Polygraph exams are commonly called "lie-detector tests" but experts say that's not true.
(Image credit: Fernando Vergara)
YouTube is committed to polishing its smart TV experience in a big way this year – and the first signs of its efforts are rolling out now for its app on both TVs and game consoles.
As Google announced in a new YouTube support post, there are nine new UI tweaks that are designed to help you find shows, podcasts, and live music. While they're not quite as big as the promised redesign of YouTube's TV experience, they should help save you time and effort when navigating the slightly dated app.
Firstly, there's a new 'Continue your search' section on the home screen, which will apparently display your top three searches. That sounds handy considering the search experience on TVs can be pretty inconsistent and laborious.
Other new home screen sections (which YouTube refers to as 'shelves', for some reason) include 'Listen again' (showing you the top songs you've searched for) and a handy new one called 'Live performances, remixes and covers'.
As someone who regularly digs into YouTube's treasure trove of obscure live performances, I can see myself using that quite a bit.
Another new section includes one for 'Primetime channels', where you can see the channels you've subscribed to, like Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, or DAZN in one place. It seems the lines between YouTube and YouTube TV, its cable replacement service in the US, could soon start to blur further.
The final new 'shelf' (or section) might be the most useful, as you can see in the image above, the 'From your top channels' section provides some shortcuts to your most-watched YouTube channels. That should mean less time hunting in the slightly annoying subscriptions section.
(Image credit: YouTube / Google)Outside of those new sections, arguably the biggest arrival is a new Podcasts tab. In February, YouTube noted that it is now the most popular service for listening to podcasts in the US (according to Edison Research), so this feature certainly makes sense.
Another promising upgrade is that YouTube has now split its more mobile-friendly Shorts from its longer-form videos. There'll now be a 'Shorts Row' in your 'Watch Next' feed, plus a dedicated Shorts section in your Subscriptions tab.
It isn't yet clear if this means you'll now never see Shorts in your subscriptions feed (something I'd be happy with), but either way, it should make the experience feel cleaner.
If you like your videos to play on repeat, it's also now possible to loop all on-demand videos on YouTube – a feature that was previously only available for playlists. To do that, head into the Playback Settings menu and choose the 'loop' setting.
The final UI tweak in this round of updates is that 'inline previews' (the little video teasers you see when hovering over a video thumbnail) have now been expanded to pages for channels, subscriptions, and topics.
That feature will likely divide opinion, so it could prove the most controversial of this otherwise positive step forward for YouTube's TV experience.
This update should roll out soon for the YouTube app on your Smart TV or gaming console, or by the end of this quarter in June. I haven't received it on my Apple TV box yet, but it will hopefully be available on streaming boxes soon as well.
What else is coming? (Image credit: Google)Last week, YouTube celebrated its 20th birthday by teasing a redesign of its TV experience, which is apparently coming "this summer" (or by the end of September).
It didn't expand much on specifics, but released the preview image above and promised "easier navigation" alongside "streamlined access to comments, channel info, and subscribing."
These upgrades appear to be focused more on the playback experience than the new homescreen improvements, but are certainly welcome too. The big question is whether we'll also see other 'upgrades' like 'pause ads' sneakily added to the mix alongside the broader redesign.
We'll have to wait until later in the year to see, but with a new "second screen experience" that lets you use your smartphone to interact with the videos you're watching, also coming later this year, it's clear that YouTube on smart TVs is changing – and mostly for the better.
You might also likeSundar Pichai testified in the remedies trial that will determine which penalties Google will face for monopolizing the search engine market, calling the DOJ's proposals a "de facto divestiture" of the company's tech.
(Image credit: Nathan Howard)
South Korea’s number one telecommunications provider, SK Telecom, is giving away free SIM cards to 25 million of its customers, after the recent USIM cyberattack. However, due to logistics challenges, it won’t be able to service everyone that fast.
Earlier in April, news broke that SK Telecom suffered a malware infection through which threat actors tried to grab customer USIM information. The attack allegedly happened in mid-April 2025, at night between Saturday and Sunday, when most employees were away for the weekend.
A USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) is the successor of the old SIM card. It’s used in 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile networks and is found in most devices with cellular connectivity.
Booking a slot onlineAt its core, a USIM authenticates the device’s identity on a network, stores subscriber data (International Mobile Subscriber Identity, authentication keys, contacts, and sometimes text messages), encrypts the information passing through, and enables secure access to mobile services such as calls, data, or texts.
A cybercriminal could use the data to clone the SIM, track people’s location, bypass app security, or eavesdrop on communications.
While the investigation is still ongoing and the number of affected individuals is yet to be determined, SK Telecom announced offering replacement SIM cards to 25 million mobile subscribers, including some two million spilled over from budget carriers. However, it won’t have more than six million units throughout May 2025, which is why the company urged users to book a slot online:
“SK Telecom has blocked the misuse of SIM information with its FDS and SIM protection services, but it still offers a free service for customers who want to replace their SIM card,” reads the machine-translated announcement. “Currently, we have 1 million USIMs, and we plan to secure an additional 5 million SIMs by the end of May. However, it is expected that there will be a large number of customers at once, so please check in advance through the online reservation application system.”
Via BleepingComputer
You might also likeLast week, news broke that the Amazon-backed Slate Auto project would begin production of its cut-price electric pick-up next year, but the company isn’t alone.
While pricing is still to be determined, Isuzu – arguably one of the most iconic names in commercial vehicles – has said that it will release an electric version of its D-Max pick-up truck in 2026.
Although its range is startlingly sparse in some markets (only the D-Max is now sold in the UK, for example), the company enjoys success in Asia, including its domestic market of Japan, Thailand and others, where solid, reliable trucks are essential to daily life.
The D-Max EV joins the likes of KGM’s (formerly SsangYong) electrified Musso, the Maxus eTerron 9, the upcoming BYD Shark and a raft of cheap electrified pick-up trucks that could soon make their way from China.
While the likes of Ford and Chevrolet experienced relatively slow sales of electric pick-ups, the market could soon become the next hotly-contested EV battleground for global manufacturers.
Towing, hauling and off-road performance have typically proven barriers to entry for this body style, but Isuzu claims its EV is on a par with the diesel option it also offers: it can carry more than 1,000kg in the bed, tow 3,500kg and accelerate from 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds.
The 66.9kWh battery pack is located under the floor and the EV version uses the same ladder chassis as the existing truck. Although here, Isuzu adds permanent four-wheel drive with a motor at the front and rear axles.
According to the marque, off-road performance isn’t affected by the electrified powertrain, with a hefty 210mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of up to 600mm. There are also steep approach and departure angles for when the terrain gets tough.
Pick up a bargain (Image credit: Slate Auto)Isuzu hasn’t revealed an official price for the D-Max EV, but we would expect it to be substantially more than the circa $53,000 / £40,000 / AU$84,000 it currently charges for a diesel-powered version.
This puts it in the firing line of the Ford F-150 Lightning, which offers an EV range of 230 miles in the most basic variants. Isuzu, on the other hand, says its truck manages around 163 miles on a single charge.
As we have seen with various electric pick-ups, including the Tesla Cybertruck, hauling or towing loads has a big impact on electric range which, for many, is already too tight for daily use cases.
Slate Auto has been honest about battery range and the very basic nature of its upcoming model, but the upshot is that it looks set to be truly affordable. Those trucks offered by Ford, Chevrolet, Rivian, Tesla and now Isuzu are still likely too expensive for many, given the compromises.
But electric commercial vehicles are rapidly growing in popularity, as the technology is improving and many governments continue to incentivize their use for environmental reasons.
According to one report, the global electric truck market is set to reach a valuation of $78 billion by the end of 2033, up from a $19.5 billion valuation in 2023.
With a host of cheaper, electric models due to arrive from China in the coming years, as well as those from more established Western brands, the electric pick-up market could well be the next hotly-contested battleground for sales.
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Some Chinese AI data centers are dismantling and reselling China-specific Nvidia RTX 4090D GPUs, reports have claimed.
A report from DigiTimes Asia says these 48GB cards, designed to circumvent U.S. export restrictions on the flagship AD102 gaming GPU, and initially deployed as part of China’s AI infrastructure push, are now being pulled from racks, refurbished, and sold on the open market.
Data center operators are reportedly finding that this offers a faster and more profitable return than waiting three to five years to recover their investment through GPU rental.
An alternative theoryEach RTX 4090D sells for between CNY20,000 and CNY40,000 (around US$2,735 to US$5,470), and even if lightly used, the cards require modification for consumer resale.
Typically this means converting them from fan-style to blower-style coolers, which are better suited to dense server environments but less effective for single-GPU use.
DigiTimes Asia says this move reflects deeper financial pressure, with many AI data centers struggling to keep their heads above water amid low demand.
According to the report, data centers need utilization rates of at least 70% to break even - but current rates are often below 20%. That leaves expensive infrastructure sitting idle while loan repayments loom.
This isn’t an isolated case. As we reported recently, China’s rapid AI infrastructure expansion - encouraged by state policy - has led to overbuilding.
Hundreds of data center projects were launched across the country in 2023 and 2024, but actual usage has lagged behind expectations. It's no surprise therefore that developers are now offloading hardware to reduce losses.
Although overcapacity is likely at least part of the reason behind the selloff, some operators may simply be clearing space for newer technology.
With interest moving from large-scale model training to real-time inference, older training-focused systems may no longer be as relevant as they once were.
Combined with the latest US export restrictions, which affect chips like Nvidia’s H20, Chinese data centers will be looking at offloading old hardware and shifting to inference-ready setups.
You might also likeWe had suspected Samsung’s Project Moohan headset, which it is working on in collaboration with Google and its Android XR platform, would arrive sometime in late 2025, and Samsung basically just confirmed that is the case.
During its recent Q1 2025 earnings report, the tech giant shared details about its financial situation and, more importantly for us, information about its hardware releases scheduled for later this year.
It confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge would be launching in Q2 – so sometime in the next couple of months – and revealed that it will “explore new products such as XR,” in the second half of the year.
While Samsung doesn’t explicitly mention Moohan by name, previous, more direct comments about the headset have already teased that the device would be landing this year, so this statement is likely referring to its launch.
Though it could also be teasing the launch of some other XR hardware, like the recently revealed Android XR glasses.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) What do I hope the Android XR headset will offer?It’s a tad frustrating that Samsung still has yet to give us a firm release window, opting for a six-month time frame, teasing a launch sometime in late 2025.
So while we wait, let’s go over what we want to see from the headset when it is eventually shown off, and what leaks support these Android XR dreams.
Something tells us this headset won’t be cheap, with some early reports suggesting Samsung is looking at something in the $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$ 1,500 range (just like the Meta Quest Pro). So, if it's going to be costly, at least give us some impressive performance and abilities to justify the cost.
I’d love for this headset to feel like a wearable laptop from a productivity perspective – and unlike the Vision Pro, it would ideally achieve this goal without you needing a MacBook add-on.
I want to be able to seamlessly navigate Google Workspace apps like Sheets and Drive, as well as third-party productivity apps that utilize mixed reality, to help me work more easily than if I were just sitting at my normal desk.
The Meta Quest 3 is a great template for Samsung to copy (Image credit: Meta)It’ll need to be comfy too. I’m fine to have a battery pack in my pocket to help trim some weight from the core device, because I want this headset to feel like I can wear it for hours with no trouble, rather than it being a pain in my neck.
Thankfully, early testers have all claimed that the prototype isn’t too uncomfortable, thanks to its adjustable straps and well-shaped face, so here’s hoping the main product is comfy too.
Next up, I want this device to be a versatile machine. I don’t want it to be pigeonholed into productivity, or entertainment, or some other XR use. I want it to be a jack-of-all-trades like the Meta Quest 3.
This means it needs to have a broad range of worthwhile apps, which is essential for any successful VR headset. It also needs a design that is well-suited for wearing while at a desk or on your couch, as well as while working out and being active.
So, beyond being lightweight like I touched on above, it needs to use an easy-to-clean material (like silicone) for parts like its facial interface rather than fabric, so it doesn’t soak up sweat.
We’ll have to wait and see what Samsung has up its sleeve, but with its release date set for some time later this year it’s only a matter of time before we see the device in action and can decide if it’s the best-in-class XR device I hope it will be.
You might also likeCritics see the terminations as an effort to politicize the Holocaust museum. The White House says Trump will appoint new board members "who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel."
(Image credit: Angela Weiss)
The United States told the International Court of Justice Wednesday that Israel must provide aid to Gaza, but the country does not have to work with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
(Image credit: Peter Dejong)
The Vietnam War came to an end on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon.
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A once-fringe movement claims having more babies is the only way to save civilization. NPR reporter Lisa Hagen and sociologist Karen Guzzo explain who's empowering pronatalism today.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has slated Amazon's plans to display tariff costs on its import-focused Amazon Haul sub-store, calling it a "hostile and political act."
According to The Washington Post, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Trump had called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain about the reported change.
Amazon has since confirmed that it had "considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products," however "this was never approved and is not going to happen." It's worth noting that this was also a consideration for Amazon Haul, therefore the main Amazon store would have been unaffected.
Trump administration criticizes Amazon over its handling of tariffs"He solved the problem very quickly. He did the right thing. Good guy," Trump said. However, while Trump's issue with Amazon seems to have been settled, that didn't stop the President's Press Secretary from tying Amazon to Chinese propaganda. The company "partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm," she said.
Chinese exports to the US face up to 245% in tariffs, and Amazon Haul competitors like Temu, Shein and AliExpress have started to list tariffs or incorporate them into prices.
As it currently stands, the US plans to remove its de minimis exemption, meaning that packages under $800 coming from China/Hong Kong will also be impacted by tariffs. Smartphones and computers currently remain exempt.
For consumers, Trump's tariffs have seen companies like Logitech and Nintendo raise prices, while Temu has also started listing Chinese-shipped items as being sold out for US buyers.
Amazon, now headed up by Andy Jassy, and not Jeff Bezos, reported an 11% year-over-year revenue increase last fiscal year. In his shareholder letter, Jassy noted that the US market saw a 10% growth.
You might also likeAndor actor Adria Arjona has opened up on the cathartic "justice" that her character Bix Caleen enjoys in this season's sixth episode.
Ahead of Andor season 2's launch, I sat down with Arjona to discuss Bix's journey in the Star Wars TV show's final installment.
As part of our chat, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get Arjona's thoughts on the emotional release Bix feels following events that transpire in season 2 episode 6, titled 'What a Festive Evening', too.
Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episode 6 and its predecessor's final few episodes.
Bix has gone through a lot since the midpoint of Andor's first season (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)It's an understatement to say Bix has been put through the emotional wringer in one of the best Disney+ shows.
Her troubles may have begun in Andor season 1's early entries, which saw Bix contact nascent Rebel Alliance founder Luthen Rael to set up a meeting between him and Cassian Andor. However, the risk she took was nothing compared to the traumatizing events she'd be subjected to later that season.
Indeed, when the Galactic Empire invaded Ferrix to track down Cassian, Bix was caught in the proverbial crossfire. As one of Cassian's closest allies (she was his ex-girlfriend, after all), Bix was taken prisoner and psychologically tortured by the callous Doctor Gorst to force her to tell the Empire where Cassian is.
Long story short, Cassian rescues Bix in the Disney+ series' season 1 finale and, with Brasso and Wilmon's help, gets Bix to a relative safe haven that, as we learn in this season's first episode, is an agricultural planet in the Outer Rim called Mina-Rau.
Bix has become addicted to the illicit drug known as Death Stick since the end of season 1 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)However, while she escaped physically, Bix is still mentally and emotionally trapped by the horrifying events she experienced.
The first three episodes of one of 2025's new Star Wars shows, the events of which take place 12 months after last season's finale, are not only full of more trauma-laced moments, including almost being sexually assaulted by an Imperial Officer in episode 3, but also reveal she's plagued by nightmares of Doctor Gorst.
In chapters four to six, which occur one year after season 2's first act, Box has become addicted to the illegal in-universe substance called Death Stick, which she takes to help her sleep.
Bix finally gets her revenge on Doctor Gorst in season 2 episode 6 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)It's this two-year cycle of never-ending mental and emotional anguish that makes the final sequence depicted in 'What a Festive Evening' all the more cathartic for Bix. Indeed, when Cassian is called upon to conduct a new, mysterious mission for Luthen, Bix wants to tag along.
It's a good job she does. Before episode 6 ends, we learn that Cassian and Bix have been sent to dispose of Doctor Gorst, whose secret lab is situated on Coruscant – the same planet the pair have been hiding out on for months.
Knowing how important this mission is to her, Cassian lets Bix take the lead. Long story short, she uses the same psychological torture equipment on the evil scientist before Cassian destroys Gorst's headquarters to make it look like it blew up in an experiment gone wrong.
Star Wars' newest power couple confirmed (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)I won't spoil what lies in store for Bix in this season's next six episodes – as I noted in my Andor season 2 review, I've seen all 12 chapters. Nonetheless, episode 6 is a watershed moment for Bix in her efforts to purge herself of the pain and misery inflicted on her – and Arjona fully agreed with that sentiment.
"[Showrunner] Tony [Gilroy] has a really beautiful way of instilling confidence in you without actually giving you a compliment!" Arjona joked to begin with. "But, really, I wanted to do justice to how he wrote Bix's arc this season and by what happened to her at the end of season one.
"After last season's finale, I had so many questions for Tony because I was really curious to see how she was going to cope with it. How would she deal with it? Would she shove it under the rug or try to face it head-on?
I was really curious to see how she was going to cope with it
Adria Arjona"I very much identify with Bix as a character, who's someone who has to act tough and be strong, and be part of something great," Arjona continued. "But, thanks to what happened in season one, she's physically and mentally unable to play a role in the rebellion, which frustrates her.
"That big moment [in episode six] allows her to redeem herself and, as you'll see very soon, she re-finds herself throughout the rest of the season. She has come back into her own and you finally see the sparkle in her eye, which she had in season one, again. It's like 'you've gone through so much, but now you're back to who you were'. It was really special to see her overcome that and take ownership of her future once more."
Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 6 are out now. Three more episodes will arrive on May 6/7, with the final trio being released on May 13/14.
You might also likeProton Mail could soon stop working in India following a Court's decision to issue a blocking order against the service.
The Karnataka High Court instructed the Indian Government to block Proton Mail on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. A New Delhi firm filed a complaint against the email service last November, accusing some unknown Proton Mail users of sending abusive emails to its employees.
The company is based in Switzerland and also offers an encrypted calendar, cloud storage, password manager, and one of the best VPN apps on the market. (Image credit: Proton VPN)The order "to block ProtonMail" was issued under Section 69 of the Information Technology Act 2008, the Judge said during the Tuesday hearing streamed on YouTube, adding that the offending URL "should be blocked forthwith."
The decision came as the email service couldn't reveal the details of who sent the allegedly offensive emails. These messages specifically targeted M Moser Design Associates’ female employees and included abusive and derogatory language alongside AI-generated deep-fake images, and explicit content – The New Indian Express reported.
This isn't the first time that Indian authorities have threatened the Swiss provider with a blocking order. In February 2024, something similar was suggested in response to hoax bomb threats that were sent through the Proton Mail service.
"The issue has been raised to the attention of the Swiss federal authorities, who have been in contact with the relevant Indian authorities to prevent the blocking of Proton Mail in India," confirmed Proton at the time.
Is Proton Mail available in India?At the time of writing, it is yet unclear when the blocking order will be enforced and if Proton Mail will stop working across the country.
Proton Mail's website was still working in India on Tuesday after the Court issued its decision, though, according to TechCrunch checks. TechRadar also successfully accessed Proton Mail via several Indian IP addresses on April 30.
We nevertheless recommend getting ready for a potential block by downloading one of the best VPN services. This tool will help you to keep accessing your Proton Mail account in case of disruptions to the service.
TechRadar approached Proton for comments, but is still waiting for a response at the time of publication.
You might also likeGoogle Gemini could be integrated into Apple Intelligence by the middle of this year, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Initially reported by Bloomberg, Pichai said in court on Wednesday that he is hopeful of a partnership between the two companies, and this could be formalized by the middle of this year.
Bloomberg reports that Pichai has held a number of conversations with Apple CEO Tim Cook, and the companies look set to continue their long-standing partnership that has existed since the early days of the iPhone.
We had previously reported the referencing of Gemini in Apple Intelligence as part of the iOS 18.4 beta in February, and there have been multiple reports dating back to the original Apple Intelligence launch last year that hinted at a Gemini x Apple future.
If Pichai's estimates are correct, we could see Google Gemini integrated into Apple Intelligence in time for the expected September launch of the iPhone 17.
Could Google Gemini be revealed at WWDC 2025?NEW: Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in court he is hopeful to have an agreement with Apple to have Gemini as an option as part of Apple Intelligence by middle of this year. This is referring to the Siri/Writing Tools integration ChatGPT has. https://t.co/udOPWNZGgkApril 30, 2025
WWDC 2025 is just a couple of months away, and we're all eagerly anticipating what Apple will reveal in terms of iOS 19's expected UI overhaul as well as the future of Apple Intelligence.
If Google and Apple can strike this deal before WWDC, Google Gemini integration into Siri and Writing Tools could be a major talking point of the event.
At the time of writing, ChatGPT integration is available in Apple Intelligence, although it's often slower than using the dedicated app. If Gemini were to become an option, we'd hope Apple would work on making these AI integrations far more efficient and streamlined.
With WWDC 2025 just around the corner, we don't have long to wait to find out what the future holds for Apple Intelligence. One thing is for sure, however: Google Gemini as part of your core iPhone experience is looking likely.
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