVE-2025-48807 is an RCE vulnerability which, if exploited, makes it possible to execute code on the host from the guest system. CVE-2025-53781 is a data leak that allows confidential information to be accessed. CVE-2025-49707 is a spoofing vulnerability that allows a virtual machine to fake a different identity when communicating with external systems. Microsoft has fixed 12 vulnerabilities in the Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS), half of which are RCE vulnerabilities, the other half are data leaks. All are categorized as high risk. The only previously publicized vulnerability in this Patch Tuesday is CVE-2025-53779 in Kerberos for Windows Server 2025. Under certain conditions, a successful attacker can gain administrator rights for domains. Microsoft classifies it as medium risk only. Security updates for Office Microsoft has fixed 18 vulnerabilities in its Office product family, including 16 RCE vulnerabilities. Four of these RCE vulnerabilities are labeled as critical because the preview window is considered an attack vector. This means an attack can occur via a file displayed in the preview, even if the user doesn’t click on it or open it. Two of these vulnerabilities are in Word. Microsoft categorizes the other Office vulnerabilities as high risk. Here, a user must open a prepared file for the exploit code to take effect. Security updates for Edge browser The latest security update to Edge 139.0.3405.86 was released on August 7th and is based on Chromium 139.0.7258.67. It fixes several vulnerabilities in the Chromium base. Edge for Android 139.0.3405.86 is slightly newer and Microsoft has made this version available to close two Edge-specific gaps. Read...

What’s the difference between a gaming laptop and a handheld gaming PC? Aside from the keyboard on the former, the most immediately recognizable thing is probably the size, with screens typically seven to eight inches. One modder wasn’t satisfied with that, or with relatively low-power parts, and built a massive handheld powered by an RTX 4090. According to a video posted on China’s BiliBili video site (spotted by VideoCardz), the project essentially ripped the guts out of a high-powered gaming laptop and reconfigured them into a massive 12.5-inch handheld chassis. Or possibly a tablet with controller handles — this sort of project really blurs the lines between form factors. The most obvious feature is that massive 4K screen, but hiding underneath it are some seriously beefy specs, including the aforementioned laptop 4090 graphics card, a Core i9-14900HX CPU, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage. I don’t speak or read Chinese, so I can’t confirm any other details based on the video, but I have to say I’m impressed with the body of the handheld. I’m assuming the chunky chassis is 3D-printed (check out the fun Gundam graphics on the back), with controller buttons and probably PCBs borrowed from another device. If you’re interested in this sort of thing, obviously you can’t buy a one-off creation from a modder. But there are some super-sized PC gaming handhelds out there, like this 11-inch offering from OneXPlayer. It’s nowhere near as powerful, but the newer Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Core Ultra 7 255H are still mighty impressive for anything that’s (technically) portable. Read...