Author: alex

Roblox to Require Age Verification for Communication Features by End of 2025 Roblox plans to roll out age estimation and age verification for all users who want to access communication features (chat, voice, etc.) by the end of 2025. Verification options include a selfie analyzed by Roblox and its partner or submitting an accepted form of identification. The platform will also adopt new systems to limit communications between adults and minors unless they already know each other offline. Quick summary Goal: Full rollout of age estimation/verification for communication features by end of 2025. Methods: Selfie facial analysis and/or government ID verification; verified parental consent workflows for minors where applicable. Initial rollout: Age-estimation option started appearing on teen accounts in July 2025 for certain chat features. Safety measures: New systems will…

iOS 26 & iPhone 17: What to Expect — iOS 26 Public Beta Now Available Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 on Sept 9. iOS 26 — branded with the new "Liquid Glass" translucent design — is expected to arrive about a week later. The Apple event page has livestream details. Quick highlights Liquid Glass design across iPhone, iPad and Mac (new translucent UI and floating buttons) Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages Hold Assist — get notified when an agent answers while you’re on hold Visual Intelligence — search what’s in your screenshots/photos Polls in group chats and improved message filtering for unknown senders Photos tabs (Library/Collections) return New lock screen options, updated Camera and passcode animations AirPods: improved audio recording, camera remote controls and possible live translation/heart-rate…

Acer IFA 2025: Predator Helios 18P AI, 720Hz Predator Monitor & New Nitro Line — Full Rundown At IFA 2025 Acer refreshed both its premium Predator and mainstream Nitro gaming lines. Highlights include the enormous 18-inch Predator Helios 18P AI laptop, a 26.5" Predator OLED monitor capable of hitting 720Hz at 720p, and several Nitro laptops and monitors aimed at budget-conscious gamers. Key announcements Predator Helios 18P AI — 18" Mini‑LED 4K panel, Intel Core Ultra 9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU, up to 6TB SSD, advanced cooling (thin metal fans, liquid metal thermal grease, vector heat pipes). Available in North America at launch; price not announced. Predator X27U F8 Monitor — 26.5" OLED, 2560×1440, supports an extreme 720Hz refresh rate when running at 720p, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.…

iPhone 17 lineup: what to expect (Event: Sept 9, 2025) The iPhone 17 announcement is confirmed for Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Apple is expected to unveil a refreshed lineup (iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air) shipping with iOS 26. Top rumors at a glance Brighter displays on the 17 Pro models for better outdoor visibility. Base storage may increase to 256GB on some models, with small price adjustments possible. New ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air (possibly 6.6") with A19 chip, single camera and lighter frame; battery and camera may lag vs Pro. Possible all-aluminum chassis for some Pro models (lighter than current titanium) and a new full-width rear "camera island." New colors rumored (including orange for Pro models) and fresh case…

007 First Light — Release, Platforms, Gameplay & Cast IO Interactive's James Bond origin-action game 007: First Light is confirmed for release in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC (Steam & Epic Games Store). Pre-orders are open via IO Interactive's official page: IO Interactive — 007 First Light. What we saw The recent State of Play trailer and gameplay reveal showed a stealth-first mission where Bond tails a suspicious bellhop through a luxury hotel, breaks into a car to pursue a target and ends in an explosive shootout. The demo highlighted Bond's toolkit — distractions, gadgets, social engineering/sweet-talking NPCs, and multiple approaches to missions much like IOI's Hitman series. One standout moment showed Bond pushing an enemy off a ledge and using the enemy…

Best E‑Ink tablets for 2025 — summary I tested about a dozen E‑Ink tablets to see which deliver the best paper-like writing experience, reading comfort and overall value in 2025. Below is a condensed guide to what to expect and which models to consider. Quick TL;DR E‑Ink tablets = paper feel + digital convenience, great for focused note‑taking and long reading sessions. They’re pricier than basic e‑readers and less app-friendly than traditional tablets (noticeable refreshes, muted colors). Best picks: reMarkable (note focus), Onyx Boox (feature-rich, Android options), Kindle/Kobo (best e‑book ecosystems). Are E‑Ink tablets worth it? Worth it for a select group: people who want a distraction‑free, paper‑like writing/reading device. If you need frequent app use, multimedia or the richest colors and refresh responsiveness, a conventional tablet or iPad is…

007: First Light — Hands-on demo recap IO Interactive is bringing James Bond into a new origin story with 007: First Light, blending the studio’s stealth pedigree from Hitman with blockbuster Bond action. I attended a closed-door Gamescom demo and here’s a concise rundown of what I saw. Three gameplay pillars Sandbox/social stealth: Early sections play like a social-sandbox. Bond infiltrates a mansion, uses distractions, social interactions, and vertical traversal to access objectives without brute force. Action setpieces: The demo escalated into a cinematic car chase through a Swiss market — destructive, chaotic, and very Bond-like — then into an assault on a guarded airbase. Combat and gadgets: Gunplay mixes duck-and-cover tactics with environmental interactions (lots of explosive barrels). Bond’s Omega Q Watch acts as an elegant HUD and analysis…

Sophie Turner Cast as Lara Croft in Amazon's Tomb Raider Series Amazon's Tomb Raider series has found its Lara Croft: Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) has been officially cast in the lead role. Phoebe Waller‑Bridge serves as the show's creator, writer, executive producer and co‑showrunner, and Chad Hodge joins as co‑showrunner and executive producer. Key details Lead: Sophie Turner as Lara Croft Creator / Co‑showrunner: Phoebe Waller‑Bridge Co‑showrunner: Chad Hodge Production start: Filming begins January 19, 2026 Turner acknowledged the "massive shoes to fill" from previous Lara Croft portrayals (Angelina Jolie, Alicia Vikander) and said she "can’t wait for audiences to see what we have cooking." About the team Phoebe Waller‑Bridge is best known for Fleabag and Killing Eve and has experience with action projects; Chad Hodge is known for…

Apple's "Awe dropping" Event — What to Expect (Sept 9, 2025) Apple's fall event is set for Tuesday, September 9 at 1:00 PM ET from Cupertino. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, introduce iOS 26, refresh Apple Watch models and possibly launch AirPods Pro 3. iPhone 17 lineup — Key rumors iPhone Air (rumored): A super-thin model (~5.55 mm) that could be the thinnest iPhone yet. Likely compromises: a single 48 MP camera and a smaller battery. iPhone 17 (standard): May gain a 120Hz ProMotion display previously exclusive to Pro models. iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max: Possible switch from titanium to aluminum, an expanded rear camera island, and improved telephoto (rumored 48MP telephoto sensor). Anti-glare coating is also reported. iOS 26 The new iPhones are…

Discovery Tour: Medieval Baghdad — Free from Ubisoft Ubisoft has released Discovery Tour: Medieval Baghdad, a free app that adapts Assassin's Creed Mirage into a ~2-hour narrative educational experience. Designed around the game's reworked Baghdad map, the app includes: Two-hour guided narrative set in 9th-century Baghdad Encyclopedic entries on the history, art, and culture of medieval Baghdad and the Abbasid Caliphate Augmented Reality (AR) feature to view 3D models of famous artifacts Interactive mini-games and educational interactions drawn from the game’s research The app is offered free by Ubisoft. Official information and downloads are available via Ubisoft's Discovery Tour pages: Ubisoft Discovery Tour. You can also search for the app on mobile stores by name: "Discovery Tour: Medieval Baghdad" (App Store / Google Play). If you want to buy Assassin's…