Technology

The studio behind Fallout is now adapting Wolfenstein, one of gaming's most iconic shooters.

• Microsoft has begun testing Copilot Appearance to give the AI assistant a more distinct personality
• The feature imbues Copilot with real-time expressions and gestures
• Copilot Appearance is part of a broader push to give Copilot a persistent identity

Microsoft has decided to put a face on its Copilot AI assistant with a new feature called Copilot Appearance. Rolling out to a limited set of users in the U.S., U.K., and Canada as part of Microsoft’s Copilot Labs, Appearance is a sort of animated cloud and has a smile instead of just a disembodied voice. Microsoft is hoping Appearance will help make Copilot more enduring as a tool for regular engagement, not just occasional questioning.

It's an idea that fits with how the company's consumer AI head, Mustafa Suleyman, envisions the future of Copilot. As he explained in a recent interview, Suleyman sees a more human-like Copilot, one that carries what he calls “digital patina” as it ages, accruing history and personality based on time spent with a user.

The Appearance feature is an aspect of that idea. It gives Copilot facial expressions and subtle animations to respond in real time as you talk or type. So you might see a smile when it provides information, or a nod of encouragement when you provide follow-up details. Perhaps even a furrowed brow if you ask for something difficult.

The obvious comparison for any Microsoft AI personality attempt is Clippy, but this is, theoretically at least, a far cry from the old paperclip with eyeballs. Unlike Clippy, this assistant doesn’t pop in uninvited or ask if you’re writing a letter. It will only talk to you when you start a conversation, and it's supposed to exist quietly in the background. But it will remember what you're doing, and that memory lasts.

Appearance and personality

It's the continuity of the memory that makes it possible for Copilot to become as personal as Suleyman wants. Combined with other recent Copilot upgrades like voice mode and vision capabilities, Suleyman hopes Copilot will understand both what you want in the moment and who you are overall.

Of course, for now, the visual character isn’t doing anything wild. It won’t animate a full scene or wave its arms around like a Pixar sidekick. It’s more like a friendly desk plant that also edits your reports. Microsoft is moving slowly here for a reason. Other platforms that heavily leaned into character-based chatbots have encountered issues with users becoming overly attached to an AI companion.

The risk, of course, is that some people will start thinking of it that way. The goal is to earn a user's trust, but not so much that people forget this is still a tool. But if Microsoft keeps going down this path, it will need to draw some clear lines.

Appearance is a layer of presence and polish. It’s also a preview of an AI that shows how it is reacting to us with facial expressions and body language, something anyone can understand. But, I still don't want to see Copilot raise its eyebrows and roll its eyes sarcastically at requests it thinks are dumb.

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Here's what to know before you launch into the '60s-inspired world.

Hasbro’s Star Wars: The Vintage Collection has been home to many iconic venues, characters, and vessels from the ever-expanding universe. But for San Diego Comic Con 2025, it’s safe to say that the Hasbro team has taken things up another notch, especially if you’re a fan of the Clone Wars.

And as someone who has loved the show, which you can stream on Disney+, the latest Star Wars HasLab fits the bill. Hasbro just revealed the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection LAAT/I Gunship, which lands as a highly detailed and fairly massive set – it’s 28-inches long and 10.6-inch tall when not on the stand – and if it reaches 8,000 backers before the funding period is over, it’ll ship in in Fall of 2026 (think September, October or November).

The LAAT/I Gunship is a pivotal vessel that played a significant role in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, as well as the Clone Wars series. It’s arriving today with an estimated MSRP of $449.99 and is up for funding on Hasbro Pulse right now – that window for funding closes on September 8, 2025, if you’re interested in making it happen.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Speaking to TechRadar, Chris Reiff, Hasbro’s Product Design Manager on Star Wars, told us that "The Petranaki Arena rescue scene in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is a memorable highlight of the prequel trilogy, and we wanted to honor that moment with a HasLab project that would be a standout piece for collectors."

It really goes back to just how recognizable the ship is, especially in the white and red color scheme. Hasbro did strive, and hit a movie-accurate design from Star Wars Episode II as well.

Here, the LAAT/I features two stand options – one that puts it in flight and one for hovering, allowing Clone Troopers to pop out. To fit the size and scale here, two 3.75-inch Clone Trooper Pilot figures are included. These boast yellow helmet decorations, and each comes with two blaster rifles. You can place these in the cockpit or have them hanging out the side.

If more backer tiers are hit for the project on HasLab, there is the chance of unlocking Coleman Trebor (10,000), Saesee Tiin with a lightsaber (12,000), or Zabrak Jedi Agen Kolar (14,000).

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

There’s also a ton of details on the ship itself, including missile launchers up-top and under the wings, a fully operable rear-hinge for boarding, a fully designed interior, interchangeable front panels, and optional side panels. You’ll even find hidden storage behind the cockpit.

As is the trend for Hasbro’s Star Wars: The Vintage Collection, the design team conducted extensive research here. Rieff told us, “It’s been a fantastic experience researching and incorporating the latest details shared from our partners at Disney and Lucasfilm to bring this HasLab dream project to life.” The design team here actually worked with Lucas Film to access some upgraded design files from The Mandalorian, as the gunship is featured in a few scenes.

If you’ve been waiting for Hasbro to usher in a Vintage Collection style of the LAAT/I Gunship, or simply wanted a new drop in the series, this one is up for backing on HasLab now. The funding period runs from July 25, 2025, through September 8, 2025, and will need 8,000 backers to be produced.

Assuming that is met, Hasbro expects this project to arrive in Fall 2026, meaning that if you back it, you can expect the LAAT/I Gunship to land with you by then. You can see a gallery of the ship up close below.

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(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) @techradar

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• Hasbro just dropped its most impressive Star Wars Black Series Force FX Elite lightsaber
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• Police are now tracing ghost guns by identifying microscopic toolmarks left by 3D printer hardware
• Thingiverse is using automation to block the upload of dangerous weapon blueprint files
• Lawmakers want 3D printer makers to build in AI tools that block firearm printing

The rapid spread of 3D-printed gun templates online is drawing scrutiny from law enforcement and lawmakers, as regulators begin to deal with the unintended consequences of accessible digital manufacturing.

Popular platform Thingiverse, known as the world’s largest repository of 3D printer model files, has now become a central focus in efforts to curb the spread of ghost guns.

Following an investigation by the New York Police Department, hundreds of downloadable weapon-related files were found on Thingiverse - files which, once downloaded, can be used by almost anyone with a 3D printer to make working firearm parts.

Crackdown on file-sharing platforms

In response, Thingiverse has added automated tools designed to detect and block uploads of gun files before they go live on the site.

This is an urgent issue within 3D printing communities, and as platforms grow, managing harmful or illegal content becomes much harder.

Access to dangerous blueprints is tough to control, especially when file sites operate with little oversight, and along with platform changes, officials are now turning to hardware makers.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has asked companies like Bambu Lab to build AI systems that can scan CAD files before printing.

The goal is to train models to spot gun blueprints and stop them at the printer itself.

Law enforcement agencies are working to build roadblocks that make it harder to create untraceable firearms.

Beyond prevention, investigators are also exploring ways to trace printed weapons back to their source.

Researchers are studying toolmarks left on printed objects - tiny patterns made by a printer’s unique settings, nozzle shape, and filament path.

These marks may not match one exact printer, but they can help narrow down where a weapon came from.

Factors like extruder size, print temperature, and bed surface all affect these marks, which makes tracking more complex.

Even so, this kind of forensic work shows that printed weapons are not as anonymous as many once believed.

Whether made on a high-end 3D engraver or a cheap desktop unit, printed objects may carry clues that link them to certain machines.

With ghost guns now easier to make than ever, the race between access and control is clearly underway, and the outcome is still unknown.

Via TomsHardware

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Women's safety app Tea has topped the free Apple App Store rankings and experienced a data breach in the same week. Here's what you need to know.

AT&T's prepaid mobile provider adds more data and bundled extras to its plans at lower prices.

The upcoming tag-team fighter gets a violent new trailer during San Diego Comic-Con 2025.

The initiative expands upon child safety measures that Apple enacted this year.

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 26, No. 306.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 26, #776.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 26 No. 510.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 26, No. 1,498.

The AI model is not your therapist and the company behind it can't necessarily keep it secret. Sam Altman thinks that's 'very screwed up.'

• Kuycon G32P 6K monitor mimics Apple’s design but enters the market without proven credibility
• USB4 with 100W power delivery sounds promising for creators seeking a single-cable workstation setup
• Limited retail availability raises questions about customer service and regional return policies

Chinese manufacturer Kuycon is entering the fiercely competitive business monitor market with a 32-inch 6K monitor priced around $1,700.

The Kuycon G32P is aimed squarely at professionals who might otherwise consider Apple’s Pro Display XDR, offering similar core specs at a fraction of the cost.

The catch? Kuycon isn’t a household name, and the monitor's real-world performance and support ecosystem remain largely untested.

Impressive specifications, but credibility is still in question

The G32P features a 6144 x 3456 resolution on a Nano IPS Black panel supplied by LG, delivering high pixel density ideal for tasks that demand visual clarity.

For those seeking a monitor for photo or video editing, Kuycon’s spec sheet is likely to be appealing.

It supports true 10-bit color depth, with factory-measured coverage of 99% DCI-P3 and 99% sRGB, and a contrast ratio rated at 2000:1.

The 500-nit brightness and HDR10 compatibility bring it in line with most high-end professional monitors, at least on paper.

One of the more striking choices is the use of glossy laminated glass on the front, designed to enhance clarity and minimize distortions without using edge lighting or complex local dimming.

This approach mirrors Apple’s choices with the Pro Display XDR, and the G32P’s overall design, including its anodized aluminum build and thermally optimized rear, clearly nods to the company's aesthetic.

But while the G32P looks the part, it doesn't include a stand in the base price - instead, users must add one separately or rely on the 100x100mm VESA mount to use their own.

Connectivity is another strong point, with DisplayPort 2.1 and dual HDMI 2.1 ports supporting up to 48Gbps each. The device also supports Thunderbolt 4/USB4 input with 100W power delivery, and two USB-C ports for peripheral expansion.

These features align it with what’s expected of a business monitor today, especially one intended to operate as part of a larger workstation setup.

Kuycon also includes all required cables and adapters, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a calibration report, offering a complete out-of-box experience.

That said, the attractive specs and price, which range from $1,700 to $2,000 depending on region and configuration, do not eliminate concerns about long-term support, regional availability, and resale value.

Sales channels are currently limited, with availability through niche retailers like ClickClack.io.

As with any unknown brand, questions remain about reliability, warranty, and color consistency over time.

Via Notebookcheck

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Don't miss the latest on Netflix, Hulu and other platforms. Here's what you should binge this weekend.

• Pluribus premieres on Apple TV+ on November 7, 2025, and is from the creator of Breaking Bad
• A short, several-second teaser was shared after a multi-day countdown
• The show will star Rhea Seehorn

We finally know the name of the forthcoming Apple TV+ show from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan: Pluribus will arrive on November 7, 2025.

We still don't know much, and the streaming service didn't drop a full trailer, but rather a short teaser that certainly leaves us with more questions.

Furthermore, although we know that the series will star Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul, the actress is not featured in this teaser clip.

Instead, the trailer opens with a wide shot of what appears to be a prison with a guard standing in the frame. We then zoom in for an up-close look at the guard licking doughnuts and then placing them in a box.

Going back to the original teaser shared earlier this week, which featured the tagline 'Happiness is contagious' accompanied by a Petri dish containing a smiley face, we see a sign that reads 'Help Yourself' with the same smiley face.

And that's all we're left with before the name of the show, ashes, and a premiere date of November 7. We will likely learn more about this science-fiction drama in the months ahead, including a full cast announcement and a more formal trailer.

This ties back to the activation we stopped by at San Diego Comic Con 2025 yesterday, July 24, 2025, where they asked us what made us happy and handed us a doughnut. It tasted fine, so we're assuming this guard didn't touch it.

Let us know what you think down below in the comments about the first look at Pluribus.

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• Maxell is launching a Walkman-style cassette player with a built-in speaker
• The speaker is mono and 500mW
• Not everything from the 80s should come back

In Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus Mary Shelley wrote a cautionary tale about science: just because a scientist can make something doesn't mean they should. I'm pretty sure she was thinking about the Maxell MXCP-P100S, which is frankly more terrifying than anything Dr Frankenstein ever darned.

The MXCP-P100S is a new version of the cute, Walkman-esque MXCP-P100 that we told you about last month, but it's got a terrifying addition.

A speaker.

(Image credit: Maxell Japan)This portable player is just asking for trouble

The player itself is perfectly fine: it has Bluetooth 5.4 and a long-lasting battery delivering up to nine hours of playback, it works with Type-1 Normal tapes of up to 90 minutes, and it's got a brass flywheel that Maxell says stablizes the sound. You can use it with wired or wireless headphones, and you should, because a tape player with a speaker like this one is an abomination.

The only good thing I can say about the speaker is that it's just 500mW and unlikely to be hugely efficient, so it can't go too loud when some clown decides to treat you to their cassette collection on the subway or on the bus.

But that's also one of the worst things about it.

I don't want to get too technical here, but when you push a 500mW mono speaker to its limits – which said clown will absolutely do when they're in the seat behind you – it sounds freaking awful.

I know this because that's the size of the speaker that was in the mono cassette recorder/players that I used to record songs from the radio back in the 1980s. And while I've got plenty of nostalgia for that decade there are some things – such as leg warmers, the Satanic Panic and the ever-present threat of global thermonuclear war – that we don't need back.

And tinny little speakers in tape decks are one of those things. Trust me, you don't want one of those anywhere near you when you're stuck on public transport.

The MXCP-P100S will launch in Japan in August, and is expected to cost around $100. I'd be fine if it stayed it Japan, personally – though its non-speaker sibling, the MXCP-P100, looks more my speed.

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• A Windows-to-Linux migration tool has been revealed
• It's still in development, but looks very promising, providing a seamless way of transitioning to Linux
• Only one distro is supported, but there's the possibility of multiple options in the future

Those whose PC doesn't support Windows 11 - or people who just plain don't like Microsoft's newest OS, and don't want to leave Windows 10 for it - could, at some point down the line, have another option in terms of a way to switch to Linux instead.

Neowin picked up on a project that's a Windows-to-Linux migration tool, enabling you to shift across all your files and settings - as well as installed apps - from Windows 10 over to Linux.

Now, there are a few caveats for this concept, and I'll lead with the most notable, namely that this isn't a finished product yet. The software is still under development, in an "early" form, and all we can see of it now is a demo on YouTube.

The tool, called Operese, is being put together by 'TechnoPorg', an engineering student at the University of Waterloo (in Canada), and the utility has been under development for some time.

Another sizeable catch is that it only allows Windows 10 users to switch to one particular Linux distro, Kubuntu (which is based on the popular Ubuntu, so it's far from a bad choice - and I'll come back to this shortly).

Otherwise, you can see how the process works in the 'Program Demo' section of the YouTube clip below. The app takes care of the whole migration, extracting the relevant data from Windows 10, then installing Kubuntu, and reapplying the correct settings, your files, and so on (achieving this using some clever trickery with drive partitions).

Analysis: In-place upgrade to Linux

Essentially, Operese is like an in-place upgrade, the same as you might perform to shift to Windows 11, except in this case, you're going from Windows 10 to Linux. It's a very smart idea in that respect for those who are intimidated by the idea of migrating to Linux - you can do it straight from your existing Windows 10 PC, with no fuss whatsoever, just sit back and let the tool do all the hard work.

I'm not sure how the transfer of apps will be facilitated, and obviously, that could get tricky where software isn't available on Linux (or doesn't work on the platform). Indeed, the program migration aspect remains unfinished in Operese at this point in time, as the developer tells us in the YouTube clip, so this is still rather up in the air.

Another issue is that, given that we're told it's still relatively early in development, is this app going to be ready for Windows 10's End of Life? TechnoPorg says it'll be full steam ahead working on Operese until October, which suggests that the dev is trying to hit that deadline, when support for Windows 10 ceases. He may need help to that end, and talks about making the code open source, too (not a bad thing in terms of security, either).

Still, even if that deadline is missed, remember that Windows 10 users can get an extra year of support just by syncing PC settings via the Windows Backup app (not a high price to pay in my view). The app could still be very useful even as a late arrival, then, given that breathing space. And even if this project isn't realized, it does show that this kind of streamlined Linux migration is perfectly possible - and that it might show up in some form, hopefully sooner rather than later.

For those grumbling that there's only one choice of distro, TechnoPorg observes that Kubuntu was selected for some good reasons. Its stability, third-party driver support, and the KDE Plasma desktop environment will make those who are used to the Windows desktop feel somewhat at home. Also, Ubuntu offers a great set of tools for automated installations, apparently, which makes it suit this project nicely.

All that said, the developer indicates that supporting some of the other best Linux distros is a possible long-term goal, and that "based on the overwhelming community feedback, I will be making the internals [of Operese] more distro-agnostic". Meaning other options aside from Kubuntu - hopefully, alternatives well-suited to Windows users - could be in the cards eventually.

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• Hyundai Glovis is betting $6.5 billion on autonomous tech reshaping global shipping routes
• Avikus is no longer testing - its self-steering system is moving into commercial deployment
• AI autonomy on the open ocean is moving beyond research and into practical application

South Korea’s Hyundai Glovis is taking a major step into uncharted waters with the launch of the world’s first artificial intelligence-based autonomous navigation systems for car carrier ships.

Working in partnership with Avikus, the autonomous vessel technology arm of HD Hyundai, Glovis is set to retrofit seven of its large pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) with Level-2 Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) platforms by mid-2026.

If successful, this could mark a shift in maritime logistics, where fully integrated AI navigation remains largely theoretical.

Technological leap or calculated risk?

The AI-based system in question, developed by Avikus and branded as HiNAS, allows for partial remote control and real-time AI route optimization.

While this doesn’t yet amount to full autonomy, supporters believe it could lead to fuel savings and better operational efficiency.

“An autonomous ship is particularly effective for PCTCs, which operate on long-haul, point-to-point routes linking Asia to Europe or North America,” a Glovis official noted.

However, the decision to rely on Avikus rather than develop proprietary tech raises questions about long-term flexibility and control over future software updates.

Glovis plans to install the system on vessels including the 229.9-meter-long Sunrise, which can carry up to 7,000 vehicles.

That vessel alone may become the largest ship ever outfitted with AI-driven autonomy.

“While competitors have added what amounts to smart navigation, Glovis is effectively giving ships the ability to make decisions and optimize performance on their own,” said a shipping analyst familiar with the project.

Avikus, which gained attention after completing the world’s first transatlantic voyage by an LNG carrier using its Level-2 autonomous system in 2022, is part of this project.

The company has been striking deals with firms like Sinokor and H-Line, and is now targeting Level-3 and Level-4 capabilities, which would allow for full unmanned operation by 2027.

Hyundai Glovis, meanwhile, sees this initiative as central to its transformation into a smart logistics solutions company, having committed 9 trillion won (approximately $6.5 billion) in investment through 2030.

Although Glovis and Avikus belong to different branches of the Hyundai family - Hyundai Motor Group and HD Hyundai, respectively - the partnership reflects a deeper convergence between South Korea’s legacy industrial giants.

Japanese and European competitors have already tested AI-enhanced routing, but Glovis’ approach is the first to involve the wide deployment of integrated decision-making systems on multiple car carriers.

Whether this results in meaningful industry disruption remains to be seen, but for now, the 750-foot-long, nearly 100,000-ton vessels could become symbols of what’s to come or a cautionary tale of overreach.

Via The Korean Economic Daily

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