Home Blog Page 509

Filecoin Pay Expands Onchain Payments as FIL Price Outlook Strengthens

Admin
-
0
Filecoin Pay Expands Onchain Payments as FIL Price Outlook Strengthens

news

Filecoin Pay is advancing decentralized storage payments, with sponsored payment rails prepared to let applications cover storage expenses for users. The advancement might enhance availability and assistance more comprehensive adoption of Filecoin Onchain Cloud. The FIL rate deals with an essential resistance level, with a possible breakout reinforcing the short-term bullish outlook.

Filecoin Pay Advances Onchain Cloud Adoption

Filecoin Pay is currently settling payments for paid use of Filecoin Onchain Cloud, according to Filecoin. The advancement marks development in linking decentralized storage services with payment facilities, enabling clients to spend for cloud services through the network’s payment system.

The next organized addition is sponsored payment rails, which would permit applications to cover storage costs on behalf of their users. This technique might get rid of the requirement for people to acquire storage independently, making decentralized storage much easier to gain access to through applications and digital services.

Filecoin Pay is currently settling payments for paid use of Filecoin Onchain Cloud.

Next on the roadmap are sponsored payment rails, which would permit an app to spend for its users’storage so individuals can utilize the app without purchasing storage themselves.https:// t.co/ 1F4EgCEALT

— Filecoin (@Filecoin) October 9, 2026

If executed effectively, sponsored payments might lower onboarding friction for designers constructing items on Filecoin. More comprehensive adoption will depend on the function’s rollout, application combination, and need for decentralized storage services.

Check Out: FIL Price Eyes $0.82 Resistance as Filecoin Promotes Decentralized Storage Flexibility

The organized payment rails might provide designers more versatility when incorporating Filecoin Onchain Cloud into their applications. Rather of asking users to handle storage payments straight, applications might cover those expenses as part of their service offering.

This option would assist increase the availability of decentralized storage for the public, which might do not have familiarity with blockchain-based payments. This might open brand-new possibilities for utilizing Filecoin facilities through developments in incorporating storage services into consumer-oriented items.

That being stated, this release alone can not validate any development in the requirement for storage and in FIL purchasing pressure. Adoption levels, storage operations, and their connection with token need would be vital elements for determining the impact of the release in the long term.

FIL Faces $1.20 Resistance After First Target Achievement

FIL is nearing the $1.20 level of resistance that is discussed by crypto trader CRYPTOTANX. The trader revealed a 23% gain from this trade and stated that the very first target has actually been reached, putting concentrate on the capability of the token to break through the 2nd technical barrier.

Source: CRYPTOTANX’s X Post

A continual push above$ 1.20 might improve the short-term bull circumstance. It will be volume and how rates respond after breaking above this resistance that will provide us an

concept of whether the bulls will continue to apply their supremacy. Failure to breach this barrier might lead to combination.

Breakout Sets $1.50–$1.65 as the Next Target Range

If FIL has the ability to break above$ 1.20, CRYPTOTANX anticipated that$1.50 -$1.65 might be the prospective short-term target variety. The analysis suggests there might be more upside after the accomplishment of the very first target, however it will depend upon rate action.

The resistance level will be the primary determining consider the circumstance. A breakout would indicate that the anticipated variety will end up being clear, whereas a rejection at $1.20 will take more time for the exact same to take place. The anticipated targets are not guaranteed and will depend on the total crypto market.

What Comes Next for FIL?

The next worrying turning point for Filecoin is the introducing of payment channels for the Onchain Cloud platform. This effort might make storage payments simpler and increase the applications that are developed on top of Filecoin’s network. The adoption of this advancement and its effect on storage will provide us a response to its sustainability.

Traders’ main issue still depends on the efficiency of FIL in the area of $1.20. The breakout will likely result in a boost to $1.50-$1.65. The rejection will deteriorate the bullish setup. Development towards the execution of the Filecoin payments roadmap and basic market conditions will be crucial for the more efficiency of FIL.

Check Out: FIL Price Eyes a Move to $1.97 as Filecoin Advances Network Development

This post includes market analysis and rate forecasts. These are not assurances. Crypto markets are unstable. Constantly DYOR. Not monetary guidance

business news Usman Zafar Usman Zafar

Usman Zafar

Usman Zafar is a News Desk author at Tronweekly with over 5 years of experience in cryptocurrency and blockchain journalism. He covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, crypto laws and guideline, market activity, Layer 2 scaling services, and blockchain-based developments, concentrating on fast-moving advancements and main market updates. Usman formerly composed for BTCread and follows stringent confirmation and modifying practices to make sure precise, prompt, and accountable crypto news for an international audience.

Articles: 1437

India’s ₹ defence raises a critical question

Admin
-
0
India’s ₹ defence raises a critical question

Run-through

The Reserve Bank of India executed strong steps to stabilise the rupee as external pressures magnify. This consists of opening a dollar window for state-owned oil refiners and presenting a brand-new reserve requirement for foreign-exchange derivatives. Experts anticipate the rupee to rally however warn that sustaining those gains might be hard due to high oil rates and foreign fund outflows.

Bloomberg

Excess money in India’s banking system has actually risen in the middle of inflows from the forex mobilisation programs.

The Reserve Bank of India is expanding its defenses to consistent the rupee, taking a few of its greatest procedures given that the 2013 taper temper tantrum. That may provide the currency an increase as trading resumes Monday, however the concern stays: how far is the reserve bank happy to go as external pressures install?

The RBI took the actions early Saturday as the rupee once again neared a record low. They consist of opening a dollar window for state-owned oil refiners and presenting a reserve requirement for foreign-exchange derivatives, comparable to one utilized by China’s reserve bank. The relocations come simply after the RBI raised rate of interest on Wednesday and signified it was open to more financial tightening up.

The rupee is poised to rally when trading resumes Monday, with experts anticipating the RBI to protect the 97-per-dollar level. Sustaining any gains might show harder, nevertheless– oil rates stay stubbornly high, while abroad funds have actually pulled more than $30 billion from Indian equities this year.

RBI tightens up guidelines for forex bets to protect bruised rupee

“It is challenging to continuously function as a guard when pressure keeps developing,” stated G. Mahalingam, a previous RBI executive director who became part of a 2019 job force established to take a look at abroad rupee trading. “The actions are a few of the greatest we have actually seen given that the taper temper tantrum. The reserve bank is developing layers of defenses as the Middle East war reveals indications of heightening and inflows are drying up.”

The RBI has actually currently taken a number of actions to reinforce its foreign-exchange resources. Its diaspora deposit program raised a record $133 billion, swelling its forex reserves to almost $800 billion in early September. The pressure to safeguard the currency has actually considering that drained pipes $51 billion from reserves in the previous 4 weeks.

The rupee has actually deteriorated 7% this year, the worst efficiency in Asia. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated it was underestimated on some assesses, which markets can be illogical in the short-term. The currency closed somewhat above its record low of 96.9650 per dollar on Friday.

Bloomberg

“It is definitely obvious now that 97 per dollar is the RBI’s line in the sand for the rupee,”stated Abhishek Upadhyay, an economic expert at ICICI Securities Primary Dealership Ltd. The RBI’s message is that the rupee’s fall has actually been too sharp and the reserve bank wants to do what it requires to avoid a brand-new record low, he stated.

The steps develop on series of actions the RBI has actually required to support the rupee. Previously, it restricted everyday web employment opportunities for banks at $100 million and disallowed loan providers from using customers non-deliverable agreements rupee agreements, a limitation it later on rolled back. In June, the authority revealed its diaspora deposit program days after New Delhi eliminated taxes on bond financial investments by worldwide funds.

RBI might raise repo rate by 75-100 bps in existing cycle: Report

The most recent actions target need in the foreign-exchange derivatives market. For the very first time, the RBI presented a foreign-exchange danger reserve, needing loan providers to accept the reserve bank the rupee equivalent of 20% of the notional worth of each acquired deal above $2 million. Individuals’s Bank of China has a comparable tool to handle pressures on the yuan by differing the reserve requirement on forward agreements.

The RBI likewise stated canceled forward agreements can not be rebooked. It reduced the limitation on foreign-exchange acquired deals without evidence of a hidden property to $5 million from $100 million. While the relocations might assist steady the rupee, the curbs on the derivatives market might likewise rise hedging expenses for business looking for to handle their currency direct exposure, traders stated.

graphBloomberg

“The issue is that routine importers who wish to handle their currency dangers wisely might now discover hedging harder and costly,”stated Samir Lodha, creator and handling director at QuantArt Market Solutions Pvt.

The expense of hedging dollars for a year has actually risen by more than 100 basis points over the previous 2 months as the reserve bank has actually been doing sell/buy swaps to take in surplus liquidity. Excess money in India’s banking system has actually risen in the middle of inflows from the forex mobilization programs.

The procedures might suppress some need for dollars, however they do not alleviate the pressure from energy costs and foreign fund outflows, according to Dhiraj Nim, forex strategist at Australia & & New Zealand Banking Group in Mumbai.

“It purchases time however does not alter the image: oil costs and capital circulations will still choose the rupee’s instructions,” he stated. “The coming week’s reserves information and rupee relocations will demonstrate how well this is working.”

BTC, ETH, XRP Crash Sparks Whale Accumulation as Buy Signals Appear

Admin
-
0
BTC, ETH, XRP Crash Sparks Whale Accumulation as Buy Signals Appear

It was a hard week for the crypto markets, however here are the bright side.

Many significant cryptocurrencies tanked over the previous a number of days, led by bitcoin’s nosedive from $87,000 to under $81,000, which became its least expensive price in well over 2 weeks.

Big altcoins such as XRP and ETH were not spared, with the previous publishing a double-digit decrease over the previous seven-day duration. The concern now is what whales were doing throughout this time, and what’s next for the underlying properties.

The BTC Case

A few of the most likely factors behind BTC’s crash consist of significant ETF outflows, FUD started by huge transfers from the United States federal government, macro news, and profit-taking. It’s worth exploring what whales did throughout this time of distress, and Ali Martinez indicated a growing build-up spree.

In a current video on X, the popular expert stated these big market individuals pushed the buy button hard on bitcoin, including over $1.2 billion worth of the possession to their holdings in 72 hours.

In another bullish post, he discussed that the TD Sequential has actually lastly flashed a buy signal for the cryptocurrency on the four-hour chart. This followed the property collapsed by 7% in a couple of days and mean a possible rebound.

2/5 The TD Sequential is flashing a buy signal on Bitcoin’s four-hour chart.

It follows $BTC fell 5.55%, from $86,976 on October 5 to$ 82,150 today.

The signal recommends this pullback might be nearing an end, with a rebound now worth enjoying. https://t.co/o9ZS4Q1anl

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) October 8, 2026

Here’s ETH’s Situation

The leading altcoin crashed hard too, toppling from over $2,700 to $2,400 before it discovered some assistance. It rebounded to $2,500 on Friday, where it was stopped, it still stays well in the red on a weekly scale.

You might likewise like:

  • Bitcoin Price Under Pressure as Houthis Attack Saudi Arabia and Trump Signals United States Involvement

  • These 5 Bitcoin Indicators Have Turned Bullish for the First Time Since 2025: Report

  • Bitcoin Sees Second-Biggest Profit-Taking Day of 2026 After Climbing Past $87K

According to Martinez, Ethereum whales didn’t simply base on the sidelines. They increased their holdings by 0.64%: to put it simply, they acquired around 166,000 tokens as the property’s rate fixed.

ETH’s 8% decrease likewise resulted in a modification in the TD Sequential indication. Comparable to BTC, the four-hour chart flashed a buy signal once the possession slipped listed below $2,550, where it presently sits. Martinez kept in mind that the healing can take ETH to someplace in between $2,620 and $2,650.

What About XRP?

Ripple’s native token remains down by double digits on a weekly scale, despite the fact that it rebounded from the regional low at $1.34. On the plus side, the rejection at $1.51 and the subsequent retracement permitted whales to resume their build-up spree.

Martinez stated these huge market gamers purchased over 45 million tokens, worth around $63 million, throughout the nosedive. And, not to be surpassed by BTC and ETH, XRP’s four-hour chart likewise saw a brand-new buy signal, according to the TD Sequential.

“An earlier sell signal lined up carefully with XRP’s regional high. Now, the concern is whether this buy signal marks a regional low,” included Martinez.

SpaceX to $1,000 in 2027? Follow the AI Factory Math

Admin
-
0
SpaceX to $1,000 in 2027? Follow the AI Factory Math

One brand-new AI information center each month represents $25 billion in yearly profits capability every month and after that it will triple to $75 billion each month with Rubin chips in 2027. Finishing centers at a regular monthly rate would make building and construction speed a significant motorist of SpaceX’s assessment.

That is the core of the $1,000-per-share SpaceX situation for 2027.

SpaceX has INSANE speed to turn power, structures, chips, and consumer need into running centers– and after that into profits. It will grow faster than any business ever.

Start With One Data Center

My standard computation utilizes a half-gigawatt center and a presumed leasing rate of$50 billion per gigawatt each year:

** 0.5 GW × $50 billion per GW-year=$25 billion in yearly profits capability. **

4 centers at those presumptions would represent **$100 billion in yearly income capability **.

That is the significance of the four-center late-2026 buildout gone over in the video. It develops a possible production rhythm that might continue into 2027.

These figures explain annualized capability at the designed rates and usage. A center opening in December does not create a complete year of income in December. Opening dates, client ramp-up, and real usage identify just how much income appears in the monetary declarations.

Month-to-month Construction Changes the Scale

If SpaceX finished twelve equivalent centers in a year, those additions would represent $300 billion in yearly earnings capability as soon as completely running at the standard presumptions.

That is not a projection of $300 billion in income gathered from those centers throughout their building and construction year. It reveals the scale of the earnings base a continual month-to-month construct rate might produce.

This is why building and construction speed matters a lot. A repeatable procedure for providing AI centers can broaden making capability far quicker than periodic, separated jobs.

Business concern ends up being: can SpaceX preserve that speed while protecting chips, power, clients, and funding?

Faster Chips Will Multiply Revenue and Profits

The conversation likewise checks out how next-generation Nvidia hardware might increase the efficient worth of a center.

Better calculation from the offered facilities might enhance its economics. A hardware efficiency enhancement does not immediately produce the exact same portion boost in income. Rates, consumer work, usage, and running expenses all matter.

Chip shipment in volume is for that reason among the turning points to see.

How Does This Become a $1,000 Share-Price Scenario?

Profits capability alone can not develop a share rate. The total chain is:

** Operating capability → acknowledged profits → net profits → incomes per share → evaluation several. **

Each action requires its own presumptions. Building and construction expenses and funding impact the economics. Margins figure out just how much income ends up being revenue. Share count figures out profits per share. The evaluation several identifies what financiers spend for those incomes.

Herbert and I overcome that chain and the presumptions behind my $1,000 situation.

The most helpful takeaway is a set of running turning points: centers finished, chips set up, consumers utilizing the capability, and revenues following the buildout.

Those outcomes will reveal whether the appraisal case is reinforcing.

Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blog writer with 1 million readers monthly. His blog site Nextbigfuture.com is ranked # 1 Science News Blog. It covers lots of disruptive innovation and patterns consisting of Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.

Understood for recognizing cutting edge innovations, he is presently a Co-Founder of a start-up and fundraising event for high prospective early-stage business. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep innovation financial investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.

A regular speaker at corporations, he has actually been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and visitor at various interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and encouraging engagements.

Read More

Elon Musk: What Comes Next for Humanity

Admin
-
0
Elon Musk: What Comes Next for Humanity

news

A discussion at X Takeover about AI abundance and existential danger, the next chapter of area expedition, and what it requires to turn amazing concepts into truth.

Engine computer system software application for among the engines was the issue for the Starship Flight 14.

Heat guard and engines are all looking robust.

They require to get to actually high engine dependability.

Flight 15, they are making some enhancements to the rocket. They believe 4-6 weeks. Flight before thanksgiving (Nov 26).

They will attempt to capture the booster and the ship on Flight 15.

Flight 16 they will ideally refly the booster and ship from Flight 15.

Elon Musk: What Comes Next for Humanity @elonmusk @thextakeover https://t.co/dYoXSP8Ge7

— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) October 10, 2026

Tesla has a great deal of tailored devices. They have Tesla Automation Germany. They required to make personalized devices.

Elon saw the chip fabs. They are really complex and excellent however he did not see personalized devices. It was all devices originating from the very same suppliers.

They will begin with basic devices and after that increase the functional speed of it and after that they will make their own devices.

Elon believes they will determine how to be the very best at chip production.

They wish to do 10 chip styles each year rather of one significant style every 2 years.

Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blog writer with 1 million readers each month. His blog site Nextbigfuture.com is ranked # 1 Science News Blog. It covers numerous disruptive innovation and patterns consisting of Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.

Understood for determining cutting edge innovations, he is presently a Co-Founder of a start-up and charity event for high possible early-stage business. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep innovation financial investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.

A regular speaker at corporations, he has actually been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and visitor at various interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and recommending engagements.

Read More

Auditor-General calls out lies in correctional services tender records

Admin
-
0
Auditor-General calls out lies in correctional services tender records

The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) confronted Correctional Services with suspect tender documents.

The department returned with more paperwork that deepened the auditors’ distrust and prompted an accusation of repeated deception.

Michelle Magerman, an AGSA business unit leader, described the episode to parliament’s portfolio committee on correctional services on Tuesday.

“If you lie to me once and you lie to me twice,” she said, “I don’t see why, as an auditor, you want to continue that conversation. It’s already proved that it is there to deceive.”

Her team discovered that bidders appeared to use the same supporting documents. Auditors also detected changes to tender paperwork after bidding had closed. The tenders involved prison food supplies, including milk, bread, sugar and vegetables.

“People went in and changed some of the documentation,” Magerman said.

She said the findings went beyond vague suspicions. Auditors examined electronic documents and showed officials how the records changed.

“This was not even a doubt,” she said, describing how auditors demonstrated the altered files to officials.

Magerman emailed the department about the findings on February 3. She met national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale on March 20 and showed him the warning signs. She said the department knew what auditors suspected before it prepared its July response.

The AGSA had questioned how the department assessed tender bids during the previous audit. Now management’s explanations faced scrutiny.

The dispute did not end there. The department returned with further documentation on July 9. Its leadership insisted it had checked the disputed records with banks and suppliers.

“Your finding is incorrect,” Magerman said, summarising the department’s response.

“We have done our own assessment.”

Auditors found problems. They declined to remove the finding and questioned the explanations behind the new records. On July 23, departmental representatives sought another meeting.

Magerman said she would not proceed without the chief financial officer. Her team reached its conclusions on July 24. She then alerted Thobakgale to concerns about the integrity of management.

“This is me not trusting what you are giving me anymore,” she said.

Magerman told MPs she believed management had provided the new documents “actually to deceive me”.

She met the accounting officer on July 27 and 28.

MPs wanted to know who had authorised the disputed response. “It is a response from the leadership of the department,” she said.

Magerman did not identify who personally altered the documents or knowingly authorised false submissions.

The department received a disclaimer audit opinion for 2025/26. Auditors could not rely on key records to establish the accuracy of its finances.

Magerman said the AGSA had heard about a Hawks case. It would check what investigators were examining before deciding on further steps.

The committee expects the department to account for the findings on Tuesday.





Setumo Stone





5 Of The Best Fighter Jets Flown By The US Marines

Admin
-
0
5 Of The Best Fighter Jets Flown By The US Marines

When most people think of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), they likely picture Marines storming a beach to face enemy opposition in unfriendly territory. While the USMC does this sort of thing, the Marines also utilize a sizable naval fleet and aerial assets. These include all kinds of vehicles, from attack and transport helicopters to attack aircraft and aerial reconnaissance assets. The Marines also use a sizable force of fixed-wing attack aircraft through their Marine Corps Aviation units, including several types of fighter jets.

Because the USMC’s primary mission is to rapidly deploy, fight, and win against enemy opposition on land and at sea, many of its combat aircraft aren’t technically classified as fighter jets. Instead, the USMC primarily operates multirole and attack aircraft that support its missions, including ground operations wherever the Corps engages with enemy forces. To this end, the Marines’ combat jet aircraft aren’t often used as air-to-air fighters, though many have engaged in aerial dogfights over the years.

The Marines have flown fighters of various types since the McDonnell FH Phantom took to the skies in 1947, though the Corps’ aircraft have advanced significantly in the years since. Determining which fighter jet qualifies as the best the USMC has flown requires looking at their capabilities, combat record, and overall use by the Corps over the years. After eliminating any that didn’t match up to the overall capabilities and the records of the rest, what’s left qualifies as the best USMC fighter jets. Each of these five jets operated by the USMC is a combat-tested, highly capable platform that supported the Corps for years.

1. Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk entered service in October 1956 and remained in operation for the USMC until 1998, so the Corps had a long history with it. The single-seat, carrier-capable attack aircraft also served the U.S. Navy (USN), and it was particularly useful because of its weapons payload, delta-wing configuration, and impressive engine. The A-4 was initially powered by a Curtiss-Wright J65-W-2, but eventually replaced this with the Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A turbojet engine.

The J52 provided the aircraft with 9,300 pounds of thrust, which enabled the A-4 Skyhawk to reach a top speed of more than 695 mph, placing it in the subsonic range. As an attack aircraft, the A-4 Skyhawk was often outfitted with a variety of ordnance and weapons systems across its five hard points. In addition to its standard armament of two 20mm machine guns, the A-4 carried up to 8,200 pounds of mixed ordnance and other systems in the form of bombs, gun pods, fuel tanks, missiles, and rockets. The A-4 was a pioneer in in-flight refueling, functioning as both a receiver and a provider in a process known as “buddy” refueling.

The USMC and USN operated the A-4 Skyhawk throughout the Vietnam War, where it achieved an excellent combat record. Still, they weren’t immune to enemy fire, and when Lt. Cmdr. John McCain was shot down in October 1967, he was flying an A-4 Skyhawk. By the end of its service life, 2,960 A-4s were produced, and beyond the U.S. Marines, the Israeli Air Force also utilized them during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

2. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

Throughout much of the late 20th century, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was one of the USMC’s most recognizable supersonic fighter-bombers. The F-4 was the U.S. military’s first multiservice aircraft operated by the USMC, USN, and the U.S. Air Force (USAF), beginning in 1961. The aircraft continued operating in Marine Corps service until 1992, and throughout its service for the USMC, it was used for every mission type possible. This included providing ground support to Marines, air superiority, interception, long-range strike, close air support, air defense suppression, fleet defense, and more.

The F-4 Phantom II was an excellent workhorse fighter jet for every organization that operated it. When production ended, 5,057 F-4s were produced, and while the USAF got the bulk of them with 2,874, the USMC and USN divided the remaining 1,264, and the rest were sold to international customers. Those numbers make the F-4 the most produced supersonic fighter the United States has built and operated.

Production ramped up significantly to support operations in Vietnam in the 1960s, where Marines flew F-4s on various missions. The multirole fighter packed a lot of power into its frame, and it performed remarkably well in aerial combat. The F-4 has 150 confirmed air-to-air kills and 42 air-to-air losses, giving it a kill ratio of 3.6:1. F-4s carried up to 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance, depending on mission requirements, and their twin General Electric J79 axial-flow afterburning turbojet engines gave the F-4 incredible speed, reaching Mach 2.2+ (1,688 mph).

3. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

While the preceding two fighters are no longer in service with the USMC, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet still remains in operation. The multirole combat aircraft is a twin-engine, carrier-capable fighter that first entered service in 1983 with the USMC. The USN also adopted the F/A-18, though it began phasing them out in favor of the F-35C Lightning II. Regardless, the Corps still flies the F/A-18, and further upgraded to the F/A-18C and F/A-18D until its gradual transition to the F-35 Lightning II.

The F/A-18 replaced older F-4 Phantom IIs, taking over their roles, which included numerous operational capabilities. Like many aircraft that have been in operation for decades, the modern F/A-18 is significantly more advanced than the variants that preceded the current models. One of the F/A-18’s claims to fame is its speed, as the legacy F/A-18 can reach speeds of Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph). While the F-4 Phantom II was faster, the F/A-18 has the edge in maneuvering, where it truly shines.

While the F/A-18 has a limited kill ratio of 2-to-1, it’s from two confirmed air-to-air kills and one air-to-air loss during the Gulf War. Outside of dogfighting, the F/A-18 is used as a ground attack vehicle, thanks to its nine hardpoints capable of over 400 loadouts for whatever the Corps’ mission requires. For decades, the F/A-18 has proven itself not only as a capable fighter, but also as highly survivable and able to perform all of the same functions as its predecessor.

4. AV-8B Harrier II

Because the USMC conducts operations in areas where it doesn’t always have runways, the service has used vehicles capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL). This makes it possible for a jet like the legendary McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II to land just like a helicopter. It can take off the same way by pointing its engine thrust down to hover off the ground before switching to more traditional rear-directional thrust for high-speed flight.

The AV-8B Harrier II isn’t typically used as an air-to-air fighter, and was most often employed in a ground-attack role. The USMC operated the AV-8B from 1985 until recently, as the aircraft finally retired on June 3, 2026. The Harrier emerged from a joint project between the U.S. and the United Kingdom; the U.K. backed out before the AV-8B entered service, but rejoined in 1982. The USMC often flew its Harriers from small carriers and amphibious assault ships, though it could land pretty much anywhere.

This allowed them to support ground operations in forward-deployed locations in numerous conflicts, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. While the AV-8B wasn’t operated as a fighter jet for its primary role, one variant has an impressive kill ratio of 20:0. This is due to 20, possibly 23, air-to-air kills and no losses. That said, those victories belong to the Royal Navy, not the USMC, as they occurred during the Falklands War in 1982 via the British variant, the British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1. Regardless, few aircraft are as iconic as the Marines’ AV-8B Harrier II.

5. Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II

The F-35 Lightning II is the U.S. military’s second 5th-generation fighter, available in three variants: the F-35A, operated by the USAF; the F-35B, operated by the USMC; and the F-35C, operated by the USN. The F-35B has a significant difference from the other variants in that it’s short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL)-capable. This is one of the main reasons why the Marines fly the F-35 and not the F-22, which is reserved for the USAF.

As you likely guessed, the F-35B replaced the AV-8B Harrier II, which is why the USMC opted to finally retire the aircraft in 2026. The USMC began flying the F-35B in 2013, so it’s been replacing legacy aircraft since that time, though the Corps didn’t declare it as being initially operationally capable until July 31, 2015. Initially, the Marines ordered 353 F-35Bs, but changed this to only 280 aircraft to align with the branch’s long-term plans, with 205 expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.

This makes the F-35B the USMC’s only tactical fighter, and like many of the aircraft that came before it, the F-35B is capable of filling numerous roles. While the USMC has yet to achieve an air-to-air kill while flying an F-35B, an Israeli variant, the F-35I, successfully downed an Iranian Yak-130 in March 2026, giving the aircraft its crewed kill ratio of 1:0, as F-35s have downed numerous uncrewed aircraft. Granted, that’s not the aircraft’s primary purpose for the USMC, which uses it much like the Harrier II, functioning as a ground-attack platform that can take off and land wherever the USMC operates.

How we chose these five USMC fighter jets

Throughout its time flying in unfriendly skies, the USMC has operated a lot of aircraft. The branch began flying planes in the 1910s, taking to the sky in the Curtiss A-2 biplane made largely of wood and canvas. As time passed, the Marines adopted jet engines in their aircraft, and they flew a lot of varieties, making choosing the best ones a difficult and admittedly subjective task. To stay objective, we looked at each fighter jet’s combat record, how long it remained in service, and how it represented USMC aviation.

Some aircraft are representative of the Corps in ways that others aren’t. Even the ones that operated for other branches tend to stand out with USMC aviators. The brave men and women who flew and fly these aircraft have been doing so in every major U.S. military operation since World War I. Some of the aircraft we considered but didn’t include are the Grumman F9F Panther, which served throughout the Korean War, the Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier, which was the USMC’s first-generation V/STOL aircraft, and a few others.

In the end, the aircraft mentioned above made the cut for their overall performance, capabilities, and how well they represent the USMC. The Corps has flown many other aircraft for more than a century, but when we get into the nitty-gritty of its jets, we land on the A-4 Skyhawk, the F-4 Phantom II, the F/A-18 Hornet, the AV-8B Harrier II, and the F-35B Lightning II. Over time, something may replace what’s been chosen, but as of now, these five are the USMC’s best fighter jets.

Scientists may have found why diabetic wounds refuse to heal

Admin
-
0
Scientists may have found why diabetic wounds refuse to heal

Chronic diabetic ulcers are among the most difficult complications facing modern healthcare. More than 131 million people worldwide are affected, and the wounds are associated with roughly $755 billion in healthcare costs each year. They also carry serious risks, including amputation and death, making it increasingly important to understand why they can be so resistant to healing.

Immune cells play a central role in coordinating the body’s response to injury. However, previous research has often paid less attention to how different immune cell populations change over time as diabetic wounds progress through different stages of healing. A comprehensive review by Yi Ru and colleagues examines this issue in detail, looking at how a wide range of immune cells behave throughout the wound healing process.

How Immune Cells Shape Diabetic Wound Healing

The review covers monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, mast cells, B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells. The researchers focus on where these cells appear during different stages of healing and how diabetes can disrupt their normal behavior.

Monocytes and macrophages receive particular attention. The authors examine how different monocyte populations change over time and assess the debated M1/M2 macrophage polarization model. During normal healing, monocytes move into damaged tissue and develop into macrophages. These macrophages typically shift from pro-inflammatory M1 states toward pro-reparative M2 states, allowing inflammation to subside and tissue repair to move forward.

In diabetic wounds, that transition can break down. Macrophages may remain locked in pro-inflammatory states instead of moving toward repair, prolonging tissue damage and preventing the wound from progressing normally.

Neutrophils and Mast Cells Can Sustain Inflammation

Neutrophils are among the first immune cells to arrive after tissue injury. They help destroy pathogens and trigger the early inflammatory response. In diabetic wounds, however, the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps can become poorly regulated.

This abnormal activity can prolong inflammation and damage tissue through excessive release of proteases and reactive oxygen species.

Mast cells also contribute to healing by releasing histamine, serotonin, and several growth factors. These substances influence blood vessel permeability and help recruit additional cells to the wound. According to the review, mast cell degranulation differs substantially between normal and diabetic wounds, and excessive activation may help maintain chronic inflammation.

Dendritic Cells May Fail to Clear Cellular Debris

Dendritic cells also have an important role in wound healing. Langerhans cells in the epidermis and dendritic cells in the dermis help connect the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system by presenting antigens to other immune cells.

Recent evidence suggests that dendritic cells become less effective at efferocytosis in diabetic wounds. This process normally removes apoptotic cells, but when it is impaired, dead cellular material can accumulate and continue triggering inflammatory signals.

The SLC7A11 transporter appears to be an important regulator of this process. Its reduced activity in diabetes may weaken dendritic cell function and interfere with the resolution of wounds.

T Cells Help Control Inflammation and Repair

T lymphocytes, including regulatory T cells and γδ T cells, also help coordinate healing and regulate inflammation.

Regulatory T cells normally suppress excessive immune activity and encourage production of factors involved in tissue remodeling. In diabetic wounds, both the number and function of these cells can decline, and this reduction is associated with slower healing.

Dendritic epidermal T cells are a specialized population of γδ T cells found in the skin. They produce insulin-like growth factor 1 and other growth factors that help keratinocytes multiply and close wounds. Under diabetic conditions, these cells show lower activation and reduced cytokine production.

B Cells and Natural Killer Cells Also Play a Role

B cells and natural killer cells are less thoroughly studied in wound healing, but emerging evidence suggests that both make meaningful contributions.

B cells can influence healing through antibody production and by affecting macrophage polarization. Natural killer cells help regulate inflammation and the formation of new blood vessels through cytokine production and interactions with other immune cells.

The review points to recent evidence showing that recruitment of B cells can encourage macrophages to adopt M2 states, helping reduce excessive inflammation as healing progresses.

New Treatments Could Reprogram the Immune Response

A deeper understanding of immune behavior in diabetic wounds could open the door to new treatments.

The review highlights advances in therapies designed to directly modify immune activity, including topical anti-cytokine biologics that disrupt persistent inflammatory signaling. Approaches that influence macrophage polarization are especially promising, with several drugs showing an ability to encourage M2 states and speed wound closure.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapies and extracellular vesicles derived from these cells may also provide broad immune-regulating effects. Advanced biomaterials and smart dressings could offer another option by delivering immune-modifying substances directly to the wound.

Other emerging approaches include Janus liposozyme technologies designed to regulate redox balance and immune homeostasis, macrophage-regulating drugs that have shown benefits in randomized clinical trials, and IL-15 superagonists that boost the activity of dendritic epidermal T cells.

Timing May Be Critical for Diabetic Wound Treatment

The researchers emphasize that effective treatment may depend not only on which immune cells are targeted, but also on when they are targeted.

Diabetic wounds pass through inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling stages, and each phase has a different immune environment. As a result, therapies that are useful at one stage may not have the same effect at another.

Future approaches could include personalized treatment plans based on immune profiling of individual wounds. Researchers are also exploring combination therapies that target several immune cell populations at once, while continuing to investigate unresolved questions about how macrophages should be classified.

The authors argue that a better understanding of how immune cell populations interact over time could lead to more precise and effective treatments for diabetic ulcers, one of the most serious and persistent complications of diabetes.

Federal Reserve officials expect another rate hike will be needed this year, according to minutes

Admin
-
0
Federal Reserve officials expect another rate hike will be needed this year, according to minutes

Most Federal Reserve officials expect that another interest rate increase will likely be needed this year to combat inflation, minutes released Wednesday from the central bank’s most recent meeting showed

ByCHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — Most Federal Reserve officials expect that another interest rate increase will likely be needed this year to combat inflation, according to minutes released Wednesday from the central bank’s most recent meeting.

The officials unanimously agreed that inflation was still elevated and had not made much progress toward their 2% target in recent months, the minutes said. The Fed increased its key interest rate at the Sept. 15-16 meeting by a quarter-point to about 3.9%, its first increase in three years.

The increase defied President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the Fed to cut rates and prompted the president to criticize the Fed’s rate-setting committee, though he still expressed support for Chairman Kevin Warsh, whom he appointed earlier this year. The rate increase comes as Americans are already struggling with high costs for groceries, gas and housing, and as affordability has taken on a leading role in the upcoming midterm elections, just seven weeks away.

Longer-term interest rates for mortgages and other borrowing have also jumped in the past few months for a range of reasons, including rising government debt, heavy borrowing by tech firms to finance data center construction, climbing oil and gas prices, and signs that growth and inflation remain elevated. The Fed’s rate hike has likely played only a limited role in the increase.

Still, key policymakers have said since the meeting that the Fed can take some time to monitor the economy and the impact of last month’s rate hike before making another move. Wall Street investors now forecast the Fed will keep its rate unchanged at its next meeting Oct. 28-29, according to futures pricing, and raise it when they meet in December.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

Cold smoked fish recalled because of Listeria risk

Admin
-
0
Cold smoked fish recalled because of Listeria risk
marathon Cold smoked fish recalled because of Listeria risk

Published:

Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is voluntarily recalling Starfish Seafood Trio – Cold Smoked Salmon, Halibut, and Trout because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled product was distributed in New York, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The recalled product is identified as follows:

  • Product Name: Starfish Seafood Trio – Cold Smoked Salmon, Halibut, Trout
  • Brand: Starfish
  • Net Weight: 8 oz (227 g)
  • Packaging: Vacuum-sealed plastic package
  • Lot Number: D139149161-153
  • Expiration Date: 12/01/2027
  • Country of Origin: Latvia

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this product.

The potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes was identified by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. As a result, Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. initiated a voluntary recall of the affected product. The company is cooperating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the FDA regarding the recall.

Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. is a wholesale distributor and did not manufacture the recalled product. The company has notified its affected customers and requested that they immediately discontinue the sale and distribution of the recalled product, identify any remaining inventory, and notify their customers as appropriate.

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look, smell or taste spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, other complications and death. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

marathon News Desk

News Desk

The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.


All articles

Your Support Protects Public Health

Food Safety News is nonprofit and reader-funded. Your TAX-FREE gift ensures ongoing coverage of outbreaks, recalls, and regulations for everyone.

Oysters, clams linked to Salmonella outbreak; river closed to harvesting

Admin
-
0
Oysters, clams linked to Salmonella outbreak; river closed to harvesting
track and field Oysters, clams linked to Salmonella outbreak; river closed to harvesting

Published:

Oyster and clam harvesting has been shut down on a stretch of the Little Wicomico River in Northumberland County in Virginia after state health officials traced a Salmonella outbreak in Pennsylvania back to shellfish pulled from those waters.

Virginia health officials closed the river to harvesting on Oct. 9, just eight days into the state’s new oyster season, after an epidemiological link connected the illnesses to oysters harvested there.

The Pennsylvania outbreak has sickened at least five people so far, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The agency’s Emergency Condemnation order #010A, closes downstream waters of the Little Wicomico River between a specific set of coordinates, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The closure runs through Nov. 7.

State officials said the move was made out of an abundance of caution and in direct conformance with recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the health department confirmed Friday.

Crabs and finfish can still be harvested from the affected waters during the closure, and shellfish within the closure zone are being actively tested. Officials also stressed that the harvesting closure has no impact on drinking water.

The Little Wicomico closure isn’t the only one in the region right now. The health department also issued a second emergency shellfish closure on Oct. 9, Emergency Condemnation #005-083B, temporarily barring harvesting in portions of Lower Machodoc Creek in nearby Westmoreland County through Oct. 29.

While in effect, the ban makes it illegal to harvest, store, or transport shellfish from condemned areas without a special permit from the Marine Resources Commission.

Virginia’s 2026–2027 public oyster harvest season officially opened across public grounds on Oct. 1, meaning the Little Wicomico closure arrived just over a week into the fall season, according to Virginia Marine Resources Commission notices.

The state’s public oyster grounds produce roughly 250,000 bushels annually, backed by a replenishment program that the commission says pours between $4 million and $10 million a year into reef maintenance and shell planting.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.

Anyone who has eaten any clams from the affected area and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

track and field News Desk

News Desk

The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.


All articles

Your Support Protects Public Health

Food Safety News is nonprofit and reader-funded. Your TAX-FREE gift ensures ongoing coverage of outbreaks, recalls, and regulations for everyone.

15 Tech Brands Owned By Google

Admin
-
0
15 Tech Brands Owned By Google

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

These days, if you know the name of any brand focused on technology, it’s probably either a major corporate entity or under the umbrella of one. The real owners behind the world’s biggest tech companies have been pulling countless people and products into their workforce in one way or another — and that’s especially the case with Google and its parent company, Alphabet. In fact, there are many different brands under Alphabet’s thumb, which (for the purposes of this article) also counts as being owned by Google. If you include brands that have gone defunct, the full list is very long, too — these acquisitions have been occurring for decades, after all.

A few product lines are very obviously owned by Google, such as the Google Pixel or Chromebook, but these were started by the company, and there’s very little question as to their original and continued ownership. Things get a bit trickier when you look at the backstory for the brands included on this list, as they were either acquired or eventually joined under the Alphabet banner. That’s what we’ll be focusing on here. There’s a good chance that you might not have known some of these were even owned by Google in the first place.

Android

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

As Android has evolved over the years, it’s become an extremely competitive mobile operating system. It managed that success with Google behind it, which is why just about every handheld device running it comes with Google apps preinstalled. It’s also why the Play Store is the de facto source of Android apps in general, with the OS making efforts to keep it that way. However, the Android brand wasn’t actually conceived of by Google initially.

The birth of Android — as a company, not as an operating system — came in 2003 from a small group of Californian entrepreneurs. They always planned to work with smartphones to some degree, but nothing solid had formed by the time Google took over just two years later. It wouldn’t be until 2008 when the first Android version released to the public. Since then, the operating system has been vital to Google, even now, long after the company launched its own in-house ChromeOS.

AppSheet

Stockinq/Shutterstock

AppSheet is a platform that’s meant to help people develop their own applications. Today, it predictably takes advantage of Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence, with a focus on helping developers with a lack of any coding experience or knowledge. It’s even presented under the company’s name, similarly to Google Docs and Google Slides. However, the platform existed for eight years independently, and depending on who you ask, it has since become nothing more than a shell of what it once was.

The controversy here comes from the original founder of AppSheet. Praveen Seshadri sounded the alarm after Google bought his startup in early 2020, citing problems with management and overly lengthy development processes. It’s somewhat ironic, considering the platform’s intentions to make such processes easier for tech enthusiasts on a consumer level. Still, despite the concerns, AppSheet continues to be a major part of Google’s Workspace, allowing it to stand alongside noteworthy services from the company like Gmail and Drive.

Cameyo

Cameyo is a brand focused on virtualization, seeking to allow desktop-based applications to run in web browsers. The benefits the service provides are especially relevant for Google’s aforementioned ChromeOS, as it can allow users to gain access to many different Windows apps without the need of virtual desktop environments. It also has a great deal of focus on security, since ChromeOS has supposedly never suffered from virus or ransomware attacks out in the wild.

Cameyo took shape in 2010, and its purpose hasn’t changed much since then. Initially, it teamed up with Google to integrate its services into the Chromebooks, before getting acquired in 2024, under a year later. Today, that integration has become much deeper, with Cameyo also including support for Google’s Gemini AI and Chrome Enterprise. This is one of Google’s most recent acquisitions, so it seems like there are still plenty of developments to come from this partnership.

DeepMind

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

As the name implies, DeepMind is all about AI. Today, it’s entirely part of Google’s repertoire, taking on the company name and going all-in on its Gemini intelligence. This shouldn’t be a surprise considering the recent AI boom, although DeepMind itself isn’t competing very well in that space. But it might come as a shock that its acquisition actually happened a long time ago, well before people were having serious discussions on how doomed humans are if AI gets too smart.

DeepMind started out in 2010 and was taken over by Google just four years later. However, Google also had its own AI-powered technology project at the time, known as Google Brain. The two sides were only really brought together in 2023, leading to DeepMind’s current foothold in generative AI. Interestingly, the company also made its own ethics unit in 2017, although the question of whether generative AI itself is ethical continues to drive heated arguments.

Firebase

Stockinq/Shutterstock

Firebase isn’t too far away from AppSheet in its intentions to make app development simpler and more accessible, though it focuses more on the actual coding process. It still pushes hard for an AI angle, though, highlighting generative agents as part of its app-building fundamentals. As you might expect, this wasn’t always the case. Firebase’s origins actually date back to the early 2010s, though its independence ended when Google acquired it in 2014.

In recent years, Firebase has actually been a source of controversy for Google. The parent company had reportedly been using the platform to collect data from users even after they opted out of its collection policy, which led to Google being forced to pay $425 million in damages. However, this hasn’t led to the company winding down on its support for the platform, and that’s probably a good thing, given the fact that countless apps rely on Firebase to function properly.

Fitbit

Rohane Hamilton/Shutterstock

Although Google has been making strides with its Pixel Watch lineup, that hasn’t stopped it from continuing to develop the Fitbit lineup. These health-focused smartwatches are made to help people track their wellness and follow through with their fitness. Newer models have brought even more focus to this purpose by coming without a screen, as we mentioned in our Fitbit Air review. It seems as though Fitbit is basically Google’s budget-friendly offering for those who don’t need a full dedicated smartwatch.

Fitbit began all the way back in 2007, starting out as a series of personal trackers you could clip onto your clothing. Eventually, the watch-like form factor would be adopted, and actual watch functionality would come in 2017. All things considered, the company ran for quite a long time independently. Google’s acquisition only took shape in 2021, and that was actually what led to the first Pixel Watch coming out just one year later.

Intrinsic

Smith Collection/gado/Getty Images

Intrinsic is in a rather unique situation, but it has some interesting parallels with DeepMind. Unlike DeepMind, Intrinsic wasn’t “acquired” by Google at all; Alphabet formed it back in 2021, which should technically be enough to keep it out of this list’s spotlights. However, the company actually ended up joining Google in full at the end of February 2026. It went from an experimental sub-company to an integral part of Google’s efforts in AI development.

Although DeepMind existed long before the AI boom of the modern era, Intrinsic was practically born right into it. However, its efforts have also been targeted more toward physical outlets. Robotics are a major part of its mission statement, rather than the generative and large language model (LLM) AI services flooding the internet today. Again, it’s an interesting coincidence of timing, especially with DeepMind’s acquisition coming so long before Intrinsic’s founding.

Kaggle

Sharaf Maksumov/Shutterstock

Kaggle is yet another brand focused entirely on AI today, providing resources to measure and test the performance of various models. Its case is a bit closer to Firebase, as it wasn’t always so AI-focused. 2010 was when Kaggle was created, with more of a general data science focus. However, that focus would expand to machine learning pretty quickly, and the company would be acquired by Google in 2017.

Also like Firebase, Kaggle came under fire for concerns over its data collection practices. Although this hasn’t led to similar lawsuits, it’s caused a great deal of controversy in the medical community, with the faces of children and celebrities being used in questionable ways. Despite this, other major tech brands give a great deal of attention to Kaggle since it presents competitions for those groups to pit their AI models against each other. Whether you agree with Kaggle’s efforts or not, there’s no question that the current world of technology is the perfect opportunity for it to thrive in — especially with Google backing it up.

Mandiant

T. Schneider/Shutterstock

Mandiant is unlike most of the other brands in this list. Instead of providing AI solutions or app development, it acts as a consultant for cybersecurity issues. That makes it particularly important not just for Google, but for the U.S. government. The company was even a primary source of expert knowledge in 2026, when an alleged North Korean hack of U.S. companies affected vital software.

Google wasn’t actually the first company to buy Mandiant. While it was independently founded under the name Red Cliff Consulting in 2004, Mandiant would be acquired by FireEye in 2013. However, FireEye later sold ownership of its products and brands (as well as its name) in the 2020s, and it was during that period that Google took over Mandiant, in 2022. Today, the firm is integrated into Google’s Cloud services and allows anyone to contact experts for the sake of resolving incidents and testing out new cybersecurity solutions.

Photomath

PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

Photomath is an application with a very specific focus, and it’s pretty easy to guess what that focus is from the name alone. You take a photo of a math problem, and the app tells you how to solve it with step-by-step instructions. There really isn’t much more to it than that, but it seems to be fairly effective, given the app has over 100 million downloads on the Play Store. Of course, this process involves AI, which should probably be expected for a modern app with automatic image-detection problem solving.

Back in 2014, Photomath was created by a company that dove deep into text recognition. It received plenty of attention and investments in the years that followed, with Google eventually taking it over completely in 2023. It’s hard to say if that acquisition is what influenced the app’s current use of AI, but it always had some form of automation when it came to recognizing and solving math equations. In a way, you could argue that Photomath was simply ahead of its time — especially with other AI models attempting to make major strides in mathematics, too.

reCAPTCHA

Rokas Tenys/Shutterstock

If you’ve browsed the internet for any significant amount of time, you’ve almost certainly bumped into reCAPTCHA. From its outset in 2007, the service was designed to fight against automated bots, freeing up traffic for human users. Google took it over in 2009, and it’s now practically an accepted part of basic internet browsing. It even comes up in Google’s own search engine when it detects strange activity from your device, trying to confirm that you aren’t making automated searches.

Today, reCAPTCHA is even more prevalent. Efforts have been made to lessen its impact on everyday browsing, but the recent AI boom has led to many different websites making full use of its services. As CEOs claim that much of the internet is dead, the concern of automated bots scraping data and using it to train AI is higher than ever. Those who use the internet every day are starting to see reCAPTCHA more and more, and it’s unfortunately pretty necessary just to keep sites usable for the average person.

Siemplify

Koshiro K/Shutterstock

Mandiant wasn’t the only cybersecurity company Google acquired in 2022. The corporation also got its hands on Siemplify that same year, with the brand having “now part of Google Cloud” practically affixed to its name today. Siemplify originally took shape in 2015, providing solutions for security orchestration, automation, and response (also known as SOAR). Google’s takeover was made with the idea that those solutions could be integrated into its own cloud security.

Despite the overlap between Siemplify and Mandiant, the former isn’t anywhere close to the latter’s notability. It’s been getting more deeply integrated into Google’s systems, but it hasn’t gotten attention from major government entities. Of course, both sides have different focuses, much like Firebase and Kaggle or Deepmind and Intrinsic. It’s an another example of how Google’s acquisitions aren’t as redundant as they might seem, instead allowing the company to cover as many bases as it can for different areas of tech.

Waze

Allard1/Getty Images

Created all the way back in 2008, Waze is focused on transportation — particularly when issues arise with the normal routes of it. By crowdsourcing data from drivers, the app helps people figure out alternate routes and plan ahead for traffic jams. 2013 was when Google acquired it for its own portfolio, despite Google Maps having already existed since 2005. And yet, despite this apparent overlap, Waze has continued to offer its own dedicated app separately from Google Maps.

When comparing Waze vs. Google Maps, the former has an edge with car-based navigation. It has a focus on drivers helping drivers, after all, so it’s able to specialize the information it gives to users. Of course, this leads back into the aforementioned “cover its bases” idea, with Maps still showing more capabilities when it comes to gathering information from the destinations themselves. There are valid reasons to use both apps in tandem, which is probably why Google hasn’t completely gutted the brand to focus solely on its in-house offerings.

Wiz

Poetra.RH/Shutterstock

Wiz might fit a bit more closely with the modern acquisitions you’d expect from a major tech company today. Founded in 2020, its focus is on AI and cybersecurity, and the need for work-from-home productivity was the perfect environment for it to thrive in. That’s allowed Wiz to have a foothold not just in the tech industry, but also in major Fortune 100 companies like Fox, BMW, and Chipotle. It also happens to be the most recent acquisition on this list, having joined Google in March of this year.

Security is the primary focus of Wiz, but it’s been going all-in on AI in recent days, especially since the Google acquisition. The company has even been using it to find security flaws in technology, and it’s been pooling resources with other firms to further strengthen its flaw-finding and vulnerability-patching efforts. Wiz’s focus on AI wasn’t born from Google’s acquisition, but it certainly helps the latter’s development of things like Gemini.

YouTube

miss.cabul/Shutterstock

The final acquisition on this list is perhaps the most famous. YouTube’s humble beginnings as a video-sharing platform in 2005 led to its very quick acquisition in 2006, and it’s been a vital part of Google’s brands since then. And that led to quite a few controversies as Google attempted to integrate it even deeper into its ecosystem. That accounts for the Google Plus comment issues in 2013 and today’s YouTube TV users missing out on major channels due to Disney disagreements behind the scenes.

Regardless of those controversies, YouTube remains as the most popular website in the entire internet, save for Google itself. It and Android might be more noteworthy than any other Google-owned brand that isn’t named after the search engine. And they’re most likely a major part of why the company is currently the most profitable in the world. Granted, that hasn’t stopped YouTube from ramping up its efforts to fight against ad blockers, but it’s still a prime example of why Google has made all of these acquisitions in the first place.

5 Forgotten Windows Features That Are Pure Nostalgia

Admin
-
0
5 Forgotten Windows Features That Are Pure Nostalgia

Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

It’s been over 40 years since the first version of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 1.0, was released. And over the decades, a lot has changed. From the user interface and features to built-in apps and core components, Windows has gone through a major transformation. Features that were once considered key parts of Windows are no longer included in the newer iterations. Back in the early days, Windows felt entirely different, and that was largely because of the apps and features that were included in the default Windows installation.

Apps like Windows Media Center and Movie Maker, products like Microsoft Bob, tools like Steps Recorder, and games like 3D Pinball, Minesweeper, and Solitaire were once synonymous with the Windows operating system. However, most of these are no longer part of Windows, and some that exist are not being actively developed and will soon be removed. There are others too, like Paint 3D, WordPad, the classic Start Menu and Control Panel, and Windows Messenger, which many of you may remember from the days of Windows XP.

It’s also important to highlight that many of these features have been replaced, or are being replaced, with newer apps and tools. For instance, Microsoft is phasing out Steps Recorder in favor of Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, and Clipchamp, alternatives that better fit modern Windows versions.

Windows Media Center and Movie Maker

Kazim Alvi/SlashGear

First on the list are two multimedia apps, the Media Center and Movie Maker. The Windows Media Center, initially exclusive to the Windows XP Media Center Edition, was a one-stop solution for all your media and streaming needs. It allowed you to view your collection of photos and videos, listen to music, watch movies, and even tune in to live TV. Not everyone used it, but for those who did, Windows Media Center was a valuable addition to the operating system. Over time, the app lost its relevance as better alternatives emerged and streaming became simpler. Microsoft ultimately removed it in Windows 10.

Similarly, earlier versions of Windows shipped with Movie Maker, a built-in, user-friendly video editor. The best part was that it was simple, unlike the modern, more popular video editors we have now. Anyone with a basic understanding of how things work could edit videos using Movie Maker. The app was discontinued in 2017, and its initial replacement, Microsoft Photos Video Editor, never really captured the same audience. Later, Microsoft Clipchamp became the default video editor in Windows.

If you are interested, you can still download and run the original Movie Maker. Since it’s no longer officially supported, you may run into the occasional issue, but the app still works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It’s worth highlighting that Microsoft recommends against downloading Windows Movie Maker from third-party websites.

3D Pinball, Minesweeper, and Solitaire

Kazim Alvi/SlashGear

Next on the list are classic games from the early days of Windows. There were plenty of built-in titles, but three that almost everyone who had a Windows PC at the time would have played are 3D Pinball, Solitaire, and the Microsoft classic Minesweeper. And 3D Pinball is perhaps the biggest nostalgia hit of the three.

A major reason behind the popularity of these games was that they were incredibly simple, which made them appealing to almost everyone. Besides, back in those days, computers weren’t as widely used for web browsing or other activities, making these games incredibly popular. If they had 5-10 minutes of free time, many users would launch 3D Pinball, Minesweeper, or Solitaire, and play a quick game.

Of the three, 3D Pinball is no longer a part of Windows, while Minesweeper and Solitaire exist in different, more modern versions. Microsoft dropped 3D Pinball in Windows Vista after running into problems porting the game to 64-bit Windows. The game apparently had a bug that the team couldn’t fix since the original code was written by a different company, and they ultimately decided to get rid of it altogether. However, if you want, you can still play 3D Pinball in your browser. As for Minesweeper and Solitaire, you can download their newer versions from the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Bob

Microsoft Bob is often called one of Microsoft’s biggest mistakes, and the software didn’t even last a year. Released in 1995 for Windows 3.1, it was discontinued in 1996. The idea behind Microsoft Bob was simple: to help people use their Windows PCs, especially those who weren’t comfortable with the user interface. It basically tried to streamline the Windows experience by making it more familiar for the average user at the time.

Instead of presenting the standard Windows interface, Microsoft Bob turned the desktop into a virtual house, and clicking on different objects opened different applications and utilities in Windows. For instance, when you clicked on the Clock, it would open up the native Windows Clock. You could even adjust how things appeared in Microsoft Bob, add rooms to the house, and make other similar changes.

However, Microsoft Bob never really took off. One of the major reasons behind the software’s failure was the interface itself. Critics argue that its childish interface didn’t really appeal to grown-ups. Besides, it wasn’t as seamless, and users had to click several times to perform simple actions. Another problem with Microsoft Bob was that it presented too much information, and for someone just learning their way around Windows, this wasn’t particularly helpful. Ultimately, the software got shelved, but it may have inspired Microsoft’s later assistants like Clippy, Cortana, and finally, Copilot.

Briefcase

Kazim Alvi/SlashGear

Briefcase is another nostalgic feature that was a part of the OS until Windows 7 and was completely dropped in Windows 10. Unlike the standard folder in Windows, Briefcase had a specific purpose that other services and high-speed internet rendered unnecessary. Simply put, the Windows Briefcase allowed users to synchronize files between a computer and a portable storage device. The idea was simple: instead of having to repeatedly copy and paste files, Briefcase let users synchronize them in one go. It was particularly helpful to people who worked on two computers, say, one at home and another at work or school.

As high-speed internet became readily available and cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive became mainstream, there was no need to manually synchronize files. Any changes made by the user were reflected in real time. Besides, a cloud service can synchronize files across several systems at once. That’s why Microsoft deprecated Briefcase in Windows 8 and ultimately removed it in Windows 10. But for people familiar with Windows Briefcase, it was among the best and most innovative features of the time.

Steps Recorder

Kazim Alvi/SlashGear

Steps Recorder is the only original feature on our list that still exists in Windows 11, although Microsoft is gradually phasing it out since better alternatives now exist. Steps Recorder, introduced in Windows 7, is a troubleshooting tool that basically captures your on-screen actions. It saves screenshots of the actions you perform along with descriptive text that clearly explains what happened, which allows support teams to recreate the problem and help the user fix it. So, if your computer didn’t work properly, you could simply launch Steps Recorder, capture the problem, and share it with someone who could help you troubleshoot Windows issues. It was that simple.

However, over time, better solutions like Snipping Tool emerged, rendering Steps Recorder largely obsolete. You can now capture a video of the entire screen, which is more convenient than checking the file generated by Steps Recorder. So, in 2023, Microsoft announced that it would stop actively updating Steps Recorder, and it’s only a matter of time before the tool is completely removed from Windows 11. If you launch Steps Recorder now, you may see a banner prompting you to explore alternatives since the tool is being phased out.

For those of you who are relatively new to Windows and haven’t had the chance to explore other features on the list, Steps Recorder is an example of why features are deprecated in Windows and how the transition to modern, more user-friendly alternatives takes place.

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered review: Welcome (back) to China

Admin
-
0
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered review: Welcome (back) to China

TechRadar Verdict

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is one of the most thoughtful and forward-thinking remasters I’ve played in some time. The original game, warts and all, is intact, but some light quality-of-life touches freshen up the experience without detracting from its intended feel.

Reasons to buy

  • +

    Tons of characters to unlock

  • +

    Replayability through higher difficulties and hidden objectives

  • +

    New gameplay features polish up the experience

  • +

    Corny dialogue and that excellent soundtrack are fully intact

  • +

    Satisfyingly challenging

Reasons to avoid

  • –

    Some maps are a slog to get around

  • –

    Newcomers might not gel with enemy aggression

Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Revisiting one of Omega Force’s most beloved works via Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered has been interesting. I got into the series quite late, so I’ve never had the same reverence for the earlier games that many other fans do. I’m happy to say that has changed with this remastered version.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: October 1, 2026

This is a very different game compared to modern entries like Dynasty Warriors Origins or Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Objectives are straightforward, battles (for the most part) tend not to last as long, and your KO count per battle is much lower than the thousands you rack up in newer installments.

Satisfaction lies elsewhere in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered. It trades bombastic theatrics and ‘rule of cool’ battlefield domination for a more grounded approach. Instead of tearing across battlegrounds like a Category 5 hurricane, you’ll need to pick your fights more carefully and move with your army. Even basic peons are far more aggressive in this game, so ditching your allies isn’t exactly the wisest decision.

Latest Videos FromTechRadar

There are some cool quality-of-life additions, such as being able to counter enemy Strong and Special attacks with your own. A handy checkpoint feature lets you rewind the battle to key moments if you die, and there’s an honest-to-goodness dodge button that helps even the odds and can even be followed up with a counter if timed correctly. Alternatively, you can set the entire game to a ‘Classic’ mode, ditching all of this in favor of the original gameplay experience.

It’s an incredibly thoughtful remaster in that regard, offering options for newcomers, purists, and everyone in between. The visual facelift is nice, but not overbearing. Plus, additional content from the Xtreme Legends expansion is included here, too, making Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered an extremely beefy package for its relatively budget price tag.

Same as it ever was?

technology Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered screenshot showing officer Meng Huo riding a war elephant into battle

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, as ever, presents a loose interpretation of Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Which in itself is a romanticization of this turbulent wartorn era of Ancient China.

As an earlier entry, Dynasty Warriors 3 pretty much gives you the highlights rather than delving deep into character drama or motivations. It’s quite refreshingly simple, though individual playable officers do get their own cutscenes, endings, and the like.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

You’ll spend the majority of your time in Musou Mode — effectively the game’s campaign. You will then choose an officer from one of four factions: Wei, Wu, Shu, or Other. The latter of which featuring officers with no set affiliation like Lu Bu, Dong Zhuo, and Diaochan.

technology Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered screenshot showing officer Lu Bu charge head-on into an army of peons

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Each officer has their own bespoke Musou Mode route, though some are longer than others. Even so, your goal on each map typically boils down to defeating a key enemy officer, while ticking off smaller objectives to boost your side’s morale or rob the enemy of powerful weaponry.

That might sound repetitive, and it can be if played over longer sessions. However, I think Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is tailored to shorter bursts of play, and the bite-sized Musou Mode campaigns for each officer support that. Playing through a campaign will bolster that officer’s stats, as well as earn them new weapons and equippable items — the latter of which can be shared between all officers.

Part of the beauty of Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is that it feels like a snowball of unlockables. You’ll routinely be bagging new playable officers, more powerful weapons, and potent rare items should you meet their conditions during a stage.

Some stages can also grant you an officer’s fourth or fifth weapon. These are extremely strong, but are typically gated behind higher difficulties and some rather stringent objectives so be sure to bring upgraded officers and plenty of patience for these.

Old and new

technology Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered screenshot showing officer Zhao Yun counter a group of enemies with spear thrusts

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

One of my favorite things about Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is that it has options for basically everyone. You can play the entire game in either modern or classic modes. Classic is just that: Dynasty Warriors 3 as it played on the PlayStation 2, for the most part. No fancy extras. Does it feel a bit dated? Yes absolutely, but I’m happy it’s here as an option for purists.

The more modern take applies a bunch of quality-of-life changes and gameplay additions. As mentioned at the top, these include Strong and Special attack counters, a dodge, and a quick mount option for your horse. It helps the game feel a lot more fluid, in my opinion.

Was I still getting juggled to death by lowly peons for daring to take on an officer on my lonesome? Yep. More than a few times. But ultimately I did appreciate the more humbling experience here when I’m so used to treating enemy armies like mowing the lawn in more modern Musou games.

Best bit

technology Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered weapon screen. A level 3 Dragon Spear is transferring skills to a more powerful level 4 Fierce Dragon Spear

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is a reminder of how cool unlockable content used to be in this era of gaming. You’ll have to put the work in to unlock most characters as well as their signature weapons. It’s the kind of stuff that’ll keep you busy for potentially tens of hours without feeling overly tedious.

What’s nice is that if you’re somewhere in the middle — say, wanting a hybrid modern/classic experience — Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered supports that. Quality-of-life additions can be toggled individually in the options menu, allowing for a widely customizable experience.

Additions aside, Omega Force has elected to keep the original game’s amazing soundtrack and cheeseball dialogue fully intact. I love this because there are some truly hilarious line deliveries across cutscenes, and the overt mispronunciation of officer names just adds to the charm of it all. Battles have been spiced up with combat lines from later entries like Dynasty Warriors 8, though, which is a nice touch.

Play it if…

You’re a newer Musou fan
If you’ve only recently gotten into Omega Force’s Warriors franchise, I implore you to give this one a go. It’s a great change of pace from more modern entries and very much bears a ‘substance over style’ approach.

You love unlockables
There are boatloads of officers and weapons to unlock, and most play rather differently from one another.

Don’t play it if…

You’re not keen on repetition
There isn’t really any grinding to be done here, but replaying Musou Mode with many different officers can grow tiresome. Oh, and as a bonus pro tip: you only have to do a particularly aggravating objective during the Nanman campaign mission once, but my word is it a slog that first time.

Accessibility features

There aren’t any dedicated accessibility toggles in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered such as subtitles or colorblind modes. However, individual game settings can be toggled based on preferences. These include target-facing assists, dodging, power guards, and strong attack counters.

How I reviewed Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered

technology Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered screenshot showing officer Lu Xun swipe at an enemy group with dual swords, applying a harmful status effect to them

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

I played Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered for 15 hours on PC via Steam for this review. Being a remaster of an older title, my Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 was more than enough to run the game on maximum settings with zero hitches or issues.

My gamepad of choice was the Valve Steam Controller (2026), and I often hooked up my RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset to enjoy the game’s banging soundtrack and corny dialogue sequences.

The majority of my playtime was spent in the main Musou Mode, unlocking characters, weapons, and optional rare items. Though I did delve into the Free and Challenge modes for a change of pace, too.

First reviewed October 2026

technology Rhys Wood

Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for over four years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.

community guidelines.” data-join-the-conversation-text=”Join the Conversation”>

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Researchers build sailboat drone prototype that can ‘fly’ — we think it’s more like falling with style

Admin
-
0
Researchers build sailboat drone prototype that can ‘fly’ — we think it’s more like falling with style
  • ALBATROSS turns an aircraft release into a controlled ocean landing system
  • The 1.1 kg drone can deploy without carrying powered flight hardware
  • Its rotating descent slows the fall before the vehicle reaches water

ALBATROSS, a drone built by seven engineers at Singapore university SUTD, is a lightweight sailboat drone designed to reach the water successfully after an aerial release.

The 1.107 kg prototype rotates while descending, which slows its fall before landing, and then converts into a wind-propelled vessel.

Its unusual launch method gives the machine a claimed operating range above 100 km while avoiding powered flight during deployment.

A drone that drops before it sails

ALBATROSS uses rigid wingsails to control its descent, causing the craft to rotate instead of dropping directly toward the water.

That spinning motion reduces falling speed and limits landing forces, allowing the vehicle to enter the ocean without landing hardware.

After landing on the water, the craft automatically returns to an upright position before switching into sailing mode.

“ALBATROSS is designed to be released from an aircraft or UAV, passively enter autorotation for a controlled, low-impact water landing, self-right without actuation,” said the SUTD research team.

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

The drone does not come with a landing gear, so it uses three control actuators with three main sensors, while a rudder provides directional movement through lateral motion for steering.

That rudder functions similarly to a fish tail, generating thrust while helping the small vessel steer after reaching the water.

Range and design give the concept its edge

The researchers say ALBATROSS could cover roughly above 100 km, substantially exceeding the approximately 7km range reported for SailMAV.

Its low mass allows aircraft or UAVs to carry it into areas where rapid deployment could matter during environmental events.

It also has an advantage over autonomous sailing platforms such as Saildrone or Sailbuoy, which may require external support during some operations.

That edge comes from its design, which integrates aerial and aquatic functions without relying on the separate mechanisms typically needed to manage those modes.

“Unlike many hybrid aerial-marine systems, ALBATROSS eliminates the need for aerial propulsion, complex mechanical reconfiguration, or active stabilization during the air-water transition and can sail back to shore at the end of a mission,” the team said.

That ability could make aerial deployment useful for placing sensing equipment in areas where ocean conditions change quickly.

Wind-powered movement would then allow the vehicle to remain useful without carrying a propulsion system for continued surface travel.

This operating model differs from larger sailing drones, which can require management from shore facilities or vessels during active missions.

The prototype therefore combines low mass with a descent mechanism intended to reduce hardware requirements during the transition into water.

Whether the concept works reliably outside controlled testing will depend on consistent descent, self-righting, steering, and sailing performance overall.

Via The Register

technology Google logo on a black background next to text reading 'Click to follow TechRadar'

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

PSA: Best Buy’s ‘Techtober’ sale ends this Sunday — here are 50+ tech deals I’d buy on Apple, TVs, laptops, Google Pixel 11, and more

Admin
-
0
PSA: Best Buy’s ‘Techtober’ sale ends this Sunday — here are 50+ tech deals I’d buy on Apple, TVs, laptops, Google Pixel 11, and more
technology Assorted tech products on a stylised background with shapes and various colors.
(Image credit: TCL, LG, HP, JBL, Google, Apple, edited by Gemini)

Just a quick PSA, folks. Best Buy’s currently hosting a massive ‘Techtober’ sale until this Sunday, so there isn’t long left to score what are quite possibly some of the best deals we’ll see this side of Black Friday.

The retailer is currently hosting discounts on everything from the latest LG OLED TVs to cheap laptops — and I’ve been busy scanning through its listings to pick out the best deals. You can see a full list of recommendations based on our product testing at TechRadar just down below.

• Browse the full Best Buy Techtober sale

Highlights include this excellent value 55-inch TCL QM5K Mini LED TV for $499 (was $799), which is a fantastic price for such a premium display. There’s also this HP OmniBook X Flip with an OLED display for $599 (was $799), and the Google Pixel 11 for $799 (was $899). The Pixel 11 has just been released, so this is a great little discount on an unlocked device.

That’s just a small selection of highlights. You can see a full list of over 50 deals below, covering most categories. I’ve separated everything out into easy-to-navigate sections, so don’t hesitate to skip ahead to a relevant section if you’re looking for something specific.

Editor’s picks — top 5 deals today

Best Buy Techtober sale — Laptops

Best Buy Techtober sale — Televisions

Best Buy Techtober sale — Appliances

Best Buy Techtober sale — Headphones & Audio

Best Buy Techtober sale — Tablets

Best Buy Techtober sale — Phones

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Alex is TechRadar’s retail editor, specializing in buying advice and general tips on how to save our readers as much cash as possible. He’s covered major retail events in some capacity for over seven years now; both in editorial and other ecommerce adjacent roles on TechRadar, T3, GamesRadar, and other Future PLC sites. Alex’s expertise touches on most areas, but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer.

NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #1218)

Admin
-
0
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #1218)

news

technology news NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
(Image credit: New York Times)

Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1218) – today’s words

technology news NYT Connections hints for game 1218 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

  • HARNESS
  • MAP
  • PERUSE
  • PHONE
  • GLOVES
  • CABLE
  • APPLY
  • PATRICK
  • ELECTRICITY
  • WIELD
  • ICE SCRAPER
  • UTILIZE
  • EMPLOY
  • REGISTRATION
  • SYNTACTIC
  • INTERNET

NYT Connections today (game #1218) – hint #1 – group hints

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: Deploy
  • GREEN: Paid off 12 times a year
  • BLUE: Hidden in your car
  • PURPLE: Final risks

Need more clues?

We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

NYT Connections today (game #1218) – hint #2 – group answers

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: PUT TO USE
  • GREEN: MONTHLY BILLS
  • BLUE: THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT
  • PURPLE: ENDING IN GAMBITS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1218) – the answers

technology news NYT Connections answers for game 1218 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Connections, game #1218, are…

  • YELLOW: PUT TO USE: APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE, WIELD
  • GREEN: MONTHLY BILLS: CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET, PHONE
  • BLUE: THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP, REGISTRATION
  • PURPLE: ENDING IN GAMBITS: EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE, SYNTACTIC
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: 3 mistakes

Congratulations if you saw ploy, trick, ruse, and tactic at the end of the four purple tiles.

This wasn’t the only thing that passed me by today.

After successfully getting the four utilities that made up MONTHLY BILLS and the THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT (I’d add a pack of mints, cheap sunglasses and a scrap of paper with an unknown phone number on it) I floundered over the yellow group, as I was convinced EMPLOY was one of the four.

Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Saturday, October 10, 2026, game #1217)

  • YELLOW: USEFUL WHEN WRITING A PAPER: DRAFT, NOTES, OUTLINE, THESIS
  • GREEN: PRESUME: FIGURE, GATHER, IMAGINE, SUPPOSE
  • BLUE: SOCIAL MEDIA SECTIONS: FEED, MESSAGES, NOTIFICATIONS, PROFILE
  • PURPLE: ___BOXING: BEAT, KICK, SHADOW, UN

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna’s addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #952)

Admin
-
0
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, October 11 (game #952)

news

technology news NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
(Image credit: New York Times)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, October 10 (game #951).

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #952) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… They don’t make ‘em like they used to

NYT Strands today (game #952) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • LARGE
  • BOXES
  • PRAM
  • RETOLD
  • SLOT
  • GORE

NYT Strands today (game #952) – hint #3 – spangram letters

How many letters are in today’s spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #952) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

• First side: top, 3rd column

• Last side: bottom, 4th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #952) – the answers

technology news NYT Strands answers for game 952 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #952, are…

  • PAGER
  • ICEBOX
  • INKWELL
  • TYPEWRITER
  • TELEGRAM
  • SPANGRAM: OLDFASHIONED
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: Perfect

I am old enough to remember when the heft of your Filofax demonstrated the level of your success — much as today the number of your social media followers, regardless of how many of them are AI bots, is a measure of self worth.

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

It’s all, of course, just a phase, as this selection is redundant — as once cutting-edge technology demonstrates.

Annoyingly I got OLDFASHIONED after spotting PAGER and ICEBOX (I really thought that X was going to be a fax machine) and regret that I didn’t spend longer trying to add to my Spangram First collection.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday, October 10, game #951)

  • HONEY
  • SYRUP
  • TREACLE
  • MOLLASSES
  • GRENADINE
  • SPANGRAM: STICKYANDSWEET

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna’s addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.

Can Solana replicate September’s rally in October after latest upgrade?

Admin
-
0
Can Solana replicate September’s rally in October after latest upgrade?

news

September may have been the turning point for Solana’s Q4 rally.

Historically, a strong fundamental performance has not always translated into a robust technical performance for SOL. However, September was nothing short of remarkable, with the altcoin recording more than 14% in price gains. It almost doubled Ethereum’s returns, while also crossing the psychological $120-barrier on its way for the first time since early Q1.

The key takeaway? This gain did not come out of nowhere. As shown in the graph below, SOL’s monthly transaction count climbed to a whopping 10.7 billion in September, the highest since May 2025.

To put this in perspective, SOL’s price performance finally caught up with the network’s adoption growth.

finance news Solana
Source: Token Terminal

However, the momentum does not stop there.

Based on Solana Hub’s X post, September marked another milestone for tokenized stocks on the network. The supply of tokenized equity reportedly crossed $780.5 million as spot trading volume reached $4.25 billion, with the number of holders surpassing 1 million. This is yet another positive development for SOL, as the network’s activity is gaining traction and its tokenized equity market is growing exponentially. This bodes well for the fundamentals heading deeper into October.

According to AMBCrypto, this is where September’s rally get interesting.

SOL gained by over 14% for the month, having regained its position on-chain in terms of value. Now, given the signs of strength on both fronts, can Solana sustain the September rally through October and the rest of Q4?

news Solana’s faster network fuels bullish hopes

A significant upgrade could explain why September’s bullish momentum is critical.

As previously mentioned, the network’s on-chain activity was at a multi-month high as transaction numbers peak and tokenized equity supply reached a record level. These factors contributed to SOL’s outperformance over ETH in the last risk-on period. The crucial question is whether the altcoin can replicate the success.

Notably, Solana’s developers have reduced the time between slots by half, from 400 ms to 200 ms. In simple terms, the network can produce more blocks in a given time period.

Therefore, it should be able to process more transactions quickly. And, with the rise of tokenized stocks and on-chain trading, this could prove advantageous to the network and allow it to gather more activity.

finance news SOL
Source: X

If September’s trend persists, then the altcoin could gain further ground in the rest of Q4.

With Ethereum’s block time of 12 seconds, Solana’s 200 ms slots will allow faster block production time and, therefore, faster transactions. The rise of tokenized stocks and on-chain trading will drive adoption, which should boost the demand for the native asset and eventually, its price. In a risk-on environment, faster block time is an attractive feature that can draw new traders and developers to the ecosystem.

Thus, Solana can be expected to break the $125-barrier and stage a powerful rally in Q4.

news Final Summary

  • Solana hit 10.7 billion transactions in September, boosting its bullish outlook.
  • Solana’s 200 ms slot time could drive adoption and help SOL break above $125 in Q4.

‘More bullish on Bitcoin’ – Strategy leads 91% of corporate BTC buying

Admin
-
0
‘More bullish on Bitcoin’ – Strategy leads 91% of corporate BTC buying

news

Bitcoin treasury firms remain the most bullish players on the asset in 2026. So far, businesses have bought the largest stash of 193K Bitcoin, nearly 20x more than overall purchases made by nation-states over the same period.

The U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and hedge funds had a small outflow of 594 BTC, while individuals dumped a whopping 93K BTC.

Out of the massive appetite seen amongst businesses, Strategy accounted for over 91% of 2026 BTC purchases, or about 175K BTC. Analysts hailed the buying spree, given that Bitcoin has been stuck in a winter market for most of 2026.

For Phong Le, Strategy CEO, however, the trend was positive and cemented their Bitcoin bet.

The trend towards corporate, institution, bank, and nation-state adoption of Bitcoin is encouraging and makes us even more bullish on Bitcoin.

business news Strategy Bitcoin
Source: River

Strategy and Strive both hauled in 197K BTC. Other conventional businesses also bought over 20K BTC in 2026. In fact, even Robinhood joined the trend with a $25 million Bitcoin purchase this week.

Other Bitcoin treasury firms acquired 8K BTC, but after adjusting for total business holdings, the stash fell to 193K BTC because miners offloaded 33K BTC as some pursue an AI pivot.

business news Strategy Bitcoin
Source: River

news Why Strategy is betting on Bitcoin’s broader adoption

Strategy’s initial Bitcoin bet was to offer amplified exposure to clients via its stock MSTR. The stock would offer several multiples of gains and losses relative to Bitcoin swings.

However, with preferred stocks, the firm doubled down on the ‘digital credit’ model backed by its Bitcoin holdings.

Recently, the firm has been closely tracking a composite Bitcoin adoption index across nations, firms, and associated products tied to the asset. Worth noting that the firm initially floated the idea of becoming the first Bitcoin bank to offer more digital credit products beyond Stretch .

Currently, the 12% yield paid to STRC and other preferred stocks is generated by diluting MSTR shareholders. In fact, some have criticized the model as a ‘Ponzi scheme’ because the yield is not coming directly from its vast BTC holdings.

It remains to be seen how Strategy will scale its digital credit pipeline.

That said, despite Bitcoin treasury firms leading the demand front by $15 billion in 2026, this was still low relative to 2025.

business news Bitcoin Strategy
Source: River

However, assuming this is an early bull market like in 2023, the current pace of inflows from Bitcoin treasuries was relatively higher and strong.

Strategy has a cost basis of about $75K, while the U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETF has an average cost basis of $82K. As such, these levels could act as crucial support if the ongoing Bitcoin pullback deepens.

business news Strategy Bitcoin
Source: Glassnode

news Final Summary

  • Strategy bought 175K BTC of the 193K BTC (91%) acquired by businesses in 2026
  • Strategy’s CEO said the institutional and state adoption trend has made them even more bullish on Bitcoin
1...508509510...671Page 509 of 671
PNFPB Install PWA using share icon

To install app on your device, tap the Share button in Safari. Scroll down and select 'Add to Home Screen'. Then tap 'Add' to place the app icon on your Home Screen.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
Would like to install our app?

Progressive Web App (PWA) is installed successfully. It will also work in offline

Push notification permission blocked in browser settings. Reset the notification settings for website/PWA