Anker designed the Soundcore C50i, priced at $39.99 (was $70), with one goal in mind: cater to users who prefer not to use standard earbuds that push well down into their ear canals and generate an unpleasant pressure or isolation feeling. They designed these clip-on headphones to rest gently over the ear, with a flexible piece that hinges into place and stays put whether you’re jogging or working out.
The Memory Titanium bit inside the clip provides a firm but not too tight grasp, while the entire thing weighs only slightly more than 5 grams, thus feeling invisible after a few minutes. Sweat and light drizzle are no match for the IP55 certification, which allows it to withstand daily wear without complaint. Those 12mm drivers are positioned close to the ear canal, delivering powerful bass and a maximum volume of 86 decibels. Tracks have clean mids and treble, which draws the voices out of the mix. Beats have some tremendous kick, and guitars and pianos maintain their tone. There may be some sharpness at maximum volume, but the overall balance sounds well enough for most listening. The sound coming out is low enough that you may have a conversation next to you without being overheard.
Open Ear Earbuds Over Ear for Running & Gym: Clip-on design sits comfortably over your ear without blocking the ear canal. Perfect for running…
FlexiClip Design, Secure Fit: Memory titanium FlexiClip adapts to any ear shape for all-day comfort. Ultra-lightweight and stable—won’t fall off…
Powerful Bass, 12mm Drivers: Custom 12mm drivers deliver deep bass and 86dB max output. Clear, loud sound for gym workouts and running—superior…
Battery life is 7 hours on a single charge, and topping them out in the case gives you 28 hours, while a mere 10 minutes in the case yields 2 full hours. People who wear them all day at work or on a long commute report no ear fatigue, even after hours. There are actual controls on each bud, so you can just flip them to adjust the volume or make a call without messing around. Two microphones combined with basic AI magic ensure that your voice is clear on calls regardless of where you are, whether inside a café or on a windy street. Background noise fades away, and your voice remains full and clear. The multipoint pairing allows for easy switching between a phone and a laptop, eliminating the need for repeated setup steps.
The free companion has basic equalization and other useful features like as real-time translation for over a hundred languages. You may also add some background sound to fill in the calm intervals. Bluetooth 6.0 maintains a stable connection in most scenarios.
Safe driving skills can mean the difference between a mundane morning commute and a potentially serious accident. It’s especially true for motorcyclists, as riding a motorcycle is one of the most dangerous forms of transportation on the road. Taking a motorcycle safety course is a good idea, and many U.S. states, including California, offer such a program. The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) is available at a cost of up to $425 for riders 21 and over, and up to $395 for those riders 20 and under.
Built around the R.I.D.E. philosophy (Responsible, Informed, Disciplined, and Equipped), the program’s fee covers student training, including classroom instruction and riding practice on a closed course. Training takes place at one of 87 different locations in the state, and an approved helmet is supplied beforehand. The program even provides motorcycles for training, though students can ride their own, as long as they meet predetermined requirements. Students are encouraged to wear motorcycle gear that makes riding safer, including pants, boots, a jacket, and gloves. Eye protection is also advised.
Expert instructors guide students through real-world situations, helping them to develop their skills along the way. Riders get comprehensive instruction based on the latest safety research. Students may receive insurance breaks once the course is completed, which could help offset the cost. Additionally, riders can get a DMV skills test waiver, saving time in the long run.
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What you need to know about the CMSP
Sukanya Sitthikongsak/Getty Images
There are some things riders should know before enrolling in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP). First, the minimum age is 15 ½, and students need a valid driver’s license, learner’s permit, or DMV ID card. Though self-balancing bikes do exist, you’re required to maintain your balance while sitting on a bike. Of the two courses offered, the 1-Day Premier Course is the shortest and is completed in around eight hours.
The Motorcyclist Training Course (MTC) runs for about 15 hours over a three-day period. Unlike the Premier Course, the MTC is actually mandatory for all riders under the age of 21. This means that even if you do have some experience and want to go straight to the DMV for your motorcycle license, you won’t be able to get it. That’s because the MTC is California’s primary safety and training program, and all eligible riders must successfully complete it to move forward.
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But while the CMSP has trained over 1,500,000 motorcyclists since 1987, some online reports seem to contradict the effectiveness of such programs. According to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rider education programs yield mixed results. Skill improvement and rider behavior often don’t translate into real-world scenarios, and don’t necessarily reduce the number of motorcycle-related crashes over time. This means that even though the CMSP seeks to prepare students for the road, it’s the experience and knowledge accumulated afterward that makes all the difference.
TCL has announced pricing and availability for its QM8L and QM7L series TVs, bringing its SQD Mini-LED display technology, first introduced in the flagship X11L SQD Mini-LED TV at CES 2026, to more accessible price points and a wider range of screen sizes.
The company also announced its first RGB Mini-LED TV, the RM9L series, plus a new 50-inch screen size option for its entry-level QM6K Mini-LED TV series, which carries over from 2025.
SQD stands for Super Quantum Dots, which is a new, enhanced version that provides extended color gamut coverage (up to 100% BT.2020, according to TCL) compared to standard Quantum Dots. Along with the new color tech, the QM8L series features the same WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel and TSR AI Pro processor found in the X11L, while the QM7L features an HVA 2.0 Pro Panel and TSR AI processor.
TCL QM8L SQD Mini-LED
A TCL QM8L series TV at a recent preview event in NYC
TCL’s QM8L series TVs are available now in screen sizes from 65 to 98 inches, with pricing ranging from $2,499.99 to $5,999.99. Those figures are in line with last year’s QM8K series Mini-LED models, which relied on standard quantum dot technology.
TCL Deep Color System
The TCL Deep Color System used in the QM8L Series consists of Super Quantum Dots and the company’s CSOT UltraColor Filter, which uses 5 Nanometer particles as compared to the 60 Nanometer particles used in regular mini-LED TVs and is claimed to provide accurate pixel-level color, When combined with an Advanced Color Purity Algorithm, the result is consistent color saturation along with the elimination of color crosstalk for purer colors and more accurate whites.
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WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel with Enhanced Halo Control System
TCL’s WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel in QM8L series TVs provides a wide color viewing angle with increased static contrast over last year’s QM8K series. It also continues the ZeroBorder design that minimizes the visual effect of edge bezels and has a contrast-enhancing anti-reflective layer to reduce screen glare when viewing in bright rooms.
For the QM8L series, TCL has upped the precision of the mini-LED panel’s backlight controller from 23 bits to 26 bits, and added shadow detail optimization. The new TVs feature up to 4,000 backlight local dimming zones (on the 98-inch model), have a specified brightness of up to 4,000 nits, and use TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control System to minimize backlight blooming effects.
The QM8L series features a high-contrast, anti-reflection screen that, unlike matte screens, is still subject to some glare
TSR AI Pro Processor
The TSR AI Pro Processor in QM8L series TVs features Super Resolution 2.0 for detail enhancement. It also provides AI-enhanced color, contrast, clarity, motion, and upscaling, all of which can be turned on or off on a selective basis.
Google Gemini Interactive AI, with Hands-Free Voice Control
The Google smart TV platform provided in the QM8L series isn’t the basic one found in countless smart TVs, but one that’s enhanced with the Gemini Interactive AI assistant. This feature extends the TV’s content search capabilities by letting you also engage in conversations – hands-free, using the TV’s built-in far-field mic – and it can also be used to find out information about a wide range of subjects. Gemini can further provide news briefs with related video clips and can generate screensaver art from text or voice prompts
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Format Support
The QM8L series supports the Dolby Vision (IQ), HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats, and Dolby Vision 2 Max support will be added to that list in a future software update. Picture presets include a Filmmaker Mode and IMAX Enhanced mode.
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
TCL QM8L TVs are stacked with audio features, starting with the built Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker array. This provides support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, and there are also dual bass modules on the TV’s back panel. An optional subwoofer can be connected wirelessly, and the QM8L series also supports Dolby Atmos FlexConnect for use with the company’s Z100 wireless speaker and Z100-SW subwoofer in up to 4.1.4-channel configurations.
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Gaming and Connections
The QM8L series has a native 144Hz refresh rate and also supports 1080p/288Hz input for PC gaming and FreeSync Premium Pro. High refresh rates are supported across all four of the TV’s HDMI 2.1 inputs, and there are also Ethernet and USB ports, an optical digital audio output, and an RF input for the TV’s ATSC 3.0 tuner.
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TCL QM7L SQD Mini-LED
The TCL QM7L’s Enhanced Halo Control System is effective at eliminating backlight blooming
TCL QM7L series TVs are available for pre-order in screen sizes ranging from 55 inches to 98 inches, priced from $1,199.99 to $3,999.99. Like the QM8L series models, these feature TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control System and Deep Color System with Super Quantum Dots and CSOT UltraColor Filter but use a more basic HVA 2.0 Pro Panel.
The QM7L series features TCL’s new 26-bit backlight controller but the local dimming zone count is more modest, topping out at 2,100 zones on the 98-inch model. Brightness is specified at up to 3,000 peak nits. The TSR AI Processor used in the QM7L series supports the standard Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, but can’t be updated in the future for Dolby Vision 2.
Other key QM7L features include an Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker array and Gemini for Google TV. For gaming, the QM7L supports 144Hz input on two of its four HDMI ports, and advanced audio capabilities include optional wireless subwoofer support and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (3.1.3-channel configuration).
TCL RM9L RGB Mini-LED
TCL’s RM9L RGB-Mini LED TV is capable of full BT.2020 color gamut reproduction, but the company still considers SQD-Mini-LED to be its flagship TV technology
TCL RM9L series TVs are also available for pre-order now in screen sizes ranging from 75 inches to 98 inches, priced from $7,999.99 to $29,999.99. The company calls the new series “the most advanced RGB-Mini LED TV to date,” with its individual red, green, and blue LED modules capable of full BT.2020 color gamut reproduction.
Similar to the company’s SQD-Mini-LED TVs, the RM9L series uses TCL’s CSOT UltraColor Filter “for more consistent color saturation.” It further features TCL’s Enhanced Halo Control Systems, high-contrast CSOT WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel, and TSR AI Pro processor.
A 30-bit controller provides precise backlight control over up to 3,800 local dimming zones, and the RM9L series TVs are specified for up to 6,000 nits peak brightness. The Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range formats are supported, and the RM9L series will get Dolby Vision 2 Max support in a future software update.
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Gaming support is similar to the QM8L series TVs, with four 4K/144Hz-capable HDMI 2.1 ports. Audio features are also the same, with an Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker array, optional wireless subwoofer support, and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect (4.1.4-channel).
The Bottom Line
TCL is positioning its SQD-Mini-LED TV lineup as its top TVs for 2026, and asserts that Super Quantum Dots delivers superior performance to the RGB LED tech that manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and even TCL itself are promoting. Outside of our hands-on review of the Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV, eCoustics hasn’t had an opportunity to fully assess the benefits of RGB LED, but our full TCL QM8L series TV review confirms that SQD-Mini-LED provides stiff competition for that new tech.
The TCL X11L series (full review in the works) is currently the company’s flagship SQD Mini-LED TV, and with its specified 10,000 nits peak brightness and up to 20,000 local dimming zones, it’s about as formidable as mini-LED TVs get. But at prices ranging from $6,999.99 (75-inch) to $9,999.99 (98-inch), the X11L series is also as expensive as TVs get.
With many of the same features found in the company’s flagship, the TCL QM8L series is an impressive value. It might not have as many dimming zones, and it’s also not as bright, but as we found in our review, it gives both the X11L series and the forthcoming slew of RGB LED models a good run for the money.
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The QM7L series also has impressive specs, and also looks to be a great value. Aside from lower peak brightness and fewer dimming zones, its main disadvantages compared to the step-up QM8L appear to be lesser gaming features and no Dolby Vision 2 Max support.
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TCL is bullish on the performance of its new RM9L series RGB Mini-LED TVs as compared to the competition, but SQD Mini-LED is clearly the favorite son here. That’s because TCL sees limitations in RGB LED technology that can result in color crosstalk plus a higher level of backlight blooming artifacts than you’ll get on SQD Mini-LED. The company obviously wanted to cover all of the bases with its 2026 TV lineup, however, and that’s why both backlight technologies are represented.
Ever encountered a minor annoying bug in a video game? How about one dating back to 2018? Usually, you have no hope of fixing it, but this time is different. [Joey Cheerio] shows the first-time programmer approach to (with great difficulty) fixing a bouncy ball prop turning invisible when shot in Team Fortress 2.
It starts with a band-aid solution that hides the problem: just turn off jiggle physics! While that works, it also affects many other models in the game, and doesn’t tackle the root cause. Time to investigate. Because this ball often goes overlooked, [Joey Cheerio] didn’t even realize that it was supposed to have jiggle physics, accidentally removing it. Turns out, after scouring the internet for old footage, it’s supposed to jiggle after all.
Back to square one, [Joey Cheerio] infers that the jiggle bone accidentally removed was related to the problem, eventually figuring out that the specific type of jiggle bone used (is_boing) caused the issue. Time to dig in the code. Tracking down the problem is no small feat for someone who’s never programmed before, even with the help of LLMs, but eventually, at 4 in the morning, a breakthrough! The ball no longer turned invisible but retained the intended jiggle.
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At the limits of his knowledge on the subject, [Joey Cheerio] posts his partial progress so far to GitHub, where [ficool2] tracks down the real problem and turns this second band-aid into a proper fix. [Joey Cheerio] finishes up by explaining the math of what exactly went wrong.
In the past, I’ve stayed away from Asus TUF laptops, as it was the bottom-tier in terms of design. That meant chunky chassis, poor displays, and thick bezels. The models from 2025 looked more modern, but the prices weren’t competitive with some of my favorite cheap gaming laptops like the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Acer Nitro V 16.
But again, the TUF A14 is something new, and the design is impressive. It’s right around the same thickness and weight as the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and the bezels around the sides of the screen are really trim. The bottom bezel is thick, primarily because the A14 uses a 16:9 aspect ratio screen. I won’t belabor that point, but it means less screen and more bezel in the same footprint. Overall, it’s very subtle. The gaming aesthetic is heavily downplayed, with only a few elements left, such as the typeface on the keycaps and the shape of the vents below the hinge. There’s not even per-key backlighting on the keyboard.
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Photograph: Luke Larsen
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You’d never know this was a gaming laptop based on the usability of the keyboard and touchpad; on gaming laptops versus work ones, these can often be afterthoughts. Here, they’re both excellent. The touchpad, in particular, is oversized and surprisingly precise. Although the laptop is made of plastic, it handled the pressure I was putting on it around the lid, keyboard, and palm rests without too much give.
The TUF A14 has a helpful assortment of ports. On the left side, you get a USB-A 3.2 port, USB-C port, HDMI 2.1, headphone jack, and proprietary power jack. You get an additional USB-A and USB-C (USB4) port on the right side, alongside a micro SD card slot. I really like the decision to put the USB4 port on the right side, as it means you can both charge the laptop or connect to an external display from the right side too. Only being able to charge from one side is one of my pet peeves, so good job, TUF A14.
More Than Gaming
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Once I saw the resolution of the display, I knew the TUF A14 was no longer a real “budget” device. It’s 2560 x 1600, a big step up from the typical cheap gaming laptop. It also has a 165 Hz refresh rate, which is useful for when playing in 1200p—and let’s be honest, that’s the go-to the vast majority of the time. The higher resolution, though, plays into why the A14 is a solid hybrid device that can work as well for gaming as it does for school or work.
A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, April 18 (game #1042).
Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
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NYT Connections today (game #1043) – today’s words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
MINT
ARCH
DUD
HOLE
FRESH
BUST
KID
FLOP
WAIST
WISE
RIVER
SASSY
TURN
LENGTH
CAP
HIPS
NYT Connections today (game #1043) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: A brazen personality
GREEN: Garment construction
BLUE: Poker terms
PURPLE: Confectionery ends
Need more clues?
We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…
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NYT Connections today (game #1043) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: CHEEKY
GREEN: DRESS MEASUREMENTS
BLUE: CARDS IN TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
PURPLE: LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
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NYT Connections today (game #1043) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Connections, game #1043, are…
BLUE: CARDS IN TEXAS HOLD ‘EM FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN
PURPLE: LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR CAP, DUD, KID, MINT
My rating: Hard
My score: 1 mistake
Being based in the UK and unfamiliar with some US products, LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR went over my head.
I did, though, manage to avoid the trap of linking DUD, BUST and FLOP — but only because I couldn’t find another synonym for failure.
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Instead, I made a mistake assembling what became CHEEKY, picking KID for my first attempt instead of WISE. Beyond this a rather routine end to the week.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Saturday, April 18, game #1042)
YELLOW: LOOK AT WITH AWE GOGGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER
GREEN: BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS AC, DC, POWER, VOLTAGE
BLUE: UNEXPECTED WINNER DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER, UNDERDOG
PURPLE: STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCADE, PEPSINOGEN
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
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It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle features some real stumpers. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
ALTER, TWEAK, ADJUST, REFINE, MODIFY, IMPROVE
Today’s Strands spangram
The completed NYT Strands puzzle for April 19, 2026.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Today’s Strands spangram is THEREIFIXEDIT. To find it, start with the T that’s the first letter on the top row, and wind straight across and down.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, April 18 (game #1545).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
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Quordle today (game #1546) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
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Quordle today (game #1546) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 4.
Quordle today (game #1546) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Flagship Android phones rarely drop this far this fast, which makes the current pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S26 one of the more compelling reasons to upgrade if you have been holding off since launch.
The 6.3-inch screen is noticeably brighter than the Galaxy S23, up to 49% so, which means outdoor use in direct sunlight stops being a squinting exercise and starts feeling like something the phone was actually designed to handle.
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Galaxy S26‘s screen is powered by a Samsung Exynos 2600 processor alongside 12GB of RAM, a chip that also handles a redesigned Vapour Chamber for improved heat dissipation during sustained workloads, meaning performance holds more consistently during longer gaming or editing sessions.
The triple rear camera system leads with a 50MP f/1.8 wide lens, supplemented by a 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide, and AP-driven Nightography processing brightens and sharpens low-light scenes without the heavy-handed noise reduction that tends to flatten detail in darker conditions.
Wider apertures on the Galaxy S26 compared with previous generations feed more light to the sensor, and that combination of hardware and processing carries through to video, where Super Steady’s Horizontal Lock keeps handheld footage level even during movement that would ordinarily introduce noticeable shake.
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Meanwhile, S26’s battery capacity sits at 4300mAh with fast wired charging capable of reaching around 55 per cent in approximately 30 minutes, and video playback endurance is rated at up to eight hours longer than the Galaxy S23, a meaningful step up for anyone who uses their phone heavily away from a charger.
The Galaxy S26 at £589 suits anyone on an older Samsung or a mid-range phone who wants a clear performance and camera upgrade without paying full flagship prices, and the data top-up sweetens the deal further.
As fun as it can be to shop for a washing machine, we’re assuming that nobody really wants to be in the market for a new one. After all, if you are, it is likelier than not that your old machine has spun its last cycle. In that scenario, you’re probably hustling to ensure you and your family have freshly laundered clothing.
If there’s a silver lining to the death of your washing machine, it’s that the major appliance manufacturers of the world have plenty of options available on the retail scene. While those machines are all decked out with different bells and whistles, choosing which brand to buy from will no doubt be one of the first and most important decisions you make.
Given that fact, it may be wise to research the customer satisfaction numbers on washers bearing the logo of major brands like Whirlpool, Samsung, or Bosch. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) can offer unique insight into how real-world owners feel about their appliances. When it comes to washing machines, it would seem that none of the aforementioned brands left their customers quite as satisfied as LG. The South Korean manufacturer bested its competitors with an impressive score of 84 out of 100 points in 2025. It is unclear, however, where the likes of Samsung and Whirlpool stand in the rankings, as the ACSI survey only shows the top-rated brand.
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LG scored well on the brand’s survey in other departments, too
Roman Chekhovskoi/Shutterstock
You might be wondering how the American Customer Satisfaction Index gathered the information that landed LG in the top spot of the washing machine satisfaction category. The consumer ratings group utilizes numbers collected from customer surveys and interviews as drivers for a multi-equation econometric “cause-and-effect” model first developed at the University of Michigan. The questions are designed to measure satisfaction based on several factors, including customer expectations, perceived quality, perceived value, and customer loyalty, among others.
For the record, those methods also helped LG earn top honors in the dishwasher category, though its score of 82 placed it in a tie with Bosch. Those are the only appliance-specific categories in which LG products took top honors. The brand did, however, score well in ACSI’s 2025 brand satisfaction sector of the survey, placing second overall with a score of 81.
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Though LG placed second in the overall satisfaction survey, there are actually two other brands listed ahead of the South Korean manufacturer. Samsung and Whirlpool tied for the top spot with a score of 82. Interestingly, LG would’ve made that a three-way tie if its survey score held over from 2024, when the brand earned an 82. However, the 1% regression still led to a strong showing. Bosch, Electrolux, and Haier rounded out the top five in the ASCI overall brand satisfaction survey, though it should be noted that, since Haier now owns GE and Hotpoint, appliances from those brands are included in Haier’s overall satisfaction rating.
The new release adds automated replication, support for newer VMware vSphere and Proxmox versions, and modern authentication for faster, safer recovery.
Sparks, Nevada – April 3rd, 2026 – NAKIVO Inc., trusted by over 16,000 organizations in 191 countries, announced the general availability of NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2, focused on fast, reliable, and proactive data protection.
As ransomware attacks evolve and downtime costs rise, v11.2 provides IT teams with tools to quicken recovery, support next-generation infrastructure, and maintain secure data protection without added complexity.
Automated Real-Time Replication
At the core of v11.2 is an automated real-time replication engine. It keeps replica VMs synchronized with production workloads, allowing organizations to fail over to a recent replica within minutes after hardware failures, ransomware, or human error.
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For businesses where every minute of downtime carries measurable financial or reputational consequences, this capability closes one of the most dangerous blind spots in traditional backup strategies: The window between the last scheduled job and the moment of failure.
Support for VMware vSphere 9 and Proxmox VE 9.0 and 9.1
Keeping your backup stack aligned with hypervisor versions is mission-critical for teams managing VMware, Proxmox, or hybrid environments. NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2 addresses that directly while also tightening security and laying the groundwork for faster disaster recovery.
Full VMware vSphere 9 Support
The most significant update for VMware administrators: v11.2 delivers complete, production-ready support for vSphere 9, including vCenter Server 9.0.1.0, ESXi 9.0.1.0, and VDDK 9.0.1.0.
Earlier builds introduced initial compatibility, but v11.2 provides full readiness, enabling teams to upgrade their VMware infrastructure with confidence that NAKIVO will operate without disrupting existing jobs.
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All core capabilities are fully operational under vSphere 9:
Agentless image-based backup and replication using Changed Block Tracking (CBT) for efficient, low-impact incrementals
Instant VM recovery to restore workloads in minutes, not hours
Granular file-level and application-object recovery for Exchange and SQL workloads, without restoring the entire VM
Built-in DR orchestration with failover, failback, and non-disruptive testing via Site Recovery
Ransomware resilience through immutable backups, AES-256 encryption, air-gapped copies, and pre-recovery malware scanning
Fast, deduplicated, compressed backups to minimize storage footprint across repositories
For organizations tracking the licensing shift away from standalone vSphere Standard and Enterprise Plus editions toward VMware vSphere Foundation 9.0, this update ensures NAKIVO keeps pace with where VMware is heading.
NAKIVO’s Proxmox support continues to mature. v11.2 brings full compatibility with Proxmox VE 9.0, and support for Proxmox VE 9.1 is already built in, letting Proxmox environments upgrade without risking protection gaps.
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For environments running Proxmox at the edge, in cost-sensitive production, or as a VMware alternative, the full feature set includes:
Agentless host-level backup and replication with no guest agents required, keeping VM overhead minimal
Block-level incrementals via native change tracking, matching the efficiency of CBT in VMware environments
Instant VM and file-level recovery for rapid restoration of individual machines or specific files
Automated verification with screenshot confirmation to validate recoverability without manual intervention
Immutable backups on S3-compatible and object storage targets, including AWS S3, Wasabi, Azure Blob, and Backblaze B2
AES-256 encryption at source, in transit, and at rest with air-gapped copy options via tape or detached storage
For hybrid environments running VMware and Proxmox side by side, NAKIVO’s unified management interface provides a single workflow that covers both platforms, which matters as infrastructure grows in complexity.
Ransomware Defense Across the Board
Ransomware protection in v11.2 is integrated into the architecture rather than isolated as a single feature. Immutability is supported across a wide range of targets, including AWS S3, Wasabi, Azure Blob, Backblaze B2, HPE StoreOnce, NEC HYDRAstor, and Dell EMC Data Domain. Pre-recovery malware scanning catches threats before they re-enter production. Air-gapped options — tape, detached USB, or offline NAS — provide a last line of defense when network-connected copies are compromised.
“Our priority is to give customers a smooth and secure path forward as their environments evolve,” said Bruce Talley, CEO of NAKIVO. “v11.2 focuses on compatibility, security, and consistent performance as virtualization platforms advance.“
Matt Mitchell, Web Developer at SEHD at the University of Colorado Denver, said: “With NAKIVO Backup & Replication, I can recover VMware VMs within 10 minutes. With data deduplication, we were able to decrease storage space by 80%.“
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OAuth 2.0: Secure Email Notifications by Default
v11.2 introduces native OAuth 2.0 authentication for email notifications, replacing the deprecated basic authentication that major providers like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are actively phasing out.
The shift to token-based authentication removes stored plain-text credentials from the equation, delivering a meaningful compliance and security improvement, particularly for organizations under regulatory scrutiny.
HPE StoreOnce users gain full support for VSA Gen 5, improving deduplication appliance integration and repository performance. The platform has also been updated to Java SE 24 and the latest Spring Framework, delivering stability improvements, security patches, and incremental gains in backup and restore throughput — benefits that compound over time in high-frequency backup environments.
Enhanced MSP Direct Connect for Multi-Tenant Management
Managed service providers running multi-tenant environments gain efficiency through enhanced MSP Direct Connect. The updated interface provides single-pane visibility across multiple tenants, reducing overhead and accelerating response times.
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For MSPs scaling their service portfolios, this improvement directly supports growth without a proportional increase in administrative burden.
The Bottom Line
NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2 is an operationally important release. It removes the compatibility friction that holds teams back from upgrading infrastructure, strengthens ransomware resilience, and tightens security in areas that are easy to overlook until they become a problem. For VMware administrators preparing for a vSphere 9 migration, Proxmox environments approaching a version upgrade, or any organization seeking to enhance recovery capabilities, v11.2 provides a robust foundation for operational stability.
Availability
NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2 is available now. Organizations can download the fully featured free trial at nakivo.com.
Resources:
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About NAKIVO
NAKIVO is a US-based corporation dedicated to delivering the ultimate backup, ransomware protection, and disaster recovery solution for virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS environments. Over 16,000 customers in 191 countries trust NAKIVO with protecting their data, including global brands like Coca-Cola, Honda, Siemens, and Cisco.
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