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Will Mortgage Rates Drop in a Recession? This Realtor Has a Hot Take

Mortgage rates have typically fallen during recessionary periods. Douglas Rissing/Getty Images In today's news cycle, recession headlines come and go. Amid trade war anxieties, stock market roller-coaster rides and global conflict, no one is hoping for a major economic setback -- except recessions have often created more favorable conditions for mortgage rates. Since the beginning of 2025, average 30-year fixed mortgage rates have been stuck in the high 6.5% to 7% range. Most housing experts,

Microsoft unveils Windows 11 25H2 - here's who can try it now and how

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Microsoft has rolled out the initial build of this year's annual update for Windows 11, known as 25H2. Now available for Windows insiders, the 2025 version should install and run without too many hiccups, promising a smoother experience compared with the launch of the 24H2 edition. Also: Can't upgrade your Windows 10 PC? Here are your options before it all ends in 3 months In an IT blog post published Friday, Microsoft explained how and why Windows

Scarlett Johansson Reveals Why the New ‘Tower of Terror’ Movie Is Taking So Long

Get a creepy new look at Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s body horror movie, Together. James Gunn says the Amanda Waller show is still happening, despite rumors to the contrary. Plus, what’s coming on Rick & Morty. To me, my spoilers! Tower of Terror During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Scarlett Johansson stated the Tower of Terror movie she’s attached to star in is still “taking shape.” It’s a hard nut to crack. Harder than you think, because the ride itself, there’s some lore t

Microsoft Says Its New AI System Diagnosed Patients 4 Times More Accurately Than Human Doctors

Microsoft has taken “a genuine step towards medical superintelligence,” says Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of the company’s artificial intelligence arm. The tech giant says its powerful new AI tool can diagnose disease four times more accurately and at significantly less cost than a panel of human physicians. The experiment tested whether the tool could correctly diagnose a patient with an ailment, mimicking work typically done by a human doctor. The Microsoft team used 304 case studies sourced from t

I’ve tried every browser, but this is the one that works best for me

Andy Walker / Android Authority I open Microsoft Edge, and everything just feels right. It’s not flashy or experimental. It’s stable, fast, and capable. It “just works.” I’ve jumped between browsers over the years, the way someone tests mattresses. I’m always seeking that one that feels just right. But no matter what I try, I keep returning to Edge. Microsoft’s modern Chromium-based browser has earned my trust with thoughtful features, dependable performance, and a seamless cross-platform expe

Microsoft's custom AI chip hits delays, giving Nvidia more runway

Microsoft's push into custom artificial intelligence hardware has hit a serious snag. Its next-generation Maia chip, code-named Braga, won't enter mass production until 2026 – at least six months behind schedule. The Information reports that the delay raises fresh doubts about Microsoft's ability to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the AI chip market and underscores the steep technical and organizational hurdles of building competitive silicon. Microsoft launched its chip program to reduce its h

Reverse Engineering the Microchip CLB

Microchip added a very cool peripheral called the Configurable Logic Block (CLB) to there new PIC16F13145 microcontroller family. It’s essentially a small FPGA (32 LUTs) that can connect to the internals of the chip. However, they don’t document how to configure it yourself, only referring you to their online configurator tool that submits jobs to an API that places and routes to LUTs. The [CLB] Interface does not appear as an SFR in the Register Map and is not directly user-accessible; it is

Microsoft says Windows 11 is 2x faster, except they used ancient PCs to benchmark Windows 10

Facepalm: Microsoft is once again aggressively pushing users to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11. This time, the Redmond firm is boasting that the newer OS is up to 2.3x faster than its predecessor – but fails to mention its deeply flawed testing methodology. Tech giants aren't renowned for their honesty and openness. When it comes to making claims and pointing to benchmarks, it's not just Nvidia that plays fast and loose with the truth. With Windows 10's October 14 end-of-life date approach

Waiting for Mortgage Rates to Drop in a Recession? This Realtor Has a Hot Take

Mortgage rates have typically fallen during recessionary periods. Douglas Rissing/Getty Images Recession headlines come and go in today's news cycle, which is filled with trade war anxieties, stock market roller-coaster rides and global conflict. No one wants to pin their hopes on a major economic setback. But since recessions have often created more favorable conditions for mortgage rates, many of my clients want to know: Will buying a home become more affordable in a recession? Since the beg

Microsoft extends free Windows 10 security updates into 2026

Last fall, Microsoft announced that individuals who wanted to keep using Windows 10 past its official end-of-support date could do so by opting into the company's Extended Security Update (ESU) program at a cost of $30 per PC. That payment would get users a single year of additional security updates. Today, less than four months before that October 14, 2025, cutoff, Microsoft is announcing additional options for people who can't or don't want to pay that fee. Individuals who want to pay $30 for

So Long, Blue Screen of Death. Amazingly, You'll Be Missed

For decades, the Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD to its friends, has instilled a mix of panic, dread, exasperation, and rage across countless Windows users. But now, Microsoft is getting ready to retire it. According to a Microsoft blog post, the Windows 11 crash screen—or, as the company puts it, “unexpected restart screen”—will soon adopt a distinctly more minimalist vibe. Along with scrapping the blue (in favor of a perhaps even more dread-inducing black), the revamp also ditches the sad face

Microsoft Retires Legendary 'Blue Screen of Death' After 40 Years of Frowny Faces

Like Pudding Pops and Benetton sweaters, another 1980s icon is gone. After 40 years of delivering the tragic news of a PC crash to Windows users, Microsoft's infamous "blue screen of death" will be going away. But not to worry -- a black screen of death will be replacing it, albeit without the sad emoticon face. The infamous "blue screen of death" has been around since Windows 1.0 came out in 1985. Named for its bright blue color, it's a critical error screen that pops up on computers using the

Nvidia notches 5-day win streak as it hits record highs

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, speaks during the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, on June 11, 2025. Nvidia stock rose for a fifth consecutive day Friday as the chipmaker notched fresh highs and investors shook off China concerns. The rise in shares has helped the artificial intelligence chipmaking giant regain its seat as the most valuable company. The stock is up 66% since hitting its 52-week low in early

As job losses loom, Anthropic launches program to track AI’s economic fallout

Silicon Valley has opined on the promise of generative AI to forge new career paths and economic opportunities – like the newly coveted solo unicorn startup. Banks and analysts have touted AI’s potential to boost GDP. But those gains are unlikely to be distributed equally in the face of what many expect to be widespread AI-related job loss. Amid this backdrop, Anthropic on Friday launched its Economic Futures Program, a new initiative to support research on AI’s impacts on the labor market and

OpenAI’s Unreleased AGI Paper Could Complicate Microsoft Negotiations

A small clause inside OpenAI’s contract with Microsoft, once considered a distant hypothetical, has now become a flashpoint in one of the biggest partnerships in tech. The clause states that if OpenAI’s board ever declares it has developed artificial general intelligence (AGI), it would limit Microsoft’s contracted access to the startup’s future technologies. Microsoft, which has invested more than $13 billion in OpenAI, is now reportedly pushing for the removal of the clause and is considering

Here’s where you can buy microSD Express cards for the Switch 2

is an editor covering deals and commerce. He joined in 2018, and served as commerce editor at Polygon until May 2025. The Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and so you might be in the market for a microSD card to store more games. While all microSD cards look the same, only microSD Express cards will work on the Switch 2 for storing and playing games. The card you used in your original Switch or Switch Lite will only offer very limited functionality if installed into Nintendo’s new handheld, letting yo

Anthropic has a plan to combat AI-triggered job losses predicted by its CEO

NurPhoto/Getty Images The rise and rapid adoption of advanced AI tools has led to widespread concerns about mass job displacement and other economic disruptions. Now, one of the industry's biggest players is looking ahead, hoping to understand what steps can be taken in the present to brace the world for the future. AI start-up Anthropic announced Friday that it was launching its Economic Futures Program, a research initiative devoted to studying and preparing for AI's near-term economic impac

Forget Google and Microsoft: OpenAI may be building the ultimate work suite of apps and services

Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images OpenAI is building new features within ChatGPT that would make it a direct competitor with workplace productivity suites like Google Workplace and Microsoft Office 365, The Information reported Tuesday. ZDNET has reached out to OpenAI for comment. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) Also: How to get Windows 10 extended secur

How Anthropic's new initiative will prepare for AI's looming economic impact

NurPhoto/Getty Images The rise and rapid adoption of advanced AI tools has led to widespread concerns about mass job displacement and other economic disruptions. Now, one of the industry's biggest players is looking ahead, hoping to understand what steps can be taken in the present to brace the world for the future. AI start-up Anthropic announced Friday that it was launching its Economic Futures Program, a research initiative devoted to studying and preparing for AI's near-term economic impac

Microsoft Edge introduces AI history search and performance slowdown alerts

Microsoft's browser provides a fast, secure, and modern web experience. Browse the web anywhere with one seamless experience from your phone to your computer and other signed-in devices. Microsoft Edge is also a safe browser that gives you the tools to protect your privacy and security online. How does Edge compare to Chrome and Firefox in terms of performance and usability? Edge is built on the Chromium engine, similar to Chrome, and often offers comparable or better performance, especially r

The Windows kernel is about to receive a security-focused redesign after CrowdStrike crash

Why it matters: The kernel space is the core component of a computer operating system, where critical hardware management and device driver code reside in memory. If a kernel-level driver malfunctions, the entire OS can behave erratically – or simply crash and burn with a BSOD. Microsoft has stated that it is working on a significant change to the Windows architecture to help prevent another large-scale incident like the one involving CrowdStrike a year ago. Microsoft is developing a new securi

Nvidia heads for 5-day win streak as it hits record highs

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, speaks during the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. Nvidia stock rose for a fifth consecutive day Friday as the chipmaker hovered near fresh highs and investors shook off China concerns. The rise in shares has helped the artificial intelligence chipmaking giant regain its seat as the most valuable company. The stock is up 66% since hitting its 52-week low in ear

This city is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for OnlyOffice and Linux - here's why

Jumping Rocks/Contributor/Getty Is it something in the water? First, it was Denmark bidding Microsoft adieu. Then it was the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Now it's Lyon, France's third-largest city and a leading economic hub, sweeping Microsoft Windows and Office suite away to replace them with Linux, OnlyOffice, NextCloud, and PostgreSQL. Also: Ready to ditch Windows? 'End of 10' makes converting your PC to Linux easier than ever So, why is Lyon making this move? Well, it's not due to

Is classic Outlook crashing when you open or start an email? There's now a fix for that

ZDNET Those of you who use classic Outlook may have noticed the program acting more temperamental than usual. There's a reason for that. In a recent support article, Microsoft acknowledged that Outlook may crash when you start a new email or when you reply to or forward an existing email. Well, fret no more because a fix is afoot. On Tuesday, Microsoft confirmed that it has squashed the bug with the latest builds of Outlook for versions 2021, 2024, and several enterprise editions. The fix is a

No, Windows didn't kill the Blue Screen of Death, it just got a makeover - what's changed

Bloomberg / Getty Images The Blue Screen of Death in Windows is never a good thing. But Microsoft is now making the screen a bit less bright and a bit more helpful. Also: How to get Windows 10 extended security updates for free: 2 options A new BSOD In an update to Windows 11 coming later this year, the old BSOD will give way to a new BSOD -- only with black replacing blue. Painted in a dark shade similar to the Windows Update screen, the new display will not only be simpler and more streaml

Show HN: PILF, The ultimate solution to catastrophic oblivion on AI models

Technical Notes: PILF (Predictive Integrity Learning Framework) Document Version: 3.0 Core Concept: A cognitive learning framework designed to transform fixed hyperparameters (like learning rate, model capacity) into dynamic policies driven in real-time by the intrinsic "surprise" ( Surprise ) of data. It is essentially an adaptive hyperparameter scheduling algorithm that allows a model to autonomously decide "how much to learn" and "with what capacity to learn" based on the value of the learn

Finally, We’re Seeing More Ways to Quadruple Your Switch 2’s Paltry Storage

If you’re like me, your hungry Switch 2’s belly is already full up with a slate of launch games combined with your backlog of original Switch titles. When a growing number of games take up 60GB or more on your new handheld, you’ll want to look for extra storage options. Unfortunately, every option available right now costs close to half of what you already need to spend on Nintendo’s $450 handheld console. The Switch 2 only accepts microSD Express cards, not stock-standard microSD. Express-leve

Quantum computing is having a moment. But the technology remains futuristic

Microsoft's Majorana 1 quantum computing chip Microsoft It doesn't quite have the buzz of artificial intelligence, but quantum computing is having a moment of its own. Some of the most powerful institutions in the world, including Google , Microsoft , Amazon , IBM and the U.S. government, are spending many millions of dollars in a race to develop and build the first practical quantum computer. Startups focused on quantum technology attracted about $2 billion last year, according to a McKinsey &

This city is the latest European government to dump Microsoft for Linux

Jumping Rocks/Contributor/Getty Is it something in the water? First, it was Denmark bidding Microsoft adieu. Then it was the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Now it's Lyon, France's third-largest city and a leading economic hub, sweeping Microsoft Windows and Office suite away to replace them with Linux, OnlyOffice, NextCloud, and PostgreSQL. Also: Ready to ditch Windows? 'End of 10' makes converting your PC to Linux easier than ever So, why is Lyon making this move? Well, it's not due to

SoftBank CEO says he's 'all in' on OpenAI, reveals he's long wanted Microsoft's spot as main backer

Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., speaks during the company's annual general meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, June 27, 2025. SoftBank is "all in" on OpenAI, CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday, as the Japanese tech giant looks to realize its vision of "artificial superintelligence." This year, the Japanese multinational conglomerate has been increasing its investments in OpenAI and participating in joint ventures such as the $500 billion Stargate proj