Software

Garmin has released a new update for the Epix 2, Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Pro and other related smartwatches. Preceding a future major stable release, Beta Version 23.08 addresses connection issues while also introducing ANT and BLE+ pairing support for certain external sensors.

A reprieve could be on the way for buyers who despise Switch 2 Game-Key Cards. The company that manufactures cartridges for Nintendo is embracing a new type of flash memory. As a result, publishers would have cheaper options than the 64 GB cartridges currently available.

Often viewed as an alternative to GOG, Zoom Platform sells popular DRM-free retro games. After the controversial bans of Itch.io and Steam games, payment processors now have concerns about the marketplace. In response, Zoom Platform is introducing two-factor authentication and digital wallets.

Ross Scott’s Stop Killing Games initiative, credited with catalyzing global action against the deletion of paid digital games, is winding down its direct activism. With key legislative and regulatory efforts now in motion across the EU and beyond, Scott reflects on the movement’s progress, personal toll, and future direction — including calls for preserving virtual game worlds through AI and community action.

A former Nintendo employee is ringing alarm bells over several upcoming Switch 2 games. Buyers expect Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to arrive in 2025, but the company has yet to provide a specific release date. Kit Ellis also notes that the latest Nintendo Direct didn’t feature anticipated third-party titles.

Cadence Design Systems has admitted to violating U.S. export control laws by selling chip design tools to Chinese military-linked entities during Lip-Bu Tan’s time as CEO. With Tan now leading Intel—and with no personal consequences—his case illustrates how executive accountability remains elusive across the tech industry, much like Elon Musk’s ongoing insulation from liability in fatal Tesla Autopilot crashes.

Subscribers recently learned that Persona 3 Reload, Farming Simulator 22, and Anthem will exit Xbox Game Pass on August 15th. Gamers will no longer experience the remake of one of the most popular JRPG titles. Crop growers must also upgrade to the newly added Farming Simulator 25.

Debian 13 Trixie will introduce official support for 64-bit RISC-V CPUs along with 64-bit timekeeping to address the year 2038 clock overflow bug. Trixie continues Debian’s legacy of stability, security, and reliability in a free Linux-based OS.

Huawei's next generation of flagship tablets is now thought to have an edge still denied by Apple to its own top-end iPad Pros: a truly cross-platform, PC-like UI. The MatePad Pro 2026 series could have a version of HarmonyOS that lets it use the same apps as the OEM's MateBook laptops.

Zepp’s iOS app for Amazfit wearables has been updated to version 9.10.x. In recent releases, the company has added a new nap-related tool. Plus, according to a report from an Amazfit representative, the brand’s device can now read another metric from Apple Health and Google Health Connect.

A European Starling named “The Mouth” has successfully replicated a spectrogram image using its voice alone, effectively demonstrating a form of acoustic data transfer. Captured using a 192kHz/32-bit ultrasonic recording setup, the bird reproduced a synthetic audio file encoding a visual shape, highlighting the precision of avian vocal mimicry and the potential for biological sound-based storage.

Tesla’s Autopilot, long marketed as a step toward full self-driving, has been exposed in court as dangerously misleading. A Florida jury found the system bore partial blame in a 2019 fatal crash, awarding over 200 million dollars in damages. The verdict raises serious questions about Tesla’s safety claims and may open the floodgates for future lawsuits.

Buyers can expand their collection of co-op Steam games with the Better With 4 Friends Bundle. TowerFall Ascension and Rivals of Aether put a unique spin on arena brawlers like Super Smash Bros. Other multiplayer games in the bundle deal focus on less violent but tense building challenges.

A major credit card company is attempting to distance itself from a controversial ban on Steam games. Mastercard claims it didn’t seek to remove specific titles from any marketplace. While the payment processor opposes unlawful adult content, critics argue that many legal games are being censored.

The Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, and Instinct E smartwatches are currently receiving beta version 10.21. This update is said to tackle an issue related to the GoPro remote control feature. Plus, there are also bug fixes for problems experienced by users when viewing glances and editing activities.

It seems inevitable that popular Xbox games will appear on the Switch 2. Even so, multiple events have passed without Nintendo and Microsoft flexing their partnership. Gamescom 2025 is the next opportunity to learn which Xbox cross-platform games may come to the handheld.

A rapidly growing Change.org petition targeting Visa, Mastercard, and influential activist groups has now exceeded 205,000 signatures. The movement, which gained significant traction after a repost by Elon Musk, protests the power of financial companies to enforce the removal of legal, adult-themed games and other fictional content from digital marketplaces like Steam.

Square Enix has devoted considerable attention to classic Final Fantasy games. Unfortunately, fans still lack the much-anticipated Final Fantasy 9 remake. A redesigned Zidane collectible and magazine feature may hint that the title has escaped cancellation.

Switch and Switch 2 owners may influence how companies distribute their games. The latest Nintendo survey focuses on whether buyers are more likely to purchase physical or digital titles. Third-party publishers have struggled to sell Switch 2 games that rely on network connectivity.

Not all PlayStation loyalists are happy about more first-party titles becoming cross-platform games. One disgruntled gamer shared his opinion in an email to the company. Sony has indicated that it may restrict its single-player PlayStation exclusive games to PS5 consoles.

Amazfit is rolling out a Zepp OS 5 update to the Active 2 (Round) smartwatch. Firmware version 6.2.6.3 is said to bring Zepp Flow 2.0, a new map dragging tool and a tap-to-wake feature. Reported by users in the US and Canada, it is expected to be released globally over the next few weeks.

Garmin has finally issued a new stable update for many of its popular mid-range smartwatches. Rolling out from today as Software Version 24.12, the new update targets the Forerunner 165, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955 and Forerunner 965 with over a dozen changes from their previous stable software.

Garmin has raced ahead with a new update for its latest mid-range smartwatches. Rolling out now, the update focuses on introducing new bug fixes and minor improvements for the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 before a future stable update release.

Beta version 12.59 has arrived for one of Garmin’s 2025 smartwatches. This update allows users of the wearable to test an auto-rest feature for Strength training; this was historically only available for swimming activities. Plus, vivoactive 6 smartwatches gain a new app with the release.

The Windows game emulator GameNative has been updated to 0.3.0, and this new version brings a handful of pivotal improvements. One of them promises enhanced emulation performance on non-Adreno devices.

Mario Kart World update version 1.2.0 has arrived. This latest release for the Nintendo Switch 2 game brings a wide range of changes, including weakening the COM in many modes and providing more lap-based course options for some races. Plus, there are changes for items and various bug fixes.

The next Nintendo Direct will air on July 31st, starting at 9:00 AM EST/6:00 AM PST. However, first-party Switch 2 games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond apparently aren't invited. Instead, over the course of 25 minutes, viewers will learn more about projects from Nintendo's partners.

OpenAI has rolled out Study Mode for ChatGPT, guiding students through answers with tailored quizzes, hints, and step-by-step logic. This mode adapts to student skill levels and encourages active learning through thoughtful questioning.

The public Battlefield 6 playtest may arrive soon after the July 31st multiplayer reveal. The 1BF Telegram channel projects a Monday, August 4th start time. However, insider Tom Henderson has since denied that the Battlefield 6 open beta will begin on that date.

Adobe Photoshop beta has gained AI tools like Harmonize, Generative Upscale, and improved object removal to simplify photo compositing and editing. The AI features are powered by the company's Firefly generative image models.

Garmin has re-released a recent update for the Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Pro and other associated smartwatches. Surprisingly, the update contains completely different changes from its previous release, including two dedicated to resolving outstanding issues with Garmin's golfing activity.

Owners of two Call of Duty games can now boot the titles without a separate launcher. Modern Warfare 2 and 3 no longer reside in the much beleaguered Call of Duty HQ. The decision clears space for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, expected to arrive in November.

Fitbit is rolling out a version 220.21 update to the Charge 6 smartwatch. The release brings three new watch faces to the device, as well as support for connection to a wider range of fitness equipment. Minor updates are also on the way to the Inspire 3, Sense 2 and Versa 4 wearables.

The latest version of the Anker app for iOS brings two new features. One of these benefits those with Solix home backup solutions, while the other could be useful to users of any of the brand’s products. Plus, the Solix Solarbank 3 Pro has also received a software update with a new wake function.

The Garmin Venu X1 smartwatch has received a new beta update: version 12.59. This release brings a new app to users of the wearable, as well as automatic rest timers for one activity. On top of this, there are said to be improvements for a Golf related tool and a bug fix for the Swim activity.

An Argentine court has ordered Google to pay around $12,500 to a police officer after Street View captured and published an image of him naked in his yard. The court ruled that the company violated his privacy, rejecting arguments about public visibility and emphasizing Google's responsibility to prevent such intrusions.

Microsoft launches Immersive Events for Teams, offering virtual meetings in 3D environments on the PC and Mac. Organizers can craft virtual spaces with no-code tools to support deeper online social interactions. Meta Quest headset support is planned.

Microsoft has introduced Copilot Mode in Edge, an AI that can see all open tabs while answering prompts. Experimental Action mode lets the AI work autonomously, raising questions about accountability, while recorded screenshots raise privacy concerns.

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag could soon return as the next high-profile remake. A trusted dataminer stumbled on a suspicious addition to the PlayStation database. Rather than a DLC or expansion, the code appears to belong to a new Assassin's Creed game.

When the GTA 6 release date finally arrives, it may limit consoles to 30 fps. A former Rockstar Games technical director argues that 60 fps is more vital for competitive multiplayer games. Even the PS5 Pro may not have enough horsepower to produce smoother visuals.

Since its 2019 announcement, Hollow Knight: Silksong news has leaked at a slow pace. Microsoft just revealed it will host a playable demo of the title at Gamescom 2025. The company previously claimed that the Silksong release date would coincide with the ROG Xbox Ally handheld launch.

Garmin has released system software 3.18 for one of its premium wearables. This stable update is said to improve the behaviour of the touch screen, including making it easier to back swipe. Plus, the Descent X50i wearable dive computer now supports a recently released accessory.

GameSir's GameHub, an alternative to Winlator, has been updated. GameSir notes that this update improves Windows game emulation support for non-Snapdragon phones. Custom Mali GPU drivers are also said to be on the way.

The Home Assistant companion app for Android devices was recently updated to version 2025.7. With this release, users get a new invite flow as well as improvements to the My Links feature. In an accompanying blog post, the company also mentions to upcoming changes, including ending support for some users.

Consumers are revolting against payment processors who seek to ban adult-themed Steam games, movies, and art. A Change.org petition aimed at Visa and Mastercard is rapidly gaining support. Its organizers also wish to limit the power of activist groups that influence these companies.

After a recent job board post, the development of Gran Turismo 8 may be progressing. Gamers typically see a new addition to the racing sim series at least every five years. Insiders believe that some traditional PlayStation exclusives won't become part of a multi-platform push.

Garmin has released system software 28.00 for several wearables. This stable update brings support for a recently launched accessory. It is also said to add support for the YouTube Music app to the Descent Mk2, Descent Mk2S and Descent Mk2i dive computers, though users have already flagged an issue here.

The Garmin Fenix 7, Epix, Enduro 2, Quatix 7, and MARQ Gen 2 smartwatches are receiving a new beta update: version 23.06. This resolves a bug which was causing the wearables to crash. Plus, users have spotted the unannounced addition of the long awaited Device Passcode feature.

Apple might introduce new eligibility rules for its App Store, by which users might have to prove how old they are before being able to click certain links. The changes might affect the access to and use of certain types of apps, games included, on their iPhones or iPads. They may or may not apply to devices in certain locations, though.

The HyperOS 2 development has seemingly ended, and with that, Xiaomi is reportedly focusing on HyperOS 3, which will be based on Android 16. Alongside this, the company has listed nine phones that are about to reach the end-of-life.