In the 1980s, France was the stage for one of the boldest public computing projects of the era. Minitel was the French take on viewdata, and instead of making it an expensive and unattainable luxury, they made the terminals universally available. Many Minitel services cost extra to use, but despite this it was a runaway success that lingered on into the 21st century.
The ubiquitous terminals are now surplus to requirements, but that’s not to say they are useless. [MemoireMorte] has proved this with the Memo-1, a 6502-based computer designed to plug into a Minitel-1 terminal. It’s just the accessory your Minitel needs!
Hardware wise it’s a relatively conventional device with the usual RAM, ROM, and BASIC. There’s an expansion port, and a 6522 to provide a couple of Atari joystick ports. The serial port uses a a 6551 ACIA rather than the more usual W65C51 because of an incompatibility between the latter chip and the Minitel-1.
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We like this computer, not because of novelty, after all it’s hardly the first 6502 we’ve seen, but because of its use of the Minitel terminal. These devices are magnificent, and deserve more love. We subjected another terminal to a teardown a year or two ago.
To speed up Google Chrome, enable Memory Saver in Performance settings, close high-RAM background tasks using Chrome’s built-in Task Manager, remove unused browser extensions, and ensure the browser is updated to the latest version. Clearing accumulated browsing data and configuring standard page preloading will also restore rapid page load speeds without requiring third-party utility software.
Quick Take: Essential Chrome Optimization Steps
When Google Chrome becomes sluggish, high memory consumption from unoptimized background tabs and bloat from legacy extensions are usually the primary culprits. According to global desktop browser market share data from Statcounter, Chrome continues to dominate desktop web browsing globally, making system resource efficiency a primary concern for millions of users.
To get Chrome running smoothly again without losing your saved preferences or browsing history, focus on six core interventions:
Turn on Memory Saver: Automatically frees RAM from inactive background tabs.
Kill heavy processes: Use Chrome’s Task Manager (Shift + Esc) to identify and close memory-hogging tabs.
Prune extensions: Audit chrome://extensions and disable tools you do not actively use.
Adjust preloading and graphics: Enable standard preloading and toggle hardware acceleration based on your GPU capability.
Clear cache and reset settings: Remove corrupted temporary site data that slows down page rendering.
Restart and update: Apply pending security patches and clear browser heap memory through a clean restart.
Prerequisites for Optimizing Chrome
Before modifying browser configurations, verify that your system meets the basic operational conditions listed below:
Requirement
Recommended Specification
Why It Matters
Operating System
Windows 10/11, macOS 11+, or ChromeOS
Ensures compatibility with modern Chrome memory management APIs.
Browser Version
Chrome Version 110 or higher
Includes native Memory Saver, Energy Saver, and modern security protocols.
System Memory (RAM)
8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
Prevents severe OS-level disk swapping when running multiple web applications.
Account Backup
Chrome Sync enabled or bookmarks exported
Protects browsing data if a full browser settings reset is required.
Step-by-Step Chrome Speed Optimization Guide
Follow these steps sequentially to isolate performance bottlenecks and reconfigure Chrome for optimal speed.
Chrome includes automated resource controls designed specifically to prevent inactive tabs from hoarding system RAM. You can manage these settings by enabling Chrome’s built-in Memory Saver and Energy Saver features to reduce RAM consumption on inactive tabs.
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
Select Settings and click Performance from the left-hand navigation sidebar.
Toggle Memory Saver to the On position.
(Optional) If you frequently work with specific web applications that must remain active in the background (such as webmail or audio players), click Add next to “Always keep these sites active” and enter their domain names.
On laptop devices, toggle Energy Saver on to limit background visual effects and high frame rates when running on battery power.
Expected Outcome: Inactive tabs discard their held memory while preserving their title and tab state. When you click back onto a sleeping tab, Chrome reloads the page seamlessly.
Step 2: Identify and Terminate Resource-Hungry Tabs with Chrome Task Manager
A single misbehaving web page or background script can cause system-wide slowdowns. For additional background task management, follow Google’s official Chrome performance documentation to identify processes hogging system memory.
Branching Shortcut by Operating System:
Windows & ChromeOS: Press Shift + Esc while inside Chrome.
macOS: Click Window in the top system menu bar and select Task Manager (or click Menu > More Tools > Task Manager).
Inside the Task Manager window, click the Memory footprint column header to sort all active processes from highest to lowest consumption.
Locate individual tabs or background processes consuming excessive RAM or CPU cycles (e.g., over 500 MB for a single static tab).
Click on the offending process and select End Process at the bottom right.
Expected Outcome: The high-resource process terminates immediately, releasing RAM back to the operating system and stopping CPU thermal throttling.
Step 3: Audit, Disable, and Uninstall Unnecessary Extensions
Browser extensions run persistent background scripts that inspect network traffic, modify page DOM trees, and consume memory. Only install extensions from the official Chrome Web Store extensions catalog and audit permissions regularly.
Type chrome://extensions into the address bar and press Enter.
Review every installed extension. Toggle off the switch for any extension you do not use daily.
For extensions you no longer need, click the Remove button.
If you suffer from frequent form submission crashes, avoid relying on outdated third-party form helpers; rely on Chrome’s built-in Autofill or maintained password managers instead to avoid script conflicts.
Expected Outcome: Lower baseline memory consumption upon browser launch and reduced latency when loading complex web pages. Learn more about essential Chrome extensions for productivity that maintain low system overhead.
Step 4: Configure Page Preloading and Hardware Acceleration
Chrome can predict which links you are likely to click and preload web assets in advance, speeding up navigation across frequently visited sites.
Navigate to chrome://settings/performance.
Scroll to Preload pages and select Standard preloading. (Avoid Extended preloading if you are on a metered connection or limited RAM).
Next, navigate to chrome://settings/system in the left menu.
Verify that Use graphics acceleration when available is toggled On if you have a dedicated or modern integrated GPU. If you experience screen flickering or video playback lag, toggle this setting Off and restart Chrome.
Expected Outcome: Instantaneous page transitions for internal links and smoother rendering of video content. You can also configure advanced Chrome flags like chrome://flags/#smooth-scrolling if default page scrolling feels jumpy.
Step 5: Clear Cached Data and Reset Corrupted Browser Settings
Over months of use, corrupted web cache, stale cookies, and misconfigured permissions can degrade browser responsiveness.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open the Clear browsing data menu.
Select the Advanced tab and set the time range to All time.
Check Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Click Clear data.
If browser behavior remains erratic, navigate to chrome://settings/reset and click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Expected Outcome: Elimination of stale browser cache states and misconfigured flag overrides. Review our full guide to clear your browser cache and cookies safely without losing critical saved passwords.
Step 6: Update Chrome and Perform Routine Restarts
Chrome continuously updates its V8 JavaScript engine and memory allocation routines. However, background updates only take effect when the browser restarts completely.
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Type chrome://settings/help into your address bar and press Enter.
Chrome will automatically check for pending updates and download them.
When prompted, click Relaunch to apply the update.
Get into the habit of closing and re-opening Chrome at least once a week rather than leaving it running indefinitely during system sleep cycles.
Expected Outcome: Patched memory leaks, updated security definitions, and a fresh browser heap memory state.
How to Verify Chrome Performance Improvements
To confirm that your optimization efforts yielded tangible performance gains, perform the following verification checks:
Check Baseline Memory Usage: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) or macOS Activity Monitor. Compare overall system RAM usage before and after enabling Memory Saver with 10–15 tabs open. You should observe a 30% to 40% reduction in total memory allocated to Chrome processes.
Inspect Individual Tab States: Hover your mouse cursor over an inactive tab. The hover preview card should indicate that the tab is “Inactive” or sleeping, confirming that Memory Saver is functioning.
Test Script Execution Speed: Load heavy web applications (like Google Sheets or web design tools). Notice whether page interaction and input latency are crisp and responsive.
Troubleshooting Common Chrome Performance Issues
Chrome Still Uses High Memory After Enabling Memory Saver
If Chrome continues to consume excessive RAM despite enabling native performance features, background extensions or pinned tabs are usually bypassing tab sleep rules. Pinned tabs, pages playing background audio, or sites with active web socket connections (like live messaging apps) are automatically excluded from memory deactivation.
Fix: Open chrome://extensions, temporary disable all non-essential extensions, and check if memory drops. Unpin non-critical tabs and review your “Always keep these sites active” list under chrome://settings/performance to ensure unnecessary domains were not added accidentally. For deeper diagnostics, read our guide on how to troubleshoot high Chrome RAM usage.
Web Pages Render Slowly or Video Playback Stutters
Slow page rendering or choppy video playback (especially on high-resolution streams) often points to GPU hardware acceleration conflicts or outdated graphics drivers.
Fix: Go to chrome://settings/system, toggle Use graphics acceleration when available to the opposite setting, and click Relaunch. Additionally, type chrome://gpu into the address bar to verify whether hardware acceleration features are marked as “Hardware accelerated” or “Software only.” Update your system’s graphics drivers if hardware acceleration is failing.
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Unwanted Pop-ups, Search Hijacking, or Malware Symptoms Persist
Starting in Chrome version 111, Google retired the standalone Chrome Cleanup Tool previously found under browser settings. Users can no longer run a native “Clean Up Computer” scan directly inside Chrome.
Fix: Ensure Google Safe Browsing is configured to Enhanced protection by visiting chrome://settings/security. If malicious search redirects or persistent pop-ups remain, review your modern browser security settings and run a thorough malware scan using dedicated OS-level malware scanners like Malwarebytes or Microsoft Defender. If needed, consult our guide on standalone malware removal tools.
Where This Approach Has Limits
Optimizing software settings can only reclaim available hardware capacity; it cannot overcome physical hardware bottlenecks. If your machine has 4 GB of RAM and is running modern web applications alongside an operating system that requires 3 GB on its own, Chrome will inevitably slow down regardless of setting tweaks.
Additionally, while preloading pages speeds up navigation, it increases background data usage, which can be undesirable on metered mobile hotspots. Finally, disabling hardware acceleration resolves rendering glitches on older GPUs but offloads graphics tasks to the CPU, which may elevate CPU temperatures and reduce battery life on laptops.
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Key Takeaways
Built-in features like Memory Saver automatically suspend inactive tabs, reducing RAM footprint by up to 40%.
Use Shift + Esc (Chrome Task Manager) to pinpoint and close specific high-resource tabs instead of restarting the whole browser.
Google’s legacy “Clean Up Computer” feature was permanently removed in Chrome 111; use Enhanced Safe Browsing and standalone antivirus tools for malware detection.
Regularly prune unnecessary browser extensions, as they run continuous background scripts that degrade performance.
Restarting Chrome weekly is mandatory to apply pending security updates and purge browser heap memory leaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Google remove the “Clean Up Computer” option from Chrome settings?
Google retired the built-in Chrome Cleanup Tool in March 2023 (Chrome version 111). Google cited a steady decline in local software hijacking complaints, significant improvements in Google Safe Browsing real-time URL detection, and enhanced anti-malware capabilities built directly into Windows Defender and modern operating systems. Chrome now relies on real-time cloud protection rather than local disk scanning.
Will turning on Memory Saver log me out of active web sessions?
No. When Memory Saver deactivates an inactive tab, it releases the system RAM allocated to rendering the page, but it preserves the tab’s session cookies, authentication tokens, and state. When you click back onto the tab, Chrome reloads the page with your active login intact. However, unsaved text entered into unsubmitted web forms on non-autosaving pages may be lost if a tab is discarded.
Does disabling hardware acceleration make Chrome faster or slower?
On modern systems with functioning graphics drivers, keeping hardware acceleration enabled makes Chrome significantly faster by offloading page rendering, CSS animations, and video decoding to the GPU. Disabling hardware acceleration should only be done as a troubleshooting measure if you experience visual artifacts, screen tearing, or video playback glitches caused by buggy graphics drivers.
Is it safe to change experimental flags in chrome://flags?
Flags located in chrome://flags are experimental features that Google developers use for testing. While popular flags like Smooth Scrolling (chrome://flags/#smooth-scrolling) are generally safe, changing unstable flags can cause browser crashes, tab freezing, or data loss. If Chrome becomes unstable after modifying flags, return to chrome://flags and click the Reset all button at the top right.
August Apple deals are in full swing at Amazon, with savings of up to $500 off across Mac, iPad, AirTag, and Apple Watch categories. Prices start at just $27.
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Over the years I have been to many hacker camps and done a lot of very cool things, but BornHack 2026 brought me something entirely new: Radio. By which I don’t mean radio in terms of amateur radio, LoRa, or whatever, but Radio. Broadcast radio, because the camp had a special event FM radio station for the first time. And because in a previous life I spent an inordinate amount of time in my university’s student radio station and have the Radio Voice to prove it, I was totally there for it.
The BornHack Radio nerve centre.
For a hacker camp, one of the special things about BornHack Radio was unexpected, that it was entirely analogue. No online streams, the only broadcast was over the air, 5 watts ERP from a vertical antenna stuck on a mast at the highest point of the Hylkedam scout camp site. I don’t know whether any of the residents of the isle of Funen listened, or what they made of it, but it certainly reached as far as the two closest towns.
The other unexpected feature of the station was that it had no music licensing. Personally I viewed this as an asset, because it forced the programming to be hacker-focused rather than suit the musical tastes of whichever people are enthusiastic enough to be DJs. I sincerely hope they don’t get a music licence at future events, speech-only gives it a special quality.
The studio for an analogue station like this one can be surprisingly simple, in that it’s a mixing desk to bring all the different microphones and other inputs together and set the levels, and not a lot else. the whole thing was in a Coleman shelter on the main drag through the camp, so as studios go it could have been quieter. Programming varied from talk shows through interview shows, a live feed from the speaker tent — is this the first ever Hacker Jeopardy broadcast? — and a beautifully done robotic numbers station which I suspect may also have been part of one of the on-camp games.
The thing that struck me most in my first foray into radio journalism was how straightforward it was. Wander the camp with microphone (complete with fluffy windshield and 3D-printed Hackaday cube), drop the results into Audacity, and a remarkably straightforward editing process compared to video. Last time I did this it involved 1/4″ tape and a razor blade.
So that was BornHack Radio, a new experience at a hacker camp both for those of us who ventured forth on the airwaves, and I hope also for the listeners. A format in which the live shows disappeared into the aether rather than having an online afterlife gave the whole thing a freedom rarely found in 2026. I really hope this isn’t the last time I break out the fluffy microphone at a hacker camp.
Fans of the original DOOM never asked for a pair of shiny golden floppy disks in 2026. Fanattik went ahead and made them anyway. These officially licensed replicas celebrate the two 3½-inch disks that carried the DOOM v1.2 shareware release.
That version, released in early 1994, let you to play the first episode, Knee-Deep in the Dead, to evaluate if the whole game was worth the money before opting to buy. The new set comes as two non-working dummy disks coated in imitation gold plating. They measure 89 by 89 millimeters and are placed in a box with the original artwork printed directly on it. A simple display stand is included so the disks can stand upright on a shelf.
REAL PLAYABLE RETRO GAMING EXPERIENCE: Enjoy authentic gameplay on a mini Atari 2600 console featuring a working joystick and TV screen. Includes…
10 BUILT-IN CLASSIC VIDEO GAMES: Preloaded with iconic Atari titles, this mini arcade system delivers hours of entertainment without downloads or…
PORTABLE MINI ARCADE CONSOLE: Compact 3.5” size makes it easy to take anywhere—great for travel, desks, or small spaces. A fun handheld gaming…
You can purchase one of the 5,000 numbered sets being produced, however the disks are primarily for decoration, with no moving mechanisms, metal sliders, or write-protect notches. They have no data on them. The purpose of this item is solely for display. If you wish to play the original shareware version, there is still a free download available that has been around for a long time.
Fanattik began taking pre-orders in August 2026, and GameStop lists it for $29.99 in the United States, while it is available straight from Fanatik for £19.99 in the United Kingdom. In Malaysia, it appears that it will cost roughly RM94 before shipment. You can probably tell by now that the company has a history of releasing comparable retro-style items, having previously done CD-ROM reproductions of Resident Evil and World of Warcraft, so a DOOM set is not surprising.
To put things in perspective, the full version of DOOM back then required four floppy disks to carry all three episodes, as CD-ROM versions weren’t available until much later. The golden floppies practically preserve the shareware version indefinitely, so you don’t need to dig out an old drive to play it. For anyone who still proudly displays their old PC boxes, the limited run and individual numbering ensures the future, since once you have one of the 5,000 sets, there will be no more available.
Go to Account Settings, which can be found by clicking your profile picture in the upper righthand corner
Select Subscription from the menu on the left hand side
Select Cancel Subscription
Cancel PlayStation Plus via your PlayStation console
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You can also easily cancel your PlayStation Plus subscription via the console itself, though the process for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 vary slightly.
PlayStation 5
From the home screen, go to the Settings menu
Select Users and Accounts
Select Account
Select Payment and Subscriptions
Select your PlayStation Plus subscription and select Cancel
PlayStation 4
From the home screen, go to the Settings menu
Select Account Management
Select Account Information
Select Subscriptions
Select your PlayStation Plus subscription and select Cancel
Cancel PlayStation Plus via the PlayStation app
If you have the PlayStation app, you can also cancel your subscription from there by following these steps:
Select the PS Store from the bottom menu
Select the menu icon in the top right of the screen
Select Subscription Management
Select Cancel on your subscription
What happens after you cancel
Teamjackson/Getty Images
After you cancel your PlayStation Plus subscription, you’ll no longer be charged, but you’ll still have access to all of your subscription benefits until the end of the payment period. Once your subscription is over, you’ll no longer be able to use the game library, any monthly free games you may have claimed, online storage or online multiplayer. However, packs, avatars and discounted purchases acquired through your subscription are yours to keep.
If you change your mind and don’t want to cancel your PlayStation Plus, you can reactivate your subscription by going to your subscription settings again and selecting Reactivate Subscription. If you do so before what would be your next payment date, it will keep the current subscription active; otherwise, you’ll need to purchase a new subscription through the PlayStation Store.
A simply brilliant coffee machine, the Nespresso Vertuo Up is also my favourite Vertuo machine. More compact than its predecessors, the drop-in capsule system is easier to use, and a three-second heat-up time means there’s virtually no wait for a coffee. Excellent coffee-making via the clever Centrifusion brewing system, with a wide choice of coffees, makes this a great choice for anyone who loves a smooth cup of coffee. Only those who would like to integrate milk frothing should look elsewhere.
Brilliantly designed
Makes excellent coffee
Integrated Wi-Fi
Creations button genuinely useful
No integrated milk frothing
Key Features
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Review Price:
£179
Two dispensing buttons
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Regular coffee and creations at the touch of a button.
Fresh design
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Capsules drop into the slot, which makes the machine easier to use.
Introduction
Although the ‘new’ type of Nespresso, Vertuo machines have been around since 2017. It’s a little surprising, then, that it’s taken the company this long to launch a really good compact, simpler machine.
Much smaller than its predecessors, the Nespresso Vertuo Up takes capsules via a drop-in slot similar to how the original machine works, and has a brand-new coffee creations button for making more intense versions of coffees.
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Super-fast heat-up times and Wi-Fi connection round out the package and make this my favourite Vertuo machine.
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Design and features
Works like an original Nespresso machine
Very fast heat-up times
Integrated Wi-Fi
I really like the Nespresso Vertuo range. Its Centrifusion brewing makes coffee that’s completely different to that dispensed by the original range. Using a larger style capsule, the Vertuo range of machines has always had a few size issues though.
With the original Nespresso Vertuo Plus, the motorised lid means you need quite a bit of room above it (an issue that remains with the manually operated Vertuo Next and Vertuo Lattissima). The smaller Vertuo Pop still had a hinged lid, but its smaller dimensions mean it needs less room around it; however, the low spout makes it fiddly to get a regular-sized mug underneath.
The Nespresso Vertuo Up changes that, with a design that’s both practical but more compact than what went before. The design is actually closer to that of an original machine. I’ve got the black version on review, but there are also white, blue and graphite options.
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Instead of having to open the entire top of the machine, with it hinging upwards, there’s a simple drop-in slot for the capsules. Just pull the lever up, drop in the pod, shut the lever and you’re good to go.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
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I actually prefer this design. It’s easier to get the pod in and the lever shut. With the Vertuo Next (and Lattissima), it can be a little fiddly shutting the lid and getting the locking lever all the way across into the correct position.
This new design means that you don’t need much space above the machine, so you can place it under a shelf, no problem.
This design has other advantages. First and foremost, the drip tray and used-capsule bin both pull out from the front. No more having to turn the machine around to get a side or rear bin.
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Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
At the back, there’s a 1.4-litre water tank (plenty big enough to make a few mugs of coffee before it needs to be refilled). This is mounted on a rotating base, so you can have the tank at the back for a more streamlined, but longer placing (12 x 49 x 25.5 cm), or you can put the tank to the side, which makes the Vertuo Up wider, but shorter (22 x 39 x 25.5cm).
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
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The cup holder at the front can be placed at different heights, and locks securely into position, as does the drip tray. This means that the Vertuo Up can even be placed slightly overhanging a counter, as I do on my narrow sideboard.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
As you might expect from a Vertuo machine, the Vertuo Up is very easy to use. Drop a capsule in, hit the button on the front, and hot coffee pours out, with the barcode on the capsule dictating how the coffee should be made and the volume.
Actually, I should say there are two buttons for coffee. The main one does as above, but there’s also a Coffee Creations button, which dispenses a distilled, more intense version of each coffee, perfect for the flavoured capsules that are designed for recipes, such as with added milk or water.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
With this mode, 230ml pods go to 80ml, 150ml goes to 40ml, 80ml to 40ml, and 40ml to 25ml. This mode was available on previous Nespresso machines but required a double-tap of the main button; it’s easier to have a dedicated button.
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Impressively, the Vertuo Up has a three-second heat-up time. In fact, by the time I’ve woken the machine up and have dropped a coffee in, it’s ready to go. With the older machines, there’s a much longer heat-up time.
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As with recent Nespresso machines, the Vertuo Up is a smart one, connecting to the Nespresso Smart app via Wi-Fi. As well as pinging the app if there’s a problem, such as the machine has run out of water, changing the coffee temperature and default volumes, as well as running the cleaning and descaling cycles.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
Coffee quality
Rich coffee
Consistent volume
Wide range of coffees
There’s a wider range of pods available for this machine than the original, with everything from 25ml ristretto and 40ml espresso to 230ml mug-fulls and even capsules that will do an entire carafe. My guide to the best Nespresso Vertuo pods can help you find the right pods.
Coffee is delivered using Nespresso’s Centrifusion brewing system, which spins the capsule to extract, resulting in long, fluffy shots with lots of crema, even when filling a mug. The result is coffee that’s different to that from other machines: richer with a longer crema. Temperatures at all cup sizes came in at around 67°C, which is spot-on.
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Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
Flavour varies by coffee capsule and style, but you’ll easily find something you like. As a lover of a mug-full of hot black coffee, there’s no other system that quite makes a cup like this.
Having the Creations button makes it easier to use this feature, and it works really well. When making iced coffee, having a more intense shot of coffee is better, and it makes it easier to add water and ice to complete the drink.
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Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
There’s no milk frothing on this machine, but you can add milk to a mug, or you can buy a separate milk frother.
Maintenance
Capsules are recyclable
Very little day-to-day maintenance
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Looking after the Nespresso Vertuo Up is refreshingly easy. Coffee capsules drop into the bin at the front, where they can be emptied into a recycling bag and then sent back to Nespresso for full recycling (you can do this via the post or at Nespresso stores, all for free).
Otherwise, there’s not much maintenance, just the occasional descaling, which is easy to do using the app.
Should you buy it?
You want the best Vertuo machine
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Compact, very fast to heat-up and capable of making great coffee, this is a brilliant Veruo coffee machine.
There’s no integrated milk frothing in this machine, so buy an alternative if you want this feature.
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Final Thoughts
If you want a Vertuo machine that can also froth milk, the Lattissima might be a better choice.
However, if you primarily drink black coffee, then the Nespresso Vertuo Up is the best Vertuo machine that I’ve tested: it heats faster than the previous machines, I prefer the drop-in capsule system, and this machine is more compact than its predecessors. It’s my new favourite Vertuo machine and deserves a place on my guide to the best Nespresso machines.
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How We Test
We test every coffee machine we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Used as our main coffee machine for the review period
Used as our main coffee machine for the review period
We roast our own beans for regular coffee machines, so we can fairly compare each machine; pod machines are tested with a variety of compatible capsules
Depending on capabilities, we test each machine’s ability to make espresso and cappuccino
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FAQs
What’s the difference in the Nespresso Vertuo Up’s two buttons?
The standard button makes regular coffee at the volume displayed on the capsule, and the Creations button makes a shorter, more intense drink, ideal for recipes.
Experts warn hotfix not optional. MSPs warned attacker gains ‘full administrative access to an N-central console’
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added an exploited N-able vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, giving federal agencies three days to patch a flaw that could let attackers reach managed service provider (MSP) customers.
Attackers exploiting the flaw can gain “full administrative access to an N-central console,”
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Tracked as CVE-2026-18577 (8.2 CVSSv4), N-able disclosed the vulnerability affecting N-central on Sunday, noting that it was exploited as of July 31.
MSPs use N-central to manage customer systems from a single dashboard, and successful exploitation can hand an attacker administrative access to the console.
Based on the limited set of partner logs it reviewed, security firm Huntress said successful attacks led to pivots into managed endpoints and the creation of Cloudflare-based tunnels for persistent access to victim networks.
“From an MSP perspective, exploitation of this flaw can grant an attacker full administrative access to an N-central console – the same level of control normally reserved for trusted NOC and engineering staff,” wrote Huntress’s Ben Bernstein and John Hammond.
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Attackers can then open remote control sessions on critical systems and modify roles, accounts, and policies to support follow-on attacks.
The vulnerability affects N-central releases earlier than version 2026.3 when the server is exposed to the internet or reachable from an untrusted network.
Huntress advised customers unable to apply N-able’s hotfix immediately to disable N-central until they could do so.
Authorities elsewhere have also urged users to patch. NHS England’s advisory mentioned that its National Cybersecurity Operations Centre assessed that “further exploitation is likely,” while Belgium’s Centre for Cybersecurity urged fast action due to the “potential for significant impact.”
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Exploitation of this flaw can grant an attacker full administrative access to an N-central console – the same level of control normally reserved for trusted NOC and engineering staff
CVE-2026-18577 is related to an earlier flaw, CVE-2026-18556, patched in N-central 2026.2. According to N-able, that fix left another route to exploitation, which attackers began abusing late last month.
CISA gave Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies until August 6 to remediate the flaw. Under Binding Operational Directive 26-04, CISA can impose a three-day deadline on vulnerabilities it considers an urgent risk rather than allowing the usual 14 days.
According to Huntress’s data, affected customers have leapt into action. By August 3, nearly all cloud-hosted N-central instances had been patched, although 28.6 percent of observed self-hosted servers remained vulnerable and exposed to the internet. ®
During its second-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Spotify again teased the upcoming release of a new product that will allow music fans to leverage AI to make covers and remixes of artists’ music, with the artists’ consent.
The company also announced that Merlin, a licensing partner for independent labels and distributors, has now joined Universal Music Group (UMG) on the new AI music effort. The deal brings more than 30,000 labels from Merlin’s network to the product, which will allow fan-made covers and remixes by artists who agree to participate.
Spotify has positioned its AI music product as being significantly different from the more controversial AI music startups that have been used to create fully artificial songs. Instead, Spotify co-CEO Gustav Söderström told investors on Tuesday’s call that the company’s AI music product will be about “real artists, not fake artists.”
“We want artists to be consenting [to add] their work into this catalog, so people can play around with covers and remixes based on their art,” added co-CEO Alex Norström. “We also obviously want to give them credit. And last but not least…we not only have the consent and give credit, but we also drive the compensation for this. So, really, we’re talking about the first legal way to partake in this AI tailwind that we see coming for interactive music,” he said.
The company told investors that a research preview of the fan remix and covers product would initially be made available to a subset of users. Spotify also noted that it would not require a full music catalog to get started. The company did not say when the preview would arrive.
The new tool will launch as a paid add-on, creating an additional revenue stream for artists, Spotify previously said.
“Our remix and covers I think is an incredibly exciting product again because there is no one else that can really do this,” Söderström said. “Normal generative music will happen with or without us. This product will not happen without us, and it needs to exist so that existing artists can can participate in this.”
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Apple is doubling down on its lawsuit against OpenAI over claims of intellectual property theft, and has now asked the courts for a preliminary injunction that could delay the ChatGPT firm’s AI device.
While OpenAI has turned to the court of public opinion in this case, Apple has now gone to a US judge. According to Reuters, on August 3, 2026, Apple asked for a preliminary injunction, and inspired OpenAI’s post that didn’t say that much.
Specifically, it asked for this injunction to bar OpenAI and two former Apple employees from acquiring or using allegedly confidential information. In a separate motion, it also asked the judge to require OpenAI to produce documentation relating to the defendants.
“Apple will be irreparably harmed absent a preliminary injunction,” said the company’s filing. Apple further wants depositions to be taken from multiple OpenAI representatives and in particular three ex-Apple employees.
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Those include the previously named Chang Liu and Tang Tan, plus now Yu-Ting (“Alyssa”) Peng. The full filing also refers repeatedly to an ex-Apple employee it only calls “Individual No. 1.”
Most of the details in the filing refer to previously revealed accusations such as Apple’s claim that ex-employee Tan accessed confidential information. Similarly, the filing repeats the accusation that OpenAI asked job candidates to bring information to interviews.
It is more specific in that this filing alleges that such candidates were directed “to bring Apple prototypes and CAD designs and artifacts for ‘show and tell’.” Apple also claims that a suppler was induced “to perform an Apple proprietary metal-finishing process.”
Alongside these claims against people who have mostly been named before, though, Apple now says it has “serious concerns” about eleven other OpenAI employees. It accuses unnamed employees of meeting with OpenAI to discuss unannounced Apple products, for instance, and another of taking screenshots of confidential documents.
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“And, after Apple filed its complaint, multiple former Apple employees now working at OpenAl reached out to discuss returning Apple-issued work devices they kept when they left Apple,” says the filing. “Thus, there are multiple now-OpenAl employees who appear to have witnessed some of the events in question and to have used, acquired, and/or retained proprietary Apple information after their own departures from Apple.”
What happens next
A judge in the US District Court for the Northern District of California will be considering Apple’s filing. That filing does specify that a hearing should be held on October 1, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific.
The judge may have already informed Apple that this date is possible, or it could be that Apple has established that there is an open slot in the court’s calendar. Either way, it’s possible that the court will reschedule.
It’s not clear, though, how Apple believes an injunction against acquiring or using confidential information can be enforced, other than to add damages later. If the OpenAI employees did as Apple accuses, they already have and will already have used that information.
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Tang Tam – Image Credit: mit.gelstagram/Instagram
What’s most likely is that this is a requirement of filing this particular type of lawsuit. Apple’s aim really appears to be solely to expedite the discovery process and so get the lawsuit moving as quickly as possible.
That could be beneficial to OpenAI too, though, depending on how the final case is resolved. While it remains embroiled in this suit, it’s possible that its first AI hardware device may have to be delayed.
Reports claim that this first AI device will essentially be an Apple-like HomePod. Consequently, OpenAI may have to prove that it was made without the use of Apple’s trade secrets.
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It’s hard to prove a negative, but should it be able to, OpenAI may then be able to launch this device. The company needs to be launching multiple AI devices and soon, because its finances are such that it only has a couple of years before it will begin to run out of money.
Update: August 4, 11:50 Updated with details from Apple’s new filing, which is embedded in full above.
I was in third grade when I started to fear math. Division and fractions gave me the worst anxiety. Every day when my teacher asked for my math homework, I’d say, “I put it on your desk,” knowing full well I hadn’t done it.
My siblings had no problem with math, but it was so hard for me that I wondered if I had a learning disability.
In college, I decided to become a teacher after discovering my love for working with kids at a daycare center. I began my first year teaching in the fall of 2024. I felt excited to teach fourth grade, but I also worried I wouldn’t understand all the math content I was supposed to teach and that I’d pass on my math anxiety to my students.
Honesty Creates Connection
When the fourth-grade teaching team met prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year, I confessed to my colleagues, who were all math whizzes, that I wasn’t very good at math and that it scared me. Instead of making me feel silly or stupid, they were so gracious and supportive. They said, “We’ve got you,” and they did.
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As it turned out, we were all nervous because our district was rolling out a new curriculum. As we looked through the materials, I found it comforting to know that we’d all be learning and finding our way together. For once, I didn’t feel so alone in math. Being honest created a sense of connection with my colleagues. It helped us approach the new school year as a team.
More Than One Solution
Even with my colleagues’ support, I was scared when I taught the first math lesson. I remember leaving that day, feeling like I had completely bombed it. But the next day, I realized I was the only one who thought so. My students loved it and couldn’t wait to jump back in. The problem wasn’t math; it was my self-doubt. I just had to have the same confidence in myself that I had in my students.
As the weeks went by, math actually started to feel fun. We did hands-on activities. We played math games online and in centers. Students collaborated, talking through their thinking and teaching each other. It was incredible to watch them enjoy a subject that had caused me so much stress.
My biggest “aha” moment came when I realized that there isn’t just one way to solve a math problem. Growing up, I thought math was rigid — one method, one answer — and that if I didn’t get it, that was on me. I was surprised to discover that there are many different ways to solve problems, and that exploring and comparing strategies is beneficial to students’ learning.
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In my classroom, I noticed that using multiple strategies to approach problems made math more accessible for my students. Even those who struggled found methods that made sense and worked for them.
That approach sparked a new kind of excitement about math. During a lesson on different division methods, my students ran outside for recess and wrote division problems all over the concrete. Then they’d jump up and say, “Look at how I solved this!”
Vulnerability Builds Trust
Fractions were another story. Research shows that many children have trouble with fractions, and my students were no different. I even brought in candy bars and broke them into pieces to make the abstract concept tangible, but I was met with blank stares.
I thought back to what I needed as a student and decided to be completely transparent. I admitted that I had struggled with fractions at their age and that it took me a while to learn them. Hearing that made my students feel so much better. They knew they could ask me questions and admit their confusion without judgment. My openness about my own math struggles made it safe for them to share theirs.
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The next morning, one student handed me a note, thanking me for helping her understand fractions. I cried when I read it and realized that I had reached her in a way that not only helped her grasp the math but also helped her believe in herself.
I feel like I have become a more confident teacher through all of this, but I’m still figuring out how to reach kids who struggle (the kind of kid I used to be). Sometimes it does not click for them once in a lesson. It is a challenge because not all students respond the same way. Some kids need one-on-one support when learning a new skill. That’s hard for a teacher who has more than 20 kids in a classroom. My school added an interventionist this past year, and that was truly a blessing. She and I communicated consistently, and she was able to pull those who struggle and reach them in a different way. As a new teacher, I hope to learn and become better on how I can implement extra guidance inside the classroom on my own if there’s ever a day I don’t have the help from an interventionist.
A thank you note for Brenna Kirkpatrick
Mistakes Are Part of Learning
I also talked openly with my students about how productive struggle in math is part of the learning process. When I was in school, I was so afraid of making mistakes on my math homework that I didn’t even try. But mistakes can play a powerful role in learning if we are brave enough to make them.
Students’ mistakes also provide a window into their thinking. I like to tell my students, “If I don’t see your mistakes, then I won’t know where to help.”
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One day, I found one of my strongest students crying because she couldn’t solve a problem. I told her, “I’m not expecting you to leave here today knowing how to do this. I just need you to try.” She did, and afterward she said, “I thought I couldn’t do this. You told me I could if I kept trying, and I got an A on the test.”
When students feel safe enough to take risks and persevere, it not only builds their skills but also their confidence.
At the end of the school year, I literally gasped when we received our West Virginia General Summative Assessment scores. My class had the highest math scores of all the fourth-grade classes at my school.
I used to be ashamed of my math struggles, but I’ve learned how to turn my biggest weakness into my superpower. I’m now teaching third grade, the same grade where my math fears began. It’s amazing to think that I used to feel so lost, but now I’m the one helping students find their way. My students love learning math, and that has made me love teaching it.
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Confidence in Yourself and Your Students
If I could share one piece of advice with other new or aspiring teachers, it would be to have confidence in yourself. Math is not so scary. It’s actually fun when you believe in yourself. Take a deep breath and say, “I can teach this lesson. I can do this.”
It’s equally important to believe in our students and actively encourage them every day. When my students are working through problems, I tell them, “Great job! I love seeing your work.” When they get the correct answer, I say, “Fantastic! You did such a good job.” If I see students struggling, I tell them, “Good work! Let’s try that one again. You’ve got this.”
Those words of encouragement — for our students and ourselves — keep us motivated and excited to do our best every day. Whether we’re teaching or learning math, we all want to feel capable and supported. When we set high expectations and believe we can succeed, amazing things can happen.
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