Month: June 2025

    • sparta
    • Comments Off on “Protect Your Journeys with 79% DISCOUNT on NordVPN and Complimentary Cash for Prime Day 2025”
    “Protect Your Journeys with 79% DISCOUNT on NordVPN and Complimentary Cash for Prime Day 2025”

    Unbelievable protection at an unbelievably low price.

    (Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

    We rarely review VPNs, but if you want to enhance your online safety this summer, I have an offer from NordVPN that you won’t want to overlook. For a limited time, NordVPN is offering discounts of up to 79% on its two-year plans, reducing the price to as low as $3.39 per month. As if that discount isn’t sufficient, NordVPN will also provide a complimentary Amazon gift card valued at up to $50, contingent on the plan you select.

    The top VPN has just unveiled its best-ever offer

    <div data-image="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vDm9amrJMnvASAANZUQEtM-200-100.jpg" data-link="https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=564&url_id=31010&aff_sub1=videoAC&aff_id=3013&aff_click_id=hawk-custom-tracking&aff_sub2=hawk-article-url" data-link-merchant="go.nordvpn.net" data-link-text="View Deal" data-merchant-name="go.nordvpn.net" data-merchant-url="go.nordvpn.net" data-model-name="NordVPN: Get up to 79% OFF two-year plans, plus free Amazon gift card worth up to $

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Establishing and Incorporating Pixel VIPs: A Comprehensive Guide
    Establishing and Incorporating Pixel VIPs: A Comprehensive Guide

    This latest widget for Pixels allows you to retrieve essential personal details for your preferred contacts with just a single tap.

    (Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

    The Google Pixel series continues to improve over time through Pixel Drop updates, which introduce new features to the Pixel lineup. With the June 2025 update, Google has launched a new widget for the Contacts app known as Pixel VIPs. This widget enables you to view all critical information regarding your favorite contacts, such as locations, birthdays, notes, and more, all with a single tap. Pixel VIPs is only available for Pixel smartphones, starting from the Pixel 6 and newer.

    We successfully tested this on a Pixel 6a with Android 16. If your Pixel is compatible, ensure you update it and explore the new Pixel VIPs widget.

    Steps to set up and add Pixel VIPs

    1. Check that your Pixel device is running the latest software version by navigating to Settings, System, and scrolling to Software updates.

    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Apple Fitness+ Unveils F1-Inspired Workouts and New Time to Walk Episode
    Apple Fitness+ Unveils F1-Inspired Workouts and New Time to Walk Episode

    As Apple unveils its most significant film to date, [F1 The Movie](https://apple.co/4jFGPYe), it is simultaneously ramping up its promotional efforts throughout its ecosystem. The latest to participate in the campaign? Apple [Fitness+](https://fitness.apple.com/subscribe?itscg=10000&ct=fitness_a&at=1000l3cFK). Here’s what’s updated.

    ## F1 marketing is indeed… revving up

    This week, [Fitness+](https://fitness.apple.com/subscribe?itscg=10000&ct=fitness_a&at=1000l3cFK) introduced a collection of new workouts and a “Time to Walk” episode, all themed around the Apple Original Film featuring Brad Pitt ([Moneyball](https://apple.co/4ndU85b), [Inglourious Basterds](https://apple.co/4k8uPhY)). This is yet another instance of Apple leveraging its services portfolio as an expansion of its entertainment strategy, which also encompasses a [haptic trailer](https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/11/apple-f1-movie-haptic-trailer/) and a [debated](https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/24/apple-pushed-wallet-notifications-with-f1-offer-sparking-backlash/) Apple Wallet push notification.

    The new [Fitness+](https://fitness.apple.com/subscribe?itscg=10000&ct=fitness_a&at=1000l3cFK) features include:

    – **Time to Walk with Kerry Condon:** Actress Kerry Condon, who co-stars in the Apple Original Film “F1® The Movie,” has earned a BAFTA Award and received nominations for the Oscar, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in the film “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Kerry shares how a simple act of kindness had a significant effect and explains how establishing workplace boundaries enhanced her confidence.

    – **HIIT with Brian:** The focus on teamwork characterizes this workout inspired by the Apple Original Film “F1® The Movie.” The session begins with decreasing moves, starting with three and concluding with one. It includes two segments of three moves, repeated twice. The exercises consist of pop lunges, side shuffles, and tuck jumps, with challenges for core strength and reaction time between segments.

    – **Strength with Kyle:** Teamwork remains central to this full-body workout inspired by the Apple Original Film “F1® The Movie.” The routine involves a decreasing number of moves, starting with five and ending with one. Exercises feature lunges with bicep curls, squats with overhead presses, and lunges with chops, utilizing two medium dumbbells.

    – **Treadmill with Sherica:** This team-focused workout inspired by the Apple Original Film “F1® The Movie” comprises 10 high-intensity speed bursts lasting from 30 seconds to just over 65 seconds, without any hills.

    Similar to previous Time to Walk and [Fitness+](https://fitness.apple.com/subscribe?itscg=10000&ct=fitness_a&at=1000l3cFK) offerings, this content aims to be welcoming to everyone, whether seasoned gym-goers or newcomers. However, this collaboration taps into the F1 excitement, marking it as one of the more prominent [Fitness+](https://fitness.apple.com/subscribe?itscg=10000&ct=fitness_a&at=1000l3cFK) integrations Apple has executed thus far.

    This further indicates that Apple perceives [F1 The Movie](https://apple.co/4jFGPYe) as more than just a standalone release, presenting an intriguing experiment on the limits of its integrated blockbuster approach. Whether this converts into box office success remains to be seen.

    [F1 The Movie](https://apple.co/4jFGPYe) premieres internationally starting today, June 25, and in U.S. theaters and IMAX across the nation, on June 27.

    Apple TV+ is [offered for $9.99 per month](https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.4000?itscg=30200&itsct=tv%5C_box%5C_link&at=1000l3cvR) and features popular TV shows and films like

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on AirPods Max 2: Detailed Overview of Anticipated Features and Speculations
    AirPods Max 2: Detailed Overview of Anticipated Features and Speculations

    ### AirPods Max 2: What We Know Thus Far

    AirPods Max first appeared nearly five years ago, and aside from a minor USB-C update last year, there hasn’t been a true AirPods Max 2. Nevertheless, Apple is preparing a genuine next-gen model. Here’s what we know thus far about AirPods Max 2.

    #### Reduced Weight Design

    When AirPods Max were introduced in 2020, users appreciated many aspects of the over-ear headphones, but two complaints were prominent:
    1. The $550 price point was steep.
    2. They felt quite heavy to wear.

    AirPods Max 2 is said to tackle the weight concern. Ming Chi-Kuo mentions that Apple’s revised model will be “lighter” than the existing version. It’s uncertain whether other significant design changes are on the horizon, but it’s possible that Apple may need to modify the overall AirPods Max appearance to meet its weight target.

    #### New H-Series Chip

    When Apple unveiled its new USB-C variant of AirPods Max last autumn, it overlooked updating the H1 chip in the headphones. This choice implies that AirPods Max are missing many of the features exclusive to the H2 found in the more budget-friendly AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. However, when AirPods Max 2 is released, they are anticipated to finally incorporate an upgraded H-series chip, likely an H3 chip, which AirPods Pro 3 are expected to launch within the coming year.

    #### Release Date in 2027

    Regrettably, the latest speculations suggest that we won’t witness the launch of AirPods Max 2 until 2027. Ming-Chi Kuo recently stated that Apple intends for the hardware update to “enter mass production in 2027.” Although Apple might introduce new AirPods Max at any point throughout the year, it typically reserves new releases for fall—indicating that we are likely two full years away from the new model.

    #### AirPods Max 2 Speculations: Conclusion

    If you’re considering purchasing AirPods Max, it’s quite a good time to do so. With AirPods Max 2 not anticipated for another couple of years, and the new USB-C model having received three software updates recently, Apple clearly aims for the current model to be supported for a significant duration.

    What modifications do you wish to see in AirPods Max 2? Share your thoughts in the comments.

    ### Best AirPods Max Accessories

    *FTC: We utilize income-generating auto affiliate links. More.*

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Key Features Missing in iPadOS 26
    Key Features Missing in iPadOS 26

    Apple showcased iPadOS 26 during its WWDC 2025 keynote. Unlike in prior years, the company surpassed itself with the fresh features introduced in this software release. After all, utilizing the iPad as a computer alternative is set to be more straightforward than ever.

    Some of the new capabilities include:

    – **Enhanced windowing system:** Apple is replacing Split View and Slide Over with a novel windowing system. You are free to open as many windows as you like and manage them using a familiar menu bar and Mac-like controls.

    – **Background Tasks:** Apple finally permits tasks to operate in the background, such as exporting a video, downloading substantial files, and more. A simple yet crucial feature that finally allows users to leverage up to 16GB of RAM on the iPad.

    – **Preview app:** Apple developed a fresh app for iPad users to open, edit, and annotate PDFs and images effortlessly. Cupertino mentions that Preview was crafted with the Apple Pencil in mind, enabling users to sign documents and take notes quicker than before.

    Nevertheless, these aren’t the sole features iPadOS 26 provides that enhance its status as a substantial computer substitute. There’s also a turbocharged Files app and the option to add folders to the Dock. I still believe iPadOS 26 requires a few adjustments to become the sole computer I wish to use daily.

    ## iPadOS 26 needs to resemble the Mac a bit more

    Apple states that even though it has enhanced the multitasking capabilities on the iPad, it remains a touch-first experience. I fully concur with the distinctions between the iPad and the Mac. However, this doesn’t imply Apple can’t improve iPadOS 26 just a bit.

    Here are some modifications that could make iPadOS 26 truly excellent for iPad users:

    – **Multiple desktops:** Apple is not anticipated to significantly enlarge the display size of the iPad Pro (even though larger screens have been speculated). The optimal way to manage various open windows would be to provide different desktops. This would enable users to better organize their workflows.

    – **Always-visible dock:** As personal as it may feel, I believe keeping the dock visible at all times is the ideal approach. On macOS, you cannot overlay the dock with a window. I wish iPadOS 26 acted in the same manner.

    – **Files and photos on the Home Screen:** To further align the iPad with Mac functionality, allow users to save images and files on the Home Screen. Apple could enforce Stacks as mandatory to prevent documents from cluttering the experience. This would simplify dragging and dropping files into apps, Safari, and more.

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Present Global Top 10 Most-Viewed Series on Netflix
    Present Global Top 10 Most-Viewed Series on Netflix

    The most acclaimed Netflix feature taking center stage on the platform this week is *The Waterfront*, a Southern crime drama set in an imagined small town where the Buckley family’s fishing enterprise has crumbled — leading them to engage in drug trafficking. Conceptualized by creator Kevin Williamson, the series plunges into a turbulent realm of familial secrets, treachery, and survival along a dwindling North Carolina coastline.

    Netflix releases its rankings of the top-rated TV shows weekly, and we’ll examine *The Waterfront* (featuring actors Holt McCallany and Melissa Benoist) below, along with other trending content on the service currently.

    ## Netflix Top 10 shows

    Here’s this week’s detailed list of the Top 10 English-language shows on Netflix, derived from the most recent data provided by the company:

    1. **The Waterfront** — 8.3 million views
    2. **Ginny & Georgia (Season 3)** — 8.1 million views
    3. **The Survivors** — 3.4 million views
    4. **Dept. Q** — 3.4 million views
    5. **America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Season 2)** — 3.3 million views
    6. **Sirens** — 3.3 million views
    7. **FUBAR (Season 2)** — 3.3 million views
    8. **Ginny & Georgia (Season 1)** — 2.7 million views
    9. **Raw: 2025 (June 16, 2025)** — 2.7 million views
    10. **Ginny & Georgia (Season 2)** — 2.7 million views

    To discover more about some of this week’s most-viewed series, you can delve deeper by exploring our prior coverage of some Netflix originals listed above, including *Dept. Q*, which serves as a detective drama that’s likely to attract *Slow Horses* enthusiasts, and *Sirens*. For the moment, however, let’s concentrate on the leading Netflix TV release globally right now.

    ## The Waterfront — #1 on Netflix

    The current top-rated Netflix title worldwide by viewership, *The Waterfront* is leading the rankings in 10 countries this week. It’s also one of those unique titles on the streaming platform where critics and viewers largely agree (70% critics’ and 69% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively).

    From a plot perspective, this show chronicles a family that has governed Havenport, North Carolina, for years. Its reach extends broadly from the local restaurant culture to the fishing sector in the region. As family head Harlan Buckley (McCallany) recuperates from a couple of heart attacks, the family’s fishing ventures begin to falter — while Harlan’s wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) start to, shall we say, become a little inventive in their efforts to maintain the family’s accustomed way of life.

    Then there’s daughter Bree (Benoist), who is recovering from addiction and has lost custody of her child. She is currently in a complicated relationship that jeopardizes her family’s entire future.

    “This is about a working man who’s striving to provide for his family,” Williamson tells Netflix’s Tudum. “They’ve lifted themselves from nothing and they’ve created this small fishing empire in their little town. Now it’s being gradually stripped away from them. They’ll go to any lengths to retain it, as it symbolizes their family.”

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on The Human Mind Interprets Preferred Perceptions Rather Than True Visual Input
    The Human Mind Interprets Preferred Perceptions Rather Than True Visual Input

    The human brain continues to astonish researchers. From its learning capabilities to the remarkable fact that our brains emit light, there remains much to uncover regarding the complexities of the human brain. One particularly astonishing aspect, however, is that the brain doesn’t seem to perceive exactly what you perceive. Instead, experts claim that the brain sees what it anticipates seeing.

    ## The brain decodes subsequent events

    As per researchers, the manner in which the brain decodes the information provided by our eyes is quite fascinating. Rather than waiting to witness precisely how a scenario unfolds, your brain proactively predicts what will occur. For example, if you observe a friend reaching for a pot, your brain interprets that their hand will extend toward the pot and grasp the handle.

    In most instances, it’s accurate. However, there can always be unexpected changes, which might cause the brain’s perception to not align with reality. This phenomenon is underpinned by what scientists refer to as the action observation network, or AON. This consists of a group of brain regions that activate whenever you observe someone else engaging with an object.

    Over the years, this configuration has been corroborated by scientists through analysis of data collected from various laboratory experiments. Nevertheless, those snippets, typically one- to two-second video clips, do not present the complete picture. That’s why a more recent study featured in *Cell Reports* is founded on research aimed at exploring further. Specifically, this new research sought to determine whether the flow of information alters when the viewer can already predict the subsequent step in the sequence.

    ## Evaluating the concept

    To examine this, and to investigate how the brain actually perceives, the researchers designed two distinct versions of regular scenes. In the natural scenario, the actions unfolded as anticipated. Conversely, in the second scene, they rearranged the clips and had participants view both while monitoring their brain activity. Some of the subjects had already been fitted with intracranial electrodes for medical observation, allowing for precise recording of electrical signals from deep within the cortex.

    The researchers discovered that the brain operated exactly as anticipated when the sequence of clips in the scene was logical. The data even indicated that when the brain could predict what was next, it actually utilized its visual areas less. Conversely, when the disordered cut was shown, the data revealed how changes in perception by the brain depended on its ability to effectively predict the next step.

    Given that the clips were shuffled and disorganized, the brain struggled to accurately ascertain the next phase in the process, resulting in increased activity in other brain regions. These findings also suggest that our motor memories might play a pivotal role in how our brain processes the information transmitted by our eyes. Essentially, our brains rely on memory to perceive.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on macOS Tahoe to Launch Three Fresh Apps for Mac Users: Find Out More Inside
    macOS Tahoe to Launch Three Fresh Apps for Mac Users: Find Out More Inside

    Apple’s forthcoming significant software update for the Mac is macOS Tahoe, also referred to as macOS 26. In addition to the fresh Liquid Glass design and substantial Spotlight enhancements, macOS Tahoe will introduce three new Apple applications to the Mac. Here’s what you can expect.

    ### Journal

    Apple’s Journal app made its debut on iPhone with iOS 17.2 in late 2023. It has remained exclusive to iOS since, but that will change this year. Journal is set to launch on the Mac in macOS Tahoe, as well as on the iPad in iPadOS 26.

    All your journal entries will automatically sync over iCloud, and Journal features a two-panel layout on the Mac that is optimized for larger displays. The app retains the existing feature set from iPhone and unveils new functionalities, including the option to create multiple distinct journals, view entries on a map according to their location, and more.

    ### Phone

    Continuity connections between the Mac and iPhone are expanding once more in macOS Tahoe. For years, the Mac has allowed users to answer calls from their iPhone. Last year, iPhone Mirroring provided complete access to the Phone app through your Mac. In macOS Tahoe, Apple is introducing a dedicated Phone app directly on the Mac.

    The Phone app on Mac includes familiar features from the iPhone, such as Recents, Favorites, and Voicemails, along with the latest enhancements like Call Screening and Hold Assist. Call Screening automatically responds to calls from unknown numbers, while Hold Assist permits users to keep their position in line while waiting for a live representative.

    ### Apple Games

    Apple boasts a robust ecosystem of cross-platform media applications, including Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. This year, there’s an exciting new addition: Apple Games. The new Games app will launch concurrently across macOS Tahoe, iOS 26, and iPadOS 26 as a comprehensive hub for all gaming activities.

    Features encompass discovering new games, launching installed titles on your Mac, and connecting with friends via leaderboards and challenges.

    ### New macOS Tahoe apps: wrap-up

    Just a few years back, the Mac would often lag behind Apple’s other platforms in acquiring new cross-platform applications. Thankfully, there has been a shift in recent years, and macOS Tahoe’s three new apps serve as the latest proof of this progression.

    Which of macOS Tahoe’s new applications are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on The Prospects of Aging iPhones in 2025: Rising Sales Patterns as per CIRP
    The Prospects of Aging iPhones in 2025: Rising Sales Patterns as per CIRP

    ### The Pre-Owned iPhone Market is More Robust Than Ever

    A recent analysis by CIRP shows that almost half of iPhone purchasers (49%) over the last year have either traded in or sold their prior device. This represents a notable rise from 43% in 2020, showcasing a developing trend among users to part with their old phones. The surge in trade-ins can be linked to improved deals from carriers seeking to retain current customers and lure new ones, in addition to the evolution of third-party resale platforms that offer users greater opportunities to extract value from their past devices.

    Conversely, 37% of users chose to keep their old phones, either as spare devices or to pass them along to friends or family. This number has diminished from 44% in 2020, indicating a transformation in consumer behavior towards appreciating older devices as tradable items instead of simply backups. Moreover, 14% of old phones were reported as lost, stolen, or damaged, which has remained relatively stable compared to 13% in 2020.

    The results underscore a wider market trend where consumers are increasingly acknowledging the worth of their older devices, particularly in areas where iPhones have traditionally been costly in comparison to local incomes. As iPhone prices keep climbing in the U.S., more buyers are starting to perceive their older devices as valuable, tradable items rather than objects to be discarded or put away.

    In summary, the pre-owned iPhone market is flourishing, with a significant uptick in trade-ins and sales, reflecting a change in consumer perceptions towards older devices.

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