Surfshark has released a native app for Vega OS, bringing its virtual private network service to the latest generation of Amazon Fire TV devices powered by the company’s new Linux-based platform. The update restores functionality lost when Amazon moved away from its Android-based Fire OS in late 2025.

When Vega OS replaced Fire OS as Amazon’s underlying software for Fire TV streaming hardware in October, it broke support for Android apps, meaning existing apps didn’t carry over. This created a gap for those who relied on VPNs for streaming and required developers to rebuild apps for the new environment. Surfshark’s new app closes that gap, offering what the company describes as “core VPN capabilities” on Vega OS devices.

The practical benefits remain the same: A VPN encrypts internet and streaming activity, masks IP addresses and can help avoid ISP throttling during high-bandwidth use. The tech is also commonly used to access region-specific libraries on services like Netflix and HBO Max — a use case that had effectively been sidelined on newer Fire TV devices until this new wave of native apps began arriving. Surfshark notes its Vega OS app currently focuses on core features and supports the WireGuard protocol. Broader support is expected to come later, as the app and platform mature.

For now, this is less about new features and more about restoring parity for people upgrading to newer Fire TV hardware. Surfshark joins other providers, including NordVPN and IPVanish, in building dedicated apps for Amazon’s Vega OS ecosystem. As more developers follow suit, Vega OS moves closer to matching the app ecosystem it replaces. 

For more context, check out CNET’s coverage of Surfshark VPN, our roundup of the best VPN services and our guide to the best VPNs for Fire TV Stick.

The next version of WatchOS is set to get a stripped-down version of the Watch Ultra’s signature watch face, alongside multiple others, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Whether this means the latest version of the OS will primarily be an aesthetics upgrade, or Apple has just stayed tight-lipped about WatchOS 27, remains to be seen. 

With WWDC 2026 just around the corner, most eyes are on iOS 27, which is set to include the Google Gemini-powered Siri to strengthen Apple’s AI efforts, but rumors on the latest from WatchOS have been minimal.

According to Gurman’s newsletter Power On, Apple has several new watch faces in the works for the next version of WatchOS, but the most familiar of them is also the most notable. A new, modular watch face is set to make an appearance, which borrows heavily from the Modular Ultra watch face. 

The new watch face is said to have removed the large complication in the center, the three smaller complications above the clock and the surrounding information around the bezel. What’s left is a stripped-down version of the original: A massive clock that takes up the top two-thirds of the display, with three small complication options below it. 

Simplifying this specific watch face could be an attempt to make it more approachable for the standard Apple Watch lineup, while providing glanceable information with the three complication options. 

Apple Watch users are set to get another watch face before WatchOS 27. With the release of WatchOS 26.5, a new Pride Luminance watch face will be introduced, alongside an accompanying watch band in time for Pride month in June. 

A smartwatch getting new watch faces is about as exciting as telling time itself. It’s not particularly exciting — even if it’s something that’s trickled down from a higher-end model. 

An Apple representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

There is no doubt that Apple needs to diversify its processor supply chain, but Samsung and Intel are weak alternatives next to TSMC. Apple may try anyway.

Rumors have come and gone about Apple buying Intel for its US foundries, but something about that idea stuck. More recent rumors suggested Apple could start relying on Intel for Apple Silicon production as soon as 2027 or 2028.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple has been considering Intel and Samsung to build “main device chips” for some time. While the recent chip and memory shortage has added some pressure, Apple had allegedly been making these considerations well before the current situation.

Samsung makes sense as an option because it is the distant number two chip fabricator to TSMC. It has the capabilities of meeting Apple’s strict quality demands, though it would be vastly limited on capacity.

Intel has been repeatedly mentioned in many rumors for various reasons. There was a time when it seemed Intel would dissolve, but it was revived thanks to a controversial 10% stake purchased from the US government under Trump.

The company even approached Apple for a direct investment, though it appears that nothing ever came from that.

Even if the Intel and TSMC’s joint venture results in some Apple chip production in the United States, it would be a paltry amount that barely put a dent in TSMC’s monopoly. However, it would surely score some brownie points with the US administration.

The report suggests that no decision has been made and Apple may not move forward with any new partners. TSMC continues to be the producer of Apple Silicon with over 60% of that made in Taiwan.

Apple is stuck between a rock and a hard place, as is the rest of the world. TSMC has been one of the few companies the world can rely on for advanced silicon, and if China decides to invade, it could devastate the global economy.

At this point, it seems Apple’s only options are strengthening its rival Samsung or embracing the flailing Intel. This situation could be among the defining aspects of John Ternus’ tenure as CEO, though some are apparently more worried about retiring executives.

from the many-wrenches-in-many-gears dept

The administration isn’t exactly winning here. The GOP has been opposed to a clean reauthorization since its first brush with warrantless surveillance back during the Biden administration. GOP members weren’t upset that the FBI routinely abused the NSA’s Section 702 collections to access US persons’ communications… unless those communications happened to be theirs.

Despite their mostly-performative opposition, Section 702 was again given a clean reauthorization. This time around, the GOP seems even more reluctant to give these powers a pass, despite it being clear President Trump would like this to happen.

Trump’s interest is more selfish than most. While he too has been performatively critical of the surveillance that swept up some of his MAGA buddies during Biden’s term in office, he’d definitely like for his FBI and DOJ to be able to warrantlessly surveil Americans he doesn’t like. Since both entities are nothing more than willing enablers of Trump’s vindictive whims, allowing the FBI to warrantlessly access US persons’ communications probably sounds wonderful. And since it appears he doesn’t believe there will ever be a regime change, he has no qualms about extending these spy powers in perpetuity with zero modifications, including those ordered by FISA court judges.

Somehow, even his party loyalists are reluctant to appease him. Section 702 has been on the verge of expiration multiple times, with only the periodic placement on temporary life support keeping these powers from being relegated to history.

With the powers set to expire at the end of April, the GOP offered up something halfway between a Hail Mary and deliberate sabotage, as Politico reports. While the House did manage to pass a three-year extension of Section 702, GOP House members added a rider that ensures this particular version wouldn’t be greenlit by the Senate.

The Senate is unlikely to clear the House-passed extension, which will be sent over with an unrelated, permanent ban on the Federal Reserve’s ability to issue a digital currency attached.

That provision was included at the behest of ultraconservatives, but it is so divisive across the Capitol that it has stalled a major affordable housing package for months. Senate Majority Leader John Thune earlier this week warned that the digital currency ban was “not happening” as part of spy law renewal.

Whether this clause was meant to keep the government from competing with Trump’s private sector offerings or just there to deter the Fed from paying closer attention to cryptocurrency market hardly matters. When John Thune is giving it a preemptive thumbs down, it’s a non-starter.

The Senate, however, received this GOP-spiked can and has only managed to kick it a bit further down the road. While some cynicism is warranted, it also buys time for surveillance reform advocates to gather the information they need to push back against yet another clean re-authorization.

The Senate approved the punt by a voice vote Thursday afternoon before the House passed it under fast-track procedures on a 261-111 vote.

As part of a deal Senate leaders cut with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to speed up the extension’s passage ahead of the midnight deadline, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, will send a letter telling the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the Justice Department to declassify an annual 702 court opinion within 15 days so it can be used as part of the negotiations.

This is not an unreasonable ask. The public has a right to know what the government thinks it can get away with under this surveillance power. What has always been pitched as a foreign-facing collection has been shown, for years, to be routinely accessed by Intelligence Community agencies for the sole purpose of accessing US persons’ communications without a warrant or even direct FISA court approval.

That an aggrieved Republican party may actually result in Section 702 reform is something that was never on anyone’s bingo card, especially since it’s usually been the same handful of Democratic party senators who have pushed back against these spy powers — something they have consistently done even when their own party has occupied the Oval Office.

Will reform actually happen this time? If history is any indication, a majority of Congressional reps will find some way to talk themselves out of their objections just in time to make it a problem for the next administration to solve. But there seems to be enough bipartisan opposition to a clean re-up to give reform a fighting chance.

Filed Under: fbi, fisa, gop, nsa, section 702, surveillance powers, surveillance state, trump administration, warrantless searches

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought 1-Across and 1-Down were pretty tough today. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Word before “time” or “potatoes”
Answer: SMALL

6A clue: Spot for a backyard grill
Answer: PATIO

7A clue: “Moving right ___ …”
Answer: ALONG

8A clue: Major or general
Answer: RANK

9A clue: Sprouting part of a potato
Answer: EYE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Word before “time” or “ribs”
Answer: SPARE

2D clue: Language spoken in Kuala Lumpur
Answer: MALAY

3D clue: Make amends
Answer: ATONE

4D clue: Sausage segment
Answer: LINK

5D clue: Fuel for a firepit
Answer: LOG

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from the nothing-to-see-here dept

The Trump administration’s war on science has been a furious one. Be it deep cuts to scientific research, policies that ignore scientific research, or the appointment of deeply unscientific people to lead scientific cabinet positions, it seems that Trump thinks that knowledge is the enemy.

You will recall how RFK Jr. fired every single member of the CDC’s ACIP vaccination panel last summer. It became obvious in the aftermath why he did so, after installing a cadre of anti-vaxxers to replace them and moving to shift immunization policy away from vaccines at the federal level. Trump appears to have taken a page from Kennedy’s playbook, as he recently terminated the entire board of the National Science Foundation days ago.

All 22 members of the National Science Board were terminated by the Trump administration via a terse email on Friday. The administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year. The ousters represent another severe blow to the NSF and the overall scientific enterprise in America.

Members received a two-sentence email saying that, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump,” their positions were “terminated, effective immediately.”

The post is filled with commentary from the board members and others pointing out that this leaves America with a gaping hole of leadership from a scientific advisory standpoint. The NSB advises both the Executive and Legislative branches. Trump has also nominated Jim O’Neill, an investor, to be the next Director of NSF. There is speculation that this move was done as a way to clear the field for O’Neill to replace them with hand-picked members that will further his tech bro agenda. He also already works for the federal government as Kennedy’s Deputy Secretary of HHS.

But maybe the explanation for the timing here is much more simple: Trump may have caught wind of a forthcoming NSB report about America falling behind in scientific research.

Multiple dismissed members believe the timing was deliberate, as the board was finalizing a report highlighting a widening U.S.–China gap in research and development spending. The report addresses areas central to Trump’s stated priorities, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the Moon race, but underscores lagging U.S. investment. Critics suggest the administration may seek a board more aligned with short-term political goals rather than long-term, exploratory research.

Now that sounds more like the Donald Trump I’ve come to know. This is less likely to be 4D chess at work then he simply didn’t want to be embarrassed by this report. There’s a simple test for whether that was part of the impetus here. If that same report does get finalized eventually and gets released, then it wasn’t. If we never get that report, it probably was. Simple.

But wasn’t isn’t simple is going to be digging ourselves out of the scientific debt that Trump is placing upon the country. If knowledge is power, as the saying goes, then America is less powerful today than it was before this administration.

Filed Under: donald trump, nsf, rfk jr., science, scientific research

New Year’s Day is one of the easiest days to end up scrolling Netflix without actually committing to anything. The problem isn’t a lack of options, but choosing something that fits how you’re likely to watch, which usually means a show that starts quickly or keeps a steady rhythm without demanding too much attention.

Whether you’re recovering from a late night or just easing into a slower start to the year, the right show can do most of the work for you. This list narrows it down to five that are particularly effective right now, not just because they’re popular, but because they’re built for this kind of viewing. Some are structured for fast, high-retention binges, others are easier to sit with, and a couple justify a more focused watch if you’re in the mood to engage. Each one fits the kind of momentum that makes getting through a full season or a limited series feel natural, whether it’s today or any other day you want something that holds up without effort.

Need to watch more movies and shows to ring in 2025? Then try 5 great free movies to watch on New Year’s Eve, 5 great Netflix movies to watch on New Year’s Day, 5 great Netflix thrillers to watch on New Year’s Eve, and 5 great Netflix sci-fi movies to watch on New Year’s Eve.

1. XO Kitty

Best for: A light, easy watch when you don’t want anything too demanding

XO, Kitty is one of those shows that pulls you back into rom-coms without trying to overcomplicate what makes the genre work. Built as an extension of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before films, it follows Kitty as she navigates relationships, friendships, and her own impulsive decisions, which is where most of the appeal lies.

The show leans into those shifting dynamics rather than forcing high-stakes drama, which is also why it works better here than something like Nobody Wants This. That show leans more into a slightly older, messier version of romance, while XO, Kitty keeps things breezier and easier to stay with. The K-drama influence shows up in how emotional beats are handled, but the tone stays light and accessible.

It’s the kind of series you can return to easily because the pull comes from characters rather than plot. This is also the one on this list that holds up best for repeat viewing, and the one I’d most likely go back to without thinking too much about where I left off.

Watch XO Kitty on Netflix

2. His & Hers

Best for: A mystery that rewards attention and gives you something to stay with beyond the episode

His & Hers stands out because of how it builds its story through shifting perspectives, which keeps you actively involved rather than just following along. The structure isn’t complicated for the sake of it, but it does expect you to stay with it, and that’s where the engagement comes from.

This is one of those shows where the experience carries beyond individual episodes. It’s the kind of mystery that keeps you thinking about it even when you’re not watching, which is also why it works as a strong pick here if you’re in the mood for something more involving.

If XO, Kitty is the one you can let run, this is the one you sit with. It’s not passive viewing, but it doesn’t feel heavy either. It just asks for a bit more attention, and rewards it.

Watch His & Hers on Netflix

3. The Night Agent

Best for: A high-retention binge that keeps moving without effort

With three seasons now available, including Season 3 released in February 2026, The Night Agent is no longer just a breakout hit. It’s one of the few Netflix thrillers that still delivers a clean, episode-to-episode hook without slowing down.

Each season runs at around 10 episodes, which means you’re not realistically finishing the full series in a day. What does work is committing to a single season, and Season 1 remains the strongest entry point if you’re starting fresh. It introduces the core premise quickly and maintains a steady pace without getting weighed down by subplots. Season 2 and Season 3 expand the scale, but follow the same structure, making it easy to continue if you want to stay in that rhythm.

What makes it worth watching right now is how little friction there is once you start. There’s no slow build, no complicated setup, and no need to track multiple threads. It’s built to keep moving, which is exactly what works on a day like this. If you’re looking for something that can hold attention without demanding it, this is one of the safest picks on Netflix. And If you are all done with the Night Agent and looking for similar show, then here’s another 10 similar shows for you to consider.

Watch The Night Agent on

Netflix

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Stranger Things

Best for: A familiar, high-stakes binge that’s easy to pick up or revisit

With Season 5 rolling out through late 2025 and its final episode landing on New Year’s Eve, Stranger Things comes back into focus at exactly the right time. Whether you’ve been following it or haven’t started yet, this is one of those rare points where the entire story is available to move through without waiting.

What makes the show work is how it balances scale with simplicity. The world expands with each season, but the story always stays anchored in its core group, which keeps it easy to follow even as the stakes get bigger. That clarity, along with its mix of nostalgia, horror, and character-driven storytelling, is what gives it that lasting cult appeal.

It’s also one of the few shows that works equally well as a rewatch. Personally, this is one that holds up every time you go back to it, whether you’re revisiting key moments or staying with it across multiple episodes without having to think too much about it.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Best for: A family-friendly watch that’s easy to get into and stay with

Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is a good pick for this time of year because it gives you something structured without feeling heavy. Season 1 lays out the world clearly, so you’re not spending time figuring things out, and it’s easy to move from one episode to the next without losing track.

With Season 2 confirmed and the story continuing, it also doesn’t feel like a one-off watch. You can start it now and know there’s more to come, which adds to the appeal if you’re looking to settle into something over a few days.

What stands out is how it balances familiarity with accessibility. Whether you’ve seen the original or not, the story stays clear, the characters are easy to follow, and the progression is steady. That makes it one of the easier shows to put on with others, while still being engaging enough to keep watching on your own.

We’ve also rounded up all the best new shows to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Disney+ because we take our streaming seriously. Watching while traveling abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your country’s catalog from anywhere in the world.