The one-off special features fan favourites Kermit and Miss Piggy, with guest stars Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Sleek new design Impressive audio performance Packs Zigbee, Matter, and Amazon Sidewalk hubs Focuses on video chat participants Cons No privacy shutter Alexa+ is still a work in progress Spotty streaming video support Our Verdict Provided you’ve settled on the Alexa ecosystem, the 4th-gen Echo Show 8 is the smart display to get. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Amazon Echo Show 8 (fourth-generation, 2025) Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Amazon has a new crop of Echo devices designed specifically for its big AI revamp of Alexa, including a couple of new Echo speakers, the Echo Dot Max (which we’ve previously reviewed) and the Echo Studio (our review is in the works). Also in the mix are two Echo Show displays: the Echo Show 11 and the Echo Show 8, the latter of which we’re reviewing here.  With both of the new Echo Show displays, Amazon has served up sleek new spheroid designs for the base that make their displays appear to float in mid-air, and their sonics got makeovers as well. Under the hood, the Echo Show 8 ($179.99) has a new processor designed to make Alexa+ respond more quickly and accurately to the “Alexa” wake word, while new ambient sensor technologies help Alexa detect when someone’s in the room, and even who they are.  In terms of a mainstream smart display that you place in your kitchen or living room, the Amazon Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot. The Echo Show 8 is also an entertainment and communication device, capable of streaming movies and shows on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, cranking tunes, and letting you connect with far-flung friends and loved ones, either on voice calls or video chat.  But the 4th-gen Echo Show 8 isn’t perfect, and it drops a key feature that might give privacy-minded users pause.  Design  The most striking thing about the new Echo Show 8 (8.2 x 5 x 5.9 inches, WxDxH) is its design; quite simply, it’s gorgeous, and a massive improvement compared to its chunky-looking predecessor. Gone is the wedge-shaped design of older Echo Show displays (the third-gen Echo Show 8 at least adopted an edge-to-edge screen and rounded corners). The new Echo Show 8’s screen is now mounted on a spheroid base that makes the slim panel appear to float in space.  The spheroid design of the Echo Show 8 makes the screen look like it’s floating in space.Ben Patterson/Foundry This display itself measures 8.7 inches diagonally, with slimmer bezels than the previous Echo Show 8 and its 8-inch screen. The volume buttons are on the right edge of the display, right below a privacy button that mutes the microphone array and electronically deactivates the camera lens (which sits in the top bezel). Nice, but the fourth-gen Echo Show 8 loses a key privacy feature of the third-gen version: a physical for blocking the camera lens, meaning you might want to think twice before putting the display in your bedroom.  The 4th-gen Echo Show 8 looks great on its own, but it looks even better when paired with Amazon’s optional stand, a premium-looking metal accessory that magnetically snaps onto the bottom of the display’s base. The Echo Show 8 attaches to Amazon’s optional stand with the help of a strong magnet.Ben Patterson/Foundry The stand feels reassuringly heavy and solid, and it allows you to tilt the Echo Show 8 up to 40 degrees or spin it a full 360 degrees—and yes, you can spin the display without having to hold the stand down with your other hand. Even though it tacks an additional $40 to the Echo Show 8’s price tag, the optional stand is well worth the added expense.  Inside the Echo Show 8’s fabric-covered spheroid base is a custom AZ3 Pro processor that’s been specifically designed for Alexa+, along with a revamped speaker array that includes a pair of full-range drivers and a 2.8-inch woofer, an upgrade from the two drivers and the passive bass radiator in the previous generation. I’ll delve further into the Echo Show 8’s Alexa+ and audio performance in a bit.  You can tilt the Echo Show 8’s display up to 40 degrees and swivel it up to 360 degrees when the device is sitting on its optional stand.Ben Patterson/Foundry Setup  I’ve complained in the past about the process of setting up an Echo Show display—namely, you had to type in your Amazon email address and your password using the on-screen keyboard, a process that’s easy to screw up if you have a strong password. For a regular Echo speaker like the Echo Dot, the process is much more seamless, as the Alexa app will simply detect the speaker and connect it. Why couldn’t the same thing happen with an Echo Show display?  Well, I’m happy to report that since my review of the previous Echo Show 8 (circa 2023), Amazon has given the Echo Show connection process a serious upgrade. Now you simply scan a QR code on the Echo Show display using your phone, and the Alexa app handles the rest.   There are some privacy disclosures and EULAs you’ll need to check off, and you also must designate which room the Echo Show 8 will reside in. You’ll also need to enroll your face if you want Alexa to recognize you via the Echo Show’s camera; the process is similar to setting up Face ID on an iPhone and takes only a few minutes. (Because I had previously enrolled my face for the 3rd-gen Echo Show 8, I didn’t need to do it again for the new model.)  Say goodbye to the wedge-shaped design of earlier Echo Show displays, like the 3rd-gen Echo Show 8 (left).Ben Patterson/Foundry Overall, the Echo Show 8 setup process was a smooth one, and I had the display up and running in roughly five minutes.  Customizing the home screen  The Echo Show 8’s home screen can show a plethora of content, from slideshows of your snapshots and breaking news headlines to popular recipes, smart home controls, sports scores, and shopping recommendations—including sponsored products; i.e., advertisements.  The presence of ads on a device you’ve paid good money for is a vexing one, and in my early days with the Echo Show 8, I grew tired of seeing shopping ads pop up that were clearly based on my Amazon searches. For example, after an afternoon of shopping for VESA mounts on Amazon, I woke to find VESA mount ads on the Echo Show’s home screen.   Luckily, it’s easy to customize what you see on the home screen—and just as importantly, what you don’t want. Under the Settings menu you’ll find a Home Screen Categories section where you can toggle various home screen elements on or off. Disabling the Shopping category nixed the suggested products, for example, and you can also choose whether you want to see local or national news, sports headlines, stock market updates, weather reports, and so on. You can still ask Alexa for shopping recommendations after disabling the Shopping home screen category, but the shopping ads won’t be pushed at you anymore.  You can also add widgets to the home screen for a dashboard-style view of your calendar, weather updates, recently played music, and—perhaps best of all—smart home controls, perfect for giving you touch controls for your various lights, smart plugs, and other smart devices. Alexa is also willing and able to control your smart home, a topic we’ll get to in a moment.  Finally, the Echo Show can display slideshows of either curated images and artwork from Amazon or snapshots from your Amazon Photos library. You can change the speed at which the Show rotates through the images (anywhere from 6 to 24 seconds per slide) and whether your photos should be cropped, “smart” cropped (meaning the display picks the most “interesting” parts of your images to focus on), or shown in their entirety.   Personally, I don’t love the Echo Show in its digital photo frame mode as it tends to sandwich portrait-style images between thick bars, no matter what crop setting you pick. Google’s Nest Hubs have a better solution: they intelligently pair portrait photos side-by-side, thus avoiding the whole window-boxing issue.  I don’t love the window-boxing effect for portrait images on the Echo Show 8’s slideshow mode.Ben Patterson/Foundry Smart hub connectivity  The 4th-gen Echo Show 8’s smart home connectivity options are unchanged compared to the previous version. For starters, the display will act as a Zigbee smart home hub, ideal for connecting Zigbee-enabled devices such as smart bulbs, smart plugs, remotes, water leak sensors, and similar smart gadgets. The Echo Show 8 also packs a Thread border router, meaning it can connect Matter-enabled smart devices to the internet and to each other. And it’s also a bridge for Sidewalk, the Amazon-backed “neighborhood network” protocol that leverages nearby Echo speakers and Ring cameras to connect low-power and far-flung smart sensors and devices (including the new series of Sidewalk-enabled sensors that Ring announced at CES in January).  That’s a fairly comprehensive array of smart connectivity options, but it’s worth noting that the Echo Show 8 doesn’t support Z-Wave, a wireless smart home and security protocol with its own rich ecosystem of devices. (No other Echo devices offer a Z-Wave hub either, although Amazon’s Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro home security systems do.) Also, unlike several other Echo speakers, including the Dot and the new Dot Max, the Echo Show 8 can’t be configured to operate as a network node when connected to one of Amazon’s Eero mesh Wi-Fi routers.  Smart sensors  The Echo Show 8 boasts a collection of onboard sensors that are mainly geared towards detecting when people are nearby—and, if you allow the display to do so, it can recognize who is near it, which is ideal for helping Alexa to give you personalized responses.   The Echo Show 8 offers a wide range of smart home connectivity options, along with on-screen smart home controls.Ben Patterson/Foundry Using an Amazon technology called Omnisense, and with the help of its camera and ambient temperature and light sensors, the Echo Show 8 can detect when people are in the room and act accordingly. For example, the Show can change the style of its on-screen interface, boosting the size of graphical elements when you’re further away and shrinking them as you approach, all the better for adding more details when you’re closer.   Omniverse can also help Alexa—and namely, Alexa+—recognize individuals in its vicinity, allowing it to tailor its responses (such as when you ask about upcoming calendar events). The technology can also trigger Alexa routines when people enter or leave the room, perfect for turning lights on and off based on room occupancy or queuing up a playlist when you arrive home from work.  Alexa+ and smart home functionality  Of course, the star of the show when it comes to the Echo Show 8’s smart home abilities is Alexa+, the long-awaited AI revamp for Alexa that’s coming up to its first anniversary.   While it’s been out for nearly a year and is available for anyone Alexa users who ask for it (and some who didn’t), Alexa+ is still in an “early access” phase. As such, Amazon isn’t charging for Alexa+ yet; eventually, Alexa+ access will be free for Amazon Prime members but $20 a month for everyone else.  Alexa+ will work on practically any working Echo speaker (including the earlier puck-shaped Echo Dot models). That said, the Echo Show 8’s AZ3 Pro processor helps the display to respond to the “Alexa” wake work more quickly and accurately, and it also enables the advanced Omnisense presense-detection abilities I mentioned earlier.  Like the “classic” Alexa (which is still around and will remain free), Alexa+ can control your smart lights, take charge of smart plugs, manage your thermostats, and run automated routines at your command. But while the old Alexa demanded the use of somewhat stilted voice commands (“Alexa, set table lamp 3 to 70 percent”), Alexa+ can understand natural language commands. Say “Alexa, it’s dark in here, can you make it brighter,” and Alexa+ can—theoretically—figure out that a) you’re in the living room and b) that you want the brightness of the living room lights dialed up.   When it works, it’s pretty cool, but as I’ve written before, Alexa+ frequently disappoints as much as it impresses, variously mishearing commands or misunderstanding your intent. Sometimes it accurately guesses that it should send over your Roomba when you declare how dirty the carpets are; sometimes it will just give you a speech about the carpet manufacturing industry. Sometimes it’s juggling your streaming music playlists with ease, tossing your tunes from one speaker to another; other times it seems unbelievably dense, like the time it mistook a collection of Taylor Swift 1989 covers for the actual 1989 album and doubled down when I pointed out the mistake.  In short, Alexa+ is very much a work in progress, which is why it remains in an early access period (and why I’m not giving it a full review just yet).  Just like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude, Alexa+ is constantly evolving, and hopefully improving as it does so. It’s also worth noting that Alexa+ isn’t alone in having smart-home hiccups; Gemini at Home has its share of foibles, too. Finally, you can always go back to the old Alexa if you want; not so with Gemini, which won’t let you return to Google Assistant.  Video calling and communication  One of the best features of a smart display like the Echo Show 8 is two-way video chat, and in this regard the product shines. The vibrant 8.7-inch, full-HD display can’t swivel on its own like the motorized screen on the 3rd-gen Echo Show 10, but the 13-megapixel camera’s software can nonetheless zoom in and follow you if you choose to roam while you chat.  The Echo Show 8’s camera also offers some limited home-monitoring capabilities, allowing users to take a live look through the lens when away from home. That said, the display’s camera can’t function as a Ring camera in the same way that Google’s camera-equipped Nest Hub Max can double as a Nest camera.   Aside from its video-calling features, the Echo Show 8 can handle voice communication, too. For example, you can call or “drop-in” on any other Echo device by asking Alexa. Even better, you can use Alexa to call any number in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico for free, although there’s a catch: you’re limited to just 10 contacts (at least you can swap new contacts for old whenever you want).  In another handy perk, you can connect Alexa to your AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon mobile number. You can then ask Alexa to make hands-free calls, and as a bonus, Alexa can announce your callers, answer the call, or even hang up on an incoming call.  Media playback  It probably won’t be the biggest screen in your home, but the Echo Show 8 still works well for playing videos from the big streaming services, provided you’re subscribed to either Amazon Prime Video (which Prime members get for free, although you’ll need to pay a little more to avoid ads) or Netflix. Both of those services offer native apps for the Echo Show 8, making for much smoother navigation and streaming.  For everything else—Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube and other services—you’ll need to use the Echo Show 8’s Silk web browser, which works in a pinch but feels clunkier compared to the native video apps.  If you want a more well-rounded streaming video experience from an Echo Show display, you’ll need to step up to the Echo Show 15 (either the first or second generations) or the Echo Show 21, with those larger displays supporting the full-on Amazon Fire TV app, complete with support for all the big streamers as well as dozens of niche streaming services.  As far as music goes, you can link accounts from such streaming services as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Sirius XM, TuneIn, Audacy, and Audible. Missing from the list: YouTube Music and Qobuz.  The Echo Show 8 supports most of the big music streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.Ben Patterson/Foundry Audio performance  As I wrote earlier, Amazon has given the Echo Show 8 a serious audio upgrade compared to the previous generation, with the newer version swapping its predecessor’s passive bass radiator for a powered 2.8-inch woofer.  The result is much better bass, which became evident when I played Taylor Swift’s 1989 (yes, the same album I was arguing with Alexa+ about) on the 3rd- and 4th-gen Echo Show 8 displays in succession.   The older Show 8 sounded fine, perfectly serviceable for background music in the kitchen. The newer model, on the other hand, delivered audio performance that you could actually focus on and enjoy. We’re not talking Sonos levels of audio quality, mind you, but for a smart display, I thought the revamped Echo Show 8 sounded quite impressive.  Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 8?  I certainly have my quibbles with the 4th-gen Echo Show 8. The lack of a privacy shutter for the camera is my biggest complaint, while the iffy video streaming support is somewhat ameliorated by the fact that the 8-inch screen isn’t ideal for serious video watching. And yes, Alexa+ is still a work in progress, although you can always stick with the old Alexa if you prefer.  But in terms of a mainstream smart display that you place in your kitchen or living room, the Amazon Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot. It looks terrific, it sounds great, it offers a galaxy of smart home integrations plus a wide range of connectivity, it’s perfect for video chat and can even place mobile calls for you. Provided you’ve settled on the Alexa ecosystem and given that Google’s Nest Hub displays are getting long in the tooth, the 4th-gen Echo Show 8 is the smart display to get.  Should you upgrade from the 3rd-generation Echo Show 8? It depends. Yes, the 4th-gen Show 8 boasts a much sleeker design, while the newer Echo Show certainly tops the 3rd-gen’s audio performance, particular in terms of bass response. But the older Echo Show 8 does have a privacy shutter, it offers the same smart home hubs and connectivity as the newer version, it supports Alexa+ (albeit with an older Amazon processor), and while its screen is a tad smaller, it still looks just as good as its successor’s.  So, if you’re drawn to the new design of the 4th-generation Echo Show 8 or you demand bleeding-edge audio and processor performance, sure, go ahead and pony up for the newer display. But if you’re mainly concerned about smart home control, you’ll be fine sticking with the 3rd-generation device.  This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Very affordable Compact and versatile Even better image quality than the step-down model Cons Motion-based recording is hair-trigger sensitive Infrared night vision is middling at best We encountered some setup troubles Subscription is all but required for regular use Our Verdict Higher resolution is always welcome, and the additional upgrades over the still-available Blink Mini 2 maintain this affordable camera’s recommendation. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Blink Mini 2K+ Retailer Price $25.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Blink Mini 2 is a simple security camera that lives up to its name: Small, unobtrusive, inexpensive, and simple; it’s “mini” in every sense of the word. But its 1080p resolution isn’t exactly dazzling in 2026. That’s surely why the Amazon-owned operation gave the camera an upgrade with this latest release—the Blink Mini 2K+—boosting resolution up 2K levels while throwing in a few additional, if less visible upgrades. Specifications The $50 Blink Mini 2K+ doesn’t look a lot different from its $40 cousin, but its higher resolution alone jutifies the price premium.Christopher Null/Foundry The Blink Mini 2K+ and the Blink Mini 2 we reviewed in 2024 (that model remains on the market for $40) look an awful lot alike; they’re both tiny, squared-off devices that, at 2 inches per side, fit easily in the palm of your hand. The camera connects to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and remains powered via a USB-C cable. It’s designed for either internal or external use, with IP65 weather resistance promised—provided you use a Blink Weather Resistant Power Adapter (sold separately for $10). A 138-degree diagonal viewing angle is slightly tighter than the 143 degrees that the Mini 2 delivers, and the unit can also be paired with a second 2K+ camera and the Blink Arc adapter (review forthcoming) if you want to approximate a 180-degree ultra-widescreen effect. The Mini 2 featured a tiny spotlight intended for use as a sort of night light, but this feature gets an upgrade on the 2K+ to provide enough illumination for “color” night vision if you so desire. Standard black-and-white infrared night vision is also included if you prefer your security to be more discreet. And while two-way talk remains in the mix, Blink now boasts that the microphone includes noise cancelation features. And while the original Mini 2 included person detection as a subset of its motion detecting system, the 2K+ adds vehicle detection to the mix. The camera remains available with either a black or white finish, with the power cable in a matching color. Installation and setup The Blink Mini 2K can be detached from its simple stand if you don’t need to tilt its point of view.Christopher Null/Foundry The Blink Mini 2K+ features very deep-set USB-C ports (designed to be weatherproof), and once the included cable is connected, physical setup is largely done. The unit maintains the same mounting system as the Mini 2, with a bracket that can be easily snapped on and off from the camera body and permanently affixed to a wall or ceiling with the included screws if desired. The camera can also be simply rested on a bookshelf or tabletop for more casual or temporary use. The Blink app gave me headaches during the digital portion of configuration, as I received multiple connection failures throughout this phase of setup (a problem I encountered consistently with two Mini 2K+ cameras I tested). But this and other aspects of setup are more nuisance than problem, including bugs like the app’s failure to remember your Wi-Fi login credentials, forcing you to re-enter them for each device you set up. Regardless of the occasional headache, I was ultimately able to get the camera set up and operating successfully within a few minutes of effort. Using the Blink Mini 2K+ The older Blink Mini 2 has solid video quality given its resolution, and that’s improved further with the 2K+. By daylight, video is crisp and smooth, with virtually no distortion evident. Under infrared lighting, however, I found the night vision mode to be middling at best, with footage rather grainy and dim. A critter the camera captured in my backyard on many late-night sojourns remains definitively unidentified, even at a range of less than 15 feet. (Skunk or raccoon are the prevailing theories.) The stronger spotlight on the 2K+ does help quite a bit, and if you don’t mind the camera making its presence known, the resulting video after hours marks a considerable improvement over that captured under the IR bulbs. I found the 2K+’s motion sensor to be incredibly sensitive, so much so that I spent a week dialing it down until it was at the lowest level available. Even then, the camera still recorded hundreds of videos with no motion evident that I could see, with notifications duly delivered to my phone. Clips are cataloged in a chronological list, and while you can sort clips to filter for people or vehicles in the image, by and large scouring through recordings for what you need is a scroll-and-tap affair, scrubbing through one clip at a time. You’ll need to pay for a subscription to enable the Blink Mini 2K’s person and vehicle detection features.Christopher Null/Foundry One note of advice with this camera: It won’t record at all unless the system is set to “Armed” in the app and the camera’s motion detection setting is set to “On.” It’s a confusing design that Blink outlines on this support page, but the upshot is that the Armed/Disarmed settings let you disable multiple cameras at once, while motion detection is a per-camera parameter. Other key settings include adjustable cooldown/retrigger time (10 seconds to 60 seconds) and configurable clip length (5 seconds to 60 seconds). As an Amazon product, robust Alexa support is also included. As with other Blink camera products, the camera can’t save video unless you’re paying for extra services. You’ll need a Blink Subscription Plan to record live video, which is saved to Blink’s cloud service for up to 60 days. The plan is also needed for person/vehicle detection and extended live streaming (maxing out at 90 minutes). The plan runs $4/month or $40/year (up 33% this year) for one device or $12/month or $120/year for an unlimited number of devices. For those allergic to subscriptions, you can add a Blink Sync Module 2 ($50) or a Blink Sync Module XR ($70) to your network to store video from up to 10 Blink cameras locally, although both devices only store motion-sensed activity and can’t store live video clips recorded on demand like the subscription plan can. You’ll also need to provide local storage to plug into either device: a USB thumb drive for the Sync Module 2 or a microSD memory card for the Sync Module XR. There’s maximum capacity of 256BB in either scenario. Should you buy the Blink Mini 2K+? At $50, the Mini 2K+ is hardly a major investment, though the requirement of a subscription and/or additional hardware to unlock all its features changes that calculus a bit. If you already use other Blink gear at home, upgrading to these cameras on an as-needed basis makes great sense, though few users will likely be compelled by the upgrades to replace existing Mini 2 cameras if they’re still working well. Read...

Accessories manufacturer Logitech unveiled its new G325 Lightspeed gaming headset today. According to the company’s promotional material, this headset offers premium sound at a lower price point. The Logitech G325 Lightspeed is equipped with 32mm speaker drivers and supports 24-bit audio. The headset also has an integrated microphone that can provide AI-driven noise reduction. The headset can be connected to a computer using the included Lightspeed wireless dongle, but it also supports Bluetooth 5.2 and can be connected to mobile phones and gaming consoles as well. It should be easy to switch between connected devices. Logitech Logitech Logitech Features such as AI-powered noise cancellation, equalizer, and microphone settings can be activated and adjusted via Logitech G Hub software on your PC or via Logitech’s mobile app. The battery in the Logitech G325 Lightspeed should last for over 24 hours if you have the volume set to 50 percent. The headset has a featherlight design and soft ear cushions, weighing 212 grams. Logitech G325 Lightspeed is now available in black, white, and purple with an affordable price tag of $79.99. Read...

Remember Amazon’s newest Echo Dot Max that released back in September 2025? It went on sale back during the December holiday season, but if you missed it then, you have another chance to grab it at a significant discount. Right now, it’s discounted down to $79.99 (originally $99.99) and matches the lowest ever price it’s been. The Amazon Echo Dot Max is the latest and greatest in the Echo Dot line, which retains all the best features of the Alexa smart speakers while being as compact and sleek as possible. We recently reviewed the Echo Dot Max and gave it a 4-star rating for its attractive mesh-fabric design, accessible control buttons, improved bass response, and compatibility with multiple smart platforms (including Zigbee and Matter). Why get this one over previous Echo Dot models? Improvements here include room-filling sound with greater bass, Omnisense for personalized experiences and auto-adjustments to match your space, better tactile ergonomics, and smarter automated routines that allow you to incorporate temperature and/or presence detection. This Echo Dot Max also comes with early access to Alexa+, Amazon’s latest iteration of Alexa that’s built on AI. The answers are more in-depth and conversational, plus smarter all around. Pair it with your compatible Fire TV devices to craft a full-blown home theater system. All things considered, the Echo Dot Max is the perfect Echo device for a living room and other medium-sized spaces. Get it now for $79.99 while this limited-time deal is still around! The Echo Dot Max is a vast improvement and now 20% offBuy now via Amazon Read...

Mozilla Firefox has always seemed like the “cool kid” browser option, for the power users who don’t want to deal with Google or Microsoft. So perhaps filling it up with “AI” features — you know, the things people are kind of tired of seeing from Google and Apple — might not be winning people over. Mozilla seems to have read the room: Upcoming builds will let you disable “AI” completely. “We’ve heard from many who want nothing to do with AI,” says Ajit Varma, Mozilla’s VP of Firefox Product. “We’ve also heard from others who want AI tools that are genuinely useful. Listening to our community, alongside our ongoing commitment to offer choice, led us to build AI controls.” The new AI Controls option just debuted in Firefox Nightly builds, which means it’ll be coming to most users within a month or two. Right at the top of the menu is a big toggle for “Block AI enhancements,” which will turn it all off — even pop-up info about new features. Users will get to enable or block other “AI” tools selectively, including translation, automatic alt text in PDF files, tab group suggestions, and link previews. And these choices will remain persistent through updates, at least according to Mozilla. It’s an admirable amount of user control, especially for a browser that’s so heavily invested in user customization. Other major browsers, including Chrome and Edge (both based on Google’s Chromium), have been adding “AI” features so fast that it’s hard to keep up with the sheer volume. Edge has a huge Copilot button right next to your profile, in case you missed the one on your keyboard. Shades of Internet Explorer, which Firefox helped to kill decades ago, are unavoidable. Microsoft should take a hard look at what people actually want, just like they’re doing with Windows. Chrome has a giant “AI MODE” search button in roughly the same place, and soon it’s going to automatically browse for you, mirroring the proposal from other “AI” browsers like Perplexity Comet and Opera Neon. Nothing is cracking Chrome’s dominance in the browser space anytime soon — that’s why they call it a monopoly. But alternatives have noticed the discontent among the digital peasants. Mozilla’s whole schtick is offering a realistic, open-source alternative; for example, it’s the go-to browser if you still want the “real” uBlock Origin ad-blocking extension. I’ll also shout out my browser bestie Vivaldi (drink), which has a very clear and succinct approach to the rise of “agentic AI” browsers. Vivaldi A clear, easy-to-find toggle for “AI” is something I’ve asked for more or less by name, so I’m glad that Mozilla can see the demand for it. Now if only someone up in Redmond would open up their eyes… Read...

Are you ready to finally upgrade your gaming laptop to one that’ll blow you away? Now’s your chance to jump on a screaming good deal with the Asus ROG Strix G16 on sale for $1,599.99 at Best Buy. That’s a massive $400 discount, bringing it down from its original $1,999.99 to a much more affordable price and a much better bang for your buck. So, what makes the Asus ROG Strix G16 such a good pick? Well, it features a super-fast AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX processor paired with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a speedy 1TB SSD for rapid load times. Even without a dedicated graphics card, this configuration would be a solid setup to handle your everyday workload, hobbies, leisure, and more. And that’s all great on its 16-inch 1900×1200 screen with 165Hz of refresh. But the kicker here is the amazing Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti dedicated graphics card, which is easily one of our top picks for a gaming laptop right now. It’s way better than the 5050, 5060, and even 5070 you normally see in gaming laptops, with significantly more cores, better memory, faster performance, and higher benchmarks. At this price, you’re getting a stellar gaming machine for years to come. When we reviewed the Asus ROG Strix G16, we gave it a 4-star rating for its fast display, 100 watts of USB-C charging, and excellent overall cooling and performance. Our main complaints involved the bulky and plasticky chassis and the so-so battery life (even for a gaming laptop). If you’re okay with that, the internals make up for it. Don’t miss this chance to get the Asus ROG Strix G16 for $1,599.99 at Best Buy, a fantastic price for some lovely gaming hardware. Save $400 on the Asus ROG Strix G16 with RTX 5070 Ti GPUBuy now via Best Buy Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent performance thanks to Ryzen 5 7640HS and Radeon 760M graphics Decent SSD transfer rates thanks to CT1000P3 from Crucial/Micron Magnetic cover enables lightning-fast hardware upgrades Quiet cooling system even under sustained load Wide range of connectivity options including USB-C and Wi-Fi 6E Cons The case surface is scratch-resistant, but attracts dust Our Verdict The PELADN WO4 is recommended for users who are looking for a powerful yet maintenance-friendly system. The mini PC stands out from the competition thanks to its magnetic cover and the use of brand-name components. Whether as a compact workstation, AI accelerator, or for casual gaming, the combination of Ryzen 5 7640HS and 32GB DDR5 RAM offers reserves for the next few years. A well-designed piece of technology without the usual compromises in terms of upgradeability. Price when reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: PELADN WO4 Retailer Price $419.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket PELADN is another mini PC manufacturer from the Far East. At the time of testing, 26 models with Intel and AMD processors were listed in its own EU shop, although not all of them are available. Some of PELADN’s minis are also available on Amazon, including the WO4 tested here with AMD Ryzen 7640HS and Radeon 760M graphics. We put this attractively priced model through its paces. Design and workmanship My first impression of the PELADN WO4 was that it’s cool and high-quality. The metal alloy casing not only looks sturdy, but also supports heat dissipation. The scratch-resistant surface feels silky and resists fingerprints surprisingly well. Compared to high-gloss models such as the Acemagic M1, this is a clear advantage in everyday use. Christoph Hoffmann There has been an exciting trend in the world of ultra-compact computers for several months now: Devices are not only becoming faster, but also easier to maintain. While competitors such as the Geekom A7 Max or the Acemagic M1 rely on a closed unibody design, which requires laboriously removing the rubber feet and loosening screws for upgrades, the PELADN WO4 takes a much more user-friendly approach. Similar to the Sapphire Edge AI 370, the cover on the top of the case can be lifted without tools, giving easy access to the slots for two RAM modules and two NVMe SSDs. Despite this flexibility, the cover sits rock-solid when closed, with nothing rattling or feeling unstable. Christoph Hoffmann With dimensions of approximately 5 × 5 × 2 inches (width × depth × height) and a weight of around 1.21 pounds, the WO4 is significantly more compact than comparable devices such as the Geekom A7 Max or the Miniforums AI X1 Pro. This allows it to be flexibly placed on a desk, in the living room, or at a home office workstation. The included VESA mount also allows for space-saving attachment directly to the back of the monitor. The cooling system of the PELADN WO4, called “FrostCool,” relies on a sophisticated two-fan concept, setting it apart from the often undersized competition. The main fan efficiently transports the waste heat from the Ryzen 5 7640HS to the outside via large copper heat pipes. An additional system fan ensures a constant air flow over the DDR5 RAM and the Crucial SSD installed in the test device. This active cooling of the memory components is a decisive advantage, as it effectively prevents the thermal throttling that is feared with NVMe SSDs during long write operations. Thanks to the solid construction of the heatsink and an intelligent fan curve, the mini PC remains virtually inaudible in office use. Under full load, it emits only a sonorous, unobtrusive hum instead of high-frequency whistling. Another plus point is its ease of maintenance: The magnetic case cover allows tool-free access to the cooling system. This makes regular cleaning of the fan blades from dust a breeze and ensures long-term system stability. Features The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS forms the heart of a new generation of mini PCs like the PELADN WO4 that focus on efficiency and AI acceleration. The six-core processor is based on modern 4nm manufacturing and Zen 4 architecture (“Phoenix”). In terms of performance, it is on par with former high-end chips such as the Ryzen 9 5900HX or the Intel Core i5-12500H. However, it significantly outperforms them in terms of energy efficiency and single-core performance. Christoph Hoffmann Compared to the Zen 3 models (such as the Ryzen 5 5600H or 5800H) found in many cheaper mini PCs, the 7640HS benefits from double-digit IPC growth and support for AVX-512. This makes it powerful enough for modern software workloads and future-proof. Although its bigger brother, the Ryzen 7 7840HS, offers two more cores, the 7640HS is almost on par in terms of single-thread performance, which is crucial for everyday use, and often outperforms competing models in the Intel Core i5-13500H series in graphics benchmarks. A unique selling point in this price range is the integrated Ryzen AI Engine (NPU), which offers dedicated hardware acceleration for AI tasks. This feature is completely absent in older mini PC generations or the pure office CPUs of the Intel T series. A look under the cover shows that PELADN makes no compromises when it comes to components. While many manufacturers are moving towards soldering the RAM in place for space reasons — a criticism often levelled at ultra-slim models — the WO4 offers two classic SODIMM slots. It comes with 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM installed at the factory, spread across two 16GB modules. Christoph Hoffmann No corners were cut when it came to the SSD: Thanks to its PCIe 4.0 connection, the built-in 1TB Crucial P3 delivers transfer rates that allow the system to boot in seconds — more details on this below. The variety of connections on the case makes some full-grown desktop workstations look outdated. Particularly noteworthy are Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, which ensure an extremely stable wireless connection. Christoph Hoffmann The front of the PELADN WO4 has a modern and user-friendly design. In addition to the illuminated power button, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports that enable data rates of up to 10Gbit/s. This makes them ideal for quickly connecting external SSDs or high-performance USB sticks. This setup is complemented by a combined 3.5mm jack connection for headsets. This is particularly beneficial for users who have their PC on their desk and do not want to reach behind the device to connect audio accessories. Christoph Hoffmann The highlight on the front is the full-featured USB-C port. This not only supports fast data transfer, but also DisplayPort Alt Mode. Depending on the configuration, this allows a third monitor to be controlled. The result is a high degree of flexibility in everyday work, as frequently changed peripheral devices are immediately accessible. The rear of the mini PC is designed for continuous stationary operation and offers numerous connection options. An HDMI and a DisplayPort connection dominate here. Together with the USB-C port on the front, they enable a triple-monitor setup with up to 4K resolution at high refresh rates. A 2.5G Ethernet port is available for integration into the home network, offering significantly higher transfer speeds than the conventional Gigabit standard, which is also available. The two LAN ports are an advantage for users who work with a NAS or want to move large amounts of data over the network. Christoph Hoffmann There are also two additional USB-A ports on the back, which are suitable for connecting peripheral devices such as mice, keyboards, or printers. Directly below the ports are the generous air vents of the cooling system. They are positioned so that the warm air is directed away from the user. The rear panel is rounded off by the power input for the external power supply. The arrangement of the sockets has been chosen so that the plugs do not block each other, even when all ports are fully occupied. Windows 11 Pro is pre-installed The PELADN WO4 comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. With an active internet connection, the operating system is quickly activated and set up. Windows 11 is factory-set to 24H2 Build 26100 with a release date of 1 October 2024. After setup, we updated the system to the latest version using the update function. We then installed the AMD drivers for the chipset and the Radeon graphics card. Christoph Hoffmann Christoph Hoffmann Although we do not evaluate Windows 11 Pro separately, the interaction between the operating system and hardware is an important aspect of the WO4. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS harmonizes well with the current Windows 11 build thanks to its modern platform. The integrated AI unit creates a future-proof basis for functions that are already used selectively by Windows 11 and are likely to become even more important in the future. Computing power With the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS, the PELADN WO4 positions itself as a powerful representative of the current mini PC upper class. In benchmarks, it achieves a balanced ratio of CPU performance, graphics performance and memory throughput. The processor is based on the Zen 4 architecture of the Phoenix generation and integrates the Radeon 760M graphics unit. This puts the WO4 in the same performance range as compact high-performance systems. Compared to the newer Zen 5 platforms, such as those used in the Sapphire Edge AI 370, the WO4 is based on a mature and established architecture. The integrated Ryzen AI unit provides fundamental support for AI applications. Combined with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a fast PCIe 4.0 SSD, the result is a system that can reliably handle not only classic office and productivity tasks, but also demanding multitasking and computationally intensive workloads. In the PCMark benchmark test, we determined a desktop computing power of 7,158 points. The software processes everyday tasks one after the other, thus delivering realistic values. Christoph Hoffmann The benchmark results in the Essentials (10,063 points) and Productivity (11,906 points) sub-areas show that everyday tasks, office applications, and multitasking run smoothly on the WO4. However, the score in the Content Creation area is weaker at 8,309 points. This puts the mini PC significantly behind systems based on the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and about 2,200 points behind the Geekom IT15 with Intel Core Ultra 9. This reflects the clearly higher performance of this platform in computationally and media-intensive scenarios. In the 3DMark CPU test, the WO4 demonstrates balanced performance. With 5,949 points in the multithread run and 974 points in the single-thread test, the result is on par with a mobile Ryzen 9 8945HS. In a direct market comparison, however, the WO4 lags around 20 percent behind systems with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. At the same time, scaling across multiple threads shows that computationally intensive tasks and parallel AI workloads are performed quickly. Christoph Hoffmann With 2,778 points in the Time Spy test, this mini PC achieves impressive performance for its size and marks the current performance peak of classic integrated graphics solutions in the mini PC segment. The Radeon 760M’s 2,488 graphics points show that it outperforms conventional Intel solutions (Iris Xe) by almost 50 percent and enables smooth Full HD gaming. The 8,202 CPU points are the real highlight: They prove that the Ryzen 5 7640HS, thanks to its Zen 4 architecture, does not throttle even under continuous load and comes close to compact desktop systems. The result in the Steel Nomad Light test is revealing, as this benchmark was developed for cross-platform systems without a dedicated graphics card. With 2,249 points and an estimated gaming performance of over 30 FPS, the PELADN WO4 proves that it far exceeds the level of simple office computers. Even if 16.67fps may seem low at first glance in a pure graphics test, this value is good for an integrated solution with very high quality settings. It indicates that current game titles remain playable in Full HD with moderate adjustments to the details. This makes the WO4 an option for casual gamers. The Geekbench AI Pro values (3,822 single precision / 7,362 quantized) indicate good AI acceleration. This is useful for on-device AI applications, edge computing, and local LLM inference. In this discipline, the PELADN WO4 is around 10 percent below the Geekom IT15, which is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, as used in the Sapphire Edge AI 370, for example. Christoph Hoffmann The SSD performance in Crystal Disk Mark is good, but not above average: With 5,200MB/s read and 4,733MB/s write speeds, the SSD performs at a decent but not above-average pace. Some higher-priced competitor models achieve read speeds of 6,000 to 7,000MB/s. The SSD speed of the WO4 is significantly higher than that of the Alliwava models (GH8 and H90), which are equipped with a slow PCIe 3.0 NVMe. Christoph Hoffmann Conclusion Our impression of the PELADN WO4 is positive. In terms of performance, the Ryzen 5 7640HS makes a clear statement. Thanks to the Zen 4 architecture and powerful Radeon 760M graphics, the WO4 closes the gap between office PCs and gaming systems. It masters demanding multitasking scenarios, AI-supported workflows, and even modern gaming in 1080p with flying colors, without reaching its thermal limits. The FrostCool system works so smoothly that the computer is unlikely to be perceived as disruptive, even in quiet working environments. Its (almost) unique selling point is the clever housing concept with a magnetic cover. Easy, tool-free access to RAM and SSD is user-friendly. This not only makes the system low-maintenance, but also future-proof for later upgrades. For users looking for a powerful, quiet, and flexible companion for their desk that won’t become electronic waste after just two years, the PELADN WO4 is a smart investment. Technical specifications Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS (6 cores / 12 threads, up to 5.0 GHz) Graphics: AMD Radeon 760M (RDNA 3 architecture) Memory: 32 GB DDR5-5600 (2 × 16 GB removable) Internal storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD (Crucial P3, PCIe 4.0 x4) Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 1 × 2.5G Ethernet, 1 × Gigabit Ethernet Connections: 1 × HDMI 2.1, 1 × DisplayPort 1 × USB-C (full feature), 4 × USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3.5 mm jack Cooling: FrostCool dual fan system Special feature: Magnetic case cover for tool-free access Operating system: Windows 11 Pro pre-installed Dimensions: 128 × 128 × 52 mm (width × depth × height) Weight: approx. 550 grams Read...

The Olympic flag features the five rings representing the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world. Read...

Microsoft’s PowerToys dev team is experimenting with a new menu and dock interface in Windows 11, spotted by The Verge. The solution consists of an optional top bar called the Command Palette Dock, which is intended to provide quick access to various Command Palette extensions. It’s designed to complement the Command Palette launcher, which allows users to quickly launch apps and commands. The Command Palette Dock is fully configurable and can be placed along any edge of the screen (top, bottom, left, or right). The content within can also be organized into three separate zones for a better overview and organization. Users will be able to customize the appearance as well as freely move and attach extensions. In short, your favorite PowerToys features and tools will only be “one click away.” Microsoft has published concept images and is now seeking feedback from users. If you want to test an early version, you can do so through the PowerToys GitHub project in Visual Studio. However, it’s pretty advanced to set up and you’ll need developer experience. Read...