Error message

  • Deprecated function: implode(): Passing glue string after array is deprecated. Swap the parameters in drupal_get_feeds() (line 394 of /home/cay45lq1/public_html/includes/common.inc).
  • Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in menu_set_active_trail() (line 2405 of /home/cay45lq1/public_html/includes/menu.inc).

Technology

New forum topics

Can't justify the price of Netflix? Prime Day is the best time to pick up a cheap streaming subscription — here are my top 3 recommendations

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 15:00

If you're signed up to Amazon Prime, you'll no doubt have unlocked one of its best free perks — Prime Video. But did you know that membership also currently gives you access to limited-time deals as low as $0.99 a month on 36 streaming subscription add-ons?

The discounts are part of this week's Amazon Prime Day sale, which has seen the price of several subscriptions and bundles slashed to record lows both in the US and UK. With so many different options to choose from, I've picked out three of the best savings I can find in the sale to help make sure you don't miss out.

These offers mostly end on Friday, June 26 (check the details below), which means you don't have long to pick from the discounts available. If you need help deciding, then I'd recommend Apple TV and Paramount+ no matter where you live. Not only are they among the most discounted, but their catalogs are stacked with great content.

I've also picked out two other Prime Video streaming add-ons from the sale: BritBox for those in the US and MGM+ for UK shoppers, as both are the cheapest I can find them at the time of writing. Once you've locked in one of the deals below, I'd love to know which you picked — leave a comment below.

Today's best 3 Prime Video streaming deals in the US

Apple TV (Prime Video add-on): was $25.98 for two months now $11.98 at Amazon
Apple TV doesn't often run promotional offers, making this limited-time deal to get more than 50% of the usual monthly price of $12.99 one of the cheapest ways to sign up to the service right now. You'll be able to lock in a new low price of $5.99 a month for two months with this offer, but be quick because it ends on 26 June. View Deal

Paramount+ (Prime Video add-on): was $27.98 for two months now $1.98 at Amazon
Get $26 off the ad-free Paramount+ 'Premium' plan until June 25 by picking up this limited-time deal. The more than 90% off discount also applies to the 'Essential' tier, but because that includes ads, you're better off just picking the more feature-packed option. Just note, this promotion ends on June 26, and you have to be a Prime Video subscriber to access it. View Deal

BritBox (Prime Video add-on): was $21.98 for two months now $1.98 at Amazon
While BritBox is known to offer deals quite regularly, it's not common to see the service as cheap as $0.99 a month. Through Prime Video, you'll be able to get this rare low price for two months as a subscription add-on, helping you save more than $20 over the usual full price. Don't hold off getting this savings; it ends on June 26. View Deal

Today's best 3 Prime Video streaming deals in the UK

Apple TV (Prime Video add-on): was £19.98 for two months now £11.98 at Amazon
If you're not forking out for a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV device anytime soon, your best way to get a cheap Apple TV subscription is through this Prime Video add-on at the time of writing. It allows you to save more than 50% on the usual monthly price of £9.99, but you'll have to be quick because the deal ends on July 2. View Deal

Paramount+ (Prime Video add-on): was £7.99 for a month now £2.99 at Amazon
While this saving isn't as good as it in the US, this Paramount+ deal is still worth considering for those of us in the UK, especially if you've not been signed up for a while, and want to catch up on the biggest movies and series you've missed. Just note that the reduced price only lasts for a month. View Deal

MGM+ (Prime Video add-on): was £11.98 for two months now £5.98 at Amazon
Like BritBox, MGM+ constantly offers deals, making it one of the more readily available streaming services to choose from when it comes to sales. While this offer isn't a rock bottom price, that doesn't mean it's not worth picking up. A saving is a saving after all. View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US More Prime Day deals in the UK
Categories: Technology

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro were already the best budget smart glasses I’ve tried — now thanks to Prime Day they’re even cheaper, and I don’t understand why you haven’t yet bought a pair

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:35

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses are easily the best budget smart specs you can buy if you’re after the ultimate portable entertainment gadget.

High-tech specs are all the rage, but there are different types in this broad category. You have the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which offer audio-only AI assistance, the Snap Specs, which deliver AI and full-on AR, and then something like the RayNeo glasses, which act like your own private movie theatre.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

You connect them to a compatible USB-C device, and your screen will be projected in front of you on a virtual 200-inch screen that only you can see.

This setup is perfect in so many scenarios. When I’m taking a flight I can watch Netflix on a giant display that’s better than any in-flight entertainment screen, I can lay back in bed with my Asus Rog Xbox Ally X display virtually projected onto my ceiling, and when I’m working on a story about an unannounced gadget I can rely on the specs to keep that info private with a display no one else can read.

If you don’t yet own a pair of smart glasses like this, you absolutely should. They’re a must-buy ahead of this year’s Summer travel season, and thanks to Amazon Prime Day there’s never been a better time to grab a pair.

Today's best RayNeo Air 4 Pro deals

Did I mention that the specs are only $295? For Prime Day, the standard edition specs are $239.20, saving you 20% at Amazon. That’s the best price these smart glasses have ever been, and the best bang for your buck a pair of smart specs has ever been. Meanwhile, in the UK, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses will set you back just £248.99 at Amazon, a 34% drop from their usual £379 — again thanks to some Prime Day magic.

I never travel without my phone, passport or a pair of smart glasses like these because they're so excellent at keeping me entertained on long flights (provided my phone doesn't run out of battery first).View Deal

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses were already incredible value for money, but they just got even better with a discount for Prime Day that knocks over a third off.View Deal

When tech prices have been on a sharp increase, it’s a breath of fresh air to see something as genuinely excellent as the RayNeo Air 4 Pros not only launch at a budget-friendly price, but then fall during Prime Day sales.

While the RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses aren’t as unique as this category once was — I mean, we’re four generations in on just this product alone, plus all of its rivals from other brands — the tech stands alone because it’s so budget-friendly and yet incredibly capable.

The micro-OLED displays boast HDR10 support — and they were the first smart glasses of this type to do so. This means they boast an incredible range of color hues, with professional accuracy that will make your HDR10-supported content pop. Plus, as you expect from OLED screens, the contrast is solid, especially if you use a lens cover to block out external light.

As for audio, while headphones are a solid option if you want to keep what you’re listening to more private, RayNeo’s specs boast spatial audio tuned by experts Bang & Olufsen. They sound great, and a major step up from the earliest generations of smart specs, which were effectively unusable sonically unless you had a pair of Bluetooth cans.

More Prime Day deals in the USMore Prime Day deals in the UK
Categories: Technology

Instagram Is Coming to a Big Screen Near You: Your Samsung TV

CNET News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:33
The feature, which is already available on Amazon Fire TV and Google TV, lets you scroll through Reels and Stories in a larger format.
Categories: Technology

Samsung S30GD is a minimalist monitor dream with price drops to the lowest I've ever seen – these Amazon Prime Day deals are a great workspace upgrade for less than $70, $80, or $95

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:15

As our monitor expert would tell you, it is always worth spending a little extra to get a monitor that will reduce the risk of eye strain and neck pain, especially if you spend all day in front of your monitor. But now that the Prime Day sales have started, there are some great ergonomic and minimalist monitor deals.

Right now, Samsung's S30GD Essentials range of minimalist monitors are at their lowest price I have ever seen. You can pick up the Samsung 24in S30GD for $80 (was $130) at Amazon - the lowest price I've ever seen across Prime Day and Black Friday. But there is also some great flexibility in screen sizes and price points. The Samsung 22in S30GD is now $70 (was $110) at Amazon, and its big brother, the Samsung 27in S30GD is now $95 (was $150) at Amazon.

The Samsung S30GD range has a 100Hz refresh rate to keep visuals crisp without chopping up frames and a 5ms response speed is more than reasonable for both office work and gaming. For a business monitor at this price, you can't really go wrong. Across many of our reviews of Samsung monitors, we have always found a good balance between cost and performance, with many of the S30GD's sister monitors frequently getting above 4 out of 5 in our testing.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon.com

Today's top Samsung monitor deals

The Samsung 22in S30GD Essential monitor is the smallest (and cheapest) in the range. For smaller desks this screen size is ideal, especially as no space is wasted on any flashy design enhancements. Includes 100Hz refresh rate, IPS color balance, HDMI connector, and multiple screen settings for low-blue light, contrast, and color.View Deal

The Samsung 24in S30GD Essential monitor balances performance and ergonomics in a minimalist construction. Features include 100Hz refresh rate, IPS color balance, HDMI connector, and multiple screen settings for low-blue light, contrast, and color.View Deal

The Samsung 27in S30GD Essential monitor is the largest within the range, making it a good choice for creatives or professionals who need consistent color on a larger screen. Features 100Hz refresh rate, IPS color balance, HDMI connector, and multiple screen settings for low-blue light, contrast, and color.View Deal

Samsung's S30GD Essential range of monitors strike a balance between performance, ergonomics, and price that keeps you both physically and fiscally comfortable.

The Samsung S30GD can comfortably handle 1920x1080 resolutions across 22in, 24in and 27in, making it a cost-effective choice as a primary monitor for professionals and creatives, or as a dedicated space-conscious second monitor alongside a larger display.

I particularly like the minimalist vibe, as the monitor doesn't distract the eye unnecessarily or pull focus from intensive tasks. Samsung's In Place Switching (IPS) keeps visuals and colors sharp and accurate during editing or design tasks, even when viewing from multiple angles.

For those with smaller desks or limited workspace, the Samsung 22in S30GD is the perfect choice and can be easily moved as it weighs less than 5 pounds. The 24in version is great as a primary monitor, with the monitor stand measuring just under 7in to avoid any unnecessary desk space wastage. For those in need of a larger primary screen for editing work or larger spreadsheets, I would recommend the 27in version.

Each display across Samsung's S30GD range feature ultra-thin bezels at the screen border so that no space is unnecessarily wasted between the screen and its edge.

If you're looking for a sleek, minimalist monitor for less than $70, $80, or $95, the Samsung S30GD is an excellent addition for anyone looking for a monitor that covers the basics, and then some.

Categories: Technology

I use AirTags every time I travel, and Amazon just dropped Apple's newest model to a record-low price

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:13

Even though Prime Day 2026 doesn’t kick off until tomorrow, the discount I’ve been waiting for is already here. Apple’s AirTag 2 has dropped to its lowest price ever at just $24 for a single — $5 off — and $89 for a four-pack — $10 off at Amazon.

That’s a pretty great deal and just one of the steep pre-Prime Day discounts we’ve seen Amazon roll out. It's also the perfect time to upgrade if you have a first-generation AirTag or to add Apple’s item tracker to your gadget ecosystem.

The four-pack is actually the better deal of the two, as you’re essentially paying about $22 per AirTag.

You also get everything you need in the box, whether you buy a single AirTag or a four-pack. Apple includes the required CR2032 battery inside each AirTag — you’ll just pull the tab, hold it next to your iPhone as you hear it beep, and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.

Today's best Apple AirTag 2 deal

Apple's second-generation AirTag with louder sound, a 50% improvmenet in range for Precision Finding, and the rest of the features that made the first-gen such a great item tracker are at the lowest price ever ahead of Prime Day 2026. Right now, Amazon has a single AirTag for just $24 – a savings of $5. View Deal

Amazon's also discounting a pack of four second-generation AirTags to the lowest price ever. Right now, the four Apple AirTags are down to just $89, a savings of $10, and it brings the cost of each one down to around $22.View Deal

Apple’s AirTag is one of those essential accessories that I simply won’t travel without. The first-generation model not only saved me when United lost my luggage, but it also provides peace of mind when a trip goes as planned. I can check to make sure my checked bag actually made it onto the plane using the Find My app, keep track of my keys, and even locate a misplaced item like a backpack.

The second-generation AirTag doesn’t change much, but it does bring two key upgrades. The first is a new custom-made sound that Apple developed, which is louder than before. That means if you misplace whatever the AirTag is attached to — maybe your keys in the couch cushions or behind an entry table — you’ll be able to hear the tracker’s sound more clearly.

Second, Apple extended the Precision Finding range by up to 50%, which gamifies the process of finding your lost item. As with an iPhone or newer Apple Watch, it guides you to the AirTag with distance measurements and an on-screen arrow. It’s all pretty handy.

Best of all, with a Prime membership, you can get a single AirTag or a four-pack at the lowest price ever and score free, fast shipping. Depending on where you live, it could arrive within a few hours or even by tomorrow.

More Prime Day deals in the US
Categories: Technology

The LG C5 is the 5-star OLED TV I’d recommend for both the World Cup and GTA 6 — and you can get it for a record-low price ahead of Prime Day, but it won’t stick around for long

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:07

The LG C5 is easily one of the best OLED TVs I've ever tested and its 55-inch model has hit a record-low price of £989.99 (was £1,099) at Currys.

• Browse the full Currys sale

Amazon Prime Day may be tomorrow, but this is an excellent early TV deal on one of the best TVs you can get on the market. It covers all the bases, be it movies, sports or gaming, and sits at the top of many of our guides. I also have a sneaking suspicion that it might be the last time it's available, as I've seen stock disappearing from different retailers.

Today's best LG C5 deal

If you want the ultimate all-around TV, the LG C5 is the best way to go. Delivering excellent picture quality, superb gaming performance and a great smart TV system, it ticks every box. This deal knocks the 55-inch down to a record-low of £989.99, a superb price for this TV. View Deal

The 55-inch LG C5 has dropped to a record-low of £989.99 at Argos. Simply use code LG10 at checkout to get the offer. Argos is offering free delivery on all TVs, so you're saving extra money here comapred to Currys. However, if it's not available locally it can't be delivered. It's worth checking Argos first and if it's out of stock, head over to Currys. View Deal

The ultimate all-rounder

(Image credit: Future)

The LG C5 is the ultimate, jack-of-all-trades TV. I awarded it five-stars in my C5 review last year and it currently sits at the top of most of our best-of lists.

The C5's picture quality is its strongest asset. Textures have a 3D-like quality with refined detail. Colours are vibrant and natural in equal measure. In my testing, the reds of the throne room in Star Wars: The Last Jedi were punchy and rich. The C5 has strong contrast too, with deep blacks and bold highlights that make high-contrast scenes in movies like The Batman look great.

With excellent motion handling, the C5 is also great for sports. Razor-sharp performance means fast motion looks smooth with no issues, so if you're looking for a World Cup TV upgrade, it's a great choice (though you'll need to handle its reflective screen in seriously bright rooms).

One of the best gaming TVs on the market, the C5 is fully stocked with features for gaming. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports which support 4K 144Hz, full VRR including FreeSync and G-Sync, HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, as well as a ton of cloud gaming options. When I played Battlefield V, the C5 made light work of the fast-paced gunfights and vehicle sections, thanks to its ultra-low 9.2ms input lag time. If you're looking for a new TV in time for GTA 6, you can't get much better than this one.

The C5 is one of the best value OLEDs on the market too. Even at full price, it gets the price v performance balance right and at a discount, it's unbeatable value.

More Prime Day deals in the UK
Categories: Technology

Prime Day Starts Tomorrow, and We're Going to Live Track Deals Just for You

CNET News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 14:05
Prime Day is here, and for the next four days, we'll bring you the best deals live as we find them.
Categories: Technology

The super-affordable Nespresso Vertuo Pop is tempting me to finally bring a coffee machine back to my home, thanks to this cheap Prime Day deal

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:04

Coffee machines are always a solid shout when Amazon Prime Day comes around, and more often than not you can score a fairly reasonable deal, especially for entry-level models like the Nespresso Vertuo Pop.

I've been out of the Nespresso game for a few years — my machine totally gave up on me and now it's resting in peace — but if I were to reboot my relationship with the best Nespresso machines, the Vertuo Pop would be the first place I'd start.

• Browse all the early Prime Day deals

In Amazon's early Prime Day sale, one of the most affordable coffee makers just got cheaper in both the US and UK. The Vertuo Pop+ has dropped to $98.98 from $159 in the US, while UK shoppers can pick up the standard Vertuo Pop for £59.99 (was £86.16). But be warned, the UK deal is only available for a few more hours, so take Amazon's big scary red countdown very seriously.

Best Nespresso Vertuo Pop deals

As far as its pricing history goes, the Vertuo Pop+ is back down to its Black Friday price, which is always refreshing to see during Prime Day. That said, it's been way over a year since it hit an all-time-low price, which makes us think it won't get any cheaper as Prime Day kicks in. View Deal

UK shoppers be warned, there are only a few hours left before this deal expires and Prime Day officially begins, not to mention it's only 99p above its lowest price ever. Given the bright red countdown on its Amazon listing, it's likely this deal won't survive the morning. View Deal

Though there are deals on both sides of the pond, there are slight differences between the Vertuo Pop and Vertuo Pop+. The main one is the latter model has a larger water tank, meaning less trips back and forth to the sink for refills.

The Pop+ also has automatic lid closure and can accommodate larger mugs. But aside from their minor differences, both are solid options for beginners, or for those who were once in the Nespresso game, and now want to make a comeback.

We gave the Vertuo Pop a respectable 4 stars in our review for a number of reasons, but it was convenience and speed that impressed us the most. It's built on a one-touch system, which produces a tasty cup of coffee in four ways (Mug/Coffee, Gran Lungo, Double Espresso, and Espresso) in less than 30 seconds, a quick and easy way to get your morning caffeine fix.

The only downside to owning any Nespresso machine is the pods, meaning you have to keep restocking. Fortunately, the Vertuo Pop comes with a 12-capsule variety pack to get you started.

More Prime Day deals in the US More Prime Day deals in the UK
Categories: Technology

With GTA 6 pre-orders coming, here are some PS5 and Xbox gaming accessory upgrades that I'd recommend as someone who tests hardware for a living

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:04

Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders are starting this week, and it's the perfect time to have a look at your console gaming setup, be it PS5 or Xbox Series X or S, and think about any upgrades you might want to make. It'll be the perfect way to ensure your setup is up to date with new gear that you're used to by the time the game arrives on your doorstep.

Be it upgrading your console to get the best performance, embracing a new display to make Vice City shine, getting a premium controller to ensure you have every action at your fingertips, or taking a step up audibly to ensure you get can hear all the sounds, there's likely to be something worth mulling over before GTA 6 comes in November.

As a result, I've taken it upon myself to suggest some brilliant products in key console setup areas that will make a difference to your GTA 6 experience, while also fielding some suggestions from the rest of our TechRadar experts. You'll find US and UK prices for each below, and if you're not in those regions, you can head to the bottom and find a list of the best prices available in your region as presented by our price-finding tech. If you're looking for an early retailer page to sit on for the game itself, then the below ones are worth bookmarking, too.

Consider a beefy console

Yep, it'll be a big purchase to consider at any time of the year, but if you're going to be a GTA 6 player who wants the best possible experience with the game and be able to have all the bells and whistles it can offer, then it might be time to consider some more horsepower.

In terms of those rocking a last-gen console still (a PS4 or Xbox One) then this should be of great interest, and if you're already a regular PS5 owner or a Series S owner, then making the jump up to the PS5 Pro or Series X, respectively, might ensure you get the most out of GTA 6's likely graphical and technical prowess.

This is even more the case if you own a 120Hz-capable TV or monitor, as that'll help you get even more out of such a machine, especially the PS5 Pro.

Annoyingly, there are no cracking deals on the PS5 Pro in the US right now, but we still want to recommend it as perhaps the best console to get for GTA 6 given its spec sheet, PSSR, WiFi upgrade, and 2TB hard drive.View Deal

Sadly, there are no truly excellent prices on the ordinary Series X console in the States either, so the best 'value' pick — even though it's a bit more of an investment — is the 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition version here. Plus, its massive storage upgrade compared to other Xbox consoles might come in handy if the rumors of GTA 6's file sizes are to be believed...View Deal

The premium PS5 Pro is best acquired at EE right now in the UK, with the retailer knocking 45 pounds off the console's list price. We predict the PS5 Pro could be the definitive way to play GTA 6, given Rockstar's close relationship with Sony, so this is our top pick for the console to play the game on. View Deal

It looks like Very is the best place to go for a Series X console right now in the UK, with a neat 20 quid off the list price. If you're committed to the Xbox ecosystem and brand, and are either on Series S or Xbox One right now, then this is the UK upgrade to go for.View Deal

Let the game shine

GTA 6 is likely to be a visual marvel of the video game medium, trumping almost all other video game worlds, environments, and aesthetics (well, nearly all, surely) and what better way to make sure you catch every detail and enjoy every colour, stripe, and crack in the sidewalk than by upgrading to a new and superior display.

The LG C5 is our single pick for those looking to go big for a Grand Theft Auto 6 big screen experience, as it has the best feature set, image processing, and picture detail for the price right now. It offers extraordinary bang-for-buck value, especially in the face of the newer C6 being out now.

For those looking for a monitor, the Alienware AW32255QF is a 4K curved beauty that is perfect for both PS5 and Xbox players, offering all the connectivity and specs you need, while also giving you a brilliant QD-OLED panel with a gorgeous curve to pull you into games.

I asked James Davidson, our resident TV expert, for his one single pick for those looking to go big for GTA 6 with a TV purchase, and this was his precise pick for US readers. It's a superb TV and offers exceptional value in the face of its new brethren, the C6 being out right now too. A great TV to cruise the streets of Vice City on.View Deal

James also recommended this precise variant of the brilliant LG C5 for UK readers too. And it's great value for money this week. To get this deal at Crampton and Moore, simply use code LG10 at checkout. View Deal

Sadly, there's no discount running on my favorite console monitor in the US right now, but it might be one to keep an eye on at retailers, including parent company Dell, linked here, over the rest of the week for Prime Day.View Deal

This is a good price on one of my absolute favorite monitors to buy right now, and it's the lowest price on the monitor —using Amazon data — since December, so now is a great time to strike!View Deal

Feel the burn

If you want to have all the tools and weapons available to you at all times in GTA 6 and want the utmost level of versatility and 'at your fingertips' control for GTA 6, then going for a better controller, one that offers more than the standard offerings, is a brilliant move.

It's an easy choice for both consoles for me, here, with Sony's DualSense Edge, especially when on offer, giving PS5 players a familiar and effortless way to upgrade their controller, while those on Xbox should definitely go for the Asus ROG Raikiri II, which is perhaps the very best third-party Xbox controller going.

You can save a neat 10 bucks off the brilliant DualSense Edge pad over at Walmart right now. Now that we're out of Sony's own Days of Play sale, this is a good price, but it's also one worth keeping an eye on over Prime Day week.View Deal

This is a wonderful price for the high-end first-party controller that will let you fully unleash in Vice City later this year.View Deal

Definitely one to keep an eye out for and price drops this week, but this is one of our absolute favorite premium Xbox (and PC) controllers and is absolutely excellent for anyone looking to get loads out of their pad.View Deal

It looks like the Asus ROG Raikiri II is a little hard to find at the obvious retailers in the UK, but Overclockers has it in stock — but sadly with no discount right now. Worth keeping an eye on this week though.View Deal

Hear every detail of Vice City

Upgrading your audio by going with a fantastic set of quality earcups from a trusted brand is one of the most tangible ways to improve your gaming experience in one fell swoop — and without having to do any huge sweeping changes to a set up.

The Audeze Maxwell 2, with its fantastic planar-magnetic drivers, is my favorite gaming headset for pure audio quality right now, and it will be perfect for anyone looking to hear every detail in Vice City.

It also comes in PlayStation and Xbox-facing variants so it's a cross-platform recommendation, and you'll find links for both below.

Sadly, no discount on the brilliant Audeze Maxwell 2 at the time of writing, but it's seriously good, so you won't regret it even at full price. Having said that, it's Prime Day week so that could bring deals, and the Maxwell 2ANC has been announced so might put pressure on the 'ordinary' Maxwell 2's price.

Xbox variant: $349 at AmazonView Deal

This is a pretty good price for the Audeze Maxell 2 in the UK as it often sells for north of £300. The sound is seriously so, so, good from this headset, you'll be wondering how you survived without it beforehand.

Xbox variant: Peter Tyson - £369View Deal

Give it room to breath on console

Rumors have abounded about the potential file size of Rockstar's next behemoth, and if even some of them come partially close, some extra storage space is likely to be very welcome indeed! However, we've all seen the price rises happening, so it's a bit of a struggle finding great value for money in any kind of memory right now. I've picked out the best prices on some great value offerings below though.

By far the best solution on PS5 — and perhaps even more acutely for those rocking a launch PS5 with its smaller hard drive — is an internal SSD. As for Xbox, there's only really one storage device to recommend, and that's the bespoke model for Series X or S that's made by Seagate or WD_Black — I've recommended the WD_Black variant below as it's always better value for money.

While not bombastic value for money, if you want a PS5 SSD to commit to right now or want to keep an eye on one from a trusted brand, this is it.View Deal

Acer's GM7000 is a trusted PS5 SSD with heatsink you can go for right now, and given the discount is probably the best deal on a 1TB drive I can find right now for a PS5 SSD.View Deal

Sadly, another one that's not on offer right now in the US, but offers decent value at its list price, and is also one to keep an eye on this week. It's a great drive, though, and the bespoke design means it connects straight to the console's motherboard for best performance.View Deal

Not a new price on this variant of the C50 by any means, but this offers robust value for money and was still selling at the list price of £150 in April.View Deal

Categories: Technology

Scratch That Holiday Romance Itch With Free Access to Hallmark. Here's How

CNET News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 13:01
Your library card is all you need.
Categories: Technology

This free tool is helping drivers avoid automatic license plate readers —as fears grow around 'intrusive' new devices that could track your phone, AirPod and smartwatch data

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:59
  • ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) camera tech is getting smarter
  • A new company is bridging the gap between cameras and connected tech
  • Tools to avoid ALPR cameras are rapidly gaining popularity

More than 5,000 law enforcement departments across the US use Flock Safety cameras to track billions of license plates every month, according to a report from NBC news, helping them build an enormous database of the movements of everyday people.

But Flock is just one company working on such tech, with hundreds of new automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras and devices springing up daily.

More recently, 404Media has highlighted a new tech firm that aims to add phone, AirPod and Smartwatch location data to license plate readers in order to build a clearer picture about who was driving what… and when. Understandably, rebellious drivers are now fighting back thanks to a new website called DeFlock.

Leonardo's SignalTrace system is designed to scan the airwaves for signals left by myriad Bluetooth and wireless connected devices in order to link these to a license plate as it passes, potentially placing an individual in a vehicle at a specific time and place.

Leonardo says its technology uses "non-intrusive intelligence gathering" to detect publicly broadcasted device identifiers, feeding this data into an advanced algorithm so that multiple devices traveling together could link an individual to a vehicle and vice versa.

The police and other law enforcement agencies are then able to access this data, but concerns have been raised about the potential for hacking or misuse by the authorities to track personal relations.

Analysis: Privacy advocates are pushing back

(Image credit: Deflock.org)

In a move that aims to hand back some control to the individual, a website called DeFlock has surfaced that allows anyone to plan routes that actively avoid Flock’s ALPR cameras altogether and generally provide a more privacy-focussed alternative.

Just like most digital route-planners, users plug in a start and end point for their journey, changing how aggressively they want the software to avoid cameras, according to Carscoops.

The site will then compare a normal route to the more private alternative, suggesting how many miles and minutes a detour would take.

Website user numbers are on the increase, as organizations, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have warned that Flock’s surveillance camera systems are designed to enable “mass surveillance” and are susceptible to “grave abuses”, according to its own investigations.

Last year, the EFF reported on how more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies ran hundreds of searches through Flock's national network of surveillance data in connection with protest activity over a ten-month period, for example.

With news that ALPR cameras could soon be linked to connected devices, some sectors of the general public are understandably concerned, with one Reddit user commenting: “the only hope for anything is a Digital Civil Rights movement”.

Categories: Technology

This is the cheapest RTX 5090 laptop deal I've ever seen — Acer's Core Ultra 9 Predator drops to under $3000 and packs in 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:41

If you want the most capable 16-inch laptop available right now without compromise, the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) is $3000 (was $3500) at B&H Photo. This is an absolute beast of a machine for video editing, 3D workflows, gaming, and just about any demanding workload you can throw at it. And it's the cheapest RTX 5090 laptop I've come across.

The RTX 5090 laptop GPU is the headline here, and it earns it. Based on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture with 10,496 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR7 memory, it’s the most powerful consumer laptop GPU ever made.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is an Arrow Lake chip with 24 cores — 8 performance cores running up to 5.4GHz and 16 efficiency cores — and it’s a serious processor by any measure. Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI is as close as laptops get to a no-compromise flagship right now.

Today's top RTX 5090 laptop deal

This is the full-spec configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores, up to 5.4GHz), RTX 5090 laptop GPU at 175W with 24GB GDDR7, 32GB DDR5, and 2TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD split across two drives. The 16-inch OLED display runs at 240Hz, 2560×1600, 100% DCI-P3, with G-SYNC support. Connectivity is exceptional: Thunderbolt 5 (120Gbps), 5GbE wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB-A ports. Acer’s InfiniteRing RGB lighting and MagKey 4.0 keyboard round out a machine that means business. Free 2-day shipping. Also includes $129 in free accessories.View Deal

The 240Hz OLED display at 2560×1600 with 100% DCI-P3 coverage is outstanding for both visual work and high-refresh gaming. The combination of OLED’s infinite contrast and perfect blacks with a 240Hz panel and G-SYNC adaptive sync gives you a display that serves creative professionals well.

The connectivity package is where the Helios 16 AI pulls significantly ahead of most competitors. Thunderbolt 5 at 120Gbps is a generational leap over Thunderbolt 4 — it can drive an 8K display, transfer a 4TB SSD backup in under 10 minutes, or connect multiple high-bandwidth peripherals simultaneously. The 5GbE wired Ethernet port is fast enough to eliminate network bottlenecks entirely for anyone on a 2.5G or 5G home or office network. Wi-Fi 7 handles wireless connectivity with the same class-leading bandwidth.

Acer’s 6th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans and liquid metal thermal compound keep the system stable under sustained load.

Now, when I call this a beast, I mean it. It weighs around 2.6kg and the 330W power brick is substantial. This is a desktop replacement that travels, not an ultra-portable laptop. If you can live with those realities — and many professionals absolutely can — the Helios 16 AI delivers desktop-grade performance in a form factor that fits in a backpack.

Categories: Technology

The Nintendo Switch 2 just got an absurd Prime Day discount, but you won't find it on Amazon

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:14

The early Amazon Prime Day deals have started to arrive, but the best Nintendo Switch 2 deal isn't actually on the main Amazon shopping site. Instead, you'll need to head over to Woot (a lesser-known Amazon brand), where you can use code CHEAPSWITCH2 to score a discount of up to $100 off the console.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Right now the Nintendo Switch 2 is listed for just $449 (was $499.99), but using the code lets returning Woot! shoppers bag an extra $30 off to take the price down to just $419. That's not all, though, as site newcomers get a generous $50 off instead, which sends the cost plunging to only $399.

This is the cheapest I've ever seen Nintendo's latest console go in the US, and I expect it to sell out fast, so make sure to take advantage of this discount while you can. Remember, you have to input CHEAPSWITCH2 for the best price!

Today's best Nintendo Switch 2 deal

Use code CHEAPSWITCH2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is already discounted to just $449 at Woot, but using code CHEAPSWITCH2 at checkout nets returning customers an extra $30 off and newcomers a whopping $50 additional discount. This is an absolutely ridiculous sale, so I'd grab it while stock is still sticking around.View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US
Categories: Technology

Almost 80% of data centers constructed in natural disaster zones – data centers are fueling and succumbing to climate risks

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:10
  • 79% of data centers are exposed to climate hazards, 54% face chronic heat or drought
  • Higher temperatures lead to more cooling demand, creating a vicious circle
  • Component longevity is also at risk from heat and other impacts

According to new First Street research, four in five (79%) or the world's data center capacity is exposed to climate hazards like flooding, wildfire and winds, with more than half (54%) of data centers located in areas that face chronic heat or drought stress.

With hyperscalers investing billions to keep up with demands created by AI, First Street stresses that today's decisions could impact cloud computing for years to come.

But even without further investments, rising temperatures and the effects of climate change could put existing facilities under further pressure.

Hyperscalers are building data centers in at-risk areas

Besides the obvious risk of component damage, higher temperatures also mean that data centers need more cooling than they previously did, driving up electricity and water consumption. Because chips and other components operate best at an optimal temperature, higher temperatures could even cause them to fail sooner.

Flooding, winds and storms also threaten electrical systems, network connectivity and fiber networks, potentially leading to outages.

The revelation comes just weeks after a separate study from insurer MS Amlin found that half (56%) of all new projects are being located in disaster-prone areas.

"Most underwriting for real assets still uses historical data, but the climate is no longer behaving the way the historical record would predict," CEO Matthew Eby said.

But with part and utility costs soaring, companies are being forced to reduce costs elsewhere, including locating campuses in cheaper areas that are often more at-risk. With companies already having to consider compute capacity, power availability, connectivity and local opposition, "climate risk is becoming an increasingly important determinant of long-term performance," First Street warns.

"Together, these risks affect NOI stability, cash flow durability, and long-term asset performance," the company added.

Categories: Technology

Govee Releases New Smart Light Themes for House of the Dragon Season Three

CNET News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 12:00
Govee teamed up with HBO to show how its TV backlights and smart home lights react to fire-breathing dragons on screen.
Categories: Technology

After 19 years, Google Street View has finally added a 'beautiful', long-awaited country — and Geoguessr fans are calling it a 'great addition' to the geography game

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:53
  • The country of Georgia has finally arrived on Google Street View
  • Google has highlighted several major sights worth seeing
  • The imagery is available in Google Maps and Google Earth

Street View is still expanding, almost 20 years after Google first launched it, and the East European country of Georgia is the latest to be added to the platform — with some spectacular sites and landmarks included, besides all the roads and highways.

"Georgia is a country defined by the scale of its history and the dramatic diversity of its landscapes," says Google, who worked with the Georgian government to get the country on the Street View map.

Some 13,000 kilometers (8,078 miles) of roads have been added, and can be found in Google Maps and Google Earth. You can check out the Jvari Monastery (part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site), the medieval stone towers of Ushguli, and the Bridge of Peace that crosses the Kura River in the capital Tbilisi.

There's also Telavi in the Kakheti region, the center of a wine-making tradition in Georgia that goes back 8,000 years. Grapes from these vineyards are still fermented in traditional clay jars called qvevri, which are buried underground.

Another GeoGuessr level

The Ushguli medieval villages can now be accessed via Street View (Image credit: Future)

Another sight worth seeing: the Jvari Pass, high up in the mountains, part of the Greater Caucasus range. Spend a few minutes clicking around on the new Street View images and you'll find plenty of fantastic views.

Of course, you don't have to check out the biggest tourist spots or the most well-known roads. In Google Maps on the web, just drag the little yellow pegman (lower right) into the map somewhere — as you hover with your mouse cursor, Street View roads will turn blue, and that now includes Georgia.

As well as checking out potential spots to travel to, the new imagery is also a boon for GeoGuessr players trying to name the country from a Street View picture. One poster calls it a "beautiful country" that's a "great addition".

While many of us will be well used to Street View imagery in our part of the world, it isn't everywhere yet. Countries including Cyprus and Paraguay were only added last year, while it's missing in China and many African and Middle Eastern nations.

Categories: Technology

The Next Solar Eclipse Will Deliver a Rare Sight: Totality at Sunset

CNET News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:52
The only thing cooler than an eclipse or a sunset? When both happen at once.
Categories: Technology

The Samsung S95F is easily one of the best OLED TVs for bright rooms I've tested, and it's hit a record-low price ahead of Prime Day — perfect timing for a World Cup upgrade

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:39

Prime Day may start tomorrow, but there’s an awesome OLED TV deal already live that you need to check out: and it’s not at Amazon. The 55-inch Samsung S95F is available for a record-low £1,237.50 (was £1,375) at Currys in the UK.

• Browse the full Currys sale in the UK
• Browse the full Best Buy sale in the US

If you’re in the US, the 55-inch S95F is available for $1,597 (was $1,999) at Best Buy: another record-low price. The S95F is ideal if you’re looking for an OLED for a bright room, with its high brightness and seriously effective anti-reflection matte screen. It also delivers excellent motion handling, making it a perfect OLED for the World Cup.

Amazon Prime Day is sure to bring on some great TV deals, but you might not need to wait. For a flagship OLED, this is a fantastic price.

Today's best Samsung S95F deals

The Samsung S95F delivers superb picture quality, with high brightness, vibrant colors, and effective reflection handling thanks to its anti-glare screen — it really is a fantastic World Cup TV upgrade. This deal takes the 55-inch model down to £1,237.50, a record-low for this phenomenal five-star OLED. View Deal

If you've been holding out for a premium World Cup TV upgrade, this deal on the Samsung S95F 55-inch might be perfect. Dropping to a record-low $1,597 at Best Buy, the S95F's bold colors, high brightness and brilliant anti-reflection screen make it a prime companion for the World Cup. View Deal

One of the ultimate bright room OLEDs

(Image credit: Future)

OLED’s main weakness has always been reflections. Trying to watch a glossy OLED screen in a bright room can be a real challenge, which is why I’m delighted that Samsung introduced its OLED Glare Free screen in 2024. While this tech initially had a negative effect on black levels, giving them a raised look, it was refined in 2025 with Glare Free 2.0, which debuted on the Samsung S95F flagship OLED.

When I tested the S95F, I was blown away by its picture quality. Its color reproduction is superb, and vivid tones really shine on screen. In the Wizard & I scene from Wicked, pink flowers in a tree pop with brilliant vibrancy, while the greens of trees and Elphaba’s skin appear impressively natural. Contrast is also excellent on the S95F, delivering rich black tones and punchy highlights that worked great for dark scenes in The Batman, such as the fight on the subway and the first crime scene in Mayor Mitchell’s house.

What makes the S95F a good option for the World Cup? It’s a combo of its high brightness — which measured at 2,132 nits peak HDR and 380 nits full screen HDR in Standard mode (the mode I’d recommend for sports) — the effective anti-glare screen that I mentioned before, and its solid motion handling. Mix these elements together and you get an awesome World Cup TV.

Outside of watching movies and sports, the S95F is also one of the best gaming TVs around. Kitted out with four HDMI 2.1 ports, it supports 4K 165Hz, FreeSync and G-Sync, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. It has a measured 9.5ms input lag time, meaning it has razor-sharp performance — even for some of the most demanding games.

Recently, in a showdown between the LG G6 and the S95F, I did say that the G6 pipped the S95F as the best OLED TV for bright rooms, mainly because its black tones looked richer. But, as the G6 recently launched, you’ll be looking at paying a much higher price compared to the S95F, meaning the Samsung is the one I’d pick for Prime Day.

More Prime Day deals in the UK More Prime Day deals in the US
Categories: Technology

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 design and details leak — and there's no sign of a new Classic

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 11:25
  • A leaker claims there will be a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 this year instead of a Watch 9 Classic
  • They shared renders of the Ultra 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9
  • They also claimed there will be beige, black, and silver colors for them

This year it looks like we might get a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, as a new leak has revealed fresh details along with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.

Over on X (via 9to5Google), leaker Galaxy Techie has claimed that these are the two new Samsung smartwatches we’ll see this year — and that there won’t be a Classic. That post has also now suspiciously been removed.

That’s at odds with some earlier leaks which suggested we might get a Classic instead of or as well as a new Ultra, so we’d take this with a pinch of salt. But it would make sense, since Samsung usually only launches new Classic models every other year, and we already got one last year with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

A successor to the 2024 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is certainly due — and according to this source, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will have a slightly boxier design than its predecessor, along with thinner bezels and an orange outline on the side button, rather than it being all orange.

Three colors and some software changes

(Image credit: Future)

The leaker also claims that both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and the Watch Ultra 2 will have new band designs and colors, listing beige, black with a bluish band, and silver with a green band variants — though it’s unclear whether they mean both models will come in all three of those shades.

Finally, they’ve also shared some renders which — while lacking in detail — do give us a look at the possible design of these wearables, along with the redesigned Samsung Health app and what looks to be a new watchface picker, as you can see above.

In any case, we probably won’t have to wait much longer to get an official look at whatever wearables Samsung is cooking up, as this year’s Galaxy Watches will probably launch in July.

Categories: Technology

How to automate workflows using open-source AI agents

TechRadar News - Mon, 06/22/2026 - 10:47

Running a one-person business means doing the job of an entire company by yourself. You're closing a deal in the morning and debugging the product by lunchtime. Every hour spent on admin is an hour not spent on the part of the business that actually grows revenue.

That's the gap a new generation of AI agents is built to close. OpenClaw and Hermes Agent are open-source tools that run in the background, hold memory of your business, and act on tasks without waiting for you to ask twice. Pair either one with a handful of supporting tools, and you get something close to a small team, for the price of a few subscriptions.

Why solo founders need an agent, not another app

Most AI tools you've used so far live in a browser tab. You open Claude or ChatGPT, ask a question, get an answer, then close the tab. The assistant stops existing the moment you stop typing.

An agent works differently. Once you set up OpenClaw or Hermes Agent, it keeps running, checking a task list, remembering what happened yesterday, and acting on a schedule instead of waiting to be prompted. For a solo entrepreneur with no employees, that difference matters more than which model sits underneath.

An agent doesn't replace you. Ideally, it should absorb the tasks that would otherwise eat your day, things like triaging support email, drafting a weekly update, or chasing an unpaid invoice. That frees you up for the work only you can do.

OpenClaw or Hermes Agent: Picking your AI co-founder

Two open-source projects dominate this space right now. They take different approaches to the same problem.

OpenClaw is the older, larger, and more battle-tested of the two. It started as a weekend project by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger in late 2025.

In February 2026, Steinberger announced he was joining OpenAI and that OpenClaw would move to an independent foundation rather than staying tied to any single company. The project's GitHub repository now sits at 373,000 stars and 77,300 forks.

Hermes Agent takes the opposite bet. It launched in February 2026 from Nous Research, the lab behind the Hermes, Nomos, and Psyche model families. By mid-June, it had crossed 190,000 stars of its own.

Instead of chasing breadth, it focuses on depth. After every task, it evaluates how the work went, turns whatever worked into a reusable skill file, and pulls from that file the next time a similar job comes up rather than reasoning from scratch.

How they measure up

OpenClaw

Hermes Agent

First released

November 2025, as Clawdbot

February 2026

Built by

Peter Steinberger, now an independent foundation

Nous Research

GitHub stars (June 2026)

373,000+

190,000+

License

MIT, open source

MIT, open source

Setup time

Under 30 minutes with Docker

A few hours for a full local setup

Memory model

File-backed, you write and edit what it remembers

Self-improving, it writes its own skills from experience

Messaging channels

20+, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord

Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, email, native desktop app

Best fit

Fast setup, the largest skill library, broad channel reach

An agent that gets sharper at your repeat tasks over time

In our experience, the honest answer comes down to setup time versus patience. OpenClaw's web search and file tools tend to work immediately after a Docker setup, often the same day. A full Hermes Agent setup with memory and tools configured typically takes a few hours instead.

Start with OpenClaw if you want results fast. Choose Hermes if you're willing to spend a weekend up front for an agent that keeps improving at your specific workflows.

A growing number of operators don't pick just one. Some experienced users run OpenClaw as the orchestrator for planning and multi-step coordination, then hand fast, repeatable task loops to Hermes as an execution specialist, with the two agents communicating over a shared protocol. That setup is overkill for a first attempt, but it's worth knowing the option exists once a single agent starts to feel limited.

What this looks like in practice

The clearest public example of an agent running a one-person business is Felix, an OpenClaw agent built by entrepreneur Nat Eliason. In January 2026, Eliason gave the agent $1,000 in startup capital and its own X account, then told it to build something and sell it overnight. Felix responded by writing a playbook on how to hire an AI agent, building a website to sell it, and launching its own social presence.

Three weeks in, Felix had generated $14,718 in revenue. Within about two months, that figure had grown to roughly $177,000 across the original product, a skills marketplace called Claw Mart, and custom agent deployments built for other businesses.

Eliason still holds the API keys and reviews what the agent does. Day-to-day decisions, from pricing to outreach, run through Felix rather than through him.

Felix is an extreme case, built specifically to test how far one agent could go without a human in the loop. Most one-person businesses won't hand over a Stripe account on day one.

That's the right call for most of them. Even so, the same pattern applies at a smaller scale: give an agent its own accounts, a narrow task, and enough room to act without you checking in every hour.

Building the rest of the stack around your AI agent

An agent is only as useful as what it can plug into. Most one-person stacks pair OpenClaw or Hermes Agent with a handful of tools that already expose an API, a webhook, or an email address the agent can act through. None of these need to cost much.

Scheduling and communication

Calendly remains a common default for letting people book time on your calendar without the back-and-forth, with a free plan for individual use and paid plans starting at $10 per month. Point your agent at the same calendar so it can answer "when am I free" without you checking manually.

For day-to-day messages, the agent typically lives wherever you already work. Both OpenClaw and Hermes Agent connect natively to WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Discord, so you're adding a contact to a conversation you're already having, not a new inbox to check.

Invoicing and bookkeeping

Wave and FreshBooks cover most solo founders here. Wave's core invoicing and accounting tools are free, with charges kicking in only if you use its built-in payment processing. FreshBooks costs a monthly fee but adds time tracking and client portals, useful once you start billing by the hour.

Either way, give your agent read access to the invoice list rather than write access to your bank account. Letting it flag an overdue invoice and draft a reminder is a reasonable task. Letting it move money on your behalf is not, at least not yet.

Customer relationships and leads

HubSpot's CRM is free, with no time limit on the core plan. For a founder tracking a few dozen leads, that's enough to replace a spreadsheet without adding a subscription. As the pipeline grows, the agent can sit on top of it, drafting follow-ups, logging calls, and flagging deals that have gone quiet.

Content and social media

This is where an agent earns its keep fastest, because content work is repetitive and time-stamped. Point it at your newsletter platform, whether that's beehiiv, MailerLite, or ConvertKit. Give it a standing instruction to draft, not send, a weekly update from your week's notes.

You stay the editor. The agent stays the drafter.

Contracts and signatures

For anything that needs a signature, tools like PandaDoc or SignNow handle the legal side. Your agent can handle the busywork around it instead, generating the draft from a template, sending it out, and nudging a client who hasn't signed after a few days. We'd still keep a human checking the final terms before anything goes out the door.

AI guardrails you need before you go all-in

Running an autonomous agent is not the same as running a chatbot. The security record so far reflects that. A 2026 audit of OpenClaw's skill marketplace found 341 malicious entries out of 2,857 skills checked, traced largely to a single supply chain campaign known as ClawHavoc.

A separate vulnerability, CVE-2026-25253, scored 8.8 out of 10 on the severity scale and involved unsafe automatic connection behavior that could expose authentication tokens. Cisco has publicly described personal AI agents in this category as a serious risk for enterprise environments, specifically because of how much access they're given by default. Hermes Agent has reported no known critical vulnerabilities as of mid-2026, though that partly reflects its smaller install base rather than proven hardening over time.

Three habits cut most of that risk down to size:

  • Give the agent its own accounts. A separate email address, a separate cloud storage folder, and separate API keys mean a mistake stays contained instead of spreading into your personal accounts.
  • Start with one channel and one task. Let it manage a single Telegram conversation or a single invoicing workflow before connecting it to your bank, your CRM, and your domain registrar all at once.
  • Keep it updated and keep it behind authentication. Both projects ship fixes quickly once a problem surfaces, but only if you're running a current version rather than an old build exposed to the open internet.

Treat the access you grant an AI agent the way you'd treat access for a new hire — useful from day one, but earned in stages rather than handed over all at once.

Getting started without breaking anything

Pick one agent and one task before you do anything else. People who've run these setups for months consistently recommend starting on the computer you already own rather than buying dedicated hardware, then moving to a small server later if the agent earns a permanent home.

Give it its own email address and a single connected channel, such as Telegram, before anything else. Ask it to handle one real task for a week: drafting follow-up emails, summarizing your inbox each morning, or chasing one recurring invoice. Once that task runs reliably without daily intervention, add the next one.

Treat the agent like a new employee rather than an extension of yourself. Give it accounts you'd be comfortable revoking, not your own logins.

That one habit prevents most of the damage a misconfigured agent could otherwise do. By the time you've added a second and third task, you'll have a clearer sense of which platform fits your workflow than any comparison article could give you, including this one.

The bottom line

Hiring your first real employee usually means payroll, onboarding, and months before they're fully useful. Setting up OpenClaw or Hermes Agent costs a few hours and, in OpenClaw's case, nothing beyond compute.

Obviously, the output won't match a skilled human on judgment calls, but for the repetitive parts of running a business, the gap is closing fast enough that a solopreneur can get their business out the door without overhiring before they are ready.

Start small, watch what the agent actually does with the access you give it, and expand from there. We've noticed the founders getting the most out of this approach aren't running the most complicated stack. They picked one agent, gave it one real job, and let it prove itself before adding the next.

Categories: Technology

Pages

Subscribe to The Vortex aggregator - Technology