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• iOS 26 will unlock extra charging speeds on the iPhone 16 models
• 25W is going to be possible using third-party chargers
• We should see the final version of the software roll out in September

Since iOS 26 was announced in June, it's been through several cycles of beta testing ahead of its expected full release next month, and we now know it's going to bring an extra bonus to existing iPhone 16 handsets: faster wireless charging.

As spotted by MacRumors, iOS 26 unlocks the full capabilities of the Qi2 wireless charging standard on the iPhone 16, which means wireless charging speeds of up to 25W on third-party Qi chargers. Previously, the limit was 15W.

To get the best charging speeds, you need several different elements to line up: the phone hardware, the charging standard, and the software support. The Qi2 standard was built-into the iPhone 16 handsets when they launched last September, and then updated to support 25W back in July.

Right now though, that 25W upgrade hasn't been unlocked on the 16 iPhone series – you can only get 25W wireless charging from official Apple MagSafe chargers. When iOS 26 rolls out in full, that will change.

Wireless boosts all round

Official MagSafe accessories can already get up to 25W on the iPhone 16 (Image credit: Apple / Future)

Thanks to the improved charging capabilities, you'll be able to get an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro up to 50% battery from zero in as little as 30 minutes, according to Apple's own figures for its MagSafe range of products.

Belkin has moved fast, and is releasing three new chargers to take advantage of the incoming update. It's not something Apple has specifically referred to yet, though that may change when the iOS 26 beta period ends.

This is also confirmation that the iPhone 17 handsets are going to support the latest Qi2.2 standard, with wireless charging up to 25W, as has been widely expected – although as third-party charger support gets a bump up to 25W, we might see MagSafe capabilities go all the way up to 50W, according to one leak.

It's almost certain that Apple is going to unveil the iPhone 17 series sometime in September, and the indications are that something could happen around September 9. As always, we'll be bringing you all the news and announcements as they happen.

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The Vtoman FlashSpeed Pro 3600 is hefty. There is no way around that. This is not a power station that you'll want to be toting around, though it is technically still portable.

See, unlike many of the best portable power station units I've reviewed, the Pro 3600 is more designed for long-term backup or for use with enormous power demands, not just to charge your smartphone (though it could).

So, for that reason, this unit is hefty in both size and specs, yet it is still something that can be used in real-world applications with ease.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Pricing & Availability

The Vtoman FlashSpeed Pro 3600 starts around $1499 right now, on sale from $2,299. They do offer bundles at the point of purchase that include solar panels that can stretch up to $2,700, too, all with a two-year warranty.

Also worth mentioning is that the unreleased battery expansion is expected sometime in 2025. Outside of that, the other pieces are available.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Unboxing & first impressions

The FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station is a fluorescent yellow and black power station that made me sigh when I picked it up; it was so heavy. Keep in mind, I pick up and move power stations, chairs, desks, and more. This one shocked me.

Thankfully, this unit has wheels and a handle with two height settings to accommodate those with varying heights and those who can't quite reach the same physical height.

From the first moment I turned this unit on, I loved the screen. The readout is excellent; it's easy to understand, shows all the information I want, and feels premium in quality.

Taking another pass, I noticed the lightbar that can shine white or even red light. I saw a small storage bay in the back of the unit, perhaps for the charging cable, and I noticed that the port layout is super helpful.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Design & build qualitySpecs

Battery Capacity: 3,096 Wh
Continuous Output: 3,600 W AC (6,000 W surge)
Outputs: 4× AC, 2× 100 W USB‑C, 2× DC, 4× USB‑A, 2× Cigarette port
Features: UPS (switch‑over <20 ms), LCD screen, wheels, IP65-rated shell
Dimensions / Weight: 378×418×581 mm / 38 kg
Warranty: 2-year global

The whole unit feels like a hefty suitcase. I wish that suitcases or luggage in general rolled as easily as this machine does. I'd even be happy if shopping carts rolled as smoothly as this setup does. Moving on, the ports are covered with a flap, enhancing their water resistance. And the entire case around the power station feels rugged and ready to take anywhere. The wheels I mentioned briefly above are not easily damaged. They are large with a decent grip, and super easy to maneuver the power station with.

The ports are organized and easily accessible, and clearly labeled. All things that make using a power station super helpful. If you are in an emergency and need power quickly, the last thing you want to have to do is slow down to try to figure out where ports are, which are which, and how to turn your power supply on. It's easy to know what is what, and with the integrated light bar, you can light up your scenario to make getting things plugged in and backed up even easier.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: In use

I've used a lot of power stations, and while I don't usually note or have the recharge time stand out to me, in the VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600's case, it stands out as one of the most significant benefits to this unit. Now, rather than feeling like you need to have this always charged, if you know a storm is coming, you have time to recharge it quickly, whether from zero to full or from partial charge to full charge.

Additionally, you are more likely to use this power station for portable power where there isn't shore power or a grid power system. In that case, you can plan to go, quickly plug this in, get everything else ready and squared away, and only two hours later (zero to full), you can have a fully charged power station prepared to tackle your construction project, off-grid camping, or whatever else you may be powering.

I don't currently have this power station plugged into my house, but I have had it power my garage while working on projects, running saws, air compressors, shop vacs, and battery chargers. I've also had this recharge my EGO Electric mower, my Eufy E18 Robot Mower, my Lectric XPedition2 E-Bike, and more, to see if it can - and it did without any issue.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

If you live on some land and are looking for more ways to recharge, rather than using the grid, you could also add a solar panel to recharge using the sun, which also recharges incredibly fast.

The unit also boasts Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), and for good reason. If you have networking gear, computers, or other devices, you don't want to have any downtime in a power outage, the UPS will flip over before your devices even realize that the grid lost power.

Overall, this is a great power station. It is pretty heavy, so the wheels are essential for moving it around. However, I suggest only relocating it when necessary. It's best to place it in a location where you'll use it frequently and leave it there for a while.

VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600: Final verdict

The FlashSpeed Pro 3600 is a power station for the (semi) portable pros. This is a great hub to place and use as an added power source wherever you may need it, whether that is a job site, an off-grid setup, or a backup unit. It's got incredible speeds, high capacity, a fantastic port layout, a built-in light bar, and wheels to help move it around.

If you're in the market for a power station, especially one with a fast recharge and multiple ports, this power station is a great one to consider. IF you're wanting something ultra portable, or if you don't need 3000Wh capacity, though, this may be too much of a unit for your use case.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Rugged, hefty design

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

For those who need massive power

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Decent price for what it is

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Red Devils look to pick up their first win of the season as they travel to west London to face the Cottagers.

In the latest episode of What the Future, we run down the best highlights and fails from the first World Humanoid Robot Games held last week in China.

Nearly 1,400 people died after Hurricane Katrina crashed into Louisiana and Mississippi. Most of the deaths were in New Orleans, which has had an uneven recovery in the past 20 years.

(Image credit: Claire Harbage)

Nacon Hard Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2: review

The Nacon Hard Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 is a reasonably priced case for the handheld console. It offers storage not only for the console itself but also most of its accessories, as well as a handful of Switch games cartridges. So how does it feel in use?

Generally, I’ve found it holds up well. The bright Mario red feels suitably attention-grabbing without being gaudy – I wouldn’t be embarrassed pulling it out on my commute, and it doesn’t remotely feel at odds with the premium console inside. I've seen similar materials getting scuffed or dirty after months of being thrust into a backpack, but in all the time I’ve spent carting it round so far it’s maintained that vibrant hue without picking up any marks.

Given the name of the product, I’d kind of assumed it had been designed with the Nintendo Switch 2 in mind. But if you actually try to place the console in the molded inner tray Nacon has supplied, you quickly realize that it’s far too small, because it’s shaped to fit the original Switch. You can remove this and the Switch 2 will sit snugly in the base of the case, but it’s not quite as well fitted around the console’s Joy-Con 2, which is something I would expect from one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

Despite this, the Nacon Hard Carrying Case seems sturdy and well constructed. Even squeezed in a bag with my work laptop and climbing gear, it seems to be able to protect the Switch 2 well and keep its shape, even while it's under pressure. I never really felt I had to worry about the safety of my Switch 2 when it was in the Nacon and that’s the kind of peace of mind you’re looking for when picking up a case.

When it comes to additional storage, the Hard Carrying Case has a decent amount of space. The main compartment is capacious enough that I was able to squeeze in the Joy-Con 2 Grip, the Switch 2’s charger and an HDMI cable. Pretty much the only thing I was unable to fit was the console’s dock but if you’re desperate to take this on the go with you, something like the Nacon XL Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 should offer sufficient space for this.

(Image credit: Future)

I did occasionally find myself wishing that some of this storage could be better laid out however. I was never that clear what the central pocket was intended for, given it was too small for most accessories but felt an odd fit for loose cabling. Equally, the Nacon’s storage for Switch 2 cartridges is pretty limited – you can fit a maximum of four cards in its little bandolier, which feels like it will fill up fast.

All told though, the Nacon Hard Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a reliable way to keep your Switch 2 safe and offers a pretty attractive package while it does so. Particularly when you consider its price: at $14.90 / £12.90 (around AU$25), this case very much sits at the more affordable end of the market. So if you’re looking for a cheap way to keep your Switch 2 safe and you’re not too fussy about odd details, this is a decent choice.

(Image credit: Future)Nacon Hard Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 review: specs

Price

$14.90 / £12.90

Dimensions

12 x 5.9 x 1.9 inches (305 x 150 x 50mm)

Weight

14.5oz (412g)

Number of game card slots

4

Compartments

2

Handle

Yes

Color

Red, black or blue

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Nacon Hard Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2?

Design

Decent understated looks, hardy construction; while it comfortably fits the Switch 2, the removable molded tray is only compatible with the original Switch.

4 / 5

Storage

Very few game cartridge slots, no space for Switch 2 Dock, not clear what every pocket is for.

3.5 / 5

Value

Only a few cases come cheaper than this and given what you’re paying for it, it does pretty much everything you could ask of it.

5 / 5

Buy it if…

You need a hard case for not much cash
At $14.90 / £12.90 (around AU$25), this is very much at the cheaper end of the market. If you only care about protecting your Switch 2 without all the extras, it’s a great choice.

You want an attractive accessory
While its style is minimalist, I do think the red and black colorway looks sharp, without garishly advertising what it is. If understated looks are your bag, it should suit you to a T.

Don’t buy it if…

You have a huge physical games collection
As it only offers four slots for Switch cartridges, you’re heavily limited as to how much of your collection you can take on the road. So if you mostly own physical games, you might want to look elsewhere.

You want to take absolutely everything with you
While the Hard Carrying Case can fit a fair number of accessories inside, you’re not going to be able to bring your dock with you, meaning it’s less handy for bringing to a friend’s house or visiting a holiday cottage.

(Image credit: Future)

Can the Eagles take advantage of the Tricky Trees' turmoil?

The Toffees play their first EPL match at their new $1 billion stadium as they host the Seagulls.

The new football season is almost here, with more ways (for better or worse) to watch and stream live games than ever. Find out the best ways to catch all the NFL action this year.

The state's tourism campaign offers a fragrance for the summer with notes of the beach, wineries and lavender. They struck a chord with some people relaxing by the water.

(Image credit: Colin Jackson)

• The latest Samsung tri-fold leak has appeared
• It relates to how One UI will work on the handset
• We can expect to see the phone in October

We shouldn't have much longer to wait before Samsung finally launches its much-anticipated tri-fold handset, and a fresh software leak may have just revealed how the new handset will have the edge over the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The team at SammyGuru (via 9to5Google) has somehow got hold of hidden One UI 8 elements that show the tri-fold is going to have the ability to show three apps side-by-side on the main screen – the ultimate in multitasking.

While you can get three apps up at the same time on the main 8-inch display of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (and its predecessors), one of those apps has to take up the top half or bottom half of the screen. That leaves the other two squashed into the corners.

Another improvement that's apparently on the way: the Samsung tri-fold will be able to show up to three home screens as well, mirrored from three home screens on the outer display (where they can be cycled through with a swipe).

The rumors so far

The main display of the Samsung tri-fold will have three sections, like the Huawei Mate XT (Image credit: Future)

These are promising leaks in terms of software, because it sounds as though Samsung has thought carefully about what makes a tri-fold different. According to this latest report, support for these features will roll out with One UI 8.5.

Considering One UI 8 is already on certain devices, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, that suggests the tri-fold isn't too far away from launching. Previous rumors have suggested that Samsung's grand unveiling would be sometime in October.

As you may remember, Samsung first teased the device all the way back in January, at the Galaxy S25 launch, so it's definitely coming. However, there's been little official information about the handset since then.

If the leaks and rumors are right, the phone is going to come with a titanium frame, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a triple-lens rear camera, rather ordinary charging times, and a 9.96-inch display. Oh, and it's going to cost you quite a bit of money, too.

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Refugees Crossing the Border Wall into South Texas, was singled out by the White House in a list of artworks and exhibitions it found objectionable.'/>

A page published by the White House entitled "President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian" lists exhibits, educational sites and more that the administration seems to take issue with.

You can watch the 2025 US Open live on 9Now, streaming for free from August 25th to September 7th. The free coverage includes live matches, English commentary and all the big names as the biggest stars in tennis compete for the final grand slam of the year.

The Australian platform will broadcast the US Open in HD throughout the tournament, ensuring all tennis fans get the best quality coverage of the grand slam.

Are you wondering how you can watch the US Open for free in the U.S., U.K and Canada too? And on which apps?

No need to panic - Here's our guide on how to watch the US Open for free on 9Now

How to watch the US Open on 9Now for free

If you're looking for English commentary and HD coverage, 9Now (Australia) is our pick for FREE US Open coverage.

In order to watch 9Now's footage, you will need to create an account if you haven't done so already. You can do this for free, it just asks for your email account.

Travelling or working outside of Australia? You can watch 9Now's coverage of the US Open from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

Our favorite VPN to stream the tennis on is NordVPN, the picture quality is amazing.

How to watch the 2025 US Open from anywhere in the world

The US Open is available across the globe, however, it is only being streamed for FREE in Australia.

No need to worry though tennis fans, if you're travelling or working outside of these countries, you can use a VPN to access your usual streams.

There are heaps of different VPN's on the market but NordVPNis our # 1 ranked, meaning you can rely on them to unblock your streams and enjoy the US Open coverage on 9Now.

NordVPN – try the world's top VPN for the US Open

Want to watch the US Open live streams whilst travelling abroad? If you're away from home right now, use NordVPN to access your domestic streaming services like 9Now as if you were back home. We've tested all major providers and rate NordVPN as the best VPN. With 24/7 support, a 30-day money-back guarantee and over 70% off with the current deal, it's perfect for streaming the US Open. Check out full details in our NordVPN review.

Try NordVPN 100% risk-free for 30 daysView Deal

It's really simple to use a VPN to watch the US Open when you're away from home:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is #1 ranked.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For example, if you're traveling in the US but from Australia, select 'Australia' from the listed countries.

3. Sit back and enjoy the tennis. Head to your streaming site or app and watch US Open 2025 action.

US Open Q+AWhat does 9Now's US Open coverage include?

(Image credit: Getty Images- Elsa )

As well as excellent coverage of the tournament, including the men's and women's final, 9Now also offer fans expert analysis.

Tennis fans can expect to see former Australian tennis superstars Jelena Dokic and Todd Woodbridge providing analysis on their screens, with Sam McClure and Georgie Parker hosting and commentating across the tournament.

9Now offers a wide range of content surrounding the US Open, and is the place to go for your FREE coverage.

If you're travelling abroad, don't forget to use NordVPN to gain access to the coverage.

Which devices can I use to watch US Open on 9Now with?

Here's a list of all the devices you can download the 9Now app on.

Apple iPhones and iPads. iOS 12+

Android phones and tablets. 5.0+

Web Browser - 9Now

Amazon Fire TV

Android TV

Apple TV

Chromecast

Fetch TV

Foxtel iQ

Freeview

Hisense TV

LG TV

Roku

Samsung TV

Is 9Now the best way to watch the US Open for FREE?

We've tested 9Now and the service is user-friendly (you'll need a VPN when travelling outside Australia) and dependable. Owned by Nine Network, a leading Australian broadcaster, it offers reliable streaming with excellent replays and full free streams of matches across the 2025 US Open with English commentary.

Additionally, 9Now will cover other major sports events, providing more live sports coverage for free. Just make sure you have a strong internet connection for the best experience and you're good to go.

For catching up, 9Now provides free highlight clips of select US Open matches, lasting around 8 minutes.

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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

KPop Demon Hunters. A singalong version of the wildly popular Netflix animated movie is screening for one weekend only in theaters across the country.'/>

Netflix's wildly popular movie about a fictitious all-girl rock band is hitting nearly 1,800 movie theaters around the country this weekend as a singalong version.

(Image credit: Netflix)

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The Gilded Age season 4: key information

- HBO confirmed renewal on July 28, 2025
- Current speculated release window between 2026 to mid-2027
- Main cast expected to return, Morgan Spector's George less certain
- Plot details are currently under wraps

The Gilded Age season 4 was greenlit by HBO shortly before the penultimate episode of the third season aired.

According to Deadline, ahead of The Gilded Age season 3 finale, the drama series was "adding viewers at a rate nearly 50% higher than in previous seasons." HBO's head of drama series and films Francesca Orsi added: "We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season.

"Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a 'cant-miss it' entertainment experience from week to week, and we’re delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season."

For the uninitiated, the hit HBO Max TV show is basically an American version of Downton Abbey (which was also created by Fellowes), following upper-class families in NYC at the turn of the 19th century. Old money has been against new money since the start of season 1, and thanks to the continued drama between Bertha (Carrie Coon), George (Morgan Spector) and Gladys' (Taissa Farmiga) recent marriage, that's not going to stop.

But things have changed in New York society, and that's potentially about to change Bertha's life for good. But what do we actually know about The Gilded Age season 4 so far, and what can we expect?

The Gilded Age season 4 release window speculation

(Image credit: HBO)

As of writing, no confirmed release date has been given for The Gilded Age season 4. This isn't surprising considering season 3 isn't even cold yet, and it's likely going to be a while before we get anything more concrete than the renewal news itself.

That doesn't mean we can't made an educated guess, though. Season 1 premiered in January 2022, with by season 2 in October 2023, and season 3 in June 2025 (though it's worth bearing in mind that the latter two seasons were impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes). Hopefully, this means the gap between seasons 3 and 4 won't be as long as we've seen previously, giving us a rough timeline of summer 2026 to spring 2027 for new episodes.

The Gilded Age season 4 trailer: is there one?

(Image credit: HBO)

Unsurprisingly, there's no trailer for season 4 yet and there won't be for a while (it's not even started filming yet). We'll be sure to update this page as soon as one drops.

The Gilded Age season 4 cast rumors

Morgan Spector (George) and Bertha (Carrie Coon) in The Gilded Age season 3. (Image credit: HBO)

Essentially, we're looking at the main players from season 3 all returning, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet. Only John Adams (Claybourne Elder) actually died in season 3 – we'll come back to George a little later – so there's nothing to suggest anyone else will be leaving at this stage. Of course, an actor can always be written out if they want to or to save scheduling clashes, but let's assume that's not going to happen.

Here are the cast members we'd respect to return for The Gilded Age season 4:

• Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell
• Phylicia Rashad as Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland
• Cynthia Nixon as Ada Brook
• Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn
• Harry Richardson as Larry Russell
• Denée Benton as Peggy Scott
• Jordan Donica as Dr. William Kirkland
• Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook
• Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell
• Ben Lamb as The Duke of Buckingham
• Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn)
• Audra McDonald as Dorothy Scott
• Kelley Curran as Enid Winterton
• Kelli O'Hara as Aurora Fane
• Donna Murphy as Mrs. Astor
• Ben Ahlers as Jack Treacher
• Douglas Sills as Monsieur Baudin
• Celia Keenan-Bolger as Mrs. Bruce
• Simon Jones as Mr. Bannister
• Jack Gilpin as Church
• Debra Monk as Armstrong
• Phylicia Rashad as Elizabeth Kirkland
• Brian Stokes Mitchell as Frederick Kirland

Of course, there's an elephant in the room: will Morgan Spector be returning as George? The jury is currently out after his unexpected departure. Other societal outcasts such as Nathan Lane (Ward McAllister) also have a question mark against them.

The Gilded Age season 4 plot rumors

Season 4 totally depends on what George chooses to do next. (Image credit: HBO)

Major spoilers follow for The Gilded Age season 3.

Let's recap what we learned in the season 3 final episodes. George’s life hung in the balance in the closing scene of season 3 episode 7. He’d previously won out against Clay (Patrick Page) and Mr. Sage (Peter McRobbie), getting the business back on track in spite of their rivalry. However, this comes at a price. A courier soon visited George’s office, pulling a gun on his secretary before aiming it straight at George himself. The gun went off, the screen goes black and we had no idea whether he’s alive or died.

In episode 8, we find out that George was indeed shot, but managed to make a miraculous recovery. Hooray! Lives are saved and the Russells can return to being the stoic force in New York society that they’ve always been, right? Wrong. Once George is well enough to remember he’s being streamed live on HBO Max, he promptly tells wife Bertha that he’s not even sure if he loves her or trusts her, leaving for New York without so much as an amicable thought between them.

Just as Gladys announces she is pregnant right in the episode's final moments, George is seemingly out of the picture. This means Bertha got everything she'd been working towards, but now has been left without a stable family unit of her own.

As far as Carrie Coon is concerned, Bertha won’t take any of this lying down. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she explained: "It’s heartbreaking, of course. But, at the same time, her wheels are already turning about how she’s going to fix it. You know she’s not going to give up on it. She’s indefatigable, of course. So I think she’s looking out that window and she’ll have a moment of grief, and then she’s going to get to work on some kind of plan.”

She later told Variety: "I don’t know [if they'll get back together]. It depends what George wants." She added of George's reveal, "That feels very real to me in long-term relationships. One person can go through a very transformative experience that the other person doesn’t have access to, and it takes them a while to find their way back to each other."

However, Morgan Spector was optimistic, telling TVLine: "Because we know how good this couple can be together, it would be really fascinating to see them spend a season figuring out how to get back to each other."

Obviously, Bertha and George aren't all that's going on the show. Marian and Larry are still on course to be wed, Peggy is newly betrothed to William (despite his mother's objections) and Oscar may be headed toward a lavender marriage with Enid. Of course, we'll be seeing Gladys' pregnancy play out too.

"I hope I don't have to play pregnant too long," Taissa Farmiga told Marie Claire. I don't want to have to wear a corset with a pregnancy belt. Let's just throw this out there – maybe Julian reads this. But also I'll do what I have to do!

"I think she will be more inspired by George's parenting than by Bertha's parenting. I think she's going to want to give more of the emotional comfort that Bertha doesn't give, even though we know Bertha loves her children. She loves them so much, but sometimes a child needs a hug and a gentle smile, not like a firm guiding hand. Sometimes it's just acknowledging their feelings."

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I've used Synology for a while now, both personally and professionally. I've worked with DiskStations, the original BeeStation, and many other NAS devices, too. As someone who juggles many businesses, clients, and a ton of storage at any given time, even with great internal storage on my primary laptop, access to more on others that I am testing, and external drives all around me, there is something simple and so helpful about cloud storage.

But, as many of you have also noticed, subscriptions are getting ridiculous these days. Everything has moved to subscriptions, and with that, when you want to expand further, the cost continues to skyrocket. That's why I started paying attention to Synology a few years back, recognizing that while some things I can keep on SSDs, having everything accessible no matter what company I am with, if I am home or away, or no matter what device, was something that I still desired in my daily workflow.

The ease and ability to pull up any number of documents, photos, videos, diagrams, and so on for any of my clients at any time, all without cluttering my internal storage or having to rummage through several external hard drives, is hard to pass up.

The frictionless action of searching in Finder (on my Mac) to grab the file I want and have it ready on my machine without having to store it there is always spectacular. And, with how fast I move these days, that is the kind of flexibility I need. That's where the BeeStation Plus comes in. It's got a few key upgrades from the original BeeStation, the first and foremost being that it doubled in storage from 4TB to 8TB.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Synology BeeStation Plus: Pricing & Availability

The Synology BeeStation Plus is available the official website by clicking here. Right now, it's being sold for around $400 for the 8TB of NAS.Right now, it's being sold for around $400 for the 8TB of NAS.

It's also available from other online retailers including B&H Photo, Amazon.com, and Amazon.co.uk.

Synology BeeStation Plus: Unboxing & first impressions

Unboxing and setting up the BeeStation Plus could not have been easier. I opened up the box, chose a spot in my home office where I wanted it to live, and plugged it into my monster of a desk setup with battery backup from my Anker Power Station with UPS. Lastly, to ensure I had the best download and upload speeds possible, I plugged the included Ethernet cable in from the Synology BeeStation Plus to my network switch, which then routes up to my TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro system. One power cable, one Ethernet cable, that's all.

After that, I jumped in and set up the BeeStation Plus via the IP address and web interface and began setting up sync folders, shared folders, a Plex Server, backups to my DiskStation (review coming soon), and more. I also added one right-angle USB-C adapter, but more on that later. All around, this setup took a matter of minutes, and probably took longer for me to cable manage one more thing into my monster of a desk setup than it did actually to set up the BeeStation Plus itself.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Synology BeeStation Plus: Design & build qualitySpecs

Storage: 8TB SSD
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, USB for external drives
Software: Synology BeeStation OS
Apps: Mobile apps (iOS/Android), Mac Finder integration, web portal access
Cloud: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
Streaming: Plex media server compatible
Backup: Can back up to Synology DiskStation NAS
Remote Access: Synology QuickConnect, direct VPN connection

The BeeStation Plus has a sleek matte plastic shell with its modern and clean design. It blends in, and it fits in with my office setup. I don't feel like I need to hide it, so I didn't. It's got a visible spot in my setup, but I barely notice it, which is excellent.

Even when this NAS is up and running, I can't hear it at all. The only reason that I know it is on, other than being able to access my files, is because of the status lights.

The only ports on here are the Ethernet port, a USB-C port, and the power port. The BeeStation Plus keeps it simple while packing a lot of power in a simple package.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Synology BeeStation Plus: In use

I've had the BeeStation Plus set up in my home office for 75 days at the time of writing this review. In that time, the BeeStation Plus has been my primary storage solution for the many clients that I work with, for all of the files, content, and assets that I have created for each client, as well as working files I have received from clients. All of them are stored on the BeeStation Plus and accessed from my many devices via the files/finder integrations or from the web or mobile apps.

Thanks to the Ethernet port, I have not noticed any downtime or issues with network speeds, and because my entire workspace is backed up with a power station from Anker, I don't worry about losing any data either. Even in a power outage, I could access my files locally from my computer over local Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Alternatively, if my internet line is still active but power is out, my whole home battery backup system will kick in, and I can access files from anywhere.

If you don't have a battery backup, though, that is not the end of the world; you will want to have a plan in place in case of a power outage if you have critical client files stored on the BeeStation Plus.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Another critical way that I utilize the BeeStation Plus is to offload files from any drives I am working with. Occasionally, I have a role where I need to transfer data from external drives or SD Cards. With the BeeStation Plus' USB-C port, I can plug in an SSD directly to that port, or I can use an SD Card reader with a USB-C port and plug that in to access an SD Card directly through my BeeStation Plus.

The benefit to this, of course, is that I never have to take up internal storage, nor do I have to ingest files, to upload them to a cloud service, to then share. Instead, I can plug in, choose where to move the files to, such as a previously shared client folder, and then I am good to go. I can walk away, work on something else, and so on.

Another thing that makes the BeeStation Plus super helpful, mainly when used as a business storage tool, is the ability to sync in multiple different ways, with multiple different servers. I work across Google Drive, Dropbox, and others daily.

For those folders that I want to make sure I don't lose anything, or that I have what I need, without having to jump in and out of folders every day, logging in and out of accounts and trying to remember where I have each file. Instead, I set up cloud sync preferences so that my folder structure on my BeeStation Plus will automatically stay in sync with some folders, one way download other folders, and auto upload to others—making my file management a breeze. Setting something like this up right from the start makes it feel like I have an admin helping me manage my file management, without the need for an admin or a monthly subscription cost.

Synology BeeStation Plus: Final verdict

All in all, the Synology BeeStation Plus is a welcome upgrade from the previous model. I haven't even gone into depth on the Plex integrations and other TLC updates that Synology has made. This is the perfect storage solution if you need terabytes of secure storage and don't want to pay an absurd monthly charge to access your files on another big-name cloud storage service. Power users may still need something more robust like the DiskStation, but for small businesses, freelancers, contract workers, and fractional guys like me, this is a spectacular option.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Simplistic, Minimal, Professional

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for anyone with digital storage

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Decent price for what it is

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For more storage solutions, we've reviewed the best NAS hard drives you can get right now.

• A software developer sabotaged his employer after being demoted
• Davis Lu created a "kill switch" that would lock out all users
• He was sentenced to four years in jail and additional three years of supervised leave

A disgruntled worker has been sentenced to four years in prison after installing “kill switch” malware on his employer’s network which was set to trigger if he ever lost network access.

According to a Department of Justice (DoJ) press release, a Chinese national named Davis Lu was working for an unnamed software company between November 2007 and October 2019. In 2018, he was demoted and lost system access, after which he “began sabotaging his employer’s systems”. By early August 2019, he introduced malware that crashed systems and prevented other users from logging in.

Court documents also revealed he created “infinite loops” that crashed servers, deleted coworker profile files, and ultimately built a “kill switch” that would lock out all users if his access to Active Directory was revoked. In early September 2019 he was asked to surrender his laptop, after which the kill switch was triggered.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages

Investigators found plenty of incriminating evidence on that laptop, including that on the day he turned his device in - he deleted encrypted data.

An analysis of his search history showed he was looking for ways to escalate privileges, hide processes, and quickly delete files. Finally, the kill switch code was named IsDLEnabledinAD, short for “Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory”.

A month after the malware ran, Lu was arrested, and later stood trial in front of the jury.

During the trial, it was shown that Lu’s employer suffered “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in losses, as a direct consequence of his actions. Now, Lu will spend four years in prison, with an additional three years of supervised release.

"The FBI works relentlessly every day to ensure that cyber actors who deploy malicious code and harm American businesses face the consequences of their actions,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division.

“I am proud of the FBI cyber team’s work which led to today’s sentencing and hope it sends a strong message to others who may consider engaging in similar unlawful activities. This case also underscores the importance of identifying insider threats early and highlights the need for proactive engagement with your local FBI field office to mitigate risks and prevent further harm.”

Via The Register

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 24.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, August 23 (game #804).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #805) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• GLASS
• CORAL
• TORN
• CURTAIN
• RENT
• RATTLE
• COLD
• BOTTLE
• KING
• BOOTY
• CARAFE
• SPLIT
• CLOSE
• GARTER
• CLEFT
• DECANTER

NYT Connections today (game #805) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Receptacles for a drink
• GREEN: Divided
• BLUE: Slithering things
• PURPLE: [Blank] thing you can do with a phone

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #805) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: WINE VESSELS 
• GREEN: RIPPED
• BLUE: KINDS OF SNAKES
• PURPLE: ____ CALL

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #805) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #805, are…

• YELLOW: WINE VESSELS BOTTLE, CARAFE, DECANTER, GLASS
• GREEN: RIPPED CLEFT, RENT, SPLIT, TORN
• BLUE: KINDS OF SNAKES CORAL, GARTER, KING, RATTLE
• PURPLE: ____ CALL BOOTY, CLOSE, COLD, CURTAIN

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

After an easy game yesterday, I was expecting a more cryptic round today – and so it proved. WINE VESSELS was easy enough to get, but the rest of today’s Connections was really difficult.

I was pleased when I managed to finally get KINDS OF SNAKES, but it took me three tries before I finally achieved it. I was pretty sure about the category and had RATTLE, KING and CORAL locked down, but was clueless about the fourth.

I didn’t really know what I was looking for with the last two groups, but thinking that SPLIT, CLEFT and TORN must belong together, I tried CURTAIN first before swapping in RENT for no reason other than a blind guess. 

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, August 23, game #804)

• YELLOW: U.S. PRESIDENTS ADAMS, FORD, GRANT, WASHINGTON
• GREEN: ACTORS WHOSE LAST NAMES ARE ALSO VERBS CHEVY CHASE, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, GEOFFREY RUSH, TOM CRUISE
• BLUE: KINDS OF POKER DRAW, OMAHA, STRIP, STUD
• PURPLE: PROPER NOUNS AFTER GERUNDS IN '90S MOVIE TITLES AMY, JOHN MALKOVICH, LAS VEGAS, PRIVATE RYAN

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.