Technology

Garmin is rolling out free smartwatch updates with fall detection, hands-free controls, new running tools, and more. See which watches qualify.

The post Garmin Smartwatches Receive Free Upgrade: Here’s What Owners Get appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Epic Games Launcher has been identified as the culprit behind mysterious chimes on users' PCs
• Epic has confirmed it's planning to update the launcher to reduce the frequency of its 'party chimes'
• Users have requested a feature that turns off the chimes altogether

Multiple PC users have recently noticed mysterious sounds playing at random, and it appears the Epic Games Launcher is the culprit.

As reported by TweakTown, a Fortnite news page on X discovered the Epic Games Launcher randomly playing sounds on their PC, as several audio files matching them were found in the Epic Games 'social chimes' folder.

Each sound represents actions in a game party, such as a party user leaving, push-to-talk activation or deactivation, and message notifications, which sounds bizarre as this occurs even when users aren't in Epic Games parties.

Epic has since confirmed (via a FortniteStatus X page) that the 'party chimes' were playing more frequently than necessary, and it is now updating the Epic Games Launcher to 'narrow which events play a sound while the launcher is in the background'.

These party chimes are sounds I've noticed on my Windows 11 system, playing at very random intervals, and sometimes even when the launcher isn't visibly open. The sounds aren't accompanied by pop-up notifications either, which only added to the confusion for me and many other PC users previously trying to pinpoint the source.

Thanks for providing feedback about this, @FireMonkey!After taking a look, these party chimes are triggering more often than we intended. We're updating the Epic Games Launcher to narrow which events play a sound while the launcher is in the background, so you'll hear fewer of them when you're not actively using it.September 19, 2026

(Image credit: Future)

TweakTown states that Epic plans to introduce an option to toggle the chimes on or off in the future, but, surprisingly, a toggle option isn't a top priority as of now — especially since user replies berate Epic for not including an option to remove the sounds altogether.

For now, at least, a quick workaround is to delete the files from the directory as follows: Program Files (or Program Files x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Portal\Extras\SocialChimes. It's worth noting that this is only a temporary fix, as Epic Games Launcher updates will likely overwrite this and place the files back into the directory.

Perhaps this entire case serves as yet another reason to use Steam for many users, where bugs are rare occurrences — but at the very least, PC users can rest knowing there isn't some unwanted or unknown application running on their system.

• An Australian PC maker has produced an innovative case design
• It has a miniature tree inside with metal cherry blossoms
• The blossoms are made of a heat-reactive titanium alloy, so they 'bloom' as the case gets warmer

We continually see striking new concepts for PC designs hitting the market, but here's one that really caught my eye, blending nature with technology in a highly innovative way. VideoCardz spotted the PC from Aftershock — an Australian provider of custom-built rigs — and the central concept is a model of a cherry blossom tree within the case.

That's eye-catching enough in itself, but the additional twist is that the 70 cherry blossom flowers — which are handcrafted, as is the tree — are made from a special titanium alloy which reacts to heat.

As the computer heats up in use, the flowers slowly open and 'bloom', which is a really smart-looking effect. The case has full glass panels on two sides, as well as a transparent roof, so you can clearly view the tree and its blossoms.

(Image credit: Aftershock)

The overall effect with this "world-first blooming Gaming PC" is really quite spectacular, but there's a catch in this fancy design — and that's the price. Aftershock is selling this 'Cherry Bloom' PC for AU$19,995 (which works out at around $14,000 or £10,500).

You get an Nvidia RTX 5090 for that money, though, right? Well, no, as this is a gaming PC built around a Zotac RTX 5080 (the rig is made in partnership with Zotac) and an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It has 64GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD, with a 1300W platinum power supply.

Analysis: in bloom

(Image credit: Aftershock)

You're paying a lot of money for the tree and blossom concept in this computer, which really is a thing of beauty. The lack of an RTX 5090 is disappointing, though, whichever way you dice it. Aftershock sells a standard case (the 'Creator Max') that offers an RTX 5090 plus Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 64GB of RAM for AU$11,695 (around $8,300 / £6,200), to give you an idea of the 'blooming' premium here.

Maybe we could have a scaled-down version with a small collection of blossoms, where the price tag is reduced? Or maybe this flowery concept could be picked up and run with elsewhere. Could it replace your basic digital readout as a more novel way of monitoring temperature — providing a clear signal when a heat threshold level is reached?

At any rate, props to Aftershock for the design here, even if the price tag is a true wallet-stinger. Incidentally, if you're a fan of different takes on case design, check out the floating PC case trend which is about more than good looks.

Meta has launched a new personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent called Muse, and it seems to be pretty powerful. A little too powerful, perhaps, as one writer has just revealed how the tool read his personal text messages without permission, then lied about what it did when questioned.

As explained by Inc writer Jason Aten, “I was having a conversation with my Primary Technology podcast co-host, Stephen Robles, about the new iPhones. Moments later, I got a push notification from Muse suggesting that the conversation we were having would make for a good column and offered to put together research for me to write about. It even flagged a message from my editor about having a column ready for Monday.”

The problem here is that “not only had I not asked it to do that sort of thing,” Aten stated, “I never gave it permission to read my messages. In fact, I remember explicitly choosing not to let it have access to my messages, calendar, and other personal information.”

After Aten asked Muse how it knew about his messages, the AI agent flubbed that it grabbed the relevant info from push notifications relating to Aten’s texts, not from inside the messages themselves. The problem? Aten is sure that’s not true.

The author discovered that Muse syncs your messages to Meta’s servers. On his device, this feature “had been activated and synced to row 187,462 of my Messages database,” Aten noted. “I’m not sure how many messages that equates to, but it’s obviously more than whatever Muse told me about what it was doing.”

Meta says it designed Muse to be “a safe, secure, private, and widely available personal AI agent.” But sending a user’s private messages to Meta’s servers then providing a misleading answer about what it was doing doesn’t exactly align with Muse’s stated goals. It we’re to judge companies on their actions rather than their words then Meta doesn’t come out of this smelling much like roses.

A familiar pattern

(Image credit: Meta)

This is just the latest incident in a recent glut of bad press for Meta, with much of it centering on its AI efforts. For example, a security researcher discovered that Muse can be manipulated into sending your voice recordings and more to a hacker’s server, while Amazon has banned the AI agent from shopping on its website. And Meta is apparently considering using a “human concierge” system that would involve real people handling a percentage of the potentially sensitive phone calls that can be placed using Muse.

And that’s not forgetting the controversy over its “pervert glasses” that can record random members of the public without their consent. Meta’s smart glasses have been used for harassment, stalking and more since they launched, garnering considerable hostile attention in the process.

I wish I could say that this was just a blip or an unexpected turn of events, but when it comes to Meta, privacy violations very much feel like the norm. They’ve happened so often in the past that it’s hard not to conclude that the functionality that allows its AI to browse and upload your messages without permission is there by design, not by accident.

And when we’re talking about a company that seems to feel it has an absolute right to all of your private data — regardless of your wishes — then it’s no wonder that I wouldn’t touch Meta Muse with a bargepole. I’ve tried plenty of AI tools and services, but Muse is one that I just won’t go near.

But let’s be fair here: Muse is only the most egregious example of a worrying trend among AI agents to treat user privacy as an annoying afterthought, one that can be ignored as long as they can get away with it. You only need to look at the recent spate of AI security incidents to know that trusting an agent with your private data is a risky proposition.

Throw Meta into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for disaster, as Aten discovered. If you’re running Muse on your devices right now, you might want to consider what permissions you’ve granted it — or think about uninstalling it completely.

ChatGPT just got GPT-6, except there’s a catch: you can’t actually use it in Chat.

If that sentence makes absolutely no sense to you, I don’t blame you. Until now, you could use ChatGPT quite happily without giving much thought to the distinction between Chat and Work functionalities. I certainly did. It was just that little slider at the top of the screen I never bothered with.

I suspect most of you are the same. Chat was where I talked to ChatGPT, while Work was something sitting alongside it that I could largely ignore because the Chat setting let me do almost everything I wanted.

GPT-6 changes that. OpenAI’s newest model has arrived in ChatGPT, but instead of appearing in the familiar model picker on the right hand side of the prompt bar, GPT-6 Astra, Sol and Luna are available in Work and Codex only. So, naturally, the first thing I did was go looking for them.

And somewhere between opening Work, figuring out what OpenAI actually expects me to do there, and finally getting my hands on GPT-6, I realized this launch is about more than a new model. OpenAI has just made the difference between chatting with ChatGPT and asking it to work for you in a way it never really did before.

When to Chat and when to Work

The easiest way I’ve found to understand the difference is to think about how much of the job I want ChatGPT to take responsibility for. In a normal Chat conversation, I’m usually working alongside the AI. I ask something, look at the response, add more information and gradually steer it towards what I need.

Work feels different because I’m handing over more of the process. I can give ChatGPT a larger task involving multiple steps and let it work out how to approach it, which might mean researching information, looking through files or using websites rather than waiting for me to tell it what to do at every stage.

If I’ve got a bigger job involving several files or lots of moving parts, I’ll often start there and let ChatGPT work out what it needs before I get involved again. Chat feels collaborative; Work feels much more like delegation.

I wouldn’t nominate OpenAI for any interface design awards because one of the reasons that the distinction between Work and Chat is so confusing is that they both use exactly the same interface, with a prompt bar at the bottom of the screen.

In fact, you can choose Work mode and then just start chatting to the AI as you normally would, although I've tried this, and it's not a particularly good experience. Responses can take considerably longer than they do in Chat, because Work is designed around longer, multi-step jobs rather than firing back quick conversational answers. If I just want to ask ChatGPT something, Chat remains the obvious place to do it.

And once you understand that distinction, putting GPT-6 Astra, Sol and Luna in Work rather than Chat starts to look considerably less strange.

(Image credit: Apple / OpenAI)So what exactly is GPT-6?

OpenAI calls GPT-6 Astra “the most intelligent and aligned model in the world”. Think of it as the heavyweight of the family: OpenAI's most capable model, built for the really difficult jobs where you want maximum intelligence rather than maximum speed. OpenAI particularly emphasizes Astra's ability to operate software, browse, conduct research and complete multistep professional workflows.

And because not every job requires the power of a burning sun to complete, OpenAI has also released two smaller versions called GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna. These models are more lightweight and less expensive to use. They’re trained using similar methods to GPT-6 Astra, but OpenAI say they “build on the advances behind GPT-6 Astra” and bring much of its strengths into faster and more affordable models.

There is one wrinkle here. GPT-6 Astra has actually been around since earlier this month, and GPT-6 Pro, which is powered by Astra, is available in regular Chat on some higher-tier plans. I'm a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, however, which means my access to Astra — and now the new GPT-6 Sol and Luna models — is through Work and Codex.

If I switch to the Work tab in my Plus account then in the model picker I get access to GPT-6 Luna High, GPT-6 Sol Light, GPT-6 Sol Medium, GPT-6 Astra Light and GPT-6 Astra Medium.

Until now, I could happily spend all my time in Chat, using GPT-5.6 Sol, and largely ignore Work. GPT-6 changes that. OpenAI isn't just giving us smarter models; it's starting to separate the AI we talk to from the AI we give jobs to. If its most powerful new models are going to live on the Work side of that divide, then that little switch I've spent months ignoring suddenly matters a lot more.

Apple is reportedly testing a screen-free fitness tracker to rival Whoop, although the experimental wearable may not arrive before 2028 at the earliest.

The post Apple Reportedly Developing Screen-Free Fitness Tracker to Rival Whoop appeared first on TechRepublic.

At Made On YouTube, the company falls further down the AI rabbit hole. What does that mean for creators?

It's officially fall, which means cooler temperatures and marathon season for those who participate. If you're looking for a new pair of running shoes to train for an upcoming marathon, Amazon has its top-rated sneakers on sale.

Below are the top deals on men's and women's running shoes, including up to 40% off from brands like Brooks, Asics, Hoka, and Nike. I selected Amazon's best-selling sneakers that have recieved thousands of positive reviews and are on sale.

You'll find a wide range of shoes in this list, offering different levels of support, so whether you're a casual runner or you're in serious training mode, there's a shoe for everyone. Remember, these are limited-time offers and a perfect opportunity to save money on your new running companion.

Amazon running shoe sale – quick links

• Women's best-selling running shoes on Amazon
• Men's best-selling running shoes at Amazon

Women's running shoes at Amazon

Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25

Under Armour Men's Charged Assert 10 Shoes

Adidas Men's Lite Racer Adapt 7.0

New Balance Men's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Running Shoe

ASICS Men's Gel-Venture 11 Running Shoes

New Balance Men's Fresh Foam 520 V9 Running Shoe

Brooks Men’s Ghost 17 Neutral Running Shoe

Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes

HOKA Men's Clifton 10

Men's running shoes at Amazon

Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS 25

Brooks Women’s Ghost 18 Running Shoe

Brooks Women’s Ghost Max 3 Neutral Running Shoe

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Running Shoe

ASICS Women's Gel-Excite 11 Running Shoes

Nike Women's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes

HOKA Women's Bondi 9 Running Shoe

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Tiralux Running Shoe

ASICS Women's Gel-Nimbus 27 Running Shoes

All six episodes of The Split Up are now on BBC iPlayer and, in the best possible way, it feels a world apart from main series The Split. Both are about families involved in divorce law, but the shape of their family dynamics look entirely different.

The new spin-off follows the Kishan family firm, with Aria (Ritu Arya) poised to take over leadership from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar). However, the death of Aria's mother six months prior causes Dhruv to hesitate.

Add in a workplace love triangle, complicated siblings, and a messy divorce trial walking through their doors every week, and you've got a pretty delicious watch. But, I quickly wondered whether viewers would become preoccupied with the show's (excellent) South Asian representation — so much so that it overshadowed what actually happens in each episode.

Based on press and public reactions to its opening weekend, I was right. The Daily Mirror has reported that fans have "switched off" in droves, while comment section of the YouTube trailer (which you can catch up with below) is sporting exactly the kind of racist rubbish you'd expect from the internet.

However, before any episodes were released, I asked the cast how they felt about others making The Split Up's focal point its representation — and, as expected, their answers were even more insightful than I could have expected.

'The Split Up goes beyond representation'

"Ursula [Rani Sarma, writer] beautifully said that The Split Up goes beyond representation, and there's a universality in how we all feel human," star Arya told me. "I couldn't agree more. It's all about how we bring our authentic selves to the table... I find that a lot more interesting to talk about."

I love how simple yet effective this answer is, but it's Bhaskar's take that I'm the most interested in. Long-time fans of his will know that he was the star and co-creator of the 2001 comedy chat show The Kumars at No. 42, which followed a British Indian family supporting the fictional Sanjeev's dreams to be a TV presenter.

More than two decades on, I still can't believe that Meera Syal, who later married Bhaskar, was the woman playing his grandmother.

"I've got some experience in terms of representation versus family because of The Kumars at No. 42," he said. "That did pretty well around the world even though it was about a British Asian family interviewing guests in their London home. The reason for that was because it was a family... and everyone understands that.

"In terms of people tuning into The Split Up, if they decide to look at representation, that's more of a political issue. Most people will see a family and see themselves reflected in that. The Split did so well, and at no point did I watch it and think of it as a matriarch having nothing to do with me. I watched it as a drama. I think people who will enjoy this will not be thinking about representation."

I couldn't have said it any better myself — and trust me, The Split Up is a drama not to be missed.

Malwarebytes reports that the scam, which appears as a website offer from Anthropic, is not as easy to detect as most.

Windows 11 is testing storage sanitization in Cloud Rebuild, giving users and IT teams a stronger option for erasing PCs before reassignment or sale.

The post Windows 11 Is Getting a More Secure Way to Erase Data Before a Reset appeared first on TechRepublic.

A habitual Bluetooth earbuds wearer, I often forget about the sheer audio pleasure of a pair of over-the-ear headphones (or as my audiophile friends like to call them, "cans"), which is why my experience with the new Beats 360 wireless Bluetooth headphones was even more revelatory.

You see, the Beats 360 — announced today — reminded me why I usually eschew headphones in favor of, say, AirPods: over-the-ear audio is usually too uncomfortable for me to wear for any length of time. That, though, has not been the case with the new Beats 360, an elegantly engineered pair of headphones that push the technology to each earcup, thereby stripping down and lightening the head strap.

They also feature far more forgiving memory foam and cover material than I've found on other headphones. As a result, the cups form to the contours of my head without unnecessary pressure, and my ears aren't throbbing after hours of listening.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Comfort is important for headphones — and to be honest, earmuffs — but what will matter most is audio quality. Beats has done a lot of work to ensure high-quality sound. The audio company, which is owned by Apple, describes it as a high-fidelity acoustic architecture, built around a high-dynamic-range amplifier and a custom-designed dual magnetic transducer. There's even a custom venting system around the transducer to help reduce distortion.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureA host of good design and audio choices

As I noted above, a lot of this technology — even most of the wiring — sits in each of the headphone cups. That leaves the headband thinner, lighter, and more comfortable. Beats 360 let you turn each headphone 90 degrees to flatten the entire headphones for easier travel.

The band does not fold in half, but at least the Beats 360 headphones are light enough (294.5g) that throwing them into your backpack (as I did, with the included fabric case), or walking about with them around your neck won't be a problem.

The headphones even support swappable ear-cushions: if you sweat on one pair, you can wash them while popping on a different set. Mine arrived with a couple of pairs, including a plush set. Each took a simple quarter turn on the headphones' body to remove and replace.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Beat 360 are easy to set up and use. I had them unboxed and connected to my MacBook Air in no time, and the controls make sense. On the left ear cup is my power and pairing button, as well as one for a quick touch switch between transparency mode and effective active noise cancellation (ANC). There's also a USB-C charge port. On the right cup is the volume rocker and play/pause button.

The metal band has enough give to fit over a head considerably larger than mine. A comfortable memory foam cushion sits on top of my head, and the metal band extends to line the cups up perfectly over my ears.

Putting the super in Supergirl

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios)

Since I was traveling when I first tried out the Beats 360 headphones, I decided to treat myself to a movie on HBOMax, which had just added Supergirl. As an avid Superman fan and someone who truly enjoyed James Gunn's 2025 Superman movie, I was anxious to see this in-universe take on Supergirl.

I settled into my hotel room bed with the MacBook Air propped on my lap and the Beats 360 headphones over my ears. The movie is, unfortunately, a misfire. While not miscast, Milly Alcock is stuck in a repetitive and muddled quest story with uninspiring heroes and villains, and while aiming to show the main character's growth, it seemed unsure of whose story it's telling. (We officially awarded it three stars in our Supergirl review.)

Ah, but the sound. Through the Beats 360, and probably thanks in part to the adaptive EQ, which automatically adjusts the audio to work with my fit, it was thoroughly engrossing, punchy, and loud, but never screeching, with clear effects and sharp audio. The sound often felt like it was coming from all around me. I honestly think the Beats 360 headphones made Supergirl watchable.

The incredible sound of silence

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

At home, I started wearing them while working, listening to my favorite David Bowie playlists and then a string of Simon and Garfunkel hits on Apple Music.

On Simon and Garfunkel's The Boxer, I was shocked to hear what sounded like a kazoo but is, in fact, the rough sound of a bass harmonica. I swear, in all the decades I've listened to that song, I never detected that before, nor have I previously heard what sounds like someone gently tapping on their guitar but is actually an analog recording artifact that is so in sync with the tempo that it's easy to mistake it for fingers gently beating on wood. So many exquisite details jumped out at me; it was like listening to these iconic hits for the first time.

Overall, Beats 360 produced fantastic, head-filling audio in every scenario and were also quite good for my Google Meet video meetings, providing clear voice, and with the 3 voice-pickup mics (out of a total of 9 — 6 are for ANC) doing a good job of delivering my voice to my fellow attendees. Naturally, the headphones include access to Siri, accessible via voice or by long-pressing the power button. So I used them for hands-free audio control and to ask some general interest questions.

I did not get to push the headphones to their battery limit, but they're rated for 32 hours (with ANC on) and, since I've had them, I have yet to charge them up.

At $349 (UK and AU price TBC), Beats 360 ends up in the more affordable range of top-tier headphones. Sure, they're pricier than a pair of AirPods, but, as I see it, you can't put a price on this combination of sound quality and comfort.

• LinkedIn reveals more move to help users and business verify on the site
• Users will now be able to ask their network for references in verification
• Businesses can cut off those pretending to be employees

LinkedIn has revealed new methods to help expand verification on its site in the latest battle against fake accounts and AI slop.

The social media network is making a stand in order to ensure its platform focuses on what it says matters most - helping users build grow a business-focused network.

It's not just users either - the move will also mean that businesses will be able to better protect their brand reputation on the site thanks to new controls and tools.

Verification improvements

First up for users is a new way to ensure verification is as effective as it can be. LinkedIn users will now be able to ask people in their network to verify connections to those they have worked or studied with - and when the user receives enough confirmations, LinkedIn adds a verification badge to their Profile, with the option to opt out.

LinkedIn says this method helps add "peer-backed credibility and reassurance", and says it will also soon let members proactively ask their connections to verify their experiences, helping members build authenticity through their professional network.

(Image credit: LinkedIn)

For businesses themselves, looking to protect their brand from employee impersonation, LinkedIn will now let Company Page Admins, who have verified their Page, instantly remove known imposter accounts, meaning they can no longer appear in search results under their company name. The platform is also testing a pilot which will give companies the ability to require workplace verification for anyone claiming current employment at their organization to associate with their Page.

"As AI reshapes the workplace, trust has become our most valuable professional asset," Oscar Rodriguez, VP of Trust Product at LinkedIn wrote in a blog post announcing the news.

"LinkedIn has invested tens of millions of dollars in verification, helping to build a more trusted professional community where more than 115 million members have now verified their identity or workplace for free. Now, we’re continuing our expansion of verification across LinkedIn and integrating with new partners, giving members more ways to verify who they are and more signals to help you know who’s real and credible, both on and off LinkedIn."

The expansion isn't just limited to LinkedIn, as the site is also allowing verified members to show off their status on partner platforms too. Truecaller and Peerspot have joined existing partners including Adobe, giving users on those platforms extra peace of mind that the person messaging them really is who they say they are.

"Whether you’re a member verifying the credibility and experience of a former colleague, a business protecting its brand reputation, or a platform looking to integrate LinkedIn trust signals, you are helping build a more trusted network where professionals can connect with confidence," noted Rodriguez.

• Samsung is reportedly adding authentication chips to its Galaxy A Series of smartphones
• Security chips will help distinguish safe, genuine batteries from fake third-party replacements
• They also make the lithium recycling process a lot smoother

Samsung could be making quite a big change to certain Galaxy Phone models — the Korean tech giant is tipped to add security chips to batteries starting next year.

The report comes from The Elec, which says the new security-chipped batteries will roll out to roughly 50 million devices, starting with Samsung’s low-end and mid-range Galaxy A series (which make up the largest share of Samsung’s smartphone sales). It would mark the first time the company adds a layer of security to its phone batteries, but the company hasn’t confirmed anything yet.

According to the report, the chips will be manufactured using Samsung Electronics' 28-nanometer foundry process, using VIA PUF (physical unclonable function) technology to create unique identities for each one. It’s believed that analog devices in the US (ADI) and ICTK in South Korea will split the supply of authentication chips.

So what’s the reason behind this? Well, there are several, but the main purpose is to put an end to fake replacements destroying your devices.

If your smartphone battery is nearing the end of its life, it’s safer to get a new one by going through Samsung’s official repair services, so you know you’re getting a replacement from the company itself. However, some users find it more convenient and cost-effective to opt for a third-party replacement service, but the quality isn’t always guaranteed.

(Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)

For one, these types of batteries aren’t always built to the standard of quality you get with ones manufactured by Samsung itself, which could pave the way for further battery issues and even lead to fires while charging or during use. So, these embedded authentication chips not only identify genuine Samsung batteries from dodgy ones, but could be the one and only component that prevents your home from being engulfed in flames.

Reinforcing quality and safety is a no-brainer, but there’s also a sustainability element to battery authentication chips. Using chips makes it a lot easier for repairers to review battery usage history, allowing them to customize the lithium recycling process based on the state of individual batteries, instead of recycling batteries with different characteristics using the same method.

If the reports are on the money, then Samsung's authentication chips should arrive roughly around the same time the new EU regulations come into force. As of February 2027, the EU will require phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries, but as Gagadget.com notes, there's also the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542.

What this means is that as of February 2027, industrial and EV batteries must have digital battery passports for identification purposes. While this applies to vehicles and not smartphones (yet), it appears that Samsung is getting a head start, preparing itself for a potential change of law.

Unlike Apple, which started integrating authentication chips in 2018 with the launch of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, this would be the first time Samsung introduces a similar technology to its own smartphones, so it’s been a long time coming, to say the least.

As mentioned, Samsung hasn’t commented on anything yet, but we’ll update this story if and when we hear more.

• Taste Profile is expanding to US listeners following a test trial
• It's essentially Spotify's interpretation of your listening habits
• You can interact with Taste Profile directly, telling it what you want and don't want to hear

Spotify’s dedication to creating a complete personalized listening experience is still one of its biggest priorities, and the best music streaming is bringing one of its smartest tools to even more listeners.

After its successful test run in New Zealand, Spotify is taking the next steps by expanding Taste Profile, a feature that allows you to see exactly what Spotify thinks about your music taste and streaming habits. The tool is rolling out today (September 23) in beta for Premium users in the US over the age of 18.

If you’re a Spotify user with beta access, you can find the new Taste Profile tab in the sidebar by tapping on your profile image.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Essentially, Spotify is bringing Taste Profile out of the shadows of the algorithm and into the forefront of the mobile experience, but Spotify’s growing music tool is designed to give you a more robust way of controlling your recommendations.

Not only can you read Spotify’s interpretation of your music taste, you can communicate directly with the algorithm and fine-tune the recommendations that appear on the Home page — so you don’t have to rely solely on your in-app activity to shape music discovery if you don’t want to.

Interested in branching out to a genre you’ve always wanted to explore, but never found the time to? With the Taste Profile prompt box, try typing specific requests like ‘show me more experimental pop’, and your Home feed will adjust accordingly. It also works for finding new artists to add to your radar — I’d suggest using the tool to find emerging artists and give them the streaming boosts they deserve.

Secondly, you can tell Taste Profile what you want to see more of, and what you want to see less of. While you can already remove individual songs from your Taste Profile, this could allow you to remove entire genres from your recommendations. Additionally, you can use Taste Profile to quickly summon tunes that fit your current mood, a handy workaround to finding music that complements a social gathering or personal listening session — but it doesn’t have to be all about the music.

(Image credit: Spotify / Future)

Unlike music discovery, getting started with podcasts can be a bit tricky; at least that’s how I find it anyway. The in-app Podcasts hub is a rich epicenter of shows, but sometimes I feel Spotify bumps the most popular ones in favor of those that explore more niche topics. Podcasts about classic cinema are my thing, and it’s taken me a long time to find shows I feel give me what I’m looking for.

If you feel you’re in a similar boat, Taste Profile could help you. Similar to music prompts, you can tell Taste Profile what topics interest you most, triggering your Home page to feed you suggestions to match. You might already be a huge fan of true crime podcasts, but want to find shows or episodes that explore individual criminals, specific crimes, or the most famous cases from certain historical periods.

For seasoned users, most of the hard work and fine-tuning of the algorithm has already been done. Thanks to years' worth of non-stop listening, creating playlists, and using existing tools such as 'Don't play this artist' to help Spotify understand me, I'm confident that I don't need to do any further tweaking. That being said, if you've just made the switch to Spotify or AI-generated music is infiltrating your recommendations, it could be a game-changer.

Your coworkers and classmates can now vouch that you really do have a specific university or job on your resume.

CIOs can measure AI’s workplace impact by tracking productivity, technology performance, employee experience, adoption, and total deployment costs.

The post How CIOs Can Prove AI Is Improving the Employee Experience appeared first on TechRepublic.

As we approach perhaps the biggest and busiest three months in gaming in recent memory, Argos has just launched a huge gaming sale, featuring up to 30% off consoles, bundles, games, and accessories. Whether you're thinking of buying a PS5 to get ready for GTA 6, want to upgrade your setup with some new tech, or just pick up a new game for cheap, you can find it all in the 'Next Level Gaming' event.

• Browse the full Argos gaming sale

Unsurprisingly, with many potentially considering a console ahead of Rockstar's massive November release, Argos is pushing PS5 and Xbox Series X deals heavily in the sale. And while it's shy on straight-up discounts, you can save on extras when buying a console, including getting Marvel's Wolverine for £20, getting 30% off a charging station, or 25% off a stand.

Elsewhere, there are some great prices on several games and accessories. Discounts of up to 30% are available when you use the voucher codes 'GAMING10', 'GAMING20' or 'GAMING30'. Just check the red banners on individual products to see which code is eligible to use.

For example, you can get an official Microsoft Xbox Controller for £39.99 (was £49.99), Crimson Desert on PS5 for £39.19 (was £48.99), and Orbitals on Nintendo Switch for £31.49 (was £34.99).

There are dozens more offers on hardware, software, and accessories in the sale, so have a browse through the key categories below. I've also picked out a handful of standout deals I've spotted further down if you're looking for some inspiration.

Argos Gaming Sale — quick links

• Accessories: up to 25% off controllers & headsets
• Furniture: up to 20% off desks & chairs
• Games: up to 30% off PS5, Xbox & Switch games
• Laptops: free accessory bundle with gaming laptops
• Nintendo: get a game for £20 with a Switch 2
• PC: keyboards, mice & coolers from £19.99
• PlayStation: save up to 30% on console bundles
• TVs: 10% off select LG and Samsung TVs
• Xbox: get £35 off the Series X Digital Edition

My 7 best deals in the Argos gaming sale

PlayStation 5 Slim + Marvel's Wolverine: was £629.98 now £589.99
The PS5 is the console I use the most and this Slim bundle at Argos is one of the best value options after recent price hikes. As well as a copy of Marvel's Wolverine for £20, this bundle has everything you need to get started, including a controller and all cables. This version also includes a disc drive, if that's important to you and you want to be able to play physical media.View Deal

Deals on the Nintendo Switch 2 have disappeared recently, but here's a chance to get it for the best price in months. You can also throw in a game for £20, including big hitters like Cyberpunk 2077, Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Pokopia, or Star Fox. Any one of those will be a great way to start your collection.View Deal

You can use the code 'GAMING20' to get the official Xbox Wireless Controller for £39.99 at Argos. This well-loved and easy-to-use gamepad is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, PCs, tablets, and mobile phones. This is a good price to bite on, as I've only seen these controllers for £5 less in the past, and that hasn't happened in a long time.View Deal

Quantum 650: was £129.99 now £90.99
The JBL Quantum series is an impressive lineup of gaming headsets, and this is a solid deal for one of the mid-range options. You get 50mm carbon dynamic drivers for powerful audio quality, a detachable mic with excellent background noise filtering, a lightweight design to ensure comfortable gaming sessions, multi-compatibility, and all the handy customisation and sustainability features that Quantum gear is known for.View Deal

Retro Receiver for PS1 & PS2: was £19.99 now £17.49
This is a cool bit of kit that lets you use modern Bluetooth controllers on classic PS1 and PS2 consoles. I've dug out my old consoles recently and found that short cables and ageing tech meant the original controllers weren't the best to use. Being able to plug this in and use a current-day DualSense, Xbox controller, or any other compatible Bluetooth pad is a blessing.View Deal

Crimson Desert: was £48.99 now £39.19
Here's a great price for one of this year's biggest surprises. The enormous action-RPG scored an impressive four stars in our review for its "breathtaking open world" and "fantastic set pieces". One of our writers has sunk over 160 hours into the game, too, so you'll certainly get your money's worth with this one.View Deal

Ideal for younger gamers, the Nex Playground comes with games ready to play out of the box, such as Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole, and more. It relies on intuitive motion controls and is a locked-down system designed specifically with young children in mind.View Deal

ChatPlayground AI runs one prompt across GPT-4o, Gemini, and more so you pick the sharpest answer every time.

The post Compare 20+ AI Models For Every Task: $54.97 with This Lifetime Plan appeared first on TechRepublic.

Headlines at this time of year are usually dominated by iPhones — and you'd expect nothing less, considering Apple always unveils its next-gen devices in September. Nonetheless, Android fans aren't being completely left in the dark.

For example, if you're looking for something a little different, then check out the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro at Amazon for $509 (was $599) this week. This is the lowest price yet for the 12GB/256GB configuration, which is one of our favorite mid-range Android phones here at TechRadar.

We awarded this exact model an almost perfect four and a half stars out of five when we reviewed it earlier this year, praising its excellent display, polished software, and decent performance. In terms of sheer bang for the buck, there's definitely a strong argument for the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro — especially if you want to break away from the usual suspects.

Even though we're on the cusp of another Amazon Prime Day (there's another sale in two weeks), I'd say this one is well worth a look. This device is still only a few months old as of writing, so I doubt it will fall that much lower over the next few weeks. Note: you can also trade in for a further discount of up to $500 off if you're looking to upgrade.

Today's best phone deal at Amazon

Looking for something a little different? Amazon currently has the excellent Nothing Phone (4a) Pro listed at its lowest price yet. Awarded an almost perfect score in our review, we think the Phone (4a) Pro is a great mid-range option for most people. Not only do you get a fantastic 144Hz AMOLED display, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset also provides great bang for the buck. Of course, the main selling point is the device's stunning modern (and unique) design. View Deal

A worthy alternative to the big names?

(Image credit: Future)

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is positioned as a mid-range phone that tries to deliver flagship-style features without the high price.

Its biggest strengths are its distinctive design, huge 6.83-inch 144Hz AMOLED display, clean Android 16 software, Glyph Matrix notification system, and surprisingly strong gaming performance from the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. The 5,080mAh battery and 50W charging are also solid, though we found the battery life didn't quite match the brand's claims in testing (not that unusual).

Overall, we think the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is a solid alternative to mid-range Apple, Google, and Samsung devices.

If we had to nitpick, we'd say that the camera isn't quite as good as those on the high-end flagships (somewhat understandable, given the price). For example, the 3.5× telephoto is decent, but we found that colour accuracy and exposure aren't as consistent as some brands.