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YouTube is testing a new subscription option that could remove most ads

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YouTube is testing a new version of its Premium Lite subscription

YouTube is testing a new version of its Premium Lite subscription tier in Australia, Germany and Thailand, a Google rep confirmed. It would have limited ads, which the fine print describes as most videos being ad-free, “but you may see video ads on music content and Shorts, and non-interruptive ads when you search and browse.”

The original Premium Lite subscription began testing in Europe in 2021, but it only lasted a few years, being phased out in October 2023. It was very much “lite, lacking the offline or background viewing of the regular Premium subscription.

The pricing model for these early tests in Australia is $9 a month for Premium Lite, compared with $17 a month for full Premium access, roughly in line with the original Lite costs.

— Mat Smith

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A new trailer for the Dune: Prophecy series just dropped

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How to stream via a VPN on Roku

After the success of Fallout, Amazon wants its next Prime Video gaming adaptation to match that level — and it’s apparently willing to start afresh to do so. Deadline reported that the God of War showrunner and two executive producers have left the project as it shifts direction. The series is an adaptation of the 2018 franchise reboot.

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It looks like the kind of kitchen purchase the antagonist millionaires of Ex Machina or Knives Out would be tempted by. The Moley Robotics’ X-AiR starts at $105,000. So far, Moley hasn’t installed a single robot but expects the process to begin in the next three to six months — people have bought into the arm already.

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X-AiR has no built-in vision or sensing technology. Instead, the robot arm moves around its space from memory, knowing where all the ingredients, oils and tools should be. But while it can cook (with pans and everything), it can’t peel a carrot. Is this a robot that only does the fun part of cooking? We made Daniel Cooper eat tofu.

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The best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now

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October 19, 2024

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The best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now

The sci-fi selection on Netflix is getting even thinner, as Starship Troopers, Star Trek Beyond, and Edge of Tomorrow are all leaving by the end of October. Some of the replacements are Elysium and A Quiet Place Part II, both of which are very good movies. Having said that, Netflix really needs to beef up its available titles for science-fiction lovers, because we shouldn’t have to go on a scavenger hunt through the algorithm just to find worthy additions.

Keep reading for the rest of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix. We’ll always update the list every month to reflect the latest additions and subtractions from Netflix’s lineup. Hopefully, we’ll have a wider selection in November.

We’ve curated guides to the best sci-fi movies on Amazon Prime Video and the best sci-fi movies on Hulu, too. Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.


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Some iPhone 16 Pro units are suddenly freezing and restarting

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31 mins ago

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October 19, 2024

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Some iPhone 16 Pro units are suddenly freezing and restarting

Apple products are usually among the most reliable on the market. However, that doesn’t exempt them from occasional problems, which in some cases can be serious. Fans of the brand have been able to test the iPhone 16 series since September, discovering new features and improvements, but also bugs. According to reports, some iPhone 16 Pro units are suddenly freezing and restarting with no apparent explanation.

A few days after the release of the iPhone 16 lineup, complaints about the problem flooded social platforms and support forums. Most of the reports about restarts and freezes come from owners of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, so those variants would be more prone to manifest them. Not all users experience the issue, but the number of complaints about it is enough to draw attention.

A bug is causing freezes and reboots on some iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max devices

Affected people claim that the screen of their iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max suddenly stops responding to touches. Soon after, the device will automatically reboot itself. There are also cases where phones suddenly reboot when in standby mode. The bug is present on iPhone 16 Pro models running iOS 18/iOS 18.0.1 stable and iOS 18.1 beta. So, it doesn’t seem to be the same case of the battery drain issue affecting more generations of iPhones where iOS 18 seems to be the cause.

The fact that the bug is only present on some units, regardless of their software version, may raise concerns about potential hardware-related issues. Anyway, there is nothing confirmed about it yet. Some of the affected customers claim to have managed to get a replacement device after resorting to their warranty. Sadly, in some cases, the issue was still present even on the replacement units.

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Also, not all affected phones are experiencing the issue in the same way. There are cases where the freezes and reboots are sporadic, while there are others where they happen up to 20 times a day.

There’s a workaround that could help

Some reports suggest that a factory reset without restoring your backup helps resolve things. This suggests that a potential bug during the restoration of iCloud backups could be the cause of the frustrating situation. However, the workaround will make the setup process for your new device more tedious.

There is still no official word from Apple regarding the cases of iPhone 16 models freezing and restarting. Hopefully it won’t take long for updates to emerge regarding the problem.

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Amazon’s new basic streamer is the $35 Fire TV Stick HD

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52 mins ago

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October 19, 2024

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Amazon's new basic streamer is the $35 Fire TV Stick HD

Amazon has given its basic Fire TV Stick what seems to be a rebranding and has even shaved off a few dollars from its pricing. When you visit its old listing on the website, you’ll see a note that says “There’s a newer model of this product,” which links to the new Fire TV Stick HD. We call it a “rebranding,” since its specs seem pretty much identical to the company’s old basic streamer. It can stream in full HD resolution, comes with HDR support and ships with an Alexa-powered remote control. You can press the Alexa button on its remote to search for shows and launch apps with just a voice command.

The device can run the most popular streaming apps, like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Peacock, and its remote comes with special buttons for Netflix and Prime Video. Unlike the old version that set you back $40, though, the new Fire TV Stick HD has a base price of $35. That’s only $5 more than the version that ships with a “lite” remote that has few buttons for control. If you want a streamer that’s capable of handing 4K shows and movies, though, this isn’t the model to go for. Amazon has several options to choose from, namely the Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max with 16GB of storage and the Fire TV Cube that offers hands-free streaming with its built-in mic and speakers.

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Game studios are getting candid about funding problems | Kaser Focus

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1 hour ago

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October 19, 2024

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Game studios are getting candid about funding problems | Kaser Focus

The games industry’s economic struggles are not exactly an unknown — by now, it’s been over a year since the layoffs, studio closures and game cancellations began in earnest. Somewhere in the midst of this, game companies have become somewhat more transparent about the goings-on behind the scenes. And recently, that’s taken the form of admitting when they’ve simply run out of money. Surgent Studios revealed today it’s put its staff on notice as it’s having trouble securing a publisher for its next game. This is after it’s already had a round of layoffs following the underperformance of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU.

Surgent is not the only studio that has gotten frank about its inability to secure stable funding. Earlier this month, Orphan Age developer Studio Black Flag revealed its deal with its publisher fell through, and the French government shut it down when its funding disappeared. It called itself “another casualty of the current downturn in the video game industry.” Similarly, Italic Pig, developers of Paleo Pines, said in a social media statement that it couldn’t find a production partner for its next game, and said the whole indie gaming scene was facing “a sudden drying up of publishing and investment opportunities.”

I feel that the first instance of a game company being so honest was last September, when Pieces Interactive delayed Alone in the Dark and flat-out admitted that it didn’t want to release the game in the already over-crowded month of October: “Horror games thrive on the eerie embrace of solitude, something that is impossible to achieve in a gaming month as busy as October.” But being honest about the reasons behind delays is one thing — being honest about money troubles is another level of sincerity.

In personal news, I’m ready to get properly spooky this season with the release of A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, which reminds me of Alien: Isolation in the best way. I’m not sure I’m up for replaying Until Dawn again — keeping those shrieking brats alive for one playthrough was difficult enough — but if I need a palate cleanser, Piranha Games just dropped MechWarrior 5: Clans. And if nothing else, there’s always the new Mario Party title, Super Mario Party Jamboree.

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What to play this week

What’s new:

  • Super Mario Party Jamboree
  • MechWarrior 5: Clans
  • A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead
  • Neva
  • Just Dance 2025 Edition
  • Unknown 9: Awakening
  • Drove – Forsaken Kin
  • New World: Aeternum
  • Killing Time: Resurrected
  • RetroRealms: Ash vs. Evil Dead
  • RetroRealms: Halloween
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed
  • Arsene Lupin: Once a Thief

New on subscription services:

  • South Park: The Fractured but Whole (Xbox Game Pass)
  • Donut County (Xbox Game Pass)
  • Dead Island 2 (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Two Point Campus (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Gris (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Return to Monkey Island (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Firefighting Simulator The Squad (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Overpass 2 (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Tour de France 2023 (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands (PlayStation Plus Extra+Premium)
  • The Last Clockwinder (PlayStation Plus Premium)
  • Dino Crisis (PlayStation Plus Premium)
  • Siren (PlayStation Plus Premium)
  • R-Type Dimensions EX (PlayStation Plus Premium)
  • Mystery Box: Hidden Secrets (Prime Gaming)
  • Vlad Circus: Descend Into Madness (Prime Gaming)
  • Through the Darkest of Times (Prime Gaming)
  • Killing Floor 2 (Prime Gaming)
  • Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol (Prime Gaming)
  • Assassin’s Creed Mirage (GeForce Now)
  • Artisan TD (GeForce Now)
  • ASKA (GeForce Now)
  • Dungeon Tycoon (GeForce Now)
  • Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (GeForce Now)
  • Star Trucker (GeForce Now)

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iFixit’s Meta Quest 3S teardown reveals a Quest 2 ‘hiding inside’

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2 hours ago

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October 19, 2024

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iFixit’s Meta Quest 3S teardown reveals a Quest 2 ‘hiding inside’

What if I told you the Meta Quest 3S is in some ways just a more powerful Quest 2 with color passthrough? “Yes, of course it is,” someone who’s read our coverage might say, but iFixit shows just how true that is in the teardown video it published today.

The first hint of that is the headset’s Fresnel lenses, which iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari writes in a blog post are “100% compatible” with those used by the Quest 2. The headset has the older headset’s IPD adjustment mechanism, as well; and it shares the same single LCD panel, rather than using one panel per eye, like the Meta Quest 3.

This is what sits behind the faceplate of the Quest 3S.
Screenshot: YouTube

Legacy parts aside, iFixit found that the 3S uses two IR sensors for depth mapping instead of a single depth sensor. That “rare iterative improvement over the Quest 3” performed “exceptionally well in unlit spaces,” Mokhtari writes in the blog. And of course, it uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 SoC as the Quest 3, and works with Meta’s newer Touch Plus controllers, which are sold separately.

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As iFixit notes, none of this should be considered a bad thing. The changes make the headset cheaper — the Quest 3S costs $299.99, while the Quest 3 is $499.99. It also means that if those reused parts break, it’s not hard to find replacements for them, since the Quest 2 has already been around for four years.

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Discord is firing back against MapleStory devs over copyright infringement and users are caught in the crossfire

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2 hours ago

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October 19, 2024

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Smartphone hacked with data flow in the background

Behind the scenes of one of the biggest social media platforms has been an epic struggle with a valuable payout — user data. But not just any user data mind you. This struggle allegedly involves Nexon Korea Corporation, a South Korean video game maker, trying to obtain the data of copyright infringers on the Discord platform.

Nexon Korea Corporation is behind well-known video games such as MapleStory, MapleStory2, Sudden Attack, The Kingdom of the Winds, Dungeon & Fighter, Grand Chase, Dave the Diver, and Elsword. And it seems that Nexon has had multiple criminal copyright infringement complaints against other Korean servers that players use to run Nexon’s games, including one such culprit who is currently on the run and wanted by Interpol.

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