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Apple Is Preparing A Wave Of ‘Ultra’ Products To Launch

Modern smartphone Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Apple Macbook Pro laptop. Cupertino technology gadgetes. Brand logo name. Vadym Plysiuk/Getty Images

Following the announcement of the MacBook Neo – the cheapest MacBook that Apple has ever released – Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter, suggests that Apple might be readying a new lineup of “Ultra” products. While the company already offers Apple Watch Ultra and M-series Ultra chips for its high-end Macs, the journalist reports that Apple could bring the naming convention to the iPhone and the MacBook in the near future. Gurman also claims that AirPod Ultra and iPad Ultra could be in the cards as well.

The journalist says that Apple isn’t moving away from its popular Pro brand. On the contrary, it’s planning to expand to even higher prices. Consumers now have the option to buy a MacBook Neo, Air, or Pro, and they will soon be able to go an spend even more on a MacBook Ultra. The same would be true for the iPhone, as the company currently sells the “e” model, the base model, the Air, and the Pro.

Gurman says that the redesigned MacBook Pro with an OLED display and the foldable iPhone, both set to be released later this year, could end up with “Ultra” names. They’d also start at higher price points and feature technologies that are currently not available in those lineups.

Ultra is the new fold

eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro Max on a tablet. Behind it, a Mac Studio and Magic Keyboard José Adorno/BGR

Even though Gurman was careful not to guarantee that Apple will call its foldable phone the iPhone Ultra, he suggests that it will be Ultra in at least one sense: It’s $2,000 price tag, in addition to a far bigger inner display and new technologies like in-display sensors. He admits that Apple could be a bit more literal and just call this upcoming device the iPhone Fold. However, it would make sense to tag it with the “Ultra” moniker if it wants to start building on the branding.

After all, besides a price bump over the current iPhone Pro models, Apple has never sold a foldable device, which could highlight all the latest technologies it’s been developing. Rumors so far suggest that Apple was able to crack the crease-free look, which is one major issue of most foldables on the market. In addition, the company might add a few features from iPadOS to the iPhone, which could indicate the inclusion of more RAM or a slightly improved processor.

Some of the features that could make the leap from the iPad to the iPhone Ultra include proper multitasking capabilities, Apple Pencil support, and Split View. In my opinion, the only “non-Ultra” feature about the foldable phone is that reports suggest it won’t have three main cameras, but two, which means that, in at least one way, the Pro might remain superior.

What does a MacBook Ultra look like?

A MacBook Pro on a desk running macOS Tahoe José Adorno/BGR

Gurman also suggests that the next high-end MacBook Pro update could theoretically get the MacBook Ultra label, as it’s expected to get an all-new OLED display, a touchscreen, a Dynamic Island, and even cellular capabilities. All those features could justify a higher price point, but it’s unclear if that means Apple would phase out the M-series Pro chip in favor of the Max and Ultra options.

After all, an Ultra product should probably have an Ultra chip. That said, with the current memory crisis, and Apple going so far as to reduce the maximum amount of RAM its most powerful computer can ship with, it’s unclear if it will release multiple options or focus on ensuring that these high-end devices are at least somewhat affordable.

That said, the MacBook Pro will undoubtedly get a lot more “Ultra” later this year, and macOS 27 is a great indicator of that. After all, Apple already announced it’s ditching support for Intel Macs with this new software update. As the company will be free to focus on its proprietary hardware, we might be looking at a big year for the Mac. With the M5 chip now widely available, Gurman also says the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and iMac will get this new processor, while the company still aims to unveil the M6 lineup in 2026.

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New Windows Malware Impersonates Everyday Apps To Infect Your Computer

illustrated concept for downloading file hovering above laptop, man's hands visible in background SuPatMaN/Shutterstock

Malware has become a prevalent part of the online ecosystem. It’s become so bad, in fact, that the FBI has even warned Americans to replace certain wi-fi routers in the past, to help avoid known vulnerabilities. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we’ve even seen some bad actors turning to the growing AI expansion to help fuel their efforts to create new ways to expose users to malware. However, one of the oldest tricks in the book is the old ‘bait and switch.’ This is where bad actors take malware and disguise it as something else, thus tricking users into downloading the malware and infecting their own systems. Unfortunately, it looks like a group of threat actors has turned to this method once more, as Microsoft has issued warnings about a new malware threat that impersonates everyday applications.

According to Microsoft’s security blog, the bad actors behind the attack are using highly convincing phishing emails to trick users into interacting with counterfeit PDF attachments. After opening the PDF, the users are then directed to click a button to “open with Adobe.” However, instead of taking the user to the official Adobe website, it takes them to a spoofed download page instead of the document they are trying to view. From here, the system automatically downloads the infected file. Microsoft says that there are also versions of the malware system that prompt users about “out of date” programs, sending them to download infected files masquerading as Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet.

Deeper than just faking a name

red warning sign on screen, exclamation point in center, triangular malware warning sign Olemedia/Getty Images

What makes this malware campaign especially troubling, though, is that it goes far beyond simply masquerading as the programs that it pretends to be. Instead, Microsoft says that each of the fake software is able to successfully act like the legitimate app by using an Extended Validation certificate that has been issued to TrustConnect Software PTY LTD.

This means that when installing the programs, they’ll appear as “signed,” which is usually a sign that something can be trusted. Once installed, Microsoft notes that the fake applications then deploy their malware, infecting the target computer with tools like Tactical RMM, ScreenConnect, and other remote monitoring or management applications. What makes this malware especially tricky, too, is the fact that the system creates a secondary copy of itself under the Program Files directory, thus reinforcing that it is an “official” application. From there, the actual malware digs into the system as a Windows service, which allows it to execute itself during system startup.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that we’ve seen malware pretend to be legitimate apps. When these campaigns surface, though, it is a good reminder of just how far some of these threat actors are willing to go to score a hit on someone’s machine.

Something to look out for

laptop showing a scanning for viruses screen and progress bar on screen KGBR/Shutterstock

While the brunt of this attack appears to be mostly focused toward workers, based on Microsoft’s report, all users should be aware of the issue, and if you receive something in an email that prompts you to download anything, do not open or install any of the applications that it installs. Instead, make sure to visit the official websites yourself, download the files you need, and then if the file still prompts you to download or upgrade, you probably shouldn’t trust it.

You can also check in directly with any coworkers or friends through other services such as text messages, direct messages, etc, if you receive any emails with strange links. While it might sound silly to approach every attachment with this kind of caution, it’s one of the best ways to help ensure you never become infected with malware designed to steal your private information. You may also want to look into installing a trusted antivirus for your Windows PC, as those can help catch things that might get through your network.

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7 Products Apple Already Discontinued In 2026

Apple CEO Tim Cook stands next to a display of newly redesigned MacBook Air laptop during the WWDC22 at Apple Park Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

It’s only March, but Apple has already discontinued seven products this year. We expect this to be a big year for the company, and we’ve already seen 20 leaked Apple products to look forward to in 2026. This also means there are a lot of old products that will be discontinued from the lineup. In January, Apple stopped selling its first-generation item tracker in favor of a new AirTag with several important improvements. Then in March, the company announced several new products that are replacing previous generations.

In the span of a few days, Apple announced the all-new iPhone 17e with MagSafe charging, a new MacBook Air with an M5 processor, M5 Pro and M5 Max variations of the MacBook Pro, and a really cheap laptop line called the MacBook Neo that will be available on March 11. As if these releases weren’t enough, Apple also introduced the iPad Air M4, which is being launched only a year after the M3 option was introduced, and two new displays that expand the Studio Display brand while killing the Pro Display XDR line. Here’s everything you need to know about these discontinued products and their successors.

First-generation AirTag

Three AirTags on a table José Adorno/BGR

Apple introduced the first generation of its item tracker, the AirTag, almost five years ago. At that moment, the world was struggling with a pandemic, so finding lost items while stuck at home felt a bit weird. Still, as life slowly got back to normal, the item tracker started to make more sense, as it could be attached to backpacks, luggage, keychains, and other belongings. Eventually, it even became commonplace for AirTag users to put them inside their vehicle or a nice jacket they didn’t want to lose.

From the first generation to the new one, not much has changed. Second-generation AirTags still rock the same circular design with a removable coin cell battery, but Apple improved Precision Finding by adding a second-generation ultra-wideband chip to the device, expanding the range up to 1.5 times further than before. The new generation also added a louder speaker, which makes it easier for people to discover an AirTag nearby or find the ones they lost.

Perhaps the biggest change in the new generation is that Precision Finding is now available on the Apple Watch, provided both the AirTag and the watch are new models. The company has also improved the reset process on the AirTag while maintaining the same price as before: $29 for a single unit or $99 for a pack of four.

iPhone 16e

Up close shot of the iPhone 16e notch Christian de Looper/BGR

Introduced in early 2025, the iPhone 16e was the spiritual successor to the iPhone SE. While Apple made its cheapest iPhone a bit more expensive in this iteration, it also tried to make it feel more like a part of the current generation of iPhones, much like Samsung does with its FE models. However, when Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, it felt somewhat out of place, as it had a lower-binned A18 chip, a single 48 MP main camera that wasn’t the same as the base iPhone 16 model, and lacked MagSafe charging, which had been available on all main iPhone models since the iPhone 12. Not only that, but the iPhone 16e still lacked the Dynamic Island design of the other models.

Apple was able to address many of those issues with the new iPhone 17e. The budget model now includes MagSafe support and the Ceramic Shield 2 technology introduced with the iPhone 17 lineup. It even features the same C1X 5G modem chip as the iPhone Air. It still has a lower-binned A19, cameras that aren’t as good as the rest of the lineup, and an iPhone 14-era camera notch, but the iPhone 17e now feels closer to a proper mainline iPhone — not just an SE variation.

M4 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

Up close shot of the MacBook Pro dock on macOS Tahoe José Adorno/BGR

With its early March announcement, Apple also discontinued some MacBook products with the M4 chip, as it no longer sells the MacBook Air M4 or the MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro and M4 Max processors. These laptops represented a big leap for the lineup, as Apple introduced a new Sky Blue color, added a 12 MP webcam, and made the MacBook Air M4 cheaper with a starting price of $999. With the MacBook Pro M4 Pro and Max models, the company added a nano-texture option for the first time, in addition to an improved, brighter display.

With the M5 generation, Apple isn’t focusing on external changes, as the incoming models look almost identical to the outgoing ones. However, the M5 chip offers a different GPU with Neural Accelerators built into every core, which Apple says will greatly improve graphics performance. Specifically for the M5 Pro and M5 Max, the company fundamentally changed its silicon with a new Fusion Architecture, which allows it to connect two dies into a single chip, creating new possibilities to scale GPUs.

Some buyers may want to wait for the rumored MacBook Pro redesign later in 2026, which could include touchscreen capabilities and 5G connectivity. But the M5 MacBook Air might be the perfect choice for those who have been hanging on to their M1 iteration since late 2020.

iPad Air M3

Despite being introduced only a year ago, Apple has already discontinued the M3 iPad Air, as it unveiled a new version with the M4 processor. From the outside, the iPad Air continues to look exactly the same since the M2 version, but Apple has made a few internal tweaks to the new M4 model. Besides a new chip, Apple also added its own N1 connectivity chip for this device and the C1X 5G modem for those who choose the cellular version. With these new components, the iPad Air gets more reliable AirDrop and improved connectivity features with other Apple devices.

However, what’s interesting here is how quickly Apple has been updating the iPad Air lineup over the past two generations, especially when there weren’t many differences from one version to the next. As a result, these new models are pretty much only significant upgrades for someone coming from a pre-M1 device. Otherwise, the capabilities presented with these devices are just too similar, and even the color options continue to be the same.

Apple touts the iPad Air line as great devices for students, but with a minimum $549 price point and many first-party accessories starting at over $100, this device might not be as enticing as the new MacBook Neo, for example. Still, Apple continues to update it, in case you want the latest chip possible.

2022 Studio Display and Pro Display XDR

Apple's Studio Display and Mac Studio on a table José Adorno/BGR

Finally, the most interesting products discontinued by Apple in early March are the 2019 Pro Display XDR and the 2022 Studio Display. The Pro Display XDR was unveiled at the last in-person WWDC keynote alongside the redesigned Mac Pro. At the time, Apple touted this display as something akin to a cinema’s reference monitor, but at a more affordable price (still at least $4,999 for everyday users).

Over the following three years, this was the only monitor Apple would sell before it introduced the Studio Display alongside the Mac Studio in 2022. This option was a lot more affordable (yet still expensive), as it started at $1,599.

With the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR models, Apple has moved all of its monitors under the same brand. While the cheaper version still lacks HDR and 120 Hz support, Apple addressed that with the XDR version. Compared to the Pro Display’s 32-inch screen, the Studio Display XDR has a smaller 27-inch display area. Still, Apple was able to make this product considerably cheaper than the one it replaced while adding new features.

But these seven products are just the tip of the iceberg in 2026. In the coming months, Apple is expected to continue ditching current models as it refreshes other Macs, iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, and more.

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MacBook Neo Reviews Are Out, And Critics Are All Saying

Apple will officially launch the MacBook Neo this Wednesday, March 11. Ahead of the release, journalists and influencers shared their hands-on impressions, first thoughts, and reviews of Apple’s upcoming budget-friendly laptop. Interesting enough, there seems to have been a general consensus about this laptop: This laptop is a steal for what it offers, and if you’re concerned about anything it doesn’t feature, you should be prepared to buy a more powerful MacBook.

From the early reviews, iJustine and Tyler Stallman are the most interesting ones to watch, as they showcase how one can edit videos and photos with the MacBook Neo even with several apps open in the background. While Apple seems to have primarily sent out the 512GB model for reviews, the only real difference between the 256GB and 512GB models is the addition of Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard. Therefore, whether you’re buying the entry-level model or spending $100 more, you’re still getting the same performance. After all, this laptop has 8GB of RAM, and Apple offers the same A18 Pro chip in both configurations.

If you need real power, this laptop isn’t for you

On The Verge’s review, as with a few others, the drawbacks of the MacBook Neo are the 8GB memory limitation, lack of keyboard backlighting, and slow 20W charger. Meanwhile, Bloomberg pointed out that it would have been nice if this laptop were slightly thinner than the MacBook Air or had more vibrant colors. While these are all fair points, and Apple might address some of these in a second generation (as the A19 Pro supports 12GB of RAM), it’s also important to note that if you require more RAM for daily tasks, you want a more true-to-color display, or you miss Apple’s Force Touch on the trackpad, then it means this laptop probably just isn’t for you.

This is where Apple draws a line between consumers switching from a Chromebook and or a Windows laptop and long-time Mac users. The goal here isn’t to attract someone who is looking to upgrade from an old MacBook Air or MacBook Pro — Apple wants to to break into a new price range to seek out new customers, knowing this won’t fit the bill for many current MacBook owners.

Other missing features, as noted by 9to5Mac, include a 1080p webcam without Center Stage support — unlike newer Macs with a 12MP Center Stage camera — Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 7, fewer microphones, and no Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Once again, these probably won’t be dealbreakers for anyone on a budget.

Is the MacBook Neo worth it?

From what reviewers have said, the MacBook Neo is the laptop to get if you’re in school or you just need a laptop for simple, everyday tasks. So, if you work with spreadsheets, like to listen to songs on a streaming service, check social media feeds, ask ChatGPT for help, and occasionally need a bit more power for light photo and video editing, this colorful new MacBook is worth considering.

One important note is that the A18 Pro isn’t a slouch compared to Apple’s older M-series chips. While the A18 Pro debuted on the iPhone 16 series, it’s significantly more powerful than the M1 processor, and for some tasks, it’s on par with the M2, M3, and even the M4.

While 8GB of memory will impact the longevity of this laptop somewhat, anyone who needs more power can spend a little more on a more recent MacBook Air. Now, we just have to wait and see how this laptop performs after months of use, how it handles software updates, and where Apple will take the Neo line in future generations.

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Google Messages Is About To Get A Lot Better At

person holding smartphone, texts visible on black screen in background Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

Text phishing continues to be a major issue, even though most smartphones have moved beyond standard SMS messaging in favor of RCS or iMessage. While Google has already been taking some great measures to protect users from text scams, the data shows that scammers are still looking for ways to get around those safety settings. One way that threat actors have become fond of is to use a device called an SMS blaster, which forces devices to connect to it by downgrading them to 2G connections. This requires the bad actor to carry the blaster around to a localized environment, but once it connects to a device, it can send a barrage of phishing scam texts to the user.

Google previously recommended that users disable 2G connections on their smartphones. However, a recent breakdown of the latest Google Messages beta by the folks at Android Authority suggests that the company is taking another step toward protecting Android users. Google has added code that points toward some kind of dedicated “SMS blaster protection.” Right now, the code specifically seems to only point to a toggle, which suggests users will be able to turn it on and off. Unfortunately, details on how it might work are pretty much nonexistent at the moment.

Added protection to Android’s already strong anti-spam features

person using smartphone with lock icon above, security concept Tsingha25/Getty Images

While this feature has yet to go live — there also aren’t any exact details on how it would work — it is just one possible addition to what is already a fairly strong arsenal of features that Google employs on Android phones to help keep users safe. And those features continue to grow, too, with Google recently updating Circle to Search to allow users to check texts for scams really easily using one of Android’s best features.

On top of the Circle to Search option, Google has continued to update Android and RCS, which is the underlying service that Google Messages uses to send messages between devices, to include end-to-end encryption as well as higher-quality messaging capabilities. This helps protect your messages while also ensuring that threat actors can’t easily get access to what you’re typing to your friends and family. Because this SMS blaster protection toggle has only been found in the code, thanks to an APK teardown, there is no real information on when it might debut for mainstream users.

However, the fact that Google is looking into the feature suggests that it wants to find a way to curb the use of SMS blasters sooner rather than later. So hopefully there will be more updates about this feature in the coming months. Until then, though, make sure to follow important safety rules when interacting with messages on your Android phone.

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New iOS 26.4 Beta Brings The Real Reason Why You’ll

A distorted face emoji being sent on iMessage on an iPhone 17 Pro Max José Adorno/BGR

It won’t take long for Apple to introduce iOS 26.4 to all users, as it just seeded beta 4. With rumors suggesting that the new Siri features might be introduced with iOS 26.5, this means there is also no reason for the company to stay too long in this beta cycle. After all, it already announced new products over the past week, and the next batch of announcements shouldn’t come before WWDC 2026, when Apple is expected to introduce iOS 27 and the other new operating system updates.

Even though iOS 26.4 is full of new features, the latest beta 4 introduced what could possibly be the real reason why many iPhone users will update their iPhone soon: New emojis. While the number of emojis introduced each year has been decreasing considerably, there will be eight new figures available with iOS 26.4, including a gender neutral option for the ballet dancer, plus skin tone modifiers for people wrestling and dancers with bunny ears. Of all the new figures, the distorted face is likely to be the most popular due to its comic value — and it’s fairly easy to see why people will use it all the time.

iOS x.4 has a history of bringing new emojis to users

Up-close look at the new emojis coming to iOS 26.4 José Adorno/BGR

Apple is accustomed to introducing new emojis around March, depending on its iOS x.4 schedule. Firstly, the Unicode Consortium introduces a preview of the new emojis it plans to make available, and then companies like Google, Samsung, Meta, and Apple start work on adopting these new figures.

Unfortunately, over the past few years, Unicode has introduced just a handful of new figures, as we already have several hundreds to choose from. iOS 18.4 and iOS 17.4 had less than 10 new figures each, while iOS 16.4 introduced over 30 new emojis for users. Besides that, with the rising popularity of stickers on WhatsApp and Apple’s Genmoji, users can express themselves online in different ways, without waiting for Unicode to introduce new figures. Still, as emojis feel like the standard way to communicate through figures, it’s always nice to see new options available.

If Apple follows the trend, iOS 26.4 should become available in a couple of weeks, as after beta 4, the company usually releases its first Release Candidate version, followed by the official version. With the previous iOS 18.4 launch, the company aimed for the official introduction by the end of March. It seems with iOS 26.4, this could come slightly early.

There’s more to get excited about with iOS 26.4

Apple Music's new UI in iOS 26.4 José Adorno/BGR

Besides fun new emojis, iOS 26.4 is full of new features. For Apple Podcasts, Apple is unlocking video podcasts with a new HTTP Live Streaming technology. The company says it brings the “highest-quality viewing experience for users,” and adds a good way for creators to expand on ad revenue. For Apple Music, users have a new look to albums, playlists, and Profile settings, and a new “Upcoming concerts” tab. American users also get a Playlist Playground feature, which works similarly to ChatGPT integration on Apple Music, but with extra perks, as ChatGPT doesn’t actually have access to your tastes or listening preferences.

Other new features of iOS 26.4 include: Personal Hotspot’s new function that shows how much data each device has used, instead of just displaying a total; always-on Stolen Device Protection, which was first introduced with iOS 17.3 and creates a secure delay when someone tries to deactivate your iPhone in an unknown location; and, finally, a tweak to the wallpaper settings experience.

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LG’s Newest OLED TVs Just Got An Exciting Price Update

LG OLED TVs on display in a retail setting PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

Preorders are now available for LG’s newest OLED TVs, and the price reveal is an exciting update for potential buyers. The LG OLED C6 starts at $1,399 for the 42-inch model, while the more premium LG OLED G6 starts at $2,499 for the 55-inch model.

Shockingly, these are the exact same prices for the same-sized C5 and G5 models from last year. The price hasn’t gone up, and in fact, the price for this year’s 83-inch C6 is $100 cheaper than last year’s. If you’ve been on the fence about buying an OLED TV, now’s a great time to jump in without feeling like you missed a deal.

The LG C6 and G6 both come equipped with the Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen 3 and a gaming mode with a 165Hz refresh rate. They also boast an enhanced viewing experience powered by Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Filmmaker Mode. LG is one of the major OLED display brands that offers burn-in protection for its TVs, so there’s no reason to shy away from these models even if you plan to use them extensively.

Are the LG OLED G6 and C6 worth buying?

A person shopping for a TV in an electronics store Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

The price reveal for LG’s newest OLED TVs comes across as a great deal in a time when smart TVs are jumping in price due to RAM shortages. Even so, it’s understandable to hesitate at dropping $1,399 or more on a single display. There’s a reason why OLED TVs are expensive, though. Improved contrast ratios, higher peak brightness, and better viewing angles ensure that panels like the C6 and G6 deliver value for your money. This is especially true when manufacturers manage to avoid inflating prices on their latest models.

LG’s new C6 OLED is available in 42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, and 83-inch models at prices ranging from $1,399 to $5,299. The G6 OLED comes in 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, 83-inch, and 97-inch sizes available for $2,499 to $24,999. LG also describes the G6 as its brightest OLED yet, with “Perfect Black” and “Perfect Color” verification. You can get one of the most cutting-edge OLED displays at an exciting price that is consistent with expectations set last year.

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Steam Machine Verified Details Are Out (And You Should Be

During a Steam Hardware Talk at GDC 2026, Valve (link will download a PDF to your device) unveiled new information about the much-anticipated Steam Machine. In particular, details about the “Steam Machine Verified” program have been released. Similar to the Steam Deck Verified program, games will need to meet certain performance requirements on the device in order to earn Steam Machine verification.

What’s concerning is that Steam Machine verification only requires a minimum of 1080p resolution and 30 FPS framerate. For a machine that touts 4K and 60 FPS gaming capabilities on Steam’s official product page, it’s a worrying realization that many “verified” games will likely fall short of that promise. Gamers see the “verified” tag as a reassurance that a desired game will run as expected on their device, so many Machine owners are sure to be disappointed when a hot new release struggles to exceed a resolution and framerate that became standard more than a decade ago.

One silver lining from the latest Steam Hardware Talk is that all games that are verified for Steam Deck will automatically have Steam Machine verification. If you decide to pick up a Steam Machine on day one, you’ll find an extensive library of verified games ready to run at stable performance out of the gate.

Is the Steam Machine still worthwhile for gamers?

The new information regarding Steam Machine Verification isn’t the only thing that might deter gamers from Valve’s new hardware. The Steam Machine price leak from January spurred rumors that it may cost close to or more than $1,000. Valve remained mysterious about the hardware’s pricing and went on to delay the Steam Machine launch window via a February blog post. Altogether, the situation paints a worrisome picture of a troubled gaming device that might underperform despite a high cost.

That isn’t to say that the Steam Machine will disappoint everyone. The Steam Hardware Talk at GDC 2026 confirmed that the Steam Machine is capable of 6x greater performance than the Steam Deck. Games that were only deemed “Deck Playable” for legibility or resolution reasons will automatically be “Machine Verified.” Anyone who entered the Steam ecosystem via Steam Deck will find a superior gaming experience on the Steam Machine. Moreover, the plug-and-play nature of the Steam Machine is still likely to appeal to audiences who would rather not fuss over the modular nature of a typical gaming PC.

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YouTube Just Made Your TV Experience Worse On Purpose

A person holding a smart TV remote with the YouTube app icon visible on screen Onfokus/Getty Images

Google continues to make some interesting choices when it comes to how the company approaches YouTube and advertising. Aside from all the different ways that the tech company has tried to push users to purchase YouTube Premium instead of using ad blockers, the company has also been making some interesting changes to the platform as a whole since 2023. It recently expanded testing for direct messaging — a feature that was originally retired in 2019. Now, it looks like Google is turning its attention back to advertising, as the company has announced some big changes coming to the YouTube app on smart TVs.

According to a post shared on Google’s Ads & Commerce Blog, the company has now brought unskippable ads to the YouTube app on TVs. The ads are designed to use AI to help optimize their deliveries. These ads will range from six-second bumpers to 15- and 30-second “CTV-only” unskippable formats. Google says the move is to help ensure that advertisers’ campaigns can reach the “right audience at the right time.”

Of course, that doesn’t change what it will mean for users, and being forced to potentially watch 30-second unskippable ads in videos is bound to be annoying for anyone. Considering ad blockers are a bit less of an issue on TVs, and YouTube was one of the highest-watched streamers on TVs last year, this move might not feel great to many. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time Google has done something like this.

The latest in a long line of ad changes

Youtube logo on a browser window Primakov/Shutterstock

Over the past several years, we’ve seen Google take some extreme measures to increase the number of ads that reach YouTube viewers. These measures include blocking Adblock Plus users in Chrome and even slowing down load times for users with ad blockers. Now, while many people understand the nature of advertising online and how it helps to cover costs for websites, there’s also the fact that it is hard not to be a bit frustrated by how bad YouTube’s advertising setup has become for viewers, with people complaining on Reddit that they had multiple unskippable ads within a matter of minutes when watching a video.

So, the fact that YouTube is about to start forcing TV watchers to view unskippable ads throughout their videos just feels like another chapter in the long-running gag that is Google’s attempt to increase advertising efforts on the platform. Whether or not it will make any changes to the system going forward remains to be seen, but in the meantime, your best bet to avoid these new ads is to subscribe to YouTube Premium.

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US Medical Company Hit With Cyberattack, And This Hacker Group


A hacker successfully breaches a target with a cyberattack Vadishzainer/Getty Images

On March 11, a hacker group known as Handala Team claimed responsibility for a cyberattack launched against the U.S. medical tech company Stryker. As reported by NBC News, this attack is seemingly the first significant instance of an Iranian entity hacking an American company since the start of the ongoing war between the two countries.

Stryker is a medical equipment manufacturer headquartered in Portage, Michigan. A statement posted by Stryker on the company’s website described the hacking situation as “a global network disruption to our Microsoft environment as a result of a cyber attack.” The company explained that there was no indication of ransomware or malware and that the incident seems to be contained. This comes at a time when hackers are using AI to break AI, so the contained nature of this attack is a lucky break for Stryker.

A report from KrebsOnSecurity indicates that the attack may have entailed the use of a service called Microsoft Intune to remotely wipe data from devices connected to the company’s Microsoft environment. Microsoft did not respond to requests from NBC News for comments or details about the cyberattack despite the nature of this breach.

Who is the Handala Team hacker group?

A hacker group executing a cyberattack DC Studio/Shutterstock

Handala is a “hacktivist” group that has been profiled by Palo Alto Networks and confirmed to be linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. The team is known to brag about its exploits on social media and has claimed responsibility for other large-scale hacking operations, such as the compromising of an Israeli energy exploration company and the compromising of fuel systems in Jordan.

The recent hacking by Handala has had a real effect on Stryker and the medtech industry as a whole, with more than 5,000 employees at Stryker’s Ireland location being sent home on the day of the attack. The report from KrebsOnSecurity also suggests that a major university medical system in the United States would be unable to order surgical supplies normally sourced through Stryker.

Recently, a Google AI report exposed new cyberattack threats and the possibility that hackers might use AI for adversarial purposes. In the hands of an impassioned group like the Handala Team, AI-powered search algorithms and malware coding could lead to further cyberattacks that are even more harmful than the Stryker breach.

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