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Proton brings its VPN to Apple TV with new app

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Proton announced the debut of an Apple TV app for its virtual private network. The new app, which was “among the most requested features from our community,” according to the company’s , is available for download from the App Store on any Apple TV. It will allow customers with a paid Proton VPN plan to stream their media content from any location on Apple’s set-top box.

Proton VPN was our favorite when we it in 2023, and it’s still our this year for a virtual private network. The service boasts excellent features for security, privacy and usability. Our only real complaint was that the free tier comes with a lot of limitations. But if you’re interested in the company’s platform, Proton is currently running an early where you can snag one or two year plans at a steep discount.

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5 best free horror movies to stream this Halloween

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5 best free horror movies to stream this Halloween

October is the perfect time to watch horror movies. I’d even argue that half the fun of Halloween is watching all the classic scary movies in the weeks and days leading up to the holiday. There are a few great streaming services like Shudder out there for horror fans, and all the major streamers like Netflix and Max have their own scary movies too, but nothing beats getting to watch one for free.

Luckily, there are tons of free streaming services out there that offer thousands of movies without paying a dime. Tubi in particular has leaned especially hard into the horror genre, giving fans lots of classics, modern hits, and even original movies. This Halloween, check out these five great horror movies, all streaming for free.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Maxand the best movies on Disney+.

Halloween (2007)

Michael Myers grabs Laurie in Halloween 2007
Dimension Films

Rob Zombie is a controversial filmmaker. For every hit movie he releases, he makes another few duds. Luckily, his 2007 reboot of Halloween is one of the good ones. We all know the basic story of Halloween: Michael Myers stalks Laurie Strode and her friends on Halloween, killing them one by one.

But Zombie’s version added a great first half that no other film in the franchise has. The first hour of the movie actually focuses on Michael’s life as a child and young man and chronicles his descent into madness, rage, and murder. The movie also has Zombie’s trademark brutality, which actually worked this time around and helped give the 2007 film a fresh and horrifying new feel.

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Watch Halloween for free on Tubi.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Leatherface runs with his chainsaw in The Texas Chain Saw massacre
Vortex

When audiences think your movie is a snuff film, you know you’ve made a great horror movie. Set amongst the blaring heat of a central Texas summer, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre sees a group of young travelers stranded when their van runs out of gas. They go out in search of help, only to be confronted by the cannibalistic Sawyer family and their chain-saw-wielding son (affectionately called Leatherface by fans thanks to his trademark mask made of human skin).

What makes The Texas Chain Saw Massacre so terrifying is that it’s everything a horror movie shouldn’t be. Hitchcock popularized using lighting, cinematography, and orchestral scores to help create terror. But Chain Saw used none of that, instead feeling like someone had actually found the lost, grainy footage of a group of friends being brutally murdered. Plus, this year marks the film’s 50th anniversary, so it’s a re-watch is the perfect way to celebrate.

Watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for free on Tubi and Freevee.

Candyman (2021)

An artist makes a mysterious painting in Candyman
Universal Pictures

2021’s Candyman is a sequel to the iconic 1992 film of the same name, taking place almost 30 years later. The legend of the Candyman is revived yet again and the killing spree resumes. Luckily for viewers, the new film gives way more backstory than the original ever did, so you can actually watch the 2021 film as a standalone movie without needing to see the previous films.

The basic premise is that an urban myth is actually a real supernatural curse that gains more power every time innocent Black men are killed for a crime they didn’t commit. The movie was especially timely when it premiered in 2021 but remains a great story today.

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Watch Candyman for free on Freevee.

Hellraiser (1987)

Pinhead looks at a victim in Hellraiser
Film Futures

Hellraiser is a layered horror movie that gets even more intricate when you learn about its backstory. The basic premise is that a mysterious puzzle box (called the Lament Configuration by fans) opens a portal between the mortal world and a hellish dimension inhabited by Cenobites.

As eternal beings, the Cenobites have no distinction between pleasure and pain and simply seek to experience the most intense feelings possible… which usually doesn’t end well for their human victims. But Hellraiser is a deeply symbolic movie that takes inspiration from a wide range of dichotomic source material, like religion, sexual fetishes, life and death, and queerness.

Watch Hellraiser for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.

All Hallows’ Eve (2013)

Art the Clown in All Hallows Eve
Ruthless Pictures

Horror anthologies have been a popular part of the genre for decades, from 1982’s Creepshow to 2007’s Trick ‘r Treat, and the long-running V/H/S series, just to name a few. In 2013, the anthology film All Hallows’ Eve premiered, giving audiences three segments — the third being “Terrifier,” which gave birth to the now-famous horror icon Art the Clown.

Since then, All Hallows’ Eve received a sequel, and Art has become a fan-favorite in the horror community, earning himself three films of his own, with the most recent, Terrifier 3, opening No. 1 at the box office. All Hallows’ Eve is a fun way to see how a grassroots horror villain got his start, and its other segments are just as enjoyable.

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Watch All Hallows’ Eve for free on Tubi and Roku.






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Google Chrome offers new performance controls to improve browsing experience

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Google Chrome offers new performance controls to improve browsing experience

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, multitasking is the norm. Many users keep multiple tabs open in Chrome or other browsers, enhancing productivity but often at a cost: decreased performance. As tabs accumulate, they can consume significant system resources, leading to slower browsing speeds and an overall frustrating experience.

According to a recent report, Google is developing an AI capable of taking over the Chrome browser to automate everyday tasks. Alongside this, Google has introduced new performance controls in Chrome.

Google Chrome is offering several new performance controls

These enhancements are designed to optimize performance, offering users greater control over their browsing experience and making everyday use smoother and more efficient.

One of the standout features in this latest update is Performance Detection. This proactive tool identifies potential performance issues and suggests solutions with just a click. For example, if a particular tab is using excessive resources, Chrome can recommend deactivating it to speed up your current browsing session. Users will receive a “Performance issue alert” notification, and with a simple click on “Fix now,” they can resolve the issue and enjoy a smoother experience. If you prefer managing performance manually, the Performance Detection feature can easily be disabled in the Settings menu.

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Another noteworthy enhancement is the revamped Memory Saver. This tool optimizes resource allocation by freeing up memory from inactive tabs. Users can now choose from three distinct modes: Moderate, Balanced, and Maximum. In Moderate mode, Chrome adapts based on your system’s current needs; Balanced mode considers both browsing habits and system performance; while Maximum mode rapidly deactivates tabs after they have been unused for a while. Users can select the mode that best suits their needs through the Settings menu, providing a tailored browsing experience.

Users can specify certain websites to remain active

Customization doesn’t stop there. Chrome allows users to fine-tune their performance settings even further. You can specify certain websites to remain active, ensuring that critical tasks or background work aren’t interrupted. Additionally, new visual indicators for inactive tabs and memory usage can be toggled on or off. It provides greater transparency and control over your browser’s resource use.

Together, these performance controls in Chrome represent Google’s commitment to delivering a fast and reliable browsing experience. By integrating AI features and tools like Performance Detection and versatile Memory Saver modes, Chrome empowers users to optimize their browsing habits and manage resources more effectively.

Google Chrome performance controls

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AMD’s next-gen GPUs are set to arrive in early 2025, suggesting a CES reveal

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AMD's next-gen GPUs are set to arrive in early 2025, suggesting a CES reveal

AMD and NVIDIA could be on a collision course for CES. AMD CEO Lisa Su has confirmed for the first time that the company is set to release its next-gen PC GPUs early next year.

“In gaming graphics, revenue declined year-over-year as we prepare for a transition to our next-gen Radeon GPUs based on our RDNA 4 architecture,” Su told investors on AMD’s third-quarter earnings call. “In addition to a strong increase in gaming performance, RDNA 4 delivers significantly higher ray-tracing performance and adds new AI capabilities. We are on track to launch the first RDNA 4 GPUs in early 2025.”

The timing very much suggests that AMD will reveal those RDNA 4-based graphics cards at CES in early January. It’s rare for the company to unveil desktop GPUs at the trade show (laptop cards are generally the order of the day for AMD at that event). However, it’s widely expected that NVIDIA will use its CES keynote to debut its next-gen 50-series GeForce RTX GPUs. We might get a little more clarity on that front when NVIDIA announces its own Q3 earnings results on November 19.

As PCWorld notes, AMD’s first RDNA 4 GPUs are expected to deliver mid-range performance at an equivalent price point in a bid to increase its market share. AMD’s gaming business (which includes the company’s GPU division) saw a 69 percent year-over-year drop in revenue to $462 million in Q3.

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The games industry will come back to growth in 2025 | DFC Intelligence

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The games industry will come back to growth in 2025 | DFC Intelligence

The video game industry, which is in the middle of one of its most difficult years in recent memory, is poised to return to growth in 2025, according to DFC Intelligence. The game analyst firm makes this claim in the preview of its annual market report, which releases in full in December. According to DFC’s findings, the video games industry will return to growth in 2025, and in fact next year will be the beginning of a record period of growth.

DFC predicts that gaming will surpass the record highs set during the COVID-19 pandemic following the last two years of decline. It also predicts that consumers will continue to spend a lot on hardware, including consoles, PC and accessories — including whatever new consoles the major manufacturers put out in the next few years. Out of all those consoles, DFC predicts Nintendo will win the race for sales.

GamesBeat asked DFC founder David Cole about some of the report’s findings, including the reasons behind the current lack of growth. According to him, the video game industry has been steadily growing since the ’70s and ’80s, with each generation of gamers advocating the medium to the next. He called the pandemic-era growth, “an artificial and temporary spike in demand, accompanied by disruption in the supply chain for both hardware and software” followed by a “natural correction.”

Cole added, “We see overall industry growth but as always the biggest problem is companies expecting too much growth and/or over investing in the latest fad. A big issue this generation has been a disruption for the latest PlayStation and Xbox generation. I think the focus was put on getting manufacturing up to speed versus marketing the latest generation of video game consoles to that secondary user base that helps drive sales in later years. That has had a negative ripple effect that we
believe was a unique occurrence due to the Covid situation.”

Other findings in DFC’s 2024 report

The report’s findings are not entirely positive — regarding the consoles, DFC predicts that only two out of three will see “meaningful market penetration,” and Cole compared the prospects of the third-place finisher to the dismal performance of the Wii U. DFC also predicts a battle to control distribution in the industry, with a corresponding increase in marketing and community relations.

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One other thing to note is that DFC’s report also predicts that new tools, including AI, will make it easier for developers to create bigger and more complex games with smaller teams and budgets. Since the firms expects add-on content (expansions, cosmetics, etc.) revenue to exceed that of full games, larger studios may focus on live-service content and established franchises — leaving the market open for smaller studios to launch original IP.

When GamesBeat asked how the games industry can avoid a repeat of the disastrous last two years, Cole said, “Unfortunately, an event like Covid can throw a monkey wrench into all plans. The hope is that the smart money in the industry has learned some lessons. Video games are considered a “sexy” business that many people desire to get into. The result can be a lot of money being thrown around without careful consideration.

“The next few years is going to see a major hardware transition with new consoles, continued emergence of cross-platform PC gameplay and multiple monetization models. Even with growth it will not be an easy period to navigate. Like other entertainment areas there tends to be an oversupply of products, and you will always have a lot of losers. That is just the way things roll.”


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Betaworks focuses on AI applications in its latest Camp

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Betaworks focuses on AI applications in its latest Camp

For its most recent Camp, VC and accelerator Betaworks was on the lookout for startups building native applications made possible by AI.

The program was first announced in May. To explain this focus, managing partner John Borthwick wrote at the time that while things like AI chatbots and writing assistants exist, “we aren’t yet living in the future we imagine.”

In other words, despite advances in AI technology, Borthwick said that “when end users like ourselves are faced with a task or project we are certain could be done faster, better, smarter, by harnessing the power of AI, the ready-made tools we have available to us in that moment are surprisingly limited.”

Naturally, Betaworks is hoping its Camp participants can change that. Its Camps are 12-week thematic programs, with each participating startup receiving $500,000 from a syndicate of investors. The most recent program is culminating with Demo Day on Wednesday.

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Betaworks partner (and former TechCrunch deputy editor) Jordan Crook said the accepted companies ultimately fell into three broad categories: “agentic” B2B, personalized software, and hardware-enabled AI.

Here are the startups:

Unternet is working to break down the web’s “dumb rectangles,” where we have to open tab after tab while trying to accomplish tasks like comparison shopping. It’s building a new form of web application that can be understood and used by AI, as well as a web client that can turn user intent into action within these “web applets.”

Ursula is building artificially alive characters that it says have emotions, experience needs, form memories, and exhibit unique behavioral patterns. Its first creation is a kids’ companion also called Ursula.

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ESAI helps students craft their personal narrative for college applications and more. The company says it does this in an ethical way by automating the process of helping students draw connections between their experiences and transform those experiences into a compelling narrative.

Autoplay is creating AI agents that help users navigate software in real time, so businesses can improve product adoption and reduce churn. It uses self-driving technology that learns the software and integrates with session replay databases to understand user intent.

Alice Camera offers an AI-native, mirrorless camera that attaches to a user’s phone, making it easier to capture professional-quality content. It automates aspects of the camera functionality and streamlines post-production.

Dessn has created a Chrome extension that overlays a live app, allowing product designers to make changes. The AI writes the code and pushes it straight to the codebase, with developers approving the code before it goes live.

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Sarama builds a dog collar that analyzes dog vocalizations to give owners a better understanding of their pets’ emotional and physical needs. Its founders have both worked in animal communications research.

Tato simplifies complex IT projects by auto-documenting interactions like meetings, emails, documents, and project management apps, then providing insights about those interactions to the right people on the team.

Hopscotch Labs has built an app called BeeBot, which turns on when you put on AirPods or headphones, then provides information about nearby places, people, and events as you walk. Its founders include Foursquare’s Dennis Crowley.

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Miniot’s split-flap clock is what nostalgia sounds like

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Miniot’s split-flap clock is what nostalgia sounds like

If you’ve ever experienced the sight and sound of a split-flap display then you’ll immediately understand the nostalgic appeal of Miniot’s pixelated wall clock. Klapklok uses mechanical flaps to convey information, just like the departure boards commonly found in transportation terminals before the arrival of LEDs.

As its name suggests, Klapklok primarily functions as a low resolution clock, showing the hour and minute hands using 69 (nice) “paper-like” flaps that act like black and white pixels. But Klapklok also features a bluetooth app to create pixel drawings if that’s your thing. 

A closer look at the lightweight flaps.
GIF: Miniot

As a clock, a selection of the flaps are redrawn every 2.5 minutes with a soothing rustle to show the progression of the hands. At the top of the hour all 69 flaps shuffle at once to display the time in numbers. That makes Klapklock the “gentlest cuckoo clock you’ve ever heard,” according to Miniot.

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Time ticking over from 11:59 to 12 o’clock.
GIF: Miniot

I think the smooth pixel movement looks great, but it really is the sound that sold me when I first saw a working prototype last year. Here, listen for yourself.

The USB-C powered clock is a 17.7-inch (45cm) squircle that’s just 0.5 inches (13mm) thick and weighs 3.7 pounds (1.7kg). When the pixels are at rest it’s completely silent, there’s no light, and it uses very little power. It’s expensive because the array of flaps, spools, hinges, magnets, and electronics are all hand assembled in Peter Kolkman’s home workshop — the same place that this small family-run business eventually refined its impressive Wheel record player that plays vinyl vertically.

Klapklok will eventually retail for €2,400 (about $2,600). However, it’s temporarily reduced to €1,800 (about $1,950) for the first batch of 25 which are scheduled to ship by December 12th to meet the Christmas deadline.

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