Following additional review, Ars has determined that the story “After a routine code rejection, an AI agent published a hit piece on someone by name,” did not meet our standards. Ars Technica has retracted this article. Originally published on Feb 13, 2026 at 2:40PM EST and removed on Feb 13, 2026 at 4:22PM EST.
Apple introduction of its late Siri overhaul is expected to finally arrive during WWDC, as part of a trend by the company to improve the quality of the software it ships.
We’re still waiting for New Siri…
Apple was thought to be preparing its big update to Siri for a developer beta of iOS 26.4, as well as similar betas for macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26.4. With it not visible in the developer beta builds at this late stage, the next probable launch time for it will be during WWDC in June. However, Siri faces being only a part of a number of areas Apple will improve during its annual developer showcase. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
The Camp Snap is a digital pocket camera with the design of a retro-styled film camera. It’s extremely inexpensive and leans into the digicam trend that’s popular among 20-somethings and younger. It doesn’t quite succeed in the same way similar cameras do, like the Flashback.
Image quality is fairly mediocre, even for a budget camera, which, to be fair, might be what some people are looking for with the retro trend. However, spending even a small amount more can get you better images to start with, giving you more options for how the final photos look.
For the price, the Camp Snap isn’t bad. In fact, it’s better than some ultrabudget cameras I’ve tested, but beyond the overall design, the Camp Snap has less to offer, even compared to other cameras with similar vibes and style.
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Camp Snap specs
Photo resolution
8 megapixels (3,264×2,448)
Video resolution
N/A
Sensor size
1/3.2-inch
Lens
32mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8
Image stabilization
None
Screen type
Monochrome LCD with image count only
Storage
MicroSD (4GB card included)
Weight
97grams (0.2 pounds)
App
None
The Camp Snap has fairly unimpressive specs, not too surprising for something that costs $70. The version I bought was V105, which overall looks the same as previous versions but has the ability to install custom filters for the photos and a slight redesign of the flash toggle.
The toggle also turns the camera on and off. Previous versions used the shutter button to do that. I can see why they made that change. It’s far less likely to take 50 photos of the inside of your bag with a physical power switch.
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Geoff Morrison/CNET
Surprisingly, the camera actually has a removable microSD card on the bottom under a door that’s secured with a screw. That’s not exactly the most user-friendly design, which I suppose is why Camp Snap recommends connecting the camera via USB and barely mentions the card.
Next to the card slot, hidden by the same door, are the extent of the Camp Snap’s settings: a mode button and two others for up and down. This is to set the date recorded in the photo’s metadata. That’s it. No exposure settings, modes, switchable filters, nada.
This camera was designed to replicate the feeling of using disposable film cameras. If you want more than that, look elsewhere.
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Geoff Morrison/CNET
You can install a filter for your photos, though this process also isn’t user-friendly. To switch filters, you need to plug the camera into a computer and download a .flt file from the Camp Snap website, drop it into the camera’s memory and all images taken after that will use that filter’s settings. You can’t change it on the go, and unlike the Flashback, you don’t get unfiltered photos to adjust later.
Geoff Morrison/CNET
You can, however, design your own filter if one of the premade options on the website isn’t to your liking. It’s an easy-to-use interface, complete with a preview of your adjustments.
Most people buying the Camp Snap will probably stick with either the preinstalled “Camp Classic” or “Vintage” filter (it’s called both on different parts of its site) or choose one of the other premade ones that are available, but being able to design your own this easily is a great feature.
However, again, switching filters isn’t as simple as pressing a button or scrolling through menus.
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The filter design page on Camp Snap’s website.
Camp Snap/CNET
Not having Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is likely one of the reasons the Camp Snap is so cheap. It’s also why spending a bit more on the Flashback is probably a wise investment. Not having to connect to a computer to do anything is definitely a bonus.
The other problem is that the base image quality isn’t great, limiting the effectiveness of the filters in general. I’ll get to that in the next section.
Usability and photo quality
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All images in this section are unedited other than cropping and use the preinstalled Camp Classic/Vintage filter unless otherwise noted.
Geoff Morrison/CNET
Using the Camp Snap isn’t quite as satisfying as the Flashback either. First, it feels even more cheaply made. You wouldn’t think there’d be much of a difference between the Camp Snap’s 97 grams and the Flashback’s 147 grams, but it’s noticeable, and the lighter Camp Snap feels even more disposable.
There’s less tactile and audible enjoyment as well, with a cheap-feeling shutter button, extremely unsatisfying electronic shutter sound and none of the ratcheting click-click-click of the Flashback’s “film” advance dial.
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Geoff Morrison/CNET
That said, with a single button and no settings to adjust, the Camp Snap is obviously very easy to use. It doesn’t even have a screen, unless you count a small monochromatic LCD that shows the picture count. You can line up a shot with an optical viewfinder. These never worked particularly well, but it’s better than nothing.
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Geoff Morrison/CNET
Going for the retro aesthetic is one thing, but it invites the question: What’s retro? Does that mean the 2000s digital cameras? Or is it 90s disposable film cameras? Black and white?
Digital cameras have long had settings and “filters” that adjust how the final image looks. Some, like many Fujifilm cameras, have built a cult following around their filters (or, as we in the cult call them, recipes).
The Camp Snap’s preinstalled filter is alternately called Camp Classic or Vintage, which they describe as “that classic summer camp vibe.” But again, summer camp from what period?
Geoff Morrison/CNET
The images with the preinstalled filter have an overly warm color temperature that wasn’t typical in-era, but some imagine it was. The images are noisy and oversharpened, looking vaguely like a budget 2000s digital camera or early camera phone. The camera also tends to blow out highlights. They look better than the Kodak Charmera, at least.
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From left to right: Camp Classic/Vintage, Kodaclone, 101Clone and a custom “neutral” filter made using the website tool’s Standard preset.
Geoff Morrison/CNET
I can see what Camp Snap was trying for with the looks of some of the filters, but because the underlying images are mediocre, the filters end up looking like the kind of filters you’d get on a cheap digital camera that you never use after the first day.
Then again, that’s not entirely different than what Camp Snap says it’s going for with this camera. Such marketing just ends up feeling like “if you can’t fix it, feature it,” though. Or to put it another way, you could do what these filters are doing on a camera that produces better images, and the final result would overall be better.
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Maybe I’m overthinking it. If people wanted “better” photos, they wouldn’t be looking to mimic old disposable cameras.
More camp, less snap
Geoff Morrison/CNET
I’ve mentioned it a bunch in this review because I came away from my time with the Flashback rather enamored with it. It’s a nostalgia-induced dopamine hit for those who used disposable cameras and something delightfully retro for many (most?) of its potential customers that likely never experienced such things the first time around. That’s fine — every generation has that about something.
The bones on the Flashback were good, though. It took decent pictures for a $120 camera, and it was easy to use. I didn’t get that same warm feeling after my time with the Camp Snap. This is a very inexpensive camera that feels and performs like a very inexpensive camera, trying to mimic something it isn’t.
The Camp Snap has the added hassle of needing to connect to a computer to view your images. Not ideal. Even if you have a microSD card reader for your phone, you’d need to also carry a tiny screwdriver to get at the card. Also not ideal.
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Then there’s the pictures themselves, which are retro but in a bad way. The Flashback presents images that are an idealized aesthetic of what once was. The Camp Snap is what was, specifically, the worst cameras of the era.
Swan boats with the 101Clone filter taken approximately 0.75 miles from the 101 highway.
Geoff Morrison/CNET
Physically, though, it looks great, and is available in a selection of colors I wish more products had in this era of grays on grays on grays. I don’t believe for a second they sell out of specific colors as often as its website says. That manufactured scarcity seems to be a trend in budget camera viral marketing.
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For a little more, the Flashback is the better option. Also, for the same price as that camera is a step-up Camp Snap model, the CS-Pro, which has a 16-megapixel resolution and the ability to choose between four filters on the fly. Plus, it upgrades the flash from the base model’s LED to Xenon.
That latter feature should help get that 90s flashbang look when using it. Camp Snap’s marketing says it has better image quality, but it still doesn’t have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It also has a silver-on-black design that looks like SLRs from the 70s. To each their own, but I prefer the color options of the base Camp, snappy as they are.
While there are Canadian AI companies, they remain for-profit enterprises, their interests not necessarily aligned with our collective good. The only real alternative is to be bold and invest in a wholly Canadian public AI: an AI model built and funded by Canada for Canadians, as public infrastructure. This would give Canadians access to the myriad of benefits from AI without having to depend on the U.S. or other countries. It would mean Canadian universities and public agencies building and operating AI models optimized not for global scale and corporate profit, but for practical use by Canadians…
We are already on our way to having AI become an inextricable part of society. To ensure stability and prosperity for this country, Canadian users and developers must be able to turn to AI models built, controlled, and operated publicly in Canada instead of building on corporate platforms, American or otherwise… [Switzerland’s funding of a public AI model, Apertus] represents precisely the paradigm shift Canada should embrace: AI as public infrastructure, like systems for transportation, water, or electricity, rather than private commodity… Public AI systems can incorporate mechanisms for genuine public input and democratic oversight on critical ethical questions: how to handle copyrighted works in training data, how to mitigate bias, how to distribute access when demand outstrips capacity, and how to license use for sensitive applications like policing or medicine…
Canada already has many of the building blocks for public AI. The country has world-class AI research institutions, including the Vector Institute, Mila, and CIFAR, which pioneered much of the deep learning revolution. Canada’s $2-billion Sovereign AI Compute Strategy provides substantial funding. What’s needed now is a reorientation away from viewing this as an opportunity to attract private capital, and toward a fully open public AI model. Long-time Slashdot reader sinij has a different opinion. “To me, this sounds dystopian, because I can also imagine AI declining your permits, renewal of license, or medication due to misalignment or ‘greater good’ reasons.”
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But the Schneier/Sanders essays argues this creates “an alternative ownership structure for AI technology” that is allocating decision-making authority and value “to national public institutions rather than foreign corporations.”
If you’re at all familiar with digital computing, you’ll know that computers represent everything in binary values of one and zero. Except that’s not technically the only way to do computing! You can use any numerical system you like if you build your hardware to suit, as [Jeroen Brinkman’s] ternary adder demonstrates.
As you might guess from the prefix, “ternary” refers to a base-3 numerical system. In this case, [Jeroen] implemented a balanced ternary system, which effectively uses values of -, 0, and + instead of just 1 and 0. The adder is built using relay logic, and is designed to handle 4 trits—the ternary equivalent of bits, where each trit can have one of the three aforementioned states. On a hardware level, trit states are represented with voltages of -5, 0, or 5 V in this case, and are handled with special tri-state switching elements that [Jeroen] constructed out of simple SPDT relays.
[Jeroen]’s write-up does a great job of explaining both ternary basics as well as the functioning of the adder. It’s also quite intuitive because it’s possible to see the relays clicking away and the LEDs flashing on and off as the circuit does its work to add values stored in ternary format.
If you’re cooking up your own computing apparatus that uses some weird number system or something, remember—we’d love to hear about it on the tipsline!
Unlike recent MacBook Air and Pro models, where Apple’s unibody “top case” design turns keyboard problems into major surgery, the Neo’s keyboard is treated as its own part rather than being permanently bundled with the upper shell. Read Entire Article Source link
David Pogue, author of “Apple: The First 50 Years” is our special guest talking about what did and did not make it into the book, plus there are rumors of the HomeHub and real-world news of the MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.
David Pogue talks about his new history of Apple book
Pogue is everywhere this week, talking about his 600-page history of Apple, but now you can hear the very first interview he gave about it. Listen to the stories behind the book, but also hear just how keen he was to find out what AppleInsider thought of it. Listen to the interview here or read the lightly-edited transcript. It’s a wide-ranging interview, but of course the book is not the only thing happening this week. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Microsoft is investigating several issues causing email synchronization and connection problems when using the classic Outlook desktop client.
The first bug causes “Can’t connect to the server” errors when creating groups in classic Outlook when Exchange Web Services (EWS) is enabled for the tenant.
According to Microsoft, this occurs because the AD Graph call for ValidateUnifiedGroupProperties fails with the following error: “An internal server error occurred. The operation failed. Both AAD and MSGraph clients are null or AAD Graph is disabled for this API.”
“The Outlook Team is working to release updated group functionality that uses REST APIs which will address this issue. We will update this topic as soon as we know the REST release specifics,” Microsoft said in a recently published support document.
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Until a fix is available, Microsoft advises affected users to create and edit groups using the new Outlook client or Outlook Web Access (OWA).
The other known issue is triggering 0x800CCC0F and 0x80070057 when synchronizing Gmail and Yahoo accounts in classic Outlook.
Classic Outlook sync errors (Microsoft)
“After changing your Gmail or Yahoo account passwords in classic Outlook you are not prompted to sign in. There might be other circumstances that lead to this same issue that we are investigating,” Microsoft said.
The Outlook team is working to identify the root cause of this known issue and will share more details once a fix is available.
Until then, customers are advised to work around the sync problems by deleting the registry entries for the affected email address under the Identities key at Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity\Identities in the Windows Registry Editor.
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Deleting Outlook Identities (Microsoft)
Microsoft is also investigating a classic Outlook bug, acknowledged almost two months after the first reports surfaced online, that causes the mouse pointer to disappear for some users. The same issue also affects some users of OneNote and other Microsoft 365 apps.
Redmond has asked affected customers to open a support case with the Outlook Support Team through their Microsoft 365 admin and submit diagnostic log files to assist the Outlook team with analysis.
As temporary workarounds, affected users can click an email in the message list when the cursor disappears, which may cause it to reappear, or switch to PowerPoint, click into an editable area, and then return to Outlook, which may also restore the mouse pointer.
If neither of them works, Microsoft said that restarting the impacted computer should also resolve the issue temporarily.
Microsoft has released an out-of-band (OOB) update to fix a security vulnerabilities affecting Windows 11 Enterprise devices that receive hotpatch updates instead of the regular Patch Tuesday cumulative updates.
The KB5084597 hotpatch update was released yesterday to fix vulnerabilities in the Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) management tool that could allow remote code execution when connecting to a malicious server.
“Microsoft has identified a security issue in the Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) management tool that could allow remote code execution when connecting to a malicious server,” reads an advisory from Microsoft.
“This issue only applies to a limited set of scenarios involving Enterprise client devices running hotpatch updates and being used for remote server management.”
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The KB5084597 update is for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, as well as Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 systems.
“An attacker authenticated on the domain could exploit this vulnerability by tricking a domain-joined user into sending a request to a malicious server via the Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) Snap-in,” reads the description for all three flaws.
The company says the hotpatch update is cumulative and includes all fixes and improvements from the March 2026 Windows security update released on March 10.
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While the vulnerabilities were already fixed on Patch Tuesday, installing cumulative updates requires devices to be rebooted. However, some devices are used for mission-critical applications and services that cannot be easily rebooted.
To protect these types of devices, hotpatch updates apply new vulnerability fixes by performing in-memory patching of running processes to deliver fixes. At the same time, they update the files on disk so that the next time the device reboots, the fixes are still present.
Microsoft says it previously released hotfixes for these flaws, but re-released them yesterday “ensure comprehensive coverage across all affected scenarios.”
However, Microsoft says the hotpatch will only be offered to devices enrolled in the hotpatch update program and managed through Windows Autopatch, where it will be installed automatically without requiring a restart.
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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.
Few electric scooters can touch 70 mph, let alone flirt with 100. Determined to close that gap himself, President Chay spent several weeks in his workshop piecing together something truly out of the ordinary. At the heart of it were three QS273 motors, each capable of putting out 30,000 watts on their own, adding up to a staggering 90,000 watts at peak output. Power came from three separate battery packs, each running at 72 volts and 45 amp hours, with every single pack requiring 600 individual lithium ion cells to build.
All that battery capacity translated directly into range, with calculations suggesting the scooter could cover more than 100 miles on a full charge. Keeping everything stable under that kind of weight and power was its own engineering challenge, and the answer was a robust aluminum frame built to absorb the stress without flexing. Dirt bike forks handled the front end, while custom steel brackets at the rear kept the axles locked firmly in place. Additional bracing was added around the neck and the belly of the frame to house all the electronics and keep the whole thing composed when the torque really starts to build.
POWERFUL MOTOR AND LONG BATTERY LIFE – The 350W electric brushless hub motor allows for speeds up to 18mph. High capacity battery with a Max. travel…
STABLE AND DURABLE FOR COMMUTING – Extremely smooth when accelerating and turning, Hiboy electric scooters have been made solid and durable quality…
BEING SAFER WITH TECHNOLOGY – Hiboy E-Scooter S2 are made with front, middle and rear 3 lights. And double braking system features a disc braking and…
Suspension came next, with simple shocks and pillow block bushings fitted to keep all four wheels planted on even the roughest surfaces. By the time everything was bolted together and a rider climbed aboard, the whole machine tipped the scales at 400 pounds. Hit full throttle and none of that weight seemed to matter in the slightest. Fifty miles per hour arrived in roughly two seconds, leaving a very convincing set of black marks on the pavement as proof.
Testing started with a single motor on a controlled stand, and the numbers were immediately eye opening, with wheel speed climbing past 120 miles per hour before hitting its limits. Out on the open road with all three motors singing together, things got seriously interesting. The quickest run saw the GPS clock 99.4 miles per hour, close enough to the century mark that the team celebrated as though they had actually cracked it. What nobody quite expected was how planted and composed the scooter felt at those speeds. They even had the rider lift both hands off the handlebars for a stretch, and the scooter just carried on without so much as a wobble.
The ultimate test came in the form of a side by side drag race against a stock Gotrax scooter, and it was over almost before it began. The custom build launched off the line and was gone, leaving the Gotrax looking rather sorry for itself. Even after all those high speed runs the range held up impressively well, which was a result in itself.
A fresh Windows 11 bug is causing serious headaches for some PC owners, and Samsung laptop users appear to be bearing the brunt of it. Microsoft has confirmed reports that certain devices running recent Windows 11 builds can suddenly lose access to the system drive after installing a February 2026 security update.
Microsoft
When the issue triggers, users see the error message “C: is not accessible – Access denied”, effectively locking them out of the drive where Windows and most applications reside. The company says it is actively investigating the issue and working with Samsung to determine the root cause. For affected users, though, the problem can render their machines partially unusable.
Why are Samsung laptops being hit the hardest?
According to Microsoft’s release health documentation, the issue has been reported mainly on Samsung consumer devices such as the Galaxy Book 4 series running Windows 11 versions 24H2 or 25H2. Add to that, it’s predominantly in regions like India, Brazil, Portugal, and South Korea, indicating the bug isn’t limited to a single market.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Early investigation suggests the bug may be connected to the Samsung Share application, though Microsoft says the root cause has not yet been fully confirmed. The problem appears after installing the February 2026 Patch Tuesday update (KB5077181), which corresponds to OS build 26100.7840. Interestingly, the failure isn’t tied to any specific user action. Instead, it can surface during routine tasks like opening files, launching apps, or performing administrative operations. Once triggered, Windows may suddenly deny permission to the system drive, breaking access to files and programs stored on it.
What actually happens when the bug strikes?
The impact goes well beyond a simple error message. Affected systems may fail to launch everyday software such as Outlook, Office apps, web browsers, and Windows utilities, because those programs rely on files stored on the C drive. In some cases, the permission issues also prevent users from elevating privileges, uninstalling updates, or even collecting diagnostic logs.
Windows 11 / Microsoft
Some users online have suggested temporary workarounds, such as manually changing file ownership permissions for the entire system drive. However, doing so could weaken Windows’ built-in protections and expose the system to further risks. For now, Microsoft has not provided an official fix. The company says it is investigating the reports alongside Samsung and will share more information once the root cause is confirmed.
