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Paramount accused of bribery as it settles Trump lawsuit for $16 million

CBS owner Paramount has reached a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over his claim that 60 Minutes deceptively manipulated a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris. Trump's lawsuit has been widely described as frivolous, but Paramount seemed motivated to settle because its pending $8.4 billion merger with Skydance needed regulatory approval from the Trump administration. In a statement provided to Ars today, Paramount said it "has reached an agreement in principle to resolve

The 10 Best Carry-On Luggage for Business Travelers

A well-made, durable carry-on is an essential piece of luggage for every traveler, but especially for those hitting the road for business. Whether you're flying across the country for a conference or heading overseas for an off-site retreat, you'll need sleek, sophisticated luggage that’s as functional as it is polished. The best carry-on luggage for business travelers offers thoughtful compartments to keep you organized, smooth-rolling wheels to glide through security, and tough exteriors that

The Roku Ultra streaming device gave my TV 4K superpowers - and it's 20% off

ZDNET's key takeaways The Roku Ultra is a streaming device available for $100. The Roku Ultra is the perfect streaming device for anyone who doesn't want to commit to team iOS with an Apple TV 4K or team Android with a Google TV Streamer. There are a few drawbacks to getting a Roku Ultra, like the lack of a headphone jack on the remote. $79 at Amazon $79.99 at B&H Photo-Video $99.99 at Roku more buying choices The Roku Ultra streaming device is on sale for $79, the lowest price we've ever see

Gene therapy restored hearing in deaf patients

“This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,” says Maoli Duan, consultant and docent at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and one of the study’s corresponding authors. The study comprised ten patients between the ages of 1 and 24 at five hospitals in China, all of whom had a genetic form of deafness or severe hearing impairment caused by mutations in a gene

LG Gram 17 Touchscreen Laptop Copilot+ PC Is $3,000 Off, This 5-Star 2025 Model at 60% Off Is Going Fast

When was the last time you upgraded your laptop? If you’re still working off of a piece of ten year old tech, it may be time to start looking for a replacement. The Dell Inspiron 16 laptop is a super versatile option that can fulfill a lot of the needs of pretty much anyone, be it you’re a student, small business owner, or just someone who wants to go online with something other than their phone. LG has its Gram 17 touchscreen laptop with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed on sale for 60% off, bringin

A Trans Pilot Was Falsely Blamed for a Plane Crash. Now She’s Fighting the Right-Wing Disinfo Machine

On January 29, a Blackhawk helicopter crashed into a commercial airliner in the skies over Washington, DC. The collision killed all 67 people on board both aircraft, including the pilots. But online, a different pilot—one that wasn’t even present—was being blamed for the tragedy. Within two days, the rumor spread like wildfire. The morning of January 31, Jo Ellis, a part-time pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard, woke up to messages from a friend warning that she was being named online a

Affluent Travelers Are Ditching Business Class for Business Jets

We’re cruising 35,000 feet over the French Riviera, the plane’s wing cutting through billows of white. Below us, the sea is sparkling, and I spot a cluster of yachts anchored along the coastline. A ray of light hits my glass of Champagne and turns it to liquid gold. I take another sip. So this is what it feels like to be on cloud nine. I’m flying from London to St. Tropez with the private aviation company Wheels Up, and for the first time in my life, I don’t want a flight to end. Once you’ve go

Meta users say paying for Verified support has been useless in the face of mass bans

When Meta launched its paid verification service, Meta Verified, in 2023, the tech giant promised users and businesses alike that part of the offering would include direct access to customer support. However, amid a mass ban wave affecting Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as Facebook Groups, some Meta Verified paying subscribers say they’re receiving little to no help from Meta’s customer service reps, even when they’re facing their most serious crisis yet: a mistakenly suspended account

US chipmakers could see bigger tax credits if Trump’s spending bill passes

In Brief The semiconductor industry could see a big tax benefit if the Trump administration is able to pass the current version of its spending bill. The latest draft of the Trump administration’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which already passed in the Senate, will raise the tax credit for chipmakers building manufacturing plants in the U.S. from 25% to 35%, as originally reported by CNBC. Companies including Intel, TSMC, and Micron Technology could reap these benefits if they continue to expand t

Apple Watch Ultra 3 release date: When to expect the new model

It’s been almost two years since a brand new Apple Watch Ultra model launched, but that drought is almost over. Apple Watch Ultra 3’s release date is fast approaching, here’s when to expect the new model. Apple Watch Ultra 3 expected to launch in September Last year, Apple did not launch a new Ultra model. Instead, it just released a new satin black titanium finish for the Ultra 2. But reporting from various sources indicates this is the year for a brand new model. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is exp

Invasion season 3 gets its first teaser and a premiere date on Apple TV+

The wait is almost over for sci-fi fans eager for the next chapter of Invasion, one of Apple’s bets in the genre. And alongside the premiere date, Apple TV+ just released the teaser for what’s to come. Here are the details. Invasion season 3 premieres August 22 Here is the first official teaser for Invasion season 3, which just dropped on the Apple TV+ YouTube channel: “Invasion” follows an alien invasion through different perspectives around the world. In season three, those perspectives col

I test smart locks for a living, and the most reliable one I've used is on sale for $135

ZDNET's key takeaways The Aqara U100 smart lock was originally priced at $230, but it is currently discounted to $143. This smart lock is the most versatile I've tested; it offers a variety of unlocking options, a user-friendly app, and easy integration with Apple Home. The Aqara U100 drains the battery quickly, and the app doesn't always alert users, resulting in reduced performance within four months of use. $165.46 at Amazon $179.99 at Best Buy more buying choices The Aqara U100 Smart Lock

Topics: app aqara lock smart u100

What I learned gathering nootropic ratings

Credit: Ultra Heaven In this post, I analyze nootropics ratings I gathered through a recommender system. Jump directly to What I learned if you don’t like caveats and methodology. The effectiveness of a nootropic varies a lot from one person to another (your mileage will vary). This is why I built a nootropic recommendation system Enter ratings on nootropics you’ve tried, and it will spit out nootropics liked by people with similar rating patterns. This was initially based on the 2016 SlateSta

Jabra Enhance Select 50R Review: Palatable Price

Despite the rise of competition in the over-the-counter hearing aid space, quality hearing aids remain stubbornly expensive. Top producers aren’t budging their premium prices, but they've quietly been introducing cheaper alternatives for consumers on a budget. Case in point is Jabra's Enhance Select 50R, the company’s entry-level model. At first glance, the behind-the-ear 50R looks almost identical to Jabra’s other hearing aids, like the Enhance Select 300, but a closer examination reveals a fe

Insurers Aren’t Saying Whether They’ll Cover Vaccines for Kids if Government Stops Recommending Them

In the wake of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) announcing plans to revisit its recommended schedule for childhood vaccinations—a move that has drawn widespread criticism from experts—major insurers have not confirmed whether they’ll continue to cover the full cost of routine shots for children. For 60 years ACIP has provided vaccine guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including on the timing and dosage of childhood immunizations. Insurers ar

Apple’s alien thriller Invasion is back for season 3 in August

In season 3, those perspectives collide for the first time, as the series’ main characters are brought together to work as a team on a critical mission to infiltrate the alien mothership. The ultimate apex aliens have finally emerged, rapidly spreading their deadly tendrils across our planet. It will take all our heroes working together, using all their experience and expertise, to save our species. New relationships are formed, old relationship are challenged and even shattered, as our internat

Apple patent hints at massive leap in camera sensor tech, nearing human eye dynamic range

Apple is investigating new image sensor technology that promises up to 20 stops of dynamic range. That’s a level that surpasses the ARRI ALEXA 35, and gets really close to matching the dynamic range of the average human eye. Here’s what that actually means. 1,048,576:1 A newly published patent, “Image Sensor With Stacked Pixels Having High Dynamic Range And Low Noise,” first spotted by Y.M.Cinema Magazine, reveals Apple’s plans for a next-generation sensor that rivals the dynamic range of curr

This $100 Android phone has no business being this good for the price

ZDNET's key takeaways The Nuu N20 has a 6.5-inch, 90Hz display and is available now on Amazon for $125. For the money, the N20 would make for a great first phone or for someone on a tight budget. It's far from a flagship device, but it doesn't feel like it costs only $125. $129.99 at Amazon Are you tired of the soaring cost of phones? If you have a family of four, you could easily spend $4,000 on four flagship devices, and that could happen regularly. Also: This $400 Motorola comes with a bu

I Hated the Apple Intelligence Button on My iPhone 16. Here's How I Turned It Off for Good

I'm a long time Apple fan, and I was so excited to upgrade to an iPhone 16 last fall. After spending five years with my well-loved, but outdated iPhone 11, I was ready for all the usual perks: a better battery life, nicer cameras and, most exciting to me, a new Barbie pink color. But what I didn't expect is that one new addition would threaten to ruin my entire experience with my brand new phone. If you've upgraded from an older iPhone in the past few years, you might have been surprised to see

Business Travel Is Evolving Faster Than Ever. We’ll Help You Navigate It

It might feel like a distant memory, but in 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic radically transformed how people lived, and specifically how they worked. At the time, plenty of health experts, CEOs, and publications (including WIRED) predicted that Covid would grind business travel to a halt indefinitely. If our day-to-day tasks and meetings could happen using Zoom, Slack, and other online tools, the logic went, then why not apply that same digital-first philosophy to work trips? But near the end of tha

AI virtual personality YouTubers, or ‘VTubers,’ are earning millions

One of the most popular gaming YouTubers is named Bloo, and has bright blue wavy hair and dark blue eyes. But he isn't a human — he's a fully virtual personality powered by artificial intelligence. "I'm here to keep my millions of viewers worldwide entertained and coming back for more," said Bloo in an interview with CNBC. "I'm all about good vibes and engaging content. I'm built by humans, but boosted by AI." Bloo is a virtual YouTuber, or VTuber, who has built a massive following of 2.5 millio

Paramount pays Trump $16 million to settle Harris lawsuit

Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle its lawsuit with Donald Trump filed during the 2020 presidential campaign, according toThe Washington Post. The deal is controversial as legal experts said Paramount had a strong chance of prevailing in court and may have settled to smooth the path for its $2.4 billion Skydance merger. Paramount said the $16 million would be allocated to Trump's future presidential library and not paid to him "directly or indirectly." In addition, it "does not i

Cloudflare just changed the internet, and it's bad news for the AI giants

iStock / Getty Images Plus The major internet Content Delivery Network (CDN), Cloudflare, has declared war on AI companies. Starting July 1, Cloudflare now blocks by default AI web crawlers accessing content from your websites without permission or compensation. The change addresses a real problem. My own small site, where I track all my stories, Practical Technology, has been slowed dramatically at times by AI crawlers. It's not just me. Numerous website owners have reported that AI crawlers,

Scam Travel Websites Are Real: What To Know Before You Book Your Trip

Summer is officially here and you might be looking to beat the heat with a trip to a popular beach or dream overseas vacation, but experts warn that online scammers are looking to take advantage of eager travelers. Vacation scams are nothing new. Travel can be expensive and people are looking to grab the best prices they can get, says Seckin Yilgoren, Mastercard's senior vice president for security solutions for North American markets. This is especially true now as many people deal are dealin

8 Best Pet Cameras (2025), Tested and Reviewed

Others Tested Courtesy of Petcube Petcube Cam for $32: This simple, compact camera doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it’s a great price for being a reliable, basic pet camera. Like others in Petcube's lineup, it has a 1080p HD camera, night vision, and two-way audio. It sits on hinges and can angle upward and downward, with the option to flip the video feed in-app if you want to lay it horizontally. You'll need the brand's subscription Care plan to get any features beyond live feed.

Topics: app box camera cat pet

This budget Android phone impressed me more than I expected - here's why

ZDNET's key takeaways The Nuu N20 has a 6.5-inch, 90Hz display and is available now on Amazon for $125. For the money, the N20 would make for a great first phone or for someone on a tight budget. It's far from a flagship device, but it doesn't feel like it costs only $125. $129.99 at Amazon Are you tired of the soaring cost of phones? If you have a family of four, you could easily spend $4,000 on four flagship devices, and that could happen regularly. Also: This $400 Motorola comes with a bu

The best gaming PCs of 2025: Expert tested

High-end gaming PCs feature the latest processors and graphics cards for top-tier performance, perfect for tackling intensive triple-A titles. However, if you're more of a casual gamer or buying for a younger player, you don't need to break the bank to get a solid gaming experience. Budget options with older or lower-end components still offer plenty of power for popular games -- just be prepared to adjust your settings. For those looking to maximize value, building your own PC is a great way t

Topics: gaming intel pc power ram

I've tested dozens of ThinkPads: Here's the Lenovo model I keep coming back to

ZDNET's key takeaways Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Aura Edition is available now starting at $2,419. It combines all the utility of a ThinkPad with exceptional battery life. It's expensive, and some of the Aura Edition features are being discontinued. $2,419 at B&H Photo-Video Lenovo's 10th-generation ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Aura Edition is a business-minded laptop with a few design perks to differentiate it from the crowd. We're talking a convertible form factor, pen support, ample I/O, and fantas

A proof-of-concept neural brain implant providing speech

Stephen Hawking, a British physicist and arguably the most famous man suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), communicated with the world using a sensor installed in his glasses. That sensor used tiny movements of a single muscle in his cheek to select characters on a screen. Once he typed a full sentence at a rate of roughly one word per minute, the text was synthesized into speech by a DECtalk TC01 synthesizer, which gave him his iconic, robotic voice. But a lot has changed since

Deaf Teenager and 24-Year-Old Gain Ability to Hear After Experimental Gene Therapy

In recent years, gene therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for genetic forms of congenital deafness—hearing loss that’s present at birth—in children. A new study shows that gene therapy can bestow hearing in teenagers and adults with this condition, too. The study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature Medicine, recruited patients with deafness or severe hearing impairment caused by mutations in the OTOF gene. This gene manufactures a protein called Otoferlin, which plays a critical