Tech

Every Major Cordless Power Tool Brand Ranked Worst To Best

Published

1 hour ago

3 May 2026

Cordless power tools are a huge part of anyone’s toolkit, be they DIYers working on home projects or professionals working on the job site. They require less effort than their hand tool counterparts, allowing you get work done more quickly and with less effort. The good news is that power tools are incredibly popular and sold at every hardware store. In fact, there are so many brands that it’ll make your head spin. So, where do you start?

For most people, deciding on a brand is the first step. Every major brand uses systems designed around their own battery types, allowing you to buy three, four, or more tools from the same brand while needing comparatively fewer batteries. However, actually deciding between brands can still get a little difficult.

We’re here today to help answer that question, so if you’re curious about the ins and outs of cordless power tools, you’ve come to the right place.

Snap-on

Snap-on’s hand tools are legendary for their American-made quality, lifetime warranties, and generally excellent reputations among professional workers. The brand also sells power tools, and by all accounts, they’re decent. However, they may not be the best choice for most people. For starters, the product line is relatively small, giving you fewer options than almost every other brand we looked at. Additionally, the power tools themselves are also exceptionally expensive.

For the price, you’re not getting much you aren’t getting elsewhere. For example, the brand’s impact wrench has 1,550 lb-ft of breakaway torque and the bare tool costs around $630, but a Milwaukee M18 Impact Wrench costs more than $200 less and delivers 1,600 lb-ft of breakaway torque. The warranty is also only up to two years, which is less than most competitors. Toss in the fact that these aren’t typically available in-stores, and it becomes difficult to recommend Snap-on for cordless power tools. Other brands have cheaper tools that are easier to get with longer warranties and wider availability.

Festool

It’s understandable if you haven’t heard of Festool before. The brand much more well-known in its home country of Germany, but it’s also known for making some good power tools. Like Snap-on and some other brands, its cordless power tools are rather expensive, with an impact driver and drill combo set going for around $650. For the price, you get a competently built tool, three years of warranty, and a guarantee that spare parts will be available for at least a decade.

So, why is it so low on the list? Well, for DIYers and hobbyists, the price is a pretty big pitfall. Festool products also difficult to find in stores, which limits many to ordering online from retailers like Amazon. The selection for U.S. shoppers is also smaller than some other competitors, which means the batteries won’t go quite as far if you plan on stocking up on many cordless power tools. It’s an excellent brand, but maybe not the best value for most people.

Black and Decker

Black and Decker’s reputation has gone through its ups and downs over the years, but all told, it’s not half bad, at least when it comes to cordless power tools. The brand has a few dozen power tools and kits available for sale using the brand’s 20V Max PowerConnect battery system, and it’s much like other power tool brands in this part of the list. You’ll find basic stuff like drills, circular saws, and other common power tools. Its selection is smaller than most competitors, but it hits the high marks and can be found in retail stores like Home Depot.

There are three main reasons Black and Decker isn’t higher on the list. First, other brands offer larger selections than what’s offered by Black and Decker. Second, the two-year power tool warranty is on the lower end of the spectrum. Finally, Stanley Black and Decker also owns DeWalt, which is the superior sub-brand for cordless power tools.

Bauer

Bauer is Harbor Freight’s budget brand for power tools, and one of two Harbor Freight brands on this list. Its selection is pretty decent, boasting dozens of cordless power tools — mostly the usual stuff, like cordless drills and angle grinders. The brand has more than enough to cover most basic DIY work and, somewhat oddly, it’s also becoming popular with professionals looking for inexpensive tools that they don’t use very often.

The prices are about as low as it gets for cordless tools. A good example is the Bauer 20V Cordless Drill, which costs $55 and that includes a battery with a charger. Reviews tend to be pretty positive for Bauer tools, and the brand has its fans. The biggest detriment is Bauer’s warranty, which is a scant 90 days. That’s the shortest warranty of any cordless power tool company we saw, and it might be worth spending a little extra for more warranty coverage.

Worx

Worx is a brand you may not know, possibly because you can only get it from online retailers like Amazon, but it’s a major player in the power tool market. In any case, the brand has a decent overall selection, roughly on par with brands like Bauer and Black and Decker. You can find the basics at least, along with some outdoor tools like hedge trimmers and leaf blowers. The prices are about average for the industry.

The general sentiment from shoppers is that Worx is better for DIY stuff than pro use, which puts it in the same neighborhood as Bauer, Ryobi, and some other brands. It has a three-year warranty, which is better than Bauer and Black and Decker. You can also get free string trimmer spools for life when you buy one, which is neat. Overall, Worx isn’t necessarily great, but it’s also not bad.

Hercules

Among Harbor Freight brands, Hercules is a step up from Bauer in terms of overall quality. Its tools are widely available at Harbor Freight locations and include a selection of several dozen products. Like every other brand on the list so far, you get your basics like a reciprocating saw or a cordless drill along with some specialty items, but pale in comparison to the big dogs when it comes to variety. The general sentiment for Hercules tools is positive, but you can find the occasional complaint if you look around.

Hercules has a weird warranty policy. The brand has both brushless and non-brushless tools. The brushless tools have a five-year warranty, which is among the best for cordless power tools while the rest have a 90-day warranty, which ties Bauer for the worst. Brushless cordless power tools from Hercules are a better value than anything else on the list so far thanks to their longer warranties and good availability.

Metabo

Metabo is a German toolmaker with a limited presence in the U.S., which means a lot of folks may have never heard of it before. It’s more popular in Europe, where the selection is much larger, but the brand still has a good reputation in America too. In any case, the brand’s selection is a bit smaller. You’ll find more 18V tools than 12V, so you may want to skip the 12V tools if you’re looking to build out a collection. Metabo’s tools are backed by a three-year warranty, and you can usually find them on Amazon.

Overall, Metabo’s tool prices are in line with industry averages, and availability on Amazon makes them easy to find. These are definitely good tools, with many reviewers saying they’re as good as the Hitachi tools that Metabo HPT tools replaced when Metabo was bought out by Hitachi. The only thing holding this brand back is its weaker than average selection.

Kobalt

Kobalt is Lowe’s in-house brand, and as such, you’ll find the blue cordless power tools all over the store if you walk around. Kobalt’s selection is the biggest of any brand so far, offering over 100 cordless power tools across the brand’s 24V, 40V, and 80V battery systems, which include everyday items like drills and even cordless electric lawnmowers. Its wide coverage is a big step up from some other brands and makes it easier to justify getting into the ecosystem.

The general sentiment around Kobalt is that it’s great for DIYers, and the occasional pro has been known to pick up a Kobalt tool on occasion when there’s a big sale. The warranty on power tools is also quite good, with five years for tools and three years for batteries. Lowe’s is also incredibly transparent with recalls and safety notices, so really, the brand covers all the bases. It may not be the best for pro work, but there’s little reason not to trust it for DIY stuff.

Craftsman

Craftsman has been around for nearly 100 years and is one of the most well-known power tool brands in the world. The brand has well over 100 cordless power tools, ranging from your standard drill to a variety of outdoor tools as well. It’s not quite as popular in the pro segment as it once was, but the occasional professional still uses Craftsman, and it is still quite popular in the DIY, homeowner, and hobbyist segment, where the brand’s cordless power tools get reasonably good reviews.

Craftsman has a good variety, and most of its metrics are about average. Power tools have a three-year limited warranty, and recalls on defective tools aren’t terribly common. In short, Craftsman doesn’t excel in any one metric in particular, but has a good all-around showing, with warranties, selection, and availability on par with many competitors and better than some cheaper brands like Bauer or Black and Decker. Other brands do better overall, though, so Craftsman is about average.

Bosch

Lcva2/Getty Images

Users trust Bosch tools more than almost every other brand on this list. The brand’s tool selection is above average, with dozens of tools and kits to purchase. The only problem is finding them. Some Bosch tools are in stock at Home Depot, although in-store availability tends to be a little random. You can, of course, order them online if you choose directly from Bosch or from Amazon, but it’d be nice to see a wider selection in stores.

Bosch’s products are backed by a one-year warranty, which is on the shorter side, but the brand’s recall list is quite short, so it appears as though warranty replacements aren’t needed too often. Even so, the shorter warranty, less optimal availability, and average tool selection makes it hard to gush about Bosch too much, even if the tools it does sell have stellar reviews online. It’s an above average brand, for sure, as long as it has what you need.

Husqvarna, Ego Power, and Stihl

Ego Power, Husqvarna, and Stihl all have one thing in common. They all not only sell cordless power tools, but exclusively tools that are used outdoors. This is nice because most of the brands we’ve discussed so far don’t sell outdoor cordless power tools at all. All three brands sell push mowers, chainsaws, string trimmers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and more, all powered by batteries. All three of them have good reputations and are often compared to larger tool brands like Milwaukee.

All three brands are available in stores as well as online, where they have very good customer reviews. Ego Power has the best warranty at five years, with Husqvarna coming in second with up to five years, and Stihl having an average two-year warranty. Their selections are a little small, but they do compete in a segment most cordless power tool brands avoid. You can choose the one you like most — they’re all competent.

Ryobi

Ryobi’s placement on this list was difficult to decide. On the one hand, it is a darling in the DIY department, with customers praising the brand’s price, availability, and selection. In fact, Ryobi has so many tools that we make lists of just the ones you may not have heard about. On the other hand, the brand isn’t terribly popular with pros, although some do use Ryobi products occasionally. Ryobi’s greatest strength is its selection, which includes hundreds of tools across its 18V and 40V battery systems that include everything from cordless drills to battery-powered lawn mowers. It competes for the biggest selection of any brand on the list.

Ryobi’s warranty is also pretty decent, offering between three and five years depending on the tool, which is better than average. Availability is also no problem because you can’t walk through a Home Depot without seeing Ryobi everywhere. It’s very popular there, and there are thousands of positive reviews on some tools. It’s hard to argue that Ryobi isn’t good.

Ridgid

Ridgid is sold exclusively at Home Depot, but isn’t owned by the retailer like Husky is. Its selection is pretty average, offering roughly 100 cordless power tools, which put up good numbers in terms of popularity and reviews, but not at the level of Ryobi, DeWalt, and other big brands. Pros do use Ridgid tools, albeit not as often as DeWalt or Milwaukee. So, you may be wondering why Ridgid is so high on the list.

The reason is because the brand has the single best warranty of any toolmaker on the list. It gives you three years out of the box, which is pretty standard. However, if you register the product online and apply for the lifetime service agreement, Ridgid adds a lifetime warranty that includes free replacement batteries, free service, and free replacement parts for the tool’s original owner. There are limitations to this, but that is a ridiculous warranty for a cordless power tool, and immediately makes Ridgid worthy of consideration, even with its smaller tool lineup.

Makita

Makita is a huge purveyor of cordless power tools, and easily among the best on the market. It’s considered a pro-level brand, and DIYers should have no shame in picking these up as well. The brand’s selection is larger than most, with nearly 600 power tools across three battery systems. The biggest is the LXT system, with 350 products all by itself, more than every other brand on this list so far except Ryobi. The brand’s warranty is also decent, offering an average three-year warranty on its power tools and batteries, which is better than some and worse than others.

Makita tools strike a good balance between affordability and competence. The brand only has a few recalls in its history, and its tools are readily available in stores and online. Users seem to like them, with some tools garnering thousands of reviews, most of which are positive. There really isn’t much to complain about. This is a pro-level brand with hundreds of tools, good availability, and a decent warranty.

DeWalt

If you’ve gotten the sense that a lot of folks use DeWalt tools, it’s because they do. This is one of the most popular tool brands in the U.S. for both DIYers and pros, and it’s easy to see why. The brand’s selection is quite large, housing hundreds of tools across the brand’s 12V, 20V, and 60V battery systems, more than most tool brands on the market. There isn’t much you won’t find in the collection, including outdoor tools like lawn mowers.

DeWalt’s tools are backed by a three-year warranty, which is average for the industry. The brand is also quite transparent with recalls, with a history dating back over 25 years, which is much longer than most tool companies’ recall lists. There are definitely some DeWalt tools beginners should avoid, but otherwise, there’s not much to criticize here. DeWalt is a big dog, and this is one of its best segments.

Milwaukee

There aren’t many areas areas where Milwaukee doesn’t excel. It has an outstanding number of power tools across its M12, M18, M24, and M4 battery systems, with more coming every year. The only brands with more are DeWalt, Ryobi, and Makita. It’s often placed side by side with Dewalt, Makita, and Bosch as the de facto choice for pros, and you could probably rank Makita, DeWalt, and Milwaukee evenly on this since they’re so close to equal. Milwaukee tools are also popular with DIYers, putting up excellent numbers in terms of customer reviews and reputation.

The only reason we placed Milwaukee above DeWalt is because Milwaukee has a longer warranty. It covers up to five years for cordless power tools and three years for batteries, beating out DeWalt by two years. Its recall notice list is also quite short, with only four tools recalled in the last decade. DeWalt and Makita do have larger tool selections, though, so again, it’s mostly a wash.

How we ranked these cordless power tool brands

Judging a whole list of cordless tools is no easy task. Between all the brands, there are nearly 2,000 total tools to look at. We created this list using a variety of metrics. In terms of performance, most of competitive tools offer very similar features to each other. For example, Hercules’ impact wrench does 1,500 lb-ft of breakaway torque, while Milwaukee’s did 1,600 lb-ft and Snap-on’s did 1,550 lb-ft. All three of those did better a few hundred pounds better than Bauer or Ryobi, though, so performance helped a little bit.

After that, we looked at selection size, in-store and online availability, warranty length, value, and general sentiment. For example, Ryobi is mostly known as a DIY-friendly brand, whereas DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita are pretty popular with DIYers and pros. Bauer’s 90-day warranty dropped its placement, while Milwaukee’s five-year warranty was the tie breaker between it, Makita, and DeWalt. Once all of these factors were taken into consideration, the list appeared as it does above.

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Beats Studio Pro Headphones Quiet the Commute and Stretch Every Playlist Further, Without AirPods Max Money

Published

4 minutes ago

3 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Beats Studio Pro Headphones 2026
Music aficionados are always looking for dependable over-ear headphones, and when comparing options from various brands and pricing points, the Beats Studio Pro, priced at $169.95 (was $350), stands out as an economical option. The reason for this model’s exceptional performance is a whole new set of drivers that do an excellent job with audio, precision, and so on. You can feel right immediately that the distortion levels are significantly lower than the previous generation due to improved internal components and larger magnets, which ensures that the sound remains pure regardless of volume.

The battery life allows for 40 hours of continuous play without using the noise reduction feature. When you turn it on, you get 24 hours, which is more than enough time to cover a full day. A 10-minute charge provides four hours of playback, which is quite useful when you go to bed and forget to charge your headphones all night.

Pairing these headphones with your phone is simple, whether you have an iPhone or an Android, and the controls are identical to those on your device. Spatial audio allows you to enjoy supported sounds while feeling a sense of space around them, and you may even employ natural head movements to enhance the experience. If you’re using a computer or phone, you can connect them via USB-C to get lossless audio playing without any of the compression that comes with wireless, allowing you to hear the music with the clarity it was intended to have.

Beats Studio Pro Headphones 2026
Noise reduction is always adapting to the environment you’re in, whether it’s a noisy train or a talkative office. There is also a transparency mode, which allows you to hear exterior sounds as needed. You can move from entirely blocking out distractions to hearing your surroundings with no effort, which is ideal if you’re on a noisy airline or running on the treadmill.

Beats Studio Pro Headphones 2026
Value appears clearly when daily use reveals how these features combine into one practical package. Extended playtime, clean sound, and flexible connectivity add up to headphones that handle real routines without constant recharging or awkward trade-offs. For anyone who logs hours with audio on the go, the Studio Pro models turn routine listening into something that simply keeps working session after session.

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Best Travel Tote Bags for Every Kind of Excursion (2026): Away, Le Pliage, Topo Designs

Published

33 minutes ago

3 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Compare Top 6 Travel Totes

More Travel Totes I Recommend

Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote for $180: This bestseller is the equivalent of a classic white tee: timeless, versatile, and built to be passed down for generations. Inspired by origami, Le Pliage folds down small when you need to pack it, but it’s also roomy enough to double as your personal item. I can fit all the essentials in here—laptop, Kindle, my airport toiletries, snacks, and then some. With its minimalist design and zipper closure for valuables, it’s also the ideal work bag for business trips. My one gripe with this travel tote bag is the lack of internal compartments (besides two impractical flat pockets), but if you’re someone who has little pouches and tech organizers for your gear, you might not miss it.

Cincha the Vegan Leather Go-Tote for $130: This vegan leather bag is deceptively huge. The base is 7.5 inches deep, so while it doesn’t look that big in pictures, it holds an astonishing amount of stuff. I’ve packed enough clothes in it for a full weekend trip. I usually have concerns about vegan leather cracking and breaking with use, but Cincha’s soft pebbled fabric does not look or feel obviously plastic. This is the tote bag I took on a multi-week trip to the Philippines, and the leather stood up to rain and being kicked around airport lounges, ferries, and train depots. However, it is more than 2 pounds heavier than a Longchamp Le Pliage, so this is strictly for when you can sling it on top of your carry-on. —Adrienne So

Mission Workshop Drift Laptop Tote for $345: The Drift is my favorite travel tote. It’s burly but with styling that’s refined and classy, and the rolled handles and removable strap make it comfortable to carry by hand or over the shoulder. But the best thing about it is the smartly organized storage pockets inside and out. It feels designed especially for people like me who always carry an army of gadgets. The Drift is kind of a beast, though. It’s too huge to slide under the seat in front of you on an airplane, but it fits into the overhead baggage compartment. —Michael Calore

Vera Bradley Original Duffel for $105: If there were ever a product I would refer to as “ol’ reliable,” it’s undoubtedly the Vera Bradley bag. The bright pattern, durable materials, and washable cotton structure have held up remarkably well for over a decade’s worth of travels. Even when I’ve completely overpacked and lugged it with me on planes, trains, and car travels, I don’t detect strain on the handle stitching. There are no internal pockets, but you do have four exterior ones located around the sides of the bag for easy access (or last-minute additions to your planned outfits). —Julia Forbes

BaubleBar Large Custom Icon Tote for $98: What sets BaubleBar apart is its playful personalization. Your chosen icons (up to six, depending on the size) are embroidered directly onto the canvas tote. The process is super user-friendly, with predesignated spots to help you visualize your picks. Choose from zodiac signs, cutesy foods, initials, and more. Just note that it’s a final sale, so be sure of your design before ordering. The large size fits everything you need for a beach day trip, and the medium and small options are better for light shopping or city exploring. It closes with just a snap button, which isn’t the most secure for crowded areas.

Aer Simple Tote for $139: Have you ever hefted a nylon or leather tote in your hand and realized that slinging it over your shoulder would give you immediate scoliosis? Then you want Aer’s ultra-lightweight, simple sailcloth tote, which weighs less than a pound. Its 15 liters felt surprisingly capacious. I fit two jackets inside on a walk with my kids, and the 3-inch-wide bag tucked neatly under my arm. The two exterior drop pockets fit my Nalgene and Kinto mug, and my phone fits neatly in the exterior zipper pocket. This is a great upgrade if you are getting tired of carrying everything in your canvas tote from Umami Mart and want a bag that’s not going to get soaked in something questionable if you put it down in the wrong place on the subway. It is a little more expensive, though. —Adrienne So

Cuyana System Tote 16-Inch for $378: The Cuyana System Tote is a modular gear-hauler that shape-shifts with your itinerary. Designed to outlast the churn of fast fashion, this travel tote starts minimal, but the genius lies in its add-ons. A laptop sleeve or insert organizer creates a structure on the go, with dedicated slots for your computer, water bottle, and other work essentials. A System Flap Bag insert doubles as a clutch or in-bag organizer, and a detachable, adjustable crossbody strap (also available in a wide model) converts the tote, perfect for hands-free airport sprints if you’re unintentionally trying out airport theory. Instead of stitched-on straps prone to failure, the System Tote’s handles are cut directly from its leather body, minimizing points of wear. The main compartment snaps shut rather than zips, something to know if you’re the spill-averse type.

Avoid This Tote

Calpak Diaper Tote Bag with Laptop Sleeve for $195: This bag was really puffy, but felt bulky, and space was lost to give the puffiness to the bag’s layers. It was somehow too big for everyday use, but not big enough when I needed a lot of stuff brought along for a day trip or long outings. It also didn’t really feel that diaper bag-centric; the only thing “diaper” about it was the baby wipe compartment on the outside, but I would have preferred an exterior pocket to store actual diapers along with it. You could stuff a couple of diapers in the flat front pocket, but it’s not as ideal as other designs I’ve tried. The insulated bottle pockets are handy if you travel with bottles, but feel useless after your baby graduates from bottles (which they graduate much earlier than diapers!) It’s not a bad bag, but I’d recommend a different design for parents and travelers alike. —Nena Farrell

To determine the best travel tote, I put each bag through real-world travel scenarios to see how it performs. That means packing it with laptops, chargers, clothes, and toiletries, testing comfort when worn over the shoulder or carried by hand. I’ll overstuff the totes to check durability, organization, and accessibility. I’ll evaluate how it fits under airplane seats, protects tech gear, and resists wear and weather. If it’s supposedly water-resistant, I’ll take it out in the rain to determine whether it survives without soaking its contents.

I scrutinize every pocket, compartment, and zipper for usability. When it comes to design, I pay attention to the details: interior fabric choices that make contents easy to see, convenient pocket placement, and hardware choices like zippers and zipper pulls. I also like to take note of the key design elements, such as the handle length and overall structure.

I prioritize quality and sustainability, and I include eco-friendly brands for environmentally conscious consumers. I also made sure to include an array of fabrics for stylistic variability. Lastly, I consider how each bag stacked up against its price point, ensuring that the quality justified the cost.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

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‘Marshals’ Release Schedule: When Episode 10 Hits Paramount Plus

Published

47 minutes ago

3 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Marshals, a new Yellowstone spinoff starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, is airing on CBS right now. You can also tune in with Paramount Plus. The Yellowstone sequel series sees Grimes’ former Navy SEAL join an elite unit of US Marshals to bring range justice to Montana, according to a synopsis from CBS.

The show includes Yellowstone actors Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater, Mo Brings Plenty as Mo and Brecken Merrill as Tate. Spencer Hudnut is the showrunner of Marshals — formerly known as Y: Marshals — and Taylor Sheridan is an executive producer.

When to watch new Marshals episodes on Paramount Plus

Episode 10 of Marshals airs on CBS on Sunday, May 3. Viewing options for Paramount Plus customers vary by subscription tier. You can watch the episode live if you have Paramount Plus Premium, which includes your local CBS station. If you subscribe to Paramount Plus Essential, you can watch the installment on demand the following Monday, but not live on Sunday.

Here’s a release schedule for the next four episodes of Marshals.

Episode 10, Playing with Fire: Premieres on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium on May 3 at 8 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT. Streams on Paramount Plus Essential on May 4.
Episode 11, On Thin Ice: Premieres on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium on May 10 at 8 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT. Streams on Paramount Plus Essential on May 11.
Episode 12, The Devil at Home: Premieres on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium on May 17 at 8 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT. Streams on Paramount Plus Essential on May 18.
Episode 13, Wolves at the Door: Premieres on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium on May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT. Streams on Paramount Plus Essential on May 25.

You can also watch CBS and the tenth episode of Marshals without cable with a live TV streaming service such as YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV or the DirecTV MyNews skinny bundle. In addition to offering a lower-cost option, Paramount Plus lets you watch the other two Yellowstone spinoffs: the prequels 1883 and 1923.

James Martin/CNET

After a price increase in early 2026, the ad-supported Essential version runs $9 per month or $90 per year. The ad-free Premium version runs $14 per month or $140 per year. Paying more for Premium gives you downloads, the ability to watch more Showtime programming than Essential and access to your live, local CBS station.

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OpenAI’s Codex now has a tiny AI pet that keeps you updated while you code

Published

1 hour ago

3 May 2026

NewsAdmin

If you’re into vibe coding, OpenAI just made it a lot more adorable. The company has rolled out Codex Pets, a brand-new feature for its Codex desktop app that adds animated companions to your screen while you work. Codex is OpenAI’s agentic coding tool that handles tasks on your behalf. It runs in the background and gets things done, and now it has a tiny mascot to go with it.

how-to-get-codex-pet — Screenshot OpenAI

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It’s Goodbye Time for Jeeves and Ask.com – Relics of Yesterday’s Internet

Published

1 hour ago

3 May 2026

NewsAdmin

A 1999 press release bragged “Jeeves” answered 92.3 million questions in just three months. “In the digital wilds of Y2K, we came to him with our most probing questions,” remembers the New York Times — whether it was Britney Spears or tamagotchis:

We asked, and he answered: Jeeves, the digital butler of information, the online valet who led us into the depths of cyberspace. Now, like so many other relics of yesterday’s internet, Jeeves — and his home, Ask.com — are no more. After almost 30 years, the question-and-answer service and former search engine shuttered on Friday. “To you — the millions of users who turned to us for answers in a rapidly changing world — thank you for your endless curiosity, your loyalty, and your trust,” the company said in a notice posted on its now-defunct website…

Created in Berkeley, Calif., in the days of the dot-com gold rush, Ask Jeeves first appeared on computer screens in 1996…. Their mascot, Jeeves, was modeled on the clever English butler character from the famed P.G. Wodehouse book series. Its search function was simple — type in a question, get an answer. But the quality of its responses was uneven, and the website was quickly eclipsed by Google and Yahoo as the world’s go-to search engines.

The site was bought by InterActive Corp. for more than $1 billion in 2005, and was given an injection of cash to help it compete as a search engine. It rebranded as Ask.com and as part of the reimagining, the site also ditched the character of Jeeves in 2006. Scrappy but inventive, the site was one of the first to introduce hyperlocal map overlays to its searches and incorporate thumbnails of webpages. “They are doing a lot of clever and interesting things,” a Google executive noted of Ask.com at the time. Still, Ask.com struggled to compete and returned in 2010 to its bread and butter: question-and-answer style prompts.

Even then, it faltered against newer, crowdsourced iterations like Quora and Google’s unyielding march to the internet fore — the platform now dominates search traffic, and the world’s general experience of the internet.
A statement at Ask.com ends “by thanking its millions of users, and saying, ‘Jeeves’ spirit endures’,” notes this article from Engadget:
As sad as it is to see a relic of the early Internet days fade into obscurity, we still have Ask Jeeves to thank for why some users still punch in full questions when querying Google. On top of that, Jeeves was built to provide detailed answers in natural language, which could have arguably acted as a precursor to today’s AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
“Now, Ask.com joins the Internet graveyard that includes competitors like AltaVista, which shut down in 2013,” the article points out. “With Ask.com gone, alongside AIM and AOL dial-up services also sunsetting, we’re truly coming to an end of a specific era of the Internet.”

And the New York Times argues the memory of Jeeves now rests somewhere between Limewire and Beanie Babies…

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The U.S. finds huge lithium reserves in Appalachia that could supply billions of phones and reduce American reliance on China

Published

2 hours ago

3 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Lithium deposits identified across Appalachia could supply hundreds of years of imports
Domestic discoveries across multiple states point to expanding lithium exploration efforts
Extraction capacity remains the biggest challenge despite large confirmed resource estimates

Lithium buried beneath parts of the Appalachian region could supply the United States with hundreds of years of material essential for batteries, electronics, and large-scale energy storage systems.

New estimates from the United States Geological Survey point to roughly 2.3 million metric tons of lithium oxide located in pegmatite formations spread across areas of the eastern United States.

Fortune says the scale is large enough to replace about 328 years of US lithium imports based on recent demand levels, a number that shows just how dependent the country has become on foreign sources for key battery materials.

The deposits could support production of about 500 billion cellphones, along with billions of laptops and tablets, or enough batteries to power roughly 130 million electric vehicles if the material can be recovered at commercial scale.

Much of the discussion around lithium now centers on supply chains, especially since China dominates the production of finished lithium-ion batteries used in devices ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles and backup systems in data centers.

Demand continues rising as manufacturers move away from older battery types, while lithium-ion technology remains widely used in systems that require fast charging and long operating life.

USGS says lithium resources in Appalachia are concentrated inside pegmatites, large-grained granite-like rock formations that can trap valuable elements during cooling and crystallization deep underground.

Accessing the material remains the biggest hurdle, since the United States currently produces only a small share of global lithium output despite rising domestic demand.

The country produced about 610 metric tons of lithium recently, accounting for roughly 0.3% of worldwide production, while most refining and large-scale battery manufacturing continues to take place overseas.

In December 2025 we reported how researchers identified lithium-rich clay deposits inside the McDermitt Caldera along the Nevada–Oregon border, where geological surveys suggested between 20 million and 40 million metric tons of lithium-bearing material could exist.

Geological analysis showed that layers of volcanic ash and long-running hydrothermal activity enriched soft sediments with lithium, creating clay bands that in some cases sit close enough to the surface to allow open-pit extraction.

Industry planners continue to point out that discovery alone does not guarantee production, since refining capacity, environmental permits, and infrastructure determine how quickly resources reach the market.

Government-backed funding and private investment projects are already underway in places such as Arkansas, where chemical extraction methods are being tested to increase domestic production capacity.

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Sony Will Soon Settle A PlayStation Store Class Action Lawsuit For $7.8 Million

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2 hours ago

3 May 2026

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Nwz/Shutterstock

If you bought a digital game on the PlayStation Store between April 2019 and December 2023, you may soon receive some store credit in your account. A federal judge in San Francisco granted preliminary approval of a proposed $7.85 million settlement for a class action lawsuit that accused Sony of eliminating competition and monopolizing the market for its digital games through the PlayStation Store.

The lawsuit was first filed in May 2021 and claims that Sony’s alleged anticompetitive conduct caused gamers to “pay more than they otherwise would have paid for certain digital games.” The legal action comes after Sony eliminated “game-specific vouchers” sold by third-party companies in April 2019, which the lawsuit argued could have resulted in lower prices on the PlayStation Store if customers had alternative options through other retailers like Best Buy, GameStop and others.

The law firm representing affected users posted a list of eligible games, which includes The Last of Us, NBA 2K18 and Need for Speed Rivals, and said there are more than 4.4 million eligible PlayStation Network accounts. For anyone who qualifies as part of the class action settlement, you’ll see your PSN account credited once the final approvals are in. The court will have a Fairness Hearing on October 15, which will see the final judgement and the plan for allocating the millions of dollars to eligible accounts.

Notably, this lawsuit is separate from another similar legal action that was filed in the UK. Also a class action lawsuit, the case accuses Sony of “unfairly charging its UK customers too much for digital games and in-game content purchased through the PlayStation Store.” Unlike this recent settlement, Sony could pay up to $2.7 billion to UK residents as a result of alleged antitrust actions.

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Eddy Cue hopes for ‘F1’ movie sequel, increased streaming rights

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2 hours ago

3 May 2026

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Apple has big plans for its F1 streaming service. Image source: Apple

Apple is keen for there to be a sequel to “F1: The Movie,” SVP Eddy Cue said, as the company hopes to increase its involvement with the motorsport in the future.

Apple has multiple connections to Formula 1, with it being the official broadcaster of the sport in the United States. It’s also behind the Brad Pitt vehicle “F1: The Movie,” which is also Apple TV’s most-watched movie.

With those successes in hand, Apple is planning for there to be more to both sides of the story.

Speaking to the press at the Miami Grand Prix on May 1, Apple SVP of Services Eddy Cue talked about both the real-life and fictional versions of Formula One.

On the movie, Cue said “I hope and expect there will be one,” reports Reuters.

Cue’s hope is well-founded, since it earned over $600 million at the box office, based on an estimated production cost of around $200 million. In February, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said that work is being carried out on a sequel.

The CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, told reporters in February that a sequel wouldn’t happen in 2026, but strongly hinted at it being on the horizon.

Even so, there has yet to be any official confirmation that one will actually be produced.

Growing F1

Apple’s existing coverage of F1 in the United States has been well received, with Cue very happy at how it’s gone so far. However, he says Apple wants to do more to grow its presence.

He acknowledges that F1 doesn’t get licensed on a global basis, but that isn’t hurting Apple’s intentions. Cue says he hopes Apple can grow into other areas and markets with its streaming coverage.

Starting in the United States is a “huge market” for Apple, and building within it is “definitely the right way” to progress, says Cue. “And then of course, it would be great to expand it.”

Earlier in April, Cue said that 30% of people watching F1 are using the multiview function.

When it comes to the transition of CEO from Tim Cook to John Ternus, Cue believes it will only make Apple’s relationship with F1 even stronger.

Ternus drives a Porsche and is an amateur racer, Cue explained, adding “He would actually be here this weekend but he’s at Laguna Seca.” Cue believes that Ternus would end up being at more races than Cook, and that he’s a “huge, huge fan of F1.”

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Former Nintendo Executive Says Amazon Once Requested ‘Illegal’ Price Discounts

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2 hours ago

3 May 2026

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Amazon once tried to pressure Nintendo to break the law, says former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé. At a recent NYU lecture, he describes a conversation with an Amazon executive, Kotaku reports:

“Amazon was looking to get bigger into the video game space,” said Fils-Aimé. “Amazon’s mentality back then is they wanted to have the lowest price out in the marketplace, even lower than Walmart… Essentially what Amazon wanted (was an) obscene amount of support, financial support, so they could have the lowest price and beat Walmart. I literally said to the executive, ‘You know that’s illegal, right? I can’t do that’….”

At the time, the Wii and DS were Nintendo’s best selling hardware in history. Amazon originally sold books, but in the 2000s rapidly expanded with cheaper discounts to became a one-stop shop for almost everything. Everything except Nintendo, that is…. “Literally we stopped selling to Amazon,” Fils-Aimé continued, “and it’s because I wasn’t going to do something illegal. I wasn’t going to do something that would put at risk the relationship we have with other retailers.”
“The two sides have since made amends,” notes the Verge, “and you can buy a Switch 2 through Amazon. But for a long time, Nintendo consoles had been largely unavailable on the site.”

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Microsoft Defender wrongly flags DigiCert certs as Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha

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3 hours ago

3 May 2026

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Microsoft

Microsoft Defender is detecting legitimate DigiCert root certificates as Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha, resulting in widespread false-positive alerts, and in some cases, removing certificates from Windows.

According to cybersecurity expert Florian Roth, the issue first appeared after Microsoft added the detections to a Defender signature update on April 30th.

Today, administrators worldwide began reporting that DigiCert root certificate entries were flagged as malware and, on affected systems, removed from the Windows trust store.

According to a Reddit post about the false positives, the detected certificates are:

0563B8630D62D75ABBC8AB1E4BDFB5A899B24D43

DDFB16CD4931C973A2037D3FC83A4D7D775D05E4

On impacted systems, these certificates were removed from the AuthRoot store under this Registry key:


HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\AuthRoot\Certificates\

These false positives have led to concern among Windows users, with some thinking their devices were infected and reinstalling the operating system to be safe.

**Microsoft Defender “Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha” False Positive**
*Source: Reddit*

Microsoft has reportedly fixed the detections in Security Intelligence update version 1.449.430.0, and the most recent update is now 1.449.431.0.

Other reports on Reddit indicate that the fix also restores previously removed certificates on affected systems.

The new Microsoft Defender updates will automatically install, and Windows users can manually force an update by going into Windows Security > Virus and threat protection > Protection updates and clicking on Check for Updates.

Possibly linked to a recent DigiCert breach

The false positives occur shortly after a disclosed DigiCert security incident that enabled threat actors to obtain valid code-signing certificates used to sign malware.

“A malware incident targeted a customer support team member. Upon detection, the threat vector was contained,” explains the DigiCert incident report.

“Our subsequent investigation found that the threat actor was able to procure initialization codes for a limited number of code signing certificates, few of which were then used to sign malware.”

“The identified certificates were revoked within 24 hours of discovery and the revocation date set to their date of issuance. As a precautionary measure, pending orders within the window of interest were cancelled. Additional details will be provided in our full incident report.”

According to DigiCert’s incident report, attackers targeted the company’s support staff in early April by creating support messages containing a malicious ZIP file disguised as a screenshot.

After multiple blocked attempts, one support analyst’s device was eventually compromised, followed by a second system that went undetected for a time due to an endpoint protection “sensor gap.”

Using access to the breached support environment, the hacker used a feature in DigiCert’s internal support portal that allowed support staff to view customer accounts from the customer’s perspective.

While limited in scope, this access exposed “initialization codes” to previously approved, but undelivered, EV code-signing certificate orders.

“Possession of an initialization code, combined with an approved order, is sufficient to obtain the resulting certificate (see Contributing Factors discussion below),” explained DigiCert.

“Since the threat actor was able to obtain these two pieces of information for a finite set of approved orders, they were able to obtain EV Code Signing certificates across a set of customer accounts and CAs.”

DigiCert says it revoked 60 code-signing certificates, including 27 linked to a “Zhong Stealer” malware campaign.

“11 were identified in certificate problem reports provided to DigiCert by community members linking the certificates to malware, and 16 were identified during our own investigation,” explained DigiCert.

Zhong Stealer malware campaign

This aligns with earlier reports from security researchers who had observed newly issued DigiCert EV certificates used in malware campaigns and reported them to DigiCert.

Researchers, including Squiblydoo, MalwareHunterTeam, and g0njxa, reported that certificates issued to well-known companies such as Lenovo, Kingston, Shuttle Inc, and Palit Microsystems were being used to sign malware.

“What do Lenovo, Kingston, Shuttle Inc, and Palit Microsystems have in common?,” posted Squiblydoo on X.

“EV Certificates from these companies were issued and used by a Chinese crime group, #GoldenEyeDog (#APT-Q-27)!”

The malware in this campaign is named “Zhong Stealer,” though analysis indicates it may be more like a remote access trojan (RAT) than an infostealer.

The researcher says the malware was distributed through the following attacks:

Phishing emails deliver a fake image or screenshot

A first-stage executable that displays a decoy image

Retrieval of a second-stage payload from cloud storage such as AWS

Use of signed binaries and loaders, including components tied to legitimate vendors

After DigiCert disclosed the incident, the researchers said the incident report explains how the certificates used in these malware campaigns were obtained.

While Microsoft has not confirmed that the Defender detections are a result of the DigiCert incident, the timing and focus on DigiCert-related certificates suggest a possible connection.

However, it should be noted that the certificates flagged by Microsoft Defender are root certificates in the Windows trust store and do not match the revoked DigiCert code-signing certificates used to sign malware.

BleepingComputer contacted Microsoft with questions about the campaign, including whether it was tied to DigiCert’s breach.

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