Streaming was supposed to simplify everything. Instead, it is starting to look a lot like the cable bundles it replaced, with higher monthly costs, more fragmentation, and ads creeping back into tiers that once promised otherwise. For a growing number of viewers, that frustration is pushing them back toward something far less convenient but far more reliable: physical media.
Owning your movies and TV shows means they do not disappear when licensing deals expire or platforms reshuffle their catalogs overnight. You press play, and it works. No buffering, no logins, no surprise paywalls. It also means consistently better performance. DVD, Blu-ray, and especially 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray still deliver higher bitrates than streaming, which translates into cleaner images, more stable motion, deeper color, and lossless audio formats that actually take advantage of a proper surround sound system.
Finding discs is not as easy as it used to be. Major retailers like Best Buy and Target have scaled back or eliminated in store selections, but physical media is not disappearing. It is shifting. Walmart and Barnes & Noble still carry a solid range in store, and online options are stronger than ever. Boutique labels like The Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, and Arrow Video continue to release restored editions, special features, and curated catalogs that streaming platforms rarely match.
This article and the three companion videos break down exactly what you get from DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Not just resolution numbers, but the real world differences in picture quality, HDR support, audio formats, and overall viewing experience so you can decide if going back to discs is nostalgia or just common sense in 2026.
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The Bottom Line
DVD still has a place, but Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray remain the standard for anyone who actually cares about how movies look and sound. Streaming has improved, but it still cannot match the higher bitrates, consistent image quality, and lossless audio you get from a disc spinning in a dedicated player. That gap becomes obvious the moment you pair them with a modern 4K TV and a real surround sound system.
The three videos break down what matters in 2026. DVD is limited to standard definition. Blu-ray delivers full HD with excellent clarity and solid audio. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray adds true 4K resolution, HDR formats like HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and the best available home audio formats. To take advantage of it, you need the right hardware. A 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, a compatible TV with HDR support, and an audio system that can handle formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Get that right, and physical media is not just surviving. It is still the benchmark.
Warmer weather is on its way, and your bedroom deserves a springtime refresh. My favorite bedroom trend right now is soft heather gray and fresh seafoam blue, and IKEA is the place to head if you want to embrace the look without breaking the bank. Below, I’ve rounded up my top picks as inspiration for your own bedroom.
There are charming bud vases and delicate floral bedding to bring in a touch of nature, and the curvy glass Tokabo table lamp reminds me of a mushroom. I’ve also been won over by the Solskydd portable Bluetooth speaker, which can stand on its base or be mounted to a wall, where it looks almost like a piece of understated artwork.
I’ve included plenty of practical picks, too. The Fornuftig and Uppatvind air purifiers are amongst the best-looking I’ve seen — the simple designs exude Scandinavian cool rather than looking clinical. There’s also summer-weight bedding so you can avoid overnight overheating, and I’ll be installing the rechargeable Kapplake spotlights in my shelves to help keep them organized after my annual spring clean.
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As you’d expect from IKEA, there are plenty of ultra-affordable options if you’re on a tight budget — prices start from $5.99. Happy browsing!
And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
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Watch Gent-Wevelgem 2026 live streams as the climbers try escape the sprinters on the cobbles of the Kemmelberg in one-day Belgian Classic now officially called In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem. Or will the race come down to a bunch kick into Wevelgem after 240 tough kilometers across Flanders Fields?
Read on and we’ll show you how to watch a 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem live stream from anywhere with a VPN, and potentially for FREE.
How to watch 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem for FREE
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Cycling fans in Australia, Belgium and The Netherlands will get to watch the In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem 2026 live stream for FREE. Here’s where:
If you’re a resident of Australia, Belgium or The Netherlands and you’re abroad right now, don’t worry about missing the action – all you need to do is download a VPN to re-connect to your home streaming coverage. Details above.
2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem event preview
Recently renamed ‘In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem’, what is effectively the 88th edition of Gent-Wevelgem is the second race of the Flemish Holy Week coming just two days after the opener, the E3 Saxo Bank Classic.
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Its name change is reference to the area of Flanders the route crosses and a nod to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War trenches. The name may have changed but the race is still dominated by the vicious cobbled climb of the Kemmelberg, which the riders must tackle three times, the final ascent coming 35 kilometers from the finish.
There is still no guarantee last year’s winner Mads Pedersen will be on the start line as he recovers from a broken wrist, and even if he has recovered (he lined up in the Milan-Sanremo), will he be in top form? Top form or not he’ll still have a job on his hands to beat Mathieu van der Poel, though, who heads a stellar start list which also includes Wout van Aert, Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier and the British sensation Matthew Brennan, if he recovers from a recent illness.
Use a VPN to watch 2026 Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke live stream
In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem 2026 is streaming on lots of platforms around the world, but what if you’re abroad and don’t want to take out a new subscription just to watch the race, or you want your familiar, favourite commentary?
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This is where a VPN can help. It’s a handy piece of software that can make your device appear to be back home, so you can unlock your usual service or subscription from wherever you find yourself. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything you want it to do at great speeds and an even better price.
How to watch 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem live streams in the US
(Image credit: Other)
Cycling fans in the US can watch the 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem on FloBikes.
A subscription to FloBikes will set you back US$155.88 for the year or US$39.99 on a monthly basis.
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If you’re out of the US but still want to watch the 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem then don’t forget to explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.
How to watch 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem live streams in the UK
The Gent-Wevelgem 2026 will be on TNT Sports in the UK, just like many UCI WorldTour races are over the course of the season.
You can still sign up with your regular TV package but, starting March 26, 2026, TNT Sports and its cycling streaming coverage in the UK, moves from discovery+ to the HBO Max app, requiring a subscription with options for a £30.99 standard monthly fee or a £25.99 “saver plan” for a 12-month term.
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Those with an existing discovery+ subscription will be moved over automatically.
If you’re currently traveling overseas, don’t worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch your usual service from abroad.
How to watch 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem live streams in Canada
(Image credit: Other)
Cycling fans in Canada can watch the 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem on FloBikes.
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A subscription will set you back CAN$215.88 for the year or CAN$49.99 on a monthly basis.
Not at home? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to make your device think you’re still in Canada.
How to watch 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem live streams in Australia
Australian cycling fans are in luck as they can watch the 2026 In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem for FREE via, SBS On Demand .
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SBS also has the rights to the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Paris-Roubaix, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Eschborn-Frankfurt and Paris-Tours, as well as many more.
Outside of Australia? Use a VPN to watch coverage of the UCI WorldTour cycling.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
WhatsApp is rolling out a batch of updates that simplify phone switching, reduce storage clutter, and introduce new AI-assisted features across iOS and Android.
The headline change is a revamped chat transfer tool that moves WhatsApp history from an iPhone to an Android device entirely within the app, dropping the previous requirement for a physical cable connection or third-party software in favour of a local Wi-Fi transfer.
Although the process still carries a time caveat, with WhatsApp noting that transfer duration will vary depending on the volume of data involved, it’s certainly more seamless than the previous method.
However, it’s worth noting that Android to iPhone transfers remain unchanged for now, so you’ll need a wired connection to make the switch over to Apple’s platform.
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iPhone users are also gaining dual-account support with this update, bringing iOS in line with Android, which has offered the ability to manage two separate WhatsApp accounts on a single device for some time.
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A new storage management feature makes it easier to find and delete large media files from chat history without removing conversations themselves, addressing one of the more persistent complaints from users on devices with limited internal storage.
Photo editing receives an upgrade through Meta AI integration and allows users to remove objects, swap backgrounds, or apply visual styles to images directly within WhatsApp before sending them.
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An AI Writing Help feature joins the update as well, generating suggested replies based on conversation context in a manner that mirrors writing assistance tools already present in Apple Intelligence and Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
WhatsApp is also introducing sticker suggestions tied to emoji searches, offering an alternative way to add reactions and expressions within chats without manually browsing sticker packs.
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The update is currently rolling out across iOS and Android, with some features already available to users depending on their region and app version.
An anonymous Slashdot reader writes: ClickFix attacks are ramping up. These attacks have users copy and paste a string to something that can execute a command line — like the Windows Run dialog, or a shell prompt.
But MacRumors reports that macOS 26.4 Tahoe (updated earlier this week) introduces a new feature to its Terminal app where it will detect ClickFix attempts and stop them by prompting the user if they really wanted to run those commands. According to MacRumors, the warning readers “Possible malware, Paste blocked.”
“Your Mac has not been harmed. Scammers often encourage pasting text into Terminal to try and harm your Mac or compromise your privacy….”
There is also a “Paste Anyway” option if users still wish to proceed.
OpenAI CTO of Applications Vijaye Raji, left, and GeekWire’s Todd Bishop on stage at the GeekWire AI summit, Agents of Transformation, in Seattle on March 24. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Fresh off the big GeekWire AI summit, we unpack what they heard from Microsoft EVP Charles Lamanna, OpenAI applications CTO Vijaye Raji, and other speakers at the Agents of Transformation event in Seattle, presented by Accenture.
The big thread: the economics of AI, from token budgets becoming a hiring negotiation point to startups running on subsidized credits that may not last.
Plus, a startup founder whose engineer burned through $5,000 in AI tokens over a single weekend of vibe coding, OpenAI shutting down Sora amid $15 million-a-day processing costs, and why panelist Liat Ben-Zur said the performance indicators many companies are using for AI are “watermelon metrics” — green (profit) on the outside, red (losses) on the inside.
Also: how Todd used a Claude project over several months to prep for the event, John’s experience bouncing between Gemini and ChatGPT, and why the pure chat era may be over.
BlackBerry entered the tablet market in the spring of 2011 with the PlayBook, a 7-inch tablet that had to compete with larger offerings from Apple and others. People who picked one up quickly noticed how portable it was, fitting easily into a bag or coat pocket for on-the-go use.
Build quality was impressive for the time, with the PlayBook coming in at just under 10mm thick and 425 grams. The clean combination of black plastic and metal felt solid and considered without trying too hard, and it showed the moment you picked it up. Many users at the time rated the physical quality above several competing tablets in the same space.
COMPACT SIZE, COMPACT FUN – The Lenovo Tab One is compact, efficient, and provides non-stop entertainment everywhere you go. It’s lightweight and…
SIMPLICITY IN HAND – Add a touch of style with a modern design that’s tailor-made to fit in your hand. It weighs less than a pound and has an…
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The 7 inch display ran at 1024 by 600 pixels in a widescreen format that suited video and web browsing well, with solid brightness and color reproduction in indoor lighting. Direct sunlight was a challenge, though that was a common limitation of LCD panels at the time. The size also made it genuinely comfortable to hold and operate with one hand, which gave it a practical edge for reading and casual browsing that larger tablets struggled to match.
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A 1GHz dual core Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor, combined with 1GB of memory, kept routine tasks running smoothly with no noticeable latency. The BlackBerry Tablet OS, which was built on a QNX platform, was actually solid and received high praise in early evaluations for its dependability. Navigation relied on edge gestures, which worked surprisingly well in practice, with swipes from the sides or top quickly bringing up menus or previously used apps. True multitasking allowed you to run multiple programs at the same time and switch between them seamlessly, and once the gesture system was activated, it seemed like a genuinely efficient method to move around the device.
Web browsing was one of the PlayBook’s real strengths. The browser handled most sites with ease and included Adobe Flash functionality, allowing you to watch films and interact with material that outperformed many rival mobile devices at the time. HTML5 performance also fared well in testing. On the entertainment front, the PlayBook handled high definition video playback with ease, the twin speakers were adequate for music, and a five megapixel rear camera and a three megapixel front camera covered both photos and video calls. A small HDMI port completed the package for anyone who wanted to project video onto a larger screen for presentations or movie nights.
At launch, connectivity included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with cellular possibilities added later. Depending on screen brightness and workload, the battery life was usually sufficient for a full day of mixed use. The launch software was where things became problematic. The PlayBook came without native email, calendar, or contacts apps, so users had to couple it with a BlackBerry phone using a technology called Bridge to use any of them. The connection was secure and smooth for existing BlackBerry users, who saw the tablet as a natural extension of their phone setup; however, for those without one, it was a significant drawback that was difficult to overlook.
The 16GB model debuted at $500, which is comparable to about $726 now, with higher storage options raising the price even further. Initial sales were good but fell well short of overall market forecasts, and large price cuts in late 2011 helped clear leftover inventory, particularly in Canada. By the conclusion of its run, the PlayBook had sold almost 2.5 million devices.
Counterfeit SSDs usually look real to the untrained eye until their performance or capacity falls far short of the device’s specs. However, Japanese outlet Akiba PC Hotline recently discovered a specimen that matches the genuine article in speed and storage. Read Entire Article Source link
Based on testing, the companies behind Ike Tech claim this process has a 100 percent success rate in age verification, more or less calling the tech infallible. “The FDA told us it’s the holy grail technology they were looking for,” Wang says. “That’s word-for-word what they said when we met with them.” The FDA did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.
But Glantz is not at all convinced these protections will work.
“The FDA is just showing their pro-industry bias,” Glantz says. “If I were running the FDA, I would prohibit these devices from having any Bluetooth capability at all, period. There are just too many ways it could go south. Every technical fix has a work-around.”
The verification features would be tied to just one person, so when the vape is on, that person could share a puff with anyone nearby without verifying their age. At that point, Wang says it comes down to personal responsibility.
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“You really have to count on the responsibility of that person,” Wang says. “If it’s a 21-year-old or older person, of course, that’s fine, but if you really want to hand it to an underage person, then you are really irresponsible.”
Wang says the goal is to implement additional features in the verification process, like geo-fencing, which would force the vape to shut off while near a school or on an airplane. In the future, the plan is to license this biometric verification tech to other e-cig companies. The tech may also grow to include fingerprint readers and expand to other product categories; Wang suggests guns, which have a long history of age-verification features not quite working.
Vapor Ware
The time frame for when Ike Tech might actually be out in the world—and how much it will cost when added to vape cartridges—is still hazy. Wang says there are already partnerships with two nicotine companies, but won’t say which or when that will emerge. “In 2026, there will be a clear indication of when our solution will be approved and how many other brands will license our technology.”
Wang’s ideal version of a vape, he posits, would be a safe, clean way to inhale nicotine.
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“In the industry, we have a saying: ‘Nicotine never killed a single person,’” Wang says. “To a large degree, e-cigarettes are a safer way to consume nicotine.”
Glantz rejects that notion by bringing up practices like “smoking topography,” where nicotine companies track how smokers puff the product differently, then control how much nicotine is dispersed at a time to maximize the addictive potential.
He also takes issue with the fundamental problem that e-cigarettes and vapes are cleaner than traditional cigarettes at all. While the problem with cigarettes and cheap vapes might be the other chemicals, nicotine itself is not a harmless substance.
“You can’t make a healthy e-cigarette; it’s impossible,” Glantz says. “It’s true that nicotine isn’t a carcinogen, but it has all kinds of adverse cardiovascular effects. Nicotine screws up your nervous system.”
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For nicotine to be absorbed as vapor, it has to be reduced to ultrafine particles. That’s what the heating does, and those particles can have all sorts of adverse health effects.
“There are all of these other implications that are extremely serious that nobody’s really thinking about,” Glantz says. “Even if the age-verification thing worked, it’s still not worth it.”
People who own the original version of the Nintendo Switch have had a lot of time to discover the various cool things the gaming console could do. You can use it as a TV remote control. You can use it to charge an iPhone. You can surf the web on it. Apart from the unusual uses, there are a number of things you can do on the Switch to enhance your game-playing experience. For example, you can change the button mapping on your controllers, use a mouse or a keyboard, or even play games in portrait mode. While these examples are fun, the list of possibilities got a bit longer with the Nintendo Switch 2.
The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 was highly anticipated because of the eight-year gap in between console versions. As someone who has both, I can attest, almost everything is improved in the Switch 2. The screen is larger and has better display quality. The Joy-Con 2 controllers are magnetically attached and feel more secure. There’s an additional USB-C port on top of the console that lets you charge the device while using the kickstand or plug in additional accessories. Furthermore, there are several hidden new features on the Switch 2 you may not know about.
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The Joy-Con 2 controller can be used as a mouse
Jam Kotenko/SlashGear
One of the cool things about the Switch 2 is that you can use a myriad of compatible gadgets with it to make your gaming experience more efficient and enjoyable. In fact, if you’re wondering what it would be like to use an accessory with your gaming console, there’s no need to look further than what’s already in your hand — just detach the Joy-Con 2 controller and start using it as a mouse. It doesn’t matter whether you’re left- or right-handed. Both Joy-Con 2 controllers have a side-rail sensor, so you can use them interchangeably.
There are a few instances wherein the Joy-Con 2’s mouse mode feature could be particularly useful. If you happen to be playing a game that requires intensive menu navigation — such as “Factorio” or “Civilization 7” — it may be more convenient and feel more natural to use a cursor over the Joy-Con 2’s directional pad. It’s also the more portable option as it takes away the need to carry an extra mouse.
Another perk offered by the mouse feature of the Joy-Con 2 is its ease of use. Simply lay the controller flat on its side and the Switch 2 should automatically detect the surface and activate the cursor on some compatible games. For others, you may need to fiddle with the in-game controller settings to get it to work as intended.
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There are some limitations to this feature. Since the Joy-Con 2 is thinner than a standard mouse, it can be harder to wield for a longer period of time. It also may not work on certain surfaces — based on testing, mouse mode doesn’t kick on when used on glass or similarly reflective tabletops.
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Locally host and stream a supported Switch 2 game you own
Jam Kotenko/SlashGear
GameShare was one of the highly anticipated features of the Nintendo Switch 2 when it was first announced. It allows a Switch 2 user to essentially act as a host, stream a game that is GameShare-compatible, and allow nearby Switch users (including the original version of the Switch) connected to the same Wi-Fi network to play with them, whether or not they own the game themselves. This particular feature is great for families who own multiple Switch consoles as well as game players who have friends visiting and want to play co-op using their own Switch devices. It’s a cost-effective way of enjoying compatible games that offer multiplayer functionality.
Jam Kotenko/SlashGear
To activate GameShare on a supported Switch 2 game, the host needs to launch the game first and find the co-op or multiplayer option in the game’s main menu. Other players can then hit the GameShare icon on the home screen of their respective Switch consoles and find the correct GameShare session to join.
There are a few things to note regarding the GameShare feature. There are two ways to start a GameShare session — locally among consoles connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or online via GameChat. The former is compatible across all versions of the Switch, while the latter is only available for the Switch 2. Consoles with GameChat will need to have the feature set up before they can participate in a long-distance gaming session.
Another important factor to consider is GameShare’s current availability across the Nintendo game catalog. As of this writing, there are 33 Switch 2 games that allow GameShare with local users, such as “Donkey Kong Bonanza,” “Mario Tennis Fever,” and “Pokémon Pokopia.” Meanwhile, there are 23 games that offer GameShare over GameChat among Switch 2 users.
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Cap the maximum battery charge
Jam Kotenko/SlashGear
As is the case for most modern devices, battery health matters. A quick way to lose battery capacity over time is keeping your device plugged or charging. If you have your Switch 2 console perennially docked, you are essentially charging it to 100% at all times, which is not advisable if you want your console to last longer. To make your Switch 2 perform better and ensure that you don’t overcharge the gaming device, there’s a new system feature that you can enable that lets you limit its capacity to charge its internal battery to lower than 100%. Here’s how to find it:
Select the System Settings icon on the home screen.
Scroll down to System on the left-side panel.
Enable the toggle next to “Stop Charging Around 80-90%.”
While you’re at it, enable the toggle next to System Battery as well so the number is visible on the home screen.
You will see a message underneath the toggle that warns you that enabling the feature may shorten your playtime when the Switch 2 is used while unplugged, but you may find the reduction of battery degradation worth it in the long term. Also note that even with the feature enabled, the Switch 2 may sometimes charge to a full 100% “to ensure accurate battery-level display.”
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Label people on your Friend list
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Nintendo recently released Version 22.0.0 of its system update for both the original Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. One of the key additions included is the ability to add notes to users listed in your Friends list. You basically can tack on a label on top of a user’s username on Nintendo.
If you’re a wide-ranging Switch 2 user who enjoys making friends within the games you play as well as in-real-life gaming communities, then you probably have a substantial list of contacts accumulated in your Switch account. Having the ability to include a visual reminder on how you met a user or what games you play with them could make it easier to plan your future games. A good thing about the Add Note feature is that it’s only visible to you, so you can be as descriptive about the people you’re connected with as you want, though people who use your Switch 2 device may be able to see what you’ve written.
To use the new feature, select your profile on the home screen of your Switch 2. Next, select Friend List from the side panel. When you click on a friend’s user tile, you should see the Add Note option underneath their avatar.
“Emergency out-of-band fixes issued by enterprise IT giants Microsoft and Oracle have shone a spotlight on issues around both update cycles and patching,” reports Computer Weekly:
Microsoft’s emergency update, KB5085516, addresses an issue that arose after installing the mandatory cumulative updates pushed live on Patch Tuesday earlier this month. According to Microsoft, it has since emerged that many users experienced problems signing into applications with a Microsoft account, seeing a “no internet” error message even though the device had a working connection. This had the effect of preventing access to multiple services and applications. It should be noted that organisations using Entra ID did not experience the issue.
But Microsoft’s emergency patch comes just days after it doubled down on a commitment to software quality, reliability and stability. In a blog post published just 24 hours prior to the latest update, Pavan Davuluri of Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program Team said updates should be “predictable and easy to plan around”. Michael Bell, founder/CEO of Suzu Labs tells Computer Weekly that Microsoft’s patch for the sign-in bug follows “separate hotpatches for RRAS remote code execution flaws and a Bluetooth visibility bug. Three emergency fixes in eight days does not shout reliability era.”
Oracle’s patch, meanwhile, addresses CVE-2026-21992, a remote code execution flaw in the REST:WebServices component of Oracle Identity Manager and the Web Services Security component of Oracle Web Services Manager in Oracle Fusion Middleware. It carries a CVSS score of 9.8 and can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker with network access over HTTP.
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