SFollowing in the footsteps of Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed is another former Xbox-exclusive that has made its way to PlayStation platforms a year after its initial release.

Similar to those titles, Obsidian Entertainment’s fantasy action role-playing game isn’t just sloppy seconds on the PS5 and PS5 Pro, but rather the definitive edition of an already fantastic experience.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced that a large collection of tech companies had signed on to what it’s calling the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. By agreeing, the initial signatories—Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI—are saying they will pay for the new generation and transmission capacities needed for any additional data centers they build. But the agreement has no enforcement mechanism, and it will likely run into issues with hardware supplies. It also ignores basic economics.

Other than that, it seems like a great idea.

What’s being agreed to

The agreement is quite simple, laying out five points. The key ones are the first three: that the companies building data centers pledge to pay for new generating capacity, either building it themselves or paying for it as part of a new or expanded power plant. They’ll also pay for any transmission infrastructure needed to connect their data centers and the new supply to the grid and will cover these costs whether or not the power ultimately gets used by their facilities.

The companies also pledge to consider allowing the local grid to use on-site backup generators to handle emergency power shortages affecting the community. They will also hire and train locally when they build new data centers.

The agreement suggests that these promises will protect American consumers from price hikes due to the expansion of data centers and will somehow “lower electricity costs for consumers in the long term.” How that will happen is not specified.

Also missing from the agreement is any sort of enforcement mechanism. If a company decides to ignore the agreement, the worst it is guaranteed to suffer is bad publicity, something these companies already have experience handling. That said, Trump has been known to resort to blatantly illegal tactics to pressure companies to conform to his wishes, so ignoring the agreement carries risks.

That’s important because the companies will struggle to live up to the agreement. (Though Google, for its part, told Ars that it has typically followed the guidelines as a normal part of its process for building new data centers.)

A China-linked advanced persistent threat actor tracked as UAT-9244 has been targeting telecommunication service providers in South America since 2024, compromising Windows, Linux, and network-edge devices.

According to Cisco Talos researchers, the adversary is closely associated with the FamousSparrow and Tropic Trooper hacker groups, but is tracked as a separate activity cluster.

This assessment has high confidence and is based on similar tooling, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and victimology observed in attacks attributed to the threat actors.

The researchers note that while UAT-9244 shares the same target profile as Salt Typhoon, they could not establish a solid connection between the two activity clusters.

New malware targeting telco networks

The researchers found that the campaign used three previously undocumented malware families: TernDoor, a Windows backdoor; PeerTime, a Linux backdoor that uses BitTorrent; and BruteEntry, a brute-force scanner that builds proxy infrastructure (ORBs).

TernDoor is deployed through DLL side-loading, using the legitimate executable wsprint.exe to load malicious code from BugSplatRc64.dll, which decrypts and executes the final payload in memory (injected into msiexec.exe).

The malware contains an embedded Windows driver, WSPrint.sys, which is used to terminate, suspend, and resume processes.

Persistence is achieved via scheduled tasks and Windows Registry modifications, which are also used to hide the scheduled task.

Additionally, TernDoor can execute commands via remote shell, run arbitrary processes, read/write files, collect system information, and self-uninstall.

PeerTime is an ELF Linux backdoor that targets multiple architectures (ARM, AARCH, PPC, MIPS), suggesting it was designed to compromise a broad range of embedded systems and network devices used in telecom environments.

Cisco Talos documented two versions for PeerTime. One variant is written in C/C++ and the other is based on Rust. The researchers also noticed Simplified Chinese debug strings in the instrumentor binary, an indicator of its origin.

Its payload is decrypted and loaded in memory, and its process is renamed to appear legitimate.

PeerTime, an ELF-based peer-to-peer (P2P) backdoor, uses the BitTorrent protocol for command-and-control (C2) communications, downloads and executes payloads from peers, and uses BusyBox to write the files on the host.

Finally, there’s BruteEntry, which consists of a Go-based instrumentor binary and a brute-forcing component. Its role is to turn compromised devices into scanning nodes, known as Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs).

The attacker uses the machines running BruteEntry to scan for new targets and brute-force access to SSH, Postgres, and Tomcat. Login attempt results are sent back to the C2 with task status and notes.

In a technical report today, Cisco Talos researchers provide details on the capabilities of the three pieces of malware, how they are deployed, and achieve persistence.

Cisco Talos researchers have listed indicators of compromise (IoCs) associated with the observed UAT-9244 activity, which defenders can use to detect and block these attacks early.

Malware is getting smarter. The Red Report 2026 reveals how new threats use math to detect sandboxes and hide in plain sight.

Download our analysis of 1.1 million malicious samples to uncover the top 10 techniques and see if your security stack is blinded.

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This is one of those simple deals that’s hard to argue with. The Roku Streaming Stick HD is down to $15.99 from $29.99. If you’ve got an older TV in a bedroom, kitchen, dorm, or guest room that’s missing apps (or just runs painfully slow), this is the quick fix. You plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and you’ve got a modern streaming setup without buying a whole new TV.

It’s also a great “keep in a drawer” gadget. If you travel, bounce between rentals, or visit family and end up stuck with a clunky TV interface, a cheap Roku stick can save the night.

What you’re getting

This is an HD streaming stick that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and comes with a Roku voice remote. Roku’s big advantage is that it’s simple and consistent. You get access to the usual major streaming apps, plus free and live TV options through Roku’s platform.

No fancy specs here, and that’s fine. The point is getting reliable streaming with minimal hassle for very little money.

Why it’s worth it

At $15.99, you’re basically paying impulse-buy pricing for something you’ll probably use for years. This is perfect if:

• your TV is older, and the built-in apps are outdated or slow
• you want streaming in a second room without spending much
• you’re setting up a kid’s room, dorm, or guest space
• you just want a clean interface that doesn’t fight you

If you’ve got a 4K TV and you care about the highest resolution, you’d look at a 4K streaming stick instead. But for basic HD streaming and a smoother experience on an older set, this is a great deal.

The bottom line

For $15.99, the Roku Streaming Stick HD is an easy upgrade that fixes a lot of annoyances fast. If you’ve got any TV in your house that feels “behind,” this is the cheap, simple way to bring it up to date.

A €345,000 employment grant from Údarás na Gaeltachta will support the recruitment.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary, TD has approved €12m in funding from his department and its agencies for a range of projects. Calleary also revealed plans for 23 new jobs at Net Feasa, a technology company based in Daingean Uí Chúis, Kerry.  

The 23 new full-time positions will double the company’s workforce over the course of the next three years and will be in software development and engineering, artificial intelligence engineering, wireless network operations and customer support. A €345,000 employment grant from Údarás na Gaeltachta will support the recruitment.

Net Feasa, which comes from the Irish language for “network of knowledge”, is a digital transformation company dedicated to “revolutionising” the global supply chain landscape.

“Our mission is to enhance safety, security and visibility, ensuring that every link in the chain is connected and performing seamlessly,” read a statement on the company’s website.

Commenting on the jobs announcement Calleary said: “I am delighted to be here to celebrate this success story. The jobs at Net Feasa are high-quality well-paid roles in an exciting technology company. Net Feasa was founded in a rural Gaeltacht town, but it has a global reach with offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States.

“With the wealth of talent available in rural areas and the support of my department, and agencies like Údarás na Gaeltachta, we are working hard to create more opportunities like this.”

Calleary today (5 March) began a two-day visit to Kerry where he is opening and visiting projects that have been approved for funding. 

Among other engagements, he will also visit the site of the new housing project in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh that seeks to address the accommodation shortage for Irish language summer colleges in the area and attend the official opening of GTEIC, a working hub which has had investment of more €2.5m.

The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael Foley said: “I warmly welcome Minister Dara Calleary to Kerry for a series of important engagements. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has supported many projects and initiatives in Kerry in recent years, and I am pleased that the Minister will have the opportunity to see first-hand the very positive work being done across the county.”

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SunBriteTV has launched the Veranda 4, a full-shade outdoor 4K smart TV series that takes direct aim at the covered patio market where Samsung’s Terrace line has established the dominant commercial presence over the past several years.

The outdoor TV category has expanded steadily as homeowners invest in permanent alfresco entertainment setups, with weatherproofed screens becoming a standard fixture in residential outdoor living spaces alongside dedicated outdoor audio systems and covered kitchen installations.

At MWC 2026 this week, TCL expanded its personal audio lineup with the new CrystalClip open-ear wireless earbuds, including a premium CrystalClip with Crystals by Swarovski edition. While TCL is best known globally for its televisions, the company has steadily built a presence in the true wireless category with models such as the MOVEAUDIO S600, Neo, and S180.

The new CrystalClip series signals a deeper push into the fast-growing open-ear clip-on earbud segment, combining air conduction audio technology, AI-driven features, and extended battery life with a design focused on all-day comfort.

Tip: Watch our TCL CrystalClip news brief on YouTube

Air Conduction vs. Bone Conduction: What’s the Difference?

Open-ear clip-on earbuds rely on air conduction to deliver sound into your ears, directing audio toward the ear canal without sealing it off. This approach has gained traction because it tends to provide a more natural fit, greater long-term comfort, and fuller sound layering with more balanced bass, mids, and treble compared with most bone-conduction designs. At the same time, the open design keeps your ears unobstructed, allowing you to remain aware of your surroundings—an important advantage for commuting, exercising outdoors, or everyday listening where safety and environmental awareness still matter.

Clip-on Design Prioritizes Awareness and All Day Comfort

The clip-on form factor of the TCL CrystalClip is designed to keep listeners aware of their surroundings while enjoying music, podcasts, or calls. Because the earbuds rest outside the ear canal, users can still hear approaching traffic, public announcements, or nearby conversations without removing the earbuds. This open design supports everyday situational awareness while maintaining continuous playback.

To balance comfort with stability, TCL integrates an ergonomic clip structure engineered for consistent contact without excessive pressure. The CrystalClip applies approximately 43 grams of clamping force to help maintain a secure fit across different ear shapes. A titanium arch bridge reinforces the clip mechanism, contributing to durability and shape retention over extended use.

Each earbud weighs just 5.5 grams, minimizing fatigue during long listening sessions. With an IPX4 water resistance rating, the CrystalClip is built to withstand sweat and light splashes, making it suitable for office use, workouts, commuting, and daily mobility. 

Blending Technology & Style

Beyond comfort and stability, the TCL CrystalClip combines practical audio engineering with a design intended to complement everyday style. The earbuds feature a streamlined clip-on silhouette that sits close to the ear, allowing them to function not only as a listening device but also as a subtle accessory. The compact shape and balanced proportions help maintain a clean, understated appearance suitable for commuting, office environments, or casual use.

For users who prefer a more fashion-forward option, TCL also offers a CrystalClip with Crystals by Swarovski edition. This version incorporates decorative crystal elements that add a subtle visual accent while maintaining full functionality, including charging and wireless connectivity. The result is a design that blends personal audio technology with a touch of jewelry-inspired styling.

Immersive Audio Experience

Inside the TCL CrystalClip, a 10.8 mm dual-magnetic dynamic driver forms the foundation of its audio performance. The driver is paired with 3D spatial audio processing, designed to create a wider and more layered listening presentation for music, podcasts, and video content while maintaining clarity across highs, mids, and bass.

TCL also incorporates enhanced bass tuning to add greater depth and presence to everyday listening. While the open-ear design prioritizes comfort and environmental awareness, the tuning aims to maintain a balanced and engaging sound profile suitable for a wide range of content.

For connectivity, Bluetooth enables wireless playback from smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices. During calls, dual microphones with ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) help reduce background noise so voices remain clearer in busy environments such as cafés, public transit, or crowded streets.

Smart Interaction Powered by AI

Beyond audio playback, the TCL CrystalClip is designed to support communication and everyday productivity through a range of smart features. Touch controls on the earbuds allow users to manage playback, answer calls, and activate additional functions directly from the earbud surface. When paired with compatible TCL smartphones and supported apps, users can also access simultaneous interpretation features, enabling real-time multilingual communication for travel, meetings, or everyday interactions.

CrystalClip also provides quick access to popular voice assistants, including Siri, Google Assistant, and Google Gemini. This allows users to check information, manage schedules, control smart devices, or send messages using voice commands, keeping interactions hands-free while on the move.

All-Day Listening

TCL’s CrystalClip provides up to 36 hours of total battery life and fast charging that delivers hours of playback in just minutes. Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and dual-device seamless switching further enhance convenience, enabling seamless transitions between smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

TCL has made significant progress in the television market over the past year, highlighted by flagship displays such as the TCL X11L SQD Mini LED TV and expanded manufacturing partnerships that have strengthened its global presence. With the introduction of the CrystalClip line at Mobile World Congress 2026, the company is clearly looking to extend that momentum into the highly competitive wireless earbud category. Although TCL has previously released models such as the MOVEAUDIO S600, Neo, and S180, its presence in personal audio has remained relatively low profile until now.

The CrystalClip series stands out by combining open ear clip-on design, air conduction audio, spatial sound processing, and AI-driven features at a price that undercuts many established competitors. In addition with CrystalClip with Crystals by Swarovski edition, TCL is leaning into the growing overlap between personal audio and wearable style. On the feature side, the earbuds compete with products such as the Sony LinkBuds Clip and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, both of which offer similar open-ear concepts but at significantly higher prices.

What ultimately makes the CrystalClip unique is the combination of affordable pricing, fashion-forward styling, spatial audio support, and open-ear situational awareness in a lightweight clip-on design. The addition of a low-latency gaming mode broadens the appeal even further for mobile gamers who want wireless convenience without added delay.

For listeners curious about open-ear earbuds but unwilling to spend premium prices, the CrystalClip may offer an accessible entry point. Commuters, casual listeners, and style-conscious buyers looking for something different from traditional in-ear buds will likely find the concept appealing. Whether TCL can carve out meaningful market share in an already crowded wireless earbud space remains to be seen, but the CrystalClip lineup suggests the company intends to compete on features, design, and aggressive pricing rather than brand legacy alone.

Price & Availability

Availability is expected across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America beginning March 2026.

Note: U.S. pricing is unconfirmed.

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