|
 Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.
|
|
NEW RESOURCES Fast Company: This simple site makes it easy to track ICE's actions. "The database…includes continuously updating sections that track statistics like the total number of people currently detained by the […]
|
|
 Anthropic is upgrading Claude's free tier, apparently to capitalize on OpenAI's planned integration of ads into ChatGPT. On Wednesday, Anthropic said free Claude users can now create files, connect to external services, use skills and more.
Anthropic added the ability for paid users to create files in September. Starting today, free users of the chatbot can also create and edit Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Word docs and PDFs. Claude's file creation abilities are powered by Sonnet 4.5.
Free users can now create and edit Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Word docs, and PDFs.AnthropicMeanwhile, Connectors allow free users to link Claude to third-party services. There's a long list of available ones, including Canva, Slack, Notion, Zapier and PayPal.
Skills, on the other hand, let you teach Claude to "complete specific tasks in repeatable ways." In short, the chatbot loads folders of instructions, scripts and other resources when performing relevant tasks. Other upgrades to the free tier include longer conversations, interactive responses and improved voice and image search.
Claude's free-tie
|
RELATED ARTICLES | | |
|
We found the iPhone Air to have a pretty decent battery life for such a thin-and-light phone, somewhere in the region of 27 hours if you're continuously streaming video. But it's still a phone, arguably your most used device on a daily basis, so you may need to top it up during the day if you're using it constantly. That's where Apple's iPhone Air MagSafe battery pack comes in, and it's currently on sale for $79.
This accessory only works with the iPhone Air, but much like the phone it attaches to, it's extremely slim at 7.5mmm, so crucially doesn't add so much bulk when attached that it defeats the point of having a thin phone in the first place. The MagSafe Battery isn't enormous a
|
|
 Apple today released iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3, all of which largely focus on bug fixes and security improvements. Apple says that the updates address dozens of vulnerabilities, including one that is known to have been actively exploited.
|
|
Whether it's the Seahawks' commanding Super Bowl victory or the fast-paced action of the Milan Winter Olympics, there's a lot of sportsball happening right now. It's a great time to get ahold of a virtual private network (VPN) and enjoy worldwide streaming adventures while improving your cybersecurity. By connecting to a VPN every time you get online, you can keep your activity hidden from your ISP and anyone to whom it may sell that data — while streaming sporting events and TV dramas from across the globe.
We strongly recommend using a VPN, but shopping for one takes some care. If you jump on the very first deal you see, you might get stuck with a substandard app. It's also easy to end up paying more than you meant to, since otherwise respectable VPNs sometimes frame their prices in misleading ways, with advertised deals not always as available as they seem to be.
Even with all those conditions, there are some great bargains on the table. Many of the best VPNs — including our top pick, Proton VPN — have deals that save you anywhere from 70 to 87 percent on annual subscriptions. If you can believe it, there are even Valentine's Day sales running right now, because nothing is more romantic than taking care of your online privacy.
Best VPN deals
|
RELATED ARTICLES | | |
|
NordVPN is offering a significant discount on its two-year plans, with 70 percent off its Complete tier and up to 78 percent off overall. For the Complete tier, the deal brings the total cost down to $130 for 24 months.
NordVPN regularly appears on Engadget's list of the best VPN services thanks to its wide server network, strong security tools and consistent performance across devices. NordVPN's latest promotion puts one of its most comprehensive plans at a price that undercuts many competing premium VPN subscriptions.
The Complete tier includes full access to NordVPN's core VPN service, which encrypts internet traffic and masks a user's IP address to help protect online activity on public Wi-Fi networks and at home. Subscribers can use the service on multiple devices, including phones, tablets, laptops and s
|
|
 Apple just introduced its second-generation AirTag, but one rumored feature failed to arrive with the new accessory.
|
|
As frustrating as it is that governments and businesses are running roughshod over our online freedoms, at least we have plenty of good VPNs to keep us protected online. There are so many fast, intelligently designed, full-featured and affordable services on the market that the biggest problem is picking one. For any use case, you can bet at least two providers will be neck-and-neck for first place.
On the other hand, the VPN world is still the Wild West in some ways. It's easy enough to slap a cheap VPN together that the market is flooded with low-quality apps that put more money into advertising than infrastructure. They may look good, but it's all styrofoam under the hood.
I built this list of the best VPNs after intensive testing to help you reorient your focus on the providers that actually deserve your time and money. Which one truly fits your needs is dependent on who you are and what you do online, but if you pick any of my seven recommendations, you can't go too far wrong. If you're interested in a service you can use without paying, head over to my list of the best free VPNs — and if you're willing to pay but want to save money, I keep a list of the best VPN deals updated weekly.
For each VPN on this list, I've shared which platforms it works on, how much it cuts into your download speed, where it offers servers, what other features are included and how much the best available deal costs. At the end, I'll list some honorable and dishonorable mentions, then answer some of the most common questions I hea
|
RELATED ARTICLES | | |
|
NEW RESOURCES Phys.org: New database enables comparative archaeological and historical urbanism. "…a team led by researchers from the Department of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanisation (DLU) at the Max Planck Institute […]
|
|
 OpenAI's first Jony Ive-designed hardware device won't ship to customers until next year, new court filings show (via Wired).
|
|
 It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more.
|
|
NEW RESOURCES The University Daily Kansan: More than a century of KU student newspapers now available online. "The University of Kansas Libraries has published a new online collection of historical campus newspapers […]
|
|
 Apple is planning to launch new iPad and iPad Air models in the near future, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
|
|
NEW RESOURCES Virginia Tech: New database reveals how Americans use water. "[Landon Marston and Yunus Naseri] have created the United States Water Withdrawals Database, the first nationwide resource to track who is […]
|
|
Could your small business fall victim to one of these threats?
In June, the Home Office released its Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 report, detailing the most common cyberattacks experienced by UK small businesses in H2 2024. Here are the most common ways hackers attempted to gain money or data from UK small businesses last year:
Phishing: 85% of businesses that reported cyberattacks identified phishing as a key threat. These scams trick employees into clicking on fake links - often via email - and inadvertently handing over sensitive data. Now powered by AI, phishing tactics are getting smarter than ever and more difficult to spot.
Employee impersonation: More than half (51%) of businesses said hackers had posed as company employees to deceive their ‘colleagues' into handing over information.
Malware on company devices: While AI-powered scams today grab the headlines, malware is still very much present and very m
|
|
