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It used to be that if you wanted to go window shopping, you had to actually leave the house and go look through some windows. These days, for better or for worse, the power of the internet means we can browse digital storefronts and shop until we drop without ever leaving the comfort of home. Of course, online shopping brings its own problems.
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There are a seemingly infinite number of gadgets on the market, and without the ability to test them in person, it can be difficult to know what’s worthwhile and what isn’t. As you can imagine, narrowing down the countless gadgets on Amazon to a list of 12 was something of a challenge. The price cutoff of $30 did some of the heavy lifting. For the rest, we relied on a combination of Amazon’s own rankings and the ratings and reviews of Amazon users.
Whether you’re scratching an itch for a little online shopping or trying to find a surefire gift for the tech enthusiast in your life, these 12 gadgets are all good places to start, according to the wisdom of the masses, and all for under $30.
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Surge protector
With so many gadgets pervading our lives, and more being created all the time, it’s not uncommon to run out of electrical outlets. A surge protector adds additional capacity by turning one electrical outlet into multiple outlets.
One of the common failings among surge protectors and power strips is a tendency to put outlets too close to one another. If your devices use bulky power sources, they can overlap neighboring outlets, making them effectively useless. This power strip from Yishu spaces the outlets out on several different faces, giving them more clearance to accommodate wider plugs. There are four outlets on the top face and two on either side. The back is reserved for the power cable, and the front houses three USB-A and one USB-C ports.
The power cable is made of heavy-duty, flame-retardant material and runs for six feet, though you can also choose cord lengths of 10, 15, or 20 feet, in black, white, or gray. Even the 20-foot cable comes in under our $30 threshold at $29.99. It also features an attached cable tie for storage, surge protection up to 600 joules, and automatic power cutoff if a surge is detected.
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Roku Streaming Stick
Roku makes some of the most popular streaming devices on the market. While the company offers more advanced devices like the Roku Ultra or the Roku Streambar SE, its entry-level Streaming Sticks are a popular choice for streaming content at home on a budget. It comes with everything you need, including a power cable, remote control, and two batteries. It doesn’t come with an HDMI cable because you don’t need one.
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Roku’s Streaming Stick has a compact design that tucks entirely behind your television. Assuming you’re working with a relatively modern set, you can plug the Streaming Stick directly into your TV’s HDMI port and run its power cable to your TV’s USB port. It’s narrow enough that it won’t block your neighboring ports; you might almost forget it’s there after a while.
The Streaming Stick is portable, so you can take it with you when you’re traveling and access all of your streaming accounts, provided the HDMI ports in your hotel room are accessible. You’ll also get access to a library of free ad-supported streaming services and more than 500 channels of free live television. You can find your favorite shows using voice controls and watch privately using the Roku app’s Bluetooth headphone mode. The Roku Streaming Stick usually retails for $29.99 but is on sale for $17.99 at the time of writing.
The charging case comes in various colors and carries a 300mAh battery. The earbuds get between six and eight hours of playtime on a charge, and they recharge in about 90 minutes in the charging case. You can recharge your earbuds up to six times for up to 36 hours of playtime before your case needs recharging. An LED display on the front of the case tells you how much charge is left in both the case and the headphones.
You can also play, pause, answer calls, end a call, change the volume, skip tracks, and more using taps, swipes, and other touch gestures. They’ve got a connection range of up to 15 meters (49.2 feet), and they come with small, medium, and large rubber earpieces.
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Universal remote
Remote controls are famous for going missing. Throughout our lives, the average TV viewer spends more than two weeks searching for lost remote controls, according to one study. About half the time, the remote control is stuck between the couch cushions. If it’s not there, it’s probably in the bathroom, a drawer, or even in the refrigerator. If you can’t find your lost remote in any of those places, it might be time for a replacement.
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This replacement remote control from Orqrqo has voice controls and is powered by two AAA batteries (not included). It’s compatible with a wide range of streaming devices, including second- and third-generation Amazon Fire Sticks, first- and second-generation Fire Stick 4K, first- and second-generation Fire Stick 4K Max, first- and second-generation Stick Lite, first- through third-generation Fire TV Cube devices, and third-generation Amazon Fire TV pendants. It’s also compatible with 2-Series and 4-Series smart TVs, as well as smart TVs from Insignia, Toshiba, and Amazon Omni.
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USB-C hub
Laptops sometimes lack the ports you need to connect external devices, or you may not have enough ports for everything. A hub can extend your laptop’s functionality by turning a single USB-C port into a variety of inputs. It’s one of the simplest ways to add more USB ports to your computer.
This five-in-one laptop hub from Anker allows you to pass through electrical charge and transfer files using a 4K HDMI port, two USB-A ports, one PD-IN (power delivery) port, and one USB-C port. The PD-IN port is only used for pass-through charging and doesn’t support file transfers. The USB-C port can transfer data at high speeds up to 5Gbps but doesn’t support video output.
The hub comes in several different colors and, using a 100W PD charging cable, it passes up to 85W through to other devices, reserving the other 15W for itself. In addition to connecting flash drives and other data devices, you can use the hub to connect an additional monitor using the HDMI port. Instead of upgrading your laptop, you can level it up with the right hub.
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Waterproof Bluetooth speaker
This Bluetooth speaker from BolaButty is praised for its sound quality and ease of use. It has up to 33 feet of Bluetooth range and a built-in microphone for taking phone calls. It’s designed to stand up to environmental conditions with an IPX5 waterproof rating, an IP6X dust-resistance rating, and more than three feet of drop protection.
When laid horizontally on a desk or table, the speakers are oriented at 30 degrees, which points sound waves up and out toward the listener. When stood vertically, gaps in the sides reduce contact with surfaces and reduce vibrations. There are also dynamic multicolored lights on the ends, which sync to the beat of your music.
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You can control your music with buttons for play, pause, volume control, light control, and turning the speaker on and off. On the back, you’ll also find a USB-C port for plugging in the included charging cable and an AUX port for connecting peripheral audio sources. You can connect multiple speakers together to create a more immersive soundscape, and it can play for up to 20 hours with the lights turned off and the volume at about half. Turning on the lights or turning up the volume will impact battery life.
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Retractable car charger
A car charger turns your car’s cigarette lighter or accessory port into a mobile charging solution. This car charger from Lisen is more than just a phone charger, as it aims to be a compact power station for charging all of your mobile devices on the go. It’s available in black, gray, white, and pink.
It has a USB-A and USB-C port, in addition to built-in USB-C and Lightning charging cables. The cables pull out of the charger’s housing when you need them and retract back into the housing for storage when you’re done. The cables extend up to 31.5 inches, which is probably enough to reach wherever they’re needed in most vehicles. If you need a little more range, there are other versions that extend up to 47.24 inches, giving you more than a foot of additional reach.
When you pull out the cables, they lock into place. To retract them, pull the cable out a little more and then release it. The ports and cables are compatible with most mobile phones and small personal electronics. The housing also pivots and turns, so you can orient and angle the charger however you prefer.
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Bluetooth mini label maker
This portable mini label maker and sticker printer from Nelko is only three inches wide and five inches tall, small enough to slip into a pocket or bag between uses. It connects to your smartphone and uses an app to craft and print labels on sticker paper in real time.
In addition to text, it can also print icons, images, barcodes, QR codes, and more. The app offers more than 160 label templates, more than 850 borders, and more than 90 fonts in 14 languages. A built-in cutter separates the label stickers after printing.
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The portable pocket printer uses thermal printing technology, so you never need to worry about running out of ink or replacing cartridges. However, there are some limitations. Printed images are all monochrome, and because they’re printed on thermal paper, exposure to too much heat can ruin your images. It prints at a rate of more than an inch per second and a resolution of 203 dots per inch. You can choose from five different colors, and it comes with a charging cable and one roll of label tape already loaded.
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Solar power bank
If you use your devices a lot throughout the day and you aren’t always close to an outlet, you might need a good portable power solution. This power bank from Blavor has 10,000mAh of capacity and it can both accept and deliver power in multiple ways. You can charge the power bank using either a charging cable or with the solar panel on one surface. Then you can charge up to three devices at a time using the battery’s USB-A port, USB-C port, and the wireless charging pad on the battery’s opposite surface.
The body exterior is mostly black, with colored accents in various colors of your choosing. The manufacturer claims up to 65% charge in 30 minutes with 20W PD fast charging. It’s compatible with most mobile phones and other small electronic devices.
It has an IPX5 waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof rating, so you can keep it clipped to the outside of a bag on all of your outdoor adventures. It even has a built-in flashlight, which can run for up to 100 hours on a full charge.
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Pocket microscope
This science-minded gadget from Carson puts the micro in microscope. At only an inch wide, 1.5 inches long, and 1.6 inches tall, it’s small enough to put in a pocket, bag, or on a keychain. It even comes with a key ring already attached. It magnifies images or objects up to 20 times, and it can be used to look at prepared samples like any other microscope or for getting a closer look at things out in nature. You could, for instance, take a closer peek at lichen, mushrooms, and bugs you encounter on a hike or inspect coins and other objects at a moment’s notice.
The microscope also has three built-in lights powered by three LR43 batteries. There’s a microscope LED for illuminating your samples in poor lighting conditions, a small flashlight, and a UV light. The UV light is triggered by a button on the side of the microscope and can be used to look for fluorescence in your samples. Fluorescence can be an important and fun quality when looking at natural samples and for hobbies like inspecting collectible currencies for legitimacy.
The speakers are slim enough that they cause less discomfort than conventional headphones if you happen to roll over on them in the middle of the night. The built-in 200mAh battery takes roughly two hours to charge and can run for more than 14 hours on a charge, which is plenty to get you through the average night of sleep and a morning workout.
It comes in various colors and patterns and even has a built-in microphone so you can take late-night phone calls without missing a beat. You control the headband’s functions with a three-button interface on the forehead. The plus button skips to the next track or raises the volume, the minus button does the opposite, and the center button with the power symbol can be used to turn the headphones on and off, to play or pause content, or to answer a phone call.
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Amazon smart plug
Amazon’s smart plugs can be an intuitive way to dip your toes into the smart home arena. You can plug one into an existing outlet to control the outlet, and by extension, anything plugged into it, using a smartphone app. It’s also compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, so you can control your smart plug with voice commands.
The compact horizontal design plugs into one outlet without obstructing the second, so you can use the free outlet in the conventional way or insert a second smart plug. They can be purchased singly or in a multipack with two or four smart plugs.
Smart plugs can be used to control any device with a physical power switch. If you’ve got an old coffee maker, for instance, you could fill it with water and coffee grounds, turn the smart plug off, and flip the coffee maker’s power switch to the on position. Then schedule your smart plug to turn on a few minutes before your alarm goes off and wake up to freshly brewed coffee. You can even make the smart plug part of a routine so your lights turn on, your heater turns up, your favorite news program comes on, and the coffee brews, all without you lifting a finger. That said, there are some things you should never plug into a smart plug; high-power devices or anything that relies on manual settings should be avoided for safety reasons.
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How we made our choices
Yuriy T/Getty Images
Amazon is the world’s most used online marketplace, with hundreds of millions of products available on its digital shelves. A person could spend a lifetime looking through electronics and other gadgets without seeing them all. Of course, there’s probably no reason to look through every offering on Amazon. In an ecosystem with millions of products, it’s likely that the best stuff, or at least good stuff, rises to the top.
We combed through hundreds of gadgets and electronics available on Amazon, giving preference to best-selling and top-rated devices. From there, items were selected based on their utility and cool factor. The value of each of these gadgets is also supported by thousands, and in some cases tens of thousands, of reviews with an average rating of at least 4 stars.
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These are the gadgets under $30 that Amazon users are buying right now. If you’re window shopping online, the wisdom of the masses can be a good place to start, but you should only purchase gadgets that make sense for your needs and budget. Shop wisely.
The complaint, filed on behalf of California residents, alleges Meta earns up to $7bn a year from “high-risk” scam ads and tolerated the practice. The county wants restitution, civil damages, and an injunction.
Santa Clara County has sued Meta Platforms in California state court, alleging the company profits from scam advertising on Facebook and Instagram in violation of California’s false-advertising and unfair-business-practices laws.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday in Santa Clara County Superior Court on behalf of all California residents, alleges that Meta earns as much as $7bn in annual revenue from advertisements that bear clear signs of fraud.
The complaint says Meta “largely tolerated” the misconduct and established internal guardrails to block scam-reduction efforts that cost the company too much money.
The county also alleges that Meta allowed middlemen to sell ad accounts that were protected against enforcement and that the company targeted scam ads at users who had clicked on similar fraudulent listings before.
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The complaint draws on internal documents first reported by Reuters in November 2025, which indicated that Meta’s own projections expected more than 10% of its 2024 annual revenue, roughly $16bn, to come from advertising scams and banned goods.
Earlier private litigation from the Consumer Federation of America cited the same set of documents.
The lawsuit seeks restitution for affected California residents, civil damages and an order prohibiting Meta from continuing the alleged practices.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has previously said it removes scam content and has dedicated teams working to enforce its policies.
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In April it filed its own lawsuits against advertisers involved in celebrity-impersonation scams.
Santa Clara County’s complaint is the latest in a multi-front legal challenge over Meta’s advertising platform.
A class-action filed in Washington, DC, by the Consumer Federation of America covers similar ground. Japanese regulators, the UK’s Online Safety Act enforcement team and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have all opened parallel inquiries into scam-advertising practices across the company’s platforms in the past twelve months.
The Santa Clara case is being handled by the county counsel’s office, and a scheduling order is expected within thirty days.
Google I/O is a week away, but Android is getting its own stage first.
The company announced last weed that The Android Show: I/O Edition is returning on Tuesday, May 12, a virtual showcase it says will explain why this is “one of the biggest years for Android yet,” according to Google. The event arrives one week before Google I/O 2026, giving Android its own runway before Google’s broader developer conference turns to AI, Gemini, Chrome and the rest of the company’s sprawling software universe.
Google I/O 2026 runs May 19 to 20 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, and online. The company has already framed this year’s event around AI breakthroughs and updates across its major product lines, including Android and Gemini.
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It hasn’t said what will be announced during this year’s Android Show. But last year’s I/O Edition wasn’t just a teaser reel. Google used it to introduce Android 16, Wear OS 6, a major Android design refresh, expanded Gemini features across devices and new safety tools meant to protect users from scams and other threats.
That makes this year’s show worth watching even before the main I/O keynote begins. Android has become one of the clearest places where Google’s AI ambitions show up in everyday life: on phones, watches, tablets, cars, TVs and whatever new device category Google pulls into its ecosystem next.
Watch this: Google I/O 2026: New Gemini, Smart Glasses and a Whole New Laptop OS. Here’s What to Expect
How to watch Google’s Android Show
The Android Show: I/O Edition will stream virtually on May 12 through Google’s Android event page and YouTube. Google I/O begins one week later, with the keynote scheduled for May 19 at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. BST).
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CNET will be following the event for any Android, Gemini and device-related announcements.
In modern game development and animation, performance and smooth transitions are everything. How smoothly a game works says a lot about its performance. No one wants to play a game that lags. Therefore, an AI sprite sheet generator was introduced to solve this problem. Loading multiple small files for a single animated character sounds simple, but it requires lots of attention. Want to explore some of the best AI sprite sheet generator tools?
Start reading to find the best tool for an AI sprite sheet generator that fulfills your needs and requirements.
What is a Sprite Sheet?
A combination of several smaller images (sprites) to create a single image is called a sprite sheet. It is arranged in a grid-packed layout. It helps in speeding up the loading and closing times. It is mainly used to create game characters and UI icons.
Instead of loading numerous individual image files, developers use a sprite sheet to make the game or application fast and more responsive. Sprite sheet works using separate data files like JSON, XML, or CSS, and maps the name of each sprite to its original coordinates, i.e., X, Y, or Width, Height.
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Each of these small graphics represents a character frame, an icon, or an item. Instead of loading several images, the program simply loads this sprite sheet and picks out the part that is needed while displaying or animating a program or game.
Benefits of Sprite Sheet
Sprite sheets are useful in many ways. It increases the performance by managing HTTPS requests and providing faster response times. It also provides storage with better compression and lower VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) usage. Let’s understand the benefits based on performance, memory, animation, and workflow development.
Performance
One file is downloaded instead of several smaller files, which leads to fewer HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) requests and consequently speeds up the loading time.
With a single sprite sheet, you will only need to bind one texture instead of switching between several sprites.
Storage and Memory
A PNG file with a single header, color palette, and compression is more useful than multiple separate files.
GPU works more efficiently with fewer sprites and more textures, leading to lower usage of VRAM.
With similar pixels across sprites, compression becomes easier.
Animation
Reduces the loading delays as all frames are pre-loaded to eliminate any frame drop delays.
Minimizes the risk of individual frame loading at different leads, giving the same texture to different UV regions.
It works well with shaders and animation systems, reducing the risk of different frames loading at different speeds and times.
Workflow and Development
Increase the workflow by automating frame generation using an AI sprite sheet generator.
Save time on alignment and spacing using a faster process for animation pipelines.
Top 3 Best AI Sprite Sheet Generators
With the growing popularity of AI over the years, many free and paid best AI sprite sheet generators have entered the market. Explore the top 3 AI tools for generating a sprite sheet.
Ludo AI
It is a paid sprite sheet generator that comes with several features, including a sprite generator, where you can create characters, objects, and VFX. Apart from that, it also has features for designing games, audio generation, playables, images, videos, and 3D assets. According to its official site, Ludo AI helps in increasing your productivity by 10x using a single platform. These are some of the key features:
Sprite Generator
3D Assets Generator
Game Ideator
Video Generator
Market Scorer
It provides three pricing plans:
Aspect
Indie
Pro
Studio
Pricing
$15/monthly, paid annually
$35/monthly, paid annually
$300/monthly, paid annually
Yearly credits
3,000 credits
12,000 credits
120,000
Projects
5 active projects
Unlimited active projects
Realtime collaboration
For more pricing details, visit the Logo AI official pricing site.
Layer AI
It provides a suite of tools for animation designers. Many popular gaming brands are its clients. Gaming platforms like LBC, Games United, Cosmic Lounge, Ace Games, and more are some of the most recognizable brands of Layer AI. Some of its top features include:
Sprite Sheet Generator
Placing Characters Into a Scene
Animate a Character
Outfit Change
Style transfer to Scene and Items
Image To Sprite
Sketch to Art Style
It is basically an AI animation tool that helps in editing and generating animated characters. It provides 3 flexible subscription plans based on team size
Aspect
Small Studio
Mid-Sized Studio
Enterprise
Price
$60/month
$300.00/month
$10,920.00/month
Team Size
1-10
10-25
More than 25
Images
200 Images
3,450 images
50,000 images
Videos
100 Seconds
220 seconds
10,400 seconds
3D Models
10 Models
25 models
830 models
Audio
300 hours
1325 hours
249,450 hours
Each plan comes with customizable features; you can choose the best fit based on your business needs and requirements. For more details related to its price, visit the official pricing page.
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Easy Peasy AI
The tool provides several features needed for creating a sprite sheet. It is an all-in-one tool that helps in creating images, videos, and audio. Some of the key features of Easy Peasy AI are:
Text to Character Generator
Art Prompt Generator
Logo Maker
Sprite Sheet Builder
AI Music Generator
You can try it before purchasing, as it comes with free trials with no credit card required. It has 4 pricing options, including one for a free plan.
Aspect
Free
Starter
Unlimited 50
Unlimited
Price
$0/month
$8/month
$12/month
$16.5/month
Bots
1
2
3
4
Text-to-Speech
1,000 characters
25,000 characters
50,000 characters
75,000 characters
Credits
1 image credit
200 image/video credits
300 image/video credits
400 image/video credits
It provides several features, including 35+ languages available. For more details related to the price, visit the official pricing page of Easy Peasy AI.
Before purchasing an expensive plan, you can try some of the free AI Sprite Sheet Generators tools available. Explore the best free AI sprite generator tools below.
OpenArt
With the help of this tool, you can create characters and visuals, and can also lip sync those characters. You get a one-time 40 credits, which you should use within 7 days from the start date. You need to pay for more credits. Let’s take a look at the pricing overview of OpenArt.
Pricing Plans
Free
Essential
Advanced
Infinite
Credit
40 for 7 days
4000 credits/month
12,000 credits/month
24,000 credits/month
Parallel generations
4
8
16
32
Images
None
4000
12,000
24,000
Videos
None
50
150
300
For more feature-related details, check out its official page.
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Rosebud AI
With this tool, you can create free sprite sheets for games. It has provided a solution to 2D, which is a time-consuming process of game development. You can create an all-new game using this free AI sprite sheet generator tool. It doesn’t have many features, but it is one of the best free AI sprite sheet generator tools.
It is completely free and doesn’t require any money transactions.
Use Case of Sprite Sheet
Sprite sheets are mainly used by web developers, game developers, graphic designers, UI/UX designers, and pixel art designers.
For game animation: It is useful for making a game character walk, run, and jump within a single sheet. Game developers, pixel artists, and Unity programmers mostly use it for animation.
2D game and tiles: different titles, i.e., ground, wall, and trees, are packed in a single sheet to build maps quickly. Game designers, level designers, and environment artists use sprite sheets to generate 2D games and tiles.
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Website buttons and icons: Icons like home, search, settings, and social media icons are shown using a single image with CSS positioning. UI/UX, engineers, and web developers use it for updating and creating websites and apps for a simpler and clearer interface.
Web animation: Web developers, motion designers, and frontend engineers use a sprite sheet to add animated logos or loading spinners. It is done by moving the sprite sheet using CSS for the final result.
How to Create a Sprite Sheet?
Creating a Sprite Sheet is not difficult, especially when using an AI sprite sheet generator. Let’s understand how sprite sheets work, so that you can create your own characters.
Step 1: Prepare images for your desired animation character. Add the type, animation, frame count, and direction. Use frames, e.g., 4,8,12, or 16 for more image placements. At last, mention the side view, isometric view, or top down.
Step 2: Use individual frames: Add multiple images representing the animated steps of the characters. For this process, you can use tools like Aseprite, Adobe Photoshop, or Piskel. (Maintain a uniform style and remember to keep the same canvas size, i.e., 64×64 pixels).
Step 3: Align the frames: Remember! All the frames must have the same height and width. Align all the characters from the same baseline and remove the background to avoid misalignment.
Step 4: Arrange frames into a grid: Place all the frames into one single sprite sheet. Some of the common layouts are horizontal, vertical, and diagonal strips.
Step 5: Use an AI sprite sheet generator to avoid misalignment and save time. Use AI tools like Layer AI or Ludo AI for automatic alignment.
Step 6: Check the final file for exportation: Use a PNG image for better transparency. Grid and packed are the best layouts for gaming characters.
Step 7: Optimize the sprite sheet for performance: Look for empty spaces and remove them. Compress the texture if it is a large file, and convert sprites into one sheet.
Tips to Make an Effective Sprite Sheet
Use similar-sized frames for each animated image.
Add padding and borders to avoid texture bleeding (color leaking from one image to another).
Keep one animation per sheet, for example, walk, run, or still.
Select the right format of image for transparency. (Use PNG)
Add frames tightly to save space and memory in the sprite sheet.
Check every aspect after arranging the images in a named folder.
After months of buildup, end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging has finally made it to iOS, allowing Android and iPhone users to enjoy enhanced security between platforms when texting.
Apple continues to make progress on its end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messaging, following a few months of testing on iOS 26.4 developer betas. Now, it appears that the feature is ready for larger public testing.
On Monday, Apple announced that E2EE RCS messaging will roll out for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with a supported carrier, and Android users on the latest version of Google Messages. This means that, provided the aforementioned criteria are met, RCS messages can’t be read while being sent between devices.
Users will see a new lock icon in RCS chats when a message is encrypted. Apple has included a list of participating carriers on a support page.
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Apple notes that this is still technically a beta test of the feature, and will likely roll out in phases. Encrypted will be automatically enabled over time for both new and existing RCS conversations.
Apple began testing E2EE RCS messaging in the first iOS 26.4 developer beta in mid-February. Testing was very limited, as it was exclusively for iPhone users with iMessage disabled.
Fortunately, about one week later Apple rolled out the second iOS 26.4 developer beta, allowing Android and iPhones to trade fully encrypted RCS messages for the first time.
Apple initially announced that it would be offering end-to-end encryption to RCS messaging on iOS in March 2025.
An interactive “Sunscore” visualization on Redfin shows the path of sunlight on GeekWire’s offices in Seattle. (Image via Redfin)
What’s it take to be a neighbor with a sunny disposition? Perhaps more sunlight, for starters.
Seattle-based real estate brokerage Redfin launched “Sunscore” on Monday, a new interactive feature that lets home searchers see how much natural light a property receives throughout the day.
The 3D map offers a property-level sun-path visualization, tracking sunlight and the shadows cast by surrounding terrain, buildings and trees. Different times of day and times of the year are analyzed to provide a full picture of potential shadows. Properties are scored 0-100 — the more sunlight, the higher the score.
“We know from customer feedback that sunlight is a priority for house hunters,” said Ariel Dos Santos, Redfin’s chief product and design officer, in a news release. “When you tour a home, you want to see brightly lit spaces with natural light pouring through windows. Sunscore gives home searchers that information upfront in a simple-to-understand way.”
A recent Redfin survey found that nearly 70% of people say the amount of sunlight in their home affects their satisfaction with their living situation, and 11% say it’s non-negotiable when searching for a home.
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And the amount of light a home receives isn’t just a mood-booster or an aesthetic factor; the score on property-level sunlight can be also help homeowners measure the potential for solar energy and long-term cost savings.
Sunscore is developed by Austria-based Shadowmap, and the partnership with Redfin-owned Rocket is a U.S. exclusive. The feature is now available on all for-sale homes listed on Redfin.com and will be available on Redfin’s iPhone and Android apps later this year.
Who else is feeling physically sick every time they tune into Half Man? That’s testament to Richard Gadd’s incredible character creation, but my word is Ruben absolutely vile.
As we’re finding out, the show follows brothers Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Gadd) through 30 years of their lives, exploring the highs and lows of their turbulent relationship. Frankly, “lows” is putting things politely.
Things will probably get worse than what we’ve already seen. But when will Half Manepisode 4 be released on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?
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What time can I watch Half Man episode 4 on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer?
Five-year-old European military drone startup Helsing is reportedly close to raising a new $1.2 billion round at about an $18 billion valuation. The round is expected to be led by Dragoneer and co-led by existing Helsing investor Lightspeed, the Financial Times reported.
Helsing last raised just under a year ago, in June 2025, in a deal that was led by billionaire Spotify founder Daniel Ek. That was a €600 million investment at an estimated €12 billion valuation ($14 billion USD). So this new round is a step-up.
While Helsing isn’t the only European unicorn defense tech, it is by far the one that investors deem the most valuable. For instance, German drone maker Quantum Systems raised €180 million in November, which valued it at more than €3 billion. And a year ago, Lisbon-headquartered Tekever raised £400 million at a valuation above £1 billion. Amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the proving ground for new technologies, autonomous defense startups have become a hot area for VCs.
Helsing, Dragoneer, and Lightspeed could not be immediately reached for comment.
Starbucks headquarters in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A new filing with Washington state shows that Starbucks’ recent job cuts will impact 61 tech jobs at its Seattle headquarters. The Seattle Times first reported on this round of layoffs in April, citing an internal message that did not include the number of roles, their location or specific job titles.
The layoffs are the result of “a reorganization of the technology department at the Starbucks Support Center,” the letter states. The cuts take effect between June 20 and Aug. 28.
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter states that the affected roles include cybersecurity analyst, technical product manager, systems analyst, systems administrator, scrum master and architect. Employees at the director and manager levels are among those being let go.
The tech department shake-up also follows the hiring of Anand Varadarajan as chief technology officer in January. He joined the coffee company after 19 years at Amazon, where he most recently led technology and supply chain for its global grocery business.
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In a September filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Starbucks warned that it needed to keep improving its marketing, data analytics and AI tools or risk losing consumer interest and market share.
The tech sector has seen a wave of layoffs in recent months, including cuts in the Pacific Northwest impacting Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Expedia Group, T-Mobile, Oracle, Zillow and others. Companies generally frame the cuts as a mix of post-pandemic restructuring, tighter cost discipline, and a shift of resources toward AI and other strategic priorities.
Apple’s macOS 26.5 has been released, delivering a quiet update focused on stability, subscription changes, and system-level improvements rather than new user-facing features.
The release arrives without major additions across the interface or built-in apps. macOS Tahoe 26.4, which shipped on March 24, 2026, introduced visible updates across apps and system features, while version 26.5 shifts attention to compatibility and platform work.
Mac users shouldn’t expect a major shift after installing it. Apple uses the release to support new App Store billing options and refine system behavior without changing how macOS works day to day.
macOS 26.5 is build number 25F71.
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Maps ads expand to macOS in a broader services push
Apple has expanded ads in Maps to macOS as part of the same rollout across its platforms. Ads now appear at the top of some search results and sit alongside standard listings, which changes how locations are surfaced without altering navigation tools.
Suggested Places also appears in Maps and highlights nearby locations based on trends, recent searches, and local activity. Results no longer rely only on relevance and proximity, as paid placements can influence what appears first.
Apple uses the change to extend its advertising model into local search on the Mac. Ads are clearly labeled and rely on signals like search terms and location instead of user profiles.
App Store subscription changes carry over to macOS
Apple’s new subscription model reaches macOS with the 26.5 release. Developers can offer monthly payments tied to a 12-month commitment in most regions, excluding the United States and Singapore.
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Users get pricing that usually matches discounted annual plans without paying for a full year upfront. The model still commits subscribers to 12 monthly payments once a subscription starts, even though the price appears as a monthly plan.
Subscribers can cancel at any time, but service continues until all committed payments are completed. Account settings show completed payments, remaining payments, and renewal timing, which makes the commitment clear over time.
Developers gain a more predictable revenue stream while presenting pricing as a lower monthly cost. Monthly billing doesn’t provide monthly flexibility under this model.
macOS 26.5 focuses on under-the-hood improvements rather than visible changes across the interface or built-in apps. Apple directs the release toward stability, compatibility, and updates that support how apps run and interact with the system.
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Safari and core system components receive updates that improve reliability and behavior in everyday use. These changes help reduce bugs and inconsistencies without introducing new features that users can see directly.
macOS 26.5 follows macOS 26.4 as a quieter release with a narrower purpose. Most users will see an incremental update that keeps the Mac current rather than changing how it looks or behaves day to day.
There are some major portable power station deals over at Amazon right now. I’ve selected 7 that are worth exploring, although there’s one truly stand-out deal right now.
The one that really caught my eye is the Bluetti Elite 300 that’s now $1099 (was $1499). That’s a major discount on a heavy-duty unit with a 3014Wh battery capacity. After testing out the Elite 300, we found it “powerful, flexible and impressively rugged.”
Now, we did find it pretty heavy to carry – it’s stretching the definition of ‘portability’ to the limit. But it really impressed us. At the time, we called it “a mobile power solution. Compared to smaller power stations, it opens up entirely new possibilities: cooking proper meals, running tools, and living comfortably off-grid.”
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