This 1940s Art Deco character home in Feilding has kept its traditional charm, despite a double-glazing upgrade. Read...

Hybrid cloud access control helps Australian businesses modernise security gradually, blending on-premises systems with cloud features for flexible, cost-effective protection. Read...

The show features 18 Kiwi celebs competing for a $100,000 charity prize. Read...

It might seem that “ChatGPT” is all you ever hear about when discussing AI chatbots, also known as LLMs. As it turns out, that’s reflected in the real world, too. Statcounter, which tracks the market share of operating systems, browsers, social media sites, and more, has begun tracking the number of sessions by users who visit artificial intelligence sites like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude AI, Microsoft Copilot, and more. The winner, not surprisingly, is ChatGPT, by an enormous margin: over 80 percent and climbing, which coincides with our own chatbot tests. Statcounter began tracking the statistics in March, and they’ve roughly remained the same since then: ChatGPT absolutely dominates, with a cluster of smaller AI chatbots below. So far, the only major change seems to have been Perplexity AI, which captured 16 percent of U.S. users in March, but has dropped to about 6 percent since then. Microsoft’s Copilot has risen, beginning at under 1 percent and now capturing about 10 percent of the market. For the U.S,, the Statcounter numbers break down as follows: in July, 80.22 percent of U.S. chatbot sessions went to ChatGPT, 9.51 percent to Copilot, 5.61 percent for Perplexity, 2.67 percent to Google Gemini, and 1.56 percent to Claude, with Deepseek capturing just 0.43 percent. Statcounter Though those numbers reflect the market share for U.S. users, the picture doesn’t differ that much when viewed from a worldwide perspective. There, ChatGPT’s market share rises to 82.69 percent, followed by Perplexity at 8.06 percent and Copilot (4.56 percent). Gemini (2.2 percent) and Deepseek (1.59 percent) captured the remainder of the sessions Statcounter tracked, with Claude bringing up the rear at 0.91 percent. To be fair, however, it’s not clear how Statcounter arrives at its numbers for tracking AI chatbots. In terms of sample size, Statcounter’s global statistics are based on an analysis of more than 5 billion page views on more than 1.5 million websites per month, the company says. Cookies on those 1.5 million sites can track which devices access them, what operating system they use, and so on. For estimating search engine results, Statcounter says that it uses those tracking cookies to determine if a user arrived from Google, Bing, or somewhere else. Still, one of the challenges with AI chatbots is that they’re not sending users anywhere else, which is worrying to content creators with the rise of features like Google’s AI Mode and AI-powered search. Statcounter representatives did not immediately answer a request for comment. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Petite, unobtrusive hardware Wi-Fi connectivity and interconnected features work well Very affordable Cons Doesn’t detect the presence of carbon monoxide No battery backup on the hub; any power outage means no push notifications We encountered a minor operational problem during testing Our Verdict This three-alarm smoke detection system offers seamless, long-range interconnectivity and Wi-Fi support, giving you extra layers of fire security. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: X-Sense XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm (model FS31) Retailer Price $109.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The trouble with smoke alarms is that one alone usually doesn’t provide enough protection, even in smaller homes. An alarm that goes off in one room might not be heard in the rest of the house, obviating the entire point of the technology. Interconnected smoke alarms offer a solution: If one goes off, they all go off. But the technology either means having dedicated wiring installed or standardizing on a wireless interconnectivity platform and hoping your mesh of alarms are all in range of one another. Specifications The new XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm smoke alarm system (X-Sense model number FS31) gives the wireless interconnect concept an upgrade by putting a base station in the middle of the mesh. That station doesn’t just coordinate the satellite smoke alarms (it should be noted that these alarms will not detect harmful accumulations of carbon monoxide), it also connects to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) and relays information to the X-Sense app on your smart phone. The X-Sense FS31 system worked exactly as promised, despite a wealth of interfering walls, floors, doors, electrical wiring, plumbing, and metal electronics between its three satellites. The satellites are modified versions the X-Sense XS01-WT smoke alarm I reviewed in the spring of 2021, bearing the model number XS01-M. They look identical to the standalone XS01-WT, with the only real difference being the addition of an internal 915MHz radio that’s used for inter-alarm communications. Three satellites come with the base station in the box (a 5-station model is also available for $140). A maximum of 24 satellites can be supported on one network, with add-on detectors priced at $30 each ($20 each at Amazon at press time). The unobtrusive hub of the X-Sense XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm system.Christopher Null/Foundry The base station, smaller than you might think at just 3.5 inches square, is powered by a USB-C connection. Note that it doesn’t carry a battery backup, so if the power goes out, your mobile notifications will go dark; consider plugging the hub into an uninterruptible power supply just in case. Each satellite is powered by an included (and replaceable) 3V lithium cell. The preinstalled batteries promise a 5-year operating life, and the alarm itself boasts a 10-year operating life before it must be retired. Installation and setup Setup is a multi-step affair, and the process is not immediately obvious, as the X-Sense app instructs you to scan a QR code on the back of the manual to begin registration. But that didn’t work for me, and eventually I stumbled my way through the app to find a screen for adding the smoke alarms directly, based on their model number. Again, the app doesn’t indicate how to add the base station but attempting to add an alarm prompts you to first onboard the base station by scanning a QR code on its underside. Once the base station has been added to the app, you can proceed to add the alarms, one at a time, by activating their respective batteries and pressing a pairing button on the side of each device. I encountered no trouble with this part of the process. Performance You can add up to 21 additional X-Sense XS01-M smoke alarms to the FS31 system, but be aware these do not detect the presence of harmful levels of carbon monoxxide.Christopher Null/Foundry The X-Sense FS31’s big selling point is of course the alarms’ interconnectivity, so I tested the devices by placing them in the furthest corners of my house, and then using the X-Sense app’s test feature to trigger an alarm that should, in theory, cause all of them to sound off. Sure enough, the system worked exactly as promised, despite a wealth of interfering walls, floors, doors, electrical wiring, plumbing, and metal electronics between the three satellites. X-Sense claims a 500-meter (1,640 feet) maximum range in open air, and though my home is not nearly that large, the system appeared more than capable at blanketing my entire house with coverage. The sirens are very loud and piercing, and three different siren styles are available, so you can customize different alarms with different sounds if desired. The volume of the alarm on the base station can be set, but all siren alarms remain at maximum volume regardless. Each satellite alarm can also be configured to send a variety of different notifications to your phone, including when alarms are triggered or end; when a device is silenced, tested, or malfunctions; low battery notifications; and offline notifications. Push notifications were successfully sent to both my phone and my email inbox. The X-Sense app gives you an at-a-glance look at all your alarms’ status and displays push notifications if the system goes into an alarm state.Christopher Null/Foundry I also tested the alarms with simulated smoke and found they alerted quickly when exposed to the hazard and stopped sounding promptly when the smoke cleared, with push notifications (and an email) being pushed out in seconds. Finally, I also tested the alarms with the base station disconnected. When one alarm was exposed to smoke, each of the other alarms still activated, even without the central hub to coordinate them. The only difference being that push and email notifications were not sent (with the app showing all devices offline). The absence of battery backup on the hub seems like a missed opportunity. The X-Sense app gives you moderate flexibility in how the system works, including the option to silence an alarm by pressing a button on the base station. (With this option off, an alarm can only be silenced by the app or by disconnecting the power plug.) These options are all very straightforward and self-explanatory. I had no trouble with X-Sense’s system until at one point, one of the satellite alarms dropped offline without warning, disconnecting from the network. X-Sense offers no real troubleshooting options for this event—suggesting only that you should just move the alarm closer to the base station—but even when I put them a few feet apart, the alarm stayed offline, despite force-quitting the app and power-cycling both the alarm and the base station. The only fix I was ever able to find was deleting the troubled alarm from the app and re-adding it through the onboarding process. It has remained connected ever since. For the price of a subscription, you can connect the X-Sense system to a third-party professional monitoring service that will dispatch your local fire department should smoke be detected.Christopher Null/Foundry In the U.S., X-Sense offers a subscription service called the Protect+ Premium (that’s the company’s footnote marker at the end of “Protect”, although there’s no footnote on the page I’ve linked to). The service will automatically dispatch first responders if one of its alarms is triggered. The service, administered by the third-party monitoring company Noonlight, takes steps to avoid sending a fire truck based on a false alarm, starting with a written message. If there’s no response within 20 seconds, a phone call is initiated. If there’s no answer to that call within 60 seconds, a fire truck is dispatched. Protect+ Premium costs $5/month or $50/year. There’s also a $3/month, $30/year Protect+ Basic plan, which requires you to request a fire-engine dispatch by pressing a button in the app when one of the smoke alarms sounds off. Neither plan is something I’d invest in, but you might feel otherwise. Should you buy an X-Sense XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm Despite the lone operational hiccup, the X-Sense FS31 system worked well in my testing, the various hardware components are petite and unobtrusive, and the price—on sale at Amazon for just $70 as of this writing—is wholly reasonable. You’ll need some other means of warning residents of the presence of carbon monoxide in your home, but this interconnected smoke alarm system is a strong fire-safety tool. Read...

What’s another way for Amazon to make money on Alexa+ besides paid subscription plans? You guessed it: advertising. And Amazon’s CEO is already floating the idea of sprinkling ads into the still-gestating Alexa+ experience.  Speaking Thursday during a conference call with investors following Amazon’s second-quarter earnings report, CEO Andy Jassy boasted that the roughly one million users in the Alexa+ early preview program “really like the experience” and “recognize how much better it is than what it was before.” (My own Alexa+ experience was a bit more nuanced.)  Asked about the possibility of Amazon “tapping into…advertising” with Alexa+, Jassy noted that Alexa+ offers a “delightful shopping experience” and that “there will be opportunities as people are engaging [in] more multiturn conversations to have advertising play a role to help people find discovery and also as a lever to drive revenue.”  Then Jassy went a little further, adding that “over time…as we keep adding functionality that there could be some sort of subscription element beyond what there is today.”   So, what’s Jassy saying here? Is there a possibility that in the future, Alexa+ might give a “sponsored” answer to a question, similar to the sponsored results you see at the top of search results?  And that leads to another possibility in terms of a “subscription element beyond what there is today.” Might there eventually be an ad-free tier for Alexa+, and if so, would that put Prime subscribers in the position of having to pay more for an Alexa+ free from ads, similar to what’s going on now with Prime Video? (It was TechCrunch that raised the specter of an ad-free Alexa+ tier.)  Now, Jassy did note that a new “subscription element” for Alexa+ could come “as we keep adding functionality.” So, perhaps he means a pricier Alexa+ tier would simply offer more advanced features, similar to ChatGPT Pro? Or would a new “pro” tier have better features and be ad-free? I’ve posed those questions to Amazon, and I’ll update this story when I hear back.  For now, nobody’s paying anything for Alexa+, which is still in a limited early access period. Eventually, Alexa+ will be free for Prime subscribers and $20 a month for everyone else.  As far as the possibility of ads on Alexa+, the idea isn’t all that surprising. After all, Amazon’s Echo displays are riddled with advertisements; just this morning, my Echo Show 8 was displaying a USB hub for sale on Amazon, which is almost certainly a sponsored placement. And don’t forget the Amazon Kindle readers with ads on the lockscreens.  And when it comes to paying extra for an ad-free Alexa+, who can forget Amazon putting ads into Prime Video and then asking Prime members to pay extra for an ad-free version of the streaming service? Plenty of Prime users are still steamed about that one.  Now, will ads on Alexa+ and/or an ad-free Alexa+ tier actually happen? After all, I just plucked a couple of isolated Andy Jassy quotes out of a lengthy conference call, and Jassey’s comments were pretty vague. But it’s fair to say he’s at least mulling the idea, and squeezing ad revenue out of Alexa+ is something Amazon’s investors most certainly want.  The big question is how ads on Alexa+ would work, and how annoying they might be. Looking back, I had a Kindle with lockscreen ads, that that ad experience didn’t bother me one bit. The Amazon advertisements on my Echo Show 8? Not a giant deal, but yeah, they bug me. Alexa+ stopping mid-sentence to pitch me a sponsored product, or giving me sponsored results in response to my queries? I hope not. Read...

Remember Windows 11 SE? I didn’t, until I made my regular news rounds this morning. But it looks like the stripped-down, low-power version of Windows, originally intended to counter Chromebooks in the lucrative education market, is making a final bow soon. Microsoft says the operating system is getting its last update later this year, and will lose full support in 2026. That’s according to an updated Microsoft support page (spotted by German site Dr. Windows), which says that version 24H2 will be the last for Windows SE. All updates for the OS, “including software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes,” will be shut down in October of 2026. If that date sounds familiar, it’s the new, adjusted end-of-life date for the long-suffering consumer version of Windows 10, too. Windows 11 SE was announced in late 2021 and launched in January of 2022, explicitly designed for the education market. While it shares most of the codebase and features of Windows 11, it’s also far more locked down, with standard users unable to install third-party 32-bit apps or even apps from the Windows Store without admin assistance. Windows 11 SE lacks widgets and some Snap Layout options for the sake of being “distraction-free,” it’s even more insistent upon Microsoft applications like Office and Edge, and it needs to be managed via the Intune system. Windows 11 SE was meant to be a successor to Windows 10 S, which didn’t make a particularly big splash, either. It’s easy to imagine how school administrators, used to standard Windows 10/11 or Google’s popular and cheap Chromebook education setup, wouldn’t be keen on sacrificing advanced features. That said, giving Windows 11 SE users only a year of warning before it fully loses support seems a little short. One wonders if Microsoft’s workforce is feeling the pinch after all those recent layoffs. Microsoft still offers service to schools via the Windows 11 for Education system. Read...

Beginning on August 1 of this year, residents in North Dakota will lose access to the adult site Pornhub. Earlier this year the North Dakota State legislature passed SB 2380, which requires “manufacturers of internet-enabled devices and operating systems to determine the age of the device’s primary user and provide a digital signal to inform websites whether that user is a minor”—and porn sites fall under this category. The law will take effect on August 1, 2025, and Pornhub’s parent company Aylo will begin restricting access to its adult sites for residents in North Dakota in protest. Aylo and other privacy advocates claim that these laws not only violate free speech, but will infringe on personal privacy protections. By forcing individuals to hand over personally identifiable information to third parties, it creates the potential for government overreach and data misuse. This is following a trend that has seen more than 22 other states lose access to the incredibly popular NSFW site. Similar bans occurred throughout last year for residents in Texas and Florida, among others. Just this year, Wyoming, Georgia, and South Dakota also lost access in July, with Arizona set to follow in September. For legal-age North Dakotans looking to access the site, this is disruptive to say the least. Fortunately, there’s an easy workaround: using a VPN. Simply download and install your preferred VPN, connect to a server in a state that isn’t blocked, and enjoy the content. Below are my top picks for VPNs to access Pornhub (or other Aylo-owned adult content) if you’re in Georgia where access is blocked. And for even more great options, check out my list of the best VPNs overall. NordVPN – Best overall NordVPN Read our review Best Prices Today: $3.39 at NordVPN (Monthly) NordVPN is my overall top pick for VPNs. It comes with a wealth of great features including wide device support, ad- and tracker-blocking, plus an abundance of domestic U.S. and international servers—with coverage in most states. It also boasts the fastest connection speeds, meaning you won’t need to stream in a resolution that makes it look like the important bits are blurred on purpose. NordVPN has one of the widest platform support networks as well, so you’ll be able to freely view content on all of your devices. ExpressVPN – Runner-up ExpressVPN Read our review Best Prices Today: $4.99 at ExpressVPN ExpressVPN is a close second to NordVPN, only losing out due to slightly slower speeds and a few less extra features. These are minor issues, though, and shouldn’t take away from how great of a service ExpressVPN is in its own right. In fact, just recently as a result of all of these age-verification laws, ExpressVPN completed a massive U.S. network expansion to include servers in every U.S. state so you can rest assured you’ll find access so long as there are places without these restrictions. It also consistently has great speeds, so you can stream in HD to your heart’s content. Plus, it works with practically every device and comes with one of the best user-privacy records around. Mullvad – Best for privacy Mullvad Read our review Depending on what you’re looking for from a VPN, Mullvad might actually be the best option. The service not only tested among the top five fastest VPNs, but it’s also the hands-down best for privacy. Mullvad takes every effort to know as little about you as possible. The service doesn’t ask for an email address or name and you can even mail in a cash payment if you prefer to keep your credit card off record. Plus, it costs a mere $5 per month regardless of the plan you choose. Proton VPN – Best free VPN ProtonVPN Read our review Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Proton VPN While I don’t usually recommend that anyone use a free VPN due to their proven security and privacy risks, Proton VPN is one of the exceptions. This service from the well-known Swiss-based Proton brand has a spotless track record for user privacy. And it’s also mercifully ad-free. Just like all free VPNs, there are limitations, but thankfully Proton VPN keeps them relatively manageable. For no cost whatsoever you’ll get a one-device connection limit and access to five servers located in different countries around the world (including the U.S.). There are no speed or data limitations on these free servers either—something that’s not typical of other free VPNs. Just note that you’ll only be connected to the server location closest to you and some of these might be in States with age verification laws in place. Still, you have nothing to lose by using the free service and if you like it enough you can always upgrade to the paid version with access to all 11,000+ server locations and excellent feature set. Read...

It’s summer, it’s hot, and even your laptop is struggling, so it’s time to get a cooling pad. This ChillCore model is currently 20 percent off at Amazon, priced at just $27.98 right now. Just a few days ago, I jumped back into World of Warcraft. My HP laptop isn’t a gaming rig, but it does have a dedicated MX graphics card, not an RTX, but it holds up in a pinch. After a full day of work, within an hour of returning to Pandaria, my laptop overheated and shut down. You could’ve fried an egg on it. My bad. By morning, I had a cooling pad delivered and I haven’t had that problem since. Honestly, I wish I’d found this ChillCore model sooner because it’s way cooler (pun intended) than mine. It features nine fans and eight height adjustments so you can avoid bad posture and back pain. Even better, it comes with RGB lights and a small control center where you can adjust fan speed, choose RGB modes, or turn the lights on and off. Plus, there’s a removable phone stand you can position on either side. So snag this discounted ChillCore cooling pad, compatible with laptops between 15.6- to 19.3-inches, for just $27.98 before the deal expires and help your laptop survive the heat. Get the ChillCore Cooling Pad for just $27.98Buy now at Amazon Read...

The best thing about being adults? Adult money! And the beautiful freedom to spend it on whatever we want. Right? Right. Like these absolutely amazing LEGO sets, they’re just calling out to be built and proudly displayed on a shelf somewhere. Got kids? Great. You can even use them as an excuse to grab that set you’ve been dreaming of. Just saying… Anyway, we went down the LEGO rabbit hole to find some of the coolest sets out there. Because honestly? The world is chaotic enough, and we all deserve a little joy. LEGO Super Mario Game Boy LEGO We’re putting this one right at the top because it’s brand new. Well, technically, it launches October 1st, 2025, but it’s already available for pre-order. It’s $60 at Amazon and it’s going to bring back that excitement you felt as a kid getting a Game Boy for the first time. The button layout is there, the retro feel is there, and you can even change the Game Pak and lenticular screens. The LEGO Super Mario Game Boy 72046 is a 421-piece model. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Icons PAC-Man Arcade LEGO Oh man, the memories! This 2,651-piece LEGO set brings the 1980s Pac-Man arcade to your home office. There’s a four-way joystick, an illuminating coin slot, and even an adjustable game score display. When you turn the handle on the side, you’ll get to recreate the classic maze chase we all loved thanks to a super smart chain system. It’s such a stunning set that costs $269.95. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System LEGO This one is made for nostalgia lovers. It features the NES console, a controller, and a vintage TV with a scrolling Mario level. Crank the handle and watch Mario jump over obstacles and avoid enemies. The LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System 71374 is $389.45 and features 2,646 pieces. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Icons Atari 2600 LEGO Old-school gaming fans will love this one. This 2,532-piece build features the classic Atari 2600, complete with a working joystick and three swappable game cartridges. For $229.57, it’s a time capsule in LEGO form. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon LEGO Can we have a nerdy LEGO list without the Millennium Falcon? Probably not. Because this is easily one of the most amazing sets you can get. It’s pricey, yes, but it’s so cool! Just make sure you have the space to display this thing because it’s absolutely massive, measuring over eight inches high, 33 inches long, and 22 inches wide. It’s not just the ship you’re getting, but also your favorite characters, including Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia. The LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon 75192 features 7,541 pieces and costs $849.95. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Icons The Lord of The Rings: Rivendell  LEGO The Lord of the Rings has a special place in many of our hearts and Rivendell is certainly one of those locations that feels extra magical. It’s not just the beauty of the setting, it’s the characters, too. This set includes Frodo’s bedroom and Elrond’s study, as well as a ton of minifigures of our favorites, including Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf (and yes, Legolas). This is a large set measuring 28.5 inches wide, 19.5 inches deep, and 15 inches tall, so make sure you’ve got plenty of space to display it. It costs a hefty $499.95 and features a staggering 6,167 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Icons Lord of The Rings Barad-dûr  LEGO If you want more from The Lord of the Rings universe, the Barad-dûr building set makes a great addition, especially with the blazing Eye of Sauron looking straight at you. How awesome is this thing? The Eye lights up, there are multiple rooms to explore inside, and the iconic black gate is automated. This thing is 33 inches tall and costs $459.99, featuring 5,471 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express LEGO The world of Harry Potter will always have a place in our hearts, and the Hogwarts Express might be one of the best sets you can get. It’s absolutely massive at a 1:32 scale, beautifully detailed, and it includes 20 minifigures from the books. This set costs $658.24 (though it often goes on sale) and it features a whopping 5,129 pieces. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Icons Back to the Future Time Machine 10300 LEGO The grip this car had on us when Back to the Future came out! Now, you can have the famous DeLorean displayed in your own home. You can build one of three versions, depending on which movie you loved the most. There’s even a lightning rod and a plutonium chamber, along with Doc and Marty McFly. Right now, it’s $170.99 at the time of writing (usually $200) and it features 1,856 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Technic Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 Race Car Model Kit LEGO Formula 1 cars are absolutely stunning, and this one’s no different. Just make sure you have enough space because it measures 25 inches long! The LEGO Technic Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 Race Car Model Kit 42206 costs $229.95 and includes 1,639 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 LEGO Can we talk about how stunning the Ferrari Daytona SP3 is? Because just look at it! It’s one of the most luxurious cars and it comes packed with details you’ll love. This 1:8 scale LEGO Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 42143 is priced at $435, but it’s made up of an impressive 3,778 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box LEGO Okay, this one’s absolutely incredible. It’s not just a Batman set — it’s the Batcave Shadow Box. You get the Batmobile, a full command center, a bunch of minifigures, and more. Whether you keep it closed or opened, it’s going to look amazing. The LEGO DC Batman Batcave – Shadow Box (76252) is going to cost you $950 and includes 3,981 pieces, so be ready to invest in some build time. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee  LEGO If you grew up with Transformers, then you’ll absolutely love having Bumblebee on your shelf. The coolest part? This build actually transforms into a vehicle, a dream come true for many of us, and seriously impressive for a LEGO set. The LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee 10338 costs $85.99 and contains 950 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com Read...