AllYouCanTech

Taron Egerton is a multifaceted Welsh actor who achieved global recognition for his leading role in the “Kingsman” films. More recently, he showcased his ability to portray a chilling antagonist in the 2026 Netflix original thriller “Apex.” Egerton has a knack for action, comedy, and even horror, excelling in all three genres. If you were enthralled by Taron Egerton’s intense performance in “Apex,” your next viewing should be the nine-episode series “Smoke” available on the Apple TV platform.

“Smoke” narrates the tale of an arson investigator (Taron Egerton) and a police officer (Jurnee Smollett) who join forces to apprehend a pair of serial arsonists. In this crime drama, Egerton’s character is the hook that draws you into the storyline. It becomes clear that there is tension between the main characters and that hidden secrets and conspiracies lie beneath the surface. Taron Egerton was even nominated for a BAFTA for his role in “Smoke,” making it a must-watch for his performance.

An engaging police drama shrouded in secrets

“Smoke” is more than just a clever title for an arson tale; it’s also an apt description of the elusive essence of this series. As Alan Sepinwall noted in his Rolling Stone review of “Smoke,” it “begins as a clichéd cop drama.” Only after sticking with it for a few episodes do you realize how truly engaging it becomes. It’s as if a layer of proverbial smoke is hiding the main mysteries, requiring time for it to dissipate.

Episodes six and seven of the show’s sole nine-episode season boast the highest ratings on IMDb. This is logical, as the latter half of “Smoke” transitions from a standard police drama into a distinctive tale with a premise that genuinely stands out. And, as is the case with any excellent character-driven drama, our protagonist is at the heart of it all. Fans of Taron Egerton will appreciate witnessing how his character reacts to pivotal revelations as they unfold.

With the premiere of Netflix’s “Apex,” now is an opportune moment to revisit the entire Taron Egerton portfolio. If you enjoyed “Smoke,” you’ll also be captivated by the Apple TV series “Black Bird.” These two series collectively justify at least one month of the subscription service, even after the price hike last year.

If you often use YouTube TV, you may have realized it’s been enhanced with recent updates. As Google promised, significant changes are being introduced to YouTube TV, influencing various aspects of the service’s functionality. For instance, there are now additional premium plan options, we’ve observed some design and UI modifications, and YouTube TV has rolled out a groundbreaking new feature: multiview customization. Previously, multiview — the proprietary version of picture-in-picture that allows viewing multiple streams concurrently — had limited compatibility with live channels; however, you can now fully personalize what appears in each panel. You can display nearly every live channel available in one of four multiview panes.

You can catch live sports games, include a TV show or movie in the lineup, and monitor other content you’re interested in — such as a channel displaying live financial tickers. Customization is now available, it operates smoothly, and it certainly enhances multiview’s satisfaction compared to before. Nonetheless, there are still restrictions, which raise questions about potential improvements with a few adjustments. To begin with, only live content is supported, meaning DVR or on-demand content cannot be watched simultaneously. Furthermore, some devices won’t support the updated functionality. Google states that “less than 5%” of devices are incompatible, but that number is not negligible.

I can’t help but envision one significant way to make multiview even more beneficial. The ability to select additional TV inputs on supported devices. This may not be feasible, and it wouldn’t apply to mobile, but watching live sports alongside content from another video source in a separate window would be fantastic.

How does the YouTube TV multiview customization truly function?

Once you utilize the feature, adjusting the viewable content in each pane is quite easy. On a compatible YouTube TV device, with content playing, press down on your remote, select the multiview option, and in the feature panel that appears, simply choose which channels you want to watch at the same time. Google refers to this feature panel as the Multiview Builder. You’ll also receive several suggestions, such as “Top Picks for You,” “Watch in multiview” channels, and categories like Sports, TV, and more.

It’s disappointing that you can’t use pre-recorded, DVR content or on-demand selections with multiview. You’re restricted to live channels only, which somewhat constrains your choices. It’s not entirely unreasonable to expect future enhancements. YouTube TV overall has been consistently improving. The TV app recently integrated the Ask feature, which has been accessible on mobile for years, in addition to all the recent updates. With that, you can now request AI assistance to search and discover more about content. Moreover, the new multiview functionality is vastly superior to what it was before, so there’s that.

more potent than Valve’s own portable gaming device. These alternative models provide various features and are frequently more accessible than the Steam Deck, which has seen stock issues in recent months. One such model is the MSI Claw, a series launched in March 2024, utilizing Intel Core Ultra processors in the majority of its variants and operating on Windows 11. The latest Claws have incorporated Copilot AI and enhanced specifications, but the MSI Claw A1M-051US still stands out with its Ultra 7-155H processor as a reliable device.

Priced at $699, the MSI Claw A1M is marginally pricier than the Steam Deck OLED’s 1TB variant, which retails for $649. However, it compensates for its lower built-in storage of 512GB with superior technical specifications. Nevertheless, if the cost had previously seemed a bit steep, it’s important to mention that the MSI Claw A1M is currently available at Walmart for $598.95—a reduction of over $100.